Goings on + recent buys!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you had an amazing holiday!

I know it's been a long time between blog posts and I promise to do better in 2013.  My life has been a bit crazy with my new job, family obligations and just plain life!  I thank you for the numerous "check-in" emails I've received and appreciate you for sticking with me for this long! Just to prove to you that I'm only a slacker when blogging is concerned, here are some of the notable things I've done since November:

Yanked a tooth

Got freaked out by a rat...lolz @James' face!

Brined a turkey...it's buttermilk in case you're wondering!

Painted my nails (well, one hand...I always get too lazy to do the other hand...)

Went to  "Medieval Manor" for Rosa's bday

Tried sun-dried basil chicken sausage...tasted worse than it looked

Spent time with my "little sister" (by the way, if you have the time, please consider being a Big Sister/Brother!)

Dropped toys off at a shelter

Built a dollhouse...took me 5 hours but luckily I had this!

Bought stuff

Baked cookies

Watched "Sabrina"

Painted my nails

Bought stuff

Makes me look extra busy right? He he he.....

So several posts ago I shared with you my plan to open my own online clothing shop. I have put this plan on hold for now and have been focused on designing and crafting my own line of skirts!  I don't want to share too much right now because everything is still in the conceptualization phase but I encourage you to stay with me to see what awesomeness I have planned for 2013! Here is a sneak peak of a smocked skirt/dress I made for my daughter Ava.  I am working on mine as we speak and will be sure to model it when it's done!

Isn't the pattern and color fierce??? For those that can't tell, the pattern is a series of Africa continents that have this cool gilded effect....all on a fuchsia background! :swoons:

So I want to talk a bit about recent purchases. I know I'm not the only one who took advantage of all the sales this month and in November.  I'm not gonna even lie, I was pressing the "submit order" button so much that I formed a callous on my index finder! Here are some of the things I've purchased recently:

Bought the entire outfit

I've been eyeing this Zara bag forever and finally got it! I'm still waiting for it to arrive...

My first pair of Frye boots!

Peplum pants! I've been sweating peplum pants ever since I spied Nastygal's version.  These aren't the exact same but they're close.  I got them here in a size L and they fit great with room to spare!

Bought a Furby...ok, so I bought it for my son but still.  Have you seen these things??? How you treat them affects their personality! I'm scared  to go home now because the Furby we have has turned evil from the kids mistreating it!  It talks in a gravelly voice, burps, and laughs maniacally for no reason...there is no OFF button people!! It's like I always say, it's all fun and games until your Furby turns evil and wants to murk you in your sleep.

Now it's time for you to fess up! What big/small purchases have you made recently?  Is there anything you've been eyeing but haven't yet bought? Please share!

Seeing red

Hi All!

I've been heavily perusing the webs lately for perfect fall/winter pieces in rich red hues.  Whatever shade of red you are into, oxblood, claret, wine, or burgundy there is no denying that this color is perfect for many of  the current fall/winter fashion trends.  I've recently pinned many items to my Pinterest board in the hopes of amassing a virtual clothing collection as rich and variegated as the color itself. I am currently on the hunt for the perfect velvet legging in a burgundy color and saw these leggings that literally made me gasp.

 

Isn't the color perfection?  Of course the challenge in finding the perfect velvet legging is making sure that said legging comes in your size (lamentably this one does not).

///

I've was also able to snag the ultimate holiday dress by way of Monif C.  The vibrant color of this dress literally made my heart flutter and I had to snag it when I learned of their $50 off Friends and Family promotion! It is called the "Alexandra" and it is a body hugging, head turning, gasp-inducing creation of utter proportions. See for yourself:

 

 

Now, I already own this dress in a gold sparkly color and wore it for New Years 2 years ago.  I wore patent red Corso Comos and felt like a goddess.  Seriously, no one could tell me nothing! Here is a pic of me trying on the dress for the first time:

 

 

I also recently spied this little number from River Island and I'm absolutely feeling the lace/peplum combo:

 

 

Unfortunately, RI sizes only go up to a US14 so this was purely a "wish I could buy this dress" moment.

 

If you ever have the patience and the time, eBay and Etsy are also great places to find unique pieces in various shades of red.  Look at this dress I recently came across on eBay:

 

(ugh, I strongly dislike watermarks)

This dress comes in a plus sizes but the sizing seems to be more Junior's sizing.  It is jersey material which is naturally very stretchy so take that into consideration if you plan on buying!

///

With regards to baubles and bling, the color red makes me think vintage and old world charm.  I fell in love with these earrings from ASOS because they had such a great vintage feel without looking overly gaudy:

 

What colors have you been drawn to recently? Have  you been successful in finding pieces that adequately capture the colors you like? Share your finds with me below!

<3

 

Hello there.

Hi!

Thanks so much for hanging with me during my Mariah Carey breakdown.  I'm getting pretty good at this "perspective" thing and now know that everything will be okay when all is said and done.  I'm a big believer in taking baby steps towards your goals and with life in general and so that has been my mantra in recent weeks. In any case, thanks for your support and thanks for showing me continued love. 

So let me tell you a story about my pants.  When I first saw them at Tarjay I was totally like "Ewwww".  But anyone who knows me well knows me that I have a love affair with things that are ugly.  So even though I was like "Ewwww" I found myself passing them like ten times.  But I didn't buy them.  Sometimes Izzy needs to sleep on decisions as major as whether to buy an ugly pair of pants.  And so the next day I went on the Tarjay site to see if I could see a picture of them on a model.  No dice.  Ultimately, I just bought them because the Tarjay site told me to.  Well, not really but with all those glossy headers and colors saying how you can save 20% if you by 3 or more clothing items AND you can get free shipping if you spend over $50....I mean you'd be a dummy not to take advantage right? Right?? *looks around for affirmation*

 

Funny story for you.  Today I was shadowing a patient at my job and she looks at me and says (very sincerely) "you have such a beautiful face". Now, I'm accustomed to hearing the "you have a pretty face" comment (or some version thereof) and sometimes I accept it and sometimes I feel like messing with the person who issued the compliment.  Today, I felt like the latter.  "Oh?" I replied, "what about the rest of me?" She literally looked me up and down a couple of times then said, "You have nice eyebrows too". womp womp.

  

Top: F21 (main range)

Pants: Tarjay

Belt: H&M

Shoes: H&M

Brown coinlet: H&M

Teal clutch: F21

Necklace: Anthro

Bangles: F21

Earrings: F21

In closing, I want to say that I'm very sad that the warm weather has gone. I'm definitely a spring/summer gal and tend to get a bit ornery during colder months. I know warm mugs of cocoa sprinkled with nutmeg and footie pajamas should make me happy but they just don't.  You wanna know who is excited by these things? Take one guess.....

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to get up to speed on all of my shenanigans then follow me on Instagram: Izzygetsbizzy1 or Twitter @Izzygetsbizzy! 

<3

"Work Flow" by Guest Blogger Rosa

Hi Izzygetsbizzy Family!

I’m Rosa and Izzy has graciously agreed to let me be a guest blogger! So please comment below and let me know what you like and what you don’t like! Now, on to fashion!

 

My fashion inspiration comes from anything interesting, like going overseas and seeing different styles. Every time I go home to Greece, I am always inspired by their fashion as Europe is usually way ahead of the fashion curve. Sometimes a mannequin might grab my attention while other times my fashion choices are motivated by what is on sale. There are many faces to my fashion style and I hope to showcase that to you in time. My style can range from daring to dismal on any given day. I can be a colorful goddess or I can be a dreary gothic chick. The weather, my mood, and available clean laundry are all factors in deciding what I wear each day.

 

I know I have a punk rocker side because I always gravitate towards purple hair pieces, biker gloves, and fishnets. Crazy thing is I never actually where that stuff but you cant tell me nothin' 'cuz I keep buying it!
 

For the most part, I'm very comfy casual at work. Some may say classic but I really hate the idea of being boxed into a category. I stick to basics with a splash of bold colors and textures which are usually displayed through my accessories. I am somewhat of a shopaholic and my guilty pleasure is jewelry. I love earrings, chains, bracelets, and funky rings.

 

Today I want to a showcase a simple yet cute outfit I put together this morning for work:
 

  Top: Torrid (sold out), Pants: Dots
 

The top is a black Belted Peplum Ponte Top from Torrid which came with a very pretty pink patent leather belt. I paired it with some basic black trousers from Dots (Yes, they have plus sizes). I liked the pop of the pink but I didn’t want to go overboard with jewelry so instead I kept my jewelry gold and broke out my brand new spanking pair of Oxfords from Forever 21. Here is a close-up:

 

 Shoes: Forever 21 (sold out)
 

As you can see, the sole is pink which adds a cute feminine touch to a simple black work outfit. It’s really easy for me to go over the top with color and/or accessories so I did my best to keep it simple.

 

What do you think of the outfit? How would YOU rock it?

Girl, where have you been???

Hi Everyone!

