A - Z Blogging Challenge 04.16.2026 - I'm Losing Steam

Whew, girls, I am losing steam.  I knew 26 days of blogging would be A LOT.  But it really is a lot.  Especially for a gal who has just gotten back into blogging recently.  Can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel, though, with 8 days left before I complete the challenge.  Just like the train engine in the children's book The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper...

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

By singing the alphabet song, I have determined that the letter for today is N.  For this blogging challenge, we were invited to choose a theme and then write to that theme for 26 days in April, one day for each of the letters in the alphabet.  My theme is glimmers or little blessings in my life.  Yesterday's post was about my beloved Franklin Mountains, and all mountains I have climbed.  One of my favorite posts so far has been about the blessings my grandbabies bring.  You can find it here.  Some of the other glimmers I have written about include ice cream, butterflies, and my kitties.  What glimmers bless your life?

Well, let's get down to business, shall we? 

N is for New Clothes

Yup, new clothes...but not new clothes like the emperor wears in the old folktale.  Remember that very old story by Hans Christian Anderson?  

My new clothes are the real deal and not just smoke and mirrors!!  For a couple of months now I have been in search of some new blue jeans.  Happily retired (purged) my skinny jeans and a couple of pairs of skinny flares that no longer suit me.  Then began looking for replacements.  I knew what I wanted but had a devil of a time finding them.  

Disappointments

Since the first days of the Get Your Pretty On capsule wardrobe challenges, I have liked Loft and Loft Outlet jeans.  When our Loft Outlet closed as Covid hit, I was devastated.  Started shopping for jeans online during the pandemic, purchasing from Old Navy, Loft and a pair of Liverpool jeans on Amazon.  Once it was 'safe' to go shopping in stores again, I had grown lazy and preferred to continue ordering jeans online.  But I often settled for jeans that provided a less than perfect fit.  

One of my spring 2026 goals was to purge at least 26 things from my closet.  Being a Type A personality, I exceeded my goal by letting go of 39 pieces of clothing.  And at least 5 of those items were blue jeans.  That's when the great search for replacements began.  I knew in my head what I was looking for but couldn't find them in the stores around here.  Wanted a straight leg, very plain Levi-type blue jean with a looser fit.  Oh, and I didn't want to pay a fortune for them.  

Loft introduced a new line of denim this spring called Rivete.  I really liked the Rivete mid rise, relaxed, straight jeans in dark wash on the model online so decided to go to my local Loft to try them on.  Boy, am I glad I did.  They were so unflattering on this 68-year-old Gabba body of mine.  I was really glad PC waited in the car, too, and didn't have to witness the sight that I was in those jeans!!

Plan B

I was talking to my brother on the phone while trying on several different styles of Rivete jeans that day at Loft and was almost in tears.  He suggested I ask my sister-in-law for the brand jean she had recently purchased.  She liked them a lot and so did he.

LeeAnn called me later that day and told me about Risen jeans that she buys at the little boutique where she works in Lexington.  I found them online but only in a 32" inseam.  These days I am wearing heels much less frequently so wanted more of a 29" or 30" inseam that would work better with flats and tennies. My sister-in-law offered to send me a pair from Queen Bee but I really wanted to try them on before committing or having her commit to them for me.  In the picture, though, they were just what I had in mind.

Plan C and Success

I spent several evenings scouring the Internet for jeans.  Then contemplating reclaiming my old jeans from the clothes basket I had placed them to take them to the consignment shop.  Was going to need some kind of blue jeans for my upcoming vacation.

Just as I was about to give up my search, a Facebook ad popped up for Quince on my feed.  I had seen other bloggers styling things from Quince but I was under the impression their pieces were a stretch for my retired librarian's budget.  Had to have jeans, though, so headed over Quince.com.  So glad I did.

Ordered the Bella stretch, relaxed straight jeans in Atlantic Blue in a 29 with a 30" inseam (love that Quince offers multiple inseam options) and the Bella stretch, straight jeans in Deep Sea Blue in a 29 with a 30" inseam.  They arrived quickly - shipped the day I ordered them.  Both pairs of jeans fit very well, have the perfect amount of 'give' to make them comfortable and are a great length for flats, kitten heels and tennies.  I am a Quince customer now!!

 

How are Blue Jeans Little Blessings?

I think we all pretty much wear blue jeans, right?  So you know how important it can be to have jeans that fit and make you feel good wearing them.  My blue jeans need to be the kind of thing I don't have to think about.  Want to be able to grab them off the hanger, put them on, add a cute top and go.  These Quince jeans allow me to do that.

Also ordered a pair of Lee jeans from Amazon while I was at it.  They are the Lee ultra lux comfort with flex motion, bootcut jean in Indigo Facet.  And they are on sale!!  Under $20.  Perfect day-to-day denim.  

I've just put another pair in my cart.  They are that good.  This time I am going with the Majestic wash.  Can you ever have too many pairs of good jeans?

Your Turn

What are your favorite put on and go blue jeans?  What style denim are you wearing right now?  Have you kicked your skinnies to the curb?  Are you wearing wide-leg jeans, flares, straight, bootcut, high rise, low rise or mid rise?  Geez, too many options.  The other day I told PC I sometimes wish I was a guy.  They just buy Levis and are done.  They don't think about wash and rise and cut.  At least not like women do.  That darn Eve really made us a mess for women in every aspect of life!!

Off to bed.  We are both trying to fight something that feels a lot like the flu.  We've been tired and lazy.  Hope tomorrow we will back to normal.

Hugs and kisses,