Sour Grapes!

I love purple and I love this top because it has little rosettes on it.  The blouse is also flattering to my figure.  The earrings are an Etsy find (I try not to go there as much as I can)  And last but not least the Payless shoes.  You will notice in most of my pictures I am a jeans type of person, but every once in a while I skip them. 

top: Macy's $49 (oops, just had to have it)
earrings:  Etsy can't remember
shoes: Payless $15.99

Haven't posted in a while, Please join me!

Lesa

Always Summer

Elephants!

This is my daughter Katie.  To say the least she is VERY frugal.  So she gets twice as many things as my other daughter and I put together. She almost  always wears dresses. This outfit is super cute.  The gray part is a dress from Cotton On and the elephant top (her favorite animal) is from Forever 21.  Katie always wears flats, usually from Payless.  She is in college now with a Major in Exceptional  Student Education.  She will  be one of my Always Summer models as she dresses way, way better than me.

dress:  Cotton On:  $5.00
Elephant Shirt: Forever 21: $15.00

Hit or Miss

I have a love/hate relationship with Old Navy.  Sure they are great for staples, but when I go in for something "a little more"  I more often come out empty handed than not.  However, I was visiting my daughter at college (which of course, includes a Mother funded shopping spree lol.  I found this shirt and fell in love.  All the colors I love, plus it would look good with my favorites-jeans!

The only one in my size was on the mannequin and I asked the guy in the store if he would take it off, and he did-and cheerfully.

The top is flattering to my body style, washes without wrinkles and is my favorite colors, so right now OLD NAVY Rocks!

Blouse: $25

Beautiful Creatures

I have to say that I have had MAJOR upheaval in my life that has brought me down.  Then I remembered how wonderful it was to share with my Always Summer friends.  I know it has a long time and I will have to do what I can to get you back.  But I hope you will check me out again. The last time I posted I think it was about my daughter's prom dresses, well I am sooooo late as it is in the middle of college now, but I love this picture.

Both dresses are from David's Bridal and they were both around $150.  I am biased but I think that my twins were gorgeous.  Speaking of my twins, they will also be featured in the new and improved Always Summer!  Please join us!

Thinking Maybe I Can Come back...

It has been almost a full year since I have posted here.  Lots of changes in my life, some good others not so great.  My older girls are off to college and even though one of them comes home every night, I miss them like crazy.  I am lonely and not taking care of myself, so I thought that this would give me something to do.  I am going to include some pictures of my big girls, especially Katie who has an eclectic style that I wish I could copy (on an older person basis of course).  Are any of you still out there?  Do any of you still remember me?  I need some friends right now, even if they are not the kind that I can go out to lunch with....xoxo

Regrets, I've Had a few...

Leopard print sweater: NY & Co.

Have you ever sold something on Ebay or given something away to Goodwill and then found a picture and asked yourself WTH why did I give this away? I an the opposite of a hoarder, I go through these crazy cleaning streaks and sell or throw everything away. I just let this cute little cardi go, and now I'm asking WHY???

Welcome to my world...

They are selling cute, cool dresses at target for $19.99
The only problem is that after a wash they a little above my knee
and I'm 5'2"

This is n't the most flattering pic of the faux wrap, but they are
nice because they are high enough that you don't have
worry about flashing someone

The whitest woman in South Florida
and I even have a pool

Red flower from Etsy
(don't you hate them now that you can't pounce anymore?)
I barely buy anything there because of that
Pounce let me have my spur of the momet midnight purchases

As I said in my last post I have gained even more weight. I have no one to blame but myself. But then when O go out I have such low self esteem. I really want to at least thin my arms down (is this easy) because all of the dressed I bought so far are sleeveless. It is ungodly hot in Ft. Lauderdale in June. So far I have bought 5 dresses, however I did take 3 back, so I haven't gone completely mad. Now am going to narrow it down between the last two and not look at anything else until June.

Today I went to get my twins prom dresses altered, so I got dressed! I thought this would be a nice mother daughter bonding experience. Ummmm....not so much. It got so bad I made my husband come and pick them.

1. We bought the dresses last prom season to insure that no one else would have the same dress. Well my daughter Anna's dress was front and center as you walk into David's Bridal.
2. Both daughters dresses were cloned and hanging in the alterations department.
3. My daughter Anna has this gorgeous, smoky gray dress with a few silver bugle beads on the bodice. She has a temper tantrum in the store when 4 of us told her that her bright silver Tom's shoes would look hideous with the dress. And beside that, if they had to alter the bottom of her dress, the alterations would cost $30 less then the whole dress itself.($120 for alterations!) She didn't think that was unreasonable. (At this point I called my husband)
4. Then off to the shoe store, already a source o f contention because of the Tom's The big girls eventually found shoes. I saw a really cute pair of flat gladiator sandals that I wanted, they had the exact same pair for my little one. I said "wouldn't t be so cool to have shoes just like Mom?" she said "No" and walked away. That was my cue to head to Barnes and Noble and leave my husband to fix the damages. I've been crying over graduation every day anyway. Yesterday it seemed as though they plotted to make me feel as terrible as possible, while spending all of my money. Props to my daughter Katie who wast the peacemaker, joined me at Barnes and Noble and made dinner when we got home. What does this have to do with what I'm wearing? Nothing except for the fact that this is what I had on for this perfect day.

Back again!

I feel like I have been on a see-saw and I recently took this blog down as I felt I had nothing more to offer. Also, I was (and still am) feeling very sorry for myself as I have gained weight, my twins, who i consider my best friends are graduating in June and going off to college, and my Agorophobia has hit me like a ton of bricks. Because of these issues I felt I had nothing to bring to the table, then I started missing you guys, the friends I can have without leaving the house. So please join me again.

Eshakti nightmare

Still no refund or credit, excuses that don't make sense. I would just get my money back and give up except I love the plus size styles. THEY ARE MAKING ME CRAZIER THAN I ALEADY AM!

Eshakti pt. 2

Ok, so i bought 3 things from Eshakti, had to return 2 because of size/style. Told them I wanted to exchange, not money back, very vague, not sure if they understood ( irealiz I was speaking to someone in India) Has anyone else done this? How did they handle the transaction? did they refund your bank account or give you store credit?

Eshatki

Have any of you shopped this site? I just purchased the dress I think I want to wear to my daughters' graduation in June (i know it is early, but they are going to be so expensive with all of their prom and grad things around that time. I love the neckline of this dress, and of course I am going to lose 50 pounds and tone up my arms by then--ha!

What do you think about the dress and the company?

ETSY FRUSTRATION

I WILL have this!
shinyfinesilver

I want this..
TheNebulousKingdom

and these...
2sistershandcrafted

him too..
Maddenphotography

cool bee suncatcher
KurtKnudsen

Oh, and this would be nice!
WhitebirdDesign

I'll admit it, I am an Etsy-holic. I buy A LOT of things on this site. They have recently done away with their POUNCE function, which allowed you to see what others bought and other things that seller had to offer. It was fun to POUNCE and get ideas for gifts for me (lol) and others. Did you POUNCE? Do you miss it?

Happy 2012

Christmas Eve, all dressed up and ready to go! We wish you and yours a very happy and healthy New Year!

The day before Christmas Eve

Shopping
Plaid shirt: thrift: $1.99
Capris: Kohls
Tom's shoes: around $59.00

I am a dangerous woman. I start Christmas shopping in October, but I don't stop...I may have finished yesterday...but I'm still not sure.

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year..the anticipation...

I NEEED BIG ETSY HELP!!!

HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER BOUGHT ANYTHING FROM ETSY AND NEVER RECEIVED IT? IF SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION WITH A HOSTILE SELLER? THE HUGE PROBLEM IS THAT THE 2 GIFTS WERE PERSONALIZED, IT IS TOO LATE TO REPLACE THEM, AND ONE WAS BOUGHT BY MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO HAS VERY LIMITED FUNDS.

THE SELLER SAYS SHE SHIPPED ON DECEMBER 10TH AND THEN GAVE BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I SHIPPING NUMBERS THAT LED TO NOTHING.

I DID PAY ON PAYPAL, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT THE MONEY I REALLY WANTED THE PERSONALIZED GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS. SHE SAYS I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE NECKLACES AND REIMBURSEMENTS, I HAVE RECEIVED NEITHER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DON'T WANT REIMBURSEMENTS, I NOW HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE ON MY LIST WHO I DON'T HAVE PRESENTS FOR.

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FOLLOWED MY BLOG FOR A WHILE KNOW THAT I AM AGORAPHOBIC, THAT IS WHY I BUY MOST OF MY GIFTS ONLINE. SO HERE I SIT FOR THE LAST HOUR CRYING, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.

PLEASE GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS.

PLEEAAASSE BEEEEE MY FRIEND OR THOSE THAT PREFER TO BE IN THE NUDE

Katie: plum shirt, I think it is from Old Navy
Really cool Tinkerbell scarf that her favorite teacher brought her back from Disney
Suede boots: Payless

Anna in her "A" vest from Heritage
Holey jeans from Aeropostale
shirt: Old Navy
Ugg style gray boots from Payless

Katie closeup

Bee ornament in snorkle gear
My daughter Anna collects bee things
(hint: won't you please be my 70th follower)

I collect Mexican Folk Art
this is a Day of the Dead
Mexican skeleton reindeer
Love him!

My poor Tink, dressed for safari: Petsmart
(never to be worn again)

Okay, so I haven't been very exciting lately. Lets face it, I'll have to step it up as the holidays forces everyone out of the house looking good every once in a while.

You may have noticed that I have 69 followers. Pleeeeaaase (whine) give me a Christmas present and be my 70th follower.

On this post I have some pretty pictures of my fashionable girls, my ornaments and my chihuahua Tink in a safari jacket, looking none too happy as he prefers to remain in the nude!

Some of our ornaments...

Can't have a Christmas tree in Florida without a jellyfish

and a seahorse

Different gators, being a University of Florida Gator fan
I get all kinds of Gator gifts
this one is beautiful

Ok, a little different type of Gator

Christopher Radko issues an adoption ornament each year
since all of my girls are adopted they get me one every year

another Christopher Radko adoption ornament

and yet another

Katie with her pug ornament

better shot, up close
Katie has aa beautiful pug called Bennyfoo

No fashion picture (except my daughter who is holding some of the ornaments)

I'm Dreaming of Wild Animals

My two oldest are mad about any kind of animal print. I like it too, but it is making my Christmas difficult. My daughter Anna had me buy her a bed-in-a-bag with extra long dorm sheets way last summer, it was navy, lime and lavender, and pretty. She swore to me that she wouldn't change her mind....well guess what? Now we HAVE TO HAVE giraffe print everything. Luckily I have an Ebay store, so keep your fingers crossed that I get some of my money back. I am used to doing this with little ones, and I already had to change a singing doll for a purple Barbie. Being Santa is a tough job-as we all know.

We finally got our tree up, and if I do say so myself, it is beautiful. I collect ornaments, I have the girls with Santa from the year they were born, to last year (at 16 and 7 years old), I have Waterford, Lenox, Christopher Radko, school projects, ornaments from every trip we hae ever been on, and it all works. I thought I would feature some of them in my holiday blogs leading up to Christmas.

So, I am wearing jungle print for the occasion. I don't think the brown pearls really worked but I didn't notice until I saw the pics. The ornament was a handpainted gift with a big bell and the extra added plus is that the kitties can't shatter it. Meow!

MY GUEST BLOGGER

Bunny shirt: forever 21

plum skirt: old navy

Tights: Target
Shoes: Payless

Today I am showing off my daughter Katie. She is 17 years old and has a 25,000 dollar scholarship to Stetson University, which was her first choice in schools!

However, I want to interview her about her style choices because they are unique for someone her age:

Me: Katie, how would you describe your fashion style?
Katie: A mix of boho, casual and whimsical
Me: Would you say you dress like other people your age?
Katie: No, because a lot of people my age don't dress up for school each day, I also think that some people are inappropriate in what they wear.
Me: What would you consider inappropriate?
Katie: Clothing that doesn't fit your body correctly
Me: What is favorite item of clothing?
Katie: my Stetson tee
Me: What do you wear on a usual day at school?
Katie: sandals, sundress and a cardigan
Me: What do you think about jeans?
Katie: I think it is settling, you aren't making an effort.
Me: What fashion item are you hoping to get for Christmas?
Katie: A blue ballerina style dress, a black lace cardigan and a black lace cardigan

Katie is a vegetarian, top 10 percent of her class, devotes her life to volunteering, and dances to the beat of her own drum. Even though I am biased, I have to say she is one cool kid!

Just Wondering...

I love Etsy, I buy a lot of things on the site. I love the one-of-a- kind items and dealing with real people. However, I have been looking for child name necklaces for my daughters teacher (you know the kind-their children's name is engraved into your choice of metal). I found a site with necklaces I really liked, they had a big disclaimer that they couldn't promise shipping before Christmas. Okay, that is reasonable for a handmade object. I thought I would take a picture and put it into a really pretty card, and tell her that her necklace was on the way. Until, I saw that this woman was selling $30 "cut the line" options. In my opinion that is just wrong on so many levels. Even though I liked her necklaces more than the others I had seen, I would NEVER buy from her for this reason. What do you think? Is this fair? Am I wrong?