Well everyone, it's time for another budget update post! Can you believe it's already the end of March? Seriously, where is the time going? I said something about not believing it's already March 2015 the other day...and then totally realized it's actually March 2016. Oops...

Anyways, this month was interesting for my wardrobe. I ordered a bunch of stuff, some I'm still on the fence about (leaning towards returning) so I'm not including those pieces in this post. The items above I purchased this month and love, so they are 100% staying in my wardrobe. 

Old Navy Peplum Cami (in gingham) - $24.94, on sale for $18. I loved the simple look of this top for Spring and Summer. Plus it comes in tall sizes and I'm a sucker for anything blue and white. Since it was less than $20 I didn't really think twice about adding this to my arsenal of tank tops for the upcoming warmer months. My color, seen in this outfit post, is no longer available but they have a couple of cute options still in stock, and on sale for 50% off one item! 

Saint James Minquiers 10 T-Shirt - $70 (some sizes on sale here for $55). I've wanted one of these classic Brenton striped shirts for years. As I'm traveling back to France this year, and I essentially live in striped tops when I'm not at work I decided to bite the bullet and order one. I love it and I'm already contemplating what color to order next! Any suggestions? Side note, this top runs large. I am wearing a medium in this outfit post, but it fits like a large or extra-large. I like the relaxed fit, but if you want a more fitted look then I'd suggest going down a size or two. I normally order a large in tops, so I sized down one and still got a relaxed fit. 

Rag and Bone Heritage High-Waisted Skinny Jeans - $185 - These were a bit of a splurge, but a pair of Rag & Bone jeans have been on my wishlist for a long time. A lot of the inseams they offer are on the shorter side for premium denim, but these are a 31" inseam, which sits on the bottom of my ankle and make them the perfect Spring/Summer jeans to have in my wardrobe. They run a little small, so I opted to get a size 30, where I normally wear a size 29 in premium denim. The 30s fit nicely and they have a bit of stretch which makes them comfy, even to wear while commuting up to NYC or during a large dinner in Midtown. 

Jon Hart Backpack #907 - $146 - My friend Catharine told me about this Texas based company back in the summer when she decided to order a backpack for herself to take to and from work (backpacks are very common work bags in audit, and we were both working as auditors for the same firm at the time). I loved her bag, it's just so chic for a backpack and unique. While I like the design of the ever prominent Hershel bags (Alex actually has one, and it's very nice) I wanted something a little more unique if I was going to get a bag. Since I've been taking the Amtrak every Friday and Monday between NYC and Philly, and I have some vacations coming up this Spring/Summer I thought getting a backpack might prove to be pretty useful for my lifestyle needs. I wanted something cute that I would wear even when I was working back in Philly full-time. The Jon Hart bag is a splurge, but I love it. It's so well-made, cute, and functional. I got mine monogramed with my initials, which adds the extra perfect touch. I wish I had this bag in high school and college, it's just so cute and comes in all different colors! I highly recommend if you think you would get use out of having a backpack!

Tory Burch T-Logo Leather Sandals, sold out, similar here and here - $175, on sale for $99 - These were a bit of an impulse purchase I made when the Tory Burch sample sale happened two weeks ago. As they're final sale I can't return them, but they do fit nicely and I think I'll get a lot of use out of them over the warmer months. The gold will match a lot of things in my wardrobe and the logo on these is more understated, which I appreciate. 

Total Purchased: $600

Less Discounts Taken: $83

Total Spent: $517

Total Left for Q1 from February and January: $358

Total Overspent: $159

Amount to carry forward to Q2: $0

Well, I went a little over this month (I blame getting excited about the warm weather). I did get some awesome investment pieces which I'm really happy about. I'm definitely going to be lowering my spending in April, and I'm going to try and underspend in Q2 to try and cover this deficit. As I've been traveling a lot for work and thus getting a stipend for food during week, I've been spending a lot less on groceries and eating out, so I'm comfortable absorbing the extra clothing spending since I majorly underspent in a lot of other areas in my life the during Q1. With that said, I have some trips coming up so I want to save money for those, my trip to L.A. is in just four weeks! I still need something to wear to a beach wedding so I'll be on the hunt for that this month, and maybe some tan shoes for work and some new business casual pieces if I find a good sale. 

How did you do this month? 

Linking up with Fran

10 Pairs of Shoes You Need This Spring

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going well! Mine is going, slowly. I'm still fighting off this sickness, fingers crossed it's gone by the weekend because I'm supposed to go on a little trip to D.C. to visit some friends from Tulane. Anyways, I made a post this fall about 10 pairs of shoes that I think everyone needs in their closet to have a well rounded shoe wardrobe for the season. I was thinking about posts I should make for Spring, and I thought that I would make another similar post. Spring and Fall are really the seasons where the weather begins to change to be colder or warmer, and thus I think they're the seasons where our wardrobes change the most too. So, without further ado, here are the 10 Pairs of Shoes everyone should have in their wardrobe this Spring. 

ONE // A pair of neutral flat sandals. I have a pair of platinum Jack Rogers which are perfect to throw on with a breezy sundress, white jeans and chambray, or a midi-skirt.

TWO // Rainboots. This goes without say. Spring is a rainy season and therefore it's important to have a pair of waterproof shoes in your wardrobe to throw on for commuting to work, running errands, etc. I have a pair of the packable Hunter rainboots and I love them because they're foldable to put in my suitcase for weekend trips, I'm actually brining them down to D.C. this weekend as it's supposed to be fairly wet. I've seen some people rocking an ankle length rainboot for commuting into work and I'm thinking it might be nice to invest in a pair of those as well, especially as the weather keeps getting warmer.

THREE // Espadrilles. I love wearing espadrilles in the Spring and Summer. Not only are they comfortable, but they're totally in style and come in all different colors and patterns, at every price point. I'm eyeing up this adorable lace-up striped pair to add to my collection this Spring!

FOUR // The Spring Ankle Boot. If the ankle bootie is the quintessential fall shoe, then this warm weather version is the 2016 "it" shoe for Spring. These are perfect to throw on with ankle jeans or a cute dress for brunch or going out with friends. The best part is these can be worn right into Summer as they're breathable for your foot and will totally work with shorter dresses.

FIVE // Running Shoes. Now that it's Spring it means that Summer is right around the corner. With Summer many of us are working to get into that pair of shorts or that bathing suit that has been sitting in the back of our closet since September. Running shoes are essential to any Spring wardrobe so you can start getting your workout on and working on that Summer body.

SIX // Casual sneakers. A cute pair of slip-on sneakers is essential for your Spring wardrobe. These are perfect to slip on with jeans, dresses, skirts, etc. I wear my slip-on white sneakers pretty much every weekend when running errands or meeting up with friends. I suggest getting white as your first color and then expanding from there.

SEVEN // Peep toe wedges. These are the perfect work shoes for Spring. They are sophisticated, comfortable, and the peep toe can show off your new Spring pedicure. I suggest getting a neutral color like nude so you can pair them with lots of fun patterned skirts and dresses which are available right now at stores like Loft or J.Crew.

EIGHT // Perforated Flats. These flats are the perfect way to update your closet for the warmer weather. Now that the temperatures are rising you're going to want your outfits to breathe a little. The perforations are the perfect way to let your feet breathe a little, and add a little interest to your outfit. There are so many cute styles out there right now. I included navy in this round-up, because Navy is Black to me, but you could also get a pair in a cute pastel or white which would be adorable.

NINE // Wedge Sandals. These are perfect for wearing out on Spring/Summer nights, to special events, or to pack for your next vacation. A pair of neutral wedge sandals is a pivotal piece in any well-rounded wardrobe. I love all of Tory Burch's wedge designs, but there are plenty of other budget friendly options out there like these or these.

TEN // Block heel sandals. I'm a big fan of a block heel over a stiletto. Not only are they easier to walk in, but they are totally in style this year. I love this pair of shoes for work this Spring, or to pair with a dress for a Spring wedding, and since they're comfortable you could dance all night in them without needing a break.

Well, what do you think? What are some essential shoes in your Spring wardrobe? I hope you're having a great Wednesday!

Follow along with Laura on Bloglovin, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, & Twitter

Stripes & Skinny Jeans

Outfit: Saint James Striped top (runs large) // Rag & Bone Jeans // Jon Hart Backpack 

Tory Burch Striped Espadrilles (last season, but love these and these for this year)

Beauty: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation // Mac Lipstick in 'Snob'

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Dim Light' // Hourglass Brow Arch Pencil // Bare Minerals Mascara in 'Lash Domination' // Becca Mineral Blush in "Flowerchild"

Happy Tuesday everyone! Oh my, what a month March has been. If you didn't see my post from last Friday, you can head over there now to read all about the little break I needed to take. It's been a really busy month, between projects being due at work, traveling between NYC and Philly, and getting sick it's just been crazy. I actually took a sick day from work yesterday and was home all day with a fever and horrible cough, just when I thought things were getting back on track! Sometimes it feels like you just can't win. Ever have some of those moments? 

Anyways, I did manage to shoot one outfit this weekend, even though I have a few more ready to go, I just need to shoot them for you! This outfit is basically my Spring uniform. A slouchy striped tee, dark wash skinny jeans, and easy espadrilles and I'm good to go. I finally invested in a pair of Rag & Bone Jeans after pining after them and seeing them on other people's blogs for years. I love them. They are on the pricier side, but the quality is so nice and they make my legs look so much better than their cheaper alternatives. 

I also decided to bite the bullet and order a Saint James striped t-shirt for Spring. Although $70 for a t-shirt might seem absurd, they are a classic piece that will never go out of style. The fit is very generous, I'm wearing a medium in these photos but it fits like a large or extra-large, which I really like. If you're looking for a more fitted top, I'd suggest sizing down two sizes. I'm already deciding what color I want to get next, I love this shirt that much!

Lastly, I wanted to feature my new Jon Hart Backpack. I picked this up for commuting on Amtrak between NYC and Philly on the weekends so I could have a cute back to throw my essentials into and avoid lugging a suitcase every week. This backpack is perfect, I love that you can customize the color choices and add a monogram to personalize it. It's great quality and came so quickly. If you want a backpack that doesn't look like something you might've carried in middle school then I highly recommend!

Hopefully things will start slowing down to normal so I can get out the posts I've been planning for you all! I hope you're having a great week and a happy Spring so far!

Linking up with I do DeClaire

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On Taking a Break

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Hey, what's up...hello (1738). If you haven't forgotten me I just wanted to drop by and say hi. As you probably noticed I didn't post this week. Normally I like to post 4-5 times per week, not only to provide my readers with content to read and build my blog, but I honestly enjoy creating content to share with you all.

This week however, my heart just wasn't into it. It could be that work has been busy, I handed in a big project earlier this week which will relieve some pressure (hopefully) and it's looking like things might start slowing down again, but I'm still traveling to NYC during the weeks, which makes my time at home on the weekends precious. Also, as the weather warms up there's more and more social obligations to attend. I'm actually writing this after attending a networking event in Midtown tonight, which was a great time to get to meet some other young professionals in my industry. Earlier this week I had a team dinner at this amazing Korean BBQ place in Koreatown (Don's Bogam for those of you in NYC who are interested) and I grabbed dinner with my roommate from college earlier this week. All of this with a work schedule, and a pretty intense gym schedule (I'm still working on my March 2016 goals, progress report should be up on the blog next week along with my monthly wardrobe budget post). Not that I'm complaining, I just made the conscious decision to not post if I wasn't feeling inspired. 

And I feel like that's ok. It's so easy for bloggers to get caught up with checklists and quota in order to make sure their blog is successful, but I think the biggest way to become successful, what you need to do before you do anything else, is to make sure you enjoy your content. Make sure you're publishing something you'd want to read yourself. Because, if you don't care who else will? 

That being said, I'm starting to feel inspired again and I think this mini-break from blogging, and allowing myself to not post without feeling bad about it, allowed me to mentally and creatively recharge. I'm excited to create some content, interact with other bloggers, and jump back into the pool. 

I hope you guys stayed with me through that ramble, and I hope you're still reading and excited about what I have coming up soon (including a really awesome giveaway which you won't want to miss). I hope everyone's Friday is also amazing! Yay weekend!

Have you ever needed a break? Did you feel ok allowing yourself to take one? I'd love to hear what other bloggers have to say about this!

Follow along with Laura on Bloglovin, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, & Twitter

Tory Burch Private Sale Alert

Hey guys! Just dropping in really quick on this lovely St. Patrick's Day to share the news of the Tory Burch Private sale with you! It is running RIGHT NOW through March 21st! You can save up to 70% off plus free shipping on some great Tory Burch merchandise. I love a lot of Tory's designs, but honestly the prices are so high for a 20-something supporting myself that I can't justify owning too many of her pieces. Well, the sale is a good time to stock up on some things that normally you can't justify. I put together a little collage of my favorite picks from the sale, but things are going fast so I suggest going over to check out all the merchandise now and ordering quick to make sure you get what you want!

iPhone 6 Case // Continental Wallet // Logo Ring

Logo Flip-Flops // Gauze Lightweight Dress

Brody Saddlebag // Perforated Wedges // York Buckle Tote

One-Piece Bathing Suit // Embroidered Pullover // Fleming Medium Bag

I have the York tote (as seen here) and it's perfect for work. There's a laptop sleeve in the center which makes transporting a computer so easy. I also am seriously loving that lightweight dress for Summer, and I already ordered those logo leather sandals, they're going to be so easy to slip on this Spring and Summer.

Are you having a good St. Patrick's Day? Will you be shopping the sale? If you do, let me know what you score in the comments section!

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