Weekend Wrap Up

First things first.  Old Navy is running an online sale right now, so if you've been hold off buying anything, use the code ONSPRING to get 20% off today and 15% off tomorrow.  It actually started yesterday with 25% off, but I didn't get a chance to post about it.  Sorry!

Old Navy is hit and miss for me.  The quality isn't consistent and the cuts of many of their pants and tops don't fit me well.  But I do constantly rely on Old Navy for easy layering pieces, casual dresses, and sweaters.  When I heard about the sale, I decided I could get a couple of things I've had my eye on.  Here's what I ended up with:

This is the Wrap Front Dress.  I've had this dress before in other colors and while the fabric is a bit thin, it is a true wrap so it's guaranteed to fit as you like it.  It's a casual knit, but I think it's perfect for running errands or grabbing lunch with friends.  If you like prints, it is also available here in a black print and a green print.   With the sale yesterday, I snag it for about $19.

This is the Striped Boat-Neck Top in "red" stripe and navy stripe.  The "red" looked more orange to me, and the reviews confirmed my suspicions but I don't have much orange so I went ahead with it.  This top is currently marked down to $11 and with the discount code I only paid about $8 each.  

This is the Multi-Bead Road Necklace.  I don't normally wear accessories like this but as I've said before, I'm trying to branch out and try new things.  It isn't marked down, but with the coupon code I only paid about $13.  I've never purchased accessories from Old Navy and the fact that the website marks this as a non-returnable item scares me a bit, but the 2 reviews listed were good so I decided to risk it.

A quick synopsis of my weekend:

Friday night my husband was working so I wandered around Marshall's and grabbed dinner with a good friend of mine.  All I bought was this Lucky Brand Tote for $18:

I found it on ebay for $45 when I got home so I think that I did well.  I might take it back because I don't really need another tote, but I loved the color and my friend was buying several things so I felt silly walking around the store with her and not buying anything.  I guess I could always sell it on ebay and profit from my impulse buying, but I don't know if I have the time or energy to follow through.  I'll give it a couple of days and see if my buyer's remorse gets any worse. 

Saturday my husband and I made waffles when he got home from work and watched some Downton Abbey before he had to go back to work.  I met my in-laws for dinner that evening and then watched movies at home with a friend.  Exciting stuff!

Sunday we went to church when my husband got home, then we went bowling with my in-laws.  I have broken my wrist several times so I don't participate but I don't mind watching them.  They all really enjoy bowling (they have their own balls/shoes and bought me my own for Christmas several years ago) so I don't want to stop them from going just because I've got some bum joints.  I ran to Starbucks later with a girlfriend to talk about her love life and then settled in for the evening with my husband watching another episode of Downton Abbey.  We finished season 2 last night and I don't know when season 3 will be available so I'm concerned we might go into withdrawals.  Seriously, go watch this show right now. 

I still haven't located my camera but I fully intend to tear the house apart tonight looking for it.  The weather was questionable this weekend so I didn't wear any of my new white pieces but hopefully I'll have the courage to rock them soon...

 

White Out

I have a history of avoiding white clothing.  I have always been a dog owner (my husband and I have two right now) and I can be a bit clumsy at times so wearing white has never worked out well for me.  The only white that is currently in my wardrobe are a few tank tops typically worn under cardigans.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the look of white clothing.  So crisp, clean and fresh.  I just find white to be impractical and hard to maintain.  These conservative feelings kept me from getting on the winter white bandwagon last season, but I can fight the urge no more.  White is clearly a key element of this year's spring/summer fashions and I have decided to join right in.

Thanks to a recently acquired gift card and 25% off coupon, I have ordered these items from American Eagle:

These are the AE Jeggings in white.  I have two pairs of regular AE jeggings currently and they are some of the most comfortable pants that I own so I'm hoping these don't disappoint.

Next I picked out the AE Artist Crop Jean in white.  I also have a pair of these in regular blue denim and I wear them frequently.

Last but certainly not least I picked out the AE White Denim Jacket.  I have a regular denim jacket that I like to wear over sun dresses and I thought this would be a good alternative.  Several of my sundresses are varying shades of blue, so I thought this might work better with those than a regular blue denim jacket.  I've never bought a jacket from AE before I'm a bit concerned about the sizing, but it is still available in all sizes so at least I have the option to exchange it if it doesn't work out.  Fingers crossed I'm still as small as I think I am...

