Goodbye August...Hello September

 

Well, today is the last day of August. I can't believe how fast this year is going by! Before you know it, the holidays will be here, along with the much cooler weather, which I am SO looking forward too! As you all know, Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and I have been anxious for it to get here. I love all the smells, sights, and sounds of Fall, and right now, I am just wishing our weather would cooperate with my wishes. LOL! It is still pretty hot out right now, and it's going to be in the high 80's to high 90's for the next week. Yeah, the first week of September is mostly going to be in the 90's here in Kansas...that SUCKS! I'm so ready for it to be in the high 60's to low 70's! I'm so tired of these hot, dry temperatures I could literally cry over it. Every night I go to bed, dreaming of the Fall and all the holidays that are coming up, and then I wake up every morning/afternoon & see the freaking hot temperatures! It just totally bums me out. Ugh, why can't Mother Nature cooperate with us? LOL.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Labor day weekend and has some fun. Unfortunately, I have to work Saturday & Sunday, but at least Saturday, I get to spend some time with one of my best friends, after I get off of work. Her birthday is next week, and I won't be able to see her then, as she'll be back home, most likely recovering from getting her wisdom teeth removed, so we are going to get together tomorrow and just hang out and probably walk around Old Town looking at all the shops down there...who knows, maybe we'll come across some frugal finds in our search! :)

Well, I'm going to end this here and go ice my back & leg again, but I just wanted to get my thoughts out of my head to make room for some more that are sure to bound in soon. LOL! Again, I hope you all have a great Labor day weekend, and Goodbye August, Hello September! ;) Take care & stay safe!

Later gators,

*Jolene*

P.S. GO BIG RED!!!!!!! (yup, Huskers football officially kicks off tomorrow afternoon!)

Soggy Saturday

 Even though I named this post Soggy Saturday (it's been raining on and off ALL day long), I don't mind it...in fact, I'm LOVING that it's raining! And thundering...and lightening...wait, is that even a word? LOL! Oh well, I just love it all! :) As you know, my favorite kind of weather is cool & damp, just like today. Although, the temperature could cool down a little bit more, but I guess it's still a little too early for that. Haha. I love being able to open my balcony door or my bedroom window, and just listen to the sound of the rain as it splatters against the sidewalk below or patters against the side of the building. I love watching the patterns it makes as it runs down the tree trunks and leaves and splashes into the awaiting pools at the bottom of the gutters. There's just something so soothing about it, and I do my best artistic work when it's raining. By artistic, I mean writing. For some reason, I'm able to write so much better when it's raining out, than when it's sunny and warm. Probably because I don't have as many distractions. I don't know. LOL. Either way, I love it. I also sleep SO much better when it's rainy. I can literally sleep through a thunderstorm. The lightning doesn't bother me & the crashes of thunder don't wake me up, no matter how loud they may be. I guess it's that water aspect about me (my closest friends understand that statement). Days like this are just perfectly wonderful in my eyes and I hope it continues to rain throughout the night and all day tomorrow, like the weatherman was predicting it too...but, you know how accurate those weathermen can be, especially here in Kansas. You know the saying: "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes. It'll change!" LOL! ;)

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Just a little blurb of what was going through my brain at the moment. Hehe. So, until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators,

*Jolene*

Frugal Fashion Friday-Blue Cold Shoulder Skull Top

A few weeks ago, I came across this top on the DEB shops website (www.debshops.com) & fell in love with it. It's so cute & girly, yet reminds me a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean (the skull minus the bow). LOL! It's also one of my favorite colors-blue. The pictures of me wearing the shirt show the color much better than the first picture. I don't know what happened there. LOL. I found this top in the clearance section of the website & there were only a few left, but I got a $25 shirt for about $13, so I couldn't complain! :)

Anyway, this top is 95% rayon, and 5% spandex, so it is quite clingy. If you don't like that, this would not be a top for you. I don't usually like clingy tops, but I can overlook that with this one. It is another cold shoulder top (I'm starting to LOVE those kinds of tops) and there are little rhinestones along the skull & bow, so it has a little bit of sparkle to it. It does have short sleeves, and as you can see from the pictures, they hit me just a little above the elbows. This top is more of a dress down piece, so it'd look good with jeans (like I have on in the pics) or maybe a pair of leggings. It's also a very lightweight shirt, so it's a good piece for those hot summer days, but still wearable in the Fall or Winter (just make sure you have a jacket to take along).

