Online Shopping Woes

Here is my rant of the day (and yes judge me if you want, because it is a totally superficial rant)...

Who makes a shoe that runs so large it should be ordered 1 size smaller than what you normally wear!? Not just a half size, but an ENTIRE size smaller. So.Stupid...And I know what you're thinking, Brooke why didn't you read the reviews or the sizing chart before you bought them online? Do you know what I have to say in response to that:  I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO!

If I know my bigass foot is a size 9.5, I should be able to order every pair of shoes I ever buy in a size 9.5 and they should fit, period. Sizing should be universal. Why don't shoe makers (and clothing makers for that matter) understand this idea?! It's not rocket science, really. I mean, if I can come up with the concept, anyone can!

It doesn't hurt my ego to order the 9.5 as opposed to a 9 or 8.5 or buy the Large instead of the Medium or Small, just to make me feel tiny.  What I want is to be able to know that I am a one size and be done with it.  This is why I have a love/hate relationship with online shopping, unless it's a brand I know well and can trust their sizing to stay consistent, thanks J. Crew, I have a hard time pulling the metaphorical, online trigger. I thought I was in the clear when it came to shoes and so I ordered these shoes a few weeks ago, but noooooo.  They had to go and ruin my trust when it comes to buying shoes online now, too.

Such a hassle to order the smaller size, have them bill me again, return the other pair, pay for my own return shipping, and wait for a refund on the first pair. #firstworldproblems my life is so hard, pray for me.

My on sale for $29.99 + free shipping booties just became $41.33. Thanks a lot additional return shipping costs. We have already discussed this, I am trying to ball on a budget here. suck it.

Shame on me for not using Zappos and their free shipping both ways.

I was super tempted to just return them and not order a new pair, but who was I kidding!? At this point I was invested, annoyed, but still invested and really just liked the booties too much to not try the smaller size. 

The silver lining in all of this (side note: do yourself a favor and go see Silver Linings Playbook) is even with the shipping charges my booties are still half as much as similar ones I like such as these.

And the best part! They came yesterday and I love them :)

omg shoes

It was worth the wait and the extra shipping.

ps, say hi to my work desk. 

Cheers to miss new booties!

<3 BB 

Fashion Blog Rant of the Week

In today's Fashion Blog Rant of the Week we will be discussing the half smile.  You know the one I am talking about - teeth awkwardly not showing - you often ask yourself the following questions when looking at the picture:

-is she doing duck face?
-do you need to use the restroom?
-are you confused?
-are you missing teeth?
-did you just smell something horrible?

And before you call me out and stop following my blog because I am a hypocrite, due to the fact that I have posted pictures of me making that same face:

Totally smizing, so it makes it ok.  ANTM, anyone? 

 hear me out....

Sometimes I think it works.  I think a person can pull it off if they are still smiling with the rest of their face - if that makes sense.  And by that I mean, if there is still some happiness in their eyes, the smile is a genuine, caught in the moment smirk that matches the rest of their mood then I support it.  Like the below photo:

Also, you should know I like to put myself in the same category as an Olsen twin any chance I get. 

Or like this, when he smirks straight into my soul. 

See, Sydney looks adorable even with the bright lips and a no teeth smile. 

However, with that being said, I think a lot of fashion bloggers often times get carried away.  It becomes super forced looking and uncomfortable for all those involved.

I will be the first to admit I have a huge style crush on Sydney from The Daybook, but even she can go a little overboard with the no teeth smile. 

Watch out, it can give you the crazy eyes. 

Then there is my girl Kendi.  Super cute everyday type style, but honey let's be honest, this no teeth smile is not a good look for you.

Are you lost in a back alley? Do you need me to send you directions?  

I know the new iPhone maps are still a little bit of a struggle, so I don't blame you for the confused look.

Natalie from Nat the Fat Rat gets caught using the halfsies smile when a real smile might have been the more obvious choice:

Are you angry that someone is forcing the cupcake on you?  Because honey, you do not look amused. 

Down to earth Oregon native Molly from the Urban Nester is obviously unhappy with her coffee:

Did it burn your lips?

