October 8

I didn't know which shoes to wear. I went with the red flats.

October 7

This outfit needed some assistance. It evolved throughout the morning with the help of some ladies in a facebook group.

Top is old from an outlet
Scarf and pants are old from Loft
Jacket is from Kohls

October 6

I had a big presentation, so I wanted to be extra fancy. Love these shoes from JustFab for feeling fancy but comfortable!

October 5

I found this skirt packed away with my winter stuff. It's a summer skirt, so I wanted to wear it, but it was definitely chilly. I don't think this outfit worked at all.

Top is from Loft
Skirt is Old Navy
Leggings from Jane.com
Boots are Aerosoles

October 4

I usually don't dress myself well on the weekends. Since I'm lounging or going to soccer or cleaning, I tend to wear sweatpants and a tee shirt. It's what I was wearing right before this photo, but I decided to go on a Target run, and put on some real person clothes.

Heres a top from Jane.com, a pair of Loft jeans, and One Star sneakers.

October 3

We went out to dinner, and I tried some new things. I wore my new JustFab boots, my new Stitchfix top, and tried rolling my jeans.

It didn't quite work out, but I loved how they looked together.

September 15

Another day, another dress. This was a new purchase from Ann Taylor outlet.

Also wearing my lovely JustFab shoes. Check them out and get your first pair for super cheap with VIP membership! (Your first pair of shoes is UNDER $20!!)

September 8

I've been inconsistent about taking pictures and terrible about posting them here. So here's what I wore for the first day of school. My Stitch Fix dress and my new Lucky Emmie flats!

Stitch Fix #4

Somehow I never posted my fourth fix! I requested a transition to fall box, and also indicated that I would love some things to challenge my comfort zone.

How does Stitch Fix work?

You pay $20 in styling fee, which is applied to your purchase. You set your style, tell them a little about yourself, set price points, then a stylist styles you. If you buy it all, you get a 25% discount. You can return it all (but then lose the $20) for free shipping.

In total, this would cost $224.50 (after the $20 is applied. It includes the pants, the dress, the blouse, shorts, and jacket.

My referral link is https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3625174

What did you get?

Here's my "Style Card," which included a note from my stylist, Alyssa.

Since I waited so long to post this, I don't have the pricing.

 This terry dress was so unbelievably comfortable. So soft, but it really looked like a nightgown. I love the detail at the leg, but... does my belly really look that big???

 Here are three pieces I received. I really liked this cardigan, which was super soft and a great color plus had pockets! But the pricing is just too far outside my budget. Back it went.

This sleeveless top was just meh. It looks good with the cardigan, but it's not really flattering. Again, I had a hard time with the price to justify.

I really like this top, and it's what I kept. I really like how it looks with these olive skinny jeans too, but they were way too short and WAY too expensive for me to justify keeping them. But boy do they look great with those boots.

So, I was pretty frustrated after this fix. I liked a bunch of her choices, but in so many ways, they just weren't right for me. She did challenge me, sort of, and I kept the piece most different from other items in my closet. But I just cannot justify the prices for Stitch Fix, so I'm not sure if I'll order again... at least not until we start making more money!

With all that said, I really love the rush of getting something unexpected, and I really love not having to shop around. I also like having someone more fashionable than myself do clothes shopping for me.

Back to School Shopping

Back to School shopping. It's a necessary evil at which I'm not particularly good. Additionally, I had my sons with me when I stopped at the Ann Taylor Factory, so I had a short supply of time and patience.

I want to look good and be confident but I'm also lazy and not very stylish. I tend toward a blouse and pants, sometimes with a cardi or accessory. I start every year wanting to break this rut and falling back into it by, oh, November.

So here's what I bought. What should I keep? My husband is not helpful at all with telling me what does and doesn't look good.

Up first, a dress picked my 8 year old son. This was 50% off and I had a coupon for 15% off, totaling $50.99. It's probably more than I would typically spend on a dress, but I think it looks pretty good.

Up next, a tank picked by my 5 year old son. I told him I'm not sure if I can wear this one to school or not, but he loved it, saying, "You can just wear it on Saturdays and Sundays." This was on clearance and final price is $12.74.

I have been seeking cobalt pants, so I was thrilled to find a pair that looks good and didn't cost a lot of money at the outlet. Final price $23.96.

I'm not sure about this top. I have it pictured here both out and tucked in. Also on clearance, this one costs $22.94.

 This pants are perfect. They have a neat little print that looks like black and white checks but also has a rainbow effect too! Pricier than I might spend, though, final price $47.59. You can also see the famed Lucky Brand Emmie flats. I've heard so much about these being comfortable teacher shoes, so I had to snag a pair when they were only $19.98 on Amazon. They're pretty comfortable, though slightly too long for my foot.

I was not sure about this top, but it was a great price. I think it looks pretty nice in the pictures, and will work well with my cream colored waterfall cardigan. Final price $16.99.

This sweater is another I wasn't sure about. The fit is great, but the neckline is strange. Final price $21.24.

I think I like this top, however, the price point is not one I'm willing to spend. Final price $46.74!

Please give feedback!?!

Stitch fix #3

I felt it was time for another Fix! It's back to school time so I asked for items to transition back to work.

Never tried Stitch Fix? Here's how it works:

You pay $20 in styling fee, which is applied to your purchase. You set your style, tell them a little about yourself, set price points, then a stylist styles you. If you buy it all, you get a 25% discount. You can return it all (but then lose the $20) for free shipping.

In total, this would cost $224.50 (after the $20 is applied. It includes the pants, the dress, the blouse, shorts, and jacket.

