Quick. Fun. Over.

Welcome to Monday, Reader-Friends!

First weekend of the semester. It had to be the quickest ever! Saturday was packed full of fun…and lots of walking!

Jon and I started the day with the farmer’s market in my hometown. I have been cooking up such a storm lately that I decided to become the proud plant-mommy of…

what could it be???

 

TA DA! Meet Basil and Rosemary! (cute names, huh?)

 

They smell so good! Let’s pray that I don’t kill these little beauts! I'm going to have to make some more caprice while I have such a lovely bunch of basil leaves!

 

Next, I went on a thrifting adventure with two of my sweet friends. If  you have been around here for any amount of time, you know that I have a growing addiction love for thrift shopping! Saturday was probably the unhealthiest happiest I have been at Goodwill. Ya’ll, I can’t do it. I just can’t reveal how much I spent at the THRIFT store! I just can’t let anyone let me feel guilty for spending a nice hunk of change at the THRIFT store! And besides, I finally gave up on all my “skinny-mini” clothes in my closet. You know the accumulating articles that you keep saying “when I lose that ten pounds, I will fit in this.” I’m moving on. I gave bags and bags away to Goodwill and got things that just fit me as I am- all womanly and such these days! Like I said, I’m not telling how much I spent but I will show you the treasure sack.

 

Arrrggggh! Me found me some jewels, love! #PirateTalk

 

The night was filled with great friends and great food. Jon and my Life Group from our church had a get-together. And I was so exhausted from all my heavy duty shopping, I didn’t take one photo. But trust me, everyone’s contribution to the array of finger-food was tasty tasty and the friendly talk was sweet stuff on a lingering summer night.

 

Have a mad-awesome Monday, Reader-Friends!

Locked in a Scary Closet!

Hey Reader-Friends!

A weekend experienced:

Friday, after class, I decided to award myself (I made two A’s this week). My reward? A thrifty trip…kind of! Have any of you been to Plato’s Closet? It’s a pretty nice shop-a little more upscale than Goodwill. They buy and sell very stylish, gently worn clothes, shoes, purses, and other accessories. They are pretty restrictive about what they re-sell. Items that they purchase should have been purchased in the prior 18 months and be in “like new” condition. If you bring in clothes that meet these specifications, they give you cash on the spot. And if you're a weakling like me, then you won’t walk away with that cash, but a few new outfits for your closet instead.

I checked out (very polite customer service reps, by the way), the cashier put my cute one shouldered navy short jumper, girly floral skirt, and various accessories in a bag for me, and then encouraged me to come back the next day for their “Grab Bag Event”. Basically, you get a very small, yet stretchy, plastic bag when you walk in the door and you elbow your way through people and hangers in order to fill up that bag as much as possible. Your grand total at check out, no matter how much in your bag is ten bucks. I have never done Black Friday kind of shopping before, because I don’t think material is worth the madness. You know, people get shot every year around the holidays!

Well, I gave it a shot. And luckily didn’t get shot, but oh my stars, ya’ll- people are cray-cray when it comes to sales!

I had so many booties and boobies rubbing up against me. BLAAAAH! #showertime

There was no way to move on your own, so I just kind of just crowd surfed and looked at the clothes that were in front of me. People stuffed their bags better than a Thanksgiving turkey, but I was over it all five minutes into the craze. I did, however, manage to pick out some decent items for my bag- one fitted tee, one dressy tank, one cute tube top, a Banana Republic skirt,and a pair of Jeans. I don’t think that is that bad for behaving like a sane human being the entire time. And I was extra smart, because I brought my Kindle to read while in the the hour long line.

Here is the thing that irked me, though! People with bad attitudes.

They need to get lost.

No, really. I was trying to read my novel in the check out line and all the while, there were smoky breath women yacking in my ear about all their complaints. They should have moved these racks. This is ridiculous. They are moving so slow. It’s hot. I’m thirsty. My back hurts. This is ridiculous.

THEN WHY DID YOU COME, LADY!?!?

As much as I wanted to shout that, I restrained myself. God equipped me with a plethora of unusual patience Saturday, and I am so grateful. I think posting about their craziness is better than making a scene anyway. Right? They were all exchanging testimonies of past Black Friday experiences, so they knew what they were getting into. If you know it’s going to be hell, then don’t complain. You made the decision to come.

Well, check. Now I can say I waited in a long line that wrapped around a building just for a crazy sale. The verdict: sticking to normal shopping days. Being a thrifty shopper, I make “steals and deals” all the time, anyway. Save the drama for your mama, ladies- oh wait, most of them were mamas.

So, what about you? Are you a Black Friday kind of shopper? What are some crazy things have you seen people do for the things on the rack?

Maybe, you are one of those drama mamas. It’s okay, just confess. You will feel better.

And before you go, enter my first blog giveaway here! Winner will be announced and notified this Thursday!

An Itch to Thrift

Hey Reader-Friends!

I had a GREAT little bonding time with my big sis yesterday. We went to one of my favorite places...drum roll please...the thrift store! I'm getting a little addicted, honestly. I mean who wouldn't when you can put adorable outfits together for next nothing. I'm not that high maintenance, ladies. If there isn't holes in someone else's New York & Company blazer (which looks like it MIGHT have been worn just once) then I'm giving the cute cloth a loving home! Now, I am light years away from being rich, (hello! trying to pay for college here!) but I like to say that the money I save shopping at the Goodwill and the Salvation Army makes me "thrifty rich"!

I had planned on doing some studying last night, (see a trend? -for crying out loud it's the summer! Can't I just play?) anyway, I got distracted and started playing dress up with my thrift store purchases (two pairs of jeans and four tops for a mere 25 bucks) and a few new things I got this weekend when my mom and I went out and about.

{We went without the windows in the Jeep :) Good feeling; Awful hair!}

I think I see a new series for the blog in the future. I am going to work on putting some outfits together and sweet talking Jon into being my photographer, so I can share my steals with all my bloggy-buddies! I'm insanely far from being any kind of thrift store shopping pro, but as I learn I will be sure to share some tips too. Sound good, gals? Okay, so watch for these "Thrifty Rich" posts soon!

Speaking of the thrift store...This girl was there:

Well, not actually "this" girl. But you know her. The one that dragged brought her boyfriend along on the shopping trip. He pushed the cart, he held the unwanted hangers of clothes, he gave his not exactly what she wanted to hear opinion on every single outfit she came out of the dressing room in. Ladies, I'm not hating on you if you do this to your man, (maybe he willingly comes along-mine is just unruly, I guess) but the one thing that made my skin hot, as I had no choice but to listen to their exchange of words as I was in the next dressing stall over was her desperate desire of his approval of what she was wearing.

Look, I haven't been very successful thus far in the confidence department, but there is one kind of thinking I am starting to get a hold of, and that is just doing something, being something, liking something just because it's who you are! I'm not going to get all preachy with the just be yourself campaign, but I have been 150% happier and more confident walking out of the house in something I decided was right for me, that reflected my personality. Ahem****That's what your men should love about what you're wearing, whether it's his favorite color or not****

Another key in life and finding yourself is accepting that everyone is different. If someone turns up their nose at your clothes, a haircut, or piercing, don't take it personal; they just somehow got it in their head that the world revolves around them and therefore cater to their tastes.

Whenever my sweet bestie and roommate comes into my room in the mornings to ask my opinion on her outfit, she should by now well-know my response: "Well, do you like it?"

So, my question for you today is the same: Do you like what you're wearing or is it someone else's taste?

{okay, so I did get a little preachy.}

Blogging my Battles and Blessings,

Amber Marie