Next we have Rachel from Pink Peonies: 

Then again, I think I might have been a little uncomfortable wearing that outfit too.  

Essentially, what I am trying to say is: try not to get caught in the land of in-between if you can help it. SHOW OFF THOSE PEARLY WHITES!

 Let me see your grill!

Andddd if you must pull a halfsies, make sure it's genuine and it doesn't looks like you are about to pee your pants. it's a very fine line, people....

hold it for just a tad longer, hun. 

Cheers to Smizing!

<3 BB

Fashion Blog Rant of the Week :: Forever 21

.... On Forever 21.

So yesterday I took a trip to Forever 21 in hopes of finding one of these:

 

J. Crew Panama Hat

but in the price range of a girl with plenty of student loans, bills, bills and more bills.  As much as I love my J. Crew, I was trying to be practical for a change.  Look mom, this is me attempting to be responsible! ;) (I can say that because I know she reads this)


Seriously, though, Sydney - from The Daybook - rocks this hat on the regs and looks so adorable and I want to look just like her not creepy at all.  Can I be you Syd?  (I call her that, because in my mind we're besties)

Picture stolen from The Daybook.  Thinking about stealing Syd's kid too, how cute are their matching low tops?!

I will save my love for Sydney and her blog for another day.  I could spend an entire post (if not multiple) on her.  She was the first blog I came across and I just love everything about her.....

Sorry off topic, back to the rant at hand - as soon as I walked into Forever 21 I became super overwhelmed.  Am I the only one that has this problem, because I swear everyone I know (and even those people I pretend to know -  I'm talking about all the blogs I stalk) seem to find adorable clothes there and for cheap....Now I am not sure which of the following triggered it, but all I walked out with was a headache and self esteem issues.  Below is a list of things that I think might have triggered my struggles:

::It could have been from the music that was blaring out of the speakers. Good thing I was alone and didn't want to talk to anyone.  What was that?! I can't hear you over this rap-crap coming from the speakers!!!!!  - said in my best Grandma tone.
::All the shades of neon thrown about the store. But no really, it looked like Katy Perry's hair threw up in there.
::The clutter:  My OCD habits kicked in a little.  They have got to find better organization techniques. 
::The amount of short skirts and short shorts.  Seriously though - how do tweens wear those things and sit down?!  I don't think I could get my arm in one, let alone my entire lower half... And then to be able to sit down and not flash an entire room, yeah. ok....
::Not to mention their annoying return policy. No, I don't want store credit.  -Give me my money!
::The number of teenage girls attempting to be hipster or whatever you want to call the horrible look below (I know they were judging me and my J. Crew skirt the moment I walked in.  I have a sixth sense about these things.):

Pic borrowed from  WTForever21 - which by the way is literally one of the funniest blogs.  Do yourself a favor and check it out.

---- also super off topic again, but does anyone else laugh to themselves when they use the word literally in a sentence because they have seen Season 3 - Episode 8 of How I Met Your Mother?!   You know the one where everyone gets mind blown by all of their annoy habits and Robin's annoying habit is using the word 'literally' incorrectly and then Ted has to correct her, because his annoying trait is being Mr. Corrector and says, 'You mean, figuratively' .... makes me laugh just thinking about it. ----

Annnnnyway, maybe it's just me or maybe I am getting old, but I am always overwhelmed underwhelmed with Forever 21. After more attempts than Sam and Ron trying to make it work, I think it is officially time for me to give up on the store.  As much as I love a good deal, there comes a point where quality trumps quantity. So I am going to try and start saving my pennies for the cute J. Crew Panama hat, even if it is out of style by the time I can afford it. OR if people want to send me free things to wear, I suppose I could turn this blog into a daily fashion blog ;)  ...then again who am I kidding, I am broke and I will probs end up going back to Forever 21 and giving it another try.  The outcome will probs end up looking something like this though:

::There was one small highlight that made my trip to the mall worth it: watching one of the said hipster girls roll her ankle while trying to walk in her awkward looking, hipster-wedge-boot-heel things (and yes, that is the technical fashion term for the shoes she was wearing, in case you were questioning me).  Stick with the flats, baby girl.

Cheers to the opposite of what Forever 21 is!

-BB