Wonderful, Miraculous, Marvelous, Amazing, Astounding.

Hi there. I use the word awesome too much. I realized this today when I used it twice in different responses to one Facebook post. As a result of this seeming limitation in my vocabulary I pulled out my handy thesaurus. Now I think that I am need of a newer thesaurus. The one I pulled out does not contain the word awesome. Instead I looked up the word wonderful, which, according to my circa 1985 Roget's Thesaurus, is related to or synonymous with the words in the title of this post. I love the fact that language constantly evolves, even though it occasionally makes me feel old.

I seem to be running behind again in my blogging but I hope to be caught up by next week.

Three frugal things I've done recently:
1.  Immediately replaced the sun tea jar that I cracked while putting a free bottle of grapefruit prosecco in the fridge. I could have been even more frugal and searched thrift stores for one instead of buying new at Target, but that would take time and this is prime sun tea season. The GH and I go through a gallon every day or two and by brewing it at home it not only tastes better than anything pre-made, it only costs us pennies a glass.

2. Went for my annual mole check with my Dermatologist. When billed I will pay with my HSA card. This may not seem very frugal but, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Having had a precancerous mole removed at the age of 20 I would much rather catch any potential problems early, when treatment is generally minimally invasive.

3.  I brought the cherries that weren't being eaten at home to work, where they were all devoured.

And now on to my outfits from the middle two weeks of July.

July 11

Top: Gap - Thrifted here in June  Skirt: Focus - Last seen here (3rd outfit) last June

The Stuff

Earrings: Unicef  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Mom

July 12 - Full outfit repeat from last August

Top: Carole Little- Last seen here (6th outfit)  Skirt: St Johns Bay - Last seen here (1st outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom (?)  Bracelet: Gift  Necklace: Etsy

July 13 - Full outfit repeat from last October

Top: Simply Vera - Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Skirt: Mossimo - Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Necklace and Bracelet: Rosetta  Diamond pendant: Mom

July 14 - Faces
  

Dress: Z Studio - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Chicos  Bracelet: Susie

July 15 - Faces again
  

Top: Ann Taylor Loft - Thrifted 2015 (?)  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Bracelet: Mom Necklace: Online

July 18 - Bonus action shot with great sky
  

Top: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (5th outfit)  Skirt: Banana Republic - Thrifted here in June

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Bracelet: GH

July 19 - I have no idea what I was looking at in the 1st picture
  

Dress: Banana Republic - Last seen here (14th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Necklace: Mom  Bracelet: Chicos

July 20

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft - Last seen here in NOLA  Sweater: Saks 5th Ave - Last seen here (1st outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Chicos

July 21 - Squinty smiles, it was bright out!
  

Top: Coldwater Creek - Last seen here (2nd outfit)  Skirt: Coldwater Creek- Bought here in June

The Stuff

Earrings: Chicos  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Mom

July 22

Top: NY&Co - Bought here in June  Jeans: Chicos - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Unicef

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

See you soon!

Two Weeks in May

Hi there.  So it seems that weekly blogging continues to be problematic despite my best intentions. But you know what they say about good intentions. I've been in a semi daze over the last couple of weeks and I blame that solely on the weather. It's summer in the Sonoran desert now, when temps in the low 90s feel somewhat cool. The cicadas are out in force, and to this desert dweller, that is the signature sound of summer. Despite the heat there are still some flowers to be found, the saguaro has a handful left but the prickly pear is done for the season. I don't think that acclimating to the heat is really possible, instead patterns of living are modified to cope with it. Errands are run first thing in the morning or after the sun has gone down. The best parking space is not the closest, but the one with the most shade. Any sort of physical activity outside during the day is severely curtailed. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and a (reusable) container of water become necessities. And the countdown to monsoon season begins.

On that note here are three frugal things I've done recently.
1. The cat's litter box has been moved out of the laundry room so that the door can remain shut during the day.  Because there is no air vent in that room, and it has many windows, it saves energy to not have to cool it.
2. I emptied out my mending basket. I hemmed a couple of skirts, replaced a few buttons and sewed a couple of seams.  This is frugal in more than one way, repairing is cheaper than replacing and it freed up a laundry basket so I didn't have to purchase a replacement for one that wore out a couple of weeks ago.
3. The GH and I ate most of the leftovers in the fridge yesterday and I will finish those off today.

On a less frugal note I waited too long to use a zucchini and some cherry tomatoes that I bought and had to throw them out. I have been trying to reduce my food waste this year and while I am getting better I'm still not there yet. Moral of this story is to prep the veggies for the week on the day they are purchased, it makes me more likely to cook during the week when the prep is mostly done.

And now on to the clothes

May 16

 
Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (7th outfit)  Cardigan: Banana Republic - Last seen here (6th outfit)  Skirt: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from the GH  Necklace: Gift Bangle: Mom hand me down

May 17 - I have no idea what I was doing here

Top: Banana Republic: Retail 201?  Skirt: White House Black Market - Last seen here (9th outfit)
Cardigan: Banana Republic - Last seen above

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from Mom  Necklace: Gift Bracelet: Gift from Janet

May 18

 
Top: Simply Vera - Last seen here (3rd outfit) Skirt: Angie - Thrifted here in January Cardigan: BCBG Girls - Last seen here (12th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings, Bangle and Necklace: Mom

May 19

Dress: Jones New York - Last seen here (6th outfit)  Cardigan: French Connection - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

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

May 23

Dress: MSSP - Thrifted here in January

The Stuff

Earrings: Hand me down from Mom  Bangles: Gifts and hand me downs

May 24

Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (1st outfit)  Skirt: The Limited - Last seen here (3rd outfit) Cardigan: August Silk - Last seen here (8th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift ?  Necklace: Gift Bracelets: Chicos

May 25 - Another whole outfit repeat

Top: Ann Taylor - Last seen here (1st outfit)  Skirt: Access - Last seen here (1st outfit)

The Stuff

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

May 26

Top: S5A - Last seen here (7th outfit)  Skirt: Tahari - Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Necklace: Etsy

May 27

Top: Banana Republic - Last seen here (3rd outfit) Cardigan: Joseph A - Thrifted 201?  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (5th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Chicos  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Mom

Added bonus picture of an accidentally color coordinated day at work

Last blast of the saguaro blooms

                                                                Taken today, May 30

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

See you soon!

Its Chilly Out - Two Week Wrap Up

I hope I'm not jinxing the weather when I say it may have reached the perfect time of year in the Sonoran Desert.  It's cool enough during the day that the air conditioner rarely comes on and it's actually on the chilly side at night. This means I only have a few weeks left before the semi annual closet switch. With the switch imminent I am re-wearing some of my favorites before they are packed away and I am checking to see which hangers were never flipped during the current season. Yes I use the backward hanger trick to see what I don't wear.

While I don't automatically relegate unworn clothes to the donation pile, I do think more closely about why I haven't worn any given item.  The usual culprit for me seems to be aspirational clothing. Clothes that I think would look good, and generally have good labels, but don't actually fit my style aesthetic. This is one of the down sides to my love of thrifting. I should know better but sometimes I will see a great deal, like an Oscar de la Renta ruffled top for $.99, and add it to my pile without thinking about whether or not I am actually going to wear said item.  Loving an item of clothing is not enough, willingness to wear that item is also a requirement to stay in my closet. So goodbye ruffled blouse, I hope your next owner actually wears you.

And nor for what I wore in the past two weeks.

September 20

   

Cardigan: Banana Republic - Thrift 2015  Top: Banana Republic - Retail Vegas 201? Skirt: White House Black Market - Thrift 201?

The Stuff:

Earrings: Gift from GH  Necklace: Online Bracelet and Watch: Mom

September 21

Top: Brooks Brothers - Thrift 2016 $4  Jeans: Last seen here (1st outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Mom  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Aunth Rosetta

September 22

Cardigan: Banana Republic- Last seen here (3rd outfit)  Top: Simply Vera - Last seen here (8th outfit)
Skirt: Mossimo - Thrift 2014

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from GH  Necklace: Gift Bracelet: Mom

September 23 - I have no idea what I was looking at

    

Dress: Talbots - Thrift 2013  Cardigan: Chicos - Lat seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from Mom Necklace: Aunt Rosetta  Bracelet: Mom

September 24 - It was bright out

Cardigan: August Silk - Last seen here (4th outfit)  Top: Banana Republic - Retail Vegas 201?  Skirt: Jedzebel - Thrift 201?

The Stuff:

Earrings and Bracelet: Mom  Necklace: Aunt Rosetta

September 27

Cardigan: Merona - Thrift 2015  T-shirt: Gap - Thrift 2015  Jeans: DKNY - Last seen here (4th outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings and Necklace - Gift from Mom 2015 & 20??  Bracelet: Gift from Reyna

September 28

Top: Banana Republic - Retail Vegas 201?  Jeans: Levis - Last seen here (last outfit)

The Stuff:

Earrings: Birthday gift from the awesome BB  Bracelets: Hand me down from J  Necklace: Aunt Rosetta

September 29

Top: Banana Republic- Retail Vegas 201?  Skirt: Blue Planet - Last seen here (3rd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Unicef  Necklace: Gift 1999 (?)  Bracelet: Mom

September 30 - Playing with backgrounds

    

Top: Ann Taylor - Retail Online 2014  Skirt: Apt 9 - Last worn here (1st outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Gift from GH  Necklace: Etsy  Bracelet: Mom

October 1

Dress: Chicos - Last worn here (2nd outfit)

The Stuff

Earrings: Etsy  Bracelet: UNICEF  Necklace: Jewelry party 20??

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

See you doon!