As an indirect part of my “Thirty Before Thirty” list, I’m trying to make better purchases. {Click on that link to see all of my money related “to-dos”.}

What makes a purchase “better”? Well I’m trying to only make necessary purchases. Unfortunately I have a few weddings coming up – with overlapping guests, which makes it hard to wear the same thing. Not to mention that I literally don’t have an item of clothing dressy enough to wear to either. (Not that they’re super dressy weddings. More like I don’t fit in to anything I own. Let’s not talk about it.) I don’t want to spend the cash on a brand new dress. Much less TWO brand new dresses.

So I made a deal with myself: I could buy ONE dress, but it had to be versatile enough to wear to BOTH weddings. And I couldn’t spend more than $75.

I’ve been looking for weeks now, and couldn’t find anything that fit both criteria. Until today.

I wandered into a store on Newbury Street on lunch and within minutes I found a black, short sleeved trapeze dress by Betsey Johnson that screamed “Buy a thin patent belt and cinch me! Layer on some chunky necklaces! In the fall, pair me with tights!”

I grabbed it, tried it on and it was a perfect fit.

BUT JENNY. THAT SITE LISTS THE DRESS AT $359. YOU FOOL. WHY DID YOU TRY IT ON?

HAHA! The store I wandered into? “Rescue” – a thrift store on Newbury Street that has a section of higher end, second hand clothing. The dress? Only $50! Twenty five whole dollars UNDER budget — which leaves me room to get a belt to cinch the waist and maybe a necklace or two to dress that baby up.

The dress is in perfect condition and in fact still had original tags on it. I don’t know who brought that dress into Rescue, or how it ended up there in such great condition – but to that person, all I can say is THANK YOU! Your dress has a happy new home.

So I’m going to buy a bike. I started thinking about it last summer while doing some volunteer work with Harbor to the Bay. I kept saying “I’m getting a bike. I’m getting a bike. I’m getting a bike.”

Well I’ll save you from the suspense of not knowing: No I never did end up getting a bike.

How about you help me? I’ll tell you what I want/need, and you give me suggestions of bikes (brands/styles/etc) to check out.

WANTS/NEEDS:
1.) Something I can take on bike paths and non-scary city streets. I’m not going to be doing anything Harbor to the Bay (Boston to Ptown) style. I’m not going to be racing. Ideally I’d like to take some rides on weekends, maybe do light grocery shopping and commute to work.

2.) Something that is sturdy and won’t fall apart. I’m kind of a klutz. And by kind of, I mean it’s one of my defining characteristics. I don’t mind investing a bit of money so long as it means I’ll be safe (from myself.) I don’t want to crumble the thing the first time I fall off it. Yes, I said first. Because there will be many.

3.) Something that is reasonably priced. I said I’d be willing to invest a bit of money. But again, I’m not doing crazy racing or insane bike trips. Let’s keep it in the $400 and lower range.

4.) Something that is conducive to mounting a back or front rack. Think small items: bag of groceries, work files, laptop maybe?

5.) Something preeeetttty. Shut up. I’m a girl. And a designer. I like pretty things.

That being said, I’ve done a bit of research and asking around and have been told a hybrid is likely a good fit for me. From what I’ve read that seems pretty right on.

Hybrids are almost as fast and easy to pedal as road bikes, while being almost as comfortable and versatile as mountain bikes. They’re great for commuting, errands, getting in shape and all-around fun.

I pulled up a few that I like (based only on reading specs and looking at photos of course. I haven’t test driven any of these yet.) and here’s what I’m eying right now:

So that’s all I’ve got so far. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? (Also let me just remind you again — I haven’t had the chance to ride any of these yet, so I could be basically making things up at this point.)

So back at the end of November (November 24th to be exact) I posted a picture of my new makeup kit:

The Bare Escentuals Starter Kit from Sephora. (With the whole blog disclamer crap that everyone has to post now, NO I did not receive this kit for free. I had a gift card from Christmas. Yes the Christmas BEFORE. As in Christmas 2008. I’m really weird and have trouble parting with gift cards. Like I have to find THE PERFECT PURCHASE for them.)

*End gift card tangent*

So I bought the kit November 24th, but didn’t end up cracking it open to try it until almost a week later.

It was love at first circle, circle, circle, tap, tap, tap. (C’mon. Don’t tell me you’ve never been sucked into that infomercial.) The coverage was amazing. My skin was glowing!

I started using the kit regularly. As in, everyday. Coincidentally, the week I started using the kit was also the week I went on my first date with my now boyfriend. (Tangent 2: It’s still weird to say “boyfriend” since I haven’t had one in years. Anyway.)

Over the past 3 months I started breaking out. A lot. And let me just say, not to brag or anything, but between my mom and dad, they passed some some insane super skin. I never break out. I never did. Not even in awkward teenage, the time for terrible skin years. Sure I get an annoying zit now and then, but who doesn’t? That being said, these break outs were different. They were all over my face, and they weren’t going away.

