girly fridays: getting dressed on a budget

You'd think I wasn't a girl the way I've been ignoring this topic. I just don't really think of myself as girly (a whole heap of ppl would disagree lol). Anyhoo, looking cute on a budget is the topic today. Why? Cause I'm broke and I have to be finding ingenious ways to look nice for work, and going out. Here are a few (5 is what I have today) ways I've been making my summer wardrobe stretch:

1. Accessories. Now, there is nothing that livens up an outfit or takes an outfit to diff places (casual, dressy, etc) like accessories. For church I love to add flowers, brooches, belts, and headbands. For work, a pair of cute earrings and a headband, or sandals.

2. Mix n match. When I buy items of clothing I usually think of them in a particular outfit and for a special type of occasion but I'm realizing some of my dressier outfits can be made casual with a few tweaks...adding flip flops, doing my hair in a messy ponytail, switching out a skirt for shorts...and some can be dressed up with heels, make up, accessories, or even adding a cardigan and belt.

3. Know how to buy cheap. I was born with a very high chest i.e., my eyes are waaay bigger than my wallet on most occasions. But you can add cheaper pieces to your ensemble without bringing the whole thing down if you shop wisely in discount stores. How do you shop wisely? First, don't get your entire outfit from there (exception: a cute dress/jumper)...if you happen to get a dress there, please use accessories that can take it up a notch. Second, don't get anything to store specific. I love Mandee for example but when I go there I get plain tees, and cute shorts (in the winter they have cute sweaters too). I even have a black dress from there (but u know I took the cheapo belt out and replaced it with a belt I got for like 3 times the price of the dress and a cute pin/brooch).

4. Borrow from your spouse/sibs/parent/bff. Oh I wish my mom, or Ren-L were closer. You can totally borrow from people whose style you like. I recommend borrowing small items (or non descript)...don't deprive the person of their own closet lol. For example things I borrow from mom - cardigans, scarves, belts, clutches. I also all out steal but that's a different thing. Anyhoo, my husband is a fashionable dude and he likes graphic tees. Surprise! So do I. So if I want to look casually cute, I dip into his stash which is bigger than mine (& we're practically the same size *sigh*). I also have my eye on my brother's Jamaica track team shirt. He better watch it!

5. Learn to sew. Ok, this is the one thing on my list I haven't even tried much less mastered but I've made plans. I don't want to sew boring every day stuff. Puhleeese, that's why there's the mall. But all the great stuff I admire that I will possibly never afford (look here as well, and here lol). I can totally make once I buy the patterns which, sigh, will be an investment. Now, I am assuming the talent is hereditary (cause my mom can really sew...shoot, she can make her own patterns too). She has promised to teach me the summer of 2011 and I am holding her to it.

I've packed & moved.

Come along.

www.shumpynella.wordpress.com

Don't be late now ::tee hee::

New definition & other tidbits

I'm reading a novel something blue. It isn't about cheating, it's akin to a chick flick but it had a good definition I want to share with you all:

There's a threshold test for someone's actions to see if it could be considered cheating...if your partner could see a video of the event, would he or she think you had cheated? Or if you could see a video of your partner in the identical situation, would you think he or she had cheated?

Thanks Emily Giffin.

Anyhoo, I'm loving summer. I haven't been blogging but it isn't because I'm not doing anything. Some of the stuff I'm doing is private, some is boring, some is fun but then I forget to share (better known as laziness).

I'll share some of the fun stuff from this past weekend...so I had arepas & roasted corn yesterday at the NYC street fair. I love love love the street fairs. I have to go back with approx $100 the next time...there's a bunch of crap there with my name on it...jewelry, dresses, graphic tees, Egyptian cotton sheets, & I could go on and on. Went with K, and my bil's gf, Ni. We already have plans to go back. The night before I tried to make it to see Alvin Ailey in Central Park. Didn't really work out. Yea, thanks to men dragging their feet. We'll be going back to CP in 2 Saturdays to see the Clarke Sister's and Kiki Sheard (with picnic in tow!!!). There's a ton of fun & free things to do in NYC during the summer. I'm glad I have no classes (even tho I'll be paying for this freedom come September).

I also got a hair cut. Not much tho. I've been growing my hair but it needed some shape so my stylist (who I love) took a tiny bit off - like an inch or a little more. What do I think of the cut? No clue. It was so hot it died so I never saw it. Maybe in 2 weeks when I get my creamy crack, I'll make it straight again. Straight hair in the summer is really stupid.

I have dates in mind for my summer time off. Plan to put in for the days this week (yay!!!).

One major regret is I haven't been spending enough time in B&N. I just don't know how that happened. I'll be rectifying that this week/end. Maybe tonight.

One huge improvement in my life? I have been doing my daily devotion & prayer first thing each morning. Now, try as I might, this has been one of the hardest things to keep at. Now that I'm doing it again, I think I would have to not wake up to miss it (yes, it is that serious and necessary). One, it keeps me on my toes (someone is always trying to get me to lose myself lol). Two, it is refreshing. Three, it is necessary. This isn't my lesson study for all you SDAs...that's something else I need to work on. This is literally just a little time with Jesus to tell him what going on & He's making everything ALL right *wink*

~~~

On another note. I know I always need prayer. & I know we aught to take the big things to God but I am certain he wants to know about the little things too. On that note, I have prayer requests I would like to share. First is for a lovely late summer/fall vacation and second is for 2 weeks in Jamaica for Christmas. The rest I need to talk to God personally about but these 2 y'all could tack them to the end of your lists please :)

Fountain, Lincoln Center.

DUECES!!!

word love: Driving in Kingston

1. Turn signals will give away your next move. A real Kingston driver never uses them. 2. Under no circumstance should you leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, or the space will be filled in by somebody else, putting you in an even more dangerous situation. 3. The faster you drive through a red light, the smaller the chance you have of getting hit. 4. Never, ever come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No one expects it and it will result in you being rear-ended. 5. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive bodywork. The other guy doesn't have anything to lose. 6. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure that your ABS kicks in, giving a nice, relaxing foot massage as the brake pedal pulsates. For those of you without ABS, it's a chance to stretch your legs. 7. Never pass on the right when you can pass on the left. It's a good way to scare people for a laugh. 8. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as a suggestion and are apparently not enforceable in Kingston. 9. Just because you're in the right lane and have no room to speed up or move over doesn't mean that a Kingston driver flashing his high beams behind you doesn't think he can go faster in your spot. 10. Always slow down and rubberneck when you see an accident or even someone changing a tire. 11. Learn to swerve abruptly. Kingston is the home of the high-speed 'dally' , thanks to the KSAC, which puts pot-holes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes. 12. It is traditional in Kingston to honk your horn at cars that don't move the instant the light turns green. 13. Remember that the goal of every Kingston driver is to get there first --by whatever means necessary.

:::Brawta:::

Are you wanted? Check Reverend Al Miller for safe passage to the authorities. Call 1-888-YUH-SAFE.

The popular religious leader Rev. Al Miller is now wanted. It is alleged that he was found in possession of Coke. Sources say that he was found with Coke weighing approximately 190lbs, and said to have a street value of J$5,000,000.

C&P from http://www.jamaicanjokes.com/

My drug of choice...

grape nut ice cream.

Yes, it is one of those days.

In an effort to keep this a fairly happy place, I purposely have no outright sad/angry labels. As I searched for a "I can't be bothered with this, I want my mommy" label, I realized I didn't have one. I think I made sure I had no negative labels because I refuse to have any of that around me. Not even in myself. Absolutely will not accept it. Yes, I'm not feeling too great today but I am not physically sick, I have great family, & a wonderful God. What do they say? Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. Well, some morning lol.

BLESSED IS THE (WO)MAN WHOSE TRUST & CONFIDENCE IS IN THE LORD

Jeremiah 17:7

sweet sundays: God is in control

As great as life is (& mine really is, thank Jesus), it just isn't always perfect. There are bumps and and sometimes mountains along the way. Sometimes it is easier to give up and throw in the towel when things aren't panning out as I expect. This is when I turn to God. After all He is in charge. He is directing my life.

If I'm not the only person with a seemingly impassable mountain, then maybe these words can encourage you (as I encourage myself).

Looking up from the bottom

It seems like a long way to go

The mountain's dark and steeo

The climbing is oh so slow

Your body aches

You're out of breath

Your're ready to give in

But don't give up

You've got the strength

To make it to the end

You can pour on the power (mighty power)

And pull that mountain down

You can pour on the power (mighty power)

And claim that higher ground

You may think you're at a wall

But it's just a door, that's all

'Cause you ain't seen nothing

Until you pour on the power

excerpt from the Lyrics of Pour on the Power (sung by Sandi Patty)

I am getting on my knees...I'll be praying hard and leaving it all in God's hands. That way, whatever comes, it will be his will. I hope you can do the same. Accept the peace of mind and comfort that will come from casting all your cares on Him who cares best for you.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Good bye black star team

Heart break heard across the world. Ghanaian team loses to Uruguay. Missed last second penalty shot led to a penalty shoot out which they lost. My heart hurt for hours. I think the World Cup is compromising my medical health.