I Have A Coral Skirt! I Have A Coral Skirt!

So, like many of you, I have been loving the whole pop of color thing this fall, especially the look of a trim coral skirt or pair of jeans.  I have little to no budget for clothes most months (hence the clearance rack and "from my closet" shopping you hear me speak of all the time), but love fashion and dressing to match the season, the occasion, and my mood!

I looked at a coral skirt on the sale rack at Target a month or so ago, but it just wasn't on sale enough. So I put it back on the rack for someone else.

The past few weeks as I've been putting together outfits to suit the unique and varying Florida fall weather (more posts on that subject to come soon), I have been wanting to wear one of those bright pops of tailored color that I keep seeing on fashion blogs.

Then it hit me.

I have a coral skirt!  I have a coral skirt!

It's definitely not the "latest and greatest" - in fact, here is a flashback photo of Jimmy and me from the spring of 2004 in our pre-kids, early ministry days.  I wore what was back then a brand new monochromatic outfit to an Evangelism Explosion banquet at church. A coral, linen skirt and top set I had purchased at good old Hecht's - did anyone else grow up shopping at that department store?!  Miss that place.

I hadn't worn this outfit in a couple of years, but hadn't gotten rid of it either.  I went digging in my closet, pulled out that skirt, and paired it with a lace top, my trusty nude heels, and some accessories to give it an "8 1/2 years later" makeover!

This is the kind of thing that energizes me! A beautiful, sunny, fall day and a "new" outfit made from everything I already had, including something very old!

Everything old is new again!  

Is there anything in your closet you can make new today?

The Things I Get Excited About These Days!

A few weeks ago my mom hosted a Thirty-One party, the first I had been to, and it was so much fun!  Evidently Thirty-One is a Christian company (the name stems from Proverbs 31) and they design adorable purses, bags, storage containers, and more.  It's all about stylish function which is something I am definitely into!

Whenever we go on Disney days, beach days, or any sort of day, I pack our lunch and often dinner as well!  It saves us lots of money and allows us to do fun things as a family without worrying about overspending on food while we are out.  We will buy ice cream or a snack, but don't have to worry about purchasing meals which adds up so quickly with four people.

When I saw this adorable insulated cooler in the catalog, I knew it is what I wanted.  It is a great size, big enough for drinks and food for at least two meals.  It has a long strap that can be worn across your shoulder or hang from the back of a stroller!  It will eliminate me having to bring 3 insulated lunch bags (what I usually do now) or a hard cooler that is awkward to carry (and our small one is too small and our big one too big for a day outing).  I also like that it has a big pocket on the front where I can store napkins and plasticware.

Thirty-One also offers reasonably priced monogramming so I had "family fun day" stitched on it since that is what it will be used for.  I had been anticipating its arrival and finally got it yesterday - and I am so thrilled with this cute and handy little thing!

Insulated coolers...these are the things I get excited about these days!

Speaking Of London...

Check out this fabulous find my mom came across at a Marshall's a few weeks ago.  She got a steal on this dress for my daughter, knowing it was right up her international alley!

It is hanging in Madi's closet just waiting to be worn on a date to our local tea room!  Don't you just love discount stores?  You never know what treasure you will find.  I do lots of my personal and gift shopping at stores like these because you can find unique, special things for terrific prices.

So, any local girlfriends up for a trip to Ross, Marshall's, or Steinmart?!
Just say the word, girls.

:)

In A Quiet Corner Of London

I may be the only person in America who hasn't watched the Royal Wedding yet.  Because I kind of live under a rock.  Jimmy and I have never had cable so we rarely turn the TV on except to watch movies.

I will eventually catch up with modern times and watch it, perhaps with tea and scones! But I saw some of the pictures and like everyone else, thought Kate's dress was absolutely stunning.  Thanks to my six year old with international flair, I've added quite a few Paris accents around here.  But with my need for change and all the festivities surrounding the Royal Wedding celebrations, I decided to create a little London vignette in my green chair corner.

Remember that little canvas I found at Michael's and used to make this simple, pretty Parisian accent?  I used another one to make a London accent.  And I must admit, I love it too.

Like most little girls of the 80's, I drooled over Princess Diana.  I had Princess Diana paper dolls and would often look through a coffee table book of her Royal Wedding.  She was so beautiful, and it breaks my heart that she much of the life she lived was filled with so much sadness.  I had just started college when she died and when I came home for Christmas between semesters, one of my gifts was a new Diana coffee table book, this one chronicling her life in remembrance of her.  So I pulled out that book to set in my little London corner.  I also set out an old English Lit textbook my husband found for me at a book sale in college (knowing his English major girlfriend would love it), my dad's old copy of Mere Christianity by  British author C.S. Lewis, a teacup made in England my sister-in-law gave me for a birthday present years ago, and an old silver tea piece given to me by a friend in the little church plant we served in as newlyweds.

It's sort of fun to go "shopping" in your own house!  You never know what you may come up with.

This is my new view when I sit in my green chair.  These days I drink my coffee, read, study, and write in a quiet corner of London.

One of the Best Deals of My Life!

So, you all know my affection for good deals, and how my whole life has involved creativity and living on a budget.  It's been necessary, but it's also been a fun challenge.  I like clothes (a lot) and have a pretty packed closet thanks to four things:

1) I choose a lot of classics that I wear foreverrrr.  I still have several things from college that I wear, and lots from the early 2000's.

2) I'm not wrapped up in name brands.  I will shop anywhere.

3) I get a few nicer, higher priced items a year as gifts for Christmas or my birthday that hold up well and last a long time.

4) The majority of what I buy is off of clearance racks and prices range from $3 to $15.

When it comes to clothes (and many things actually) I am a "variety is the spice of life" kind of girl. Because of these four factors and creative mixing and matching of clothing pieces and accessories, I get to enjoy my little clothes hobby.  I could take you through my closet and show you item after item that I got for under $10.00.  But the other day I got one of the best deals of my life, and I have got to share it with you!

I was celebrating my friend Liz's birthday - she wanted to go to her favorite wing place, and then to some outlets.  Sounded perfect to me! We had a ball!  While in the Coldwater Creek outlet, I saw a rack of belted of shirtdresses with a sign for $5.99, then another sign for an additional 40% off.  Sure enough, when my dress and belt rang up, the grand total for both was (are you ready for this)...

$3.58.

Liz and I were cracking up at the register, and I had that happy rush that I get from deal finding!  Liz  actually found two dresses for $2.99 apiece, and we both found gorgeous leather belts that were originally around $40 for $1.99.  Then at a shoe outlet, we both found adorable plaid fall flats for $7.00. They are actually perfect for this little dress!

A dress, belt, and shoes for around $10.00, topped off with the best buffalo wings I've ever had and fun with friends. Such a great day! 

Happy Birthday to Liz and Happy Deal Finding to you!

The Tale Of A 13 Year Old Gift Certificate

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were searching for some paperwork and what did he find but an old Bed Beth & Beyond gift certificate from years past.  He said something along the lines of how he couldn't believe he found an unused gift certificate from our wedding and I told him to check the date...our wedding was in 2001, this was 1997, my high school graduation, which made him even more surprised! I remember receiving it as a graduation present and wanting to use it for supplies for my college dorm room, but losing it.  He told me I should try to use it now, and I was like are you kidding me?!  A thirteen year old gift certificate?  They don't even make gift certificates anymore, it's been gift cards for years!  He said you never know, it doesn't have an expiration date on it, and left it on the dryer in the laundry room.


We were repainting some hand-me-down bunk beds for my son and when they were finished, we needed to buy him some twin bedding.  I was going to check out Bed Bath & Beyond and Target, and my husband told me I should take the gift certificate with me.  I decided to try it, what did I have to lose except maybe a little pride?!  (I mean, walking in as an almost 31 year old with a gift certificate from my senior year is a little dorky, but hey, our budget is tight so it was worth a try!)


I walked in, went to the counter, and told the woman my tale...she laughed and said she would check it out...and then informed me that it was still active! I cracked up laughing, and promised her I would blog and give BB&B props for following through on their no expiration date promise!  I browsed their bedding and didn't find anything for my son, but picked up 3 packs of K-Cup refills for my Keurig coffee maker (9.99 apiece) and some no slip sheet holders for my daughter's bed (5.99).  I took my purchases to the checkout line and handed the kid at the counter two coupons (one for $5 off purchase and one for 20% off an item-I had heard they combined coupons) and my gift certificate.  Since he was a mere toddler when this gift certificate was issued, he had to ask someone how to process it since he had "never seen one before" (sigh).  However, when everything rang up and all was said and done, I only owed them $4.03 for a purchase that should have been nearly $40.00!  That's my kind of shopping!

So my husband was right, and any dorkiness I felt was wiped out by the satisfaction of lots of money saved! Way to go Bed Bath & Beyond...evidently you keep your promises.  And this day will go down in my bargain-hunting history forever!  :)