closet downsizing

ok. this is really embarrassing for me to make this post.  as i have a real obsession with shopping and a desire to own all the clothes.  but i have finally come to the conclusion that i have too much and i need to help myself downsize.

my problem is that i haven't really changed sizes since high school (hello, class of 2005) and so i keep everything that still fits and is still in style.  buuuuuuuut i don't stop shopping.  i keep adding.  and my real true problem is that if i find something i like, say a crew neck tshirt, i get it in every color.  it's awful.  i have a problem.  i admit it.

i'm also in the belief that i wear most of what i own.  however, my darling husband would say otherwise.  so, to tackle my excessive shopping and to test my theory of how much of it i wear, i'm trying some downsizing tricks.

the first thing i did was to decide my time frame.  i live in ohio where the weather is finicky and so i obviously have winter clothes and summer clothes.  my closet is large enough (an entire bedroom, whatever) that i don't put away clothes due to seasons.  it all stays out year round and some pieces i do end up wearing year round.  originally i thought i would do jan 2016-jan 2017 but then i'd have to wait all year to go through my clothes since jan-mar is more snow weather, apr-sept is summer weather and oct-dec is fall weather.  and i'm impatient.  so, i finally decided on sept 2016-sept 2017.  that way i can start the process now and hit all the different weather experiences without having to break up in the middle for the warmer months.

after sorting all that out, i actually got started.  i ran to target and bought some dot stickers - the kind you normally use for rummage sales, grabbed a pen and paper and stood in the middle of my closet.  overwhelmed.

i decided i wanted to know what i spend my money on - heels?  sweats?  work clothes?  sneakers???  so, in the process, i created categories and counted as i labeled.  your categories can be as broad or specific as you want if you do this step.  i just wanted to get a better handle on what i tend to buy so i know to stop buying it.  my categories were mostly broad - pants, tshirts, long sleeve, shorts, dresses/skirts, sweats/leggings/gym shorts, spaghetti tanks, casual tanks, work tops, flannels, sweaters.. and i did the same for shoes - heels, sneakers, flats, sandals, boots..

i began with taking my hangers and hanging them backwards on the rod.  i counted each jacket, cardigan, tank top, dress and work shirt i have and recorded that number.  the idea behind this trick is once you wear the piece and you go to hang it back up, then you flip the hanger back the correct way.  then at the end of the season or year you'll know exactly what you did or didn't wear based on the hanger position.  easy enough.

but i was dumbfounded on what to do with my folding clothes.  most of my clothes are folded.  so, i came up with the stickers.  i went through each cubby and pulled out each item and stickered and counted it.  my advice for this is to put the sticker in the fold so that way when you pull out a shirt the sticker doesn't come off or fall off in the process giving you a false report at the end of the season or year.

sticker is on the inside of the fold

stickers are on the inside of the fold

i used the stickers on my shoes as well.  mostly putting the stickers on the bottom of the shoes or inside on the soles.  stickered and counted.

as i wear the folded clothes or shoes, i'll remove the stickers.  somethings i didn't sticker like my pj bottoms, sweats and leggings.  i have so many and most of them are tossed in a basket and so there was no easy way to sticker them.  and if i needed to downsize them i could just force myself to stick with a certain number like 5 pairs of sweatpants and get rid of the rest..

this is really customizable based on your needs.

once i was done counting everything, i really realized my buying habits.  (please do not judge me - harshly.  may i remind you i've been collecting for well over 10 years..) i have over 60 pairs of sweatpants/leggings/pj shorts/gym shorts.  SIXTY.  i have enough shirts that i wouldn't have to do a single load of laundry in 9 months because i can wear a new shirt everyday for NINE MONTHS.  pants/dress wise, i could not do laundry for THREE MONTHS.  who am i??  i'm not famous or special that i can't repeat clothes.  i know collecting and not getting rid of things for over 10 years would make my closet huge.  but that huge???  put down the shopping cards and lets reevaluate your priorities, girl.

