Travel Chic Bargains.

In my guest post on Darby's blog I gave advice about the best ways to keep your wardrobe fresh, functional, and budget friendly. One thing I may not have mentioned that complicates this for me is all the travel I do! Living in Florida I could almost get away with all summer clothes and a jacket but I tend to travel at least 10-20 weekends per year all over the country for work and play so that makes it a little harder.

One thing I've learned in almost 4 years of living in Tampa is that you can get some great fall/winter pieces on our clearance racks! During a particularly ecky day a few weeks ago I went to Nordstrom Rack on lunch for a little budget-friendly retail therapy. I've had in mind getting a few things I can wear to DC in May as well as on my fall trips for work, football, and to see friends. As I've said many times before I like to shop out of season, to save money. Since it's already 90 degrees on the regular here, it was the perfect time to buy these:

North Face zip up fleece in bright red. Red is a great color for me, and I really enjoy it (you may know this if you've observed all the red in my house). Normally this would be $99 but I found it on the clearance rack for $34. Not cheap, but really reasonable for a functional, comfortable piece I can wear often.

This next piece, a Zella jacket, I've had my eye on for months. It was originally $138 and later marked down to $50. I thought that was still a little steep for me so I decided to wait it out and see what happened. It disappeared from the racks a few weeks later and I was little bummed but assumed it wasn't meant to be. Then, on this trip in, I found there was one back on the shelf and it had been marked down again, to $20! Done and done. I am not the proud owner of this:

I know, it's a little funky. But I like odd, comfortable pieces. I think this will be great for traipsing DC, windy or rainy event days, and just running errands around down in the colder months. I've bought several Zella pieces in the past (it's a Nordstrom brand) and been really pleased with the quality of each. I'm also a sucker for a hood.

I better end this entry before I start packing and head to the airport right now. Anyone reading this been to DC before and have a recommendation of places I don't want to miss out on?

Love,

B

Weekend Continued and New Purchases.

Note: this post contained self taken, mirror pics. If you're annoyed by these you may want to skip today's post.

Saturday I headed across the bridge to St. Petersburg, FL to cookout with my sweet friend Daniel. Daniel moved to Texas a few months ago and even though that stinks for me, I'm so happy for him and his amazing job there. Daniel has been an incredible friend to have and I miss having regular fro yo. But it was great catching up with him, meeting his family, and playing games with his friends (even though I normally hate games I lose).

I also did a little babysitting Saturday, and I'm getting SO close to having all the money for both of my home projects. I'm so proud, I've done it in about half the time I planned on and even that was ambitious! So exciting. May 1st can't come quick enough....I'm ready for fresh painted walls and new countertops.

Sunday after church Jess and I went to see the Hunger Games. I'm of course on team Peeta, but will happily kiss Gail any day of the week. You know, to comfort him and all.

(image from Vanity Fair)

I had heard mixed reviews from people who had read the books but Jess and I were in full agreement, the movie was great! I was most impressed with the casting - I thought they did an amazing job of picking characters and I was grateful the acting was well done (not Twilight like, as I had feared).

I would LOVE to be a made up extra in the capitol in the future films, please. The makeup and outfits were really fun. If I could do eye makeup like that I might actually spend money on eyeshadows.

I was home a total of about 3 waking hours this weekend but I while I was there I was trying to determine what I'll be wearing this weekend AND I purchased a few new things while Jess and I were having our girls day on Sunday. I wanted to share a few items/ideas (hince my picture warning)...

I snagged this shirt at the Nordstrom Rack during triple points week (it was March 14-18th) - planning to pair it with skinny jeans and boots or wedges (it's long, although you can't hardly tell here).


Since it's already 90 degrees daily in Tampa, I figured it was time to add some fun springy color to my wardrobe for the year. Jess helped me pick out this fun scarf at TJMaxx (please excuse my early morning, very tired looking face).

I need a new bag like a hole in my head but I couldn't resist this inexpensive flash of color:

Still holding out hope my groupon scarf will come this week before I leave but it's looking more like that may be for next weekend, in NC. We shall see.

I still need to invest in a few pairs of fun wedges for spring. What's on your shopping list this spring? What plans are you looking forward to this weekend?

Love,

B

A Case for Alterations.

Mom, Ruth, and I used to be obsessed with the show ‘What Not To Wear’. Stacy London’s voice is a little like nails on a chalk board for me but I will say she usually has valid points! One of the lessons she’s always preaching is not to be afraid to use a tailor. Your clothes should fit YOU, I mean, that’s who you bought them for after all, right? Settling for ill fitting clothes not only doesn’t do your body any favors but it misses the chance to give you a real self-esteem boost.

I grew up spoiled rotten because my Mom is an incredible seamstress which I believe I’d shared before and being only 5’3 I’ve needed her skills for a lifetime of hemming. Absolutely everything is too long for me but I never seem to find petite clothes I like. And honestly, I don’t even like to think of myself as petite, just me. So a problem as created when I moved 17 hours away and it got a little harder to mooch my alterations from my Mama. I still take an extra suitcase with clothes for her to hem from time to time on my frequent fall trips to Indy for work and games but that left the need for someone in the spring when I don’t want to wait 6 months to wear my clothes.

The trick with things like a dermatologist or a tailor is knowing who to ask for a recommendation. Lucky for me, one of my best friends, Auburn, works in fashion so she’s a great reference for such things. I shot her an e-mail a while back seeking her alterations advice and she gave me the name of a tailor close to her work (which is a little ways from me) but she does a great job and she’s VERY reasonable. If you like in Tampa check them out: Express Alterations on Gunn Hwy. Just don’t keep her so busy she can’t find time to get my jeans done like the speed of light.

I see why London’s always harping on tailoring, it really does make a world of difference. My jeans literally look like they were made for me and for 10 bucks, you really can’t beat that, can you? Jeans to me are an investment. You know when you find a pair you love you’ll practically live in them. If you’re like me and you like to cheat the system a bit I have some thoughts for you as well. For all my cheapskates out there this tailoring thing can actually step up your bargain game. See, I now buy great brands of jeans when I find them on super clearance and then run to the tailor to have them made to look like the fit me (see my post earlier this week about Joe’s Jeans). Jeans aren’t the only thing this works well with. If you have a great tailor you can trust she can turn an ill-fitting but fabulous vintage dress into a one-of-a-kind-made-for-you vintage dress. Plus it seems to be most good dresses need a nip or tuck here and there to be just right for you.

Don’t be afraid to find a reasonable tailor and spend a few extra bucks to make your clothes work for you. Especially if you get them at a great deal (158 dollar jeans for 33 bucks plus 10 dollars of altering = success). Don’t go crazy and think you need to have your tee’s altered (or ironed!) but for great pieces you know you’ll wear again and again, it’s worth the trouble and the small price you pay.

Love,
B

Lookie what I Found...on Sale!

The Honey - [n:booty fit] Curvy, Voluptuous and sexy are just a few ways to describe this silhouette's show-stopping effect. Fitted at the waist and contoured for the ultra feminine physique. Voluptuous never had it so good.

I am OBSESSED with Joe's Jeans ever since finding a pair in Indy over Christmas I convinced my Mom to buy me. Well, I went to Macy's the other night to return a dress with a broken zipper that caused a serious wardrobe malfunction just as I was walking out the door to work (it was bad, but it could have been worse if I made it to work first - ACK!). After returning them I decided to grant myself a few minutes to cruise the sale racks when I found on a clearance rack a pair of Joe's 'Honey' jeans (pictured above) on the 'extra 40% off rack. Ohemgee.

I quickly snatched them up and ran into the dressing room singing 'please fit please fit' in my head. They did! According to the tag they should have run up about 50 bucks, which marked down from 158 was still a great deal. I walked up to the register and asked her to double check for me that they weren't just misplaced (Joe's Jeans are hard to find on sale). She rang them up at....are you ready for this? $33! Um, done and done. I swipped my debt card so fast that sale clerk could feel the breeze. These suckers are mine.

I will have to revisit the alterations place (I just picked up my Paige Premium Denim jeans I found for a steal at Nordstrom Rack on Tuesday) because they're freakishly long on my 5'3 self BUT even with 9 dollars worth of alterations, they're a steal!

You all already know my theory about great jeans and fabulous dresses - when you find them for a deal, always buy them.

Love,
B

Weekend Recap & Good News!

Loving to travel has not for one moment diminished my love for a weekend at home. While it’s exciting to hop a plane, fall asleep, and wake up somewhere different (and sometimes new), there is something to be said for a weekend in familiar surroundings. With my feet on the ground, my butt in a lounge chair, and my head in a book I enjoyed this weekend with every fiber of my being.

I finished Queen Takes King, Friday night. I have to say it wasn’t one of my favorites. I happily moved on to ‘How to be Single’ (a novel, not a self-help) on Saturday morning and have plowed my way through the first 200 pages with some interest. Tuccillo is witty, which I enjoy. It has a bit more sex-in-the-city vibe than I like in a novel but I believe I’ll be done with it in a day or two.

