"I think I'll go outside for a while.....and just SMIIIIIIILE!"

It seems like there are so many random things I want to tell you about today!  But first, let me point you to Bella of Citizen Rosebud.  She did an excellent thought provoking post today that EVERYONE should read!
Nothing controversial or earth shattering, but just good woman to woman cheerleading!

I learned a couple of things about myself with this outfit.  Firstly, I tried the edgy shoes and just didn't like them.  When I first saw them, they reminded me so much of what I've seen all over the "blogosphere".  But I just have never felt pretty wearing them.  So, yesterday, I gave it my best shot and while I like the overall look, I think I still would have preferred this whole thing with a different shoe.  And secondly, I'm just not much of a layerer.  Again, the khaki vest is seemingly all the rage, so I severely (but rather suprisingly proficiently) altered a khaki jacket that I thrifted.  While I like it, it just doesn't feel "Serene"; however I'm not willing to throw in the towel just yet.  I really feel like I can wear this with other things or do SOMETHING to it to make it speak to me.  And regarding the layering thing, I don't like feeling weighted down.  I see some gorgeous clever girls with layers out the wazoo and I love how it looks on them.  I just don't think it translates to my curves, though.

NOW, on a uber positive note, I hit my favorite thrifting haunt today and really wasn't finding anything that made my heart sing.  I meandered to the back where they had just rolled out a rack to be added to the floor.  I found two dresses that were just so fabulous that I was PRAYING all the way to the dressing room, "Oh please please PLEASE let them fit!!!!"  Imagine my delight when I slipped my favorite of the two over my head and it fit like it was tailor MADE for me!  Oh yeah!  Oh yeah!  Oh yeah!  (doing the funky happy dance over here!)  I'm talking PER. FECK. SHUN!  Okay, that would have been enough right there, but then....POW!  The second one fit like it had been pining for me for months!  Add a pair of the COOLEST jeans (yeah, I'm still trying to find some that I like) and I'm sauntering up to the register feeling pretty ding dang good!  Now get this, TOMORROW is their half price sale that will run through the weekend.  Dresses are normally $3.50 and while I know that is embarrassingly cheap, I'm still thinking, "Ewwwww, tomorrow I could get this for HALF!"
VOICE OF REASON SERENE:  "But it might not be here tomorrow!"
SHAMEFULLY CHEAP SERENE:  "Maybe if I hide it in the racks, they close in 2 hours and I can get here the moment they open tomorrow....."
VOICE OF REASON SERENE:  "Sure, Great idea.  One problem though:  These are GREAT and they might not make it another 2 hours!"
SHAMEFULLY CHEAP SERENE:  "BUT HALF OFFFFFFFF!!!!!"
VOICE OF REASON SERENE:  "BUY THE STINKIN' CLOTHES ALREADY!!!  FOR GOODNESS SAKE!  IT'S CHARITY!!!!!!!"
SO, Voice of Reason Serene won out and guess what.  The sweet lady who is always an ANGEL to me (seriously, she is a sugar cube of a woman.....I LOVE HER!) rang me up and guess what I paid for these 2 designer like dresses and jeans....................(wait for ittttttt)..........$3.26!!!!!  The only thing more ridiculous than that is that I even hesitated to begin with!  So I feel like I got a few little Snicker Bars from God today.  That's what I call those little blessings that aren't life changing, life saving or earth shattering.  It's just a little something sweet that reminds me I'm loved!  And you are TOO!  Hugs all around!