April 2015 Purchases

Considering how busy I was all month, I shopped a lot during April. I mostly blame Lilly for Target and a family wedding that I attended. I won't recap the insanity surrounding the release of the Lilly x Target collection, but rest assured, it was intense. While the release could have been handled better, the goods delivered. In my opinion, this was one of the best Target collaborations thus far in terms of quality and value. Anyway, without further ado, here are this month's keepers.

Lilly Pulitzer for Target shift dress (upstream 2) - This was the only shift dress in the collection that I managed to get my hands on. The quality is actually pretty amazing for the price. The dress is made of a thick cotton material that feels almost quilted. Also the fit is spot on with the dress hugging me like a glove. Love. Originally $38. Paid $38 + 2% off ebates = $37.24.

Lilly Pulitzer for Target crochet tank top (white XS) - This is my favorite Lilly for Target piece. I've been wanting a white lace top for so long, but most of the options I found only had lace on the front. This top features a crocheted lace shell over a white cotton underlayer. It's a little loose in the torso but not too boxy. I like that it's not sheer, which is very rare for white tops. Originally $32. Paid $32 + 2% off ebates = $31.36.

Lilly Pulitzer for Target strapless maxi dress (nosie posey XS) - I wasn't expecting this maxi to be a keeper, but I love the print, and it fits surprisingly small. The length is perfect on my 5' 4" frame. Originally $34. Paid $34 + 2% off ebates = $33.32.

Lilly Pulitzer for Target challis pompom shorts (upstream XS) - These pompom shorts are adorable and pair perfectly with the crochet tank top (as seen in the collection lookbook). They also make great lounge shorts. Originally $24. Paid $24 + 2% off ebates = $23.52.

Gap 1969 Resolution true skinny jeans (medium vintage 26) - All of the pants I bought last month were dark colored, which is great for 9 months out of the year but feel somewhat out of place during the summer. I thought it would be nice to switch things up with a medium blue pair. They're a little high-waisted, which I like. Also they seem to run small, so I went up a size. Originally $69.95. Paid $69.95 + 40% off online + 4% off ebates = $40.29.

Tailoring for my thrifted Ann Taylor dress - As I mentioned in my last post, I thrifted a raw silk Ann Taylor dress for $5 a few years ago, and the recent wedding I attended was the perfect opportunity to wear it. Since the dress was a little baggy on me, I decided to have it tailored. This was the first time I had ever gotten anything tailored, so I had no reference for how the alteration would be done or how much it would cost. The dress had a back zip, so the tailor just took in the extra fabric there and reinserted the zipper, which ended up costing $25 (cheaper than I expected).

Halogen leather wallet on a chain (platinum) - In the course of outfit planning for the wedding, I realized I could really use a small metallic clutch in my bag collection. I was looking for one with a chain that could hold my phone, and this little number from Nordstrom suited my needs perfectly. The platinum saffiano leather is gorgeous, and the bag is much prettier in person than online. In addition to weddings, it could also work for a night out on the town. Originally $98. Paid $58.80 + 6% off ebates = $55.27.

Too Faced semi sweet chocolate bar - Earlier this month, Sephora had a sale for Beauty Insiders. I've been interested in learning more about beauty products and makeup in general, so I thought I would experiment with some new eye products, like a neutral eyeshadow palette. After much research, I decided to pick up one of the Too Faced chocolate bars. I chose the semi sweet version, because there were more dark brown shades in it than the original chocolate bar, which has more light brown shades. Of course both smell mouthwateringly like chocolate. Originally $49. Paid $49 + 10% off at Sephora + 4% off ebates = $42.34.

Sephora Collection retractable waterproof eyeliner (black) - Another thing I was interested in getting from Sephora was a pencil/crayon eyeliner. I haven't used this yet, but it seems like it'll get the job done. The only other eyeliner I own is this liquid one, which I really like for drawing a cat eye. Originally $13. Paid $13 + 10% off at Sephora + 4% off ebates = $11.23.

So this month's total comes to:
RETAIL: $382.95
SPENT: $299.57 (78.2% of MSRP)

My goal for the year is to spend less than $3000, which translates roughly to $250 per month. Right now I'm at $3000 - $327.20 for 2015Q1 - $299.57 = $2373.23, which translates to an average of $296.65 per month for the next 8 months.

As always, I'm linking up with Franish and the other Budgeting Bloggers!

How did you do on your budget this month?