In Retrospect - Third Quarter

Another 3 months down - I felt I was stagnating somewhat (for various reasons) for most of these 3 months, but I've had some forced forays out of the comfort zone in the last month or so.

Food.  My new favourite green thing is kale.  I now order it for every delivery.  So far it's only been cooked in stir fries so if there are recipe suggestions out there, speak up!  I've been a bit more creative with biscuit flavours too (even more since the previous biscuit post), and have more ideas up my sleeve.  And having milk (and now, fish as well) delivered weekly is wonderful.  I hardly need to go to a supermarket now!  Plus all that feel-good feeling of helping local farmers - what's not to like?!

Domestics - Indoors.  Just little things.  My brother's stereo has been at my place for ages, but I gave it back to him yesterday.  This means I have cleaner lines in that area (good) but no radio (not so good).  I downloaded an app but it appears to have problems in iOS 6...  The radio in my bedroom still works so that might just have to do me for now.  I bought different cleaning products last week, too - I'd run out but forgotten to reorder.  I really like this new variety (brand name 'method').  The new arrangement of the living room has stuck.  It is more open, and all the students and parents seem to like it more.  I guess it's staying.  And I have new pictures by the stairs (although some of them have fallen down - need bigger hooks).

Domestics - Outdoors.  Whoa - garden!  Some of my older outfit posts have photos taken in the courtyard, and you can see the jungle qualities present.  And the shade/lack of light.  Now, it is much barer, neater, sunnier.  Plus, I have green things growing and not just a few square metres of paving.  I like.  This has also brought back my gardening mojo (at least so far).  Fingers crossed for more edibles other than herbs. 

Me.  I feel I've had a bit of a makeover lately.  New hair, new glasses, new goals for life.  I've been contemplating that which was previously inconceivable.  And I've started doing things, like telling people if there's a problem, or asking people to sign a petition for something I believe is really important.

Other Little Things.  I actually downloaded iOS 6 for my phone - I feel like I have a new phone.  This was not a disaster.  I can now deal with chocolate that is not broken evenly (well, usually).  I am a bit more careful what I share on the internet.  You may have noticed the absence of Spending Reports - this is because I haven't bought any clothes or accessories for 3 whole months.  This began as a "let's see if I can do this" and now it's in that "how long can this go on" phase.  I even tried on a dress at my favourite Lifeline last week, but decided against it.  Having just seen my shoe collection en masse I suspect it's time for a wardrobe cull.  I've started ordering things online more.  It seems we've started a dinner party tradition with the group from church (we had one last night - they're fabulous!).  I started another blog.  I can run with far less brain preparation than before - and even do better than if I had more brain preparation.  Weird.  Oh, and I've been reading a book series out of order.  I've read them all before (I don't think I could have coped otherwise), but read #3, then #2, #4 and again #4 (couldn't sleep one night last week at the coast).  Blaming it on the library...

So, although parts of these 3 months have seen me huddled in a corner, I have changed a lot of my surroundings and person and way that I am. 

Monday's photo:

Dinner last night was indeed fabulous.  Dessert was all homemade of course - lemon tart with raspberry and lemon sorbets and (lactose-free) vanilla bean ice cream.

Today's photo:

I am very pleased with this pot of herbs.  The basil has had a resurgence recently, the parsley isn't dead, and the chives (newbies) are still alive.  The whole thing looks like an explosion of green.

June Spending

Budget, smudget.  My excuse: stocktake sales.  Plus there's less of me than before...  But still, please don't hate me!


June 1 - I was so relieved we'd started a new month, I spent more than half my budget in the city the first day:
Target: Leopard stockings; Marle stripe stockings - $7 each = $14
Lifeline Adelaide St: Table Eight skirt (below left); Jeanswest dress (not pictured) - $26 each = $52

Subtotal $66

June 8, and I was really on the hunt for new boots.  On the way to finding my new brown boots, I found - finally! - the colour block stripe stockings in my size at Target, $7; and cowl neck tops from Tokito...on sale... I love this brand, and these tops are so beautiful to wear.  I couldn't decide on a colour so bought one in navy and one in purple (according to the label - I think it's more mulberry, myself- pictured left).  $45 each = $90

Total = $163

I did also find the new brown boots, on sale - a very good sale indeed.  I'm cheating a bit here, not including them in the total as they are not only a high-price item and guaranteed to put me over just on them alone, but footwear is important.  Given the state of my other boots - they still look fine but I don't feel fine after a few hours in them - I count these more as a replacement item rather than a more frivolous extra.

And now, to appease my guilt at such over-indulgence, I think I'd better make yet another resolution: if I go over budget, I need to donate the same amount of excess to a charity.  I have to give my dad credit for this idea - years ago he started a similar scheme, so if he bought a shirt, for example, he'd donate the same amount of money to a charity.  It really makes you think twice about the word 'need'.

May Spending

Total for May: $97.20.  Acceptable.

This was all from 2 hits:

May 11 I did some impulse shopping at Target Indooroopilly.

Black block heels: $24

Nordic knit print stockings: $12

Tan pants (dog not included): $39.20
Subtotal = $75.20

I realise this is a shocking photo of the pants. 

