Tee Time

So I was chosen to do another Old Navy Sample Share as part of the Old Navy Style Council via Crowdtap.  The coupons were for 2 FREE Women's Best Tees for me and 2 FREE Women's Best Tees for a friend.

Old Navy Style Council via Crowdtap

Usually I choose who I take with me by their "need" for the item, and since this sample share was for tees it seemed like everyone was in need new tees.  So I did the "logical" thing... I decided to picked 3 people and we'd all get 1 FREE tee.  I chose my trusty side kick, the BFF Karie, my sister (still rebuilding her closet since gaining some much needed weight from when she stopped smoking) and my niece who was pregnant.  It pretty much worked out well because Karie was more available for shopping/photo time, while my sister & niece weren't.  My sister was in a pretty bad car accident (a couple weeks before the coupons were active) where she fractured a vertebrae in her back & messed up her ribs and my niece was about to give birth (she had the baby about a week prior to the coupon's expiring).  

It wasn't the best timing for a sample share ever, nor did I necessarily pick the "best" candidates to go shopping, but they all deserved a new tee and it all worked out.

Of course the day Karie and I went shopping was the day that the Old Navy we went to was PACKED.  Like a crazy, insane, madhouse of activity.  The shelves were a mess, there wasn't many choices size-wise and we waited in line to try things on for 20 - 30 minutes each the two times we dared to go to the dressing rooms.  We did the best we could with what we had and both ended up with a shirt we liked.   

Karie & I both in Women's Perfect Henleys.
Secret Cove & Bright Nite

My sister, Georgie, was set to meet me after work to get her & my nieces tees on the last day before the coupon expired but had to opt out because her back was bothering her too badly so she sent my niece to stop by & gab them instead.  Between the new baby (my great nephew Hunter... who is a complete stud!) and her husband being in town for "maternity leave" (he's in the Navy) she didn't have a lot of time but we managed to find a shirt she liked and between the two of us figured out what size, style & color to get my sister.  And as a bonus Elizabeth was kind enough to throw on her shirt (over her clothes) and let me snap a picture of her in the parking lot of her in her new shirt.

Elizabeth in her black stripped Women's Perfect Crew Tee

We got my sister a Perfect Henley, as well, but in Sea Turtle.  Although I don't have a photo of her in her's... she loves it.

I think the Perfect Henley's are my favorite Old Navy tee.  I have a lot of their Henley tanks (which I can't find on their website).  I guess there's just something about little buttons that make them stand out more.  So cute!

For the BEST Tee sample share we had the Perfect Tees and the Vintage style (no prints) tees to choose from.  The sizing on the Vintage was a bit off (at least for my...unique frame) and there wasn't a lot of the crew/v-neck Perfect tees in my size to try on.  Here are some of the tees Karie & I tried on but didn't choose...

Woman's Vintage Style V-Neck

Woman's Vintage Style V-Neck

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Woman's Perfect Henley

Women's Ruffled Slub-Knit Henleys

I think it's hilarious how differen't the EXACT same shirt looks on both Karie & I.  

Thanks Old Navy Style Council & Crowdtap!!

Oh, and BONUS photo of Hunter...

STUD!!

Join Crowdtap here

It may sound like it but this is not a paid post...

For the first time in my life I'm actively on a diet.  Although I'm not actually ON a diet.  I mean, I'm still basically eating the same things as I was, I just watch what I'm actually eating and how much I'm actually putting into my mouth.  If that's a diet, then I'm on a diet... but I really don't feel like I'm on a diet.  

MyFitnessPal

I'm using an app called MyFitnessPal.  A friend of mine has been using it since the beginning of the year and has lost a lot of weight and has had nothing but good things to say about the whole experience.  Since it wasn't a diet (really, it's a dirty word) and it was FREE to download I figured there wasn't anything to lose to try it.  So I did.  And since February 18th I've lost about 8 pounds.  I say about because I have a lame scale that's not digital so it's not 100% accurate.  I set me goal to lose 20 lbs.   So I'm almost half way there.  

