Dot Dot Not A Lot

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I use this rhyme to remind students of how they should use liquid glue.  It doesn't work. There is always a student (or twelve) who uses half a bottle of glue on their product and then wonders why it is stuck to their desk.  The struggle is real.

similiar necklace  /  shirt  /  similiar skirt (on sale)  /  similiar shoes  /  bracelet

 

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day and I had to run errands, including having my photo taken for my ID Badge.  Staying true to myself, I chose to wear polka dots (this blog is called coupons and polka dots people) and my new-to-me white midi skirt.  When I saw this skirt on Poshmark I knew it was meant for me.  It is the perfect shade of off white, hits just below the knee, has an elastic waist and pockets, and has a cute ruffle like detail on the top.  In other words it is skirt perfection.  Seriously folks- get on Poshmark and see what treasures you can find!

Perforated shoes are perfect for spring and summer! I bought mine at Target last summer, but Nine West has something similiar.




Yes folks, my feet are huge.  I love the mix of brown and gold on these beauties though!




I love my funky J. Crew bangle.  It is sold out but you can find something similiar here.

Fun Fact: I have had this necklace for years and have worn it for every ID badge photo I have taken.  If I were allowed to keep those badges when I left a school I would show you the photos to prove it. 

California Love

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shirt (on sale)  /  pants (on sale)  /  sneakers

 

 I saw this California shirt in J. Crew earlier this month and just couldn't resist.  I figured I should buy it and show some state pride now that I am a resident of California.  While it is the first time that it has made it to the blog, it is not the first time that I have worn it.  Last week, I paired it with a pair of red shorts and I looked super cute.  That is right folks, I don't always wear black, gray, and white. Never mind what you may see on the blog!




Isn't this shirt the cutest?

 



I think these sneakers are my favorite purchase this month!
 

J. Crew had a sale last week and I ordered the Ruffled Short and Berry Midi Skirt to try. While I adore both pieces, I am taking them both back.  I am in between sizes at J. Crew right now. If the pant or skirt doesn't have an elastic waist, it won't work on me.  Boo!



Look for Less: Jessica Biel

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This week's style inspiration is Mrs. Timberlake- or Jessica Biel as she likes to be called.  I love how her look is timeless, but modern.  How does she do it? She wears classic pieces in modern cuts. 



Photo courtesy of CelebMafia

To get this timeless look for less, I headed to Loft where they are currently running a 40% off sale. Bring your own shopping tote and favorite Starbucks beverage!




trench one  /  trench two

white tee  /  midrise jean

perforated flat  /  perforated sneaker

Would you wear this look sporty or girly?

Horsing Around

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This is what I wore on our way out to Arizona. 

jacket  /  similar dress (I love the cut out neckline on this one!)  /  sneakers  /  similar necklace (on sale)

We spent this weekend visiting our family in Southern Arizona.  It is a 7 hour road trip and I knew that I wanted to be comfortable, but didn't want to look like a hot mess when we made stops or arrived.  I also wanted to look like I was dressed appropriately for both destinations. How does one dress when their destination is 15 degrees warmer or cooler? Enter the dress + jacket + sneakers combination.  It may not be groundbreaking, but it gets the job done.

Home again!  I wear way too much black, white and gray.....

similar jacket  /  similar dress  /  similar sneakers

It was a short, but sweet visit with our families.  There was lots of good times and good food.  My in-laws have a horse ranch and we were lucky enough to get to see their two newest additions.  The paint foal only had eyes for K, which she loved.  The little brown foal was only a few hours old when we saw her.

This cutie is named Bunny and is about 3 weeks old. 



Isn't this newborn adorable?

What exciting weekend adventures did you have?



I am linking up with Lindsay at the Pleated Poppy!

Look for Less: Reese Witherspoon

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Happy Wednesday everyone.  I have decided to start a new series: Look for Less.  Like so many other bloggers and magazines, I will be trying to emulate celebrity style on a budget. 

 

Reese Witherspoon is my muse today.  I love her style. It is very feminine without being too girly.  The outfit I have chosen today is a great example of that.  This is an outfit that I would 100% rock in my real life. 

 

Photo is from Celebmafia

 

When I recreate outfits I do not copy them verbatim.  It is important to stay true to your personal style!  For example, I chose a denim skirt with a raw hem, a t-shirt, and flat sandals instead of heels. 

skirt  /  shirt (on sale)
sandal  /  sunglasses
similar cuff  /  similar tote

 

 

What personal touches would you add to this outfit to make it yours?

Lounging Around

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similar shirt  /  similar pants  /  similar shoes  /similar bracelet

Last Wednesday morning was for running errands and the afternoon was for lounging at home.  Unlike many stay-at-home moms, I don't spend my days in yoga pants and t-shirts.  I like to look like I am dressed to be out in public, not the gym, when I am out in public.  That is why breezy off the shoulder tops and wide leg pants with elastic waistbands are made. 

This is the white off the shoulder top that was featured in my February budget.  It has a rounded hem and the top can also be worn on the shoulder.  I appreciate the versatility!  My pants are New York and Company. I found them at a local thrift store for $3.00.  I wore them with flats on Wednesday and they are a little long.  I am not a big heel wearer. I can barely walk barefoot without tripping let alone 3-4 inches off the ground.   My bracelet is a big gold knot. I wear it a lot.  K didn't have the patience to snap a pic of it today. My photo shoot interrupted her slime making.  I have had the bracelet for years. I think I bought it at H&M.  My sparky gold flats were a gift a couple of years ago and have really stood the test of time. 

This is the last week before Spring Break and the girls are very excited.  I am excited too, even though we don't have any big plans. 

Do you have any Spring Break plans?

I am linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy!

Sightseeing



K and the elusive A

My sister and her boyfriend came to visit us this weekend.  We spent our time playing tourist and taking in the sights.  Our first destination was La Jolla.  It is a beautiful area with beaches, tide pools, and lots of wildlife.  We spent the day watching sea lions and strolling along the beach and shopping area.



I love watching the sea lions, even when they are sleeping.  Isn't the pup cute!

Our second destination was Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach up in Los Angeles.  It was a cold and foggy day, but we had fun. We rode the carousel at the Pier, watched the bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, and checked out the art in Venice.  I didn't snap any pictures other than K riding a goat on the carousel because I forgot to!



K loves goats and was so excited when she saw this on the carousel!

I did wear clothes this weekend. I wore a couple of pretty cute outfits actually.  I just never got around to taking pictures of what I was wearing because I was enjoying spending time with my sister.  Oh well, I guess I will have to wear those cute outfits again.  What a shame.

What fun did you have this weekend?

Five Shirts I am Loving at J. Crew

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one  /  two
three  /  four
five

J. Crew is one of my favorite retailers. I love their quirky, preppy style.  I took a moment (or ten) to browse their new arrivals the other day, and these five tops caught my eye. 

I love mixed prints, especially when the mixing has already been done for me.  How cute is that berry sweater though!  I don't know how I feel about large ruffles on my arm, but I love the mix of stripes and gingham.

Looks like it is going to be the summer of one shoulder blouses.  Isn't number three pretty with it's ruffle and eyelet?  So feminine!

We already know that I like striped shirts- they are my "Mom" shirts.  I love that this one is linen.  The perfect breezy shirt for warm California days.

J. Crew has been killing it in the t-shirt department.  I made this one mine last week, and I think that I am going to have to make this ladybug one mine too.  I like printed t-shirts like this because you can wear them with jeans on the weekends or with a skirt or trouser for work.  The ladybug print is just too fun.  If only J. Crew would run a free shipping promo soon! Yes folks, I would much rather shop from my couch than drive the 5 miles to a J.Crew store.  City traffic is no fun!

What tops have caught your eye lately?

Of Garnets and Hens

No, that is not a spot on my chest.  That is my birthstone necklace that I got for Christmas.  This is the first time that I have worn it because I really dislike my birthstone, garnets.  It went well with this reddish/orange strappy dress though. 




Garnet Necklace

Are those polka dots on that strappy dress you ask?  Why no actually, they are hens. 

I bought this beauty on Poshmark. It is from Loft. I bought it new with tag for less than $20.00.  It is light weight and breezy and perfect for warm weather.  I have said it before and I will say it again, Poshmark is a great place to pick up pieces you loved, but missed.

Well, I am signing off for a few days.  My sister is in town and we are going to play tourist.  So much fun!  Have a safe and happy weekend everyone!

Target Haul 3/15/2017- I saved $48.28

I spent $23.29 including tax and CRV on this!

I decided to take advantage of the personal care coupon Target released this week.   You receive a $5.00 gift card when you spend $20.00 or more on personal care items.  You have to reach $20.00 before cartwheel and coupons.  I opted to pick up something I love and use everyday (Rimmel eyeliner), something I need (Nivea lotion- how did we run out of lotion?), and something I wanted to try (Revlon Insta Blush).  This is what I love about using coupons- I can try new things without breaking the bank! 

What else do I love about couponing? I can get a head start on holiday shopping.  I used a  25% off candy purchase Target coupon (text CANDY to 827-438) , Cartwheel offers, and insert coupons (T brought some home this week!) to get all of the candy you see- 3 bags of Reese's Easter candy and 2 M&M theater candy boxes for $1.70! 

I also picked up some Izze and Anytizers for the girls (wants) and some dog food (need).  We feed our dogs (Beagles named Lucy and Schroeder... we like Peanuts in this house) grain free dog food.  Boy is it expensive!  Thankfully, I still had some $4.00 off any size Purina Beyond coupons and a 20% off Cartwheel was available.  I opted to buy the smaller bags because my Target was out of the larger bags.  The smaller bags normally run $9.59 each and I only paid $3.73 after Cartwheel and coupon.  Not too bad.

The personal care deal runs through Saturday 3/18.  The 25% off candy deal is good until 4/8.  I understand that the Izze coupon is still available, as is the Revlon Insta Blush and Nivea coupon. The Reeses, M&M, Rimmel and Anytizer coupons came from the Smartsource and Redplum inserts on 3/12. 

As always, I used my Target Debit RedCard to save an extra 5%.

What are you couponing for this week?

Peppermint Patty

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similar shirt (I love the tie belt.)  /  legging /  shoes

This is my "Mom" outfit.  I wore it on Monday.  Monday's need Mom outfits- outfits that are easy and comfortable, but look kinda, sorta put together.  I love this top.  It reminds me of an old man's pajama shirt. My leggings are from Express. I got them on super sale in November.  I have worn them at least once a week since then.  I live my Converse. I won't lie- they look like it.




The lighting makes them look way less beat up than they are.

T does my photo editing.  When he opened up the pictures from this day, he told me I look like Peppermint Patty from Peanuts. Now, that is all I see when I look at the pictures. Especially this one:



Hi ya Chuck!
 

Unintentionally keeping in the Peanuts theme, my necklace that day had a dog charm on it.  It wasn't beagle, that would have been overkill.



Similar necklace

I purchased this at Forever 21 years ago, but I found a very similar Marc Jacobs one.  I might have to upgrade!

What does your "Mom" outfit consist of?

I am linking up with Doranda at Watch Out for the Woestmans!

Saturday Road Trip

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I hope everyone's Monday has been fabulous!




The items I am wearing are no longer available, but I found some similar items!
similar shirt  /  similar jeans (on sale)  /  similar bag (on sale)  /  similar shoes

I spent the weekend at the beach.  On Saturday, T and I took a mini road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway.  We stopped for lunch at the Newport Beach Brewery in Newport Beach.  My California Cobb sandwich and Strawberry Blonde ale were delicious.  We will definatly be going back- and looking for their brew at our local liquor store!


After lunch we headed up the coast to Huntington Beach.  There was a kite festival going on and we decided to stop and check it out..  Did you know that there is such a thing as synchronized kite flying? I sure didn't and I have to say that I was impressed that they didn't get tangled up with each other! 

It was getting late in the day so T and I decided to head back home.  I spent the evening catching up on This Is Us (oh the tears I shed!) and SNL. 

T needs to make use of the zoom!

Sunday was spent at the beach too.  We took the kids and the dogs to Cardiff State Beach.  It was foggy and kind of cold, but they didn't care. 

My little mermaid.  You can get her bathing suit here and it is on sale!

I am excited for the week ahead.  My sister and her boyfriend are coming to visit at the end of the week.  I am not sure what we will be doing, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we end up at the beach!

My J. Crew Factory Wish List

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Spring arrivals are here and I want all of the things! Here is what is on my J. Crew Factory wish list. Yeah, it's kind of a long list. 



one  /  two
three  /  four
five  /  six




one  /  two
three  /  four
five  /  six
 





 

one  /  two
three  /  four
five  /  six



The scalloped shorts (in black), the tee with lace sleeves, the red drapey oxford dress, and the Gigi pants are high up on my wish list.  I had to sell my Loft scalloped shorts that I bought last year because they didn't fit anymore.  I wore those shorts all of the time and really want to replace them.  I am a t-shirt kind of a girl and I think the lace sleeves are just so pretty!  I love my olive green oxford dress and red is my favorite color, so of course the red drapey oxford dress should make it's way into my closet. Like the scalloped shorts, I sold my work pants because they didn't fit anymore. I didn't worry too much about it because I knew that we were moving and I wouldn't be working right away.  Now that I will be going back to work (substituting for now) I really need to get some work pants!  I like the Gigi pant because they are comfortable like a legging, but more structured and professional.  I especially love that these have pockets.  Comfort and pockets are important when you are a teacher!

What is on your wishlist?

What I Wore

similar shirt (no stripe sleeves, but just as soft)  /  similar jeans  / slip on sneakers

 

My newest closet additions have been on heavy rotation this week.  I love my Express cropped jean.  They are straight leg and my family doesn't complain when I wear them. Ha!  I got my J Crew Tee on Poshmark.  It is so soft and I love the striped sleeves because they add interest to an otherwise boring t-shirt.  I have been living in my slip on sneakers from Target.  I have the blush color also, and might go back for the white version.  I expect these sneakers will get a lot of wear this spring and summer.  They are under $20 at Target right now! 




similar jacket (on sale)  /  jumpsuit  / similar shoes (I like these a lot!)

This black jumpsuit from Old Navy is very versatile.  Here I paired it with my favorite denim jacket and espadrille sneakers for a more casual look.  I already have a date night outfit planned for it- think statement necklace, clutch, and strappy shoes.  Next time I wear it during the day I am going to layer a t-shirt underneath.  The quality is decent, though every bit of dirt or dust that I encountered yesterday seems to have stuck to it.  I wish that the straps were adjustable because they slip off a lot.  I am smaller on top than bottom though so I have this problem.

I plan on putting more new additions to work this weekend!  The weather is supposed to be beautiful and the beaches and boardwalks of Southern California are calling my name!

What are you excited to do this weekend?

I am linking up with Doranda at Watch Out for the Woestmans.

Target Haul 3/10/17 - I saved $45!




Forgive the kitchen shot. 

This blog is called Coupons and Polka Dots so I thought it was time that I did a post about the coupons part.  I started couponing when I was a teenager.  Back then I used coupons to buy my beauty products.  I had no clue how powerful a coupon could be.  Fast forward a few years and T and I were (very) young parents, working menial jobs, and going to school.  We were broke and I knew there had to be a way to make our dollar go further.  I turned to Google (who doesn't turn to Google in a time of crisis?) and discovered The Krazy Coupon Lady.  I learned how to coupon strategically and all of the best places to find coupons.  I checked their site daily and found the best deals out there.  I also found Hip2Save.  Colin and her team taught me how to coupon outside of the grocery and drug store.  If you want to stop paying full price for the items you use everyday you should check their sites out. 

