My Monthly Purchases: March 2015

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. I used to have a monthly budget, but partway through 2014, I switched to a quarterly budget of $500. This 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.

My budget got a $200 injection this month from birthday money. This left me with $370 to spend for the month. Good thing, as I wasn't expecting to have to buy a new pair of boots!

Long Sleeve Tees: Gap
On sale from $25 each to $6 each
I bought this navy and white striped long sleeve tee (worn here) and the same one in plain black. My previous Gap black soft shirt has a hole in the cuff.

Sweater: Gap
On sale from $55 to $24
I'm drawn to olive green even more than usual lately. I've worn this sweater and it's super soft, but a bit short. I wear a long tank underneath. It would probably be a great length on most people who don't have the torso of a Dachshund like I do.

Shirt: Banana Republic (no longer available on-line)
On sale from $50 to $14
It's a boxier fit than I usually go for but I loved the bold print and can't wait for warmer weather to style it with my windowpane TopShop pencil skirt.

Shirt: Banana Republic (no longer available on-line)
On sale from $75 to $24
R and I made an impromptu trip to BR last weekend with the goal of finding stuff for him, but this tee ended up in our shopping bag as well. Love the mesh! I feel like my wardrobe is slowly turning into a Banana Republic store.

Boots: Aldo (no longer available on-line)
On sale from $160 to $110
My winter boots felt uncomfortable one day. I took them off and saw that the heels were worn right through! Then I panicked as I knew the serious snow boots would be leaving the stores soon. These were the third ones I tried on and they are really comfortable and have great grip. They'll be something to look forward to wearing next winter! Please...not again til next winter...

Cardigan: Forever 21
Regular price: $19
I was browsing on-line during a free shipping event and saw this. I like how it's kind of draped and unstructured.

Shirt: Old Navy (no longer available on-line)
On sale from $27 to $22
I really love the look of this paisley button-up. I think it will look great styled with a denim skirt or shorts (come on, July).

Shirt: Joe Fresh (no longer available on-line)
On sale from $19 to $7
I was on a hunt for a green plaid shirt. The length of this one is perfect. It covers the bottom enough to be worn with thick leggings. It's in the laundry. No picture for you.

I also bought a pair of grey sweater tights from Target (on sale from $12 to $8). I've worn them already - very comfortable and soft  - and they stay up!


Original value of items: $467
Price I paid: $240
I saved 49%
Total for the quarter (January- March) $570 - $200 birthday money: $370


I'll roll what's left ($130) forward into the next quarter (and maybe even further forward to our New England trip this summer).

On my radar for the next few months are a pair of mid-rise destroyed jeans (my current ones are far too low and five years old), something fringed (probably a skirt...), and a new pair of sneakers.

I'm linked with Franish today along with a bunch of fellow fashionistas - check out what they scored in March!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: January 2015

Ahhh January. New year, new yearly budget.

Every month, I break down my clothing expenses and share them. I used to have a strict (sort of...) monthly budget, but partway through 2014, I switched to a quarterly budget of $500. This can be rolled into the next quarter if not all spent. My goal is to keep my expenses within $2000 a year. Gifts and gift cards don't count towards my budget.

I'm starting 2015 off with a quarterly budget of $525 (a small roll-over happened last year).

I'm happy to say was a satisfying shopping month. After Christmas sales are in full swing, and it's a great time of year to replace basic winter sweaters.

I was able to check off some "needs" (boots, black sweater, and grey sweater) and there were some impulse buys thrown in there too.

What I Bought

Leather Boots: Town Shoes (own brand, no longer available on-line)
Price: $75, originally $265
Sometime in December I realized I was wearing my flat black ankle boots to work almost every day. I needed another option that would keep me warmer as the temperatures dropped. I bought a pair of boots from Aldo that I ended up returning, and then I found these lovelies. The chain strap is detachable, which is a nice option. They are really tight to zip (and I have small calves) which may be why they were so marked down.

