31(squared) Recap

Well, 31 days and 28 outfits, and the month of March '14 is in the past.  My month of remixing my closet, and saving my shopping money to put towards a donation for Love146 is over, and I thought I'd just share a recap of the month's outfits along with a few of my observations along the way.

1. I've become a 'love it or hate it' personality when it comes to trends, but even with that black and white attitude, I need to include caveats to the rules.  i.e. "Leggings are not pants" (except on snow days and Thanksgiving).

2. I should have listened to my gut on whether or not to include certain items in the mix.  Like my burgundy cape/sweater thing.  It's comfy and cute, but I had the feeling that it wouldn't get worn very much because of its loose fit... and I was right.  Is it great for days when I just want a cozy layer?  Yes.  Can it be worn with a large number of other items in my closet (besides jeans and tee shirts)?  Not really.

3. (this one's courtesy of the hubby) My red skirt looks like a giant fruit roll-up.  I'm going to take that to mean that I look deliciously lovely in it. ;)

4.  I really, REALLY love dresses and skirts.  I have a closet full of the two (really.  I counted them when I was starting this challenge, and I have 25 of each... that's too much, even for a shopaholic like me!).  However, they only got occasional wear during this month, and it wasn't necessarily because of the weather.  Because of my full-time mommy/part-time retail life, a combination of jeans/flats/shirt/cardigan is my go-to for about 80% of my getting dressed.  Lesson learned?  I DON'T NEED ANY MORE DRESSES! (unless of course they're just too pretty to live without.)

5. Speaking of shopping, here's my little confession about this month:  I didn't last the whole time without shopping!  I did send the amount I had decided on for Love146 to them halfway through the month, but I also found a pair of Missoni for Target heels for $2 that had to come home with me, plus my JOYN TOMs that I finally get to wear, and a few pieces of jewelry on eBay.  I might have a shopping problem, so after this month I'm cutting my clothing budget down to $20 a month.  Like I said above, I don't NEED anything, so that should be enough to cover any gaps I need to fill.

 6. My husband is awesome.  No, he didn't jump onto the blog and write that about himself, either.  I really mean it.  The fact that he got me that ReImagine Love146 hoodie for my birthday just proves it.

7.  It is okay to put three prints into one outfit.  You might even get complimented by the girl at Jimmy John's for wearing them.

8.  I also had just a little bit of conviction over the course of the month.  Like I said, my closet is FULL, and so I want to be a lot more conscientious about what I purchase.  Also, it seems a little iffy for me to tell all you readers about all these amazing companies I find for the Fair Trade Friday feature on the blog (like that Starfish Project necklace in the photo on the R), and not be willing to actually spend my money on the products they offer.  So, I'm changing my shopping habits.  Fair Trade will be the first choice for my new clothing, thrifting my second, attempting to make it myself a third option, and then I'll re-evaluate whether I actually need that new item if none of those previous options work out.

Also, I think God likes to mess with my internet to drive a point home to my little human brain.  Specifically, I decided to go ahead and order some palazzo pants I had my eye on from eBay (this was after I had my conviction).  I had some extra money from my birthday, the pants were only $14, black and white print, super wide leg, and so I convinced myself to get them.  Even though I'd agreed to start my shopping choices with Fair Trade.  Even though they weren't.  Even though I don't need them.  But, when I put in my order, there was an error with processing my payment, and they were never purchased.  I didn't want to try the order again, in case I accidentally got two pairs, so I decided to find something else to order.  I found this top from Mata Traders instead, and it just arrived yesterday.  I'm so glad I got it, too!  It's even prettier in real life.  Which goes to show: God knows best (obviously!).

9. I talk a lot about all my clothes, and not enough about the amazing friends and family that I have the privilege of interacting with while wearing my clothes.  Whether it's the great friends that attended the clothing swap that brought 7 (I repeat, SEVEN) huge bags' worth of clothes to swap and donate to the local women's shelter thrift store, or the friends that give me handmade necklaces (and that fabulous houndstooth skirt), or the amazing family members that read and Like almost all of these little blog posts on Facebook, the man I married that knows what's important to me and gets me the perfect present, or the kids that decide that my outfits aren't complete without graham cracker crumbs and/or snot, I am so incredibly blessed.  The contents of my closet can't even compare to the love of all these people God has put in our little family's life.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a tissue (can I use the 'there's something in my eye' excuse?), and I have to go wait to see my oldest kiddo's reaction to her first April Fool's prank.

Ah yes, the old "tissue paper across your doorway during naptime so you run into it" trick, perfect for a 4-year old!

See you in a few!

31(squared) - This Is The End...

...of this series! I'd love to leave you guys with a bunch of witty anecdotes and observations from this past month of clothing remixing, but dinner's in the oven and I have laundry to fold (in case you had any false conceptions about what a glamorous life I lead!), so you'll just have to stop by tomorrow for a full recap!  Until then, here's the rest of my outfits from this last week:

Outfit 1 Details:

Sweater: Banana Republic, thrifted, $4

Skirt: gifted

Shoes: BCBG Girls, thrifted, $4

Necklace: gifted

Earrings: Icing by Claire's, $5 (old)

Grand Total: $13

Outfit 2 Details:

Sweater/Cape: thrifted, $2

Shirt: Old Navy, $6

Jeans: thrifted, DIY alterations, $5

Shoes: f21 via Plato's Closet resale, $10

Necklaces: DIY, $3 for materials

Grand Total: $26

Outfit 3 Details:

Sweater: Harp's (grocery store), $5

Shirt: thrifted, $4

Trench: Old Navy, DIY'ed to sleeveless (OLD)

Jeans: Aeropostale, $9 (clearance)

Shoes: Rack Room Shoes, $7 (clearance)

Necklace: Starfish Project, $30

Grand Total: $55

Outfit 4 Details:

Shirt: American Apparel via Plato's Closet resale, $6

Jeans: thrifted, DIY alterations, $5

Shoes: f21 via Plato's Closet resale, $10

Necklace: Rue 21, $4 (clearance)

Grand Total: $25

Outfit 5 Details:

Shirt: Target, $10 (clearance)

Jeans: Aeropostale, $9 (clearance)

Shoes: f21 via Plato's Closet resale, $10

Grand Total: $29

Outfit 6 Details:

Shirt: thrifted, $4

Skirt: DIY from thrifted fabric, $2 for supplies

Shoes: Madden Girl via Plato's Closet resale, $8

Necklace: free via clothing swap

Grand Total: $14

And that's it!

If you'd like to know more about why I remixed 31 pieces from my closet and stopped shopping for the month of March, check out my introductory post to this 31(squared) series!  You can still join me at any time in this fundraising effort for Love146, and help shine a light in the darkness.

31(squared) - Knot Another Dress

Another Thursday, another Thrifted Pinterest.  For this week, I thought I'd try a trend I've noticed popping up all over the place: specifically, knotting the bottom of your dress.  For example:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/216806169535904836/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/216806169535904625/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/216806169535904852/

There's something about being able to change the shape of a dress with a simple knot that I love.  Plus, I also loved that middle look, with the dress layered over pants, so I thought I'd just go ahead and give it a copy.  I'm always looking for ways to stretch my 31 pieces even farther as the end of the month gets closer!

Oh, and I just have to show off my beautiful 'wound' by my eyebrow (covered up by a little makeup, but still...).  A straw attacked my face.  Literally.  Well, more literally, I went to scratch the back of my head, and when I leaned forward, hit my eyebrow on a straw.  I say a lot that I have the most ironic name in the world, but this just about proves it!

Outfit Details:

Dress: thrifted, DIY alterations, $5

Leggings: Wal-Mart, $6

Shirt: Aeropostale, $10 (clearance)

Boots: via Plato's Closet resale, $8

Earrings: Payless, $3 (clearance)

Velvet Belt: 'borrowed' from my mom

Grand Total: $32

If you'd like to know more about why I'm remixing 31 pieces from my closet and not shopping for the month of March, check out my introductory post to this 31(squared) series!  Please join me in this fundraising effort for Love146, and help shine a light in the darkness.

