The Further Adventures of Singledom

So when we last left our heroine, (that would be me), I was discussing how I was adjusting to the single life and how much I was enjoying it. I was also talking about some of the pitfalls of dating and one subject keeps coming up over and over. Texting.

I have a friend who went through a lot of her divorce at the same time I was going through mine and we helped each other slowly and painfully get through it. She has been dating and has gotten together recently with a really nice guy. Through the entire process the same subject keeps coming up. Do I text or don't I? Should I text him first? Should I answer him? Does it sound right? What did he mean by that?

It is unbelievable that 160 characters would cause that much anxiety. I know because I have gone through the same thing. It is very hard to word something so you don't come across as indifferent, angry, crazy or, worst of all, as a stalker. Then you sit and wait. If you don't get an answer in 5 minutes you start to wonder. Did I say something wrong? Does he not want to talk to me anymore? What if he's with someone else. And when he does answer you back, you start to dissect each word to see if there is some sort of hidden meaning. I'm telling you, I'm starting to miss the old days when you would just sit by the phone.

So, what do you think? To text or not to text? Let me know.

Single Again

So, here I am, 42 years old and I'm single again. I was married for over 11 years and with my ex-husband for over 13 all together. Needless to say, I was a little nervous about being completely on my own. I'm finding I love it.

I have a new apartment that I got to completely decorate on my own. I'm learning to do a lot of little things for myself, like hang pictures or kill creepy crawlies. (I hate bugs.) I am always busy, between work, the gym and my friends. I took a vacation for the first time in 20 years and had a great time. I've gone to a Red Sox game, a bachelorette party, played poker (and won!) and a variety of other things that I never had a chance to do before.

I suppose the one thing that still confounds me is dating. The last time I dated there was no Email, Twitter, Facebook, or Internet dating. I didn't realize that texting and instant messaging are now considered dates to some people. I have met some very nice men, some of which have turned out to be really good friends. I have also met some very strange people. It truly amazes me what some people will try to get away with on a first date.

The natural continuation of dating is what to wear. I have recently lost a lot of weight and have no idea on how to dress. Thank heaven I have my style divas here at Chadwicks. (Thanks ladies!) They have been wonderful helping me pick things out that actually look good on me and helping me put a wardrobe together. They are teaching me the fine art of accessorising and even how to wear heels again.

How about you other recently single women? Any advice on clothes or dating?

Fall Vacations

I love Fall. It is probably my favorite season. Living in New England I get to see the leaves change color and the sky turn that crisp blue as the nights get colder. It is probably why I am taking my vacation this time of year.

I will be heading to upper Michigan for my week vacation. Why Michigan, you ask? Well, I actually went to college there (Go State!) and still love to go back and visit old friends and places. I will be staying in two places, Houghton Lake and Charlevoix. Both are very much off the grid and very beautiful this time of year.

The only problem is I don't know if I will live through the stress of getting ready for my vacation. Between getting things set up for my co-workers, finishing up projects that can't wait until I get back, finding a substitute for my other job and getting things done at home, I don't know if I'm going to make it. And let's not even talk about packing. Have you tried to pack everything for a week trip into one suitcase and one carry-on? Not an easy feat, let me tell you. Especially for the weather this time of year. Jeans, sweaters, hoodies and jackets. This may actually be the biggest challenge of the week.

Well, hopefully the next time you hear from me, I will have some great stories and good pictures. Stay tuned.

A Guilty Pleasure

To be honest, I don't watch a lot of television. Between work, the gym and my friends I just don't have time to follow a lot of shows. And to be honest, there really isn't a lot out there to watch. But, like everyone else, I have a few guilty pleasures. One of them is The Fashion Show on Bravo. Last night's finale part 1 was the best episode of the season, fashion wise.

Of the four finalist, my favorite was Daniella's. I have loved most of her clothes through the whole season but her collection was fantastic. Her look was very modern and I thought it was amazing that she actually made all of her own accessories. I think her best piece was a black and nude evening gown. It was simple, elegant and sophistcated.

The next best designer in my opinion was Anna. Her clothes were fun, flirty and could work on any woman. Her workmanship was fantastic and I love the way she uses prints. My biggest disappointment with her collection was the fact that she used ideas that we had already seen from her during the season instead of coming up with fresh, new ideas.

James-Paul's collection really surprised me. To be honest, most of the time I didn't understand his point of view. I was truly amazed that he actually made it into the finale. Most of the time I was looking at the television, shaking my head and saying to myself, "You have to be kidding." Last night, I finally got it. While he may never be a mainstream designer, you could actually see his vision in his final collection. My favorite piece was an outfit that included what could best be described as a hood.

Reco, Reco, Reco, what happened? All through the season, Reco always had what can best be described as an ego the size of New York. And most of the time it was justified. The clothing that he made was exquisite. His eye for detail and the way to fit a woman's body was fantastic. Somehow, last night, with the exception of one or two noticable pieces, he seemed to have lost his edge. His two best pieces were a beautiful, turquoise coat and a stunning red evening gown. His worse two? They had to be the feather dress and the wedding gown.

All in all, this was a awesome show and a great season one for The Fashion Show. If you get the chance, watch the reruns. If not, check the photos of their collections. http://www.bravotv.com/the-fashion-show/photos They are a lot of fun.