BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Budget Update

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BudgetUpdateDec2014

I may have gone a little overboard in a month that’s supposed to be about other people, but there were too many great deals to pass up. (Isn’t that always a convenient excuse?)

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ERIN FETHERSTON DRESS

First up, the most stressful purchase of the month: a cocktail dress to wear to Dave’s office party. I’ve gained a bit of weight over the last few months and I didn’t feel confident in any of the dresses already in my closet. Sure, I could have squeezed into something with the help of Spanx, but I wanted something I was excited to wear. I first tried this dress. I thought I could get over the goofiness of the ruffled flaps in person, but they’re in such an awkward spot and kind of looked like limp fins. Eventually I came across this Erin Fetherston dress on Amazon. All of my favorite cocktail dresses are by the designer. You’d think I’d learn to stop wasting time trying on other dresses when I know one of her looks will win my heart.

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LULU FROST RING

I’ve wanted the Lulu Frost #2 code ring for a well over a year and the perfect excuse fell into my lap a few weeks ago. At the end of November, I received a 40% off coupon from the company as a thank you for supporting the brand through my blog (such an unexpected surprise!). Naturally, I placed an order immediately. I’m fond of the number for a few reasons: my numerology number is a two, I’m a Gemini (the twins), and, most meaningful, I met Dave on February 2nd (2/2). I love having an everyday piece that commemorates our first date.

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MONICA VINADER BRACELET

This Monica Vinader bracelet also made its way home to my jewelry box after Black Friday. It’s incredibly gorgeous and well made. I’ll admit that two silver pieces seems a little uncharacteristic this month, given that I usually go for oversize gold pieces. However, I do favor silver tones for fine jewelry. I think it’s a little more versatile and mixes well with yellow gold.

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TORY BURCH SANDALS

Last, but not least, sandals. Sandals are kind of a stupid purchase for December. I get that. But these Tory Burch slides are so pretty and a heck of a deal at $132. I also tried the petal toe ring sandals from Loeffler Randall, which were a little uncomfortable at the toe strap. I suspect it would get softer after some wear and I did like that the scallop strap had elastic on the sides to accommodate different foot widths.

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UP NEXT

So, where do we go from here? You’ll see below that I was lucky enough to add quite a bit of money to my budget this month. It almost covered my purchases for December, leaving me with just over $100 to last through February. I do have a $200 Visa gift card to spend on something indulgent. I’m also going to add a couple hundred from this year’s work bonus to my budget, since that was unexpected money anyway. I’d still like to snag a summery purse (perhaps this one) and a new sundress if we do book a trip to Florida. Wouldn’t a Clover Canyon dress be fun for a tropical escape? I love the Dancing Silk Slip Dress. (With my Shopbop collaboration, I receive a shopping credit each month and am seriously considering that dress, even if the bra situation for the frock baffles me.)

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THE BUDGET

I started with a six-month budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and will add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget (if it doesn’t end up in my travel fund first). I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures here each month. Anything that has been ordered and has not yet arrived will appear on the next budget update. (There will also be an annual “Tax Refund Splurge” that goes above my budget, but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

  • $1,500 starting budget
  • + $655 added to the budget this season ($455 this month)
  • – $2052.59 spent this season ($473.54 this month)
  • = $102.41 remaining

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WARDROBE UPDATE

View all of my purchases (that I can find stock photos for) on my fall and winter wardrobe Pinterest board.

Clothing:

Shoes & Accessories:

Gifted Items:
This section sort of comes off as braggy, which isn’t my intention. Blogging is getting less and less transparent and I want to be clear with what I’ve purchased and what items I’ve received as part of a collaboration. I’m awfully picky about the brands I work with–and won’t post items I don’t love–so rest assured these are solid.

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HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Fran does a great job of linking to budget bloggers each month and I strongly encourage you to take part. I hope you’ll also share links to your wardrobe recaps here. I’m always curious to learn how others curate their closets!

Budget Update

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Budget-Nov2014

[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]W[/dropcap]orking on a budget update is a pretty good kick in the rear to stop shopping for myself on Black Friday! I didn’t do too terribly this month, but I’ve nearly spent my entire budget and I still have three months to go. Sheesh… Sounds like I need to start hustling to earn more money! On the upside, we were given the details of our holiday bonuses last week, which certainly made my decision to splurge on this bracelet earlier today a bit more justifiable. (I’ll add it to the budget next month when it arrives.)

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THE BUDGET

I started with a six-month budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and will add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget (if it doesn’t end up in my travel fund first). I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures here each month. Anything that has been ordered and has not yet arrived will appear on the next budget update. (There will also be an annual “Tax Refund Splurge” that goes above my budget, but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

  • $1,500 starting budget
  • + $200 added to the budget this season ($0 this month)
  • – $1579.05 spent this season ($265.60 this month)
  • = $120.95 remaining

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WARDROBE UPDATE

View all of my purchases (that I can find stock photos for) on my fall and winter wardrobe Pinterest board.

