And The Winner Is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations! I will be in touch shortly with details about your prize. Thanks to everyone who participated. Hopefully I will have more giveaways for you soon.

February 16, 2012: Guilty Party?

This is my sad face; my I know I did something wrong face; my please don't judge me face. Ok, I'll stop being dramatic, I was just admiring my shoes, they are pretty awesome. Things have been busy but, I took pictures and the posts will be coming in slowly but surely! Stay tuned...

• Top: aqua cowl neck sweater, Mossimo for Target (same sweater different color here)
• Bottom:  black true straight pants, GAP
• Shoes & Accessories: silver hardware embellished flats, Preview via Nordstrom Rack; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here

February 15, 2012: Escape From The Office

For the first time in a long time I went to a job fair! In my new company there was not an established college recruitment program that is, until I came... Now it is growing and there might be more job fairs in my future, we shall see. I would have been happy to schlep to work yesterday in skinny pants a comfy top but, that is not appropriate attire to meet and greet potential employees so, I got it together.

I'm glad that I did because as I was meeting students their ensembles were consistently well dressed; Like full suit, clean shaven (for boys), natural makeup (for girls, fresh mani (for all)... it was very impressive! I would have felt so out of place if I, as an employer, were not equally dressed to impress.

• Top: yellow ruffle collar shirt, LOFT; black pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via SYMS (part of this suit)
• Bottom: black pencil skirt (with pockets), Old Navy
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West;  pearl earrings, birthday gift from Mom via Macy's; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF 

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!! 

February 14, 2012: Happy Anniversary To Me!

One year ago today yesterday I took my first steps into the next leg of my career at a new job! Honestly, it has flown by a bit but, at that same time I feel like I've been there for the longest... Weird, right? Either way, I'm so happy I made this move and am looking forward to what the upcoming year brings me.

One of the things that I am happy about is that my hair has grown considerably since last year; No more Dutch boy haircut for me! Thanks, biotin/fish oil supplements and intrinsic speedy hair growth. Without you, I wouldn't have made it this far. Lesson learned: make sure your translator understands what you want before you let the hair stylist touch you hair or just go to someone who speaks your language...

I wanted to wear something special to celebrate the "momentous" occasion of my job-iversary/Tuesday so I reached for one of my Monif C convertible dresses. They claim that you can tie it into 27+ different ensembles but, after attempting to change it up my verdict is: not really or maybe with some additional assistance. Thank goodness I was wearing a jacket and a tank top because if I hasn't been my co-workers would have been privy some precarious wardrobe moments. Maybe I needed some fashion tape to keep it all together, I probably just need some more practice... Do you have a dress like this? How do you make it work?

• Top: orange convertible dress, Monif C (same dress different color here and here) with a tank top underneath for the modesty; brown houndstooth jacket, LOFT
• Shoes & Accessories: gray pumps, Steve Madden; Inkwenkwezi Safety Pin necklace, Smithsonian/Christmas gift from Mom; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items ftom this outfit are prefviously seen and remixed here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!! 

February 13, 2012: Not Sure How This Happened

I am working with what I have today in an unexpected way! One of the trends that keeps popping up on my radar is peplum. I’ll come right out and say it, I don’t think it works for me at all. My hips don’t lie don’t need any help and in my eyes that is the only things that is accented by a peplum blouse or dress. When I decided to play around with this dress as a top the excess fabric manifested iteself into a faux peplum because of the way it's gathered at the waist. After all, a peplum is is a short flared, gathered, or pleated strip of fabric attached at the waist of a woman's jacket, dress, or blouse that pretty much sums up what happened here, kind of. 

How do you feel about peplums? What trends are you less than excited about?

• Top: beige, black, and red vintage "Geometry is Sexy" dress, Kathy via Re/Dress NYC; black pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via SYMS
• Bottom: black pinstripe a-line skirt, Calvin Klein via SYMS
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!! 

Blogger's Night Out

On Friday while everyone was getting into the swing of things for Fashion Week I was right there with them (in my mind) at Blogger's Night Out. There was also an event downtown sponsored by Lulu's.com which I didn't know about. Who felt like a lame blogger? That would be me but, I digress...

Blogger's Night Out was hoppin' either way; If you follow me on Twitter you might have noticed my live tweets from the events so you have an idea of all the action. This is me and my GF in the picture hot spot.

Plastics Make it Possible definitely had the most impressive display with a plethora of outfits composed entirely of items made from plastic! Love them... I think my favorite part of the night came when I was talking with one of the lovely ladies from Plastics Make it Possible to enter a giveaway for one of the snazzy outfits and she recognized my blog plus, said she was a follower! So surreal/awesome.

It was very crowded but, these pictures don't do it justice! It was a challenge to squeeze from one end of the bar to the other. I have to say there was alot more room last year which I appreciated while I was trying to make it around to see the different vendors or to the bar to get a yummy (free) drink.

The Style Lounge in the back, organized by Marshalls and TJ Maxx, provided a nice respite from the crowds up front at the bar. It was like finding a secret treasure trove...

This is just a small sampling of all the great items on display. Unfortunately, you couldn't buy or take anything home which was a little disappointing if you found something that you fell in love with like some ladies. There was one person I overheard saying that it was meant to be and the item that she found matched her outfit perfectly but, to no avail.

While their displays were a total tease Marshalls TJ Maxx definitely had the best game. Basically, they presented you with an item and you had to guess their retail prices based on the original MSRP. I won two things and my GF won an awesome purse. Lucky us! It got so popular that you couldn't guess again if you had already won and they eventually ran out of items.

After all the giveaway winners had been announced and the night wound down it was time to get gift bags and head out! It was a mad house because the gift bag pick up was at the coat check which was a little frustrating because I left my coat in the car to avoid that crowd in the first place... The moment when the night really ended was one some lady (accidentally) punched me in the ear trying to get her coat on. Thankfully I had a fun ride home with GF and some new friends and there was some fun swag to be had.

Did you go to Blogger's Night Out, the Lulus.com party, or some other even cooler thing that I didn't know about? How was it?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!!

Reminder: $100 Shopbop Giveaway

Don't forget to enter the giveaway which will be until February 20, 2011 and is open to ALL readers in USA and internationally! I will pick the winner via Rafflecopter. Here are the rules: become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on the original post letting me know what you would get with your $100 gift certificate. Check out the Rafflecopter widget for more ways to enter and keep your fingers crossed!

February 10, 2012: Splitting My Time

I did go to work today and this is what I wore but, halfway through the day I had to leave for a personal appointment. I needed to be comfy because I was sitting for hours and also because I was still online and answering emails... How is that different from every other day? Well, I didn't really have alot of options in terms of moving around so, I have to be committed and comfortable! Ideally, I would have preferred some yoga pants but, that's definitely unacceptable for work...

What kind of comfy clothes can you get away with at work, if at all?

• Top: white, blue, and green argyle sweater, Merona for Target (same sweater different color here, here, and here); black blazer, Ann Taylor via Melissa
• Bottom: beige pinstripe trousers, LOFT/gift from BF
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; pearl earrings, Macy's/birthday gift from Mom; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here and here

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!!

February 9, 2011: A Horse of a Different Color

Not me, silly! I meant the dress. There are so many fantastic colors in this for me to work and the possibilities are endless! Last time I worse this dress with orange tights and looking back it seems a little matchy matchy to me, no? I like the pop of color that the teal tights create and I'm loving the professional feel with the blazer but, now I'm wondering what the next paring would be... different colored tights perhaps or maybe wearing the dress as a skirt, I can't think of much more than that. How would you change this outfit up?

• Top:  beige multicolored dress, Newport News via Unique Thrift Store with a tank top underneath for the modesty; black blazer, Ann Taylor
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Candies via Kohl's; teal tights, Merona via Target; signature clover chandelier earrings, Stella & Dot;  Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen here.

poll by twiigs.com

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!!

