Casual Florida-friendly fall outfits

Alright, I get it. Summer is almost over. I'm having a hard time accepting it for a few reasons. First, it feels like summer just started. Second, I'm not ready to give up bright, happy nail polish (although, I think I may find some fun ways to incorporate them into my fall and winter manicures, stay tuned). Third, it's still hot as Hades down here in Florida.

So, to start preparing for the inevitable change in fashion (I'd say seasons, but that doesn't really happen here) and the barely noticeable change in temparature (we'll go from 90+ to high 70's and mid 80's), I started thinking of ways I might incorporate a little fall into my outfits. The answer: layers and close-toed shoes.

Here's how fall goes down here: You wake up, and it might be 70 degrees outside. Since it was 95 and humid the day before, you think, "Wow, it's chilly out." (perspective people!). Then you turn on the news to see if it will last. That's when you find out, the high for the day is 90 with 110% humidity. At this point you groan and roll your eyes. If you wear that cute sweater you bought, you'll be dying before lunch. If you wear a tank top and shorts, you'll feel a little cold (reminder: the 20 degree drop feels more drastic than it is).

What's a girl to do? I don't know about the rest of you, but I just layer my summer and fall pieces. T-shirts and chunky cardigans, flowy shirts and army jackets, ankle boots and ballet flats. Here are just some casual fall pairings I would wear down here is the sweltering state.

Oasis grey cardigan, / Aéropostale white shirt / Joe's Jeans skinny leg jeans / Steve Madden Tennasee boot / Nordstrom hoop earrings / Skagen watch / Forever 21 twisted link stretch bracelet / Forever 21 twisted cutout cuff / Forever 21 spike cuff / Forever 21 layered necklace

As the temperatures rise, this outfit won't make me melt. The boots cover my feet, but won't warm my legs (PS - totally bummed they were out of my size during the Nordstrom anniversary sale). As a Floridian, I've become accustomed to jeans in our weather, so no worries there. And I can push up the sleeves to the sweater or remove it all together depending on how uncomfortable the heat gets.

I love how the accessories and shoes give the outfit a little edge and the watch and cardi lend it a little preppy, classic, cool. I'd wear this to run errands, on the weekend, out to the movies. Anywhere casual and laid back.

Madewell Roll Sleeve silk blouse / Madewell jacket / Uniqlo jeans / Gap leopard flats / Skagen watch / Rose Pierre gunmetal & rose gold necklace / Nordstrom BP pendant necklace

Another fun pairing. I like how the army jacket makes the silk blouse and dark-wash denim just a little less dressy and the pop of leopard fun from the shoes. I'd probably wear this with the sleeves pushed up and I could easily remove the jacket if it gets too warm. I'd wear this out on a casual date with the hubs to our favorite casual restaurant, local bar, or even brunch. Heck, it's casual, so why not throw a little errand running into the mix too.

How do you do casual fall?

What's in my beach bag?

Summer is upon us and so is the holiday weekend. Since so many of us will be celebrating in the sun, I thought I'd share a post giving you a little peek into my beach bag. Here are the things you'd find if you went rummaging through my bag. 

1. Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration sunscreen - Here's a little nugget of truth for you: I no longer lay out in the sun to tan. We all know the various reasons why we shouldn't, let's not rehash them here. Suffice to say, my tan comes straight out of a bottle. When I'm at the beach, I slather on SPF 30 and sit under an umbrella. I really like Hawaiian Tropic's Silk Hydration sunscreen because it hydrates my skin (a must after spending time in the drying salt water) while it protects. Plus, it smells good. I usually apply this before I head out to the beach to give it time to absorb into my skin. 
2. Australian Gold continuous spray sunscreen with bronzer - If you poke through my beach bag, you'll easily find a few different sunscreens. I love the Australian Gold continuous spray sunscreen with bronzer because I can protect my skin while adding a little  color to enhance my self tan. 
3. Neutrogena Clear Face liquid sunscreen - Yep, another sunscreen. I love this one from Neutrogena because it dries matte and keeps your skin from getting oily. It also helps prevent breakouts while it protects your skin. 
4. Brightly colored beach towel - This one's pretty self explanatory. You need a towel, whether to lay on or dry off (or both). I love an over sized towel in vibrant colors. 
5. Hat - If I don't have an umbrella handy to sit under, I'll be rocking a hat to provide some shade for my face while simultaneously protecting my scalp from the harsh rays. I'm partial to a straw fedora because it's light weight and a bit breezy. 
6. Hair ties - Sometimes you just need to pull your hair up into a bun or at the very least out of your face. I always keep a few spare hair times around for a quick and easy hair fix. 
7. Sunglasses - It's bright outside so I need to protect my peepers with some shades. The last time I was a the beach without them I suffered a massive headache from all the glare off the sun and water. From that moment on, I said, "Never again." You won't catch me out at the beach or by the pool without my sunglasses. My favorites? My Ray-ban aviators. 
8. Flip flops - If you're hanging out by the pool or beach you need a good pair of flip flops. I recently purchased these (pictured) at Clarks and I totally love them. They're sturdier than rubber flip flops, plus I love the brown and white combo, they go with anything I wear to the beach. 
9. Lip balm with SPF - At any moment in time, you'll easily find at least two lip balms in my purse. It's no different when it comes to my beach bag, except the lip balms I take to the beach must have SPF. Among my favorites: Carmex (in the tube), Blistex, and Nivea Kiss of Recovery (pictured). 
10. My iPhone - This little multitasker keeps me in touch with my friends, serves up some awesome tunes, and takes pictures of our fun day out. 
11. Cover up - I love a maxi dress. We've covered this before. So chances are, I'll throw one on as a cover up when I'm headed to the beach or pool. 
12. String bikini - My opinion: the string bikini is the most flattering cut out there. You can adjust it to fit whether you're a little bloated or dropped a few lbs. Either way, it's not squeezing your hips giving you the dreaded and unflattering muffin top. 

Bonus item: Another item you'll normally find in my beach bag that's not in the photo above: spray-on leave in conditioner. I apply a generous amount to my hair after a dip in the water. It keeps my hair hydrated, detangled, and soft. I don't have a preferred brand, just any one I happen to pick up and have handy at the time. 

What are some of your beach bag must haves? 

Beach Totes Under $50

1. Nine West Bayshort tote ($40) | Kelly & Kate straw tote ($30) | Merona Striped tote ($25) | Love Me by Curtis Kulig bag ($13) | O'Neill Chevron straw bag ($42) | Victoria's Secret beach tote ($32)

The weather is warming up and you're just itching to spend some time relaxing in the sun (slathered in SPF, of course), sipping on an ice cold beverage, reading a book, or simply sitting back and digging your feet in the sand. A day at the beach or by the pool can be incredibly satisfying. But to enjoy it, you need to have some of your beach essentials with you (towels, sunscreen, lip balm, snacks), and most of us depend on a nice large tote bag to help us lug around our summertime essentials.

If you're like me, you're not to keen on spending a lot of money on a beach bag. After all, I don't want to have to fret over a designer bag getting covered in sand, melted lip balm, sunscreen and beverage spills, and salt water. That kind of worry pretty much destroys my laid back beach vibe. And who wants to deal with that?

I normally rely on nice, large, free, gift-with-purchase bags to serve as my beach/pool-side carryalls. But I've also been known to purchase a beach bag or two of my own when I find one that meets the following qualifications:

• Fair price. I tend to stick to bags that will cost me $50 or less. Emphasis on less (whenever possible).  
• Good size. Beach items take up space and I need it all to fit easily in one bag. I tend to gravitate toward medium, but more often large totes. Small bags need not apply. 
• Easy to clean material. We've already mentioned all the mishaps that can befall your beach bag. Because of that, I tend to look for bags that are made of canvas, cotton, plastic, or straw. The idea being that I can easily wipe away a mess or toss it in the wash. 

I'm also drawn to colorful bags with fun patterns or cheeky sayings. The bags pictured above all fit that criteria and should be pretty easy for anyone to access. 

Where's your favorite place to shop for beach bags?

