Put A Bird On It!!!

The Diva enjoying some sunshine

Hiya Blogland!!  I'm still having connection issues with the camera and new tablet. The port thingy they just sent STILL doesn't work.  We are heading out this weekend to Best Buy to talk with a Samsung guy and get the right one. sometimes mail order isn't the best way!! Hubby has been using his laptop for final projects in school so I have to catch a moment when I can!

Last picture of the Diva and me taken April 12, 2013.

This week marked the one year anniversary of our beloved Diva's passing. Not a day goes by we don't miss her bossy, prissy sweet little self.  Gracie is a love bug and we adore her. Yet no one had so much personality and diva-tude rolled up in a blonde 8 lb chihuahua body.

Lame is so flattering to a Diva!!

Here's the links to the posts about her last year during this time:
Her Heart is Broken
The Diva Speaks
Gone.......

The Original International Style Icon

I'm going to apologize in advance for the large uncropped photos. The hubster needs to upgrade his Flashplayer so I can use Picmonkey!! This is what I wore to PT/Docs and a dinner out with hubby.

Thrifted bling, Top-Apt/Kohls, Jeans-Faded Glory/Walmart,Shoes-Merona/Target, Cuteness-Gracie Bomb!!

Necklace-DIY, Top-Walmart, Jeans-thrifted/DIY, Shoes-Skechers

Sweater-Kohls/clearance, Jeans-thrifted DIY, Scarf-thrifted, Shoes-Merona/Target

Top-Jaclyn Smith/Kmart, Skirt-Dressbarn/thrifted. Shoes-9West/thrifted

This is how I put a bird on it--LOLOL. I saw this sweater online at Kmart and fell in love. It's a nice silky cotton knit. The skirt is lace and still had the $59 tags on it.  This outfit reminds me of something sweet Patti would wear!!

Top-Apt9/Kohls, Jeans-Thrifted/DIY, Shoes-Merona/Target, Scarf-Thrifted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome purse I thrifted for $2. Ignore the chicken behind it!!!

I'm not able to do much thrifting these days. Thankfully I had put aside some Spring/Summer goodies last fall during my thrift-a-thons. A good bit of my wardrobe is still packed up and will remain so. Thank heavens for online shopping. The striped Apt.9 tops above were on sale and with some Kohl's cash I was given and coupons I was able to get them for around $8 each--which is thrift store prices in my area.

I plan on commandeering the hubster's computer again for Visible Monday if I must. Everyone have a fantastic weekend!!

TTFN
Tamera

Literary Textures

Hiya Blogland!! How is everyone this lovely Wednesday?? We are in the middle of a mini-heatwave. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather coming back.

Here in the US I'm sure y'all have heard about the government shutdown. This means I am off work indefinitely. I'm taking advantage of this time to do some stuff around the house. Yesterday I cleaned out some dead stuff from the gardens. Gracie and I have been taking advantage and going on some nice hikes.

I managed to do one outfit for two challenges I'm participating in this week.  The outfit below is a mix of textures for SpyGirl's 52 Pick-me-up:Textures. I'm wearing a crocheted top with a crinkly skirt, my multi-texture Skechers flats and a linen scarf.

Fashion for Giants:Literary Stylings has you style an outfit inspired by a book you've read the past month. My September book was "The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe"  I can HIGHLY recommend this book. it was fascinating, uplifting and I could hardly put it down.

The life Kamila Sidiqi had known changed overnight when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. After receiving a teaching degree during the civil war—a rare achievement for any Afghan woman—Kamila was subsequently banned from school and confined to her home. When her father and brother were forced to flee the city, Kamila became the sole breadwinner for her five siblings. Armed only with grit and determination, she picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business of her own.
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana tells the incredible true story of this unlikely entrepreneur who mobilized her community under the Taliban. Former ABC News reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon spent years on the ground reporting Kamila's story, and the result is an unusually intimate and unsanitized look at the daily lives of women in Afghanistan. These women are not victims; they are the glue that holds families together; they are the backbone and the heart of their nation. Afghanistan's future remains uncertain as debates over withdrawal timelines dominate the news.
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana moves beyond the headlines to transport you to an Afghanistan you have never seen before. This is a story of war, but it is also a story of sisterhood and resilience in the face of despair. Kamila Sidiqi's journey will inspire you, but it will also change the way you think about one of the most important political and humanitarian issues of our time.

The women of Afghanistan were educated and stylish before the Taliban came. They were forced into black burkha's from head to toe. I  decided to wear all black in reference to this huge change in their lives. My necklace is made from an Afghani charm.

