Happy Monday

Today was kinda weird, but my outfit was cool.

 

 cream cardi- nordstrom rack, ($10)

white vest- vintage, thrifted ($4)

yellow tee- h&m ($7)

orange j.crew pants- j crew, ($20)

kenneth cole sandals- macys, ($20)

I loved not only the layered look (I'm usually not that creative), as well as the mix of the colors.  The pants are a little more of a burnt orange than the pics made it seem. 

Hope it gives you some inspiration!

Day After Day

Day after day, I look at my daily page hits and feel bad when I know you have come to my page, only to be disappointed! Besides being busy, I haven't been "in love" with my outfits. 

But this time has been a learning experience of sorts to me.  I've kinda realized over this time, that not everyday has to be something spectacular.  There are gonna be lots of boring, plain days, especially in the summer!

But at the end of the day, it still is all my style, and I like to share it.  So I will continue to do so.  In fact, I was going to today, but I forgot my hot pink heels at work- and trust me, they were vital for the outfit.  Anyway, I decided to draw you a little something something instead:

I just couldn't stand the idea of sabotaging the shoes....

green button up silk shirt from j. crew- goodwill, ($5)

white beater- old navy, ($6)

black harem pants: f21 ($21)

hot pink patent stilettos- aldos from salvation army ($7)

The black pants can also be seen here

That's all for tonight! I hope that I have somewhat made up for the lack of posts.  Boring or not, I'll see you soon.

p.s. I got my warby parkers finally!  (inally meaning I finally had the money, the shipping was just two days!)  Can't wait to show you!

Lame

Can I just say, I'm watching Real World and the red headed kid is absolutely insane, and a huge____.  Like, I can't even take it.

But anyway, I had a long day, I just got home an hour ago. Straight from work I went to my hair dresser and got my roots touched up.  I didn't get home till 9:10 so, I'm feelin tired.  And I just want cupcakes. :(


Alas, I am not going to post the past couple days outfits today, but I will quickly post today's outfit today:

p.s. I hate these pics

Christian Dior boys jacket- thrifted, ($4)

h&m blue and black speckled shirt- ($13)

black knit stretch cropped pants- ($?)

hunter boots- nordstrom ($68, got for 40)

 Not a color combination I would quickly think to put together, but somehow, it just came to me last night and I loved the idea.  I knew I didn't even have to try it on.  I absolutely love my hunter boots and am so thankful for them.

Title Coming Soon

It's late!  I just watched The Black Swan, I wasn't pressed.  But I can respect the film for many reasons too.

Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to be having my first, official question and answer series with my readers/friends/strangers etc.!  I don't know what to call this little Q&A session, so any title suggestions are welcomed! (for example, Jentine, from My Edit has a "Thrift Thursdays" where she will go over thrifting tips).  Ever since I started doing more fashion on my blog, more people have started to approach me and say things such as how they were going to approach me to ask me _____.   I really love it and get so excited, even when a guy asks me to help them shop! I love the feeling of someone taking the time to approach me and ask me something (therefore trusting my word/opinion) on fashion.  I love it.  Anyway, tomorrows q&a, I will be telling my beautiful, 'new mama' friend Angela on how to spruce up a simple outfit. Maybe I will have an outfit post too.  Regardless, I hope to see you tomorrow!


Love,
Mina and Devin

Long Day Play

I have several outfits from last week I wanted to share, as well as today's... and my mr.mans who, once again, is taking lessons from his mama on style.  See below (but keep in mind that I save best for last).

I apologize that you can't accurately see the color of my boots.  They are maroon, and they're timbs!  They look more combat bootish, but are all man made materials.  The leather is super soft, the rubber looks like it was a million bucks.  I don't know if it's supposed to be an eco friendly thing or what, but there was something special about them.  Many thought they were ugly, but I got a lot of compliments on them today.  I love them!  They were $30 from Gabriel Brothers.


Favorite Thrift Find:

I'm not sure you can accurately see the shimmers of gray and barely-there-electric-blue  in this vintage Ann Taylor vest, but it might just be one of my favorite thrifting finds.  It was $7.50 (on sale at a pricier second hand clothing store, cuz no one else seemed to want it).  Also, these are my fancy $50 j. crew lounge sweatpants that I ordered.  I loooove them!  They are super warm.  I must say though, I'm already getting loose threads and those little lint balls in between my thighs- and that was after wearing them on the first day.  Do you really get what you pay for??  Not completely convinced yet.


Oh, you fancy huh?

I love wide leg jeans.  I wore this after I wore a very casual outfit the previous day.  Once I realized I don't take as much advantage of the ability to wear jeans to work, I decided to make an outfit with a mix of casual, cute, and work dressy.  I guess it's mostly in the shirt.  Anything with ruffles like that reminds me of "work clothes."  Oh, and I used to be really weird about mixing blues with jeans, but I'm starting to really enjoy it and accept it. 



 No Namer

 A little bit about this outfit...I had been wanting to wear it for a while, but it's been way cold.  Finally I sucked it up and wore this extra long J. Crew tunic that I got thrifted.  I actually wore it with a charcoal gray legging, but everything else was the same.  Except, in this picture the tunic looks a little hoochie and short, I promise it isn't.  And I guess the pictures don't do it much justice, but I felt cute in a preppy way.


Best Below

 Here is my main man.  Yes, that is a tear under his eye.  He was not thrilled to take photos but quickly got over it when I handed him his book.  He loves flipping through books!  And now, he babbles like he's reading, it's so cute!  I just wanted to share this cute little vintage child scarf I found and had to get.  It has little pockets on the bottoms with buttons, so you can button each end together.  I can't get over how cute it is!  I want to find moreeeee.  Geez I love vintage stuff....and my little man who makes these clothes look so cute.

p.s.  I woke up super early.  Going to bed early was well worth it.  I would like to do the same tonight, but I'm watching "The Social Network."  I really like it so far!  Sorry if my post is scatter brained!

Happy New Years!!

Hello  hello!  Can't believe it's 2011!  While 2010 certainly wasn't my year, I am thankful that I lived through another, and joyous to be in the next.  I noticed that even-numbered years aren't the best for me, while the odd ones have been great ones.  2009 was an excellent year for me, so I am looking forward to what 2011 might have to offer.  I am never the resolution making type person, and when I do make one, I will forget what it was by the end of the month. Also, I definitely believe that one should make resolutions and goals for self improvement continuously and not just on January 1st.  HOWEVER, I decided to really try to make some goals for myself and try hard to achieve them.  Here are some things I'd like to really work on (in no particular order):

- My attitude.  I hate to say it, but I can be quite the bitch to those I love the most.  I won't destroy your view of my by going into details, but I do have a lot I'd like to fix in this regard.
- Making my home my palace.  I want to start accomplishing making my home like the ones I love to look at in apartmenttherapy.com
- Really get my etsy store up and running
- Really get my part-time personal stylist work up and running
- Volunteer my time (this is a biggie for me)
- Treat my body and mind better. (yoga, stretching, exercise, daily face moisturizing).
- Read to Devin more and read for myself more.  I read to him a lot, but not as much as I'd like to  I always want to read more for myself
- Take a dance class

- Save money. Another big one, I suck at saving.

- Be more social.  I suck at this, I'm such a homebody and never want to do anything, so I need to get better about this one for sure.
- Evolve my blog.  Get a banner or theme going, purchase a domain, etc.  

Speaking of which, one amazing aspect of 2010 has been my blog.  I have always blogged for many years on and off, and I've always been surprised to find that I had even A reader.  But 2010, I really started to take my love of blogging seriously.  I wasn't sure what I was going to make of SpottieOtties when I started [taking it more seriously], but I knew that I truly loved it, and I knew I would figure it out.  

Now, I wouldn't call SpottieOtties solely a fashion blog, but it has definitely become a main focus.  And while I am glad I have a purpose for this blog, I am also glad that I can switch it up and post anything from recipes, to advice in general, pictures, thoughts, and even bits of my personal life (after all, Devin's too cute not to share!).  So yes, I love this blog, I love having it as my second job.  But one of things (if not THE thing) I love most about this whole blogging thing, is that anytime I get a compliment on my blog, or someone even telling me they read it, I get this serious amount of joy within me.  It's one of the best feelings, and I don't know why.  But the fact that I have readers (40!), makes me seriously happy and I am thankful for every single one of you.  

Thank YOU so much, it means the world universe to me!  And to my potential new readers, I hope to see you back!


Oh, and before I go, I want to share the last goal that will continue to be a resolution daily, and yearly.  The one that we hear too often, but it's the overall rule to live by:


To just better myself.  Be a better Mother, friend, family member, stranger, worker...PERSON. Be more humble and thankful. Just.be.better.  Because if you're not growing, your dying.

So 2011, welcome and nice to finally meet you. 

xoxo,

Tough n Sweet

Today, I was super comfortable.  These pants kill me with their comfyness.  I immediately knew I wanted to wear them with my short, rugged looking boots- and in order to make my outfit more feminine, I decided to top it off with a soft, pale pink cardigan, big gold earrings, and lipstick.  It came together quite well, don't you think?

 I swear I wasn't trying to be cute, I was actually making faces and fake laughing with Devin.  He started it!

 See my ASOS watch I put in my holiday gift guide below.  p.s. You have to slip it over your hand, it doesn't have a clasp.  It's weird, but I still like it.

pink new york and company cardi: gab. bros ($6)

white tee: f21 ($5)

black harem pants: f21 ($14)

zigi soho meena boots: dsw ($26)

gold earrings: f21, gift

asos watch: gift ($40)

blue/gray infinity scarf: f21, gift

Warm and Cozy

I am fortunate enough that I got gifts for Christmas, and I love everyone of them.  But one of my favorites, I got for myself.  I discovered this Anthropologie sweater on Christmas Eve, when it was gifted to Michael's sister.  I loved it soooo much, I knew I was going to go get it the next day the store was open!  This is another one of those purchases that is rare for me....aka very expensive (and ya'll know by now my cheap ass NEVER spends a lot on any one item).  So anyway, here I am debuting my comfy, warm and cozy sweater. 

Here is what I wore to the store (I just threw on this outfit and quite liked it!):

pale pink New York & company cardi: Gabriel Bros ($6) originally $50

one of those thick scarves (similar to infinity scarves but not): Gab Bros. ($2)

light gray/cream shirt: f21 ($14)

j brand jeans: Gab Bros. ($20)

Aerie boots: thrifted, ($16)

Anthropologie cardi sweater: ($80)

light gray/cream shirt: f21 ($14)

j brand jeans: Gab Bros. ($20)

Aerie boots: thrifted, ($16)

Yup, the sweater was quite a splurge.  But I got a few other great items for great prices.  I got a glass ring holder for $10, an oven mitt and matching pot holder for $7 each, and a cute lion salt and pepper shaker set for $8.  I never knew that some of their items could actually be affordable!  Yup, that's my confession...I had yet to ever go into an Anthropologie store, can you believe it?! I've been drooling over their stuff from the catalog for YEARS!

Some of my other Christmas gifts were,

- Zara silk perfume (yum!)

- Nikon camera remote (did ya notice?  No more bothering Michael for pictures! ;p)

- Minnetonka moccassins I've been wanting forever

- two circle scarves (yay!)

What are some of your favorite items?  Remember to be thankful that you even had a holiday in a warm home. Tata!

