BFSC: Heels with Short Shorts

Girlfriends, it's hot! Really hot. So I'm going to try to take a couple of decent photos so I can get back inside to the A/C.

You know you're deep into blogging when you go out and purchase a piece of clothing just so you can participate in a style challenge! That's how I ended up with these shorts. Everybody's having so much fun with Jasifer's Big Fat Summer Challenge I just had to join in. But one of the items to wear is short shorts. Well, let me just say I stopped wearing those 30 years ago and since then, have kept the length of shorts I wear to  just above the knee. So, you see, for me these are short shorts.
I found the length of them acceptable, even though they are waaaay out of my comfort zone. To my surprise when I wore them out in public, nobody was gaping in horror or snickering behind my back (I think).  Strangely enough, at the market, people were more concerned with picking out the right watermelon and getting the best sale on hot dogs than the length of my shorts or the spider veins and cellulite on my thighs. Amazing! I also wore them out to dinner last night, but the restaurant was dark, so I didn't know if that was a true testing ground.
Oh! I should also mention I don't never wear heels with shorts, not even with the longer length I'm comfortable with. When all's said and done, I feel pretty good about this outfit. I'll probably take the shorts for another trial run tomorrow.
 I'm marking "short shorts" and "something I normally wouldn't wear" off the list. Yay!


Naked Zebra blouse: thrifted
Dana B. and Karen shorts: thrifted
Tribeca espadrille wedges: thrifted
Various accessories: thrifted

Wondering what that thing is I'm holding? It's an old glass float I snagged at a yard sale this weekend.


I'll be taking these little yellow shorts to Patti's Visible Monday. Come join me.

Time Out!

How do feel about the bright color trend? I honestly love it and I've fully embraced it; just  take a look at my three previous posts! I haven't worn this much color since elementary school. However, once in a while I have to put color in time out and retreat to the safety of neutrals. It's like my senses get overloaded and I suffer from hyperstimulation. So I had to call a moratorium on color, not once, but twice last week. Yes, twice, two days in a row. The funny thing is, when I thrifted these jeans, which are a creamy, off-white color, I thought I might dye them. So glad I didn't.
  


 Day 1 Look: 

Apt. 9 vest: thrifted
Liz Claiborne sweater: thrifted
L.L. Bean slim leg jeans: thrifted
SoHo Wedges: thrifted

Day 2 Look:

Knotted cardigan: thrifted
Snake print tank: bought it new but can't remember where or who made it.
Gap skirt circa 2004: thrifted

b.o.c. wedges via Belk











While color's away...neutrals will play....




Have you given any of this season's trends a time 
out?

Shop Like a (Thrifty) Fashion Editor: Part 3

Can you believe we're almost half way through the year? It's nearly the end of June and I'm just now showing you May's thrifty buys! Well, time flies when you're shopping like a fashion editor. Part 1 and part 2 are here.
If you're wondering what this post is all about here's a quick recap: One of my favorite magazines, InStyle features an article titled "Shop like a Fashsion Editor". Three editors are given a budget of $400, $2,000 and $4,000 respectively. Each editor in turn shares what has “inspired” them and then goes about finding key clothing pieces within their budget. This is an ongoing thing lasting 4 months or so. The funds are spread accordingly, ie: approximately $100 of the $400 budget gets spent per month. You might be thinking, "But wait a minute, I don't have a $4,000 clothing budget or even $400". Not a problem. How about $50? Heck you could probably skate by with $25.
It was all about florals this month for me. And my inspiration was the many bloggers I've seen doing this trend up. Here's how I made $50 bloom into a fabulous bouquet of style:

 

Rene Margo floral shirt: 5.00

I found this at an antique store of all places. More and more you’ll find at least a few stalls dedicated to clothing especially in the bigger "mall" type antique stores.  This blouse makes me insanely happy just looking at it.

 

Elle maxi dress: 6.99

You’ve seen me sport this one already here. I was about to walk out of the thrift store and this dress caught my eye on the way out. It may have even called my name.

 

Floral capris: 5.99

Here I go again. I'm determined to wear a pair of floral pants this season (the right way). I like them much better than the ones I wore here.

 

George paisley/floral skirt: 4.49

I recognize this as a Walmart brand. How come I never see cute stuff like this when I’m in there?

No label shirt: 4.49

If you’ve noticed by my last couple of posts, I’m deep into blues right now. The fabric is see-through thin and it's slightly oversized and I plan on wearing it knotted at the waist with a tank underneath.

Poppy purse spray: 26.50
Ok, who says all the budget has to spent on clothes? I had a coupon from Coach, so I bought one of the least expensive things in the store I could find, a purse sized bottle of "Poppy"...Hey it's a flower.

Hey, see you all tonight at Visible Monday and Monday Mingle.

Total spent this month: 55.46

Total remaining: 43.86 ( gotta be careful next month) 

American Express, Yard Sale Chic

Folks, the weather's heating up and summer's here! And you know what that means, right? Yard sales. Yesss! I Like having them and going to them. They're even better than thrift stores because there's lots of negotiating room. Plus it's just plain ol' fun to socialize with people you may not otherwise.
Here I am at my favorite blue wall, with my favorite yard sale-ing dress, and my new favorite carry all, a vintage American Express bag. I got it  a couple weeks back at....you guessed it, a yard sale. I didn't have to pull out an American Express card to buy it either, just 50 cents. I mostly plan on using it for groceries, the farmers market and who knows, maybe an overnight trip.

