Brandy Saldana – Page 9 – Will Bake for Shoes

6 Items to List on Poshmark

Posted on January 12, 2016by Brandy Saldana

I try to edit my closet throughout the year, but the beginning of the year feels like a great time to clean out all the excess and unworn items in my closet. After all, a new year is the opportunity for a new you. My favorite place to sell has been on Poshmark and if you are in the mood to start cleaning out your closet, but don’t know where to start, here are 6 items you can get rid of now! Your closet and wallet will thank you. If you haven’t downloaded the app, get it here and use my referral code HAEWR for $10 credit to use on your next purchase since you’ll have made plenty of room to treat yourself with after selling your unworn items!
Here are 6 items you can get rid of from your closet now:
1. The Party Dress: The dress you bought on sale to wear to a Holiday or New Year’s Eve Party, but ended up not wearing because it was too cold or because you stayed home. Let it go so it can actually be worn by someone else to a wedding, bachelorette party or for Girls Night Out.
BCBG MaxAzria Merlot Dress: Shop hereDVF Treenie Metallic Dress: Shop here
2. Shoes that Don’t Fit: I don’t believe I am the only one guilty of buying designer shoes just because the price was right. Instead of letting your bad investment collect dust in your closet, list them to buy shoes that actually fit! Bonus points if they have a dust bag or their original box!

Jimmy Choo d’Orsay Champagne Heels: Shop here

3. Clothes that Don’t Fit: It should go without saying that buying any clothes that are not your size will result in regret, even if it is a designer item. To remove the most bulk from your closet, try listing jackets, coats or sweaters you are not wearing anymore so they can sell quickly for the current season.

Marc Jacobs Coat: Shop here
4. Accessories: When I love something, I might buy it in every color if I get the chance, and that is really easy to do with accessories. I start thinking that the pieces I buy will become part of my “uniform,” but the idea doesn’t go as planned and I end up sticking to one color and forgetting about the rest. Sell the accessories you have been holding on to, but haven’t worn, and make room for different pieces.

Forever 21 Glitter Scarf: Shop Silver version hereForever 21 Glitter Scarf : Shop Black version here5. An Item That is New with Tags: I have definitely been guilty of buying something with the intention to use it, and later changing my mind and being unable to return it. I am pretty sure I am not the only one guilty of having something hang around in my closet only because it is still brand new. If something has been in your closet with tags on it for more than 3 months, it might be time to list it. Seller Tip: When listing an item New With tags, make sure to select Yes, but don’t hit the New With Tags Retail button. New With Tags Retail is meant to identify items that are from a wholesaler and items were never tagged like typical stores do.

Kate Spade Bubble Over Coin Purse: Shop here6. Jewelry: If a statement necklace or pair of earrings you received over the holidays doesn’t fit your style, sell it instead of letting it get scratched up in your jewelry box. Or if you have jewelry from an ex boyfriend, it might be easier to part with that jewelry in exchange for some extra cash. The best thing about these items is that they tend to be one size fits all, like accessories, which is great for getting more traffic to your closet!
Kate Spade Tres Chic Earrings: Shop here
After you have some of the these items up on the app, share share share and you’ll be making some extra cash in no time. I hope you this list is helpful in getting you started on Poshmark, or helpful in identifying what to list next. I would love to see your closet and what you’ve listed so I can share your items, so please tag me @willbakeforshoe on the app or share your closet link in a comment for this post!

I’ll be sharing more Poshmark tips in the next few months, so make sure to follow me on Bloglovin and feel free to ask me any questions about the app!

