Colorful August images

P.J. at hoohaablog.com hosts a monthly blog challenge and the theme for August is COLORFUL.  How could I resist that topic.  Earlier in the month, there was a break in the usually intense Sacramento summer heat that resulted in an overcast day - perfect for photography.

Flowering crape myrtle in front of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

16th Street wall art

Gorilla-masked fashionista mannequin in front of Cheap Thrills, a used/costume store.

Finally, two yarn-bombed trees in Mendocino, California.  

For more colorful images, please visit the others that participated.  

Haunted Humpday

Marfi at Incipient Wings is hosting the Haunted Humpday blog hop.  In my thrift shop wanderings, I found A Pictorial History of Horror Movies by Denis Gifford.  The publication date is unknown but I am guessing 1970 because Willard is the last referenced movie in the book.  The best part of this British publication was the front and back cover.

The only movie to ever give me nightmares was The Sixth Sense.

October is right around the corner, the best month of the year.  What gives you the heebie jeebies?

5 Things Only Thrift Shoppers Understand

Thrift Goddess was the first choice for my blog name, but it was taken at the time.  Thrift Goddess, it is, at least for today and in honor of Spy Girl's 52-pick-me-up prompt for this week of "Goddess" and Ms. Papelico's share-in-style prompt of "summer."

The most expensive item of this thrifted ensemble is the opera length gloves ($20 shopgoodwill.com).  The evening clutch - well worth the $6 investment.

Detail on the Zum Zum dress ($10 thrifted)

I am also sharing this 1967 Simplicity pattern, model 1 is holding a pair of white gloves in her hand. I remember that style being called a "baby doll" dress.

FIVE THINGS ONLY THRIFT SHOPPERS UNDERSTAND

1.  The sheer delight you experience when you buy an armload of clothes for under $20. 

2.  Finding that piece of vintage clothing in excellent condition.  Someone has saved it, stored it and gave it away just so you could love it. 

3.  $5 and 10-15 books later, you have enough reading material to last the summer. 

4.  So you don’t need the ceramic smalls or [fill in the blank], but they make you smile. 

5.  Thinking "I will buy this item, I can always resell it on EBay/Etsy," but you never do.  

Cartoon character and personality

SITS girls writing-prompts-august is "Which cartoon character best represents your personality?"  It would have to be Bill the Cat. 

No one gets to this point in life without feeling a little beat up (I'm a 1959 model).  A little back story explanation, for those new to reading my blog.  Once upon a time, Tami was a high-powered executive managing a company, owing real estate and driving a fancy car.  Then the recession/depression began around 2007-2008.  The first thing to go was the fancy car - I still mourn the Mercedes.  Next went the real estate - short sold, ruined credit, no more money pit.  Lastly, the career, now in public service - low wages but near guaranteed stability. 

I would have told my 20-year old self to keep a close watch on the inflow/outflow of money.  Go to college early on in life, I keep telling my kids that, but the message hasn't sunk in yet.  While location is the key in real estate, timing the market can make or break you (I, being in the latter category). 

I'm still here, a little ruffled and a little mussed up, just like Bill the Cat. 

Life is too short to ...

The SITS Girls writing-prompts-august for the day, "Life is too short to" ... to worry about what other people think of you.  Having hit mid-life+ it can be so liberating to be able to dress how you like, say what you want, and be what you want.  It is not too late to change careers (which I did) and go to college (which I am). 

Life is too short to do things that you don't like to do.  Granted there are some things that are expected and cannot be avoided, but when it comes to freedom of choice, it is ok to say, "no." 

Life is too short not to play on the swings - even when you are no longer a child. 

Too short not to cherish every moment with family.

Too short not to have a kick a** blog!  *grins*

Head vases and upcoming events

Still a little blog shy with the fashion linkups.  I want to ensure my posts will be inspired and entertaining, so stay tuned, there is blog magic heading your way.

Upcoming events include a "goddess" prompt through Anne of Spy Girl for her 52-pick-me-up for August 17.

Year Four of Vogoff Magazine will be published soon by Melanie at bagandaberet.  She promises, "It's going to be the best issue, at bit different, as it should be, and hopefully worth of our collective efforts."  The 2013 issue can be found at http://vogoff.homestead.com/.

