Groupthink7

G O O D  B Y E  2 0 1 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! I am so glad that 2011 is coming to a close.   The first part of the year was fabulous.   I got my kitchen and patio remodeled, the cars of my dreams, meeting my current hairstylist (you are a peach, Janine), my husband turned 40, and I received a pay raise after 3 years from my job.   The second part of the year was a nightmare, with the exception of finding a church that I love, having a visit from a dear friend from Philadelphia, and starting my first blog.   I had issues with my extended family and I lost the job that I received a pay raise from in November.   There is always a reason for everything.   If I hadn’t lost my job, would I have started a blog?   Probably not.   I am taking this free time to analyze my thoughts and randomly write about things that are most dear to me.   As this year comes to a close, and the previous 37 years, I am looking forward to 2012.   A new year to get a second chance, a new year to get it right

Randomness here I go!   Lands End Canvas has been my go to store for mostly everything since last year.   I don’t know what I like most about it.   I love the classic, well made clothes that they offer.   Or is it that I am attracted to the nautical theme because of my stint in the Navy?   I love sailor stripes and dresses.   I own about 6 of them; however, I didn’t prefer my Cracker Jack uniforms because they were not form fitting.   Well, I have found my latest finds from Lands End Canvas in terms of accessories.   The Women's Double Wrap Leather Bracelet that retails at $19.50.   I was lucky to get them at $11 because of a coupon that I had.   They come in random colors and they are craftfully made in one of my favorite places, Canada .   The Women’s Double Wrap Leather Bracelet can be found at http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/WrapLeatherBracelet~230953_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::WNT&CM_MERCH=IDX_Women-_-ShoesAccessories-_-Jewelry&origin=index. Also,

I want to thank everyone that has supported me and my blog.   As I mentioned when I started this blog almost a month ago, I didn’t have an idea of what direction I wanted to go.   I have some many interests and a huge thought process, which is why my family says that I am random.   My ultimate goal is to express my thoughts while helping others in the process. As I was surfing the Internet this afternoon, I came across an article of the worst dressed celebrities and Christina Aguilera was on the list.   What I love about the articles that   I read are the comments.   Most of the comments were related to how much weight she gained and how fat she looked.   What grabbed my attention was one commenter said that she wasn’t fat according to African American or Hispanic standards, but to Caucasian standards she was fat.   The reader began to compare how Caucasian women can look good with tattoos on their lighter color skin; while it may not look so good on African Americans.   Then, a Cauca

On Monday, I was inadvertently led to the Saks Fifth Avenue after Christmas shoe sale.  Mind you, I only went downtown with the hubby to pick up my pants from Nordstroms.  After being led to Saks, I got caught up in the heat of moment.  The only things I saw were other over zealous women and the big extra 50% off sale of shoes.  So, I grabbed two shoes and had the Store Manager bring me the other two.  In a hurry along with husband to leave Saks, I didn't check the pair of Jimmy Choos closely.  When I got them home, they had some discoloration on one of the shoes maybe from moisture.  I was upset.  I have been trying to locate a comfortable nude colored shoe for about three years.  I have tried Christian Louboutins, YSL, and most recently Brian Atwood.  Well, yesterday, I had to trek back downtown to return the shoes and hopefully exchange it for another pair. I called Saks the night prior and a sales associate located 3 pair in Houston, Texas.  However, another sales associate say

Good Afternoon All!!!! I hope everyone had a safe and joyous holiday.  My husband found out at the last minute that he didn't have to work today because it is an official holiday since Christmas fell on Sunday.  Well, I had to go and pick up my pants at Nordstroms and my husband was nice enough to drive me downtown.  Well after picking up my pants, my husband and I decided to stroll on Michigan Avenue and I noticed that everyone was carrying Saks Fifth Avenue bags.  Since I had some time to kill, while waiting on some takeout form Buca di Bepo, I decided to go to Saks Fifth Avenue.  Now, what I noticed about the Saks Fifth Avenue bags that I saw people carrying were that they had shoes in them.  Shoes are kryptonite for me.  So, as I approached the 3rd floor and into the shoe department with husband in tow, it was a mad house.  Women were everywhere purchasing shoes.  Saks Fifth Avenue had an additional 50% off already marked down shoes from 8AM -12PM.  It was all the Jimmy Choos

Good Morning To All I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka, Happy Kwanzaa and whatever you celebrate.  Since this is my blog, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.  Whatever you celebrate, take this time to reflect on all the gifts and blessings that the Creator has given us.  Be nice to one another and love one another.  Everyone have a safe holiday. Blessings!!!!!!!

On Thursday, I went to meet with a personal stylist at Nordstroms.  I was really hesitant to go because, I feel I can dress myself.  My husband urged me to go so I can get out the house.  I was contacted by Nordstroms a week prior about their personal stylists on hand and they offered me $50 off the first purchase.  I am in sort of a predicament at this time about my purchases:  1.  I don't have a job, 2.  I am not at my idea weight (I am weight training now and working out harder with all the free extra time on my hands), and 3. I don't like shopping.  Let me explain the latter, I love fashion, however, I don't like shopping for it.  When I got to the store, I have an agenda.  I know what I am buying, how much it costs, and how it is going to fit prior to going to the store.  I loathe going into stores and searching for things. Since, I have various salespersons at stores like Louis Vuitton, Barneys, and Neiman Marcus calling me up when things come in that I may like, I sa

Earlier this year, I read the book Deluxe:  How luxury lost its luster by Dana Thomas. This is a must read for everyone who buys luxury items.  I was born in the early 70s and I got my first taste of luxury that I can remember at age 11 with my first Coach bag.  I remember the bag fondly.  It was a dinky bag in taupe.  I remember the bag was made out of leather that was comparable to a baseball glove.  Rewind twenty years later, Coach has introduced a similar version in a rainbow of colors.  I am sure the bag is not as well built like my bag purchased over 20 years ago.  I  wanted to give Coach the benefit of the doubt so I ordered the Coach duffel in Vermilion.  I received the bag and it was nothing like my second Coach bag (a black duffel sak) I received as a Easter present from my mother back in 1989. The bag was so bad, that when I took it to Coach for a return, the salespeople couldn't believe the quality of the bag.  They never saw any of the Coach original bags in person bec

                      Boots:  Cole Hahn                       Bag:  Dooney and Bourke Amazon Made in Italy Collection                       Leather Jacket:  Ann Taylor Loft                       Skirt:  Ann Taylor Loft                       Sweater:  Uniqlo (Purchased in Japan about 8 years ago)                       Scarf:  Nordstroms Rack (Made in Germany) Good Morning All!!!! Yesterday, I was checking out some of my favorite blogs and admiring the women and their outfits.  My daughter suggested that I follow suit and show my face.  I explained to her that since I am in search of a job, that won't be such a good idea.  Also, I look like a cow most of the times in pictures; that is why I avoid them.  I think obscurity is my only asset at this point in regards to entering the job market.  What do you guys think?  Am I over reacting?  You decide.

Since I have been out of work, I've been preparing myself for my future new job.  In order to find my new job, I was getting my interview wardrobe together.  Still feeling sad over my layoff, I thought I would self-medicate myself with some shopping.  I went to http://www.barneys.com/ to look at shoes in the wee hours of the morning and stumbled upon some Christian Louboutin Morphins.  What a beautiful shoe I thought.  It was a wedge heel and I can order a whole size up to accommodate my large flat feet. This is my 3rd pair of Louboutins I never had.  What I mean by that, every pair that I have ordered, I had to send back because they were God awful uncomfortable.  I think that shoes over a certain price point should guarantee cloud nine comfort.  Typically, I compromised by ordering these shoes because of the wedge heel that I am accustomed too. I received the shoes today, a day earlier than estimated.  My husband was like, "Oh you got some red bottom shoes." I thought

"Working out is modern couture.  No outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body.  Buy less clothing and go to the gym instead."  - Rick Owens, Fashion Designer When I found this quote by Rick Owens this year, I made a copy of it on yellow paper and put it in a plastic cover.  I have this quote posted on my mirror in my bedroom.  This quote is so true.  This quote is my motivation to get up 6 days a week and go to the gym.  A fit body is going to make you feel better and it will make a $5 dress look good.  As I mentioned in earlier posts, I watch Windy City Live.  The co-hosts Valerie Warner and Ryan Chiaverini are always put together by mixing inexpensive and obscure options in their wardrobe.  For example, check out the outfits that both are wearing:  P icture Courtesy of Windy City Live Val: Jacket & Pants: New York & Company, www.NYandCompany.com Earrings & Necklaces: Val's Shoes: Nine West www.NineWest.com Ryan: Sui

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome home our  troops   from war .    The United States lowered its flag in Baghdad as the United States military mission in Iraq has ended.  My husband is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.  He has been home now for about 6 years.  I am very glad that our troops are coming home.  As citizens, please take this time to welcome our troops home.  You can show appreciation to our troops by volunteering at a Veterans hospital or if you are job creator, hire a vet. The troops have sacrificed so much so American Citizens and citizens around the world can be safe.  God Bless Everyone!  