I tried to figure out what the hell was going on, and my first trail of thought was “OMG. This started happening when I started dating E.” Was it him? His dog? His laundry detergent? His water? (He lives in a different part of Boston than I do – hey I was getting desperate here.)

I kept my face clean and washed it with my regular aloe sensitive skin line from the Body Shop (it has never done me wrong!). No change. I took to cleaning my make up brushes twice a week. No change. I washed a few of his shirts at my place in my laundry detergent. I brought my own pillow in a pillowcase also washed in my detergent from home on nights I stayed at his place. No change. I made sure to wash my hands after every time I pet his dog. No change. I showered at home or at the gym (my regular shower spots). No change.

WHAT. THE. HECK. Right?

So about a week ago it finally hit me “Um maybe it’s not E. Maybe it’s the stuff I smear all over my face everyday.”

DUH, right? But WHY WOULD IT BE? The stuff is ALL MINERALS. Supposedly PERFECT for sensitive skin.

It’s in their marketing for christ’s sake:
“It’s makeup so pure you can sleep in it.”

So I googled. And. Oh. HAI:

Yeah. So I started doing some research. I found girl after girl after girl who had NEVER had a problem with acne until they started using this makeup. The culprit? The bismuth oxychloride in the product. It was wreaking havoc on my face. Also? The brushes. Too harsh for my face.

I stopped using the make up this weekend. And it’s only Thursday and my face has totally cleared up for the first time since December.

Coincidence? I think not.

The verdict?

I tossed the whole kit.*

So in conclusion — if you’re thinking about throwing down the big bucks for Bare Minerals makeup? Go to a Sephora or other retailer of the stuff and grab some free samples and try it for a few days before you buy. See how your skin reacts (it only took about a week for it to full on destroy my face). I know plenty of people who love this stuff. I’m just not one of them.

(*Oddly enough my sister got me the Get Started Eye Kit for my birthday this year, and I haven’t had ONE problem with that. So the eye makeup gets to stay. The rest? TRASH.)

Check out the Christian Siriano Limited Edition collection for Payless…. I really like it (and, hello, the prices???)

Last Thursday I threw a party. There was fashion, there were walk-offs, and there were prizes. If you make it to the end of this entry, you can enter to win a prize of your own.

Here’s how it started: several weeks ago I blogged about getting picked for a Brand Enthusiast program for the Gap. Part of being a Brand Enthusiast is reintroducing my friends back to the Gap, specifically the new 1969 denim line for men & for women.

Here’s how that was supposed to work: The Gap was going to send me a bunch of denim and some party supplies to have an in-home party where my guests could check out and try on the jeans.

You know me. I don’t do anything the easy way. And, as an event planner, I like to have events. In-home party? Easy, but not an event. So I called up a few people, told them what I was doing and threw out some ideas, and a couple of hours worth of calls, emails and meetings later, I secured a venue (Thanks 28 Degrees Boston!), got donated food (Thanks Carl!), and sponsored goodie bag items (Thanks Van Gogh Vodka!).

I had to design the guest list and design the event (create and print signage, sketch out the layout of the lounge and come up with activities). Done. Done. Annnnnd done.

Here’s how it all went down: First the set up. The lounge space that was donated was simply gorgeous and needed no help. I just had to set up the jeans.

Clearly after setting up the jeans we had to pose with the signage.

Before the party I had prepared a … presentation … that was to be projected on the large screen on the whole back wall of the lounge and loop for the duration of the party. It talked about the sponsors, and me and … well. How about you just watch?

Click the screenshot to run the presentation. It’s worth it. Bonus points if you “get” the pics …

My guests arrived and mingled. I explained to them the event: Come try on jeans! Enter to win a raffle! Tweet about the party! Sign up for …. THE AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL STYLE FASHION CHALLENGE (oh yeah, you just wait.)

After a couple of hours, everyone had found their fit. And if we’re in full disclosure mode, I feel as if I should disclose this: I have a lot of gay friends. A lot of gay friends who like, apparently, to wear women’s jeans. Honestly? I think more than 50% of the men invited took home women’s jeans. And I had three women take home men’s jeans.

WE BREAK ALL THE MOLDS OVER HERE IN ALL EYES ON JENNY LAND

Then it was time for my FASHION CHALLENGE. Now that everyone had found their pair of jeans, I got a group of runway divas to model them for us. But of course, there’s more to it than that.

I cleared the remaining party guests into a runway path, and sent the contestants up into the fitting room behind the curtain to get ready. I had pre-selected three bitchy but hot judges, and gave them numbers to score each contestant.

You that’s Sarah right there in the middle!

And, of course, I got to be Tyra.

