My buys - Month five

This has got to be one of my favourite purchases to date – five private dance lessons for my husband and I. (It had been about eight years since our last lesson.) We're in the process of buffing up our Hustle and Foxtrot skills and it has been SO fun. I wrote a post about this choice ("Me" spending versus "we" spending) – but now that we've actually started the lessons, I feel like the timing of this choice was especially fortuitous. Last week our wonderful instructor told us she's closing her studio and moving out of town. This is sad news – but I would have felt much worse about it if I'd just driven by the studio one day and noticed it was closed, with no chance to say goodbye, much less take lessons. It's amazing to me that we squeaked in right before the opportunity disappeared forever.

Okay, these Supadance beauties aren't actually new, but I thought they deserved a photo to celebrate their liberation after so many years of hibernation. 

I feel like my move into expensive scarves has been nothing short of life-changing. (I am not even exaggerating.) The first Tilo scarf I bought has a print of the Golden Gate bridge; sometimes I think it's the most gorgeous thing I own. I definitely wear it more than anything else in my closet. It makes every outfit look complete and it washes well too. So, when I saw this summery beauty with a beach print at Any Direct Flight, I figured it could be the cornerstone of my spring wardrobe.

I wonder where in the world this was taken. Anyone know? 

In my "past life" of shopping on the cheap, I developed a definite shortage of nice basics. If I was going to spend money on something, it certainly wasn't going to be, say, a tank top that no one would see anyway. I'm taking a different approach now. Like, even if I'm the only one who knows I'm wearing a layer that feels like the softest cashmere sweater, that's fine!

P.S. I need a clothing steamer. Any recommendations?

This picture is from Melissa Nepton's site, because my own pictures did not convey the really great drawstring waist, pockets and shirred hems of these comfortable, light trousers. I found them at (where else) Any Direct Flight.