May 31, I realised I still had nearly $25 left in my budget.  I was going to buy more stockings - long story why I didn't, and I won't bore you with that here.  Instead, I walked into Mombasa.  Sigh.  Such pretty things.  I caved and bought a pair of earrings for $22.  No picture just yet, although I predict they will be frequently worn in future.  They're black sparky balls, called 'opera balls'.  When I got to the counter I discovered they also came in many other pretty colours, including royal blue and ruby but I was so good and resisted. 

April Spending

I nearly forgot about this (I was reminded by my inspiration for this discipline, Kasmira from What I Wore 2Day).  After last month's budget blowout I was fairly cautious at the beginning of April, and then I just didn't have the time or the inclination to go shopping.  Plus, there was the seasonal changeover of clothes - many are still on the spare room bed. 

So I made one purchase in April, on Easter Saturday, as I knew my options for an Easter Sunday outfit were a little ratty on the top half.  I bought an Ambra top from Myer for $29.95:

In fact, this looks like the same outfit as the one I wore on Easter Sunday except with different jewelry.  The top has already had many wearings - it's one of those 'goes with everything' tops, and the 3/4 sleeves are great for this time of year.  I'm not a fan of the material at this time of year, though - cooler weather asks for softer, cuddlier fabrics, which this is not.

I hope this goes a little way to absolving my budget blowout from March!

March Spending

I'll just come straight out with it.  Grand total for the month is (gulp) $258.  I can explain...

I started the month with no items on my wish list, except a pair of slip-on shoes for wearing between stations and school/home. 

March 2: Target - Ugly black thongs $16
Black flats with flower $12

I felt justified in buying the black flats - they made up for the ugliness of the thongs.  Plus, I need them when I'm on duty at church.  And really, what else was I going to buy this month???

March 12: Target Indooroopilly
More shoe love:
Navy flats $7.50
Beige flats $30

Then, March 16 was the Global Music Fiesta for Charity.  I needed something not black to wear, so I bought a green dress.

Oasis Boutique in Adelaide St (end of lease sale... come on!)
Sunny Girl dress, $32.50

This took my subtotal to $98 for March.  With 2 weeks to go, I thought I'd be fine not buying anything more.  Oh well.





I have been running a lot lately, for many reasons, but mostly because it makes me happy.  This means though that my weight has come down somewhat in the last month, and just that much that my clothes are no longer really fitting.  I was eagerly awaiting April anyway, but then Friday happened.

When I joined the gym about 18 months ago, my goal was to fit into a particular pair of jeans again.  On Friday, I had 2 (free!) tickets to QSO and, with no dresses fitting, I thought I'd try Those Jeans on.  They've been close for the last few months, but not quite great enough to venture out in public.  But - ta da!!!  They fit beautifully.  Yippee!

Going through my (extensive) denim collection, I realised that I only had 1 pair of regular jeans that actually fit.  Knowing I had a $20 voucher for Jeanswest, I planned to buy one pair of jeans.  You know how it is, though - you get in there and not only can you get those 2 pairs for $98, they're having 30% off jeans...  The voucher then was useless, but I ended up with 3 pairs of jeans.  One pair is still being shortened because according to that make, I'm about 15 cm too short.  Another pair is a super skinny design - the salesgirl kept trying to convince me to try them on.  Amazingly, though, they fit and were really great when on.  The biggest win for me though, was a pair of skinny jeans.  The size I would normally buy was too big, and when I was still trying to check I actually had the right size, the salesgirl said she'd get the next size down.  Sure - because that size has never made it on.  My jaw dropped when they turned out to be an amazing fit.  I know it's just the particular design, but wearing a pair of jeans in that size is such an amazing boost to my ego.  Yes, I did a little happy dance, and I'm wearing them right now...  Does that make up for spending $160 on jeans?  I hope so.

February Spending

This month, I stayed within my $100 clothes and accessories budget.  Yay!

Here's how it went down:

February 3 - coffee and shopping trip with Jeannie

Navy splatter beads

Lifeline West End:

Flowered Jay Jays skirt $6.50
Sportsgirl blouse $9.50
Crossroads shirt $7.50
Navy flowered scarf $3
Wooden beads $4
Grey beads on chain $4
Navy splatter beads $4.50
Total = $39

Vinnie's West End:

Temt skirt

Gino Tricot skirt $8
Temt skirt $6
Subtotal = $14   Total = $53










February 10th

Lifeline Adelaide St
Much sought-after nude mock croc heels $25

Grand total $78

Total for year = $187.66

January Spending

There has been much op-shopping in my life lately.  I tend to get excited when I find something, try it on, it fits, and costs less than 2 cups of coffee.  So one shop might yield several items of clothes, and I can't seem to resist.  I saw someone had a monthly clothes and accessories limit of $100 and thought that was such a good idea, I'll do that too.  This decision came after I'd bought all these things:

Lifeline in the Valley:
Capture skirt $25 (hmm a bit pricey)
Sunny Girl skirt $8.50
Esprit skirt $9.50

Lifeline Adelaide St:
H&M skirt $7.50
Jacqui E top $9.50

Pearl strand $15

Target:
Hat $5

Thick black belt $19
Thin black belt $0.83 - yes, 83 cents!
Emergency sandals $9.83

January total: $109.66
Thankfully, this stopped me from even looking at bling anywhere else, and I'm quite proud of the fact that I only bought one pair of shoes - and that was an emergency, so it doesn't *really* count.  In fact, without them I would have been within the budget by 17 cents.

I had a shopping trip today with Jeannie (of http://opshopology.blogspot.com.au/) so I'm already half-way through my February budget.