Aye Aye

I don't know what to say...you caught me wearing more stripes!  By the way, this shirt is child proof.  "How?" you ask...well, the neckline is high, so if Nik decides to pull on my shirt I won't be flashing people when he does.  Yeah for hard lessons learned and the joys of motherhood.  :) 

Top: Ross (similar), Jeans: Old, Shoes: BOC via Marshalls (similar)

Last budget update (July):

Spent: $491.28

Remaining: $228.77

Maize

Since I became addicted to stripes, a few new striped things have found their way into my closet...including this cardigan.  It's pretty lightweight and great for the spring and summer weather...not to mention it's colorful!  Yay for more colors in my closet. 

Cardigan: Forever 21 (similar), Tank: Target, Skirt: Forever 21 (similar)

Last budget update (July):

Spent: $472.39

Remaining: $247.66

Cold Shoulder

Clever title, right?  Just kidding!  I saw this top at Marshalls and I liked the light color blocking so I tried it on and it was so roomy and comfy that I bought it.

It wasn't until after I had Nik that I started to favor loose fitting clothes (it also helped hide the baby weight, wink wink).  Before my wardrobe consisted of slim fitted camisoles and cardigans with tons of pencil skirts... which really aren't the most comfortable things for me to wear while chasing down my running toddler.

I like my closet so much better now and I'll take comfort over looks any day!

Darn shadows across my face...

Nik found a vacuum cleaner attachment and he wanted to make it a teething toy.

Top: Marshalls (similar), Pants: Ross (similar)

Last budget update (June):

Spent: $456.37

Remaining: $263.68

Colorful

A few weeks ago I went to my closet in the morning and I felt like wearing something bright and cheery since it looked like it was a beautiful day.  When I opened my closet I was greeted with tons of black, brown and navy clothes.  I asked myself, " Who am I? I don't know. I guess I have a lot of things to ponder."  (ok, I just quoted Zoolander...but I had the same thoughts)

I vowed then that if I bought something it had to be light and/or colorful...no more dark colors....and then I did the laundry when I came home so I could wear my new top!

I bought these sandals for our Disneyland trip and they saved my feet!  I love B.O.C. and Born shoes, they're sooo comfy.

Top: TJ Maxx (similar), Skirt: Anthropologie (similar style), Shoes: B.O.C. (via TJ Maxx)

Last budget update (June):

Spent: $474.85

Remaining: $282.16

Next year I'm going to be a bit more realistic with my clothing budget. $800 for an entire year is not enough for a clothes lover after having a baby...nope, not at all.

Feed the Birds

We just watched Mary Poppins and the print of my skirt reminded me of the "feed the birds" scene. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have noticed this skirt unless it had a bird on it, right? I amuse myself...

This post isn't about my skirt though, it's about the super cheap belt I bought at Forever21...I may be slightly addicted to belts. I think they add a fun pop of color to my outfits and they help define my waist (which has been missing for a good portion of the last year!).  Also, in case you haven't noticed, I'm pretty petite and my dimensions don't really show in a lot of my clothes so belts help draw the eye in at the middle to show that I'm not shaped like a block...errr, at least that's my thinking...I'm not a fashion expert so don't quote me.

Nik really enjoys planing with the dirt in the backyard...such a little boy!

I absolutely adore his little sailor suit...I need to make him one for when he outgrows this one.

Top: Target, Skirt: Ruche (similar), Belt: Forver21 (similar)

Last budget update (May):

Spent: $431.37

Remaining: $325.64 

Can U C Me Now?

The title is a little play on words...well, sorta...if you are familiar with California Universities you know that all the schools in the UC system use some variation of blue and yellow as their school colors.

This is the dress I wore in our family pictures but you couldn't really see it in our pictures.  I love the length or the high low hem, it's perfect for me...not too short and not too long.

Cardigan: Sway (similar), Dress: Francesca's (similar) (same in silver), Belt: Forever 21 (similar)

Last budget update (May):

Spent: $429.22

Remaining: $327.79

New Hue

Have you been seeing as much coral as I have lately?  I have developed a coral crush at the moment, however I doubt it will affect my love for cobalt.  Remember my cobalt colored pencil skirt?  Well this is the same except in a different color.  I just loved this color so much that I had to get it too!  It sure helps add some life to my wardrobe.

I had a little fun using the 1960s photo effect.

Here's the real color of the skirt.

Top: Target (similar), Skirt: Target

Last budget update (May):

Spent: $381.37

Remaining: $375.64

I'm pretty sure setting an $800 budget was a little unrealistic for myself.  What can I say?  Most of my pre-pregnancy clothes don't fit as flattering now that my body has changed.  

However, like I said before, setting a limit for myself has really made me think and re-think each item I do buy.  Now I try to avoid buying things at full price, I will watch an item and wait until it goes on sale.  

Also, setting a limit has prevented me from making any impulse buys.  Unfortunately, I think I already exceeded my budget I really wish Anthro had more sales and I'm not even half way through the year. :( 

Eureka!

Yup, I found it!  Remember how I wanted a red belt and couldn't find one?  Well I did end up finding one at Forever 21, they are the perfect place to find inexpensive belts.

I also got this skirt on sale at Anthropologie.  In the pictures it looks white but in person it's looks dingy.  I was a little disappointed when it arrived in the mail but I loved the material (plus it was on super sale!) and the frayed hem so much that I kept it despite the color.

Yup, that's Nik in the bottom right corner.

Nik playing with rocks and dirt.

Top: Target, Skirt: Anthropologie (similar); Shoes: TJ Maxx (similar); Belt: Forever21 (similar)

Last budget update (May):

Spent: $356.37

Remaining: $400.64

Everything's Coming Up Roses

I think these look more like posies than roses but I couldn't think of a catchy title with posies besides ring-around-the-rosie a pocket full of posies...so here are my new spring shoes!

It's hard to say no to reasonably priced cute looking shoes that are comfy.  I take BART to work so I speed walk to and from the office, which makes comfy shoes ideal!  I really wanted to wear them everyday this week but I refrained from doing that, I don't want to wear them out so fast.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!!!

Cardigan: Nordstrom (similar), Top: Old Navy (similar), Pants: Calvin Klein, Shoes: b.o.c. via TJ Maxx (similar)

Last budget update (April):

Spent: $399.36

Remaining: $400.64

Last weekend's high and low

By the looks of this post title you'd think I was going to give you the weekend weather forecast, but I'm not!  Instead, I'm showing you what I wore during our summer like weekend we just had here in the Bay Area.

I really love the high-low hem style and when a new Francesca's store opened up near me (of course I had to check it out) I found this cute skirt (in my favorite color!) as well as the dress I wore in our family pictures.  If I have time I might just make a skirt using this skirt as my pattern, of course I should probably finish the winter skirt I started making for myself a few months ago.

My outfit was pretty basic, just a plain tee and my pretty skirt and the sandals I had to buy one day while shopping because my heels were creating blisters.  I think for vertically challenged people like me you really need to wear heels (which is why I own a million pairs of heels), but most days I wear flat shoes.

Top: Target, Skirt: Francesca's (similar), Shoes: Nine West via Ross (similar)

Last budget update (April):
Spent: $366.75
Remaining: $433.25

Picnic Time...Well, Sorta

I bought a picnic basket a couple of months ago because I wanted one for the spring and summer (and I thought it would look cute in our family pictures), but then out of the blue my husband asked if we could go for a Sunday drive.  We've been so busy that a nice weekend away from everyone and the house sounded amazing.

The hubby said we would need to pack a lunch because there wasn't a lot of places to eat where we were going, so we got up the next morning and I busted out the picnic basket.  He made the sandwiches and I got the baby ready and packed some snacks to go with our sandwiches.  I also packed up our new outdoor blanket that we got (JJ Cole Collections All-Purpose Blanket, Gray/Red).

At first we didn't find anywhere to stop and eat so we had a trunk picnic, which wasn't as bad as it sounds.  We just opened up the basket and ate standing up beside the car.  Miraculously it was the first time in a while that the baby didn't put up a fight over eating (needless to say we were very happy).

And as you may remember I recently professed my love for stripes, well I wasn't kidding when I said it.  I found this cute striped dress the night I found the dress I wore to Nik's birthday party.  It's so classy and simple that I couldn't resist it plus it is super soft and comfy. 

Dress: French Connection via Marshalls (similar), Shoes: Ann Taylor Loft (similar)

I'm pretty sure my budget isn't going to last very long...however, on the up side it does make me conscious of how much I'm spending and I've become a little bit more frugal with my clothing purchases.

Last budget update (March):

Spent: $311.25

Remaining: $488.75

Winning!

I was hesitant to buy colored jeans because I felt like they weren't very "mommy" of me, but I went for them anyways because I love this bright blue color.  When I wore them I received three compliments from guys, so these are definitely keepers.  Who doesn't love it when guys give compliments on your style?  Remember this cardi?  It went on sale so I bought it for waaay less...in person it's a gray mossy color with a hint of brown so I wasn't sure how to wear it for a while.  I really like the tulle and the ruching in the back, if you remember it was my inspiration for this cute little cardi.

On a side note I used my tripod that my friend gave me, thanks Alberto!  It was great being able to take my own pictures and it was also annoying to have people stare as they drove past...what?!  Haven't you ever seen a girl and a tripod before?!?!

Maybe I need to start wearing my stunna shades so I can see!

Cardigan: Kohl's (similar), Shirt: Target, Jeans: Sanctuary Surplus via Ross (similar) 

Last budget update (March):
Spent: $281.25
Remaining: $518.75

The sun in my eyes and the wind in my hair

Is this what the Phantom was talking about when he said, "..the garish light of day"?

Top: Target, Skirt: Target, Belt: Forever21 (similar), Shoes: Urban Outfitters (similar)

This last picture is the reason why I need a tripod...I love my husband but we have VERY different ideas of what outfit post pictures should look like (I don't really stand like the leaning tower, I promise!).  To say we had inclement weather this past weekend is an understatement.  The freezing wind and off and on rain has been plaguing the SF Bay Area for the last week.  Warm weather where are you? 

Anyway, I love this outfit!  I'm really starting to embrace more vibrant colors in my wardrobe, although I don't think I could ever go back to wearing neon.  My late 80s completely neon clothes my Mom made me wear really killed it for me, thanks Mom.  As an adult I can only take neon bright colors in small doses.  

Last budget update (March):

Spent: $218.00

Remaining: $582.00