All Dressed Up...

I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go! Actually, I have been meaning to post this dress for a while now. I got this dress at Goodwill last month. When I got it, it was clearly too big, so I decided for 6.99...why not just have it taken it
(Picture to the left...that's the dress in its original state...not hot...but I believed in its potential!)

Ummm yeah....bad idea...well financially speaking. I took it to my tailor (yes, I have one of those) and because of the way the dress was made, it became a bigger hassle than what it was worth. She had to take it in on the sides, back, front...everywhere...but the primary issue was that it was high waisted...ie...alot of money.

She quoted me sixty bucks and I promptly quoted her an eye roll. But since I am a trusty customer, I was able to knock down the price to 20 bucks...trust me, I pulled out all the stops.

I got it initially because of the fabric and the style. I loved the one shoulder look and it clearly was from the early 80's. So after I promised the toes of my child who doesn't even exist, Operation "It's gonna take a miracle" began!

Ultimately, I love it. I am planning to wear it to my friend's wedding in October...(What's up Puerto Rican Princess!..she makes me call her that:)

All in all, I am very pleased. It's one of a kind. If I had to do it over again, I would have just left the dress at Goodwill but once I get something in my head....it is hard to deter me!

Dress: Goodwill

Belt: Goodwill

Shoes: Carlos Santana

(I really must do a better job of taking pictures of my shoes...this is God's Favorite Shoes, isn't it)

If I Were Into Birthdays...

My birthday is in 10 days and if I were into birthday gifts, I would totally want these treasures:

1. An Apron like this one from Anthropologie $28 (I don't know why I want an apron,maybe because I have never had one...weird I know...but a pretty apron will simply make me want to cook more...right?)

2. These Migliorini Espresso riding boots that I saw at Marshall's last week. (I am always looking for riding boots. You can't really see the ruffled trim that make the boots fabulous)

3. Any of these coats/jackets from Anthropologie will make me PRAISE HIM!

4. Shoe Art...That's what I would call this shoe. I have been watching these for a while. These are by Jeffrey Campbell $119.95

5. I'm always in need of perfume

6. This cute little Tiffany's Apple Necklace ($185)...It's so cute and so appropriate since I am a teacher...duh7. The Birth of Cornelius by Corneille CD. I literally just heard a song by this artist while I was typing this post. I was listening to the Music Choice Channel when the song came on. I did a google search on him and wow...aside from the fact that I think he is kinda hot...HIS biography is riveting! He was a refugee from Rwanda and his parents were murdered while he was in the same room(think Hotel Rwanda). Anyway, I listened to a few of his songs and oh my goodness...he is awesome! He has several cd's in French as well.

But I am not that shallow as to think I deserve these things..........well maybe I am a little shallow. I'm a girl. And I am grateful to be alive. But I will take a peace of mind, unconditional love, eternal happiness and a slice of lemon cake any day. Well....I could wear these items while I have a peace of mind, unconditional and eternal happiness. It's a win, win situation:)

.....list not in a specific order.....

Challenge Week 1!

Technically, this is week 2 of my "Don't Repeat any Item of Clothing to Work for a Month" Challenge but I will count this as week 1 since I don't have pics from last week.

Not one item repeated!(except jewelry). Not even my shoes! I also noticed that I have no jewelry...I need somebody to get me a gift certificate to Forever 21 so I can upgrade my jewelry. My birthday is in 10 days, that would be a great gift from my sister or my dear sister friends (hint, hint:)

The last picture is what I wore on Friday.
Friday:

Jacket: H & M ( I remember buying a dress on clearance and I got a second item free) I got this in Atlanta last year and never wore it...hmmph.

White Tank Top: Target (I have tons of these white tanks, they fit great)

Skirt: Express (had to be atleast 6 years ago because I don't even shop in Express anymore)

Shoes: Nine West Snakeskin Platforms via Ross last year.

Tiffany's Necklace: Gifted

Earrings: Charming Charlies...I am pretty sure they were 5o cents

Bag/Braided Belt: Goodwill

I wore the belt over my blazer to give me more of a shape. I wish I could get into the boyfriend jacket look that's hot right now but I need to accentuate my positives!

By the way, I know I have succeeded with my wardrobe when I see fellow teachers or even administrators secretly eyeballing me as I walk down the hall. Checkmate! There is this one teacher in my school who shall remain nameless who wears apples and school buses on her sweaters and she rocks those godforsaken crocs.


Everyday she gives me the *side eye* and every day I put an extra dip in my hip when I pass her room. Ha! Don't play with me woman! She's gonna have me up in there wearing six inch stilettos just to piss her off if she keeps it up.


I am so glad this week is over...this week SUCKED personally. It sucks sometimes to work with the public even on your days when you feel like crap! I wish I had a cubicle to hide behind:(

"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have....THE FACTS OF LIFE!" lol

I had to include this picture. As I was posing, one of my students did one of the most disgusting things. A kid from the previous class left his Gatorade bottle on the floor. It was clearly opened and half empty. A kid in the next class found the bottle and asked if he could have it. It was clearly OPENED! I told him to throw it away...the next thing I know, the freak was licking the rim of the bottle! This is the face I made when I saw him licking the bottle....ewwww! Freshmen!



I'm opening up the floor for any questions you may have about me or my blog?Some people are curious about what size I wear or what is my favorite item in my closet. Ask away. Leave a question in the comment section or email me at godsfavoriteshoes@yahoo.com and I will put together a questions post:)

Happy Labor Day weekend...Rock your whites till you die!

*Update: Here is what I wore to church today. I got this 100% Silk Wrap dress from none other than GOODWILL! It fits me perfectly. No alterations needed:)

Sunday:

Dress: Goodwill

Suede Purse: Banana Republic (5 years ago?)

Shoes: Nine West (The ankle straps are braided. Love these. I am really into nude colored shoes...they make you look taller)

Keeping My Promise

I promised you that I would post pics as I continue my "no repeat any clothes to work for a month" challenge. Since it's humpday, here are the outfits that made it thus far.

Again, my personal challenge is not to repeat any item of clothing for a month. Simply because I only reach to the first items of my closet and rotate the same clothes.

Monday:

Top: H&M (from trip to Philly earlier this year)

Purple Belt: Goodwill

Cardigan: Calvin Klein via Marshall's via THE CLEARANCE SECTION

Cotton Pencil Skirt: Target (last year)

Shoes: 9 west (striped/fabric pumps)

Tiffany's Necklace: Gifted

Tuesday and Wednesday...

Tuesday:
Top-(thrifted) I got a little creative. That is actually a dress I got from a vintage shop last year. I usually wear it as a dress.

Belt- Charming Charlies (5 bucks; last year)

Pants- Gap, Wide legged cotton/linen blend (2 years ago)

Cardigan-Target (last Christmas)

Shoes- Steve Madden Bollywood Sandals (that's the name I gave them)

Wednesday:

Dress: H & M- I got during my visit to Philly in January (I actually had it shortened)

Jacket: Gap (stretched denim) 3 years ago

Shoes: THOSE INFAMOUS SHOES ( I had to try them; but they still ate me feet alive so I brought changing shoes

Bag: Goodwill 4 bucks!The above outfit is what I am wearing Thursday. It's actually a suit I thrifted for 6 bucks. 100% Silk. I fell in love with the skirt. The jacket with the skirt is a bit much. I kind of felt like a deaconess! I thought I was bold enough to rock the suit with a modern twist but I just couldn't. All I was missing was my tambourine and some holy oil. I liked it but I just couldn't. So I broke the suit up and I must say that I got quite creative and liked the result.

Thursday:

Suit: Thrifted for 6 buck

Belt: Goodwill

Top/Jacket: Anthropologie (earlier this year) ( I saw it on sale last week for 24 bucks, darnit!)

Ruffled Top: Target ( wearing two tops was totally not planned but it works for me)

Shoes: although you can't see them but they are purple pumps from last year
You like? I told you that I am trying to be a great example for this challenge. I am getting quite creative.

I'll post the next two days' wardrobe later this weekend...and if you are wondering who took my pictures in my classroom...yes, I made my students take them. What? What else are they there for?!? LOL

...Still in a funk but I'm hanging in there. How are you doing with the challenge?

Challenge

It's been a while, I know. I've been feeling a little funky lately...Alot going on. But I have been meaning to post my self imposed challenge that I have decide to take on since I started back to work.

The challenge is to not repeat any piece of clothing to work for a month. Why? Because typically most people wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time. It's not just me, you do it too. You have a closet full of clothes and only wear a select few that you wash and wear over and over again.

This week I didn't repeat one item of clothing to work, not even shoes. So I am working on the next week. It seems hard but I have gotten creative and really started to dig into the corners and find stuff that I wore long time ago and stopped for no reason.

So, are you down for the challenge? I'll post some pics...later...hopefully:)

The Rules: You may not repeat any items of clothing during the week...for those who are over achievers, don't repeat shoes either. For those of you who are not as bold, you are allowed to repeat shoes. Accessories are allowed to be repeated:)

If a month is a little too ambitious...just do one week and see what you can come up with.
Rediscover your closet!

