Blogging in 2025

Posted December 4, 2025

Filed under Writing

What is December without a bit of introspection and reflection? To that end I generally take a moment to look back at the ideas generated over the year that populate my blog: Fashion, Food, Family…Life, each revealing a slice of my life. One can’t help but know for sure that it is indeed A Wonderful Life when each post points in that direction. Not that there haven’t been challenges, for how can one be a citizen with a heart, soul, and intellect, and not feel mournful for all the suffering caused by our current administration or the conflicts and disasters occurring across our globe? We have all had to find our tiny joys to face the day to day political-criminal onslaughts, but that’s the point, right? Fostering joy and hope to encourage inner resilience and easy compassion, that is what my blogging in 2025 seemed to direct.

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April Fooling

Posted April 3, 2025

Filed under Fashion

If, like me, you’ve noticed a change when strolling by a Gap storefront, you are witnessing the rebranding or reenergizing (as in returning to the very iconic and diverse identity the store achieved 40+ years ago). And if, like me, you were drawn into the store, you would not be disappointed with the quality of fit, the feel of fabrics, and the same price-value you remember from years ago when you last shopped there. “Fashion is entertainment. It’s also art, innovation, and culture,” says Richard Dickson, the current CEO. I could not agree more. Having Zac Posen, coming directly from his success with Barbie, leading the creative future for Gap is another big win for the company. So, how about it? Dare to venture back inside everyone’s favorite store from eons ago, not necessarily for the khakis, but certainly for a super comfortable “feels like Gap” moment.

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Spring Fling

Posted April 13, 2023

Filed under Fashion

Come April I am desperate to see more color in the natural world beyond my doorway. The snow melt has left rivulets of brown earth all through the open fields which are also left browned by the harsh winter. Trees are still bare, their silvery gray bark peeling in the brisk wind, abandoned broken branches strewn all across my yard, while I crave soft pink, daffodil yellow and kelly green. The anticipation over Spring is building only making my yearning more frantic. Old time Nine Cent Girl readers will know, this time of year I often concoct a photo shoot with expectation dominating my mood board, pulling together an array of props from my closet to mimic the bright pastels and infectious joy that is about to arrive. This week that happened once more with me prancing about my living room, having donned three “new to me” outfits. Since I was a teen I have loved finding wardrobe favorites from thrift stores or yard sales or in the case of these dresses, from the pop-up sale of a friend’s closet. Perhaps not divine inspiration but a Spring Fling all the same.