BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): 70% Off Deals at Loft.

OOoh, you guys. Loft is giving an extra 70% off selected sale stuff with code EXTRA. Some of it is final sale but a lot of it is not! I mean, yes, they are trying to off-load a lot of crazy sleeve but there are also some really cute options for dirt cheap. So cheap! Check it out:

Doesn't this look cute and soft? It comes in a few colors but I like the pale grey.

Satin cargo pants? I mean, why not. They get good reviews.

Y'all know how I feel about cold shoulder but I like the clean lines of this one.

Nobody does a crazy print quite as well as Loft. Plus bonus tassels! 

Gin carnigan alert! This one looks like a winner and I love the bell sleeves.

The top that gets you a million compliments every time you wear it.

How pretty is this velvet kimono! Just the thing to throw over a plain tee for instant fancy.

Skinny jeans in several cute colors but I love the dark green-grey the best.

A super soft t-shirt with interesting back details. 

Why can't your winter puffer jacket be bright yellow?

Outfit of the Day: You Win, Crazy Sleeves.

This just in: Crazy Sleeves 1, Adrien 0. They got me and I'm actually okay with it. Back in December I mentioned that my friend Kate had purchased a cute bishop-sleeved top from Banana and I recommended it here because it looked so great on her. She turned around and bought me the black one for my birthday:

Other than being a total lint magnet, I really love this top. It's such a different silhouette for me and I've worn it quite a few times. (Luckily there's room in the sleeves to store a tiny lint roller.) I still maintain that sleeves are dangerously out of control but I can do a little puffy shirt action and be okay with it. My top is basically sold out but Banana has this cotton bubble sleeve top that's pretty cute and I actually love this striped terry version. There's also this one in black at Ann Taylor and you know LOFT has one! I'm just going to move on now and pretend I didn't see this extremely nice Joie version. WHO EVEN AM I.

I'm wearing my crazy sleeves with my Madewell High-Rise Slim Boyjeans. I dig the look but man, 11" is a lot of rise. I love the cut though so my next pair might be these, which have a mid-rise, and I'm also considering this pair of skinny jeans. I mean, check out this rise:

Damn, that actually looks pretty cool. I just wish they were more comfortable to slouch-sit in. Oh, jeans. Why you gotta be so hard? On to details: 

I have been wearing my Soko Paddle Pendant an obnoxious amount but I just love it. I'm also wearing an Alexis Bittar cocktail ring similar to this one which is hard to see. 

Ah, the boots. I finally got a pair of Madewell Ainsley Chelsea boots (with Poshmark credit!) They're very similar to my old pair of Chelsea boots but more refined. So far I really like them a lot. I'm also carrying my grey MBMJ Too Hot To Handle hobo which is an old favorite. NR has it in some fun colors! It's such a great bag. 

Beauty Reviews: What I'm Liking Lately.

It's been a while since I talked about new products, so here are some I'm liking (and one I'm not):

Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm - I got a deluxe sample of this balm a while back and it's delightful! It smells like caramel (but isn't overly cloying) and goes on sheer and shiny. It's perfect for helping to sheer out super-pigmented lipstick or just when you want a little something. It's not groundbreaking, but I like it.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream - I bought a big ole tub of this to slather on my sad face and so far, so good. I do not love the tub packaging but I do like that I get a ton of product for the money. It's pretty basic stuff, but quite good and simple. I use this as my top layer at night, and under sunscreen during the day.

CSI Vitamin C + 12% Youth Serum - I've used this on and off for a while but I don't know that I've ever talked about it. Most vitamin C serums break me out but this one doesn't! It's a simple formula (only two ingredients) but very effective and SO inexpensive. If you're in the market for a vitamin C serum, you could do a lot worse.

FAB Facial Radiance Pads - These are really good and cheaper than my favorite PTR Un-Wrinkle Peel pads though not quite as effective. If you're looking for a daily chemical exfoliant that you don't have to rinse off, give these a try! (And if you want a one or twice a week exfoliant, I definitely recommend the Un-Wrinkle pads.)

