Challenge

As a recent college grad, the transition from little-to-no income to a salary has been an adjustment. While a fantastic adjustment, it means I've had to learn to budget myself differently. The sudden income of money has more often than not resulted in (several) shopping sprees. While this is fun and rewarding for my hard work, I've noticed a shift in my shopping from "needs," to "wants" or "compulsions." My desire to keep adding increases, and my well-earned income decreases.

Since I'm getting married in about a year (eeek!!), I really need to start concentrating on saving as much money as I can and practicing good spending habits when it comes to my wardrobe. As such, I've decided to set up a challenge for myself: not to shop for 30 days. I want to use this time to focus on wearing what I own and not worrying/obsessing about what I want to own.

I think this challenge will teach me to focus more on what I have in my closet, and to mix and match those pieces, instead of constantly buying new ones. Not to mention, I will have more money to put towards saving for our wedding/honeymoon/house! Have you ever done a no-shopping challenge? Do you think it helped you in the long run?

Hat: Forever 21 | Sunnies: LOFT | Necklace: Kendra Scott | Top & Shorts: LOFT | Purse: J.Crew (thrifted) | Sandals: Topshop

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Life

I think this is the longest hiatus I've taken from TPC since I started writing a couple of years ago. I know I've said it a million times, but this year was truly overwhelming with the amount of work I had to do. Not to mention working on the weekends and a work study to boot. This should be the longest I will be away, because I have sorely missed posting! I needed a creative outlet desperately this year, and posting more often would've been wonderful. Such is life. 

Well, I'm officially back in my parents' house. It's the first time in five years and I have to say it's really strange knowing I won't be back at Penn State in August. I loved every minute of my time there these past five years, which makes my heart ache to be back. But we all have to move on to bigger and (hopefully) better things in the future. Yet another "such is life" moment for me to grapple with.

Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic to be moving on and I'm both anxious and thrilled to see what's in store for me. However, not having a solid plan as to where I'm going to be in the next 6 months is slightly terrifying. I'm very much the type of person who likes to have things set and in motion. So not having a job lined up yet is causing me some anxiety. I guess I need to try to understand that we can't always have a plan in place, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. 

I apologize if this is getting heavy, but it's something that's been weighing on me for some time now. Thankfully, the summer is still new, so there is hope for the next couple of months! As for this outfit, I recently got these shorts at Marshall's and I LOVE them. I've been wearing them practically nonstop. Do you get anxious when things seem "up in the air"? What piece(s) are you wearing on repeat? Please share!

Top: Marshall's | Necklace: Sabika | Sunglasses: 7 for all Mankind | Shorts: Cynthia Rowley Purse: Steve Madden | Sandals: DSW

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Disappointing

This title could apply to my frequency of posts so far this calendar year....BUT I think it more aptly applies to the first day of "Spring" today.  I had high hopes for this day: the sun was shining when I left for school, it was (somewhat) warm...Nope.  As the day progressed, snow started to fall and the wind kicked up with a vengeance.  After I left school 7 hours later, it was much colder and the clouds ominously hung overhead.

While I might be just a tad dramatic about the weather, I think it's completely warranted.  It seems as if this winter will never end and I won't get the opportunity to wear my cute spring clothes!  Despite my worries, I still decided to put some pastels on this morning to welcome Spring.  I just hope the warmer weather isn't going to disappoint me much longer. :)

Sweater: Loft | Necklace: Charlotte Russe | Crops: Gap | Purse: Cynthia Rowley

Flats: Chinese Laundry

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Michael Kors Watches · David Yurman Diamond Rings · Melie Bianco Totes

J.Law

So I don't know if any of you watched the Golden Globes the other night, but I saw up through the point where Jennifer Lawrence accepted her award for American Hustle.  It makes me happy that she has found success and still remains incredibly humble in her profession.  Aside from the fact that she's so "normal," the other reason I love J.Law is her combative view of the media's image of an ideal woman.

I've talked about this topic before (you can find my post here) but I think the media has gone entirely too far with photoshopping beautiful women to look thin or perfectly proportioned.  Sadly, J.Law among other gorgeous, curvaceous women have been the victim of this and countless viewers of this material have a hard time conceptualizing true beauty.  I recently read somewhere that in several studies, after looking at pristinely photoshopped ads of models for just 3 minutes, women start to feel bad about their bodies.  

Due to these sad facts, it's refreshing when a popular movie star not only contradicts this notion of being thin equals being pretty, but speaks up against it.  I've read several interviews where Jennifer Lawrence adamantly knocks the idea and even makes fun of her appearance, or remarks on her insecurities.  So I support you, J.Law, for standing up against the media-fueled lie that is the "ideal woman."  Because confidence, not a small waist size, is the most important trait a woman can have.  

