Sunday Style - Snakeskin

Wearing patterned pants is tricky.  I have struggled with it for years.  I started subtly - one of my first pairs was a tone on tone black pair of snakeskin skinnies.  They are now a favorite in my closet.  You can see them here.

Then I added a pair of polka dot skinnies that I purchased from Gap.  I love them!!  They fit well and I wear them year round!!

Next I decided I would go for a floral pair.  It took awhile looking in the mirror to take a chance on them.  You can see them here and here.

Now, I try them on if I find them in my size and in a style I know will be flattering.

I snagged these wild snakeskin pants at one of my recent trips to Goodwill.  These are from Isaac Mizrahi and they feel and fit amazing.  They are a tall in length, which is always a bonus in my book.

Pants have always been tricky for me.  I actually have very few pairs of pants in my wardrobe compared to my skirts and dresses.  I feel more comfortable in skirts and dresses, but I when I find a pair I like I snag them up!!

I paired my pants with my favorite thrifted black sweater and a pair of basic black pumps I picked up on clearance at Kohls a few years ago.  

Don't mind my hair - it was a little more voluminous on one side!!  Had no idea until I looked at the pictures!!

Yes, it was a bit cold this morning, so I added my gorgeous thrifted wool coat and my new favorite earrings!!

For head to toe, with my coat, the cost of my outfit is around $35!!

Enjoy your Sunday!!

Warm and Fuzzy

One of the items on my Clothing Wish List has been a fur vest.  When I put an item on my Clothing Wish List, I always start my hunt at the thrift store and once I feel like I have exhausted that option, I start looking online.  Then I decide my budget and make a list of requirements on that particular item.

For my fur vest, I wanted no front closure, tan in color, no other material on vest, and longer in length.  I finally found this vest at Forever XXI.  I think I had done a Google search that Forever XXI popped up, so I decided to check it out further.  The price was right, I found a coupon code for an extra discount, and FREE shipping.  Yippee!!

I am not a huge Forever XXI.  One, I'm not 21, nor do I want to dress like I'm 21.  Two, their quality is usually not very good.  Three, their clothing does not fit my tall frame.  I tried on a jumpsuit at their store this spring and it about cut me in half!!

I love, love, love this vest and it goes with everything.  I have worn it several times already and get compliments on it every time I wear it!!  

I paired my vest with a printed tunic I picked up this month at Salvation Army and my favorite Gap skinnies also from Salvation Army.  I added my boots from my mom and a necklace I made with sister-in-laws and mother-in-law this spring. Oh, and look, I'm wearing the same earrings I've been wearing all month!!

From head to toe, my outfit cost around $30.  I hope to share more ways I wear this piece.

Thrifted Style - Playing with Patterns

For years, I avoided mixing patterns.  It's not that I wouldn't try, I just would usually change into something else before leaving the house!!

Finally, I have learned to be a bit more confident in clothing choices.  I feel like I have had a big metamorphosis in the way I dress.  In my teen years, all I wanted to do was fit in with my clothing, but couldn't because we just couldn't afford what everyone else was wearing.  In my twenties, it was all about comfort while chasing the babies around.  In my thirties is where I think I finally found my groove.  I started experimenting with colors, patterns, new items and thrifted items.  I learned to appreciate this body God made through the thick and thin years.  I played with my hair - color and lots of different cuts.

Now I feel like I have a formula to the way I dress.  I will pick out one item I want to wear, then I will think of three way I could wear it.  Sometimes I try all on three options, but usually I'm pretty good at visualizing what I think it will look like. I know what pieces of clothing work well with my frame and I've also figured out what brands to thrift.

For this outfit, I picked out my Old Navy t-shirt first, then I layered it my St. Johns Bay jacket, and added my thrifted Gap jeans.  Next, I decided to add my garage sale scarf because it was a bit chilly, but I would be running in and out of stores.  If it became too much I would just tie it around my purse or leave it in the van.  Finally, I added my thrifted Toms for as a comfortable shopping option.  The weather was just a tad warmer then it had been, so I opted for the Toms instead of my go to boots.

For accessories, I simply added a pair of earrings that I have been wearing a ton lately.  They were a replacement pair for a pair of Premier Jewelry earrings that broke.  They have a great lifetime guarantee and so I was able to replace them for just $5.  I absolutely love them. 

