Birthday boots, cake, and surprises!

July was a nutty month for me and Rob. We planned a trip to Spokane and Los Angeles, in addition to working long hours. The whole month turned out to be a whirlwind of planning, packing, unpacking, cleaning, working, and not sleeping for both of us.

Our two trips were to visit family. In Spokane, my sister was celebrating her recent marriage to her long-time partner, and wanted to throw a party for the family. She and her husband put on a huge barbecue with plenty of beer, meat, veggis and snacks to have us all asking: What?? There's more food?? But, it was nice visiting with everyone and congratulating the couple...even though it was a bit of a hectic few days. By the way, these were early photos, the food kept piling up, and I became too busy putting it away to take more photos.


In LA, Robert's sister had a traditional wedding ceremony and reception. We were there for pre-wedding festivities (including the rehearsal ceremony, rehearsal dinner, and just for the girls: mani-pedis and sushi for lunch). I was nervous to get my nails fixed because I thought it would be uncomfortable and that my nails were too ugly to fix. Not so! It was fast, easy, and I feel oh so glamorous! We had a great time at the wedding, there were formal speeches, toasts, dances, and so on, but there was also some spontaneous salsa dancing, karaoke and plenty of silly songs for Robert and I to improvise ingenious choreographies.

But, with all this excitement, and my birthday right in the middle, I didn't expect that much. I had already arranged my parent's gift to me. Yes, the coveted Fiona Frye boots (which went on an awesome Amazon.com sale)

A few times I have worn them with a casual summer dress, but they'll really prove their worth in the fall. I can't wait to pair them with skirts, leggings, and under jeans for extra warmth.

But, I didn't bother planning a party or anything. Luckily Rob and our friends stepped in and arranged a fun surprise party. With cake, snacks, good friends, and balloons, how can you go wrong?

Oh, and another thing? Everyone chipped in to get me Goodwill Gift Cards, so I can splurge without depleting my fun account. Hizzah! I already got to work on those with a new pair of shoes! Only $5.99 and they really tied my comfy airport outfit together.


So, many cheers and congratulations to the newly married couple and happy birthday to me and thanks to everyone who made my birthday very special this year!

P.S. As a question to any readers out there, what do you think about the leggings? Yay or Nay?

Sewing with the "Albatros"

I decided many months ago that I wanted to teach myself how to sew. Despite my tendency towards absent mindedness, I figured that with enough determination, I could succeed.

But, it was daunting when I received my sewing machine. It's an old Singer from the '70s that belonged to my Grandmother Mary. My mom had it tucked away in the attic all these years, and after a tune-up at the sewing machine shop, it was here just waiting to be used.


Yet, I was nervous to use it, and I kept thinking about my past attempts and failures to sew. It didn't help that the machine didn't even come with a manual. So, I procrastinated, I looked at it, I dreaded it. It became The Albatross.

"Ah! well-a-day! what evil looks
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung."

But, I couldn't harbor resentment and superstition against my contraption. Just remember what happened to The Ancient Mariner! This machine could signal good luck, clear skies, and beautiful handmade textiles ahead! Well, I had to try! And, unfortunately, due to low enrollments at school, I was laid off. For a month, I had nothing but time to struggle through a few sewing projects. It also gave me a nice way to distract myself from my disappointment with the current job market.

"The selfsame moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea"

The first thing to do is set a long-term goal. I want to make a beautiful, detailed dress. I drew a few sketches and tried to figure out how many pieces of fabric I would cut, and how it would all fit together. I plan to use some of the fabric I had bought while traveling in Mozambique. But, the dress that I want is an ambitious project. I decided before I could achieve that goal, I would have to do a few smaller projects to get the hang of my little Singer called Albatross.

I need to practice: straight stitching, curved/diagonal stitching, button holes, zippers, shaping textiles, linings, and how to take my ideas from a drawing and make them work. I prefer not working with a pattern, and instead trying to reason out a pattern and plan of action in my own mind. Furthermore, I constantly have to remind myself not to get too frustrated with my current lack of perfection. Mainly I've just been using fabric that I've found at Goodwill, so it's not too expensive or irreplaceable.

My first project was pillow shams for the couch. Two matching ones with button holes and two matching ones with zippers (and a few other touches that are TBD). It seemed like a good place to start -- I could practice some straight lines, a few diagonal lines, button holes, and eventually zippers. Since I only got the proper zipper foot today, the other two pillows will have to wait a few more days at least.

"Sometimes a-dropping from the sky
I heard the skylark sing;
Sometimes all little birds that are,
How they seemed to fill the sea and air
With their sweet jargoning!"

Despite the imperfections, it was a thrill to see my ideas literally take shape. I was ready to gradually tackle a more difficult project: the purse. I really wanted to work on sewing different fabrics together, creating something that keeps it's shape, and improving my attention to details.

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I can look at these projects and note most of the mistakes, but I feel like I've learned and improved a lot in the process. Next on my to do list is to finish the other two throw pillows, a poofy slip, and a top. And that's not even considering the jewelry projects I have in the works as well! She's crafty and getting busy!

And most lucky? I don't have to suffer through death, being lost at sea with a zombie crew, and seeing all sorts of ghastly sights through an opium haze because I've learned a thing or two from Sammy Coleridge and my own redemptive imagination!

"He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all"

Black, white and everything inbetween

The June rain has been really bumming me out. I've been in dress-mania! Case in point, I just picked up a really simple brown dress, and a pretty little green one from Goodwill yesterday. All these summer dresses and no where to go but rain puddles.

To somewhat console myself, I've taken to planning my summer outfits and doing a little mixing and matching, so no matter what occassion (really formal to super casual and everything in between) I will be dressed for success!

Enter the formal outfit. I love this fitted bustier style top. It's so comfortable, flattering, and classic. My favorite combo is with the black skirt, but I think it also looks smashing with a pair of black slacks.

The skirt and pants are both from Goodwill, and I've had them in my closet for a while now, as they are good classic pieces -- the best part is I paid $5-8 for each of them. The shirt was a little pricier as I got it at a consignment shop, it was $25, but this seems like an investment piece.

I had wedding attendance in mind when I purchased it, but it would also be suitable for nice dinners, the theater, and other places where I want to look crisp and classic. Oh and the shoes! Another Goodwill find, at $9.99, they were a bit of a splurge for me, but they were unworn and I love the little front strap.

But, what if there's an event that's sort of fancy, but you don't want to look over-dressed? Enter the sun-dress with coordinated shrug and heels. I was disappointed with the pictures of this dress, you can't see the beautiful navy color of the shrug and shoes -- they match amazingly well.

I'm picturing a busy day: tidying the house, going to the grocery store, getting an oil change for the car, shopping at Goodwill for more dresses, etc. But, after this busy day I'm meeting with a friend for a nice dinner. Well, I'll wear just the dress and flat sandals during the errands, and throw the shrug and heels into my purse. When it's time for dinner all I need is a quick change and voila, I'm ready for an evening out. One of the best things about the outfit is everything is from Goodwill: shrug: $2.99, dress: $5.99, shoes: $4.99.

As I've said, I love dresses, it makes getting ready so easy. There's just one piece: the dress and maybe a few accessories and a sweater. Wham-bam-done. When you wear a shirt-pants combo, you have to make sure your pieces match, fit, and look good together. Dresses are simpler in my opinion except: (A) It's hard to find one that fits properly (B) They can be chilly. At Goodwill I always make a b-line for the dresses, because no matter how many you have, they almost always come in handy.

Case in point, I found this blue dress on the same day that I found the dress just pictured at Goodwill. Two dresses in 1 day? Is the price right? Is the fit right? Then sold! It was mid-winter, so I had to tuck them away in preparation for summer, but at $5.99 each I can't really complain. Plus, I found this shrug on the same day for$3.99.

I like to style this one a bit more casually. Oh, and I love my big clunky wedge heels. (Yes, another Goodwill find at $5.99) They are surprisingly comfy and I'm not kidding. I walk around in them for hours without a murmur of regret. Plus, my Napoleon complex is soothed as I am almost as tall in these as I am in Matilda.

Some variety and experimentation in the wardrobe is a good thing. My friend found this very funky skirt at Goodwill one day. I don't have many high-waisted items in my closed, and the few I have are rarely worn because they are so hard for me to pull off. But, I loved the colors, the poofiness, and the unique look of it (even though it's just a run-of-the-mill H&M skirt).

I think when I wear this skirt I'll wear more bangles, and more beads around my neck. The skirt was $3.99, so I nabbed it. I've had these sandals for along time, they're Paolo's that I found at Value Village, and they are really comfy and versatile.

The frequent wardrobe changes and running around the house made Lexi confused. With all this discussion about Goodwill hunting, penny pinching, dress hoarding, accessory coordinating, and wardrobe changes...I'm sympathetic....

