Broken Mac.. : (

Just popping in quick from work (shhh, don't tell!) to let you know that I won't be blogging for a short bit..my Mac Book is in need of a little fixer upper by the Apple doctors. I hope to be back within the next week or so to share my final budget results for August!

Hurricane Irene

Just a quick note to those who currently reside in Hurricane Irene's direct path to please stay safe this weekend! Although my town won't be directly impacted, we will likely still have heavy rain and strong winds beginning late tonight through at least mid-afternoon tomorrow. I'm planning to sit back and relax with a pile of September issues, a glass of wine, and a single serve ramekin of 35 second chocolate cake.

Zoya 'Touch' Collection

Zoya 'Touch' Collection (left to right: Pandora, Shay, Minka) - $8 each

I love a neutral nail. It's my go-to look for when I want pretty but professional looking nails. In my opinion, the best polish shades for a professional setting are either a classic red/pink or nude. I especially love that neutral shades don't show wear and tear on your nails as easily as a bright polish does.

I think I own more bottles of nude polish than any other shade but that didn't stop me from lusting over Zoya's 'Touch' Collection when it was released earlier in the summer. When I came across all 3 shades from the collection at my local Ulta, I was beyond excited. I used a gift card + a coupon for $3.50 off a $10 purchase. So far, I've used 2 out of the 3 polishes from the collection - Shay and Pandora (which will likely become a new favorite - see below).

Recent Splurge: Tory Burch

Tory Burch 'Coated Poplin' Brush Roll - $59.00 (on sale!)

Yet another birthday perk that I received via email recently was a promo code for 20% off my next order at Tory Burch (this is my last post about a birthday promo..promise!). A couple of years ago, I set aside a portion of my tax return to purchase a pair of snakeskin Reva flats and have never regretted it. I haven't bought any other Tory Burch items since but browse the website regularly to drool over so many of her creations. When this little perk arrived in my inbox, I couldn't stop myself from browsing the sale section of the website where I found this ocelot print brush roll (originally $85.00).

I know what you're probably thinking. Nearly $60 for a brush roll is still seems a little pricey and I don't disagree. However, my job requires 12+ weeks of travel per year and I have never brought my makeup brushes with me because I didn't have a method of storing them that would allow me to transport them safely. (In the past, I've made do with just 2 retractable brushes that I keep in a small cosmetics bag..a larger one for the face and a smaller one for the eyes.) Finally being able to travel with my makeup brushes + leopard print + Tory Burch = a huge win for me.

The only downside of this little splurge was that it barely leaves any room in my budget for the rest of the month so I'll be relying on gift cards to satisfy any shopping urges for the next few weeks!

(Just in case anyone is wondering, all of my brushes are made by Eco Tools.)

Missoni for Target

Silk scarves - Missoni for Target (available Sept. 13th)

One of the best ways to score designer items on a budget is to always be on the lookout for retailers who feature designer lines for less. Next month, Target will be releasing a limited edition Missoni for Target line of clothing, accessories, and home goods. (Preview the full line here or go to the 'Target Style' facebook page to view album thumbnails that include price details for select products.)

I noticed as I was flipping through my copy of Nina Garcia's 'The One Hundred' book last week that a Missoni piece is included in her list of 100 items every fashionable woman should own. As iconic as a Missoni print is, I have to admit that all of the crazy colors and patterns are just not for me. However, I did find a few accessories and kitchen items in the collection that I love including the silk scarves ($19.99 each - shown above), this hat ($24.99), and these cup/saucer sets (price unknown).

Target features various designer lines for less on a pretty regular basis. (Unfortunately, they usually don't make it to my local store because I live in a relatively small city.) Here are a few other retailers that are currently featuring or have previously featured designer lines for less:

• Payless (view current designer collaborations here)
  
• H&M (ex. Lanvin for H&M - released Nov. 2010)
  
• Loft (ex. Lela Rose for Loft - released earlier this summer)
  

Kate Spade Bangles

Kate Spade 'The Jewel in Crown' & 'In Fine Feather' Bangle Bracelets - $32.00 each

It has taken me 28 years to get on board with the bangles craze and now I'm obsessed! I fell in love with Kate Spade's 'Idiom' line of bangle bracelets months ago when I ordered my first one in black (purchase here). Ever since, I've been coveting this same style bangle in other colors and finally added a couple more to my collection at the beginning of the month.

