Affordable Interview/Professional Dress/Stylish Outfit Ideas!

Aside from my job of being a full-time frugal fashionista, I have also worked for many years as a Career Counselor. In addition to helping others figure out what they want to do when they grow up, I also helped them prepare for interviews and gave guidance on how to “dress for success”. In preparation of me going back to work soon after a hiatus, I rotated my wardrobe to get my professional duds cleaned, pressed, and ready to go.

Today, I want to show you how you can put together professional looks without spending a ton of money on a new wardrobe. This should be particularly helpful for new grads and those re-entering the workforce after a hiatus like myself.

This first look includes a blazer that I purchased many years ago but was of good quality so it maintained its structure well over the years. I frequent thrift stores so I often see good quality blazers that can be purchased for around $5. It is worth it to grab as many as you can afford because they are great wardrobe staples. Dry clean them as you can (our local one price dry cleaner charges $3.50 to clean blazers). I added a simple blouse and basic black skirt which can also be found in regular retail stores for less than $10 but of course both are plentiful in thrift stores for even less than that. The shoes are from Shoedazzle from which I can often get deals for $10 or less especially during their end of season specials.

This next look features a striped cardigan that I’ve also had for years but had it cleaned and pressed at the dry cleaner. Cardigans tend to be less expensive than blazers so check out your local discount retailer (Ross, TJMaxx, Marshalls, Burlington) where you can find some for $10-$12. I purchased the pink camisole and classic black pants from the thrift store. I think I paid $1 for the top and $5 for the pants which look as if they have never been worn. Be sure to check with thrift stores in your area to find out days on which they offer additional discounts. It’s always good to save a few of your coins when you can! The shoes are from Ross where I paid $25.

This look includes another blazer that I dug from the back of my closet and had dry cleaned. I found the dress on the clearance rack at Burlington for $8, the gold necklace is attached to the dress. A cute dress and accessory for one low price, you can’t beat that! The shoes again are from Shoedazzle, you really can’t beat their deals. One tip for shopping with Shoedazzle/Justfab…always skip the month so that you won’t be charged the $39.95 fee. Put a reminder in your phone/calendar so that you don’t forget. You can always get a better deal on their site by purchasing during a sale. You can use my links to receive 75% off your first order!

https://www.shoedazzle.com/invite/25440387/

https://www.justfab.com/invite/9823016

What I like about all of these pieces is that they are interchangeable to create different looks every day of the week. Mix and match tops, blazers, skirts, pants, cardigans, and shoes! Even the dress could be tucked in and worn as a blouse with the skirt and pants. You could also add a couple new (or thrifted) blouses to round out your work week (or month). The possibilities are (almost) endless!

I have many more money saving ideas that I am going to share in the upcoming weeks so stay tuned for more!!

See you soon!

 

 

Inside the Dressing Room: JC Penney Clearance!

Here we are again on another day with another dressing room try-on! Today, I am featuring items from the JC Penney clearance rack! I must admit, that I don’t typically shop at JC Penney but I heard that they had a decent plus size selection so I decided to check it out for myself. In true “me” fashion, I went straight to the clearance section because…I’m cheap and like to save a few coins when I can. Here’s what I found:

Distressed Skinny Ankle Jeans

I thought that these jeans were super cute and they had a decent fit. I don’t tend to like mid-low rise jeans because they cut right across my “mommy tummy” so I usually have to size up or look for jeans with the most stretch. The clearance price is probably what I would usually pay for jeans.

Everyone knows that my favorite color is “leopard print”. Yes, I know it’s not technically a color but it is one of my favorite prints to wear. This peplum blouse was very loose fitting but was still figure flattering.

The clearance price is a really fair deal which is 70% off the original price.

I’m not a bit gaucho pants/culottes wearer but these were cute on the hanger so I tried them on. I didn’t like them on me but they were super comfortable and they had pockets.

The price tag was on upside down but these were only $11.09.

Now what I do love is a good cardigan. Cardigans come in handy on so many occasions. You can layer them for a streamline look or just for additional warmth in a cool office. This one was at an awkward length on me being just a tad too long.

The clearance price is a great deal for a cardigan that will look great….on a taller person.

These black skinny ankle jeans look like any other jean from far away in this pic but up close…

There is sequin on the bottom! How is that to add a little pizzazz to your wardrobe?

With a markdown of 80% off, these pants are a great deal!

Because I can never pass up a good cardigan, for the above stated reasons, I had to try this one. It was chunky and warm and had this cute detail on the arm.

