Info Burung Kicauan

Has someone ever disappointed you so much that you kind of got stuck at a certain place in your life? Loaded opening sentence there, but one I'd like an answer to.  Recently - and I guess stemming back to not so recently - a person I really trusted and thought highly of (and no not the bf) completely trampled me in what I've come to realize is their ongoing tirade of self.  It feels like such a long time that I've been weaving in and out of a deep level of hurt.  Sometimes, admittedly, without much grace.

Yesterday I was in my car and managed to forget it for awhile when suddenly at a red light this jolt of remembrance left me feeling as though I'd been kicked in the stomach all over again.  Yeah, it sounds dramatic and certainly isn't all unicorns flying out of your a** like blogging's supposed to be (or something), but whatevs.  It's the truth.  A guttural sigh and a green light later I thought to myself, 'I've gotta get away from this. I don't want to let this moment define my life and destroy me.'  It was a turning point, I guess.  There have been months of dark days dealing with this person and I'm really tired of it.  The Chef's been cheering me from the sidelines and it's helped a lot, but every once in awhile I am faced with the fact that this thing, this person, will forever be written in my life story and I wish I could just erase the entire thing.

Hell's bells.  Not so much on the cheery side today I'm afraid.

Some dark pics to go with?  You got it.  Pass the chocolate.

~Outfit:  Juicy Couture-Vest, Old Navy-Sweater, Alexa Chung-Skirt, Frye-Boots, Rings-Flea, FP, Bracelets-Vanessa Mooney, Madewell, Motif 56~

Bright side: skirt's on sale, sweater is too and so good I picked it up in two colors.  Santa's sleigh came early and I was driving it.  Maybe that was him behind me in that picture?  Nah!

When I left off on Friday I was up to my eyeballs in birthday preparations for the Chef, not exactly sure how it would all be accomplished.  Thankfully dinner that night went off without a hitch (roasted chicken - one of his faves) and a new brownie recipe will make it's debut this week - all I can say is start fasting now.  Whew!

It's been a relaxing, but cold weekend here in Southern California.  When the Chef and I rolled out of the movies on Saturday night it was 39 degrees at midnight and the temperature later went down to 35.  We rarely see the 30's at night so that's brisk for us - even me who grew up in -35 and colder temps in Canada.  Come Sunday afternoon it had warmed up some, but the wind was super brisk - so when we started to discuss brunch options I may or may not have begun to spontaneously shiver at the thought of venturing outside.  Then I remembered a wideleg velour pantsuit I haven't been able to wear much.  Seize the day!  And the fur to go along with it...

With Black Friday and Saturday having gone by, it was time to face reality:  there remained less than a quarter of a roll of toilet paper, zero razors and my deodorant was dangerously low meaning I'd have to leave the house (curses for not planning ahead). Of course that entails combing one's hair and, in the spirit of 45 degrees, donning something warm.  How does one recover from 4 days of sheer nothing? Go big and leave home in a fur coat to traipse about completing mundane tasks while strangers in the local neighborhood give odd sideways glances at your moderately overdone Sunday attire as you prep for operation buzzkill aka Monday morning by leaving your beloved sweats, UGGs and fuzzy sweaters behind.

So you know my J.Crew Military Jacket?  I'm thinking you do, even if you just started following yesterday,  because it was in the outfit post.  I also wore it here and here.  And because I get so many compliments on the jacket - both here and when I'm out and about (it's so easy to throw on that it goes on errands very often thrown over even sweats) - I wanted to do some investigation and provide alternatives.  You see my jacket is from late last summer right around this time, and it is no longer available *insert sad face here*.  As far as military jackets go it was not terribly priced at, I believe, $98 (even though I know that seems a bit steep) because I have worn the thing well over 98 times.  In fact, I bet I've worn it 98 times in a month.

Anyway that's like salt in the wound, so my bad.

In an effort to ease your pain and help out with military jacket madness as we head into cooler weather (which some of us poor biznatches have not escaped much this summer holler if you hear me fellow Californians!) please find some options - in various price ranges - listed below.

Let's do a Top Row/Bottom Row Price Comparison (Left to Right)
First 2 Jackets:  Top Row:  Elizabeth and James - Shrunken Surplus Jacket - $395
                                 Bottom Row:  Rag & Bone - Leigh Jacket - $475

Second 2 Jackets:  Top Row:  Juicy Couture - Skylar Twill Military Jacket - $298
                           Bottom Row:  Target - Xhilaration Juniors Military Jacket - $24.99

Third 2 Jackets:  Top Row:  Delia's - Ricki Military Jacket - $49.50
                               Bottom Row - American Eagle - AE Military Shirt Jacket - $49.50 

So basically here's my summary.  The first two jackets on the left are staples.  They are fabulous and you will keep them long after the trend is gone because they are not so trendy that you can't pull them out for seasons to come.  The second set....well color me happy on that cost comparison!  Oh yeah!  Put on your helmet in case you're getting lightheaded because this, girls, is what we call a STEAL OF A DEAL here at this free bird!!  The Juicy jacket will likely be more well-constructed and it will be cute, but it's pretty trendy.  If you can get your hands on the Xhilaration one, why not give it a try and see what's what??  For the amount it'll get worn you really can't go wrong.  And, finally, regarding the third set - those two would be the closest to the one I get compliments on.  The AE one in particular and it pains me to even admit that.  I guess the brain waves over at AE (she says dripping with sarcasm) must have saved a Martin+Osa designer to come up with the last jacket.  It is beautiful and wonderful and affordable and I'm considering it myself even though I swore I would never financially support that organization after they cut my right arm off just a couple weeks ago. Martin+Osa has been one of my best friends for the past 3 years...I digress.

I hope this helps in your journey for the perfect military jacket for fall.  I am convinced that polyvore lives to torture me or I would have included other options that give you a military flavor with a bit of sass and perhaps other color options like this beautiful jacket from Free People that has a feminine flair to it, this workshirt from J.Crew in the softest pink/taupe color, and this jersey jacket from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Let me know your thoughts ladies.  I think most of us can agree we love the military jacket.  Perhaps your new friend is amongst one of these!