Spa day

Today I went to Avenue Five (the same place I got my bangs done a few weeks ago) because I saw on their website that they do 80 minute facials for $25! My friend Danielle perhaps said it best, "Eighty minutes?! [hands framing her face] It's only this much skin!"

Yeah, I couldn't imagine what an 80 minute facial would entail, either, but Amy suggested I wear something comfy, like leggings and a tunic. Boy, was I glad I took her advice!

date: 30 September 2009
occasion: spa day
tunic: American Apparel
leggings: Papaya
shoes: Nine West (thrifted)
bag: swag bag from the Stitch fashion show, back in 2007
belt (as necklace): gift from my mom (it's a belly dancing belt from Thailand)

Note: this now makes random object #3 that I've worn as a necklace. See the other belt here and a purse strap here.

Also, if I look exhausted in my daily style photo, there are two main reasons for that:
1. I'm not wearing a stitch of make-up, and
2. I am exhausted.

My 80 minute facial turned into a 180 minute deal because I added an eyebrow wax. Laying on a massage table for almost three hours pretty much conked me out! This is bad news because I've got to get energized! I still have to clean the house and pack because I leave for the midwest at five a.m. tomorrow! Yowzers!

Facial verdict? Loved it. I will definitely go back again, but perhaps plan for it to take a bit longer than scheduled.

Thank you, Delightfully Tacky!

I am blushing with flattery to be Delightfully Tacky's Blogger of the Moment.
I love Delightfully Tacky so much, so I liken this moment in my life to the time Rosario Dawson told me she liked my tights (note: they weren't my tights; they belonged to the wardrobe department, but still!). My point is it's surreal to be complimented by someone you admire. Thank you, Delightfully Tacky! To read the interview in which I divulge my soul and bare my heart, go here. While you're there, make sure to bookmark Delightfully Tacky so you can visit this stylish maven every single day.

Stellar Seller: Savers

I started thrifting in high school. Around sophomore year, I became obsessed with the 60's and 70's and developed a penchant for Marcia Brady dresses, polyester dress shirts, and bell bottoms. My history of thrifting continued through college, where I was finally introduced to the glorious place that is Savers (also known as Value Village and Village des Valeurs in other parts of the world).

When Hubs and I moved to Texas three years ago, I was thrilled to find another Savers mere miles from our digs. There's just something magical about going through rack after rack, trying to find a once loved but now discarded treasure. Savers is one of my favorite places because it's organized well enough that the treasure hunt does not seem overwhelming, and the prices are low enough that if you choose well, you can sometimes sell your stuff to Buffalo Exchange after you've grown tired of wearing 'em and still come out even. Bonus: every week day, they do "color tag sales", where a certain tag color will be 50% off. Double bonus: If you donate more than two grocery sacks full of goods, you'll be given a 20% off coupon that you can use immediately!

That's precisely what I did yesterday:

This combined with the $20 Savers gift certificate I won from Punky Style, netted me all these goodies:

1. yellow F21 dress, 2. early 90's GAP vest, 3. beaded angora cardigan,
4. GAP dress, 5. F21 dress, 6. old man elastic belt.

Sometimes I get lucky and find an amazing Kenneth Cole jacket with the $139 tag still attached. Other times I find something hilarious, like a Power Rangers t-shirt or my friend's dress. But then there's days like yesterday, where I simply score a lot of great basics and layer pieces at crazy cheap prices.

Tips for Savers:
1. Go before noon. The store is full from last night's and that morning's restocking, and the store is still neat and organized.
2. In Austin, go on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The store hasn't been picked over by the professional shoppers (who often hit up the stores early on Saturdays or Sundays), which means awesome vintage pieces (that are Feathers worthy) are still lurking around.
3. If there's an "ethnic clothing" rack, make sure to check that out. My Savers puts their Marcia Brady dresses and ethnic inspired tunics on this rack.
4. Always check the rack outside the fitting room, because if someone else liked it enough to try on, it may be worth trying it on yourself.
5. Check out the stuff in the glass case. I've seen authentic Coach wallets in the case from $14.99.
6. Don't automatically disregard the shoe section. I know, I know... some of you are squeamish about used shoes, but I've gotten a lot of shoes there that are brand new (size stickers still on the bottom and absolutely no sole marks).
7. Ladies, make sure to check out both the little boy's section and the men's section. Some of my favorite shirts and belts were things I've found in the other gender's part of the store.

I thrift and I look like I thrift

It's days like today where I have to fight the fight against my desire to put on something totally different than what I ACTUALLY wore today for my self-style dailies. This is a typical, insanely cozy and casual Day o' Thrifting Outfit for me, as I spent most the rainy afternoon at Savers. I would like you to believe I did most of my shopping in four inch heels and a killer couture dress and coat, but alas, if that's what you believe, I now have to smack you squarely into reality with these schleppy photos:

date: 29 September 2009
occasion: thrifting adventure at Savers
thermochromatic shirt: American Apparel
sweater: Kimchi and Blue
belt (as necklace): thrifted from Savers
boots: Minnetonka
shorts: F21

Three things about this outfit:
1. That elephant necklace is actually a belt. This is just the start of my grand tradition of wearing things as necklaces that are not actually necklaces.
2. American Apparel can call it a "thermochromatic shirt" all it wants. We all know it's Hypercolor.
3. That grey sweater is something I will LIVE in come winter. I am shocked that this is its first appearance on Adored Austin, but beware. You are about to see that thing over and over again like a bad guest star on a cheesy soap opera.

Ah me. I'm not at all dressed like a girl who should be on Glamour.com so I sure hope they don't revoke that post about me or anything.

Now I'm curious: Do most fashion bloggers occassionally feel tempted to put on something a little nicer for their daily style photos? When you dress ultra casual, do you just opt to not take a photo that day?

Hey, I know that chick!

Me and my DIY lace jacket were featured on Glamour.com today as part of "Reader Appreciate Day". (Note: I just figured out that's why my headline says "Happy RAD". I thought they were doing some sort of strange Asiannese to me, since I'm half Asian, you know).

I can't believe I didn't say anything ridiculous in the interview. Don't worry. That won't happen again.Thanks, Glamour, for featuring me on your blog today!

In the dressing room: Anna Sui for Target

Back in July, I blogged about the Anna Sui/ Gossip Girl inspired line coming to Target. After months of waiting, today I finally got to my local store to check out what was left.

Please excuse my phone photos. I didn't bust out the DSLR for fear that Target security would ban me from the store forever. Ugly shirts aside, there were only six pieces in my size left.
1. Polyester, metallic top: $39.99
I liked it but I'm unwilling to pay more than $25.00 for it. I can only hope that this will end up on the clearance rack or at my local Buffalo Exchange.
2. Houndstooth Jacquard dress: $69.99
The fit was immaculate and it seemed very well constructed, however, the cotton-like lace trim didn't seem to go that well with the sheen of the dress. I liked it, but I wasn't crazy about it, so I passed.
3. Herringbone dress: $59.99
The cut was boxy, and although the outside was said to be 100% cotton, it was so heavy and itchy that it felt like 100% wool.
4. Gray Feather dress: $69.99
If this dress were on Project Runway, Heidi Klum would kick that designer to the curb! The "feathers" on this dress were actually flimsy pieces of thin plastic... the kind that confetti is made out of! The bottom of the dress was like a tent that several scouts could have camped in overnight.
5. Empire floral dress: $44.99
This was the most reasonably priced dress of the bunch, and though I wasn't ga ga over the print pattern, I loved the fit. I almost bought it until I realized that I vaguely felt like a hot scarecrow in all those fall colors.
6. Black lace halter dress: $69.99
I absolutely could not get past the collar on this dress. Seriously. I felt like a Playboy Bunny or some kind of slutty waitress.

Le sigh. For those prices, Anna Sui, color me unimpressed.

See more Indiana in Seymour, Indiana

I am so incredibly excited about my upcoming trip to the midwest! I go back to my hometown of Seymour, Indiana every October, for the town's annual Oktoberfest. It's amazing. Practically anyone who has ever lived there makes sure to come back for this one glorious weekend. My family is even coming up from Tampa, Florida and we'll all be reunited with my grandma again.