Shopping Guide: Affordable Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts

1. JC Penney Bib Necklace ($22) & Bangle Set ($9) | 2. Pave Station Bangle ($38) | 3. Black & White Frame ($20)  | 4. Abstract Print Sheer Scarf ($18)

The clock is counting down to Mother's Day and you still haven't quite gotten your act together and gotten dear ol' mom a gift. Don't worry, you're not alone. Getting someone, especially mom, a great gift can be a daunting task. But just because you procrastinated, doesn't mean your gift needs to reflect it. You still have time to get mom a gift and make it look like you put a little thought behind it. After all, it's the thought that counts, right? We just want to make sure it doesn't seem like an after thought.

With that in mind, we put together a quick shopping guide to give you some ideas you can easily go pick up at the store (unless you want to spend extra cash on expedited shipping). You know, in case you're not comfortable getting mom any of the beauty gift suggestions in our post last week (check it out here). Best of all, none of these ideas will break the bank. All of them clock in under $40, because mom taught us to be savvy shoppers.

1.  Statement jewelry. J. Crew popularized the bubble necklace, but with a hefty $150 price tag for costume jewelry, it wasn't exactly accessible to everyone. But you can help mom be stylish on a budget. JC Penney has bubble necklaces on sale right now for only $22. And if mom is so on trend that she's been rocking a bubble necklace already, don't worry. JCP has other cute statement pieces available to choose from, all at reasonable prices.

If necklaces aren't her style, consider adorning mom's wrist. Bracelet stacking is quite the look these days, but sometimes picking the right bracelets to stack together can be tricky. Done wrong and your wrist looks less like a party and more like the aftermath you dread having to clean up. Make it easy to pull this trend off by purchasing bangle sets that are already put together for you like the one pictured above, which by the way is only $9.  P.S. You can also find great statement jewelry at reasonable prices at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

2. Dainty accessories. Listen, jewelry is a popular gift for a reason. But if your mom is not one for big bold pieces, consider some cute dainty options like the pave hear bangle from Nordstrom. It's a beautiful timeless piece and the heart is simple but classic. Check out Nordstrom, JC Penney, TJ Maxx, Khols, and other retailers for similar items.

3. Give the gift of memories. Maybe you're tired of giving mom jewelry and feel like giving her something a little more personal. Except now you've waited so long, you don't know if that's even possible. Don't worry, there's still time. Go through your computer and find some of your favorite photos of you with your mom (or family shots). Bonus if they were taken on some fun family outing/occasion. Then run to your nearest photo center, have them printed up, and put them in pretty frames. You can find some awesome designer decorative frames at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods (we're talking anything from $7-$15). The black and white one pictured above is from Pier 1. Mom will love the sentiment. Plus, the decorative frames will give the gift that extra oomph.

4. Scarves. If the typical jewelry and flowers doesn't really do it for you anymore. Try giving mom a fun and colorful accessory, like the LuLu abstract print scarf pictured above. Scarves make awesome gifts and they are totally in fashion for Spring. Think of getting a style that makes a statement with bold colors, fun prints, or both. But, since the weather is warming up, make sure the scarf you pick is made of a light weight fabric. She'll be able to pair it with numerous outfits to give them a little pop of color or flair and she can even wear them in her hair. I love how beautiful scarves look all wrapped up in a box. The best part is that you can find lots of beautiful styles at a variety of price points. The LuLu scarf pictured above is less than $20, but looks like you spent more.

Tip: Make sure the fabric is soft and feels nice against the skin. It will give the scarf the appearance of being super luxe (even if you only spent $20). If you have the budget, spring for great fabrics like silk and modal.

What do you think? Are these gifts you'd consider giving your mom?

Happy shopping. And don't forget to give your mom a huge hug and thank her for being so great.

Battle of the Messenger Bags

I've been admiring this beautiful messenger bag on the Madewell site for a while now. Lately I've had a thing for cross body bags. My J. Crew Tillary purse (shop a similar style here) opened my eyes to how wonderful this style is. It was perfect during our Italian honeymoon with just enough room the carry the few things I wanted to keep with me (ID, cash, credit card, hotel key, chapstick, phone) and fit comfortably across my body for extra security. I use my Tillary all the time for casual outings where I don't need to carry a lot with me (think brunch or out to the local bar).

