Outfit of the day....

I work in a casual office where no one really sees me. So I can wear what I want. I do try to look at least halfway decent. Mondays start out okay, although by Friday I'm usually in yoga pants and a hoodie. Here's my Monday effort:

Big Star jeans, a sequined black belt from Target, a "green" t-shirt (as in created in an ecologically sound environment-I think its made from bamboo or something!) that I got for Christmas, a little scarf I picked up recently in Seaside Oregon when it was blowing sideways out, and a cotton slip-on sweater from Forever21 that I paid a whopping $7 for and really goes with everything. You can't see them but I have on my Mary Jane style Danskos in patent black. I also threw on a bunch of black sparkly beaded bracelets as I was walking out the door.

Some tips for shopping at Forever 21. Most of us know, their stuff is cheap-not just in price but in quality. I think it can be a great place to pick up pieces that are trendy and will be "out" pretty soon, or casual stuff (like the sweater in pic). I avoid dresses there, even though I've seen some cute ones, mainly because they are TOO short for a girl of my...years. (gulp). I will occasionally pair a shorter skirt with leggings or heavy tights, but I'm not trying to look "forever 21" after all. I'm pretty happy with where I'm at and how I look at this point in my life, and I think trying to dress too young for your age has the opposite effect of what you're trying to create. You don't look younger, you just look silly.

Digressing aside, I don't buy jeans at Forever21 because they fit like what they are-cheap jeans. I DO buy t-shirts, jewelry, layering tank tops, occasionally shoes (try them on!), sweaters and shirts made of materials that won't fall apart in the wash (cotton or lycra blends are good) and accessories such as purses, belts, etc. My biggest piece of advice? Do NOT put anything from Forever21 in the dryer! It will be a goner for sure. Instead, hang it to dry. If you MUST dry it, only do so for about 20 minutes and then let it dry flat, or hang it if you have a drying rack. Drying racks are cheap and you can find them at Target or Walmart. I actually prefer to air dry a lot of my clothes, it makes them last SO much longer and you avoid stretched out, faded shirts and shrunk sweaters.

Maybe on Friday I'll post my outfit for work again....you'll see what I mean about getting to the "not care" point by the end of the week!

Get your bling on!!!

There's nothing like the perfect pair of earrings to complement an outfit, and I love to collect all kinds of fun jewelry. My pocketbook, however, doesn't allow me to collect a lot of expensive pieces! Luckily, I've been able to accumulate some super cute stuff without going broke. I actually prefer inexpensive jewelry and have always managed to find unique and interesting items that look great.

I got both of these necklaces at Fred Meyer. The heart one cost me about $12 (on sale of course) and everytime I wear it people comment on it! Its just plastic, but its big and shiny and goes with almost any outfit. The other necklace and earrings came as a set and were on the "40% off clearance" rack. Again, both go with almost any outfit and really dress up a simple top!

This necklace was a Forever 21 find. It was less than $5. The chain is long, making it perfect for a simple dress or top. Its a little hard to see in the picture, but the heart (I like hearts, can you tell?) is actually a bunch of small wires woven together. Unusual and always generating interest.

I *love* these earrings. I found these at JcPenney's during their Black Friday sale. I figure if I'm going to get up at the crack of dawn to go Christmas shopping, I'm shopping for ME a little too! They are perfect to brighten up beige or brown colors, and make me feel happy when I wear them. They are kind of glittery too, and the birds are a bright blue.

I'm a big sucker for BIG rings. Love blingy, showy rings to accessorize and accent my outfits. The three above came from Fred Meyer (clearance rack again!) Forever 21 and, of all places, Sears. None of them cost over $5.

This necklace is from Hawaii. We got it from one of the vendors at the open market in Kihei. I think it was three bucks and I love it for a natural, earthy look.

So unless you have a metal allergy and HAVE to wear the spendy stuff, finding inexpensive jewelry isn't hard. Just comb through those sale rounders when you find them, and don't be afraid to look in places you normally wouldn't think of! Local designers are another excellent way to find unique jewelry, and you can feel good about promoting small business. Next week I'll write about just that-finding unique items from local Alaska shops and designers!



Urban Decay is Naked again!

From Sephora, the latest must-have!! This is the sequel to their "Naked" palette and Oh-Em-Gee I'm loving those colors!! Remember, you get free shipping on orders of $50 or more, and if you click the upper left hand corner of their site, you can choose 3 free samples with every order. Also, make sure to look at their promotional codes before final check-out. I got a free Buxom Lipgloss!