S.O.B (Shopping On a Budget)

I don’t know about you, but as a college girl, I’m on a major budget. I also LOVE shopping. (You can see why I have an issue with money.) I see pins on Pinterest all the time that link to lists of what claim to be “affordable” online stores akin to that of Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, etc.
Except, when did $30 shorts and $20 shirts become “affordable”? I can’t afford to spend $50 on two items and honestly, that seems a bit ridiculous. Why spend that much on two items when you can get multiple items for that amount, or less?
This is where my goal for this next year comes in: I never want to spend more than $20 on bottoms and shoes, $10 on tops, and $10 on accessories. Call me crazy, but it is possible – you just have to know where to look! For example, a couple weeks ago, I got a super cute shirt from Target for only $3.50. Sometimes, I am going to splurge on things I really want (like that time I spent $90 on a Steve Madden bag), but other than that, I’m going to stick to my guns and build the wardrobe I want affordably. I’m actually going to start making it a series on here - whenever I find something that matches criteria (it’s cute, I want it, and it’s cheap), I’ll share it!
I’m in the market for a new bag for the school year, so hopefully I’ll find something soon!

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Time for R&R

I had high hopes for today. After plans with one of my friends got canceled since she ditched me to go to California (just kidding, Bug. No hard feelings.), I decided that I’d use today to pack some more and get things together for moving – like laundry. I really need to do laundry. The mom I used to nanny for texted me last night asking if I could drop off the season passes I’d gotten her kids for a nearby water park before ten this morning, so I figured I’d get up, run over there, then come back and just have a productive day.
Except I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.
Sore, I had an earache in both ears, and my eyes were drier than sandpaper. I dragged myself out to their house (and pretty much have no recollection of the drive over there. Scary, I know.) and was back in my bed by ten. I texted Bug, saying it had been a good choice for her to go to Cali, then totally zonked until one this afternoon. I could tell I was really sick because, when I am, I can’t stand being touched by anything. Even air blowing on me bugs me like nobody’s business.
So now, here I am at almost three in the afternoon, still in my pajamas and in bed. My room is a mess, nothing’s been done, and I really want to go back to sleep. I want to be productive, too, but it’s more the idea of it than actually doing it, because I have zero desire to get up. I’m even supposed to go pick up my check and schedule from work, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen.
The fact that I fell asleep at work yesterday should’ve been indicative of today and it kind of was, but I’m always in denial when I get sick. I used to never get sick and then I got the swine flu in 2010 and it completely shot my immune system. Bug and another friend both said, “It’s a sign you need rest!” and I know that, but I just don’t want to! I mean, I would love to have a restful day, but only after I get everything packed.
I’m just being stubborn. And silly.
But seriously! I move in five days! I have to get my rear in gear.
Tomorrow.

On an end note, I wrote a comment to one of the bloggers I follow and she posted about it!!! It was definitely a highlight of this cruddy day. Her blog is called The Wolfpack Princess – go follow it!

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Updates

It’s been a long hiatus from blogging. Summer’s here and almost gone, and in its entirety, I haven’t found much to blog about. Aside from a few days spend with my family and friends (read: about four days in total), all I’ve been doing is working. And the whole routine of “sleep, internet, work, sleep,” does not an interesting blog make.

But I’ve gotta start somewhere.

Next Thursday, I will be moving into a house with four girls from my college/church and to say I’m excited is an understatement. I’ve been counting down the days to being back in Tempe since I left Tempe on May 8^th and I can’t believe it’s now only 8 days. It blows my mind, but it also couldn’t have come fast enough. Originally, the plan was that I would quit my job at the mall on July 31^st, move most of my stuff into the house on August 1^st, but then return home for another week of nannying (yup, two jobs!). The nice thing about plans, though, is that they change. For example, I’ll still be working my one job until July 31^st, but instead of nannying until August 10^th, I didn’t even return to nannying on Monday when the family got back from vacation. Everything really just fell into place to where I’ll be able to stay in Tempe and I’m looking forward to being back there because it means I’m finally going to be able to start down some paths that I need to. Including: seeing a dietitian and getting a personal trainer. The dietitian and personal trainer are two-fold: because I have vestibular migraines, I have to start on an elimination diet to see what foods trigger migraines for me (I already know that ice cream on a stressful or very busy day = migraines) and I need to start exercising. I’ve never really exercised before, hence why I would like a personal trainer to learn the ins and outs of working out and getting toned. Avoiding trigger foods, working out, having a set sleep schedule, and avoiding stress will all help keep migraines at bay and keep Elizabeth happy. And honestly, I’m not discouraged or disappointed by the fact that I won’t be able to eat anything I want, be lazy, and stay up as late as I want. I’m looking forward to learning what fuel is best for my body and treating it as well as I possibly can, through exercise and enough rest. Even though I rarely get sick, most days I always feel kinda yucky and I know that’s because I’m not taking care of myself. So I’m just really looking forward to it all.

Tempe, and my new house, also holds so much for change and growth in my life. I know that I’ll be less stressed because I’ll be submersed in a community that supports me and helps me through hard times. Not only that, but provides plenty of fun, carefree times. I’ll be more incentivized this semester to stay on top of things with all of my school, sorority, and church responsibilities, and I know that, by living with girls from my church, I’ll grow spiritually as well.

This time last year, I was excited to be moving to Tempe to start college, but also nervous. It was a whole new part of life and I had no idea what to expect. But I’m not green anymore and I know that this year may not be exactly what I expect (because it’s usually better), but I know that it is going to be one of the best.

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