the jacket project day 5

Eddie Bauer safari jacket. I bought this for our trip to The Galapagos last summer. It seemed like an essential item for the trip. It packs very well, is lightweight and doesn’t easily wrinkle. I channel Osa Johnson when I wear this jacket.

the jacket project day 4

Michael Kors orange trench. Purchased at Nordstrom. This one is essential for brightening up a dark, dreary Portland spring day.

the jacket project day 3

Anne Klein tweed jacket. Very Nancy Drew. A Goodwill find. I actually bought this for my daughter, but she didn't love it. It’s a size 2.

the jacket project day 2

This is a Nordstrom Classiques Entier jacket (or coat). Faux leopard with orange lining and rhinestone buttons. I couldn't resist this one, and it followed me home a couple of years ago. Essential for holiday parties and fun.

the jacket project

I love jackets!

We live in Oregon where the weather is unpredictable. Jackets are necessary at least ten months of the year.

It’s taken awhile for me to admit this, but I may have a jacket obsession. I’m still not totally convinced that this is a problem, but my husband seems to think it is.

Since I needed to try out my new camera, and to prove my husband wrong about my possession of too many jackets, I decided to photograph the jackets I currently have in my closet.

This is the first of several posts highlighting my jacket collection.

Above: Eddie Bauer down filled jacket with faux fur trim. An essential jacket on cold, winter days.

eating light(er)

The winter holidays have never been a source of weight gain for me. Usually I’m so busy and stressed out that I don’t consume enough calories. Don’t hate, but I've never had a tendency to put on weight. Until recently I had never dieted. But in the last couple of years, especially during the long winter months, the scale has been rising upward. Seemingly overnight, I could eat nothing and still gain weight. Upon hearing this statement my husband somewhat jokingly said, “She hasn't actually tried that.” I love to cook. I love to eat good food.

Adjustments were required. I won’t call this a New Year’s resolution. They have always seemed foolish to me. Resolutions set you up for failure and make you feel guilty when broken. Failure and guilt are two words I’d just as soon leave out of my vocabulary.

On January 1, I began a low-carb diet. I didn’t have any clue what this meant. What exactly are carbs? How do I know if I eat too many of them? I learned that carbs are what give you a bit of a food high, I also learned that without enough of them your brain doesn’t function to its full potential and you can feel a bit dizzy. Basically, I cut out sugar in any form, bread, pasta, fruit and beer. And ate more veggies, meat, nuts and eggs.

Lunch became my favorite meal of the day.



Breakfast, not so much. I missed having fresh fruit. And toast. I craved fresh bread more than anything else.

Dinner... what another salad?

After about three weeks, I had dropped only three pounds. My head was foggy, I didn’t have enough energy to run more than a mile.

Now I’m back to eating fruit smoothies for breakfast, running at least three mornings a week, doing yoga and lifting weights at the gym two times a week. It’s the eat less, move more diet.

“I’m one stomach flu away from my goal weight.”

got eggs?

Our sweet, pesky hens continue to lay through winter. Yeah!





Sorry I've been an absent blogger lately. I’m sure it doesn’t interest you to hear about all my day to day drudgery and drivel. I’ve been hunkered down on these dark days of winter, trying not to let life bring me down. It’s not all bad. I’ve had a chance to make some headway on the extra long hat I’ve been knitting for my mother-in-law for the last year.



Iz and I baked cookies.

Have you ever thought about the fact that you bake cookies, and you cook bacon?

These were a bit of an accident. I was out of regular flour, so we used bread flour in the traditional tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe. It made for a more cakey, thicker cookie I can really sink my teeth into. Yum!



Cakey Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 3/4 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Sift flour, baking soda and salt together. Set aside.
Soften butter. Add sugars and mix until smooth and fluffy.
Add vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Add flour mixture and blend.
Add chocolate chips. Stir.
If you have any dough left after you’ve taste tested it, roll into balls.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 11-12 minutes.

I hope you have a great week!