Stylemint

Ok, so I'm a little late on the Stylemint bandwagon, but I finally bit on a 30% off deal over Cyber Monday and couldn't resist!

I signed up a few months ago, but couldn't fully justify $29.99 for a t shirt- even if it was designed by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. On one hand, it's a great opportunity to get a "designer look", but some of the shirts looked like something I could find at Target. With the Cyber Monday deal, I came across the super popular Lincoln shirt, and it's draped dolman sleeves and versatile gray hue pulled me in.

Source: stylemint.com via Devon on Pinterest

Based on the sizing, I went with a 2, and I should have gone up to a 3 to get some more length. That being said, the 2 fits great through the body and is one of the softest t's I could ask for. To keep the fit, this shirt is going in my "hand wash only" rotation, which may be a turn off for some.

No self photos today, but I'll try to get one up as soon as my closet doesn't look like Operation Christmas is using it as headquarters!


*full disclosure: if you sign up through my Stylemint link, I get a free credit (aka shirt!). You don't have to sign up through me, but it would be really nice of you if you decide to :)

Sunshine in my step

This funky weather is supposed to break at some point this weekend, and I can't wait to break out a sundress and bright sandals. These are coming my way sometime soon via Gilt...

Source: gilt.com via Devon on Pinterest

The picture doesn't do the key lime hue justice- I just hope they fit! The one pair of Seychelles I own are a bit big in size 9 (I'm usually a 10), so I went with a 9 with fingers crossed.

I can already see myself pairing it with this dress:

Source: jcrew.com via Devon on Pinterest

And maybe mixing colors even more with this necklace I saw at J Crew today?! (it also comes in a pale beechwood neutral)

Source: jcrew.com via Devon on Pinterest

Later this weekend, I am going to try to muster up the courage to review the new swim sizing from J Crew. If you have ordered from them in the past- listen up! Their sizes have changed drastically!

Have a great weekend!

Rain Drops Falling on My Head...

Since the rain is coming down, I busted out some of my favorite pieces in BRIGHT happy colors to keep my mood up today :) 

Of course, some things in this set are just cute, and I don't have the exact item....but you get the idea.

The key piece here is my new Banana Republic Trench. There's nothing better on a rainy morning than feeling put together instead of being a drowned rat. Thanks to my fabulous Momma for adding this gorgeous piece to my collection!

Throw on some tall rain boots, a bright umbrella, and you're almost good to go. What's missing- COFFEE! Don't you love the travel tumbler? Modcloth has the cutest accessories- and this one would be the perfect vessel for my favorite Donut Shop (skim milk, one splenda please!).

How do you battle the rainy day blues?

Weekend Recap

This weekend was special. Somehow, some way, I had both Saturday and Sunday off. I think that happens about 3 times during the seasons, and it was totally unexpected!

The boy and I got a ton done on Saturday, so Sunday was dedicated to little projects we've been meaning to get to, relaxing, and enjoying time with the pupster.

To start, my favorite part of Sunday morning- the paper, a chai latte (here's how I make them at home), and my new favorite Chobani yogurt: Black Cherry!

I could read Sunday ads every day of the week haha

Since I had a little extra time, I hit up Target and Marshalls. What better way to fight the winter blues than some springy accessories?

These are screaming for bare legs and pink toes

Don't you wish this was a dress and not just an apron?

Today, I hit the ground running. With this week's forecast being ICE (ice baby haha), I'm not sure it's going to slow down a bit! Here's to hoping*

A little Hanky Panky to start the week!

Happy Monday!

I just read a tweet that got me SUPER excited on an otherwise freezing Monday Morning:

The signature lace bikinis are marked down 50% to only $13.50!  Use luckydaily1 at checkout for the discount.

For those of you who haven't tried out Hanky Panky's amazing line- this is the perfect opportunity! Be warned though- once you try them, you may never go back. My friend's sister works for the company, and last year I became a convert. Every cut and style is majorly comfortable with the cuteness factor to boot!

In the signature lace bikini, I have the vivid coral and sapphire on my radar. If you're a "No VPL!" kinda gal, check out the original and low rise signature lace thongs. I promise- they are a world above the "Lacie" over at VS and hold up amazingly. One size fits all shouldn't worry you in the least here. They fit everyone from my itty bitty figure skating friend up to the curviest of ladies.

Happy shopping!

Under Armour Women's Heat Gear Rib Tank

More than anything, I prefer doing workouts in sleeveless shirts and tanks. No, it's not "sun's out, guns out" time (haha check out my little arms!), but I prefer having an unrestricted range of motion during yoga, etc.

My second purchase that I am reviewing is the Under Armour Rib Tank from UA's heat gear line. Ready for a few more awkward mirror photo shoots?!

UA Rib Tank- Fits close to the body

From the front!

Fit- UA categorizes this tank as Fitted: "A specialized fit that's not tight, but designed to be very close to the body without the constriction of compression." It's definitely closer to the body (and less forgiving) than Nike's fitted category. The body is cut long again- hitting below the hip. Sorry-it's a little hard to tell since I'm wearing black yoga pants in the picture! The arm holes are cut high, but don't rub, and the low scoop neck is modest while giving a good range of motion. I was wearing a bright blue sports bra and it was completely covered! This tank has a slight racer back cut that allows you to stay covered, but again gives you a great range of motion.

Back View from UA's store

This is a tank and a tank alone with no shelf bra built in. I find this to be a bonus because I hate "double layering" and having 2 bands of elastic around my ribcage. It just feels bulky.

Performance- There's a lot to love about this tank. The Heat Gear material from UA is soft and silky, and this time it's in a unique ribbed texture. Picking this one up off the rack, it looked like it was a cotton "beater", but it couldn't be farther! Something you can't see well on UA's site or in my pictures is the placement of "strategic vents" along the lateral aspect of the back panel. The vents worked well. I stayed cool and comfortable throughout the cardio and core workout I did. One drawback: the long torso bunched up during my cardio routine. Since the body is fitted, it reacted to my body's movements on the elliptical. I felt a little awkward tugging at the hem every few minutes.

Style- In black, this tank looks badass. I felt a little bit like a YMCA ninja coming into the fitness center haha. Since I am early on in my fitness routine, I don't think I would get this in any bright colors until I am fully confident with my body. The indigo and teal colors available truly show every lump and bump due to the close fit. As mentioned before, the tank is cut well to give you range of motion, but still covers you up. Personally, I don't like showing cleavage while doing planks (or the stares you get from the old guys on the bike). That being said, the close cut gave me a little "ooh, I look good" confidence boost.

Value- At under $20, I like it! UA Heat Gear material last a long time and maintains its shape PLUS provides SPF 30+. A great tank for your indoor fitness pursuits and an easy transition to playing outdoors come summer.

Nike Pro Combat Fitted V-Neck Review

Keeping in line with my New Year's Resolutions, the boy and I recently joined a nearby gym and got to work! It feels really good to get moving on a regular basis again, but what didn't feel good was a sweaty tshirt 15 minutes into my cardio routine. Something I've learned about myself over the years: if it doesn't feel good, I won't be motivated to do it. I'm not saying I don't love the burn of an amazing workout! I just don't like having chafed armpits from icky cotton.

So, to keep myself motivated and back in the fitness mindset, I went shopping (surprise!). My goal: find a few shirts and tanks that fit my performance wear needs.  First up, the Nike Pro Combat Fitted V Neck.

Nike Pro Combat Fitted V Neck in Red Plum

Awkward iPhone photo shoot in my mirror!

Fit- I bought my Nike standard medium. This is a great top for long torsoed girls out there. The length hit right below my hip. The term "fitted" can scare people off- especially at the beginning of a new fitness routine! Not to fear. The cut skims the body but is not "tight" by any means. If you prefer the discreteness of a standard tshirt cut, but want something more feminine, this is it. The v neckline and length of the short sleeves  are also pluses in my opinion. When doing core, I sometimes feel constricted by crew necks. This v neck isn't too low, but allows for a great range of motion.

Performance-  The DriFit material and flat seaming on this tee are phenomenal! I didn't experience any chafing under the arms (even with sleeves tucked in), or along the sides. Since the shirt has only light contact with the body cut, it naturally helps minimize hot spots, but the seaming around the neck was comfortable throughout my workout. The long length helped the shirt stay in place through both cardio and yoga workouts. A pet peeve of mine is having my tshirt bunched up around my armpits during down dog. Not with this shirt! It stayed in place (without being tight!) through sun salutations, planks to down dog series, and Riley trying to help me perfect my up dog (by laying toys across my back haha).  

The DriFit lived up to it's name (as always), but did have a small drawback: it stinks after awhile. This is pretty standard with performance fabrics and can be treated with the right detergents, but it certainly isn't glamorous or chic haha.

The only other con with this top- don't wear it in a cold gym if you don't have the proper sports bra. Another standard issue many** run into with performance fabrics is a little bit of "nippage" exposure, and this shirt is no exception. Since it is a tee with no built in bra liner, you're on your own here. 

