I have no clothes. Well, I have t-shirts and a couple pair of jeans. Today, I'm wearing t-shirt and a pair of dh's jeans (which are a bit big) if that's any indication of the situation.

The New Orleans part...When dh and I were in the Air Force (in Alaska) we were both assigned to the same jet (AWACS). I was maintenance, he flew. Long story short, that jet sucked up geese in the engine on take-off and crashed, killing dh's whole crew (24 people...a huge percentage of our small squadron). Dh's good friend Josh (who needed flight hours before he went on leave) was flying in place of dh, which is why dh wasn't flying that day with his own crew. Anyway, that was 10 years ago (in Sept.) and was a very "life-defining" experience for us. We were so young then.

Fast forward...Josh's wife Jen is having a memorial thing in New Orleans in September. 5 days, 4 nights...there is no way we aren't going even though there are all these questions floating around about who is watching the kids and all of that. Alicia's had 2-3 sleepovers and Jac has never slept over. No way I am taking them either. Even if it wasn't New Orleans and it was someplace more family friendly (not saying N.O. isn't family friendly, just expecting a major part of the agenda is going to be not), there will be that whole death/sadness/reliving memories thing and I don't think they need to experience that. Sorry, I'm off topic...

Anyway...I need clothes. I haven't seen most of the people who will be there in 8-10 years. Although, we did meet up with a few of them about 4 years ago for a wedding. I had just had Jac then, and had an excuse to be fat. SO...I'm going to lose 15-20 lbs and am going to have to make myself some clothes.

I need ideas. I feel like I need some trendy looking stuff for this trip. I don't even know what is trendy right now. I'm short. What looks good on short people? DH and I never get away alone, ever. I'd like to have some things that are suitable for a romantic dinner or maybe even just pretending we are young again and are reliving that carefree life of leisure we had before kids. I really don't want to show up in jeans/t-shirt. Any fashion advisors here?

And, of course...I'm gonna want to be in the know of any good fabric shops there.

Skirts are HUGELY popular right now. Really....gored style skirts with ribbons about 3" up from the hem with feminine t-shirts or poplin style blouses. Stick with us sewing Mamas, we are so fashion forward right now ;) Oh and skirts that are straight with a flounced hem are also so "in". I was amazed last time I went into a nicer department store, I fit right in with my Lulu gored skirt and a wrap front t-shirt.

This is what I get for never sewing for myself. Everyone in this house has so many clothes and I hardly have any...(where's that violin?)

I feel like I'm starting out all new and have no idea what's even out there.

I second the skirts suggestion. The 6 gore skirt is very easy to sew and you can draft your own pattern --- just search for the gore skirt draft along. Comfy, easy to make and very cute to wear. I've been wearing the ones I made with nicer t-shirts and think I look like a hip mama.

This is what I get for never sewing for myself. Everyone in this house has so many clothes and I hardly have any...(where's that violin?)

I feel like I'm starting out all new and have no idea what's even out there.

I know EXACTLY what you are saying. I got sick of sweats and jeans and stained shirts....LOL! I had to start sewing for myself and its a GREAT excuse to go buy more "adult" fabric ;) Seriously, I had to take a shopping trip where I bought for ME and didn't even look at any cute knits or things with princesses or unicorns or animals on it.

Look for trendy and funky stretch poplins. They are inexpensive and thats whats "in" right now! I started with skirts because I can buy some neat t-shirts or make them later. I do have a cross over t-shirt from KS2694. I love it because the crossover is longer and DH says it makes me look taller. LOL! KS 3288 is intriguing to me too.

Yikes! You know, I'm in despirate need of clothes right now too. I have the Jalie crossover top pattern. I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it's good. Maybe we should get together and have a Mama sewing-a-thon. I really need some clothes. All of mine are either stained or don't fit. You can bring your patterns and I'll bring mine. Maybe together, we can at least *try* to be cool? :rolleyes:

No real advice on the clothing thing except I find New Look patterns to be stylish and fit well.

I have to say that I cried reading your post as my DH is a pilot. Even tough he's safer in the air than in a car I worry. I can not even imagine how horrible that was/is for you and your dh and the victim's families. It's really nice of the pilot's wife to have this memorial. I'm sure it'll help in the healing process. Sorry to go OT.

Do keep in mind the whether here is very humid in September. And now that I think about it, the most active part of Hurricane season, but anyway...

...humid, keep coolness in mind, the temp gets to be about 90*-100*, but the humidity is what cinches the uncomfortable factor. I could stand 90*-110* in dry California. However, out here, 2-3 showers a day makes one comfortable.

OH! And the rain, it generally rains once a day in the afternoon, fairly heavy, pack an umbrella, possibly a light raincoat.

