In The Fashionista's Closet: Fresh Eyes

I got a chance to hang out with my partner in crime, my ace, my Sister From Another Mister, Reiko aka God's Favorite Shoes this weekend which wasn't really enough time for all of our hijinks and we took NO photos together *insert sad face* so there's no evidence of us even being together except for random Facebook posts and tweets. But we did go to her our family reunion and bonded over raiding my closet. 

Remember this crop top? Well I found the skirt to it recently at the thrift store and showed it to Reiko. The skirt was waaaaaayyyyy too small but I figured I could do something with the fabric. Reiko looked at it and immediately said, "Wear it as a top. With a belt." I don't know what her standardized test scores were but I'm pretty sure this girl's a genius. 

So I did.

I pinned the skirt-as-top and added this elephant belt and paired it with some cutoffs. I KNOW! I'm officially a shorts wearer. Stop asking yourself "WHEN is she gonna stop taking pics on her balcony?" It's really Hades hot outside and I just can't muster up the strength to take my setup to a more appealing location in this heat. I'll do better, I promise!

Earrings: Forever 21

Skirt (worn as a top): Thrifted

Elephant head belt: Thrifted

Cut offs: Levi's button fly (Old)

Bag: Kooba

Wedges: Dolce Vita for Target

Sometimes it takes a pair of fresh eyes to give new life to an item...

In The Fashionista's Closet: Miss Crazypants

I was out on my balcony yesterday morning, really kinda feeling sorry for myself  and getting ready to have a five minute cry when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. There is a dumpster behind a Vietnamese restaurant on the corner and I watched as the top of the dumpster flew open. A person (I later determined it was a small man with a long ponytail and floppy hat) hopped out of the dumpster with a bag in his hand. After getting out of the dumpster, he carefully closed the top of it, I guess he didn't want anyone coming to his "house" while he wasn't there and walked down the street, calm and cool as you please and began to look in the trash can near the bus stop at the corner.

Earrings: Thrifted

Blazer: Thrifted

Shirt: Banana Republic

Pants: Thrifted

Shoes: Target

Bag: Either Marshalls or TJ Maxx, I can't recall

After I giggled because I always seem to luck up on random strange sights like this, I took this as God's way of telling me to stop feeling sorry for myself....I could literally be "down in the dumps." Get it? Because the dude was in the....oh never mind...

Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have. -Dale Carnegie

In The Fashionista's Closet: Mama's Gun

Sorry I don't have a more exciting outfit post for you but I am living in short dresses, flats and with my hair up most days to beat this 100 degree Texas heat. The heat is also to blame to for my recent photos on my balcony, it's too hot to schlep my tripod out and stand in the heat to take pics. And going to my part-time, now temporarily full-time job isn't helping my outfit posts because I don't wear heels there and my outfits aren't very inspired. 

 Speaking of my part time job, a customer came in and asked if we had handbags that came with a pocket for concealed handguns. The salesgirl, dumbfounded, said "Excuse me?" and the woman repeated it reeeeeaaaallllyyyy slow like the salesgirl was stupid.

"Do...you...have...any...bags...that...have...a...pocket...for...a...
concealed...handgun?" 

 As if we have people who come in all the time and ask for bags equipped to hide deadly weapons. 

 "This is our selection to conceal guns and to your right are the bags designed to hide knives and hand grenades."

 Dress: Zara

Earrings: Aldo

Bag; Prada

Bracelets: Assorted

Shoes: Target

Sorry maam, I  know this is Texas and all but I guess the retailers haven't made those great strides in handbag design yet...

*Post title inspired by Erykah Badu

In The Fashionista's Closet: Baby in a Bar

I wore this ensemble to an open mic night on Wednesday but there was still no open mic at around 11:30 that night so I left and missed the whole thing and I got a parking ticket in the meantime because my meter ran out.
*Le sigh* 

I felt that this was the waste of a perfectly good top so I'll be wearing it again hopefully to a more
"Cute Top" worthy spot.

(This is the same top that I'm wearing in my profile photo on the left side of the page with the bangles.)

Top: Zara

Earrings: Forever 21

Clutch: DSW

Jeans: Calvin Klein

Shoes: Steve Madden Luxe 

 

I met a friend at a pool hall (pool hall sounds kind of seedy, it was actually a bar) to watch the Dallas Mavericks/Miami Heat game last night and a kid walks up to me. "Hi Miss B!"

*insert incredulous look here*

It was one of the students from school.

In a bar.

At 11 o'clock at night.

Where they do that at?!?

Apparently in Dallas, Texas, people.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. "I'm with my aunt" he replied nonchalantly.

"Where is she?"

"Playing pool" he said looking at me like I'm stupid for asking why else would him and his aunt be in a pool hall at 11 o'clock at night.

"Ummmmmkay, well you have a good summer" I stammered as I tried to shield him from looking at the Tasty Adult Beverage in my hand.

This is why I think people should be required to pass a test before having kids and I guess I should amend that to include all family members as well....

Post title inspired by this scene in Sweet Home Alabama:

Fashion Nette-work "Inspired By" Notecards Feature!

I was SO super duper excited to be contacted by Dana at Olive Paperie about featuring me in her "Inspired by" series of notecards and she did not disappoint. She is so talented and I  am honored to be included in the ladies that she's featured so far (including Reiko over at God's Favorite Shoes) and I can't wait to order my notecards!

See her work below and check out the feature HERE

In The Fashionista's Closet: He Likes It, Hey Mikey!

 Yes. Take a good look. I have on...shorts.

 Long time readers know of my hate hate relationship with shorts, I didn't consider them flattering on me and  the only shorts I used to own were to the knee or not for outside viewing.

 But I am trying new things these days and wearing shorter than usual shorts is one of those things.

 I began my workouts again so this may be a sign of things to come!

 Lions and tigers and...elephants? Oh my! I found this bag while thrifting, I think it's really a storage bag, it has lots of clear compartments with zippers but of course I envisioned it as a clutch so that is what it is.

Do you have anything that you didn't want to try and ended up liking? Date a younger guy, try cous cous, wear a romper? 

Do tell....

Denim blazer: Thrifted

Top: Forever 21
Necklaces: Forever 21

Shorts: Marshalls

Men's belt: Thrifted

Clutch: Thrifted

Shoes: Dolce Vita for Target

In The Fashionista's Closet: Gifts and Presence

I have recently been having the conversation with friends about using our talents to their fullest. I am reminded about a Bible study lesson about "Using what is in your hand" meaning use your God given gifts to fulfill your life and God's purpose.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us."  Romans 12:6

I know that there are areas that I excel but I really want to maximize my potential. 

 Dashiki: Thrifted
Men's belt: Thrifted
Sunglasses: Bluebird Vintage - Austin
Bag: Prada
Wedges: Steve Madden

I sometimes lament that I should have stayed at my job working with truant kids because it was reliable and steady but I know that the path that I am on was the path that was chosen for me. That I would not have realized my love for teaching or even stepped out to begin my styling/personal shopping career if I hadn't tried something new.

I think that now the challenge is to consistently grow and build on the gifts that I have received and cultivate other gifts that I have neglected. I used to think that I had to concentrate solely on one thing but I know that God bestows many gifts to us and it is our responsibility to recognize and maximize those gifts. (Recognize and maximize- I had a Jessie Jackson moment there for a minute.)

Do you know your gifts? Are you using them to their full potential?

P.S. Check out my feature over at Queen of the Burbs, go over and say hi to Lynaya and tell her I sent you!

P.S.S. I got new Moo cards!