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$10,000. Do I need to say more? Yes, that is the correct amount of zeroes.

Get the Diamond Crystal Custom Denim

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Yup, wide leg jeans are still in. I like the high waist on these plus the nice wide leg that isn’t like a bell bottom.

Oh yeah, they’re also on super-sale.

$79 from $220

Get the 18th Amendment Wide Leg Jeans

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When Nau first came out, they looked a little too Patagonia to me. As green as I like to be, I’m not really the climb mountains type.

But recently, the released their new collection and I love it, especially the jeans. The jeans are 100% organically grown and every step of their creation is eco-friendly.

There’s a couple of options:

There’s the “loose but not slutty” jeans. I love that name. They are exactly that. They are loose, kind of boyfriend fit. The perfect everyday jeans. ($148)

And then you’ve got the “Lean Jeans.” They’re more of a rocker slim fit, but not so tight that they might as well be leggings. ($138)

Go shopping at Nau.

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I’m going to try to do more tip and trick things from now on.

I am not a millionaire, and I am supposedly on a pretty strict budget, which rarely gets followed. So when I shop, I shop for stuff that is of value. If I’m spending money, I try to make sure it’s worth it.

So here’s a list of 5 things I splurge on. Maybe I’ll do anotehr 5 soon.

photo credit: The Shopping Sherpa

1. My tailor.

A good tailor is like a great hairstylist. They make you look good, no matter what it is that you bring it. I’ve taken in vintage suits, jeans bought on super-clearance and pants I gave up on ages ago and my tailor makes them like new.

She’s also a sweet little old Hungarian lady who loves her toy dog, who hangs out in her shop with her. And yes, I drive 30 minutes to get my stuff tailored by her. I tried someone else and it just wasn’t the same. it was like cheating on my best friend.

2.  A killer fragrance

I have a lot of smell-good fragrances (including the two I bought on sale at sephora yesterday — more on that in a bit), but I always fall back to Armani Elle. It is my sexy date fragrance, something to wear when I want to feel fantastic, and people definitely notice it when they’re close enough.

You know when you smell someone wearing something totally offensive and gross? Well, it works both ways.

3. A good sunscreen

So the rule of skincare goes that you should spend the most on what stays on your skin the longest. So cleanser? Get whatever is cheap and works well. Moisturizer and sunscreen are splurges because they’re on your face for hours.

Sunscreen like my current favorite La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX is crucial at any age. I wish I had known to wear sunscreen everyday even in the winter when I was younger, although my skin is doing well despite it. I’ve worn sunscreen every day for the past two years. It will be my savior.

photo credit: SMercury98

 4. Good butter

This sounds silly, but I swear good butter makes a world of difference when you’re cooking. Butter is your base. All your other flavors start with the sweet creaminess of the butter, whether you’re baking or sauteeing.

I am a huge fan of the Plugra butter at Trader Joe’s, although I’ll use other varieties if I have to. I jsut try to make sure it’s unsalted, quality, and hopefully made without hormones.

5. The perfect jeans

Good jeans will last you years, not months. Good jeans will be made with attention to detail and the fabric will not stretch. If it does stretch a little, it will stretch evenly.

Jeans may not have been a staple 50 years ago, but it is now. Jeans are every day. I wear mine most of the week, since I can be pretty casual at work. My good jeans (either Serfontaines or Joe’s Jeans) combined with my trusty tailor, make my butt look fantastic and my legs miles long.

So, what do you splurge on? 

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reading: Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.

watching: Twin Peaks. The Boy has went ahead and gotten me obsessed.

pondering: It’s been a rally busy week and AT&A has gotten left behind in the dust. I promise I’ll be better soon.

wearing: Joe Jeans cigarette jeans. Finally, some skinny jeans that fit.

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Reading: Not Buying It by Judith Levine. it’s such a wonderful concept and I’ve nowed to be more simple this year. It may last until the next big sale at my favorite store.

Watching: Monk. Who can resist Tony Shaloub?

Eating: Brussels Spouts sauteed and glazed with some Maple Syrup. I got the original idea at 101Cookbooks (Heidi wrote the awesome Super Natural Cooking) and one of the other readers suggested the maple syrup. Yum.

Wanting: my perfect Serfontaine skinny jeans to fit.

Loving: my new West Elm Parsons desk. Pics to come.

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reading: Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow. I’m on a mission to read all of the books on the Modern Library’s Top 100 novels (The board’s list, the reader’s is next)

watching: K-Ville (love Anthony Anderson) and everything else that is new for fall. I’ve got Cane, Journeyman, and Chuck to watch and it’s only Thursday.

wearing: My Levi’s 501s. Comfortable defined.

wanting: a flat iron, perhaps a Solia. I have cute short hair and it’s now required.

drinking: a lot of bloody marys and Chai Chargers from West End.

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Watching: Burn Notice. I love spies. I wish I had one to do all my dirty work. and Jeffrey Donovan is hot.

Buying: A lot of stuff from Urban Outfitters. Never really been my style before, but I’m digging it lately. Especially this top, which looks horrendous in the photo, but is slouchy and comfy in real life.

Wanting: A pair of the XFit Serfontaines. So hot, so non-stretching-out. My Rock and Republics did so in months. These aren’t ever supposed ot stretch out. Ever.

Working on: an actual home office. I’ll post pics when it’s all done.

Eating: nothing. Far too hot.

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Jeans are no fun. I’m 5′1 with a lot of curves to go around. My brother is 5′4 and skinny as they come. We’ve both got jeans issues.

So, here come custom jeans. The above jeans are Ujeans, a company that takes 11 measurements and 33,000 possible styles to make your jeans perfect. They’re about $125 US, and shipped from Canada. They’re also environmentally friendly

Want slightly cheaper? MeJeans ship from the US, start from $90, and have tons of customizations.

What’s the difference? I e-mailed UJeans to ask why they cost a little more and Daniel tells me, “We use a simple pricing system - one price. It does not matter fabric a client chooses, the wash, or “size” created - it’s just one price. We use environmentally friendly colouring processes for the jeans, so no harsh chemicals. There are a one or two “extras” that we include with the jeans that I think add a smart touch to the process, but you’d have to order a pair to get them!”

Sounds pretty good. Too lazy to get a measuring tape? I Love Jeans promises you the perfect fit, with their jeans finding machine.

Go forth and find denim!

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