(Cyber) Monday Mishmosh

Happy Cyber Monday, e-friends!

I spent my Thanksgiving in Florida, where I'm from, chowing down on family classics and only occasionally billing a 15-hour day.  I scheduled my return flight home to occur the morning of Black Friday, thinking that this would prevent me from shopping.

HAHAHAHAHA WRONG.

(For those wondering about my budget, I got a pay bump a few months ago, and instead of putting the extra money towards my loans, as I should be, I've been shopping.  I know, I know.  Working on it in that vague but also inevitable way that I am working on losing five pounds.)

Anyway, here's a few fun Cyber* Monday finds:

Doesn't this LC by Lauren Conrad ponte dress remind you of the Kate Spade Dotted Magdalena Party Dress?  Except that it's $36?  With an extra 20% off with code CYBER20, plus an extra 8% off with eBates.  (I bought this in teal.)

*  Does anyone else hear "cyber" and think of predators from AOL chat rooms/instant messaging circa 1995?  ("You wanna cyber?")  Just me?  Okay, forget I said that.

Speaking of Kate Spade, here's a book clutch on MEGA sale.

Great Expectations Book Clutch -- $149 until midnight!  (This is the only "title" on sale.)

Did Kate Spade only do this because I recently said their book clutches never go on sale?  Even my dictionary clutch recently went on sale (here)!  If so, man, Kate Spade never offers 50% off discount codes...

For those of you who love my blue suede Seychelles Ampersand Pumps (worn, e.g., here), these cute Kelsi Dagger wedges from 6pm.com are sort of similar!  (here for $48, but beware that 6pm makes you pay for return shipping and they do NOT provide smart labels. :-\)

Finally (warning, onslaught of affiliate links, because why not we're talking about shopping and I'm doing some legwork/fingerwork), eBates is offering significant cash back at Gap/Banana Republic/Old Navy (10% --- and these stores are already doing a 30% promo on their own!), Kohl's (8% (plus 20% off with code CYBER20)) and Sears (10% (I've never bought clothes there, but they are good for housewares/kitchen stuff/electornics)!  Plus they are doing 6% cash back at J.Crew (plus extra 25% off today, and 50% off everything at the Factory!), Nordstrom, and Macy's.  I've gotten several checks from eBates just for buying the same things I'd planned to buy in the first place, so you might as well sign up for an account if you haven't already.  If you use the link I've peppered around this entry, we'll both get a little bonus, too!

Also, this is what I wore on a weekend trip to Atlantic City** this weekend:

In this Outfit:

Old Navy Polka Dot Chambray Button-Down ($25 here in larger sizes, not including aforementioned mega-discounts)

Ann Taylor Loft Sweater (last year) (similar)

J.Crew Factory Matchstick Jeans (size 30) (similar, today only $40)

Old Navy Pointed Toe Flats (same style in different colors)

Marc by Marc Jacobs Marci Watch ($175 here (with maybe 6% off through eBates?  Unclear))

Ann Taylor Stacked Gold Rings (here, 40% off for Cyber Monday)

Tory Burch Eyeglass Frames

Did you partake in Black Friday?  Or are you participating in Cyber Monday?  I cannot handle the mob scene of Black Friday anymore, and with an underwhelming 25% promo at Anthro and with the availability of all sales online, I didn't feel like I missed out!


** For those of you interested in a poker training session, I haven't forgotten and it WILL happen!  I'll post a poll with possible dates within a few weeks.

Friday Funday: The tragedy of the free Jimmy Choos, as told in .gifs

(said tragedy was originally referenced in this post)

So, I rode my bike into work in the morning like I usually do, all like,

When I went to change clothes, I realized...eff, I didn't bring any shoes.

