Unlighting a Christmas tree

Hiya Blogland!! I'm still in Christmas Decorating MODE here!! Every year I say I'm going to down-size and every year there is MORE STUFF. Here are views of some of the Santa's I've made. I started making Santa's about 35 years ago when I wanted to collect them but couldn't afford them.:

Santa's on desk. All but the 2nd from right were made by me.

 

  

I have one last tree to decorate-the big one in the living room that gets all of the vintage glass ornaments. I pulled it out of the box last night to set it up. It's one of the pre-lit ones (but getting a bit old) and this year several strands of lights are ka-put!!  I tried new bulbs and all that but unfortunately it looks like broken wires.

SO tonite I will be unlighting it. Ugh. My hands look like they've been through a shredder. I'll put strands of multi-color LED larger bulb lights on it when I'm done. (It originally had white mini-lights) It will give it a new look I think.

This week is Literary Stylings #6 at Fashion for Giants. This past month I finished up two more Miss fisher mysteries but that was last month's outfit. Other than that I've been reading Christmas Cookbooks from my collection and books from the library on vintage Christmas decor and such. Here's a couple I read. Great for information and spotting the "good" stuff at thrifts!!

Here's my outfit. I'm wearing a thrifted SagHarbor sweater,  thrifted trousers, a thrifted vintage Echo candy cane scarf, thrifted vintage holly earrings and thrifted Lifestyles loafers. That's a sneak peek of the trash tree behind me!

Wednesday's outfit is almost all RETAIL!!! The skirt is George and was brought on sale at Walmart. The sweater in LaneBryant and gotten with a gift card. I had to order it (none in my size in store) and it just came. The bracelets are vintage and the pin is thrifted. The boots are my thrifted Guess boots of Awesomeness!!

Thursday's outfit is for Spy Girl's 52 Pick-Me-Up:Layers Challenge. I decided to go a bit "punk". Couldn't layer too much as it is a bit warmer today before it plunges back into freezing!! I'm wearing a thrifted refashioned tiger cardigan (it had a built in shell I cut out), thrifted LaneBryant skirt, Blondie rocker T (LaneBryant gift card), Rhinestone Necklace from Burlington Coat Factory I got on clearance and fixed, two pair of tights layers, bracelets-thrifted and sweet Krista and thrifted Nine & Co booties.

This outfit got some eyebrow raising at work. LOLOLOL The Blondie T really threw them off!! Here's a close-up of the tight layers:

Well I'm off to pick lights off the tree while I watch the Sound of Music Live. Everyone have a fabulous weekend!!

BTW--I do read every ones comments. I usually like to comment back via email but life is crazy right now and I'm reading on my phone and it's craptacular to respond to emails on. I have trouble typing on a regular keyboard... much less that miniature one!! I appreciate each and everyone!!

TTFN
Tamera

Neon, emerald, berry & gingham with a side of seahorse

Hiya Blogland!! Autumn has finally returned to Western Maryland. It's like 25 degrees COOLER today than it was yesterday morning!! YAY

I got recalled to work yesterday. Super. I'm not getting PAID (no budget for govt. yet) but I have to report. And basically do nothing as there is no one here on base. The DPW is considered essential to military operations now. So much for my plans to do stuff around the house!

Monday's outfit had a male co-worker say I looked like a colorful rainbow. I replied yeah--the colorful rainbow over crap island!! The outfit is thrifted except for the dollar store socks. The top is a very fine gauge knit--and was a size medium in JUNIORS--seriously--it's BIG on me-- a medium junior size gal would've been swimming in it. This is a great example of not being concerned with the size. I go thru all the racks and pick up stuff and decide if it might fit regardless of the label.  It's rather "trendy"--neon, striped and a sweatshirt type style. I just LIKED it. I'm not sure how well it worked with a pencil skirt but I know it will be cute with jeans. I stuck the socks on with the thrifted Ninewest booties as the ankles rubbed a bit. I liked the slouchy bit of color they provided. I slapped my "Keep Calm and Carry On" pendant as I went out the door as it was appropo for work!!

Tuesday's outfit was inspired by this outfit Sheila of Ephemera wore recently. I love the combo of emerald green, black and white!!

Everything is thrifted except for the boots-which I've had for years. The sweater is LaneBryant. I wear a lot of LaneBryant but their retail prices are INSANE. I recently had a gift card to burn there and had some serious sticker shock!! This sweater was probably $60 new and I paid $3. Funny story about the pants. I had bypassed them on the goodwill rack for about a month. They are a size I couldn't imagine wearing. Last week I decided why not try them on. To my astonishment they fit and fit really really well. They are a cotton/spandex denim. They had the original Sears tag on them for $26.99!!! LOLOLOL  I'm guessing by the tag (no bar code) and the tapered legs they are late 80's/early 90's vintage.  Not bad for $3!! They are right on trend with the narrow ankle pants that are popular--and great under boots!!  I decided that the perfect accessories would be my rhinestoned petrified seahorse pins and earrings.  Because everything is improved by petrified rhinestoned sea creatures!!