Couponing in Cali is not as good as couponing in the ATL.  There is no Publix with BOGO's and double coupons here- oh how I miss couponing at Publix.  On the bright side there is Target and Target is a great place to go couponing.  I was surprised to find the shelves so well stocked!  I figured there would be no Izze or Scrubbing Bubbles for me.  I did mess up the Advil deal.  I meant to grab two 40 ct. bottles so I could earn a $5.00 gift card, but I grabbed a 40ct. and a 20ct.  Oh well, these things happen. 

This week I combined printable coupons, cartwheel, and the Red Card discount to get items that my family uses regularly.  I did two transactions so I could use the gift cards I earned to pay for the beer.  I spent $33.88 before tax and saved $45.91!  These deals run through Saturday 3/11/16 and I only used printable coupons and Cartwheel.  You can get these savings too!

Break down:

4 Izze @ $3.14 ( used 30% cartwheel and 2 $2.50/2 coupon)= $3.76 and $.80 deposit

4 Scrubbing Bubbles cleaners @ $2.97 (used 5% cartwheel and 4 $1.00/1 coupons)= $7.28 and I earned a  $5.00 gift card

4 Mabyelline mascara @ $4.49= $17.96 (used 4 $3.00/1 coupons)= $5.96 and I earned a $5.00 giftcard

2 Beneful dog treats @ $3.14= $6.18 (used 1 $3.00/2 coupons)= $3.18

1 Advil 40 ct @ $6.99 (used 20% cartwheel and $2.00/1 q)= $3.59

1 Advil 20ct @ $4.19 (used $2.00/1 coupon) = $2.19 (oops!)

1 Slime for K @ $1.00 = $1.00

1 Blue Moon 6pk @ $8.99 (used $5.00 gift card) = $3.99 and $.30 deposit

1 Pyramid Ale 6pk @  $7.64 (used $5.00 gift card) = $2.74 and $.30 deposit

I saved an additional $1.21 for using my Target Red Debit Card!

Do you use coupons?  What is your favorite item to coupon for?

Laugh Out Loud

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My Loft order finally arrived and I eagerly tried it all on.  Once again, I forgot to snap pictures of myself wearing the items.  Sorry folks... someday I will remember.  Most of the order is being returned.  What I lost in closet additions I made up for in valuable lessons. 

Lesson One: Voluminous sleeves aren't my thing.  They make me look like I am wearing a shirt that is many sizes too big.





This blouse is gorgeous... just not on me :) It must be gorgeous on a ton of other women though because it is sold out!

 Lesson Two:  Ruffles work best away from the face.  Especially if the ruffle is as big as your head. K couldn't stop laughing at me when I tried this on.



I could not get these sleeves to lay down!

I had high hopes for the cardigans that I ordered.  They look so comfy and cozy and I am in desperate need of cardigans.  I tossed most of mine when we moved because they were so worn out.  What can I say- I am a teacher, we wear cardigans.  While these cardigans were comfy and cozy and were the perfect shades of gray and ivory, I just couldn't with the side slits.  I knew when I ordered the cardigans that the side slits were there, I just didn't realize the slits would be so high!  Oh well.






So comfy, but cut so high!

 

What have you tried on lately that made you laugh?

I Got Dressed!

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I have not been super motivated to get dressed and go out lately.  Yesterday I had to go down to the County Office of Education to finish applying for my California Teaching Credential.  Then, I headed to the outlets to make a return at J. Crew Factory and browse around.  Afterward, I met up with T to have delicious fish tacos for lunch.  I decided real clothes would be best to do these things in.

I had K snap a quick picture of me before I changed into yoga pants and a tank top.  Wearing a cotton maxi dress is as comfy as wearing yoga pants. However, it is socially acceptable to wear a cotton maxi dress outside of the gym.  Yes, I subscribe to "Yoga pants are for lounging and the gym. They are not for everyday wear." Ahem... every mother at after school pickup ;).





My jean jacket and dress are thrifted. My slip on sneakers are comfy and from Target. Necklace is old from Loft.

I miss not having a reason (like a job) to get dressed for everyday.  I loved dressing up for my students!  I am excited that I will be able to start substituting soon and will have a reason to get dressed up again.

Confession: Ten year old K takes all of the pictures for this blog.  How is she doing?

So it goes....

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The last Sunday in February was cold and rainy, so I spent the day shopping online.  Doesn't everyone do that on cold, rainy days?  There were so many cute new arrivals, and I couldn't fight the temptation to hit submit order.  We've all been there right?

My purchases started arriving last Friday. I love getting packages in the mail, don't you? Sadly, some items didn't work out.  Ah, so it goes.





Express Raw Hem Girlfriend Jean

The first item that didn't work out was the Raw Hem Girlfriend Jean from Express.  I have been looking for a pair of relaxed style jeans.  I ordered them because I loved the raw hem, the cropped length, and how they fit on the model. 

I should know better than to trust how an item fits on the model.  The fit of these jeans was all wrong for me.  The waist was huge.  I think two of me could have fit around the waist.  However, the legs-thigh through calf- were super tight.  I also found that the length was too cropped for my taste. 




Distressed Cropped Flares





Old Navy Fit and Flare Cami Dress

The next two items that were returned were from Old Navy. In all honesty, I was iffy about the distressed crop flare when I ordered them.  I liked that they were a lighter wash than my other jeans.  I also liked that they were a flare crop- a different cut from my other jeans. I wasn't sure how often I would really wear them though. I tried these on after I tried on the girlfriend jean. I have decided I just have fat calves because these fit super tight around my calves too!  They did not look like flare crops at all. 

The dress is beautiful. I almost kept it. Ultimately, I decided to return it because I felt childish in it. I wish that the bodice on this dress was a bit longer. 




J. Crew Factory Gallery Dress

The last item that I returned was from J. Crew Factory.  When I ordered it I was concerned about the length.  In the past, I have found that J. Crew Factory dresses can be on the short side.  I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on and found that the length was mom appropriate!  I also loved the pattern and colors of this dress.  However, it fit like a tent.  I tried it with a belt and ended up with weird fabric bunching.  I decided that while the dress was beautiful, it wasn't worth the effort. 

I am still waiting for a package from Loft and J. Crew.  I told you I had no self control.

Do you love these items and don't have fat calves like me ;).  Express is offering 40% off of clearance, Old Navy is offering 35% off, and J. Crew Factory is offering 40% off and free shipping.

I hope you have better self control than I did.  Happy shopping.

Old with the New

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Loft Romper

I purchased this amazing romper in January on clearance at my local Loft.  It is made of a gauzy lightweight material that was perfect for Thursday's spring like weather.  I also love the embroidered trim. It is so pretty!  This is a piece that is going to get a lot of wear this year.  Hopefully, next time I wear it I will have somewhere more exciting than the mailbox to go to.  I paired this beauty with my old lace up flats from Old Navy.  Love my romper too?  It is still available at Loft, though it isn't on clearance online.... which is weird.  On the bright side, it is currently 40% off!

 

This is what I wore on Friday to go do Mommy things like volunteer in classrooms and drive children around after school.  The shirt and jeans are thrifted.  My jeans are J Brand and I found them at Goodwill in Georgia for $8.00!  My sneakers are old and from Old Navy. 

 

I am excited for the weekend.  It is T's birthday weekend and we are headed to the Busker Festival in Seaport Village.  We have never been before and I am super excited to go check it out.  I think street performers are awesome.  What exciting plans do you have for the weekend?