busygirl

three2go: spoil her pretty.

Every girl loves a little glitz and glam.  Especially my sisters, they're so fun to buy little accessories for!  So here's some ideas of what to get that girly girl in your life!

1. Pearl bracelet set- I recently 'gifted' myself with this $4 set and loveeeee it!  There's two sizes of pearls and four bracelets to mix and match or wear alone.

2. Classy Cambridge cloche hat - I'd love a hat like this to wear to work in the morning, not only is it cute, but it wouldn't mess up my hair like a knit hat will.

3. You cannot go wrong with scarves - lately I've been drawn to ruffle scarves, they keep the versatility of a scarf but add a little flair.

4. Headbands, headbands, galore!  My new recent obsession.  I love anything with flowers, feathers and over-exaggerated bows.  Um Santa? YES PLEASE!!

5. If your girly girl isn't the headband wearing type, she can get the same affect with these adorable rose bud pins for your hair.

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links which means i will be receiving a penny or two if you click on them and purchase something.  i'd love ya for it.  seriously. (did I mention that it all gets donated to charity?) 

for those who need some distraction...

Some linky love for you:

Grace Hester Designs

Her 2010 Personalized Calendar has been nominated for this week's Etsy Voter!  I'm in love with the stuff she creates, simple silhouette and typography prints with calming colors and intriguing designs.  Check it out and vote for her calendar!

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Vanderbilt Wife

Has a GREAT holiday menu if you're looking for ideas...and it features yours truly along with many other bloggity brains who are clearly much better at cooking than me.

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Need fashion inspiration? 

I'm obsessed with Jessica Schroeder's daily journal of her outfits - without a doubt my favorite fashion blog.  Here's some of my favorite outfits: Fringe Effect, Channeling Chanel, Hazy Sunday, Mama's Boy, Meh, Something Outta Nothingand my absolute favorite look - Loving Life.  And she's getting married (to an Adam as well!) so I love following her on her wedding planning adventures!

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And just for fun...

Kristen Stewart goes a whole 45 seconds without biting her lip - for some reason I found this impossible but here's the proof.

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Happy 3-days-till-Christmas!

um, can you say MAJOR sale??

This is without a doubt my FAVORITE store to shop at so how excited am I that New York & Company has some AWESOME deals going on right now.

They have all their merchadise B1G1 75% off (outerwear, clearance, Spring 2010 preview and City Deals). AND to top it off you can get $20 off $60 with promo code 2583 or $50 off $125 promo code 2851 through December 17th. AND if you shop using Ebates you get 8% cash back!

If you're a short-legged person like me, hurry over there because they have great dress pants for work in PETITE sizes, that's right, no hemming required.  Along with my short-legs issue, I also happen to have an extremely long torso, but New York & Company button downs are long enough that I can wear them without feeling self-concious.  Their clothes are great to wear from work to play, wash and wear well. 

I'm pretty sure you can guess where my Holiday bonus is going...

friday all day.

Finally it's Friday.  This was an incredibly busy week.  The volunteer group that I lead had a donation/gift-wrapping event on Wednesday night benefiting the YWCA - an agency that provides housing to single women who are formerly homeless and struggling with mental illness.

Beyond offering them a safe place to stay, they work with each resident to create an individualized plan for personal and professional growth. With programs ranging from addiction counseling to GED tutoring, our goal is to help residents become healthier, better able to contribute to the community, and better prepared to attain and retain employment.

The event was a success, we were able to collect many, many donations for the women in this program and wrap them all up pretty with a bow.  Not to mention get to network/socialize with other young professionals.  Adn there was beer.  And wine.

Last night I was invited to attend a makeup party with some of my favorite girlfriends.  It was sponsored by Mary Kay and we had a blast getting facials, trying out some new eye looks and dramatic lipstick colors.  Mary Kay has some amazing new products coming out, and I was lucky enough to receive the new brow gel they just came out with.  I'm wearing it today and as someone who is constantly battling with my thick eyebrows, let me tell you.  It's awesome!

I'm not a huge makeup person, but I do love Mary Kay's skincare line.  And it's always fun to get to try out some new looks especially with girlfriends.  I'm hosting a makeup party in January for some sorority sisters and I can't wait!

Regardless, I'm glad it's Friday and that there's only six more hours of work to go until I can go home and snuggle up with Ricki and a Great Lakes Christmas Ale!

Oh and did I mention that our Christmas cards arrived?   Guess that means I need to get busy addressing them.  And finish designing my friend Sarah's cards for her and her hubby- so fun!

Too much to do and too little time...

fifteen2go: frugal fashionista finds!

