Thank You January

There's usually only a small window in the fall when I can get away with wearing this vest. It's too bulky to wear a big sweater underneath and likewise I can't wear a jacket over it. January this year has been oh so cooperative though! Many days the temperatures have been just around freezing which is perfect for this vest as long as I don't have to be outside for too long.

Details

Vest and sweater: Club Monaco

Jeans: Cambio via Foreign Affair

Bag: Michael Kors

Boots: B2 via Browns

Bracelet: Alex and Ani 

Hat: TNA via Aritzia

Pom: Pseudio

Necklace: Banana Republic

I'll be sharing more details about these boots in next week's post. Something I've learned over the years of finding my style is that I'm much more of a boot and sneaker person than a shoe person. If I can get away with wearing heeled boots instead of heeled shoes, I'm all over that. If I can get away with rocking sneakers with a dress, it's the best day ever!

XOXO

Glitterary Girl

Currently 01.22.17

Reading

All the Light We Cannot See- Anthony Doerr
This took me a few months to get through as it was the book I left at work to read on breaks. It did take a bit to get into the writing style, but it was a very good read. Sad and inspirational at the same time.

Inside the O'Briens - Lisa Genova
Still Alice was a book that stuck with me and so will this one by the same author. It was written from the POV of a dad and a daughter in the midst of coming to terms with Huntingtons Disease.

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo
One of my goals for the year is to read more non-fiction. My first of this kind of 2017 was this book, which I've been meaning to read for quite some time now. I actually bought it for my mom a few years ago. If you are looking to transform your life by organizing, this seems like it would be an excellent book to follow. I'm not ready for it yet.

Clicking
I've been organizing my wish list and holds lists on the digital library site. I had so many books on there and realized there were ones taking up space that I was no longer interested in reading. I've barely been reading the style websites which is odd for me. Instagramming more often is another goal of mine for the year. I think it's officially taken over Facebook in terms of my most used social media.

Watching
We saw Office Christmas Party in the theatre before Christmas - really funny. We also saw Miracle on 34th Street at Neptune Theatre in December. For TV, it's been the Bachelor of course (love Nick, always have!) and This is Us (although a few shows behind). I'm still watching a ton of You Tube. My iPad is constantly with me when I'm around the house. I have it on in the background when I'm coking, cleaning, and getting ready.

Eating
R and I have made a commitment to try to include more vegetarian dishes in our meal planning. It's been going really well so far. We usually eat vegetarian for 4/5 weekday meals. It's a lot faster to prepare than meat dishes! We've really only had one meal we didn't care for, the others have been great. We've also been juicing on the weekends. We haven't been going out to dinner lately. We're trying to save money for our vacation in March (more on that to follow).

Drinking
I'm sipping on an iced mango black tea at the moment. Naturally flavoured water has been my choice at home and work. I had a lovely girls night in at a friend's home last night and enjoyed Wolf Blass Red Label Sauvignon Blanc.

Jost Tidal Bay from last weekend. 

Seeing
I'm at Starbucks right now. I'm trying not to stare at the cookies. I feel like there are always random job interviews going on next to me when I'm at Starbucks.

Smelling
Starbucks Coffee. I've got VS Bombshell perfume on at the moment. At home we lit a new BBW candle. It's Toasted Graham Latte but R and I think it smells like maple bacon.

Hearing
Normal Starbucks buzz. The guy next to me has an English accent.

Wearing
Destroyed jeans, a cozy sweater, and boots.

Feeling
Strong! I started a new workout program a few weeks ago and I'm really liking it. I'm not seriously sore, but I every move I make, I'm aware of my muscles waking up from their hibernation. I'm also feeling refreshed as I got my hair done yesterday.

Anticipating
R and I booked a trip with my parents to Palm Springs in March. I'm really looking forward to getting away... We didn't do a fall trip this year so it feels like forever since I've travelled. R and Dad will golf, mom and I will hang out by the pool and go shopping. We're also going to do the aerial tramway and the zoo and perhaps Joshua Tree National Park.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Winter Pink

On a bright day in January, you do what you can to forget the months of winter that are looming. Sometimes that means putting on a pink jacket and hoping you don't freeze. I was actually shocked by how toasty I was in this bomber. 

