Outfit Inspiration: Jade + Yellow

from J's Everyday Fashion

Now that it feels more like summer in the PNW, I am able to think about actually wearing shorts, tanks, and sandals. Also, I am going to Southern California for about a week in August and will be needing some fun summer outfits.

I love these colors that J put together (I can't quite tell, it could be teal and yellow but w/e you get the idea right?!). She did a great job of using bright colors and then toning them down with nude tan sandals.

I can't wear yellow too much because it makes my skin look red, but I could get away with it on the bottom. This is a great outfit for hanging out at Disneyland! Colorful and practical!

Check out her blog for more awesome outfit posts!

Etsy Finds:: Simple Necklaces

One site that I thoroughly enjoying browsing on a regular basis is Etsy. I love the variety of handmade items from sellers all around the world. Recently, I have come across some lovely dainty necklaces and am considering getting one or two. This year I am trying to only buy handmade jewelry (locally or non). I love the selection of handmade items and feel that many fit my changing taste in necklaces. Currently, I am loving small chain necklaces with little details. I think they go along better with the type of shirts I wear and are more practical for teaching.

Find here

From jennijewel's shop, located in Los Angeles, California. She has a variety of handmade necklaces and earrings. Some of her necklaces have a simple chain with a arrowhead stone or a little cross or multiliple small colorful beads.

Find here

This little heart necklace is from Coco Handcrafted Jewelry, located in Sterling, Virginia. This artisan has many simple jewelry pieces -- sparrows, initial charms, and dainty bracelets. 

Find here

This delicate colorful necklace is from the shop, seven9, located in Kailua, Hawaii. Seven9 has many lovely little necklaces and gorgeous earrings -- another favorite of mine is the golden leaf necklace.

Which one is your favorite? What are some of your favorite Etsy finds?

Outfit Inspiration: Watermelon Colors

Lilly's Style from "Summer Colors" post (also on Pinterest)

I love this outfit that Lilly put together recently! The colors remind me of a watermelon -- the pink and green. I'm totally loving her gingham shorts (J. Crew of course) along with those fun sandals from Target. This is good inspiration for my trip down to Southern Cali in August! It will be short wearing weather for sure :) My mom and I will be going to Disneyland while we're down there (first time haha) and this would be great for one of those days.  Thanks Lilly for the outfit inspiration! You're awesome!

How would you interpret her look?

Outfit Inspiration: Belted Floral Top

found via Pinterest from The Life Pretty Anonymous

I love, love, love this outfit! A beautiful ruffley floral shirt + cardigan + belt + jean skinnies = great combo! I do have a floral top and could create an outfit quite similar to this one. Perfect for Spring (though, if you live in the PNW, might I suggest a pair of boots for this week?).

Happy Tuesday!

P.S. I checked out this fashion blog and it's authored by two sisters who enjoy fashion. They write anonymously with tasteful humor. I think I'll peruse their site a bit more!

Outfit Inspiration: Blazer + Shorts

J.Crew

A trend I am loving right now is the blazer and shorts combination. I like the mixture of casual and professional put together. I love all of the pieces that J. Crew combined -- a chambray shirt, a lighter blue (striped I think) blazer and navy blue/black shorts. With the weather being quite warm, this is good for errands, going out with friends or hanging with family members. Unfortunately, shorts are not a appropriate for teaching but this could be modified for that type of environment -- such as a skirt (knee length at least) or trousers/capris.

Three cheers for warmth, sunshine and blue skies! :) I am hoping this lovely weather continues....

Recent Target Finds

When you least expect it.... and then it leads to a little more.... Oh Target, sometimes you really surprise me!

