Under Pressure

Hi there, it's still hot. I think of Tucson, in the dry beginning of the summer, as being a pressure cooker. As the heat builds Tucsonans become increasingly irritable, tired, forgetful and just plain out of sorts. The only release is the start of the monsoon season. And I mean the real start of monsoon, not some arbitrary date chosen by the National Weather Service. There is something truly magical about the first monsoon storm of the season, the smell of rain in the air, the buildup of storm clouds, thunder, lightning and beautiful, cooling, life giving rain! And just like that, the pressure cooker that is Tucson releases, people stand outside just watching water fall to the ground, children, dogs  and some adults play in the cooling showers and the general malaise of the Tucson in the dry part of summer lifts away. In case you couldn't tell I would really like it to rain soon please.

On a not weather related note I went thrifting for the first time since January and did pretty well. For $26.10 I bought 11 articles of clothing. This won't count as a frugal thing for last week since I don't actually need any more clothes, but it was an enjoyable way to spend a morning.

Oh yeah, I got my hair cut last Sunday. It is much cooler, temperature wise, now.

Here are three actual frugal things I did last week.

  

1. I put the root end of a lovely scallion into some water and it has already started to regrow. I did the same thing with a cutting of basil I took from my mom a couple of weeks ago and it is also growing roots. Now I just need to pot both and cross my fingers that I neither over or under water them.

2. I used the homegrown tomatoes that I received as a gift from a patron. We made BLTs, added slices to sandwiches and used the remainder in homemade Spanish rice.

3. I used spices that I had on hand to make taco seasoning, rather than buying a pre-made packet, and made turkey taco meat to go with the Spanish rice.

Now onto the outfits!

June 20

Top: Gap - Last seen here (1st outfit)   Skirt: Toto N Ko - Last seen here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Retail   Necklace and bracelet: Mom

June 21 - The blue is still in my hair, I had no idea it would last so long.

Top: Banana Republic - Retail 2014 (?)  Skirt: Talbots - Last seen here (1st outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and bracelet: Mom   Necklace: Online

June 22

Dress: J Crew - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Necklace: Etsy   Bracelet: Chicos retail

June 23 - Indoor pictures today, it was too hot for outside. Full outfit repeat from October 2016

Top: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (9th outfit)  Skirt: Apt 9 - Last seen here (9th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift    Necklace: Etsy    Bracelet: Mom

June 23

Top: Talbots - Thrifted 2015  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from Jennifer    Necklace: Etsy   Bracelet: Mom

What I thrifted.

To wear this season:
  
Black Print Dress: Connected $3.98     Grey Tank: Caslon $.99

  
Peach Tank: New York & Co. $.99     Pink Tank: No Label $.99

  
Black Top: Gap $2.98                        Purple Cardigan: Liz Claiborne  $1.98

  
Blue Skirt: Banana Republic $2.98    White Stripe Skirt: Coldwater Creek $2.98

To wear when it's not hot:
  
Black Sweater: Old Navy $2.50          Burgundy Sweater: Eddie Bauer $1.98

Brown Top: Banana Republic $1.98

As always thank you to blog photographers BB, Mr DC and the GH.

See you soon!

I'm Melting, Melting!

Hi there. Sorry for the extended blog silence. Life gets in the way sometimes, and so does learning that a shared Google album will only hold up to 2000 pictures at a time. Live and learn. The past three weeks seem to have flown by, probably due to Summer Reading being in full swing. Summer brings a different pace to the days at work and it can take some getting used to. So can the heat, have I mentioned that it's hot outside?  As I sit here typing at 4 in the afternoon the weather app on my phone says it is currently 111 degrees outside, but it "feels like" 107.  I'm not sure about that "feels like", past a certain point all is feels like is an oven. Since I have three weeks worth of outfit pictures to catch up on I'll keep it short.

Here are three frugal things I've done recently:
1. I filled out the form to get mileage reimbursement at work for May.
2. I shopped with a list last week and prepped all of my veggies when I got home! Yay for no food waste.
3. I made an appointment to get my oil changed. Regular maintenance helps to prevent unexpected expenses down the road.

And now for the clothes.

May 31
  
Dress: Max Studio last seen here in October (5th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Hand me down from Mom  Bracelet: UNICEF

June 1

Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (7th outfit)  Skirt: Odille - Last seen here, last May (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Necklace: Rosetta Bracelets: Hand me down from Jen

June 2

Dress: Chicos - Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Pin: Hand me downs from Mom   Bracelet: Not pictured - Mom

June: 3

Top: Gap - Thrifted in 2015  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (9th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Bracelet: Hand me downs from Mom

June 6 - Not sure what I was looking at
  
Top: H&M - Last seen here in August (4th outfit)  Skirt: Ann Taylor - Last seen here, last May (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Grandma T  Cuff: Thrifted

June 7

Top: Classiques - Last seen here, last May (3rd outfit)  Skirt: Talbots - Last seen here in October (6th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from Mom  Necklace: Gift Bracelet: Mom

June 8 - Outfit repeat from July 2016
  
Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Skirt: Tahari -Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Bracelet: Mom  Necklace: Chicos

June 9 - Full outfit repeat from May 2016

Top: Peck & Peck - Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Skirt: IN Studio - Last seen here (5th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Bracelet: Mom  Necklace: Etsy

June 10

Top: Coldwater Creek - Thrifted 2015  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Old, don't remember  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Gift from C

June 13 - My mom did not like this sweater with this skirt, she thinks the greens clash.
  
Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft - Last seen here (2nd outfit) Skirt: Alfani - Last seen here in September (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Necklace: Retail  Bracelet: Gift

June 14 - Action shot
  
Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (9th outfit)  Skirt: Alfani - Last seen here April 2016 (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Necklace: Vintage- Bought in 1990s   Bracelet: Mom

June 15 - Outfit repeat from NOLA

Dress: Isaac Mizrahi for Target - Last seen here  Cardigan: Chicos - Last seen here 

The Stuff

Earrings: Retail  Necklace: Gift from the GH  Bracelet: Chicos

June 16 - Outfit repeat from April 2016

Top: Merona - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Skirt: George - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Cardigan: Mossimo - Last seen here (14th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Bracelet: Mom

June 17 With bonus action shot
 
Top: Banana Republic - Retail 2014(?)  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from the GH  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Mom

As always thank you to blog photographers BB, Mr DC and the GH.

See you soon!