tried and teal

I finally caught up on my past outfit posts.  This outfit was photographed on Nov. 25th actually!  I wore these duds as my "Thanksgiving outfit."  I kinda surprised myself by pairing teal with Salmon pink. It's a bit more "salmony" in real life. Actually I think it works. If you looked at a colorwheel the pink is almost a complimentary color to the teal. And the necklace is in the color family with teal, a lighter hue. I love color and colors together!

Sometime you should try putting outfits together based on if the colors are complimentary to each other.  Complimentary colors POP next to each other. I learned about that in my art class(es) a bit.

I think my mom took the 4 square pics of me. I took the rest with a self timer.  I love how artsy the long pics came out!  This is what I love, creativity in fashion/dressing and photography.  To be honest I'd love to do some modeling.  It'd be neat to also photograph a model or models sometime, like in my vintage clothing I've collected.  I have quite a stash of vintage clothing. There's formal dresses, some shoes, even clutches that I'd like to decorate with feathers and some rhinestones. 

I love (yes I have over used that word in this post ;) being creative. No excuses or apologies, (wiggles eyebrows) That's how God made me! (and I LOVE it

P.S. Oh and I got my hair cut like a month ago. Quite a change huh?!!

(I'm writing this blog late at night so I'm emoting more than normal ;))

leather cowboy heeled booties: recent purchase, $2 thifted

teal cordaroy's: $4? thrifted

salmon silk wrap sweater: thrifted $3?

cami: $2 thrifted

long beads: $5 Charlotte Russe

owl ring: (I need to take a closer up, it's so cool!) $2 valley discount

guestimated total: $16

spring flowers on Sunday

steve madden leather pumps: $2 thrifted

tights: Gabriel brothers

skirt: $3 Worthington (?) recently thrifted!

button up (Target): Thrifted  $3

Old Navy jean jacket: $25 on sale

beaded/seed necklaces: Jamaica and thrifted

turquoise pendant necklace: Vintage from Grammie

hooped earrings: $5 Forever 21 

I wore this outfit to church a few weeks ago on Sunday and thought I'd post it today.  Don't you like my spring flowery shirt!?

The weather is being finicky. We've had some beautiful warm days and then we've had some pretty yucky snow/wet/rain soon after.  It's beautiful today but has been cold.

Life continues to be crazy.  Maybe sometime I'll refer back to this and explain more.  Let me say these last 3 or 4 months of my life have been some of the hardest.  But I know my Lord and I know God is with me.  

It shows me how transient life is.  More and more my heart ties are being transferred to heaven.  There is a peace that I feel. But my heart hurts sometimes.  Sometimes I just hurt.

In Steal Magnolias one of the ladies says, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion."  That touches on some of what I've been going through, what I'm trying to say. (I think I assumed that when I would face loss  my world would be completely upside down. That inside it'd be the end of the world. It isn't.) My heart hurts. There's pain and grief but I'm also soo full of life. And those around me are full of life. There's love around me in my friends and family and in My God.  I do smile and laugh, but sometimes I cry.

I think there's a cleansing of the self that happens sometimes through grief. It clarifies things. It's like after it rains the air seems more clear and crisp. But when it's raining it's cold and wet, and that's all you feel, the rain; the tears running down your face. But, the sun comes out and it shows you that the grass is green and there is still life.  With grief though those clouds hang over you for awhile.

And the rain comes sometimes when you don't expect it.  Something reminds you of that person, and it hurts.  I think my tears come, this time around, more when I remember them. When their is a memory which stirs my love for that person, and then it hurts.  Your heart is living, and pulsing with love. And when part of it is taken away, and you touch on that part it hurts. And the tears fall.

I think in times like this our grief and our love bleed together. There are memories that bring joy, which touches on our love, which in turn brings us to tears.  

something borrowed, something blue and something mustard!

yellow flower: handmade by me

necklaces: borrowed from my sister (vintage locket from Grammie)

blue denim tunic: borrowed from my sister

striped sweater: borrowed from my sister

belt: thrifted, borrowed from my sister

skinny pants: Old Navy $15

leather Brazilian booties: $2

vintage ring: thrifted $6

The last 3 days, Saturday, Sunday and now today I've been borrowing my sister's clothes. It's been fun :)  She has a nice collection of clothes and quite a collection of jewelery. Like myself she has several pieces from my grandmother.  

Today I didn't do much.  Life has been crazy and difficult recently. Maybe I'll post more about it later.  

Lord willing I will be going up to Mass. at the end of the week with my brother.  We won't be there long. I hope this is how it works out. That we'll drive up or Greyhound it up on Friday than come back Monday.  I am toying with the idea of staying longer since I don't until Thursday of next week.  I will work Thursday of this week though.

I need to work on my sisters invitations tonight. :)

If you are a person of faith, please pray for my family and for my extended family.  Thank you.

keyed up

After lunch I dragged my brother to a local park to get these shots. There's this cool bridge over a stream I had my mind on.  He got some great shots! Thanks Adam!  Maybe it's cus he's left handed and uses his right brain and yes maybe he takes better pics than I do.  I wish he'd be my regular photographer.  Mom does a pretty good job too.  

I was insecure that this outfit was too young. But I like it.  It's really fun.  And I really like my new $3 pink key shirt. It has some great details. I admit I really enjoy clothes and being creative in putting them together!  It's another way to use my creativity. 

The other day my sister said I should go into design. I'd love to.  In some ways I feel wiser than my years and have since I was younger. But in other ways I feel like a late bloomer.  I think I'm a bit of an "Orchid" personality. I have to have the right type of environment to really bloom completely. To be myself. I do have fears that keep me back. And also soo many different desires!

 I think Orchids need the right type of soil. And as I'm writing I realize that if I'm planted in God He will help me bloom.  The nutrients of His love will be my food.  And I can explode into an amazing blossom :) 

What are some of your dreams?  That for whatever reason you hold back on?

boots: $1/$2 thrifted

over the knee socks: $3, NEW! Steve Madden

brown tights: Gabriel brothers?

skirt: free from a friend

pink key shirt: $3 NEW! Gabriel brothers  (I love it!)

turquoise shrug: free, from my sis

scarf: from my sis

earrings, ring bling, vintage key: borrowed from sis

chain: gifted, from another necklace

grey wool cloche: $6 Gabriel brothers

brown men's leather belt: Old Navy $1 yard sale 

total: $15

on track

So I mixed neutrals, (well almost neutrals) with this spring skirt. I'm wearing blue jean and teal as a neutral. Wouldn't you say blue jeans are practically a neutral?  Today I actually wore 2 PAIR of tights.  One pair in teal layered under a pair of grey nylons.  (I have a confession to make. I "cheat" with my pictures. I have to wear glasses to see, but I look a lot better without them, so I take them off for pics. Shhh, don't tell ;)  I want to get new glasses for my birthday, which is in 21 days!!

I went with my mom to bring the garbage but both places were closed. I asked her to stop at the railroad crossing and she took these shots. I'm impressed with my brother and my mom with the pics they both take!  

Look I ONLY posted 6 pics... I'm picture happy (think "trigger happy"), so normally I post 8 pics or more.

Today I posted 6 new pairs of earrings in my Etsy shop!  Check 'em out. I guess I'm all about 6 today.  Better not do another thing in 6...jk! :) There's still a New Year's Eve coupon up in one of my blog posts if you want to get a discount.

boots: $1 or $2 thrifted

teal tights: Gabriel brother's

grey nylons: from Grammie

skirt: free

grey thermal: Gabriel Brother's

jean jacket: Old Navy $25

feather earrings: gift from my brother, 

probably from Peru

shell ring: from Grammie

necklace: star of David from Israel, 

sparrow from thrift store, chain from another necklace

the green eyed girl

I wore this yesterday to the young adults Bible study. Every week that we go the family that hosts it cooks dinner.  Last night was breakfast for dinner, and boy was it good!  It was one of my favorite meals they've cooked so far.  We had grits and shrimp (my first time ever!), biscuits and gravy and some sort of French toast bread pudding with blueberries.  Some good eatin'!

 I think certain colors work on me better than others. I really like coral, in many different shades and I like green and sage green. I haven't been so sure about this sweater, thinking maybe to get rid of. But I've rediscovered it and I do like it.  I wore it in my first post,  (which wasn't my favorite look.)  I've really been getting into the fashion world more lately.  Looking at fashion blogs a lot. Doing my own fashion blogging. I even read a lot of Tim Gunn's book "A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style" .  

I want to be more deliberate about getting nicer pieces.  I do a lot of thrifting but that can give me many things instead of fewer nice things.  Don't worry I'm not going to give thrifting up completely.  I've gotten some nice shoes and boots thrifting.  