my plan is to maybe go through my winter clothes at the beginning of summer next year and then go through absolutely all of it next september.  anything that i didn't wear this year will either be donated or i may end up keeping it.  items that i do keep i plan to write down and do this process all over again next september.  then if i don't wear it by sept 2018, it has to be donated.  no ifs, ands or buts.  some pieces, like my sequin dress, i may keep even if i don't wear it for a few years for the off chance that we do something for nye.  and obviously if it doesn't fit or it's out of style or it's been 5 years and i need to let the dream go, i'll donate it.

in doing this, i have a few expectations or goals in mind.  (1) i want to find out where i spend my money.  is it so much on casual clothes when i need to invest in work clothes? (2) what do i wear? do i think i wear 80% of my closet but i'm really wearing the same five things? (3) again, what do i wear? do i wear mostly black and white but i have 85 things of hot pink i don't wear? (4) because i will buy the same item in every color or sometimes even in the same color, am i wearing them? do i really need 5 white tshirts?  or should i just keep 2 on hand in rotation?

i'm really excited to see how it turns out and to see if i can prove my husband wrong on what percentage i do actually wear..

our wedding day

so, i took a 3 month leave to enjoy our pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding adventures.  and boy was it an adventure!

being that i planned and prepared for our wedding for an entire year, the last month before the wedding was pretty chill.  i didn't have a lot of last minute things to do besides pay the vendors and pick up my MOH at the airport.  i mean, i literally had nothing to do for the wedding that i thought i was forgetting to do everything.  minor panic.  minor rechecking my lists.  minor ok - everything is done.

and surprisingly everything went off just fine.  i mean there were minor issues like matt forgetting the.only.thing he was responsible for - the groomsmen's flowers.  and so in a handful of pictures they do not have their flowers.  my grandma refusing to stay in her outfit that matched the rest of the family.  skipping the bouquet toss and garter toss. but who cares.  we had a good time, we got married - perfect.

and you maybe sitting there saying "grandma had an outfit change? what?" well, being the bridezilla that i was (not at all, surprisingly) i asked my immediate family and matt's to wear the wedding colors so that when we take family photos we all blend together.  and everyone did.  and everyone looked great.  except my one grandmother decided to change in to royal blue before the ceremony.  whatever.  do you, girl.  she still looked pretty in the pre-wedding photos.

so, i'm going to keep this post short and sweet.  load you up on wedding photos and then i'll post about somethings later with substance.  here's to happily harbour!

all those gold bottles, flowers and candy boxes looked great together

my something blue

see, no flowers...

but when he did get them, he wrapped his with his grandparents pendants that i made for him around his flower

i told my girls to find black dresses -wherever, whatever style, price range, etc. - just make it black.  they looked great together!

i carried my papaw with me down the aisle.  

groom's cake - star wars of course.

he makes my heart happy 

the harbours

see, doesn't our family look great matching :)

outfit change - matt literally danced out of shirt by night's end.

stitch fix #6

i honestly feel like my stitches keep getting better and better!

if you haven't ever heard of stitch fix, they are a subscription that basically assigns a stylist to you that picks out 5 different pieces of clothing and mails them to you for $20.  you get to try on the clothes and decide if you want to keep them.  if you do, then you keep however many pieces and stitch fix will charge you the cost of the clothes minus your $20 you paid to get the box.  the items you don't want, you place in a prestamped bag and mail it back usps to them.  during checkout you can state what you loved/hated about each item.  if you buy all 5 items, you get a 25% discount and you still subtract your $20.  you get 3 days to try on and decide before they expect you to check out.

your clothes comes in a box.  and is neatly packaged.  inside your clothes will be nicely folded and wrapped in tissue paper.  there will be a prestamped bag for your returns and a card stating what's in the box, how to pair it with other items you may have in your closet and a cost sheet.

what i learned from returning everything in my 3rd fix, you lose your $20 if you don't buy anything.  which sucks.  so keep that in mind if you get stitch fix and end up not liking anything.

so, let's get into it.

