Pocket Fancies

Pictured here is my dream book. I was at a retreat last year and this handy little pocket book was included as one of the gifts. At the time, I was less of a "paper & pen" kinda gal and more of a "keep it all in your head" - especially where my dreams were concerned.

I had learned the value of writing things down when I was getting sober. There is something purposeful about writing with pen and paper, but I confining my purpose to staying off the salt & the sauce and remaining as close to "reality" as I possibly could. Dreams were still scary things to me. I included them in the realm of fantasy - somewhere I'd spent far too long. 

For me, that meant that I kept a daily inventory - my plans for the day, a gratitude list, and some meditative thoughts. I also included a record of what I had done right for the day, goals I had accomplished and areas where I had gone awry with selfishness, anger, or fear. This inventory kept me grounded each day, but that was about as far as my writing went. 

So back to dreams. Any good motivational speaker tells you to have dreams. Having tried dozens of self-help avenues, I was familiar with dreaming a dream. My problem - I see in hindsight - is that I never REALLY believed my dreams would come true. They weren't dreams, they were wishes. 

I didn't know how to set goals, make and keep commitments, eliminate time-wasters, or prevent procrastination. So dreams were something I hoped someone or something else could give me - and I was always on the search for someone or something who could help me make my "dreams" come true. So learning to become dependent on me and God for the things I need in my life (otherwise known in recovery circles as "self-support), I kind of put dreams on the back shelf - in a locked box marked "DANGER, DO NOT OPEN." 

Enter this pretty little book. It was so pretty, and the message so meaningful - "Make Every Day Count - it seemed like it deserved a special place in my life. So one day, I opened it. 

It was so small, not a place to write anything lengthy. What do people use little books for? I referred to the cover again...."Make Every Day Count".....how does one do that? I hadn't the faintest idea.

So I just wrote something down I "wished" for. I felt a little scared. I only wrote one thing, then closed back the book. But I kept on, day after day. After all, what could a few words on a tiny piece of paper do? 

Over time, I have written more and more things - I call them "brainsparks". I have gone back and reviewed what I wrote. I've seen my dreams change, and some dreams stay the same. More importantly, I saw patterns. Some things I think of once and they are gone - but some persist. 

Do I want to go on a cruise? Sure. But if I never do, it will be ok. But over the course of many months, I have seen a persistent interest in real estate, architecture, and civic development. Looking back these been an interest of mine for decades. Are they passions? I would say so. So why do I not pursue them? 

These questions might never come up if I didn't have dozens of pages with addresses written on them - houses or buildings that have inspired me. Properties I've thought "If I owned that I would...." Notations about community projects I think are needed. Philanthropic things I would do if I were wealthy. But I know today these things don't have to be fantasies, they are actually signposts pointing me to what my true self loves - and I can engage those things today...if I choose to. 

So I've come to see the little book as meaningful. I am finding my inner fanciness. I keep it with me in my purse that only contains 2 pens, a checkbook, my wallet, phone, some dollar bills and a set of keys. When I get that spark of inspiration, the little book is there. 

Check back tomorrow for "The Art of Thank You" where I will share about thanking the person who gave me the little book of Pocket Fancy and my ideas about what goes into a good Thank You note (or text). 

Fine & Fancy: For Men

I guess it's kind of rude of me to leave the men out.
Men can be fancy too.
Don't believe me?
Check out the SlideBelts.
They are SUPER Fancy.


Looks like a regular belt, you say?
Well it's NOT.
It's got a fancy no-hole ratchet design that gives you a perfect fit
Check it out below.

That's FANCY, right!

Not only is the design pretty amazing, but they have these things in darn near any color and style you can think of. They have canvas or leather in a multitude of styles and colors. You can choose your buckle type as well. Look below, even the darn box is fancy! 

You girls know Valentine's day is coming up soon, so why not get your guy something fancy! 

This belt is the perfect thing!
Click here to get one!

This guy obviously knows what's Fancy....

Office Fancy Part Deux

See how I got fancy with the title?
It's so ORDINARY to say "Part 2."
Part II in Roman numerals wouldn't be fancy enough....
Only French would do for a blog THIS fancy.
But I digress...

The first half of my office day has been calm.
Just chillin with my co-worker Bree, who agreed to be featured here on Being Fancy.

As you can see, she may not always glam up with the fancy Jewry for work like yours truly. But she is definitely fancy.




If you doubt me, I am here to testify that I have seen Bree cut a 2 inch sausage into 8 pieces.
If you do the math, those are little bites.
I always think about those fancy shrimp forks when I see her cut those tiny bites.

