IK, my parents are in Houston and want us to come down... I just planned a quick week in Hawai'i with my kid - a mama-baby trip, as he calls it!

Rae, coincidence? I think not!

Thanks, Anna. I'm in good company if you're feeling it too.

Una - you've got so many stressful (and potentially stressful) situations going on in your life right now, that its only normal to feel somewhat out of sorts and/or unhappy.

Fashion is supposed to be fun, and it sounds as though you're not having much fun with it right now. Maybe, just stepping away from it (you've certainly got items in your current wardrobe that can get you through for awhile!) rather than forcing the issue would be the way to go? I

know for me (and I'm in a somewhat similar place as you), fashion and my wardrobe takes a back seat when I'm having to deal with crises of my own - or of my family's or friends') One of my dearest and oldest friends is going through a similar situation as your friend, and when I think about her and spend time with her - fashion is just not that important to me. I remember reading a book - I think by Anne Lamott? (but not sure) - where she describes a scene with her friend, Pammy, who is weeks away from dieing from breast cancer - and Anne has taken her shopping with her - Pammy, bald, weak and in a wheelchair and Anne is in a dressing room trying on dresses - she walks out and asks Pammy if the dress makes her butt look big, and Pammy just looks at her and says "Anne, you really don't have time for things like that." (Or, she says something along those lines - I can't remember word for word, but regardless, it has always stuck with me.)

Maybe Una, you just "don't have time" - like "emotional time" for doing anything more with fashion/style right now than what you are doing. Maybe there are bigger, more important issues that you're dealing with - or, maybe its not that profound - maybe its just that winter is lasting too long, you're sick of you're wardrobe, and you haven't seen any spring "stuff" that is bringing a smile to your face? I know - I'm rambling. Sorry! I'll end this by just saying "there, there!"

Nothing to add but BIG HUGS, Una!

I am giving you both "pats" and a "there there"!

Your style is fantastic Una - end stop. You've got a lot of personal stress going on right now which IMHO completely clouds rational thought. And seasons are about to change which, for me at least, always throw me into a "style tizzy".

Una, it gets worse each year I used to gently joke at my hubby being so affected by the poor weather, but more and more I can really commiserate. You're doing just what we like to do: plan a sunny trip in the middle of the grayness! We'll be headed down to Peoria for some spring training baseball and sunshine the following weekend (can't wait!!). Hope you and Una Jr. have a blast in Hawaii!

Also, when stressed I don't like to think about coming up with new outfits; sometimes there's just not enough energy to go around. I keep a list of outfits that I want to wear in my closet specifically for those days. If it works it works, and if it doesn't I go to a fall back formula. There's always tomorrow

Thanks again, ladies. Just reading the responses on this thread has brought up so much.

I've realized that since it's my job to deal with difficult situations unemotionally, I am not allowing myself to feel the anger/sorrow/confusion I feel about my friend dying. Instead I've been trying to tough it out because that's what I do all day. It scares me to be any other way and to feel it's out of my control to fix things. But it's not working, and that's causing me all kinds of stress in other ways - like being upset at my own body and my clothes and my office and the weather. Ugh. Being aware is really just the tip of the iceberg.

Anyhow, I'm going try taking a little more care of myself - not by shopping, but by getting some exercise and planning this trip. It won't do anyone else any good if I crack!

OK I'm PMing you about when we'll be pulling into port in Alaska in May, maybe that'll help too :}