My referral link is https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3625174

Feedback on what I should keep is welcome!

Here's the nice note sent by my stylist this month, Jennifer. You can see all the pieces along with styling suggestions.

Here's the lovely wrapped prints!

Here are two pieces, the 41Hawthorn Kassim Faux Wrap dress ($68) and the Liverpool Kolten denim jacket ($98).

I was disappointed in this denim jacket, but tried it with the dress as suggested anyway. The dress looks amazing, but the jacket does not. I could really really use a new denim jacket, but am not paying $98 for it! I hate the light wash, and this is a no go, even though it was really comfortable!

So here's another piece, the 41Hawthorn Moni Abstract Chevron Stud Detail Blouse ($58). I really like a lot about this one, but it's a little tight across the back and I'm not a fan of gray. Plus, these photos show that it's sort of see through! I'm not sure on this one at all! Also wearing the Liverpool Paley Lace Printed Denim Short ($44). The leg holes are much wider than what I'm used to, and while I like the print, I'm not really on board with these shorts.

Here's the Moni blouse again with the most disappointing piece in my box. These pants are Kut From the Kloth Siena Cropped Pant ($58). I love them! Then I saw how long they are. As you might note, in my personal note, Jen said they are 25.5 inches in the inseam (I tend toward 26 or 27 inches) and should be perfect for me. They are not labeled petite (though I specifically requested petite pants, and as I said in a previous box, I have only been requesting because they now carry petite lengths. For me, 25.5 inseam is neither pant nor cropped, but floodwaters.

So I tried again with these, rolling the bottoms to make it more true capri (this is another top I was trying on). This made the situation even worse, making it appear that these pants are simply too large in spots and the 

So, I'm not really sure what to do about the Stitch Fix situation. I haven't been blown away, as I hope. I see that many people say Stitch Fix's goal is to get you to buy 1 or 2 pieces (and the whole business model really ensures that!), and while there is a piece (the dress) that I'm buying because I love it rather than trying to not lose my styling fee, I wish I could get pieces like what others have gotten! I might need to play with my profile settings again or something.

What are your thoughts? Did Jen do a better job than the stylists from Fix 1 or 2?

4/23

Capsule Wardrobe

So we've all seen the Pinterest posts going around about building a capsule wardrobe, a minimalist wardrobe that the poster puts together into amazing outfits. I read a post that is so in line with what Flylady advocates, that we need to get rid of anything we don't look fabulous in and absolutely love to make room for what really matters.

I'm so inspired.

So that post directed me to Un-fancy.com, where I found a post about doing that very thing.

I've been wearing the same pants/top rinse repeat rotation for the past week or so. I was doing well for awhile with the PinnedItSpinnedIt, and I felt so so good on those days. But I can't keep wanting to buy new stuff every week. In fact, the challenge inspired me to buy teal pants because I loved them so much, but the ones from Jane.com did not fit at all. So I still have them and probably won't wear them, I can return them, but it will cost almost as much as the pants cost between shipping and return shipping.

So, I think I'm going to start phase one tonight, pulling everything out of my closet. Which jeans will I keep (right now I have dressing up jeans and regular weekend jeans and jeans I'd be ok wearing to school)? Which tops? How can I keep my wardrobe fresh while limiting it to under 40 pieces?

I know there isn't anyone reading this, but of the pieces you've seen me wear, which should I keep?

And, could YOU pare down your wardrobe to 37 items not including jewelry?

Recent Jane purchases

I struggle when I see great looking items on Jane.com. Clothing purchases have been so very mixed. For example, this tunic looks great, and I'm really happy with the purchase. But these pants... I LOVE them, but they are so tight, I could barely get them over my calves. Jane has a return policy that you'll love it, but I'll lose the shipping charges in both directions; seems silly. I don't know what I'm going to do with these pants at all.

But I love that I challenged myself to go outside my comfort zone with some bright colored pants. I just have to find a pair I can try on and return easily.

4/14 #AprilPinnedItSpinnedIt

Now THIS spin is outside my comfort zone. I NEVER would have chosen a teal necklace for this outfit. But with that said, I have gotten SO many compliments today! I guess it works!

4/13 #AprilPinnedItSpinnedIt

After a wonderful spring break, it's back to work and back to trying to move my outfits outside of my clothing comfort zone. This spin is not really doing that at all.

But it looks slightly different than the way I typically would wear it, and I love this new white necklace with this top!

4/2 #aprilpinneditspinnedit

More shopping

I took the kids on an adventure today, so I totally dressed Mom tastic. But my Loft order arrived and I think I've found at least one winner in the great jeans search of 2015! I thought Modern fit was for me, but really I need Curvy fit.

In a previous order, I got an anorak. I loved the print but not the jacket itself, so when I found the same print in a sale priced skirt, I jumped on it.

My husband often tells me he doesn't like me in skirts/dresses, so it was pretty shocking when he said he likes this one. Even if it wasn't only $12, I'd say that's a keeper!

4/1 #Aprilpinneditspinnedit

I'm not thrilled with my interpretation today. I really forgot what the outfit was, but remembered cream and pink, so went with this.

I'm on the left and the inspiration is on the right.

3/31 #Marchpinneditspinnedit

After 13 or so hours in those leopard heels on Monday, I needed a break.

I really like the original pin better than my spin, and it really makes me want some green trousers and floral blouses in my closet. Alas, I hope to be austere this month and not spend any money on clothes. We'll see how long that lasts; hopefully awhile since I hope to be transitioning to spring clothing soon!!