Look I Match the Outside

Lilac Mossimo Skinny Jeans for Spring (it says that on the label- FOR SPRING)- $7.49

Not surprising when the outside I am referring to is covered in pretty purple flowers, come on, we know me.

But how fun is it to match??

The flower picture is outside my friend’s old place, when I dropped him off after we hung out to…well, to move. Away from Nashville. Away from me.

As I told him when I found out he was moving- friends don’t leave friends.

Well apparently they do.

At least I had these great happy colored jeans, perfectly matching my flowery spring top, to skip away in after to make me feel better. We all know the power of a great outfit.

I got these GREAT spring toned lilac colored jeans last week on my quick aimless stop in (along with the purse from my last post) for their full Goodwill price (still a steal price) of $7.49.

Once again- just like my tecent teal pins and needles dress find (Spring clothes galore)- it was my perfect size 8. And it fit. Lets be honest, sometimes our size doesn’t fit. Even when it’s your absolute favorite thing, and that is a sad day. But this is a happy day, because they were a size 8, and they fit. I mean look at them, I’m not lying. They’re great.

P.S. can I tell you a secret?

Maybe it’s that I’m paranoid of embarrassing myself in front of all you fashionable smart people, or maybe it’s because I apparently failed the learn your colors outside of ROY G BIV spectrum in elementary school- but I had to ask someone if that teal dress I memtioned was in fact teal, and I actually just wikipedia’d (that is a verb) the color lilac to make sure these jeans were in fact lilac.

I’m not sure where this color insecurity has come from, but oh, it is there. And now you know.

It was a high of 70 something today, highest yet this year, and I think I had the perfect outfit to not only enjoy it in, but to match it,thanks, to Goodwil!:)

Happy thrifting and living,

-Jaime ❤

How to Fashion a Square Scarf

My friend Ashley Moore, rest her beautiful soul, revealed to me about 3 years the mystery that is the square scarf.  I was ever so thankful.  Until then, I was forced out of ignorance to immediately say no to a lovely pattern because it was square and I had not the faintest idea how to wrap it around my neck in a fashionable manner.  Couldn’t figure it out.

So a few months later I proudly bought my first square scarf at a boutique called Pangea in Hillsboro village in Nashville when my sister came to visit.

And when I brought it home to wear in CT, my mother, being cut from the same cloth as me (or is it the other way around?) asked me with the same “please reveal this mystery to me” and angst in her voice how to wear a square scarf.  I proudly passed on my lesson.

And now I will share it with you.  Hopefully helping some of you feel just the much more smarter and free in your fashion.

I recently purchased  my second ever square scarf at Goodwill, and thought it would be the perfect time to share with you the scarf, along with a little how to.

You start with a nice square loveliness like this:

I do think this will do.  Goodwill, $1.99

Then, you fold it into a triangle.  I.e in half, little geometry lesson for you there.

Now, lay the triangle across your chest, pointing down to the ground, and drape the excess points one over each shoulder blade.

What it will look like in the back:

Then you cross each hanging piece behind your neck, and bring the side resting on your right shoulder blade to drape over your left shoulder, and vice versa.

What it should look like in the front after doing this:

(that would be me documenting the fact that it is ‘step 3’ with my right hand)

and back:

Now with the two little pieces sticking out you just tuck ’em under the triangle part to end up with a nice full bunchy triangle on your chest.

Me tucking in action.

 Voila!

One of the best ways to dress up a t-shirt and jeans.  Add a pretty scarf of to show some style and flair.

Another option is the simple knot tie:

First, you roll it up like you do a bandana after you have folded it into a triangle like this:

And then drape that over your neck and tie it in a knot:

 

Ending like this:

 

I like it with the knot part pushed to the side slightly for a little assymetrical action.

Lastly, I don’t have a picture, but a scarf like this would look lovely just tied around the handle of oh say, and off white purse like this:

that I got on the same trip as my scarf at Goodwill a couple weeks ago.