Wednesday's outfit is my Spygirl 52 Pick-me-up: Tone Poem inspiration. We were to mix a bright color with a darker shade of the color. I chose some bright pink tights(Merona/Target) with a thrifted darker raspberry cardigan.  I paired it with an aqua Lane Bryant tshirt and grey Avenue skirt (both thrifted).  My earrings and the ticket brooch are from sweet Desiree.

And the funny thing is this outfit was also inspired by an outfit of Sheila's:

This week is also Shoe Shine at Citizen Rosebud's.  I recently thrifted these Aerosole mary-janes for under $5!! I love the wing tip detailing and the lug-like soles. Plus they are SUPER comfy!!



We are expecting a lot of rain the next few days--which we desperately need. It's gotten rather raw and chilly (amazing considering it was 90+ on Sunday!!) so I'll need to put a sweater on Gracie. She was shivering in her dress this morning! I have tons of inside projects to do(CHRISTMAS!!) I'm hoping to get all the pictures I took of our friends fabulous home from this weekend edited and the post up on Friday.

TTFN

Tamera

Petrified Seahorses...now with Rhinestones!!!

Gracie & my view on the Towpath today

Hiya Blogland!! The weather here is gloriously fall-like!! I'm loving it!! Work is... still insane but it will clam down later this week-FINALLY!!

My first outfit is my outfit for Sacramento's monthly Share-in-Style:Animals. I spotted the brooch and earrings in the 50 cent box at a yard sale this weekend and SQUEED with delight!!! Here's a close-up of these beauties:

What's not to love about petrified seahorse that have been painted shiny black, rhinestoned and made into the most freakin' incredible jewelry??  The earrings originally were screw-on- DIY'd them into pierced. The lady at the sale said her grandmom got them in Florida in the late 1940's/early 1950's.  I just adore them and couldn't wait to wear them!!

I'm wearing pretty much head to toe thrifted. Foxcroft blouse, SagHarbor skirt, Easy Spirit pumps, kick-ass Seahorse Jewelry!!! I got some funny looks and loads of compliments on the outfit and especially the seahorses!!

Today's outfit wasn't exactly what I planned--I had another skirt lined up that FELL OFF when I put it on. I just grabbed my Jessica London thrifted knit maxi and went with the flow. This skirt needs to be taken in soon, too. The top is Cabin Creek/thrifted, bangle is Vintage/thrifted, brooch is thrifted, the scarf is Vintage/thrifted and the shoes are Skechers/retail on deep discount.

This is my outfit for SpyGirls 52 Pick-Me-Up: International Relations-wear garments from two different countries. I'll be linking up when her post goes live tomorrow.  My top was made in Vietnam, my skirt was made in China, my bangle was made in West Germany, and my scarf is Spanish. I am totally international!!!

I received a wonderful parcel of joy from our pink-tressed aussie goddess Desiree' yesterday. It was a ray of sunshine in a bleak week!! Here are the fabulous goodies she gifted me:

This is going to be worn for Curtis's Thanksgiving in September this weekend!!

 Amazing purse, gorgeous glass bead earrings and two cool brooches!

 



Awesome Australian tea towel, little wooden bobble-head doll

and really cool postcard!

Off to make some pumpkin black bean soup to take to a couple of friends tomorrow. I hope to be back around on Thursday!! Thank you again for all of your wonderful and kind words and encouragement!!

TTFN
Tamera

Coffe Cups, Oceans & Shoes....

Hiya Blogland!! It's been another one of "those" weeks.  I will be glad when October 1st gets here!! I don't drink booze but I'm about ready to start!! I told my supervisor I'm gonna bake the most decadent cupcakes EVER and bring them in on October 1st. We can then eat ourselves into a sugar stupor!

I've been a bit incognito--I was off sick on Monday & Tuesday (nasty Fibro flare-up probably from being STRESSED) so obviously no outfit posts. I planned to make one last night but was just too whupped and irritated to turn on the computer. Today's post will be catching up on all of my challenge and linkys!! My hubby brought me home a little something last night to cheer me up:

First up: My outfit for Shiny T Tuesday: Ocean. I'm not setting a new fashion trends here, it's a tried and true. It's been unbelievably hot and humid this week so I'm dressing cool in oceany blues and greens.  Skirt & T are thrifted. I've had the turquoise jewelry forever and the shoes are Amerimark. i noticed that my tshirt is getting baggy again-I took this in about a month ago.

Next up is my outfit for SpyGirl's 52 Pick-Me-Up Challenge: Coffee Klatch Tea Party.  Most participants are matching their cup. I totally read that wrong and tried to match what was IN my cup. I drink a green smoothie every morning as opposed to coffee/tea. The black in the dress is the inside of the cup. The green is the kale, the blue are blueberries and the white is the almond milk. The cardigan is the celery, cucumber and green apple. The dress was gotten on super clearance at Kohls, the cardigan is thrifted, bangles thifted and the shoes are clearance from Kohls.

