I'm Doing a 2-Week Spending Ban Challenge

Meet Katie:

Self proclaimed shopaholic. The Devil Wears Prada makes me swoon regardless of how many times I've watch it and Confessions of a Shopaholic spoke to me on more levels than I'm willing to admit out loud. 

That is why, a particularly spendy weekend (thanks a lot, Sephora), I’ve made the executive decision to place myself on a self-imposed spending detox. A shopping ban, if you will.

I’ve heard stories of people doing such reckless things before like spending an entire year without buying anything new (uhm, yeah, not happening), or even going 6 months (still not happening). I’m not trying to light myself on fire here. No, I’m definitely going to have to crawl before I try to run a marathon.

The rules are as outlined below: I must go two full weeks without buying anything except for gas (a 45 minute commute dictates this unfortunate expense).

The Rulebook:

1.       Running Time: November 9^th- November 23^rd, 2015.
2.       All food must be eaten from the existing pantry/fridge unless it is given to me
3.       Absolutely no shopping of any kind (beauty, clothing, food, home, etc.)
4.       Gas is the only acceptable expense.
5.       I must record the pitfalls, woes, triumphs, and ultimate struggles of this experience as often as every day.

I’m expecting this to be difficult, mostly because the majority of my activities outside of work currently involve spending money. Given that I still haven’t found many friends in this new city, I spend most of my time alone, looking at websites filled with beautiful products or at the mall conveniently located about half a mile from my apartment.

This is a new opportunity to get creative with how I spend my time. I’ve been slacking on work outs as of late, and my work conveniently provides a free gym. There are a multitude of projects I’ve been ignoring inside my apartment including unpacking the last box of random “stuff” that really just needs to be put away. I even got a free Christmas tree this past weekend (thanks, Mom)! With so much I actually need to do, it’s a wonder I found time to even shop! (hahahahahahahahahaha)

At the end of this two week spending detox, I will allow myself to buy the turtlenecks I’ve been eyeing from Lands’ End (hi employee holiday discount) so that I can wear them for the holidays. PS- if you don’t know that turtlenecks are a thing again, look no further. I’ll be updating you on outfits once I have these bad boys in my hands.

This is truly going to be a test of my creativity and resourcefulness. There are tons of ways to get around spending money…I’m usually just too lazy to figure them out.

Let the fun begin. 

25 Days of Outfits: Day 1

Top- Express 

Vest- The Limited 

Boots- Payless 

Necklace- Thrifted

Somehow I've already managed to mess up this "25 Days of Outfits" thing, haha. Classic. Essentially for every day up until Christmas I am going to post my outfit, regardless of what it is. Every day class outfits? Oh yes. Dolled up Christmas party dresses? You betcha! Sweaty workout clothes? Yup, you're gonna see them. 

This serves 3 purposes really-

1. It challenges me to blog every day

2. It keeps me creative since I won't want to show the same items over and over

3. It's just plain fun to say "25 Days of Outfits"! 

(Like the 25 Days of Christmas...get it? Oh boy, I'm so clever)

So feel free to take this idea and run with it if you'd like to do it on your blog. I know it's the 2nd of December, but I think I'll probably post twice today to keep things on track. This was my outfit from yesterday to have a simple lunch at my grandma's before taking the 3 hour drive back to school for the last two weeks of the semester. Whoo! I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving- I know I did, because in addition to it being Thanksgiving, I celebrated my 21st birthday on the 25th! I'm officially...adult *shudders*

30 Day Snap: Day 8

A girl can dream.

(Nails- OPI "A Good Mandarin Is Hard To Find"- how fitting.)

Don't know what all this "30 Day Snap" business is about? Click here to get the scoop

Want to see the rest of my 30 Day Snap photos? They're all located here

30 Day Snap: Day 6

Yesterday I attended a concert in a cave. I mean, common, how often do you hear that?! It's was a fantastic time with great music and family before I leave for school. 5 days and counting...it's really starting to sink in. Let the nervous behaviors begin.

Don't know what all this "30 Day Snap" business is about? Click here to get the scoop

Want to see the rest of my 30 Day Snap photos? They're all located here

30 Day Snap: Day 5

Yesterday was marked by the last big shopping trip for all of my back-to-school items before I move. Both exciting and nerve-wracking!

