Monday, December 30, 2013

Day 231: 10 Points for Gryffindor!!!

Cardi: Merona, Purchased with Christmas gift card from Target, (burgundy w/gold chain detail)
Skirt: J. Crew, Purchased at Goodwill
Shoes: Purchased at DSW (to replace a pair I broke a few months ago)
Shirt: Old Navy (black)

I just didn't see it when I bought this cardi.  How could I not have seen it???  I have seen all the Harry Potter movies and consider myself a huge Potter fan.  Well, I see it now!  As soon as I put this ensemble together yesterday, I realized I looked like I was rooting for team Gryffindor.  

I guess there are worse things I could've been dressed like.


Remember this skirt???  If not, click here.  This skirt has been my best Goodwill find so far.  It had never been worn and I think I spent only $4.99 on it.  You try to find a brand new J. Crew skirt for that amount.  

TIP:  When you are shopping at thrift stores or resale shops, make sure you look for items that are a good name brand and/or good quality.  Try to purchase items that are classics and will go with many different items you already have in your closet.  What is the point of buying a cheap top if you have nothing to wear it with?  Don't buy just to buy!  Have a plan and an outfit(s) in mind.

Anyways, I thought this skirt would look great with this cardi.  Of course, once I put it all together I realized I look like a fictional book character.  

Oh well, I rocked it and that is all that matters.  If you feel self conscious in your clothing, other people will pick up on that.  Rock what you wear and wear it with confidence.  Stand up straight, walk with pride.  If you do that, your clothing will always look better on you!  Unless you're wearing pajamas to Walmart...that NEVER looks good on ANYONE!

So, how do you suggest I wear this cardi?  Color combos, style?  Let me know.  I don't want to look like I prepping for a quidditch match every time I wear this cardigan:)

Happy Shopping,
Christin


Saturday, December 28, 2013

Day 230: Spending My Gift Cards!

Top: Merona, Purchased at Target (black and cream)
Jeans: Lucky Brand
Boots: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Purchased at Dandy Lion Boutique

Yesterday I ventured out to spend some gift cards I have had burning a hole in my pocket.  I went to Target and bought the top I am wearing in the below picture, as well as a cardigan that I will show you all at a later time.  I think this top was on sale for $10 and the cardi, $14.  NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANYTHING EVER!!!  I didn't need either item, but my husband insisted that I go out and buy myself some clothes.  He wanted me to buy more, but instead I used the rest of my gift cards on my boys (they needed socks and underwear).


This top is really cute and has a zipper detail on one shoulder.  I love little details like that!

I don't normally wear anything that is white or in the white family because it is almost always see through.  And now that I am looking at this picture, I can see that this top too, is see through.  Next time I'll wear a tank underneath.  

I do love the look of wearing with, especially during the summer, but I hate having to wear tanks underneath.  It is really annoying during the summer when you're burning up hot already and don't want to add anymore extra layers to a top just so you look appropriate!

So frustrating!  Oh well, what can you do?

Happy Shopping,
Christin

Day 229: The Day After Christmas:)

Vest: Talbot's (red) Christmas gift
Top: Purchased at Ross (black and white plaid)
Jeans: Lucky Brand
Boots: Ariat (brown) Christmas gift

I know I skipped Christmas day, but we stayed in our Christmas pajamas all day on Christmas and I didn't think anyone would want to see that.  Although, I do look a lot better in my Christmas pj's now that I've lost some weight;)

The day after Christmas I decided it would be a good idea to go shopping.  I really just needed to get out of the house for a little bit, but the lure of after Christmas sales was a good excuse too. 


I am totally being overshadow in this picture by the cutest baby alive!  

I walked around Macy's, went to Target to buy my boys socks and underwear (very exciting I know!) and had a Starbucks.

All in all, it was a nice relaxing few hours to myself.

What did you do the day after Christmas?  Did you score big at any after Christmas sales?  

Happy Shopping,
Christin

Day 227: Christmas Eve Outfit

Top: Old Navy (green)
Skirt: Laura Ashley (black lace)
Boots: Antonio Melani


Let me just start off by saying that I have had this skirt for about 7 years and this sweater for 10.  Let me also say, that I have not been able to wear this sweater for a very long time because I wasn't able to fit into it.  Yay me!  I've lost about 10 pounds in the last month by cutting out gluten, soy, corn, peanuts, sugar, eggs and partially cutting out dairy.  It's called The Virgin Diet and I could start a whole new blog about it.  Anyways, I hope that I'll now be able to wear some of the items I have had hanging in closet purgatory:)

Back to the outfit.



Here is a better picture of the skirt and sweater.



It is a beautiful skirt that I bought when a department store was going out of business (same store I bought my Marc Jacobs shoes from).  I'm sure I didn't pay more than $10 for it.  It is a longer skirt, hitting the top of my calf.  I haven't worn it much, but now that I can fit into this sweater once again, I think I'll be wearing the combo a lot more!  

Hopefully, within the next couple of months I'll be able to shed another 10-20 pounds.  I am hoping  that I'll not have to go buy another wardrobe, but if I do I'll be shopping at thrift and resale shops.  I'll keep you all informed as to how my progress is going.  Of course, you can all see the changes in my pictures:)

Happy  Shopping,
Christin


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Day 225: My Polka Dot Obsession Continues!

Jacket: Purchased at Target (black with cream polka dots)
Jeans: Banana Republic
Boots: Antonio Melani (black leather)
Necklace: Purchased from Simpleaddiction.com (mustard)

I know this is no surprise to anyone who reads this blog, but I still have a polka dot obsession!  Thank God I can't buy anything or my entire closet would be full of polka dots.  

I don't know what I'm going to do hen the polka dot trend fades away!  I guess I'll just hold on to all my polka dotted garments until the trend rolls back around (like they always tend to do!).



I wore this outfit to our Company (Army talk) Christmas party on Friday night.  I did what I do and mixed several coordinating colors together to make my outfit pop.  First the jacket.  It is pretty basic I think.  The colors are neutral so I decided to wear a teal t-shirt underneath.  I could've played it safe with my choice of necklace, but I decided to wear my beaded mustard yellow necklace.  I think mustard and teal look great together!!!  Plus, the necklace really looks great with the polka dot jacket!

I have done something similar before, but the result was NOT as fabulous (it wasn't fabulous at all!).  In fact, the outfit made me look like I weighed about 50 pounds more than I do.  Not to mention, I had a HORRIBLE haircut on top of it!  I am embarrassed to show you all this, but I am trying to teach you all something today.  The right way to mix colors (i.e. the picture above) and the wrong way to mix colors (i.e. the picture below).


I look so top heavy!  That top (which is yellow with white polka dot...go figure) has an elastic band around the bottom which makes me look like I have the biggest beer gut in the world.  The jacket isn't doing me any favors either.  Looking at myself straight on in the mirror that morning, I looked pretty good.  I managed to mixed a teal jacket, a yellow and white polka dot top, a minty necklace, black slacks and (not pictured) burgundy heels.  

I thought I looked good.  It wasn't until I saw this VERY unflattering picture of myself that I realized how awful I really looked.  I really need to invest in one of those 365 degree mirrors;)   

Anyways, now you get the point.  Cute idea, poor execution.  I've worn this top once since then and the last time I wore it I tucked it in to avoid the billowiness of it.  It helped some, but I am forever scarred by this image of myself.  

What do you think?  Besides the poor fit, did the coordination of items pay off?  Or, am I just trying too hard to make things match?

Happy Shopping,
Christin

Day...: I've Lost Count!

Jacket: Purchased at TJ Maxx (Army green)
Top: Purchased at Modcloth.com (black and white stripes)
Jeans: Lucky Brand
Boots: Urban Outfitters (black)

Thursday I was able to spend the entire day out with my handsome hubby.  We shopped, we ate, we had a lot of fun together.  Of course we had the baby with us and our day was cut a little short when she decided she was exhausted and needed a nap, but it was still a great day!

 

We were together all day and I still forgot to have Jason take my picture.  Oh well.  You guys just get to see my bedspread more:)

I wore my favorite Army green jacket (this is as close as I'll get to the Military style.  No camo for me!!!)  

I just bought the black boots online from Urban outfitters.  I got them for a steal at $20!  I've told you all before about my bad knees so because of my bad knees I had been looking for cute flat black boots for several months now.  I finally found them two weeks ago!  Yipee!

I love to play around with mixing different colors, patterns and textures.  I think the green jacket paired with the black and white top looks cute.  Definitely not the craziest thing I've ever paired together;)

Happy Shopping,
Christin

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Here's A Month's Worth of Outfits For Ya!


  So since Thanksgiving I have been either really busy, or too sick to do anything.  I will be honest a say that I've lost some motivation to keep up with the blog because I haven't been seeing any comments lately and that makes me wonder if anyone is even reading this blog anymore.  But, I made a commitment so here goes.

  Here are all the outfits that I have worn since my last post on November 22nd.  It isn't a month's worth because I did spend a whole week in yoga pants when I was sick.

 Top: Purchased at Ross, Jeans: Banana Republic, Boots: Purchased at Target (and they are falling apart!)

Green Sweater: Purchased at Old Navy, Polka Dot Top: Purchased at Forever 21, Jeans: Banana Republic, Boots: Antonio Melani (black leather)


Dress: Purchased at Ross, Jean Jacket: Ralph Lauren (purchased second hand), Boots: Antonio Melani

Blazer: Purchased at Dandy Lion Boutique (red with cheetah print), Jeans: Lucky Brand, Booties: Purchased at Target (taupe), Necklace: Purchased at NY&Co

 Top: Old Navy (cream), Jeans: Gap (wide leg), Shoes: Purchased at one of those discount shoe chains (I can't remember)


Dress: Purchased at NY&Co (chambray), Sweater: Cremieux, Boots: Purchased at Belk, Belt: Purchased at Maurices

 Top: Purchased at Dandy Lion Boutique (gray), Jeans: LOFT, Necklace: Purchased at Maurices, Shoes: Purchased at Target

 Top: GAP, Jeans: LOFT, Shoes: Purchased at Walmart, Necklace: ???

 Plaid Top: GAP, Jeans: Lucky Brand, Boots: Purchased at Target, Vest: Old Navy

 Sweater: Purchased at Dandy Lion Boutique, Jeans: Lucky Brand, Boots: Purchased at Target

 Sweater: Purchased at Maurices, Jeans: Lucky Brand, Boots: Purchased at Target, Necklace: Payless, Bracelets: Plato's Closet

 Sweater: Banana Republic, Jeans: LOFT, Boots: Purchased at Belk

 Scarf: Modcloth, Top: Purchased at Dandy Lion Boutique, Jeans: LOFT, Shoes: TOMS (navy)

Sweater: GAP (oatmeal), Jeans: Luck Brand, Boots: Purchased at Belk (brown), Necklace: Purchased at ???

Sweater: Purchased at Ross, Jeans: Lucky Brand, Boots Coach

As you can see, I wore a lot of sweaters with jeans and boots.  And I only have a few pairs of jeans that I really like to wear apparently.  I loved all my outfits, except for the last one.  I am trying to decide if I should keep these boots or not.  They are Coach and I've had them for years, but they aren't really my style anymore.  They're a size 7 if anyone is interested.  Just let me know!

I have been asked what I am going to do with this blog once my year is complete.  Well, I'm going to keep going.  I highly doubt that I'll be 'shop free' like I am right now, but I'll still be a good girl and not spend like I used to.  I am also going to start sharing recipes, health info and other interesting things I find.

What do you think?  What do you like to read about on blogs?  What kind of blogs do you follow?  I want to expand.  What would you like to see more of? I love hearing from y'all, so please let me know.

Happy Shopping,
Christin