ARM SWAG SUNDAY>>>>>

I was trying to make Arm Swag Sunday a regular thang BUT I wasn't real good at taking regular pics of arm swag....

July 3rd

 Swag: Your left - stretchy pearls - in sets, gold and blue -thrifted
My right: 2 Gold and pearl bangles - Chico's, Blue Lapis - Marshall's

Does Ankle Swag Count?!??!

 Darker Wooden - Wal-Mart
Light Wooden- I made it
Large Crystal - I made it and gave it away to a lil girl on the beach who adored it - I can always make another one!!

While getting ready for work one morning I looked down and saw my jewelry laid out and thought it was photo worthy!!

 Sswag:
Bracelets Left - Tory Burch wrap, Black Stretchy I made
Bracelets Right - Michaels (gold blingy) and Black bangle - vintage
Black Resin Ring-  Target (I have a bunch if you're interested in purchasing - message me)
Tri-Color Earrings - Super Dollar Store (They were originally from Wal-Mart)
Necklace - Chico's

Even making Egg rolls I have swag on (I actually I had just gotten home from work and didn't take them off)

Happy Hour

SWAG: Black Vintage acrylic bangle, Pearl bangle - thrifted, enamel - local drug store's gift section (they have the BEST stuff there)

THIS Fab score is from Maurice's AND already has the arm swag built in - aren't these cuffs GORG?!?!?! And The fatigue color is so popular for fall

A DAY IN THE LIFE>>>>>

Snapshots via my iphone (who are we kidding?!??! That's my ONLY camera) for the week....

Celebrated "NATIONAL HOT DOG DAY" Wednesday

Christmas in July cutie

Easy like Sunday morning....Enjoyed the GORGEOUS morning, played water balloon toss with the kids and then went to the pool....

 FAB Park district pool only 12 miles from our house....we just discovered this place last week while we were garage saling.....

Washed a TON of produce - felt like  I was NEVER gonna finish BUT my salads were ready to go for the week and we had some fresh stuff to snack on (cucumbers & lime juice) and homemade pico de gallo

Wine with a friend....

BEFORE and AFTER - Haircut....these pics are ALMOST identical except for the hair - what a difference 8 hours makes!!

From the front my hair doesn't look too different BUT in the back is where you can see how short it is

Blackberry (homemade) infused pineapple vodka cocktail

 Went to Goodwill's Dolla days and found this t-shirt....couldn't wait to get cuttin - Dolla days are a good time to pick up stuff for experiments!

What have YOU been up to this week?!?!?!?

FOODIE FRIDAY...STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

This FOODIE FRIDAY is inspired by the fresh head of cabbage I received in my #Angelic Organics http://www.angelicorganics.com/Angelic_Organics___Chicago_CSA/Angelic_Organics___Receive_Our_Vegetables.html

I knew for sure I'd make egg rolls BUT that wouldn't take a whole head of cabbage...while talking with my girlfriend she mentioned she was going to make cabbage rolls - BRILLIANT!!! This "recipe" is pretty interpretive (and I have to say my daughter LOVED them...this was her first time having them and she ate almost the entire pan). 

I researched several recipes an at the end of the day I took a lil from each one (I only had ground turkey on hand - so I cooked up the turkey and then separated in half - so I had some for my cabbage rolls AND the egg rolls)

I parboiled the cabbage (to make it easier to remove the leaves AND so they were pliable enough to make into rolls)

REMEMBER "Cabbage Patch Kids" this pic reminded me of that!!

Once I peeled off enough leaves and allowed them to cool I filled with my mixture

I made a small pan....once they were all rolled and were as snug as a bug in a rug I topped with tomato sauce....

NOW, here's the BRILLIANT part y'all.....I made them in the TOASTER OVEN so I didn't have to heat up the entire house!! (I did add the left over filling around the cabbage rolls). I broiled for the last 4 minutes or so to get that nice crunchy top

Buen provecho!!!

WIWW

HUMP DAY....otherwise referred to as What I Wore Wednesday....Linking up with The Pleated Poppy http://thepleatedpoppy.com/category/what-i-wore/ I LOVE to get inspiration from you guys!!

 What I'm wearing:
Denim Jacket - Thrifted
Necklace - Thrifted (I got SO many compliments on this necklace...and originally I bought it for teh cording with the idea of re-working it)
Tank - Chico's
Belt - Chico's
Skirt - Macy's (it was originally white BUT I sprayed my perfume on it directly and it yellowed :( SO instead of throwing it out I decided to tie-dye it see the post here http://objectofmayaffection.blogspot.com/2013/08/try-it-thursday-tie-dye-skirt.html)
Wedges - Macy's

This was garage sale day...wanted to be comfy

 Hat - Fam Dolla (they have the BEST hats and scarves)
Tank - Wal-mart
Crops - Shop n Swap
Flippies - Wal-mart

 What I'm wearing:
Necklace - Thrifted
My earrings are supes fab BUT you can't even see them
Shirt - Maurices
Skirt - Chico's
Sandals - Macy's

POOL Day

 Hat - Fam Dolla
Tunic - Thrifted
Flippies - Wal-Mart

What I'm Wearing:
Vest - Chico's
Tank - Chico's
Belt - Chico's
Skirt - Chico's
Sandals - Style & Co via ebay

What was your FAVE look??!?! What's YOUR go-to outfit?!?!?

