It’s the last outfit of 2014! I was going to wait and post this outfit, but I loved it too much to save it until after I can get my capsule photographed and posted. This dress is one of the new items in my winter capsule. It’s the perfect slate for colored accessories, which I am hot on the hunt for. My wardrobe has become all neutrals to say the least, so I’m in the market for some colors. Hopefully my quest for colors will come in the form of more knit infinity scarves. Knit Pray Love in Atlanta made this one and I picked it up at the ICE Holiday Market. The closest I’ve come to finding them outside of the market is an abandoned etsy and pinterest. Thankfully I have their card from the fair with an email on it. Can’t wait to wear more knit scarves in 2015. ::this post contains affiliate links::scarf:: Knit Pray Love (similar) necklace:: J.Crew (similar) ring:: Madewell (similar) renegade bracelet:: Stella & Dot cuff:: J.Crew (similar) cardigan:: J.Crew (similar::ebay options) dress:: Madewell (similar) leggings:: aerie booties:: Sam Edelman (this year’s)
Read MoreBudgeting Bloggers:: December Finals
Budgeting Bloggers is a linkup hosted by Fran of Franish where you recap what you purchased and spent in the past month in an effort to curate a functional closet! Hello December’s end. It’s crazy to see how fast this year has gone. As cliche as it is to say that, I find myself saying it more and more. December was a small month of shopping for me. I don’t care for crowds at the malls in December and being out of town twice during the month kept me from shopping. Surprisingly, I shop less when I’m out of town. Here’s what did get delivered to my house during December:: 1. Heathered Jersey Dress:: Orig $118, paid $49 2. Renegade Cluster Bracelet:: Orig $59, paid $35 for two via posh closet @missief 3. Me Too Kaden flat:: Orig $80, paid $12 via posh closet @rasampson1978 4. Buffalo Plaid Quilted Vest:: Orig $108, paid $44 5. Colorblock anorak:: Orig $125, paid $20 via posh closet @minnecita Total:: $160 (made $242.05 off sales) Total saved off retail:: $389 I need every month to be like this! I did a lot of Poshmark shopping compared to more recent months. They re-did the app and it has been harder to find things I like. The bracelets aren’t in the best shape, but I saved so much money and they’re great quality. I hope to clean them both up a bit. I’ve already been wearing the one that looks good. The flats are to replace a pair I wore out and are identical to another pair I already owned and am very excited to have gotten them for such a good deal. The anorak was my best purchase. New with tags for only $20? Perfect. After taking three months off from madewell orders, (I’m so proud of myself– though I did go to a store once) I broke my streak and was (as always) more impressed with the dress in person than on their website. The fabric is amazingly soft for this dress. The only other retail order came from J.Crew factory. Vests have become my best friend this season. So! How did you do during December?
Read More5 Unexpected Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe
When I started trying a capsule wardrobe in August, I was ready to reap the financial benefits. Since working with a capsule for the past several months, I have experienced more than just financial benefits. 1. Less Laundry:: less ironing, less folding, less putting away. Don’t all of those things sound great? If you only have 40 or 50 pieces, you have to do laundry on a regular basis or else you just don’t have anything to wear. 2. Easier Morning Dressing Routine:: being in a capsule doesn’t make it easier to put on clothes, but it does make it easier to pick something out. I don’t miss the mornings where I would stand in my closet and have no idea what to wear despite barely being able to pull things out my closet because it was so packed. 3. More creative outfits:: when you’re working with the same items, you are forced to be more creative with those items or else you wear the same outfit over and over. 4. Utilizing Accessories:: this goes along with being more creative. I don’t know about you, but when I was bringing in tons of new pieces, I paired the same accessories with those new pieces. Now that I’m working with the same items for a few months at a time, I’m wearing more of my necklaces and scarves. I feel like I’m putting more finishing touches on my outfits too. 5. Better Shopping Sense:: previously, I felt like I would aimlessly buy things that I wanted and maybe wasn’t in love with. Now that I wear the same items on a more regular basis, I better be in love with them since I can’t just switch what I’m wearing all the time now. I also feel like I’m buying better quality because I’m not spreading my shopping funds so thinly. My closet seems to have a good focus now. I plan on continuing in some sort of capsule wardrobe way for the foreseeable future. Mostly my reasons are financial, but these five reasons above are icing on the cake! Which reason would be most appealing to you?