I had purchased a WHOLE LOTTA accessories for this challenge, dumped the accessories on the floor in the middle of all the contestants and gave them their challenge: they had ONE MINUTE to grab whatever accessories they could get their hands on and accessorize the hell out of their new jeans. They would then walk the runway and get JUDGED.

Oh. Hells. Yeah.

In the end two contestants tied. And we had to have a walk off. They wished each other well and gave it their all.

My friend Mike won, and Sarah took the news like a champ and threw her wig on the floor and stormed off.

Mike won a digital camera and Sarah won a $50 gift certificate to the Gap. Good work kids ;)

All in all, the party was a BLAST. We all had SO much fun. And got some awesome new jeans to boot.

Thanks again to …

The venue: 28 Degrees
The goodie bag and prize sponsor: Van Gogh Vodka
and of course
The clothing sponsor: THE GAP!

Check out the whole set of photos here. (There is video to come, but I had over 2 hours worth and it took me a whole weekend just to get through the photographs!)

Congratulations. You made it to the end! You should be rewarded by entering to win my contest!

The Gap was kind enough to give me an extra $50 gift certificate to give out to a reader on my blog! Here’s how you enter to win:

1.) Comment on this blog post to be entered into the contest once!
2.) Twitter linking to this post and using the #GapBornToFit hashtag to be entered twice (don’t forget to get an ‘@alleyesonjenny‘ in there so I can keep track of you! May I suggest something like “Visit the blog of @alleyesonjenny and enter to win a $50 gift certificate to the GAP! http://tinyurl.com/o6dv9g #GapBornToFit“)

You have until 10 pm on Tuesday, August 18th to enter. The winner will be chosen at random and announced Wednesday morning!

Good luck!

“Cute outfit … where’s it from?”

“The Gap.”

“Really?”

“Really!”

“Those shorts? The top? (*which I styled differently here)”

“Gap. Gap.”

“Really!”

“YES.”

So yeah, The Gap. You’ve probably noticed me and a bunch of other Bloggers/Twitters talking about The Gap lately. In full disclosure mode, we were all handpicked to participate in a program for The Gap as Brand Enthusiasts. Which, also in full disclosure mode, was smart on The Gap’s part because I haven’t been in there for a long while and I’d be lying if I said I would have gone in there on my own without a little prompting from an adorably friendly and charming lady named Justine.

I’m a bit of a clothes snob (Fine. There. I said it.). I’ve always had it stuck in my head that The Gap is a good “casual”, “staples” kind of store – I’d pick up some basic t-shirts, tanks, cardigans, etc there. I enjoy finer fabrics and unique details for more of my “main” wardrobe pieces. But that shirt above? Silk! The shorts? Pin strips with orange contrast stitching! I feel like this is a whole new Gap. I mean – look at Sarah’s dress! That back is totally unexpected!

Compared to the basic “solids or stripes” styles I’ve seen in the past, it looks like they’re paying attention to the details, experimenting with unexpected twists, and just adding more to their line in a new and different direction. I can’t wait to see where their new styles are headed and I truly, truly appreciate the opportunity to be involved in a project like this.

I hope their ad campaigns follow suit – they’ve had some great campaigns in the past including my favorite … the Lenny Kravitz/Sarah Jessica Parker ads:

I started wearing my hair up a lot recently. This has to do more with the fact that I’m growing my hair out and am really just kind of lazy than actually having the skills required to make my hair look nice. To help hide the fact that I’m only now, in my 28th year, actively learning how to properly use bobby pins and products with funny names like “transforming paste”, I’ve started added some pieces with some simple but interesting, detailed necklines into my wardrobe.

Keeping the possibility of a “I’m putting my hair UP today” kind of day in mind while I’m shopping makes it easier to spot the subtly cool details that really pull my new look together. (And yes, we’re keeping the “The real reason my hair is UP is ’cause I’m lazy” part of my new “look” a secret. Shhhh.) So I was tickled pink when I came across this piece ON SALE last week:

I know, that pic does nothing for this piece. I do love the color and the fact that it’s silk (who doesn’t love silk?), but even on the rack, the only thing that really stood out was the neckline. But I loved that ruffle so much, I knew I’d be able to work it out.

I got the shirt, hid the hanging ties, tucked the shirt in a pencil skirt and belted with a wide patent belt. Then I threw my wet hair up in this new hairstyle I’ve been rocking, topped it off with a headband and … there is was insta “HEY I HAVE TO HOST A BRIDAL SHOWER” outfit!

Yeah, this is a terrible pic taken in a broken mirror in the apartment I have basically already moved out of.

Here’s my outfit in action at the bridal shower – from left to right: Meg (the bride to be), Dan (Meg’s brother), ME! and Kate (my sister). The four of us grew up together and were CONVINCED we were all really brother and sisters. That shouldn’t really be in the past tense since we still do ;)

The shower was a hit, and I have to say I totally felt the part of bridesmaid/party thrower in my outfit.

