September budget

Since starting this whole budget thing, I've noticed that impulse buys are a real problem for me. Shopping has long been one of my favorite pick-me-ups... not to mention a great distraction from the usual hum of anxiety and guilt in my head. I'm not cured of retail therapy just yet, but I have gotten better at filling holes in my closet, instead of just buying every cute dress, ring, and/or purple shirt I see. (Even though I still LOVE THEM ALL.) I am proud to say that most of the items purchased in September were things I'd been looking for, not just things I fell in love with in the moment. (I did manage to wait a few weeks to buy the nail polish below, which is miraculous for me! And the flats were an emergency purchase when the my foot started hurting for the first time in weeks while I was staying with my bf. We fashioned a makeshift splint but then my foot wouldn't fit in the shoes I had with me OY.)

I'm also impressed that I only paid full-price for one thing (besides the flats)! High six!

1. Grey cardigan (Old Navy): $20 - 20% off = $16
2. Handmade scarf (Knack Philadelphia): $27
3. Sam & Libby ballet flats (Target): $30
4. Gap Legging Jean Skimmer: $50 - 40% off = $30
5. Zoya Magical Pixie Dust in Ginni (Ulta): $10 - $5 off bday coupon (woohoo!) = $5
6. Floral backpack (Payless): $35 - $5 off = $30
7. Blue polka dot infinity scarf (Old Navy): $13 - 30% off = $9
8. (not pictured) Gray hobo whose virtues I've already extolled (Target): $35 on sale for $17
9. (not pictured) Black stretchy belt (Old Navy): $15 on sale for $6 

TOTAL: $170 ($2 UNDER budget?! Inconceivable!)

Not too shabby considering I totally thought I went over this month! I did just get back from Disney World, so maybe that's why I feel like money was just flying out of my wallet :) 

(Sidenote: I don't count vacation clothing or accessory purchases towards my monthly shopping budget UNLESS they are from a store that I could easily visit at home, like Loft or Target. My goal with the budget is to get into the habit of thinking twice before everyday impulse buys, so I don't want it to become a license to beat myself up over buying, say, a sparkly Minnie Mouse bow headband and an Epcot t-shirt in Disney World. On vacation, YOLO. At home, yo save-o.)

In the Now: September 2014

I recently discovered The Demure Muse, an awesome lifestyle/fashion blog, and each month she writes about her current faves in several categories. As a known archivist (I used to summarize each day's events on a calendar nbd), I LOVE this idea. And I struggle with staying present, so taking a few minutes to think about what I'm enjoying right now is a good exercise for me :)

Loving: This bag. I've been feeling creative lately, which means that my blank notebook is part of my daily essentials. I love sketching out ideas in marker on blank paper. But the notebook is too tall to fit in a normal purse, and my cloth totes don't have any pockets so I'm always afraid stuff will fly out of them. I tried using my beloved leather Pour La Victoire bag, but with all its fancy hardware, it gets heavy with like a piece of looseleaf paper in it. Enter the bag above, on sale for $17 at Target. It zips, has interior and exterior pockets, looks like nothing else I have, AND can fit all this crap (including an umbrella and water bottle which are hidden behind the notebook) with room to spare! *heart-eyes emoji*

Listening to: The "Every '00s Summer Dance Party Ever" station on Songza, which is as awesome as it sounds. My friend introduced me to Songza by playing the "90s Grade School Dance" station at my bday soirée, and I was hooked. Songza is like Pandora but hilarious and geared toward your mood or activities (be they "Shopping at a vintage store" or "Drinking in a dive bar"). Highly recommend.

Reading: Creative, Inc. I only started this book a few days ago, and so far, it's scaring me with words like "confidence," "quick turnaround," and "criticism." Eek.  I'm sure I'll keep going with it, but #Girlboss is on its way to me and might take precedence for the moment, haha. I've been on a book buying binge lately!

Working on: Adjusting to my new home (same as the old home). I moved back in with my dad last month, as my roommate has gone abroad (sounds so sophisticated!) until the end of the year. As much as I adored our apartment, and my freedom, there was room for improvement financially. I was doing alright, but it's so hard to save when you're constantly paying rent, utilities, blah blah. I was originally going to move home just for a few months to save up a security deposit, but then I realized that moving out again so quickly would land me back in the same financial morass. UGH, adulthood. So while I'm not thrilled to be back home (and I so deeply miss the cute neighborhood I left behind), I'm hopeful that I'm setting myself up for longer-term independence. And my dad let me get my childhood room fixed up and painted, so I don't feel like I'm 11 years old and should be belting out "Say You'll Be There" by the Spice Girls ...not that there's anything wrong with that!

Ten years ago, I was a senior in high school.

TEN YEARS WUT.

Ten years ago, I was 18. I hadn't missed a day of school since 2000, I wore a kilt five days a week, I accessorized with ribbons, and I carried more books than could fit in my L.L. Bean backpack. In a word: DORK. Not surprisingly, these were my likes (top box) and dislikes (bottom box) in the yearbook:

Chem II 4 lyfe

For the most part, I still love and loathe these things, except that I've finally made peace with Times New Roman. Moving on...

My favorite musicians are still pretty much the same ten years later but who cares because let's talk about my FAVORITE GUY. "Adorkable ones who smile a lot" was definitely code for Gordo from Lizzie McGuire. 

SWOON. Lizzie, this is what dreams are made of!!!  

While my own (amazing) tastes haven't changed much since 2004, the world sure has. I sometimes feel like I went to high school in a different era. No Facebook, no cell phone, no i-anything. My friends and I would talk for hours on our house phones or on AIM (those antiquated things). I rarely thought to go out by myself; it didn't even occur to me to walk the few blocks to CVS.

Back then, I was SO sheltered. I had never been on a plane. I was inconveniently terrified of driving AND public transportation. I'd only been to one concert and that was with my dad (though we saw David Bowie, so, respect). I'd never had a job, and when I did get an internship in Philly at the end of senior year, I only left the building to walk to and from my dad's car at the beginning and end of the day. I had yet to pick a college because I didn't want to think about leaving the safe confines of my tiny all-girls' school. 

Running down the hall in capes. High school in a nutshell

Fast-forward to 2014. I've got two advanced degrees, as well as a full-time job using said degrees (both of which are in English!). I just spent an amazing year living in Philly. I can get almost anywhere via bus or train, and I'm hardly ever home. 

Sometimes, in the day to day craziness and minutiae, it's hard to realize just how far you've come.

August budget

How the hell is it already September?! Where did the summer go? I think I missed it in between traveling to NYC and Cali, seeing Paul McCartney live (!!), being in a boot for six weeks, going to Disneyland, turning 28, moving... 

I'm exhausted just thinking about all that, oy, ANYWAY, here is what $170 bought me in August:

1. Slouchy pants (H&M) - $24
2. Zoya Remove nail polish remover (Ulta) - $10
3. Cobian Flip Flops (Flip Flop Shops) -$32
4. Patterned pants (H&M) - $17
5. Bracelet (Loft) - $6 (on sale)
6. Wristlet (Target) - $12
7. Mason Circle Ring (Baublebar) - $23 (on sale)

Not pictured: blue cardigan from Loft ($14 on sale), two rings from an NYC street vendor ($25), t-shirt dress from Target ($9 on sale)

Total: $172

For once, not being able to do math worked to my advantage and kept me from buying things because I thought I was way overbudget! Woo!

So this month, I went crazy with comfy pants because I was sick of only wearing leggings or shorts with the boot. The flip flops are super comfy and were also boot-height. The wristlet replaces my beloved multi-colored chevron one (also from Target) that lip gloss had leaked on (whoops). And the jewelry was just 'cause :D