Latest Purchases That I'm Loving

1. Target Women's Xhilaration® Lavada Slide Sandal - $16.99

2. CeraVe® Moisturizing Lotion - $12.99

3. LOFT Marisa Cropped Pants in Mint Chip Print Cotton Sateen - $22.50 (on major sale!)

4. LOFT Marisa Garden Lace Shorts with 4” Inseam - $24 (on major sale!)

These are my recent purchases that I am currently obsessing over. I think I've worn these Target sandals at least 10 times since I have bought them a few weeks ago. So many people have been asking where they are from and are shocked to hear that they are from Target! Such a great find that I know I will be wearing all summer. 

The CeraVe moisturizing lotion is amazing. I suffer from dry skin and nothing has seemed to do the trick until this moisturizer. It's fragrance free and my skin holds moisture really well with this product. I highly recommend trying it out! 

I picked up these shorts and pants at LOFT over this past weekend. They are currently taking an additional 50% off the sale prices and I couldn't pass them up! I can't wait to wear the mint shorts on my upcoming honeymoon! The pants are great for work and even a date night when paired with the correct top. 

What are some of your recent purchases that you've been loving lately? Any good deals out there?

Fashion: Tips for Bargain Shopping

I recently discovered the BEST bargain shopping location ever. Sadly, it's all the way in Arizona (for those of you who live there RUN to Last Chance). When Jay and I were visiting my mom and step-dad she took us to her new favorite place to score a major deal. I was in awe of all of the super low prices however, it wasn't easy to find things I wanted to buy. Here's the thing, when you go to a bargain store, you're usually hunting through racks of clothes and shoes and you might walk away with an item or two if you're lucky. You need to have lot of patience and time but trust me, it's well worth it! 

I usually ask myself if there is anything missing from my wardrobe or if there is anything I've been wanting to add to my collection. During this visit, I wanted some new dresses for the summer and my honeymoon so I went to that section first. I found a ton of dresses to try on (including a wedding dress!) and was excited about the possible options I had. 

Make sure to check ALL of the racks. Even the ones that say they are for a specific size. I found most of my favorite items on the wrong rack! If I didn't take the time to look, I would have never found these great items. A lot of shoppers will find something, walk away from the rack it actually belongs on and for one reason or another put it back. However, they usually put it in the wrong place -- so make sure to check all of the racks! 

It's so worth your time and energy to dig. I found four amazing dresses that cost $12.97 each! I would have never been able to buy these full price at the department store and I couldn't be happier with the ones I found. The black dress on the bottom was previously a contender as a bridesmaids dress (in coral). It was around $150 and we decided to go with different ones. I can't believe I found the exact dress in black for so cheap! And even though the wedding dress that I found would have only been $60, it didn't seem worth it to ship, get altered and cleaned to only wear a few hours during my reception. My original dress is beautiful on its own. :) 

See -- told you it was worth it! Some of my other favorite bargain stores for fashion and beauty products are TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls and of course outlet stores. 

Do you like bargain shopping? Do you have any other favorite stores or tips to share? Leave them in the comments! 

What to Wear to a Bridal/Baby Shower

Summer is typically known as wedding season. And that definitely rings true on our end because Amanda is getting married in June! In preparation for the big day, she’s had two bridal showers. I thought it’d be fun to share my thoughts on some cute dresses to wear to any kind of shower. 

Me, Amanda and our lovely friend Nicole

My dress: Draped Jersey Dress, The Limited, $79.90 (50% off)

I saw this dress on a mannequin and had to have it—especially when I saw it was on sale for 50% off. This dress is really comfortable and has a darling keyhole back. And, I think the color is perfect for spring. I paired this dress with blush/nude colored pumps.

Ponte Knit Sheath Dress, Express, $69.90 (30% off)

Okay, I cheated with this dress a little. I found it at 30% off and had a $25 gift card so I got it for super cheap. My favorite thing about this dress is the color. As the temperature rises (or rises and falls, then falls even more like this year!) I love breaking out clothes that are brightly colored. In addition to that, this dress is extremely comfortable. I paired this dress with cobalt blue pumps for some extra color.

Before I purchased these dresses, I tried on others at a few different stores. Here are a couple I considered:

Strapless Cotton Floral Dress, White House Black Market, $170

Chic Lilac Sheath, White House Black Market, $160

I really liked both of these dresses, but the price really held me back. I’m usually not into floral prints, but decided to give the cotton dress a try. It fit nicely and the pattern wasn’t overwhelming. The lilac dress fit like a DREAM. It seemed like it was made for my body. But, lilac isn’t usually a color I wear from head-to-toe and decided against it. In any case, these are two great possibilities to wear to a bridal shower. 

Will you be attending any bridal or baby showers this summer? What do you plan to wear? 

Seven Pieces: Lots of Possibilities

I recently went shopping and picked up some clothes from Old Navy and Target. I’ll be traveling to Florida next month and I wanted some new spring/summer items for my wardrobe. Here’s what I got:

From Target:

• Chartreuse Pencil Skirt, $22.99
• Cobalt Blue Hi Low Foldover Maxi Skirt, $17.99 (got for $15.99)
• Mossimo White Denim Jacket, $29.99
• Coral Eyelet ¾ Sleeve Shirt, $13 (clearance)

From Old Navy:

• Green Eyelet Tube Dress, $34.94 (got for 30% off)
• White Cropped Rib-Knit Cardi, $15 (got for $10)
• Rockstar Zip-Pocket Skinny Pants, $34.94

(There were a few other things I got, like a t-shirt, socks and nylons, but I’ll leave those out for the purpose of this post!)

One thing I am guilty of, as I’m sure we all are, is getting bored with the clothes I have. I’ll fall in love with a piece, buy it, then a few months later feel like I’ve got nothing to wear. So, with the new things I bought I challenged myself to combine everything in creative ways to see how many outfits I could come up with. See below for the results. The ONLY thing I added is a black tank top that I already own. 

As you can see, there are TONS of combinations. And think of how many more combinations I could come up with just by using the other things already in my closet. I could multiply the possibilities just by adding things that everyone owns, like jeans or a white tank top. I didn’t even add shoes or accessories! Each of these looks can be dressed up or down by wearing flats or heels or dressy or casual jewelry. This little exercise has really inspired me to be more creative with my wardrobe and try to use the pieces I already have in new and fun ways.

How do you stretch your wardrobe?

Fashion Trend: Graphic Sweaters

I've been seeing graphic sweaters everywhere lately! They are so much fun and I really like how you can make such a statement without saying anything. This look is easy to throw together and gives everyone a sprinkle of your personality. Here are some favorites of mine that I've seen around lately. I really want one of those mustache sweaters (shocking, I know) and how cute would that kiss print sweater be to wear for Valentine's Day? 

1. Forever 21 Polka Dot Sweater - $17.50

2. Forever 21 Mustache Graphic Sweater - $19.50

3. Forever 21 I Heart Mustaches Sweater - $19.80

4. Forever 21 Kiss Print Sweater - $22.80

5. LC Lauren Conrad Lurex Heart Sweater - $20.00 on sale!

6. J. Crew Take a Bow Sweater - $98.00

7. Zara Oversize Zebra Sweater - $59.90

8. Zara MOI ET TOI Sweater - $49.90

I obviously am a huge fan of this trend -- I've been wearing my LC Lauren Conrad heart sweater that Jay got me for Christmas a ton lately!  

What are some of your favorite ways to rock this trend? Do think this look will stick around through spring?

Fashion: Official Color of 2013

 

I love when a color is named as the offical color of the New Year. What color is it this year for 2013? Emerald green. I loovveeee this color. Sadly I don't own anything in this color (yet) but what better push to find something than now?

 

1. Fitted Dress with Frill Shoulders from Zara - $59.99

2. Layering Shell from The Limited - $39.90

3. Collection Cashmere Mini-cable Sweater by J.Crew - $178

4. Sloan Pencil Skirt by Banana Republic - $ 79.50

5. Emerald Island Earrings by ModCloth - $7.99

6. 1969 Legging Skimmer Jeans by Gap - $36.99

7. Women's Chunky Sweater-Knit Gloves by Old Navy - $3.97

8. Tulle Double Breasted Cocoon Coat by Piperlime - $78.99

9. Sole Society 'Ophelia' Sandal by Nordstrom - $59.95

10. The Cambridge Satchen Company Large Classic Satchel by Urban Outfitters - $178

 

What do you think? Do you own anything emerald green? Do you plan on wearing it this year?

 

 

Wedding: Bridesmaids Dresses

 

I have 5 amazing ladies that have agreed to stand up with me on my big day. I can't thank them enough for all that they have done for me! My sister Jess is the maid of honor and my future sister-in-law Jill, and friends Lauren, Adrianne (yes, Adrianne from this blog!) and Cassandra have all agreed to be my bridesmaids.

 

I wanted them all to be comfortable with what they are wearing on my wedding day. That's not always easy when you have 5 very different personalities. After trying on some dresses at a few places we all decided that J. Crew was the best option for everyone. I left it up to them to pick out the style and fabric they wanted in the coral color. It was a lot of fun watching them all try on the dresses. I know every bride always says this, but I really hope they can wear these dresses again.

 

It ended up that they all have different dresses (how fun!) and they look so good together. Jess and Jill went with the silk chiffon fabric and Lauren, Adrianne and Cassandra chose the cotton. Each dress looks fantastic on all of them and I know we're going to be one hot bridal party ;)

 

 

 

I can't wait to see how they continue to make each look unique with different shoes, accessories, hair and makeup.

What do you think of the mismatched bridesmaid look? Would you like that if you were a bridesmaid?

 

 

Clothing Haul

At least one time each year, I go through my closet and pick out a bunch of stuff to donate. It’s never easy, but let’s face it, we all have things hanging in the closet that we never wear. For me, it’s hardest to part with shoes. The good news about parting with some of your clothes is that it makes room for new ones! If I haven’t worn something in the past year, it’s really time to give it away and replace it something I will wear regularly.

It’s a great time to shop. Yes, black Friday and cyber Monday deals will soon become available but a lot of stores are also running some great sales and specials to get people shopping now. I got several items from Old Navy and The Limited, who were running deals like buy one, get one 50% off and 50% off certain items. I also scored some cute shoes from Target.

Here are a few items I recently purchased:

Mossimo Valerie Blingy Flat in Pewter, Target

Tall Buckle Strap Boots, Old Navy

Sequin Front Jersey Tank, Old Navy

Cable Boat Neck Sweater, Old Navy

Quilted Bomber Jacket, The Limited

Cropped Cowlneck Sweater, The Limited

No Closure Jacket, The Limited

Have you gotten anything good on a recent shopping trip? Share in the comments!

Fashion: Tips for Organizing your Closet

If your like me you've got a lot of clothes and shoes with limited space. If things are not organized correctly, they take up more space than they should and you run the risk of not knowing what great items you already own. Here are some of my simple tips for organizing your closet: 

1. Buy better hangers: I used to have the cheap plastic hangers but they took up so much unnecessary space. My future mother-in-law gave Jay and I some thin felt hangers for Christmas last year and it's amazing how much more room we now have in our closets. Worth every penny. 

2. Organize your clothes by color and type: I can't say this enough. By organizing your closet by type -- tank tops, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve, sweaters, etc. -- you can easily see what you have available. I then organize each section by color so if I'm looking for a short sleeved black shirt I can find it right away. This also helped me see how many duplicates and similar items I had (oops) and lets you see what you're missing.

