How I Fixed My Hair

What I Wore To Church

Gray dress: $6 (Kohl's)
Belt: already had
Shoes: already had (Old Navy)

How We Made a Pallet Coffee Table for $10

I have been trying to talk my husband into making a pallet coffee table for at least a year. I always tease him that he never lets me do what I want to do. I'm only partly joking. He's a hard sell sometimes.

I think the hardest thing about making anything out of pallets is first finding one that looks good and isn't either completely beaten up or painted with ridiculously bright colors. So when I do find one, I'm like a bulldog...I'm gonna get it.

This one was sitting in front of my neighbors' house ready to be taken away to the garbage. Naturally, I (sweetly) asked my husband to go and garbage-pick it for me. Sometimes (always) I like for him to do the dirty work. And pallets are heavy!!

I spent an afternoon sanding it down and then applying stain to it...we already had the stain because our deck needs to be stained, but since it's made of treated wood, and the treated wood has to cure for a couple of months before it will accept stain, the deck is still stain-less. But this pallet isn't.

We also had wood posts left over from making the deck that I wanted to use to make legs for the table. But then, once we (in other words, my husband) got the post cut down to size, the new legs looked all wonky.

ARG. There are few things as frustrating as getting into a project and then realizing you don't have what you need to finish it. But it turned out that we had a board left over from the deck as well...so we (in other words, my husband) cut the board down into 12 4-inch pieces, and then stacked 3 of the pieces together to make each leg.

Then the legs were stained and 3-inch casters attached to the bottom of the legs.

And I love it.

Time will tell if we decide to put a glass top on it. If we do, I'll be sure to let you know.

Cost breakdown:
Pallet: free
Stain: already had for another project
Legs: Scraps from another project
Casters: $6.48 each, but since we had a store credit, we're out $8 out-of-pocket
Also had to buy a pack of washers for $2

What I Wore to Run Errands

I started seeing a lot of pale blue denim jackets this past summer, and thought that I needed to be on the lookout for one myself. Then a girlfriend of mine passed on a bunch of clothes that didn't fit her anymore. Score!

Other than that one new-to-me item, everything else here is a remix of things that I've had for years. When you see a basic item for a rock-bottom price, snag it! You will get more than your money's worth out of it, I promise you. And you can wear it so many ways just by changing up your accessories.

I also finally made a DIY salt-water beach spray for my hair, and it's still wet here.

Dress: $3.97 (JC Penney...back when they still "did" sales :P)
Belt: No idea (Rue 21...back when belts slung low on the hip were in style)
Boots: $24 (Goodwill...back when you could still find cowboy boots at Goodwill)
Necklace: I made it from scraps left over from my window treatments

What I Wore to the Park

I've been on a major preppy kick all summer.

I subscribe to several fashion magazines; I love when they come out with what's new for that season, and I enjoy the challenge of working something new into my wardrobe. However, as of right now, I'm really disappointed in fall's biggest trends (brocade, burgundy, gold, printed pants, etc.). None of that fits in with my lifestyle very well. They (whoever "they" are) always say that we should never follow a trend just to follow one...so if it doesn't look good on me, or if it just doesn't work in my everyday life, I'm not doing it!

Wide-leg trouser jeans: Have had for about 5 years (Steve & Barry)
Polka-dot top: $4.97 (Old Navy)
Striped belt: Hand-me-down (Polo Ralph Lauren)
Yellow necklace: I made it!
Shoes: gift

How I Decorated My Front Door

When my husband and I got married, one of our priorities from the outset was that people would always feel welcome in our home. I really do think that when they walk up to our door, they'll be able to tell right away if our home is a peaceful and welcoming one.

I was poking around online, and saw a really cute door decorated with rainboots. Well, since we live in Texas, we only dream about rain. (Really...I dream about it. And pray for it regularly.) And I may not have (or need) rainboots, but cowboy boots...we have those!

These are little toddler boys' Justins. They do not currently fit my toddler, so they were up for grabs. Ok, so everything is up for grabs in this house. Anyway, they are filled with a mix of silk and real flowers and foliage....just what I happened to have on-hand.

Anytime you see something that appeals to you, don't let your first thought be, "Oh, I could never....." Look around you and see what is available to YOU. You may just surprise yourself with your creativity and talent.

What I Wore

I realize that most people are thinking about fall wardrobes, but here in Texas, it's still 90+ degrees out! That makes it hard for me to think about knee boots and sweaters (cowboy boots and cute dresses are a totally different story).

Coral top: $4 (Forever 21)
Skinny jeans: I've had them so long that I can hardly remember, but I think they were $10 (NY&Co.)
Scarf: This is my big summer splurge at $12. Not a lot for some people, I know. :) (Old Navy)
Shoes: Gift from my sister (Forever 21)

How to Make Easy, Yummy Salsa

Trust me.

This is fool-proof! :)

1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 of a chopped onion
Handful of cilantro
1 small whole jalapeno (or several slices of jalapeno from a jar)
Minced garlic, to taste
Juice of one lime

I put all of this into a blender (I actually use the small Ninja) and pulse it until I get the consistency we like.

My husband is picky and doesn't like chunky salsa, so ours has to go through a blender. If you're not picky, you could skip this step entirely.

See?

Easy.

What I Wore

So since flares are supposed to be big for fall again, I knew I was going to have to find some! I have the body type that fits into '70s-style clothing well (you know, straight up and down, no curves); my sister has the type that fits well into retro clothes from the '50s (you know, the cute Audrey Hepburn winged-eyeliner-and-red-lip look...I want to push her down). But we just have to work with what we have, so that's what I try to do.

Jeans: $3 (Aeropostale from Goodwill)
Flowy top: $5 (Kohl's)
Shoes: $5 (Charlotte Russe)

What I Wore (Mini Me Version)

I went thrifting this weekend and got such good deals that I'm posting what my little miss wore as a bonus. :)

That little dress (so cute, right????) was $1.50. Not too shabby, huh? The shoes were about $5 and came from Target. The belt is off of another little top. She had big matching korker hairbows. I was so pleased with how it all came together!

What I Wore

I just love What She Wore blogs, don't you? I love seeing how other people put outfits together; and the thing is, most of us probably have the same pieces in our closets and just don't put them together in the same way. And the truth of it is, don't we all people-watch anyway? So we can people-watch from the comfort of our own homes...although, putting it that way, it sounds kind of creepy.

I have mentioned before that I'm on a pretty tight budget. As in no budget.

That forces me to be more creative, and I enjoy the challenge.

So here's what I wore today.

Obviously, I'm going to have to have better lighting.

Breakdown:
Jacket: $3.99 (Thrift store)
Tank:  $.97 (yes, that 97 CENTS...good ol' Old Navy!)
Skirt: $8.99 (Ross)
Shoes: $9 (Target)