Out for a walk

Yesterday felt crisp. I reluctantly donned a cardigan-like piece of apparel.

My Sister, Chloe and I went for a walk to the center of town, just for the sake of being outside and enjoying the weather.

The Rundown

Skirt Made by Me - Top TJMaxx - Cardigan TJMaxx - Shoes Tahari - Necklace The Cavernous Jewelry Box - Sunnies Aldo - Purse Thrifted

Chloe is wishing we'd share some ice cream.

I think I'm pretty much done with my back of the closet challenge, mostly because when I look at the remaining pieces, I simply have no desire to wear them. Anything my Sister doesn't want will likely go up in the shop.

There are a few exceptions, like my new sequined dress that I want, but don't know when I will have an occasion to wear. And then there is the biggest waste of money ever. A beautiful halter dress from White House Black Market that I bought in 2007 while visiting Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It was on sale, but was still quite expensive ($70 maybe?) and I've worn it exactly once. The dress is very low cut and I look like I've walked out of a Victoria's Secret Catalog. Because it's a halter I can't really layer anything under it. I hate that I haven't worn it.

I still really want some scalloped shorts, and I think I might try and make a pair.
I'm maybe warming up to this red skirt I made the other week. I still think I might get a different fabric and do it over though. Maybe even make it a work appropriate length, haha.

Labor Day may be the unofficial end of summer, but really, there are still two weeks left and I intend on making the most of them!

P.S. Guess who's turning two on Friday?!

Leopard and Stripes (Outfit Under $150)

Upon the purchase of the striped top last week, I had one outfit immediately come to mind that I knew I wanted to try -- pairing it with the leopard pencil skirt.

I think this outfit will definitely be among my all time favorites. And I apologize for the abundance of photos today. Normally I consider lots of photos a weakness, as it means I was unable to edit and choose the two or three that really portray the outfit and mood well.

Today the weather was simply gorgeous and I could have spent the whole day outside. So as a result I took about a hundred photos and just liked so many!

This look really speaks to my fashion evolution over the past few years. I'm doing things I never thought I would. Big horizontal stripes, mixing patterns, a pencil skirt, a hat, 4" heels!!!

The Rundown

Striped Top Old Navy $11 - Leopard Pencil Skirt Forever 21 $20 - Turquoise Gerry Sandals Frye $44 - Sunnies Aldo $8 - Fedora Market in Italy €15 - Quilted Cross Body Bag Thrifted $4 - Braided Leather Belt Thrifted $1 - Gold Watch and Bangles The Cavernous Jewelry Box Gift

My total = $103

Since I love this look so much, I thought I would put it together for you, and I kept it under $150. My goal was $100, but it's not easy to do nine pieces for under $100 AND nothing is from Forever 21. That was my goal, since F21 often becomes a cop-out with these.

Leopard Pencil Skirt - $25.28 (Orig. $50.55) ASOS
Striped Boat Neck Top - $12.50 (Orig. $14.50) Old Navy
Braided Leather Belt - $14.40 (Orig. $24) Kohls
Quilted Cross Body Bag - $25.28 ASOS
Grey Fedora - $10 (Orig. $28) Urban Outfitters
Sunnies - $7 (Orig. $14) Urban Outfitters
Gold Watch - $12 (Orig. $20) Kohls
Gold Bangles - $8 Old Navy
Blue "Ira" Platform Sandals - $24.38 (Orig $89) Nine West

Total = $139.84


One more thing worth mentioning, I went into the thrift store yesterday and there on the shelf, as if they were waiting for me, a set of vintage Pyrex mixing bowls!!
There were two big yellow ones and no small red one, but that is okay. They were only $28!!

And just as soon as I pulled them off the shelf a woman came up to me and said "OH, are you buying those?" I excitedly replied yes, and then she said "I was just coming over here to look at them, how much are they?" I awkwardly replied "$28" and told her about the $65 set I'd seen at the Antiques fair. It was really uncomfortable since I knew she wanted them and was probably thinking "some dumb kid is buying my bowls!"

But how could she know that I was in fact the person who had intended on them being there for me?

Surprise Gift Ball!

Today I received my Surprise Gift Ball from Taylor at Auburn Not Red! The gift ball exchange was put together by Melissa at Oh, My Darling and it was such wonderful idea!

All the participants got matched with a stranger and spent a month collecting goodies, which are then wound in yards and yards of crepe paper and ribbon until you end up with a giant ball [shapeish thing] and it gets mailed off to your buddy.

Here's what was in mine:

The start of the ball and a sweet note

Two brown lace head bands

A long necklace with red beads

Cute confetti

Key Ring

Brown leather key ring (note the awesome zebra ribbon)

Sweet little bird earrings (I love bird jewelry!)

Turquoise and silver ring (fits perfectly!)

Ring with a pale blue stone

Rubber bracelet (wrapped up in lace!)

I'm not going to lie, I'm equally excited about the ribbon - I love nice ribbon and have been known to wrap friends gifts and then steal back the ribbon once they've opened them.

Thanks so much Taylor, I love all my surprises!

And thanks to Melissa for organizing the whole exchange.

To see what I sent Taylor, head over to her blog!

For today's outfit...