Grey Sweater: Banana Republic
Price: $20, originally $95
I donated my trusty grey H&M v-neck sweater a few months ago (it's prime had passed) and have been missing it. I'm glad a stopped in BR at lunch the other day as this gorgeous thing was heavily marked down and will fill my grey v-neck void so well. I find the BR in-store sales are often better than the on-line ones, as is the case here.

Pink Sweater: Banana Republic (no longer available on-line)
Price: $17, originally $110
Cashmere blend for $17? Yes please - one of those things that you just don't leave in the store. I already have a pink sweater, but at this price it made sense to have two.

Black Sweater: Old Navy (no longer available on-line)
Price: $21, originally $40
I needed a long black sweater to wear with leggings (which are NOT pants BTW). Also, they are helpful with jeans or pants that are fitted in the seat, morphing them into work-appropriate bottoms.

Jeans: Diesel via Winners
Price (crazy!): $37, originally $350
If I had infinite amounts of money, I would likely be clothed heavily in Diesel. Winners loves to bring in Diesel attire (yay!) and I scored this gorgeous pair of boyfriend jeans for next to nothing. They are super-long on me, but are meant to be worn cuffed. I will try them out as-is before deciding to hem or not (I hate hemming). I also had a pair of AG jeans in my hand that I was close to buying. Lots of premium jeans at the Mumford location in Halifax if anyone needs new ones!

Snood: Amercan Eagle Outfitters  (worn here)
Price: $5, originally $40
I wear my black faux fur snood a ton and for $5 (which I think was a mistake as when I went back later that week they were marked back up to $40) this was a great alternate color to have in my closet.

Blazer: Merona at Target (not available on-line)
Price: $11.50, originally $40
This was purchased on the day Target announced their closure. I went to mope and show my support. I think it will look good with jeans and my brown riding boots. Very J Crew-esque.

Original value of items: $590
Price I paid: $150
I saved 75%(and darn proud of it)

I have $350 left to spend this quarter. I  would like to find a casual long sleeved dress that would be work and weekend appropriate.

I'm linked up with Franish today - stop over and see how the others spent their January budgets.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Goodbye Target Canada

The big retail news the week was the decision by Target to close all of its Canadian stores. As a frequent and enthusiastic Target shopper, I was really sad to hear this. I feel sad for the employees who will be out of work and disappointed at the waste of money and resources used to overhaul spaces that, here is Halifax, were only operational for 16 months.

I'm aware that Target Canada was not readily accepted by a lot of shoppers, and I'm not sure why. Some of the reasons I've heard is that the shelves weren't stocked, there weren't enough people to help on the floor, and the prices weren't as good as in the States.

I estimate I visit Target about three times per month, so I have a fairly good idea of how the store normally looks and operates. I admit, the first few weeks the store was open, I noticed the shelves weren't fully stocked. Not a smart move by Target, but once the initial rush of the grand opening was over, I generally always found what I wanted was in stock. I wonder if there were some people who only visited Target once, shortly after the opening buzz, and decided not to return for that reason. I always thought there were a lot of employees around to ask if you needed help finding anything, and they were always very friendly.

As for the prices, I've yet to see a store come to Canada (except Coach) and offer the same prices in the Canadian stores as the States. Of course the prices aren't as good - but neither is Forever 21 and we've seemed to accept that store just fine. I almost bought a jacket in Vegas at Forever 21, but decided against it as it would have taken up a lot of room in my luggage. When I got home and scoped it out at F21 here, by the time I factored in the tax, I would have been spending about $25 more on the exact same product. Guess who didn't buy the jacket?

Besides the really cool stuff they have in the home decor section (bye bye Nate Berkus), they have a huge selection of make-up and hair products. I'll be stocking up on my Frederik Fekkai (the only place I've found it in this country). Their stationary department was amazing too! They have an entire wall of boxed thank you cards and invitations, the cutest gift bags, and really unique greeting cards.

Bought these this week! So cute and only $12.99 each. About 7 inches tall.

Our door mat. $14.99 

The worst part about Target closing (for me) is that we won't be able to access the designer collaborations. I lived and breathed for these. Some of my very favourite items in my closet are from Target collabs. I will sorely miss showing up at the store for the 8:00 AM launch of these lines. I never really understood why Canadians didn't spring on these collections like people in the States do.

One of the five 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target items I bought. My favourite line!

Dress: Peter Pilotto for Target

Dress: Sarah Stevenson for Target (a Canadian designer!)

In addition to Target closing, other Canadian stores have left (or are leaving soon). Sad goodbyes go out to Mexx, Smart Set, and Jacob.

I'll miss you, Target Canada. Sniff sniff.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

TOMS for Target

Stylish and charitable - I adore the new Target collaboration!

On Nov. 16, Target and TOMS launched their line. I was stoked to go that morning, but life (and my life right now is cleaning and organizing) got in the way. Monday at lunch was when I was able to check it out.

For each item bought, a week of meals, a blanket, or shoes will be donated to someone in need. How could you possibly say no? It's like donating to charity and getting something great for free!

The hoodies are beautiful, but I just don't need another hoodie in my life right now. If you're in the market for one, you should definitely check them out! I tried on the lighter poncho but like every other poncho, it seemed to overwhelm me. If I can find the darker one at another store, I'll try it on. TOMS shoes are so cute, but they are always too wide for me. I love the black shiny ones from this collection!

Here's the link to the full collection: http://www.target.ca/en/whatsinstore/toms?lnk=content

I ended up choosing a pretty, casual, but feminine tee (shown below) that has rose gold lettering. For $16 and the charitable donation, it was a total steal. Since it was for charity, I'm not counting it towards my clothing budget for the quarter.

www.target.ca

Hurry to Target before this collection disappears!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Attack of the Office Chair

The office environment can be hostile to one's wardrobe. I've had to have shoes re-heeled due to office-chairing myself around my carpeted cubicle. Today, my chair almost ate my pants. They're rather long and flawy (necessitating high wedges) and I kept getting them caught in the wheels.

Details

Pants: Forever 21

Shirt and scarf: Gap

Bag and jacket: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

Bracelets: Gift/Stella & Dot

Sunnies: Guess

This was the first time I wore my new "soft pants" which is what I've decided to call them. I was quite comfortable all day, much like wearing PJ's! I could get used to these.

Have you bought a pair of soft pants yet?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Tuesday Treasures: Finishing Products for Hair

Hi Blog Readers!

It's been quite some time since I've done a Tuesday Treasures post. These posts are a way for us to find out about what others are using for products. The more people who participate, the more products that will be discovered! Share your favourite here, and if you're looking for a new favourite, you just might find one!

Today, I want to know what you're using for a finishing product on your hair. Many finishing products are in the form of sprays, serums, or creams. I don't care if it's high end or from the discount bin!

For about five years now, I've been using the same finishing product. I used to have to stock up in the States, but now that Canada has Target, I can find it here!

Pick your treasure: What's YOUR favourite finishing product for hair?

My pick: Fekkai Glossing Cream

I've never actually bought the full size tube as the little tubes last me forever (like a year) and they are so easy to travel with. Target Canada sells the small tubes for $8 and the large ones for $25. This product works great on straight locks, curls or waves. I first came upon this in NYC and I've not strayed since!

Comment on this post to share your treasure or pop over to Glitterary Girl on Facebook! Thanks for participating!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: March 2014

I had some gift card spending to do this month. I'm not really sure how to handle gift cards/gift money in relation to my clothing budget. When I'm gifted an article of actual clothing, I don't count it towards my budget obviously, so I'm inclined to think that gift card purchases shouldn't count. Ladies who budget, what do you do with gift cards?

Gift Card Purchases

Pants: Ralph Lauren via Winners
Discounted from $100 to $30 (free using gift card)
Black work pants were on my wish list. I'm not sure how I managed to get through the winter with only one pair in my closet, but I often wished for a second pair. They're in the wash, so no photo.

