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I had a salon appointment Thursday afternoon and since I was so close, I headed up to the outlets. I was very interested in seeing the new arrivals at the J Crew Factory Store, after hearing on Saturday they would be in Wednesday. There were lots of pretty new things, bright colors, new accessories and almost everything was on promo. Add the additional 20% off if you spend over $150 (see Alexis’s post here on the JCA blog) and you’ve got some good deals.

40% off Gallery Tees
30% off Fisherman Cable Sweaters, The Skimmer Pant, Footwear, Blazers, Jackets, Jackie Cardigan, Tunics/Cover-ups, Belts, and Jewelry
20% off Shorts, Skirts, Dresses and Suiting
Crewneck S/S Tee $16.99 promo
V-Neck S/S Tees $19.99 promo (The striped ones are very cute and I was tempted to get them in all colors.)

JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES 
There were lots of cute little critter necklaces along with some new types of pearls and other necklaces. Here were just a few I was able to snap pics of.

Crab Necklace (I meant to get this, being a Cancer and all, but I completely forgot.)

Ship’s Wheel Necklace

Jeweled Bee Necklace

Ladybug Necklace

Round Bauble Necklace in Blue, also comes in a Mustard-y Tan (at the bottom of the pic)

Jeweled Bee Earrings

Belts in a lot of colors
TOPS
Striped Jackie Cardigan – #65041, M, Navy – So I was eyeing this Loft sweater last week but it fit too cropped and tight in the arms, in a Medium, so I passed on it. This cardigan fits TTS and has bracelet sleeves and I don’t have a striped cardigan. And navy and white is so classic. – .$54.50 plus 30% off

Sailor Sweater – #65022, Sm, Sailor Blue – I sized down from my normal Medium. This fit well in the Small. I suppose it is meant to be loose and slouchy. Also comes in Black Linen. $69.50 plus 30% off

Floral Tunic – #12572, Sm, TAM – I believe this is meant to be worn as a cover-up, otherwise you’ll need a cami underneath to avoid exposing the girls. I have this pulled up some to avoid exposure. $59.50 plus 30% off

Factory Cap-Sleeve Blouse in Gingham – #66618, Sm, AGI Azalea Gingham? – Mary Ann or Ellie Mae? Cute but not for me. I don’t like elastic on my sleeves. See it here in Chambray. $44.50 plus 20% off

And look what’s made another come-back? I don’t/can’t see the style # but it is $59.50.

DRESSES
Cotton Shift Dress – #36740, 6, Navy – This is a very cute dress. It comes in Navy, Modern Red, and Natural. The Size 6 fit well through the bust and good through the waist seaming.

Modern Red, Sz 8 – You can see the pleating at the bust lays a little flatter than the 6. I preferred this size to the 6 but I would say get your normal size if you are interested in this dress. I would have bought this in both the Navy and Modern Red, if there had been an 8 in the Navy. $98 plus 20%

Cap-Sleeve Dress – #69414, 6, Popsicle Pink – This was a little tight in the bust an arms for me (elastic sleeve), and short. It zips up the back with an exposed zipper. And it a very PINK dress. I couldn’t not try it on, it was so bright. I would size up to an 8 but there weren’t any to try on. $89.50 plus 20%

Striped Dress – #68389, 8, Black – This is a very cute dress. It’s a pull-over style, with no zipper and only a button at the back of the neck. The waist is elastic in the back. As you can see it is a little blouse-y on top. I would have sized to a 6 but there were none left.

Dotted Strapless Dress – #23064, 8, Navy – This is a teeny tiny polka-dot dress, with pockets. I want to say this is the Lorelei style, in the retail version. Very cute.

Same Dress in a Size 6. This fit a little more snug in the top but I was able to zip this up all the way. I’d stay with an 8, which is what I’d normally get in a strapless dress.


SKIRTS
Seersucker Mini – #23294, 8, Classic Navy – Very cute mini skirt with some adorable buttons. $59.50 plus 20%

Textured Cotton Mini – #25807, 8, Wild Blackberry – I liked the texture of this mini. I have a pencil skirt in the same texture. It has a slightly exposed back zipper and comes in Natural and Rhubarb. I could have sized to a 6 as this was a little loose in the waist and hips. $56.50 plus 20%

Twill Bell Skirt – #61251, 8, Poppy – I prefer to wear an 8 in these elastic waist skirts so I can adjust how I wear it to give me more or less length. $58 plus 20% off

Agate, 6 – If there had been an 8 in this Viridian Green-ish color I would have brought it home with me. Love!

Vineyard Pencil Skirt – #65816, 6, DPE – A remade-for-factory retail skirt from last year. See it on me here. Fits TTs and just as cute as the retail version.

SHORTS
I did not try on any shorts but here are some in-store right now.
Pink Gingham

3-inch Critter Chino Short – Navy Ivory Anchors


 Bermuda in Modern Red and Pale Coral

And finally, here’s my OOTD and new ‘do.

Tippi Sweater – Heather Dark Grape
Anthro Havana Fresca Maxi Skirt
Cece Ballet Flats 

So what do you think of the New Factory Arrivals? Anything catch your eye?

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I have had a really busy weekend and it’s not quite over yet. Husband left for India for 16 days on Friday and left everything to the last minute, including checking his departure time which was 2 1/2 hours before he was supposed to leave. Luckily he had just zipped up his last bag so he was packed. He made his flight, due to some super-speedy/no-traffic-on-the-way driving by me and is now safely in his hotel in India.

And, since “checking what time you are supposed to be somewhere” seems to run in the family, The Boy missed his bus Saturday morning by getting the words “be there” and “leaving at” completely confused. As we were driving up to the school we passed by the bus at the traffic light. He called his teammates who were on the bus and they confirmed that, yes, they had left. So, since I had nothing else to do but run a 15 year-old all over Central Texas I drove him to the game, an hour away.

And it gets better.

We got to the fields and his team wasn’t there. When we left we were about 5 minutes ahead or behind the bus. I even stopped for breakfast so if they were behind us they would have caught up to us. Turns out the bus broke down about 20 minutes from the school. If I had gone the same way as the bus I would have 1) met up with them and 2) handed over The Boy. So, we killed about 45 minutes waiting for his team. Luckily, we were in our old hometown of New Braunfels, from 5 years ago, so we stopped at our favorite German bakery, Naegelin’s Bakery, for some donuts, I grabbed a Starbucks, we drove by our old home and we drove by Schlitterbahn aka “The Hottest, Coolest Time in Texas” and was the top water park as deemed by the Travel Channel.

Whew! So, once The Boy was handed off, I decided that since it was only a 15 minute drive I would go to the outlet mall. I hit up J Crew, of course, so be on the lookout for a review later today. They said new Spring arrivals would be in on Wednesday. And, once I left, since I apparently wasn’t done shopping, I came back home and went to the mall and Ann Taylor. So look for that review soon too. They have some colored jeans that are similar to J Crew’s Toothpick jeans in the new bright colors but they fit much much better, IMO.

Of course, after all that driving and shopping I needed a night out. I met up with some friends for dinner at Perry’s Steakhouse, which just opened. I had a wonderful time and some fantastic food. I knew I wanted to wear my Giraffe Cuff so I planned my outfit around the peachy colors in it. I originally had on this skirt, which I found yesterday at the J Crew Factory.

Sweater: Ann Taylor Extrafine Merino Wool 3/4 Sleeve Sweater, Cameo Pink, Small
Skirt: J Crew Factory Double-Serge Cotton Pencil Skirt, Byzantine Blue, 6 (Black and Neon Rose are online)
Shoes: Valentino Patent Bow Pumps

But when I walked outside it was just a little too cold to go bare-legged so I changed into these plaid cashmere pants I found on ebay late last year. They were a sample and fit like a dream. I had them hemmed to wear with heels. I added my Ecole Blazer in Brown Velvet for a little extra warmth on top.

You can kind of see that the peachy-pink tones of the bracelet go well with the sweater. It is such a statement piece. Our waiter even noticed it and commented on it.

I also stopped by Ann Taylor Loft on Friday and they had some very cute things for Spring, so I’ll be posting those items too. The only place I didn’t stop at and do try-ons was at Anthropologie. But maybe I’ll do that today or next weekend.

Have a Great day and look for my review posts soon.

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I’m off to a Board meeting. Over the summer, I was “talked into” joining the board of our HOA. A margarita might have been involved. But it’s interesting but, my goodness, sometimes there are just complainers, both at the meetings and on the board. I say “Be happy you have a nice home in a great neighborhood.” We don’t ask a lot of the homeowners but you’d think we were going to peoples homes and inspecting everything. I usually just sit and listen mostly.

Tonight is our annual board meeting, where all the homeowners should attend. And I’m finally wearing my Viridian Green No. 2 Pencil Skirt. How long have I had this? Oh, since it came out…in August!

No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool, Viridian Green, Sz 6
J Crew Cashmere Tee, Snow
Corso Como Boots
Oh, and does this count a color-blocking? I was unsure since the top is white. Just curious.
Have a Great evening!

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Happy New Year dear readers! I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Year’s celebration Saturday and Sunday. Thank you for all the lovely comments on my NYE post. I wish you all a fabulous 2012, full of passion, joy, love and shopping (a teeny bit for some of you from what I’ve been reading).

We had some great friends over for a small dinner party NYE. The meal was amazing. Husband cooked some fantastic steaks and everyone brought over some fantastic appetizers, sides and dessert (cheesecake!). We drank some champagne and played a little Wii Pictionary (so much fun!) to kill some time before heading out to a little club to ring in the new year. We had great fun in our little “VIP” section, as Husband made reservations for us so we could rest our dancing feet whenever we wanted.

The Boy did not go with us, of course. He was invited at the last minute (how’s noon on NYE) to a party at a friend’s house. So I had to manage prepping my part of dinner (baked tomatoes…yummy!), getting dressed for the evening and driving him to his friend’s a little early so I could make it back to welcome our guests. I arrived home the same time our guests arrived so it was all perfect timing.

Here’s what both The Boy and I wore for our evening.

On Me: J Crew Factory Sequin Tee, Dégradé Swing Skirt (8, Metallic Pumice), Babette Heels (ebay find)
On The Boy: J Crew Oxford Shirt in Bosley Tartan
On Gus: PetSmart Brown Leather Collar

This is quite a lovely little skirt. I like how the dégradé makes the skirt look sparkley without any sequins. The material also has a nice shimmery sheen to it too. I did change into nice flats before leaving the house so I could be comfortable dancing. I am so glad I did too!

Have a Great Evening everyone! TTYS!

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I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas Day. We have been traveling north and south of my home the past three days seeing family for Christmas. I think everyone received what they asked for plus a little bit extra. I received some Talbots, Anthro, Philosophy and a little J Crew.

I was at my parents on Christmas Day and before leaving town I ran into my cousin, who’s in from NYC. As you can see, I have a fashionable family. It was quite amusing to everyone, seeing us in the same print. I was able to find the dress on ebay after seeing Dina in it. I quite love it too and went with grays instead of blacks. My cousin did black and brown and I think she was wearing the MacAlister Wedge Boot in either Mink or Nut, or at least something similar looking.

On Fashionable Cousin #1: Black Turtleneck, Brown Belt, Brownish Booties, J Crew Flair Skirt in Floating Rose
On Fashionable Cousin #2: All J Crew-Tissue Turtleneck, Winsome Dress in Blurry Rose (6), Super Opaque Tights, Perry Peep-Toe Booties

I quite love this dress and can’t wait to wear it again. And luckily, the next time I see my cousin she’ll be getting married so there’s no way we’ll be wearing the same thing, although she suspects I will be in J Crew.

Have a Great Day!