You Do What?

Dress- Vintage (will be in the SHINE shop this week)

It's inevitable. I meet someone new, and during our obligitory small talk, they ask me what I do for a living. This moment is where things get a little sticky. You see, THIS is what I do for a living. This little blog right here, The Shine Project, is my creative space, my outlet, and my full time "job". I'm not the kind of person that can sit behind a desk and answer phones all day. I just can't.

I also can't work for other people. I think I have too many of my own good ideas for that.

So, back to the moment when someone I have never met before asks me what my job is. I never really know how to respond:

"I'm a blogger. Who raises money for inner city highschool students, tries to motivate people to be happy, an event planner, started an online vintage shine shop, constantly makes Shine necklaces, does a lot of marketing, has to be sure to have creative content every day and good lighting so my husband can perfeclty capture some outfit posts (insert sarcasm), and when I make any sort of food I have to document every step so people will "pin" it."

See, told ya it gets a little difficult.

During a conversation I was having last week in one of these inevitable encounters, I realized something. I don't need to justify what I do. Because, unlike most people, I can honestly say that I LOVE what I do. Being a small business owner has this stigma of lots of labor with no money coming in. I realized it doesn't matter if people think that. My goal has been to impact the world. This is how I can do that.

Many nights I can't sleep thinking about the kids I'm trying to help, how to raise more money, how to better market The Shine Project, how to better connect with you...and oh how the list goes on!

But then morning comes. And I'm EXCITED to start my day, excited to move forward, and excited to create something that didn't exist before. More relationships, happiness, ideas, and motivation. I guess I can't really sum up my "job" in a one word answer. But I don't have to.

I know most of you don't do it fulltime, but how do you explain blogging to your friends/family?

Weekly Challenge: Thrifting

I have a confession. I am a thrift store junkie. And after this week, you will be too! I know, I know, it sounds daunting. Piles of clothes filled with stained mickey mouse sweat shirts and the same exact ugly Christmas sweater you saw your grandma wearing last year. But amoungst those fashion rejects, there are treasures to be found. If you missed my Tricks to Thrifting post, you can read it HERE.

In the pictures above, I'm wearing something vintage and/or thrifted in every one. Here's the break down of what I thrifted:

Picture 1- Vintage skirt and Vintage necklace pendant - $3.50 total

Picture 2- Vintage purse and vintage handmade italian leather shoes- $4.50 total

Picture 3- Blazer (tags still on it) - $7.00

Picture 4- Vintage dress- $3.00

I honestly have found the cutest things the past couple of months from thrift stores, and I'm only paying dollars! Thrift is in, my friends! And this week, I wanted to have a FUN challenge with it.

Your challenge this week is to put a cute vintage/and or thrifted outfit together, and link it back up here on Friday. If you already love thrifting, it can be something that you now own, and style up for us. If I still need to convince you of the joys of shopping frugal, here is your challenge to plug your nose and step into your local thrift store! Cut out those shoulder pads, give it a wash, and show us what you've found! I'm REALLY excited to see everyone's outfits. Don't forget to put a link back to The Shine Project in your post. We've been getting some random people linking up unrelated posts just to get page views. No can do!

What kind of outfit do you think you'll style?! I have an AMAZING one that I've been waiting to show you... so Friday is the perfect day for it :)

Tonight is the last day to enter the Casey Weigand Giveaway. Enter HERE.

I've been touched by your willingness to pledge to raise $100 for scholarships for the students at Cesar Chavez High School. We still need 45 more pledgers to reach our goal of 100, so if you would like to step up to the challenge, shoot me an email! The principal is getting in on the action, and I'm meeting with him this week. I'll let you know the exciting things we decide together!

Tricks to Thrifting

This blazer is my latest score from a thrift store. I was giddy because I've been wanting one forever, but did not want to pay the price! I found this UNWORN blazer for $12 at Goodwill. It was glowing from a distance, and calling my name. People always ask me how I find such cute things at thrift stores. Here's a few of my tricks!

1. Plug your nose and don't pay attention to the smell of moth balls. I know it reminds you of your great grandma's bright green walls and fuzzy carpets, but we've got to get over this major set back!

2. Look beyond what it is NOW. Most of the clothes are wrinkled with shoulder pads the size of earth. Picture the blouse WASHED, ironed, and the shoulder pads taken out... It does WONDERS my friends! Most of the dresses I buy had shoulder pads that I removed. Don't expect to find all your treasures in perfect condition!

3. Go to estate-sales. Lucky for me, my mom owns an estate sale business. You can look up ones in your area on estatesales.net. Estate sales are hidden gems with AMAZING vintage finds, furniture that you can redo...everything. AND they're usually cheap.

4. Accessorize! If you find a dress or blouse that's too big (basically all of mine from thrift stores are) put a belt around the waist and watch the bagginess transform into SEXY. Oh yes, big dresses with a cinched waist can be SEXY! ;) But if you ever pay more than $2 for a belt, I will hunt you down...!

5. Don't be embarrassed. Some people feel awkward about telling people they found something at a thrift store. Girrrrl, embrace it! I'm proud when people tell me how much they love what I'm wearing, and I can say that I got it for $1.50. Let your creative side come out when you search through thrift stores!

Happy Thrifting!

AND! Click HERE for a Stella and Dot fundraiser for Cyntosis by A Happy Girl

Luncheon Party.

Today, at an estate sale...

I FOUND VINTAGE SNACK TRAYS.

I am seriously so excited to use them, I'm about to throw a party tonight.

Oh, and as if it couldn't get any better...

I got 20 sets for $10.

The bad pictures really don't do them justice,

but I had to show them off, so I couldn't wait to take better ones.

I guess this means that it's time for me to plan a ladies' luncheon.

It makes me want to throw on a big hat,

look glamorous,

and eat little appetizers

on my little glass snack tray.

Oh ya, this is gonna be good.

PS: SEND IN YOUR CHALLENGE DETAILS tonight or tomorrow morning

about how meeting your neighbors went!

Your experience will be featured...

and better than that, you'll make us all feel gooooood :)

PSS: We're over 200 followers! Which means...

GIVEAWAY ON TUESDAY!

and trust me...

it's GOOD!

Wish me luck, it's time for my 10 mile run.

Vintage Finds, and Night-Night Time.

Wow.

I am so tired I can't even see straight, and it's only 8:00.

But, I was featured on honeyandthemoondesign, so I'm a happy camper!

These four things pictured above made me all warm and fuzzy today.

I ran my 8 mile run, and at about 7:00 while driving home from work,

realized I was STARVING because I hadn't really eaten.

That's where COSTA VIDA came in.

That salad is heavenly.

Delicious.

Spectacular.

The funny thing is that I do NOT eat meat

(besides occasional chicken and sandwhiches)

because I don't like it.

But I will eat a sweet pork salad from Costa Vida any day.

And yes, I ate it all by myself. I took a picture to prove it.

I know your also drooling over those vintage finds.

My mom's company had an estate sale tonight,

and I swooped up that charming jewelry box

and AMAZING gold belt.

$7 total.

Okay friends,

don't forget to start sending your challenge results to

ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com! I need them by Sunday morning!

You have 2 days left to swoon your neighbors!!!

GOOD NIGHT!

Little Red Purse

I spotted this from across the room today while

setting up an estate sale.

$2.00

I'm in heaven.

Now on to what you all really want to know.

We've reached over 100 followers!

Which means,

tomorrow is the big give-away day!

Tomorrow evening, the post will be up, so come back for your chance to win.

Trust me, you don't want to miss this one!

Spread the word.

And I'll keep the give-aways comin'.

Also, SHINE necklaces are officially yours to buy!

Email me at ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com for order info.

I'm showing this video to my students tomorrow...

Inspiring.

http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_how_i_harnessed_the_wind.html

Vintage Finds, and Project Shine.

Remember the pendant I found for 50 cents? Ohhh ya.

When I found this skirt this week at a vintage thrift store for $4.50,

I knew it was love.

In fact, I let out a little squeal when I spotted it.

I wasn't mad about wearing my fabulous finds to church today.

To refresh your memory, SHINE is my word of the year.

I've been diligently trying to accomplish things to "shine",

and make others do the same.

Today my hubby and I went and visited this woman

who recently lost her husband and is having a rough time.

He had met her before, I hadn't.

I decided to make her this necklace, and explain to her what it meant.

I told her about my plans to "shine" this year, and that as she did the same, her pain would be replaced with joy.

When I gave it to her she exclaimed,

"I want to shine too!"

Project SHINE is motivating!

I have many ideas for this week...

Jump on the SHINE train with me :)

Tuesday Teaching: The Whistling Wave

A couple of the items that got me through the day...

Thank you, trusted lipstick, for curing my dry lips due to this winter weather.

Tuesday Teaching.

One of my most favorite things is teaching my fantastic kids at the highschool.

I've officially designated Tuesdays to recap any events that are noteworthy.

And trust me, there are many.

The demographic at the highschool makes this story even better.

65% Hispanic

25% African American

3% Asain

Caucasian Blondes: Me.

Today I was walking up the stairs to get to my classroom.

All of a sudden,

whistles started from down the courtyard,

and made a "wave" like effect down to the students that were directly by me.

I kept walking up the stairs, and the whistling and howling

got louder. and louder. AND LOUDER.

A couple teachers passed me on the stairs,

looked at me in shame,

and just laughed.

I felt so awkward.

But, I guess that's what happens when

you're the only blonde girl in the entire school.

Now on to thrify finds.

See that fantastic pendant and gold bow pin above?

My mom owns an estate sale business.

I found them as I was rummaging through old jewelry

at one of their current houses.

$1 total. I'm just not mad about it.

Any thrifty finds for you this week?