I have not forgotten.

...About you, my bloggie world! I'm still here, but its definitely looking like Mondays and Tuesdays are NOT the day for Justine to blog. Class starting at 9:30 am, ending at 8:20 pm. Whew! No one ever said it would be easy. Just a little forewarning, since I did let y'all already know this whole blog will have lots of changes.

And just a little eye candy, to end this somber note. :)

Anthropologie's Every Which Way cardigan

High on my wishlist!!

When I want to get away, I drive off in my car....

This, my dear lovies, is how I spent the weekend: purchasing a new (used) car. The decision was a tough one.

No, wait. It wasn't. You know why? Our budget was minuscule and our options were, too (had a small chunk of change from the accident settlement and we didn't want a car payment). We only needed a car with decent highway gas mileage to get me through the next 4-5 years until we can get something new and more custom. So this is what we ended up with.

2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (not my exact car but it's the same thing)

My 17-year old self would be soooo jealous of me right now. Don't get me wrong-- it's a good car. Not many miles and kept up well. Plus a warranty if something goes wrong. But what's a self-respecting almost-26-year old doing with a teenager's dream?

(Sigh.)

When I was a teen living in Peoria, Illinois, there wasn't much to do for fun on the weekends. But the 19-year old boys (ow ow!) would take their "souped" up cars to the AMC down the street and essentially compare their genitals. Inevitably, half the cars in the lot were Spyders... which I thought was the coolest, raddest thing ever. So I can't help but feel a little regressed driving this thing to and from school, an 88-mile daily commute. Hey, the bright side is it's going to be a nice ride once the temps cool down, right? And it's definitely a lot cuter than the 4-door sedan we used to drive. Maybe I can get away with it since I pretty much look the same as I did when I was 17, right?

(Bright side, people. Bright. Side.)

OOTD: Hi fall, it's me, Justine.

As if by miracle, Dallas had a cold front come through yesterday! It was amazing. 75 degrees and I almost considered the need for a sweater. It might not sound "cold' to some of you, but I cannot tell you how grateful I was to step outside in jeans (!!) and not sweat right through them. Getting in my car was not like walking through the gates of hell! Whooooppeee!!

(it's the little things, my readers. Little.)

Top: Seventy Two Changes boxy tee

Jeans: AE Super Skinnies

Flats: nicole (DSW) metallic buckle flats

Necklace: Topshop

I am quite intrigued, by the way, with this box hair color. It started out as a nice brown... then the blonde started showing through... and now it seems somewhat golden-like with red roots (you can kinda see it in the last picture if you click on it to make it bigger). Hmmm. I'm still ok with it considering the cost! But about this top... I've worn it before with shorts but I just love the way it looks with a fancy necklace and jeans. So cute! Plus it will be great with a chunky sweater when the temps get even colder than 75, sort of like they did on the product page of Nordie's site. (Which I'm not a huge fan of after the change. Thoughts?)

OOTD: tried and true.

I have worn the bejeezus out of these shorts this year, lemme tell ya. One of my best purchases to date, I think! I got them a year ago at F21 and bought a pair in white and tan as well. Somehow, the tan ones stopped fitting after one season but the white and black ones have kept up with my incessant wear/wash schedule. With a record 24 days of over 100-degree temperatures, shorts are a necessity. Thankfully, there really are a plethora of ways to wear them, but I tend to wear them with a tank and sandals. Maybe I can style them a bit more interestingly once the weather cools down (I'll even take a 90-degree day! please?).

Top: French Connection beaded tank, supah-old

Shorts: F21

Sandals: Diba jewel sandals(from DSW)

Also, if you can tell, my hair is darker and roots are harder to notice! Thanks to my MIL for dyeing me right out of the box. It has blended really well with my blonde and I think this will be a great, cheap way to continue to dye my hair when funds are tighter. Yippee, hooray!

Also also, thanks to all who were so kind on twitter to send me well wishes. For those of you who didn't see via my tweets, hubsters and I were involved in a car wreck on Sunday that totaled hubs' car. We're all ok, minus a little neck and back ache. We're hoping to simply get the money from the other car's insurance company and get the same car, used. See, the car hubs had was all paid off, so getting a new one would mean incurring another bill (which we really don't need!). So cross yers fingers that we can find a nice (old) Honda in a used car lot somewhere around here.

Also also also (ahem), T-minus 6 days until my first day back to school in two years. It simultaneously feels like forever and feels like yesterday since I last attended a class, so I'm anxious to get back into the student groove. I don't really know what to expect, but I do know that it's going to be quite a 5 year ride! Here's to living the student life!  :)

Fetching Fashions Fancies: 8.21.10

This little baby may or may not be mine today... we shall see.

(oh how I hate making tough decisions!)

Express Embellished open front jacket

I hate the idea of buying something I won't be wearing for 2-3 months (damn Dallas!), but this may be too cute to pass up! Yay or nay?

The Cargo pant: my pick...

So a few days ago, I posted about the Cargo pant trend for this fall and decided to indulge myself with a pair. The ones I ultimately decided on were the Blank Denim skinny cargo pant in Army. The choice was easy-- the price, fabric, style and retailer (ahem, free shipping and no tax, hellloooo Shopbop!) made it a no-brainer. I was a little worried that they wouldn't work, but lo and behold, it's love at first sight! Here's a quick review:

I got a size 27, which promptly sold out hours after I purchased (I kinda love when that happens!). One weird little annoyance: they smelled funky when I opened the package. It's probably the fact that they sat in the heat for days whilst being shipped, but still... a strange, sour smell. They're currently in the wash and I'm sure the odd odor will go away, so no biggie.

The detailing is super cute. The pockets are on the side rather than the front, which is my preference. The zippers near the calf go up to the knee, which would make it difficult to hem if you're a shortie. These are just the right length on my 5'6 frame, if not just a teense too long. So that's a consideration. There are some tabs and non-functional zippers placed horizontally at the back of the knee (the knee-pit?). Overall, just really cute and comfortable! The material is super stretchy, which is a plus in my books, and really soft. I can't wait to wear these when the weather cools a little.

Also in the mail today was my BB Dakota Branson sweater. Ladies, fear not the kinda-poor product shots and baggy look of this sweater. It is adorable in person, really soft and chunky and right on trend for this fall. Way more expensive looking/feeling than the $40 I paid. Get one while you can! Its sure to be a staple in my closet, I just know it.

Gilt/TforT Preview...

For those of you dying to get a sneak peek at the Tucker for Target preview before it hits Gilt.com tomorrow, click HERE!!

I must say, I totally disagree with Cafe Mom's appraisal of the preview... The prints are, overall, pretty cute, and I love the butterfly dress and the diamond print dress. I might just have to hit it up tomorrow if things are still available.

Also, I disagree that Target should team up with well-known designers. If I remember correctly, the whole point of the diffusion lines was to discover new, up and coming designers and help them get their name out there. Now, we have not been seeing that lately (JPG? not so new or up and coming...), but I think Tucker by Gaby Basora was a great change of pace.

What do ya'll think about it???

Falling for the trend: the Cargo Pant.

The J Brand Houlihans blew up bigger than Heidi Montag's boobies this spring, and they're back again (the cargos... not the boobs. Those are here for good, I think). I held off for a while, lovies, because I was super worried about what to wear with them. I mean, I have quite a girly aesthetic... cargo pants? Not so much. But with more and more designers releasing their take, I just may have taken the plunge for fall. My only caveat= that they be skinny cargos rather than the loosey-goosey parachute-material type cargos. Here are some of my picks (most of which are under $100, because let's face it-- I ain't paying that much for cargos):

Easy Money Coin cargo jeans

These were by far my favorites that I've tried on so far. Soooo soft and comfortable, plus flattering on the toosh. I did find them to run a little small (I could wear the 28s!), but nonetheless a great option.

Blank Denim skinny cargos

Blank has a great reputation for fun, trendy pants. I've yet to try these on, but hey-- Kim Kardashian wears them! The zipper detail is adorable on the front pockets, and I like how the leg zippers are on the inside, rather than the outside, of the leg.

Level 99 cargos
I liked these when I tried them on at Anthropologie, but these seem to run a little large. The 25s were best on me.

Victoria's Secret London Jean cargo
Not sure you can beat the price, and the product image makes them look a lot like the J Brand Houlihans. I haven't seen these in person but they look like they could be a great buy!

INC ankle zip cargo
I love most everything INC does because it's usually a nice price and quality material. These seem a bit more streamlined and a little less fatigue-like to me, which makes me like them more, and may be best for those who are still hesitant about the trend in general (kinda like me!).

Which skinny cargos have you tried? And will you be partaking?

More Tucker for Target news!

Thank god. I thought I was going to have to find Ms. Basora herself and give her a talking to for that hideous flannel jumpsuit she is calling "fashion." These patterns are much more her style-- and much more mine, at that!!

(Pics courtesy Nitrolicious-- thanks for your hard work!)

Helllllooo cute diamond geometric printed dress!

The best news about these pics is that they come with a great surprise-- here it is quoted off of Nitrolicious' blog:

Here’s a quick update that you all will LOVE! For the first time, Target has teamed up with one of my favorite shopping sites, GILT.com, for an exclusive 36-hour preview shopping event of select pieces from Target’s newest designer collaborations. Mark your calendars, on Friday, August 20th (12pm EST) you’ll be able to shop the collections before it hits Target stores and target.com! I can’t wait!

This is awesome news for gals like me who don't have access to those pop-up shops in NYC. I'll be checking it out but definitely waiting to purchase until September. I just cant wait to see the designs and finally find out what materials she's used for the line. I'm crossing my fingers for a silk blend of some sort but we'll see!

OOTD: out of practice.

I've been way slacking on OOTD posts, this I know. Here's the excuse: have you checked the temps out there? I mean, Dallas has had 110 heat indices for about 3 weeks now. At first, I could handle it. Now I'm over it, and frankly, if I can get from my car to an air conditioned building without sweat stains on my clothes it's a success. I wish I were exaggerating but it's the gods-honest-truth. Yuck.

I had this outfit in the archives from before I went to DC. Actually, I wore this dress on our first night there and have yet to wear it for the blog. I bought it originally for my bridal shower last summer and thought it was the perfect thing to wear to something summery and bridal-ey, but the great thing is that it's just plain great to wear anytime. Minus the sweat stains. :)

Dress: Hannah G scalloped tiered dress (Nordstrom)

Belt: F21 bow belt

Jacket: F21 sequin jacket

Shoes: JS Cedary sandals

How are you beating the heat? Hopefully you've been more successful than me.  :)

Thing the Interwebs Got Wrong: BB Dakota sweater jacket

Oh Shopbop... dear Shopbop. Please don't hate me forever for this post because I love you, I do. But this is pretty bad...

Option 1. Purchasing cute BB Dakota Branson sweater jacket on Shopbop for $85.

Option 2. Purchasing same exact jacket on Lulu's for $41. (No contest. Sorry.)

How is this possible? The same thing, at more than half-price difference. I've seen some minor price differences with some sites ($5 here, $3 there...). But a $44 dollar difference? You could buy two of them for the same price that Shopbop wants to charge us for one, AND have $3 left over for a soda and candy bar. Eeesssh.

Crazy interwebs...

OOTD: Vodka tonic.

Man.

We've been having freezer problems since last week. We thought it would be ok! Call service guy, quick fix, okay. But the Best Buy Geek Squad dude came by yesterday (did you know the Geek Squad handles freezer emergencies? Neither did I...) and said we'd have to order parts, and if that didn't work, we'll have to get a new one. And wait for another week until they can get someone to fix this already one week old problem. And allllll that food that's spoiled? Well, we'll give you a few bucks towards the spoilage. Even though your wedding cake is in there and it is now an official carrier of some sort of food poisoning that will wreak havoc in your intestines. Great.

