Don't be a shopaholic like Rebecca Bloomwood!
With the gigantic, fantastic Tysons Corner Mall a stone's throw from my house, you can bet that I spend a lot of my free time perusing the racks at the many clothing stores at my fingertips. This is both a blessing (for my closet) and a curse (for my bank account). What's a recessionista to do? I like to follow these rules:
1. Pay with cashI don't buy the whole "pay with cash because it's harder to let go of" theory that I've read about in countless magazines, but I do know a few reasons why paying in cash is the best way to shop. It goes something like this: debit card overdraft fees, credit card interest rates, slowly acquiring debt without realizing it. Plus, it's easier to set a budget-- if you have $25 cash money in your wallet, you can only spend $25. Pay with cash and save money.
2. Ask yourself if you really need this particular piece
This one seems really obvious but it's surprisingly effective. Do you really need one more LBD? Another cardigan? A furry vest? If you do, then go ahead. If you don't really really need it, put it down and move on.
3. Don't buy stuff that looks bad
Ok, so I know you do that thing in the fitting room where you try on an outfit and pose in all types of unnatural, ridiculous model poses to make it look good when you look in the mirror. I do it too. Stop doing this. To get a realistic perspective on how the outfit looks, stand about 6-7 feet away from a full length mirror, close your eyes, and stand in a way that feels natural. No skinny arm, no hip cocked to the side, and no sucked in stomach. Now open your eyes. Does it look good? If it does, consider buying it. If it doesn't don't waste your time or money on it.
4. When in doubt, walk away
I can spend a record-breaking amount of time going back and forth about a piece I'm not completely convinced I can't live without. This is the conversation I have with myself every time this happens:
It's a really cute dress
But it's kind of short
It looks really good
Yeah but it's uncomfortable
My boobs look awesome
But they're about to fall out
It's only $29.99
I can find something better
This one's good enough!
Et cetera et cetera et cetera until I'm completely disoriented and I've been hogging the stall for 20 minutes and the other customers are all getting really antsy.
Here's the truth, though: if you absolutely love something, you'll know right away. If your feelings are up in the air, take the piece off, declare out loud "I don't need this" and move on to the next item. That being said, if you're still thinking about it a few days later, it's ok to go back for it.
Well, that's all I've got for now. If y'all have any more tips I'd love to hear them!
Step two: go get some bow hairclips. Mine were $3.95 for a pack of 2, also at H&M. If you live in Boston, you can also check out Dajuli Sparkles (the website is a little creepy and not very informative but it does have the address) on Newbury Street for some awesome bow clips:
Step 3: Clip the bow onto the hat:
ZOMG cutest hat ever!!!!
All in all, this beautiful creation cost me just under $8 to make and took all of 2 seconds: 
Today's outfit was a keeper. At first I was a little iffy about mixing neutrals but Monique assured me it looked fine:
I believe this skirt is meant to be worn at the natural waist, but as I am slightly taller than average this left just about nothing to the imagination. So I bought it in a Large instead of a Medium and wore it around my love handles instead. Unfortunately it's still a little too big and at one point today I looked down and saw that it had pulled a 180 on me. Like it was exactly backwards. Perfectly centered, too. Who else has skills like this?
Bah! Another one with the hat:
The view from our living room is getting better and better each day as the leaves change:
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30-- $17 at drugstores
Boscia Intensifying Moisture Pack + -- $30 at Sephora
Lip Smackers Dr. Pepper lip balm- $2, drugstores
