Shopping Karma

    If you follow me on twitter, you know that I went shopping  last Wednesday.  And guys, I got *really* lucky.  Old Navy is not a store I normally shop at.  Its been a long time since anything in the store fit me well and so I pretty much gave up on it.  It came out of my shopping rotation slowly as I tend to really like their style, but the fit just wasn't there.  But since I found the skinny cords that I'm wearing in these pictures, I decided I would give it another try.  So Wednesday evening we headed in to town and the Fiance dropped me off at Old Navy while he went to get his hair cut. My purpose for the shopping expedition was to find more casual non-blue jean pants. 

    I made a beeline for the Clearance section and got LUCKY.   Everything in the clearance section was an additional 40% off of the ticketed price.  My first trip to the dressing room consisted of a few pairs of pants.  Only the skinny cords in blue fit.  The second time through the Clearance section though, I hit jackpot.  I found a really cute bird and leaf print dress, light pink cardigan, skinny gray cargo pants and black jeggings.  Since everything was on clearance and the last time I went to Old Navy I got one of those surveys on the receipt that give you 10% off, everything was way cheap.  All in all I left Old Navy with 3 pairs of pants, a cardigan and a dress for about $25 and change.  How awesome is that?

    Anyway, this is what I wore to go on my quest.  Normally when I go shopping I think of the ease of getting into and out of a fitting room.  Despite taking that into consideration, I decided to go with my knee high boots anyway.  They're easy to slip on and off and since earlier in the day it had rained, I didn't have to worry about wet feet or hems.  They were a smidge annoying in the dressing room, but really, aren't most shoes other than flip flops?

    When it came down to the jewelry though, I got stuck.  I was looking in the mirror and all I could think was "This outfit needs some sparkle."  I looked through my jewelry and didn't find exactly what I wanted, but figured this necklace would do in a pinch.  I've never worn it before as its an odd shape.  I think it ended up being the right amount of sparkle and the perfect piece for this U-shaped neckline.  I got the necklace when I ordered some hair clips from the Sew Lovely etsy shop.  She was kind enough to add this necklace in as a surprise bonus to my order. 

What do you wear when you go shopping?  Found any spectacular deals lately?

The Details:

Sweater: Loft Similar, Similar color and style Similar Color in a cardigan

Pants: Old Navy Similar Skinnies

Boots: Target Really Similar, Also Similar

Necklace: gift Etsy

Sunglasses: Guess by way of Marshalls        

Similar Also Similar  
These aren't really similar, but I kind of want them. 

Sticking to it

     Since staying home full time to study, I've been working out a lot.  By a lot I mean like every day.  This is *so* out of character for me.  I've pledged plenty of times that I would workout more often or that I would lose a certain amount of weight.  Pledging and doing are two different things, however.  This time around, I'm doing.  I've known for years that I should workout more.  That the health benefits far outweigh the discomfort of getting off my ass and working out.  Its just that there was always something I could blame as being in my way.  If it wasn't studying, then it was working,or I was too tired or there was much more interesting tv to watch, etc.  I just let the excuses add up.  So its no surprise that it was nearly impossible for me to stick to some sort of routine.  

     This time around things are different.  I think its because I'm at home all day long and time isn't such an obstacle.  That and working out ends up being a break from the grind of studying.  I know that working out every day won't last.  Once I take the bar and go back to working, its going to be hard to work out 3 days a week, let alone 6.  Nonetheless, I think this time at home studying will serve as a sort of reset.  By making it a daily activity, I hope that working out will become habit.  A good habit.  One that will not just change the physical appearance of my body, but will change my health for the better.  Speaking of changing my body, I've already lost 2.5 inches around my waist and another 5 pounds from my last weight plateau.  Being able to see these changes already makes it a lot easier to stick to my routine.  I can see my accomplishment taking shape so it makes me want to keep at it.  I want to lose my tummy pooch and lose more weight and just get tone and fit all over.  What's your favorite way to keep to a workout schedule?  What's your favorite way to exercise?     

Closeup of Yoga Pants

     Because of my new found devotion to working out I figured I would need a workout wardrobe.  I invested in a pair of Old Navy Yoga pants to add to my really old black yoga pants that I've had for years.  (I honestly have no idea how long I've had them.)  In addition my little sister got me a long sleeve workout top for Christmas.  (not pictured)  This pink top was also a gift.  My friend Claudia entered a Glamour giveaway and won the top.  It was too big for her, so she offered it to me.  Its a wee bit too big for me around the waist, but fits the boobs just fine.  
      Here I'm also wearing a pseudo-thrifted item.  Some of my sister's friends visited my parents a year or so ago and one of them left this track jacket.  My sister offered it to me and I've been wearing it when I walk outside in the cold.  Its pretty great as I'm able to throw on some thin layers to keep me warm without being bulky.  I also get to add to my slowly growing workout wardrobe.  So that's a plus.  Do you too also use a new activity as an excuse for getting clothes?  (I'm sure I'm not the only one!)


