Champagne Wishes and Salad Greens

Hello long lost friends! I am well aware of the shirked duties of the writing and maintenance of this blog.  There is no excuse that I can offer you- only an explanation as to why, and what I plan to do about it.

My year started off strong and I was ready to conquer the world!  The good news is that I have been on track with many of my goals.  I have now lost about 35 pounds, on my way to 50+ and have some really great products and info to share.  I have tried to continue to curtail my recreational money spending, and although I haven't made huge leaps and bounds in this area, my head is (and has been) in a really good place.  I have found so many awesome deals and so many cool things, but it is SO hard to blog about them all!

One of the big reasons that I have not been keeping up with my blogger dreams is because I have been going through a career renaissance, of sorts.  I am trying to make some big, sweeping changes in this area of my life, and it take a lot of time and effort.  And, quite frankly, I consider blogging a "luxury" item!  I've been working 40-50 hours a week, working out, job/career revamping, volunteering, and indulging in my social life.  I try to spend time with my husband when we are not working, and keeping up with the household stuff.  Pretty typical, right? To keep my sanity, the blogging had to go!

I want to keep this short and sweet.  I'm not signing off- not really- but have thought long and hard about Twitter being a more appropriate venue for simple tips, tricks, and deals.  So, I'll try to post when I have something very important to say, but for now, and for the better I hope, PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @thestyleyear

XOXO

Me, gearing up for a run with my parent's dog, Charley

Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

What Happened?

It's now been 7 weeks since The Haircut from Hell.   I went with the second of two options after the incident happened, letting it just grow out and dealing with it looking weird.  I could have cut it even shorter into a bob, but my hair doesn't like to be short-it's pretty wavy and thick so it just looks kind of like a mushroom and not like a cool French ingenue.  To re-cap, I basically went from having nice, long-ish, blonde hair past my shoulders, to a poorly highlighted Jennifer Aniston circa 1995 shag.  It was not my usual stylist, she was out on maternity leave, and I tried something new.  I paid the price!

As part of the growing out process I invested in an "herbal supplement" called Biotin (its just a vitamin from Rite Aid!), that is supposed to help hair grow (thanks Google).  I have never been too big on that kind of thing, but, hey, why not try it?  It cost $8 for a bottle of 60, and I say it was well worth it.  Measuring my hair from the line of demarkation (where the awful highlights begin), it appears that my hair has been growing an average of almost 1" per month.  That is about double the norm of 1/2".  I think my hair does grow pretty fast naturally, but I have to admit, I'm impressed. I feel like my hair is noticably longer than it was after "the incident".   

Since the way my hair was cut made it so that the top layer was blonde and the bottom layers a dark blonde/light brown (I shudder), I knew I would probably have to dye it before I was ready to cut again.
I have already scheduled my next hair appointment for a month from now with my regular awesome stylist, but since she might as well start her highlights from scratch, I figured I would dye it at home a color that closely approximates my natural shade.

I am really impressed with this stuff!

 Over the weekend I stopped at Ulta, where I had a coupon (of course!) for $3.50 off $10.  The exact shade and type of dye that I decided on is this L'Oreal Sublime Mousse, and it was on sale for $7.  I haven't dyed my own hair for awhile, not since all of the new mousse formulas have come out.  I found that it covered much better than I rememebered other types of dye, and, as you will see, I think the color was pretty true to shade, #70 Pure Dark Blonde.

NYX Concealer

 Since I had to get my total up to at least $10 for the coupon (I know, I know) I also got these (they were BYGO). So, my total was $12.  I tried this maximum coverage concealer, and although I like the shade, I don't know if it quite has the staying power advertised.  The other, the stick, is another concealer that I got in a luminesent lavender shade to put in the corners of the eyes.  So far, I like it!  I need to see how it holds up with different eye looks.

 

Before & After

Here is the before/after for my hair.  Not too shabby for $7!  It also looks (I think anyway) a lot better than that awful overgrown obvious highlights look.  I'll keep you posted as to how it holds up!

After!

Before...

Did I Hit the Dress Lottery???