                                                Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

It's a pretty easy app to use, plus you can also log in online.  You tell it your weight, your goal and a few other minor details and it tells you your calories for the day.  Then you go about tracking what you eat while it counts down the remaining calories for the day.  If you add in exercise it adds more calories for the day.  That's my favorite part.  I get to eat more then.

I like it because it forces me to acknowledge all the food I'm sticking into my mouth.  When you're tracking what you eat you tend to graze less.  Or at least I do.  As a snacker, I loved to graze.  I get bored, I graze.  Emotional turmoil = graze.  There's just one food item left... I better eat it.  While I'm not severely overweight I do have some pounds I could lose.  

Since the app tracks and tallys everything for me it's sort of ends up being a game I play.  Can I beat it today?  Did I do better than yesterday?  Some days you are over your calorie goal.  Some days you're under.  And others you manage to figure it out and are even. Too many days under your calorie goal and it sort of yells at you... okay, it reminds you that you could be starving yourself.  When you end up going over your goal for the day you end up seeing that if you keep it up you may never get down to the weight you want.  It totally checks and balances you.

Plus, you can connect with friends who also have the app.  It's nice to have someone motivate you... either by comments or just by seeing how well they themselves are doing, how much they've lost to date or how they kicked butt in their last workout.

I ended up coming down with a horrible head cold (?) the middle of last week and was out of commission for almost 5 days.  I didn't log in to MFP for those days and missed my weekly weigh in so I'm a bit off track.  Since starting all of this, that's the first time I haven't logged in for that length of time.  Some times on the weekend I may skip a day because it's "impossible" to figure out the calories of a meal or I know I'm sooooo over my calorie limit I don't even bother to record that day but I do notice what I'm eating, how much and if I'm doing my part to make sure I lose weight and really that's what I love about this app.

If you're already on MyFitnessPal, feel free to friend me.  I know a lot of people feel their weight loss is a personal journey so I've been shy about who I have friended already, especially since I'm not a die hard user but I don't mind having more people to help motivate me if y'all don't.

Third times a charm

... hopefully.

I received my Shabby Apple Riptide dress and unfortunately it didn't fit.  Or it fit but it wasn't the right fit so I sent it back.  The length was too long, the skirt was see through and there were darts in the top.  Plus, it just looked...weird.

Although I'm totally frustrated that I live chatted with someone at Shabby Apple and asked about darts I still like Shabby Apple and am please by how easy it has been to exchange/return items.  Also, I wrote a review for both dresses on their site and received an email from Shabby Apple for each that included a $10 Shabby Apple gift card.  I'd already mailed off my return package, of course, so I couldn't use them towards my exchange.  Though I'm not sure you can use more than one gift card at a time.  I was going to use the $20 in gift cards to buy a t-shirt but at check out I could only enter one gift card code.  

Anyway, I chose to forgo trying another dress and went with accessories instead.  I chose the Madeline Girl Riprap Shoe in fuchsia and the Wild Thing Belt.

Wild Thing Belt

Wild Thing Belt

Riprap heel

I was torn between the fuchsia and yellow color so I polled my friends though text & FB.  It was a close one but fuchsia won out.  In trying to find a review of the shoe and to see if they fit true to size or not I found them on heels.com and there is a green version.  I cannot tell you how sad I am at the fact that Shabby Apple does not sell them in green.  Hands down the green Riprap shoe is the best and would have been a no brainer of a choice.  I guess if I love the shoes then I can just save up and buy them at a later date.  I've been wanting a green pair of shoes forever now.  

I have no idea what I'll do should either of these items not work.  I mean is there a limit to the amount of times you can return/exchange items back to Shabby Apple?  LOL.  

This week has been a frustrating one in the shopping department.  I am in desperate need of a new bra(s) and since on-line shopping seems to be my only option it's been a couple weeks of hell trying to figure out my correct & current size and finding a brand that fits best.  Seems my current size and my old favorite bra no longer work together so I'm in totally different brand & style territory.  So far I don't like it.  Live chats with the store I'm using have been completely useless and would have been comical had I not been in such a dark place (seriously bra shopping is the most horrid experience...I'd rather have a tooth pulled or my blood drawn and I HATE both of those things!).  

