Cable Knit Sweater & Fringe Scarf: Retail Attitude Adjustment

First a disclaimer and some good news. All of the snow in these pictures? Gone. Capital G-O-N-E, gone. Granted, we’re left with a barren swampland and a small pond in the middle of the backyard, but hey, there’s no snow. And that makes me a very happy girl. Now, onto the topic at hand. I made the half hour road trip to the real mall today and stopped by Ulta to exchange an eyeliner and spend my gift card that my adopted mom got me for my birthday. The charming young lady that waited on me had all of the personality of a hexenbiest. If you’re not sure what a hexenbiest is, google it. Trust me, it is not a compliment.

Perhaps it is just my Ulta, but every time (and I mean every time) I have been in there the employees are the most obnoxiously condescending bunch of people I’ve ever encountered in one place. Is there some secret training Ulta employees go through where they learn to act like they are the end all be all of the makeup world? I mean seriously, you sell eyeshadow for a living. At minimum wage. I could maybe see the attitude if one were performing brain surgery or curing cancer on a daily basis, but um, your expertise is in the area of which foundation matches my skin tone. And no, don’t get your panties in a bunch thinking that I’m talking smack on retail employees. I worked in retail and waitressed for a good ten years of my life. I absolutely respect what they do, it can be a tough job. But for that same reason I know how a customer is to be treated. I know this makes me sound like an old lady, but what ever happened to manners and just being polite and pleasant?

As you can tell from the snow in these shots, I wore this a few weeks back on an obviously very cold day that required multiple layers of flannel and fleece to survive. I have to say though the fringe scarf really does add an extra something to an otherwise blah cable knit sweater. It’s so easy to take a plain outfit and kick it up a notch with the right accessories. This same scarf also made all the difference here when I paired it with my plaid duster. The flannel shirt peeking out was for warmth, but it also added a small hit of color to make things more interesting. And while it’s true I won’t miss the snow at all, I will miss my Bearpaw boots when I have to send them to their seasonal attic exile.

Linking up with: Sunday Funday Link Up, Creative Monday’s Blog Hop, Style To Inspire, Let It Shine, How I Fall, Personal Style Link Up, Link Up With Lisa, Share-In-Style, Confident Twosday, Celebrate Southern Link Up, Tremendous Tuesday, Style Sessions Fashion Link Up, Bloggers Who Have Inspired Me.

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Sweater: JCPenney (Old); Jeans: GAP (No longer available); Boots: Bearpaw

**This is the last week to enter the Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway…don’t miss out!!**

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $800 Nordstrom Gift Card

Co-hosts: The Style Boro // Stylish Adventures with AL // The Relevance Report // Sweet Haute // Strawberricurls // Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog // J. Frances // Cool Gear Cavalier // Mommy on the Money // ThemeTrip // Life is Poppin’ // La Mariposa // Rhea Et Cetera // TonieGirl // Jolie Pagaille // NYC Recessionista // A Lily Love Affair // TheItMom.com // Mr Modernist // TheBoxQueen // On the Daily Express // The Real Fashionista // A Pocketful of Polka Dots // The Fairy Princess Diaries // Mass Musings // everychicway // Livin’ Like Larz // October June // A Journey East // yourownboss.ca // Willfully Elegant

Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 3/20 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email.

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Plaid Duster, Striped Turtleneck & Fringed Infinity Scarf: Act Your Age

My gorgeous friend Suzanne at suzannecarillo.com shared an absolutely excellent article on her Facebook page in regard to what exactly age appropriate means. You should really take a moment and read the article here. It’s some truly delicious food for thought. Any of you who have hung around my little corner of the blogosphere long enough know that I’m not a big fan of rules; particularly those of a fashion and beauty nature. I shop at Forever 21 (I mean come on, the name says it all…Forever 21…’nuff said) and predominantly in the junior’s department at all other retail establishments. I would be as nervous as my sheltie without her Xanax if you told me I had to buy something at CJ Banks and actually wear it it public. Going anywhere near the Alfred Dunner section at JC Penney causes me to break out in hives…I kid you not.

Why is this? Is it because I’m trying to be something I’m not? Am I desperately trying to hold on to my youth? Do I actually think I look 21? Hells no. It’s because I’m a woman barreling towards my next birthday with a “0” in it who just so happens to love clothes and shoes that are cool and fabulous as opposed to elastic-waisted polyester and orthopedic. I also happen to love glitter and sequins as much as any twelve year old girl and I have the sense of humor of a twelve year old boy. Does any of this make me any less who I am? Um, no. It is who I am. Love it or leave, it’s all the same to me. I’m happy with myself and at the end of the day that’s the only thing that matters my friends.

I decided this time I’d make this uber cool plaid duster work as a dress. See how I styled it more casually here. And because I never miss an opportunity to mix it up with the prints I wore my striped turtleneck underneath along with my fringed infinity scarf and fleece leggings for both warmth and coverage since the duster is sheer. I also broke another fashion “rule” here because I had the audacity to wear black and navy blue together in one outfit. I know. I’m such a freakin’ rebel.

Linking up with: Style Elixir’s Friday Fab Favorites, Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop, Fashionomics Friday, Fashion Friday At Mummy’s Got Style, Favorite Fashion Friday, Fun Fashion Friday, Passion For Fashion Link Up.

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Duster: boohoo.com; Turtleneck: Old Navy; Scarf: Christmas gift; Boots: Target (Old)

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Zombie Apocalypse Averted: Bulldog Sweatshirt, Moto Jacket And Bearpaw Boots

     Yesterday was supposed to be my first day back to school after the holidays, but we got a call Sunday night saying school was cancelled. Why? Was it the snow? Polar vortex perhaps? No. It was an outbreak of the mumps. Wait, what?! I literally listened to the message four times and had my husband listen to it twice. Who gets the mumps in this day and age? And an outbreak no less. It was actually on our evening news last night. Complete with CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health involvement and everything.
     My son and I decided it was most likely the dawn of the zombie apocalypse; commenced by an outbreak of the mumps. Who knew civilization would go down due to a childhood illness that hasn’t been around for years? And it would all start in a small town in Northwest Pennsylvania. Genius really I suppose. Instead of some top secret government produced virus that somehow escaped from an underground facility in the desert, society would be taken down by the mumps. Now that would make a fabulous end of the world movie. Who’d see that one coming?
     You can breathe a sigh of relief though. The Department of Health has decided it wasn’t really an “outbreak” per se so we can return to school tomorrow. Thankfully my return to work means the zombie apocalypse has been averted. You’re welcome.
     Is this sweatshirt not crazy fabulous? It’s from the I Heart Ronson line at JCPenney. I first spotted it on Instagram back in September and I had to have it.  Since it wasn’t going to be available until November I screenshot it and saved it…yes, I’m that OCD. The day it was available I went and snatched one up for my husband to give me for Christmas. And yes, I made him wrap it. The Bearpaw boots were also a months long obsession that later became another Christmas gift. Be forewarned, the sweatshirt will appear again in the next few weeks, but of course it will be the more dressed up version for work.

Linking up with:  Confident TwosdayCelebrate Southern Link Up, Tremendous Tuesdays, Bloggers Who Have Inspired MeTrend Spin Link UpStyle Sessions Fashion Link Up, Random Wednesdays At Because Shanna Said So, Style Me Wednesday, I Feel Pretty.

Sweatshirt: JCPenney (No longer available);  Jacket: JCPenney;  Boots: Bearpaw;  Jeans:  GAP

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Holiday Hangover And A Fabulous Amazon Giveaway: Plaid Button Down, Boyfriend Jeans And Leopard Pumps

     I do love the holidays, but the day after Christmas I breathe a sigh of relief every year. The stress of the annual holiday party, shopping, gift wrapping, all of it is finally done. And now I can get back to the business of being able to button my jeans again. I’ll admit it, I have absolutely zero self-control when it comes to holiday treats. If it’s in the house, I will eat it. I’m like a honey badger in a basket full of cobras. Gluttony at its finest my friends.
     This outfit is all about the extras. First of all, the fabulous scarf. It was a gift from my best friend. It’s one of those rare scarves that has enough heft to keep you warm out in the elements, but yet it’s not too heavy to wear all day inside. And bonus points because it’s navy blue. Believe it or not, my rather massive scarf collection was lacking that particular shade. The shoes were the whipped cream on this particular sundae. I had tried these on at Target a year or so ago and they were just a hair too high and thus not comfortable. This year’s version seems to be just enough lower in the heel department to make them wearable. The cool thing is, they look expensive, but I snatched ’em up for under $20 at Target online awhile back.
   
Linking up with:  Style Elixir’s Friday Fab Favorites.

Jeans: GAP;  Shirt: Old Navy (Old);  Pumps: Target

   
     And now for the fab Amazon giveaway:
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GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Prize: $400 Amazon Gift Card
Giveaway organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!
Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 1/21 and is open worldwide. Winner will be notified via email and can opt for an Amazon gift card or cash via Paypal.
Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

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