Black & White
Posted on: May 24, 2013
A rainy Friday trip to the thrift store with my daughter and again with cooler temperatures means another opportunity to wear jeans, which will not be possible too much once our summer heat and humidity hit!
It was really raining during this shoot and my dear seventeen year old photographer did not have an umbrealla so it was a quick shoot where I find it hard to give a geniuine smile while my son was miserable...
My daughter and I had a really good time thrifting and she tried on a ton of things. Surprisingly she ended up buying 9 items. She is usually so picking and hardly ever gets more than three or four items per trip… She purchased two sweater dresses which will work for subsituting if she does reach that goal. She also found a great blue dress with a v-neck line and A-line skirt that even had built in shapewear and was perfect on her. It was the exact style she wanted for her graduation. She has a wedding to attend and maybe she will let me photograph her wearing it????
My Jeans, striped tank, purse and shoes are all thrifted… Sweater is via Metrostyle last year and no longer available.
I just wanted to add this close up because I am so proud of myelf for how comfortable I am with patten mixing. It was just a few months agao that I even attempted it, but now I can do it without even really thinking about it… One of the great benefits for me so far as a blogger… Also note that I stuck to the black and white with no pop of color in sight… that is a tough one for me, but I am liking stretching myself in that way.
This was yesterday’s look and when I posted it on a forum I mentioned that part of my happiness factor with this is the green wedges that I purchased last year. For me these shoes represent the success of begining the journey to taking care of myself. They aren’t just a basic color like white, tan or black that I might have had, they were an unsual color that meant a step up in self care. This was part of my recovery after years of not taking care of myself in what I call the weight gaining years (when I was caring for my mother for 4 years and mourning her for another two years) It just feels right to share this with you my Dear Readers, as well as the ladies on the fashion forum..
Dear Readers, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and appreiciate you taking time to read my blog and comment. It seems like every time I question if I am reaching my goal to inspire others, that a reader will leave me a comment that touches my heart. It is really uncanny the timing of when this happens and how it is so needed. So Dear Readers, I thank you for that! Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Gratitude: I am grateful today for my son for taking the photos in the rain and not even giving me a hard time about it. I am grateful for a fun thrifting trip and time alone with my daughter. I am grateful to my husband who bought me flowers. I am grateful that my husband was home early and took my youngest out alone to run errands (alone time with parents and only one child is precious and we strive to give them each that). I am grateful for a wonderful phone conversation with a dear friend and the plans we made for a girls lunch on Sunday!
Lemon & Lime
Posted on: May 24, 2013
- In: Creating a versatile wardrobe | Gratitude | Green | Mom On the Go | shoes | skinny jeans | Spring Outfits | Yellow
- 7 Comments
I love this color combo especially after seeing the pictures outside with the colors of nature…
What I don’t love is what my hair was doing during this entire photos shoot,… Think it might be time to cut my bangs… Regardless not letting that little thing about my hair ruin my love of this outfit…
I liked this pose because you can’t see my messed up hair! This green sweater is one I purchased in several colors last year because as I’ve alluded to already, I love the third completer pieces even in warmer temps and they are needed for airconditioning for this lady who gets cold easily… This sweater comes in so many colors and is a QVC, Denim & Co essential and is currently priced at $26.00. I love that they are 70% cotton and 30% nylon. My one regret is that I bought them last year anticipating my weight loss goals but really wish I had them one size smaller… Oh well, I think I’ll make them work for this year, but look into replacing them for next year.
This pose my 17 year old took from down low on the ground as he was in a goofy mood taking shots from up high, the side and even turning the camera around to get his own face…
I told him I would use it as long as it didn’t make me look wider…
My yellow jeans are by Liz Claiborne via JC Penney and were purchased on clearance so no longer available.. The shoes and print top were both from Chadwicks last year and again no longer available. This purse was thrifted and I just had toget it for summer!!
Since I really loved this color combo, couldn’t resist one last pose….