I've tried 3 different bras and had 2 different shipments so far.  We'll see what happens when my return goes through and I get my exchanged items.  I'm sure a bottle of champaign or a 12 pack of Lime-A-Rita (Margarita beer from Bud Light... classy!) will be involved, as well as tears and texts to Karie & Crystal, while sitting on my kitchen floor.  When I go to the dark place my kitchen floor is my go to spot... not sure why.  

So there's far too much information about my shopping experience's this week.  

You're welcome.   

Semi Update

This is an update of sorts.  I don't really feel like it's a true update because I can't actually put the subjects I'm updating to rest yet.  Though I do feel like an update is needed, so here I am.

First, to update on donating all my January Crowdtap points to TWLOHA...  I did donate all the points I could to TWLOHA but at this time the amount donated has not changed from the 60,000 points ($30 donation) listed on my original post. 

Unfortunately, Crowdtap is changing their points system and their store and our current points don't roll over.  At this time gift cards cost more than they did before so (in short) people can use up all their points before being switched to the new system (the logic behind their logic is not logical at all, at least to me...or anyone else who has commented about it in the community).  Since the announcement was made most of the charities have been "sold out".  I'm assuming because it's the only thing people can really afford to do to use up their points.  I'm hoping to donate to TWLOHA at the beginning of next month (the next restock) but we'll see.  

If I can, at this point, I'll be donating another 30,000 points ($15 donation) but hopefully I'll be up to (at least) $40,000 points ($20 donation) by then.  

I haven't received notification as of yet of my account changing over so I should be able to use my points for charity.  I think it's ridiculous that making donations to charity is something that can sell out.  I'm sure there's some legal mumbo jumbo behind it for Crowdtap but I still think it's dumb.  There shouldn't be a limit on being able to help others.


Second, to update on my Shabby Apple dress order.  The dress did not fit perfectly and even if it had I hated the fabric.  It was made of a poly matte crepe satin with a hint of spandex.  I should have know because for whatever reason my body hates anything close to satin, it becomes all staticy and nothing I do will help it be not staticy, but I guess I was hoping that the poly matte crepe (I still have no idea what that means) or the spandex would save it.  The dress pretty much fit like a dream except for the darts.  The darts were a major problem as they poked out and looked ridiculous.    

Luckily, Shabby Apple launched a new line called Ferris Wheel and I was able to return my Moonlight dress for something different and new (and without stupid darts).  To make sure I wasn't ordering something that had darts (you can't always tell in pictures) I live chatted with SA and verified.

So I chose the Riptide dress and I may love it even more than I did the Moonlight/Class Ring dress.  The only "sad" thing about this dress is it is a bit more pricy than the Moonlight dress so my out of pocket was $13 this time.  Still a super steal but not as FREE as it was or could have been.

Riptide dress

    
Seriously, what's not to love?!  It has two of my favorite colors (at least right now) navy & hot pink.  Plus, the top is a dark color...which always works better for me.  Not sure how the striped skirt will look but really I'm willing to chance it.  Stripes are another favorite right now. 

I should have my dress by the end of this week or next.   I pray it fits!  And looks good.  If not, I really don't know where to go from here.

The whole Ferris Wheel line is ADORABLE!  I've never wished for a longer torso in my life more than I do right now because the skirts featured in the FW line are just to die for.  Unfortunately, for someone of my stature (well endowed & short torsoed) these skirts are just a major NO-NO.  They would look ridiculous on me.  I may have shed a few tears for that fact.  I'm seriously.  I have a whole text conversation with Crystal about it.    

I mean look at these beauties!

Boardwalk Baby Skirt

Whirlwind Skirt

Calliope Skirt

Getting Warm & Cozy

Earlier this month Crystal was chosen for a sample share for Old Navy dresses and she chose lucky me.  We like a lot of the same things but tend to go in different ways when it comes to the clothes we chose for ourselves so at the end of our dress shopping trip I was surprised when we both chose a black dress.