I have been on the hunt for an olive green utility jacket for at least two years.  I have hunted at every garage sale and every thrift store!!  I finally decided this fall, I would break down and by one at an actual retail store (gasp!!)  I scoured the internet and still couldn't find something I liked.  I also decide how much I want to pay for something before I go shopping for a specific item. I had a few requirements for purchasing my jacket - it had to be under $30, light weight, have a zipper and snaps, no hood and longer in length.  I was able to say yes to this option from JcPenney!!  

My outfit from head to toe cost right at $50!!  

What do you think about playing around with patterns??

Friday Finds

I got away for a couple of hours last week and hit one of my favorite thrift stores, Family Thrift Store and hit the jackpot for Hope.  I did snag a couple of items for me as well.  Family's prices are amazing!!  They never have sales, but who needs a sale, when items are this cheap!!

Chicos T-shirt

$1.98

Kenar Tunic

love the length and polka dots on this one

$2.98

NWT Dress from Ross

this will be perfect for Christmas next year

$2.98

Arizona T-shirt

.99

Old Navy T-shirt

.99

Old Navy Thermal T-shirt (matches Gymboree skirt)

.99

Old Navy fleece set

$1.98 for set

 Old Navy fleece

.99

 Old Navy sweatshirt tunic

love the heart pocket detail on this one

.99

Old Navy sweater (matches Gymboree skirt as well)

.99

Cherokee Gold Cardigan

.99

Gymboree Skirt

I love when I am able to find items that match or coordinate.  Makes it easier to dress little girl!!

.99

 Gymboree Gingham Tunic

.99

 Old Navy Peplum Tunic

.99

Old Navy Fleece

.99

Any favorites??

Thrifted Style - Bold Layers

I picked up this gorgeous sweater at my local Salvation Army for just $2.99.  It is so soft and luxurious!!  It is from Gap and I'm sure retailed for more than $40!!  It may not look like much on the hanger, but it is AMAZING!!  I was drawn to the bright color and it has a high low hemline.

I paired my sweater with a pair of thrifted Gap skinny jeans, my Rahab's Rope necklace, an Eddie Bauer tweed peacoat, and a pair of ankle boots I picked up at Burlington Coat Factory this fall.

One of the items on my clothing wish list for the fall was a pair of comfortable brown leather ankle boots that I wear with jeans, skinnies, and slacks.  I started researching possible options online and just couldn't find anything that was in the price range I wanted.  I even checked out Ebay to see if I could snag gently used pair, but no luck!!!  This pair is from Earth Origins and they are sooooooo comfortable!!   My mom and I decided to check a new Burlington Coat Factory that just opened up close to us and happened upon these beauties for less than $30!!

My tweed coat is a $5 garage sale find that is a perfect winter classic.  When I only spend $5 on a winter coat I don't mind getting a different one every few years when I get tired of the current one.  I tend to rotate items out of my closet after just a few seasons and one of the reasons I shop second hand is that I don't feel bad getting rid of clothing that I haven't spend much money on!!

I've said it before, but this necklace from Rahab's Rope goes with everything!!  I've worn it with so many items and it's usually my go to necklace because of all the amazing colors in it!!  You can see how I've worn it here and here!!

Happy Thrifting!!

Sunday Style - Mad for Plaid

I picked up this plaid scarf at my local Salvation Army for just $2.49.  I had been on the look out for a large plaid blanket scarf and so when I spotted this one, I knew I had to purchase it!!  You can see another way I wore my scarf here!!

I paired my scarf with a basic chambray dress that I also picked up from Salvation Army for $5.99.  I love this dress and the possibilities are endless on how to wear it year round!!  Check out another way I wore it here!!

I added a pair of BRIGHT royal blue tights I got at Target, near the end of winter a couple of years ago. My boots are one my favorite garage sale finds ever!!  They are Uggs and I got them for just $12.50 at a church garage sale!!!  They are leather, fur-lined, and have wedged heel!!

From head to toe, my outfit cost $21!!

Enjoy your Sunday!!

A Photo a Day - Week 1

I take lots of pictures and try to keep my scrapbooks updated, but I get tired of taking pictures of the same events year in and year out.  In 2013, I took a Photo-A-Day Challenge through fatmumslim.  Chantelle would give a photo prompt for the day and then I would just try to capture what I thought the prompt/word to be.  

