The Weekend of the Grey Stripe Sweater

So I didn't do this on purpose, but I wore my grey striped cardigan both Saturday and Sunday.  I love this sweater obviously.  Maybe I need another...unfortunately that would involve a trip to American Eagle.  AE is having a sale on all of their dresses and skirts...and it took ALL of my will-power today to not try everything on and buy a new sundress.  Not sure if I can handle going in there!  Their spring dresses are too cute.

Saturday: outlet mall shopping outfit

Tunic: Target

Undershirt: Forever 21

Cardigan: American Eagle (similar)

Leggings: American Apparel

Boots: Wal-mart

Barrette: Forever 21

Sunday: mall/errands outfit

Cardigan: American Eagle (similar)

Undershirt: Forever 21

Shorts: American Eagle (similar)

Tights: American Apparel

Shoes: Naturalizer

Rings: Forever 21

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Sunglasses: Ray Ban

So at the outlet mall yesterday I bought the tights and the shoes.  I've never shopped at Naturalizer before, but I will definitely go back.  Their sizes start at 4!  They definitely carry size 5 in every style I looked at; plus I feel like I'm walking on air in these.  So comfy!

I ♥ MK

I fell in love...with a purse.  Unfortunately this purse is out of my price range.  It's $329 and has 25% off at the outlet mall.  I did find it on ebay...even more expensive there.  Sigh, it's perfect...soft tan leather, long cross-body strap, pockets, just big enough...if only I had a spare $250 laying around waiting to be spent.

Michael Kors Push-lock Medium Shoulder Satchel in the color Luggage (photo from ebay)

Blog Giveaways

Have I mentioned yet that I love free stuff?  Especially if it's won?  I recently won a make-up on the Look 4 Less, so now I really feel like blogging makes me part of a community.  Currently, anthroholic is giving away a super cute pair of sunglasses.  So cute I just had to enter!

Turning fall into spring

I was browsing around Lucky's website today (because I'm stuck at home bored on pain meds) and I found this outfit from the fall.  I'm going to try to recreate the look for spring.  Any suggestions?  I'm thinking of instead of leopard print, I'll go nautical.

From Luckymag.com

So far I have these pieces that might work together...

Cardigan from this post in creme and grey stripes

Denim shorts

Rope headband in creme instead of a scarf

For tights, I think navy would be nice.  But for shoes and a bag...no ideas yet.

Worst week in a while

This week was just not going well for me.  I wanted to just skip to March already.  Then today happened.  I didn't feel well, left work early, tried to relax, eventually called my regular doctor...and this is what followed:

7 hours in the ER
2 prescription pain meds
1 prescription nausea med
1 can chicken noodle soup
1 box crackers
1 full day of some of the worst pain of my life
...all caused by 1 kidney stone

And the one thing that made me feel better tonight - a middle of the night phone call from my mother.  I love and miss her so much!  Some may say going through an ER visit alone is brave, I say it's just lonely.  All this makes me want to move closer to my parents.

Zadie

Sometimes I just need to share cute or funny things of my cat.  Tonight she washed herself in a shoebox.

 

Notice the nice cat bed next to her box that she ignores.  Also check out this video I got of her: (facebook's privacy settings probably apply to this, so I apologize if you cannot see it)

Sunday Outfit

Here's how I wore the shirt dress from the previous post.  I only wore it to go to the grocery store, but I still felt cute.  I wore my navy cardigan over this for the cool weather, and it looked good.

  

Dress: Xhilarartion

Belt: Old Navy (boys)

Boots: Franco Fortini

Bobby pins: Isobel

Today for my grocery shopping, I clipped coupons, reviewed the store ad, and made a list.  I stocked up on some pantry items ... spent $97, saved $49!  I love coupons and sales!  While I was there I bought myself a new candle.  Did you know Glade makes nice soy candles with removable labels?  I bought the Lotus Bamboo ... it smells amazing and the green color will look nice in my bedroom.  It was priced $8.99 and I had a $3 off coupon.  Yay for good deals on nice things!

Need Opinions

Tonight's dilemma ... Can a sleep shirt be worn outside?  I purchased this item on sale at Target ($7.50!) today, and although it's technically a sleep shirt, it is just too cute!  I think it makes a nice little dress with a belt.  What do you think?  Sleep shirt only or dress too?

Xhilaration Blue Hearts Sleepshirt

It's a small heart print in mint green on blue with mint trims.  It's much longer on me, almost to my knees.  You can't really see it, but it has elastic sewn inside under the bust to add to the shape.  As a dress, how would you style it?

New Haircut

I finally made it to my hairstylist, Jana's, new salon/barbershop.  It's a bit of a drive for me, but it's really cool.  She just does my hair so well...I don't even really need to tell her what to do.  This time she finally gave me straight bangs.  Usually she won't because I wear glasses.  I'm glad she tried it on me this time.  It definitely looks best without glasses, so I'll just try to wear my contacts more often.

New haircut, with and without my glasses, in my car in the parking lot of the barbershop

She's also doing color again.  I'm tempted to add a slight red tint to my natural light brown color, but I really should just leave it be rather than spend the extra money.

Workout Clothes Love

I get inspired to work out by fun workout clothes.  Here's some of my favorites...

