A few weeks ago, I got so sick of my hair!  So, I made every change I could think of.
I cut it off, I colored it, & I got bangs! Woohoo!

It’s a new Kara!

There’s a lot of Target going on in this picture!  The jacket is from Target sales rack, as well as the pants. Nothing was over $7!  Don’t you just love this scarf?  Our dear friends came to visit this weekend that live in India.  India, if you didn’t know, is the land of beautiful cheap scarves!!  They gave me this gorgeous scarf.  If I was an extrovert, I would have squealed!!  I couldn’t have picked out a prettier one.

Hope you all are doing well!!!

~Kara

Just saw this video and couldn’t help but share it!
Hope it inspires you to be AWESOME on this Valentine’s Day  YEAR!

Not COOL, Robert Frost!

I love that part!  The best path for our lives that pushes us to live in the moment and be awesome is not the easy path!

Hope you take some time to dance today!
~Kara

If you look to the right, you may notice we’ve added  a fun new feature—an instagram feed! You’re welcome to join in the fun! Use the hashtag #everydaypresentstyle to join in. We’d love to feature our friends on the blog, too!

(What’s an Instagram? I want one!!!)

The post in which I cannot defend my photography or my puns.

blazer: J. Crew Factory (via eBay) | tee: Forever 21 | scarf: thrifted (similar) | jeans: Gap Legging Jean | flats: Tory Burch Reva

1. I was gifted an online photography class for Christmas, but I haven’t started yet. This was my first outfit post where I attempted to shoot manual–and this was the best photo of the lot. I’m hoping there’s a good learning curve on this, but it needs to be done! We are lucky enough to have two Nikon cameras, and it’s about time I learned what to do with them. First lesson learned, though. I’ll be shooting on auto on the next round of outfit photos. Although I kind of like my distinct lack of wrinkles here.

2. This blazer is new to me, but the rest of the outfit is somewhat old (okay, the T was a recent purchase in a moment of weakness). I’ve been eyeing a navy Schoolboy blazer from J. Crew for quite a while, and keeping up with sales, but never saw one in my range. Meanwhile, several of my favorite bloggers wore theirs and I saw just how versatile it could be.  Last week, on a whim, I checked eBay , and there just happened to be an auction ending on the Factory version that day. I checked with Franziska on twitter to see what she thought of the regular version vs the Factory and she gave a resounding approval. I bid and waited….and then, it was mine! MINE! For only $29.44. (About $170 less than the retail of one new.) The best part? It hadn’t even been worn. The pockets and back vent were still sewed shut. Honestly, it deserves a better photo, but you’ll be seeing lots of it.

3. After just a few months, I’m feeling like I’m in a really good place with updating my wardrobe. Which is great!–but that probably means—no shopping for a while.  I’m hoping to go more in depth with that  soon (as well as share a budget post for this month).

So, what’s new, gals? I’ve missed you all!

Things have been keeping me busier than usual—and it’s about to get busier! Bear and I just bought our first home! Our contract was accepted today by the seller, and our closing date is exactly one month from today. Here’s a sneak peek of the outside (obviously this was taken in the fall):

So that’s where I’ve been! House hunting and closing. Ok, and maybe Pinteresting a LOT of ideas for our new home! This will be my first time having full say in the decor/wall color of a home, so I’m pretty excited about that. Is that something you as a reader would be interested in seeing?

Just wanted to pop in and give you an update. I’ll be back this week to resume outfit posts.

Sweater (Urban Outfitters); Shirt (Loft); Jeans (Loft)

Hey Gals!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas & New Year.  I raked in the gifts.
Want to hear?

1. AAA Insurance (Yep! That’s right!)
2. $50 to buy what I want! (Mustard Sweater & THIS awesome watch)
3. Loft Gift Card (bought skirt, shirt above, red chords, & another shirt)
4. Antropologie Gift Card (bought gift for sister, set of plates, & butter dish)
5. 2 scarves.
6. Theater tickets to go with my friend.
7. Jewelry.
8. Sequin Sweatshirt.
9. Target Gift Card (bought necessities)
10. GC for restaurant & GC for the movies.

See…so much stuff!   With the gift cards I was able to buy at least 1, maybe 2 things off my list!  Mustard sweater & red chords.  The chords are not skinny, but still I love them.  I am about ready to give in and just buy a new chambray shirt at any store I find it.  I haven’t been able to find one at the thrift stores or at the gift card stores.  I need to try the consignment stores.  Tulsa girls, have you found any great consignment stores in town?

And because my husband decided to pose me and liked the picture:

So, how was your Christmas?  Did you get anything off your shopping list?

~Kara

PS-On a shopping trip with mom today, she bought me a black jacket similar to Laura’s on sale at Target! SCORE!!

The Lauras & The Karas all got to see each other Saturday!
And imagine what the husbands discussed, “the plight of being married to a blogger!”
So, we let them get in on the action and, as you can see, they ate up the spotlight.

