Let me start off by telling you that I love dresses, however, I run into problems when it comes to the style of dress. I hate my love handles and I rarely wear tight clothing, I love pieces that are flowy, comfortable, and easy to wear. Well, my friends I have found just the dress...the wrap-tie stripe shirtdress. Not only is it a shirtdress (which I love) but it wraps in the front to accentuate the hips and disguise "the pooch" and love handles. This is the perfect dress for weekend errands, road trips, brunch with girlfriends, or browsing the farmer's market. Not to mention, I bought the dress on sale and it's so comfortable I feel like I can get a lot of wear out of it.
Here's my thought, you know how most of us gals wear sarongs whenever we go the pool or beach? We wear them because they are still flattering but they hide some things that maybe we aren't 100% comfortable showing. Same goes for this dress! It has the feel and style of a sarong but I still feel like it is flattering to my figure. If you are having doubts, I recommend you just go try one on!

I came to terms a long time ago that I will have to work very hard to purchase some of the finer things in life. Fashion is something that I find very expressive and creative and while I don't have a lot of money, I still try to find ways to look "chic" on a budget.

Some rules of thumb:
1. Don't follow trends unless they are "timeless and classic." If you wanted to, you could go buy a ton of new clothes this season and stock your closet full, only to realize that this time next year, fringe is totally out and ruffles are totally in. There are certain pieces and patterns that, in my opinion, will never go out of style. For example: classic boyfriend shirts, tailored skinny jeans, florals, and converse sneakers are all wearable pieces that you can pull out years to come.
2. Sale only means sale when it's really too good to be true. Let's face it, all stores have sales. They do it to attract buyers. You think you are getting a good deal...when you are actually paying market value. Think about how many times a store has 40% off. Um, hello, all the time! That 40% off might seem like a great deal but it's not...truth be told, those clothes are probably worth 40% off and you generally pay the escalated price. My favorite time to get a good deal is when things are marked down (i.e., in clearance) with additional deals, OR, are 50% off or more. The way I see it, that sweater I just "have to have" will be 40% off for four more weeks, then, they will mark it down $15.00 and it will be an additional 30% off, that is the time to get it while it's hot!

3. Only buy things you absolutely love. I used to be so guilty of this, I chose quantity over quality. When it came to picking out what to wear I always had "nothing to wear" because I didn't love anything that I had. All of those retail stores that offer a large variety, low quality, and an extremely low cost might seem like the treasure at the end of the rainbow, but in realty those clothes will rip, break, and you will wear it once...twice at most. I find that I gravitate towards my nicer pieces in my closet anyways (do you?). This J.Crew sweater and this Lou & Grey utility top are especially comfortable and I feel 'put together' and chic when I wear them.
You may be thinking, well this is all fine and dandy but if she is broke how does she even buy clothes? Utilizing my rules of thumb from above and saving when I can, I can be very thrifty. That, and I have a keen eye for spotting a good deal. Some may spend hours going through the racks at T.J.Maxx, I will walk down the aisle, spot a top, pull it out only to find out that it's a Joie top. That's how I found this Kate Spade dress, and this handbag. It's either a gift or a talent, either way it rocks! Adam and I don't have time to travel, go on a lot of dates, or spend money on the house so anything I leftover is used for home essentials and when I can, clothes and accessories.

To see another one of my favorite gingham looks, check out last year's post. What do you think of this gingham top?

One thing that has always been a battle is my closet. We have moved around quite a bit and either the closets are getting smaller, or I'm getting more clothes. Either way, I try to utilize the space I have with storage shelves, a small vanity, and plenty of hooks. I feel like I am in the beginning stages of Carrie Bradshaw's life (minus the crazy relationships). She loved fashion and spent more on her wardrobe than anything else. #guilty Her closet was stuffed full of beautiful, vintage clothes....and it wasn't until years later she upgraded to the closets of all closets. I will get there eventually, we are taking baby steps.

Today I wanted to talk about something that we all love hate talking about...skin issues. It's no secret that I have suffered from bad breakouts, scarring, and uneven skin tone. I have tried everything (well, just about everything) and as of late, I seem to be trusting the same three products to cure my breakout blues. If I could spend money on expensive treatments, take the risk with accutane, or buy pricey products, I would. The fact of the matter is, I cannot afford most of those options and these products are doing a pretty good job at making sure I don't need to!
Drying Lotion: Use directly on pimples to aid in the quick healing process; reduces redness and inflammation; this "dries out" your acne so make sure to replenish your skin with a lightweight-oil free moisturizer.

Healing & Soothing Mask: Use this mask to reduce redness, decrease inflammation, and speed the recovery/healing process during a breakout. This mask also soothes any tender or painful areas cause by breakouts!

Anti-Acne Serum: This preventative serum works to prevent future breakouts and in some cases reduce the severity. I use this on all acne-prone areas, and areas that are naturally more oily than others. I also use this during the day sometimes if I have a pestering spot. 

Although the weather might not think so, today marks the first day of spring. Yesterday, we saw snow, today it's sunny with blue skies. We decided to make our way out this morning for brunch at one of our favorite restaurants and do some exploring downtown. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the beautiful budding trees lining the streets. Although I love the winter months, I am ready for warmer months and lush green trees. Summit (my husky) and I have been enjoying more walks, hikes, and runs. Don't get me wrong, he absolutely loves winter but I think he enjoys the cooler weather since we spend more time outside with him:).