Remember this Episode of The Cosby Show when Cliff took a CHALL-UNG?!? The good ol' days when all I had to worry about back then was what I was wearing to school and doing homework. Sigh:)



The next challenge: To Work Items in Your Wardrobe that you consider too "dressy". You gotta find a way to wear your clothes! More on that challenge later. I got this idea from this blog.

Example: I have a sequined skirt that I bought from Arden B. years ago. I wore it twice, once to a wedding and once to church. I never wear it because I never have anywhere that special to go but I have been thinking that I should just be bold and rock it to work. I'm a teacher... I can do what I want. I'm thinking of wearing a khaki blazer and a white Tee with it. In theory, it sounds cute but I am paranoid to look like I am going to the prom at work...but really who cares...I am never one to follow rules anyway...

More on that challenge later...soon as I drink enough COURAGE JUICE!

Challenge Overall: Do not repeat any outfit for one whole week/month.
Challenge within the challenge:
1. Wear something you consider too dressy.
2. Mix patterns (especially if it is something you never would do:)
3. Wear something out of your comfort zone.

More to come....Shoot me pictures of your outfit (godsfavoriteshoes@yahoo.com) if you take any of these challenges and you could be featured on my next post:)

I'll Be Back...

I'm back at work, trying to get in the groove...life is happening. I'll post soon enough:)

Don't Worry, Be Happy...I'm Trying!

My summer officially comes to an end at midnight and I must get back into teacher mode...I literally have knots in my stomach realizing that the summer is over but what are ya gonna do? I am grateful that I have a job in these days.

At any rate, I have a few more wedding dress trial pictures that didn't make the cut and because I am a) avoiding banging my head against an old, tainted, hot sharp piece of glass because I have to go back to work tomorrow and b) trying not to swallow a sharp object...here are a few for your viewing or comedic pleasure.

( I know, I know. God loves me and provides for me. I know...I just wanted to sulk for about half a second...by tomorrow I will be back in action. Hey I'm human:)

The first one was a ball gown... I went in with the mindset to be open to all possibilities. It was actually cute in person but it does sort of have a moo-moo effect going on. And my ummm...shall we say...oh forget it...BOOBS... look a little larger than normal...that's never good. But maybe you were out there and you have big hair and a body shape like me...I just saved you the trouble! Oh, and it was around $1200 which meant that it NEVER EVER EVER had a chance of being purchased or even considered by me! These people are crazy with these prices!

The second was pretty, just not as pretty as the one I chose:) So I was willing to torture myself and try on the dresses, I figured somebody should see them. The lucky person is you!

Again, YOU HAVE NOT SEEN the actual dres or even close to it...so I'm not spoiling anything for those superstitious bees!

**Please DO NOTcopy or reproduce my pictures, I am torturing myself enough by exposing these on the wonderful wide web***

**Per usual, I didn't wear any makeup or wear jazzy earrings or even bring the correct undergarments so ease up on the critcism...I am looking to hire a permanent photoshopper to follow me around...so until then...be nice..But I must say that this second dress below does compliment my jelly quite well...double snaps!)

Notice how the cut of a dress makes a tremoundous difference. Thick women (that's what I call myself), must find the most slimming silhouettes to look their best! I'm just saying...and doesn't it look like atleast 2 "little people" are hiding under that first gown...(using the word midget is totally inappropriate... little people don't like it. I digress.)

I APOLOGIZE

Dear Beautiful Shoe Designer Paul Smith,

I raved about your shoe just yesterday in this post. I was delighted to have discovered your beautiful shoe on an impromptu trip to a vintage/resale store. I need to know something though. It's just between me and you, no one else.

WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH?

What did I ever do to you? Why would you create a shoe so beautiful that it single handedly changed my belief system and morals about white shoes? Do I know you? Did I date you and do you wrong? Did I steal money from you when we were kids? There has to be a logical reason why you would create a shoe that felt like I was walking on hot rocks.

Why would I discover your beautiful designer shoes on Saturday and hate you on Sunday? Do you have a vendetta against women? Did your mother do you wrong? Is this revenge? Please tell me. I need to know. There has to be a reason why when I stepped into church in your shoes that I felt like Lucifer himself was attacking my feet. Do you know how hard it is to play off hurt feet when you are strutting in church? DO YOU! YOU NEED TO KNOW...IT IS NOT EASY!


I want you to know how powerful my God is my dear Beautiful Shoe Designer. Instead of chucking these beauties out of the window doing 110 mph, I am going to still rock your shoe. I will rock them when I know that I have less than 10 paces from the car to my destination. Then I will sit and cross my legs in my seat and stroke you under the dinner table. To show you unconditional love. That's the kind of God I serve. A kind and merciful God.

