Fashion Over Forty: Eggplant Sweater Dress and Some Favorite Christmas Tree Ornaments

Happy Friday! It's hard to believe Christmas is next week! Hope you are ready! Somehow I always wait until the last minute to wrap presents, still didn't start and I want to bake another batch of cookies as well. Yesterday was my husband's birthday and I made a mint chocolate cream cake. It turned out delicious! Tomorrow my daughter has an informal end of the year ballet Christmas performance. They were supposed to do the Nutcracker but of course it was cancelled and they are just doing a recording at the dance studio with no live audience as our local theater where they always perform has been closed since March. She's just happy dance wasn't cancelled completely and even though some weeks they had to take lessons over zoom they were still able to train.

Speaking of ballet, if you'd like to watch a Nutcracker performance, you can download Marquee TV for a free 14 day trial. We very much enjoyed the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker and Bolshoi's Copellia. I was going to cancel the subscription after the 14 days but forgot, so we're keeping it for another 30 days now since I already paid the fee of $8.99. By the way, there isn't only ballet available on Marquee TV - you can also watch several Shakespeare plays, operas and other recorded live entertainment.

Below is a peek at our Christmas tree (and I'm sharing a few closeups of some of our favorite ornaments at the end of this post). This year's Christmas tree shopping didn't go too good. We went to purchase a tree the first week of December and were surprised/shocked that they only had a few poorly looking trees left in town and all tree farms had already closed for the season. Apparently most people in the US started very early with tree shopping this year. We never had a problem before finding what we were looking for in December. So this year we decided to bring our fake tree up and use this year (we really didn't have a choice). I don't mind it really but find there are too many lights on the tree and I prefer a more dim/ romantic light. So we're not using the pre-attached lights and put up a different light strand instead. Originally colored lights were planned but the kids changed their mind and wanted white, so white it is. 

We put up way too many ornaments, honestly my body was aching by the time we were done, but I decided to get out my collection of Hallmark ornaments and then of course we always like to add some glass ornaments as well. So far so good and my cats haven't broken anything yet, they just like to sleep under the tree but did catch them once trying to mess with the beads.

Please note: Some affiliate links are used in this post, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always this is at no  cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

I'm actually wearing a dress for today's post. I very rarely wear dresses and this sweater dress has been in my closet for several years but I've only worn it a few times before. The brand is Cloud Chaser and it's from the Juniors department. Usually when purchasing from Juniors I have to go up one size, and this is a size Small (when I usually wear XS or Small in Petite)

Sweater Dress Options Here:

• Macys
• Kohl's
• LOFT
• Talbots
• Ann Taylor
• Amazon Fashion

I have no idea if this clothing brand is still made, as the department store where it was purchased is no longer in business. I love this color and the A- line shape. The sleeves are 3/4 lengths and I do wish they were a full lengths as I only wear it in the colder months. But normally I'd wear a coat over it anyway when outside, so it's not a big deal.

 

   

As you can see the dress is on the shorter side and I always wear opaque tights with it.

 

I accessorized with a long necklace which is part of a multi strand necklace by Lucky Brand (options) and also added a beaded bracelet which has coordinating colors but I don't have a closeup photo so it's hard to see.

The boots are old (by Matisse) picked up at an end of season sale from DSW. They are no longer available but DSW does carry many tall boots. I think they pair so well with knit dresses, and they keep my legs warm in winter along with opaque tights. 

I'm sharing a few of my favorite tree ornaments below. Most of these we've had for many years.

This beautiful swan was purchased  on my first visit to Chicago in 1999 from what used to be Marshall Fields on State Street, now Macy's. I'm so happy it's still intact as it's so fragile and I always take extra care when putting it away.

This beautiful ballerina is made of porcelain, from Hallmark.

I've always loved all kinds of Hallmark ornaments (but I no longer buy them). The Disney line has been my personal favorite. Love all things Mickey, Donald, etc.

This beautiful hummingbird ornament was purchased at a local garden shop when all decorated for the holidays. Unfortunately the shop is no longer in business :(

One of my husband's favorites. We've had a set of these soldiers for over 20 years. 

More Mickey Mouse. This is part of Hallmark's Mickey's Christmas Carol line and the last line of Hallmark ornaments I purchased. 

This gorgeous old fashioned Santa came from Hobby Lobby.

This cute Snoopy Hallmark ornament my mother-in-law sent to my husband when he was stationed in the Army in Germany 23 or so years ago. It's been on our tree ever single year even when the other Hallmark ornaments stayed in their boxes. It reminds me of our first Christmas together :) 

Also loving the brown glass ornament, it's one of my newer ones but such a unique color!

         

This beautiful angel was purchased from Hobby Lobby. It almost has a wooden feel to it but it's made of clay. The glass pinecones are over 20 years old as well and another favorite set that come out every year.

If you look closely you might find  one of our four-legged critters under the tree :)

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit! 

I'm linking up here:

Friday: Fancy Friday hosted by Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style // Lizzie in Lace //  Friday Favorites at Penny's Passion // A Little Bit of Everything // Friday Favorites // A Fireman’s Wife // Shelbee on the Edge //  Fabulous Friday Link Up with Lucy  // A Morning Cup of Joe

Saturday: Dare to Share

Sunday: Style Splash linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) //  You're the Star Blog Hop Link Up @ Stonecottage Adventures

Monday: Away From Blue // The Queen In Between (first Monday) // Claire Justine Creative Mondays // Glass of Glam // Mutton Style // Inspire Me Monday // Ageless Style Linkup (1st Monday) // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // Little Cottage Linkup // Anything Goes with your Hosts (Mondays) // Love your Creativity Link Party // Hearth and Soul (starts Monday night) 

Tuesday: The Fashion Canvas // Shelbee On the Edge Spread the Kindness // I Do deClaire // Elegantly Dressed and Stylish // Myriad Musings // Jenerally Informed Happy Now Blog Link // Style Splash linkup // Tuesday with a Twist @Stonecottage Adventures // I Will Wear What I Like Linkup  // Randomosity - Good Random - Fun // The Happy Now // Tuesdays With a Twist // Myriad Musings // Tuesday Turn About 

Wednesday: The Card Concept // What's Up Wednesday? (last wed. of month) // The Queen in Between Style Six // Straight A Style // Jersey Girl, Texan Heart // Fashion Frenzy at Seeking Sunshine and Rosy Outlook // Is This Mutton? Wow on Wednesday // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday //  Welcome Wednesdays //  Classy Flamingos // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Welcome Wednesdays // What's Up Wednesday?

Thursday: Fashion Files at Doused in Pink and Curly Crafty Mom // Elegance and Mommyhood // High Latitude Style // A Labour of Life // Mummabstylish // Thirty Minus One // Mutton Style // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Traffic Jam Weekend @Being a Wordsmith // Encouraging Hearts and Home // Little Things Thursday // Thursday Favorite Things // Traffic Jam Weekend //@Being a Wordsmith // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home)