All That Glitters...

I was mail stalked by a J. Crew catalog the other day and these killer shoes whispered soft nothings into my ears.

Yowsa! $228 for these? I don't think so. 

Then, about a day later, I was electronically stalked by Anthropologie with these dangling in front of my face. Seriously, I need some sort of retail restraining order!

Pretty darned slick little kickers! The asking price? Going for $40, marked at 50% off from $80. Meh.

I have a ton of shoes sitting in my closet. No need to buy more. The more that I justified NOT buying new shoes, I began to realize that I have retained shoes for years that I no longer wear. Why? Well, they were damaged in some form or fashion. I suppose the thrifty side of myself thought that I could repair the shoes somehow.

The moral of the story? This retail stalking had evolved into another Cheapskate Tip!

I had an old pair of oxford shoes that I probably paid less than $20 for at Payless many moons ago. The material was composed of the worst synthetic elements because the top layer peeled off in small bits each time they were worn. Frustrating, huh? Glitter is course enough to cover up that business!!!

I taped off the edges with painter's tape so that the Mod Podge wouldn't dribble into the areas I did not want the glitter. Simply brush on glue with a paint brush, dust with glitter, allow to dry. Repeat these steps multiple times until even throughout and heavily glittered. Finish with 1-2 coats of Mod Podge to lock in the glitter and create a final seal.

Cheap shoes glammed up within a couple of days and $2 of supplies I already had on hand! I'm officially addicted.

I had another pair of shoes that could use a glitter treatment. I wore this pair of heels years ago when I was MoH at my bro and sis-n-laws' wedding. By the end of the night, the heels were ruined due to my heels sinking into the ground while we were taking photos outside. The light-colored silk heels had mud stains that I could not remove. I was so excited to get my glitter on that I forgot to take a photo of these heels to demonstrate what they looked like before. 

Here they are after the glitter treatment! I was happy with the results! The glittered heels match the glittered front strap. Looked like I bought them that way for $200, but I spent nothing!

Cheers to getting more wear out of our shoes! 

Infinite Style Options with One Garment - The Convertible Dress

Is your closet busting at the seams but you are tired of everything you own? Are you in a creative fashion rut? Is your closet small? Are you a minimalist? Well, honey, have I got a cure for you!

(Photo via Fascinating Julia)

The infinite convertible dress! You can see for yourself that you can create over two dozen different looks with only one garment! That's right...ONE garment! The first step is to choose a style from the plethora that are available:

Bubble convert dress via Loretari on Etsy

Two-toned ruffle mermaid-style convert dress via Miss Lee Apparel on Etsy

Retro Belted Button Maeve Convertible Dress via Anthropologie

Classic short and classic long convert dress via Two Birds

We've been seeing them on bridesmaids a lot lately. I think its a classically varietal look. What is best about this dress, is that it suits multiple body types. Each bridesmaid can choose the convertible look that she feels most comfortable in. Depending on how the dress is tied, the bridesmaid can draw attention to or detract attention from the body part(s) she wishes. They are mainly an empire cut, which is flattering on all body types. Win-win for the bride!

Speaking of weddings, bridal dresses are showing up the convertible format! What a terrific idea! Two different looks between ceremony and reception--the bride sheds some fabric so that she can boogie down!

Long-to-short convert bridal dresses 

(Via Hayley Paige)

(Via Morgan Boszilkov)

I've worn my convertible dress more in one year than any of my other dresses. I'd like to see more out there with convertibles. Convertible romper? Convertible pantsuit? Convertible tops? Bring it on!

Anniversary #2 - Cotton

Hubby and I made it to our second wedding anniversary amongst all of the curve balls that were thrown our way since our wedding day. I'd have to say it's nice to be (finally) living together like a married couple should be. Jobs seem to rule our lives, don't they?

Based on the traditional gift-giving chart that is referenced on last year's anniversary post, our second year anniversary gift challenge is....{drumroll}....cotton or straw.

I bought Hubby the silliest underwear I could find (not pictured, gladly!) Hubby bought me some tea towels that made my eyes well up. Anthropologie's embroidered storybook tea towels brought back memories of our wedding. It was perfect!

They fell in love, they got married, they lived happily ever after

Made For Walkin'

Maybe it's the fact that I have grown up and lived in Texas for the majority of my life, but cowboy boots have not been on my list of must-haves. Don't get me wrong--I went through a phase in my childhood when I owned a cowboy hat and boots and ran after the calves in the rodeo. (This is a big step for me to admit on a public website!)

After that phase had passed, I despised anything that resembled  a cliche homage to Texas. I knew it would be all the more difficult to explain to my out-of-state friends that we all don't ride horses here in Texas!

(Image via CJs Lucchese Boots)

No doubt cowboy boots are beautiful. They are a Civil War-era art form that has remained as a strong staple.

Just like brussels sprouts have transformed from a hatred to a love as I've aged, so have cowboy boots. Each time my hubby and I go swing or country dancing, I worry about my toes getting squashed or my nicer dress boots getting scuffed. I need something rugged! Enter: Cowboy boot.

And that's what they are--rugged style that works on and off the dance floor. I have been spotting them everywhere the past few years. Dressed up or down, cowboy boots work their magic with everything...

On the streets of New York City. "New York City???? Get a rope!"

(Image via New York Times)

Partnered with a vintage silk 1960s dress.

(Image via California Pixie)

Coveted by brides.

(Image via Elizabeth Ann Designs)

A musician's staple, a la rock.

(Image via imgfave.com)

Fashion designer Marant Blackson toughens up the sweet lace.

(Image via style.com)

Leather biker gear.

(Images via thatgossipsite.com and streetphoto.com)

Rampage

I've been on a rampage to clean everything out and simplify, amongst all of the house renovations. I suppose they go hand in hand, when say...you are trying to work on an area of the house, but can't, because there is too much stuff in your way to make it worthwhile.

The problem with having a love for all things vintage, items that were gifted to you, or items that you find unique and oh so cool...is that you are deeply attached to much of it. Yet, I know I could relocate myself to a beautiful island with hardly anything in tow and I probably won't miss it! But that won't happen, so I'm keeping it all! Why do we find it so difficult to part with our things?

(image via it-thing)

Human psychology points to many facets of the human mind. Many of us are attached to things because of sentimental value. Some of us buy to get high. Accumulating might be a form of showing off. Maybe, you are salvaging something from trash but haven't fixed it yet, or haven't found it a home. A hobby can turn into some type of collecting habit. Or...maybe the method to accumulation is just a way to feel better about ourselves and the boring lives we live. Each item that I run across probably hits home every one of these aspects. But confronting is the first step. We have made some good strides in minimizing as of recent, and it feels good!

(image via Art & Facts)

The big controversial question I have to know is: What have you done with your wedding gown, after the wedding? My wedding dress is still hanging on the hanger, never touched since the day we were married. The 'Ego' side of my brain thinks about researching for a good company who can preserve and box my gown away from dust, mites and other harms' way. The advantage to this is that I will have my amazing vintage gown for life, in the same condition it was on our magical day. It was such a sentimental day--I have to keep my wedding gown!

But then the 'Id' part of my brain says, "what's the point of keeping something sealed up in a box? You will never look at it or wear it again! Sell it to someone else who can also have a truly amazing day in it! The gown is preserved in photos and your memories!"

Ego: "But maybe my future daughter will want to wear it on her wedding day."

Id: "What if you don't have a daughter? Or, what if you have a daughter and it doesn't fit her? What if she doesn't want to wear your gown, or she thinks it's ugly? You sure are gambling on that one..."

Ego: "It was MY wedding dress and it will be MINE forever! No one else can have it! I can look at it and reminisce."

Id: "Sure, go ahead and spend $200 to preserve and box it up. Then, shove it in your closet with the rest of your items that you forget about..."

Okay, I think you get the drift of my mind's daily struggles...I suppose the question is, whether I can really let it go. (Revisit paragraph 3.)

With the help of online resources, many brides are letting go of their dresses by selling to other brides to be. Some brides are even trashing their gowns. I find that completely wasteful, but whatever floats your boat. (Again, maybe I need to revisit paragraph 3.)

So tell me, is it kosher to sell or donate your wedding dress? If you have parted ways with your gown, have you regretted it? If you have preserved your gown, do you find it a burden to store it? Please share!

