Steal of the Day: Summer Day Dress by Old Navy

Check out this super-cute, most adorable, and very affordable day dress by Old Navy:

The Knit Halter Dress - $24.50

At $24.50, this dress is a total steal. If you're looking for a simple day dress to rock out this summer, this one may be it. It's also available in "Tulip Red" - a bright red color. The dress features ties around the neck in a halter style and ties in the back to cinch the waist. Too cute!

This one would have been perfect for any Americans celebrating the Fourth of July. Hmm...maybe I should get it for next year?

NOTE: Image by oldnavy.com

Thrifty Shopping Spree

I haven't been shopping with other girls in ages. It's not that I'm anti-social. I dunno...it just...sorta...happened. I've grown quite accustomed to shopping on my own, but had a blast with a good girlfriend of mine this past Saturday on a thrifty shopping spree. My friend, RE, helped me pick out some really great stuff!

Now that I'm under major budget, I've got to buy cheap so I can have some fun in numbers. In fact, my spree this weekend reminded me how much fun finding a good deal can be. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good sale rack like any other girl, but full-price cheap is another adventure altogether. I recently signed up for a Style Diary account and have been so impressed by how some girls are able to mix cheap with designer and make it look so amazing. I hardly have any designer anyways, but I would like to diversify my shopping and get back to my roots - back when I was a broke high school/college kid scrounging the racks for the best deals. Ahh...the thrill of the hunt!

We primarily went to the mall to hit up Forever 21, but I also ended up getting a couple things elsewhere.

Here's what I got:

From Forever 21: Navy Modal tank top, Black & Off-White Dress with Bow, Blu-ish Gray Tank Top with Ruffly Straps, Off-White Top with Black Upper Section and Floral Design; From Express: White Ruffly Tank Top


Close-up of the Floral Design on one tank top - this should look great with some black skinny jeans!


Close-up of the Blu-ish Gray tank top - this one should also look good with some black skinny jeans


Super-soft white, ruffly tank top - so comfy and cute!

I also picked up a few things at Bath & Body Works including three bottles of my fave lotion in Cotton Blossom. I found out from the SA that they replaced the scent with Sea Island Cotton and talked to her for a couple minutes about how crazy it was they would get rid of such an awesome scent and would you know it...she came up to me a few minutes later and pointed me in the direction of the 75% off rack where there were three bottles of CB lotion. I scored them for $2.37 each - can you believe it?

I had so much on my thrifty shopping spree! I can't wait to go back! RE, when are we going to the mall, again?

Surprise Afternoon Date: Casual Chic

I surprised my husband with an afternoon date today. We saw a local exhibit and went to a local dive place that has fabulous hamburgers - yum! I wanted to wear something easy and comfy for all the walking and the heat! Phew! Here's what I wore today:


Dress: Lucky Brand
Gold Flip-Flops: J Crew
Belt: Banana Republic
Purse: Chanel
Necklace: D Celestine Limited

Must Shop: New York & Company Pink Cardigan

As you guys know, I am always getting cold...typically whenever I'm at a restaurant or at work. I went to the mall today with a friend and spotted this super cute cardigan:

New York & Company City Style Button Front Cardigan - $32.95

At right around $30, this cardigan makes a great buy and is even machine-wash safe, which I love! This cardigan would be perfect for layering during these warm months.

NOTE: Image nyandcompany.com

PS: Hair Cut a la Jessica Alba

PS: I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow morning!  Yay!  Guess it's not really so much of a "cut" as a trim since I'm trying to grow my hair out, but I'm getting layers put back in it.  I had a bad experience with layers a few years ago where the stylist kept cutting the top layer shorter and let the longer layers kept getting longer and longer and it just started looking really bizarre!  So, after losing touch w/ the other stylist, I found a new one who cut layers in the middle section of my hair...like, underneath the top layer so you couldn't actually see the layers.

Anywho, my hair is just too thick to make that look work when my hair is straight, so and I'm starting to trust this stylist, so I think I'm ready to get some layers back. I'm going for something long and layered with some long bangs, kinda like Jessica Alba's hair:


Wish me luck!

***UPDATE - Hair Cut Photo***
So, I realized later that I forgot to mention that my hair is actually no where near as long as J Alba's in this photo, but the above photo is more like where I'd like my hair to be when it's long enough. Here's what it actually looks like after my hair cut:

I think it turned out pretty nice, but it will be interesting to see how the layers work when I'm trying to style my hair on my own. Now is when I'll really need that luck...lol.

NOTE: Jessica Alba image source unknown. If you are the owner of this photo and object to its use, please email me at shopaholicd at gmail dot com and I will remove it asap. Thanks!

Work Chic: Hot Times, Summer in the City

Whew! Is it hot or what? When it's as hot as it has been lately outside, I like to wear white. I recently purchased this white suit from Banana Republic when I had one of those coupons to get an extra (I think it was) 15% off. For anyone who works in, plans to work in an office or just wants to dress professionally, a suit is a great investment. In fact, if at all possible, when you find a fabulous pair of pants you plan to use for work, look for a jacket and buy it if you can afford it. Don't make the same mistake I did.

I remember when I was a broke college student working at J Crew and ogling all the delicious clothes that I saved up the money to get this beautiful pair of black pants with the thinnest blue and white pinstripes. They are amazing pants with a great classic cut and they fit wonderously! Every time I wear them to work, I kick myself that I was not able to afford the jacket. It would hands down be my favorite suit. Ahhh...c'est la vie, no?

Here's an outfit I wore recently to work to showcase my new suit:

Without the jacket...


...and with the jacket

So dear shopping friends, remember to get the suit! Oh, and don't be afraid to break the pieces apart - you can rock a cardigan set or button down with the pants and pair the jacket with jeans for a super-sleek casual look.

White suit: Banana Republic
Blue top: Banana Republic
Linen slingbacks: Banana Republic
Camisole: The Limited
Necklace: D Celestine Limited (I made it!)

Must Shop: Pour La Victoire Babette Heel

I wish I had seen these when I was at Urban Outfitters today:

Pour La Victoire Babette Heel - $139.99 (from $198)

So different and fun!

NOTE: image by urbanoutfitters.com

Urban Outfitters Does Summer Scarves for 2008

I've always liked layers - mostly b/ I tend to get cold easily and need to pile extra layers over my original outfit to stay warm. Yes, this even happens in the summer when I enter a store/restaurant/whatever that has set its thermostat to "icebox." I think some of you know what I'm talking about.  Anywho, I've also really been feeling all the layers the celebs have been sporting over the past few seasons - even the Summer Scarf (click here for a couple celeb shots). It seems a little odd to me that for as much as I love regular scarves, I don't have a single summer scarf...not yet at least. I'm planning to head to the mall over the next week or so to get those jeans we've been talking about and in the interest of my new-super-tight-budget, I'm hoping to stick to only one store - Urban Outfitters (hopefully that one pair of jeans will be the one and I won't have to look around too much).

I've found a few super-cute scarves in their online boutique I'm hoping to scope out once I'm "in store":

Pash Like Scarf - $20
A great starter-scarf for someone just wanting to try out the trend. Also a great basic color (currently available in 2 more colors online)


Supernova Scarf - $24
Fun colors - love the touch of sparkle throughout


Ombre Linen Oblong - $19.99 (from $28)
You had me at turquoise...and ombre


Coin Fringe Square Scarf - $38
The plaid will make a great segue into Fall 2008

After proof-reading this, I was reminded that I actually do have one summer-esque scarf shown here (click).  I wore it to an outdoor event some time last year when it was a tad warm and everyone kept asking me if I was cold.  lol.

Would you/Do you rock the Summer Scarf?

NOTE: images by urbanoutfitters.com

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth Guys!

Here's my daytime Fourth of July look:

A little red, a little white, and a little blue

Not my favorite look ever, but I really wanted to wear these pants and haven't had much a chance to wear them since I got them last summer. You can't quite tell from the photo, but they're basically a seersucker style with little white and dark blue stripes.

Did  anyone else wear red, white, and blue today?

