Happy Halloween!!!

Instead of candy, I am giving you what I think is pretty much the best (and most poignant) movie quote EVER!

Outfit Friday: Channeling a cowboy

I didn't realize until after I had put on my boots to walk out of the house how...err....southwestern my outfit was.  However, it worked, I felt cute and comfy.  Again, I missed my photo op, but all these items are exactly what I wore (except the eternity ring and The Row backpack, but how cool would it be if it was, eh??)

10/29/11 by anniejayne featuring polka dot jewelry

Happy Friday!

Beauty Thursday: Ombre hair.

I have been a blonde all my life, but since entering my late 20's/early 30's my hair has started to grow in dark.  I feel like my trips to the salon for highlights are just fighting a losing battle, but I want to keep some blonde around my face to make me feel brighter.  What do you think about ombre hair?  Is it too "last year"?  Probably not as drastic as Drew, but something more subtle like this:

Or do you simply have to have the face of a celebrity to pull it off?

Shopping Wednesday: Lands End?

Since buying that blazer, I am kind of obsessed with the green and blue tartan plaid.   I want a warm flannel to layer for the fall, and I am taking my chances at Land's End since they put out a coupon for 40% off and free shipping.  I wonder if the fit will be very matronly? 

Long Sleeve Flannel. Normal price $49.50

Do you buy clothes on Amazon?

You can find some amazing deals on designer brands- like 90% off or more.  It's also pretty easy to find a code for an extra 20% off.  Right now the selection is not as good as other times, but I did find a few casual things that would be great for hanging out with kids. * Also, don't forget that if you are a prime member you can get free shipping, and that there is no sales tax in most states.

Kensie Girl ribbed cropped sweater $12 originally $48

Three Dots Dolman Hoodie $32.70 originally $118

Romeo & Juliet Couture zip sweater $15 originally $98

CJ By Cookie Johnson Jeans $32.51 originally $112+

*This was fantasy shopping, by the way. I didn't actually purchase anything.

Real vs Fake?

Back story: During my last month of pregnancy my fingers swelled up rather suddenly, making it necessary for me to get my wedding ring cut off by a jeweler.  With a new baby, getting that ring soldered back together is about number 137 on my list of things to do.  In the interim, I purchased the ring above to wear on my wedding ring finger.  It is actually quite pretty and got me thinking...

Certainly I wanted my wedding ring to be real because it represents being solid and long lasting like my marriage.  However, why should I care if my earrings are CZ?
Why is it so important that jewelry be real? Why not just go get some huge fake diamonds? It's very rare that someone would ask whether or not they were real. Is it just me that doesn't usually like to wear fake diamonds?  Also, how large must a diamond be before you assume that it is fake?

I heard that Lady Gaga has been quoted saying that she doesn't know where diamonds come from so she just wears crystals.


I haven't made any final decisions on this.  I am just curious of the opinions of others.

Outfit Friday: Attempting (and failing!) to take a good fall family photo

2 Things I discovered are much more difficult with a baby to do than I ever thought: 1) Taking a good family photo and 2) Finding the time to stop and take a picture of my outfit before leaving the house.  Please accept this outtake and simple ensemble for my first Outfit Friday.

Jeans: Madewell, Scarf: H&M, Top: Three Dots. 

Beauty Thursday: Red Lips

Since I have always thought of myself as having a small mouth, I never really wanted to draw attention to my lips.  Thus, I have always been a lip gloss kind of a girl.  However, since having a baby I have needed a beauty pick me up- a change, if you will.  I decided red lips were the perfect punch on days when I am not feeling my prettiest.  The problem is that cheaper red lipstick without good pigmentation just tends to look pink or magenta on me.  I finally found this awesome Pretty Amazing Lipcolor from Bare Escentuals.  The color is bright and amazing.  The first couple times I tried to apply it, it was an absolute mess.  However, after following the instructions (line your lips with powder foundation first) and a couple of tries it ended up looking really fun.

The best price by far that I have found is on Amazon.  And speaking of, there are also some great prices on what are usually expensive Bare Escentuals makeup brushes on Amazon right now as well.

ps. Remember this scene from Airplane? I feel like that sometimes.

Shopping Wednesday: Well made, Madewell!

5 weeks after having my baby, I am still ten pounds and roughly one jeans size above my starting weight.  While I am pretty satisfied by this I was unhappy that none of my old pants fit right.  A person can spend all the money she has on cute tops, but no one can feel good about an outfit without nicely fitting jeans.  While I'm not averse to the investment of $200 jeans every so often, I didn't want to go out buying designer denim when hopefully I will be back to my old size within a few months.

