OOTD: A purple kind of day

Hello All and TGIF!
The weekend is upon us and I couldn't be happier. Just a quick post of my OOTD since I didn't post one yesterday. I decided to make it a happy purple day. I paired purple with gray, which I love together. It really makes the purple pop more so than pairing it with black which is what I would have done before. It was absolutely freezing in NYC today, so I did wear jeans and my Uggs to work but changed when I got to work. It was waay to cold to have my legs exposed. I realized in these pics the skirt may look black put it isn't. It's a deep plum color. Oh, and that's my handsome baby boy Louie posing his OOTD, his blue sweater with dog bone embellishment :)


Sweater-Rosette cardigan NY&Co in gray
Shirt- Ruffle top Target
Skirt- stretch pencil skirt in purple H&M




Shoes- INC. mary jane pump in gray
Tights- H&M


I did stop in Old Navy tonight to try and take advantage of the 30% off the entire store deal, but came up empty handed. Not because I didn't find anything, but because I wasn't feeling very inspired tonight. I was cold and had a few bags in my hand already and was just tired. I'm definitely going to check out the Old Navy by home tomorrow. I did stop in H&M and picked up a pretty floral cardigan and found a super cute printed dress on the clearance rack for $20. I was slightly disappointed that a few dresses I absolutely loved were out of my size but again, I'll be checking another H&M tomorrow. I'll be sure to post my buys. Thanks for looking and hope everyone has a great weekend and as always, Happy Shopping!

F21-Boutique 21 Resort Collection Reviews

Hello All and Happy Thursday to you!
The weekend is so close I can smell it. I wanted to share some news before I got into the collection and reviews. As you all know, I recently one my MBMJ Classic Q Groovee and received it on Monday and am sooo in love with it! This bag is so classic and well made. The leather is pebbled and soft. It is a heavy bag on it's own and with my kitchen sink, it can be a bit heavy to carry on my arm but bearable and the double handles do fit on my shoulder as well. Another bit of good news, is that I won another fabulous bag on ebay, the beloved Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch in Harewood. It's my Spring must have and I chose this over the MBMJ Hillier simply for the color and butter soft leather. It's an amazing looking bag and I can't wait until it's in my arms. IT can be worn 5 different ways which makes it super versatile and the color is neutral and will go with anything. I think this WILL be my IT bag for Spring.




Now, onto the reviews. As you all may know, Forever 21 launched a new line, Boutique 21 a couple of months ago that was geared more towards a more vintage inspired feel. (Click my title for more details)


The initial collection didn't consist of many pieces and to be quite honest, I wasn't in love with most of it. There were a few embellished tees and sweaters but some were awkwardly cute and cropped which made them less appealing to some. They have now launched the Boutique 1 Resort Collection which debuted today and available online. I definitely did see several tops that are super cute but still find the weird cropped cardigans and it's missing more skirts and dresses. I will try and go to a forever 21 this weekend that carries this line and see IRL what things are looking like, but here's some of the items I found super cute and pretty:


Silk Flower Tunic- $32.80


Diamond Shapes Top Tunic- $17.80


Pintuck Cami- $22.80


Dancing Tulip Top-$15.80


Barely There Zip Up Cami-$17.80


Zipper Accent Canvas Jacket- $32.80


I love these patterned tunics and subtle details that make these tops cute and flirty. I also love these camis and almost bustier style tops that will work perfectly with pencil skirts, denim skirts or a flirty full skirt. I really wish the cardigans they did have in this collection, were of a normal length. All were cropped and hit at a weird place on the body. I also wish there were more skirts in this collection. There were only 2 that I saw on line and neither jumped at me. I think as time progresses and F21 sees what works for this new Boutique 21 line and what doesn't, they will modify as needed. I think it's a great addition to F21 and was happy with the addition of the Love 21 line last year. That line has come a long way to. We must remember, F21 obviously isn't somewhere we're going to buy classic pieces that last for years, but it's a nice place to find some trendy pieces for the seasons without investing a whole lot. I would love to hear if anyone visits a F21 this weekend and checks out or buys anything form this new collection. If so, please let me know.

I don't have an OOTD to post because I woke up late today and basically threw on the first thing I could grab in my closet to not be super late to work. I'll be sure to post tomorrow. Just a heads up, tomorrow, Old Navy is having 30% off the entire store! It may definitely be a sale worth checking out. I may try and pick up a few of the items on my list as well. I have to take advantage right? Have a great Friday and Happy Shopping!

OOTD: The Shirt Dress

Hello All!
I just wanted to post my OOTD for today. I've had a super busy week at work and have been in early as well (6:45am to be exact) and it is now taking a toll on me. I'm feeling so sleepy and ready for the weekend. I decided to wear a shirt dress I bought last year for like under $20. I scored it on sale and the fit was great too!. The dress has a defined waist, hits me slightly above the knee, isn't too tight and just perfect for work or to dress down. I'm just so glad I still fit in it! The past year my weight has really fluctuated but since I started to go to the gym it has really helped. I'm definitely on the hunt for some more shirt dresses this year as I think they work now or will be great in Spring with a great peep toe pump or wedge sandal.


Dress- Express Shirt Dress
Tights- Express
Sweater- Merino Ruffle cardi Target
Boots- JS Angie Boots



Thanks for looking and Happy Shopping!

It's all about organization

Good Morning All and Happy Hump Day! We're mid week and one day closer to the weekend! I must say, I'm pretty lucky and have a decent size closet but as my shoe collection is growing, I'm finding it harder and harder to keep everything organized and find the shoes I'm looking for. I've been eyeing this shoe organization system on QVC and think I will make it mine. It's called Magic Drawers 15-Piece Deluxe Interlocking Storage System. It's clear bins, so you can get rid of your boxes and see exactly what shoe you are looking for. It fits pumps, flats, sneakers and boots and the drawers pull out for easy access. As I mentioned, the kit comes with 15 to start but you can continue to add to it.


QVC- $33.12
(Click today's title for more info)


I would love to hear how you guys store and organize your shoes and if anyone is currently using this sytem, is it good quality? Thumbs up?

I'll be posting my OOTD later today and I definitely want to post my lust list form Urban Outfitters. Hope everyone has a great day and until later, Happy Shopping!

OOTD: Tardy for the Party

Hello All!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the week. Yesterday was a yucky but unusually mild day in NYC so on one hand you wanted to stay in bed all day, on the other, it was a day to definitely take advantage and wear a pretty dress. Well, I did the later. Believe it or not, last night was my office's "holiday" party. I know, don't ask. It's end of January and the holidays are far behind us but, hey, that's my office. I decided to wear my 2 pieces from the Rodarte for Target collection. I thought this lace print dress dress was soo cute when I saw it and it fit really well too. The material is pretty lightweight and the sheer edging at the neckline is soft and pretty. I paired it with the Rodarte for Target lace cardigan in black and belted it to deifne my waist (anything to give me a waist, I'm for). I think it came together pretty nicely and I got many compliments on it. Take a look:





Shoes- Target peep toe ankle bootie
Tights- Express
Dress- Rodaret for Target Lace Print Dress
Cardigan- Rodarte for Target lace Cardigan in black
Belt- Express


And here's my OOTD for today. A few other blogs I follow, inspired me to bring out a little bittle of Spring. It's a bit colder in NYC today but I thought a nice bright pop of color would help keep me smiling today. I was home late last night (anythign after 7pm, is late for me), so I'm sooo sleepy today. I like the color combination of yellow and gray and have never tried it before. You ahve to understand, prior to about 6 mths ago, all I wore was black, gray, navy and brown. I have really enjoyed adding color into my wadrobe. Please excuse my messy room and my doggie Louie for getting in the way.


Cardigan- NY&Co in yellow
Top- Leopord print H&M
Pants- skinny pant H&M in gray
Shoes- Inc. wedges in black Macy's



Thanks for looking and hope everyone has a great rest of the week. BTW, I popped into Urban Outfitters yesterday and saw soo many cute pieces for Spring. I will try and post my favorites and some looks I loved. Has anyone else been in there recently? Are you loving and lustign after anything too? Please share! As always, Happy Shopping!

Just a Taupe update!

Hi again! I just wanted to post a quick IRL pic of the new polish I picked up on Friday. It's one of Chanel's new Spring colors, Particulier. I just finished my mani and absolutely LOVE this color! Definitely, very similar to Essie's MInk Muffs, but more of a brownish gray. I felt Mink Muffs was a little darker than this and more in the brown family. I would definitely recommend picking this up and adding to your Spring polish collection. Since I'm in sweats all day, no OOTD but POTD!







