Southern Influences

So, you may have noticed that I changed my blog up quite a bit. I decided I needed a name that would be more fun and fashion-related. I hope you all have found me again!

To celebrate the new name and new style, I named this post "Southern Influences." I just adore Southwestern culture. I love traveling to New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, seeing the architecture, the nature, and the culture. Every time my family and I travel, I have to take pictures of the mountains, the cacti, and the buildings, plus I love looking at the Native American jewelry and products.

yellow tank top - Old Navy, skirt - handmade by grandmother, aviators - Forever 21, flip-flops - Kohls

My grandmother has been making clothes for me and my siblings our entire lives. She basically can make anything! I adore her because she is super creative and usually teaches herself how to do things (sew, knit, crochet, needlepoint, etc). I love this skirt because, like I said before, I love Southwestern style. The burnt orange, yellow, blue, and green all fit in with the style. As for the flip flops, I was lazy and wanted to be comfy :)

My own creation.

Also my creation. I actually made these especially for this skirt.

I love this weather!

On My Wishlist

So I am going to be moving into my very own apartment in August. Nothing glamorous, just an efficiency-style apartment on campus where I'm going to school. But I'm so excited because I get to decorate! And I will be living there for probably the entire time I'm going to school, so I definitely need to make the space my very own. Plus, since it is very small (efficiency = my bedroom is my living room with a bathroom and small kitchen area), I'm going to want to make it beautiful, bright, girly, and a place where I'm going to want to spend my time - because basically, it's where I HAVE to spend my time! Might as well enjoy it, right? Here are a few things I have on my wishlist for home decor:

The elephant teapot is part of the Calypso St. Barth collection coming to Target! It is going to be around $12.99, and it also comes in a beautiful coral color. Since they are so inexpensive, I will probably get two - I absolutely LOVE elephants, and I plan on putting a few colorful flowers in them. I also plan to decorate with lots of flowers! There is nothing that brightens up a room better than beautiful bright flowers! The teired dessert tray is also from Target - I love the design on the little plates - I want to use a couple of these to display all my costume jewelry. Not only will it look cool, but if I am able to see all the jewelry I have, I am more apt to wear it. Colored printed boxes (the above ones are from Container Store) are great for storing all kinds of things - I want a couple to store my nail polishes and makeup.

Other than these things, I am planning on getting some new bedding, colorful pillows, and other little knick-knacks. Does anyone have a HomeGoods store near them? Anyone shop there? I went to one when I visited my aunt in Denver - it's seriously awesome. There were so much cool home decor pieces, and the prices were phenomenal. It was funny because we would pick up something we liked (like a vase or whatever) and look at the price and say, "No way!" We did that the entire time we were in that store. Unfortunately, there is not one anywhere near me, but we are going to be visiting my aunt again this summer, so I really have to make a point of scoping out HomeGoods for my apartment.

Like I said, Target is amazing for colorful home decor items, so I will be hitting up there as well lol. I'm sure I will end up buying more things that I see (not on my list), but I know I won't be able to resist.

Later after I move in, I will be doing a Before and After post about decorating my little space and making it a home.

Class Act

white tee - Target, black skirt - Kohls, heels - Payless

Yeah, I had no idea what to title this post. I wore this outfit to see my academic advisor at school last week, hence 'Class' Act. Anyway, I kind of cheated because I ended up taking the heels off for some comfy flip-flops...hehe. I like this outfit because I think the accessories really made it less casual. The skirt and tee by themselves were very casual, so I added a thick black headband, a long black beaded necklace (which I knotted), a men's watch, and the heels. Which just goes to show, a simple outfit can change into something completely different once your all accessorized.

Men's watch, 'Rebel" bar ring, black studded bracelet are all from Wal-Mart, and the skull/crossbones bar ring is from Hot Topic.

Don't You....Forget About Me

Denim skirt - JC Penney, white lace top - handmade by my grandma, pink top (underneath) - JC Penney, glitter flats - Target, rose headband - Kohls, pink purse - thrifted and DIY'ed

The title of my post is the famous song "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds from the most awesome 80's movie ever, The Breakfast Club. I didn't realize until after I wore this, that it reminded me of Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club. But I will not shake out my dandruff to create "snow" while in detention lol (scene from movie). Excuse my hair in the above pic, its been crazy windy in West Texas lately.

I thought this outfit was very girly and ethereal, but I added silver skull/cross bones studs to toughen it up just a little.

The dome ring with the little diamonds is from Charlotte Russe, the square ring and silver bangle are thrifted and the thin colored bangles were a gift.

Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club after Molly Ringwald made her over.

I'm really going to try to post more often. I work nights, so basically the extent of my work wardrobe is comfy lounge pants and shirts from Target and flipflops, then I sleep during the day, so no going out too often. That's why I wait until my days off to post. But my schedule is a little wacky right now, so I am getting different days off, which I guess is good, too. Anyway, enough gabbing - thanks for the wonderful comments, I do appreciate them.

*And don't forget to enter the giveaway at ReallyPetite.com for the gorgeous pair of Ann Taylor earrings!

 

A Little Bit of Animal

Denim vest - thrifted, pink striped button-down - thrifted, skirt - Target, wedges - Candies, necklace - thrifted, leopard bangle - Kohl's, purse - thrifted and DIY'ed

I wore this outfit out shopping yesterday and to lunch with my family. I really love this outfit, but it wasn't the most comfortable! And did I notice I had some kind of leaf-thing in my hair? Not until I uploaded the pics on my computer LOL. But whatever, I'll rock it anyway.

My thrifted Elephant necklace. I absolutely go crazy over anything with elephants, and I love the handmade quality of this piece.

I apologize to all my favorite blogs! I am still trying to work on blogging, working, and commenting. I am not a very good multi-tasker as you can tell. Plus, I have been VERY busy getting all my school stuff in order for next semester. It's going to be a crazy Fall, but I'm looking forward to it. I have decided while I am going to school full-time for Social Work, I will work part-time as a Pharmacy Tech on the weekends and probably get another part-time job at some clothing store at the mall. Money+fashion=one happy girl. So that is why I have not been very good at commenting on everyones posts...I play catch-up on the weekends! :p



DIY Saturday!

Last week, I decided it was time to go Spring/Summer shoe shopping. I bought a couple pairs of really cute Candies wedges on sale at Kohl's (one of my FAV places). But it had me thinking of a pair of Forever 21 wedges I got this time last year - they didn't make it out of the Summer season alive, unfortunately. The straps around the ankle detached from the sole of the shoe :( I couldn't bare to throw them out, so I just put them away in the closet lol. But I got an idea for some DIY, and here are the results:

BEFORE

AFTER

All I did (well, I say I, I mean my grandmother, because I cannot sew) was sew a long piece of material closed, then wove it through the hole in the wedge, wrapped it around my foot, threaded it through the slits in front of the sandal, and tied a bow. After the ankle strap detached from the sole, it was easy to just cut the rest off. The great thing about this is that I can change the material to go with any outfit! I'm already thinking of a blue and white stripe material for a nautical look.

Also, I had a certain purse on my wishlist for awhile. I was actually planning on buying it, but I found a similar purse in a similar color while thrift-shopping one day. All I did (again, grandmother) was make a bow out of material, stick some self-adhesive velcro to the bow and the purse, and ta-da! It isn't an exact replica of the Forever 21 purse, but I really like it, and it cost loads less.



FOREVER 21 BAG

MY THRIFTED VERSION

I promise outfit posts coming SOON....just trying to find time with so much overtime at work :p

Speaking of finding time to post, how do you ladies make the time with your busy lives?

Thrift Tips

Thrift shopping is by far my most favorite shopping! Unlike shopping at a mall or department store, thrift shopping is exciting and surprising. I have seen a few of my favorite bloggers love to thrift shop as well, but I wanted to do a post about tips for thrift shopping for the ones that haven't dared. I also am showcasing my best thrift store finds.

Black suede clogs, Candies fur-lined boots, Mudd wedges, Wet Seal shimmery flats, and black leather clogs

You don't neccessarily want to go into a thrift store with certain things to buy in mind, because you will probably be very disappointed. Thrift shopping is definitely hit-or-miss, which is the exciting and suprising part of it. You can go into a store everyday for a week and leave with nothing. Then you could go everyday the next week and find cart-loads of items. I personally think that is why thrift shopping is so great, because when you finally find the things you want, those items are even more special to you.

Multi-colored faux snakeskin bag, pink cross-body bag,  vintage Dooney & Bourke with coin purse, purple faux snakeskin cross body bag, blue Nine West bag, Bath & Body Works wristlet

The most important tip that I can give anyone about thrift shopping is NEVER GIVE UP. It is definitely a huge let-down when you leave a store empty-handed. But there are new things added almost daily, and you are bound to find something. Another tip, which is mostly for the ones that are iffy about thrifting, is that they are CLEAN items. Of course, I draw the line at panties and other undergarments (it's just too weird), but the people who work at thrift shops do their best to weed out the good items from the bad. And if you are still freaked out by the idea of used clothing, you can obviously clean them yourself. I ALWAYS throw items in the washer and dryer as soon as I get home. Although with sweaters and delicate blouses, I like to hand-wash just to be cautious.

Flower and sequins skirt, black pleated skirt with flowers, satin flowered tunic, purple and violet dress

Please examine your item before purchasing!!! If there is a stain or hole in the item that cannot be repaired or cleaned, do not buy it unless you don't mind them. I personally do not want to leave with a beautiful white top, then find a nasty stain that will not come out later. With shoes, I like to spray the insides with anti-fungal spray and put new soles, if needed.

 Denim vest, suede vest, khakis vest, pink handmade vest

Pink beaded short-sleeved sweater , cream lacy top, pink button-down, flowered button-down blouse

 Long sleeve patterned blouse, Xhiliration leaf-print blouse

Men's striped button-down, men's red and black button-down

Men's yellow button-down, Flowered button-down dress

Also, don't be afraid to get a top that is a little bigger in size. I'm not talking about so big that you drown in it or look pregnant. There are times when I find a perfect top that I absolutely must have, but it's a little big. I get it anyway, because I can always wear it as a dress or tunic. It is definitely hard to think on such spur-of-the-monents, but you have to. Be aware of what you need in your closet, and what you definitely do not need. Think about how you will wear a certain item, remixing it with things that you already own. Or, you could possibly find something that you can fix up with a little DIY of gllitter or bows, etc.

Lace button-down, 3/4 sleeve flowered blouse
Try the mens department!!! Usually if I cannot find anything in the women's section, I head over to the men's department. Almost ALL of my button-downs are from the mens department. There's nothing sexier than a girl in a mens shirt ;) And plus, they are a little bigger and longer, which make great tunics/dresses.

Purple and Black 3/4 sleeve blouse, men's plaid button-down
And don't worry if you buy something that you end up hating. It happens. We can't win all the time! But at least you paid a few dollars for it and not thirty or more at a department store. Just learn from the experience, and try try again! Have fun!
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