In honor of this upcoming trip and because I'm feeling quite nostalgic, I am wearing two pieces that I bought in Seymour a couple years ago during Oktoberfest weekend. I thought last week fall had finally settled into Texas, but lo and behold, it's back to shorts weather again today:


date: 28 September 2009
occasion: being extra wifey today- cooking, cleaning, etc.
velvet shorts: Anew (bought from JC Penny's in Seymour, Indiana)
ruffle tank top: gift from my friend Emmy
shoes: NYT (bought from the now closed Goody's store in Seymour, Indiana)
suitcase: American Tourist, from an estate sale

Today I finally found my long lost tube of Clinique Butter Shine Cranberry Creme lipstick, henceforth known as the best red lipstick in the world!

I leave this Thursday for Indiana, and I'll return on Monday, October 5th. I do hope to blog while I'm away (like I did while in Boston), and I even hope to do some street style photos while I'm there. And trust me, my townsfolk are pretty cute (Proof? Miss America is from my town, as is John Mellencamp and the boys from The Elms). Contrary to popular belief, my Seymour Street Style photos will not look like PeopleofWalmart.com, I promise!

Street Style: Neiman Marcus/ Austin Tidbits party

I used to say that Whole Foods in downtown Austin was my favorite place to people watch and gain style inspiration, but I may have to change my mind. The Domain is swarming with style. After the Neiman Marcus/ Austin Tidbits party, I was able to grab a few photos of some of the girls who were inside.

Meet local business owner, Stephene. My friend Laura audibly oohed over her tank top and pants while we were in line for the goody bags. I love the casual elegance of this whole thing:

top: Old Navy, pants: Anthropologie, heels: Aldo, bag: Hype (NYC), bracelet: Austin City Wide Garage Sale, earrings: Banana Republic.

This is my friend Melissa (or "Emmy" as she sometimes goes by). She's often my partner in crime as together we help head up Flash Mob Austin. Weird fact: her sister Vanessa was in an Adored Austin Street Style photo back in July. Anyway, I really like the shape and simplicity of her dress:

dress: Tommy Jeans, shoes: Payless, bracelet: Mexico gift, earrings: Claire's.

This is UT student Kaylee. She's originally from Oklahoma (I think her mom even said "Go Sooners!"). I love that Kaylee is a student who doesn't just wear running shorts and a t-shirt and flip flops. I swear, every time I see UT students, a "going to the gym" look is the standard uniform. Her jeans are awesome! Jessica from WhatiWore just blogged about this color for the fall, and Kaylee made it look casual but incredibly fresh:

shirt: Urban Outfitters, jeans: Forever 21, boots: Steve Madden.

Speaking of UT students who know how to dress, check out this fashionable bunch! Seeing them together made me miss my three college besties (hi, Jenay, Schwan, and Bee!). I absolutely adore how they mix high end items with more accessible items here, and geez, this is, collectively, the best group of flat sandals I've ever seen:

(from L-R)
Kayleigh- dress: Urban Outfitters, sandals: Old Navy, bag: Elliott Lucca.
Lillian- top: from Spain, jeans: J Brand, shoes: Shelley (UK), bag: Cole Haan.
Keely- dress: New Mexico/ gift (thanks, mom!), sandals: Christian Louboutin.
Summer- dress: Urban Outfitters, sandals: Capri for Target, bag: UO.

Recap: Austin Tidbits/ Neiman Marcus party

Being down here in Texas, I may have missed out on all the fun at New York Fashion Week, but I did get a chance to partake in some of the Austin Style Week traditions. Yesterday was the Neiman Marcus/ Austin Tidbits party, and when I heard there was going to be a goody bag for the first 100 guests that would include some beauty samples from Chanel and Armani, I made sure I was first in line:

And, golly, was I glad we showed up an hour early! They were out of bags in less than five minutes! At 5:15 p.m., over 200 women (and one man) were circling the young collectors section of Neiman's in anticipation. You can't advertise FREE CHANEL and not expect a giant crowd!

And yes, I was first in line. I'm tall and I'm smiley. It's combination people don't mess with. I was so excited, but I didn't open my bag right away. Instead, Emmy and Laura and I enjoyed some of the free white cranberry cosmos and cake balls (yes, cake balls):


After I swooned over all the Alice + Olivia stuff, we called it a night. We walked over to The Steeping Room (a tea shop) to take stock of all our new swag:
A Kiehl's shampoo? Sweet! A little notebook? That's cool. A sample of Tom Ford's Black Orchid perfume? Awesome! But... wait... where's my Chanel? I thought for sure we'd be getting a sample of Jade Rose nail polish, so I wore my BB Dakota dress to compliment the pinkness of it:

date: 25 September 2009
occasion: Neiman Marcus/ Austin Tidbits party
dress: BB Dakota
button down: NY & Co
shoes: thrifted, Dexter
bag: Louis Vuitton (thanks, mom)

Le sigh. No one got any Chanel or any Armani. It was a minor disappointment, but we can't be jerks about it. I was able to snap some street style photos, and we got free stuff and free cake balls! Yes, free cake balls! That was my first time having them, but cake balls just moved into my top five favorite foods. I love them so much, that I've even composed a haiku about 'em:
Birthday on a stick.
A belly celebration.
Delicious cake ball.

Haiku's are free over here on Adored Austin. Enjoy that, okay?

Thank you, BeautifulStranger.tv

I am cracking up. I opened my email this morning and saw that I was the Beautiful Stranger of the Day. After reading my interview, I'm sure you'll agree that I'm definitely strange:

Thank you to BeautifulStranger.tv for featuring me. This was a hilarious choice on your part.

Fashism: creating style dictators

Dear Internet, meet my newest online addiction: Fashism.

Fashism can help you decide what to buy when you're out shopping. It can help you decide what to wear to a special event if you're stuck between two different outfits. It can also help you come up with accessorizing ideas once you've chosen the perfect outfit. Simply upload your photos, pose your question, and give it a few seconds. Within moments, people from all over the world will be weighing in.

Fashion bloggers, I know you're thinking, "As if I need another online receptacle for my daily fashion photos!" And I understand. Between my blog, Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lucky Style Spotter, Lookbook.nu, Wardrobe_Remix, and Modepass, I feel like I'm about at my limit of sending my dailies all over the web. But Fashism is different than anything else and is definitely worth joining.

I uploaded my first photo yesterday of my purse handle necklace. I know my Adored Austin readers gave it a huge thumbs-up, but what about the rest of the world? What would they think of my last minute creation?

Twenty-four hours later, I'm sitting at an 86%. Overall, it's a go! If you can take the criticism and the "I Hate It" votes with a giant grain of salt, Fashism is the place to solve your wardrobe quandaries. If you give good advice, it's also a great way to get new readers to your own little spot on the web.

Founded by three former Austin residents (who have since relocated to NYC), I exchanged some emails with Brooke Moreland, one of the co-founders.

1. What inspired you to start Fashism?
Basically we came up with Fashism on a whim when my husband Joe and I we were out shopping together, trying on clothes and trying to make decisions about what to buy. Somehow it just clicked that we should have a way of instantly uploading photos and getting snap responses from people on the web. In this day of Twitter and iPhones, there's no reason to just get advice from people who are around you physically. Our third co-founder Chris, who is our technical expert, also loved the idea and was eager to whip it up.

2. Why should fashion bloggers use Fashism?
Fashism is a good place for bloggers to establish their expertise and insight among people who are looking for help. Whenever I get good advice on the site, I like to check out who's giving it, and learn more about them. When people comment on my looks I tend to really heed the advice of those users who's style I respect and want to emulate. Everyone can learn something from someone else! Very soon, we plan on developing deeper integration between a user's activity and their blogs, so that they can highlight what they've done on their own site.

3. Do you and Joe [one of the other founder] upload your own photos to Fashism?
Joe and I definitely upload our own photos pretty regularly. His username is thestalwart and mine is audrabrookie, and we are all over the site. It's awesome being able to use the site for the exact purpose we dreamed of. We probably upload about 3 images or so a week each. Usually when we are out in store trying to make decisions on purchases. Also if I have a special event or something I always upload and see if a) the look is appropriate for what I'm doing b) if people have ideas about how to accessorize, or what shoes to wear, etc.

