Showing posts with label modest clothing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label modest clothing. Show all posts

Saturday, July 30, 2011

J Crew Jardin Skirt

As you can tell from the luggage on my bed, I am on my way out of town to do nothing but lay at a pool, not cook, do a little shopping and oh, did I mention not cook? I am headed to the world famous garlic capital of the world, Gilroy. Why you ask? Well simply, that's the small town my parents live in.  Nothing glamorous just good ole' relaxing with the kiddos.

I did not want to leave without a quick picture of the Jardin skirt. I ordered this skirt back in June when it was first released on the website and was back ordered. It finally arrived on Tuesday. I must admit, I thought the odds were low that I would end up liking this skirt, even lower that I'd love it. Truth is, in a lot of their pics it looks too poofy and hard to wear. Nut in person, I LOVE this skirt. It is so light and it falls nicely...not too poofy at all. Oh....and it has pockets, need I say more? For a proper review and pictures that aren't rushed on an iPhone, check out App Gals post here with a perfect review. I did have to wear a slip, the skirt it is lined but it is lined with the same light cotton fabric which still equalled too sheer for me.
For those of you who are interested or have this skirt at home, here are some styling ideas from my Polyvore collection.....

And the catalog image I have fallen in love with:

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Wedding Bells and Crystal rays

Yesterday was the wedding and I am now free from the kitchen...yee haw! Here is what I wore to the event, it was outside in the evening so it cooled down just enough that the cropped sweater never got too hot. I scored this dress for just over $35 during a recent promo at Banana Republic where they were offering 40% off sale items plus at 25% off coupon. I also had some rewards so it ended up being a great deal. It's hard to capture in a picture how cute the smocking on this dress is so you'll have to trust me that it makes it extra special. Oh, and it ended up that the Bridal party all had cropped purple cardigans on so I blended right in.
During the same promo I picked up this clutch for $21.99.......
And here is a close up of the Crystal Rays Necklace that I grabbed during a promo for just $34.99. I feel like such a bargain hunter right now
And here is the Polyvore for the outfit, all the details are accurate.

another wedding



Have you seen the new Fall Arrivals on the J Crew site? Our store is getting theirs in tomorrow so I should have some dressing room pics for you.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Stuck in the Kitchen

Aren't summers supposed to be laid back? Well, I am still waiting. My eldest, Jonas, is leaving at 5am (ugghh) tomorrow to go rapelling in Utah. I will be a nervous wreck until he is home with all bones and limbs in tact. I also have another friends wedding  next weekend that I am preparing some of the desserts and a few small decorations for. So after church today I was flash freezing cookies, squeezing lemons for lemon bars (my favorite) and making (and freezing) homemade cinnamon rolls for a church event the same day as the wedding. So after all that I was too tired to make dinner.....oh well. Sorry fam.

This is what I wore this morning. I noticed 15 minutes in to church that I had my scarf inside out but you get the picture.
I have been enjoying all the summer sales going on, what about you? I got some great deals at Boden USA, Banana Republic, Talbots and LOFT. Somehow I avoided any J Crew purchases. I think I am just ready for their amazing fall line to come out and take all my extra money.


Here is the Polyvore of today's outfit. Everything is accurate except for the cardigan which is actually from Banana Republic last year.

today


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Outdoor Friday Wedding Reception

Thanks for all your patience, sweet emails and support while I have been on a blogging break to spend time with my family. Sometimes, you have to let go of things for a while and just get back to basics.

One of my dear friends was married yesterday and she had a simple elegant, casual backyard reception so I grabbed a quick picture before I left....sorry for the crummy lighting.

Ella embellished cardigan-J Crew
Lace embellished tee- Banana Republic
Ackee Pencil Skirt-Anthropologie
Belt-LOFT
Lyons Pump-Banana Republic


Sunday, March 27, 2011

No title, just a post

Okay, well this has been a very long, unplanned absense (more like disappearance) on my part. I am going to work on getting back to all your comments this week as well. First off, we had major sickies that ended up with my oldest and youngest having pnuemonia. It was the cold/flu that wouldn't go away, three weeks of being a nurse...no thank-you. Also, as I had briefly mentioned, my husband isn't working right now, and not by choice. So, I switched to working days and took a lead position at the LOFT so I have been working over twice as much as I am used to. I don't know how I used to work full time and take care of the house. Working mom's my hat is off to you....bravo! Between work, school carpooling, baseball, wrestling and that whole making dinner for a family of six thing, I have hardly touched my computer. Oh, and then we all came down with the stomach flu this week within hours of each other. I will spare you the details but I assure you, it will go in my top five of the toughest things I have been through.

