Head in the Clouds

Spring Break came and went.  I spent the entire week at a Mission Trip to San Antonio and wore shorts and a t-shirt for 99.9% of the trip so the return to Dallas and normal clothes was a welcome change.

My husband's family joined us for the weekend when I returned from San Antonio and we had such a fun time with one another.  It's always a blast being a tourist in your own city and we visited some of our favorite spots in city including the Dallas Museum of Art, Klyde Warren Park and Bishop Arts Square.  

All in all, we had an absolutely perfect weekend.  

Unfortunately, I also caught a bit of what I believe to be a sinus infection or Allergies Gone Wild in my body.  Either way, it's been an uncomfortable week as I've tried to continue work as normal while my head feels so cloudy that I can't think straight, but I just keep trucking along hoping that it'll pass. 

This dress was brought on a recent thrifting trip and it took some convincing from my sister to buy it because it has the appearance of being somewhat frumpy due to my lack of boobage.  However, it was perfect for a day like this.  The cotton in the dress and the looseness of the fabric helped keep me cool when it got warmer in the afternoon.  It'll end up being a staple in my wardrobe this Spring for sure. 

Anyhow, hope your Spring Break was a good one! 

{Dress: Thrifted [Cotton On] ($6.56), Jean Jacket: Thrifted ($3.59), Shoes: H&M ($12.99), Necklace: Earthbound Trading Co. ($1.99)}

*All photos were taken by my beautifully talented sister in law, Chase Barrington. 

Thrifty Thursday

I had an extremely successful morning thrifting today and I felt the need to share! Enjoy!

So, I never thrift on Thursday's because of work/school etc. but I went today and I found some amazing stuff.  Considering my challenge for last week of wearing only seven items of clothing, I found it hilarious that when I finally went thrifting I bought at least 14 items.  As always, puts things in perspective cause while I want to dress simply, it's also tough to pass up clothes when they're so darn affordable and cute.

I'd been pining after a jean vest to wear over summery dresses and found this one found in the first picture for $2.99 along with a simple tan and black polka dotted skirt for $1.99.  Both were found at Value World.

The two pairs of high waisted shorts were also items I'd been hoping to find thrifting. One of my youth told me that I should just buy guys jeans and make them into cutoffs, but this ended up being even more convenient.  The jean shorts were $3.93 and the striped navy shorts were $6.56 which is more than I would normally spend on shorts honestly, but I just couldn't walk away from them.  Found those at Casa View Thrift.

Two other unreasonably priced items were the floral tank and the tan vest.  Again, I tried to walk away but I couldn't.  I blame the few weeks I took off from thrifting. I justified the tan vest by saying that I could always pair it with a dress or a tank and make it work the money I'd spent.  No excuses on the floral tank. I just really liked it.  Both were also bought at Casa View.

And finally, the white Gap 1969 legging jeans, the mint Merona dress and the JCrew leopardish print mini.  They were all too expensive $6.99, $4.99 and $4.99, in their respective order.  I justified those purchases by reminding myself that at their original retail price they'd probably be more like this, this, and this.  Ok that last one wasn't quite the same but I hope you get the idea.  These were bought at the Rescue Thrift store whose money goes to the Texas Regional Animal Rescue, so all I could hear was Sarah McLachlan singing "Angel" and I visualized the precious animals that needed me to spend money to provide for their continued existence on earth.  Not buying these clothes would have been inexcusable. I'm saving animal lives here. 

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE thrifting?  Dallas, specifically is a splendid city to thrift in.  It's full of affluent people who get rid of their clothes every week after wearing them for half a day and then pass them on to less affluent people like me! 

Hope you're having a wonderful Thursday too!

Ani

Preppy in Navy

Not much to report here friends.  I'm busy with school and work, but incredibly happy to be doing both.  I'm really loving everything about my life right now.  It's the reason when I begin to complain (about anything, really) that I realize I'm an idiot for complaining because cause life is so, so good.

Anyhow, these were taken Friday when I got out of class and it was a lovely day.  Though I will say, Dallas weather makes dressing each morning quite difficult because you know that immediately it is cold enough to wear winter clothes, but by noon, it's a warm spring day.  So "Winter" in Dallas is really just "Spring" in disguise. So that's why layers come in handy.  I end up with all sorts of extra coats, sweaters and beanies in the back of my car, but if it keeps me from being too cold or too hot, 'sall good.  

A couple of friends and I went on a thrifting excursion this morning and I scored some lovely teal jeans which I cannot wait to wear from now all the way into Spring.  Don't be surprised if they pop up here soon. ;)

Alright, time to read! Who knew my life at 25 would be so happenin' on a Saturday evening?!

Ani

{Dress: Plato's Closet ($8.00), Sweater: Gap (old), Boots: Payless ($40.00), Socks: American Apparel ($18-Groupon [$50 for $25]) Earrings: Gift, Tights: (old)}

Nautical Polka Dotical

Found these shoes yesterday at ValueWorld for $2.50!!  They're comfortable and so stinkin cute.

I love the details in apparel, crafts, housewares and so much more so when I stumbled upon this skirt I thought at first glance that it was just a navy skirt, but upon closer inspection I saw that each button had an anchor molded into it.  Therefore, I had to have the skirt.  It was a perfect fit, too.  

Today's pictures were a joy to take because it was a solid 67 degrees outside.  I honestly didn't want to leave White Rock Lake and everyone else had the same idea because it was packed.  Unfortunately, being in a higher populated area lowers my comfort level so I felt somewhat self-conscious taking these pictures.  White Rock is the hot spot for bike riders and as they were whizzing by me, I felt like they were staring, but brushed off my concern as paranoia until one yelled, "SMILE!!" Instead of freaking me out, I just started laughing.  

It has been a great week of having some time off, but I'm definitely ready to get back into the swing of school and work.  But wait, I spoke too soon.  Austin and I are headed to Austin, TX tomorrow for a quick anniversary trip.  I'm so very excited because although we lived twenty mins away from Austin during our dating/engagement and first few months of marriage, we rarely went to Austin for fun.  

I've been mulling over the thought of possibly selling some of the vintage pieces I've collected over the last few years on Etsy considering they are great pieces, but just don't fit me perfectly.  A lot of times I buy items that I absolutely love even if they don't fit perfectly which is a problem, but if they can fit someone else perfectly, I'll be a happy gal.  So look forward to the possibility of that soon.

{Skirt: Thrifted ($3.60), Shirt: Thrifted ($1.71), Shoes: Thrifted ($2.50), Earrings: Thrifted ($.99)}

C'mon Ride the Train

I've always thought it was mildly cliche' to take pictures at a train track, but honestly, these are some of my favorite pictures I've taken for this blog.  

I know I look angry, but I promise, I'm really happy right now.  

When I strolled up to the nearest parking lot to these tracks, I'd only been outside my car setting up my tripod for about a minute and a half before a security guard came up to me and said, "What are you doing?" To which I replied in my sweet, ditzy girl voice, "Oh, I just want to take a picture of the train tracks."  To which he said, "Why?" To which I further replied, "Because it looks cool."  He finally said that I couldn't park there but once he realized I wasn't doing anything too crazy, he told me I could park on the road just as long as I wasn't in their private property.  This was one of the first times I've had a problem when taking my pictures.  For being the first time, it really wasn't so bad.  (that's what she said) 

I told Austin that I'd been wanting to take pictures in front of some graffiti soon and this afternoon he texted and said someone had graffitied two male peni (penises?) on his school.  So I guessed I missed out on the really cool graffiti in the city.

I don't mean to brag but I found ANOTHER thrift store near my house that is completely legit.  It's no wonder I want to thrift everyday.  Living in the ghetto definitely has its' perks.  The first being that cost of living is cheap and pretty much everything else around it follows suit.  So while you won't find a Nordstrom's, Anthropologie or a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in my neighborhood, you can be treated instead find a ton of clean, well stocked thrift stores and unique local eateries that include my favorite shaved ice place EVER.  Point being, I'm happier here than I even realize sometimes.  

Two of these clothing items were bought just this past week.  This Zara jacket won me over with the elbow patches immediately.  It reminded me of the blazer's my brother wore when he was younger.  It was just incredible that I found one for women, as I used to get these types of blazer's in the little boys section of the thrift store when I was younger.  The skirt was the most expensive item I spent at Urban ($10!!) Truthfully, I tried to rationalize why it was too expensive, but factoring in where I was shopping (UO) and how much I adored the skirt (a whole stinkin lot), I couldn't help but buy it.  

Till tomorrow my friends,

Ani

{Skirt: Urban Outfitters ($10.00), Polo: Thrifted [Original Penguin Co.] ($2.40), Blazer: Thrifted [Zara] ($4.20), Shoes: Thrifted ($3.99), Tights: Old}

Thrifting Uniform

Good golly, the the wind was out of control today. My hair was flying all over the place when I went out to White Rock Lake to take pictures in front of a boat house.

My outfit was meant especially for thrifting. I usually have to wear clothing that I can be comfortable in as I usually end up thrifting for two hours. No lie. I'm hoping to write some thrifting tips soon before school starts back up.

I found some really unique items that I'm excited about sharing. I want to wear everything today but clearly that won't be possible so I'll have to roll out my favorite pieces this week! Can't wait!

Check out my $5 hearts crop tee from Urban. I love the crop tee trend, but it was freezing outside (for Dallas) so I had to layer it with an undershirt and a thrifted jacket that was not nearly warm enough for how chilly it was. That problem was solved of course with a sweet jacket I bought at St. Vincent's. I actually left it in the shopping cart that was placed outside my dressing room and two ladies on separate occasions tried to take the jacket. I had to jump out of my dressing room and kindly (but firmly) tell them in broken Spanish that I had full intent to purchase the jacket and for them to take their stinking paws off of it! Ok I'm joking about the last part, I would never do that unless there really was an ape trying to vie for world domination that had its' hands on me. Point being, I got the jacket and lots of other great finds.

Hope your day is beautiful!

{Shirt: Urban Outfitters ($5.00), Jeans: Converse ($6.50), Jacket: Thrifted ($4.50), Flats: Roxy ($old?), Belt: F21 (came attached to a dress)}