Happy Birthday! I Got a New Car!
It’s not my birthday for another 25 days but it was time for a new car. We traded in my little white Toyota Corolla for this dark blue Toyota Highlander which arrived last week just in time to kick off the May Birth Month celebrations!
We kick off Birth Month on May 1 with Archie’s and my father-in-law’s shared birthday. Then Jeff and I close out the month with our birthdays on May 26 and May 30. And there is a whole bunch of other friend and family birthdays happening in between during the very merry month of May. So let me take this opportunity to wish all of my May birthday friends a very happy birth month!
For the 6th year in a row, I am joining my dear friend Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood to celebrate her birthday (which was yesterday). I had to go back to find the first birthday celebration post with Ada to check my dates and we published that on May 4, 2017. I can’t believe it has been 6 years already!
Ada’s birthday celebration is basically a virtual gathering of her blogging friends who put on their best party outfits and celebrate life and springtime and fashion and fun!
I recently shared this white eyelet jumpsuit styled for warm weather but I knew I wanted to restyle it for cooler weather as well. Even though eyelet is a warm weather fabric, it stays really cold where I live long after the time we should be able to wear warm weather fabrics. I had envisioned something in black and white with combat boots so I started layering and belting and accessorizing. And it all looked cute, but if you recall in my first styling of this jumpsuit, the backside does not look so great with my super flat buttocks so I need something to cover my butt. I tried a few different black cardigans that didn’t work and I was starting to get frustrated when this bold black and white striped duster nearly jumped off the hanger and screamed “Party!” to me! I listened and obeyed and the result was exactly what I wanted.
I purposely put on my party outfit to go pick up my new car last Wednesday. And can I tell you, what a car it is! So many fancy features and it drives so smoothly. Even the steering wheel feels softer in my hands than any other steering wheel I have ever gripped. I am still figuring out how everything works and what all the buttons mean. And it is really big. Definitely the largest SUV I have ever driven. So that takes some getting used to as well. But so far I love it and I think it will be perfect for festival season!
I do want to also take a moment to mention the sales and service staff at Waite Toyota in Watertown, New York. We have been getting our vehicles from them for the past decade since we moved here. We have never felt the desire to go anywhere else because everything is just that good there. I guess loyalty speaks much louder than words ever could. So a big thank you to the Waite staff for always making our car transactions pleasant and easy.
That’s all I have for today…a bunch of birthdays, a restyled outfit, and a new car! Won’t you stop by and wish Ada a happy birthday and check out all of her guests in their fabulous party outfits. And let me know what you have been celebrating lately!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Jumpsuit (Zara), Duster, and Bag-Thrifted / Hat-Apt.9 / Turtleneck-Charlotte Russe / Boots-JustFab / Gloves-Amazon / Belt-Cato / Necklaces-Old / Earrings-Gift from Michelle of My Bijou Life
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
48 Comments
Nancy
That’s a very nice car! Congratulations! It looks huge and super chic. And you styled the jumpsuit perfectly! Why don’t I have a jumpsuit?
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Nancy! It is a really nice car to drive! And yes, why don’t you have a jumpsuit?! I thought you did!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Love how you restyle your jumpsuit: love it! Congrats on the new car, I just got a new(ish) van this past Saturday and oh I love all the bells and whistle on it too. My favorite is the sunroof.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Mireille! I got really excited about this restyle as well! I love when I can make an interesting piece do different things. Oooh, my new car has a sunroof, too! I didn’t even realize it at first until the kids pointed it out! Haha. Enjoy your new ride, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anne M Bray
Yay for a new car! Looks like a good Festival Road Trip vehicle. ;-D
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It’s going to be so good for festival road trips with the kids! All the bells and whistles make it like you aren’t even in a car sometimes!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
Happy birthday and enjoy your new car!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Tamar!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
Congrats on the new car!! My husband has been trying to get me to trade mine in since 2020 but I am so resistant to changing my car. I hate the hassle of actually picking one out since it’s all the same to me and we really can’t decide whether we want to go bigger (since the boys are so huge now), smaller (since 2 are driving and hardly around), or just keep it the same. We’re going to have to decide soon though as Alec is just one short month away from driving independently and will eventually need some sort of transportation… I just want the perfect one to magically show up in my driveway!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Joanne! I am so much like you when it comes to picking a car. I honestly don’t care what it is. We have been driving Toyotas for so long that we always stick with them. But we didn’t even test drive this one. We knew we needed a SUV that was bigger than the RAV4. We have an old RAV4 that is too small for us for camping. We really wanted the 4Runner but there was a minimum of 6 months before they would be in. That would take us past festival season. So we ordered the Highlander instead which took about 2 months to come in. I think the blue was the only option. As long as it is safe, comfortable, and reliable and I know how to operate it, then I honestly have no preference! I hope that your perfect vehicle does magically show up for you!
