New listing for dressup capes on Etsy!

New Listing at the shop.

This toddler reversible dressup cape can be used for as many as activities as your toddler can imagine - owl wings, kitchen apron, or a superhero cape! 

Check out the listing here.

9 months

Has it been 9 months since I last posted?  Do you know what can happen in 9 months?  You can have a baby.  Well, I haven't had a baby, but I'm about too.

I had all these plans to blog about the misery of shopping for maternity clothes and dressing an ever-changing sized bump, but when it came down to it, I spent the time with my daughter.  I will be back to this blog, but right now, I have exactly 1 month left and am in full-prep mode and then will spend time with my growing family.

In a nutshell, here's what you missed you last the 9 months:

It's a GIRL!  That makes 2 little princesses for our family and even though I was 99% sure this baby was a boy, I cannot wait to have these girls in matching outfits!  This shirt is from Ann Taylor Loft and is non-maternity.  Jeans are maternity and the company no longer exists (sniff) - they are from pregnancy #1.

This is me at 22 weeks.  I stay small for a long time so I didn't really bust out my maternity clothes until this point (I couldn't see my toes anymore).  I have fake-maternity-clothes, i.e. regular clothes that I know can fit and handle the belly for first and some of second trimester.  This dress is non-maternity, from DownEast Basics.  

This is at 34 weeks - the downhill stretch. Yes, I cut out my beautiful daughter out of this picture but her finger is just too dangerously close to her nose to make her post-worthy.  So you get an eye and a half-smirk. Sweater is from Gap (non-maternity).

What'd you do in the last nine months?

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Clean Out Your Closet Part 1

Clean Out Your Closet - Part 1

The new year has begun! At this time, many go through their homes and CLEAN OUT.  Before you touch the clothes in your closet, make sure you have a plan.  What? You just throw things out left and right and then wonder why you feel like you have nothing to wear a month from now?  I thought so.

The first phase is to go through every item in your closet and separate into the following piles:

• Pile #1: I wear this all the time and love it
• Pile #2: Throw out or donate; I will never wear this again
• Pile #3: Needs repair or dry cleaning; I won't wear it until its done
• Pile #4: Wrong size and I don't want to get rid of it just yet (maternity clothes go in this category)
• Pile #5: Sentimental clothing; I don't ever plan on wearing it, but it means too much to get rid of

As you go through this first phase, keep a list of things you realize you need (like a classic white shirt) and things you love but are so worn out you need to replace them (like your favorite jeans).  To help keep track of it all, I uploaded a free printable - the Closet Cleanout Sheet!  Easy and simple - cut in half, and tape the sheet somewhere in your closet.  If you put it on your fridge, you'll never see it and never use it. PUT IN CLOSET!  I made sure there were two because when I clean out my closet, I clean out my husband's at the same time!

As you clean out, keep the list handy and fill out as you go. By the time your piles are sorted, you've got a (hopefully) cleaner closet and a list of things you still need to make your wardrobe function effectively. 

Now, what do you do with all those PILES?  Let’s start with the easy ones and work our way backward.

Pile #5: Sentimental Clothing

Fold everything nicely as you reminisce; then put it in a box.  This box goes at the top of your closet in those places that are hard to reach.  Don’t get rid of the clothes if they mean something to you, but they shouldn’t be taking up precious space!

Pile #4: Wrong Size

If there are clothes you love that are too big (REJOICE) then put them in a box next to the sentimental clothing box.  If the clothes you are looking for are too small they may go in the box – if they are I-just-need-to-lose-that-last-5-pounds-from-the-holidays too small, they get to be hung in your closet.  Else, they go in the box with the clothes that are too big.  Maternity clothes should also go in a box until you’re ready to use them.  Once it becomes that time in your pregnancy where nothing but maternity clothes fit, I’m sure you can find them a home hanging up in your closet!

Pile #3: Needs Repair or Dry Cleaning

Make sure each item in this pile is fixable and that you will wear it when its fixed.  If not, move it to pile #2!  Now that you’ve done that, put the rest of the pile (and hopefully this is a small pile) in your car.  The next errand you run, stop by the dry cleaners and drop them off!

Pile #2:  Throw Away or Donate

If the clothes you no longer are wearing are still in good repair, donate them.  If they are completely worn out and beyond repair, throw them away.  Put them in garbage bags and add them to your car (don’t get them mixed up with your dry cleaning from pile #3!)  Donate at a Salvation Army or Goodwill near you. 

Pile #1:  Clothes I want to Keep

Oh, pile #1!  Hopefully this was the biggest pile, nevertheless, we want to make sure that as we put everything back in your closet, we arrange it in such a way it makes it fun, easy, and efficient for you to get dressed in the morning – it really is possible!  Putting clothes back into your closet is going to need a post all of its own, so look for Clean Out Your Closet Part 2!

Don't forget to download your Closet Cleanout Sheet!

Closet Cleanout Sheet

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Favorite Outfits of 2011

Below are a few of my favorite outfits from 2011!
Click any picture for more details.

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Happy Black Friday Shopping

It's 12:30 am and I know there are plenty of you already out shopping.  Wish I could join you, but I'm actually enjoying my (early) Black Friday purchase already...my new laptop!

I try to get all my Christmas shopping done on Black Friday every year, and am usually successful.  There wasn't anything I needed to get up extra early for (even though I somehow stayed up extra late) so I better get a move on so I can hit the sales in the late morning, after all the crowds have left.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend and happy shopping!


