I am a dork!

I really love this slightly cooler weather!

My weekend begins of Wednesday after 1 p.m. and I am ready for some fun and relief from a week of just being slightly 'off'.  

Well, really....I'm going to be catching up one homework.  And if I'm really diligent and get most of it finished, I'm going to reward myself with one (maybe two) dance parties.

This is what I wore yesterday in remembrance of 9/11.  I'm surprised that no one had caught on to my patriotic symbolism.

I carried my very favorite book bag/briefcase;  its hand tooled leather made by American West.  I adore their handbags...but at the moment they are not within my budget.  I'm very fortunate to have this one...but if I want to continue to dance and compete, I am a 'thrift only' girl for now (and I have NEVER seen one of these bags in a thrift store).  They are so wonderfully made and very beautiful.

www.americanwest.cc

Today, I wore this lovely black thrifted Dana Buchman skirt. I wore it in my last post and it was so comfortable I had to wear it again today.  I love this skirt.  If I could find other colors (navy, burgundy, charcoal)  I would buy them all, thrift or not (but then I would be breaking my thrift only resolution).  

My outfit today is inspired in part by Terri's nautical outfit pictured here.

I love the way she paired the striped top and neck scarf with Palazzo pants.  I have a pair of my own, but I didn't have the confidence this morning to try wearing them, so I subbed in my skirt.  I'm very pleased with the look.

Just for fun....an American Smooth Tango pose.  

OK....I confess...the stripes on the shirt are navy and the skirt is black; the scarf has black in it.  I don't match at all...but you know, it was not noticeable, I promise.  See; a moment of dork-ness.

I have to brag a little bit about my thrift finds this week;  This very plain looking dress is so adorable on; it has a 'modern retro' vibe.  I'm looking forward to wearing it to teach in next week (if I don't 'cheat' and wear it to dance in this weekend....I might try a head to toe retro).

...and this winter dress is my gem of the month!  Its by Moda International and its a very dense, soft knit.  Although its got some heft to it, its still a bit see-through.  I'm going to have to wear a slip under it.  

The collar and sleeves are embellished with this raised pattern.  I saw this dress hanging on the wall at the Goodwill, but couldn't reach it to take it down.  I asked an attendant for help and she did call someone, but I waited for 15 minutes before someone came out, asked 'who wants what taken down where' and then disappeared again for another several minutes to get the long hook to retrieve it.  Well... I fell so in love with this dress, that I DID NOT MOVE from that spot, because I was guarding my dress.  While I was waiting, I tried to use another hanger to grap it and pull it down.  I didn't get it but I did get the other hanger, with the other dress I was purchasing, stuck on the one I was trying to reach.  Finally a patron, a very tall man offered his assistance and removed the dress for me just as a grumpy worker arrived to help.  I think she was a wee bit upset with me for being 'impatient'.  Yes, thrifting takes patience.

I'm looking forward to a long weekend of homework and dancing; I have had some moments of unintended dorkiness and need to accomplish something positive in order to restore my mental equilibrium.  And my physical equilibrium...I had a trip and fall on a crooked sidewalk. I walked into a men's restroom. As I said earlier, my week has just been 'off'.

Before I sign out for the night;  I will share one funny story of my dork-ness....

I was rushing to get my son to school on time, had my hands full and my dog yanking at his leash (we were going to go to the park for a walk);  I grabbed my shoes and needing to access my keys to open the car door, I put them down.  I drove Peyton the 2 miles to school.  On the route back, I  laughed out loud at the 'DUM-DUM' who lost their shoes in the road!  As I approached, I said..."those look like my shoes....OMG...those are my shoes....I am the DUM-DUM!!!!!  

The funny thing is (besides my realization that I had left them on the roof of my car) is that the shoes made it out of my neighborhood and about a mile down the road!  

Yes, I need some restoration.