I have not written for a while due to some personal issues, but it does not mean that I did not write anyting for you:
After a plenty of time and work of planning, designing, I am glad to say that my Budgeting pdf with a helpful excelsheet is out!
Have you ever thinking about where all you money goes? If yes, do not forget to read and share my short guide to personal budgeting. Let’s achive a more conscious life together. Free download available on my homepage. Yes, youdo not need to subscribe or anything just click here
I hope everyone is fine. Two months of 2021 has passed so quickly. Recently I have been reading and watching a lot about style. before I have started my low buy journey I was the kind of girl, who had tons of clothing from fast fashion companies and I have to admit shopping was also a kind of fun activity for me. I was guilty of constant purchasing, when it came to clothes or make-up and specially if I had a company.
So since 2019 I have decluttered my wardrobe at least 4 times and in 2020 I have forced myself to buy less by laying down my rules, which worked really well. I learned I need rules, to have a kind of guidance to select, like being Cuelty Free or trying to avoid fast fashion when ever I can.
I spent some time in my closet and I have started to enjoy the items which I have already own.
I expreienced the joy of using up something: even a small travel-sized items needs months to use up and it makes me so happy( cosmetics) or use at least 30 times, when it comes to clothing.
I have learned how to be thankful and greatful for everything which I have in my life.
By learning about style it made me to realize that those women who I admire becaue of their style they all have a carefully selected and currated wardrobe.
I have learned how to be patient, that we have to wait and budget for our wants. It is more important to gain experiences, not to be broke just to be able to buy some new clothes.
Budgeting my expenses was a huge help to understand where my money goes. I became more intential, maybe a bit frugal by knowing where my pennies are going exactly.
Buying something from my wishlist makes me so happy, excited and greatful.
Took a year to finish- ambient bronzer in travel size
Yesterday, after two months of no buy, I have tried if I am an intentional shopper or not: I went to some stores: second-hand and also some others, I had a clear vision according to my wishlist and ended up buying nothing. Nothing were matching my expectations and criterias so I left everything. It was a liberator.
This year challenge will be also strict, but I think easier, as I know my goal: to have a great wardrobe without breaking the bank.
So I have to prioritize certain items on my wishlist and budget for them! I only tend to add 10 new items to my wardrobe this year, which including clothes, shoes and accessories. I allow myself to buy the same amount: 10 beauties and one item per month AKA my sparkle joy item of the month, which can be a book, a notebook, a pen, an electricity or a new hair/skin care item. I wish to write only 2 hauls this year: in June and December.
I also want to create my wardrobe inventory, which is in process, so it will be available from March.
Updates on my promises: my budgeting sheets will be available from the 15th March, 2021.
As for the YouTube channel I will be honest I am not satisfied with the voice quality so I try to figure out something… as I wish to have this serie a bit more interactive.
2020 is a hard year for everyone, but thanksfully we all have Chrsitmas even in the middle of the pandemic. I think if you can be with your family than you are totally lucky. Here in Hungary maximum 10 people can get together, so me and my husband have decided to celebrate the Christmas Eve with my parents and with my brother and of course the cats. On Christmas day my sister and her boyfriend joined. We went seperately to see the grandparents for like a snacks.
Here we have nearly everything
I am writing these earlier than they actually receiving the presents, but I am going post it on on Christmas Eve. So what we will gifting?
Grandparents: calendar (not pictured), rafaello and coffee
My parents: calendar and a sous-vide machine (neither of them pictured)
My sister and her boyfriend: Pandora charm, Uno card and a book
My brother and his girlfriend: T-shirt, Tie Fighter model, sented candle and the wipes holder (rabit one)
My mother-in-law: purse and a book (also for her birthday)
My husband: Monopoly, Airpods (he is using it for a month, so there were no possibility to wrap it)
We had a so relaxed Christmas Eve with so great dishes as we have totally lost in the fun and the games, so unlikely in Hungary we have left the gifts opening for Christmas Day. We even took a little walk (6km) before dinner.
Christmas Eve
What I have received for Christmas?
A Kanken bag pack, a burgundy-grey scarf (so soft), a calendar (I hope there will be more appointments to write than this year), a body lotion- shower gel- sheet mask set, a T-shirt and a new iPhone (you might realized it from my last post).
Well most of you are probably familiar with the Parisian clothing brand Sézane. I heard, read and watched so many good reviews on them, so I was dying and eying for their products for a while. I do think Morgan Sezalory and her team really creates beautiful and quality pieces, that are made to last so they believe in the whole fundamential of slow fashion and concious shopping. The prices are higher than fast fashion, but they are well priced if you compare them to other brands in this league. I was saving up quality pieces and finally they had a free shipping before Christmas, so I went ahead and placed an order from my wishlist. I have registrated and saved my favourites on their site for a while, but I decided to go for the ones I was most wanted.
Yeah, the biggest disadvantage of online shopping that you never really sure what you will get until it arrives to your home. I have find their website simply stunning and well organized (I have used their French one), easy to use and order. So I have placed my order on the 15th December, it is took them to prepair 3 days, I have received a shipping notification from DHL on the 18th and received the package today, so on the 21rst. I’m obsessed with the super cute packaging, which I tried to photograph …
solid touch of personalization, also a great marketing tool
Box inside with a prospect and gift cards
I have find the packaging really attentive and eco friendly, even the tags (see it below) draw your attention to the recycling, the materials they used (also recycled) and their return policy. Everything here made of recycled paper. 10/10
N°1
GASPARD
Gaspard is French for Sexy.
Our signature jumper is perfectly versatile. Reversible, it can be worn as a cardigan or as a jumper to reveal a sublime
glimpse of your back with its ‘joli décolletage.’
I was their number 1 essential knitwear the Gaspard in Ecru. I wanted to have a versitle, wearable and soft cardigan for a while due to its pearl bottoms I was looking for the nude or the ecru, but a few months ago I was decided and voted for the Ecru. I have choosed my usual size, S. I love to looking behind the label, I read on their site that is more than 70% from ntural fabric and it is made in Italy.
grandma like cardigan in ecru
Gaspard is really a classy, timeless piece of Sèzane, also lightweight, super soft but warm. Quite versatile as you can wear it vice versa, I even loved more the back with the bottoms. The length is perfect, till the hips, it is a bit off the shoulder, so slightly boxy on me, but the selves are long enough to a taller person like me. I would absolutely recommend to anyone.
N°10
PALOMA
Paloma is French for Perfection. Meet our silk top that goes with everything. Pair with smart trousers, jeans or a floral
skirt… it suits every season.
My other pick was an othr essential: a black silk camisole. I wanted to upgrade my old H&M top and replace the polyester with something nicer, silk. I was looking for a lot of basics v-neck camisoles, then I have find this tiny little twist on the Sézane one the openwork embroidery along the neckline, which make this basic piece so special. I have selected my usual size too: 36.
Embroidery and the tagembroidery without the tagLook on try
Maybe size 34 would be more fitted on me, but I would like to wear it tacked into high waisted skirts or trousers, so this will be more casual but yet chic. I have read a few comments complaining about the straps, long and tithe, for my height it is perfect. I love the embroidery on it, it is a delicate twist to a simple camisole. I did not look for shiny silk, so it has been carefully chosen for my wardrobe. Absolutely would recommend that one too. I am really satisfied with my order so cannot wait to have others from the brand Sèzane.
So, What are the others from them are on my wishlist? To tell you the truth, I am not sure when I will get to buy them as they are rather on the spurge side.
I was started to write that post right before Black Friday. Some people love it, others just have it and defining it as an evil enemy or the symbole of overconsumption. Let me tell you something intention shopping is really depends on you. Do the same as you would do on other days: plan- wait- think- act. Try to find the deal. If you are eyeing on something like I do with my wishlist, you will be able to decide the best deal.
If you have a list of your planned Christmas gifts, than it is a great time to go shopping… or just simply do some online one. By prioritazing your relatives you will not end up with a lot of clutter. You might have saved up for something that is the time to buy it.
What am I going to do?
I did 100 items decluttering November challenge, so I know what I have, checked my wishlist and decided that I will have to choose only one item for myself and further more this item will be one of my Christmas present. I am considering to buy a bag from Furla or Coccinelle, jeans, Veja sneakers or the Sezane pulover, depends on the deal. I will have to purchase my skincare items from La Roche Posay and my Pixi Glow Tonic. The rest will be gifts like persolized calendar from Cewe.
And guess what happend? I only purchased the 4 annual Cewe calendar, which we do every year. I was so overhelm by this whole on sale thing as most of the items I was looking for neither was on sale nor was in stock. So I decided to give up searching… I have to admit I was working and my mood recently is not about getting into crowded shopping malls at all. In the whole month I have purchased a book and repurchased my beloved skincare line from La Roche Posay.
So you might recognized that these are said to be not cruelty free products. Firstly they do their job much better than the alternatives which I have found. Secondly, there are clean products, so they will not irritate my skin. Finally, they are made in Europe, so even if they test in China these are coming from their French factories.
In November and December I was quite busy with some of my health issue, so I kept myself away from writting and posting. I have to admit on the top of the pandemic I am having an emotionally heavy period of my life, which I am not ready to post about now.
I can not believe that it is my 10th low buy haul (9th if we do not count my no buy September), so I was back to the track and had some nice things, but first let me write about my budgeting.
If you remember, I have written that 25% of your income should covers your fixed costs. To cut a long story short. Even that I am working full time, this month it was impossible due to our reduced salary since March, but I was still able to save and fit my expenses. Of course I am looking for a job quite a while…
Annoncement: I am working on my budgeting sheets, which will be launched soon and will be free and downloadable on my homepage, so stay turned! I am working on to improve the site too.
So about the haul: I have purchased so many drug store things as we were run out of a lot of cleaning and toiletries. I have ordered to heap up a bit of shower gels etc. as we had some sales going on, so in long term it will be better.
The Ordinary items were finally back in stock so I have repurchased my holy grails: 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG and Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. Some of them was empty, but they still had some items out of stock… and I did not wanted to get a 60 ml package too.
Wardrobe improvement: I have purchased a dream thing: Silk Shirt from Mango with a 20% off coupon so it was a great deal. Okay you can say: why it is fast fashion, well it is from their Selection, which is a more premium line with mulberry silk and I have already worn it a handful of time and I do not have money for a more expensive one at the moment, but I think it will last me for years as I usually give a good care of my items.
Mango
Silk Shirt
in Off White
100% silk Soft and shiny, silk is one of the most valuable naural fibres on the planet. REF:77035131
And I have taken my Chelsea boots to a cobbler, he repaired it nicely, so I hope it will last me at least till January. I have that boots for 5-6 years and it was the first time since I had to ask someone to repair them. It was not cheap as you can buy a faux leather pair from the price of the repairment, bt I am so proud of myself not makeing any other purchases.
I know I am quite late writting this post, but it is because of our fantastic holiday, which I am going to post more later.
So on my own purchases were also mostly related to my holiday and I think I have so really good recommendation for you too.
Firstly about my Cultbeauty order: I have reordered two of my favourites the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ in Light (yeah it is one shade lighter than my previous one as it will goes with my skin later on Autumn/Winter. Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara in travel size, which is the bets waterproof mascara that I have ever used I do not think I have to explain way, just say it was my bride mascara without any lashes. The last thing was to order the Versed Day dissolve Cleansing Balm, which I have to tried yet, but so disappointed with their packaging: big, double layer plastic holder for a tiny amount of products for 22 GBP… I hope at least the product will be good, but I will not cheat my Body Shop one with it anymore because of the packaging…
Than about my sunscreen issue- so once we went to a local lake and I used the same DM own marked sunscreen like last year, but they changed something: it smelled like alcohol OMG I had a serious allergic reaction, so thought it away after that. I wanted to buy a physical sunscreen, which I have choosen Bioderma Photoderm Minaral SPF 50, which is a zink- oxid based one. Also purchased their oil with SPF 30, it was the best smell ever and makes you tanned in the most beautiful bronzy way so higly recommend as well as their After Sun cream too to reach amazing bronzed skin like I have now.
The last haul pieces were from a local drug store: Ziaja Bronzing oil, which was recommended by one of my friends: cocoa butter spray, which I have used once daily with the SPF 50 as it has to put under a sunscreen to help the better bronzing for the skin and it is oily so much, it was not bad anyway. Trend It Up Waterproof eyeliner- it was a big no no: color do not play off and just not waterproof at all, okay it was cheap…
As it was my birthday month I got so gifts too and we finally received our new TV board, which is hand-made, wood and we ordered some persolized knobs on it.
Actually I was so bad in July and this is not a really low buyhaul,but I am in the kinda mood, that I was needed some items and I had a name day so far so …
Pandora Rose- Pavé Bead Hoop Earrings (288294CZ): I was eying for this hoops for a while and in July they had a 20% off so I could ot miss out. It is a small silver hoop with thin rose gold layer and some stones.
Some cruelty free skincare
By the time of the earring I have CF and Vegan cream haul too (that was not a gift). N.A.E. is a new drugstore brand here, which I have already tried their micellar water and packless sampoo, those I am enjoying so much, so I have decided to give a try as I have to replace a few of my empties. I have tried out the body balm, which is so lightly sented and water, but rich so it is the ideal during summer. The shower bar and the face cream I have not tried yet… as well as neither the eye cream as I still have one openned.
H&M:
I have made a bigger H&M order also with 20% off. You might wonder how I wish to improve my closet if I order fast fashion. Honestly, I am not in the position of buying more expensive items now, but I do care about quality like most of the items are linen, yeah I am absessed with linen recently, so I picked 2 linen blend white dresses: a shirt dress and an easy casual dress. If you remember I have recently thrifted a linken culottes, to my sister was so obssesd with in and the truth is that it fits her more, so I have gifted it, but I had replace it with a premium quality linken Navy jogger. During the declutter I have realized that I do have a lot of one-time or holiday dress, which is really not me, so I have decluttered over 10 items… so also this slightly longer short. The accessories is just those which you do not need to invest in.
Beside my earring I have received some plants for our urban jungle:) Well the persil not, but it is damn beautiful on our balcony.
And finally we had the chance to visit my family and hubby’s mom by the lake of Balaton. Of course we had to bad weather, but it was great for walking, hiking, eating out and tasting some wines. So I had to wait to get sunburnt by the last days of July here in Budapest…
SofinallyI am comingwith somehaul, I know I was so bad did not posting at all in June, but I have to admit, sewing curtains are a bit more time consuming, specially that I had to do it for my mum too… after she saw ours, just asked if I can do hers as she would change some after having them for almost 20 years in the house (plus cats) so I made the hole living room arra for them, which was ca. 15 m of windows… and I did a silk skirt myself too- that will come in a DIY soon.
So I try to keep everything minimal and sustainable, so my only kinda beauty purchase this month was toothbrush from the Brand called Jordan. I am highly satisfied, as it is made of recycled plastic, soft and much more cheaper than our long-time favoured Curaprox. Okay, to be Honest I have not find any bamboo one with soft ér than medium brushes so that is why I did purchased a plastic one…
I have decluttered 10 pieces of Clothing, but did not purchased anything ;). Only I had to buy some underwear, but these were replacements of the oldies, I have also trashed 5 pants and a bra, which all were in really bad conditions. My other treatments was some bikini, but I just want to have a seperate post of it. Both of these were out of my budget , from the nameday gift money from my parents and grandparents :).
As a hotelier I am having quite much of difficulties so far, so I was not in the mood to write blog posts at all, but I do not want to leave you without my monthly haul.
I have lost over 50% of my income since March and we are still suffering in the industry with our basic salary, but due to my methode I was still able to save in this month. We are really planning to go on a vacation in this summer since we are feed up with this whole #stayhome hysteria. Yeah, you can ask why do not you change job? Because even if I am applying noone calls or write back…and earning a shameful amount of money is a bit better than nothing.
So as I have much more time , which I am spending home I always having some creative thoughts and these lead me to create and create… so finally we have purchased our curtain cornices and some see through curtains and we did not ordered the mounting, neither the sewing as all will be done by us, while I am keeping the black-out curtains later during summer. I bought some marcames to continue doing these. Also the books of Mari Kondo to be able to master her methode. Regarding clothes I have purchased a cardigan and a linen cullotte second-hand, on the top of it I am sewing a warp dress, which I can show in a seperate upcoming post once I finished.
Annoncement: I am working on my budgeting sheets, which will be launched soon and will be free and downloadable on my homepage, so stay turned! I am working on to improve the site too.