Don't know what all this "30 Day Snap" business is about? Click here to get the scoop

Want to see the rest of my 30 Day Snap photos? They're all located here

30 Day Snap: Day 2

It's only day 2 and I'm already cheating by using a photo I didn't take!

This was taken while getting ready for a floral photo shoot with one of my best friends, Trinity. Since we're both leaving for school soon, we made specific plans to do things together. Photos from the actual adventure will be coming soon!

Don't know what all this "30 Day Snap" business is about? Click here to get the scoop

Want to see the rest of my 30 Day Snap photos? They're all located here

30 Day Snap Challenge

It's been a tough summer. Lots of things didn't go as planned, things came up that I wasn't anticipating, and overall it's been a stressful two months that has tested my sanity and ability to cope. With school starting in less than two weeks, however, I thought it should start a routine- a slice or normalcy. 

And so, the 30 Day Snap Challenge was born!

Every day for the next thirty days I will be posting a photo of my day. It might be something fashion related (or it might not). It might be professional grade with my big camera (or it might be on my iPhone). It's just going to be a snippet into my every day life and a way for me to practice capturing moments. It's not about stressing myself out to be "the perfect blogger". It's just...me.

I thought it would be appropriate to start off a challenge of keeping this real with a very real picture of myself. No makeup save for a quick slick of lipgloss, and the rain had pretty much ruined my straightened hair by this point. I invite you to do this 30 Day Snap challenge as well, and there is a link below to the original creator's post. Happy snapping!

(Originally from Sprinkle of Glitter)

"This or That" Challenge Days 7-15

Here's the second installment! It was slightly exhausting having to create a collage for each day, and since this is another bulk day I will only be making a collage for the days/choices that I really enjoy or feel are relevant. But once I get all of this backlog out of the way I'll make a collage for each day again :) Here we go! (PS- Make sure to click on my eBay button on the side! I have tons of items for sale and I'll be putting more up soon! I'm saving up to afford a new and better camera :) )

7-Midi or Maxi?

Maxi

I honestly wouldn't know how to wear a midi skirt/dress (if I even know what they are for sure?). I've always adored the retro 1950's style skirts I see all the girls wearing in era movies, but in practicality I just wouldn't know how to pull it off without it looking like a costume. Having said that, I'm mostly too tall for most average length maxi-items so this was kind of a lame 'this or that' for me :(

8-Dots or Stripes?

Dots

Dorothy Perkins | MadeWell | Topshop | JCrew | Yumi

As a general rule I tend to lean towards polka dots just because I don't have to stress out about if they are making me look larger than I actually am, haha.

9-Black or Color?

Black

Anyone who knows me also knows my love for neutrals. I generally construct my outfits with all neutral pieces and then add a splash of color in an accessory or pair of shoes. I've even looked at my closest before and thought "wow...this is boring" haha but black is a staple in my wardrobe and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

10-Hippie or Punk?

Punk

Romwe | Jeffrey Campbell | Topshop | Sheinside | Fashion Union | D&G

Though I think my style usually leans more in the girly direction, I know that I couldn't live with free flowing fabrics and peace signs forever. I definitely have a love affair with metals and black, both of which seem like big no-no's for a hippie style, and with studs and leather being so popular right now, I couldn't pass that up! Plus, I am forever fighting the urge to chop all my hair off in a choppy pixie cut, and that is definitely not a hippie vibe!

11-Hair up or hair down?

Hair up

It's not that I don't love to wear my hair down, because I do, but it is such a hassle to tame that most of the time I end up throwing it into a ballerina bun or a messy bun with a scarf around it. It's so curly and wild if I don't gel it (and still is even when I do), and if I happen to have the energy to straighten it then that is a whole different mess.

12-Day or night?

Day

While I love staying up late and having all kinds of misadventures at night, I have a natural alarm clock that usually wakes me up around 8am. This usually keeps me from staying up too late unless I make an effort to stay up for an event or party.

13- H&M or F21?

Both

This is tough...a year ago I would have said F21 hands down, but as of late I have not been very impressed with anything they've put in stores. It never seems to fit right or the designs just aren't my cup of tea. It still is a great place for cheap shoes and jewelry though. So I guess I'll have to say H&M for clothes (right now) and F21 for shoes, jewelry, and other accessories.

14-Minimalist or Over the Top?

Minimalist

This was a no-brainer. While I love to make statement with a singular article of clothing or pair of shoes, I usually don't accessorize too extravagantly. I would rather wear a great fitting black dress and a killer pair of red heels than a fluffy hot pink dress with neon blue shoes and load myself up with jewelry. It's just not my thing.