Thanks for looking!

Saturday OOTD and my Spring must haves!

Hello and I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I spent the day with family yesterday to celebrate my niece's 1st birthday and it was a really nice day. She just gets more and more adorable everytime I see her. I still can't believe she is 1 yr. old already! Here's my OOTD from yesterday:




Top- Express ruffle tank in a merlot color
Cardigan- H&M
Skirt- ON denim mini
Tights- Express
Boots- JS Angie Boots



So, as I mentioned on Friday, I wanted to compile of list of all the things I am lusting after for spring and share them with you. I realized, I don't need much as I have a ton of stuff from Spring pasts and even recent things I've purchased that I can transition into this spring. First up, is a canvas utility jacket in an olive color. It's safari like and very versatile in my opinion. I tried this one on in ON on Friday and the fit was really nice. I loved that the waist was fitted and it wasn't too bulky or stiff. This jacket can be paired with a pencil skirt, denim or even over a pretty dress. For the price, I felt like it was a good deal.





Old Navy- Women's Twill Cargo Zip Jacket in Dried Grasses- $39.50



Another item that I spotted in ON that's on my list, is this striped jersey dress. I thought it is a cute nautical inspired piece that I could even wear now with tights, and cognace boots and sweater and then in spring with a wedge sandal. It's super comfy and the material is not as light weight as I thought and not see through at all and the boatneck opening is very flattering.



Women's Striped Jersey Dress- $15



Ok, now what's spring without florals?! Every Spring we see a garden full of floral tops, dresses and skirts but this year, there is something different. I have never been a huge fan of floral prints but this season they are just so pretty, I can't resist. I previewed online H&M's Graden Collection which I beleive is debuting in March, and fell in love with a lot of it. Not to mention, not only is it pretty, but environmentally safe. The line is organic and made from recycled materials. Here's a few of the looks I am lemming!












I am in love with so much of this line and can't wait for it's debut. I've seen some floral dresses in some H&M stores already so it's worth making a trip and grabbing some now. The next item I'm in need of for spring, is a denim chambray shirt. I think this is such a cute look and one that can be used in place of a cardi. On the weekends it can be paired with denim or leggings or over one of those pretty floral dresses and even a pencil skirt. I first eyed these looks on Shopbop.com and they inspired me. For a less expensive alternative to these tops, you can try American Eagle Outfitters as seen below.







AE Chambray Western Shirt- $44.50



So these are just a few of the things I am in need of for spring and I'm sure as we get closer to the warmer weather, this list will grow. I am currently looking for an updated bag for spring. I recently purchased the much adored MBMJ Groovee satchel which should be delivered thsi week and although I use black bags all year round, I am looking for a to die for cognac colored bag for spring. Right now, I'm deciding between the Rebecca Minkoff MAC or MBMJ Hillier Hobo. What do you think? Which would you go for? I will need to save for either unless another awesome deal falls into my lap but for now, I'll just have to dream.







Thanks all for looking and enjoy the rest of your Sunday! As always, Happy Shopping!

Confessions of a Groovee kind....

Hello all and happy Friday! Friday is seriously, the best day of the week! So as my title reads, I have a confession. Now, please, don't judge me but something came into my path that I just COULD NOT pass up. It's something I've been lemming over for months now and the right price finally fell into my lap. I am the proud owner of a MBMJ Classic Dr. Q Groovee handbag! I found one in black leather (of course) and it just spoke to me. I've been eyeing this bag for a while but just couldn't fit it into my new found budget but today, but I found one for nearly half price on ebay!!! I had it authenticated, just to be sure. It's so lovely and can't wait until it's in my hands. Considering the price and how classic this bag is, I would say I deserve a pass and really, for the price, how could I say no.





I also treated myself to a small purchase, a new polish. Taupe polishes are all the rave right now and about a month ago I purchased Essie's version of taupe, Mink Muffs which I love. I'm wearing that this week and have gotten many compliments on it. It's not exactly brown and not exactly nude. Today I purchased Chanel's version, Particuliere. Very similar to Mink Muffs, but a bit lighter and creamier looking. I'll be sure to post some IRL pics when I do my mani on Sunday :)


Essie Mink Muffs $8


Chanel Particuliere $23


Well, due to my purchases today, I won't be spending a dime this weekend but it's well worth it to have my MBMJ! Have a great weekend everyone and happy shopping!

Giving IS better than receiving

Hello All,
Happy Thursday to everyone! The weekend is soo close! I'm looking forward to this weekend as the family and I are heading to Brooklyn to see my niece for her 1st BIRTHDAY!! My beautiful rose has grown so fast. It seems like just yesterday she was born. I'm so excited to see her as well as the family. Due to her birthday, my shopping ban was lifted for today so I could pick up a few gifts for her. Shopping for her is just as delightful as when I shop for myself. The fashion they have for little ones is the cutest!!! The have almost all of the same styles for us, for them. I picked her up an adorable denim skirt and long sleeve T, a pair of army green cargo pants and cute tunic (could you die, tunics for babies) and an adorable denim dress. I could have been in there all night! I can't wait to see her in it all. Maybe we'll have her put on a mini fashion show :)








In addition to the clothes, I wanted to get her something else and I was thinking today of some of the things from my childhood that I loved and stood out to me. What came to my mind was Golden Books. You know, those adorable stories like The Poky Little Puppy and the books had gold binding. Well, I remember my sister and I had tons of them and I always loved reading them. I thought that would be a nice first book collection for my niece and we'll be sure to add to it from there. I hope she loves them as much as I did.



I stuck to my goal today and only spent $1.25 for my cup of coffee this morning. Since I knew I would be shopping for bday gifts, I knew I had to cut corners somewhere. To stray from fashion for a moment, the recent tragedy in Haiti has made me realize just how fortunate I am. Cutting back on shopping for clothes, shoes & accessories is nothing compared to the devastation the people of Haiti are facing. No matter how tight my budget is, I am still much luckier than most. I have donated to the relief fund in Haiti and today contributed to another charitable organization in Guatamala. I am not always the most positive person and I like nice things and as shallow as it sounds, I do find myself sulking when I can't buy something I want but these recent situations have really made me realize how good I have it. Giving to thoase in need is definitely much more rewarding than coming home with a few bags from ATL, F21 and H&M. Now don't get me wrong, I am still a shopaholic and love my fashion I guess I have just put things in perspective now. I'm going to try donate 2 huge black garbage bags of gentley used clothes and shoes, some new as well, that I pulled from my closets and drawers a few weeks ago to the salvation army. I was trying to find a thrift store to sell to, but making a few bucks is not that important.

Now that we've touched on the serious stuff, let's get back to what this blog is really about, FASHION! I have been compiling my lust list for spring andf hopefully this weekend I'll put it all together and post my must haves. I've been web shopping and have seen A LOT I am looking forward to. So, to end things off, here's my OOTD for today. It's supposed to be cold rainy/possibly snowy in NYC so I'm keeping it simple, nothing exciting. A simple gray wrap sweater and my new favorites...J. Crew toothpick cords. The are super comfy and with every wear get more comfy as they stretch slightly. I'm alos wearing my BR boots that I bought a few years ago and absolutely LOVE. They are my go to boot.



L/s T form Target
Sweater- wrap sweater from H&M
J Crew toothpick cords in black
BR boots


Thanks for looking as always and I hope to compile my spring must haves this weekend. Have a great weekend and Happy Shopping!

$3 spent is $10 saved

Hello all,
So after I was home sick yesterday, I headed back to work even though I wasn't feeling so great. I wore my outfit that I posted yesterday with my F21 Exclusively Yours flower zip cardi and I'm happy to report, it went over well. I got a lot of compliments on it so for $29, totally worth it. I also wore my new black wedges I picked up in Macy's and they were pretty comfy but must report my toes were kind of pinching by the end of the day. I kind of felt like my foot kept slipping down in them with every step.



I'm also proud to report that I only spent $3 today which included my much needed cup of coffee and a diet coke. Considering I work in NYC, this is excellent. I can easily spend $10-$15 a day on lunch. If I keep this up, I may be able to pick up a few things I've been eyeing to jump start my spring wardrobe. I must say, I really don't NEED much. I few pieces here and there and I'm really going to try and transition my wardrobe again into spring. I can't wait to wear chunky platform sandals or wedges with bare legs and pretty dresses. It's only mid January but a girl came dream.