Ahem. So what's a girl to do? Make vodka tonics to deal with the stress that ironically have no ice in them because... wait for it... THERE IS NO ICE IN OUR 52 DEGREE FREEZER. 

In other news (aka, non-gastro-intestinal-discomfort news)-- Here's the Perilla dress in all her glory! Yaaaayyyy.... (sorry. Having trouble not being totally annoyed.)

Dress: Anthropologie Perilla dress (scored on sale!)

Tank: Nordstrom (from TBD) lace tank

Shoes: Charles Charles David tassle pumps (so old but so classic!!)

Necklace: Juicy Couture locket charm necklace

p.s., I realize roots are noticeable heinous. Roots will be taken care of this weekend. Meaning: I'm going brown. Stay tuned... especially since this will be a mother-in-law weekend project. Gulp.

Recently Acquired...

In less than 1 month, I'm starting school. Yay! I'm super thrilled about being a student again, but as I've mentioned, this comes with sacrifices. Namely, my shopping budget. As it is right now, I receive a set amount of money per month to shop with-- starting September, I'll have no budget at all. That doesn't mean I can't shop; it simply means that any shopping I do has to be 1) something we can afford and 2) something I really need/will wear a lot. Even though this doesn't technically start for another month, I've been preparing my fall closet for the last few weeks in anticipation of the lifestyle change. Thought I'd do a quick post of things I've recently gotten, to show you how I'm shaping up my fall style and wardrobe. Some still in the mail, some already in...

1. H&M embellished shoulder tunic top

I have strong (read: negative) feelings about H&M not being located here in the south and not having an online shopping site. Grrr. Couldn't find this online, but it's such a cute top/tunic. I plan on wearing it as both-- with a chunky cardigan/cape that I purchased a few years back, with jeans or leggings. It looks great belted (because of it's extreme over-sized body) and is super cute set off the shoulder.  (Got an XS)

2. Patterson J. Kincaid Harlow blouse

I have been wanting an Equipment blouse for some time now (if you read this blog regularly, you've heard me talking obsessing about this for several months!), in an effort to add a simple silk blouse to my collection. But, the price is just too steep for me to justify, so I've held off. This PJK blouse is a great sub and I love the relaxed style and slouchy pockets. Plus, it's on Bloomie's "Must Have" list... yoink. I'll do a better review when I get it and can speak to the fit. (Got an XS)

3. F21 shoulder padded top

This is just simple and versatile. Nice fit (not too fitted, not too relaxed), plus it's a great way to take a simple grey tee and give it some more structure and a touch of chic. (Got a S)

4. Urban Outfitter's Puff Sleeve blazer

This doesn't seem to be in grey online, but that's the color I purchased (plus, as it is with UO, god love 'em, this is much cuter in person). I loved this the minute I put it on-- it's got a nice weight to it and fits beautifully (in a size up). The only issue I might have is the material-- it's a cotton/linen blend that seems to get wrinkly quick. Oh well, I don't mind steaming! (Got a S-- XS was a little too tight)

5. Anthro's Perilla Dress

So, I definitely veered from my pact to stop buying summer and made an exception with this. But the reason is sound-- it is so comfortable and will be wearable in Dallas through October. $59 for something I might just wear the next three months straight is fair to me.  :) Seriously, it's perfect for work or the weekend (I'm wearing it today and wore it to a baby shower on Saturday!), plus the jersey material is the softest damn thing I've felt in a long time. It's totally adorable, too. (Got an XS, and prolly coulda used an XXS if they had one!) I'll post an OOTD with it tomorrow.  :)

6. Anthro's Windstorm Necklace

Hubs bought this for me as a "going back to school gift" when it went on sale. I remember loving this when I saw it in the store modeled with a simple blouse, but $52? That was way too much for what it is. At $30, I feel much better about the price and know the jewel tones will work with a whole slew of stuff!


The ongoing theme? Neutral, neutral, neutral. Basics, basics, basics. To pair with all those other wacky items I own.  How do you plan to style your fall?

Fetching Fashions Fancies (8.9.10)

{Ha! 8, 9, 10. (Sorry.)}

Free People Kitty Cat Cardigan

Love the mix of intarsia-print with animal. Meeeee-owww!

Also, check out this post here, which shows 3 leaked images of the new Tucker for Target collab. Honestly? I'm super disappointed with what I've seen. I'm hoping the other items are better, because this is like a 70's disco party gone bad. Ugh.

OOTD: Its the final countdown.

When I bought my Tucker blouse, I loved the colors and print: pretty grey undertones, pops of coral, abstract florals. I assumed (dumbly) that I'd wear this baby out throughout the summer. Well, that was before I realized our temperatures would reach heat indices of 115 (I'm not kidding.). I thought, "That's fine! I'll just wear it when the weather get's cooler. Right?" Wrong. Looking at it now, I realize it's pretty summery to be wearing through the fall. What's a girl to do?

1. Wear it and hope I can run fast enough from building to building so that the sweat doesn't build up enough to leave stains (ewww, TMI).

2. Eff it all and wear it in the fall, despite its blatant spring-like tones. (With a chunky beige cardigan? And boots/jeans?)

3. All of the above.  :)

Here's number one in action... (p.s. These are indeed shorts. No, I am not prancing around town in a skirt that barely covers my lady-parts. No, when I bend over you don't get a sneak peek. Yes, they still are super short!)

Top: Tucker Washed out Watercolor blouse

Shorts: UO ruffle tap shorts

Shoes: {from a local boutique}

Belt: F21

Also... when the heck are we going to see a Tucker for Target lookbook? Hmmm? I'm dyin' over here, peeps!!

Fetching Fashions Fancies-- 8/5/10

I have been terrible, terrible at recurrent themed posts. I wanted to start ones on Etsy finds/independent designers! Fell through. I planned to do frequent polyvore stylings! Ixnayed. I even started that one on WWJW? and never kept going with it. Ugh.

But since I'm going back to school in about three and a half weeks (EEPPP!), I think I need to really try and get something going again. I talked a little about quitting the blog, but frankly, I think I would miss it too much to totally cut it cold turkey. So the current plan is this:

• I'll blog 3-4 times per week unless otherwise noted.
• I'm going to try and still post 2 or so OOTDs per week since they're actually my favorite and will still do my wishlisting (although to a lesser degree).
• I also want to try a new and simple post for those days I might not have as much time but still want to think fashion: "Fetching Fashion Fancies." I'll post a "pick of the day," where I'll simply feature one or two (if I must!) items that I found on the interwebs and fell in love with. You know, to still get my fashion and blogging fix. :) Who doesn't like eye candy, anyways!

To inaugurate these posts, here's my pick of the day...

Lulu's Cadence Call Jacket, $86. A pretty, suede-esque jacket with gorgeous draping and a fabulous tan/olive hue. I could see this quickly becoming a fall wardrobe staple in my closet! Oh lala!

Photos from my iPhone, part 2.

... and here are some pics from the DC trip I just took. Only a few... I know, I know. I'm so bad at taking out my camera when I'm out and about. I just don't like living my life through a lens, I guess. :)

Georgetown Cupcake, AKA "DC Cupcake" (from the new TLC series!). The line was an hour long and we got there before it was even open for the day! Definitely yummy and worth it... 

NOM NOM. Strawberry. The best cupcake flavor ever.

Rosa's doggie, Lola! Her shirt says proud to be a Democrat, but don't let it fool you: She's a Republican. :)

A few landmarks in our nation's captiol.

Hard to see, but this is chocolate covered bacon. Yes, you heard correctly. Comes complete with two Bayers to prevent your heart attack. (Not really, but they totally should.)

What's a trip to the east without some crab? Crab cake Benedict for breakfast, yummm...