Closet Cleaning: Kaitlyn

My Top 5 Closet Rules

1. For every item I give away/sell, I am allowed to purchase 1 new item to replace it (totally fair, right?)
2. Color coding is key: Not only does it save you time when you're looking for a specific piece, but it makes your closet look more aesthetically pleasing (yes, this totally matters). 

3. Remove all the empty hangers that aren't being used - Every time I do this, it makes my closet look so much neater. 
4. When shopping, think about staple pieces that you can mix & match to for whole new outfits. Think "1 dress worn 7 different ways."
5. Don't shop based on trends because they don't work for everyone in the same way. Wear what you like and what suits your body type.
5 (1/2). Be lucky enough to have a separate space for skirts and dresses....they deserve the best home ;)

How do you keep all of your clothes organized? Your secrets are safe with us!

#Kaitlyn

Show Me The Swaps!

The idea behind "Because I Shop Too Much" was born from Lisa and I constantly swapping clothes to save money on new outfits. SO, we felt it was only appropriate that we document what one of these fun trades looks like. We always swap the same amount of items so it's fair and it helps us to remember which items we have when the sad day of switching back arrives. We often go through each other's recent Facebook photos or blog posts to spot items we'd like to wear and this round, I am very excited to don Lisa's polka dot blouse which I first spotted here.

1.Crochet tunic via ThirtySomethingFashin Box Service  2.Blazer: JC Penny  3.Bouse: Zara 4.Tank: Lauren Conrad via Kohls 5.Skirt: H&M

1. JC Penney mango dress, 2. Express jersey shirt, 3. Love 21 striped tank top, 4. Target lace camisole, 5. BCBG tank top

The famous "great minds think alike" motto must be true because Lisa and I both picked out some beautiful blue hues for each other ;) Do you see any items in these photos you'd like to swap with us once they go up on becauseishoptoomuch.com?

Have you picked up a set of FriendSwap Bags yet?

#Kaitlyn

Because Lisa Went Out for Dinner

Dress: Quicksilver via E Street Denim, Coat: Level 99 via Grass Roots, Belt: Express: Shoes: Victoria's Secret, Ring: C/O Sole Society, Wrist Wrap: C/O Kristin Hassan, Watch: Fossil

This is what a wore to a casual dinner out. I just love me a great maxi dress. I own more then I'd like to admit and I am always in the market for more! This outfit was super cozy yet I still felt chic in it. Took all of 10 minutes to throw my hair in a ponytail and dash out the door. What do you think? Are you a maxi dress lover or not so much? 

#Lisa

Blogger Style: Yellow Blouse

Check out these 8 bloggers and how they style yellow blouses. I'm very inspired! After seeing these photos, I think having a yellow blouse is a must! Viva Luxury, The Grey Matter Files Haute & Rebellious, Chloe Ting Steffy's pros and cons, Sincerely Jules Time Enough for Drums, Night Lights

What do you guys think? Do you own a yellow blouse already? Do you want one now? ;) 

#Lisa

Rocked it & Swapped it

This H&M dress was lent to me from Kaitlyn back in 2010 when it still had tags on it. One of the many perks of being related to this lady, she is super generous. She wore this curve hugging number soon after for a New Years Eve outing and looked amazing doing so!

Great dress, right?!

This next one I have had for years! I bought it at Target back in 2009 and have worn it quite a few times. It's a super light weight material that looks like a lace overlay, but it just the fabric print.

Have a friend or relative you enjoy swapping clothes with? Buy our "FriendSwap" bags here to keep all the items organized. 

#Lisa

Living Nine Months for Three

My fiance is a bit dumbfounded by how much I love summer (and how our restaurant selections become limited based on whether or not there's an outdoor patio), but all my life, I have gravitated towards the warm months. The list of things I look forward to come June-August is always growing but includes staples like our annual 4th of July party, every food on a stick at fests, weekends at the lake, and of course, my favorite kind of fashion: Effortless. I find great satisfaction in being able to wear a dress every day, because it eliminates the time it takes to (stylishly) put together two items every day. A casual dress and towel dried waves from a post-run shower is my favorite look. Here's some of my summer inspiration to get you just as excited as I am! 

What are your favorite ways to stay (and look) cool in the summer?

What events do you look forward to most? (Whatever it is, I hope you compliment it with a seasonal Summer Shandy).

#Kaitlyn

The Shops at Target

I have seen commercials every morning for the past few weeks advertising the introduction of "The Shops," 5 specialty stores products being sold at Target. The venture will be going on from May 6-June 16 at stores nationwide, and I am really excited to see this come to fruition. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, Lisa and I fully support all those people who are taking a risk to follow their passion, so I can't wait to see the affordable lines from The Candy Store, Cos Bar, Polka Dog Bakery, Privet House and the Webster. The limited edition lines include everything from home decor and beauty products to printed dresses. As if I wasn't obsessed with Target enough already...

Does anyone else have a problem when it comes to "just getting what you came for" at Target?

#Kaitlyn


UPDATE: As usual, I have been to Target more times than my Red card can handle in the past few weeks and got a chance to check out these brands... The Webster dress won me over big time.

BISTM: How To Set Up Your USPS Account

The easiest way to ship your items on BISTM is using USPS flat rate shipping. (To be clear, you can ship using ANY shipping company you want ie. UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc, but the simpliest way is USPS.) To create an account and have FREE flat rate shipping boxes sent directly to your home, follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Go to USPS.com and create an account. If you do not already have one, click on "sign up now"

Step 2: This brings you to the sign up area. Create a personal account and add your name, address, and choose a user name and password.

 

Step 3: This will bring you back to the homepage. Click on "get a free shipping kit" to have an array of flat rate boxes in different sizes sent to your home for FREE. You simply need to fill out your mailing info (shown in the next few photos) and the kit will be sent to you in 7-10 days. 

 

Step 4: (OPTIONAL) You can also order additional flat rate shipping boxes for free. The start up kit from above comes with 1 small, 2 medium, 1 large, and 1 envelope so we suggest you order more from the get go!

Since I ship often, I know that the small and medium boxes are used most often so I had extra of those shipped to my house as well. There is no shipping charges... just FREE boxes sent to your house! 

Now you will be ready to start shipping your items as of day 1 of the our site launching! Hopefully these tips help!

#Lisa

Closet Cleaning: Lisa

With less then a month until the launch of BISTM, here are some helpful tips for closet cleaning. I don't know about you, but I have tried on every piece of clothing in my closet in the past 6 months. If you have not done that, I strongly suggest you do so. It will blow your mind! Seriously. When I rotate my spring/summer with my fall/winter wardrobe, I make sure to try all items on. I do this for a few reasons: 

1. Sometimes what was so hot last year, is not that hot this year.

2. Since I've had 2 children, I have been every size between 2-14 in the past 4 years. There are for sure items that don't fit by the time the season comes back around. I am sure I am not alone in this. 

3. Have I worn said item in the past season? Okay, this is a big one! Sometimes I impulse shop and then never wear it. Then I hold on to it like the clothes hoarder I am and never want to get rid of it. Ummm, sell it!! If you think it's worth something or it still has tags on it, but you have not worn it in 12-18 months, get rid of it! It is taking up precious closet space after all. 

I don't know about you, but no walk-in closet for me as of yet. (one day.....one day....) so my closet space is a coveted thing.  I also have a very small coat closet by the front door so weeding out what is not being used is KEY!

(above: my closet, below: front door closet)

Organize everything! Every shoe, jewelry item, scarf, bag, and article of clothing should have a home. I am aware that sometimes it's going to be not as organized, but when it is, you wear things more often because can see what you actually own. I do this with not only my clothes, but my kids clothes as well!  Shoe racks, wardrobe racks, jewelry dividers for drawers, and jewelry cases are all good things! ;) They were made for a reason, use them!


Here is my jewelry case, wardrobe rack (that I holds new, C/O (courtesy of) items, and also pre-styled looks) and shoe rack (also c/o items) in the corner of my room. See, limited space, but I make it work! ;)

When in doubt, bins work just fine too.
Like I said above, I do not have a walk-in closet. Every spring and fall I put the corresponding clothing in bins that then reside in my laundry room for the season. It keeps my closet and room less cluttered! 

I hope this helps you get organized and ready for your next closet cleaning! 


#Lisa

Because Kaitlyn went to Vegas

I have been to Las Vegas 4 times within the past 2 years for a mix of business and pleasure and though I'm not the biggest fan of the city, it always provides great opportunities to go all out when it comes to style. I surprised my fiance with a dinner at the Bellagio to celebrate our 5 year anniversary and I was excited to wear my new MNG by Mango dress from JC Penney (Note: who else loves their new campaign and in turn, has noticed a dramatic change in their selection? There are some great deals!) I'm glad I picked it up in coral as well because it fits like a glove and can be dressed up or down. I paired it my nude peep-toe pumps (sadly, not every passerby in Vegas understands how necessary it is to capture a good full length photo). 

Fiance also treated us to a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower which was beautiful at night, and gave us a whole different view of the Bellagio Fountains (my favorite Vegas attraction). 

On our previous trip to Las Vegas, my hair was longer and I was tanner, but still went for the blue dress. I suppose the Vegas is a perfect place for a devil in a blue dress, right? ;) 

Do you feel more confident in wearing bold looks in Vegas? (No clear heels, please!)

#Kaitlyn

Because We Went To Ravinia

Last summer we went and saw Steely Dan at Ravinia. If you've never been, it's an outdoor concert arena that hosts artists ranging everywhere from Tony Bennett to Carrie Underwood each summer. People bring  chairs, blankets, and food to listen to the live music while hanging out picnic style. Of course you can get pavilion seating or walk closer to the stage to see the band, but most people just sit, relax and consume a few bottles of vino. It is a really great time! 

Lisa: Top: Mink Pink, Jeans: 7 for all Mankind, Ring: Modcloth, Wedges: Forever 21, Kaitlyn: Dress: Forever 21, Necklace: Jewelmint (both Lisa's from a closet swap)

Candid shots are always the best...

It ended up raining this night, but we made the best of it! I'm sure the wine and food helped ;) 
What's your favorite concert place for summer shows?

#SistersMarie

Rocked it & Swapped it

Kaitlyn and I have been swapping items from our closets for years! As girls with busy schedules who take photos at most events, it's important to us not to be repeat offenders all the time, so a bi-weekly swaps help to keep things fresh. These are two of the first items we swapped (circa 2010).

This tunic is from Target and it belongs to Kaitlyn:

This dress is from Lulus and belongs to me:

Can you tell we both wore this dress in Vegas? I went with my hubby and a few months later Kaitlyn went with her girlfriends and borrowed the dress. Red is one of those fierce colors that automatically makes you feel more powerful...Too bad that didn't pan out at the Blackjack table! I do love that we both took mirror pictures (it's totally acceptable in Sin City) You will see a lot of "great minds think alike" moments here for sure! ;)

#Lisa

Behind the Closets of BISTM

Meet Kaitlyn

Hello! In addition to creating closets on BISTM, I also work in Communications for a creative design company. We design exhibits and marketing materials for the beauty industry, so I can't say that I mind the hair and makeup swag I frequently bring home (score!) My fiance and I are in the midst of planning our Summer 2013 wedding at the Shedd Aquarium and as great as that day will be, I'm most excited to spend the rest of my life with this amazing person (Must be all kinds of amaze to put up with my constant picture taking and fashion policing with Lisa). 

Meet Lisa

Hi everyone, nice to meet you ;) I have had the honor to be a stay-at-home mother for the past 4 years (before that I designed and assembled jewelry for Erin Gallagher's Gem Bar).  I have a blog called Stilettos and Diaper Bags that I started in January 2010. I have 2 amazing children and am the wife to my best friend Ryan. My family is my entire world! I love everything fashion and have a mild obsession with jewelry. (Okay, a big obsession with it!) BISTM is just the next step in loving all things fashion and Kaitlyn is more then just my sister (in-law), she's a great friend! 

And what's the story behind

...Kaitlyn & Lisa, two sister-in-laws from the Chicago suburbs, have a big problem.

“We both have a shopping addiction!” exclaims Lisa, wife & mother of two. “I started a blog last year targeted at fashionable moms & quickly realized I wasn’t alone in that I wanted to stay ahead of the latest styles & trends while trying to stick to a family-centric budget.”

While Lisa saw an opportunity to build-on, Kaitlyn, a twenty-something working her way up in the marketing world, experienced the limitations of what was currently available. “I started gauging interest levels – at conventions when I travelled for work, getting feedback through social networking & talking to my girlfriends who are in similar financial situations. Girls loved the idea of trading & selling clothes with each other – directly – and they didn’t want to go through resale shops that were often only accepting certain brands and that offered little buyback value.”

In order to feed their “addiction,” the duo created their own solution – one collective online closet with a social networking edge. BISTM will present an abundance of clothes in styles & sizes as varied as the women selling them & the stories behind them.  

“It’s not just about selling & buying clothes” assures Lisa. “We’re meeting lots of females out there – especially today – that are on budgets for a variety of reasons – family, school, the economy.  They are bold, creative, & want to look great without paying premium retail prices.”  “And the fact that friendships & social circles are being formed along the way,” as Kaitlyn points out, “that just may be the best part.”

“We decided that the time is right for BISTM, because every female deserves an outlet for her shopping addiction and - let's be honest - we shop too much."

becauseishoptoomuch.com

*And the winner of the $40 credit to shop Lisa and Kaitlyn's closets is: #12 Kenzi

Thank you to all who entered! Lisa will contact you Kenzi with details on how to cash in ;)

Did You Plan That?

Lisa and I usually discuss our outfits for events beforehand, but this year's busy Easter morning filled with bunny visits and finishing cooking touches didn't allow us much time to connect. Well, SURPRISE! We couldn't have been more shocked when we went to hug each other at my Grandpa's house that morning: SAME Express dress...SAME styling...(and VERY similar shoes). Showing up in the same piece of apparel isn't that strange, but I hadn't worn my jean jacket in months, so the fact that Lisa donned hers too was quite amusing. There was obviously a "Who should go home and change?!" moment in our minds, but in reality, it just made for a great story and photo opp!

Lesson learned: Discuss before you dress :)

#Kaitlyn

Blog Launch Giveaway!

With the blog launching in 1 week, we would LOVE to offer our new readers a chance to win some loot! One lucky winner will win a $40 credit towards Lisa's and/or Kaitlyn's closets over on Stilettos and Diaper Bags!  aka you can apply the credit towards any of the following closet's: 


(shop Lisa's closet, shop Kaitlyn's closet, shop Lisa's jewelry/shoes, shop Lisa's outerwear/purses, shop Lisa's kids, shop Lisa's hubby, shop Lisa's maternity)

To enter: Simply follow us on Google Friend Connect (on the right side of the blog!) and leave a comment below telling us you have done so! 
For additional entries: Follow BISTM on Facebook and Follow BISTM on Twitter

Giveaway open to US residents only (sorry).

Winner will be announced Tuesday May 15th at 7:00am. Good luck! 

#SistersMarie