Now, I don't want to sound like a complainer I could have found a way to blog but my family needed me and they win. It was nice to be home more in the evenings and I truly love my job. Plus, I took the opportunity to work on my baking skills and we have thoroughly enjoyed eating a multitude of pies, lemon bars and homemade donuts. Things are hopefully going to get back to normal soon since my husband is about to go back to work (phew) and homemade banana pudding topped with meringue is about to go in the oven.

I did try to get some quick OOTD shots during my absense, here you go! 


coralie cami-J Crew
long lean cardigan-LOFT
lolli pants-J Crew
skinny belt-J Crew
wedges- Target

tiered maxi dress-Banana Republic
full needle cardigan-Banana Republic
scarf-Banana Republic
"Purr" wedges-Seychelles

Ackee pencil skirt-Anthropologie
pulling it together sweater-Anthropologie
banter top-Anthropologie
come dancing peep-toe pumps-Seychelles

perfect shirt-J Crew
cotton tiered ruffle skirt-Talbots
pearl hammock necklace-J Crew Factory
shoes-Bandolino

Here is to wishing you all well and I hope to be a little more regular soon....miss ya ;)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

a little Sunshine and Peonies

Sorry for the faded picture. My camera battery was out and this was the best the iPhone wanted to before I went to work this morning. Speaking of work, I officially was promoted to Sales Lead today which just means I can act as the Manager when she isn't there. Oh, and I can potentially get yelled at more...just kidding!

My husband isn't working right now so I am working mornings which I really love so I am going to enjoy it while it lasts. Here is what I wore to work today:
cardigan-LOFT
tee-LOFT
belt-LOFT
sunshine peonies pencil skirt-J Crew
Lyons Pump-Banana Republic

Tonight I actually get a little girl time with my friend Kelsey...it feels way overdue! Completely off topic, have you seen Off The Map yet? If you love Greys Anatomy, you'll definitely love this show. It is on tonight at 10

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

J Crew New Arrivals-dressing room reviews

 Well it is February and I am back and 8 pounds heavier (oops). So lets start this off with my trip to J Crew yesterday.

Forever Cotton Cardigan in smoldering brick ($69.50 item 35751). This is a size Medium and was very comfy and lightweight. Because of the fabric, I would recommend sizing down (which I do later). I liked this cardigan a lot and I liked the way it fell much better then the infinity from the fall/winter.

Vintage Cotton Sunburst Tank in grey ($58.00 item 34085 ). this is a size small, I sized down like I do in most J Crew cotton tanks. This tank lived up to everything I had hoped it would be. The belt makes it hard to see but this tank fits beautifully, I love the detailing and it looks good tucked and untucked. This was a must have for me.

Aurora Tweed Pencil Skirt ($118.00 item 38137). This is my normal size in J Crew skirts, 8 and it fits TTS. I loved this skirt online and in the catalog but I wanted to see it in person. Don't let the word tweed fool you...it is lightweight and shimmery. So gorgeous IRL. The coloring is a red/orange with cream threading. It photographs more orangey but to me it is similar to the nutmeg color in person.

Braided Wrap belt ($52.00 item 39359) Size Small/Medium. This belt is really pretty in person but I could not make it work for the life of me. It did weird bunching things belted over a cardigan and slipped off the waisband when worn under. A no thank-you for me.
Camp Pocket cardigan in smoldering brick ($88.00 item 35750). This is a size medium, my true size and I think it runs a little smaller. I loved this cardigan in the catalog and ended up getting this one over the forever because it was different then my other cardigans. Only dislike was that the bias tape lining like to poke out a little (you can see that in the picture) but that wasn't a huge deal to me.
Scalloped Lace Shell in weathered sage $48.00 item 36952. This is a medium (my true size) I tried it on in a small and it fit but the medium flowed better and was more flattering. Really cute top, easy to wear. Staying on my wishlist for sure!

Horizon Stripe Pencil Skirt ($138.00 item 37986 ): This is my normal size 8 and it fits a little snug. If you go between two sizes in J Crew pencil skirts I would say go with the larger but I wouldn't say you need to actually size up. I liked this skirt better IRL then I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, it was on my wishlist already but in person the quality was better then I expected. The fabric is very thick and crisp (which is good when we are talking about a fitted white skirt) and the detailing was really lovely. I even liked the black waistband.
Here is the forever cardigan in a small (sized down since I wear my long cardigans open at all times)

Striped Drawstring Dress ($69.50 item 34960): ummmm, no thanks. This dress did nothing for me. I feel better about it now that I see it did nothing for the model either. I did like the length of this dress though. This is a medium. I tried on the small also and it fit more like it did on the model so you might want to size down on this one for that look.
 Striped Button Back Tee ($39.50 item 37810). I sized down on this one and it was still away from the body (as designed). I really like this tee. It is cut a little boxy but it drapes well so I don't think it adds a bulking effect.
While I was there I ordered the much coveted No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Citron that is on the website but won't add into a shopping cart for some reason. Ladies, this skirt is in stock it appears to just be a glitch so you can order it over the phone .

