Spring Wedding: Save or Splurge?

My fashion dilemma this week has been deciding what to wear for a wedding that Andrew and I are attending this weekend.
I was initially intending to wear something I already own, but while combing through my wardrobe, I realized that all of my "fancy" dresses are darker, jewel tones that just don't say "Spring Wedding".

I was envisioning.a pastel colored dress that was soft, flowing, and feminine.
Pinterest, as usual,  provided fabulous inspiration.....

Light Blue Floral {Love the quilted bag!}

Blush Pink....Nude heels....Gold jewels

Pink & Purple...Long and Flowing

I ventured to Piperlime and  H&M  found some cute dresses that fit the look I was hoping to achieve.
The H&M dress

H&M (Left) & Piperline (Right)

I'm always drawn to corals and pinks. I think they are flattering on almost anyone and if you have a tan, wearing corals and pinks will definitely enhance that!
Sadly, I wasn't able to locate either of the dresses pictured above on the Piperlime or H&M websites.
 The H&M dress was priced at $24.95 and the Piperlime dress was priced at $108.00.

Save or Splurge?!?
I say "Save" in this case...
While it may be hard to tell from this photo, the color and feel of both fabrics were nearly identical. Both dresses were comfortable and fit pretty well, but I prefer the detail of the V-neck. $24.95 for this dress is well-worth it! Woo!

Front Views
H&M (Left) & Piperline (Right)

The light purple H&M Dress immediately caught my eye because of the lace. Nothing says femininity more than lace!!! I also loved the lilac color...Priced at $29.95, I was happy to add this to my shopping bag.  {If I wasn't looking for a wedding-appropriate dress, I would have been tempted to purchase this in the white version...I love how the aqua peeks through the lace and makes the lace POP!}

The Tinley Road Cutout Back Fit & Flare Dress looks pretty conservative from the front, but when you flip it over, you see the fun cutout in the back. {This photo doesn't do it justice...it's pretty flattering when it's on!} Though the dress description on the website says "blush pink", I'd characterize it as more of a pink-purple. The price was $69.99, which wasn't horrible. 

Back Views
H&M (Left) & Piperline (Right)

                                                                  Save or Splurge?!?

 I'm slightly torn on this, but again, I say "Save"...While I like the unique cutout detail on the Piperlime dress, I prefer the lace and shade of purple on the H&M dress. 

I used $20 in Gap Card Rewards on my Piperlime purchases, but now that they're both going to be returned, I may use the rewards to purchase a fun necklace or earrings :)

{BONUS!}  The best part about all of these dresses is that by adding a crisp blazer, ballet flats, and accessories like a chunky necklace or light scarf, all of these dresses can be work-appropriate. None of them are too short or too low-cut.

Workout Wednesday: The Bar Method

I've been wanting to try a ballet barre class for awhile, and finally got my chance. A good friend of mine swears by it, and when she invited me join her for a class, I jumped at the opportunity!

What is The Bar Method?

The Bar Method claims to create a "uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles."

Where? 

There are studio locations all over the country, but we took a class down at the SoHo location. I was immediately impressed by the beautiful studio and friendly staff. The studio is fresh, clean, and modern. The locker room is also spotless (a huge priority of mine!) and equipped with all of the amenities that you could hope for.

The Class

I was really nervous for my first class, but kept reminding myself to keep an open mind and try my best. The instructor knew I was new to the class so she was extra friendly. She gave me corrections and advice throughout the entire class, which while slightly embarrassing, were appreciated. 

The classes last an hour, but because you're moving from one exercise to another so quickly, times flies! Some of the movements felt pretty awkward, but that's because I'm not a natural dancer. Some Many of the movements also made my muscles burn, but isn't that the point of the class?!

After 

Right after the class, I felt pleasantly tired and stretched out BUT a couple hours later, I was already really sore. {Honestly, I was sore for 3 days after the class, and that was with riding & running to try to work out the stiffness....YIKES!} 

Opinion

After take just one class, I am sold! In my opinion, The Bar Method is really a total body workout and I especially like that it integrates several types of workouts: ballet, strength training, yoga, and pilates. As I said before, I felt like the class flew by, and I liked that because the movements require so much focus, I was able to "turn off" my brain from anything else that was bothering me. 

The studio offers a New Client Special {One month of unlimited classes for $150} which I did purchase. {So much for saving money....at least the money was spent on something that will help me get in shape for summer and the wedding...} I've attended 3 classes since signing up, and  though they're still challenging, they definitely get easier as you do more classes. So happy I finally tried it!

Have you ever tried Barre? What was your opinion of it?

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

My mom doesn't read my blog, but I still wanted to acknowledge the day here on P&P.  I'm lucky to have such a supportive mom!!

The Spring Tulip Wreath I made for my mom