All around eh

Today I'm feeling very...eh.  You know this feeling, right?  Unimpressed, disappointed, irritated...sort of a combination of all of the above.

First, my brand spanking new blow dryer doesn't seem to want to work well.  Don't get me wrong, the thing blows much harder than I expected, but it doesn't get very hot.  Since it has two heat settings and I'm using the highest one, I didn't expect to be able to hold it to the back of my hand without any significant discomfort.  It's warm, but not hot.  That said, it has not exactly cut my drying time in half as I had hoped it would.  I'm going to contact Misikko to see if I just happened to get a bum unit.

Second, I hunted all over yesterday and was not able to find a good top to wear to the concert tonight.  I'm going back to the mall on my lunch break but I'm not optimistic.  I found a tank yesterday that I think will work but I don't LOVE it.

This is the Embroidered Mesh Overlay Tank from Express and at $39.99 it's reasonably priced but I wasn't 100% sold on it when I tried it on yesterday.  I'm planning to wear dark skinny jeans and nude heels so I've just been looking for a light, dressy tank or top.  This fits the bill but for some reason I wasn't thrilled with it when I tried it on.  I don't know what accessories I'd put with it and the length seemed slightly off.  But at least I know it's there in case I don't find anything else.

Third, my husband made plans to go paintballing with some of his coworkers today, which wouldn't normally be a problem except that he was on duty last night and didn't get much sleep.  Normally if he's up most of the night, he can go home and sleep during the day to make up for it.  But today he's going straight from work to the paintball field and won't be getting home until late in the afternoon.  That means that he'll be running on little sleep when we head to the concert tonight.  I've been looking forward to taking him to this concert for almost FOUR MONTHS and now I'm worried he'll be too tired to really enjoy it.  We don't get time together very often and the Red Hot Chili Peppers haven't toured in years so this evening will be hard to replicate if it doesn't go well.  I know I should try to be more optimistic but I'm pretty sure tonight isn't going to be the amazing concert date night experience I've been hoping for. 

Yikes I'm being such a debbie downer but I just can't help it.

Is it selfish of me to wish that he hadn't made such physical plans on the same day we're going out for a long awaited concert date?  He's going to be exhausted and I feel like the evening is ruined before it has even happened.  I'm struggling with whether or not it was insensitive or thoughtless of him to make paintball plans for today.  I'm feel that way and I'm borderline mad at this point.  He couldn't have predicted his sleepless night, but even if he had slept well he would be tired after running around all day playing paintball.  Maybe I'm mad that tonight doesn't seem as important to him as it is to me?  These tickets where my Christmas gift to him and it hurts my feelings that he isn't making it as much of a priority as I would have liked. 

Ugh.  Maybe I should just call the whole thing off.  Anyone in the Tampa Bay area want to go to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert tonight?  I've got some pretty great seats for sale...

Weekend Wrap Up

Well it certainly was a busy weekend!  My husband worked extra shifts all weekend and I had to work Friday night, Saturday and Sunday as well.  I don't normally work weekends but my employer had an event running this weekend so I came in each day to make sure everything was running smoothly.  I fit in a quick trip to the beach Saturday morning, an eye exam Saturday evening, and church on Sunday, but the rest of my time was spent at work.

I am hoping to have a calm and relaxing week to make up for such a crazy weekend, but I don't think that's going to happen.  At least we have the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert to look forward to!  I got tickets for my husband for Christmas and the show was supposed to be in January.  Well someone in the band hurt his foot (I think?) so they had to push back all their tour dates.  We have tickets to their concert in Tampa so that's where we'll be this Thursday!  My husband is a huge fan of theirs and we never thought we'd ever actually see them live.  I'm really looking forward to it!  Now I just have to figure out what to wear...  Hmm...

I'm thinking dark skinny jeans, wedges, and a fun top but I'm not sure.  Part of me is liking the shorts with heels look right now but since the concert is indoors there's a very good chance I'll be cold.  I'm always cold.  So my goal for the week is to put together the perfect concert outfit without having to buy anything.  I *think* I can do it. 

Happy Monday! 

Nothing worth doing is easy

So there's a pretty great online sale going on this weekend and because of my diet I cannot partake.  Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic are offering 25% off all online purchases and 30% off if you spend $100 with the coupon code SPRINGSAVE.  I've been browsing torturing myself all afternoon.  Who decided window shopping was supposed to be fun?

On the plus side, we've already saved 1/3 of our goal for the year so we're slightly ahead of schedule.  My husband has been working like a maniac and I've just landed a pretty fun part time job (I start in two weeks) so we should be able to more aggressively tackle my student loans while saving for cars/family expenses.  We've also made several steps toward buying a second home which means we'll soon be rid of the first one.  It's all coming together for us and that feels pretty darn good. 



**Diet log 3/19-3/25 final
Total spent - $0
Total remaining - $10.40
Remaining for 3/26-4/1 - $45.40

Time for an upgrade

My blow dryer died.  This isn't shocking or terribly upsetting since it was a pretty cheap one, but it's inconvenient and annoying.  Since it's the third, yes, THIRD one I've bought in the last year and a half, I have decided to invest in a higher quality blow dryer this time around.  I discovered the importance of a quality hair straightener a long time ago (I'm pro Chi and Paul Mitchell) but when it came to blow dryers I typically just pick something up at Target and deal with it.  Well no more. 


I spent the last couple of days hunting around online and reading reviews and I am proud to say that I have just ordered the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer.

Listed at $194.99 (and that's a sale price apparently) it's a bit pricey, but all the review say that it is great for thick hair and cuts drying time in half.  I have VERY thick, wavy hair so I'm hoping that this dryer really is as magical as the reviews make it out to be.  I often choose to throw my hair into a ponytail or bun to avoid spending 20-30 minutes drying it but this might just change my hair outlook completely.  I've been thinking it over the for last two days and when I found a coupon code ($35 off using the code MISIKKO), I decided to give it a shot.  With free shipping (be still my heart!) I spent $160 for this baby.  Review to follow. 


In case you're wondering, this will not influence my spending diet.  I put myself on a budget to cut down on impulse buying and to encourage me to find more productive ways to spend my time.  We're in a pretty good financial place right now and since I've spent roughly $40-$50 dollars on blow dryers three different times in the last 18 months, I think it's time to invest in better quality.  This one has a two year warranty so the way I look at it, I'm spending the same amount I would if I stayed on my current pattern of replacing my cheap ones every 6 months. 


Speaking of my diet, this has been a good week so far.  I've been really busy with work and social functions so I haven't spent any of my $10.40 for the week. 


**Diet log 3/19-3/25
Total spent- $0
Total remaining- $10.40

Weekend Wrap Up

Victory!  I found my camera!  Oh and my Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses that I was pretty sure I threw away when I was cleaning up after Christmas.  I went on an all out hunt yesterday and tracked them both down.  Good day. 

Friday night my husband (M) was working so a couple of friends came over and we watched stuff on Hulu Plus.  If you have cable, do yourself a favor and get Hulu Plus instead.  It's $7.99 a month and puts hundreds of shows at your fingertips.  Netflix is handy for movies, but I get more use out of Hulu Plus.  You can't watch stuff live, but most shows are available within a few days of their airdate.  Commercials are limited and you can watch old seasons of your favorite shows.  I'm a fan.

Saturday M picked up an extra shift (gotta make that $$$!) so I cleaned and did laundry all day.  Since he was working and we wouldn't be going out, I didn't need to get a new top to go with my green skinny jeans.  That's probably a good thing since I was over budget for the week anyway.  I was only planning to use gift cards but avoiding temptation completely was probably for the best.

Today we went to church and then relaxed until dinner with his parents.  I wish I'd gotten more time with M, but all in all it wasn't a bad weekend. 

I'm heading into a stressful week at work so hopefully I'll be too busy to worry about my reduced shopping money for the week.  Ha, I never thought I'd be thankful for a crazy week at work! 