Big news!  I am going to Texas. My parents paid for a last minute ticket for me to go. My sister needs someone to ride with her as she drives her home from school in Texas. She graduates the 10th. Since my mom has some physical issues it's better for me to be on a road trip for 2 days instead of my parents.  So I get to see my baby sister (7 years younger than me) graduate from Bible School! I'm happy I get to go. Thanks God :) Yeah!  Ohhh I get to see my nephews, my brother and my sister in law.  

I had fun editing the pics and making some of the pictures more Artsy Fartsy!  Ohh and I added my two "funnies" of me (truly singing) and then pretending to play the piano.  I can play but I don't much.

J. Jill army green corduroys:  thrifted in Michigan

Ann Taylor coral long sleeved shirt: Gabriel Brothers

Ann Taylor lime green sweater: thrifted

Brazilian leather booties: $1 thrifted

vintage necklaces: Grammie

pearl bracelet: reused vintage beads handmade by me

rough cute emerald ring: $13 Thai/Burma border

fresh water pearl earrings: made by me for a friends wedding

the princess and the pea

leather boots: vintage? thrifted
leggings: ?
dress: old navy summer dress
sweater: free
snakeskin belt: thrifted
scarf: walmart $5
necklaces: (probably vintage) 2 chains & pendant 
from Grammie, one pendant thrifted
brooch on headband: vintage Grammie

I added these pics for humor's sake. I think the one on the left, I look like I'm growing out of the woodpile.  It cracks me up! It's like a bad fairy tale. Like babies growing in a cabbage patch? maybe.  The one on the right was when I was trying to stand on the wood pile in boots that don't have much traction.  

I think this was one of my favorite outfits and photo shoots.  Me use the term "Photo shoot"? I know I'm not a model, so what should I call it?? It was rather cold outside while taking pics.  I'm totally layered today so that kept me warmer.  This outfit is really comfy too!  

I went into town because my dad did a show.  I have a confession to make. (Some of you already know.) My dad is an (drum roll please)....... ELVIS IMPERSONATOR! For real. No joke, no I'm not pulling your leg. And I didn't write gullible on the ceiling.  Yup my dad is Elvis! (OK he pretends to be Elvis.)  He actually kinda looks like him. We were recently watching Blue Hawaii and they had a shot of Elvis at the end kinda blurryish and for a second I could have pretended he was my dad, he looked like him. Or should I saw my dad looked like Elvis.  

My dad sang for his dinner (well, not quite) at a nursing home in town. I drove in with my mom. We got FREE dinner. It was yummy.  It was kinda funny because the young people waiting on us kept on forgetting to give us things. Like my mom and I got decaf coffee.  I had to ask for creamer and a stirrer.  We got our dinner, without silverware and napkins.  When they brought us the plates and forgot silver ware my mom and I looked at each other and laughed (after they had left the table).  We weren't upset but it was funny because they kept not giving us things. So I asked for the silverware and napkins, and water.  

I asked God if I could help someone tonight.  I went to the Library to hang out. (Got a ton of books, some on fashion, one on antique buttons, even some on dating, and an Elizabeth Goudge novel.)  I was walking out with a lady. Held the door open for her.  I walked to my car. She kept walking. I wondered in my car if maybe this was the answer to prayer I had prayed. So I drove out the driveway. I turned left, she was on the sidewalk. I stopped (no one was coming in either direction), and asked if she wanted a ride home. She got in.  I took her home. It was a ways from the library.  

Her name is Victoria. She doesn't have a job. She visits her mom in town. She likes town because it has things to do.  I think that night some men in a truck offered her a ride. I don't know if she rode with them. I'm glad I was able to give her a lift home.  It's a cold night too. I don't think Miss Victoria is totally right in her mind and she was soo trusting.  

I was a bit nervous as I was considering doing it and was nervous while doing it. I didn't know if she lived in a rough home. Was I putting myself in danger? But God kept me. I was fine. Believe me, I don't make a habit of picking up strangers, but I really like helping people.  I felt OK about this time.  If any young ladies are reading this, please be super careful about doing what I just did.   BE WISE.  It felt rather good to do it.  It was an answer to prayer.  I almost didn't stop. I'm glad I did since it was quite a ways for her to have had to walk at night.

So I named my blog. Anyone have any other suggestions for names?  I think my name is OK. But if there's any better names that'd be great!