Giving Up

I tried to copy this yesterday^

Instead I looked like this:

Top: TJ Maxx

Pants: Anthropologie

Shoes: Steve Madden

I gave up on several things yesterday. The first surrender of the day involved putting my hair in a bun instead of dealing with middle school children grabbing it or asking if they could touch it. And I decided to take the ever-classy "mirror shot" instead of finding a real place to take pictures.  It's probs going to be that way until a professional photographer decides to adopt me as his muse, or I get a boyfriend.

Mrs. O + Target

{Photo via Mrs. O}

Before you get excited, Mrs. Obama isn't part of the next Target collaboration, she's just wearing dresses from there on major public appearances. And she frequently repeats things from her closet. I love it.

Two Miracles

Dress: Anthropologie

Belt: Target

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bags under eyes: Employment

Miracle #1: 

 I wore this on my very first day of teaching 7th grade...a day that I actually survived! I left school that day feeling tired, triumphant, and overwhelmed. 

Miracle #2:

The other day Anthropologie had an additional 25% off all sale merchandise and I found this dress marked down to $9.95. In short, I paid less than $8 when it was all said and done. 

So which is the more miraculous miracle? I'll let you decide.

P.S. I'm doing a few posts over at The Date Report. Be sure to check out my very first one HERE.

Copy Cat: Missoni for Target Flats

So these flats went like hotcakes when Target put them on the shelves a few weeks ago:

Missoni for Target Zig Zag Pattern Flats, $29.99 

(but sold out in stores and only available in size 12 online)

I decided I liked them far too long after they were gone but was glad to stumble across these shoes on Aldo's website the other day:

Magen flats, $14.99 at Aldo (Orig. $45)

...and you can find codes for an additional 15% off, making them even cheaper! And Aldo.com has free shipping on all orders! 

What do you think? Would you settle for Aldo's version?

Cozy

                                    

Sorry for the long absence- it's been a busy/rough week. But at least it's cool enough to wear cozy clothes all weekend long!

{Images}

Copy Cat: Crafty Friday

Yesterday, a friend introduced me to Ornamentea in downtown Raleigh. After coveting this necklace from Anthropologie, I decided to make something similar. 

Anthro's version: $19.95 (Orig. $38)

My version: $3.25

Happy weekend! I'm heading out of town for a wedding....what are YOU doing?

Tribal Prints

              

Dress: $48

 Sweater: £40

 Necklace: $29

Shoes: $20

I want it all.

Copy Cat: Madewell Overalls

A couple of years ago, Gap began selling overalls and I was overjoyed with happiness. Despite making up a greater part of my wardrobe until I was in middle school, overalls are just plain comfy. I didn't buy the Gap pair because my coworkers still weren't keen on the idea of farmer chic being a thing.

 But these days, stores (and bloggers)  are making them look better than ever. When I saw Taza from Rockstar Diaries wearing these earlier this summer, I committed myself to finding a pair.

Madewell Chambray Overalls (no longer sold), $145.00

Then about a month later, Kyla from Blue Collar Catwalk found a pair for less than $20 at TJ Maxx and made them look cozy for fall. The problem with TJ Maxx is that you never really know what you're going to find and I haven't had any luck yet.

AE Overalls, $17 at TJ Maxx

The closest I've come to finding a pair are these from Target but they are clearly made for juniors without hips.

Any ideas? Until then, I'll keep scouring TJ Maxx for a pair.

Copy Cat: Stacking Tiles Blouse

Is it me or are these shirts practically twins?

Stacking Tiles Swing Blouse, $89.95 (Orig. $178.00) at Anthropologie

Smocked Printed Chiffon Top, $34.94 at Old Navy

Copy Cat: Peacoat

Remember that time Anthropologie had something you really wanted but it was too expensive? Um, yeah.

 Luisa Cropped Peacoat in 'gold', $158.00 at Anthropologie

OR...

Cropped Wool-blend Peacoat in 'cheetah', $59.94 (+15% off if you use the code ONGET15) at Old Navy

Now, who's ready for winter?

Book Clutches

These aren't for reading. They're for carrying very slim things. Part of me thinks these are pretty clever- a clutch that looks like a book?! Another part thinks they're ridiculous- if you like books, just carry one around. And the final part of me is thinking "Why do you care so much about a clutch?"

{1, 2}

Nike Liberty

I stumbled across these shoes today and LOVE them. Last semester when I was student teaching, all my kids wore funky Nikes and somehow made them look awesome. These are my kind of sneakers.

 Liberty of London + Nike: Check them out here. 

Missoni for Target

Just wondering if you were able to scoop up any of the Missoni for Target items that were released early this (Tuesday) morning? I started getting texts from friends at 8 am about how excited they were to order some stuff only to find that the site was down and it stayed that way for most of the day. 


I was able to go a store and get the only thing I really wanted, a pair of suede pumps. As soon as I walked in, I noticed all the empty Missoni clothing racks and then found all the other empty shelves where Missoni items used to be. It was unreal, considering I was there at about 10:30 am, about two hours after the store opened. Luckily, there were a couple of pairs of these pumps left and nothing else left to tempt me. The cashier told me that women had been lined up at the doors when the store opened and they ended up having to call in backup cashiers.


According to the New York Times, this was a day of confusion for Target.

"In an unusual fumble for the large retailer, Target was unprepared for online shoppers’ hunger for the items. The Target.com site was wiped out for most of the day; the company said that demand for items was higher than it was on a typical day after Thanksgiving, and that is usually the biggest shopping day of the year."

You can read the  rest of the article here.


And if you didn't happen to get all the things you wanted, people are selling their Target finds on eBay. Around lunchtime, a friend told me there were pages and pages of Missoni items being sold for more than five times their retail price at Target.

Ponchos and Capes?

Just wondering if you'll be wearing capes and/or ponchos this fall?  If so, what are you planning on wearing them with?

{1, 2, 3, 4,}

Copy Cat: Glitter Flats

Sometimes I find myself staring down at my feet when I'm walking but it has nothing to do with confidence and everything to do with the fact that I like my shoes, especially when those shoes have a few sparkles.

Steve Madden 'P-Heaven' Gold Glitter Ballet Flats, $37.99

Or get in on this action for less than $20!

Payless 'Chelsea' Flats, $16.99

Happy Walking!


{Update: Marenj of Word just pointed out that the Odell Glitter Ballet flats are back in stock at Target! I tried them on once and they were infinitely more comfortable than the Steve Madden ones I ended up getting. Best part is that they're only $12.99. Size down, they run big.}

Red Carpet Crushes

{Emma Stone, Kirsten Dunst}

Should I ever need to take a walk on the red carpet, I'd very much like to dress like either of these ladies. Keep your fingers crossed-I'm trying to win a Grammy...the only thing left to do is develop musical talent.

Copy Cat: Ankle Wedge Boots

While online shopping for these, I couldn't figure out what their real name is. Are they desert boots? Are they ankle boots? Are they even boots?! Whatever they are, I like them. A lot. 

Lucky Brand 'Norice Wedge Ankle Boots,' $139

And for those of us who don't like to spend that much ca$h on a trend:

Rampage 'Adair Booties,' $49.50

I'd go for the olive ones! Anybody know of any cheaper options than this? Old Navy has some for less than $40 but I don't love them.  My bet is that Target will roll some out in the next few months.

Copy Cat: Tortoiseshell Hoops

Apparently I'm having a love affair with tortoiseshell because my newest craving is a pair of tortoiseshell hoops.

Anne Klein Tortoise Hoop Earrings, $26.00 at Macy's

Or, buy these for less than $10: 

Tortoise Medium Hoop Earrings, $9.99 at Target

Tortoise Shell Hoops, $8.00 at Claire's

Which do you like? The Target ones are my pick.

Copy Cat: Michael Kors Tortoiseshell Watch

Earlier today, I noticed my friend Abby pinned a watch she wanted. Last year, I went through the epic journey of finding the perfect tortoiseshell watch. It took a while to find the one I really wanted after I realized the Michael Kors version was way out of my budget. I understand this is a white girl problem but just humor me. 


Here's the Michael Kors "Chronograph Tortoiseshell Bracelet" watch that every sorority girl owns:

$195 at Macy's (...or $147.00 at amazon.com)

Last year, I came across several watches that were very similar. This is the watch Abby pinned and I love:

Fossil Stella Resin Watch, $105 (Online retailers have this watch for as low as $69)

Another option is this one from Anne Klein. It's a little more mature than I would wear:

AK Anne Klein 'Tortoise Plastic Bracelet' Watch, $55.00

And finally, the cheapest oversized tortoise shell watch:

Relic Starla Stainless Steel Crystal Tortoiseshell Watch, $44

I ended up getting this watch. It's much smaller than any of the ones above but the oversized watch trend look so good on me. 

Copy Cat: Striped Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses make me feel like I'm going to prom again...is that good or bad? Probably bad since I expect a corsage every time I wear one.

Equinox Stripe Maxi Dress, $158.00 at Anthropologie

And Gap saves the day with a maxi under $50: 

Striped Jersey Maxi Dress, $49.99 (Reg. $69.95) at Gap. (Hint: Gap stores usually have sale items for cheaper than the prices online, so this might be even cheaper in store.)

Admittedly, I like the more expensive version more...

Copy Cat: Anchor Earrings

I'm no woman of the sea but I like anchors. Always have, always will. 

Elizabeth and James 'Sea Creatures' Anchor & Sapphire Earrings, $250.00 at Nordstrom.

I typically shy away from things with "rhinestones" in the title but here's an (almost) identical pair of earrings for less than the cost of lunch:

Rhinestone Anchor Earrings, $3.80 at Forever 21. 

Boom. Roasted.

Copy Cat: Polka Dotted Shorts

I've really been trying to avoid this whole tights-and-shorts trend but it dawned on me the other day how perfect it is for those of us living in the south where winter a) doesn't last more than two months and b)never gets too terribly cold. Wouldn't these shorts be great paired with a pair of bright tights and a mustard yellow sweater in the fall?

Anthropologie Seeing Spots Shorts, $68.00:

And here's your cheaper alternative:

LC Lauren Conrad Polka-Dot Chiffon Shorts, $26.40 (Originally $44.00) at Kohl's.

Oohhh, I might have to go get these soon!