This one had a decent price for such a thick sweater but I could wait till it’s a little lower.

I had to journey over to the dress selection and found this beauty:

I’m not usually into long dresses because I’m so short and they tend to look like too much material on me. But the empire waist design and sheer panels at the bottom caught my eye.

I guess the cheapskate in me is always looking for below $20 deals but this one just might be worth the clearance price.

Overall, I must say that JC Penney did have a decent selection in their plus size clearance and I may journey back over there again to see if the prices drop a little it more. As you can probably tell, the fit was all over the place. I tried on items from a size 0X(14W) to 20W and they all fit. So, it’s safe to say, you really have to try on items or know how certain fabrics fit on your body to ensure a good fit.

See you next time….on another clearance rack!

Four Stylish Ways to Wear One Cardigan for: Work, Play, and Formal Affairs.

Earlier this week, I posted my first “Inside the Dressing Room” where I tried on several pieces from Lane Bryant’s clearance section. I selected two pieces from that try-on: a cardigan and a black bedazzled belt. Today, I’m going to show you how I will work these pieces into my wardrobe for a variety of occasions.

“Werk” Wear:

Who said work-wear has to be boring? I love the way this purply-eggplant color cardigan looks with olive green.

Sure, you could wear it with a little longer of a skirt to make it more “professional“. I mean, if that’s the look you’re going for…

Date Night:

If you’re anything like me, you like dressing up and dressing down at the same time. I wore this cardigan as a top using the belt as closure. I paired it with this cute distressed skirt from Rainbow that I snagged for only $3 (on clearance, of course)! Now I’m ready for a date night!

Speaking of date night, my hubby gave me these beautiful flowers. I can’t wear my wedding rings due to an eczema breakout on my fingers and I look incomplete without them 😦 😦

Formal Wear:

Got a special occasion banquet, formal dinner, or wedding to attend? This cardigan/belt combo pairs well with this black wide-legged jumpsuit. Cheers!

I’ve had this jumpsuit for years and it has served me well. If you can find one, snatch it up, you won’t regret it.

Casual Wear:

Lastly, I had to show you that this cardigan looks great with jeans too!

Where am I going in this outfit? I don’t know but it’s comfortable, cute, and just a little bit sexy.

So there you have it, four looks for the price of one belt and one cardigan. When shopping, I always choose pieces that I know can work easily into my existing wardrobe. It’s also great when I can find a color that plays well with others since, like most people, I tend to have a lot of black pieces in my closet.

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog and I’ll see you next time for more try-ons and styled looks!

Inside the Dressing Room: Lane Bryant Clearance!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Anyone who has ever shopped with me knows that I always start in the clearance section. Why pay full price for something when you can possibly find something just as nice for a fraction of the price? Sometimes I wonder when are the best times to hit the clearance at certain stores. Most times we expect the best time to be the end of a season but sometimes not. So, I decided to start a new adventure to help all other clearance-heads out there who may not have time to go from store-to-store. The easiest way to show off what I’m liking best: dressing room try-ons.

Up first is Lane Bryant. Not only did they have a decent selection marked down to clearance prices but they were also offering an additional 40% off those clearance prices! I guess I picked a good time to go!

Please excuse the yellow haze created by the lighting in their dressing rooms. 

Livi Active Wear- I tried their active wear for the first time. I like the fit of the pants and the cute lace detail on the side. I’m not too big on long sleeved workout wear though. How about that weird placement of their security tags??lol

I’m a firm believer that a well fitted blazer/jacket completes a look. Lane Bryant had a nice selection of well-cut blazers on clearance. This light pink number was still a bit pricey even with the discounts but I can see why. The cut and the amount of stretch makes this jacket fit like it was tailor made for your body!

These tapered ankle jeans had a decent fit and can be worn dressed up or down.

Another jacket was this beautiful eggplant ruffle hem bomber-like jacket. This jacket would be great for work or casual looks.

 

Close-up to see the silky-shiny texture of the jacket.

This cute military-style jacket that has just enough stretch for a figure-flattering look.

These pants didn’t have as great of a fit as the jeans. They seem to be either too loose or not loose enough in certain areas, I can’t decide.

This short kimono/poncho style cardigan has a rich purple color and luxe ribbed texture that made this simple piece look oh-so-fancy.

I paired it with this belt that was also on clearance which had this beautiful jeweled detail that was covered with a plastic film for protection.

They had a few dresses but this was the only one in my size. I love the ruffle detail on the sleeves and the pockets. I just didn’t think this dress was too flattering on me.

Every wardrobe needs a cute denim jacket and Lane Bryant again has gotten it right with the cut of their jackets. The amount of structure and stretch makes this an easy piece to wear.

The frayed details on the cuffs and hem adds an extra interesting touch.

All in all, I was pleased with the selection of clearance items available at Lane Bryant. I must also mention that the section was clean and very well organized making it easy to see all that was available. I did purchase two pieces that I will do another post on how I styled them. Can you guess what they were?? Stay tuned for the answer, how I styled them, and more clearance rack goodies!

 

Last Minute Christmas Gifts- DIY Hair & Body Oil!

I hope you are enjoying this series and ready to complete your gift sets today! If you’re just joining me, be sure to check out my previous two blog posts to catch up on the great d.i.y. gifts perfect for any occasion. Today, we are creating this oh-so-fancy (but affordable) hair & body oil.

This oil combines vitamin-rich, antioxidant, moisturizing properties to make a perfect treatment for dry, sensitive skin and for the treatment of hair damage and loss. It can be gently heated in water to use as hot oil treatment. Leaving you with rich moisturized and luxurious locks of hair.

The 3 oils that we will be using are: Olive oil, Vitamin E oil, and Sunflower Oil. Best of all the olive and vitamin e oil can be found at Dollar Tree! The large bottle of sunflower oil was purchased at Walmart for around $4.

I’m going to be adding in some scented oils which I purchased here . But you can also find some in store at Hobby Lobby (don’t forget your coupon on their website). I also picked up a few packs of these travel sized bottles at…you guessed it, Dollar Tree.

I simply blended all the oils together and separated them in different bottles to make different scents and added fragrance oil to each. Lastly, I funneled the oil into each bottle. It is as simple as that!

While at Dollar Tree, I stopped by the craft aisle and picked up some bling wrap and glued it to the tops of the bottles to make them look a little fancier and giftier…is that a word?

I printed out the labels myself to identify the scents. I like that one is in a spray bottle which makes it perfect to use on the skin right out the shower. The other bottles can be carried in a purse for on-the-go moisture while another can be used for a hot oil hair treatment.

So this series included: bath bomb truffles, shower jelly, and hair/body oil. These luscious gift sets would be great for any occasion. For a few dollars, you can create multiple gift sets for multiple people for the same price as one set purchased in the store!

I hope this helps you save a few coins and enjoy this holiday season.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you soon….

Last Minute Christmas Gifts- DIY Scented Shower Jelly!

Next up in this year’s series of affordable gifts is d.i.y. shower jelly. I’ve seen these pop up in recent years in the popular fancy bath product stores. I looked at them and said what I say when I see most things, “I can make that”. Although often times I say that and it turns out not to be true, this time….it was so easy that even I could do it. Not only was it super easy but also very affordable.

Here’s what you will need:

• 8 oz bottle of Castile Unscented Liquid Soap
• 1 oz unflavored Gelatin
• 2 cups water

To add color and scents you will need:

• Food coloring (add a few drops to reach desired color)
• Scented Oil (I got mine here)

These containers are the perfect size to create individual portions of the jelly. Best of all, you get 10 containers for $1 at Dollar Tree!

Directions:

• Pour 1 oz of gelatin into 1 cup of cold water, let sit for 1-2 minutes
• Pour 1 cup of boiling hot water over the gelatin mixture, allow to cool for 5 minutes
• Add 1/4 cup of castile soap to gelatin
• Divide mixture if you want to make different colors and scents
• Add a few drops of food coloring to each mixture until you reach desired hue
• Add 10-15 drops of scented oil

I used a small funnel to easily transfer the gelatin mixture into the individual containers.

I created 3 scents/colors: honeysuckle (green), black raspberry vanilla (red), and mango papaya (yellow). They all smell great and are sure to create an invigorating shower experience!

The above recipe filled all ten containers. I ended up mixing one with red and yellow to create the rogue orange jelly which created an interesting combo scent.

Lastly, put the containers in the fridge to set. Within an hour or two your shower jellies are ready!

So there you have it. A cute, fun, and beautifully scented gift that your friends and family will love!! You don’t even have to tell them how easy and cheap these were to make, lol.

Stay tuned for the completion of the d.i.y. gift trifecta…..

Last Minute Christmas Gifts-DIY Bath Bomb Truffles!

Here we are again at the Christmas Season…’tis the season to be jolly. However, some are not so jolly because they are worried about what this time of year may do to their pockets. Well, smile again because I’ve got you (and your pockets) covered! This gift is not only inexpensive but smells good and looks good enough to eat…actually most of the ingredients are edible but I doubt they would be delicious.

So let’s get started. You will need:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid
• 1/2 cup epsom salt
• 1/2 cup corn starch
• 6-8 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
• food coloring
• 12-15 drops premium fragrance oil
• bath bomb mold

Most of the above are sold at Dollar Tree with the exception of the citric acid. The citric acid was purchased from Walmart for less than $3 and can be found in the kitchen supply section since it’s used for canning and pickling.

I bought the silicone mold from Hobby Lobby. There is usually a 40% off coupon available on their website so be sure to use it! I purchased premium fragrance oil on Ebay which can be found here.

I also saw these fragrances at Hobby Lobby:

Mix all the dry ingredients then slowly add in the fragrance oil and melted coconut oil and stir until you reached a clumped consistency that looks like this:

It’s important that you make sure your mixture clumps and holds together otherwise, your bath bomb may crumble. You can gradually add in more melted coconut oil as needed to reach this consistency. You can also add color at this point. I divided the mixture in different bowls to create a variety of colors. Add the mixture to both sides of the bomb mold until it is slightly overflowing. Close and press the mold and leave for at least 1 minute. For extra solidity, you can place it in the freezer for a few minutes. Carefully remove the bombs from the mold.

To add a little sparkle and jazz to your bath bombs and make them look almost edible, you can use a little Writing Icing, Sprinkles, Food Coloring, and Cupcake Cups. These can all be found at your local grocery store or old faithful Dollar Tree.

Decorate your bath bombs to look like a dessert truffle. You can scrape it off easily before you add it to your bath or leave it as it is sugar and will dissolve in bathwater. Enjoy!

I’m not exactly an Artiste but I still think mine came out kind of cute. If you have a little more creativity, the ideas are limitless as to what you can create.

The goal is to have a little fun, save a little money, and enjoy the gift exchange.

You know I like to do gift ideas in 3’s, right??? Stay tuned for the next fabulous DIY Christmas gift!

 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving…And a Healthy Leftovers Week!

Thanksgiving is one week away and most people are looking forward to indulging in all of the richest foods of the season. There are a slight few who might be concerned about the inevitable weight gain that happens over the holidays.  Welp, I don’t have an easy solution for you because I’m most likely going to eat some stuff that will cause me to acquire a pound or two. However, I do not plan to turn Thanksgiving Day into Thanksgiving Week so I do have a solution to minimize the impact of “leftover calorie-pocalypse”.

Three dishes that are of the most popular and calorific are: Dressing (aka stuffing), Macaroni & Cheese, and Candied Yams. I’ve lightened these dishes up and created a tasty & healthy substitute that combined with baked turkey and my greens recipe, will lessen the weight gain impact. 

So, here we have Quinoa “dressing”, Mac & Cheese, and Sweetened Yams. I realize that the three of these together are still a carb explosion so….maybe eat one at a time.

First up, Mac & Cheese. I used gluten free organic brown rice & quinoa pasta…. I know what you’re thinking but when you boil this pasta in chicken broth and add a dash of salt, flavor explosion!

I made a cheese sauce using fat free half & half  slowly melting in shredded cheeses until I reached the desired consistency (approx, 1 cup of each).

Layer pasta with cheese sauce making sure to add cheese/sauce to the top and bake until you get these lovely brown bubbly bits on top….enjoy.

According to Webmd: a 12-ounce serving of Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese has 529 calories, 25.7 grams of fat, and 10.6 grams of saturated fat. This recipe has 215 calories, 27 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat, 11 g protein, 5 g sugar.

Next up, my version of dressing that has all the same flavors with a fraction of the calories/fat. Prepare quinoa according to package instructions substituting in chicken broth for the water. Saute the seasoning blend until softened and lightly caramelized. 

Combine the above ingredients with these seasonings. I season according to taste so keep adding teaspoons until it tastes like you like it!

When its all mixed together, you have this yumminess. And it tastes just like dressing with a slightly different consistency!

According to USDA data, a single one-cup serving of prepared bread stuffing provides 390 calories, 5 grams of protein, 38 grams of carbohydrate, 2 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, 134 mg of sodium, and 27 grams of total fat. This version has 82 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of fat, 5 grams of protein, 22 mg of sodium, and 0 grams of sugar!

These yams (sweet potatoes) aren’t “candied” but they are no less delicious. Coconut sugar is far lower on the glycemic index than white or brown sugar. Coconut oil has many health benefits over butter and has been shown to even help burn fat! So I sliced the potatoes, and sprinkled with coconut sugar (to taste) and a tablespoon of coconut oil distributed throughout. 

Season with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, a teaspoon of vanilla and a dash of salt. Cover with foil and bake in a  400 degree oven until softened.

I added a dollop of whipped cream to mimic the highly sugary marshmallow topping. 

According to a highly rated recipe for candied yams on Allrecipes.com: 
Per Serving: 397 calories; 7.9 g fat; 79.4 g carbohydrates; 3.7 g protein; 20 mg cholesterol; 179 mg sodium. This recipe has 165 calories, 35 g carbohydrates, 3g fat, 2g protein, 83 mg sodium, 11g sugar. 

All in all, Thanksgiving is a holiday for enjoying food and family. It’s ok to indulge for one day and if you normally eat a healthy diet, one day of extra calories is not going to hurt. The day after however, is no longer Thanksgiving so enjoy my recipes until all the turkey is gone….your body will Thank you.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Fall Fashion Looks: Work,Casual, and a Night Out.

The smell of freshly fallen leaves and pumpkin spice flavored things are everywhere which means that it must be Fall. For the fashion industry, Fall is the prime time of year to feature all the high fashion looks. Most just love to finally have some relief from the blistering heat and being able to pull out the jackets for some cute layered looks.

Even though it it now technically Fall, it sometimes reaches 80 degrees where I am. Through September and early October, I will probably be mixing some lighter Summer pieces in my Fall looks.

This first look combines two of my favorite things: A crisp white shirt and animal print. Every wardrobe should include a well fitting white shirt and as far is I’m concerned, animal print is a neutral color.

Fall is…..an over-sized sweater and leggings period…

Playing around with solid colors and animal print to create a simple but statement look that can be worn for work or a casual day.

A well made cardigan sweater is a great investment piece and can be worn for a polished, professional look or paired with a tee and jeans for a clean, casual look.

Everyone needs a great evening look. Whether its date night or girls’ night out, pairing a top with a little bling with a black pencil skirt is an easy, chic look.

I hope this post gave you some inspiration to have some fun with your Fall looks. I noticed that I wear a LOT of animal print so I guess you can say it’s my favorite “color”.

I have more looks coming soon so stay tuned!

Shop these looks in my eBay store…Dazzling Emerald plus sizes (affiliate links)

Avenue Brand White Shirt Size 22/24

Express World Brand Animal Print Skirt Size L

Simply Vera Wang Gray Lace Sweater Size 2X

Black Long Sleeve Top Fits Sizes L-2X

Croft & Barrow Fuchsia Tiered Long Skirt Size XL

Talbots Tan Cardigan Sweater Size 2X

Lane Bryant Animal Print Wrap Skirt Size 28

Saks Fifth Avenue Navy Embellished Top Size XL

 

Spending My Summer in the Backyard Part 1…

So, I’ve been missing all summer from these blogging streets. Let’s just say that I’ve been taking some time to stop and smell the flowers….

For the past few years, I’ve been really trying to work on my green thumb. Pinterest has me inspired and thinking that I can do anything! And what I can’t do, I can convince hubby to do!! lol! The picture above features a preview of the patio hubby built a couple years ago and the pergola he built this year. The flowers though…that’s all me!

We’ll get to the details of the full patio/pergola design as well as the decorative touches that I add in part 2. In the meantime, the flowers are courtesy of of box of Zinnia seeds that I purchased from none other than Dollar Tree! One box claimed to contain 100 seeds and produced all this!

They attract the most beautiful butterflies!

You have to appreciated God’s creations and how He perfectly coordinates the body of the insect to the wings! And did you see that extra splash of blue and orange??

Another of my Pinterest inspirations was this umbrella base. I used a large 16″ flower pot from Home Depot, one and a half bags of cement mix, a pvc pipe, and spray paint. After everything set, I added dirt and flowers. This thing is heavy and holds a large 8 foot umbrella and all for less than $40!!

Did I mention that I garden now too?? Well, I actually started that last year after hubby and daughter built a garden bed for me. I grew a variety of peppers and herbs this year.

I harvested these peppers and made some deliciously spicy tacos!

I realize that summer is coming to an end but where I live, fall is an even better season to enjoy the outdoors. As fall approaches and the temps cool a bit, I’ll be adding the finishing touches and will share it all in part 2 so stay tuned!