Friday, June 27, 2014

Clothing Staples

 In order to have a balanced wardrobe, you need to have some foundational pieces. These pieces can be mixed and matched together, or worn on their own. Here are items that I feel are a MUST HAVE in every one's closet....


1. Skinny Denim
I certainly am not thin but these are my FAVORITE style. There are different versions of "skinny" jeans as well, so if you try on one pair and they don't work, just try another!

2. Leopard Flats
Pointy-toed, rounded, whichever you like. I'd say both! They can be dressed up or down. Leopard is the new black ;)

3. White Denim 
"No white before Easter or after Labor Day" has been thrown out the window. Don't be afraid to wear white year-round!

4. A Chambray Top
What can I say about chambray other than I LOVE IT. It can be worn so many different ways and the material is SO SOFT. 

5. White Tshirt and/or top
Never underestimate a nice, white tee. V neck, rounded, or both :) 

6. Denim Jacket 
Everyone loves a denim jacket!

7. Military Jacket 
This might be a little more on the "trendy" side, but I think they're here to stay for a bit. They look good on everyone.

8. A "Little Black Dress"
I'm not talking fancy either. A simple, black cotton one will do. Long or short. Much can be done with this piece! 

9. Maxi skirt
So comfortable and versatile. Solid or striped. They can be dressed up or down. 
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Once you have these pieces in your closet, it will be SO much easier to put together an outfit. Even though I am ALWAYS on the lookout for sales and bargains, there are some items that are worth it to pay full price (especially if it's something that you'll be able to wear for awhile). In my opinion, denim and shoes definitely fall into this category. You wear them the most, therefore they need to be decent quality to stand the constant use. 

Now that you have your list, keep an eye out for what you need when you go shopping!

 

Friday, June 20, 2014

How to Shop: Target

Target! You do this to me EVERY time! But I still love you.
     ( pic via Crappy Pictures )



The best way to shop on a budget is to KNOW STORE MARKDOWN SCHEDULES. Thanks to the internet (esp. Pinterest), it's fairly easy to find them :)

Here is Target's schedule for each department:

Monday – Electronics, Accessories, Kids Clothing, Books, Baby and Stationery
Tuesday — Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and Market (food items)
Wednesday — Men’s Clothing, Health and Beauty, Diapers, Lawn & Garden items and Furniture
Thursday — Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor & Luggage
Friday — Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, & Jewelry

There will always be items that you need to buy RIGHTNOW (let's face it, sometimes I don't want to wait haha) but for those things that need to be just a little bit cheaper, this is good to remember. Also, I don't know why it is, but some things FLY off the rack/shelf once marked down, so being able to go right after new prices are marked, is always nice.
 
So now that you know the schedule, I guess you'll have to make an extra trip or two to Target....darn it.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

DIY: "Acrylic Nails"


One thing I have always loved, is a good set of polished nails. While I was pregnant with my daughter, my coworkers would tease me that my frequent nail painting days would be over once I had my child. I refused for that to be true.  I've had to get creative and maybe lose an extra hour or two of sleep, but I've managed to (for the most part) keep up with that goal! 

My favorite method is the (at home) gel mani. But more on this another day! Over the years I've had my share of acrylic nails. I have great natural nails, but there's just something about acrylics....call me crazy. Once the kiddos came along, going out for mani's was a thing of the past. And being the nail freak I am, I started finding other ways to continue to keep my nails "salon fresh". 

Enter "drug store" acrylics. I've tried a few brands and not all are the same quality. My favorite has been the Kiss Everlasting French. There are two types that I alternate between. The "French Petites" (these are very short in length, rounded tips, and have a more opaque pink color) and the "French White tip Squared" (these are still shorter in length, but have a squared tip, and a more clear nail color, which when the glue is applied it looks more "pink and white"). 



<<You need about 15 minutes to do this. If you haven't done this before, I'd give yourself maybe a little more time. You are dealing with nail GLUE so you don't want to risk getting stuck to anything, haha>>

STEP 1:
Each pack comes with around 24 nails, so you'll find a perfect match for each nail. Go through the nails and fit each finger. Then line them up in order by finger, so you don't forget which goes to what finger! (the nails are numbered so it's easy to find the "pairs")

STEP 2:
Lightly buff your natural nail with the nail file. This will help the glue adhere to your nail better. 

STEP 3:
Apply a small amount of glue to the top of your nail and a small layer to the fake nail. Gently press onto your nail. Be careful not to glue your fingers together!! 

Continue to do this until all fingers have a nail.

STEP 4
Pop the number tabs off of the tip of your nails and take the nail file and smooth the tip. 

STEP 5:
Admire your beautiful "french mani" :)