The World's Best Husband took me estate sale shopping yesterday!

Best husband, EVER!

Fact: Hubs hates shopping. He especially hates shopping with me. His hatred is compounded when he shops with me at things like garage sales, flea markets, vintage stores, and antique shops. It's probably because I look at every single thing and ask him a barrage of question after question, when he could not care less. Poor Hubs. After going with me to Saturday's City Wide Garage Sale, yesterday I begged him to go with me to several vintage shops and one estate sale. Luckily, we struck gold at the estate sale:

Solid wood window mirrors (one of which I repainted teal), hand stitched, Indian inspired pillows,
vintage handbags, dresses, skirt, and a Samsonite traincase (FREE from the nice man at the checkout table!).
All these clothes and bags for $34.50, total!

Get this: those dresses and that skirt are virgin vintage! They're from the 1960's, have never been worn, and still have the original tags attached! Squee! But, here's the tragic part: none of them fit me. They're made for a woman who is a little more shortwaisted than I am and who probably wears a modern size 2 or 4. So, alas, I cannot keep them. I will air them out and clean them up a bit and have the metal zippers reconditioned. Then, sadly, I will have to sell them. I am not quite sure if I'll consign them to a shop here in town or if I'll open up a little Etsy shop and sell them there. Nonetheless, I'm excited to have rescued them, and I think they'd be lovely additions to someone else's vintage wardrobe. Very Mad Men, if I do say so myself... especially that stunning white pencil skirt.

Thanks, Hubs, for taking me vintage shopping. I hope we find our dream furniture soon! (We're looking for a vintage dining room set, 1960's credenza to use as an entertainment center, a modern coffee table, Eames inspired lounge chairs, and a make-up vanity). I imagine I'll be hitting up all the estate sales in this area until we find what we're looking for.

City Wide Garage Sale, again!

Poor Hubs. I dragged him to the City Wide Garage Sale again today. I wanted to look cute, and I'm trying to be a little more bold in my layering and color combos:


date: 28 November 2009
occasion: shopping the City Wide Garage Sale
dress: vintage, thrifted
blouse: Guess
cardigan: Express
tights: Express
belt: thrifted
bag: thrifted
shoes: Target, thrifted
pins: Fashionique
sunnies: Blue Blockers, flea market

While at the garage sale, I met this super stylish chickadee at the $12 fur coat table. I was struck at the wonderful combo of her ultra girly dress and her super tough accessories. Adored Austin, meet UT student Diya:

dress: Top Shop, bracelets and rings: UO, F21, eBay, belt: V for vintage, shoes: Charlotte Russe.

So I got this wonderful street style photo, but I was on the hunt for home decor, too. I got a couple cool things, but also (surprise, surprise) I got some animal necklaces:

1940's airplane print, 1970's animal necklace, birdcage.

The airplane print is cool because my house is under the flight path of the Austin airport, and I wanted to start getting more vintage airplane and airport decor as a cheeky homage to that. The necklaces had to become mine because 1- they are animal necklaces (duh!), and 2- more specifically, they are made by the same designer who made the silver owl I got from my grandma. And finally, the birdcage is going to be repurposed as a pendent lamp for my entry way, and I was totally inspired by Melissa over at Stay Forever Sunday. So yes, all in all, it was a good City Wide Garage sale day, and I am very seriously considering going back tomorrow!

Spotlight on independent designers: Po Campo and Leighelena

Maria, the owner of Po Campo, just let me know that her bags are now available at Mellow Johnnys here in Austin. I love these bags because I usually just strap a plastic bag to my bike with a bungee cord and then end up using the hideous plastic bag as a purse. I'm going to go check these out very soon! What an adorable idea!

Leighelena is an Austin based enamelist, and she'll be showing off her new collection at Solid Gold boutique this Tuesday, December 8th. I'm starved for good, local fashion events, so I am going to try my hardest to check out this event, too!

Rosalind Keep: Trompe L'oeil

There is want...

And there is NEED...

Rosalind Keep, an undergrad at London College of Fashion, designed this adorably creative trompe l'oeil line, and I'm pretty sure I need the bottom dress in my life like NOW. Someone get this girl's clothing some major distribution, please! Mmmkay, thanks.

Black Friday... and more animal jewelry!

Typically, I don't go shopping on Black Friday. I like to laze around the house, stuffing my face with yummy leftovers. Today's leftovers are particularly special to me because yesterday I cooked my first Thanksgiving meal in its entirety-- including a turkey! I wish I had a photo. It turned out beautiful... well, as beautiful as a dead bird can be, anyway.

