Instagrams from New York

Shopping trip at JC Penney

JC Penney recently asked me to go on a little shopping mission, to find tribal and tropical themed pieces for my summer wardrobe.

They provided me with a $100 gift card, and I must say, I was impressed by how low most of the prices were!

Also, the selection was huge and I went into the dressing room with at least 30 items in hand.

Prior to this shopping trip, I hadn't been in JC Penney in years, but now that I know what great affordable items are in there, I will definitely be back again soon!

I did try really hard not to go over the $100 budget, but there was one dress that I thought was $15 which turned out to be $22 when I got to the register. If I had a dollar every time sales clerk told me "Oh... that was in the wrong place." I'd be a millionaire. But I go it anyway.

So here are some instagrams of my shopping trip, and you will get to see all my purchases when I style them this week.

Insta-party

This year I decided I wanted to throw myself a birthday party, rather than going out to a restaurant. This was partly due to my desire to (one) use all the new housewares I'd purchased like the Kate Spade hors d'oeuvre tray and (two) actually make all the recipes I'd been pinning.

I was quite ambitious and chose a bunch of fun, but time consuming recipes and I was a HUGE FAILURE and didn't photograph everything! I know, all that work and I only have a few instagram photos to show for it.

But I will at least tell you about everything...

Let's start with these beauties. They are called Hi-Hat Cupcakes and the recipe is from Martha Stewart. I was really intimidated by the meringue frosting and almost didn't make them. I actually diverted from Martha and followed this recipe for the frosting. (The ingredients are the same, but the process is different because I have a stand mixer and not a hand mixer.)

For my next treat I made oreo truffles, but did a slight variation by subbing in mint oreos and of course using food dye to make the chocolate coating the perfect mint green!

Photo courtesy of Bethany and note how awesome her manicure is!!

For my third dessert, I made chocolate chip cookie dough cheese cake. An old favorite. I had it for my 16th birthday... and goodness that does not feel like it was 10 years ago!

I love the idea of a party with only appetizers. I think they are more fun than a sit down dinner, small portions let you try a lot of different things and (theoretically) still have room for dessert.
On my menu was:
Cinnamon chips with fruit salsa
Buffalo Chicken dip (made by Bethany)
Goat Cheese and Peach Tartlets
Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms
Spinach Bread
Mini Ramekins of Mac and Cheese
Baked Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard
Various Cheeses and Olives
Tropical Ginger Punch

The slate cheese board and mouse knife were a couple of things I had to buy just for the party, or rather, I wanted to have a party so I'd have an excuse to buy them. Either way, they are both from Amazon and the total was under $40.

I really should be packing for Florida right now, but I hate packing and I was so consumed with preparing for, and subsequently cleaning up after the party all weekend that I haven't read a single blog and I've been missing you all!

Insta-additions

My recent closet additions via instagram:

Clockwise from left:
Blue silk button down shirt, thrifted for $5
Gold and black bracelet, Cinderella's Attic consignment shop for $6
Gold chain purse strap (you never know when that will come in handy) thrifted for $1
Sequined mini skirt from the Jennifer Lopez for Kohls line, $25 marked down from $84
Sailboat blouse from Old Navy, $21 after discount
Canvas and leather handbag by Otis, thrifted for $10
Yellow silk button down shirt, thrifted for $6

And thanks to the lovely Christine, who found the blazer I was hunting for during our blogger shopping trip, this Cynthia Rowley blazer via TJ Maxx became mine for $25. (Yeah, she got them to mark it down because of a small rip in the lining.)

Are you on instagram? Come follow me @Lyddiegal

Week in iPhone photos

Wrapping. Note the scalloped tissue? Because my obsession knows no bounds.
Trees. Mine and the towns.
The Mall. Seven hours later shopping is finally done.
Cards. From bloggers near and far, the card exchange was so wonderful, I think I'd like to make this a tradition!
Snacks. Cupcakes made by my coworker, cinnamon bun from a local bakery.
More Trees.  Chloe loves to sleep under ours, the Charlie Brown tree and 'peanuts' at work.
Beads. A gift from Miysha at Bohemian Spirit, the beaded antlers on my tee.

