By this, I mean blogging more and networking more. I just started networking with everyone I could think of on LinkedIn. If you’re not on LinkedIn, I highly, HIGHLY recommend making a profile on that site. Although I’m not rooting for nepotism, it’s much easier to get a job if someone you know recommends you! Therefore, hightail it to LinkedIn ASAP and get your profile started.

After a year of neglecting this blog, I decided to start blogging again. I previously used LiveJournal from 2002-2010, but after Facebook allowed those with non-.edu email addresses to sign up, a lot of the people I communicated with via “LJ” (as it is affectionately known) vacated their journals and set up camp on Facebook (and Twitter).

I will make a more lengthy post in an hour or so…I just need to do some research before I hit “publish”!

This particularly struck me:

“I go through at least a few pairs of jeans every year, routinely wearing holes in the area where my thighs rub together.”

TOTALLY ME! This is why I am ALWAYS searching for jeans–the fabric in the inner thigh area gets worn out quickly. I should start my own denim line with reinforced fabric in the inner thigh area so us girls with larger thighs can wear a pair of jeans longer than four months!

In December’s Marie Claire, Ashley tackles making the transition from office gear to evening wear, recommending a Norma Kamali for Walmart boyfriend blazer ($20!!). I am just getting into blazers and this one looks great, similar to the one I scored at New York and Company for $6 a few months ago.

In January’s issue she’ll dive into a sea of boots in search of boots for larger calves. She touched base with us very briefly a few weeks ago on the Marie Claire site, where she said she bought the Kallista riding boots from Target. I tried on those boots a few weeks ago and they worked wonders for me as well, but I didn’t buy them because I felt guilty about spending money on myself! I do need them, though–my calves measure 17 inches at their widest point and I don’t think they’ll ever get smaller. I have been looking for knee-high boots for years and while one or two have come close none have ever slid right on. For a while I thought I should just put some Crisco on my calves and deal with it, but now I can look online instead of schlepping around to different stores in search of the perfect boot.

My picks:

1.) Fitzwell Molasses, available in black and brown, $179 at Zappos
2.) Wide-Calf Boots by Step Up Comfort, available in black, red, and brown, $59.99 – $64.99 at Roaman’s
3.) Mate XV Wide Calf Boot by Ros Hommerson, available in black, $179.99 at Wide Widths
4.) Kayleigh side buckle wide calf boots by Step Up Comfort, available in black, brown, cognac, and bone, $69.99 – $74.99 at One Stop Plus
5.) Naturalizer Causeway Plus, available in black and brown, $109.95 at ShoeBuy
6.) Buckle Trim Boot, available in brown and black, $119 at Silhouettes
7.) Riding Boot, available in brown and black, $69 at Silhouettes
8.) Three Buckle Riding Boot, available in black and brown, $149 at Silhouettes
9.) Wide Calf Scrunch Boot by Comfortview, available in black, brown, toffee, and grey, $69.99 – $74.99 at Avenue/Jessica London
10.) Renegade Wide Calf Boot by Comfortview, available in black and brown, $59.99 – $64.99 at Avenue/Jessica London

All of these are great styles to dress up or down. I wish there were more pairs with a higher wedge because I’m short and wedge-addicted, but I can settle for flat boots when I know they’ll fit my calves!

I think I’ll send a few of these links to my mom–she just asked me what I want for Christmas and I told her “boots that fit my big calves!”

♥,

K

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving

♥,

K

Isabella looks good, too. She seems like she has a great sense of humor! How many 57-year-olds would dress up like an earthworm or a bee?

♥ Forever 21 is running a contest in search of the most stylish girl for their new line of extended sizes! To enter the contest, submit a pic of yourself wearing a Faith 21 item by November 18th. See some of the contest entries here!

I am really excited to see more extended sizes at Forever 21–I’m between sizes 8-12 and I have a large chest, so sometimes I can fit into the tops and bottoms, but I really hate when I see something I like and it’s too small for me. Now I can get tops that fit my boobins!

♥ I’m loving all the merch at I’m Smitten, where all the models are photographed wearing the heads of animals!

♥ Painfully Hip is a great cheap-chic style blog run by two sisters that’s been around since 2007–I discovered them earlier this week through Stumble Upon! Check them out for great articles like Shop Your Closet: How to Maximize Your Wardrobe and Make Do With What You Have and Top-Secret Thrifting Tips You May or May Not Already Know (Plus One I’m Sure You Don’t). A-plus plus!

♥ Ricardo Autobahn’s “The Golden Age of Video” is a song made from movie and TV clips and it is awesome:

♥ WTF Photos From Old Times is strange & insightful: a little girl standing on top of a crocodile, photos of people in strange masks, and more…

♥ Things to Do Before You Get Famous offers some great advice:

No one is going to notice your amazing talent and elevate you to fame and fortune. You’ve got to create the fame and fortune in your own outlook first. Claim your position.

This stuff takes time to gel. You might have to be patient. But keep your vision of yourself as a success clearly in your mind. Pretend you’re deposed royalty from some forgotten (but elegant) country. Don’t let your crummy apartment or 20-year-old car make you think of yourself in small terms.

Be your own fan club. Other fans will catch up to you eventually.

Great advice that I’m going to follow!

I leave you with a Zooey Deschanel clip:

♥,

K

I saw this on Ffffound (I’m still looking for an invite code to that site!) the other day and thought it was strange but cute. Is that Peter Pan or Robin Hood in the front? What are the deer and the ostriches doing there? This brings up so many questions, but it’s whimsical anyway.

♥ This must be a plumber’s worst nightmare, but I laughed so hard reading it!

♥ I forgot how I came across this, but this chart detailing how women decide to buy a pair of shoes is so true. I especially like the spot that says “This store obviously sucks. Drive for 10 minutes in any direction.” Color me guilty! To compare, there’s also a chart for men.

♥ My friend sent me this video of Pearl Jam performing Devo’s “Whip It” in Devo costumes:

I think they did an awesome job!

♥ Via Nubby Twiglet: 50 Beautiful and Creative Blog Designs from Smashing Magazine offers plenty of inspiration for those interested some of the most creative web design for blogs, business, and personal sites. My favorite is the first one, the site of musician Jason Gray (click & see why!).

♥ Eric Testroete’s Papercraft self-portrait and Halloween costume is amazing! It reminds me of playing Goldeneye on Nintendo 64 in “big head” mode. Genius!

I’m looking forward to cooler weather, changing leaves, and shopping for gifts for my friends and family! The holidays are fast approaching. What are your plans?

♥,

K

♥ I am totally in love with the Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Aggie bag:

The strap is detachable, so you can wear it as a crossbody bag too! I think this is an excellent size and shape…particularly for anyone who tends to throw everything into her bag (like me). It comes in navy blue (pictured above), moss green, and cream. You can get it on Endless, ShopBop, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and Piperlime for $378.

♥ Target now has $10 eyeshadow quads from Jemma Kidd, Napoleon Perdis, and Pixi. I don’t think these will last long at the store, so get one ASAP–and then get one for your sister, best friend, mother, etc… I got this one:

From Pixi, there’s the Softly Sensual Smoky Eyes Palette and another eye palette that’s not on the site yet (will update when I find it!). From NP Set there’s also the the Mini Mascara & Eyeshadow Quad, and from JK Jemma Kidd there’s the Ultra Plush Mascara and I-Tech Liner and the same mascara with a glitter liner. All are $9.99 at Target.

♥ A lifestyle change. My family and I are slowly easing into the first phase of the South Beach Diet this week & I’m trying to wean myself off bread and carbonated beverages. It’s HARD, but I know it will be worth it. I have horrible cravings for sugary sweets and anything starchy! Tomorrow I will see how my body likes an early workout at the gym–I always feel so much better about my day and myself if I get up earlier because I get so much done during the day!

Cheers & a happy weekend,

K

Really.

I find this image hilarious, for example:

(if you don’t understand this or find it funny, you may want to watch this video by The Lonely Island!)

I will say, however, that the soundtrack for Twilight: New Moon is pretty solid. I think the best track on it is “Roslyn” by Bon Iver and St. Vincent, two solo artists who collaborated on this song just for the movie. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver’s falsetto vocals are soft and whispery; the slow acoustic reminds me of an Echo & the Bunnymen song. Annie Clark, who performs as St. Vincent, is perfect in this song–her voice is low and gentle, and she and Bon Iver together perform a creepy, haunting song that I’ve already played four or five times in a row today. You can listen to “Roslyn” on Youtube.

The rest of the soundtrack includes songs by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Muse, Death Cab for Cutie, Editors, Ok Go, Grizzly Bear, Thom Yorke, Lykke Li, and others. Not many soundtracks have a certain flow that ties all the tracks together, but this one is definitely an exception! Most of the tracks are slow and steady with echoing, solid vocals. Dare I say the soundtrack makes me want to see the movie?

♥♥♥♥♥ 5 of 5 hearts, definitely.

♥,

K

The last time I did was in high school. I had a pair of black Converse Chuck Taylor low-top oxfords that I finally threw away after my mom kept asking why I was wearing hole-ridden shoes when it was raining outside. The rubber was peeling and worn, the canvas upper had holes everywhere, the threads were loose and unravelling…they weren’t pretty, but it took me a while to throw them away & convince myself I deserved a new pair.

Now I am trying to find a replacement for a pair of boots I bought in Sweden:

These are my favorite boots ever. They’re black imitation leather with a little wedge heel & they’re totally comfortable. I bought them at Din Sko in Uppsala, Sweden in spring 2008.