**Diet log 3/12-3/18 final
Forever 21 necklaces (2) - $15.60
Gap ikat dress - $44
Total - $59.60
Overage (taken from next week) - $24.60
Remaining for 3/19-3/25 - $10.40

This and that

Well, no luck finding a fun top to go with my green jeans yesterday.  I'm going to try again today, but my husband has been feeling a little flu-ish so we may not be going out tomorrow after all.  I'm not a big drinker, but I like to go out just to spend time with my husband and to be social.  I'll be a little disappointed if we stay in, but not much beats cuddling up in bed watching movies on a Saturday night.

FYI Gap is offering 25% off online orders today with the code GAPGIFT.  Gap to me is pretty hit and miss, but I'm a big fan of some of their current pieces.  Lots of color!  Check out these fun finds:

Happy Friday!

Going Green

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I'm sure I'm not the only one planning to rock green skinny jeans this Saturday.  I picked up a pair back in January so I'm trying to plan an outfit around them, but I'm stumped for what to wear on top.  Since I'll be wearing them out on a Saturday night, I need something a little dressier than my normal white tee, colored cardigan, and flats.

 Anna Kendrick

I love Anna Kendrick's look, but I'm ashamed to admit that I do not own a black blazer.  I know, I know, what's wrong with me?  I just haven't found the right one yet.  A lighter blazer would work as well, but I don't have one of those either...  I'll probably end up with a cream top, nude heels, and gold accessories (nail polish?). 

I've got a store credit to TJ Maxx/Marshall's, so I'm going there to hunt for the right top.  I've spent my money for the week (yes, I caved and bought the ikat dress) so I can't spend cash on anything.  I've also got gift cards to American Eagle and Macy's, so hopefully I can put together the perfect St. Patty's Day outfit without spending a dime!   Wish me luck!  The luck of the Irish, perhaps? 




**Diet log 3/12-3/18
Forever 21 necklaces (2) - $15.60
Gap ikat dress - $44
Total - $59.60
Overage (taken from next week) - $24.60
Remaining for 3/19-3/25 - $10.40

Even though I went over for the week and don't have much for next week, I'm comfortable with my choices.  At least so far.  I'm definitely leaving the tags on the dress just in case buyer's remorse sets in. 

I've decided just to use item prices without tax or shipping.  Shipping can use too much of my budget (or encourages me to overspend in order to reach free shipping minimums) and tax is pain to try to estimate before I purchased items.  So price before tax/shipping it is!

To ikat or not to ikat

Congratulate me.  I went to the mall yesterday and DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING.  That's right, I did not buy a single item. 

The two tops from Old Navy that I went looking for were not available in my size and even though I wandered down to Loft and Gap, I overcame temptation and walked out empty-handed.  I had already pulled the trigger on the two necklaces from Forever 21 so I knew I couldn't get much without overspending for the week.

Total spent so far: $23.64.  This includes $6.95 in shipping, which I don't really think is fair.  I may decide that shipping costs don't count, but I don't know if that's cheating or not.  By setting what I think is a low weekly budget, losing an average of $7 or $8 on one online order drastically reduces what I've got to work with.  If I'm not including shipping, I'm at $16.69.  If I'm not including tax, I'm at $15.60.  

There was one item I was really tempted to purchase at the mall, but at $44 I really have to think it over. 

This is the Gap Printed Sheath Dress in ikat print and I simply adore it.  Ikat is popping up everywhere these days and I'm ready to jump on the bandwagon.  It is basically sold out online but my local store had one left, marked down from $59.95 AND it was my size.  Does that mean it's fate?  I like to think so.  Two of my favorite colors, navy and pink, tied together in a fun print?  Count me in.  Pockets?  Even better.  On sale?  Icing on the cake. 

I didn't buy it, but I did put it on hold so that I could think about it today.  If I buy it, I'd use the rest of my money for this week and a good portion of next week's as well.  I'm going to go back today to try it on again and see if I still love it as much as I did yesterday. 

Is it a bad sign that I might go over my limit during my very first week on this diet?  Hopefully this is not an indication of how the next 7.5 weeks is going to go...

Healthy snacks

Items I can buy and still stick to my shopping diet: 

 Nordstrom's BP. Classic Crewneck Cardigan, two colors on sale for $24.90 (from $34). 

Nordstrom's BP Double Scoop Tank Dress, $24. 

Nordstrom's BP Double Scoop Neck Tank, $18. 

I LOVE Nordstrom because they offer free shipping and free return shipping.  Shopping on a budget is easier when you don't have to worry about paying for shipping!

Old Navy's Plaid Gauze Shirt, on sale for $15 (down from $24.94).

Old Navy's Pintucked Chiffon Top, on sale for $18 (down from $26.94).

Forever 21's Chunky Beaded Necklace, $5.80.  I had a necklace similar to this one and wore it all the time (with white, light colors, and as a pop of color with black) but I lost it.

Forever 21's Faceted Bead Necklace, $9.80.  What's not to love about this necklace? 

Target's Merona Meaghan Ruffled Flats, $19.99.  Not exactly a spring/summer shoe, but I wanted a pair of mustard flats last fall and couldn't find any so I'm tempted to buy these and stash them away for later this year.  Who am I kidding, I'd wear these now.

Of all these items I'm leaning most toward the two necklaces and the flats for this week.  Buying all three items and paying shipping would put me over my $35 for the week though so I may have to wait on the flats since they're only available online.  So...maybe the two necklaces and the plaid shirt from Old Navy?  Decisions, decisions. 

I'm going to the mall after work (to return something!) so I'm going to look through Old Navy for those two tops.  Sometimes items are cheaper in store than they are on the website and it cuts out any shipping costs.  Why more companies don't offer free shipping is beyond me.  I would buy so much more stuff if shipping was free and I doubt I'm the only one that feels this way.  I guess I can't hate shipping costs completely if they help me stick to my diet.   

Wish me luck will power at the mall today! 

Diet Day 1 Motivation

Truth! 

Happy Monday!

A different kind of diet

Since I've been sick and didn't do much this weekend, this post will take the place of the normal weekend wrap up.  No one needs the details of my phlegmy weekend.   

Over the last two months I have made a conscious effort to invest in colors and styles I wouldn't have worn before.  I picked up colored denim, bright cardigans, bold accessories, fun shoes, and lots of stripes to help me break out of the jeans and a t-shirt rut I've been in for the last...10 years.  While I'm happy that I've embraced color and am taking more risks, I'm starting to wonder if it's really been worth the money.

I have students loans hanging over my head, my husband and I are both going to need new cars soon, and we're planning to start a family in the near future so I'm starting to feel guilty about my spending.  Even though I've already reduced the amount I'm spending during an average week, I still resort to shopping online when I'm bored and I'm still buying things here and there that I'm not sure I'll ever get use out of.  After adding up what I've spent the last two months, I realized there are better things I could have been doing with that money.  Things that would benefit my family and not just my closet.

I've given it a lot of thought and I have decided to put myself on a spending diet.  I've recently be using the Livestrong calorie tracker app on my phone to keep track of my daily calorie intake and I think I can apply the same principle to my spending.  Just as cutting sugar or carbs out of my diet completely was unrealistic, I think that trying to cut shopping out completely is unrealistic.  At least not for me.

I recently saw a diet quote somewhere that said, "If hunger is not the problem, eating is not the solution."  As true as this is for dieting, it is also true for spending.  I shop because I'm bored.  I shop because I'm lonely.  I shop to gain the approval of others.  I shop to fit in.  I do not shop because I actually need something.

I've looked at the average price of the items that I purchase and I've settled on allowing myself to spend $35 per week (Mon-Sun).  That may not sound like a lot, but I can pick up a fun top or a cute dress from Loft, Gap, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, or Nordstrom for that.  If I want to spend more on something, it has to come out of the next week's allowance.  I've purchased a receipt organizer and I've got a spreadsheet ready to go so that I can accurately keep track of what I've bought (instead of just adding up ballpark figures in my head).  I'm also going to post what I've bought along with the prices and a weekly total every Sunday to prove that I've stuck with my spending diet.  

Things like shopping trips to the outlet mall with my sister in law or picking up a dress for a wedding or special occasion will be my diet "cheat days" and won't count, but my $35 for the week will be included in what I spend.  Meaning if I go to the outlet mall and spend $200, I don't get to spend $35 somewhere else that week.  I only go to the outlet malls twice, maybe three times a year and I don't have any special occasions coming up so I don't think that will be too much of an issue.  My goals is to do this for 8 weeks and see how it feels.

So there you have it.  Starting tomorrow, Monday, March 12th I'm officially on a shopping diet.

Is there such a thing as Weight Watchers for over-shoppers?  Sigh, I need a support group. 

What does money actually buy?

I went to TJ Maxx and didn't buy any clothes, handbags, or shoes.  Whew, that's not something that happens often.  Since TJ Maxx is the type of store you have to dig through in order to find hidden treasures, I'm usually determined to find something that I like so that I can't say that I wasted my time.  Typically I don't have to look very hard.  There's always a stylish top, cute pair of heels or fun tote bag waiting for me but today I was picky and didn't find anything that I just had to have.

Well, that's not entirely true.  I bought a jewelry stand/organizer for $6.99.  My husband has been complaining that my accessories constantly take over our bathroom counter so this was really a purchase for him, not me.

You know you're a shopaholic when you can justify buying things that you want because it might somehow positively affect someone else.  I can't be the only one that has done this...right??? 

Having this blog and being able to go back and look at all the items I've bought recently has really made me more conscious of how much I buy.  I don't break the bank on any one item, but even with my shopping cut back, I'm spending about $50-$100 per week.  Just a quick glance at our online statement shows that I've spent $600+ so far this year.  And we're only a week into March!  And that's supposed to be me cutting back!  $600 in two months is crazy.  I don't need to spend $300 per month on myself for random things.  That's just short of what my monthly student loan payments will be in a few months.  I really need to set firm limits for myself instead of just vaguely saying I'm going to cut back.  Would my friends like me any less if I didn't have that $600 worth of stuff?  No.  Would my husband love me less?  Find me less attractive?  No.  I must admit, having new fun things does make me feel better about myself.  I like knowing I have the perfect outfit for a particular occasion.  But is that feeling really worth all the money I'm spending for it?  I'm not so sure anymore.  

I know I'm still early in this blog but I wish more people were reading it so that I could get some comments on how others have curbed their spending.  I've heard of some people giving themselves a weekly allowance and once it's gone, it's gone.  I've also heard of people who find an item but don't let themselves purchase it for 1 week.  If they still want it a week later, they let themselves buy it.  I don't think this would work well for me because I do most of my shopping online during sales or at stores like TJ Maxx so if I wait a week for something, it won't be there anymore.  Maybe that's the real point of waiting a week?  I think I'll do some online research and hopefully find other bloggers with similar concerns and saving goals.  If I want to really cut down on my spending, I might need the help of a support group.  I've contemplated going cold turkey but I don't think I would survive the withdrawals...

Weekend Wrap Up

I know it's Monday but I had company over late last night and didn't have a chance to post so please forgive yet another tardy weekend wrap up.  It didn't help that I didn't exactly have an exciting weekend so I wasn't very motivated to write about it.  

Friday night my husband and I went out for sushi and drinks with a few friends.  We don't stay out late very often so it was nice to feel like a normal 20something couple for once, but by 1:30 AM I was burned out and ready to go home.

I spent the entire day Saturday cleaning and sorting through closets.  I'm trying to get better about not holding on to things that I don't/won't wear so that we can make better use of our space.  I ended up with two bags of clothes to donate so I will be calling the Salvation Army this week.  They're our charity of choice because they have a pick up service.

My husband had to work on Sunday so I went to church solo and then came home to finish up the cleaning I started.  Some friends from church came over later for take out and I introduced them to Downton Abbey.  I cannot wait for season 3 to come out!  The family will be taking on the roaring 20s in the season and I'm dying to see how they handle the new fashions, music, and political change.

So that was my weekend.  No shopping, online or otherwise.  Old Navy has an online coupon going right now (30% off with code THANKYOU) but the items I'd buy aren't available in my size.  They have some great brightly colored skinny jeans so check them out if you're looking for some fun and inexpensive ways to brighten up your wardrobe this season.

Oh!  I have an interview for a part time job this afternoon.  Now that I have finished grad school I have a lot of time on my hands and since my students loans will start billing us in May, I thought it might be a good idea for me to bring in some extra income.  I'm really interested in this particular job so I hope that it pays well enough and doesn't require too many hours.  Fingers crossed this is a good opportunity! 


**Update

I'm on my lunch break and I decided to check and see if any colored skinny jeans had popped up in my size on Old Navy and was pleasantly surprised!  I have just ordered:

These are the Rock Star Colored Super Skinny Jean in sashimi.  I've never purchased or even tried on pants from Old Navy, so I'm just taking a stab in the dark with the sizing.  The reviews said to size way up, so I went with two sizes up from my normal size at Gap (since they're the same company I'm hoping the sizing is similar).  I normally go a size up from my normal jeans size when it comes to skinny jeans and since the reviews said they ran really small, I think two sizes up should be safe.  I'll post a review when they arrive.  I'm so excited! 

Since the 30% off code doesn't apply to jeans (boo!) I had to order at least one other item to make use of the coupon and put me over the $50 mark to get free shipping.  I figured I'd go with some staples that I know I'll get some good use out of:

This is the 3/4 Sleeve Boatneck Tee in pink stripe.  I love Old Navy for simple knit tops.  They're really cheap so I don't care if I wear them out or stain them, and they consistently have nice cuts and bright colors.  I'm loving stripes right now and I was kicking myself for not getting this after my last order where I got navy stripe and orange stripe.  It's currently listed at $12 but with the 30% code it was under $9.  Can't beat that! 

I was still under the $50 mark so I went ahead and grabbed this.  This is the Lightweight Boatneck Tee in bali.  I'm hoping this is actually the same green that's displayed online.  One small downfall of Old Navy's website is that sometimes their colors are not accurately depicted.  Items are priced so low that I normally risk it, but it's annoying to order something based on its color only to have it show up and be a completely different shade.  Hopefully this green doesn't disappoint. 

Alright so my previously shopping-free weekend has been ruined by today's lunchtime browsing, but I'm comfortable with these purchases.  I'm getting pretty good at embracing color! 

Cross it off my list

Since I have been trying to embrace color and try new things with my wardrobe, I decided to hunt for a brightly colored crossbody to help add some pop to my spring outfits.  I've been specifically looking for reds, yellows, or light blues.  After a little hunting online, I came across this:

This is the kate spade Cobble Hill Ellen Crossbody in cinnabar and at $238, it's out of my price range for a "fun" piece.  I LOVE kate spade but unless I'm at the outlet store, I typically admire from afar.  But I did at least decide that I really like the color so that narrowed down my search some.  Tangerine is popping up everywhere and I for one am loving it. 

I've been casually looking for a few weeks now, checking the usual spots like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, ebags and ebay and finally FINALLY struck gold yesterday.

This is the Nine West Tunnel Crossbody in papaya.   The picture doesn't do justice to the bright orangey-red color or the cute fold-over shape.  I snagged it for $14 at TJ Maxx and I couldn't be more pleased with it.  With a removable strap, it can be carried as a crossbody or a clutch so I know I'll get use out of it and it has tons of pockets to keep everything organized.

The only con is that it is smaller than I was hoping for, but I think I can manage.  Normally I carry tote bags because I like to be prepared for a headache, stomach ache, sunny day, rainy day, cold day, hot day, bad breath, dry eyes, blisters, hunger pains, WWIII, etc.  My husband calls me a walking pharmacy but hey, a girl likes to be prepared.  I don't think I'll be able to keep that up when carrying this bag, but it has plenty of room for the essentials: phone, keys, small wallet, compact, and maybe one or two kinds of medicine (instead of my normal 5).  All in all, I think it's a great $14 investment.  If I use it a lot maybe I can justify indulging my love of kate spade but for right now, this one will do just fine. 


*PS I am happy to announce that thanks to my decreased spending and both of us cutting back on eating out, we were able to make a couple large payments on our credit cards and we're both credit card debt free now.  We didn't really have much to begin with, but we have consistently carried balances on our cards and since we're looking to be more financially responsible, we decided it's time that we pay them off each month and focus on saving rather than throwing money away on interest.  So it's a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

Happy Friday all!