BAG LOVIN' @AMERICANAPPAREL

I wandered my way around #FedHill today after I ran an errand or two (I'll be discussing these in detail later), and ended up in American Apparel in search of a new button down--the one I currently own was my ex's and I'm in desperate need of a new one, I've almost worn this one out; I love it that much.

I didn't have any luck with the button down, but I did manage to find two bags that I desperately want to add to my Birthday Wish List :)
My only hesitation is that these items are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced (because they're AA), but they look so good! AND I definitely know I'd get ample use out of them.

Scratch all of that!!!... I really just want this bag:

Stripe Canvas Large Carry All Bag

in Navy Wide White Stripe
$72

I REALLY REALLY WANT THIS!!! 

B.A.D.

The stripes, the stripes, the stripes... just screams ME ME ME!
And it's a big bag! Which is perfect size for ME ME ME :)

But I love this one too:

Small Leather Carry-All Pouch

in Plum Ostrich

$40

However, the quality of the Plum Ostrich isn't that great--AT ALL (I fiddled with it in the store), plus for $40--YouveGOTtoBEkidding!

So getting back to the BIG STRIPED TOTE BAG!!!

I WANT IT! :)

and it is taking EVERY BIT OF SELF RESTRAINT that I have

to not go and buy it tomorrow morning before I head off to the beach for work.

Gah!
Dammit!

Bills.

DAMMIT.

Summer storm a-brewing

Where life takes place is reminiscent of how that life is lived. In the UK, more specifically in London, life is lived inside. Inside oneself, inside the house, inside the group of friends one surrounds oneself with.

Furthermore, I am usually constantly working, which so far I always thought required another level of interiority. As I spend most my days relocating my life to the outdoors with every sunny moment absorbed into the pores of my sun-drenched being, there's also memento mori of weather, based on previous experience of UK summer.

Re-locating to the garden

As many will confirm, the summer experienced in said lovely little wet country centers around roughly two weeks in late spring, usually around the time when exams are due. Almost like clockwork awareness the rain and drizzle misery will approach in clouds of darkness by the time you have handed in your last essay - an awareness that stays with you no mater how long ago you've graduated. With this in mind, the very first storm that came a-brewing this year had people drily stating that autumn had now arrived and me wailing. However, the very next day, the sun came back out and we rejoiced once more. So much so, in fact, that when the storm clouds came thundering down the horizon or what counts as one within the limited visibility of Londonderry, I thoroughly enjoyed layering up in summer storm appropriate gear without fear (ohh, rhyme) of any ceasing of summer.

Ada Gatti red knit shirt
Vintage red and black beads necklace
Atmosphere blue bird jacket
Traditional Scottish pleat skirt
Pringle red golf socks
Prada red T-bar heels
Blue Lira Leirner bow hairclip

CURRENT CRAVINGS

CURRENT CRAVINGS by botrytisvin featuring aviator shades

SCORE!

I had to stop by David's Bridal this afternoon to pick up my bridesmaid dress for Stacey's wedding. Not only did I NOT get lost on my way there, but I also stumbled across an Old Navy :) [conveniently located right across the street from the dress shop].
I walked in looking for a dress for my Uncle Tony's wedding and walked out with a dress for my Uncle Tony's wedding! (That's a first for me!!--actually sticking to a shopping goal)



Okay, well I lied. I got a dress--in a MEDIUM!! and on sale (under $16)--but I also picked up two cardigans that were both on sale then dumped on the clearance rack for a further discount. I was able to snag each one for $7!

I wasn't able to find a picture of the dress online, but I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures at the wedding/mini-family reunion (only two weeks away). I was however, able to find the cardigans online and realized that they were incorrectly placed on the clearance rack and mixed in with the other sale cardigans.

This cardigan is SUPPOSED to retail for $26.50 -- I luckily got it and a white one for $7!

HOLLAR!

I just LOVE good purchases and awesome sales and deals!!!!

Tomorrow I can promise that I won't be shopping and wasting money... 

The niece and nephew have a soccer tournament tomorrow and Sunday. I'll be spending tomorrow (from 7AM to ??PM) working volunteering at the water tent with my brother and one of his co-workers. His company/store is one of the sponsors for my niece and nephews teams this year. His company was able to donate over 30 cases of water, hundreds of reusable water bottles, drink koozies and chapsticks all for the kids and their parents. Apparently there are going to be over a hundred teams attending the Atlanta Peach Classic this year--this weekend is going to be crazy.

I'm a little sad that it's a soccer tournament that I'm supporting and not a RUGBY tournament, but it's okay. I've got one nephew and a questionable niece or nephew on the way that I can make sure they play rugby. I've got to get at least one 'lil rugger out of the four of them... JUST ONE (is that too much to ask for?)!!!

:)

GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!! 

Go Thunder Soccer!!!!!

SUNNY AND SEQUINS?!

Alright...

Dilemma time...

and I need my loyal readers help!

To Buy or Not To Buy.

That is the IMPORTANT question at hand.

Sun Dot Dress
Original retail $148.00 NOW $79.95
Anthropologie.com

Juicy Couture Gardenia sequin espadrilles
Original retail $255 NOW $76.50
theOutnet.com

For further aid, so that you may help me decide.


Here is the back of the dress:

And the dress on the model:



Now for the justification part of this post.

• I do look pretty cute in blue and yellow. Both look great with my pale-ish (I can't get a nice tan anymore because my body hates me) skin tone.

• My uncle Tony is getting married this summer.

• Two of my friends are also getting married this summer.

• This dress/shoe combo would be suitable and especially perfect for my uncle Tony's wedding since it is in the northern part of Georgia and in a wooded area. The espadrilles would be great because they won't sink into the ground...

• Both items are on SALE... and the shoes are ONLY AVAILABLE IN MY SIZE!
  
  (That could be a sign!)

• I could wear the dress again... plenty. It's a nice casual dressy dress, don't you think?

• As for wearing the shoes again... I could find something--Mr.A is taller than me, it'll be okay. And if not. There is always eBay or SA mart. There are always girls with big feet (LIKE ME) looking for a cute pair of designer heels for a steal!

Please leave me some advice. I'd love and appreciate the help!

Thanks loves!

--Chuck

*********************Update*********************

Okay, so I'm getting overly excited about this possible outfit... I decided to put it together via paint... It sure does look promising... CAN I DO IT?! SHOULD I DO IT?!

Opinions!? Please!

CRUSING HARD

I told you I was in the midst of a WEDGE-fest...

I've been in shoe browsing/daydreaming heaven lately... I'm trying to re-adjust my current job situation, and I am in NO PLACE what-so-ever to spend ANY money on shoes! Especially on heels that I rarely wear.

If you know me, you know how much of a shoe hard on I get, then I wear the shoes a total of 5 times and they end up stashed away in my closet... it's bad. Really.

BUT I really, really want to branch out.

I want to break free... so to speak and get a cute casual pair of heeled sandals, or nice pumps, or something other than FLATS and BOOTS... that OVERTAKE my closet.

Mr.A comment the other day when I wore flip-flops (woo-hoo 56 degree weather!) that it was strange not seeing me in a pair of boots since I wear them ALL the TIME! :)

So here are a few of my shoe pics... some of my shoe crushes... eh... it's just some my shoe hard-ons for the moment:

:)

Lauren Ralph Lauren Skylar Sandal - $47.98
Jones New York Lagoon Platform Pumps -- $59.95

Aerosoles Plushing Bride -- $69.00

Nine West Entire Sandal -- $78.95

Ann Taylor LOFT Wide Strap Wedge -- $79.50

Nine West Guinevere T-Strap Wedge -- $78.95

Also, I found a pair of Franco Sarto heels that I like... BUT then found a pair of Target knock-offs on their website! Both sites offer different colors! :)

Yay! Found a deal!

Franco Sarto [$78.95] Merona [$26.99]

(left) (right)

SALES, STEALS & DEALS

Here is a new little feature I am going to try out...

SALES, STEALS & DEALS

I get bored throughout the day and find tid-bits all around the internet that I think some of you out there might like.

Lately I've been on this wedge kick. I have been browsing like crazy for a pair of wedge heels, in my size GINORMOUS of course, specifically for Stacey's wedding, and for casual/nice outfits for this spring/summer.

PLUS, with Mr.A being in the 6'4" range I've been wanting to try out a pair of heels with him ;) [but that is only after my stupid broken toe/sprained ankle heals... I tried to squeeze into the new pair of NineWest heels that I got from eBay yesterday. WHAT A JOKE! I could barely stand. My foot was in Ridiculous amounts of pain].

I stumbled across this pair of Pelle Moda wedges on Lori's Shoes and then went looking for a cheaper/knock off pair.

Pelle Moda
[$112.00]

I wound up going to endless.com and found these three similar babies which all happen to be near identical to one another AND are all CHEAPER than the Pelle Moda wedges.

BCBGeneration
[$79.95]
Wanted
[$33.81]
J Renee
[$49.47]

All of the lower priced wedges come in various colors: Black, White, Orange, Brown, Stone, Green, Fuchsia, etc... Only the Pelle Modas come in Black or Beige.

**********************UPDATE*************************

Found two more VERY similar pairs over on Amazon:

Bandolino
[$69.00]
Ralph Lauren
[$46.35]

M.O.H DILEMA

What color shoes should we wear with our bridesmaid dresses?

Ladies, and shoe appreciating men... I need your help!


The color is Watermelon from David's Bridal.


The dress is short... but that is all I want to say because I am pretty sure my bride bff is trying to keep it a secret/surprise for the big day!

I got a little bored today and perused the internet for shoes, but couldn't come up with any solid ideas.

Here are a few tidbits necessary in order to help in the decision making process:

I know she doesn't want GOLD.
The wedding is in July.
The ceremony and reception are at night.
The dresses are short.
Material is a cotton/sateen.
The bridesmaid shoes do not have to match.
Any heel height is fine--Mr.A is 6'4... and the guy I'm walking down the isle with will have his military dress shoes on and they add an inch or two.
I WILL be/have a TAN!
And I will not ruin her wedding photos with bruises on my legs/arms from rugby... I PROMISE, Stacey! No rugby for the month of July... and if I do, my tan will be super awesome (and real, not ORANGE) to cover up the ugly-ness (although I really heart my rugby bruises) of the black and green and blue of my bruises.

Any ideas, with links and pictures, and definitely prices, will be much appreciated!

Help a fellow blogger out!

Leave a comment on the blog, email me [ ChuckRefreshed@gmail.com ], blast me on the twitter, or leave a formspringME comment!

Thanks again!



oh, p.s. I wear a size 11.
Good Luck with the recommendations!

:)