Last weekend I hit my favorite Goodwill & found a few treasures.  I also ran into a my friend Wendy & we got to chat a bit.  Here’s the goods:

Michael Kors top, $3.49.  I’ve already worn it & really like it!  It’s comfy but still dressy enough for a client meeting.  And I LOVE that print!

Gloria Vanderbilt crop pants, $3.99.  These fit like a dream & will be perfect for going straight to the gym in.  The have a weird fading/discoloration towards the bottom of the legs but I’m kind of into it. 

American Eagle bright pink flats, $7.99.  They’re brand new & add a perfect pop of color.  I’ve been keeping an eye out for more bright shoes in new colors lately & these hit the spot.

Franco Sarto leopard sandals, $7.99.  These are a little Wilma Rubble but I couldn’t resist adding another animal print shoe to my closet.  I haven’t worn these out yet but they seem comfortable.

So, I got another bad haircut.  When will I learn?  No. More. Great. Clips.  And I completely dropped the ball & don’t think I even deserve to complain since I didn’t bring a photo of what I wanted.  My friend Jo asked if I brought a photo & I totally did a palm to the forhead.  How have I been forgetting that almost foolproof trick for so long?  Grrr… Next time…  In the meantime I will be growing out the massive fringe of bangs the woman cut into my head & being annoyed at my triangle head since she went easy on the layers.

Here’s what I’m looking like lately (granted I combed the bangs down to exaggerate the look LOL):

I do look like a darker haired version of a famous icon though:

So it’s not all bad, right?  Right?

I had a great Valentine’s weekend! 

I spent a nice night out on Friday for my friend Chrissy’s birthday dinner with a bunch of friends.  It’s pretty hard for me to drag myself out on a Friday night but I’m glad I did since I really enjoyed myself.

Saturday I went to the library & shopped at Walmart & Goodwill, then came home & relaxed. I also ran into another friend at the Goodwill I shop at – nice to see Wendy again! (Posts to come on the shopping goodies!  Much later though – I’m behind with my posting this week.)

When I got home I got to see my V-Day present!  A kick-ass new faucet & insta-hot.  I’ve been wanting both for so long!  My old sprayer used to get caught on the plumbing so I couldn’t pull it out plus the spray would stick on – super fun.  Someday I’ll get a new sink to go with it all - but that’s a ways off…  Anyway, I can NOT wait to have oatmeal for breakfast tomorro!

Today we went out to lunch at Jack’s Bait Shack – it’s a sports bar that we had gift certificates for.  (I scored three $25 gift certificate for $2 each on a sale at www.restaurant.com. There were restrictions but nothing we couldn’t live with.)

Later, after we got home, our friend Terrina was riding her horses on our road.  She came in the yard & I got to ride around on her friend’s horse for a bit.  I have such a love affair with horseback riding, sigh…  We also made a date to go together in two weeks.  You have no idea – I am so excited!

After that my friend Kammie popped in & I got to chat with her for a bit.

It’s funny – I normally like really planned out visits because I get so stressed about time but this weekend was different.  Probably because I planned to do less because I knew we were going out to lunch today.  Also, my husband offered to get groceries for me so I didn’t have to go out this morning.  (He’ll probably be finishing up the laundry too but we won’t tell him that just yet…)

I was so excited to come home to these in my mailbox yesterday!  It was like Christmas!

Obviously, you can tell I’m a magazine junkie!  I will really be sad when they all eventually go out of print.  We know it’s coming, right?  Elle Decor and Town & Country are freebie subscriptions & I won’t be renewing them once they’re up.  If I come across any more free subscriptions I’ll tweet about them – so follow me on Twitter!

I shopped at Walmart the same day I did Target.  I went to pick up a prescription & get groceries but I always get sucked into all the other sections!

I found these pants which will work great for work & the gym.  Luckily, my work has a pretty loose dress code!  Anyway, I’m exchanging them later for a different size.  If they work out I will get them in every color!  At $13 each I can’t really go wrong.

Also found some pretty grey faux pearl earrings for $1!

One last thing – I almost always grab a mag at the checkout.  Warning: this can be detrimental to the budget!

I finally got around to trying some of my new makeup out!  The HIP concentrated shadow duo Spirited suggested a colorful take on a subtle smoky eye:

The makeup I used to create the eye:

Loreal Double Extend mascara, Revlon powder, Loreal Bare Naturale concealer powder, Cover Girl cover-up sticks, Avon black eyeliner, Revlon Brow Fantasy pencil/gel, HIP duo in Spirited

It was really just a pretty straight forward smoky eye recipe: lighter eye shadow all over the lid, darker hue in crease & along lash line, black liner on inner rims (this is what makes it pop!), navy liner on upper lash line, then add major mascara!

I’m hoping to do more posts like this.  I’m really digging makeup lately.  If you have tips on how to take better closeup photos of makeup/face, leave me comments!  Thanks!

Despite being put on salary at work & being terrified at having a “fixed” income (I won’t be able to look forward to those higher hour “good” paychecks!) I was still freaking shopping this past weekend!

I know, it’s a damn addiction.  I know for a fact once I’m in the habit of spending more it is VERY hard to back it down.  I’m just gonna have to learn it.  That’s that.

I popped into the other Target in town just to see if they had more Anna Sheffield clearance jewelry.  I was looking for 2 particular pieces- the cz bird ring & the black solitaire earrings that hang down.  Well, they didn’t have those but I did discover several other bits that I liked.  I took the trophy necklace & the scissor locket necklace home with me.  I seriously have GOT to stop going nuts in the costume jewelry section.  It’s getting a bit ridiculous!  Here is the bounty from the day:

Clockwise from top left: Anna Sheffield scissor locket, grey pearl necklace, Anne Sheffield trophy necklace, giant bauble ring, sparkly drop-down earrings (prices were from $2.50 to $12.48)

Close-ups for details:

I’ve been wanting that ring since it was full price at $29.99.  It was $7.48 on clearance!

I was surprised to notice the giant rhinestone inside the trophy – that’s what clinched the buy!

I’ve also been looking for clothes that will translate to the gym without many changes so getting ready & out the door at work is quicker.  I’ve been thinking leggings, cargos, dressed up yoga pants.  I found this top to wear over leggings (clearance – $17.48).  I can picture wearing my sports bra & workout top underneath it & just taking it off to go to the gym.  I’ll be doing some before & after the workout posts so you can see some of the outfits & how they transition.

I also scored a cute patterned folder set ($1) & my weekly Life & Style mag.  I really do love L&S – it’s my main hook in to celebrity fashion + gossip (which I read for sheer entertainment, mind you!)  Some of my friends laugh at me – oh well, shrug

I needed some hair dye & some new workout pants with tops I can use to dress them up a bit.  So, off to Target I went…

Hair color  - check! ($3 per box)

Workout pants – check! ($6 & $18)

Tops to dress them up – check & check! ($9 & $9)

But I also found…

Super cute Converse dress ($7.50)

A load of Anna Sheffield for Target jewelry – on clearance!!! ($6 – $10)

Hair clippies ($1) & silicone cooking brushes ($1 or $2.50 – can’t remember which part of the dollar section I got these from)

A bath tote ($2.50)

I am horrified to admit that I charged this purchase.  I’ve been doing really well at not buying “wants” with our credit card.  We’ve also been trying to keep “needs” as well from going on it – we’ve been somewhat successful.   But it’s been a rough week, I felt like I needed to at least treat myself to fresh color & some new sweats & then found everything else.  Honestly, their dollar section alone could bankrupt me – I find myself buying so many things I don’t need there. 

I also got a haircut at Great Clips this morning LOL just to get rid of the frizz.  I’ll see tomorro how it works since I haven’t seen it freshly “styled” yet.  (And by styled I mean me washing it & sleeping on it LOL!)

I just put up some great shoes on ebay.  They are well beloved & taken care of but it’s just time for them to move on.  I had way too many shoes that I wasn’t wearing.  Hopefully someone will give them a happy home!

These are fabulous!  They have a hidden 1.5″ platform plus a very tall heel – 4.5″.  I haven’t even worn  these out of the house! (BCBGirls)

Super comfy pair of wedge loafers in a creamy caramel suede.  (Franco Sarto)

Patent peep-toe lace-up heels (Madden Girl)

I ended up having lunch with friends on a Sunday last weekend.  It just so happened that it was at my favorite shopping plaza.  How convenient! 

I really needed some new bras – I have various sizes which either give me 4-boob effect or torment my body in ways God never intended.  So Lane Bryant got a visit from MissAmy!  (Marshalls did too but they didn’t have anything I ‘needed’ that day.)

Here is the haul.  Avert your eyes if you are delicate because there are some unmentionables shown!

New giant bras – pretty much the only 2 in the store that fit.  Sigh…  I think they were Buy One, Get One Half Off

5 new pair undies (5 for $25) – trying out some new cuts too.

SO, SO in love with this sequin vest.  It was $25 & normally I wouldn’t pay that for such a non-essential but I just fell hard for it.  It’s super flattering & will be great to add some eclectic pizazz to lots of different kinds of outfits!