What I Bought in April
Hello, Happy May.
With shipping going as slowly as it is, I’m only sharing things I’ve actually received at this point. I can’t review the things I haven’t received yet or let you know what I’ve kept or returned. So, I’ll share those purchases with you next month after I’ve received them. And as usual, I’m starting with the things I’ve kept.
WHAT I KEPT
Boiron Arnica Montana 30C 3 Tubes (80 Pellets per Tube) Homeopathic Medicine for Pain Relief
Someone suggested trying these for my arm/elbow pain. Didn’t help me. But few things ever do so this is not a negative review for the product.
SAKURA BLACK PIGMA MICRON PN PENS .45MM 3/PKG
For my journaling. I have yet to find my “office supplies” in this apartment. Pens, paper, markers, etc. I write teeny tiny and love a super fine point pen.
TOMBOW PEN DUAL BRUSH MARKERS (BRIGHT)
Ditto. At first (couple of) use(s) I’m disappointed in these as I thought they were going to be more like brushes but they’re really like felt markers. The colors do react well (I guess? what do I know?) to water, but…they’re not what I thought they were going to be. I’m still using them.
LOGITECH M525 WIRELESS MOUSE – LONG 3 YEAR BATTERY LIFE, ERGONOMIC SHAPE FOR RIGHT OR LEFT HAND USE, MICRO-PRECISION SCROLL WHEEL
I feel like I have more trouble with mouses (meeces?) than the average bear. So this time I threw a little more money at it to see if that helped. It did 🙂
LOFT PLUS CLIP DOT RUFFLE TOP, SIZE 24
I bought this when I thought I was keeping that floral pleated skirt and color-wise it would have gone nicely with it, but. I still like it over my navy pants, blue or white denim in the summer and black denim in the fall…and if I find a pair of well-fitting khaki linen pants.
Old Navy Sleeveless Jersey Swing Dress, size 3x – leopard print
Y’all saw this one a couple weeks back. But I haven’t styled the one below for a blog post yet…
Old Navy Sleeveless Jersey Swing Dress, size 3x – blue ikat print
I can wear this with the white linen blouse tied up over it, or under the golden yellow short cardigan…and I have another small ON order coming to me next week, and fingers crossed that one of those items will be perfect with this!
And here’s what I bought and returned. I always mean to show you everything I try on but…things like that are slipping through the cracks right now. Take my word for it, they were not good.
WHAT I RETURNED
LOFT PLUS VINE TIERED DRESS, SIZE 24
This was actually a really pretty dress. I thought it might even be The New Junarose Dress. But it was very large on me. Too long, too full, waist hung too low. And on me, the color was not good. They were smart to show it on a darker-skinned model. On me, it was almost the color of my skin which resulted in an unpleasant “naked while wearing a dress” look.
LOFT PLUS BLOSSOM PEPLUM BLOUSE, SIZE 24
I think this is darling, too and was looking forward to wearing it this summer over white and/or khaki pants or lightwash denim. But it was a weird fit on me. That little horizontal openwork seam at the top of the peplum, sort of pulled it in tight right there when it really shouldn’t have been tight right there. Or anywhere! The sleeves were too long, the v of the v-neck hung too low. It was not good on me.
MAX STUDIO PLEATED MAXI SKIRT, size 3x
You saw this a couple weeks back in the pleated skirt styling post. It’s a nice skirt. But it was too long on me and sort of overwhelmed my body with fabric…and since I haven’t had skirts for so long, I really didn’t have the right types of tops to go with it. I’m not giving up on the skirt issue, though, and am actively looking for good skirt tops.
Angie V-Neck Tunic, size 3x
Loved the color, loved the silky feel of the fabric. But it was very very long on me. Too long to tuck (as if I ever do that) and almost to my knees when out. I had thought it would look nice with the pleated skirt…which it did, color-wise…but not length-wise.
GRACE ELEMENTS Striped Long Sleeve Pullover, Size 3x
This was too snug through the tummy and butt. But I really liked it.
Catherine Catherine Malandrino Short Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt, size 3x
I have wanted a grey and white striped tee for ages. But this was way too snug through the tummy area. OH WELL WHATEVER.
Both Loft and Nordstrom Rack had been having giant sales…like 50-70% off most items, so I took a chance. Out of nine items, I kept three. Yup. That sounds about right. Actually, for me, that’s pretty good!
I have a Madewell order on its way. It’s already been 10 days so I’m hoping it arrives soon!
How is your shopping going? Cutting back during the pandemic? Partaking in recreational online shopping while you’re trapped at home?
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you buy something as a result of clicking that link, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate you shopping through my links.
Tina von Tinaspinkfriday
Good Morning Bettye, try ice for your elbow. Rub it with ice cubes.
I bougt a logitech mouse too, last month.😊
I can imagine you look great in this spicy coloured blouse.
I wish you a great weekend!
Xxx Tina
bettyewp
Thanks, Tina! I was thinking about you the other day, wondering how you are doing without being able to travel 🙁
I have wrapped my elbow in an ice pack thing I have…and as long as it’s frozen and numb, it’s okay, but it doesn’t really help for the long term. I also have some heat wraps around here somewhere, if I can find those I will try them. I also thought it was ice a new pain, heat an old one.
Stay safe!
Judi
I feel like an underachiever. All I bought was groceries and take-out.
No…wait! I bought a book, but it was work related, so I won’t let that count.
bettyewp
Not an underachiever, just more economically thoughtful! As much as I’m buying less than I used to, I could stand to buy EVEN less!
I haven’t been counting books as for the past few months they’ve all come from PaperbackSwap so are not actually a purchase.
Donna
Fabulous newsy and interesting post, Bettye!
Hope you have a good weekend,
Donna 🧚🏻♀️❤️🐝
https://donnadoesdresses.com
bettyewp
Thanks, Donna, you too!
Michelle
The right pen is everything. Uniball Signos are my faves.
The Loft top is pretty – very springlike!
I have not bought anything, really, except food and toiletries. Just keeping my household in those things is exhausting. For the first time, shopping for anything else seems like too much of a chore.
bettyewp
Oh gosh, yes, PENS! I hate at work, I’ll have 37 pens in my drawer, but only That One Special One that I really REALLY like…and someone makes off with it and I’m like BUT THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PEN and now all the others feel like crap. At least at home no one takes my pens. I just pack them away and then can’t find them!
Hmm. I could stand a little dose of “shopping seeming like a chore.” Grocery shopping, maybe. That’s not fun right now AT ALL cuz they’re out of so many of my favorite things 🙁
Rhonda
Since I really don’t need any clothing, I haven’t purchased much. However, I couldn’t resist a $20 coupon from J.Crew, so ordered a black linen tee shirt, which after the sale price, and free shipping costs me $6.28….yay, another black tee!
Just a thought on your arm and elbow pain… I have suffered for years with the same; and believe it is referred pain from a pinched nerve in my neck, from a neck injury years ago; followed by years of sitting at a desk with my head down and holding a telephone to my ear …. I have found that (self) massage helps a lot, as does stretching and exercises for the neck and shoulders. It takes awhile for pinched nerves to relax, so don’t be discouraged.
I absolutely LOVE that ON leopard dress, so will be looking forward to seeing the IKAT one! Have a great weekend!!
bettyewp
$6.28 for a J Crew tee, THAT is not be missed!
Yeah, I don’t know what to make of my elbow/arm. I never had a problem…til the day I was going to CA back in February and I had to drag/lift my too-heavy suitcase down the steps to the Uber. Twinge. Lugging suitcase back through airport on way home. Twinge to pain. Felt like a pulled muscle in forearm…which proceeded to get worse rather than better and shifted into my inner elbow and top of (what’s name of bone from wrist to elbow – like “arm femur”) <- that bone. Achey. No longer lift heavy things…like teapot or purse…with right arm. Too painful. Can't shake bottles of stuff with right arm. Well, probably CAN, but DON'T, cuz it hurts. Wake up in middle of night from arm pain if I've slept on it. Nothing helps – not tylenol, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Or arnica!
My neck, which often gets bad, has been better at home, I think maybe cuz I never really have to stay turned right or left to talk to people in the office, I just look straight ahead at the monitor. There's a woman at work who gives GREAT pain-relieving neck/shoulder massages. They HURT, but two days later all original pain is gone. But she's not here, ha ha.
jodie filogomo
I’m so sorry those homeopathic pills didn’t help. They are like magic for us.
I’ve been online shopping a ton…luckily or unluckily I don’t return as much…haha. My poor closet is SO full.
I can’t wait to see that other dress on you…are you going to print mix with it??
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
bettyewp
I hope to (print mix w blue ikat dress)! Depends on the things that are still coming in.
Susan
May Day. Maybe we can get two sunny days in a row, now?
I love your chatty posts Bettye. I also love Arnica Montana, and have Boiron in my med cabinet as we speak. It takes a while to build up in your system, but after that, I always found it so helpful. Your two dresses are so nice, and I can’t wait to see the blue on you. So glad you kept that adorable shirt, and the color suits you well.
bettyewp
May Day! I always say that to people IRL and they’re like HUH? Way too charming a tradition for Long Island 🙂 Katie’s second birthday party was a May Day theme (her birthday is May 5 and yes I know that’s Cinco de Mayo but that is just not as cute as May Day). My sister made a BEAUTIFUL cake with a maypole decoration…and I had a big birdhouse on a high pole in the yard and I tied ribbons to the top so we could do the maypole dance. It was very sweet. I’ll have to find those pictures.
I was thinking the arnica might take awhile to build up, so I did take one whole vial (there’s like a million teeny tiny pills in each vial), but.
Ruth Josey
Sheesh. I feel like I’m so behind. But my husband comments on everything I get in the mail or left at the front door so I don’t feel comfortable ordering what I want :/ So do I get rid of him or just not order a much? Another dilemma – LOL! I hate that so many things you ordered didn’t work for you. How disappointing and so much work to return everything. I’m really vacillating on that leopard print dress from ON. I love it on you. I do have to say that the Arnica montana sublingual bits worked well for my husband. He has hand pain and was pleasantly surprised. Last time I ordered the capsules that you take twice a day and he’s happy with those too
Ruth
https://voguefauxreal.com/2020/05/03
bettyewp
I always have a low success rate when shopping for clothing. Keeping three things was actually pretty good! Normally the return process is easy-peasy cuz I take the package to work, print out the label and we have usps, ups, and FedEx coming by almost every day and they take the package for me. NOW is another story. I don’t have mail pick-up here at the apartment…and I don’t have a printer…so even if the place offers free return shipping, I still have to handwrite the address and pay for postage at the post office. And I’m only getting to the post office once a week, so it slows down my refund. Not ideal, but…
Glad your husband found some relief for his hand pain!