And It Was All Yellow

I wanted to post my latest quilling craft project tonight but the Internet is being to slow and I really ought to be getting to bed anyway.... So for Yellow Blackbird today let's just suffice it to say that this


and this

Source: target.com via Aubree on Pinterest

are currently on their way to my house.

Shopping (and thrifting) again!

First off, WOW! Thanks so much for your warm response to my Anthropoligie Accordion Strands Knock-Off tutorial! Thanks for all the nice comments and welcome to the new followers. I have to give a shout out to Sara from Two Carolina Nesters who has already made a necklace. Please go give her some love! Also a big thanks to Copycat Crafts, Homepodge, and Flamingo Toes (and anyone else I haven’t seen) for featuring me.

Well, I did it. I didn't buy anything in January and February. Two whole months is a long time for me! I am going to be much more conservative with my spending the rest of the year, than I was last year. Read more about that here.

I had to take back my Valentine's Day present because it didn't work. I exchanged it for these sandals from Walmart.


I took a trip to the thrift store and found this cute t-shirt from Shade for $4. Those wide nautical stripes are so in right now. It was in really good shape. Like new. I couldn't resist. I used the rest of my Valentine's money for it.

I also found this coat. I am a sucker for a cute coat. I don't have a pink one, and I am a pink girl at heart. It's Anne Taylor Loft and in great condition. I couldn't resist. It was $8 and the only thing that counts on my spending so far this year.

I also bought something for my Halloween costume, but you'll have to wait until October to know about that on! I keep my costume ideas under lock and key!

I hope you are having a good weekend! I got to see TRON again this week!! Ever tried going to the dollar theater on a Thursday night? Best idea ever! I am going to see if Spencer will take me next Thursday to see Tangled again!

What I WANT to wear

I didn't any pictures taken of clothes this week. I wore a couple of repeated outfits to different occasions than before and I wore some lame things. So this week instead I am doing "What I WANT to wear" instead.

I know this is funny in light of the shopping rules post I just wrote. But I did not actually buy anything- this is just stuff I am loving right now.

This is the "Meet Me in the Lobby" wedge from ModCloth. I HEART this shoe!! But they don't even have it in my size anymore so I don't have to worry about it. If you find something similar LET ME KNOW! This is what I am saving my allowance money for!!

I thinks this Old Navy cardigan is just cute and sweet for spring.

This dress from Anthropologie will never be a part of my wardrobe unless the clothes fairy visits but that doesn't mean I can't like it. Just the other day they had this dress as a part of a gorgeous outfit in which the dress looked even better. (It's better with the neck open and a cardi over it). But that campaign must be over because I can't find it anymore. YAY for long modest dresses being in style!

I would really like some skinny style pants in another color besides black to wear to work with boots. This pair from F21 is a good example.

I am loving tights right now and think this pair from Target is super cute. Do you like patterned tights?

What do you have your eye on right now?

I have finished my Valentine's book page garland. It should be up somewhat soon-ish. And I am almost at 200 followers! You guys are awesome!!!

2011 Shopping Rules

I thought it might be kind of silly to post this.

Then I was tempted a lot last week. Maybe this will give me some accountability.

And it's my blog, right? : )


A few weeks ago, right before Christmas I did a quick closet inventory to see what items I had acquired in 2010. How many shirts, pants, shoes, etc. To say the least, I was really embarrassed. So mortified at the mass amounts of apparel I had gathered that I won't be publishing the numbers. Granted, many items were gifts or purchased with gift money, several were only $1, bought from the thrift store, or a refashion project, but still.

I used to be such a tightwad with money and have slowly been loosening the padlock on my wallet. So much so that my husband has not only been raising his eyebrow at my purchases, but actually commenting on them. Gasp! That has never happened before. It's time to make a change.

First, I have resolved to not buy anything in the month of January. I need to exercise some self-control. The month is more than half over and I have been doing great (until a few days ago when I found myself in the dressing room at Ross. Yikes! But I didn't purchase).

