May 31, 2013

May {Budgeting Series}



Another month has come and gone, and it's sad how fast time is flying. Although, somehow, in those 30 days I manage to spend all the budget money and then some.
It's time to fess! This month it has been so so so hard to resist those sales! Tons of sales. Or it just feels like everything is on sale when I can't buy anything. Ha!
Target is a place where all my dreams of staying within the budget go to die. I have to force myself not to go into clothes section because I will always find something cute/cheap/interesting. Seriously!
Their new home collection had me at the first glance as well. Let me just say that target is stepping up its game and I'm loving it. But my RED credit card, not so much. So here is the beak down.

- Most adorable seahorse sweater ($15.00) I've ever seen. I mean, how cute is that? 
- A couple of really comfy Ts on a really good sale. #1 ($4.19) and #2 ($4.89).
- These ($19.64) pants had me at the very first time I laid eyes on them, but hubby wasn't convinced. I wore them to a date night and he wasn't sure why I was wearing clown pants. Men (rolling my eyes)
- I love the mint and navy color combo so when I saw this ($10.00) shirt on sale at Target (haha. where else?) I had to grab it. 
- I've been looking for a versatile summer dress for a while now. I do have few floral ones but wanted something that can be worn a lot. I've been eyeing this ($39.75) dress for a while but didn't want to pay the full retail so when it went on sale, I had to get it. Granted, if it doesn't fit right, I'm sending it back, since we don't have J.Crew Factory close to us.  
UPDATE: Returned the item
- The same thing with these ($23.50) shorts. I actually had the same pair for years in white but I don't fit into them (yet). Plus I can't be wearing white garments with infant in my lap. A recipe for disaster. 
- Lastly, I wanted a pink statement necklace. Don't get me wrong, I love jewelry, I just don't think that spending more then $20 on piece of metal (no matter how pretty it is) is a very bright idea. So it's cute ($6.00), pink (not online) and cheap.

TOTAL: $122.97 - 39.75 = 83.22
Budget: $100.00
Red Zone: None (yay!)
Carry Over: 16.78

Here's to the new month of spending and saving! 



May 30, 2013

One Good Thing




dress: TJMaxx (similar), belt: Loft (similar), wedges: Old Navy DIY (similar), sunnies: DKNY
Hi there. Yes, I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. Yet.
I had an infection and bad case of sinuses. Haven't been this sick ever since I got pregnant and I think my body forgot how to be sick. Which is a good thing. 
 I was tired, stuffed up, feverish, grouchy and all over achy the entire weekend.  I wasn't able to sleep at night because I was so stuffed up, which in turn kept hubby up. I was miserable. It was even less fun being around me as I moped and groped around the house.
One good thing came out of it though - I got breakfast in bed and lots of sleep as hubby was taking care of Jonathan. 
Also can I just talk about how much I love this white lace dress, which is all the craze right now. 
I bought it about 3 years ago because it was just so beautiful on the hanger in the store but I haven't gotten the courage to wear a white dress. 
After all, I didn't want to look like princess bride. But with just the right accessories, and shoes, this thing can be styled in a million ways while looking very chic. Honestly, I don't know why I haven't been wearing it more. Coming right up.
Hope you are having a great day!


May 27, 2013

Bargain Finds /Summer Shoes/

Welcome to a new week! Or is it it still weekend for you?  Have you ever looked at some of the high end bloggers and wished you had one of the items they are wearing?  Well, wish no more! I found couple bargains for your long weekend that's sure to include some shopping. Enjoy! 
Paul Andrew Wedges vs. Forever21 Peep Toe Wedges
Granted, the thousand dollars version is made out of the best leather and probably feels like you aren't even wearing high heel, but this is a pretty good like-alike. 


J.Crew Espadrille vs. Old Navy Wedge 
Love the J.Crew wedge and how they look, but paying such a high price for short life of espadrille isn't on my budget, so here is a cheaper Old Navy version. 

Paul Green Espadrille Wedges vs. Ralph Lauren Iliana Wedges
I'm loving the navy and white look of these wedges, and they would be perfect for summer. I don't see how these differ by more then one hundred dollars except as the brand name.
So with these deals and steals enjoy some shopping regardless which one you will pick. 
Have a great day BBQing, enjoying family time and maybe some retail therapy.

P.S. I've been sick as a dog last couple of days and still not feeling any better. Going to take a break from outfits and blogging this week.
Now don't go anywhere, I'll be back in a little bit. 




May 24, 2013

Dry Spell




dress: TJMAxx (similar), vest: Gapflats: Target, bag: Thrifted, necklace: Forever21, sunnies: DKNY
I started this blog because I like all thing fashion and it was a way to push myself to be innovative, inspiring, creative, original, ingenious and clever with what I have. Although lately I've been too focused on the technicalities - growing my blog and gaining exposure (none of which are bad) but they are taking me away from my main goal: to be creative.
Of course, it's nice to have 29475 GFC followers and even more on Instagram, Twitter and you name it, but that's not what this is about. At least not for me.
I don't anticipate or think about who's reading my blog, neither do I filter what I write on here according to what some of you may think. This is an honest account of who I am and what I'm all about. 
So I've been thinking of some inventive ways of being original and nada. Seriously, it's hard to come up with something hip, when it seems like it's already have been done. 
Anyone can put together an outfit, take some pics and post them but I want something more. Therefore, I'm in kind of a inspiration dry spell and in need of help. Ideas? Thought? Comments? Do share.

May 23, 2013

Thunderstorm



top: TJMaxx (similar), cardigan: Old Navy (similar), skirt: NY&Co (similar), heels: Guess(similar) , belt: Target, sunnies: DKNY
 We've been hit with some severe thunderstorms for the last couple of days and, of course, I had to be dumb enough to get stuck on the interstate in the middle of whole thing. Yep, only me. 
Tuesday we had sort of a spring cleaning day and and after we were done, I headed out to get groceries. The sky was looking dark and I knew we were supposed to get a storm in the afternoon, but that, THAT was not a storm. Lemme tell ya! 
I was checking out in Walmart, a gentlemen behind me in line said that we were supposed to be hit with some severe winds, rain, thunder, lightning and hail, (yep! hail) at approximately 7:45. I asked him to check the time for me and it was 7:42. I almost forgot half of my grocery bag and ran to my car. I barely, I mean b-a-r-e-l-y made it to the car and loaded my groceries. 
I started raining. 
I should have went home right away but no.
We needed diapers and they were on sale at Walgreen's across the town. I looked at the dark blue, like-in-the-movies-before-the-bad-guys-take-over-the-world sky and decided that it's probably not going to be that bad. And I headed straight into the eye of the storm. 
Two minutes later and I regretted that decision. Bitterly.
Two minutes later I couldn't see more then 10 feet in front of me. Traffic was barely moving and the cars were pulling off on the side of the road. 
Then the hail started to come down and my car started swaying from side to side like I was on the great wide open sea. I pulled over to the side of the road and started praying. 
I WAS SCARED and oh so glad I didn't have Jonathan with me. 
I called my husband. Then I called my mom and told her not to go anywhere. 
Ten minutes later and it was still bad out so I decided to slowly make my way to the store. There was so much water, I was literally swimming through the interstate. 
Thank God, I safely made it through barely moving traffic, knocked down tree branches and not working traffic lights. 
So next time you see dark as night sky what are you going to do? Turn around and head home. 

BLOG DESIGN BY BELLA LULU INK