So I say to you for inflicting pain on me...I AM SORRY and I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU! You will become a staple in my closet and I refuse to push your shoes to the back of my closet. Nope, I won't do it. I am going to learn to work with your creation. If it wasn't for that pretty wooden heel and the pretty pretty bow, I would have thrown your shoe in the pits of hell but that's not What Jesus Would Do:)

Will I actively seek out more of your creations in the future? No. But I will not forsake the ones that I have. They brought me such joy when I first laid my eyes on them. You can't have that moment back. It's mine. But I will not throw you in the Lake of Forgetfulness. You are mine and I cherish you even though you hate me.

I will end this letter with something positive. (That's what they tell us teachers to do when we are talking to parents about their bad kids:) I did feel pretty in your shoes every time I sat down.

Sincerely,
God's Favorite Believer

Amen.................................................lol.....ouch ouch........lol!!!

Worth Breaking the Rules...

Typically, I am not one for white shoes...EVER. EVER. EVER. I think of old ladies sitting in church fanning themselves. I hate white wedding shoes on anyone's feet...I am personally rocking red heels for my own.

Then I saw these babies....at...you guessed it...a thrift store. I was lured in by the heels and the pretty pretty bow (yes, I said it twice). Then I was sucked in by the buttery leather. Then I slipped them on and I just wanted to tap dance right there in the store. The shoes were in the "boutique" section of the thrift store (THE NERVE!). I looked at the name brand and although Inever heard of Paul Smith Shoes...I knew he was someone I was about to get to know.

So, for $25 I decided that I was going to step out of my comfort zone and rock some white shoes. I can easily jazz these up...it's all about confidence. Then I got to the register and the lady said $18.75, so then I literally broke out into a dance right then and there...(I have witnesses:)

I get home and because I just knew in my heart that Paul Smith Shoes needed to be researched. WHY are his shoes between $100-$700 bucks! What What What! I am really hitting the motherload these days.

A Private Word With My Sponsor: Thank you to my sponsor (fiance') for allowing me to be introduced a new designer through your financial contributions. I appreciate it! lol)

So I present to you quite possibly God's Favorite Shoe..(I am sure he would approve of these because I can go to church in these)! All I need is my oriental fan, and I'm off to praise him!

By the way, in case you were wondering, I have never been one to follow rules. I get it honestly, my mom is the queen of being a rebel. So I BITE MY THUMB on that whole No WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY. (That was totally a Teacher moment...Bite My Thumb is a line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet play)

Anyway, who made this rule up? Was it because they didn't own any cute white shoes to wear so they decided to force everyone to abide by this rule? And what if I did wear them to that person's house in November?

Would they have thrown animal blood on my shoes?

Would they have shunned me?

I really want to know what happens to one if White is worn after Labor Day! Someone please enlighten me. I need to know. Because I live in Texas where it is hot year round...there is no such thing as winter here. So I shall rock these with Skinny jeans and blazers or little vintage dresses any day that I feel like it...I dare you to stop me! (he he he he)

What do you think about the No White after Labor Day rule?

One Hot Summer's Night...

I was out frolicking today. I decided to break out this vintage dress I got from Atlanta's Little Five Points area last year. I paid next to nothing for this dress. I had the hem and the shortened (of course) and the sleeves taken in a little bit but I could never find the right belt to go with it. I think I also didn't wear it because I thought I would melt in the polyester material but I survived!

I decided to whip it out today as I frolicked, and I loved it to pieces.

The belt I found at a thrift store for 50 cent and it was perfect. I have made the executive decision to look for unique belt buckles from now on. This belt totally fit the bill.

I also found that fan for 75 cent because it was a cloth oriental fan...why would I pass that up? I ended up getting 4 colors.

If you are wondering if I wore the fan for the sake of pictures only....ummm...NO...I straight up walked around with it for a trip to the ice cream parlor after dinner. It's hot in Texas! A certain somebody rolled his eyes but that just made me fan harder!

At any rate, this is just a quick post until I can get a few ideas together. I am thinking about having a challenge for my readers but you won't win anything lol! Because I don't have it like that but it would be fun nonetheless...I'll get back to you on that.

In the above pictures I am wearing my Bollywood inspired sandals by Steve Madden. Below I am wearing some thrifted gold ballet flats by Jeffrey Campbell...umm yeah...2 bucks! Score...I'm not ashamed!

I know it seems like I am only talking about thrifting lately but don't you know me by now...I'll be over it and have a new obsession by next week. That's the way it goes:)

... a certain somebody also wonders why I am telling people that I thrift? What does he know?