What I Bought in November + A Big Announcement

December snuck up on me a little bit. I thought I had plenty of time to do my monthly What I Bought This Month post and next thing I knew it was already the second week of December! How are you guys? Ready for the holidays? I feel like I have so much left to do! As I mentioned before, the end of my school semester is nearing so I've been working hard to complete projects and study for finals. Next week is finals week. Eeeek! 

As if studying for finals isn't enough, I've also been working on an exciting project I can FINALLY share!!! My apartment is going to be featured on The Everygirl!! Words can't express how happy/excited/thrilled/nervous/honored I am to be featured in my absolute favorite online publication. The Everygirl is taking the Internet by storm and is such a wonderful source for young women. I completely admire everything they have done to help women like me succeed. If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw photo shoot sneak peeks last week. I promised you like six months ago a tour of my apartment once I finished decorating, so I hope this will do :) As soon as I know the exact date for my apartment feature I will let you know, but it will be sometime next year -- which is only a month away!

Back to what I bought in November.

This past month I found some great things I'm really excited to share with you all. If you're familiar with the Omaha area, they just opened up an outlet mall with tons of great stores. Usually I'm a little leery of outlet malls because the stuff isn't all that great and the prices aren't much cheaper. This outlet mall did not have a lot of amazing deals however (we went a few days before Black Friday), but the selection was pretty good and I was overall satisfied with the variety of stores.

Fossil Zylo Boots - Last season I was a tall boots girl and baffled at the thought of wearing ankle boots. Tall boots are so much more chic looking... Wrong. I still have me some tall boots, but once ankle boots hit the stores and Pinterest this season there was no turning back. These are so comfortable and I have worn these just about every day for the past month.

Patterned Chiffon Blouse from T.J. Maxx - I went into T.J. Maxx looking for an outfit to wear to an agency meeting because I knew I could find something trendy and affordable. This blouse was an instant favorite. I also bought some teal ankle length trousers which I ended up returning because they fit a bit off. I love the blouse except for the fact that the buttons ALWAYS come undone. So I will be stitching the button holes to make them tighter.   

Blue Plaid Skirt from Forever21 - I needed a couple outfits to wear for my photoshoot with The Everygirl so I went with this skirt.

Navy and Pink Sweater from J.Crew - An outlet find that I love. My boyfriend actually picked this one out :)

Necklace from Forever21 - I love jewelry from Forever21 because it's incredibly affordable and trendy, so I don't feel guilty if I don't wear it every single day.

Plaid Button Down from J.Crew - Another outlet find. Because every girl from Iowa needs a plaid shirt.

White Button Down from J.Crew - Because I didn't have a white button shirt. I know, I know, it's a wardrobe staple I've been missing for years.

Embellished Vest from Forever21 - To wear for my Everygirl shoot.

Red and Blue Sweater from Target - Loved the colors and print.

That's it! Did anyone snag any great Black Friday deals? This year I passed and was honestly a little disappointed with the lack of "deals".

What I Bought in October

I had such a great time this past weekend. My sister and her husband visited from Oakland for the weekend and we always have a blast. We caught up, discussed our favorite beauty products, and shared Instagram followers. Pure bliss.

Did you take advantage of DST? My sleep schedule has been a little off the past week and the extra hour was amazing. October was such a whirlwind since I was busy with some kind of event every weekend. Now that November is here that means I only have 6 weeks left until the end of the semester...and then it's Christmas. And then it's spring semester. And then I graduate in May. Whoa.

Well, October was not an exciting month purchase-wise. I kept it to a minimum because I wanted to be able to pay rent. Smart, I know. Being a student definitely has its downfalls at times. 

The baseball cap with a faux leather bill is from Target for $6.99. Leopard flats also from Target. Last month I purchased a different pair of leopard flats and ending up returning them since they didn't fit right and were giving me blisters. Gold elastic clasp waist belt was found in my Mom's closet. 

Since October's purchases aren't very cool to look at, I included a fun photo from this weekend. Taken by the wonderful Chris, our paparazzi. You mean 3 sisters walking around campus in trenches isn't normal? 

What I Bought in June

Happy July! Usually I do my monthly roundup blog posts on the last day of every month, but yesterday was Sunday and life kind of happened... so here it is one day late. My apologies! With only a week and a half left of classes, I am busy finishing group projects and writing papers along with working on a couple side projects coming up. 

On another note, what do you think of the new purchase history layout? Last month I told you I wanted to find a better way to display my purchases so you guys could actually see what they were and this was my first solution It's a big improvement from draping them on the floor, but I'm still not completely satisfied. 

I can finally reveal my Anthropologie finds I blogged about here! 

Starting in the top left corner going left to right: Printed tee from Antrhopologie. // Black and white striped tank top from Anthropologie. Now on sale! I have already worn this several times and absolutely love the square neck. It is quite flattering actually. // Navy and white striped v-neck tee from Target by Converse. // Embroidered tank top from a boutique in Omaha. When I walked in the store I saw one of the employees wearing this. I instantly had to have it and luckily found it in the same boutique she was working! // Printed dress. In August I have an upcoming wedding and spotted this at the same Omaha boutique on sale for only $30! Paired with a blazer and some strappy heels and it's the perfect ensemble for a summery wedding. // Printed floral crops from Antrhopologie. // Studded black boots from Target. Aren't these super cool? // Gold hammered hoops from Antrhopologie and Essie nail polish in Haute as Hello.

A couple of days ago I also posted on Instagram my beauty buys for the month so be sure to follow me @amandarisius to check them out! So far I am absolutely loving the concealer and primer. 

What I Bought In April

Whoa. Another month has flown by. As fast as each month comes and goes, I am glad to say April, March, and February are behind us! Bring on the warm weather and summer nights. 

So here it is, April in review. I scored some major deals that I am pretty excited about :)

White cropped skinnies with side zippers. Last summer I ogled at the J.Crew version with zippers and decided I better not. These are from the new line Joe Fresh at JCPenny.

A simple and relaxed white tee by MNG by Mango at JCPenny. I have already worn this top at least 3 times.

Blue Splendid top. Super easy to wear with leggings, skinnies, flats, sandals, boots... On sale at Dillard's.

White (wrinkly due to being in the hamper) linen blend Willow Clay moto jacket. It's very lightweight for summer which is unusual in moto jackets. On sale at Dillard's. 

Black and white long striped tee. This is long enough to wear as a dress with a denim jacket thrown over top and some beaded sandals or suede booties. $7 at Dillard's.

Swimsuit from Target.


Moving on...

Shoe #1: Brown caged Jessica Simpson wedge. On Sale at Dillard's. I wore them this past weekend to the Jason Aldean concert and loved them. By the way, Jason Aldean was AMAZING in concert! Probably the most fun concert I've been to yet. Thomas Rhett and Jake Owen opened for him and they both were so good! Kelly Clarkson even did a surprise appearance for one song, "Don't You Wanna Stay", the duet with Jason Aldean. Perfect Saturday. 

Shoe #2: Neon heel by Prabal Gurung on sale at Target. This wouldn't be the first shoe I normaly pick out, but I like the style and they add a touch of fun to an outfit. I'd wear them with rolled boyfriend jeans or skinnies and keep everything else neutral. 

Shoe #3: I was initially looking for a plain brown wedge for summer, but when I saw these in Target I thought they were even more versatile since they have some black as well. They were only $15, but I still might return them.

Remember when I asked for your help looking for a new fragrance? I finally found one! I was in Anthropologie a couple weeks ago and because the perfumes were so pretty, I was determined to find one I liked. After spraying every perfume in the store and smelling like 10 different perfumes, I decided on Tocca Florence. It's so pretty and not too strong (when worn by itself), and is wearable day and night. 

I finally got my "A" mug!

After last week's Wednesday's Wish List Post I ordered a few things from J.Crew. They arrived in the mail just in time! The jean shorts and the coral button up fit great. As for the collared tee, I am a little worried if I'll be able to pull it off without looking too...prim. 

I almost forgot about the Seven For All Mankind Dojos I purchased on Poshmark so I threw them in with my J.Crew stuff. It was my first purchase on the nifty little app and I have to say I was impressed with the ease of checking out. 

Hope you all enjoyed the cold and in some cases, snowy, April! :)

{Splurge vs. Save} When is it Worth It?

Being the bargain shopper that I am, it takes a lot for me to buy something over $50, or full price for that matter. Part of the fun is the challenge of finding a discounted price on the same item, you know? However, there are certain things that I feel are worth it, despite the daunting price tag. 

