LBH Weekly Roundup: Mid Summer Haul at J Crew

Even though I am a fan of the capsule wardrobe, the downside to having one is that items that are on constant rotation get worn out very quickly.  Summer basics like white t-shirts acquire mysterious stains and fabric begins to pill.  Two of my blouses became so worn that holes appeared in spots that were nowhere near a seam line thus rendering them unrepairable.  So, even though it appears as if I am breaking the basic tenets of having a capsule wardrobe whereby you take a step back from acquiring new additions for your wardrobe, with now only a couple of tops to see me through the rest of a hot, humid summer, a dash to the shops was in order.

via jcrew.com

Luckily the summer sales are in full swing.  I picked up a smocked cotton top from J Crew.  I was told that it could be worn either on the shoulder or off.  The blouse does have a habit of constantly sliding off my shoulders so it isn't very easy to wear it on the shoulders.  The loose, flowy fit keeps me feeling cool and aerated but, a word of warning if you are considering this top, depending on what you wear on the bottom, you run the risk of looking preggers.  It isn't called a "Smock" for nothing.  I pair it with tight fitting jeans to compensate for the top's fullness.

A flash of green drew me to the cardigans.  If you are a long time reader of this blog, then you'll know that I love me a good cardigan and the colour green.

via jcrew.com

Cardigans make such a great layering piece.  J Crew has already brought in their new colour lineup which includes a green called "Juniper" for fall but their summer lineup is on sale which included a green called "Warm Jade" which was an ever so slightly more intense green than Juniper (pictured above).  So even though, I was on the lookout for a second top, the cardigan came home with me instead.  Never mind as the cardigan will transition well into Autumn.
Do you have a capsule wardrobe?  If you want me to chat more about a capsule wardrobe, please let me know in the comments.

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: H & M Cardigan

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  As a reward for donating so many clothes to the H & M used clothing donation campaign which I talked about here, I treated myself to a cardigan with one of my clothing donation coupons.  My favourite yellow cardigan shrank to doll size proportions so I was very pleased to replace it.  Perhaps it is the onset of hot and humid days but I am obsessing over citrus colours.  It is a one to one replacement which I am very pleased about as I put so much effort into culling my wardrobe and don't want to overstuff it again.  I have always loved cardigans as they make such a versatile layering piece, they can be dressed up or down and can even take the place of a dressy jacket.

This is not a sponsored post.

LBH Weekly Roundup: Shiseido Full Lash and Brow Serum, Banana Republic Merino Cardigan

Time for another Weekly Roundup!  I am not sure if it was because of my protracted love affair with waterproof mascara or age but my eyelashes, which were always skimpy, one day decided to run up the white flag of surrender.  There are a couple of well known lash enhancement serums on the market but the cost is prohibitive.  I did try Gosh's lash serum but, every time I applied it, it stung and burned.  I tried to put up with the burning but each time, I would cave and wash it off.  So I never did see any benefit from it.  This week I picked up Shiseido's Full Lash and Brow Serum.

What I like about Shiseido's Serum is that the applicator is in the form of a soft doe foot instead of a spoolie.  This means that it is easy to apply to the lash line.  The formula doesn't sting and burn me.  It is too early to report on any results right now.  I have heard that it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks so I will let you know then.

I also picked up a new merino wool cardigan from Banana Republic.

via bananarepublic.ca

It was on sale for 40% off, yay!  I got it in the colour "Citron" which is a very unusual almost fluoro yellow with a distinctive green undertone to it.  I do love a punchy statement colour for adding some pizzazz to my wardrobe and, when I saw this particular colour,  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I love cardigans for their layering capability, don't you?  After at least 5 days of mulling it over, I pulled the trigger and now I am obsessed with it.  Of course there are lots of other colours and the last time I checked, the sale was still on so take a peek if you are so inclined.

It's Victoria Day Long Weekend here in Canada.  I hope you had a lovely weekend!

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

Tips For Successful Thrift Store Clothes Shopping: Hilary Radley Quilted Jacket

My love affair with the colour green has been pushed to the forefront lately.  It might have to do with the fact that, after a long dreary winter, I yearn for the sight of delicate grassy tips and unfurling leafy fronds.  If I can't see green in Nature then I look for it in clothes.  Imagine my delight in picking up this preloved Hilary Radley quilted jacket.  It is in my favourite colour of green and is perfect for Spring's changeable weather.  This is my first Hilary Radley jacket.  It is a well respected brand and readily available at department stores and online.  I have had a lot of hits and misses with thrift store shopping.  I admit that, initially, I fell into the trap of buying secondhand because it was so cheap and not necessarily because it was a great fit.  I ended up accumulating a lot of duds that cluttered up my closet.  So here are some tips that I would like to share with you garnered from my forays into thrifting.