Last but not least--this week is Citizen Rosebud's SHOE SHINE!!!  I had been looking for a comfortable pair of black wedge sandals all summer!! These are Croft&Barrow from Kohl's and were on clearance from $70 to well under $20!! They are super comfortable and easy to wear.

Sheila of Ephemera is having MONOCHROMANIA!! and challenged everyone to get together a monochromatic outfit to share. I'll be wearing and sharing mine tomorrow!! Everyone have a fabulous evening and I'll chat with y'all later.

TTFN

Tamera

Hey it's the Hamburgler!!!

Daddy and Gracie taking a nap!!!

Hiya Blogland!!!  It's the start of another fabulous week!! First up I want to share some of the goodies I found thrifting over the weekend. Things are starting to look up as far as thrift store stock!

This is actually a sweater knit. I thought it would be great with jeans and it was only $4!!! Funny story, my friend Andrea was thrifting this weekend also--we missed each other by an hour or two at the Goodwill!! She picked this sweater up but as it was too big she put it back. I realized I could alter it to fit me so I snapped it up!!

Charcoal plaid skirt with a bit of teal in it for $3. I just had to take it in a little bit at the waist.

 White cotton ribknit turtleneck by LizCaliborne for $2.75.  I'm still hunting for a black one like this.

Jessica London trapeze pearl grey thin knit sweater for $2.75. This is very similar to the striped T I wore a couple of weeks ago. I like that it's a traditional fabric/color in a unique style.



I've been on the hunt for a tartan blouse that isn't flannel. I spied this plaid knit tunic and decided why not try it on?? It's White Stag-probably late 80's and fits like a dream. Another great top for jeans.  AND it was $2.75!!!

Charcoal Grey and White button-down. I've been skipping the button-downs as they are more difficult to alter--but this fit well and was only $1.50!!

 

I've been buying black, white or grey bottoms--yeah I know Ms. Skittles buying neutrals-but I still have my rainbow of cardigans and tops so don't worry!!

 

 



I'm wearing the striped cardigan I recently thrifted. It's not a sweater but a ribbed cotton knit. I decided to take it in a bit more and shorten it. I'm wearing a thrifted red shell and a thrifted black with white mini-dots gored skirt. The bangles are thrifted and the pin & earrings are vintage. A co-worker said I looked like the Hamburgler!!!

 

This weeks Spygirl 52 Pick-Me-Up challenge is Yikes Stripes!!!! This outfit is perfect for the challenge!!

 

Sorry for the picture quality--I'm trying out different settings on my phone!!! One day I'll figure the stupid thing out!!

 

Everyone have a wonderful week and I'll be back around on Thursday!!

 

TTFN

Tamera

 

 

 





Once, Twice, Three Times an Outfit

Hiya Blogland!! The weather is GLORIOUS here!! 70's, low humidity, brilliant blue skies!!  My kind of summer!!

This week Spygirl's 52 Pick-me-up challenge was wear an item 3 times and see if anyone notices. I may have taken the "easy" way by choosing a black Tshirt. It's from Lane Bryant and I thrifted it last year. I "ruched" the sides to help make it fit better. I soon will have to alter it some more!!

Monday I paired it with my DIY Matrushka skirt and Amerimark sandals. I wore a bunch of bracelets-including the cool pink skull one Krista made for me.  I took the elastic in on the waist of the DIY skirts I made but I'm going to have to do a major altering job as there is too much fabric bunched up at the waist now. Or else I'll just deconstruct them and use the fabric for something else. Just ignore the doggie butt!!

Wednesday I paired the tshirt with a pair of old (had them at least 15 years) Lee jeans of mine that I CAN GET INTO AGAIN!!! It was a bit cool so I wore a thrifted cardigan and some thrifted bracelets and necklace. The sandal are new. I had to go bra shopping this weekend (UGH) at Kohl's and found these Croft&Barrow sandals on the clearance rack. I've been looking forever for wedge black sandals that are comfortable-which these are totally. They were marked down from$ 69.99 to $12.99!!!! I stopped at the Goodwill on the way home from work and a young girl commented on how cool she thought wearing a brooch on your pant cuff was. I scored something AMAZING that I'll share a bit later this week. Just think "Stevie Nicks Vibe"!!!

Today I wore the tshirt with my black swirly maxiskirt and the abstract art Chico's jacket I thrifted last spring. I'm glad it's cool enough to wear it again--I love the "jeans jacket" styling, the lightweight fabric and the awesome collagy print.  I decided at the last minute to wear my pink LizClaiborne loafers (thrifted spring 2012 UNWORN for $$!!). Added some bangles (including the Krista skull one) and a thrifted pink belt.

It was tough wearing the same thing-I actually had to wash the top Tuesday (menopause and pig-sweating).

It looks like it's gonna be a busy weekend ~~~ I'm taking the boys to visit a CAVE on the towpath tomorrow. I need to spend some quality time tonite or tomorrow nite with Manic Panic Pink as Saturday I have a photoshoot involving cows and something yellow!!

Everyone have a fantastic weekend and I'll be back on Sunday with the fruits of the photoshoot!!

TTFN
Tamera