I almost always order Kate Spade items via Piperlime. I find that the promotions are usually a bit better and I also earn points on the purchase by using my Gap Silver card. Plus, shipping and returns are always free (it looks like the official Kate Spade website is currently offering free ground shipping on all orders but returns costs are the responsibility of the customer). For this particular purchase, I used a $15 coupon (another birthday perk I received via email) as well as a $50 Banana Republic gift card. In the end, I paid $3.29 for both bracelets.

Did you know that you can use a gift card for Gap, Banana Republic, or Old Navy interchangeably at any of the 3 stores, plus their online counterparts Piperlime and Athleta? I love having so many options with just a single gift card!

July Spending Recap

Let's talk budgets for a few minutes. I definitely think everyone should allow themselves a monthly budget for shopping and/or other things they enjoy, regardless of whether it's $10 or $1,000 (which would be seriously awesome but probably not realistic for most people). It's so important to be in tune with your financial situation and know your limits when it comes to spending.

I've discovered during the past few years that establishing a hard budget value (exactly x amount of dollars per month with no wiggle room) meant I was setting myself up for failure almost on a monthly basis. It was as if having such a strict limit immediately brought on this uncontrollable urge to spend more than what I've allowed for myself which can become a very dangerous pattern. My solution? Instead of allowing myself a particular dollar amount each month, I allowed myself to work within a budget range that is reasonable for my (and husband's) financial situation which, right now, happens to be $50-$75 per month. Each month I aim to stay as close to the low end of that range as possible but it still allows me to go a little over my preferred $50 budget (not including gift card purchases) without having to feel guilty or feel as if I've failed myself yet again. It may not be a method that works for everyone but it works for me.

Here's a recap of my July spending (all totals include tax):

• Ulta - $31.20 (not including a $50 gift card I got for my birthday, mentioned here)
• Macy's - $17.66 (not including the $18.48 I had left on a gift card from last fall, mentioned here)
• Ideeli - $6.37 (after a $25 birthday credit, mentioned here)
• Ann Taylor - $10.34 (the gorgeous sweater pictured below was marked down from $88 to $19.88 plus an additional 50% off the sale price..such a steal!)

TOTAL monthly spending - $65.57

I did use portions of a couple of other gift cards that I received for my birthday as well. Husband was kind enough to take me on a birthday shopping trip to the nearest outlet mall which is about an hour and a half away from where we live. I had high hopes at the beginning of the day but left with just this teal 'Jackie' cardigan from the J. Crew factory store which was marked down from $49.50 to $24.97 plus an additional 30% off the sale price. I paid $18.18 using my gift card.


I also made a quick trip to my local Old Navy where I bought a pair of 'Sweetheart' boot cut jeans (no photo but I think they are the 'Chesapeake' wash) marked down from $29.40 to $10.99 as well as these bright colored skinny belts marked down from $12.50 each to $7.49 each. For all 3 items, I paid a total of $27.20 using my gift card.


If it hadn't been for my birthday at the end of the month, I wouldn't have been able to shop nearly as much as I did. I still have a handful of gift cards to use which I'm hoping will carry me through the rest of the summer and into the fall season.

Do you use budgets? I'd love to hear what works well for other people so feel free to share by leaving a comment below!

Birthday Haul

Can you believe it's August? I'm not sure where the time goes but I'm amazed that the summer is nearly over already. I turned 28 last Saturday but celebrated the occasion for pretty much the entire month of July. This year for my birthday I ended up getting a few gift cards (Ulta, Banana Republic, J. Crew) and some cash from my mom and husband's family. Since there isn't a nearby Banana or J. Crew store where I live, I immediately ran to Ulta with my gift card and 20% off Friends & Family coupon in hand to do some shopping. Here's what I walked out with:


I'm actually not going to list every item I bought because I think you can see what they all are pretty clearly in this photo but if you have any questions about the products above, leave a comment or send me an email! At the time of this purchase, the Maybelline mascaras were B2G1 and so were the Essie nail polishes (+ the 20% discount on top of these promos..awesome). I'm really happy with everything that I bought but I'm especially loving the Seche Vite 'Dry Fast' Top Coat and the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in 'Kitty, Kitty'.