Over a month (wow!) has elapsed since my last post and I want to apologize for being an absentee blogger. I've been experienceing a lot of flux in my life as of late and wanted to fill you in on what's been going on with me. As I mentioned in a previous post, I now have a new job which I am super excited about! I am a project manager for a hospital system outside of Boston and am working on things that I am really passionate about. Namely, patient-centered medical home development which is essentially coordinating care in a way that improves quality of care, improves health outcomes, and reduces cost. I'm working with some serious visionaries who all want to turn the current healthcare system upside down (hooray for troublemakers!). I've also been helping my son adjust to kindergarten which has been a bit of a challenge. He is in his 3rd week of school and is doing great for the most part. Despite the strides that he has made, I've had to contend with the negative treatment he has received from his peers and the consequences that this has had on his psyche. It's not easy to hear your six-year old say "I don't have friends" or "No one likes me at school" day in and day out. It's difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that this is about the age where social boundaries are established and "different-ness" is mostly received with a wary and fearful eye. Needless to say, I've been doing a lot of hugging and pep-talking.

My perception of my self has also shifted in the past several weeks. The stress from the transition between jobs and worrying about my son caused me to gain several pounds. I was also faced with the anxiety-inducing fact that my tenants were moving out and that soon I would have to pony up 100% of my mortgage. I couldn't stop eating. I still can't. My weight gain has resulted in feelings of inadequacy and failure and just general ugliness (inside and out). So what am I doing about my stankitude (stank+attitude)? I'm trying to put everything in perspective. Achieving perspective has been a journey in and of itself. It's hard for me to celebrate my wins when in my mind, my losses/faults/flaws are so glaring to the point of being palpable. I guess talking about my feelings is the first step though right?

Since I'm not wanting this post to be so depressing, I wanted to give you the heads up of a guest post coming your way soon by my bestie from another teste--Rosa. You have Rosa to thank for my post today because she's been in my ear like: "Damn son, what's up with your blog?". I've been so caught up with things goiug on in my life that I have completely ignored one of my biggest support systems--you all! But seriously, I thank all of you for sticking with me this whole time and showing me love--it's appreciated and means more to me than you will ever know...<3

On another note, have you seen the pro-Bama video from Samuel L. Jackson? Whatever your political leanings there is no denying how funny this is.  What makes me chuckle is how almost every movie he's been in contains the phrase "and I hope you burn in hell!" or some iteration there of. The vid is below if you want a good laugh (or at the very least, a  pronounced smirk). Please note that there is cursing and one sexually suggestive scene so view with caution. Shout out to my girl Ruthie for sending this my way!

Colorblock...

Hi!

I'm sorry about the inconsistent blogging but my life has been super crazy as of late! I recently got a new job! I'm super excited and start in early September. I will be working on some Affordable Care Act stuff with a major hospital system in the Greater Boston area.  It's a welcomed change from what I'm doing now which is more policy-based.  Also, my son is starting Kindergarten in the Fall and I am freaking out! He doesn't do well in large group settings and he has been placed in a classroom with about 23+ kids.  I've already had several meetings to devise his Individual Educational Plan and am not really pleased with the recommendations the school system has made with regards to his plan.  I can't help but think about the parents who do not know how to navigate the system and are essentially forced to go along with a plan that may not be right for their child.  That won't be me though.  The entire school system will know who I am when all is said and done!

So what inspired this outfit was the lack of clothing options.  Our washing machine is broken and I've been forced to seriously dig through my closet for practical pieces.  We are getting a new washing machine in a couple days but it's Lord-of-the-Flies-type chaos in my house right now!  I purchased this jumpsuit from Macy's over a year ago and could never figure out how to wear it since to me, it looked plain.  After much rifling through my stuff, I decided to throw on a bright pink sash I got from Marshall's.  The material of the jumpsuit is very clingy and has a slight sheen to it.  Shiny fabrics seem to accentuate everything so admittedly, I was a bit wary to put it on. 

Here is the jumpsuit on a model:

 Here it is on me:

Jumpsuit: Macy's (sold out)

Sash (originally a scarf): Marshall's

Shoes: Old Navy

Bug necklace: ASOS

Turqoise necklace: Urban Outfitters

Earrings: F21

Zig Zag Cuff: ASOS

Bangles: F21

Lippy: Dear Diary by MAC

If I had a do-over, I'd probably wear heels instead of flats (my flats are looking a bit worn...womp, womp)  and would have added a clutch. I love the fact this jumpsuit has pockets! I also appreciate the tapered leg because in my opinion, wide leg jumpsuits do not look as sleek and sexy.

And to close, I'm including a pic of Jessie from Toy Story because my daughter Ava sked me to! ;-)

(Seriously bootleg) Video Review: Torrid Stiletto Jean + some serious spookiness!

Hi!

As I'm writing this, I'm extremely frazzled.  I will tell you the reason why momentarily but I just need to gripe one second about my personal life.  Last year, the hubs applied for a position with the Boston Police Department. We were both elated when he got a call back several months ago to tell him that he was going to be considered among the pool of prospective recruits.  The process of being a prospective recruit entails a lot of document gathering, background checks, neighbor references, etc. Well, after working for the past TWO months to gather all the necessary paperwork for him (seriously, it was a mind-wracking process), he goes to his interview and is told that he has to be "bypassed" because of his driving record.  All that work I did!!!! For them to tell him that he would no longer be considered.  When he told me, I was deflated.  Seriously, you would've thought that I was the one who got shut down. Bright side (typed sarcastically)? He can reapply in 2015 because by then, the offenses on his driving record will have disappeared. *facepalm*

Moving on...I wanted to do a video review for Torrid's new Stiletto Jean because I didn't think that pictures would suffice.  There's been a lot of buzz about the jean and a host of blogger reviews about them.  You'll have to watch my video to determine if all this buzz is justified. It's also worth mentioning that I did not wash the jeans after wearing them the first time so they do not have that super fitted look of the first wear. Also, before you watch the video please keep in mind that the audio may not be so great (you might need to put it all the way  up) and that I did a really craptastic editing job.    If you can live with these two things (as well as my infernal "um's" throughout) then click away! Ready? Go!



Ok, so are you ready for me to tell you why I'm frazzled? Ok, so the video above is actually my second attempt at the review.  The first review was interrupted by some serious paranormal activity in my house.  It was one of those rare times when I was all alone (hubs took the kids out) so I decided to take advantage of the solitude and do a review of the jean.  Well, watch the video below and pay particular attention to the right of my face and the hallway behind me at about:35-:37. It appears that a ball is thrown and it makes a noise as it hits my floor.  If you reeeeeeally look closely (like near my right cheek, you can see an arm being raised as if someone is throwing said ball. Please note that this video has not been altered in anyway with the exception of shortening the footage so that you could view what I am referring to.  Also, I think it is worth stating that I was absolutely ALONE and that I don't keep any balls in the house.



WTH??? You saw it right??? What's even creepier is that you can hear the sound the object makes as it "makes contact" with my floor! I literally had to call my sister, dad, and mom over to my house so they could bear witness to what I was seeing.  NO ONE could explain it! If you care to hit me up with some possible explanations I'd LOVE to hear them because three days later, I'm STILL freaking out! Seriously, I've been sleeping with all the lights on in my house since this incident (don't laugh at me!)! I hope that my nerves calm down eventually but right now I'm a mess!

I've got my eye on you...

Hi!

It's been awhile since I've done a Polyvore set so I wanted to share with you some of the items I've been coveting as of late.  A lot of retailers have been releasing their "Fall previews" recently which has irked me to no end (I want to hold onto summer as long as I can)! The plus side has been that I get to see what is in store for next season.  If you know me then you know that I typically wear what the heck I want to wear when I want to wear it.  I don't venture as far to wear shorts in the winter time but I have been known to rock florals and bright colors in the fall and winter months. Fashion "rules" are meant to be broken (someplace, somewhere, Karl Lagerfeld just cringed)!

JACKETS
I've had my eye on leather/leatherette jackets for some time because...well just because.  I think a broken-in (preferably cropped) leather jacket is a must for any wardrobe. I'm especially feeling the one by Forever 21 that has yet-to-be released.  It has spikes on the shoulders! When I first saw it, I did this little shriek and, after I told him why, my hubby was like: "Is it that serious???". Clearly, he doesn't get me....
Here's a cool hint if you are ever perusing the Forever 21+ site: Go to the "Shop by outfit" section of the site to see a preview of the items that aren't for sale yet. I also like visiting the UK site for the same reason.  Am I obsessed? Why yes, yes I am.

