It's hard not to shop

This weekend started out with the May issue of Lucky, and I spent my morning, steaming cup of coffee in hand, engrossed; dreaming of bright colors and warmer days, drooling over these looks:

This is my hands down favorite look. I wonder if my Greek Key skirt could work for a recreation...

I can't get over this color mix - black and white and brown with pink and seafoam and leopard? Insanity? Perfection? I need to try it.

So, so simple, but with amazing accessories.

I want to duplicate all these looks. I need this lace top.

Look at those scalloped edges! Look at those color pairings.... so swoon worthy.

Bright, cute, and scalloped.

My immediate reaction was to take a mental inventory of the piece I have, and the pieces I will need to achieve summer style perfection.

Then, what do I do on my fashion and coffee high, but head straight to TJMaxx and hope to make some sartorial dreams come true. I search, meticulously, keeping an eye out for colors and prints and textures... but the only item I find is a tweed jacket, reminiscent of the one from the first look. It's on clearance for $10, the brand is Willie Smith. I try it on, a fellow shopper tells me it looks great on me... But I don't buy it. I think of all the items I was dreaming of finding, that was probably the one I was least interested in. Where are those black and brown sandals, the cream bow blouse, the black and white printed jacket, the striped sun hat... and that damn lace top!?

I tried not to let my lack of purchases bother me. I tried to be proud, but come 1 AM I am browsing Forever 21 and filling a cart with nonsense I don't need... a navy dress with a cherry print, a striped terry blazer, a white lace skirt, a red mini skirt, just because it was $5...
I forced myself to sleep on it, and by this morning I'd talked myself out it.
But the hunt continues.

The Rundown

Top Gap - Leopard Cardigan Gap - Jeans Kohls - Shoes Steve Madden - Necklace Monet