31(squared) - Weekend

Well, other than my mild tummy bug yesterday, I actually had a pretty good weekend.  I had a birthday, so I'm officially 'almost 30,' I got my hair cut, had a great time at the clothing swap I helped host, and got a lovely handmade necklace from a friend for a birthday present!  All in all, it was a great birthday weekend!

Some other outfits from the weekend:

Funny story (kind of), I walked into Jimmy John's to get lunch in the above outfit, and the girl behind the counter goes, "Wow, I like the clothes you're wearing!"  Being an awkward person that can't gracefully accept compliments, I reply with, "Yeah, thanks, it's a lot going on for one outfit."  She just nodded, and said, "Yes, yes it is."  So, I'm guessing the original compliment still stands?  Some human interactions confuse me.  Thank God for the internet.

Outfit 1 Details:

Tee: American Apparel via Plato's Closet resale, $6

Jeans: thrifted, DIY'ed to skinnies, $5

Sweater: Sears, $3 (clearance)

Scarf: gifted, Tiny Hands International

Earrings: Greenola Style, won via a Let's Be Fair giveaway

Necklace: gifted (for my b-day!)

Shoes: Rack Room Shoes, $7 (clearance)

Grand Total: $21

Outfit 2 Details:

Striped Shirt: thrifted, $4

Green Shirt: Aeropostale, $10 (clearance)

Jeans: thrifted, DIY'ed to skinnies, $5

Blue Necklace: Icing by Claire's, $2 (old)

Whistle Necklace: Falling Whistles, $34

Guitar Necklace: souvenir from Roy Rogers museum (old)

Shoes: Rack Room Shoes, $7 (clearance)

Grand Total: $62

Outfit 3 Details:

Shirt: JC Penney, $5

Skirt: thrifted, $4

Sweater: Sears, $3 (clearance)

Earrings: gifted

Necklace: DIY, $2 for materials, inspired by this one

Tights: Wal-Mart, $5

Boots: via Plato's Closet resale, $8

Grand Total: $27

If you'd like to know more about why I'm remixing 31 pieces from my closet and not shopping for the month of March, check out my introductory post to this 31(squared) series!  Please join me in this fundraising effort for Love146, and help shine a light in the darkness.

31(squared) - Flamingo (SIA)

I had the best intentions for this post.  Really.  I saw the PSA for the latest Style Imitating Art challenge, and my mind was immediately awhirl with so many ideas for how to center a look around the amazing sculpture Jen picked.  I mean, look at this!

This is the Flamingo sculpture located in Federal Plaza in Chicago.  Seriously, what a great inspiration!  I really wanted to put together an outfit (still including some of my 31 pieces for the month) that spoke to the amazing color, named Calder red after the artist.  I wanted to play with the juxtaposition of the curves of the structure against the stark lines of the surrounding buildings.  I wanted to possibly pose on one leg like a flamingo, just because in my mind, my birthday (yes, it's today!) is the perfect excuse to do silly stuff like that.

Really, I just wanted to get dressed today.  But, unfortunately, I seem to have a mild tummy bug (yep, happy birthday to me), so getting dressed isn't really in the equation.  So, instead, here's what I would've worn today:

I went pretty literal, with a swirly, shiny red circle skirt paired with a classic turtleneck and some 'heavy' moto boots.  That, along with the serious hardware in that necklace, summed up the inspiration.

Oh, well, at least I have an outfit picked out for tomorrow.

Outfit Details:
Shirt: free via clothing swap
Skirt: DIY, thrifted fabric, $2 for materials
Boots: via Plato's Closet resale, $8
Necklace: via Plato's Closet resale, $3
Grand Total: $13

Be sure to stop by Jen's blog tomorrow to see how other lovely ladies style their outfits!  For a preview, check out Erin's post, with her amazing pants and home-field advantage!

