Default Dress

This dress is probably one of my most worn items.  I got it in 2007, for my one-month anniversary.  I was wary of eating year old cake (per the tradition), so we just celebrated at 1 month, and the cake was still delicious.  Then for our 1-year, I just ordered a decoy cake top.  See what I did there?  More cake!  Everyone wins.

Anyway, this is my go-to dress on days when I need to look like I am trying, but don't actually feel like trying.  I was going to use this for my EBEW Black and White, but then decided I should wear something more interesting for that.  The picture doesn't really capture the pattern very well, but it is kind of a floral/animal print combo. 


Dress:  BCBG
Cami:  Gap
Cardigan:  Gap
Shoes:  Seychelles via DSW

The Green Coat Fiasco

In early November, I saw this green coat at Old Navy, and almost bought it.  Then I thought it was a great idea to give people for Christmas, and I told John about it.  That weekend, Old Navy had 75% off all their outerwear.  He went to get the coat for me, but all they had left was XL.  He went ahead and bought it, thinking it would be easy to exchange for the correct size before Christmas.  A few attempts at exchanging later, it was Christmas Eve and he still had the wrong size for me.  He went ahead and gave it to me, and I was determined to find the correct size. 

After calling around to all the Old Navy stores in the area, I was getting discouraged.  My sister told me to just keep it for a maternity coat.  I was thinking I could just eat a lot of Christmas cookies until it fit.  Last weekend, I went into Old Navy for one last try.  I had to be a little bit demanding of the teenager who swore she couldn't do a National check.  Finally, a manager came over and within about 3 minutes, I was on the phone with an Old Navy in Illinois, giving them my address to ship my coat to me.  I just had to pay $5 extra for shipping.  My coat arrived on Friday afternoon, and I love it!  I'm so excited I finally found the correct size! 

Coat: Old Navy

Sweater, Camisole, Jeans, Shoes:  Gap

Socks:  Betsey Johnson

Confessions of a Gap-oholic

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so here it goes:

I think I have a slight addiction to Gap Sales. 

I've shopped at Gap pretty regularly ever since I was in high school, and they just have really good sales sometimes!  Now that my sister works there, it's even worse.  On Christmas Eve, we went to the mall to say hi, and my other sister wanted to do some shopping at other stores.  Well, of course we just looked around at Gap a little bit.  I bought 2 things that day:

Purple Skirt - $20 (originally $50)
Printed Pocket Tee - $6 (originally $23)

Then on the day after Christmas, we went back to the Gap so my sister could return a shirt (which she forgot to bring), and so I could get my purchases from the previous trip price adjusted to the better sale prices (I think I got about $5 back).  Well, they were having an additional 50% off all sale items, and I just had to take a look around.  I ended up spending about $63 on 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of jeans, and 5 tops. 

Black Ankle Strap Peep Toes - $12.50 (originally $60)

Gray Jeans -  $14 (originally $70)

Gray Floral Sweater - $9 (originally $60)

Yellow henley - $5 (originally $20)

Pocket Tee(Rosamunde) - $6 (originally $23)

Printed Top (seen here)- $8 ((originally $50)

Striped tank (not online, or on this blog yet)- $4 (originally $40)

If you figure tax, that means I got $424 worth of stuff for  $84.  Pretty good deal, right!  I mean, 80% off the original prices.  But it also means I spent $84 at the Gap on stuff I really didn't need. 

Anyway, it got me thinking that I might have a bit of a shopping problem.  I'd been thinking about taking a break from shopping, but hadn't made any real decision on it.  So, I think I'm going to do it.  It's going to be one of the weakest shopping bans ever, but I think I'll try to go 3 months without traditional shopping.  I'm giving myself some cheats:

1. I can use gift cards.  I have one to Dillards and one to Loft.  If anyone wants to send me gift cards to anywhere else, I'll accept donations!  (Just kidding, unless you really want to)
2. I'm allowed to shop at Goodwill and other thrift stores.  I'm not much of a thrifter, but I would like to be, so this will hopefully make me branch out a bit.  I'm also hoping to find really cheap items that I can refashion somehow.  
3. I'm allowed to buy fabric to make things.  Not sure how much of this I will do, but I wanted to put it on the list. 
4. There are a few things on my shopping list that I've been looking for forever.  If I happen upon a great deal on any of these items, I'm going to cheat.  (black flats and a watch are 2 I can think of right now).

