Fashion/Life....Closet Function and Organization!

I don't know about you, but I don't have a "dream closet". 

My closet serves a purpose of function.

I work 5 days out of the week,

each day I have to wear an "outfit".

I also am a procrastinator by nature

and

never plan out my outfits ahead of time.

I go to my closet and have pull something together 

in the 5 min that I have allotted myself.

I have a two person closet ( I only get 1/2 of) and so there is no such thing as "pretty"

it is packed from ceiling to floor.

So every square inch MUST serve its purpose.

After trying many different layouts with my hanging clothes

I think I finally have a system that works for me

and my busy life.

I do a donation clean out every 3 months

 ( I work in retail and am always replacing pieces).

I think we all have those pieces that we just can't bare to part with.

Remember...dress your body now.

If it doesn't fit you now PROPERLY

then just donate it.

Any pieces that you still are unsure about put back into your closet with the hanger backwards.

If you end up wearing that piece then it goes back in the closet with the hanger normal.

Then when you go back for another donation clean out 

and 

you see backwards hangers,

you know you haven't worn that item and its time to donate.

I do keep a few basic pieces (they fit well and look nice) that I never wear
 because you never knowwhen you will need them.

 I have 2 pairs of dress slacks,
3 basic dresses, and 2 dressy formal tops.

If I'm ever in a pinch now
 I don't have to rush out and buy for that last moment event.

I know my Mom is cringing because I am about to use her closet as an example.

The reason why I don't feel bad is because I know she is not alone.

Closets are hard to keep organized and hard to find a working system.

Above is my Mom's closet before I got my hands on it.
There was no "system".

There was nothing convenient about it.
 I know just by looking at it

that she doubled her time putting outfits together.

My Mom is a professional
 and
 needs to look that way 5 days out of the week.

Her professional wear is more "dominate",
 so therefore is the majority of her wardrobe.

Here is the system I created for her...

Bottom left: all of her bottoms (pants and skirts).

Top Left: All of her tops,
 and
Right: Layering pieces (sweaters, blazers, vests) and dresses.

Now its super easy...
pick a bottom, top, and then a layering piece.
 Shoes and Jewelry are organized on the shelving not pictured.

Tops are organized with career tops being most easy to access. It goes in sleeve length instead of color. After career is organized then I started her casual tops, also in sleeve length.

Shoes..... I have a lot of them.
 I have a door organizer and put the pairs
 I wear the least on the top and work my way down to the bottom.
The shoes I wear the most are in the middle for easy grabbing.

Jewelry also needs to be easy to grab:

A  bulletin board works great for me.
All my necklaces are lined up so I can see everything.

Earrings are in a drawer system according to metal color. 

REMEMBER,
 your closet system needs to be functional for your life style.

If you wear casual clothes everyday then modify it for your needs.

Happy organizing and spring cleaning!

LIfe...runs you sometimes.

No, I haven't forgotten about my blog. Not in the least. Unfortunately life caught up with me. The last month has been extremely stressful and unexpected to say the least.

- We had a pipe burst and flood our bedroom which resulted in a month long of repairs.

- I had a sudden unexpected trip to California about 2 weeks ago see my Grandmother because she wasn't expected to live long. My Mom and I missed saying Goodbye by 3 hours. So frustrating and overwhelming planning and attending her funeral. This alone took a toll on me. It also was an unexpected expense that we are now working double to make up for it. But that's life right? I wouldn't have changed a thing.

- Coming back from Cali my husband and I had to clear out our entire bedroom into the living room in order to get the anti mold treatment and carpet cleaning done after the flood. Our condo is 700 sq ft....so if you can only imagine the mess and total inconvenience of this process.

Needless to say I am typing this and staring at my house still in shambles with loads of laundry.  My husband and I work SO much and most the time only see each other in passing or at bedtime. The last thing we want to do is chores when we finally get time together.

I have to prioritize and unfortunately blogging hasn't been on top of the list. Like I have stated...I'm am TRULY an everyday girl.

I do have some material for a new post...I hope to get to it this week. Its about closet organization.

