21 for 21: Conclusion

I can't believe I finished this. I never finish things. I can't tell you how many books on my bookshelf are half-read because there are just too many to count. Even the remodeling process of my room has been partially abandoned, but I am happy and even proud that I finished this challenge.

This challenge has really taught me that I don't need new clothes every week to upkeep this blog. It has taught me that a bow belt can go such a long way, and skirts, tops, and dresses can go an even longer way. It has taught me that Robert and I can do/should do other things than discuss all the things I want or need because I feel like in the 3+ weeks I didn't shop, we fell in love all over again (despite all my complaining). We spent some amazing quality time together that I hope to continue long after this challenge. It has taught me just how fortunate I am to have all these amazing clothes and that I should cherish and use each and every one of them, because one day soon I will have to start paying my own rent and won't be able to afford to splurge on fully priced UO items.

I'm kinda disappointed that I wasn't more daring and tried different looks, but that's what next time is for. Yes, there will be a next time. I am looking to do this challenge again some time in the Fall or Winter. I think it'd be more of a challenge since outerwear will actually matter. Maybe I'll up the ante and do 25 for 25, or just bite the bullet and do 30 for 30. Who's with me? I do encourage everyone to do this challenge at some point. Another thing I would change would be...less skirts and striped tops; and more...varied patterns and bottoms to change it up a bit. I'll definitely add a romper next time, and I'm pretty sure you all know which one (hint hint).

I'd like to thank you all for being so supportive of this. You've all been so sweet and I can't believe you've put up with my bow belts in such a concentrated amount of time. I promise to look for more belts. I'd especially like to thank Robert for putting up with me for the past month and taking the majority of my pictures.

Now if you excuse me I will be away shopping for a few days! Let's hope that my now half-full closet won't soon be full again with un-remixable things. In fact, on Thursday night, I only bought two things and they were accessories. Let's just hope I can continue this...forever!

My favorites were: #2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 20.
Which looks were your favorites?

Until next post,
Jasmine

The Little Blogger Who Could

Hello!
So this is my last outfit of my 21 for 21 challenge! I'll save the sappy, sentimental post for tomorrow, but I feel like I've come full circle wearing this dress in my first and last look. I will say this: it has been a really fun ride and I'm really glad I let Robert convince me to do this. But...by the time this is posted, I will probably being drowning in new clothes. Just kidding! I will make smart decisions tonight and everyday after!

Robert and I took a long, nice walk yesterday and we found this little park with a little caboose, and I knew I had to take outfit pictures there today. I always wanted to hop on and off these cable cars just like they do in musicals and movies. Maybe the next time I go to San Francisco I will get a chance to do that. Until then, I'll just pretend on this little caboose.

I think this coral dress has to be one of my best purchases ever! It's so versatile and I love it as a skirt. I just layered the shirt over the dress, tucked the extra fabric in, and held it in place with a belt. This is my fourth time using this dress during the challenge and I'm not sick of it yet. I definitely need to invest in more t-shirt dresses!

I'm starting to think I could've added in more items if I had these shoes since the beginning. They just go with everything! I'm considering getting the black pair now since I need to get a pair of black flats for job interviews and future jobs. Hopefully they're still available for $20 and this time I'll get the right size.

Have I told you how much I love playgrounds?! I think I have more fun than kids do. Good call on the biker shorts, eh? In my future home, I'm going to have a playground in the backyard, complete with a swing set and a tire swing! Robert and I are definitely kids at heart.

I think I'm going to take a few days off of real outfit posting. Tomorrow, I just want to enjoy a day with Robert, watching a movie and shopping. Saturday, I'm spending the day with my friend in San Diego. And Sunday, I have work! So until then!

21/21

Until next post,
Jasmine

outfit: striped shirt -- gap; dress/skirt -- cotton on; red bow belt -- h&m; red bow -- etsy; oxford flats -- aldo

Every Road is a Ray of Light

Hello!
I think this may be my least favorite outfit, and yet these are probably my favorite photos (sorry in advance for so many photos). I tend to like my colors rich and saturated, but Robert got the lighting perfect here--I barely had to edit anything at all! After two days of taking my own photos, I think I was way less bossy with him today. It's so much faster and easier, and I think I'm way happier in and with my photos. These photos were actually accidental. We had taken photos with the lake in the background, but he took a few more while we were leaving and I ended up using the last few instead of the ones we took before.

I won this ring from Mitzi's giveaway. I found it pretty funny and ironic that I had hosted a Designer Apparel giveaway, and then I won one sponsored by them too. I'm not quite sure whether I like this ring or not. The color is lovely and it went well with my pink shorts; but it's a bit too big for my taste. I just might give it away here if I can't find other ways to use it.

This outfit is actually something I'd wear on days that I don't blog. To me, it's just too simple and easy to post, but I really couldn't think of another way to style these shorts. It was kinda liberating not worrying so much about my outfit. I tried to spruce it up with accessories though. This red bow can do no wrong! Even Robert was surprised at how simple this outfit was, but we can't be glamorous everyday now can we? I bought this bow necklace with the same order as my sailor top from UO. Jen was supposed to order it as well but she forgot to add it to her cart. I'm definitely going to look for a longer chain for it because I think it's at a bit of an awkward length at the moment.

I can't believe tomorrow is my last day of my 21 for 21 challenge! It went by so quickly and not as painfully as I thought it'd be, and yet...I have no idea what I'm going to wear tomorrow. I'm out of ideas. My last few outfits have been so lackluster. I'm so burnt out from blogging so frequently these past few weeks. I'm pretty sure I'll resume a more spaced out schedule once this challenge is over--every other day at most. I cannot wait to go shopping tomorrow!!!

20/21

Until next post,
Jasmine

PS. Don't forget to check out my guest post on Jen's blog here!

outfit: cardigan -- gap; lace tank -- f21; pink shorts -- old navy; oxford flats -- aldo; red bow -- etsy; ring -- won from a giveaway; bow necklace -- uo

True Colors

Hello!
I can't believe this challenge is winding down! How perfect is it that this Friday is payday? I think I'll be able to finish by Thursday afternoon and shop with my bestie Thursday night and hear all about her stories in China! Only two more looks to go--one of which has to be with my shorts! I'm forcing it upon myself. I really like the colors in this outfit and I'm surprised I didn't think of it earlier!

I'm feeling a lot better! Thanks for all the well wishes! My fever has gone away, now I just have to fight this nasty stuffy nose and all will be well! My brother came home from visiting my relatives in North Carolina for two weeks today. Surprisingly he came home with a lot of new clothes so I helped him unpack and then helped him clean out half of his closet too! It's kinda bittersweet that he can now make his own fashion choices, especially since I shaped his style so carefully. I can't believe he's leaving for college in about a month. As big of a pest as he can be, I'm really going to miss him.

I also registered for classes today at my new school. I'm taking a bunch of child development classes so I can apply for more jobs. Hopefully they're nothing like the psychology classes I just took over the past three years, because those were mundane and miserable. I also signed up for an art history course! I haven't taken one since high school and I've missed it. It was my favorite class. I'm bummed that the photography class time doesn't fit into my schedule, but there's always next semester (it feels weird to say that since I've been on the quarter system for a while now).

19/21

Until next post,
Jasmine

outfit: sailor top -- uo; chambray skirt -- j crew; bow belt -- h&m; oxford flats -- aldo

We All Scream for Ice Cream

Hello!
Thanks for all our sweet comments about my work situation. I really am trying to move on from it and see it from a positive point of view, which is that it's forcing me out of my complacency of a comfortable work environment (despite the horrible pay) and into the real world. I have decided that I don't want to stick it out and see if it works out. The final straw for me was when the general manager wrongly accused me and my coworker of stealing money yesterday. I can't wait to leave and find a new job. So wish me luck! I already wished on a dandelion.

I was going to try to style my pink shorts again today, but I have been feeling sick since Saturday and so I just went with a silhouette I know all too well. This is day 2 of self portraits with my tripod and I think it was more successful this time around. Note to self: bring sunglasses to avoid squinting.

Because I've been sick and stressing out about work, Robert surprised me with my favorite flowers today! I had bought myself some ice cream and medicine this morning, so he bought himself ice cream too. We ate our cookies n cream and mint chip ice creams together and happily. I am so lucky to have him and ice cream because both make my life so much better!

18/21

Until next post,
Jasmine

outfit: grey striped top/dress -- cotton on; red skirt -- aa; bow belt -- vintage/etsy; oxford flats -- aldo

Through These Hard Times

Hello!
My goal this week was to use my remaining two items: my pink shorts and this red cardigan, so today's outfit was built around this cardigan in my usual color scheme--red, white, and blue. Now you've seen all 21 items.The remaining four will be interesting to say the least. I think I'll be trying one of your suggestions on styling my pink shorts.

I'm so sorry these photos are so dark. This was my first time taking my own pictures with my new tripod. So just bear with me as I experiment with different settings and locations. I tried to salvage the photos with photoshop, but even its mystic powers couldn't save them. I'm sure you get the gist of the outfit though since you've seen all these pieces before. I worked the closing shift last night. Usually we finish closing before 11:30, but we didn't clock out until around midnight and so that's when I had to bike home. I guess I must've caught a cold since I forgot to bring along a cardigan. My congested mind couldn't see how dark these photos were on my camera.

Work last night was a disaster. I went in with an open mind, but 5-minutes into my shift, I was already hating the change. The new general manager makes me miss the old one, who we all hated, but at least he listened to us. He's turning the place upside down as if he owns the place (he's just a temp right now)--changing everything and in the most ridiculous, inefficient ways. I pretty much argued with him all night long. While I was on my break with my coworker, he overheard us talking about him since he was sitting right behind us. It was so awkward and kinda funny at the same time, but when we clocked back in, he had a heart to heart with each of us. I didn't apologize, but I just told him that he couldn't just change everything so suddenly--I mean we just lost all of our managers for goodness sake. We were a family; it's as if we turned in our own parents to the police. The new managers are all so cocky, and all but one haven't bothered to introduce themselves to us. How are we supposed to respect people like that? Ugh. It just makes me so mad, and to think I have 7-hour shifts on Sunday and Monday. I'm really not sure how much longer I can last.

Anyway, enough about work...just thinking about it makes me upset. I'm hoping things will turn around soon or that I find a new job soon. Someone please hire me?

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far!

17/21

Until next post,
Jasmine

outfit: red cardigan -- zara; lace tank -- f21; skirt -- uo; belt -- purse strap; oxford flats -- aldo; pink bow -- h&m

Recap: Outfits 10-15 of 21

I am now more than 2/3 done with this challenge! Only five more looks to go! I'm running low on creativity, and at the moment I'm still in my pajamas (it's almost 4 in the afternoon). After this post I need to stare at my closet until something comes to me, and hopefully before the sun goes down, so I can run some errands and gather things for my room. I'm so upset that I woke up at 1pm today and missed the garage sales this morning. I blame the horrible shift I had last night, but more on that later...I'm off to conjure up outfit #17 for you all.

I'm torn between #11 and 14. Which one is your favorite?

Until next post,
Jasmine

The Best Deceptions

Hello!
I'm not sure if this is the most flattering outfit ever, but we live and we learn. I wish my shorts were a bit looser, but they're not meant to be high-waisted--I'm just short, anything can be high-waisted . I do like the color scheme though. Originally I was going to wear it with my white striped top, but it looked too Valentine's Day-ish for me. So romantic patriotism it is then.

These shorts are definitely a challenge to style, but I'm also pretty surprised I'm wearing them for the first time so late into my challenge. In the Fall and Winter, all I ever wore was shorts (with tights of course); now I'm always in skirts and dresses. I was hesitant in putting these into the mix, but I didn't want all 21 looks to be variations of a top and a high-waisted skirt like it has been up until now. Next time, I think I'll choose a romper instead. To me, shorts without tights is so boring, and to wear them normally just isn't blog worthy. I need to find a pair of flattering high-waisted shorts or find a different way to wear shorts, because dressing so girly everyday is a bit exhausting. Any suggestions on how to style these shorts again for the challenge? You can see my 21 items here.

I'm leaving for work soon--with a huge bow on my head might I add. I just want to see if they dare tell me to take it off. A little immature, passive aggression never hurt anyone right? I'll update you all tomorrow. Wish me luck!

16/21

Until next post,
Jasmine

outfit: navy striped top -- gap; red bow belt -- h&m; pink shorts -- old navy; white oxford flats -- aldo; red hair bow -- etsy; bow ring -- f21