The Fuchsia Base

So, I'm working on trimming down the budget. This means reducing even my Goodwill and thrift store consumption. Not only is Christmas around the corner, but we're just getting over the wedding and honeymoon costs, plus I'm not working full time and I'm planning on going to grad school next year. Yep, so frugality is especially meaningful these days.

But, what about bedizening the wardrobe?

Well, I came up with a simple plan to mix a lot of the old with a little bit of the new. I went to Target and picked up a pair of bright tights (about $7) and a matching long sleeved shirt (about $6) and created what I call "The Fuchsia Base."

First, I put the base with a casual day time style. I found a flouncy brown skirt, low lace-up boots, and a wool blazer:



(The tights and shirt really do match, my camera is just limited.)

When I picked up the boots in the middle of the summer (Goodwill $5), I was unsure about how to wear them (and with what!) They are definitely funky, and when you pair low boots with a knee-length skirt, you run the risk of making yourself look short and stumpy. However, I think with the whimsical color of the tights, the look is pulled off.




A loose and flowing brown skirt is a must for any wardrobe because it is so versatile, flattering and comfortable. The jacket was another mid-summer Goodwill find for probably $5-6.

It would be easy to expand this look with other shoes, skirts, and coats for traipsing around during the day. Mixing a slightly conservative style with a daring color makes for a unique and eye-catching outfit. So, by spending about $15 or so, I've created several new day time chic outfits. Oo la la.

A few weeks ago I nabbed this vintage Armani pencil skirt at Goodwill for $6. I know we're talking about limiting spending here, but I really couldn't possibly pass this up...




I decided to pair this conservative skirt with a black velvet jacket and open toed heels for an interesting outfit to wear at night out on the town:



Both the blazer and the skirt are vintage, but the shoes are just cheapies from Ross that I've hung onto for a couple of years. Black basics are really good additions to a wardrobe, and they rarely go out of style. Depending on how you pair the black basics, you can create a myriad of looks. I took this outfit out on the town for dinner and a show with my friend. I think the unexpected bright look went along perfectly with our fun night!

Oh, and remember that blue sweater dress?


Although, as you can see I couldn't decide which shoes to pair it with...



The other day I wore this outfit with the blue shoes and got quite a bit of attention. I think wearing bright fuchsia tights with a bright blue sweater dress is bound to catch a few eyes on another dreary northwest day. All the more reason to continue mixing up my old wardrobe with this new fuchsia base!

Two Sweater Dresses

Like I said, I really love the fall. It always seems like a "get started getting serious" season. I suppose it's ingrained in me because school starts in the fall, and with the cold north west weather, the time spent indoors increases.


While I'm trying to get serious about house work, writing more, reading, and graduate school preparation, I also feel my mind wandering to outfits.

For a long time, I've been a fan of chunky sweaters. I like the thick knit patterns, cables, and the hearty textures of the materials. But, sometimes chunky sweaters make you look and feel just that -- chunky. The sweater dress seems like no exception, only you also forgo a pair of cute bottoms to give you some shape.

Well, I picked up a sweater dress at Goodwill in the middle of the summer. ** SIDE NOTE: Goodwill hint for the day: don't be too reluctant to buy out-of-season clothes, that next season is always just around the corner.** It was a cute green knit with a hint of blue in the yarn. I liked the length and the bell sleeves as well. But, it looked kinda frumpy. Hmmm.

So, I took the dress out for a test drive the other day and worked on some accessories to make the look feel more polished and hip. I wore a couple of bangles, big earrings, a thin scarf, nude-stockings, and my old brown boots. Also, not pictured, I wore my hair in a messy, tussled look. And....



Also, on a day when I'd like to feel more cozy, I thought I'd pair it with a shawl I picked up in Argentina.




So, my idea for how to wear a chunky sweater, is to work on the accessories. Add a cute scarf, some snappy jewelry, and kicky shoes to create a cozy, fall look that does not look frumpy (in my opinion). Also, wearing slightly disheveled and loose hair will make it look more casual, comfortable and trendy. (I notice my camera is inadequate the capture the details in the colors, textures, and patterns...curses to inperfections!!)


Let's break down the price:

1. The dress: $6.99
2. The shawl: I can't remember exactly, so let's say, $12
3. The scarf: I found it on the street during a walk (true story!)
3. The bangles: gifted from my mother, but you can pick up bangles for $1 or $2 at Goodwill.
4. The boots: $20 from a thrift store, and I've kept them for over 2 years.

Plus, all I had to do was buy the dress and then use other things I had collected to complete the look. So, when it's all said and done, the outfit costs about $30, but with so many interchangable pieces, it's worth much more!

For this green dress, I plan to accessorize it with browns, greens, oranges, and possibly blues. Contrasting colors add a lot of pizazz to an outfit.




Now, let's move on to the second sweater dress. This was a really pretty blue one and I found it just a few weeks ago at Ross. I really like the cables and the cute side pockets. I paired it with a silk scarf a friend brought me back from China and some simple blue jewelry and...



Also, for a chilly day, I paired it with a thick scarf a friend of mine made for me and wore a long sleeved shirt under.



So, to break down the pricing of this dress:

1. The dress: about $12 at Ross.
2. The scarf and shawl were both gifts
3. The same boots
4. The brown shirt: $3.99 at Goodwill
5. The jewlery: just knick-knacks and gifts

I plan to accessorize this dress with different shades of blue, orange, red, purple, and brown.




Dresses are such fun, easy and versatile pieces in the closet. Sweater dresses especially are comfortable and not constricting around the waist or legs. Assuming someone else would want to try and duplicate these outfits, here are my suggestions:

After you find a sweater dress, look for a few snappy accessories to pair with it. Look for matching and contrasting colors.

Thin and narrow scarves are nice because they don't add a lot of bulk to the outfit. Pairing a jacket or blazer with it can add some color, texture, and some shape to your outfit.

This doesn't work for me, but putting a thick belt around the waist can also help define your shape.

Adding a pair of classic shoes and a sensible matching purse completes the look. Now that I have a few good sweater dresses and some ideas on how to accessorize them, I can't wait for the cold weather!

Fall fashion

Fashion week and fall are upon us, and the wheels in my head are turning!

But, no, it's not because of exciting things happening in New York. So far the style trends seem terrible! Just look at this or this. It looks like Molly Ringwald's vomit dug up from 1986! Not all advice is ridiculous, this page has some reasonable ideas. I like sweater dresses and layering.

Whenever I feel in a fashion rut, I'll scope out Nordstrom's website to see what they're pushing. I very rarely buy anything from there, but it gives me ideas for what to look for at Ross and Goodwill. Hmmm...

Even though it's a tad frivolous, I love thinking about outfits and accessories. Fall is my favorite season, because I pull out all my colorful scarves and mittens! Adding a scarf to an old outfit makes it feel new again!

I want to re-vamp my wardrobe a little bit. Even though I shop at Goodwill, I can't afford to do a complete re-do. Plus, I don't have that kind of time right now. PLUS, I'm a shameless pack-rat as anyone can tell you, so purging a wardrobe isn't something I'm inclined to do. So, my strategy will be to invest in a few new base outfits and accessories, then I can pair them with some of my old things and voila...more on this to come.

Here is how I've thought about organizing my wardrobe for the past while:

First, I keep a lot of accessories on hand to mix and match with different outfits. I love my collection of scarves in varieties of colors. They are great accessories that can really change an outfit. Also, I very, very rarely throw out a piece of jewelry. My outfit might feel a little boring until I throw on a few bangles and dangling earrings. Neither scarves nor jewelry take up much space, and you might discover that the weird bracelet your mother gave you, that goes with nothing, is completely fabulous and goes with everything! Accessories can also add uniqueness and personality to your outfits. They can be a great conversation starter too: Oh this? My friend brought it back for me from her trip abroad...I picked these earrings up at a flea market in Ballard from this funny, old lady...that sort of thing.

Second, I try to keep an open mind at Goodwill and look for things that I like, things that are different and things that are classic. For example, I like colors, so I always look for colorful clothes. I also like looking for unique things and vintage things. But, it's important to stock your closet with some classic and simple items such as basic tees, an easy a-line skirt, a stunning pencil skirt, good jeans, some blacks, browns and whites, etc. I try not to worry about buying things out of season; some of my best winter clothes were bought in the middle of summer! If I like it, there's a good chance I'll find a use for it, even if I don't use it right away. (Although, maybe that's just pack-rat mentality.)

Third and final, I try to do things my way, even if it's a little different. Sometimes following the fashion experts or the newest trends can be a let down (see above). I would suggest to anyone that instead of trusting the experts, trust yourself. It might sound trite, but confidence is the best accessory.

So, I'm looking forward to the season of back to school clothes, rusty colored leaves, chilly mornings and cozy evenings. I'm also looking forward to settling back into my domestic bliss and attending to some chores and hobbies that fell by the way side in lieu of the wedding.