Holiday
...
- Outfit

Lights

Posted on January 8, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Yellow Jewel Tone Top Simply Vera Wang | Neon Lights Pleated Midi Skirt Chicwish (here) | Gold Bourgeois Bow Earrings, Say Yes Gold Cheers Necklace, and Vegas Jewels Bangle Kate Spade New York | Leather Tassel Wrap Bracelets E. Kammeyer Accessories (here) | Cliff Grey Cedar Street Maise Bag Kate Spade New York (similar here) | Red Suede Heels Diane von Furstenberg (similar) | Bright Red Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick YSL |
My first outfit post for 2016!
I originally wore this outfit to my office’s holiday party and loved it so much I had to repeat it again for Christmas Eve. The neon light print skirt reminds me of city lights, but when I purchased the skirt I knew I had to wear it during the holidays for its Christmas lights effect. I thrifted my jewel toned top, and it was the perfect compliment to the skirt.
I love the pleats and pockets on this skirt, but it does fit me a little gig in the waist area. I am torn deciding having it tailored or selling it on Poshmark. Because it is the beginning o the year, I am taking a hard look at what is in my closet and preparing to part with things I haven’t worn in years. Having blog photos makes it easier to list items, but also is a great way to see if i truly loved something based on how many times I used it. Follow me on the app (username: willbakeforshoe) to see what I list since quite a few items will be ones I’ve shared on my blog.
I hope your year is off to a great start and I look forward to sharing tips to cleaning out your closet soon!

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

Holiday
...
- Outfit

Holiday Plaid

Posted on December 30, 2015by Brandy Saldana

Red Plaid Button Down Express (similar) | Navy and Black High Waist Skirt Express (here) | Skinny Gold Metal Bow Headband, Gold Bourgeois Bow Earrings, Say Yes Gold Cheers Necklace, and Vegas Jewels Bangle Kate Spade New York | Leather Tassel Wrap Bracelets E. Kammeyer Accessories (here) | Black Princess Coat Steve Madden (here) | Red Suede Heels Diane von Furstenberg (similar here) | Le Rouge 307 Grenat Initie Lipstick Givenchy (here) Happy Holidays!
Last time I shared a baking post and since then I had not been feeling as inspired to blog.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of outfits I can wear and plenty of content to share, but not blogging these past two weeks has given me the opportunity to reset and to really think about what this website’s future will look like. I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with brands, but lately it feels like that’s all I get to share instead of my own content. I started blogging as a hobby, and while I am not getting requests to work on things everyday, it adds up since work is involved with any sponsored post. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t want my blog’s success to be measured with the number of sponsored posts I’ve worked on. I also don’t know how I would measure my blog’s success, and that is still something I am trying to figure out for myself.
I got to really enjoy life these past two weeks, primarily because I was present in the moment for get-togethers with friends and family. I wasn’t on my phone as much taking photos or trying to get the perfect shot and caption ready for Instagram. I was really enjoying the company of the people around me and really trying to absorb the holiday spirit. I felt Christmas went by too fast, even without spending too much time on a screen, and feel the year is ending too soon. Despite those feelings, I am ready for the New Year and for the opportunities to take risks and try new things. There are changes I have been thinking about and just need to decide to make them.
And now on to the outfit details:
This outfit is what I wore on Christmas Day. I found the plaid top at Express early in December and managed to pick up the last one in my size. I do not typically pick up button downs, although I realize with this top just how comfy they are. I was on the hunt for a black and red plaid button down, and this was one I liked the most. It isn’t flannel, but I like that this top can be dressed up or down. I paired it with one of my Express skirts I picked up from last year and my red suede DVF heels I scored from Marshall’s.
I picked up some goodies for myself during the last Kate Spade Surprise sale and bought the Skinny Mini Metal headband and Vegas Jewel Bangle along with a few other items as gifts. Signing up to be alerted for Surprise Sales can be dangerous, but it is a great way to find great gifts at a lower price point.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the holidays so far and I look forward to sharing more in the New Year!

DIY Holiday Cookie Gift Jars with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Cookie Recipe

Posted on December 7, 2015by Brandy Saldana

While browsing through Pinterest for baked good gift ideas, I have noticed a lot of the cookies in mason jars have layered dry ingredients that include baking instructions. While these type of mason jars look pretty, the last thing anyone wants is another task during the holidays. So instead of giving your friends or loved ones a mason jar filled with cookie mix, why not take the extra step and bake cookies for them? I used NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE products to create the two types of holiday cookies inside of my mason jar gift containers. These would make a great gift for a loved one and I am excited to share how I made these!

The two cookies in my mason jars included Dark Chocolate Peppermint and Holiday Chocolate Chip. The Dark Chocolate Peppermint cookies are in a precut refrigerated cookie dough and a dozen are ready in less than 30 minutes.

I broke out the squares and placed them on the baking sheet after preheating the oven to 350 degrees. I rolled them after spacing the 12 cookies so they wouldn’t have a square shape after baking.

I took out the cookies and placed a second tray right after for the same amount of time. I removed the first batch from their baking sheet and placed on a wire rack to cool. The came out pretty thin, but I love how the peppermint chunks looked. When I tried them, they were fudgy and I loved the mix of peppermint chunks and semi-sweet morsels. They were all the perfect size to fit inside the mason jars (if you are using mason jars, look for ones with a wide opening.)

I liked that the Dark Chocolate Peppermint cookies were really easy to make, but I wanted to bake some of my own chocolate chip cookies using the NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Holidays Morsels. I took the recipe from the back of the Holiday Morsels bag, but substituted the nuts with 1 cup of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Bittersweet Morsels. This felt like the best way to remix a classic for the holidays. I will admit that I have never baked cookies for my blog because the last time I attempted to bake cookies, it resulted in crispy, burnt mess. I was a little nervous attempting this recipe, but I think I have learned the trick to making soft, chewy cookies. If you learn anything from this post it is that butter should be at room temperature before creamed with sugar to result in soft, cookies.

print recipe

NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookiesby Nestle December-6-2015Ingredients2 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour1 Tsp. Baking Soda1 Tsp. Salt1 Cup (2 Sticks) Butter, softened3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract2 Large Eggs1 2/3 Cups (10 oz bag) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Holiday Morsels1 Cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Bittersweet MorselsInstructionsPreheat oven to 375 F.
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in 1 cup of each of the morsels. Drop dough with a rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Top dollops with remaining morsels.Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheets on wire racks for 2 minutes and move to wire racks to cool completely. DetailsPrep time: 15 mins Cook time: 13 mins Total time: 28 mins Yield: 4 1/2 Dozen Cookies

Once the cookies have cooled down, they are ready to be placed inside the mason jars! I found these Spritz mason jars in the holiday section at Target on sale for $2.40 each. They came with the red ribbon and I had holiday ornaments ready to place on them. These came with gift tags on the lids, but one can easily be tied around the jar. I mixed a few of the different cookies together in some and kept them all the same in the rest. These make a great, inexpensive gift for the holidays and can easily be customized with decorations or items you have on hand. Add a twig from a pine tree, mistletoe, or a fake poinsettia flower to decorate the jar. You can always use boxes or Tupperware as your container, but I love that mason jars are budget-friendly and can be used as a glass cup with milk for the cookies.
Baking for the holidays is easier with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE and I hope this gives you inspiration to bake for someone special this holiday season. For more baking inspiration, check out their Pinterest page here. To save on your baking, enjoy these coupons for NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE products. These coupons are limited and only available while supplies last!
Save $0.50 when you buy one (1) Nestlé® Toll House® Refrigerated Cookie DoughSave $0.50 when you buy one (1) Nestlé® Toll House® Frozen Cookie DoughSave $0.50 when you buy one (1) Nestlé® Toll House® Morsels
To make it easier to bake, I’ll be hosting a giveaway on Instagram, so make sure to follow me @willbakeforshoes for a chance to enter and win!
Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

