Let's Blog Away

Hi! Just to begin, I'd like to say that if you're looking to read about "high" fashion from a pretentious designer or other certified style related professional, this will not be your cup of tea. I am not a professional designer, decorator, curator, or writer. I am, however, someone that daydreams a lot and happens to have more time on my hands than I'd like...so with that said this blog will really be about my personal insight into living a stylish life. See, the thing is, I don't have a lot of money and the money I do have goes to pay for all those lovely bills that accumulate every month, without fail. The great thing about style though, is that you can't really buy it. I mean sure, you can buy all sorts of nice, expensive things, but are you really stylish? I'm not even sure I would call myself a stylish person, at least not in the celebrity, highbrow sort of way. I'm certainly uneducated about many fashion-y things, but I try to keep up (not with the Joneses mind you). As for blogging...I'm also highly inexperienced in this area. I didn't even like blogs until most recently when I changed jobs and had way more computer time that I'd ever dreamed possible. I've been looking at a lot of blogs and I've stumbled across quite a few that I find creative, quirky, and sometimes inspiring. At this point you might be wondering why I'm taking this leap into the blogging world and I'll tell you a few reasons:
1) I want to exercise my brain b/c some part of my body needs to benefit from activity and I know I haven't seen a gym in quiet some time.
2) Creative expression-I have a studio art degree that I haven't used and am looking for a creative outlet (and this is free!)
3) I want more of a record of myself b/c I have terrible memory and I can't even keep track of all the things I run across that I love b/c I forget them in 10 seconds flat.
Twist Image outlines more of the benefits for an individual who blogs my favorite being "there are 3 sides to every story." I couldn't agree more and that's why I'm here to offer a simple, albeit sometimes naive perspective on living a w/style that won't throw you into debt for the rest of your life.
So, I think I have a few good reasons to share some things. Let us begin.

What was that the Bible said about money...it's is the root of all evil or something like that? Well, I don't know about it being the root to ALL evil, but it certainly does consume most of us and if you don't have it you wish you had more and if you do have it you may be surprised at how little joy it brings you. Not that I have any real idea on having it, but I'd like to think there is some burden in having too much.
I received my third paycheck at my new job yesterday and almost started crying at my desk (not very professional). I immediately sent my boyfriend a text message stating, "I can't live on this, omg, wtf?" After I regained some control, I decided to stop being so dramatic and figure out a way to MAKE it work. B/c what choice do I have, really? I already work two jobs (one of which is salaried w/benefits) and hoping to start graduate school in the fall, which my job will thankfully pay for.
So I went to my handy financial tool at Mint.com and reviewed this months financial spending which was not great. There were three purchases in particular that put my frugal budget over the limit:

I bought my boyfriend "B" a striped Lacoste shirt at the local vintage shop where I work for $25.00, which as you know, is a good deal for a Lacoste shirt.

source: www.bergdorfgoodman.com
(this is neither my b-friend, nor the shirt, but you get the point).

I also bought a Head Dress NY headband for $15 which was definitely a splurge:

source: www.thisnext.com
I'm not even sure why I bought it since headbands hurt my head and I've been prone to headaches lately but I'm growing out my pixie cut and I thought a headband would help. The saddest part of all: I haven't even worn it.

I also bought my much beloved copy of Domino's The Book of Decorating:


Who wouldn't want this if just for the amazing cover??? I have looked through and marked up this book already and have gotten a lot of new ideas for our (gasp) new house which we are moving into in about a month (it's a rental so I'm only allowed to get so excited).
Speaking of Domino...I am unbelievably sad that the magazine is closing and the LAST issue will be out in March. I don't know what I'm going to do w/myself, really (ok, see there's the drama again). I suppose it makes sense since the housing market is so ugly right now that the dwell magazines will suffer too, but still, Domino? I don't even have words.
So, my lesson learned this month: don't buy $15 headbands that you aren't going to wear but do buy design books which will last and can be shared. Definitely worth the investment.