It's Been Awhile...

I should be doing housework. But, the baby is sleeping in the room which houses the mountain of unfolded laundry. Thus, I decided to sit down and revisit the blog I abandoned. Remember me? I used to throw outfits together and write (what I hope was) witty commentary. Alas, life gets in the way, and my blog got thrown by the wayside. I'm hoping to get back to it.
So, this weekend was our family reunion and a bridal shower for Kristin, my soon to be cousin in law, who is going to be a librarian, which made me think of this awesome pin I saw awhile back, which inspired me to want saddle shoes. Which brought about a long overdue blog post.
Blogger is being weird and won't let me post links. Or maybe I've been away so long that things have changed and technology has passed me by...whatever. If you want to know where something comes from today, just email me.
The baby is awake. Off to fold laundry.

The Dangers of Being Cheap

Sometimes being cheap isn't the best route to take. Take this wine, for instance. I snagged two bottles at Walmart for $1.97 a piece. Thinking I had scored the deal of the century, I chilled a bottle of Chardonnay to drink whilst watching Mad Men. (Netflix, not cable...if a bottle of two dollar wine did not already alert you to the fact that we are incredibly cheap).
Long story short, one glass was all either my husband or I could drink. Think white grape juice mixed with rubbing alcohol and vodka. The rest of the bottle went down the sink.
End of the story, you may think. Wrong! We both woke up with killer hangover headaches...from one glass of wine! If I'm going to have a hangover, I better have had a whole lot of fun getting it.
Moral of the story...there are some things worth spending money on. At least more than 2 bucks.

Once upon a time I had this blog...

I made the image above for my friend Rebecca, who was married this past weekend in the most beautiful, loving, and fun-filled wedding I've ever been to. Becca, I hope it's ok I used your wedding images on my blog. And a side note: I totally jacked all those photos off Facebook and Flickr. So if you took them, please don't sue me. 


It's been a long month. Many times during the past 30 days I've considered ending the blog. No more. Kaput. But then, my dad (of all people) told me I shouldn't quit. Maybe, he said, just post once a week. (This was after I'd been introduced as "Tracy on the Cheap" to two different people at the aforementioned wedding...I guess there are people out there who read the blog after all!)
So, I'm back, and things are going to be different around here. I've got some new kettles on the stove to tend to, some exciting changes coming my way (and some other not so exciting ones), so there may be more snarky posting and less outfit putting together than in the past. Which reminds me, I'm sorry to all the people I promised outfits to. I'm fired. Seriously. I'm planning to get them out, slowly (although I understand that I totally dropped the ball on the events in May. Oops).
So there you have it. I'll post some more about the wedding later this week, including my parent's on the cheap wedding outfits and the dress I found at Ross that totally made my year.
And oh yes, I made a bet with my husband back at the beginning of April that I wouldn't buy any clothes until the end of August. I'll tell you all about that, too.

Hideously Beautiful Birthday Gifts, and other Musings

1. Last Saturday was my birthday, and after an amazing spa day, we went to my parents for dinner, where I opened this gift: 

At first glance, you may think what I thought..."That is the most hideous purse I have ever seen." But then it grew on me. Seriously grew on me. And now? I LOVE it. The huge tacky flowers. The seaweed like tentacles. The glitter. Turns out it's a Mary Frances purse (I'd never heard of her, but now I'm a big fan) and it still had it's $160 price tag. What'd my momma pay? Twenty bucks! I wore it to Trader Joe's and out to dinner yesterday and fully enjoyed all the "Oh my god look at that ugly purse!" looks it received. What do you think? Would you rock the tacky flower seaweed monstrosity?

2. I've got lots of requests to get to. This week I did my "real" job...doesn't it suck when real life gets in the way of your blogging life? So please be patient with me, I'm looking forward to some fun Photoshop action next week. 

3. I'm hoping you guys can help me make a decision (not a big, important decision, but a cheap fashion decision). I've got a wedding to go to in May, and I've made a bet with my cheap husband that I wouldn't buy any new clothes until the end of August. AUGUST! So I'm left with what I've got (or what I can borrow). I bought this Sue Wong dress over 10 years ago for $40 (with the $250 price tag still on it...what up!). I've worn it to almost every important event I've attended since then, but now it doesn't fit anymore (amazing what more lunges and less tater tots will do for a gal). I need to get it altered down, but I' wondering if it's worth it. Has anyone ever altered an expensive dress? It's got some complicated embroidery and pleating, do you think it's possible? Or, should I cash in some Ross gift cards and just get a new dress?

4. And finally, a shout out to my buddy Sharlene, who had a Tracy on the Cheap moment last week when she scored last minute tickets to a Black Eyed Pea's Concert. All she had was her conservative work suit, so she walked down to the mall and scored herself a top, leggings, belt and accessories for $70. Score! Go Sharlene! 

Adventures in Bargain Shopping

Yesterday I tried on these shoes at the new Burlington Coat Factory in my town. (Which was surprisingly clean, well lit, and well stocked. At least when I went during the day. My brother and his girlfriend went later that evening and said it was a little sketchy...that's bargain shopping for you. Brings out the cheap and the scary.) 
Anywho, I fell in love with these shoes, but since I couldn't think of anywhere I could wear them this summer (balancing a baby on one hip in 4 inch wedges? I think not) I passed them up in favor of a coat. From the coat factory. So original. But it's a cute white faux leather coat, so I'm happy. (Plus I got to use a $10 off coupon. Whoop!)
Then today I heard that Charlotte Russe is taking 50% off sale stuff online. I clicked over and found the same shoes for $13.49.  Go check out the sale here! I have yet to buy them...I'm still debating. Should I?

At the Opera

Have I ever been to the opera? No. Would I have any idea what to wear to the opera? No. Did I just want to use the word "opera" in a post? Yes. 
I've had an uninspired blogging week, and I'm sorry for my absence. Some weeks I can't wait to fire up Photoshop and throw outfits together...some weeks the ideas flow and the colors match and I'm inspired and creative. This was not that week. This week the baby was cranky and mommy was cranky, too. Funny how that works out. 
Today everything comes from Forever 21. Maybe someday Forever 21 will catch on to the free advertising I'm giving them by using their cheap clothes in fun ways. Hear that, F-21? Want to put an ad on my blog? That would be awesome. (That's probably not the way to go about getting advertisers, but hey, I'm not doing this for the money. If I was doing this for the money, this week would have gotten me fired.) 


The scoop: 
Metallic Bubble Dress
Ruffled Satin Shrug
Vivianne Jewel Earrings
Flower Burst Ring
Satin Bow Pumps
Embellished Satin Clutch

Tracy Takes on Tiger

So I just finished watching the Tiger Wood's "press conference" (if you can call it that), and I have just one question...

Where did the lady in the front row get her sweater?
Yeah, you lady! You in the uber cute beige ruffle wrap sweater! Where did you get it? Anyone out there in blogland know? If you can tell me, I'll make a style post just for you! (I'd make one for you anyway, but this way it's kind of like you win something!)

***Yeah, I know this is a lame excuse for a post...I was all set to blog about my great finds at the Discovery shop, as promised last week. Then I got sick. Being sick I can handle...being sick with a teething 9 month old? They don't tell you about that in "What to Expect". ***