I’m hoping to get a good bit of reading done on the planes this weekend as I have layovers on my flights to and from Indiana for my best friend’s wedding. Layovers plus 4 flights = good reading time. I’m fast approaching the end of my 50 book commitment for this year, and well ahead of schedule. It looks as though I will end 2010 with a few extras under my belt.

Has anyone ever bought a Taylor dress before? I saw a few at Macy’s that I liked this weekend but was too distracted by the DJ that was blaring music to really shop there. The next day (Sunday) I found a Taylor dress I adored at Ross on clearance for…get this, $20.99 (they’re about $100 at Macys). So I bought that to wear to the rehearsal dinner this weekend in Indiana. It’s a mustardy yellow dress, which I thought would be cute for fall. I will make sure there are pictures at some point soon.

While there I found a great dress (after several unsuccessful searches with my Mom in Indy) for my works upcoming banquet. We’re having Dave Ramsey AND Michael W. Smith, I’m so excited. I wanted something new, of course…when do I not? But also with my weight loss over the last 6 months, I wanted something that actually fit!

Speaking of that, I’m in week three of my 3rd weight loss competition. I won the first two and I’m hoping I have a fighting chance of winning the third (and possibly my final?). I FINALLY got past my plateau and out of my rut this weekend. I’d been stuck for a couple weeks so this was a huge relief. On to winning. : ]

I don’t know if you all are as freakishly obsessed with dinnerware for entertaining as I am BUT…

I found some great deals at Homegoods and Ross this weekend. Since buying the condo (the batch pad) back in December I can’t help but love things for my home. Because I have a home. Finally. Yay. Anyways, I found some precious zebra print items this weekend. I need pics though. I’ll work on that this week too. Must take more pictures and share them. Asap.

Looking forward to a 4 day work week, prepping for upcoming travels and events. Taking Friday off to head to Indiana.

Can I quickly share some exciting news I received via e-mail this morning? My favorite airline has officially bought my least favorite. Hello Southwest/Airtran merger – you are dynamite! When this is complete it will mean better customer service (I hope) on my flights home (airtran usually has the times I need) AND faster earning of rewards (aka free flights). I’m flying a free flight this weekend as a result of all my Southwest travel this year, and am on my way to my second free flight in a few months. This merger would REALLY speed up the process. I am STOKED.

Alright, time to start my Monday.

Love,
B

Ps: the Colts WON! Yay.

A Perfect Match.

The best part about being an accessory crazy is that once you develop an eye for colors and materials you can be out shopping and find the perfect match. After reading In Style I bought a great pair of nude heels, learning only later they were absolutely right - they match so many things! Flash forward a year and I found my shoes the perfect best friend, a matching nude patten leather handbag. I found it on a stellar sale at the Coach outlet (yep, outlet) last weekend.

I had to share with you because I was so excited! You know I love shopping and more specifically - accessory shopping! Note: please ignore both my pale legs (it's been cold in Florida!) and my awkward stance.

Love,

B

Surfacing.

Coming up for a diet DP and an episode of Criminal Minds after hours of perfection. With my best friend in town we've enjoyed a few of my favorite things. Including but not limited to a day of outlet mall shopping resulting in a few new classic pieces for my spring wardrobe & a new *insert squealing here* handbag! You know this is my one true accessory love. Ok fine, I love shoes in a close second but handbags were my first love, they can't be replaced. Candy and I actually met working for Coach, so I owe it to my love for handbags for bringing her into my life! A debt I take quite seriously.

Other than shopping there has also been yummy food including Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 (a new favorite). Lots of diet coke, of course. A Lifetime movie & a few episodes of Gossip Girl (had to catch Candy up on this season). A couple hours on St Pete Beach, although it's admittedly still a bit cold to be in a bathing suit on the beach. And a couple hours at my pool here at the 'the batch pad'. Oh yeah, I even finished another book!

Jealous yet? These 2 days of PTO have been a much needed TLC for my pale skin and my busy mind. I'm loving the time to catch up with my best friend and hopefully help her enjoy her spring break from grad school craziness and midwestern weather. We're going to further enjoy our TLC weekend with pedis in about an hour up at Ultra Violet Salon. We decided to take a few minutes to relax before we drive up north to relax again. Hard life I live.

Just wanted to check in to say 'hi' and maybe to brag a little bit. Just teasing. I wish all of you were off work and enjoying TLC with your bfs as well. I really do. I'm a firm believer than there should be sun days in Florida much like there were snow days back 'home' in the midwest. I also wish you a week full of great deals on fun purchases (Cash only peeps, no credit cards!) and delish foods.

Love love love,

B

Enter: the Crackberry.

