fixations

 

You guys. Remember how in my April Budget post I said that I had ordered this Gap blazer online because I wanted it in a "tall", and because they were having a 30% already reduced items promotion? Well, it came yesterday and I'M IN LOVE I'M IN LOVE and I don't care who knows it! It is so cute. It's that bright and fun blazer I wanted when I ordered this floral blazer, but it's going to be so much more versatile and actually wearable. I feel so content with this purchase, a feeling I didn't have when I ordered that Zara blazer. I'm really excited to wear it!

Okay, so now about today's actual topic: things that make me uncomfortable. I don't know how much this qualifies, but I'm a person who fixates on repetitive motions or sounds, which annoys me and therefore makes me uncomfortable. Does that make sense? For example: pen clickers. or people who twirl their hair. or foot tappers. or whistlers. or even worse, hummers. I get so distracted by those motions or out of place noises that I just fixate on them and how much I hate it, and I just want to crawl out of my skin. In college there was a girl in my physiology class who always happened to sit in front of me no matter where I sat, and she was a hair twirler. I always had to hold up a notebook to shield my eyes. I would sometimes even "accidentally" kick her chair to see if it would startle her out of the twirling. It never worked.

There you have it, people of the internet. I am a crazy person.

Shirt: Forever 21* [similar]

Cardigan: NY&Co.

Jeans: American Eagle [exact]

Glasses: c/o Firmoo

Necklace: Forever 21 [exact - I'd love the silver too!]

Watch: Target

Shoes: Tory Burch [save | exact]

*This shirt used to have sleeves, but it's also from Forever 21...which means the quality isn't always the most reliable. It lasted a good 6 months but then the sleeves just started to tear on the cuffs. I cut off the sleeves and it's now a great layering shirt :)

via Instagram.

Also, this outfit is a direct copy of this pin. I knew it would be the perfect inspiration for the Pantone Color Challenge!

5 Days, 5 Ways

It was so so bright out when I tried to take these pictures - my eyes are either closed in the pictures, I look angry, or I look like this. You just can't win! 

In other not weather related news, Whitney and I will be holding a week long link up the week of the 25th of March called 5 Days, 5 Ways. As women who blog about their every day style with their every day closets, we repeat item pieces all the time and we're always so inspired by you guys when we see all the different ways you've worn something.

This link up is an opportunity to share how you've styled certain items different ways - you can either pull looks from your archives, make new ones, or even make polyvore sets of how you would wear that piece of clothing different ways (and if you can't come up with 5, do 3 or 4! or be an over achiever and come up with 10! no hard rules here kids). The first two days will link to me (tops and pants) and the last three days will link to Whitney (accessories, dresses, and casual Friday looks). We will of course remind you of everything the closer we get, but now you have a few weeks to come up with some ideas, or find a new way to wear something you've worn a lot in the past.

I really hope you guys join us - I'm so excited to see all the ways you've worn items already in your closets!

Blouse: Forever 21  [very similar]
Sweater: J.Crew Fact. [exact on sale | splurge]
Jeans: Joe's Jeans*  [same style]
Necklace: Forever 21  [similar]
Watch: Fossil  [similar]
Shoes: Tory Burch  [exact]
Nails: Essie Berry Naughty





*I've come to realize that as comfortable as skinny jeans are, I think that bootcut jeans help balance out all the junk I have going on in the hip region. I'd love to own another pair of these jeans, possibly in a longer inseam so that I can wear them with wedges (I think I could probably get away with that at work). I've been stalking eBay for a pair in my size so wish me luck - $180 just isn't something I'm willing to drop on jeans right now but I can probably manage $50 ;)

via instagram

Have a great weekend!






Linking up with Plane Pretty.

Necklaced

I'm a huge huge fan of Lilly's Style and Hello, Gorgeous. After pinning the same type of their outfits several different times, I figured I needed to try it out for myself. I've already been working on the button-up under the sweater, so all that was needed was the necklace. My mom got me this necklace as a little Christmas gift and it was the perfect piece to try it out.

