The Weekend: Thriftin'

Beau and I decided to skip the people-packed events downtown for a quiet, easy going Saturday at a thrift store in our neighboring township.

// this is really random, but I were to have a baby boy, that sailboat would have had to come home with us. Also, how cool is that butter churner??

This was my second time ever going to a thrift shop, and I have to say that I enjoyed it more this time around -- having a new home and all. We haven't begun decorating our home yet, so our place is still an open canvas. One major item that I had my eye out for is a large mirror for our living room. I spotted a beautiful, rustic one as soon as we entered the store, but there was a lady guarding it terribly once I pointed it out to beau. [enter my sad face here]

 

//devising a plan on how to possess more music, I’m sure

What also made this thrift shop trip more enjoyable was having an idea of what I was looking for clothes-wise. My closets are full of clothes, so beau would actually cosign that I don't need anymore, but I have been wanting to change up my wardrobe for a while now. I am was the kind of person to purchase something because it fit and was on sale. As I now struggle to find something to wear every time I go to get myself ready, I become absolutely annoyed with the clothes in my wardrobe-- many of which still have price tags on them. -- I will post more about my personal styling woes later. Going to the clothing section of the thrift store, I knew that I wanted simple dresses and simple skirts (My favorite things to wear). I ended up finding two dresses that I absolutely adored. That yellow dress complements my dark skin very well and with the removal of the shoulder pads, the addition of a knee length slip, maybe a little hemming and some killer heels, this dress will be my new favorite thing to wear to church once it warms up. I also picked up a basic black midi dress.

//really, really excited about these finds

Beau also found something he liked (one I was secretly hoping wouldn't make it into our house ...we all have those moments). He picked up a wooden shelf to store his tens and thousands of cassette tapes and maybe some other audio-visual things. He's a 'music-head', so he has a ton of music.  I have yet to see the potential in this thing, but he's so excited about it, and it's now sitting in our tiny closet/library (aka 3rd bedroom), so I might as well get used to it.

//just look at that face! He was so happy! Also, I’m not quite sure my neighbor was pleased about being a part of this photo

... Free

{Source}

Found!

This is a snippet of China's fashion week...

This first image is insane looking and kind of gorgeous at the same time!

{Source}


{Source}

{Source}

{Source}

Found!

-So, while studying for my Immunology of Infectious Diseases exam, I stumbled upon the fine print of one of the professors slides concerning measles. I usually don't read the fine print because it ends up being a BUNCH of words nestled under an image, and it's just too much to handle while studying. Anyhoo, this is what the fine print says (I've highlighted, in red, the part that stood out the most):

Photo Credit: Prof. Lisa Cuchara; Immunology of Infectious Diseases Lecture #1 September 1, 2010

-- Granted, I'm not African, and I'm definitely not blind. But, I couldn't help but wonder if my exotropia occurred as a result of being infected with measles while I was 6 years old and still living in Jamaica. So, as the lovely googler that I am, I googled the terms "measles + strabismus" and was amazed by the results. The two actually coexisted in multiple articles! The information given in the articles that I skimmed thus far all give the same, general information, but it seems as if the consensus is that strabismus may be caused by "infections such as meningitis or measles" along with other reasons, of course.

-- This is of great importance to me because I have strabismus, a disorder of vision due to a deviation from normal orientation of one or both eyes so that both cannot be directed at the same object at the same time (dictionary.com). More specifically, I have exotropia, the outward deviation of the eye muscle and can be read about here. This condition was not diagnosed in me until I was 7 years old and had emigrated to the US. My mother got my sisters and I physical examinations, and they noticed my exotropia and double vision, also known as diplopia, right away. As I've said many times, I don't remember much of my childhood, but I do remember the exact day that I broke out with measles and I also remember being able to see one, intact image, and not two, like I see now. I also have baby pictures which prove that I did not have any form of strabismus while I was living in Jamaica, and under the age of 6 years old (before having measles).

-- My main goal is to do more research on measles and strabismus, using primary articles... When this crazy, busy week is over. The findings will help me personally b/c I've always envied people with "normal" eyes and I've never had a valid explanation as to why or even how I developed exotropia.