Music and Sun

On Saturday I attended my first music festival of the summer. I love festivals. You get the chance to see and hear lots of bands, in one place and usually for a bargain price. We went to the very first Ragtime Carnival at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia (Richmond area). The festival was organized by one of my favorite bands, Carbon Leaf. The band and their music are very special to me. One of the first dates that {msL} and I went on was to a Carbon Leaf show. We also exited the church and our wedding ceremony to their song, Life Less Ordinary. The festival was two days (Friday evening and Saturday) but we only attended Saturday (Boo work). Sixteen bands played over the two day festival and there were two stages (main and a smaller acoustic stage). The organizers timed things so it was possible to hear all of the bands. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was a beautiful day, warm in the sun and a slight breeze at times. There was no rain in sight. Comfort was the order of the day for my outfit. I chose a simple dress, a hat for sun protection, my trusty Birks and my new NECTAR sunnies.

 

Dress - Kohl's (No longer available), Shoes - Birkenstock (old style, similar here and here), Hat - Target (men's small), Sunglasses - c/o NECTAR, Bracelets - Stella and Dot (c/o Kristin Biggs), bracelet c/o People VIP and Klout, backup hairbands Goody double wear, and of course my band to buy beer. Earrings - gift, Rings - wedding band and MD Renaissance festival vendor (mid 90's)

There had been rain for two days before the festival. I was a bit worried the field might be a mud pit. I wore ankle boots into the show and once we were settled, I swapped them out for my sandals. I took my trusty bag (it doubles as my beach bag during the summer) with sunscreen, a few toiletries, bug repellent, and a collapsible water bottle.

On top of the perfect weather, the great company (I went with {msL} and my sister), the music was incredible. My sister said it best when she said, "At other festivals, there have been a few bands that I didn't love. That's not the case today. Every band and artist was fantastic. I loved them all!"

On our way (8am), coffee was required.

There were so many memorable moments from the day. I loved the easy going nature of the festival. The artists walked around the grounds, talked to fans and listened to other bands. I got to meet Terry Clark of Carbon Leaf! We share a birthday.

Terry posing with me before his final set.

I also got to meet Sarah Blacker. I'd never gotten to hear her play live before. She even thanked my sister and I for dancing during her set. She so talented and the coolest lady! Emerson Hart (founder of Tonic) played "If You Could Only See", acoustic. It was a nice surprise, since he's a solo artist now and doesn't play that song often. I loved hearing Crystal Bowersox live. She is such a soulful singer songwriter. Finding new favorites is one of the best parts of a festival. Delta Rae and The Wild Feathers are definitely on that list.

Carbon Leaf opening and closing the day.

Thanks to NECTAR Sunglasses, I got to shield my eyes from the sun all day. Their company motto is "Enjoy the Sweet Life".  Saturday was definitely the sweet life. It couldn't have been better. I had never heard of NECTAR before they offered me a pair of their shades to try. I immediately loved the classic shape and the mirrored lenses. They're seriously the lightest pair of sunglasses I've ever worn. Lots of times I will develop a headache from shades that are too tight or too heavy. I wore them all day and that didn't happen. Their prices are so reasonable (right up a real girl's alley). $20 for their standard pairs and $30 for polarized. You can also opt for their Fusion style, where you can swap out the ear pieces for $35. I am wearing the AMETHYST style. I'd love to also snag the RAYVE or the STOKE.

Good news for you! As an RGR reader, you can order your very own pair of NECTAR sunglasses, through this link. Use the code lovenectar at check out and you'll get 10% off of your order! Did I mention that shipping is free!?


NOTE: I was provided a pair of NECTAR sunglasses for review. My review is honest and the opinions expressed here are my own.

Virtual Shopping - Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

It's a beautiful time of year. The sun is shining, the weather is warmer, and it's time for the Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale! I'm tempted to go nuts but I need to be more cautious. I picked just a few of my favorites.

