I was thirteen.  This is roughly what I looked like:

In retrospect, I was beautiful and I couldn't see it.  If only my family didn't tear me down.  If only someone could have shown me how beautiful I was and how much value I had.  Maybe I wouldn't have validated myself through him.  I wouldn't have let him secretly disrespect me all those years.

Moments of regret... I try not to have them.  But sometimes it just seems unavoidable to mourn such a helpless past.

Dan: D:

You see that wool coat that I'm wearing in the pictures above?  It's from a thrift store.  I LOVE THRIFT SHOPPING; it's the best way to find unique pieces at an affordable price.  Even though thrift shops sell pre-owned items, you can find a lot of lightly used things, or even brand new products with tags.  Other times you may come across products that could have great potential if someone would give it a little tender loving care.  Such was the case with my jacket.

When I originally found my jacket, it was missing its belt, the zipper was broken, and it was a little spotted here and there.  I bought that sucker for eighteen bucks and gave it a good home.  I thrifted a regular belt for two bucks to replace the missing one.  I also bought a twenty inch zipper for two bucks, stripped off the old zipper, and sewed in a new one.  Then, I had it dry cleaned for ten bucks.  My beautiful cream, wool winter coat has kept me warm all winter.  It has seen me through many dates, been to a lot of interesting places, and even accompanied me to class and to the gym.  For an eighteen dollar price tag, fourteen dollars of care and a little bit of effort, my jacket has gotten many compliments .

Here are a few other pieces that I have thrifted:

Jacket/dress and belt (picture taken last week)

Navy blue tissue-thin long sleeve (picture taken about three months ago), white long sleeve (picture taken about three months ago)

Blue dress (picture taken last week at dinner with the co-workers, and almost two years ago on my nineteenth birthday... I think I look much better in that dress this time around haha)

Silk tank top and skirt combination set (picture taken three years ago at my high school graduation)

Yup, I have found formal dresses, suits, coats, casual wear, books, ect ect.  Can't wait until I can go again!

Today, a girl at the gym asked if I was a bodybuilder.

I don't quite know how to put this...