Fifty-two

When it's fifty-two degrees, and the sun is out and I'm wearing boots and my wool coat, I think, "Wow, it's so warm and nice and beautiful out!" I drive with the windows down just a bit, and I decide that before I go out to dinner, since it's so warm and nice and beautiful, that I'll change into heels and a lighter jacket.

Then I realize that 52° is only warm when the sun is out and I'm wearing boots and a wool coat.

The Rundown
Cowl Neck Sweater Gap similar
White Jeans Old Navy
Field Jacket Old Navy similar
Pumps "Gennie" Coach thrifted similar
Leopard Foldover Clutch Gap similar
Grey Wool Fedora Forever 21
Green Ring Taken for Granite similar
Snake Ring Brilliant Imports

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

and

Fizz & Frosting's Mix it Monday

and

Monday Mingle

February Budget

I started off the month thinking I was going to be completely reserved in my purchases, utilizing gift cards left over from the holidays and blog earnings, but then I went to the clearance sale at Roundabout that all went out the window.

Prior to that I'd been pretty good. Not to mention that Sean treated me to the J.Crew Factory grey peacoat I'd been coveting since November, as well as a silk Joie blouse that I saw posted on Coco's instagram feed, just because. (Thanks sweetie.)

My resolve for next month is to try and minimize my purchases even more, but oh, a $20 off $50 coupon for DSW came in the mail and I'm doomed before I even begin.

All of the items shown here are more conceptual than actual.

My Purchases
"Zippy" Brown Leather Jacket, $115 by Anna Trzebinski via Roundabout
Shawl Surplice Blouse, $23 by Tracy Reese via Roundabout (buy on eBay)
Wool Fedora, $12 at Forever 21
Gold Stacking Rings, $7 by Gorjana via TJMaxx (used gift card)
Camel Cardigan, $24 by Max Studio via Marshalls (used gift card)

Total Spent = $150

Gifted Items

Lace Back Sophia Sweater, $129 at Cabi

Grey Cobblestone Cardigan $98 at Cabi

Destructed Skinny Jean $119 at Cabi

One day shy of Friday

Even though today is regrettably Thursday, tomorrow I have my budget post scheduled to go up, so I'm going to talk about the weekend today. Sunday is my little sister's birthday, and with our eight year age gap, her birthdays certainly do make me feel old.

Last year we lived it up for her 21st, by which I mean, did frosting shots at Sweet, got mannis, and indecisively walked from one bar we didn't like to the next on a bitter cold night in Boston. I may have also squeezed a nap somewhere in between there because an appropriate time to leave the house when you are 21 is 11:30, which to me on most nights is bedtime.

This year I'm opting out of the evening celebrations, but dinner and cake with the family will undoubtedly be pretty great on it's own.

With my own 30th birthday looming, it's hard not to think about this being the end of my youth, though if you asked me if I'd like to go back to 22 and do it all over again, I'm not sure I'd want to.

The Rundown
Black Tee Banana Republic thrifted similar
Grey Cardigan Banana Republic
Distressed Jeans Old Navy similar
Booties "Calixta" Cole Haan
Hat TJMaxx
Fringe Bucket Bag Margot via TJMaxx similar
Magnolia Necklace c/o I Love Jewelry
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's What I Wore to Work

and

Happiness At Midlife's Throwback Thursday (last time I wore this necklace)

Zippy

Last Friday I was perusing H&M and came across a brown leather jacket with large cargo pockets that I found myself, perhaps oddly, drawn to. With it's $300 price tag I knew it wasn't going to make it's way into my cart, and the fact that nearly all the sizes had already sold out made me realize I wasn't going to get it on sale either.

Then on Saturday morning I was flipping through a rack of leather jackets at Roundabout and this little beauty was sitting there. Not identical, but strikingly similar and seemingly meant to be mine. The jacket is by Anna Trzebinski and I took it home for $115 - less than the H&M jacket and undoubtedly of far better quality.

While it doesn't happen often, I do love it when just what I'm wanting magically appears in a secondhand store.

The Rundown
Striped Shirt LL.Bean thrifted
Brown Leather Jacket "Zippy" Anna Trzebinski via Roundabout similar
Yoga Jeans Second Denim via Coco & Vera's Giveaway
Lace-up Flats Gap similar
Brown Leather Tote Hobo via ebay similar
Red Tassels Etsy via RinartsAtelier
Lariat Necklace Made by Me similar
Ojai Cage Ring Gorjana

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday
and
Cute and Little's on Trend Tuesday

Flowers in February

Monday, while rarely a welcome occurrence feels somewhat softened by the weekend which preceded it. Happy to be free of any demanding plans, I had a chance to sleep in and relax. On Saturday I went to Roundabout in Westport with Meg for their winter clearance sale. I only shop there twice a year, when the entire store is 65%, plus an extra 10% off.

This time I came home with two pieces, one is the blouse I'm wearing here, by Tracy Reese, which was marked down to $23. Retail was $248. I don't own a lot of purple, and with my weakness for silk blouses it seemed silly not to buy it.

In contrast to last weekends weather, it was spring again, and I was so happy that I didn't even wait to wear my new blouse, but rather changed into it in the car. I then realized that on a windy day it's the kind of blouse that needs a cammi underneath it, though I didn't let that change my resolve to wear it the remainder of the day.

I'll share the other piece I got tomorrow!

The Rundown
Shawl Surplice Blouse Tracy Reese via Roundabout (buy on eBay)
Yoga Jeans Second Denim via Coco & Vera's Giveaway
Boots "Jabine" Adrienne Vittadini
Willis Bag Vintage Coach
Grey Fur Pom Amazon
Gold Twisted Bracelet The Cavernous Jewerly Box similar
Gold Ring Thrifted
Pearl and Pave Ring Forever 21 similar

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

and

Fizz & Frosting's Mix it Monday

and

Monday Mingle

Frost

We are past the middle of February and I'm reaching the point where I'm ready for winter to just be over. An icy highway the other morning made my 26 minute commute into a 96 minute commute, and I simply have zero patience when it comes to warming up my car. My desire to take outfit photos has been limited, and compounded by a lack of sun and over abundance of cold.

Hence the limited posts this week, because even on the days when I brought my camera and my best intentions to snap a few frames after work with me, going straight to my parent's house to have coffee with my mom and catch up on our shows consistently won out.

Perhaps next will be a little bit brighter, a little less cold, and I'll be a bit more diligent with outfit photos, but right now I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

The Rundown
White Sweater 89th & Madison via Marshalls similar
Black Jeans Old Navy
Cocoon Coat Banana Republic similar
Boots "Jabine" Adrienne Vittadini
Huntley Tote c/o Joie similar
Grey Fur Pom Amazon
Black Gloves J.Crew similar
Vista Cuff Gorjana via Rocksbox (one month free with lydiaxoxo)
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (One year ago today)