Where have I gone?

Or maybe this should be titled, "I really miss this blog" or
"My hair has grown back nicely". Either way, I'm doing well, my cancer is stable and I've had NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE (NED) since March 2015! I returned full time to work two years ago and I sadly find it a little harder to make the time for blogging. I took this picture with my computer and photo booth about three weeks ago to instagram (follow at @thriftedorscripted) my new favorite earrings from Stella and Dot!



I was able to do a fair amount of thrifting over the semester break and I will try and post a few quick pictures of the highlights! Be back soon!

Me and my girl

A look back at some special moments late 2014, all with my girl!

Newport RI in November 2014

Kallet Theater, November 21, 2014

Colgate Ballet Company, Nutcracker December 2014, as a mouse!

May 2014, Colgate senior Torch Medal Award

This is for you, Lindsay

As all of my students know, I'm pretty passionate about teaching and biology and some of the others know that I'm also very excited about fashion and shopping for clothes. One of those students who never fails to make me feel special and enjoy the way I present myself through my fashion is Lindsay. She will see me and say, "I miss your blog plots" or "I love your outfit"  so this one is for you girl, thanks for the love, encouragement and support!

 Statement necklace: Stella and Dot on Striped shirt...a formula for me! Also my favorite Downing tote from J.Crew.

 A camel blazer, with a cool pinstriped lining over a black skirt, tights and Frye boots

But the best and finishing touch to this outfit is the blanket scarf. I picked up this super soft one at Forever21 for $12.

Wearing lately

Since I can't seem to put together a complete blog post highlighting an outfit here are some iphone shots of things I've been wearing lately!

Leather skirt, booties and stripes

Stripes and statement necklace

Patagonia vest and plaid shirt

Coated Denim Moto jacket and graphic Tee

Earnest Sewn Jeans, cool ripped knee and a gingham shirt with quilted jacket

All of these items were thrifted except the Coated Moto jacket from the LOFT!

A little party

It all started with me trying to get tickets for my husband to see his favorite band. The Marshall Tucker Band in November 2013. 

The story at Syracuse.com MTB

Doug Gray and Marcus James Henderson of the Marshall Tucker band.

Now they are coming back to celebrate with me...how amazing!

Beautiful Fall

We've been having the most amazing fall weather here in upstate New York...it solidifies that this is my favorite time of year! Well, actually, I love every season.

I took a few quick outfit photos the other day and thought I would share.

On my truck...

Looking tough...or not!

Shirt, skirt: AnnTaylor LOFT (various years...)

Jacket: LOFT (2014 fall collection)

Necklace: thrifted

Shoes: Mossimo

Sunglasses: Nine West----gifted from the C.M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund 2014 Golf Tournament

I want to be back blogging...

Thank you

Taken today in my office, LOOK at my hair!!!

There is a lot that I haven't shared here in a very long time...I was hoping to be back blogging full time this summer and I wasn't... and then my plans for a fall entry back into blogging have not really come together. All-in-all life is returning to normal, my hair is growing back...and I continue to wage battle with breast cancer. I'm finding a new normal and I have to accept where I am at. It is never easy and most days it all seems like a bad dream.

From the spring...

Thank you to so many of you for your continued words of encouragement and support, I need it!

On Live TV!

I was featured as a model on a local talk show wearing an amazing outfit from Ann Taylor.

Live taping at studio for BridgeStreet

I'm embedding the link to the clip for all to watch! 

Update with a photo! Grace running and jumping up to me as I walked the runway!

On the shores of the Salmon River

I was lucky enough to have my husband take these photos in his hometown of Pulaski,  NY. (Yeah, I know...like where is that??) It is a small town situated in Northern New York off the shore of the Great lake, Ontario, where the Salmon river runs through. These pictures where taken in late November before the temperatures dropped and the lake effect hit. Now the town and river is blanketed in about a few feet of snow.

Remember I posted a picture of this skirt (on a J.Crew model) a couple of months ago well, I've gotten to wear it a bit and love it just as much.

I love this skirt!

I can't get away from wearing tights and boots all.the.time. And sometimes two pairs with the weather we have been having...

Skirt: J.Crew-thrifted

Jacket: Marc Jacobs via Marshalls

Shirt: Joe Fresh

Necklace: Ebay

Boots: TJ Maxx

A little award...and some random facts!

