clean out your closets for SWAPmaine

It may just be that I am in total spring cleaning mode or maybe it is because I am really trying to take on a more minimalist lifestyle, but for this swap, I am really cleaning out the closet.

In the past years, I have made a lot of excuses as to why I should keep something. And for the most part, it left me things I am still not wearing today. If you are like me, a lot of the reason I hold on to things is for emotional reasons. I keep things that may have cost me $5 or are worth less than that because it holds a memory or a feeling for me. But no matter the reasoning, I am letting it go. If it is bringing me no benefit and just adding clutter, I don’t need it. If it doesn’t fit or isn’t in good condition I don’t need it.

So here is how I am doing it:

• go through every pile in the drawers or on the shelves
• go through everything that is hanging
• try each piece of clothing on (unless it is brand new and you know you love it!)
• if it does not fit, put it in the swap pile
• if it is stained, ripped, or in bad condition, donate or recycle it 
• if you are unsure about what to wear it with, if it looks as good as you think it does, or just want another opinion, ask someone who is honest with you or send me a photo and I’ll tell you!
• if you love it, if it makes you feel good, and you are excited about it, hang it or fold it, and keep it
• if it is something with sentimental value, but doesn’t look great on you anymore, take a photo of it, do something special with it, leave a note in the pocket for the next owner, and send it off to the swap for its next journey

And remember if you are bringing these things to the swap, you get to come home with new things to make new memories out of. Since the motto is give more than you take, you can still keep up with your new minimalist lifestyle. (Or so I keep telling myself!)

SWAPmaine 

east end school

may 17th

9-10 pre-swap/drop off

10-12 SWAP!

urban flea // may fair.

this sunday, may 5th, is may fair in harvard square. i will be selling vintage women's clothing as part of the urban flea being held at the urban outfitters from 12-5pm. i will be there with a lot of very talented urban employees and local designers, selling everything from vintage to handmade goods and jewelry to art and ceramics. 

just head to harvard square on sunday. you won't be able to miss it. all the roads will be closed. there will be entertainment and lots of food and other vendors.

come check out what i've got and see all the other talented people there with me!

guess what's back?!

that's right! swapmaine is back for its SEVENTH swap! mark your calendars for saturday, may 17th! we are going back to the east end school, so get ready for a BIG swap!

the set up is the same. you can get in free by dropping your bags off the night before. if you come the day off with your bags, you pay $5. if you just want some new clothes and want to keep all your current ones, it is only a $10 admission!

as always, we are partnering with goodwill of northern new england. we like to say give more than you take. all the proceeds and leftover clothing goes directly to goodwill. 

and even though it may not feel like spring yet, i promise (or i think i can) that we will be able to get rid of all our layers soon, so start cleaning out your closets now!

fourteen things i love: number thirteen.

sequins and beading!

mostly of the vintage kind.
my collection is continuing to grow. this is one of my favorite things to find when thrifting. i love to think of how the were originally worn compared to how i wear them now.

adventure: south end boston.

first of all, this is the last time i will show this coat! you just know how much i love it..

lately, there has been a vast difference in dressing for work and dressing for the weekend. i actually have seen the difference and i am trying to fix it. the way i feel when i get dressed on the weekend is full of confidence and i want to have fun. when i get dressed for work, it has been about comfort. i move a lot and i sometimes get dirty. i need to get out of that mindset and pretend that it is the weekend. the next part of this is time. probably planning in advance is going to help as well.

while we were making breakfast on a saturday with no other plans, i suggested we walk around the south end. we don't go there very often which makes it feel like some where new. we both went with a cool, casual look. we didn't know how far or how long we would be walking or be outside. i went with whites and brights. stripes and a bright green hat made this outfit fun. terry pushed the limits a little with his camo joggers. and if you asked me (and all the people who gave him compliments that day) i think he looked pretty great.

we went to an art gallery, walked all over, and found some super cool shops, like sault, olives and grace, and niche. it was a good day.

fourteen things i love: number seven.

homemade lattes!

i have had a love of lattes for a long time and i mean good lattes. not starbucks or dunkin donuts, but ones from places like coffee by design or bloc 11 or crema (and the list goes on). but unfortunately, this becomes a very expensive treat.

for christmas, my mom got me a battery operated hand frother. it is nothing fancy, but it has given me the gift of easy, yummy, at home lattes. i have been experiencing with flavors. i started with vanilla. the next, and current favorite, was brown sugar and cinnamon. the best part of these is that i know what is going into them. i don't use syrup or any artificial sweeteners. just natural, yummy things.

even terry is getting into them. sure, he loves when i make them for him on the weekends, but today he wanted to learn how. he said so he could make them for me when i'm still sleeping. the problem was when pouring in the milk, because we don't have a proper pouring cup, it spills on the counters. he cried over spilled milk and let me finish them. oh, by the way, today's flavor was maple.

fourteen things i love: number two.

capes (more specifically, this one)!

my love for capes is not a new thing. it is something that has just grown deeper over the years. a couple years ago when i was still living in portland, i found an amazing red plaid cape at find. it had a gold chain at the neck that held it together. this one had small arms holes, was pretty heavy, and way more fancy. it is nothing something to wear often, but it is something i like owning. i have a sweater cape that is vintage, beautiful, and totally 70s. and one of my very first capes came from the gap. it was a tan felt-like material and had a belt around the waist. wearing this was sort of a big deal. it was something like a sweater and worn sort of like a cardigan, but some people didn't totally get it and usually made a big deal about it when i wore it. to me, it wasn't anything particularly crazy. 

but this one is different. this one i found a few months ago at goodwill. it was one of those finds that makes you giddy. for $5, this coat makes me strut down the street. i feel super cool and since i can layer under it, i feel super warm too. it is handmade from stanton apparels of maine. i tried looking it up, but couldn't find anything on it. if anyone knows about them, i'm interested! 

since you can't tell what it looks like while being worn here, you can see it in this post from a few weeks back, when i gushed about it for the first time. and you will see it again in a new outfit post that is coming up. and i guess if i ever get tired of wearing it, it will make a great rug for my cat (he already would not get off of it as i tried to photo it).

fourteen things i love: number one.

adventures!

walking through the city i live in and taking different routes or streets than normal or going places i have never been before make for great and inexpensive adventures. i just so happened to go on one today. exploring the south end of boston. going into small, local shops, an art gallery, and wandering through parks and side streets. if i hadn't made any purchases or donated to the art gallery, i would have had a whole day full of inspiration for no money at all!

day one // horizontal vertical

(take a bow)

this was yesterday. sunday. a day of shopping with my mom and sister who came to visit for the day! right after a late night out at my holiday work party..

i am so in love with these levi's 501s. i love trying all types of denim fits and styles, not just those skinny ones anymore. these are like a boyfriend, but a little bit sleeker and much cooler. hehe. and they fit the butt real nice.

yesterday was raw. it was cold and you knew it was going to snow or something. layering for shopping is one of the best things you can do because you know no matter how cold it is outside, you will get warm going in and out of stores. so a tee and a sweater is perfect.

i still love mixing prints and textures. and i really love stripes. this cardigan is great because it is shaped like a fancy lady cardigan, complete with gold buttons, but the pattern is relaxed.

these booties are also pretty fun. the cutouts with leather straps may not seem super weather appropriate, but that is what they make fun, wool socks for, right!?

so this outfit may not seem like its high fashion or anyway to kick of this challenge, but it was great for a sunday spent mostly with a coat on. adding a few fun textures and prints make it more than just jeans, a tee, and a cardigan.

and don't you just love my garden of plant pots..

sweater // goodwill $2.50
tee // salvation army $1.99
jeans // urban outfitters $9.99
shoes // urban outfitters $40
necklace // christmas gift
beanie // target

what to do for halloween..

last year, i put together 5 halloween costumes with things straight out of my closet, meaning i did not spend a single penny. i thought i would share them again this year for a little inspiration if anyone needs it. this year i am also in need of inspiration.. i'll let you know what i come up with!

carrie bradshaw

suri cruise

duck hunter

katniss

jessica day (new girl)

happy halloween!!!

crop tops aren't just for models.

if you have looked in a magazine, turned on the tv, or just walked out your front door, you know that crop tops are major right now. i, for one, know that they are NOT for everyone. i also know that they really aren't for my current body type either. with that being said, i like the way they look. i like to push the limits and break the rules. i also know there is a very certain way to wear them.

so if you are in the 90% off the population like me, here are a few tips:

- always pair your crop top with something high waisted. when i say high waisted, i mean high waisted. not a mid rise, not a high rise. it needs to hit at the smallest part of your waist and your belly button must be covered.

- add a layer. covering up more skin will make the small amount you are showing at your midriff not such a big deal. 

-tie something around your waist. this trick i use a lot, not just for crops. if you tie at your waist, the sleeves should cover up the 'belly area' that hides most ladies least favorite body part. it is also useful in styling any outfit (shortening the length, changing the waist line).

- if you are wearing shorts or anything shorter in length, try a crop with sleeves (short or long). if you are wearing pants or anything maxi, crop tanks are okay.

- think of proportions: a more voluminous bottom calls for a smaller top and vise versa.

- and as always, try mixing prints and textures. have fun!

jacket and bag were thrifted. everything else came from urban outfitters (on sale).