Another weekend and of course I went thrifting. I found four things – two handbags and two skirts.

I paid $4 for the two Ann Taylor LOFT clutches. I just love these bags and I can wait to use them for a night out on the town. The smaller sequin one is going to go great with a sequin dress (tunic) I plan on wearing soon.

I also purchased two skirts. I got a black A-line for $2.99 and a NWT, The Webster for Target collection for $3.99

I just love the look of this skirt. Yes, it screams Miami Beach(that’s where The Webster is located) and it’s one place I haven’t been and is on my list of places to go.  I actually wore the skirt the other night & although I wore it with a white top, I’m really looking for something different to make it pop.

The black skirt is just simple and with having downsized my closet I needed a new one.

I enjoy shopping and the reason I like thrifting as much as I do is that I get more for my money. I spent $11 the other day , only a fraction of the cost of what I would probably pay new or even on clearance.  Guess what? It’s even better when you get items that are NWT like the skirt and one clutch.

Recently I wore a strapless satin dress I thrifted for $4.50 to the Reflections of Style Fashion Show. The event benefits the Community Hope Center and flaire FOR WOMEN has helped sponsor the event the past four years.

I don’t mind telling women where I find things.  Someone asked me how I find all the good items that I do. The trick is to keep going back. Since the stock in the store is replenished everyday you never know what you’ll come across.

I’ve got a few items I purchased recently and haven’t yet worn and looking forward for a place to go.

If you’re a thrifter where do you? What’s the best thing you’ve found?

Recently I purchased a top that I absolutely love the colors. I don’t know what it is but I adore the coral color.

I thrifted the Old Navy tube top for $3. I then found the coral maxi skirt for $3 while thrifting  as well. I accessorized with a flower in my hair and shell earrings and a necklace.

It’s unbelievable that I was able to match the colors in the top and skirt. This whole looks reminds me of going to the beach. It’s been years since I’ve actually been on a beach, but in two months when I go to visit my son in San Diego to watch him graduate from basic training with the U.S. Marines I plan to go back . The one and only time I’ve been to the Pacific Ocean was when Cole was little and we went to San Diego for the day. I’m excited because I get to return to a place I’ve been before and it’s beautiful.

I think today’s says it all. Life’s a beach!

Do you like the look? What do you think of the color coral?

Everyone who knows me knows I like a good bargain. Most of the deals I find are thrifting and/or on sale and today’s look was no exception.

Top – Alfani ($6, thrifted)
Tank ($3, Dollar General clearance)
Skirt – Chicos ($3, thrifted)
Espadrilles – Merona ($4, NWT Target brand)
Silver cuff ($4, Payless Shoe Source)
Silver earrings ($6, Lane Bryant clearance)

I know it’s been more than a week since my last blog and I really didn’t take any photos of outfits except one. I wanted to go ahead and show you because it’s really an outfit meant for the tropics and the weather here hasn’t changed since I blogged last time and I said I would wear tropical attire. I actually did.

Dress , necklace, earring and floral hair pin all came from Cato. The dress was $19 and the rest was on clearance. I thrifted the shoes last summer for $3.

Besides dressing like I’m on vacation I also have been fighting the humidity . As a curly girl the heat can be horrible on my tresses and since I’m in need of a new blowout it’s starting to frizz on the dreadful days. Thus the reason I’ve worn it up more lately.

How are you beating the heat? What are your go to looks when it’s hot?

It looks  like the start of another heat wave again this week.

I picked a dress to wear that I believe represents warm weather too.

I thrifted this dress for $4.50 back in the spring and have worn it only once. I like the hibiscus flowers on it.  It reminds me of the tropics. I paired it with a turquoise NWT espadrilles I thrifted for $4 and silver jewelry.

Here’s how I looked wearing the dress the first time.

I know there are many of us who enjoy the sunshine that summer brings. It’s like being on an island paradise, but no where near an ocean.  Let’s face it we all probably would like to be in the tropics at least there it rains from time to time thanks to the high humidity.