My thrift shopping rounded up the following (pub. 1996):

The Carmen Mirandas

Jeweled is adorable!

I will share the Christmas-themed vases at year end.

My personal sewing challenge pillow project is awaiting a power cord for my 1990s sewing machine.  I obtained all of the pieces thrifted.  The zipper from 1969 has waited 45 years to be utilized.  Total materials cost $3.40.

The EPIC gift basket

SITS Girls prompt "What would you include in a truly epic gift basket?" My list is slanted toward things I like and may or may not buy for myself ...

A flowering orchid
Fairy garden furniture (this set sold on Amazon amazon.com/Miniature-Fairy-Garden-Outdoor-Display)

A bottle of La Crema Pinot Noir
Bumble & Bumble shampoo and conditioner
Bed Head After Party smoothing hair cream
Bath & Body Works lavender vanilla body lotion
A castro cap with nautical themed rhinestone pins
and a bottle of True Religion Hippy Chic perfume.

What would be in your truly Epic gift basket?

Packed and ready to go

SITS Girls prompt for this post, "Have you ever traveled to a foreign country?" and "What country would you most like to visit?" 

I have traveled to a foreign country - more than one, with America's Youth in Concert.  I was able to tour Europe the month after I graduated from high school.  I wasn't a kid with a silver spoon in my mouth, when I returned from that trip, I went to work to pay off the loan I took out for the experience. 

The country I would love to visit is Chile.  What I have read it is near the same Mediterrenean climate as Northern California and even have salmon fishing (just like we have here). 

All I need are the funds - I'm packed and ready to go! 

Serene solitude or "just leave me alone ..."

SITS Girls prompt for the day is the question, "Do you need solitude?"  For me, it is a resounding, "Yes!"  I even go so far as to ride in the car without the radio on.  I also live in a rural area so there is very little noise (unless you want to count barnyard and wild animal sounds, birds, bees and the like).

Solitude is sweet.  You should give it a try some time. 

Blog you, blog me

SITS Girls have posted writing-prompts-august.  I'm game to join in for a few of them, the list for the month is posted below.

1. What is something blogging has taught you about yourself?
2. Do you need solitude?
3. Have you ever traveled to a foreign country? What country would you most like to visit?
4. What would you include in a truly epic gift basket?
5. How do you respond to change?
6. What is your dream job?
7. If you could only eat one thing for breakfast for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
8. Are you more like your mother or your father? Or maybe you aren’t like either of them? Tell us why.
9. Do you communicate differently online than you do in person?
10. National S’mores Day! Share your favorite s’mores-inspired recipe.
11. Finish this sentence: Life is to short to…
12. Would you rather read only one book for a year or only watch one television show for a year, and which book or show would you pick?
13. Which cartoon character best represents your personality?
14. What was the last game you played?
15. What special tradition from your childhood have you recreated with your own children?
16. It is time to embrace your funny side. Tell us a funny story or a joke.
17. What does friendship look like in your world? Tell us about your best friend, and what makes her (or him) special.
18. Do you have a favorite recipe from your childhood that you still make today?
19. Would you trade places with a celebrity for a day? If so, who would you choose?
20. Book review time: tell us about a great book you have recently read.
21. What does your favorite song say to you?
22. Do your children still believe in the Tooth Fairy?
23. If your life flashed before your eyes, which three moments do you think you would see?
24. How to you spread kindness?
25. Do you still keep a personal journal? How is it different from your blog, or are the two connected in some way?
26. If you were to describe yourself as a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
27. Share a favorite picture from this summer and a favorite picture from a summer in the past.
28. Does your family have a motto?
29. What is your favorite room in your house?
30. What motivates you?
31. What does “a fresh start” mean to you?

What blogging has taught me about myself is that I don't have to follow the rules.  There are so many areas in our lives where we have to follow the rules.  Having a blog allows you to explore creativity in so many ways.  You can post pictures of yourself.  You can write or draw or photograph.  I especially get a kick out of combining blog challenges. 

August is going to be a relatively quiet month for me.  While I am preparing images for upcoming events (months in advance), I am keeping an eye out for writing or photography challenges.  Give me a holler if you know of something fun and unique coming down the blogger pipeline!