OOTD Brown Plaid Scarf + Dinner

We had lots of leftover rice from the night we had burritos with mole' sauce so I used another new Trader Joe's product to add to it....soy chorizo.

Yum!  I was surprised at how good it was!  And spicy!  It's a winner and will be going on my regular shopping list.  It's only 160 calories per serving.  AND...it's only $1.99 per package so each package will give us 3 meals each.  Wow!  Can't beat that.
We'll be having this in taco salads, fajitas, with eggs, over potatoes and yams, and much, much more.

thrifted:
sweater $4.90 Designer's Originals
jeans $5.60 Metro Blues
scarf $2.99
purse $4.90 Monet
loafers $4 Naturalizer 

Mint Cardigan With Stripes

cardigan $2.79 Mossimo
pants ?
mint bangle set $1.40
purse $4.90 Monet
loafers $4 Naturalizer

Accessorizing Blue With Orange

blue sweater $3 Charter Club
pants ? Old Navy
purse $4.90 Monet
loafers $4 Naturalizer
~~~
necklace $6.99 (I think) ebay

Giraffe Print Scarf + A Day In Red

olive pants $3.49 Caslon, tee $3 Jones New York, vest $2.79 Christopher Banks, scarf $1.99, bangle .99 cents, ankle boots $6.99 Mossimo Supply Co.

red pants $4.47 JM Collection, sweater $6.70 Chaus, bangle $1.52, necklace (w/matching earrings) $6.99 via ebay, loafers $4 Naturalizer

Taupe Fringed Top With Black Pants

top $4.80 St. Joanne Jeans
pants $4.89 J.Crew
gold/dark green/black necklace $2.09
black/gold hoop earrings .69 cents
purse $12.99 Bueno
sandals $6.99 Naturalizer

Fringed Top

 ...and a black and white outfit.

Fringed Top Outfit:
white jeans $4.19 Gloria Vanderbilt
fringed top $4.80 St. Joanne Jeans
necklace $1.78
earrings .49 cents
purse $7.99
backless wedge shoes $7.19 Liz Claiborne

Black/White Outfit:
black pants $4.89 J.Crew
brush stroke patterned top $4.20 JM Collection
cardigan $6.40 Lane Bryant
necklace $4.80
sandals $6.99 Naturalizer
~ ~ ~
purse $14.99 Koltov Collection via Marshall's

Wearing A Dress As A Shirt

I am most comfortable in a longer style top and so when I saw this striped garment, in ocean blue-green colors I love, in the dress section I thought it would be perfect as a shirt on me. 

 I don't believe I've ever purchased a dress to wear as a top, but I've enjoyed wearing it this way so much that I am keeping my eye out for another one to wear like this as well.  So far I have not found just the right one, but now I know what to look for.

This day I wore the dress/top with my khaki pants, but I've since worn it with jeans (switching up a few other elements) and will show that soon.  I like it both ways. 

khaki pants $4.20 Jigsaw
dress/top $6.99 Natori
dark denim jacket ?
polished stone necklace $5.35
earrings .89 cents
purse $3 Kelly & Katie
backless wedge sandal $3.50 Naturalizer
~ ~ ~
bracelet set $4.20 via Target
 

Denim Duster

 Feels good to be in April, doesn't it? :)

Denim Duster $4.79 Jou Jou
Top $3.50 Charter Club
Khaki's $4.20 Jigsaw
Scarf & Bracelets ?
Purse $5.99 Liz Claiborne
Shoes $2 Naturalizer

Polished Stone Necklace

This outfit made me happy with it's color scheme and comfort factor.  Also loving this necklace I thrifted.

This could easily be an everyday look for me and is one that really fits my life and style. 
I hope to whittle my wardrobe down to 90% of outfits like this and 10% a little more casual/dressy...at least for the next 10-14 years that I plan on working and then up the more casual to 99%.  My goal is to increasingly, over the next several years, have far less clothes in my closets than I do now.  This is my year to work on that and shop less.  I'm in training. :)
I'm sure I keep repeating myself on this point, but if I keep saying it enough maybe I'll eventually really make it happen. :)
So far this year I've really surprised myself and have done very well in the spending/shopping department.  I need to do some more purging, but I feel like I am making some progress and definitely improving from the last couple of years.

When I took a step back, stayed out of the thrift store, and assessed my closet...I realize the hoards of clothes and outfit possibilities I have.  Tooooo many.  I want to wear outfits in a much heavier rotation, but change them up a bit with the scarves and jewelry.  I do like to have options and play dress up in my closet...but I'm also realizing I don't need to have 200 tops to choose from (not sure how many I actually have, but it's a LOT).  ha