Oh how I love clearance tags.... So satisfying seeing the 'Was' and 'Now'

Alright so here is the deal (or story- I apologize for the rambliness), Mom and I were out and about on Saturday doing errands and miscellaneous stuff. To my surprise-- I found a leopard belt! Yippiiiie!!! You have no idea how long I have been searching for a leopard belt. Now, it isn't the world's best quality but for $16.99 I couldn't pass it up. Also I had to get the pink belt because I have been looking for one as well (thinking of accessorizing my polka dot dress with it). Then we came across that gorgeous colored scarf, which was on clearance for $7.98. The fabric is lightweight and well.... you know my love of blue (I am seriously working on that! haha). Mom was convinced it belonged in my closet so I also blame her. Eventually that led me to trying on a pair of Mossimo patent high heels but they didn't have my size in the camel color..... (btw, they are the most comfortable high heels ever)

After doing a couple things on Monday morning, I gingerly took myself down the road to a different Target and found them. Yeah! AND look at that leopard purse!!!! My friends, for about two months I have gone back and forth on getting that darn purse. I saw it was online still but for $29.99 and just couldn't seem to hit the check out button. So I am over-the-moon that I not only came across it unexpectedly but that it had that beautiful clearance tag - yes, I scored big time! 

Then.... I gave in to that pretty mint green satchel. I'll admit it was $24.99. But isn't it lovely?! haha

Oh man I sound like a crazy consumer and I do think it is important to be careful when buying like this. One item often leads to another. I will say though that I am not always shopping and am able to afford them. Sometimes it's okay to treat yourself with goods and most of the time it is good to keep away from stores. It's all about moderation with a few indulgences here and there ;-) 

And I will be totally honest in that I am doing everything I can to resist these....

What do you think?

My Style: Using What I Have

It's been quite awhile since I did my last outfit post and Sunday provided the perfect opportunity to take some pictures (Thank you Mom for taking these for me!). I do put together super casual outfits during the week but I don't always get a picture of them. Anyhow... This is what I wore for Mother's Day! I was thoroughly enjoying the fact that I was in a SKIRT (as I am in pants like 98% of the time). Best part too-- I used items that had been in my closet for awhile. I had been mulling over this outfit for a few days and then put everything together. I am quite pleased with this and also love that I got to wear that beautiful cream shirt. I don't wear it enough since it is short sleeved and not typically warm like it has been. Now that I have more cardigans and blazers I am going to try and wear it when I sub/tutor.

Not to copy J's Everyday Fashion (she often asks a question w/ her posts) but.... Do you think this is classroom appropriate? * 

Cream Top: Forever 21 (~ 2 years old)
Spaghetti strap underneath: Aeropostale
Skirt: H & M (1+ year old)
Shoes: Airwalk / Payless (1.5 + year old)
Necklace: Handmade from Silver Image- saw it at Farmers' Market last year and received it as a gift later on

*fyi, I would not wear this w/ kindergarten where you are constantly bending over.

An Evening with Apolo Ohno

I'm a weekend writer... I can't help it but that is how life is right now. I am in the last two weeks of the semester and have been subbing quite a bit this month. I'm happy to report that this weekend has been just as wonderful as the last one-- perhaps even better!

So I guess I better start in chronological order... Starting with FRIDAY!

 Buddy TV? 

On Friday night, Mom and I had the opportunity to see Apolo Anton Ohno speak (the most decorated Winter athlete of all time! YEAH!) !!!! She got an email last week about him being at the Elsinore Theater in Salem and impulsively we got tickets. He was the motivational speaker for this benefit by Project Assist and Med Assist. These programs help people without insurance to obtain medical services of all kinds in the Marion/Polk County. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get pictures (they were not allowed -- drove me crazy!) but I certainly did enjoy listening to him. Yes he is a great speaker and motivational. Yes you can see his muscles through his suit ;-)

It was awesome hearing him talk about how he learned to live with "zero regrets." He went through very intensive preparations for his last Olympics in 2010. I didn't know he was able to leg press 2,000 pounds! Talk about mental strength! When he talked about that everyone in the crowd was like "Whoah." Needless to say, he is inspirational and motivational. I also appreciate his passion for helping children be successful because he knows how easy it is to fall into traps. I would love to see him again!!!

Besides the whole experience was quite fun. Something that Drs. Niles and Frasier Crane (we've been watching lots of "Frasier" lately) would have enjoyed this event. I saw some very formally dressed ladies, men in top hats, there were hors d'oeuvres and wine. I was very amused and loved it!

I was semi-formal -
Blazer: White House Black Market ($70 on sale, it fit me perfectly and I love it)
Top: Romy ($15 - yes you can wear a cheap top with a spendy one -- also had to wear gold for this)
Jeans (not pictured): Dark skinny jeans from Hollister
Boots (see below): Cathy Jean

Delightful evening dahhhling... and then afterwards we drove to our 5 star hotel -- known as Granny's. :)

Outfit Inspiration: Chilly Spring Days

via Pinterest -- Lilly's Style

I have had this outfit saved on Pinterest for quite some time, but I think it is applicable for the moody PNW Spring days. In agreement with Courtney, layers are great this time of year! I love how Lilly tied the belt, it adds a little more interest to a fairly casual outfit. I wouldn't wear those type of boots right now (fleece/fuzzy boot layers aren't necessary anymore! Not that cold here thankfully!) -- probably a lighter weight brown pair or even flats if the weather is conducive.

Happy Thursday!

Polka Dot Love for Easter

I have a confession: I have a HUGE crush on the clothing store Ruche. I love their beautiful dresses, skirts, and delicate accessories. I wouldn't consider my style vintage, but I do enjoy girly things from time to time. Anyhow, in March I spied a lovely light colored teal polka dot dress. I couldn't pass it up and took a chance and made my first purchase with Ruche! I ordered on a Tuesday and had my dress by Saturday (it also helps that they're located in Cali). The dress is great quality, fits me nicely (for the most part- unfortunately I was not 'blessed' with a large top area haha), and I have many ideas for styling it.

I am so thankful the weather was so lovely! Had this been a typical Easter I would have been so chilly (especially considering my tights got a huge run in them shortly before I had to leave home-- so that is also why you are graced with my pasty legs! ;-) ) *

Dress: Ruche
Cardigan: Merona / Target (recent!)
Belt: H & M
Blazer: H & M
Shoes: H & M

*P.S. Sara-- you can see my wacky collar bones! haha!

Outfit Inspiration: Teacher-y

via Pinterest, most likely from Ann Taylor 

I know it may seem contradictory to continue with outfit posts when I have recently been talking about living a simple life. The the thing is, I am really into fashion right now. So how I mesh those two things together-- simplicity and style? Try to use what I currently have and enhance the old with new (when I obtain new things). Buy new clothing items with intention!! That is the key to so many things: intention. Purpose. And I will be honest, I am craving many clothing items right now but I have to be mindful.

Anyway, without further chatter, here is an outfit that I love! A cardigan + ruffle top + belt + slacks. Totally teacher-y. Easy to recreate and practical. :)


__
Trying out a timed post since I am subbing on Tues!

Outfit Inspiration: Feminine Military Look

 How to be lovely via Pinterest

I have been a fan of Olivia Palermo's style for quite some time. She always wears simple outfits with the right amount of accessories.

Why I love this outfit -- Combination of layers with a ruffled top, long cardigan and a great military style coat (speaking of which, I hear that the military look is supposed to be big again this coming Fall). I have to note though, I love how she put a belt around the waist of the coat, it really adds that finishing touch to the look.

I hope to make my own version of this look sometime. This would be perfect for a Fall/mild Winter day. :)

P.S. It's snowing (very unexpectedly) tonight so these layers look great! The calendar says it's Spring but it certainly isn't looking that way here. I love it!
____________________

"Outfit Inspiration" is a new feature on my blog. I got this idea from one of my favorite bloggers, Courtney at Charmed in PDX. She features outfits that she likes in posts called "Outfit Crush" (you can see her most recent post here). I thought that was an awesome idea and wanted to make my own version. I exchanged a few lovely emails with her and she thought it was just fine. So in all teacher fashion-- I spied a fabulous idea to try, made it my own and credited the original source! Thanks Courtney! :)

Fashionably Late Outfit Post

Isn't the back of this dress great? I love how the top part of the dress fits my body.