Turns out I over think just about everything as this wasn't a huge sartorial risk - I just need to try things instead of hmming and hawing about it for a year ;)

Sweater: Target  {exact}
Blouse: Forever 21  {similar}
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Necklace: Gift  {exact, similar}
Watch: Fossil  {save, similar}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}
Nails: seen here

via Instagram

ladylike

I felt very girly wearing this blush, black and white outfit. I don't really own a lot of items in the pink family besides this cardigan, my pink chambray shirt and my LC blazer. Although I would consider myself pretty girly in the sense that I like clothes, painting my nails and not getting dirty, I don't really do pink. I don't have some deep explanation for this. Maybe my parents dressed me in only gender neutral clothing as a child so now I've continued this in adulthood?

Ok, I'll stop now ;)

Last day left to win one of these purse tassels! 

Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet  {similar}

Blouse: Forever 21  {save, similar}

Pants: Urban Outfitters  {exact}

Earrings: Tiffany & Co.  {save / exact}

Necklace: Souvenir from Germany  {similar / splurge}

Watch: Fossil  {save / very similar}

Bracelets: Forever 21

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs  {exact on sale}

Purse: Kate Spade {save / similar}

via Instagram

November Budget

1. J. Crew Factory Tippi: $70 + 50% off = $35
2. Forever 21 Striped Top {seen here}: $20
3. American Eagle Skinny Jeans {seen here}: on sale for $35
4. Urban Outfitters Staring at Stars Cardigan {seen here}: $69
5. Forever 21 Polka Dot Contrast Scarf: $13
6. Banana Republic Outlet Earrings {seen on instagram}: $7
7. J. Crew Outlet Perfect Gingham: $60 + 50% off = $30
8. Loft Sequin Striped Tee {seen here}: $50 + 40% off = $30

November Budget: $239







While this is $90 over my self-imposed budget, I sold over $120 worth of clothes on eBay this month, so I feel that it kind of evens out how much I spent. I should have been smarter about purchases this month as I spent a majority of this month's spendings (~$120) over the Thanksgiving week (the 2 J. Crew tops, the Loft top, the scarf and the earrings). I felt like I was holding back on purchases as there were several items I put back in their place instead of taking them to the register, but again, writing it down makes me realize that those 5 items add up quickly. I think December will be much better for my budget. I have quite a few new items that I already have several ideas for (look for a post about this later this week!) and my family is also not exchanging gifts this year for Christmas as we are going on a family vacation, so that will keep me away from the mall as well.

How did you do this month? Did you find some awesome deals during the Black Friday sales? Do you put away money the rest of the year to save for this weekend? Link up with Budgeting Bloggers below -  please make sure you link back so your readers can discover other budgeting bloggers.



P.S. Don't forget to enter the Leather Tassel Giveaway!

Stripes and Cargo

I've been on the look out for a blue and white striped button up blouse for a while, ever since I saw one on Alternations Needed and J's Everyday Fashion. Kelly's was too expensive, and J's was too boxy on me, so I was thrilled when I found this inexpensive and longer version at Forever 21. I've been really pleased with my last few purchases there because I'm finally figuring out what sections to avoid (like 90% of the store) and what just won't fit me (blazers, all dresses/skirts, pants).

Even though I just wore this vest last week (and although my coworker Emily hates it), I knew it was what I wanted to wear with it first. For someone who wasn't sure about keeping it, I sure am wearing it a lot. Were you ever unsure about a purchase and then ended up loving it?

Blouse: Forever 21 {similar}

Vest: Old Navy  {similar}

Belt: Target

Jeans: American Eagle  {exact, on sale}

Watch: Fossil  {very similar}

Ring: Present from my Mom

Shoes: Tory Burch  {20% off with code FANDF}

Nails: OPI My Throne for a Cranberry Scone

P.S. Going back to blond. Step 2 commences in December. Happy early Birthday Mom! ;)

P.P.S. With J. Crew's 25% of online sale going on, I'm thinking about getting this vest. Does anyone have an experience with it? It's exactly what I've been looking for, but we all know how deceiving online pictures are!

linking up with Real Girl Glam and WIWW.