April Closet Additions

Hey Connecticut friends! Come shop with me at Athleta in Greenwich on Sunday!

One month post shopping ban and I feel like I need another shopping ban. I held out nearly until my birthday (rationalizing I might receive some of the pieces I'd been eyeing as gifts) and then fell back into my old habits. I fell hard. The "I'm unhappy at work so I'm going to buy something" packages started accumulating at my doorstep, which ultimately resulted in even greater feelings of anxiety. Most of what I bought got returned, including a gorgeous cream and blush tiered lace maxi skirt, (because how much was I really going to wear it), four different pairs of shoes, five tops, two pleated skirts and a dress. I went a little overboard, no? Even still, there is a pretty substantial keep pile.

I also got some lovely gifted items this month, both for my birthday and last night at the Clinton Crossing Spring Preview Event, both Meg and I won navy blue bucket bags and $100 gift cards to go shopping, so shopping we did. I picked up a couple cute items at J.Crew Factory. More on the event next week!

H&M Lace Cami, $23
Banana Republic Off The Shoulder Scalloped Striped Top, $20
Marc Fisher Scalloped Mules, $50 via Poshmark
Goorin Bros. Cream Wide Brim Fedora, $35 via eBay
Memar Straw Tote via TJMaxx, $30

Gifted
Tommy Hilfiger Navy Bucket Bag c/o Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets
J.Crew Factory Scalloped Cami c/o Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets
J.Crew Factory Floral Cami Dress c/o Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets
Draped Trench c/o Zaful
Tan Fedora c/o Zaful

Birthday Gifts
Anthropolgie Rima Fringed Cardigan similar
Banana Republic Asymmetrical Hem Tank similar

Slowly Fading Fast

Hey Connecticut friends! Come shop with me at Athleta in Greenwich on Sunday!

Years ago while my mom and I were out shopping and she was in need of a coffee break, she said, "I'm slowly fading fast" and just like that, the disjointed expression became part of our lexicon.

Slowly fading fast is how I would describe the light in these photos. It was the most dreary, overcast day, and even though the sun could not be seen, the evidence that it was setting could not be denied.

It's late as I type this post and I too am slowly fading fast, but I must make mention of this cute hat Zaful sent to me. It's a pretty nice hat for a mere $14, and while the site description says it's acrylic, the hat itself states wool. The one caveat was how little care was given to its shipment - simply placed in a plastic bag - resulting in a crushed hat upon arrival. I did my best to steam it out but the indications of its rough journey can still be seen.

The Rundown
Rima Fringed Cardigan Anthropologie similar
Cream Tank J.Crew thrifted similar
Boyfriend Jeans Old Navy similar
Lace-up Sandals "Mariachi" Report
Leather Bucket Bag Banana Republic similar
Tan Wool Fedora c/o Zaful
Triangle Necklace Moon & Lola similar
Necklace "Greer V" Gorjana similar
Fringe Bracelet Taken for Granite
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar

Stylin' in St. Louis's Spotlight Linkup

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda

Thanks to Zaful for sponsoring this post!

Daffodil

Hey Connecticut friends! Come shop with me at Athleta in Greenwich on Sunday!

My favorite of the seasons, Spring is full of new life, growth, and fresh starts. Not to say that Spring isn't full of it's ups and downs, volleying between those gorgeous sunny 70° days and the cold wet 40° days, which tend to last all week.

Still, when I see those first daffodils sprout up, all sunny and yellow, it's hard not to smile and be thankful. I was hoping that the trees here would have popped on this day (trying to coordinate with my blouse), but as you can see, they weren't quite there yet. They have since, and I'll be sharing those photos next week. The trees in their pink glory are something I look forward to every year.

       

The Rundown
Shawl Surplice Blouse Tracy Reese via Roundabout similar
Grey Skinny Jeans Gap similar
Leather Jacket Express similar
Nude Peeptoe Pumps BCBGeneration via TJMaxx similar
Tilly Scalloped Clutch Matine
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Nail Color "Marshmallow" Essie

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday

and

Sandy a la Mode's On Trend Tuesday

Shop with me at Athleta in Greenwich

This post has been sponsored by Athleta and #PowerOfShe, but as always my views and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap!

It was easy to make the time in my life for fashion, to make the time for the blog, time for shopping. Making time for exercise required quite a bit more effort, coming from a long history of avoidance, including notes to get out of gym class in high school and plenty of excuses about how getting sweaty would mess up my hair-washing schedule.

Then two things happened, I started working more hours at my office job and started getting hip pains because of it, and my sister came home from college and asked me to join the Y with her. I found myself wandering into a back corner of a yoga class for the first time ever in a hodgepodge of old leggings I'd deemed unfashionable but never gotten rid of and a baggy tee shirt which fell over my face every time I bent over. Fashion faux pas and insecurities aside, I left the class feeling good and with a desire to return.

Two years later I'm finding myself with a much greater desire to make the time for fitness, and while my yoga poses are far from perfect, I know how far I've come from where I started. I'm more flexible, I'm stronger, and I feel better both physically and mentally. Not to mention that I've found by making the time for athletics, I can shop for athletic wear, which is such a powerful motivator!

With the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, there could not be a better time to think about getting outside and being active, and if you find yourself in need, or in want of some new pieces Athleta's new summer line should be your first stop, and I hope if you are in Connecticut you will join me at Athleta in Greenwich this Sunday, April 30th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to shop together, enjoy beverages and have some light bites!

R.S.V.P here - hope to see you on Sunday!

         

The Rundown

Sahara Jacket c/o Athleta
Eco Wash Daily Tank c/o Athleta
Colorblocked Movement Bralette c/o Athleta

High Rise Jacquard Chaturanga to Town Capri c/o Athleta
Sweet Nothing Headband c/o Athleta

Just a ride

"Patience is more than just waiting… it is persisting."

You might laugh to hear about all the hassle I caused myself and a few Toys"R"Us employees to get this bike, and of course it all turned out to be completely unnecessary.

To make a long story short, the bike wasn't available on the website to ship to home, or to ship to a store in Connecticut. I called Toys"R"Us and spoke to a person who said that the bike was going out of stock, and that if another store had the bike, they could transfer it to my store. That turned out to not be true on both accounts, and I went through a great deal of begging and pleading to get a store in South Carolina to ship the bike directly to me. Eight weeks went by, still no bike, and every time I called the store asking for a tracking number no one could give it to me. Then the bike came back in stock online. Thinking the first bike was never coming, I ordered another one. They both arrived on the same day.

After all that it was December before I had the bike, so this was my very first opportunity to ride it. Now that Sean and I both have bikes (I was against keeping one bike in our apartment and now there are two) we can go for rides to the beach and around the less busy parts of town. I'm really excited to ride to a park and have a picnic on the first nice weekend Sean doesn't have to work, and of course take more photos of my pretty new bike, preferably with flowers in the basket ;)

       

The Rundown
White Silk Button Down J.Crew similar
Field Jacket Old Navy similar
Yoga Jeans Second Denim via Coco & Vera's Giveaway
White Sneakers "Dainty" Converse
Hexagon Threader Earrings c/o Metrix Jewelry
Hammered Gold Ring Thrifted
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Marshmallow" Essie
Bicycle Columbia
Basket Nantucket Bike Basket Co.

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (one year ago today)

Fickle Friend

"I change my destiny by changing my thoughts."

No season is more fickle than spring. I love it - the flowering trees, the fact that my tulips come back every year even though I do nothing, the extra daylight hours and, the feeling that all things are bursting with potential - but the weather in New England isn't always the best. Days range from gorgeous and warm, to slightly chilly, to just dismal and cold. It can make getting dressed a challenge, and it's nice to have pieces like maxi dresses to provide a little extra warmth on those days when I can't bear the thought of wearing pants yet again.

I wore this to Church a couple sundays ago, I'm sure you can guess which one by my little extra 'accessory'. When we first started attending this church I was really happy that it was close enough we could walk - I mean five minutes or less - yet we've only managed to walk once. Some of the days it was legitimately not feasible with snow, but most of the time it's just me, running late. This week, weather permitting, I want to walk. 

         

The Rundown
Floral Maxi Dress Banana Republic similar
White Blazer Cynthia Rowely via TJMaxx similar
Green Suede Flats "Adana" Banana Republic similar
Navy Foldover Clutch Clare V. similar
Turquoise Necklace Gift similar
Gold Circle Bracelet St. Thomas c/o TJMaxx similar
Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Nail Color "Marshmallow" Essie

Stylin' in St. Louis's Spotlight Linkup

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda