May Budget

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I love to shop.  I probably love to shop too much.  To help hold myself accountable and to help me track what I am purchasing and how long it stays in my closet, I have decided to link up with Fran and the other Budgeting Bloggers.  Here it goes!

 

Retail Purchases

 

Cacti Tee  /  Floral Peplum  /  Rainbow Popover  /  Strawberry Tee  /  Watermelon Shirt

I added lots of color and prints to my closet this month, which makes me happy!  I haven't worn the peplum top yet, but I have an outfit planned for it as soon as it warms up!  Yes folks, SoCal got cold again. I got lots of compliments on the rainbow popover when I wore it last week.  It was also the perfect shirt to wear on a middle school fieldtrip.  I was in charge of a group of ten 7th grade boys whom I had never met before.  They said they liked my "crazy" shirt because it made me easy to find.  I featured the cacti shirt in my J Crew wish list post.  Thanks to a rewards card and free shipping promo, I was able to make it mine.  I told you I couldn't resist.  I couldn't pass up the watermelon shirt or strawberry tee.  Shirts with fruit are perfect for summer!   

Poshmark Purchases

 

This month I was able to pick up some items I missed when they were in stores and replace some of my favorite items that I had to sell because they didn't fit anymore.  I have worn and love everything!  look for the pink bell sleeve top in an upcoming post!

 

I said that I wasn't going to shop this month.  I failed (thank you for stating the obvious S).  However, I kept it way more under control than past months and am proud of that.  I have my eye on a few things from my favorite retailer- J. Crew.  Nothing that I can't live without, but wouldn't mind adding to my closet if the sale is right! 

Budget: $150.00

Poshmark Sales: $128.45

Total Budget: $278.45

Total Spent: $173.20

Total UNDER Budget: $105.30 (WooHoo! That helps make up for last month!)

Total Retail Value: $566.50 (I saved 69%!)

How did you do on your budget this month?
 

 

 



Ruffles and Prickles

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shirt  /  pant 

 

 

When I saw this cactus print shirt on the J. Crew website earlier this month it was love at first sight.  I need another t-shirt like I need a hole in my head, but I couldn't resist.  I love wearing cactus print, but trust this native Southern Arizona girl when she says that wearing actual cactus is not as fun!  I chose to keep it causal for my first grade substituting job today.  They were an awesome group of kids and exactly what I needed after the challenging group I had yesterday.  It's back to middle school tomorrow... pray for me people.



New Old Favorites

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Shirt 

My skirt is no longer available, but you might get lucky and find it on Poshmark too!

Similar shoes 

 

Similar earrings 

 

 

I love this skirt.  I was so sad when I had to sell it last year because it didn't fit me anymore.  You can imagine how excited I was when I found it for sale (new with tag!) on Poshmark.  I chose to wear this skirt on a middle school sub day.  I detest substiting in middle school, but money is money.  At least I was wearing my new old favorite skirt!

 

I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy!  Check her and all the other What I Wore bloggers.



S vs. A Cold

A cold kicked my butt last week.  I had zero energy and (as one of you may have noticed) didn't blog at all.  I am disappointed because I really wanted to blog every day this month.  I will try again next month.  

I only managed to go to work one day.  I did take pictures of what I wore, but in my cold medicine haze forgot to put the SD card in the camera.  My outfit involved stripes, animal print, and lace up shoes.  I might wear it again sometime!

This week I will be back to regular posts and link ups.  I am excited to get dressed again!

J Crew Favorites

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I have been feeling under the weather the last few days and haven't done anything more than lounging around on the couch in my pajamas.  While I haven't had the energy or inclination to get dressed, I have been browsing new arrivals at some of my favorite stores.  Below are four of my favorties from J. Crew. 

Hopefully I will kick this bug soon and be back to my stylin' self.

Bathing Suit - I love the tie shoulders on this one piece!

Cacti Shirt - I grew up in Southern Arizona and can not resist this adorable tee. 

Loafer - I love the feminine vibe that the perforation gives this loafers.

Floral Skirt- Tie waist and pretty colors... enough said.

Black and Blue

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similar top  /  similar jumpsuit  /  similar earrings  /  similar shoes 

Little Miss Photographer could have told me that I have a weird chest wrinkle going on.  Really anyone that I encountered on Monday could have told me that.  What they did tell me was that they liked my outfit.  Well, the 7th graders that I spent the day with told me they like my outfit.  They are a hard crowd to please so I will take it as a win.  If you have the fashion sense of a middle schooler too, I am afraid that the pieces I am wearing are no longer available, but I found some similar pieces that are just as awesome! 

I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy and all the other What I Wore Wednesday bloggers today!

I am also linking up with Elegance and Mommyhood.  Check her out!



Disappointed

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sweater  /  pant  /  shoes  /  similar necklace (mine was a gift)



 

 

 



 

Saturday was a disappointing day.  The weather was cold and rainy.  My new Ann Taylor sweater that I was so excited to wear fell apart on the drive to Balboa Park.  Yes folks, the pilling and pulling you see in the third photograph happened while I was sitting in the car.  I think it is the result of my seatbelt rubbing against the sweater.  My seatbelt is not torn up and there are no sharp edges on it.  This sweater just isn't the greatest quality.  Which is super disappointing because I love the color and fit of it.  I am hoping that I can "shave" the pulling and pilling off.  We will see.  I know they say that pain is beauty, but I don't think that beauty is worth risking your life for.  I will always choose my seatbelt over fashion and beauty.  I just have learned that I should not wear this sweater if I am going to be riding in the car.

 

 

What wasn't disappointing on Saturday was our family fun outing.  We went to the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park and had a blast.  It was so much fun to play with the girls and do the different experiments.  I would definitely recommend the Fleet Science Center for families young and old!

 

What fun did you have this weekend?

 

Watermelons

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shirt  /  pant  /  similar shoes  /  similar earrings

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was love at first sight when I spotted this shirt on the new arrivals page at J. Crew Factory.  I love this fun summery print. It is so easy to dress up or down.  I wore this to sub in a second grade classroom last Wednesday.   

 

There are so many fun new arrivals at J. Crew Factory this month.  A few of my favorites are below!

 

dress  /  peplum

popover  /  peasant blouse
 

 

 

I am linking up with Style Elixir and all of the Style Sessions bloggers today. Check them out!





Meow

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similar shirt  /  pant  /  similar shoes  /  similar earrings 

 

I really dislike khaki pants, but love this cropped ruffled pair I bought last month.  What can I say I am a walking contradiction.  I wore this outfit to work last Tuesday.  Let's just say I wasn't dressed for the occasion and there may or may not be a yellow handprint on my butt.  Thankfully, the kiddos were using washable paint and I dislike khaki pants.... wait I like these.... double thanks for washable paint!

 

P.S. I know you are wondering how a yellow handprint may or may not have ended up on my butt.  It comes with the territory of teaching very young children.  They want your attention and can't reach your shoulder to tap it.  



The Perfect Dress

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dress  /  earrings  /  similar shoes (on sale)

 

 Folks., this dress is perfection.  Not just because it is gingham print and looks super cute with my new favorite earrings.  I mean, yes those two reasons qualify this dress for perfection, but it has other great qualities too.  This dress is lightweight (perfect for the warmer weather), but  not see through.  It is super comfy and cut to be flattering on a variety of body types. Then there are the flutter sleeves that don't make me look like I am wearing shoulder pads.  At least, I don't think that they do.  See... other great qualities.

I am 5'8 and had to order this in a tall size so that the length would be work appropriate.  Thank you Ann Taylor for making this perfect dress in tall sizes! If you are on the tallish side and have disproportionately long legs like I do then I would recommend ordering it in a tall too.  Yes... you should all go order this dress right now.  Just kidding.  But, not really.   



Lazy Ladybug

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shirt (on sale)  /  similiar jeans  /  shoes

I wore this casual outfit last Sunday.  I spent a lazy day at home watching movies and lounging by the pool.  I changed to lounge around the pool of course, this is what I wore before that.  What made this day especially great was that T was immersed in a new computer game so I got to watch whatever I wanted.  It was wonderful.  Cheers to lazy days at home and may this weekend be as luxuriously lazy as last! 

I am linking up with A Pocket Full of Polka Dots and all the other Fabulous Friday bloggers today.  Check out their amazing style!

One Shoulder

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similiar shirt  /  pants (on sale)  /  similiar shoes

Last Saturday was B-E-A-U-tiful in sunny SoCal.  I was so excited to finally be able to break out this one shoulder top that I bought in February.  I love the ruffle, the the floral detail, and the blue color.   I was also excited to get to wear my gold sandals again.  I picked them up at the end of the season last year and only wore them a couple of times before it was too cold for my toes.  Plan on seeing these beauties in many a blog post to come.  

I wore this to run errands and have a lunch date with T.  This weekend is supposed to be another gorgeous weekend.  I am not sure what we will do, but it will probably involve the beach.  

I am linking up with Ada at Elegance and Mommyhood today.  Check her out!

Are you for the scuba?

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shirt  /  similar skirt

similar shoes  /  similar necklace

similar bracelets  /  similar earrings 

 

 

Hank Azaria's character is the best part of Along Came Polly.  Wearing this scuba skirt makes me think of him.  I bought this beauty on Poshmark last month though I owned it pre weight loss too.  It is a great skirt for spring and summer.  Not only does it have a pretty floral design, but it is light weight and structured.  It is also the kind of skirt that gets you tons of compliments.  I don't know about you, but I like compliments. 

 

P.S. The ferret in Along came Polly is pretty great too.  I used to have a pet ferret named Daisy, but it turns out I am crazy allergic to them so she had to find a new home.  I was sad to let her go, but happy to be able to breathe again.

 

 

I am linking up with Shop My Closet and all the other Style Sessions bloggers today!

 

I am also linking up with The Pleated Poppy and all the other What I Wore Wednesday bloggers.  Check them out!