April Closet Additions

I didn't shop too much this month, but that was more than my goal of not shopping at all, if I'm being honest. I let temptation get the best of me and snagged a vintage macrame bag on Etsy, and also got an eBay win for a Rachel Comey fringe sweater than I've been coveting since 2015 (evidenced by this tweet). I also included some of my birthday gifts (the ones which were linkable, haha) because that did happen this month, much as I'd rather not discuss that milestone.

Know what else is from 2015? My copy of Photoshop Elements, which I bought so that I could do basic things like put together these collages for the blog, but then never ever used. But considering Polyvore is no more, my hand was forced, and honestly, what was I holding out for? I got it for a crazy good price too, only $30. It's currently $90, but if you need something for basic blog photo editing it's a decent program. In a pinch and in need of something free, I've used Pixlr (and why did I do that when I had Elements? I don't know...)

To sum up, this month I bought a sweater I didn't buy in 2015 and I used a program for the first time that I did buy in 2015.

J.Crew Factory Scalloped Cami, $17
J.Crew Factory Side Tie Shell, gift
Gap True Skinny Sculpt White Jeans, $34
Ten Thousand Villages Lush Floral Scarf, gift
J.Crew Factory Striped Ruffle Bodysuit, $18
Vintage Macrame Tote via Etsy, $40
Rachel Comey Fringe Sweater via eBay, $54

Peaks of the Week

This is my fourth post this week. That feels pretty big to me right now since over the last six months I've only been posting three times, and sometimes one or two. I partly attribute it to my current experiment in laziness - I haven't washed my hair all week. I don't know about you, but I hate washing my hair. I feel like it's the biggest drain on my time, without say, the satisfaction I get when I devote an hour to painting my nails. While I'm not sure how much longer I can exist on dry shampoo, I've enjoyed the freedom my dirty hair has bestowed upon me.

Spring finally feels like it's arrived, which means the cherry blossoms are blooming. It's my favorite part of the whole year, and I'm happy I got to Wooster Square yesterday during the golden hour to snap some photos. It's so much better during an off time, especially for tripod photos! Though I really need to look into a long distance remote for my camera (if such a thing even exists). It's very persnickety about how far I can be and I feel like I can't always get the exact shots I want. While I was wandering around I noticed a house (actually a condo) for sale right in Wooster Square that I wish I could afford. For those views of the blossoms, I'd take it in a heartbeat!

❀ Flickr was bought by SmugMug and right now promises not to takeaway anything we love about Flickr (like the affordable pro membership) and only make it better. Before I started the blog I was a much more active member of the Flickr community, photo groups with weekly prompts inspired and propelled me to take more photos, and of course the Wardrobe Remix group was one of the sparks that led to this blog. I'll I can say is that without my photos on Flickr, this blog would be a whole lot of blank space.

❀ Paris in China. The sincerest form of flattery?

❀ Cee's post on having nothing to wear certainly resonated with me.

❀ Stacy London's year of going broke was such an honest, vulnerable piece.

❀ After reading this article about how Disney's forthcoming streaming service could potentially disrupt or even destroy the movie theater industry, MoviePass, a subscription service for movie theaters seems like the perfect solution. Naturally the studios hate the concept and feel it devalues their content. However, current movie prices cause me to keep my distance from theaters and MoviePass would drastically change that.

❀ Pigeon cams (before drones were a thing).

❀ Families who fled Trump's America, how long is the nomadic dream sustainable I wonder?

❀ Not all cashmere is created equal.

❀ Dani got the prettiest photos with the D.C. Cherry blossoms, and now I'm thinking I need to pull out my floral pants.

❀ I love this Crochet Cami Dress at the Gap, but I'd actually want it as a nightgown, is that weird?

❀ What it's like to work at the Museum of Ice Cream.

❀ This week I've been listening to Other People's Pieces by Chilly Gonzales. For me, the standout track is the rendition of Weezer's Damage in Your Heart.

Cocktails at Conspiracy

On Sunday I found my way to Conspiracy, a craft cocktail bar in Middletown, CT, inspired by the prohibition era, the drinks are classic, the bar feels swanky and comfortable, and even the entrance is an unmarked door leading to an unassuming staircase. Stepping foot inside the bar does feel transformative. Exposed brick walls with large arched windows flooded the space with natural light on that afternoon. It is said that the type of seating found at a bar is indicative of the crowd the bar wants; hard stools with no backs mean they want the customers to keep moving. Where as a padded stool with a back is an invitation to stay a while. The moment I laid eyes on the mint green leather bar stools at Conspiracy, I knew I wanted an extended stay.

The bar was closed to everyone but the twenty or so bloggers, so it was nice to feel like we could snap photos, rearrange furniture, and enjoy the space without worrying about intruding on any other guests. For my cocktail, I had The Business, a simple gin drink with lemon and honey. When it comes to cocktails, I always just go for whichever one has gin, and I've yet to be let down by that method.

It turned out to be another spring-like day, and I decided I needed to pull out this floral midi dress while I could. I also decided to pull out my Jeffrey Campbell platform sandals. If you were reading my blog (or any blog) back in 2010 you might remember they were the trendy blogger must have at the time. They had a good run before other shoes usurped their coveted spot in my closet around 2013, but I never let them go. Now it seems the platforms are rising in popularity again and I thought it would be fun to pull them out again. Gosh I missed being that tall!

                

The Rundown
Floral Midi Dress Banana Republic similar
Platform Sandals "Splendid" Jeffrey Campbell similar
Scalloped Clutch Matine
Earrings Taken for Granite similar
Necklaces Luna Norte via TJMaxx
Petite Double Moonstone Ring c/o Moonstone Magic
Opal Ring T by Tahari similar
Sunglasses "Emma" Ray-Ban similar

Stylin' in St. Louis's Spotlight Linkup

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda
and

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

A Lengthy Dilemma

These jeans are supposed to be cropped. Given my height, naturally they do not fall at a cropped length on me, but I left the hem alone and wore them anyway. But I need to know, in your expert opinions, should I shorten them? If so, how much needs to be chopped off? (For reference, this is how they looked on the model.)

I'm pleased that bare ankles are even up for debate right now. I can't believe April is nearly over and we are finally getting some brushes with spring weather. There were even some blooming cherry blossom trees behind Yale's gates. I was really sad I couldn't get to them. I mean, I suppose if I were the conniving kind of person who follows people with keys through locked gates it wouldn't have been too hard. But those kinds of situations are so far out of my comfort zone you might as well ask me to go take outfit photos on the moon. I'll just patiently wait for the trees within my reach to bloom.

         

The Rundown
Scalloped Cami J.Crew Factory
White Wide Leg Jeans Gap similar
Grey Cashmere Cardigan TJMaxx similar
Black Pumps "Natalie" Naturalizer
Scalloped Tote Matine
Double O-Ring Belt Express
Evil Eye Necklace c/o Belcho
Gold Bar Earrings Argento Vivo via TJMaxx
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Diamond Chip Ring c/o Crown Jewelry
Sunglasses "Caravan" Ray-Ban

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday

and

Cute & Little's On Trend Tuesday

Cheers to Brunch

Having blogger events two consecutive weekends got me pretty spoiled, and brunch at The Place 2 Be in Hartford, CT was such a fun scene. The atmosphere is very casual, but quirky and fun. There is a swinging wicker chair you can hang out in while you wait for a table, and while they serve fancy cocktails, it's still a place you'd take children - who will of course want the over the top milkshakes. Basically an explosion of ice cream, sprinkles, and whipped cream - too good not to share!

I'm think (hoping) we've finally reached the turning point to spring weather. More light jackets and bare ankles in my future? Trying to put together this outfit definitely stressed me out. The more blogger events I attend, the more I realize how much we all love to partake in the current trends (why wouldn't we) but I also know it's a delicate line between partaking in the trend and regurgitating the trend. Some trends, like scallops, are just ME. I loved them before they were a trend, and I'm happy they aren't going away. Then there are things like the bamboo ark bag - what once was unknown now is known and it feels like it's lost some of what made it special. That doesn't mean I wont carry mine anymore, but I am happy with my decision to get a vintage one over a replication.

How to you incorporate trends into your wardrobe?

           

The Rundown
Cheers Collector Tee J.Crew Factory similar
Blush Leather Jacket Athleta similar
High Rise Button Fly Jeans Gap
Black Pumps "Natalie" Naturalizer
Scalloped Tote Matine
Loop Earrings Mejuri
Watch "Classic Sheffield" c/o Daniel Wellington
Diamond Chip Ring c/o Crown Jewelry
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Princess Charming" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring

and

Oh To Be A Muse's Lookbook Linkup
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday

Peaks of the Week

This week I simultaneously thought that it was dragging along, while also going to quickly. Nothing on my to-do list got scratched off, and I consistently could not fall asleep, most nights resorting watching The Office until finally drifting off around 2 a.m. When does life stop feeling like a game of catch-up?

After trying to figure out something to wear for brunch last Sunday, I feel like I'm overdue for a closet clean out. That should be easy since half of it is still hanging over various pieces of furniture in my room. (Though I jest, the likelihood of a closet clean out happening this weekend is probably 20%.) I ended up wearing my new button fly jeans and my old 'Cheers' collector tee from J.Crew factory - photos should be up next week.

This weekend I have another blogger event, and I'm really hoping some cherry blossoms pop - who knows with this crazy weather!


❀ This article sheds light on dog auctions, and reveals that not all rescues are 'rescuing' in the manner we believe. Just another reminder that we can't simply put our blinders on and think "pet store bad, rescue good".

❀ How did I not realize Nordstrom didn't have a store in New York before? But there is going to be one now, and they believe they've got what it takes to open retail when so many others are shuttering.

❀ When sundaes on dessert menus feel like cop-outs instead of evoking nostalgia. Of course the only nostalgic sundae for me would be the Friendly's Cone Head, with an entire bowl of reese's pieces on the side, from that one time they forgot them on the bottom and generously overcompensated.

❀ Skydiving as a cure for depression? Something to ponder.

❀ When your wealthy socialite friend turns out to be a fraud.

❀ Forget strenuous exercise for better brain health - just stand up.

❀ Can you Imagine going through some of the 14 million photos at the Library of Congress? Seeing the history of the country like that must be amazing.

❀ Polyvore was acquired by Ssense earlier this month and without warning the whole site was shut down. Naturally fans are upset, myself included as I have over 100 sets linked to old blog posts. They let you download your content, but the sets are all square (ugh) and all 600px wide (ugh ugh). Now have I have to go through my archives and fix old posts because I don't want broken images on my site. At least it isn't nearly as bad as what Photobucket did to their users.

❀ Since macrame bags are in again, if I want to partake in the trend then it has to be a vintage one. I really love this bag, but with shipping costs it comes to nearly $70. Kind of hard to justify when there are so many other bags for less than half that cost, like this one, or this one.

❀ J.Crew Factory's flash sale ads haunted me on instagram until I placed an order for these pants, this top, this cami, and this bodysuit (had to hit that free shipping minimum).

❀ Loving Whitney's simple spring outfit!

Lulu The Face Company

Over the weekend I visited Lulu The Face Company in Litchfield, CT. In a gorgeous sunny space, mirror lined walls provided the backdrop for the displays of makeup. With 30 years in the beauty industry, owner Linda Temkin set out to create a makeup line that would be more like skin care. The 100% natural and 95% vegan line uses anti-aging peptides and botanicals, as well as pure minerals which have anti-inflammatory properties to calm the skin. Though in my opinion, it's the option to have products customized that really sets the line apart.

I had a lovely afternoon socializing, trying out some new makeup, and enjoying snacks which were provided by Mockingbird Kitchen & Bar, which I will have to add to my list of restaurants to visit next time I'm in the area.

I got to have my very own custom mixed CC cream after a quick conversation with Linda about my skincare concerns, all of which could easily be addressed. Mattifier for my oily skin, sunscreen so I could skip an extra step in the morning, and a couple drops of ylang ylang essential oil to help with acne.

In addition to custom foundation colors, custom lip colors can also be blended, and given any kind of finish desired, from glossy to matte, with or without cinnamon and peppermint as plumping agents.

For anyone who loves the idea of having customized makeup sent right to their door, Lulu is launching a quarterly subscription box. The Lulu Love List Box will retail for $135, with a value of $225-$275 and contain three full size items. After signing up for the box a questionnaire can be filled out online, or local customers can set up a time to meet with Linda in person to determine how they'd like their products to be customized. Only 25 of these subscription boxes will be available when they launch next month. If you'd like to try a product from Lulu The Face Company this month, use code INSIDERAPRIL for 25% off your purchase!

           

Thanks to Lulu The Face Company for inviting me to your insider event!