TOPS
With regards to tops, I've been into crazy patterns, florals and peplum anything. I can envision myself wearing the Staring at Stars cardi with some black leggings, mesh/sheer black top, a fierce boot, and a bright red lip. I've also been pleasantly surprised by some of eloquii's pieces as of recent.  The muted vibe of their previous lines have given way to a robust/vivid color palette with very fashion-forward silhouettes.  I love the color-blocked peplum top below--it's a great wear-to-work and after work piece. Rounding out my other selections for the "Tops" category is a denim shirt from Talbots and an open-backed floral blouse from Lucca Couture (via Urban Outfitters).  I chose the top from Talbot's because I am loving the rich denim color.  Denim shirts are very versatile and are fast becoming a staple in my wardrobe. The floral shirt is a great layering piece (I can see it being worn under a solid-colored blazer) and will add some serious flair to an outfit.  I actually tried this on in the UO store and it is cut very large.  I was able to close the buttons without any gaping....win! Hint: Don't feel like trying a shirt on  but are doubtful about the fit?  hold a shirt by it's armpits and match it to your armpits to determine how it will fit across the bust.  If it takes effort to match up with you armpits then most likely the shirt will not fit.

ACCESSORIES
The accessories I've been eyeing recently have been very bold and loud and the ones I have selected below are no exception.  I have a million obi belts (okay, I have 3) but I must have this one from the ASOS Curve line.  It is 100% leather and reasonably priced at $33.  There is also a beige-colored one on the site for $23! The leopard oxford with the neon sole is from Target.  You've probably spotted a similar one on the Forever 21 site.  The Target version is a steal for $20 versus $26 for the Forever 21 version. Oh, and the linked finger tip ring from ASOS? Well, does that even need justification???

What do you think of my picks? What do you think of the fall previews so far? 

As always, thanks for reading my blog! I love hearing from you all so please comment below!

I've got my eye on you... by izzygetsbizzy featuring long tops

Lucca Couture button down blouse
urbanoutfitters.com

Talbots long top
talbots.com

Staring At Stars long top
urbanoutfitters.com

Double breasted jacket
asos.com

Flat shoes
target.com

ASOS leather waist belt
asos.com

Peplum Shell
eloquii.com

ASOS | ASOS Finger Tip Linked Ring at ASOS
asos.com

Eff it!

Hi!

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! My weekend was...well, "eh".  My daughter's friend came over for a sleepover which was....interesting. They have this thing where they love each other one second and hate each other the next. I know that may be typical for four-year olds but I almost pulled out my hair after hearing "I'm not your friend!" over a million times.  Also, the hubby was was celebrating his 30th birthday at a casino so I was feeling a bit like a hater resentful.  Imagine me cleaning butts and wiping up stickiness all while envisioning my husband in a club swinging his shirt over his head while gyrating on some female.  Yeah, I have a vivid imagination. Well, it turns out he did none of the things I was imagining although I was giving him my "yeah, mmm-hmm" face as he described his angelic behavior.  

So...my clothing purchases have recently started reflecting my "eff it" attitude.  What do I mean? I mean that I've been opting for styles that I wouldn't normally wear.  I don't really know what spurred the attitude but I like it! Case in point: I recently spotted this dress from the ASOS website.

Cute right? Well, after clicking the link I tried convincing myself why the dress wouldn't work for me. It was strapless! It was fitted! It was too stripey! It was strapless! For those of you that are new readers know this, Izzy no likey her arms. I embrace all my other lumps and bumps but for some reason my arms upset me. With the dress languishing in my shopping cart, here is a sampling of the argument I had with myself:

"So what if it's strapless? I can just throw a shrug over it"

"Kinda defeats the purpose of it being strapless though"

"The peplum is nice and flattering"

"You have 400 things that are peplum, underwear included"

"But my arms!" (said in a really whiny voice)

"Woman up"

"But my arms!"

"Yeah? so what about your arms? You use them to hold and comfort your children, to console others, to cook, to clean, to carry burdens and joys...basically, to hold it down!"

...

"yeah, eff it!"

So after the "place order" button was pressed, I felt great! I waited a week for my package to arrive and began to assemble the outfit in my mind...

So what do you think? I'm not totally crazy about the dress on me but I feel triumphant nonetheless.  I still don't love my arms but challenging myself in this way brings me one step closer to accepting and loving all of me...without conditions.  I didn't intend to be so matchy-matchy but that's how things kinda worked out. Also, I was not trying to style my hair so I decided to throw on another banged wig.  This one is "Lala" and it's by FreeTress.  I think it's safe to say that my fascination with bangs has come to an end...for now...

Dress: ASOS (main range but the dress is super stretchy)

Clutch: Aldos

Necklace: Free People

Earrings: F21

Shoes: Corso Como "Del" pump

Bangles: Oasis via ASOS

So what about you? What part of your body are you the least comfortable with? What steps are you taking to be more accepting of your body?

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! I love hearing from you so please comment below!