July Budget

The fact that it's the last day of July is kind of getting me down. Is it too much to ask for the summer to stretch on forever? I know there is still August, but it always gets tainted by everyone jumping ship and switching to fall.

This month I made a small attempt to clean out my closet. I had every intention of sending a box to Swap.com, but they weren't accepting inbound packages. Same with ThredUP, so I decided to just start listing things on eBay, and so far, it's been great. I've only listed a dozen things so far, but half have sold and I've made $80 before eBay's fees.

July seemed to be the month of sales. As in, constantly, and at increasingly steeper discounts. Temptation beckoned from every corner of the internet, and in the brick and mortar world as well. I did my best to resist, but here is what I ended up succumbing to.

Ann Taylor Woven Mule Sandals, $45
Loft Off The Shoulder Dress, $45
Madewell Eyelet Midi Dress, $35
Gap Button Fly Denim Shorts, $1 after rewards
Gap Short Sleeve Tie Front Top, $7 after rewards
Lack of Color Palma Wide Fedora via Tradsey, $76 

Gifted via Consignment Originals
Lauren Ralph Lauren Striped Midi Dress
Loft Eyelet Sundress
J.Crew Collection Lace Crop Top
Sonoma Navy Espadrille Wedges

Can't Beat the Heat

July has brought heat and humidity so thick I can taste it. The most minimal of activities requires waterproof mascara, or no makeup at all, since it's quick to melt off my face. Straightening my hair is an effort made in vein, though I did just place an order for this humidity shield spray - we shall see if it actually makes a difference.

Mostly I find myself reaching for light, easy dresses, but I was feeling guilty for ignoring the rest of my summer wardrobe - skirts and shorts, tees and tops, all languishing in the closet as I cycle through the same three dresses in a feeble attempt to mitigate the heat. Not that it matters, the only coolness which exists is directly in front of the air conditioner, or the frozen foods section of the grocery store. So I might as well make more of an effort to give my skirts and shorts some love for the remainder of the summer.

       

The Rundown
Knotted Button Down Old Navy similar
Dalmatian Print Skirt Loft thrifted similar
Black Slides c/o Soak
Straw Clutch Rodo Italy via Goodwill similar
 Panama Hat J.Crew
Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Petite Double Moonstone Ring c/o Moonstone Magic

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday

Peaks of the Week

I decided I would try to engage with comments more on Instagram this week, but since typing at any length on my phone drives me crazy, I decided to just use my laptop instead. I had an amazing discovery - the oppressive ads which show up on Instagram do on appear on the web browser version! This is probably some glitch that they will 'fix' soon, but for the moment I'll enjoy it. I know the general feeling of Instagram is inexplicably tied to viewing it on the phone - or perhaps the explanation is that you can only post from your phone? - but I can't imagine how anyone who writes those LONG captions and comments can stand doing it without a proper keyboard.

Also, I'm curious what do you use to read blogs? Ever since the death of google reader I've used Bloglovin', but I feel like I'm always missing posts; the list is always moving and shifting and I swear is adopting an Instagram algorithm. And of course the search feels lacking. I need some recommendations! 

❖ Growing up with New Haven style pizza may have made me biased, but I agree, it really is the best.

❖ There is a new recipe on Cooking in Cashmere today!

❖ I recently made the switch back to Firefox from Chrome because I really liked the built in tracking blocker and reading the articles on Pocket.

❖ Since getting MoviePass (which yes, they are ruining by the way) I've found a renewed interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and enjoyed this piece on why the franchise now spanning a decade should never have worked.

❖ The endless reboots are getting more and more unsettling. We do not need a Buffy reboot, even if Joss is at the helm, just let her rest in peace, along with my fond memories of being 14 and completely in love with the show.

❖ How people even figured out that typing nonsense into Google Translate results in weird prophetic sounding translations is a mystery to me, but they are kind of creepy and cool.

❖ Vegan tacos are becoming a thing - I could get on board with that!

❖ Apple finally released their new laptops, and naturally immediately got backlash for the top of the line processor allegedly thermal throttling. The issue has been resolved, I placed my order. I feel like this article sums up my feelings about the most recent design. I will miss my ports!