Superbowl FUNday

I hate football.  Actually, let me be more specific: I hate watching sports on TV.  Something about the scuffing and the background noise just hits my nerves in a way that either puts me right to sleep, or gives me the "I gotta get outta here" feeling.  So far in my 33 years on this earth, this sentiment has not changed.  However, I very much enjoy going to a live sporting event and I enjoy playing sports!  

So this week, instead of watching the Superbowl (no really, I didn't see even one second of it), I went to the mall!  Really, if you hate the usually crowded L.A. malls, Superbowl Sunday is the day to go.  I even noticed a fair amount of last-minute online Superbowl flash sales. I went to the Glendale Galleria and Americana at Brand, a usually intolerably crowded weekend experience.

You know those shopping trips where you find items that are on your to-get list and you get such a good deal on them that you are, quite literally, dumbstruck?  Well, that is the kind of experience I had on Superbowl Sunday, a shoppinggasm shall we say.

$10 H&M Clearance

I have a few big events coming up.  One of them is a fundraising formal dinner with a 1920's "Great Gatsby" theme. I have been looking for a dress I could wear that would encompass this event, but not be so costume-like that I couldn't wear it again.  Low and behold I found not 1, but 2 items at H&M that would work for this and any other formal event. 

The 1st dress is PERFECT and has a total 1920's vibe.  You can't see from the picture, but the back dips down into a low V with beading.  I GOT THIS FOR $10 on clearance.

Also at H&M for $10

The second dress that I purchased at H&M was also on clearance for $10.  The 2nd one could also be used, although it is not quite as "vintage" in feel.  But for $10? Why not have a nice black cocktail dress that could be used over and over? 

H&M basic T for $9.99

Both dresses were a little big, but for $10 I don't mind getting them altered.  Inevitably I will need to anyway since my event is more than 2 months away.

I also got a classic white-T.  I really like the t's and tanks at H&M.  I have several and for $6-12 a pop, they are a great deal.  I use them for PJ's, Yoga wear, or under workwear.


 Check out this simple, inspirational look:

http://breakfastatyurmans.tumblr.com/

Oh, did I mention I also had a 30% off 1 item coupon? That means my total H&M haul was $27!

JCPenney $8 Clearance!

 I also stopped at JCPenney, a store that I usually only go to 1-2 times a year.  (I'm not sure why--perhaps its because it is not really a destination store?) And I hit another dress jackpot!  I have some summer events coming up (weddings, parties, etc) and this dress will be perfect!  It may also need to be altered on the top, but for $8?  I can afford the alterations.  It can also be accessorized up or down. 


I also found 2 cute sweaters on clearance for $7 each. 

JCPenney "ANA" $7 Clearance

JCPenney "MNG Mango" $7 Clearance

They are both that baggy look, so it really doesn't matter what my weight is, it can fluctuate and these will work indefinitely. My total JCPenney purchase: $22

 One of the items on my "to-buy" list as of late, is a grey knit shirt. 

GAP Knit Shirt $17 w/coupon

I had a coupon for $5 off a GAP purchase and, low and behold, they had the most perfect grey knit shirt, that completely fit the bill. I really really love this shirt.  It is so simple, but can go with so many things! And for $17 it will be a long-time fave.

    Here are a few of my grey knit shirt "Pin"spirations: 

Forever 21, $8.80

Last, but certainly not least (and no real mall extravaganza is complete without it) was a trip to Forever 21.

This time around I focused on accessories.  I was looking for something pretty specific- and I found it in this blue-green bejeweled necklace for $8.80.

In addition, I bought a gold locket necklace.  I have been looking for some kind of a gold pendant necklace, and for $5.80, why not?

Forever 21, $5.80

My total at Forever 21:  $14.60

Whew!  What a shopping whirlwind. Even though I went over my weekly budget, I got some things that were what I like to call "can't pass up!" deals.  You know, stuff you need in the far-future and find at such a steal you feel like you won the lottery!

My total for the week (and this shopping trip): $80.60

Oh so sick...

*Quick Re-cap*--My apologies for not having been up-to-date the last couple of weeks.  I was really sick, like Urgent Care sick, so I wasn't able to post for a bit.  I'll make it up to you and fill you in on all the style stuff from last week AND the week before.  

Before I got sick, I made a trip to Target, and was able to score this pair of printed pants for $12 on clearance.  Printed pants were on my list of must-buys, and even though I wanted to wait until I lost a bit more weight, for $12, who cares? 

I got these at Target for $12.98!

Target Clearance $5.98!

 I also scored this super-cute clutch (it's hard to tell, but it's oversized).  It was also on clearance for $5.98.
This was one of those purchases you know you will use eventually.....

I bought 2 for $2.50 each!

Since I was sick, I had to go to Rite Aid a few times and ended up purchasing a few cosmetics items on clearance.  Can I just say that I LOVE drug store finds?  And did you know that you can return cosmetics to Rite Aid?  Here is what I got:

On my first trip of the sickness I got this CoverGirl Natureluxe Mascara on clearance for $2.50.  I tried it out and liked it so much that I got another one on my second trip! (the color was all black, of course!)   On my second trip I also got on clearance a Physicians Formula lip gloss ($2), a Wet n' Wild lipstick ($.75) and some L'oreal eyeshadow ($3). 

$2, $3, & $.75.  The Wet n' Wild wins!

The lip gloss and eyeshadow were total busts.  The gloss was super pink and quite frankly, looked stupid.  The eyeshadow had hardly any pigmentation and you could barely see any shade.  However, the Wet n' Wild lipstick was AMAZING.  The color was a bright plummy red (no. 423 I believe...) and for $.75, are you kidding me?!!! Run, don't walk, to buy one of these, even at regular price (which is $2.99). 

Even though the last week of January was filled with sickness, I found a few great items.  My total for the week: $24.71

Remember how I said that my goal was to spend only $40 per week or $160 a month?  Well, if you look at the calendar, January actually spans 5 calendar weeks.  I am tallying my weeks from a Monday-Sunday perspective, so please bear with me, but I really want to tabulate on a weekly basis and do my tally over a 4-week period.  So, that means January came in right at $160.  February starts off at $24.71

Week in Review

How great is is to have a 3-day weekend?  So great, I lost track of time! I have some new items to post today and later this week I want to post some fun outfit compilations from over the last couple of weeks.  Let's get to it!....

Experiment results

First a quick update on last week's experiments.  I tried to make my own matte nail polish, and I did what the recipe said and mixed cornstarch in to clear nail polish.  My nails turned out well:

My do-it-yourself matte nails

However, the cornstarch eventually settled into the clear polish and is stuck at the bottom.  It appears as though I will need to add more to use it again.  Since the polish is clear, it doesn't have those metal balls to help shake it up.  So, although it worked well, the polish itself seems to be flawed.

I also tried the baking soda mask, which worked okay, but I haven't noticed anything revelatory.  It was VERY rough, so, word of warning, be gentle!

The foundation trick was kind of a bust.  I felt like it just really didn't cover well.  I'm not going for a heavily-made-up look, but I don't feel like it covered at all.  Plus, it was messy to apply.  I think I'll stick to applying foundation in the regular manner.  Maybe I do need to use Mac Studio FX?

This week's haul:

Earlier last week I checked back in at the Macy's that is going to be closing down.  I didn't find much else, except for one shirt that was on clearance.

Macy's close-out for $12

Apparently they won't be fully closing down until the end of March, so I think there is some way to go on the markdowns.  I'll check back in a few weeks, but I was able to get better deals at a regular Macy's that is also close by.  I had a meeting that I wanted to look extra snazzy for this week, so I poked around "the other Macy's" and splurged a little on this:

Macy's Clearance for $34

I was inspired by a nice little article I read on Lucky.com (Lucky magazine's website- a perennial magazine fave) about things that you can purchase on clearance now, that will still be in style this spring and summer.  Bright blazers were one of them. 

So, even though I had a little splurge this week already, I went to Forever 21 as well and I found a whole jackpot of clearance finds.  All of their clearance stuff was an additional 50% off!!!  So I got the following:

F21 Blazer $6.99

F21 Necklace $6.80

F21 Sweater, $4.99

F21 Blazer, $10.99

 Remember my previous post about striking while the sale iron is hot?  Well, this was one of those occasions.  I have been on the lookout for a navy blazer (bottom pic), and for $10.99 you can't beat it!

I did end up going over budget this week, but plan on curbing all spending this week.  I have so much going on, I won't even make it out shopping!

This week's total:  $75.77
January total to date:  $156.27 (with about 1 week to go...)

Products and Experiments

This week, particularly, is going to be a week of experimentation.  I saw a few great ideas online and decided to try them.  Here is my product haul for the week:

Fodder for my experiments...

The first thing is something super basic and, hopefully, very easy to do.  It's a baking soda mask.  There are tons of recipes online, but I like this one because it is simply baking soda and water.  It's supposed to exfoliate and help clear skin.  Over the last year or so I have started to get crazy, teenage-style, acne.  Apparently when you hit your early thirties, you get to be a teen again.

The second thing is a formula for matte nail polish.

Please reference my prior post about nails.  Don't misunderstand--texture is not always one of the sins of nails.  In fact, I think doing a nice plum matte nail is a nice, yet appropriate, way to change it up.  So, I bought a Revlon topcoat that I plan to add a hefty dose of cornstarch for an easy transformation to polishes I already have.

The last is a new spin on foundation.  As I mentioned, I have been having crazy acne flare-ups, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I need a heavier foundation.  Until now I have been a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream kind of girl.  Now, I'm not so sure.  I have tried a couple of cheapy drug store brands, like L'oreal Visible Lift, and kind of like it.  But I came across this girl's blog and I thought, why not? The idea is to mix equal parts heavy foundation, moisturizer, and primer.  So, I bought some Revlon Colorstay foundation, which I have read is a good, cheaper equivalent to Max Studio FX that the blogger references.  I have some of the exact same moisturizer and I actually have tons of primer (lots o' free samples), enough to probably last a year. (I love her find of the cheaper primer equivalent-awesome)  I'll try it tomorrow and keep you posted. 

The total for these product purchases:  $17

To follow up on my trip to Macy's for the "final closing", I didn't end up buying anything.  The prices were only 20%-30% off on most things.  I can get that anytime.  I think I'll go back this week though, and see if prices have dropped.  The things that I think might end up being a good deal (if they still have what I want) are lingerie, towels, and accessories. 

The other items I got this week are:

These were $2!!!!

From the Gap, $14

The shoes are from DSW and, check it out, they were $2.  Yes, correct.  They are out of season, therefore super marked down and I had a coupon.  Totally cute for this summer, with a sort-of jaunty, east-coast vibe.  The sweater was on clearance at the Gap, and with an extra 30% off, was $14.  I AM COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH STRIPEY SHIRTS. ( More on this later.)

Total purchases for the week:  $33

My Nail Philosophy

Okay ladies.  Call me old fashioned, but I come from a time and place where bright blue fingernails are not acceptable in the office work environment.  Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE fun colors, but unfortunately I think they should be relegated to the toes.  This being said, I am a little disturbed by the recent uprising of what is broadly considered "nail art".  Pinterest, a site that I love, is absolutely plastered in crazy nail art!

Seriously?

 To me, there is nothing classy, sexy, or practical about crazy nails.  Even more moderate examples kind of get my goat.  For everyday-life fingernails should be in the spectrum of nude-deep burgundy. Toenails can be a little bit more artistic, depending on where you work.  Hell, I had bright blue toenails for my wedding day.  Let me explain why, in this case, I feel the need to express my feelings against this self-expression.

Not quite...

First of all, it just plain looks unprofessional to have crazy nails during the work day.  Do you really want to distract from yourself so that the ends of your fingers can be expressive?  I really think you just end up looking like your self-expression is more important than blending-in in your work environment.  And, yes, ladies, unfortunately we all have to come to the realization that when you are at work, the first priority is work and all that that entails.

Secondly, nails are expensive!  I admit to having been tempted by the mani-pedi many times over.  However, my nails always chip (unless you get gels manicures which I only do for very special occasions or for a vacation) within 2 days and I feel like I just flushed my money down the toilet.  Pedicures are fine.  I'll pay someone else to slough all of that nasty off my feet every 3-4 weeks.  I could never replicate a salon pedicure on my own to save my life.  And as I mentioned, I live in SoCal, so I have exposed toes throughout the year.  NEVER show your toes at work unless they are properly taken care of.  Can we say instant gag-reflex?  (come on--you've all seen it)  If you have the above referenced "nail art", how much is this costing you?  $25?  $50?  There simply must be a better way to spend your money.  I recently stumbled upon a great place this weekend (nothing fancy here, mind you) but they did a solid job of a pedicure and they only cost $15. 

So, I generally paint my own fingernails on Sunday night and I can usually manage to get them to last through the day on Friday.  I tend to stick to mid-brands, OPI, Essie, but I also really like the Sally Hansen Salon Nails line.  If pink floats your boat, great!  If greige makes your day, fab!  Can we ladies just stop perpetuating the the ditzy receptionist who has crazy long mails stereotype and stick to classy not trashy?

Classy!

Macy's

I have been working on the format for The Style Year a bit, but have quite a few more updates and changes to make.  In the meantime, I have a few things I want to post about over the next couple of weeks.

Today, though, just a quick update.  I went to a Macy's closeout sale and I plan to go back tomorrow too. Macy's is closing a few locations across the country because they are "underperforming".  It's really no surprise that one of these locations is the Paseo in Pasadena.  This store is really small and was never very impressive.  Also, there is a much, much, much better Macy's located less than a mile away (actually, this one is one of the best Macy's I have ever been to).  I read in the paper that starting tomorrow the Paseo location will be having a store clearance sale.  So, I went today to check out what kind of stuff they have.  I ended up buying these.

They're the INC brand and a dark plum/eggplant shade.  I think they will act as a really nice neutral.  I can wear them to work and as a casual item.  They weren't quite the bargain basement find I was hoping for at $34, but they fit really well and I like them a lot. I also think that I can wear them through at least a couple of weight "decades" (ladies-you know what I mean!) since they have a lot of stretch.

The actual "final store closing sale" starts tomorrow, so I plan to go back and see if some of the other items I eyeballed are quite a bit cheaper.  I have a weird affinity toward Macy's.  Perhaps its because I worked there for a year at the Mall of America location when I was 17-18 years old.  But even more so I think its because they carry a multitude of brands that fit someone who is not in a pre-teen body and they often have really good sales.  I generally only spend $20-30 on an item when I go there, and their stuff is usually of pretty good quality.  I may have to break my $40 per week rule if I find a number of items there tomorrow that are truly great deals.  But you know what?  I'll just have to work that much harder to not spend anything over the remaining couple of weeks of the month....

This week's total style purchases= $47.50

Back to the Grind

After the holidays, returning to work seems like such a downer.  So, I thought I would incorporate some bright colors into the mix.

The top look features a sweater from Target, a leopard print scarf from some teenie-bopper store in the mall that I have never heard of, but hey, they had a leopard scarf like I was looking for.  The pants are some 5 or 6-year-old Ralph Lauren slacks.  Shoes from Forever 21 (they are my "nothing shoes"), and, as always, my beloved Coach. (I will tell you all about my shoe and purse philosophies soon.) I was very much inspired by this look on Pinterest: here

The bottom look is a little Diane Keaton inspired. 

Oh, Diane!

Jacket is Old Navy, cardigan is H&M, the pants are Tahari. The knit shirt is from a site I recently discovered called Shade, and a great deal at less than $10. *beloved Coach* Also, I have to give a shout-out to these shoes.  They are Steve Madden and I bought them at Nordstrom Rack for $6.  Sometimes you just have to buy things when you come across them on sale.

In fact, that is often one of my golden rules: If I go to a store, Target let's say, I ONLY purchase from the clearance rack.  Obviously, the prices are cheaper there, but the idea is to buy something that you really won't be likely to find for cheaper.  You often hear "if you wouldn't buy it at full price, then you shouldn't have it in your closet".  I call bull!  I almost exclusively buy things on sale.  Think about it this way; I already have more clothes than I need.  I crave new style.  So, why buy that sweater for $24.99, when eventually you might find it for $9.98?  So, only shop the clearance rack and you will find things you like and never pay full price.  I do want to point out that this strategy only truly works if you already have a well-stocked closet full of basics.  It also pays to go to the same stores at different points in the season so that you can eyeball things at full-price and then, later on, if they go on sale and you are comfortable with the deal you're getting-go for it!

