Caped Crusader {part two}

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who would have thought that my find-of-the-year would come to me the day before Thanksgiving, and not on the day after! I found the perfect cape, at the perfect price of $33, and I didn't have to get up at 3am to get it.  I know what I'm thankful for this year :-)

{Love 21 Plaid Woven Cape from Forever 21}

Happy Thanksgiving, lovies! You all better cheer for Bama in Friday's game :-) Stay tuned for another installment of Fashionable Friends coming soon!

Any way you want it, that's the way you paint it

First of all, let me apologize for how long it's been between posts! I've been slacking due to my preparation for the upcoming holidays. Between making a Thanksgiving wreath for my mom and writing something hysterical for a surprise (that I won't go into detail about....don't want to give it away!), I've barely had time to sleep, let alone blog. But now I'm back! 

I realized earlier this week that I was really wanting a canvas bag to use in my everyday life. I have some cute re-usable grocery totes that my mom gave me last year...but they are that nylon material that screams "there's food in here!!!", so I don't love to use them to haul magazines or an extra pair of heels or my laptop. If I had my way, I would carry this Anya Hindmarch (of the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" trend) canvas tote. I love the orange color and the cheeky message....but not the $230 price tag. Boo.

{Available Canvas tote by Anya Hindmarch via net-a-porter}

If you're in the market for a tote that will let people know how you feel about the planet, this is a great option from Make Love Not Trash. 

{Fly Away Tote, $45, from Make Love Not Trash}

I'm head-over-heels for this adorable carry-all from 291....such a sweet message. Wink!

{291 Love Rock tote, about $26 on sale!, from Shopbop}

So what do I do when I find myself at home with an extra 30 minutes, some extra crafting supplies, and a desire for something that I don't want to pay for? I MAKE IT!

I started with a plain canvas bag, 2" letter stencils, some painter's tape, and some spray fabric paint. 

Spell out whatever you want your bag to read, and tape down the stencils.

Spray paint side-to-side...

and wait for your masterpiece to dry!

All in all, this little project cost me about $15. AND I LOVE IT!!! 

Streamline Sales

{I've yet to decide if what I'm about to reveal is a good thing or an absolutely terrible thing.} 

If you're anything like me, your inbox is overflowing with emails from Gilt, HauteLook, Rue La La, and the like telling you about upcoming sales on items that you clearly don't need, (but once you see it in writing, you feel like you're going to die without). You'll go so far as to save the emails because you don't want to forget about the sales, and then a few days later you'll sheepishly delete them, half embarrassed that you saved them at all and half still convinced that you're passing up something you'll never be able to find again. This habit can become very time-consuming, and pretty annoying. Checking all of those emails to find one or two (or five) thing that you want is a lot of work!

Enter SalesCast by Splendora. It plugs itself as "The Ultimate iPhone App for Online Sales Addicts". (Sounds about right...)  

SalesCast compiles all of the best sales from it's top 20 sample sale site including Gilt Group, Ideeli, Rue La La, HauteLook, Daily Candy's Swirl, and Billion Dollar Babes. The editors of the app compile all of the best sales from these sites and streamline them into one list right on your phone. No longer is there a need to let your inbox get out of control! 

This app allows you to scroll through current and upcoming sales, flag your favorite sales, make your own reminder lists, and actually purchase the items that you find. It also allows you to filter items by category....no need to be bothered by children's clothing sales alerts when you really just want shoes. 

Genius! And the best part....buy this amazing organizer from the iPhone App Store-    

FOR FREE!

I've bought the app and I'll let you know if I find it helpful....or if it only feeds the addiction :-)

Little Black {Lace} Dress

Every woman should have an LBD in her closet....or two...or five.  Let's be serious, you can never have too many. There is nothing else in the world that can make you look classy AND sexy at the same time, and no other garment in your wardrobe will ever be as versatile.  So why not expand your collection with one of this year's hottest trends- the little black lace dress. These celebs got this look right on!