Tank: Diesel via Winners
Discounted from approx. $150 to $25
Winners has been getting some decent stuff in stock lately in their new "Contemporary" section. I have a "love from afar" relationship with Diesel as I refuse to pay full price for it but really love the brand.  Winners has an annoying habit of peeling off the brand's actual price tag (but they often miss it). Their "comparable to" tag is often way lower than the original price. For example, the "comparable to" tag on this tank is $40. Now, I know that you can't get a Diesel shoelace for $40, but they peeled off the original tag. So I went online and found something comparable listed for $150 at the Bay, which sounds more like Diesel's (over) pricing. Wouldn't it make sense for Winners to want to show the actual retail price? I don't get it. You'll all be proud of me for not giving in to the pink leather vest I wore for a solid ten minutes in the fitting room. It was still $130 (marked down from $700 - they forgot to get rid of the original tag ), but I actually do want a new brown leather jacket which would see far more wear than a pink leather vest, no matter how pretty it was.

Skirt: Banana Republic (no longer available on-line)
Discounted from $110 to $49 (free using gift card c/o Halifax Shopping Centre for doing an Opposites Attract feature for them)
I love love love this skirt and was eyeing it from the second I saw it on-line. I was hoarding my HSC gift card, waiting for the perfect item to spend it on. This was it! I haven't worn it yet, but I do want to get at least one wear out of it with black tights before the weather changes.

Earrings: Silpada
Regular price $34 (free with birthday money)
I am supposed to be on a jewelry buying ban for awhile but I don't actually own anything in turquoise and I thought these were really cute. I love the look of white clothes and turquoise accessories in the summer.



T-shirt: Smart Set
Discounted from $16 to $10 (free with birthday money)
This was an impulse buy a few days before St Patrick's Day, but a good bright piece that looks great with black, white, or navy. I wore it with black pants and a black cardigan for St Patrick's Day at the office, but failed to get a photo.

Mine is kelly green

Amount spent in gift cards/gift money: $148
Value $402

My Own Money Purchases

Sweater: Jacob (no longer available on-line)
Discounted from $50 to $7.50
I love the look of this slouchy v-neck. I can wear it over button-ups or over a dress. I promise I'll steam it before I wear it!

Dress: Old Navy
Discounted from $33 to $25
This dress is a blank canvas for styling, and I think I will get a lot of wear out of it in the spring and next fall too. A good piece for transitioning seasons.



Shirt: Club Monaco
Regular price $64.50
It is SO HARD to find a great white oxford shirt. Thank you Club Monaco salesgirl for leading me to the men's section! I bought this in men's XS and it is wonderful! Not too thin, long enough to cover my bottom should I want to wear it with structured leggings, and no gaping buttons at chest level!

Dress: Sarah Stevenson for Target
Regular Price $35
I did a blog post on this dress already. I can't wait to wear it with my denim jacket!


Skirt: Peter Pilotto for Target
Discounted from $35 to $17.50
This was one of the pieces I said I'd go back for if it went on clearance, which it did.

Total spent: $149.50
Total value:  $217.50
I saved 31%

It's time to look at my seasonal spending which I've budgeted at $500 every three months.
January = $154
February = $193
March = $150

Grand total for first quarter of 2014: $497

Next month includes a trip to Vancouver and undoubtedly some new clothes will be bought. Good thing I have gift cards and birthday money to spend!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

Curse of the White

I love white clothing. Even though I'm as pale as a ghost and it very easily washes me out if I'm not careful, I gravitate towards white pieces. Do you know what else gravitates towards white? Mustard, black tea, marinara sauce, and salsa. Just a few of the things I've dropped on white clothing in my life.

 Details

Sweater: Club Monaco

Jeans: Target

Tank: Smart Set

Boots: Aldo

Necklace and Bracelet: Stella & Dot

Earrings: Joe Fresh

Nails: Maybelline Color Show in Styled Out

On a happy white note, I have finally found a perfect white button-up shirt after literally years of searching. I happily paid full price for it, and I rarely happily pay full price for anything! I'll blog about it soon.

Have a fabulous weekend!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: February 2014

About mid-way through the month I decided to change the way I think about my clothing budget. Sticking to a monthly budget is a way to avoid overspending, but I often feel limited by my goal of $140, especially when it comes time for buying bigger ticket items (handbags, shoes, coats, etc). I don't want to "cheap out" on these types of items in order to stick to my budget, because inevitably I may up picking something of lower quality, which means I'll have to replace it sooner.

I'm going to see how I do with a seasonal budget instead. And I'm going to give myself a little raise.

My new goal is $500 per season, and each season will be divided into three months. That way if I want to spend $250 on a handbag, I won't feel guilty for blowing my monthly budget, and I'll still have some wiggle room to buy other things.

I'll still do my monthly breakdown, and at the end of the third month I'll share how I've done for the season.

Earrings: Joe Fresh (not available on-line)
Discounted from $8 to $4
I'm not going to bother with a photo of these. They are a three-pack of studs in gold, hematite, and rose gold. I've worn them a lot already. They're cute and understated - great for when I'm wearing a chunky necklace.

Sweater: Old Navy
Discounted from $33 to $12
This was a great way to satisfy my craving for all things nautical. I wore it here.


Tights: Old Navy (not available on-line)
Discounted from $8 to $5
A nice basic pair of navy tights.I wore them in this post.

Dress: Peter Pilotto for Target
Marked as $30 (mistake on tag, was supposed to be $40- yay)
I wasn't quite as excited for this Target collaboration as I was for 3.1 Phillip Lim. I was really hoping to love  the napkin skirts in this line, but they just didn't flatter my shape. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this dress though. I am hoarding it...maybe for a spring wedding, maybe for my birthday, maybe both! I also have my eye on a trumpet skirt from the collection which I will pick up if it goes on clearance.


Vest: Vero Moda via Envy (can't find this on-line)
Discounted from $60 to $25
I haven't worn it yet as it hasn't been warm enough, but it was on my list of things to buy and I love it! It's a army green utility vest and has a detachable faux-leather panel.

Riding Boots: Call it Spring
Discounted from $150 to $50
I've never actually owned a pair of riding boots. When I saw that these were real leather and only $50, I ordered them on-line. I've worn them around the house and they're really comfy. They're different enough from my other brown boots that I can justify keeping them. My other ones are darker and cone-heeled.


Skirt: Club Monaco
Discounted from $140 to $17
OK, I just realized that this is new stock, so I have no clue why I got it for the ridiculous price that I did. I assumed it was from last year or something, but nope, it's on the website for full price! The shopping fairy was on my shoulder that day.





Jeans: Cambio via Foreign Affair (can't find them on-line)
Discounted from $295 to $50
I haven't worn these yet. They were bought on a whim on what might have been the most expensive lunch hour ever (same day I bought my wedding shoes). I'll be sure to wear them soon and take some photos. They will replace my grey Old Navy skinnies. Cambio is a German brand and they were apparently featured as one of Oprah's favorite things. I'm so glad I walked into Foreign Affair on the day they did final markdowns!

Total spent this month: $193
Total value of the items:$734
I saved 74%.

Based on my new "seasonal budget", I have $154 to spend in March to complete my Winter season. I'm excited for another Target collaboration that I just found out about a few days ago. This one is with an emerging Canadian designer, Sarah Stevenson and the previews show some gorgeous floral prints. I'm noticing an absence of red tops in my closet, so I might try to find one.

Do you budget your monthly clothing expenses? How did you do in February?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

The New Blue Wall

For those of you who are sick of seeing the fake tree in our living room as the backdrop for blog photos on rainy days, you'll like this post. Since Timberlea Dental Centre is now open (yay), there are a few "future use" rooms that have no dental equipment ... but they do have freshly painted blank walls.

I'm still playing around with the new camera, trying to figure out lighting and all that complicated stuff. Bear with me for the shadows. The first photo is natural light only and the second is with natural plus overhead lights.

Details

Blazer: Banana Republic via Crimson Clover

Shirt: Zara

Jeans: Target

Hat: Le Chateau

Shoes: BCBGeneration via Winners

Bracelets: Gifts

Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

This was my consolation t-shirt, bought in Toronto the day Mastercard Fashion Week began, which was the day I left. Note to self: check out what's going on and when before you book plane tickets.

The last phrase is so me.

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

End of an Era

These are likely the last photos you will see on Glitterary Girl that are taken with a point and shoot camera. Thank goodness, you say? Me too. 

