OOTD: Pretty in Pink

It's no secret to anyone who knows me: I have a lot of clothes. Probably too many! But what is probably even less of a secret is how I afford it. My income is fairly minimal - and I'm a bit of a cheapskate. I have expensive taste, but an inexpensive eyesight. I want the best product for a sale's price. Show me the discount price tag!(This is what happens when your parents carried you around in their arms while they visited yard sales and farmer's markets and cut out coupons. You get a discount shopping junkie.)

Recently I was out shopping and picked up ten new items for my wardrobe - clothing and jewelry - for a tremendous deal. I'm really aiming to add more sophisticated and feminine clothing to my closet. Bit-by-bit it's working! (I love t-shirts and pajamas as much as I love blouses, but until recently I've avoided buying the latter for no real reason. No longer! I choose to indulge all sides of my personality.) If anything, now I need to up my intake of casual recreation outfits. For me, a girl who spent a good portion of her childhood wearing t-shirts and shorts/jeans, this is super exciting. Having a balance in my wardrobe feels so good!

Over at Southern Belle in Training, my friend, Miss ALK, posts frequent fashion posts. They're always so much fun - I just love her sense of style. She's always so put-together and oh-so feminine, even on her casual days! (And she's pretty talented at snagging great deals on good products herself!) I'd be lying if I said her love of fashion hadn't worn off on me. She may have had a(n) huge influence. But that's what friends are for, right? Corruption for your highest good.

Anyway, you can blame her for the fashion posts to come, including this one. (No complaints here!) Today you get to partake in my love of pink with a beautiful, hot-salmon pink sweater dress.

• Sweater dress: Khol's (pretty much free with Khol's cash).
• 3/4 Leggings: Walmart, a buy a long time ago.
• Boots: $5 on clearance at Walmart!(Bargain shoppers delight!)
• Earrings: Christmas gift.
• Rings: gifts and random finds.
  
  Up-close shots of the jewelery (my earrings), the boots (apparently my bathroom mirror needs dusting...), and some super cute detailing of the sweater dress:

So sparkly <3

If you haven't sensed it yet: I love me some sparkle.

Moments when I fall in love with cute belts like this makes me wonder
how I ever hated belts when I was a kid!

Another not so silent secret: I love lace. Seriously, completely, swoon-worthily
love lace.

These are my new favorite boots! They're super comfortable.
Because they're so low to the ground, I feel like I could wear them all day.
It feels like wearing flats!

I never used to be a leggings-lover, but these No Boundaries leggings that have been sitting in my closet untouched for years are so comfortable! More surprising for me: they're warm! It has been bitter cold here. The idea of wearing a dress to classes was almost completely shoved aside because of it. Not even tights or jeans keep my legs warm lately. Pulling my leggings from the back of my closet was an act of desperation - one I couldn't be more pleased with. One quick jump out onto my back porch gave me all the information I needed: these babies are warmer than my jeans or jeggings! (Jeggings were my other option if the leggings didn't work out. I'm not much of a skinny jean person, I don't find them very comfortable. Jeggings are all the comfort of stretch pants with all the super-cute fashion of skinny jeans! But, I digress.)

I'm now pro-leggings. I want to pair them with everything (even though I have no sweaters long enough to go with them or other sweat dresses). Finally! I understand the obsession with them. They're so comfortable, versatile, and stylish. (And, apparently, warm!)

Now is probably also a good time to say that I'm also officially pro-pink. I have been for awhile, but it's taken time for it to work it's way into my wardrobe. When I was little-little, I hated pink. I wouldn't wear it. I wouldn't let it in my room. I wouldn't look at it. Today I wore a dress that was solid pink. I loved every second of it. It's amazing how things change, isn't it?

What are some things - clothes, movies, shows, books, food...anything! - that you used to hate but now love?