A and the city!

I haven't shopped in about 3 weeks.  Yessss!  It's so hard.  I am debating whether or not I should join my local chapter of shopaholics anonymous.  Well, there's none because I googled.  Unless google has steered me wrong.  The closest thing is Debtors anonymous, if anyone is interested there you go.  I've tried figuring out my compulsive shopping habits and I can't figure it out.  I try to put myself in Rebecca Bloomwood's shoes but I still can't figure it out.  She needed love.  As she eloquently put it: "and instead of a relationship with a credit card, I have a relationship with someone who loves me back and never declines me."  I have love and a good job.  Maybe I need a baby or a dog or both.  I think I need someone whose needs come before mine.  But in this capitalistic, materialistic society it's so hard! I need to try harder.  So instead of shopping for new outfits I am trying to piece things together or reinvent them.  Take for example Sunday.  I wore my Naven bombshell dress and paired it with a Sabine pleated skirt no longer available but similar style found here.  The dress is now a top! Voila! I paired with neon Zara sandals from last season.  Similar style found here and here and here.  This is not the first attempt at piecing two random articles of clothing together.  Both involved the same skirt! Remember?  

What do you think?

  

Links found above!

Opa!

The transition to Houston has been quite easy.  We've been here for 5 months.  I feel like I never left and V feels at home.  Duh, because he's with me.  My friends and family are so welcoming.  It's been nice for him. 

The issue now is trying to find a house.  I refuse to move to the suburbs! I don't wannaaaa!!! V grew up in the suburbs so he doesn't mind.  What he doesn't realize is that the DC suburbs are a lot different than the Houston suburbs.  In Virginia we were a 15 minute train ride away from DC or a 9 mile car ride.  If we move to the suburbs here it would take at least 30 minutes to get into town.  Such a hassle!  So, we've been looking. 

This weekend we went to the Greek Fest at St. Basil.  V prefers this church over the other Greek church in town.  It was a good time with good food and good music.  The problem we are facing now is that V wants to move somewhere close to the church which is 28 miles from my parent's house in Houston.  Whomp, whomp, whomp.  Greeks love being Greek Orthodox and love going to church and want to raise their kids in the Greek church and want to marry other Greeks.  Well, he married a hot, spicy latina and I don't want to move next door to the church!!

I'm going to enroll in adult Greek school to learn the language . . . or at least try to learn.  Wish me luck!

I wore blue and white to the Greek Fest.  How fitting!

 

 

OOTD details:
Free People Sleeveless Hi-Low dress
Louis Vuitton Alma PM Monogram Vernis
Kensie Girl nude sandals.  No longer available.  Similar style found here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optimism

Merriam-Webster defines Optimism as:
1. a doctrine that this world is the best possible world
2. an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome

When faced with life changing events I can't help but worry.  I worry all the time and then I realized why . . . because I'm an idealist.  Life SHOULD be a certain way but it's not and that's my problem, I cannot accept the fact that life isn't the way it should.  For example: people shouldn't be racist.  People shouldn't be greedy.  People should be nice.  People should be thoughtful.  People shouldn't be corrupt.  I don't understand these eternal optimists.  I'm a positive person too and I always want the best and hope for the best but I just can't accept the fact that at this particular time the situation that I am in is the optimal situation at the moment.  I cannot accept that.  I can't accept that everything is as it should be because it shouldn't be this way. 

When being faced with a glass of water an optimist will say the glass is half full and a pessimist will say the glass is half empty.  Well, I'm not satisfied with any of those answers.  The glass should be full.  It should always be full! Why can't you just go get some more water and fill it? I don't understand why I would just settle and accept that my life is at it's best right now.  I was happy with my job but I wanted to open a practice (glass half full) so I opened a practice (glass full).  One semester I needed to make all Bs in class to pass (glass half full) so I studied and made the grades (glass full).  The problem now is that my mom is sick and I can't fill the glass with water because I don't know how to make her better aside from what her doctor's have said.  Unless, I find the cure for cancer the glass will have to remain half full and that's very hard for me to accept because I'm used to making things happen and I can't do anything right now.  Nothing.  I have to come up with something.

I've always pitied optimists because they settle.  They make the best out of any situation, instead of trying to change things they accept life as it is and think everything will be all right, but now that's all I'm left with.  Optimism.  Optimism and hope.  Hope that everything will be ok.  And it will be ok because it has to be. 

At least I know the glass will never be half empty. 

Can you tell the difference between either?

Weekend deets

 

I'm pretty sure I wore the same jeans all weekend.  Weekend was super busy with the in-laws and friends.  Happy to be back in Houston though.  The weather was a bit chillier than expected.  Outfit details on previous post here and below.