Tank: Banana Republic
Pants: J Crew
Shoes: Tod's
Purse: Chanel Grand Shopping Tote

Best Wedding Makeup Ever: LORAC

I was reading a post over at My Style-Ish Destination Wedding about wedding make-up, and it reminded me that I still haven't reviewed my wedding make-up for you guys. I'm here to share my suggestion for the best wedding make-up ever (or best beach wedding make-up or best special occasion make-up) to give you that special glow on your special day.

So here's my personal experience with what I consider the best wedding makeup...from the top:
You know me, let's start from the beginning. Personally, I've practically grown up on Bobbi Brown, and I've really loved MAC for a long time, but I wanted to see what my other options were available for my wedding make-up, so I went to Sephora for a consultation. I actually went with a girlfriend to try out Bare Escentuals because I wanted to get something for both every day (to even out my skin tone) and for my wedding day (to make me look fabulous) and I'd been hearing such great things about BE that when the make-up artist, Z, asked what we were there for, we said, "A BE consultation."  

Why you should not use BE on your wedding day (or any day involving lots of photos):
After a quick face wash and yada yada, Z started applying the BE make-up. I must admit, it was quite relaxing (if you've ever had a BE make-over, you know what I'm talking about - all that brush-swirling), and the make-up was going on really well. I was starting to fall in love...at least I was until Z asked if I was getting the make-up for anything special. I explained I was looking for wedding make up for my destination beach wedding in May and she told me quite seriously that BE was not the way to go for wedding make up. In fact, she said BE was great make-up, but not good for photos. Apparently, there's something in the minerals that causes a reflection with the flash from cameras making you look washed out in your photos...or like there's a strange halo/glow around your face. Are there any make-up experts out there who can confirm this? Just curious. Either way, her explanation was enough for me to decide to put BE on the back burner...possibly for a future purchase.

Why you should use LORAC on your wedding day (or any day involving lots of photos):
Anywho, Z went on to explain that the best make-up for a special occasion is a brand, LORAC, which was designed especially for red carpet use. According to Z, the make-up was created to give you a gorgeous red-carpet worthy glow making you look radiant in photos. She recommended (and I ended up buying and using on my wedding day) for my combination skin (yea, not ALL the products were by LORAC) the following:


Stila - Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 - $32
This was the base coat.  I just got a sample of this to take to the wedding. I'm picky on moisturizers and prefer to test drive them for a bit to make sure they don't break me out. Not to mention, as you will see, this make-up isn't cheap! I couldn't get it all at one time anyways. I'll go back for this if the test drive goes well.


LORAC - Breakthrough Performance Foundation - $38
Great foundation with anti-aging formula and SPF 14 - how clever?!


LORAC - Oil-Free Wet/Dry Powder Makeup - $35
A little extra coverage - comes with its own sponge, too!


LORAC - Blush/Bronzer Duo - $28.50 (I used "Hot Flash")
Apply bronzer in a '3' pattern - dust a big brush through the bronzer side of the duo, tap off the excess, and draw a '3' over one side of your face by running the brush from just outside the middle of your forehead (slightly closer to your hairline) down the outside of your eye, onto your cheek, and back across your cheek, towards the top of your jaw and following down the top of your jawline. If you look in the mirror while you do this, it looks like you're drawing a '3' on one side of your face...get it? Run the brush gently back and forth repeating the same '3' lines to highlight your face. Repeat with other side of face. A makeup consultant could probably give you a better description, but at least you have mine as a baseline.

Once I had my face on, Z did my eyes up with some really great, semi-natural looking make-up that was really simple, but really chic, too!


Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - $16
Apply a dab of this to your lid and spread all over lid with your finger tip.  This primer acts as a base for your eye makeup.  I highly recommend this for anyone who wears eye makeup ever. This stuff is great...genius, even! Go get some...now...seriously. It's strong enough to help your eye makeup stay smudge-free all day...all wedding-day even!


LORAC - Croc Palette - $35
I highly recommend this palette, too. The 4 eyeshadows in here are beautiful and really make your eyes P-O-P without looking too done-up. The chic metallics in this set look really cool for the beach (or a beach wedding) or even for every day. At least, I wore this on my wedding day...and I wear it almost every day to work now...I love it! The palette has all the colors you need: a base, a highlight, and a darker color for those who like a darker color in their crease.


