Becoming a Nun....With Nothing But a Sheet!

This is the time of year which I love in some ways, and dread in others. Halloween is quickly approaching, and of course if you want to score big in the candy department....you better have a costume! If that isn't enough stress...starting last year..my kids also have to have a "Saint" costume for All Saints Day at school. The dilemma of the Halloween costume can generally be solved by a quick trip to my local thrift store, but a "Saint" costume is very hard to come by....I guess they are not in hot demand. Last year one of my daughters chose to dress as the nun with the "flying hat". I looked EVERYWHERE for a hat, but all that were for sale were ridiculously expensive. There was no way that I would spend $29.99 on a hat which would only grace her head once. In quiet desperation....I decided out to make my own nun's hat. Armed with a hot glue gun, a Tupperware container, and some foam board.....I set out to conquer what no other Mom that I know has achieved! It only took but an hour...and my daughter was thrilled with the results (please see picture for reference). Alas...that was last year, and of course my other daughter does not want to wear the same hat which was so proudly paraded around the school once before. She has decided to be a Saint who is attired in all white, flowing robes! Easy, right???!!!! That is what I thought....now I am looking at a white sheet and trying to decide how to make it into a rocking Saints costume by Friday! Is my daughter going to look like a Saint, or like her Mother threw a white sheet onto her and called it a costume??? Pics will surely follow.....

What is not cheap....pets!!! My dear cat Mr. Mao came down with a bladder infection last week. How could I diagnose this, you might wonder??? Well....he peed pretty much everywhere he could squat....including on my foot!!! I could feel his pain, as my bladder and I have been in the same position before. I made a call to our vet and was able to rush him in right away. A few hours and $300 later, I was informed that our cat had a bladder infection. Hmmmm.....I knew he had a bladder infection when I still had not spent a dime! He was prescribed amoxicillin and sent home with instructions that he may need further testing, blah, blah, blah next week!!! Of course I am glad he was taken care of and he is worth far more than the cost of that vets appointment, but really.....it cost $300 to have him pee on some litter and test is for infection???? I am thinking that I I had been so inclined....a vet would have been a good calling. You don't have to mess with insurance, bitchy patients, and the people paying the bill will generally spare any expense for their beloved pets!

And tonight after a quick trip to the dog park (my kids love this), I will be stopping at Boston Market for their $1 meal. Actually... I won't!!! I just went to attach the link, and realized that my coupon expired yesterday! What a bummer!!!! I was looking forward to their cornbread! Oh well....I guess I will have to enjoy a gourmet meal prepared by Moi!!!!

And....last but not least! To address the above photos. I still have not figured out how to blog correctly. I am going to get the hang of photo placement one of these days!!! But I will tell a little tale about each of the above! The first photo is of a drop-dead gorgeous pair of Sergio Rossi shoes. Original price in the $550 range. Somehow, there was a secret sale going on at NM Last Call when I was there, and with all the discounts applied...they cost $74. I think this is the most that I have paid for shoes in a long time....but they are well worth it!! The color is amazing!!! Next in the photo lineup is a pair of Hermes sandals which I was lucky enough to get at Salvation Army for $12.99. I spotted these from across the room...and didn't know what brand they were, but could tell the quality was good. I was so excited when I picked them up and they were my size!!! On to the fur coat....this one is a true shocker!! It is a vintage sheared mink. And drumroll....I paid $2.99. I was at one of my thrift stores that has all of their clothes marked at $2.99, when I spied a piece of clothing on the floor under a rack. I picked it up in order to hang it up when I realized what I was holding onto. I wold not buy new fur....but this one sure does deserve to be loved....and for $2.99, who wouldn't love it!!! When I got it home, I proudly showed it off to my husband who in a typical male fashion said, "What do you need that for?" EXCUSE ME....this is a mink coat in impeccable condition for less than a Happy Meal...how could I say no??? And last but not least.....the "flying nun's" hat!!! That is some serious crafting talent sitting atop my daughter's head!! Please try not to be jealous!!!!

A Very Puzzling Pumpkin Problem....

My outfit for today: Hache shirt $7, LaRok vest FREE, J&Company jeans $10, Boots...old!


Harem pants....much dwelled upon...finally mine! $32.50



Leater Jacket- FREE (I traded at Buffalo Exchange)



I have to be honest....three weeks ago when Starbucks started touting their Fall pumpkin flavor....I was so happy to be uninterested. As we all know...Starbucks is not the way to go if trying to be thrifty. I do have to mention though, that I can buy their tall cup of regular coffee in a grande cup (room for the milk), and it is the same price as 7-eleven. So....this is what I was doing on the fateful day that they had samples of their pumpkin frappuccino on the counter to be tasted. I looked at it disdainfully....but am always open to anything free....so decided to give it a shot. I am now having to question this decision, as I am sure they have added crack to their pumpkin goods to get people hooked. I have now made my way through their pumpkin selection, and have enjoyed every second of it! Pumpkin latte, frappuccino, muffin, scone, bread....you name it, Starbucks sells it, I have tried it! I am hoping now that I have over-indulged and gotten this insatiable need for pumpkin out of my system. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend the muffin and latte....actually worth the $$$ to try. On to another Starbucks matter....their instant coffee! I don't know about you, but if I am paying $1.00 for a cup of coffee...I would rather spring for a little bit more, and get the cup, as well. If I am drinking coffee at home it is Folgers "Colombian" for me EVERY TIME!!! The best coffee I have ever tasted....and only $3.00 for a container....now that IS A DEAL!




I recently was the recipient of FREE tickets to see "Blink 182" in concert. Despite popular opinion....Travis Barker (the drummer) is attractive in a mildly repulsive kind of way! But that is not why I wanted to attend. As it turns out...."Blink 182" is my sons 2nd favorite band! I surprised him after school last week with the free tickets. He was unbelievably excited!! Better yet....the concert was only a mile away from our house....so easy to get there and back. This was my sons first real concert. We arrived a bit early, and I realized they were charging $10 for parking. Most people would pay the $$$ and feel happy still, as the tickets were free....but not me!! $10 for parking!!! I did not even have to pay for the tickets! We ended up scoring FREE parking across the street (although there was a distinct possibility of my car being stolen).....Once inside, it was a bit overwhelming for Ryan. Tons of people....so much to see....and of course he gravitated straight towards the t-shirt sales booth!!! I think it could be left unsaid that there was going to be no t-shirt purchased at the concert, although I did promise to keep my eye out at the thrift stores that I frequent! We did end up buying a large sticker sheet for $2, which I thought was an amazing deal!! Unfortunately, we only stayed for a bit of the concert. I was shocked and dismayed when he said he was ready to go because of all the cursing. HUH!!!???? Is this my child????!!!! I was proud of the moral stand he had taken, and glad to be out of there before darkness fell.....and felt quite lucky to find my car unmolested! Price of "Blink 182" concert- $2, Getting to spend a cool evening with my kid- PRICELESS!!!! ( I always think it is a bit cheesy when people do that...but in this instance it was quite fitting)!!!!




And last but not least.....the story of my harem pants!! It was a few weeks ago, and I was at Buffalo Exchange, trading clothes with the hopes of selling enough to purchase my DREAM motorcycle jacket! I reached my goal, and was ready to leave when I spied out of the corner of my eye....a gorgeous pair of pants. They were peeping out nonchalantly at me from in between a mass of jeans. As I pulled them out, I admired the gorgeous color and details. I then looked at the price....$32.50!! Well....I had come in to sell things...not spend new $$$, so I kindly handed them to a girl shopping nearby, and told her that the pants were gorgeous and she should try them on! HUGE MISTAKE!!!! When I arrived home, I could not get these pants out of my mind. I started imagining all of the outfits that I couldn't wear now that I didn't have them. Finally, in a fit of regret...I turned to the Internet to see if I could track them down. Well....track them down I did. Retail price=$558. HOLY SHITE!!!!! Now I really had to have the pants. I was kicking myself for my generosity, and hoping beyond hope that the pants did not fit the Amazon woman (in my mind) that I had given them too!!! First thing the next morning, I was on the phone with Buffalo Exchange, and was thrilled to find out that the pants would be mine! Thank you Kristin (my oldest friend) for the bday $$$ that made their purchase possible!!




And not to be ignored...I met the owner of Dickey's whilst out the other night enjoying a few cocktails. Turns out at the Frisco Dickey's location, they have FREE BEER every night from 5-8. Or...it could have been 6-8. I am not driving that far....even for free beer, but it is a superb opportunity for those living in North Dallas.