xoxo
Shelbee
Katherines Corner
You look so cute, oh and the car is nice too LOL. Congratulations and Happy Birthday a bit early. I hope you get your birthday wish. xo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Katherine, thank you so much, my friend! New cars are so nice to have, aren’t they?! We have our first RAV4 that we purchased in 2012 that we will keep until it falls apart. And then we decided a new car might be a good idea every three years especially if we are taking lots of road trips. I want safety and reliability!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jodie Filogomo
It’s so exciting to get a new car, and it’s fabulous Shelbee. I just love the jumpsuit and you’re reminding me to pull mine out too.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Jodie! I have so many cute summer pieces that I have been styling for cold weather. I hope that I remember them when it gets warm…which is happening in like 2 days! Yay!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
Yay! A new car! And, Happy Birthday! You did a great job re-styling the white jumpsuit for cooler weather. It’s always useful to have pieces in your closet that can be styled for multiple seasons. Layering is the key!
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Carol! I am such an impulse buyer when it comes to unique pieces of clothing. I really do need to get better at finding different ways to restyle things! I have fun doing the restyles but then I just get swept up in all the other style challenges I participate in. Oh well, as long as we are all enjoying ourselves, that’s all that maters!
xoxo
Shelbee
ADA Furxhi
Thank you for participating on my birthday blog party for the 7th time in a row – I appreciate it and I love you. Happy Birthday month too and what a great way to celebrate all this month of multiple birthdays by getting yourself a new great car. I love big SUVs and I love Toyota. I currently drive a 7 small Toyota SUV but especially with 2 kids I could use a bigger one for sure.
Loved seeing how you styled this outfit and all the black and white goodness. Awesome black combat boots! I FINALLY got around to posting my blog birthday post part two – check it out below!
https://eleganceandmommyhood.blogspot.com/2022/05/its-my-birthday-party-part-two-and.html
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ada, thank you so much for being such a wonderful friend and blogging pal! I am so honored to be a part of your special birthday posts each year. I never imagined I would still be doing any of this all these years later! I enjoyed my smaller RAV4 for many years when the kids were smaller. But the bigger one is definitely better for our needs now. We do still have our first RAV4 that we bought new in 2012. Jeff uses it for his work vehicle now. I hope you had the most wonderful birthday! I will be over shortly to check out both posts but remember I am having trouble posting comments!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Oh, you give me both outfit and new car jealousy! I want a new car so badly…I have a Honda Civic hatchback which is fine…but no character at all! My dream car (which I had for a glorious few years) is a 1999 Saab 9-3! Unfortunately, Saabs are not longer produced, and the ones you can find you certainly don’t want! I don’t need a new car so I guess I’ll have the Honda for a while! I haven’t had a car I’ve loved enough to name for years! Do you name your cars? My youngest had an old beater named…what else…Forrest!!!
I love this outfit, too! The duster totally made the outfit! Gives it a bit of a Beetlejuice vibe…don’t say that three times, BTW!!!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Gahhh, thanks, Marsha! Oh my goodness, Jeff calls this duster my Beetlejuice kimono! It really is fun and super eye catching! I wore it over a black and white striped dress a while back which looked really cool, too. As for cars, I only needed a new one because mine just wasn’t big enough or really comfortable enough in the winters here. We still have our first Toyota that we bought in 2012, a silver RAV4 that Jeff uses for his work vehicle now. And yes, I do name my cars! My Corolla I called “Little Girl” because I had driven SUVs for so many years prior that the Corolla felt so timid and weak and little in comparison! I am calling the Highlander “Frances/Francis” because it is my favorite gender neutral name and Jeff and I were arguing over the gender of the car! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
xoxo
Shelbee
Pamela
Happy birthday month, happy new car and happy real high contrast outfit! I love the way you put it together! I drive Toyota too but not quite as shiny and clean as yours. My car was always a tip when the children were young and somehow I manage to allow my grandson to do the same in the present day!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Pamela! I love the bold contrast of this outfit so much, too! And I am certain my shiny new car won’t be that shiny in a few weeks. The kids already have put dirty footprints on the dash and a bird pooped it on, too. It’s only 9 days old with less than 100 miles on it and already the mess begins!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lovely
Congratulations! Happy Birthday Month! The jumpsuit is fabulous!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Lovely!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy
Thanks, Shelbee! It usually takes about four days to get back, but well take a couple more days so we can take in some sights – maybe Barcelona. So excited!! Xxx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, it sounds so fun! I hope you have the most wonderful time! I can’t wait to see photos.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
Congrats!!!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Awesome! You generally can’t go wrong with a Toyota. The Highlander is a really nice looking car. Many congrats! And I love this outfit! The striped duster is brilliant. Such a fun, funky look.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Michelle! I am loving the new Highlander but I am not going to love the gas cost the next time I drive to North Carolina! Haha. It will likely cost twice as much as the Corolla did for long road trips. Ugh. But the comfort will be worth it, I suspect!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking very nice and sweet ride there. Very cool. Happy for you.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick!
