What I Bought - December 2013

Well, I ended this year on a bang with the spending.  I hit a lot of after Christmas sales and got some great deals.  I mixed a few needs with a couple of wants.  So here we go:

1. Vera Bradley East West tote  - $20.25 (sale plus 25% off promo)
2. J.Crew Factory tiny dot tee - $16.73 (including tax and shipping)
3. Vera Bradley laptop backpack - $40.88 (sale plus 25% off promo)
4. Emilio Pucci sunglasses - $45 (at Off Fifth on sale)
5. Vera Bradley market tote - $10
6. J.Crew Tartine metallic mini-satchel - $193.10 (including tax) no longer available pebbled leather version here
7. Adidas Dragon sneakers - $56.15 (including tax)
8. Havaianas flip flops - $12.99 (at Nordstrom Rack)
9. Anthropologie gold monogram mug - $8 (on sale) no longer available online but non-metallic version here
10. Vera Bradley lanyard - $12
11. Marc by Marc Jacobs iPad case - $18 (via Poshmark) similar here and here

Total = $433.10
- $18 Poshmark credit
Total spent out of pocket = $415.10

Wow!  I spent a lot and most of this was purchased after Christmas with all the sales.  I needed new sunglasses, another pair of sneakers, a laptop backpack for work (I've been using my husband's old ugly one) and a new lanyard (I swear by these for my keys, especially since I became a mom).  The purse was purely a "want", I've had my eye on it for a while and when it went on sale then with an extra 40% off plus free shipping, I couldn't resist.  The iPad case was purchased for my daughter, she has an iPad mini with a bulky shockproof case that fits perfectly in my neoprene version of this and found this nylon one at a great price and I could use the credit I had there from sales from my closet - so it was a no brainer.  By the way, I have to say I LOVE these Marc by Marc Jacobs cases, they have a soft furry lining that keeps the tablets super protected when on the go.  Also the Vera Bradley tote, well that was a "want" too, I know Vera gets a bad rap as sort of a preppy, mumsy brand, but I swear once you have a piece it's hard to not love something that's super lightweight, has tons of pockets, is washable and fun.  I have a few bags I've literally worn holes in because I end up using them so much.

Go forth and shop responsibly!

I'm linking up with Budgeting Bloggers over at Franish!

Hey, just for fun let's see how much I've spent in 2013 (well, since I started participating in Budgeting Bloggers in February).

Total Spent Out of Pocket for 2013 (Feb - Dec) = $1,252.68 (which averages $113.88 a month)

February = $40

March = $20

April = $26.48

May = $124.95

June = $56.97

July = $50.16

August = $65.49

September = $126.30

October = $11

November = $316.23

December = $415.10

Best Dressed - Golden Globes 2013

First of all I'm guest posting over at Miss Information today, head over and check it out!

Like almost everyone else in the blogosphere, I'm going to put in my two cents on who I thought brought the gorgeous last night at the Golden Globe awards (I only caught the first 1/2 hour, but I could tell that Tina and Amy totally rocked as co-hosts).  Here are my picks for best dressed:

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture

And yes, the "wonky boob" that I referred to in my review of this collection made an appearance (why doesn't someone tell Raf to rip those flaps/folds off?).  Wonky boob aside, this dress was just gorgeous on her, perfect color, great belt, and she has the body to pull it off (it looks better on her than it did on the runway)! Oh and check out the guy in the sunglasses behind her - he's all like "Hello, Miss Lawrence!"

 

Naomi Watts in Zac Posen (about the only time you'll ever see a Zac Posen pick on this here blog - his clothes usually grate on me) the color is gorgeous on her and the back (which I saw on TV is really beautiful with the fabric mix).

 

Rebecca Miller in Marc Jacobs - didn't see this on the carpet, but when I saw this picture I just fell in love. The length with the tall boots, so unexpected and quirky, it works and I want it! If you have to tag along to an event like this, this is how you do it!

Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen - she just looked so radiant (her hair was fabulous)!

Did you watch? Who were your picks?

Images via Style.com

 

Marc Jacobs Spring 2013 - My Five

If you don't like stripes or checks, then stay away from this collection.  A kind of precursor to his Louis Vuitton Spring collection - he rarely overlaps/connects these two collections (things are generally kept very separate) but this time they could be half-sisters!  I'm digging the mod vibe!  Here are my picks!

 

 

Images via Style.com

My Five - Louis Vuitton Spring 2013

This collection was mod, 60's awesome!  The Damier check featured heavily from small to large, mixed and matched.  Yellow, green, black, white, beige, brown and grey was the palette.  And there was not one classic monogram on anything!  I loved it and yes, now I'm craving a checked shirt (add it to the shopping list!).  Enjoy my picks!

Images via Style.com

Meanwhile this song popped up in my head while I was scrolling through the pictures of this collection - groovy!

What I Bought on Vacation

Okay it's been a little heavy on what I've purchased lately here on the ol' blog, but I love to share what I have purchased (especially if I like it a lot)!  Here are the two items I bought from the Marc by Marc Jacobs store in Savannah.  I really wanted to go to that store during our swing through Savannah.  I had done a bit of preliminary hunting on some affordable options that I could get while I was there and this rubber bracelet fit the bill!  My dear friend has one in pink and highly recommended it.  They didn't have a ton of them in the store and in only a few colors, but the blue fit the bill for me.  And for $28 you can't beat it!

It's so lightweight and easy to wear, I totally recommend it!  It looks like separate links but it's really just one piece of molded rubber.  Here are some of the color options available:

Top left colors available here

Top right colors available here

While I was in the store I found this cute skull necklace that I fell in love with (what is up with me and skulls lately?) and at $10 I snapped it up!  This must be an in-store only option because I haven't found it online from MJ.

Since it's not available online, I found some affordable alternatives:

Top

Right

Bottom

While we were in Hilton Head I headed to the outlets one day and picked up these goodies from J.Crew.  Bonus, they were having an extra 50% off of all sale items that day so the three pieces below cost me $30!  Awesome!

Yellow tee

Trouser jeans - similar

White bermuda shorts

So my total vacation shopping cost a grand total of $68!

My Five - Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2012

Did someone say that navy and orange might be a color combination to watch?  toot toot - there I go tooting my own horn - lol!  Just kidding, though this combination came up quite often in this collection it made an appearance along with other bright, happy colors with a sporty slant.  By far one of the most wearable, non-age specific Marc collections in recent memory.  Here are my picks, enjoy!

Images via Vogue.com

Rumors...

Marc Jacobs heading to Dior and Pheobe Philo heading to Louis Vuitton (while still remaining at Celine as creative director)?  Could be interesting.  Thoughts?

My Five - Marc Jacobs Spring 2011

I selected more than five looks from this collection (I know, I know), but I have good reason.  I want you to take note of the colors and color combinations.  Enjoy!

Images via Vogue.com

Behind the Scenes Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 Ads

Just saw this amazing video of behind the scenes footage of the Fall 2010 LV ad campaign.  Totally swoon-worthy!  Enjoy!

I spy and Happy Weekend!

I was flipping through the latest O Magazine earlier this week and spotted these lovely sandals from Nine West:

I then got my WWD (yep, I get that thanks to a dear friend - but way down here in GA I get them like, a week late, but I'm not complaining) and they showed an image from Marc Jacob's Resort collection and boy the shoes he showed with a few looks had such a similar vibe to the ones above (his are heels though).  Here's a picture, you can't tell too much from it, but trust me the shoes are cousins:

Here is another image from his collection - but just focus on the purse - adorable.

A little yellow - seriously, yellow is really happening - touches here and there.  Anyway, enough of my blah, blah, blah - our "for sale" house is being shown tomorrow and I would seriously appreciate any "please let our house sell" thoughts sent our way.  It's been super stressful!  Hope everyone has a lovely weekend, see you Monday!!!

Images via Nine West (top) and Style.com (bottom 2)

Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 - part 2 the accessories

Major accessory lust going on here.  They went nuts designing bags in lovely colors and materials - they are out of this world.  Enjoy!

Whew!  That was a lot, thanks for sticking with the long posts!

Images via Style.com