Inspiration Monday: Sparkles and Denim

It's inspiration monday time at two birds.  This week's inspiration is Brooklyn Decker in a shirt and skirt combo.  It's a simple pairing so we've got a lot of room for creativity.

Brooklyn has on a chambray shirt, cute silver sparkly skirt, wide black belt and round toe ankle banded pumps.  What she doesn't have on is any jewelry or accessories.  Time to check out my closet for possible looks.

I like this simple uncluttered look.  What do you think?

What I'm Wearing: 


Denim shirt, $20, Target
Yellow, white and silver skirt, $24, Fashion Bug
Silver belt, $1.50, Goodwill
Silver "Judy Jetson" shoes, $10, Show Show

Total cost of outfit:  $55.50

Lost in the 70's

I am loving the whole 70's vibe this spring.  And by watching videos and reading posts on a couple of different blogs, I learned how to take a rectangular scarf and make a turban.

 

Place the long rectangular scarf behind your head and bring the ends to the front.  Cross the ends over once, then twice.  Now take the loose ends to the back of your head and tuck them in.

These bright yellow, pink and white/yellow "Love" beads are originals from the 1970's.  The green heart encased in clear acrylic is also an original from the 1970's.  And so is this little guy...

What I'm Wearing:
Yellow multi top, $24, Gabriel Brothers
Faded Glory dark wash bootcut jeans, $12, Walmart
Love beads and acrylic heart necklace, gifts
Steve Madden slides, $4, local thrift store
Yellow scarf tied as a turban, $7, Claire's Boutique

Total Cost of Outfit:  $47

Do You Blog for Fun or Profit or Both?

 There was an interesting post today on IFB, the Independent Fashion Bloggers site.  In a nutshell, it said, "Hey...it's okay if fashion blogging is your hobby...you don't have to be a professional with published books, magazine spreads and tons of sponsors."

Blogging in a personal style blog is my hobby.  It's fun to take the daily outfit shots.   Figuring out which shots to use, what I want to say and how I want to say it gives me a little creative satisfaction every day.  This is my little world that I can create in any direction I want.

But I am finding that creating my own little world does take time.  By the time you shoot your daily photos, write your post and upload it all you can figure you've spent an hour or more.  Then there is the sneaking looks at your stats (fess' up, I do) and reading and responding to comments (which is another fun part because who doesn't love to get comments?).

Then, of course, there is the reading of your favorite blogs and checking out new ones. I have gotten so many great ideas by reading other fashion blogs, especially the personal style ones.  I seem to get more out of blogs than I do magazines, and that's saying a lot since I am a huge fashion magazine fan.  I actually think that personal style blogs are helping me to get more out of the magazines I subscribe to.  Now when I look at a page in a magazine I am thinking about application, because that's the lesson you learn in these personal style blogs, how to take someone else's look and make it your own.

All that said, I can't think of a better hobby.  It's deeply satisfying to have a creative outlet, it's wonderful to have complete creative control over a project and it's nice to meet new people all the time who share your obsession.  If somehow along the way you write a book, get featured in a magazine or rack in the cash...well that's icing on the cake.  I do like icing, and if I find a way to bring in some income with my blog that would be sweet.  But whatever happens I hope to remember this:  I've already got the cake!  What do you think?  I would love to hear your comments.

Now no post would be complete without touching on the weather.  Schools dismissed an hour early today because of the threat of high waters.  Tonight there's a chance of an inch or two of snow.  March is coming on crazy and "like a lion".  Meanwhile, I am dreaming of bare legs, warm breezes and sunshine, but here, in the real world, I was dressed for rain.

What I Wore Today:
Yellow rain jacket, Burke's Outlet, $5
Black/White top, Goodwill, $2.50
Denim skirt, Target, est. $15
Red tights, Target, est. $5
Black rain boots, B&H Shoes,$18
Red heart necklace & earrings, Gifted from my Secret Pal!

Total For Today:  $45.50

Hanging Out with Alfred

I love the surprises you can find when you go thrifting.  A few year's back, Land's End had all these 100% cotton cardigans pictured up in all their pastel glory.  At $49.50 a pop, they were a little high for my price range.  But I love how serendipity works.  One of those cardigans showed up at Goodwill recently in lemon yellow for $2.50.

I picked up this picture of Alfred Hitchcock at Hastings and I haven't framed it yet.  This room used to be the dining room but since we have a large eat-in kitchen, it's become the room you walk through to get to the living room.  So I've been working around in here today, making it into a sort of studio.  I play the piano, I like to sing, I enjoy photography, blogging and writing and I bought this easel to try my hand at acrylic painting.

And here I thought that Alfred had a thing for icy blondes but all he wants to do is stare at that blackbird!  I guess I'll just leave them alone and go for a walk.

I'm still loving these shoes.  I bought them in every color because they were cute, comfortable and cheap...the 3 C's!

What I Wore Today:
Lemon yellow Land's End cardigan, Thrifted from Goodwill, $2.50
Black top, Thrifted from Bargains and More, $2.50
Dark rinse straight leg jeans, Walmart
Zebra print shoes, Shoe Show, $10
Socks, Walmart, $1
Belt, Kiosk in Mall, $5.00
Bracelets, Gifted
Zebra Scarf, rue21, $1

Total For Today:  $22