After realizing I didn't have any shoes for work except ratty sneakers I was like,

But then I remembered that I had a few pairs of shoes from Target in my office that I'd planned to return, so I could just wear one of those in a pinch.  So I was trying both pairs on in the bathroom mirror, trying to decide which one to keep like,

When a power partner saw my struggle and was like,

She offered me two pairs of old shoes she kept in her office that she no longer wears.  I was like,

And then it turned out the two pairs of shoes she no longer wanted were both Jimmy Choos, and I was all,

I told my girlfriends and they were like,

But when I told my boyfriend that I got two pairs of JIMMY CHOOS he was all,

But then one of the shoes was already broken at the heel.  But I was still happy with the other pair like,

Then I took the unbroken pair of shoes to NYC on a trip with the BF and I was walking a few blocks to a power lunch

but then THAT pair of shoes broke at the same heel!  I was all,

The next day, I accidentally left the newly-broken shoes on the floor of the hotel room.  I didn't realize it until after we got back to DC, when I was like,

I asked BF if he'd noticed that I left a pair of broken Jimmy Choos in the room and he was like,

I was sitting there like,

He said he thought I didn't want them because they were broken and I was like,

I called the hotel but they said they didn't have them.  At first I was all,

And when I realized that housekeeping probably kept them,

So I spent a few days being like,

Now I'm just,

And this is why I can't have nice things.

I couldn't not. Or could I not have?

Witness the first new wear-able thing I have purchased for myself since committing to a strict loan repayment plan a few months ago (see here):

  Kelsi Dagger Genelle Wedge 

I first saw these shoes months ago on Ideeli, and the next day on Ruelala, and both times I decided not to buy them.  I have since kicked myself nearly every day because I adore this shade of green and while I hate open toes I can definitely handle a small peep toe. 

At least once a week I have put on an outfit and thought about how these shoes would have perfected it.  I looked for them a few times in the weeks immediately following their appearance on my sample sale websites, but to no avail; they were either sold out in this color or twice the price I balked at initially.

Then, struck with another pang of love this morning, I googled them again and found them on Bluefly in my size and on sale!  With only two pairs left in my size!  Plus, Bluefly offers 25% off your first purchase for signing up to their email list.  (The available stock of size nine shoes went down to one while I was inputting my information into the system and they now appear to be sold out in that size but are still available in 7.5, 8, 8.5, and 9.5.)  (Also available at 6pm.com in black and peach for even less -- $40.)

My weekly budget refreshes on Sunday and I had a little bit of leftover money last week, so, happily, these shoes were within my budget and are on their way to me.  Who knows --- when they arrive I may hate them in person and return them, but at least I feel as though this particular online purchase was properly considered over the course of several months before it was ultimately made. 

(And moments later, I went across the street to my bank to deposit the cash from my weekly cash-only budget into my checking account to cover the purchase, which was made on my credit card.)

Which, when combined with a weekend full of eating out, leaves me with...$17.  Which is supposed to last until...Sunday morning.  Ehh, I'll let you know how this works out.

But I suppose that means this cute cuff will have to wait:

(found via Look4Less)

Man, it's amazing to think about how much money I used to spend each week just clicking "submit order" as soon as the urge struck to buy something.  You know what I mean?  I was moments away from buying these Seychelles cuties on a whim last week because they were only $30 on 6pm.com at the time (no longer available):

Seychelles Women's Petunia T-Strap Pump

...but then I reminded myself that I could set aside that $30 to put towards something I have wanted even longer (like an ice cream maker, or the shoes I ended up buying today)!

It's been very difficult to resist sales at my favorite stores (Anthro, Madewell, and J.Crew I am looking at you here), but it's so satisfying to look at my credit card statement and see almost entirely work-reimburseable expenses and to see money in my bank account that I know will be going towards loans.  I think I'll be paying my first loan off completely in the next week!

On top of that, today I realized I'll be getting a nice bump in my take-home pay starting in October (about 15-20% increase, depending on taxes).  That will all go towards my snowball payment, which will essentially double the amount I can put towards my student loans each month!  Yahooooo progress!

I hope you all had wonderful weekends!  At least Monday is almost over...and I'll be seeing Coldplay in concert after work tonight!  (It's a free work event!  Thank Pete for our law firm's summer program, weight gain be darned!)

OOTD: I need an intervention

Have you ever bought something that was just too perfect?

You know, the kind of clothing item that goes with everything, makes you feel great, is practical, is comfortable, is easy, and pretty much gives you an attitude orgasm every time you look at it?  Something so fantastic that it has essentially stunted your wardrobe because you can imagine no way to get dressed without said item?

Well, these shoes are that for me right now:

I just adore everything about them.  They are the perfect summer flat.  Work-appropriate, easy for biking, good summer color, and because they are only $17 full price (here) I will not feel badly if I shred them up while biking and need to buy several backup pairs.

I've been wearing them almost non-stop for a month and biking in them nearly every day, and they still look pretty good:



There are some minor scratches around the toe, which I attribute to the biking (when I stop at a light, I put my toe down on the road), but these are not noticeable from a normal height.

So, thank you Payless for making a splendid nude flat and selling it for a song.  This is the only pair of shoes for which I have ever contemplated buying a backup pair (and probably will).

In this Outfit:

Anthropologie Pave Posts (here)

Anthropologie Season's Way Shirt (S)

Isaac Mizrahi for Target Skirt (thrifted)

J.Crew Factory Patent Triple Loop Belt (here)

J.Crew Bracelet

Michael Kors Watch (similar)

Payless Chelsea Flat (nude) (here)



Blog Sale, plus an Anthro/Endless PSA!

I'm having a blog sale!  Click here for lots of Anthro, Banana, J.Crew, and some Modcloth/Kate Spade!  Everything is in sizes 4/6 and S/M.  One pair of shoes in size 9.5.

And, just so this post isn't entirely self-serving:


These shoes are being sold as Anthropologie's Aldourie Fling Booties.  They're $98 full price, but you can buy them at Endless.com here, and get $25 off as part of their fall preview sale!  There are six colors to choose from, including yellow (previously known as Anthropologie's Lass & Laddie Oxfords).

With free shipping and free returns, I couldn't help but take the plunge on the red ones.  I will try to stay strong against the green and gray pairs...and I will stare daily at my yellow password pumps to avoid a potentially redundant purchase in the yellow colorway...

(Thanks to Molly for bringing the Aldourie Flings to my attention, and to Jacqueline for the deal alert!)

Sale Haul -- Making up for Lost Time

Between the chaos of moving and not having internet for over a week, I've been negligent in publishing my most recent sale hauls.  Here's the combined three-week total:

If you've been around for a while, you should be may be surprised at how LITTLE damage I managed to do in nearly a month.  Not to mention I'm returning (or have already returned) almost half of the stuff from the above set:

Let me assure you, if I could post my Amazon.com sale haul from the last few weeks, you would recognize my shopping habits.  (I need stuff for the apartment!)

Regardless, lots of photos and mini-reviews (plus, I need your advice on the "maybes"!) after the jump.

Guest Post: A Girly Blog Kind of Guy

You should meet my friend Rex.  He is, as we say in the biz, "a character."  Rex is the type of person who finds himself in outrageous situations with a frequency few can understand.  He's a law student, an entrepreneur, a techno musical artist/DJ, and a bodybuilder.  Also, he has a degree in English literature.

Recently, Rex stumbled upon a job as a blog copy editor after he emailed the authors with several grammatical errors they made in their posts.  The blog, you may be interested to hear, is called The Gloss.  This is a girly blog.  Rex, my muscle-bound, body-builder, techno-mixing, champagne-case-buying law school friend prowls girly blogs and now works for one.

Of course, I had some questions.

Of course, I have a final exam tomorrow and can't write a whole post by myself.

See?  Perfect!


Rex, what appeals to you about "girly blogs"?

They're unrelated to the law, for one. Fashion interests me. It's art just the same as paintings or sculptures, but it innovates at a faster rate. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. It's just also just fun to look at all the pretty pictures. The dating advice is sometimes good and sometimes hilarious. I enjoy laughter.


As a copy editor for a girly blog, you've heard and read lots of girl-to-girl conversations about what girls think about what guys think about girls. Are we right about guys?

What girls think about what guys think about girls? Tricky. And it's tough to say. A lot of dating advice comes off as platitude because it's so divorced from the inherent subjectivity of interpersonal relationships. It's toxic to think in terms of "men" and "women" and better to think in terms of "him" or "her." An article by a woman might say something like "men think women who wear a lot of lip gloss will put out more easily." This woman is right about some men and wrong about other men. Some men think that, other men don't think that, and still other men don't even know what lip gloss is. So, when parsing this advice, think about into which category the man you're thinking of falls. Women's dating advice pieces are no better than men's (the book The Game comes to mind) when they purport to treat everyone the same. "Getting it right," to me, means focusing less on what makes the guy the same as all other guys and focusing more on what makes him different. It's a waste of time to try and figure out the secret to all men or all women. It's much more worthwhile to try to figure out the secret to who you're with.