MAKE UP FOR EVER - Aqua Eyes - $16
Great & simple eye liner here. Goes on smoothly - easy to sharpen (tip doesn't break easily).


Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler - $19


The Smokey Eye Kit ($71 Value) - $42
All the brushes you need to get your eyes looking perfect for your special day. A wide brush for your base color, a medium brush for your lid and highlighting, and a round brush for getting your crease looking beautifully-blended.


Anastasia - Brow Wiz - $18
Simple-little brow filler. It's the little things sometimes...


Anastasia - Brow Fix - $19
A great wax you can draw on your brows to help keep their in order


Clinique - Colour Surge Lipstick - $14
I normally don't like lipstick, but it does tend to stick longer than a gloss would, so I put this in "Extreme Pink" under some almost-clear gloss.

Wow - as someone who typically doesn't wear a lot of make-up on an every day basis, I kinda can't believe I wore all these products on my wedding day, but they were all perfect and helped make my special day all the more special.

NOTE: all images by sephora.com

Looking For: Black Skinny Jean/Pant

I've been looking for a great pair of black skinny jeans and/or pants. Prior to my buckling down on the credit card payoff, I was willing to pay for "designer", but now I'm looking for something more suited for a "budget."

Here's all I've found so far:

"Designer":

Elizabeth and James - Bardot Pant - $198

"Budget":

Urban Outfitters - BDG Black Cigarette Jean - $54

Any of you fellow shopaholics have any suggestions?

NOTE: Images by respective sites

My Must-Have Top for Summer 2008

This top makes me want to jump in my car and drive straight to Gap...

Gap - Flutter-sleeve top (from the European Collection) - on sale for $34.99 (down from $49.50)

...except, it's 10:30 PM and the store is closed. I know I could order it online, but I prefer to try my clothes on. What? I know, I'm weird like that. Anywho, this top is great for work or play and the fluttery sleeves make this top extra girly and sweet. Come to think of it, maybe I should pair this with something from my previous post and go for that rock-chic look?

Image: gap.com

Shop Bop's Sale Gets Tough & Girly

Shop Bop is having a sale! Here are some fab items with a dark twist for your inner rock star:

These kind of remind me of Carrie's shoes from the Sex and the City movie:

L.A.M.B. - Goldy High Heel Patent Upfront Sandal - $206.50 (from $295)

Biker Chic:

Kooba - Mattie Bag - $472.50 (from $675)

Sweet, yet a tad dark, no?:

Alice + Olivia - Circle Pleat Halter Dress- $256.90 (from $367)

Ella Moss is so comfy:

Ella Moss - Carlie Top - $61.60 (from $88)

Spiky!

KORS Shoes - Naughty Patent Crisscross Sandal - $199.50 (from $285)

What do you think about the tough-chic look? Would you wear a biker jacket with a girly dress?

Rehearsal Dinner Dress - a la Bahamas

So, the coolest thing happened when I finally picked out my rehearsal dinner dress...I'll start from the beginning to tell you all about it...

I went shopping with one of my bridesmaids to find the perfect rehearsal dinner dress, and we looked EVERYWHERE! It was sooo much harder to find the right one than I expected it to be. Perhaps I was just being extra picky...I dunno, but it just was. Anywho, I fiiiinally found a dress I loved at Neiman's - a white and yellow ombre dress with a big tie behind the neck. It was stunning and of course, it was like $350. Yikes! I wanted a nice dress since it was for such a special occasion but not $350-nice! Knowing there were only two of these dresses left, I regretfully put the dress back on the rack and waved goodbye, hoping I would forget about it.

I ended up going to Banana Republic a few weeks later and found a beautiful eggplant-colored, one shoulder, satin-y dress with a simple waist-tie that I thought just may be the perfect rehearsal dinner dress. The dress looked great on and was super comfortable and lightweight - exactly what I was looking for for my tropical event. Still, I couldn't stop thinking about the yellow ombre dress. I put the BR dress on hold and decided to think about it. On my way home, I decided to swing by Neiman's to try the yellow ombre dress on one more time to see if I really loved it that much more than the BR one.

