One man's trash....

.....is my new treasure!

Wow - I really hit the jackpot today! Call me crazy, but I just love to go to thrift stores, especially Goodwill, to see what treasures there are to behold!

I have found a few small furniture pieces at thrift stores for a few dollars that I (actually, my dad) have cleaned and repainted and then used and received many compliments on! To me, those thrifty finds are so gratifying because they are usually so cheap!

Today, I went to a local Goodwill, and below are some photos of the loot I came home with! I just moved in to a new place 2 weeks ago and am in the process of decorating and accessorizing the place with my roommate. The challenge is that we are both on graduate student budgets, so thrift store finds are just delightful for all of those reasons! All of these items cost between $1-$2 each.

 Small gold basket
Haven't decided which room to use this in yet...Living room? Kitchen?

 I love French memo boards and have a larger one in my bedroom. I found this one today and think that it will be the perfect fit for one of the walls in the new living room! I plan to print some sepia-colored pictures of me and my roommate and put them on here.

 I love toile, y'all!
This small toile storage box was a steal for the condition that is in. It looks brand new and will be great for storing things in my room. And the best part is that it is toile!

 The sweet cashier packed some of my other items in the box.....What could they be???

 Measuring cup

Looks like it has never been used, and the price was so right!

 This item also looks like it is brand new and has never been used! The colors on the handle immediately caught my eye, and I love the quote on the front - "A day without laughter is a day wasted." Laughter is definitely what gets me through the day so many times! I was thinking of cleaning this and giving it to someone as a gift, but I may just keep it for myself!

 Though it is difficult to tell from the picture, this vase/pot is rust colored and will match our living room decor so perfectly! I haven't decided if I want to put flowers in it or just use it as a candle holder. Or maybe I will just change its use from time to time!

I could spend hours looking at books. And at $2 for hardbacks and $1 for paperbacks, how could you not rack up on some summer reading material? I got these 5 books and 2 more to equal $10 total for all of the books!

I am excited to polish these up and get a lot of use out of each of them!

Do you enjoy shopping in thrift stores? What kinds of gems have you found in them?

I want it all...

....from Fornash!!!

I am in LOVE with every single one of these!

Earrings....

Bracelets....

What's not to love?!

Do you own any lovely pieces from Fornash? How do you like them?

All images from http://www.fornash.com.

Lilly obsession: Shoes

 Resort Chic Wedge

 Picture Perfect Espadrille

Just a Little Knotty Wedge 

Can you tell I love wedges?!

Paige Sandal Ruffled

LOVE this color combination!

Encouragement from this week

This week was the first week of my first rotation. To say I was nervous on Monday morning would be a huge understatement. I had no idea what to expect, what the people would be like, how busy or slow it would be, if I would be able to do anything. I prayed the whole way there on Monday morning, read my devotion before I went inside, and God really came through. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful. I really want to share what my daily devotions were this week because the timing on these was so perfect! I use The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Each day had so many great thoughts and everything below (except for what is in italics) is directly quoted from my book.


MONDAY - At the Right Time - Habakkuk 2:3
The kind of preparation you need depends on what you are being called to do and your season in life at that time.
If you have something in your heart that you believe you are supposed to do but are unable to do now, don't let that discourage you. We hold some things in our hearts for years before we see them manifest. Let your dream incubate in your heart. Pray about it and do whatever you can to be ready when the time is right. 
*This was good for me to read because I often wish that I could move to Latin America or be in a position that allows me to learn and speak Spanish frequently. I know that God has put this dream in my heart and that though I may not be able to see now what he will do with that, I know that he has prepared me and is continuing to prepare me for a time in my future when that will be important.


TUESDAY - Keep Learning - Proverbs 1:5 (This is a good verse that I need to memorize!)
Even the people who are able to get formal training still need to have some experience. Knowing something in our head and knowing how to apply it practically can be two different things. 
We need to be lifetime learners, and we can all learn something every day if we let all of life be a school we attend. 
Wherever you are, you are in God's classroom.


WEDNESDAY - Don't Be Boxed In - Acts 9:36, 39
 However we learn, we can be assured that God will prepare us in His own way.


THURSDAY - Small Things - Zechariah 4:10
...Let everything in life be preparation for the things you have in your future. Don't despise the days of small beginnings. Those small beginnings are usually all we can handle at the time. God will give more when He knows we are ready. Enjoy every step of your journey. Don't be in such a hurry to rush through things taht you miss the lessons you can draw from each day.
*I wish sometimes that I could just know everything about being a pharmacist and jump right in and fill all of the prescriptions and tell the patients everything they need to know without having to think so hard. But I know that I have so much more to learn, and that learning means learning everything, even the small things that I want to move past. This was an attitude check for me, to take each day one step at a time and not try to get ahead of myself. 
If you do, God will do what you cannot do. Do your best to be prepared for the job in front of you and God will come through with supernatural abilities that will amaze you. 
To be prepared for whatever God's calling is for you, you don't have to worry about the part you don't know how to do. Just do the part you know. Your faith-filled actions are seeds you sow. Sow your seed in faith and God will bring a harvest at just the right time. 


FRIDAY - God's Gifts
If you confidently step out and do your part, God will surround you with people who have the gifts and abilities that you don't have. However, when a person lacks confidence, quite often they cannot receive help from other people. They are too busy making comparisons to receive the help God has sent them. Insecurity and a lack of confidence will steal the wonderful life that God has planned for you.
You don't have to be prepared to do the entire job by yourself. Just prepare yourself to do the best that you can do and remember that God will add what you don't have.


I hope that something from one or each of these day's devotions encourages you as it did me! Have a blessed weekend!

Pharmacy rotations: What's it all about?

Pharmacy students are required to do rotations. I know that many pharmacy schools do their rotations differently, but  I will explain to you the how's and why's of rotations for the college of pharmacy that I attend.

Here are the facts:
1. What it is: The first rotation is completed at the end of the first year of pharmacy school. Our rotations are completed in 4 weeks, with 8 hours of work expected per day. Rotations can be completed in May, June, or July. The first rotation is community-based, with most students working in independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies, grocery stores, or hospital outpatient pharmacies. The second rotation, completed after the second year of school, is in a hospital. Our fourth year is nothing but rotations, with a minimum requirement of 9 rotations that start on the first of the month and end at the end of the month.
2. How rotations are chosen: During the spring semester, we put our rotation preferences into a system. Preferences can be organized by site, preceptor, date, etc. Students rank their choices. On a designated day, the "spin" occurs, and the computer magically matches students to their rotation sites. Some students get their first or other top choice. Some do not. 
3. The worst part about rotations...you have to pay for them. Where the money goes, I do not know.

My rotation is in a hospital outpatient pharmacy. So far, I love it! I like everyone that I work with and am working in a great learning environment. Everyone is so helpful and knowledgeable!

Always looking...

...for new small companies that sell bowties and other preppy clothing items!

My go-to gift for CW is often a bowtie. Even if I need a little something extra to go with a gift for him, I can always rest assured that a bowtie is something that he will use and love! He works at a fine men's clothing store several days a week and is always looking for interesting and new bowties to wear to work. I've purchased from Southern Proper, High Cotton Ties, and many other smaller companies before. I love smaller companies because each one is unique and has its own neat story, and usually the products are made with much more care than larger-scale manufactured products. And the customer service with these companies is always unbeatable.

Naturally, I was ecstatic to find a few new companies today while perusing Tumblr posts.

Graves Cox & Company, a custom clothing store out of Kentucky, carries a variety of fine menswear and accessories, including bowties by R. Hanauer like the ones pictured below:

I love this aqua and coral combination. 

Wouldn't the pink and green match nicely with Lilly shifts?

Next up is the Briggs Adams Bow by Pierrepont Hicks.

I love bowties that can be tied in different ways to reveal different patterns and textures, and this bowtie is no exception.

In June, they will have bowtie belts available! How nice would this look with a button-down and khakis? Quite a different look:

Pierrepont Hicks has full-length ties, bowties, clips, and as previously mentioned, bowtie belts available in June.

Finally, we have J. Press. Check out this lovely Raw Silk Stripe bowtie:

I think this would look nice with a blue seersucker suit.

J. Press has so many stripe, critter and pattern color combinations to choose from. This may be where CW's next bowtie comes from! A number of dress shirts, polos, suits, pants, etc. are also available from J. Press and their prices are comparable to most other companies.

What are some other companies that you know of that sell bowties and other menswear items?

Lilly obsession: Summer

Wynden Halter Top in Lagoon Green

(Would look so pretty with the Avery Skirt below, or with the Buttercup Short!)

Janine Top

This top has two of my FAVORITE details - one-shoulder AND a belted waist!

Avery Skirt

In one of my favorite summer prints - Classic White Had me a Blast!

Sully Dress

I love color-block dresses, and these colors look so great together! And the flower detail makes it even better.

Buttercup Short

This is hands-down my favorite item from Lilly's summer line! The Buttercup Short is so cute and retro. The 5" inseam makes it an appropriate length, and the Classic White Had Me a Blast looks best in this short, especially with the blue/green top! I think I need these. 

What are your favorite Lilly items for this summer?

**Look for my Lilly obsession: Shoes post soon!

All photos courtesy of http://www.lillypulitzer.com.