This got me thinking I'd like a larger one for everyday use. You know, since I like to carry the kitchen sink with me. Hence my longing glances at the Madewell Essex messenger bag as well as countless others online. I haven't quite figured out exactly which one I want.Then, when perusing sites in anticipation of my trip to NYC in May (yes, I start daydreaming early), I stumbled upon a cute lookalike on the Joe Fresh site -- for nearly $60 less (depending on which color you like in the Madewell version you might save less since some colors went on sale).

How cute is the Joe Fresh version (which by the way is still leather) in the mint green? I love that unique color and it's so great for spring! I think I'll be keeping an eye out for it, in case they still have it available when I'm in the city (since there's no Joe Fresh down here and you can't shop online). It's always fun to find a similar style for a better bargain!

Haute Look Haul: Amrita Singh

I've been on a statement jewelry kick lately. First the bubble necklace. Now, these great pieces I scored from Amrita Singh on Haute Look a few weeks ago and that arrived yesterday. I only ordered three items because I wasn't that familiar with the brand and wanted to get a better idea of how the pieces looked in person and their quality before I went totally nuts shopping.

I'd seen this brands jewelry many times on flash sale sites, but this particular blow out sale had such amazing prices, I couldn't  talk myself out of a purchase (like I have in the past). Not one of these items cost me more than $20. And all of the items originally retailed for $75 and up. There were  a lot of items I wanted in the sale because they were all priced so irresistibly, but I had to exercise some restraint.

I settled on two necklaces and a pair of earrings.  Now that I have these, I know I'll be keeping a closer eye on future sales.

Amrita Singh Chama Necklace
Original price $100
Haute Look price: $12

I was instantly drawn to the Chama necklace. I originally had the black and gold one in my cart, but then saw what I thought was a pink and gold option and decided I could wear it with so many more items since it seemed more neutral. When I got it yesterday I was surprised to find the fabric was less pink and more of a gauzy beige shade. I'm actually happier with that because its even more versatile in my opinion. My ribbon is a bit frayed, but, that's nothing a little clear polish wont fix. 

Otherwise, the necklace seems pretty sturdy. The beads are made of resin and have a gorgeous gold and white detail, which you can see more clearly in the photo below. I have to admit, I was also surprised by the beads. The photo on Haute Look made it look as though the beads would be metal, since it was so shiny, but I'm still really happy with the product. It has a decent weight, but its not heavy. By that I mean that the material doesn't feel cheap. It feels like a piece you'd buy at a high end shop versus a piece you'd pick up a Claire's (where I imagine it would feel more like a lightweight plastic). Nothing wrong with shopping at Claire's, I'm just using it as a base for comparison. 

I'm already thinking up a million uses for this. I think I could easily wear this with a blouse or dress for a dressy look and dress it down with a t-shirt for a casual look. I'm totally stoked and can't wait to take this one out for a spin. By the way, did you notice the huge savings? The 

Amrita Singh Chama Necklace detail close up

I also really loved the Zeia necklace (below). It's a bit less trendy and also a fun piece that could go with many outfits. It's definitely a piece I think I could wear for a while. The beads are woven together by a black string that's really only visible upon really close inspection. Not sure how many people will be getting that close up to my neck to really notice. It's a bit stiff right now, but I suspect it will loosen a bit with wear. The clasp, unlike my knock off bubble necklace, is smooth to open and close and actually particularly big, so easy to operate from behind your neck, and it has a few extenders that allow you to adjust how tightly you'd like to wear it.

I'm kind of wishing I'd gotten the matching necklace. But since it's a simple silver-colored piece, it will easily go with other items I already have. I scored this for a measly $14, not bad if I do say so myself.

Amrita Singh Zeia Necklace
Original price: $100
Haute Look price: $14

Finally, I chose a pair of cute hoop earrings. I love a good hoop earring. Big ones, small ones, and everything in between. I use my plain medium-sized silver hoops to death, to the point the clasp doesn't really work well. I need to get a new pair. But I don't have many gold pieces. I'm more of a silver/white gold girl. But from time to time the occasion calls for gold. These gold-toned Becca earrings fit the bill. They're not too big (really a medium crescent hoop) and simple enough to go with just about anything. They are brass and also came in a silver tone.

