History with a touch of Fall in the air....latest adventure!

Yesterday was supposed to be entirely different. We had planned to drive to the coast. It is about 2-3 hours with the traffic, but not an unenjoyable or hard drive to make. We keep saying we are going to do it, and then do not. Our daughter Rebecca teases us that we never quite make it there. I guess we once again earned that teasing.

My husband had just worked 14 days strait and had not been sleeping well on top of it, and I was feeling the drain that good Old Mother Nature's visit can bring on. The weather had suddenly changed as well over night and it was not just cool out, but over cast as well. Perfect sleeping in conditions. We both did so. Not late mind you, and both of us had woken up a few times and thinking the other was still sleeping rolled over and dozed back off. We started off slow and groggy as well and just decided to stay close to home and have brunch and then head out.

We had driven through Coloma on one of our many treks up and down HWY 49 many times and always said " we need to stop and explore this area".

There is a historic park there . Marshall Gold Discovery...State Historic Park. Basically the entire town of Coloma is an state park. But we always drive past and never stop. This time it was the destination of choice. So in a little under an hour, having made the round about trip ( there is no direct route to HWY 49 destinations) , we arrived.

 

We paid our 8.00 a car fee, and then discovering both sets of batteries were dead, even my rechargeable, we drove up the street to the local mini market and bought a pack of batteries... stopping to take a photo of the Thrift store across the street ( I thought it was kind of neat)
and headed back to the museum to take a few photos inside there and wait for the 1:00 talk at Sutter's Mill. There is so many nifty dioramas, and exhibits and even mini movies that you can watch, as well as a gift store to explore before going out to explore the rest of the park...this is just a sample....
     

  After exploring all the museum , reading about the Indians ( More than 80% of California Native Americans had perished by the time Marshall and Sutter Came to the state in the mid 1800's) , as well as the strong Asian influence during the Gold Rush ( even remaining today) and about the miners, equipment and area, we were off to go listen to the Ranger over at the Mill.
He was the same ranger that had checked us in, funds are tight in CA. for parks and so they pull double and triple duty. He was a wealth of knowledge and I really wish I had a tape recorder to gather it all, and in trying to find information on line, well that has proven difficult, this link will provide quite a bit for the photos that I share. 

A few points that I picked up at the Sutter's Mill talk, within the Marshall Gold Discovery Park were these...I jotted down as fast as I could....

*200 Indians in Coloma at time that Sutter and Marshall were there. 

*No nails were used in the building of the mill. The current mill is a reproduction of the original. It was rebuilt in 1967, using the original sketches as well as the method of using pegs to keep it together. Just like then , it never has worked well since they can not get the water down to the Mill site to run it very often. 

* This area is very important historically. It was the first land granted by the Mexican Government to someone who was not Mexican. One mile from the  mills Location began the area of land, 48,000 acres granted to John Sutter by the Governor of Mexico at the time. It was granted to him under the guise of using it to defend Mexico from incoming US citizens. He actually wanted it for farming land , to grow wheat and make flour at his Fort and sell it to in coming Sailors from the UK to San Francisco. Sutter later was declared a Mexican citizen and lost all the land.

* Another HUGE point of interest is that the place where James Marshall now rests , his monument was the FIRST Historic Monument in the state of California. And can be seen high upon a hill from the Mills site. 

 
Now look and see if you can spot the monument at the top of this mountain.... This is some of the views you see from the mills location....  The cabin is a replica of the Morman's cabin where they lived while working on the mine... The building across the street isThe Wah Hop and Man Lee Stores
The remains of a substantial Chinese colony restored and open for viewing , exhibiting mining methods, household articles, tools and a way of life gone by.
 This is the view down the street and surrounding buildings....
A camp area and the Blacksmiths.... Various businesses and the post office....What is now a nature center and then an old brick building that is nothing but a shell..no roof, and no back wall..... 

 There is so much to see in this state park, and I took many more photos....Saturday I will show you the close up of the interiors of a few more , including a Ghost story about one of them, as well as the monument and surrounding are and then on Sunday will share a few of the wonderful shots of the wild life that was roaming all around . Tomorrow...French Girl Friday.

Tuesday Check in ....It is all how you look at it.

It always amazes me how my day is shaped by the number on the scale, how I look in pictures, or how my clothing is fitting that day. My mood can be altered by what size clothing I manage to fit into. I know it is common, and we should not let it happen to us, but we do. It can turn the day around or start it off one extreme to another just all depending on how I choose to look at a number.

Today is a prime example. My scale is reading a good 3/4 of a pound heavy from what it was reading two days ago. Now the normal thing that would happen is frustration . Here it is , check in day and the scale jumps. I have been behaving , I have been walking, a lot. BUT this time it check in day also happens to land on good old Mother Natures visit. So instead of being upset, I was overjoyed to see that I am 127.2 ...well then it said 127.6, so who knows the ounces for sure....while it being THAT time. I am not bloated either. I mean a little, but not looking six months along , which is what normally happens. That is cause of celebration in my book and put a little pep in my step for my walk today.

