Happy New Year!!!  I was pretty good in December (with the exception of one big item, but I've wanted it for a long time and I need it for my vacations). I did some thinking about my budget & decided I am going to go down to $200 a month, for now.  I calculated my expenses in a spreadsheet (because I'm a geek and enjoy things like that) and I'll still have a good amount of money saved each year even with gas money, paying off my student loans and $200 a month for other stuff.  This next year will have extra expenses (London, Florida, maybe an iPhone) but then the next year I probably won't be going on any major trips so it will be fine.  I bought my iPad on December 23rd, I was going to wait until January, but whatever, I wanted it now, and I LOVE it.  I was so good at the beginning of the month...but then I exploded a bit at the end...but factoring gift money and stuff in I still stayed way under budget XD

Enough with all that rambling, here's my December spending recap.

• December 2 - Chinese Food $7
• December 10 - Diner with friend $5
• December 10 - Movie Magic Magazine HP Issue $10.55
• December 11 - 2 DKNY Cozies at TJ Maxx $40 (sold one on eBay and made $78.88 after all the fees, so this cancels out with $38.88 left over...so I took that off my spending too) 
• December 23 - iPad (not counted in my challenge...haha...I need it for my vacas so I can still work on all my sites and such) 
• December 25 - net-a-porter and American Eagle $0 
• December 26th -  Disney Movie Club Order (Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Beauty & the Beast, Pinocchio, and Free Beauty & the Beast Pin) $46.91
  [if you want to join the club leave a comment with your full name and email and I can invite you with a special offer since I'm a VIP :D]
• December 29 - Diner with Friend $4

 Christmas Gifts Bought for Others:

•  December 3 -  $24.96
• The Princess Bride DVD
• Arthur DVD (starring Dudley Moore)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DVD (the original)
• Dirt 2 video game (brother)
• December 5 -  $33
• Hoodie (brother)
• Sweater (dad)
• Angel Bell (grandma)
• Candy (grandpa)
• Candy (secret santa)

TOTAL: $92.54
LEFT:  $157.46
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Happy New Years Eve!!!!  This was another short week at work, I didn't go in on Monday and we were off today.  We were actually supposed to go in but at the last minute one of the bosses decided to give us the day off.  Since it's New Years Eve, it's only fitting that I should post some New Years Resolutions, but these are things I'm always trying to do anyway, ha ha!  What are yours?

• I've been pretty good with my money lately but since my two big trips are coming up I am going to try to buy only things I really need.  I already know this won't happen, but I'm going to try my hardest!
• TRY to eat healthier and finally start working out (aka the resolution that pretty much everyone makes and only a small number keep). I think I'm going to get the Lose It App for my iPad so I can keep track of stuff, I don't want/need to lose any weight, so I'm going to do the "maintain my weight" option :)
• Try to be more outgoing and stop being so shy (I know I seem wild and crazy on the blog, but in person I am sooo quiet...unless I'm with family and friends)!
• Find a better place for blog photos/maybe force someone to take pictures for me once in a while...this one is going to be hard but I'm so sick of my stupid closet photos, aren't you? So hopefully I can do this one.

Tuesday Jeans - Sass & Bide (eBay) $15 Tee - Poof $5 Sweater - Ralph Lauren (GoodWill) $9 Boots - Vintage (eBay) $17

Wednesday Dress - Marc by Marc Jacobs $27 Booties - No.704b. $19 Sweater - Forever 21 $11.80

Thursday Jeans - American Eagle $0 Tee - Threadless $0 Sweater - gift Shoes - Kelly & Katie $15

And for fun, here are some great things that have happened to me in 2010:

• Graduated from college and found a job in that same month,
• the job started as freelance but I was hired full time after a few months.
• Started this blog!
• Made lots of new friends because of the blog
• Made some new Harry Potter friends and am going on a trip with them next year
• Went to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Premiere
• Starting to get more confident in myself and less shy

I know 2011 will be even better!  What has happened to you this year?