There are tons of products out there. From the drugstore to department stores, prices range from $5 all the way up to the hundreds. It can be hard to justify paying $60 for a moistrizer when you know you can pick one up at the drugstore for $10. 

If you can get past the steep price, there are a few things that are worth the splurge.

A good skin cream can go a long ways. If you find one that really does work miracles like it claims, it can be a life saver. Improved texture? Clearer skin? Brighter? Firmer? The Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel that I dedicated an entire blog post to is worth the $45 in my book. Good skin is the base for pretty and natural make up. 

Every person owns at least 1 pair of jeans. Skinny, flare, dark wash, acid wash -- no matter what your style, they are probably well worn. An item that receives so much loving should be a a pair you actually love. Investing in a well fitting pair of jeans is definitely worth the splurge. After you divide the price by the number of times you wear them, they quickly pay for themselves. If you spend $50 on 3 pairs of jeans that don't fit great and you don't love, you end up spending more than if you buckled down, spent the $100 on one pair you will love for years. I wear my AG jeans probably 90% of the time. I paid about $90 for them on HauteLook (a STEAL for AG!) and they have been worth every penny.

Like a good skin care product, a great foundation does wonders. I have been using the Kat Von D Lock-It foundation and noticed a huge difference after switching over from the Revlon ColorStay foundation. The coverage and smoothness is much better in the Kat Von D. I recommend trying samples of different foundations to try out more expensive versions instead of buying the whole bottle and later finding out you don't like it. Not all foundations will work for you, but once you find one that does, it's a game changer. 

A great haircut is like having a good hair day every day. Okay, maybe that is going a little too far, but a haircut that flatters your face shape and consists of a style you can manage makes your morning hair routine seem like a breeze. My last haircut cost about $20 more than I usually pay. Not only is it my favorite haircut and style yet, but it has cut my hair routine in half. 

On the other hand, there are definitely products I think are worth saving.

Shampoo and conditioner are areas I like to save money and buy from the drugstore. Don't get me wrong, I love the Biolage shampoo just as much as the next person, but there are definitely other versions that are just as good. 

My absolute favorite hairspray is John Frieda Frizz-Ease Moisture Barrier that cost $6 at the drugstore.

Shoes can be a tricky subject. I tend to buy cheaper, trendy shoes I wear a few times and invest in some comfortable pairs I'll have for years. 

I think the same goes for jewelry. Purchasing cheaper costume jewelry that you wear on occasion makes more sense than spending hundreds on a collar necklace that you will wear only a handful of times. 

What do you think? What items do you splurge on? 

Spring Cleaning 101

This past weekend was fabulous. Saturday reached 70 degrees and I did some personal shopping, then Sunday was spent basking in 73 degrees hanging out with Jordon on the lake while he did some fishing. Living on the lake is going to be pretty convenient this summer.

Though not so fun, I got some (much need) Spring cleaning done on Saturday as well. 

I had way too much stuff and I didn't have enough room for it in this apartment. I needed to part with a good chunk of my stuff that I wasn't currently using.

Take a peek into the unorganized beauty department...

Way too much stuff taking up even more space. 

Guys, I had a lot of hair and skin products that I have had for years in my drawers! Hence the pictures above. Some of that stuff you shouldn't even have past a few months. 


Over the past year my hair length has been half way down my back, to my shoulders, and now to my chin. My favorite being my current bob. That means a whole lot of products for a whole lot of different styles. For some reason I feel bad throwing products away that aren't finished and are perfectly fine -- mostly why I hadn't  gone through them yet. I always think I might want them once in a while, but the fact of the matter is I won't be needing my Moroccan oil on my ends any time soon. 

These are the rules I created for myself and strictly adhered to:

Rule #1
If you don't use a product on a weekly basis and it's not in your current hair or skin routine, get rid of it.

I recently changed up my skin routine and thought I would use my old skin care products once in a while but I like my new products better that I no longer have a need for the old.


Rule #2
If it is older than two years it should not be in your cupboards.

It's hard to believe I had some lotions for that long, but if I haven't used it up in 2 years, I definitely won't in another 2.



Next, my closet...

I wanted to be really strict when it came to my closet. I had some clothes I hadn't worn in a while (a year) and ones that just were not flattering. 

Rule #3
Throw it out if you haven't worn it in a year or more. You will know if you have or not, even if you don't want to admit it. 

Rule # 4
If it no longer fits right or isn't flattering on (whether it was when you first bought it or not) throw it out. 

As I get older the more I pay attention to shape, lines and the way my clothes hang. If it feels a little too snug, falls when you bend down, or gives you the wrong shape then it probably isn't flattering.

Rule #5
Time to get rid of the stacks of high school sports T-shirts

Every year in high school I got a T-shirt for every sport. That's 16 T-shirts-- not counting all of the others. It was time to get them out of my closet and free up some space.



After it was all said and done, I got rid of probably 1/3 of my skin/hair products and an entire garbage bag of clothes! Trust me, you will be better off without it than with it :) Not only will this help ease the pain of moving again, but we all know less clutter is always a good thing. I can't wait for when I move into my own apartment and can get some decent permanent storage and organization going on. 


Now I am left wondering what to do with the bag of clothes. I have sold clothes at consignment stores before but since they are so limited on what they take, I usually end up getting most of it back. I could donate them to Goodwill but some of the stuff was only worn a couple times and are name brands.

 So I want to know, what do you do with your gently used clothing? 

Love 'em or Hate 'em: Wedge Sneakers

Wedge sneakers. The concept blows my mind. Who thought that sneakers should have a heel? If I'm wearing sneakers it's for a reason...

Every time I saw a pair  in the store I thought they were hideous. That is until I saw Sydney over at The Daybook sporting them and looking fab. She pulls them off perfectly. Her relaxed, neutral style combined with fun sneakers is anything but boring. 

I haven't actually tried any pairs on myself. I think it would probably ruin all the positiveness I have towards wedge sneakers. For some (good) reason I think if I attempted to wear them it would totally clash with my personal girly style and turn out all wrong. They look so stylish on everyone else, but I am not convinced.

For now, I will just stick to looking at pictures. 

What do you think, love 'em or hate 'em? 

The Daybook

What I Bought This Month

As I mentioned earlier in a past blog post, I want to go through my closet and do some Spring cleaning to get rid of the old clothes I no longer wear, and really update my closet with a few basics and some nicer pieces that are fit well. Now that I am getting a little older, I have found what styles of clothing and fabrics look best on my body type. I think it's important to dress for you and your style, while keeping your body type in mind. In magazine you see articles that tell you what to wear if you have an athletic shape, curvy, short, etc. but I never fit any of the categories. So after a little reading, looking back on pictures, and some serious trial and error, I have found that more structured pieces like blazers and jackets and button down tops are most flattering on me. That doesn't mean I don't wear anything else except blazers, but I think it's always important to have some go-items that you know look good.

 As I shop online and stroll through stores I see tons of cute things, but rarely do I actually buy them. I always feel like I have to have an event coming up in order to buy a new outfit. I don't even like to buy plain tees when I find a good fitting brand because I would rather have a cute nice top. Of course I always want to kick myself the next time I'm searching my closet for my lone black tee (that is in the laundry basket). We all know the importance of a few good tees in black, white and gray...you see why I need to do some Spring cleaning now?! 

Anyway, I did a little shopping throughout February and here is what I found:

I apologize for the bad quality, I should think about investing in a better camera besides my iPhone!

The flats are from JCPenny and were only $16! I had been looking for a neutral pair of flats for  Spring and happened to walk by these and thought they were adorable and too hard to pass up. They are a light pink with a camel colored bow (I will remove the jewel from the center of the bow). 

The camel colored faux leather jacket is from Target. Jackets are nice to throw on in the Spring, and I always love a nice leather jacket. 

The tan jacket to the right from Love Culture (reminds me of Forever 21) does not look half as good as it does in person. The color looks really off here. The sleeves and body of the jacket are almost a chiffon material and the collar and shoulders are a faux leather. What do you think, are the studs on the shoulders a bit much? The jacket looks so good in person and has a great fit, so I thought it was a good addition to my closet. It is the same concept of a blazer, with a little bit of an edge.

Next is a faux leather (what can I say, I'm digging leather lately) black flouncy skirt from Love Culture. The material is really thin so it has a lot of movement which I like. I think the flounce down plays the toughness of the leather which makes it work. 

The cream chiffon button up blouse is from Love Culture. I have a few other similar tops like this and I always find myself grabbing for them in my closet. 

The gold chain necklace is from Charming Charlie. 

The tank top is from Target and is a good alternative to a solid color tank top. 

Last but not least is the Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo foundation. I have been using Revlon ColorStay foundation for a few years, but I wanted to try something different to help minimize the creasing around my mouth (you know, the smile lines). I have used it a couple times and I'm really liking it. The formula seems to holds up well throughout the day. 

What styles look best on you? Do you have a go-to item in your closet that is a never fail? 

A Cool Little Find - Poshmark

A few days ago, I came across a cool app that lets you buy and sell items right from the app that I wanted to share with you guys. It's called Poshmark. You download it from the app store and then create an account. From there you follow other users and your feed is filled with items those members have listed as selling. There is everything from accessories, clothes, shoes, and sunglasses, ranging from Charlotte Russe to designer. 

Here is an example of what a post for sale looks like.  

You can leave comments to ask the seller questions about the item. You can also refine your search by size, category, etc. which is helpful. Although, I still find items that were not marked in the filter so there will still be pages and pages to sift through. I find it most helpful to just follow users that wear your size or have brand names that you are interested in. 

There are also different parties which contain only items in a specific category or brand. This makes shopping easier if you are only looking for items from Tory Burch, for example.  Once you find an item you decide to buy, just click the buy now button and then fill out the information. They ask that you do not use Paypal or any other outside form of payment, since the app is already set up for safe buying. 

I have yet to buy or sell anything using Poshmark, but I think it can be a handy little app when looking for a lower price on a specific item in mind I want to buy. Otherwise, you could spend hours on there just looking through the pages and pages of items.  Be sure to follow me at amandarisius, I may post a few items to sell eventually! 

Enjoy the little bit of weekend that is left! 

Wednesday's Wish List

I thought it would be fun to show you guys what I've been loving and shopping for lately. As you know, I online shop quite a bit (but I have cut back tremendously since I set goals in my previous blog post!) so I always seem to have a running list of things I need, want, or like. Most of the time I end up filling my online shopping cart and never returning to checkout. I do this because, 1) I like to think a few days about most purchases I make so I can decide if it's what I really want or need; 2) decide if it is worth the money; or 3) search for a better deal. If I instantly bought everything I saw and liked I would not have any money left! Here are a few items on my current wish list...

 I recently purchased a new purse I love, but I downsized a little from my previous one I used regularly. Now my wallet no longer fits very well in my new purse, so I want to find a wallet that is a little smaller but still has compartments for cards and cash. Kate Spade has some cute options, but the wallets that have multiple compartments are over $100. So...being the bargain shopper that I am, I looked around until I came across this one (shown below) on Ebay. It has a zipper closure, a few different slots for keeping cash and cards separate, and the pink color matches the inside of my purse. Perfect! 

Kate Spade Mini Neda Wallet.
Ebay.com

How pretty is this robe! Need I say more? 

Knee Length Kimono Robe $65
plumprettysugar.com

I heard about these fabulous robes from the lovely Rhiannon on her blog Hey Gorg Events. I encourage you to go check out her blog--everything she does is awesome, just likes these robes!

I really love the print shown, Beckoning Creatures, and Pink Love Poppy. The photo does not do it justice, so go online and check out the pretty prints for yourself. :)

In Iowa, Winter is the longest season. Walking to class is bad enough, and when the temperature is freezing it's even worse! Boots are the only thing that keep my feet warm this time of year, so I consider them a must in my closet. I have been wanting a pair of Frye boots for a while now, but the price tag is holding me back. With Fall and Winter combined I can wear them for at least 5 months, so they are a good investment, right? 

Check out these beauties. 

Jane Tall Cuff Boots 
Zappos.com

I may have struck a deal on a pair of these (fingers crossed) that are slightly used, but in good condition and 1/3 of the retail price. I will let you know if the deal works out by tomorrow hopefully! 

Lately, I am obsessed with anything sheer or floral print. This top looks so pretty and easy to wear. I would wear it with my faux leather black skinny pants to toughen up the look a little bit, or with dark wash flare pants, a blazer, and wedges for a Springy look.

Pins and Needles Blouse $49
Urban Outfitters

As Spring gets closer and closer, I am excited for some closet cleaning and updating! Stay tuned for more. 

*Also, don't forget to follow me on Twitter at AmandaRisius and on Instagram at amandarisius. I post different things than on my blog, so don't miss it!