SEW Rosie!

I found a new hobby!!! I'm learning how to sew!  Learning how to sew will be a real compliment to my other new hobby...thrifting!  (Can you tell how excited I am by all the exclamation points?!)

A few months ago, I purchased a sewing machine from Wally's a.k.a Walmart in preparation for a sewing class I registered for a few months ago as well.  I started out with a simple machine, a Singer Simple, to be exact. I paid less than $100 for it.  Although the Goodwill always has sewing machines, I opted to get something new; not being familiar with sewing machines, I had to be certain I got all the parts.

I opened the box this past weekend on the morning of my lesson.   I saw no point in opening it any sooner as I hadn't the first clue how to even thread my new gadget and I certainly didn't want to break it. 

Well duh! Of course I could've read the instructions!  (I know that's what you were thinking) I find I learn best by practical application (by doing) not by following incomprehensible diagrams.  Have you ever tried putting together a piece of Ikea furniture???  But I digress.

My sewing 101 lesson was great and I'm super excited to get sewing.  Pretty soon I'll be able alter all those great thrift finds I usually walk away from because they were too big or too short.  Not to mention  too expensive to get tailored.  Tailoring can cost a grip and in the words of Ms. Sweet Brown herself "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!"

Ambitious... I know.  But sewing is in my blood my uncle was a tailor, my mom's first cousin is a seamstress and my mom assisted her in making wedding dresses.

Osmosis!?!- NOT!

I've already borrowed a bunch of sewing books from the library.   I thrifted a super cool book from Goodwill and a coworker whose mother recently passed away gave me a bunch of his mom's sewing books.   Apparently, his mother was a skilled seamstress who made all her own stuff.   I feel honored to receive these gifts and pray that an ounce of her talent rubs off on me.  (Rest in peace Ms. F)

I'll be taking my 102 lesson soon. Stay for tuned more updates on my journey.

    @~~~~I'm So "SEW" Rosie!
              Stay Rosy Y'all

So_Rosie: Week 3: Giving Back

So_Rosie: Week 3: Giving Back

Week 3: Giving Back

Today I heard a wonderful testimony of perseverance.  A story of triumph in the face of adversity.   A story of a person who received a hand up when he was man down.

That hand up came via the United Way.  Hearing this story made me feel good about my donation and pledge of support to help others in my community.  I fought back tears but I was smiling on the inside because know I'm doing my part.

It's week 3 and I'm still rocking my jeans @ work thanks to my donation.  I'm also proud that my pledge will go towards helping victims of domestic violence, a topic that is near and dear to my heart.

How do you give back to your community?

Denim Rocks

Week 2 of the campaign Jeans for a. cause!
This challenge is much more difficult than I thought it would be.  Perhaps its all in my head and I'm making it more difficult than it needs to be.
See the problem is I'm so accustomed to dressing in a business casual (no jeans allowed) fashion, that I think it makes me feel a bit out of my comfort zone.  This discomfort is further exacerbated by the fact that not everyone has elected to participate in the full campaign, so not everyone is wearing jeans every day as I've so boldly chosen to do.  That means when someone sees you in jeans they do the dreaded double take to be sure you are displaying your donation symbol.  Then there's the quick check to make sure your jeans meet the rules, followed no doubt by an assessment of said ensemble.  Talk about being under pressure!  WHEW!
Despite the PRESSURE I think I've done well.  Here are a few more of my outfits...
I apologize in advance for the crotch shot...

Giving Back - Dressing For A Cause

I'm rockin' denim this month for a good cause!  It's not very often I get the opportunity to wear jeans to work.  So I'm thrilled to be doing so this month in support of the United Way, via my company's Jeans Day campaign.  

A win win for everyone!  I get to wear jeans and do my philanthropic duties, my community benefits from my individual contribution and hopefully my company has a successful campaign.

There are rules, of course, about the type of jeans that can be worn. Obviously, they must be clean, nothing skin tight, NO HOLES, etc.

Wait a minute have the rule makers been shopping lately?  It is dang near impossible to find a pair of jeans that don't look like they're about to fall apart.   Everything is distressed, ripped, frayed and just plain ole' holey. 

This is going to be quite a challenge.  Well, I accept your challenge and raise you 20 outfits styled with work appropriate jeans. Side note: big shout out to Pinterest and all the pinners for inspiration.

How does thrifting fit into this you may ask?  Luckily, during my adventures in thrifting I've picked up a few jeans and accessories to create office appropriate looks that are casual but professional. 

I'm 3 days in and here's what I've pulled together so far.  I've gotten a lot of compliments; in part, because people still can't believe I just had a baby.  *I guess that's a good thing- color me flattered*

I fully plan to put my blazer collection to good use during this challenge, but, I have a few thrifted chambray shirts, denim dresses and even a denim skirt that I plan to wear.

If you have any suggestions I would love to see or hear them.  I'd especially like to hear about how you've dressed for a cause.

@~~~~ I'm So Rosie
Stay rosy y'all.

The Joy of Thrifting...Ummm I Mean Cooking

The joys of thrifting continue to be revealed.  Thrifting has made me a better cook!  Go figure.

Ever since I picked up this very handy, dandy book at the Goodwill and this super heavy cast iron skillet; I've been cooking up some delicious Asian inspired meals.

I usually go to a wonderful Chinese restaurant...hmmm, they wont be seeing me for a while.   MO' Money for thrifting! Score!

The stool in the pic below was thrifted too! 

YUM!!!!

@~~~~I'm SoRosie

Stay Rosy Y'all!

Road Trip

I spent part of my day laying out outfits in anticipation of my upcoming road trip.  I'm REALLY looking forward to some me time.  After all I haven't taken a vacation this year with the arrival of the baby and all.

With the pending season change, I'm thinking I should be ready for temperature swings.  Warm days and cool nights.

Luckily, I picked up a few pieces over the summer and during my ready for fall haul, that will transition well into the fall. I'm still working on my club look, but, I think I have most of my activities covered. 

I hope to eat, drink, party and thrift like a rockstar in my destination city.

All the pieces below were thrifted with the exception of the Camo jacket and the blue shirt.  The Camo jacket from Old Navy was originally $39.95, I paid about $17 after using all my rewards.  I had a Camo jacket long ago that I would "borrow" from my brother.   It eventually went missing.   Hmmmm....

Do you go thrifting when you visit a new city?  How do you go about locating the best thrift spots?

@~~~~I'm SoRosie

Stay Rosy y'all.

What I Wore to Work (9.4.14): Accordion Pleats

I don't know about you, but when I shop I don't shop for an outfit.  I shop for pieces I love or like a LOT. Then, I take my find(s) and see how I can use it with pieces I already own or recently purchased.

Ever since I began thrifting I've been keeping stock of my outfits trying to see at what point I've created a look that was 100% thrifted.  Is that weird?

Anyways, I got pretty darn close with this one.  All the pieces were thrifted with the exception of the cardigan, but, I got it from an outlet so that counts, right? I'm quite sure I didn't pay a lot for it.

Normally I jot down where, when and what I scored on my thrifting sprees but for some reason I could only find my notes on the shoes.  Time for a new system!

Here's what I wore:
Cardigan (Gap) Outlet
Shell(The Limited) Thrifted
Skirt (I.N.C) Thrifted
Shoes (Nine West) Thrifted-Goodwill

I love this accordion skirt.  I thought it would wrinkle and not wear well throughout the day.  Boy oh boy was I wrong, those pleats have some serious bounce back.

@~~~~ I'm So Rosie
Stay Rosy y'all.

My system!

Polka(dot) Anyone

I don't know how to Polka but I'm quite familiar with the Polka dot.  I've been obsessed with polka dots lately.  Big ones, small ones, colorful ones, you name it I'm hooked.

For the past two weeks I've been rocking the Polka real hard. I had/have a quite a few polka dot items on my Thrift List and I've been checking them off slowly but surely.   If only I could get my hands on a polka dot pencil skirt (sigh).  A cream colored skirt with blue dots or blue with cream dots would be my dream come true.  Well really at this point I would take any color I could find.  The hunt continues!!  Let me know if you come across one...pretty please (preferably in a size 6)!!!!

My thrifted polka dot items below:

B&W draw string shirt

Black & cream dress

B&W skirt

Blue & cream silk pencil skirt

Blue and White dress

B&W sheer button up shirt

Still on my Polka dot Thriftlist:

Gray Sweater w/White Dots

Light blue jeans w/White or Blue Dots

Polka dot Pumps

Polka dot pencil skirt (see up top)