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (Champagne Pop) - I got this little highlighting powder in my Allure box and it's so nice! I use it in the corner of my eyes, at the top of my cheekbones and under my eyebrows for a bit of glow. It's definitely sheen-y and not at all glittery and I like that it's slightly gold/peach because white highlighter just makes me look like an aging glittery vampire. (If you don't want to commit to the full-size product, this set is a good deal.)


File Under Meh:

Hairgenics Lavish Lash - I read a glowing review for this lash growth serum on a beauty forum and took advantage of a two-for-one deal. Marianne and I both gave it the old college try and we were both... underwhelmed. I didn't notice any difference at all and neither did she. Booo.

Marianne has had really good results with the Rodan and Fields serum but it's too expensive for me. Do any of you have a lash/brow growth serum you swear by?

Weekend Window Shopping: 50% Off Clearance at J.Crew!

J.Crew really wants to give you clothes! Right now all the sale stuff is an extra 50% off with code SAVENOW plus 1.5% cash back with eBates. (A lot of it is final sale, but not all of it.) Here's what I thought looked promising:

         

     

We Discuss: Week Two, Things I Wanted and Did Not Buy

M: Okay, week two, things I did not buy:

An Instant Pot UGH INTERNET STOP MAKING ME WANT THIS I DO NOT NEED IT

This cream because I am DRY AS A DESERT:

Literally the entire Kristin Ess for Target haircare line:

What I did buy (oops):

A block of unrefined shea butter. See comment above. I actually stopped buying body lotion a while ago because I had so many to use up and now I'm down to the dregs of the worst ones and NOTHING is working. I have high hopes for this one:

A vintage brass crab ashtray. It's a long story. I have no regrets. I paid half that price.

A: Oh man, I've always loved those crab ash trays! I have been mostly very good and did not buy:

These Madewell jeans that I think might be my perfect spring jeans:

This Tatcha moisturizer of which I had a deluxe sample and accidentally dropped it, lid off, in a sink full of soapy water:

It's really good stuff. I'm still mourning it's loss.

THE JANUARY ALLURE BOX THAT HAD A FULL-SIZED SUNDAY RILEY SERUM. This was an accident! I fully intended on buying it. My card has expired and they didn't bother to tell me and now it's sold out. WOE.

Things I did buy (sort of? Does it count if I used Poshmark credits from things I sold?):

This little MJ crossbody that looks brand new. She had it listed for $15 and I talked her down to $13 because i'm a total asshole:

Um, a pair of Madewell boots STOP YELLING. (Poshmark!)

M: HAHAHAAHA YOU AND BOOTS!

A: SHUT UP. It was that pair of Madewell chelsea boots I've wanted all winter that sold out immediately. Related: I am really bad at No-Buys.

M: Also, I bought these jeans BEFORE the No-Buy, for super cheap on sale, and they are my perfect spring jeans. Well, they will be when I lose the 10 pounds keeping me from buttoning them.

A: Those jeans! They are great, seriously. Boooo sold out.

M: They are great jeans, but 100% cotton and NOT FORGIVING. I got my usual Pilcro size and can't button them. But I'm 5 pounds closer to them fitting.

A: You’ll get there! The thighs in my favorite Fidelity jeans are starting to go. Austerity measures are in effect.

A: I don't need an Instant Pot, right? I mean, I feel you. People keep making me want it and I have a PERFECTLY GOOD SLOW COOKER.

M: BE STRONG WITH ME.

A: I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT DOES.

M: It’s just a pressure cooker. So it makes crockpot type foods in like 20 minutes. But I don’t even like crockpot type foods that much.

A: I certainly don't love crockpot type food enough to need a faster version. Not tempted.

Until next week!

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): T.J.Maxx Spring Picks.

I've been digging around T.J.Maxx again to see what's good for spring. Look, I know it's still January but I'm over it and ready to move on. Plus, it's always an adventure over there. Where else can you get a bejeweled panther watch? Or a patterned tote that you click on all, “That one is pretty…Oh! Whoops.” Even if we're not shopping for spring we can at least LOOK because there's some really good stuff:

Normally I think Theory is overpriced but I love the cut of this perfect little black dress.

This Foley + Corinna tote reminds me of Goyard and I love the black/white contrast.

