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

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

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. :( 

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

Currently Coveting...

...comfort shoes!

What?!?  Yup, I said it!  I want comfort shoes (mostly because I walk a lot more and I don't like blisters).  I remember a time when I thought that most comfort shoes were ugly and maybe that was true at the time, but not anymore!  About four years ago I started noticing a shift in the design of comfort shoes, they became less blah and more on trend.  Now it's easy to find comfy shoes in styles that look like those of high end designers.

Here are a few of the shoes I've been coveting:

 

Naturalizer Women's Posh T-Strap Pump

Sofft Shoes, Bessame Wedge Sandals

Naturalizer 'Sherrie' Sandal

Born Shoes, Raquelle Flats

Born Rebecka Wedge Sandals

Naturalizer Women's Alarm Open-Toe Pump

Sofft Morocco Espadrille Sandals

Easy Spirit Shoes, Raince Sandals

Born Shoes, Riviera Platform Sandals

Aerosoles Shoes, Well Wisher Wedged Sandals

Easy Spirit Shoes, Krisette Ballet Flats

 Hard to believe these are comfort shoes, right? What are you currently coveting?

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

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

Seeing Stripes

I never used to like stripes and then something happened and now I can't get enough of them.  I really don't know what caused the shift in my taste but it happened and now all I'm seeing is stripes.  In fact the dress I bought to wear for Nik's birthday party is striped!  Here a a few other lovely striped things I found and not of the jail bird variety either.  I'll see you al next week, hopefully I'll be able to finish writing the tutorial I'm working on...wish me luck for throwing my first party! And congratulations to my little brother for getting in to Harvard!!!!

Source: spool72.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: shopruche.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: shopruche.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: modcloth.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: modcloth.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: modcloth.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: rstyle.me via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: hannaandersson.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Happy Weekend!

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

Put a belt on it!

I've been looking for a red belt since last summer and I haven't seen anything that I thought would be perfect. You know sometimes you have those moments when you see something and you j.u.s.t. k.n.o.w. that it's the perfect thing you're looking for!

Why do I want a red belt?  Because I think it's a great attention grabber, it's like saying, "Hi, my waist that disappeared for a few months is back and it's right here."  I avoid wearing belts at the hips unless my pants are falling down because I think it shows that I have a short torso and people ask why I'm wearing my pants so high.  Enough of my fashion woes, check out these lovely red belt inspirations:

Source: youaremyfave.com via Ashley on Pinterest

 

Source: trulysmitten.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: lucylaucht.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: lookbook.nu via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: zara.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: mystylepill.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: theofficialpreppyhandbook.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: galmeetsglam.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: pinkandgreenowl.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: fromme-toyou.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: emersonmade.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: dustjacketattic.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest