Love at first site

Last weekend, I went to Goodwill. I didn't have much time, so instead of browsing leisurely, I used my tactic of scanning the racks to see if anything jumped out at me... a color, a pattern, a texture. That's when I saw it, a sweater in the deep earth tones that I love. When I pulled the sweater off the rack and held it up, I was taken by surprise. I never felt a sweater like this. It was made of leather, soft woven strips of suede. And, that's when I fell in love. The sweater was so unique, so cool, so funky; everything I look for in a piece of clothing.

At that moment, I decided the sweater was coming home with me. The fact that it had a green tag (i.e., half-price) sealed the deal...only $2.50. Plus, another 50% off my entire purchase with my frequent-buyer punch card made it a whopping $1.25. That's less than a pack of gum!

That night, I was going out with some friends, so I decided to wear my new sweater. What better way to break it in than to get approval from a small group of close friends. That's when things started to unravel, literally. I suddenly realized why this sweater was dumped. I thought I could salvage our relationship. I tried to patch things up by tying all the loose ends, but the flaws I tried to cover up resurfaced later that night. I wanted this relationship to work, so I tried to fix things again.

Later in the week, I gave it another go and wore it to work. Well, we kept it together for a little while until the sweater began to mock me behind my back (specifically my left shoulder) and in front of my co-workers. That was the last straw. I had to end our brief affair. I made the hard decision to let it go. This is one clothing relationship I can't save.

We're all guilty of this at some point, right? We buy something on impulse, something we think we're going to have for awhile, and it just doesn't work out. I was so lost in my excitement, so drunk in love, when I first saw this sweater, that I overlooked its faults. On the bright side, I only spent $1.25. So what if I ended up with a weekend fling and not a long-term relationship. It was fun while it lasted. Now, I think I'll go buy some gum!

If anyone has any stories about short-term clothing relationships, I'd love to hear them. Or, if you have any ideas about how to upcycle or recycle this sweater, please let me know before I kick it to the curb.

And the winner is...

...Shopolosophy! This is the new name for my blog. I love this name on so many levels. It's unique and catchy; simple, yet complex. It captures the essence of who I am and what I've wanted to do with this blog from the start... to share my philosophy on shopping and thrifting...where I shop, how I shop, and what treasures I find, so that ultimately, I might inspire you to try a new store, a new look, or a new approach to shopping.

Thank you to everyone who participated in my blog-naming contest. There were so many great suggestions! However, the winner of the $25 Amazon gift card is Mike Bratt, a good friend who has become my personal life coach (without even knowing it). Without his relentless encouragement, this blog would not exist.

What's in a name?

Hi, friends.

It's been almost a year since my last post. If I had to choose one word for 2015, it would be "chaos"!

It all started soon after we moved in to our new house in November of 2014. I won't bore you with all of the details. I'll just say...flooded basement, Thanksgiving, Christmas, insurance adjusters, contractors, repairs, renovations, painting, plumbing issues, leaks, more contractors, more repairs, and much more painting!

Now, with all that behind us, I can finally (and honestly) say "I love our new house"! It's cozy, comfortable, and conveniently located to stores and restaurants, yet tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. And, more importantly, I can finally get back to my blog! It’s a new year, a new day, and time for new beginnings.

I’ve wanted to overhaul this blog for a while. As you can see, I changed the layout. It's a good start, but I’ll personalize it more over the next few months. I also want to take this blog in a new direction. I want to hear your stories. What are some of your thrifty fashion finds? What are your fashion dilemmas? How can I help? 

To go with this new year, new look, and new direction, I need a new blog name.

I want this name to reflect my style, my personality, and my love for thrifting. It would also be nice if the name is a meaningful play on words. Here are some that I came up with: The Fashion Architect (because I like to plan and build outfits); The Penny-Pinching Pixie (because I am always looking for a bargain, and for those of you who don't know me, I'm only 4' 10"); and Recycled Style. Unfortunately, ALL of these names are already taken.

So, I am asking for your help. Send me your ideas. Help me name this blog! 

If you submit the winning name, I'll send you a $25 Amazon gift card and a free fashion consultation. So, get creative! I can't wait to hear from you.