winter 2018 clothing budget

This may be my winter budget, but this winter has been a fairly warm in the South. I've barely had the opportunity to wear the cold weather gear I already have. So I picked up just a few staples and items that will carry over into spring.

white jeans for every season

A couple of years ago, I finally bit the bullet and bought a pair of white jeans, these ones to be exact. And while this wouldn't be a big deal for some, I am not the kind of girl that should own white anything, but I guess that's what they invented bleach for. But the biggest issue for me is that I felt that white jeans were for summer only and that I would only get real use out of them a few months out of the year. Oh how wrong I was. 

When it comes to style blogging, I never want to be one of those people whose just show casing what's currently on trend. Instead, I like to buy and wear pieces that will work for my wardrobe long-term. According to my monthly clothing budgets, I paid $54 dollars for these white jeans (now on sale) two years ago and I think I've got my money's worth with wearing these year-round. With labor day having just passed, I was remembering the old adage of "no wearing white after labor day", but here's proof that you can wear white jeans all year long. 

train of thought

My mind has been all over the place lately. It's gotten so bad that I can't focus on anything because I'm too busy thinking about what comes next.

summer clothing budget

I'm not even sure that budgeting bloggers is a thing anymore as it seems our hostess has abandoned us mid-year. Regardless, I still want to keep sharing my budget purchases here because it's a good form of accountability. 

And I was pleasantly surprised to see that I only made a few strategic purchases this summer that carried me through. Add in the fact that I have a few birthday gift cards and found some amazing sales and I didn't do too badly. All my purchases from July & August are below. 

a week of wear: vol 3

I've been doing a little more shopping lately and have been enjoying putting together bright fun outfits for this warmer weather that are still professional enough for grad school. Per usual, I live in university issued scrubs most days, but once a week I gain control over my wardrobe. So here's to a fun summer inspired week of wear...it only took me a month to wear all these outfits! 

a week of wear: florida edition

I'm normally stuck in scrubs all day every day. While I kind of hate it, one thing it's taught me is that clothes are meant to have a function, not just be pretty. So with packing for our recent trip to Florida, I made sure to not only consider the cuteness factor, but also what would function best.

I literally packed based around what activities we were doing each day. And I was much happier with the outcome, so I thought it'd be fun to share a vacation edition of a week of wear. 

a week of wear: vol 2

It's been so long since I shared Volume 1, but I've recently had some major schedule changes that impact how I'm getting dressed each day. I'm now in clinic with patients 3 days a week and then I spend the 4th day doing lab work, which means I'm wearing scrubs 4/5 days of the week. That leaves me with one day of the week where we have the morning off, then an exam plus lecture in the afternoon. So this is my one day to wear real clothes.

But to be honest, I normally spend the morning studying and taking the time to get dressed (as opposed to tossing on scrubs) seems like time wasted. Thankfully, I have this little space to remind me that making an effort with self-care and taking time to put myself together every once in a while is NOT a waste. So here's a mix of new and old clothes that I've been pairing together for some recent outfits for dental school. 

a week of wear: vol 1

It's funny that this little space initially started out as a style blog because I didn't share a single outfit of the day last month. And it's looking like this month will be the same. I assure you that I haven't been running around naked, but there are two big reasons why I haven't been sharing OOTD's lately.

Mobile Apps to Simplify your Holiday

Blogmas Day 9 

Sorry to be sharing today's Blogmas post so late, things are getting a bit hectic around here. With Christmas right around the corner, we're determined to finish up our holiday shopping sooner rather than later. In the meantime, our apartment is a bit of a mess and my blog post is going up much later than I wanted. Ironically, today's post is all about some great apps to simply your holiday. I'm sharing some of my favorite apps that are helping me get things done while saving money. Now, if only I could find an app that could do the laundry and cook dinner.  

Image via ShutterStock 

Santa's Bag

First things first…

Let's get organized! 

Available For: iPhone

Cost: $0 

How it Works?

I've had this app for years and I love it for staying organized and on budget with my holiday shopping. You can keep track of your overall spending as well as tracking gifts for individuals or groups. I love that whenever I'm out, I have my Christmas list on hand. I can easily double check who I have left to shop for and exactly how much more I have to spend. Oh, and let's not forget the handy countdown feature to remind you of how many shopping days you have left. 

RetailMeNot 

 I hate paying full price for things, which is why I almost never do. Retailers know that some consumers may not be willing to pay the established price and offer various coupons for those who seek them out. 

Available For: Android & iPhone 

Cost: $0 

How it Works? 

RetailMeNot is a sharing site where companies and consumers can upload coupons. There are thousands of retailers available here including most major stores. One word of advice, because other consumers can load coupons here, some are no longer valid so make sure to check the expiration dates.

Helpful Hint: You can also use the web version when shopping at home in your pjs. Create an account and the coupons will link between your phone app and website use. 

Flipp 

Do you read the circulars that come in the mail? 

I don't. Big Mistake! These can save you so much. But it's very rare that I have the time to sift through all of them. On the occasions when I do take the time to find and cut out a coupon, chances are very high that it will disappear into the gaping abyss that is my purse once I make it to the register. Right about now, I'm getting lots of dirty looks from the people behind me in line. 
Well not anymore... 

Available for: Android and iPhone 

Cost: $0 

How it Works? 

Flipp stores all the current offerings from weekly flyers and ads for most major retail stores. And I never go shopping with out it. I simply pull it up while I'm in line and do a search for the best deals. A quick phone scan at the register and I get $10 off my $25 Macy's purchase, then I can turn around and use the exact same app to search for specials at my grocery store. It's got everything you need all in one place. 

Paprika 

Remember that great dish you made last month? Well you want to make it again, only you can't find the recipe. You can type anything you want into Google, but it's not appearing. Now you don't have to worry about that anymore. 

Available For: Android & iPhone 

+Windows Version syncs to iCloud 

Cost: $0.99

How it Works? 

This one may have a price tag associated with it, but it's well worth it. All my holiday favorites are bookmarked here. Just in case I didn't have time to look up a recipe and write out a list before I hit the store, I can easily pull up my favorite stored recipes without spending forever tracking them down all over again. 

Cartwheel for Target 

If you shop at Target, then you NEED NEED NEED the Cartwheel app. So in other words, everyone should have this app because who doesn't shop at Target? Especially at this time of year..I find that Target is a one stop shop for everything I need. Command strips for hanging decorations, baking supplies for the Christmas cookies, plus lots of great gifts and stocking stuffers. Yes, lots of Target runs this month! And using the Cartwheel app will save you lots thanks to extra holiday promotions! 

Available For: Android & iPhone 

Cost: $0 

How it Works? 

You can search for coupons by various categories. Simply add the coupons that you want to use and have the cashier scan the barcode on your phone at checkout. It's that simple! Added bonus, Target allows you to combine the Cartwheel app savings with retailer coupons and coupons from Target.com. It's a wonderful thing to walk away with a $70 item for only $2! I practically felt like I robbed the place. 

Red Laser 

Have you ever bought something only to see it 2 days later for less at another store? I definitely have. Then the question becomes...Do I buy it a second time and return the first one? Is it really worth all that work? Now you no longer have to worry if the item you just picked up is a good deal. 

Available For: Android and iPhone 

Cost: $0

How it Works?

Simply scan the barcode of the item in question, and this app will help you determine the best place to buy your item. Basically, it shows you what stores may have the same item on sale. Better yet, with so many stores participating in price matching around the holidays, you can still get it from the store you're in, but at the better price. 

Many of these apps are ones that I use year-round, but I'm finding them especially helpful during all of our Christmas shopping. Without them, we probably would have gotten a lot less for a lot more. If you still have holiday shopping to do, I hope that you find these apps as helpful as we did. 

Follow along with Blogmas to see more holiday fun everyday this month

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Gift Guide: Dental or Medical Student

Blogmas Day 11

Yes, I know that it is actually day 12. I had a last minute assignment pop up and in my frenzy to get everything done, I had absolutely no time to post yesterday. The saddest part is that this post was already written. Well, I assure you that this will not happen again, nor will you be cheated a blogmas post. I'm going to make two posts today to make-up for it. For right now, I just want to share a little gift guide geared towards the medically inclined.

An Impromptu Date Night

I'm still in Boston visiting with Tom for my Fall Break. And when he got home last night, he announced that he was taking me shopping. What a great husband! In the center of downtown Boston is a row of the most beautiful brownstones, but instead of housing people, they host some of the most beautiful things.