Brixon Ivy Jarred Lace Detail Cap Sleeve Blouse  $68 - Kept

this black top is life.  i love that i can dress it up and wear it out for a date or a girls night out.  but i also love that i could pair it with a blazer or a pencil skirt and wear it to the office.  the lace detail makes it super feminine but the thick lining of the lace gives it more of a tough feel so it's not too sweet of shirt.  you could definitely pair it with some leather or more structured pieces to give it an edge or keep it sweet with other feminine pieces.  KEPT!  (also slightly obsessed with this pineapple i found at hobby lobby.  i'm addicted to anything that's pineapple and this piece is so much fun!)

Skies are Blue Wyndel V Neck Peplum Knit Top  $54 - Returned

 i love me a peplum top like nobody's business.  however, i wasn't really that crazy about this one.  the mixture of the fabrics weren't doing it for me.  they were almost two different color navy.  the lace detail made the top too 'sweet' for my taste.  i want a peplum top i can wear on a date night or grabbing drinks with the girls.  i want it to be a little bit more edgy than something i could wear to a PTO meeting.  i did think it was cute paired with these white shorts and sandals but i wanted something i could dress up or down depending on the occasion and i didn't really feel like i could get too edgy with this top.  back it went!

Pixley Madrella Slouchy Boyfriend Knit Tank  $38 - Kept

in this photo, the tank isn't super flattering.  but i wanted to show the length of this top..  i love that i can tuck this tank in to a pair of skinny jeans, slacks, pencil skirt, fancy shorts....  and it would look amazing!  i love that it's so soft that if i wanted to sleep in it i could.  and i might.  this is one of those basics that can be dressed up or down.  easy to toss in to a suitcase for a trip, too.  it's a little pricey for a tank top for me however, the softness of this tank talked me in to paying almost $40 for it..

Skies are Blue Sharen VNeck Dress  $78 - Returned

i kept telling my stylists i wanted highlighter bright colors and this dress is just what i was talking about.  however, i already own a dress in this exact color i got from walmart (yes, walmart) and it was probably 1/5 the cost.  i liked the flow of the dress.  liked that it wasn't too tight or too short/long.  but i wasn't crazy about the vneck.  it didn't really add anything to the dress.  the back had some intricate criss cross action going on but i wasn't wild about that either.  i mostly returned it due to price and that i already own something similar..

Lucca Clare Scallop Hem Printed Short   $74 - Returned

i wasn't for sure how i felt about these shorts. (oh hey grey tank i said would look great tucked in!!..) i almost felt like i was wearing a diaper..  felt like they were too high waisted and too flared on my thighs.  i wasn't wild about the pattern.  nor the price tag.  but i loved the scallop hem line and in this photo they looked really flattering and pretty and like this outfit is really put together.  but i noticed when i was just standing around in front of the mirror i just looked frumpy in them.  so i sent them back still unsure if i liked them or hated them..

all in all if i would have bought the entire box i would have spent

$312 - 25% discount of $78 - styling fee of $20 = $214

but i didn't love everything so instead i spent

$106 - styling fee of $20 = $86

some pieces in this box i had mixed feelings about.  i'm still unsure if i wasn't a fan of everything i sent back..  some pieces i always feel like i could find cheaper if i just look hard enough.  but i like that the service forces me to try new things and in doing so sometimes forces me to look at places like forever 21 or target for pieces i returned because i couldn't justify the price or because i'd like to try the style without a large commitment.  i can't wait to see what my next fix has to offer!  what would you have kept?

l'oreal true match lumi healthy luminous foundation review

my first impression and honest review for:

l'oreal true match lumi healthy luminous foundation

$12.99

i have been using the l'oreal true match lumi healthy luminous foundation for the past month or so.  my skin is normal (more on the dry than oily side) but it's mostly just normal.  i don't have much dead flaky skin (unless i pick at a pimple..) and i don't have oily skin (unless i'm sweating in the heat)  but this is spring in Ohio when it's warm one day and freezing your butt off the next.  no sweating here.  also, i don't have huge pores that you can see across the room and if i do have a break out, it's a few tiny pimples in my t-zone.  so for the most part, my skin is normal, smooth and nontexturey.  is that a word?  i purchased porcelain ivory (w 1-2) and natural beige (w-4).  i'm a big foundation mixer.  my skin is really pale but i have a yellow base to my skin tone so some really pale shades are too pinky-pale for me.  so, i will typically pump out one or two pumps of these two shades depending on how tan/pale i am at that time and mix them.  i will mix the shades on my hand, using my finger i will dot it all over my face and then blend it with a foundation brush. i have used it with and without primers. and i do set my entire face with a powder.

here is my honest review:

pros

• it's a fuller coverage which i like since i do like to pick at pimples, sometimes i have discoloration and it helps to even out my skin tone
• i love that it has a pump to get the product out
• easy to mix/blend with other shades
• no distinct smell
• easy to blend once on the face
• tons of options for cool tones, neutral tones and warm tones

cons

• kinda pricey for a drugstore foundation at almost $13!
• it does rub off easily - has gotten on clothes before if my face rubs on it
• after a few hours, it starts to separate on my face - i have never had a foundation do this - but after a few hours, i can see my natural skin in various spots on my face where it has either rubbed off or separated
• because it separates, i can see the foundation literally sitting on top of my skin so it appears cakey
• and because of that, i can see my pores like i shined a bright light on them - now, they still can't be seen from across the room but you can definitely see them when you start looking closely at my skin

all in all i probably won't be repurchasing this product.  i'm not sure if the separation and highlighting of the pores is due to it being a lumi foundation which is supposed to give you the appearance of dewy healthy skin?  but i'm not a huge fan of the formula.  i will use the rest of the bottles i do own.  so, it's not so terrible that i'm throwing away a half used product.  but i'm not happy with the way my make up looks after a couple hours of wearing it.

have you had a similar experience with this foundation?  am i doing something wrong?

april boxycharm

the april boxycharm finally came over the weekend!

if you do not know what boxycharm is, you can find out more information here.  but to quickly summarize, it is a monthly subscription that is $21 a month.  it comes with at least 5 products and majority of the time the items are full sized.  the info sheet that comes with the box will tell you what the product is, a little bit about the product, how much it costs and if it's full or sample size.  there are no quizzes to take to see what your style/interest/coloring would be.  you get what everyone else gets. sometimes the colors work for you, sometimes it's a complete flop.  i think for the most part boxy stays away from sending items like powders and foundations for this reason.  i kind of wish they could cater it more towards your interests or coloring though.  but for the most part i have never had a box that i completely hated.  usually at least one item i will regift to a friend that will appreciate it more than i would.

i used to do ipsy bags. and after a year, i signed up to do boxycharm.  i did both services for a year and then i canceled my ipsy when the second year was up.  the reason i canceled ipsy was because it was mostly sample sizes and i wanted to try a different service that wasn't make up (stitch fix).  so, i had to make a choice.  sometimes i regret it.  but i'm happier with the full size samples i get with boxycharm and the clothes i get with my fixes.

anyway, here is what i got this month!  (i haven't tried any of these products - except for swatching the lipgloss on my lips.  so i don't have any reviews as of yet.)

this is a full size eyelash primer ($26.00) and it builds volume and will have your mascara looking the blackest of blacks.  it has a silicone wand that is supposed to separate and lengthen your lashes.

this full size lip nourishment($16.00) is enriched with mango and shea butters, jojoba and rice bran oils and vitamin e that will hydrate and lock in moisture.

 this full size mineral eye shadow ($21.00) is 100% made of minerals and works perfect as a stand alone eye shadow or easily blends with other eye shadows for a more dramatic look.  the color i received is a brownish-purple. the exact name of the color is brown hypnotic. this will probably be the only item i will regift since i feel like mineral eye shadows have a lot of fall out when you apply them.

this full size liquid lipstick ($19.90) is a one step full lip color that does not feather.  it contains antioxidants and vitamin e.  i did swatch this product on my lips yesterday morning.  before it dried in to a lipstick, it was very sticky.  took a few minutes to completely dry.  it states that it is long lasting.  which may be true.  however, i did notice that it rubbed off fairly easily while i was wearing it. and just like any other lipstick, when you go to take it off with a make up remover pad, it got all over my face.  very pigmented and showed up more like a dark purple once it dried.  like almost black.

lastly, this full size lotion ($24.00) is a blend of bergamot, citrus, white jasmine, brazilian hliptrope and musk.

i'm sorry i didn't have much to report back on these items.  i typically will use them randomly after i get them depending on the product.  per usual, there is always at least one thing in my box that i will give away or trade.  but for the most part, i love that everything is full size and i get to try new brands/products every month.  if i were to go to the store and buy all 5 products, i would have spent $106.90.  so, you can see that you are definitely getting more than you pay for.  $21 is a lot to spend every month on a subscription box, but one of the products alone in this box was $21 (mineral eye shadow).  i honestly believe i get my money's worth even if i give away the eye shadow.  there have been many times that i have repurchased a product that i fell in love from my boxycharm.  and you can cancel at any time if you absolutely hate it!

hot item: steve madden sandalia

shoes

this week's hot item is the steve madden sandalia.  i found these beauties on amazon.  when we decided to do my bridal shower in a rose garden, i decided i wanted floral shoes.  i am a girl about a theme. i  knew i wanted something strappy and bright.  and when i came across these on amazon, i was in love.  they were a little pricey.  but so worth it.  i don't know if you've noticed, but i have worn these shoes in a lot of my recent posts and so i thought it'd be fitting to feature them since i'm obsessed.  below are 5 different outfits that are complete with these shoes.  i took them from super casual to dressy - perfect for any occasion.

RUNNING ERRANDS

shirt (similar) // jeans

this would be a perfect casual outfit for running errands on a weekend.  i paired these sandalias with a casual graphic tee i got at aeropostale.  there are tons of graphic tees in any price range available at many stores.  feel free to pair these shoes with any graphic tee you have or can find.  just try to keep the tee simple maybe sticking to all grey, black or white so that it doesn't compete with the shoes.  these boyfriend jeans are perfect for that super casual/relaxed feel.  not sure if many of you run around town in heels.  but if you do, this is a good way to make these fancy floral shoes work for running errands.

BRUNCH

crochet top (similar) // jeans

for brunch with the ladies, i paired these shoes with skinny jeans and crochet top.  i love that you can mix the neon bright floral pattern with the all white floral crochet pattern on the top.  by sticking to the white floral on top, it doesn't compete with the bright detail on the shoes.

WORK

dress // blazer

my office is business casual so this outfit might be a little too fancy for my office.  i tend to stick with slacks and flats.  but if i had an important meeting or my office was a little bit more fancy, i would definitely wear this white dress and blazer with these shoes.  i love that the blue blazer brings out the blue in the shoes.  it would be so easy to find a blazer that is similar to any color in these shoes to really highlight that shade.  it's so bright and springy.

DATE NIGHT 

top (similar) // jeans

i did wear this exact outfit for a date night with matt recently.  the all black ensemble really makes the bright shoes pop.  the torn black jeans give these girly shoes some edge.  i love mixing girly with edgy pieces.  this top came in one of my stitch fixes.  but i tried to find something similar to it that you could order online.  the similar item isn't it exactly, but the structured tee will give the similar feel this tee gives in this look.

DRESSY

dress

as you know, i wore this exact outfit for my bridal shower.  this dress is the perfect mix of dressy but not overly dressy.  these shoes were the best accessory to an all white dress.  i kept the rest of my accessories simple so that the focus would be these shoes.  i will admit that pretty much every girl at my shower (young and old) loved my shoes.  they still talk about them!

i feel like even though these shoes have a lot of detail and are a little more on the dressy side, you can easily make them work for any occasion.  they are the perfect versatile piece to add to your closet.  they're remotely comfortable as any heel.  i wouldn't be able to last all day standing in them.  but i have worn them for 8 hours in one day but i made sure to mix being seated and standing in that 8 hours so i could last in them.  they're the perfect accessory especially if you're wanting to keep the rest of your look pretty simple.

how would you pair them to work for your lifestyle?

stitch fix #5

i got my stitch fix #5 over the weekend.  i will admit that i had a really hard time deciding what to keep/return.  it was a pricey fix and i wanted to keep pretty much everything (but one item..) however, my sad wallet wouldn't let me.