I was tagged by Amber of the Butterfly Effect to receive the blogger Leibster Award and as a little side bonus to post 11 random facts about myself and answer 11 questions she proposed. First, thank you Amber for my award here are my 11 random facts and the answers to her questions!

1. I love the number eleven.

2. My birthday is November 11th  {11-11}

3. My husbands birthday is August 3rd. {8+3=11}

4. So, we got married on the 11th of August. {8-11}

5. And to finish it off, my Dad's birthday is Sept 11th and my parents were married on April 11th.

6. I have lived my entire life in New York State: born here, raised here, went to college here and have settled into my career here!   I <3 NY!

7. I've been told many times over I have an accent.  This puzzles me (see #6) and it is usually pinpointed as a New Jersey or a Mid-West accent. My parents were both born and raised in NJ, so maybe...

8. I love vintage, I own a 1941 Chevy truck and I love driving it.

9. I studied caterpillars as my research dissertation.

10. I grew two inches after I graduated from high school-late bloomer!

11. I'm kinda of a science nerd that loves fashion, go figure.

Here are the 11 questions I will answer for Amber!

1. What is your favorite memory as a child?

Going to a parade with my grandparents, clowns, candy, fun!

2. Quick! Pick your favorite starburst flavor.

Lemon

3.  You have fifteen dollars to spend only on you at Walmart/Target... what do you buy?

Costume Jewelry!!

5. E-reader or plain ol' book?

I thrift books if it is a title I want to read and I do have the complete anthology of F.Scott Fitzgerald downloaded on my ipad!

6. True or False: I make my bed every morning. 

True!

7. If you could wake up and be in a different place for only 24 hours, where would you want to be?

Paris, France

8. You run into 7/11 for a quick treat on a road trip. What do you chose?

Snickers, it satisfies...

9. What was the last thing you said?

"Grace, it's time for bed!"

10. Which do you prefer...math class or English class?

Math for sure.

11. If you could only have two beauty products for the rest of your life, what would they be? 

Mascara and facial moisturizer.


So, there you have it. Sorry, Amber it took me so long and thanks for tagging me, it was fun!

From a while back

So, I've been very absent from posting on my blog page. I miss it! You know, just life. Prioritizing and focusing. Here is an outfit from a while back.

Nothing out of the ordinary, statement necklaces, stripes, leopard, navy and boots. Just a few of my recent obsessions!

I found this like new Coach Station bag a few months ago at my local Clothes Mentor and just love that it is a USA made Coach and one of the legacy bags they have reintroduced. At $45 I thought it was a good investment.

Shirt: J.Crew-thrifted, Clothes Mentor
Pants: J.Crew
Necklace: Target 
Boots: Frye via Zappos
Watch: Michael Kors
Bag: Coach-thrifted, Clothes Mentor

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Blessings

I  want to thank all of my readers for their love, support and prayers over the past 10 months and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Patterned skirt

I've missed posting here. I often think that lately I go to doctor appointments like it is my job! Given that I'm working, too, it doesn't leave a lot of time for other activities, especially blogging.

So, I took advantage of a big mirror and snapped an iphone photo of my outfit while I was waiting in the doctors office.

I really liked this outfit, not only was it comfortable but I also felt put together, stylish and pretty.

Shirt: J.Crew
Skirt: Talbots-thrifted
Booties: Arizona-thrifted
Leather Jacket: ZouZou-thrifted
Bag: Longchamp-thrifted

Family Photos

A post I forgot to make live...and some pictures to share with all my blog friends. 

 Many thanks for the continued prayers, love and support.

I am thankful for so much this holiday season. Love to you all!

Photos by Stephanie Antshel Photography

Mommy, let's make a skirt

This is the first blog post that solely features my daughter. She is an artist and a little fashionista...wonder where that comes from? 

Together we watch Project Runway and independently she "designs" clothes, i.e. she makes drawings of elaborate gowns and asks me to help her sew them.  We went to the fabric store she picked out some fabric and What I was able to do, was help her sew was a simple skirt. She was thrilled!

Such a serious pose, I should know, this is serious business. Note: we had a really warm Saturday morning for November (50 F) so it was easy to take these photos outside. Now, we are back to snow!

Look, I have hair!

These are the most recent pictures I have, I took them yesterday. I was stunned to see my image with all that hair!! You might even think this was an intentional hair style. It's a little bit curly but it is too short to see. I am also amazed that my eyebrows are visible with out any extra makeup. You'd be amazed at what eyebrows do for your face; you don't realize until you lose them!

You can see from the following pictures that snow has arrived and the days are shorter, it is difficult to get photos after work.

I've pulled out the boots, hat and gloves.

Jacket: J.Crew
Pants: LOFT
Purse: Coach-Clothes Mentor
Hat: J.Crew-thrifted
Scarf: thrifted
Boots: Frye via Zappos
Gloves: Aris-thrifted

Many thanks to my readers for your continued love and support through prayers and well wishes. I had my post radiation CT and bone scans and the metastatic cancer is still present but, it has NOT spread. My doctors define it as "stable metastatic lesions". I take my blessings as they come and live one day at a time. I continue to receive monthly infusions and will indefinitely to keep the bone metastasis stable.

Final Fall

I found these pictures on my camera and realized I do have something to post! Our apple tree was very productive this year.

This will be the final post where it looks like fall...we've had snow the last three days with temperatures in the teens (17 F)!

Long gone are the days of a silk blouse and a light jacket with flats and no socks!

Jacket: Brooklyn Industries-gift

Shirt: LOFT

Pants: J Brand

Commentary on Thrifting

I am behind in my blog posting and I have had many good outfits come and go without pictures. I like to take pictures of me actually wearing things; it seems more authentic than just posting a picture of the clothes or adding a polyvore set. So my lack of posting is linked to my lack of photos.

I've taken some time out for thrifting, consignment shop buying and resale store visiting. This activity has got me thinking "what is thrifting?" and how I present the goods I purchase. I don't frequent a lot of different stores but the common theme is that they contain second hand clothing. So, I wonder, how do we define a shop as a thrift shop? Does a consignment store or a resale shop fit into this definition? The online dictionary defines thrifty as: "wise economy in the management of money and other resources; frugality". At all of these stores I pay a fraction of retail (20% or less), so I would consider all of them "thrift shops" where I practice the art of buying fashionable items at a fraction of retail. If you want to call me out on my designation of an item as thrifted when it comes from a consignment or resale shop, go ahead, I'm ready to defend my position.

These are the local shops I frequent, they are located in the town I live or work or are within 10-20 miles:
          

The Key- a church run shop that takes clothing in on consignment and also sells donated clothes.

Worn Again-a church run shop that takes in donated clothing and resells it. (They also have a voucher program where people of need in the community can come and select items for free).

Salvation Army-a full selection thrift store that sells donated items.

Plato's Closet-a franchised resale store for young adults, in general they buy and resell brands that are popular for teens.

The Clothes Mentor- a franchised resale store for women, they buy used items that are up 24 months old.

EcoChic- a consignment store for women's clothing.

Sunshine shop-a church run shop that takes in donated clothing and resells it. 

Encore-a local shop that takes in donated clothing and resells it to donate money back to local symphonic and orchestral groups.

Sandy's Thrift Shop- a women's clothing shop filled with used clothing purchased elsewhere by the owner.


The only place I haven't purchased anything from is Sandy's, the prices are higher than I would pay for the type of merchandise she has selected. I can get those same items at the Salvation Army for a fraction of the price. I totally love that she set up a shop like that in the University town where I teach but, I seriously think she could use me as a consultant or buyer!

I'm really into the Clothes Mentor lately, I find great quality items in brand new condition so I don't mind paying $14 for a J.Crew skirt that retails for $108, or the same for a Tibi dress that retails at around $300.

Love this skirt! Stay tuned for my styling.

I also picked up for $10 a gorgeous Stella and Dot necklace (on left) that retailed for about $200.

I've been to Plato's closet once and came home with unworn black suede Coach wedges, a Longchamp bag and a pair of J.Crew leopard patent leather ballet flats! Not your typical teen brands so I will definitely go back!   

Coach Wedges-$30

Shopping at The Key, trying out a pair of lace shorts, I scored these for four dollars.  Wearing a pair of $1 J. Crew espadrilles purchased at Worn Again.

                                    

So there you have it:  where I get my clothes, what I pay and why I thrift!