Dear Readers. Are you looking forward to this holiday weekend? Do you have any plans? My husband is itching to use his new grill, so think we will have just a fun family of 6 event… I am so happy to have my daughter back home and will cherish this time as I know big changes are on the horizon as my adult children continue on in their independence… My dear fellow fashionistas, what color should i try next with these yellow jeans? I have a few ideas, myself, but would love to hear you all weigh in , so make a girl happy and leave a comment! Have a wonderful weekend filled with laughter, fun and family and friends! Make some Memories!!!!
Gratitude- I am grateful that my son finished the reading practice test and did incredible! I am grateful that the testing I have to do for homeschooling arrived today and after peeking at it, I am confident he is well prepared for this…I am grateful that my 17 year old had fun taking my photos today, as I know sometimes he finds me a pain in his neck… I am grateful that after getting up way to early this morning that I had a good long nap and felt incredibly recharged! I am grateful for the long weekend and time for more of these daily fun conversations with all of my children. I am grateful that when my 17 year old had to pick an experience that helped him to grow for a paper, that he chose giving a Eulogy at my mother’s funeral when he was just 13 ( he really did an incredible job and made me so proud!)
Sassy Silhouette
Posted on: May 22, 2013
A busy day doing laundry, housecleaning and home schooling, spent in a skirt and tank top… I had to run to the grocery store and drug store so changed to the dress I showed in my thrifted finds yesterday…
Linking up with LOOk What I Got and All Things Pretty
A perfect dress for air-conditioned stores! I was quite surprised to see a number of women in sleeveless dresses, but it was in the 80′s so it makes sense. I just can’t go shopping without my shoulders and at least my upper arms covered …
I was pleasantly surprised by a nice breeze that made takin photos a challenge…This outfit cost me so little that I have to mention it…
The dress by Max Studio was thrifted for just $3.50 and the Anne Klien shoes were just $4, while the Dooney & Bourke purse was a gift from a friend….Even my bracelets were purchased from Ebay and were part of a set of 100 vintage bracelets that I purchased for $40.
I love this dress and will grab it often as it is such a stand alone piece that needs little accessories and provides maximum impact with the print and let’s not forget super comfortable and flattering to my figure… I have to say that A-line dresses or skirts really just make me feel so Sassy and like dancing! Note to self….find more of those..
I am picturing this with tights and booties and a sweater or jacket for Fall….
Dear Readers, I hope to find some dresses like this that my daughter will like to add for her work wardrobe. I offered her this one, but she objected to the print. She has a few Calvin Klein dresses that are all solids and an olive shirtdress, but nothing as casual and easy as this… I just hope that she doesn’t try so much to be different from me that she limits herself too much. She definitely wants a style separate and not at all like mine, so wonder what she will come up with. I have to be careful and not make suggestions or she will immediately not like it. Will be fun to watch… Are all daughters so complicated??? I still get the biggest kick out of my oldest son’s style choices and so wish he would let me phototgraph him and post about it but alas he is just too introverted. That’s the funny part his style and color choices are brave and you would never guess he was shy….
Gratitude: I am grateful that Walgreens had my cinnamon pills ( taken for as I couldn’t remember where I had purchased them from… I am grateful that my husband didn’t go to work unitl noon and was home before 8 pm today(Wednesday). I am grateful that my husband is as I am typing this watching the show revealing the new Xbox game system that the boys watched yestereday and couldn’t wait to share with him. I am grateful that my seventeen year old made dinner for the kids and I was able to just cook up some chicken and zuchinni for myself.
My Lucky Finds
Posted on: May 22, 2013
I just didn’t get around to taking photos of what I wore to my WW meeting before the thunderstorms came in, so decided to do a mid-week thrift store post since I have some items I hadn’t shown, yet…
I am blessed to have a beautiful seven year old little girl in my life (well she will be seven on Saturday) who calls me “Auntie Tracey” and I often hunt down thrift store finds for her as she is quite a budding fashionista. I would like to say that I also have a beautiful niece who is 10 and the daughter of my younger brother who I am also blessed to have in my life and who I will get to see a lot more once Summer hits and she comes to hang out with me every other week. I cherish that time with her…She too is quite a little fashionista and sends me e-mails regarding her style.
