SO I found myself

I don’t even know if anyone is out there reading these posts.  Looks like it’s been a few years since I’ve posted.  I actually enjoyed writing but got discouraged because it takes a lot of time and quite frankly, the opportunity cost if no one is actually reading this is pretty great.  But I actually missed doing it so here I am again giving it another shot.  I’ll need to update a few things but wanted to jump back in because I’m finally feeling like myself again.

A lot has happened since I last wrote a post, some good some bad.  The good: I got married!  The bad: I gained about 25lbs.  There’s more good and bad but these right here are the ones that bring me JOY and PAIN at the moment.

I’m happily married and miserably overweight.  The overweight part affected the way I dressed and ultimately impacted my mood and the way I felt about myself.  Sure there are worse problems and believe me I’ve experienced a few of those too but the wight gain for some reason impacted me the most because it changed me in so many obvious (physically) and not so obvious (mentally) ways.

SO...what got me back on track?  Believe it or not it was Instagram.  I follow a bunch of ladies who offer monthly style challenges using daily style prompts.  And while I still have my weight issue to deal with, it was all the motivation I needed to get dressed for work each day and feel better about myself.  The saying is true, when you look good you do in fact feel good.  

It’s been so much fun to shop my closet again and a great excuse to go thrifting when nothing I wanted to wear fit.  Oh and the best part of all is connecting with a few like-minded people. 

Everyone goes through these spells, the key is to find something or someone to pull you out from that sad place. 

Until I figure out how to upgrade this blog,

I’m still @~~~~~ SoRosie

So, Does Karma Exist?

A few months back I was shopping at one of my fave thrift stores.  Everything is $2 or less!  I know right!!! Sweet!

Anyways, I found an amazing denim jacket.  I'm in the mirror  trying it on: it's a little snug but still cute.  There's a fellow thrifter who appears to specifically be in search of a denim jacket.  I saw her and her friends trying on and offering up alternatives.  She sees the jacket I'm trying on and  remarks how nice it is and continues on with her search. 

I personally can attest to the heartbreak of seeing someone trying on and buying something you need and love.  I just wanted to kick myself that one time I missed out on a beautiful royal blue  Michael Kors shirt.  I was just in that aisle...ugghhh the heartbreak.  But I figured it was meant for her.

So, knowing this pain all too well, I offered the jacket to the thrifty patron and sent a silent wish to the thrift karma gods to help me find my much sought after polkadot pencil skirt.

Months later... I'm still on the hunt.  I've come across lots of polkadot skirts, a few of them pencil skirts, but never my size.  On one occasion, just when I thought I had finally lucked up; I spotted a black and tan polkadot pencil skirt in the distance and my heart skipped a beat.  Boo...it was a size 2.  Further down the aisle, wouldn't you know it, the same exact skirt.  I say a silent Thank You because the world wouldn't be so cruel as to offer two of the exact skirts and neither one be my size. 

Well I'm living proof that's it's a cruel, cruel world out here.  I'll be doggone if that skirt wasn't  a size 16. 

What happened to Karma??  I guess she's somewhere enjoying MY denim jacket.

Oh well...the search continues!


                                                       I'm  ~~~~~~~@ SoRosie
                                                              Stay Rosy Y'all


P.S.  If you find a polka dot pencil skirt during your thrifting adventures please scoop it up for me.  Please and thank you!

So Excited

Its that time again!! Pledging Time!  Not for a sorority...for Charity.  Each year around this time, my employer kicks off our United Way campaign.  The campaign weeks are filled with activities and challenges aimed at raising money for our communities. 

In addition to a financial  pledge, I enjoy taking part in the month long jeans campaign.  Jeans are normally dress code No No with the exception of a few company specific events.

For a nominal amount I get to wear jeans ALL month long.  The key to rocking jeans in a business casual environment is simple...Dress them up.  You can still look office chic and enjoy the comfort of your jeans. 

Last year was fun, this year I plan on mixing up my denim pieces.  And thanks to my thrifty habits I now have a good variety to choose from.

I think I'll incorporate into my looks a denim dress, blazer, skirt, shirt, blue jeans, colored jeans and maybe even a pair of denim wedge sandals.  I'd really like to try a denim on denim look (💕) but that might be a bit to much for the office.

