The Wrap Around Knotted Shirt

{talbots thrifted top, H&M skirt, Old Navy sandals}

 When I found this Talbots top at the thrift store I thought it was supposed to be a shirt that you knot and tie at the waist. I took it home and tried it on and realized that in fact it wasn't a knotted top, but a wrap around top - something that just does not work for my body type. I've incorporated new styles into my wardrobe over the years and have happily taken a few things out as well. Wrap around shirts is one of those things. I loved the colorful stripes and decided I had to make this work sans the wrap around so just continuted to wear it as a knotted waist top with a semi-high waisted skirt for stomach coverage. This turned out to be a fun and comfortable summer outfit. See the difference below between the wrap around and knotted top.

vs 

Style File: Cut Out Shoulders

{cut out shoulder dress}

I'm pretty sure I owned a few cut out shoulder tops in the early 2000s and then I quickly sold them to Plato's Closet as soon as I thought they were no longer in style. Cut out shoulders have resurfaced and I think I kind of like it (again).

What do you think? Browse more cutout shoulders here. 

Savor Life: Growing Your Own Food and Community Gardens

This is my second year gardening with my bf and the more I learn, the more I want to plant. Although I've watched my mom garden for years and I remember thoroughly enjoying her tomatoes in my salads and her fresh mint in my tea, I never thought to actually get out there and learn a thing or two from her.

Besides saving a lot of money (if you decide to plant herbs and vegetables), I found that gardening is one of the most rewarding and therapeutic things to do. The work was a bit challenging at times, but with the help of others it mostly felt like a breeze. I typically enjoy physical activity and love being outside so gardening was an excellent combination.

We planted tomatoes, collards, peppers, squash, eggplant, and a rather large variety of herbs including rosemary and oregano. Nothing is more exciting than watching your plants grow and actually being able to eat the food you planted!

Because we have been doing our planting in the suburbs with plenty of gardening space,  I wondered how this would work for me in my city apartment. I became very interested in researching different methods of gardening with limited space and I am simply amazed with all of the creative ways people grow food anywhere. Like this mini vertical garden or a farm in a box, what's even better is that I found some community gardens here in Akron. Community gardens are seriously a genius idea, what better way to get people involved and provide those with inadequate gardening space with a place to plant food.

Although applications were due in April for the 2012 Akron Grows community gardening program, it does mention that late applications will be accepted throughout the planting season.

Do you plant every season? 

Tell us how you utilize limited space for gardening. 

My Thrifted Wardrobe Accidentally Inspired By H&M

{the look on my face is hilarious. I was so over the picture taking process}

Lately, every time I find something at the thrift store I seem to find a similar item at H&M. Remember the leopard maxi here?

{H&M's frayed crop top, just like my thrifted no name top!}

My sister and I were thrifting one day when she found this amazing gold and black frayed top. It didn't have a tag on it and I was sure I haven't seen anything like it before so I had buy it. A few days later while browsing on the H&M website, I found this white frayed top that is almost identical to the thrifted top we found. It even has the same design on it. What are the chances!

I love this top and find it's extremely easy to style. I've worn it with high waisted pants, red pants, shorts, and as seen here with coral pants, which incidentally, are from H&M. I usually don't wear a tank underneath it if I'm wearing high waisted pants, it works very well that way, but here I didn't feel very comfortable going out with half my stomach showing.  Now I am excited to compare my thrift fashion finds to the most recent trends from H&M.

Win It: 2 or 4 Tickets to Hairspray- All City High School Musical at the Akron Civic Theater

 

Enter to win (2) or (4) tickets to the All City High School Musical performance of Hairspray at the Akron Civic Theater on the following dates:

Friday, June 15 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 16 at 2:30pm
Saturday, June 16 at 7:30pm

The All City Musical-Hairspray is presented in part by The Knight Foundation and PNC Bank and is designed to showcase the talent of local youth from around the city of Akron!

UP TO THREE WINNERS POSSIBLE FOR THIS GIVEAWAY!

To enter:

Leave a comment letting us know if you would like to win a set of 2 or 4 tickets! Please make sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win in your comment!

For extra entries:
Follow Dina's Days on Google Reader

Follow Dina's Days on Twitter & tweet : I want to win a set of tickets to see Hairspray from @dinasdays! If you want to tweet once a day, go ahead! Each additional tweet will give you an extra entry! Just be sure to leave a comment letting me know you tweeted daily!

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The giveaway runs through May 21st at 5pm. Thanks for entering! For more information on the show, visit the website here.