If my husband loved me...

So it's almost August. We were married August 16th, 2008- you know what that means?!

It's almost the big ONE! Yeah, we've made it through our first year of marriage. Miraculous. I gave us a few months... but look at us... 1 year. SUCCESS!

So yeah, I hear that the hubs is supposed to provide me with a gift for this momentous occasion- knowing mine, he probably won't. He's not a big gift giver which is A-OK with me- I'm always much happier giving to others (as well as myself :). Plus, I don't want to make this anniversary thing yet another excuse to spend money- trust me, we don't need excuses.

But if he were to get me a little something, he would so know I've had my eye on


But...

If he were to...

The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Complete-Works-of-Lewis-Carroll/Lewis-Carroll/e/9780760774489/?itm=1

I've always wanted this book, but haven't been willing to spend the 17 dollars to order it. Shopping sabbatical. Ugh...

Review: J. Crew Falling Petals Jacket

So I wrote a few days ago about my most recent purchases- one of which was the J. Crew falling petals jacket. This jacket originally ran $240.00- I snagged it on final sale for $104.00

My review:
I would not have paid $240 for this jacket, and I feel bad for the poor saps who did. The jacket is unlined, meaning the shantung is see through (which is likely why j crew put the model in a long sleeved top and this jacket for the "summer" collection). My other concern is it's a very delicate jacket- I'm afraid this one isn't going to last long. I wish it came in a more durable color as well.
On the positive, it is a really beautiful piece. Am I glad I bought this item? I still haven't decided. It fits me a bit snug (even though I ordered a size up) so I think I need a few months to sit on this one. I love the concept though, and it has a special place in my closet. :)

So excited for J. Crew's fall new arrivals!!!! (Why do they do this to me during a shopping sabbatical?)

I have always liked j crew's spring/summer line. In the words of Rachel Zoe, when I see the fall/winter line, "I die." I love them... every year. I always adopt a few of my favorite pieces into my wardrobe once they hit the final sale. Here are some of the items I plan on purchasing at some point- (I'm writing this to do a comparison. Sometimes after watching items for a few months, I stop loving them. Hence the reason I wait for FINAL SALE)

Heirloom Flora Earrings:

Denim Pencil Skirt:

Satin Bow Head Band:

Silk Cotton Ellie Dress:

Wool Ruffle Front Coat:

Super 120's Carlyle Dress:

Anton Sweater:

Vintage Cord Pencil Skirt:

Pixie Pant:

French Terry Tie Neck:

Frances Cami:

Merino Maya Cardigan:

After posting some pictures, I was thinking about what I added last year. Off the top of my head I know I added the Carrie Car Coat(black), 2 cashmere turtle neck sweaters (blue and fuchsia), Super 120's Pencil Skirt (navy), Super 120's suiting dress (black), sherpa hoodie, a few t-shirts, yoga zip up, and some black leather pumps I purchased off eBay. Out of those items everything except the sherpa hoodie and t-shirts are in good condition.

Wow. When I write it all out, it's quite a bit. Fortunately, I bought everything on final sale with an extra 20 percent off. Hopefully J Crew will run the extra 30 percent off around Christmas again :)

Pictures I like that I had saved on my computer... A totally random post

I have little idea where any of these images came from- if they are yours post a comment and I'd be more than happy to remove/give credit per your request.

I love these photos. I'm obsessed weddings and home design- and save random images on my computer for inspiration. I secretly hope my sister gets married soon so I can plan her wedding!

My most recent buys.. I'm such a bad girl.

This week was deal week. I made three purchases, maybe I shouldn't have, but couldn't resist. Two came from ebay at what I like to think were super discounts, and one was purchased from j.crew's final sale (with an extra 20 percent off! Yeah!) So here they are, the newest additions to my wardrobe:

Diane Von Furstenberg Black Domina Dress- Ebay find

J. Crew Falling Petals Blazer- w/ Extra 20% off 104.00

J crew Wool Madeline dress- Usually around $190, ebay steal @ $50.00

I love these purchases, and think they'll be pieces I keep forever. The Falling Petals jacket is a bit of a risk for me (not my usual style) but it's ever so pretty- and you can't go wrong with two classic dresses.