Anniversary #1 - Paper

We must be having fun. Our first year of marriage flew by in an instant. What better way to celebrate your first year? Fly a kite!

Hubby surprised me with a 5-foot "paper" airplane kite. Pretty good twist on the traditional paper gift for the first year. That's why I married the guy!

How have you skewed the fine lines of the traditional or expected anniversary gift-giving? Below is the "guide" from anniversarygift.org.

Anniversary	Traditional Gift Ideas	Modern Gift Ideas
First	Paper – a personalized love poem or invitation, scrapbook of mementos from your first year, or a bouquet of paper flowers	Clocks- there are many clocks and watches to fit any budget
Second	Cotton/Straw – Bed linens, placemats, terrycloth bath robes, crazy tee shirts or my favorite a hammock are good cotton gift choices; straw hats or placemats or how about a hayride for straw gift options	China – a set of China dinnerware, china serving dishes or china figurines would make a wonderful gift
Third	Leather – depending on your budget consider a gift of a leather bag or leather luggage, leather jackets, skirts,  pants, or a leather hat or belt	Crystal/Glass – crystal glasses or vases, stemware or if you are feeling really creative how about a stained glass window
Fourth	Books/Fruit/Flowers – if your significant other is a book lover this is a great category and flowers are a romantic gift for any occasion. Fruit sounds a bit mundane but a bowl of colorful Mexican made paper mache fruit would make an unusual and attractive gift	Linen/Silk – these are two of the finest fabrics made so finding a silk scarf, lingerie, blouse, suit, pillow cases or an arrangement of silk flowers should be an easy assignment. A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens
Fifth	Wood – study and strong wood is a great symbol for a fifth anniversary. You could choose from as diverse gift choices as planting a tree, giving a cord of wood, or objects made of wood, for example a salad bowl, candlesticks, jewelry, furniture or how about a totem pole	Silverware – there is the obvious table settings of silverware or you could go with something more exotic like a bracelet made from an old silver fork or sticking with a silver theme maybe a silver dollar or silver picture frame
Sixth	Sugar/Iron – How about a box of candy or sugar cookies. More creative you could take a vacation to Hawaii or Puerto Rico to visit the sugar cane fields or if the season is right head up to maple syrup country. Iron offers a lot of variety for example wrought iron furniture, BBQ tools, a iron wine rack, tools or how about going with a pumping iron theme and getting him or her a membership to the local gym or a set of bar bells	Wood – study and strong wood is a great symbol for a fifth anniversary. You could choose from as diverse gift choices as planting a tree, giving a cord of wood, or objects made of wood, for example a salad bowl, candlesticks, jewelry, furniture or how about a totem pole
Seventh	Wool/Copper – for wool you can go with a sweater, hat or gloves or the yarn to make any of the above, a wool suit or jacket would make a special gift for him or her.	Desk Sets – For a professional a leather, wooden or brass desk set would be an appreciated gift your spouse would use everyday
Eighth	Bronze/Pottery – Bronze sculptures, plaques and bells or wind chimes are good ideas as are pottery bowls, pitchers, clay figures, hand painted clay tiles and for the personal gift you could always go to a pottery studio and throw your own bowl for your special gift	Linens/Lace – A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens. Or a lace pillow case, table cloth or a lace camisole or slip all would make a good gift choice
Ninth	Pottery/Willow – pottery bowls, pitchers, clay figures, hand painted clay tiles and for the personal gift you could always go to a pottery studio and throw your own bowl for your special gift. Willow offers the option of willow furniture, wreaths, baskets and distinctive willow frames	Leather – depending on your budget consider a gift of a leather bag or leather luggage, leather jackets, skirts,  pants, or a leather hat or belt
Tenth	Aluminum – Aluminum cans are made into some great jewelry, or there are artists who specialize in large aluminum sculptures, aluminum watches and sunglasses you can even find aluminum sundials	Diamond Jewelry- diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift
Eleventh	Steel – durable and strong steel is symbolic of a relationship that has lasted eleven years-you could go with stainless steel pans or kitchen accessories or steel knives, there are also stainless steel jewelers and sculptors who make great gifts	Fashion Jewelry – is a fun and inexpensive gift you can find at any department store or online
Twelfth	Linen/Silk – these are two of the finest fabrics made so finding a silk scarf, lingerie, blouse, suit, pillow cases or an arrangement of silk flowers should be an easy assignment. A linen suit for a man or woman is an elegant gift. And if you don’t want clothing try linen placements or table linens.	Pearls – Natural or cultured pearl jewelry or for a unique gift a mother of pearl inlaid jewelry box
Thirteenth	Lace – a lace pillow case, table cloth or a lace camisole or slip all would make a good gift choice	Textiles/Faux fur – There are thousand of faux fur gifts including pillows, throws, jackets and coats or cute little furry animals. If you are looking for textiles you can find rugs, tablecloths, scarves, aprons or fabric art and quilts
Fourteenth	Ivory – this is tricky because of the ban on selling ivory to protect the elephants. There are alternatives to animal ivory such as “vegetable” (also called tagua nut) ivory and “mandarin” ivory from which many beautiful carvings and ornaments and even a watch are made	Gold Jewelry – you can find beautiful manufactured gold chains, rings, bracelets and pins or you can go the handcrafted gold jewelry route and choose an original jewelry piece from an artist
Fifteenth	Crystal – crystal glasses or vases, stemware will be an appreciated and treasured gift	Watches – this is a great category for any spouse you can get sports watches, dress or casual watches. How about a classic Disney watch or a gadget watch that does everything and tells time too
Twentieth	China – a set of China dinnerware, china serving dishes or china figurines would make a wonderful gift	Platinum – there are wonderful platinum jewelry choices, platinum dipped roses, or you could get your significant other a platinum CD set
Twenty-five	Silver – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts	Silver – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts
Thirty	Pearl – Natural or cultured pearl jewelry or for a unique gift a mother of pearl inlaid jewelry box	Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift
Thirty-five	Coral – this is a tough category if you are concerned about the destruction of the coral reefs coral jewelry is probably not an option, consider as an alternative a trip to a coral reef for some great snorkeling or choosing a gift that is coral in color	Jade – jade jewelry or sculptures are a beautiful choice or you could go for a jade plant if you are buying for a plant lover
Forty	Ruby – ruby jewelry is the most common choice but you could also go for the Ruby Ulander pattern of Wedgwood China or a Ruby Bone China Tea Set, or some of the beautiful ruby colored glasses or stemware	Ruby – ruby jewelry is the most common choice but you could also go for the Ruby Ulander pattern of Wedgwood China or a Ruby Bone China Tea Set, or some of the beautiful ruby colored glasses or stemware
Forty-five	Sapphire – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color	Sapphire – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color
Fifty	Gold – gold jewelry, gold plated roses or seashells, a gold handbag	Gold
Fifty-five	Emerald – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts	Emerald – silver jewelry is a natural choice or a silver picture frame…picture provided by you, silver candle sticks, serving bowls, pitchers or trays also make great gifts.
Sixty	Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift	Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift
Sixty-five	Blue Sapphires – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color	Blue Sapphires – sapphire jewelry is stunning, if you want a non-jewelry gift there are some wonderful clothing and scarf gifts you can find in the distinctive sapphire blue color
Seventy	Diamond/Platinum – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift. Platinum jewelry or platinum picture frames that you add the photographs to are a special gift	Platinum –platinum jewelry or platinum picture frames that you add the photographs to are a special gift
Seventy-five	Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift	Diamond – diamond rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants are a good choice, check out eternity bands for a special gift