Details

Bomber: H&M

Sweater and earrings: J Crew

Jeans: Zara

Boots: Artica via Browns

Necklace: Banana Republic

Snood: American Eagle Outfitters

These boots were purchased at the end of last winter, so it was a treat to dig them out for the first time recently. They are really warm!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: December 2016

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. My quarterly budget is $500. This amount can be rolled into the next quarter if it's not all spent. My goal is to keep my out of pocket expenses within $2000 a year. Gifts and gift cards don't count towards my budget. Since I've been keeping a budget, I'm much more careful with what I buy, and I will return stuff at the end of the month if I'm not crazy about it after hanging it in my closet.

December was deceiving. I did spend some money on Boxing Day sales, but I'm still waiting on delivery for some on-line purchases. I'm not deciding what I'm keeping and taking back until I have everything here.

Shirt: Joe Fresh
Reg $34, on sale for $10
I donated my old black button up recently, so this will be a good replacement.

Tee: Pink
Reg $30, on sale for $12
The effects of email advertising.... I got an email from Victoria's Secret advertising this shirt at 10 AM and by 1 PM it was mine. I was astounded by the number of people who didn't get the message. Ya'll need to visit Urban Dictionary.

Tee: Wilfred at Aritzia
Reg $55, on sale for $27.50
I was eyeing this for months but didn't want to pay full price. Purple looks good with so many colors. I'm sure I'll get lots of wear out of this year-round.

Original value of items: $119
Price I paid: $50
I saved: 58%

I will be rolling $128 forward to 2017. That will definitely be spent once I figure out what I'm keeping from Boxing Day.  If I had paid full price for everything over the full year, I'd have spent $3886.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Best Buys 2016 and Goal Setting

As we embark on a brand new year, I'd like to thank everyone who has read my blog over the past five years. It's evolved over time, and while I don't put as many posts out as I used to, I'm still enjoying publishing the content that I create.

I'll be spending some time today, and over the next few days, contemplating goals. I'm not so much into the word "resolutions" as I think they tend to be a bit too rigid. I like to look at the upcoming year quarter-by-quarter and then month-by-month and try to set some realistic goals in different areas of my life.

I don't do goal setting every year (I didn't for 2016), and I feel more grounded and purposeful the years that goals are set. I find it all too easy to let the year pass by and lose track of things that are important if you don't have a bit of a plan arranged.

Part of the purpose of goal setting is to guide yourself to make the right decisions. Here are the five fashion decisions I made in 2016 that I consider my soundest choices.

Hat: TNA at Aritzia
This may seem like a really odd choice for a best buy, but I honestly wore this hat so much last year. It has saved me from many a bad hair day and for that, it deserves to be on this list.

Jeans: Zara
You know that pair of jeans that make you feel good when you put them on? The ones you seem to reach for all the time? These jeans are that for me right now. These are the first jeans from Zara I've purchased and likely won't be the last!

Photo by Brett Locke 

Sneakers: Puma
I had my eye on these for so long before buying them! They are great for the cold winter days when there's no snow as they are a high top style.

Cardigan: Wilfred at Aritzia (Diderot)
Technically, I bought this at the very end of 2015. It's been worn so much this year. You can wear it normally so it hangs low in the back, or flip it upside down and it's shorter in the back. I'd definitely consider buying one in a different color. I really like how thick it is. I'm starting to collect a few different styles from Aritzia and getting them in multiple colors. Maybe I'll do a post on brand specific favourites. This store is by far my most shopped in for 2016.

Not a great photo of the cardigan

Coat: Club Monaco
After years of constantly drooling over coats at Club Monaco, I snagged beauty of a black one recently. I know I just got it, but it had to go in my best buys because even though I've only worn it a few times I'm positive I'll get so much use out of it for many years to come. I don't have a photo of me in the coat yet, but here's the link to my November buys post where I talk about it.

Happy New Year!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl