Monday Musings From The Construction Zone
Happy Monday, ladies. I hope your weekend was more restful than ours. Mine involved a delayed flight, a very long rainy drive, furniture shopping, home construction, and an unfortunate run-in with a marble coffee table. More on that later.
Lately, I can’t seem to get enough of red. Not just any red…a cool-toned raspberry red which is most flattering on me. It feels fresh, happy, and just the right amount of bold for fall. I’ve found myself eyeing raspberry sweaters, shoes, and even a handbag. (Yes, I said it. A red handbag. We’ll see how long I resist.) I fell hard for these shoes, but Nordstrom was sold out of my size, so I checked on Amazon and scored a pair! They’re super comfy right out of the box and certainly put a pep in my step.
I’m not planning to drench myself head-to-toe in scarlet….but I’m enjoying the way a small pop adds some sass, the way a swipe of lipstick can light up your whole face. It also lifts my spirits…which I could certainly use these days.
Meanwhile, the saga of furniture shopping continues. We went to check out a floor model sale over the weekend, and everything looked a little… tired. The colors were off, the finishes dated, and nothing felt like it belonged in a fresh home. The headboards were too large to even contemplate our famous narrow corner, and the coffee tables…well, let’s just say one met an untimely end at my hands.
In my defense, it was displayed precariously, but there’s nothing quite like the sound of marble shattering on a showroom floor. If you’ve ever wondered how to command instant attention in a store, that’s one way.
Back at the condo, things are no calmer. Half the floor is currently ripped up, which means I’m walking around in closed-toed shoes indoors like some kind of warehouse worker. They’ve now decided to patch only the damaged parts, rather than replacing them all…which is either very clever or a slow-motion disaster. I’ll let you know in a few weeks. Mostly, I just want to reassemble my home and remember what it feels like to live without tiptoeing around construction dust.
The weather here has turned cooler, which caught me off guard. The California me thought a white shirt would suffice yesterday, but apartment-in-renovation me found herself wishing for a trench or packable nylon jacket during Sunday’s stroll. It’s that shoulder season where the air is crisp and the leaves are threatening to change…I can’t wait. This lightweight coat arrived, and I am stupidly excited to wear it! The color is one of my very favorite neutrals, and the shape could not be more classic. I sized down to an XS, so it does run large.
We had a long, exhausting travel day that cost us tickets to see Neil Young on Saturday night. I’d been looking forward to it, but maybe it’s just as well. At this stage, I mostly want to hear the old hits anyway, and their new albums don’t quite hit the same nostalgic nerve. Besides, a concert in the rain, on a picnic blanket, isn’t nearly as appealing as a chair in a climate-controlled symphony hall. Rock and roll is fun, but so is lumbar support.
Finally, I highlight of my week was something far more uplifting…Grandparents Day at my littlest guy’s school. I wore a blue dress, and he showed up with a bright green cast on his leg after cracking his tibia in a toy-related mishap. He’s already figured out how to hobble, hop, and maneuver like a pro. His spirit is unstoppable, and I was reminded that resilience doesn’t just belong to kids; they certainly show us how it’s done.
So tell me, what’s been on your mind lately? And more importantly…raspberry red… do we love it, or is this just me needing the medicinal uplift of color these days?
I now have an ear worm of the Prince song Raspberry Beret!😂 I love the color because it’s a cooler red, just my style.
I’m also confused; was there damage in your home calling for repair? And is this in California or Vancouver? Home construction is not fun, but grit your teeth to get to the end result.
Vancouver condo. The washing machine flooded our rental condo on my birthday. Great fun! Not!
Love love love those raspberry red loafers!
They say bad things come in threes regarding your tough weekend. Sounds like you’ve had your fill for a while. Let us know if you recommend the Healthy Aging Cream. Right now I’m checking out Marcelle Vitamin C + peptide and La Roche-Posay’s Hydraphase which have received good reviews.
I’m way past three so hopefully things will lighten up
Am happy to hear that the color red is lifting your spirits; you needed that! We are heading up to Victoria and Pender Island on Saturday so would appreciate any advice on clothes to pack. Hope this week is better for you!
A light jacket for breezes and cozy sweater is in order. We may get a smattering of rain. I love both those destinations. Have fun!
Love the raspberry red! I’m ready to try it.
Yes, please do a post on the other raspberry items you’re finding in cool shades. Love those shoes!
I will!
I feel for you about renovation. It upsets your whole routine. I love your raspberry shoes. All my life I have gravitated toward red. Just the pop of color makes me happy 😊
Love love LOVE raspberry red! It’s so flattering to cool-toned skin. And it goes with navy AND black, making it very versatile for wardrobe planning. It’s my favorite accent color! I am so sorry for all the negative stuff going on in your life, Jennifer. Good for you – looking for the positives!