What are your thoughts on J Crew's Spring line so far? Any must haves or already gottens??

Saturday, January 15, 2011

would LOVE your opinions

We are going to do another family photo shoot with Tara at AlaMODE and this time I thought we'd go for color. Which dress are you liking best? I may do a little more tweaking but wanted to pop in for some feedback! Oh, and the absence of shoes is strategic ;)

Monday, January 3, 2011

Christmas, Court, Goals and a New Year

So sorry to go MIA on you all and make you worry! We had family in town and I was working a lot up to Christmas. Then my husband was in the ER on Christmas evening and was out of commission for several days. Luckily my work was great and got my shifts covered for me. He is on the mend now. Ended up being a staph infection that got into his ears...not fun. He had to go in every day for fluids and antibiotics via IV until he finally got into a specialist who realized it was staph and the antibiotics were all wrong. 2 days later and he was human again but our medicine cabinet is like a pharmacy now. My respect  goes out to single moms, I could barely handle a week of feeling like one.
But it wasn't all bad crazies around here, beside the trip to the emergency room, Christmas was wonderful and we finally had our court date at the tail end of all this and it is official, Christopher ("CJ") is officially one of the family!
After 2 1/2 years, three social workers, an adoption worker, classes and a bundle of paperwork we were in chambers for 2 minutes with the judge and it was done! We are so happy to have all the red tape behind us and to just be a normal (but still crazy) family!
For those of you looking to adopt or who are considering fostering with the possibility of adopting, it was well worth it and wasn't too bad. It was just so long in our case because Christopher was actually placed with us once as a foster child and then was sent back home (much to the suprise of everyone). Then the mother kept asking us to come take him so it went back in forth for over four months until we were finally able to get CPS to put him back in the system so she couldn't keep abandoning him for weeks and then taking him back when she was having a good day.
We worked with a private foster agency (which I highly recommend) called Angels Foster Family Network and they were there every step of the way with all of our foster kids, not just CJ. Anyways, on to the adoption day outfit details for those who are curious....


 I did change out the shoes because of the rain. And here is my rocking New Years eve get up with the family. If you have kids 7 and up, I highly recommend Qwirkle-it is a blast!

Now for the New Years resolutions.  We got the Wii Fit for Christmas so with that and some serious junk food restraint I am hoping to lose 10 pounds. I am actually less concerned with the pounds then I am with the tummy flab and muffin top....those just need to go. So far it is going well on the scale and the Super Hula Hoop is giving this out of shape momma a run for her money ;)
My toughest goal is to stop shopping for a while...my goal is nothing for a month and then reintroducing it with a strict budget. This is hard to do period but when you blog about fashion, read others fashion blogs AND work in retail it becomes nearly impossible. First move was I gave my notice at work. That didn't go so well because they counter offered with great schedule flexibility. So I am just cutting back for now and seeing how that goes. I LOVE working at the LOFT (and all my co workers) so it wasn't too hard to twist my arm not to quit. Second, I am going to be taking a blogging break for the rest of January. I may still pop in a few times but I will be reading less of your blog posts. You are all just too darn cute and make me want to go buy whatever you have. So basically, this is my "shopping detox", wish me luck!!
Do you have any set goals this year?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Some J Crew Fitting Room Reviews

Today I had two returns to make at J Crew which means return shopping...whoo hoo! Perfect timing with the 25% off promo on all purchases over $150. Today was one of those days when I liked everything I grabbed and if my budget had allowed they may have all come home with me.

Bright Dahlia Wool Lolli Pants $118 (Size 8) These pants have been all the buzz since gracing the catalog. I hadn't thought too much about them since I usually gravitate to skirts but when I saw them in store I had to try them out. They are so comfortable and the color is stunning. What I didn't expect is that they are lightweight and unlined which works well for me (since it doesn't get too cold in San Diego). I found the fit TTS. I used to wear a 6 in their pants but since I have gained some weight the 8's are much better (I always have worn and 8 in the skirts though go figure). The 6's would have fit but they didn't have any left and I honestly think the 8 will work better anyways.

Silk Bloussana Tunic $98 (Size 6) When I first tried this on my initial thought was no way...the sleeves are a bit poofy at the shoulders but that lasted under a minute and I really fell for this top. It is soft and flowy and fits TTS.
This is a new dress that was in the store in denim and a soft pink. I don't see it online yet but the price was $128. Call me crazy but I like this one. I would never wear it bare legged like this but I can see it with leggings and riding boots.....once it goes on sale that is. $128 for a casual dress is too much for me. This is a size 8. I found it TTS if not a little small

 Starry Night Cardigan $128 (size M)-this cardigan is gorgeous IRL. It is really light and although it is a jersey knit you would never know just by looking at it. This runs a little large. Small would have worked better but my store didn't have any. I tried on a XS but the arms were too tight.

Lace Rows Tank on sale for $69.99 (Size 8). This runs TTS, I usually wear a 6 in these tops but they only had an 8 left. I like this top a lot  better then the Lace Love Tank I returned. I didn't find it too boxy but is is a looser fit through the waist

 Drapey Sequin Tee $79.50 (Size Small). I really loved this tee. It sold out online but there were plenty in the store in this colorway. The fit is great and I was able to size down easily. One thing though....it is itchy. In fact the lady in line in front of me was returning hers for that exact reason.
 Here is what I wore shopping:
J Crew Perfect Fit Striped Boatneck Tee
LOFT double breasted jacket with patch pockets
J Crew denim Pencil Skirt
J Crew Tortoise Juliette Heels

And here is a little bonus I found when checking out. The glass ornament earrings  for $14.99. With the current promotion they came to $11.24 down from $50. Woo Hoo
Are you planning on shopping this promo? I would have passed if it weren't for the returns...hard to justify shopping for myself this close to Christmas......

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Velvet Shell for Erin

Here are some styling ideas that reader Erin requested for the Velvet Shell. Remember today only it is 30% off at the LOFT (40% off when you like them on Facebook and get a code)

Velvet Shell 4



Velvet Shell 1


Velvet Shell 3


Velvet Shell 2


Friday, December 3, 2010

I may need a sequin intervention

I just can't help myself....I love a good sequin! Casual or dressed up, a sequin can fit anyone's lifestyle.

Here is how I wore my sequin stripe henley yesterday to run errands with the kids, I really love this top and I am so glad it was restocked and then marked down because I skipped its first release.
And here is how I wore my sequins a little dressier tonight for an early dinner with the family and then off to work:

Here are the Polyvore's for the two outfits so you can get all the details. Also remember that tomorrow is LOFT's big event. I also saw on their facebook page there is a link on how to get an additional 10% off tomorrow (totalling 40%) so be sure to check it out!!

yesterday


Scattered


Tano 4650, $198

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Ho Ho Ho

Can you believe it is December??? Christmas is right around the corner so I got into the spirit the other day by throwing on a big red sweater. I realized I had zero red in my wardrobe so I have been trying to add a few red pieces in my wardrobe here and there.

Here is the Polyvore for this (the items will be listed below each set) and what else I have been wearing this week. I have not been able to get back in the OOTD pic habit since the kids went back to school but I will get better....promise.

'Tis the Season


Tano 4650, $198
Today


PARRAS, $30
Nuetrals



And last, but SURELY not least.....Chase wanted to show off his muscles for you. What can I say? He is a character

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

 Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Between my parents being in town and gearing up for the holiday crowds at work things have been even crazier then normal (I wasn't sure that was even possible). Now it is over and I can breathe a sigh of relief until tomorrow when it is time to start finalizing Christmas planning ;)

Here is what I wore on Thanksgiving (excuse the super duper pale legs). These are all recent J Crew purchases (besides the shoes which are older and off eBay) and I love them all seperately and together. The Sunnie Pencil Skirt is sold out online but it didn't hit stores until recently so it shouldn't be too hard to find (hopefully).
Patent Tortoise Juliets-J Crew

Here is a picture of the table before they all dug in (that is sparkling apple cider in the wine glasses, just as an FYI).
I didn't get to do the Black Friday shopping thing because I was working it but I did do a little online sale shopping. I picked up the Wii Fit and some J Crew goodies. I was able to combine the extra 25% promo with the 40% off factory and made out pretty nicely. There were so many other things I wanted but the budget would not allow it.

TURKEY




And here are a few outfits I wore last week that I didn't get IRL pictures of (sorry). For anyone considering the lace tee-get it. I LOVE it and I have had zero problems with the lace snagging:


11.22.10



Lace tee love



Dotted



Lace Tee


Did you brave the Black Friday crowds or score any great deals??