So now on to the finds that I recently scored for the seven year old who is the daughter of my dearest friend.
She loves these puffer vests during winter and technically this was in the boys section, but will look darling with her feminine tops.
This pink one is from Children’s Place ansd is faux fur lined and sparkles with rhinestone… a little girls dream vest…
This heavy cotton trench style jacket is a Crazy 8 and so precious, I can’t wait to see her face when she sees this…
This pink nylon trench is just too cute with silver buttons and is by Joujou. It is missing a belt but no worries she has a wonderfully creative mother who will solve that little issue in no time flat.
Now on for the things I found for Myself…
I’m very new to the vest thing, but figured I couln’t go wrong with a brown suede one…
Let’s face it AC in businesses is ridiculously cold, so a cute blazer with floral cuffs will come in handy
Paisley Jacket by Coldwater Creek in greens and purples…
I just can’t resist dresses from the thrift store especially when I can get them for just $3.50…
This one is a Max studio and will definitely be multiseasonal…
Love this heel height and pointy toe pumps are fabulous...
A girl can never have too many shoes…
Dear Readers, Any favorites? I may have to curb my thrifting trips because I need to help my daughter get a basic wardrobe for subsitute teaching since she currently owns mostly college wear of t-shirts and casual clothing… I am looking forward to helping her and seeing what she chooses for this new more mature time in her life….Still feeling so much sadness for OK… and saying prayers for all those involved in this tragic event.
Gratitude; I am grateful that I only gained .2lbs over the last two weeks as I had been so worn out and busy after my daughter came home that I had not exercised… I am grateful for my WW meeting and an energetic leader and members who make it such a wonderful weekly experience. I am grateful that my son again cooperated so well with the test preparation work as he is doing a lot of reading which usually causes him to stress. I am grateful for thunderstorms and rain that help the temperatures cool off…
A very busy start to the week with lots of errands and beginning test preparation for homeschooling, Connor. Even as busy as I was, my thoughts all day kept wandering back to something that happened this weekend that shined a light on something I am inspired to write about and feel blessed to have a forum to do so….
While out to dinner this weekend with friends my husband and I decided to order a dessert to share, not something we do often, but we were both in the mood. I had been experiencing terrible sinus pain all day and had only had breakfast that day. When dessert came and I took a spoonful our friend remarked “but you are on Weight Watchers, what are you doing?” When she said that it hit me that there is so many misperceptions about how to lose and maintain weight.
I replied to her outcry that it was because of Weeight Watchers that I could have three or four bites of dessert with no gulit or worry. The thing that makes Weight Watchers work is that it is not a diet. It is about eating consciously and making wise choices. Real life happens and you need a program that allows for that. It’s all about Balance…
If you know that you are going to eat more for dinner then you can make up for it in your other meals for the day. Some days I have a 5 point yogurt and fruit smoothie… Other days it’s eggs and milk for 7 0r 8 points. Lunches can range for 8 points to as low as three if I opt for 2 laughing cow cheese wedges with celery and carrots or fruit. There is even a wonderful Zero point vegetable soup to help. The key is lower points for the other meals creating a balance for the day. I see it as conscious eating where I can make almost anything work…There is such confidence in my choices and no worries that if choose to indulge some days in a chocolate molten cake with a scoop of icecream shared with others. that I am still in control.
Dear Readers, I hope this post was insightful and thought provoking. I am tired and my kids are calling me to cook dinner, so feel my writing wasn’t as brilliant as I could have done, but think my point is clear… If not, bottom line, Being in control of your food means no worries, and no guilt feelings that you cheated …It’s about Balancing out what you eat and choosing to eat healthy most of the time. My prayers go out to all those suffering loss and devestation in Oklahoma.
Gratitude; I am grateful that my homeschooling son did a great job on his first day of test preparation practice. I am grateful that my two middle children were both home and joined in to help with the homeschooling (this is a rarity because it is usually done while the 17 year old is in school and my daughter is now home from college, but Connor slept late today…) I am grateful that I completed everything on my list of things to accomplish today. I am grateful that my husband had a little break today and popped in for a few hours. I am grateful that my daughter didn’t tell me “No Way” when I brought home green and teal dress pants for her to try as we begin building her a wardrobe for subsituting. (she may send them back, but at least she was more open than I anticipated!)
Outfit Information….
I wore this to the bank this morning and teller complimented my top and manager complimented my shoes…. what fun! This outfit looked so much better when I went to the bank compared to the wrinkles it developed later in the day…
Mint top- bought two years ago from Chadwicks on Clearance (cotton/silk blend )
Shrug- thrifted
Skirt- Chaus via Ebay
Shoes- Payless last year….
Purse- Aigner, thrifted
I feel guilty sometimes that I can’t point my dear readers on where to buy the same items I wear since I purchased a lot on clearance from Chadwicks in anticipation of my weight loss two years ago or due to my thrifting scores… I look at other bloggers for color combos or silhouettes and hope that is something my dear readers do with me….
Aqua & Blush
Posted on: May 19, 2013
- In: Gratitude
- 8 Comments
Since it was too hot to debut my blush jeans a few days ago, I took the oppportunity to do so today(Sunday) for our family day at the movies…
It’s Visible Monday, so head over at see what other wonderful bloggers are doing!
Going to see IronMan 3 is the perfect afternnon outing on a day where it’s drizzling… We all had a great time and I got the biggest kick out of watching my youngest laughing so hard .
I loved how the colors of my umbrella worked so well with this outfit…And I loved the compliment from the girl at a store we stopped into that started by complimenting my shoes and asking if they were comfortable. These are my newer Franco Sarto”s purchased on Ebay and I highly recommend them for comfort. After the initial compliment she went on to tell me she really liked my entire outfit. My husband just smiled. He gets such a kick out of this when it happens. It also makes him do a double take and see me in a new light and pridefully compliment my style choices even though he had previously done so before I left the house.
My top is Willi Smith and thrifted. I love this blouse because it has some great touches like contrast cuffs and even a contrast hem and of course those wonderful flattering seams. The best part of all is the length which is perfect for wearing untucked. The vest is from F21 and my must have purcahse for Spring to replace my love of moto jackets that will be on hiatus until fall (unless a cool evening alllows for their appearance)
This new necklace was found at Burlington Coat Factory for just $7.99 and came with matching earrings.
Dear Readers, I haven’t had the edgy feeling I like in outfits so much recently,but the vest and shoes here really gave me that vibe. I like that the colors are quite the opposite of edgy and very feminine. I highly recommend checking out thrift stores for blouses. I am constantly surprised at how lke new and what great brands are available for just a fraction of retail pricing. I’ve never been much of a blouse wearer,but am totally sold on them lately. Do you like wearing blouses? What style of top is your favorite?
Gratitude: I am grateful for a fun weekend. I am grateful for spending time with friends on Saturday night and the laughter and fun we had together… I am grateful for couple friends were we all get along. I am grateful for time spent with the kids on Sunday. I am grateful to my husband for all his hard work in being the sole bread winner for our family. I am grateful for laughter and the recharging of my spirit. I am grateful to my three youngest who cleaned the kitchen while I was out with friends Saturday night and the joy Sunday morning when all I had to do was unload the clean dishwasher.
Inspirational Sayings…
Posted on: May 19, 2013
From the time I was a teenager I use to collect sayings and write them in little notebooks and journals… Fast forward to now and there is Pinterest for collecting them…
I believe a happy life comes from the balance and harmony of mind, body and spirit… Here’s a few thought provoking ones for the mind and spirit… Happy Sunday!
Dear Readers I hope you enjoyed these and are having a wonderful weekend! Any favorites? All comments are welcomed and appreciated.