What I want now (but won't get because I'm on a shopping sabbatical imposed by my husband)

I've fallen off the edge. I was so good for two months, but clothes are my crack. I'll write later about my most recent buys (all at fabulous deals)- but until then... these are the items that I covet.

Dace Martin Dress- $232

Etsy's SavannahSoapKitchen's Sweet Pomegranate Goat's Milk Blueberry Seed Soap- $10.00

DVF "Uday" Silk Chiffon Top- $245

Abercrombie and Fitch Lindsey- $140

Abercrombie and Fitch Evie- $49.50

Anthropologie Endless Pleats Cardigan- $98.00

Citizens of Humanity Wimbledon Kelly Bootcut in Alcatraz- $184

I have a new system. I put pieces that I fall in love with in a folder within my bookmarks tab. I come back to them a week later and am just as in love- I purchase. I find that generally I don't feel strongly about items after a week. It takes a lot of the fun out of it, but I only buy the things I really love and will love for years to come. It's not quantity it's quality.

Women's Wadrobe Staples

So I sorted through my closet... ok my clothes rack (I'll write a post about our current living situation someday...) Anyway, I was sorting my clothing racks figuring out what needed to go, and what was going to stay. While I looked through my clothes I started thinking about what the staples of every woman's wardrobe should be. I hopped online and this is what I found:

Tim Gunn's Wardrobe Staples:

1. Black suit in a seasonless fabric
2. Great jeans
3. Black heeled boots
4. Black leather pumps
5. LBD
6. Neutral sweater
7.Pencil Skirt
8. Signature colored sweater
9. Dark dressy jeans
10. Signature accessory
11. Great fitting winter coat
12. t-shirts
13. Great Foundation garments
14. occasion top

After looking at this list I'm missing three pieces... Seasonless black suit (which I will buy from J. Crew someday..), Signature accessory (I have no idea what my signature is), and black heeled leather boots.

Are you missing any of Tim Gunn's essentials?

Please Ginger, let me dress you. I'll dress you good.

For those of you who don't remember, Ginger, is my Ho Ho's [my younger sister's] boy toy. Legally, his name many not be Ginger, but it might as well be.


Ol' Ho's isn't happy about Ginger's style. Ginger is an old tee shirt and carhart jean kinda guy. He's super tall, so I think he settles with whatever he can find that fits. While's there's nothing wrong with that, sometimes, you need to dress a little nicer.


So here it is, my favorite basics for my little Ginger Snap:

Jeans- Banana Republic Boot Cut Faded Dark Wash Jean- $79.50

Dress em' up, dress em' down.

Banana Republic Cotton/Cashmere Crewneck- $59.50
Going somewhere nice? Pair it with a pair of chinos, nice shoes, and belt (if you want to go the extra mile- a white dress shirt and a tie). Spending a casual email with the family? Put a t-shirt under it and some jeans. Perfecto!

Banana Republic Military Inspired Cotton Sweater- $69.50

Who doesn't like a military man? Perhaps I'm partial.

Banana Republic Tipped Cardigan- 79.50

This is a great style for men. It's tailored, and like everything else, can be dressed up or down. Pair with a simple t-shirt or for something a little more Va Va VOOM- a dress shirt.

J. Crew Broken In Pocket Crew Neck T-shirt- $14.99 ON SALE

Adam owns one of these in almost every color. They are comfortable, easy, and durable. An important style note for the gentlemen: Don't wear clothing that display's labels. You are not being paid to look like a walking bill board.

J. Crew Tall Broken in Pocket Polo- $24.99

This is another of Adam's staples. Paired with a pair of shorts or pants, is perfect for almost any occassion. Comfortable, classic, and masculine.

