Country Roots

This post is going to highlight one of my favorite looks of all time--country-fried cuteness. I really love wearing cowboy boots and a jean vest. Here's what I wore to a friend's birthday party on Saturday night:

I have had the jean vest forever (probably since highschool--I'm 26, so that's a loooong time). It's Gap.  The dress is Merona (Target) and I picked it up last week at Salvation Army. It fit perfectly and is a nice fabric for a black dress in summer time. I purchased the boots from Salvation Army a couple months ago. They are a slouch fit with a small heel. Cute and comfy!

Here's a closer look at the Fossil purse I have on:

I found this at Salvation Army, as well. It's awesome because: (1) It's real leather and feels nice and "buttery", (2) it's a sling over (or whatever you call the cross body thing)--love this for summer, and (3) its a nice neutral color that I can wear with anything.  I need to get more detailed pictures but I use my iPhone and sometimes the light just isn't what it needs to be!

Cheers!
Sara

Shout out and hair do!

I think it's safe to say that Sara's $5 snow blower takes the V card for greatest deals of all times!  So, I won't be posting any deals tonight...It's hard to think a $2 shirt is a good deal when she got a snow blower for only a couple dollars more!  HE HAW!  Also...did you LYAO (Sara that's for you) when you saw it in her tiny car??!!

Hubs and I went to a wedding this past weekend and had a great time!  I was planning on wearing a dressy maxi dress but then ended up in something more tailored.  I had already done my hair according to the maxi dress but just decided to leave it!  I snuck a small braid into my half-back do (not really sure it goes with a "tailored" look so I pulled at it to loosen it up a bit so it would blend in).  Can you find it in my mop?  I have done this hair do a couple other times too.  I like it because it adds some visual interest to a hair do I tend to abuse!  Here are a couple pictures (one of the wedding night and then one of some other random time)! 

For the wedding....

Random..

                                                                               Sorry for the mean faces! Not sure what happened there! HAHA!!  Well, it's only Monday people....so get wild and crazy and throw a braid in your hair! XOXO Katie

      

                                      

$5 Snow Blower = YEE HAW

My friend Gina and I spend our lunch breaks going to thrift stores and garage sales. We work in a suburb that has some pretty great garage sales going on.  Anyways, last Friday, we were driving through a neighborhood and saw a lone ranger sale, so we decided to take a quick peek. Overall, the sale was not very great, but being my grandpa's granddaughter, I see a bright shiny piece of steel out of the corner of my eye and my curiosity was peaked. I quickly investigate and find it is a snowblower with a price tag of $10! I asked what was wrong with it and the girl tells me something is wrong with the carburetor. Well, my grandpa Clate can fix anything, and the snowblower looked pretty nice, so I offer her $3. She runs in the house to ask her mom and the mom approves $5. So, I happily paid my $5 (Gina had to loan me some cash) and was then the proud owner of a Troy Bilt snowblower. The next issue we had to sort out was how to transport the snowblower. Here is what Gina and I finagled:

HAHAHAHA! But it worked and I got it safely home.

After work was over, I called up my grandpa to see if he could look at it. So I go over to his house and the snowblower FIRES UP and CONTINUES TO STAY RUNNING! My grandpa thought I stole the thing for purchasing it for $5. What a deal, huh?!?!  The choke needs some adjusting but I guess that is no big thing to do. A little part of me wonders if the wife of the snowblower owner mistakenly put it up for sale? Maybe he left her and she wanted to get rid of all of his stuff?! Who knows, but I am curious!

I am really excited to have gotten such a good deal on a very nice snowblower that retails for$500+!  Everyone keeps asking me what I plan on doing with the snowblower because I live with my parents, but HELLO, I will be moving out eventually!! And, HELLO, I will be blowing snow with that sexy beast of a snow blower! 

Happy Monday!!

Sara

Little this, Little that!

We are laying it on you today...double post!!??  What?!!  Well here it goes, you are getting a deal, a dip, and a do!  (All photos taken with the I-phone- in true Vandergirl form....we will work on that!)

Like I said...I hate solo pics!  

DEAL:
So here's the deal on my shirt...It was $4.  I think it was quite a deal...considering it looks brand new and even sports a brand name (Gap). I like it because it's a classic and it has that tailored but free fitting look!  I picked it up at a consignment store called Worn in Des Moines.  It was on their clearance rack...most of their stuff is pricier than $4, but I will definitely go again!

Horrible Dip pic...but it's not a pretty dip anyhow...it's delicious though!  

DIP:
Spicy Black Bean Dip
Olive oil
2 can black beans (save 1/4 c of the juice, drain the rest)
1 chopped red onion
1 chopped green pepper
salt
chili powder
1 tsp cumin
In a large skillet, saute veggies in olive oil for 5 mins.  Add black beans and juice. Simmer 10 mins. Dump into food processor or blender.  Add spices to taste.  (I used a homemade taco seasoning in mine.  I will have to post that recipe another day!)  Pulse in blender. 

Braided bun.  Or Katniss bun. (I will refer to Katniss almost always if a braid is involved)

DO:
Step by step pictures would have been brilliant for this post.  However, it is ridiculously easy, so I will do my best to explain.  Separate hair into 2 sections and make two country girl braids and tie off at the ends. Pull them back to the back of your head and twist them around each other, forming a bun.  Secure with bobby pins!  This is a great do when you really need to wash your hair but can't seem to find the time!  It should work with medium length and long hair!  Don't worry girls with short hair...I have some cute stuff coming for you too! 

Peace out sister.

Katie

  

  

An Orange Cardigan and Memorial Day Weekend Pictures

To kick this post off, I am sharing a Banana Republic cardigan I snagged from Sal Army! I love it because its bright and cheery, yet functional (keeps me warm in the office!). I like it a lot.

Shout out to Gina who took this pic of me. Also, I need to get my office organized, big time!

Here is a glimpse into our Memorial Day weekend:

Love Face with his new Kawasaki dirt bike.

Cool blue eyed Paint horse.

Harper, my neice and Katie's daughter, smiling with the horses!

I make him take awkward pictures. HEHE.

Honey Child and I.

Grant and Allie on a paddle boat.

 We went out on paddle boats up at my brother-in-law's (Grant) Dad's camp that he manages. It was a blast and a fun little road trip! We ate some delicious food, hung out on the lake and attempted to catch tadpoles by hand, played some intense dodgeball (I have huge bruises all over my knees from it), and checked out the horses.

Summer sunshine on your legs while riding in the back of a truck.. doesn't get better than that!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. This weekend, I will be attempting to run a local race (12.8 miles)! I haven't trained very well and am NERVOUS! Love Face and my sister, Lisa, will be running with me!  My goal is to complete it and not have to walk. Wish me luck!

Adios,
Sara

Shoes and a ball game

Today I am posting about some Allen Edmond shoes I purchased for $3 at my local Salvation Army.  Here they are:

These shoes are in excellent shape and retail for around $400! My boss at work was impressed at the steal-of-a-deal I found. I was also informed that they re-sole these shoes if you send them into the manufacturer. These soles looked pretty good, however. I was going to give them to my boyfriend, but they fit my dad, so he got them! It's a form of rent payment, really:)

Last week, Love Face and I took my neice, Hallie, and my nephew, Landon, to an Iowa Cubs game. My friend Ashley had free tickets, so off to the park we went. When we arrived at the stadium, we found out in was $1 hot dog night (SCORE!!). The hot dogs weren't that amazing (just being honest), but the roasted peanuts were great. Here's a picture of us on the First Base dugout. Thanks for the great seats, Ashley!

Landon is hidden behind me, but here is a picture of Landon and I when I was reading to him before bed the other night!

Katie's Hello...

Hello all!  It's Katie here.

I am following Sara's lead and going to share a great deal I found at Salvation Army.  I almost passed this dress up.  I am really glad I ended up grabbing it though...not only did it fit perfectly, I got lots of compliments on it!  The cake topper on this deal is it was only a $1.99.  Goodwill can't even hold a flame to that...their dresses are all $5-something.  I didn't get a solo picture of me in this dress but you can enjoy my hunky hubby and babes along with the dress. (p.s. I really hate taking solo pics...I always make this crazy face...kind of similar to Sara's first post! HAHA!)

Gotta go get my cook on.

Katie