UPDATE: Tamera has given me the Stylish Blogger award! I'm going to be a bad girl and not follow the rules XD (I know...shame on me)

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

So here are my (boring) seven things:  I'm a Harry Potter freak, I'm a graphic/web designer, I have social phobia, I love boys but am scared to talk to them, I am a REALLY picky eater, I have no New Years Eve plans, and I love jewelry but rarely wear it.


I always hate picking who to pass awards on to so erm...that is the part I'm not doing...so I did half the rules ;)

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I'm just going to put this out there before I even start my post, I LOVE NET-A-PORTER!!!  Okay, now that that is out of the way on to the post!  As I posted on Monday, I won a gift card from net-a-porter to their store for $100. I knew it wouldn't get me much but with my Christmas money I was able to get a couple of great items from Marc Jacobs without spending any of my "real money".  They arrived yesterday and I must say: you really do get what you pay for.  Net-a-Porter packages everything SO nicely, it comes in a nice black box with some ribbon and then when you open the box you have the items you ordered also nicely wrapped or in their boxes.

So, in conclusion, if I were rich and could spend hundreds of dollars on one item this would definitely be my go to shop.  I am going to have to be very careful and control my urges to continually buy from here.  But every once in a while when I want to get something nice, I'll definitely head straight to net-a-porter (or their sister site The Outnet which has off season stuff cheaper).

Here are some photos of the packaging and what I got!  The purse is sooo cute, but I only have room my phone, some cash, chapstick and my credit cards, but I can deal with that since it's all I really need. I'm still not totally sure about the shoes...what do you all think? I think it is the point that is bothering me, how it's off center. But that's what Marc does, he adds quirkiness to clothes to make them more interesting.  (click to see them larger)

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I really love this shoot of Daria Werbowy that was in Vogue January 2011, the photos and clothes are amazing. I especially love the shot with the Marc Jacobs outfit (the purple and red one).  Click to see them larger.
Model: Daria Werbowy
Photographer: Peter Lindbergh
Stylist: Grace Coddington
Source - tfs

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Christmas isn't about the gifts for me, it's about spending time with my family and the religious meaning, BUT I do enjoy getting (and giving) presents, who doesn't?!  I find it so funny that when we were little all we cared about was the presents, but now that I'm older I don't care if I get anything, its just nice seeing my family (not that we don't see each other the rest of the year...but Christmas is different).

So here are the new additions to my closet, not much (and you had already seen one...but they are things I wanted :) I had gotten another dress but I returned it because it didn't fit right (it's not pictured) :/  The jacket is by Sisters (or something...) and the dress is Marc by Marc Jacobs
And here are all the things I got, pretty much Harry Potter stuff and then random things :)
I stupidly forgot to take a proper outfit photo on Christmas/Christmas Eve, so here are some photos where you can sorta see it, ha ha. My brother and I matched on Christmas Eve ;) (and in the 4 person family shot...the tallest person is my 14 year old brother, who is younger than all of us).  And there are some other random photos from Thursday-Saturday.

It is snowing SO MUCH! I'm going to have to post a photo for you all soon, haha.  I'll probably update this post later so its lighter and I can get a good photo.

Starting on December 26th last year i made the decision to keep all the change I had for one whole year to see how much money I would end up with.  I put in $20 at the beginning just to start myself off, I also put in a $10 rebate I got on a purchase.  I made $31.96 in change over one whole year, not too shabby considering I don't really spend much money in person since I'm more of an online shopper. So adding all that together I made $61.96.  I think I might do this for next year as well, its a fun way to save up money to buy whatever you want. 

I decided to add this money to a $100 gift card I won to net-a-porter. It still won't buy me much so I have to put my own money in it. But I'm also factoring in the $170 I got for Christmas, money I'll get for returning a dress & some ad money I made.  It took me FOREVER to decide, but I finally chose this:
Marc by Marc Jacobs Pumps (may return the shoes if they don't fit/don't look good with my stuff...) $132
Marc by Marc Jacobs Purse - how ADORABLE (but expensive...) is this?! $225
Total - $370
After the $100 Gift Card, $61 in change, $65 from returning the dress & my gift money ($170) it comes to 0 (well...less than 0, but ;) )!

I sorta feel bad spending that much on two items...but I can splurge once in a while I suppose...its just weird when I know that some people out there can't even afford less expensive clothes...*sigh* 

I also used my store credit at American Eagle and got all this (I had returned a sweater) There was a toss up between some new sweatpants and some wedges, I kept going back and forth...but as you can see, I chose.
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Samantha requested that I find a cheaper version of this Victoria's Secret beaded jacket.  She didn't give a price so I just did less than what this one costs.  As usual this was a hard one, haha...you girls sure know how to stump me with these dress for lesses.
Options. Some not pictured above.
Victoria's Secret - $89.50
Petite Nue - $28.80
New York and Company - $29.97 (regular 59.95)
Style&co - $29.99
T.I.L. Darling -  $31.20 (regular $50)
Roaman's - $41.99 (this is plus size...)

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No real post today, I just want to say Happy Christmas to everyone who celebrates it and I hope you all have a wonderful day! And if you don't celebrate: just have an awesome day in general! :D  Here are a few of my favorite Christmas songs:


Finally, Wardrobe Ave (an online shop that showcases independent fashion designs in the form of apparel, jewelry and accessories from emerging designers, small boutiques and vintage sellers) have asked me to let you know that they are currently running a 20% OFF Coupon Code promotion:
*Take 20% off their ENTIRE store using code WARDROBE now through January 31
Visit www.WardrobeAve.com to shop

It's Christmas Eve!! YAYY!! Tonight my dad's side of the family is coming over for our Christmas celebration and tomorrow I'm going to my Grandma's for my mom's side of the family. I only had to go to work Monday-Wednesday this week and then yesterday we had a get together with my mom's brothers and sister. So this is a pretty random assortment of outfits.  I also decided to take photos near Christmas stuff this week, and the photos are a different size than normal...haha. You'll see my Christmas Eve/Christmas outfit in a separate post probably ;) (click to see them larger)
Monday: Blazer - Moschino Cheap & Chic (eBay) $32, Jeans - American Eagle $0, Tee - American Eagle $?, Wedges - R2 (DSW) $35

Tuesday: Sweater - Forever 21 $12, Tee - House Brawl by Threadless $0, Jeans - American Eagle $14.95, Boots - No.704b. (DSW) $20

Wednesday: Sweater - Hollister $15, Skirt - Old Navy hand-me-down, Flats - vanEli gift
Thursday: Dress - Twitch Vintage $17, Sweater - DKNY Cozy $20, Boots - Vintage (eBay) $12


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If you follow my Twitter you probably knew this was coming since I've been saying for a while that when I reach 500 Blogger followers I would have a giveaway!  On Wednesday I got my 500th follower, so to thank you all for following me I'm having this giveaway only for my blogger followers, so make sure you follow with blogger even if you really use bloglovin (like me, ha ha)!  I have 4 prizes that will go to 4 girls.
Prizes:
1. $10 Nordstrom Gift Card
2. Charmed Expressions Watch with Heart Case, in my favorite color! 
3. Forever 21 Dress - size M (...could NOT get a good picture of it...grr)
4. Forever 21 Skirt - size S (the one featured in my blog header...I've never worn it)
The winners will be able to pick their prize, the first name I pick out will get first choice, and then each girl after that will get the next choice.

Rules:
1. MUST be a Blogger follower
2. Must live in the US OR be willing to pay the difference in shipping...I'll pay what I would have paid to ship it to the US (which is about $5 for each item..less for the gift card, international shipping goes up to $14) So if you aren't in the US state what country you are from in your entry just so I know.
3. The Giveaway will end on January 11th! (1/11/11, hehe)
4. Make sure to leave your email or blog link so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries (add a new comment for each of these)
1. Follow with bloglovin
2. Follow with Twitter (tell me your Twitter name so I can check)
3. Tweet about the giveaway (leave a link to the tweet)
4. Mention the giveaway on your blog (it can be in a dedicated post, your sidebar, at the end of a post...wherever you want). Send a link
5. Join Shop it To Me (and leave the email you signed up with so I can check ;) )

That's it, good luck!