Outtakes--Day 92

A while ago, when I was, you know, actually blogging, I bought my camera remote and took several pics with it. The only problem was that I had my camera on manual focus. Oops. 

There was also some unfortunate shadowing. 

So I never wound up posting these photos from the little photo shoot that day, but just to get back in gear on blogging, here they are. I read blogs often that seem to always have "perfect" pictures straight out of a photo shoot and it's very very easy to quickly get self-critical. It's much hard to remember that my blog has a voice and yes, it is worth something. Maybe not to thousands of readers, but even if just to me, that is something.

And that is enough. 

card catalog: 
                    t-shirt--American Eagle
                    skirt--Old Navy
                    bracelet--Target
                    shoes--Payless

(I look so unhappy...)

card catalog:

                    dress--J. Crew

                    hoodie--Splendid

                    belt--Target

                    shoes--Target

card catalog:

                    headband--Target

                    silk tank--Old Navy

                    shorts--H&M

                    sandals--Cynthia Vincent for Target

(This outfit felt very "E from Academichic" to me...probably because she also has this belt.)

card catalog:

                   t-shirt--Target

                   belt--Old Navy

                   skirt--Ann Taylor Loft (vintage via thrift)

                   shoes--Target

What I Bought, Part 2--Day 91

This "not shopping" exercise was good in lots of ways. I learned a lot about my shopping habits by not having them and subsequently secretly re-instating them.

For one, I learned that I am completely an emotionally-based shopper. I work in a field that requires me to raise my own salary and have meetings with LOTS of people in order to do that. When one particularly tanked, that was when I felt the NEED NEED NEED to shop. Logically, this doesn't even make sense, to spend money because I'm worried about money, but there I was, doing just that.

For two, I learned that the Gap clearance rack is my gateway drug. Especially when they're having "Additional 40 Percent Off Sale Items" Sale! It's like they're paying you to shop, kind of.

So here's what started the binge. And I'm shaming myself a bit by listing the prices and links:

card catalog:

                   belted pleated skirt, bright capped-sleeve ruffle top, pocket t, striped tunic (can't find it online!)

Oh and yes, note that two of these items still have the tags. Which means I can return. And maybe I should?

More "What I Bought" coming tomorrow!

                   

What I Bought, Part 1 of Eleventy Billion--Day 91

By overwhelming reader demand, here's the first installment of "What I Bought". More posts will be following. Maybe (cough, cough) quite a few more.

I ordered two pairs of boots from Target, because I had two pair last winter and wore one of the two pairs every single day. After looking at stevemadden.com, I'm sure both are knock-offs of his boots. They haven't arrived yet, but I'm kind of excited.

Target "Kaden" boot

Target "Karassa" Boot

For reference, here's the links to the Madden boots here and here. Pretty close matches, even down to the red zipper down the back on the first one. 

Day 90--Utter Failure

So, this one time, I started a blog about not shopping for 90 days and promised to update it.


Then I totally didn't update it for several weeks. 


So much so that The Department of Internet Services came and took it away for blog endangerment and severe neglect. I had to attend a "Successful Blog-Raising" class by court order at a Junior College and pass several inspections by a judically-appointed Blog Advocate. Meanwhile, my blog thrived under the care of a wonderful Foster family, and I'm only slightly hurt that it now calls Donna, "Mom". 


Finally, though, we were reunited. But I do have to confess something:


I didn't post because I.........


SHOPPED.


And the subsequent guilt made me not want to post. I felt dishonest, like I was letting you guys down. When really, you all probably would have more readily forgiven me than my debit card is going to.


I think I was doing well until I started the "30 for 30 Challenge". And no, I'm NOT blaming the challenge (or Kendi). I think it was hard enough with the not shopping for such a long time to the added stringency of only 30 items.


So I...failed. And I'm a firstborn, so you know it just KILLS me to say that.


Officially, the challenge of 90 days is now almost over. But it's not a total loss. 


I discovered a wonderful world of fashion bloggers and would like to continue, though I'm not exactly sure where to go from here. I think this blog title might have to be changed, so I might be relocating. (And I'll post my forwarding address once I figure out exactly what it is...send me suggestions, if you still read and don't hate me forever?)

Un-Spoke-n--Day 66

I felt very "Roman Holiday" as I was taking these pictures. Then catastrophe struck. 

Everyone, meet my new Hercules Tourist 3-speed. I love him, even though his green paint was probably done by a 10-year-old boy using a mop. I bought him knowing that he would be a project. His rough edges and bright kelly green have earned him the name "The Hulk". 

Thirty seconds after I took this photo, I must have angered The Hulk, because he about took off my foot and I took out 3 of his front spokes. Replacing the spokes is now at the top of the list, because it's totally not ride-able now. 

At least I got my picture in first.

card catalog:

                  silk tank--Gap

                  belt--Target

                  skirt--vintage

                  sandals--Madden

(24/90 to go!)

Twilight--Day 61

After being rained out Friday, I was able to have my garage sale yesterday, waking up at 5 a.m. to move all the furniture outside and winding up at 3, exhausted but $357 richer!

Let me tell you, there are some CRAZIES that come to garage sales, like the women that made me write them a receipt on the back of an old Wal-Mart receipt for $27 worth of merchandise. There were also some great people that The Boyfriend and I got to talk to, including the couple that we're totally going to be in 20 years. 


So it was fun, but thank God it's over. 


We spent the afternoon sleeping while "watching" Footloose to recover, then ran errands. I remembered to catch the OOTD just as the sun was going down. 


I have had some readers request my items for "30 for 30". Soon, I promise. This week was just too crazy. 

(I need to work on making my face as cute as my poses...)

card catalogue:
                      linen shirt--Gap
                      belt--Target
                      skirt--Charlotte Russe
                      sandals--Madden

Follow my blog with bloglovin

(29/90 to go!)

The Bachelorette--Day 60

Blogworld, meet Kara. Kara is a good friend of mine, who just happens to be getting married next Friday. 


Tonight, we celebrated her marriage with a shower and her bachelorette party, and she informed me that I had gotten her hooked on fashion blogs. 


And it's true. I kinda did. Just like my friend Liz got me hooked on them. 


So then, after saying that, Kara asked if I thought she was cute enough to be in my photo today. And, because she's the bride, I said, "I do!"


(She's always super cute. And she's a great photographer!)

card catalog:

Kara:                                                                                 Laura:

        tank--Loft                                                                           top--Target                     

        necklace--Lisa Leonard                                                        bracelet--Wal-Mart

        skirt--Loft                                                                           white jeans--Abercrombie

        sandals--Old Navy                                                                pumps--Old Navy

(30/90 to go!)