(off to Pure Barre this morning!)
What I Bought
As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve added quite a few new things to my depleted closet in the last couple of weeks:
James Perse crepe jersey flare dress (in black)
James Perse boxy collage top
Total from the James Perse Sale: $171
SoLow lace inset leggings from Nordstrom: $66.90
Oak side panel maxi dress from Shopbop
Cosabella freedom shorts from Shopbop (DO NOT recommend these!)
Total: $177.54
Goldsign His Jeans: $135.25 from Shopbop during the sale code – RETURNED (post about it next week)
SoLow cropped leggings from Shopbop (LOVE LOVE LOVE!! But really thick to wear now)
James Perse linen blend top from Shopbop
Total: $129
Jerome Dreyfuss Florent backpack from Forzieri: Purchased with store credit I get in exchange for advertising. I have a $1,600 balance left at Forzieri.
The Shopbop purchases were with credit I earn every month, and I have about $300 left after the return for the Goldsign jeans is posted. As I mentioned, the Jerome Dreyfuss backpack was also purchased with credit I earn (review soon! I just started carrying it!). The James Perse order was all me…I negotiated with my husband for an advance on my discretionary money for next month (we each get $200/month) this month so I could shop the sale, as long as I stayed under $200. Then the Nordstrom Sale hit…So I’m a bit over, but will not buy anything next month except from Shopbop and/or Forzieri to get back to budget.
In the future, I don’t want to take “advances,” – I’d rather have some saved up for sales or whatever, but it’s sort of early for that now. Anyway, I did spend MUCH LESS than I could have, or would have if I wasn’t sticking to a budget, or trying to keep my closet reigned in. You better believe I’d have ordered a lot more from James Perse!!
What I got rid of
Nothing specifically this week, I still have quite a few Splendid dresses left and a few random things I’m going to get up on eBay. And I promise I’ll do a post with the Inhabit cotton pieces to sell next week!
What I Read
I’m still reading LOTS on shopping, not-shopping, and minimalism. This really stood out to me this week:
Shopping can be a rich source of mental preparation. As people shop they’re naturally visualizing how they’ll use the products they’ll considering, and in doing so they’re also visualizing their new life. And as many great athletes will attest, visualization is a performance booster and anxiety reducer.
from an article in Psychology Today linked to from Recovering Shopaholic (I think?). I totally visualize when I’m shopping…
I am still trying to accept my love for shopping as “okay” – and reconcile that with having a minimal wardrobe, and budget…it’s going to be a hard road ahead, but I’m further on my way than I was yesterday.
Also, apparently this is the year of the 42-year old woman. Yay for me, I guess, since I’ll be 42 this year. Honestly, I don’t really “get” the article, and find it sort of annoying. I only ended up on it after seeing the author’s picture in The Cut. Okay…
What I did
WORKED so much. And tried to recover from vacation last week. Also missed my family, and just being around more people all the time. This Sunday we’re going to a Texas beach for the first time (yee-haw!) and coming back on Tuesday. So short trip, but it’ll be nice, since my step-son doesn’t have a camp booked for next week 😉
What I Ate
Not as much meat as last week ! I do usually have salads for lunch, either kale with avocado, or romaine hearts & dark green leaves with avocado and red onion, but this week I added a lentil salad to my romaine salad & avocado and it was GOOD. Who would have thought…wasn’t sure that lentils and avocado would go together. I don’t know why.
How was your week? Plans for the weekend?
**oh!! don’t forget to check the James Perse fit guide for summer sale information and to see if any readers have pieces to swap/sell that sold out already!
Ha, I just read that article about the Year of the 42 Year Old Woman and I’ll tell you what I found annoying about it– its ignoring all the 42 year old women for whom looking good is not a full time profession. And ignoring the fact that all of those famous “hot” women who are 42 have achieved their success because of their talent and intelligence, not just by playing up their sex appeal or joking about it. I get it was from Esquire, so they obviously have a market that wants to think about sexy women, but seriously, by the time you are in your 40s (and hopefully before) sexy is about more than how you look.
On another note, I totally purged more than half my closet last weekend, without really meaning to. I think all of these focused closet posts I’ve been reading were working on me subliminally. I only did my shirts and dresses and I filled a large box. Still need to tackle, pants and shoes. I don’t miss anything I got rid of, but its kind of depressing just because it was such a tangible reminder of how much money I waste buying things that I never wear. (Sigh).
Good job purging! And that was hard for me too…realizing how much money I spent on things i was getting rid of. Things I didn’t wear enough to justify even a fraction of the cost.
But I think that has also made me understand better why I bought the things I did and how to avoid doing that again in the future.
I also did some closet purging this week. It sounds like you’re making great progress, and it’s fun to hear about it. BTW: I’m commenting less now, only because it’s finally warm in Maine! I’m spending a lot of time outside. Hope that you have fun at the beach.
I was just thinking about you today actually! I’ve missed your comments but I’d be outside more too if it wasn’t 100 degrees here…have fun!
I’ve missed your comments, RJS!
And Grechen, it sounds like you had a nice break. I always feel a bit wistful after returning from vacation. We have so much fun when we’re all together, and I miss the laughter and activity.
I think you did AMAZINGLY well shopping the James Perse sale! And that’s really cool that you have the deal for the shopping credits at places you like to shop. What a great way to get the really, REALLY nice things!
I have yet to make any closet progress, so maybe all of you and your ambition will rub off on me.;-)
Thanks, ladies! It’s nice to be appreciated. I’ll definitely be back with more comments come fall:).
Good! Maybe by then I’ll have my closet cleaned out 😉
Val, you always make me smile!