I would definitely rate these nail strips 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait to use them again. If they were a little easier to remove with nail polish remover (I used a non acetone remover..not sure if that makes a difference) I would have given them 5 stars. Each kit comes with 16 nail strips of various sizes to ensure that you'll find a strip that perfectly fits each nail. I keep my nails pretty short so I was actually able to cover 2 nails with a single strip which means I still have a full set of strips left for a future application. I also applied a coat of the Seche Vite top coat (an amazing product!) on top of the nail strip and my manicure lasted for a full week before chipping.


Husband was incredibly generous for my birthday this year and got me this lovely smelling 'Stella' perfume by Tocca Beauty which has been on my wish list for months. He also gave me this Longchamp tote bag in black back in May prior to leaving for our honeymoon as an early birthday gift. I've wanted this bag for a couple of years and I've used it nearly every day since he gave it to me. Love. He also bought me a pair of MICHAEL by Michael Kors 'Nadia' thong sandals in black patent from the DSW in Union Square, San Francisco while we were honeymooning. These sandals quickly became my favorite go-to pair but, sadly, they lasted just over a month before breaking. : (

I had such a wonderful birthday this year and despite the many questions I got as to whether or not I've stopped counting the years yet (come on people, 28 is not that old..ask me again when I turn 30) I think I'm going to have alot to look forward to between now and my next birthday!

Birthday Perks

Philosophy 'happy birthday, beautiful' freebie [via Sephora]

July is probably my favorite shopping month of the year because it's my birthday month. My inbox (and regular mailbox) becomes flooded with special birthday perks and it's the one month where I feel that subscribing for regular emails from 8347569 different retailers is truly worthwhile. Among this year's favorite offers was a coupon for an exclusive birthday freebie from Sephora (shown above), a coupon for $15 off any purchase from LOFT, and a $25 credit for Ideeli which I used to purchase a pair of cute, open-toe flats made by Adrienne Vittadini for just $6.37 after the credit was applied (shown below).

Adrienne Vittadini 'Kaleb' Flat [via Ideeli & no longer available] - $89.00 (orig. retail value)

I also received birthday offers from Talbots (10% off a purchase), Urban Outfitters (20% off a purchase of $50+), Foley + Corinna ($50 off a purchase of $200+), Gap (25% off a purchase), and American Eagle (15% off a purchase). If you don't like to clutter up your inbox with offers from various retailers you might want to consider setting up a free email account for junk mail. Just be sure to pay special attention to your inbox during your birthday month so that you don't miss out on all of the great offers!

Also, check with your local salon or any cosmetic/beauty retailer in your area to see about any birthday specials that they offer. I will be heading to my local Ulta on Saturday morning for a free eyebrow wax at the Benefit brow bar inside of the store. (ID is required and this offer is only valid on your actual birthday.)

Turquoise + Gold

Essie 'Turquoise & Caicos' Nail Polish - $8.00
Sephora by OPI 'Only Gold for Me' Top Coat - $9.50

As soon as I saw this post by blogger Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere, I knew I had to get myself a bottle of this gorgeous glitter top coat and give it a shot. Despite having some minor application issues (watery, streaky polish formula which I think is a little unusual for Essie polishes) the end result was pretty fantastic and I've already received several compliments from friends and colleagues so far this week. I like to change up my polish at the end of every week and I'm definitely going to be sad to say goodbye to this look. I'll try not to get too upset though..I have a delicious bottle of bubble gum pink polish that I've been waiting until the right moment to try. I think a 28th birthday celebration next weekend is the perfect occasion.. : )

Lovely Leopard

I don't really follow the fashion trends too often but one that I'm absolutely loving right now is animal prints. More specifically, leopard prints. I generally showcase my love for leopard through accessories so I put together a fun little wish list of items that I would love to add to my collection.

Clockwise from top left:
Dior 'Mitzah' Palette - $98.86 USD (currently available only in the UK)

Cynthia Vincent Pouch [Piperlime exclusive] - $85.00
Betsey Johnson 'Heart Stud' Earrings - $25.00
ASOS 'Leather Leopard' Belt - $34.48 (currently out of stock)
Vince Camuto 'Kira' Leopard Pump - $89.00
Topshop 'Leopard' Scarf - $32.00

Shoe Love: Nine West

Nine West 'Nuncio' Pump [via Macy's] - $41.40 (on sale!)

About a week ago, I spent an evening wandering my local shopping mall for the first time in what seemed like forever. I'm trying to keep my spending to a minimum this month (my birthday is in 2 weeks!) but there are tons of great sales happening now since so many stores are beginning to switch their focus from the summer lines to the new fall collections.

As I was browsing the shoe department at Macy's I came across these Nine West lovelies at 50% off (original price = $69.00). It was already a good deal on it's own but then I remembered that I also had almost $20 left on a Macy's gift card I've had since last fall. In the end, I paid a whopping $17.66 for these pumps. Winning.

Over the years I've owned several pairs of these same Nine West pumps in various colors. They are a great go-to pair of shoes for the office..a simple, classic design with a mid-height heel that is comfortable to wear all day. Since my cute as a button puppy decided to turn my other pair of patent leather, pointed-toe pumps into a chew toy I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to replace them.

Beauty Haul {Part 2}: Ulta

Left to right:
Essie 'Watermelon' Nail Polish - $8.00
Essie 'Turquoise & Caicos' Nail Polish - $8.00
Essie 'Big Spender' Nail Polish - $8.00

Lately, I've developed a slight obsession for nail polish. And by slight I mean somewhat irrational. When I received the latest Ulta newsletter in my mailbox with a coupon for $3.50 off a $10 purchase I immediately knew that a couple of bottles of Essie nail polish were in my future. So, coupon in hand I went to Ulta during the afternoon of the 4th (the only holiday weekend shopping I did which is pretty amazing). What I did not know at the time was that there is currently a promo for buy 2 get 1 free bottles of Essie. I pretty much reacted like a kid in a candy store. In the end, I was able to combine my coupon with the b2g1 promo and walked away with these 3 shades which are perfect for summer. The price came to $12.50 + tax ($1.09) for the 3 bottles. Shazam!

Flash forward a couple of days and I happened to come across that same $3.50 off a $10 purchase coupon on the main page of the Ulta website. Of course I had to print a copy and immediately run to the store after work today to pick up 3 more bottles.

Left to right:
Essie 'Au Natural' Nail Polish - $8.00
Essie 'Mambo' Nail Polish - $8.00
Essie 'Island Hopping' Nail Polish - $8.00

As much as I hate to admit it (because I'm loving the summer weather we've had lately), I thought it might be a good idea to select a few colors that will transition well from summer into fall. I absolutely love a neutral polish any time of the year and the gray undertones in this purple shade will be a perfect compliment for the cool weather we'll start seeing in another couple of months.

Here are some tips for shopping at Ulta:

• Order online for 3 free samples. And, much like Sephora, shipping is free with a $50 minimum purchase. I have actually never placed an online order with Ulta. It is a very new store in my neck of the woods and I had only visited an Ulta store once before while traveling. I am also a very loyal Sephora shopper but I've realized that the product selection is quite different at both stores so I see the possibility of some online orders in my future.
• View the current ad online and check for printable/online coupons before you shop. I'm noticing that the sales and specials are significantly better at Ulta than they are at Sephora. Be careful of printable coupons from outside discount/coupon websites (ex. Retail Me Not, Coupon Cabin, etc). I recently had a store associate tell me that there is a company putting fake Ulta coupons on these types of websites and these coupons will not be accepted for purchases.
• Join the free 'Ultamate Rewards' program to earn points on your purchases. You'll also receive coupons and up to 15 special bonus offers per year.
• Join 'The Club at Ulta' and earn free products for different levels of spending (ex. $50, $100, $150, etc). This is also a free loyalty program and the one I have a membership card for. To be honest, I'm really not sure why there's 2 very similar yet separate rewards programs but it must work for them so who am I to question it?
  

All in all, I've noticed that many cosmetic and beauty retailers have the same type of free sample offers, free shipping over $50, loyalty programs, etc. One thing that I think sets Ulta aside from the competition is the fact that there's also a full blown (no pun intended) salon in the stores. Fun fact - if you visit an Ulta salon on your birthday you can get your eyebrows waxed for free!

This concludes my 2-part beauty haul post for (early) July. Happy shopping, everyone! : )

Beauty Haul {Part 1}: Sephora

Clockwise from top left:
Sephora by OPI 'Only Gold For Me' Top Coat - $9.50
Sephora by OPI 'Flurry Up' Top Coat - $9.50
Sephora by OPI 'Seeing Pink Elephants' Nail Polish - $9.50
Sephora by OPI 'Leotard Optional' Nail Polish - $9.50
Tarte Amazonian Clay 'Blissful' Blush - $25.00
Tarte 'EmphasEYES' Inner Rim Brightener - $18.00
Urban Decay 'Eden' Eyeshadow Primer Potion - $19.00

I mentioned in this post that I had a gift card for Sephora and finally placed an order last week. The gift card was valued at $100 and I earned it by redeeming some credit card points that I had been saving for several months. Buying + furnishing a new home = major credit card points lately. (Just make sure you never charge more than what you can pay off each month!)

Anyhoo, these are the items that I settled on when placing my order. My total came to exactly $100 by coincidence and so the only cost to me was $8.45 in sales tax. The thing I love about using gift cards is I'm more likely to try some new products versus just stocking up on my regulars. I am especially excited to try the Tarte blush. I've had my eye on it for months!

I also got several freebies with my order as well. First, every online order at Sephora comes with 3 free samples. I chose a perfume sample of 'Stella' by Tocca (love!), Perfekt 'Blushed' Cheek Perfection Gel, and Smashbox Photo Finish 'Targeted Pore & Line' Primer.

Next, I had enough points in my 'Beauty Bank' for a free deluxe sample and chose a .14 oz sample of the new Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara.

And last but certainly not least, I received a free full sized 8.5 fl oz bottle of both the Ojon 'Damage Reverse' Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner using a coupon code that I received via email. Because these truly are full sized bottles (valued at $24 for the shampoo and $25 for the conditioner), this may be one of the best freebies I've ever received from Sephora!

I try to stretch gift cards as far as I can whenever I have them. My original plan was to hold onto it until the next 'Friends & Family' or 15-20% off type of sale but I got sucked in by the shampoo/conditioner offer and I don't regret it! I like to swim laps at a nearby pool during my lunch hour so this will help keep my hair from getting too damaged from all of the chlorine and chemicals.

Here are some tips for shopping at Sephora:

• Order online to receive 3 free samples. The samples change often and there are generally about a dozen to choose from. Plus, shipping is free once you hit the $50 minimum. I hate paying for shipping so I use it as an opportunity to stock up on things I use regularly.
• Check the 'Weekly Specials' page for additional free samples (coupon code required) and special promotions. Most of these apply to online orders only. Just be aware that Sephora only allows 1 coupon code per order so choose wisely!
• Become a 'Beauty Insider' to earn points for shopping. You can have your card scanned for in-store purchases and/or create an online account. Every $1 spent at Sephora earns you 1 point. Once you've earned 100 points you can redeem for a deluxe product sample or keep saving until you reach 500 points and receive a limited edition product for free. Plus, you'll receive a free birthday gift each year and be notified of sales/special promotions regularly via email.
• Become a 'VIB' (Very Important Beauty Insider) to earn even more benefits for shopping such as a 10% welcome offer, exclusive gifts, invites to special events, and access to not-yet-released products. There's a catch though - you must spend at least $350 at Sephora in a calendar year to qualify and you must re-qualify each year.

If you can resist the urge for instant gratification I think ordering online is worth the wait. I definitely don't get free samples as often when I shop in-store. If you're a little nervous about buying online or thinking about purchasing some new products it's always a good idea to browse a nearby store first so that you can see, touch, and test the products you're thinking of ordering.