Here's my outfit for tomorrow. I decided to keep it classic. A couple of weeks ago I purchased the Editor Trouser Jean from Express and I can't rave enough about this pant. I caught them on sale right after Xmas for like $40. The fit, the weight of the denim are all perfect. My office is usually a no jeans office but I can get away with wearing these. I pair them with a platform or high heel to give me a nice long lean line and makes my 5' frame seem 5"5'' and up. Here's my OOTD for tomorrow featuring my trusty editor jean trouser.



Shirt- NY&Co white ruffle collar button down
Jean-Editor Trouser Jean
Sweater- H&M
SHoes- Nicole Miller pump
Excuse my mirror. It seems to have some scratches in it and I'm definitely going to find a new place to take my pis but the bathroom seems to have the best lighting. Sorry :(


I tried on a few other outfits before I decided on this but I just wanted to be comfy. I definitely want to get into what's new and hot for spring since it will be here before we know it, I hope. AS always, thanks for looking and happy shopping!

Home sick -making up for lost time

Hello,
It's been quite a while since I posted last but with the holidays and me trying to control my spending, I haven't felt that inspired. This no shopping thing has really made me more creative and honestly, more stylish than before. I've learned to work with what I have, pull from past seasons to reinvent looks. I must be honest, I have made some purchases over the past few months but have cut down drastically from where I used to be. I told myself this year, it's not going to be about clothes, shoes and accessories but saving more and me and hubby traveling more. We've had a rough couple of months and need to go on a vacation.
I was in the stores over this long weekend and saw a lot of sales. I had to pick up a bday gift for BFF and I did cave in slightly to the sales. I picked these up in Macy's for $60 for both. I thought they were too good of a deal to pass up.

INC wedge pump in black-$29.95





Style & Co mary jane pump in gray- $29.95






They had A TON of shoes on clearance but as you all are probably aware, shopping Macy's sales isn't always the easiest. It's like finding a pin in a hay stack. I was lucky enough to find a sales person that was super helpful so that's probably the only reason why I was able to get my hands on these. I think both are super versatile and can take me into spring. I was inspired by a recent photo of Reese Witherspoon so that's why I picked up the black wedges and I'm thinking the gray mary janes would look super cute in spring paired with yellow and purple maybe.

After my Macy's score, I called it a night. I didn't want to spend anymore and was proud of my self control ( a small accomplishment but a huge one for me considering it was payday). I did finally receive a recent order from f21 that I made before New Years (their S&H takes sooo long). Here's what I got from there:



Flower Zip Cardigan in black/nude - $29











Fairisle cardigan sweater in black/charcoal - $32











I totally love the nude black cardi and figured it could work into my wardrobe pretty well. The quality and details are actually really nice considering the price. Here is how I was going to wear it:













Top- Express ruffle tank
Skirt- Express black pencil skirt
Tights- Express herringbone patterned tights
Shoes- Inc. black wedges (Macy's)


What do you think of the pairing? Pretty safe, yes, I know but I'm looking forward to see what else I can pair it with. As a Xmas gift for myself, I purchased the J Crew toothpick cords in black and gray and absolutely love them. Very comfy with some stretch. I got them on final sale for about $30 each which was a total score. I wanted to post a few of my recent OOTD since I haven't in a while. Some are new pieces and some are items I've had for a while.







Top-UO plaid button down
Skirt- H&M wool skirt
Boots- Diba ankle boots











Cardigan- Rodarte fir Target lace cardi
Skirt- H&M
I also apologize for my skirt being totally wrinkled, I did iron it before I stepped out of the house :)









Top- H&M sheer floral top
Skirt- Limited navy pleated skirt
Tights- Target gray
Boots- MUdd ankle boots form Kohl's








This was a dress down day for me at work.
Blazer- Boyfriend blazer NY&Co.
Sweater- V neck gray sweater H&M
Jeans- f21 skinny jeans
Boots- VS gray boots



Here's a couple of my OOTD with my J Crew toothpick cords:













And here's an oldy but goodie. I bought this dress on clearance at f21 about..mmmm....3 yrs ago and believe or not, it's still going strong. I have this dress in brown as well and wear it in the spring too. I paired it with my beloved Target Kady boots in cognac which were one of the best purchases I made this year.












It's been so nice reconnecting and sharing all of my recent outfits. Although I haven't been able to shop as much as I used to, it's not that bad. I hope I can share in others resolutions to cut back on spending and we can all learn to shop our closets more. Until next time, happy shopping for those of you that still can! :)