February 8, 2012: Date Night, The Redux

I am going out tonight and I am exited because it's date night! Not with BF but, with my GF. We are headed downtown to a chic trendy restaurant for the seemingly endless Restaurant Week! I am eager to meet up with her and catch up on things it's been a while...

Because I am going to be meeting her downtown after work I figured this outfit should be a little easier to travel in. Stomping the pavement in New York City is a million times more comfy in flats (in leiu of a weird commuter shoes) and a great pair of pants. Also, there had been skirts this week so far and sometimes a girl just wants to wear pants...

On another note, now that I have realized that I can roll up the sleeves on most of my blazers I just can't stop! It instantly make an outfit more comfy when you roll up the sleeves on a stiff jacket. I feel like I have been missing out this whole time while holding off because I didn't have the perfect oversized boyfriend blazer and I refused to pick one up because it was too trendy/impermanent. I could have been rollin' with the blazers I had in my closet! Also 2 + 2 = 4 still, revelations!

• Top: pink ruffle embellished t-shirt, Merona for Target; gray pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein (part of this suit)
• Bottom: black true straight pants, GAP
• Shoes & Accessories: silver hardware embellished shoes, Preview via Nordstrom Rack;  silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit can be previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!!

February 7, 2012: Sticking With It

I came back!!! I'm holding to this new staggered schedule gosh darn-nit... Since picture taking Sunday happened this weekend I am able to reap the benefits of having my outfits all planned out when I wake up in the morning. It keeps me from wanting to rip my hair out because I can't find anything to wear or being too schlumpy because I just grab the first thing that I find but, most importantly it keeps me from being late to work... so far, so good.

One of the things that I have learned from this overall experience is that a sweater vest is a great was to cover up potential gaping in a button down shirt. I understand, this isn't a problem for everyone but, the inability to wear button down shirts without buttons popping open is an issue for me no matter what size I get. I know there are worse things but, it can be frustrating. While my high school dress code (you will never see me in a crested blazer ever!) has definitely put me off collared shirts as an everyday thing, every once and a while I think it might look nice. Thank goodness for sweater vests and fashion tape!

What wardrobe tips and tricks have you picked up through your blogging experience or just in general?

• Top: gray pinstripe button down shirt, The Limited via The Unique Thrift Store; purple argyle vest, New York & Company (same vest different color here, here, and here) 
• Bottom: black pencil skirt (with pockets), Old Navy
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; pearl earrings, birthday gift from Mom via Macy's; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF 

Items from this outfit can be previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, and here


Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!!

February 6, 2012: One of Those People

First I wanted to talk to you about what my new plans are for 260 Days, No Repeats. Although I have been experiencing some difficulties making my personal schedule and the blog work together I am committed to finding a way. That being said I would also like not to go crazy so, I have come up with a new plan and will only be posting three days a week. I will still put all my outfits up you just might be getting two scheduled post instead of something I do in the morning before I leave for work. Maybe as I fall into this new schedule then I will take it back up to five days a week, we shall see...

I also have a confession to make, I was one of those people who was up early waiting checking for Jason Wu for Target to be available online. When it was finally up and not giving me error messages (you still have some kinks to work out Target) this dress AKA the only thing that I was interested in was only available for purchase in store, figures. Because I am generally up at the crack of dawn on Sundays to get an early start on my groceries I figured I would swing by Target on the way and see if the dress was available. If you follow me on Twitter you might have noticed the escapades as I was politely battling the swarm of trendy ladies (and the occasional boyfriend) for anything related to Jason Wu.

After all the craziness I found what I was looking for on the discard rack in the dressing room. After I tried it on, decided it was perfect, and wandered around the store I decided it would be best to head out because people kept coming up to me and asking me if I was going to take the dress, awkward... I was curious to see the purses and the light blue striped skirt but, the people who had showed up before the store opened were still shopping, bartering, and checking out in droves with carts full of the good stuff. It was really disappointing overall but, I'm really glad I found what I was looking for!