Read MoreDecember Ipsy and Birchbox Unboxing Videos
My Birchbox and Ispy Glam Bag came a day apart this time, so I ended up combining the videos. It got a little long, so I apologize for that in advance. Get your very own Glam Bag here and Birchbox here. Ipsy products:: Bumble and Bumble straight blow dry Tarte deluxe lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara NYX cosmetics butter lip balm Cailyn cosmetics just mineral eye polish Nourish Organic renewing eye cream Birchbox products:: Vasanti kajal extreme intense eye pencil in rose gold Ojon rare blend oil moisture therapy SeaRx Microdermabrasion face and body scrub Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge (in a very bright pink) Rusk texture spray
Read MoreFour Inexpensive Ways to Decorate for the Season
var search_me = ‘165_29191’; var scriptElems = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’), i=scriptElems.length – 1, curLoc; for (; i; –i) { curLoc = scriptElems[i]; if (‘innerText’ in curLoc) { if (curLoc.innerText.indexOf(search_me)) break; }else if (‘textContent’ in curLoc) { if (curLoc.textContent.indexOf(search_me)) break; }} addImpression(165,29191);var clkHndlr = function(event) { addListenersForClickAround(165,29191, curLoc); };addEvent(window, ‘load’, clkHndlr); We all have that relative that changes their decorations for each and every season change. I did not inherit that trait. My own home is kind of season-less, but there are four things I do to freshen up my decor on a budget. ONE:: Throw pillows Throw pillows are a great and inexpensive way to change your decor for the seasons for a few reasons. First, they store great in space bags because they vacuum up small. Second, they don’t go out of style from year to year. Third, most pillows and covers don’t cost any more than $25. Also a bonus is that spring usually works for summer and white works year round. Here are some winter picks:: one two three TWO:: Seasonal food and flowers Of course seasonal flowers are an obvious choice, but foods are great too. You can get some amazing deals at farmers markets too. For spring and summer, I love decorating with lemons, limes, and avocados. Fall is a great time for decorative gourds and pumpkins, of course. Winter is a great time for oranges, grapefruits, and pomegranates. All of these items can be bought by the pound for just a few dollars when in season. THREE:: Wreaths Most folks think of these as a strictly winter but there are great tutorials for burlap wreaths for spring and summer. My fall and winter favorites are these fun yarn wreaths. They’re a great way to bring in color. The supplies to make them are inexpensive too. I made my last yarn wreath for about $12. FOUR:: Candles Where you might think candles are not decor, they are a great way to bring in color in some instances and a way to bring in smells of each season. This winter I chose Old Factory candles. Old Factory candles are hand poured, soy-wax candles made in the US. I chose the winter wonderland (which is currently unavailable, but keep checking back). The scents are roasted chestnut, hot cocoa, and fresh snow. All of the smells are premium quality. The fresh snow is the clean smell, hot cocoa smells warm…
Read MoreSleeveless Blouse Remixed
While I should be introducing my winter capsule wardrobe today, I’m not ready yet. Since I’m leaving town tomorrow I decided I would wait and introduce it next Monday. Even though I’m not introducing it, I’m already wearing most of my winter clothes. One item I thought I would be shelving for the winter temps would be this blouse. When I opted to insert a sleeveless blouse into my fall capsule back in late September/early October, it was fine. The weather only called for cardigans. Now I’m wearing cardigans plus winter coats. Well, some days I’m wearing cardigans and winter coats. Other days I’m contemplating unpacking shorts because it’s still the South. Anne, of @fablifeforever, posted this outfit a few weeks ago and I immediately knew I could layer my blouse in the same way. I would recommend adding this blouse to your wardrobe for sure at the current online price. Though a little sheer, the pattern masks any transparency. The blouse is light weight enough for layering in the winter and for wearing alone in the summer. How can you pass up a houndstooth plaid pattern, too? How are you transitioning your sleeveless tops? **this post contains affiliate links** blouse:: J.Crew sweater:: J.Crew (similar) necklace:: J.Crew (similar) pants:: J.Crew (similar) initial bracelet:: LUMO arrow bracelet:: J.Crew (similar) bow ring:: Madewell (similar) shoes:: Cole Haan Linking up with: Lauren at Fizz and Frosting
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