Blogging on a Budget: June

So it turns out a month in which one moves across the country is a month in which one spends a ton of money on things like baggage fares and rent and shipping boxes, and therefore a month in which one spends hardly any money at all on clothes. :) Here is my monthly breakdown for June.

This month, I spent:

$24.99 on clothes (a thrifted skirt and a new straw fedora)

$60 on hair (in that I got a haircut for the first time in a over a year!)

$0 on makeup

$0 on jewelry

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

I'm off to Farmers Markets, sunning by the river, a party with friends, and of course memorizing approximately a million new vocab words for a quiz on Friday. :)

Shoe Woes

 Top: Gap (similar, and similar for $9.49!) / Skirt: H&M / Bag: Vintage Coach, via eBay / Sunglasses: Target / Bracelet: gift

 

I've quickly figured out what one of the main differences between my style in LA and my style in Boston is going to have to be: shoes. By which I mean, I went (almost) everywhere in LA by car. I'd drive somewhere, perhaps walk for a short while, and drive back home. Thus, I lived the first 22 years of my life with what I am now realizing are some damn impractical shoes. I've never been a heels-in-the-daytime kind of a girl, but I do have a shoe collection that is 90% paper-thin flats, sandals, and a few pairs of (pretty decent) boots.

Now that I live in a walking/public transportation city, I'm realizing just how impractical most of my shoes are. I bought my first pair of sneakers in years the other day, but I REALLY don't want to have to wear those every day. So, blogging community, help! What are some cute, comfortable, and preferably not too expensive sandals, flats, and/or waterproof shoes that I could wear in a walking city?

My feet will thank you. :)

Too Darn Hot

 

 Dress: Urban Outfitters ($10; similar, similar) / Belt: came with a top bought in England (similar) / Sandals: Gap (similar) / Bracelets: gift (similar) / Glasses: Coach

 

There has been a massive heat wave in Boston over the past few days; I'm talking 98 degrees and humid as can be. It has been far too hot to wear anything except for a dress. And some bracelets.

I'm used to the heat, but the humidity is completely new. As are the 5pm torrential downpours, which have been happening for the past few days as well. Luckily, I like thunderstorms. But I do need some rain boots...

Hope you had a great weekend!

From the Boys

Top: Urban Outfitters / Skirt: Urban Outfitters, Thrifted (was $58 in-store, thrifted for $13) / Sandals: Gap, very old / Necklace: Bought at a Farmer's Market / Jade Koi ring: vintage, from Japan, inherited from my Nana / Silver rings: gifts

 

I've been doing a lot of people-watching this past week. People-watching is, in general, something I love to do, but people-watching in a brand-new city is even better. I've been paying specific attention to style, trying to parse the differences between So Cal and Boston, counting the number of Longchamp totes I see in a day (honestly, I stopped somewhere around 40...), and noticing, for one reason another, a lot about the style of men's clothing.

I've always loved menswear. I'm jealous of how easy it is for a man to look put together, but also guess that their wardrobe possibilities might sometimes feel restrictive. Men on the east coast, I've noticed, seem far more put-together/dressed up than their So Cal counterparts (women, too, but I'll save that for another post). The preppy look runs strong, replacing the surfer/skater/hipster look in terms of on-the-street prevalence, and it seems you're more likely to see a young man in sporting a summer look of walking shorts (often colorful), a button-up, and loafers than anything else.

I've noticed more than a few men wearing pink/salmon colored shorts, to which I tip my hat. However, every single one of them has paired their shorts with a navy blue button down. Truly, the combination works, but it started to seem almost like a uniform around the 6th or 7th time I saw it!

So, here's a nod to you, east coast boys. My version of the pink-and-navy summer combo. Thanks for the inspiration!

Announced: Petite Fashion Challenge # 17

Ok, first things first, I'm in Boston!

I've been here for just over a week, and have slowly been settling in. I'm staying in a sublet for the summer in a pretty cool part of town, and attending one super-intensive summer language class. So far, so good, except my head is actually exploding with verb conjugations and the 400 new vocabulary words I've memorized in the past 6 days. Oy.

Now that I'm a bit more settled, I'll be back to regular posting asap! I'm kind of living out of my suitcase, as I have 0 hangers to my name at this point (ah, cross-country moving...), so some of my outfits might be a little strange. Also: East Coast summer. A few days ago it was in the high 50's and in a few days it'll be in the high 90's. And there will be thunderstorms. I don't understand...

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On another note, Petite Fashion Challenge #17 has been announced!

This month's challenge comes from Sew Petite Gal:

The Challenge: Candy Colorized

Take a bowl full of colorful candies (M&Ms, Jolly Ranchers, jelly beans, etc.), close your eyes, and draw 2-3 pieces.  Now use those colors (+ a neutral of your choosing) to form the basis for your ensemble.

**Extra brownie points if you post more than 1 colorful ensemble or if you add a DIY element (because I love DIYs so much!) :D**

 

Head over to her blog to sign up!

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Hope you're all having a great week!

Be Right Back!

Today was my last day at the elementary school, and man, am I going to miss those kids! They made me laugh all year long, inspired me to pursue my passions, and taught me a thing or two about the world. I am so grateful to have been a part of their 5th grade school year.

So, I'm off to Boston in a few short days! In the mean time I'll be packing furiously, running a myriad of errands, and finishing up other aspects of my job. All of that means I probably won't be able to blog for about a week, and that my next post will most likely be from my new digs on the East Coast!

Hope you are all having a great week so far!

Counting Down

Top: Gap / Cardigan: from a local boutique / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny sz 00 / Shoes: Target / Bag: Vintage Coach, via eBay / Sunglasses: Target / Belt: Target / Bracelets: DIY (how to, here!)

 

So the good news is I "inherited" this belt from my mom. Hooray for free stuff! The bad news is is broke all of two hours after taking this picture. :-/ It was a cheap-y belt from Target, so I suppose the fact that it lived for a few years is quite good.

I'm trying to be mindful of what I buy on the (super) cheap and what I spend my money on. Colorful skinny belts that will last a few years? $20, max. But, classic bags or workhorse shoes that will last forever? I'm trying to work up the courage to spend more on those sorts of things. Thus, my decision to buy that beautiful Cambridge Satchel as soon as I move to, fittingly, Cambridge, MA.

Speaking of which, I have only 3 days left working in the elementary school I've been in for the past year, 5 days left at this job, 10 days until I move, 11 until I start school, and 12 until my birthday! Whoah, there. I'm a serious combination of excited and nervous for what the next few weeks has in store. Wish me luck!

Hope you are all having a lovely week!