She's Big, Bad, Bloated, and Back

But mostly bloated, if I'm honest.  

It will go down eventually, but for the moment I'm wearing things with elastic waists or shifts. Add in post-surgical constipation (sorry, TMI) and getting dressed has been a bit more complicated than usual. Ordinarily, I'll put up with something slightly uncomfortable, but with three incisions in various stages of healing, I'm dressing strictly for comfort these days. This little Gap dress from the 90s wouldn't be the sort of thing I'd wear if I hadn't just had surgery and it was 95 degrees outside, but I did, and it is, and here we are. It isn't a bad little dress, but it is awfully little. 

Well hello there prednisone bloated face! Lookin' goooooood. Maybe it will smooth out some wrinkles while I'm blown-up like a balloon. I'm trying my best to take it in stride because I can't do anything about it, and it is only going to get worse. 

Since I haven't posted outfits for some time, I'm going to be going out of order between today and the past couple of weeks. I'm sure you won't mind, will you? The days are all somewhat of a blur at this point anyway. Hell, the last year was a blur.

Fabulous trousers. Shame they gave me appendicitis. By the end of that day I was in hospital-but I looked okay early in the morning when I snapped the photo. I even washed my hair. I really wouldn't have bothered, had I known. Interestingly, by the time I was sent home three days later, my eyeliner was still on in places. I find that amazing, as it wasn't even marketed as waterproof, smudgeproof, or hospitalproof. I use ELF brand-the cheap drugstore stuff. Anyway, these are now "cursed trousers" and I probably won't wear them again, which is a pity as they were given to me free of charge by the lovely woman at the thrift store. That also means I can't donate them either because who wants to curse someone else? I'm not (that) serious, but emotionally I'm no longer really feeling the love for the pants. 

Did I look like I was going to be flat on my arse eight hours later? Sigh. 

Moving backward a bit, here's a beautiful skirt made from what I suspect are strips of quilting fabric and all the ric rac and ribbon in someone's stash. The belt came with some cargo shorts I bought for Dan-but he never wears a belt, so I took it. I take a lot of his old clothes. I've recently taken possession of some jeans, a shirt with French cuffs, and a fab 1950s windbreaker he wore perhaps twice. Dan is rather set in his style of plaid shirt, jeans or cargo shorts these days, which makes getting dressed and out of the house quick and easy. There's definitely something to be said for wearing a uniform of sorts. He's doing an internship this summer with a local independent media outlet, and clothes are the last thing he wants to be worrying about. 

Me? Oh, I'm all about fussing over clothes. It is the only reason I get out of bed some days. 

Earrings from the sale rack at Target a few years ago. They do brilliant earrings, and the sales are epic.

Bought these shoes at Marshall's about 20 years ago. Photographing your own feet isn't easy! 

This rather fun skirt was bought for a dollar, but it really is too large. Someone on Instagram observed that it looks like a Twister game, which makes me love it all the more. The shirt was someone's home-sewn work and was also purchased for a dollar. That will probably be re- donated, but I'll hang onto the skirt and give it a try with a white blouse before making any decisions. The shoes are vintage from a garage sale.

The ostrich handbag was another thrifted treasure a few years ago.  I thought it was vinyl when I bought it-shows how much I know! Buying things I like usually works out. The season for white shoes and handbags is so short I have to make an effort to get them all worn. With last year being a bust, that means all the more effort now. Don't want the handbags getting lonely on the shelf. 

When the mercury is climbing it makes sense to wear a shift dress as they're cool and comfortable. Prior to the surgery, I wasn't really sold on the look but with a giant stomach with incisions in various states of healing, I want ALL the shift dresses. This one had a Greek looking pattern and with the colours could almost convince me I'm on a holiday in the islands instead of Omaha. I'm quite short, and do wonder just how mini this would be on a person of average height. 

Speaking of channeling your inner Greek Goddess...

Something to hold my hair back when I wash my face. That's me, bringing the glamour to the mundane. 

And of course, this little bit of fabulousness. 

Just add an owl. And possibly an Ambrosia salad. Sigh, Olympus is so dull in summertime.

When Danny was small I'd read mythology to him and he just adored the idea of the gods sitting around Mt. Olympus eating ambrosia. I didn't have the heart to tell him the stories probably weren't referring to that American potluck staple with oranges, pineapple, and coconut. Growing up in Illinois, I consumed quite a lot of it, but unless there's fruit flavoured mini marshmallows mixed in, I can't consider it a proper "salad". Yeah, I know-salad is a bit of a stretch, but we Midwesterners are a strange bunch. Sadly, I didn't have any ambrosia salad, but I did have some instant pudding (custard). Just two minutes of whisking, and you've got dinner dessert.  