Don't give up on me just yet...I have more...much much more!

Makeup...BOLD LIPSTICK a step by step!

Here is a step by step

on how to do a 

BOLD COLORED LIP

and

have it last all day with just a couple tiny touch ups!

Step 1:

 Start with a bare lip and then outline with concealer and blend in.
This will prevent your lipstick from bleeding.

Step 2:
Outline your entire lip with lip liner.
 I only focus on the outer line being as straight as possible.
 The inner lip will be covered up.

Step 3:
Use a lip stain (I use NYC) and fill in the rest of your upper and lower lips.
Let dry and then reapply again.
You should be able to kiss your hand and have no "lip marks"

 Step 4:
Take lipstick and and "press" on...this will really help set the color onto the stain.
Make sure to get up on the lip liner a little bit in order to blend it in.
You should not see a ending of lip liner into start of lipstick.

 Step 5:
Taking a square of toilet paper blot your lips once.
Press on another layer of lipstick.

 Step 6:
You can use a clear lip gloss to give a more "flirty" look.
Add a dab of gloss to your pinky and then
just apply to the center of your bottom lip.
This will give your lips a more pouty look.

 Step 7:
Clean up around the lip with your concealer brush!

And there you have it!

The finished product!

Seems like a lot of steps but I
PROMISE
 when you
 STOP
 having to reapply 3-4 times a day you will be glad you took the time!



Bonus:
Just a little extra funny photo bomb from my husband....he thinks he is sooo funny. ENJOY!

Life...."What inspires you?"

A couple days ago at work I was asked the question "What inspires you?". My answer was simple "Not one person inspires me. I am inspired by peoples actions."

This has had me thinking all weekend about what has "inspired" me this week. I think it is so easy to get caught up in everyday that we forget to STOP what we are doing and find at least one thing that is positive or inspiring for that day. I challenge you this week to find your "inspiration".

Here are mine from last week....

- My husband. I have NEVER met someone who will ALWAYS put others before themselves as much as my husband does. Call me biased but its true. He is always the guy to stop when someone needs help ( as long as he feels its safe). Every night we talk about what went on throughout our days. He is SO aware of how he comes across to others. He tries to treat everyone fairly regardless of the situation. Even though I don't always agree with how he handles situations (I'm a VERY bold personality), I am always inspired to be a better person because of his actions.

- I currently work in a women's retail store and I had the pleasure of helping an elderly couple this week. As some of you know I have a weakness for elderly. LOVE THEM! In the beginning I had a hard time. The women wouldn't decide if she liked something or not until her husband did. At first I was super livid. I'm the type where I don't care if my husband "approves" or not. If I want it and I like it then I'm getting it regardless. After helping and getting to know this couple for over an hour I found out that the women refused to go shopping. Her husband ALWAYS had to bring home new clothes for her because she never wanted to spend the money on herself. She ended up finding about 5 complete outfits. She told me to take them to the front and that her husband would decide which ones they were going to buy. As I was up at the cash register the husband told me that he had a lot of room on his credit card and they were going home with EVERYTHING that she liked. Their total was over $400 which I knew from talking with them that they couldn't afford that much today. He was so cute....knowing that they were going to have to budget to pay off the card he still wanted to spoil his wife. I am still thinking about them almost 4 days later. I am inspired.

- If you keep up with the blog at all you know that I am a newly converted hockey fan. My husband and I attended the last 3 games of the season this past week. We always have so much fun. For those of you who know me personally know that I have taken a liking to EVAN STOFLET. Its been fun being a "super fan"...tagging him in photos and being the equivalent of a "Bieber fever fan" (hopefully not quite as extreme). I don't know Evan personally...not one bit. But I have to say that by observing him play he has INSPIRED ME. After attending 9 games this season I have noticed that Evan is the "cheerleader". Always cheering up his teammates. During period breaks Evan always goes out and meets the goalie and they go to the locker room together. The 

Grizzlies are always getting new players and it seems that Evan makes an effort to make them feel apart of the team. He is always one of the last ones off the ice. For professional sports I think this is amazing. I can tell that he is a great team leader and leads by example. It reminded and inspired me to be more of the "cheerleader" and create more team unity in my professional life. 

I consider my husband and I to be very fortunate. I think we do well financially and lead a pretty great life style. We try to "pay if forward" when we can. Our favorite thing is to buy a family their dinner. It doesn't happen often but we love doing it. 

So I ask you now..."WHAT INSPIRES YOU?" OR WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO INSPIRE OTHERS?

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Makeup....The Chapstick Collection.

You know you have a million different chap stick brands

just laying around your house.

Some you bought because it was the newest thing...

others you bought just because.

I have a million and one

I have tried many brands over the years.

BUT I think I have narrowed it down to my favorites.

My Reviews:

MAYBELLINE "BABY LIPS" - NOT WORTH THE HYPE

I bought "BABY LIPS" because so many people were raving about it. It does NOT soften your lips over time. I find it only lasts maybe through the hour. It was not worth the money spent to ever get this again. It is offered in different "tints" which I haven't tried...I'm not a fan of tinted chap stick.

NIVEA " A KISS OF SMOOTHNESS"- MY NIGHTTIME TREATMENT

Nivea is so much better then "BABY LIPS".
I use Nivea before I go to bed and wake up with silky soft lips!
Its non greasy, super light, silky smooth. Its the absolute best!

NEOSPORIN " DAILY HYDRATION THERAPY"- MY GO TO DEEP THERAPY

Its commonly known that if you have chapped lips or cracked lips that your are dehydrated. So if that is the case then drink more water. I use this once a week to give my lips a "spa day". I layer it on before I get in the shower. Between the steam and "Neosporin Hydration Treatment" the dead skin on my lips is completely soft. When I get out I just rub my lips on my towel and any dead skin just comes right off. My lips are renewed and ready for a week full of lipstick!

 "EOS"- MY VERY FAVORITE OVERALL TREATMENT!

You can get "EOS" when your checking out at "Walmart".  I stumbled upon this gem a year ago and  its been love ever since. "EOS" was actually featured in ELLE last year as one of the best lip treatments out there. It lasts a good 4-6 hours during the day. The peppermint is soothing and tingling. Its the best well round treatment I have ever had. I would recommend this to ANYONE and have actually gone as far as giving as a small quick gift!

Fashion...Thrifty, Thrifty!

Lets talk about shopping on a budget!

I think sometimes we feel like its hard to do.

Where do I go?

What is a good deal?

I asked for some help on this post

Let me introduce

JENNIE MERBACK LEWIS

Jennie and I were collage roommates.

She always had the best closet!

Jennie was the one who's closet we went to 

when we needed a new look.

Jennie has ALWAYS prided herself on shopping 

"Thrifty"

 as she likes to call it.

I say she shops extremely smart.

Not only does she save a

 TON

of money

 she looks trendy while doing it.

Jennie supplied me with 9 outfits

 and 

a list of where she shopped with the price point she paid.

I think you will be shocked.

I love that Jennie restyled a lot of her pieces

to create different looks and outfits.

Before I get much further I have to give a

 SHOUT OUT

 to Jennie's husband 

BRANDON

for being the photographer 

and letting us use an insane about of texts back and fourth on his phone....

BRANDON YOUR THE BEST!

TOTAL COST: $60

Top- Forever 21 $14.80,  Maxi Skirt- Ross $16.99, Long Gold Necklace- Forever 21 $3.80,
Turquoise Pendent Necklace- Forever 21 $4.80,  Boots- TJ Max $20

TOTAL COST: $28

Blouse- JCPenny $12, Skirt- JC Penny $8,
Necklace- Rue 21 $2,  Flats- Fallas $5.99

TOTAL COST: $25

Top- TJ Max $12.99, Pants- Forever21 $3.99
 Earrings- Homemade rocks from hobby lobby $3, Flats- Fallas $5.99

