KS Sale

Right now, Kate Spade is having a super sale - take an additional 25% off of current sale prices. Check it out.

Quarterly update

I've been missing for a couple days because...well...I've been working! It's wonderful. So I'm going to do an update of the goals I set for myself in the beginning of the year.

1. Find a job that I love.
   Status: so far, so good!
   
2. Get involved in the local arts community.
   Status: incomplete
   
3. Join a group.
   Status: incomplete. A friend had emailed me a while back about starting a book club, but I haven't heard back so my guess is that it's fallen through the cracks.
   
4. Exercise once a week.
   Status: If taking the dog on long walks counts, then yes. But I've been bad about getting on the treadmill or Wii Fit in the past few weeks.
   
5. Create a plan for decorating my house and execute it.
   Status: In progress. I've finally done a few things, but the plan is still in the beginning phases.
   
6. Clean up my social life.
   Status: In progress. I made a few Facebook friend deletions in the past week, but I haven't taken it all the way.
   
7. Foster the friends I have.
   Status: Looking good. I've been spending more time with some of the people who matter most.
   
8. Keep reading.
   Status: In progress. I got a couple books down, but then got stuck. I need to put my current book down and work on something new.
   
9. Stay positive.
   Status: In progress. I get pretty heated up when people make ignorant comments in regards to current affairs, and that has been happening a lot lately.
   
10. Blog regularly.
    Status: Looking good. I've been averaging over three posts a week.

Sweepstakes 411

Right now if you become a fan of Lands' End Canvas on Facebook, you can enter to win a $20,000 shopping spree. Run there and enter!

The Poll has ended

The poll on my blog regarding my favorite style influence has closed, and not one person guessed correctly! I'm a huge fan of Carrie Underwood. I've been following her since her In Style magazine shoot in 2008. She does preppy, she does sexy without being over the top, and she always looks put together. I love that her formal looks are always young and classic - never over the top or dowdy. She rocks neutrals and plenty of color. Carrie even looks great when she's running errands in jeans. I love it!


Photo - InStyle Magazine

They call it Snooki, and researchers are looking for a drug to prevent it

I don't watch Jersey Shore. I don't really enjoy watching douche-bags get drunk and act like idiots in real life, let alone on television. But the show did get me thinking - will there be a backlash due our perceptions of the cast members? Will girls stop getting dark fake tans in order to prevent being seen as an idiot? Will people in general stop dressing or looking like the Jersey Shore cast because they don't want to be seen as some sort of sperm-filled hot tub jockey?

I'm doing pretty good on avoiding sugar for Lent, but it's getting harder. I'm avoiding purchasing my Easter candy out of fear I might not have the will power to ignore it.

I did some shopping yesterday at a nearby outlet mall with a friend. The selection was terrible, although I did come home with a blazer from the White House Black Market outlet. Again, with the cropped cardigans people...I'm still struggling to find basics.

What does "hate to shop" mean?

You know you're a fashion addict if you wake up in the morning and realized you were dreaming of Phillip Lim handbags.

So....I took a job. I'll be going in one day this week and then for good starting next week. VERY EXCITING. And scary. I have a feeling there's a lot of work to be done.

With this news of the new job, I headed out to do some shopping yesterday. Bonton's Goodwill sale was a bust - I couldn't find any clothing there whatsoever that I liked. Everything was either super casual or super old lady. I tried on two armfuls of clothing at The Limited, but nothing fit properly. Not everyone looks good in a cropped cardigan. So why are all the cardigans cropped?!?! That was the number one thing on my list - replace cardigans - and I found nothing. I ended up with one sweater from the Gap and a boyfriend blazer from Kohl's. Not terribly successful.

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook about her hatred of shopping. This is not something I understand. I understand it for some people. If you've recently gained weight or just had a baby and are uncomfortable dressing a different body, I get it. If you have literally no time in your life, I get it. If you've always been fashion awkward, I get it. But I don't understand the girl I know that owns more premium denim than anyone else, that is always "current" - and not just that-style-has-made-it-to-the-Midwest current but Vogue magazine current, who's never been over a size two, not wanting to shop. Nope. No understanding. How can you love fashion, be able to fit into fashion, and always wear current fashion, but hate to shop? **confused face**

Life is HARD...

I'm currently trying to make a couple job decisions, so I'm a bit wrapped up. Making decisions about your career is HARD.

I know once I make a decision I'll feel a lot of relief and excitement. And then I'll go shopping! I'm going to need some more career wear. My last job allowed me to be a bit more business casual, but I get the feeling I'm going to need to turn it up a bit, especially when I'm going out to businesses and meeting clients. Luckily, this weekend is Goodwill days at Bonton stores, which means coupons for every item you bring in to donate. And The Limited is having a 40% off sale on suiting pieces. I think a little retail therapy will help ease the stress of this past week.

Preppy clothing on the web, this and that

It appears that American Eagle will be dropping it's Martin + Osa stores in the near future. I'm very sad. Much like Conan, I feel like AE just didn't give the brand enough time to brew. My other criticisms are: the brand was often too basic, with not enough interesting pieces; the items were consistently $10-30 overpriced; the shoes and handbags were majorly overpriced for their demographic; and their website was always changing its format. The great things were the men's fleeces (nice looking, not Old Navy-looking) and the button up Oxford shirts for women which actually fit ladies with a full bust (aka me). Right now their website doesn't mention closing, so I'm guessing they're still a ways off. I hope that I can at least score some good deals before they disappear. Bummer.

If you're like me and enjoy all preppy, nautical, and navy fashions, I have a tip. If you are smaller in size, check out the children's uniform sections of sites like Gap.com. They offer larger sizes (for larger kids into teens) and often have great preppy basics like polos, khakis, and blazers. The best selection is usually in late summer when the school year shopping begins. Check it out.

Oscars Red Carpet Breakdown

It's Oscar time! So, without further ado, my opinions...

Worst Dressed

3. Meryl Streep in Chris March. It was dowdy, boring, and looked like something she dug out of Sharon Stone's closet in 1992.

2. Kate Winslet in YSL. I'm not sure Oscar fashion can get any more boring.

1. Charlize Theron in Dior. Hello, pink boobie whirls.


Best Dressed

3. Diane Kruger in Chanel. I realize this one isn't going to be universally loved, and is already hitting worst-dressed lists, but I love it. It's a risk, I epitomizes Chanel, and it's glamorous. What else would you want on the red carpet?

2. Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten. I love that she went with a pattern, and on a night when color was sorely needed she had a vibrant gown.

1. Zoe Saldana in Givenchy. It had beautiful color, it was age-appropriate, it was fashion-forward, and I loved it.


Other Awards

Worst accessorizing: Kristen Stewart's lack of accessories

Best accessorizing: Mariska Hargitay, for actually wearing a necklace. There was an extreme lack of jewelry at the Oscars.

Best use of nudes: Cameron Diaz

Worst use of nudes: Sandra Bullock in Marchesa. The bottom half looked like snagged lamé.

Most improved: Tina Fey

Best use of color: Vera Farmiga in Marchesa

They call it "gauze"

Tissue tees, sheer cardigans...can someone explain to me the new obsession with see-through, un-warm layering options? I'm from a part of the country that gets cold in the winter. For me, a cardigan is something I put on to keep warm. Why would I want it to be flimsy? I'm not saying I need arctic cable-knit wools, but I would like a densely woven sweater. Thanks.

If I do get one of these jobs I've been interviewing for, I'm going to need to get some new clothes. My closet is comprised mostly of basics and some of them are looking tough. My black cardi lost a button on New Years Eve that I've yet to sew back on. That's sort of the story with much of my work wardrobe - each piece has an issue or just looks worn. I might have to dig out Tim Gunn's list of ten items every woman should own.

I've used a couple different eco-friendly dish soaps, and so far the winner is Seventh Generation. We tried the Clorox Green Works dish soap, but all of our must-hand-wash cast-aluminum pans were coming back out of the sink with almost as much olive oil on them as they started with. After switching back to Seventh Generation, I'm happy again. A tip - sometimes you can find it on sale at Target, of all places.

The only green dishwasher detergent I've used so far is Palmolive Eco. A lot of online reviews say it leaves a white residue, but I've had no issue with it. I have a very new dishwasher, so maybe the type or age of the dishwasher plays a role. So far I'm using it because it's both eco-friendly and low cost. I welcome other recommendations!

"I gave up dreaming for a while"

I'm not much of an American Idol watcher, but this season I'm watching for one reason - Andrew Garcia. If you haven't seen him, search him on YouTube. His versions of Straight Up and Sugar We're Going Down are absolutely recordable, and I'm in love with the duets he does with his friend Cathy. I haven't really been into music lately. I haven't purchased an album in probably six years. However, between cheering for Andrew Garcia and my recent love of Belgian artist Milow, I'm finally getting back into music. Hmm.

I received an email from The Limited today letting me know about their suit sale. If you buy a jacket you'll get a skirt or pant for free. I think this must be a sign; I must be getting a job soon, right? I mean, I want a new job and have shopping fever, so this must mean that the two are coming together. My current interviews include a local community leader position and a position planning/running a major Midwest ethnic festival. Sounds awesome to me!

Blog addition

I've added a poll to the right column. Take it!

Current trends

I'm making my spring fashion predictions and opinions, breaking down the current fashion trends by how I feel about them - the ones I want to go out of fashion, the ones that I think we'll continue to see, and the ones I've broke down and purchased:

I hope it's over soon

Buffalo plaid

Cropped jackets and cardigans

Handbags the size of luggage

Choppy, side-swept bangs

Brightly-colored plastic sunglasses

High-waisted shorts

Batwing sweaters

Extra long v-neck boyfriend sweaters

Black denim

Peep-toe boots

I think it's sticking around

Leggings

Distressed jeans

Platform shoes

Bib necklaces

Maxi dresses

Mermaid-cut gowns

Military-style jackets

Boyfriend blazers

Paillette dresses

Aviator sunglasses

Premium denim

Billowy blouses

I'm embracing it

Heeled gladiators

Cloche hats

Ruffled tops

Booties

Rolled jeans

Scarves with everything

Tunics

Opaque tights

Leather driving mocs

Yellow gold jewelry

Equestrian boots

White denim

Faux fur vests



Photo - martinandosa.com