Details

Cardigan: H&M

Shirt: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target

Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

Shoes: Target

Bracelet: Suzy Shier

Earrings: Gift

I wore a similar version of this outfit a few weeks ago in Toronto, but was having too much fun to bother with blog pics. I really like this top. There are so many colors in it that it goes with almost anything. I love a good re-mix piece.

As excited as I am to post photos from my new camera, a fabulous camera does not automatically make the photographer fabulously talented. How sad. So please bear with me as I learn my way around the new toy. Let's hope for a brighter and sharper future, starting next post!

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

My Monthly Purchases: October 2013

Welcome to my once a month breakdown of the clothing items I bought, while trying to keep my budget in mind. My disclaimer for the month is that I had a trip to Toronto thrown in... my budget does not apply the once or twice a year I go on a "shopping trip".

I tried really hard to not buy much until Toronto, but then there was a sale at Smart Set and a few pieces I had my eye on were on mega-sale.

Bracelet: Le Chateau
Discounted from $15.00 to $5.95
I like skulls.

Skirt: Smart Set
Discounted from $35.00 to $12.00
I bought this in black with a grey panel. Great length for work!



Discounted from $35.00 to $9.00Pants: Smart Set (no longer available on website)
R calls these my police pants. I guess he has a point.

Top: Smart Set
Discounted from $39.00 to $6.00
I love this basic top that I can wear to work or on the weekend. It was basically free :)



Shoes: Gap (no longer available on website)
Discounted from $39.95 to $12.00
I went through a big camo phase circa 2005 and have been waiting for it to come back. These loafers are cute and add just a touch of the print to a casual outfit.

T-Shirt: Zara
Regular Price: $19.90
I can't get enough of graphic print tees lately. This one made up for the fact that I missed Fashion Week in Toronto (okay, not really....)


Boots: Aldo
Regular price $100.00
I was so picky about black boots this year. I tried on a ton in Toronto and then ended up picking these basics from Aldo here in Halifax.



Other items with no photos (sorry, you'll see them in blog posts later!)
Forever 21 jewelery : $21.00 (regular price)
Forever 21 pink tank top: Discounted from $3.80 to $1.80
J Crew Navy v-neck sweater: Discounted from $54.00 to $32.00
Cole Haan black belted puffer coat from Holt Renfrew H2: Discounted from $395.00 to $198.00
Target blue studded flats: Discounted from $18.00 to $10.00
H&M: Blue sleeveless blouse: Discounted from $17.95 to $5.00
H&M: Navy blue trousers with zipper details at the waist: $29.95 (regular price)
H&M: Army green faux leather leggings: $9.95 (regular price)
H&M: Patterned ankle length trousers: Discounted from $29.95 to $7.50
Old Navy: Bow earrings: Discounted from $7.00 to $4.90

Total purchases for the month: $484.05
Total value of items: $870.45

I checked some big items off my list this month, including a winter coat that is warm but still fashionable for wearing to work, black ankle boots, and a basic navy sweater.

I'm going to make every effort to keep my spending to a minimum for November and December.

Did you score any big deals this month?

XOXO
Glitterary Girl

A Day at the Office

I've mentioned before how much I love being able to wear nice things to work. I used to work in a hospital in direct patient care, so I had to wear what was comfortable and easy to wash. Skirts were definitely not appropriate for the work I was doing!

Now I work in an office environment and I go meet with clients in their homes. The office vibe in terms of work wear is pretty varied, but most people wear casual to business casual with jeans on Fridays. It's so nice to actually like what I'm wearing when I walk out the door in the morning. If I have plans after work, there's usually no need to change!

Details

Shirt: Gap

Skirt: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target

Earrings: Handmade by my BFF

Watch: Guess

Shoes: Le Chateau

I even caught myself spinning a few times from the filing cabinet to answer the phone.... I could have been taking a very important call, but I may have just wanted to twirl in my skirt!

I'm linking with Alison for a Friday's Fancies post on work wear. Click on the box to see how the other lovely ladies strut their style while on the clock!

XOXO

Glitterary Girl