Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Splurge on: Dresses











































Truth be told, I already own entirely way too many dresses. I just love them so much. They are so easy to throw on and style in different ways by changing accessories, shoes and bags. There's something to be said for versatility that comes with a side of efficiency. Anyhow, I figure there's always room to squeeze another dress or two into the closet, so here are a few I would like to splurge on.

Narrowing it down to just these six dresses was ridiculously hard! But I think I finally created a nice variety of colors and styles to fit multiple upcoming events this fall and one or two for everyday life as well. And of course they should fit anyone's budget, too!

1.  Styles for Less Tribal Print Chiffon Dress, $24.99
2. H&M Flared Crepe Dress in Mustard, $24.95 
3. F21 Striped 3/4 Sleeve Dress, $11.50
4. ModCloth Pointed Petal Dress, $29.99
5. Wal-mart Women's 4-in-1Convertible Wrinkle Free Maxi Dress, $14.00
6. F21 Tail Hem Dress with Belt, $24.90

Later skaters!





Monday, August 29, 2011

WTW: sidewalk...the follow up
























Well, sadly the Sidewalk Film Festival has come and gone, but what a fun, jam-packed weekend it was! I saw ten movies in just two days and one night. You can't beat that for $55, am I right?! Some were fantastic, others...not so much.

Among those that I loved were:
Bag of Hammers: a film about framily, cons and what happens when real life gets in the way
The Tents: a documentary about Fashion Week in Bryant Park
The Robber: a true-story, fast-moving action flick about an Austrian marathoner who robbed banks
• Live at Preservation Hall: A Louisiana Fairytale: a documentary about the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

I was fortunate enough to see PHJB perform live a little over a year ago at the Alabama Theater with My Morning Jacket, who was also featured in the film. The music, story and photographs included in the doc are enough to stand on their own...but put them all together and it's a whole other out of this world type of collaboration. I think this was actually my favorite film, mostly because I almost chose to see another movie since I had seen the band perform live, but I can't tell you how thankful I am that I didn't skip it!

But overall, I'd say the Sidewalk Film Festival was a great way to spend some quality time with my beloved city of Birmingham and one of my best friends, Amy, at To Do! by Amy. I was able to experience Bham as I haven't experienced before, including trying a new restaurant or two downtown and stepping inside the Lyric Theater to witness the ongoing renovations.

Oh and did I mention I also found a couple of cute outfits to rock as well? Yep. See what I chose below for opening night and Saturday. I'm saving what I wore the last day of the festival, for a post all on it's own. And btw, if you are in Bham or nearby and have never been to Sidewalk...ummm, why not?





















































photos: Amy D.


Thursday, August 25, 2011

What to wear: Sidewalk Film Festival

photos taken from WWWD and people.com


















































































Yep. That's right. The Sidewalk Film Festival has arrived a month early here in the Magic City, and I for one couldn't be more ecstatic! Weekend pass is purchased, most of my movie choices have been narrowed down and the opening film starts Friday night at 8 p.m. All I have to do now is figure out what to wear for the next three days to this incredible event. Oh, is that all?

As an everyday-average kind of gal, determining what to wear to an event like this (or heck, even to work for that matter!) is always a process, am I right? A weekend long film festival is certainly no exception. So I'm turning to some of the best leading ladies out there for some inspiration. I thought I'd post my top choices just in case some of you other gals are trying to figure out what to wear for such an occasion as this. When researching my inspiration, I preemptively determined what type of outfits I was looking for based on a few wardrobe challenge assumptions I have.

Here's what I've determined these challenges to be: 1) it's still crazy hot here in AL, but I imagine that  it will be cold inside the theaters, so layers are important, 2) I will be walking all over downtown Bham, therefore flats/comfy shoes are a must and 3) most importantly, everything I choose needs to be hip and casual, not glamorous. Basically, I'd liken this type of an event to a music festival.

I've noticed a few patterns in the inspiration outfits I've chosen: flared jeans, olive green and a laid back hippie/ster vibe. So get ready for a follow up post next week featuring something I've pulled from the back of my closet that incorporates these types of items.

Later skaters! Enjoy the show!





ps. If you're at Sidewalk, look for me! I'm hoping to start BHAM street style this weekend and would love to feature you on my blog!


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Grooveshark picks for August




Artist: James Vincent McMorrow
Why I love it: The entire album and JVM's voice is just so dreamy
For fans of: Joshua James, Great Lake Swimmers
Bonus: Click here to download the FREE Daytrotter JVM session 














Album: Revival
Why I love it: As always, it seems I'm a day late and dollar short with this pick, but since I just discovered this older debut album, I figure I'll include anyway. It's fab because it has that good ole raw southern country sound to it.
For fans of: Lucinda Williams, Emmy Lou Harris, The Secret Sisters
Bonus: Gillian released a new album this summer called The Harrow & the Harvest. Listen to it here.









