September 2017 budget

Well, it happened. I finally started to talk about my spending in therapy. Because I'm not happy with my financial situation, and not talking about it isn't helping, so why not? 

I've definitely shopped more in the past (like, all of 2015?), but it just feels different now. I want to be able to also save money and do bigger and better things than just go to Target. I need to get better at letting that impulsive "You totally need this!!1!" rationalization pass and focus instead on my bigger financial goals.

So that's a work in progress. 

I actually spent less this month than last month (🎉), and let's see what I got:

1. Super Pure Serum (Glossier): $28
2. Geometric ring (Baubles By Bets): $19
3. LashSense with UnderSense (Lips that Last by Becky): $20
4. Milky Jelly Cleanser (Glossier): $18

Not pictured:

1. ShadowSense in Sandstone Pearl (Lips that Last by Becky): $22 - 10% off = $20
2. Embrace High-Waist Laser-Cut Legging (Target): $35 on sale for $10 - gift card = $0
3. Lipsense freebies! Fly Girl and Matte Gloss

TOTAL: $105

The Super Pure Serum has been underwhelming thus far. It just feels like water, and it doesn't seem to have had any effect on my skin (which is prone to redness, the problem Super Pure is supposed to target). With that said, I know that it's only been a few weeks, so I'm curious to see if it does anything going forward. 

I do, however, LOVE the Milky Jelly Cleanser, which feels lovely on the skin! This was actually a repurchase (bottle #2!). PS - If you want to try out Glossier, you can get 10% off your first purchase with my link!

I think geometric rings are so pretty, but I always seem to have a hard time finding them--or, at least, finding them in a small enough size (I'm a 4-5) and in rose gold (❤️). So discovering this ring on Etsy was a total win! It's exactly what I've been looking for!

I don't have much feedback on the LashSense + UnderSense because it only just came a few days ago! I've only tried the LashSense part so far and was impressed with how fully it coated my lashes in 1-2 coats. I had to rewatch one of Becky's videos to remember how to apply the UnderSense, though (😂), so I'll give that a whirl next time! The fact that you can get both products for $20, as opposed to paying $21 for Urban Decay's similar under-lash booster (which I've done in the past!) definitely intrigued me! Plus, LashSense comes in brown--hooray!

I'm actually going to exchange the Sandstone Pearl ShadowSense for Candlelight because I want to use it as a concealer, and the Sandstone Pearl was a bit too yellow for me.

The Target leggings are awesome. I have no idea why they were on the sale rack, since they are apparently full-price online, but hey! They are comfy with those snazzy on-trend cut-outs/mesh PLUS a pocket that can fit my iPhone 7!! (I'm so glad leggings with pockets are a thing that exists now, you don't even know. 🙌) Oh, and I only have like two pairs of leggings that are made out of a wicking material (it's not like I work out normally lol), hence picking up this pair, since I will be doing yoga regularly for at least the next seven months!

And lastly, two LipSense freebies that I had earned! Although other colors and glosses appealed to me, I wanted to go with classics that I wasn't sure I'd use enough to justify paying for. Enter Fly Girl and Matte Gloss!

Fly Girl legitimately terrifies me, but a red felt like a make-up bag essential. As did the Matte Gloss, which I had previously wished I'd had when I was using First Love more! 

High Five for Friday: September 22

Let's see what put the sparkle into this week!

• So I started something new last Friday... yoga teacher training! Eek! You might recall that I don't love yoga and certainly don't have a consistent yoga practice, so this is a bit of a strange choice for me. But I have worked with one of the teachers for years and love her, and I figured that the structure would force me to stick with yoga instead of just taking a class every few months. Even though it's only been one weekend, I've already learned so much, especially about myself because I am not good at yoga, and I usually only do things that I feel good (or at least competent) at. Feeling like the "worst" one in a group and experiencing that vulnerability is really tough for me, so just going back each day has been a big accomplishment so far, instead of being one and done (or one and run!).