New Orleans will be nice for you to visit. The airport is easy to fly in and out of, short lines, easy security. The airport is actually in Kenner, so outside of town with less traffic. Too bad I didn't know if we would be here in Sept. or not, I would offer to let you have the kids stay here with us as we are 45 min north of NO. :)

I didn't know you were that close to N.O. For some reason, I thought you were closer to Shreveport. At any rate...I know about the weather and I LOVE Louisiana. Dh is the one who doesn't like it. After I graduated High School in Germany, I lived in Lafayette for about a year before I joined the Air Force. I actually joined out of New Orleans and am really looking forward to seeing that city again.

For our first year in the Air Force, both dh and I were in Biloxi for training. At that time, LA was the only state left where you didn't have to be 21 to drink. Dh's only experience with NO is only going there with his friends to drink...he hasn't seen any of the city except Pat O'Brien's..

I'd really like to take about 2 weeks and show him a lot of things in that state. LA has the best food of anywhere I've ever been. And, I've been to A LOT of place around the world. I'll probably eat myself sick while I'm there, lol.

Yes, the current law is:

Legal drinking age is 21 - However, 18 - 20 year olds may consume alcohol in an alcoholic beverage outlet if they are accompanied by a parent, spouse, or legal guardian twenty-one years of age or older.

and I seem to remember that if your beverage had a lid and a straw, it was not considered an open container. :rolleyes: Think drive-thru daquiri huts. It is strange here, we have the oddest laws. :)

My DH hates it here too, he think the people here are too 'country' and that an 'entitlement' attitude prevails amongst some people. I, personally, love it, the weather is great for gardening & great for your skin. We live 5 min from everything you could want and yet still live 5 min from untouched forests and swampland. We also have the most awesome homeschool group that I do not think I will easily replicate anywhere else.

I hope ya'll have a great time!!

Oh, I can actually answer since I am trying to trendy up my wardrobe.

Skirts! Wrap skirts, flouncy cute skirts, KS has a ton of good ones. Knee length is good on shorties. Search my S&S the last few months for a runway of skirts.

Fitted knit tops - wrap, raglan, vneck, whatever.

Cropped pants (not capris) - these fall a couple inches above the ankle, not right below the knee. I used KS 3315 and just cropped them. GREAT pattern. Low rise, but not crack showing. Very easy. Fit was great on me. You could definitely handle the pattern, I've seen the kids pants you do. Very comfortable if you use stretch poplin or stretch twill. Even Joann's has it in solid colors and some cute prints.

IIRC you have used this KS pattern in the past and it turned out really cute:
http://www.kwiksew.com/Patterns/P3149_3171/3162.jpg

I have yours and Marcey's hemp/tencel here and am taking it to the po finally today. It is a great mama fabric and will make some cute tops. :)

I used that pattern at least a year ago...2, I think. I like the pattern, but I think it's too boxy for me and makes me look even "hippier" than I am... Ahh...to be tall and thin like those models from Sweden or somewhere....

I would do skirts{I love skirts anyways and have so many:)}I work a Penneys and the fashion is skirts-below the knee or at the knee.For us vertically challenged and a little scrumptious at the waist -I recommend a little to medium fullness in the skirt. Too full and it makes your waist and hips to scrumptious- :happy.Also, no capris-us vertically challenged- don't look good in them because they look like high water pants on us.
Just sit down at the patterns counter at Joanns and look through the books and you'll see the styles-get the 1-2 hrs patterns.Also, Goodwill has some stuff too-though its it or miss. Also, yard sales-some stores like penneys is already clearancing spring clothes too. Good luck, Erika

Do keep in mind the whether here is very humid in September. And now that I think about it, the most active part of Hurricane season, but anyway...

...humid, keep coolness in mind, the temp gets to be about 90*-100*, but the humidity is what cinches the uncomfortable factor. I could stand 90*-110* in dry California. However, out here, 2-3 showers a day makes one comfortable.

OH! And the rain, it generally rains once a day in the afternoon, fairly heavy, pack an umbrella, possibly a light raincoat.

New Orleans will be nice for you to visit. The airport is easy to fly in and out of, short lines, easy security. The airport is actually in Kenner, so outside of town with less traffic. Too bad I didn't know if we would be here in Sept. or not, I would offer to let you have the kids stay here with us as we are 45 min north of NO. :)

:ditto: Also, bring comfy shoes. You might also want to check out the RTA day pass for riding the street cars. Before we moved, they were redoing the Canal Street lines.

Not sure what I'll be doing but I might be able to stop by and say "Hi". What hotel are you staying in? IIRC, some do offer sitter services, is that a consideration?

love and blessings
angie

Beau Sejour