I love shopping, I do. But after that shopping spree in VA and paying a hefty fine & towing fee earlier this week (NEVER not looking at street signs again...stupid mistake! And costly!) I'm putting myself on a budget for the rest of the month. In the meantime, I came up with a list of things to do for free, or at least very low cost.

1. 

(Depending on where you live.) Play frisbee/go tanning/read/relax.

2. 

I just started a newer handwritten journal after not journalling pretty much my entire time in NYC, and it's so cathartic.

3.

Borrow a book, books, or DVDs. I normally come out there with a stack of books that will keep me occupied for quite a few days!

4. 

I always tell myself I want to, but never do. I have all the tools, but lack the inspiration, and make up excuses as to why I don't do it, rather than just sit down with a sketchbook in front of me and a pencil in hand and just draw!

5. 

I love magazines so I have quite a few laying around - I could definitely put together a collage if the mood strikes me.

6. 

It's always good to clean stuff out, try stuff on, and put together new outfits.

7. 

Books, magazines, articles online, blogs. Anything. You really don't have to spend money to read!

8. 

I do this a lot whenever I find myself on a self-imposed budget. I'll even go as far as adding certain items I want into that website's shopping cart, and then just leaving it. (And I never feel guilty for it, and on the plus side - if I still really want it later, it's usually either on sale, or at that point I know I really want it and will make the cost-per-wear more than worth it!)

9. 

I know, I know...it's hard to get the motivation sometimes. But just think about how good you'll look while sunbathing in the park (see number 1) - and all you have to do (especially since it's summer) is just head outside and run, jog, take your dog out for a walk, ride a bike...and you got to do something both good for your heart, and your wallet! 

10.

Of course.

As much as I love living in NYC, it sure is nice to get away every once in a while! Quick recap of my July 4th weekend in D.C.:

Friday pm:

I picked up my sister and her friends in the city, where we proceeded to take an hour to get through the Lincoln Tunnel (why is it always such a nightmare to get in and out of the city via the Lincoln Tunnel?), and we drove straight to dinner at Bistrot du Coin, a really cute French bistro that looks tiny from the outside but has an enormous ceiling height inside - view from the top:


 We sat upstairs, and all had delicious food (steak frites for me - rib eye!) before crashing nearly as soon as we got back to my sister's friend's apartment.

Saturday:

We got up and went to brunch at Vinoteca, which had bottomless mimosas/bellinis/kir royales for $10, although I opted for a cappucino since I was still a little weary from the day before, and ordered a delectable eggs benedict on this thick, chewy toast instead of english muffins, that was covered in melted gruyere and then a poached egg and hollandaise on top. Yum. (For a full review, click here.)

Afterwards, we went sightseeing:


Good news is, we saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial all in one go - the bad news is, it was like 100 degrees and boiling, and I probably didn't appreciate everything for what it is since I was too busy feeling uncomfortable! We got refreshments at Starbucks, and then, fully rejuvenated, went to the Portrait Gallery, which was blessedly air conditioned! (I don't normally use words like "blessedly", but that's how grateful I was.) 

Every time I go to a museum, I always leave feeling like I should pick up art again and do something creative - I love it! Sadly, I don't make the time for it...but regardless, my favorite piece was this: