that was quick

Is it me or was 2012 the fastest year ever? Selling a house. Moving not once but twice. Changing my job. New babies in the world. To quote a favorite movie:
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Here's to the new year and to not missing a thing. Happy 2013 everyone!

over the river and through the snow

We won't be going through any rivers as we travel to the ocean for the holidays but there is a bit of snow as we head out of town. We were in Paris last year for the holidays and this year is even better...Christmas with Ruby,Eleanor, and the entire Benson family  in Santa Barbara! Have a Merry Merry and see you in 2013!
ps. for those that were curious...the fur sold for what I originally paid for it (hooray!) and someone in Seattle will be very happy when they open their presents!

is it real?

I got this vest on ebay and had the best intentions for wearing it. Tossing it on top of  flowy maxi dresses and walking through street fairs digging the boho vibe. Wearing it while people watching at the cafes in Paris. The truth is; I over think wearing it. 
My town doesn't exactly scream Aspen or Vail where everyone has their fur tossed on over their designer jeans and hand knit sweaters or indie tees. 
A fur in my neck of the woods could get you noticed . Getting noticed is okay; but the whole fur controversy bugs me and I don't want to deal with any PETA people by saying that "it's vintage! I'm recycling! reusing!". 
And Paris. It might be wonderful in Paris but last year when we went for the holidays; it rained. It rained a lot. 
I hope someone wins that will love it. and wear it. and not think about it.(click to the shop page on the right if you want to bid!)

gypsy romance

Color. Fabric. I love mixing it, layering it, and seeing how far you can go with it. I'm working on a new project that makes my heart sing and I love the creative high an artist feels in the "birthing" stage of an idea. Ebay is an easy place to find a worldwide collection of things you're looking for... velvet, silks, floral, dots, paisley and so much more. Can't wait to share the end result.

moving on

I scored this Rugby Ralph Lauren tweed bubble skirt on ebay and it's now back for sale (click "my shop" page for details). It's adorable, fun to wear...but our affair is over and time for a new home. 
The boots are Robert Clergerie from Paris and were another amazing find. Original retail would have been $1500+ (seriously; stupid, right?!) but lucky for me I got them at a 1/10 of that. They fit like a dream and I could wear them all day without a problem. 
The jacket is from Open Sky; pleather; but has great lines and design.

the mother win

(from the 2007 archives...)

This has to be one of my favorites. It is a warm, soft, buttery color that you can almost taste on the tip of your tongue with the curves of a big, bosomy woman that you want to hug till there's nothing left to hug...perfection.
She's designed by Ralph Widdicombe, a nephew of John Widdicomb of the Widdicomb Furniture Company. For 50+ years all Widdicomb furniture was designed by Ralph until his retirement in 1951 and Mr. Widdicombe (who always retained the old English spelling of his name ending with an "e") was the first to introduce the United States to the French Provincial designs of furniture....go Ralph!

I bought this from a wonderful ebayer, Bleu Gardenia (bleugardenia), who also had a store I believe in Newport Beach, CA. I had dropped my dear airedale terrier, Zoe, off at a specialized animal hospital to be operated on for hip dysplasia (long story short...she's great today...full of herself and a fool in general) and stopped by the Bleu Gardenia store to collect the piece and travel back to Arizona. The dresser was at the owner's son's home (the views were fabulous...in the hills) and unfortunately she was too long to fit in the back of my Jeep Cherokee. She would have to be sent.

.............................................................................................................................

Shipping furniture is a real drag. It's expensive, takes forever, and you never really know who you're dealing with. In this case, I was lucky. The dresser arrived perfectly, weighs about 200 pounds, and now holds some of my husband's prized possessions of his family history. We call her "mother"...I walk by her everyday and smile...I just want to hug her.

here

Here I am. Many moons ago, when I first started this blog it was going to be all about my experiences on ebay; hence the web address: "everyauctiontellsastory" (and for some reason I didn't think I could just put my name for a web address, right?! told you it was a long time ago...). But then I didn't think I had enough. Or I had too much. Or; a million and one other reasons got in the way; and the name became "Suddenly I See" about life and all that went on in mine.

But it bugged me. It gnawed at me to know that the web address didn't have anything to do with the blog header or the content. What's a girl to do? 

Change it. 

calm.cool.collected is my ebay name. When I first started on ebay in January of 1999,  I had to send (by snail mail) my auction photos to some person in Podunk, USA who would magically "upload" them on their computer and then send me the links to them so I could post the auction with pics...weird. 

So much has changed and I've been there. And I'm still doing it. My "shop" page (in the right hand margin) is now connected to my ebay selling; so you'll know if I have anything selling or not. 

And want to know more about me? Go to the "about" page where I've shared a secret. I feel as if the blogs are all coming together now and have a running thread to them...stay tuned for more adventures.

closed

Work, life, and other creative endeavors are making me realize I need to shut the doors for a bit. Most likely I will be back but until then enjoy your life, work, and other creative endeavors as well. xoxo

it's true

Bra shopping can be a drag. Fight the traffic to your favorite department store. Choose some bras and hope they're the right size as you head to the dressing room. Take off your clothes; try on the bras; and find out that you need a cup size bigger. Put on your clothes, trudge back to the floor, get another size and the process starts once more. 
It can be exhausting...but now there's True&Co and bra shopping couldn't be easier!
After a simple quiz, you'll discover the bra fit and styles that work for you, complete with personal recommendations, and a bra shop created based on your "True" bra style.
Based on your "True" bra style, you'll pick any three bras and add them to your try-on bag. True&Co's personal shoppers will then pick another two and send you all five styles to try on.Out of the 5 bras in the box, keep the ones you like. Return the rest within 7 days of receiving your bra box using the same shipping box. You'll only be charged for the items that you keep, no strings attached!
The founders of True&Co have backgrounds in consumer technology, ecommerce and intimate apparel. They know what they're doing and it was more than easy to try on each gorgeous bra in the comfort of my own home and "test" it out under different clothing options in my closet. Out of the five bras sent to me--I kept three. Two that I picked and one from their personal shopper...love them all.

fall break

What did I do during my Fall break? I played. Hide and Seek. Monsters going to get us. Tiger in the woods. Dig a hole.Look at the airplane.Whatever this 2 year old wanted to do; I was up for it. 

good dog

Traveling with animals can be stressful but this trip to California with Lola has went amazingly well. She knew what to expect (from the 8 hour car ride) to our housing arrangements along with the undivided attention she receives (and gives) to a very special 2 year old Ruby. Do you travel with your pets? Is it always better the second time around?

happy weekend

One week before Fall break and I'm so ready to go and play with Ruby & her baby sister Eleanor. This weekend is playing catch up. Dressing on the Side had a little sale going on and now there's 200 shirts that need to be packed and shipped before we head off to Santa Barbara. 

dress code 3

Last week was Homecoming and each day was a theme to dress up and show your school spirit. In reality I didn't wear any of these outfits last week although some may argue that a few do look  like a costume. Crisp fall days mean lots of layers to add on...love it! Are the leaves changing where you're at?

bad moon rising

I'm not a read-your-horoscope-everyday sort of girl but I stumbled upon astrologist Susan Miller who writes up a monthly forecast which has proven to be crazy good.
 Earlier in the year she wrote about the many changes that would be coming to my life (so true) and when our search for housing was chaotic, Susan's forecast gave me the exact month when we'd be moving into new digs...scary true again. The monthly horoscope has been spot on for my husband and youngest son as well..it's so weird; but it's so true. 
That being said, word to the wise that September 29 (plus or minus 4 days on either side)is a bad moon rising. 
You may want to argue with someone but don't. Try not to travel. Observe and don't react. 
I like how Ms Miller puts it: "Remember, astrology shows the condition and tensions surrounding the event, but not the outcome - that's up to you." She stresses how she can tell you things by where the stars and moons are but it's up to you to make things happen. Take a look and see what this month was all about for you (and look again on 10/1 for October's forecast) and remember to keep calm and carry on in the next week.

can you feel it?

Fall is in the air. Time to add a blanket to the bed and throw a jacket on top before you head out in the morning for work. Gorgeous.
This week is Homecoming week at the high school. What fun! Each day is a theme day and the halls were decorated over the weekend.
 Last week was a tragic week. A suicide. The second in three weeks. Heartbreaking. Don't really like to include bummer items but the good, the bad, and the ugly are all a  part of life and it was all consuming last week. The only good in all this is that we can hope that all of the discussion at the high school and the media regarding these two deaths may prevent other adolescents in taking their own lives in times of confusion and pain.
This week. This week is going to be a good week.

keep them guessing

Sometimes I laugh at all the layers I put on when I am getting dressed for school. Slips, tights, shirt, sweater, jacket...and it's not even winter yet. The girls in the office never quite know what I'll be wearing when I walk in the door and I think that's fun in an office atmosphere...keep them guessing. Some people are so predictable and in a day after day routine it's nice to spice things up a bit.

life's a beach

what a great weekend. Left my heart in Santa Barbara with this little girl and her sister (and their mom of course!) Happy to have a short week to work off and this weekend the plan is to go through boxes of fall clothes that have been sitting in the hall closet.

indian summer

Is that politically correct to say? No bother...it is what it is. We had a taste of Fall and now the days are heating back up. The light is different. The sun is more golden. I suppose we should drink it up while it's here and not rush the seasons, right? I'll be enjoying the beach (just like gorgeous Grace Kelly) this weekend along with two very special little ladies...enjoy yours as well!



dress code 2

Fall is in the air which means I can layer it on. These quick morning fashion pics are allowing me to see what I wore (um...hello little bo peep) and change it up next time these pieces come out of the closet. Thanks for sharing in the "what will she wear next" story with me and my imagination.

smells like teen spirit

The highlight of the school year has been the march to the pep assembly. The school band marches through the hallway while the students filter out of their classrooms and follow behind out into the football stands where the we've got spirit yes we do; we've got spirit how about you contests began. Blast to the past of my days of being a high school cheerleader but we never had this intro into the assembly...what fun! And ps. our team won the Friday night football game.

this and that

Those stripes. Gorgeous, right? My job keeps me super busy all day. everyday. The day goes by in two shakes of a ...zebra's tail.  
I enter lots of info on the computer. Who's not here. Why that student is not here. I give out passes. I act like you're my kid when you forget your ID and I make you answer 20 questions regarding it's whereabouts.
I play Nancy Drew and figure out phone numbers and student's names while listening to parents on our answering machine. The worst job of naming a kid goes to the parents at my school that named their kid "Coal". seriously. Not "Cole" like a normal person but the black dirty stuff that naughty kids get in their stocking at Christmas. weird. Plus the fact that the kid is going to have to correct anyone and everyone that writes his name down the first time. for the rest. of. his. life.
Next week I get to go play with a toddler and a baby. Over the moon happy about that.

dress code

My principal commented that if she wore what I wore that people might think she was a bit eccentric...no doubt. But my position calls for me to meet students and parents from a customer service point of view and ps. I always like to have fun with fashion and being "the quirky attendance lady" might just make life a bit more interesting. This wasn't all last week but I had husband snap a few pics before I bolted to work the first two weeks and this is the edited version. That jean shirt gets a lot of wear on top of strappy tanks and dresses...I might be crazy but I'd be stupid for not following dress code.

welcome to the world!

This last week has been filled with happy,happy,joy,joy! Baby Eleanor came into the world on Sunday, July 29th and we are over the moon. I won't be able to see her until the end of this month but can't wait to tell her all about us and perhaps sing a favorite song of mine to her.

what a week

first things first. seriously. Robert Redford. can you stand it? I know...hairy chest. I don't care.sigh.
The week was good. I like my job. a lot. It's fast. The people I work with are fun. I do busywork which makes the time go by like this (snaps my fingers) but it's a nice change of pace to work with adults and do a job that's my own. I'm going to get some modern office stuff to redesign the twenty year old folders,pens, notepads, and other office paraphernalia that the previous clerk used and make it my own this weekend.
Hope you had a good week and are enjoying your day off!

after all

Interesting how timing works. A year ago if I were told that I would have to go to work 2 weeks before students would arrive at school you would have heard me moaning and groaning about the injustice and audacity of such a decision.
This year I'm over the moon happy to start up a school computer; to meet new faces that will turn into friends and a family of sorts as the year progresses; to learn what I need to do for this new place of employment.
I'm a bit anxious but I think I can do it. I've heard good things about what I can bring to the table and what the future holds for me.I'm going to make it after all.

changes

Seasons change. Homes change. We change. The best part about this packing up and moving on is that all of my old stuff looks really fresh and new to me. How awful is it to say that I have good taste?! It's fun to put together new rooms with my "old" furniture...reinvent where a chair used to be but where it is placed now. My bedroom even has new-to-me linens on as well...it's nice. The worst part of the rental is having to live with certain things I don't care for...carpet. ugh. Our former home was lots of gorgeous wood and tile and so...clean. cool. great for area rugs. oh well.

I've lost 17 pounds. amazing, right?! The good thing about losing weight is that your clothes don't fit. The bad thing about losing weight is that your clothes don't fit. Looks like I'll be busy with eBay as soon as I get the house in order.

I'm changing jobs. I was at the elementary school for 12 years as a "paraprofessional"; a fancy word for teacher's aide. Although with today's economic times I was more like a teacher at times. Small groups for reading; teaching whole class while teacher did computer work; along with a plethora of outside duties from cafeteria, crossing guard, playground, bus duty...the nuts and bolts of what keeps a school going. It was nice although at times too much drama with the teachers but whatevs...The school is undergoing a change and my job was going to be basically a full time computer teacher (at a parapro's hourly wage) along with all the duties and I just thought it might be time for an employment change for me.

This fall I'll be at the high school as an attendance clerk. First thing that came to mind was Ferris Bueller and the principal's secretary who knew all the cliques of kids and who was who. Hope I can be as cool as she was.

moving day

We just returned from a most amazing 30 days spent with Ruby and her mom and dad in Santa Barbara and in 24 hours we'll be moving to a rental in our area. Much smaller than the house we sold in March but that was the plan, wasn't it? Downsize. Simplify. We've got a one year lease and then who knows?

Happy Fathers Day

Brunch and the beach at Summerland, California makes for a perfect Dad's day with Audrey, Josh, and Ruby (and future baby girl...love the matching stripes!). This beach is dogs on leash but we've been to another where it's run amok with dogs...so fun! Planning on a couple more days there this week.

petite Periwinkle lane

When my daughter went to college she told us of a street in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area where if you were to believe urban legend "little people" were the only inhabitants and living a magical life. We are living only a few blocks away from the infamous Periwinkle Lane this summer and on further research I have discovered what the magic is all about.

The houses are called the Moody cottages, about three dozen pixie homes built in the 1930s and '40s (and scattered on other streets as well other than Periwinkle) by sisters Harriet, Mildred, Brenda and Wilma Moody. These four unmarried ladies who, long before it was permitted or expected, created vital careers in Santa Barbara in design and planning, banking, art, cottage development and construction.

The Moody sisters made full use of windows, beams, doors and other house parts salvaged from large homes being torn down after the Depression to save on property taxes. These recycling efforts only gave their already fanciful creations further character and charm. Ceilings slanted to an extreme, windows irregularly sized and rooms configured in odd shapes, the homes are whimsical -- if now downright eccentric.Today these cottages -- mere dollhouses when compared with Montecito mansions -- continue to command serious money. Three Moody cottages on the market recently were listed at $1,695,000 to $2,595,000, putting their price per square foot about 20% higher than the average per-square-foot sales price for other properties in the same ZIP Code.

behind closed gates

I like to imagine what goes on behind these Montecito closed gates on our walks with Lola. It seems as if every house has them and they come in all sizes, shapes, and from different eras in home building. Wouldn't you love to take a peek inside the homes behind them?

summer fun

We play hide and seek. a lot. and we always know where she is because she hides in the same spot. the first, second, and tenth time we play. Lola and Ruby are becoming best pals. It's fascinating to watch how Lola has taken Ruby under her wing  paw and feels the need to be by her and protect her, And how Ruby is becoming more enchanted with her each day.

peek

We're going to be crazy busy these next few days packing up for our trip to California. Enjoy your first days of summer and we'll meet you back here with a smile on our face and the sand in our toes.

thinking chair

Is it just me or does it seem odd to say "Happy Memorial Day"? Sure; it's the start of summer. school's out. roadtrips are being planned. and I'm guilty of pumping my fist to celebrate a day off work. but it is a day set aside to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

On the other hand; I like to think that those who sacrificed did so for the freedom that we enjoy on this day and might be first in line to grab a burger off the barbecue. So, Happy Memorial Day and thank you.

*via weheartit.com

happy weekend

Have a great 3 day (if you get one). My summer has officially started. Yesterday I met with a former student to snap some pics for Dressing On The Side. It's nice to see kids you taught turn into kids that are going to teach the world one day...Michaela is an amazing young woman.
Packing up and getting ready for a month in Santa Barbara...so excited to see a couple of young ladies over on the West Coast. Cheers to the weekend!

hold on

One more week of school and then a week to get our act together to travel to Santa Barbara for June. Our Lola will be coming with us which should prove interesting. She's not the best car dog--normally vomiting at too many curves in the road or anything longer than 30 minutes--and SB is about 8 hours away. I think a call to our vet will be on our "things to do" list for the next week.

weekend!

...must have been inspired by that disco lace dress I talked about.  We're signing a one year lease on a petite maison in town...kind of excited to explore new digs. Whatever your weekend holds--enjoy!

summer nights

It was a different time.

Cell phones? Non-existent. Cameras to shoot a night out? Hardly ever. 
It was the late 70's and I was the disco Queen. But can I show my Candies that I danced the night away in? Can I share the lace dress that I made an entrance in at Mr. A's discotheque? No. What the seventies lacked in technology to capture moments, we made up for in dance music and multi-color memories. It's like it never happened. But it did. And it was good. really good.


A friend of mine, Mary Beth Brierly and I liked to think we owned a corner of the lighted dance floor. It was ours. "You wanna dance?" a few eligible bachelors might say. Hell no. I'm dancing with Mary Beth and we've got prime real estate. It was the place to be every Friday night and we were there. The DJ, Aldo (we called him that...his name was actually Allen) always had a table reserved for us and played our requests.


Donna Summer. Saw her in concert and danced the last dance to her iconic songs many summer nights ago at the disco. You will be missed.