You may have seen them around here and there on some posts, but allow us to officially introduce you to Mr. Kara & Mr. Laura!

Our friendship does exist in real life!  It even began there.
So, here we are!

Merry Christmas from the Everyday Present family!

~Kara

The end of this week saw a major rut—I wore black pants three days in a row. I’m re-wearing Wednesday’s outfit tomorrow—so you’ll see it soon!

thursday

I doubled up on (faux) leather–suede on top and waxed denim on the bottom. If denim on denim is a Texas Tuxedo, I’m not sure I want to know what’s leather on leather?

top: Stylemint | pants: F21 | bag: Vintage | shoes: Payless

blazer: Vintage (belonged to my mom, from her teaching days!)

friday

I dressed comfortably for the 4-hour car ride to my parents’. Tree socks are as “Christmas-y” as I get.

scarf: Gap | sweatshirt: Target | leggings: J. Crew Pixie | socks: Kohl’s | boots: Steve Madden

Merry Christmas to all of you!

I was given $100, found $20 in a coat pocket (isn’t that the best?!?), and used a lot of my store credit at the consignment store this month. Additionally, I received some cash from relatives for Christmas that totaled $50–giving me $170 to spend, not including the items I bought consignment store credit from selling items.

First, I got this dress from White House Black Market on eBay. I’m hoping to wear it to dinner on Bear’s birthday, or maybe for New Year’s Eve with some fun shoes. ($30)

(It’s not that short on me—you can see how Veronika wore it here.)

Peter Pan sweater from Anthropologie–$50–marked down from $98.

This sweater seemed like the perfect thing for holiday parties–the black part has gold tinsel-y material woven in. The peter pan collar makes it a trendy piece without being too trendy. (See how I paired it with dress pants for work.) Plus, it’s SO SOFT.

Then, I broke down and bought an item I’d been eyeing for quite a while—the J. Crew Pixie Pant. It’s a thicker material than a legging, so I’ll wear them with longer sweaters or tunics. J. Crew was running a promo online with free shipping and 30% off, so they were $65. Yes, that’s a lot of money for a legging, but they’re a classic piece that I’ll wear for years

Next, here’s what I bought at the consignment store. All three of these items still had the tags on them!

2008 J. Crew Silk blouse–retailed $88 new, I paid $0! (Here’s how I wore it.)

Madewell Bootlegger Jean (only mine are black) retails $98.50 new—I paid $0. Bear said these jeans made me look tall and skinny, so it’s safe to say they were worth every penny I paid!

Gap legging jean, retails $69.50, I paid $0! I already have a pair of these jeans (seen here) and they are the best jean ever! So soft and fits well, without being too fitted, and I love that they’re a bit more high-waisted than a lot of other legging jeans.

Finally, this sweater from Old Navy:

I had two items to return (from before the ban began) that totaled $30. The sweater was marked $19 the day I bought it, which meant I put $7 back in my bank account after tax. I won’t be counting that $7 towards clothing money, since it was from before the ban. Also, as much as I’d love to believe foxes will still be in next year, I’m going to call this my “one indulgent trendy item under $20″ from the shopping list.

I did a LOT more shopping this month, but I also had a bit more cash flow and my items have been selling really well at consignment. (I think the three items above were about $47 or $50 TOTAL as marked at the consignment store?) The total retail of all the items here would be $650–more than a lot of people’s clothing budget for the year! 

The best part? I still have $25 left! Maybe I’ll put in a coat pocket so I can find it next year!

sunday

where? Church. blazer: Thrifted | sweater: Gap (similar)| jeggings: Gap (similar) | boots: Steve Madden | glasses: Warby Parker

We woke up 5 minutes before we needed to leave to make it on time to church. Before we were even out of bed Bear said “Whelp, I’ll just leave and see you there!” CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. I brushed my teeth, got makeup on, dressed and was ready to walk out the door while he was still contemplating his clothing seven minutes later. “Whelp, see you there, slowpoke!” I said.

I decided to be nice and wait for him, though. Santa and God are watching.

monday

where? Work and a shopping date with Bear.  dress: Anthropologie | sweater: Gap (similar) | tights: Target | boots: Steve Madden | belt: Asos

Say “hello” to my giraffe friends, Harold and Maude. You guys, I have a problem and it’s decorative things shaped like animals. Target is not helping this.

tuesday

where? Work. Jacket: Target | bag: Vintage Dooney & Bourke

scarf: Asos | sweater: Gap | skirt: J. Crew, 2010 (similar)| flats: Target

Got my hair cut today! I always love when it gets straightened. And luckily, I didn’t succumb to my whim and cut bangs! I almost always want to, and if I have, almost always immediately regret it. But, hey bangs, we are never ever ever getting back together. (You guys will save me from myself if I ever seriously consider it, right?)