jessica – Page 166

Budget Update: August 2016

August 29, 2016 by jessica 8 Comments

This month introduced by favorite cocktail dress into my closet: this mini shift with the best oversize ’60s swing silhouette. The style isn’t for everyone, as the less-than-stellar online reviews point out, but it’s such a fun piece to own! Everything else I purchased this month was affordable, and yet I still found myself north of my budget and had to pull over a bit from blog earnings to offset the difference. Considering I’ve also added cash to my budget in winter and spring, it might be time to bump up my budget to account for the amount I’ll likely spend — and it comes at a good time with fall clothes right around the corner. Topping my fall wish list is a classic trench coat. I’ve looked for one on and off for the past couple of years and haven’t found one that I love or that fits me correctly. I’m going to put in the effort to actually find something this year. Additionally, I’m seriously considering these matte black sunglasses that I’m borrowing them from DITTO right now. (Borrow them yourself for a month free through DITTO’s Endless Eyewear program with code BEDKNOBS.) Also on my wish list: an alternative to Hunter boots for rainy days and a sleek, minimalist choker.

BUDGET*
Summer Budget (June – August): $750
Spent in June: $250
Spent in July: $312.50
Spent in August: $332
Added: $144.50 just to make up the difference
Amount Remaining: $0

Winter Budget Recap: December, January, February
Spring Budget Recap: March, April, May
Summer Budget Recap: June, July

*I don’t add money for tax and shipping into my budget, nor do I add athletic clothing or sleepwear. Most of the money I earn from the blogging goes into my general savings account or is earmarked for travel, but I’ll move some to the clothing budget when needed.

PURCHASED
See all of the year’s wardrobe additions here.

Vintage Whiting & Davis metal snake necklace/belt ($36; not pictured; browse similar styles): I oftentimes scour eBay for vintage jewelry and found myself obsessing over snake baubles a few weeks ago. I found this necklace/belt and couldn’t pass it up. You can see a snapshot of it on Instagram here.
Cynthia Rowley “Chestnut Hill” swing dress ($75; worn above): I originally purchased this dress for $140. I happened to check the item online a week later to see that the price had dropped even further, plus there was an extra 25% off sale. Anthro honored the price adjustment, making this little number just $75. It’s a steal for such a beautiful, well-constructed garment. It’s a no-brainer for a cocktail soiree with heels and a clutch, but it has also made a sweet daytime debut with sandals and a summery wooden bag. The sizing for this is dependent on your bust. (I went with a 6.)
LOFT woodblock floral shirt dress ($68; worn here): I’m powerless when it comes to shapeless day dresses, especially when they have a bold print. I love the sleeves on this, which will help it transition to fall. It runs large. I sized down to a small.
Lou & Grey “Coastal Fluid” shorts ($30; worn here): I’d recommend going up a size since these are a bit sheer if they’re too snug. They’re incredibly comfortable and they don’t get very wrinkly after sitting. I wore them in the car for five hours and they still looked good.
J.Crew sleeveless tunic sweater in ivory ($48; worn here): If you’ve had your eye on this, don’t pass it up! It’s beautiful. The knit is thick and lays nicely. Go with your normal J.Crew size for a loose, tunic appearance.
Xhilaration crochet trim swing dress in a tropical print ($25; not pictured; available in black; worn here): I went to Target for run-of-the-mill household items and came out with a dress. The small fit pretty much the same as the medium, but I went with the larger size for the length.
Tory Burch cable knit pom pom hat in grey ($50): I snagged this hat during Tory Burch’s recent private sale. It’s merino wool, which should be much warmer than the synthetic knit my other winter hats are made from.

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration. I’m selective about the pieces I accept and will only work with companies I feel good about recommending.

JORD “Cora” watch in koa wood and rose gold (worn here)
The 5TH “SoHo” watch
Lisi Lerch “Ivy” necklace in wood and white (worn here)

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love:

LOFT patch pocket shift skirt in cheery pink: Adorable, but more of a straight skirt instead of an a-line shape like I had hoped. Great quality.

***
Linking up with Fran!

The Weekend Guide

August 27, 2016 by jessica 1 Comment

I’m sorry I’m late with this weekend’s guide! I sat down to work on it yesterday and found myself suddenly motivated to sift through our photos from our spring vacation Denmark, edit them, and create a Facebook album to share with family and friends. I’ll share some of them here soon with the travel guide I’m working on. Hopefully, it’ll be next week!

LEARN
Nailing the perfect outfit Instagram isn’t easy, but Marianna breaks it down with ten tips for making your #OOTD stand out.

COO
These photos are probably the cutest things you’ll see all day.

KNOW
The world’s largest diamond was expected to sell for over the $100 million reserve at auction, and yet, it struggled to close at $61 millon. This article offers insights into why that may have happened, along with some background into the diamond industry.

ANTICIPATE
The Coveteur is coming out with a book this October! I can’t wait to get my hands on the coffee table eye candy.

SHOP
We’ve been keeping our eye out for furniture we’d love to buy as we continue with our house hunt. Some things, like a king-size bed and mattress, will happen now (so excited!) and others will be put on the back burner until we close. I’ve bookmarked Kirsten’s post with 30 affordable dining room chairs to reference when we’re finally ready to take the plunge.

MOURN
Fashion icon Sonia Rykiel passed away last week at the age of 86.

EARLIER THIS WEEK
Daydreamed about a tropical vacation in this outfit.
Coveted a sophisticated collection of jewel tones.
Went “Behind the Baubles” with Lisi Lerch.

Behind the Baubles: Lisi Lerch

August 25, 2016 by jessica 5 Comments

Anyone with a penchant for tassels, vintage jewelry, and Palm Beach should have Lisi Lerch’s site bookmarked! Her jewelry collection is brimming with beaded and silky tassels in just about every color you can imagine, along with other pieces that exude vintage chic.

While Lisi created her namesake brand in 2001, the entrepreneur didn’t always have jewelry in her sights. She actually began by selling Kentucky Derby hats to women after noticing a lack of affordable options in the marketplace. Jewelry became part of the brand a few years later when Lisi tried her hand at jewelry design and was hooked. As her business continued to grow, so did her family and Lisi ultimately realized that traveling to trunk shows with baubles was much easier than storing and maneuvering hats. Lisi made the decision to shift her focus to growing the jewelry side of her business.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to dub Lisi the queen of tassel jewelry. She just does it so well, as you probably noticed in Monday’s post! Learn more about Lisi below.

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The Coveted

August 23, 2016 by jessica 3 Comments

*I bought these in a textured leather last year. They run true to size and are incredibly comfortable.

**This suede clutch is genuine leather and only $75!

There’s more to love:

Tropical Vibes

August 22, 2016 by jessica 13 Comments

I can’t believe it’s Monday already! We had an extended weekend that began on Thursday with a trip to visit my parents in northern Wisconsin. We didn’t do much other than swing by the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth, Minn., which was awful. As an event manager, I can be unfairly critical of other events, but this so poorly run that it made for a sour experience. Oh well. Not all weekend outings can be stellar, right? At least it was a beautiful day!

In other news, I finally ponied up the cash to purchase Adobe Lightroom. Game. Changer. Photo editing is a breeze and images look so much better edited in Lightroom versus Photoshop where I’m far too likely to screw up the color. (I’m really tan this year compared to my normal ultra-pale skin tone. It throws me off and I find myself removing orange hues from photos!) I also scooped up this summer dress from Target (available online in black). I’m not ready to start dressing for fall just yet, especially when tropical prints look so good with this necklace from Lisi Lerch. Lisi is basically the queen of tassel jewelry and I’m thrilled to share a “Behind the Baubles” interview with her later this week! (One quick note about the necklace: the tassel was askew after its trip through the mail, but a quick clamp in a hair straightener fixed it.)