25 before 26

Tomorrow is my 25th birthday! One quarter of a century old, yikes! So, here's my 25-before-26 list!

1. Run a 5k [[I just signed up for this one!]]

2. Continue running regularly afterward [[This one will be hard, especially when it gets cold out!]]

3. Do one craft/DIY project per month [[This seems reasonable, but my weekends are so lazy these days.]]

4. Create a 5 year plan with Dan [[We really do need to do this. We have a few nebulous ideas of what we want, but it's time to nail it down.]]

5. Learn a cool new skill/develop a hobby (maybe knitting??) [[I have tried to learn how to knit twice. Maybe third time's the charm?]]

6. Read at least two books per month for funsies [[This was difficult when I was in school, but it should be a breeze now.]]

7. Start truly saving to buy a house [[Yikes! That's all I can say about that :)]]

8. Make one new close friend who lives in the same city and isn’t moving somewhere! [[All of my close friends live far away and while I do have some pals here in town, I want someone I can call up anytime and say, "let's eat and watch TV right now."]]

9. Buy/make/re-do two pieces of furniture that are totally my/our own [[I already have some ideas here. Pretty much everything we own is a hand-me-down, which is fine, but nothing matches!]]

10. Travel somewhere I haven’t been before [[I've really only traveled on the east coast -- which is awesome -- but maybe try somewhere new? Kansas City, maybe?]]

11. Eat more healthfully, cook at home more [[Always a goal.]]

12. Continue paying off student loans & make a dent in them! [[Again, yikes! But, I'm halfway paid back!]]

13. Learn to do something with my hair that isn’t down or ponytail (& grow it past my shoulders!) [[My hair is currently the longest it's been since 2005, so that's already a good start. I never know what to do with it though, so definitely working on this.]]

14. Get a new ear piercing or something? [[Haha, the most vague goal. I have been thinking about getting my ear pierced since I just have the regular ol' one-hole-per-ear, but we'll see -- I just want to try something new.]]

15. Start writing more frequently/start a blog [[Hey! Look! Now to keep with this....]]

16. Start collecting home-y items that make our rooms look put together, intentional, and not so hand-me-down (re: duvet, etc) [[Again, nothing matches so I'm going to work on that.]]

17. Donate blood successfully [[The last few times I have tried, my iron has been too low which isn't healthy and means I can't donate.]]

18. Take two “fun” classes [[After being in school for what seemed like eternity, it's time to take some classes that are just for fun.]]

19. Start buying/wearing clothes that fit my “style” and that aren’t an afterthought or just because they were in the closet [[I have a lot of clothes that are just comfortable or I throw them on because I don't have to think about it, but I'd like to be more intentional with what I wear.]]

20. Go to the beach [[I grew up about 35 minutes from the beach so not going in over two years is killing me!]]

21. Save $2,756 with Dan [[We just started this!]]

22. Go on a picnic [[This one should be easy, but I say it every spring, summer, and fall...so now it's on the list.]]

23. Work on networking and developing my skills to prepare me for a professional job [[I am just starting my career and need to think about the future and how I want to present myself in the workforce.]]

24. Start a new tradition with Dan [[When I think of the holidays, I think of family traditions, so hopefully we'll come up with something great!]]

25. No clothes buying for one year!!! [[I have already mentioned this. I am so nervous!]]

So this list (and much more) is what 25 will have in store for me so let's find out if I can check off (almost?) everything on my list!

Say NO to Clothes (but not really)

As I mentioned, my don't-buy-clothes-for-a-year challenge will be starting soon. September 1, to be exact. Here are the rules:

1. Thrift stores are OK, within reason (inexpensive purchases add up, too, so don't overdo it. Really, just avoid it, because then you'll want it all anyway)
2. Gifts are fine (obviously)
3. Giftcards from holidays or with Discover cashback are OK
4. If something crazy happens and my whole closet gets transported to outerspace for study of what a perfectly average human being's wardrobe looks like, then some new clothes are fine (re: natural disaster)
5. New underwear are ok, too. Let's get real here.

Along with these rules, there are some other things I'd like to keep in mind while doing this challenge:

• Remix what I've already got (I first heard about this via Kendi Everyday, but I also love this former blogger's style)
• Get into my own "style groove" // figure out what I really like in my closet and get rid of what doesn't fit my style. (This is something I have been working on over the last ~year, but I'd like to do more work on this)
• I learned how to (kind of) sew with a machine and want to try to do some refashions or maybe something from scratch! As I am horribly impatient and not very crafty, we'll see
• Remember that clothes can be fun, but they aren't truly what's important: it's all about how you carry yourself

Should be an interesting ride!

Well, hi!

Hey, I'm Laura. I've been debating starting a blog for what seems like a long time. My best guess, no one ever sees this and I just use it to chronicle some projects that I'm working on like my soon-to-begin "Laura, don't buy any clothes for one whole year (ahhhh!)" project.

I've never thought of myself as someone who owns a lot of clothes or is really even particularly interested in them until one day, my friend introduced me to fashion blogs like this one and this one and then I just kept finding more blogs and couldn't stop! My Pinterest habit has also fed my need to buy all the clothes. Basically, I'm easily influenced by the Internet.

Anyway, I've found myself with too many clothes, not enough money, and the need to share this with the Internet. So here we go!