     Lands End Canvas                                                                   N. Peal Cashmere      I am so excited.  Remember the cashmere sweater from Lands End Canvas that I got on sale last week?  Well, I received it yesterday.  It is all that and a bag of chips.  The sweater is hand knitted and fluffy.  It is a well fitted sweater.  It is definitely a sweater I am going to enjoy for years to come.  I also purchased a sweater from http://www.theoutnet.com/  by N.Peal Cashmere about two weeks ago for $142 originally $355.  I was going to send it back yesterday; however I missed the deadline to mail it back to London.  My husband suggested that I keep it. I like it; however when I received the sweater from Lands End yesterday; like turned into loathe.  I was comparing the two sweaters in terms of quality and the sweater from Lands End beats the N.Peal Cashmere sweater hands down. The N.Peal Cashmere sweater is nice but not as nice as the Lands End Canvas sweater.  The N.

As a blogger, I check other blogs that interest me.  I have been a frequent visitor in the past year of http://www.purseblog.com/ .  On the blog today, they talked about the color trends for 2012 in handbags.   Pantone, Inc. who specializes in proprietary color space has chosen a color Tangerine Tango as the color trend of the year.  Tangerine Tango can be described as a reddish/orange color.  Purseblog being a blog for purses  decided to find handbags that fall into this color category.  One of the bags, a Bottega Veneta Maxi Veneta Hobo was being featured.  It is a color called Fire.  I have a Bottega Veneta Large Belly bag that I purchased on sale for $1,800.00 about a year ago in Fire.  The Bottega Veneta Large Belly bag can be seen here at http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod138600017&parentId=cat33170732&masterId=cat3650751&index=2&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat000009cat000019cat3650751cat33170732&isEditorial=false . When I look at t

I  belong to a church called South Suburban Vineyard that is so diverse they allow you to come as you are.  I grew up in a Catholic Church and Baptist Church and had to always wear Sunday's best.  It feels good that I can put on what I feel like and worship. I am wearing a Bottega Veneta Maxi Intrecciato Hobo which can be found at http://www.barneys.com/Maxi-Intrecciato-Hobo/00505010622520,default,pd.html?cgid=BARNEYS , patent leather boots from Boden; Missoni for Target Scarf, sparkly sweatshirt from http://www.anntaylorloft.com/ ; jeans by Bisou Bisou, boiled wool coat by Carole Little, and cross chain by Russell Simmons Jewelry from Jareds.

                                                    Baccarat Les Bijoux                           Various Cuffs including Scott Kay, Lois Hill, and Japan/Thailand                                                               Groupthink7 in Classic Black One of my favorite television shows which aren't very many happens to be Fashion Hunters on Bravo.  The show entails a thrift store based out of New York named Second Time Around. The shopkeepers raid the closets of New York socialites to sell designer duds at thrift store prices.  The thrift store prices are not what you are use to when shopping at flea markets or Salvation Army, but they put designer duds in the reach of the masses who don't have the million dollar paychecks.  Well, on the season finale so comically named "Crazy for Coco Cuffs", showed a potential co-signer trying to authenticate a cuff bracelet allegedly owned and worn by Coco Chanel herself.  As the show came to a close, it was discovered that

                                          The Anxiety Ring                                           The October Ring to the right. While working in downtown Chicago, you meet a lot of interesting people.  About two summers ago, I met Katie Johansson, owner of Dollybird. She had the most wonderful jewelry.  I am a ring fanatic.  Her rings are definitely conversation pieces.  Every time I wear one of her rings, I get lots of compliments.  My favorites are the October ring that has all of the fall colors in it.  I am a fall baby and I was born in October.  So it was logical to purchase the one of a kind October ring.  The other ring is my anxiety ring.  The story behind this ring is this man I use to ride the train with was into natural stones that had healing properties.  He had two stones. I don't recall what the other stone was but I chose the amber looking colored stone.  I am into a lot of neutral colors.  He gave me the stone and told me that it heals anxiety.  Go figur

Good Morning All. Since I have been laid off from my job, I have been finding myself awakening around 3AM in the morning to get on the computer.  My Intenet surfing consists of checking emails for job prospects, searching for jobs on job engines, and window shopping.  I am very consistent to the types of websites I visit:  Landsend, Dooney and Bouke, Barneys, and so on.  Anyways, I am so excited that a sweater I have been eyeing has went on sale.  I asked the hubby can I purchase this sweater since I am now unemployed and must conserve cash.  He said yes.  Yippie for me.  The sweater was originally $350 now down to $200 for a limited time. On top of that, I found a free shipping coupon.  I hope this sweater is all that and a bag of chips when I receive it.  Patience is a viture. 