Loving the raspberry color! And I spit my drink out when I read the rock & roll/lumbar support line!! Thanks for the giggle!
lol!
I really enjoy reading your blog. I’m so sorry about all your recent mishaps. Love the red loafers! I have a Lo & Sons red purse that I enjoy. If you have another chance to see Neil Young I would recommend going. I saw him in mid-August and he sounded great! Left a few big hits on the table but did so many of my old favorites. And I agree about the lawn, pavilion seats for me at this age!
Saturday morning, we discovered that our December cruise was canceled by Princess. It was 8 o’clock. I had to wait an hour until our travel agency opened but I did write them an email and our TA responded quickly even though it was her weekend off and she was out of state. We waited with baited breath for three hours to find out what was going to happen. Finally, the travel agency informed us that we were charged the wrong price for a premier package and we owe Princess another $1000 and because our TA was going back-and-forth with them and we didn’t know that, they just canceled our cruise. The travel agency said no, you don’t owe us anything, the corporate will pay and negotiate with the cruise line. So it all worked out in the end, but it was alarming.
I’m I’m so glad you have a beautiful color in your life. I have a cranberry raspberry propped pant from Chicos, which I love. And they’re certainly is enough in my closet to go along with it. Nowadays, I have to buy shorter more slenderizing tops for the type of pants I’m wearing. They are hard to find. I am spending more time in loft. Chico’s tops are all wide and square.
Good luck with your redecorating.
Wow that would be so stressful. I’m glad you got it all figured out.
I love that coat and would buy it in blue if it was on sale. As for raspberry red, yes! That is a wonderful color on you, and it is a youthful choice too, in my opinion. Nothing like a pretty color to perk up my mood. I am confused about your apartment. Are you renting? If so, how can the landlord do this while you are living there? Sounds awful!
We are renting. They can do it because they own it and get to decide how to repair it. I’m trying to negotiate a discounted rent for this time it’s all torn up.
I love the raspberry red vibe. I’m not sure if I’m ready to dive in yet. I’m still working myself up for a wider leg jeans. You might say I am in jeans limbo, ugh. You have definitely had a week! The pain of construction in our homes is so worth the outcome. Hopes this week is full of positives
Try flares! I just bought two pair this summer and love them. I’ll have to do a post about them.
Beautiful shade of red on the shoes, Jennifer. I want to find the shade in lipstick, now. I wear red alot but not on my lips anymore. I think the raspberry shade is a good pick -me-up. I hope you have a good week!
I was just thinking I would try to find raspberry lipstick too.
I still occasionally wear Raspberry Glace from Clinique. Love it!
Good one
Try Clinique Love Pop.
That red just puts a smile on your face and so you send a smile to everyone your around. Keep the smiles going.
Do you only wear solids? How do you feel about wearing prints?
And yes I LOVE the raspberry red!! A happy color!!!
No, I don’t wear prints. I find them aging and many look dated to me. I do have a few striped shirts and a dress.
Jennifer,
I LOVE the red shoes!! I want a pair! They give your outfit that great pop of color. I’ve been searching for a pair of loafers like that, or even any other color but black or brown. I struggle with a neuroma in one of my toes which requires me to have a bigger toe box in my shoes. This makes shoe shopping much less enjoyable. Hopefully I’ll find a comfortable pair of red shoes soon! Thanks
They’re so fun. My pal Carol has several pairs of red shoes and inspired me to try some.
I SO loved that red hoodie last week in your JCrew try on that I had to try it. It came home with me and I can’t wait to wear it. The Labor Day sale made it impossible to leave it behind and I picture wearing it with light wash jeans as in your try on, but olive green and gray as well. To keep the red vibrant I’ll have it dry cleaned. Thanks for that try on!
It is fabulous!
I went through a phase of loving clothing that was poppy colored (red with orange tones) but now think the cooler raspberry colors would look better on me. Keep us informed of your finds, please. And your statement about rock n roll vs lumbar support is priceless!
Jennifer, you must have dug deeply to find a way to be so positive in a challenging week. Thanks for giving the rest of us such a positive example of “getting through”. On a lighter note, I love raspberry red, too, especially this autumn when so many fashions are colours that don’t compliment me. Just discovered a beautiful gentle raspberry coloured lipstick from MAC, Beam There – Done That. It looks great on, the colour being a definite raspberry, but not overwhelming. Sure hope this is an easier week for you – maybe a new lipstick will help!
It sounds perfect. That’s what I want. Light raspberry lipstick
Love the nylon coat and I bought a pair of Birdies in a similar color, I’ll call it red/raspberry shoes. Love the pop of color and looks great with leopard print pants🤗 have a great day!
Thanks Pat