 

I only had to go to work for four hours yesterday so I dressed casually. Everything but the shoes are thrifted. The tshirt is Liz Claiborne, the cardigan Laura Ashley, the jeans are Lee. The pendant is a gift from the groovetastic Vix.

 

 

 

Take a moment to check out how others did Textures and Literary Stylings!!

 

Have a fabulous rest of the week and I'll chat with ya'll later!!

 

TTFN

 

Tamera



The hits they keep on coming.....

Hiya Blogland!!!! How's it going?? I am SO GLAD this week is OVER!!

Thank you all so much for your sweet words of encouragement. It's really helped this past week!!!

Hallelujah,  the end of fiscal year insanity follies at work are over for another year. September is always a stressful month as the contracting office sits on projects we've designed and spec'd out for MONTHS and then tries to get them awarded at the last minute. Seriously, if you're a contractor bidding on a sidewalk repair job and I have to tell you the step by step directions on how to pour a sidewalk (technical details) than you probably shouldn't be bidding on the project. Just saying.......

Our friend Curtis is hanging in there. His body is weakening daily but his spirit and his smile are brighter than ever. He really is such an inspiration. Never complains or whines--he just encourages everyone else. People's lives are being changed watching Curtis and his wife travel this road.

I've felt a bit like an emotional punching bag this week. It seemed like every day more bad news.

My younger (by 14 months-LOL) sister had to be rushed to the ER earlier in the week hemorrhaging. She's been through menopause. It seems her body has decided to try to expel the benign uterine fibroid tumor she's had for many years. She will have to have a hysterectomy in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, because of the tumor size, she can't have the laparoscopy surgery but will have the major full incision type and be down and out for 6 weeks or so. Been there, done that and it sucks big time.

Next--our daughter Julie announced she will be having her left foot operated on October 14th. She has severe bunions and deformities in her big toes. They will have to break (eeek!!) the toe and put pins in. She will have the other foot done after the first of the year.  It's a out-patient surgery but she's still my baby!! She's picking up lots of cute flat shoes as she'll be wearing nothing but them for the next year.

And to ice the crap-cake last week, my hubby's Uncle Bill (his Dad's older brother) prostrate cancer has metastasized all over his body. He had a heart attack in mid-August and has been re-habbing in a nursing home whilst they built a new bathroom on the first floor of their home for him. They will be bringing him home to hospice care as there is nothing more they can do for him.

But life goes on. It's times like this I truly am grateful I have my faith and prayer to turn to.

Here's last week's outfitpaloosa!!!

Monday I pulled out my thrifted NineWest cowboy boots and paired them with a thrifted black pencil skirt and Native-American motif sweater.

I love the sweater's drapey front and "regular" back. This style reminded me of something SheilaEphemera would wear.

Tuesday I paired a thrifted mint tshirt with a thrifted glen plaid skirt and thrifted cardigan. The shoes are Aerosoles and thrifted.

Wednesday I paired a new blouse from Kohl's (on sale and a coupon so $6 out of pocket)my thrifted bias ruffle skirt, thrifted Easy Spirit wedge ballet flats with a thrifted zebra belt and thrifted bangle.

Thursday I was dressed easy and comfortable. I was helping serve the local high school football team spaghetti for dinner. (Our church youth pastor is their chaplain)  I paired thrifted jeans and a sweater tunic with the Aerosole boots I scored last year for like 90% off. 

Friday I'm thrifted head to toe again in Lee boyfriend jeans, Nine-West booties and afloral top.

It may be hard to see but the skirt is polka-dotted. The whole outfit is thrifted and was all of $11 total cost!! The shoes are Aerosole's and SUPER comfortable!! I had a ton of compliments for this outfit today. BIG HIT!!

Sorry for the picture quality--for some reason Blogger makes them crappy. Plus I STILL can't size them correctly. They are trying to help me figure this out!!

Well-I'm off to do some graphic stuff for Xmas ornaments!! Everyone have a fabulous week and I hope to be back on Wednesday!!!

TTFN
Tamera

The longest week EVER....

Hiya Blogland!! I am sure glad today (Thursday) is my Friday this week because work has been INSANE!!! I hate September as far as work goes because it's the end of the fiscal year and it just gets nuts.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and was able to sneak in a trip to a Salvation Army I rarely go to. I've evidently appeased the thrifting god's with the donations I made recently because again I scored some goodies on the cheap. It was $1 for all women's clothing and shoes!!!!

Two Foxcroft button-downs. One is a gorgeous cornflower blue
and the other a soft magenta pink.

Croft & Barrow Tshirt--I loved that it had teal, purple and
magenta with the black & grey.

DCC woman Denim shirt--I already have a chambray and a dark denim but
just loved this distressed denim and the ruffles down the front.

Mercer360 Zebra Striped Sweater. What's not to love? Soft silvery knit
with the graphic zebra stripe down the center of the front & back.

I love tartan anything (I'm 90% Scottish 3rd generation off the boat) and was THRILLED when I found the LandsEnd tartan buttondown a couple of weeks ago. Imagine my joy at scoring this awesome Chaps tartan buttondown. I'm plaid-eriffic!!

A Design Originals black sweater with adorable embroidered white polka-dots.

 

These barely worn leather Naturalizer booties will be so cute later with tights.

I fell in love with the buckle on these barely worn
Michael Shannon leather ballet wedges.

Easy Spirit never-worn microfiber wedge heel ballet flats.
 

Yesterday between the crazy at work and some IBS (intestinal issues) I dressed pretty low-key. This weeks SpyGirl 52 Pick-Me-Up theme is "White" so I pulled out the Koret White blouse I recently thrifted. The jeans are JustMySize and thrifted and the shoes are my adorable thrifted pink LizCaliborne loafers. I needed some happy feet!! I added some bracelet's including the cool pink skulls one Krista made me. I was comfortable if not the most OMGFASHUN!!!!

Todays outfit is compromised of all thrifted items except my bracelets. They came from the clearance rack at Burlington Coat Factory. The skirt is Cathy Daniels, the top is Talbots or Ann Taylor (I forget!), the belt is almost TOO FREAKIN' BIG NOW!!!  I'm wearing the Easy Spirit shoes-they were like walking on air!



  

I must say I am looking forward to a my three day weekend!! I plan on pulling out the autumn and decorating inside and out-pictures to follow!!

 

Everyone have a glorious weekend and I'll be back on Sunday!!

 

TTFN

Tamera

 

 



 

 

 

My Three Muskateers

Hiya Blogland!!! This has been a pretty busy weekend dodging the raindrops. Got a couple of nice long walk in with Gracie.

Friday it was rainy all day so I decided to go to town and hit the thrifts. I haven't been to the mission ones in several weeks. I also headed up to Pennsylvania (I'm really close) to check out a health food store and discovered a NEW Goodwill!!

The racks are still a bit thin but I managed to find some more goodies.  I'm always on the hunt for vintage trims and doodads and craft stuff. The Salvation Army did not disappoint!

Some vintage cupcake toppers(FLAMINGOS!) Vintage ribbons & trim and a Martha Stewart paper punch all for $3!

Again I'm noticing I'm being drawn to black and black/white prints. Which do play well with all the rainbow brite colors (tops & cardi's ) I have. I had a B&W glen plaid skirt, a B&W tweek skirt and a shorter black gored skirt on my "need" list.

I found the glen plaid & black gored skirts for $2 each. I need to do a bit of easy altering on them before wearing. These will look cute with tights and the new booties!

I also found the striped cardigan for $3 and the salt & pepper tweed skirt with the original tags for $4!!

I also had a teal pullover sweater on my list and found one with the tag on it for $3.

Sunday I spent the afternoon with three very handsome young fellows. They are the sons of dear friends and I am their "Mimi"- honorary grandmother.  I've known these boys since they were infants. Due to some things in the family, they don't have involved grandparents.  Recently Lauren and I have been feeling that we should step into that role for them. They are just the sweetest guys but I've forgotten how active little boys are!!! LOLOLOL

I planned on taking more pictures but we were so busy!!! It was their first time to come to my house and meet the fur-kids. The cats hid (way too much excitement). They had brought gifts for each of the animals. MrBill was a bit shy and nervous but Gracie LOVED all the toys. She had a ball playing with the boys. MrBill preferred to sit and be petted.

We went to the playground at the town park and walked Gracie about town. Then we went down to Antietam Creek in the Battlefield Park. I managed to get everyone still for a moment to get a picture!

Left to right: Zeekie (5 yrs old ) Ezra (6 yrs old) Judah (8 yrs old) and Gracie!!

 

We found an place along the creek  with a bit of a beach so off went the shoes and we waded in the water. Crazy Gracie decided to go SWIMMING!!  She loved it!!

  

When we got back home they helped me pick tomatoes. Quite a few were split from all the rain we had this week and useless. I let the boys throw them at the pine trees in the back yard so they would explode. I'm a cool Mimi like that!!

 

I looked on the camera (took the above with the phone) and realized I forgot to take an outfit post today. You didn't miss anything--I sported a tshirt, denim capris and sneakers!!! I wore a maxi I've worn many times before when I ran my errands on Friday.

  

I'm linking up with crew at Visible Monday. Come check out the best style and fashion around!! 

 

The boys have headed home and MrBill and Gracie are sacked out snoozing! I'm off to relax in the recliner! Have a fabulous Monday!!!

 

TTFN

Tamera