tuesday (i've never...)

handmade (by me) blouse   merona artist cardigan

american eagle skirt {thrifted}   old navy bauble flats

merona belt {thrifted target stock}

 

isn't there a drinking game called "i've never..."?  i've never played it before, but if i were to my first statement (after that one) would be, "i've never taken anything to the dry cleaners before."  i imagine that statement would get everyone else drinking because really, am i the only person in the world who has never brought clothes to the dry cleaners before?  well, i bought a crowd cut (it's like a local groupon) today for a dry cleaners near my work that doesn't expire until july with the aim of bringing in a couple of my winter coats to be dry cleaned at the end of this season.  so, now i need some help from you:  what should i expect when i bring my coats in to be dry cleaned?  how long does it typically take?  do you have any idea how much it might cost and if this groupon was worth it?  should i call ahead to make sure they'll even clean a coat?  have i thought of every possible question to ask, or is there anything else i should know about going to the dry cleaners?  do you think it is totally gross that i wore that thrifted blazer yesterday and didn't get it dry cleaned first?  is there anything you haven't done that you're sure everyone else in the world has that you want to share with me to make me feel better?  i need a lot of help, don't i?

{enter my giveaway for a handmade skirt!}

monday (camel)

 

jh collectables blazer {thrifted}   handmade (by me) skirt & necklace
old navy turtleneck   american eagle eve ruffle flats

i went to savers on saturday, as i had a $3 off a $10 purchase coupon that was going to expire at the end of the month.  i haven't been there in a very, very long time.  however, savers has something going for it:  they have a large scarf collection, which the goodwills in my area do not, so that was my focus this shopping trip.  en route to the scarves in the back corner of the store, my eyes zoned in on this cute camel blazer that was on the end of a rack i passed.  i checked the size, price, and draped it over my arm to try on as i headed towards the scarves.  turns out, it pretty much fits like a glove and the $6.99 price tag, in addition to an unopened package of tights for $2.49 and a john weitz scarf for 99 cents, helped me reach my $10 limit easily.  i loved this blazer so much that i immediately came home and made this skirt to wear with it this week.  don't look at it too long or you'll go cross-eyed!  did you thrift anything good this weekend?  what do you think of this blazer?

{enter my giveaway for a handmade skirt!}

sunday (giveaway!)

giveaway time:  many of my readers know by now how much i love making skirts.  unfortunately (or fortunately for you) i went a little crazy early on and bought a lot of fabric that was just a good deal without thinking through whether or not i would like the print once it was made into a skirt.  this is a skirt i made many months ago that i've never gotten around to wearing because i am not as drawn to the print now that it's made into a skirt. so, i'd like to give this specific skirt away to someone who likes it and will wear it!

 

 

 

length: about 20" {i'm wearing it at my belly-button and it comes to my knees}

waist: elastic waistband that stretches to about 24"

to enter:  leave me a comment on this post with a way for me to contact you if your email address is not connected to your profile or easily found on your blog.  that's it!

giveaway ends: a week from today, sunday, february 5th.  i'll remind you throughout the week to enter and post the winner on monday, february 6th.  thanks for entering and letting me give this skirt a new home!

update: tiffany is the winner!  congrats!

saturday (my type of weekend)

here is what i have been up to today.  i pretty much can't keep my eyes off that blazer & am in disbelief that it is in my possession.  more to come!  for now, there is sewing to finish {to pair with said blazer next week}, a cheesy movie, and hot chocolate calling my name.  happy saturday!

friday (week in review)

before i started this blog, i took pictures of my outfits each day and at the end of the week put them side by side in one photo document.  i really liked being able to see all of my outfits from the week side by side and it made it easier to flip through the photos for inspiration or reminders of outfits i liked.  some of the outfits i wear don't get posted (mostly fridays... the web kind of shuts down on fridays!) so i thought this might be a fun idea to try.

my favorite outfit this week was tuesday, my least favorite was friday... i just can't do casual fridays!  i was in a workshop/retreat all day so i wore my organization's fleece vest.  did you have a favorite this week?

next week:  weather permitting, i am going to give my beloved blowfish booties a rest.  i wear them so often because they are easy to walk in on slippery or snowy sidewalks & keep my feet warm, but i think i wear them too much so i am going to challenge myself to wear some different footwear!

thursday (pea soup)

 

merona olive artist caridgan {thrifted target stock}   old navy white button-down

handmade (by me) skirt   lela rose for payless wells lazer cut pumps

i just wore their twin last week, but i couldn't wait to wear these heels any longer.  even though they're a half size too big... i'm in love with them.  i have kleenex jammed in the toe and heel pads in the back (which really aren't doing much), oh the things we do for fashionable footwear!  also, i have to say that this outfit looked a lot different in my mind and i felt a lot better in it, but it looks like a drab pea soup.  maybe because i was originally wearing a different skirt with it.  oh well, what are ya gonna do?  have a good evening!

 

wednesday (blazin')

 

gap button-up {thrifted}   j crew v-neck sweater {thrifted}

old navy blazer {thrifted}   merona slacks {thrifted target stock}

blowfish blyth booties   forever 21 necklace

 

i am starting to really love blazers.  i had to pop into the goodwill last night to look at the racks of blazers, even though i've already met my janaury clothing budget.  it's funny how something you never really paid a passing glance to can start to become a staple in your wardrobe.  i think the key is just finding the right type of blazer, and up until now i've been put off by all the bulky and oversized offerings i've seen.  i think gems like the one i'm wearing today exist though, hidden between those bulky ones, and the key is to dig through the racks to find them!  this is one of my favorite thrifted items of all time, and hopefully i can continue to add to it!

tuesday (my thing)

old navy v-neck sweater   banana republic skirt {thrifted}

merona belt {thrifted target stock}   mossimo wanda wedges

my two coworkers and i were visiting after a meeting today we had with another colleague who always accessories with very distinctive earrings.  it got us to questioning what our "thing" is in terms of fashion or appearance.  one of my coworkers said that i always wear cute handmade skirts and that i have cute shoes.  what a compliment!  is it true?  i'm not sure, some of the skirts i make are misses and i always wear the same shoes over & over (although i did pick up this pair and another pair at target the other day on mega clearance!) but i thought it was nice that they noticed things that they think are very "me."  do you think you have a distinctive or identifiable aspect to your appearance, or do you wish that you did?  i wish i could think of better ways to style my hair each day or that i could keep up with polishing my nails... good things to remember when i have some down time and want to devote a little extra time to "me!"

ps:  the inspiration for my outfit today is kelley at threads & buttons.  i only wish my scarf was longer and i could have tied it like hers, isn't that magenta & khaki such a great color combination?  i've already copied one look from her, hopefully she doesn't start charging!

monday (snow)

this morning i experienced a 7am commute to work with pitch black skies, roads covered in snow, flakes falling from the sky, and freezing rain smearing my windshield with icy splotches.  it was terrifying.  but i knew i just had to keep going.  i couldn't pull off on an exit... i drive the same route every single day and know that there is no good exit off of the highway that would grant me a reprieve from the conditions.  i knew i couldn't pull off onto the side of the road either and turn on my hazard lights, that would be even worse.  i just had to search the road for the path the tires before me had made, go slow, and pray.  i hate to admit that even that was hard for me.  when i reached a point when i thought my heart would surely beat out of my chest from anxiety, i most wanted to call my mom, i wanted to call my sister, the people who bring me relief and calm me down when i am worried or in an anxious situation.  but i realized the only person i could call was god.  he should have been the first person that i turned to, because i should know by now that he always delivers me safely where i need to go... and yep, i got there this morning.  i was terrified at the start of my commute but exhilarated by the end of it, just because i believe so strongly that there was something else guiding me to my destination on this snowy, wintery minnesota day.

wishing you all nothing but safety and peace tonight.  thanks for reading.

