3 Somethings

Hello,

I hope that everyone is doing well this past week.  I for one was recuperating from my recent case of bronchitis, which is now gone.  This means that other than going to work and resting up, I did not do a lot this past week.  But I did do a few things.

1. I FINALLY hemmed my newest pairs of jeans.  I don't enjoy shopping for the bottom portion of separates. However, the last time that I purchased jeans was several years ago when I weighed my heaviest of 230 lbs.  I have lost enough weight since then that I required smaller pants. Yay!!!  The newest jeans fit outside of being a little too long, i.e. they required hemming.  They have been prepped about a week for their hemming, but I wasn't up to it.

I originally had all of them prepped with pins.  The stitching for the first pair wasn't horrible, but because of contending with the pins while running the machine on a doubling stitch, it wasn't as neat as I would have liked.  Afterward I made the decision to use the double-sided water-soluble fabric tape that I have in lieu of the pins.  Hemming the remaining 2 pairs of jeans went smoother with the tape that I will never hem pants with pins again.

2.  I went exploring at the Easton Towne Center Mall.  Between the bronchitis and the cold weather, I have wisely been staying home when I able.  This then put me on the verge of cabin fever.  Feeling better and knowing the only opportunity to get out would be this past Saturday, I made sure that I went exploring then.  The deciding factors for going there were that the shops that I needed to hit were there, but also there was a "Wizard of Oz" exhibit going on.

The exhibit was a free educational exhibit that reminded me completely of Cosi.  It was interesting to walk through and see everything, but it is clearly geared to little ones.  So if you have little ones and are passing through Columbus, Ohio between now and March 25th, I would recommend it.

After the exhibit, I walked around.  I heard 2 different Lights' song, which I loved.  I was good and only purchased products from the stores that I needed, with the exception of food of course.

3.  I did take part in the Pre-Order Sale for American Duchess and Royal Vintage Shoes, which is going on now through to February 28th.

Thanks to my friend Kathy the costumer, I discovered American Duchess years ago.  American Duchess is a historical reproduction shoe company focusing on styles between the 18th Century up to and including the Edwardian Era.  Royal Vintage is its little sister ran by the same people with the style focus on 1920-1940's.

I use these for street shoes, and I frequently get complemented on them when I am out and about.  A recommendation for the American Duchess as street wear is to them to a Shoe Repair place and get rubber soles attached.  I did this with my "Victoria" Carriage Boots and I would like to do this with my other pairs.

Now a word of advice from enjoying their shoes,  the best time to buy is during their pre-order sales for the new styles, afterwards only Clearance and Imperfects go on sale.  But with my size feet, that is a bit risky.  As far as sizing goes,  American Duchess I do a half size above (for me that is 10.5), while Royal Vintage I go true to my size (for me that is a size 10).

So that has been my little bit of progress for this past week, and I am rather curious what next week will bring.

Until then please enjoy the Pre-order previews below...