4. How do you see people using Fashism, daily?
As far as people using Fashism daily, I think it is definitely a site that people who are into it check every day. Even if you don't have a lot of time, it's fun to pop in, see what's new and leave a couple comments. We certainly are into people posting their outfit everyday, especially those who are already in this habit and uploading to Wardrobe Remix and their own blogs. But it's also a space for the casual user, a non fashion-obsessed person, to ask a random question or two and get some good feedback.

5. If you were given $1000 to spend on clothes, what would you buy at this very moment?
Ooooh, I wish I had $1000 now to spend on clothes! Right now I would probably spend most of it on a very nice tailored wool coat. One that fits me like a glove. Winter is coming and when you are walking down the street your coat is all people see, so it's good to have a coat you feel confidant in. I like some Marc Jacob coats, and I have seen some lovely smaller name designer coats in some boutiques in New York. But honestly the best coat I ever bought was at the Family Dollar on Oltorf in Austin. It was a long trench that I wore for years. And it was only $14!!! If I can money let over I would also get some nice sleek riding boots. If I had any other money left over I would spend on some cool vintage pieces.

Join the party at Fashism.com.

For further reading, check out Brooke's column on Mediate.
See also: The Fashism Blog.

Thank you, Grace's Birdcage and Punky Style!

Just a very quick thank you to both Grace's Birdcage and Punky Style for drawing me as a winner in their recent contests! I won a Kansas City prize pack from Grace's Birdcage (to celebrate her 100th post) and a gift certificate to Savers from Punky Style. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And you know what? The above photo just does NOT show how excited I truly am to win. Try this one, instead:

Yep. That's better.

kate spade/ great trade

This whole "having met my monthly allotment of clothing money" thing has really forced me to be more creative with my outfits! Two nights ago I caught myself poring over the Kate Spade clothing line again when I realized that I had enough pieces in my closet to pay an homage to part of the collection.

First up is one of the looks I wore for Tuesday's photoshoot with Annie Ray. Since her photograph won't be published until Nov-freaking-ember, I thought it would be okay to show off my ensemble:

dress: Karta via Buffalo Exchange
chubbie: Banana Republic via Buffalo Exchange
bangle: gift from my dear friend Melissa
bracelets: Ten Thousand Villages
bag: Buffalo Exchange
flats: Urban Outfitters
tights: Express via Buffalo Exchange
[see the kate spade outfit here]

Next up is an outfit that I probably wouldn't normally wear, unless I had some sort of awesome office job. Nonetheless, I like it and should brave up to try wearing this out sometime:

coat: thrifted Kenneth Cole via Savers
glasses: Buffalo Exchange (new merch)
necklace: DIY (see below)
pants: Marshalls
bag: Marshalls
flats: Payless
dress (as shirt): gift from Laura Dahl
bangle: gift from Melissa
[see the kate spade outfit here]

This easy DIY necklace is simply a cheap, fake pearl bracelet (the stretchy kind) looped around a silver chain.

My friend Melissa bought me this bracelet while she was on a homeschooler's conference (yes, you read that right). I love it! It's decoupaged pages of Pride and Prejudice. If you look closely, you can see quotes like, "Mr. Darcy is all politeness" and "Catherine was disconcerted". I adore Jane Austen (haha! See what I did there?), and this bracelet is now one of my most favorite items. The girl who sold it to my friend is selling 'em on Etsy, too.

Even though I did a good job replicating the kate spade items (and saved thousands and thousands of dollars), I am still pining for that owl purse in the top left photo. Rumor has it that they've been sold out for forever and there's no way in Hades that I'll ever lay eyes on one, let alone hold one in my hot little hands. It's days like these that I wished I could sew.

My tights may or may not have jaundice

Sometimes you buy things, and a couple weeks later, you're like, "What was I thinking??!" These yellow tights were like that for me. I swear, every time I tried them on, I was like, "Nope. Not wearing these. These make me look like I have jaundice."

