Review: mark. Tops & Skirt

As you probably read in my last post, I went ahead and ordered the mark. 2-pack of tops and reversible skirt from want-it Wednesday. To my delight, they arrived today (already! woah!) and I instantly decided that I needed to throw them on and test them out to see what I thought.

Just FYI as you read this, I ordered both the tops and the skirt in a size XXL. mark. runs by junior sizing, so this is the equivalent of a junior size 17. I typically wear anywhere from a 16-18 in pants (closer to 18) and anywhere from 14-18 (usually an XL) in tops.

Seeing Double Tops:
OK...I want to love these tops...as in both of them. I do love the blue and white stripey one. It fits me perfectly. The black, though, feels completely different and is a little too clingy for me. Both shirts say they are made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex, but the black one feels a lot more spandex-y and the stripey one feels a lot more cotton-y...if that makes any sense. It is just very strange to me because it is supposed to be the same top, just in a different color...but it is very clear upon even touching them that the black one feels more like spandex. I prefer the stripey one because it fits me a little bit looser. I just wish the black one fit the same way. I will still wear the black one though, I just know it won't be as comfortable as it could be.

Flip Over Skirt:
I really, really like the skirt so far...I love that you can just flip it to create something totally different...so it's really like getting two skirts for $28...not bad at all. It is incredibly lightweight so it is perfect for summer. It fits me pretty perfectly, too. I had plenty of room in it and felt very comfortable. The one thing I found kind of strange about it was that the printed side most definitely has a tag attached to it...and you NEED a seam ripper to get it off without ruining the skirt. And, well, I don't own a seam ripper. I guess I should invest in one of those anyway...but still.

Here are some photos that I snapped as I tried them on quickly (I couldn't decide if I liked the skirt high or low on my waist so I took pics of both):

Doesn't that print look gorgeous in the sunlight? :)

Notice how this top looks slightly looser than the previous one? Hmmm...

Both outfits:

So, for a total of $36.40 for both outfits (I paid mark. representative price because I happen to be one, non-rep price would be $56), I'd say these outfits are pretty successful. Hooray!

What do you think of them, seeing them on a real person?

I don't really actively sell mark. at all anymore because I am always so crazy busy with my job but if you like these outfits you can stop by my eBoutique site: www.mymarkstore.com/caseysmith or go to http://www.meetmark.com/. I believe this stuff will go on sale to the public around mid-June.

This week was absolutely insane at school. We had some fun activity going on literally every day and I am exhausted from spending so much time out in the hot hot sun! I hope everyone has a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend! I know I am going to use the extra day off to catch up on some rest and blog reading! Enjoy your long weekend!

♥Case

Want-It Wednesday: I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it!

First of all, I want to say THANK YOU to my lovely followers/readers...you are all wonderful and I appreciate you reading SO MUCH!!!!!! :)

Second...that's right! It's Want-It Wednesday! Here's what I want...(and am going to be buying with my paycheck on Friday...cha-ching!):

mark. (a brand of Avon) has quite a few very cute & trendy clothing items that tend to get overlooked because people don't typically think of them as a clothing brand. These "Seeing Double" tops, however, which come as a pack of 2 for $28, should not be overlooked! They are so cute and pretty much ideal for spring/summer. I love the length of the sleeves on these as well!

Along with the launch of this 2-pack of tops, mark. is bringing out the big guns when it comes to their versatility/customizability(is this a word? lol) , which is one of the main concepts of the brand. The "Flip Over" reversible skirt is one that I definitely want to try to see if it really could become a wardrobe staple...classic black skirt that can literally create an entire new outfit with a fun geometric print in a quick bathroom trip? Um, yes please.

I am slightly nervous about a reversible skirt, seeing as I've never even seen one before, let alone tried one out. I will be doing a review of these items once I receive them, to see if they are really as great as they are seeming at first glance...and I will let you know if it really is as amazing as it looks!

♥Case

The Key to My Heart

Hello friends! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine was spent with the BFF and some other friends. Saturday night we hit a few bars and today we went out for lunch and some shopping. While we were shopping, we decided to pop into the Tiffany store and gawk at all of the beauties we knew we could not afford. So it's really no surprise that I'm going to tell you I fell IN LOVE with this:
The Tiffany key. SOOOO beautiful and exactly what I've been looking for (Oh, I forgot to mention I've been looking for a key necklace.) In the store, this pendant also had a miniature gold one on the chain with it. I really didn't want to leave it. If I had the means, you can bet this baby would be around my neck in no time. But alas, I will have to look from afar...le sigh.

On a happier note, the weather here in Ohio was beautiful today...about 85 degrees and sunny all day. Here's what I wore for lunch & shopping:

Tunic: Pure Energy, Target, $24.99
Tank: Old Navy, years ago
Leggings: F21, $5.80
Flippie Floppies: Old Navy, $2.5
Sunnies: Ray-Ban, prescription a few years ago

I love this tunic for multiple reasons: 1.) it's super lightweight and was perfect for a hot day like today, 2.) it's floral, and 3.) the length is perfect to throw on leggings and go! Yet another win for Pure Energy.

Monday is coming too soon...can't the weekend last just a little longer???

♥Case

Lorikeets!

Alright. I'm not looking very fashionable (at. all.) in this photo, but I just HAD to post it. Today we had our Kindergarten field trip to the zoo. It was certainly chaotic, but we had a blast and got to interact with some cool animals! The kids had so much fun, it really made me feel blessed to be a teacher. Not to mention I had fun too!

Seeing this picture of myself reminded me that the best accessory you can wear is a smile!! ;)

♥Case

Ce Jeu

Hello lovelies! Today has been a rather blah day for me. I swear the rain in Ohio will never stop. UGH. Which, really for me doesn't mean much other than indoor recesses and frizzy, wavy hair. But I need some sunshine in my life, STAT. At least this afternoon the sun decided to peek through the clouds for a good 15 minutes.

Anyway here are some pictures of my outfit today. I posted something very similar to this as a polyvore set awhile back, but here is what it looks like on me!

That last picture is my attempt at a sad face. It kind of just looks creepy...lol sorry.

Top: Avenue, $15

Cardigan: Faded Glory, Wal-Mart, $11

Skirt: Old Navy, Thrifted, $3.99

Shoes: Nine West, Macy's, several years ago (probably paid around $50 for them)

I love the idea of this top. This is the first time I've worn it since I bought it and I have to say I love how it looks, but I feel like it would look a million times better on someone with a smaller chest...because the beading is kind of heavy for the fabric and so alllllll day is has been drooping down into my cleavage. It just looks kind of funny and saggy or something. I wish there was some way I could get it to stay up and stay flat. It's so pretty but very frustrating.

I am super excited about my new skirt also! It's pretty much new and I got it from the local thrift store! Thrifting is most definitely worth it if you have the time/patience.

OK and one more thing- I took about 20 videos of myself today, in an attempt to create a video post. I am such a nerd. Hopefully soon I will be able to post a vblog.

♥Case

Want-It Wednesday...a little early

So I have been pretty much glued to ASOS over the past few days, drooling over these little pretties:

all images from ASOS

I am really in love with quite a few pieces they've got in their Curve line right now...and I oh-so-desperately want to order from them, but I haven't for several reasons: 1.)I have never ordered anything internationally and that makes me nervous. Especially since I'm not sure of the brand since I've never tried it. 2.) Ordering clothes online is always tricky for me because my measurements always seem to fall in between the way sizes are made...and the "translation" between US/UK sizing makes it even more tricky for me to gauge. and 3.) If I end up not liking or gauging the sizes wrong, I am worried that returns would be horrendous.

Plus- really I do not NEED cannot afford that many dresses.

But..they're...just...so...pretty!

Ah!

Do any of my US bloggers out there order from ASOS or other international retailers? Are you generally happy with the outcome? I am very curious to see what your experiences have been.

♥Case

Retail Therapy...on a budget

Seven little ways shopping helped me to feel a little better this weekend (or at least kept my mind off of everything):

1.Dress, Pure Energy, Target, $24.99
2.Scoop Neck Top, Pure Energy, Target, clearance $9.98
3.Ruffle Top, Merona, Target, clearance $4.98
4.Dress, Pure Energy, Target, $24.99
5.Dress, H&M, $12.95
6.Skirt, H&M, $9,95
7.Pointelle Cardigan, $17.99

And I found these gorgeous little hair clips at H&M:

I also hit up a local thrift store and found a fabulous black Old Navy skirt with tulip-style pleating and fancy little buttons on the back for $3.99...and a brand new zip-up jacket with a sequin-lined zipper and the original tags for $4.99.

Hopefully sometime soon I will be able to post some outfit pictures with my new stuff...I wish I could get away with wearing my new dresses to work. But unfortunately, any skirt I wear has to be mid-calf length. Does anyone else have very conservative dress policies at work? How do you work (haha no pun intended) cute clothes on the job?

Hope you had a marvelous Monday!

♥Case

Those You've Known & Lost Still Walk Behind You

When I started this blog, I wanted to have a place to share several things:
1. my opinions on fashion and beauty
2. my frugal finds...because as a teacher I have to be thrifty, and as we all know, good, cheap, plus-size finds are sometimes hard to come by!
3. my open mind in approaching fashion, hopefully to learn from you all and gain insight
4. encouragement for women of every shape and size

I never realized though, until a friend pointed it out to me, that the reason I have recently become so much more obsessed with fashion and shopping was because I've got a lot of other things on my mind. And this is my escape. This is what makes me feel good.

So today, I need to use this blog to share some feelings. I apologize if this is too emotional for you, but I've got to get it out. Yesterday, my parents had to put my dog to sleep. Bozz was family to us. He was truly our best friend for the past 16 years. And now he's gone. And my world does not feel real. I am trying to carry on with my life, but now there is just an aching in my chest that doesn't go away, no matter how much I try to distract myself with shopping or reading or...anything else.

As I write this I think to myself, "Wow, Case you sound silly. He was an animal." But I think if you've ever had a pet for a significant amount of time you might understand how I'm feeling. Maybe. And I'm not looking for sympathy, I just needed to vent by writing. I know this wound will become lesser in time, but right now it just feels surreal.

Rest in Peace Bozzy. Love you always.

On a much lighter note, here are some pictures of the outfit I wore while I went shopping today, in an attempt to keep my mind off things.

Denim Jacket: Old Navy, $34.50
Top: Kohl's, last year
Pants: Lee w/comfort waistband- so comfy! Kohl's, last year as well
Flippie Floppies: Old Navy, $2.50
Sunnies: Old Navy, $9.95
Bag: Coach, $129 at the outlet (this was purchased during "Abstinent April"...which turned out to be quite the opposite, lol)

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

♥Case

Graduation Weekend Outfits

This weekend was the BFF's graduation from her master's program. She is now an official School Counselor! Needless to say, we spent the whole weekend celebrating! Here is a recap of the outfits I wore.

Friday night Girl's Night at a Mexican restaurant and watching Breakfast at Tiffany's:

Dress: Old Navy, $8
Shrug: Old Navy, $19.99 (before coupon)
Belt: NY&Co, $2.99 (on clearance before coupon)

Saturday Graduation Ceremony:

Dress: Pure Energy, Target, $24.99
Sandals: Kohl's, $25

Saturday Night Going Out:

My blush looks really intense in this lighting but I swear it was not that dark! haha and sorry for the cleavage shot, but I thought that last picture was kind of sassy :)
Dress: NY&CO, $21.95 (after coupon)
Shrug: NY&CO, $ 21.95 (after coupon)
Leggings: Target, $6
Necklace: F21, $5.80
Earrings: Express, last year
Booties: Avenue, $12.50 (after coupon)


Saturday Night Makeup:

Face: Makeup Forever HD Foundation shade #115, Benefit Hoola bronzer
Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Smashbox Eyelights Palette in strobe (pink & brown colors), mark. eyemarker eyeliner in java,
Eyelashes: Maybelline Great Lash in blackest black with a coat of Dior DiorShow Blackout over top
Cheeks: Lorac blush in Main Attraction (from the Red Carpet Reveal Palette)
Lips: Benefit BeneTint, NARS orgasm lipgloss

So there you have it, my weekend in outfits. Hopefully soon the weather will get better and I can start taking pictures outside! Hope your Monday was splendid :)

♥Case

And I Said, What About Breakfast at Tiffany's?

Last Friday the BFF and I happened to pop into a Sally Beauty Supply store and as she looked for a nail strengthener, I became enamored by thee most beautiful nail polish color I had ever seen...a beautiful light blue color that reminded me of the color of a Tiffany's box. So I picked it up for further inspection and what do you know? It was called "For Audrey" and was only $5.99...and at that moment I decided that it was coming home with me. Tonight I finally got the chance to swipe it on just to try it out, and in only one quick, sloppy coat, the color was just as beautiful as it looked in the bottle. But pictures don't do this color justice. It is literally the same color as a Tiffany's box...light blue with that slight hint of teal/green.

Inspired by this gorgeous find, I also picked up another pastel-like color this weekend, a minty green color from Pure Ice called "Free Spirit" for only $2.99 at Wal-Mart. It reminds me a lot of the Essie color "Mint Candy Apple," just a few bucks cheaper. Here is the trial run of that, after 2 coats (this is a thinner formula):

After this quick trial, I actually really like both colors of polish...but the China Glaze color is much more unique and the formula was a lot better. Definitely not as good as Sally Hansen Salon Manicure, but good. Both colors are perfect for spring and are bold enough to make a statement, but not super loud.

I think they would look much better on a sunny day, though. This rainy, cloudy weather does not do my new friends justice. ;)

♥Case

Want-It Wednesday

So, I recently became a fan of Pure Energy on Facebook , and all of their little posts inspired me to make a trip to Target this evening to see if there was anything new since my last visit...and let me just say, overall I was both thrilled and incredibly disappointed. I was THRILLED to see all these cute designs and I wanted to buy so much...but sadly, my local Target only had about 3 overstuffed racks of the Pure Energy line, with no sense of organization at all. Clothing pieces were just strewn all over these 3 racks, like they were confined to only that space. It wasn't like how at most stores things are neatly organized and grouped together. Oh no...anything from the Pure Energy line, regardless of style or type of clothing, was just all lumped together. So, needless to say I was frustrated with the store itself, but I just LOVE Pure Energy.
Anyway, here are just a few of the items I loved...

I love that they make so many dresses and skirts...I'm a sucker for girly things and bright colors...add a floral print and I'm kind of smitten. And for under $25, you really cannot go wrong. They also had another floral print dress that I NEED but they don't seem to have it online. So if you're looking for some new and inexpensive summer dresses, head over to Target and check this stuff out!

Speaking of floral prints, I took a few quick photos of my top(s) today because I always get so many compliments when I wear this outfit to work:

And a close up of the top because I am in love with the little ruffles:

Tank: Lane Bryant, $23.50 (after coupon)

Cardigan: Lane Bryant, $26.50 (after coupon)

Anyway, I always just wear this with plain black dress pants and it seems to make everyone cheerful...even though I look absolutely dreadful with my mid-week teacher sleepiness!

Hope you had a fabulous Cinco de Mayo! I am a big fan of any day that encourages a margarita. ;)

♥Case

Goody Global Chic Hair Accessories

So, as you might be able to guess by my frequent wearing of gossip-girl style headbands, I have a thing for cute hair accessories. The other day I was just poking around Wal-Mart, waiting on a prescription to be filled, and I happened to come across a rather decent-sized collection of what looked like a newer limited edition line from Goody, called "Global Chic." The headbands weren't exactly my style with their oversized, "realistic"-looking flowers, but the clips and ponytail holders were uber cute. They even had earthy-tone colored bobby pins! And the best part...all of these items were less than $6! OH! And check out the little bow clips! So darling! (Sorry for the crappy photo quality...I wasn't expecting to do an impromptu photoshoot in Wal-mart...haha)

I liked this yellow clip the best...the bright color just screams summer! Especially next to my dark purple nails!

Anyway, thought I would share in case anyone is looking for some cheap, cheery, and easy summer hair accessories!

Oh...and on a side note- Today is Teacher Appreciation Day...so appreciate a teacher you know! :)

♥Case