Vaquero=Cowboy

Check out this sweet mural I found on a liquor store!

I rarely want every single picture from a photo shoot in my blog, but today I wanted EVERY SINGLE PICTURE on my blog.  However, I will spare you because they become redundant pretty quickly.  I can only look down, stare intensely and put my hands in my pocket so many times for a photo before they really do look boring.  I'm working on it though!

Austin and I are enjoying what feels like a six day long weekend.   Life is pretty good.  I even just signed up for the Texas Style Council and I'm feeling super pumped about meeting incredible people who share some of the same passions as I do.  I really am hoping that I can keep this up once school gets going.  It's all about balance and I think I can manage.  

When I took my jacket off at lunch Austin said, "You have a hot air balloon on your shirt."  To which I replied, "I DO!" I found it at Casa View Thrift Store, down the street from my house and it was marked down to $1.21 from $1.71.  The prices are so random, seriously.  I quickly tried it on and knew it was mine. I love when you find items that really do feel "one of a kind".  This one certainly makes me smile.  The skirt was bought at St. Vincent De Paul a few months ago on 40% off day and I had yet to find a use for it, but with 70 degree weather (Yes, you read that correctly), I knew I could go bare legged.    The jacket was also bought at SVDP.  In fact, I walked out of the store without it because I convinced myself that I didn't need it and that it was too expensive, but when my total came out to far less than I'd expected, I ran out to my car, dropped of my bag and walked straight back into the store to try on the jacket ANOTHER time.  Of course, I bought it.  Finally, my shoes were bought at Urban Outfitters on sale for $10.  That's about it with my outfit.

Hope everyone is enjoying their day off!

Ani

{Shirt: Thrifted ($1.21)

 Skirt: (Thrifted: ($3.60)

Shoes: Urban Outfitters ($10.00)

Jacket: Thrifted [Gap] ($9.00)

Earrings: Thrifted ($.99)}

Grandma Curtain Skirt

The first half of these pictures were taken earlier in the day.  For whatever reason, I just didn't like them. So I snapped a few more later in the afternoon while Austin was up in the air flying a helicopter.

Today was splendid.  Austin got out of school by noon and we had lunch together and spent the afternoon relaxing.  Last night I finally hung out with friends since it's been the first weekend in awhile that we've actually been in Dallas.  We played games, watched a movie and overall, it was just a chill night.  I couldn't ask for much more.  

I'm hoping I won't regret this, but I am being incredibly indecisive about registering for Texas Style Council.  I am seriously such a pansy when it comes to these things.  I'm going to give it another day before I sign up.  I know this seems random, but I can't stop thinking about it because it makes sense for me to go.  It's down the road, I'd meet some incredible people, but truthfully...I don't know if I necessarily have a goal in mind with this blog.  I just enjoy sharing excellent thrifting finds and keeping an outfit diary of sorts.  So we'll see...I know once school starts, that will be the priority so who knows how this will shape up.

This outfit was found at one of my new favorite thrift stores that is 2 miles down the street from my house.  The only downfall is that they don't have designated days for certain items to have extra discount.  So sometimes, it ends up being a little more than I'm used to paying (we're talking a dollar difference here).  However, both the shirt and skirt were marked down so it felt like I still got em for a good price.  I fell in love with this skirt.  For some reason, I like the fact that it reminds me of a curtain in the home of a grandma.  I think I'll be wearing it often.

I found the heels at ValueWorld and I was so close to leaving them behind because I kept saying, "Ani, you don't wear heels," but they were just so cute and actually comfortable so I bought them for $4.50.  I wore them most of the day and they really were so comfy up until the sweater tights started to get annoyed with them.  Anyhow, I'm excited about the new items I have to share!

Hope everyone has an incredible weekend!

Ani

{Shirt: Thrifted ($2.99), Skirt: Thrifted ($1.71), Cardigan: Target ($9.99), Shoes: Thrifted [Mossimo] ($4.50), Sweater Tights: Target ($12.00) similar, Necklace: Forever 21 ($3.99), Belt: Thrifted ($1.99)}

Matchy Matchy

It is a gorgeous day in Dallas, TX.  It's quite cold, but the sun makes up for it.

Yes, we are serious about recycling.

 Austin took most of the pictures because he's had half days all week which makes me one happy wife.

Tried not to match today, but it just didn't happen.  My fashion challenge is to make things more interesting by mixing it up and not be so matchy matchy, but I really love this outfit and the way it came together.  It just happened to match really well. 

With that being said, I have not much to say here except for one funny story.

I started a new job this week and I'm working in youth ministry. For whatever reason (there are many), I was super nervous about meeting all of them last night.  I hopped in the car with my Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper (which is really a red/brownish color) and immediately went for a sip...which missed my mouth and spilt all over my shirt.  The shirt was, of course, off white and navy stripes.  I began to have a quick "freak out" moment until I remembered that I'd thrifted earlier that day and had to try on clothes over my shirt because there weren't any dressing rooms and one floral tank actually looked kind of cool on top of it.  So once I arrived to the church, I threw on the shirt, regained what was left of my confidence and had a spectacular night.

So what I'm trying to say is...thrifting saved my night.  HAHA. 

Ok, going to spend time with the hubster, hubs, hubby hub hubens, hubs mcgubs.  Ok, seriously, that's enough. Goodbye.

{Dress: Plato's Closet [Forever 21] ($6.00), Sweater: Thrifted [Merona] ($2.59), Boots: Target ($34.00), Leg Warmers: American Apparel (Groupon for $25), Tights: ?, Flower headband: Old Navy ($5.95), Pin: Thrifted ($.99)}

Break in the Clouds

It rained and rained today.  Lord knows we needed it, so I was grateful, but I only got a few outside pictures when I caught a quick break in the rain.  The sun even peeked out for a bit. 

I've been playing with taking photos inside using Austin's work light.  I'm digging it so far, but I need to work a little harder.  I really just snapped these quickly. 

Awwwwkward.

So please excuse the painter's tape that is still on the frame of our guest room closet.  Seeing it in pictures reminds me that I could have removed it months ago, but alas, I'll just continue sitting here on my computer and blog photos instead.  

Not much to say today.  I found out a girl I met once died and it's enhanced feelings of how absolutely fragile life is.  I can't wrap my mind around how mortal we are.  I have my beliefs about what it all means, but it doesn't mean I don't deal with feelings of disillusionment.  More than anything, though, it just makes me want to truly live each moment to its fullest.  I need to appreciate what I have and give more where I currently do not.  Like I've often said, I just want to thrive.

With that, I'll keep this short and say simply that we should all recognize that life is precious and we should never hesitate to show love everywhere and to everyone. 

Ani

{Jeans: Thrifted [Gap] ($2.39), Shirt: Urban Outfitters ($5.00), Boots: Payless ($40.00), Jacket: Thrifted [Zara] ($4.20), Necklace: Modcloth designed by Elsie (Christmas gift)} 

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)