{Jessica Biel, SJP, and Carey Mulligan try out the hot trend. Image via People}

{Duffy in Dolce & Gabbana, photo courtesy of OMG! Yahoo}

{Zoe Saldana in Vionnet, photo courtesy of OMG! Yahoo}

{Gwyneth Paltrow in Chado Ralph Rucci, image courtesy of OMG! Yahoo}

But alas, we don't all have the bottomless pockets that the stars of stage and screen are lucky enough to have....sigh.....

So aren't we lucky that these lovely little numbers are within our reach...some much more so than others.

{Elena Lace Shift dress, about $600, from J Crew}

{Marc by Marc Jacobs Abigail Lace Dress, about $530, Shopbop.com}

{Lace Sleeve Dress by Love, $88, from Topshop}

{Vero Moda Lace Strap Tailored Dress, about $66, from Asos}

{Hazel Lace Dress, $68 on sale!, from Piperlime}

{Oasis Lace Shift Dress, about $104, from Asos}

I don't know about you, but  I think an LBLD is a no-brainer for all of the holiday parties that the upcoming season will be bringing....now I just have to decide which one to chose! 

WHAAAAAT?!?!?!?!?

Sometimes a deal comes along that is just impossible to believe. Like, too good to be true kind of deal. Makes you do a double take kind of deal. You get the idea. I have found that the place to go for these kinds of sent-from-heaven steals around the holidays is Sephora. 

Check this out....then pick your jaw up off of the floor and get to the mall as fast as possible. 

Presenting the Sephora Collection Endless Color Blockbuster!

This amazing palette includes 98 eyeshadows, 70 lip glosses, 6 cream eyeliners, 3 traditional eyeliners, 2 lip liners, 1 mascara and 4 applicator brushes (and a pop-up mirror, natch). You can snatch up this $435-value palette at the UNREAL price of $48!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, right?!?!?! 

And my favorite part? When it's all folded up, it looks just like the iconic Sephora bag. 

Too cute!

Calling all husbands, boyfriends, parents and friends. I know what's at the top of MY list this Christmas. 

Oh, and PS...since there is only 1 mascara in the Endless Color Blockbuster, my Secret Santa may as well throw in the Sephora Favorites LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler. It's only another $40*.....

*A $140 Value....crazy!!!

Fashionable Friends: Lisa!

We all have fashionistas in our circle...and I'm happy to say that my circle is exceptionally well dressed (working in retail helps....no cubicle-appropriate dress codes!).  So I figured that I would start posting some of my friends chicest- and cheapest- looks as inspiration. Today's Fashionable Friend....Lisa!

Here's the rundown on Lisa's outfit....and some similar pieces for you to try :-)

The Sweater: Lisa got her awesome cardi from Mango...on sale! Get it here, 

or try this MINKPINK Cocoon Cardigan from Piperlime...only $64. Nice

The Jeans: I love the worn-in shade of the dark wash on Lisa's jeans. She scored them from Urban Outfitters for $54!

{BDG Ankle Cigarette Jean in Ink wash}

The T-Shirt: Lisa and I think alike when it comes to t-shirts. Find 'em cheap and buy as many as you can at one time. One of her favorites....Gap.

{Gap Favorite V-Neck T, on sale now for $10!}

The Shoes: Lisa found these Nine West T-strap heels ages ago at TJ Maxx for about $60

While my pick is more pricey, any Frye shoe will last FOREVER, so spending a little extra cash is well worth it, as you won't have to replace them for quite some time.

{Frye Miranda T-Straps, $168, from Zappos}

I love Lisa's look because you can accessorize it with a simple pendant and skinny belt like she did, or you can wear the cardigan open with a big, chunky necklace, like this piece. 

{Hive and Honey Multi Color Statement Necklace, $48 from Piperlime}

Who are the chic chicks that you get style inspiration from?