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. 

STYLE: Furry Fall Wishlist

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

I know that in a couple of weeks I will curse myself for ever thinking of this, but I actually am somewhat excited for the cooler temperatures. Of course, not for the chapped skin and shriveled up cold feet (I hope I'm not the only one that happens to), but for the accessories! Seriously, there is no better season for accessories than A/W. The jewelry is sparkly, the scarves are chunky, and the textures are to die for.

One of the textures I'm most excited for is fur. It's such a controversial thing that some people aren't even willing to wear faux fur, but I am all about it. Hoods, scarves, mittens, throws, pillows...you name it, I probably want it. Naturally I've been scouring the Internet for my favorite accessories.

Are you looking forward to fur/faux fur? Are you anti-fur? Enjoy!

xo, Katie

STYLE: Tough Girl

Jacket- Forever21 (similar) | Tshirt- PINK | Jeans- Hollister (old) | Boots- Lands' End (similar) | Flannel- American Eagle (old)

Somehow, I seem to have landed in a time warp where everything is a complete whirlwind, I have no idea what is going on, and suddenly a month has gone by and it seems like all I did was blink.

Seriously, people, that has been my past month.

While this blog has been sitting lonely and vacant, collecting cobwebs and floating around in the internet, I have been (somehow) surviving my last first month of school. Ever. I actually have no control over my life at this point it feels like, and while so many wonderful things are happening, it is also happening frighteningly fast.

I've taken up a job as the Opinions Editor at my school's newspaper (which you'll be extremely familiar with if you read Elana's blog, Room-334), taken on the (nearly) impossible task of resurecting the dying fashion club on campus, continued to write for CollegeFashionista, and still maintain some semblence of a social life through Seth and my friends.

Can you see why I've gone a little crazy?

So please forgive me that I haven't spent time on my creative outlets, because I haven't even truly had time to breathe, let alone take outfit picture and write a blog post about it. However, now that things are settling into more of a routine, I think I can start to dust off my keyboard and slowly start relearning how to write a blog post.

Because clearly I'm just typing anything that comes into my head at this point in hopes that it at least appears that I know what I'm doing.

xoxo, Katie

STYLE: Lands' End Haul

It is undeniable that one of the best parts about working in fashion is getting a discount on all the clothes you were going to buy anyway. I mean, apart from the fact that you're doing something you love every day...disclaimer: no one go into the fashion industry just for discounted things. It's not really that big of a deal.

But actually it is.

So anyway, since my internship ended on Wednesday (see some of my tweets about it on Twitter or view my farewell blog post here), I spent the week prior finding anything and everything I felt that I needed before I left. Most of the items there tend to skew a little older (and by that I mean 35+) but there are quite a few classic things that never go out of style, regardless of age. Take the puffer vest above. It's technically a "uniform" piece, but who doesn't love a good down vest to throw over a sweater on chilly fall nights? It's going to be absolutely perfect. 

Another easy item was the pair of flip flops. They were on super clearance as all the fall collection items have already gone online, but a pair of tan leather and gold flip flops are going to be perfect for any summer. I've already worn them a couple of times, and they do rub a bit if you're going to be doing any long haul walking, but they're perfect for when you want a laid back sandal. I used to just go crazy and buy 10 pairs of $1 flip flops at the Old Navy sale, but by next summer I'll be 22 and out of college (as if that is so old) and I feel like I need to at least own a pair of nice flip flops that don't reflect the dirt cheap price. 

Moving on to something a little more seasonably appropriate, this pair of suede booties could not be passed up. These aren't something I would usually pick up, I don't have the money to spring for the full priced version (even though the quality is completely worth it), but these were actually a pair that they used for a photo shoot so their price was majorly discounted! Some people might be weirded out by wearing shoes someone else has already worn, but my theory is that if a model wore them, then I'll look more model-esque by virtue of having the same pair. This somewhat flawed logic is also supported by the fact that I'm 100% certain she didn't wear them for more than a couple hours. So whichever camp of logic you fall into, it's a win.

And my last, and potentially favorite, purchase is this adorable iPad case. Some of you who follow me on Twitter might already know that last semester I won an iPad through a contest at school, and I've been avoiding carrying it anywhere because I hadn't found a case I really cared much for. I don't like cases that make things significantly heavier, but also wanted something that would protect the front and back panels. Voila! This hilariously adorable penguin case pretty well just fell into my lap, so I couldn't pass it up. The materials are a little heavy for the summer months, but come October the velour backing and thick stitch front will fit quite nicely into a brown leather handbag.

That is all I have to show for my shopping trip through the company, but not for a lack of findings. I just knew I wouldn't have too much space in my car to pack much else. Either way, I'm quite pleased with what I have, and I'll be repping Lands' End across campus this year, that is for sure!

xoxo, Katie

STYLE: The Big Game

I would be hard pressed to be able to count the number of times the start of the football season will soon be upon us. Little did I know when I attached myself to my boyfriend how intense his love for Bears football would be, but it didn't take THAT long for me to catch the bug a little bit (ok, it's taken me almost a year, but common, you can't expect too much out of me). When Fanatics emailed me asking me to create a game day outfit for my favorite football team, I knew immediately that I had to do a good job. I would be disowned and left out of all the good game day food if I didn't do the jersey justice. Hopefully this outfit will do the team proud.

Thankfully I wasn't forced to work with a men's jersey (there is literally no flattering way for a woman to wear one of those...unless it doesn't involve pants), but even with the updated women's cut I wanted to take it a step further. A toned down pair of camo pants in a super skinny fit are feminine, but still mean business, and a pair of orange sneakers were literally the perfect fit. Let's be real, ladies, no matter how sexy you look in those heels, they just aren't going to end well after those beers at the tailgate. Adding a white leather jacket might seem a little risky, but getting one for $30 from H&M will mean that it wipes clean and won't be a tragedy if it collects a little hot dog mustard.

Probably my favorite piece from this outfit is the Alex and Ani bangle. Ever since I saw some of my fellow interns wearing all of their different versions, I've been dying to get my hands on a couple. This Bears version is one I might just be able to talk my boyfriend into buying for me...

All in all, I'm actually dying to buy this outfit now. Hang out with the guys, but still look like a girl with minimal effort and maximum comfort. What do you wear on game days?

xoxo, Katie

 

Disclaimer: No compensation has been provided for this post.

STYLE: Pre-Wedding Shopping Haul

Why hello little readers of mine (all 12 of you left at this point if I'm lucky). Over this weekend I had quite a bit of shopping to do. My step-sister is getting married in The Big Apple this coming week, and the whole gang is flying out there to celebrate. Naturally then, I needed to make sure I looked the part of a fashion student and part time blogger if or when people asked me what I was up to! The above picture is a reflection of the places I went, and while I don't think it's necessary to air out the undergarments I purchased, I will highlight the other treasures I found.

At some point in stumbling through the Internet I think I watched some video about "fashion people" and how they make fun of people who wear ALDO shoes. Am I making this up? Has anyone else seen it? Well that was quite some time ago, but for some reason it had stuck in my much younger mind and I'd subconsciously avoided the place since then.

Well the allure of 50% off clearance shoes was too much to walk by despite my irrational aversion, and I am so happy I crossed that barrier. These bad boys were a complete steal, and the last pair in the entire store. Consequently they are a little bit scruff on the upper section (some sort of very finely cut and brushed suede) but how could I pass them up? I feel so fancy and posh (apparently I'm British now) walking around in these. I have yet to ACTUALLY wear them, however, so the true test is still to come.

So even though I know he was only trying to make a couple extra bucks, the salesman slipped these bad boys into the front of the shoes and I just went for it. I mean, it can't hurt to have a little extra cushion, especially since I'll surely be wearing them for at least a couple of hours at a time. 

The next little gems on the list are my purchases from H&M, and while it may look like I purchased a t-shirt, and Muppet, and a clutch from the 80s, you are oh so wrong.

That maroon blob is really a t-shirt "dress" with the fancy little pre-cuffed sleeves. I put quotations around the word dress simply because it is definitely intended to be a dress on most people, but on me it is of questionable length, especially when I move my arms at all. I might risk wearing it as a dress, but more than likely it'll be thrown over a pair of leggings and layered with necklaces for a super comfy lounge day that doesn't look so sloppy.

Secondly, this jacket is now the #1 reason I can't wait for chillier temperatures. It's a cardigan/collarless jacket that is just so fluffy and textured that it will make just about any outfit feel a little more elevated without being uncomfortable. I've seen more than a few fluffy cardigans floating around the bloggersphere, and I needed to get my hands on one before the weather cooled off. Also- it was only clearance! $40 cardigan for $10 + the 15% student discount. Yes, please.

Last, but never least, is this clutch/bag I also snagged from the clearance aisle. The one side is a velveteen/faux fur and the other is a pretty nice quality faux leather. The zipper is pretty sturdy for H&M standards, but I'll definitely be taking off the gold rope chain. It makes the bag look cheap with the bright gold color, and I really wanted this for a clutch to carry to the festivities anyway- it's a win win!

So I hope you all enjoyed reading a little about what I've bought recently. I actually have another haul coming up last in the week of some things I've bought from my internship company before my discount runs out. Can't pass that up right? But I'm finding it so difficult to photograph clothing hauls! It all just seems to come out looking amateur and rather unprofessional. Please leave me any tips you have in the comments!

xoxo, Katie

LIFESTYLE: Family Weekend + Shopping Haul

As the weekend is upon us once again, I've gotten a little sad about the slump in plans. Looking forward, I have great plans to visit my boyfriend for the 4th of July holiday weekend, and last weekend was an absolute blast because my mom and grandma made the 7 hour drive just for two days with me. I have the best family :)

1. The most amazing blueberry almond oatmeal. I'm normally not a big fan of blueberries, but this might have converted me. The best part? The restaurant is just 15 minutes from my house.

2. My goodies from the weekend. I went a little shopping crazy after actually having people to get out and about with for the first time in a long while.

3. The magazines I picked up for 50% off! You best believe I'll be reading these cover to cover and then using them for an inspiration board + two new lip products (more on those to come later)

4. I let out my inner gypsy with a satin open shoulder peasant top and dangle earrings. I've recently become obsessed with fun earrings. Maybe it's because it's getting to be too hot for statement necklaces.

We had the best time doing touristy things around the area I'm living, showing them where I've been working the last month, and just sitting down and enjoying each other's company. I didn't realize how much I would miss them! It makes me appreciate the time I do have that much more now.

PS- I struggled with where to "categorize" this post. The great thing about categories is that it makes blog planning super easy. I can assign a category to a day of the week and my life is so much simpler! The only snag is when random posts pop up that I want to blog, but don't fit neatly anywhere. So while this may not be a traditional "lifestyle" post, I'm just taking a deep breath and realizing not EVERYTHING has to tuck away neatly. Baby steps.

xoxo, Katie

OOTD: Katz Dress

Dress- H&M (borrowed)

Cardigan- French Connection

Necklace- H&M

Shoes- Lucky Brand

Bag- DIY

Ring- Forever21

This is probably the last set of pictures you'll see of my campus for a little while. I am officially back home and soaking up a couple days of freedom before heading off to work for my old summer job for a couple of weeks. After that begins the intern journey! I'm so nervous and excited at the same time. I have so many diy and decorating ideas for my room, so get ready for those as soon as I get them into place.

I'm really going to miss having Mary and Elana (whom I borrowed this dress from) around to always be ready to take some outfit pictures. When I'm home I practically have to get on my knees and beg my sister to take them, and I have absolutely no clue what Wisconsin holds for me. I'm just hoping that someone there will also have a fashion blog (or photography background) and I can bribe them with baked goods. I mean, that always works for me.