But, as you can see, I’m having issues with them:

The toe of the left one is peeling It’s also letting water in, because I wore them today in the rain and my toes started feeling a little damp after walking for 2 minutes in a downpour.

There’s also the worn soles, both of which resemble the right foot:

A close-up:

The wood bottoms are chipped and dented and the rubber heel is very worn down. I’m looking for a similar style for under $100, preferably in leather, either black or dark brown…. even though I don’t want to part with these babies. The pack rat in me doesn’t want to get rid of them because I bought them while I was an exchange student in Uppsala, Sweden; the practical part of me says I can’t wear shoes with a big scuff on one toe and soles that are falling apart–especially if water can get in!

I would definitely go back to Din Sko to find something similar, but they don’t ship internationally, which is too bad because they have some super cute styles on their website:

Din Sko ankle boot, 449 kr / $65.52

Din Sko lace-up ankle boot, 449 kr / $65.52

• wedge heel
• dark color
• ankle height
• badass factor!

I like ankle boots because I have large calves and it’s difficult to find knee-high boots that fit them. With ankle boots I always try to wear a bottom the same color as the shoe so there is one continuous line (at barely 5’3″, this is crucial–I don’t want to look stout, stumpy, or disproportionate). If I wear a skirt I wear black leggings or tights under it so I’m not cutting off the line of my leg with my shoes. Both of these styles from Din Sko would be perfect with black leggings under a skirt or dress or with fitted black pants or dark denim.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has encountered this problem! Anyone care to share?

♥,

K

Because I get great pieces at up to 96% off.

A few months ago I popped into a nearby TJMaxx close to my old apartment in Connecticut. I wasn’t really looking for anything in particular–I never am, really–but I always look for pieces that will last & carry me through a couple of seasons as well as serve multiple purposes. Stuff like great jackets in a classic style (single-breasted trenchcoat), blazers (again, single-breasted, can fit an ample bosom, sleeves not too long), dark wash jeans in a short length (I’m about 5’3″. DKNY and Levi’s show up in short lengths sometimes!), dresses that can be worn for day or night, leather purses, funky wallets, designer sunglasses, Betsey Johnson legwear…my list is endless.

It was on this day I found the best buy of my life:

DKNY Trench coat

A forest-green, 3/4 sleeve length, tie-waist DKNY trench with an original price tag of $575 marked down to $20!

That is an AMAZING 95.6% off!! (Okay, it’s really 95.653…)

No, there isn’t anything wrong with it; it’s completely flawless! You cannot imagine my excitement when I came across it in the store.

Here’s another great find:

My mom gave me a TJMaxx gift card for my birthday this year. I went to the local TJMaxx and found this beauty:

Joie jacket

This is a Joie jacket that retails for $238. I got it on a super markdown for $20 — 90.05% off. It fits me perfectly, I can wear it casually, I can wear it to work as a blazer, it’s neutral, yet funky enough that it doesn’t look matronly or dowdy–essentially, it’s the perfect jacket.

My last super find was this peachy linen skirt with pockets that I had been eyeing for a few months at the local TJ’s:

Linen skirt

I’ll let another picture describe the discount I received on it:

Of course I was DELIGHTED when I found it on a rounder with a sign on it that said “Super Clearance” or something like it on top!

I think it was last March I stopped by the TJMaxx in Vernon, Connecticut and found this pretty canvas bag from a French label I’ve never heard of for $25:

Rue Princesse Canvas Bag

This is a super roomy canvas satchel with 2 big zipper pockets inside, two pockets on the inside, and one outside pocket. I liked the metallic stripes down the front and the fact that it had a nice metal zipper:

I really hate plastic zippers. I feel metal is much more durable, so I try to buy bags with metal zippers. I think they look so much classier. I really hate when I see a great bag and then I discover it’s got a stupid plastic zipper on it, especially if the manufacturer and designer put a metal zipper on it elsewhere. I like designs to make sense and be consistent, and a bag that has 4 small metal zippers and one large plastic one just looks cheap to me. I am a bag snob.

Right before a job interview I realized I had no sensible black bag, so I popped into TJMaxx one morning in Texas and found this leathery beauty nestled behind some hideous Kathy Van Zeeland bags:

Liz Claiborne leather bag

At $59 this was a total steal. It’s all leather, came with a detachable crossbody strap, is a timeless style & color, has enough pockets and space for my huge wallet, keys, iPod, phone, pens, and everything else…I like to think I’m saving tons of money from buying a bag marked with a Liz Claiborne stamp instead of one marked as Kate Spade or Juicy Couture because LC owns both of those brands. I think our favorite mentor Tim Gunn from Project Runway has given the line the breath of fresh air it so desperately needed (I believe he is currently the creative director). Have you seen the ads for Liz Claiborne lately? They’re all orange, green, and hot pink–a far cry from dumpy mom jeans, unflattering trousers and jackets with shoulder pads the size of cleavage boosters (or chicken cutlets, as I call them)!