Can't believe Christmas is tomorrow! (I count Christmas Eve as Christmas) How will I ever get it all done?

P.S. You can follow me on Instagram @Lyddiegal

Holiday Wishlist

Some of my wishes are practical, some pure fantasy, some I may end up buying myself anyway should they not find their way under my tree...

Clockwise from top left:
Kate Spade Charm Magazine iPhone case, $40
The free one Apple gave me broke a few months ago and the iPhone has been naked while I've been indecisive about what case to buy next. Kate Spade knows how to make one darn adorable case.

Starbucks Falala ceramic travel mug, $11
This mug solves my travel mug conundrums; I hate the plastic tumblers because the plastic always makes the coffee taste weird and you can not put them in the microwave, so I'm stuck drinking my lukewarm coffee. This mug is essentially a regular coffee mug with a removable plastic lid - so I can reheat my coffee to my hearts content.
And did you notice how cute and even non-christmasy those falalas look? I can totally get away with using this year round.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Petal to the Metal bag, $438
This is one of those fantasy items, but I've been smitten with this bag for ages. Great shape, great size, and cute little birdie details!

ONA Roma camera bag insert, $59
In the past I'd searched and searched for the perfect camera bag that was an elegant marriage of style and affordability. In the end all the bags worth having weren't really in my budget. This little insert solves that dilemma. Now every one of my bags can be a camera bag.

Dara Ettinger Lark Ring, $115
I love a statement ring. I love the color and the huge amethyst. As a bonus, Shopbop states this ring was made in the USA. I heard on the news that if everyone spent $64 on Christmas gifts made in America, that we could create 200,000 jobs.  So not only would I get an awesome ring, but someone else would get a job. Win-Win.

DV by Dolce Vita Dahlia Chunky Pump, $74
Even though I already own a pair of red pumps, they are patent Mary Janes and I can not wear them without garnering several Dorothy comments. I do love my little MJs, but I think it might be time for a more grown-up red pump. No one will be going to see the Wizard in these suede platforms.

A vacation to someplace with palm trees.
I feel like I haven't been on a proper vacation in ages, and warmer climates would be a welcome change. (Even though it's been unseasonably warm!)

What are you wishing for this December?

P.S. This awesome clock I picked up at my church fair for $1 this weekend is broken. It was functioning when I took it home, but 20 minutes after I hung it on my wall it just stopped. I put in a fresh battery and coerced it into movement, only for it to stop again in an hour.

A little searching lead me to a near identical clock from Target, and of the two reviews, one of the reviewers described a similar problem.

I really love the clock though! Can battery clocks be fixed? Would it be worth the effort/money?

Instagiving

The color blocked skirt finally makes an appearance! I don't know what took me so long to wear it, or why I tried three other tops on before I finally settled with the ever versitle leopard button down.

This is what I wore on thanksgiving, even though by the time I ended up getting dressed (after cooking and food prep from 9 am to 2 pm) what I felt like wearing was a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater.

Ah well, leggings and huge sweater, satin skirt and five inch heels - tomato, tomato.*
*It has occoured to me that doesn't really work with out the proper inflection. But how would you write it? Tomato, tomahto?

  

The Rundown
Skirt H&M - Leopard Top Anne Klein - Shoes Jessica Simpson - Bracelets Vera Wang for Kohls Similar, The Cavernous Jewelry Box - Rings American Eagle, The Cavernous Jewelry Box

I mostly documented my thanksgiving with iPhone photos, so if you don't follow me on Instagram, I thought I'd share them!

That's Chloe after getting a bath, because she managed to get her head covered in turkey grease... it was dripping off the table and she was under it licking the floor, for at least 20 minutes before anyone noticed.

Have you entered to win $100 to Shopbop?