So many options, but I’ve been too busy wearing the scarf to adorn my purse with it just yet.

The outfit I first wore my scarf with:

The blue khaki capris are also from the Goodwill.  Originally Gap, I got them for $7.99 last Fall.  size 8.  Perfect.  Love them to death, and they work great with the vintage feel of this scarf.

I’m in love with the pastelly flower pattern on this scarf, offset with some muted brown edging.  Such soft and pretty colors.

Goodwill strikes again.  I hope this helped someone out like my friend did me!

Til next time,

–Jaime

Are there any fashion trends out there you are particularly confused about or in the dark on how to do or wear like I was?  Not fun!

Flowers and Red Shorts for a Day

“I’ll think I’ll take ’em”

All Goodwill. 

Shirt- Half off for $2.13 by Forever 21, last Spring of 2012 at the Charlotte Pike Goodwill in Nashville.

Shorts- $4.29 by Mossimo from Target, last Summer or 2012 at the Charlotte Pike Goodwill in Nashville.

I had a little fun with the exposure and contrast settings on this post.  Clearly. 

It’s like instagram on your computer.  Pretty cool.

I fleetingly thought of doing a wordless post, as these pictures are self explanatory, all Goodwill.  And then I stopped.

No words is not in my vocabulary.  No pictures…maybe, but also, not really.

SO! 

Here we go.

These shorts got me a little reprimand and friendly reminder of the dress code at the preschool.  CAN’T be shorter than arms length.  Ok. These may be a LITTLE shorter than that… :/.  Oops.

Heard and received and will not do it again.  Wouldn’t want to distract the 3 year olds with my bare legs. 

I think we all know what I love so much about the shirt.  The excessive amount of flowers covering every bare inch.  I’m not a huge proponent of wearing black.  Ever.  But cover it in whimsical flowers and I’ll make an exception and allow it on my body.

I would have killed (and by kill I mean kill with kindness) to have some yellow skinny jeans to pair with this top.  I don’t love adding distressing in addition to color on the bottom with such a busy shirt on top.  But beggars Goodwillers can’t always be choosers.  But most of the time, we can.

The shorts do just fine.  More than fine. 

I also decided to not really add any jewelry to this outfit at the time either, probably could have done simple earrings, but I decided to just go without this time.  Let the shirt speak if you will.  Let it “Spirk” 🙂 

Til next time!

-Jaime

“…The heart will see when it’s ready,

that holding on is too heavy,

a weight to bear…”

-from my latest song, Heart catch up

 

Floweraholics Anonymous

Hi.  My name is Jaime.  And I am addicted to flowers.

The first step is ackowledgement they say.

But how am I supposed to kick it if Goodwill keeps providing me with such lovely flowered cover things??

For so cheap??

I don’t know, but its best just not to fight it, I think.

Small hanging canvas, .99.  Priced on the spot.  Reasonably:)

Is it not the cutest thing ever??? I ’bout had a heart attack when I picked it up.

This is known as a GBISHA- the ‘Goodwill bargain induced shock heart attack’.

Standing Photo album/frame, $2.99.

Hanging Jewelry Organizer, $.99!! The cheapest I have seen them is $9.99.  Anywhere.

Little blue flowery journal, for my songwriting ways, $.99.

Three mason jars, $.49 each,

used to make tealight on water candle holders like this:

So pretty!?

Tealights were $2 for 20 at Family Dollar, one of my other favorite places to shop.

They have candles like this on the bar top where I work, and I loved it so much I wanted to copy it at my house.  I knew Goodwill has mason jars a lot, so I popped over to get these, and found them along with all my other great items as well.

Pretty simple:

Just fill the mason jar with water.  Place the tealight on top.

Immediate pretty and romantic ambience.

What I DIDN’T take home:

This awesome Mossimo from Target (donated, not purchased from Target by Goodwill) striped boatneck pocket shirt for $4.49.

Why you ask?

This:

Normally, I would buy the shirt/item, get home, and notice the indiscretion.  Somehow I noticed it before I purchased it this time and couldn’t bring myself to buy it.  For the best I guess.  $4.49 more in my pocket.

A GREAT day at Goodwill, I’d say.  I love all my items so much, and do not care how flowery or feminine they are.  I am flowery and feminine and am proud of it.  I may have to change my decor ways someday when I get married…but we’ll see.

Until then….

Thanks for stopping by!

Go out and support your local Goodwills and thrift stores!  They do great work!  (For both our closets, homes, and society 😉

-Jaime

Flowers for Spring, and Other Fun Things

I bought some flowers the other day because I have some very important people, VIP’s if you will (I’m pretty sure I just came up with that), coming to visit in twooo days!!! I can hardly believe its already here!  Well, I kind of can, I’ve been counting down the days since I went to go visit them in CT for Easter.  Its been 15.  Two more.  For all you math majors out there that adds up to…17!  On the edge of your seats wondering who??  I know you are.  It’s my family!  Well, not all of them, that would take a whole plane, almost.  It’s my wonderful, beautiful Mother, my wonderful, beautiful sister, who is also a mother to two wonderful, beautiful little girls who are also coming along.  Secret is, they don’t know it yet.  My smart sis didn’t want to hear them ask for a month straight when they were leaving to go see the greatest aunt on earth to visit Nashville, so she is going to tell them on the WAY to the airport.  Love it!  On the way.  You dont’ know them, but they’re gonna flip!  Well, you don’t have to know them, they’re 5 and 4:)  I only wish I was there to see their faces when they find out.  The oldest niece kind of figured it out when I was home, but we did our best to thwart her smartness, what with us being 20 plus years older than her, I think we did okay. 

Long story short, trying to make the place look fresh and purty, I thought a lovely bouquet from my favorite store of groceries, Trader Joe’s, would do the trick.  And guess what I had at home to put them in?  An awesome green glass milk jug I bought at Goodwill two years ago when I moved into my first apartment of my own.  Here it is:

The books also from Goodwill, the top one I got just the other day hiding out in the drawer of my coffee table, also from Goodwill.   

That entire picture’s content is Goodwill.  Thought that should be mentioed.  Cause I kinda like it.  Well, more than kinda.  Really.

Ok, so I have a couple newer finds as well, as in within the past month that I’d love to share:

A bright yellow purse.  I dont’ think you can ever really go wrong with this.  And now I finally have one.  I can’t remember how much!  Forgive me for I have sinned.  I know it was under $10. 

In case you can’t read it, the brand is axcess.  Also, not real leather, but that is fine with me.  That way I can’t rub ink from my shirt all over it.  (In case you didn’t read that post, that happened with the last real leather purse I got at goodwill.  Don’t worry, I removed it with hairspray.  Good as new.)

Oops!  How did that one sneak on there??  Not from Goodwill:)  He’s from the Nashville Humane Association.  And he is 3 months old.  That’s my new pup, Baker Jones.  I’m a new mom.  Kind of.  He feels like a baby would at least.  Waking me up in the middle of the night and what not, but then breaking my heart with how adorable and helpless he is!  Can’t wait til he’s grown and I can take him on many an adventure.  Dog parks and what not.  Kidding, it will be MUCH more exciting that that:) 

Anyway, I do have a dog collar for HIM that I bought from Goodwill when I thought I was getting a girl dog….so its pink leopard print…I feel kind of bad using it on him, that’s not okay, he doesn’t have any older sisters to make it okay, so I’m gonna buy a new one to replace the one he got at Humane.  When I find one at Goodwill, of course. 

Happy Goodwilling everyone!  Make some finds and wear/use them well, and support a great cause in the mean time.  All good things.

 

Are you an animal lover?  Enough to have your own, or just adore others’ passing by?

Enough to have my own…and I very much have enjoyed the awes and attention Baker has garnered while out.  Gotta admit.

Do you always have fresh flowers out, or just for ‘special’ occasions and visits?

I wish the former, but definitely more the latter…