It's been well over a week since I wore this outfit and I think I have mentioned a "future outfit post" about two times. So here it is! I really love this fancy dress. I wore this for my sister's wedding rehearsal (though I did not originally buy the dress for that event) and then again last week for a special date with B. We went to dinner at Gustav's to celebrate being together for a year (actual date is sometime during the last week of March). We had a blast dressing up and eating delicious food. Oh my goodness! Ya'll must try Swiss cheese fondue!!! If you haven't you are seriously missing out. I tried it for the first time last week and oh wow. I have to say, if any food could compete with chocolate, that is it. Mmm mm...

Alright, here's the breakdown of my outfit, but with a few side notes: (1) Next time, I would like to try belting the dress-- I could see a gold, silver, or black belt with it. (2) I have to say, my legs look darn good. It's a modest outfit but I love how it showcases those (it's okay to be proud of your body once and awhile!). (3) Perhaps a different sort of cover-up instead of this cardigan?!?! -- Any suggestions are welcome! I would love to get more mileage out of these items.

Cardigan: Charlotte Russe
Dress: Target on clearance last year ($17.99- couldn't pass it up!)
Tights: Hanes @ Fred Meyer
Shoes: Merona @ Target -- nice shoes but don't fit my feet great, glad they weren't too much $
~~
Because I'm mean I am concluding with this picture..... ;-)

Mmmmm....

Comfy Errand Outfit

Plaid shirt: American Eagle (recent & on clearance)
Gray long sleeve: Ambiance from Wet Seal (old)
Belt: H & M (very recent-- love it!)
Jeans: Hollister (got them during a 50% jeans + free shipping online sale)
Boots: Cathy Jean-- super, super comfy and make a great clicking sound from the lil heel that's on 'em

I managed to create a quick, simple and comfy outfit to go on an errand this {rainy} afternoon. I love this new flannel plaid shirt- so comfy! I'm trying to add in patterns to my wardrobe and have fallen in love with plaid. To make this outfit even better, I would like to use a more colorful shirt underneath it, like a dark pink or blue, instead of gray. I wanted a little more warmth and the gray shirt long-sleeve shirt fit the best underneath the plaid. I'm not crazy about the gray shirt because it is too "elasticy" and rides up (it will be going bye bye one of these days), but it's what I had to work with and served its purpose of keeping me a lil warmer.

Hope you're having a wonderful Monday!

P.S. My sister was gracious enough to take the full-length picture of me. She also took the pictures from my other two outfit posts. :) Thanks sis!
P.S.S. Forgive my bare/natural face and messy hair-- I should have taken these before going out but just didn't do it. I regret that now! Oh well!

FPC, Day 23: Your Shoes

February Photo Challenge

Day 23

"Your Shoes"

I could have taken a picture of all my shoes today but I chose not too. Instead I wanted to take a picture of these cute additions to my wardrobe. I'll show you my boots some other time ;-)

FPC, Day 17: Time

February Photo Challenge

Day 17

"Time"

This is how I spent time today... literally :) Oh, it was a very Happy Friday though! 

First stop at the mall was Jamba Juice. Funny thing is that they messed up on my drink and gave it to me, and made me a new one with all of the ingredients (I got the Peanut Butter Moo'd... new fav of mine!). So here I was, rarin' to go shopping and was double fisting it with two drinks. I didn't want to throw the other drink away, but didn't feel like asking every person I walked by if they wanted it (I did have the paper over the straw so it looked untouched).... I did ask one lady but she said no... then I decided to go sit on a bench for a few minutes and a gentleman asked me for directions to a store, and I questioned him on his need for a drink. After my two attempts I decided to not wait too much longer. Oh but thank goodness! I got a taker! A gal about my age sat on the other bench behind me and I said, "Excuse me.... By any chance do you like chocolate and bananas?" (that's what you ask when you randomly talk to a stranger right?) With slight hesitation she answered, "yes, sometimes." Then I told her my Jamba Juice issues and she gladly took the drink from me and was very gracious! I felt victorious!

