Finding my Zen



shirt: thrifted, pants: New York & Co., belt: Target, necklace: Wal-Mart, ring: thrifted



Shopping calms me.  It's my reward to myself and my favorite thing to do on Fridays right after work to celebrate surviving another week.  Normally my store of choice on Friday is Target, however, my inability to get out of there without spending at least $50 has made me switch it up lately and go thrifting on my way home instead.

This past Friday I went thrift crazy.  I couldn't stop finding items I liked!  I spent $35, but left with a skirt, 3 sweaters, 3 shirts, 2 jackets, and a ring.  The shirt in this post was one of the lucky items that came home with me.  I can't wait to see how I can remix it in the future!

Go Bucks!



hoodie: bought at SBX bookstore in 1995 (?)



I feel like Amanda gets it: it's fun to be a sports fan!  My husband and I are huge OSU Buckeye fans and got to go to the basketball game against Michigan this past weekend.  My game day "fashion" advice? Never part with any of your favorite team's hoodies, rediscover them 10 years later while at your parents house one weekend, then continue to wear them until they fall apart.  At least that's what I do...

That may not be quality advice, but I promise never to try to talk you into wearing these:



pants: Homage $30

That's right...OSU students are bringing back the zubaz pants!  I'd say they should have followed my advice and saved their $30, but this trend (does it have to spread outside of campus limits before being considered a trend again?) goes so far back that they'd have to raid their parents closest!  No matter what you wear, the best part of sports?  The celebratory margaritas after a win of course.

AC/DC?

jacket: Marshall's, jeans: Gap, necklace & shirt: Target

The sun finally came out today, so I boycotted winter coats and wore my favorite jacket.  When I was heading out to meet the girls for manis/pedis this afternoon to celebrate one of my besties just getting engaged, AC/DC came on the radio and I didn't even turn the station.  I guess a biker inspired jacket just makes you feel a little bit rockerish...

TGIF

jeans and belt: Target, sweater: Old Navy, boots: JCPenney, fur jacket: Sam's Club

You may have already noticed, but I think the front porch is my favorite picture location.  Not because I particularly love my front porch (although it is pretty awesome), but because those handy pillar things are just the right height to prop my camera on.  This will have to do until I talk my husband into a new camera. :)

I love this look because it's easy and comfortable.  I'm normally not a big fan of fake fur, but I absoloutely love this vest my mother-in-law got me for Christmas.  Best part?  It's from Sam's Club!  Who knew they had cute clothes from time to time for great prices?!

Side note - super super excited it's the weekend.  I'm getting ready to celebrate Friday night with my jammies, wine, new InStyle magazine, and my husband.  My life is currently complete...

What, are you a cowboy now?



shirt: thrifted, pants: New York & Co.





necklace: Francesca's, shoes: Target



I've decided that to add a little humor, I'll start including some of the comments my husband has about my outfits from time to time.  The way I look at it, the more funny comments he makes, the more I'm stepping outside of my usual style.  This is good!  Now please don't think my husband is a complete ass when I share his thoughts!  I believe that he fell for me partly because I'm so low maintenance and spend most of my down time in sweats and a hoodie, so fashion/style isn't really what he's used to from me.  This morning while we were getting ready for work my husband's comment was "What, are you a cowboy now?"  In my defense, he saw me while I was still getting ready, before adding one of my favorite necklaces and the heels.

Shoes!

jeans & shirt: Target, shoes & watch: Kohl's, scarf: present from my momma

The only thing I think is really special about this outfit are the shoes.  Isn't it wonderful how a cute pair of heels can completely change the feel of an outfit?  I found this pair on sale for $17 at a local Kohl's that was going out of business.  Not only are they cute, but they're pretty comfortable too! 

Spin Pins

For the first time in over a year, my hair is finally long enough again to be twisted into a (messy) bun using the spin pin...and I lost my spin pins.  I was super annoyed by this until I was wandering around CVS while being stuck on the phone (because I'm too nice to say no when my financial advisor's company calls and asks to complete a "short 3 minute survey") and found spin pin minis! I was cursed  blessed with what my mom calls "fine" hair and I just refer to as thin.  Thin/fine hair = regular spin pins being too long and sticking out the sides of my bun, but spin pin minis are just the right size to stay hidden. I think the minis are pretty awesome, but I also think I may be overly excited about my discovery. :)

Watches

Today i went thrifting again and found 2 more watches to add to my collection.  Of course they both need new batteries, but I figured this was no big deal and bought them anyway.  What I failed to consider is that getting a watch battery changed is expensive...especially when you go home and realize that now 4 of your 9 watches need a new one.  At $12.99 per battery change, I decided to only have the battery changed on my favorite watch.  I tried looking online for cheap battery changes, but then said screw that and looked up how to do it myself!  I found this link that seems like it will be helpful: http://www.wikihow.com/Pry-off-a-Watch-Backing-Without-Proper-Tools.  After trying to pry off the back with the smallest screwdriver I could find, I decided that wouldn't work.  I'm hoping my screwdriver from my eye glasses kit will be perfect, but of course I left it on my desk at work, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to try. 

Part of the obsession, I mean collection...

Bonus of realizing the size of my watch collection:  I found a new way to store them!  I used one of the glass vases from our wedding decorations to put them in.  My husband has been threatening to donate them all, but I have a strange emotional attachment to every single one.  I'm determined to spread them throughout the house without him noticing. :) 



I Thrifted Again...

blazer & scarf: thrifted, jeans: Gap forever ago

Am I alone in thinking that it's strange to have a huge store with a ton of clothes....and no fitting room?  The thrift store I visited today had nowhere to try on clothes.  Unless I fall in love with them and am familiar with how that specific brand fits me, there's no way I would want to pay even $3 for pants I couldn't try on first.  They did however have a bunch of mirrors so I was able to try on this really cute navy blue Pendleton blazer.  I've heard of the brand and thought it looked like a nice jacket from the label.  My hunch was confirmed when I went home and looked at their website and found all of their blazers currently on sale, but still over $100.  My price?  $2.25 plus the matching scarf for only another $2.25.  I should've been dancing the whole way to my car...

By the way, I realize it's not a great picture.  However, it was either this or ask my husband to take a picture of my outfit and this is how that went the last time I asked. :)

Pretty in Purple

I think I've rekindled my love of thrifting. I've always loved a good bargain, but my thrifting in the past has been focused on home decor and size small sports tshirts that I lived in all through college. Sigh...sometimes I really miss college. And my tshirts.  Anyway, these purple shoes single handedly rekindled my thrifting love.

These shoes were special priced at Goodwill for $9. They slip a little bit, but nothing an insert couldn't fix. Worth it right?  I thought so until I realized that the insert I wanted was $8, turning my bargain into $18 shoes. From Goodwill.  Shit.