Oh yes, my FAVORITE topic!  Style for less!  I consider myself a sporadic fashionista meaning that unless I really like a trend, I don't buy in.  For instance, boyfriend jeans?  No way.  This whole paid shirt trend? Nu-uh.  But scarves, oversized sunglasses, high-waisted skirts, skinny jeans, colorful tights, boyfriend cardigans and boots, boots, boots galore!  Yes please!

And the bags, omg the bags...

1. Start simple - the essential tee.  Everyone needs one or twenty, so pick one up in any color.  My favorite is this tee from Old Navy - super soft and easy to layer with anything!

2. You could be wearing a crappy t-shirt, throw on a scarf and look fabulous.  Not only that, but they make the PERFECT gift for any fashionista in your life.  Pick up tons in bright colors, bold patterns... even sequins for a steal!

3. Always needed to top off any outfit.  I'm really liking this faux-pearl bracelets, pendant necklace, oversized rose ring or even this studded circles cuff.

4. Cardigans are the perfect laying piece for any outfit.  Make them colorful, long, short, tie them with a belt or get one with ruffles.

5. It may be winter and cold but that doesn't mean your little fashionista must resort to wearing pants.  Get her a cute skirt and pair of colorful tights for an awesome outfit!

7. And if you haven't figured it out yet, I LOVE BOOTS!  And would wear them in the summer if Adam would let me (boots and shorts?  super cute).  I JUST bought these last week and have already worn them three times (and gotten loads of compliments).  I'm also loving these booties and these slouchy cowboy boots.

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links which means i will be receiving a penny or two if you click on them and purchase something.  i'd love ya for it.  seriously. (did I mention that it all gets donated to charity?)

holiday deals: 20% off at gap!

Take 20% off your Gap purchase until 1/30/2010!

off on another adventure.

We need a vacation.  STAT.  Or I might scream.  Between being frustrated at work, overwhelmed with wedding planning and cleaning up the house day after day, I have had it.  But with the holidays coming up, a wedding next year, who really has the money to go on a vacation or even take the time off work to go?

Fortunately, we managed to scrape together an affordable mini-vacation for the weekend!  We're off for a weekend of swimming and fun in the 'fake' sun!  That's right, we're headed to Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio to hit up the water slides with my siblings!  I may not be able to go to the beach, but I sure can enjoy a weekend in a temperature-controlled building - goodbye 34 degrees, hello 85!

Be back Sunday!

free starbucks coffee...and $1 off coupon!

Click HERE to print the coupon!

flights for $25!

Southwest Airlines has launched an air fare sale in which some flights cost the same as what other carriers charge to check a bag.

Dallas-based Southwest on Tuesday announced one-way travel as low as $25, based on the length of the flight.

The discount carrier says fares are $25 for travel up to 375 miles. The price is $50 for travel between 375 and 549 miles, and $75 for flights between 550 and 999 miles.

Check it out!

frugal friday: jeans jeans and more jeans

Ahh the everyday essential.  Well, not for me since Monday-Thursday I must resort to my black/brown/gray pant basics to fulfill the business casual requirement.  So really, I really cannot justify spending $100 on a pair of jeans, no matter how small they may make my butt look (which is by no means an easy task).

So imagine how THRILLED I was when I went to Old Navy the other day to replenish my white t-shirt collection and discovered that they had jeans for $19!  In cute styles!  In trendy washes!  In my size!!! (Seriously how many times have you rummaged through sales with no hope of ever finding anything in your size...frustrating)

So, I picked up a pair of Dreamer jeans (which, were also on clearance, so they only cost me $9 - what a deal!)

They are fabulous!  I love them and can't wait to wear them (after I hem them of course.  I'm one of those lucky few cursed with a long torso and very short legs).

Here are some other jean options to check out that are great buys:

$29, DIVA Skinny Jeans from Old Navy - bought them last year and LOVE them!  Very cute with flats and a loose, flowing shirt.  Have also worn them rolled up slightly with heels.

 Discover denim worthy of a Diva. Our chic, sleek Diva jeans fit you like a second skin. Subtle fading, dynamic two-tone stitching and copper rivets add classic appeal. Features scoop and coin pockets in front and patch pockets in back. A touch of spandex adds stretch.

 

 

$39, Aurora Jeans from New York & Company - bought a pair and they are my casual friday staple!  I didn't even have to hem them and the fabric is soft and comfortable.

The jean cut to flatter your curves, in a sanded, vintage wash. Perfect from weekend downtime to nights out. Curvy low rise sits at hip. Slim through thigh; slightly flares at knee.

 

$30, Long and Lean Jeans from Gap - I definitely had to hem these a little, but I wasn't disappointed!  They really elongate your legs and look great with a pair of heels!

Our best-selling jean is instantly slimming. Perfect with a sweet cami, a cool belt, and your Saturday night dinner date.