Over Christmas my sister (the baby one) & I both joined the world of the Crackberry. I learned this charming term from the Verizon rep who told me (and my stunned mother) to visit www.crackberry.com to learn all the crazy tips, tricks, and read about crazies with their blackberries. My Mom was mortified and whispered to me, 'Does he mean crack like the drug?!'. Lord help me.

Now, I should go ahead and admit that until I sing songed a little Beyonce 'upgrade me' to the Verizon reps, I didn't even have internet on my phone. That's right kids, I, Becca Christensen, was about 3 years behind the technilogical times. Have no fear though, I WILL catch up. So as I toted my macbook, my kindle, and my voyeger (my previous phone) around looking somewhat techy chic - I did not (insert shock and horror here) have internet on my cell.

So I'm two weeks in and while I wouldn't expect to find my picture on crackberry.com just yet, I do like having the internet. Being able to look up the phone number to Sam's Club and check their hours when I needed one last kitchen item was amazing. Checking my e-mails from the condo while my laptop is at my rental? Also helpful. Never having to say 'I'll look when I get home' - life changing.

Biggest drawback? It doesn't get good reception! I'm not sure if it's because the blackberry is like a forcefield all it's own or what but mine lacks reception in areas my old phone seemed to handle just fine. This could prove to be problematic as my new home in 'the C' as I fondly call it, does not have enough reception for a good length chat. Booo.

One other noteworthy drawback... did you know that Bath & Body works sends those crazy ad e-mails at 4:00am? Yeah, me neither until they starting haunting my sleeping hours. Eck. I unsubcribed from every e-mail list my online shopping had found me upon in the last oh, 24 years. No more middle of the night e-mails. No more junkmail to my phone. I say no no no!

A few days after the great unsubscribing of 2010, I practically shreiked at the girl at Bath & Body when she asked for my e-mail address. I promise I didn't mean too but before I could catch myself I practically leapt down her throat about their e-mailing habits. Oops. Don't worry I calmed and righted the situation. Without, however, re-giving them my e-mail. Boundaries are the spice of my shopping life.

Just wanted to share my thoughts with you all as I pioneer this new worth of a phone that is smarter than I.

Love,

B

Shopaholic meets Uncle Dave.

Whether you know me in real life or blogworld you probably know me well enough to have figured out I'm more of a spender than a saver. Some may even term me a professional consumer. I buy what I want, usually at the exact moment I decide I want it. Now, I do maintain a high enough level of self control to keep myself out of trouble - but until recently not enough to ever get ahead.

I am not however content to continue to be subpar. It is not enough to simply survive in the world, I want to conquer. For me success in the world of finances doesn't mean getting rich, it means being financial stable and secure. Ready even for the unexpected. Above crisis. Prepared. Or to simplify - it means not having to answer the question, 'if you had a 5,000 dollar crisis where would you get the money' with a sheepish - 'Call my Dad and ask to borrow?'.

The course I'm taking teaches to you to live below your means now so that later you can 'live like no one else'. It is important to me to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to me and I would be lying if I said that I have always cared about that. Honestly, I think for many years (mostly high school and college) I thought that being a 'good steward of my money' was directly related to' being lame and going without everything I wanted'.

Wrong.

As every consumers pet, I like to have the best, the newest, the now. The problem however is not what I want but when I want it. The Dave Ramsey program is teaching me that you don't have to go without what you want, you have to wait until you can truly afford it. Not afford it in the sense that there's enough money in your bank account, enough money in the right category. Can I go on a cruise if I want? Absolutely! But it must come from a budget category that holds vacations (ie: entertainment) and the money must be available before I pay for the cruise (not charged and later paid off or borrowed from other categories).

All you shopaholics out there are grimacing right along with me. Waiting. What a horrible, horrible concept. We love the instant gratification of having it before others, when we want it, and to wear or use the very next day! Am I right? So how am I ever going to learn to delay my desires until their budgeted and saved for? Another word we shopaholics hate - discipline!

I must learn to limit my spending to only a pre-determined amount. Stay tuned for updates as I try'n face facts on the catagories that are out of control.

Love,

B

Ps: Check at the bottom of my sidebar for a financial check up and see if you're on the right track. According to my plan, I could have over 6 million dollars in savings by the time I'm 65 (with the interest included). Don't you see why I like Dave now?! : ]

Shop Smart.

For twenty-three glorious years as a shopaholic I have operated under the idea that when it comes to the art of shopping, practice makes perfect. And practice I have dear readers. Faithfully and with an intensity that keeps shopping with me from being a sport for the faint of heart.

Since graduating college and moving into the realm of young professionalism though, I have changed my shopping attitude a bit. In middle school and most of high school I was in the quantity field. Always wanting more, more, more. If I could go a month without wearing the same thing twice I was happy.

In college I started to refine my style. No more graphic tees for this girl, it was time to start building the wardrobe of success. The one I could take with me. And so I began. Slowly but surely I started to dress more seriously, more professionally. I found this promoted my professors as well as my coworkers and fellow students taking me seriously. An idea I rather liked. I began to shift my focus from quantity to quality!

There's a piece in the September InStyle with 75 tips for shopping smarter. Some of these I've come to live by and it has dramatically increased the quality of the wardrobe as well as reduced the amount of time, energy, and money (overall) that I spend maintaining it.

Here's a few highlights for all you shopaholics out there, trying to refine, simplify, and streamline your own collections.

- Know what you have.

A great way I've found to keep up with what I have (so as to better know my needs and even my wants) is to go through my closet(s) once per month and reevaluate. I have yet to do this without finding at least a handful of clothes and accessories I'm ready to retire. I keep a laundry basket handy where I place these things to be taken either to the consignment shop I use, or to Goodwill. This dramatically reduces my hanger crisis as it keeps me from wasting space on items I haven't worn in months.

-Keep a running list.

One stylist who contributed to the article says they keep a list per season of their needs. That way when they're shopping they can stay focused. This would be helpful for me as I tend to be easily sidetracked by fun colors, new trends, or a great pair of shoes. Now that I've been able to build a sizable wardrobe I really only need a few items per season to keep it fresh.

- Shop before noon.

They suggest that you shop early while the sales people are fresh and available. Before they get overwhelmed, annoyed, or just distracted. After working in retail with Coach for a while I would say this is a great tip! It's easy as the day goes on to get too busy to take the same amount of time with a customer at 1:00 in the afternoon as you can with someone who comes in at 10:15 and asks you to help them pick the perfect career bag.

Another section of the article lists what is splurge-worthy and what you should save money by skimping on. I was in nearly complete agreement with these lists but to highlight a few for you...

Splurge worthy are: a great handbag. The right designer handbag should be a staple in every 20-something's wardrobe. It can make an outfit. It can inspire confidence. I think back to when Lauren 'LC' Conrad from the Hills got her first designer handbag. It was a black Chanel tote bag. Gifted to her by her then-boyfriend (Jason), she's carried it for years. Simple, classic, but stylish.

Great designer bags can be carried for extended periods of time. Now, this is not me giving you license to carry the same dag-gone-bag everyday for 5 years. Chanel or not, please don't. Black doesn't go with everything. Change it up. BUT you could have one really nice designer go-to bag, and spend less on the others.

Also spurge-worthy are shoes. Don't pick cheap shoes, it shows. That doesn't mean spend a fortune on every pair. A $5 pair of flip flops is great for a day at the pool. But spend a bit more on your shoes for interviews, banquets, and dates. I've never worked in shoe sales myself but I can spot a 20 dollar pair of pumps from across the room. Cheap footwear takes a toll on your first impression and on your feet. Have you ever tried to walk a great distance on cheap stilettos? No thanks.

Staples - also worth a splurge. If you can match it with anything and wear it forever, spend the cash. The example used in the magazine is a Burberry trench. Classic. Timeless. Effortlessly fashionable. I would love to have one myself, though in Florida that doesn't seem the most practical choice of a designer staple. You get the idea.

So where can you skimp and still be 'InStyle'? Tees. You can find great tees for reasonable. A few retailers that were recommended in the article: Topshop, Uniqlo, and Zara. Funny they should mention Zara since Candy turned me on to them when she hit International Plaza (here in Tampa) while visiting me. She ranted and raved about how cute their clothes were and I hit it up myself a month or so later. I just bought a darling grey tee there this weekend! Better than the look and price - the feel! It's the softest tee I've ever felt. I'm.in.love!

Save on trendy pieces! If it's going to be tossed at the end of the season, it's not worth premium dollar. InStyle said it, I agree!

Baggy items also made the save list. Tailor items may be worth a little extra but if you're going baggy (which is so in right now) then save. Not worth the big bucks.

I think the key is learning to pair the right pieces. The article mentions that you can wear a $10 tank top and your oldest pair of jeans with a killer pair of shoes and it changes the whole outfit dynamic. I feel the same way about that splurge-worthy designer handbag, you can pair it with a cute sweatsuit and make the outfit (think Victoria Beckham). In my book, the accessories often times make the outfit.

Well there's my shopping 411 for the weekend. I did my research so I thought I would share it with you. That's my final tip in fact, do your own research! You can get great deals on your dream items if you do enough research. I've gotten some of my favorite handbags that way.

Best of luck.

Love,

B