 

If you go to ebates before you shop, you'll also get 6% cash back on your purchase! It's a bonus. Shop now and get a check later. It's fantastic! If you don't have an ebates account, signing up is simple and all you do is go to ebates.com first and then click the link to the store where you want to shop. So easy! I just got a check the other day.

Great quality items for fantastic prices! I love Nordstrom.

Insta Monday - Spring Is In The Air

I am without a doubt, a warm weather girl. It's thrilling to see the sun shining, wear open toe shoes and drive with the sun roof open. This weekend was a busy one and I spent more time with family and friends than doing blog posts for the week. I love Instagram but sometimes you want to say more than is possible in the short post. I thought I'd elaborate on a few of my recent photos.



From Top Left (clockwise)

• Blooming Cherry Trees - The area is full of blooming cherry trees (similar to the ones surrounding this National Mall). They signal the start of spring and their pretty pink blossoms always make me happy.

• DIY Distressed Jeans - I created my first pair of distressed jeans (like these expensive ones) recently and I love how they turned out. I am hunting for a few thrift stores pairs to add to my distressed jeans arsenal. I'm planning a DIY post soon.

• Coffee Table Decorations - The tray has been repainted again (you've seen it here in silver). I'm loving it in gold. The candy dish is Depression glass that belonged to my Aunt Em. She used it to hold homemade jam. The pretty roses are from my friends' garden.

• Baseball Game - We received a last minute invite from my sister to attend Friday night's Nationals game. We had a blast, the team won, and we got our faces up on the jumbotron!

• New Polish - This pretty neutral polish (Zoya Rue) was in the People VIP Beauty box I received last week from People Magazine and Klout. It's a fantastic color. I also got a free three month subscription to People Magazine. If you'd like your own subscription, click this link for a great deal.

• New Sunnies from Nectar - I received some new sunnies complements of Nectar sunglasses. I love them. Besides being stylish and mirrored (hot trend that I love) they are super comfortable and affordable. I will be doing a review post soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to check out the sunnies and get a 10% discount on your order, click this link and use the code: lovenectar

To see all of my Instagram photos, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter. My handle on both is @realgirlrunway. Thank you so much for supporting the businesses that believe in and support Real Girl Runway. Show them some love by considering purchases from their businesses.

Maximize Holiday Savings - The Math

I can't believe that I'm helping you with math. It's definitely not my strong suit. But when it comes to saving money on the things I want to buy, I'm all about it. Stores will be full of amazing deals this holiday season. You don't have to stop at the sale price. By stacking deals and rebates you can save even more.



Click photos above for buying information.

As a birthday present to myself (my birthday is Saturday), I made a purchase from Asos. I've had my eye on the hooded biker parka for sometime.  First I waited for the price to come down a bit and then when I saw the great discounts for Cyber Monday I knew I was ready to snatch this coat up before it was gone. In the process I picked up a couple of other items I had on my list and a little splurge (the faux fur collar).

Some of the items purchased (the coat and short sleeve top) were on sale. In addition to the sale prices and Cyber Monday discount (30%), I also used Ebates before I went to the Asos site and I used a credit card that also provided a store rebate for Asos. If you shop online and you aren't using Ebates, you should be.  It's easy, all you need to do is to register for an account and before you shop, go to Ebates. Search for the store name and click to shop. Ebates creates a tracking ticket and you'll recieve a cash rebate based on the percentage displayed for that store. Every quarter ebates will send you a check (or a direct deposit) that is total for all of your ebates. There are no strings other than going through ebates first. Many credit card companies and banks have also begun negotiating cash back deals with specific retailers.  If you use their card to make your purchase, you'll recieve a credit to your card, based on the rebate for that merchant. The percentage will vary per retailer and credit card company. For my card, I just had to log into their site and my account, go to the deals section of the site.  Then I selected the deals I wanted to use. New deals are issued on a regular basis. Each time I check my account, I check for new rebate deals. Check with your card issuer for details.

Here is how my savings breaks down.

