YES WHAT A SALE!  First of all the Avenue is unfortunately closing out all of their stores in the Portland area except for one in the Gresham suburb.  They are not taking any coupons, no rewards, and not honoring advertised sales like the current BOGOfree.  So after stopping at a store closing out, I figured out I could get WAY better deals at the open store.  Go figure! BUT I really like the Avenue clothes because they fit me well and are not too young for me, so I'm VERY disappointed we'll only have one store here --- although I imagine my Avenue credit card's balance will finally start going down!  :)

Anyway, this dress in the pictures below would've cost me just over $51 at the closeout store....however, by going to the open store, I got TWO of these dresses FOR $31!!!!! (One to fit me now, and of course one if I lose weight --- a size smaller.)  I had a 30% off coupon from shopping online with the Avenue, plus I had a $20 reward, plus the open Avenue store had BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!  BOW-CHICK-A-WOW-WOW!!!  On top of those 2 dresses I bought 2 casual jackets, another black dress (that I'm going to have cutoff & hemmed to top length), 1 white dolman cardigan in the picture below, 1 black dolman cardigan, 1 skirt, and a white semi-dressy tshirt like top.

So that's technically 3 dresses, 1 skirt, 4 cardigans/jackets, & 1 tshirt for......$136!!!!! (Oh, plus since I spent over $50 I got a free makeup bag).  I SCORED SHOPPERS!!!

Review originally submitted at http://www.avenue.com/clothing/Solid-Belted-Maxi-Dress.

Love this dress --- I almost didn't try it on because I have large hips (pear shaped,bubble butt) and I usually only wear empire style dresses. However, I am 5'10" and the waist is about 1/2 way between empire & my waist --- but that was a good thing because it still looks good. What I really love is that the belt is removeable and is elastic. I paired it with Avenue's Dolman Sleeve Cardigan, in white, (still available on their website and in stores) and removed the belt and BELTED it over the cardigan! LOOKS FABULOUS --- and that takes the huge fit of that cardigan (they run really really big) out and makes it perfect! The sizing is about right as I'm usually in-between sizes (22/24-26/28). Gee, since they had Buy 1 Get 1 Free, and I had a coupon and my rewards --- I bought both the 22/24 and the 26/28! I'll wear the 26/28 until I lose 20lbs to fit in the 22/24 more comfortably! I only marked the dress down to 4 stars because with my heighth it's not quite long enough but it'll do as I'm used to that.

Designer Online Sales!

While this post is a little late to take advantage of the sale, I'm posting anyway because I am DELIGHTED that Kate Spade has an online sale --- just like Coach Factory does! 

After a long day and evening at work, I trudged a mile home in the snow (hehe), hand cranked my computer on, and grudgingly logged onto Facebook, only to see a post from Retailmenot.com about this Kate Spade one-day-only sale.  Who knew!!!  Here's the bag I'm eyeballing but unfortunately cannot afford at this time! (But I'm still just excited that this sale exists!)

 





The only thing that would make my shopping life more complete would be a Dooney & Bourke online sale!!!  Sigh...I can't afford this one either right now either!            

Double the Style!

Tonight I ordered a second black cotton dress I already own.  I'm feeling slightly guilty, mostly because I charged it.  But here's the deal; I already have it and LOVE it.  I can see myself wearing it for YEARS to come.  The style is somewhat timeless, and frankly even if it wasn't, I'm too old to really give a damn!  While wearing it casually on the weekends I found myself incessantly worrying about getting stains on it.  So, tonight when I saw that not only did Lane Bryant have it back in stock again (it's been completely sold out for awhile), but LB also had buy one item, get one item free....well...I bought it again!  Plus for that BOGO sale, I added a cotton maxi dress that's an ombre blue striped print that I'll use for summers lounging around the house too!

Color

 This is one of the tops I am anxiously awaiting!  I liked the colors, so many colors of the rainbow!  I'm hoping the belt can be tied semi-empire so it will slim me out and the loose material will hide the...ummm....rolls!  Now what kind of jewelry would I wear with this?

Oh Dear

I seem to have spent the shopping part of my tax money before it's return...You see, I was going to have a boring afternoon, my daughter was having a rotten day (boy trouble), so what is the solution?  COACH OUTLET STORE!  Well --- they had 50% off their clearance and the purse I've liked for a long time was part of that sale!  It's actually the pattern I liked, but I'd only seen the pattern in a diaper bag before --- which doesn't quite work for me.  And there it was --- waving to me, saluting me, screaming "here I am, I'm here, pick me!" So, umm, I did....Now, I'm not usually one that needs to have a matching wallet....but my black Coach wallet doesn't match...the pink Coach wallet doesn't match, my zebra Dooney wallet doesn't match...SO....I bought a semi matching one (not an exact match) --- a silver shimmery wallet.  The purse is blue & gray tones with a slight sheen.  The wallet looks pretty good with it!  I think angels may have actually held this purse and wallet at one time and infused them with their glory!  I swear I heard a fluttering of wings...



Isn't the zipper pull beautiful?----------------------------------------->

Macy's Tip!!!

I have a Macy's credit card that I'm trying not to use....so I used a Mastercard instead (I know, I know, that doesn't make alot of sense, a credit card is a credit card)!  However, despite my obviously flawed thinking.... you know those Macy's Star Rewards Passes that you receive in the mail that usually state something like "$25 off your $100 purchase" or "20% off your purchase any day you choose" --- and in small print it says "with your Macy's Credit Card."  HA!  It just worked with my Mastercard!!!   So I got $363 worth of items with some majorly good quality brands, for $108.75!!!  I am such a happy shopaholic now!!!  <--Dangerous!

Item		Gift Box	Price	Qty	total
	Cable & Gauge Plus Size Top, Short Sleeve Colorblocked Poncho Color: blue/black   Size: 3X .  Orig $58	NA	20.99	1	$ 20.99
	Cable & Gauge Plus Size Top, Long Sleeve Keyhole Turtleneck Color: black   Size: 3X .  Orig $48	NA	17.99	1	$ 17.99
	DKNYC Plus Size Top, Three Quarter Sleeve Striped Color: Red Hot   Size: 3X .  Orig $89	NA	41.99	1	$ 41.99
	Seven7 Jeans Plus Size Cardigan, Long Sleeve Convertible Open Front Color: BLACK   Size: 2X .  Orig $89	N	44.99	1	$ 44.99
	Charter Club Plus Size Cardigan, Elbow Sleeve Oversized Collar Color: HT Charcoal   Size: 0X.  Orig $79		NA	9.99	1	$ 9.99

Gift Message:
None

Merchandise Total:	$ 135.95
Shipping Charges :	FREE
Enjoy 20% off your purchase! :	-$ 27.20
Estimated Tax :	$ .00
Total:	$ 108.75

If you'd like to make changes to your order, you must do so within 1 hour from the time you submit your

Cashmere Blend Socks!

I recently bought these cashmere blend socks.  Okay, it was actually shortly after the New Year.  I loved the idea of cashmere socks --- blended or not!  I've never really had anything like them in the way of socks before.  They have that kind of luxurious cashmere feel yet slightly wool feeling.  Soft...with a little rough twist.  Very warm.  I only paid slightly less than $5 for two pairs.  So for less than $10 (I bought two packs of two) I have 4 new pairs of cashmere blend socks!!!  Avenue.com....although they're probably gone now.  Hmm.  Sorry!

My Happy Bedroom!

I don't usually write about my decor in my house, but I finally accumulated the last painting to complete my wall (the picture of the two ladies), and I have to tell you that I just love my bedroom!  I've often thought that instead of this drafty old house, I'd like to live in a nice, modern studio apartment.  All I would need is just my bedroom, similiar to how it is now (cozy!) and of course a bathroom and a very small kitchen.  I'd actually LOVE a small studio!  Hmm, maybe a loft like one?  I used to like the old-fashioned romantic, slightly country and victorian style but over the last year or two, my style has changed to a slightly happier, more modern style --- in a way.  Anyhoo, this is a picture of the wall of paintings over my bed.  You can see it's a mix of several different types.  To me it's bright and cheerful, yet somehow pleasantly soothing at the same time.  I LOVE MY BEDROOM!

P.S. Excuse the unmade bed --- I should have at least arranged the pillows!

My Review of Textured Batwing Top

Originally submitted at Avenue.com

This plus size top is a chic twist on the classic black and white. Flatter your waistline with this cinched waist top and beautiful textured embellishment.

Textured Batwing Top

Nice top, not empire waist though

By Deebs from Portland, Oregon on 1/30/2012

3out of 5

Sizing: Feels too large

This is the same top from the post below.  I had such high hopes for it!!!  It's a nice top but it's not empire waisted like it looks in the picture. I'm 5'10" so I thought for sure it would be on me --- it's not. The elastic waist goes all the way down to my waist. If you hike it up to empire, the top is too short (on me anyway), and then it's very loose with too much material up top. I did like the material - kind of like a jersey tshirt material. And this top runs large - if you are in between sizes like I am at times, size down, you'll have plenty of room.

(legalese)

Batwings and Ponchos!

I just ordered my 5th or 6th batwing top and my 3rd poncho.  I seem to be obsessed with these!

The new batwing top that will be arriving is from the Avenue (a place I frequently shop).  What's different about it is that it appears to have a higher waist which since I am tall I'm hoping will be an empire waist on me.  I figured I can't go wrong with black and white! 

The poncho I ordered is from Onestopplus.  I don't have a picture of it, but click on this poncho link to see it.  It's an orange harvest color with a toggle closure at the neckline.  I'm hoping the orangey color will look so great on me that no one will notice the ballooning hips that are sometimes amplified by the square shape on ponchos.  I really liked it alot and therefore I'm going to ignore any perceptions I have about how it shows the reality of my ample hips!