Better Late Than Never Salvo Wednesday

So, this isn't a normal summer for me. Yes, I'm on break from school and all that it entails... but I'm doing some work for my second job (out of three). I am authoring an AP Music Theory course that will be offered online throughout New York State. Now, for those of you who haven't tried figuring out how to teach music theory online, let me fill you in. It's ridiculous. Incredibly fun, if you're both a music and a tech dork like myself, but....yikes. Time consuming and baffling at times. I'm spending the better part of most of my summer days like this:

...instead of my preferred method, which goes a little more like this:

No, that's still not it. Let's try THIS: 

Ah. Yup, there it is.

Anyway, all that to say this: I am very delinquent in my Salvo Wednesday post. And it's not going to get any better, at least not until I finish the course. So, without further ado, here is what I found a week and a half ago at the city Salvo!

NY&Co, $3.50

So what happened here was that I tried it on and I wasn't sure about it, so I took a picture to send to a friend for her opinion. And then I looked at the picture, and the second opinion was no longer necessary. In fact, when I'm feeling gross and huge this summer when I put on a few pounds as I inevitably do while marathon training (crazy, right? Makes no sense at all!), I'm going to look at this picture and feel immediately better.

Wet Seal, $2.50

Adodrable, but needs a slip underneath. Which I have, but needs hemming. I swear I'm going to get around to wearing it someday!

Bebop, $3.50

I seem to have a weakness for the dresses with tank tops, thick elastic waistbands, and fun skirts. This one has a big, pronounced zipper up the back, which I usually don't like, but really works on this dress.

Express, $3.50

I feel obligated to point out here that a) the skirt looks like jean, but isn't. It's something softer and lovely and b) this had its original tags on it. The original $79 tags. Thassright.

Skirt - Picnic by CPW, $2.50

 The top is not one of the finds from this week, but rather a Goodwill purchase from a while back. But I thought it looked rather perfect with the full skirt. I saw it and realized that somehow, a full black skirt was missing from my wardrobe. No more!

I'd also like to point out that this is my sixth black skirt. SIXTH. And only one of them does not reach my knees. So, if any current students or parents of current students are reading this, be ye warned: I will lose it the next time a kid shows up to a concert in a mini skirt and tries to tell me "but they don't MAKE skirts that long!" I. Will. Lose. It.  You've been warned.

Anyway, I did get to the Salvo this week too, and I'll get around to it, I swear. Just not today. Don't know when, really. That AP course isn't gonna write itself!

Double Salvo

Last week (yes, I'm over a week behind here... I'm afraid it's going to be like that all summer) I was in Newark on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I had pretty much sworn off that Salvation Army since I'd gone a few times in the last 2 years and not bought one thing. In fact, every May when my kids perform at the Elenbes Awards Show in Newark, I routinely pay the store there a visit... except this year, I didn't even bother. Skipped it in favor of a run and dinner.

Well, last Tuesday, I found myself done with my commitment far earlier than I expected, so I decided I might as well give the store another shot. And was glad I did! Even though nothing I bought was half off.

J Crew, $4

Express, $5

That's right, a cute summer dress from J Crew AND a sparkly new concert dress! Well worth the visit. I guess the Newark store is back in my rotation!

On Wednesday I had a ridiculous number of plans aside from my Salvo trip, so I just ran to the one that's only a few miles away. I found some workout clothes that I won't bore you with, and I found THESE.

Glory, glory hallelujah. I've been looking for white heels for years. Literally years. I found wedges a few summers back but never heels. And lo, here they are! As for the other pair... well, I don't have to tell you. You can see the epicness for yourself.

And that's it. I promise to try not to wait another week to post this week's finds! 

The Good, The Bad, and the YIKES

I made my first Salvo trip of the summer last Wednesday. Henrietta and Greece were the lucky winners of my presence. I spent several hours and bought 3 things, one of which is a slip which you shall not be seeing. Not an auspicious beginning, but at least they were a good three things.

Merona skirt, $2

I'm really into flowy skirts this summer. They're loose and cool when it's hot, and long enough to cover you up if (and when, this summer) a storm suddenly moves in and the temperature drops 10-20 degrees. Which can stop any time now, incidentally.

Maurice, $4.50

Cute stripes, nice bell shaped skirt. And, aside from the slip, that was it for me. Sigh.

While I was shopping, a thought occurred to me that I find myself thinking an awful lot while I'm in the Salvos, browsing through rack after rack in hopes of finding one or two hidden treasures. The thought is this: "HOW are there so many horrifying articles of clothing in the world? HOW?" Because, for every amazing outfit I bring home, there's hundreds of outfits I don't bring home. And I look at all of it and think how not only someone bought that new in a store once upon a time, but someone designed it, produced it, marketed, and charged someone for it. It's enough to make the mind reel. Things like this:

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Oh yes. Those are pants. For all your vertically striped pant needs.

I love crocheting, and have been known to granny square myself upon occasion... but never in a vest. NEVER.

Let's just take a moment to consider why they sell bathing suits second hand at all. This, friends, is one thing I ALWAYS buy new.

Long jean skirt, plaid pockets. I really don't know why I didn't buy it.

Someone's recycling their 80's prom dress...

...in 2 different colors, it would seem.

In case you can't tell, that's a very, very shiny metallic fabric. One step closer to being Michael Jackson.

Because you sometimes need to pretend to have a kitten in a pretend pocket.\

And also, crawling down your back.

Sometimes people need to know where you'd rather be...

...your age and the state of your mental faculties...

...your preferred method of transportation...

...and of course, they really need to know not to hate you.

Also, these are boots.

And these were just samples. Honestly, the mind reels. It does make you thankful for the days when you leave with a bag full of amazingness. Those days are bound to happen soon... right? Fingers crossed!