(picture from an equally snowy commute in 2009... don't worry, i don't take pictures while i'm driving in the snow anymore!)

sunday (coupons)

if you enjoy shopping at target as much as i do (and finding awesome clearance deals), you might want to print off some apparel coupons from the target.com website for your next shopping trip!  i've mentioned these coupons a couple times before, but i think they still remain the best hidden feature on the target website.  simply head over to target.com and scroll to the very bottom and find the tiny link that says "coupons" - or click here.  

many new apparel coupons were posted today, including $3 off a merona item, 15% off denim, $3 off liz lange maternity item, 15% off xhilaration or mossimo item, 20% off a dress, or $3 off a plus size item!  remember when i told you guys how i used a $5 off plus size item coupon from the target website to score this blouse that i just slimmed to fit my size?  you never know what deals you might find!

sunday (taking a break)

i wish i could say i've spent all weekend sewing up a storm, but i hit a roadblock with the two projects i tried to start, a blouse and a pleated skirt with a waistband.  unfortunately, i'm finding that patterns just aren't written with the detail & instruction that i need as a very new sewer.... and my youtube searching skills must be rusty, because i can't find many tutorials online to help me through the steps.  so, instead of frustrating myself even further i'm going to set my projects aside for today.  maybe i'll whip up one of my signature skirts just so i can feel as though i accomplished something this weekend!

since my mom is over a thousand miles away and can't walk me through all of the projects i dream up, i'm thinking that i might sign up for a sewing class at joann's.  does anyone have any other tips or suggestions about how i can better my sewing skills?  is there any resource or website that has been particularly helpful for you?

thursday (layered)

old navy faceted button cardigan {thrifted}   merona classic heritage shirt {thrifted target stock}

merona slacks {thrifted target stock}   blowfish blyth booties   target necklace {thrifted target stock}

today was so cold, but i wanted to look nice and work appropriate while still finding a way to be warm.  so, out came the layers.  i really liked the effect of the turtleneck layered underneath the button-down shirt, layered underneath the cardigan, in calming pastel colors.  i like to think that just because it's winter & it's cold doesn't mean that i have to dress in dark colors and heavy fabrics. 

wednesday (the printed pumps)

 

merona dora dress {thrifted target stock}   mossimo ultra soft cardigan

lela rose for payless madison printed pumps   target necklace

 

although this outfit looks remarkably similar to this one that i wore two weeks ago (oops), let's just ignore that and focus on these SHOES for a minute.  who knew they would be such a hit?  who knew people paid so much attention to other people's footwear?  i walked past one person's office and she literally called my name after i had passed by to say, "i love your shoes!"  one of my older adult clients even liked them!  i have to say that i kind of love them too.  have you gotten any new shoes lately that have received quite a reaction from others?

tuesday (springy)

 

old navy sheer chiffon blouse   merona cardigan {thrifted target stock}

handmade (by me) skirt   old navy sliver wedge boots

merona leather belt {thrifted target stock}  charming charlie necklace {gift}

i'm glad this outfit held up for me throughout a really long day.  i think the bright colors helped!  thankfully i was able to take a break during the middle of it, and i popped in a goodwill that i used to frequent weekly (and often times more than once a week!) a couple years ago.  i spent most of my time in the blazer section, as that's not an area i ever really browse.  i'm glad i did though, because i came away with a cute fitted navy blazer for $1.49 (the colored tag of the week is always $1.49 on tuesdays!).  i also saw a cute magenta & teal hounds tooth pendleton blazer, and though i wouldn't know anything about that brand if i didn't follow other blogs, i get the sense that it's a high end brand?  someone out there can educate me.  too bad it was the wrong color tag or i might have tried it on!  have a good evening!

monday (mo' problems)

 old navy sweater   eshakti bow tie blouse   forever 21 belt

handmade (by me) skirt   merona madalena flats {thrifted target stock}

this shirt really stumps me.  take a look at the photo from the eshakti website - i cannot figure out how the two pieces of fabric come together to tie together or make a little bow...  i ended up tucking them both underneath my sweater and letting the shirt take on the look of a cowl.  it wasn't really the look i was going for, but it worked.  i tell ya, i am kind of bummed that i don't have much luck with clothing from eshakti, because they have some really cute dresses & tops!

______________________________________________________

(disclosure: i had some blogger credit & referral points that i put 

towards part of the purchase of this top, as strange as it may be!)

friday (exhausted)

 

xhilaration flutter sleeve blouse {thrifted target stock}   mossimo cardigan {thrifted}

merona slacks {thrifted target stock}   blowfish blyth booties   merona scarf

i am so thankful for this friday.  i love my job, but this workweek left me drained too many days this week. so, i leave you now to dig into the simplicity website so i can figure out what patterns i want to buy on sunday when they are on sale for 99cent at joanns.  i really think that i want to move past my simple elastic waistband skirts that i have cranked out a lot of in a few short months and challenge myself to actually make some garments since i do enjoy working with patterns.  and i need to use those zippers viktoria gifted me!  i have a vision of a full skirt with a couple pleats in the front in my mind, so hopefully i can find a similar pattern.  are you going to be up to anything crafty this weekend?

thursday (all 12 degrees of it)

old navy cardigan   merona turtleneck {thrifted target stock}

mossimo skirt {thrifted}   american eagle myles riding boots

i just had to take pictures today wearing my favorite winter hat from turtle fur.  plus, i'm sure my hair looks real attractive underneath {not really}.  when you live in a snowy, cold climate you have to have fun outerwear & accessories, and i love this hat because it covers my ears!  it hasn't gotten any wear yet this winter with our crazy heat wave so i'm glad i could break it out today.  do you have any fun winter accessories that make bearing frigid temperatures a little easier?

wednesday (untucked)

gap plaid ruffle placket shirt {thrifted}   mossimo cardigan {thrifted}

banana republic paper bag skirt {thrifted}   banana republic tiona heels {thrifted}

 

another entirely thrifted outfit, i love it.  and total cost of this outfit was $10.47, is that crazy or what!  thank you, goodwill.  i really liked the idea of this skirt when i found it at the GW but wasn't sure what to pair with it since it's a paper bag style skirt.  tuck or not to tuck, that was the question.   then i decided that for as much as i eschew trends & fashion rules, i just needed to wear it already {it's been hanging in my closet since august}.  i love the dark gray against the magenta and the nice matchyness factor with those great BR heels i can't stop yapping about {they were $1.49!}.  but midway through the day i was questioning again the tuck factor and decided to take a picture of both options when i got home when i got home... and when i put the two pictures side by side i see such a huge difference.  don't you?  the picture on the left looks put together & professional but still a little bit fun.  the picture on the right seems a little sloppy and missing something.  can you guess what way i looked the entire day?  the picture on the right.  i'm glad that i have this hobby & format to help me take an honest look at how i appear & how i feel... and maybe do something a little bit different the next time... next time i will definitely tuck!

tuesday (b&w)

 old navy blazer {thrifted}   merona scarf   forever 21 belt   

merona slacks {thrifted target stock}   fioni booties {thrifted}

i have to preface this post by saying that i have a bias against the color black.  i think women dress in far too much black.  i also know that i have worn my black skirt & black slacks more than any other item so maybe i am a culprit too!  either way, i was a little bummed when the challenge for ebew this month was black & white but i'm giving it a go here!  and i just had to sneak in a colored accessory.  hopefully that isn't against the rules!

monday (presents: the favorite)

 old navy blouse & cardigan   merona belt {thrifted target stock}

handmade (by me) skirt   old navy sueded rider boots

even though i love looking at the walls of fabric and seeing so many fun colors & cute prints, 95% of the fabric that i buy to make skirts out of comes from the red tag section at joann's.  this fabric was $7 a yard, but i got it on a day that there was an additional 50% off... so this skirt was a whopping $3.50 to make!  this is such a fun print and i think it's by far my favorite skirt that i've ever made.  and can you believe i could wear it outside with no coat?!  even though these outside pictures didn't turn out that great, i just had to post them because it's january and i live in minnesota!  have a happy evening!

sunday (fabric shopping)

even though i love scouring the clearance fabric racks at joann's (check back tomorrow for my favorite skirt to date made with fabric i got from my latest haul!), i've had my eye on this chevron fabric for a while now  from fabric.com because i can't get this skirt cori made out of my head (thanks to audrey for that!).  even at that price, i think that is a crazy good deal for that amazing fabric.  as often as i look, i've never seen a single chevron zig-zag at joann's.  and as much as i love a good deal and love the red tag fabric at joann's, i think it's okay to treat myself to special fabrics too.  so, we'll see how long my willpower holds out before i have to make an order!  here is what else is in my basket to reach the free shipping quota:

{fabric images from fabric.com}

all of these fabrics are from the premier prints line.  i think i would have a hard time making anything but pretty skirts out of these fabric, although i think the bottom middle swatch would make a really cute blouse.  what do you think, should i go for it?