Clothing:

Shoes & Accessories:

Gifted Items:
This section sort of comes off as braggy, which isn’t my intention. Blogging is getting less and less transparent and I want to be clear with what I’ve purchased and what items I’ve received as part of a collaboration. I’m awfully picky about the brands I work with–and won’t post items I don’t love–so rest assured these are solid.

Items I tried this month, but didn’t purchase: 

  • French Connection sequin dress: I thought a peach sequin dress would be an unexpected holiday dress for Dave’s company cocktail party. I just didn’t expect it to be neon pink and yellow in person.
  • ASOS sleeveless shift: I wanted more loose shift dresses to wear to work, but this one didn’t work out. It was too large on top and the wide straps were unflattering. I didn’t love it enough to bring it to the tailor.
  • Banana Republic gray flannel fit-and-flare skirt: So bummed about this! The skirt was incredibly short in person and barely covered my bum. The tall would have given me two more inches, but the flannel was on the thin side and I just didn’t think it was worth it.
  • Faribault x Target wool scarf in cannon stripe: I know I’m an outlier with this, but I’m not a huge fan of the ubiquitous Zara blanket scarf. This scarf looked like such a cute alternative with what appeared to be heather grey and white. It’s a shame the scarf was a mossy green and cream in person. Pass.
  • 1.State Pleated Jersey Skirt: The pleats on this added bulk rather than feminine volume and the color is a bit more drab in person.

Donated or sold:

  • 5 dresses
  • 3 pairs of shoes
  • 1 skirt
  • 3 handbags
  • 3 belts
  • a boatload of old costume jewelry from places like H&M and Forever21

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HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Fran does a great job of linking to budget bloggers each month and I strongly encourage you to take part. I hope you’ll also share links to your wardrobe recaps here. I’m always curious to learn how others curate their closets! 

Budget Update

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Budget-Oct2014

[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]T[/dropcap]wo months down, four months to go, and less than a third of my budget left. Holy sh*t.

I can’t say I’m surprised, though. I’ve been on a bit of bender, collecting my fall favorites so there’s plenty of time to enjoy them. At least that’s been my rationale, but it is on par with last year’s spending habits. I had a dry spell in November and December (likely because I was checking others off my holiday shopping list) that I expect to happen again this year.

That said, I did put those dollars to good use and purchased a few items that had been on my wish list for a long time: a pair of oversize Prada sunglasses with a subtle cat eye shape, an indulgent yet versatile evening clutch, and a blazer that I can wear to work or as a light fall jacket. The other purchases weren’t as well planned, but have been in regular rotation with the exception of the DVF sunglasses. I impulsively purchased them while waiting for the Prada pair to arrive and I haven’t worn them since. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in the honeymoon period with the sunglasses I actually yearned for or if it’s because I just don’t love them as much. Either way, it’s a good reminder that I value thoughtful purchases more than impulse buys.

In the coming months, I’m itching to add more a-line shift and swing dresses to my wardrobe. They’re my favorite pieces to wear with a piece of statement jewelry and pointy flats.

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THE BUDGET

I started with a six-month budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and may add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget (if it doesn’t end up in my travel fund first). I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures here each month. (There will also be an annual “Tax Refund Splurge” that goes above my budget, but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

  • $1,500 starting budget
  • + $200 added to the budget this season ($200 this month)
  • – $1313.45 spent this season ($903.85 this month)
  • = $386.55 remaining

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WARDROBE UPDATE

View all of my purchases (that I can find stock photos for) on my fall and winter wardrobe Pinterest board.

Clothing:

Shoes & Accessories:

  • NEW Prada sunglasses ($204): I’ve been crushing on these for awhile and I was pretty excited to see that they were on sale for 20% off as part of Nordstrom’s price-matching policy. I can’t believe it took me so long to pull the trigger. They’re all kinds of fabulous in person.
  • NEW DVF sunglasses ($50): My Prada sunglasses hadn’t yet arrived when I visited Nordstrom Rack. I was sucked in by the rows of eyewear and took these home. They’re more of a square shape than anything else I own, but I’m more enamored with the Prada pair.
  • NEW Tory Burch “Bedford” flats in cobalt snakeskin ($206.25): This was an impulse purchase fueled by a beer fest and they’re glorious.
  • NEW Tory Burch Metallic Lace Minaudiere ($175): Does anyone else bemoan their clutch collections whenever a special occasion is on the horizon? Just me? I was tired of last-minute runs to T.J.Maxx to find something (anything!) to go with my outfit. This bag is like a little art piece in versatile white leather that will go with a lot of different ensembles. And the strap makes it easy to juggle drinks and appetizers at the same time. Priorities.

Gifted Items:
This section sort of comes off as braggy, which isn’t my intention. Blogging is getting less and less transparent and I want to be clear with what I’ve purchased and what items I’ve received as part of a collaboration. I’m awfully picky about the brands I work with–and won’t post items I don’t love–so rest assured these are solid.

Items I tried this month, but didn’t purchase: 

  • Badgley Mischka mineral print skirt: I added this to last month’s budget update before it arrived. It was gorgeous in person, but it fit too high on my waist. I’m working on dropping a few pounds, but there’s no guarantee it’ll sit in a more flattering spot and I really don’t want to keep things in my closet for “someday.”
  • Elliott Lucca ankle boots: These were my favorites of the ankle boot lineup I did a few weeks back. Unfortunately, the shaft was a bit too high for on me and I couldn’t wiggle my toes. They sure are pretty though.

Donated or sold:

  • 5 dresses
  • 3 pairs of shoes
  • 1 skirt
  • 3 handbags
  • 3 belts
  • a boatload of old costume jewelry from places like H&M and Forever21

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HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Fran does a great job of linking to budget bloggers each month and I strongly encourage you to take part. I hope you’ll also share links to your wardrobe recaps here. I’m always curious to learn how others curate their closets! 

Budget | Fall & Winter 2014

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I [/dropcap]’m abandoning the French Wardrobe Challenge this season. Don’t get me wrong, it was great way to focus on quality over quantity, but it could be a little too restricting. I found myself bypassing fun, unexpected statement items in favor of quieter pieces. I know that’s the point of the challenge, but it does suck some of the joy out of building a wardrobe. So, bring on the budget!

I’m not doing a month-to-month budget, however. I’m taking Fran’s approach with a seasonal budget. Her restrictions are in place thanks to student loans, but I wanted to adopt a similar approach because I think it’s more realistic for my lifestyle–and falls more in step with the principles of The French Wardrobe Challenge. In the past, I’ve found that a strict monthly budget led to an overabundance of cheap items because I wanted to stretch my dollar. This time, I’m going with a six-month allowance that gives me the opportunity to splurge on quality pieces to truly reinvigorate my wardrobe.

I’m still going to add each new addition to a Pinterest board to keep track of what I’m adding and how much I’m adding.

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THE BUDGET

I’ve started with a six-month budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and may add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget if it doesn’t end up in my travel fund first. I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures here each month. (There will also be an annual “Tax Refund Splurge” that goes above my budget, but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

  • $1,500 starting budget
  • + $0 added to the budget this season ($0 this month)
  • – $463.20 spent this season ($463.20 this month)
  • = $1,036.80 remaining

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WARDROBE UPDATE

Clothing:

  • Ted Baker opulent bloom skirt ($248): I’m obsessing over dark florals for fall and my heart skipped a beat when I saw this skirt for the first time. It’s my first Ted Baker item and the quality is impeccable. It’s fully lined and has a crinoline layer to keep the bottom full even after a day sitting in front of a computer.
  • LOFT scuba flare skirt in navy and black ($98.70): LOFT is a little fast and loose with the definition of “scuba” on this one. It’s not neoprene nor does it have the signature stiff flare of actual scuba fabric. That said, the knit skirt is light and flirty. It’s a good work basic that won’t look out of place with more casual attire on the weekend. It is short, though, and wouldn’t fly in a conservative office. (I also tried the beige version, but it felt a little too much like a Girl Scout uniform.)
  • Badgley Mischka mineral print skirt ($53.60): Two fancy skirts is a little indulgent, I know, but look at how much I paid! (In other words, a complete and utter impulse purchase.)
  • J.Crew “Tippi” sweater in black ($62.90): I already have a black Tippi sweater, but either it shrunk or I gained weight (or both). In any case, it’s about time I bought a replacement. It’s been a missing link in my wardrobe for far too long.

Shoes & Accessories:

  • Nothing yet!

Gifted Items:

Items I tried this month, but didn’t purchase: 

  • J.Crew lambswool shirttail hem sweater: The sweater portion of this top added bulk to my frame (and gave me the illusion of a muffin top) and the shirt part was weird and clingy. Bad news all around.
  • ASOS color block shift dress: I was so excited about this dress because it has the same shape as another dress from ASOS that I love. However, this one had the most unpleasant texture, almost as if it had been spray painted with rubber.
  • LOFT floral romper: Eh. The bottom was too tight and I was drowning in the top. Fit issues aside, it probably wouldn’t get a lot of use this fall. Bathroom acrobatics are hard enough in a romper without adding tights to the mix.

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LINK UP

Fran does a great job of linking to budget bloggers each month and I strongly encourage you to take part. I’ve also started a link up below for you to share your budget recaps here. (My plan is to post the budget update on the last Friday of each month.) Not into budgeting? Feel free to share your monthly purchase posts here too. I’m always curious to see how other people build their wardrobes!