How can a girl interest her boyfriend in girly topics like shopping and clothing? Is there any way to discuss what we're wearing (not lingerie) or the deals we're getting (not on lingerie) in a way that will be interesting to him?

You cannot.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

I think it's bad to try and force people to be interested in things they wouldn't ordinarily be interested in. It puts unnecessary strains on people and relationships that usually end up doing more harm than good. If he likes art, maybe he can grow to see the artistic aspect of fashion? I don't know. That's why I like it, but see above about how everybody's different. I also love saving money, which is why deals--whether they're for Chanel or for corn dogs--excite me. But I think if everything else is working right, it's okay if he doesn't understand fashion or shopping deals. No?


What do you think of maxi skirts/dresses?

I'm not crazy about them. I wouldn't say they're horrible but I think it's also hard for them to be great. Doesn't all that fabric get annoying? I'd imagine it gets caught in car doors a lot.


On a related note, what do you think is the most ridiculous trend you've seen in women's clothing lately?

Gladiator sandals.

I also really do not like boots, be they men's or women's, that have laces all the way up the front but then a zipper down the side. It's lazy and a little poseur.

Sale Haul

This will be my last Anthropologie sale day for the next three weeks (little-to-no internet in Israel), so I wanted to make the most of it! I visited all four NYC Anthros yesterday and picked up two pairs of shoes online.

Here's the haul:

Board Room Trousers (4) ($20): THESE WERE TWENTY DOLLARS.  Leave me alone.

The shoes are the Open Spaces Wedges (40 - size up) ($80) and the Elysse Skimmers (9) ($60).  I ordered them online and don't know if I'll keep either of them.

Rock Candy Ring ($29 with online February birthday discount (bought a few days ago)): I've had my eye on this one for a while.  I reviewed this on Anthropologie.com in January and planned to wait for sale, but then I caved.  I am now trying to resist the kind-of matching earrings (After the Rain earrings, here).

Painted Denim Belt (J.Crew) (M) ($25 in store, $45 online): Damn if I don't love the color mustard.

Tights: Pointelle Sweater Tights in Chai and Black (M/L, $5 each) and Hue Opaque Purple Tights (2, $7)

Lace long sleeve top by Only Hearts for Anthro (L) ($10): I couldn't resist the price.  This is totally see-through so it'll be a layering piece.

Whipped Woolens Cardigan (M) ($20): THIS WAS TWENTY DOLLARS.

Campaign Jacket (S) ($20): THIS WAS TWENTY DOLLARS.

Shadowsleeve Cardigan (yellow) (M) ($34 with online February birthday discount (bought a few days ago)):  My black cardigan (seen here) has such a wonderful shape, and this color is absolutely rich and gorgeous.  See it on Mich here.

Kindred Spirits Sweaterdress (L) ($40): After seeing this on Jen here, I became intrigued.  I tried it on and fell utterly in love.  The fabric is soft and lush and the fit is so, so flattering.  I really should take a medium or a small in this dress, but the large looks fine and it was the only one left.  I want to wear it tomorrow, and it's usually a good thing if I want to rip the tags off of something immediately.  (I echo Adrienne's point here.)

Wightwick Manor Shirtdress (4) ($20): THIS WAS TWENTY DOLLARS.  (are you starting to get a sense for my "Price Point"?  i.e., the price at which things become irresistible?  Do you have a price point or am I the only one?  Mine differs based on the type of clothing, but for dresses, pants, and jackets/sweaters, $20 is it.)

The next two dresses (Twinkle Twinkle (4) and Grasby Gardens (6)) had been on my APB for a while.  I managed to acquire both of them last week through the EA Trade Market!

Lynx and Leo dress (12) ($10): I know this is a size 12, but it was TEN DOLLARS.  TEN.  Please tell me how I was supposed to leave it on the rack.  See, you can't.  I presumed I would need to tailor it, but bizarrely it's really not that loose on me.  As in, it kind of looks fine as it is.  I'm not sure how that's possible, but I think it may have something to do with the elastic on the back; the dress probably is meant to stretch to accommodate a 12, but my size six body can fit without stretching the elastic.  I know that sounds like a rationalization but I'm watching my weight with Weight Watchers and know I didn't gain four dress sizes recently.  In fact, the dress I wore to the fitting room was a size four.  So I dunno.  There's no logic in this world, but as long as I get to keep buying dresses for $10 I'm game.

To help finance my purchases, I returned my Peggy Sue Dress ($60, since I got 25% off during the extended tag sale, but I haven't worn it yet and don't feel a burning desire to do so), my size six Seaside Fields Dress ($100) (kept the size 8), and my orange Budding Hues Headband ($20).

Did you all get anything in the sale?

What Stayed, What Went

Judging by my page counts, there was a great deal of morbid curiosity surrounding my massive sale haul last week!  True to my word, most of this stuff ended up going back.  I also retroactively applied my birthday discount to my biggest purchase last week (which included my awesome puffer coat, pictured here).

Overall, it was nice to see the spending balance shift back towards something more normal.

What I Returned:

First Row
Exbury Gardens Cardigan ($40): Beautiful, but the size I got is too big.  I tried to make a large work, but really I need a medium.

Rising Ra Cardigan ($50): Bulky.  See my review here.

Bracken Stripe Blouse ($30): I bought a size 8 and it's way too big.  There's also an awkward boob gap between the buttons.

Belladonna Top ($40): Ill-fitting. Review here.

Compass Points Top ($30): The size 6 was way too big.

Tuxedo Blazer ($40): I bought both a small and a medium, but neither fits nicely unfortunately.  The fabric was smooth and the cut looked nice, but on me it didn't lay flatteringly.
Undone Cloche ($20): If I was a human being who wore hats with any frequency, this would have been an easy keep.

Second Row
Hints Of Mesh Tee ($30): I purchased this during the tag sale in December.  I also have it in purple and don't need two colors.

Raines Heels ($40): Cute on others, not necessary for me.  Plus, I don't like suede.
Everything-In-Place Cape ($50): This cancelled by Anthro.  Easy decision.
High Society Skirt ($22): I bought this last month and it was one of those "It's only $22!" purchases.  I don't love it.  Back it goes.

Floral Frappe Top ($22): Purchased a few weeks ago.  I love it, but I already have this in lilac, and I wear the lilac one more often.
Pebbled & Primped boots ($60): I actually liked these a lot more than I thought, but they were damaged and I didn't want to keep them, even with the discount.  I will keep my eyes peeled for a different pair of size 9s.


New Purchases:


Honestly.  What did you expect?  That I'd go seven days without buying anything from Anthro?  Don't be absurd.

Fruit Cooler Necklace ($30): Kind of an impulse buy, but I'm feeling it right now.  We'll see if I still like it in a few days, but I just think the colors on this guy are so refreshing!

May Queen Headband ($20): I'm a sucker for Anthro headbands.

Lace Lover's Booties ($70): these never jumped out at me online, but I love them in person.

Seaside Fields Dress ($99): still not on sale, but I found it marked down to $99 in Philly since it was the last one.  I've been coveting this dress for months and it is taking FOREVER to hit sale.  This color came out in June and is sold out just about everywhere.

Let me preempt Laura and point out that all of these new acquisitions would form kind of a cute outfit!

I'm *STILL* painfully undecided on these things:

Field Skirt: I traded my size 6 for an 8 and it (strangely) feels less voluminous and more comfortable.  Still not sure whether I actually need this skirt, although I get the sense it would be very versatile and great for those days when I don't want to think about my outfit.

Seaside Fields Dress: Despite the discounted price tag and my extended longing for this dress, now that I have it, I'm not sure I'm as crazy about this as I originally thought.  The size six feels a bit tight in this colorway.  I haven't gained weight since fitting comfortably into a size six in the other colorway a few months ago, so perhaps they are made slightly differently?  Or perhaps I wasn't paying attention when trying on the first dress?  Dunno.  Will need to deliberate.  $100 is a lot.  Maybe I'll return it and spend the proceeds on the beautiful Blooming Goldenrod Dress? (OH, THAT IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA.)

Side Line Chemise: This only cost me $10, but I think I need a size small and not a medium.  I maybe could make the medium work, and for only $10 it may be worth it.  How many times do you think you'd need to wear a $10 item before it was worth the cost?

Volante Tees: Gah, I still can't pick a color.  Not sure if this is because I want both or because I want neither.


These are, for now, the Keeps:

Sale Haul! (a.k.a., Vicarious Shopping for the 30-for-30ers)

Boy oh boy, I was unintentionally bad during the Anthro sale yesterday!  My best intentions were derailed almost immediately when Anthropologie.com reopened their free shipping promotion for online orders over $150 (use coupon code THAWOUT).  I found a few popbacks on my wishlist I'd been curious about (a cape?  sure, let's try it.), and then added the popular Field Skirt to the mix to bring up my total for free shipping.  And I accidentally ordered two of the same blouse, probably because I was messing with the website during Fed Courts and simultaneously trying to take notes on protective jurisdiction.  Whoops, but thank goodness for the return policy.

Later at a brick & mortar store, I made a rather expensive impulse buy when I stumbled upon this coat on sale for 50% off.  It's made by Soia & Kyo and it is exquisite.  Outrageously warm, extremely comfortable, wonderfully cut, and water resistant!  The only thing it lacks is a hood, but I'm okay with that.  It fills an enormous hole in my wardrobe for the "THE WORLD IS COMING TO A WHITE, SNOWY END" coat that doesn't make me look like I'm walking around swaddled in a large, waterproof tent.  (In case you were wondering (I know you were), I returned the parka.  The arms were just too tight at the shoulders.)  I think this coat will be with me for many years to come.

As much as I adore the coat, it was expensive and caused me to put the brakes on the day.  Now I'm reconsidering my previous acquisitions with an eye towards returns, since I don't want to completely crush my February imaginary-but-still-aspirational budget this early in the month.

One nice Anthro tidbit I learned today: If you mistakenly leave your birthday discount card at home, you can bring the birthday card to Anthro along with the relevant receipt and they will retroactively apply your 15% discount!  I think the store associate said they would give store credit instead of cash, but I'm totally okay with that system since most of my cash goes to Anthro anyway :)

Case in point, my complete sale acquisitions, along with some thoughts and commentary, behind the cut.  Would love your thoughts on what I should return.

Warning: I bought a lot of stuff.  Before you sign me up for the Shopaholics Anonymous email list, please bear in mind that I usually over-buy with the intention of returning a good number of items.  I'm of the opinion that the regret of missing out on an item you want is far more painful than the time it takes to return an item you decide you don't want.  I lose nothing by buying something, thinking it over at home, and then returning it if I ultimately decide against it.  (Unless Anthro flags me as a trouble maker for this behavior...?)  Not sure if this makes sense or if it sounds like an over-rationalization, but I truly do return a good chunk of the stuff I buy.  So don't freak out once you click below...

Purple People Eaters (!!!)

I love the name "Purple People Eaters" for these pumps, don't you agree?  Their actual name is the very boring "T.U.K. Women's A7825L Pump."

I had hoped to have a live OOTD involving these shoes for you today, but unfortunately the weather has not been very cooperative as of late.  With the forecast calling for even more snow tomorrow, followed by the ever-appealing-sounding "rain/freezing rain," the outlook for these shoes seeing the light of day this week are slim.  Somehow I doubt they will go over very well on Thursday and Friday when I am in the office for my legal externship this semester.  :-\

They are basically NEON GREEN in person!

I no longer concede sartorial points for loving these.  They are clearly amazing and I refuse to stomach debate on this point.  (FYI: they fit TTS and feel quite comfortable to stand around in.  I haven't tried wearing them for a whole day yet but I don't foresee major problems.)

Despite the dismal weather predictions, I'm kind of hoping to wear them today (when I'll attempt to brave the weather and visit some Anthro sales), or Sunday, when I'll find myself in Philly and probably visiting the Anthro there, too.  Why mention Anthro?  I want to expose these shoes to as many stylish people as possible and see if the reaction is positive or negative.  An experiment of sorts.  Anthro seems like a natural laboratory.

Still, in lieu of a real OOTD, I present a few Polyvore sets I created that display the puzzling versatility of these shoes.  You could credibly argue that any of these outfits would look as good with a different pair of shoes, but I don't think any of them would look quite as interesting.  My goal with these shoes is to wear something bizarre in a credible way.

Five polyvore sets (thanks for the idea, Mandy!) behind the jump.