Love List: June 2011

Every month I'd like to post a Love List, otherwise known as "Products/Merch I Think You Should Know About." These won't be groundbreaking products, but it may get you to pull the proverbial trigger on something you weren't sure about.

1. Clarisonic

I'm sure most of you own - at the very least know about -- the Clarisonic. In the fall I bought a knock-off, the Pretika. Bad idea. It didn't do anything to my face, but make it feel like I faceplanted a jute rug. I had test-driven a friend's Clarisonic Mia before, so I knew I would most likely love it. And I do. I want to cradle it and sing it lullabies. I want to take it out to eat and braid its hair. I've been using it twice a day, and in just two weeks it's decreased my pores, given me a more even skin tone, and is slowly minimizing the tiny white bumps on my forehead. I'm just mad I didn't get this sooner.

2. Proactiv

While we're on the topic of skin, I need to declare my utter gratitude for this acne system. I started using it around November, and it's done something no other topical has done for me -- totally cleared up my skin! I had horrific breakouts, especially on my cheeks which has caused years of scarring. Now? Maybe a tiny whitehead on my jaw once a month. I'm only using the last step right now nightly, but I seem to be doing well with just that little jolt of benzoyl peroxide to keep me clear.

3. Walmart Smocked Trapeze Dress
Yeah, I know -- a dress from Walmart? I ordered the turqouise last month and fell in love. The neckline is high enough and the hemline is low enough, and the smocked waist is wide enough to be comfortable and create a nice hourglass shape. I liked it so much I ordered it in black too!

4. Greek Yogurt

I was slow to move in on this food trend. I heard raves AND rants about this dairy product. But because I'm trying to get back on the healthy (err... healthier) bandwagon, I gave it a shot. Much to my surprise, it wasn't bad. In fact, it has the thicker consistency of yogurt I favor! So far, I like the Dannon brand more than the Chobani, but I'll be sampling other brands and flavors. Greek yogurt eaters - what's your favorite?

5. Nars Orgasm Blush

I've always been a blush fan. I love the color and vitality it brings to a face. For years I've read about the amazing universal love of Nars Orgasm. And the reviews are not unfounded. It's a great pigment and has just enough shimmer to not be teenybopper. But the best part? It stays on all day -- even with no primer applied! There is definitely something to be said for good quality makeup. The price tag was difficult to swallow for this  girl. But now I can't see every going back to drugstore blush! 

OOTW and My 150th Post!

If you would have told me in August '09 that I would have kept up with this blog I would have laughed at you. I can't say it's evolved that much, but that's okay. Unlike a lot my peers, I'm not doing this because I'm a whore for followers or ads or popularity. There was a time when that's what I wanted. But now I know that my readers are here because they want to be and not because I hosted a giveaway. Don't get me wrong - I still wish I had more time to devote to Aprons & A-Lines, and I give huge kudos to those who have interesting, fresh content daily. That's just not me at this point. So thank you, dear readers, for sticking with me for the last 150 posts!

Your reward? A mini collage of three outfits I wore last week. :)

1. (left) Dress - LOFT outlet; Cardi - Target; Flats - super old Kmart

2. Tank - Target; Cardi - Target; Pants - JC Penney; Flats - Kmart

3. Dress - Target; Cardi - Target (similar); Flats - Kmart (what can I say -- they're comfy!)

And impromptu shopping trip last night ended up with me buying three pairs of shoes, two sweaters, a tee-shirt, a pair of pants. 

Mia Suede Slouch Boot - Sam's Club - $9.

Bonnie Big Bow Flat - Payless

And my first printed cardi!

Merona Essential Pink Floral Cardigan

Saturday's Haul

Yesterday I got to spend some much needed time having a bit of a girls day with my best friend and her daughter. Seriously, could there BE a cuter shopping partner??

We didn't actually make it to a lot of stores - in fact, we may have hit up four only (and one of them was a children's clothing store). But I still made it out with a lot.