Artist: Bon Iver
Album: For Emma, Forever Ago
Why I love it: Another dreamy album highlighted this month....but it's more hypnotizing than sweet kind of dreamy.
For fans of: Sigur Ros, The Decemberists
Bonus: Click here to download the FREE Daytrotter Bon Iver sessions





Artist: Dawes
Why I love it: Out of these five albums I've chosen to highlight, this is by far the one I am the most obsessed with. I think it's kind of like medicine to my soul right now.  #cheesybuttrue
For fans of: Delta Spirit, Blitzen Trapper, Band of Horses
Bonus: Click here to download the FREE Daytrotter Dawes sessions




Artist: Local Natives
Why I love it: This is going to sound like a ridiculously generic answer, but there's just something  so listenable about the entire album. 
For fans of: Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, 
Bonus: Click here to download the FREE Daytrotter Local Natives sessions






**New Feature: Click on any of the album covers and it will take you to where you can purchase the album on amazon.com.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Plated: Kendi is Dino-might!































It seems I've been in some dire need of creative inspiration lately—both with my wardrobe and in an effort to expand my personal stationery collection. Well, enter in a new fav blogger of mine (thanks Em for passing her blog over to me!) Kendi from kendieveryday.blogspot.com and a cute lil critter from a long time fav website of mine, modcloth.com.

I heart Kendi because her style is just ah-mazing and she is also cute and very funny to boot! So if you haven't seen her blog before, I suggest you go there sometime soon!

I heart ModCloth for similar reasons: 1) they support bloggers - BIG TIME 2) they always offer awesome, affordable dresses that are also unique and 3) I recently found their accessories to be just as adorable, unique and affordable!

Anyhow, putting these things together—one hawt color combo from Kendi and one rad little necklace from ModCloth ($12.99)—I think I came up with a couple of pretty cute stationery pieces. It just seemed right that I put Kendi's namesake on it. I'm not sure if it's her style or not...but here's hoping she approves!



























I couldn't decide which design I liked best: the chevron stripes background or the chain-influenced background that resonates with both of the necklaces—the one seen in Kendi's photo and the one on the actual Dino-Might necklace. So of course I decided to post both....which do you like best?


Thursday, August 18, 2011

What's in my piggy bank for August?



1. Merona Women's Carrigan Woven Top in Green Print ($26.99). Bow tie necklines are still popular and I love the print and color combo of this shirt from Target.

2. Charlotte Russe Glittery T-Strap Platform Heel ($35.50). #obsessed with this shoe. That's all I can say about it.

3. F21 Printed Body Con Skirt ($8.80). A body con skirt in a fun print has been on my list for a while. I love the print and the price of this one from Forever 21.

4. Charlotte Russe Metallic Plate Bib Necklace ($5.50). I'm trying to be more adventurous with my accessories. I think this bib necklace is bold enough without going overboard.

5. Old Navy Women's Lightweight Wide Leg Pants ($25.00). No doubt 70s wide leg pants and jeans are on everyone's list for fall. I think this pair from Old Navy is a perfect staple buy that's both easy on the eyes and the wallet.

6. Linea Pelle Front Zipper Crossbody in Purple ($19.99).  It's no secret that I love cross body bags. (I'm pretty sure I pick one every month!) So I was excited to see WWWD's recent accessory report on mini bags. I think this one from Target is a great find and will add color to any outfit.

7. Sinful Colors Sugar, Sugar Nail Polish ($.99). I'm convinced maroon is going to be a huge color for fall and I can think of no better way to incorporate the color daily than putting it on my finger nails!

8. ModCloth Glamorous Graduate Dress ($29.99). I love this little mod dress from ModCloth. It's a nod to the style that's in right now, but I can also modernize it with some boots for fall or dress it up with black tights and heels in the winter.

9. Payless Ronnie Banded Wedge in Raisin ($29.99).  I think this is the perfect pair of wedges to go with any wide leg pants, including the ones I chose this month.

10. dELiA's Carolyn Beaded Belt ($14.99). This belt would be my last little reflection of summer. It's a perfect print and color combo to add some flavor to any ordinary white tee shirt and jeans.



Friday, August 12, 2011

A cheapskate goes to Africa...the follow up!


Well, I'm back! And I know everyone is ready to hear about the "big trip," so here goes.

I had originally thought I would do a recap breakdown of activities and places visited day by day, but not only could that get tiring to try to do in just one post, my friend Lauren actually posted on her blog several times while we were in Africa, and it's ten times better than anything I could ever write...so you should go check it out here.

Instead I have decided to just post a TON of pics (since that's really what everyone wants to see :) but also try and sum up what I learned from this experience. This too, was extremely overwhelming to me at first, but after leaving church Wednesday night, I finally had clarity on what I had been trying to put into words over the past few days. I've always known that it's funny the way that God works. That you think He's trying to teach you one thing, only for you to go "Ohhhhh. I get it now." and it's completely the opposite of what you thought it was about. That's exactly what my "aha" moment was like last night.

I went into this trip thinking I would go and show love and be loved and come home happy and grateful for all that I am truly blessed with here with my life in the U.S. While that is perfectly true, I did do all of those things, I also realized that still wasn't the big picture. I still felt like something was missing. I felt like those kids I saw, especially at Canaan's the last few days, were just so happy and content. I have so much more than they do, I have seen this, I know this, so why am I still struggling? Then we read this verse at church from Rev. 3:17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Boom. Done. That was it. I had been thinking the whole time that I was going so I could know first hand how lucky and blessed I am because I had good food and a job and more than one pair of shoes. And I do get that, but I think overall that I realized those exact blessings also keep me from realizing just how much I need Him. Those blessings come from Him and are only temporary, so IF I have those things only, well, I am truly in trouble. It was an eye opener for me and makes complete sense to me in this moment, and I can only hope the same for you readers as well.

Ok, I'll quit the intense discussion, but one other quick thing. I also thought I would come back all liberated and "above" this world and things in it and not care about fashion and would feel guilty about blogging on such "trivial" matters when I had seen more of the world and its problems. My photographer and I even joked about it. Well, guess what...again, not the case! Which I am excited about, of course. Instead, I am so excited to keep trying to find more ways to save money, especially on clothes, accessories, beauty products, etc so that I can send that money I am saving elsewhere to a much better cause. And I hope to encourage my readers to do the same. So get ready for lots of good upcoming posts, but be patient, I'm still trying to get back into work mode.

And here goes the pictures. Enjoy!
(disclaimer: Fashionplate Cheapskate does not approve of 80% of my wardrobe choices in my photos. But hey, I was on a mission trip in Africa, what more do you expect?)

The whole team outside our hotel.



I painted a LOT of tiny little finger nails that day!

The kids were fascinated with my feathers. They asked if I was "produced" (born) with them. Hilarious.

Cutest picture of the twins eating.

Precious boys at M1. 

Part of the amazing donations our team gathered together.

I only thought I was going to lose weight...turns out I had no trouble eating in Africa. 

Miss Abigail teaching me a thing or two in her classroom.

Playing "red light, green light" with the kids at Royal Hope.

Adorable children at Royal Hope. 

Me with the little "Princess" I picked up

Beautiful sky and trees at Kingfisher Resort

Adorable children at Canaan's school

Just one glimpse of how the women do it all in Uganda. 

precious. 

As my friend Lauren noted on her blog, "children taking care of children. it takes a village"

The beautiful women of the Karamajong tribe we visited.

#love


One of my favorite pictures I took.

Part of the amazing ministry at Amazima.

That's a whole lotta beans!

I hope Lauren doesn't kill me for this, but I think she rocks the African fashion like no other.

Sweet baby boy and the airplane I gave him.

Beth and I take time to goof off while sweet Sarah is fast asleep.

Miss Florence prayed hard for all of us single ladies...I think she has her work cut out for her! 

The "real world Uganda cast." Love these ladies. 

Our safari driver Ahmed was hands down THE BEST. God definitely provided. 

Hello African sunrise. 

Just a little piece of Africa.

Hippos and boats at the fishing village.

Hungry, hungry hippo?

This elephant means business.

Beautiful sunset.

Zebra! (photo: Lauren)

Funny little buffalos. (photo: Lauren)

Ahmed took matters into his own hands and we finally see a lioness! 

I still laugh that we willingly went into a forest with a man we don't know and his big gun.

Hey baboon.

The most amazing view from our hotel the last morning.

Hallelujah, the Bham ladies make it back safe and sound to sweet home, Alabama.




If your heart is feeling torn and you'd like to give or want to educate yourself about ministries and projects in Uganda, here are just a few places to start. I know this is only the tip of the iceberg:
Amazima ministries
My Father's House
Sixty Feet
Canaan's Children Home
Return Ministries
The Voice Project

I also uploaded a ton of videos to youtube that you are welcome to check out if you have some time to kill. Click here.