Leap of Faith

I have been described as animated, impetuous, talkative, tactless, and forthright

but I have never been described as stagnant....

Year In Review: 2012



 Every year people make their New Year's resolutions....

Growth Spurt

I have been trying to get my head wrapped around a lot of things that have happened in the past two weeks. I guess the recurring theme is that people are fallible. We all mess up, we make mistakes, we act out when we feel vulnerable or afraid and we sometimes hurt people that we care about.

In The Fashionista's Closet: Kriss Kross

Remember the rap duo, Kriss Kross known for wearing their clothes backwards in the early 90's? Yeah that's me (and the kid from Reed Between the Lines, he always wears his jeans inside out.) I wore this cardigan look for the first time when I was in Houston, here are a couple of pics that were taken then:

Me with Reiko's little fashionista stepdaughter (she says that she's not stylish but she will definitely give her opinion on what she doesn't like, lol!)

Cardigan (Worn Backwards): Forever 21

Clutch: DSW

Pants: Diane vonFurstenburg

Shoes: Michael Kors

Me with my ace, God's Favorite Shoes.

 I wore the look again when I ventured out to the Dallas Museum of Art with a couple of friends to see the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. It was surreal, a little creepy and....breathtaking. I literally gasped when I went into the last room of the exhibition.

No photographs were allowed and they were watching us like hawks to make sure that we didn't take any either. The jewelry that they used to style the looks was Ba-na-nas *in Rachel Zoe voice.*

I wanted to cry at the fact that I couldn't take pics, it was so inspiring. 

BUT I couldn't have taken pics even if I wanted to because when it was time for me to take these pics, my camera battery was...dead. Thanks to Bethany for doing me a solid and using her camera phone to take my photos.

Conversation with a friend about my cardi:

Him: Is your sweater on backwards?

Me: Yep.

Him: You did that on purpose?

Me: Yeah. You don't like it?

Him: It's definitely....different....it's you.

Me: Ummm hmmm.

Him: Can guys do that or is this just for women?

Me: I don't want ANY dude doing this...

Him: 'Cept maybe Kanye.

Me: LOL! Yeah Kanye can rock it....

Earrings: Aldo

Jeans: Mango

Clutch: Rummage Sale

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Waleo

If you have a minute, check out the video of JPG at the DMA. The exhibition, "From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" runs until February 12, 2012.

In The Fashionista's Closet: Agent Orange

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful weekend!

I wore this outfit to lunch with a friend.

I went to see Erykah Badu aka DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown at a local club here in Dallas on Sunday night and it was a memorable night to say the least.

Dress: Thrifted

Belt: Zara

Clutch: Rummage sale

Shoes: Michael Kors

 I have never been to that club before but I heard it was a ghetto oasis (I want to start using this phrase in everyday conversation) and it did not disappoint. I thought the vibe would be different since Erykah Badu was deejaying but obviously not. The music was great but I felt like I was back in 1986 and I think that's being generous. I guess I don't get out much because I didn't know that guys still wore sunglasses inside the club, maybe that won't ever go out of style?  And I kid you not, there was a guy with one of these shirts on:

But maybe I'm not up on men's fashions and this is still in style but I remember buying my brother in law one of these back in the early 90's. Not to mention that Muscle Shirt Guy had on a black and white checked belt and black and white shoes.

I wore this dress backwards.

And now I know why the $7.99 shoe store is still in business because apparently all of the women at the club shop there frequently. I saw a woman with a velvet minidress on.
And I could honestly ask the question, "What is that? Velvet?"

But the music was awesome and I danced all night. Literally. I danced so much that I wanted to take my shoes off on the walk back to the car which would have been in keeping with the vibe of the club but I was told not to I'm a lady so I didn't.

It.was.the.most.fun. and now my legs are sore.

Yeah, it's official. I'm old.

Happy Monday!

In The Fashionista's Closet: Neutral Territory

Yesterday I had to be easy breezy (i.e. relaxed and comfy) because the kids were testing and I needed to walk around a lot. I pulled out my Dolce Vitas that I got from Target and they were comfy...until I got to my second job! I think all of the walking during the day did me in...

Someone commented on my last post that I got a haircut but I didn't get it cut, my hair is twisted and I pinned up the twists. Hope you can see it better here. 

Earrings: Can't remember but I love them
Bracelets: Assorted

Ralph Lauren jacket: Thrifted by Reiko

Men's Bill Blass shirt: Rummage Sale

Cargos: J.C. Penney

Wedges: Dolce Vita for Target

Bag: Shopping party

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (and Pedicures)

I met Elissa from Dress With Courage at the Aveda Salon for our complimentary pedicures from the Park Lane Blogger Event and even though we had to wait over an hour(!) for them to even begin on my pedicure we had a fun time of girl talk.

 Main reasons why Elissa is one cool chick:

She's sassy (you can totally tell that by her red spiky hair, tattoos and she wears sequins almost daily.)

She's definitely a cool mom (see #1.)

She loves thrift stores. (Nuff said.)

She's from Brooklyn (also home of Jay-Z.)

She likes Jay-Z (Need I say more?)

  

 We talked online dating (she thinks I should), favorite thrift/vintage stores, and blogs we love. The only thing missing? Tasty adult beverages!

The unmentionables (it's been waaaaaayyyy too long)

Outfit details: fedora (Target men's dept.), earrings (Aldo Accessories), men's Bill Blass white shirt (rummage sale), assorted bangles (assorted places) cargo pants (JC Penney gifted from Reiko), red peep toes and bag *seen below* (Guess and Kooba)

We weren't done until after 10 pm(!) so if you're going to Aveda, you may want to call ahead and see if there is a wait or book earlier in the day and hopefully you'll be lucky enough to work with Tosha, she was the best!

In The Fashionista's Closet: Everything Old Is New Again!

 

 What better way to celebrate the beginning of a new year than by wearing vintage? 

I have had this dress (thrifted and gifted by my ace, Reiko) for some months now but haven't showcased it on the blog until now. I know there's a pic of it in my header but I never posted those pics and now I have my secret weapon to wear with it: my CRINOLINE!

 

Crinoline: Thrifted

 bag: rummage sale

earrings: Forever 21

shoes: BCBG

I went to church to bring in the New Year and feel strengthened in my resolve that good things, no GREAT things are in store for 2011!

(I like this picture. If you can tell me how to edit my image only and use another background I would be grateful...)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy New Year!

One Man's Rummage.....

A couple of months ago someone sent me an email to a rummage sale that was being held the following day. I felt the hairs on my neck stand up because any type of garage sale, rummage sale, thrifting excursion is right up my alley. I rose early that morning and was fortunate enough to be one of the first few people there. I scored some ridiculous designer items:

I ended up with some great items, (not all are pictured) and helped other shoppers find some things as well, I think some people thought that I worked there. Because of my helpfulness, (or maybe it was pity), the kind cashier gave me all of my fabulous items for a mere $40 when it probably should have been well over $150 and that's not even taking into account what the items cost retail.

 
I know that some people sneer at the thought of wearing someone else's pre-worn items and that's fine, it just means more for me! I consider it an adventure to find fabulous things at awesome prices, just be sure to check for any holes, tears or rips and try things on. There was no dressing room at the rummage sale but I pre-planned and wore loose clothing and made myself a "dressing area" to try on items and checked the fit in a mirror propped up on a chair. Also, be sure to look for items in different sections, I found some men's Bill Blass shirts that I love and men's jeans that I wear rolled up for the "boyfriend" look. Check Craigslist, church announcements, the newspaper or word of mouth to find garage sales, rummage sales and thrift stores to whet your recession-friendly shopping appetite!