Experiences > Possessions

As Isaac and I were driving back from our long weekend in our hometown we started to talk about our trip to Europe (which won't happen until 2020).  We talked about how excited we were to begin planning, where we wanted to go, what places we wanted to see.  And then the dreaded "b" word came in...budget.

 We've taken plenty of vacations within the states and always busted out the credit cards to pay for it.  This time we are doing it the right way.  We plan on going to Europe paying for everything up front with cash.  This might not sound like a big deal to many, but it is to us.  So the past few months we've put ourselves on a financial diet to help course correct some poor spending habits that we've developed.

One thing I'm doing to keep my priorities straight is to put this quote as my phone's wallpaper.  It might seem like a small gesture but that's part of daily affirmations.  I (just about) constantly have my phone on me so anytime I check the time (because I don't wear watches) or look at a notification there my affirmation will be.

And let's talk about the quote and it's meaning while we are on this topic.  In my 20s I wanted stuff.  All kinds of stuff.  I was materialistic and constantly looking for something-anything new to purchase.  Clothes, accessories, make up, hair products, you name it-I was buying it.  And I have only about a handful of those "I-need-to-have-that" purchases today.  Other than that those items are either in the trash, donated, or lost.  I still find myself falling in to the "I-need-to-have-that" mentality and I don't know if I'll ever NOT be like that.  I like clothes.  I like accessories.  I like shopping! 

As I entered my 30s and have started to inch more and more towards my mid-30s, traveling and experiences have been weighing on my mind.  And the experiences don't even have to be out of town. They can be going to a library or museum, or public park.  They can be going to a free concert at La Cantera Mall or going to a jazz bar.  It really doesn't matter to me, as long as I'm doing something. 

There's an insightful article that I was reading right before I wrote this entry.  It was my motivation behind this rant tonight.  I'll post the link here in case you want to check it out.  It touches on why we crave purchasing items, buyers remorse, and how experiences become a part of us, not things.  I highly recommend reading it.

What are your thoughts on experiences and possessions?

PS: Fun fact - the first place Isaac and I traveled to was on our one year wedding anniversary to Disney World in Florida. 

Keeping The Ojo Away

Let me start off by saying that if you do not follow my instagram then you NEED to!  I update on there way more often than my blog!  Look for me under Cynthiaedee!

A long time friend of mine reached out to my Treasure Box services to assist her in creating her ideal look for the upcoming Katy Perry concert.  Needless to say I was THRILLED to help her out!

The great thing about what my friend (Norma) did was that she put together a Pinterest page of what kind of look she wanted to create.  I can't even begin to tell you how much easier that made things!  I knew EXACTLY what she wanted which helped me to be specific on my search for her perfect concert outfit.  Here are some of the pics she had pinned for inspiration:

So great!  I had a starting point!  The more specific a client can be the better it is for the both of us.  I'm able to be more selective and better cater to their wants.

The very first thing I found for Norma wasn't even on her list for me but it was an adorable Forever 21 purse that I purchased at Goodwill.  Next came the belt, then the jacket.  I ordered an evil eye patch online but felt like the jacket still needed a little something more...pics will show what I meant...

Here's a picture of the before:

And the after!:

I added the lip elbow patches to make it a little jazzier.  I really wanted this jacket to be a little more comic pop art-ish and the sequin lips did just that!

Here are pics of the belt and purse that I found for Norma.  Doesn't that belt look almost just like the one she pinned?!  And that purse was too cute to pass up.

Let me tell you somethings that I learned on this quest:

1-Denim jackets that are second hand and in good shape are not easy to come by!  I went to at least three Goodwills and no luck!  I personally think it's because a good denim jacket is a staple in a wardrobe and it's safe to hold on to it.

2-I know this but if you don't know....hand stitching takes HOURS!  If you ever wonder why hand embroidered clothing is priced higher it's because of the amount of work that goes into it.  I can't tell you how many times I pricked my fingers or would stitch for a while just to realize that I started the stitch wrong then had to start all over again.  It's a painstaking process but the end result is so worth it!

I had a great time with this challenge.  It's by far been my favorite.  I loved collabing with Norma and watching her vision come to life through my work.

I'd love to be able to do the same for any of you reading this if you want me to!  I have some people asking if I'll hand embroider their denim jackets and the answer is OF COURSE!    I'll be putting a pricing chart soon!  If you want to collab comment below OR email Cynthiaedee@gmail.com!

Let's collab, yo!

