Broken Computer

Sorry I have been M.I.A for a while folks. My computer is broken, which as it turns out..makes it very difficult to blog. I've been accumulating many blog post ideas, so when I return I should have plenty of content for you (hopefully). Be patient and I'll be back soon....maybe I'll do some sort of giveaway for being such a bad blogger....

Guest Post: The Daily Dani

As you know I am off in San Francisco for work this week. Today I have Dani from The Daily Dani here to do a guest post. Dani has great style and a hilarious sense of humor. Go check out her blog and you will not be disappointed. So here she is:



Hi there, The In-Between readers! Dani from The Daily Dani here! I'm so happy to be babysitting while Jess is off enjoying her trip to San Francisco! Am I the only one super anxious to hear about how much fun she's having? :)



Now, I've got an important question for you - are y'all on Pinterest? If not, let me sum it up for you: it's basically a virtual inspirational pinboard - kind of like the makeshift bulletin board you have on your closet door full of magazine clippings to inspire your wardrobe/craftiness/cooking/all things creative - but you can draw creative inspiration from all over the internet as well as anyone else who has a Pinterest account! (Check out my boards here!)



My favorite part about Pinterest is how it urges me to re-invent pieces in my wardrobe that I already own into new outfit options!



Here are just a couple of my Pinspirational outfits from 2011!

I love that I'm able to find pieces I already have, even if they differ slightly from the picture, and put my own twist on the outfits while still getting a similar vibe! It's a great way to save money and "shop" my own closet!



I have so many pins that I'm dying to draw inspiration from for 2012!

Source: pom-peii.tumblr.com via Dani on Pinterest

Source: witanddelight.tumblr.com via Dani on Pinterest

Source: galmeetsglam.blogspot.com via Dani on Pinterest

How about you? Do you have any looks you're dying to try in the new year?



Make sure to stop by and visit me at The Daily Dani to say a quick hello, and see how some of this Pinspiration plays out! :)

Guest Post: Behind the Leopard Glasses

As you know I am off in San Francisco for work this week. Today I have Emma from Behind the Leopard Glasses here to do a guest post. I discovered her blog recently and was instantly a follower. I love her spunky style and humor. Checkout this rockstar haircut she got recently. Ok, now on to her post....




“Pay close to nothing and look like a million bucks: My Rules of Thrifting”
By: Emma Basilone


There is nothing more satisfying then having someone say, “I love your outfit!” and think to yourself, “I paid 10 bucks for the whole thing!”.


It is true, I am a thrifting master. I thrift probably 90% of what I own and wear. I have given up on malls and paying full price for anything.

There are some guidelines that you should keep in mind when you enter a thrift store.

Have a general idea of what kind of things you are looking for/that you like- It can be very overwhelming to enter a building that is stacked to the ceiling with items. For example- patterns {especially animal print}—get my heart thumping. That is what I usually am attracted to when I walk in. I have to seriously have a sit down talk with myself if I am looking for basics/solids. Also take a look at their home goods / furniture they could have that corner piece you have been dying for at a much more reasonable price than Pottery Barn… my whole apartment is pretty much thrifted.

Don’t pay much attention to the sizes on the labels- sizes change with the culture. Women were considered “normal” to actually have a waist and hips in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s {unlike today… but that is another story!}. The sizes do not coincide with what you will find in a clothing store, if you like it try it on!

Check the garment for wear- i.e. gross-ass pit stains, collar stains, food stains, blood hey man, you never know. Also keep in mind that these items are pre-loved, some wear is expected but not some that will gross you out/make an item un-wearable.

Which leads me to #4- For the love of god—wash whatever you buy. To be honest, if it says dry clean only I don’t spend $10 to dry clean something I bought for $3, I throw it in the wash even though you are not suppose to. Clean shoes with an antibacterial gel wipe down or scrubbing with soap and water. On the other hand if I thrift a skirt that is to the ground but I am in love and know I will wear it A LOT, I will spend the money/time to get it hemmed. i.e. this mustard skirt I thrifted last year from ARC thrift store in Denver for like $1, it is one of my favorites:

Some of my favorite items to thrift:


1. Blazers- something about vintage blazers, color, fit, construction- damn they don’t make them like this anymore—yes a Kayne reference… {and if they do—they will cost you an arm + a leg} here are some of my faves:

2. Button Ups- These have been a new found obsession of mine. Here are two of my latest loves:

3. Blouses- peter pan collar? I am in. My favorite: pink lace blouse:

4. Weird/Different flats- my favorites:

Some of my favorite shopping spots in NJ:

Rescue Mission of Trenton {98 Carroll Street, Trenton, NJ}- By far the best thrift store in NJ. I volunteer here & It is my favorite store. Check out these Minnetonka moccasins in great condition I found this week:

Too big, but these retail for around $40 on sale for $3!