Everyday
...
- Outfit

Stripes and Spikes

Posted on December 5, 2015by Brandy Saldana

Black Wool Hat Forever 21 (similar) | Denim Jacket Kut from the Kloth via LE TOTE | Tan and Black Striped Sweater 525 America | Ultimate Skinny Black Pants Calvin Klein | Black Silk Scarf Marc Jacobs for Neiman Marcus x Target | Grey Leather Studded Wrap Tassel Bracelet and Gold Leather Wrap Tassel Bracelet E. Kammeyer Accessories (here/here) | Say the Word – Play the Wild Card Bangle Kate Spade (similar) | Gold Spiked Bracelet LE TOTE | Black Petal to Metal Natasha Cross Body Bag Marc Jacobs | Holt Suede Spike Booties Circus by Sam Edelman (here) | Le Rouge 307 Grenat Initie Lipstick Givenchy (here) | Photos by Chanda Stacker
Happy Friday!
I have a love-hate relationship with the cold weather. I am stoked to layer, but there comes a point where style begins to take a backseat when it is really cold. This jacket is best for transitional weather (not for cold, SF winters), but I love how versatile it has been. I am so glad I kept it after renting it through LE TOTE because it was my go-to jacket for the Summer and Fall. I can’t get enough of it and can’t wait until the warmer weather rolls back around so I can wear it again. These photos are from a cold, gray day in the Summer, but I styled similar looks using the denim jacket throughout Fall.
I layered a couple of pieces in this outfit, but my favorite layers are the bracelets I wear. The tassel bracelets I wear on the daily are by E. Kammeyer Accessories, and I discovered this brand at Posh Fest last year. I am happy to announce that my readers get 30% off using the promo code WILLBAKEHOLIDAY.
The gold leather wrap tassel is one of the best neutrals and goes with everything, but either of them would make a great stocking stuffer or gift to your friends and family. Her website has other accessories, but the bracelets are my favorite!
Let me know if you pick anything accessories up, either as gift for others or for yourself and stay tuned for gift ideas!
Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

November Instagram Recap

Posted on December 3, 2015by Brandy Saldana

November was jam-packed with some fun events. I loved spending the short holiday break with my family and attending a mix of fashion and food related events. Enjoy my recap of November and follow me on Instagram at willbakeforshoes.

I made my way to Brit & Co. to learn some hosting tips a great Friendsgiving. There were fun DIY projects and delicious bites. Chelsea wrote up a blog post of the event titled 6 tips for host the Friendsgiving. (You’ll spot my arm party making a cameo in her blog post as I put together my succulent plant and decorated the pot it came in.)

I attended the official Posh Fest Happy Hour hosted at Les Mechantes in Ghirardelli Square. The place was packed and I wore my San Fran Cisco Tee from the store. I ended up twinning with the MC of Posh Fest, Amanda, when we ran into each other at the shop!

I attended Posh Fest for the third time in November and loved hanging out with the PFFs I’ve made through the app, learning how others have utilized the new features, and getting to dress up for the weekend was a blast. I get to sell items from my closet and spend time with others who love fashion as much as I do. What is not to love?

This was my outfit for day 1 of Posh Fest. I love this dress that I scored at Crossroads Trading Co, and it is originally from Anthropologie. I am not sure if I’ll be doing a separate blog post for this look, but I just had to share it again because I love this dress and wore it again for Thanksgiving dinner.

Right after Posh Fest, Chanda invited me to attend a tour with a few other bloggers of Mr. Espresso, also known as Oakland Roasted Coffee. We were able to try a few of their different roasts and paired them with baked goods from Crispian Bakery. Getting to tour the factory was really cool and learning of the story firsthand from a company I see every time I am on BART heading to the city was a nice bonus.
We also enjoyed a delicious meal after the tour at a restaurant in Oakland called Hopscotch. That experience deserves its own blog post and is coming soon.

I was invited by Polyvore to attend a meet up at the Rebecca Minkoff store on Fillmore Street for a Q&A with Rebecca Minkoff and Polyvore CEO Jess Lee. I picked up a new coin purse and phone case and had my MAC purse signed by Rebecca Minkoff! The other highlights of the meet up were talking to Jess Lee about anime shows on Netflix and tasting some of the colorful meringues by The Grand Meringue.

In the middle of the Grand Re-Opening of Macy’s in Walnut Creek, I attend a cooking demo hosted by Rick Bayless. His dishes centered around a green adobo sauce. There were no seats when I arrived and I missed out on tasting the appetizer ideas for the holidays, but the scents wafting through the air indicated these appetizers were delicious. He stuck around to meet and greet his fans and sign copies of his complimentary cookbooks when you spent $35 or more in the kitchen department.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. I am grateful to have you spend time and read my recaps (and other posts), but mostly for the support. I love being able to write and share what I am up to and what I am passionate about.
Thanks for reading and let’s make the most of the last month of 2015!