Weekend To-Do List

Another lovely weekend comes to a close. Did you have a good one? Mine was pretty fantastic (and not just because I ate at Chipotle twice...though that was probably a big part of it). Here are a few highlights from the past three days:

1. I was initially bummed not to be able to join my family for Easter (they decided to spend a week in Mexico -- genius, right?), but my plans turned out pretty great: a fun and relaxed brunch with a friend (who's a boy, but he won't be making any appearances on the blog). We went to Yard House and partook in their many delicious beers (they have more than 100 on tap) and stuffed ourselves silly (there was a tower of onion rings -- heavenly). We also rescued several sad little chocolate bunnies we found languishing in the 50% off bin at Walgreen's. I polished off three and thought about how wonderful it is to be an adult and buy your own damn Easter candy.

2. After stuffing my face with beer, chocolate, and fried food, I spent a few hours on the couch being alternately fascinated and horrified by Going Clear, an absolutely damning documentary about Scientology. Definitely worth a watch -- the celebrity component is titillating of course, but the stories of the ordinary men and women who have given up so much for the sake of this "religion" strike the most powerful chord. I hope a lot of things change as a result of this film, including the revocation of their tax-exempt status.

3. So. much. cleaning. I have company coming into town next week so Saturday afternoon felt like a great time to do a deep spring cleaning. There is not a speck of dust to be found in my apartment, all of the fingerprints and water spots have been buffed off of the appliances, a million loads of laundry have been washed and folded, and I detailed the couch like it was a fine Italian sports car (removing a metric ton of dog toy fluff -- why is destroying your toys even fun?). It was a hell of a workout, but it does feel great having a spotless, organized home (that I'll be able to maintain for about...three days).

4. I used my Friday off to take care of lots of errands -- a desperately needed haircut and color, a few returns, and a Trader Joe's run. Sadly there is but one sad little Trader Joe's location in the metro Orlando area and it is about 25 miles away, so a trip there is a bit of a treat (mercifully a second, closer location arrives next week -- the people need their peanut butter filled pretzels!). I stocked up on my usuals and then tossed the intriguing Baconesque cheese popcorn in my cart. Spoiler alert: something that tastes like bacon was delicious.

5. And it wouldn't be a weekend without a little shopping. There were sales galore, of course. (Aren't there sales every weekend? It is kind of exhausting at this point.)

On Saturday morning I stopped by my local Banana Republic because I wanted to check out a few things that I'd been eyeing online: this eyelet dress (so pretty, but I wish it came in a color other than black or white), this relaxed romper (a great summer buy -- I have one that is very similar and I adore it), and this gorgeous top (the combo of the color and the cutouts give it a kind of celestial effect, right?). Unfortunately, they had none of these things in my store (they did have a bunch of great things that I can't find online...stop making it so hard, BR!).

I walked away with just one top that I'm in love with (above, in true white) -- I have been looking for an open weave tunic-y, lacy blouse to wear with leggings and skinny pants. I sized up so this one is nice and long, and I am pretty sure it is what I will reach for on those crazed days when I don't have time to think about what to wear but need to look like a grownup.

I also stopped in Anthropologie, because it was hot out, the mall was cold inside, and I'd found an awesome parking spot...so why not stay and shop? I picked up one of their Voluspa scent diffusers in the most delicious orange scent. This one is for my living room, but I want to grab another for my closet -- I've done this with their candles (though this seems MUCH safer) because I believe that I like my Old Navy and Target clothes just a bit more when they have that lovely Anthro smell.

I also spotted this dreamy, watercolor-y dress on the sale rack. It's so pretty, let's take a better look at it:

(Ignore those clunky shoes, they're the worst). I've had my eye on it for a while, and now I have the perfect occasion for it: my big brother's wedding! It will be a small, casual outdoor wedding (ceremony on the beach), so this seems pretty ideal. I wasn't sure I was going to buy something new (as you know, I'm big on shopping my closet), but I think a special family wedding -- with photos that will live on forever -- deserves something a bit special. I'm going to keep an eye out for other options over the next few months (thank you Anthropologie for your generous return policy), but maybe it's as easy as finding that sale rack dress when I wasn't even looking for one.

Finally, I hit Sephora to pick up a birthday gift and see what VIB samples they had I (I've banked tons of points because sometimes their 500 point rewards are awesome -- this time I just grabbed a small sample of the Fresh Soy Cleanser, which will be nice for travel). I've gotten friendly with one of the sales associates and she hooked me up with some fun samples (you can get up to 3 each time you visit, but she was extra generous). I'll let you know if I find anything I love!