friday (hurtin')

old navy v-neck sweater   j crew riviera wrap jacket

merona slacks {thrifted new}   kohl's necklace

mossimo vassie snip-toe pumps {thrifted}

these shoes have the weirdest name i have ever heard.  i guess i am not much of a fashionista because i don't know what the "snip-toe" style actually means but i think that saying "vassie snip toe" too many times can turn into something else really quickly so it's best to not try it!  i got these shoes at the goodwill for $4.99 last weekend and they were worth every last penny of pinching pain (or were they?!).  as i was walking the long & winding sidewalk back to my car at the end of the day today that appeared to be at least 33 miles long, i honestly questioned if i could make it.  and again as i walked up the three flights of stairs to my apartment.  i lack the words to put to the pain that i felt, you guys.  and... i think i'm starting to understand how these shoes ended up at the goodwill.  on that note, happy weekend! 

thursday (sorbetto)

 

handmade blouse {sorbetto pattern}   kohls bracelet

merona cardigan, skirt, and wedges {all thrifted target stock}

on saturday, i plugged in my printer and printed off the twenty-five page pattern & instructions document for this blouse from colette patterns.  i was really proud of myself for tackling this without really knowing what i was getting into.  i had to rip out & redo three different parts of the blouse construction and i ignored the bias tape neckline & armholes step because i don't know how to do that... but it is wearable!  this little blouse was a lot of trial & error and my craftsmanship isn't nearly on par with the original pattern (don't look too closely)... but i feel proud in saying that i intuitively figured it out and made it work and i made it (out of thrifted fabric, no less) and that is pretty awesome!

secret santa

i was happy to participate in one of the many secret santas going around the blogosphere this christmas, as it turned out to be a great way to meet new bloggers!  the secret santa i participated in was organized by viktoria of viktoria with a k and mary of babble + bloom.  i had the opportunity to meet up with viktoria when i was in georgia for christmas, and imagine my surprise when she handed me a gift--she was my secret santa!  here is the spread of goodies she gifted me:

zippers! / merona tights / charming charlie necklace / real simple magazine

i already devoured the magazine and can't wait to find a pattern in which i can try to construct a skirt or dress with one of these great zippers.  viktoria must have known that i will need a little help (or prodding) to get me going on a project like that.  she has also come to know me pretty well to know that i would love tights and any kind of jewelry!  thank you again viktoria!

wednesday (someone else)

mossimo ultra soft cardigan

isaac mizrahi for target skirt {thrifted}

mossimo virginia pumps {thrifted target stock}

 

there is something about navy & maroon being paired together that comes across very much like a uniform to me... like i could be a flight attendant or a private school student (if i had a crest of some sort on the lapel of my cardigan and oxford shoes) or in a music video in the late 1990s.  remember when all of the hip hoppers had the synchronized dancers behind them and they all wore matching outfits, like white tee shirts and khaki pants?  that's gotta be a mya video or something.  maybe they still do that, but i don't know how i would find out.  does mtv or vh1 even show music videos anymore?  these are all things i need to look into for the days when i just don't feel like being a social worker, but thankfully right now that's working out well for me!

monday (shoes, shoes, shoes)

i guess i am starting the new year out with a bang, as i've already purchased five pairs of shoes.  in case you are in the mood for some shoe shopping as well this monday evening, i thought i would share my excitement over one of my particular shoe deals.  i am a big fan of lela rose for payless heels.  i have worn my black finsbury pair from several years ago into the ground, and loved them so much that i bought them in brown too.  so, when i randomly went to the payless website today just to browse and saw that several lela rose styles were marked down, i had a hard time leaving the site without making a purchase.  i ended up gettng the madison printed pump and the wells lazer cut pumps: 

each is marked down to $17.99 (originally $54.99) and i found a 20% off coupon code online (65393) to add an even bigger discount.  also, the great thing about payless is you can ship for free to any payless store, and i live across the street from a mall.  i'm pretty much in love with both of these heels!  sizes are really limited, but if you are as in awe of the price tag as i was, you might want to check it out!  i also found these shoes at the goodwill this weekend & a pair of fioni booties (payless strikes again!).

 

mossimo vassie snip-toe pumps & mossimo velda patent oxford pumps.  

and... i am pretty sure i have no more room for shoes in my shoes closet.  happy shoe shopping!