how to look like a wrinkled mess

Step 1: iron your bottom layer shirt 

Step 2: don't iron your sweater and make sure you wear it a size too large for extra wrinkles

Sweater: Target [very similar]

Blouse: Gap [exact]

Jeans: Joe's Jeans [same style]

Earrings: Tiffany & Co. [exact]

Necklace: Express [interesting option]

Watch: Fossil [very similar]

Shoes: Nine West [similar]

they can't put anything on the internet that isn't true

For those of you who don't know anyone who has ever applied to medical school, let me tell you - all applicants are crazy. The whole process is nerve-wrecking and terrifying and exciting and awful all at once. To compound all of this, there's a website where all of us crazies can get together and discuss the crazy. The student doc forums can either help you prepare for the process, or make you go completely mad.

Anyway, I was reading the forum for my school yesterday and about passed out when one of the kids on there said we had 14 days to get our deposits in to secure our spots. I was certain it was 30 days! OMG I'M NOT GOING TO GET TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE HOW COULD I MESS THIS UP.

Turns out we do have 30 days. Don't trust everything you read on the internet.

uuuh...bonjour!

Sweater: Target  {exact}
Blouse: Forever 21  {save | splurge}
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Belt: Old Navy
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}
Watch: Fossil  {exact}
Bracelet: J. Crew  {save | same style}
Earrings: Tiffany & Co. {exact}
Nails: Essie Lapiz of Luxury & No Place Like Chrome

cheater cheater.  at least I only technically choose to re-wear these shoes once for TOPIO.










linking up with the pleated poppy.

Necklaced

I'm a huge huge fan of Lilly's Style and Hello, Gorgeous. After pinning the same type of their outfits several different times, I figured I needed to try it out for myself. I've already been working on the button-up under the sweater, so all that was needed was the necklace. My mom got me this necklace as a little Christmas gift and it was the perfect piece to try it out.

Turns out I over think just about everything as this wasn't a huge sartorial risk - I just need to try things instead of hmming and hawing about it for a year ;)

Sweater: Target  {exact}
Blouse: Forever 21  {similar}
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Necklace: Gift  {exact, similar}
Watch: Fossil  {save, similar}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}
Nails: seen here

via Instagram

December Budget

1. Target Sweater {seen here}: on sale for $13
2. Julep Clutch & Nail polish: $30 - $20 credit = $10
3. Thrifted Wool Sweater {seen here}: $3
4. J. Crew Excursion Vest {seen here}: $110 x 30% off = $77
5. Madewell Tote {seen here}: $168 + 30% off + monogram fee = $135
6. Thrifted Cardigan {seen here}: $3

= $241 - $230 sold on eBay after fees = $11

This month I did go over budget, but I knew I was doing a lot of selling on eBay so I consider it a trade-off for my closet and budget.  I mentioned that I sold a smaller purse in exchange for my new Madewell tote, which is a purchase I've been contemplating for a long time now. I feel that a large tote bag is something I'm going to get a lot of use out of, which I can't say about the smaller green crossbody I sold (which I've only used three times in the 6 months I owned it). The vest was a purchase I've also been thinking about for a while as I wanted a thinner vest for layering in the winter, so I'm glad I bought it while I could before it sold out, but still during a sale. I realized that on days that I'm pressed for time when getting ready, I always grab for my dark grey v-neck sweater, so buying the Target sweater only made sense (plus it's so soft and so inexpensive). The Julep clutch was a Christmas promotion that had 1 sparkly clutch (something I didn't have at all but realized I would like in my closet), 3 nail polishes and a few little extras. The two thrifted items have already born worn a ton in the short time they've been in my closet, so I'm happy I got quality pieces for such a small amount.

Overall, I'm really pleased with how this month panned out. I sold some items that hadn't gotten any use in months/years, and have added pieces I know will be worn a lot. Next month I intend to buy some of the holes in my closet -  black pumps for interviews coming up (somewhat of a bummer to spend money on something I won't get a lot of use out of right away but something I need), possibly a black blazer that Audrey recommended, and I'm going to be on the look out for suede boots if I can find some in a decent price range. If not, that'll have to wait until February.

So how did you do this month? Did Christmas shopping mean you didn't spend much on yourself, or did the post holiday sales help you score some great deals? Link up below! Please make sure you link back so your readers can discover other budgetting bloggers.

Franziska, Everyday

I read a lot of blogs and am constantly wishing I had all of the amazing pieces of clothing you ladies have. Unfortunately, I have a budget I (try to) stick to, so I generally just try to be inspired and recreate what you wear with items from my own closet rather than go out and buy a bunch of clothes every week. I say generally because once I saw this bag on Kendi, I needed it to be mine. I checked on it every few weeks, hoping it would go down in price. It did go down about $20 over Black Friday, but I still held off. Then two weeks ago when I was again telling someone about this bag, all bags happened to be 25% off, making it cheaper than it was on Black Friday...and I finally had to press buy. It took a little bit to get to me because I wanted a little monogram added, but it was definitely worth the wait.

To fund this purchase I sold this purse on eBay for the price I bought it for in the store. I know that I'll get a lot more wear out of this new purse as it works well for work now and will be great in the future (if I get into school). A smaller bright green purse just can't compete with a big leather tote.

Have you ever purchased something after seeing someone on a blog wearing it? Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Sweater: Target  {exact on sale for $13}
Gingham: J. Crew Factory (with tank top in between)  {exact}
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Scarf: H&M
Purse: Madewell  {exact}
Shoes: Crown Vintage  {save / splurge}
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}
Bracelet: DIY
Nails: Seen here

via Instagram

P.S. Two days left to enter the Firmoo Giveaway!