-CE

Working On My Fitness

Another goal for 2018:  Find MY fitness!

First off-this has nothing to do with losing weight!

I used to love to run.  I'd go running at a local park here in SA and I loved it.  I loved being able to be outside because there was always something different to look at and people were constantly walking their dogs.  There was a dog park there so I'd start and end my runs by stretching in front of the park watching all the cute dogs run around and play.  It was great.  Until an unfortunate event happened there and then I didn't feel as safe anymore.

To me exercising has always been a solo job.  I prefer to be alone (though I don't mind occasional company) because it gives me time to clear my own mind without having any distractions.  Plus I can go at my own pace and I like to push myself and not have anyone else there.  It's selfish time for me.

After summer when the unfortunate event happened I stopped running and exercising all together.  I hate it.  But I also haven't done anything to change my situation.  So you can't complain about and not something and not do anything to change it so in 2018 I've decided that I'm going to find MY exercise.

This might mean that I go back to running and take more precautions or run with a partner.  But it also means that I'm going to try different things.  Maybe yoga, pilates, boxing, gym, a dance class...I don't know!  It'll have to be something that works with my work schedule (retail is tough, y'all).

Again, this has nothing to do with losing weight.  It has more to do with keeping some sort of balance and cleansing the mind.  I'll keep y'all posted!

What's your favorite exercise?

-CE

Miss running.

Buy Less-Choose Well-Vivienne Westwood

I'm extremely guilty of being a clothing/accessory hoarder.  It's difficult to part with my possessions.  I actually feel anxious and nervous when looking at my belongings and telling myself, "You haven't worn this in x-amount of time..get rid of it!"  

To keep myself out of this emotional turmoil that I somehow always put myself in here's what I plan to to:

Buy Quality-Not Quantity

This can be a little tricky since I've turned myself into a budget/thrift fashion blogger.  It's easy to be lured in to buying bags full of clothes because the price was right.  

As I've been going through my closet these past few days with a fine toothed comb I've been taking out a lot of items that were purchased at Goodwill that still have tags on them.  I bought them because they were there...not because I LOVED them.  Throughout these past few years I've really been able to hone in on my style and the kinds of looks that I go for so if I'm out shopping and something catches my eye yet doesn't support the kind of closet I want to have, then I won't take it.

I'm also going to limit my shopping trips!  I used to go to thrift stores every chance I got.  Before work, after work, on my days off.  You could always find me out and about shopping somewhere second hand.  This year I'm going to limit myself (actually I'm grounding myself after seeing how much I've bought but never wore...that money could have been used for trips and traveling!) to only shopping when it's been more than 2-3 weeks, if someone wants for me to go shopping with them, OR if I have a client for Treasure Box.  

I haven't been shopping for myself in a few weeks now and I realize how good it feels to be able to use the clothes that I have in my closet that haven't had a chance to be worn.  If you follow my instagram (CynthiaEdee) then you'll see that I wore a sequin blazer to The Pearl the other night.  I've had that blazer in my closet for over a year now and never wore it.  Not because I didn't love it but because I was constantly buying something else that I wanted to wear instead.  I kept on adding and adding to my closet with no real intent other than I just wanted it.  

I will always shop second hand because of it being environmentally friendly, the support it gives to non-profit organizations or small business owners, and because it's financially friendly to me.  But I can easily get mixed in to purchasing too many items that aren't really me.  So from here on out I'll tell myself, "If you saw this at the mall would you buy it full price?"  If the answer is no-it goes back on the rack.  

This is going to go for all areas in my life.  Beauty, home decor, furnishings, etc.  If it doesn't add value then it's not coming home with me.  No matter what the price is.

Does anyone else share this same goal?

-CE

My sequin jacket that was finally worn.

Cheers!

It happens around this time every year...we start to make those New Year Resolutions.  Resolutions to lose weight, make more time for this or that, quit smoking, start reading more, etc. etc.  I personally don't make "resolutions" and instead I make goals!  Goals that I want to achieve, goals that maybe I won't accomplish but will take me on a fun/cool journey, easy to reach goals, difficult to reach goals, fun goals, goals that I'm not too excited to work towards.

As for my relationship with 2017-I can honestly say that this year was a great year for me!  Probably one of the best ever.  I feel like I had more fun and more self-discovery this year.  I felt a little more alive this year.  And I want 2018 to be even better than what I experienced these past twelve months and with my nature of being an over-sharer I want to share these goals with y'all and take y'all on the journey with me!

So what I'm going to do is write a blog post about each one of my resolutions!  So stay tuned for my 2018 goals!

Shedding Skin

I'm guilty of having had many a blogs throughout time and this is no exception.  

Hi! Hello, hola, bonjour, hallo, ciao! My name is Cynthia Garcia and I'm a 29 year old girl living in Texas and loving life (cliche, right?)  I toyed around with the idea of starting yet ANOTHER blog and after some persuasion from one of my close friends I gave in.

The purpose and mission of this blog?  To post my current obsessions from clothes, to songs, to books, to food, to beauty products, to television shows, and well, you get the picture!  

So a little more about me:  

• I'm a Taurus (April 29).
• I graduated with my degree in Business Marketing with a focus on Retail.
• Almost everything about the 70s decade inspires me.
• I am a HUGE Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fan (not just the movies, I've read all the books numerous times).
• I believe that the world would be a happier place if everyone owned a pet.
• My favorite movie is Forrest Gump and my favorite color is glitter.

As this blog goes on y'all (yes, in Texas we do say "y'all") will get to know me a little bit better.  

Enjoy!

Tonight I realized that certain goals and dreams I had for myself are starting to come true.  I've started to branch out a little and I'm beginning to find my own identity, and I owe some of it to this little ol' blog.

Above was my very first entry in this blog.  It was published on 7/29/2014.  As stated in the second paragraph of the entry the purpose of the blog was to share some of my favorite things, nothing in specific.  But like most things that we create it ended up taking a life of its own.  

Through this blog I realized a few things: I loved shopping second hand, I loved sharing my finds with others, I enjoyed seeing what other people found while shopping second hand, and that I wanted to find a community of like-minded people.  These are things that I would have never used to describe myself prior to this blog.  

I've also found my style since starting this blog.  My style in clothing, music, food, make up, hair, people I like to surround myself with, how I want to be perceived, etc.  Not that I didn't make a lot of mistakes on the journey to finding my style, and there will still be mistakes to come, but I've really been able to hone in on ME!  It also comes with age (I'm on the way to 33 after all) and as I read through my old blog posts I slowly see my transition to who I am today.

Today I am a blogger, instagramer, second hand stylist, hand stitching seamstress, and founder of CE Treasure Box.  I'm excited to see where this blog and I will go in the future.  

I've always enjoyed sharing myself with others.  From the days of AOL profiles, AOL Hometown Pages, Myspace, Livejournal, etc.  And I'll continue to share with anyone who is willing to read my thoughts.  So thank you if you follow any of my social media outlets!  From facebook, to instagram, to this blog.  I thank you for being with me this long and hope you enjoy the ride to the future!

-CE

Wedding Fun

On December 2nd Isaac and I went to probably one of the most beautiful weddings that I will ever see in my lifetime.  Everything was extravagant without being tacky or distasteful.  It was very well put together.

Being that I knew that this was going to be a high attendance wedding I knew that I had to have the right dress.

I believe in repeating a dress/outfit if you need to in order to save money and be environmentally conscious.  The dress I chose to wear was one that I wore to my cousin's wedding a few years ago.  Since the weddings were held in different years and would be held in different cities no one would notice!  I don't even think my own husband remembered the dress!

I purchased this dress on clearance for $14!  Let me repeat that...this dress was only $14!  Now-I did pay a pretty penny to have it altered.  I had to have the chest taken in (story of my life) but it made all the difference.

Like I said earlier the wedding was gorgeous.  I know the day was all about the happy couple but I couldn't help but smile myself when strangers were complimenting how beautiful my dress was.

What are your thoughts on outfit repeating?

-CE

Pearl, Baby, Pearl

I purchased this black velvet v-neck at Goodwill when I went to visit my family in the valley earlier in the month.

I didn't know exactly how I'd style because it doesn't have the most flattering fit BUT I knew it had major potential.  I just had to find the right product.

Viola!!  Embellished pearls on anything has been the latest trend and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.  Thank goodness for eBay because I was able to purchase over 300 assorted beads for a great price!

I started this project at around 10 pm last night and ended around 2:30am.  So it was pretty lengthy but the Taurus in me had to see the project through till the end.

Almost done!

Ta-da!  The finished (well, almost finished) product!  I still want to add more medium sized beads to the back of the arms.  However, all-in-all I'm pretty pumped about my updated blouse!

What do you think?!