As a side note, I intend to spend this weekend hunting for my camera so that I can start posting actual photos of myself and the items I buy and rant/rave about here.  My new white pieces should arrive in the next day or two, so hopefully I can track down my camera in time to get a good picture or two before I stain them...

From one obsession to another

Well this post is already off to a bad start.  First of all, I said that I would post the results of The Challenge on Sunday, February 19th.  Clearly today is not Sunday, February 19th.  Fail.  Second, I have no results to post about because I ended up with a big fat DNC instead of a W.  For those who aren't sports-minded (or don't have a sports-minded husband), that means I did not compete so I definitely didn't win.

To make a long story short, my friend went to the outlet mall without me.  To make a long story less short, I had previously told her I couldn't go until Saturday afternoon but she decided at the last minute that she'd rather go Saturday morning.  She called to tell me this that morning to see if I could change my plans, but I wasn't able to answer.  By the time I called her back, she was already there shopping away.  So no Presidents' Day Weekend shopping for me.  This is a positive thing for my bank account but a negative thing for my closet.  And my soul.

Oh well, there will always be another sale.

FYI I was able to easily cancel my free trail membership to ShopRunner.com that I first talked about here.  I just logged in on the site, went to the account settings, and canceled it.  I received an email confirmation of the cancellation so my credit card shouldn't be charged.  I'll have to keep an eye on my bill to make sure, but I think I as able to actually use a free trail without it biting me in the butt later!  Woohoo!  If you find yourself faced with the opportunity to try out this service and get free two-day shipping, do so knowing that as long as you remember within 30 days, it is very easy to cancel.  

Since I have no other shopping news to share, I have to discuss my latest obsession: the PBS series Downton Abbey.  I know what you're thinking.  PBS = educational/boring.  Not so.  This show is so entertaining!  It's about a wealthy British family in the early 1900s who are struggling to adapt to war, social politics, and family scandal.  It's witty, beautifully shot, and full of juicy drama.  I highly recommend it!  You can watch season 1 on Netflix or Hulu, and season 2 is available on PBS.com. 

My husband and I were able to cover the entire first season this weekend since I didn't go to the outlet mall.  Season 1 is only 7 episodes, but they're roughly an hour each so it took us a while.  Do yourself a favor: grab a bottle of wine and spend some time getting to know the Granthams of Downton Abbey. 

The Challenge

In the last month and a half I have gotten pretty good at curbing my spending.  We were able to save more than we hoped in the month of January and it looks like February is going to be a good saving month as well.  It is becoming easier and easier to pass things up and I have even been returning things that were sitting in my closet with the tags still on them.  I've gotten refunds for some items and store credit for others, so I save the money I get back and set the gift cards aside for when I cave and go shopping.  Win!

While I've had countless small successes in the last few weeks, I'm about to face the ultimate test of my shopping willpower:  the outlet mall.  A friend of mine asked me to take a trip to a nearby outlet mall on Saturday and I couldn't help but accept her invitation.  Since this is Presidents' Day weekend, there could be some pretty good mark-downs so I might be in serious trouble.  I'm going to let myself get a few things here and there, but I'm challenging myself to spend less than $100.  When I was first thinking about a limit, $100 seemed like plenty.  Unfortunately, sitting down to plan out our route has made me question whether or not I can do it.  This is the SHORT version of our list:

American Eagle Outfitters
Ann Taylor Factory Store
Banana Republic Factory Store
BCBG Max Azria
Dooney & Burke
Gap Outlet
J. Crew
Journeys
Kate Spade
Kenneth Cole
Loft Outlet
Lucky Brand
Michael Kors
New York & Company
Nine West Outlet
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th 
White House Black Market

I probably will not buy anything from BCBG, Dooney & Burke, Michael Kors, or Saks but they're fun to browse through.  That leaves me with 13 stores to hit while trying to stay under $100.  Call me crazy but I think I can do it. 

Results TBA Sunday, February 19th.    

Weekend Wrap Up

This has been a slightly depressing weekend.  Ugh I hate to be a downer but sometimes it just feels good to wallow.  So indulge me while I wallow. 

Friday night my husband and I met up with my in-laws for pizza.  Normally we have a lot of fun with them but I haven't been feeling well so I really just wanted to be home in bed.

Saturday my husband had to work all morning, so I did a few loads of laundry to kill time until he got home.  When he got back I decided we should talk about how we're feeling about having a baby, and then I had a complete breakdown.

Just so you understand, our housing situation is a bit up in the air right now so the next couple of months are uncertain for us.  We own a home but we're severely underwater on it, and we're not sure what to do.  We've had several meetings with financial advisers and real estate attorneys and we're in the middle of coming up with a plan for our future that may or may not include the home we own.  Getting pregnant is a scary thing for us because of this so it isn't a happy thing for us to talk about right now.  This depresses me because I feel like having a baby should be nothing but exciting.  Cue breakdown.

My husband was incredibly understanding and I know we'll be fine in the end.  It's just scary knowing we're standing at the end of this tough transition and things are going to get a lot more complicated before they get easier.  After my breakdown subsided my husband had to go back to work, where he'll be until Monday morning.

I spent today finishing the laundry and napping.  Fighting off this cold has left me drained so I haven't been as productive as I'd like.  So there you have it.  That has been my weekend.  Sick, depressed, lonely, and no shopping.  Be jealous.

The verdict

I've made a few purchases recently (several of which I have discussed here) and I just realized that I never followed up.  Since a few of my buys were online, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Here's what I have decided about my recently acquired pieces:

From this post:

These are cute and lightweight, but HUGE!  I will probably never wear them because I didn't realize how big they are.  I need to track down my camera to show the full effect of their massiveness...

 

These are exactly what I thought they would be.  Not too big, not too small, not heavy but not too delicate.  I have already worn them twice so I think that I've gotten my money's worth already.  

These are beautiful and elegant but really heavy.  I really don't earrings that pull on my earlobes, so I will probably only wear these for short periods of time, like going out to dinner if I know I will be coming home after.  Still a great buy for the price, but I wish they were lighter so that I could wear them more.  

I love this necklace!  The green is a little darker than it looks in this photo, but it's still pretty.  I plan to wear it to church this Sunday.  Definitely a good purchase.  

This is the only item from my F21 order that I wasn't 100% sure I would like.  Well I'm glad I risked it because I love it.  The navy is beautiful and it seems to be decent quality.  I don't expect it to last forever since it was under $11, but I should be able to get several great wears out of this spring/summer.  

Moving on to this post:

I really didn't have any reservations about this purchase at all.  I've had several AE hoodies in the past so this one was exactly what I expected.  Nice and lightweight in a great color.  No surprises here. 

Next we have this post:

I haven't worn these yet because I'm waiting for Valentine's Day.  I have a great outfit all picked out (charcoal slacks, cream top, fun accessories) to go with them.  Definitely no regrets here!  

(reviewing my purchases like this really makes me more aware of how much I have bought...yikes!)

On to this post:

I had my fingers crossed with this dress but I'm glad I bought it.  I'm still not 100% sure I like the pattern on the lace, but it fits really well and I think it will be a great LBD piece.  Now if only I had something to wear it to... Someone get married and invite me! 

For this post, I ended up getting a 3 classic crew neck cardigans at H&M.  I went to the store and they had some on sale for $14.95 so I grabbed a few bright colors for spring.  Of course, this is after I bought 2 from Nordstrom for $34 each.  Those two will be going back this weekend.  PS.  at 5'8" and 125 lbs, I wear a medium in the Nordstrom cardigan and a small in the H&M cardigan.  Sizing was a concerned I voiced previously so in case you're considering either of these items, now you having a point of reference.  

Last but not least we have this post.  I haven't purchase a pair of nude heels yet, but I probably will once one of those Nine West pairs goes on sale.  I hate buying things for full price so hopefully they will be marked down soon.  Until then, I'll will obsessively revisit the website and check TJ Maxx.  Ah the joys of bargain shopping!  

Happy Friday! 

The naked truth

For the past two years I have been working full time and going to grad school at night so that I could earn my masters before my husband and I start a family.  My schedule was extremely hectic and I lived on little sleep, fast food, and wearing whatever happened to be clean.  I was determined to thrive in my classes so I made the choice to allow other things in my life to take a backseat.  It was not an easy time in our lives, but we survived.  