This is where I again mention I am only 5'4".  Crystal is TINY!

It was coincidental but we were both wearing grey boots that day as well.  So maybe our clothing tastes aren't that different after all.  

Especially when you take into consideration what we both walked away with when we did my Old Navy sweater sample share this weekend.   We both ended up with the same hooded-zipped sweater, and we both chose it in navy.

We both had different sweaters in mind when we walked in after taking a look at ON's website but our sweater selection was pretty slim.  We ended up going to two Old Navy's and the second store wasn't helpful.  Luckily we both love our sweaters, even if it wasn't the one we thought we'd be leaving with.

Crystal was torn between the navy hoodie or the button-front cardi.   I really loved the grey & black on her but since she's moved up the snow country we decided that the heavier sweater was the better way to go.  Warm clothes was the reason I picked her for this sample share.  She may be the only other person I know who goes into freeze mode in anything below 85 degrees.

I almost went with the boyfriend cardi but I really wanted/needed a navy sweater so I went where the color took me.  Although, looking back and seeing this pink color again I think I may really want/need a pink boyfriend cardi.  

Santa, if you are reading this...hook a girl up.  Please and thank you.


If you are interested in joining in on the fun, follow the link below and sign up.  It's fun and did I mention the opportunities for FREE stuff?!  

Incidentally, all opinions are my own.  I was not paid for this post (or any other post). 

Old Navy Cardi Party

Being a member of CrowdTap just keeps getting better and better.  I guess it's more accurate to say being a part of the Old Navy Style Council just keeps getting better and better.  I was lucky to be selected for their Cardi Party.  Cardi Party isn't even an accurate description because not only was the sample share for me and 3 (YES! THREE!) of my friends but it included for each of us a FREE cardigan, a FREE skirt, and a FREE scarf.  Say WHAT?!  Yep, you read that right.  We ALL got a FREE cardigan, skirt and scarf.  

Anyone who knows me knows I love me some FREE stuff.  Especially easy FREE stuff.  All we had to do was put together some outfits featuring those 3 items and snag some photos.  We didn't get to get as creative as we had hoped but we did what we could with what we could.  Oh, and while Old Navy, the Old Navy Style Council and CrowdTap gave me the FREE stuff all opinions are honest and my own.  I am a part of all this because I actually like Old Navy and I love the opportunities CrowdTap gives it's members so that's that. 

For my "party" I chose my BFF Karie, (Duh!), my sister Georgie, and my niece Elizabeth.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth couldn't go so I decided to invite Karie's mom Debi to even out our party.  Both my sister & Debi are the same age and rarely ever go shopping for themselves.  I've been waiting for the perfect sample share to invite my sister to and this definitely was it. She stopped smoking (WOOT!) and has finally gained some much needed weight (double WOOT!) and is starting to go out and buy new clothes.  Aside from the cardigan my sister would never go out and just buy a skirt or scarf.  She'd think about it but probably wouldn't actually go and do it.  I like that this sample share made her do so.  

We all met at Old Navy at 10am hoping to beat some of the shopping crowds.  It worked for a little while but eventually the dressing rooms began to fill up and it was much harder to take them over, which I totally felt like we were doing.  By the time we left the store was actually pretty busy.

I was a bit worried when we first started looking around because there wasn't much in the way of selection for skirts, and while there was a larger selection of cardigans there wasn't much in the way of sizes.  The one thing we didn't have a problem with was scarves.  Well, except that they didn't have the crocheted scarves, but really that may have been a good thing because I may not have been able to pick one otherwise.  It was hard enough without them to narrow it down to just one.

Just about all my favorite prints in the cardigans were out in my size.  There was an adorable peach polka dot one that I would have killed for but they only had it in XXL.  Luckily there was a ton of my other top choice... the grey animal print.  

I realized that the grey on grey animal print doesn't work but the photo we took of this outfit with the black scarf I tried with it didn't turn out. 

My sister tried the grey animal print as well, she's not one for animal print so I was excited she tried it.  I told her we could both get the grey on grey animal and be twins but she wasn't going for it. Personally, I can't blame her but don't tell her I said that.  

I, also, think the print/coloring looks way better on her as well.  Sometimes sisters are such a pain in the butt!  

When it came down to it I decided I loved the grey animal scarf the most out of all the scarves I tried so that left me trying to figure out what cardigan to get.  I really loved the grey animal print cardi but I finally chose an open front cardi in light grey (unfortunately, not shown online).  It was just too soft to pass up... it's like a hug when you wear it.  True story.

I managed to snag a pic wearing the navy version of the open front cardigan.   It was a hard choice between the two colors (light grey & navy) but I know I am obsessed with navy right now so I chose to go the other route for a change up.

By the time I decided against the grey animal cardi the store was too crowded and my phone refused to take any more photos.  I had asked Karie to bring her camera, I finally have to admit I lost mine, but she forgot it in her excited rush to get the party started.   So I had to wait until I cleared up some storage room on my phone & took my own photo's back at home. 

Debi tried on the light grey cardigan I ended up choosing, along with my second favorite scarf.  Both were cute but not totally "Debi".

Karie was more conservative on what she tried on and stuck with only 2 cardi's (at least what was documented so maybe I missed the other ones).  She tried on the classic button cardi's in black & white.

Since there were tons of scarves to choose from (both style & color) I had the most fun trying to choose my favorite but at the same time also get something that is not like anything I currently have.  None of the other girls wear scarves much so they just stuck with a couple patterns they liked. 

Scarves we liked but didn't pick...

Karie

Georgie

Debi

Me

For the skirts we had 3 different types to choose from.  The Pencil (sadly the perfect-cord pencils were not in store), the Fold Over Jersey (only black & grey) & some denim skirts (not shown online).  All the skirts we were most excited to try weren't in store.  I was the only one who found a Pencil skirt to try because they were out of every size except L and up.  Although, they weren't our favorite apparently they are popular because there were no XS, S, or M's (except in the one I tried on).  

Save for Karie, we are a short bunch, all about 5'4 and under so the Pencil skirts were a weird length for us.  The denim skirts were almost the same length but a bit shorter so they looked a bit better.  Two of us ended up with the denim skirts and the other two ended up with the Fold Over Jersey skirts.

Denim skirt: 

Me

Debi

Grey Fold Over Jersey skirt: 

Karie

Georgie 

So when all was said and done here is the outfits we took home.

Karie

Woman's Sheer Textured Scarf in Red

Woman's Button-Front Cardi in Bright White

Woman's Fold-Over Jersey Skirt in Dark Heather Grey

None of the colors Karie picked were "normal" Karie colors so I was proud of her for trying something different.  I love the outfit, and I love the color scheme, and even though it's not her "normal" it is still a very Karie outfit.

Debi 

Woman's Printed Scarf in purple not online

Woman's Button-Front Stretch Cardi in Purple Majesty
Woman's Denim Skirt not online

Purple is Debi's color.  The cardi and scarf go perfectly together and with the denim skirt I think it is a totally cute, stylish and fun outfit.

Georgie

 Infinity scarf in Black & Grey Striped not online

Woman's Ribbed Open-Front Cardigan in Black not online

Woman's Fold-Over Jersey Skirt in Light Grey

I love the outfit my sister picked.  It looks great on her.  Aside from the cardi, it is not an outfit she would normally ever wear, style-wise or color-wise.  I can't wait to see what else she pairs each piece with.

Me

Woman's Leopard-Print Infinity Scarf in Grey Leopard

Woman's Ribbed Open-Front Cardi in Light Grey not online

Woman's Denim skirt not online

I don't think anything I got was a surprise to anyone.  The scarf was the only thing I had my eye on going in but the other pieces aren't really out of my norm.  Of course, considering almost half of my closet is Old Navy, it's hard to go outside of my norm when shopping there.

Now if it would only cool down because I can't wait to wear my new outfit with my grey boots.  Come on Fall, hurry up and get here!!

Grey Xhiliration boots, Target

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