Me, I do NOT eat fancy.
At ALL.
I look more like this when I eat.....



So I am glad to have a fancy co-worker like Bree to have lunch with.
If you've never seen a fancy shrimp fork, here is the link to 12 of those bad boys.
That's a LOT of fanciness!
I am going to get one for Bree....

Office Fancy

I work from home - normally.
I love my job because I can work in my P.J's and my desk can look like a tornado just hit.
But TODAY - my boss wants me to come into the office and work.
With people.

So I had to get fancy.
Here's a picture of me.
This is all the enthusiasm + fanciness I could muster.

I had to go back in after the pic was taken because I realized I needed some Jewry. Yes I spelled that wrong on purpose...

I also note how lucky I am that I live in Texas, which means I can wear Keens in February! See how nice & sunny it is at 8:45 in the morning!

I actually wanted to wear my Tom's, they are a lot fancier in my opinion....but I hadn't painted my toenails! So I had to settle for my red Keen's (that don't match) but oh well. If I get too fancy, that'll just set expectations.

So anywho...

Since I didn't have a pic of me in my jewelry, I had to take a pic of it separate. I could not find the exact bracelet online (since I've had it awhile) but click here or on the pic for a link to a similar bracelet. Still looking for the matching necklace I have....

I'm also including a link to my Keen's. I love the Raya Red because it pretty much goes with anything (except the outfit I'm wearing...) but there are SO many colors to choose from. Keen's are some of my favorite shoes because they have so many fancy styles in so many fancy colors!

Finally, if you want to see what I WOULD have worn if I'd have had my toes done up, check out these cool Toms Flippy Floppies - FANCY!

My Inner Celebrity

Bring on the peroxide, the baby oil,
and the sexualized caricature of
Southern Women.

One of the reasons I haven't ever put a lot of effort into being fancy can be summed up in two words:
Jessica Simpson.
Jessica Simpson is what I always imagine I would be if I just threw caution to the wind and decided "I'm going to be FANCY!"
It seems totally realistic that at my absolute fanciest and most talented, my highest rated movie would be some kind of remake of a show like Dukes of Hazzard.
It just feels true.

*I added a snarky caption to the picture, but before publishing it, I had to add an additional rant. Southern women don't wear hair extensions, fake leather or foreign denim. Tsk Tsk Jessica. You so NOT fancy. *

So imagine my surprise when I got lost in the Walmart the other day....
They move Walmart around so often, you'd think some of the items they stock were in the witness protection program.
Anywho, I got lost and - as I was trying to find my way across department borders - I smelled a wonderful smell of perfume.

Now ya know I'm not that big into perfume.
But this stuff was captivating.
I'm also not big into asking other girls what kind of perfume they are wearing.
Seems too much like a pick up line in this day & age
(especially considering I pretty much live in a men's Carhartt jacket)
But I bit the bullet and asked this woman what kind of perfume she was wearing.
She stammered a little and then admitted it was kind of embarrassing to say but that it was.....

Wait for it....

Fancy, by Jessica Simpson.

What are the damn chances?

Here it is for you gals who also have no shame...

I have to say, it really does smell fancy.

Lamp Scarf Pirate

This is one of my fancier looks.
The irony of this look is that it comes off glamorous but it's really just laziness.
I woke up this morning feeling very un-fancy with my hair sticking up every which way.
Instead of doing what normal people do - wash it, blow it, style it - I just covered it.

I have no idea where I got this scarf from
I only know it was tied around a lamp for about 10 years.
It was a lamp scarf.
But my head had to be covered,
so now it is a head wrap.

Another thing that is funny is everyone says I look like a gypsy
I think gypsies are much fancier than I am with their flowy dresses and whatnot
In my head I look like a pirate.
But in my head I'm also wearing a lamp scarf on my head.....

I can't find you a 10+ year old lamp with a scarf tied around it.

The closest I can find is this:

Of course, I'd go with the Mocha Brown (pictured) 

but there are lots of other fancy colors to choose from! 

Being Fancy

So this is my first post. I can't remember the last time I blogged...
What to say?
Fancy, So Fancy.
Fancy is what my friends call me.
It's an ironic nickname for sure, the way the big guy in the group gets the name "Tiny."
I wear the same jacket every day.
I have a backup jacket for days when I have to wash my jacket.
It is the same jacket.
Here is me in my jacket.

Click to buy my super warm Carhartt Sherpa-Lined Jacket

My jacket is not fancy.

The sleeve covered up my fake gang sign which is an "F" for Fancy. :)
I can afford a different jacket, but why would I need one?
I'm not fancy, and that's just ok.