Last Week...

Oh hey guys, I'm back in action! Last week Jeff and I flew to Vegas for two nights to celebrate our anniversary, and then met up with Jeff's family in Lake Tahoe for some R&R.

This was our third trip to Vegas together, and at this point we know exactly how we want to spend our time - a lot of drinks at the pool, a walk through the Bellagio, good food, and trying not to lose too much money at the craps table ;) I always hear from people that they're too scared to play craps because there are so many rules, but really all you have to do is put a little money on the table for an opening bet and celebrate whenever everyone else does! Now I get a little more crazy on the tables but I literally just did the opening bet when I first started playing and still had a lot of fun - I love interacting with other people at the table and seeing everyone's crazy superstitions up close.

We also decided that as part of this trip we should add in a show, and decided to go see Britney Spears! A lot of people assumed I dragged Jeff to it, but he was just as excited as I was. Some of that excitement on his part may have been getting to meet one of the bartenders for the show - because Jeff and I are still 14 years old we love The Challenge on MTV, and Leroy works at the bar for the show. We super creeped on him and managed to get him to serve us and got in a little chat ;) Britney was hilarious and awesome and so bad it was good, and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you're in Vegas.

Our week in Tahoe was so much fun. We did a little bit of hiking, a little bit of pool and beach time (where you may have seen on Snapchat that we met Melissa Joan Hart haha), and a lot of bit of relaxing and enjoying family time. We actually had planned on doing a lot of hiking, but after one "Easy" level hike we determined that hiking might not quite be in our wheelhouse hahaha ;) I actually was worried about hiking because the last time I took a trip to the mountains I was fourteen and just remember complaining non-stop and begging to go home. It turns out that maybe I was just an annoying teenager because I liked those "Easy" hikes!

So anyway, I would say that I'm home now and getting back into my routine, but that would be wrong. I'm actually flying off to San Francisco again this morning for work for a few days. I remember I used to be jealous of people who got to travel for work, but between all of the trips I've taken lately it's making me feel exhausted! This time I'm refusing to unplug though, so I'll be right here all week.

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Friday Finds

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Fourth of July Outfit Ideas

Are you looking for something to wear for the long weekend? I say look in your closet! I have a ton of blue and white, and a simple touch like painting your nails red or adding a red lip can make your regular old Saturday look perfectly patriotic. Some fun ideas for Fourth of July are below (click each to view the original posts):

Tee / Similar shorts / Bag

 

Dress / Lace-up Flats / Similar bag

Similar dress / Similar bag

Similar top / Similar shorts

Shirt / Similar Skirt

Shorts

Shirt / Shorts

What are your plans for the Fourth? Since we're flying back late on Sunday and I'm heading out again Monday morning we're planning on keeping things pretty chill, but we are going to sit up on our roof to watch fireworks! I hope you have a good one!

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June Budget

Every month I post about my clothing budget. My budget per month is $300, which to some may seem like a lot and to others a little, but feels just right for me. You can read my thoughts on my 2015 budget here. 

Say what, it's time for another budget post?! I felt like I didn't do a ton of shopping this month, yet there are still somehow six new items in my closet (plus one I forgot about last month). My absolute favorite thing though? These suede wedges! They are so comfortable you guys, like, so comfortable that I threw them in my suitcase to Vegas never having worn them outside before. That's how much confidence I had in them. Plus they transition really easily between casual and dressy outfits, which makes them great to bring on a trip when you're trying to just bring three pairs of shoes instead of, you know, six for a four day trip (I mean, no, I definitely never did that).

So anyway, here's what I got in June:

J. Crew Factory Gray Tee - originally $22.50, on sale $11
J. Crew Factory White Necklace - originally $54.50, on sale $24.95
Charming Charlie Earrings - $8
J. Crew Factory Striped Tee - originally $45, on sale $22.50
Charming Charlie OTS Top - $25
Dolce Vita Wedges - originally $139.95, on sale $99.90

Not pictured (and also purchased last month - whoops!):
Michael Kors Short Trench (seen here, similar here)- originally $210, on sale $84.95

Total spent: $276.30
Total saved: $228.65

Since we're halfway through the year (what?!) here's a look back on what I've spent so far this year:
January - $158.37
February - $293.60
March - $246.74
April - $223.72
May - $409.49
June - $276.30

Total spent: $1,608.22
Average per month: $268.37

So I seem to be right on track for the year so far. I'm not home very much in July so we'll see how much I end up spending. There isn't anything I really need right now, except maybe another pair of jeans.

Did you budget in June? How did you do?

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Linking up with Fran.

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Off the Shoulder Say What?!

Shirt - Charming Charlie / Shorts and Earrings (similar) - J. Crew Factory / Bag (similar) - Gap / Sandals (similar) - Sole Society 

Off the shoulder is one of the last trends I thought I'd ever try. I like to try a good trend now and then, but this one felt a little costume-y and way wrong for my body type so I stayed far, far away. Also, you know, I haven't worn a strapless bra since my wedding when one literally fused to my body. I had to peel it off, and it left marks that only recently disappeared. If you can't tell, it was a little traumatizing.

After a few months, like most trends do, the whole off the shoulder thing started to grow on me. The right off the shoulder top can be fun and flirty as opposed to looking like something my mom wore in Mexico in the '70s. Oh and this isn't a hypothetical, she did have some off the shoulder items that she wore in Mexico that eventually made their way into my costume box back in the day.

Anyway, after I decided I was okay with off the shoulder tops I actually started trying them on. It turns out I was right, this is not really the trend for me. An extra ruffle plus no defined waist over my chest is not really ideal. Almost every top or dress I tried on made me look about 60 pounds heavier. I had given up, but then Charming Charlie came to the rescue!

I work out in a little suburb where the only shopping options are a bunch of overpriced boutiques and one Charming Charlie. Because of the limited options I find myself wandering through Charming Charlie a lot, but this is surprisingly the first thing I've ever actually purchased. Unlike most off the shoulder items, this has a little strip of elastic around the waist, which makes all of the difference. Instead of tons of fabric that flows out from my widest point (ahem, the boobs), this one follows the curves of my body. That combined with the sheer fabric actually makes this one work on me. Win win win. Styled with white shorts and a red bag, it's perfect for the Fourth of July!

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Fourth of July Party Ideas

Oh hey, are you planning on throwing a little party for the Fourth of July? I sure hope so, it's the perfect day for a little backyard barbecue. Or, you know, if you're feeling a little crazy, have a party on the 3rd instead - you won't be competing with other parties, and everyone has the 4th off of work so they can stay out past their bedtimes ;)

If you are planning on throwing a Fourth of July party, here are a few ideas to make your party extra special:

American Flag Photobooth (additional photos here)

American Flag Fruit Salad

Blue and Red Drinks

Blue - 1 part UV Blue, 2 parts Lemonade, 1 part Sprite, splash of Sour Mix

Red - 1 part pineapple-infused Malibu, 2 parts orange juice, 1 part Sprite, enough grenadine to turn it red

Are you still looking for something to wear on the Fourth? Here are a few of my top pics: 

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Friday Finds

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