Rain, Weeds, Gardens and Closets

(July 3, 2011) This Spring has been one of the rainiest that I can remember. Rain makes it easier to pull the weeds, but it also makes them grow! Pulling weeds slowly so that the root comes out gives me a certain satisfaction, like a child pulling out a loose tooth. Creating a beautiful garden takes a lot of hard work. Weeding, mulching, planting, and then watering and weeding some more take up so much time. The results are worth it, sure, but the hours that it takes can never be recovered.

One way to save time elsewhere in your life is through having an organized closet. You don’t need to have a million skirts, jackets, dresses, blouses, and sweaters when a few smart purchases will do. Weeding out your closet, like weeding the garden, takes time but the results are dramatic: less clutter to wade through when getting dressed each morning; tax deductions for the donated clothing items; a clearer self-image; and a more organized and in-control you. Getting dressed each morning will be a breeze when you have a carefully coordinated wardrobe. A few tops, a few skirts, a pair of pants, a few jackets in the right color combinations can be mixed and switched for an endless succession of outfits.

Jockey Person to Person® has the solution for every woman’s closet. Classic, timeless pieces that can be dressed up, dressed down, mixed and changed from casual to career to dressy. View our catalog and find the style that suits you best. Call me or email me to set up your customized home showing. Notice the accessories (belts, bags, scarves) that supplement the apparel, plus a fantastic “double-breasted jacket” in 3 colors to keep you dry in the next rainstorm!

Transitioning Into Spring

(March 31, 2011)

Unless you live on the equator, you probably have some clothes that you put away for a season. Whether you’re in Canada, New York, California, Florida, or the midwest, you may have “winter clothes” and “summer clothes”. Many areas have more than two seasons, however, and in the midwest where I live, we often have months where the weather can’t decide what it’s doing. We may have a spring-like day in March, and then more snow. In the fall we can have cool temperatures for days and then a summer heat wave comes along. So you can’t really put your out-of-season clothes into storage.

What’s the answer? Layering. Using scarves, jackets, sweater sets, crop pants, etc. will keep you comfortable no matter what Mother Nature comes up with. A good jacket will go a long way in your wardrobe. You can use it to dress up a casual outfit while keeping warm on chilly days. A versatile jacket or sweater can enhance an outfit while providing functionality. JP2P has a wonderful collection of jackets as well as some smart sweater sets.

A nice pair of capri pants can ease the transition from cold temperatures into the warmer season. Many capri or crop pants can be quite dressy, depending on the fabric. Often, capris can be part of a great casual outfit. They are, of course, warmer than shorts, cooler than long pants, and more comfortable than a dress or skirt. Add a nice top and a sweater or jacket and you are good to go. Whether the air conditioner is on or the heater, you’ll be quite comfortable. With a scarf or a belt you can add pizazz to your outfit. You can also define whether it’s casual or dressy with your accessories. So grab a great jacket or sweater to keep handy for the transitional weather.

Is it Spring Yet?

(February 2011) The snow has melted and the sun is higher in the sky! There is light at the end of the tunnel and I believe we have almost made it through another Ohio winter. Time to refresh the wardrobe with some bright new colors to celebrate! Turns out that RED is one of the colors that look good on all skin tones / hair colors, so if you’ve been afraid to be bright and bold, fear no more! You will look good!

Before I could finish up this post, the snow came again. Hopefully for just a short visit! We got about an inch of icy stuff. Other areas nearby got up to 6 inches! But I don’t care, I am ready for Spring! I hope you are too, but if not, call me and I will outfit you in some fabulous clothes that you can wear all summer too. Check out our catalog to see what else we have in store for you.

New Year, New You!

OK, so how many of you made a resolution to lose weight, or get in shape, or eat more healthily this year? Many of us make the same resolutions, year after year. We are full of good intentions but somehow things don't always turn out the way we plan. Maybe we're not planning properly. We need definable, attainable goals. In Girl Scouts, we teach the girls to use S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely. I think that Specific and Timely are the most important. Everyone wants to "lose weight" but you won't do anything about it until you decide how much to lose and give yourself a deadline. And writing down your goals and your daily progress will keep you accountable.

If going to the gym more often is one of your resolutions, one excellent motivator is purchasing new workout clothes. Sure, you can keep wearing those baggy shorts and old t-shirt, but look around at the other women and see what they're wearing. If you know that you look good, you will feel good about yourself and have more confidence. You will stand a little taller, push yourself a little harder and get better and faster results. Jockey Person to Person's new spring line is rumored to contain more workout wear than previous catalogs. Above is our new X-Back Tank. I can't wait to see it and try it on! In just a few weeks, our new spring catalog will be available on my website. Meanwhile, feel free to check my website for our current fall/winter apparel, and check here for our special catalog with our Little Black Dress and career wear. It's all on sale but it's going fast!

Christmas Time is Here Again!

Sorry, it's been months since I've updated this blog. Been so busy with life, kids, pets, etc. And now the cars are taking all my cash. Timing belt ($$$), dead battery, tow truck, flat tire, tow truck, four new tires. Not much left for Christmas shopping! And the girls want North Face jackets ($$$). Help me, Santa!

We got our Christmas tree yesterday. My older daughter and I went driving around, looking for Christmas Tree Farm signs. We followed signs to a wonderful place, found a tree and sawed it down. It's the perfect height, but it's not very full. It's got nice short needles and strong branches, but as I strung the lights last night it seemed to be quite sappy. Do they make a perfect tree? Needles that don't fall, needles that don't cut your fingers as you hang decorations, full, rounded, bushy shape. And no sap! I suppose that you have to decide what part of the tree is the most important to you.

At least you don't have to compromise on your wardrobe. You can look fantastic for the holidays, stay comfortable at all your parties, and not worry about someone spilling a drink on you! How can you do all this? With Jockey Person to Person clothes, of course! This exclusive line of comfortable, stylish, washable women's wear can take you through the holiday season with ease. Our fantastic Little Black Dress can be worn at least eight different ways. Our Modal Blend collection can turn anyone into a fashionista. JP2P clothes can be dressed up or dressed down. You can go from the office to the office party to a holiday extravaganza and fit in perfectly at each one! Check out our catalogs online, and give me a call to set up your party, where you will be the hostess who gets a free wardrobe!

What Will You Do On Your Summer Vacation?

Summer is in full swing and many families are going on vacation. Beach, mountains, lakes, cities, the options are endless. What will you pack? First, decide what activities you will be doing. If you'll just be lying on the beach drinking pina coladas, you won't need to pack much, just a few bathing suits and sunscreen. If you're going to be hiking, you'll need good sturdy shoes, several pairs of socks, one or two pairs of denim shorts or other hiking shorts (the kind that roll up to become shorts and roll down to become long pants are ideal) and a short-sleeved top and a long-sleeved top, as well as sunscreen and bug spray.

But if you are planning to go out dining, or wander through museums, or attend a cultural event such as a play, you will need to be a bit more selective in your wardrobe. It is a good idea to pack one skirt, one jacket, one pair of nice pants and two different tops. It's an even better idea if these items can be mixed and matched to create several different looks, so that you don't need to pack too many outfits. If you look on pp. 14-15 and pp.28-29 of our Spring/Summer catalog, you will see how easily this can be done! You can create 10 or 12 completely different outfits from only 5 or 6 key pieces. And if these key pieces are classic, not trendy, they will serve you well for years to come.

With the prices the airlines are charging for extra baggage, if you can fit all your clothes in the overhead compartment, you'll be saving money that can be spent on a good restaurant when you reach your destination. And clothes that are washable are an asset when you're away from home. Wherever you go for vacation this year, be safe, use sunscreen, and have fun!

Smart Casual Career Wear

If you are fortunate in this economy to hold an office job, dressing for work each morning just got a whole lot easier! Our new collection of "Smart, Casual" pieces are designed with you in mind! The Back Tab Jacket comes in three colors and can be worn loosely or fitted, depending on which buttons you use in the back. The 3/4 length sleeves are perfect for Spring and Summer. Under the jacket you can wear our new Sleeveless Yoke Shirt. The buttons are actually hand-knotted! Nothing like little details to make your outfits stand out from the crowd. If the air-conditioning in your office is always freezing you out, throw on our Ruffle Cardigan, with or without the ruffle! You can choose our new Sash Skirt, which drapes beautifully or our Pedal Pusher with front and back pockets. For a more professional look we have a Stitched Crease Pant. New accessories for this group are Silk Scarves, and a fantastic leather belt. See the collection that has everything you need, all week long.