Wins

February 16, 2016

Weekend Wins! 2/13-2/14

Ah, Valentine’s Day. This weekend was pretty great. Let’s recap!

My Wantable Accessories Box Arrived

I reviewed the box in full yesterday and overall I was pretty pleased with my box. There were a couple of hits and a couple of misses, but I can’t wait to get my box next month. If you’re not familiar with the Wantable Accessories Box, here’s the 411: You sign up at wantable.com. You take a quick quiz to tell them about your likes and dislikes. You pay $40. You get a box of 4-5 fun accessories to check out at home! You keep anything you like or send back what you don’t for a refund. No risk. It’s a great way to try new things and it won’t break the bank.

A Gift? On Valentine’s Day?

You might remember this Fossil Tailor Leather Band Watch from my January 20 Want It Wednesday post. My wonderful husband remembered that I’d fallen in love with it but couldn’t remember what store we’d seen it in. True to (his) form, instead of ruining the surprise he drove me all the way to the mall, where he intended to wander jewelry counters until he spotted the watch. Lucky for him (and our evening plans), I figured out his secret as he attempted to casually scope out the counter at Macy’s. There was another woman at the counter picking out matching watches to surprise her husband for their 30th wedding anniversary – “Standing the test of time.” Say it with me: awww.

Spending Time With My One and Only

The best way to spend Valentine’s Day is with the one you love, or watching Law & Order: SVU on the couch by yourself, eating chips and napping. Both equally great. I had to run out in the morning, but since it was a snowy day I brought home surprise pizza-making supplies and we stayed in, made a Valentine’s Day heart-shaped pizza pie, and watched TV. He even made cookies (and a special heart-shaped one just for me – thanks wedding gifts!).

The Walking Dead is Back (Spoiler Alert)

Yes! It’s back. I’ve waited many long weeks to find out what new, fresh hell awaits our friends. This episode has been hailed as one of the best and one of the worst of the series. It was definitely a huge shout out to the comic (as I understand – I’m avoiding reading far enough to get ahead of the show) but some parts were a little tough to swallow.

I’m not talking about the Anderson family meeting their untimely demise. Their characters were poorly developed and I was ready to see them go. And I get Rick going a little whackadoo after watching his girlfriend and her two children be consumed by the undead only to turn around and find that his son has been shot (AGAIN. Come on, Carl) in the FACE. I am of the humble opinion that it would send most of us in a blind rage. I’m understanding of the fact that he decided to go outside and start slaying some mothereffing zombies like he was Buffy Summers.

But then everyone else in town decides this is the night they take back the street – and they DO. And despite being totally helpless just 48 hours earlier as the Wolves completely slaughtered them, tonight they kick zombie ass. Because they’ve had enough? Because they’re just not going to take it anymore? Because it was required to move forward in the storyline? Anyway, this was all I could think of:

Also, not a single one of them gets hurt. Not even a bite. Who knew taking out zombies was so easy? And that Judith, man. Has to be stowed under a curtain of rancid, stinking zombie guts in the Virginia summer and doesn’t make a peep. I’d cry under those circumstances and I’m a grown woman.

That’s all for this weekend, friends. Back next week with more Weekend Wins… and possibly more Walking Dead commentary. I just can’t help myself.

February 1, 2016

Weekend Wins! 1/30-1/31

The weekend is over already! This weekend was a total whirlwind. My husband’s birthday was this past week and after much unproductive prodding about how he wanted to celebrate, I organized a surprise shindig for Friday night. After a delicious sushi dinner, we hopped in the car and started driving to our mysterious second location: a place he’s been asking to go for months. ‘And where might that be?’, you might be asking. A hot new bar? A swanky lounge? A place you might wear your own shoes? Oh no. We went a nice little night spot called the bowling alley. What is it with guys and bowling? I’m into bowling for the first couple of frames and then… shrugs. Bowling is the part that interrupts my conversation. It’s also where I catch up on recent music videos. Who knew Justin Bieber had so many current hits? Also, did my mom just type that?

Saturday night I was continuing my online search for a spring parka when I ran across this little number on American Eagle’s website. The AEO Cotton City Parka is on sale for $39.98, which is right in the jacket sweet spot for me.

Problem: the only size left online is an XXS. I ordered it anyway and am crossing my fingers that it’s not too small. Generally I wouldn’t be super concerned (especially in light of my continuing struggle with too-large clothes) but stores that carry juniors sizing sometimes have actual tiny clothes for 12 year olds. I stopped into an “AEO” as the kids are calling nowadays and they had one remaining jacket in XS, which I tried as a size test. I might just be able to get away with that XXS. Will update when it arrives.

Since they offer free shipping with a $50 purchase and I was already mostly there (their strategy is working), I also ordered a nice, safe AEO Boyfriend Plaid shirt. I honestly don’t know what the sizing is like on these. Sometimes ‘boyfriend’ is code for ‘huge and shapeless’. I ordered an extra small so we’ll see when I get it.

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I almost never go into American Eagle Outfitters so while in today, I took a look at their clearance racks which were an awesome 70% off the lowest marked price. They had a lot of really nice sweater options but most of them are a small percentage wool blend – a huge bummer for me because I’m really sensitive (allergic?) to wool in pretty much any dose. I did manage to find 2 new chunky wool-free sweaters for a grand total of $22 (with tax) which was great. I might be an AEO convert.

Since I KonMari’d my wardrobe a few weeks ago, I’ve been seriously lacking in the jeans department. I got rid of anything I didn’t think was great or that didn’t fit me anymore (why do we hang onto those?). So I’ve basically been alternating 3 pairs of jeans. Today I picked up an alternative from J.Crew.

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These J. Crew Factory Midrise Skinny Jeans are a great color and a good amount of stretch. They don’t have that thin legging-feel that some skinny jeans do and the accompanying signage claimed that they don’t stretch out super fast. We’ll see about that, but they are on sale for $59.50 which is not too shabs for a decent pair of jeans.

Last but certainly not least, I have a new coworker in my home office space. So far, Bort is a little camera-shy and looking rough from his stint at the pet store but seems to be adjusting well to his new home. Say hi, Bort.

That’s all for me! How was your weekend?

January 26, 2016

Weekend Wins! 1/23-1/24

After my semi-disappointing Thursday night date unpacking my first Stitch Fix box, I took the opportunity to do some shopping after work on Friday night. It wasn’t the kind of “woe is me” shopping you do after trying to buy a bathing suit (ugh, but what is?). My Stitch Fix experience actually played into the trip in a completely positive way: it made me more aware of what I was looking for and how I wanted it to fit me. I met my husband at Nordstrom Rack with a renewed sense of shopping self and some unspent dollars in my figurative pocket.

Stitch Fix sent me a Daniel Rainn sleeveless V-neck blouse in a pattern that I didn’t care for, but the fit was great. At Nordstrom Rack I found an entire section of Daniel Rainn petite extra small tops at over 50% off. Score! I know I said I wouldn’t continue to buy the same shirt in different colors, but in this case I made an exception because I loved them both.

I’m a sucker for a good paisley. Old lady florals and paisley patterns are relevant to my interests and I love them dearly. I really like the black base on this with subdued tones. It whispers instead of shouting and I dig it. It was also only $24.97 so I was left with enough in the budget to get her a little friend…

Yes, it’s the same shirt in black. But black is super versatile and with the paisley pattern you can hardly tell they’re the same shirt. And say hello to those too-light Stitch Fix jeans (yep, I took these pictures on the same day). This blouse was also $24.97 and I paired both with my tortoise Stella Fossil watch with crystal dial. That watch goes with almost everything and I can’t recommend it enough (though I do recommend looking for it through an outlet or reseller to save some cash).

I can’t explain quite what I like so much about this Valette Lurex pullover sweater but I sure do. Though it looks white in the photo, the pattern on the front is actually a metallic threading that’s a little bit bling-y but still toned down and I dig it. It was $36.97 and I’m looking forward to experimenting with patterns or chambray underneath. As a side note, if you’re curious about my boots, they’re Coach Mirriam Leather Riding Boots. I got them for a song last spring at DSW and they waited several long months before I wore them this fall. They’re simple and a great color. If you can wait out boot season with hope in your heart that your size will remain, keep an eye on the clearance rack for the ones you love but can’t afford.

I picked up one last item on a Target trip on Sunday night. I’ve been looking for chunky sweaters to top my layers with that don’t double as a robe and I found a great one. The Open Cable Cardigan is on sale on Target’s website for $17.48 but it was on the clearance rack at my store for $7.48. It’s thick enough to hide the sleeve lines on my layered shirts but light enough not to leave me sweating profusely. The color is “camel” according to the Target website but I’d describe it as a mustard-y brown. A dijon, perhaps.