Applique wrap skirt with a matching appliqued tee shirt? Why not?! I wouldn't have worn it at the time, but forty years down the line and I think it is charming, if a bit suburban mummy. That's a genuine Nantucket Lightship Basket from 1979 (according to the penny glued inside keeping with tradition). I don't use it often, as I'm afraid of damaging it. The scrimshaw-ish whale on the lid is carved from bone, not ivory. I am wearing a jade bracelet that I'm pleased to report made it home intact. I am such a clumsy person-don't ask how many glass bracelets I've destroyed over the years. 

You can read a bit more about the baskets HERE if you're interested.

"Pardon me, do you have any krill?"

He doesn't look that fierce to me. "Killer whale" eh?

Moving along...

A vintage Indian rayon dress with a comfortable stretch panel to fit over my post-surgical beachball stomach.

It does the trick.

The hyper-pigmentation on my face is getting worse, but I don't really know that there's much to be done about it outside of a plastic surgeon's office and I am not doing that. I'm using all the various products to fade and lighten it but honestly, I don't see much effect. It does seem like prednisone has made it worse, so perhaps it will go away if and when the treatment is over. I'm not too vain with respect to ageing, but I do wish I didn't have three different shades of skin on my face. Ah well, that's what foundation is there to cover I suppose. 

Caftan, anyone? 

I believe it is home-sewn. Someone must have purchased some fabric on holiday and decided to try their hand at sewing. I'm going to use it as a cover-up at the pool this summer as it is a lightweight polyester fabric that will dry quickly. 

The best part of this outfit? The earrings...

Aren't they the best? I'm not convinced I'll ever wear white capri trousers again (I'll try anything once) but these earrings are going to be my new summer favourites. They're articulated and move as I walk. 

Speaking of summer favourites, you've seen this dress multiple times over the years, and you'll keep seeing it for as long as it holds together. 

Time for a perfume break. Do I need more perfume? Nah. Did I have any idea what this would smell like? Nope? Did I bring it home because I liked the bottle-you betcha! Luckily, I like it although I wish the longevity were better. At that price, re-applying isn't too big of a deal. 

Not my typical thing, but on a hot, muggy, day it smells like a garden. I was expecting some horrible tropical coconut thing, so was pleasantly surprised to get flowers. Anyway, Must. Stop. Buying. Perfume. I rarely purchase full bottles anymore, though I did splurge on a bottle of the reformulated Mitsouko. It doesn't last (boo) but at least it smells like Mitsouko (yay). It is so hot and muggy here at the moment the thought of wearing anything heavier than 4711 seems like too much. I carry the individual packet wipes in my bag as a nice alternative to hand santiser which I am sick to death of at this point. 

I have finally post-vaccines started going out regularly again, and made a trip to Marshalls for some fancy soaps. That was something I'd been looking forward to doing, and it did not disappoint.

What's been cooking? 

Balsamic chicken breasts with shitake mushrooms and sautéed bok-choi served over quinoa.  Would definitely work over tofu or seitan.

Edamame noodles with stir-fried cube steak and veggies-same with respect to vegetarian option.

Chickpea noodles with chicken and veg

Chicken thighs with olives, artichoke hearts, and lemon/garlic sauce served over chickpea "rice"

A better look at the the above recipe in the pan. There's been other stuff, but nothing terribly fancy. I did a thing with tempeh and coconut milk that they enjoyed. I'm still doing liquids for myself (ugh) but I found a non-dairy mushroom soup I'm rather partial to. Imagine Organics makes some pretty spectacular soup at a good price. I don't like the idea of just cooking for myself, so being able to heat up some soup while I make the boys their dinner works well for me. I'm also enjoying hummus thinned out with yoghurt. I know that doesn't sound terribly exciting, but I suppose excitement is in the stomach of the beholder. 

This was tonight's dinner for the boys-summer squash "noodles" with cod cooked in a pan with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs. Isn't it beautiful? I added some white beans to boost the nutrition. 

Finally, this was today's outfit. About as classic as it gets for hot weather. 

Naturalizer handbag which means there's matching shoes out there somewhere!

Ear climber earrings and a lobster because, why not? 

Thanks everyone for your well wishes on my last post. I was completely caught off guard by it (which I'm told is the typical presentation) and am strangely looking forward to just dealing with the chronic rather than acute stuff. I manage pretty well, but that really came at me like a wrecking ball. 

See you next time.