Meagan Rigney

currently obsessed: a tale of two (or more, if I’m being honest) coats

Target coat and jeans; Nordstrom top, no longer on site (splurge, save); Windsor shoes.
I don’t know about you, but I often lust after certain items and obsessively stalk said obsessions on the Internet, reading reviews and looking for the best buy possible for my money. It’s a hobby of sorts? I online browse and look in stores way more than I actually buy. I really like to find the one when I’m looking for something. I’ve been on the hunt for a pink coat this Fall and have been unable to find one under a zillion dollars. Why is it harder to buy something we need in brighter colors? Or find something specific once we have it in mind? I would buy a black coat in three seconds, but the second I want something brighter I can’t justify it. I was in Target last week and found this pink coat for under $40 (!!) and fell in love. It is really, really soft (maybe Velveteen? Felt?) They didn’t have my size in the store, as it runs small and the medium felt like a “fat guy in a little coat” moment (quick, what movie?) I promptly went home and bought it online in a large (and this plaid one, too. Swoon!) 
I may need a coat intervention soon. I adore this fur collared coatigan and this furry hood one as well. And don’t get me started on leopard print coats. I need help. 

And boots!

Shop this look:

inspired style: winter white

 Inspiration source HERE

Nordstrom sweatshirt (similar here and here); Logo Layers undershirt (the best!); Target jeans on clearance!) and scarf; Hunter boots.
I learned something yesterday when it snowed. Hunter boots worn with thin socks are not warm. I’ve sort of resisted getting the boot socks due to the $40 price tag (for socks?), but may have to. I’m also realizing these boots may not be the best winter boot option.  I’ve gone all out and bought my kids cute boots and snow pants and fuzzy hats and the like and now I’m sitting here with a jacket and a handful of beanies and wondering why I’m cold. Go figure.
I’m also in a new phase when it comes to shopping and purchasing. When I went to Lucky fabb last month one of the panels was talking about the fact that magazine editors wear the same items over and over again. You don’t see a lot of new, flashy clothes and endless closet options, they shop mindfully and wear and re wear items constantly. This resonated with me and made me realize I make a lot of purchases impulsively, and then the love wears off and I’m donating it 6 months later and moving on. I don’t want to do that anymore. I did a no shopping challenge last month and vowed to only shop with earnings I made from Poshmark and this blog. What this did was make me really think about what I buy and why. I couldn’t impulsively buy anything without thinking about whether or not I could afford it and how it fit into my budget. I mean, I’ve always had to edit myself due to the fact that we live on one income and live debt free, but now I have these (self made) restrictions that help me distribute my purchases more wisely. I’ve always been a “buy tons of stuff for less” kind of gal, but I’m trying to also look at the cost per wear of certain items and know that buying a $60 coat that I’ll wear every day is sometimes more worth it than four new shirts for the same cost. 
Needless to say, I’m 33 years old and still learning about myself and my habits and often make the same mistakes over and over again. I try something and it works for a bit, then I slide back into my old ways. I don’t want to do that anymore when it comes to clothes and shopping. I want to buy things that truly feel like me, and take the time to evaluate if I really need something or just want it. Taking a couple of days (or more) to discover if what I like is a fad, or a phase, or I’m being influenced by others in my impulse purchases. 
I’m trying.
Shop this look:

massive nordstrom giveaway+ what I’m loving there, right now!

Nordstrom jacket (similar); Target plaid shirt, tank, jeans (I have these as well and like them better!) and boots; Asos hat.

I’m not sure what rock I lived under, but I never actually shopped at Nordstrom until this past summer when I discovered their semi annual sale. I’m a big fan of getting more for less and prefer not to spend too much on any given item. I was trying to determine my max amount for any given item, and think $20-25 on a top or jeans and if something is really special, maybe $50? I bought the coat above this August during the sale at Nordstrom and adore it, it has a fleece lining and is soft and fun enough that is dresses up some pretty boring looks (which I have plenty of, trust me.) In honor of the big sale coming up and my love for all things free I wanted to share a giveaway that my good friend Carly put together. A bunch of us pooled our money and the result is a $525 gift card to Nordstrom! 
A couple of things I am loving at Nordstrom, right now:
Isn’t this open front, tribal cardigan amazing? Equally cute over sweatpants at home or skinny jeans and boots.
Since winter is insisting on coming, why not wear boots with a hint of neon? 
This fur vest completely reminds me of Rachel Zoe!
I’m loving mixing really summery, floral prints with more wintry fabrics right now and these leggings would look great with a long, chunky sweater.
A bedazzled, embellished beanie. Stop it.
I realize this jacket is a splurge, but chubby, chunky jackets are so popular right now, and I love the light pink color on this one!
And last, if I were to win a  large gift card to Nordstrom I would splurge on something pretty special. Perhaps a brightly colored, Kate Spade Beau bag or hot pink designer sunglasses? 
Are you ready to shop yet? Details are below on how you can win a seriously HUGE gift card to Nordstrom. Good luck!

nordstromstitle_edited-1 In case you haven’t heard.…….the Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale starts on the 6th! It’s a perfect chance to shop and stock up on staples, plus a few fun wardrobe extras.  No one does style and wardrobe extras like these amazing ladies, and we’ve teamed up to give one lucky reader a $525 Nordstrom’s gift card…..just in time for the Half Yearly Sale. Looking for a little what to wear inspiration? Stop by their blogs, and let the virtual shopping begin!bloggersrow1_edited-1

bloggersrow3_edited-1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

inspired style: shades of…you guessed it

Old Navy sweater, old (similar); Target tunic (and similar), shoes and leggings (love these); Asos hat, Unknown vest? (similar.)
Can we also discuss the amazingness of this sweater?
I have a couple of thoughts.
1) If you layer a fur vest under a chunky sweater you may possibly look like Miley Cyrus in a bear costume. Lesson learned?
2) On a completely hypocritical note, I love wearing vests with sweaters and eliminating the need for a jacket sometimes. I currently have two vests, a black one I bought from QVC last year (found HERE) and a white one that I can’t remember where I got it from. TJ Maxx, maybe? Marshall’s? I am also on the lookout for a classic light brown one as well, so let me know if you find something! 
3) Another current love? Wearing dresses over pants and treating them as long tunics. The beauty of living in a colder climate again is being able to throw on multiple layers and not seem crazy. Plus, I’m warm. 
4) You will see me in a beanie (or five) from now until forever. I have quite a colorful collection going. Target has the best, fun colors right now (darn them, they are just leaping into my cart!) Which is why I now have a cobalt blue and a teal green one and could be considered a beanie hoarder. 
5) No, I will not show you what the light gray leggings looked like in these photos. It’s ugly, friends. Ugly.

what I’m loving at Target, right now (and a shopping question!)

target fall 2013
target fall 2013
target fall 2013
Asos hat (similar); Nordstrom sweater; Old Navy skinny jeans; Logo by Lori Goldstein tunic; Target boots (on sale!), purse and sunnies. 
Okay, so is it me or is Target killing it right now? I walked through the other day and saw about 6,398 things that needed to come home with me immediately. Since I’m on a shopping break I have restrained myself by only looking and have bought a couple of things with my Poshmark earnings. This is where I need you. Is it cheating on a shopping break to only shop with earnings from selling old stuff? Shanna gave me the idea (love her) and I thought it sounded fair. I sold about $125 worth of old stuff and bought a dress for Lucky FAAB next week and a cute, studded hat. Do you consider it cheating on my shopping break? (Please say no.)
So other than a hat (okay, fine, and a pair of boots) I was a good girl and just looked around and thought I’d link a list of amazing things that I wish I could get. 
Apparently bodysuit’s are back? And I’m intrigued. Maybe worn with a long, lace skirt, studded boots and a long cardigan? I haven’t worn one since 1992, but I’m game.
Loving this tee, worn in a larger size so it would be slouchy and loose. I would wear it with black skinny jeans and a chubby cardigan.
A long, studded maxi dress. Hello.
Adore these buckled, edgy looking ankle boots. And they’re on sale!
I have these leopard booties and plan on wearing them in NYC next week. 
This is the burgundy, sequined beanie I bought. Love. I also want this black and white one and these fingerless glove/mitten things.
OH MY, a dress made out of sweatshirt material. Be still my heart.
And a Navajo printed wrap jacket.
Tell me, have you seen anything cute at Target lately? 

currently obsessed: rain boots and camo (and a Kindle Fire giveaway!)

Nordstom jacket (similar); Old Navy jeans and sweatshirt; Asos hat; Zara necklace (similar); Hunter boots.
It’s been raining here in Northern Michigan for, oh…maybe four days now? Some people may find this depressing or miserable, but THIS GIRL is just happy to be wearing rain boots and layers and hats. I’ve been living in the land of eternal summer for the past 10 years and I have been waiting for Fall, true Fall, since we moved here in June. Which is probably why we’ve been having crazy Indian summer weather, where I had to dig out the summer clothes I prematurely packed away a month ago. My bad. 
Also, if you see me on a daily basis you would know that I wore the above outfit in different variations since last Thursday. Rain plus no outfit photo’s equals pure laziness on my part. I’m not sad about it. I love how this jacket has a fleece lining and makes everything instantly cooler. I plan on pairing it with everything this season, from dresses to jeans and everything in between. I purchased the sweatshirt from Old Navy last week for $10 and it is a great, lightweight top. Cozy enough to laze around in and I LOVE pairing it with a statement necklace. I sized up to make it slouchy and more comfortable. I have plans on wearing it with my faux leather skirt from Target and the most amazing, fleece lined tights. And rain boots…do I even need to explain? I can think of a thousand ways to wear these and love how Naomi from Love, Taza paired hers with a midi skirt. 
On another note, I was sitting on my front porch yesterday afternoon watching the kids ride their bikes in the driveway. We have two, massive trees in our front yard that are dropping their leaves like crazy. Our yard looks like a sea of orange, red and gold, there are literally heaps of leaves laying everywhere. The one thing that strikes me, after all these years of being Fall-less is the smell. The smell reminds me of my four years of college at Keene State and all of my childhood. Crisp air and freshly fallen leaves and the thrill of this season. Can I even define it? It’s nostalgia pure and simple and watching my kids play amongst it all in their jackets and hats and boots makes me happy in a way that I can’t explain. 
And another note! The other night we went out to dinner (Friday is family night in our house) and brought the kids out to a restaurant that we had eaten in eight years ago when we flew into Traverse City for a wedding. It ended up being the same weekend as our first anniversary and because of that this town holds special memories for us. It was sort of wonderful to return to that same place and eat with our kids. The last time we had been there they were still three and four years away from being born and honestly, I don’t remember life without them. But I DO remember that anniversary weekend and now our ninth one is coming up this week and I’m feeling pretty grateful to live this life here, with my family.
Tell me, how was YOUR weekend?


P.S. I am happy to have joined with Emily from Freckled Fox (and many others!) to give away a brand new Kindle Fire. I so wish I could enter, too. I am DYING for one. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

nervous nelly (or, that inner, shy, 14 year old in me is trying to come back)

Target top, jeans, boots and bag (time to shop somewhere else, huh?); Nordstrom jacket (similar), Asos hat; Rayban sunnies.
P.S. I wore this outfit on the day I found a Tupperware container of 4 day old fruit in my daughter’s locker at school. Ewwwwwww.
So I was invited to attend the Lucky FABB Conference in NYC this October. To say I am thrilled is an understatement. Beside’s fashion week, this is sort of the Oscar’s of the blogging world and so many women that I admire and look up to will be there. I’ve poured over posts and examined outfits and styles of those that have attended and keep coming back to the thought, “am I “fashion-y” enough to attend?” To make a statement without $800 Rockstud heels and Celine bags and such? I shop at Target and Marshall’s and have an occasional Nordstrom’s splurge and I’d like to think I dress for real life in the real world. I don’t wear heels to the playground or attend glitzy fashion events (not that I wouldn’t, but you know), and live in mainstream America where some part of my closet may come from Walmart. 
Can I stand out by being just me, a mom from Michigan who drives her kids to school and cleans toilets and eats dinner by 5pm every night? Can I? I’ve been making lists and trying to come up with outfits that make me feel like me, but the fancier version of me. Meagan 2.0 if you will. I want to be realistic about where I shop and what I would wear on a day out at a “work” function, if you will. I want to be the me that deep inside loves fashion, loves dressing up and loves being able to get away and learn more about what I adore. I can’t afford the high fashion looks that may be at this event, but I have perfectly good choices to pick from that make me feel good about myself. 
I can’t wait to meet new friends and network and live a part of the dream that I thought wasn’t possible as a military wife who stays at home with her kids. I’m looking forward to sharing this whole event with YOU and including you in on the fun. I’m hoping to do a behind the scenes type coverage and share the details that might not be shown in the glitzier version of events. Care to join me?
Tell me, what would you wear to a Fashion and Beauty conference? Am I crazy for being so nervous and feeling like a 12 year old on the sidelines at a school dance? 

what I’m loving at nordstrom for fall, right now (this anniversary sale is going to be the death of me!)

What to buy at Nordstrom anniversary sale
What to buy at Nordstrom anniversary sale
Loving wearing my wedding band, my husband’s Grandmother’s wedding band, my Great Grandmother’s engagement ring and a fashion ring (part of a set) from Jewelmint. I switch rings A LOT, ’cause it’s fun and life is too short for one ring, right?
What to buy at Nordstrom anniversary sale
Harem pants c/o Chicnova , which I’m still unsure of (a little tight in the waist, even in a large. I would size up.) 
Stay tuned for more pics where I don’t look like a soccer mom in mom jeans. 
I have a confession. I am officially obsessed with Fall and trolling the Internet looking for things to buy in this season which I have not officially celebrated since my senior year of college (in 2002.) Yikes. I need everything! I own maybe four long sleeve shirts and one pair of jeans currently? Hence the neurotic need to look at everything that screams cuddly, warm, or can be worn apple picking and the like. Or raking the leaves, whichever comes first.

My newest obsession is looking at all the Fall items for sale on Nordstrom’s. I mean, I didn’t even know this sale existed before this year, is that bad? I have to admit, there are some items on this list that are waaaaaay outside my normal budget. About once a year (on my birthday to be exact) I get to pick out something fairly extravagant for myself. This is the only day that we really do gifts, so I like to make it a good one! This is my birthday present from my husband, who I tell what I want and he purchase’s it. In the end I get a pretty nice gift and he walks away with one happy wife. It works! Plus I get the added fun of creating a dream sheet of gifts that is sometimes more fun in the making than it is to actually get something. Virtual shopping sure is fun:)

On that note, here are some things I am currently drooling over at Nordstrom’s, right now:

Loving these Frye short zip boots. Sort of a rocker, edgy, wear with ripped black jeans and a slouchy sweater type of boots. 
The most perfect, equestrian style riding boots!
I like the stripes and the slouchiness of this nautical sweater (and the price!)
One of my favorite perfumes, in a gift set. This is my second favorite scent (I switch between these two, or layer them.) Clean and fresh and not overly perfume-y, of you know what I mean.
I WILL be buying a military style jacket this fall, and this shearling lined camo one is pretty fabulous.
A super cute, “Why limit happy to an hour?” leather clutch. Love.
I’m sort of obsessed with owning a classic pea coat this year.
This Pour la Victoire tote would be a total splurge, and worth every penny. Classic.
I wear long cardigans like this constantly in the colder weather months. They cover my bum in tight pants (a must!) and keep me cozy and warm. 
Stop it! A cardigan with studs. 
A long, layering tee under $20. It’s the Holy Grail of tee shirts.
A cute little brown oxford shoe (worn with rolled boyfriend jeans and a slouchy cardi?) I’m also on the lookout for a silver pair. 
THIS Kate Spade bag. I’ve been looking at it online every night and trying to figure out of it should be mine for my upcoming birthday. It’s a HUGE splurge, but worth it, no? Also in PINK!
I want these Steve Madden Saxon flats in every color, shape, size and anything else I can get my hands on (especially the leopard.) I’m in love.
I need a date night with my husband so I can wear these. Hello, sexy.

Tell me, what do you like for birthday gifts…to be surprised or to pick it out yourself?

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