This outfit was for a workday with a dinner out tacked on at the end. Actually, there was also a visit to TJMaxx I snuck in between the two. (I found an awesome Calvin Klein boyfriend blazer but that’s another post.) This outfit was comfortable enough for the whole day.
Francesco Biasia bag ($60), Liz Clairborne heels ($20), Cos jeans ($7), Tahari tank ($10, TJM clearance), Target jacket ($12) & ring ($7), Gap belt
Time for another swap party. Good times! First, the food:
Rasberry butter for bread (in process)
Herb butter for bread (in process)
Cupcakes – a few friends came over early & helped frost these. For the record – use the mixer when making cake mix out of the box. I was lazy on the red velvet batch & you can tell! They came out super flat.
Chocolate & potato chip toffee – one of the favorites of the night! Delicious – it was both sweet & salty – I couldn’t stay away!
Double dipped strawberries. These were so easy, pretty & tasty.
Greek salad on a stick – assembled by my awesome friend Jolene.
There was even more food since people brought lots of goodies: biscotti cookies, hummus, chips, salsa, fruit, etc…
Next, the friends & fun:
My friend Mel. Also, some of the goods in the background
Jolene & Stacy
Jean, Jennifer, Chrissy, Corinne
It was a really fun party & we each got many, many good things. We also ended up contributing a lot to Goodwill. All the bags of stuff filled up my hatchback (with the seats down)!
I used to have hundreds of nail polish colors. I had some from 10 or more years ago. I used to have more time for my nails plus many of the bottles were sentimental as well, this was the one I bought at the flea market when we first moved to Florida, that one is from when I used to buy Avon from a co-worker – I was obsessed. Another one bought on vacation with a friend, found in the Last Chance sale as Rite Aid. It goes on. They brought back memories of different times in my life. Where I worked, where I found them, how much they had been even. They were a bit of a time capsule in multiple little bottles.
I finally realized that I literally don’t have as much time to spend on my nails as I used to. Seriously, when they chip I don’t always have time to touch-up or remove. I also realized that I have a really hard time letting them dry before I do stuff – meaning lots of screwing up the finish. Then I figured out that my nail polishes probably take longer to dry because they are OLD! Dur. So, I mercilessly went through my polishes & threw most of them away. I kept a pink, a sparkly beige & a few metallics & brights I couldn’t bear to part with yet.
The plan is to renew my collection each season (or maybe each year) with a new pink, beige, red & a couple trendy colors then discard them for the next batch. I also realized that oftentimes collections come out in mini bottles with colors of the same family. Perfect! I can work one trend plus a couple classics each season. So I’ve had my eye open for a tiny petite collection.
I found this little packet of bright perfection the other day in Walgreens:
Nailed it! I am in love with the brights & the array of color. I am rocking the purple right now on my toenails. Wheeee!
I bought this Catherine Malandrino sweater on clearance at TJMaxx a while back. It was $20 – originally much more expensive. The tag said dry clean only. Truthfully, if I have to dry clean a sweater it’s just not worth owning. C’mon, even cashmere is hand washable. So, I threw it in the gently cycle & dried it flat. Weeeelllllll, this happened to the bottom band:
So, I veeerrrryyyy carefully removed the band with a seam ripper.
This is what it looked like with the band – very egg-shaped. Not flattering at all:
Now it looks like this:
Skechers sneakers ($20), Target leggings ($7), Catherine Malandrino sweater ($20, TJMaxx clearance)
It’s a bit more forgiving. It could even be belted now. I guess I’ll try to wear it as many times as I can before washing again & I will definitely be hand washing next time. In a way, I like how it will eventually degrade & evolve into something else on its own. I don’t mind inconsistencies in clothing – I was around for the grunge era after all. I actually like imperfections. They make clothing (and us) unique.
I picked up this dress during my last splurge at Target. (Remember? When I bought an entire wardrobe off the clearance rack?) I am so in love with the crazy bright print. It’s such a favorite I’ve worn it twice already! This time to the grocery store & then later at my Fashion Swap Party. That time I wore it with my black lace bra showing – risque!
Birkenstock sandals ($40, QVC outlet), Target dress ($13, clearance), Target tank ($3, thrifted)
I wore this to a Toga Party themed wedding shower recently. I wasn’t going to go crazy & spend money on a costume, also I don’t own white sheets. So I shopped for a Grecian-like dress. This is what I came up with. $17.99 at Ross - can’t beat that!
Enzo Angiolini sandals, dress from Ross ($17.99), Target cardigan – pinned up to show more waist ($12), Walmart necklace ($5)
I might actually end up taking this one on the cruise for the formal dinner. It just seems easier than the Tahari I had lined up.
I found this cute tee on the clearance rack at TJMaxx when I was on my “perfect t-shirt for the cruise” hunt. It’s definitely not perfect for much: it’s unflatteringly wide, an awkward length that hits just above my belly pooch and when I dropped some water on it – it stained! It’s Creative Collective & is labeled “Dry Clean Only” so I should have thought a third time before I purchased (even on clearance). After I dropped water on it (first wearing!) and it stained I figured that I BETTER be able to wash it myself somehow. I put it in the gentle wash & laid flat to dry. It worked & the water stain is gone.
Here’s the reason I HAD to have it: It’s comfortingly soft, has a wide neck that slips off the shoulder & makes me feel like I have Jennifer Beals’ Flashdance body. It doesn’t make me look like it however. It actually exponentially increases my size. Not kidding. Notice the photo is from the side. Yeah, it makes me look like a mack truck. Still, not getting rid of it.
I went a little crazy at the Target sale racks recently. See, I finally decided to work out in the mornings again. So, I wanted to stock up on easy dresses – they really are the easiest thing to throw on after a workout & a quick shower. They’re also usually pretty appropriate for an office environment. So, I went into Target. Dun dun dun. Seriously, those clearance racks are my kryptonite. I came out of there with a whole new wardrobe. I’m not kidding: 3 new dresses, 1 skirt, 1 t-shirt, 1 peasant top, 1 sequined tank top, 1 knit vest. (Full disclosure: I actually went back the next day for a cardigan top thing.)
New stuff is from the left to the print top on the right. (The pink sweater was mine already.) Yep, pretty much filled my closet… I do love Target clearance because when you’re sick of it you don’t feel super guilty about passing it on since it was so darn cheap to begin with.
I wore the DIY bracelet from yesterday with this outfit:
Coach sandals ($40, TJM clearance), Jones New York jeans (swap), Lane Bryant sweater (gifted), Adrienne Vittadini scarf (? clearance), DIY bracelet
I adore this scarf by Adrienne Vittadini but have a hard time wearing it since I’m much more into cool & bright colors rather than autumnal tones.
I had these leopard print sandals that weren’t about to do anyone any good in the state they were in:
So I decided to use the fur for to make a bracelet since I really liked the leopard print. First, I VERY CAREFULLY cut the strap from the sole with a rotary cutter. May not want to try that at home, kiddies. Maybe a slightly straighter blade would be safer. Anyway, be careful!!! I didn’t cut myself so that made me happy!
After that, I cut the straps into four equal strips:
Next I used my snap kit tools & made holes for the snaps. FYI: I won’t be using the tools again to make the holes as the holes they left were too big & in the end the snaps could easily get pulled out through them. Next time I will hunt down my exacto knife & use it to make a small X where the snaps will go. Just a tip if you want to try this – learn from my mistakes!
When you get the snaps & snap tools you’ll get instructions on how to install the snaps so I won’t waste your time with step by steps on that. Do remember that when you are hammering them so they lock into each other that you will need a very sturdy surface to do it on. I ended using a metal vice after trying my glass desk (stupidly) and my pergo floor.
Anyway, this was my end result:
I really dig it but wish the snaps were sturdier. As of now I have to be very careful when unsnapping. But that’s the beauty of DIY – I can rework it again when they fall apart! If you make your own let me know. I’d love to see your version!