PS- I pulled this cardigan out of the back of my closet and I just fell in love with it again. Why didn't I discover this earlier back in the fall when mauve and cardigans were much more appropriate? Oh well. Also, I'm realizing I have no idea what to do with a cardigan. My experience with them is minimal at best. Tips for styling, anyone?

PPS- I'm realizing that I ALWAYS seem to have a PS. Maybe I just need to make this a real thing from now on.

xoxo, Katie

Spring Trend Favorite: Collarless Jackets

I'm not sure if it's the fake sense of sophistication or the fact that I snagged a really fantastic Michael Kors one over spring break (I promise I'll post it soon), but I am absolutely obsessed with collarless jackets at the moment. I was first introduced when Laura from Buy Now, Blog Later featured a super chic tweed version from ASOS- adorable AND professional. Now that I've really honed in on the internship and job search (a couple leads, but I'm not talking about them until anything is final. I'm quite superstitious about jinxing things like this) I have had the urge to add work appropriate and mature pieces to my closet.

Collarless jackets seem like a no-brainer for this type of criteria. They're easy to dress up with a pair of slacks and professional heels, but casual enough to wear with a plain t-shirt and boyfriend jeans. I've picked out one of my favorites floating around the blogger-sphere and styled it for professional use and casual use. Am I the greatest or what?

H&M jacket White House|Black Market Levity Jalone Charming Charlie

Target Charming Charlie Forever21

The top options is super simple, perfect for a conservative office while still maintaining a sense of style and individuality. Take that same jacket and throw it over a solid maxi dress for an evening dinner and it's the perfect way to cover up once the chill sets in. The navy is a great base for showing off other colors and can be worn with silver OR gold jewelry. I think I see a few more navy pieces taking a hold in my wardrobe this summer.

California...Pineapples?

I was going to save this outfit to potentially use for the 3rd round of CollegeFashionista March Madness but it isn't looking promising at this point..I'm behind almost 20 votes in this round so I'm just going to go ahead and post these. It's been since TUESDAY that I even made a post last! Time flies when you're super busy!

Top- Forever21

Skirt- H&M

Necklace- Borrowed

Sunglasses- Kohl's

Sandals- Thrifted

This was the day we went to LA over spring break and let me tell you, I stood out. Not because my outfit was too wild, but because it happened to be a pleasant 65 degrees that day and everyone around me was in jeans, long sleeves, boots! I can't imagine what they would have done in the -30 weather we had last month!

That day in LA held it's fair share of shopping, so I'm hoping that soon I will have the lighting and space to take pictures for a haul or maybe film one? I haven't quite decided yet. Let me know in the comments which you would prefer!

xoxo, Katie

Fit for Style

A while back I tweeted asking if anyone was at all interested in what I wore to workout and such. I actually got some pretty good feedback (what?! shocking, I know) and so here I am to present you with my little opinion about fitness clothes and all that fun stuff.

Tank- Nike

Leggings- Old Navy

Sweater- Thrifted

Shoes- Nike Pegasus30+

The hardest part about working out is definitely finding the time. One of the easiest ways that I've found is to just dress for the day and that way when people wonder why you're not dressed normally, you can just say "oh I'm going to work out later". Then you HAVE to do it. 

When I opt for this method of self-trickery, the easiest thing to do is start with leggings. Usually I would prefer the cropped length, but it's too darn cold to be pulling stunts like that. Next, a tank top. I'm slightly odd in that I HATE short sleeved workout shirts. I'm not sure what it is, but I'll wear a tank top or long sleeved shirt every day of the week before I go for short sleeves for working out. After that, A loose-knit long line sweater to keep everything casually covered, and you're good to go! Lace up those sneakers and the excuses are no more.

I am a firm believer that if you feel good, you'll look good. Fitness clothes are no exception. No one wants to sweat it out in a dingy old t-shirt from high school and some cotton leggings! Not only is it going to inhibit your ability to work harder (at least thats what I tell myself when I buy new workout gear) but it doesn't motivate you! Below are some of the items on my wish list. 