I love the Liberty-esque floral print on this fun top! The best part: it's dirt cheap.

This floaty tulip print Rebecca Taylor top is not dirt cheap but isn't it PRETTY.

Floaty tops are great but sometimes you want a little sweatshirt with sequined birds on it, right?

Marianne bought these espadrilles last summer and I was so envious. The color is amazing.

The hottest club is: these jeans. They have everything: a mid-rise, ankle length and a good wash. 🙊

These classic Cole Haan flats aren't exciting but you know you'll wear the crap out of them.

It's gonna rain anyway, so why not look cute with a bright red rain jacket?

Okay, these sunglasses are kind of fancy but aren't they VERY Breakfast at Tiffany's? 

Outfit of the Day: Shopping My Closet.

YOU GUYS. It's still winter and I'm still on a no-buy which means I'm doing one of my least favorite things: shopping my closet. (I'd basically like to slap whoever came up with that phrase because it's stupid and mostly I just go into my closet to sneer and princess-whine that I have nothing to wear. I do not shop in there.) But anyway. I did indeed work a few old things into a fairly standard outfit and it's cool:

I do love this dumb old dress. It's LOFT and I love the flare fit. Luckily, they're still making dresses with this cut and this one with the fireworks print is SUPER CUTE and I can't have it. Boo. I also like this Loft dress which only has a tiny case of the sleeve-crazy. But really, it's the leopard print that makes me love my dress. Loft has some cute leopard pants but no dresses! For the ultimate, this Kate Spade dress is pretty amazing but I also love this Michael Kors dress for the price. Also, this Gabby Skye dress is only available in a few sizes, but it's really cute.

My cardigan is...problematic. It's cute and it should look it's best all snapped up but it DOES NOT. Trust me on this, I tested it out on the blog back in 2014 (aka 10lbs ago) and it's bad. It's a good color and has interesting beading and all but it's seven years old and I'm tired of it. I think I just want all my cardigans to be gin cardigans? This one at Ann Taylor would do nicely and I also like this one at Banana Republic. And, wait! Duh. I solved my own problem last week with this Eileen Fisher cardigan. Yep. I know. Details:

I'm wearing a favorite old Lulu Frost for J.Crew tassel necklace and it's a solid piece. I'm sad that J.Crew didn't continue that collaboration because Lulu Frost stuff is right up my alley. It is possible to find regular Lulu Frost at decent prices. I love this sparkly charm necklace that's on sale and also this one with a tassel! For something similar but way cheaper, Talbots has a couple of funky tassel necklaces for under $25. 

Bag and boots time. Same old stuff - my grey MBMJ Too Hot To Handle Hobo and my Madewell Lucien boots. Both are favorites! For an update on the boots, I'd say the Madewell Walker Chelsea is probably the most similar. 

That's it for today! I'm going to go sit in my closet and hiss angrily at my clothes instead of shopping them. 

We Discuss: Old Lady Town aka Birkenstocks

Part One: 

A: I got my shearling Birks and I'm conflicted.

M: What’s wrong with them?

A: They are super cozy I'm just not sure they are for me. The color isn't really my thing:

M: Hm yeah I don’t love the color

A: I wonder if my money would be better spent buying the leather Boston clog?

A: These are $20 less:

M: Yeah

A: I wear socks around the house anyway?

M: I obviously prefer the shearling because I don’t

A: Right

A: I just wonder if the plain black clog makes more sense for me

M: Maybe so!

M: I’m addicted to the furrrrrr

A: Shiny or oiled leather?

M: Oiled leather shows scratches

Part Two: 

A: This just in: Birkenstock clogs are crazy clown shoes:

M: Oops

M: Heee

A: I hate everything

A: They’re regular b/c nobody carries narrow in the shiny leather

M: Now I’m paranoid

A: Yours are cute!

M: Narrow must be key

A: They’re a unicorn in reg black leather

M: Boo

M: And you didn’t like the suede?

