Back to School

My beautiful, magical summer is coming to an end. Tomorrow brings the best and worst of summer: going back to school. It's the worst because my leisurely days are over, I have to start setting an alarm and exercising after work, but worst of all, it means winter is on its way. *shudder* Fall is fine by me, but take note: It has an unhappy ending. This downgrades its beauty (and deliciousness) substantially, in my opinion.

But here's the best part: There is always a beautiful moment at this time of year when I suddenly comprehend that I'm going to see my kids again, and I. Can't. Wait. I have a desperate desire to walk down the hall and see their faces smiling at me, to watch the room fill up with kids I've known for six years and kids I'm meeting for the first time, to laugh with them, and best of all, hear them sing.

So I'm trading in my sundresses and sandals for pencil skirts and heels, early mornings of running for early mornings of show choir, the quiet warmth of my back yard for a classroom filled with laughter and music. And, as you all know by now how much I adore summer, you'll understand how much I love my kids and what I do when I say this: It is an extremely fair trade.

Best kids ever.

Final Salvo Wednesday

Well, this is it, folks. My last Wednesday of the summer was spent in Dansville (my hometown). I always do well there, and I am surprised by it every time (I mean, after all, it's Dansville!) But, be that as it may, the Salvation Army in Dansville always does right by me. (Of course, now that I've said that, it won't next time. Jinxed myself!!)

Top, Old Navy, $1.50
Skirt, Old Navy, $2.50

The skirt still had the tags - you can tell because I'm pointing at it. 

Before I move on to the next item, I'd like to take a moment to discuss price tag placement. If any Salvation Army employee ever reads this, please, please, PLEASE, will you do us all a favor here? If you MUST staple the things on, could you please staple them to the tag instead of to the delicate fabric? I mean... it's right there. Wouldn't have taken you two seconds longer. Advice to all my fellow thrift-store friends... if your local store does this too (Salvation Army stores staple, but to my knowledge everything else in Rochester uses the plastic tags), take great care removing the price tags. Don't just yank. You will regret it. I use an old pair of tweezers and pull the ends up on the staple and then gently remove the staple. Trust me on this... you do not want a big hole in a Banana Republic shirt! Even if you did only pay $1.50 for it (half off day, remember) - to me, this makes it all the more precious.

Banana Republic, $1.50

Express top, $1.50
Old Navy jeans, $2.50

Ann Taylor skirt, $2

White House Black Market skirt, $2.50

Limited skirt, $2

Vitta Luna dress, $3

The dress was the first thing I found on entering the store - it was on the reshop rack, so thank you to whomever tried it on but didn't buy it. I'm pretty sure this is what I'm wearing to my cuzbud's wedding in a week! 

My mom joined me for this trip, and she got some stuff too (mostly clothes for my dad, I think) and she gave me a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase. So my already-half-off purchases had another $5 knocked off! Thank you Mom!

I moved on to a very brief trip to the Henrietta Salvo just because I need new work pants and hadn't found any at the Dansville store. I found two pairs of black pants. I'm only posting a picture of one, because really you can't tell the difference in the pictures (one is for heels and one is for flats, obviously). The unpictured pair were from Old Navy and were $2.

Express, $7.50

I really broke the bank on these (SEVEN FIFTY?!?!?), but as you can see, I am helpfully pointing out the tag again. Still has all the original tags! Since the tag tells me they're originally $69, probably it wasn't so bad to pay $7.50.

Forever 21, $2.50

I'm sad to say that my beautiful summer is coming to a close, so I bought a sweater. I. Bought. A. Sweater. It had to happen. At least it's cute and not bulky. *sigh*  Dear Salvation Armies, you and I have had a beautiful summer together. I'll see you over Thanksgiving break.