This will probably be my last FFF post for a while as I don't have any plans on buying anything new for a while, but I will still continue to post my own rambling thoughts every now and then. Until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators,

*Jolene*

***I was in no way compensated by DEB shops for this post.

Frugal Fashion Friday-Turquoise Crochet Sleeve Top

My friend Danielle & I found this top at Lane Bryant a few weeks ago. We were going through their clearance rack, and I had actually overlooked the top, but Danielle pulled it out & said I had to try it on. It is a light turquoise color, 3/4 length crochet sleeve top, made up of 79% polyester and 21% rayon. It is a very airy shirt & has lots of room, so it's one of my favorites, as it covers a lot of what I don't want to show. LOL. It has a nice scoop neck to it, and the crochet design on the sleeves is very pretty.

It doesn't make you feel like your shoulders/arms are naked, but still has that air about it. I believe this top was around $30 and if I remember correctly, I got it for around $12. The one I have is a size 14/16, but does come in bigger sizes. It is also machine washable, but I would air dry it, because of the sleeves, as I wouldn't want the crochet design to bunch up, but it's all up to you how you want to take care of it. It's also one you could wear year round, either with jeans or dress it up with slacks or a skirt. It'll definitely be one of my go-to tops. Until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators!

*Jolene*

***I was in no way compensated by Lane Bryant for this post.

Rainy Tuesday...

I am loving today. Why? Two reasons: 1-my new book & headphones came in the mail today, and 2-it is RAINING! I absolutely LOVE it when it rains! I'm very much a water person, so any kind of water will do for me! Especially when I can open up my sliding glass door & listen to the rain falling outside. I love being able to curl up on the couch with a good book & a cup of tea, which today is perfect for. Rainy days just make me so relaxed, so today is a perfect day in my eyes. I also love standing outside in the rain, feeling it drop on my face & around my feet, and feeling the cool breeze that comes with it. Yes, rainy days are just perfect in my eyes. I can only hope that the rain lasts most of the day, because we definitely need it. Granted, it won't be a drought buster, but it's still nice to see...and hear. So, on this rainy Tuesday, I just want to wish you all well & hope that you have a wonderfully relaxed day, like I plan on having. Until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators,

*Jolene*

Frugal Fashion Fridays-Purple Ladder Sleeve Rouched Side Tunic

I found this top at DEB shops a few weeks ago, on a shopping spree with my best friend, Danielle. This purple ladder sleeve rouched side tunic is made up of 94% rayon, and 6% spandex. The sleeves are basically cut out in a ladder design (hence the name), and it has a nice rouching on the sides of the top, near the bottom.

You could wear this top with jeans or a nice pair of slacks, depending on where you are going. The only issue I've had with it, is trying to find a bra to wear that won't show as badly as the one I have on in the following picture.

You may want to go with a strapless bra, or a bra with clear straps when you wear this. You'll also want it to be of a darker color, as a lighter one may show through the thin material of the top a little bit. It's all up to you. Because of the spandex aspect of this top, it does cling a little bit, but because of the rouching at the bottom, you could wear the top pulled up a little bit around your waist, if you don't like how it's resting on your silhouette. This top is very comfortable & airy, but it's probably best as a spring/summer time top, because of the sleeves. I don't know if I'd wear it in the fall or winter, as my shoulders would probably get pretty cold (even with a jacket on). It's all up to you though. It is machine washable, so you can just throw it in with your regular laundry when it comes time to clean it.

