Get Pin-spired: October Edition

Yay! It's October!! I just love October. It's definitely one of my favorite months. For me, it's the signal of cooler weather and all things fall. It hasn't quite cooled down yet here in Florida, but I just know we're getting really close!! At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Today I'm linking up with Shay, Sheaffer and Mel again for this month's Get Pin-spired. This is where we find outfits on Pinterest and try to re-create them using items from our own closets.

I'm all about leopard print right now. I've actually owned lots of leopard items for quite a while, but I just keep adding more and more! I have a leopard purse, belt, flats, scarf, dress, skirt, top... I think that's everything (for now)! In case you couldn't tell, I LOVE leopard print! I've worn my leopard dress a lot over the past year or so. It's actually an Old Navy find from last season. But after I saw this picture on Pinterest, I was inspired to wear my leopard dress with a pop of red. So, I busted out my red scarf and boots, and luckily I stayed in the A/C while I wore it!

That's it folks! Just my leopard dress, a red scarf and my boots! Simple, right? The month got away from me, so I didn't have time to take photos of any other outfits, but you can bet that I'll be pairing lots of cute things with my brand spankin' new pair of Dolce Vita Jaxen booties!!

I just ordered these babies over the weekend, so keep your fingers crossed that they fit and are just are fabulous as I've dreamed they'll be! 

Get Pin-spired: August Edition

Happy August! I'm so excited that the summer is winding down! August, to me, is the end. It means it's time to get ready for fall! But, unfortunately, the weather doesn't agree. So here in Florida we're still wearing shorts. I'm linking up with Shay, Sheaffer and Mel again for this month's Get Pin-spired. This is where we find outfits on Pinterest and try to re-create them using items from our own closets.

I'm all about bright colors this summer, so here's my take on a couple Pin-spired outfits. I think the first outfit looks a little "grandma-ish" in the picture, but I tried to make it my own. I took some peach colored shorts and a navy striped top, and voila!

Top: Gap, similar here

Shorts: J. Crew

Watch: Fossil

My next outfit is the same basic concept... bright colored shorts, but this time with stripes AND polka dots! Since it's a little too warm for layering a blazer right now, I combined my striped and polka dots in one top!

You probably can't tell from the first picture, but see how my top has stripes AND polka dots?

Top: LOFT (old)

Shorts: J. Crew

Watch: Fossil

Bracelets: LOFT and Stella & Dot

That's it for this month! I'm can't wait for the boots, scarves, sweaters and layers that the next few months will bring!

Christmas in July

Since I've been searching for churches, I've also watched a few services online just to get a feel for what the church might be like. Yesterday morning I watched a service I really enjoyed, and the name of the sermon was "Christmas in July." The pastor was talking about how we're given gifts every day that we should be using. Maybe we have a passion for something that others don't, and that could very well be what our "gift" is. It was really encouraging and made me think that I should try to be more thankful for what I have, and not focus on the things that go wrong in my life.

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One thing I'm especially thankful for is my family. Over the weekend, I was especially blessed to be able to see my family, including a cousin and aunt who live in Georgia. I can honestly say that this was one of the best visits we've ever had together. We all had such a great time talking, laughing, eating, and "touristing" around. By the way, it's kind of fun to tour the town where you live. I saw things I didn't even know about, and maybe some things I never needed to know about! I truly love my family and know that we'll always be there for each other. To me, that is the ultimate gift!

While I'm on the subject of gifts, why not grab a gift or two for yourself?! Through Tuesday night, everything is 30% off at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. I already have a shopping cart full of stuff that I want to order! And don't forget to check out the Nordstrom anniversary sale! There are lots of great deals to be had. If you don't want to deal with the work of sifting through everything, Sheaffer at Pinterest Told Me To has already done it for you! Be sure to check out all of her fabulous picks! Happy Monday!

Jeans Day

This probably seems really silly and insignificant, but I'm so excited that it's "Jeans Friday!" For the past 3.5 years I wasn't able to wear jeans to work on Fridays, or ever. My previous job allowed it, and I really got used to having that casual and comfortable day. So when I found out that my new job has a casual Friday, too, I was pretty excited!

The only issue is that I really don't own any work-appropriate jeans anymore. Most of my jeans are skinny and colored. I do have a pair of not-as-skinny jeans that are nice and dark, so those are making their debut today. But I'm going to have to wear flats each time I wear them, so I'd like to get a pair of boot cut jeans so I can wear my Sperrys, too.

Why has it gotten so difficult to find nice boot cut (or any work-appropriate) jeans?! I know I'm a little more challenging because I need a longer inseam (usually 34"), but it should be simpler than this! I'm off to scour the internet. The jeans search is on! Happy Friday!

Get Pin-spired: July Edition

Hard to believe, but it's already the 1st of another month! This year is really flying by. Once again, I'm linking up with Shay, Sheaffer and Mel for Get Pin-spried. This is where we find outfits on Pinterest and try to re-create them using items from our own closets.

I decided to try something really out of my element this month. I went monochromatic! My first look made me feel a little bit like a giant bottle of Pepto Bismol when I first put it on, but I think the belt really helped, and maybe this look worked after all! My pink tones don't have as much contrast as they probably should, but the lighting in my picture isn't great, either.

Tee: J. Crew

Shorts: J. Crew (old)

Belt: LOFT

My next outfit was inspired by Alison at Get Your Pretty On. Before I talk about my clothes, I just want to take a moment to say that Alison is one of my very favorite bloggers! I'm so happy I found her blog, and she has been very supportive of me, always there to offer advice and comment on my posts.  And let's face it, she is gorgeous!! So here's my re-creation of Alison's "white on white" look.

Tee: Forever 21 (old)

Shorts: JC Penney (old)

Scarf: Gap 

That's all for this month! I really feel like I'm dressing so much better this summer, thanks to Pinterest and all the great ideas out there. Usually, I feel so frumpy and unkempt during the summer, but not this year!

Get Pin-spired: June Edition

I've been on a roll with lots of food posts lately. I hope everyone is enjoying the new recipes, but I must interrupt my food kick today for this month's edition of Pinspired! Be sure to check back, though. I have lots more yummy recipes to share soon! Today I'm linking up again with Shay, Sheaffer and Mel.

This month was really a challenge. I realized that I don't have much in the way of summer clothes! I think I cleaned out my closet a few months ago and got rid of all my tees, tanks and shorts!! But here's what I managed to pull off.

My first outfit is so simple, but I love how put together it looks! I just threw on my denim shirt with my white shorts and mint bubble necklace, and voila! 

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Shirt: Gap Outlet (old)

Shorts: JC Penney (old)

Watch: Fossil

Mint bubble necklace: Etsy

This next outfit is a neon top and pink shorts number. I went with a green top rather than the yellow, and I don't have lace shorts, but I do have bright pink ones! 

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Tee: Gap

Shorts: J. Crew

Watch: Fossil

Bracelet: LOFT (old)

My last outfit is another neon inspired look. It's just a bright tee with denim shorts. So easy! 

Via

Tee: Gap

Shorts: Forever 21 (old)

Watch: Fossil

Bracelet: LOFT (old)

That's it for this month! I always feel like I'm in a fashion rut during the summer. I just feel so much better in the fall and winter when I'm wearing my colored jeans, sweaters, scarves and boots. But since it'll be several more months until that happens again, I'm trying to make the best of it with my shorts and tees. I really need more summer clothes, especially tanks and shorts, so hopefully I'll have some new items to showcase for an upcoming Pinspired linky party!

Memorial Day Sale and a Funny Story!

I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day spending time with family and friends! Let's not forget our troops who have served this country, and those who continue to make sacrifices every day to keep us safe. God bless them!

Now for some sale info! Gap has had a Memorial Day weekend sale for the past four days. Today is the last day! Lots of things are 40% off in the store! If you can't make it to a store, just shop online, but you'll only get 20% off. On Saturday, I went to the store to check out the sale, and I scored some great deals! 

I got this tee for only $2.79!! Can you believe that?! I don't think I've EVER bought a shirt for that price! It was on super sale (all essential tees are 50% off), and then an additional 30% off in the store! I love the neon yellow color for summer!

Next, I bought this top for $9.97! Obviously, I'm really into the neon trend right now! Going back to my 80's roots! These are on sale for $10 online, so not much of a difference in the store price.

I wanted a striped tee, too, and I had been eyeing this one online for quite a while. I'm so glad I waited and bought it in the store, though. The sizing was a little off. I typically always wear a small in Gap sizes, but in this shirt, I had to buy an XS, and it's still a bit of a loose fit (but I like that). 

While I was browsing the sale rack, I also came across this shirt, which I thought would be perfect for work, or pairing with jeans. One of my favorite bloggers, Sheaffer, at Pinterest Told Me To, has raved about this shirt! She has it in green and has worn it with lots of cute things! They didn't have my size in green, so I opted for the bright pink instead. It was only $15.39!

All in all, I think I did pretty well at Gap! I usually have better luck with them when I shop online, but in this case, the prices were better in the store, and they still had a decent selection. But since I had a store credit at LOFT and it was right next door, I popped in there to see what I could find. I tried on a couple casual tops/tees, but I didn't like the fit. They seemed too tight and the material was a little scratchy. However, I did find a couple of clearance tops for work. I got both of these on sale, and then they were an additional 50% off!

I'm excited to have some new tops for work and for the weekends! So now, onto the funny story... While I was in Gap, I had been in the fitting room trying things on. Well, just as I opened the door to come out, this older lady was standing there and immediately said, "Hi! What do you think of this dress on me?" Now, before I tell how you I responded, I have to say that I was caught a little off guard! I didn't expect someone to be standing RIGHT THERE when I walked out. It's like she had been waiting on me!

So, I took one look at the dress she had tried on, and started trying to think of how I could give an honest response in a tactful way. The first thing I noticed was that the dress was skin tight and her belly was sticking out so much!! It was so flattering! The dress was a wide stripe maxi tube dress. Not exactly something you'd picture a woman in her 70s to have on. Now, perhaps she was in her late 60s, but I really think she was in her 70s and had benefited from some plastic surgery. 

I was trying to buy time with my response, so I said, "Uhh, well... it's kind of..." and she responded, "A little young for me?" And I said, "Yes, yes I think it is." I was so glad she said that, because I was about to say that I thought it looked a little tight! Yikes! Maybe that wouldn't have been the best response, but it would've been honest. She said she thought it was a little too young for her, so thankfully, she walked out of the fitting room without it! And, just so you can get the full effect of my story, this is the dress she tried on!

Via

Real Simple Tips for Shopping

I love to shop just as much as the next girl, but I do have a method to my madness. Here are my real simple tips for shopping!

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1. Shop online.

I would say that at least 90% of the things I buy are purchased online, and a good portion of those items are bought on eBay. Why should I spend my money on gas driving around from store to store, only to find out that they don't have the size or color I'm looking for? Plus, coming home to a package at your doorstep is just so fun! And better yet, you can shop in your pajamas if you want!!

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2. Find a few stores/brands that you really like, and try to stick with them.

I used to shop at several different places, but because of that I never knew how their sales worked, how things fit, etc. Now that my style has evolved over the years, I have a few stores that I buy most things from, and since I know what their policies are, when things go on sale, and how their sizes fun, it makes it so much simpler to order online!

3. Follow a "fashion icon" or define your own style and stay true to it.

One way to prevent yourself from spending too much money is to stick to a certain style or color scheme and don't stray from it. I used to buy things just because they were on sale and I thought they were kind of cute. I didn't think about how much I would actually wear it or if it would look good on me. But now, I stick to a certain style and only buy things I love, or things that some of my "fashion icons" have and recommend. (By the way, my fashion icons are not celebrities and supermodels... they're just regular bloggers like me!) It's also important to buy colors that work well with your skin tone. So many times, I'd get something home and put it on, and then realize the color completely washed me out! Now I know which colors work for me and which ones don't, and I won't buy something that makes me look sick!

4. Try to never pay full price.

There's usually no reason to pay full price for something. It will eventually go on sale. And if you're afraid they'll run out of your size or color before it does go on sale, try to find a coupon. Especially when you order online, you can almost always find some sort of discount, or free shipping at the very least. Follow sites like retailmenot.com and do Google searches for coupons. Some sites like Gap, Old Navy, J. Crew and LOFT even post the coupon codes directly to their websites!

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5. If you can't justify wearing something several times, don't buy it!

Even if you think it's a great deal, it's not worth it if you're only going to wear it once. Make sure you buy things you love and will get a lot of use out of. I'd rather pay more for something I'll wear often, rather than getting a steal on something only to decide later that I don't like it.

6. Get more mileage out of your clothes.

By this, I mean that after you're done with something, try to sell it on eBay or consignment. You may only get a few dollars for it, but isn't that better than nothing at all? I try to sell most of my things that are still in good condition, and then I use the money I made on eBay to buy new things. That way I'm usually not spending much at all! It's just a continuous cycle!

Get Pin-spired: May Edition

April flew by! I can't believe it's already the 1st of the month and time to Get Pin-spired again!! I'm linking up with Mix and Match Mama, Pinterest Told Me To, and The Larson Lingo today to show you a couple of spring inspired looks. And as a bonus, I'm also linking up with Alison at Get Your Pretty On!

Because it's already super hot here in Florida, I decided to wear shorts for all of my recreations. First up is an outfit inspired by Ali Fedotowsky from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Ali's style always looks so effortless, but casual cool. I have a couple plaid shirts, but never wore them with my shorts. I always paired them with skinny jeans and thought they were more of a fall look. But now my plaid is here to stay all year! 

Plaid shirt: Gap (similar)

Tank top: Old Navy

Denim shorts: Forever 21 (very old!)

Watch: Fossil

I do have a white watch, but I completely forgot to wear it for this look. Next time!

My next look incorporates my famous mint bubble necklace. I think I have worn this necklace for almost every edition of Pin-spired! I'm getting so much use out of it!

Mint Bubble Necklace: Etsy

White tee: Forever 21 (old)

Pink shorts: Express (similar)

I forgot to jazz up my outfit with some of my bangles! I was keeping it pretty casual, but I'll have to remember to wear them next time! 

I realized that I'm beginning to run out of shorts and casual tops. I might just have to go shopping before the June Pin-spired, especially since I have a Hawaii vacation to plan for!!