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    Budgeting Bloggers Q1 2016

    We are a whole quarter of the way through the year, and one thing I haven’t really stopped to think about until recently is my spending. As 2016 started, I knew I wanted to make some updates to my wardrobe, and I started by cleaning out my closet (you can read a little more about that here). With my closet pared down, I had some space to add. I was lucky enough to get several great gifts for Christmas, allowing me to make some purchases at the start of the year that I wouldn’t normally be able to justify. But…

    Change

    Change. It’s an apt descriptor for my life right now. I’ve made some bold decisions in the last few weeks that will hopefully turn out for the best. This past week was my last at the job that moved us out to California. Soon we will be moving on to new opportunities. In the mean time, I’ll have some time to myself. Time to rekindle old passions, learn new skills, and try those things I’ve been too tired or too busy to give a chance. Change is good, it lets us grow. Sometimes we have to make that change happen…

    A New Wardrobe Staple
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    A New Wardrobe Staple

    You ever buy something because when you try it on it feels like it already has a place in your wardrobe? I totally felt that way about this blouse and these shoes! I will admit that I probably don’t need any more striped things added to my closet, but this blouse was too great to resist. Most striped things I own are knit, and they just don’t feel quite nice enough to wear to work. The only thing that almost swayed me from buying this top are the sleeve tabs. I really don’t like those things, but I think I…

    Tutorial Try-Out: Girl Next Door
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    Tutorial Try-Out: Girl Next Door

    Welcome to my first Tutorial Try-Out! One of my goals this year is to make an effort to boost my beauty skills, particularly when it comes to doing my hair and makeup. I’ll be perfectly honest, I’m perfectly fine going out into the world without any makeup on and hair air-dried straight. In fact, it’s my go-to look most days. But, not taking the time to add a little style to my hair and makeup is falling right in line with my tendency to dress myself in jeans and a t-shirt everyday. It hasn’t helped me rekindle my sense of…

    To the Show
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    To the Show

    dress c/o eshakti // clutch & bracelet: nordstrom // shoes: forever21 // necklace: rocksbox Last night we went and saw The Lion King Broadway show.  It was spectacular! I had seen it before back in 2006, and it was just as great as I remembered it. Our seats were quite close and center, and honestly, the price we paid was worth it, especially since Mike was seeing it for the first time. Because it was a special night out, I finally got to wear this amazing dress that I received from eShakti, an online retailer that allows you to customize…

    Embrace It
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    Embrace It

    blouse: loft // vest: h&m // leggings: ann taylor // boots: nordstrom // hat: loft Yesterday was my chance to dive head first into cooler weather, and you bet I embraced it! Morning rains meant the temperatures stayed in the 60s all day long. I pulled out every new item for fall and put them all into one outfit. This is my only chance until the weather cools down for real! To start, these boots are at the top of my list of things I want to be able to wear all the time. I bought them in the Nordstrom…

    Nod to Fall
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    Nod to Fall

    top: ann taylor factory // skirt: loft outlet // shoes: french connection The internet has exploded with fall, and it’s been the hottest it’s been all summer this past week. I desperately want to pull out jackets and sweaters to go with my tea and soup, but alas the temperatures will not allow it. I should be used to it by now, as southern California really isn’t all too different from Arizona in terms of seasons, but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming of changing leaves and brisk mornings. In hopes of adding at least the thought of fall into…

    Books ‘n’ Bloggers

    Books ‘n’ Bloggers

    When I signed up for the Books ‘n’ Bloggers Swap through Chaotic Goddess Swaps, I was excited, but also rather unsure of what was going to happen. I had so much fun picking books to send off to Beth, who blogs over at Printcess! What I didn’t realize was how awesome the package I’d get would be. Unwrapping all the packages yesterday made it feel like my birthday (oh wait, it was my birthday!!)! I do wish I would have put a few more things in the package I sent once I unwrapped all the goodies. The goal of the…

    Style: Lost and Found

    Style: Lost and Found

    A Little Background Ever since graduating college and moving into the “real world” I’ve been in style limbo. College was all about trying out whatever trend I felt like, and building a style all my own. Once I started my first job as an engineer, though, I got it into my head that I couldn’t dress the way I used to. That was in part due to the requirement to wear long pants to work each day, a struggle when most of my closet was filled with dresses at the time, and the desire to not stand out any more…

    Joining the Swap

    Joining the Swap

    Since I was little, I’ve been an avid reader. I have a wall full of books in my living room (organized by color currently) and have a reading wishlist a mile long. Lately I haven’t been picking up books as often as I used to, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to incorporate reading back into my regular routine. When the opportunity came up to join in on the Chaotic Goddess Swaps: Books n Bloggers swap, where partners are paired up and send each other a small package with three books, it seemed like a great opportunity to…

    Goodbye Debt

    Goodbye Debt

    Just last month I paid off the last of my student loans, officially making me debt free! I thought I’d share a little about my road to getting here, and the tips and struggles I learned along the way. Background I graduated college with a couple of loans and no job to go to. Lucky for me, my parents let me move back in with them for a few months until I found my first real job and moved out on my own. To make the move, though, I had to borrow more money (that whole spend money to make…