Salvation Army and The Good Will: Average priced, many around, have some good stuff. Look for signs that tell you what colored tags are 50% off that day in the front of the store and use a student id for a discount of an additional 15% off everything else!


Udelco {Udelco 210 6th Ave, Hawthorne, NJ}- Warehouse of vintage/thrifted clothing, you want something, most likely they have it. Seriously amazing—plan to spend a few hours looking and the sheer amount of merchandise {see picture}!


Of course there are many other thrift stores around. At another store in my hometown I thrifted a sick pair of Michael Kors nude cork wedges for $5! See—you never know what you are going to find!

That is the thrill of thrifting, even if I had a million bucks, I would still thrift. It is recycling at its best & most of the time shopping for a good cause.

Bottom line: why pay a million bucks when you can look like a million bucks for close to nothing? No one has to know you thrifted your stylish new outfit—unless you want them to!


If this is not your cup of tea—try some online thrift/vintage stores. The items are already hand selected, washed and give you styling tips too! Here are some of my favorites:

Vantage Point Vintage, Twitch Vintage, MidWest Vintage, Trashy Vintage


You can find many more on Etsy and Ebay as well =)


See more of my thrifting finds at my blog: behindtheleopardglasses.blogspot.com

Happy thrifting! Go dig up some hidden treasures!

Guest Post: A Southern Drawl

As you know I am off in San Francisco for work this week. Today I have Grace from A Southern Drawl here to do a guest post. She is one of my new favorite bloggers. If you go check out her blog I guarantee you will feel the same. So here she is:

Hi everyone! I'm Grace from A Southern Drawl. I blog about my style, life, and just awkward and funny things that happen way too frequently (mostly because of my underestimated sarcasm). I was thinking today of basic rules people can follow to expand their wardrobe or outfit in an easy way. Lately, I'm finding it hard to recycle my clothes, and I'm definitely on a budget, so I have to make do with what I have (wait...is that even grammatically correct?). So here they are:


1. Mix prints and patterns - I find this super hard. At first, when you mix two completely different patterns, you feel like you look like a dumbo and everyone is staring at you when, in reality, nobody knows you exist (did I just put a damper on this post?). But it's worth it. Lately, as in once today, I tried to pair completely different patterns/colors together. Once I got over the fact that I don't look as stupid as I feel, I was like hm...I kinda like this outfit. So be creative with it!

We all know if Anne Hathaway can do it, then it's definitely legal.

2. Don't be afraid to be bold. Wear bold colors or even bold lipstick. I had to warm up the idea to wearing red lipstick, but once I did, I find it going well with a lot of my outfits. You just have to get...acquainted...with it. Lately, I was doing the usual, and stalking the Kardashians' outfits and such while being vigorously captivated by their life on E! (more so than my own; yes, I know, pathetic). But, it did get me somewhere! I saw them start wearing fuschia lipstick. It's interesting how they play around with bright bold colors, but this one definitely caught my eye. So I decided to try it out on myself, and surprisingly like it. Not only with lipstick, but with clothes too. Colorblocking is always a pretty good "go-to", though I sometimes have a tendency to colorblock terrible colors together. I'll learn, eventually.

3. Take advantage of jewelry/accessories- It's always inspiring when I see great jewelry pieces.  I guess this kind of goes with the whole "be bold" rule, but bear with me.  When I first thought of this, I immediately think of that one Dior commercial with Charlize Theron, and she's walking with a cool song in the background and she's got this really great necklace on that I sometimes drool over whenever I see the commercial--yes, that one.  But a more practical example, is I found with Taylor Swift.  Simple outfit, yet colorful earrings which makes it.  And maybe it helps that she's just gorgeous, and the stones happen to match her eyes, but I mean we can look past that, right? Right.