Feliz Navidad

Hola y Feliz Navidid to my latino friends! I wanted to share my festive outfit I wore to work yesterday.   I got this blazer partially as a joke, since it's a very weird material....almost like a raincoat.  But I thought it was super cute and it fit perfectly! 

blazer: thrifted, $2

white & gray shirt: f21/old navy ($6, $4)

black leggings: f21 ($8)

white socks: nordstrom rack, ($2)

steve madden boots: ($60)

So that's it.  What a super comfy outfit. Do you have last minute shopping to do today?  I do, and I have never been on xmas eve, so I am a bit nervous about the lines and psycho people I will be dealing with.  So wish me luck!  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve followed by an amazing Christmas.  To all the locals, make sure you wear your pajamas inside out and backwards tomorrow night so we can get some good snow Sunday-Monday with no work! :)

Banana Pudding

I'm eating this amazing banana pudding as I type.  Have you had banana pudding?  It's bomb.  My boss made it for a holiday potluck.  I really love this time of year. I actually crave it at some point in every summer.  I don't like my wallet being empty and my credit cards being full, nor the long lines, the crowded stores and psycho people, but I do like the holiday spirit, candy canes, holiday lights on peoples homes, holiday lights in general, hot chocolate, and snow!

Tonight, there is a lunar eclipse tonight in a couple hours and I am excited.  I can see the moon from my bedroom window quite perfectly, I'm very excited!  So I wanted to quickly post a couple outfit pictures before I try to get some shut eye before said lunar eclipse.

#1- Dream Coat:

I had been looking for an affordable long, white, wool trench for a couple years.  I didn't stop until I found the perfect one, and this was it:

I look like a midget with no neck in this pic, but I wanted you to see the colors of the shirt.  I wish you could see it better, but it's so pretty!

I looooove love love these shoes I got over the weekend.  They are Nine West vintage collection, and I couldn't stop myself from getting them.  They will be fun to pair with, and you will probably see a lot of them.

Whole outfit from Gabriel Brothers (I posted about here)

Express Coat: $15

Liz Claiborne shirt: $15

J Brand Jeans: $20

Nine west shoes: $35

Later that day I changed (terrified to get the white coat dirty), and good thing I did, as I spilled the coffee I'm holding in my hand all over myself 15 minutes later.

This coat was new too.  Well, new to me, but thrifted for $40.  It's warm, long, and has a large fold down collar, which I love!

#2: Comfy clothes for a quick holiday shopping run:
These leggings are thick, warm, and super soft.  They have cute buttons on the bottom that make them look not as pajama-y, but I will probably mostly wear boots with them, so I guess they will always look like jammies.  Maybe when it warms up I will get creative.  I got a paid of brown ones too, I couldn't resist!

cardi: thrifted ($14)

black shirt: hand me down

poof sweater leggings: gabriel brothers ($7)

uggs: nordstrom anniversary sale ($80)

Hope you enjoyed and/or got some ideas.  Goodnight!

What Christmas Lights Do To Me

I for reals love Christmas lights.  They immediately change my mood as soon as the lights go out and they are turned on.  I've had this feeling towards xmas lights since forever.  I put them in my room around the ceilings in high school, and it honestly made a huge difference on my mood as soon as the lights went out.  I dunno if some may think that's weird, but for whatever reason, they make me happy and I wish I could have them on year round.  Maybe I'll think of some way of making it chic and possible?  Anyway, we just put the tree up tonight (finally):

how amazing is this pic? I am so proud of myself.

And now for the outfit of the day:

I promise this outfit looks less boring in person.

I got several compliments on my boots, one from a male stranger (and no, he did not seem gay AT ALL).  With that being said, they kill my feet.

sweater: f21, old ($12)

black miss sixty harem pants: thrifted, ($16)

black "rouge" boots: thrifted, ($8)

 And now for my outerwear:

Either people commented on how much they loved the hat, or they looked at me like I was crazy.  This Hispanic guy was asking his friend if I had some type of animal on my head. LOL 

 hat: H&M, ($13)

Sophia Eugene coat (lined in silk): thrifted, ($5- in PERFECT condition might I add!)

Tomorrow, it's supposed to snow about an inch.  I LOVE snow and can't wait for a real snow storm.  There are so many snow haters here, but I love it!