If you'd like to know more about why I'm remixing 31 pieces from my closet and not shopping for the month of March, check out my introductory post to this 31(squared) series!  Please join me in this fundraising effort for Love146, and help shine a light in the darkness.

31(squared) - Happy (early) Birthday To Me!

So, I married an awesome guy.  Really.  He bought me this hoodie for my birthday!  Of course the big day isn't until next week, but he let me open it early.

Now, this is not just any hoodie.  It's a hoodie from Love146's ReImagine collaboration with Imagine Goods, that literally does good for everyone that is involved in making it.  All the materials are repurposed from discarded clothing, the artisans in Cambodia that make them are paid a liveable wage, and all of the profits go towards fighting global human trafficking.  All in all, I think this makes a great addition into my 31 piece wardrobe for this month, and it really shows that the hubs knows exactly what's important to me in a piece of clothing.  It only seemed fitting to pair the hoodie with some of my other favorite accessories, like earrings that were a gift from another family member, secondhand ankle boots that I literally want to wear all the time, and bracelets from other companies devoted to ending modern-day slavery.  (Scroll down to the end for details on where these bracelets are from!)

Outfit Details:

Hoodie: gift, ReImagine

Leggings: Wal-Mart, $6

Boots: via Plato's Closet resale, $8

Earrings: gift from SIL

White/Gold Bracelet: DIY, $1 for materials

Black Wrap Bracelet: local craft store, $2

Red Bracelet: Red Thread Movement, $3

Black/Amber Bracelet: gifted (also from the hubs), Tiny Hands International

Grand Total: $20

If you'd like to know more about why I'm remixing 31 pieces from my closet and not shopping for the month of March, check out my introductory post to this series!  Please join me in this fundraising effort for Love146, and help shine a light in the darkness.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to celebrate a certain little girl's birthday!

31(squared) - Festive

Well, I didn't wear a lot of green yesterday, but I at least included it on the tips o'me nails, and the earrings in me ears!  Thankfully, I think I'm past the age where people try and pinch me for not wearing enough on St. Paddy's day!

I also wore a lot of stripes, polka dots, or combinations of the two in the last few days:

No, this top wasn't originally part of my 31 pieces, but I recently DIY'ed it to a crop top, so it gets put into the rotation.  Also, full disclosure, after seeing the outfit photos, I lost the belt... it looked a lot better in the mirror than in person!

I lost a stud :( Good thing I still have the husband. (tee hee)

Overall, it's been a pretty good start to the week!  A certain daughter of mine had a birthday (she's really 4 already?), I got an amazing present from my hubby for my upcoming birthday (don't worry, you'll get pictures tomorrow), my JOYN for TOMS came in the mail (don't worry, they're staying in the box until April), I'm getting my hair cut on Friday (finally, mullet be gone!), and a certain clothing swap I'm hosting is coming up this Friday as well!  All in all, I give this week 5 out of 5 stars on the awesome scale.

Outfit 1 Details:

Sweater: Harp's (grocery store), $5

Dress: thrifted, $5

Leggings: Wal-Mart, $6

Shoes: F21 via Plato's Closet resale, $10

Earrings: don't recall, super old

Belt: thrifted, $0.50

Grand Total: $26.50

Outfit 2 Details:

Tee: JC Penney, $6

Sweater: Sears, $3 (clearance)

Jeans: Aeropostale, $9 (clearance)

Earrings/Necklace: DIY, $2 for materials
Shoes: Rack Room Shoes, $7 (clearance)

Grand Total: $27

Outfit 3 Details: 

Dress: thrifted, DIY alterations, $5

Top: gifted, DIY'ed to crop top

Belt: thrifted, $1

Necklace: secondhand via eBay, $3

Shoes: Rack Room Shoes, $7 (clearance)

Grand Total: $15

If you'd like to know more about why I'm remixing 31 pieces from my closet and not shopping for the month of March, check out my introductory post to this series!  Please join me in this fundraising effort for Love146, and help shine a light in the darkness.