The other thing I am wearing my size 6 shorts. AND I am able to sit. Being an hourglass girl , my size varies. It really depends on brands, and if it is a dress, jeans, tops etc. I believe Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloe when Kim states I am a size 2. Maybe her waist and dress size is. Her sister was reported to say, "I am a size 6, but my pant size is a 10, that is just how my body is made." AMEN!

I can wear anything from a 2-8 , and if I buy something at H&M that number climbs, even in dresses because it is European sizing. I find myself with a closet full of clothing that range from extra small to large. It all fits.

Funny thing about sizes as well, I weigh more now than I did in high school. I was 97 pounds dripping wet till I turned 18, when I jumped to 128 and it stuck ,and always seems to be my set point weight, or close to. I wore a 5-7...given that is junior size, but in women's clothing , even then I wore a 6 in pants. I still would say my average size is a 6 today. Sizes have changed. The manufactures have seen that we like to wear the smaller sizes, so they changed them. Do the research. I did once, and it amazed me how sizes changed from say the 1950's till now.

Marilyn Monroe , the perfect bomb shell, at 37-23-35 ( or so it was reported) 118 pounds and wore a size 12 dress and size 8 pants. She was taller than me, she was 5'51/2 , but think about it , size 12 and size 8! IF I was to reach 118 again ( a dream weight for me) I would wear a size 2 in a dress and a size 4 in pants
( though the waist would be big on me as I am hourglass/pear shaped.)...so as you can see sizes have really come down even if measurements stay the same. But everyone looks at her as near perfection... I know I have always adored her.

I will say that I have seen her JFK dress in person and it looked like a size 2/4 to me ..so it is all how you look at it. Does the number matter ? I know we live in a society that it certainly does. So it is easy to fall into that trap.

Take a look at these size 6's, women who all wear the same size as me. Valerie being closest to height and weight range that I am always at.......
Then look at me....these taken last night. ( forgive the blur)

I could choose to look at it , myself as having a long way to go, I do not look as fit and slender as these ladies do. But I have chosen to look at it as look how far I have come in just a couple of months. Sure it took me nearly two months to loose app. 5 pounds , but for me that is HUGE. I still need to tone up some more. I need to do my DVD to get rid of the heavy knees and commit to the crunches and pick up the weights....but for having had three children and being in my mid 40's and having genetics that have sadly been unkind in the way of cellulite and those pudgey knees and muscular thighs, I think I am looking pretty good. AND THAT IS HUGE. There was a time when you would not see these photos...I would have posted one like this where I am still a size 6, about the same weight , maybe even heavier, but where a dress always makes me look slimmer , is a better pic.... even in jeans and turned the right way I look better....

So it really is just how you look at it . And I am taking the high road with myself. HMMM maybe the Inner French Girl lessons are working after all!

Scenes from the Mall...window shopping highs and lows. ( Part Two)

So, we left off having toured through my fav shops of Sur La Table, Anthropologie and Zgallerie at The Fountains, a local shopping center that I just adore. It was all dream window shopping, especially on my current budget of about 2.00 a day...which is my coffee money. OH for regular readers, the coffee lady at the gas stations is named Jane, and she smiled and joked with me today!! The ice has broken!! Just wanted to share.

Anywho, after I left the stores at The Fountains, I walked over to our Galleria. I was not interested in walking the whole mall, knowing I still had to make it home...after all once I did reach home that would be no less than a total of ten miles ( not counting shopping) for the day! I headed into Forever 21. Now I know what you are thinking, as a 44 year old I need to stay out of places like that. I beg to differ. As long as you look for classic pieces, cuts and stick to certain rules of age appropriateness you can shop these stores . I mean I have always loved Chico ad's and thought I would love that store...I walked in felt 90 and turned around and walked out. Same with the local store that caters to Petite/Misses. Dear Lord ...why is it they think if you are short and a little , um mature that you must look like you live in the retirement home?? That is not to say you should dress like you are still 21.

So, on in I went. The music was blaring, and the floor was crowded with loads of young girls in shorts so high cut that they were letting cheeks hang out and boys with the pants so low the same was happening. But I forged ahead. I know bargains were to be found. I headed for the accessories first.....

A lot of these items are only 1.50! YES! With tax, I can still afford it , I do not get coffee that day is all. I am loving the graphite colored pearls! With the colors for Fall, I think they are going to go quite well, and they would even look sharp with my all black outfits. Then I spotted a few other cute things, and they all were under 15.00, mostly closer to 8.00 and under.
These flowers, they remind me of the ones at Anthro! Isn't this gold Daisy necklace amazing??? It is now on my "OH AH, WANT" list.   The tights, do they not remind you of the ones from yesterdays post??? Not the same print, but just as fun!  The sweater headband, 4.98 and my daughter and I saw and fell in love with identical ones at Anthro that were far more pricey! This too is on my list of wants for the coming cooler months! The hand bag was a great price, I believe under 25.00, may have even been under 20.00. I could so see this as a substitute for the one I used in Saturdays Fashion Musings Post , for the Winter look. The color is perfect! 

