October is my birthday month and normally I allow myself a clothing splurge. I refrained this year since I've had a few slow work months and saving for vacations and retirement seemed to be more important. I did buy a couple of tops on my Disney trip but those are more like souvenirs since I won't wear them in my day to day life, ha ha. (A 50th anniversary sweatshirt tee and a Remy's Ratatouille Adventure annual passholder exclusive tee)
I also have another sponsored post for Aurate coming next week so I was able to get a couple rings. I always love working with them, they carry such classic pieces.
THE (modified) RULES
- Be mindful of purchases
- Quality over quantity
- Basics are best
MY PROGRESS
Clothes:
- mÄ«ere the label Women’s Cotton Knit Sweater in Terracotta ($68.87 including shipping)
- Vintage Disneyland shorts with embroidered Mickey pockets ($20 via Poshmark, used ad money)
- Old Navy EveryWear Printed V-Neck T-Shirt in leopard ($3.58, retail $10)
- Old Navy Luxe Printed High-Neck Tank Top in Olive Green Botanical ($4.78, retail $19.99)
Basics:
- FRAME Denim Le Skinny de Jeanne Crop in Sunnyside ($30 via Poshmark, retail $189, $18.67 after ad money)
- Old Navy First-Layer Slim-Fit Rib-Knit Tank Top in Crimson Cranberry ($1.78, retail $6)
- Old Navy High-Waisted Textured Twill Shorts in Copper Moon ($7.18, retail $29.99)
Shoes:
- Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print - also here ($25.80 via eBay, retail $118, used ad money)
- Teva Original Universal Sandals in Boomerang Pink Lemonade ($42.50 via Shopbop, used partnership money)
Handbags:
- Prada Cahier in 'Viola' purple via Vestiaire Collective ($1488, used bag savings account)
- None yet
Activewear/Swimwear:
- Target "All in Motion" Zip-Front Racerback Laser Cut Back Detail One Piece Swimsuit ($34.99)
- Old Navy High-Waisted Cropped Leggings in Raisin' Arizona ($5.98, retail $14.99)
Gifted from Brands:
- Vintage Emerald Cut Ring - London Blue Topaz c/o Aurate ($50 after gifted amount)
- Infinity Hoop Earrings - Yellow Gold c/o Aurate
- Pearl and Gold Bar Duo Stud Earring - Rose Gold c/o Aurate
- Simple Pearl Bracelet - Rose Gold c/o Aurate
- *NEW!* Midi Stackable Twist Diamond Ring - White Gold c/o Aurate
- *NEW!* Stackable Twist Ring - White Gold c/o Aurate
Spent in October: $0
Spent in 2021: $232.96
Spent in 2021 Counting Prada bag: $1,720.96
Stud earrings will always be my earring of choice because they are so easy to wear and sleep in without worry. I'm notorious for wearing the same pair for weeks on end but thanks to Aurate I've been swapping out my earrings more often because I've grown a small collection of cute pairs from the brand.
With many of Aurate's earrings you can buy singles or pairs which makes it super easy to customize stud earrings for your tastes. They have a new diamond moon, lightening bolt, gold letters, birthstones and more! All can also be made in yellow, rose or white gold so there truly is something for everyone. I bought a Pearl and Gold Bar Duo Stud Earring in rose gold so I could swap out one of my pearl studs for added interest. Such a fun addition to my jewelry box.
This order was the first time I chose items that weren't in stock at the time of purchase. This means that I got to follow along the progress of my earring being made! Aurate doesn't keep a ton of pieces on hand so that you don’t pay for extra inventory costs and they produce less waste. I got emails throughout the whole process so I knew when to expect my jewelry.
Status emails from Aurate |
Since my jewelry collection is growing it may be time to figure out a new display solution. Currently I have a wooden jewelry box my grandpa made where I store old pieces. I also have a clear plastic tray organizer with multiple boxes so I can grab my most worn pieces with ease. For some of my bigger necklaces I have a really cute wall hanger that my Mom made with fun knobs on a piece of teal painted wood, similar to this piece. I did get Aurate's Travel pouch for when I go on longer trips and want jewelry options, super convenient! How do you store your jewelry?
I was going to wear the pearl studs for my brother's wedding reception last month but there was a delay in shipping due to a hurricane and they didn't arrive in time. I opted to go for my fun rose gold Sensu Ear Jackets from Aurate along with my pearl necklace instead!
He got married in a small ceremony last year so this year was technically the reception. I wore the same dress to his small scale wedding but wasn't about to not wear it for the big gathering! To make it different I just switched up my accessories. Easy peasy!
Dress: Ba&sh "Perla" dress in Green Light c/o Shopbop
Shoes: Nicholas Kirkwood Lola pearl sandals (Net-a-Porter)
Bag: Purple Prada Cahier in Viola (Rebag via Vestiaire Collective)
Simple Pearl Necklace c/o Aurate
Sensu Ear Jackets c/o Aurate
Opal ring + bracelet: Grandma's
I finished this post on Monday, so if I've made clothing purchases at Disney they won't appear here until next month! My adventure continues through next week so make sure to follow me on Instagram for Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary fun!
I was doing pretty well this year and not making too many purchases. But at the beginning of the month Old Navy had a big sale on their clearance items so I stocked up on some things for Christian and of course had to take a "quick look" for myself and ended up with a few things. But I only spent $23 and got 5 pieces! Unfortunately I don't think I'll be ordering from Old Navy online again. Had some issues and ended up with 2 of the exact same order so I had to go through the hassle of returning a whole order. UGH!
THE (modified) RULES
- Be mindful of purchases
- Quality over quantity
- Basics are best
MY PROGRESS
Clothes:
- mÄ«ere the label Women’s Cotton Knit Sweater in Terracotta ($68.87 including shipping)
- Vintage Disneyland shorts with embroidered Mickey pockets ($20 via Poshmark, used ad money)
- *NEW!* Old Navy EveryWear Printed V-Neck T-Shirt in leopard ($3.58, retail $10)
- *NEW!* Old Navy Luxe Printed High-Neck Tank Top in Olive Green Botanical ($4.78, retail $19.99)
Basics:
- FRAME Denim Le Skinny de Jeanne Crop in Sunnyside ($30 via Poshmark, retail $189, $18.67 after ad money)
- *NEW!* Old Navy First-Layer Slim-Fit Rib-Knit Tank Top in Crimson Cranberry ($1.78, retail $6)
- *NEW!* Old Navy High-Waisted Textured Twill Shorts in Copper Moon ($7.18, retail $29.99)
Shoes:
- Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print - also here ($25.80 via eBay, retail $118, used ad money)
- Teva Original Universal Sandals in Boomerang Pink Lemonade ($42.50 via Shopbop, used partnership money)
Handbags:
- Prada Cahier in 'Viola' purple via Vestiaire Collective ($1488, used bag savings account)
- None yet
Activewear/Swimwear:
- Target "All in Motion" Zip-Front Racerback Laser Cut Back Detail One Piece Swimsuit ($34.99)
- *NEW!* Old Navy High-Waisted Cropped Leggings in Raisin' Arizona ($5.98, retail $14.99)
Gifted from Brands:
- Vintage Emerald Cut Ring - London Blue Topaz c/o Aurate ($50 after gifted amount)
- Infinity Hoop Earrings - Yellow Gold c/o Aurate
- Pearl and Gold Bar Duo Stud Earring - Rose Gold c/o Aurate
- *NEW!* Simple Pearl Bracelet - Rose Gold c/o Aurate
Spent in September: $23.30
Spent in 2021: $232.96
Spent in 2021 Counting Prada bag: $1,720.96
Happy almost Fall! This time of year is full of gifting opportunities for my family. We have my wedding anniversary (plus my parents' and my brother's,) my birthday, my Mom's birthday AND my sister's birthday (tomorrow!) Christian's birthday is in the mix as well.
I have been featuring Aurate on the blog since 2018 and have yet to be disappointed in a purchase. I am definitely a fan for life. Whether your loved ones like classic diamond necklaces, bold necklaces, birthstone jewelry or simple rings, Aurate has you covered! They even offer different shipping options. If you're buying gifts you can request each item be packaged separately. If you're purchasing for yourself or want to be environmentally-friendly you can choose their Sustainable packaging, just a pouch to keep your pieces safe in transit.
I always have a hard time buying gifts for my Mom because she has everything she needs or wants. Jewelry is always a good choice - you can never have too many options! I've also gotten her fancy candles and random knick-knacks from Home Goods. One year my brother got her a pasta maker attachment just because he thought she would have fun with it. This year I went with adorable Mini Deco Triple Hoop Earrings (top left earrings in the photo below!)
Christian and I are celebrating our 3rd anniversary so, if we were going by traditional gifts, we would get each other something leather. Crystal is the "modern" third anniversary gift but I think leather is better. My parents celebrated their 39th anniversary earlier this month which means lace (or coral/ruby if you go in between 35 and 40 year gifts.) Christian and I don't generally do big gifts for our anniversaries but I think it would be fun/nostalgic to start going through the traditional gifts. Do you go by the traditional gifts for your anniversary or do you go with the flow?
