Hautelook Blowout Jean Sale!

I haven't been buying jeans that often, but over the past month Hautelook has had some incredible deals on jeans.  I'm assuming they are closeout styles, but at 75% off who can complain.  I eagerly bought a few pairs, but unfortunately the True Religion Billy Straight Leg Disco Fever Jean in Lonestar got cancelled.  :(  Here is what I did receive:

William Rast Sadie Straight Leg Jean in Hurricane

The William Rast fit TTS to a bit small.  I bought these in a 26 which is my normal size and they fit perfectly.  However, I just recently bought a pair of Seven For All Mankind Rockers in a 25, which also fit perfectly.  We all know how jean sizing can be all over the place, so if they fit irregardless of the size printed on the tag, who cares!

 7 For All Mankind Women Dojo Flare Leg Jean in Worn Hawthorn

I bought these Seven for All Mankind Dojo in my normal 26 and they fit a bit big.  I'm not sure if it is enough to go down to a size 25, so with a belt they will work out just fine!  These Dojos are super long too at a 35" inseam, I will definitely need to hem about an inch so they don't drag all over the floor.

Needled Paths Sweater Skirt

Gotta love things that are 50% off, especially sweater skirts!  Update:  I just got an email saying the skirt sold out.  Boo!

Everyone Loves a Jean Sale!

The holiday season is probably the worst time of the year for me to control my spending habits.  Not only do I have to buy gifts for my friends and loved ones, but they put so many great sales out there that it is hard to resist buying myself stuff.  Take for instance these 7 For All Mankind jeans.  I love their jeans, but typically they are out of my price range unless I buy them used or deeply discounted.  The other day I just happened upon a midnight sale at Hautelook where they had a dozen or so jeans for sale.  They didn't have many sizes available and my size in the few pairs that I was looking out were in somebody else's shopping cart.  Through persistance and constant page refreshing once my size popped out of a cart, I managed to snag a pair of Pine Shore Rockers.  Well, actually they aren't my size...a 25 and a 34.5" inseam, but since I always need to use a belt to keep my jeans up and I typically wear heels, I'm hoping these will work out just fine.  For $47 I figure if they don't work, I'll just sell them.

A girl needs new things...

I didn't want to combine wedding and new purchases into one post, so I'm making another post...two posts in one day!  Go me!  LOL!  I haven't purchased anything from Anthro in awhile because I've been trying to save money and pay off debt, but every once in awhile a girl needs new things.  When I saw this sweater dress I just had to purchase it, I love anything sweater.  I couldn't buy just the dress of course, I had to have things to pair with it. Here are my latest Anthro purchases:

WISPY POINTELLE CARDI

FLARED & CABLED SWEATER DRESS

COLOR PALETTE TIGHTS, DARK GREY

My idea is to combine all three things I purchased into one outfit.  The gold sweater dress looked really cute with the grey tights in their catalog photo, so I thought I would try to recreate the same look.  I added a grey cardigan because it is winter and one can't run around sleeveless, not that it is even the slightest bit cold right now where I live.

It's been awhile...

I've been away from the blog for a bit.  I realized that after I started going back to school, between it, work, son, and getting married that I didn't have time to blog.  I'm glad Soraya has been keeping up our blog for us and for me.  What did I say, married?  Yes!  I got married on 11/11/11 to my best friend and soul-mate, he is the one for me in every way.  We had a very small ceremony with just family and my one friend Sarah who introduced us way back in jr. high school.  I'm so glad that we reunited after all these years.  Here are some of my wedding pictures that I would like to share with everyone, you should if you love Anthro, recognize the dress.  :)

Our friend Sarah who introduced us.  :)

New AG Jeans!

It's been awhile since I've bought anything, a couple of sad closet months.  I've been due to buy something, and at long last I've finally purchased something...a new pair of jeans!  In the past jeans were like my Anthropologie, but having accumulated so many I realized over time that I really didn't need any more jeans.  It has been at least a year since my last jean purchase and I decided that I deserved a new pair and what do you know a sale.  *Happy Dance*

I've heard a lot of favorable reviews about AGs and the Angel cut in particular, so I thought I would try a pair.  It is getting colder here and I tend to wear more grays and blacks in the fall/winter so I opted for the dark wash.  Here is hoping that I love them! :)

AG Angel in Perry Dark Wash

Tuesdays exams

I hope everyone had a good Labor Day weekend, and for those of you not in the States I hope you had a good regular weekend too!

I took my first test today in Accounting I.  I was soo nervous because it was the first exam I've taken in a million years, so it felt like.  As soon as I received my exam my mind went blank.  *POOF*   Not good.  I read over the test and it started to come back to me.  Debit=Credits.  The increase side of an account is the normal side.  *WHEW*  In my blur I even answered some questions wrong, luckily I was smart and went back over the test twice after completing it.  I'm hoping for an A, but I'll take a B.  I hope at the next exam my mind won't choose that moment to go blank.  :P

I don't have any pictures for today.  Sorry.  Maybe I will go take a pic in the restroom, even though I detest those toilet photos....LOL!  No offense to anyone.

Ramblings...

I liked Soraya's post on thoughts, so here are some of the things that I have been thinking about.  


1.  I'm taking an accounting class.  The first week was great, I totally got everything.  Now that we've begun the second week, I'm starting to get lost.  To me, it makes no sense that to add an asset like cash to an account is considered a debit.  This goes against everything I know.  + cash = credit.  Yes?  No.  Must rewire my brain.


2.  I detest having a kid on my son's soccer team when their parent is the coach.  Why is it that their kid never listens, distracts everyone, and wastes time.  I think it should be illegal to coach your own child's team.  Period.  


3.  One of these days I'd like to get a DVR so I can record the shows that I like to watch but never am able to because they conflict with my whole dinner and put my son to bed routine.  I should buy one, but when it comes down to it I'd rather buy a new Anthro top or a pair of shoes.  =D


4.  Living with your partner/spouse/fiancé  has its benefits and downfalls.  Sharing expenses=good.  Having more laundry to wash=bad.  Getting help with chores=good.  Waiting for him to unplug=bad.  Getting to sleep together every night=good.  Having to share the TV during football season=bad, unless it's the Hogs and then I'll watch.  Having someone around all the time=undecided.  LOL!  No, really I like having him around, but I will say that I do miss those occasional Thursday nights when I could lay on the couch and do whatever I wanted without having to discuss or consult with anyone.  All in all it has been a positive experience, and I should hope so because it has only been a month.


5.  Seriously, how many more reality shows can we make?  Is Jersey Shore really reality?  I hope not.  I live in reality, I watch TV to ESCAPE reality.  Enough with the talent, dancing, surviving and opening suitcase TV crap.  I want the fantasy.


That is all for today.

Multi Purpose Picture Post

OOTD on 8/24

I love wearing new things.  My Expanding Horizons Top and Duo-Patterned Skirt came in the mail on Friday and I wore them to work on Monday.  I think that is one of the reasons I love to shop, because I love new things.  

And a rare outside picture!

Anthro Expanding Horizons Tank (S)

Duo Patterned Skirt (2)

Corso Como Emerald Isle (7)

My OOTD on 8/25:


The Visionary skirt is one of those pieces that got me back into Anthro and began my obsession with shopping there.  I pull this skirt out often, but put it back just as frequently.  I never really know what to wear with it. You would think with the red, yellow, blue, and black it would be easy to pair something with it. For me, not so much.  I think it is kind of a dressy skirt with the multitude of pleats, but I'm not really "dressy" so I always try to dress it down.  I hope this works.

Michael Stars Capped Sleeve Shirred V-Neck (OS)

Vintage Belt from Mom :)

Anthropologie Visionary Skirt (2)

Some fit pics of the a few sales items I've bought recently:


I love these pants!  The Work Board Trousers are as comfortable as pajama bottoms but can also be easily worn to work.  I purchased these in a size 2 on sale for $9.95 after having already bought the mint colored.  The fit on the trouser is a bit big, however in this style of pant I think roomy looks better. :)

Wash Board Trousers in Tangerine (2)

I really wanted to love the Hourglass top from Deletta.  Due to manufacturing errors this top is going back.  I guess they sewed it crooked because it hangs longer on one side than the other, though for the picture I tried to adjust it so you couldn't see it.  This is a cute top and would have been a good purchase if not for the flaw.  For me, this top runs a bit big, I'm typically closer to a S and the XS fit slightly big.  On a happy note, I love the Duo Patterned Skirt!  I bought my typical size 2 and it fits a little big, but it is actually nice not to have something that hugs my waist.

Anthro Ruched Hourglass Top (XS)

Anthro Duo Patterned Skirt (2)

Fun pics with my son.  :)

August outfits to date...

Here are a few outfits from August that I never got around to posting.

From August 1st:

Mossimo dress from Target...bought many years ago

Vintage belt from mom :)

August 5th

Velvet Tube Top

Vintage belt from mom

Shorts???

Close up of belt.

and today!

Michael Stars - Back Seam Scoop Neck Camisole

Anthropologie Paint Swatch Skirt

Vintage belts...

I haven't posted much in the past month, maybe even two.  I can't say I have a really good reason for not posting, other than working full time, being a single mom, and becoming student again too!  Perhaps that does give me a good excuse, but I still feel a bit guilty for creating a blog and then having to take a leave of absence. Thank you Soraya for keeping the blog up to date with your posts.  :)

These next pics are dedicated to my mom because she was and has always been a fashionable lady.  A couple months ago she was going through her closet, doing a bit of purging of old things she doesn't wear anymore. She brought me a large bag filled with vintage belts from the 80's.  It was a plethora of awesomeness. Practically all the belts she passed down to me are very much in style right now...belts you might find in an Anthropologie.  I have yet to wear all the belts, but I plan to try to incorporate as many as I can into my wardrobe.

And the whole lot:

Now, where am I going to keep all these belts?!?!

Tuesday, August 2nd Sale Finds!

I've discovered that shopping makes me happy, not that I haven't known this for years, I just love new things and new things love me.  Imagine that.  I was up late last night and I remembered it was time for Anthro's weekly Tuesday sale.  I went browsing on the website with the intention of "just" looking, but I found several items at prices so reasonable that I couldn't pass them up.  Here are my Tuesday Sale finds...

Board Room Trousers in Mint $19.95

Blurred Bands Belt in Red Motif $19.95

I tried this sherbert orange top back in May and I really liked the color and the feel of this top.  You can see the fit pics here.

Slouched Raglan Scoop Neck in Orange $29.95

Swagged Back Tank in Yellow $29.95

In Flight Top in Blue $39.95


On another note, I know it's been awhile since I've posted any outfits or fitting room pics. I've really been lazy in the picture taking department, plus having a half broken camera doesn't help either.  I'll make a mental note to take more pics so all our lovely blog followers can see what I'm wearing.  :)

Wanted Sam Edelman Boots!

The spiky shoe trend has been growing on me, I really like these:

Sam Edelman Women's Renzo Ankle Bootie

However for $250, I'll just have to wait for a huge sale or have someone buy them for me...LOL! You can find them at Endless, I'll just daydream about them. 


Back in the real world, I'm not really thinking about shoes...especially not heels.  This weekend my fiance and I moved his belongings and I think every place on my body is sore today.  Just the two of us managed to move all his stuff...some into storage, some into my place.  I really never knew how much I could sweat and it was actually fairly mild weather compared to average temperatures.  Overall the moving was a fairly pleasant process...no arguments and no injuries.  Now if we can unpack all his stuff, mingle them with my things and everything fit, I'll be one happy cohabiter!  :)

My Summer Beauty Must Haves!

It's so sweltering here in Arkansas that when you step outside, you feel like your breathing inside a sauna.   Each year feels hotter than the past...perhaps all this climate change talk isn't just a myth :P  For Arkansas summers there is one must have beauty product that you absolutely can not, should not live without.  (That pretty much goes for everybody else in the world too!)

SUNSCREEN

I really love Neutrogena sunscreens, but I love saving money even more.  Walgreens makes a good "compared to" version of Neutrogena's Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen.  It is a broad spectrum sunscreen that block both UVA/UVB rays...you know the ones that cause skin cancer and leathery skin.  This Walgreens version doesn't make my skin oily and it also doesn't clog my pores...yay!  Apply liberally and often!

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

In the summertime lipstick just feels too heavy on my lips.  I love Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers because they glide on easily, are small & portable, and they feel weightless on my lips.  Definitely makes for a kissable mouth.  :)

Everyday Mineral Sunlight Finishing Dust

I love Everyday Minerals Makeup!  When the whole Bare Minerals craze came about, I was one of the many people who tried it, but I wasn't one of the many people that liked it.  I thought BM left my face too sheeny, which in turn made me look oily, plus it seemed to clog my pores.  The next mineral makeup I tried was Everyday Minerals and for me this was my HG makeup and I've used it every since.  You have to love their $5 Base Sample Kits, they send you five 1gm samples in different shades...a great way to find the color you need.  What was I supposed to be talking about, oh yes their finishing dust.  The Sunlight Finishing Dust is a great product for me to use in the summer.  I apply it once in the morning after applying my foundation and it keeps the oil gods at bay.  This is also great to apply if the oil gods have already visited you, it soaks the oil right up.   The Sunlight version is yellowish which helps to conceal redness and dark circles.  Winner for me!

All this talk about summer and humidity and you would think this would be the last must have beauty item on my list....

Baby Oil

Yes, I like that it is greasy, oily and makes me look shiny.  Even though my face leans toward the oily side, the rest of me tends to get crackled o.O  I love applying it right after the shower after having lightly toweled off.  It really is a great, cheap moisturizer and the smell of baby to me is just fantastically not overwhelming like some lotions.  I don't really have a favorite brand, but preferring a bargain I like saving a few with the "compared to" version like the one Walgreens offers.

Verdant Slip Dress

Sorry I've been absent for awhile.  I've been trying to be good and not make any new purchases.  I haven't stepped foot in an Anthropologie since my last fitting room review post.  It has been hard, painful even....LOL!


Today, I broke my ban and bought the Verdant Slip Dress in the Blue Motif.  I really loved the original green motif version, but I thought the pale green might not look good with my skin tone.  I tend to wear darker colors better, so when I saw the blue version I was even more in love.  I can't wait to get it!  When I do receive it I'll post pics of it plus the Sangatte Slip Dress.

Verdant Slip Dress in blue motif

Fixing the Mummmy Tummy!

I've had the dreaded Mummy Tummy going on 5 years now. I really haven't put much effort in trying to get rid of it because honestly I really didn't think much could help. I gained 50lb. when I got pregnant and lost it very quickly, which did wonders for my tummy.  I've had the excess fat and loose skin on my abdomen for the past 5 years and I'm not overweight. I've considered having a tummy tuck or other type of laser-fat-reducing-skin shrinking work done to myself. I don't really have the money to have any procedures done and I knew there had to be some way to get rid of my Mummy Tummy.


So, I started doing these Diastasis exercises every day and have been doing so for the past month. I can honestly say I can see a difference. I actually wore a bikini to the pool the other day for the first time since before I became pregnant , something I thought I would never do again. My tummy is nowhere near looking like a Victoria Secret model, but for me it is an improvement. I wanted to share this because it really had made a difference in my tummy and made me feel better about my body. 


How to Get Rid of Your Mummy Tummy
by Julie Tupler, a Registered Nurse, Certified Trainer and Childbirth Educator

How to Fix a Diastasis (and Lose that Mummy Tummy!)
The most important thing you need to do is strengthen the transverse muscle in a sitting position. This is the missing link in all abdominal work!

You can do one of the seated exercises (called the elevator) while watching TV or driving in a car. (Just make sure your back is supported and does not move while doing the exercises.)

• Put your hands on your belly so you can tell that the muscles are going back towards your spine.
• Now imagine you are bringing your belly button to your inner spine.
• Hold it there for the count of 30. Count out loud as it forces you to breathe.
• Now close your eyes and imagine that your belly button is going from your inner spine to your outer spine. It is a little isometric squeeze.
• After you squeeze remember to keep it at your inner spine.
• Do 10 of these little squeezes as you count out loud.
• End with a big belly breath.
(You should feel this in your back.) *I do feel it in my back when I do it.
Do 10 of these exercises every day.








*Disclaimer.  A healty diet and a regular cardio program will help you lose the layer of fat over your abdominal muscles.  The combination of diet, cardio and the Diastasis exercise should really make a difference in your tummy and also the rest of your body...granted you didn't have quintuplets or anything.  LOL!  I also wanted to add that I am not a licensed fitness trainer and you should consult your doctor's advice before starting any exercise program. 

Sangatte Slip Dress Sale!

I just love the weekly Anthropologie Tuesday sale, especially when something I've been coveting goes on sale.  This week it was the lovely Sangatte Slip Dress.  I know everyone went crazy over the Verdant Slip Dress which is the same style but with a different print.  I like the more muted colors in the Sangatte.  I bought a 2 and I hope it fits since it is my usual TTS.  I'll post pics when it arrives!

Sprightly Shirtdress Pic!

My Sprightly Shirtdress came in and I really do like it.  The fit of the size 2 is perfect for me, not too tight and not too loose.  The reviews on Anthropologie vary from fitting TTS to big and several recommended sizing down.  I think shirtdresses should be a little loose, kind of like wearing a man's button down shirt.  I think if I had gown down a size, it would have been too fitted for my liking...besides with button downs I never know if the girls are going to work.  I removed the ribbon sash that came with it, since it is a little flimsy and crinkled from shipping.  I decided to try the dress with the navy Crossroads Belt and I think they are a perfect fit.  I like the dress with a more substantial belt, it really pulls it together for me.  Now, I just have to figure out if I have shoes to go with it.  ^_^.


Which brings me to a question to ask the followers: Is it okay this day and age to wear different color shoes and belts?  The old me would always make sure I had wore black shoes with a black belt and brown shoes with a brown belt, etc.  The new me likes to mix it up and would wear the shirtdress with my navy Crossroads Belt and a neutral or even bright colored shoe.  What are your thoughts on mixing or matching colors with shoes, belts and purses.  Perhaps I need to go play on Polvore!  :)

Anthropologie Sprightly Shirtdress (still on sale here!)

Anthropologie Crossroad Belt in Navy Motif (similar here)