Tag: springfashion

Thinking warmer weather with J. Crew Factory

On By careofmonIn Fashion4 Comments

This past week with the ridiculous blizzard, I got to day dreaming about warmer weather hopefully coming our way! I checked out one of my favorite sites for those basic wardrobe essentials like shorts and tees, and I think I found some good items!!!

First up, the striped studio t-shirt. I know, navy and white stripes for summer in New England? Groundbreaking! Seriously though, the price on this tee is $18.50 now which is a great price and this is one of those essentials for me to wear casually with shorts, OR throw on a nicer statement necklace and pair with a skirt.

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So if you read my blog or check out my instagram pics, you know about my dalmatian Mizpah. She is my best friend and I just love her to pieces. I saw this tee, now $21.50 and literally eeped out loud! I wish it wasn’t a gray tee because its a little blah, but the dal on it is too cute.
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This mini skirt is navy on white for $32, and the print is just beautiful. I think it would look great with a tee or tank top or could be dressed up a little with a sleeveless blouse and navy blazer with the right shoes.

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For me, the 5″ length shorts are my happy place, you might be happier with 3″ or 10″, to each their own. J. Crew Factory has these pull on shorts….and they do have the elastic waistband, but they look nice, not like workout or pajama shorts! They look perfect for throwing on with a tee or tank to head out for a warm day…..especially if you know you are going to be eating a lot haha….cookouts…fried seafood….ice cream….ugh is it summer yet?? I got the coral and navy…might end up getting the green if they work out!

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Other items that I was checking out as part of my summer daydream storm retail therapy include this shimmer boucle dress,  this gemstone tassel necklace, and this camp tunic shirt.

What items have you been checking out for this coming spring and summer??

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Mahi Gold at WPI’s Alumni Weekend

On By careofmonIn Fashion, Lifestyle3 Comments

This past weekend I attended my 10 year reunion at WPI….that’s right, I graduated college in 2006!! It made me feel really old haha. My husband, Jon, was also the class of ’06 so he came with and we had an awesome day catching up with people. We met up with a group of friends at the Boynton restaurant in Worcester to start our day, a place that we all spent much time at in college. From there we headed up the hill to campus.

WPI is beautiful. Nestled in a concentrated area in Worcester, it has the classic New England college look. I remember going to check it out in high school and just instantly falling in love with the campus. My tour guide, Nicole, was awesome and would later become my sorority sister! I got in to WPI early my senior year, connected with the crew coach, the money all worked out and just like that, I had chosen my home for the next four years.

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This is the Earle Bridge, a walking bridge over Institute Road. Freshman year during orientation, all new students walk over this bridge to symbolize their journey beginning. On graduation day, all graduates walk back over the bridge to symbolize the end of their time at WPI. Tearin up just a little, don’t mind me guys.

My husband was in the Skull society, so we hung out in the Skull tomb for a bit. Then we went to see our respective Greek houses- he was an Alpha Chi Rho, and I was a Phi Sigma Sigma. Finally we went to the Higgins House gardens (also seen here), arguably my favorite spot on campus. The Higgins lawn was my quiet spot to go with a blanket and read in college.

It was a really beautiful day Saturday, so I went with one of my Mahi Gold dresses and my navy/white Palm Beach Sandals with my white KJP bracelet. I have three dresses from Mahi Gold on the cape, and they are definitely some of my faves. They are all made from high quality cotton with a little stretch, thick enough to be not see through. The prints are all really fun and nautical.

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Not loving my hair in these pics haha, I put it in a braid wet so it has that sorta wavy look to it, ohhhh well 🙂 

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Dress // Sandals // Bracelet

Our little class reception was in the new rec/athletics building on campus which has a rowing room!! We used to have to get bused over to Holy Cross to use their tanks, but now WPI has a state of the art awesome room with tanks and ergs. We couldn’t get into the room but we did mess around on some ergs out in the hall for old time’s sake haha.

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After our little class reception, they had smores and a reception out on the quad. Its funny because Jon and I were good friends in college and have a lot of memories together from crew and social stuff on campus, but we didn’t date until after college. Being together on campus and whenever we go to crew events, its special because its something that we truly share. Actually in my group of ten best gal pals from WPI, six of us are married to WPI grads! So many WPI couples!

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It was so nice to be back on campus, we all had such a great four years at WPI, so many amazing memories. I have nothin but love for my alma mater. How was everyone else’s weekend!?

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Barbour Clearance Center, Milford NH

On By careofmonIn Fashion, Trips6 Comments

So my celebratory-finished my MS-shopping weekend (see my other shopping victories here)  continued and brought me north into New Hampshire. I have been searching for deals on a hood for my Barbour Argon jacket and for a jacket for my pup, Mizpah. There is a new Barbour outlet in the Merrimack Outlets, but I was surprised to see a location in Milford, NH. Milford NH? Yep, that’s right, the US headquarters for Barbour is in a warehouse/tech park in Milford ha. Everything that is sold in the US goes through this facility, and repairs/reproofing are done here too.

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This is the real deal factory/warehouse outlet!
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The warehouse & repair/rewaxing area!!

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This gorgeous image hangs above the cashier area, one of the few pieces of decor in the store
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I was checking these out because I would really love a navy quilted jacket someday!

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The outlet attached was awesome. The sales associates were really sweet and helpful- they had to go out back to find me a hood- it was the only one left! Lets go over the deals here though….

-All items have some sort of markdown. They sell out fast of any classics that come in, as well as any dog stuff sadly.

-Buy 3 or more items and you get 20% off! One of the sales associates told me that they are getting in some accessories like socks soon which will make this easier on the wallet!

-They do sample sales- size 6 in women’s and large in men’s. Sometimes the discount doesn’t seem huge on an item in the sample sale, but its the best of the best stuff usually. So if you are those sizes, you could get some cool stuff.

-Red tag sales- any item that has been deemed imperfect is on sale for huge discounts. Sometimes the item might just be missing a snap, which they will fix for you!

I am now on the email list for the sample and red tag sales- pretty exciting stuff. I am still on the hunt for a jacket for the pup, but I love my hood. The hood is typically $49, but at the outlet it was $29.

We did hit up the Merrimack Outlets too, and just an FYI, I liked the Milford outlet way better. I got a great deal on a staple Polo Ralph Lauren oxford- $30. I am a perfect medium in the custom fit. Oxfords can be tough- finding a shirt that fits your shoulders, bust, and arms that isn’t too boxy feels a little like winning a contest haha. IMG_4841

If you want to see more pictures and get more info, Salt Water New England has a great post on the Barbour headquarters in Milford. The only thing to remember though is that the outlet is only open Thursday- Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 11-5. After our shopping adventure, we grabbed dinner with my inlaws for Mother’s Day at the Common Man in Concord, NH. Definitely my favorite chain of restaurants in NH, so lucky my mother-in-law loves it too! If you are ever traveling through NH, stop at the Mt. Washington Hotel, the white mountains, and check out Lake Winnipesaukee….but if something from Barbour sounds like a good souvenir, swing by this out of the way location in Milford!!

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