Full Price (no discounts): $241.39

Total with Sale Prices:                      $169.69
Cyber Monday Discount 30%:          ($50.91)
Free shipping from Asos                      $0.00
Total paid to Asos at check out:        $118.79
Ebates rebate (5%):                               $5.94
Credit Card rebate (10%):                    $11.88
_____________________________________
Final Total:                                         $100.97

Just by going to Ebates first and using a specific credit card, I will get an additional $17.82 in cash back!  That is more than the cost of the short sleeve top.  My final total with all of my discounts and rebates is less than the full price cost of the coat! I got some great items for a bargain. Even with my scarf splurge, my total was just a little over $100. The 30% Cyber Monday discount at Asos is good until December 4th.

I hope you'll start using Ebates and check your own credit and debit cards for rebates.  It's worth it to take a minute to get those rebates. You can use the extra money to buy more gifts for loved ones or even yourself.

Asos Plus Outerwear · Big Chill Plus Sizes · Asos Outerwear

NOTE: The opinions expressed here are my own. I was not provided compensation from Asos or any credit card company. If you sign up for Ebates through the links above, I will earn referral credits.

Moment of Lust - Karen Walker Soul Club Sunglasses

Karen Walker Sunglasses are all the rage in the blog world. I can definitely take a pass on most of them but when I saw the Soul Club version (black frame with a gold mirrored lens), I was smitten. However, I just couldn't see spending $220 on a pair. The only sunglasses that I own that I've paid full price for (in that range) are my Chanels and to me they were worth every penny. Lucky for me I found a very similar pair of Isaac Mizrahi sunglasses. I saw a pair at a discount store but passed on them because the lens was badly scratched. The original price was $99 but they were discounted to $40 (still too much for a scratched lens). I went home, searched the Internet and found a pair on eBay for only $10! SCORE!

 

photo credit upper left: eat.sleep.wear

Labor Day Sale Purchases

Over the weekend I took advantage of some of the holiday sale shopping. I stopped by my favorite outlet store, Talbots and I snagged a few shirts from Old Navy.  I couldn't resist a couple of accessory purchases.

 

At the Talbots outlet, I bought this pair of dark red jeans and a pair of patterned ankle pants in shades of blue and pink.  The entire store was on sale for $19.99 or less. I purchased both pairs of pants for only $28!  A few light weight shirts that would transition to fall were on my list. I've been loving light weight sweaters in cool weather. This color block sweater will be great for work or weekends. I have quite a few striped shirts but this wide black and white striped shirt is a bit different and can be work with some of my skirts and printed pants. I had to throw in a fun shirt. Sequins and a fun saying. What's not to love? Old Navy had a 30% off sales this weekend.

This baseball cap is an inexpensive way to add a leather look to my fall outfits and the olive hue is so versatile. At only $12, I couldn't resist. I used my Stella and Dot credits to snag the Sutton necklace for less than $20.

Two pairs of pants, three shirts, a sweater, a cap and a necklace (that can be worn five ways) for a little more than $100. Successful sale shopping!

I Heart Cyber Monday - Deals Deals Deals!

I took a huge cyber break over the Thanksgiving holiday.  My Mom's house doesn't have the best Internet connection or cell reception so that made the decision even easier. The weekend was spent enjoying time with family.  On Friday we did a little thrift shopping but avoided the major Black Friday rush.  I find that I get much better deals and less hassle by shopping today, Cyber Monday!

There are lots of deals to be had and many retailers are offering free shipping.  I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

Stella and Dot
Spend $50 on any combination of Stella and Dot jewelry and get the Hematite Cupchain Bracelet for only $9.95 (a $59 value)!  Just add the bracelet to your cart along with at least $50 of other items and the total will be calculated automatically. Be sure to check out my favorite, the Renegade Cluster Bracelet and the great sale items to get more bang for your buck.

Jamberry
Rotating deals from Jamberry today.  Deep discounts plus free shipping.  Check it out!

Ebates
Maximize all of your online shopping by going through Ebates.  If you don't have an account, sign up and get great deal offers plus cash back! (The Ebates links above are referral links from me.)

DSW
$15 off $74, $30 off $149, $50 off $199 through November 27 with the offer code HOLIDAYS (online only)

Michaels
I love custom gifts.  Creating a photo book or canvas print using your digital photos are wonderfully personalized gifts your family and friends will cherish.
Custom Holiday Photo Cards 45% off with code: 44CYBER45
Hardcover Photo Books 50% off with code: BOOKDEAL
Canvas Prints 61% off with code: FRESCO61
Custom Photo Calendars 40% off with code: 44JINGLE
Deals available through 12/1/12

zazzle
More great personalized gifts at zazzle!  You can grab everything from custom Holiday cards and decorations to a personalized t-shirt.
Click here to check out all of the discounts.
Use code: 60ZCYBERSALE


Talbots
50% off of one regularly priced item and 30% off of the rest of your purchase with offer code: HOLIDAY Free shipping (no minimum). Offers good today only.

Coldwater Creek
50% off site wide (include sale and outlet) with code: MONDAY50
Free standard shipping (no minimum). Offer expires Midnight ET.

Kohl's
Over 300 Cyber Monday Specials plus...
An extra 20% off with code: CYBER20
Free Shipping on all purchases! NO MINIMUM
Deal ends November 27

Bauble Bar
A free gift for every $40 you spend.  No limit on the number of free gifts you can get! No code needed.

Payless
30% off site wide with code: CYBER30

FreshTrends Body Jewelry 
If you have a cartilage piercing (or other body piercing) like I do, this company is fantastic. They have high quality body jewelry at great prices. They have sterling silver, 14K gold and even diamond jewelry, plus the usual surgical steel and non-metal options.
70% on many items site wide and an additional 20% off at checkout with code: CYBER20 PLUS free shipping on orders of $19.99 or more!


Hope you have a great day of shopping!

Frugal Fashion Friday - Discounts on Beauty Items

Last year I did a post about saving on fashion and online shopping.  In the post I was a critical of the people on the TLC show "Extreme Couponing".  I've always been one to admit when I'm wrong. While I still don't understand stock piling items you'll never use, I have changed my mind and thinking on using coupons at grocery and drugstores.  Financially things have been tight for us for the past year or so.  I know it's been tough for lots of people.  But I decided to do some things to reduce our grocery and drugstore budget. When I first started watching the show, I thought the people featured were over the top. I soon realized that I could use some of their strategies, on a much smaller scale, to save on my regular grocery and drugstore runs.  I didn't have any illusion that I'd get $3,000 worth of groceries for $10.  I thought if I could save a large percentage, maybe $50 or more on an average shopping trip, I'd be thrilled.  I started by clipping coupons from the Sunday paper and matching them with store deals. I also read local blogs to get the scoop on other deals. My favorites in the DC area are Beltway Bargain Mom and Capitally Frugal. There are great blogs in every area. Just do a search to find some close to you.

I've started regularly using beauty item coupons at CVS and matching those deals to earn CVS Extra Care Bucks (ECB). CVS has a fairly liberal coupon policy.  They also have a money back guarantee on beauty products. Have you ever bought a new tube of lipstick, just to get it home and hate it? Have you bought the wrong foundation?  Their guarantee covers, cosmetics, skin, healthy skin, sun care, hair care, hair accessories, hair color, ethnic hair care, and fragrance. You can return your product for a full refund within 60 days.They also have a Beauty Club. Just link your CVS card to the Beauty Club.  You'll get a 10% off coupon just for signing up.  For every $50 in beauty products you purchase you get $5 in Extra Care Bucks. You can also earn Extra Care Bucks by purchasing certain amounts of products.