SO Busy

It feels like it's been forever since I've posted about my goings-on.   I've been busy trying to get all this baby weight off so I can fit into all my great thrift finds.

I'm 8 weeks into a 12 week long fitness program.  The goal of the program is to transform your body through proper nutrition and exercise.  I consider myself to be pretty slender but was I shocked when I got the results of a hydrostatic (under water) weigh-in at the beginning of the program.   I had a mind boggling 50.5% of body fat. 

I personally think it's all in my upper torso- if you know what I mean.  Not too much I can do about it unless I opt for an augmentation, which I've actually considered on a number of occasions.  But then I always hear a little voice in my head saying, "Be thankful for what God gave you".  (The voice is actually my mother who thinks I'm being ridiculous because some people pay good $ for 'em)

I also joined a sports team to get extra exercise.  We've been practicing at least 4 times a week it seems. Wish me luck my 1st game is in 2 weeks!

                              I'm SoRosie
                            Stay Rosy Y'all

So Mixed Up

I'm still trying my hand at mixing prints.  I love the concept, but for me, it takes a lot of effort to get it right.  I definitely feel like I'm getting better at it but hey...practice makes perfect!

Recently, I mixed a Polka-dot shift blouse, with a tweed-like window pane skinny leg cropped pant.  Actually, the pants were thrifted so I'm not sure if they were actually cropped style or just short for my height.

While I loved the entire look, I'll be the first to admit the outfit was in desperate need of a POP of color.  I'm still working on wearing brighter colors now that I live in the south.  With spring being here but the weather still a bit chilly and rainy; I can still get away with wearing some of my winter items.   I'll try my hand at mixing patterns with a more colorful array of prints once it warms up a bit.

Not sure how much I paid for each of these pieces but I'm pretty sure the blazer, blouse and pants were less than $20 in total.

                           I'm SoRosie
                         Stay Rosy Y'all!

SO Pinspired

I generally like to pick out my outfits for the work week on Sundays. I try everything on to be certain they fit and look good together, I'll iron everything and hang them back in my closet.  When I'm feeling super obsessive compulsive, I figure out the weather for the week and sort the outfits according to the weather for each day of the week.

On the occasions when Sundays don't provide the luxury of picking my clothes out in advance, mornings can get pretty rough.  There are some mornings I wake up and as it turns out I'm not quite as into an outfit as when I first put it together.  I stand in the closet and stare around as if an outfit will just magically jump off the shelf.  Then the real troubles begin.  Items get pulled off hangers, tried on and tossed aside which creates a huge mess. 

Since I don't believe in magic, every now and again I go to my Pinterest boards for a little Pinspiration.  If you've ever used the site you know its sort of magical in its own way.  I mean you can find EVERYTHING on Pinterest.  Type an item and up pops a ga-gillion ways to style it.  My favorite search is on Polka-dots!  Try it out you can find Polka-dot everything!

Last week I hit my boards for a few Pinspired looks and came up with these looks to recreate.  I recreated these looks with mostly thrifted finds but I also have some pieces I picked up retail (discounted retail).  I try never to pay more than $20 for any retail find, although shoes are an exception to that guideline.

My thrifted items include:
Yellow Merona cardigan
Blue Pinstripe Old Navy Skirt
Black Manolo Blahnik heels
Burgundy DKNY corduroys
Vintage Blouse - No Name

I think I came pretty close to recreating these looks with items already sitting in my closet.  How did I do?  How do you get inspiration for your outfits?

                   @~~~~~I'mSoRosie
                         Stay Rosy Y'all

You Are SO What You Wear

Below are some of my fave looks of 2014.  I personally believe you can tell a lot about a woman by the way she dresses.  You are what you wear.  I, as you can see 1) am pretty conservative. 2) I don't do over the top costume(y) outfits, 3) I don't do trendy but I am always well put together, I like to think classic. 4) I love a nice blazer or jacket and I apparently will slip a vest in from time to time. 5) I'm not much of a girly girl and love menswear inspired looks occasionally. 6) I do have a girlish love of polka dots. 7) I prefer a nice pant over a skirt any day. My closet is evidence of this as 85% of my bottoms are pants. 8) I love shoes (YAY) another girlish quality.  I have an affinity towards peep toe. 9) The New Yorker that still lives in me tends to gravitate toward darker colored clothing although I will add a pop of color every now and then. 10) I love accessories, they are great for adding that pop of color just for fun. 11) I have lots of clothes and shoes and bags and jewelry, probably too much.  (Yeah NO) 12) I don't repeat outfits (strange right) although I will remix the heck out of specific pieces. 13) I like dresses but I don't think they  feel the same way about me. 14) I shop way too much (Hush your mouth, NO I DON'T)

