A Lovely Day at the Marina

 

 

 

E here. Another beautiful Seattle afternoon. My husband and I decided to take a stroll on a marina near our house since the weather was nice. One thing I love about living in Seattle is being surrounded by water. I don't think that I could ever live anywhere that wasn't near the ocean.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps its because I grew up near the ocean, but I enjoy the convenience of living merely minutes away from the water. I love everything about the ocean; the smell of it, the vastness, but most of all, the freedom and tranquility that it embodies. There's something humbling about the ocean.
 

 

As you may have noticed, I practically live in my trench coat. The weather is often chilly and wearing a longer jacket offers more warmth. Not to mention the fact that wearing a trench provides a far more stylish alternative to the typical northwest jacket of choice - the North Face. Don't get me wrong, I own several North Face jackets, but its nice to mix up your collection every once in a while.

 

 

Thrifted items; trench: Tommy Hilfiger $10, cashmere sweater: Esperante $7. Non-thrifted items; scarf: $10 (Chicago souvenir shop,) jeans: JCPenny's $20, oxfords: Pink & Pepper (Fred Meyer) $10, sunglasses: Sperry's $30, purse: Dooney & Bourke (gifted.) My lipstick: Maybelline, "brazen berry."

 

That's all for today. Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed the pictures. See you next time!

 -E

Rainy Day Afternoon

 

 

E here. Another rainy Seattle afternoon. What did I spend it doing? Shopping of course! For once I didn't head to the thrift stores, instead I went to the mall with a friend to browse the latest trends and brainstorm for Christmas gift ideas. Tip: when going to the mall this time of year it is best to go early, and on the weekdays when it is less crowded. Not looking to spend a lot of money? Check the store ads for any coupons and promotional events. Most sales ads tend to run weekly, and during the holidays there are usually several coupons and doorbuster sales. Always make sure to check coupons and sales for exclusions and expiration dates.

 

 

 

Thrifted items; trench coat: Tommy Hilfiger $10, sweater: Mossimo $6, leopard loafers: MIA $7. Non-thrifted items; scarf: D&Y $5 (Fred Meyer,) jeans: Levi's $30 (JCPenny's,) purse: Dooney & Bourke (gifted.) 

 

 

I'm wearing my newly thrifted leopard print loafers that I picked up the other day. How much? I snagged them for just $7! I tend to have pretty good luck finding trendy name brand items at the Goodwill by my house. The trick with thrifting shoes is to check for any visible damage i.e. - ripping, snagging, holes, etc. Once you get them home, all you need to do is take some form of cleaner whether it be Lysol, foot powder (anything that would clean out the use/odor of the last owner.)

 

 

The idea of wearing shoes that belonged to someone else makes some people cringe, but for me I see it as a bargain. After all, if you take the time to clean them properly you can score shoes for as low as $5. Yes, I have thrifted shoes that cheap! I won't guarantee that every time you step into a thrift store you will find items in your size, but that's how thrifting works. Its hit or miss most of the time. Want more tips for thrifting? Check out my thrift page.

 

 

 
 

That's all for today. Please stop by again soon.
Until next time friends.
-E

 

Fall Is In the Air

 

 

 

E here, happy to report that the weather cooperated long enough so that I could take a few shots before work. This time of year the weather tends to be pretty unpredictable, and perhaps you can't tell in this photo, but it was very windy!

 

 

However, despite the wind and rain, the great thing about living in the northwest is that the weather is typically very mild. While the rest of the country tends to be pretty frigid about now, its pleasant enough here. It is ideal for creating layered outfit ensembles such as the one that I'm wearing. I purchased the jacket at Crossroads recycled clothing, as a result of a successful selling session. As for the boots, I found them at Value Village.

 

 

Thrifted items; tweed/faux leather jacket: Gap $20, boots: Report $10. Non-Thrifted items; necklace: Charlotte Russe $5, tank: Ana $5 (JCPenny's,) jeans: Levi's $30 (JCPenny's.)

 

As you can probably tell by now,  I love to wear boots! What's great about boots is that they add a certain sense of flair to any outfit. Not to mention the fact that boots can say a lot about your mood, i.e. - if you're feeling sexy, playful, or even bold. What I love about this pair of boots is that not only are they quite stylish, but they have a sort of vintage, Victorian look to them. Added bonus, they were only $10!
 

 
 

Until next time, E.

 

Adventure Tuesday: A Trip to the Ballard Locks

 

 

E, here. Today my friend and fellow blogger Sara and I went on a mini adventure to the Ballard Locks (also known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks,) which is not too far from my house. It was an unusually sunny and pleasant fall afternoon in Seattle and we wanted to get out of the house. Since it was such a nice day I felt like taking several nature shots because it isn't too likely that we will be able to enjoy such weather for too much longer.

 

 

 

Speaking of the weather, there is a fairly common misconception about Seattle that it rains all 365 days of the year. In reality, it doesn't rain nearly that much. Most of the year its actually quite beautiful. For the most part it rains more frequently in the late fall through the winter, and into early spring. So if you ever think about visiting Seattle don't hesitate because of the weather. In my opinion this is perhaps the best time of the year to visit because of all the lovely fall colors and leaves, not to mention that there are far less tourists in town.

 

 

Its funny because I've been to this park many times, and even took my prom pictures here, but I don't think that I have ever ventured into this part of the park before. Besides the locks themselves, there are several beautiful botanical gardens on the grounds. This is just one of several that we decided to stop and take pictures at.

 

Thrifted items; Tommy Hilfiger $10 (Goodwill,) sweater: Loft $10 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items;  jeans: JCPenny's $20, necklace: Charlotte Russe $5, boots: Bandolino $99 (DSW.) *Sunglasses: Ray Ban's (gifted)

  

Great shot of Sara don't you think? She is wearing a tweed jacket with layers underneath, and boots from DSW. Our outfits today are pretty typical of most Seattleites; jeans, several layers, and boots. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining! Fall is actually one of my favorite seasons personally. I enjoy experimenting with layers. I'm certain that Sara would agree with me. Also, did I mention that I love boots? I have a serious obsession with boots! Riding boots, rain boots, fashion boots, booties, etc. I think you get the point. I get excited when fall comes around because I start planning all of the different outfits that I can put together with boots.  I mean who doesn't love a comfy fall outfit complete with jeans, a sweater, (or your fave jacket/vest) and boots?

 

 

I love how perfectly my outfit goes with the scenery! I didn't plan to go to the locks today, but my outfit definitely has a very nautical theme to it. Anyone that knows me is aware of my nautical infatuation (my dad was a sailor,) hence the interest.

 

 

 

 The Ballard locks is a popular tourist destination because you can watch boats travel through the locks from Lake Union out into the ocean. The Locks serve as a special ship canal that allows vessels of all sizes to pass through, and also serves as a fish ladder for local salmon.

 

 

 

 

Today was a unique day because as you can see in this picture, and the picture above this one (in the background behind Sara,) the Locks were drained today which only happens once in a while. Its always interesting to see what sort of items are laying in the bottom of the chambers. There wasn't anything today otherwise I would have taken a picture. In previous visits I've seen everything from tires to cell phones, and random articles of clothing. 

 

 

 

That's all for today. I hope you enjoyed our little adventure. See you next time!

 -E