Adidas Cropped Leggings Nike Sweatpants Nike Long Sleeve FILA Shorts Patagonia Tank Adidas Bra Nike Bra

(All of these are higher end items, but if you're going to splurge on just a couple items, I would definitely say to splurge on the sports bras. Nothing kills a good workout more than feeling uncomfortable in a bra, and decent quality affordable tops and bottoms are way easier to find.)

I'd like to wrap all of this up by saying that I know I'm not in the best shape, and obviously I have some work to do. But regardless of if you're a regular marathon runner or just started walking around the track- GOOD. FOR. YOU. You're a healthier person no matter what you're doing, and it's absolutely worth it in the long run. Plus, it's an excuse to buy a whole new genre of clothes ;)

ModCloth "Uniquely You" Styling Competition!

Last week I recieved an email from ModCloth's leading stylist, Amy Hirt, asking if I would be interested in being part of a weekly styling competition, where the winner will be displayed on ModCloth's Polyvore page and linked back to the winner's blog. 

Does every blogger own the Zara skort? Is caffeine essential to life?

So here's how it works- every week I'll get an email with a special item from ModCloth's private label 

collection to style using up to 7 other items on ModCloth's website. This week featured the "Call of the Styled" coat (you can find it here!) and I ran with the first theme that popped into my head: the holidays. I'm easily excited by lights and shiny paper, so naturally the holiday season gets me a little bit riled up. Who doesn't love cut-out cookies, family, and presents?! If the holiday spirit hasn't quite hit you yet, however, a simple solid or heathered sweater would easily work with this outfit as well (if you want to be a Grinch that is...).

All of these items can be found on ModCloth.com, but since I'm feeling generous, I'll link them for you
Call of the Styled Coat
Snuggly Snowflakes Sweatshirt
On a Roller Derby Jeans
Footwork and Play Flat
Melie Bianco Full Course Load Bag
An Ornate Fate Necklace

Put Me in the Zoo + OOTD

Saturday proved to be a true family day: the zoo, movies, and ice cream treat afterward! The animals were in full swing early in the morning, despite the heat. I suppose that's a positive of having an insomniac mother. Early morning adventures are always in the works. By noon we were in the movie theater watching "The Heat". It wasn't QUITE as funny as I had hoped, but I've been a difficult comedy audience lately. It takes more than a slap-stick joke to get a chuckle out of me anymore. Hopefully my mood will lighten as time goes on...

This gorilla was quite a show himself, though. He stole lettuce from the other three, sat on it, and then proceeded to eat his banana! 

 This little guy was the cutest thing we saw all day. Don't you just want to cuddle him!?

 At our zoo there are a few peacocks roaming freely and we turned a corner to this guy spreading his feathers into this absolutely beautiful display.

 The heat got to this couple all too soon. They were panting and lounging in true cat fashion by the time we made our way over to them. 

Dress: Nordstrom

Headscarf: Thrifted
Earrings: Forever21

Sandals: Target

This was just a fun snap from the day. That's my younger sister, Hannah, and who wouldn't want to climb on a giant bronze gorilla? Exactly.

Fairytale Friday: Snow White

One of my friends is in DisneyWorld right now and I could not be more jealous. I went last summer for the first time and it only solidified my desire to be a Disney princess even further. Since I'm stuck in the Midwest for now, however, I thought I might spread a little Disney magic on Fridays from now on by creating outfits that resemble the different princesses! Since she is the very first, it seemed only appropriate to start with the classic Snow White.

Shirt- Modcloth | Cardigan- Madewell | Bracelet- Farfetch | Shorts- River Island | Boots- Newlook | Necklace- Kate Spade | Earrings- Forzieri | Bag- Nica

Top- Stella McCartney | Skirt- River Island | Shoes- Moschino | Clutch- Acne Studio | Sunglasses- Acne Studio | Bracelet- Stella & Dot

I had WAY too much fun with this to just stop at one. They both have different vibes to them, as well, so it's not like I wasted my time ;) So let me know, which is your favorite? Who should I use for inspiration next week!