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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  There is so much to be thankful for in this life and I hope you take a moment today to think of what matters most to you.  Two years ago today, we started announcing to family we were expecting our first child.  I cannot tell you how thankful I am for this little girl in my life.  Even when she throws a tantrum or screams at me (in the library of all places), I can't help but love her and think she might have a little too much me in her!

Enjoy today - whether with friends, with family, with a feast, or just a meal.  There's always something to be thankful for!

(Image Source)

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Fashion Faves #2 Blog Link Up

Check out my favorite three outfits from the week and add yours to the list!

26 and Counting

LOVE how she balanced out her skinny jeans with a boyfriend sweater and chunky scarf!

The Daybook 

Doesn't she still look fabulous at the end of her pregnancy?

Style by Santina 

Love the print, love the color, love the shoes!

Guidelines: 1) please link directly to the outfit post and not your blog main page and 2) you'll need to have my button either in the post you're submitting or in your sidebar so make sure you copy and paste the code below. 

Can't wait to see what you've got!




 <center><a border="0" href="http://www.imageenvy.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBcFGYHbH4zboQTduxbnLaokJLTV-foZN9CLPAz713APSTSMMjDvqDX9Fp5ESY2uXGxVYcXymn5t7vPLQ_BdjIeDqs22VFGT-_klfyWTaKFXXLL-ubtbHlY69UkjWyNwhm4pjAZ-jmpk/s128/FashionFavesButton.jpg" /></a></center>






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Where I've Been

Where have I been the last several months you ask?  Well, that's an interesting question.  See, it starts with family coming in town to visit (which we love) and then we moved apartments.  Even though its literally two miles south of where we were before, it took us TWO weeks.  TWO weeks to move.  So frustrating - you might think there's "just one car load left" but everytime we said that our stuff doubled magically. 

Then I refinished some furniture (which turned out beautifully if I say so myself).  But you can't really post outfit pictures if you're dressed in grungy clothes to go paint some more.  And then when all of my projects were done and I sat done to blog - TA-DA! My laptop broke.  Yep.  The hinges were on its last leg and it just decided it never wanted to turn on again.  Don't worry, don't worry, I backed up everything before we moved so I didn't lose a thing.

Long story short, I'm now at the mercy of borrowing Husband's computer.  As you can see, it takes me a long time to get a hold of that sucker. But have no fear, I've got several posts all ready so you might be hearing from me too much for the next little while!


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Fashion Faves #1 Blog Link Up

I'm trying something out today and I need your help!  I've got a blogroll of about 100 and there are always outfits that stand out to me each week.  So why not feature them?  I'm looking for outfits that flatter the wearers figure, feature a great trend, or just catches my eye.  So here's my Fashion Faves, but there's more...

Wardrobe Oxygen

The Daybook

North Meets South

Its Because I Think Too Much

...I want to see YOUR favorite outfits from the week!  Link up below (no limit on number of entries per blog).  I would love to start doing this on a regular basis but I need your help to make it a success!  So add your favorite outfits from your blog or blogs you read below!

Guidelines: 1) please link directly to the outfit post and not your blog main page and 2) you'll need to have my button either in the post you're submitting or in your sidebar so make sure you copy and paste the code below. 

Can't wait to see what you've got!


 <center><a border="0" href="http://www.imageenvy.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBcFGYHbH4zboQTduxbnLaokJLTV-foZN9CLPAz713APSTSMMjDvqDX9Fp5ESY2uXGxVYcXymn5t7vPLQ_BdjIeDqs22VFGT-_klfyWTaKFXXLL-ubtbHlY69UkjWyNwhm4pjAZ-jmpk/s128/FashionFavesButton.jpg" /></a></center>

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Everybody Everywear: Yellow

I was so excited that the next Everybody Everywear pick was yellow!  I love yellow and am addicted to it.  So I thought this would be a cinch to style, until I got dressed this morning.

I tried belting at the waist, at the waist under my 2nd layer, at my hips.  I knotted a shirt, I buttoned the shirt.  I put on wedges, then flats.  Didn't love any of it.  So I went with this:

Simple.  But I'm happy with it.   Shoes are Enzo Angiolini, capris are Wet Seal (previous season), shirt is ModBod, button-down is Express, necklace and headband is ShopBop (see here).

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Style Inspired: Easy A and Emma Stone

Source: Imdb.com

I loved Emma Stone's style in Easy A (before the uh, "makeover").  I loved the layering, the casual feeling of it without being a simple t-shirt, just everything about it.  And yes, these are the best pictures I could find to showcase my inspiration.

Source: Imdb.com

 I've been on the lookout for a great vest since I saw the show and haven't seen a thing.  I wanted something with structure that could easily dress up or down and I found nada.  So, I did what I do best.  I made one. 

The vest might look familiar since I've worn this before for the BDIB: Prep School challenge.  And really, I truly love it. So here's the schpeal on the rest of my outfit:  shoes are Calvin Klein, jeans are from Gap (limited edition, previous season), t-shirt from Gap, vest is custom, bracelets were a gift.  I also made the pin from some leftover fabric of another project.

So what do you think?  Did I do a good job of fusing my inspiration with my own style?

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Guest Model & New Winner

Shirt from Ann Taylor Loft (previous season), belt from Fossil, skirt from Gap (previous season), shoes from Antonio Melani, sunglasses are Steve Madden

So our guest model today isn't anyone special to you, but she's special to me - and she just turned one!  And in case you're wondering her outfit is from Gymboree. :)

Also, I haven't been able to get a hold of last week's Summer Giveaway and I assumed that everyone else took a nice break for the 4th like me, so I held off announcing a new winner until today.  So our new winner is....TINAGIRL

Congrats, you have 48 hours to contact me!

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