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!

I spent all day Saturday shopping and running errands and hadn’t bought a single thing, until I just happened to stop into American Apparel and was about to walk out when I saw the Le Sac dress. It was only $19 plus 10% off (and it’s like a million dresses in one!) so I had to get it even though it was not on my list. So glad I kept a few slots open for whatever-might-come-my way.

Here are a few of the ways to wear it (excuse the headless shots – makeup and hair wasn’t on my to-do list today):

Also, I got a dress, 4 shirts, a pair of shorts for the boy and a shirt for him as well with a giftcard from Old Navy for under $50. Love that store. The best part is that one of those shirts I bought was my chambray shirt and it doesn’t count as a purchase!! Whoo!

2 more weeks with 3 purchases left. I think with our newest furbaby coming home on Wednesday, I may be too occupied to go shopping. Let’s hope.

Ok, I caved. But before I tell you about that, here are some pictures from the weekend. We spent the weekend doing some errands, trying out Chedd’s and Taco More, dog training, partying on 6th for a friend’s birthday and at my parents’ for Sunday Dinner:

Training at Town Lake:

Sunglasses, Marc by Marc Jacobs, $98

Took these pictures outside Flower Child, where I’m doing some marketing and image consulting. Love the mural!

Whole outfit cost $6.00! This romper was $2.00. Yes, $2.00. I bought this last week prior to the ban (see what I mean about having clothes I haven’t worn?). It’s from Kohl’s where it was on sale for $7, then I used a $5 off anything coupon (which Bear discovered we could get for signing up on the email list). Then my mom used a 20% coupon as well. Course then she paid for it with so technically it was a gift but whatevs. $2.00! I’ve been wanting one all summer. The frog belt was a buck at a garage sale and shoes were $3 at another garage sale. Whoo!

I know I recently wore the top (OK, earlier this week, don’t judge); Shorts from Old Navy; Shoes were from a Savers-like-but-cheaper store in Houston called the Sand Dollar and only $2; Clutch is old-school Charlotte Russe; Bracelets $5 a piece from Le Tigre Outlet; Rings from Aldo (never buy gold jewelry from there, never stays gold).

(And yes, I know my eye looks weird – it’s my bionic eye. No seriously, that’s a fake lens you’re seeing. Maybe one day I’ll regale you with the stories of my many eye surgeries. Maybe. Maybe not.)

Now for my Necessary Purchase #1:

I texted Elia frantically about a $1.00 resale store sale I was trying to resist (and did, huzzah!) but then later I realized I was wearing heels and I had to go train doggies. But then I thought, tax-free weekend! And I could really go for some red Tom’s which I have been craving forever and are obviously never on sale. Elia gave me the green light. It was just meant to be.

4 more left!

Went to another fashion bloggers lunch at La Sombra yesterday:

< top – $17.50 at F21; gold silk shorts – $10 at Express outlet. Please ignore my tank top tanline. Comes with the dogwalking business. >

< These only $2.50 or so at the Salvation Army! >

< Bangles – about $5-10 bucks apiece at Le Tigre Outlet, which I think is now closed in San Marcos; Ring - theclaspofisis Etsy shop >

All these pictures were taken by my fabulous new friend and blogger: Katie of Her Side Project. She and her work are beautiful! Thanks so much Katie!

…..

So, y’all.

I have too many clothes. And quite possibly a shopping addiction. With an upwards of 50 shoes, I can’t stop. I can’t tell you how many things in my closet I have not yet even worn! And Bear doesn’t help because we go garage sale-ing and buy things for the house/knick-knacks. Oops.

Granted, everything I buy is inexpensive since I rarely shop at the mall or buy things not on sale. But I did just that this week. The top I’m wearing above was not on sale and it was from F21. Boo. But it was what I call a Necessary Purchase. As in, it was necessary for me to purchase it to complete either a look and round out my wardrobe or get me ready for the next season or make me happy.

My girl Elia (how cute is she??):

Yesterday I discovered she also has a problem. Here’s her proof: her inventory. I don’t have patience (or a clean enough closet) to do all that right now so you’ll have to trust me when I say I’m just as bad.

So we decided that we need to go on a Shopping Ban!

Here are our rules:

1) You may use giftcards.

2) You may accept gifts.

3) NO frivolous shopping/purchases.

4) 1 month

5) Things on your Necessary Purchases list (5 max) are allowed.

Here’s my Necessary Purchases list:

Nude Pumps

(found courtesy of my girl Sydney, Wardrobe Consultant Extraordinaire!)

Chambray Shirt (I’m thinking a lighter color)

Maxi Dress (not entirely sure about this one)

And I can’t think of 2 other things just now (possibly some more cardigans? I’m sure some unique shoes will also be found necessary at some point – maybe booties!) so I’ll leave them open. Cheating? Yeah but it will still only be the 2 items and only if they are deemed necessary.

Wish us luck!