Yes, we decided on a name…for real this time! Pawsitive – Dog Training and Pet Care. The website will is www.pawsitiveaustin.com and I LOVE the site thanks to my fabulous, super-talented boyfriend.

Also, my generous friend Sarah Barnes of Hartshorne Photography offered to take pictures for the site for me. There’s a bunch on the website and a bunch more on the Facebook page here. I would love it if you’d go and “like” the page!

Other than getting everything up and running, we’ve spent some time doing some holiday mingling and eating, including the fabulous Armadillo Bazaar put on by my very talented friend Elia. Can’t wait to show you the jewelry her man is making me!

Very low-key Christmas and New Year’s this year – only a few decorations and no tree since we bought ourselves bikes earlier in November.

Been too busy to take pictures of really anything but my clothes in a hasty few minutes before running out.

Here are a couple outfits:

Shorts – free – Clothing Swap; Tights – $4 – Gap Outlet; Shoes – $20 – Aldo Outlet; Top – $5 – Gap; Bracelet – free – Clothing Swap; Ring – ?? – ??; Headband – $4 – H&M or F21

Dress – $15 – Windsor outlet; Tights – $4 – Gap Outlet; Boots – $?? – Nine West Outlet; Jacket – $30 – JCrew Outlet; Ring – $4 – F21; Bracelets – various

Decided it was too warm (darn Texas weather) and put on this red jacket ($20 or so; Old Navy) instead. Also, I painted my nails to match my festive toenails: Sephora for OPI’s Personal Shopper and then covered it with Only Gold For Me Glitter Topcoat.

Off for a night of wine and video games!

P.S. How cute is this email that Bear’s dad sent me? FYI, Beti means daughter and PB stands for Papa Bear which is what I call his dad. His mom is obviously Mama Bear.:

I debated with myself in the last post and going forward of whether or not I’d like to include the prices of things in my posts. I decided to do it not because I’m trying to be tacky but because I’m actually quite proud of most of my findings. Folks might find it annoying but I’m always excited at the deals I get. I want to show that being fashionable doesn’t mean $60 white tees or $300 shoes. So I’m going to continue to do it. You can ignore them if they bother you. Moving on…

Yesterday I went to a fun brunch with some of the Austin Fashion Bloggers. (Any local bloggers out there interested in joining us, we love new members! Grechen’s blog has all the info.) Never worn the pants ($1.99!) or top before, so I’m proud I’m still making my way through the piles.

I wore some fuchsia heels that can only be worn when sitting and walking short distances. Y’all know what I’m talking bout. In my defense they are really cute.

I also pulled out my favorite coat – a thick wool, creamy white one I bought years ago. I wear this infrequently as well – again in situations where I know there’s no chance of me getting anything on it. I’m loved the jewel-toned outfit that ensued:

Gap pants – $1.99 – Thrift Store; Top – $8 – Gap Outlet; Necklaces – $1/2 each – Flea Market and Garage Sale; Shoes – $14 – Kenneth Cole Outlet; Bracelets – $4 – Le Tigre Outlet; Coat – $250 – United Colors of Benetton

From left to right: Grechen, Joyce, Andrea & Cathy

On an unrelated note, here is a picture of Bear from the Bleet-Up a week or two ago:

Here is a picture of his new BFF (seriously they spend a LOT of time together), Andrea’s lovely husband from this weekend:

Utter coincidence.

You may be wondering what happened to my Shopping Ban. Or not. I’m gonna tell you anyway. I did awesome. Told y’all I have amazing willpower. Ok, I’ll admit, having a new puppy helped. But I did even better than one month, it was more like no shopping for 2-3 months!

But, alsas, a recent clothing swap with the Austin Fashion Bloggers, Black Friday, and a thrifting trip or two has left me overwhelmed.

I have a huge pile of clothes, shoes and accessories not worn….as well as tons of books to read, furniture to refurbish, nailpolishes to try, groupons to use, and vintage items we’ve been hoarding to sell on etsy. In short, we are stocked.

Starting a business isn’t cheap or easy so that helps…and I don’t really have anything I’m really itching to buy and there is absolutely nothing I need. So I ain’t shopping for awhile. And I’m gonna make my way through the mounds of STUFF we have already…and do a lot more reading.

In the meantime, here are some recent outfits making use of the aforementioned piles:

(Sorry for the crappy lighting/locations – winter makes it hard to get pictures when I’m only really getting dressed in the evenings.)

Coat -$300 – United Colors of Benetton; Long vest – $10 – Express; Silk tank top – $3 – Old Navy; Shorts – $? – Old Navy; Tights – $4 – Target; Booties – $3 – Target; Necklace – $1 – Estate Sale; Ring – $4 – F21

Top – $? – ?; AG Jeans – $120 – Hem; Necklace – $3 – Estate Sale; Shoes – $4 – Thrift Store; Bracelets – gift; Rings – $5 – H&M; Jacket – $20 – Express

Blazer – $5? – Thrift Store; Tank – $5 – H&M; Elephant Bracelet – free! – Clothing Swap; Ring – $4 – Random store in NOLA

Jacket – $20 – H&M; AG Jeans – $120 - Hem; Top – $? – Banana Republic; Shoes – $3 – Thrift Store; Watch – $60 – Citizen

Skirt – $1.99 – Thrift Store; Shirt – $3 – Gap Outlet; Belt – $1 – Garage Sale; Tights – $4 – Gap Outlet; Socks – $? came in a pack! – Target; Boots – $60 or so – DSW

Shirt – $3 – Gap Outlet; Skirt – $11 – Kenneth Cole Outlet; Tights – $4 – Target; Socks – $? came in a pack! – Target; Shoes – $60 or so? -Franco Sarto from Nordstrom Rack; Bracelet – $? – Florence, Italy’s Leather Market; Ladybug Brooch – Gift from the Lovely Andrea <3!; Rings – various but include a Chintatown NY Tiffany’s knockoff and custom made ‘Live Wide’ ring from jewelry stand in Napa; Essie Chinchilly Nailpolish

AG Jeans – $120 - Hem; Coat -$300 – United Colors of Benetton; Necklace – $? – ?; Chambray Shirt – $10 – Old Navy; Sweater – $15 – Gap Outlet, Watch – $60 – Citizen; Ring – $15 – Thrift Store in Baltimore

Dress – $1.99 – French Connection from Thrift Store; Leggings – $? – Old navy; Boots – $? – Nine West; Bracelets – gift; Rings – $4 – H&M; Mouse Brooch – $1 – Garage Sale (the glasses move up and down!); Jacket – $20 – H&M

Blazer – $3 – Laundry by Shelli Segal at Garage Sale; Tights -$10 – Random Boutiuqe; Shorts – $? – Old Navy; Shoes (Michael Kors – they are so awesome, the bottom is a metallic gold too!) and Top for $30 – Nordstrom Rack with Groupon; Bracelets – free! – Clothing Swap

Whew, that took forever. And I still have more piles. Perhaps I should try to post more often so it doesn’t take hours to get it all up here. Hmm.

Oh and here’s a couple bonus shots -

Some of the nominees for the Austin Bloggers Awards at the Bleet-Up (we didn’t win but had so much fun, thanks for those that voted!):

My outfit: Sweater – $15 – Gap Outlet; Gold Sequined Skirt – $10 – Michael Kors Outlet; Purse – $10 – H&M

(I’m also wearing awesome new tights and shoes you can’t see but that just means I’ll have to wear them again.)

Left to Right: Amy, me, Kathryn, Joanna, Amelia, Indiana

Our bookshelves:

Happy Friday!