Gettin' My Groove On With Frimoo Glasses-A Sponsored Post

Usually when I get emails from companies to blog about their products I just delete them. First of all, I usually assume that they're spam, and secondly, I think "how in the world do they know I have a blog???" Freaky. 

However, when I got an email from Firmoo.com, I thought what if it IS real? What if I really CAN get a free pair of glasses for my aging eyes? (bad eyesight runs deep in my family) I was desperately in need of a new pair of glasses. I had ordered a super cheap pair from another online company and they were literally falling apart.I went to Firmoo's website and was pretty surprised with what they had to offer. Stylish frames. Good quality. Good customer service. and um, FREE.

After a bit of browsing I choose my frames (they're selling for around $36), entered my vision and PD info onto their easy order form, and about 10 days later got them in the mail!

I was surprised with their quality and how sturdy they are. My glasses came in a hard leather-ish case with a cloth and also a glasses screwdriver-keychain and extra arm joint screws. 

Take a look at my new specs:

sweater: Eddie Bower via savers, dress: savers, leather belt: savers, riding boots: marshalls, earrings: charming charlie, necklace: vintage, glasses: firmoo.com

So guess what? You can get a free pair too! That's part of the perks to blogging about this sweet deal I got. Click the link to get yourself some awesome specs: Free Glasses

I love that geek glasses are totally in. Who wears them best? Um, Zooey Deschanel, obviously. Someone please tell me that I'm not the only New Girl fan out there.

haircut

i've never had my hair short before. i went for the plunge on monday and got most of it chopped off.

my new haircut is different and i'm not sure i'm quite adjusted to it yet.

but i do know one thing......

i miss my long hair already.

please grow back fast!

here's before the haircut:

and after:

which do you prefer? longer hair or shorter? the advantages to long hair are that you can do so many things- braids, buns, curls, etc..

oh and just because, this is a picture from my birthday. clearly i am excited.

happy thursday, folks.

new glasses!

have you guys heard of zenni optical? it's sooooo amazing if you wear glasses- you should check them out! [ok. that's all i'm going to say about that. ] 

both karl and i ordered new glasses a little over a week ago, and they came in the mail today. i really like my frames- i think they're trendy and more of what my style is (or is becoming).

earrings: charming charlies

glasses: zenni optical

jacket: marshalls

super-comfy-colored pants and belt: old navy 

shirt: target

shoes: chinese laundry via tj maxx (remember when i got these last year for like $3?)

we went outside and took some pictures, also featuring my new colored pants from old navy (yeah! scored on clearance with the belt!)

also notice that my hair is getting longer and i can finally put it in a bun with no bobby pins!

yay for longer hair. mine grows so... slowly...

i think i may start wearing my glasses more than my contacts. 

i really like that this season's colors are bright and bold.  they just look so happy! these colored pants (one of the best $10 i spent) are ALMOST more comfortable than my yoga pants! can you believe that?   crazy. they're easy to wear- you can roll them up or down and they look great either way.

what's your go-to spring/summer piece?

wiww: how to layer to keep warm

it's thursday. and i'm doing a what i wore wednesday. 

yes, the week has gone by a little faster than i thought.

:)

in the winter, it gets pretty cold up north. and i'm pretty much always cold when everybody else feels pretty comfortable temperature-wise. so i've learned to layer. that's really what will add dimension and interest to an outfit while meeting my insulation needs. 

after i read the e-book the no brainer wardrobe,  i saw a layering expanded. some combinations i would have never thought looked good together, really worked!

so without further adieu, here's how i keep warm. without looking like i'm a polar bear in a ski jacket.

(this was paired with skinny jeans and ballet flats, just fyi)

there are 4 layers going on here:

::tank (underneath the gray t-shirt)

:: gray short sleeve tee

:: blue button down long sleeve shirt

:: hunter green cardigan (also long sleeve of course)

adding bright belt and necklace really keep things interesting and tied together.

(f-minus on m hair that day by the way)

now this is a really warm outfit. here are the layers:

::tank top underneath it all

:: brown cashmere turtle neck (it's pretty thin, but very warm. always go with cashmere if you want to stay warm)

:: orange cardigan  (it gives shape buttoned up)

:: accessorize by layering necklaces and you are set to go!

p.s. one of my favorite color combos right now is mint and tangerine.

in this outfit, there are 3 layers:

::tank top (under the blue shirt)

:: blue shirt 

:: navy blazer. this navy blazer is one of my favs. it's cottony, soft, and stretchy so it doesn't feel as stiff as  a regular blazer. 

:: creme scarf. because i rolled up my sleeves and wore a shorter skirt with no tights/pantyhose, i needed some extra warmth. if you make sure either your neck/torso region or your waist/legs region is pretty warm you can afford to pull a look like this off in the winter. just make sure either your top or bottom is well covered and warm. 

how do you stay fashionably warm in winter?

wiww: lincoln center

welcome to wiww or what-i-wore-wednesday. it's where lazy people like me try not to be lazy and get out of our unflattering, boring comfy clothes and put some effort into our appearance. it's actually an awesome little blogging party over at The Pleated Poppy Blog where hundreds of women are joining in on the fun.

i'd have to say, being accountable for what i look like has really made me think about what i put on. am i wearing it just because it's the first thing i see in my closet? and do i realize other people must look at me? it should not pain them to do this.

this week i only have one picture (boo for me!). it's one of my favorite outfits now :)
oh, and please excuse the pose. i was going for excited. or dramatic. or something else.

scarf: gift

plum blazer: ann taylor loft

cashmere top: gift

black leggings: old (so?)

riding boots: marshalls

flower and feather headband: my s h o p

purse: target

if you're wondering what the weird and slightly awkward smiles are in this picture, it's because this happened:

scene: we're taking crazy jumping pictures in lincoln center, nyc.

karl, with camera: "jump higher!"

jess: "really? did you get one good one at least?"

(stranger and french man approaches)

strange man with accent: "Oh hello!!! i take picture for you!"

jess and karl: "um, ok"

s.m.w.accent: walks around looking at the camera screen: "we go over this way. ok, i get fountain in background. ok, that picture no good. to many people behind. ok, one more. ok, move to ze left again. ok, now to ze right. ok. not bad. one more. ok!!! this one good. bye-bye."

gotta love it. and i do. 

:: It's the little things::oct.28

This week we have had the most beautiful weather as well as some really gross stuff going on. Like darkness and rain and little ice pellets (why do I always forget my umbrella during times like these?). Linking up with Lindsey from Aisle to Aloha- recounting the little things that brought joy to our lives this week. Here are a couple of mine:

Before the icky weather set in, Karl and I took a little trip down the road to a park/farm/cool place. This "park" had a mini farm but also a greenhouse, a (large) garden, bee-keeping/hives, a horse, cow, donkey goats, sheep, geese, chickens, lamas, turkeys...(am I forgetting something? oh yes, pigs.) It's really cool because it's a public farm where you can go walk around during certain hours, but there's also a family who lives there and takes care of the animals/keeps a garden/bees/. You can even buy fresh eggs there. Which I think is pretty cool for being in the middle of a city. Oh yes, my camera died after 2 minutes worth of pictures. sorry 'bout that.

not sure why you would want to keep a llama on a farm....milk? wool? anyways, I love how all the animals graze together and get along: llamas, goats, sheep, horse, donkey.... :)

Trader Joes. so love going grocery shopping there. originally went there to get these apples.

ended up getting all this stuff too. i'm not very good with sticking to my grocery list.

I'm especially excited for this stuff: i know i could have made it myself, but it wouldn't have looked this cute.

went on a walk. love crunching leaves underfoot.

(on my walk) found these interesting flowers (?)

sold this headband in my etsy shop this week and shipped it off to croatia! (how fun)

{pretty} bottles {to look at}

  {pretty} smells {for when I've sauteed 100 onions and then must go out in public}

{pretty} hair oil {for everyday that my hair has a life of it's own. which is every.day.}

Happy friday everyone!

WIWW (What I Wore Wednesday)

This week I'm linking up (once again) with Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy. I haven't done my best taking pictures every day, but just so you know, my yoga pants were in the laundry for  the better part of this week. This week is a little bit crazy and busy, and I will be glad once it is over! And because my brain is currently fried, dipped in batter and then fried again, that's all for now.

you can't see it by the top has gathered sleeves and a lace back. it's one of my favorites! (its also a cream and beige stripe, but you can't see that either. here's to taking better pictures!)

Sunday- lace top H&M via goodwill $3, tank f21, skirt f21, shoes nine west via shoe carnival

can't get enough of this top! looking forward to pairing it with lots of lovelies!

tank: DD

white top: f21

jeans: loft

cardi: old navy via plato's closet

shoes: gift

necklace: gift

WIWW (What I Wore Wednesday)

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy today. It's something she started to help us get out of our yoga pants and t-shirts. Which I seriously would wear everyday. (is there anything more comfortable than that?) To see Lindsey's post and to see hundreds of other ladies linking up for the partaaay, click on the box above. (which says WIWW)

tee: target

sweater: AE via tj maxx

skinny jeans: f21

ballet flats: nine west via thrifted!

belt: thrifted

flower: ny&co

my least favorite outfit this week. so blah. but so comfortable! (i love my brown cords)

white lacy top: thrifted

mustard tank: f21

teal cardi: gap via thrifted

brown cords: old navy super sale

necklace: annie sez

brown sweater: target 

blue blazer: marshalls

pink skirt: loft

flats: thrifted nine wests

comfy sweater and necklace from target (via some awesome dollar store)

grey tee: f21 ($2)

white dress: thrifted ($1)

orange sweater: benetton ($2)

belt: came with the brown cords from old navy (love little freebies like that)

necklace: vintage from church bazar ($2)

earrings: flea market (.75)

tights: gift

shoes: gift 

Total for this outfit: $7.75! 

Started taking picts of the apartment today for an apartment post. So look for that coming up soon! :)

WIWW (What I Wore Wednesday)

It's time for another "What I Wore Wednesday"- linking up with The Pleated Poppy. Unfortunately, I didn't do so well with taking a picture every day. I'm still working on remembering to take pictures before late at night when there's no natural light and I look exhausted. All right, enough excuses.  I'll just have to supplement this post with some food pictures if that's ok. :)  All right....here goes:

pink ruffle top : tj maxx (sale! $2)

boyfriend sweater: AE (tj maxx as well)

leggings: too old to remember...conway(?)

bow ballet flats: liz claiborne (thrifted)

sunday's dress: tj maxx

nude wedge sandals: franco sarto (tj maxx)

i know i look exhausted. probably because i am. 

yellow tank: borrow(ing) from mom...

blue  top: marshalls

skinny jeans: f21

my new brown sandals! marshalls

grey top: f21

pink ruffle tank: old and don't remember

flare jeans: ann taylor loft

gold flats: nine west

Lindsey @ the pleated poppy was experimenting with ruffle tanks. so i put one ON TOP of a tee to switch things up...

my new gold flats i found at goodwill in NEW condition! $7.

on tuesday night, after a long day of teaching, i came home to find Karl slaving away in the kitchen. blood, sweat and tears paid off for these pan-seared chicken breasts with a lemon and chive sauce.

my delicious lunch today (i should eat like this more often!) a mixed salad with:

feta

dried cranberries

mushrooms

homemade dressing 

and (the best part)

toasted garlic pita. 

WIWW (What I Wore Wednesday)

Today I'm linking up with Lindsey at the  The Pleated Poppy for  WIWW or "What I Wore Wednesday." This is my first post and I'm so excited! If you've taken a look at some other blogs like "From the Island to Aloha" or "Funky Vintage Lovely" or "The Pretty Bee" they have all got their husbands trained into taking good pictures for them. Most of mine have been self portraits, so no laughing, ok?  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of what I wore every day this week and probably a good thing since I've become best friends with my yoga pants and tevas.  Like I mentioned in an earlier post it's to help us (really anyone who wants) get out of our sweatpants and tank tops. I think I really need this accountability because lately I've definitely been choosing comfort- being comfortable with looking like a slob. (eeeks!) So here goes folks:

(Ok, so you can't see most of it, but I've got to start somewhere right?)

Shirt: Target

Necklace: vintage from church bazaar 

Skinny Jeans: F21

Tank: Dee Dee

Green Tank: Guess (thrifted)

Boyfriend Sweater: AE (T.J. Maxx)

Necklace: church bazaar

Skinny Jeans:  Route 66

Earrings: so old I can't remember

  Boyfriend Sweater: AE (tj maxx)

Grey top: tj maxx ($1!)

Jeans: Route 66

Rubbahs: Laila Rowe (perhaps only people who've been to the Gallery in Baltimore will know this)

See! I even did my short, annoying hair! I've been looking for ideas on pintrest and decided to try this one until I get it right.  (Does it make me look too young?)

That's all for this week!