October Budget

Another month of using shopping as the replacement for everything else in life has resulted in this mess, and I'm going to be honest, I didn't include everything. T.J.Maxx OCD online order placing aside, I did find some unique and gorgeous secondhand pieces at Coco's on the Green, and the prettiest little vintage tapestry bag at Vintanthromodern that I may have spent a tiny bit more on than I should have, but certainly couldn't let anyone else buy them!


The biggest time, energy, and financial drain of the month was that damn leopard dress from L.K. Bennett. It's my fault for following bloggers in the UK, then breaking my rules of not making purchases where I'd have to pay shipping, returning, and restocking fees. Despite how globally connected we are, and the fact that I can get a dress at my doorstep from the UK in three days, size charts and customer reviews are still utterly useless. Based on the size chart I should have been a perfect UK 12, so I took the chance and placed the order with it's $15 shipping fee. Naturally it arrived and was too big; I should have ordered the UK 10, which I would have, had I not scrutinized the size chart. Another $15 to send it back, as well as a $7 restocking fee, and then of course $15 more to ship the new dress... which arrived damaged. To be more accurate, soaking wet. Bizarrely, in it's plastic bag, drenched. It wasn't raining that day and it's hard to imagine what happened, but after a couple weeks and half a dozen emails with customer service, I got a full refund for the damaged dress and my return shipping fees reimbursed. Silver lining, when I placed the order for the replacement dress it was $16 less, so it was almost like getting my original shipping refunded. Now I just need to wear it before it gets too cold.




L.K. Bennett Leopard Dress $148
Gorjana Earrings, $8 via TJMaxx
Vince Brown Velvet Bomber Jacket, $40 via Coco's on the Green
Gorjana Quinn Circle Necklace, $13 via TJMaxx
Gorjana Tanner Bar Necklace, $13 via TJMaxx
Shutz Boots, $60 via The Outnet
Marti x Dani Stahl for Calypso Printed Leather Jacket, $52 via Coco's on the Green
Vintage Floral Tapestry Bag, $42 via Vintanthromodern
Tahari Blush Boucle Coat, $70 via TJMaxx
Numph Striped Sweater, $20 via Coco's on the Green
H&M Brown Fedora, $24
Joie Deer Print Silk Blouse, $30 via ThredUP
Joie Lace Blouse, $12 via Coco's on the Green
Ann Taylor Wide Leg Faux Suede Pants, $50
Lulu's Tan Croc Mules, $15
Banana Republic Sweater Tank, $30
Nine West Calf Hair Leopard Mules, $30 via TJMaxx
14k Gold Ring, $49 via TJMaxx
Golden Cleff 14k Infinity Curb Chain Ring, $59 via TJMaxx
Banana Republic Cream Cropped Denim Jacket, $40 
H&M Wide Leg Pants, $12
Gorjana Maya Bracelet, $13 via TJMaxx
Banana Republic Floral Wrap Bodysuit, $20
Gap Factory Black Icon Denim Jacket, $32
Banana Republic Factory Printed Pleated Skirt, $22
Nine West Jewel Strap Patent Pumps, $40 via TJMaxx

Coffee and Wine

Desperate to cling to every day left when sitting outside is enjoyable (even if it's a little chilly) there are two main reasons to go out; for coffee and for wine. 

 

Lately we've been enjoying the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, where there is an abundance of cute spots to sit outside and enjoy either (or both). Granted, the areas are small, usually comprised of no more than five tables, but that's why we always leave the house at three in the afternoon, so there is daylight for photos and we can arrive promptly when the wine bar opens at four p.m. Then we can sip our wine and people dog watch. I saw a dalmatian puppy while we were taking these photos and you can probably tell which photo shows the genuine "I'm dying of puppy adorableness" smile.


Connecticut style blogger Lydia Abate wearing a camel velvet blazer, straight leg jeans, caned leather pumps, and a croc leather bag for fallwine and cameracamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-9.jpgcamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-4.jpgcamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-12.jpgcamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-6.jpgcamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-11.jpgcamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-2.jpgrose in the fall camel velvet blazer-1.jpgAugustcamel velvet blazer, jeans, white lace cami, caned pumps, leather bag-8.jpg
The Rundown
Camel Velvet Blazer Banana Republic similar
White Lace Trim Cami Coco's on the Green similar
Straight Leg Jeans Ann Taylor
White Caned Pumps Just Fab
Cream Croc Purse Persaman via TJMaxx
Necklace Thrifted
Gold Croissant Ring Etsy
Thin Gold Ring Etsy
Twist Ring Etsy
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

August Light

How rapidly the daylight hours shrink the moment August ends. Sunlight past 6 p.m. feels like a dream. 


This is the last set of the true summer photos. I'm not sure why I held on to them for so long, though perhaps it's because I don't want to accept that summer is over.


shirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-2.jpgshirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-12.jpgshirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-10.jpgshirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-15.jpgshirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-9.jpgshirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-8.jpgshirred rust floral maxi dress, caned bucket bag, brown sandals-1.jpg
The Rundown
Rust Floral Dress Mango similar
Sandals J.Crew similar
Caning Bucket Bag Tommy Bahama via TJMaxx
Earrings S.V. Decker
Necklace S.V. Decker
Gold Croissant Ring Etsy
Thin Gold Ring Etsy
Sunglasses Ray-Ban via TJMaxx