Keepin it Weird

Here are a couple of shots of my outfit from Friday.  

Here are a couple of shots I got to take in Austin. 

Chipotle is Austins' favorite (Austin, my husband, that is.), so seeing it in food truck form got us both excited but we had already stuffed our faces with the Don Juan taco at Juan In a Million so eat there, we did not.  We also had Salt Lick BBQ and Round Rock Donuts, so essentially we toured Adam Richman's, Man vs. Food episode.

Minor note, but I didn't really find myself super impressed with all of the vintage stuff on South Congress or Guadalupe, but I think that's cause I've become somewhat extreme with my spending and all of the vintage/thrift stores were SO overpriced.  I didn't get to hit up Savers, Texas Thrift  or Thrift Town which probably would have been more my speed.  Oh well, I'm loving my thrift adventures here in Dallas anyhow.

 I did not make enough use of my camera but we had a great time eating, walking around, and relaxing.    Friday night, we got to meet up with two of my best friends and their significant others, to two-step.  However, Austin and I don't really dance...like at all.  So instead we talked with our friends, slowed danced awkwardly to one song and had a blast simply because of the company we were with.  It really was a great weekend. 

Not much to report here my friends. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

{Skirt: Thrifted ($4.20), Shirt: (old), Shoes: H&M (12.95), Belt: Thrifted ($1.99), Necklace: Thrifted ($1.99)

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}

Blogs I Love

These lovely ladies inspired me to start a fashion blog:

Selective Potential

What I Wore

A Beautiful Mess

What Would A Nerd Wear

Steffy's Pros and Cons

Adored Austin

My Edit

Delightful Dozen

These ladies are family and they are my true inspirations in fashion, living, spirituality and so much more:

Carisa

Vanessa

Chase

Deidra

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)}

Back in Gotham

Yes, friends, I'm back in the Big D, aka Gotham, after being gone for two weeks. The city welcomed me back with open arms and gorgeous weather.

Hello new year! I am excited and pleased with how this year is already going. I am content for so many reasons and there is much to be thankful for that occurred in 2011. It is an understatement to say that I feel blessed. Life is truly good and I'm committed to making the most of it.

Here are a few resolutions that I'm hoping to stick to:

1) Focus on reaching my goal weight by eating well and exercising (duh, right?) I didn't gain any weight over the holidays, but I also didn't lose so that changes now.
2) Be more productive (i.e. use free time wisely)
3) Make studying a priority so that my last semester of grad school is my best!
4) Quit hating on living in Dallas. I really need to work on this one and just appreciate where I'm at.
5) Push my creativity to the next level (whatever level that may be). This blog is definitely a part of that.
and finally...
6) Grow in relationships/friendships with old, new and future friends.

Yeah, these are slightly general and mildly generic, but for me, they are quite personal. Even before the new year, I knew they were goals that I needed to work toward so what better time than now?

Anyhow, I spent the day shopping and taking pictures at the Latino Cultural Center. I figured I was allowed since I'm Latina and all. I went to Urban Outfitters after receiving an email saying that they were having 50% off already reduced items. I'm glad I went because I wound up with some great items for $5 a piece...at Urban...seriously. It was crazy. Even the manager who checked me out told me I should be grateful because the sale was initially supposed to end yesterday. So I am grateful, indeed. There are rarely times that I EVER buy anything at UO because 1) when I was chunkier I didn't fit into any of their clothes because they're clothes are made for stick figures so I resented them 2) Most of what they sell is aimed to look vintage and I can find that at the thrift store priced 97.4% less that what they sell their clothing for. Ok, enough of my tirade.

Hope every has a wonderful start to this new year. Let's not take one moment for granted!

Ani

{Dress: Plato's Closet ($8.00), Cardigan: Thrifted [Mossimo] ($3.99), Tights: Merona ($10.00), Flats: H&M ($12.95))