While I am excited to wear this new dress because it's a symbol of my victory fabulous and comfy BF noted that it is a perfect color combo for the Giants Superbowl victory. While I am not much of a football fan (and those are pink stripes not whiter) I wonder if anyone else will make the same connection? I am even more excited to be able to wear it when the weather gets warmer with some fun sandals but, I digress... The bottom line is that the dress is perfect for work and the dinner plans I have after for starters.

Did anyone else brave their local Target for a chance at Jason Wu? What did you get?

• Top: navy poplin dress, Jason Wu for Target; gray plaid blazer, Jones New York via Mom
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; pearl earrings, birthday gift from Mom via Macy's; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF 

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!!

Giveaway: $100 Shopbop Giftcard. Fan Shopbop? Yes!

I really am becoming the biggest Shopbop fan! They always have such amazingly covetable items and they are interested in giving back to the blog community with awesome giveaways like this. You should keep up with all of that and fan shopbop too!

If I won I would want to get a jump on spring shopping and check out lightweight skirts, sweaters, and jackets! I love the shape of this Ellery jacket. It looks beyond comfy! 

While there are alot of choices my personal (non-giftcard) purchase would probably come from the sale jackets section like this BB Dakota pick. There are tons of great choices for all price ranges!

Lastly I would need to take a look at their fab scarves because in the transitional times between seasons scarves are so essential. Infinty styles? Check! Great patterns? Check! This ombre is my fav...

This giveaway will be until February 20, 2011 and is open to ALL readers in USA and internationally! I will pick the winner via Rafflecopter. Here are the rules: become a follower in Google (if you aren't already) and leave a comment on this post letting me know what you would get with your $100 gift certificate. Check out the Rafflecopter widget for more ways to enter and keep your fingers crossed!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Purchases & Acquisitions: January 2012

While things have been really crazy and I haven't had much time for blogging other things have fallen by the wayside as well like shopping. In that regard I have actually been in more of a purging mode which is good I guess... The only thing I did buy (and subsequently return) was a pair of flats from Macy's to replace these which I got rid of because there was a hole in the bottom (bummer) It was with a gift card so, it wouldn't have counted anyway... 

This is the time of the year for me where things start to feel a little tight moneywise actually. After the Christmas craziness and in preparation for a slew of birthdays in March any extra moneys that I do normally have (however minimal) gets immediately stashed for that so, shopping is even more out of the question than normal and probably will remain that way for a while.

State of the Blog

I'm not dead! I'm sorry to drop of the face of the planet but, lots of things were going on IRL and I needed to deal. But, that's not the only reason... As you know this new job has made it difficult to maintain blogging at the level it was prior in terms of posts, commenting, and collaboration. I thought 2012 was going to bring a fresh new start and the way to make it work was going to come to me or that I was going to have less things to worry about IRL but, neither has been the case.

The most difficult thing to reconcile was that blogging which had been extremely enjoyable was starting to feel like a mandate. I don't blog for money or gifts I blog so I can share my journey with people and motivate myself to keep up with the challenges I have presented myself.

The point where I shut down a little was when I realized that there are other things that I want to do in life (exercise more, learn spanish, go to grad school) and the way I was blogging before was postponing them because it's already eating up so much of my free time. That being said, I think they real eye opener was when I didn't want to the movies with BF because I needed to get a post up. Really?! Unacceptable. Time to reassess...

Now that I have bought you up to speed I need to say that I am not done! I thought maybe this would be it for me... no more post, no more comments, no more free stuff, no more fun times. No, I'm not ready for that either so next week comes a whole new method to blogging, hopefully it will help me find the balance I am looking for!

I could use some tips and tricks, how do you find time for blogging in your busy life?

And The Winner Is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway