//what i'm wearing this week + new bag

Monday: black pants {Charlotte}, black blazer {Charlotte}, tank, chain belt {thrifted}, heeled sandals {Payless}, hoop earrings.

Tuesday: black cropped pants {Charlotte}, vest {Mossimo}, white tank, black sandals {Mossimo}, filigree earrings {Target}.

Wednesday: black dress {Old Navy}, brown belt {Xhileration}, gladiator sandals {Kimchi Blue}, doctor bag {Twisted Hardware}.

Thursday: skirt {Mossimo}, black tank, heeled sandals, necklace {made by me}.

Friday: jeans {Big Star}, striped tank {Old Navy}, yellow cardigan, book bag {Barnes and Noble}.

So... I ended up getting the brown version of the Twisted Hardware doctor bag, not the gray. I actually ordered it, and it should arrive tomorrow. And... by the way... I used a gift card on this purchase so, doesn't count on my "no retail" challenge, right? And I had to get it while it was on sale!!! I hope I love it as much in person. I didn't want to hit the Gateway mall while I'm trying to not spend money. ;)

"no retail" inspiration

Here's some really good inspiration from the Web on smashing the retail habit/using what you have:

• Monitor Your Impulse Spending {Zen Habits}
• The Spending Hiatus - all related posts {Simple Lovely}. This was my original inspiration for doing this- only she did it for 90 days!
• Use What I Have {Simple Sparrow}
• Ultimate Guide for Thrift Store Shopping
• Wardrobe Remix Flickr pool - inspiring ideas for wearing what you've got in creative ways
• CraftyStylish "Restyle" tagged posts - thanks Steph, for this link. Lots of great projects to re-purpose things you've already got.
• Junk Market Style - more re-purposing inspiration.
• The AT Cure Flickr pool: great inspiration for fixing it up on a shoestring.
  
• Host a Naked Lady Party {clothing swap} at Get Crafty - I plan to throw one this summer.

{Image source}

"no retail" revelations - day 1

I am feeling a little giddy right now, because I just unlocked the secret to the Universe. I know, this is kind of a big deal.

My "no retail" challenge has already taught me something, on day numero uno. My biggest pitfall with budgeting is not planning ahead. I always knew that was the case on my food budget {not packing a lunch because I slept in leads to the salad bar down the street, not setting up the coffee pot leads to Starbucks.

But there I was yesterday, after work, faced with a completely free evening and I decided to go running around the track on base instead of hitting the gym, since it was like 100 degrees outside and I don't know... I'M INSANE??? Half-way around the loop I am realizing my least-favorite, only-wear-it-because-everything-else-is-dirty "dri-weave" tank is NOT dry and NOT made for running outside on a hot day, and I am sweaty and gross. And already temporarily forgetting that I'm on a buying hiatus, I plan to stop at Target on the way home for new workout gear so I can attempt the run again the following day in more appropriate clothing. But wait... but why? I have oodles of workout clothes... most are just buried under mounds of other dirty clothing. Here was my revelation: I should do laundry more frequently rather than buy new stuff!!!

I know, you are totally thinking, this is what EVERYONE DOES, ARE YOU HIGH??? And ok, I don't do this all this constantly (I'm taking about avoiding laundry here, not getting high). Except. I've totally been known to go buy something because it's the more convenient option. Sometimes it's been easier to go buy another pair of yoga pants before class than drive home and get some I already own. I have 700 tubes of lipgloss because I don't remember to bring one with me and I have like... LIPGLOSS EMERGENCIES. Same with headphones for my iPod... why I can remember my iPod but forget the freaking headphones at home is beyond me, but I've got something like 8 pairs of those, too. 7 of which are lost.

So, there I was on day 1 of my challenge and I've already learned something may-juh about myself and my consumption problems. As many ways as I find to pinch pennies, I have these ridiculous moments of spending that are adding up. It's not my well-planned purchases that are getting me in the long-run. It's the $20 here, $6 here that I forget about immediately because they don't bring me any joy. And those purchases are a result of my lack of planning.

So. Here are some mini-goals I'll be trying to meet to keep me going here. They all involve planning ahead more effectively.

1. Plan for my activities better: Plan ahead at the start of the week for all my after-work activities... kickboxing/softball/grocery shopping or whatever, so I never have to run home for gear or reusable bags, or buy new. And... HELLO, throw some flip flops in my car so I don't end up buying another pair when I can't bear to run my after-work errands in heels.
2. Pack a better gym bag: I already do this, but rather than throwing in whatever's clean I will have a couple options {workout and yoga clothes; running shoes and flipflops}...& pack a grab-and-go makeup bag while I'm at it. I don't wear a lot but you know those days when you just feel ugly? Those are the worst ever because I decide I need lipstick LIKE IMMEDIATELY and run out on my lunch break to buy some.
3. Plan a better menu. I know, I know... I blogged about being awesome at this. And I am... when I set aside the time to do it. Weeks that I don't I'm left to my own bad habits and end up eating gummy bears so I'm too full for dinner when Jonathan gets home or I grab takeout. Not good alternatives.
4. Always keep a book in the car. So when I have time to kill here and there I can go park in some shade and read rather than kill time at the mall.

Let's hear it- anyone want to share how they plan ahead effectively, or ways they think they can save money through better planning?

{Image: Multi-Task notebook from See Jane Work}.

what i'm wearing this week + new hair-do

This week's plan is mostly recycled from a few weeks ago with the exception of Friday's outfit {and quite honestly I don't know what I'll be wearing Friday... I just know that it doesn't have to be office-appropriate because I have the day off for the holiday!}

Perhaps this week I will put some effort into my makeup to offset my new haircut. I'm not quite sure about it yet:



It's kind of... boring. If it's styled perfectly {by a professional}, it's kind of Russian spy/assassin {ie, it's good}. But left up to me I will leave the house at the last minute, as disheveled as always, only now I won't be able to shove it into a ponytail. And I feel like I need more eye makeup or something.

By the way, I am totally hooked on looking at what other people wear on a daily basis. On the weekends I check up on people who do it way better than me... here are some other bloggers who document their daily outfits for our voyeuristic pleasure:

• What I Wore {love her closet!}
• What I Wore Today
• The Coveted {not daily outfits, but AWESOME ones when she does... this blog is dangerous for the wallet.}
• Sea of Shoes {this girl is only 17 and has the BEST style and apparently an unlimited budget... and she's designed her own line of shoes for Urban Outfitters!!! Sigh. }

60-day "no retail" challenge

Alright. Who's with me? After "Meatless May" I have been itching for another challenge. Proving to myself I can do it just feels so good. And not only that, but it makes a difference for the long-term. Really! Sometimes a detox from your daily habits is exactly what I need to shift my view and make positive changes. After the veg-pledge, I might not be vegetarian, but I've cut back on the bad stuff drastically, and I'm more creative with my meals than before. I eat more veggies, and I think about where my food came from instead of chowing down mindlessly. Just 30 days made a difference.

I've taken June off because I simply didn't prepare for another challenge (it does take some planning). Life got busy, things got crazy.

July 1 begins a new challenge. This one's going to require some creativity, which I think is exactly what I need. NO RETAIL. No buying new. No books, no clothes, no house do-dads, unless I buy them used, swap with people for them, or make them myself. And since I could easily do 30 days by saying, "I'll just wait til Day 31 and buy what I want"... I'm going to extend this to a 60-day challenge. This means if I end up buying that thing I covet on day 61, it's meant to be.

Purchases on the approved list- obviously my monthly bills, groceries, toiletries & cleaning items.

Here's what I'm hoping will happen after 60 days of retail-detox:

1. I will save a good chunk of money I'd normally spend on semi-disposable objects.
2. I will save money buying used items over new.
   
3. I will re-discover stuff I already own.
4. I will be jonesin' for new things to wear so maybe I'll finally finish the wardrobe reconstruction projects I'm planning/slowly working on.
5. I will seriously consider things I buy after the challenge is up- either they will be well-thought-out beforehand, or I will recognize I don't need to buy everything I want.
6. I will be creative, maybe try my hand at making things I would have bought new, or re-image what I've got in new ways.

If anyone wants to join me, please comment here, or send me an email to kbuelo{at}gmail{dot}com. Also, please share tips for breaking out of the retail habit. :) I will try to post weekly inspiration!

Wish me luck!

change is due...

...and I am sorta considering a big one...

{diy here}

lovely gray bags @ Urban Outfitters

I KNOW I said I was boycotting Urban Outfitters. But, that doesn't mean that if a certain awesome brother and his adorable girlfriend get me a gift card for some Urban goodness, I can't be SUPER stoked about it.

I found two equally perfect bags. Crippled by indecision!


I'm totally digging that gray color. They are the same price and roughly the same dimensions. The one on the left looks a bit more distressed and casual and effortless, kind of. The other more shiny and polished, but still big and slouchy, and I love the hardware. Anyone have an opinion?

//what i'm wearing this week

Preppy Monday: denim skirt {thrifted}, blue tank over white tank, yellow tote {Barnes & Noble book bag}, silver ballet flats {Merona}

Safari Tuesday: Black crops {Charlotte}, black tank, crazy scarf {Lucky brand}, yellow flats, gold hoops

No-effort Wednesday: Khaki pants {Hollister}, black tank, gladiator sandals {Merona}, leopard headband {Charlotte}

Experimental Thursday: Black pants {Charlotte}, b&w striped tank {Old Navy}, vest {remember this one? I fixed her up.}, black heels, drop earings {Claires}

Sloppy Friday: boyfriend jeans, white tank, knit vest {Merona}, black flip flops, probably bed-head-turned-ponytail

{rainy} celebrations

Happy birthday to me! I just ordered myself swanky new laptop for my birthday. :)

ALSO:
Happy Father's Day to my wonderful, crazy, goofy dad. And happy Father's Day to Dave, my great Father-in-law. AND, holy cow... happy birthday to my wacky mother-in-law, Marilyn! I get to share my day with some great company today.

And I love love love this incessant rainy weather- even though it's also the first day of summer.

Here's what's on the agenda today:

• Finish homework for the week.
• Assemble new cheval mirror {thanks, J! Love it}.
• Stretch myself out with some easy yoga {I'm sore from softball practice}
• Drink coffee and read a bit on my book for book club. Reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Totally entertaining. I want to quit my job and just spend my life researching weird things and writing about it. Seriously.
  
• Straighten up the craft room.
• Plan the weekly wardrobe :). Thinking of a theme...
  
• Visit some family!!!

Have a happy day!

what i'm wearing this week

I wanted some color this week. Tie-dyed tank, yellow cardigan, Big Star jeans, orange and yellow feather t-shirt are all recent purchases I let myself splurge on to celebrate my raise. Back to behaving.

Monday: Black cropped pants (Charlotte), tie-dyed tank (Licorice), white cardigan (Old Navy), heels (Payless), earings (Claires).

Tuesday: Plaid gauchos (thrifted), tank (Merona), blazer (Charlotte), sandals (Merona), gold hoops.

Wednesday: Denim skirt (thrifted), striped t-shirt (Daytrip), yellow cardigan (Glimmer), silver flats (Merona), silver hoops.

Thursday: Brown cropped pants (Maurices), peach tank (Maurices), safari jacket (Charlotte), sandals (gifted), wooden earings ( Claires).

Friday: jeans (Big Star), t-shirt (H.I.P.), black flip flops.

because sometimes we just need to look at pretty things

here,
here,
& here.

what i'm wearing this week

Monday: crocheted vest {thrifted}, orange halter, brown gauchos {Maurices}, gold sandals, layers of orange beads {made by me}.

Tuesday: white cardigan {Old Navy}, berry-colored tank {Merona}, grey ruffley skirt {Merona}, black sandals, lots of bracelets.

Wednesday: grey cardigan {Merona}, cream sleeveless shirt {thrifted}, khakis {Hollister}, gladiator sandals, silk flower/ribbon belt {made by me}, pearl earrings.

Thursday: lack capris and blazer {Charlotte Russe}, pink tank, layers of pearls, heeled sandals {Payless}.

Friday: navy button-down, boyfriend jeans, white tank, layers of necklaces, flip flops.

This week's plan is inspired by the June 2009 JCrew catalog, specifically the images below. Lots of necklaces, layers, orange/pink/peach/cream. Love the bed head, too... ♥ ♥

30-day veg pledge re-cap

In May I took the 30-day Veg Pledge, and I made it! Here's the quick re-cap.

What happened?

1. I lost about 2lbs; too little to tell if my diet made a difference or other factors (like yard work season!)
2. I felt exactly the same; no changes to my energy level, no digestion problems.
3. At least for now, how I feel about meat has changed a bit. I didn't eat a lot of it before, so I didn't miss it. It's a convenience thing for me. My 30 days was up 6 days ago and I've only had chicken breast twice.
   

What I learned:

1. It takes planning. No more throwing some chicken on the BBQ for a fast, healthy meal. Real food takes creativity and I'm sure it's something I'd adapt to eventually as I built up an arsenal of easy, tasty recipes.
   
2. Eating at other peoples' homes is challenging. People do not accommodate vegetarianism (not that I expect them to). Meat is the main event, so I would have to either eat at home then just go to be social and not eat there, or snack on side-dishes. Either way, I felt like a total diva.
3. Eating at restaurants is just as challenging. Fast food options are limited to sub sandwich places and Mexican chains (bean burritos). A few places have garden burgers or pasta with veggies, but it's harder than you'd think to find a meatless option if you want more than a side salad.
   
4. The biggest challenge was having a veggie-hater husband. It wasn't really as simple as having him eat what I made, and maybe cooking meat on the side for him. I had to cook two separate meals. It was such a hassle to plan that I ended up eating a LOT of garden burgers.
5. Convenience vegetarian food isn't healthy. It's full of sodium and not a good staple; it should be more of a last resort, like any convenience food. I was trying to watch my sodium intake a little closer because of it. Also, it's super easy to make up for meatless dishes with eating too many carbs. Veggies and soy products just aren't as filling. If I snacked a bit and wasn't ravenous at meals I was ok. But when I was starving it was tempting to eat a plate of pasta. And I did that a few times. :/
   

What I'm planning for the 30 days:

1. Cook a new entirely vegetarian meal once a week.
   
2. Limit eating meat to a couple times a week (and red meat to maybe once a week, if that.)
3. Cut out processed meat. Buh-bye chicken nuggets and deli turkey.

{Image source.}

///what i'm wearing this week. sorta.

Monday: Black capris (Charlotte), grey tee, yellow flats (Merona), green bangle (Forever21), gold hoops.
Tuesday: cream linen dress (thrifted/no label), black sandals, black beads.
Wednesday: Black pants (Charlotte), stripey tank (Old Navy), green cardi (Merona), strappy heels (Payless Shoes)
Thursday: White peasant skirt, black tank, purple top (Merona), black gladiator sandals (Merona), black earrings (Claires).
Friday: any jeans, any tank, vest (Decree), belt, gladiator sandals (Urban).

///i'm up to stuff

Quick what-I've-been-up-to/what I've been thinking about post:

1. Camping for Memorial Day weekend. Fish Lake, UT with Heather and Alan (thanks again, you guys are awesome!); and a quick stop at Capitol Reef for a short hike (Hickman Bridge- that picture above? Beautiful, no? The rest of the photos are up on Flickr.)
2. Vegetarianism comes easy for me, it turns out. Day 27 and counting. I am committed enough to it, but still seem to be lacking the skills and time to properly PLAN meals, so I've eaten LOTS of garden burgers. I plan to post the month-long experience when the month is up!
   
3. My birthday is coming up. And I've been getting questioned about what gift I would like. There are so many little projects I'd love to have the supplies to take on but I cannot narrow it down! I'm thinking about my gallery-style wall, new dining room chairs, or some DIY headboard action. What I'd REALLY like is a trip... to an actual city...
   
4. I'm planning to host the girliest shindig ever this summer. I can't wait to have the details ironed out and host it.
5. Cooking club is going strong and we have an event planned for Friday night {not at my house, but at a house apparently furnished with granite countertops from Heaven}. It's gotten out-of-hand giant, as there are something like 18 people now included {not including dates/spouses that sometimes come}. I'm making strawberry daiquiris... liquor's vegetarian!
   
6. First class DONE for my MBA. I start the next one Monday.
   
7. Tomorrow's my dad's birthday! And Sadie's, too!
   
8. Heading out to yoga in 10 minutes!