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The lighting is great, location divine, food and wine have been delivered, and everyone is dressed and in a good mood. It’s time to break out the camera to take a few shots for the new fashion and lifestyle blog.  We’re ready to smile and wouldn’t you know? The battery pack needs a charge.

No problem, iPhone camera to the rescue. Not quite like the digital camera I am learning to use but it will get you through. These photos were taken last night with the iPhone at the Buffalo Yacht Club.

What’s the fashion lifestyle correlation? When getting dressed for the evening I discovered my Hermes scarf ring was nowhere to be found. Immediately text daughter two and ask her if she took it with her on her road trip to Boston for a concert. She texts back ‘maybe’ which really means ‘yes’. Her next message begins ‘duh, mom, just use a ring’.

Okay, backup one for lifestyle? Keep your battery charged and carry your cell phone. Backup two for fashion? Listen to your daughter when she has an easy solution for missing wardrobe items. Just use a ring when you want to wear a scarf as a halter.

Worth New York 54” scarf & Worth New York White Linen Pants

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So you are headed out the door to a great sample sale. How to navigate to prevent regret?

Buy if you can walk out the door wearing your desired purchase that minute. If it looks and feels great and needs no or minimal alterations it is an absolute yes. Adjustment of pants length is okay, resizing the piece in any way is not.

Pass if you think you are going to lose 5 or 10 or 2 or 20 lbs to get into it. Trust me on this one. It is just not worth the stress of thinking about losing the weight.

Pass if you feel any sense of hesitation at all. No matter what you think you are saving it really comes down to how much you spend. Spending on clothes to wear today or tomorrow at sale prices is great, spending on clothes that will just sit and take up space in your mind and closet, is not.

Here’s to your success with sample sale shopping.

Essie ‘Orange It’s Obvious’ Nail Color.

Today being Sunday means tomorrow is Monday. Spent the day with family by the pool and studying four color groups for Fall 2012. Tomorrow morning I leave at 5:40 am to get on a plane headed to NYC to present the Fall Collection to two women from Rochester, NY. Stay tuned for some photos from the big city. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

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Six o’clock on Friday night hits and you need to get out of the city fast. What to pack? Two kids, two dogs, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Canon camera, two bikinis, two pairs of sunnies, cashmere wrap because it gets cold at night, and makeup. What to wear? V-neck sweater, jeans handed down by oldest daughter, and funky Miu Miu sandals. Okay, so this is a fashion blog and I am wearing the same sweater as in another post? You betcha. I love this thing- super soft, kind of sexy, kind of see through, and kind of covered. Plus, it reminds me and feels like the sweaters I buy to give to my husband for every holiday, birthday, or anniversary. Luxurious Lora Piana sweaters that cost an ‘arm and a leg’ like my mom would say. I wear this thing all the time. It can go to dinner and I can pull weeds in it.

Why pack two bikinis and not leave them at the place we swim at? I guess because they don’t take up much room and because I still wear a bikini after six kids. As for the necklace in the photos? The stone pendant was a gift my husband brought back after a fishing trip in Montana and the chain we bought together at a little jewelry store in Sonoma at the Square. I love it.

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Last day of school and we celebrate by youngest daughter bringing home five baby chicks from science class. This is a good thing as Mr. Fox played hunger games and snacked on nine of our hens from country house property. Informed night owl and DJ second son that if there is a rooster in the bunch, he will be on the receiving end for the morning wake-up call pet. He promptly replied that a “cockle doodle do” would be a great reminder that it’s time for him to hit the sack. Motto of my story? Always wear your good new clothes. Every day. Why not? My Look Book says the color of my sweater is “Pale Banana.” I’m thinking it just might be “Chick Yellow.”

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As this is my fashion and lifestyle blog I had to a post about my all time, best ever, be with them always, men in my life. These photos were snapped at the amazing Pleasant Point Inn in Bristol, RI- the kind of place that serves a delicious hot breakfast on the ocean bay terrace and cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at five o’clock in the living room. Sweet. Bocce, anyone?

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Change your look and go for a pair of high-waist, wide-leg linen pants. Make sure to pair with a fitted top. Banana suede jacket adds a finishing touch. Modern.

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You work all day and then have 7:30 pm dinner reservations. Daughter one takes brand new blazer, daughter two takes brand new jeans, cuff bracelet, and clutch. Oh, that’s what clothes are for! So hurry and slip on  a few outfits that just don’t make it and settle for cream jeans and crew neck sweater. Thank goodness for uniforms. And exercise. So that you and your daughter’s can share jeans. ha.