This is generally how I feel during yoga. 😂

• I stayed over at yoga teacher training last weekend so as to not have to drive back and forth every day, and it was like a wonderful mini vacation! On Saturday night, I did all of my favorite things: went to Target (where I found an awesome pair of leggings on sale for $10), stopped at Sheetz for some popcorn chicken (chicken nuggets and fries are 100% my guilty pleasure), came back to Netflix and chill by myself, and went to bed at 11. It was GREAT!

Don't look so surprised, cast of Haven!

• I also found this iPhone case at Target, and I love it! So pretty, so purple--it's perfect for me! (Rose gold and purple?! It's like Compton and Long Beach together--now you know you're in trouble! If you're my wallet, that is! 💸)

• For the past five years, I've seen therapists in Center City, which was a lot more convenient when I lived in South Philly or took Septa to work (which meant coming through the city every day). But since I started driving, the act of physically getting to therapy has been a giant pain in my ass. Besides the Paperboy nature of city driving in general, you also have to search for parking, which can cost up to $30 for ONE HOUR. ☹️ Considering my driving phobias, I didn't want to wuss out, but just how much do I have to make myself suffer? So this week, I finally asked my boss if he was okay with me switching my work from home day to Tuesdays so that I can see my therapist at a different office that's WAY WAY less annoying to drive to and always has free, non-parallel street parking. I have a hard time cutting myself some slack, as well as asking for things, so this was a major accomplishment on two counts. HOORAY!

• Lastly, if you're a grammar nerd like me, you'll appreciate this Buzzfeed article. ("COMMA AS YOU ARE" OMG.) That comma cupcake makes my English major heart sing with joy.

I might have made cupcakes quoting a line from Faulkner before, so the person who made the comma cupcake is basically my soulmate. 

• Bonus because I'm OBSESSED with my dahlia! Look at how bright it is when it first blooms and then how the color fades so beautifully after a few days. 😍(As you might have gathered from Instagram, I take more pictures of this beauty every day haha.)

Hope you have a great weekend! xo

High Five for Friday: September 15

Let's see what put the sparkle into this blur of a week!

• On Saturday, I made some goat friends!! Pops took me to the nearby animal sanctuary (the one he'd taken the injured bird to), and I got to meet Spike:

plus random chicken  

And Frankie:

I fed them crackers, which made them love me for a few seconds (❤️), and I also got to gawk at some chickens. I was really living my best Little House on the Prairie life!

• I very nearly had a cat-free week, but then a miracle happened: one showed up at work! A gingy cat! Hanging around where the groundhogs usually are! I'm sure the ladies lunching at the restaurant under our office appreciated me frockling through the grass making kissy noises for a cat who was like "Maybe if I don't move, she won't see me..." Needless to say, he was not my biggest fan, but I got my cat fix after all!

• My bffl is now rewatching Haven too (in which characters have "troubles" aka bizarre problems ranging from not feeling pain to causing physical structures to crack nbd), and we made this sad realization:

SAD BUT TRUE

• I've been in a real Lucky and Liz circa 1998 spiral this past week. (Luckily, there are people who have done God's work and compiled the whole storyline in playlists on YouTube 🙌🙌.) Bonus that I get to hear fine, greeting-card-worthy soap lines like this:

A reasonable question.

• And finally, there's more blooms on my dahlia!! 🎉💖🎉

Hope you have a great weekend! xo

Outfits of the month (August 2017)

You know, I used to post more than just H54F. But for whatever reason, this year, I just haven't been able to motivate myself to blog much.

For instance, I've enjoyed documenting my daily outfits on here for the past two Augusts, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to get myself to edit and post pictures in weekly batches, as I had in the past.

Enter Instagram.

I was actually energized at the thought of posting my outfits on there every day (rather than letting the pictures pile up), so I decided to do that instead. Sometimes, you just need to find an alternative, instead trying to force yourself to do something you're not super interested in (which usually ends in not doing it at all).

An unforseen bonus to using IG was being able to talk to y'all in real time! I so loved seeing all of your likes and comments, and getting to talk about clothes and girly things on work days! (I have two coworkers, and they're both dudes, sooo...)

Here are a few of my favorite outfits from August! My job doesn't have a dress code, so most of my outfits consisted of jeans or leggings plus tees. Nothing too exciting. But the Lindsay kimono helped me to break up the monotony! 

Lindsay kimono: LulaRoe by Dre Lydon (2017) | Tank: Gap (thrifted 2011) | Jeans: Gap (2014) | Sandals: Target (2017) | Belt: Loft (2014) | Necklace: Stella & Dot (Poshmark 2017)

I would never normally pair a kimono with dressy shorts, but I LOVED this look! I felt so sassy in SoCal!

Lindsay kimono: LulaRoe by Dre Lydon (2017) | Tank: Gap (thrifted 2011) | Shorts: Sans Souci (thrifted 2017) | Sandals: Target (2017)

I love a boxy shirt and skinny jeans, and this thrifted Aerie tee has been one of my faves lately!

Tee: Aerie (thrifted 2017) | Sandals: Target (2017) | Crossbody: Francesca's (2017)

I wouldn't normally pay $55 for, well, any clothing item, but this Carly is so cute and comfy! I just love it! (Accessorizing with an earhat optional.)

Carly dress: LulaRoe by Serena McCullough (2017) | Sandals: Target (2017)

Carly dress: LulaRoe by Serena McCullough (2017) | Sneakers: DSW (2016) | Longchamp Le Pliage: eBay (2015)

I tend to wear things I love to death, and this romper from 2015 is still a summertime staple. Such a great, comfy piece! (Also, one of my friends recently suggested wearing a bralette under a romper, to avoid that pesky bathroom nudity issue, which is GENIUS.)

Romper: Old Navy (2015) | Sandals: White Mountain (2015) | Sunglasses: Kate Spade (2012)

Linking up with Laura for Confident Twosday!

High Five for Friday: September 8

Let's see what put the sparkle into this week!

• Remember how I planted flowers on the 4th of July and realized that I hate gardening? Well, the poor plants had been looking pretty beat for awhile and I was convinced I had killed them. BUT LO AND BEHOLD:  

So beautiful! So not dead! In fact, there are several other blooms in progress! I feel like such a proud plant mom!

• THREE cats visited us this week!! First up is Cinny, who fled from me even though I called her "Tina." 😿

Then we had Blackie, who sat outside our window meowing, but hid in the hedges when I came out to smother him with affection. Why are you meowing if you don't want to make friends?!

And lastly we had...

I think this might be Brindle Pinky, Cinny/Tina's housemate who rarely comes to our side of the block. And probably will not be back anytime soon, as she was the most terrified of me. Womp.

• Over the weekend, I had a little family birthday party! I recently discovered that Wegman's cake is AMAZING (I usually hate store bought cake), so I drove all the way there to get the delicious chocolate buttercream/yellow cake of my dreams! My aunt was teasing me about doing all the work for my own party, but how else are you going to get what you want?! 🎂

• And among the awesome cards and gifts from the fam were William Shakespurr, a cat water bottle, and PUSHEEN IN A DONUT FLOAT.

"To bday or not to bday" 😂 

• Lastly, a Weird-Ass Show of the Week! Has anyone watched the Syfy show Haven? Despite my occasional love of Supernatural, I really don't love the supernatural--it's all about the pretty boys... and the same was/is true for Haven, which stars the foxy gent below, Lucas Bryant. (My bffl and I first fell in love with him when he starred in the Canadian hockey soap opera MVP, which is seriously a real show.) Haven is as weird as I remember, but I'm enjoying it a lot more on my second viewing. (I only got through a handful of episodes the first time around.) This season one moment killed me in 2010 and still does now. ❤️

Hope you have a great weekend! xo