1902

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a red Equipment blouse and said that I'm already looking for a nude version. I found this cream blouse while shopping the other day at H&M - it's a great alternative! It's not 100% silk but that means I don't have to take it into the dry cleaners ;)   I'm excited to have a white button up that I really enjoy as I think it's a timeless piece of clothing to own. I kept on telling my best friend Hannah how excited I was to "find the perfect white shirt" which saying and typing out just sounds kind of silly but  for me, it was exciting!

Blouse: H&M {exact, save, splurge}
Jeans: Banana Republic {similar}
Shoes: Crown Vintage {save, spend, splurge}
Belt: very very old
Bracelets: J. Crew, Forever 21
Nails: Seen here

This necklace is a gift that my maternal grandmother gave me several years ago. I haven't worn it since the chain it was on was too long. I did a little metal working this morning and changed out the chain. The pendant is an old German coin from 1902.  It's pretty neat wearing a piece of history around your neck!

Linking up with A Little Bit of Lacquer

Summertime Sadness

This is not my favorite manicure of all time. I wanted to keep it light and "summery" but I'm so excited for fall that I wanted to use my copper glitter. So there you have it folks. I'm trying to cut back on buying nail polishes right now since I have heaps of them, but sometimes I'm bored with what I have. Are you ever uninspired when it comes to doing your nails? Or is this such a #firstworldproblem that I should just shut up?

Linking up with the Nail Files and Mani Monday

Base: Julep Renee
Glitter: OPI Traffic Stopper Copper

Remember you have 2 ways to get a box of Julep Maven for 1 cent or less!

1. You can get your own box by taking the beauty quiz here and then get your first box for only a penny.  Use the code MAVENINTRO.

2. Julep Maven and I are holding a giveaway to give you the chance to win a beauty box!  It is open to all US and Canadian residents. Enter here!

Please let me know if you decide to order a box through my link so I can thank you properly :)

Sparkled

Happy (haha, yeah right) Monday everyone! I don't really have much to say about today or this outfit except that I've been looking for a sparkly necklace like this one forever. Just like that pearl bib necklace, I knew if I waited long enough that Forever 21 would eventually make one. I found it randomly hanging with the rings in the jewelry section while shopping with my best friend. It was the only one left in the store - fate :)

Shirt: Calvin Klein Outlet {save, spend, splurge}
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {save, exact}
Necklace: Forever 21  {exact}
Belt: Madewell  {similar}
Shoes: Rocket Dog
Watch: Boccia
Nails: Seen here - Enter the Julep Giveaway!

Edited to add the close-up...because who writes an entire post about a necklace and then doesn't show it?







Linking up with Real Girl Glam

SSS: Pink Crossbody Bag

Cross body bags have always been my favorite type of purse. You can just sling them on and have both hands free. I recently found my new favorite bag, a green Kate Spade crossbody bag, at Nordstrom Rack. I love it, but my eyes have always been on the search for a pink one as well. Of course I would love another Kate Spade but it is completely out of my budget. Luckily there are some more budget friendly options :)

Save: Target
Spend: Steve Madden
Splurge: Kate Spade (no longer available in store but found on eBay)

P.S. Interested in winning a Julep Maven Box? Enter here!

Julep Maven Giveaway

A few months ago after receiving my third Birchbox and being disappointed for a third time, I was reading a blog talking about the newest beauty box they received, a Julep Maven box. I was intrigued by what the Julep box offers : $40+ worth of nail products for $20. There were three factors that I especially liked about this beauty box: the fact that you get a preview each month of what you would receive so you can opt out if you don't want to pay for it, you can get your first box for a penny, and you can earn free boxes by referring others. I figured I had nothing to lose by spending 1 penny to receive 2 ~free $15 nail polishes.

I received my first box right before the 4th of July and was immediately a fan. The polish goes on smoothly, it  is long lasting, and best of all, it is toxin free. I also really like the brush - it allows you to make very clean and straight lines. You can see my first two manicures from my first box here and here. 

This manicure was made used Natasha and Oscar from June's Bombshell box*. I think the colors are perfect for summer! I used Natasha as the base, waited for it to completely dry, used scotch tape as a guide and then used 3 layers of Oscar on top.

Linking up with #SawPinnedConquered (as it's inspired by this pin), The Nail Files and Mani Monday.

I have teamed up with Julep Maven to offer you two ways for you to try out Julep nail polishes for yourself:

1. You can get your own box by taking the beauty quiz here and then get your first box for only a penny. What do you have to lose? Use the code MAVENINTRO for the penny special.

2. Julep Maven and I are holding a giveaway to give you the chance to win a beauty box!  It is open to all US and Canadian residents. All you have to do is enter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: I received a free Julep box as compensation for this post. All opinions are my own - I really do love this nail polish!

Thrifted

My love for getting a good deal is well documented. I rarely pay for anything full price - I always shop the sales at stores I can't really afford full price items (J.Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor), and try to use coupons/codes at stores I can afford to pay full price but try not to (Gap, Old Navy, Loft, Express).

You would think with all of that I would be all for thrifting for clothes...yet I never have. I go to Goodwill and Savers lots, but it's to pick up house items. I went to Goodwill specifically to buy a frame for a print I bought down town, and wandered into the clothing section...and found this blazer waiting for me. It's more of a cardigan blazer and I'm positive it previously belonged to someone's sweet grandmother but with a snip of the scissors to remove the shoulder pads, it became the newest member of my closet. I also found an old leather purse whose straps I  removed to make an awesome new clutch.

All for less than $10! What took me so long?!

Blazer: Thrifted {similar? haha}
Shirt: Buckle
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Necklace: Present  {save, spend, splurge}
Watch: Boccia  {similar}
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang {save, spend, splurge}


Do you thrift a lot of clothes? Any tips for a newbie?


Linking up with wiww and harper's happenings

Spotted

A few weeks ago I was debating between getting a pair of maroon skinny jeans, and a pair of green ones. Ultimately I decided that for $75+ a pop at Express, a maroon pair was going to be a better fit for my wardrobe.

But when I saw that Old Navy was coming out with a whole line of colored jeans, I knew that that green pair was waiting for me. I had a coupon which brought the price down to $25 - a much better option for my budget (which also brings my July budget to $180). I had a rebate code for paying off my Gap card over 6 months ago, which made the top free! According to Laura that makes me smart, not cheap ;)

(just as an fyi, these jeans run super small. I got 2 sizes larger than my normal pants size)

I'm loving pattern mixing on others but continue to do it in baby steps. Last time it was floral + leopard print...and this time it's polka dots + leopard print. I'm linking up with Marionberry Style's Trend of the Month - go see how all the other ladies are more adventurous than me!

Shirt: Old Navy  {save, spend, splurge}
Jeans: Old Navy  {save, spend, splurge}
Belt: Gap  {save, spend, splurge}
Shoes: Rocket Dog
Watch: Fossil  {save, spend, splurge}
Bracelet: J. Crew  {save, spend, splurge}
Nails: Seen here

Linking up with Real Girl Glam, Two Thirty Five and Visible Monday