Rocked it & Swapped it

When I saw this sweater selling in Zahra's closet on Because I Shop too Much it was love at first sight (pun intended!). I remember seeing this knit at J.Crew for almost $100 the year prior but it sold out before I could buy it. Snagging it for $20 was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned! 

When I wore the heart sweater the first time, I styled it with skinny distressed jeans, nude heels, and some fun silver jewelry. A great outfit for a beautiful and warm fall afternoon with my family. 

Five months later, Kaitlyn styled the top with white denim and a neon bag making it the perfect Spring outfit.

Here is how we both styled the top:

How would you style this top?

Shop the look: (We just had to throw in the Pineapple top because how cute is that!?)

Swap Till You Drop: How to Host a Swap Party!

As you guys know, our websites (both adult and kids) are a great way to not only sell your clothes and make cash for new apparel, but also allows you to swap with a fashionable female (or a stylish gentlemen!) We have been swapping our clothes for years (search #rockandswap on IG to check it out) and we truly believe it's a great way to spruce up your wardrobe without spending a dime.

So last Sunday, we invited a few Chicago bloggers over for a swap party which resulted in an afternoon of treats, selfies and of course, swapping. Here's a peek into the party and some ideas on how to throw your own:

1. The Guest List: 

We have hosted a few similar parties in the past and have found that depending on the space, 6-10 attendees is best. This time, I (Kaitlyn), hosted at my home so there wasn't an extensive amount of space (once you figure in all the wardrobe racks and accessories) and we provided a sit down lunch for the girls so we wanted to keep it intimate, allowing for more time to chat and get to know each other better, outside of our blogs and digital profiles.

Clockwise from top: Deb, Tiffany, Cheryl, April, Lisa, Kaitlyn

2. The Decor:

We wanted to dress up my living room so that it not only felt like you were shopping in a mini pop-up shop but also include some fun details for photos (I mean, we know our audience here...bloggers capturing moments to share on social!) 

3. The Menu:

Our party was from 11-2, so we wanted to provide a light lunch with a killer signature drink. We served chips, guac & salsa during the first hour of swapping and then invited everybody to join us at the table for mini sandwiches, cookie & brownie bites and Tiffany's "are these even real" cookies that were basically the hit of the party! 

Aren't these amazing? Tiffany needs her own cookie shop STAT! 

Our drink of choice was a strawberry vodka lemonade (we're thinking Spring here, ladies!) It was super refreshing and perfect for sipping. 

Here is the recipe:

2 Parts Raspberry Lemonade
2 Parts Club Soda
1 Part Smirnoff (light) Strawberry Sorbet Vodka

1 Part Lime Juice

1 Part Lemon Juice

4. The Swapping!

Our goal was for all our guests to leave with something new (to them) and mission accomplished! We decided that we could just host a jewelry swap next time because accessories were the hot items, though a few major clothing swaps were made (and we can't wait to see April in Kaitlyn's jumpsuit!)

 The pieces that didn’t find a new home during our event were donated to a few different causes including the Children's Cancer Society & St. Vincent's Church in Chicago. 

5. The photo shoots...

Once the signs and cookie lips were brought out, there was no stopping us...

Each girl also left with a swap bag of their own and a Sisters Marie graphic T...

We can't wait to see how they style them!

Thanks to all the girls who came out to support us, we loved spending our Sunday with you! Don't forget to check out Deb's swap post here. 

And a big thank you to all the following companies who made the event so pretty :) 

Planning a swap party of your own? Shop the post:

Custom Pillows; Tiny Prints

Swap Till You Drop Glitter Sign: Etsy

Table Flowers: Bloompop

Tassel Garland: Etsy

Wardrobe Racks: Ikea

Photo booth signs: Etsy

Plaid PINspiration

Women (and men) alike are all about plaid this season and we are no exception, as some of our favorite daily accessories include plaid flats and blanket scarves. Can we talk about how handsome men are in plaid flannel (especially when paired with leather or shearling and 5 o'clock shadow..."hey girl," are you drooling yet?) 

For your weekly outfit Pinspiration, check out some of these plaid combos:

Shop these items and more on Because I Shop Too Much & Because They Grow Too Fast

What are your favorite go-to plaid items this season?

Everyday Wear, Winter Style

Some days I DO put my hair up in a ponytail. I know, I know, but it was "day three hair" so I didn't have too many options. ;) I even sometimes put on the simplest of outfits but then jazz them up a bit to make it more me.

What is easier then a cozy knit and skinny jeans? It's comfortable, warm, and quite functional for everyday wear. By adding cute plaid flats, some great jewelry, and a winter white coat, I feel like I made the outfit more put together. It's was also nice to sparkle on an otherwise gloomy winter day.

Knit: Swap w/ Kaitlyn // Jacket & Denim: Express // Shoes: c/o Sole Society // Bag: Because I Shop too Much // Necklace: T+J Designs // Sunnies: Prada // Stackable Rings: Shop Jules // Emerald Ring: Jared 

What does your everyday wear look like?

Do you ever jazz up a super basic outfit to feel like you are more dressed up then you actually are?

Live Music Date Night in the City

The hubby and I went on three date nights in December (sorry for the post-Christmas decor!) and we tried to do something different each time we got away. On this night, we headed to Chicago to see some live music at The Cubby Bear. Even better, a few of my friends from college were in town (from out of state) to play so it was win-win!  I got to hang with people I haven't seen in almost 10 years and they all got to meet and hang with my hubby. It was a night full of college memories and me dancing while my hubby laughed and took photos of me. ;)

I decided to keep it casual (well my form of casual) by pairing this cozy knit with skinny jeans and over-the-knee boots. I finished the look off with a drape front faux leather jacket and a cross body bag.

Jacket & Bag: c/o Just Fab // Sweater: Hautelook // Denim: Express // Boots: Because I Shop Too Much (Mary's Closet) // Necklace: XO Veronika // S Shaped Ring: T+J Designs // Triangle & Midi Ring: c/o Shop Lately

What do you wear to casual nights with live music?

Have you ever had a night where your college life and current life merge in the best way possible?  

Boyfriend Style (With a guys POV!)

When it comes down to it, us Midwestern kids just want to be comfy and cozy during the polar vortex months. As opposed to summer crop tops, instead we choose over-sized sweaters and anything that feels “lived in.” A sweater with a little extra room paired with distressed boyfriend denim is the “basic” winter uniform…just throw in a Starbucks red cup for Instagram, please ; )

But like so many other fashion choices, this one leaves us wondering what the guys think...We THOUGHT they didn't think anything baggy was cute, but we decided to ask our husbands, just to be sure…

Ryan (Lisa's husband): I've always thought the idea of a girl wearing my old t-shirt, or sweater was pretty attractive, in kind of a "college sleepover" kind of way. As for a girl wearing my jeans, I think it could work with some of my tighter, more-tapered jeans, but maybe not so much my more-relaxed, "weekend" jeans, ha.  Lisa, you may start  to find more of my clothes "laying around" the house (well, more than usual, at least). Maybe you should try some on!

Lisa: Will do, babe! I never do think to borrow from your closet, but I bet I could get some use out of quite a few items. The wheels are turning...I, however, am obsessed with this style. I love relaxed/boyfriend denim paired with cozy knits and heels. It's great for everything from everyday wear to weekends and even dinners out.

Mike (Kaitlyn's husband): I'm not a fan of the boyfriend jeans. Girls generally look more put together than us men, and wearing those, you would look like you woke up and threw anything on - in this case, however, I realize you would have put much thought into getting that "I woke up like this" look. The sweater is fine with me - it looks comfortable and I'm not one that needs a woman to wear tight clothes to look attractive. Plus, it balances nicely with the girly shoes.

Kaitlyn: Can we just talk about how my husband references heels as "girly shoes?" I think that's both cute and endearing. I also enjoy that you're on board with comfort because this girl isn't worried about showing skin in Chicago temps!

Thanks to our men for sharing their thoughts! Stay tuned for the next guy's point of view...

Shop Small, Save Big

When we came up with the idea for Because I Shop Too Much and Because They Grow Too Fast, we were so excited to create a place where fellow fashion lovers could share their style by swapping with a friend or selling gently used items in order to make room for their new favorites. 

Our goal was create the portal and let the rest be in your control - We encouraged you to ship your items using your preferred methods and customize your packaging by inserting a personal note or a story about the history of the piece...maybe you wore it on a first date or for a tough job interview. We loved the idea of girls (& guys!) bonding over something as simple as an item from their closet and we hope you do too.

In honor of your support, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, we invite you to shop our closets at 30% off today through December, 2nd. Between the two of us, there is a nice mix of boho chic, preppy, animal print (our favorite neutral!) and staples for each season so there is something for everyone. Just email us with your order: sisters.marie@yahoo.com or tag us with your wish list on Instagram! 

Click each image below to shop:

BONUS! Our graphic t's are on sale for  $20 $15! 

Click the image below to shop:

Thanks so much for shopping small...and too much ;) 

Stay tuned on Monday for some fun photos from Thanksgiving! 

Blog of the Month: Diary of This Girl

We first started interacting with Megan a few years back over Instagram and immediately fell in love with her quirky sense of style and sweet nature. She was quick to compliment our work (especially our rock & swap features) which always brought a smile to our faces. Since then, we have become big fans of her blog and sincerely wish Seattle was our next door neighbor so we could be besties. 

Here is a little bit about Diary of this Girl:

This little blog details my life after college. I'm adjusting to life as a montessori preschool teacher,  finishing school, living on my own, and spending as much time as possible with friends. please introduce yourself and send me the link to your blog! I am always looking for something new to read. let's be blogging friends!  More about me? I am a frozen yogurt addict, avid reader, volunteer, shopaholic, lover of red lipstick & toms, and am slightly obsessed with nail polish, denim shirts & my dachshund, bailey.

You can shop Megan's style in her online closet, but for now, here's some of our favorite looks:

Who are your favorite style bloggers and why?