So far they seem pretty sturdy. Not sure how they will do if they get wet and I always forget about taking off earrings so I'll have to be careful. I don't think they'll turn green or anything, but I don't want to take any chances that I'll ruin them by forgetting to take them off before I shower since they aren't real gold. I don't have the same fear with the necklaces, only because they are large enough that I'd remember to remove them. I usually forget to remove daintier necklaces. Is that just me?

Amrita Singh Becca Earrings
Original price: $75
Haute Look price: $12

So what do you think? Have you ever purchased Amrita Singh jewelry? What about handbags? I've seen the handbags on sale on Haute Look and TJ Maxx. May need to take a closer look next time I see one.

All in all, I'm really happy with this purchase. The quality of all the pieces appears sturdy and well made. Now only time and wear will tell for sure, but that's the impression I'm getting. I'm sure you all know how different a well made piece feels from a quickie cheap you might pick up at Forever 21. These look like great statement pieces that also aren't overly trendy so they'll remain cool over several seasons. But most of all, I'm totally thrilled with the deal I got for such nice costume jewelry. I would definitely recommend this brand from now on and I suspect I may get asked about these when I wear them. Love them!

Did you happen to shop the Haute Look sale? If so, what did you get?

Fashion Savings: The Bubble Necklace Knock Off

Just two weeks ago I shared my woes with you about not being able do decide on the color J. Crew Bubble necklace I wanted to spend my hard earned money (and gift card) on. You all weighed in and it was still a tie! Seems it really isn't that easy to choose only one.

Well, after I wrote the post, I started searching online because I'd seen a few gals sporting some bubble necklaces that I knew weren't J. Crew. Cute as they are, J. Crew simply didn't put out those colors. I'm not judging you. I just wanted to know where I might be able to score some savings myself. Plus, as I mentioned, I really was kicking myself over not purchasing the royal blue one that J. Crew put out.

My search turned out some happy returns. I stumbled upon many Etsy stores that offered bubble necklaces at a fraction of the cost. I settled on the Blue Bird shop. For one, she had a royal blue necklace! Plus, she is based in the U.S. (faster shipping for me) and she was running a special (free shipping and a free pair of matching earrings). My necklace cost $34. How's that for savings?!

Mind you, if you search "bubble necklace" on Etsy, you will find quite a few shops that sell the necklace for less (I saw some as low as $16). But, most of them ship from China, and I simply didn't want to have to wait.

I ordered my necklace on Friday morning and it shipped the same day (even though the site said it could take up to a week to ship) and I had it in my hands by Monday. I'm pretty happy with my purchase.

Here's what I think of the actual piece:

• It's not as heavy as it's J. Crew counterpart, but that's not exactly something that bothers me considering how much less I paid.
• No visible signs of glue on the bubbles or around them.
• The clasp on mine is a bit tough to open, as though it could use a bit of lube. A bit dangerous for my manicure, but still functional.
• The bubble color is really pretty in person. I'm really glad I found it and got it.

I have to wear mine on the smallest clasp because I'm a bit busty, which makes the necklace hang a bit awkwardly if I try to wear it too long. I could have worse problems, I suppose. I can't wait to include this when I put together different outfits. 

Check out my photos of it below.

Like I said, I'm happy with my purchase and I think I'd definitely purchase from her again. I'm loving the red and kelly green version of this same bubble necklace and she has a gorgeous multi-stone drop necklace on sale that I'm considering in seafoam green.

Do you have a bubble necklace? Did you buy it at J. Crew or find it elsewhere? What color is yours?

Fedora Obsession

My friends and family know, I love a good fedora. I'm practically powerless against them. I'm amasing quite the collection. Nothing too out of hand just yet, I only own five... That's not bad, right? I've currently (and by currently I mean since last night) become convinced I need a white fedora. You know, because I don't have one of those. Yet. Mind you, I just got a new fedora two weeks ago. This may be turning into a minor problem, but I just love how a fedora makes me feel kind of cool.

