Let There Be Light: What I Wore

Happy Birthday, Izzy! I can't believe my little puppy baby is 4!

This weekend turned out to be highly successful shopping-wise without breaking the bank. I took advantage of several rewards cards that I'd been waiting to use and ended up getting some great stuff for relatively cheap.

First, I had $150 in rewards cards from Pottery Barn. I love Pottery Barn and my dream is to someday live there - or at least furnish my entire house with Pottery Barn furniture. I'm getting pretty darn close.

A few months ago, I flipped out and told Husband that we needed a desk. I went to the store perfectly happy to buy these three pieces (honestly, all I really wanted was a new filing cabinet), but Husband just had to have the Corner Smart Technology Hutch and the Acrylic Corner Desk Protector (available here) so we ended up with this.

I like the desk. It's very nice and looks good in our den, but we spent an awful lot more than the $249 that the filing cabinet I originally wanted was being sold for hence the $150 rewards cards that I had for today. Our house has a severe lack of overhead lighting so we've had to invest a lot in lamps. I wanted a nice desk lamp, but every time I went to Pottery Barn, I'd freak out, get overwhelmed, run out of the store, and go to Anthropologie or Banana Republic to try things on (because did I mention that Pottery Barn is right next to Anthropologie and Banana Republic at my mall? Perfection!)

I asked Husband to come along with me to be the decision-maker. True to form, we stood in Pottery Barn for about six minutes before he settled on this lamp and we were walking to the register. I like it - I mean it's a lamp. I need light and it gives me light. That works for me. Um - in looking at the picture though I am noticing that the light does also reveal that our desk is in serious need of a good dusting. Perhaps I'd rather sit in darkness.

I had also hit up Banana Republic to spend my $30 in style rewards which were expiring at the end of the month. I really hate that - would it kill these stores to have these rewards cards not expire? I mean if I haven't used it in a few months, chances are I've lost the darn thing and besides the stores sent it to me because I spend such obscene amounts of money at their stores so why shouldn't I get the luxury of waiting as long as I want to use them? Annoying.

These cardigans had intrigued me online so I wanted to check them out. I had also been thinking about some light colored spring pants so I took a ton of things into the fitting room with me. These were the only three things even worth taking pictures of.

Cotton Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan, in Weathered Purple, size Medium   

Silk Ruffle Sleeve Tie Waist Top, in Gulf Grey, size Medium       

Jackson Sleek Wide Leg Pant, in Millstore, size 14           

Banana Republic pants really do baffle me. I have several pairs of Jackson in both size 12 and 14. I also have a few pairs of Martins in 12 and 14. Sometimes a 14 in either is too tight. Seriously, Banana Republic? These pants are obviously too big, but I just didn't care enough to ask for the smaller size (especially since I suspected that the 12 wouldn't fit either - who exactly is Banana Republic making their pants for when the thigh is big on me but the waist is tight? I shudder to think about the freak girl with 37-21-54 measurements that the Banana Republic designers are building an entire franchise around.)   

But I digress.

I really liked the Silk Ruffle Sleeve top, but I wasn't crazy about the color. It reminded me of the beautiful Vanilla Bean Blouse from Anthropologie that I'm still pining over. Yeah the Anthro one is more expensive, but the details are so much nicer on it and it has polka dots! Folks, I may have just convinced myself to put that blouse back on my wish list!

I had to buy something (literally - had to) so I went with the cardigan which I think is a nice wardrobe staple. I like that it has long sleeves so I can wear it over my white blouses. It also looked nice buttoned up and could go with a skirt for work. The little pockets on the hips are a nice little detail too which convinced me that this wasn't just another boring old cardigan. Between the extra 25% off full priced items promo and the $30 in style cards, I got the sweater for $14. Not too shabby.

I wore it today in celebration of my good deal.

 

Blouse, Ann Taylor, size Medium (from fall 2009)

Sweater, Cotton Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan, in Weathered Purple, size Medium, Banana Republic (available here)

Jeans, Kut from the Kloth, size 14 (similiar here - mine have pretty rhinestones on the booty though!)

Boots, Nine West, size 9.5

Necklaces, Kohls

Ugh ignore my hair, please. Did I really leave the house looking like that? Gross. Just focus on my insanely awesome purple on purple action. Thank you.