Overall assessment of me: I am a reserved woman who takes care of herself and others,  a calculated thinker not a risk taker.  I like to show a little but leave a lot to the imagination.  I like to have fun but you won't see me on an episode of girls gone wild.

What does your personal style tell you about your personality?

@~~~~I'm SoRosie

Stay Rosy Y'all

I am SO cleaning out my closet!

So, I think it's been just about a year since I started thrifting and now my closet is starting to overflow.  I have a pretty decent sized walk-in, so when I started having trouble maneuvering about, it was time to clean house.  Well not really...it was more like organize house and set aside a few things for donations.

Cleaning out my closet was a three man job so I recruited my mom and son to help.  Y'all know he dipped out on me after only a few minutes! Geez...good help can be so hard to find.  But my mom, bless her heart, is a beast when it comes to cleaning.  It took us several hours but now I have plenty of space to go in and twirl!  Seriously! I literally went in and twirled from room to room in my closet!!  I think it will be my new hideaway.

Everything is organized pretty much by color.  I have separate sections for my work and casual clothing.  You know the saying " a place for everything and everything in its place" this now describes my closet.  Let's hope I can keep it that way!😕

Are you cleaning out or organizing your closet for the New Year?  I'd love to see your before and after.  Here are a few of mine.

              @~~~~~ I'm SoRosie
                  Stay Rosy Y'all!

A Red (B&W) Christmas

I don't know about you but it can be hard at times to figure out what to wear to work everday.  My very old school parents  would say that's because "you have TOO much choice".  I guess this is a ridiculous 1st world probem but nonetheless IT IS A PROBLEM.  Especially when it impacts your ability to get dressed and out the house in a reasonable amount of time. 

I often seek motivation from Pinterest and my favorite Facebook groups such as #thriftingatlanta and #thriftingdivas.  The ladies and gentlemen on these social media platforms are so creative and provide a good  source of inspiration. 

When I find something I like, sometimes I just recreate it over and over.  Right now, I'm loving the pairing of red, black and white (or sometimes blue) in an outfit.  So much so, that I've been wearing these colors to work everyday this month.  I talked about this in my last post. I must say having a theme makes it soooo much easier to narrow down those choices. Another perk is that red seems so festive and appropriate for this time of year.

The one draw back is, it makes it obvious as to what I don't currently have in my closet; which means more shopping.   Ughhh!!- Not shopping!  We all have a LBD that is office appropriate but I just realized I don't own a single red dress nor a white one, much less one that would be work appropriate.  Oh well...two more items for the thriftlist!

Total random thought as I'm typing: I feel like my themed outfits should have  a theme song.  Anywho!!!

What tricks do you use to help get dressed?  Do you ever utilize a theme for a period of time? Am I just crazy?  Is anyone out there?  I'd love to hear from you!!

                      I'm (still) SoRosie in Red!
                            Stay Rosy Y'all!

                          HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

My thrifted items:
Red Cardigan- Eddie Bauer
Black Pencil Skirt - No name
Blue Sweater - Knitwear
Red Pants - Kasper

P.S.  I ended up wearing a pair of black tall boots with the skirt because...Baby it's Cold Outside!

So_Rosie in Red

Quite unconsciously my outfits this week had a hint or more of red.  I love how red, black and white complement each other in an outfit.  I think I'll carry this theme through  the month of December.  It's very fitting with the holidays in my opinion. 

P.S. I'm still loving my polka dots!!

Thrifted items:

-Banana Republic plaid pants

-Polka-dot skirt

-Talbots Hounds tooth Blazer

-Red Nine West Patent leather shoes

-Red Necklace 

                      I'm SoRosie in Red
                        Stay Rosy Y'all