15-Big purse or small purse?

Big Purse

YSL | Michael Kors | Marc Jacobs | Jack Wills | Proenza

Except for when I'm carrying my things around school, I really don't have that much that I carry around with me on a regular basis. Sometimes I don't even carry a purse! It's usually just my little Vera Bradley wallet/wristlet that I can slip my phone into as well and just let hang on my wrist. However, if I'm going to match an outfit with a purse I would rather have a medium to large sized bag instead of a teeny-tiny one.

"This or That" Challenge Days 1-6

Alright so here's the deal! I now have a reason to blog every. single. day.

After reading through almost all of Amber's blog of Amberlee Tea (which is fantastic, by the way. Definitely give it a look!), I found a list of all these challenges she has listed for bloggers. And while I know it's already the 13th of the month, I've decided to go for the "This or That" challenge. Basically I chose which of the two options I prefer, and there is one for each day of the month. From there it is up to me what to do with it and I've decided I'll find items to match, put together an outfit to go with the day, or something else along those lines. I'll include the entire list at the end of this post, but I'll go ahead and start!

Day 1: Solid brights or bold prints?

Bold prints

Sweater: newlook.com | Leggings: Yesstyle.com | Backpack: Asos| Hat: Topshop | Socks: newlook.com

A print that I'm loving currently is the aztec and nordic print, especially in the winter varieties. I can't wait to get my hands on a pair of these leggings. or a sweater. or that backpack...

Day 2: Heels or flats?

Flats

YSL | Tory Burch | Aldo | Topshop | New Balance

While I adore heels, and own more than my fair share, I am quite tall and do not enjoy being 6' 2" when I slip on a pair of heels for every day wear. Therefor I did chose flats, only because I wear them most often. These are a few I'm lusting after currently.

I've also decided to be quite daring and include a pair of New Balance sneakers on this list. It's a very strange trend I'm seeing. Full blog post on that later...

Day 3: Tribal or floral?

Floral

Haute Hippie | Rare | Diba Lake | Jeffrey Campbell | debamhams.com

I guess I kind of chose tribal prints in my "bold print" section...oops! But between these two options, I definitely have to go for floral. So girly and feminine. It never fails to make me feel dolled up when I wear a floral print.

Day 4: Colored or printed bottoms?

Printed

Topshop | Mango | Oasis | Lipsy | Romwe

As a general rule I shy away from anything other than solids and neutrals on the bottom. I'm forever trying to keep my hips from looking too rounded. Having said that I do own a couple of printed skirts and one pair of American flag printed shorts so I guess I'll have to go with printed.

Day 5: Pastel or neon?

Pastel

Aldo | Topshop | Charlotte Russe | Oasis | Acne

This goes along with my love for florals. Pastels just always give an air of class and feminism to an outfit, and I see neon go so wrong so often that I'm just not sold on it. Occasionally it's cute (I have a neon yellow track jacket) but beyond touches, I just am not a huge fan.

Day 6: Striped or Leopard?
Striped

JCrew | Topshop | Romwe | Eugina | Forte Forte

All summer I was obsessed with finding the perfect striped top, so this is a no brainer, haha. Last fall I almost bought a pair of leopard print wedges, and I own a leopard sweater, but I just find it hard to style without looking elderly or trashy.

So to try and keep things a little more organized I've split this into two posts, and I'm going to post the rest of the previous days tonight or tomorrow. 

Entire list:

1-Solid brights or bold prints?

2-Heels or flats?

3-Tribal or floral?

4-Colored or printed bottoms?

5-Pastel or neon?

6-Striped or Leopard?

7-Midi or Maxi?

8-Dots or Stripes?

9-Black or Color?

10-Hippie or Punk?

11-Hair up or hair down?

12-Day or night?

13- H&M or F21?

14-Minimalist or Over the Top?

15-Big purse or small purse?

16-Tights or legs?

17-Glasses or contacts?

18-Boots or booties?

19-Leather or denim?

20-Dress up or dress down?

21-Neat or messy?

22-Retro or futuristic?

23-Cool or warm?

24-Colorblocked or monochrome?

25-Arms or legs?

26-Curly or straight?

27-Girly or sporty?

28-Hat or scarf?

29-Homemade or store bought?

30-Cardigan or sweater?

31-Classic or trendy?