Spring Spree

That should say "shopping spree," but I didn't quite want to admit that's what happened yesterday, and since I also did a whirlwind closet clean-out from 8-9:30 pm last night, this could also be "spring cleaning," so I'm going with Spring Spree. It's really most accurate.

It started when I was reading my morning emails in bed yesterday (I prefer not to rise until I know what I'm facing for the day) and saw that Ann Taylor was having a "40% off the whole store" sale. I go through phases with Ann Taylor. Nearly everything I've bought from there has been very well made and has lasted a long time, but it's very expensive and I frequently go months without liking their collections. Lately though, it's just been "on" for me. I stopped in at lunch and ended up with 12 things in the dressing room, all of which I loved and which looked really great on (and I am a very tough critic). In the trying-on process I realized I was back to my smallest size and felt I should celebrate by spending money. I walked out with 5 things -- 3 work dresses, a blazer, and a woven shirt. Two items were already on sale and everything got an extra 40% off, but wow, that's still a very unusual amount of money for me to spend at one time. But I was GIDDY. I absolutely loved every single item and I felt prettier just carrying them around the mall. I was giggly all afternoon, gave JP and the kids a fashion show, and then, once the kids were in bed, embarked on a full closet clean-out, organization fest just so my new dresses would have a nice place to stay.

The end result:

I go through my closet regularly, but now that I realized I could fit in to all my old clothes, I pulled out all the in-between-sizes I had lurking around for early pregnancy/postpartum and ruthlessly removed items I used to love but haven't worn in years but keep around because I think there must have been some reason I loved that shirt and maybe I'll want it again. My goodwill pile is enormous and will make some career-oriented woman very happy. I know no one sees your closets, but it makes me happy on the inside to know everything is hanging nicely as it waits for me to visit.

Someone asked how I organize my shoes in a blog comment a few weeks ago, and this shows most of it. We had this flat wall in the closet next to the door frame that you really couldn't do anything with, so I nailed 2 big shoe organizers straight to the wall. I keep almost all my daily heels there, my flip flops/sandals are in a laundry bin on the floor, my boots are lined up along the back wall, and my fancy dress shoes are in their boxes on little shelves in JP's half of the closet (he loves that my pink satin rhinestone pumps are next to his suits, it adds some brightness to that corner).

This morning, as happens when you've realized your body is different and whole new sections of your closet are either opened up or closed off, it took me forever to get ready. I was trying on things I hadn't worn in two years. Even though I could hear the seconds ticking away in my head, I had so much fun- so many new outfit combos are available to me! Clairebear helped. I finally settled on this: jeans, crazy striped asymmetrical shirt that is really so unlike me I can't imagine what made me buy it but I love it, my new blazer, and black pumps. I've never had a blazer that wasn't part of a suit and I just love this one. It's hard for jackets to look good on me because of the broad shoulder, narrow hips, wider waist issue, but I think this one does.

I even rolled up the sleeves to reveal the black and white polka dot lining and show how much I'm pushing my fashion boundaries (I think I generally look put together, but I am very boring). I love clothes that make you feel good all day- this jacket does that and I can also wear it over two of the dresses I bought (and a million other things of course, but I'd never mastered the jacket over dress combo until these items). I really can't wait to wear my new dresses, I love them so.

As an extra part of the Spring Cleaning part of my Spring Spree, I also put photos in these frames I bought at Marshall's a few weekends ago. I felt our living room walls were still a teensy bit bare, but I didn't want any shelves or knick knacks or anything like that, so I went for pictures. Plus, we didn't have any in that room. The frames were very inexpensive and go perfectly with our light fixtures and general downstairs decor. JP had a heck of a time hanging them (there was lots of cursing and glaring- apparently cheap frames don't hang so well), but they look great now!

I read your comments on the bluebonnet post and picked the photo of the two kids just looking at the flowers because you're right, it's so sweet, and then I added the "good" picture and the fraught picture. The two larger prints are my two faves of Landon and Claire and while I initially said I'd update them in a year or so, I'm no longer sure I will.

My parents and siblings are coming over tomorrow to celebrate my dad's 55th birthday. I'm baking homemade carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and a few other things. It's going to be fun and delicious, and I'm totally going to make them admire my new dresses.