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Coffee Chat

coffee talk

I miss my Coffee Chats when I’m doing those style challenges. Mixing them into my Instagram recaps just isn’t the same, so it’s nice to be back.

In just a few days, I’ll be headed to Dallas for a fashion blogging conference. I’m so excited to see Cyndi and Kristie again, and to finally meet Alison after all these years! I’m not sure if I’ll know anyone else there or not, but I’m sure some of the fashion bloggers I follow on Instagram and Snapchat will be there, so it will be fun to meet some of them too.

I’m not one to be intimidated by much, but this will be a different crowd than I’m used to, so I’m curious to see how it goes. I’m not worried about being lonely because I do know some lovely ladies going (as mentioned above) so no matter what, it will be a good time.

And hey, I get a hotel room to myself for 3 nights. I mean, that in and of itself is worth the price of admission. And all the mommies in the room say AMEN!

What else?

Ah, yes. My MRI. There’s not much new to tell. They came back with the diagnosis of Patellar Tracking Syndrome, which is what my doctor predicted from the beginning. It’s always good to rule out the bad stuff, so I’m glad there are no tears or anything like that.

I’m actually feeling okay at the moment. I think my knee issues had everything to do with that yoga ball desk chair. I had an epiphany last week, switched it out for my old traditional chair, and my knee pain and discomfort immediately decreased by about 90%.

I have other issues, however, that are returning — mainly foot pain, that is probably related to my back and the way I’m sitting in the traditional chair. You can’t win for losin’, ya know!?! I swear, I should just rent a room at the physical therapist’s office.

But nothing is seriously wrong, and that’s the good news. I can run, wear high heels, walk, hike, and do anything I’m comfortable doing. I will continue with PT and hope to improve my mobility so I can stay healthy, but it’s all good.

Last night my husband and I went out to dinner with friends. It’s been a while since we had a “date night” and it was nice to get out and talk without interruptions. I wish we’d grabbed a picture of the two of us, but we were in a rush when we left the house, and the restaurant didn’t have very good photography lighting, even for a selfie.

I do have a picture of what I wore. I paired my pink silk blouse with my baby bootcut jeans and I wore my black wedge sandals. They’re suede so they’re good for this in-between time of year.

date night outfit

pink blouse (similar $69) // baby bootcuts $88 // similar black sandals $75 // similar clutch $58
my Stella & Dot Arabesque Chandeliers and Becker Cuff // similar jacket $145

In other news, I had my hair cut and colored on Friday. I’ve been wanting to do those loose curls for a while, so I asked my hair stylist to show me how. I tried it here at home yesterday, and it worked out pretty well. I had to get my daughter to help me curl the back, so I won’t be able to style it this way on a daily basis, but it’s fun for a change.

Unfortunately my color is a bit darker than I like this time, but I guess it will lighten up after a few washes. Things like that used to really get me down, but these days, I’m just glad I have hair. I know too many people going through big trials right now. The color of my hair is the least of my concerns.

Coming This Week: SNAPCHAT Q&A

Finally, I’m planning to do a Snapchat Q&A. Leave your questions on this post, or on my Instagram, or in a private Snapchat message with Q&A in there somewhere so I know you’re not asking a question you expect an immediate answer to.

You can ask me anything — personal, motherhood, beauty, fashion, blogging, anything. As long as it’s appropriate, I’ll do my best to answer.

I already have had some great questions! I’m collecting them all in a Google Doc, and I will answer them on Snapchat sometime before I leave for Dallas on Thursday. I’ll keep you posted on when that will be so you can be sure to tune in.

Don’t worry if you’re new to Snapchat and aren’t super familiar with it. The Snapchat Q&A is not interactive. You just watch my story to see the answers. Super easy.

I will try to do a recap for the blog at some point because I know not everyone is on Snapchat, but I’ve found that I really enjoy the ones I’ve watched because hearing the person’s voice and seeing her mannerisms is so much more personal than reading through her answers on the blog.

I’ve been asked why I’m not using Periscope or YouTube for this. I just really like how casual Snapchat is, but it allows me to retake anything that doesn’t come out quite right, and I like that feature. Periscope makes me nervous. I will end up fielding comments and questions, and it will get me off track. And YouTube is just too much work. LOL!! I know I should do more YouTube videos, but I can’t figure out how to fit that into my schedule.

With that, I’m off to church on this blustery day! The winds over night were shaking the house. I hope it calms down a bit today. At least it’s pretty out there.

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40 Responses

  1. I have to ask this question. I follow you and Cindy and enjoy your blogs. Love seeing the fashions that both of you put together. You both have great fashion sense. Ok, my question is…do you purchase all that you show? If so that sure must be expensive! I’m just curious. Thanks again for your wonderful blog and much success.

  2. For Q & A– or maybe an entire post topic! I’m struggling to find jeans that fit well and I know you have some favorites. I’d love to see them all in one post with comments on the rise and length and fabric, etc. I bet I’ve ordered 6 or 7 pairs of ankle jeans in the last month and the biggest issue I have is if I buy my usual size and they feel great, within an hour, they’re sagging and stretched out in the wrong places. I actually donated a pair this week because I’d already worn them and a girlfriend commented on how they were saggy in the bottom. (Only a true friend will tell you a pair of jeans you’re wearing isn’t her favorite on you.) There doesn’t seem to be a simple recipe like the less cotton, the more they stretch. Should I take a change and buy a size down? How do you recommend figuring out what size when you’re in the dressing room?

    Happy Sunday!

    1. That is a great post topic idea. I have done a post on how they all fit before – I went to the store and tried a bunch on. But I could do one on the ones I have and love. Everyone is different and finds that different brands work better for them than others, but I will say, if you want jeans that don’t bag out, DL1961 are very dependable. But I don’t feel my AG or Paige or Hudson bag out either. Mavi has more stretch, but so far, they are fine. I just keep hiking them up. 🙂 I do find that Joe’s stretch out more than others, and I sometimes size down for them. I’ll keep this in mind as a post topic.

      When you’re in the dressing room, the sales associates are sometimes very helpful about whether or not to size down. If they’re good, they can tell you which ones might stretch out, and which ones won’t. I will also add this to my Snapchat Q&A. 🙂

  3. This was a great post Jo-Lynne! I am not at all familiar with SnapChat, so I am going to look into it. If there’s no cost involved I’ll give it a try. I’m so glad you and your husband had a date night. When I worked, Larry & I had a date night every Friday, to, ‘wait for it,’ go grocery shopping. It was something that needed to be done, we both enjoyed doing it, and that got it out of the way.

    It’s 48 in Duluth, GA right now and a little breezy, but the sun is out on this Sunday. God bless!

    1. Snapchat is free, and you don’t even have to add your own snaps if you don’t want to. There are some days I don’t snap at all, but I always check in on my favorites before I go to bed and see what they’ve been up to. 🙂

      1. Thank you! Which Snapchat did you install on your devices? There are several to chose from in the App Store.

  4. Hi Jo-Lynne,
    I’ll be at the RewardStyle conference, and I can’t wait to meet you and the other gals! Cyndi and I were there last year and had a great time. See you soon!
    Cheers, Deborah

  5. I snapchat, well because, I have teenagers. It’s fun, casual, and laid back.
    I love your look with the leather jacket.
    Safe travels, looking forward to reading all about it.

  6. I love Snapchat! My son is away at college and he’ll snap me pics and videos of random things, some of which I don’t want to see! It’s a great way to keep in touch and I love being able to see his face!

    1. That is fun that he snaps you. Mine won’t accept my follow request. Haha! I don’t push it. But I hope when he goes off to college, he will send me a picture every once in a while. 🙂

  7. Just wanted to let you know your recent posts have inspired me to purchase the Mavi jeans, Evel sandals and the long coral cardigan I had never purchased premium jeans before I started reading your blog! I am 58 and sometimes wonder if I’m dressing “age” appropriate, but figure age is just a number, right? Thanks for your inspiration!

    1. Oh, fun! Those are all great pieces. They would actually work well together. Hmmmmm… maybe I should try that. LOL!! I think those pieces are all classics that would definitely work at 58. 🙂

  8. ‘morning Jolynne! I’m from the Boston area and we just had some snow blow in…. Yuck! I like your outfit, the baby boot cut jeans give the outfit a nice balance. Is that leather the burgundy one with detachable hood you bought a while back? I plan on giving the snapchat a go of it. Have fun with Cyndi and the girls! (Glad you are taking the free people skirt with you. I really liked it)

    1. YUCK! I have friends in Boston and Providence, RI, and I was watching their Instagram posts this morning. no thank you! It is cold here, but thankfully, no snow! 🙂

      This jacket is an old “coated cotton” moto jacket I got at LOFT. I linked to a similar style from Cupcakes & Cashmere that is faux leather. I have it in bone, and it is very flattering. The black one looks much like the jacket I’m wearing in this picture. 🙂

  9. You went for the hot pink blouse! It’s gorgeous and well worth the splurge.

    Have fun at your conference! A hotel room to yourself for three nights sounds like bliss.