Then.... my shopping adventures began.....

Didn't get this dress but am considering it. Very cute!

Spent lots of time in H & M. I am in deep love with this store these days. I have enjoyed this store but haven't found too much that looked good on me (sometimes their colors don't do so well for my fair skin). Not the case this time!!! I will say, having a 20% off-any-item-I-choose coupon made clothes even more appetizing. FYI:: if you sign up for their newsletter you get a 20% off coupon. Uh, and I have signed up a few more extra email addresses tonight.... ;-) 

This is sort of my "splurge item." I've been quite curious about Burt's Bees tinted lip balm. I purchased this at Ulta (stop before the mall for a few personal items) and was able to use a 20% off coupon on it (good thing, this dang stuff is $6.99 - reason why I haven't bought it until now). I tried it on tonight and am very happy with the Hibiscus color, smells lovely, does stay true to name and gives a lil color, and the balm is lightweight feeling. Good job Burt's Bees! I've been a fan of theirs for a while now and am pleased with this product. :)

Blue&Pink Plaid: American Eagle / Blue, Green & Pink Plaid: H & M/ Blazer: H & M/ Flats: H & M / Boots: Cathy Jean

Ta-da! Here are my clothing purchases from today! I finally, FINALLY got a blazer! I was able to use my coupon for it and saved about $6 (still came to about $28). While this is a more spendy item, it is good quality and something I will enjoy for a long time. I love how blazers can be worn in so many ways. 

Cheetah/leopard-- what's the difference....? These shoes make me happy too. I have been looking all over for a cute pair of flats and was glad that these fit. :) [side note: they're leopard, check here] 

Plaid shirts were items I have been wanting and I was happy that they looked good on me. Got a great deal on the A & E shirt-- got it on clearance for about $15. Yippie!

Boots weren't an expected purchase today (so technically could be a splurge item?!?!) but they feel great on my feet and for $30 bucks (70% off!), I didn't feel bad about taking them home. 

Great part of all this?! These are birthday presents. I was given some money to do some shopping so it felt great to finally get out and so some of that this afternoon. Have several more items on my list, of course. Trying to pace myself.

Anyhow.... the photo challenge of TIME was a very good one for today!  Happy FRIDAY!

Friendly Luncheon Outfit

I took Granny home this afternoon and then met up with my friend Andrea for lunch at Applebees. We hadn't seen each other for about 7 months!

Below you'll see my outfit and then a few pictures from today. It's been another glorious sunshiney Winter day!

Really wanted to make these pictures of me into a collage, but Picnik has removed that feature as it is closing in April 19th (really disappointed!!). Anyway.... I am wearing:

Sweater dress: Forever 21 (about 2 yrs old) *
Hidden item: Black t-shirt from F21
Cardigan: Forever 21
Leggings: Forever 21
Boots: LifeStride Yonkers from Famous Footwear (gift from Christmas...how I love these boots!)
Jewelry: H & M pink pearl earrings & an awesome coconut necklace from my Costa Rica trip

*I love this sweater dress but 1) it is pretty short so I don't feel comfortable wearing it for teaching-- though all parts of me are covered... 2) it is short sleeved -- would like to come up with other warm things than this cardigan.