xoxo
Shelbee
Your True Self
Hi, Shelbee – Happy birthday and congratulations on your beautiful new car! Great outfit creation too! Thanks for sharing these amazing pictures and have a fun birthday – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Angie! I am loving both my new car and this outfit restyle! I hope you have a fabulous weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
Happy Birthday to all the members of your family born this month, Shelbee! And congratulations on your fabulous new car! So Exciting! Also so funny, because on Tuesday, Michael and I are going to pick up my new car too!!! We are flying to Germany to get it, and then driving all the way back home over a week! I’m so excited, but I guess you know that feeling!!
Have a wonderful week, Shelbee, enjoy all the driving you’ll be doing!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzy! Oh, how exciting for you! You are taking a road trip with your new car right away. I love that idea. I hope you enjoy the drive and all the sights along the way! How far is the drive from Germany to Portugal, by the way?
xoxo
Shelbee
Chickenruby
Happy May Birthdays to you and your family and friends. Fab birthday gift and I love your boots.
Thank you for joining in with #pocolo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzanne! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
xoxo
Shelbee
Niky
Love the car, and the coordinating outfit, Shelbee! Congrats!
Niky
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Niky! It has been fun driving it around!
xoxo
Shelbee
Maureen
Happy belated birthday and congratulations on your new car! I have the older version Highlander and while mine is old, I love it to pieces and I am sure of it that you will absolutely love yours. Btw, that white eyelet jumpsuit is beautiful. The color is so refreshing and the eyelet detail really takes it up notch! I hope your week is off to a great start and happy Tuesday!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much. Maureen! I have been loving the new Highlander so far! I have only driven it about 100 miles though in the 2 weeks that I have had it. I am looking forward to some highway driving in it! I haven’t yet left the 5 mile radius of my house with it. Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Pam
Happy birthday! And, congrats on the new car! And, what a cute outfit! What a nice May for you. I really love Toyotas. My first car was a yellow Toyota Corolla with a 5 speed stickshift and no air conditioning. I loved that car! We now have a red Toyota Corolla (automatic, with air conditioning!) I think that Highlander looks amazing.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Pam! Oh my goodness, I remember the days of no air conditioning in cars. Heck I remember the days of no air conditioning in the house! We are so spoiled now, aren’t we?! I loved my little white Corolla. It is such a great car if I didn’t more space. My first car was a silver Nissan Sentra that my grandmother co-signed the loan for me. I had just graduated from college and was so excited for my first car that was my own. Cars really do hold a lot of nostalgia for us, don’t they?
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
Happy birthday Shelbee, we share the same birthday month! I’m impressed with the car! I bet you love it. x Jacqui
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jacqui! And a happy birthday to you as well! I am loving my new car but I have only driven it locally so far. I am excited to see how it is on the highway!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
Such a fun, fabulous outfit! I love the striped duster! The car looks amazing – isn’t it great to get a new car? I changed mine last August (not new, but new to me) and still don’t know what all the buttons do! After a fast but basic AF Honda for 14 years having a modern and comfortable car is a revelation…AC for the first time ever too!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! It is so nice to upgrade to a new car. I love the new car smell and I always just feel safer when my car is new even though we are very diligent with vehicle maintenance so I should never feel unsafe. Air conditioning for the win, my friend! Haha. My new car has a sun roof, too, which I have never had before. I am really liking that feature!
xoxo
Shelbee