Finishing off the weekend with a shift at Give Kids The World - I'll be delivering late night Easter pizzas! I may have also picked up a set of bunny ears at Walgreen's this afternoon -- who wouldn't want to open the door to a bunny holding pizzas?

Three Ways: Striped Dress

A great striped cotton dress is a wardrobe staple for me. I seem to have one or two in constant rotation in my closet, and I'm always on the lookout for another great one.

I like this one from J. Crew with thick navy stripes (left), but you can find lots of variations at tons of different price points: Uniqlo/NLST/H&M/Petit Bateau/Iris & Ink. I kind of want them all. Watch for me on the next episode of Hoarders: Breton Stripe Edition.

In addition to being totally cute, a striped dress is hugely versatile. Here are some of the ways I'll be wearing mine over the next few months:

I love this look for celebrating a holiday with my family. Sometimes they don't "get" my sartorial choices, but this sweet, ladylike outfit feels like me and won't garner too many questioning looks from well-meaning relatives.

I have a particular striped dress/floral coat combo that I've been wearing for a few years and I love it. I found my coat for a steal years ago at an Ann Taylor Loft outlet, but this one from Dorothy Perkins is a great buy (you'll keep it for years and find a million unexpected ways to wear it). Besides the dress and the coat, you don't need to give people much more to look at -- a pair of dangly earrings and pretty, pale heels should do it.

It's super easy to make this dress work-appropriate. I have my eye on a chambray blazer right now (maybe this one or this one), and I love the way it immediately dresses up a relatively casual piece. A big necklace and a great ring (love this one so much!) add some sparkle. In my office, I can get away with these great leopard pumps -- they also come in a more subdued black.

Sometimes you just want to revel in the comfy glory of a simple summer dress. On a hot day, it doesn't get easier than throwing on what is essentially a t-shirt and then adding your favorite accessories of the moment. A pretty scarf adds just a little color, this cuff is cool and unfussy, and these slides are the chicest/cheapest summer shoe ever (they come in and out of stock, but keep watching!). And don't forget some shades.

Wednesday Wishlist: The Bright Stripes

It is no secret I love a good stripe -- I have approximately one million classic striped shirts in all variations of black, white, and navy, and I frequently have to stop by myself from buying more (but this one has slightly thinner stripes! And this one has tiny buttons on the shoulder!).

Right now I'm digging a different stripe-y vibe -- bold, vibrant, and almost obnoxiously bright, these candy colored stripes are a perfect way to go screaming into summer.

(clockwise from l to r):

J. Crew Pleated Shell with Metallic Stripe ($158) -- I love this light and airy blouse with unexpected foil accents. If you're lucky enough to work in an office where you can get away with a bit of flash, this could be a fun little wardrobe workhorse.

Dash and Albert Rainbow Striped Tote ($65) -- I'm a sucker for a rainbow stripe, and I love a great roomy tote. I'm reminded of Marie Kondo's magic rule about possessions, and this one is a joy sparker for sure!

Diane von Furstenberg Rose Dress ($468) -- DvF does great dresses, and this one is no exception. Sure, it isn't your classic-wrap-dress-investment-piece-that-you'll-wear-forever, but it would be a fun buy if the right sale came along.

Mara Hoffman Romper ($168) -- I loved this gauzy rainbow print fabric in the shirtdress/beach coverup, and it works perfectly in a sweet little romper. If you're a child of the 80s, this should be a great hit of sartorial nostalgia.

Tory Burch Silk Shorts ($250) -- these crazy shorts are actually made of silk -- the knit yarn effect is just a print. Perfect with a crisp white button down and an easy pair of slides.

Boden Holiday Sandals ($68) -- I love these so much I want to order them RIGHT. NOW. Website says out of stock, but I'm hoping that just means they haven't officially come in stock as they seem like a Summer '15 item to me. They are like happy fireworks on your feet -- I have a black romper that I live in all summer and these would be absolutely darling.

Dorothy Perkins Yellow Stripe Floppy Hat ($21) -- I have never been a girl who wears a fabulous floppy hat to the beach, but I aspire to be her. This one looks perfect for keeping the sun off of my face, so maybe I need to give it a shot.

Weekend To-Do List

Did you have a good weekend? Here in Orlando we had a glorious cold front come through on Friday afternoon, laying the groundwork for a weekend of pretty damn perfect weather (sunny 60s during the day, cool and breezy at night). Here's how my weekend played out (spoiler alert -- it involves a lot of eating):

1. I took Friday off and enjoyed a lovely day playing hooky: a lunch date with a friend and a little shopping. I got to try out a popular and yummy Orlando spot, Pom Pom's Teahouse. They have delicious grilled sandwiches, amazing cupcakes, and a million kinds of tea. Really, what more could you want? Afterwards, I did a little shopping -- Ikea and Old Navy are surprisingly empty in the middle of a Friday afternoon! I love being able to browse and shop in relative piece. 

2. Saturday morning I went to my usual yoga class and tried to sneak a quick trip to the outlets before the crowds descended (and sadly, by 10:30am I was too late -- people in this town love a bargain). I was hoping to see a few J. Crew items I've been eyeing (this dress and this blouse), but I walked away empty-handed. They didn't have the dress and the blouse is cheaper online, so I'm placing an order. Reminder: sign up for Factory First (their email list) to get 15% your first order and some other nice perks. 

I was strongly considering a cute pair of sandals (similar to these, without the ankle strap) at J. Crew and a gorgeous pink blouse at Kate Spade (similar to the one above, without the bow), but just wasn't ready to make an impulse purchase. I'm trying to be more thoughtful about my buys (my old philosophy of buy now, return later if I change my mind wasn't resulting in a lot of returns). 24 hours later, I've nearly forgotten about the sandals but I'm still thinking about the blouse. Maybe I'll check back next weekend...

3. I finally got to check out The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  -- I'm sure you've heard of it, it's the new Tina Fey comedy on Netflix. I'm digging it so far (lots of wackiness with a bit of heart). And I enjoyed it while shoveling handfuls of my favorite "trail mix" into my face (fine, it is just a bag of candy with a few peanuts and raisins thrown in). So good, and yet so bad.

4. Do you know about Jezebel's new beauty focused mini-blog, Millihelen? It is interesting -- these days I only read Jezebel for a daily dose of Dirt Bag (it is not the same since Dodai Stewart left), but I've enjoyed some of the Millihelen posts, including this one where an anonymous Sephora employee answered a bunch of reader questions. I spent an hour going down the rabbit hole of product recommendations -- I am in the market for a new moisturizer, I'm curious about this foundation, and this mask could be the next cult favorite.

5. I finished off the weekend enjoying the spectacular weather and some tasty food truck grub. Downtown Disney has a new food truck park and I'm quite fond of the sliders. Lunch with a view:

Feet up on the couch and getting ready for the week -- here we go, Monday!

March Budget

It is budget post time already! Where did March go? I'm happy to say this month was a success for both my wallet and my closet. 

Here's what I bought...

Starting Budget:

$200

Purchases:

Merona Shortsleeve Jumpsuit ($30)
Banana Republic Sweater Sleeve Duffle Coat ($104, on sale)
F21 Windowpane Blouse ($16)
Mossimo Glitter Sandals ($10, on sale)
F21 Striped Tshirt Dress ($18)
F21 Drawstring Pants ($15)
Target Nolan Slides, Fawn and Gold ($30 each, used gift card)
Merona Envelope Clutch ($17, used gift card)
(not pictured) Jeweled t-strap heels ($18, thrifted)

Total: $211

$11 over? I'll take it!

I felt like I spent a lot of time shopping this month, so I was expecting another busted budget. Luckily I did get a few deals and found a few Forever 21 gems (and I did end up with a couple of returns), so I was able to stick pretty close to my goal.

Overall, I'm quite happy with my purchases. I'm in love with the windowpane blouse -- it is so light and airy and has a great drape-y fit. I was pleasantly surprised with my other Forever 21 purchases, too -- the wide leg pants are great for those rare occasions when I need to dress like an adult for my job and brave the sticky Florida heat (when you work from home, leggings are your best friend), and the striped dress is pretty fab.

I did buy quite a few pair of shoes, but I feel like all of them will be in heavy rotation over the next few months. You can never have too many cute and walkable sandals (especially in a year-round summer climate). I don't think I actually need another jumpsuit, but I just like this one so much...it's OK to have one relatively cheap nonessential splurge, right? And that coat -- wow. I mentioned previously that I caught this on a super sale. This was an impulse buy for sure and I normally like to plan for major purchases like winter coats, but I was glad that I pulled the trigger when I saw a great deal.

Returned:

It's never fun when you're disappointed by something you thought you'd adore. I absolutely love the look of these Target pumps, but they were just too small. Ugh. They come in a great leopard pattern, too, and I would have bought both pair in a heartbeat but I am too old to force myself into uncomfortable shoes. And the Kate Spade Constellation Sweater was a dud. I wanted a great rich navy blue sweater and I got one that was more of a dull black. It also looked a little cheap (but definitely wasn't, even on sale).

I'm hoping April will be a bit of a lighter shopping month. There aren't really many things I need, so this might be a good time to focus on quality instead of quantity and think about investing in something special...maybe even something off of my wishlist.

Linking up with Franish and the fabulous budgeting bloggers -- be sure to stop by and see what the other ladies bought this month. And let me know if you've bought anything good lately!

Swimfan

Now that we are (almost) in the swing of spring, stores are starting to get all of their warm weather goodies. When I see all of the gorgeous bathing suits hitting the racks right now all I can think is: cute, but not for me.

For as long as I can remember, my go-to swim option has been some variation on a basic black suit that provides plenty of coverage and hopefully flatters a bit (maybe a bit of ruching, a well-placed ruffle), perfect for swimming or just lounging. I have a drawer full of them, they last forever, and I love that getting ready for a trip to the beach or the pool is a no-brainer.

My suit may a little boring, but that doesn't mean I can't put together a cute beach look. It is all about the accessories: coverups, sandals, bags, and maybe a hint of lip color. Right now I have my eye on some great options that will make my black suit look anything but basic:

Suit: J. Crew Ruched Halter One-Piece ($98)

1. One of my life rules is that you can never go wrong with black and white. This simple striped tunic is the easiest thing in the world to throw on over your suit, and it would look great for your après-swim plans as well (is après-swim a thing? If not, shouldn't it be?). I love the print on this surprisingly great tote (I'm usually pretty unimpressed with Target bags, but I've seen this one in person and it is a steal). These glittery sandals are pricey but sooo tempting (think of all of the money I save not buying tons of bathing suits!). A bit of color would be the perfect finishing touch, so I'd toss this bright red lipstick in my bag. Très fabulous.

2. This caftan is a bit over the top, but I love it. Please feel free to invite me out on your yacht, I'll be ready. I'd also add a super glamorous straw tote (if you're looking for a deal, try TJ Maxx -- they carry lots of great Deux Lux bags) and gold strappy flats. And this is the prettiest sheer lip gloss -- instant glamour in a tube.

3. Sometimes you need a more practical beach look -- just a day out with friends or your annual family vacation. I love the colors in this gauzy shirt dress -- makes me think of those gorgeous candy-colored Victorians in Cape May. A big straw market tote has plenty of room for my beach essentials (books, snacks, and sunscreen). These simple slides are an amazing Old Navy steal. And I love this Fresh lip balm for keeping my lips pretty and protected.

4. How cute is this printed dress? OK, so a dry clean only piece may not be the best option for a bathing suit coverup, but I don't care. Just don't push me in the pool and we'll be fine. This sparkly tote is a just a perfect fun summer bag. These wedges look so comfortable, perfect for a long walk on the boardwalk (or chasing down the ice cream man). And with this pretty pink lip color, I'd feel pulled together even without another stitch of makeup on.

Wednesday Wishlist: Very Airy

Spring -- it is here! (Though if you're a Floridian like me, you know it won't last more than a brief moment.) Still, these mild temperatures have me craving easy, breezy, lightweight pieces. Luckily retailers are all about eyelet other open-weave styles. Here are a few of my current favorites:

J. Crew Collection Eyelet Dress ($250) -- this is a great twist on a classic little black dress that is perfect for warmer weather. I like how versatile it is -- a blazer would make it work-appropriate, a great statement necklace would make this perfect for a hot date night or a fancy wedding.

Gap Eyelet Bomber Jacket ($70) -- I love the combo of feminine fabric in a masculine style, and this is a great little jacket that you'd probably grab all season. 

Old Navy Eyelet Tee ($19, on sale) -- a great variation on a basic tee. I'd feel comfortable wearing this to work with slim ankle pants and some great jewelry, and I'd love it with jeans for running around on the weekend.

Michael Kors Eyelet Shorts ($765) -- perfectly sweet and adorable. Not in my budget right now (or, ever), but I'm holding out for a super sale.

Tory Burch Lattice Perforated Wedge ($250) -- a comfortable gold wedge is a wardrobe staple for me -- they are so flattering and go with almost everything. This pair would be perfect peeking out from the flare-leg jeans I'm loving right now.

T by Alexander Wang Perforated Crew Neck Tee ($160) -- just simple and perfect. I generally lean towards more feminine styles, but I love this sleek muscle shirt shape. Excuse me while I go do one million pushups and work on my Michelle Obama arms.

Forever 21 Distressed Scoop Neck Tee ($16) -- you could pay hundreds of dollars for a basic distressed tee shirt but...why? This one is great and is exactly how much I want to pay for clothing with holes in it.