!!! Special for the Readers of My Blog !!!

Six weeks ago, I wrote about a site called Armed and Glamorous (see I Love This Site!).  This British site has pointers to tops, dresses, and more ~ clothes with sleeves.  I have a limit to what I can shave.  As much as I love sheathes and sundresses, they are for indoors only, and rooms where mirrors are many feet away so I can imagine I look passable.

Since then, Melanie, who pretty much runs the site along with her little baby (who, based on my experience, probably doesn't contribute a lot except to keep the author awake), and I have been keeping in touch.

I lamented the lack of a similar site in the US.

No more.

Melanie has branched out!  It's not quite ready yet, but she has given me the go-ahead to announce the US Armed and Glamorous site!  The two dresses here are from that site.  If you like what you see please link through her site to the actual site ~ baby needs a new pair of shoes and all that.

I'm considering both, but I need to choose.  The red dress also comes in brown, which is more my colour, but the red is lovely.  So I'm really considering three and I need to choose.

(An aside ~ my clothes budget usually comes from my lunch budget because I put aside money for lunch and then often bring lunch or skip lunch or am on travel and expense accounts pay.  But a Friend of Meg will be walking in the DC Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and my lunch money is going to her.  She asked me if I'd like to walk with her, but 39 miles over two days is way too much for me!  If anyone else would like to contribute, drop me a note and I'll pass you a link to her Avon walk site.

Mel is a nice lady, a new mommy, and she has a great idea.  We're not her target audience, but I think the community has a new friend.  Please spread the word!

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Bad Timing ~ They're Gone ~ Sleeves ~ A Sign

I was hoping to organise a place to change before and after the next clothing swap.  As it now stands, the swap will be either on the day my wife gets out of hospital, or while she's still in.  Now my only decision is, do I bring down my clothes (and just drop them off) or wait until next time.

Yesterday, I had about an hour while my wife was out with friends and my kids were out and could not come back at that time.  Now that the oldest one drives, I have to beware of surprises.  I spent the hour ripping up Meg's closet.  I went through boxes, bags, hangers....  I still have no idea what happened to my pants liners!

Monday's post about Armed and Glamorous got a comment from the owners:

Thanks so much for the lovely review! It's early days and I've still got work to do on the UK site - maybe I should be highlighting stores with international shipping... or branch out into US stores? Watch this space!! 

The owners have a blog which is also in early days.  I'm not sure we're the type of customers they're expecting, but it is SO frustrating to look at a rack of dresses and skip 90% because they're sleeveless.  And I'm always willing to support a small business.  I definitely will be watching their space!  And if the A&G ladies want to start a dialogue, they should feel free to write me.  The blouse pictured here is from Armed and Glamorous.

And by the way ~ I love that name!  It's brilliant!

Valentine's Day was yesterday.  Between recently replacing a dead car, upcoming surgery, and college looming, we decided to tread lightly.  On Sunday, I visited a new customer.  His wife makes and sells jewelry.  And, in the interest of supporting a small business (see above), I found something nice and bought it.  I didn't see many pieces I'd be interested in, but my wife and I have different tastes.  Besides, her jewelry is way too expensive for Meg.  I'd link to her jewelry, but....  Y'all understand.  No real content here, but I watch for signs and trust them.  Especially the "Buy One Get On Pair Half Price" signs.

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I Love This Site!

But it's in the UK.  I want something like this in the US.  Does anyone know of a similar company to Armed and Glamorous?

They're not a retailer.  You find what you like and they direct you to the site where you can purchase it.  It's hard to find deals such as free shipping.  I tried to filter by retailers I knew had US sites (Amazon, for instance) and got no hits.  I can think of a lot of improvements, but it's a good start for those of us who really can't shave enough to wear the sleeveless styles that seem to be the norm these days.

Here's a sampling of their dresses: