I had my first experience with a closet room when I lived in a small beach cottage with my friend. She knew I didn't particularly want to move out of my parents house so she offered me the small extra room in the house as a closet - SOLD! You can see that messy room here. Next I moved in with 2 of my cousins and had the smallest room in the house. It turned into a closet with a bed in it. That room was featured in this post.

When Christian and I were house hunting we wanted a house with at 2 bedrooms so one could be an office. We were fortunate enough to find one that had 3 bedrooms, a sun-room AND a finished basement. This meant that one of the bedrooms could be turned into a closet for me, my dream! I painted the walls purple after we moved in because it's my favorite color and I wanted the room to be extra fun. 

The closet room has undergone many transformations since we moved in May 2018. This latest has brought it a little closer to being how I envisioned it. A post in July 2018 showed how it looked early on.  I started off with pieces of furniture and storage I already had from previous closets.

This is what the closet looked like before this newest update:

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A post shared by Megan | Closet Fashionista (@closet_fashion) on May 22, 2020 at 8:23am PDT

Now to what you've all been waiting for - the new and improved closet room! We finished in early October but it took forever for me to stop being lazy and take photos. Plus the lighting never wanted to cooperate. I apologize for the photo quality but I didn't want to bug Christian to take better ones, ha ha.

In October 2018 we bought 2 white shelving units from IKEA to use for some of my Harry Potter books that didn't fit in our living room display. I ended up only needing 1 so the second was moved into my closet to house my shoes. In November 2019 we bought a second cube storage shelf for my closet. We went with white (even though the other cube unit in the room was brown) because eventually I want everything in the closet to be white. 

In retrospect, I should have used both the tall white shelving units in my closet from the start and used my brown cube storage for Harry Potter books. Sometimes the brain just doesn't work that way. I had to figure it out on my own almost 2 years later, ha ha. 

I still have one non-white piece in the closet because it is too perfect to replace. It's actually a changing table dresser from when my siblings and I were babies. I love that the top folds over to make shelves which is perfect for storing my makeup and jewelry. Eventually I should just paint it white to match. Probably would have been a good project for quarantine, but I can't think about that now. 

I did paint a bookshelf that used to house purses and miscellaneous items, but that has moved to a new spot in the house. I was able to relocate all the things on it to save room. Some of which have cluttered up the dresser making it a little crowded right now, but I haven't felt up to purging more items yet. 

Here comes the interesting part of the story. The couch. If you remember this Instagram post, we got a new couch at the beginning of September. To make a long story short - we ordered the couch from Walmart on August 15th with a delivery date of August 26th. That date came and no couch or update on the tracking info. I messaged Walmart and they said it must have gotten lost in the mail so they sent another to be delivered on September 17th. UGH! The original couch randomly arrived on September 8th with the second one being delivered on September 21st. We waited a few weeks and when they didn't contact us we considered the second one ours too. 

The white faux fur rug was Christian's idea. I had wanted a rug in here but couldn't really decide if I needed one or what to do and he randomly said one day "Why don't you get a white fur rug for in here? It would make it so cozy." He didn't have to tell me twice. The search began for the proper shaped faux fur rug, it's a lot harder than you think. When I originally put this rug in the room it seemed too small, but then we added the couch and it was a perfect match. (This also got lost in the mail so I had to order it again. No second rug though, used all my luck on the couch!)

In order for it to fit in the room without too much rearranging - or removal of crucial storage pieces - we removed the back and arms so it could fit snugly between one of the shelving units and the closet (which we removed the door from.) It almost looks like a fancy department store try-on room now! 

Speaking of the closet in the closet - I decided to re-paint it white during this whole process because ever since we moved in it was dirty and yellow looking (I was too lazy to paint it in 2018.) One coat of white paint later and it looked brand new! I rearranged everything inside it and was even able to add my blazers - which have been in the guest room closet since we moved in. Now every item of clothing I own (except Winter coats) lives in this room. Not sure you can tell the difference in the paint, but I swear it looks better!

I would love to one day have an actual custom closet with fancy shelves/rods for jewelry and clothes but this will definitely do. I much prefer the price of these products than the thousands it would cost for a real custom closet.

Products:  

Dikoaina white Faux Fur Rug

KALLAX Shelf unit, white 30 3/8x57 7/8"

KALLAX Insert for bottles, white 13x13 " (used for shoes)

BILLY Bookcase, white 31 1/2x11x79 1/2"

Target 31" Stackable Shoe Shelf, white

Shoe Slotz Storage Units in Ivory

Target Room Essentials - Metal Base Adjustable Double Rod Garment Rack

Single Rod Garment Rack (I think this was also from Target, but it's 10 years old) 

 And here are some more before/during photos I took while rearranging the closet.

The holidays may look a little different this year but that doesn't mean we can't still give to those we love - or get ourselves a few frivolous things. I won't judge (I do it too!) Even if it's a drop-off on their porch or shipping directly to them, you can show your loved ones you're thinking about them!

For the Home

If you're looking for women-owned businesses to support, rockflowerpaper is a great option to check out! I'm very into gifting household items this year instead of clothes and, luckily for me, they have a great selection of both home goods and clothes/accessories!

rockflowerpaper has quite a few Winter-themed serving trays that I'm considering as gifts (and for myself, obviously!) How adorable is this Winter Stags tray I bought with a gift card!? Might have to buy a plate hanger to showcase it on the wall instead of covering it with treats. Or I'll just leave it like this on our dining room table (without the succulents.) That's also what makes trays great gifts, so many ways to use them.

They also have a collection of ceramic pots with succulents! I have a thing for cute little succulents so you better believe I added some to my cart for the living room (and one for my Grandma too!)

Earlier this week rockflowerpaper started their Black Friday sale! You can get 20% off of $50, 30% off of $100 and 40% off of $150 orders. (not including succulents)

Handmade Gifts

Since I'm doing most of my holiday gift shopping online I'm trying to avoid the "major" stores and shopping small. I do a Secret Santa every year with my siblings/their partners and browsed etsy last month for my gift and found lots of fun options. I can't tell you what I got since it would give away the secret, but I used a few different sellers to make the perfect gift! Jewelry from etsy is also a popular choice and I've gifted many etsy-ordered necklaces in my day!

The Gift of Food

Another fun option for gifting this year is a week of meal delivery services! That way your loved one can have a fun meal without leaving the house! My brother bought my Mom a week of Blue Apron years ago and it was such a great gift. There are a ton different options too. I have personally used Blue Apron, HelloFresh and EveryPlate and enjoyed them all! You get the most bang for your buck at EveryPlate ($59 for 5 meals) but I find Blue Apron's meals ($59 for 3 meals) more adventurous.

To make it even more fun you can coordinate a week to get the same meals and make them together over FaceTime/Zoom/whatever video service you prefer. It's like date night for a family member or friend!

Personalization

Who doesn't love a gift made especially for them? Stealing another idea from family - my Mom made a photo calendar for my Grandma one year that had all our important family dates in it - birthdays, anniversaries and even puppy birthdays. She has twelve grandchildren so Mom made each month a photo collage of a different grandchild. 

You could also go another route and make a recipe or photo book, both of which I have received as gifts and loved! Knowing someone took the time to create something just for you makes it all the more special. You can use sites such as Snapfish and Shutterfly for these! (I always check who has a better coupon at the moment.)

I'm writing this post on Monday November 2nd, the day before Election Day, dreading what is to come in the next few weeks. But at least I can look back on this nice and cozy outfit I wore for a quick run to the farmers market a few Saturday's ago. Christian and I stocked up on our favorite pesto before the farmer's market season is over. We bought 1 to use right away and 3 to freeze and get us through Winter! 

I wore my new boots for the occasion and paired them with super skinny jeans and a matching cashmere sweater. Basic and perfect. I also realized that this sweater is 7 years old now, wow!

Another set of phone photos because I wasn't planning on taking outfit pictures, so the color is a little off on some of them because Christian's iPhone wasn't cooperating, ha ha! I am glad I was able to get some pictures with pretty fall foliage. I didn't get to see much this year because we've been home so much.

Cashmere Sweater: Everlane, High Waisted Jeans: J Brand 'Maria' High Rise in Supreme, Boots: Marc by Marc Jacobs Burgundy Buckle Boot (Coco's on the Green)

October! My birthday month. I usually allow myself a little splurge in October but since I haven't really been going anywhere I wanted to resist buying anything new.

Then the first weekend of the month came and I got a text from Lydia with a photo of a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs burgundy buckle up boots. In my size. $60 PLUS 20% off. I did a quick search and found out the boots retailed for $495. I believe they are from Fall 2014. So $48 wasn't bad at all! I had her pick them up for me even though I didn't know when I would actually be able to retrieve them, ha ha. She dropped them off in the middle of the month during a socially distanced visit so I didn't have to wait long! I made us some homemade bagels and Chocolate Coconut Blondies...YUM!

I also ordered a new pair of pajamas from Honeydew Intimates with my Shopbop gift cards and 15% off birthday coupon. They are SO comfy I'm already planning on getting another pair when they go on sale!

THE (modified) RULES

1. Be mindful of purchases 
2. Quality over quantity
3. Basics are best

1. FARM Rio Amazonian Ombre Mini Wrap Dress c/o Shopbop ($127.50, retail $170)
2. Burberry beaded owl sweater via eBay ($75, retail $2950 in 2012)
3. Stella McCartney Wild Cat Skinny Ankle Jeans via eBay ($15 after ad money, retail $735)
4. Ba&sh "Perla" dress in Green Light c/o Shopbop ($236.25, retail $630)
5. Nili Lotan Cashmere Abbey Sweater c/o Shopbop ($133.88, retail $525) 
6. Mickey Mouse Football Jersey in purple ($28; used gift card)
7. Disney State Fair Connecticut Tee ($17.47; used gift card)
   

1. J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Leg Jean in Moral ($0 after $25 credit & ad money, retail $228)
2. Madewell Camp Shorts in Faded Rosebud c/o Shopbop ($35, retail $50)

1. Ancient Greek Sandals 'Clara' Sandal c/o Shopbop ($221.25, retail $295)
2. Sperry Rio Aqua Slip-On Sneaker ($14.83 via DSW, retail $64.99) 
3. Ancient Greek Sandals 'Faye' embellished leather sandals via Net-a-Porter Sale ($112, retail $289; used side hustle money)
   
4. Ancient Greek Sandals 'Clio' leopard-print leather slingback sandals via Net-a-Porter Sale ($74, retail $185; used side hustle money)
5. *NEW* Marc by Marc Jacobs buckle boot in burgundy via Cocos On the Green ($48, retail $495; used ad money)
   

Handbags:

1. Madewell Medium Slim Saddle Bag c/o Shopbop ($118.50, retail $158) 
2. 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Medium shoulder bag in Nile Shark Embossed Leather via Bag, Borrow or Steal ($220, retail $895)
   

 Accessories:

1. Ray Ban 'Erika' Sunglasses in Havana c/o Shopbop (retail $163)
2. Shashi Princess Leia Necklace c/o Shopbop ($55)

1. SPANX Look At Me Now Seamless Leggings in Indigo Leopard c/o Shopbop ($68)
2. *NEW!* Honeydew Intimates Star Seeker PJ Set in Natural Leopard c/o Shopbop ($54, $34 after coupon)
   

1. AUrate Pearl Studs in Rose Gold (retail $150)
2. AUrate Medium Chain Bracelet in Rose Gold (retail $50)
3. AUrate Gold Twist Huggie Earrings (retail $80)
4. AUrate Stackable Twist Ring (retail $80)
5. AUrate Mini Infinity Ring (retail $70)

My brother got married last month in a small backyard ceremony. He had originally planned a larger event at a venue but he and his wife decided to postpone that until next year and do an intimate event at our parent's house this year. It was our immediate family, the wedding party, a couple of his friends and my Grandparents (which I was a little weary of.)

I've felt weird about posting this outfit because of current circumstances, but it has been over a month and no one in attendance got sick so I think we were successful in keeping to current protocols. My Mom made masks out of fancy fabric to match the decor on the tables and we tried to keep to our small bubbles of safety.

I bought this dress in June when I was still in wishful thinking mode that we'd be able to have the real wedding. But I guess the silver lining is I get to wear it again next year! This time I wore it with the Nicholas Kirkwood heels I wore for my own wedding, a necklace handed down to me from my Grandma (which I also wore to my wedding) and my cute pink ostrich Marc Jacobs bag. The bag was pretty much just a prop for these photos since I didn't actually need it.

Ba&sh "Perla" dress in Green Light c/o Shopbop, Nicholas Kirkwood Lola pearl sandals (Net-a-Porter), Necklace: Topaz and diamond necklace, Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Perfect Purse ostrich-effect PVC' (Net-a-Porter), Gold Twist Huggie Earrings in Rose Gold c/o Aurate, Bracelet: Ten Thousand Villages

I didn't intend on taking outfit photos this day. Christian and I went for a walk in the park for a Pokemon Go event (yes, we still play, haha!) and it was a chilly September day. We stumbled upon this pretty area of the park (sometimes these are all cut down so it doesn't look as nice) and I decided to have Christian snap some photos with his phone. 

Upon viewing the photos I realized these jeans, although SUPER comfortable, are not the most photogenic. They're a little loose in the wrong places. This sweater and leather jacket combo on the other hand is perfection. I will definitely be re-wearing the top half of this at some point. It's been quite a while since I wore this jacket which is a shame. I used to wear it ALLLLL the time when I first got it in 2012.

Giveaway

While Christian and I are still staying extra cautious, many people are starting to get back into old routines, but we should all still take as many precautions as possible. That includes wearing masks and using hand sanitizer after touching public surfaces. Obviously I took my mask off for these photos but whenever we are near people it is always in use.

Today I'm partnering with Nakturnal to give one US-based reader a College Care Pack PPE kit from Get Go Care! It includes 60 packets of moisturizing & hydrating hand sanitizer, 15 high-quality, disposable masks and 5 durable, latex-free, disposable gloves.

Get Go Care, based in Illinois, was founded this year because of the need for PPE among not only essential workers but also students. The products are made in China at an FDA-approved factory.

To enter: Leave a comment stating who you would gift a Get Go PPE Kit to and why!

Leather Jacket: Theyskens' Theory 'Juno' (Nordstrom Rack, similar), Cashmere Leopard Print Sweater: Nili Lotan 'Abbey' sweater in Shiraz c/o Shopbop, Jeans: J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Leg Jean in Moral (Gilt Groupe), Sneakers: Sperry Rio Aqua Slip-On Sneaker (DSW), Sunglasses: Ray Ban 'Erika' c/o Shopbop