The breakdown:
The skirt? A piece I bought for $29 from H&M in 2001 when I was interning.

The belt? Purchased for $16 when Jasmine Sola was going out of business a couple of years ago.

The shirt? I can’t even believe where this is from since it does NOT look at all like what I picture coming from this store – The Gap. Seriously. And it’s on sale NOW for $29 (it comes in two other colors for slightly more at $39). It looks great with a pencil skirt and perfectly adorable untucked paired with mini shorts and a cute summer sandal! (I told you I always have to come up with at least two outfits to justify a piece of clothing now!)

The whole outfit was well under $100 (and most of it several years old – 2001? REALLY?) but it didn’t matter because I felt like a million bucks.

I haven’t purchased many new clothes in the past few months. In preparation for my upcoming move, I’ve been actively trying to see how much of what’s in my closet I actually wear.

In this exercise, I have discovered two truths: 1.) I don’t wear most of what I own. It either doesn’t fit, is out of style, or is just plain old. (I have a problem throwing clothes out). 2.) The pieces I do wear are usually fairly simple with a little bit of flare and I pair them in a million ways with simple, classic pieces I already own.

Now knowing that, any clothing purchases I’ve made in the past several months have had to be multi-purpose: good for day and night. Or can be dressy and casual. And I will not buy something unless I can think of at least two ways to wear it.

Last night I purchased the Kimchi Ruffle Bib Tank from Urban Outfitters. (Note: Online it says it’s on sale for $34 down from $48 … I bought it in store for $19.99. For locals/Bostonians, I found it in the Urban Bargain Basement in Harvard Square.)

I bought it in “potato” (I am totally into nudes lately). Here it is, with closeup of the detail:

(Another note: in real life, it’s not nearly as flowy at the bottom – it falls fitted on me. That model needs to eat a sandwich.)

And here it is two ways with classic pieces I already own (excuse the sad photoshop job):

Two completely different outfits – and that’s even BEFORE I’ve added accessories.

What I like A LOT about this tank is I can add more outfits to these two just by layering it under other classic pieces like a cardigan or, my favorite piece lately: a thin blazer that hits at the hip with the sleeves rolled 3/4 length (I actually think the blazer outfit would work best with the sleeves left down and paired with skinny jeans rolled up a few inches and a blood red pointy toed heel.)

What I like MOST about this tank is that it was UNDER $20.

Ok enough about me and my tank. Your turn: I want to see some of your latest bargain scores. Bonus points if they’re versatile pieces :)

Last Friday I won a twitter contest through Shoebuy.com – a shoe company I admittedly love and make purchases from regularly. I have been a good little girl and not done much shopping lately (in preparation for a move. A.) I already have enough shoes to move and B.) That’s a stupid excuse, I just really haven’t bought more so that I have plenty of money in the bank to actually get a place to live saving me from a life of hoboness.

So yay free shoes.

Today, in full disclosure mode, is pretty much a throw away. I can barely focus my eyes much less design anything, but surfing a shoe website doesn’t seem to be a problem.

I did have a few double takes … for instance this shoe which lists it’s materials as “leather and SWEATER”.

Oh.

Or this “pair of shoes” that, to be frank, scares the living hell out of me:

Are they shoes? Pants? Why are they both? Please don’t hurt me.

I will say this, at $95, that combo is a bargain.

But onto the important stuff, like shoes I am actually considering* buying**. I want to post out my favorite pairs and get some feedback. Which 2 (or 3) pairs should I get?

*Since this is basically free money, I’m considering getting a pair that I normally would just admire from afar but never buy with my own money, hence the slightly “out thereness” of these choices.

**Warning, I am slightly obsessed with the whole “gladiator” trend happening right now.

BCBGirls Lexs (which also come in black, but I love the white)

Luichiny Neelie (which I mostly love for their 4.5″ heel!)

Luichiny Chariot

BCBGirls Amonia

Jessica Simpson Hesse (4 3/4″ heel!)

BCBGirls Single

Similarly,

Jessica Simpson Hello

Jessica Simpson Striker (which I love because they are somewhat reminiscent of the Diors Carrie sported in the SATC movie)

Luichiny Raissa (FLATS?!)

BCBGirls Elga 2 Oh there you are color.

Luichiny Razzie Rave (whoa MORE flats)

Ok. That’s a lot to look over. Yeah I have insane taste in shoes. And a stupid sense of humor (re: the title of this post) Thanks.

OH and finally, if you want a chance to win the ShoeBuy contest (there’s 7 weeks left!) – official rules and directions here.

I am totally into this whole jumper/adult onesie thing. Yes I just said “ADULT ONESIE”. And you know what? I probably will get one too. So there.

Dakota Fanning! Looking good!