Was it worth it?
01: Thoughts on recent purchases and what was money well spent.
When I spend money—whether it’s on clothes, food, experiences, or something else—I like to feel good about it.
As much as possible, I try to be mindful of what I buy. I love finding a good deal, but I also don’t mind spending a little extra from time to time if it means better quality. I read a lot of reviews, pay attention to recommendations and try to base my purchases on their perceived value. I’m always asking myself, was it worth it?
Here are some thoughts on what I bought recently. What was money well spent, and what gave me buyer’s remorse?
Zara knit vest
I’ve been itching to get in on the vest trend, but every time I’ve added one to my cart, something stops me from pulling the trigger. I love the tailored look of a suit vest and get inspired by styles like these. The combo of a black/white/beige vest paired with jeans or dress pants feels chic and elevated for those days you want to look a little more put together.
However, living in the suburbs and having a job where I work from home, it’s hard for me to justify spending the money on a nice vest that will rarely be worn. I can hear my husband jokingly say, “Where are you going to wear it? To school pick-up?” When it comes to buying clothes, I like to do a quick assessment in my head of how much wear I’d get out of it (unless I already have a specific occasion in mind that I need it for.)
I’m still on the fence about getting a tailored vest, but I did buy a knit version from Zara last month. It’s a good option to dip my toe in this trend, and the knit style with stripes is casual enough for day-to-day. So far, I’ve worn it a handful of times with jeans, including to my kids’ school for a meeting with my son’s teacher.
White Zara dress
Another Zara purchase, but this one didn’t work out. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect white summer dress, like this Jenni Kayne one worn by @mimixn.
Something light and airy with a bit of structure that can be dressed-up with a strappy sandal or down with a pair of flip-flops.
I had high hopes for this Zara dress, but it ended up being too baggy and a bit see-through. The hunt continues…
Merit Great Skin instant glow serum
Have you tried anything from Merit yet? It’s a clean, vegan, cruelty-free, minimalist makeup brand founded by Who What Wear’s Katherine Power. I discovered the brand last year after seeing their products all over Instagram. After reading tons of reviews, I caved and bought several of their products. I’m a huge fan.
I wear their Great Skin serum every morning, and I feel like it’s really brightened and evened-out my skin tone. It gives it a nice, healthy, just-got-back-from-the-beach glow, which is especially helpful in the wintertime when my skin tends to get dull and dry. I also find it very hydrating, and it works great under makeup.
I repurchased another bottle after finishing my first one (I was surprised with how long it lasted) and also got one for my mom for Mother’s Day. Something to consider depending on your skin type: my mom’s skin is on the oilier side, and she broke out the first few times using it. She said her skin took time to adjust to the serum, but now she loves it.
Food – pizza, pizza and more pizza
Our family likes to eat out once a week to get a break from cooking. When I looked back at where we ate in May, it seems we were on some kind of pizza kick.
There was dinner at Bar Sugo in Toronto, where we shared a bunch of different pies with friends (my favourite was the Uncle Scotty, topped with pesto, chilli, zucchini, whipped ricotta and basil.) Then, for Mother’s Day, I took my mom to the Common Good Café & Social House in Barrie, where I got their Cauliflower Crust Pizza topped with brie, grapes, arugula and a drizzle of honey. And then there was a quick trip to Niagara Falls with the kids, where we had dinner at Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante, opting for classics like meat lovers and cheese.
Of all the delicious pizzas we had, our favourite was Pizzeria Badiali in Toronto. Even with a 2-hour wait in line, it was worth it. It’s the closest thing to a New York City slice, and it has all the makings of a perfect pizza, in my opinion: paper-thin crust, (amazing) homemade sauce, and simple but high-quality toppings, like burrata.
The best $50 spent
My son is 6 and is really into video games (is this normal at this age?) After a streak of better bedtimes for him, we celebrated with a trip to the arcade. I initially cringed at the cost of tokens, but then it ended up being pretty fun—we played games, killed more than an hour of time and the kids got to pick out a few toys with their tickets, which kept them entertained while we were out for dinner. Plus, look at their faces.
Some recommendations:
Improving your relationship with money: Since we’re on the topic of spending - I wrote a piece last year about how our beliefs and mindset can impact our habits and how we feel about money. “We're taught that by simply learning about financial literacy, we can get better with money, but we need to dig deeper," [says Taheera Fidaali, CPA and owner of TULA Accounting Consulting] “If we don't believe we'll ever have money, or that we can manage our money well, it'll never happen."
Taste vs. Style: A short, and extremely helpful read from
that gives a refreshing perspective on how to approach shopping. With so much I want to buy this summer, I’ve been trying to apply this “taste vs. style” concept so I don’t blow my budget. In the article, she writes, “…taste is a general category in which things you love fall into. But not everything you love needs to be something you buy, own or wear. Not everything you love will suit you. Style is more specific. Its the things you love, that you wear (and don’t wear you) and make you feel confident and distinct.”
Mmmm that Uncle Scott pizza… so good!!! Look at those kids 😊