Yesterday I took a little trip to CVS. One of the things I always do when I walk into CVS is to scan my CVS Care Card at the coupon kiosk. Yesterday I got $5 in Extra Care Bucks and a coupon for $2 off of hair color. Using the coupons I'd clipped, sales that were going on at the store, and Extra Care Bucks (including the the $5 ECB I got that day), I purchased $73.31 worth of beauty products for $36.06 (before tax)!

Here is the tally...

At checkout I also received a $10 CVS Cash Card (like a gift card) and another $5 in Extra Care Bucks. I got these by completing two deals. The first was to purchase $30 worth of certain products and get a $10 card.  The second was to purchase $15 in John Frieda products and get $5 in Extra Care Bucks. I'd purchased a portion of both of these deals in previous shopping trips. My purchases yesterday completed those deals and earned me the card and ECBs.  The greatest part is that the dollar amount used to calculate those deals is taken prior to any coupons you use.  I needed $12 in John Frieda products to complete the $15 needed for the $5 ECB.  I got two products totalling $12, then used $4 in coupons, paying $8 and got $5 in ECBs for a future purchase.  You can use as many ECB coupons as you'd like in an order and you don't have to make a minimum purchase to use them.

I don't spend tons of time every week clipping coupons.  I get a few copies of the Sunday paper. In the DC area we get our coupons on Saturday. I sort though and pull the ones that are for products we use.  Then on Sunday or Monday evening, while watching guilty pleasure TV, I clip coupons. I wouldn't consider myself an extreme couponer but it sure does feel good to get products at a huge discount. One of my most exciting CVS trips was when I purchased a couple of hair products and a magazine and paid only $.19!  Yes, you read that correctly, 19 cents!  On top of that I also got $5 in Extra Care Bucks.  Using coupons, store deals and ECBs, I paid 19 cents and had $5 to spend on my next purchase. Who doesn't love free or discount beauty products?!

My couponing journey has been aided by some good friends who share stories, tips, and coupons.  This post is for you, Marissa, Denise, and David!

HAPPY FRIDAY REAL GIRLS!!

Full Disclosure Note:  The opinions expressed are my own. I did not receive any compensation from CVS or any of the product companies featured.

One For You and One For Me

I don't know about you but when I'm shopping for Holiday gifts it can be so hard not to by for myself.  I've been saving to buy gifts and haven't been shopping much.  Now I have some extra cash and I see so many cute things.  Does that happen to you?  Well my friends, the folks at JewelMint and StyleMint understand our pain.  They want to make sure that we have great gifts to give and get something cute for ourselves too! When you purchase gift cards for your loved ones, you can get up to two free items for yourself!  Fabulous! In addition to free loot with your purchase, 10 people will win a Kindle Fire and five will win a year of free jewelry from JewelMint! If that weren't enough, I'll also be running a little giveaway too!  Details coming soon.

I love that these are instant gifts.  Your recipients will be notified of their gift via email.  So there is no shipping and you can get it to them right away. If you're like me there are last minute gifts that still have to be crossed off your list. Better yet, their gift cards never expire!  Click on the links below to purchase your gift card right away.

I'll be posting details soon about my giveaway.  Stay tuned and Happy Shopping Real Girls!

Giveaway - $30 JewelMint Gift Certificate and 50% off JewelMint - CLOSED

If you haven't registered for the $30 JewelMint Gift Certificate giveaway, why not?  All you have to do is follow my blog!  It's so easy.  You can get more entries by following me on twitter, facebook and bloglovin, if you'd like.  It only takes a few minutes. Click here to get all of the details!

If you aren't already a JewelMint devotee, you can get 50% off of your first order by clicking on the link below and using the code.  Hurry up my friends, the giveaway and 50% offer only last until May 31st!  Don't waste time. Free jewelry (or at least discount jewelry) awaits!

CLICK ON THIS LINK

Enter Code:

REALGIRL50

at check out.

