READER SUBMISSION

When I saw Rachel's question in our inbox for a Reader Submission, I was so excited.  I have been wondering the same thing about sweaters and collared shirts-- and layers in general.  We're so glad to have Rachel here today, we've been loving her blog.  Can't wait to see what ideas you guys have. 

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Hey Ask the Duplex Readers!

My name is Rachel and I blog over at xoxo Rachel Sayumi.

So. I have a legit question.

I love the sweater + collared shirt combo that's going around right now.

It's seriously so classy,polished,and trendy & I LOVE IT!

However...

I feel that when I try it, my body looks totally lumpy and chunky.

It kind of makes me look fat, to be blunt!

How the heck do you make it look good?? What are some tips to pull the look off without looking silly? I want to be like the cool kids in my sweater and collared shirt,but without feeling rather large.

Any advice for me?! I'd love to hear your insights.

Thanks so much,e-roommates and thanks to Monica and Whitney for letting me be here!

xoxo

Rachel Sayumi.

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Have a question for the Duplex?  Email us at asktheduplex@gmail.com

I have a little announcement (I, being Whitney)

Cover It Up

Ever since Rhett and I decided to go on a cruise, that is all we can seem to talk about.  We'll be sitting around doing homework and then stop and say, "Hey. We're going on a cruise."  Then we get really excited and talk about all the free food that we'll eat.  Except, it's not really free.  It just feels kind of free since we paid for it all up front. You would think that we might talk more about the beaches, or the sunshine, or the excursions-- but no, we mainly talk about the food.

Since we'll be eating never-ending steaks, burgers, and frozen yogurt-- I need a good swimsuit coverup to cover up the food gut.  Right? Right.

I don't own a swimsuit cover.  Last summer when we went home to California, I just put on a shirt and some shorts, which somehow ended up looking like a romper.

I went to three separate Marshalls this weekend on the hunt for a coverup.  And found nothing.  So, I think I have to resort to online shopping.

If I had $150 Bucks...I would choose this one..

{Find it here}

Or this one...

{Find it here} 

Or If I had $275 I might pick this one..

{Find it here}

275 bucks! WHO HAS THE KIND OF MONEY?

But, since I don't have that much money.  And even if I did, I wouldn't spend it on a swimsuit cover.  I'm trying to decide between these cheaper options:

{find it here}

{Find it here}

{Find it here}

{Find it here}

{Find it here}

{Find it here}

I don't really LOVE any of them.  But, I guess that is what you get when you want to spent $14 instead of $150

 Which out of these six do you think would be the best swimsuit coverup?

Cross Eyed

This is a picture of my husband, I don't think I've ever posted one on here. But that's besides the point. I post this picture because it's the closest thing I have to a close-up picture of my face and I wanted you to be able to tell how close together my eyes are.

 I didn't know they were close together until in 8th grade I went to a make-up counter and the girl put eyeliner on both of my eyes, both top and bottom and when I opened them I looked cross-eyed. Close together eyes and a lot of eyeliner do NOT mix. Even the girl doing my make-up was like "Whoa, let's get some eye-make up remover"

I tell you all that because before I go out and by liquid eyeliner, I am curious if any of you have small and/or close together eyes and wear liquid eyeliner?? Is it a no for someone with eyes like mine??

And in case you're curious what I looked like in college with eye make-up smeared on my face right when I woke up, here you have it:

This makes me laugh so hard because I don't remember having acne in college, so was my face just really dirty?!?

Life is so hard.

So, remember when I asked you guys  about whether I should go to Costa Rica or Jamaica?  Well, my husband and I actually made an alternate executive decision without asking your permission.  Are you mad?  Or, are you just proud of me for making a decision?

Turns out we're going on a cruise!  We booked the cruise yesterday! Since neither of us had the time to plan flights, accommodations, rental cars, excursions, etc.-- as we are both bogged down with school-- we decided to go the lazy route and just book a cruise.

We're going on a Norwegian cruise...

We leave out of New Orleans, Louisiana...

...then we go to Costa Maya, Mexico

... then we go to Belize

....then to Coxen Hole, Honduras

....then Cozumel, Mexico

Exciting right? Have any of you guys ever been on a cruise??

I have never been on a cruise, so I really have no idea what to expect. 

I have two main questions for you guys.

1.  Am I right in thinking I am supposed to bring some type of "formal attire" for the dinners?  I feel like whenever I have seen friends' cruise pictures, they're always wearing something fancy.  Is that right? If so, how fancy is it supposed to be?

2.  If you have been on a cruise, have you ever paid the extra money for the excursions?  Is it worth it?

If you have ANY cruise advice, that would be so fabulous.  

OR if you just want to tell me about a cruise you've been on, I'd love that to.  Unless you hated it. Don't tell me that, because we already paid the money and we can't back out now. 

Shine Giveaway Winner

And the winner is......

IRIS!!! 

Please send us your info so we can send you your Shine shirt!