This top was originally around $15.00, but when I bought it, it was on clearance, which brought it down to around $7.50. However, the store was having a half off clearance prices sale, which means I actually got this top for around $3.75! How awesome is that, ladies!? Let's just say it pays to shop clearance sales! Especially when they are as good as this one was! :) Until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators,

*Jolene*

***I was in no way compensated by DEB stores for this post.

Football, Fun, & Fall

 Ah yes, football season is just around the corner! As a matter of fact, preseason starts today for most NFL teams, and if you know me, you know I am a HUGE Green Bay Packers fan. I wait, what feels like to me, the excruciating long 6-7 months between the Super Bowl and the first preseason game, only to know that I shall be rewarded immensely once the season begins. I am also a Nebraska Cornhuskers (college) fan, so that just doubles my pleasure! Haha! I have so much fun during football season! Between showing my Packers & Huskers pride, and hearing the roar of the crowd as the teams run out onto the field for the first time, I just can't imagine anything else like it.

 I think that is one reason why Fall is my favorite season of the year. Not only do I get double the football, but I also get to watch the leaves change colors on the trees and begin to fall to the ground, where they crunch pleasantly under my sneaker clad feet. I also enjoy the much cooler weather most of us get, the sound of the chainsaws as people cut up the wood they will store all winter long to light their stoves or fireplaces. I also love the smell of Fall. I know that sounds weird, but Fall just has this distinct smell about it. The wood burning stoves that people are starting to fire up because of the cooler nights, the bonfires people are having as the last signs of Summer drift by on the cool brush of a breeze across your face, the musky smell of the trees and grass as they transition in preparation for the cold weather to come...I also love that first light freeze on the ground, signaling that Fall has definitely arrived. I love pulling out my sweaters and sweatshirts that I have stored in the back of my closet, and pulling out my jackets/coats again. I love being able to wear a hoodie & jeans almost everywhere I go.

Me in my Huskers hoodie, last Fall

I love being able to sit with my balcony door open & letting the cool breeze float in through the screen door, while I curl up under my afghan with a warm cup of tea & a good book. I also enjoy the Fall holidays-Halloween & Thanksgiving. The decorations, the costumes, the family gatherings. The music even tends to change a little bit, if that makes any sense. Granted, Christmas is my FAVORITE holiday of the year, but there's just something about Halloween & Thanksgiving that really makes it feel like Fall. There is also just something about Fall itself that puts a huge smile on my face, and I look forward to it every year...

*Jolene*

Spirit Animal/Kinship with Dolphins & The Cove

In many cultures, there is such a thing as a "spirit animal." You may not believe in it, but I certainly do. I also have many friends that have their own spirit animals that they feel an immense kinship with. For me, it is dolphins. Yes, I believe with & feel deep down in all of my heart that my spirit animal is a dolphin. Ever since I was very little, I have loved these amazing, beautiful creatures of the sea. I even collect dolphin figurines & stuffed animals, and have a dolphin tattoo on my right arm. My most favorite thing about the dolphin? The looks on their faces, due to the "smile" of their mouthline. Also, if you look closely into their eyes, you can see what they are feeling. Whether they are happy, sad, scared, etc. I love all kinds of dolphins, but I'd say my favorite is probably the bottlenose dolphin. There's just something about them that draw me in!

Seriously, how cute is that!?

Dolphins are among the most intelligent animals, and there are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 different genera. They are social animals, living in pods of up to a dozen individuals, and can talk to each other, using a variety of clicks and whistle-like sounds. They can form strong bonds with the others in their pods, yet, they can also be interchangeable. They also love to play, enjoying riding waves, and playing with seaweed & play fighting with other dolphins. Dolphins occasionally leap above the water surface, and sometimes perform acrobatic figures, but we're not exactly sure why they do that. Possibilities include locating schools of fish by looking at above-water signs like feeding birds, communicating with other dolphins, or dislodging parasites on their skin.

As much as dolphins are beautiful to look at & enjoy, they are also threatened by humans. Dolphins don't have very many natural enemies, but humans tend to be their largest. Pesticides, heavy metals, plastics, and other industrial/agricultural pollutants that do not rapidly disintegrate in the environment are problems. Also common are injuries or deaths due to collisions with boats, especially their propellers. There is also the practice of over fishing that immensely diminishes their numbers, as well as harpoon & dolphin hunts. One of these, the Taiji dolphin hunt in Japan, is one of the worst that I have ever heard of/seen. They literally force pods of dolphins into this hidden cove and SLAUGHTER thousands of them, and then sell their meat for food in Japan and other parts of Asia. For someone with a kinship to these wonderful creatures, it was VERY hard for me to watch the movie "The Cove," which brings this practice to light. This synopsis of the movie, taken from their website, http://www.thecovemovie.com, says: Academy Award® Winner for Best Documentary of 2009, THE COVE follows an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, shining a light on a dark and deadly secret. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action.

Now, I have watched "The Cove," and let me tell you, it took everything I had to get through this movie. Within the first 10 minutes of the film, I was crying, which continued throughout the movie, and at the worst part in the movie, I literally had a panic attack, and had to pause the film, in order to compose myself so I could watch the rest of it. Yes, I felt like I was right there with those dolphins, hearing the cries of those helpless animals, and not being able to do anything to stop it. This film is very educational, and immediately after it finished (and I was able to move about without crying), I went online to http://www.takepart.com/cove and signed up to help spread the word on how to STOP this awful practice & also put in a donation to help. That was the most that I felt I could do, since I couldn't actually travel to Japan and try to stop it there. Also, as much as I'd like to go there, I have sworn off the dolphin shows at SeaWorld. I can't imagine seeing my kin cooped up in those pools, and doing tricks for the amusement of thousands.

Now, if you would like to donate to the cause or even just look into this for yourself, you can go to the above website & get information. Also, if you don't feel like you can make a donation through them, you could go to a friend of mine's website https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shades-of-Grey-Emporium/263590207026366, where she is making two different kinds of dolphin plush, and in her own words: Starting today, every plush Dolphin you buy, 10% of the proceeds will go to Save Japan Dolphins. Since they cost $10 plus shipping, $1 from each plush will go to help end the slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji. The dolphin plush are very cute & well made (I have one myself) and I would highly recommend them to anyone that loves dolphins as much as I do!

One of the plush dolphins she makes!

Until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators,

*Jolene*

Friendship Care Package

So, Monday wasn't a great day. I wasn't feeling too well, was really sleepy (I don't know why), and I was really anxious for the mail to come, which didn't show up until almost 5:00pm! Then, coming back from checking the mail, I ended up falling, ripping one of my favorite pairs of khakis, & injuring my left shin & my right knee, which swelled up to twice it's size & is scraped to hell from hitting the sidewalk (I completely tore the skin off my knee in places). Let's just say, I will never again try to jump over a puddle wearing flip flops. LOL!

Anyway, after slowly making it back to my apartment & cleaning my wounds & icing both my leg & knee, I pulled a good sized box towards me, which I knew was what I was waiting for: a wonderful friendship care package, put together by my bestie, Danielle. It contained numerous items, most of which she made herself (there were only 2 that I know of that she didn't make herself), and I am going to share photos of that care package with all of you. To start it off, when I opened the box, this is what greeted me on the inside lid of the box:

That immediately put a smile on my face, and after a minute, I proceeded to move the bubble wrap (which I could use to protect my injured knee-LOL), and this is what I saw:

Inside that lovely card was a message, along with these:

Those are little "inspirational" cards that Danielle made for me for when I'm feeling down or alone, and I can tell you that they were exactly what I needed yesterday. After reading the cards & smiling like crazy, I put them to the side & moved the packing tissue out of the way and this is what I saw underneath:

Oh yes! Lots of goodies for me to look at! I started to take them out one by one, and this is what I received:

A lovely lace, pearl, & faux diamond headband w/ elastic

A handmade, felt dolphin, whom I have named Maritza (German name meaning "friend of the sea)

Organic soap. Smells lovely! I can't wait to try it out!