In honor of our anniversary I got myself this vegan leather travel pouch for my Aurate jewelry. Now it will house all my gorgeous pieces for easy viewing and access, can't wait to fill it up with more! I chose the super pretty seafoam color but they also have green, terracotta and blush! They actually just introduced black and taupe earlier this week!
Sweater Dress: Miss Selfridge (Lord & Taylor)
Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals 'Athanasia' in Croc (Moda Operandi)
Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye
Earrings: Aurate Gold Twist Huggie Earring
Necklace: AURATE X KERRY: Lioness Pendant & old chain
Can you believe it's already September tomorrow? CRAZY! This month was another well behaved month thanks to June being a slow work month. I budget based on what I make 2 months ahead. So what I make in June I use in August. Everything has a job so it's easy for me to stay on target with my budgets.
However, I do have a sponsored post with Aurate coming up next month so I was able to choose some items. I bought my Mom some earrings and then one earring for myself (as well as a pair that I got for free with the order.) So far my Mom's piece is the only thing that has arrived, the two for me will arrive mid-September.
I also made a pre-vacation purchase for Disney using some blog money. I randomly saw a cute pair of vintage-style Disney shorts on Instagram and decided to do my own search and found these adorable Disneyland mickey embroidered pocket shorts. I ended up with 2 pairs because I originally bought a size 12 brand new with tags and they were too big so I had to size down to a used 10. Unfortunate the new ones didn't work, but at least I still got a pair! If you are interested in a pair I am normally a 2/4 or 26/27 in denim and bought the size 10.
THE (modified) RULES
- Be mindful of purchases
- Quality over quantity
- Basics are best
MY PROGRESS
Clothes:
- mÄ«ere the label Women’s Cotton Knit Sweater in Terracotta ($68.87 including shipping)
- *NEW!* Vintage Disneyland shorts with embroidered Mickey pockets ($20 via Poshmark, used ad money)
Basics:
- FRAME Denim Le Skinny de Jeanne Crop in Sunnyside ($30 via Poshmark, retail $189, $18.67 after ad money)
Shoes:
- Splendid Harvest Mules in Tiger/Cheetah Print - also here ($25.80 via eBay, retail $118, used ad money)
- Teva Original Universal Sandals in Boomerang Pink Lemonade ($42.50 via Shopbop, used partnership money)
Handbags:
- Prada Cahier in 'Viola' purple via Vestiaire Collective ($1488, used bag savings account)
- None yet
Activewear/Swimwear:
Gifted from Brands:
- Vintage Emerald Cut Ring - London Blue Topaz c/o Aurate ($50 after gifted amount)
- *NEW!* Infinity Hoop Earrings - Yellow Gold c/o Aurate
- *NEW!* Pearl and Gold Bar Duo Stud Earring - Rose Gold c/o Aurate
Spent in August: $0
Spent in 2021: $209.66
Spent in 2021 Counting Prada bag: $1,697.66
An outfit featuring a nice mix of old and new. The sweater tank has been seen MANY times on the blog but I think it's time for a refresher for those that have missed the original story. My late Grandmother - Dad's Mom - made this sweater for my Mom many years ago, I would assume when I was a baby. She also made them for my 3 aunts. My Mom had two because she asked her to make a second in a white/cream color, she still has that one. It was passed on to me back in 2012 and became a Summer staple. I love that whenever I wear this sweater it brings me closer to her (she passed away right before I turned 13.)
These Zara shorts are also a pretty old item - bought in 2012. I'm pretty sure this is one of my most worn tank/short combos. They go so perfectly together. When paired with my new purple Prada Cahier the purple flowers on the shorts pop even more!
You can never go wrong with a pair of Ancient Greek Sandals. This time I wore the Faye embellished sandal, a pretty apt choice now that I'm writing this blog post. My middle name is Faye, after my Grandmother who made the sweater! How funny that I chose this particular pair to wear. Must be a sign.
Sweater: Made by Grandma
Shorts: Zara
Sandals: Ancient Greek Sandals 'Faye' embellished sandal (Net-a-Porter Sale)
Ring: Vintage Emerald Cut Ring with London Blue Topaz c/o Aurate
Necklace: Shashi Princess Leia Necklace c/o Shopbop
Bag: Purple Prada Cahier in Viola (Rebag via Vestiaire Collective)
Sunglasses: Gucci Aviators (bought in Italy)