i am really happy with how the last couple boxes have turned out.  i feel like my stylists are finally understanding my style.  i will admit that i try to hate everything in the fix when i first pull it of the box.  i always tell matt that i'm not sure if i'll like anything.  and then i try it all on and i'm trying to debate if we need electric for the month or if i need all the clothes!?  i have a problem..

if you haven't ever heard of stitch fix, they are a subscription that basically assigns a stylist to you that picks out 5 different pieces of clothing and mails them to you for $20.  you get to try on the clothes and decide if you want to keep them.  if you do, then you keep however many pieces and stitch fix will charge you the cost of the clothes minus your $20 you paid to get the box.  the items you don't want, you place in a prestamped bag and mail it back usps to them.  during checkout you can state what you loved/hated about each item.  if you buy all 5 items, you get a 25% discount and you still subtract your $20.  you get 3 days to try on and decide before they expect you to check out.

your clothes comes in a box.  and is neatly packaged.  inside your clothes will be nicely folded and wrapped in tissue paper.  there will be a prestamped bag for your returns and a card stating what's in the box, how to pair it with other items you may have in your closet and a cost sheet.

what i learned from returning everything in my 3rd fix, you lose your $20 if you don't buy anything.  which sucks.  so keep that in mind if you get stitch fix and end up not liking anything.

so, let's get into it.

Unpublished Galiana Racerback Top  $44 - Returned

i loved this top.  however, it was more of a shorter/crop top.  and i'm not a large fan of showing off my belly.  i paired it with my high waisted shorts from target.  and thought this was the cutest outfit.  but i only own these high waisted shorts and no other high waisted bottoms.  i feel like that's the only way i would've worn the shirt.  so, back it went and my heart did break a little.

Pixley Layda Crochet Top  $58 - Kept

i loooooooooooove this top.  i originally thought i would hate it when i first pulled it of the box.  but after putting it on, it fit perfectly, the bright pink, the crochet, the mesh, the bottom hem - perfection!  it will be the perfect top to pair with torn white jeans for a weekend or pair it with white slacks and i can wear this beauty to work.  love the versatility. love neon pink. kept!

Plenty by Tracy Reese Bridgette Neoprene Pencil Skirt  $98 - Returned

 this little baby broke my heart.  originally, again, i hated this coming out of the box.  however, it stretches, i can walk comfortably, that bright pattern, that floral print, it stretches when i walk!  i wanted to keep it.  i hung it in my closet like i was going to keep it.  justified not paying the water bill to keep it.  but i decided to return it.  i did shed a tear.  but at the end of the day i would have probably only worn this skirt 1-2 times a year and i couldn't truly justify that $98 price tag.  if it were $50, it'd be hanging in my closet.

Adrianna Papell Karri Shirt Dress  $138 - Returned

what the heck is this thing!?  it was a tent.  did nothing for my shape.  wasn't a fan of the collar.  i did love the floral pattern.  it would have been perfect as a pencil skirt or a blouse.  but this tent dress did nothing for me.  returned!!

Pixley Evette Romper  $78 - Kept 

per usual, i was skeptical of this.  i love a romper/jumpsuit.  however, i'm short.  and somethings that are a one piece are way to long for my tiny frame.  however, the pants are cinched at the ankle and the straps are adjustable so i was able to make it work and not look sloppy.  i feel like this would be perfect for the honeymoon or any summer night that might be cooler.  and if i really wanted to, i could pair it with a blazer and wear it to work.

all in all if i were to by the entire box i would have paid

$416.00 - 25% Discount $104.00 - Styling Fee $20.00 = $292.00

but my wallet couldn't afford it.  instead, i spent

$78.00 + $58.00 - Styling Fee $20.00 = $116.00

i absolutely loved this box minus the shirt dress.  and if the pricing wasn't so outrageous i would have probably bought 4 of the 5 items.  however, since i'm living on a beautiful budget, i could only keep two items.  i chose the two items i felt like i could wear the most and were the most versatile.  i can't wait to see what my next box has!