NYC in Photos

Since my camera broke several days into my trip, I was either camera-less or borrowing my boyfriends.  This meant that many of my posts didn't have and snapshots to go with them right away.  I thought, rather than go back and amend all prior NYC posts, why not just post 'em all, album style? Enjoy!

In Central Park: First thing we did together : )

@ The Fireworks: Tired and sweaty from a
long day of travel and walking

By the Jackie O. Resevior on our way to The Gugg

The Guggenheim

Me, in somewhat recycled but favorite outfit

@MoMA's Free Friday Nights

Broadway Boogie Woogie: A favorite

My squirrel friend in Battery Park

@ The Cloisters

Cloisters Garden

Another garden!

Just a little Tiffany (@the Met)

One of my SoHo finds. The light fabric was
great in the heat

Me & Hatshepsut know how to pose!

I love his sense of humor!

Outfit of the Day: The Perfect Summer Skirt

After at least two years of searching, I found what I consider to be the perfect summer skirt.  I usually like the way I look in more fitted skirts, but wanted a playful, light summer option that didn't make me feel wider than a semi-truck.  I finally found it this season at H&M.

I think the thing that makes the skirt work for me is that the hem isn't cut straight across.  It's more of a circle skirt.  It's 100% cotton, therefore, not too light and not "cheap" looking, although it was under $10!  

See? I can't wait to recreate this skirt on my own.  I often hear that if you find a piece that works for you, buy it in several colors.  I do this all the time with tanks and boyfriend T's from Target.  A lot of times, though, I want something more unique.  Good thing I know how to sew! My blue top is also of fairly simple construction, yet has on of my favorite necklines, so I may be spending some DIY time duplicating this whole outfit!

What I'm Wearing:

Sunglasses: Francesca's Collection

Blue Cap-sleeve Shirt: Garage

Cotton Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Merona

Gold Necklaces: Forever 21

I'm definitely packing this outfit for my trip to NYC next month.  It gets hot in the city--an opportune time to have the perfect summer skirt in my suitcase! 

I really can't wait for my trip. I miss The Writer and hustle and bustle of the East Coast.  In fact, I think coming back to the Midwest will be really hard.  I can't wait to move in a year, maybe to NYC.  I wouldn't have to drive an hour to the nearest H&M, that's for sure.

Lazy Daisy

One of my many sources of income is from a receptionist position at a gym.  You'd think that, with unlimited access to fitness equipment, I'd work out all the time and be pretty in shape.  You would be wrong.

I did work out for a while, back when I first started working there.  I had my upcoming vacation to Florida to look forward to and to look good for.  I even did an ok job of eating healthy and exercising once I got down there...for the first two days, that is.  Once I got back, I made an attempt to get myself back on track, but was quickly derailed by a bout with a serious stomach flu.

After being wiped out by the anti-nausea drugs and other things, I never got back into the habit of exercising.  Months passed.  I let my busy schedule become an excuse.  I gained a few pounds and started to feel unhappy with the way my clothes fit.  I decided that I couldn't go to NYC this summer looking less than my best, since it is a rather fashionable city and The Writer is living blocks from the garment district (Yay!).  I may not be able to afford couture, but I can try it on, and when I do, it better fit.

I gave myself until after his departure to return to my regimen.  After all, I was busy and didn't want to miss a single second with him. Today, in the effort of preventing dressing room meltdown, I put my butt on a bike at work and pedaled away.  Actually, I didn't really go away anywhere, since it was a stationary bike, but you get the idea.  Forty-five minutes of less than enthusiastic pedaling later, I'd burned about 200 calories and given myself a very sore rear.  It's a start.  I figure that a few crunches, a mile or two on the bike/treadmill/elliptical several times a week, and my non-existant food budget will send a skinny girl to NYC in about a month!

Dahlias!

I'm looking forward to seeing these lovelies on my balcony all summer long.

Aren't they so pretty?

Penny Pinching Princess

I'm sitting here at my desk at work trying to plan out this summer.  With The Writer being in NYC for ten weeks starting in June, I want to make sure I can visit him as much as possible.  I also want to make sure I can work as much as possible before I drop him off, yet still have plenty of time to spend with him.  I plan on maximizing on his absence by working a ton while he's gone, too.  I hope to take a full two to two-and-a-half weeks off over the summer to visit him and my family in New Jersey.

With my work being cut back in the last month, money's gotten tight.  I've consolidated my credit cards and plan to save every bit possible.  Not only do I want to be able to take time off over the summer, but I'm aiming to pay down at least 75% of my credit card debt by next April.  It's going to be tough.  With the plan I'm on, if I pay their minimum amount, I'll pay off the cards in a little under four years.  It would've taken me the better part of 30 years if I'd kept paying only the minimum payments on the individual cards.  Still, four years is a long time. I have other goals that I want to move forward with at the end of next April, and I don't want these payments hanging over my head.

I bought what I'm determined will be my last pair of shoes for the summer last night.  They were a practical buy, I'm telling myself.  I'm glad I got the rest of my spring/summer clothes buying done before I knew my work was being cut. I bought enough to get me through the season, including a new pair of running shoes that were badly needed.  I'm sure there are other things that could use replacing, but I am determined to not buy anything, and I mean anything, unless it's really needed.  I won't buy new clothes unless I start a new job that demands clothing options that I don't already own.  I won't buy any new body care until I've used up every drop of what I already have, which is a lot.  My makeup and other things should last me a while, especially once it's summer.  My skin is always happier with a little sun, making foundation less necessary.

This new deal with myself means that I will have to live with Maybelline mascara instead of Diorshow.  I will have my girlfriends over for potluck dinners instead of eating dinners out.  My Netflix account will be suspended indefinitely.  If the roommate will agree, cable may disappear altogether.  Lightbulbs in the new apartment will immediately be replaced with energy efficient bulbs.  I will do a yoga DVD at home instead of going to classes.  The Starbucks card will not be reloaded.  I may allow myself to splurge every once in a while, because I believe that experiences are worth more than money in the long run.  I may miss the occasional $3 latte, but I would definitely  miss the long talks with my friends that are had while drinking that latte.  The compromise: switch to plain coffee with a flavor shot and some soy milk (it's cheaper) and meet my friends anyway.  I will buy cheaper face wash, but buy my expensive moisturizer, instead of buying the expensive cleanser AND moisturizer.  In $30 years, I will rather have spent the money on the moisturizer than actually look my age.  Clothes and shoes can be bought in the future when I'm established financially, but repairing aged skin will be more costly than serums or moisturizers, if not impossible.

I want my blog to be a lifestyle blog, encompassing all of my interests and explorations.  Being smart about my money is something that I am long overdue in learning, so it may become a frequent topic.  It's better than whining about being poor, that's for sure.

Ready?

Set.

GO!