Snow and Swimsuits

I was so delighted to look out the window this morning and see the beautiful snow! I thought I heard Tim in the garage getting ready to leave so I quickly made it out there so we could share the magical moment. I threw open the door.

Me: Look at the snow!
Tim: It's like a winter wonderland!
Me: I know!
Tim: (chuckling)
Me: Are you mocking me?
Tim: Uh-huh.

Whatever. I quickly grabbed my camera and shuffled outside to take some pictures. I absolutely love how quiet it is when everything is blanketed with snow. Everything is bright and still. It takes me back to Colorado. Sigh.

Even though outside it looks like Summer is far, far away, I know that my afternoons by the pool are only about three months away. I have a few new things for fabulous and classy poolside lounging.

I bought a new cover up.


While it might look a little boring, I really like it. It has a cute keyhole opening with a little bow adorned with wooden beads.


The price was right, too. Not $40, but ...


99 cents at NBC's 99 cent sale!

I went to Goodwill the other night and found a tote for the pool that I absolutely love! You know how I need a tote bag for every occasion.


It was only $4.00! And it has a great lining that can handle sunscreen squirts and snow cone drips.


I love the faux woven look.


It's very Bottega Veneta-ish.


Yeah, yeah, I know that's quite a stretch, but I'd say my Goodwill tote is as close to Bottega Veneta one can get for $4.00. Have you ever felt Bottega Veneta leather? Put it on your To Do List. It's UNbelievable.

As I was photographing the tote in my backyard (Yes! That's the magical snow from today!) I rememberd a cute little envelope I bought at Ann Taylor Loft.


I was just drawn to these. Maybe because they're so shiny. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but I knew I could use it for pictures, receipts, To Do Lists, coupons, etc. The price made it too good to pass up.


And it was an extra 50% off so $2.44!

This will be great to hold my pool card, driver's license and snow cone money and it matches the tote perfectly.

I even have some new sandals. I got these muted gold sandals at the Gap Outlet.


I was kind of disappointed when I saw that they weren't real leather, but that is actually better for summer. I won't worry about them getting wet. How much?


So I'm set with pool accessories, but what is the main thing you need for the pool? A good swimsuit. Luckily, I've snagged a few over the last year. ALL under $5.oo and all from NBC.

This is a good family or mixed company swimsuit.


At $3.00 it's almost disposable.

I usually don't wear swimsuits quite this busy, but for $1.00 I thought I'd give this next one a try (with my own black bikini bottom, of course).


This one is my least favorite, but it was only $3.00 and it's really well made.


This is going to be one of my guest swimsuits. So if Sister forgets her suit she's taken care of. :)

This one's my favorite.


If you've seen these in department stores you know they're well over $100, but I got this one for $3.00. Score!

The snow continues to fall and I love it! Look at the bushes lining our sidewalk!


While I wait for Summer I'm certainly going to enjoy this!

GO HORNS!

Saturday Tim and I got to go to the University of Texas game at Cowboys Stadium. Tim received the invitation through a contact at work. Let's just say that if we continue to go to games with these accommodations that I am going to become a sports fanatic.

This was the view from our seats (no zoom required)

And speaking of seats ...

Sweet suite seats, indeed. Where we could see the players right before they took the field.

Tim even got high fives from Shipley and McCoy (and some other names I didn't recognize so I can't remember now).

I shook hands with Bevo (the mascot).

The chips and dips were especially good.

The binoculars were great for people watching.

And I actually enjoyed my stadium restroom experience with the moisturizing coconut hand soap and cloth-like paper towels embossed with a silver Cowboys star.

Can't you see why my love for sports is growing?

As soon as it was confirmed that we had our tickets, parking pass, and that all our food and drinks were included I began to think about what to wear. (Or maybe I thought about that first, but anyway.) Burnt orange is not one of my favorite colors, nor is it particularly flattering on me. And what do people wear in end zone suites right next to the tunnel where the players come out? Crowns? Jerseys? I don't own either.

As I scanned my closet my eyes fell on a new shirt I bought several months ago at Goodwill.

It was brand new from Charlotte Russe with the tags still on it.

$16.99 isn't too bad for a cute top, but $4.99 is better!

I've never been in a Charlotte Russe. I had the impression that it was for tweens and teens and that the clothes were cheap. Maybe that's true and maybe it's not, but I do like the detailing on this shirt and it doesn't feel cheaply made at all.

I wore the top with a brown camisole from Old Navy that I picked up on the clearance rack for $2.99. Camisoles aren't that fun to buy, but they come in handy so often. I have white, cream, brown, black and navy. (And don't forget to replace them when they stretch out or begin to look worn. Nothing ruins an outfit like ill-fitting or worn out undergarments.)

I wore my newest pair of jeans. They're dark, Curvy Ann Taylor jeans that I got for $11 at NBC.

Ann Taylor's jeans are now $85 or $95 depending on the style! I'm sure this Curvy style is from last season. I like the clean lines and modern fit which is getting to be more and more difficult to find.

I don't want to wear Lee jeans up to my belly button and I don't want pink rhinestone crosses on my back pockets either.

I got to wear a new-ish necklace from Ann Taylor Loft.

This was only $4.88 on Final Sale. Most people like this necklace. Not my mom. I think of her every time I put this on because of her reaction when she saw me in this for the first time.

If you know my mom you know that she is very nice, very encouraging and never negative. But as her daughter I can easily tell when she really dislikes something. This was our conversation:

Mom: Is that a new necklace?
me: Yeah, I just got it yesterday.
Mom: Oh, where did you get it?
me: Ann Taylor Loft
Mom: Really? It doesn't look like their other jewelry.
me: [laughing] So I guess that means you don't like it.
Mom: Well, it's not my favorite.

"Not my favorite" is my mom's code for "awful." What's so bad about this little necklace?

Note: I write this all in love. My mom is a good friend. I just find her dislike for my necklace quite amusing.

So the total for the shirt, camisole, jeans and necklace came to $23.86. Pretty good!

Go Horns!

Goodwill Finds

I had to swing by Goodwill last night while I was out running some errands. I didn't buy anything, but today I'm wishing I bought a thick, heart-shaped, glass bowl that was $1. It would have looked so cute around Valentine's Day with M&Ms or kisses in it. I could go back after work today, but I'll have to see.

I did remember to bring my camera and my battery actually had some life in it this time. You CAN find cute things at Goodwill. I found a dark denim skirt from Gap's 1969 collection for $4.

It honestly looked brand new.

There were some pants from Ann Taylor Loft.

They felt like they'd never been through the washer or dryer (in a good, new-ish sort of way).
They also had lots of brand new dresses that would be worthy of a formal or a wedding.
I'd be very interested to know how these ever made it to Goodwill. There were so many that you could probably dress your whole wedding party. The tags were still attached!

Of course, it wouldn't be Goodwill without a dress like this stuck in the rack.

Although this could be the foundation of a fantastic Halloween costume.

I made a quick run through the shoe area while holding my breath. It stinks back there. I would NOT recommend buying shoes at Goodwill unless they look brand spanking new and can be wiped off with a Lysol wipe (like jellies or rain boots). I might buy shoes for an infant if they were irresistible because you know they didn't get much wear and how gross can a tiny foot be?

Plus, you find things stashed in the wrong departments all the time. Look at this adorable swimsuit I found in the shoes.
It was so cute and ... the best part ... brand new.
I'm looking forward to welcoming a couple babies next summer, but I don't know yet if they'll be needing frilly suits or manly swim trunks. Wait, I just re-read that sentence and I must clarify these are friends' babies. No twins for this girl.

For those of you who have never set foot in a Goodwill, let me prepare you. Goodwill is gross. I feel that expectations will make or break almost any experience so I want to be clear. It is not glamourous to shop at thrift stores.

When I go to browse (or dig) I wear clothes that can be washed in hot water. I have anti-bacterial hand gel ready for use. I do not touch my eyes, nose, or mouth while in the store and I sequester any purchases I bring into my home from mingling with the rest of my belongings until they have been washed, wiped or run through the dishwasher.

Thrift stores are often not well organized (see swimsuit in shoe department above). Nobody will ask you if need any help (like any decent mall store), let you know what the specials are (Bath & Body Works-style), start a fitting room for you (Ann Taylor's the best) or offer you something to drink (I miss you, Harold's).

It is not unusual to enter a fitting room and find that there aren't any hooks in the wall, only small holes where hooks used to serve a purpose. Mirrors can often have a wavy, funhouse quality which makes it awfully difficult to decide if it's the pants or take-out dinners that are causing this unfortunate situation.

While I am a fan of thrift stores I will have to say there are two areas to avoid at all costs:
and dressing rooms that look like this:
Be safe out there.