It was quite fun and definitely challenging. Somedays, I would change the photo to fit my needs. I did really well until about October and for some reason just couldn't keep up.  I got back on track mid November and finished the year strong.  

This year, I decided to take the challenge again!!  

Here is an example of what the photo prompts are.

I love seeing my life through a different lens.  I will try to share my daily photos each week this year!!  Stay tuned!!

40th Birthday Bash

Five years ago, I was celebrating my 35th birthday with my best friend.  We had just had a wonderful lunch and were in the middle of our pedicures, when I got a phone call from my sister.  When I answered the phone, it wasn't my sister, but her boss.  I immediately knew something was terribly wrong.  I had talked to my sister earlier in the day, she had wished me happy birthday and she told me how excited she was to go on their first family vacation the next week.

Kim tries to tell me there has been an accident, my sister and niece are okay, but Dan wasn't.  I don't remember a whole lot about that conversation, because I think I had started to go into shock.  Kim tells me to get to my sister as quickly as possible.    I remember talking with each of my parents and throwing whatever I could in a suitcase.  Before we even left Kansas City,  I received word, that my brother-in-law was dead.

My brother-in-law, Dan, was at training for his SRT team with his police department and was accidentally shot with a live round by another police officer.  He was gone within moments.  The ride to get to my sister was excoriating.   The entire drive, I was screaming and crying, on the phone with other family members, trying to process what had happened.  I just wanted to get to my sister,  I needed to hold her, I needed to touch her face, and hear her voice. The events of that day, still haunt my thoughts and dreams.  

My birthday, has been very difficult for me to celebrate these past five years.  No matter what my friends and family would do to celebrate me, I struggled with being happy, with being joyful.  At some point in the day, I would just break down.  I would want to be left alone to cry, to mourn, and to  relive September 15, 2010.

Since then, each September, I post a blessing each day.  A friend suggested this as a way to help me think about what wonderful and beautiful things I DO have in my life.  I've been doing this for five years and I am blown away each year what God is doing in my life.  Some days, some years, it's been a challenge.  There have definitely been days I don't want to be grateful for anything.

Time does help heal wounds, but scars can still remain.

This year, I wanted to celebrate BIG!!  I wanted to celebrate this milestone of 40 years and I wanted to celebrate those in my life who love me and have been with me through life's struggles.  I wanted it to be a fun event, but I decided I wanted to do a party with a purpose.  One of the items on my list for 2015, was to do something for charity.

At the suggestion of another friend, I started looking for a ministry that had something that my friends could physically participate in making at my party.  I found this amazing little ministry called Sole Hope.  I stumbled upon it one day while searching the internet.  I loved the simplicity of the ministry and I also loved that it had the word HOPE in the name.  Hope has a been a big part of my story these last five years - hope that there was some purpose in this tragedy, hope that there was a little girl out there for our family, and hope that I would be a vessel to be used by God no matter what!!

I asked a few of girlfriends to help me plan and prep, and they showed up in an AMAZING way!!

Jenelle and I collaborated on decor.  It was a lot of fun to share ideas via Pinterest and then see what we had on hand to make it happen.  We have very similar tastes and like to do things as cheap as possible.  We pretty much had most of what she wanted to end up using on hand.   Lots of polka dots, craft paper, and black and white.

Katie took care of the drinks for me.  I gave her a few ideas for some mocktails, but gave her free reign to do whatever she wanted to do!!

She ended up bringing some Sprite and lemonade and have few add ins like rock candy in pink, white, and black, and GINORMOUS blackberries.  We served them in fun mason jars and frap bottles with cute straws.

Alex and Tree took over the Sole Hope table for.  They manned the table, told guests about the ministry, and collected money to pay for each pair of shoes we cut out.  We ended up with 40 pairs of shoes, which was my goal!!

My mother-in-law made some amazing cupcakes!!  We also had a popcorn bar, chocolate covered pretzels, and Katie made her famous Oreo truffles!!

My mom and my friend, Karen were the paparazzi for the night - they took photos for me with each of my guests and just captured moments I wouldn't have been able to.

I really was a lovely evening.  It was great to catch up with everyone and to just CELEBRATE!!  I went to bed with a BIG ole' smile on my face and a cupcake underneath my pillow!!