When I got to Neiman's I went upstairs to find the rack where I had originally found the yellow ombre dress and as my heart sank, I realized it wasn't there. *sad face* I quickly asked the salesgirl if she remembered the dress and much to my hopes & fears, she told me it was on sale. I followed her as she went to the sale rack to see if it was still there and it was! But, wait...is it my size, I wondered, as nervous butterflies twittered around in my stomach. You'll never believe, but it was! Better yet, it was roughly 30% off - a much better fit for my budget. I knew it was meant to be.

Here she is:


See how the colors stand out so nicely:


This yellow & white ombre dress is by Alice & Olivia. I can't find the dress online, but you may have better luck w/ an in-store search. Since our rehearsal dinner was a beach bonfire, I paired my dress with simple metallic flip flops by J Crew.  Ahh...beautiful beach bliss.

Martin & Osa Colorful Cardigan

I recently got this amazing kelly green cardigan from Martin & Osa - a new brand by American Eagle.  I decided to pair it with this cute day dress I picked up at Old Navy awhile back.  I'm trying to focus on my budget more than ever, so spending & shopping are going to have to come down a notch for me to make my goals of paying off my credit card reasonable.  Anywho,  I feel like I keep hearing all about how "lots of color" is supposed to be big for this Summer, which is just peachy keen with me. I just came back from the Bahamas where there is a plethora of colors everywhere - the buildings, flowers...everything is so vibrant!  

My hubby and I were going out for a quick bite to eat at Chili's earlier this week.  Ever since seeing one of their recent commercials, I've been dying to try their Big Mouth Bites and let me tell you, they are quite tasty.  Not so good for watching the figure, but I'm not worried about squeezing into a wedding dress, so I can splurge on the calories! :)  I always seem to get cold in restaurants, so it's imperative that I dress in layers...luckily, I think these two colors went together pretty well.

The cardigan is super comfy and I love how the sleeves are just a bit cropped - keeps them from getting in the way.  I really like the length of the cardigan, too - not too short, not too long.  All in all a great addition to the wardrobe and it's currently on sale!

Check out Martin & Osa online for more great fashion goodies.  I especially like their "Shop By Outfit" page - the pictures move, which is really cool!  It's not something you'd find at your typical online shop.

Dress: Old Navy

Cardigan: Martin & Osa

Gold Flip Flops: J Crew

Necklace: D Celestine (necklace not available online)

Good News! Crossing Over to iMac!

Good news everyone! I finally have a new computer...yay! I got an iMac! I only had to wait a good two or three months...no big deal? Right? Wrong! It's been so hard not having a computer around...you don't realize how much you use one until you don't have it any more. Anywho, I have one now...I need to save some money for some software, but other than that, we're good to go! Now it's time for some fashion blogging!



Here's Mr. Bailey posing with my new toy. Isn't he a cutie pie?!

Anywho, does any one else use a mac? If so, what do you think? Which is better - mac or PC?

Happily Ever After

Hello Everyone!

Your Shopaholic D is back from the Caribbean - happily married and nicely tanned...lol. I'd better come back with a tan after having spent that many days there! Anywho, I'm going to be able to start posting now that all the wedding madness is over, but since my computer is still dead, I may not be able to do any outfit shots for awhile. In the meantime, here's a shot of us just after the ceremony:

Hope you're all doing well!

:) D

Anthropologie Shows You How to Style Skirts

You guys know I'm a sucker for a good outfit. That's why I buy the fashion mags and read the fashion blogs - to get new ideas for great outfits. Anywho, I also appreciate a good styling tip, and Anthropologie.com is helping you style this season's most stylish skirts:

Click here to see some of Anthropologie's styling tips for their Spring/Summer 2008 skirts

NOTE: Image/items anthropologie.com

Where's Shopaholic D?

Hey Guys!

I'm so sorry I've been so MIA lately...things are really getting crazy around here!