THRIFTY Tuesday....Tag Sale Treasures

K...first things first - I ALWAYS call them garage sales- not tag sales BUT tag sale went better with my TAG LINE!! Thursday I was off so the kids and I had some cinnamelts and coffee at McD's before heading around town to sale....I had no paper, no sales addresses - it was a last minute lets get lost and have fun kinda thing...these are my fave kinda days!! I always thought I was a planner (sometimes you have to be) BUT I've realized I enjoy spontaneity much more!! We hit up a few sales that were kinda flops (I of course STILL managed to find stuff there) and one sale that was the BOMB DIGGITY!!!

Here's the loot (all the loot) wish I had separated by sale BUT instead I separated by style....LOL

Cute plaid cooler bag - perfect for fall picnics, wreath hanger, cake server, FAB lil donkey, cute mirror (I have plans for this - totes imitating another fabby blogger) vintage sunglasses, jewels - I'm ALWAYS on the look out for jewelry - axxessoreis are the BEST part of any outfit

Vintage MADE IN ITALY sun glasess

Vintage polaroid sunglasses

See the cute lil donkey?!?!?!

This ornate gold frame is FAB....I can easily pop out the velvet sweetheart poem....sometimes you need "the eye" when saling....

I think I spent a total of $7.00 on all this stuff and it totally fulfills the thrill of the hunt for me!!! What have YOU found lately?!?!?

A DAY IN THE LIFE.....

...snapshots via my iphone for the week

My daily commute....for a construction zone we still keep a steady 55mph...#smalltowncharmlife

My deck garden....trying my hand at lotsa herbs and some veggies....one of the things on my summer bucket

Check out this Kick A$$ vase - SWOON!!!! I NEED this....

Found this bottle of wine and was smitten with the graphics...the chicken is accessorized (WITH PEARLS) and high heels....the wine is gone and I have a future project in site for this baby

 I've cooked a TON this week (partially in thanks to the fab crop share box I was gifted) there are things in the boxes (heads of cabbage, kolrabi, swiss charb to name a few) that I wouldn't ordinarily buy at the store....

From the SAME head of cabbage I also made egg roll filling....which in turn = egg rolls -  a FAVE in our house....

DREARY days....perfect day for chicken noodle soup!!!

Was at Wal-Mart the other day (it's been quite awhile since I've perused through wal mart) and um WHY didn't anyone tell me they have all these FAB $10.00 STATEMENT necklaces!?!??!?!?! I has one in my cart and put it back....I think I'm going back to get it...which is YOUR fave?!??!

Lunch with my 2 favorite people....celebrating my son's Scholastic Reading Challenge

#tbt Throwback Thursday....Back when times were simple....

 FRESH summer strawberries.....

Breakfast....yes, those are tatertots - like hash browns.....

Everyone loves a lil Red Mango froyo

What have YOU been up to this week?!?!??!

TV THURSDAY

I don't know about you BUT I have a penchant for most "reality" tv shows (like Dear #Andy Cohen, I want to be a REAL housewife of small town USA - ya know - someone more relatable to "the people" SO if you happen to read this....call me) I heart all the Real Housewives of anywhere (I have my faves - Heather Thomson - NY, Kristen Taekman - NY, Teresa Guidice - NJ, Vicki Gunvalson - OC) Each of those women has a character trait I adore.....and I know reality tv isn't for everyone....

Heather - Hard worker, balls to the wall, says it like she feels it - SO refreshing in a world of dancing around to appease the masses

My homegirl Heather - HOLLA......

Kristen Taekman - NEW to the scene...."I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed BUT I'm pretty..." HER words in her intro...She's not afraid to call bullsh*t on you but wears her heart on her sleeve....this season you see her getting upset with her hubby who puts her and the fam on the back burner (I KNOW he's just tryin to support them BUT REALLY?!!??! all he has to do is send her a quick txt when he's running late). It's sad to see her crying for his attention - literally. 

Teresa Guidice - Really probably NO explanation needed WHO she is as she's been all over the news due to her an Joe's trial - the first episode broke my heart - you could FEEL the pain of the family...and by the end I was bawling (I won't spoil it for those that haven't seen it yet). She's italian which I ADORE, she's over the top which makes her a girl after my own heart and she get's out there and makes it happen - people were hatin for her comments in the cookbook foreward - hey people = DRAMA sells - she was makin shit happen!!

 Vicki Gunvaslon - This one kinda surprised me...BUT this season it's been nice to see her staying OUT of the drama. What I like most about her is her bad ass work ethic....she works A LOT (maybe too much when she was married - but now all she has is her work) and she's made a life for herself....KUDOS!!

We can all sit on our couches with our hand in the chip bag talkin junk about each and every reality tv show BUT the truth is all these people are raw and open to the world now (don't get me wrong - they exchange privacy for fame and pay-offs - I get it) BUT to have complete strangers talkin about your every move, hair outta place and extra pound gained CAN'T be easy!!! What's YOUR fave reality show?!??!