June Fashion Challenge

Have you checked out my results from my May Fashion Challenge yet?  When you're done, be sure to pop on over there to see how I did for my first month!

For those of you new to my fashion challenge, here's the rules:

1. I cannot spend more than $100 on any given outfit in its entirety.
2. I can use no more than ONE item already in my closet, including jewelry.
3. All items in the photo must be represented, although I can make minor substitutions based on availability of items and/or personal style.
4. I have until the last day of the month to make my purchases. 

This is my inspiration photo for June.

This month I'm doing my challenge a little differently by trying to budget out the individual items so that I reach my $100 goal.  It will be fun to compare how close I came to guessing how much I could spend for each item.  The look consists of:

1. Turquoise Tank Top: $18
2. White Jeans: $20
3. Taupe Sandals: $15
4. White Straw Bag: $15
5. Gold Bangles: $5
6. Taupe Sunglasses: $6
7. Charm Bracelet: $10
8. Nautical Inspired Pearl Studs: $9
9. Orange Nail Polish: $2

Wish me luck!

May Fashion Challenge Results!

Back on May 3rd I posted about my monthly challenge I've set up for myself to start incorporating new items into my wardrobe that will give me fashionable outfits to wear as a bit of a self esteem boost.  Here's the outfit I set out to create for May. 

The look consists of dark skinny jeans, a nude blazer, nude patent leather ballet flats, skinny bangles, large pearl earring studs, and a flowy neutral floral tank top.  This outfit is totally "me".  It's got soft feminine touches but still remains casual, and the neutral color palette means that the colors will mix and match perfectly with other items in my wardrobe already and to come.

Here's what I came up with on my budget of $100 and a day at the mall with my four year old.

While I was able to purchase all the items on my list, I didn't find everything I was looking for exactly.  The blazer and tank top were much harder to find than I expected. I ended up having to settle for an off-white blazer and a floral cotton tank with bright pink roses on it.  I do think I'll still get a lot of use out of those two items, as the tank is more casual than the inspiration top and I can dress it up with the blazer or dress it down with just the jeans.  The off-white blazer I wore recently for a photoshoot for some glam headshots, and it's a versatile staple for my closet.  I have blazers in every other neutral shade except for off-white!  The ballet flats I was able to nail though.  They look exactly like the photo and were a steal at only $16.99!

Jeans:  Celebrity Pink Jeans brand, purchased at Macy's for $29.50
Blazer:  Forever 21 for $29.50
Ballet Flats:  Lower East Side brand, purchased at Payless Shoes for $16.99
Bangles:  H & M for $5.95
Earrings:  My own
Tank Top:  Forever 21 for $8.80
Total Spent: $90.74

I think the biggest issue was finding the right blush tones for the blazer and tank top in the middle of May, when all the soft spring clothes had already been out for months here in Virginia.  The stores were filled with bright colors and patterns for the summer in more versatile fabrics than chiffon.

How do you think I did for my first month?

100 Day No Buy Challenge

So today I'm starting my 100 Day No Buy Challenge.  I read about it a few months ago on a couple of blogs that I follow, but I wasn't able to really start this until now.  (Can't remember who they were or else I'd totally link and credit them here!  If you're a blogger I follow and you've done this, please comment below so that others can read your challenge, too!)  Just getting back into blogging about makeup versus blogging about weddings for the past three years, the majority of my makeup has been for myself (and the same old routine for years!) or products that I've been using in my kit for years.  Most are limited edition palettes, etc that I buy at makeup shows or online through my pro discounts, and aren't that great for reviewing since it's not like people can go out and buy them anymore.

Enter massive shopping sprees in April and May to stock up on new brands, new products, and trendy items for product reviews and demos.  I've been watching YouTube like it's going out of style, especially the haul videos and monthly favorites.  Anything that seemed to be highly recommended by top gurus and bloggers alike I went out and got for myself to try.  It's been insanely fun to try out things I never thought I'd try (drugstore foundations!), and I've found a few gems I don't know how I lived without before.

Now that I'm fairly certain I've either experienced recently or in the past the vast majority of makeup brands to some extent and their most popular products, I'm going to be writing up a series of articles on my Top 10 Best.... products for the blog.  That being said, it's time I gave my credit card a serious break.  Plus, as my blog is gaining exposure, more opportunities are coming my way to test run products sent to me by brands.  I'm happy to try our free products and offer my honest opinion.  I won't take money for it, but free stuff? Yeah, I'm game.  I don't want to be known as one of those bloggers who only promotes something that's going to give her a kick back if you know what I mean.  Most of my articles I do try to include an affiliate link where the products can be purchased (usually through Ulta), because I do need to make at least some money off my blogging efforts.  As nice as it would be to just buy and try and write all of this for you, I do have bills to pay!  (So if you see something you like, I'd be eternally grateful if you used one of my links to help support my blog!)

But this is kind of all besides the point.  Point really is, I need to stop buying so much makeup or I'll never get in the black with this blog thing.  haha.  So I'm implementing a NO BUY CHALLENGE for myself for makeup, skincare, and haircare products effective today.  Until August 29th, I will not go on any more makeup hauls, skincare hauls, or hair product binges!  Here are the "rules" I've set for myself:

1. I cannot make any purchases for my own use.  If I need to purchase something to restock my professional kit for work, I can.
2. Some people had in their rules that they can purchase items that they run out of that they really need.  I think I have enough stuff stockpiled to last me at least the full 100 days.  I have more soap, shampoo, lotions, foundations, etc to probably get me through a zombie apocalypse and keep me looking damn good during it, too.  If I'm not buying, I'm quitting cold turkey.  I'm just an all or nothing kind of gal!
3. I can still get spa services like mani/pedi's and facials.  If I had to give those up I think I'd lose it.
4. I will still continue my monthly subscriptions to Glossybox, IPSY, etc.
5. This does not apply to clothes, although I'm limiting new purchases to my monthly Fashion Challenges so that I don't jump from one shopping habit to another.

That's really all there is to it.  I'm keeping it fairly simple for myself.  I've always been a bit of a makeup hoarder, and I need to force myself to use up the things that I've bought before they go bad and get my reviews written before I go out and buy something new.  The money that I save I'll use to take my husband out for a nice dinner on vacation in August!  I'm sure he'll appreciate both the end to my shopping sprees and the steak I'm sure he'll order.