Besides my regular, demanding day job, I've also got this blog, my other blog, my jewelry business, and I'm getting married in May...in the Caribbean! Phew! Oh, and did I mention I'm going to do 3 art and craft shows to raise money for the wedding...and one of them is one I'm planning! I know...what have I done to myself? lol.

Anywho, check out my other blog here to learn more about the kick-ass art & craft show we're planning, called Pink at the Plaza. It's going to be an outdoor art & craft show to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and its Walkers. You can shop for a good cause b/c vendors are donating a portion of their sales to the cause! We're also giving out goodie bags to the first 50 people to show and we're doing a silent auction. It's going to be super cool!

Oh, and another reason I haven't been able to post as much is b/c my laptop died! Ok, maybe just the battery...I'm not sure...I need to look into it, but I can't even turn it on! If only I had the money for this!

Actually, if only I had enough money to not need to do all this work...then I could just shop and blog with you guys!

xoxo

Shopaholic D

Review: Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips

I know we were talking about Lip Glosses before, and figured I'd drop a line to let you guys know that this is the lip gloss I bought:

Bare Escentuals - Buxom Lips in Candi - $18

I have to say...I actually don't really like it. I think it's just not the best fit for me, but I'm sure other people love it...it's obviously a big seller. When I got it, I forgot it was one of those "lip plumping" lip glosses that are supposed to make your lips more full. I'm pretty far from having Angelina Jolie lips, but I think mine are pretty full already. I'm not sure I'd actually want my lips much bigger and really, the tingling feeling of the lip gloss is rather annoying. The color is pretty nice - just a tad bit of color over your natural lip color. Anywho, if you don't want your lips to tingle the whole time the gloss is on your lips, then this is not for you. If you're a BE girl, there are non-plumping BE options. If you're interested in getting something to plump up your lips, then give it a whirl - this may be the product for you - I hear it's not as intense as other options, but good if you want a more natural option. Either way, if you're curious now, I'd just drop by Sephora (or wherever else they sell BE) and get a sample to try it out in person.

If you've tried a lip plumping lip gloss, what do you think?

NOTE: image/item sephora.com

Make-up Addiction: Bare Escentuals

One of my bridesmaids and I had plans to go bridesmaid dress shopping this weekend, and I had planned to treat her with a facial (had received two complimentary facials awhile back), but when that fell through, I decided to plan make-overs at Sephora. I love make-overs...they're so fun! The only downside is that you usually end up wanting to buy at least one or two things that you wouldn't have even thought to get before the make-over (not to mention some counters require you purchase a certain # of products). I made appointments for us for a Bare Escentuals consultation mostly because my friend is super laid-back and wasn't particular about the line we tried, and I have been extremely curious about this whole Bare Escentuals phenomenom. I've been wondering what the big deal is for a while now and have looked skeptically at all the BE products every time I shopped in Sephora. So, this weekend, I figured I'd give the line a try with a make-over since I really like to wear make-up before I buy it to make sure it meshes well with my skin.

Well, go ahead and add me to the Bare Escentuals craze because I have to say that since my make-over, I've become a big fan. My skin has always been a bit acne-prone, so I've never been a fan of foundations and powders. In fact, I've tried wearing them from time to time over the years, but it never lasts long. I buy foundation here and there only to wear it a few times and then accidentally leave it in my make-up bag forgotten. I'm always so scared that heavy make-up will break my face out, and I've never liked the feeling of foundation and/or powder on my face. If this sounds like you, too, I highly recommend you schedule an appointment for a BE consultation of your own. Bare Escentuals features mineral-based make-up that comes in powder form - even the foundation and concealer is in powder-form! To boot, the foundation contains SPF15 to help protect your skin during the day. I would have gotten the starter kit this weekend,

but I ran out of money for the month of March and you guys know I'm trying to be good and stick to my budget. Let's hope April gets here soon, b/c I'm ready for a lighter option to even out my face.

NOTE: Image/item sephora.com

Best Lip Glosses for Spring/Summer 2008

I am a lip gloss fanatic in addition to being a shopaholic. At least twice a year, I get a new lip gloss and I try my best to use it up by the end of the season (and not buy other colors). Lip glosses only stay good for so long, you know. Anywho, with all the pretty shades out there, it's been tougher and tougher to stick to just one. I went to Sephora today so a friend could pick up some samples and thank goodness I didn't have time to look around b/c I surely would have left with at least one lip gloss and probably some strange new make-up product I've never heard of before but sounds strangely fascinating.

