A Nerd Like Me

2

NYR Update and new schedule

Jul 15, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, New Year's Resolution, Thrifting

Yes! I’m still keeping up with my New Year’s Resolution! Can you believe it? I’m halfway through the year and have not bought any new clothes or shoes! Wow. The two hardest things to find have been fancy dresses for weddings and cute sandals. I found a dress to wear to summer weddings (the green silk dress below), but I still haven’t found a new (used) pair of metallic bronze or gold sandals to wear for the rest of the summer. Actually, metallic is not necessary. I would do with a nice woven cognac gladiator sandal. But if its not on the used shoe rack, I can’t buy it.

Here’s all of the wonderful stuff I’ve found recently, including the items I found at the Buffalo Exchange (BE) in New Orleans and Philadelphia:

So I’m pretty much getting the hang of this. But be warned: The second stores open on January 2nd…it is so on! I’m going to raid Target and Forever 21. They won’t know what hit them. And Shoe Station! Yeah! But I’ve also learned so much about buying pre-owned clothes. Now that I know where to look, I plan on continuing to buy used, but I will treat myself to something new every now and then.

I would also like you all to be aware of my new work schedule, which starts next week. I think its a pretty neat schedule, but my blogging will be a little funky. I will be working on a 14-day rotation, meaning I will work 14 days straight (looooong, 12+ hour days) and then have 14 days off. Awesome, right? So during my work weeks, you probably won’t hear from me much, but when I’m off, I will be bombarding you with blog posts. Cool? Also, I’m going to start taking outfit pictures again. I promise. Scout’s honor.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

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2

Rave Reviews!

Jun 14, 2010 In Being Green, Daily Ramblings, My Style, Thrifting

I have a lot to do today, but one thing I’m looking forward to doing is going to my favorite local consignment shop, Rave Reviews! And I’m taking everything in this basket with me:

Can’t wait to show you what I find!

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7

Its raining, its pouring…

May 4, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, New Year's Resolution, Thrifting

Trench: Zara (bought in Italy); Dress: Lotus Boutique (borrowed from Kristi); Key necklace: self-made; Wedges: Madden Girl (consignment store)

Special thanks to my Monday photographer, Billie. LOVE YOU LADY!!!

Any normal person would wake up on a gloomy Monday morning and think, “Oh nooo. Please stop RAINING!” But not this girl. No, I was very happy for this rainy day because it gave me the opportunity to wear my trench one last time before saying goodbye to her until fall. She will be missed, but it is already way too hot here in the deep south for it. And as you can see, the sun certainly reared its bright little head in the middle of my photoshoot. Oh well. Hey, maybe it will work in Philly? I wonder what the weather is like there in mid-May…..

Kristi and I have done a little clothing swap, since she has all these fantastic new dresses and I can’t buy anything new. This is just the beginning of our clothing swap, people. I’m now in LOVE (and so is The Hubs…with Kristi…maybe its a good thing that I can dress like her now?). Jay-kay ya’ll. He just thinks she’s hot. He’s only in love with me.

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2

Dear Spring…

Apr 13, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, New Year's Resolution, Thrifting

Dear Spring,

Just wanted to drop you a little note to thank you for stopping in. We really appreciate you around here, but we do wish you would hand around longer than normal (unlike Winter, who completely overstayed his welcome, and Summer, who feels the need to smother us for a good 6 months out of the year). They’re okay, but you’re my favorite. Just don’t tell Fall I said that. He might get jealous. Oh, by the way, I’ve been meaning to set you up on a date with Fall. I think you two would really get along.

Okay, that’s all. Just wanted to thank you. Have a fantastic season!

Ev

Cardi: Rave Reviews Consignment Shop; Dress: F21; Belt: F21; Sandals: Shoe Polish; Necklace: Back in Time Vintage Store

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7

This weekend I __________.

Apr 12, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, Thrifting

Let’s play a friendly game of fill-in-the-blanks, shall we? (Forgive me, I guess a little teacher-ness is still stuck in this brain of mine. I rather enjoyed giving fill-in-the-blank tests.)

This weekend I drank free wine on the streets of Mobile while viewing some pretty amazing local art.

This weekend I witnessed what happens when you get hit by a car on your bike…and speed away, blood streaming down your face, because it was your fault afterall.