It was fun for a while, but totally unnecessary.  I want to LOVE and feel good in the things I wear...and I know not all the things I own do that for me...and those items need to go.  I need to pick out my most favorite pieces and let some others go.

At the moment I feel extremely limited in the pants I wear and I know I tend to wear the same ones over and over and over...but that's because I had a weight gain.  I have lots of other pants...I just need to lose some weight so that I can fit into them.  Another thing I'm working on.  Was supposed to do that at the beginning of the year and here it is...nearly March...and I'm just getting started.  I do have hope to start fitting into at least a couple of my other pairs of pants within the next few weeks though.

These khaki's are my favorite pants I can fit into right now and I know you see them about 2-3 times a week it seems.  That's about how often I actually wear them.  That's probably not unreasonable for my minimizing goals though.  It just feels like I wear them a lot.  But my other options at this point, and ones I go to occasionally, are black jeans, black ponte pants, gray pants, burgundy jeans, and blue jeans.  You probably mainly see me in these khakis and the black ponte because that's what I wear most often to work in my 3 day work week.
I cannot wait to lose the 4 pounds needed to introduce my dark denim pants I have yet to wear.  Will have sooooo many outfit options once I can fit into those.  I also think they're a nice enough look for my semi casual office.

Are you happy with your current clothes situation?  What are your clothing and shopping goals?

Khaki Pants $4.20 Jigsaw
Striped Long Sleeved Tee $3.50 Merona
Cardigan $3 JM Collection
Polished Stone Necklace $5.35
Teal Sea Glass Bracelet
Wide Bracelet $3.82
Narrow Bracelet .91 cents
Nude Purse $4.90 Monet
Nude Loafers $4 Naturalizer

October Caramels

I think my sweater looks quite similar to the one here and here which sells for $450.  I do like how she's styled hers with blue jeans and  I'll be trying out that look later too.

White Jeans $8.50 Gloria Vanderbilt
Sweater $5.42 Great Northwest Indigo (similar) (similar)
(similar)
Necklace .49 cents
Bracelet $2.58
Purse $5.99 Liz Claiborne
Backless Shoes $2 Naturalizer

Skirt and Scarf

Skirt $4.24 Sag Harbor
Long Sleeved Tee $3 Jones New York

Cardigan $6.80 Jeanne Pierre
Scarf $5.99
Gold Pin 
Earrings $1.78
Purse $3 Kelly & Katie
Shoes $3.50 Naturalizer
~ ~ ~
Gold Necklace $1.26 ebay
Gold Cuff Bracelet $8.80 Forever 21

New Circles

 My first time to wear the circle necklace, shoes, and scarf.
I didn't get a close up photo, but the necklace is a double tiered row of circles in an antique gold or bronze color originally from Chico's.   The shoes are very similar to another pair I own, but are a lighter brown.  Soooo comfy (and great price) I couldn't pass them up!  I had gotten 3 different olive colored print scarves and this is the 2nd one.  Still one left I have not yet worn.

Beige Jeans $3.99 Style & Co.
Olive V-Neck Tee $2.58 Forever 21
Olive Light Weight Cardigan $1.29 Mossimo
Scarf $1.94
Necklace $3 Chico's
Wood Bangle $1
Green Bangle $3.20
Purse $13 Nine West
Sandals $3.50 Naturalizer

New Cherry Red Necklace and Leopard Sweater

The necklace and short sleeved sweater I've never worn before.  I found the necklace for a quarter!  I really like the red color in it.  I realized, after seeing these photos, that I should have draped the necklace over the leopard top, but inside the cardigan.  Fashion faux pas.  I make plenty of them. :)  That's one reason I have this blog.  If I weren't taking photos of my outfits then I'd probably just be clueless of these things.  At least now I can try and avoid that particular mistake again.

Black Ankle Pants $9.97 Atelier Luxe
Animal Print Sweater $1.88 Liz Claiborne
Necklace .25 cents
Bracelets
Purse $8 Fossil
Sandals $6.99 Naturalizer
~ ~ ~
Black Cardigan $9.99 JKLA California - Ross