Jaclyn Day

Casual Friday! Target Shorts (Similar at Old Navy) Forever21 Top...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:59:18 -0400

Casual Friday!

Target Shorts (Similar at Old Navy)
Forever21 Top (Similar from Forever21)
H&M Cardigan (Similar from Forever21)
Target Sandals

I’m intrigued. Has anyone used this (Tarte Smooth Operator...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:26:23 -0400

I’m intrigued. Has anyone used this (Tarte Smooth Operator tinted moisturizer) before?

Loving the new shoes at Gap! Top, left to...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:05:38 -0400

Loving the new shoes at Gap!

Top, left to right:

Contrast-Stitch Wedge, $63.99 (from $79.95)
Gladiator Wedge Sandal, $79.95

Bottom, left to right:

Stretch Twill Espadrilles, $47.99 (from $59.95)
Braided Wedge Sandal, $69.95

I'm giving up (sort of)

Thu, 31 May 2012 18:15:00 -0400

So, once upon a time, I took photos of my outfit in front of a mirror. Then, one magical day, I decided that I should get a tripod and fiddle around with a (sort of old) digital camera and see if I could be fancy like real bloggers are fancy. Well, I’m not fancy. And I’m out of time. Dragging out a tripod, taking like 30 pictures of myself because 28 of them will be me looking a fool and then uploading them and editing them and so on and so forth makes me agitated. Frankly, I feel like a fraud. If you all can see what I’m wearing in a quickly snapped mirror shot, that might have to be good enough for now. I am in the midst of full-on CRAZYTOWN in my home most days. I’ve had people suggest that Brandon help me take them outside, but the last time (a couple years ago) I asked Brandon if he would take an outfit photo for me, he laughed and went back to eating Fritos.

I’ve written before that I’ll blog until blogging stops being fun. Well, self-timer tripod shots are definitely not fun for me anymore. There are millions of bloggers out there taking gorgeous, model-worthy outfit photos and sometimes I wish I could do that too, but I just don’t have the time or resources.

For a long time I struggled with blogging competitiveness and I had to keep up and do this and do that, and oh man, it sucked so hard. It was hard for me at first to do the easiest thing instead of the best and prettiest thing. For example, I would cook something, then inhale it so fast that I’d remember after the fact that I should have photographed it. That is no way to live/blog/exist/eat/wear/drink/friend—that stupid, incessant guilt that you should have taken a photo of something or it’s nothing.

This is just a really long, semi-coherent (I took some Benadryl for my wasp bite, FYI!) way of saying that my outfit photos may or may not strike/have stricken your fancy, but I’ll try make it up to you in book reviews and wallet itch.* I’m just a normal girl wearing normal clothes on a normal budget. I think some of you all are too, which is why this was fun in the first place.

*Wallet Itch: The burning desire to buy pretty things posted online

Mirror shot! Old Navy Striped Dress (Similar from Gap) Old Navy...

Thu, 31 May 2012 17:41:00 -0400

Mirror shot!

Old Navy Striped Dress (Similar from Gap)
Old Navy Sandals (Similar by BCBGeneration)
Target Handbag (Similar by Kelly & Katie)
Forever21 Earrings

Sock bun, take two!

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:57:53 -0400

Sock bun, take two!

Mmmkay, so just an FYI: “Action” in the Poppy Razzi...

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:37:57 -0400

Mmmkay, so just an FYI: “Action” in the Poppy Razzi collection dries to a matte finish and definitely has a thicker, “globby” consistency compared to other Essie polishes. Still a pretty shade, but I’m annoyed.

kls516 asked you: I’m going to Vegas in two weeks and...

Thu, 31 May 2012 09:31:11 -0400

kls516 asked you:

I’m going to Vegas in two weeks and am getting hives about what to pack. Not feeling the best about my body lately, especially having to lay at a pool with a bunch of bronzed beauties. Can you help me out with some cute semi sexy one pieces that will support “the girls”, and even a few oh la la outfits to wear around town? Thanks!

Here are a few of the best one-piece swimsuits I found under $100:

J.Crew Twist Bandeau Tank, $82 - May not be as supportive as you want, but the classic shape is worth a try.
Freya Swim “Fever” Swimsuit, $78 - I love the belt here (perfect for hourglass shapes) and it has underwire support too.
Marie Melli Snake Print Suit, $45 - Most swimsuits with cutouts tend to have them more toward the stomach, so I like how this one is covered up in front and bare in the back.
Ultimo Control Swimsuit with Lightweight Boost, $62 - Besides the flattering ruching, this is also made with control fabric (!) and has padding for bust support and lift.
French Connection Zig Zag Belted One Piece, $80 - Another belted suit, but with chevrons this time!
ModCloth “Bathing Beauty” One Piece, $89.99 - The perfect retro-inspired suit. Wear with a hat and a bit of red lip gloss/lipstick for a glam poolside look.
J.Crew Jersey Lomellina Wrap Tank, $89.99 (from $125) - I love the draping on this suit! It’s slimming and perfect if you’re self-conscious about your stomach.
Spanx Shapewear Chic Trim Suit, $54.99 - A Spanx swimsuit! Need I say more? (I love the color and the shape of the straps too.)

