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Fresh Fashion Friday

Can I just say HOLY CRAP? I have never had so many huge, giant smiles put on my face by the blogging community before. After I hit “Publish” on yesterday’s post, I was nervous. I’d put myself out there and shown you my more vulnerable side, the side of me that hides behind the adventurous foodie. And I was nothing but rewarded by your supportive comments, mentions in posts, and tweets. I was hesitant yesterday, but now I just feel pride to hear that my blog helped girls struggling with similar guilt. I’m also pleased to have a pocketful of new mantras to use against my troubled thoughts. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for not making me regret being open! In fact, if anything, I am all the more encouraged to share even more with you all, now that I truly know that I am not alone.

I just had to say all that, because I still can’t get the huge grin off my face 😀

I’ve got a fresh, new Fashion Friday for you all today! I’m also running out of outfit photos…so I don’t know if you should get used to seeing this topic every Friday just yet 😛 but I’m still getting great feedback on each of these posts. Glad to know I can inspire you all for the weekend, especially if it contains upcoming shopping trips!

Feeling in the mood to be very cozy.

Cover-Up: Forever 21

Jeans, Belt: American Eagle

Shoes: Toms

Better look at accessories.

Earrings: Forever 21

Watch: Fossil

Top: Forever 21

Watch: gift from my grandfather

Pants: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Journey’s Outlet

Weird angle – my camera looks huge and my feet look tiny!

Cardigan, Leggings: Forever 21

Boots: Steve Madden

Top, Bracelet: Forever 21

Pants, Flats: Urban Outfitters

Watch: Michael Kors

That’s it for today! Again, thank you all so much for being so supportive. I’m off…headed to a “Shake Your Soul” Dance Yoga class tonight at Granby Yoga (can’t wait to try a workout that combines two things I love) followed by a birthday dinner for a friend at my favorite restaurant!

So now I’ll ask you all the usual Fashion Friday questions…

Which outfit is your favorite?

Do any of these outfits reflect your preferred style? I won’t be hurt if you say no!

Got any ensembles already planned for the weekend?

TGI-Fashion-Friday!

Happy Friday, guys! I’m trying to look at this weekend on an optimistic note, but it’s a bit hard since I have summer class that owns my soul. It’s Conflict Management, so hopefully will be interesting. I’m also treating myself to a Whole Foods salad BEAST tonight…picking it up after work to bring with me to my 5-9PM Friday night learning fun session. “Fun” is sarcastic, in case you didn’t realize. I plan to treat myself to the same beast during my 8am-5pm class’s lunch break tomorrow. Because when you’re in a classroom on a summer day, you need yummy things to get you through it all.

I’m also going to see “Rock of Ages” tomorrow night with Jeff. We plan to go out in West Hartford center beforehand and get buzzed, simply because we think watching that movie buzzed/tipsy will be HILARIOUS. I’m pretty psyched and will be looking forward to it all day during class tomorrow, that’s for sure. Now, let’s get to it.

You guys seem to be enjoying the Fashion Fridays, even the boys. In fact, one of my guy friends told me after reading the last Fashion Friday that he was “obsessed” with my blog! I’m gonna take this as a good sign and roll with it…

I also try to link to the exact item whenever I can, or at least the section of the website you’d find it on! It’s usually hard to find the exact same thing since some of my clothes I’ve had as far back as high school (6 years ago).

Not sure what my cam was doing with the lighting here.

Top, Necklace: Forever 21

Cami: Hollister

Jeans, Belt: American Eagle

Old photo, before a wine tasting on my birthday!

Vest, Heels: Forever 21

Top: Victoria’s Secret

Watch: Michael Kors

Jeans, Belt: American Eagle

Before my birthday dinner at J. Gilbert’s!

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Watch: Michael Kors

Coat: Forever 21

Shoes: Steve Madden

I rarely dare to tuck in my shirt!