It's funny to me to see the other fashion bloggers in their winter coats and scarves because the weather here in Austin still isn't super cold. In fact, my garden is still producing jalapeños!

Today I did do a quick jaunt to the bank and I stopped by Fashionique, a new costume jewelry shop in the Mueller development, because the entire store was half off. I still haven't worn my winter coat, and I'm resisting wearing jeans for as long as I possibly can. My neighbor Abby recently gifted me with this cozy sweater dress, and I thought it was perfect for both a quick trip out of the house and for laying around the house:

date: 27 November 2009
occasion: Black Friday (stopped at one shop, watching movies at home)
sweater dress: Derek Hart (gift from Abby)
cable knit tights: American Apparel outlet
faux leather fringe boots: Rue 21
alligator bracelet: Fashionique (new today)

While at Fashionique, I was able to buy some jewelry to expand my ever growing collection of animal jewelry. These jewelry sets were buy a set, get one free, and I fell in love with the fancy little horse. I think I'll use the earrings as tiny pins. I can't imagine wearing something this ornate on my earlobes:

Additionally, I picked up two animal bracelets (50% off, duh!). The bottom one is an alligator, but I'm not entirely sure what the top one is. A black horse, maybe?

These two bracelets doubled my current animal bracelet collection, and it just so happens that all four were originally from Fashionique.

Now if only I can find an affordable enamel snake bracelet. My inner Claudia Kishi would be so pleased.

Comment of the Day: You totally remind me of Claudia! I always wanted to be Stacy, nevermind that I'm Colombian :) -Lizzy

Style chain: scarf, belt, and tights

There's a million things I'm supposed to do today, but I just can't tear myself away from witnessing the beginnings of dog world's newest friendship, as I'm dog sitting this little fluff ball while B. Sterling and Jess Archer are away. World, meet Lupe:

Probably because my brain has been fried with seeing all the above cuteness in person, I had the toughest time picking this morning's outfit. When I have no clue what to wear, I usually style chain. Luckily Orchid Grey, Second Skin, and This Time Tomorrow already had the ball rolling on this one:

date: 25 November 2009
occasion: grocery shopping, errand running
dress: Express
scarf: ModCloth (prize from I Spy Thursday)
tights: We Love Colors
shoes: Payless
belt: thifted

Eegads! How am I ever going to leave the house with this puddle of cuteness curled up on my lap?

Thanksgiving is depending on me! Must! Break! Eye contact! Go!

style chain photos ©Orchid Grey, Second Skin, and This Time Tomorrow.

I could start a jewelry zoo

To get boys to talk to me, I collected baseball cards in elementary school. In middle school, I stopped caring what boys thought of me, and I started collecting grosgrain hair ribbons. When I was in high school, I totally geeked out and started collecting Pez dispensers.

Now that I'm older, I'm finding that I don't really have the time to collect things anymore. I have no clue where my baseball cards, hair ribbons, or Pez dispensers have disappeared to. In my adulthood, the only thing I seemed to have amassed is animal jewelry. Behold my necklace menagerie:

L-R: thrifted elephant belt (usually worn as a necklace),Objects Found guppy necklace, thrifted golden elephant necklace, my grandma's silver owl necklace, flea market find: golden hen necklace, FENNOFashion Silver Hoot necklace, vintage gold owl necklace, craft booth spoon/ owl necklace.

This collection is definitely more exciting than my Pez dispenser collection. Plus, I cannot even begin to tell you the number of boys that have complimented my elephant chain belt necklace! Yes, single ladies: I do recommend wearing something kind of whimsical and out there so shy boys can have something to talk to you about. Just ask Hubs about my butterfly t-shirt! Trust me: this totally beats a baseball card collection any day!

What do you collect?

Look at these winners!

Giveaways are so much fun! I've been fortunate to have a number of awesome giveaways here on Adored Austin, and here are three past winners sporting some of their new goodies:

From L-R:
1. Charlotte, who won the $50 gift certificate from Buy Definition bought a crepe BB Dakota dress,
2. Liz (From Lizzy Punch) won her choice of anything from the FENNOFashion website and chose the bronze Patricia necklace, and
3. Julie (from Orchid Grey) won her choice of a necklace from Leviticus Jewelry and chose the bronze fern necklace.

Congrats to these winners! There are more fabulous giveaways to come!

Photos ©Charlotte, Lizzy Punch, and Orchid Grey.

Style Chain: floral dress and black blazer

When I saw the amazing Jen Lula from Jen Loves Kev don this look last week, I knew I had to style chain it!

She got her amazing dress for only $3 at the thrift store. I procured my dress, blazer, and new old man shoes yesterday from Savers. My dress was a dollar more, and I made sure to wear my awesome handmade Jen Loves Kev brooch to top off the ensemble:

date: 21 November 2009
occasion: improv afternoon at my house, dinner party tonight
dress: thrifted (Savers)
blazer: thrifted (Savers)
tights: We Love Colors
shoes: thrifed (Savers)
brooch: Jen Loves Kev

I am totally stoked about my new tights that came today. I ordered the rubine ones in addition red and teal. I'm so excited to eschew jeans this fall for colored tights and leggings:

These are my first three pairs of tights from We Love Colors. Forty eight more pairs to go!

top photos ©Jen Loves Kev

Perfect boots: FOUND!

I don't even know who I am anymore!

In college, I was probably a bonafide shopaholic. My roommates will attest that I was able to spend hundreds of dollars without batting a lash. But now that I'm married (and have someone helping me keep my out of control spending habits at bay) and now that I've been so charmed by the hunt for a good thrift store treasure, I absolutely cannot bring myself to buy new things priced over $50 without getting a small stomach ache. Isn't that weird? Case in point: these gorgeous new items that I just purchased via Vic's online are making my tummy do a Texas two-step:

Chinese Laundry Over the Knee Boots (grey), Colin Stuart Riding Boots (burgundy),
lightweight cardigan (popcorn), knit scarf- free! (ivory).

I took Alya's advice and finally checked out the boot selection at Victoria's Secret. The Chinese Laundry over the knee boots are exactly what I was looking for, but at $119, I wanted to pass on them... and pass out. But then Hubs recommended that I check out RetailMeNot.com, and there I found a four tiered coupon that saved me a lot of money! Since I was already planning on getting the yellow popcorn cardigan (that came with a free scarf!), that meant I could get the Colin Stuart burgundy riding boots for only $40 (plus 20% off since they were on clearance). I ended up saving close to $100. I was probably tricked into spending a lot more money than I wanted, but let us all rejoice! My hunt for the perfect fall boot has finally come to an end! Now I hope my guilty stomach ache comes to an end, too.

We talked a little bit in my small group about the guilt that comes from buying things for yourself. I imagine that this guilt is a lot less prevalent in the fashion bloggers' community, but nonetheless, I have it. Even though I already got paid for my film and I've completed all of my Christmas shopping already (yes, already!), I'm still having a hard time buying myself something so extravagant and something so NEW. Does anyone else get the tummy flutters when they're spending money?

You shall not get me down, rain!

Despite the rain, I am on a mission to find the perfect grey suede boots today. I am determined to find them, so I can get over The Great Boot Disappointment of 2009. I'm feeling pretty chipper, though, because I'm wearing my new Le Sac dress that I got from the American Apparel outlet yesterday. After seeing it on my friend Emmy and after reading this post from The Hipstercrite, I haven't stopped thinking about it, even though it is, essentially a pillow case with string:

date: 20 November 2009
occasion: retail therapy!
le sac dress: american apparel
shirt: inc
thick knit thigh highs (scrunched down): american apparel
boots: costco
umbrella: costco

Is the universe about to implode? I'm about to do retail therapy to get over a shopping disappointment. I plan to cure a bad shopping experience with *gasp* even more shopping. Dang. That's messed up!

P.S.
I haven't had the chance to play around with my new dress, yet, but after I do, I'm sure I'll make a video not unlike my infamous Circle Scarf how-to video.

P.P.S.
If you're the sewing type (which I hope to become next year), you can make your own Le Sac without having to pay $30+ for it. Simple instructions HERE and HERE.

Unbreak my heart, Nordstrom Rack!

As many of you know, I've been searching for the perfect fall boot since the THE SPRING. I have spent hours and hours on this expedition. Yesterday, I thought my boot hunting excursion had come to a triumphant end when I spied the perfect boot at Austin's new Nordstrom Rack. They had everything I'd ever wanted in a boot:

• knee high but worked scrunched down, too.
• soft, grey suede
• the perfect circumference around my ankle and calf,
• and UNDER $50!

These boots were the last pair left in the entire store and they happened to be MY SIZE! It was fate, right? Squeeeee! I literally danced around the store in excitement and even high fived a perfect stranger for my find.