A: I like suede, I just like the shiny leather more

M: Darn

A: Zappos has suede in narrow…

M: I like the suede

A: I might order for science

M: I find the shininess draws attention to them and they work better as background player

A: Right, that makes sense

M: I mean these are not cute shoes. They are aggressively comfortable

A: Ba-BOOM:

M: Way too wide especially in the toe box. Like flippers

A: Yes, my feet are swimming

M: Not the shoes for you

A: Check out these Arizonas:

M: Ooh pretty

M: I already have navy tho I wish they had gold buckles

M: Maybe I’ll put some rub n buff on them

A: There you go

Part Three:

A: I just got to work and my narrow suede Birks were waiting for me. They’re keepers!

M: Yayyyyyyy!

A: Also, the gold boots that I thought I’d canceled? Did not get canceled and they showed up and now I have to return them. I made the mistake of trying them on.

M: Oh dang

A: The Birks are cute

M: You don’t need those boots!

A: It’s okay, they’re super pretty but they’re going back. The suede Birks are SO GOOD:

A: Narrow is the way to go with the Boston

M: Yeah you have lady feet

A: I looooove them. This is bad, dude.

M: The gold boots?

A: No! The Birkenstocks

A: The gold boots are packed up to go back. No keepsies.

M: Oh that’s good! We’re in the same boat to Old Lady Town

A: Hopefully it’s a Viking River Cruise boat we're on

Weekend Window Shopping: I Need A Vacation.

We are in the doldrums of winter. The distractions of the holidays are behind us and now it's just weeks and weeks of crappy, bleak weather and minimal sunshine. I need a vacation, y'all. Here is what I would consider my fantasy travel essentials list:

         

               
       

Stuff I Like: Reading, Complaining, Fancy Candles, My Feet

Hello! I am back with another "stuff I like" entry and this one includes something I don't like and I get that this could be confusing except that I do very much like complaining about stuff, so really, it's still stuff I like. Here we go:

This Book I Can't Believe I Didn't Know About

Did you know that J.K. Rowling has written a private investigator series under a pseudonym? You did? Yeah, well, everyone did but me. Anyway, I am currently reading the first book - The Cuckoo's Calling and also hoping that I'll be about to find the BBC mini-series online somewhere so I can watch it when I've finished the book. It's really good and quite satisfying and not quite as dark as my very favorite "troubled PI" series - the Jackson Brodie books by Kate Atkinson. 

Quick Book Club Update: I am about halfway through our book club pick: We are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby. Is anyone reading it? I started a convo on our Facebook page or you can leave a comment here! 

I Need to Complain About Daniel Day-Lewis 

Seriously, you guys. I cannot with Daniel Day-Lewis. I read this article about how he's had to retire from acting because he gets so deep and method into his roles that he's all droopy and sad afterwards. Like, he is literally quitting acting because he's unable to phone it in even a little bit. All that said, I do kinda want to see Phantom Thread. (If you're a big fan, I'm sorry, he just seems like huge pain in the ass. Feel free to complain about your favorite hate-celebrity in the comments!) 

This Candle That Swears To God Spring Is Coming

My sweet friend Ashley sent me a box of birthday gifts and among them was this Archipelago Luna candle. The notes are a blend of lemon verbena, lavender and thyme and it makes my whole apartment smell like a warm spring day. I SWEAR IT DOES! It's refreshingly herby and soft without being cloying and smells just like springtime is coming. I'm REAL over winter, so this is excellent news. 

I'm Sorry I Have To Talk About Feet Now

My feet are suuuuuper terbs right now. They look really bad and I hate winter because this is what happens - my skin goes all lizardy and I am a giant sad husk standing on sad callused husks. (I should just quit my job like DD-L, I guess.) Kiehls moisturizer is keeping my face from cracking off but my feet are gross and it might be Shiny Foot time. (Except, yoga? I cannot go into yoga shedding my foot skin like that.) In the meantime, I've taken to slathering my gross hooves with this Curel stuff and then putting on some of those aloe socks which (Marianne, cover your ears) feel a bit slimy to me but really seem to be helping. Ooh, also! After buying and returning All The Birks I finally settled on these Birkenstock clogs to be my indoor/outdoor slippers. Hooray! More on that dumb process soon.

PS. I realized just now that the sadness of my feet is not generally something you file under "stuff I like" but I DO like my feet and want them to be happy. Plus, it's my blog and I can do what I want so whatever. Love, Me