Happy Halloween!

I enjoy getting dressed up for Halloween!  I really didn't get into it until college, but dressing up this year made me think back to past costumes.  Here's what I can remember of the past 10 years of Halloween costumes...  Do you have any favorites from your past?

• 2003:  Cheerleader & Superhero (TWO!)
• 2004:  Lara Croft, Tomb Raider
• 2005:  n/a (semester in France)
• 2006:  80s Girl
• 2007:  Witch
• 2008:  Playboy Bunny (not my favorite)
• 2009:  Cleopatra
• 2010:  Luigi from Super Mario Bros. (in Iraq!)

• 2011:  n/a (I think I just stayed home... rough year)
• 2012:  Psy, from "Gangnam Style"

• 2013:  Willie from Duck Dynasty

Budgeting Bloggers: October 2013

It's time for Budgeting Bloggers!  I kicked off the month with a big bundle of Poshmark sales (and still more items available), so my budget got an early boost.  Woohoo!  There were definitely a few pieces I wanted to invest in this month for my wardrobe, and every little bit helps.  I also received a nice cash gift, so I gave myself a HUGE budget of $250 for the month.  BOOM!  It was burning a whole in my pocket.

1. J. Crew Factory Clare Cardigan in Golden Mustard (originally $50, paid $25):  I was waiting for a mustard cardigan to come around that I liked, and J. Crew Factory brought theirs back! Timed with a 50% off sale, I snagged this for just under $25.  Shipping and tax added about $10 to the total bill for this and the next shirt, so for #4 & #5 I billed my budget $70 total.   I have this cardigan in tomato red and black, and they are super comfortable.  Probably the only cardigan I will ever buy from now on.
2. J. Crew Factory Peter Pan Collar Tee (originally $68, paid $34):  Pricey impulse buy, but it looked so cute with the collar and cuff accents!  I have been buying so many bottoms it felt right to invest in a new top for work.  I liked the version with the printed tiny dots, but it was sold out.  I ordered it hoping the quality would be good, and therefore worth keeping.
3. Naturalizer Lonnie Oxfords in Cognac (originally $79, paid $65 with tax): These shoes were on my wishlist last month, but they sold out in the color I wanted on DSW.  I looked ALL over the place to find them to no avail, so when they came back in stock on DSW I went for it.  One reason I wanted to invest in these shoes vs. find a cheap substitute because the reviews on these shoes are fantastic.  They are super comfortable!  (Also, moral of the story is if I want a pair of shoes pretty bad, all the retailer has to do is convince me they're sold out, bring them back, and I'm all in.  See also: Toms wedge booties.)
4. Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pants (originally $70 each, paid ~$48 each w/shipping+tax):  Had $25 virtual dollars, plus a B1G1 50% sale happening, so I ordered my favorite trousers in indigo blue and navy.  Decent savings (though the sales are never as good when you have rewards) and I already know these pants are a staple for me at work.  On my wishlist too!
5. Gap Ponte Legging Jeans (originally $70, paid $57 with discount code):  These are offered online-only at Gap, and the reviews were fantastic.  I love wearing leggings when I travel, so I figured these comfy leggings that are more like pants would be a worthy investment.  But I did forget to order these in ankle length, so now I have to hem them!
6. Merona Ankle Ponte Pant ($25):  I love the Gap Legging jeans for a work (and travel) appropriate pant.   But when I saw these in-store at Target, I decided to pick up a black pair to wear on the weekends now that it's getting chillier.  These will replace my worn-out Walmart leggings, and look less lazy at the same time.
7. Gap Boyfriend Shirt with Cat Print (originally $55, paid $35):  I have another boyfriend shirt from Gap that I wear to work quite a bit... also with a different cat print.  This one I knew I'd need a cami with, but I wanted it nonetheless... again, working in pet food this is another great buy for me that can coordinate with a number of outfits!
8. LOFT Bow Neck Cotton Tee (originally $40, paid $18):  50% off sale at LOFT online!  I felt a little like I'd spent all fall investing in pants, and not enough in good tops for work.  These fit the bill.  Same as above.
9. LOFT Pin Dot Print Lace Trim Blouse (originally $60, paid $28):  Same as above, and I absolutely love it!

$383 - $140 Poshmark Sales = $243
Total Savings = $204

This month, I think I did a good job of getting almost everything on my wishlist plus a lot more!  I planned my purchases out, leveraging sales and promo codes as much as possible.  I'm loving the pieces I buy more and more, vs. just liking them and staying on trend.  Also, spending my entire budget too early in the month makes me really cranky and sad later on, so I'm going to try to do a better job of spacing out my purchases for that shopper high.

Here's an early-morning pic of me in one of the Exact Stretch pants from Limited... almost literally my new uniform for work!  Black, Maroon, Indigo, and Navy.  I know, I buy things in pairs.  But I won't need any more pants for ages now.  Except MORE PONTE PANTS OMG.  Those are my new sweatpants.

Limited Exact Stretch in Indigo Blue

November Wishlist:

• Plaid button-down shirt, like this J. Crew Factory in Hunter Navy plaid, but not flannel
• A vest for layering... I'm seeing them everywhere!  I don't do puffy, so something like these quilted Old Navy ones might work.
• I'm also digging the moto jacket trend I'm seeing, though I would probably go for a vegan leather option for a better price point, especially since leather jackets in Nashville won't have a long season
• More Gap Ponte Leggings!!!  MORE!!!
• Timberland Savin Hill Riding Boots are now on my Christmas list.  At $220 they are clearly over my monthly budget, but I'm holding out to ask my family to pitch in for these!  I was tempted to use my gift money to buy them, but I have other boots so they aren't a pressing item right now.  Just on my radar.

Check out more of this month's budgeting bloggers at Fran's link-up!

Fall in Franklin (and Nashville!)

My friend Lindsey came to Nashville/Franklin for a short-notice trip recently, and I was so excited to see her!  We talk on the phone and text/FB fairly often, but I hadn't seen her since our June trip to Las Vegas.  It's weird to be so far away from her after both living in Savannah around the same time.

We both had pretty packed schedules, but we managed to spend three days in a row together.  We went to JJ's Wine Bar and Saffire the first night, enjoying a low-key but indulgent evening in Franklin.

Saffire

The next night, we had dinner at the Gaylord Opryland Resort (gorgeous indoor gardens/conservatories!) before going to the Luke Bryan concert at Bridgestone Arena.

Opryland Resort...  I always feel so tall next to Linds!  LOL

Then Sunday, we had a sunny day in Franklin with brunch at Puckett's and a walk around downtown.

I have gotta admit, I have way more visitors since I moved to Tennessee than when I lived in Georgia... it's perfectly located in the middle of everything it seems!  Even though I didn't get to spend the whole weekend with Linds, it felt so nice to feel like we were both living closer to each other, you know?  It was a very fun weekend.

Downtown Franklin

Oh, and by the way, I rode my bike to and from downtown Franklin when we did brunch!  It was my furthest ride solo to date, on the roads.  Woohoo!

P.S.  Notice the polka dot shirt, H&M sweater, and dog sweater from August & September Budgeting Bloggers?  :)  I don't post a lot of outfits, but I'm getting great wear out of my pieces!