Seamless Empire Top

Running Tights

Shape Sports Bra

Powerback Sports Bra

Small Exercise Ball

The top is so soft and flattering, although the built-in sports bra isn't enough support for me.  I just layer it with a regular sports bra for jogging.  The running tights may say they're for cold weather, but they're perfect for LA mornings.  They're very soft inside to prevent chafing and feel just plain cozy.  The two sports bras are amazing.  I hate sports bras that just squish you.  These provide enough support for me to run in and are comfortable.  And I know the ball isn't clothing, but it's so much fun!  And provides a good workout, even while watching tv in my living room.

Weekend Outfits

Saturday I went to a bar with my girl friend Julie.  I wore my new American Apparel lace body suit and my new Free People tank.  I sized up to a large in the Free People tank to make it a looser fit tunic that shows off my new lace body suit.  I did learn, however, that a body suit is not a good thing to wear if you're going to drink a lot or be using a single stall bathroom with a long line.  It takes a long time to get out of it!

   

Tunic: Free People

Body suit: American Apparel

Jeans: Paige Denim

Heels: Michael Kors

Earrings: Forever 21 (similar here)

On Sunday, aka Valentine's day for everyone else, I lounged around the house.  I even took an outfit picture because I am happy that leggings and tunics have replaced the "Juicy" sweat suit.  True, I only went outside my apartment to take out the trash, but adding matching headband and shoes and a cute necklace helped me feel good.

Tunic: Victoria's Secret Pink

Leggings: American Apparel

Shoes: Ann Taylor

Headband: American Apparel

Necklace: Forever 21

Won a bag!

This evening I was clicking around on all the blogs I follow, and when I got to "the Look 4 Less" I saw this:
And the winner of the Tory Burch Makeup Bag is...

ELIZABETH

who said:

"I love my cat, Zadie"

Congratulations Elizabeth! Please email me (lookforless@gmail.com) the mailing address where you'd like your bag sent and I will get it out to you asap!

I'm so excited.  I did not have a good Valentine's day, but this totally just made my day!  Btw, I love this blog, and I definitely recommend following it.  I'm all about finding great deals on fashion.  Here's the bag my "what I love" post won.

Tory Burch Make-up bag

Click here to see the original post.  My comment was: 

"I love my cat, Zadie. I adopted her in college, and thru all of my major life changes so far, she's always with me. She's moved with me many times, and she even tolerates flying across the country with me on holidays to visit family."

Free People

Bought a tank to go over my new lace body suit (American Apparel) from Free People.  First off, let me just say that the sales girls at the Free People in my mall are so nice!  One girl asked if I was shopping for something specific, and she then stocked a dressing room with things that might work.

Luminescent tank

Sequin slip

I'm obsessed with this slip.  I didn't buy it, but I really want to!

Recent shopping spree

Yep, I cannot resist shopping.  Love it.  Thank goodness I at least shop around and find deals.

World Market finds: (in addition to the bowls in the previous posts)

  

Snack foods: blue corn tortilla chips with flax, sea salt and vinegar kettle chips, and bruschetta veggie chips

Wine: Cocobon 75 2006 Red Wine - review on Cork'd

 

Dark Chocolate: Ritter Sport Marzipan (I love this!!!) and Chocolove Almonds & Sea Salt

 

Glee gum and Chocolate-covered Creme de Menthe Altoids

As you can see, I've found a ton of junk food that fits my new dietary requirements.

American Apparel order:

 

Creme lace body suit and 3-pack of leggings in navy, brown, and cranberry (no longer online, but I contacted customer service)

Mall purchases:

 

Forever 21 necklaces: Silver giraffe on a long chain and gold owl with a leaf (no longer online)

From Target: my newest "prescription" from the GI doctor, a probiotic.  I'm REALLY hoping this helps me.

Chile Stew

Finally posting a review of the chile stew I made for the super bowl.  It was very easy to make and tasty.  It was even toddler-approved.  Aiden, Courtney's son, liked it.

Roasted Chile Stew

Ingredients: 20 oz ground turkey, two 7 oz cans of fire-roasted mild green chiles, about 7 jalapenos diced, and the rest of the recipe as written.  For corn I used one regular can and a handful of fire-roasted frozen corn.  I didn't add the corn until after cooking the stew overnight on low in the slow cooker.

It was so good!  Especially topped with avocado, fresh lime juice, and blue corn chips.

Also, it's pictured in my new bowls!  I finally bought the white jumbo stacking mugs from World Market.  They may be called mugs, but almost 20 oz, they're definitely bowl-sized.

Movies

I don't watch movies like normal people do.  I don't see very many things in the theater.  I don't follow Harry Potter or Twilight.  I haven't seen Avatar.  I do, however, love a few movies very much.  Recently I discovered I like movies that tend to be considered "indie".  I go to the movie theater that everyone else forgot about...and that's what I like best about it.  I purchased two movies this weekend:

(500) Days of Summer

Taking Woodstock

I've figured out that I particularly like Focus Features films and Fox Searchlight films.  From now on I'm going to make a point of watching their movies.  I definitely want to buy Garden State, Thank You For Smoking, and Away We Go since they're already three of my favorite movies.