going broke for cat mugs

I actually cannot even try to refer to myself as "frugal" with a straight face. I am not frugal. I never have been. It has been both my burden and my pleasure to spend all of my money when and if I ever get any. Dave Ramsey would judge me. He probably knows, somehow, within his magical stern eyebrows that Caitlin Schanaker is not good at this stuff.

When it comes to spending, I think I may be straight-up delusional. I have this very naive, happy-go-lucky perspective that money will always find a way. Because as we all know, where there's a will, there's a way, and my will for shopping is fierce. It's not practical shopping, either. It's frivolous and spontaneous. It's the best kind. Because everything is a special occasion and there are always reasons to go all out. Life is all about those excuses. Weekend getaways and ordering way too much food but still getting dessert and buying the extravagantly expensive and useless trinkets at Anthropologie. I have fallen into the trap that I think many young adults fall into: trying to live the way your parents live, despite the fact that it took decades for them to get there. It's why we're all drowning in debt. It's incredibly sad, and also really fun until you have to start paying your loans back. Right out of the gate, I try to usher myself into adulthood by paying extra for guacamole and splurging at World Market and shopping online and impulse-buying rain boots when I live in Arizona and no one can afford this nonsense.

My husband and I joke often that when we don't think twice about paying the extra for guacamole, we'll know we have arrived.

All of this is being written because I have hit a wall today. It's a wall made of cat mugs. A friend sent me a link to the most beautiful cat mugs I have ever seen, and even though we have a house that is taking all of our time and money and a baby coming out of me this year, I want the mugs. All of them. I want to pay the $60 (plus shipping) for a set of cat mugs.

This is my Friday confession. I sat there staring at these beautiful mugs, cursing Anthropologie, trying to justify a way to buy them. I could just buy one; they're $14 each. I could search online for a coupon. But then I would be missing out on the other colors, and look how nicely they look all together? How lovely would they look, purring on my coffee bar? I could bully people into buying me a housewarming gift, a baby gift (babies like mugs, right?), a super early birthday gift...I could set up a gofundme! That's what that site is for now, right? Providing a way for friends and strangers to buy you silly things you can't afford? America.

Closing out of that shopping window was hard. Not in a real-life way, but in a wow, I think I'm going insane kind of way. Obviously this post is silly and this "problem" isn't a problem at all, but the fact remains that I feel stressed and restless over cat mugs. Over not being able to travel anymore. Over all of the things we still have to buy and fix up on the house. Over feeling like we'll never be in that settled, give-me-all-the-guac place in our lives. I have to try to be frugal, to be smart, to be less selfish and less spoiled and more responsible and more everything.

As much as I like to pretend that I'm not that girl going broke for cat mugs, I totally am. I am her and she is me. I just have to calm her down a little bit.

foxy lady

Remember that one time I posted about foxes, and my hunt for the perfect fox sweater?

Well, say hello to it.
After many moons of pining, this fox sweater has found its way to my doorstep.
I'm officially a foxy lady.

Sweater (shop!): JCPenney, Dress (old/Lauren Conrad): Kohl's, Shoes: Poetic License

Today is my birthday! It's the big 25!

I'm currently in Washington DC with my husband and best friend, and it has been a wonderful day so far. Just finished lunch at Good Stuff Eatery (amaaaazing toasted marshmallow shakes!) and are heading to Georgetown this afternoon. 

I've always loved birthdays. Maybe a little bit too much - but I love the celebration, the surprises, the eating out and special treats. I extend it into birthday month, where all rules are out the window and everything is a special occasion. 

In a lot of ways this birthday is a big deal because it feels like the last time I can make a big deal about it in the silly, childlike way that I do - the next "big" birthdays are pretty far away. 30, 40, 50. They start getting less significant, more about the next generation of birthdays - children, nieces, nephews, etc. 

More laid back, more low key. 

I think I can transition into that, but...not yet.

favorites

I haven't been doing outfit posts for very long, but I was realizing the other day that it has actually been over a year since I first started being interested in fashion blogging.

My first outfit post was on my personal blog, on March 15 of last year.

I hadn't really started out dreaming of a fashion blog. I was just wanting to show off some clothes from Ruche that my husband had surprised me with, and then Frocktober happened, and it all went up from there!
But over the last 15 months, my husband and I have had countless photo shoots, conversations and silly moments in the name of "fashion". Or at least, my personal style/fashion.
So in the spirit of reminiscing, I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos/outfits over the last year!
In no particular order:

My goal is definitely to get to a point where I'm blogging regularly, posting interesting and reliable content. The more I blog, the more I like it. I would love to come to a point where I'm confident (and efficient) taking my own photos, having my tripod handy and being willing to be adventurous with when and where I take pictures.
I might even take a class or two on photography. Right now my camera is simple, but user-friendly, and it takes great pictures without too much fidgeting on my end.

If I was to put together a summer to-do list for Voguish, it would include:

1. Daily photos: even just a few shots after work
2. Improve self-portraits: be confident and able to take my own pictures
3. Set out outfits the night before: being more aware and intentional with my daily routine
4. Blog daily: working on the blog every day, perhaps even preparing posts in advance to publish later on
5. Creative settings: be active and explore the town, changing up locations and scenery

That's a pretty good start, I think.

Cheers to a great year of blogging, an amazing summer, and to constant adventures.

signs of spring

I don't think I've ever been this anxious for Spring to arrive.

Since we moved to Virginia, it seems like Fall has been the season to capture my undivided attention. Fall is the season that is most elusive, most exciting for an Arizona girl like me. We don't have the bright yellows and oranges of changing leaves in the west coast, the sight of crisp apple orchards and bright Autumn hues, and the feel of Thanksgiving around the corner.
I distinctly remember a man telling me last year, "Just wait until Spring. In the Spring is when Lynchburg is truly beautiful."
I'm not sure I believed him, especially since I was mentally jumping into a giant pile of Fall leaves in the corner of my eye.

But this year, I'm paying attention. I'm seeing it. I'm feeling it.

Dress: J. Crew, Cardigan, old: (similar!), 
Shoes: Ruche (shop!), Earrings: Betsey Johnson (shop!)
Bangle: Kate Spade

My new self-appointed Spring trend is small pastel bags.
I found a small rectangle lavender bag, which was perfect for our trip to London and Paris.
While we were in London, I found two more small bags on sale in a great shop called Primark. One is a little circle bag, in a taupe hue with little gold studs. The other is a pretty mint blue with a tassel on the zipper.
I've never been much of a bag person, but I'm starting to be!
These little guys will be perfect for light and Spring-y outfits. All I need are my sunglasses, lip gloss and wallet and I'm good to go!

Bright white and pink blossoms have appeared all over the city, and now even the trees are beginning to sprout their little lime green leaves. It's such a powerfully fresh image, and everywhere I look I'm inspired.

What are your favorite things about Spring? :)