Shirt: Polo Outlet

Watch: Fossil

Pants: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: PacSun

Top: Forever 21

Necklace: Loft Outlet

Watch: Fossil

Jeans, Belt: American Eagle

Flats: Urban Outfitters

And there you have it! You probably noticed that I repeated a few pieces…I’m much more likely to be seen wearing the same jeans several times in one week than to be seen wearing the same of anything else. There’s usually a VERY long gap between each time I wear a shirt…because I have a shopping problem. I also wear the same belt every day. I just have one go-to belt, so if I ever get pants that need a belt and they don’t match my brown leather one from AE, I’ll be in the market for a new belt!

Do you recognize any pieces that I’ve repeated from other Fashion Friday posts?

Do you wear the same pair of jeans several times in one week? Or the same of anything else?

Which outfit is your favorite?

Have you ever taken a ridiculously scheduled summer class (as in ridiculous lengths/days)? Any tips for me to get through it?

Have you ever gotten buzzed on purpose before seeing a movie, just because you thought it’d be fun to watch that particular movie in that…”state”? 😉

Purchases and a Colorful Giveaway

There have been some good things up on the blog lately…maybe I’m tooting my own horn, but I think the posts below are worth a read, so head back in time (do-do-do-do-DO-dodododo…Pitbull anyone? Heather?) if you get a chance and check them out:

I have a buttload (like a J-Lo or Kim K size) of pictures to share. As the weather gets warmer, my camera does too with all the action it gets. I want to wordlessly-post photos from the too many few shopping ventures I’ve had as of late, and then follow that up with a fun and fit GIVEAWAY!

But first, let me show you my lovely purchases…

H&M top and dress, American Eagle jeans (inspired by Olivia to purchase!)

H&M cover-up and tunic

Nordstrom Rack Neutrogena hair treatment (of course I haven’t touched it since purchasing…) and shades, and H&M coin purse (inspired by J, queen of mustard yellow!)

Sad amount of Bath & Body Works mini candles and a silver holder

Nordstrom Rack top and shorts

It was my first visit to the Nordstrom Rack that just opened near me and clearly I was impressed. My wallet wasn’t…I haven’t been back since for my own financial health!

What do you think of my purchases? Do you have a store near you that’s an absolute DANGER zone for your wallet?

COLOR ME RAD 5K GIVEAWAY!

You may have seen my best-blend Heather’s latest giveaway, or Janine’s. But in case you didn’t, let me tell you a bit about the Color Me Rad 5KI was anxious to participate the second I saw a Groupon come out for the Hartford race, which took place over Memorial Day Weekend (check out Kelly’s recap here). Since I was away at a good friend’s graduation, I didn’t get to run at that particular location. Luckily there’s another race fairly close to me in Boston this July!  I will be running on Team FitFluential with other Ambassadors like Janine, Mattie, Heather (and her boyfriend Matty – how cute is that?), and Amy.

Date is actually 7/15 – Twitter faux paus!

This is a 5K during which, at different color stations, participants are coated in colored corn starch! AKA a race that anyone, even those that don’t really like running that much (MOI!), can enjoy. Just take a look at the Color Me Rad FAQ and you’ll see after reading a few of the “A’s” that these are just race organizers that are out to make people smile and spread FUN. No one is expected to take this seriously – unless you want to be the most COLORFUL finisher!

Check out this video for a live-action demo 🙂

The folks of Color Me Rad have been kind enough to continue to spread their mission via a GIVEAWAY for Cait Plus Ate readers! I am giving away two race entries to two people. If you’re not sure whether or not there’s a Color Me Rad race coming to a town near you, check out their race locations!

This giveaway ends Sunday, 6/10/12 at 11:59PM EST. Entering is easy, but make sure you write a comment for each method of entry so that they are all counted when I randomly select the winners!

  • REQUIRED: Go to the FAQ page on the Color Me Rad website and tell me in a comment which “A” to a “Q” you think is the funniest. I got a kick out of reading their answers!
  • Follow @colormerad5k on Twitter.
  • Follow @CaitPlusAte on Twitter
  • Tweet “I want to win a free @colormerad5k entry from @CaitPlusAte! http://wp.me/p1SfTW-11c” and include the tweet’s link when you comment saying you did so.

GOOD LUCK to my fun-loving contestants!

It’s Fashion Friday Again!

You guys seemed to enjoy the last Fashion Friday post I did (sorry to any male readers – or female – who didn’t!) and I have a lot of fashion photos “stocked up”, so I wanted to take a second to do a quick post today and make it another edition of Fashion Friday! And no, that is not my green room in these photos, it’s my sister’s…she is in possession of the full-length mirror.

Dolled up for work.

Better accessories view.

Dress: Ann Taylor Outlet

Watch: NYC flea market

Ring, Bracelet: Forever 21

Shoes: Steve Madden

Dressed down for work (very flexible dress code).

 Headband: Forever 21

Hoodie: Newport, RI gift shop

Corduroys: Hollister

Belt: American Eagle

Shoes: Pac Sun Outlet

Supa-bright.

Better accessories/shoe view 😀

Collared Shirt: American Eagle

Pants: Urban Outfitters

Watch: Michael Kors

Ring: Forever 21

Shoes: Journey’s Outlet

Top: Urban Outfitters

Lace Cami: Hollister

Jeans/Belt: American Eagle

Watch: Fossil

Shoes: NYC flea market ($2…yes, $2)

Sweater, Jeans, Belt: American Eagle

Tube Top: Lacoste

 Watch: Fossil

Wedges: H&M

There ya have it…this week’s Fashion Friday! Not a regular weekly thing by any means, but I hope you guys like this whenever I do it!

Which outfit is your favorite? Do you own any similar pieces?

NYC Traditions

I’m currently blogging from the Tampa Bay International Airport, waiting for my connecting flight to take my siblings and I back to CT. Not pleased about going back, but I am pleased that I can continue to relive this wonderful holiday season through all my recap blog posts – enjoy this latest one, about our trip to NYC 12/23-12/24!

Every year, my dad takes my sister and I to NYC on the 23rd. We shop, go out to eat, and stay overnight. Then on the morning of the 24th, we wake up and go to the Today Show to get on TV! We are successful each year, and after we get on TV, we have breakfast, shop if we still need to make some stops, and then go home. It is really one of our most beloved family traditions, and I look forward to our NYC excursion each and every holiday season.

The coldest year we ever went, in 2009.

Last year's trip in 2010! Sis is behind the camera.

This year was wonderful, as usual.

Traditional photo prior to departure.

We stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, which was very ritzy and super convenient.

Loved the glass elevators!

Elevators were supposedly super efficient (and were…at times). You typed in the number of your desired floor on a keypad, and the screen displayed which elevator you were supposed to go to.

We were all the way up on the 38th floor! What a view, and a nice room too.

Hannah and I prepared for our shopping with a Starbucks pit-stop for nonfat mistos.

She and I had some fun with the Forever 21 billboard in Times Square that shows its audience with a new character every couple of minutes. Can you spot us? Probably not, I barely can. If you could I actually might be a little freaked out.

Halfway through shopping I got a hankering for a unique NYC snack. I found it at Nuchas, a little stand in the heart of Times Square that sold empanadas. I chose a grilled chicken variety that was delicious. I didn’t take a photo because it did look quite plain, but trust me, this was better than a street vendor hot dog.

I had some success shopping! I found a sweatshirt and new jeggings at American Eagle, and a ton of jewelry and a shirt at Forever 21.

And then came our traditional trip to Rockefeller Center to see the tree at night!

Then it was time to go back to the hotel to get ready for what turned out to be a wonderful dinner – still to come!

What’s your most treasured holiday family tradition?