Dangle earrings w/ little blue beads inside the balls (I also got extra beads in case I lose the others)

Lovely handmade pink bow w/ clip

After finding all of those wonderful gifts, I opened up the last package in the box & this is what greeted me (this just happens to be my most favorite present of all):

Silver chain necklace w/ a "mermaid's tear" pendant. Or is it celtic sea glass? I'm not sure. Either way, I love it!

Better pic of the pendant

Without the flash from my camera

Needless to say, Danielle did a GREAT job with this friendship care package & I will cherish everything she made for me always! :) Love you girl!!

*Jolene*

P.S. You can check out Danielle's blog at: http://justanotherstaticheart.blogspot.com/ where you can also find the links to her other blogs & items she makes!

Frugal Fashion Fridays-Pink Cold Shoulder Top

Since I don't get out much & do a lot of shopping, I am stretching out my frugal finds from 2 weeks ago over the next couple of weeks. This episode of Frugal Fashion Friday will consist of another top (above) that I found while out shopping at the mall with my friend Danielle.

This pink cold shoulder top is so cute (Danielle even picked up the same top in turquoise) & so comfortable! It is made up of 96% rayon and 4% spandex, and has decoration along the v-neck. It is a very light top & great to wear out on these hot hot hot Kansas summer days. It has a drape quality about the top, which is great to hide those areas that you might not like so much (which is great for plus size gals like myself), yet it isn't so huge that you feel like you could fly away in it. LOL! The sleeves end right above my elbows, and the elastic band on the bottom of the sleeves is not too tight, nor too loose. The very bottom of the top has a nice thick (length) band around it, so that it fits snuggly around your lower waist. The top part, around the v-neck, does cling a little bit though, so if you are a larger busted woman (like myself), your girls will definitely stand out...which isn't always a bad thing. LOL! ;) This top would look great with jeans, shorts, or even slacks or a skirt for a night out on the town.

I have it pulled down quite a bit, but you don't have to wear it that low

Sorry for the extreme closeup. Was the only way I could get the v-neck design to show up. LOL

Danielle & I found this top at a shop called DEB, which is a store in the mall that sells junior miss & plus size clothing. This top was on clearance for half of the original price, but what was even better was that it was also on sale for HALF OFF THE CLEARANCE PRICE!! I think the clearance price was around $10, so yeah, this top only cost me like $5!! You can also find it online at http://www.debshops.com, where they still have some clearance items on sale, along with having online only specials, so if you can't always get to the mall, or don't like to fight the crowds, you can still find some good deals in the privacy of your own home! :)

That's it for this week, but I will end this with pictures of what's to come over the next few weeks. Until next time, take care & stay safe!

Later gators!

*Jolene*

**I was in no way compensated by DEB shops for this post.

Handwritten Letters...

Today, as I was browsing in Barnes & Noble, I came across their "gift" section, which included some very beautiful stationary kits. That got me to wondering. Whatever happened to the art of a nice, handwritten letter? I remember, "back in the day," how the only way to get a hold of someone was either by calling on the land line telephone, or sitting down to write a nice, long, thoughtful letter to that person. I used to do that all the time with my friends, even those ones that only lived a few minutes from me! There was just something about giving, and receiving, a handwritten letter that said, "hi, I was thinking of you, and thought I'd send you this" that put a smile on your face, and that warm feeling in your heart. Now, that may sound mushy, but I know I definitely liked to receive letters from my friends. It showed that they cared to sit down & take the time to write it out, instead of hopping on the computer and sending a quick email. Yes, I am quite guilty of doing that, as I do know it's faster & easier, but I'm thinking of changing that, in my life anyway. Oh sure, I'll still write the occasional email, especially if I want answers to something quickly, but I think, if I want to tell someone about my day, or week, I'm going to sit down, pull out that pen & paper, and actually write someone a letter...who knows, maybe I'll put that smile on someone else's face and brighten up their day, just as I remember how mine used to...

*Jolene*