Another way to save on fall fashion....

I'm a huge fan of thrift shops. Always have, always will. It's in my shopping blood, you can say. And now, I'm even happier after learning of a Plato's Closet store that recently opened in my town! If you don't know what Plato's Closet is, let me explain briefly. Plato's is a franchise store that buys and sells your gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories. Here's the catch though: the store will only buy up-to-date, trendy, popular brand name items for teens and twenty-somethings. I love how I can go in with a bag of clothing that just doesn't appeal to me anymore, and walk out with some cold, hard cash in hand. Now, now, I usually don't actually walk out the door with said cash, as 75% of the time I am overwhelmed and tempted to purchase more goodies I see while there!!! But it's all good, right?

Okay, I do have one problem with Plato's Closet. Sometimes their pricing system on their merchandise isn't so great. More than once, I've picked up a shirt only to put it back when their price is higher than the original garmets selling price. For ex. $9 for a Merona tank when its original price sticker on it reads $7. Oh well, no biggie. I'm a pro when it comes to knowing what to buy and when to buy it at a store like Plato's. Kinda.....I will say that on my latest excursion to Plato's Closet, I found a dress from Anthropologie that I had been vying to get since this summer. Originally over $140, I got it in my size, in fabulous like-new condition for $18....

...nice!

sometimes its best to think ahead

Ugg has released their fall 2009 collection, and they have successfully caught my attention with the 'Highkoo'. These slouchy, simple boots will set you back at a pricier $200 USD, but I see this a worthy investment. The 'Highkoo' comes in three shades: black, espresso, and grey. The slouchy detailing is perfect for pairing with skinny jeans (still in style, yay) and a warm sweater....yes, I am thinking of winter even though its 103 degrees today again....

You know, I have a pair of Uggs from a few years back and they look great to this day! Ugg products, from their sandals, boots, even accessories, hold up extremely well to outside elements. Just make sure you follow the care instructions....Oh and another plus~they are super cozy with the fluffy wool lining.....like a cloud

Busy, Busy

Sorry for the break in posting, but sometimes life hits hard with...well, life-related stuff. No worries, I'll be back in no time at all.

Reason #28495 to visit Target: Miss Trish of Capri

Mark your calendars! On April 5th, 2009 at Target stores nationwide, the Miss Trish of Capri line of nautical inspired sandals are being introduced after much anticipation. This collection is sure to bring a splash of whimsy to any Spring shoe wardrobe. Trish Carroll introduces her line to the retailer with gold-embellished starfish, clams, fish, and lions on the ridiculously trendy~ thong sandal. Prices range from 29.99 to 34.99.

I'm loving what I see!

Save at Penney's

From March 18-21st, use these savings certificates at JcPenney's and save a bundle! I am really liking the various womens collections at Penney's (Nicole Miller, A.n.a, allen b.)...Make sure to check out the new I Heart Ronson line. There are some majorly cute pieces there (like this ruffle shirt). The best part is that almost all clothing and accessories are on sale this week. So, make sure to hit up your nearest Penney's armed with this coupon and you can really save some major bucks while creating a fashionably parsimonious Spring wardrobe.

Shop Gap+Banana Republic+Old Navy for a Cause

For four days only (March 12-15th), every purchase you make at any Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, and Old Navy, 30% off your purchase total will be taken off with this multiple use coupon! To make things even sweeter, 5% of your purchase total will go towards The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It's the third annual Give and Get Shopping Event! Now, isn't that a great reason to shop?!

It's to dye for

Chill out in this retro-inspired, tie-dye lightweight tank. It's an easy and inexpensive way to add some grooviness into your wardrobe. Only $9 (reg. $65) at Calypso St. Barth.

Splash of color

Don't you just love tunics? It's an effortless and simple way to look chic and polished. Whether over a pair of jeans or leggings, a bright springtime tunic is one way to brighten your wardrobe forecast.

Calypso St. Barth Halia Tunic (195.00)

Forever 21 Ezri Woven Tunic (27.80)

fringe benefits

One shoe trend appearing at a shoe store near you this Spring/Summer 2009, is the fringe sandal. Love it. I'm getting that whole bohemian vibe with this trend... And that's right up my alley! Nothing looks more chill than a pair of great jeans, a flowy blouse, and a pair of some funky leather fringe sandals! I scoped out a few varieties of fringed-out sandals and pictured them below along with links to their details. With a variety of price points available, you're sure to find a pair that fits your budget~and your wardrobe.

Payless (19.99)

Forever 21 (24.80)

Dillards (89.00)
Kenneth Cole Reaction (68.95)

Green with envy

Marshalls (39.99)

I absolutley fell in love with this B. Makowsky East/West Crossbody handbag at Marshalls yesterday. The rich, mint-green color drew me in, and the soft-as-butter leather sold me in an instant. I had a $20 giftcard to use, and boy, did I put it to good use! I can't wait to wear this little gem out and about. It is perfect for Spring and Summer! This shade will bring a splash of color to any outfit. Retails for $138.

Details:

• Cross-body strap, top zip closure, front zip pocket, back slip pocket
• Lined interior, zip pocket
• Measures approximately 11"W x 7"H x 1-1/2"D with a 21" strap drop
• Body 100% genuine leather; lining 100% polyester

Interesting Read

Read this little article entitled '8 tips for great thrift store finds' on Msnbc this morning. Thought it was a pretty interesting, and helpful article for thrift store newbies! You can check it out here.

The Sunday Chill

Free People Knit Hoody (138.00)

Delias Reese Low-Rise Denim (39.50)

AE Suede Moccassins (24.95)

Un panty libre

Express stores are offering customers a free panty with this coupon! No purchase necessary. But hurry offer expires March 1st! I don't like the word 'panty'. Sounds wierd...........anyhow, enjoy.

Enzo Angiolini

I found these Enzo angiolini 'Hypnotic' flats at Marshalls for $7! Of course, I just couldn't resist. With an original price of $79, I definitley feel like I got a deal. Paired with some dark distressed denims and a flowy white blouse, I have myself a simple, chic outfit!

Here' some features of the 'Hypnotic' sandal by EA:

Chic thong sandal with a brilliant metallic finish
Adjustable buckle closure
Lightly padded footbed
Man-made sole
1/4" heel

'it's feeling like spring' ootd

It's been really seasonable around here as it rose into the high 70's for a couple weeks now. I love the spring, it's a time of the year where the weather is lovely, the flowers are blooming, and the air is crisp. Truly refreshing. Yes, I know it is only February, but here in South Texas, there never is a real winter, only a series of wierd weather patterns that eclipse each month. You never know what is going to happen tommorow, weather-wise. But one thing I am sure of, it's definitley going to a be a hot summer. I can feel it in the air.

Breakdown:

Tank: Free People ($7 @ Marshalls)

Jacket: IG Jeans ($2)

Jeans: William Rast 'Belle' distressed denim ($5)~these were even brand new!!!! unbelievable

Sandals: Coconuts by Matisse ($5)~brand new as well!)

Necklace: Target ($8)

And the sad thing is, many people still don't believe that great outfits can be put together for so little! Silly, silly... =)

Free subs for all!

Update: All gone.....damn, that went fast! Apparently a lot of people like subs. Well, at least free subs, that is.

Not fashion related, but I thought you should know that if you sign up at http://www.millionsubs.com/, you will get a free sub certificate to use at Quizno's! Hurry before the offer runs out!

FYI-The Italian sub is to-die-for and the Raspberry lemonade is good enough to kill for.

happy as a clam....

Take a look at what I scored today at Marshalls: A pair of Frye shoes "Cameron" in a perfect-for-spring-and-summer yellow! These soft leather wedge flats were an unbelievable $15 (super markdowned)! These originally retailed for $152. If you haven't ever owned a pair of Frye shoes, then you're really missing out. Frye footwear is handcrafted in America of the finest and highest quality leather available. Their craftsmanship really epitomizes the qualities of classic, ageless, and authentic footwear. I mean, their company has been around since the Civil War!!!! Soldiers of the Union and Confederacy wore Frye boots. *mind blows*

Really gives you your moneys worth. Totally proud of the 15,000 pennies I spent today on these deliciously cute shoes.

JcPenney's Rewards

I just found out recently online that Jcpenney's has a new rewards program for its customers. It works like this: you sign up online or instore and register your name, address, and phone. You then can attach your debit card or credit card to the account so that whenever you make a purchase with your card at any Jcpenneys, you are credited with points. After you accrue so many points, you earn reward certificates based on your total spending each quarter. These certificates work like giftcards for you to spend and come in increments of $10, $20, and so on.

Now, here's some great news, for a limited time, when you sign up for the JcPenney rewards, you automatically get a $5 reward certificate to use online or in stores! You don't even have to register a card on your account to gain access to the certficate! I registered and haven't placed a card in the account, and recieved my certificate instantly. I even used it today! Here's how to get yours:

Go to JcPenney.com and click on the rewards block on the bottom left. Register your info and make sure to enter the promotional code 3008. Add your card information on the second screen (remember, it's not required to get certificate). After you register your info, close your window, click this link (https://www.jcprewards.com/Index.aspx) and print your certificate!

I was able to get a couple of shirts for my brother and shirt for myself for less than $3! There are some mega sales going on, so make sure to head on over to your nearest JcPenney to snag some deals!

Rainy day ootd

Top

Forever 21 ( 17.80 )

Pants

Delias ( 49.50 )

Sandals

Payless ( 12.49 )

stupid speech day ootd

I was nervous this morning. I had to give a mock interview in my business speech course. Yuck. So I decided to at least wear something that would make me feel more confident, and comfortable in front of these 40 (critical) eyeballs. Dressing in what makes you feel confident does make a world of difference. I hate public speaking by the way.....

You know, layering is the name of the game. I love layering. Period. I feel naked without at least 3 layers of fabric on my top half! It gives a structured, yet bohemian look to an outfit. Make sense? Probably not, but its just something that I love. You know, like some people insist on wearing hats all the time? A hat a day? What's that about....

Breakdown:

Top-$3.99 Goodwill

Camisole-$3.99 Goodwill

Cardigan-$5 Target

Jeans-$18 Dillards (marked down from $98!)

Shoes-$5 Target

Ring (not pictured, but gold/yellow floral arrangment)-$6 Target

So, an entire outfit for under $45. Nice, right? My favorite part of the whole shebang was the shoes. They are so very bright, cute, and comfortable! Sorry for the flashtastic pics, but I was in a rush to leave! And excuse the marks on the mirror. That would be a combination of dog and 5 year-old boy slobber and smudges. Ah, life in my house....

And a closer look at the layering effect I spoke briefly of.....very neutral, unassuming look. Grey is a good color, fyi

Have I told you why I love Marshalls?

Get thee to a Marshalls if you are a huge fan of Free People, like yours truly. Yesterday I found tons of tanks and summer blouses marked on super clearance (my kind of clearance) anywhere from $5-$20 appropriate for a spring and summer wardrobe. Now, I obsess over Free People. Their catalog is like serious eye candy. But I can't afford the retail prices. So what I do, being so darn parsimonious (teeheehee), I hunt off-price retailers like Marshalls and TjMaxx for their name. It just so happened that yesterday really did bear the fruit of my labor.

I managed to pick up 4 Free People summer blouses for $22. Of course they still had their original tags from Free People on them. It really made me think to see what I would have paid purchasing from their catalog or one of their retail locations....

....$310

SCORE!

So, I had to hit Target today to grab some pizza fixins for little brother (aka: cutie pie), when I stumbled across a great find.....these fab shoes! Oh my: The color. The straps. The shape. And the price? They were 75% off, so I paid a whopping $4.98. Friends, there was this one pair sitting all alone on the lonesome shelf: and in my size. It was meant to be. I can't wait to pair these mustard yellows with some great dark denim, a vintage layered tank, and a dark charcoal cardigan. Squeeeee!

Giving new life...

Recently in the past few months, I had the task of creating a vanity for my room. I had found the desk, mirror, and accessories for the vanity set-up, but I didn't have a chair or bench! Now, I looked through CL to no avail, perused through retailers only to be dissapointed by the high prices, so I turned to a familiar friend, mr. goodwill. Actually, I can't claim credit on this find because it was all my mother! She went to the thrift shop one afternoon on a mission and found me a vintage art-deco-esque chair for I kid you not, $3.99. Sure it had its run. And by run, I mean it need TLC. A little love and handiwork can make all the difference in an older piece of furniture. All you need it an idea, the tools to do the work, and some determination. She really saw through the well-indented plastic seat cushion, scratched wood, and dusty legs. More so than I.

I knew I wanted the chair to be in the darker shades of cherry or mahagony. And fabric is key to the seat. The idea was 17th century french floral. Hmm. So, off to Wal-mart went mom and I. We grabbed a can of wood stain ($4), some fine grain sand paper ($1), paintbrush ($2), and some great, heavy upholsetry fabric ($5).

So, we first removed the cushion from the chair, took the chair outside (well-ventilation is key), sanded the entire chair down to remove uneven texture, and stained it with the wood stain. I had picked out one of the darkest shades of the stains available, a bombay mohagany. After carefully painting the chair evenly, we allowed it to dry overnight. The next day, we applied another layer of stain to even out any missed spots. After another night of drying, we were ready to make the cushion.

We cut an appropriate size of fabric, stapled it around the cushion to the back with a heavy duty work-stapler, and viola! A brand new cushion!

So, we simply put the cushion back on the now-dried chair, and I now had myself a beautiful new vanity chair on which I type right now. And for under $15....you can't beat that! I love giving new life to an old piece of furniture. It makes it unique and truly one of a kind!

Before (excluding mustard-yellow plastic cushion which I had removed for cleaning):

And After:

sale alert!

Just a friendly heads up for designer fashionistas: At Neiman Marcus online and at participating locations nationwide, an extra 40% will be taken off the already reduced prices on select clearance items from a variety of categories. They still have some great items online available, but you'd better hurry as they are going fast! I see some Juicy and Michael Kors that are mighty tempting!

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/templates/saleSiloE.jhtml?itemId=cat980731&parentId=cat000000&masterId=cat000000&icid=home1

Skirts to the third

I had recently bashed the new Goodwill near me. But I gave it another chance this past week, and it has slightly redeemed itself. It's funny because I actually had something in mind before walking into the store! Never is this the usual. I just find things 99% of the time. But I had my game plan. I'd needed skirts. Yes, skirts. Things I normally don't wear. Ever. But I need them now. So, I headed over to the skirt dept. By department, I mean two aisles of pure, unadulterated skirts. Yippee. I actually found some great skirts to begin the year with!

Item A: A J. Crew paisley knee length skirt. Lined. Cotton. Flowy. My size. In perfect condition. $2.99.

Item B: A BN w/tags Houndstooth skirt. Granted, it's not high end designer but a JcPenny house name, it seems very well made! Would look great with black cardi and black tights. Riding boots, perhaps? Or I could do the whole flats routine. Hmm..versatile. Retails for $34, I paid $2.99.

Item C: And last, and not Pictured, a Tommy Hilfiger blue and red wool blend houndstooth, just above the knee skirt. Very cute. $2.99.

Not bad for under $10, eh?

Happy Inauguration Day!

Yay! Happy Inauguration Day 2009! I will remember this day for the rest of my life. It's Significant. Historical. Moving. Although, I did miss a chunk of the ceremonies this morning. Hey, I was in school...learning. But thank goodness for youtube and the thousands of news outlets that will be replaying these moments over and over for the next few days! Can you feel the excitement in the air? Teehehee. I will leave it at this~ I hope for only the best for our new president. Gosh, that's gotta be a stressful job. Last but not least, I wish for the absolute best for our nation, the world, and its future! =)

*pops streamers*

Dream on

Need I say much about these beauties? A picture says a thousand words. Frye's 'Paige' tall riding boots are like so....so great. But with a pricetag of over $350, this girl can only dream. I don't think I could ever bring myself to pay that much for a pair of boots. I can only think of the things I could buy with that money. Like perhaps 350 Whopper Jr burgers at Burger King or the tempting 350 items at a the Dollar Tree (tax is a killer, though).

But then again, these boots would probably last forever. I love riding boots. But only when they are done right. Simplicity is key, but construction is the lock that holds it all together. The Frye name is known for making high quality leather footwear that only gets better with age. Friends, the awesome outfits conjured up in my mind are endless paired with these beauties.

Well, for now I will just wish upon a Frye star that I stumble across a pair of these in size 8 at my local Gw.... Hey, I said I can dream, right? Or I could just get a job.

high expectations

My new Goodwill opened up today right at 9a.m. And man, was I hyped. So after my morning classes, I picked up my mom headed out to the grand opening~but not before running through the drive thru at Burger King, yum. Seriously, why are their fries so good? I could eat them for days with that cursed delicious barbeque sauce.....

Store analysis:

First impressions: store was smaller than what was expected. Very clean and quaint nonetheless. It was crowded. Lots of shoppers shopping at the shop.

Finds: I did manage to snag a great brown peacoat for $5. My mom found some nifty floral fabric she is going to use to make pillows and curtains for a new guest room. Think, Shabby Chic. Also, a beaded floral handbag clutch.

Conclusion: I think I played this GW up to a high standard in my mind. but no worries, time will bring greatness to this newbie thrift store. It's only after a few weeks when things will begin to calm down, organize itself, and then~ the good stuff really will show itself!

yet another day of the bags...

I got out of the house this past Sunday, and took advantage of a visit to a Goodwill with my oldest sister. I must say, that this was a great 'willin day for me! I found not one, but two great handbags! First up, a Dooney & Bourke All-Weather Leather Handbag in excellent condition for $4. I was so excited when I dug this up from the bin o' bags. Amid many, many hideous, outdated bags, lunchpacks and stained tote bags, I found this gem of a handbag. I did some research, and found that this bag is probably from 1994- and is the shade called 'bone'. I just love the shape and quality of this handbag. Looks like it will last forever. Retains its value. Overall, a classic piece.

Next up, a Kate Spade number. I adore Kate's bags, and I am 99.2% sure this is authentic. Everything checks out to back its reputation. The labeling, construction, and all seem like the real deal. Once again, I did my homework and looked up how to spot KS counterfeits. but hey, even if it turns out to be a faux, its still pretty darn cute! $3 later, I am a happy customer!

Three more days!

I am psyched. They are opening a new Goodwill just minutes from my house. Well, 10 minutes away, but still.......Weeeeeee! I am so going to be there on the grand opening on Thursday. Sure, it will be crowded, but they gotta have some good inventory when they open a new store. I have a feeling that these employees are going to know me by name very soon with all the business I'll be providing them. Not to mention, the recycling of my own items from my wardrobe and accessories I'll be giving them through frequent donations. It's a win-win situation =)

Day of the Bags!

I went out the other day shopping on a whim, and found two great deals; one at Ross and the other at Urban Outfitters. Normally, I don't like to go to Ross (Dress for Less). I much more prefer Marshalls or TjMaxx for finding 'designer' labels at discounted prices. Many Ross stores I have visited in the past just seems so disorganized and chaotic. I feel discouraged just walking in and seeing the typical scene: one cashier with thirty people waiting to checkout and clothes strewn all over the aisles. Maybe I am over exaggerating but then again, I've seen more Ross stores like this than not! Plus, I rarely find h/e names at Ross compared to Marshalls (my fave) and TjMaxx.

Okay, lets move on from bashing this particular retail establishment. I did find a great deal while navigating through the purse aisle at Ross: a tote bag from Gwen Stefani's Harajuki Lovers line! This is from the 'Teachers Pet' line of HJL, and features apples and worms with various apple sayings such as 'rotten to the core' and 'one bad apple'...lol...The charm key on the hook just puts more emphasis on the eclectic style HJL bags always have.

Original price? $78

My price? $7.49

And then I went to Urban Outfitters for the first time in a long while. Love this store. period. This particular UO just opened its doors in October, so it is still new to the 'sale ideal'...lol...not much of a clearance area~yet. I found this great coin purse and cosmetic bag duo marked down to $4.99 from $28! I needed a new coin purse! And the larger bag will be perfect for storing some makeup items in my purse while I go to school and the such. The two attach together for easy storage....

keeping warm

...well, there isn't really a winter in south Texas. The coldest it gets is maybe 45 degrees during the day. Still chilly, I must say. As a former Colorado-ian, this is nothing! But, I still need to keep warm while running errands and going out. I have my pea coat I got last year at Old Navy for $40 that I use during brrr days and thats about it for my winter bundling up wardrobe.

But, last night my awesome mother presented me with an sweet gift....a hand-knit scarf. Awww...it's so cozy and really does warm me up! I am wearing it now as I type. Plus, it's in a mossy green shade, which definitley is one of my favorite colors and works well into the spring months. Kudos to mom. And definitley better than anything I could have found at any store....

Creating a Vanity for Less....

Friends, I love makeup, fragrance, and nail polish. Plain and simple. My collection of lip products and nail polish will attest to this. As a result of my ever expanding collection and desire to organize it all in one multi-tasked area, I decided to construct a vanity for my collection. I had a rough draft blueprint in my head of what it should look like, ideally, but it kind of became a work in progress project. I wanted a station where my makeup could be stored away in a drawer or drawers, and roomy enough for a computer workstation. And, I knew I wanted to keep it under a $100.

I didn't have any luck in finding a vanity at a thrift shop or even craigslist, so I turned to the next best spot, Target. I love Target. From their clothing, groceries, home decor and furniture departments, it's all so great. Their prices are great, as well. The furniture piece needed to be:

a) black or dark toned

b) narrow enough to fit against my wall without intruding on my living space and..

c) roomy enough for my makeup collection

Luckily, on my first trip, I found a desk in the furniture dept for about $60 on sale that fit my criteria... I didn't like the knob that was included with the desk. Too modern for my taste. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a glass knob in a beautiful amber tone for about $4.

Found a perfect-sized/color mirror lying around my house....free

Grabbed a few eclectic acessories from Goodwill for under $5. Glass plates, candle sticks, and storage boxes...Viola...a vanity!

Most of my stash fits into the slide out drawer easily. I organized each category of makeup into little baskets I found at the dollar store. Sure, my collection keeps growing, and ends up into an 'overstock' drawer in my closet, but for the most part, my daily collection is all in here! Usually it looks more organized, but I'd been neglecting since it is a holiday break!

I store my fragrances on a metal tray on the desk itself for easy access. Not pictured is the new Viva la Juicy! I tend to go through fragrance phases, so these are just some of the current edp's, I am loving at the time.

New Year, New Threads

Really quickly wanted to let ya'll know about some great sales online from some of my favorite merchants! They are really wanting to get rid of last seasons merch to make room for Spring '09 lineup! That's great for us...more savings!



Betsey Johnson has lots of really fun dresses at 70% off! There are other items such as shoes, cardigans, and jewelry for 30-50% off
http://www.betseyjohnson.com/store/productslist.aspx?categoryid=1&Page=0



Dillards has some great deals on a whole range of items from apparel, home, and even cosmetics
http://www.dillards.com/
make sure to type 'sale' into the search box to choose your categories!



Saks Fifth Avenue is having their designer sale with savings up to 70% off names such as Michael Kors, Juicy Couture, and Burberry...nice
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/search/SearchSale.jsp?JSESSIONID=JdcPwvvNLTXGpk21qyybL0K07pkBDNxQPcZf41GLlCC40SdgtChZ!-1583337976&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474399545537&bmUID=1230871631507

And last, Nordstrom is having a 40% Half yearly sale for MEN...it's their turn, for now...But with names like 7 for all Mankind, BCBG Maxazria, and Hugo Boss, you're bound to find some great deals on these hot names!
http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6008662/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6008662?origin=hp

HAPPY NEW YEAR....May 2009 hold happiness, good health, and prosperity for all!