Beautiful Jewels from JewelMint 50% OFF

For most of my life, I've had to wait until the beginning of a new season to purchase new styles from my favorite designers or fashion lines. Every month is like a new season at JewelMint.  On the first day of every month, a collection of new jewelry is right there, just a click away. It's a beautiful thing. I never have trouble finding pieces I love, just deciding how many I can fit into my budget that month. This month is no exception. I can't decide which piece to purchase first.



Clockwise from the top: Monte Carlo Bracelet, Renegade Necklace, Sienna Bracelet,
Baltic Gem Earrings, XO Rings



The Monte Carlo Bracelet and XO Rings will look beautiful with a bright graphic print dress. The industrial chic of the Renegade Necklace will be the focus when I wear it with a simple top or solid bright dress. The Sienna bracelet will look great alone or stacked. The Baltic Gem Earrings will  be the standout with jeans and a tee or a flowy sundress.

Which piece will you choose? You still have the whole month of May to get 50% of your first piece of JewelMint jewelry. It's such a great deal for a beautiful piece of jewelry. The collections are designed by actress Kate Bosworth and her friend and stylist Cher Coulter.

After completing the initial style quiz, each month you’ll receive personalized jewelry recommendations and style advice. Membership is just $29.99 per month. Shipping is FREE (you know I love that), returns are quick and free.  If you don't find something you love, you can skip the month.  Just choose that option within the first five days, for no charge at all.   There is no permanent obligation and you can cancel your membership at any time.

For 50% OFF of your first JewelMint piece, click on this link:

http://jmnt.co/fpAfxR

You have to use this link or your discount, won't work.

At checkout, enter the JewelMint discount code:

REALGIRL50

The offer is only available until June 1st.

Frugal Fashion Friday - Never Pay Full Price

The other day, I watched the TLC show, Extreme Couponing.  Saving is an amazing concept and getting items at a discount is an aspiration of mine as well. What floored me about this show is excess under the guise of saving.  The people profiled spend tons of time each week collecting coupons, clipping coupons and scouring sale flyers.  I understand the thrill of the challenge to save. However, when you have a stock pile of toilet paper, deodorant and other items that your family won't be able to use in three lifetimes, I'm baffled that these people don't take that chance to save. The coupon savers got many of these items for mere pennies or in some cases, free.  That's fantastic for a family budget, but most of them shop like this weekly, further stock piling items. They shop three, four, five, times a week and more, every week.

One of the people featured donated hundreds of boxes of cereal to his local food bank.  It made me wonder why the other people weren't doing the same instead of stock piling items they won't ever use.  It's like organized hoarders.

I know what you're thinking. That's not fashion.  Well the show made me think about using coupons in general.  I've mentioned before that I'm not a coupon clipper.  Sitting with the paper clipping coupons isn't my idea of fun and to be honest, I'm not that disciplined. However, I do love to save money on items and get things at a discount. I've developed a few strategies for getting what I want without breaking the bank.

There are so many way to get the items you love at a discount.  Below are some of the ways I get new and on trend items for less than retail.

Sign Up

Not the Army silly. I mean email. When the retail market fell with the rest of the economy, most stores jumped on the discount code band wagon.  If you love a specific store, website or product, sign up for their email list.  You'll get sale notices and discount notices and coupon codes sent right to your email box. If you opt in, you'll also get coupons and offers mailed to you.

Search

It's an extra step that's worth tons. Always do a Google or Bing search before you buy something online and even before you go to the store.  You never know what kind of discount you'll find. You may get a huge discount, free shipping or and in-store coupon.

Send an Email or Call

Don't be shy. If you love a product but can't find a coupon or code, write to or call the company.  I recently got a coupon for a beauty product I love, sent right to me.  When I couldn't find a discount, I sent an email to the company telling them how much I loved their product and asked if they had any discounts or offers that I could get online or that they could send to me. They were happy to oblige. They want to keep their loyal customers.

Look for Suitable Alternatives

You've seen my Moment of Lust feature. I am not a trust fund baby. Unfortunately, that means I can't buy everything I really want and some items will always be out of reach.  If I love a high end item that I can't afford, I either live with the disappointment or look for an alternative.  In our carbon copy society, there is always someone making a similar item for less. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about buying a fake.  The money made from purchasing fake bags, shoes, etc. goes to support some horrible crimes, including terrorism, human trafficking, and drug trades. If you want to learn more go to the Harper's Bazaar site: Fakes are Never in Fashion. It has lots of information.

Shop Around and Be Patient

Take the time to look around at other sites and stores before dropping your hard earned cash on your first love.  Most mass produced items are sold at many stores, both online and brick and mortar. Look around for the best deal.  Wait a little while for a sale and a discount.  Yes, you take the chance of not getting your item but it's rare.  This also gives you the time to make sure that your love isn't really just lust.  You'll figure out in that time, if you just kind of want it or can't live without it.

Happy shopping Real Girls!  

50% off JewelMint for Frugal Fashion Friday!

You read that correctly, my friends.  50% off of your first piece of jewelry from JewelMint! A unique, quality jewelry pieces for less than $15.  What I love about JewelMint is that their designs remind you of art show pieces but the price is amazing. The quality standards are high and the pieces are substantial.

Some of my JewelMint collection

I've profiled JewelMint in previous posts and worn my own pieces in many outfit posts.  I like the concept because it's personalized to your specific taste and style. The collection is designed by actress, Kate Bosworth, and her stylist, Cher Coulter. After completing the initial style quiz, each month you’ll receive personalized jewelry recommendations and style advice. Membership is just $29.99 per month. Shipping is FREE (you know I love that), returns are quick and free.  If you don't find something you love, you can skip the month.  Just choose that option within the first five days, for no charge at all.   There is no permanent obligation and you can cancel your membership at any time.

If you'd like to get 50% OFF of your first JewelMint piece, click on this link:

http://jmnt.co/fpAfxR

You have to use this link or your discount, won't work.

At checkout, enter the code:

REALGIRL50

The offer is only available until June 1st.

These are my picks from the April selections. 

L to R:  Desert Sand Earrings, Mumbai Bracelet, Nicolas Necklace, Aurora Bracelets, Chain Reaction Earrings

The Desert Sand Earrings and Mumbai Bracelet will be perfect for a 70's boho look.  The Nicolas Necklace will add a pop of color to a white dress.  How can you go wrong with the three Aurora Bracelets that can be worn separately or together. The Chain Reaction Earrings are funky and punk without the pain of a cartilage piercing.

Check out the JewelMint Style Diary blog for great styling ideas and special collections.

New Shoes Can Take You Everywhere

It was 34 degrees when I got up on Wednesday morning.  Isn't it April? What is going on? Because I want Spring to arrive, yesterday, last week, last month, I wore a Spring skirt. Of course I had to wear tights so I wouldn't freeze.

I'm also wearing the new shoes I got at the District Sample Sale. I love them! I also threw on the new tropical wool blazer I got a few weekends ago when my sister and I went to the Talbot's Outlet. The jacket was only $12!  It's a petite. Normally, I could never wear a petite but in this case it makes for a great shrunken look. It pays to try things on sometimes, regardless of the size on the label.

Jacket - Talbot's Outlet, Shirt - Wal-Mart, Skirt - Lane Bryant, Belt - Kohl's,
Tights - We Love Colors, Bag - DSW, Shoes - Coclico via Simply Soles,
Bracelets - Until There's a Cure, Gift, Kohl's, Watch - Kohl's, Ring - JewelMint

DC is a Fashion Town - 2011 Disctrict Sample Sale

Last night I had the opportunity to cover the 10th District Sample Sale for GalTime.com, Deacon Does DC and my little ol' blog too.  My fellow blogger friend McLean Robbins of Deacon Does DC usually covers the event. She had to be out of town on business and I took the fashion bullet for her, which is made out of faux fur and satin by the way.

Check out the coverage on Deacon Does DC and GalTime. Below is a slideshow of event photos.





I'm sure you all want to know if I got any bargains. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly in the smaller size range of many of the boutiques. I however, was undaunted by that fact and went in search of awesome shoes and accessories.  I got an amazing pair of shoes by Coclico from Simply Soles for 80% off!  Yes, that's right 80% off! I also got some killer jewelry from Mona Assemi and a beautiful illustration from Yanique. You can see her illustrations in the slide show above.

Here is a little net sneak peak of my awesome shoes. I'll be wearing them in an upcoming post.

Now rush on over to Deacon Does DC and read my coverage of the District Sample Sale!

District Sample Sale - Coming Soon...

I attended the 10th District Sample Sale last night and covered the event for GalTime, Deacon Does DC as well as RGR.  I'm excited to tell you all about this fun event.  Here are a couple of  photos. I have so much for you. Later today, my fashion mavens...

Reminder - Order Beautiful Jewelry from Nautical Wheeler

Don't forget, my blog friend and beautiful jewelry designer Jen, of Nautical Wheeler, is extending a generous offer to you, my readers. This month you can take 15% off of any and all items in her etsy.com store!

Only 7 days left!!

Just use code FEB15 at checkout to get 15% off.

I got my order and have already worn my necklace. I'll be showing it off this week.

Beautiful Jewelry For You or Your Loves

My blog friend and beautiful jewelry designer Jen, of Nautical Wheeler, is extending a generous offer to you, my readers. This month you can take 15% off of any and all items in her etsy.com store!

Just use code FEB15 at checkout to get 15% off.

She makes beautiful jewelry and she's also a Jimmy Buffett fan (aka Parrothead), which makes her aces in my book. It's so hard to pick my favorites. I love them all but here are a couple.

Peacock Wrap Bracelet



Wishbone and Blue Opal Necklace


I've already placed my order. I can't wait for it to arrive.

If you're looking for a last minute Valentine's Day gift, you could order and place a picture of the beautiful item in a card for your Valentine. Happy shopping!!

P.S. Jen also has a cool blog with fashion inspiration. http://nauticalwheelerjewelry.blogspot.com/

Something for Nothing!!

I don't know about you but the word FREE makes me weak in the knees.  You all know how I love a good bargain and free shipping is a must for me when I shop online. In my previous post "Coupon Clipper or Discount Code User?" ,  I told you about ways to get free shipping.

December 17 is your lucky day. This Friday is FREE SHIPPING DAY!

Over 1,400 merchants are participating in this fantastic day.  If you shop on the 17th you'll get free shipping with guaranteed delivery by Christmast Eve (December 24)! To get the details just go to: http://www.freeshippingday.com/. You can sign up for email alerts and check out all of the participating merchants. Many merchants allow you to use more than one discount code. Be sure to search for "discount code" + the names of your favorite merchants (as explained in my earlier post) and search for discount codes to get extra deals.

Coupon Clipper or Discont Code User?

I have never been a coupon clipper. I admire people who save tons on their grocery bill by using coupons. That isn't me. I've never been that disciplined.

Once again I say YIPPEE for the internet.  Now when I'm shopping online, I can just Google the name of the company and coupon code or discount code.  Just got to http://www.google.com/ and enter your info (i.e. DSW coupon code). The search will return a bunch of sites that contain codes posted by shoppers. It will return sites like; Retail Me Not and Coupon Cabin. Some of the codes listed will work and some won't. A few of the sites will list the expiration date of the code.

Once I select my items I try the code.  The site will let you know if it works. Many times you'll get multiple codes. Of course I always try the biggest discount first.  Some web stores (like DSW) will accept more than one code for additional discounts.

My latest discount find was 20% off of my order at shoes.com.  The site advertised 15% off on their header but I took a chance and did a search.  I found a 20% off coupon and got an additional $5 off of my order. They were already offering free shipping.  As most of you know I hate to pay for shipping.  Most sites offer free shipping at one time or another. This is especially great if you do lots of internet holiday shopping.

Happy Discounting and Shopping!!