❖ I love Joie, but even on sale they are too expensive (you know, especially after dropping 4k on a new computer). Still, I'm lusting over this maxi dress.

❖ Also take an extra half off this super cute eyelet dress at J.Crew!

Crop It Like It's Hot

I'm sorry. It was too funny and I couldn't help myself. Lately I've just been finding myself embracing the crop. In the past I would have declared that the pants cut me off and make me appear shorter, and that in no way could a crop top ever pass as okay even in my most relaxed dress code work environment. But here I am, and it has most certainly been hot this month. These cropped culottes have dethroned pencil skirts as my summer work go-to.

       

The Rundown
Scalloped Crop Top Topshop similar
Striped Culottes Gap
Huarache Mules "Camila" Rebecca Minkoff
Micro Perry Satchel Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop
Tear Earrings Etsy custom design via Bonanza Studio

Chevron Cuff "Vista" Gorjana similar

Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Sunglasses "Emma" Ray-Ban similar

Nail Color "Marshmallow" Essie

Linking up with Thursday Fashion Files

and

Classy Yet Trendy's Trendy Wednesday

With a Twist

The other week I met up with some bloggers for dinner and drinks at TexiKo Tequila Bar in Hamden, CT, where we devoured tasty Tex-Mex inspired dishes and sipped cocktails made with Ripe cold press cocktail mixers. My margarita was so tasty with the Ripe mix - just fresh limes, oranges, and agave with no preservatives and nothing from concentrate. Drink mixing made simple! TexiKo spoiled us with half a dozen menu items, and in true blogger form, we took over the restaurant, relocating dishes to the bar by the windows or even just taking them outside - because it's always about the photos.

             

The Rundown
Scalloped Cami J.Crew Factory
Lemon Print Skort Topshop
White Slides Ferragamo similar
Round Rattan Bag Etsy
Bling Earrings JoJo Loves You
Pineapple Necklace Moon & Lola via Rocksbox 
Chevron Cuff "Vista" Gorjana similar 
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Nail Color "No Place Like Chrome" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday

Love, Consignment Originals

Thanks to Consignment Originals for sponsoring this post!

Earlier this week I attended an event at the Manchester Consignment Originals, which opened last spring to shop and mingle with other local bloggers. We were given shopping challenges to put together looks that are on trend and under budget.

With one hand on a champagne flute and the other flipping through the racks, I set about filling my arms with amazingly discounted high street and designer pieces. While there were a lot of pieces that didn't quite fit right (always a peril of shopping secondhand) I certainly did not leave empty handed!

I needed to put together a look under $100, and the Lauren Ralph Lauren striped midi dress I'm wearing here was only $12.50! (retail est. $100) I then perused the shoe section and found a perfect wedge sandal from Sonoma, discounted to a mere $6.25. I found identical sandals online right now for $38. So my total was only $19 for this look!

Since I had a lot more money to spend,  I also took home a J.Crew Collection lace crop top for $6.50 (retail $188) and a Loft eyelet sundress for $22.50 (retail $98). Where else can you spend less than $50 and walk away with pieces totaling over $400 retail? Of course the motto at Consignment Originals is "Make Money. Save Money." and I know I am over due for a closet clean out. I need to fill a bag and bring it over to one of Consignment Originals five locations through out Connecticut and make room for my new amazing finds in my closet!

        

The Rundown
Striped Midi Dress Lauren Ralph Lauren c/o Consignment Originals
Navy Espadrille Sandals Sonoma c/o Consignment Originals
 Round Rattan Bag Etsy
Joanna Hat Brixton via Nordstrom 
Gold Knot Bracelet Banana Republic similar
Gold Ball Earrings Kohl's
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Nail Color "Marshmallow" Essie

Linking up with

Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (one year ago today)

Sea Wall

I'm not sure how we wound up in the middle of July, but over the weekend I got together with Meg, as it had been ages since we grabbed lunch and caught up. This time her fiancée came with us to take outfit photos, so we got a few together as well!

               

The Rundown

Cutout Dress c/o Zinke similar
Sandals "Glorious" Franco Sarto via DSW similar
Panama Hat J.Crew similar
Vintage Macrame Tote Etsy
Circle Earrings c/o AUrate New York
Fatima Bracelet c/o Gorjana similar
 Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday