The Month That Was August

It's the first day of September tomorrow, the start of the 9th month, that's 3/4 of the way through the year and for us it means the official start to Spring!

Time to look at my resolutions again :

1. Spend $100.00 or less per week
2. Read a book per week.
3. Blog a minimum of once a week - Secondhand Sundays.
4. Support small local businesses where ever possible.

Aside from a recent splurge when I brought 4 handbags (they were all on sale for $35 - $40, how could I resist?!) I've been sticking to my spending budget.

I've read one book this month - "The Memory Keepers Daughter" by Kim Edwards, it's a book about a doctor and husband who gives away his daughter at birth, if you get a chance to read it, I really enjoyed it.

There was one week that I didn't blog at all but in my defense it was because we didn't have Internet access at the time...

I haven't brought much this month but what I have has mostly been from small businesses not big chains so I'm pretty happy with that.

Can you believe it's just about the 9th month already?!

Neon Tropicana

I'm not usually one for floral prints & I've never gone for a tropical print before but I fell in love with this dress. I love the shots of vibrant orange and the shaping.

I actually brought it months ago, about 3 months ago - on Queens Birthday, and it's finally warm enough to wear it :)

Have you brought anything then waited months to actually wear it?

Dress (came with belt) : Ezibuy
Heels : Ezibuy
Bangle : Lovisa

Spring Fling

Today was a beautiful day so I made the most of it and took the puppies for a walk down the beach in Sumner, they had a wonderful time! Hopefully the weather will continue to stay nice so we can do it more often.

Whilst I'm looking forward to Spring my brother is still hoping for Winter to hang around for a while, he wants to spend more time up the mountain.

What's your favourite weather dependant activity? Are you more interested in walks on the beach or skiing in fresh snow?

Dress: Portmans
Belt : Glassons
Bag : Sussan
Bangle : Diva
Wedges : Number 1 Shoes

Secondhand Sunday 35

Despite the fact that I've had an emotionally stressful week I've really enjoyed this weekend.

I've spent time with my family, been to an antique & collectibles market, a secondhand book fair, puppy school and a local farmers market. Now I'm watching "Eat, Pray, Love" with my puppies curled up on my lap.

I brought this wee decanter set at the antique & collectibles fair for $15 and I brought 20 secondhand books to add to my reading list for only $35 - less than 1 full price book.

I really need to remember to take my camera with me on my adventures.

Dress : Portmans
Necklace : Portmans
Bangle : Lovisa
Heels : Secondhand from Time & Time Again in Opawa
Bag : Sussan

End of an Era

My Gran died yesterday. All of my Grandparents have now passed away.

I never really got to spend much time with her, I wish I'd made time but now it's too late.

We lived in different cities so growing up we only went to visit every now and again.

Do you still have your Grandparents?

Jacket : Jacqui E
Dress : Jacqui E
Necklace : Pagani
Wedges : Hannahs

Abstract

I've never been all that fond of floral's but I've always liked abstract prints.

Having said that I'm finding myself drawn more to floral's, especially with Spring just around the corner.

I've just spent the past couple of days in Auckland for our Spring Summer conference and that's got me even more excited about the new season ahead.

Are you a floral girl or do you go for geometric style prints instead?

Dress : Jacqui E
Jacket : Jacqui E
Belt : Jacqui E
Bag : Sussan
Wedges : Hannahs

Great Gatsby

I had a wee bit of a splurge a few weeks ago and this is one of the dresses I picked up, it's from a Great Gatsby inspired range.

As my regular readers know, one of my resolutions for 2012 was to limit my spending to $100 per week. I've been pretty good at sticking to it but every now and again I have a wee blow out.

I was listening to the radio on the way to work a couple of days ago & the announcers were asking whether you're a spender or a saver? I think I'm both. I do aim to save but having my $100 per week to spend on whatever I feel like keeps me sane, it's like the best of both worlds.

So how about you? Are you a spender, living week to week or are you a cautious saver?

Dress : Ezibuy
Merino : Glassons
Belt : Jacqui E
Bangle : Lovisa
Clutch : Secondhand from Second Love

Secondhand Sunday 34

Whilst today was a freezing cold, grey day I did enjoy it.

We started off with Puppy School in the morning, then I went to the market with Mum, followed with dinner at a cool local brewery where I had a delicious pear & blue cheese pizza that I washed down with a warm berry cider, complete with a cinnamon stick.

I picked these up at the Riccarton Market today, the Gok book was only $5 and although I really need to stop buying tea cups I couldn't resist this delightfully mis-matching set at only $2.

Sundays are without a doubt my favourite day.

What's your favourite day? Why?

P.s I hereby promise to do an outfit post asap!

Secondhand Sunday 33 : Better Late Than Never

Well we're officially in our new house & finally have an Internet connection!

Since I couldn't do my regular Secondhand Sunday post last week here's a sneak peak of our kitchen.

Mum brought me these glass storage jars from my favourite op-shop, The Salvation Army in Papanui for a couple of dollars each.

We have a pretty compact kitchen so these create more space in the cupboard for other things.

The house is still a total tip, we have a tonne of boxes to still unpack but it's starting for feel like home.

Once it's a bit more organised I'll post some before & after pictures.

Secondhand Sunday 32

Super quick post from me today!

Not the most interesting post but I thought I'd stick with my "Secondhand Sunday" theme, I brought this trivet quite a while ago at Savemart for $1.

Guess what??! We've finally moved into our new house :)

Last night was our first night there so today I've been busy un-packing boxes and this morning the puppies went to puppy school for the first time.

It may take me a while to get our Internet up and running so see you when I see you.

The Month That Was July

August already? It's about this time of year that I start wondering what I've actually done this year and I suppose that when I stop and think about it I've done more than I thought I had; we've brought our first house, started Maori classes and got a puppy.

Time to look at my resolutions again :

1. Spend $100.00 or less per week
2. Read a book per week.
3. Blog a minimum of once a week - Secondhand Sundays.
4. Support small local businesses where ever possible.

I was a good girl in July as far as spending goes, I didn't even spend my $100 allowance each week - that went towards the house renovations instead, how terribly practical of me.

I've read more than any other month this year, didn't quite make 1 per week but I read 2 and a half books - "Angela's Ashes", "Un Amico Italiano" by Luca Spaghetti (which is the Luca Spaghetti in "Eat Pray Love") and "Playing with Fire" by Gordon Ramsay.

Whilst I haven't blogged as much as I would have liked I have stuck to my minimum of 2 blog posts per week.

And whilst I haven't spent much this month I have tried to support the little guy, we've been using owner / operator tradesmen instead of big building company's so I guess that counts?

What have you "achieved" this year?