Hi, everybody. It has been a while. I've been limiting my time on here and when I do drop in, it's almost always in the Off-Topic section. Lot of exciting news, new babies, etc., and I also have to say right off the bat how much I really miss everyone!

I was going to title this post "Not depressed...but fashion depressed." That would sum up a lot of it. Summers are not a time when I make any effort anyway, but right now I particularly am not feeling stylish at all, and not excited about clothes. Carrying around a (very gear-ish) backpack everywhere. Wearing running shoes most days.

Not looking for advice, just feeling somewhat remiss that I have dropped off the face of the earth here. (Even though I know that is completely okay, too...) I'm honestly not feeling very excited about what anyone else is wearing either...which has nothing to do with them. And I know you all are looking great. It's just me, right now.

So as the ultimately unused post title says, I am basically doing pretty well apart from my clothes choices. I'm nurturing a fledgling passion for photography, my writing is picking up speed, and I feel more motivated for the most part...this summer was not great for me, with a lot of personal stress, friends who got into a serious car accident (they're fine now), minor health situations within the family. I'm mostly joyful (but still look like I just came from the gym, half the time--minus the needing a shower!)

I've been eating pretty strictly primal/paleo these past three weeks and I feel really good, with a commitment to challenging exercise as well as walking and cycling (the food part has always been more difficult for me). I am not seeing results outwardly, so am trying to accept that I'm not going to enjoy even the beginning honeymoon weight loss period I've seen with some of my friends and my husband, sigh. And I still have my ongoing body image issues--I am afraid they will always be with me, and they influence my ability to enjoy clothes for sure. More sigh.

Anyway, since taking leave of the main forum here, it's interesting to note how little I've been tempted by clothes. It's really true for me how much looking at images of clothes (or food) will create more desire, and not having that compulsion to shop has been nice, in a way. Not just in terms of money saved--because I never had a "problem" with shopping--but probably more with time. That said, I'm hoping that if I size down slightly, I will get the itch back : )

This is a Nic and Zoe dress I bought this week at Nordstrom, after wandering around for only a few minutes--truly the first piece of clothes I've bought in many months. It's kind of basic but it fits really well, is super comfy and it was marked down 50%. I'll wear it to my upcoming tango formal dance this Saturday. (Yes, I'm still tangoing, though I took a two-month break this summer.)

I also bought this offbeat necklace at the local crafts fair (SoWa vintage market in Boston's South End). Kind of steampunk and fun...made from bits of Icelandic lava, antique pill boxes, old typewriter keys....even a miniature and fully-functioning army knife! So those are my two big purchases this time around, heh.

So anyway, after all this ramble I just mean to say that I miss everyone here, and think about you all often, and am hoping that eventually I will figure out a more balanced way for me to spend some time here, as well as get back more of the sense of fun with clothes that's missing right now. In the meantime it's so great to know you're all going strong and being as awesome as you are!

Abrazos y besos,

Nancy