Here in Chicago, the buzz is centered on our now defunct Governor Rod Blagojevich who has just been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for selling President Obama's former Senate seat.  The judge emphasized that Blagojevich threw away his position of being the top appointed government official in a state which is compared to the President of the United States for money.  Blagojevich was in a position to help the constituents of the state of Illinois; instead he didn't aspire to be an honest Governor.  Governor was beneath him, he wanted access to a higher paying job and power.  Now Blagojevich is on his way to serving a 14 year prison sentence without money and power. As, I  was watching him and his family on television today, it made me realize that we have to be thankful for the things that we have.  It is great to have aspirations for more; however we must be grateful for what the Creator has given us and use it for good and not our own personal aspirations. 

Since being laid off, I am stuck with the task of watching daytime television.  You know it is a ritual to sit on the couch and watch shows that utter phrases like "YOU ARE THE FATHER" and (fill in the blanks with whatever name you would like) ______________, took a lie detector test, and so on.  One show I am enjoying is Windy City Live.  It features Valerie Warner and Ryan Chiaverini.  The show took the spot of Oprah's show when she retired.  I think it has the makings of being really big. How many of you tried to get tickets on the Oprah show when it was on?  I know I did for about 7 years.  Well, I decided yesterday that I was going to get some tickets on the Windy City Live show.  Already, the shows are all booked for December.  I am going to be on my toes for the January, 2012 shows.  I think it is best from experience to take advantage of something before it reaches the masses.  Who would of thought as a 10 year old kid that Oprah would be as big as she is today.

I lost my job a week ago today.  The door was opened for me almost four years ago and then it was closed.  From that moment, I had lost most of my passion for getting on with my life until my desire to write a blog was imagined.  I always wanted to start my own blog, but I didn't know how to get started.  Ideas began to play around in my head.  I didn't want to be just a blog that talked about travel or fashion, but something more.  Not to take away anything from the fashion and travel blogs out there; I quite enjoy them.  My explanation was to follow my calling. The Creator has given us all gifts. There is not a one size fits all.  I think there is a place for everyone who has a dream.  Individuality - not afraid of going against the grain.  Let me clarify, I am not a rebel; but a person that loves peace.  I think we can all live together in harmony with eveyone not being afraid to be who they are.  Respecting everyone's ideas and aspirations. Some words of wisdom that I h

                                         Louis Vuitton Montreal, Canada  July, 2009 I know this is random; however after looking at numerous publications such as Vogue over the past two months, I couldn't help but to love their new advertisement campaign featuring the Japanese Chins.  I lived in Japan for about 4 1/2 years and I fell in love with Japanese Chins.  I loved them so much that I purchased a cute little male Japanese Chin from a non-for-profit organization in Lake County (Chicago, Illinois).  I was tickled to see how my love for Louis Vuitton and Japanese Chins were brought to life

Since this is my first blog and I warned you guys that it is in its interim phase; I am a bit of a scatter brain. Just to inform you I have an obsession for quality and polish.  The things that I am loving right now are Dooney and Bourke Alto Line, Clare Vivier Foldover Clutches, Essie's Case Study School of Hard Rocks nail enamel, and Chanel Blue Satin Nail Enamel. Enjoy.

After countless months admiring all the fashion blogs out there; I have gained the courage of setting up my own blog.  Most blogs out there are geared towards a specified genre or niche market.  My blog is in its interim phase. I just have a hodge podge of ideas and thoughts that I want to share and hopefully help others along the way.  I named this blog Groupthink7 as an ode to Erykah Badu's Window Seat video.  In laments term, groupthink to me is the opposition to critical thinking and individuality for the sake of creating harmony among all parties involved.  The number seven comes into play because it is my favorite number.  There are 7 days in a week.  Although, we are not promised tomorrow, keep in mind, you have 7 days to get it right.  This blog is a work in progress; such as myself... a work in progress. Blessings!!!!!