February Budget Recap

I have been bad about posting my budget recaps at the end of every month. In fact, the last time I posted was in October - unacceptable! Here's what I picked up the past few months:

November:
Frye Boots - $117 (after discounts and after gift card) from Amazon
Last worn here:

December:
Over the knee black boots - Ann Taylor - $125
Last worn here:

January:
Michael Kors Ring - $115 (similar)

2 crop tops - $15 + $18
One last worn here:

February:

Blank Spray On Vegan Leather Pants - $55 (I like them as an alternative to the black ponte pants I'm always wearing. I wore them the other day to the South Beach Wine and Food Festival to an event at night and I wasn't too hot, but I wonder if they'll be too hot when it's consistently 85 degrees and humid at night... might just be a 'winter' pant..)

Hot pink Fanny pack - $9 (Ebay) (for Ultra Music Festival.. not because I actually think fanny packs are cool)

2 satin hair ties - $14 total (Ebay) (also for Ultra - these are so amazing at keeping my hair out of my face, it took me forever to find the exact ones that I was looking for. The last one I purchased was like 6 years ago at the dollar store!)

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse - $32 (might be holy grail status. I've used it once and it's the darkest fake tan I've ever tried!)

Total February Spending: $110

I stayed on track this month, coming in $90 under budget.

March budget plans: 
I recently went through my closet and decided to donate a bunch of items, and I'm finding that I need more work blouses. I'm hoping to get some work blouses in flowy materials like chiffon, silk, and polyester (as long as it doesn't look or feel cheap).

How did you do on your budget this month? Please share any great deals or fun items you purchased with me!

3 Going Out Outfits & a Jewelry Rut

I have today off for Presidents' Day so I decided to recreate some of my "going out" outfits from the last 3 weeks. I generally don't take pics of them because it's dark outside when I'm getting ready, but that doesn't mean I like them any less than others! I noticed that I've been reaching for the same jewelry almost every day, which is kind of annoying because I own SO MANY PIECES. Suggestions on how to get out of a jewelry rut?? Anyway, this first outfit I wore out for one of my friend's last nights out in Miami. He just moved to DC/VA :( We went to a few places in Wynwood, which is new to me but it's definitely growing on me as a fun place to go out. I like how unpretentious people seemed (not like South Beach, lol).

Jacket: Zara (similar)

Top: Marshall's (similar)

Pants: Forever 21 (similar)

Shoes: Forever 21 (similar, similar)

Bag: Longchamp

Necklaces: Forever 21 (similar) & Ann Taylor (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors 

I wore the below outfit to a happy hour, and then randomly out in a limo ride to Key Biscayne, South Beach, and Hollywood. I love nights that you don't expect to be fun but they turn out to be very adventurous. These shoes are probably some of the most uncomfortable that I own but it makes it all worth it when I get compliments on them :)

Blouse: Ann Taylor (similar)

Jeans: Forever 21 (similar)

Shoes: Sam Edelman (similar)

Bracelet: Ann Taylor

Lastly, I somehow have the magic touch and was able to get free Deadmau5 tickets for a concert this weekend so this is what I wore. I opted for flat boots instead of heels because I knew it would be a long night of dancing. My feet thanked me later.

Vest: Zara (similar)

Dress: American Apparel (similar)

Boots: Report via DSW

Beaded Sweatshirt

I wore this a few weeks ago during the "polar vortex" when it was colder in Miami. It's actually a recreation of the outfit I wore on Christmas day. I love the beading detail on this sweater from J. Crew factory but I'm at a loss for how to wash it.. hand wash maybe? Dry clean? Dry cleaning a sweatshirt??? Anyway, I miss the cold weather already - COME BACK TO ME! I still want to wear boots and jackets :( 

Leather Jacket: ASOS (I'm wearing the non-petite version which does not appear to be available any more)

Scarf: Macys

Sweatshirt: J. Crew Factory

Plaid shirt: H&M (similar)

Necklace: Ebay (similar)

Pants: Forever 21 (similar)

Boots: Ann Taylor

Watch: Michael Kors

Nails: Essie Tart Deco

Adrianna Papell Bridesmaid Dress

One of my friends got married last weekend and I was a bridesmaid! The wedding was absolutely gorgeous, from the location at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, to the flowers and decorations, and of course the wedding dress. The bridesmaids all wore the Adrianna Papell Cap-Sleeve Beaded Dress, shown below. It's such a beautiful dress, and I hope I have a black-tie event to wear it to again before I gain a pound and can't fit in the dress anymore :) When I eventually get married, I will definitely consider Adrianna Papell dresses because they are extremely detailed but still pretty affordable (for a bridesmaid dress). I'm loving these other beaded gowns by the same designer that I found by using Shopstyle too (here, here, here, here, here). I'm wearing these earrings and these shoes, even though you can't see either :) 

Blue & Teal & Email Viruses

I don't have anything special to say about this outfit. But I do have an embarrassing/funny story. So, my condo association recently changed management companies and the new front desk person put notes on everyone's doors to fill out new emergency contact info. I've been putting it off because I'm lazy/keep forgetting. I received a 2nd notice and still didn't fill it out. So I got an email from my condo association saying "important document" with an attachment which I figured was this emergency contact form, so I tried to open it. It wouldn't open so I tried a few times and eventually gave up. A little while later I got an email from my condo association saying "DO NOT TRY TO OPEN THE EMAIL WE SENT YOU"... it was a freaking virus and when I tried to open it it basically hacked into my Gmail, got all of my email contacts (everyone who I've ever emailed in my life) and sent the same phishing email to about 1000 people from me. The problem was that this happened on a Saturday while I was in the middle of a wedding, so I wasn't near a computer to fix this/do anything about it other than change my email password. The worst part was that probably 100 prosecutors from my local office got the email, and some of them tried to open it, and then their IT department sent out an email warning the whole office not to open my email with my name and email address attached... super embarrassing. I look like such an idiot but I swear I was just fooled because it came from my condo association's email address! Anywayyyy if you happen to get an email like that don't open it! Have a great day :) 

Jacket: Theory

Dress: Tahari (similar)

Shoes: Ann Taylor (similar)

Bag: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors