How To Shop Anywhere (And Have Fun)

Tina, here.

This week I visited a new town and found two of my biggest guilty pleasures. But hold on there cowgirls, let me tell you more about this little road trip. You're about to feel ambushed slightly, my dears, but you'll be glad. Promise. Fun awaits, and good shopping.

Lebanon, TN. Pronounced leb-nun, no accent on either syllable.

Every month since last October, my BFF/sidekick/"VP"/TPC partner, Deidre, and I have been appearing on the doorsteps of very special women and giving them an afternoon of glamour. These women are special because they are in the biggest fight of their lives, breast cancer.

Lisa is our August Pink Lady. Gabby has loved on her through every surgery, radiation and chemo treatment.

Almost two years ago I came face to face with a decision that could save my life. Because of the aggressive surgeries I had, I reduced my lifetime risk of having breast cancer from 87% to less than 5%. Saving your life can take a toll, and Deidre was one of the many angels who helped restore a sense of beauty to my life when I would visit her at the Blowout Co to wash and style my hair. She also became a dear friend and had the same dream as I did to walk alongside women in this fight, and shower them with love and beauty, and restore some of what treatment can steal. The Pink Chapter was born.

Angel Wings Photography is one of the Pink Chapter's sponsors, and generously donates a photo session to each of our Pink Ladies. Please visit the Pink Chapter to nominate a friend or volunteer to be a sponsor. (Right now we are only accepting nominations for women in the Nashville area.)

So, on Tuesday, our favorite day of the month, Pink Lady Day, we got to meet Lisa. She lives in Lebanon, which as it turns out is the most darling little town outside of Nashville. Since we were on a little road trip, we did some exploring and we found 2 of my guiltiest of guilty pleasures.

Guilty Pleasure #1 : Small Town Shopping

Ever wonder where I find random items and accessories like my navajo jewelry and vintage leather jackets? I shop all the time. And shopping small town general stores, antique shops and boutiques is SO fun. I mean, what are you gonna find? I LOVE western stores.

We passed this one on our way into town and made a bee line back to it on our way out. I was practically foaming at the mouth like a Chantilly to get in there and uncover some western treasures.

Oh. My. Stars. I found the coolest, baddest chaps you've seen. These are short, so they're called chinks. I mean, I think I would like actually wear these. Around. Out and about.

But here is my one true treasure I unearthed and brought home. It's a belt buckle. It's engraved. It was 50% off. Winning.

I had the leather strap at home I knew I could put it on, so get ready to see this belt in upcoming blogs worked into my ensembles. Shop a collection of great belt buckles I found for you inside the August Style Vault, Style Notes (members can shop my finds, updated weekly!)

Next stop: a random, rundown antique store that had a huge "closed" sign on its door. Guess who walked right in, anyway? Deidre and I did, that's who. And found this little gem of a fox stole in the front window display. We had to climb past barriers that said "broken floor" to get to it. It was $85, which I didn't have. So it still lives in Leb-nun. Shop a collection of fabulous vintage fur stoles in the August Style Vault, Style Notes.

Then we found this new-fangled store that probably has the old-timers in a huff, and the youngin's cheering. The woman behind the register was even talking about being on Shark Tank! I was looking for some new waders for fly fishing. They didn't have any, but they had this cool, educational t-shirt so I can stay up on all my lure and tie knowledge.

See that? How clever. Found at Wilkie's Outfitters on the square.

Guilty Pleasure #2: County Fairs

Need I say more?

We were hungry. The fair was literally right there. So we pulled over to get some corn dogs.

And while we were there, we found time to ride a roller coaster.

And the swings....sooo fun.

I think I heard somewhere you're supposed to wear closed-toe shoes to the fair. I was not prepared. We had no idea at the beginning of the day we would be going to the Wilson County Fair that evening. But no one even gave me a second glance on all those rides. That should worry you.

This may have been our second county fair in less than a week. Does that make us crazy fun or just plain crazy? I know the answer and I'm fine with it.

Please visit the Pink Chapter to learn more how you can help! Nominate a friend battling breast cancer (right now we're only accepting Nashville-area women) and become a sponsor if you have something you can offer. We would really like to have a flower shop donate a bouquet of pink flowers to each of our Pink Ladies, hint hint.

Don't forget you can shop my collections of vintage fur stoles and belt buckles inspired by my small town shopping fun inside the August Style Vault, Style Notes section!

Or buy our month-to-month membership here. But if you do the annual membership with one month free you never have to worry about updating your credit card which gets so annoying, doesn't it?

Thank you Lisa, and thank you dear readers for showing up every time we post. Wouldn't be here without ya :)

All the best,

Tina