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Update: It Sold and U2.....

Ever since I got back from all of my traveling, I have just been swamped the past few weeks with work and things going on in my personal life.

At the end of September, my husband, a few friends, and I made the drive to Baltimore to see U2 perform their 360 tour at FedEx Field. It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!! I just love Bono. I'm not the hugest fan of the new album...I like only a few of the songs. But, the show was awesome and they played plenty of the U2 classics that we all know and love. I have seen them before and they are by far one of my favorite shows to see!

Here are some pics of frontman, Bono, rocking out.......I just love him!! We had general admissions tickets (which basically means standing on the field) which is just the best way to see a band like this.....

In other news, our house has finally SOLD!!!!!! I'm so freakin' excited! We close on November 19th on both our current house and our new house. I drove past our new house yesterday (it is new construction) and am just amazed at how much progress they are making in such a short period of time....all of the drywall is in and the cabinets and hardwood floor is sitting on the floor in their boxes waiting to be installed. So excited!

Now begins the lovely task of trying to packing up the current house......I HATE moving!!! Just HATE it!! And I'm not looking forward to the next 6 weeks....

In other news, one of my dearest friends (she was actually my maid of honor) lost her job last week. She works with autistic/spectrum disorder children and the specialized school where she worked has been having some economic issues of late. I feel so bad for her.....and she does such a wonderful thing and loves the children that she works with.....so please send your positive thoughts her way to help her find a new job:) Thanks!!!

I have a few product reviews coming up.....these are going to be a little different than my usual clothing hauls......I'm in the process of completely revamping my skincare/make-up routine so I'm going to be doing several posts on my progress.

Hope you all have a great day!

xoxo....

J.

I've been MIA......because

So I was here.......for two lovely and relaxing weeks........and now I'm going here.....love, love, LOVE Chicago...this trip is business during the week and then I am staying through the weekend to spend time with a dear friend.
So I'll be back with new fashion posts next week......until then, enjoy this lovely "fall-ish" weather!

xoxo,
J.

Falling into the GAP.....

When I was in high school, before discovering Abercrombie and Fitch, GAP was my go-to store. I was border line obsessed with it (a la JCrew now). In recent years...eh...not so much. I haven't really liked anything the Gap has offered for several years now. And with the exception of the odd tank top or pajama bottom, I never shopped there. But, then I heard about this new line of jeans and I started to see some things that I liked.

Yesterday, I paid my local GAP B&M a visit....I arrived to discover that the entire store was buy one get one (BOGO)...this promo did not include pants or jackets. I got my husband a ton of casual stuff...v neck cotton sweaters, layering tees, henleys, etc. And then I wandered over to the ladie's section. Here is what I tried on:

First up, GAP Boyfriend Jeans and Chambray boyfriend button down. I really liked this button down but I just don't think I will ever wear it so I left it. The fabric was really soft and it ran LARGE....I sized down to an XS which is just ridiculous! I am a very consistant size medium.

The boyfriend jeans were nice but I left them too. I've come to the conclusion that boyfriend jeans are just not meant for my body type....they are always huge in the waist and baggy in the butt...which I hate. I sized down in these jeans...I'm wearing a six here. Overall I feel like most of Gap's clothing this season is running big and long.

Next up, the Boyfriend Striped Sweater. I really really liked this sweater. I need a cami under it, it is pretty low cut as you can see in the picture. I didn't get the stripes...but I got a really pretty forest green and purple color. I opted for solids. I am wearing my normal size Medium here. I tried on a Small too and the size was not much different, the sweater was just a little shorter in the torso. I'm planning on wearing these with skinny jeans and boots this fall/winter so I prefer the slightly baggier shape to offset the skinny bottom. I would recommend these.

Lastly, I got a fleece zip up in a brown/oatmeal color. I have been on the hunt for a longer length zip up hoodie. I ordered the JCrew Sherpa lined hoodie but after getting this Gap version for $17.50 on promo...originally $39.50, the JCrew Sherpa hoodie is going back.

I think that this GAP hoodie is a really great alternative to the JCrew counterpart. However, there are some major differences. Firstly, the material is much thinner than the Sherpa lined hoodie. The fit is very similar...I think the GAP hoodie runs a little large but I'm okay with that...I'll be frying it in the dryer. For my purposes, which include wearing this to the gym and grocery store and layering it under my LLBean feather puffy vest this fall, the GAP version works great! I'm very happy to save myself fifty dollars and apply that to another JCrew item that I have been coveting.

I think that I might pick this up in another color...I'm thinking either the pink or orangey color....I have several knit colored dresses in grey, navy, and black and I think that the pop of color would look really cute early in the fall or on my beach vacation next week.

Well I'm all spray tanned and just have to pack for my weekend at the shore:) We have a beach house at the Jersey Shore so we are so excited to be down there for the last days of summer....have a great weekend everybody:)

J.

Some beats for pavement pounding......

AKA....Song recommendations for running:)

Sometimes you just don't feel like working out; and, if you are anything like me, music can be that motivator to get you through the mind games.

I've recently gotten back into running and have taken some time to update my ipod with some great tunes......

Here are some of my current favorites that can be found on my "Running" playlist:

Best Day of your Life -- Kellie Pickler
Good Girls Go Bad -- Cobra Starship
I Run to You -- Lady Antebellum
I Run for Life -- Melissa Etheridge
Love Story (Workout Mix) -- Taylor Swift
Eye of the Tiger -- Survivor (I put this on whenever I get frustrated or to push through the pain)
Fire Burning -- Sean Kingston
I Got a Feeling -- Black eyed Peas
Kids -- MGMT
Supermassive Black Hole -- Muse
Human (Deluxe Day&Age Version -- The Killers
Smooth Criminal -- Michael Jackson
Around the World -- Daft Punk
Electric Feel -- MGMT
Mo Money Mo Problems -- Mase, Puff Daddy, & Biggy Smalls
Best of You -- Foo Fighters
Just Dance -- Lady Gaga
Nighttiming -- Coconut Records
One More Time -- Daft Punk
Cath -- Death Cab for Cutie

Alot of these are "newer" songs....I get bored pretty easily so I download new music playlists pretty regularly.

Do you have any suggestions???

Leave some song suggestions in the comment section...I'm always looking for new ideas and I like all kinds of music!

J.

Fall Shoes.....

It is still 95 degrees here and humid as hell...but that doesn't stop me from wanting to shop for fall. The heat and humidity has deterred me from wool sweaters, etc. So I have been focusing my fall shopping efforts on my favorite thing ever -- SHOES!

I had to travel pretty far out into the suburbs for work this week and I happened to be passing my favorite TJMaxx. For some reason, this specific TJMaxx in my area always has the best shoes (I found 5 pairs of JCrew shoes on one trip back in the spring!) I've gotten countless pairs of Cole Haan, Michael Kors, Coach, etc shoes here over the past few years. So when I stopped in, I pleasantly pleased to discover several more casual and comfortable options to add to my fall wardrobe.

First up, these black suede wedges from Michael Kors. They were a steal at $59.99. I plan on wearing them this fall with skinny jeans and skirts/dresses with black tights. They are also very comfortable and make my *gigantic* feet look small-ish. I got these in a 9. (I am normally a 9.5 but I have narrowish skinny feet so if the toebox is wide, I normally go down .5 to one whole size.)


I love wedges and I'm guessing this wedge is about 3.5 to 4 inches high. But the shoes are super comfortable and have a very wide toebox because of the rounded toe. I love them!!!

Next up, these nude colored wedges from Me Too! I took these in a 9. They cost $39.99. These look pretty awesome with skinny jeans and I love the fact that the slight wedge (it is 1 inch) elongates my leg. These look really flattering with skinnies and they are very comfortable. I am slightly concerned with gold hardware being uncomfortable....I have funny toes..my toe nail sort of curves up a little bit and I have had problems with the Tory Burch Reva ballet flats in the past because of this. But for $39.99, I am willing to give these a chance.

Overall, I'm happy with my new shoe additions and wish it would start to get COOLER so that I could wear them!!!

Next up....GAP's awesome BOGO promo.

Cheers!

J.

I try to keep it light...but this just makes me so MAD!!!

So, I try to keep my blog posts light hearted. However, I just have to comment on this. I'm a born and raised Philadelphian, a die hard Eagles and Phillies fan, and I have spent the last 16 hours trying to figure out WTF Andy Reed (Eagles Head Coach) and management are thinking signing Michael Vick!!!

He orchestrated the abuse, torture, and killing of hundreds of dogs in his off-time spent running a dog fighting ring. He spent 18 months in prison; and, yes, he has paid his debt to the legal system. During all of the press conferences, the phrase "second chance" and "deserves a second chance" has been used over and over again!



So let me say my peace, I believe that people deserve a second chance. And Michael Vick is no exception. He paid his debt to the legal system. He filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Lost his career and the respect of his fans. This guy is pretty much a rock bottom! And he does deserve a second chance. However, he was only released on July 20th from his jail/house arrest time; and, already he has a multi-million dollar two year contract with another NFL team. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS!!! Maybe after he spent a year working with the SPCA, speaking about animal abuse, etc FULL TIME!!! Maybe after that I would be willing to say "the NFL should give him a second chance." But, not now, not so soon.......



This just makes me so mad! He better be the poster child for the Philadelphia Humane Society!!! I expect him to be speaking to school children about his mistakes and how NOT to be like him!

Not to mention, I don't really see what he has to offer to the team regarding skills seeing as we already have McNabb and a great back-up quarterback. Do we really need a third?


My husband and I have season tickets and for the first time, I'm really not looking forward to football season!



J.