-CE

Colorful

Pretty sure that this dress was handmade which makes it 18397573939x more interesting!  Another gem found at goodwill!

Solid Gold

I love wearing metallic tones.  I also love a good neck bow.  I found this Banana Republic top that met those of those requirements at Goodwill a few months ago and knew it would be perfect for fall!

The only item not thrifted in this outfit are the boots.  They're from Target (where I work!).  The jeans are Paige denim (my favorite denim brand) and I found them at a Savers in Austin, Tx.

I seriously feel like I have a knack for being able to find key items while thrifting.  If you want for me to shop for you click on my link that says Treasure Box Services or click here! I'd love to put a Treasure Box together for you!

Don't forget to follow my instagram (Cynthiaedee)!

-CE

Olive Green

I haven't been posting as much as I had wanted to because I've caught an ugly cold.  It's been the type of cold where you wake up multiple times in the middle of the night because of a coughing attack or because you can't breathe through your nose.  It's pretty awful.  

Here's one of my favorite fall looks so far:  This olive green pinafore dress from Goodwill.    

I loved it's vintage 70s vibe. I paired it with a sheer cream turtle neck that I've had laying in my closet and vintage suede boots from Goodwill.

What's your favorite fall look?

-CE

Her Colors Are Pink & Pink

It's no secret that a feminine flare is definitely a part of my style and this dress is no exception.

There's nothing I don't love about this dress.  The vibrant shade of pink, the cut, the ruffles, the fabric belt.  It's amazing.  

Since the dress itself is such a statement piece I didn't pair any accessories with it this time.    

For my shoes I repeated the ones I wore for the Derby Night since they're subtle, edgy, and let the star of the show be the dress.  

Today was a cloudier day in South Texas but this Goodwill pink dress makes for a great bright spot.  

-CE

Kentucky in Texas

I'm officially in the Valley for the next few days which means food, food, and more food!  It's always good to come home to your roots every now and then.  The streets are familiar, your favorite restaurants are still in the same places, a friend is only a phone call away.  There ain't nothing that I don't love about coming back home.

Last night was the Mission Chamber of Commerce's Gala and it was themed Derby Night,  Since my mom is on the board she asked if I'd like to escort her, which, DUH! Of course I'd love to go to a gala!  Sadly, I didn't have enough time to find a hat so I borrowed my mom's for the photo opp only.

The dress is from Uptown Cheapskate and still had the original tag on it!  When I saw it at the consignment shop I knew I had to have it but didn't know where I was going to wear it to.  So when my mom told me about the Derby gala I knew that this was the moment the dress was waiting for!

My shoes are from Goodwill and they're the Moda brand.  I love a good nude pump with the added t-strap in the front gives it a little edge.

I know, I know having a Louis Vuitton may make me look bougie and like an anti-thrifter BUT let me let you know that the pink tassel on the bag is from the flea market and was only $1!

I really regret not having enough time to have purchased a loud and obnoxious hat but oh, well.  Next time!

Another cool thing about this dress was that it's the first time I've personally altered my dress!  The shoulder straps were a little too long for me so my mama taught me how to adjust it!  Sewing is something that I need to learn how to do, especially as a thrifter.  It really limits my style options when I have to pass on a nice item just because I don't know how to sew.

Hope you enjoyed my post and be sure to follow my instagram (CynthiaEdee) for updates and stories!

-CE

Blushing

Going anywhere in the downtown San Antonio area is a great reason to get dolled up.  You can feel the vibe that this city gives that makes you want to look your best.  Especially with the cooler air running through your hair-it's like catnip.

This past Saturday I went to see The Diary of Anne Frank put on by the San Antonio College theatre department.  Perfect time for me to wear this "new" skirt that I picked up at Goodwill:

The skirt and top are both from Goodwill and were purchased at separate times.  When I first figured I would wear this dress I was envisioning it with a sleeveless black mock turtle neck crop top.  The skirt is whimsical and feminine and I saw it being styled like a modern day elegant ballerina.  However being that specific usually ends in disappointment.  Unfortunately I was unable to find such a top so I went thumbing through my closet to see what I had that would work, and low and behold-instead of a black crop top I went with white!

I've been waiting for the right opportunity/outfit to use this thrifted J. Crew clutch and Saturday was it!  I love that it's metallic silver and, duh, the hearts!!  So cute!

As you can tell from my shoes they're sparkly and girly.  I purchased them from amiclubwear.com and they were extremely affordable!

Here's a pic of the whole look put together.  My poor instagram husband is forced to take all of my pictures.  I'm in the process of hiring a photographer to take better pictures of my outfits and free my husband of this task.

I've been having major luck with midi skirts and midi dresses lately!  The awesome thing about thrifting is that styles repeat themselves every few decades so right now def. channeling the better fashion of the 80s/90s!

What's your favorite way to wear a midi?

-CE

Treasure Box!

Hi All!

So I've decided to take my love and talent for finding gems at Goodwill and turn it into a service for YALL!  Introducing: TREASURE BOX!!

Here's a little more info on Treasure Box!  Any questions or if interested feel free to email me at CynthiaEdee@gmail.com!

Cynthia Edee Treasure Box Service

What is Treasure Box?

Treasure Box’s goal is to meet your style needs through personal shopping while remaining environmentally friendly.jfkjakdjkaj  is a unique form of personal shopping and personal styling.  It’s being able to meet your style demands while saving you time, gas, and remaining environmentally friendly.  It’s knowing that you can achieve a healthy wardrobe with one-of-a-kind thrifted pieces without breaking the bank. 

I do ask that clients have a “Style Inspiration” board on Pinterest to allow for me to get a better idea of their taste in clothing. If you do not have a Pinterest account then emailing 3-5 photos of various outfits that you like to Cynthiaedee@gmail.com.  This will allow for me to know what your ideal look is for different occasions.  I will get to know YOU and YOUR STYLE through photographs and picture moments. 

What Treasure Boxes Offer:

·      Quality thrifted clothing.

·      Styles tailored to your specific taste.

·      Styling tips on thrifted items for multiple usage.

·      Time saved to be with friends and family.

What Comes In A Treasure Box:

Diamond Treasure Box:

·      Four mix and match outfits tailored to your style.  This will be a mix of dresses, blouses, skirts, pants, jeans, and accessories.

·      Photographs of outfits with detailed styling tips.

·      Personalized Thank You note from yours truly.

·      All of your treasures have been laundered.

·      Flat rate of $120 shipping included.  Styling Fee ($20) waived for first time Treasure Box user. (*if you are local to San Antonio shipping fee of $10 is waived)

Emerald Treasure Box:

·      Two mix and match outfits tailored to your style.  This will be a mix of dresses, blouses, skirts, pants, jeans, and accessories.

·      Photographs of outfits with detailed styling tips.

·      Personalized Thank You note from yours truly.

·      All of your treasures have been laundered.

·      Flat rate of $80 shipping included.  Styling Fee ($20) waived for first time Treasure Box user. (*if you are local to San Antonio shipping fee of $10 is waived)

Ruby Treasure Box:

·      One outfit tailored to your style.  Could be a dress with an accessory or a top and bottom paired together.

·      Photographs of outfits with detailed styling tips.

·      Personalized Thank You note from yours truly.

·      All of your treasures have been laundered.

·      Flat rate of $50 shipping included.  Styling Fee ($10) waived for first time Treasure Box user. (*if you are local to San Antonio shipping fee of $10 is waived)

·       

Currently Treasure Box is US shipping only.  No returns or exchanges are accepted with Treasure Box service.  Payment in form of Paypal or Venmo only.  14 day turnaround time from payment to delivery.

Copy Cat-Polka Dot

I used to HATE polka dots.  When I was in high school I had a dream where someone told me "Don't trust anyone who wears polka dots" and after that I was weary of them.

Flash forward a decade and I'm def. over that dream!  Or should I say nightmare?  Polka dots are a pattern that have stood the test of time.  From Bob Dylan rocking the dots in his album cover in 1965 to Carolina Herrera using them in the late 80s and early 90s polka dots have proven that they are here to stay.

So it's no surprise that in the most recent issue of People Style magazine that polka dots were featured on a page of their own:

What really thrilled me about this feature is that literally, no joke, about three weeks prior to this issue coming out I had just bought a........POLKA DOT DRESS!  Ahhh!  Am I a style psychic or what?!  Joking.

So thrilled that I picked this dress up at the Goodwill on 281 in the Stone Oak area!  I'm still thinking of other ways to jazz this baby up.  I know I'm wearing my oh-so-stylish silver mules but i really want to incorporate a pop of color OR a long sleeve bow tie blouse underneath.  We'll see...

But either way I feel right on trend with this dress in my closet.  I'm glad that I conquered my fear of polka dots from that silly dream from high school.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

-CE