Here is the Midwest we just get the heat and humidity and nothing else.  Maybe we should all do a rain dance because tomorrow it will be one month since any water fell  from the sky and touched the ground here in Alton. The reason I remember is because it was my son’s graduation/going away party.

Maybe if I wear my island inspired clothes this week it will actually rain. What do you think?

I’m ready for a break in the weather. How about you?

I know we had a little cool down this week, but I would rather it rain. The past few days I’ve dressed in clothes (or accessories) that I feel  are meant for the tropics.

I thrifted this Old Navy striped and solid orange dress earlier this year.  I picked it up for $2.25 (it was on sale for half-off.) I wore a light gray sweater for the air-conditioned office and accessorized with a wide black braided belt, black espadrilles and a fedora straw hat.

I also thrifted the multi-color pattern NY&C dress for $4.50. I accessorized with some silver bracelets I found at a yard sale for $.25 and some silver rings. I wore a pair of green Thom McAn wedge sandals I got for $3.

To me both looks remind me of the tropics. The fedora and espadrilles are something you see in resort wear and the print dress reminds me of a mojito. Actually both outfits make me think of Cuba.  Maybe because I would like to one day visit there.  Currently United States doesn’t allow Americans to visit the country 90 miles off the coast of Florida unless they have a license for a specific purpose or take educational trip.

Either way I still plan to get there one day. I’ve never been anywhere “south of the border” and I would like to visit some Latin countries.  I think the culture, food, drinks and people fascinate me.  I guess you could say I have a “taste for the tropics.”

Anyway what do you think of the looks? Which one do you like best?

Every now and then we need a break  I recently took time off from my blog not because  I don’t enjoy putting together great outfits, simply because I needed to reboot.

Even if I didn’t show you what I was wearing daily I did manage to snap a few photos throughout the past several weeks to show you a few of my looks.

I wore this black and white checked top ($3, thrifted) over a black strapless dress ($19, Cato.) I accessorized the look with red beaded multi-strand necklace, red pumps and red sunglasses.

I paired these aqua-blue linen pants (Lane Bryant, my closet) with a printed top ($3, thrifted) and black flip flops with beading ($8, Kohl’s)

The olive green dress ($4.50, thrifted) pairs nicely with a brown  belt ($2, thrifted,) brown leather sandals ($9, Macy’s) and animal print scarf (my closet.)

I wore this black and white print Cato jumper ($9.99, clearance) with a red scarf, red handbag ($.25, yard sale,)  red and silver jewelry and silver gladiator sandals ($3, NWT thrifted.)

I attended the St. Louis Cardinals game on June 29 with my girlfriend Jerika. We had a great girls night out too even though the Cards lost and it was nearly 100 degrees.

I paired a T-shirt with shorts and gladiator sandals.

Each of these looks are different and there were so many cute clothes I wore recently and I didn’t snap a picture, but I plan on wearing them again soon so I can show you what great bargains I’ve found recently.

What look do you like best? I think taking a few weeks off has helped me and during the next month or so I plan “reboot” by blog as well. I’ve got some fun things in store for all of you.

This past weekend was a pretty special one. I took part in my first 5k race and had my son’s graduation/going away party.

Of course I have to show you the outfit I wore to the party.

I wore a Nine West top that I thrifted NWT for $4.50 (original price $74.) I paired with my royal blue Cato shorts and flips flops. I like the stripes in the top and I’m sure I’m going to get a lot wear with it, plus it’s a little patriotic and fitting for the party.

For those who don’t know my son enlisted in the U.S. Marine’s and on Sunday he will spend the night in St. Louis and on Monday he leaves for boot camp at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

 Since I began walking and then running several months ago one of the things I decided I wanted to do was take part in a 5k with Cole before he left. He ran cross country and track so the 3.1 miles is not a big deal to him, but it was too me.

We took part in the St. Louis Police Athletic League 5k Hero’s Run at Forest Park. All I can say is felt fantastic crossing the finish line. Cole actually finished the race way ahead of me and came back to finish out the run with me.

As he approached I asked how he did and he said “I won!” I nearly started to cry. He was the first person to cross the finish line and the overall (male) winner of the race. I couldn’t be more proud.

He finished the race in 19:30 and I ran it in 43:40. My time may not be great, but I did it and for me and I feel wonderful in accomplishing it because I only started running again in March. I began walking at the end of January.  I did a combination for the race and as time goes on I plan to run more because I want to run another with Cole when he comes home on leave. I know he’s proud of me for doing it and I am too.

There is nothing more regal than running with your child and knowing that he’s just as proud of you as you are of him.

After the race we then headed to my parents farm where we had his graduation/going away party. I think everyone who came had a great time and the best part of my night was when he stood in the kitchen and hugged me then told me “Mom the next time you see me I won’t be this kid anymore. I’ll be all grown up. I want you to know that I’ll always need you and I love you.”

There have been quite a few changes in my life lately. Changes at work and at home so I’m been a little too busy to blog.

Anyway I don’t want to go to long or I get out of the habit, it’s kind of like exercise. The longer you put it off the more you don’t want to do it.  I waited 18 years to really get into an exercise routine, but once I did, let’s just say  I don’t want to break the habit.

The payoff has been good too. I’m wearing smaller size clothing and whenever people ask me how much weight I’ve lost I can honestly said “I don’t know.” Why? Because I don’t have a scale and don’t want to pay attention to the number. What I will tell you is I’m down nearly three sizes, depending on the label/designer.

Here are a few looks I’ve worn lately:

No. 1 – INC.  International Concepts halter top (yard sale, $2), Chaps skirt (clearnace, Kohl’s, $3.80) sliver accessories (yard sale, $2) and flip flips (Payless)
No. 2 – Old Navy printed skirt (yard sale, $.25) tan tank (clearance, Macy’s) tan top (clearance, Target) and gold flop flops (thrifted, NWT, $3)
No. 3 – New York & Company orange floral tank (clearance, $8),  white linen skirt (clearance, Cato) , Vera Wang nude t-strap sandals (clearance, Kohl’s, $6), orange earring and orange floral pin (clearance, NY&C and Lane Bryant.)

My looks tell you that it’s officially summer and I like each of them, but I really do like the blue halter. What look do  you like best?

  Some days are better than others and today just happens to be one of those days especially when wearing comfortable clothes.

I love the rayon spandex jersey fabric in both this Dana Buchman top (Kohl’s) and Apt. 9 skirt (Kohl’s.) The stretch fabric both breathes and falls nicely. I paired it with a set of five bracelets I purchased for $.25 at a yard sale, a faux leather band (gifted,) silver Dana Buchman earrings (Kohl’s, clearance) and silver rings. I also wore a pair of L.e.i.  gladiator sandals (NWT, thrifted $3, orginally $22.)

It’s a simple, yet comfortable outfit. It’s a little edgy too.  The thing I like about it is that if I wanted to go out on the town all I would need to do is add a pair of heels. I think an outfit can be both stylish and comfortable.

So ladies what do you wear for comfort?

It’s just one of those weeks and I’ve got a hodgepodge of looks going on and even a few from some time ago too.

I’ve had this skirt for years. I got it when Value City was still around. I paired it with a red T-shirt, red slides and red jewelry.  I love the red though.

I thrifted this dress. It’s  Ann Taylor Loft and I got it for $4.50, which is a good deal because it retails for around $60. I paired by navy slides with it and some silver and navy jewelry.

I like this dress because it’s the smallest size I’ve got in my closet and one I haven’t been in years.

I wore this outfit some time back. The skirt is Coldwater Creek (free) the top is Michael Kors (clearance, Macy’s). I accessorized with headband (yard sale, $.25 cents,)  ring (thrifted, $5) and flip flops (on sale, Kohl’s.)

 Do you ever have a week where you dress and everything just feels thrown together? Well this week is that for me. What look do you like best?