In the weeks since I graduated, I have decided to start putting more effort into me.  Now that my physical and mental energy isn't focused on due dates and grades, I'm able really able to invest in myself.  I'm not up until 2 AM working on papers or studying so I have been able to get up earlier in the morning to style my hair instead of just throwing it into a bun.  I'm not spending my weekends locked up in the library so I have started to plan outfits and meals so that I am more put together and eating more healthy. These small but significant changes to my habits have already been rewarding, and it has only been a few weeks so far. 

One small change I have touched on previously is putting effort into dressing how I feel inside instead of letting comfort and convenience rule.  I think it is possible to be both well-dressed AND comfortable and I am currently trying to perfect this balance.  One area I have been struggling with in particular is footwear.  I have realized recently that I feel better about myself when I'm in a great pair of heels, so I have been trying to make an effort to wear them more often (instead of my beloved flip flops).  Unfortunately, I don't own very many pairs of heels, and the ones that I do have aren't incredibly versatile.

So now I am on a quest.  A quest for chic but comfortable heels that can be worn many different ways with many different types of outfits.  A key piece in such a footwear wardrobe is the nude heel.  Here are the options I've been considering...

I am a big fan of Nine West for pumps, so I tend to start there when I'm shoe shopping.  This is the Nine West Caress Pump in light natural leather.  Leather is always a classic but I think this might be a bit more dressy than I'm looking for.

This is the Nine West Rocha Pump shown in taupe patent on the left and light pink patent on the right.  I think the patent makes these more casual than the Caress pump, and the wood style sole/heel on the pink patent would make it even more appropriate to wear with jeans.

A comfortable nude wedge would also be a great find.  This is the Nine West Garner Wedge in beige leather.  I've never really done well in wedges before, but since I'm trying to experiment, I thought these might be a safe place to start.

I think I'm leaning toward these, the Nine West Ambitious Pump in light taupe leather.  I think these are dressy/delicate enough to wear to work with slacks, but casual enough that I could throw them on with a pair of skinny jeans and a tank and head out for drinks.  I've had Nine West Ambitious pumps before (in addition to these) and they're incredibly comfortable so these might be a winner.

This may just seem like shoe shopping, but I really feel like there is a purpose.  I had forgotten what it was like to really feel good about myself and dressing the part is a piece of the puzzle. The small changes I have made in myself since graduation have proven to be not only an investment in myself, but also an investment in my husband and my marriage.  Being more healthy, organized, and put together has made me happier, more confident, and more attractive because I am comfortable in my own skin.  I don't mean for that to sound shallow, but I am taking pride in myself again, and I think this has positively affected my husband.  I truly believe that in order to make someone else happy, you have to be happy with yourself.  And hey, if buying new shoes helps with that process, who am I to complain!

Time for a change

I am lucky enough to work in a relatively casual office environment.  Our office dress code could easily be described as Jimmy Buffet business casual.  Most of us wear khakis or slacks with casual tops and sandals (yes, sandals).  One of my coworkers wears only peasant skirts, tank tops and leather flip flops while another wears what I consider to be dressy pajama sets (knit and stretchy with some kind of sheen). 

Even though I am considered to be one of the more formal employees (because I typically wear closed toed shoes and iron my pants), I have started to realized that my work attire is very...young and boring.  I have several pairs of fun, work-appropriate heels but I always wear flats.  I have dressy blouses/shells but I always opt for a plain and simple knit top.  I don't wear a lot of patterns and I rarely put much thought into my accessories.  I just don't take the time to really dress for work.

Well I have decided to change this.  I am due for a relatively large promotion in a couple of years and I think that now is the time that I establish that I am ready to run a department and take on a more key role in our daily operations.  As much as I appreciate being able to dress comfortably for work, I find it hard to be taken seriously since I am 20 years younger than most of my colleagues.   Changing my look, even in small ways, could help me project how I actually feel inside.  It's time for me to stop dressing like an intern and start dressing like an assistant director. 

 Before

This is a pretty good representation of what I wear on a normal workday. 

 

 After

This is almost exactly what I am wearing today.

 

I already owned all of these pieces (although that is not the exact sweater I have but it's close) so I didn't have to spend any money.  I just had to put in a little more time and effort.  I have a lot of fun pieces but I never thought it was worth it to wear them to work because I don't have to dress up.  Well now I am making the choice on my own because I want to.