Liz Claiborne Fall 2009 Print Advertisement

I know the insides of these shoes look totally grody, but please bear with me. They are cute.

Kate Spade Corduroy Mary Janes

I went to Marshall’s one day in Manchester, Connecticut and bought these on super sale for $10!! Some research tells me the original price was $75–I got around 90% off. There’s nothing wrong with them other than my stanky feet staining the soles

There was another day I walked into the same TJMaxx where I found the Joie jacket and found this palette for $7.99:

Urban Decay Arsenal Palette

This is the Urban Decay Urban Arsenal Palette that retailed at $28. It includes a tiny Urban Decay Primer Potion, a lengthening & thickening mascara in black, a small Big Fatty Lip Plumper, XXX Shine Lip Gloss in Naked, Afterglow Blush in Score, and eyeshadows in Half Baked, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Roach, and Shotgun:

Urban Decay Urban Arsenal close-up

I bought it fully packaged, so nobody had messed with any of the eyeshadows or opened the lip gloss and mascara to test them!

Around last winter I visited a different TJMaxx in Connecticut and I found this beauty, still packaged and waiting for me–I can’t remember the price, but I remember thinking it was a great deal for 6 Lancôme shadows!

Lancôme Color Design Holiday Palette

Lancôme Color Design Holiday Palette close-up

These are very pigmented neutral shimmery shadows with a nice, soft finish–the two colors in the middle are great for highlighting and blending, and the gold shade on the top right looks great with MAC’s Cocoa Beach. The coppery shade on the lower left is similar to MAC’s Mythology; the color is similar to a penny & has a nice frosty finish that doesn’t look cheap or flaky.

I think on that same trip I picked up Yves Saint Laurent’s Baby Doll for $19.99, about $20 less than the MSRP:

Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll fragrance

This is a really sweet & sophisticated scent that I don’t wear too often because I think it’s too special for daily use (I usually use Harajuku Lovers’ Angel, I Love Love by Moschino, or a Marc Jacobs splash). It’s a pretty strong floral scent with fruity undertones that doesn’t fade, which I definitely like–really worth the $20 I paid for it.

Here are the two Marc Jacobs body splashes I’ve found from two different TJMaxx stores, one in Connecticut and one in Texas–both of these were $19.99 for a huge bottle! The Lemon one is still at Sephora for $68!!

Marc Jacobs Lemon Splash

Marc Jacobs Violet Splash

I LOVE citrus fragrances, so Lemon is totally suitable for daily wear for me. Violet is really subdued and soft & works really well as a room spray, especially on sheets (I know, I’m crazy…I fall asleep with the scent of Marc Jacobs on my pillows!). I saved $48 buying these at TJ’s!!

Here’s all the skincare and haircare products I’ve scored at Marshalls and TJMaxx over the past year in both Texas and Connecticut:

H20 & Korres Bath and Hair Products

Not pictured is Korres Body Milk in Bitter Almond (I can’t find it!!). Bitter Almond is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite scent from Korres…if they made a lip balm that had that scent I would buy a year’s worth!

Bargain hunting is truly thrilling. I feel my heart beat faster as I browse racks of fugly stuff looking for the one hidden gem. I don’t always find them, but occasionally–as you’ve just seen–they do pop up, and when they do, I get really excited and I have to tell everyone I know, because I can’t believe that it’s just my luck. I tell people I know to go once a week if they’re really hunting for something in particular, as TJ Maxx and Marshalls get shipments daily and they’re always changing their merchandise. Shopping on weekdays is really my first piece of advice; there’s rarely long lines (unless it’s a federal holiday), the staff can answer your questions, & you’re one of the first to see the new stuff they’re putting out.

With that, I ask: What’s your best bargain? Where did you get it and how much was it?

Scarf, H&M, $12.90 a few years ago
Tank, Tahari, $7.99 at TJMaxx
Cardigan, Forever 21 – I’ve had this for a few years; I think it was around $20
Skirt, Edme & Esyllte, $19.95 at Anthropologie
Leggings, Xhilaration, $6 at Target
Suede flat boots, Old Navy, many years ago…I think they were on sale for $20
Purse, H&M, $8 on eBay

My coworker Chantelle is interested in doing a fashion blog, too. Today we talked about it a bit & chatted about our fave designers–both of us have a current passion for all things Marc Jacobs. A trip to Last Call Neiman Marcus to search for discounted designer boots is in the future for both of us; we’re really pumped–she’s looking for something Burberry and I’m pining for some wedge boots, maybe these:

I’m looking for a comfortable heel I can wear for 6+ hours, and I think these Camper wedge boots might deliver. I’ll keep you posted on what’s up with my boot hunt.

♥,

K