The Details:

Top: Champion Double Dry Seamless Vented Tee Available Here and Similar Here and Here

Yoga Pants: Old Navy Available Here and Disco Pattern Here

Track Jacket: Old Navy Similar and More Here

Sneakers: Reebok Easy Tone Available Here and

Other Colors Here

Review--L.L.Bean

    My parents gave me $100 to spend on their credit card for my Christmas present.  So I turned to online sales and decided I would try ordering from L.L. Bean.  I've never been interested in them before, but when I got my new ruffly blazer from Coldwater Creek, it came with an L.L.Bean catalog.  I really liked some of their sweaters, so when it came to spending Christmas money, I went to their website and found an amazing sale.  I ended up getting the Camden Wool Jacket in a navy herringbone pattern and two of the cotton/cashmere blend sweater vests in black and grey stripes as well as in marine green.  

Review: L.L.Bean by lawschoolfashionista featuring coats

Sweaters and Sweatshirts: Women's at L.L.Bean, $25
Sweaters and Sweatshirts: Women's at L.L.Bean, $20
Jackets and Coats: Women's at L.L.Bean, $50
Amazon.com: 4x6 / 4 x 6 Triple Picture Frame Gold Wood with Antique..., $7.69

      You guys, the Jacket's shipping box was amazing!  It came in a jacket all on its own with inserts to make sure that the jacket kept its shape.  I was WAY impressed.  You know what else impressed me?  L.L.Bean's customer service.  When I was figuring out sizing I did the online chat thing and the person on the other end was able to give me garment measurements so that I could figure out what size to buy.  It was incredibly helpful.
     Here's the thing, I ordered my stuff Jan 4 and lo and behold a couple of days later, all the items I ordered were further reduced.  At first I got mad.  I mean, really? Did they HAVE to reduce their prices so I felt robbed?  But then! I remembered their awesome customer service from when I was shopping.  So I went back on L.L.Bean's website and opened up the chat dialog and asked if I could get a price reduction on the further reduced prices.  And I got it!  I saved myself a total of $17 just from asking!  So the moral of the story is ask, because the worst thing that could happen is that they'll say no.  It really is a great motto for life too.  No one else is going to ask on your behalf.  People won't just give you things if they don't know that you need or want them.  The only way to make your needs or wants or expectations known is to tell or ask someone.  And you never know what you'll get unless you ask.  
     So. . . ask away!  Anything you've wanted to ask me but didn't have the chance to?  Here's your chance!  Ask away and I'll do my best to respond to questions in the comments below.     

*This post was not asked for nor compensated for.  All opinions are my own.*

Smash!

     Ya know what one of my favorite parts of blogging has been?  Crashing through self-imposed boundaries.  This outfit, for example, crashes through SEVERAL.  Let's go down the list, shall we?
    1. Long Flowy top.  Normally I steer way the hell away from these types of tops.  I have big boobs and flowy tops just make me look big.  Because there's no defined waist, flowy tops just hang down from my largest part, the boobs and make it look like the rest of me is that big.  In reality, I have a much smaller waist.  I got this pink pin-tucked top when my sister returned from my parent's house with it over her Christmas break.  Mom didn't wear it ever so she asked if I wanted it.  I said sure not knowing how big the top would be.  I had no idea how to wear it until I asked Sally in the comments to this post. 
     2. Super skinny pants.  As mentioned above, I have big boobs.  Normally I prefer to balance them out with wider leg pants.  Skinny pants tend to make me look like I'm a big ball balanced on itty bitty toothpicks.  Not the cutest look overall.  But I got these pants anyway.  I've wanted pants that I could easily tuck into boots without squishing them up around my ankles.  When I went to Old Navy a couple of weekends ago I stumbled upon the sales rack and found that the super skinny cords were on sale for $8.79!  So of course I tried them on, figured out that they fit into my boots easily and got them.  The other advantage to these pants is that I didn't have any non-jean casual pants before I got them.  Besides, why not try out a trend for less than $10?  
    3. Denim jacket.  I've owned this jacket for years.  I may have worn it once before.  The reason is that I'm not a big fan of denim on denim.  A denim suit just doesn't do it for me.  And since I didn't own non-denim casual pants before these skinnies, there wasn't anything for me to wear my denim jacket with.  Until now that is. 
    When you add all these together you get the outfit to the right.  And let me tell you, I love it!  Part of it is the look and a whole other part is that I've crashed through some self-imposed boundaries all at the same time with some great results. 

The Details:

Denim Jacket: Old Navy Women's Denim Jacket

Blouse:Antilia Femme  Similar in Black or in Pink

Skinny Corduroy Pants: Old Navy

Boots: Candie's Similar Boots

Disclosure Statement

    I love blogging.  I really do.  I get to share my thoughts with you and get some great responses in return.  The thing is, blogging doesn't pay, normally.  Sure I could accept payments to review products, but that's not my style.  I prefer to give you my independent opinion, good, bad or in between, and not feel beholden to anyone in the process.  I have, in the past reviewed products that have been sent to me as gifts and given you my opinions on those.  In fact, I've reviewed things I've bought myself just to share my experiences with you.  And at the bottom of every such post I make sure to let you all know exactly what's going on.  This post is doing the same thing.
     I've decided to try to make a little bit of money off my blog.  In the next few days, for example, you'll see that I'll have a blog sponsor for the next 6 months.  In addition, I've created affiliate links with a few companies.  When I give you "The Details" in my outfit posts, I'll also be linking to similar or the same items that you can click through to and purchase.  If you chose to do so, I will get a small commission on these sales in return.  Linked items labeled as “similar” are as close as possible to what I’m actually wearing. If whatever I have on is still available for sale, I will always link directly to it, even if I can’t create an affiliate link that will earn me income.  I also have ads in the column to the right that will earn money for the blog with each impression or click through. 
     I hope that you know that I'm not selling out or trying to push purchases on you.  I'll still be the same chick figuring out how to get from law school to be a lawyer and sharing my journey with you.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask by email or in the comments.  It is my goal to always be open with you.
<3, A-C 

My New Theme Song

Miss Piggy does empowerment

My Closet

    "A place for everything and everything in its place"

      One of the best parts of our move in August is the master bedroom closet.  It is HUGE!  The Fiance and I divided it up more or less up the middle and we each have more space than we did in the old house combined.  For this I am *very* grateful.  Unfortunately, its allowed me to keep a lot of stuff that I need to go through and get rid of.  But that's not what this post is about.  This is about how I organize my closet.  I saw this post on Kendi Everyday and figured I would show you my closet too. 

     This past weekend The Fiance suggested we organize the closet better.  For the most part it was fine, but he wanted to put some towels in the closet.  So we switched around his shoes and I put my belts on hooks behind the door.  This freed up space on the built in shelves in the closet.  I took advantage of the extra freed up space to fold some bulky sweaters that work best folded than hung up.  One of the shelves is mine to put my bras and other under things on.  I've found that bras last longer if I have a shelf to lay them on.  In this picture you'll also notice that I have a step ladder in my closet.  Its not because we couldn't figure out another place to store it.  Rather its because I'm short.  I can reach almost everything in the closet EXCEPT for the very top shelf where I've been storing my scarves.  Smart, right?  I'm looking for somewhere else or another way to store them, any ideas? 

     The other thing that I have plenty of is shoes.  I am lucky enough to have a shoe rack where all of my heels fit.  Believe it or not they're also organized in a specific way.  The top row is work heels, ie the ones I wear most often.  The second row is heels that I wear every once in a while and the bottom row is special occasion heels along with those that are currently not in season like my gold thong sandal heels.  Sadly, not all of my shoes fit in it.  I have a few pairs of boots that don't fit.  They're found laying on the floor under my pants, long skirts and suits.

    This last picture shows  another aspect of using all the available wall space to my advantage.  Like hanging my belts in the picture above, I've been hanging my pins and brooches.  I have been using the little doll face my aunt made and sent me for this use.  Its always fun to look in my closet and see that happy little face smiling back at me.  If you're interested in having a smiley face brooch holder of your very own, I'll be posting them and several other crafties on Etsy this weekend.  This wall is also where I've placed my laundry hamper.  In our old house there wasn't enough room in the closet to put both my and The Fiance's closet and stand in it at the same time, so I really appreciate being able to put EVERYTHING I need and want in our closet and still have room left over to actually get dressed in there.  
     Despite having all this room, there is a whole bunch of other clothes that I store in a chest of drawers in the bedroom.  Luckily for me my chest of drawers doubles as the stereo stand and The Fiance's chest of drawers doubles as the TV stand, so its not like they're in the way.  The clothes that gets stored in there is stuff like socks, undies, PJs and T-shirts.  Now that I've shown you how I organize my clothes and shoes, its your turn.  How do you organize your clothes?  How often do you revamp your organizational methods?  Found something that you just can't live without and are dying to share?

And by the way, see the little button to the right of this post?  I would *really* appreciate it if you nominated me for the About.com Reader's Choice Awards in the category of Favorite Fashion Blog 2010.