Here are my pick for the best lip glosses for Spring 2008 and/or Summer 2008:

Bobbi Brown Nude Glitter Lip Gloss
I've been a big fan of Bobbi Brown lip gloss for about 7 years now. The gloss can be a bit thick at times, but is usually pretty moisturizing, stays on well, and comes in nice natural shades. My only complaint is that the colors are sometimes too natural looking (I guess that's her style), so if you're looking for a nice every day color, go here, but if you're looking for something more bright and fun, then I'd try elsewhere.


Korres Natural Products Love Your Lips Gift Set
I've never heard of this brand before, but saw it online at Sephora.com and thought it sounded like something I'd like to check out in person. The cherry-inspired colors caught my attention, and I like how the lip gloss contains shea butter - a great moisturizer.


Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss
This is the gloss I almost bought today in the color to the right of the lip gloss images - it's called "Beauty" and it's a matte, light pink color - very pretty for spring! I tried it on in the store and it looks really pretty, but I'd like to shop around some of the other lip glosses before I decide on this one for my Spring color.


Rosie Jane Lip Dew
This lip gloss is not only a pretty, sheer tone, but it is super yummy! The flavors are so tasty and the glosses go on so nicely. This gloss adds a hint of color and some shine to your favorite lip stick. The Rosie Jane Lip Dew would also be a great every-day lip gloss for when you want to look more natural while adding some yummy shine.

What's your favorite lip gloss? How many lip glosses do you buy in a year?

NOTE: Images from respective web sites

Best of the Blogs: Week Ending 3/16/08

Couture in the City's contest to win the MAC fafi contest ends tomorrow (3/17) - enter today!

Flair helps you pick the perfect bathing suit - just in time for warm weather days spent out in the sun!

ShopDiary found some bigtime brands being sold on bigtime bargains - we're talking YSL, Balenciaga, and more!

Frugal Fashionista shows you how to get another fab Rachel Bilson look on a budget. Hey, Rachel's jacket reminds me of the one I just got!

The Glam Guide has the scoop on Christian winning Project Runway

Business Casual with a Trendy Twist

So, besides a couple items I purchased that I probably shouldn't have, I've been doing pretty good with the whole budget thing. I did have one major purchase that I've been holding out on you guys to share, but that was purchased with a portion of my hard-earned bonus since I spent the rest of my bonus on my debt. Responsibility deserves a treat here and there, no? Anywho, I've been hitting up the sale racks like mad and keeping myself within a reasonable spending budget. I've also been avoiding shopping in general - trying to stay away from the mall and stuff. So far, pretty good!

This outfit features a few reasonably priced items: a full-price skirt that cost right around $50 in a classic cut - a wise investment IMO, a black sweater in a modern cut - purchased on sale and with a discount code for $50 (to be worn as a light-weight jacket), a green jersey top on final clearance for only $15 - woohoo! Anywho, I wore this Business casual outfit to a client site earlier this week and I love how the trapeze-style sweater gives this classic look a slightly trendy feel.




Camisole: The Limited
Green Jersey-Knit Top: Ann Taylor Loft
Black knit sweater: Banana Republic
Black dress skirt: Banana Republic
Peep toe linen pumps: Banana Republic

My "It Bag" for Spring 2008

Guess what came in the mail today?!


That purse I was talking about awhile back...remember? Oh yea - it's Ziordia's Brielle!

Isn't she gorge? Look at those ruffles!

Brielle is going to be my "It Bag" for Spring 2008!

This purse is one of the best purses I've seen on the web this season and the price makes it so much more affordable than other "It Bags" I've been eyeing lately. Anywho, the purse is uber soft and has all these nifty pockets inside - perfect for people like me who don't like to rummage around a big pocket-less bag.

You can get yours (or any other Ziordia purse at ziordia.com) for 10% off for the entire month of March using code ZSHOPAHOLICS10

Click here to start shopping