We play pretend

Sweater: Old Navy
T-shirt: Old Navy
Pencil skirt: Dickies, secondhand
Tights: Walmart
Boots: Vintage, via Ebay


Did anybody read this post over at Fab Finds Under $50, and wonder who got those awesome boots for $20?




It was me! And here are the boots! They aren't even black like the UO boots, but grey, which I think is much cooler. I wanted to wear them as soon as I got them, so this is the outfit I threw together.

My pictures seem really dark to me. I'm sorry if you can't pick out the details. The tights actually have a pattern that didn't show up at all. Maybe I need to start taking them outside again.

Today's song: Neon Trees - Animal

Spirit Day

For Spirit Day I wore a purple sweater vest I bought this weekend at Ross. One of my co-workers and at least one of the teachers who works at the middle school where I go do programs also wore purple today for Spirit Day.

For the past week I have been trying to be really mindful of the way that I speak to the 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls at the middle schools where I work, to make sure I'm using inclusive language and not constantly making heteronormative references. Today one of my co-workers addressed a question one of the girls had asked about sexual harassment and made sure to mention that harassment can be same-gender as well as opposite-gender.

I also shared a story with them about how a girl was trying to pick a fight with me in middle school, so I went to a trusted adult for help, who happened to be my French teacher. I hope that sharing a personal story made the message get through a little clearer as I encouraged them to seek help, just like I did, if they are being bullied.

I am feeling sickly, lonely, and not very self-confident, so you only get a headshot this time. I don't know where I got the hat, I've had it for years. The cowrie shell necklace is from Claire's.

Thrift store review: Garland Road Thrift Store

photo by Jennifer M. Ramos

I finally decided to check out a place I've driven by many times but never visited, the Garland Road Thrift Store located at 10030 Garland Road in Dallas.

Five on Friday

1. Tell Frugal Girl your favorite fast breakfast food and win a $100 gift card!

2. A giveaway for the new Etsy shop, Common Crow Vintage!

3. Brittany McMillan has sent a call out via her Tumblr to make October 20th "Spirit Day" and asks that we wear purple to remember those who have ended their lives due to harassment about their gender or sexual identity. Read more here.

4. My birthday is this month, so I plan on claiming some of these birthday freebies. Are you an October baby, too?

5. It already happened in the U.K., and now AMC theaters in the United States are screening Back to the Future to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film. Check out the article to find a theater near you!

Yes, she matters to you

Top: Just My Size
Skirt: Dickies, secondhand
Tights: We Love Colors
Flats: American Eagle, thrifted
Awesome stylish name badge courtesy of my job

I know you wouldn't think so to look at it, but this outfit was sooo uncomfortable. First of all, the skirt is a pencil skirt with no back slit, and though I wore it before and enjoyed it, today I had to do a lot of getting up and down from sitting on the floor, and it was way too restrictive.

The major disappointment about this outfit, however, were the undergarments. I wore these brand new maroon We Love Colors tights along with a pair of Luvees, and the experience was awful. The We Love Colors site doesn't mention anything specific about the difference between the $5 and the $15 plus size tights, so I went ahead and got three pairs of the $5. Big mistake. These were already starting to bag when I got out of the car this morning, and at the end of the day you can see how they turned out (if you can't, just click on the image for the larger version).

I wore the Luvees over the tights, hoping to eliminate that "swish swish" in addition to getting rid of pain from my thighs rubbing together. Well, I don't know if I need to go down a size or if it was because of the baggy tights or my pencil skirt being too tight, but the Luvees rode up between my thighs just like any old pair of shorts and exposed my thighs to rubbing.

I was really disappointed, because several bloggers have sung the praises of Luvees, including Lilli, whose style I greatly admire. I was so excited to get my WLC tights and my Luvees because I thought it was going to be cute skirts from here on out. Boy, was I wrong!

The tunic/shirt is actually soft and super comfortable, but maybe I will belt it next time. Any other suggestions on how I can improve this outfit?

Today's song: Part of this 8track playlist by Tavi, which I can't stop listening to!

Five on Friday

1. Plus size designer fashion now in Saks Fifth Avenue. In addition to Anna Scholz, who I blogged about the other day, they'll be carrying designs in plus sizes by designers such as Valentino and Chanel. Marc Jacobs is also considering a plus size line.

2. Holla Back NYC is a blog that empowers women and men to fight back against street harassment.

3. Awful Library Books is a funny site where librarians submit books they've found in their stacks that just don't belong there.

4. Allure magazine's best in beauty highlights some impressive and surprisingly affordable products.

5. Asos has finally launched their U.S. site. Check it out!

Clear Cut

I was on This Next looking for sweaters in a plus size when I found this adorable thing:



Of course, that sweater is no longer available, but when curiosity caused me to click through to the designer's website, I found many more lovelies!




I love the structured jackets and the flowing dresses in this designer's clothing line, as well as the wild, colorful prints!

I feel like American designers have really dropped the ball with designing for plus sized women, and that ladies in the UK have so many more flattering, stylish options. Considering how people in the U.S. fuss over the "obesity epidemic," one would think that they would make more clothes for fat people. Maybe they're just providing us with awful clothes in an attempt to shame us into being thinner.

Anyway, the designer is Anna Scholz, and while her designs are way out of my price range, they are very lovely to look at. You can purchase items through her website or through her salon on the Saks Fifth Avenue website. She also has lower-priced but still lovely options at Simply Be.

Today's song: Lali Puna - Clear Cut