Here is the one I'm currently drooling over. I'm completely in love with the band and the loop detail on the side. It's from Laundry by Shelli Segal.



 I'm also really diggin' this hat by San Diego Hat Company. It's different from anything I own. I like how it's fedora-like in the front, but then, BAM!, tricked ya, it's totally not in the back. Check it out.

I also can't go without mentioning this Michael Stars fedora that I've been longingly looking at for weeks. Weeks! I saw it in a magazine in tan and blue (a combo I like a bit better) and I can't stop thinking about it. It's just so cool looking and different. I need it.

Alright, so what do you think of these selections? I know I can't get them all, but I really want to. What's a gal to do?! I just love me some fedoras! Which one do you like best?

P.S. In the About Me section of this blog, you can see a picture of me rockin' one of my favorite fedoras.

It's in the bag

I'm happy to be participating in A Hasty Life's blog crawl, where 100 bloggers will all be blogging about the contents of their purse. How fun! We are taking over the Internet with this one simple topic, hahaha!
I'll be giving my blog entry a bit of a twist. Seeing as I'm both a beauty blogger and a YouTube beauty guru, I thought it would be appropriate to have my blog entry include a video portion, where I go through the contents of my purse. So, I'll have a written section with pictures, but the video will go a little more in depth about the products. My blog pictures and the written part breaks down most of the contents of my purse, but the video also gives you a peek into the contents of my beauty bag. 
If you're curious to see what I carry around with me keep on reading.
My purse

Lately, I've been carrying around my green, quilted, tote-shaped purse from J.Crew, which I picked up when I worked at the J. Crew store in the winter of 2007. I love this purse for many reasons, but I was first drawn to it because of its color. I really wanted a purse that wasn't black or brown, and I just loved the deep green. Next, I was thrilled by the size. I'm not a little purse gal. I always feel like I don't have enough room. Then, the price sealed the deal. It was on sale for $39.99 (I want to say it was originally $98) and as an employee, I got 50 percent off! You can't beat that price. 
Here is a picture of what my purse looks like on the inside. 

Purse contents

1. Gloves
2. Sunglass case with sunglasses inside (you can see them in the video)
3. Appointment card for my next brow wax
4. Sephora mirror
5. Tampons
6. Coupon file (one of the reasons a small purse doesn't work for me, need room for my coupons!)
7. Beauty bag (check out my video to get a peek at what's inside)
8. Michael Kors wallet
9. Grocery list and a receipt
10. Pen
11. Carmex
12. Keys
13. iPhone
14. Travel-size deodorant
15. Eucerin hand lotion
16. Extra gum
17. Mint
18. Coach ID/credit card/ money pouch
19. (Not pictured) My camera, which I was using to take the pictures, and forgot to include in the video (oops!)

What I think this purse says about me:

I think the color says I'm not afraid to try color, but at the same time, it's not too loud or trendy to scream for attention. I think the bag itself is pretty classic, and the color and quilting are the details that set it apart, no extra fringe or bling needed. It can stand alone just fine. So, I think my purse says to others, this gal is stylish, classic, but not boring. What do you think? Do you agree? If you saw my bag, what would you think of the person who owned it?

What I think the contents of my purse say about me:

"This girl is prepared." I've got, tampons, feminine wipes, hair ties, gum, mints, coupons (you never know when you will see a deal and need them!), deodorant, lists, a pen... I think it also says I'm a bit fixated on lip products, and whomever the snooper is that is going through my purse to figure out what kind of person I am would wonder why I have two wallets. Ha ha! I think it might also say I'm afraid to leave the house without the kitchen sink. In fact, it might scream that if I still had Advil (gotta replenish that stock in the purse), hand sanitizer, my headphones, (usually has that too, but they were in the car...), reading material, and possibly a miniature kitchen sink (like one you might have in a doll house)  -- just for effect. 

So now that you've seen what I carry in my purse, what kind of person do you think I am? 

Read more about what bloggers out there carry in their purses. Let's keep this crawl moving!

Who posted yesterday (in my blog crawl group)?

• Annie over at Wattlebird

A shout out to my friend and blogger also posting today. Even if she isn't in my designated group, I see no reason why you can't crawl on over to her blog to see what she totes around with her: Alyson over at The Average Girl's Guide.

Who is posting about their bag tomorrow (in my crawl group)

• Katie Michelle

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TJ Maxx Finds 11/14/09

Hooray! I knew that my patience would pay off. I was at TJ Maxx this weekend and found this lovely silver ring (above) for only $19.99. It's the casual cousin to my sparkly flower ring from Nordstrom. I also took a little trip to the makeup/beauty section and found a few new and fun bargains.

First, I found more Lancome makeup at incredible prices. I've found a few items there before, so I only picked up this Fever Gloss lip gloss in Pink Whisper for only $7.99 (retail $16). I've worn it a few times and I love it. It's smooth and satiny without being sticky, and it's not so shiny that it makes your lips look like you just ate a bucket of greasy fried chicken. It's got just the right amount of shine and it's a gorgeous pinky-mauve hue. I picked up a few other things, but I plan to give them as gifts and I want them to be a surprise. But it does appear that TJ Maxx is a good place to go find Lancome makeup. So far, in addition to this most recent buy, I've purchased Lancome lipstick, nail polish, and an awesome eyeshadow palette.

In addition to my Lancome lip gloss I also purchased a Model Co. lipstick in Truffle (can you tell I'm a fan of neutral lips?) that only set me back $3.99 (wow, that's less than my Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick ($4.49 at Target), which I really like. Aside from the lovely color and creamy formula, this lipstick is fantastic because it comes with a little mirror on the cap! How useful is that? I'm in desperate need of a little compact portable mirror, and now this lipstick lives in my purse thanks to its stroke-of-genius mirror.

I also found a Body Shop body polish in Vanilla Spice. I've used it twice, and I like the smell, but it wasn't really what I was expecting. I think I wanted something more like a sugar body scrub, and this is not a sugar body scrub, so I'm not really sure why I'm surprise it didn't turn out to be what I expected. It is nice, especially  if you don't like scrubs with lots and lots of granules. It has a good amount though, and it's done a pretty decent job at exfoliating my skin.

Aside from all the beauty finds I enjoy at TJ Maxx, I'm also a big fan of the shoe section, their candle selection, and their perfume section. I have been able to get people (and myself) some really nice gifts at very reasonable prices. I'm sure we'll continue to see more of my TJ Maxx finds in the future.

Sparkly New Cocktail Ring

Oh how fun! I'm in love with my new little sparkler from Nordstrom (buy it here). It's quite the attention-grabbing piece. It keeps catching my eye as I type. It's a one-size-fits-all style, but it's not the type of ring where the part that wraps around your finger doesn't close. I'll have to take a picture to show you. It has these little prongs inside that you can move around to adjust, which I think is pretty neat. The only thing is that sometimes the prongs loosen, but so far not lose enough for the ring to slip off or anything. Mostly, when I'm at work, where they like to keep it arctic, the ring will get a bit loose and may twirl a bit around my finger, but during regular use (like when I'm not typing all day), it seems to stay put just fine.

Online, the ring is available in two colors, gold and silver. But when I was in the store, they had a pewter color with black crystals. It was pretty cute, and would have definitely matched some other accessories that I have, like my black Sworovski crystal cross, and my Fleur du Lis necklace (pictured below) that I got at Violet's while I was visiting New Orleans (I wish I could link you to it. It's an amazing little boutique in the French Quarter, with lots of fun finds -- dresses, jewelry, scarves, candles. Alas, they don't seem to have a website. If you're ever in the area you should certainly stop by. Even if just to look around) But, the darker crystals weren't as sparkly, and I have earrings, and two necklaces in that style, and I was really looking for something that glittered. Though, I was tempted to buy them both. I had to resist.

Now with my fun new acquisition, I'm noticing rings left and right. I just got the J.Crew catalog in the mail, and as I was thumbing through, I found another fun ring of this sort that caught my eye. It's a bit less pricey than this flower one. What do you think of this and this? I'm also thinking that if I don't jump the gun, I may find some great bargains out there, so I'll keep an eye out and see what I find.

All that glitters may not be gold, but sparkles sure do make me feel pretty!