However, this sweater dress has lots of accessory options... like I can wear a scarf with it, a variety of necklaces, and am considering using a belt with it sometime. I'll keep this clothing item for awhile!

 ~~~ 

On to the fun stuff:

A lunch/hang out tradition: we take pictures at the end. Some are normal and some are super, super silly! Love you Miss Andrea! (P.S. You can check out her awesome blog, Finding Happiness at Every Turn )

A Simple Substitute Outfit

I'm going out on a limb here and posting a picture of myself in an outfit! haha Didn't think I would do this till later, but I feel pleased with what I wore today-- it was fun for teaching, very comfortable, I received several compliments from students, and I even wore makeup along with it all!

Cardigan: H & M, recent purchase ($14.95)

Scarf: Fred Meyer's, gift from Mom for b-day

Underneath T-tshirt: White from Old Navy (old)

Slacks: Black from Old Navy (old)

Sis took this pic, she's a lil shorter than me-- as the camera angle shows.. haha

Earrings: from the Made in Oregon Store - I love jewelry there! Local and beautifully made. Lots of different jewelers to pick from :)

Teacher Angela learned this today (or was reminded of a few things)::

-- Kids notice EVERYTHING

-- Within a few minutes of seeing the kids, they commented on what I was wearing... recieved compliments on my earrings, my coat (a teal pea coat) and scarf.

-- One girl commented on that she liked my makeup

-- For this class, it is a good idea to keep them on their feet. Maybe I'll keep their attention better if I'm wearing interesting things. I felt really good with how I looked and confidence is important when you're a teacher!

-- I can make a great "don't you even think about it..." looks to kids when I wear good eye make up (haha!)

-- Putting together this outfit was super easy. It's not award worthy by any means but it is definitely an upgrade to my usual blah looks. Amazing what a scarf and makeup will do!

-- H & M rocks, I am so pleased with the quality of that cardigan

** With all this said, it's NOT all about the clothes and looks. I know I am yakking about that a lot these days but they are not what make a person truly successful. I think looking nice can gain one more respect and in the classroom, all eyes are on the teacher. I remember when I was in the 5th grade, I just loved my teacher and I loved the way she dressed. I was always interested in what she would wear each day. One of my favorite outfits of hers was a soft flowing matching top and bottom outfit. Both parts were light green and they fit her slender body beautifully and on the waist there was a bow-- think the top part kind of had that wrap look to it. I loved how my teacher looked so good each day, made her extra lovely. I even wrote a note in my journal one day complimenting her! She was a fantastic teacher and you could see her personality in everything she did-- the way she dressed and carried herself. 

I think dressing nice adds in that extra sensory element; it's good to be a visually appealing teacher. Besides, it's fun to surprise kids every now and then! :)

JOP: Evaluating My Clothes, Part II

So now you have seen my clothes that I have been wearing for quite some time. I haven't shown you the worst-- at some point you will see pictures of me in my typical work outfits... haha

To further understand my clothing situation I looked at them from a (simple) mathematical perspective:

Long sleeve shirts
Total: 3
1/3, the white one is worn the most
Note: One is flimsy cheap fabric and the other two are so spandexy they ride up... Will be going in the giveaway pile.

Basic shirts (shown w/ the striped top near 'em)
Total: 10
6/10 is the amount I wear the most... that means the other 4 are hardly used
Note: Basic shirts + a black or cream sweater + slacks/jeans = boooorrrrrinnng...

Spaghetti Straps
Total: 8
2/8 worn the most (cream and blue)
4/8 worn frequently (cream, blue, green lacey and white lacey)
Note: These are wearing out quickly, most aren't worn.... get rid of most of them.

Other shirts
Total: 6
2/6, the white and blue are worn the most (blue shown in front)
Note: Not good quality and plenty aren't being used-- giveaway, giveaway!

Tank Tops
Total: 16
1/16, white one from Old Navy has never been worn- tags and all are still on it.
7/16, worn for road trips and to Arizona
4/16, never been worn
5/16, hardly been used
Note: NO MORE TANK TOPS! Yes, they're cheap but it doesn't mean I need to buy them all of the time... And uh, the PNW is not at all a desert. ;-)

Long Sleeves/Sweaters
Total: 10
Note: Without counting my workout items, I have very few warm items. May I remind you of where I live-- it is often chilly on this side of Oregon! Something isn't right here....

Too Much Blue
Total: 34!!!!!
Note: This is without counting workout clothes as well (probably 5 more items if you add that in). Yes, oh yes, do I love blue. It's truly one of the best colors on me-- and all different kinds of blue (teal being my favorite). My dear friend Jennifer is always giving me heck for always choosing this color... she has good reason huh?! While I will continue to buy blue items, I am going to do my very best to broaden my color scheme (and patterns as well- notice the lack of that? ).

*I want to make a side note to all of this and say I didn't comb through my whole closet, as that would be a bit much but I think these evaluations make some good points.

What I Have Learned From This::
-- Just because the clothes may be cheap doesn't mean they're good choices (such as the shirts). It's easy to get a whole bunch of cheap things and stick with them... and become Boooorrrrrring.
--Related to above: As a professional, I need to have shirts/tops that don't require me to wear spaghetti straps under them. I need shirts that are good quality (not expensive necessarily) and that cover everything. Spaghetti straps are fine but a majority of my outfits shouldn't require them.
-- I need to be more conscious of shopping for the kind of environment I live in. That means more layers, warm sweaters, and good quality long sleeve shirts. Don't buy for your favorite season if it hardly exists in your location! haha
-- When buying clothes, don't just buy them... THINK about how to CREATE outfits. This is a mindset I have not had until now. I will spend my money more wisely if I am planning on how to use the desired items. If I am able to mix and match items to create several different GOOD outfits then my money is better spent than buying a bunch of cheap t-shirts, spag. straps, fashion tops (which I didn't show today) and tank tops.
-- I need to love everything that I buy! Otherwise, what is the point?! Don't just buy to buy...

Oh so much knowledge!! Analyzing one's closet is a great way to see where improvements are needed and how to not fall back into the old patterns. Another good reason to do this is to be less of a consumer. Kind of ironic, in some ways: looking at old clothes so I know how to buy new ones.  BUT hear me out: doing this allows me to see how I have wasted my money, even if I make super cheap purchases ($3.50 for those shirts I wear w/ spag straps, from F21, ~ 1.5 yr ago). Yes, I have gotten a lot of use out of the cheap clothes and I do take extremely good care of what I have.... but I look boring, I'm tired of wearing the same type of outfits. It all comes down to, if you don't feel good about what you're wearing/how you look then you don't feel good about yourself. Clothing is a statement and I don't like what I'm reflecting right now. I want to have fun creating outfits and showing that it matters how I present myself. Just can't do it all overnight so one step at a time :)

JOP: Evaluating My Clothes

Realized this morning that I haven't done much in the way of my January Organization Project for awhile.... and there is only 1.5ish days left as I write this. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a lot done this month due to being super busy and then sick-- two of the weekends I didn't have the energy for anything. There's still two projects I would like to tackle, clean the inside of my car and declutter the cabinet and drawers in the bathroom. I'm going to allow myself an extension :)

Anyhow.... Today I decided to evaluate the clothes that I currently own and to make some choices about how to deal with them. I considered titling this post "How NOT to Shop" after looking at my clothes and feeling so ready to chuck most of them out. I really would love to pitch most of them out, as in give them away to Union Gospel, but I'm stuck in the "in-betweenness." See, I am in the process of updating my wardrobe and studying various styles.... however, I can't go around baring my skin. I need to have something to wear for the time being even though I'm not crazy about it. I also have to remind myself I can't go broke buying clothes-- I need to do this gradually as hard as that is.

So, here are my findings from today:

I focused mainly on two drawers in my closet-- tshirts, spaghetti straps and tank tops.

All but one is a basic shirt, I got these for cheap at F21 (own 10). Striped is a  3/4  length from Old Navy when I worked there yrs ago.

I wear these items underneath tshirts so I don't show anything  (own 8)

This is atrocious, really. All my tank tops... (own 16)

This pic goes w/ the above... Notice something? Like, the colors of these items? I  love blue dearly but too much. I  own 34 items in this color range. (not counting workout clothes) 

Long sleeve shirts...This also goes/w/ the above. I own very few warm clothes...

Because this post is rather long I am going to continue in a new post. :)