 

 Rag and Bone white legging, Rag and Bone Grayson Jean, Christian Louboutin Decollete Jazz, DVF Dale Jacket, a.l.c. Willow sweater, Juicy Couture White Drama Necklace

 

 

 

 

Packing 101 - Casual weekend. Spring edition

We are celebrating Easter weekend with my in laws in DC.  My hubby and his family are Greek Orthodox and follow the Lunar calendar.  In the past I've been accused of over packing so now I try my best to pack as lightly as possible.  This weekend was no exception.  I am here for 5 days and had to fit everything into a carry on.  Not just my outfits but also my make up, sneakers and work out gear.  Did it all fit? Yup.  I packed one pair of shoes (aside from sneakers), a pair of Christian Louboutin nude pumps.  Why that particular pair? Because the nude goes with everything! I am wearing a teal dress for Easter and I packed the ASOS dress pictured below in case of a spontaneous dinner or gathering with friends.  The shoes will complement both dresses nicely.  I packed both pair of jeans and the white sweater as well.  I then packed two more neutral tops that can go with either pair of jeans.  A white tank top and statement necklace are also crucial in achieving any look.  I plan on wearing the silk pants (mine are slightly different) with a white top and Gucci flats similar to the ones pictured.  By packing neutrals and one or two stand out pieces it is very easy to achieve any look without having to pack your entire closet!

I'll be posting my weekend looks.  Stay tuned!

Traveling essentials by almie917 featuring a collar necklace

Issey Miyake capped sleeve dress
farfetch.com

Aso
$33 - asos.com

A L C long sleeve sweater
satineboutique.com

Joie sleeveless top
joie.com

Mango cotton tank top
mango.com

Carven wide leg pants
modaoperandi.com

Rag bone
amrag.com

Rag & Bone skinny leg jeans
stylebop.com

Christian louboutin
christianlouboutin.com

Gucci sandals
$600 - profilefashion.com

Diamond earring
1stdibs.com

Juicy Couture collar necklace
juicycouture.com

Weekend prints

We spent a casual Sunday at Discovery Green.  The weather was comfortable at 78 degrees. We strolled and drank coffee.  It was a pleasant afternoon.  Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

 Don't forget to check out Architects of Air at Discovery Green going on until Sunday May 5th. 

OOTD details: ALC Willow Ribbed sweater,Very J pants, similar style here, Miu Miu wedges no longer available, similar style here and here. Oliver Peoples sunglasses.  Celine mini luggage available in stores only.  David Yurman pave heart ring.

 

 

Ballin' on a budget

My friend wanted me to tell her how I find all my stuff on sale. I rarely pay full price for anything. I take that back, I may pay full price for shoes or hand bags. Even my diamonds are discounted (my engagement ring was custom made in the Philly diamond district and appraised for more than what my husband paid!). Costco.com has really nice jewelry for a fraction of the price!

Bloomingdale's is also a good place for buying nice jewelry on sale and sometimes they offer 12 months 0% financing.  

The website I use all the time to shop or search for things online is Shopstyle. You can type something as simple as gold cuff and all the gold cuffs available online show up (as long as the retailer is registered with shopstyle). See exhibit A, B and C. I have the app on my phone so it's super easy. I sign up for sale alerts.  I choose my favorite designers and whenever they go on sale shopstyle sends me an email. 

Another way to get the best deals is to register your email online. If you register with Neiman Marcus you get access to Midday Dash or Evening Dash sales. If you register your email with Saks you have access to their FASHIONFIX.

That's basically all I do. I search shopstyle and I register my email with online websites. They send me new arrivals but they also email me when things go on sale and sometimes they email me coupon codes. Last week Juicy Couture emailed a 20% off code that I used to buy two necklaces that were already on sale.

I try not to pay full price for trendy items because I probably won't wear them much.

When shopping at the store or online I usually only go to the sale section; if I was a normal person with normal shopping habits then maybe I wouldn't have to shop sales all the time but because I am a shopaholic I have to make adjustments.

Don't forget to check RetailMeNot for coupon codes to your favorite stores.  I also have an Ebates account.  You have to go directly from the Ebates website to the shopping website to get credit and get your cash back.  It's super easy to sign up.  You don't get that much back but if you're already shopping you may as well get a little something in return. 

I also like to shop on eBay and websites like Rue La La, Ideeli, Gilt, etc. etc.  They offer designer pieces at discounted prices.  The Outnet, the sister outlet to Net-A-Porter, is amazing! Yoox is cool too.  There are so many sites out there! The ones stated above are some of my favorites. 

Marshall's has a great selection of work out clothes and I love their HomeGoods section.  I love The Runway at TJ Maxx.  Loehmann's, Last Call Studio by NM, Last Call NM and Off 5th are some of my favorite discount stores.  You'd be surprised at how current their stuff is.  T.J. Maxx claims that 85% of their merchandise is from the current season. 

That's it! Pretty simple stuff.  Where do you get the best deals?

Thanks for reading! Here are two coupon codes I received today.  Save 20% off at Old Navy online only with code ONSAVE20.  Valid until May 6, 2013.  Here's another for ASOS save an additional 10 % off sale items with code SALESCORE. 

Enjoy!


 Exhibit A.  General Gold Cuff search on shopstyle

Exhibit B.  General search for Christian Louboutin Sale

 

 

Exhibit C: Option to buy sale item