Crushing on Coral

Sometimes, a bad day at the office inspires you to buy yourself a new bottle of coral-red nail polish and sometimes a fresh manicure with said nail polish inspires you to dig out a beautiful coral shade of lip butter that has barely seen the light of day since it was purchased. This is how my obsession with all things coral began so I thought I might spice up your Monday with a collage of coral pretties featuring the 2 items that started it all. Enjoy!

Clockwise from top left:

Essie 'Chubby Cheeks' Nail Polish - $8.00
Mel 'Fresh' Open Toe Slip On - $39.97
AG Adriano Goldschmeid 'Boyfriend Pocket' Tank - $41.99 (on sale!)
Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Classic Q-Hillier' Hobo - $398.00
Korres 'Mango' Lip Butter - $12.00
The Limited 'Coral' Ring - $26.90
Charles by Charles David 'Pompadour' Pump - $69.99 (on sale!)
Tinley Road 'Coral Flower' Stud Earring - $20.00

Jumping on the bandwagon..

TOMS 'Ivory Glitters' Women's Shoe - $54.00

The TOMS bandwagon, that is. I've had these lovelies on my radar for awhile now but while husband and I were enjoying our West Coast honeymoon last month I saw them everywhere. No really, they were everywhere. There wasn't a single day when I didn't see at least a dozen people wearing their TOMS. So what's a girl to do? Go to the nearest Nordstrom and try a pair on, of course!

I have to admit I was a little skeptical despite hearing over and over again how comfy they are but as soon as I slipped them on my feet I was sold. I actually didn't buy them that day because I wasn't interested in any of the colors that were in stock so when we got home I submitted my email address to get on the wait list for these ivory glitter TOMS and as soon as I got the notification that my size was back in stock I placed an order. With a little searching, I even managed to find a $5 off coupon code to use and they arrived on my door step just a couple of days ago. It was love at first sight.

Sunday Ritual

Zoya 'Lulu' Nail Polish - $8.00

I'm a little cheap when it comes to nail polish and manicures. In fact, I've probably only had a professional mani/pedi a handful of times in my life and it's generally reserved for special occasions (ex. the last mani/pedi I went for was for my wedding last October). Instead of heading to the salon, I've found myself routinely sitting down to paint my nails on Sunday evenings. It gives me an excuse to relax for an hour, occasionally sip a glass of wine, watch some bad reality tv, and mentally prepare myself for the upcoming week. Over the past few months, it has become a ritual that I truly enjoy and look forward to every week.

Tonight, I will be saying goodbye to this lovely pale peachy pink color by Zoya and replacing it with a new color, yet to be determined. I first discovered Zoya nail polishes through their '3 free' promo where they gave away 3 free bottles of nail polish (I paid only $6.95 for shipping) to thank fans for helping them reach 20,000 'likes' on Facebook. I love the creamy texture of Zoya polishes and there are so many shades to choose from it can be a little overwhelming!

In my opinion, I think the price ($8 per bottle) of Zoya nail polishes is reasonable but I prefer to wait until they come out with a good promo before placing an order. The last time I placed an order was during their 'Earth Day' promo and I scored 6 bottles for $24. Promos are generally shared via Facebook so be sure to 'like' Zoya's page if you want to stay up to date with the latest deals!

Wishes & Wants

Just a few things on my wish list right now. I have gift cards for Banana Republic (did you know they can also be used at Gap, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta?) and Sephora that are currently burning a hole in my wallet. I'm especially dying over the espadrilles. Gorgeous! : )

Clockwise from top left:

Kate Spade 'Lido' Espadrille - $98.00
Tarte Amazonian Clay 'Blissful' Blush - $25.00
Sephora by OPI 'Only Gold For Me' Top Coat - $9.50
Banana Republic 'Marcia Knot' Flat Sandal - $79.00
Kate Spade 'Gumdrop' Stud Earrings - $38.00
Lauren by Ralph Lauren '20 Set Delicate' Bangles - $68.00
Tarte 'EmphasEYES' Inner Rim Brightener - $18.00

Bonjour!

I am a..

twenty something newlywed
pug lover (and owner!)

..and most importantly..
a shopaholic.

Thanks for visiting! ♥