Not Again

Nothing gets my blood pressure up like rumors of yet another Chanel price increase.  I was excited to find this site that updates the prices of Chanel bags in different countries since the website does nothing of the sort.  The only upside of the price increase is that it makes me feel better about what I paid for my bag last April.  I have been wanting this bag for over six years now.  I want to buy it so badly, and I only have one day left.  Bag or vacation?  Please, God, let me be strong and save for vacation.

A Classic

After Christmas I checked out a new (to me) boutique in Atlanta, Ann Mashburn.  It was cozy and colorful and right up my alley.  I got this.

     Saint James Minquier (Made in France)

I can't wait to wear it over short shorts and a tank top on summer nights. The XS is still ridiculously huge so I think it looks best paired with something super tight or super short. In order to hold myself accountable to my resolution that no less than 25% of my clothing purchases be made in America and/or vintage, I am going blog about where every single item of clothing I buy was made. Hopefully I will get so tired of it that I will just stop buying clothes altogether. Not! I made four additional clothing purchases while down south for Christmas: (1) vintage Seven for all Mankind jeans (made in Mexico), (2) vintage Citizen of Humanity jeans (made in USA, but with imported denim), (3) vintage James denim skirt (made in USA), and a (4) green t-shirt from Anthropologie (made in USA). That's 60% vintage, 60% made in the USA. So far so good.

Head Start and More Dresses

I'm proud to say that I can scratch #17 off my list of resolutions for 2012 as my Mom taught me how to hem pants over Christmas. The first leg of my yoga pants are not so hot but the second leg looks pretty good if I do say so myself.  I might just become a hemming fool and make all my longish dresses a little shorter.  Furthermore, I purchased 5 articles of clothing while in Georgia and three of those items were vintage.  I was also fortunate enough to receive several beautiful presents this year, but here are a couple of my favorites.

Lilly Pulitzer Blayney Ruffle in "It's a Lilly" pattern

The Blayney is my favorite style of Lilly Pullitzer dress because it is appropriate for work, dates, church, and most other occasions. It's super comfortable and has pockets. This is my third one.

Lilly Pulitzer "Taylor Engineered" Cameo

This doesn't look like a typical Lilly dress to me but the fit is pretty great and it's nice to have something different.  I now have a clothing rack in my room devoted just to my favorite dresses.  It's 50% Lilly, 35% Kate Spade, and 15% random mix of other mostly colorful designers.  I only picked out about one-fifth of those dresses!

2012

Since I've had my blog I've been pretty good about keeping my resolutions.  I guess once I tell the internet world then I have to do it.  So my 2012 goals will be far more ambitious than the last few years.  This year the new places I visited included Newport, RI, Montreal, Atlantic City, and Bethlehem, PA. Not too shabby, but I think I can do better next year. Maybe a new state and a country on another continent. Here goes . . .

1. Make at least 25% of my clothing purchases vintage and/or "made in America"
2. Visit a new American city
3. Visit a new foreign country
4. See Book of Mormon on Broadway
5. Pay off 20% of the principal balance of my student loans. This one will make #s 2 and 3 difficult.
6. Get item #4 from my fashion bucket list
7. Do one of the following: sky diving, heli-skiing, white water rafting, hang gliding, or ziplining
8. Maintain my weight.  I've done it for two years now so I'm feeling pretty confident
9. Do NOT buy more than two pair of Kate Spade Karolinas.  I just bought the camel ones and that makes eleven.  I don't care if they come out with 20 new to die for colors.  I will not get more than two pair. 
10. Attend a professional football game
11. Go skinny dipping
12. Get great seats for a concert of one of my favorite artists
13. Read this book I bought months ago about Esther that's supposed to be a really good Bible study
14. Attend a show at the Metropolitan Opera House
15. Help at least two kids improve their reading
16. Try Peruvian food just cause I never have
17. Learn how to hem my own pants
18. Explore a secret part of New York City
19. Go see the Frick Collection
20. Stop doing things I don't really want to do just to make other people happy.

Perfect Ten

Kate Spade Karolina in Ostrich

I've been really good about not shopping lately with Christmas coming up and all, but I couldn't resist adding another pair of Karolinas to my collection.  I just received these and another pair is coming soon.  That pair will make it eleven, so I've been starting to ask myself whether I can have too much of a good thing.  I still want so many more.  I'm so greedy.

 

Green Grass

 

Multi Glitter

 

Satin Starlight in Brown

Oops They Did It Again

Guess I'm still in Britney mode. Every time I think I'm over my Kate Spade addiction, they come out with another dress for me to obsess over.

Kate Spade Bailey

Happy Birthday Britney

I have been an unabashed Britney fan for thirteen years now. In honor of her 30th birthday, here are my favorite songs/performances.

10. Sometimes

9. If You Seek Amy

8. What U See Is What U Get

7. I'm A Slave 4 U

6. Hollywood with Madonna, Christina, and Missy Elliot

5. Break the Ice

4. Oops I Did It Again

3. Til the World Ends

2. You Drive me Crazy (the stop remix!)

1. What It's Like To Be Me feat Justin Timberlake