1) Check for any type of damage such as holes or stains.  If there are stains, it is quite likely that it was donated because the original owner couldn't remove them.  So look at the stain and ask yourself whether you want to invest your time, effort and money into trying to remove it.  Look for holes, rips or tears and see whether or not they are easily repairable.  A loose button or dropped hem can be easily repaired.  A tear right in the middle of the garment, not so much.

2) Check the fabric, care instructions and construction.  I tend to avoid fabric that requires dry cleaning but you might not care about that.  Is the fabric good quality?  What about the construction?  Is it well sewn?  Garments that have a lot of darts, tailoring and embellishments drives up the labour costs and the eventual original retail price.

3)  Try it on.  Does it fit you?

  

4)  Is it a style that you like and that flatters you?  Admittedly, you will see a lot of "vintage" styles at the thrift store (this is a nice way of saying "outdated") mixed in with flash of the moment trendy styles.  Keep an eye out for classic styles that don't date.  That said, thrift shopping is a great way to partake in a trendy style without the retail guilt.

If the garment ticks all the boxes, you have found yourself a thrift score!  Now, race to the cash register and enjoy your find!

Do you have any tips you would like to share?

This is not a sponsored post.  

LBH Weekly Roundup: Harvest Snaps, J Crew Eyelet Shirt, Ole Henricksen

Ahhhh, Spring is coming in strong!  Somehow, the warmer weather puts me in mind of eating mindfully.  It is difficult to move past the Easter chocolate extravaganza and snacking has always been my downfall.  Luckily, I discovered these Harvest Snaps and have been obsessed ever since.

They are baked, low salt, whole pea pods and remind me of the green pea version of corn puffs.  Somehow, I expected them to be crispy and crunchy but they are feather-like in weight and texture.  They come in lots of other flavours like Wasabi Ranch and you can even get Lentil Snaps in Tomato Basil.  The problem is that I could easily finish an entire bag in one sitting as they are so light and airy which rather defeats the purpose of healthy snacking.

The advent of warmer weather has meant that I have been feeling very hot and smothered in my winter tops. I picked up this J Crew eyelet shirt this past week.  I have tried being thrifty by checking out the thrift stores but it isn't as easy for me these days to engage in multiple trips hunting for the right top that will suit my needs.  When I saw this shirt, the last one in my size at my local J Crew, I figured it was meant to be.

via J Crew

It buttons up the front which means I can put it on without too much struggle, is loose fitting so disguises the omnipresent muffin top and the slightly billowing sleeves take care of the batwings. 

And lastly, Sephora had an Insider Sale this past Friday.  Did you get anything?  More to the point, did you dare set foot into a store?  It was pandemonium at my local Sephora.  I was quite sad when I finished off my Ole Henricksen skincare kit and was very pleased to see he had brought out another small kit.

I am kicking myself that I didn't pick up more but my brain tends to freeze when confronted with hordes of manic shoppers.

Are you enjoying warm weather, wherever you are?

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

Subscribe and never miss a post!

LBH Weekly Roundup: Shopping At Marshalls, Roots Tote Bag

Happy Easter!  Spring has finally sprung and the weekend has been wonderfully sunny.  Can you believe that just a short while ago we had a day of constant snowfall?  The warmer weather reminded me that I was in dire need of a new pair of sandals.  My current pair are completely thrashed.  I don't have a lot of luck thrifting shoes.  They are either a poor fit or don't fulfill my needs (hello blisters!).  I tried and tried and then finally realized that I was just going in circles wasting time, energy and transportation costs.  And in the meantime, my poor feet were suffering.  Instead of living a simpler life, I was complicating it and generating a lot of stress and frustration. So, I decided to drop into Marshalls for the first time.  It is a US based offprice department store, quite similar to Winners.  I wonder if they are sister companies as the price stickers are almost identical.  Usually, I avoid such places as the miles of jumbled up racks and I find having to dig for a fashion bargain to be quite offputting  But this time, it was a quick and easy experience. If I go in with a specific shopping list and stick to it, then it is painless and enjoyable.  Strange how I don't mind hunting the racks at a thrift store but dislike the experience in a retail setting.  I suppose that, when I do shop retail, and yes, in my book, an offprice department store still counts as retail, then I want it to be a proper retail experience.  My trip was a success as I scored this pair of sandals.  

They have a comfy shock absorbing rubber sole but the gold and silver beads on the stretchy elastic band give them a bit of bing and lift them up from old lady walking shoe territory.  And you know what?  I felt such a feeling of gratitude and appreciation when I brought home this one pair of sandals that I really needed.  And that to me, is the essence of intentional spending.

Speaking of thrifting attempts,  here is one attempt that paid off in spades.  I scored a preloved Roots tote bag this past week.  If you grew up in Canada, you may recall when monogrammed Roots bags were all the rage.  Oh, how I wanted one!  But I was a poor university student at the time and could only lust from afar.  Imagine my delight when I spotted this vintage beauty.

Look at that shell pink "C"!  It was meant to be.  It has lots of interior side pockets (I do love a pocket) and is the size, not too cumbersome nor too impractically small.   

So bring on Spring!  I am ready.

This is not a sponsored post.

Subscribe and never miss a post!

Frugal Tips: Getting Creative With Accessories

Because of ongoing health issues, the easiest type of tops for me to wear these days are ones that button up in front.  Tops that I have to pull over my head are difficult for me, at best.  Trawling the shops, the only button up tops I found were preppy, masculine shirts.  The last time I channeled the prepster look was when I was a student which was many moons ago and it's a look that I am not particularly keen on revisiting. Give me a few frills, a few lovely details to help lift my mood!  When did the traditional button up blouse fall out of fashion?  Am I so far behind the times?  When I wasn't finding racks of traditional button down shirts, I was instead finding a strange, modern variant of it, the "popover shirt".  The name is a Halloween joke as it is a pullover top masquerading as a shirt.  A shirt to me has buttons going all the way down the front and mysteriously doesn't stop a third of the way.  Another fashion trend at the moment are large statement necklaces that are almost collar-like.  This is another trend that I have not gotten on board with as they don't suit my face shape.  Longer necklaces work better on me but I didn't have any on hand.  Time to get creative!  Lately, I have been obsessing over this vintage glass Christmas ornament.  I love it so much that I didn't want to pack it away when Christmas was over and left it out.

I threaded a long cord onto the ornament-now-pendant.  The heart is seasonless and isn't specific to Christmas.  I love the fact that the clear colour works with everything I have on and makes a statement in a discreet subtle way.

I have been wearing it almost daily for the last couple of weeks now and the other day Monsieur asked me, "What is that you are wearing around your neck?"  Hah!  Do you ever have those moments?  If you have any frugal fashion tips, please let me know!

LBH November Favourites: Kate Spade Tasha Tote Bag

It is time for another Monthly Favourites!  I have only one favourite to highlight this month for reasons I will explain in a bit.  My father gave me my Christmas present early.  It is a Kate Spade tote bag.  I believe the style is called "Tasha Foster Court" in aubergine and rose.

It was a complete surprise.  I love the contrasting lighter interior as it means that I am not madly scrambling for my keys in the gloomy depths.  The deep plummy colour has got me thinking that this could be one of my favourite colours for a winter wardrobe as it is a dark colour that has warmth to it without the starkness of black or the boldness of red.  I must say I adore gifts that are gorgeous, practical and much needed.  Where I live, there are quite a few grocery stores that charge 5 cents per bag as a way to encourage customers to bring their own tote bags.  I have gotten into the habit of bringing a tote bag everywhere I go.  However, I found that my previous one was now too big and cumbersome as I injured the rotator cuff in my right shoulder recently.  And then, because my left shoulder was taking the brunt of the work that my right shoulder used to do (I am righthanded), the left rotator cuff conked out as well.  Shampooing and doing my hair became hard for me.  Putting away the dishes and getting dressed became agonizingly tough.  Most days are spent in a fog as I usually spend the nights tossing and turning in pain.  And yes, typing away on my laptop is arduous and painful.  My doctor says that it could take up to a year to heal.  A year!  If I think too much about it, I will just become overwhelmed.  I have been taking magnesium supplements because I heard it was good for the bones but if you have any suggestions on other vitamin or mineral supplements that would be good for the ligaments and bones, please let me know!

This week I am linking up with Share Your Cup.