TOTAL COST: $56

Blouse- Forever21 $17.80, Pants- JC Penny $4, Bracelet- Kmart $3.79,
 Earrings- Homemade rocks from Hobby Lobby,  Shoes- Payless $7

TOTAL COST: $50

Blouse- Downeast $10,  Pants- Walmart $15.88,  Flats- Fallas $5.99,
 Earrings- Charlotte Russe $5,  Bracelete- Target $12.99

 TOTAL COST: $47

Top- JC Penny $12, Pants- TJ Max $15,
Statement Necklace- Plunder Design $8
Flats- Forever 21 Shoes $12

TOTAL COST: $44

Top- Forever21 $10.80, Pants- Walmart $15.88, Belt- Forever21 $6.80,
Long Necklace- Forever21 $2.80, Short Necklace- Forever21 3.80,
Earrings- Forever21 $3.80

TOTAL COST: $52

Blouse- Forever21 $17.80, Cheeta Cardi- H & M $10, Pants- Forever21 $15.80,
 Earrings- Forever 21 $1.50, Flats- Payless $7

TOTAL COST: $45

Blouse- JC Penny $12, Pants- Forever21 $15.80,
 Collar Necklace- Rue 21 $2,  Cheeta Flats- Target $14.99

Jennie, Thank You so much for participating!

 It was so exciting to get a picture a day and see what you were wearing! 

You are amazing AND gorgeous!

Love ya!

WOW!

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Fashion...Mall walking

I did a quick run through of a couple of stores while making some returns today. 

I love to window shop and see whats out there.

These few pieces caught my eye as I did a quick run in and out of the stores:

Ann Taylor- Fringe Blouse

Famous Brand Shoes- Gladiator Sandals

Claire's  ( Park City Location)- Crossover Messenger bag

Claire's (Park City Location) - Multi Print Backpack (Fun as a diaper bag/or kids)

I love seeing the "younger" style. Even though I still think of myself as  "Young" I like taking the edgy elements and making them age appropriate for me. I loved her edge with print mixing and color blocking.

Calvin Klein- Button down Roll-up shirts

Calvin Klein- Colors

 PLUG: I promised I would give CLAIRE'S at Tanger Outlets in Park City a shout out! Clean and organized store with super cute, fun, trendy jewelry and accessories. ALSO, they have 10 for $10!!! Awesome!

Fashion...is What You Make It!

I'm a firm believer that FASHION is what you make it!

We do not walk off the pages of Vogue.

Most of us have a budget and an only afford so much...

So that being said, develop your own style 

according to what you can afford.

After only getting through 

HALF

of Elle

I noticed lots of print mixing.

" Um yeah...that has been the trend for a while now!"

OK, OK. So its been the trend for a while.

But lets start small.

Polka dots and stripes.

Two fundamentals that will be good to remember when mixing patterns.

Both can be used as your "solid".

Don't forget your color blocking

when mixing prints.

My saying is

 "if you feel confident enough to "rock it" then do it!"

The Outfits below are all from Old Navy and bought out of their Clearance section.  Buy off of Clearance and make it trendy to the current season.

Navy polka dot skinnies ($8.49), I rolled the cuff up. Yellow and Navy striped ruffled Henley ($5.99), sleeves are rolled up. Yellow and sea foam green skinny belts ( 2-pack $5.47) Medallion Necklace is from Claire's 4 years ago.

I "long cuffed" the legs first and then cuffed again.
 This gives a less structured effect to your outfit.

I laced the two belts together to make a statement piece.

Color blocking with Yellow and Sea-foam. Yellow skinnies ($8.49), Heather Grey Graphic T ( $8.99), Belt part of the 2 pack. Aztec multi colored wedges are from DRESSBARN ($34.99), Reused from spring is here post.

Multi String Statement Necklace ( Claire's, 4 years ago) dresses up a casual shirt. The word "Love" and skinny belt are the same hue. This is a very subtle way of color blocking. Great for beginners.

I do want to apologize, the mannequin I'm using has ZERO shape and so if the outfits come across as frumpy then that would be why. I also am NOT a photographer. I'll leave the lighting and angles to the professionals.