So, there it is!  My super lame 3 month no shopping rule.  Is it April yet??

Feels like ZERO

Remember last week, when I talked about fake spring?  It was 68 degrees that day.  Just 2 days ago, the high was 60, and a light cardigan was sufficient outerwear.  Well, fake spring is officially over.  According to weather.com, it feels like ZERO degrees right now.  I was decked out in winter accessories today.  The hat and gloves were Christmas presents from John.  See, now I can use my phone without freezing my hands!   

I knew the sun wasn't supposed to come out today, so I thought I'd rock some sunshine in my outfit.  This henley is pretty lightweight, so I threw the sweater on for extra warmth.  Honestly, I wore my coat all day at work, too.  It was freezing in my office.  Well, not literally freezing, but you know, kind of chilly.

This entire outfit is brought to you by GAP.  Except the socks.  They are from NY&co.

Orange Crush

I'm wearing an orange cardigan today, and it makes me think of Orange Crush.

/

I'll be honest.  I love Orange Crush.  Other orange sodas don't even compare!  I remember loving it as a kid, and then it wasn't really around for awhile.  Then in high school, Walmart started carrying the 6-pack of glass bottles.  I would go to Walmart specifically to stock up on Crush.  Then I left for college, and stores in Nebraska did not have Crush.  This was a big problem.  So, whenever I went home, I would pack my car with as much Orange Crush as possible, and hoard it in my dorm room.  I was worried about running out, so I rarely drank it.  Then at the end of the semester, I was giving it away to anyone who stopped by.  I'm not saying it was logical.

Now, most grocery stores around here sell crush in 2-liters and cans, but it just doesn't taste as good as the glass bottled kind.  I'm not as crazy as I used to be about it, but my family usually has some glass bottles of Orange Crush on hand when I come to visit.

Isn't it normal to have a vintage looking sign of your favorite soda on display in your office?  No.  Oh, well, this is awkward now. 



Cardigan:  NY&Co
T-shirt:  Gap
Tank:  Gap
Jeans:  Loft
Shoes: Gap

EBEW: Black & White

One of my favorite things about blogging is the link ups and challenges that come around.  Everybody Everywhere is just one of these, and I love it!  This month's theme is Black and White.  The announcement post was titled "It's Black, It's White", and I have had the Michael Jackson song stuck in my head ever since.  I was in 1st grade when that music video premiered, and it was the biggest deal ever.  I don't know why all the 7-year-olds cared, but anyone who was anyone watched that premier and was talking about it on the playground the next day.  We even had a Michael Jackson Impersonation contest with moon-walking and all.  That was my last year in public school, although switching was unrelated to the MJ contest.  

Yesterday, I dug through my closet and laid all of my black and white options out on the bed.  This dress caught my eye, because I love the print and haven't worn it yet.  It was $14 at Ann Taylor (on the same day I bought this dress).  It is a halter, and very body-con, so I either need to tone up or invest in some more effective Spanx before I can wear it alone.  Maybe this summer!  Anyway, it works as a pretty cute skirt for now.   


Sweater:  Gap
Jacket: Relativity
Skirt (really a dress):  Ann Taylor
Belt:  Old Navy
Tights:  Target
Boots:  Target

Marian the Librarian

This outfit is from last Wednesday.  The dress code at my office is pretty casual, but I usually try to dress up a few times a week.  On this particular day, we were interviewing some applicants, so I wanted to be a little more "business" and a little less "casual".  I kind of felt like a stylish librarian, which reminded me of Marian the Librarian. 

 I got this sweater at Macy's a few years ago.  A girl can never have too much argyle.  The skirt was a birthday present from my in-laws, the first year John and I were married.  At that point, I had almost no brown items in my wardrobe, and was trying to branch out.

These shoes are a relatively new addition to my wardrobe.  I had been wanting some nude heels for awhile, but hadn't found any that I liked enough.  I found these at Marshall's in early October, but wasn't sure I should spend the money.  My birthday was coming up, so I didn't need to buy myself presents.  I was good and didn't get them, but I kept thinking about them.  I finally caved in a couple weeks later and went to get them.  I'm amazed they were still there, and had my size.  I guess it was meant to be!  


Sweater:  Style& Co (from Macy's)
Buttondown:  Gap
Skirt:  Loft
Tights:  Target
Shoes:  BCBGeneration