This weekend I delivered the most beautiful wedding cake I’ve made to date.

This weekend I met the in-law’s adorable new puppy, and was overcome with jealousy due to his overall cuteness.

This weekend I wore an outfit that was $10 from head to toe. (and this was the only pic I got of it)

Military jacket: thrifted, $3; Dress: gifted; Sandals: Shoe Polish (last summer), $7

This weekend I listened to the Mobile Pops band play some beautiful music in cathedral square, with my uber talented bestie Billie on flute.

This weekend I sat on the sidewalk as The Hubs snapped this a-to-the-mazing shot downtown, and impressed me with his mad skillz. (click for a better look!)

This weekend I enjoyed a nice evening with some wonderful friends, in which lots of wine and crab cakes we involved.

This weekend I discovered the awesome-ness that is sweet tea flavored vodka.

This weekend I called my mother at 11pm, to ask her to sing a Jon Secada song on speaker phone for my friends, because we couldn’t remember it. Here’s how that convo went:

Mom: “Hello?” (in sleepy voice)

Me: “Hey Mom, I know you’re dead asleep and all, but can you please sing that Jon Secada song for us?” (fully expecting her to verbally bitch-slap me and hang up the phone)

Mom: (without saying a word before hand and only after a slight pause) “It’s just another daaaay without yoooouuuuuu…”

This weekend I laid out on the back porch during a beautiful Sunday, in an attempt to rid my body of this deathly paleness.

This weekend I had so much fun welcoming Spring into my life!

Now its your turn! Fill in the blank: “This weekend I _______________.”

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9

Your thoughts on eco-friendly clothing

Apr 8, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, New Year's Resolution, Thrifting

I have an issue. Actually, I have many issues, but that’s beside the point. I have been looking for a nice summer dress to wear to weddings this year, but am having zero luck in the vintage/thrifting/ebay department. Seriously. I’ve been looking since January, when I started this resolution thing, knowing that I would need a lot of time to make this happen. I feel like I’ve tried everything.

So now I’m looking into eco-friendly and upcycled clothes. These types of clothes are basically new, but made from recycled fabrics and clothes and/or sustainable materials (bamboo, hemp, etc.). Now, here’s where I need your opinion:

Since my New Year’s Resolution is an attempt to consume less and be more green in my clothing choices, do “new” eco-friendly clothes break my resolution?

I’m dead serious about this resolution, guys, and I don’t want to give up on it, nor am I looking for a way around it. That would be silly and lamespice. I just prefer not to wear a jersey tunic to a wedding. Just sayin.’

Oh, and if you would like to make me a dress from recycled/scrap fabric, I won’t be upset. Really. I just might like it.

Here are some stores I’m leaning towards:

Stewart+Brown – organic clothing (I think that green dress is my favorite on this entire page! Is it summer wedding appropriate?)

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American Apparel – Made in the US; sweatshop free; clothes currently made from 20% organic materials, but may soon be from 80% organic; company recycles over a million pounds of scrap fabric per year; solar panels on roof of LA headquarters

*If you can’t tell, I’m really talking up AA because I love their clothes, so let me also point out that they have many items that can be worn different ways, thus expanding your wardrobe with less. The Le Sac Dress (2nd) and Circle Scarf (3rd) are perfect examples of how things can be worn in different ways. Yes, that circle scarf can be worn as a really cute dress. Check out Adored Austin’s circle scarf dress!

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Liz Alig on Etsy – all garments made from 100% recycled fabrics

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tobedetermined on Etsy – vintage reconstructed and handmade clothing

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The Closet Stuffer on Etsy – upcycled and repurposed clothing

UPDATE: I asked for opinions from my friends at work, who have been extra supportive about my NYR. The majority said I’m “changing the rules in the middle of the game” to suit my needs, and that its not fair to do that. I agree, and I’m so happy they know they can be honest with me. Honesty is exactly what I want in this situation. So now its your turn. What do you think of this proposed NYR modification?

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6

Oh its so good…until its bad.

Apr 7, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, New Year's Resolution, Thrifting

Shirt: thrifted (Rave Reviews Consignment, Mobile, AL); Belt: F21; Skinnies: F21; Wedges: Target (3 years ago)

Monday was an awesome day! I love Monday, because its like my Sunday…except its a weekday…and The Hubs is at work…and its not actually Sunday. Anyway, this Monday was particularly nice and I wanted to wear something comfy and breezy but still somewhat chic (hence the belt and heels). Yeah, Monday started off great. Lazy morning of blogging, lunch with my homegirl Billie, grocery shopping…

And dinner was spectacular! I sliced up some zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers and marinated them in Newman’s Own Organic Italian Dressing. Then I rubbed some garlic sea salt and lemon pepper on two beautiful mahi mahi filets. Check out this gorgeousness The Hubs grilled for us:

Are you salivating with jealously at that gloriously healthy and tasty meal? Yeah. I would be too. But here’s the thing: there was hardly any fat, absolutely no creamy sauce, and just plain all natural goodness on that plate…

SO WHY THE HELL DID MY TUMMY FLIP IN EFFING CIRCLES AFTERWARDS?!?!?! I seriously have a problem. A tummy problem. It seems that for the last 3 or 4 years it has been getting progressively worse and I can’t figure out what the deal is. I shouldn’t have awful bloating and stomach cramps every other day/night, should I? Especially not after a healthy meal like this one. So maybe this is waaaay too much information, but I’m getting really fed up and I was wondering if any of you have any thoughts on the matter.

Obviously my day and early evening were fantastic, but things kinda slumped off around 7:30…when my ninja teacher told me to go home because I was obviously in pain. Yeah. I’m a total wuss.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

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8

I can haz cheesesteak?!?!

Apr 5, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, New Year's Resolution, Thrifting

OH. EM. GEEEEEE!!! So The Hubs and I are taking a vacay to Philadelphia in May. He’s going on business. I’m tagging along…you know…for moral support and all that jazz.

First of all, the news of this little getaway was shocking because I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be getting on another plane for-like-ever since we just went to Italy last October. (Sidenote: if you would like to see Italy pics and hear about our trip, let me know!)

But the vacation gods have deemed this a suitable trip for this young(-ish), childless married couple. So we’re going, dammit!

Yes, I’m excited about the historical museums, the liberty bell, the cheesesteaks, and re-enacting Rocky’s famous climb up the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Anyone wanna follow me with a boombox playing “Gonna Fly Now?” I’ll pay you five dollars.)

But what I’m most excited about is the shopping!!! I’m going to have 4 days to myself while The Hubs works, so it will be like an endless shopping vacation…sort of. See, I’m a little scared of the amazing stores that I can look around in but not purchase anything (thanks to that all-powerful, unbreakable New Year’s Resolution). These stores include, but are not limited to, J.Crew, Anthropologie, Steve Madden, H&M, Zara, and Urban Outfitters. Yeah. I’ve only been in one Zara (in Italy) and have never even seen any of these other stores before. I’m going to have to hold myself back. For serious.

But guess what?!?!?!?! Directly across the street from our hotel is a BUFFALO EXCHANGE!!! This is another store I’ve been wanting to go to, but the closest one is in New Orleans, which is two hours away. Close to the Buffalo Exchange are a few other consignment and vintage shops, so even though I won’t be able to shop in those other stores, I’m pretty sure I can get my fix without breaking my resolution.

And don’t worry, I’ll be blogging and taking lots of pictures the entire time. I promise to find a little spot in a coffee shop and keep you guys updated…even if The Hubs’ laptop is a freakin’ 20-pound dinosaur of a machine. I will not be ashamed.

But then again, this trip isn’t until May. Perhaps I’m getting a bit ahead of myself?

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6

Plaid is soooo comfy.

Mar 30, 2010 In Daily Ramblings, My Style, Thrifting

Cardi: Dillard’s; Plaid shirt: thrifted; Belt: F21; Skinnies: F21; Flats: Gap Outlet

When: Monday, March 22

Why: I wanted to have a very comfy, very lazy Monday. I felt like absolute crap and just wanted to breathe. This definitely worked in the comfort department, but my girl Billie compared me to a zombie at lunch that day. I guess the outfit didn’t brighten my mood any. I wasn’t sick…just…meh. One week later and I feel a bit better. Something is off balance in my body. I can feel it. And I don’t like it one bit.