Thrift store shopping at it's best begins with your level of expectations and your idea of 2nd hand items transformed into treasures. I wish I could tell you that my mother took me "treasure hunting" since I can remember but it didn't happen that way. If I was introduced to "the hunt" even as an early teen I would dismiss the idea as repugnant, (my ignorant opinion based on spoiled wrongdoings). My mother allowed my sister and I to shop wherever our eyes led us. Like most people, shopping for new items was an addiction. It wasn't necessarily an error on any one's part but rather an idea that hadn't occurred.
My openness came when I was about 19, a friend wanted to bring me shopping for clothes at her favorite thrift store in CT. Magic didn't happen that day but it certainly introduced me to a new lifestyle, and I liked that. As a novice in the thrifty way of spending my time and money, this became my new amusement; shopping for old items! I met people who did it on their time off and the other time was spent creating outfits that were sold on Ebay. I was saving money and contributing to the global effect by recycling! I make thrift store shopping dates with friends and have clothes exchanges. I buy furniture and back to school clothes. Consignment shopping is a great way for us to make a few bucks by bagging up our old in exchange for money. Savvy!
When you go to the store prepared, knowing what to keep your eye out for instead of spending too much time and money there, your search will not exhaust you. When you're looking for something more specific sometimes it can be less risk taking at a department store. I needed a pair of black skinnys so I was better off going to Macys and walking straight to my size and color that I needed. You can find a thrift store by word of mouth or Google search in your area. I hope you live in as good an area as me because it's awesome finding that beautiful item that was sent in for me almost every time! Happy shopping, and please share your favorite moments!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Mediocre to Meaningful.
I never would have imagined that I would be a single, divorced parent raising two virgins. All this brokenness and heart-ache I had to forfeit in horror and desperation of hopes that our future will one day be mighty people, ready at any moment to make a difference, and willing to keep the peace alive. I found love when I saw the change that was forced out of me by these two. There is a beauty that we are born with, a pearl, that this unfair life will fade if we aren't aware of truth; truth about ourselves, life, God, etc.
When I realized what the hell had just happened I got angry (not a pleasant way to live) and I felt it, I responded in it- it had more of me than I did, and I knew what was before me and that I couldn't go on living this way. I chose to forgive. I forgave myself and all the hurt and pain I went through an caused other people, but the hardest part was letting it go. So by faith I kept speaking it aloud, my unhealed words floating in the universe until it got easier and especially easier because I was no longer married;) and before I could think, I felt forgiven.
These words are in my use of every day language. This is the secret to my happiness. I am no longer a victim of hurt, used as bait for any offense to snare me like a giant mouse trap. Offenses happen as soon as we are in touch with our feelings (that's young!), it's childish. I got over any childish feelings of inadequacy real fast. When that root of anger has been chopped at you don't see a worthless soul, it does not exist anymore; life is wonderful and I've been given a second chance. It makes sense to me that suicidal feelings are our old nature screaming to die, certainly not a drive to kill ourselves. Amazing what forgiveness will bring. You've probably been in pain for years now and if you don't let it go then you will be going around the same mountain next year. A new year is ahead, new beginnings, new ideas, a new life!
When I realized what the hell had just happened I got angry (not a pleasant way to live) and I felt it, I responded in it- it had more of me than I did, and I knew what was before me and that I couldn't go on living this way. I chose to forgive. I forgave myself and all the hurt and pain I went through an caused other people, but the hardest part was letting it go. So by faith I kept speaking it aloud, my unhealed words floating in the universe until it got easier and especially easier because I was no longer married;) and before I could think, I felt forgiven.
These words are in my use of every day language. This is the secret to my happiness. I am no longer a victim of hurt, used as bait for any offense to snare me like a giant mouse trap. Offenses happen as soon as we are in touch with our feelings (that's young!), it's childish. I got over any childish feelings of inadequacy real fast. When that root of anger has been chopped at you don't see a worthless soul, it does not exist anymore; life is wonderful and I've been given a second chance. It makes sense to me that suicidal feelings are our old nature screaming to die, certainly not a drive to kill ourselves. Amazing what forgiveness will bring. You've probably been in pain for years now and if you don't let it go then you will be going around the same mountain next year. A new year is ahead, new beginnings, new ideas, a new life!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Intuitive Expression.
In the song Foolish Games by Jewel she describes a person as being "fashionably sensitive" and as the character has a habit of being preposterous in their relationship it's confusing to know that he's "too cool to care" how he looks. "Ok dude, get with it!" What works is a solid wardrobe that says 'this is me', and one that suggests that you are respected by the way you dress. I've seen too many people in public wearing their pajama pants. I don't know who began that and why but it doesn't attract intelligence. I understand some people might not have any choice of clothes, that's sad, and for this I am grateful for what most of us do have.
So back to the p.j.s to run errands. As comfort is the way most of us want to go I understand how relieved we must be coming from a history of corsets, layers, and heavy garments, but to hop in the car for the grocery store in your p.j.'s is like going from eating steak and salad to potted meat and wonder bread. Throw some jeans on and a smile (men too), you won't look lazy, only approachable. Could it be that the debt our nation has gotten into has come from this attitude of "I don't care."? Possibly...ok, yes. yes it has.
This idea of being fashionably sensitive is my way of piecing items together. I can think of beautiful adult women who are as sweet and loving as we get but has no clue on fashion...bless their hearts. I know women who get dressed just to cover their bodies, the very simple type. There are women who look like they live in another era such as 1985, kinda makes me feel like we are not living in the same time. Although I have a daughter who's fashion sense is far less sensitive, I've realized that pushing my style on her makes getting dressed traumatizing. I've learned that the best way to encourage our children to express their personalities starts in their closets. I have a friend who's son is a photographer shooting BIG names, and she allowed her son to wear whatever he wanted as a child. I believe it has enabled him to be the artist he is today (and his style is very tasteful).
Our clothes tell the world a lot about us as thinkers, and as someone who is fashionably sensitive I take myself as someone who understands truth. Let there be understanding brought to our clothes rather than not knowing or caring. The next time you hop in the car after a long night to pick up some eggs, and to stop by the bank imagine running into the next person that will help you in your career, it's a new day.
So back to the p.j.s to run errands. As comfort is the way most of us want to go I understand how relieved we must be coming from a history of corsets, layers, and heavy garments, but to hop in the car for the grocery store in your p.j.'s is like going from eating steak and salad to potted meat and wonder bread. Throw some jeans on and a smile (men too), you won't look lazy, only approachable. Could it be that the debt our nation has gotten into has come from this attitude of "I don't care."? Possibly...ok, yes. yes it has.
This idea of being fashionably sensitive is my way of piecing items together. I can think of beautiful adult women who are as sweet and loving as we get but has no clue on fashion...bless their hearts. I know women who get dressed just to cover their bodies, the very simple type. There are women who look like they live in another era such as 1985, kinda makes me feel like we are not living in the same time. Although I have a daughter who's fashion sense is far less sensitive, I've realized that pushing my style on her makes getting dressed traumatizing. I've learned that the best way to encourage our children to express their personalities starts in their closets. I have a friend who's son is a photographer shooting BIG names, and she allowed her son to wear whatever he wanted as a child. I believe it has enabled him to be the artist he is today (and his style is very tasteful).
Our clothes tell the world a lot about us as thinkers, and as someone who is fashionably sensitive I take myself as someone who understands truth. Let there be understanding brought to our clothes rather than not knowing or caring. The next time you hop in the car after a long night to pick up some eggs, and to stop by the bank imagine running into the next person that will help you in your career, it's a new day.
The hungry type.
"Image is everything." So we're told by the ones who pay for their products to be advertised on t.v. and in magazines. Let's translate that shall we. We all have labels: some doctors, some personal trainers, some moms, some business consultants, philosophers, bus drivers, cooks, waitresses, lawyers, anthropologists, nurses, authors, police officers, politicians, pastors, retirees, army rangers, nannies, artists and everyone else who keeps the world going. How strange is it to see your doctor smoking, or your personal trainer eating a number 2 from McDonalds? How strange was it to find out that your president was having a love affair aside from his wife? Isn't it crazy to see a police officer abuse his authority? How do you feel about a mother that was blessed with children steel the lives of those very gifts? I am a hairdresser, you will never see me buying box color because one, I know it's bad for me and two, I would be a hypocrite to use that product.
Our label or title has every right to hold us accountable to protect our image. If we can't be honest to ourselves, that very denial could cause us our reputation, which presumably effects society as a whole. Your image is your picture, your vision, your imagination. To rebel against your own image calls for some serious adjusting if you ask me. Your image has the potential to be the deep mystery that is beyond our power to discover! When our image is planned out wisely all self-satisfied emotions do not exist.
It's amazing to see my good friend act on every ambitious idea that crosses her mind, (which improves her life), retain a humble attitude. It's amazing in itself that somebody possesses that much ambition.
Why do people choose not to be better people because the price is higher? So you have to pay a higher price! Would you rather pay what it costs for a neater image or continue shopping and pay that price because you've ran out of ideas or you're bored with what you have? I'll say it again, would you rather pay the price it costs to be a better you or rather follow our nation's bad habits and run to the stores to pay that price? Your image is your self-control, is your ambition, is your future.
Our label or title has every right to hold us accountable to protect our image. If we can't be honest to ourselves, that very denial could cause us our reputation, which presumably effects society as a whole. Your image is your picture, your vision, your imagination. To rebel against your own image calls for some serious adjusting if you ask me. Your image has the potential to be the deep mystery that is beyond our power to discover! When our image is planned out wisely all self-satisfied emotions do not exist.
It's amazing to see my good friend act on every ambitious idea that crosses her mind, (which improves her life), retain a humble attitude. It's amazing in itself that somebody possesses that much ambition.
Why do people choose not to be better people because the price is higher? So you have to pay a higher price! Would you rather pay what it costs for a neater image or continue shopping and pay that price because you've ran out of ideas or you're bored with what you have? I'll say it again, would you rather pay the price it costs to be a better you or rather follow our nation's bad habits and run to the stores to pay that price? Your image is your self-control, is your ambition, is your future.
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