Makin' It Work

My watch reads 7:13 and the poor picture quality tells you that it is the a.m. before I had to drop the kids to school and head to work.  The good news here though is that I'm making that Lemon-drop necklace work for me.  

I hadn't received the necklace before I found these adorable flats on clearance at Old Navy, but had planned many an outfit starring the two together.  When the necklace came and was such a disappointment I had almost despaired of using either.  But, being the former Girl Scout I am, I persevered and used the damn necklace anyway.  Know what?  I think it looks ok!  I mean, unless you touch it you can't really tell it's crap.  I tried to sneak in a closeup of it, but obviously my camera skills on self timer are not that great.

What do you think?  Can you tell I'm wearing cheapy neck bling or does it pass as a more expensive piece?

XO,

Alyssa

It's Wednesday so Pleated Poppy and Rolled Up Pretty are hosting link parties...go check them out and see for yourself how many amazing bloggers are sharing style.  

Better in Real Life

Okay, I swear that this outfit translated better in real life than in any of the pics I took!

It's transition time in the stores again, with Spring and Early Summer merchandise flooding into place.  For my job, this means I have to clean the store in the morning and then move merchandise around and be a cashier for the rest of the day.  Those jobs require a few things...foremost is comfortable shoes.  Not too many shoes more comfy than Chucks.  I also can't look like I just finished mopping floors and cleaning toilets (even if I just have) so the look has to be presentable while still allowing me the freedom to move about without adjusting layers all day.  So...this is the type of outfit you get from me when my job gets squicky complicated and full of multi-tasking.

Have I ever mentioned that I used to be a manager at this SAME store?  Sigh.  I used to look really great for work.  I didn't have to clean then.  Sigh again.  Oh well, I get a whole lot more time for blogging this way!  LOL.

It's another Monday ya'll, so go check the links.

XO,

Alyssa

Accessory Additions; Buyer Beware

If I can make an admission,  I can honestly say my wardrobe holes are by this point very few.  I could really and truly live happily without adding anything new in the clothing department.  Well, perhaps I wouldn't be HAPPY, but I could live.  The one area which is sorely lacking in my closet however is colorful jewelry.  Those blingy, poppy pieces that make a statement when you wear them.

Continuing on with the honesty bit...I refuse to buy a "bubble necklace" merely because EVERYONE ELSE already owns them.  What is the fun in that?  Sometimes I do things just to be contrary (which is also one of the reasons why I refuse to read Fifty Shades...).

Anyway, I have been on the prowl for some fun, decent quality but not hugely expensive pieces to add to my basics.  I was so excited to have found two pieces that I really loved and envisioned working well in my closet.

Both pieces are from T & J Designs

[I get no kickbacks or free stuff from these or any other retailers, that isn't how I roll.  After what I'm about to share, I doubt I will get any from here on out either!]

The pieces came quickly, within 3 days of my order.  The packaging was cute, a faux-velvet bag embossed with their logo.  However, both my necklaces were shoved in the one bag.  It was a teensy bag.  So, with great trepidation I opened it and beheld my $42 worth of new bling.  GASP!  These are soooooooo cheap.  The Lemondrop is ok, I only paid $18 for it and I can live with its quality.  But the other?  It is really awful.  The metal is barely that, looks and feels more like plastic as do the "resin" beads.  I wouldn't have bought this for $4, let alone the $24 I actually paid. I am sorry.  I know I said "if you can't say something nice than shut the fuck up", but REALLY, this is more buyer beware than cattiness.  They have some highly expensive things on their site, and if these two pieces are a reflection of the overall quality of their items, I would not recommend them to anyone.  Looking on their site after this disappointment, I also discovered that sale merchandise is non-returnable, not even for site credit.  Sad again.  

So.  That was a huge waste of money and a huge let down.  I came away with two lessons from this though; 1) I now remember why I never shop online for stuff I wear and 2) read the return policy BEFORE you purchase stuff!!  

In the good news column...Target was having buy one get one 50% off their jewelry today and I came home with these two great pieces for what amounted to $12.75 a piece.  The quality is FAR BETTER than my $24 fail.

Be on the lookout for all these pieces in the near future.  (Since I can't return it I've got to make it work, right?  Unless you guys want it to be a giveaway piece?)

I think I'm set for colorful necklaces now?  Who am I kidding, I'm on a roll.  Colorful shoes are next.

XO,

Alyssa

Jewels and Jewel Tones

I don't have a whole lot to say today except this; I love this shirt.  I love this color.  I love polka dots and huge gold chains.  I love the bracelet that my best friend got me.  Guess you could say this outfit works for me, huh?

I'm going to throw in a side note here.  That necklace is from Forever21 and is a REALLY heavy chain set with rhinestones.  I paid $12 for it.  In my next post, I'm going to tell you why that makes any difference to anyone.  Stay tuned.  

(If you follow me on Go Chic or Go Home you probably can guess where this is headed!)

XO,

Alyssa

It's Wednesday, so find me at Pleated Poppy and Rolled up Pretty (see buttons on sidebar for links).

Back to the Basics

It's been very colorful on this blog lately, so I thought it was time to head back to the basics.  Remember this skirt?  I wore it not that long ago for a copycat post (this one) and went on and on about the belt making the outfit.  Guess what.  

It did again.  That one shot of color is enough to elevate the look of the whole outfit.  Were I a savvy blogger, I would have pulled out some other accessories to make the look pop such as a bag perhaps, or a chunky necklace, or both.  But I am not a savvy blogger and so, you just get the outfit.  

Listen, I do what I do and often don't have the time to switch bags for every outfit when all that happens is it gets locked in a locker.  I did however take the time to pull my hair back.  What do you think?

It's Monday ya'll so look for the YOLO and Visible Monday buttons on the sidebar!!  Go join in the fun!

XO,

Alyssa