Time Out

Well.

It's been a while.

We're in the throes* of all-consuming kitchen renovation planning. Ugh!

*The other day I saw that someone wrote 'throws'. Maybe that's right after all.

Decisions, decisions. My head is spinning with cabinet fronts, appliance specs, electrical wiring layouts, blueprints, estimates, etc.

We have spent 3 days, so far looking at humongous slabs of granite, soapstone, marble. How do you balance beauty and practicality?

Like the Mud Lady in the mop ad, I stuck to a beautifully undulating-patterned, buttery sea of slab of marble. Going back to look at my kitchen brought me back down to reality and I realized it was infatuation, not a marriage. I'd still like to live with that slab of rock in my house. It was beautiful. But soapstone it will be for the countertops.

So be warned, fair reader, I will probably subject you to the agony and the ecstasy of renovation.

Altering Clothes

I buy men's shirts and alter them.

One of the reasons why I like men's shirts is they are usually made of better fabric.

They are sewn up better, most of the seams are French seams.

The shirts last longer and have roomier armholes, shoulders and sleeves.

The pleat in the back also gives a more comfortable fit.

A lot of the time, the permanent press is better too.

I customize the shirts by removing the collar, but leave the base portion intact to make a band collar.

I sometimes cut off the shirt tail too. The shirts have a longer cut and removing the shirt tail doesn't change the shirt that much. But it does give it a better line and proportion for me.

Besides, if you cut the shirt tail off, the re-designed shirt can now be worn over a T-shirt and look more like a tailored top. And a shorter shirt fits underneath a blazer or jacket.