Budgets...

...I'm terrible at them. Especially clothing/beauty budgets. Plus I feel like when I am trying to be good and I see an item I really love and say to myself  "I'll just wait for now" and when I can't stop thinking about it and go back for it its gone that I've lost a battle and then I binge shop to soften the blow.

I've been inspired by fellow bloggers Fran and Kaitlin to start a budget...in September. Due to my recent spontaneous online purchases (on my credit card no less) I'm making August a no spend month.

Its seems like every July I binge- hardcore- on shopping. Online, in store, thrift- you name it. Last year it was Gap and Old Navy. 

It was right around the time I decided to start a blog after I had discovered my first fashion blog -J's Everyday Fashion c/o Pinterest. I was inspired by her picks and I had a whole new perspective when I went shopping and even found a few of the same pieces she had. What a rush. I was a born again shop-aholic.

Also with this post I realized I've been blogging (off and on) for a year now. Time flies.

Fast forward to a year later and I've expanded my shopping horizons and blog roll and my need to keep up with the Joneses is even worse. Sometimes I have to check myself- like this August.

I'm also thinking of selling some items I know I haven't worn or will not wear. The things I purchase now are a lot different then a year ago and what I want is to have a perfectly curated closet- ready for any event or moment. A mix of trendy and classic and one that's tailored to my lifestyle. More casual than business. Pulled together, not frumpy. Girly, yet edgy. That's not too much to ask right?



Do you keep a budget? Do you stick to it?
Happy Hump Day!

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Faded Blues

These are my favorite pair of jeans. I mean they aren't really anything special and the color is hella faded and the stretch is at its max but they're my go-to. The length, the feel, the comfort, I crave it. Or more like I'm lazy a lot sometimes and need to wear them for something quick. 

The scarf makes the outfit really. Its a basic black button up and old jeans. Well the scarf and the shoes really. Cause the shoes are what I really wanted to wear. I've been trying and failing to pair them with every outfit I've worn since they've come in the mail. I wore them once or twice with a sweatshirt or oversized sweater to run out real quick. Other than that its either raining or snowing and boooo to you mother nature!

Todays events were nothing but a trip to the mall to score some spring duds. So why not be comfy, right?

laughter is the best medicine

Shirt: Old Navy (old)

Jeans: Old Navy (old)

Jacket: Wet Seal (also seen here)

Sneakers: Steve Madden 

Scarf: Express

Watch: Target

Bracelet:Charming Charlie

Shopping and coffee with friends

Scarf: similar, similar

Shoes: actual, similar, similar

I wore this outfit for a casual day at the mall for coffee and pedis with friends. This was my first time wearing my new wedge sneakers. When they first started coming out I wasn't sold. I've never been a huge fan of sneakers with everyday clothes- it seems just a little too relaxed. With yoga pants or sweats sure. (But really...never wear sweats in public unless its to the gym mmmkay?) And definitely not with a cardi sweater. 

I bought the shoes on a whim to try them on with different styles at home. It wasn't until I asked my fiances opinion that I was hooked. He said he actually liked them. ::GASP::

He never says things like that. 

I lie. 

He does tell me what he likes and doesn't like on me and he's honest every time. I know because there's been times when I think something looks smoking  hot and he says...meh. 

& Vice versa

Anyways he says to me I look comfortable and relaxed and meanwhile I feel taller and just a wee bit more confident with the wedge. So I kept them. They were perfect for mall exercises.

steve madden olympiaa wedge

Then I bought this pair after seeing DulceCandy on Instagram with them. 

It was a steal from Delias at $50 shipped cause Google told me they were going for $100 everywhere else. It was on sale- last in my size- perfect color- love at first sight status.  I had no where to go but I didn't want to take them off. 

The rest of the outfit is tired but true. Gap tee, Old Navy jeans and Target   cardigan been in my closet forever. The scarf is the most recent purchase last fall when I was on the hunt for a animal print scarf  and obsessed with colored everything. 

Lets be real...I still am. 

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xoxo

P.S. I managed my first sock bun! It took me a few tries and maybe a little frustration (thank you layers) but I got it! What should I try next??

August Challenge/ Charming Charlie haul!

Anyone else get just overwhelmed in life? with life? with everything? From work to school to relationships, friendships, family? Everyone is getting married or having babies or moving away. Raising children, raising a puppy, planning a wedding, planning a friends wedding and all the showers and parties. That is just me. I know that everyone has their own set of overwhelming life challenges. 

Well one of my coping mechanisms is shopping. 

I take retail therapy literally.  

Recently, as I was trying to symbolically re-order my life I noticed that I bought the same shirt and didn't even realize it. Same shirt same price same store. That's how impulsive my shopping habits have become. 

After this little revelation, combined with the many events I have coming up this month I decided to make my own challenge. 

I'm not going to shop in August. No clothes. no sales.No "i worked overtime so I have some cash to blow" Nope. None of that. I was also inspired by a blog I came across (which of course I can't find now) in which she challenged herself to not shop for a month and succeeded. 

This isn't exactly a "remix". Though I'm sure when the holidays roll around I'll be interested in that. I've had some time to map out a plan. Meaning: I've done a lot of shopping in July so I may be wearing items that are new to me. I also may have went to Charming Charlie on the 31st and came back with a haul. =/

Anyway I've employed my fiance to help strengthen my will power but I'd love to hear from you! 

Have you ever tried to not shop for a month? Have you succeeded? What are your tactics to reducing and resisting temptation? (also, am i crazy for trying this now with all the back to school sales and summer clearances happening??)

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peace love and (not)shopping

=)

And now...some pictures...

this is my new clothing rack/shelving. Because I have so many articles of clothing my cheaper version cracked in half. And my clothes were everywhere. EVERYWHERE. And that's Roxie making a guest appearance. 

This is the finished product. About and hour and a half and lots of sweat later (it was so muggy this night). Even the fiance said to me "you must really love this because you keep coming back in here. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and a sense of "ahhh" if you will. Just knowing what I have is so easily accessible now and (hopefully) I won't be buying duplicates anytime soon. =)

This was my Charming Charlie haul! I savored each and every second in the store because I knew it'd be a while before we met again. I'll compare it to when you know you're starting a diet on Monday so you savor each and every bite of the last "cheat" meal. I could seriously spend buttloads in this store. There's not only jewels but clothing, shoes and purses too. 

In retrospect I should have purchased the jeweled collar shirt I saw but I was way too enamored with the jewelry. So I'm thinking a DIY is in order! August should be so much fun!

Also everyone should check out Charming Charlie online or on Twitter (@CharmingCharlie) and Facebook!