But while I was putting together outfits with Annie Ray for yesterday's photoshoot, the yellow tights were thrown into the mix. I recalled seeing Jessica from WhatIWore rock some yellow tights not too long ago, and in no way did she look like she had jaundice. I decided to give these tights another go with the other military jacket I recently purchased:


date: 23 September 2009
occasion: picking out outfits for tomorrow's Tribeza style week event at Neiman's
jacket: BB Dakota courtesy of Lulu*s
dress: gift from Laura Dahl
tights: Old Navy
shoes: Michael Shannon
hair: I learned how to do my top-knot from La Rue Nueve by way of Blue Collar Catwalk, and I got the bang tutorial from Ideé Géniale (and I've finally grown accustomed to them!).

The weather is starting to get cooler here, but I've vowed to wear more tights and leggings this year, instead of getting stuck in the Great Deep-V, Bootcut Jeans, and Grey Cardigan Style Rut of 2008. Are there any style ruts that y'all are prone to and will try to avoid this year?

I'm with the (marching) band

Brrrr! I am so not used to this 65º weather! Luckily my new coat from Lulu*s came today. Someone hand me a marching band instrument! I look like I'm ready to play "On Wisconsin":

date: 22 September 2009
occasion: "Sex and Finance" marriage small group (week 2/8)
jacket: courtesy of a Lulus.com gift certificate (currently sold out)
jeans: BDG
sparkle tank (hidden): Express
boots: Jasmine (JC Pennys in Seymour, Indiana)
bag: vintage, thrifted

That belt buckle cracks me up. I found it in a drawer I've since dubbed Hubs' accessories graveyard. I forgot that circa five years ago he used to collect hilarious belt buckles. I am pretty sure he even wore a biker gang belt buckle to our wedding (yes, with his tuxedo). I must start putting these buckles back into wardrobe rotation, starting with this one. "Nobody lies to a .45!".

Just wrapped: Annie Ray photoshoot

I just finished my photo shoot with Annie Ray, and wow! We had so much fun! I think I even made a new friend! She was an absolute delight to work with.

She had the idea to let Jimi be in most of the photos, and we made sure to keep it goofy.

As to what I wore, I basically pulled everything that anyone had suggested plus another 1/4th of my closet and threw it on the couch for Annie to choose. I ended up wearing four different outfits but only one photograph will run:

1. In the yard, I wore my new Lulu*s dress complete with the purse strap necklace. I added a pair of magenta tights and a gold brocade jacket that I haven't yet photographed for my dailies. To keep it fun, I wore my green polka dotted rain boots.
2. Also in the yard (but sitting on the ground), I wore my yellow Karta dress with a thrifted faux fur shrug. I kept the magenta tights on. I was in my stocking feet, but my gold wedges and my beloved Gucci were on the ground in the shot.
3. For the third look, I sat at my kitchen table, and I wore a black dress (similar to the yellow Karta one above, except with silver jewels). I wore my double decker hair bow, yellow tights, and my snowman house shoes! I used my skinny thrifted silver purse as a prop.
4. Lastly, we shot inside my teeny office. I wore my BB Dakota dress and the gold brocade jacket. I topped it off with my giant flower headband. No tights and no shoes, but my very old, very beat up Loubs (with the red soles toward camera) were on the ground and were maybe in the shot.

Because it was so important to me that people know that I'm not afraid to be funny, I acted over the top snooty, bored, and frustrated in a lot of the photos. I was also cracking up at Jimi, who was being a squirmy little pest. I do hope the photographs come out funny and vibrant, and I hope people can get the idea that I absolutely love doing Adored Austin, but I don't take myself or fashion too terribly seriously. I'm really glad I didn't panic and go shopping before the shoot, because now, no matter which photograph the editor chooses, I'll be wearing clothes that I actually own and have worn before.

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice about what to wear! The photograph will be published in November, and of course I'll be sure to post it when it's out. Afterall, you were basically my long distance Grace Coddington for this shoot.

Dear Gum, I've missed you.

I got my braces off yesterday and promptly chewed four pieces of Bazooka Joe.

[music sampled: 1963 by Rachael Yamagata]

Help: Photoshoot tomorrow!

Man, oh, man, oh, man, oh, man! I need help, my fellow fashion bloggers and friends! I am being photographed tomorrow morning by the lovely and talented Annie Ray for a local publication. The shoot will be in my backyard in the rain (she's bringing me an umbrella), and she's asked me to "put together the most colorful, textured, patterned outfits you own." She'd like to see three different looks:

I can mix and match items, but where do I begin? Check out my photos on Weardrobe or Flickr and let me know what you think. I am so excited about being photographed by Annie Ray, and I really, really want to look fashionable but whimsical. I need people who see the photograph to get an idea of my quirky sense of humor.

Foreshadowing, for sure

The super talented Trevor Ray shot this hilarious photo of Hubs and me at Saturday's We Make Stuff Party.

I kinda feel like this perfectly sums up the horror Hubs will be going through once it becomes January of 2010 and he enters into his Year of the Man Make-over.

Get a handle on that necklace!

The pressure was ON. Tonight was the We Make Stuff party put on by Candace at Electric Productions. I had been saving my new dress for tonight, but even though the cut was super flattering, the dress alone just wasn't enough. Because I knew I'd be meeting Austin's finest jewelry designers, crafters, and quite a few fashion forward people, I felt enormous pressure to look cool. I needed something a bit more daring. What would a with-it crafter wear?

I got dressed and lamented the fact that I did not own a giant, chunky gold chain necklace or something (anything!) from The Glamouri. Just as I was about to scrap the whole outfit to redo it around my silver owl necklace, I took the chain off my thrifted quilted purse and buckled it around my neck. How's that for daring?


date: 19 September 2009
occasion: We Make Stuff party at The Scoot Inn
dress: Lulu*s
bag: Goodwill
necklace: strap from a vintage purse
shoes: Rampage
Abe Lincoln bracelet: Naughty Secretary's Club

Hubs was waiting downstairs, ready to go, so I hollered down, "I'm about to come down there wearing the most ridiculous necklace. Please don't make fun of me, because when we get to the party, I am hoping that people may think it's cool..." He took one look at it and shrugged in resignation. "Yes, it's the strap from my purse," I reluctantly admitted.

We got there, and HOORAY! My "necklace" was a huge hit. As we were leaving, Hubs squeezed my hand and said, "You were right. People loved it!" And that, my friends, goes on the record as one of the few times Hubs publicly admits that I WAS RIGHT! Hahahahaha! It only took me wearing a purse strap around my neck.

Completely conventional

When I got home from the convention tonight, Hubs took me to Titaya's, my favorite Thai restaurant. Exhausted from standing for most of the day, I opted to go as casual as humanly possible:

date: 18 September 2009
occasion: casual date night
dress: F21 (I de-bubble hemmed it, but still need to give it a regular hem)
cardigan: American Apparel
earrings: gift (same ones from yesterday)
bag: Gucci
flip flops: Buffalo Exchange (new merch)
necklace: another stunning piece from my Grandma's legendary yard sale!

When we got to the restaurant, there was an insanely long wait, but then the nicest thing happened: another couple, a few years older than us, invited us to sit at their table with them since it had four chairs. They have been married 14 years and have four kids, and it was so nice to share a meal and stories with people that have experienced a little more life than Hubs and I have experienced.

That sounds weird, right? Eating with strangers? Well, confession:
This is not the first time I have enjoyed dining with strangers! When Denny's had their free Grand Slam breakfast day, my friend Melissa and I found out the wait was TWO HOURS LONG! People, you cannot ask me to wait that long for food! I love food! We ended up walking up to the hostess stand and when the next party of two was called, we asked if we could join them (we offered to pick up their drinks and dessert and cover tip). We ate that meal with two UT students.

I know this sounds completely bananas, but if there's ever a long wait at a restaurant and there's only two of you, try to share your table with another two people. It always makes for interesting conversation. But perhaps I'm disillusioned. Maybe something like that would only work in a town as friendly as Austin. Could I swing this in New York or Los Angeles?