It's amazing how clothes can change how you feel about yourself.  I feel more in charge and together.  More mature and confident.  More me.  Today, in my leopard heels, I can take on the world.

Ode to the cardigan

I mentioned before that I'm always cold.  For a long time this led me to wear a lot of solid color, long sleeve tees.  I'm sure I looked fine.  Boring, but fine.  Well, within the last couple of years I have discovered a wonderful thing: the cardigan.  It can be dressy or casual.  It can be bright to add a pop of color or neutral to tone down a loud print.  It can go with everything from jeans to dresses.  And most importantly, it subtly provides additional warmth to any outfit. 

As spring approaches, I am on the hunt for a few colorful cardigans to add to my collection.  Unfortunately, I have have little success thus far.  I tend to be pretty picky about my cardigans and I don't really branch out beyond Loft, J Crew, and Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic.  When their selections are limited or overpriced, I'm usually out of luck.

Such is the case right now.  So...I am considering trying out new places.  Here are a couple of options I'm considering:

The CDG Classic Cardigan, currently $29 from Urban Outfitters.

The Printed Crew Neck Cardigan, currently $39.90 from Express.

The Stripe Cotton Boyfriend Cardigan, currently $39.90 from Express.

The V-Neck Cardigan, currently $14.95 from H&M.

Those are all well and good, but I really prefer solid color, crew neck cardigans so I'm leaning more toward these:

The Crew Neck Cardigan, currently $24.95 from H&M.

The Long Sleeve Button Front Cardigan, currently $34.98 from August Silk (via Macy's).

The BP Classic Crewneck Cardigan, currently $34.00 from Nordstrom. 

I'm leaning toward trying the BP cardigan from Nordstrom because it comes in so many colors and isn't a full sleeve, but I'm not sure how its sizing will be.  I'm normally a size small, but since this is technically a juniors item it might run a bit snug.  As much as I'd like to think I'm still a junior at 27, I'm not.  Hopefully either a small or medium will fit so that I can stock up. 



Oh cardigan, how I love you.  You brighten not only my wardrobe, but my soul.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday night: stayed home and watched Grey's Anatomy DVDs and did laundry

Saturday: ran errands, shopped for our Super Bowl party, then stayed in with the Hubs watching romantic comedies and playing Scrabble

Sunday: church, Bible study potluck, Super Bowl party
 
I'm exhausted and stuffed after watching the game eating a lot of junk food and only watching the commercials so I apologize for this incredibly disappointing post.

Hope you all enjoyed the weekend!

Relapse

I recently decided that I would cut back on my spending by not buying things that I like but have no use for or things that are on sale but I really don't like.  Well, I've done the unthinkable.  I've just purchased something that I think may actually fall into BOTH categories.  I have officially relapsed. 

Let me start by saying that Loft has a lot of great markdowns right now, so if you haven't checked out their sale, head on over here.  This is the Strapless Lace Dress and I just bought it for $30.  I am a big fan of dresses from Loft so I was thrilled to snag one at such a low price.  The problem is, I probably won't have a use for this until the fall (when I might be pregnant so it won't fit anyway) AND I'm not sure I like the floral lace pattern. 

So there you have it, folks.  I don't have a use for it and I'm not sure I like it.  I have officially broken both my newly established shopping rules with one purchase.  Did I mention it is final sale so I can't return it?  I am hoping that some event will come up soon so that I get at least one good use out of this dress in order to redeem myself.  Mark my words, this dress will make an appearance, even if it means I end up rocking it at the grocery store. 

Happy Friday!

Kryptonite

I'm a sucker for anything red.  Especially shoes.  I happened to be at TJ Maxx today shopping for some baby gifts and these ladies jumped out at me from across the store.  I was powerless.  Ok so maybe I wandered into the shoe section myself but the powerless part is true.  Red Nine West pumps on sale?  Yes please! 

Item: Nine West Ambitious Pump in Red Synthetic 
Purchased at: TJ Maxx
Price paid: $30
Online: $69 at Zappos.com and Endless.com

I'm pretty sure these will make their debut on Valentine's Day.  I don't normally wear fun shoes to work but I think I will make an exception.

Happy Wednesday!