J. Crew Classic Fit Essential Chino- $59.50

A perfect dress up pant.

J. Crew Tall British Millerain Oil Cloth Field Jacket- $218.00

Great. That's all I have to say.

Tailored White Jcrew Shirt- $58.00

A must have.

J. Crew Tall Merino Men's Sweater- $64.50

Comes in an array of colors, and J. Crew has a great Merino knit.

Finally went through all the wedding photos...

After procrastinating for over 9 months, I finally through our wedding CD's. Our photographer claimed she posted all the negatives on her site- LIE. The website has 700 pictures, these little CD's have well over 1500 pictures. 1-5-0-0!!!!!

Ugh. It took me hours (and surprisingly, most the pictures were pretty fantastic).

I made my parents a wedding album using Blurb as soon as the photos went up online. Since the photos were copied from the internet the photos in the book are a bit 'pixely' (yes, I made that word up), and some just down right blurry. So, yeah, I'm re-doing the wedding albums- even though I really don't want to (I'm whining like a toddler).

Here are a few pictures I found I really like:

Signing the marriage certificate:

I thought we requested that macarena not be played?

Fetching my bouquet like a good lil' bride for the photographer:

I'm so awkward, but isn't Adam handsome? Yes he is.:

Adam's college tennis pal's

My two maids of honor (because my sister was too busy to hang out with me) and me. Oh, those two ridiculously good looking people are my younger brother, Ralph- and his girlfriend, Amy.

My sister in law, Laura, with my niece (her daughter), Annabelle (she's beautiful).

Best man and brother in law, Mike:

Pretty flowers:

Good News! Today is a very lucky day...

So the past 6 months have been really rough on the husband and I. We've been trying to get into the military for over a year. My husband graduated college before me, so he started the process first. We were interested in applying for commissions to the Air Force, well, a year later the Air Force sort of screwed us. Our recruiter forgot (note: the recruiter called us home early from our honey moon to file the age waiver, and we followed up with him twice to make sure it was turned in) to file(his bad) my husband's age waiver and he was discharged a few weeks before his leave date. It was heartbreaking, and we had several other problems with the air force which prolonged our experience.
After Adam was discharged, he decided to look into the Navy. He was told almost immediately he would not be picked up as an officer, so he submitted a dual application (enlisted and applied for a commission) for the fun of it. Well, the ol' Air Force had to slow down this process as well. Adam had not yet been "officially" discharged from the Air Force- so we had to wait a few weeks for them to actually discharge him.
Many phone calls later, Adam was allowed to go to MEPS to swear in as an enlisted soldier and wait for a leave date/officer decision. While he was swearing in he was told about this nuclear power program which is for enlistees. Adam got really excited and wanted this to be his military career path- he had to take a test to get in. See, the nuclear power program is a really intensive program. The military offers a 40,000 dollar sign on bonus if you enlist for eight years, and since Adam already has a bachelor's degree- it was possible after training he could apply to be an officer in this field (which would set him up for a great job once we return to civilian life). Anyway, this test can only be administered by one guy who travels all around Michigan. For two months we tried getting a hold of this guy. Finally, Adam was able to take the test. He did very well, according to the recruiter. We were super excited at this point- only to find out the cut off age for this program is 24- Adam is 28. He has to file another age waiver... We wait (and are still waiting).
Today, while driving back to my job from a pick up he calls me. I see the phone ringing and am thinking: What happened to the car, did it break? Was there an accident? Ughhh.... I hear Adam's voice: Guess what?
Me: Ugh...
Him: I got officer
Me: You got in an accident?
Him: I'm so happy
Me: In the navy
Him: Yep

Amazing. Finally. Something decent is happening, after all the red tape and all the crap- here we are. Finally.

I was so happy I cried. I'm married to a Naval Officer, that's kind of hot- right?

Calypso

I just thought that I would share these items I love from Calypso (all images from http://www.calypso-celle.com/)

I think when the skirt goes on sale, I may have to add it to my collection :)