That's why I think my stinging tears of disappointment were justified when I got the the check out counter and discovered that these shoes were falling apart. They were either a return that never ever should have been accepted and/ or these were someone's actual shoes that they swapped in store for a better, newer pair:

They wouldn't sell these to me, even for a deep discount. The manager Esme tried to be nice about it and even offered to do a merchandise search at other Nordstrom Racks, but as the closest one is in Dallas, it just wasn't worth it to me. Alas, my arduous boot hunt continues today.

A 1979 afternoon

Like my infamous grey sweater, I cannot believe this blouse has not appeared in my dailies, yet! This blouse is definitely in my top three favorites (along with this one and this one), and today, I felt like wearing a lot of my favorite things, regardless if they were meant to be worn together or not.

date: 19 November 2009
occasion: lunch at Asia Cafe, shopping at American Apparel Outlet and Nordstrom Rack, dinner at Blue Dahlia Bistro.
cardigan: American Apparel
favorite jersey knit dress dress: thrifted
favorite blouse: Buffalo David Bitton
favorite tights: Target
favorite boots: Minnetonka
new favorite belt: thrifted
favorite brown sunglasses: Blue Blockers

As I was looking through my daily self-style photos, I was struck by how much I'm starting to look like my mother. This particular pose and expression on my face reminded me of the old 1970's photos of my mom that I would look through as a kid:

Dude, you know you're getting old when you start reminding yourself of your mother. Am I right or am I right?

Comment of the Day: I know I am getting old because last night I went to sleep at 8pm. I even sacrificed watching my favorite show, Grey's Anatomy, for sleep! - God's Favorite Shoes

Review: Zeno and Clarisonic Mia

Last Friday I was over the moon about my new purchases: a Zeno zit zapper and a Clarisonic Mia face brush. Today, on day six with my new products, I thought I'd share my thoughts on 'em:

The ZENO (on clearance at Ulta for $50)
The good: This thing works. Well, sorta. It works on what I call almost pimples (the random painful ones that don't look as bad as they feel). It does not work on blackheads, whiteheads, and clusters of cystic acne. However, I had two pimples that were just below the surface of my skin just about to erupt, so I used the Zeno on 'em at night and in the morning, all traces of 'em were gone!
The bad: This thing works because it is essentially BURNING the pimples. According to The Gadgeteer the pimples are going away due to a heat shock response. Heat shock response is a reaction bacteria have to heat where they activate heat-shock proteins in a panic, which causes the acne bacteria to self-destruct. Word to the wise: don't mash the Zeno onto your face. It's really hot. Just hold it against your skin. If you have super sensitive skin, you're going to have a big red mark over night. Hubs found this out the hard way when I insisted he let me use the Zeno on a tiny thing he had on his forehead. Sorry, Hubs!
The ugly: This model of the Zeno is being phased out, and the refill tips are $35 each (for sixty treatments!). Granted, you can get them on eBay for a fraction of the price, but still! Also, this particular Zeno won't hold a charge, which means it's useless to me after two cycles (I would have to charge it every day in order to use it).
Conclusion: Once I got over the searing pain, I liked it because it worked. It was perfect for what I needed, and I'm sad that I have to take it back because it's broken. This was the last one at Ulta, and Sephora no longer carries them. Note: if you were the anonymous person who commented on wanting to unload your Zeno, please email me! You have a taker!

The CLARISONIC MIA (paid $149 for it at Sephora)
The good: I didn't notice much difference after day one, but after day two, I was hooked! My skin feels softer, and my make-up and moisturizer go A LOT further. I look forward to using this each night! It's like a one minute mini-spa treatment!
The bad: It's so gentle that it shouldn't be viewed as an exfoliator. I'm finding that I'm still having to use my good 'ole Apricot Scrub once or twice/ week. Also, at $149 the Mia is pricey! The replacement heads run $25 each, but luckily they don't need to be replaced for 120 days. Again, I think I can find them cheaper on eBay.
The ugly: The Mia only comes in white and pink (not grey, like the pro model). A week in and my white one is already looking a little dingy. Also, the Mia doesn't have a cool charging stand like the other models. Mine has to sit upright in a cup at night to dry properly.
Conclusion: I am in love, but honestly, I may take the Mia back and plop down an extra $100 for the pro model. I'm curious to see if the different speeds make a difference. If anyone has one of those they'd like to unload or sell, let me know! You may have a taker!

Swoon City!

Look at my gorgeous new owl!

It's almost as awesome as the one I bought at my grandma's yard sale a while back:

Room Service Vintage is doing 20% off jewelry for the entire month of November. This has caused me to ask for a jewelry armoire for Christmas. Yes, I think I'm starting to amass enough jewelry to fill an entire armoire.