I did end up making a style purchase today.  I went to Walgreens to buy some allergy pills and saw that they had some new stock of my favorite tinted lip balm.  (Okay, full disclosure, I was really hoping they had this lip balm because I had seen ads that there were new limited edition colors) So, I bought 3!  Crazy? Not exactly.  I already have a couple of colors from the Maybelline Baby Lips collection and know I like them a lot.  I have never seen these new editions anywhere yet!  I purchased "twinkle", "yummy plummy", and "coral crush".  If you are looking for a lip balm that lasts, has SPF, a nice hint of color, and a less than $5 price tag, I highly recommend. Oh yeah, they were also on sale. Total purchase price: $13.50

The Beginnings

I'm now facing the fact that 2012 wasn't exactly the greatest year for me. Work was rough, I'm not super pleased with my appearance, I put on a few pounds, and didn't really get anywhere in terms of saving some money and paying some bills.  I'm not usually a person who sits back and lets life or her goals pass her by, however.  So, I have decided that 2013 is the year of change.  I know it's a quaint idea to have a January transformation, but you know what?  It doesn't matter--I have already started to make some changes, and they feel great!  I'm going to keep going in this direction and maybe, just maybe, there will be some of you who want to go a long for the ride.

This is my first blog, really my first foray into social media (check out the twitter (@thestyleyear), pinterest, and tumblr pages I just set up).  Please bear with me as I get my sea-legs wet.  There are a few things you should know about me.  There is no way around being somewhat self-gratifying as a blogger, but I really, REALLY, enjoy the things I'm going to be writing about, so it just makes sense if you know that they come from the heart and you know who I am.  I think my intro to you (the reader) would be easiest if I break it into categories and go from there. I'll tell you about me and some of the things I want to explore.

New York, Nov. 2012

Doing More with Less
This is really the heart and meat of The Style Year.  Like I mentioned, I am in the process of transformation; losing weight, paying off some bills, bettering my career and just plain simplifying.  I have so many clothes and accessories, more than one needs, for a whole year of different outfits.  So, as I go through the process of losing weight and trying to save money, the last thing I need to do is ADD to the crazy.  I hope to show easy and creative ways of using what I already have.

Obstacles and Changes
Last week I got one of the WORST haircuts of my life.  You can read my Yelp review here and it will tell you all you need to know. So, I'll be spending the next 6 months dealing with that.  More on this as I go.

We've all been here....

I mentioned I am in the process of losing weight.  I have been doing Weight Watchers online for the last couple of months and have lost about 20 pounds.  So far so good.  I really like this program, but I have another 30-40 pounds to go to make my personal goal.  I hope to do this over the course of 2013. I'm doing this because I want to be healthy.  I am tired of carrying extra weight on my bones, and I have some challenges that the average person doesn't (scoliosis based), so I don't want to hear a lot of crap about being fine the way I am.  I need to be thinner to be healthier.  So far, I'm doing great! This will, however, create some creative challenges in replacing critical pieces in my wardrobe on a budget.

I'm on a budget.  Part of this is a self-restricted budget, but I am considering it my personal challenge to be creative with what I have.  My goal is to restrict my spending to about $40/week, or $160 a month.  I'll post any new wardrobe or product additions as part of The Style Year.  I LOVE finding a deal and I think I'll love sharing them with you.

Tools
Throughout this experience there are some critical tools that are helping me along the way.  The first is my absolute favorite iPhone app: Stylebook  I make a lot of my outfits with this app and I'll be posting pictures with real items from my wardrobe.  I have been using another app, Gridlens, to arrange photos as well. 
But my absolute favorite place for inspiration is Pinterest.  You can see my pins here and I'll try to connect The Style Year as much as possible. 

Thank you for checking me out so far, and I look forward to a fantastic 2013.  I'll keep you posted and hopefully we can share together.