Deeper Still

The other day I received the new JCrew catalog in the mail.

A momentus day it would have been if not for this shopping ban I put myself on!

As I thumbed about a 1/4 of the way through, my eyes fell upon an outfit that I knew I had to have as soon as I saw it.

photo from website...not as pictured in catalog

A polka dot wrap shirt layered under a ruched cardi with jeans and pearls.


So my wheels started turning and I realized I have some very similar pieces and could recreate the whole thing a la Eleanor style!


My cardi is ruched in the front as well but with a chiffon layer. I have never worn this cardi and bought it a few years ago.


The polka dot button up doesn't have a tie since it is clearly not a wrap shirt, but paired with this satin bow belt I thrifted for $1 (new with tags!) last year and have never worn either, it gives the same effect with a little more drama.


A multi strand pearl necklace in gray was the perfect accessory to top it off with...and I wore boyfriend jeans since they just felt right.





Now....for some advice....


This Sunday my company is offering all employees a one day extra discount (combined with our already generous discount which = bargain of the century!!) to kick off the start of 3rd quarter sales and give us a chance to snatch up the newest fall styles.


As the store manager, I do feel it is important to "represent" the brand.


And obviously there are a few things that I would love to own....


So, for the sake of team spirit...do I break the ban for one day only to only shop in my store???


To be a team player...


To help boost sales...


To give me that sweet, sweet rush one gets when buying new stuff...





What do you think I should do???








cardi and cami: ny&co


polka dot button up: limited


satin bow belt: thrifted banana republic ($1!!!!)


boyfriend jeans: express


sandals: bandolino


pearls: limited


sunglasses: express

Digging Deeper

As this shopping ban ensues, I am starting to dig deeper into my closet (s) and see what else is hiding in there.

Today's ensemble is the perfect example of pieces lost in the masses and never worn to their full potential.

top: banana republic

pegged trousers: loft

belt: ny & co

peeptoes: bandolino

ring: ny & co

bracelet: tiffany's

Clean & Crisp

There is no denying my love for the clean and crisp fabrics of summer.
I am a contradiction in terms with my very traditionally preppy heart and bad-ass rocker soul.
However odd that is, I cannot walk away from the perfection of a blue and white stripe, be it in linens or a vintage dress.

I found this dress at Goodwill months ago.
Off it went to the tailor to be shortened and more "modernized".
This is no perfect fit...the dress is about 8 sizes too big, but belted and bloused on top...layered with an essential white ribbed tank...it stripes my heart with happiness.

dress: goodwill
belt: ny & co
napkins: homegoods

Rain Drops Keep Fallin' On My Head

As I continue to shop my own closet, I am feeling really proud of myself that I have been utilizing a lot of things that have been hanging there neglected for ages.
For instance, this dress/tunic thing I wore to work on Sunday.
When I worked for NY&CO, everyone loved it when it arrived.
Part of their Red Label line, it swiftly made it into the fitting room with most of my associates.
But no one bought it.
I liked it, but thought "Where am I wearing this to?" and forgot about it.
When it was only $5 or so, I checked it out again and realized why no one had taken the plunge and made it their own.
It is ill fitting...too big on top and so tight on the bottom that if you even dream of eating a sugary confection the sides will split open and it will become a poncho of sorts.
However, hiked up into a mini (and I mean MINI!note the leggings!) and bloused out like a skirt/top combo...it fits OK.
For $5.

I tore the tags off and gave it a whirl.
After work and blog taking photography was completed, I decided that this dress deserves a reincarnation....today it heads to the tailor to be reinvented into a blouse.

Stay tuned!

dress/tunic: ny&co
leggings: ny&co
heels: bandolino
bangles & earrings: charlotte russe

We Interrupt This Blogging...

I was speaking with my mom on Saturday evening as I drove home from work.
Yes, I am still using my phone with no hands free unit...I like to push my luck...
She was telling me how she loved my post about Avon By The Sea and how it brought back so many memories for her.
She then said, "It was sweet of you to take a picture of your cousin Peggy's summer home there."
Huh????
My cousin Peggy lives all over the world (her hubs is in the U.N.)most currently in Rome.
I knew she owned a home in Avon but just by chance I photographed it.
Because I was parked right in front of it and didn't realize it.



Strange, huh?

Island Beach State Park

On Thursday I packed up the car and dragged both of my children back to the beach.
My mother in law is in town for her annual visit, so we met up with her and my sister in law, niece and nephew for another day of sand and surf.

Island Beach State Park is only a few minutes from my home.
It was closed the prior week due to an abnormal amount of shark sightings.
We were allowed in the water which was great, because it was as warm as ocean water could possibly be, and there was a sand bar that went out for a good 1/2 a mile, which meant the water was only waist deep.
The water was also crystal clear, which was nice and made me feel a little better to be able to see what was swimming around me.

We spent the day jumping waves with my daughter and niece but did feel a little creepy as helicopters scanned over the water and pairs of lifeguards rowed up and down the coastline just out past the swimmers.
I watched Jaws wayyyyyy too many times to not be wary about the ocean.
In fact, 2 years ago on our vacation in Emerald Isle, NC there was a minor shark attack while we were there about a mile up the beach from us.
Hell, as a kid after seeing Jaws I was even scared of going into our swimming pool at night by myself!
A few times my son headed out past everyone else and as soon as he would turn around I would wave him back in.
I told him not to be the furthest one out there...let someone else get eaten first, right?

Miami Vice

As I was leaving the beach on Tuesday, my boss called and asked if I wouldn't mind changing my schedule for Wednesday and meeting him at one of our stores in New York.
I trained there for two weeks when I started with the company, and totally love the staff there so I jumped at the chance.

Perusing through my closet later that night, I pulled out this white blazer I have had for quite a few years and, you guessed it, never wear.
I love the look of crisp white in the summertime, but usually only rotate between shorts, pants, button ups or tees.
While I love the overall look of a white blazer, something about having it actually on my body makes me feel like I'm trying to be a character from Miami Vice.
Crocket or Tubbs?
Not sure, just feels a little off kilter if you know what I mean.

Since I am still shopping my own closet and the whole point of that is so that items like this finally get the wear they deserve,I decided to disregard my feelings and wear it anyway.
I paired it with a simple v-neck tee and my Stella Barely Boot jeans (hey, working in a different store = no one knows you wore the same jeans 2 work days in a row!) a chunky, layered necklace and a pair of snakeskin peep toes that only see the light of day maybe twice a year.

After receiving a couple compliments on the peep toes, I realized I should break this bad boys out more often. For a 4" heel they are comfy (since I am on my feet all day) and look bad-ass with jeans, dresses, you name it.

This shopping the closet thing ain't so bad after all!

blazer: old ny & co
tee: gap
jeans: express stella barely boot
peep toes: bandolino
necklace: express
bracelet and ring: limited

Avon By The Sea

Early this morning I received a phone call from my good friend Jeneen who was wondering if my daughter and I wanted to join her at the beach in Avon By The Sea,NJ.
Ironically, Avon is where my family summered when my mother was a child.
Originally from Brooklyn, my grandmother and her sister Eleanor were the only two who lived at the New Jersey shore.
Her sisters and their families (my Nanny was the baby of 14!!!) would rent homes in Avon to escape the city for the summer.

We jumped at the chance to go!
Avon is such a quaint shore town...my daughter and I drove up Route 71 so we could pass through all the seaside towns like Spring Lake, Belmar, and Lake Como.
It was an amazing day, spent with one of my favorite people!



I just love all the adorable beach cottages with their awnings!
It is almost too dangerous to drive up and down the streets because you can't help but stare at every single home!

Thanks Jeneen for such a wonderful day!

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner...

The title?

Yeah...I couldn't help myself.

This post actually has nothing to do with babies, corners, or Dirty Dancing for that fact.

This post is actually about jeans.

As in, finding the style that suits you best.

Since it's 11:30 pm and I just got home from work...I decided to tip toe around the house and take some pics in the dining room before I slip into something more comfortable.

Like yoga pants and a tshirt.

Although these jeans are mighty comfy...

Being a short, little stub, all of 5'2 finding jeans is not always easy.

I need short length, and sometimes the best washes and styles only come in regular.

And really now, get jeans hemmed?

Unless it is a wide leg trouser jean, why bother?

I have so many pairs of jeans it is ungodly.

Skinny, skinny ankle, wide leg, flare, boot cut, cropped/capri (only good with sky high stilettos and sexed up...wear flip flops or something else and you might as well be wearing mom jeans!)...you name the style of denim and I probably have a pair.

My love for these styles comes in phases...sometimes I adore really wide leg.

Sometimes not.

Sometimes I think skinny is the only way to go.

Sometimes not.

But when I found this pair of jeans called "barely boot" I think I found my niche in the denim world.

Not too flare-y at the bottom...not so skinny as to make my hips look wider than they are (goodness knows, I have given birth twice...my hips do not need to look any wider!) these "barely" boot might just be the right cut for me.

Sometimes a regular boot just doesn't look right to me unless it is paired with, well....a boot.

Sometimes skinny just doesn't look right unless it is tucked into a boot.

But barely boot just hugs the top of my heels perfectly...I ran around in flip flops with these jeans on my day off last week...and even wore them with sneakers one night working late to gut out my stockroom.

And now I am rambling...so off I go...I have been up for 19 hours and me thinks me needs some sleep...

What style of denim do you think looks best on you?

jeans: stella barely boot by express

caftan top: express

heels: nine west

bangles: express & limited

ring: lia sophia

earrings: banana republic