Pause...

We're usually pretty darn busy around here, but I've noticed that Thursday afternoons almost always feel like a nice, deep breath.  By the time I pick up the kids from school on Thursday, I've made it through my teaching for the week and there seems to be a natural pause that takes place.  I catch my breath and regroup... reclaim the house a bit... enjoy a moment or two in the garden or on the patio.  Tomorrow morning we'll get everyone out the door one last time, and then the weekend will be upon us!  

This is fucking awesome!

Enjoy some hilarious hip hop thrift store love...

Favorite things...

I picked up this very special necklace in a consignment shop in Ashland, Oregon (hitting the thrift stores with my sister last summer)!  I love it and always get compliments every time I wear it (best $8 I ever spent!).  Today was another day when I was wearing a head to toe thrifted ensemble...  a perfect outfit for teaching my 8am class and then heading out to the park for an afternoon hanging with some of my favorite little people.   

Thrifted...

Way back in 2006, we went on a buy nothing new for a year crusade.  I figured after that year we'd revert back to our previous habits, but that year totally changed my perspective.  All these years later, it is pretty rare that I go to a store and shop for new clothes.  I just have better luck (and I definitely have way more fun with less guilt) hitting the thrift stores.  I like not knowing what I might find.  Just a few months ago, I found a doctoral robe for $1.50... a nicer version of the one I had been renting each year for over 40 bucks!  That kind of lucky score is what keeps me going back for more.  Usually I'm on the hunt to clothe my kiddos (probably 75 percent of what I find at the thrift shop is for my kids), but sometimes I hit the jackpot!  Very frequently these days, I head out the door and realize that my entire outfit is thrifted (minus socks, bras, and underwear... I do draw the line there).  Many of the "new" clothes I own are actually quite old (some from college or even high school).  I am not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think I manage pretty well most of the time (without much of a budget and without contributing too too much to the unsustainable consumerist corporate economy... say that three times fast!).  This week, I found a pair of jeans, black slacks, a couple of shirts, and even a pair of boots... all for me!   These cozy boots (that might possibly be as ugly as Crocs but I do LOVE them so!) were a total score and didn't show any signs of being worn by their previous owner.  I'm always shocked by what people will buy and then donate without ever wearing.  All I know is that I am very happy to have toasty warm feet and a little spring in my step...