I’ve started parting my bangs to the side like I used to do, and I think I like this version of my hair better.  It’s nice to be able to switch it up when I want to.

Because life is keeping me super busy (which I don’t mind, because I absolutely love my job), I’m cutting back to posting five days a week.  It seems to be a more manageable schedule for me, and allows me to enjoy blogging without feeling stressed out about it.  For now, the schedule will be:

• Sundays – Shopping Ban (and sometimes Link Love)
• Mondays – Outfit
• Wednesdays – Etsy Love
• Fridays – Varies, but usually something related to Craftiness or Sustainability
• Saturdays – Bento Box

If I can get to a point where I feel comfortable going back to seven days a week, awesome.  For now, this is what seems to be working with the shrinking amount of free time I have available.  After all, I still need to enjoy life outside of work and the blogosphere as well.

Blouse: Anthropologie
Cardigan: Anthropologie (via eBay)
Capris: Erik Stewart (thrifted?)
Flats: Easy Street
Purse: Morelle Oyster
Cuff: via Classy Consignment

Quote: Bring on that Beat, by Rachel Isadora

I had $104 left in my August budget last week.  And this week began September’s budget, giving me another $125.  It’s weird how your budget builds up when have no money to spend.  As you can see from the image above, I went on a nice little thrifting spree this week, which cost me all of $25.

a.n.a. tunic
Design history tank
Old Navy Tank

Ann Taylor Tank
Ann Taylor LOFT button down

I’m really happy with these tops.  They’ll give me a lot of new things to wear for work and play.  But quite honestly, my favorite finds are the least glamourous – those two pairs of lounge pants.  Before this week, I only owned two pairs of yoga pants and three pairs of pajama pants.  While I like all of them, I was beginning to get sick of them, and craved more variety.  These two pairs that I thrifted fit fantastically, they’re 100% cotton, and they’re super soft (the green ones are organic cotton, which is doubly awesome).  I’ve been wearing them all weekend, except for when I went out in public, of course.

Watch – $12

I also somewhat impulsively bought this watch.  At an antique shop.  Which is weird, because the watch isn’t antique.  I’ve been wanting a watch to wear to work, because mine needs a new battery and needs to have the band shortened, and I’ve been too lazy (and broke) to get it done.  Not the best reason to buy a new watch, but whatever.  It’s good to have some variety.

So I had $229 in my budget, and I spent $37, so now I have $192.  There will probably be more thrifting and consignment trips this week, and maybe I’ll actually look at my wardrobe gaps list for real.  There will also be *cough, cough* a new pair of used shoes to check out next week.  I’ll give you a hint: they start with “flue” and end with “vog”

*Welcome to Bento Box Saturday!  Every week, I post a photo of one of my bento lunches.  I use a Laptop Lunches bento box and I love it because it helps me to reduce the amount waste I create, since I don’t produce a lot of extra garbage from throw away packaging.  I also love how it creates perfect portion sizes.  To learn more about how I pack and carry my bento, check out this post*

This week I packed my bento with:

• Cucumbers and hummus
• Carrot sticks and refried beans
• Whole wheat crackers and cheddar cheese
• Cherries

A few weeks ago, I posted about some great stuff I bought at a local antique shop. About a week after that post, I learned that one of those antique shops would be closing.  Then I heard that another local antique shop I’d been meaning to visit was closing.  Then I got an e-mail that Tampa Street Market would no longer have their brick and mortar location, and is going completely online.   Last month, Bohemian Vintage closed their store front.  I never got around to visiting there.

Seeing so many local shops go under is heart breaking to me.  I love shopping at local stores.  I like finding unique and interesting objects.  I like meeting people who really care about their businesses and what they sell.  I like buying things that support an individual and not a corporation.  Not to mention the fact that buying local is simply fantastic for your local economy.

I recently read about The 3/50 project, and I love what they’re doing.  They’re encouraging everyone to pick three local shops each month and spend $50 at those shops. (Of course, you can shop at more shops than that, and spend more than that.  It’s just kind of catchy to call it 3/50).  Their site is full of information and resources about why shopping local is so important.

I have decided to take on this project, and document it on the last Friday of every month (I meant to write this last week, but life got in the way).  Every month, I’m going to post pictures of items that I bought locally, and talk a bit about the shops I bought them at.  Since I already document clothes and accessories I buy at local stores with my shopping plan posts, the 3/50 posts will focus on other items.

I’d like to challenge everyone else to try spending $50 locally every month too.  At first, it may sound like a financial burden, but it doesn’t have to be.  Just shift the money that you would usually spend at big businesses to local businesses.  Instead of buying coffee beans at a chain store, buy them at a local coffee roaster.  Instead of buying some cheap furniture at a big box store, buy some cool (much more durable) furniture at a local antique shop.  Instead of buying clothes at the mall, hit up a local thrift or consignment store.

And just a note:  as I’ve said before, I don’t think that big box, chain stores, and malls are necessarily bad.  I just think it’s good to have balance.  I still shop at Target, the Gap, IKEA, Starbucks and plenty of other big chain stores.  But I try to balance that out with local independent businesses as well.  I think that in all things in life, balance is key.

Today, I decided to create a different kind of Etsy set; I took a look through my favorites, and picked out the first six colorful items that caught my eye, creating a post that has a little bit of everything.  Enjoy!

Yellow and Gold Rag Rug, $78

Kiddy Qualia

A Bunch of Buttons on One Bag, $35

Traffic Bags

Personalized Wall Art, $39

Pilli Pilli

Upcycled Italian Coffee Pot, $35

Beatriz Macias

Imagination, Version 2, $20

Studio Mela

Heart Penny Rug Folk Art Pillow, $150

Nestle and Soar

(Something interesting I noticed while putting this together – when it comes to things around the house, I’m very drawn to vibrant colors.  When I comes to jewelry, I tend to prefer things to be more subdued.  I don’t really know why this is.)

This re-con really turned out beautifully, but I wish that the empire waist was just about an inch lower.  It would be a lot more flattering.  Unfortunately, because of how it’s designed, it’s something I can’t really alter.  Eventually, I’d love to make something like this from scratch, so I could correct that.  That is, whenever I actually have some time for from-scratch sewing.

As I’ve said before, I absolutely love my job, but the summer made me forget just how little free time I have while working.  I didn’t do any blog reading all week last week, and my projects and to-do’s pilled up.  I know I’ll relearn to budget my time again, but right now it’s a bit stressful.  Once I get into a routine, I know it’ll be a lot better.

Tunic: Re-con made from Target tunics by me
Leggings: Target
Shoes: Easy Street
Cuff: Vintage via Sherry’s Yesterdaze
Necklace: Chocolate Cake Jewels

Quote: Don’t Bump the Glump!: And Other Fantasies, by Shel Silverstein

A lot of these links are a week old, because I haven’t done a lot of blog reading this week.  They’re still all pretty awesome though.

• Have you guys ever seen the site Just Bento?  It’s a website/blog that’s solely dedicated to the love of bento box lunches.  They have beautiful pictures of lunches, reviews of boxes, advice, recipes and even a forum.  I think I’m in love.  Check out their Top Ten Bento Rules.
• Re-nest posted about how to make three ingredient lip balm.  Awesome.
• Lark Crafts posted a beautiful tutorial about how to make a wire basket liner out of a burlap coffee sack.
• Craft showed us how to make a gathered scarf with some jersey fabric and some elastic thread.  I so want to make one!
• Tatertots and Jello explained how to make a J Crew inspired multi-chain necklace.  I’m going to make a similar necklace this week – hopefully I’ll post the results soon!
• Colette Patterns gave us an insightful peek into her sewing tool box.
• More awesomeness from Colette Patterns: Ten Ways to Ruin Your Sewing.  I think I’ve been guilty of at least nine out of ten.
• I already love Second Skin’s sense of style, and now I’m drooling over these gorgeous pictures of her home that she posted.
• The Frugal Girl posted a recipe for cardamom braids.  Yum!
• Check out these bentos on The Kitchn.  Sometimes I think I’d just like to collect tons of beautiful bento boxes.  And make beautiful lunches with them of course!

*Welcome to Bento Box Saturday!  Every week, I post a photo of one of my bento lunches.  I use a Laptop Lunches bento box and I love it because it helps me to reduce the amount waste I create, since I don’t produce a lot of extra garbage from throw away packaging.  I also love how it creates perfect portion sizes.  To learn more about how I pack and carry my bento, check out this post*

This week I packed my bento with:

• Romaine salad with red bell peppers, feta and avocado
• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Whole Wheat Crackers with Cheddar cheese
• Watermelon
• Ham and veggie soup
• Dark chocolate

I’ve loved photography ever since I was a kid with a cheap film camera with no zoom or special features, trying to snap pictures of birds on telephone wires.  I’ve upgraded since then to a Canon Rebel DSLR, and my love of photography remains.  If you’re a shutterbug like me, then you’ll love these camera themed items that I found on Etsy:

Slide Tube Cuff, $45
(it’s made from the innards of a telephoto lens)

Revisionists Designs

Shutterbug Camera Ring, $8

Dillon Designs

3D Paparazzi Camera Ring, $25

Grigio

Vintage Brownie Camera Tote Bag, $16

Baostudio

Diana Vintage Camera Graphic Tee, $18

Happy Family

DSLR Camera Bag in Turquoise Plaid, $115

Stash

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