I have a younger sister ( I have three, and a younger brother… but that’s not my point I just don’t want one of them to make a comment.  The one I’m writing about will probably make enough noise as it is!) whom growing up was my real life doll and is one of my favorite people to this day.  She (and the actual baby girl of the family) benefited mightily from two older sisters who knew the ways of the world (cough, cough at 17 you know you thought you did) by the time they came along and put a vocal (we were teenagers of course it was vocal and full of disdain) stop to a lot of the fashion atrocities we felt had been done to them.  As CJ approaches the end of her high school career in a year and a half, I took a look at her facebook today and actually feel some real jealousy over how cute she is.

Now I know she will reflect back and say that all of this isn’t true but I assure you she has lashes that make-up artists dream about, the long legs of a colt, and a gorgeous heart. I think what makes it worse, is that she is genuinely comfortable in her own skin at 16.  Maybe she got some of that from her two older sisters figuring out who they were in front of her, and she just walked into puberty with the same attitude or maybe she is just a little freak. I do know I can dance better then she can, so I have that going for me :)!

I just wish that I could still dress her.  If I could (and it would take a serious allowance that I don’t have, and my mother would never provide) these are the four denim items I would be currently forcing onto her body.  Or any other Size 2, 5Ft 11 coltish person.  I might even get brave enough to wear a couple myself!

1)  Alice +Olivia Studded Skinny Jeans $330 @Shopbop.com  These are total rockstar jeans.  The white color and the studs are tough in a pretty way without being in your face rock. Plus they are a little 80s, which I love! I didn’t even really get to experience the 80s clothing, so I’m glad for any of the over the top trends then being able to find a home now in a little more understated way. Side pony-tails found a sophisticated way back, so why cant white denim and studs?

2) Curren/Elliot “The Majorette” Denim Jacket at Nordstrom’s (On sale!-$112.90)  We have no musical abilty in our family, outside of singing and thats debatable in most of us, but that wont stop the would-be drummer in me from loving this jacket!  I will go to my grave fighting the denim-on-denim trend, and I dont care if Anna Wintour herself shows up at my house with a couture outfit just for me… no way, no how.  I just wanted to make myself clear that this jacket is the only denim item that will be on the body when its worn.  It’s structured and dark and so perfect with a simple white shirt.

3) Back to ShopBop with these Citizen’s Riley Boyfriend Jeans $260. It appears that the “Boyfriend Trend” is sticking around and I kinda love it.  I love men’s button down shirts (Risky Business costume- 2009 I told you I love the 80s!), and I love that you don’t have to be super skiny to wear this trend.  Plus its afordable because I just steal sweaters from my guy-friends and I already had a couple of cheap Hanes V-necks so buying the trendy jeans wasnt a mental negotiation! These are my new favorites, because they look lived in and loved already. I just love how comfortable this trend can be for all shapes and sizes, because us curvy girls can make it a little sexier even in a looser v-neck then the not so curvy girls and the less curvy girls can layer more!

4) Still at Shopbop, and I’ve talked of my love of these before.  I just cant help it. AG Denim Leggings $172.00 are just too adorable and every-day wearable.  She and I both own way to many tunic type shirts that these could be paired with and they work with any kind of shoe really.

So that covers her denim needs for the next 4-6 months before the jolly-blond stringbean grows another two inches, and her pants are too short again! With the exception of the white/stud pair I think she could easily keep the other items in rotation for the life of the clothes, but since she got bit by her fashion obsessed older sister she probably wouldn’t and we would be off to the consignment shop to drop off new tresures to hopefully supply the next craving!

I used to do a fitness bootcamp with a couple of girlfriends, and when the head of the camp asked me what I wanted from it, I said  “a HOT Butt!”  Needless to say, my inability to continue to meet every-night right after work (some of us work late a lot   :)) made that reality still seem like a pipe dream.

Then I started running/walking again, and suddenly I might be able to make this happen after-all… which means Denim Leggings (breathe, breathe its just a a thought in my head).

My friend Jen and I are going to start meeting at 5:45A to walk and run the trail by our domiciles.  That is if we can shame each other into getting up every morning an hour (at least!) earlier then we normally do.  We are doing this to ensure we do well in the Butterfly Boogie 5K (depending on how well we are doing we might even rock the 10K), which benefits one of the most important charities out there.  I wont go off on too much of a tangent, but how can anyone not want to be a tiny part of providing someone with a face/smile they can be proud of?  I’m amazed by science/genetics and how wrong it can go sometimes.  The children, and even adults helped by these amazing doctors show so much courage and grace, that’s what I need to remember when the damn alarm goes off at 5:30!

I also need to remember my friend Kad’s birthday- Girls Weekend in Miami 2K10 which means tight jeans, short dresses and bathing-suits.  Hello resolutions if I didnt already have them.

I’m headed to the gym dissatisfied with my current workout playlist, and a cute butt on my mind.  I got to jazz this playlist up before Monday morning so that I wake up to something that makes me want to move! If anyone is out there, I’m accepting all recommendations… pleading actually!

See you on the other side of a workout.  I’ve always wondered if hypnosis actually works.  Maybe I will test it out, and let the world know that suddenly I don’t eat veggies just because I have too and get up at 5:30 because I’m scared of what Jen will do if I dont, but because it is what I WANT to do.  I wish I was one of those exercise freaks (jealously has made me a name caller!), and not someone who took the longest routes in the mall on Saturday to ensure I got some walking in :)

I have the best friends.  I know everyone says that but unless you were there for my post-work conversation with my friend Bunny, then you don’t know brilliant friendship.

She has been there for it all, and through it all (no one likes to be reminded that they ate a single tiny fruit cup over the span of 48 hours post break-up, but that’s why i love her)!  Tonight she told me “You need to figure out what you love doing, and find a way to make money at it”.

Off I went, into deep thinking mode with a glass of wine.

Is it really that easy? Figuring out how to parlay happiness into a paycheck.  I want to be brave enough to write, put the words out into the world and be able to handle if someone doesn’t agree. When I expressed this fear to a new friend, who is an actual writer, he told me about how his latest piece had led to death threat(s).  He told me about this casually (via a hot-tub in Colorado-where all discussions/encouragement of being a writer should happen) and I nearly started hyperventilating for him.  I guess I have enough pride/hope to think there will come a time if I follow through with my plan to write/blog/put myself out there that enough people will have an opinion about what I’m writing and want to share and discuss with me!  People are passionate about fashion, but I hope the only threat my words see are the opinions of bad taste by others on my behalf.  Bring it (I think), I don’t dress for you!

So on that note, I proudly (and fearfully) put myself out there for DenimBlog.com to judge as worthy to hold a position with them.  Am I ready? Maybe.  Am I green? Absolutely!  I just wonder, who better to help bring new growth to the team, then someone who is looking to grow in this world themselves!?!  I have opinions, and ideas but more then anything I want to interact with all the other people out there who do too.  I love to communicate, and I’m looking for a vehicle to write about.  What would be better then my number one, fashion staple. I went into a creative field that I knew would allow me the license to wear flip-flops when the mood struck and jeans every day if I wanted (which I do :)).

This whiplash economy has taken a toll on every other piece of my wardrobe. It’s becoming harder to justify that new “it” pair of jeans and I think all the store associates at Nordstom’s North Park unhappily know me by name and face because I stop by all the time to check on my favorites waiting for a sale.  If I had just cause to purchase all the time, (and a way to write it off as a work-related expense) I think it would bridge a huge relationship roadblock with my accountant and save me from Nordstrom’s sales associates witchcraft!  So, if you (Denimblog.com) are looking for an enthusiastic would be social-media maverick to help take your passion to the next level then I’m ready to spread the word, and apparently embarrassing secrets, with every avenue I have. I’ll also be there to help bring others along for the ride.

Sweet Dreams, I know mine are!