Another Featured "Inspirationalist"

During a short burst of down time, my hubby and I were watching the Antiques Roadshow, in which we discovered a fascinating surreal artist, but better known as an illustrator of decades past. We were drawn into Edward Gorey not only due to his amazing skills, but his unique humor and likeness to Pierno Fornasetti.

I researched further into this fascinating being. How could I not have known of him? This whole living under a rock situation has to come to an end!

(Image via The Hub Review)

His work was mainly popular with children, although Gorey defined his work as literary nonsense, not particularly directed to anyone. Most of his work was mainly compiled of illustrations without words. Other works utilized anagrams and pseudonyms. He quoted in the Boston Globe as saying, "Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it would be indescribable." Enough said.

(Image via Brain Pickings)

When something strikes you in a way that is indescribable, and you find yourself consumed to learn more. It resonates. 

(Image via goreybooks.com)

Through my research of Gorey, I stumbled upon a blog that featured a couple hailing from Portland, who had terrific style. They also possessed a love for Gorey (and all things vintage)--the inspiration for their special day. Words cannot describe how much I fell in love with their wedding.

(See more for yourself at Jessica Hill Photography)

Our BIG Day: The Details

This post follows up to my advice in keeping your wedding simple and affordable--and most of all, true to who you are as a couple. Most articles I've read advise to hoard away at least $25,000 for an average wedding. Blasphemy, I say!

Our wedding was budgeted for $5,000. We only went over budget about $800 and there was not any feeling of regret, cheapness or wrong-doing. Simple logistics will cut thousands out of your budget. Vesting the power of your own creativity and utilizing talented friends will help out quite a bit too.

Believe it or not, after we booked our venues, we had three months to seriously plan our wedding. I believe this time crunch is how we were able save money. What? How? Well, when you are restricted on time, you don't buy frivolous items and change your mind a zillion times. You are forced to make a decision and be resourceful with what you have. You also realize what unimportant details you can waste money on and what is really vital to make a wedding come together. I religiously used one of the budgeting spreadsheets that was part of my Apple computer program. This kept me in check with what money I had left to play with.

Dress:
I found my dress upon a serendipitous outing in a small town we stopped into last year. While browsing the boutique, my husband spotted this amazingly unique white tulle, handmade prom dress, circa 1940-50s. I tried it on and it fit. I purchased it for $190. It had several rips and tears, but I was able to devote time to give it a facelift and add a few ornate details to it. No need to spend $1,000+ for a new dress to wear only once. My husband found his vintage western-style suit at a thrift store for $7. (I know, not fair at all!) He had to drop about $100 to get it custom-tailored but again, still spent less than what a new suit or suit rental would cost.

Ceremony:
Our ceremony was officiated by a friend for free, in the morning, at the city's botanical garden. The gardens were cheap because it is a public space. Not one stranger bothered us. (I don't think too many folks wanted to wake up to stroll the gardens in full force around 10:00 am anyway.) It was a standing ceremony, thus, no need  to rent chairs. We wrote our own vows and kept it short. We had a couple of talented friends play the ukulele and acoustic guitar. We did not have a wedding party. Every guest was part of our wedding. We asked that they bless the vintage lock and key that our rings were dangling on before we exchanged vows. Here we are unlocking the lock that belonged to my husband's great-grandfather.

Reception:
The reception was at a popular barbeque restaurant that was located lakeside. We had a completely private area of the restaurant and the grounds outside, for an extremely small fee. Tables and chairs were provided by the restaurant at no extra cost. We were able to rent white tablecloths for $5 per table through the restaurant. We were able to provide food and alcoholic beverages for our guests for approximately $26 per head. We managed this low cost because we chose only beer and wine, purchased the wine by the case and chose the most economical menu item. Since it was a lunch reception, we did not feel the burden to serve a heavy three-course meal. I believe that psychologically, most folks do not drink as much during the mid-day hours as they would at night. Cost savings right there, my friend.

Music:
We had three amazing bands play--two of which are friends, and the third band was a terrific bluegrass band we have befriended at an annual festival we volunteer at. Given the circumstance, we saved thousands of dollars on music.

Decor & Floral:
The decorations were of a simple and minimalist natural style. We saved thousands here too. Through the help of our friends, it all came together. I had purchased a mix of wildflowers and sunflowers at the grocery store and at a wholesale flower shop, totaling only $60. Since flowers can add up, they were watered down (so to speak) with feathers and rosemary and I also made about 60 terrariums of old Mason Jars and reused pasta jars. The terrariums were completely free--I used plants from our back yard and out-of-control succulents that propagate like crazy. The best of the floral bunch were used for my bouquet and my husband's boutonniere. One of our good friends patiently assembled them both around 2 am the night before the wedding.

Cake:
I can't get over how expensive tiered cake can be. I understand the art of cake-making and the cost is completely justified. We just couldn't afford it. We used a local cupcake shop and made our own cupcake towers and cake plates. Our cake topper only cost us $4--we purchased two little warbler birds at the craft store and dressed them up with scrap fabric. We wired them on a decorative twig and were topped on our little 6-inch cutting cake. Cupcakes bring out the nostalgia in most, so how can you go wrong? We saved around $1,000 by going the cupcake route.

Photographer:
Our photographer, Lynne Allan, was a gal I had befriended in my Photography 1 class a few years back. She was just starting out in the field, so she basically shot photos for our wedding at much lower percentage than a seasoned professional photographer. I am extremely pleased with her work! She documented our wedding better than any other work I've seen out there. She had a wonderful, personable angle, and documented our wedding perfectly. I recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer in the San Antonio and Austin area.

Getaway:
We did not need to rent a vehicle for our getaway. My husband is the king of vintage car collecting. We escaped in his 1961 VW Westfalia bus, all in its original glory. We have had several wonderful camping memories in this bus, so it was only natural to drive away in it. My husband also strapped on the vintage luggage for the added touch of the honeymooner look.

Love:
Love is the main reason behind a marriage. Let the wedding be simple. Let it be true. Let what will happen, happen. Don't fuss over the details. Most importantly, have a great time!!!

(all photos courtesy Lynne Allan Photography)

Relief, at last!

I can tell you one thing that is worse than the Las Vegas time warp...wedding planning! The past six months came and went in the blink of an eye. I am now proud to say the BIG DAY happened with success on May 14th. There were many times when my (now) husband and I were wishing we would have escaped to a tiny island to do the deed. I found this imagery to be helpful for you gals and guys undergoing the wedding planning process.

Ironically, just after our wedding ended, my husband and I simultaneously agreed that the planning pain was completely worth it. We had a blast and both the ceremony and reception were meaningful and loving--not just between the both of us, but also between us and our friends and family. 

Don't lose yourself in the planning. There are hundreds of magazines and websites that lure you into trends, services and glamour. Keep yourselves true to your heart when planning. Keep it simple and somewhat spontaneous. And most importantly, keep a low budget! It will mean so much more in the end. I will divulge our wedding details in the next post. Stay tuned...

Location, Location, Location!

It's been almost a year now that my fiance and I have been racking our brains for the perfect location to tie the knot. Little did I realize that I'd be revisiting my statistical problem-solving skills to come up with a venue that is: a) about the two of us, b) beau-ti-ful, c) cheap!, d) close in proximity--unless we elope, e) encompasses our needs, and f) fewer rules.

There are many ideas we've run across that definitely meet criteria a) and b), however, may not satisfy c), d), e), or f).  Or, the venue may satisfy criteria choices a), b), d), and e) but not so much item c) or f).

So here they are--my favorite options devastatingly unable to solve my equation. May they bring answers to yours.

Orchid Greenhouse Wedding at Shelldance Orchid Gardens; Pacifica, CA

(image via Green Wedding Shoes)

Texas and Pacific Railway Station terminal lobby; Ft. Worth, TX

(image via www.dallasnews.com)

Barr Mansion; Austin, TX

(image via Jessica Monnich)

Haiku Mill; Maui, HI

(image via Jana Morgan)

Vista West Ranch; Dripping Springs, TX

(image via Amelia Tarbet)

Hotel St. Cecilia; Austin, TX
(image via Trip Advisor)

On the Impulse

Amidst the excitement of our engagement, I fell victim to an impulse buy. This dress is absolutely amazing, (why else would I have purchased it?) Let's just say my body type is not the right fit for this dress. Twiggy upper arms and torso are a no-no. I was swimming in this dress. I just got too excited.

This Nataya Age of Love dress is up for grabs on Tradesy, which is a wonderful way of finding "the" dress at low cost. And may I add that Tradesy offers a greener alternative to a one-time use new dress (and clothes!)

Here are some additional photos. I have found another vintage dress that I found at a more serendipitous moment--stay tuned. In the meantime, please visit the link below if you are interested!

Post for this dress is at http://www.tradesy.com/weddings/wedding-dresses/other-nataya-wedding-dress-81895.