Fall in Florida (The Weather can't make up its mind)

Okay...So I was thinking I would take off with this whole blog thing but then college started and my multiple job schedule took over. It has been an insane few months and has no signs of slowing down. I still feel the need though to make time, and spread the word about budget shopping....oh how I adore clothing. The feeling I get when I make some amazing purchases without causing my check book to have a panic attack is fantastic.
Halloween was just a few days ago, and of course it was time to hit thrift stores and consignment shops to find that perfect costume. My costume was a wopping 4 dollars. It consisted of an oversized green shirt from the 80's , leggings, a belt, and zebra striped bandana. I'm a product of the 8o's so I thought why not celebrate? ANYWHO! I recently lost 30 pounds and have been trying to piece together a wardrobe for the new waistline. While going through one of the shops I noticed in the wayyyy back buried among the aisles was a jacket section. Florida is a fickle state when it comes to the weather. We have had several cold front causing the temps to droop into the low 50's which here is extremely chilly on the skin. So I thought why not try and find a light jacket? I got much more than I bargained for. Hanging amongst some of the unwearable was a white London Fog Trench Coat....My heart nearly froze in my chest when I saw it. Besides a little wear all it needed was a good cleaning. The tags said that the jackets were 5.99. I could not resist. When I reached the counter I was informed that everything in the store was an additional 50% off......sweet mother of oh my goodness...It is my new staple piece for the fall. Perfect and lightweight I know that right now it is my absolute favorite budget find. I will get pics up as soon as i figure out how. Tomorrow I will get into my amazing 20 dollar spending spree....and all the delightful things I came away with. :0)

Shopping...How I miss it...

Okay...I went on vacation which was marvelous but not so wonderful on my bank account. Lately I feel like I have been floating day through day in izod polos,refugee jeans, and kenneth cole reaction flip flops...It has become my lazy uniform...(For some reason I went through a phase where I purchased izod polos in literally every color) They were on sale and it seemed like a fantastic idea. (Ohhhh and the flip flops I got for a great price 6.99 on clearance) If there is anything you will learn it is that I am an insane budget shopper. It is a characteristic that I am well known for. Sure you have those fashion forward people that have got to have there designer pieces that are worth 1 or 2 weeks of a paycheck, but come on. I'm in my 20's and my car payment makes my head hurt when I think about it. I still try to remain extremely fashionable...my shoes literally take up half my bedroom floor...

Yet back to the dilema...I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR....Sure that statement might not be entirely true, but come on. Haven't you ever had days where even in your overflowing closet you can't seem to produce one decent outfit. I want to go shopping, but once again it is getting towards the end of the month and car payment, utilities, and rent are all do. Not to mention my tutiton and books...There is barely wiggle room for a beer let alone a few new tops or dresses. *sighs*

I'm going to have to start getting creative. I will post some pictures eventually (once I get the hang of this whole thing) and you can let me know if some of the outfits work or not. (Take in hand I am heavier set girl and sometimes it can get complicated to throw things together that are both fashionable and don't make me feel like a sea cow)

I can tell you I am pleased with my last clothing purchases though. I did manage to score a pair of silver gladiators and also a pair of black ones for under 40 dollars. (once again on clearance) Also two black dresses. One with a belt tie that is simple and adorable and the other which I am wearing right now with the silver gladiators thatis black with a cute and unique neckline. (FYI the dresses cost me a little under 30) another one of my amazing bargain finds.

Best Years Of My Life? Huh?

So for weeks now I have been reading blogs with a fevered enthusiasm that took me by surprise. It was upon those nights of insomia where I read into the wee hours of morning that I realized it may be kind of interesting to give it a go. Of course I thought it be easy to set a blog up and just type out my thoughts (censored of course.) Than it dawned on me that I have to have a focus, a subject, a real purpose for my blogging...Isn't that what the hip bloggers do? So the things that you are going to read are going to really revolve around life as an independent 20 something. Fashion, food, hobbies, entertainment, and surviving what is suppose to be the best years of my life.....right?

Here it goes:

At 18 I thought it be a fantastic idea to drop out of college and move to Florida. Kind of spontaneous considering it was 1200 miles away from the small Pennsylvania town nestled in the mountains where I grew up. I flew down a month in advance to meet my future roomate (which I found on the internet), find a job, and then an apartment. I got a job making sandwiches at an undisclosed chain. The job itself wasn't quite adding up with my previous goals prior to, which consisted of wearing really great suits and carrying a briefcase. Still no college education and barely legal my options were limited. My first apartment was actually nice. Not a nightmare studio with cockroaches and bad neighbors, but instead a 2 bedroom on the quiet side of the town with a great pool. I had no car at the time and ended up taking the transit everywhere. Scary is the only word I can describe when it comes to riding a bus at 10 p.m at night.

I was told that the first year would be the hardest, and it truly was. Between barely making rent, gaining 15 pounds, finding out what it truly means to pay bills (lots and lots of bills) ... I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

Fast forward to almost 3 years later and I have a great job, have a car, and am going back to school. The first year almost seems like a floating dream anymore. Yet, I still have my adventures, ups and downs, and interesting happenings. It is all part of being independent, legal to drink, and finding out what it truly means to live.

Hope you enjoy. Let me know how the first blog went, and whether I have your attention or not.