Enter Madewell.  We are fortunate in Seattle to have a Madewell store, and I've heard great things about their jeans.  I must say, I tried on several pairs and they all fit fabulous! I think I may never shop for pants anywhere else.  I ended up buying two pairs, both on special for $59.

These skinny "high riser" jeans are not so high rise to be mom jeans, but just right to be "no butt crack" jeans when I'm on the floor and leaning over my baby.

I loooove the slimming fit of these "wide legger" jeans, and the length is perfect with a pair of wedges.

I think I am sold, Madewell!

How to Save at Nordstrom, The Krazy Coupon Lady Way!

Have you ever seen The Krazy Coupon Lady blog?  She has some fantastic info on great deals for things I actually buy!  I love the blog she did about saving at Nordstrom.

Consider Cost per Wear

Before I boil it down for you, we need to talk, sweetie.  Pull up a chair and take a seat.  This might be hard to hear.  Ready for some tough love?  You sure? I have always intuitively known that a dress that I bought for $10 that is a superb dust-collector in the dark recesses of my closet is NOT cheaper than a dress that I bought for $20 and wear every week.  It’s about cost per wear, hon.  Cost per wear.
Are you buying a clothing bargain because it is a bargain and not because you love it incredibly?  Clothing shopping is not about stockpiling.  Leave the grocery thoughts at home. Focus on cost per wear first.  You gotta love it: not the price tag, not the name brand…the actual item itself!  If you spend a bit more for a pair of jeans, but you wear them all the time, was that a good deal?  You betcha.  If you buy a shirt for $3 but never wear it, that’s $3 that you could have spent elsewhere.  Wasted moola.  Ugh.  Of course, since you are a kindred couponing spirit, you also want to buy it for cheap.   So, first, love the clothing you buy.  Then, buy it for free or nearly free.

How to Save at Nordstrom

Let’s get to the guts of it (finally, you say!)  This really works with any of your favorite clothing stores with varying results, but today, it’s about Nordy, baby.  Here we go:
1. Sign up for Nordy’s credit or debit card, and opt in for getting emails and mailers.  Sure, Nordy has a credit card (DANGER, Will Robinson!), but did you know that they offer a debit card, too?  (Yes, they do!  They really, really do!) They award points with each purchase.  Read about Nordstrom’s Point System.  Points equal free Nordy money, which equal free threads for you! You’re gonna need to do this in order to get the maximum benefit from your newly-developing “friendship” with Nordy.  If another plastic card is not in the cards for you now, skip
on down to step #5.
2.  Watch for the postcards and emails – and READ them! Nordy sent me a private invite to shop before everyone else on a Saturday morning.  Now, before you think I am sipping tea with the Nordstrom family clan personally, anyone who has a credit or debit card through Nordstrom in my area was invited.  The best part?  I got $20 in free Nordstrom bucks for bringing in a friend who opened a new debit account.  And she got $20 in Nordstrom bucks for getting her friend to open a debit account…starting to get it?  A special deal from my BFF, Nordy, all because I cared enough to have her debit card.  Love it!
3.  Shop only on “special” days (and, of course,  during sales).

1. Initial Signup:  Nordy often runs signup specials where you can earn $20 in Nordy bucks quickly.  Find out what they are!
2. Reward Points:  Nordy also gives you rewards points for every purchase.  Each time you earn $2000 in rewards points (don’t freak at that number!  Breathe, breathe!!), you get $20 in Nordy bucks that you can spend online or in the store.  Now, don’t you go down today to sign up for the debit card and make your first purchase.  Oh, no, girlfriend!  Read on…
3. Double / Triple Point Days:  Wait for double and triple point days, when your purchases count for more, making your first $20 in Nordy bucks easy-peasy to earn!   At Nordstrom, I plan my shopping around double and triple point days – ONLY.  Why shop any other time? (Note to self:  next triple rewards days are September 14-18, 2011.  Did I say that out loud?)

4.  Get free clothing money.  So, after a possible initial signup incentive, you don’t earn $20 in Nordy bucks until you have earned $2000 in rewards points.   Whoa!  Like I’m gonna spend that much on clothing in the next 10 years, right?  Well, here’s how you cut your OOP way down:

1. Shop only on double and triple point days.  You’ll get your $2000 in rewards points much faster.
2. Then, buy clothes with your other “freebie” money.   I use grocery coupons and sites to save at the grocery store, and places like MyPoints (which does do PayPal cash deposits), ebates, and Mr. Rebates for the money for clothes for my family.
3. You’ll earn $20 in Nordy bucks in no time!  There’s nothing like expensive yet free clothes!

5. How to save without  Nordstrom card.

1.  Facebook:  “Like” Nordy on Facebook, and learn about special giveaways.  Recently, the Rack was giving away a free cosmetic bag, no purchase necessary.
2.  Sample Saturday:  Going to the mall anyway?  On Facebook, Nordy tells you what item (if any) is free on Sample Saturdays.  Cologne samples are the usual freebies (BVLGARI, Marc Jacobs, and other brands I wouldn’t pay full retail for!)…and who doesn’t love an excuse to go to the mall?

This has been a guest post by Rebecca from Highlands Ranch, CO
Find out more about the KCL Contributor Network!

Zara Opens Online Store!!!

Ok, this is a bit of old news now, but I just wanted to make sure the word was out there.  For those of us who are not so fortunate as to live near a Zara, we can now buy our Euro fashions online!

The only downside is that the quality at Zara isn't so top notch.  It's the kind of place where you take 20 items into the dressing room and 18 just don't fit quite right.  However, the other 2 pieces are usually some fabulous scores for which people think you paid way more than you did.  But like I always say...you can just send it back!

Outfit Friday

Eventually, I want outfit Friday to be a posting of a cute outfit I wore during the week (Because it is unrealistic as a new mom to expect to have a great outfit every day, but one day a week should be reasonable).  This week I didn't get on it, but please take this mom translatable outfit from The Sartorialist- complete with the wash-and go hair. (let's just switch out the shoes...)  I think everyone has some sort of black top in her closet, and what a great way to wear the skinny green cargos you bought last fall! 

thesartorialist.com

Mom by anniejayne featuring coclico shoes

Beauty Thursday: Move it, Mom!

Available on Amazon

One of my friends gave me this book while I was pregnant, and  I think it's one of the best gifts I have ever received.  Every mom wants to get back into shape as fast as possible, but this author doesn't just tell you to start running the day your doctor gives you the go-ahead.  Patti Dunn first acknowledges that after having a baby, some women can't even jump up and down without peeing let alone work anything else in a now new and foreign area that we used to be very familiar with.

She really focuses on getting your core muscles back into working mode, starting with your pelvic floor (we're all familiar with kegels by now, right?), and moving your way into abs and back posture before ever prescribing a weight loss/ muscle building regimen (except walking).  Aside from the kegels, which I have been doing from day one, I plan on starting this at 6 weeks post partum on the dot.  I can't wait.

Shopping Wednesday: Black Watch Blazer for Less

Sometimes I think I sound like a walking advertisement for Nordstrom, but it is seriously my favorite store.*  I don't understand why the Brass Plum (juniors) department gets generally ignored by fashion bloggers and magazines alike.  They have a great selection of what I call "fashion disposables,"  or clothes that fall apart at about the same speed they go out of style (think F21) at pretty good prices.  Not to mention they always have great lookalikes to more expensive pieces from other stores...  Which brings me to my shopping adventure this week.  I was loving this JCrew blazer, with it's black watch plaid and elbow patches, and not loving the $230 price.

In Nordstrom BP I spotted this blazer, but in the same green/blue/black tartan:

Not only is it a great likeness to the JCrew one, but it also fits really well.  It's also nearly as soft and cozy as a great sweatshirt, while still looking structured.  At $68, the price is a bit higher than I like to pay in a junior's department, but I think this one will last more than a season so it was worth it.  I am contemplating switching out the buttons for gold toned like the JCrew version to give it a richer feel.

*Have you seen their return policy (or I should say, general lack thereof)?

My Fall 10

While I have a closet bursting with more clothes than I need, I find that each season I end up rotating the same few pieces I am into at that particular moment.  I would venture to say that I'm not alone in this.  In fact, it seems all the more necessary as a mom, because it makes dressing a whole lot easier.  Here is what I predict I will be in for most of the fall:

Fall 10 by anniejayne featuring a plaid wool jacket

1.  Long sleeve scoopneck black tee
2. Red skinnies
3. Neutral cable stitch cocoon cardigan. (This was my big splurge of the season, even at 30% off.  For a soft, warm, machine washable sweater, though, it's totally worth it.)
4. Black skinnies
5. Fair isle pullover
6. Lace trim layering cami
7. Dark wide leg denim
8. Black watch  plaid blazer (more on that tomorrow!!!)
9. Chambray button down
10. Versatile pencil skirt


*bonus shoe* While I wish my python flats were the Lanvins pictured above, they are not.  However, my Me Too Legend Flats in a similar python print are so comfortable that they feel like slippers and are surprisingly versatile.  I think I can manage.