Getting Thrifty with it

Now there is no secret that I love to find awesome deals on clothing. I like to prove that it doesn't always have to cost to be the boss. One of my favorite places to shop is the Clothes Mentor right here in Fort Wayne. I just love finding all those name brand items at such a great price.  I seriously have found brands such as ,The Loft, J Crew and White House Black Market just to name a few a few. Now as if that wasn't enough I just scored some major deals last weekend.  All there clearance was $1 so you know I had to partake in that! I got 2 skirts ( INC and Banana Republic) , a top( Bamboo) and shoes( Express) for $4. How sweet is that? 

 This dress is an example of the cuteness you can get at a bargain price. I had my eye on this little number at Target a while ago . It was that designer collection Phillip Lim. I waited for the markdown and wasn't able to score but ended up months later finding it at Clothes Mentor and it was NWT $12. I was like "Yes Please"!. I added my BCBG wedges from Macy's which matched perfectly I might add..lol. I got so many compliments on this dress and when a little old man tells you your dress is cute ...u better listen.

  If you are in Fort Wayne you should definitely should give Clothes Mentor a try I promise you won't be disappointed. If you missed this $1 extravaganza than you should  sign up for their mailing list or like them on Facebook  for all of the latest and greatest sales.  Ladies don't forget that Clothes Mentor also offers cash on the spot for all those fabulous items in your closet that you aren't wearing and I heard they are looking for fall items right now.  I also noticed they are now buying perfume and body products so ladies all that perfume that you get on Mother's day and other holidays that is just sitting on your dresser. Why not take it in for a little cash or for some new treasures.

I hope you Fashionista's are having a fabulous day !

Details- Philip Lim via Clothes Mentor $12
Shoes - BCBG via Macy's $22 in store!
Bag - Ora Delphine Adele satchel - gift
Bracelet - Good Will $1

Big Haul from Clothes Mentor
Black Skirt - INC $1
Black Heels - Express $1
Bamboo - top NWT $1
Banana Republic - NWT $1

Monday Look and Weekend Recap

Sometimes you need a weekend to do exactly what you feel like doing at that moment. That is exactly what this weekend was for me. The kids were away and honestly this was the first weekend that I had the house all to myself in a long time.  I was able to enjoy dinner with one of my girlfriends that involved gossip , business talk and yes honey a few Margarita's .Which meant Saturday some form of exercise was a must so I got a 3 mile walk in plus a little shopping in. Did you ladies know that shopping is cardio.. I got the shirt to prove it. 
  The best part of the weekend was I got to have some quality time with my Mom doing a little decorating around my place. It was quit nice having small talk with the most important lady in my life.  My Mom is an artist and it is so nice seeing her in her element  her getting to express creative side. It's kind of like me at clearance rack full of dresses and my creative juices start flowing! LOL
I have learned in life that it's the little moments like this that mean the most. I will cherish every moment with my parents I feel lucky that I still have them both at 41 years old. I pray my kids are that lucky.
 Now Sunday was wrapping up a great weekend by going to the best brunch spot in town  Granite City.  This place has the most delicious selections and top that off with a mimosa.. it doesn't get much better than that!  I decided to wear this cute little bright dress I got from Jcpenney last year. I got this for like $7 and I adore this dress . I love the color combo and it even has a cut out in the back. 

My Monday look was included this Elle Dress I picked up at Kohl's . I love the fit and adore the black and white stripes . I loved it so much I also got a Beige and Coral striped one as well. I added my striped Worthington Shoes that I got Jcpenney last year for $10 and wanted a little pop of color so I added my hot pink belt and cute little flower. 

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and guess what we have a fresh new start.. called Monday!

Brunch Look
Dress - Jcpenney ( old ) $7
Shoes - New York and Company $12
Necklace New York and Company $5
Bag -Adele Satchel Ora Delphine gift

Monday Look
Dress - Kohl's Elle Dress sim
Shoes - Jcpenney last year $10
Flower - HM clearance  0.50
Bag - Steve Madden via TJ Maxx $22 clearance
Bracelet - Charlotte Russe $5

Simple Dress with recipe for Big Hair

I decided to go with a simple look this Friday eve. I love the simplicity of this dress but the vibrant color is what sold me. I am sucker for hot pink and orange. They are my 2 favorite colors for the warmer months. I picked this cute dress up from Old Navy last year for like $8 I love that this has so many styling possibilities. I added some cute jewelry from one of my favorite places to buy accessories New York and Company. I am always finding great pieces on their clearance racks.

I know usually my posts are all about my frugal fashion finds but today I wanted to talk a little about my big curly hair which I get asked about daily. Who knew that the girl that hated her curls when she was young would turn into a CurlyByrdie... LOL.  Now I tried a new mix of products this week and I was really happy with the results. I feel like a mad scientist always experimenting trying new combo's and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't but the process is fun.

Aussie 3 min miracle- I used this as my conditioner after I got finished washing my hair. I combed it
though and let it sit on my hair about 5 mins.  One of my favorite deep conditioners

Cantu Shea Butter Leave In-  I used this as my leave in conditioner section my hair and distribute it evenly though my hair. This always leaves my hair so soft and I feel like it making it stronge and healthy.

Eco Styler Curl Cocktail- This is a brand new product for me. I saw this in Sally's and at $5.99 I knew I had to have it. I used this as a styler over the Cantu Leave in.

Curls - Goddess Curl Gel - with the weather being so warm I add a little bit of this gel over my other products to add more control because this humidity is not kind to this curly hair.

I personally apply all this products to soaking wet hair and than I sectioned and twisted my hair. I am usually on the wash and go tip but I wanted a looser curl pattern and I did get a wavier look.
I let my hair air dry 1/2 the day and overnight and woke up and sat under a hooded dryer for about 30 mins and untwisted my hair and out the door I had business.

If you are a Curly girl please stay tuned for an extension of this blog that focuses on Curly and Coily hair. This is a blog that I will be co-hosting with another girl with curls. It will feature product reviews , side by side comparisons of products on different hair types and a monthly curl product hauls and our monthly favorites! Coming soon to a blogger site near you :)

OOTD Details
Dress - Old Navy Dress sim not the exact dress I got mine last year.  Use code STUFFSAVE for 30% with Old Navy card. Another form of payment use FASHION for 20 % off
Shoes - Report Signature - DSW -  I got mine in store for $14 but really free I won a giftcard. So definitely check your local store for best deal
Jewelry- New York and Company
Flower - H&M - $.50..it was $1 than 50 % off...how sweet is that?

I hope you fashionista's and curlista's are having a fabulous day. Until next time :)

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Mello in Yellow and Stripes

It's Tuesday which is a little better than Monday but not quite as good a Wednesday. I have fallen in love with a certain color combo that would be yellow and Navy. I mean it's almost up there with black and white. It looks so cheerful yet classic. The skirt is JLO from Kohl's the material is quality and even has a liner underneath to conceal those panty lines and whatever else you want to hide lol. I paired it with one of my staple pieces my peplum from Jcpenney. I have this top in like 4 different colors . I certainly gotten my moneys worth and you know I am all about that life. I topped this off with my super cute wedges I scored from Clothes Mentor Fort Wayne.  I love how I find fun stuff there for a fraction of the price and you can even bring all those treasures in the back of your closet that you no longer wear and get paid cash on the spot . How sweet it that extra money or maybe get some new fabulous items like these wedges.  Ladies this is definitely is the time to stop in they are having a Clearance sale like no other. If you buy 1 piece you get one free. Now that is a deal!

Skirt - JLO- Kohl's $27 with coupon

Peplum- Bisou Bisou - Jcpenney sim

Necklace - New York and Company $3

Shoes - Dots via Clothes Mentor $10

Posted via Blogaway

Posted via Blogaway

Had me at Hello

There are dresses that are cute but than there are dresses that are just perfection. The moment I laid eyes on this beauty at my favorite boutique Ash and Co's Closet I knew this would make its way into my closet. I love the lace detail along with the pattern on the bottom.  It gives it a classy feel also very fashion foward vibe.  At only $30 and free shipping it was such a steal for such a beautiful dress. You should get yours while you still can. Hope your weekend was fabulous

Details
Dress -Ash and Co's Closet $30
Shoes -Franco Sarto via Macy's (old)
Jewelry -New Yorks and Company
Bag -Steve Madden via TJ Maxx

Posted via Blogaway

Posted via Blogaway

Curlybyrdie Chirps turns 1 !

It has been a year since my first blog post ! Wow time really flies when you are having fun. To call this fun would be an understatement I feel for the first time in my life I have found my voice. I have spent a good part of my life always worrying about what other people thought of me. I could have never started this blog when I was 20 I didn't have the confidence... my low self esteem wouldn't have allowed me to take this ride but I guess with age and maturity you stop caring so much about what people think and start to listen to that little voice inside of you that says" Girl you can do this!"

I am a 41 single mother of 2 awesome kids and money is tight sometimes and I wanted other women that have the same hardships to know that it is not about what is in your bank account . You can still be fabulous at any price point!  Just because you have the high end designer brands doesn't make your stylish. Now let's not get it twisted..  I love finding designer brands but believe me they will be at a huge discount. 

I have gained so much in this year . I have gained tremendous confidence and the knowledge that I can still be fashionable and fabulous at 41 . I have made so many friends on social media. I work in an office with mostly men and they could careless what my #OTTD is but my girls on Instagram do. I have really started to think out the box when it comes to fashion . I have learned how to remix my closet to get even more outfit choices from other bloggers and instagram friends. I have learned that my teenagers can be excellent photographers ( yeah they are rolling their eyes right now) LOL. 

I think the greatest moment of this past year when my daughter  said to me " Mommy I am proud of you for following your passion" How good did that make me feel to hear my 16 year old daughter say that to me ? I still tear up thinking about it.  I think for the first time I am doing something that I am passionate about.  If this little blog  inspires my baby girl to follow her passions than this  it surpasses any expectations I had.

Thank you for reading this post and thanking all my social media friends that I love dearly . To show my appreciation I giving away a giftcard to my favorite online boutique Ash and Co's Closet on my Instagram. Head over there for details and good luck!


 I can't wait to see what Curlybyrdie is chirping about in year 2

XOXO

Marvelous Monday

 

 

 

 

 

I made a decision this morning that I was going to start the week off on a positive note. I wasn't going to think of this as another stinking Monday . Instead I would look at this as a beginning of a new wonderful chapter in my life. I started getting the Monday eve blues yesterday one of those I hate my life moments  aka as a blue funk. I was soon rescued by one of my good friends and cake vodka that led to some serious convo on the patio. LOL. But seriously my friend said something so simple that I woke up today still thinking about.. " It always works out"  When I have went through difficult moments in life in the end it always works out.  So instead of stressing about things that I can't change.. I am going to go with the mindset I am going to Let go and Let God handle this.

My look today is sleek and simple look for Monday. On Monday I am kind of slow motion so I browse me closet for something that catches my fancy. In this case it was this floral top from one of favs Jcpenney .  I paired this with my Elle Maxi skirt from Kohl's and my Monday look was born. What are you wearing on this Marvelous Monday?

Make it a Great week because as my beautiful friend says " It always works out in the end"

Details
Top -Worthington Jcpenney's $18
Skirt - Elle Maxi Skirt - Kohl's $20
Shoes - NY and Company $12
Necklace - Kohl's Apt 9 old

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My Inner J-Lo

Whenever I see a jumpsuit I immediately think J-LO. No one can quite pull one of like she does. She is definitely my style icon she gets it right 95% of the time. When saw this fabulous jumpsuit from her line at Kohl's I knew that I had to have it. What I love about it is the fit with me being smaller on the top and bottem heavy I feel it really compliments my pear shape. I decided to wear this with my super cute BCBG wedges that I scored for $22 at Macy's.  I feel so celebrity like with no where to go.. Lol!
How is your weekend? Who is your style icon and why?

Details
Jumpsuit - Kohl's Jennifer Lopez
Shoes -Macy's BCBG
Necklace -HM
Bag- Ora Delphine gift

Mad for Maxi's

Happy Friday Fashionista's !  It has been a short week for me but sometimes those can feel like the longest. I look forward to some downtime after traveling last weekend. I am crossing my fingers that we don't get any rain because I feel like enjoying the pretty sunshine.  I wanted to share some super cute maxi's from my favorite online boutique Ash and Co's Closet.  Their site recently got a makeover and it looks fabulous.  In honor of the new makeover they are offering an additional 15% using code NEWSITE15. As most of you know I have a slight dress obsession and they have some dresses that ooze cuteness.. These are my favs right now but ladies check them out to find the dress that makes your heart swoon .. LOL

The Rainforest Maxi - $42.00 today is the last day to get addtional 15% off

Olive Love -$35.50 the back of this dress is so gorgeous

Peacock Maxi-  $25 - the color of this fab dress had me at Hello . It can be dressed up or down so many possibilities !

I hope you Fashionist's have a fab Friday !

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No Ugly Betty

Do you remember that show Ugly Betty? That show was one of my favorites. I loved Betty so good hearted but supposedly ugly. I never thought she was ugly.. the wardrobe choices were a little questionable LOL.  I think this program pointed out what we forget sometimes it's your heart that makes you beautiful. We can make ourselves look fabulous on the outside but when you have beauty on the inside it outshines the exterior.

  I saw this picture if American Ferrera I fell in love with the dress. I think this is prime example of doing animal print the right way. So I was inspired by this look and kept it simple with the accessories.  I do wish mine was a maxi like hers but I had to improvise and mine was $14 from Tar-Jay aka Target so I can't be too choosy. LOL . What celebrity's style are you loving? Do you follow them for tips for your own wardrobe?

Details
Dress - Target $14
Shoes - Franco Sarto - Macy's last year
Necklace - NY and Company  $5
Ring - NY and Company $5
Bracelet- Charming Charlies $5

Posted via Blogaway

Hump Day on a Dime

It is my 2nd day back to work after my vacation . I feel like I am finally getting back to normal. That first day back was a beast but today I feel like I am back to the reality of it.  I had such a wonderful time with family . Even though I didn't grow up in Virginia both sides of my family are from there so I feel like that is where my roots are. It's a going home type of feel and you the you can't beat the hospitality or the food honey..

My look today is one that is so reasonable and it happens to be one of favorite colors.  Just to give you a clue my car is orange.. my couch is orange... my favorite bag is orange.. So it would be safe to say this is my absolute favorite color.  The dress I scored at a Friday and Saturday doorbuster sale at Jcpenney's . The fabric is quality and I just love the fit perfect for this pear shaped body. I paired this with these fab shoes that I scored from DSW. They were like $14 but I had a gift card so I got 2 pair of shoes for $6 now you can't beat that . I topped it off with this super cute statement necklace. I love this beauty it's so glamorous makes me feel like Cleopatra.   What deals have you scored lately? What makes you feel glamorous? Please share I would love to feature it on my blog.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday Diva's

Details
Dress - Jcpenney - Nicole Miller- after coupon $20 in store
Shoes - DSW - Report Sandals - In store they were 70% off
Necklace - H&M - Necklace sim - In store I paid $3.50  
Bag- Kohl's Relic ( old)
Bracelet- Kohl's ( old)

Vacation Fun

It was an awesome 4th of July weekend. I was able to spend it my family in Virginia.  I feel so fortunate I was able to spend time with my beautiful Grandmother who is 91. She is so funny and full of life. I pray that have that spunk when I get older she is a pleasure to be around. We were able to go to an outdoor street fair and I even got my palm read for the first time. I really enjoyed my family and wish I could have stayed longer.

This is one of my vacation looks. I just love this skirt so feminine and so versatile.  I had my eye on it for awhile.  I waited and ended up getting it  more than half off. Now that is what Im talking about. I have wanted one of these lace midi skirt for sometime and this skirt is so perfect . I paired it with my $4 lace tube top and for under $20

How was your holiday ? What were you wearing?

Skirt - H&M $15 in store
Top -H & M $4
Shoes -Macy's
Jewelry -NY and Company

Just a Few Errands

You know the day before vacation consists of a little running around. I opted for this palazzo pant jumpsuit.  This piece is comfy and convenient.  I love just throwing on a jumpsit because its a complete look without a bunch of fuss. What is even better is I found this little cutey at Macy's for $11. A complete outfit for $11 where do they do that at? Lol . The funny thing is I tried this on a couple of weeks ago and it was $30 ...so like my Mama said if it's meant to be it will be there. Those Mama's always know best.

I have also started something fun on Instagram called #curlybyrdiebargains . If you happen to find an awesome deal you want to brag about tag me and use #curlybyrdiebargains for a chance to be featured on blog. I can't wait to see what awesome deals you come across.

Details
Jumpsuit -Macy's $11
Necklace -Ash and Co's Closet $6
Shoes -Franco Sarto Macy's (old)
Bracelet-NY and Company $10