Happy Friday!! We have a really busy weekend ahead with a bunch of birthday parties, but luckily I'm only going into the office for two days next week so we'll have a bit of recovery time.
Can you believe that the Fourth of July is just a few days away? One of our birthday parties actually involves a Fourth of July parade this weekend, so I'm going to be pulling out my red, white and blue early. In case you're still looking for something to wear, I'm going patriotic again for this week's finds (check out last week's finds or my Fourth of July inspiration for more ideas).
Every month I post about my clothing budget. My budget per month is $350, which may seem like a lot to some and a little to others, but feels just right for me. You can read my thoughts on my 2016 budget here.
Hellooooo!!!! Can you believe it's time for another budget post? Oh no? Me neither. I know I say it every month, but this year is just flying by. It's already time for my mid-year budget check-in!
I bought a lot this month. Like, go to Nordstrom and return $600 worth of things lot. If I could put in a little embarrassed face emoji here, I would. Really, the problem was that I was trying to find a dress for a wedding we're going to next week and ordering multiple sizes. I ended up deciding to go with Rent the Runway instead because I had some credits (I'm trying this and this), but I suppose that's neither here nor there.
Well anyway, as I'm writing this it's late and I'm clearly getting off track, so here's the damage for June:
LOFT Eyelet One Shoulder Top - originally $39.99, on sale $23.99. I haven't managed to share this yet, but I freaking love it. The main part of the shirt is tee shirt material, which means it's really comfortable and easy to wear. It runs a little big so size down. LOFT Pom Pom Shift Dress - originally $89.50, on sale $44.93. I'm really glad I bit the bullet on this final sale dress, I've already worn it a couple of times including here. The shift shape is really flattering, and the cut makes it appropriate for work while the pom poms add some fun. I keep seeing sizes popping in and out of stock so keep checking if you want it. Fits TTS. J. Crew Factory One Shoulder Dress (back in stock!) - originally $79.95, on sale $39.50. I love love looooove this dress. One shoulder plus as ruffle plus a shift shape plus stripes plus blue and white? It's like whoever designed this was reading my mind. The fit is a little large but I still went with my regular size (see it here). This sold out basically instantly so snag it now if it's on your wishlist! J. Crew Seaside Pants - originally $89.50, on sale $52.50. I would not say these are the most flattering pants, they're a little high waisted so I tend to roll the waistband (like those good old Soffe shorts!) but I love them for traveling or for work from home days. They are super comfortable but look way more pulled together than sweats. I got a tall and they're the perfect ankle length. I can see dressing them up but haven't tried it. My only regret is that I got them in gray, and I keep realizing that all of the sweaters I usually travel with are gray too. LOFT Fiesta Dress (currently 50% off!) - originally $89.50, on sale + used rewards $24.75. This dress is just so freaking fun. I love the embroidery on the sleeves and the bow in the back. It's belted but the belt is removable, so it can be pulled in at the waist or worn like the one shoulder dress. It fits large, I sized down to a medium. J. Crew Factory Striped Studio Tee - originally $29.50, on sale $14.50. These tees are the best, I have them in a couple of colors and they're perfect for everyday wear. Unlike a lot of tees on the market these days, they're made from a really thick material that isn't see-through. Definitely size up in them though because they tend to shrink a little. J. Crew Polka Dot Cold Shoulder Top - originally $68, on sale $40.80. This one I'm still not sure about, I still might return it. The polka dots are adorable and I really love the sleeves, but I'm still concerned that the shoulder straps will never stay up. I guess I need to wear it around the house and make up my mind. Sperry Seacoast Sneaker - originally $59.95, on sale $49.95. I just wore these for the first time for my trip to Knoxville, and I'm a bit "meh" about them. On the one hand, they're so cute. On the other hand, I wanted to rip them off of my feet after wearing them for a full day because the elastic band on the top of your foot really starts to dig in. I did wear them again for a shorter time and not have any issues, so it's possible I just need to break them in a little more. BaubleBar Rosalita Tassel Earrings - originally $38, used rewards $32. These were one of those purchases where I saw them and had to buy them immediately. I've worn them a couple of times and it is insane how many compliments I got. They are big but still fairly lightweight because the main material is embroidery floss. J. Crew Factory Striped Cotton-Linen Skirt - originally $69.50, on sale $34.50. I wore this for the first time on Tuesday, and realized that it's made of the exact same material as the one shoulder dress I love so much. So cute with a tucked-in tee and long enough for work, runs TTS.
So I'm actually on track for my monthly spend of $300 from the last few years, versus $350 for this year - I guess I didn't need to give myself that raise!
Did you budget for June? How did you do?
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Yep, this is real. I had to pull out a sweater thanks to some chilly weather we had here in the Chi. I don't know what it is about wearing a sweater with shorts, but it feels so fresh. Probably because most people would rather wear pants with a tee than shorts with long sleeves.
This particular sweater is the best. I know I've waxed poetic about it before, but it really is the perfect sweater for summer. It's lightweight and breezy but still warm, so it always feels like the right layer. It also has the perfect drape. I'm normally not so into oversized things on me because they can emphasize how top-heavy I am, but in this particular case the oversized factor is somehow super flattering. Oh, and the blue marled knit is so so so cute, which doesn't hurt.
I wore this for dinner at our friends' place in Wicker Park over the weekend, which is such a cute neighborhood but I rarely get the chance to explore it. I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before, but Jeff is perpetually early (he was half an hour early for our first date!) and if I don't try to reign in his earliness we get places way before we're expected. Well, we somehow managed to get there forty-five minutes earlier than we were supposed to, so there was lots of time for wandering. I guess that's the bright side to arriving early!
There are some seriously gorgeous tree-lined streets in Wicker Park, and the houses on this block were huge. I know there are some real masterpieces in Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast, but I didn't realize these old beauties existed in Wicker Park too! After wandering around and snapping some photos, we managed to make our way over to The Tankard for a quick drink before dinner. It was fun being so spontaneous, usually Jeff and I really plan out everything we do. It actually inspired us, and I think we're going to try wandering around a new neighborhood this coming weekend too! Hopefully not wearing a sweater this time ;)
...Spent most of my time down in Knoxville, TN volunteering with Destination Imagination again! I said last week that this weekend is always so inspiring, and it definitely was!! It's always so fun to get this chance to be really creative and think up crazy things, and I love getting to meet all of these different creative people from around the country. You may have seen the couple of things I posted on InstaStories - we're a very amusing group ;) We spent most of the weekend working and pushing our brains to their limits, but also got to visit a couple of my favorite Knoxville spots, including a wander through World's Fair Park, and a visit to The Brewery.
...Got back into Chicago and went over to our friends Andy and Laura's house for a little barbecue and a lot of visiting with their adorable little son Henry! I can't believe he's almost a year old now - we're going to his first birthday party next weekend. And then my niece Mae's second birthday party the day after. Someone tell all of these kids to stop growing up so darn fast!
I hope you had a good one!!
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So I don't know how well you can tell from these photos, but Jeff and I got caught in the middle of a downpour!! I was waiting for Jeff to walk over as the wind started to pick up, so I could tell it was going to rain. But while we were taking these photos (in the span of less than a minute) it went from a couple of sprinkles to a full on downpour! We literally took the last shot, and then turned around and sprinted to the car. Good thing I wasn't wearing flip flops! Oh, the things I do for blogging ;)
This dress is definitely my new favorite. It sadly sold out SO FAST but (!) there's a super cute white eyelet version that's still available, and an off the shoulder striped version. I also just got this blue and white striped dress that has some fun embroidery detail. Do I have too many one shoulder/off the shoulder dresses in my closet right now? Ummm, can you ever?
Today I'm heading down to the good old University of Tennessee again (I was just there last month) to do a little more volunteering with Destination Imagination, and I'm super excited for the next couple of days. I'm going down as a writer, which is something I did for a couple of years in a row but then couldn't go for several years because of our wedding and a family vacation or two. While I'm going down as a volunteer, it really is like a master class in how to be creative and how to generate ideas. I always walk away feeling so inspired!
I do have my usual Friday Finds post scheduled for tomorrow, but have a great weekend and I'll see you back here next week!
You guys, the Fourth of July is right around the corner!! Which reminds me, we're finally throwing another Fourth of July party after a four-year break (silly getting married, silly going on family vacations), and I really need to hop on things! Like deciding where to hang our giant American flag. And how many red, white and blue items I can serve ;)
If you're from the USA, you know how fun dressing up with a little patriotic flair can be. I personally love rocking a little red, white, and blue. I'm thinking this year my new blue and white striped dress will be on the menu. If you're trying to find some Fourth of July inspiration, look no further!
Dress (currently on final sale, fits TTS - until 10am today take an extra 50% off with code FLASH!) - LOFT / Bag - Rebecca Minkoff / Heels (similar block heels here and here) - Sole Society / Necklace - Stella & Dot / Earrings - Sugarfix by BaubleBar
I don't know about you, but I've been working in a casual office space for so long now that being asked to dress up throws me into a tizzy. (Did I just use the word tizzy?!) But seriously though. I manage to get myself dressed every other day of the week with no problem, and am usually more dressed up than everyone around me. But ask me to find something business casual in my closet and I freak out.
The main problem is those dress pants. I mean, really you guys, the only pair I have and like I bought over five years ago and are a skinny black pant. So really, they're basically a pair of leggings. (I think it's actually this pair, but mine seriously are from 2012 so who knows if they've changed something.)
As soon as I look past the dress pants option, I always end up realizing I have a closet full of things that would work for business wear, including this adorable dress I snagged on final sale at LOFT. Normally I wouldn't advise buying things on final sale online, because duh, you're stuck with whatever you buy even if it doesn't fit. But I had actually tried this particular dress on in a different size a month or two ago, so I was pretty confident that it would work. Winner winner chicken dinner. If you really want this dress, I keep seeing sizes pop in and out of stock - I'm wearing a 12 here (my normal dress size at LOFT) and would say it fits pretty TTS for a shift dress.
So what did I have to dress up for? At the last minute, my boss asked me to step in for him and give a presentation at a conference last week! Now, I actually did a lot of theater in high school so I like performing, but public speaking is a whole different animal. It's one of those things I don't think I'll ever feel fully prepared for, but I went up and did it anyway, and you know what? Once you start talking, it's not so scary anymore! Oh, and it helped that the session I gave was only for about 75 people ;) And to the sweet reader I met at the conference, thanks for saying hi! It was so fun to meet you!!
Dress (currently on final sale, fits TTS - until 10am today take an extra 50% off with code FLASH!) - LOFT / Bag - Rebecca Minkoff / Heels (similar block heels here and here) - Sole Society / Necklace - Stella & Dot / Earrings - Sugarfix by BaubleBar
...Had a quiet night in with Jeff, which we hadn't done in a long time - hello Kimmy Schmidt & VEEP binges! Have you been watching? They're definitely two of my favorite shows right now! We're all caught up on VEEP but I think we're up to episode 9 for Kimmy - all of the Titus storylines so far this season have been amaaaaazing ;)
...Put in an order for this fun little off-the-shoulder number, potentially for a wedding we have coming up in a couple of weeks - fingers crossed it fits!
...Drove out to the 'burbs for a party to celebrate my grandma's 92nd birthday! I hadn't seen my extended family in a few months (or my brother since we saw him in Thailand!) so it was really fun to catch up with everyone and see all of the new little kids in our family run around the backyard and somehow commandeer all of our family's favorite party crackers.
...Spent the night at my sister's house, which meant lots of Sesame Street and cuddles with my niece in the morning. I really appreciate that she let me sleep until 6:45 in the morning, I don't know how all of you mamas do it!
...Celebrated Father's Day with the family with all of the breakfast tacos and a few boozy gifts, so really, just what the daddy ordered ;)
...Celebrated our second wedding anniversary (What?!?? It's actually tomorrow but still!) by heading out to The Aviary for all of those fancy cocktails, and then to Bar Siena for dinner. I hadn't been to The Aviary before, and man oh man is it an experience. Jeff got to slingshot one of his drinks to crack it open, I got to experience what was basically the bubble tea of cocktails, and we both loved some flavor-changing drinks. Definitely something fun to check out if you've never been!
I hope you had a good one!!
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Happy Friday!! We've got a packed weekend ahead - I may need a weekend to recover from my weekend! We've got lots of family time on the docket between a party to celebrate my grandma's 92nd birthday and Father's Day, plus Jeff and I are squeezing in a date night to celebrate our second wedding anniversary!! Phew, I'm exhausted already, but in the best possible of ways.