As for dresses…

If you’re going out for dinner or need something a little more sexy for a night out, have you considered using Rent The Runway to get a few dresses to bring along?
H&M also has some great poolside/brunch/shopping options for less than $50!
Don’t forget about Forever 21 for some Kardashian-short, Vegas-style dresses for less than $20 each.

I hope this helps! :) Have a great time!

I’m getting a little bit of a Mary Tyler Moore show vibe...

Wed, 30 May 2012 16:41:40 -0400

I’m getting a little bit of a Mary Tyler Moore show vibe from this dress and I like it.

ModCloth “Bold You So” Dress, $49.99

The infamous Sock Bun.

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:11:20 -0400

The infamous Sock Bun.

What I’ve Read: Locked On by Tom Clancy I went through a...

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:40:50 -0400

What I’ve Read: Locked On by Tom Clancy

I went through a phase years ago when I read nearly every Tom Clancy book in quick succession. I found them fascinating and (of course) exciting. (If you haven’t read his books, you may have seen films based on them: The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, etc.)

So, having read some of his best work, this book completely fell flat for me. It hurts my soul to say this, but this book is so below-average that I finished it and actually said, “Terrible,” and threw it on the bed beside me.

If you’ve read “classic” Tom Clancy, you’ll recognize immediately when the fine print “co-author” Mark Greaney has penned sections. It’s painfully apparent when Clancy looked at a page, inserted a few lines and let Greaney fill in the blanks. Ugh. Awful.

Besides all this, the plot is a little convoluted—which, being Clancy, is not that unusual since he’s known for using intricate plotlines and lots of government/military details. But, if you haven’t read any of his books before, I can imagine you’d be entirely confused by the characters since there is absolutely no character development whatsoever. None. Although I get frustrated with authors that see the need to recap who characters are with every subsequent book in a series (Charlaine Harris, for one), there has to be some catch-up in order to appeal to someone who maybe doesn’t want to read 15 500+ page novels in order to figure out who Jack Ryan is or what Rainbow Six members do.

The last quarter of the book was exciting and fast-paced, but it felt increasingly forced as it sped toward the finish and I was almost insulted by Clancy including Jack Ryan in the book, only to mention him enough to call this a “Jack Ryan Tom Clancy book.” UGH.

Oh, one last thing! It’s also terribly political and right-leaning and takes place in the middle of an election year and, umm, I see what you tried to do there Clancy, but stick to submarines and Jack Ryan and stop this conservative agenda nonsense. It added nothing to the story and made an amateur book look even more so.

In short, don’t bother.

Have you ever read this Tom Clancy book or any of his other books?

I got a little bow in Isobel’s hair last week for the...

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:27:22 -0400

I got a little bow in Isobel’s hair last week for the first time. I can’t wait to do those spiky little ponytails on top of her head. Maybe even two little spikes.

Over the weekend, I was flipping through the TV channels when I saw Beauty and the Beast was on. Isobel was so entranced by it (colors! music!), I eventually had to turn it off because I didn’t want her watching for too long. But, that little hint of days to come got me so excited to show her things that I remember loving as a kid. Maybe she’ll learn all the words to every Beauty and the Beast song, or play with paper dolls, or have a “dress up” box filled with vintage dresses, prom gowns and old wedding dresses. (My sister and I would nab them from thrift stores and pretend they were our princess gowns or “pioneer” dresses or whatever we wanted.)

Maybe she won’t like any of those things and that’s okay, but damn if I’m not selfishly excited to get a chance to play like a kid again. (I really hope she likes to color.)

All chevrons all the time! BCBGeneration “Karlie”...

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:14:29 -0400

All chevrons all the time!

BCBGeneration “Karlie” Tote, $78

A pretty alternative to rubber flip-flops. Matisse...

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:08:26 -0400

A pretty alternative to rubber flip-flops.

Matisse “Maldives” Sandals, $84.95 - Also available in pewter

I am ALL over ASOS today. This strapless maxi is perfect for the...

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:01:57 -0400

I am ALL over ASOS today. This strapless maxi is perfect for the taller set because of the slightly raised hem in the front. Maxis are hard if you’re over 5’9”, but a bit of give on the hemline like this makes all the difference.

ASOS Strapless Maxi, $78 - Also available in navy

Probably better than a sock. ASOS Large Hair Donut, $10.44

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:59:18 -0400

Probably better than a sock.

ASOS Large Hair Donut, $10.44

Love these—and love their price. ASOS Cat Eye Sunglasses,...

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:56:06 -0400

Love these—and love their price.

ASOS Cat Eye Sunglasses, $20.87

I’ll bet all my prego friends here on Tumblr will love...

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:36:54 -0400

I’ll bet all my prego friends here on Tumblr will love this striped maternity dress as much as I do. (The pops of color on the collar and hem are great!)

ASOS Maternity Knitted Striped Dress, $69