FYI: These pants are actually leather looking, but the light must not have caught them right, because they look like plain leggings.  They're not. :)

Blazer: Target | Necklace: Sabika | Top: LOFT (similar) | Leather leggings: Thrifted (similar)

 | Clutch: Thrifted (similar) | Flats: Target (similar)

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Cable

I need to stop for a minute (or five) and talk about something over here on my little chunk of the internet. I mean this with the utmost sincerest conviction: I would live in cable knit sweaters if I could. Seeing as I only have four (for now) I would be doing laundry a lot. Which means, unfortunately, I must wear tops other than cable knit sweaters. Talk about a let-down.  

I also want to talk about these awesome sauce necklaces! My mom recently became a consultant with Sabika, so she stocked me up over Thanksgiving break with some fabulous pieces, including the necklaces I have on. Their pieces are gorgeous and made of high-quality materials, which makes the investment well worth it. If you're interested in anything of theirs, feel free to contact me and I can forward you onto her!

Have a lovely Tuesday!

Necklaces: Sabika | Sweater: Loft | Watch: Michael Kors | Purse: Stein Mart (similar) | 

Skirt: Target (similar) | Boots: Target

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Tribal

So I've come to the realization that I will be forever apologizing for not writing more often.  To be quite honest, I've hardly had the time to sleep and feed myself properly, let alone write a full post and take pictures.  This year got. real.  I absolutely love what I'm doing, but the constant stress and work is exhausting.  Since I've come to the realization of perpetual apologizing, I'm going to give you one last, big apology and that will (I hope) cover the (many) times in the future as well.

Sorry Readers!

Ok then!  On to this outfit!  If we can all look past the very wrinkled shirt, (remember- barely eating and sleeping) I think this outfit is going to repeat several times in the upcoming cold months.  I got this sweater from Ross not too long ago and paired with a long sleeve shirt, it makes for an extremely toasty combination.  I've seen tribal print everywhere and I have to say, I'm a bit obsessed with how versatile it is.  It looks great with a lot of pieces in my closet and can be mixed with patterns too!  Score!  

p.s. Have you seen the Naked 3 palette yet?! Isn't it gorgeous?! I may or may not have to splurge and get it for myself for Christmas...;)
p.p.s. Help me get to 100 followers on Bloglovin'!! Hop on over and follow The Petite Chronicles to get updated posts in your feed! :)

Top: NY&Co. | Sweater: Ross (similar) | Necklace 1: Thrifted | Necklace 2: Forever 21 | 

Jeans: Gap | Purse: Steve Madden (similar) | Booties: Bon Ton

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WNTW

Please tell me I'm not the only one who watched the series finale of What Not to Wear.  And cried.  I have watched the show for the past ten years with my mom and we have lived by Stacy and Clinton's rules.  Literally, when shopping, we will ask each other if a piece fits into our closets and fits us well.

Watching the finale didn't seem the same without her there to be appalled by the bad outfits, drool over Stacy and Clinton's picks, and applaud the final reveal.  My roommate and I baked brownies and I enjoyed a glass of wine, so that partly made up for missing my mom.  

Incidentally, I wore this sweater for the first time today and it reminded of her again.  Why is that, you ask?  Well, because she has the same one.  I don't think Stacy and Clinton ever said you can't have the same sweater as your mom...
(We make sure not to wear them at the same time too, which helps)

Sweater: Target | Necklace: Forever 21 | Top: Cynthia Rowley (similar) | Jeans: DKNY (similar) | Boots: Kohl's | Bag: Steve Madden (similar)

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Connecting up with The Collective Blog Hop over on Peacoats and Plaid today!

Audrey

I have to introduce you to my new love.  She has a beautiful tan, gives me the perfect curves, and is the ideal length for my petite frame.  Readers, let me introduce you to my new trench coat.  

I've wanted a trench coat for the longest time, but if you're tiny, you understand finding one that isn't too long is quite difficult.  Macy's provided me with this lovely number, at over 60% off.  I wore it for the first time today and I have to say, I felt as if I was channeling Audrey Hepburn.  As a result, I've decided to name my new love Audrey.  So let's try this again.  Everyone, I'd like for you to meet Audrey.

Has anyone heard of/used the site, Groopdealz?  I tried to do some research into how the site works or its history, but I could not find much.  For some reason, it almost seems too good to be true.  I'd love to hear your feedback, because there are some really cute pieces on there!

Trench: DKNY (via Macy's) | Sunnies: Nine West (via Marshall's) | Necklace: WHBM (Similar) | Top: LOFT | Crops: Gap | Flats: Target 

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