READER SUBMISSION

Today we have Meg here from The Happy Hour!  Meg is our first dental hygienist e-roommate.  Over at her blog she occasionally gives little dental tips and I love it!  I always love getting tips from my roommates.   Besides that, she is gorgeous and has the best style and hair I've ever seen.  Here's Meg!

hello there, i'm meg from the happy hour and i need a girl(s) opinion, because my husband just isn't cutting it right now ;)

we see the chambray shirt grace us with it's presence in about every magazine, blog, pinterest, the list goes on. but do we see it at church?

that is my very question for you folks today. i know the style is all about whatever goes, goes. but, sometimes i feel at church you need to look a little better than you do on a weekday. 

and so i ask the duplex, can i wear the chambray shirt to church if i dress it up with heels and a nice necklace? or do i look like justin matice on hope floats? because, pretty sure my husband and i watched that this week and he had my same jcrew shirt on. no lie. you better believe my husband was thinking in his noggin why i had to have the jcrew one when he probably got his for 9.99 at an FFA (future farmers of america).

ps. does this outfit even work?  because, sometimes what i see in my head, is not how i pictured my bum in it!

Have a question for the Duplex? Email us at asktheduplex@gmail.com

Socks and Sandals

In high school I had a huge crush on a boy who wore socks and sandals. Like tevas. I thought it was so great how he didn't care at all, I mean socks and sandals is pretty bad.

I tell that small tidbit because everytime I wear tights and open toe shoes I feel a little socks and sandals-ish. Is there some unspoken rule that I'm not supposed to wear tights with open toe shoes?

This is my "hand on the hips pose because I just ate 4 slices of pizza"

Is it always a no-no? Or if it's not too noticeable it's okay?

The Amazing Lace, Roommate #3

So, do you guys remember when we told you about the Amazing Lace? 

Well, hold on to your seats because it is underway.  

This lace dress is traveling around to some of our favorite e-roommates.

Our lace has just traveled from Tennessee, to California, and now to Arizona.

We were so excited to send the lace to Arizona for Ashley from I Believe in Unicorns.

We've always loved her blog and her sassy style.

And of course, she amazed us with her styling!  Check out her lace.  

Check out the details of Ashley's look right here.

To see Monica and Whitney's lace outfit click here.

And get excited because the lace is headed to Kristen from 6th Street Design School next!!

and then soon after...get excited for these amazing ladies..

Sarah from Wearing It On My Sleeve

Morgan from Meet Virginia 

Anna from IHOD

Kristine from Kristine or Polly

Ashley from The Shine Project

Becca from Blue Cricket Design

Melissa from I Still Love You

Natalie from Nat the Fat Rat

Alycia from Crowley Party

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PS- Don't forget to enter the Shine giveaway!!

2 unrelated but equally important questions

A few months ago I posted a picture of me in some black stretch pants....

I got these stretch pants at H&M and they served me well for about 2 years. I have washed and worn them so they are now thread bare and I am in the market for some heavy duty, thick black stretch pants. Now I realize a lot of places carry stretch pants, but I am curious where YOU have found a nice quality pair???

And on antoher note, I have been debating all week if I should get these at the grocery store but I am SUPER curious how they are.  Have you tried Birthday Cake Oreos? I don't want to waste 4 bucks and then eat them if they are not worth it.

What's Your Favorite Print?

I bet you guys can't guess what my favorite print is.  Okay, well I have already told you here, but in case you didn't believe me, I have photographic proof.  12 items of photographic proof, to be exact.  

I started laughing yesterday when I was looking through my photos and realized how many polka dot clothing items I own.  I honestly didn't realize it until I was scrolling through my photos looking for the Valentine's outfits I posted about here.    

I am starting to realize that I need to branch out from the polka dot explosion.  

Do you guys have a print that you wear all the time?   What is your favorite print?

READER SUBMISSION

Man, we have a lot of gorgeous e-roommates.  Today we have Merrick from Merrick's Art here at the Duplex and I think you guys just might love her.  Cuz, we sure do.  Let's help her out with her query for her roommates, shall we?

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Hi Roommates! I'm Merrick from Merrick's Art, where I blog about personal style, refashioning and sewing clothes, and my really cute baby boy, Peanut. I'm super excited to be over here on Ask The Duplex this week! 


My question for you guys is about leather. I got this awesome leather jacket from my in-laws for Christmas, and I bought this pair of leather boots from Target several years ago (both are very faux, in case it isn't obvious enough).

I have worn them together a few times, but every time I do, I wonder if it's just too much leather. Like, am I channeling a biker chick? Cause that's not really my style.



What do you girls think? Keep the leather separate? Or pair it up and throw on a head bandana while I'm at it?

*****

Have a question for the Duplex?  Email us at asktheduplex@gmail.com

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Happy Valentine's Day from the Duplex!!  We have Ashley here from The Shine Project with a little Valentine's day giveaway.  Enjoy!

My name is Ashley, and I blog at The Shine Project.
I believe that each of us have the capability of changing the world.
I believe that we can do hard things, reach our goals, and light the lives of those around us.
I believe that we each have a unique purpose in this world, and that it's up to us to shine.

We're traveling the country this year, and hope that you'll join us when we get to your city!
We have planned SHINE events to make big impacts in different communities by reaching out and
serving those in need. You can find upcoming dates and places HERE.

I sell SHINE products to help be reminded of our daily reminder to SHINE.
A portion of all proceeds goes to The Shine Scholarship Project-
A Non-profit we created to send at-risk youth to college,
and get them involved in the community.
You can see the shop HERE.

Today, one of you will win your choice of SHINE T-SHIRT!




To enter the giveaway:

1. Follow The Shine Project blog HERE
2. Like TSP on Facebook HERE
3. Share about TSP with your facebook friends!

Please leave a comment below letting us know which one you've done!  Leave a new comment for each entry.

Winner will be announced on February 22!