Now look at these....do not they look identical to the ones I was OHHING and AHHING over at Anthro....Look close....
These are F21 and this is a sample of the Anthro...
This is not identical in design, but the F21 is a pretty close match to one I tried on while at Anthro... So imagine my happiness when I see they are 7.98!!! Not 32.00. I of course decided to sacrifice my remaining coffee money to buy one. I bought a cream colored one with plans to go back for the black. Now given that was the only two colors they had, and I do plan to hopefully get one of the ones at Anthro that is in the sale bin....but I am very pleased all the same. AND it is the perfect cream color for Winter and will also look great when I darken my hair just a tad more. 

After I decide to buy the head band, I went on to explore the rest of the store, two stories and see what I can find. There was a few things, if I had more than 9.00 on me that I would have brought home. I love this little jacket, yes, those are faux pearls, but how cute with jeans! Plus the price was right, under 30.00 to wear on a regular basis.....
Then I saw this..... I love the yellow with it....there was a skirt too, but far too short for me, but maybe with black or yellow tights...hmmmm....

 How about this for wearing under it and with jeans and cute walking shoes....

 Then I saw this....it is in the seasons nude tones, so goes with everything, and is great for layering...
 
 And I love this jacket.... a wonderful way to work in the Military look, and it is jersey! Also under 30.00, and could be a wonderful alternative to wearing a hoodie when walking and running errands. Not normally my color, but add some bright pop of red under it, even blue and it would be wonderful!

 How about this one....Casual , comfy, as it is also Jersey and again in this seasons hottest colors, and will go with everything, and look far better than a hoodie for walks and errands! You could even add a colorful belt and some of those graphite pearls to dress it up....or maybe one of the netting flower pins to the lapel.

 I had to take a pic of this last dress/top...pair it with leggings, or slim fitting jeans, a wide belt and some booties or pointed toed flats, some of the graphite colored pearls and it can be such a fun outfit ...or perhaps add a jacket to tone it down a bit...
I do adore black and white and animal print is right on spot ( excuse the pun) for this season! And again all under 30.00 , even with the pearls! 

There was more to see and share, but will save it for perhaps when I have money and can put together a look on a budget to show you. After I paid for my head band and left the store, I went to JC Pennies...I always find so many lovely things there, and they always seem to be on sale! Today you can get 80% off clearance...gosh how I wish pay day was not late!! Anyway I took just a couple photos in JCP that day, as I had already shared quite a few in a previous SFTM post....but can you tell why I took these???? Look Close!

  

I also loved this grouping....You know how I adore my lady like looks! And I already have a similar hounds tooth skirt!

 Then I spotted this blouse, it is so soft and silky to the the touch and the color is too divine!!!
 
 One last little pic from JCP...this reminded me of a necklace I had seen at Anthro, and since it is on clearance, you could have it for well under 10.00! Depending on what my budget is after pay day, it might have to be gone back for! I love statement pieces! And even though in the lessons on how to find my Inner French girl says, "buy less , buy the best." I just can not fight my bargain girl side.

 After JCP's it was time to start heading back home. I cam across the same sign holder I mentioned in yesterdays post and he was coming back from buying another can of brown bagged beer. He asked me how many miles that day, and I told him and he proceeded to politely argue with me. I think he misunderstood that I was counting my entire day, and all the shops in my mileage, kept saying I was mistaken. This went on for a few minutes, all I really wanted to do was continue on, but I am far too polite. I find myself now planning out routes that do not include walking by him if I see him again. Just to save beer handler and discussion time. Once I escaped him, and got across the street, I popped into ROSS. It is less than a mile from our apartment so on the way home. I wanted to see what jackets they had. I am a sucker for a good jacket/coat, and have more than I truly need, but each season I look anyway , and I do need a more casual one....all these are 30.00 and under! I hope they still have one I like , and in my price range when I can spare the money...but they are great....the pics do not do justice.....

 I personally would buy all three if I could , but the chain link one is my favorite! There was even a Giraffe one in black and white...you KNOW I just gravitated towards it as well! It was hard to leave any of them behind , that is for sure. But leave behind I must. I wanted to see what was new in Cost Plus ( aka World Market) ...the accessories there are often on sale and at great prices! I spotted a couple things I shall keep my eye on....This hat....reminds me of one I saw at Target, so if I miss out...

 Ignore the black circles under my eyes, lack of sleep for two nights does that to me, again I need to invest in some eye creams! Look instead at the cute button detail....

 How cute would this hat be with the Military Jacket from F21....now if only it was in black and white....my fav fashion staples. I also was attracted to these necklaces....great with sweaters and turtleneck Ts that live in all Winter long.
I think one of each is order ! I soon was realizing how tired I was and that I was pretty parched as well , so I stopped for my free cup of tea and a chocolate maple sugar truffle ( being greedy I took two servings of each)......

 and so ended my day out of window shopping, and this post. I hope you enjoyed going along, and seeing that you really can find pleasure in things such as shopping, even if you do not have very much money.