**and by many, I mean me. ha.

Style-  Yes. It is very important to look cute when working out. Ha ok, not really- but you should feel good about what you're wearing!

The colors at my local sporting goods store were the red plum and royal you see here along with heather gray, safety yellow, and an electric mango. More can be found online. Each shirt has a contrast piping on the v neckline, a cute touch in my opinion.

Overall, I felt good and ready to work out when I put the Nike Pro Combat shirt on for the first time. Always a good sign!

Value- At only $25 a shirt (and lot's of coupons available online!), this shirt is a great value for how versatile and comfortable it can be. I will probably pick up more colors once the temperature rises and the new colorways roll out for spring. (I found a few colors for even less on Nike's site, but the sizes are limited).

note: I am not the best photographer. I am not even really a GOOD photographer. Hopefully, I'll get better, but thanks for not laughing at me too much!

Here comes the snow! They're calling for 5-8 inches, so I'm preparing myself for a snowday...fingers crossed! Things on my to do list: shovel the walkway, take Riley down to the river, finish a bottle of red with Kemi, continue to decorate/organize my dressing room, and spend a few hours catching up on reality tv :) I nest during snow days- I love cozy layers, endless amounts of hot tea, and wrapping myself in multiple blankets. The easy way to dress is in the boy's sweatpants and a huge fleece- but I try to keep myself moderately presentable!

Snowday Essentials by devonclaire

Perfect-fit boatneck tee in Dark Rosewood - J.Crew, $30
Gap Pure body leggings (true black), $30
Amazon.com: Smartwool Hiking Sock 10 130: Clothing, $15
Hunter Boots Original Welly Boot, $115
Amazon.com: Suncast SC5350 20-Inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo with..., $35
Gap Navajo Cardigan, Holiday 2009

I could live in this cardigan all winter. It's oversized, wool, and makes wearing leggings acceptable. For snow hikes, I throw on my Merrels, but Hunter boots are perfect for shoveling snow and walking the puppy through the slushy city streets. 

Do you have a winter uniform? If you're in the north east, stay warm and safe!

I drank the Crew'lade.

After seeing the Wool Bell Skirt on several JCA's and Jen over at Jen Loves Kev, I regretted not trying it on in store. Scouring the sale section over at JCrew- tada! The wool bell skirt was on sale! In a great color, henna (remember, I need more color)! 

But...crap. It's final sale. Friends don't let friends shop final sale....

Well, I threw caution to the wind and "drank the Crew'lade" as the fabulous Gigi puts it. And for once, Final Sale didn't bite me back!*

{For some reason, Polyvore isn't cooperating. Sorry for the lack of interaction!}

Welcome to my closet pretty red skirt! The color is a deeper rust red that goes beautifully with grays, navy, brown and black. I received the Loft Cozy Cable V-neck for Christmas (thanks, Mom!) in Galaxy and paired the two right away. Next, I want to try a girly ruffled blouse (like this new one from Loft) topped with a long charcoal cardi. It's so fun integrating a new piece with my neutral basics! I think this is definitely a "working piece" for my closet.

Any other styling ideas? 

*I'm pretty sure this is a once in a JCrew lifetime thing and will never happen ever again. 

Jingle Bells and Nothing to Wear

This weekend was amazing! The boy and I hosted our first "grown up" party and it went fantastically. Great people, good food, and a fun White Elephant (alcohol themed so everyone got something, and not a Chia Pet!) Of course, we were so excited, we forgot to take pictures :( I need to be better with that!

The only problem- what to wear?! I had been running around non stop for the past week trying to get the food, drinks, and house together and never stopped to think about getting MYSELF together. Luckily, my sister came over an hour early, took over the kitchen and I found something hiding in my closet. I wish it were more festive though!

Holiday Dressing, Beauty Go-Tos by devonclaire

So Sunday, with the post party letdown, I got to looking at everyone else's holiday outfits. Pretty sparkles, cheery colors, and lots of boyfriend blazers over party dresses! Why didn't I think of that? Oh I know...I don't have a blazer. Then out of nowhere- Kendi over at KendiEveryday posts the cutest (on her) black blazer from Target!

Immediately the "must get" voice went off in my head. And get I did. Unfortunately, I am still not much of a blazer girl. Instead of looking chic, it looks like the $30 it cost. And none too flattering outside the dressing room.

Back it goes... but it made me think. What's your holiday party style?