3. Go through your closet and drawers each season: This is a hard one for me that I need to get better at. By going through your closet and eliminating items you haven't worn in the past season you can get rid of a lot of unworn items to make room for new items you'll actually wear. Stop at each item and ask yourself "when did I last wear this?" if the answer is more than 6 months or you can't remember it's time to pitch it. 

4. Check items for stains, holes and other signs of wear: Fix items that you can to ensure continued use. If it's beyond repair it's time to toss it and replace it with a new item. It sometimes is hard to let go of your favorite sweater but think about how much better you'll look with a new one. 

5. Check items for fit: Try items you're unsure about on and ask yourself how you feel while wearing the item. Is it flattering? Does it make you feel good? If not don't let it take up unnecessary space in your closet. If you're waiting to lose some weight before you can wear the jeans that have been in the back of your closet for years it may be time to toss them and get a good pair that fit now. You want to invest in pieces that make you feel great. 

6. Make sure your clothes are facing the same way and are not inside out: This seems like a silly tip but it makes all of the difference. It can be a pain to set up your closet this way but when you're quickly searching for a shirt the last thing you want is to have it facing the wrong way or not have the right side out. It will make for quicker dressing, too! 

These are just a few tips I use to maximize the space in my closet to ensure I have a current wardrobe that I love. It not only eliminates clutter but makes picking out outfits much easier knowing everything in my closet fits great and is in good condition.

Do you have any tips for streamlining your closet? We'd love to hear them! 

Fashion: Patterned & Colored Tights

Now that it's getting colder out I've had to be more creative on how I can still wear my skirts, shorts and dresses into the fall and winter seasons. Colored and patterned tights are back again and I couldn't be more excited. My mom bought me a pair of purple ones last year that I love to wear. I also purchased a pair of black polka dot ones that are perfect with my black shorts. I feel sassy when I wear them. It's time to stock up on some more pairs for this season.

1. H&M Cable-knit tights- $9.95

2. H&M 80 Denier Tights - $5.95

3. Nordstrom 'Best Present' Tights - $15

4. Frenchi® 'Dot' Tights - $14

5. Urban Outfitters Embellished Jewel Tight - $18 or 2 for $20

6. Forever 21 20 Denier Floral Tights - $6.80

7. DKNY Pinstripe Lace Tights - $20

8. HUE Two Tone Floral Net Tights - $18

9. Pretty Polly Suspender Tights - $25

10. Kensie Crazy Crisscross Tights - $22

What do you think of this trend? Do you own any patterned or colored tights?
 

Five Great Winter Coats

Though I don’t like the cold weather, I love buying coats and accessories to help me stay warm. Here are five winter coats that I’d love to add to my collection:

Quilted Faux Leather Bomber Jacket, TheLimited.com

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Wool Cotton-Blend Pea Coat - Mango.com

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 Anne Klein Women's Pea Coat, Amazon.com

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Wool Jacket, HM.com

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Bengen Winter Short Women's Fashion Casual Hooded Down, Amazon.com

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What coats are you lusting after for winter?

Fashion: Fall Favorites

I have said it before and I'll say it again. I love fall. Not only is it perfect weather outside but the clothes are amazing! I thought I would share some of my current wish list items for the season.

 

1. BB Dakota Patterned Open Front Cardigan from Urban Outfitters - $108

2. Moonstone Treasure Collar from Anthropologie - $58
3. AG Stevie Cord from Anthropologie - $168
4. Peter Pan collar sweater from J.Crew - $89.50
5. Perfect shirt in buffalo check from J. Crew - $88
6. Schoolboy blazer in wool flannel from J. Crew - $198
7. BR Monogram lace belted trench from Banana Republic - $275
8. River Island Ellia Heeled Shoe Boots from Asos - $103.48
9. Ecote Tall Braid Boot from Urban Outfitters - $129
10. Luxedo from Essie - $8