  10. I’m not on snapchat, I worry it will be one more thing that would be a time suck for me!! 🙂 I do have a question though. I have a soon to be 14 yo daughter. I remember a while back you said you watched the Gilmore Girls with yours. What did you think of the series? Was it appropriate? I read some commonsense.org comments about it, it seems to revolve quite a bit around sex and relationships. Is that what you thought? I am trying to find some series for her to watch on tv or netflix. She loved Fuller House, that was only a few episodes…she has been watching The Office with her 15 yo brother and they really seem to enjoy that. Hard to find appropriate tv-boy do I sound like a prudish old lady!! Any info you could give would be great, you seem to have the same values that I have !!

    1. Nancy, I have 2 boys… 13 and 10. I don’t think you’re prudish at all! I share your concerns about finding age appropriate shows. It seems like more shows that were on during prime time when I was their ages were truly fine for the whole family. Not so much anymore. Boo!

    2. It can be a time suck, but I like that it’s not edited or “pretty” – it is no pressure. I also like getting to know the bloggers I follow, and connecting with my own blog readers. 🙂 Not many of my “real life” friends are on it, but my kids are, and I like knowing what it’s about and how to navigate it if I need to check in on them.

      Anyway, as to your question. 🙂 My son LOVES The Office. He was watching it when he was 14 and 15 – probably younger than I’d like, considering the subject matter at times, but I guess it’s not the worst thing. Now he’s into Friends. Oy. As for Gilmore Girls, it definitely gets risque. I stopped watching it with my girls. They are older now, and I would probably watch it with my 13 y/o but only together – if we could talk about things. It’s tough finding good stuff to watch. I don’t think you’re prudish at all. We need to be concerned about what our kids are putting into their minds.

      1. Thanks for your reply! If you ever come across some good tv for the kids, let us know! I tried watching Friends the other day, I used to LOVE that show. I know what you mean by OY. You. are. not. kidding! Still funny, I was a lot older than a teen when I watched it though! Oh well, such is the struggle with raising teens!

  11. I really enjoy the blogs of several fashion bloggers every day. Jo Lynne, I wish you and the other blog-ladies a very nice conference.

  12. Loving the curls. Such a lovely soft look.
    I have no clue how snap chat works. But I have one fashion question – how do you know that your skinnies fit right? Because I finally found a really comfy pair, and they look good on – BUT – they tend to slide down a bit as I move around (I move a lot with two little kids). Does that mean they are not right? I don’t think I can go any smaller – the smaller size I tried just made me look too much like a sausage squeezed into too tight jeans. LOL. Those problems! I may also come up with some more interesting questions.

      1. Good point. I hadn’t thought of that – what an obvious solution 🙂 That being said, I don’t like belts. Although I’m an hour glass, I don’t have a very flat tummy, so a belt draws attention to where I don’t want it! I think I’ll just get used to discreetly pulling up the jeans from time to time, LOL

  13. Hi Jo-Lynne,

    First – I love this outfit – very cute!

    Secondly, I have 2 questions for your Snapchat Q&A:
    1 – any tips for finding skinny jeans (particularly premium denim) that fit when you have athletic calves that are borderline ‘wide’? I workout everyday, and whether because of that and/or genetics, I have a very hard time finding skinny jeans that aren’t TOO tight on my calves (approx 14″ diameter).
    2 – could you speak to recommended care women’s clothes in general- there are SO MANY cute clothes that I pass up because of the pain-in-the-butt care instructions –clothes that are ‘supposed’ to be hand wash only, or hang dry at the very least. Does everyone actually follow these instructions? I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a giant room where I can constantly be hanging all my clothes to dry – very frustrating.

    thanks!

  14. A fashion blog conference sounds like a blast but also super intimidating! I think I would be freaking out about what to wear!! LOL. Would love to go one day. I’ve been following Alison here and there, her outfits are great!! Kristie looks adorable. How fun to hang out with fellow bloggers from different parts of the country. Dallas is super fun too! I used to travel there as a recruiter when I worked for The Master’s College.

    Your hair looks great. Ever since I started coloring mine, the curls don’t seem to hold. I was in the bathroom at church this morning and so glad I looked in the mirror-my perfect beach waves had gone wacko!! One side was wavy and the other had straightened out. yeeeshhh. More hairspray next week. hahaha

    xx-S

  15. Jo-Lynn, I’m just catching up on my email and I wanted to say that I love your hair curly!!! Once you get the hang of it…the proper way to hold the curling iron or flat iron; which ever is your choice of tool…it’s not really anymore difficult than straightening it…just section it, comb it, curl it, let it cool and finger style it. A great youtube blogger for hair tutorials is The Small Things blog and she has some older videos from when she wore a bob that are excellent for showing how to hold the tool properly and THAT is more crucial than anything! You look fabulous!!!

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