All this clothing-buying is directly counterproductive to my current KonMari obsession with purging. But is it? Marie Kondo tells you to keep the things you love and get rid of the things you don’t. I got rid of LOTS of clothing that didn’t ‘spark joy’. That didn’t mean that nothing would ever make me feel again. Just like you shouldn’t stay with a romantic partner (or friend, for that matter) who doesn’t fuel your engine, you shouldn’t feel that you have to keep the same wardrobe for your whole life just because it is still wearable. Some day it might not give me the same rush any more and at that point, it goes. But only after I give it a proper goodbye.

xo,

January 18, 2016

Weekend Wins! 1/16-1/17

I’ve always been a picky shopper, but I’ve made the mistake (on more occasions than I’d like to admit) of falling in love with a shirt (or jeans, or sweater, or…) in one color and picking up another color “just because”. Not because I saw that color and fell instantly, deeply, undeniably in love, but because I liked the original item and this was also… OK. Well, along with my new KonMar-esque lifestyle, I’m saying goodbye to that silly (and let’s face it, wasteful) practice. If it doesn’t make bedroom eyes at me from across a crowded room, we just aren’t going home together. If it doesn’t spark joy, I just don’t care.

I live in a very small town and the nearest large mall is about 40 minutes away. We have some big box stores along a main drag, but if I want to hit a Macy’s, I’m going out to that mall or going all the way into the city. Lucky for me, this weekend I had the opportunity to do both.

I actually only had one shopping mission this weekend: I wanted a large-but-not-too-large tote that I can bring to work with me. I want to be able to fit my lunch and work-related stuff but not my entire body. I know some ladies swear up and down by their huge-normous purses, but sometimes I want to find my keys. And I’m short. And I’m just not going to purchase a purse organizer. Ever.

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So the search was on for the perfect tote. Along the way I found a couple of other things that sparked joy, too.

Like these adorable Crown Vintage booties from DSW. Until a few months ago, I thought I hated heeled boots. I’d gone 30-some years without heeled boots and I didn’t care if I died without heeled boots. Don’t tell my husband, but sometimes you can be so, so wrong. They were $69.95 and I had a $10 coupon so I motored up to the counter and made these my own. I also bought about a half-size down. The reviews agree that they run a tad bit long and I like my shoes on the snug side. You can buy them here if you’re so inclined.

That was the easy buy. The tote? Not so easy. The Internet’s heart is all aflutter over the Madewell Transport tote and it’s a beautiful bag. Like, seriously lovely. I’d love to carry it around Brooklyn and bring flowers home inside of it like so many pictures on Pinterest. But the unfortunate truth is that it’s just too large. If you’re a few crucial inches taller than me (I’m just under 5’3″), I salute you and wish you well as you meet your Madewell Transport match. OR if you’re one of those tiny girls who pulls off the giant bag thing like a bandit, I’m jealous. Either way, it just wasn’t in the cards for me. Plus, there’s no zipper or other type of closing mechanism – there’s just one fairly small enclosed pocket inside. Even though I leave my bag embarrassingly open a large percentage of the time, I need the security of some sort of enclosure for my twice-stolen wallet. Sorry, love.

There are a few more in the same vein: the J. Crew Downing tote, the Baggu basic tote, the various Michael Kors Jet Set bags, even Fossil has a few cute ones (Sydney Shopper or Sydney Work). But all of them either slightly too large, slightly too small, or an odd shape. I searched the mall. I even went by the local outlet mall on my way home from an errand this morning. In a last minute stop and after telling my husband I was on the road home, I dropped into the Marshalls. I should have known Marshalls would save the day. And I apologize in advance that this picture is going to be anti-climactic but it’s all I could find.

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In truth, the bag is the perfect size and shape and has a… wait for it… zipper! The Michael Kors Montauk large tote bag is black nylon which means that my messy ass won’t have to worry about ruining it with a pen or getting stuck in a sudden downpour. Plus I still get my beloved brown leather detail in the straps and along the top seam. The best part? I did not spend $180+. This baby was $79.99 so I got a shirt to go along with it: a fine striped Olive & Oak long sleeved shirt that you can also purchase at the girl’s Poshmark shop that I ‘borrowed’ this picture from. Love the two different stripe sets and that this is a cover-your-tush shirt that doesn’t come down to the backs of my thighs (short girl problems). This also left some money in my budget this month mayyybe for something I’ll discuss on Want It Wednesday this week, but here’s a spoiler: it’s small, fits on your wrist, and keeps time. What could it be?!

My other awesome, fantastic weekend wins? Getting dinner and slumber partying with my sister on Friday night, eating vegan cake from Chicago Diner, and having an extended brunch date with one of my dearest friends on Saturday morning. We also got new living room furniture delivered today so UPGRADE. A great weekend outside of shopping and will have pictures to share soon!

Until then, eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark.