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Many years ago I disliked Cashmere very much because it was too itchy. My opinion has since changed and I love wearing it alone or layered. I must have had a bad batch or something because cashmere is no longer itchy to me but so soft and cozy. I could wear it all day, every day. And I pretty much have been doing just that.

Right now I am a J Crew snob and only have J Crew Cashmere BUT I do want to try other brands (Talbots, LE, etc.) if I can find just the right color. I have purchased at least one “fun” color and one “staple” color a year. I have a range of Tees (short and long-sleeve), Cardigans, V-Neck Sweaters, and Shawl Collar Sweaters. I have only bought my Cashmere on sale or with a % off or both (as it seems to be with JC these days). The rest I have found on ebay, quite the treasure trove out there, but I know you KWIM.

As far as my “fun” colors, I have Bright Dahia, Deep Poppy, a true Red from Old Navy, Jalapeño, Viridian Green or something similar to that, Dark Orange, Pink and Turquoise. For my “staple” colors, I have Snow (white), Black, Navy, Heather Caramel (camel), Cobblestone (gray) and Green. I like the fun colors because they do liven up a pair of jeans or pants. 

So, I found some time to take 3 outfit pics this week. I am lucky I have found made the time to get dressed every day. But each day I’ve had little errands to run so I’m not doing it at the last minute on Christmas Eve.

Monday…I felt patriotic but very warm and cozy. My legs were a little cold and could have used tights and boots instead of flats. I LOVE the Flair Skirt. It was a sizing issue for me that made me originally not like it but when I found my perfect size I was happy with the fit and “flair” of it all.

Sweater: J Crew Cashmere L/S Tee, Dark Poppy
Skirt: J Crew Flair Skirt, Navy, 8P
Shoes: Prada Calf Hair Flats (I’ve had these beauties for 6 years!)

Wednesday…I really like the color of these cords. I never saw them online so I believe they were an in-store only color. I had these hemmed for flats even though I bought the 29 Short. I think she removed at least two inches. As for this tee, I thought I had lost it. It had been missing for almost a year and then one day when I was going through my “handwash” only laundry I found it. Yay!

Cardigan: J Crew Cashmere Cody, Cobblestone
Tee: J Crew Reindeer Tee (2009)
Pants: J Crew Stretch Vintage Bootcut Cords, Bristol Blue (in-store color)
TOMS Shoes Black Glitter
Today…I wanted to somewhat re-create this look. I know the image is a little small and blurry but you can go here to see it. 
I liked the Tuxedo pant with the scarf and the glittery shoes. I completely missed out on this scarf but was able to find it at ASOS for much less than the JC Cashmere Scarf. Thank you Andrea, over at Life’s Divine blog, for pointing me to it! (Also see the Forever 21 scarf!) I wanted to layer the Cashmere Tee but realized I do not have a black button-down shirt other than the Tartan Perfect Shirt, which I wore Thursday (sorry no pic) so I couldn’t wear it again. (You can see it in my Polyvore strip on the right.) I settled on a J Crew Haberdashery in White from a few years ago along with Wool Tuxedo pants. I added the Asos scarf and I was off to J Crew. 
Shirt: J Crew Haberdashery, White
Sweater: J Crew Cashmere Tee, Snow
Pants: J Crew Wool Tuxedo Pants (ebay)
Shoes: Steve Madden Madee, Glitter

Scarf: Asos
I think I finally found a present for Husband the he will not expect. Not only is he hard to buy for but he spoils his gifts every year, including the Kindle he was going to get this year. He also found a stocking-stuffer and tried to use it before I caught him. The Boy is easy – cash and gift cards to Barnes & Nobles. But I am working with Santa on a special gift this year. Something he’s not expecting at all. As for what I want, thank goodness for the Amazon Universal Wishlist Button or I wouldn’t have anything under the tree. Not that I really want anything but it’s helpful for the in-laws so they can pick something they know I will like.
Well, I’m off to try and wrap some presents this evening. Tomorrow I will be shopping for the nephews and niece and grabbing stocking-stuffers.
Have a Great evening!

Merry Christmas!

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First off, don’t forget to enter my Giveaway!

I have been waiting to wear my new Flair Skirt since I received it. I thought today would be the perfect day to wear it. I have errands to run, baking to do and, of course, my actual job. Also, this skirt is not meant for Thanksgiving Day, if you want to eat. I cannot hide a food-baby up in this flair.

This a very simple outfit and I feel very 50s housewife/mom in this.

J Crew Cashmere Tee, Black
J Crew Flair Skirt in Floating Rose
Easy-Peasy…so simple. 
Have a Great day! 

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The last of my orders were delivered Friday and I wasn’t able to open them until today. I was really excited about one in particular because I ordered, and was promptly Wait-listed for mid-December shipping, the Brompton Hobo in Suede in Tropical Green.

I was very excited that this item shipped on Monday with a delivery date of Friday.

But, this bag and I were not meant to be. I received the Marceau Purse in Faded Woodland instead. Boo J Crew. I am not a happy JCA. I don’t mind the wait-listing and possibly “Sorry…blah blah blah…not going to ship…” email. But to send the wrong item altogether? It’s not like it was missing the tag that has the style number on it to QC with the item number on the actual order.

The Marceau Purse is cute and the color is true to the online pic.

I should consider myself lucky that this hasn’t happened to me more often. This is only the 3rd time in the 5 years I’ve been ordering online from them. Earlier this week an order I received contained this…

Men’s Lambswool Sweater in Heather Harbor
…instead of this.
Women’s Cashmere Tee in Navy

My original wrong item shipped experience was a sale item that kept popping back so I won’t really count that. I eventually found it on ebay instead.

I understand the QC process fails at times but it still leave a bad taste in your mouth, doesn’t it? The customer service reps each time were very nice and apologetic, especially in the case of the purse since it is now wait-listed until January. But there’s no reason to get mad at them. They aren’t in the warehouse processing orders. They are just apologizing for the warehouse processing the orders.

Stay tuned…the last of my reviews are coming up today.

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We’ve had some pretty cold days this week. I’m glad today is going to be a beautiful 60 degree day. I had to head in to my office on Tuesday and as much as I wanted to “work-wear” my Lolli pants I knew I would be cold so I decided to layer with my new cashmere tee.

Shirt: J Crew Factory Store Two-Pocket Chambray Shirt (32043)
Sweater: J Crew Cashmere Tee in Henna
Jeans: J Crew Ankle Stretch Toothpick
Boots: Pebbled and Primped
Necklace: J Crew Knotted Twist Necklace

I stayed in and warm on Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday I was ready to put on real clothes and decided on a repeat of Tuesday.

Shirt: JC FS Chambray Shirt (again)
Sweater: JC Cashmere Tee in Bronzed Olive
Jeans: JC Ankle Stretch Toothpick
Boots: Steve Madden Inragee
Scarf: JC

We had a teeny bit of snow on Friday. It stuck to the cement and hard surfaces but not the grass.

Bella’s not too sure she really needs to go potty.

And finally – I want to wish a wonderful Happy Birthday to my son David (aka The Boy). He’s 15 today and I’m so happy and proud to have raised a wonderful young man. He is my life.

I’m off to cook for the birthday festivities. I still owe you Anthro pics and JC Factory Store pics too. I hope to have them up or ready to post tomorrow evening.

Have a great day!

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I’m off to jury duty in a little while but wanted to post a few pics of what I wore last week. I hope to post my court outfits by the weekend.

I couldn’t wait to wear my Double-Serge Stripe Pencil Skirt and was able to head in to the office on Wednesday last week. I paired it with my black cashmere tee and black suede Bronson Booties. I went sans tights only because it wasn’t a cold day. Necklaces are J Crew.

This was just a quick dinner outfit I wore on Friday.

J Crew Cashmere Tee in Matisse Blue –  These are just so easy to wear (and layer…see below). 
J Crew Ankle Stretch Toothpick Jeans
J Crew Suede Bronson Booties
J Crew Blizzard Pearl Necklace
J Crew Flower Pin
J Crew Boutonniere Blazer (not seen)

This was to go see Black Swan Saturday night. After telling husband I never get to pick a movie when we go out he surprised us with tickets for Saturday night. And by us, I mean me and The Boy (Husband too, of course.) There was no right way to tell him that the movie wasn’t quite a teen-age boy kind of movie so I just encouraged Husband to watch the other trailers and decide for himself. We took The Boy anyway and he walked out of there saying it was a scary movie! and he was going to have nightmares. Funny that he thought of it that way. Oh, he also said he will never tell his friends he saw it, even if it was with his parents.

J Crew Polar Bear Sweater – Holiday 2006 (I think)
J Crew Cashmere Tee in Rose Dust
J Crew Ankle Stretch Toothpick Jeans
Louboutin Black Flats
J Crew Boutonniere Blazer (not seen)

I purchased both the Matisse Blue and Rose Dust Cashmere Tees on final sale and was very happy with them. I am hoping to pair the Rose Dust with my Lolli pants soon. The Boutonniere Blazer has been a great staple I’ve been using as outerwear since I purchased it. It hadn’t been that cold for a real coat but that all changed this weekend. I will be able to use my new Italian Wool Blazecoat this week.

Now off to jury duty.

Have a great day.