Closet Shopping

This week I made a concerted effort to shop from my closet. This meant finding things that I couldn't remember wearing in the last 3 months or longer. It was quite a success. Here are a few of my "new" purchases.

I'd only worn this dress once to a wedding this summer. I feel like it's a little big, but putting a sweater over it seemed to help. I'm not sold on the yellow sweater, but I liked the look. We don't get much of a spring here in Arizona (It's basically some variation of summer here all year long), but this outfit made me feel springy.

Dress: American Rag (Macy's)
Sweater: Gap
Tights: Merona (Target)
Heels: Old Navy
Pearls: Forever21
Bracelet: Old Navy


I actually used to wear this dress quite often, but I realized it had been a while when I pulled it out of my closet and my roommate went, "Oooh, I've never seen that before" (she has, but she has quite a bad memory). I've also only worn the vest once or twice. It's navy and for some reason I always have a hard time with navy.

Dress: Gap
Vest: Gap
Tights: Gap
Boots: Forever21
Necklace: Bridesmaid gift from my friend, Jill


I honestly don't know when I wore this top last. I have a hard time putting it with anything other than leggings. Same with the shoes. They're green gingham and I've probably only worn them twice. I love green, but it's hard to throw a gingham into many outfits. I don't wear the black skinny jeans often either because they are exactly what they say they are: skinny.

Top: Gap
Tank Top: Gap
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Gap
Scarf as headband: Forever21
Necklaces: Forever21 and H&M


The necklaces aren't "new" but they're cheap and cheerful, and I wear them all the time!

Limit Two Per Person, Please

It has to be said that my dad can be a pretty smart guy. Throughout college we had a standing date for our Sunday phone conversation and I can't even begin to count how many times I was hungover on Sundays. I have always been very honest with both of my parents, so my dad knew exactly what I meant when I said I was feeling "a little under the weather". Never one to scold my dad would chime in with "The night before is never worth the morning after" and "Everything in moderation, Kelly". I never listened.

As I've gotten older "under the weather" has gotten far worse for far longer. I am not exaggerating when I say that after 23 hangovers became an event. I'm talking in bed all day, two-day headaches with lots of visits to the royal thrown. Especially good hangovers will include sweating, moaning in pain, lots of junk food and plenty of self-loathing. I'm generally useless for at least 12 hours of the day and am genuinely unpleasant to be around. And nowadays a hangover is pretty much a given if I consume more than a few drinks, but I just keep drinking. It doesn't even make sense to me.

So at 26 I think I might finally start listening to my dad. Don't get me wrong, I have a good time when I go out with friends, but I have never - NEVER - had a hangover that was worth it. Never. I've yet to wake up with a throbbing head and a queasy stomach and think, "Wow, I'm really glad I had that last shot of tequila". Then there's the money aspect. I am literally paying to make myself sick. How does that make sense? I don't even need my dad to tell me that it doesn't. And don't even get me started on all the useless calories I'm consuming!

Now I'm sure you're thinking, "Dang, this girl is a lush". I'm really not. I maybe go out once a week, but the once a week hangover that is almost sure to follow makes it feel like I'm getting hammered every night. It really just isn't worth it to me anymore, so I have decided to mandate a two drink limit. This will mean no more wasting my weekends in bed, growing a beer belly and throwing my money away. Maybe I'll even start a Asia travel fund or a tattoo fund or shopping fund or a new hobby fund with all my saved money. Really, the possibilities are endless.

Wardrobe Revamp

It has to be said, I have a terrible habit of buying clothes and/or accessories that I either never wear or only wear once and then forget I own. I have on more than one occasion taken items to Buffalo Exchange with the tags still on them. This is essentially throwing money down the drain.

So in an attempt to be more financially responsible, instead of shopping for new clothes in the stores I decided to go shopping for new clothes in my closet. Sunday morning I went for brunch with friends and this is what I came up with. I hadn't worn the dress in months and usually wore it with silver accessories, but I am broadening my fashion horizons and taking one from the English fashion book: black and brown together. I know, many Americans would say this is a crime against fashion, but let's get with the times folks. It's 2009 and brown and black can now be friends. Just try it, you might like it.

Dress: Gap
Belt: Gap (never been worn)
Tights: Merona (Target)
Necklaces: Forever21 and H&M
Boots: Forever21