Weekend Window Shopping: Old Navy Is Killing Me.

Stop it, Old Navy. Stop following me around the internet flaunting your cute and inexpensive springtime offerings. I want spring weather so badly but I'm not quite there yet with spring shopping. I'm working up to it though and here's what looks good to me:

Outfit of the Day: Trader Joe's Fun-Casual.

As we've discussed, sometimes I dress up to go to the grocery store because where else am I going to go? And for me, sometimes dressing up actually means dressing down but in a fun way. It's like an invite to a wedding with a really confusing dress code: Trader Joe's Fun-Casual! 

Anyway, it's been too cold and rainy lately to wear anything fun but we finally got a few warm days and I went for it:

Yay! I finally got the buckle replaced on my Veda Jayne leather jacket and couldn't wait to wear it. Definitely an improvement. I bought my jacket on eBay but for something similar, you cannot go wrong with the AllSaints Balfern and I also found this lovely number by SOIA & KYO. For a faux leather option, this one is cute! 

My jeans are an older pair of my favorite Madewell Slim Boyjean! I prefer the mid rise version over the high rise, but both are good! It's just a personal preference. You can't really see my most excellent t-shirt so here you go:

Yes! This was a fantastic gift from Marianne and it's by Letluv who also made my thermal lightning bolt tee. They are expensive, but I have been really happy with the quality of both. I have my eye on this sweatshirt and also love this Stones tee. And, if you're looking for a Bowie tee, Chaser does a nice job as well. 

More details! I added a very soft plaid scarf I got for my birthday and I'm wearing my red Everlane Day Glove flats, which I like more than I want to admit. Madewell also has a similar pair!  And, finally, I'm  carrying my old faithful Marc Jacobs hobo (similar style.) I've had this bag for five years! It's such a reliable friend. Aww. 

Stuff I Like: Rando Edition.

Hi hi hi! It's been a WEEK you guys and it's only Wednesday. I've been trying to stash away ideas for a Stuff I Like post and...it's kind of random. That is to say, there is no theme of any kind so why not start with a garlic press? 

This Garlic Press That is The Best One
Do you hate your garlic press? I did. Mine was plastic and it sucked  - so flexy and really hard to press which, hello, is the whole point! It made me so angry I would dice the garlic instead and I hate dicing garlic. Anyway, I did, um, way too much research and bought this one because it was all stainless steel. You guys, this thing is the Maserati of garlic presses. It works so beautifully and with so little effort, I almost cried the first time I used it. And because it's stainless it comes out of the dishwasher all sparkly clean and oh my god, is it weird to love a garlic press? (Don't answer that.) PS. I know there's a lot of snobby chef hate for pressed garlic but I don't care. I love mine. 

This Author We Can't Stop Reading
Marianne heard about Mhairi McFarlane from a podcast and recommended her to me. While her titles (and book covers) do her no favors, don't judge based on that - she fantastic. I guess you would call it rom com (ergh) but she's such a good writer, I don't even care. Her characters seem like real people, she's funny as hell and her stories are satisfying. So far we've both read Who's That Girl and are currently reading Here's Looking At You. If you are like us and just need something funny and entertaining (but not crap) to read, Mhairi McFarlane is what you want. PS. If you have a Kindle and Prime, a few of them are available to read free right now! 

This Gadget Marianne Likes Anyway
Listen: was this a purchase I made when feeling particularly blue/stressed? Yes. Is it overpriced? Yes again. Does it simulate a face lift in the slightest? NO. But hear me out: if you carry stress or tension in your jaw, the Sarah Chapman Skinesis The Facialift (also available here for a little less) is wonderful. Like a tiny jaw massage! I am sure there’s got to be a cheaper version out there, but this is what I have and I like using it.

This Perfect Desk Lip Tint I Can't Stop Using
The Allure Beauty Box (which you can get on Amazon now!) is still a favorite - the price went up but so did the quality. In my most recent box I got a full-sized Floss "Lip Advocate" tinted balm and it's so good! It just feels like lip balm but has enough sheer color to give you a bit of a color bump before your next Zoom meeting. I got Your Honor which is a semi-sheer berry pink but I really want to try Proof, which is a sheer berry color. 

Weekend Window Shopping: Pretty Tops For Spring.

 ONE DAY THE ICE WILL MELT AND WE CAN WEAR PRETTY THINGS AGAIN. OKAY YES. Sorry, I am getting a little emotional because I just went through a bunch of pretty tops on Anthro (which are all on sale right now!) and I am dreaming of spring when we can wear floaty things and not be shivery poodles. Here's what I love:

Outfit of the Day: Making Half An Effort.

 I have a uniform now, a happy rut where I wear the same exact thing every single day because who even sees me? Stretchy Athleta pants, Quince sweater, t-shirt, boots or Birkenstock clogs. It's comfy but it bums me out to see my whole closet being unworn and unappreciated. So, on days I have meetings, I've been trying to wear something I haven't worn in a while. I'm trryyyyyyyying, y'all. Anyway, this was my effort the other day:

This blouse is Dolan Left Coast and it was thrifted last year (on my last visit to Marianne, pre-pandemic!) It's pink and has tiny ruffles which is definitely Not My Thing but it's also gray leopard print which is My Thing. Plus, it's nice to have something that's just pretty, you know? It's good for Zoom meetings and for cheering one up. There are a few on Poshmark but it's otherwise long gone from stores. For something similar, I love this blouse that has a good drape-y feel and this one is a bit precious but the print is nearly identical! For a similar boho style, I love this at Anthro and OMG how beautiful is this Maeve blouse?

I'm always freezing so I threw on my J.Crew cashmere cardigan, which is old but it's easy to find this style in cashmere. This one is well-priced and comes in a bunch of good colors and this one at NR is even less expensive and gets great reviews. My gray skinny jeans are, of course, Madewell and they also come in a cropped version! I want all the gray jeans now. On to details:

I'm still obsessively wearing my Gorjana Parker Wrap necklace with a labradorite stone pendant I bought from Etsy. And now, let's talk a minute about these boots:

My Blundstone 587 Classic Chelsea boots have been amazing. No crazy break-in period, no discomfort, just a solid, warm boot that works well with my style. I dig them a lot and I've been wearing them a lot. I got them in rustic black, which makes them very casual, but I have my Cole Haan Chelsea boots if I want something dressier. Right now, the Blundstones are working out great since our weather has been nothing but crappy. Yay February. 

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): Madewell Insiders Sale!

 If you do any shopping at Madewell you should definitely sign up for the loyalty program! It's free and the perks are real. Like, right now they have 20% basically everything (including stuff that rarely gets discounted) but if you're an Insider you get 25% off. I don't get kickbacks, it's just a really good program - points on purchases, free shipping and a birthday gift! 

Anyway, enough of the pitch, here's what I would buy with the discount if I could have anything I wanted:

Might as well start big.  This washed leather jacket is rarely on sale and comes in four colors but oh damn do I love this forest green version. So artsy and unusual.

Oooh, this is the Perfect Vintage jean in the best light wash for spring with raw hems! Love.

Ugh, I love this bag in the indigo color but this caramel also has my heart. It's perfection.

This is a really good classic denim jacket and those copper buttons just complete me. 

Madewell is getting into loungewear and I don't *need* more leggings but these look good.

Listen, just get used to seeing this raincoat until I make it mine because IT WILL BE MINE.

Sigh, I love this even though it's cashmere. It's so cool and slouchy and I'd ruin it by wearing a long sleeved tee underneath. I'm such a sensitive flower. 

Oh, hello pretty, oversized sweatshirt with POCKETS. Seriously, y'all it has pockets and comes in a bunch of great colors. I am tempted by this so much. There are also sweatpants in the same material if you want to give into full lounge (and really, who doesn't.) 

Weekend Window Shopping: Snow Day.

Oh February, why you gotta be the worst? We just got more snow and there's an ice storm on the way. As much as I'd love to be posting fun spring things, it's still very much winter so I'm going to show you some of my favorite stuff that's getting me through and a few things I wish I owned. Here we go: