Bucket bag: Splurge v. Steal

Pictured above is my own "steal" bucket bag, from Old Navy! (Sadly no longer available)

Being the unorganized person that I am, bucket bags are my favorite go-to bag because I can throw everything I need in and head out (it all gets lost eventually, right?). The draw-string ties are also a bonus because they stay shut, but are easy to pull open- you know, when your phone's ringing and you're expecting a call and you simply do not have time unzip three zippers and punch in a 10-digit code to get into your bag. 

These don't weigh you down and they're easy to transition from fall into a summer beach bag, so you can keep it on your shoulder year-round.

Everywhere I look, someone has a cute Tory Burch or Rebecca Minkoff bucket bag, and as much as I'd like to splurge on one, I think I should pay my rent this month.

And that brings me to my "steal" bucket bags. If you're in the same boat as me, here are a few options for you that are all under $40!

• Top left (Liz Claiborne)
• Top right (Neiman Marcus)
• Bottom Left (H&M)
• Bottom Right (Liz Claiborne)

Edit: After this post was originally created, the two Liz Claiborne bags went off sale from $39 back to their orig. price of $65.

in susie's shop (shop my closet!)

Growing up, there were few words I dreaded hearing more than "It's time for spring cleaning."
I am a hoarder by nature and I simply cannot help it. Try as I may, I cannot kick the fact that I have an emotional attachment to every single thing that crosses paths with me (who knows if I'll ever need that receipt from 3 years ago? I should keep it just in case). My absolute worst hoarding is found in the way I cannot untighten my grip on my clothing. You wouldn't believe the excuses I make in order to hold on to an article of clothing. Oh that ugly old thing from 9 years ago? I may need it for a costume party 7 years from now. Probably should hold onto it.
But as I'm growing older and my closet space is growing far more limited, I've been trying to find a new home for some of my gently used items! Thanks to a severe lack of sleep and a bit too much coffee, I found myself spring cleaning at 4:30am today.
Some new items are now up on my blog shop- check them out! :')

http://insusiesshop.bigcartel.com


xo Susie

gift guide: cheap gifts that look expensive

There is nothing I despise more than clicking on a "Gifts Under $100" link only to find that everything is exactly $99.99. That in no way helps me. I am a poor college student working part-time to pay rent. I want cheap gifts that look expensive, not gifts that actually are expensive. So in effort to combat the extremely misleading "gift guide" posts who promise you nothing but inexpensive glory only to swallow your bank account whole in one swift swoop, I present to you an actual, legitimate inexpensive gift guide. Everything shown above is under $50. Seriously.

• Flat shoes
• $40modcloth.com

• Old Navy vegan boots
• $37oldnavy.gap.com

• Miss selfridge
• $50missselfridge.com

• Forever 21 crossbody purse
• $20forever21.com

• Asos watch
• $39asos.com

• Forever 21 snapback hat
• $11forever21.com

• TOKYOMILK body moisturizer
• $17sourpussclothing.com

• RGB beauty product
• $16beckleyboutique.com

• Primitives By Kathy scented candle
• $16nordstrom.com

• H&M Jacquard-weave cushion cover
• $16hm.com

• Field Notes Original 3-Pack Pocket Ruled Paper
• $10hypebeast.com

xo Susie

a blogger in her natural habitat

It's cold. It's rainy. And truth be told, I'm lovin' it.
But my blog, however, is not. Instead of attempting to venture out into the cold, wind-whipped rain to shoot photos, I've been sitting in this chair (or sprawled on the couch) downing coffee & tomato soup (guilty pleasure) in tshirts/sweatshirts/sweatpants/fuzzy socks and Netflixing my life away. (Also, if Netflixing is not yet considered a verb, I absolutely think it should be.)
This morning was still fairly rainy & cold, so I opted for the good-old tripod and snapped a few photos indoors. I hope everyone appreciates my mid-90's grunge boots as much as I do. I can't even begin to tell you how many cringes and horrified looks I've gotten whilst wearing them. Sorry I never grew out of my awkward-angsty-tween phase.

In other non-pressing life news: I dropped my college algebra class because that crap was ridiculous. Count me out (the only counting I will be doing the rest of the semester). I also don't understand anything that's going on in my Spanish class. Lo que está pasando en esta clase?
Annnnd I rarely wake up in time for Sociology. So three cheers to flunking out of college without even completing one semester. (Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit. But seriously, college is ridiculous. Don't do it.)
It's also Delta week, which I couldn't be more excited about! I'm beyond thrilled to finally be an active member of my sorority (the absolute best part of my college experience thus far). And to any other recent initiates, congrats!!

• Sweater- H&M
• Beanie- c/o MySocialOutlet
• Jeans- Forever21
• Ridiculous grunge 90's boots- thrifted

xo Susie

crimson & curls

After somehow (magically) not having to go into work today, I got to shoot a bit of my fun fall/winter items I received from my good friends over at Nowistyle Japan! (And by not going into work I mean I did go in, things were slow so they said I didn't have to stay, and instead I ended up shopping for an hour while I'm trying to "save" money. Whoops.)
No work meant time to shoot these photos at the house really quickly, and then getting to go to my parents house for dinner and family time! After a day plagued with oversleeping & exams, I think it was just what the doctor ordered!

• Skirt/top/clutch- Nowistyle Japan
• Bracelet- Banana Republic (a gift from my perfect Big, Emily!)
• Booties- H&M

xo Susie

Only in Texas do you have 40 degree weather one day, and almost-80 degree weather the next.
Aside from getting sick from all the temperature change, I'm loving the nice weather! I've been pulling out all my skirts and spending as much time outside as I can. For this outfit, I layered my super comfy gray sweater with a very ornate, detailed skirt. I liked how the simplicity hit the detail on the skirt, giving you just a peek of it. It was really comfy, but still cute (the only way to go!).

• Sweater- c/o nowistyle.jp
• Ankle booties- Urban Outfitters
• Watch- Target
• Rings- H&M
• Skirt/Necklace- Forever21

xo Susie

sleepwalking through thursday

Loving this bag  Banana Taipei sent me! Reminds me of a miniature Celine. So cute!
photos by Mary Gibson

Happy "it's-almost-the-end-of-the-week" Thursday, everyone!
Just started back at school and I'm beyond ready for another break. Anywho, this was my outfit today! I'm glad I've started picking out my outfits the night before, because I seriously could not function this morning. Trying to adjust to getting up at 6am after waking up at noon for the past two weeks is hard. I've probably had 5 cups of coffee today and I still feel like I'm sleepwalking.

• Skull blouse- H&M
• Pink moto jacket- Forever21
• Skirt- Wet Seal
• Tights- Target
• Bag- c/o Banana Taipei

Don't forget to keep voting for me (and you, if you vote!) to go to New York Fashion Week this February!! 

xo Susie

dalmatian // shopping // homemade latte

OOTD Yesterday
Sweater- Thrifted
Scarf- Forever21
Pants- H&M
Booties- Bamboo
Bag- Thrifted (but the tag says Old navy)

Found the cuuutest pair of metallic black crochet shorts yesterday but I didn't get them because they were pricey and it's practically winter :(
I regret it already...coulda saved 'em for next summer ughhh

FIRST HOMEMADE LATTE AW YEAH!
I bought a stovetop espresso maker yesterday at Marshall's for $6 and some ground espresso for $5 and decided to give it a try this morning. The espresso came out SO GOOD and I poured in a bit of vanilla coffee syrup and used my cheap little $2 milk frother on some heated milk and VOILA! A homemade latte.
The money saving begins here.

dallassssss

My sister convinced me to pick this up at Anthropologie because she uses it (and loves it) and I'm so glad I did! Not only does it work on your lips, but you can use it anywhere. Body/cuticles/face....it's all purpose. It is wonderful.

This was on sale at H&M for only $1 and smelled heavenly, so I thought I'd grab it. Now that I've used it, I'm kicking myself for not buying more. It's much too small :(

Found these sunglasses online and fell in love. But they look awful on me.

I wear this bracelet everywhere!

Although I live super close to Dallas, no one in my family really likes going because the traffic is so awful. They have the best mall, though (NorthPark) and it has all of the really nice stores that my local mall doesn't have (H&M, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Free People, Anthropologie, etc). My mom bought me some really nice leopard jeans while she was in DC at H&M, but they didn't fit so I needed to return them, and thankfully my sister agreed to drive me to Dallas (too scared to drive in that awful traffic). I was really sad when they didn't have my size left in the jeans, but I found some other nice things! The black and white pants above are what I got as a replacement, as well as a bodycon striped dress (which is basic and boring and didn't deserve a photo) and a delicious body butter. I also picked up a really neat newspaper by Design Sponge and Rosebud Salve from Anthropologie.
I have got to stop spending money, though. Really.

bottom of the lake

I don't know if you've heard about the huge drought in Texas, but this is at the bottom of our lake. I mean, this grassy area is usually at least six feet deep. Crazy.

Shirt- Thrifted
Skirt- Forever21
Shoes- Urban Outfitters
Bag- H&M
Also! My hair is a bit blonder. But it's not really too noticeable.

Susie xx

DC today, New York tomorrow!

Georgetown Cupcakes (they have a show on TLC- DC Cupcakes; season 2 airs this Feb)....so cute/crowded/tiny/delicious!

Shirt&Snood from H&M. So many nice neutrals for fall in stores!

Got this really yummy goat milk bath soap from Anthropologie. It smells so good, I can't wait to use it!

Small shopping in DC...saving it all for NYC! We leave tomorrow morning early early to take a train and we're staying there for two nights, then back to DC for another night, and then home! More photos to come (the internet in the hotel lobby is awful)! xxxxx