Second, I need to think about wants and needs. Of course there is not a single clothing item in the world that I NEED. But I mean more like what does my wardrobe need. What items do I need to allow me to wear something I already own or what "key" things am I missing?

Right now my "need" list looks like this:
-black pencil skirt
-white 3/4 sleeve cardigan
-white classic button up

I consider these "needs" because:
-the black skirt I have been wearing has some modesty issues.
-my previous cardigan has holes and stains. I need it to wear my tank top refashions like this one.
-my white shirt has a small rip and isn't the cleanest anymore. Unless I find a deal this can probably wait awhile.

Third, I can only buy things I really love. I can't buy something because it is on sale or a good deal. I can't buy something because I am shopping with a friend and it is what she is looking for. I can't even buy anything just because it's only $1.

If you have been reading my blog you have seen the blue cardigan I have worn a bazillion times and my new boots. I love these 2 items so much that I could wear them everyday for the rest of the winter and be happy. They were worth the price, both being a bit more than I usually spend (although I used gift money). I have several shirts that I just bought in December that just hang in my closet because I just don't love them.

I have set the rules mostly to save money. But I hope to save time and focus on more important things in life than clothes. I also hope to be more creative in remixing my closet.

What sort of shopping rules do you have? Any suggestions to add?

True Bargain Shopping

Why is it that "bargain shopping" articles and TV segments always feature expensive clothes?

A couple of days ago I was watching a local morning show on this very topic. They were featuring "bargain" capris and shorts for the low low price of $45. Are you kidding me? $45 is bargain price for a pair of little denim shorts?

Another day this past week I was reading a magazine article in which the author was promoting a tote bag that could fit all her personal and mommy items so it was nice and large. Only set her back $99. Woah! I could find bag just like it at Target for no more than $25.

Why don't they feature deals like these? (All my true stories)

-A pair of Adidas running shoes for $15 on clearance at Kohl's.
-A cute red Candies purse for $9 at Kohl's.
-This shirt that I refashioned from Old Navy for a total of $5.
-The $.97 layering tanks at Old Navy right now.
-The amazing $8 necklaces from Charlotte-Russe (I would link there but they aren't available online anymore).
-A couple of months ago there was a buy 4 get 1 free sale at Down East Basics. I bought four layering tees and got a free necklace!
-The shoes I got for my wedding (pretty white, flat sandles) from Payless for $4. FOUR- DOLLARS. That's right folks, my wedding shoes were only $4 and I am proud of it!

-Or just last Friday the buy-one-get-one-for-a-penny sale at Wet Seal where I got 2 shirts for $14. Then, I bought another shirt at Forever 21 with a gift card so I paid $2 for it. That's 3 shirts for $16.

Now THAT'S what I call bargain shopping!

Refashion #1 (Ruffles!)

I love ruffles! In fact, I just won a contest over at SteffsFashion for suggesting that she post about ruffles. (I got a gift card to Forever 21! Thanks Steffanie!!)

I have been on the hunt for the perfect ruffle shirt for a long time. I never found what I was looking for so I decided to make my own! I used this tutorial from the Tea Rose Home and then adjusted as necessary. I found my t-shirts on clearance at Old Navy for about $2.50 each. I bought the size that would fit me and then an XXL so I had plenty of fabric to cut up.

Sachiko used 15 flowers to cover her entire shirt. I decided to do a fuller ruffle so I sewed mine pretty close together. I am not sure how many flowers I used. It was probably almost 30. I still have a lot of fabric left over. Eventually, I want to make a headband using this technique.

I LOVE how the shirt turned out. It's so fun to wear because I always get compliments on it and I get to say "Thanks! I made it myself!"


Last weekend I went shopping and found a ruffle jacket! I was in love! I love jackets and with ruffles it was so me! Of course I bought it! I went a little nuts at the mall that day actually. I have some returns to make. : )