As the weekend approaches, I hope you get a chance to stop by a sale or two, you never know what you might find.

These are my top 10 yard sale tips:

1. The early bird gets the worm!

2. Leave your luxury car at home.

3. Don't be afraid to dig - that's how you find the good stuff.

4. Wear comfy clothes.

5. Try to have exact change or small bills.

6. Make a pile of items and decide ahead of time what you're willing to pay for the whole lot, that way you can negotiate a better price.

7...but if the price seems fair, just pay it.

8. Check DVD's, CD's, to make sure the contents match the cover. Check zippers and buttons on clothes, ask to plug in electronics.

9. If you buy a large item and have to leave it for pick up later, take a piece of it with you, such as a drawer from a dresser, or railing from a bed, that way it'll be incomplete and harder to sell to another person in your absence.

10. Leave your American Express card (not bag) at home. You wont need it!


HAVE FUN!

Risky Business, Head to Toe Print

Hey gorgeous girlfriends, how was your weekend? Mine consisted of the usual errands with a trip to the thrift store and a couple of yard sales thrown in. This was my weekend gear. And as harmless as it may look, it's the riskiest trend I've tried this season...head to toe print. I was hoping if the colors coordinated it would be a doable thing and also relying on that block of solid purple to break things up a bit. So I paired these really roomy, light weight pants with a scarf (worn as a blouse) and silver flats. I felt like I was wearing my jammies, so at least I was comfortable. The patterns don't match (a good thing). The scarf has flowers and the pants have sea shells and leaves.
My favorite thing about this outfit is the scarf. The pattern is asymmetrical, so which ever way it's folded, it's a different "blouse". Oh, and did I mention it was only a hundred pennies. Yep, folks that would be $1. Probably the best dollar I've spent all year!

What's the riskiest trend you've tried this season?

Oscar De La Renta scarf: thirfted
Izod pants: thrifted
Classified flats: thrifted
Necklace: thrifted

Thrift factor = 100%

Yay!

Scarves as blouses is one of my favorite wardrobe tricks. I did it here too.

I'm going to link up at Visible Monday, Monday Mingle and Thrifters Anonymous.

 




Any way you fold it, it's different! Love that!

108

 Friends, I was almost ready to hit the delete button on the folder that contained the photos for this post. Why? Because I just couldn't find any connection between myself and this silly 108 plaque I'm posing next to. Don't ask why I decided to do it, because I don't even know. I just did. Then it hit me. I was able to make a connection. Approximately every 108 days (three times a year or so) I end up wearing an outfit that doesn't have any thrifted items. It's a rare event, but it does happen. This is one of those outfits. I'd like to mention though, that I did buy most of the items on sale/clearance. The dress I bought last year from Sears Land's End collection. The T-strap sandals came from Gap at least 7 years ago. The purse is from Wilson's Leather and the hat I bought last week from the Walmart men's department. Oh! and the bracelet, purchased from Marshall's with a gift card.

I also googled "108" and found this interesting article on why there's 108 beads on a Mala (mantra counting beads). It has all sorts of interesting "facts" about 108, such as; we have 36 feelings related to the future, 36 to the past and 36 to the present.

The sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth. It sure felt like when I was taking these pictures.

I'm sure I've spent at least 108 minutes on this post.

I've also told the guy at the post office counter my name 108 times (and he still can't remember.)

I have at least 108 pairs of shoes!

So sorry to have missed the party at Patti's Visible Monday . I think I can still make it to Thrifters Anonymous and Monday Mingle.
Maybe the total number of people attending these parties will be 108?

But really, an outfit without any thrifted items? Scary isn't it?

How many times a year to you wear an outfit that doesn't have any thrifted items?

Do you have any connections to the number 108?

Old Dominion Road Trip

Hi Ladies. Isn’t it frustrating when life gets in the way of blogging?! I’ve wanted to post for several days but I've hardly had a spare minute. However, I did find some time to drop by your lovely blogs, which I always find entertaining.

Stephen and I went on one of our weekend road trips exploring the Old Dominion.  It took us several counties over to the south. There’s no outfit pics,  just a few things that caught my eye or made me smile… 

As you all know from my last post, I can’t pass up a roadside food stand. The proprietor of this particular place had fresh produce and fresh crabs. I’ve  never had crabs like this before.  It took us a whole hour to eat a dozen. I liken it to eating sunflower seeds. A lot of work for not much payoff, but delish all the same.

This photo is my favorite. Stephen’s and my shadow.  I was in a man-hole-picture-taking mood. I’ll spare you all the photos of the others!

...Ok, just one more.

One of these things is not like the others. Can you spot it?

I’ve learned since moving to this state that Virginians love them some cement yard ornaments. I guess we’re way below the standard in this department. We only have a cement bench. 

This place had everything from Indian princesses to pelicans.

What do you think these two ladies talk about all day?

You know I had to squeeze in a pic of an old building, right? They just fascinate the heck out of me.

I would've went in if I hadn't been afraid it was haunted.

Home sweet home. Right back to where we started.

Our yard is 90% forest and these ferns grow wild there. I just love their color. Isn't mama nature amazing?