Merona Easy Care Easy Wear Dress - Dot Print -- This is a rather sweet-looking dress. I almost passed on it, but I got an enthusiastic "love it!" from my friend, and it seems relatively versatile for the office. 

Merona Devlin Dress -- I would have passed on this as it looks quite shapless on the hanger, but I knew from seeing it on Veronika that it was a good piece. Plus I got it on clearance for $23!

Converse Print Savannah Dress - Another dress I would have passed on, but it's also a rather sweet dress. I'll have to layer a cami underneath, but it's a great soft material with a cute French inspired pattern.

Mossimo Odelina Bow Flats - Thankfully I tried these on again, and the fit was much better than the last time. I simply adore this PERFECT camel shade and the huge floppy bow on the toe. 

St. John's Bay Maui Thong Sandal - Thanks to a coupon, these became mine for $12.

I may have added another 3/4 Merona cardi. Those things are like crack to me. 

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

On My Radar: Calypso St. Barth for Target

While following @TargetStyle, I was inundated with tweets about the upcoming Calypso St. Barth's collection. I was basically uninterested because it mainly seemed like beachy tunics/cover-ups a.k.a. things I can't wear to work. But, like the loyal Bullseye fan I am, I investigated further to scope out all the preview pics available.

Aaaand I found the item I'll be hauling my butt into Target May 1 for:

Crisp white, ruffles, faux wrap neckline, belted waist, A-line cut. ::drool::
I'm already dreaming of ways to style it.

What Calypso for Target item are you coveting?

OOTD + TJ Maxx Finds

Today marks my last day of my four-month laycation. I could probably write paragraphs and paragraphs about what a crazy, weird time it's been. So much has happened -- both good and bad. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I'm going to miss a lot of things about my SAHW time, but I'm anxious to put on my working girl hat and move forward with the next chapter of my life.

It's been a decently busy (for me) week. Outfit on the left was worn to my clients' tasting appointment. Outfit on the right worn to lunch with my new boss.

Left - Dress: TJ Maxx, Cardi: F21, Leggings: NY & Co., Boots: 2010 Target

Right: Dress: Target (Merona Artist), Cardi: F21, Leggings: JC Penney, Boots: 2010 Target

After yesterday's appointment I made an impromptu trip to TJ Maxx. Of course these spontaneous trips are the ones in which I find tons of stuff to take home! I cannot wait for warmer weather to wear this embellished gray maxi and black tiered dress. Chances are the black tiered dress will debut soon on A&A though. :) 

Color more true to life on right

Hope you all have lovely weekends! The mister and I are getting away for a little overnight stay to the Finger Lakes. A final hurrah before my 9 to 5 life starts on Monday. 

And My Checking Account Cries

Apparently the last three months of my shopping strike hit me hard. Because now I feel like a convict who just escaped his jail cell. Just in time for spring! Here are a few things that should be arriving this week. Damn you, online shopping. You make it too easy to buy from the comfort of my PJs and couch.

Forever 21 Longline Knit Cardigan - Buy here

Forever 21 Braided Rope Belt - Buy here

Forever 21 Striped Sailor Dress - Buy here

Forever 21 Striped Button Shoulder Top - Buy here

Walmart Norma Kamali Boyfriend Blazer - Buy here

Target's Designer Collective Revealed

Happy days are (almost) here again! In celebration of Five Years of GO International®, Target is reissuing 34 dresses from the following 17 previously featured designers: Luella Bartley, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe, Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Libertine, Alice Temperley, Erin Fetherston, Jovovich-Hawk, Rogan, Richard Chai, Jonathan Saunders, Thakoon, Tracy Feith, Rodarte, Zac Posen and Tucker.

The collective will be available March 13, 2011 through April 10, 2011 at most Target stores and online at Target.com. Here are three of my favorite picks that I missed out the first time around. You can view the rest here.

Tracy Feith for Target Strappy Dress in White $39.99

Tracy Feith for Target Dress in Hibiscus Print $39.99

Rodarte for Target Lace-Print Dress 29 in Black/Tan $39.99

Crazy for Cardi Clearance (Prices)

I have a huge cardigan addiction this year. On non-sweatpants days, 9 times out of 10 I'm wearing a cardigan. This season it's been a lot of boyfriend, hip-length cardis to go over my dresses. Two weeks ago American Eagle caught me in a weak moment, tempting me with clearance prices.

So I bought two items online. The first is an exact dupe to the gray waffle shawl-collar sweater I bought on Cyber Monday, but in a dark/olive color:

Buy here

The second I'm returning. I thought, "grey stripes? How can I go wrong?" But the fit isn't spectacular, and I dislike the back is solid gray and not striped like the rest.

Buy here

January Lust List

Even though I'm on a shopping freeze, I thought it would be fun to think about some items I would buy if money grew on trees.

1. A Faux Fir Black Down Jacket
(because PA winters are cooooold)

2. Clarisonic Mia
(because my cheaper Pretika just isn't as luxe as a Clarisonic)

3. West Elm Duvet Cover

(grey and white stripes are just my thing)

4. Anthropolgie Dress
(a closet full of Anthro dresses and I could die a happy woman)

Okay, that's enough consumer-driven torture for one day.

What's on your post-holiday lust list?

OOTD: 1-1-11

Ahh, finally a new year. Even though this year is the one in which I'll turn *gulp* 30... I'm anxious for a fresh beginning.

The hubs and I needed to get away from our lives for a little bit, so we took an impromptu trip to Pittsburgh for New Year's weekend. It felt good just to laugh with friends, play board games, participate in a hilarious game of power hour, eat calorie-laden foods, and go shopping.

On Saturday I picked up a 3/4-sleeve floral dress and cognac belt from F21 and some taupy gray leggings from NY & Co. I'm obsessed with mixing florals and other patterns into my winter "uniform" of long cardis, boots, leggings, and belts.

Dress: F21

Cardi: F21

Belt: F21

Leggings: NY & Co.

Boots: Target

Bag: Old Navy

Wishing you all the best of everything in 2011

In honor of Cyber Monday

Here are some of my latest online purchases. 'Tis the season. :) 

Forever 21 Cable Knit Trim Cardigan

Forever 21 Heathered Knit Dress

Forever 21  Longline Slouchy Cardigan in Black

Old Navy Ponte Knit Trousers

American Eagle Shawl Collar Waffle Cardigan

Cardi addiction much?

October Finds

Here are some of my latest purchases:

Merona Ultimate Long Sleeve Tee

Merona Solid Wrap Scarf

Xhiliration Ruffle Front Cami

Mossimo Ultrasoft Crewneck Sweater

Tucker for Target Button Front Dress

Old Navy Wool Blend Trench

Xhiliration Ruffle Tank

Budget Trench

You know those lists of "10 Essential Pieces to Have in Your Closet"? Most of them include a classic trench in either black or khaki. However it's something I haven't owned for about a decade. So while I was wandering around in Old Navy yesterday,  I spotted a simple trench coat marked down from $50 to $40. I purchased the black because I figured it would pair well with the black and gray pieces I normally gravitate toward in cooler weather.

It's marked $50 online, but you may still be able to find it for $40 in-store. 

Women's Long Button-Front Trench Coat

Weekend in the Burgh Part 2

Part 1 was last year. What, you don't remember that blog? Pssh.

Every year, the mister and I head toward Pittsburgh to visit my college bestie. And without fail upon returning the mister asks me if we can move there. The weekend was spent eating, shopping, and laughing - what more can you ask for?!

Oh, and I'm no longer an IKEA virgin!!

$15 duvet sets? Yes please.

Good times with good friends: 

Dress: Target; Cardi: F21; Necklace: F21

I thought I'd score more at Forever 21 and H&M, but it was a semi fail. Though I did manage to construct an outfit from some of those buys for today: 

Tunic: H&M; Belt: F21; Leggings: Target; Boots: Target