Stop that robber!

I was surfing the internet on the living room couch in my pj's this morning, when Jimi started barking like crazy. Jimi is a small dog, but he's usually not very yippy. He only barks when he's scared or trying to alert me. I looked up and saw that there was a police man standing on my porch and two police officers were running back and forth between my house and my neighbor's! Turns out there was a robbery suspect running away from the police right on my tiny little street! I was told to stay inside and keep the doors locked and the alarm on. I was a little freaked out to say the least and got kind of a late start to my day because of all that.

Good news? He was apprehended! Hooray for the Austin police and for my neighborhood watch group (who never gets enough credit)! All's clear now, so I was finally able to go outside to do my self-style photo:

date: 17 November 2009
occasion: my last small group (we've been studying Sex & Finance from a Biblical point of view)
sweater: thrifted
leggings: Miley Cyrus/ Max Azzaria
boots: vintage
necklace: magic trick and prop from "I Didn't Come Here to Die"

Speaking of things that don't get enough credit, underneath my sweater is the most under appreciated and the never acknowledged workhorse of my entire wardrobe:

tank: Ralph Lauren intimates

This pinkish nude, ribbed tank is my closet's unsung hero. Much like the crew of a film, this is an integral part of my style but never gets any glory. Whenever I think a shirt is a smidge too thin or sheer or if I feel like my bra is looking lumpy or bulky, I throw on this tank and things are top notch. I thought today I'd let y'all in on that little secret. What are the unsung heroes of your wardrobe?

Comment of the Day: Phew, I'm glad all is okay. I would have been devastated without your outdoor outfit shot of the day:) My unsung hero is my nude tshirt bra. You think it's not there but it's lifting like it's being paid. -my edit

I would like to send you a Christmas (post)card

I love Christmas. I'm one of the few people who doesn't mind that Christmas decorations come out right after Halloween. Every year, Hubs and I send out a Christmas photo. Our family pretty much hated last year's photo. I thought it was hilarious:

Because this year will be Adored Austin's first Christmas and because I want to say thank you to my wonderful readership, I would love to send my readers a personalized Christmas postcard (but, alas, I cannot guarantee the photo will be as awesome as the one above). I know it's only November 17th, but I'd really like to get a jump start on these.

If you would like to receive a Christmas postcard in the mail from me, follow these very simple instructions by Monday, December 14th:
1. make sure you're stalking me either on Google Reader or Blog Lovin' (and I will stalk you back!),
2. email me at indiana [at] adoredaustin [dot] com,
3. in the subject line type CHRISTMAS CARD,
4. Ask me any question in the world (it can be personal or funny or serious... your choice!),
5. make sure to include your name and mailing address so I can get my postal carrier to somehow get it to your postal carrier (folks outside of the United States are included!).

Thank you! I'm looking forward to writing these!

Audition outfit: beer company print ad

I had a go-see for a beer company print ad today. The part I was up for was described as "outgoing, cute, not perfect and unattainable, but the adorable girl next door. Can dig into a hamburger and enjoy it!". I threw on the beer company's logo colors, a padded bra, and I was on my way:

date: 16 November 2009
project: print ad for a beer company
role: the attainable girl next door
dress: F21
textured tights: Target
boots: Anne Klein
bracelet: Tiffany's
belt: thrifted

I don't usually like doing print ads. I feel incredibly awkward at professional photo shoots. I never know what to do with my face or my hands or arms and legs, no matter how many episodes of America's Next Top Model I watch. But because this one was for a "girl next door" type and not the buxom, bombshell type, I told my agent (reluctantly) that I'd do it. I was supposed to bring a couple cute friends with me, but alas, all my in-town buddies have school or work, so I had to show up solo, like a friendless loser. That's why I was so relieved to see my blogging buddy Tolly at the audition desk when I got there. She, too, was unable to wrangle her friends for the go-see, so we were so delighted to be photographed together!

Speaking of photography, my good buddy Chris got me this to die for Polaroid for my birthday!I was so excited to receive this because I'm bananas about Polaroid photography and have been searching for this camera for a while. My Grandpa had the same exact one, and it was a permanent fixture of my childhood. I can't wait to mod out some of my 600 film and start shooting with this bad boy. Thank you, Chris, for such a thoughtful gift!

(update 17 November 2009: I forgot to say the audition went well. It was quick and they were seeing a ton of people. I still maintain I'm a little too awkward and tall for print work!).