4. Invest in denim wide-legged trousers - Trust me, it's worth it! No picture for this one, since I was too indecisive too pick (typical), but I've found this type of denim a great go-to for a going out outfit, whether it be for the day or for the evening. My favorite pair is by Michael Kors from Macy's. It was originally $120 and I got it on sale for $40, which made victory feel SO much better. BUT I also got a fabulous pair from gap (recently) for TEN dollars. Can you believe that? On sale. Ten dollars. I'm pretty sure it was two sizes too small, but that was a deal I couldn't pass up. I'll squeeze my cheeky tush into those suckers, don't you worry.


5. When in doubt, belt it. It's flattering, and makes you look like a skinny minnie. And belts go well with everything. The belt could be dark, textured, colored, bright, animal print, etc. Anything. And that's the great part about it. Here are some great belts that I found, and most likely will stalk in the store until they go on sale.
 

                             
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Welp, hope that wasn't too boring. Feel free to stop on by.  I don't bite, I swear! Ok, well, sometimes, if I'm hungry, but that's a legitimate excuse, obviously.

Ok ladies, now it's time to go check out Grace's blog. She did a great job of following her #1 tip in this post.

Guest Post: Chill Air & Perfume

As you know I am off in San Francisco for work this week. Today I have Hannah from Chill Air and Perfume here to do a guest post. She has a great blog of her own and I was thrilled when she agreed to guest post for me. Go check out her blog and you will love it, guaranteed. So here she is:

I'm so excited that Jess asked me to guest post while she's traveling this week. Jess is one of the first blogger friends I made, and we continue to bond over our love for fashion, especially thrifting. I think it's only fitting, then, that today's post showcases some of my favorite recently thrifted items. During a trip to Goodwill last week, I bought this brand new floral print dress (worn as a skirt), linen button-down, and scarf all for under $10. Can't beat that deal, right?



I began thrifting in college as a way to cut down on expenses while still enjoying the occasional (okay, more than occasional) shopping trip. I was hooked immediately, and thrifting continues to be my favorite way to shop: I buy more for less, I find equivalents of almost anything I'd buy retail, and I discover unique and vintage pieces that I know no one else will be wearing. All in all, thrifting makes for a fulfilling and, perhaps more importantly, affordable shopping experience.

Isn't Hannah adorable? I am loving her yellow tights! Now head over to her blog and show her some love. Chill Air and Perfume

Guest Post: Life Told By Leslie

As you know I am off in San Francisco for work this week. Today I have Les from Life Told By Leslie here to do a guest post. She is one of my favorite bloggers, go check out her blog and you will soon find yourself following it, promise. Here she is:

A Lesson in Thrifting

Hi everyone! Thank you Jess for asking me to guest post!


I'm Les from Life Told By Leslie. Something that has been on my mind lately is sharing some thrift shopping secrets that I've been practicing for a couple of years now. Buying used/vintage/resale is a great way to build a wardrobe of quality pieces, and I am a firm believer that every woman should have a closet full of things she loves and that will last a lifetime. While there's nothing wrong with shopping at trendy stores like Forever 21 or Old Navy (my personal fav!), as I've gotten older I have become aware of the brands/fabrics that will last longer and that are classic, i.e. never go out of style.

(Blazer: Thrifted and Vintage. Silk Shirt: Thrifted, J.Crew. Black Skinnies: JCPenney. Booties: Macy's.)

Tip 1: Look for timeless silhouettes.

My blazer has darted seams that instantly slim the waist. It also has only one button, which is more slimming than a double breasted or three button blazer. Some vintage pieces can create a boxy shape. Steer clear of those unless you want to pay a little bit extra for tailoring.

Tip 2: Be aware of fabrics.

This blazer I thrifted (for only $15!) is made of 100% wool. Anything that is made of natural fibers is going to hold up longer and be of better quality. The blouse is 100% silk, which is also a natural fabric that is going to withstand the test of time. Silk vs. Polyester? No comparison! Silk is totally more luxurious, of better quality and just all around nicer than it's knockoff counterpart Polyester. Keep in mind, silk and wool items need to be professionally cleaned. I suggest making friends with your dry cleaners, and/or taking your business to cleaners that provide frequent customer rewards such as punch cards.

Tip 3: Snatch up those high-end brands during season changes!

The blouse I'm wearing is from J.Crew....and normally sells for around $80! I thrifted it for $3 between the fall/winter season at my local Goodwill store. When it's time to switch over your closet in between seasons; hit up those thrift stores! If you're getting rid of items you don't think you'll wear again, chances are some fancy ladies that shop at J.Crew or Banana Republic are too!



Come visit me at Life Told By Leslie to see more of my outfits and thrift store finds!



xoxo,

Les

Jet Setting

Hi friends,

I am flying to San Francisco today. I'll be out there for a week for work. There will be time for fun dinners, and even a trip to Napa to visit Swanson Vineyards for a wine pairing dinner. However, it will be mostly work (trade show) but I am hoping to squeeze in a bit of sight-seeing and shopping too. Know any great stores (thrift one prferrably) that I should stop into while there?

No worries..you won't be lonely while I am gone. I've set up some great guest posts by Les, Emma, Dani, Hannah, and Grace. I'm very excited for everything they have in store for you. I hope you come back in the days to follow to see their posts, and I recommend checking out their blogs in the meantime. Hint: You will learn a lot about thrifting and expanding your wardrobe.

Follow me on Instagram at JessiAub to see pics of my trip (or to follow my #janphotoaday). I'll try to do a wrap-up when I get back.


Cheers!

Packing and Prepping

I've been busy getting ready for my week-long trip to San Francisco. Lining up all the last minute details for the show, and trying to get packed. My suitcase is still empty..

I have to have outfits for all the different situations: long days in business attire, setting up and tearing down the booth in comfortable clothes, fancy dinners, Napa trip, casual sight-seeing, and travel outfits. Good thing I have this handy-dandy outfit planner

Some what hard to see in pictures, but you can draw an outfit on the illustrations for every day of the week. You can also write a detailed description of the outfit for morning, afternoon, and night. I often forget to use this, but it comes in handy for trips.

There is some great stuff to come this week, but until then I will be busy packing.

Must Read: 20 New Year's Resolutions for 20-Somethings

{via}

This is a great article that I am sure you will find a few that will you will either:

A. Giggle About
B. Relate to
C. Aim for
D. All of the above.

Did you click on it yet? Do it!

4 Hands Brewing Company

My friend and I recently went to check out a new craft brewery here in St. Louis. You should check out 4 Hands Brewing Company if you are ever in the area.

A few pics from my visit.

Door Handle

All of the furniture in the tasting room is made from restored barn wood from here in MO. LOVE LOVE LOVE that concept.



Carrying Out 2012 Goals

{Via}

Yesterday was my first day back to work in the new year and I was filled with plans, goals, and new ideas. Maybe it was the coffee or maybe it was my excitement for the new year, but I am ready to set these thoughts into action and make each day one with INTENTION.

I'm going to start by coming up with a plan to set each of my 2012 goals into action. First up is: "Grow my events and work networks"

The Plan:
Be Strategic.
Plan and monitor success.
Make more personal interactions (i.e. less e-mails and more hand written thank you notes and phone calls).
Attend more networking events/luncheons in my community.

Are you all filled with zest and positive thoughts for 2012? What steps are you taking make your goals a reality?

Wine Pairing

Feast Magazine hosted their monthly wine pairing at Home Wine Kitchen in December, and I had the pleasure of being a part of it. I went with my friend Melanie, and we met a bunch of great people. I even recruited some of them to come to my company's monthly chocolate and wine pairing. Yay.

Here is a peek at the courses and pairings we had.

Cranberry Confit paired with Domaine St. Vincent Sparkling

Wagyu Beef Tartare paired with Dauvergne Ranvier

Risotto paired with Damaine Depueble Beaujolais

Lamb Chop with Haraszthy Old Vine Zinfandel

Honeyed waffle bites paired with a tawny port.

It was all cooked and paired to perfection. I highly recommend checking out this restaurant if you are ever in the area. I can't wait to go back for No Menu Monday.

NYE: Spakle and Shine

A few quick pics from my New Years Eve festivities. I started off with some champagne (pardon the fact that we don't own champagne flutes) then headed out to a bar downtown with friends. I had a blast ringing in the new year and hope 2012 brings great things my way.

The Best of 2011

{Via}

As 2011 is at an end I thought I would do a quick post to sum up my favorite memories of 2011.

• Moving into my own place with my friend Emily. We were roommates and sorority {Delta Delta Delta} sisters in college.
• Pursuing my career as an Event Coordinator. It's a busy occupation, but I love it and all the opportunities it brings my way.
• Exploring a new city (St Louis) and growing myself as a person in each step I take.
• Taking the leap to start a blog.

I feel like I have grown a lot as a person this year in the responsibilities I have taken on and the chances I have taken. I hope to continue to grow and expand my horizons in 2012. I have a good feeling about what the new year has in store for me.

{Cheers to a Sparkling New Year!!}