Thrift Shopping

I'ma take your grandma's style.... 

In an effort to become more conscious in multiple domains my family and I are participating in a 365 Thrift Challenge.  We are going to try to live more consciously in regard to: our over-consumerism, our ecological footprint on this world, and our thriftiness. 

{Those shoes are my first personal thrift store purchase}

Have you ever stepped into a thrift store? You would be in awe. 
These stores are filled with hella-nice and oh-hell-no!  Seriously, we live in a world of over-consumerism, so, you are likely to find countless clothes with their original tags!  Haven't you ever purchased something you never wore or gifted but you meant to?
One particular thrift store in my area receives Target's clearanced-out goods and sales them---> DIRT CHEAP! 

{Source}

The thing is..... I am a bit of a germaphobe but I'm also a greenie {eco-friendly}.  Thankfully I know how to sanitize like a boss!  So, a thrift shopping I will go!

I want to lessen my impact- meaning I will work within what we already have (via thrift stores and consignment stores).  Most clothes we purchase come from somewhere on the other side of the world and are shipped from factory-to-factory; this process has a nasty carbon footprint.  Also why not reuse?  For the longest time I would pick-up household items from Goodwill and turn them into something new with a can of spray paint and elbow grease, but I never thought to pick-up clothes for me or the kiddos.

Thrifty Pants
Kids clothes aren't cheap especially when they {the kids} go through jeans at rapid speed, times three.  I've been able to find designer jeans in perfect condition for $3 for my kiddos.  Which, is going to save me big! At first I thought my kids were going to revolt, the thought of using 'used' clothes; this thankfully hasn't happened!

My kids have been okay with the process and probably now acquire more "designer" clothes than ever before.  We've also been able to piece together their own style, that they can create without other kiddos sporting the exact same look.  

The Fine Print
I'm a sucker for a Target Red Tag special but I'm shying away from those beautiful tags till next June!  That's right next June!  We will not buy new clothing except for: under garments, earrings, and shoes.  We are allowed to buy new clothing if we receive a gift card, or if I am reviewing something for my blog or Tots to Teens Magazine.

This is bound to be an interesting endeavor with three kiddos, my husband and I but we are determined to stick with it. 
I've started to look for thrifty blogs and I'm liking>> Looking Fly on a Dime for inspiration.  

I thought this video was kind of cute, it reminds me of my suburban Chicagoland. Check back this weekend for 4th of July pix and yummy lemonade. XO 

White Pants and Raised on Wu-Tang

It's Friday!! What!?! I know bananas right?  This week went by crazy fast, which I guess is to be expected when you have 3 kiddos home for summer, and all three in sports. 

Anywho, Friday, on this here blog usually means linking up with the beautiful stylish Lena for her Passion For Fashion link-up.  

So, about a month or so back {when I thought the weather was going to get nicer} I decided to do something huge-- I bought white capris! Okay, the capris look like pants on me because I happen to be vertically challenged. I haven't worn white pants since elementary school!! 
True Story.  Do you remember the game Red Rover?

{Source}

If you don't, then maybe I'm old and I just gave away my age. I know these types of games aren't played in schools anymore; it's probably because lots of WHITE PANTS WERE RUINED! 
See the little girl trying to break through the kids' arms, well that's me. I got sent over and instead of breaking through the kids' arms I was closed-lined sending me right in the dirt!! I wore the cone of shame... I had to finish the rest of the school day in dirty white pants.  After that day I vowed to never ever wear white pants... again!

Considering I'm now in my early 30's, and that vow was made when I was around 8 years old... that is kinda like forever ago.  For years, I've seen white pants and loved the look but honestly I still feared I'd get them dirty.  I mean... I HAVE THREE KIDS I'm bound to get them dirty.  

Even though I have had that fear, I saw the pants at Old Navy and said screw it... and went with the white! I've only worn them once and sharing them with you :) My shirt was another Old Navy purchase and my earrings were from a Red Tag Target Hunt.  Oh come on I'm not the only one who searches for those red tags at Target...right? 

*******

On another note

Did you ever listen to Wu-Tang Clan?

Well I did. 

So I thought this was awesome...

Gza from Wu-Tang clan is dropping knowledge... for real! 

He went around schools, this school year teaching kids about science! Children tried to make their own rhymes using what they learned in class. I cannot tell you how much I love this!!

Not so bad when Wu-Tang raises you :) 

{That's a little Macklemore}

Hope Y'all have a lovely weekend and please come check out some of my other posts from this week.

XO

I Did it for Myself!

Since becoming a Mommy, there are tons of things I have stopped doing for myself... to do for others.  Mainly the things I do, do are for my children.  If I want to be completely honest, although, I joke about being the same Ol' G there are plenty of things I do not do, or have changed because I am a mommy. 

I had my eldest daughter quite young. I still wanted to be young, but the other Mamas in my eldest daughter's classes were a little more buttoned-up and more mature in age.  
I decided to be a little more buttoned-up, which in the process kind of stripped away who I was.  
Here I was trying to hide tattoos, and thinking I should dress a certain way because other Moms were looking at me and whispering.  
Now, I don't care.  So what, I have tattoos, and now for myself {which I know my mama is going to hate} I re-pierced my nose.  

I love it. My husband loves it.  

It was kind of freeing.  I know that sounds weird, but when I use to have my nose pierced many moons ago, I lost my nose-ring and never redid it. Not because I was a Mama, because life went on.  My first years of motherhood, in Texas, I was surrounded by family and friends who knew me, and knew what I was about>> no judgment.  It was a different time.

Now, that I'm in my thirties, I don't want to live with regret.  I don't want to go back to my twenties, but I do want to be ME. I want my kids to see>> Mama is happy with who she is, and I want them to feel the same.  No judgements!

This post isn't just about the-time-I-went-to-pierce-my-nose in-my-thirties-at-a-random-Indian-salon-and-I-felt-all-freeing. I'm also linking-up with the lovely Lena B, and Through the Eyes of the Mrs.

I saw this green dress at Old Navy and had to have it.  

My husband was {happily} shocked because I'm usually not one to purchase dresses, but this one, it was calling me, and plus it's green.  

I love green.  

The blue jean jacket shirt is actually a little something I've had since junior high... 

No. I'm not a hoarder... that's what Pinterest is for. 

My shoes are a Target special, and the belt... it came with another dress I own.
And this is the bag that pulls it all together

So, what do you think ladies, did you change a piece of who you were because of motherhood?

Casual Friday

You know it is baffling, how I possess tons of pictures of my family, and not so much of me.  This of course stems from me always being behind the camera taking said pictures, but maybe it doesn't... 
As much as I come off as confident, sometimes, I'm downright a Debbie Downer when it comes to myself.  
I'm hard on myself. I pick apart myself.  I over analyze myself.  
I know I'm beautiful, where it counts.  I know my heart is always in the best place.  Yet-- I still question my beauty.  
I'm sure I'm like any other gal out there with a touch of insecurities; one day I think I look remarkable, and the next I'm beating myself up.
My husband has questioned, why?  
Why? I don't know.  
He is always telling me I'm beautiful-- with just jeans, t-shirt, and my hair pulled back, he makes me feel like I'm the most gorgeous  lady he's ever looked at {at that moment I'm filled with the feeling of untouchable beauty}.  Everyday he expresses that he believes he's the luckiest man in the world.   
And still {sighs} I have my I-don't-feel-pretty-days.
I realize I need to stop saying negative things about myself (of course, I never talk negative about myself in front of my children.  I've seen enough Dr.Phil's to know what happens when you do that.)
So, I have made a pledge to myself... to try not to say any negative things about myself.  I also plan on taking more pictures of me, and sharing them, here.
Today I'm linking up again {two weeks in a row-- woot woot} with the beautiful Lena @Lena B, actually.

Here is my Casual Friday Look, through the eyes of a

 four-year-old

When you have a shorty taking your pictures, you get quite a few of your feet as well as a bunch of 

off-with-your-heads.

I do have a head :)

See the pinkness on the bottom left hand corner-- that is my little man's thumb.  I love my boy-- he was having such a good time pretending to be a photographer, he even directed me.

My home t-shirt was by way of my TexasLove board on Pinterest. My husband saw the shirt on my board, and purchased it for me- for Mother's day.  
My Marilyn Monroe belt buckle is one of my all time favorite accessories via Etsy.
Every girl needs a good pair of ripped-up jeans.. well at least every Texas girl. Do you have a pair?
The boots are my favorite pair, they're Fatbaby Saddle Boots. 
I have had these boots for years, and they're still the best.
And what do you think does adding the jacket gussy it all up?

Mama's Day Fashion

 I spent Mother's Day with my loves.

It was actually quite chilly. 

Notice how we are layered up.

That is my favorite scarf from World Market.

My second favorite pair of boots my hubs got me.

The dress and jean jacket were Christmas gifts from my mama ;)

 I just love this picture of my babies, and had to share.

These kids got style 24/7

WORD!

I'm obsessed with scarves.
Do you have a favorite scarf?

So many works in progress....

I have quite a few works in progress & I want to share.  I cannot wait to get them done, and to finally show you the end result.  I am the worst at starting multiple projects at a time!  Am I the only one who does this?  Sometimes I wonder if I have attention deficit disorder, and I am being completely serious.  Honestly, my wheels are always spinning.  My focus can get so clouded because I begin to focus on another task or concern.  

con·cern  

/kənˈsərn/

Verb Relate to; be about.

Noun Anxiety; worry.

Synonyms verb.   regard - touch - worry - affect - pertain noun.   care - worry - interest - anxiety - business - firm

Which concerns me.. because concern is just another word for WORRY.... I HATE worry! 
Worry is bad for the soul.  I know this, and then I begin to worry about my worry. Did I just lose you?  

I'm not a religious person by any means.  I am a faithful person.  I do have faith in many things. The more I can learn and take from any faith or ideology and pour it into my mind stew--> I do.  
I love gathering knowledge but I have been told... by a doctor... I'm too smart?  {Puzzled face} 
What? Me? Ummm, honestly she must not know the struggle I have with numbers + alphabet together.  However, she did not mean I was a genius, nor did she mean I should go apply for my masters at Harvard.  
She just meant I'm a thinker, and I'm always searching for knowledge.  This to me was interesting to hear.  I gather knowledge and always question, which sometimes is a Jedi mind f**k. I cannot always take things for what they are.  

I'm always asking...
I'm always thinking...
I wish I could live oblivious not always searching for more.  
Typing that out just felt wrong, the fact is I don't. I do want to seek answers.
I do want to know more.
I do have tons of questions. {See I'm obviously an inner struggle}

And I do want to progress. I believe to do so, I must keep researching.  Sometimes my research may mislead me or even make me angry.  
However, I'm not sure there is truly life without little to no concern.  Besides I'm a mutha, the minute I found out I was pregnant->BOOM-- CONCERN.  
I was worried/concerned for my unborn child and my mothering skills.

Holy crap I just went on tangent and displayed my ability to get off track... didn't I?
Well, here is what I'm working on. {And thanks for reading my public rant.}

Okay, remember how I'm trying to fall back in love with mi casa?  Well... I decided it was time to start a living room overhaul. Slowly working on that...
Here is my new rug, which I am in love with in an almost obsessive way-- per my kids and my dog (I'm sure). We also got rid of the old couches {happy dance}

Next, is my new cloffice closet+office.  I have turned my closet into an office.  My husband and I are now sharing a small closet together so, wish us luck.  My cloffice is almost done! I'm loving having my own spot, with my new computer :)  Mr. AOK gave a computer and mini iPad for finishing school FINALLY! Love that hot tamale.

Then you have our growing garden.  We decided to increase our garden and go all out my husband and I.  Last weekend the two of us built three garden boxes.  Now we need to get our organic, Non GMO, grown with love fruit & veggies in there.

And of course you always have me... 

If you just read through my rant... I'm always evolving.  I'm trying to stir away from the negative and navigate to WHO I am, and where I want to be.  I think I'm in a good place but I know I can achieve better.  
Peace & Love Always!

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In My Closet

I thought I'd share my style with you today.  Sometimes I post Fashion Friday's for Tots to Teens,  I hardly ever create a look for myself that truly represents me.  Today I'm showing you what's in my closet... sort of.

In my closet by mrsaok featuring nine west handbags

My closet is on a budget, so this outfit is me on a good day J

I honestly wore a similar outfit yesterday.  I had a baggy flawy Fever maroon top that I purchased for $11 marked down from $78 at The Rack. Yes I'll admit, sometimes I do rock Old Navy jeans.... eh hem like yesterday.  
I love my Nine West cross body bag I got mine at T.J Max so I paid like $20 for mine {this is not the exact one}.  

I'm a sucker for bangles!  I have tons of bangles, they are cheap cute and make me happy J

My boots are a splurge-- my babe got them for me because he knows I will not spend that kind of money on myself. I think: grocery money instead of mommy money :-?

Lately I've been rocking my hair in a sock bun... 

I don't know maybe I'm channeling my inner JLo or something.  Nah-- I'll quit playing>> we all know a tight pulled ponytail is an instant facelift & if you don't know, now you know. Dangly earrings look good with hair pulled up & although I don't have these particular earrings they are similar to something I would have. 

Of course my style would be slightly different if I had no budget and comfort wasn't always something I considered.  While shopping I'm always thinking, "are these shoes practical... should I chase a 4 year old in these heels?" {puts down shoes and makes a frowny face..sighs}  

I saw this combo and thought oh yes... 

My Pinterest Closet 

Source: michelled2711.polyvore.com via Mrs_ on Pinterest

This outfit is a little out of my budget but I’m sure I could pull it together for less.  Those boots... oh my I LOVE ‘EM! Not sure if these boots are practical but they are budget friendly J  And those JEANS I would gladly take a pair but I cannot imagine paying  $375 for them that’s Whole Foods money. 

What do you splurge on?  Does comfort/grocery money factor into your style decisions?