For the Princess in All of Us...

If you gotta work, might as well look good doing it, right?
Crystal Desk Accessories - $9.95-$29.95 at ZGallerie.
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-6108-crystal-desk-accessories.aspx



The most overused, but still super cute design of 2010... I have a few design junkie friends who Keep Calm pencils would be perfect for!
Keep Calm and Carry On Pencil Set - $10.95 at ZGallerie.
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-10245-keep-calm-and-carry-on-pencil-set.aspx

Holiday Deals are Already Over?

WTF Best Buy... too early.

I'm not joking, this subject line was in my inbox yesterday:

Subject: Last Chance. Amazing Holiday Deals End Today.

PS: My neighbors across the street put up (and lit for the entire evening) their Christmas lights yesterday.

PS #2: I didn't open the email. I don't like high-pressure sales tactics ;-)

Under $20: (And) Soooo Pretty!

As you may or may not know (if you've read any of my blogs throughout the holidays last year), I'm not a fan of promoting the December holidays... ummm... now. Just let me have Halloween and then yo can go crazy.

Unfortunately, the rest of the marketing world doesn't listen all that well. I'm ok with this though, because it's just a preview... you can't even buy them yet. But boy will I be!



How cute?! Coming this fall to mark for $12 (shower gels and moisture milk sets) and $10 (bath balls set).

My sister can most likely expect some in her stocking this year ;-) Here's a link if you want to check out what's new and available right now. I will definitely update when the holiday goodies are available for sale!

If you can't wait, Swagger has some equally as cute (and super delicious looking) bath goodies available right now.



Say it with me now, "Nom! Nom! Nom!" (Although they do look good enough to eat, I don't suggest it.)

Greenwashing is So Last Season

I'm pretty over greenwashing - all kinds of over it, in fact.

It really bugs me that I received an email today with an Earth Day sale advertising "20% off everything green"... eco-sketchy!

20% off bags made from recycled plastics? Fabulous!
20% off soft tees made from organic cotton? OK!

20% off something "green" that was shipped from across the globe? C'mon now, it's Earth Day tomorrow... not St. Patty's (I'm not a hater though - by all means, go for it on St. Patty's day)! I don't think Mother Nature would approve.

The Nature Conservancy has a cool calculator for your carbon footprint here. It's not all encompassing, but it's a nice little "home" gauge, for how you're doing at home. I'm happy to say we're below average (wooh, hah!) and half of our consumption comes from travel, which would be hard to cut down more. I'm game to give it a try though!

My Sisters are the Sh*t...

...because they never let me miss a beat - especially Whitney!A new favorite - Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker (everything is under $20!):
http://www.darlingdexter.com/darling-dexter/2009/1/14/bitten.html

I love you more than....?
http://www.darlingdexter.com/darling-dexter/2009/1/14/i-love-you-more-than-_________.htmlIf you're not subscribed to her blog yet, you will be.

New Shopping Fix from the Rooftop Bar

I've been told that apparently my New Years Eve crew has dinner reservations at Solas... this will be my first trip there, actually... so we'll see how fabulous (and hopefully not a lack there of) we get treated on NYE.

While you make your NYE plans, be sure to check out today's Shopping Fix from Cary Magazine. They've kicked their fun (locally-inspired!) videos up a notch by including places to buy and price right along side Heather's commentary.

Enjoy!
The Shopping Fix: Festive Fashion from S&A Cherokee on VimeoPS - I won't mind if you skip the fur. Go for faux fur... you'll save a bundle! ;-)

Stimulating the Economy...

Mary Phillips style!





Koozies range from $3.50 to $6.00. Make some new friends at the bar (with your same great snarky attitude) and fill those stockings with (spiked) cheer!

Christmas Gift Ideas: For Your Eco-Gal-Pal

This is what I'd love to get Renee for the holidays:

Oceana - adopt an endangered sea creature in someone's name, and they'll get a cookie cutter in the shape of the critter you select ($35-$100).Thanks Ideal Bite! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's daily email with green gifts fro $20-$49!

Ooh - while I'm at it, check out this nice little site:I just signed up for their email newsletter, too. Here's hoping the content is as appealing as the site design!

Wooooh!

Great Monday morning email from Mary Phillips Designs:

Buy six koozies, get a free set of drinking glasses!Insert "woo girl" cheers here!

PS - Who else watches How I Met Your Mother? My boyfriend picked on me and my girlfriends all episode long during last week's Woo Girls episode.

Watch it - it's HILARIOUS!

Holiday Party Wardrobe Help - Little Black Dress

I can foresee this becoming a good on-going post. I'll start with Kristy's recommendation this morning:black is back



have you all seen the new "party look" line at the gap? i love it all especially the items with ruffles. so very festive -- especially for the upcoming holidays. i think adding a splash of cranberry, hot pink or even some shade of green would make these black items "pop" even more. guess who's so ready for the holidays?I love her idea of playing it up with color. How about a bit of red, green, gold or silver?

Clockwise from top left:
Forever21 - Filigree Hearts Necklace - $4.80
etsy - Goldeneye Hammered Rings Necklace - $47.00
Francesca's Collections - Unsung Melody Necklace - $22.40
etsy - (dyed) Freshwater Pearl and Oxidised Sterling Silver Necklace - $39.00Complete with a new little black dress that can be worn all year round!

Local Plans this Thursday and Sunday?

The best shopping events of the year are finally here - the 2nd Annual Holiday Preview Night benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the 6th Annual Holiday Open House!

Be sure to RSVP to Swagger's events on facebook (just check out the snazzy Swagger Gifts - Monogrammed and Unique Gifts & Accessories facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Swagger-Gifts-Monogrammed-and-Unique-Gifts-Accessories/26618281522), invite your favorite shopping partners, and get ready for some holiday fun!Here's the links to the event pages on Swagger's site as well as facebook, to make sharing these good times with your gal pals SUPER easy!
2nd Annual Holiday Preview Night benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
http://www.swaggergifts.com/holiday-preview-night-benefiting-leukemia-lymphoma-society
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47378208224

6th Annual Holiday Open House
http://www.swaggergifts.com/holiday-open-house
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=32951948334

See you there!

PS - Dangit... there I go again with the holiday-esque post!

I'm a Sucker for Hoilday Decor

Opened my email today, saw these cuuuute holiday candle holders, cookie jars, etc. from Bath & Body Works:




And you KNOW they will be in-store next to the most amazing smelling holiday candles... EVER!

Speaking of holiday candles, G.R.I.T.S. shared a great coupon this weekend:"$10 off of a $25 purchase at Yankee Candle. That's a big jar for $15! You can't beat that!"Love the holidays and all the smells that go along with them.

PS - What iiiiiiis my problem? I'm jumping on board with all of this nonsense about starting the holidays the day after Halloween. I'll try and limit the Christmas blog posts until later in the month. :-)

WANT: Ghostess with the Mostess Apron

As many of you know, I always prefer to shop local & independent when I can!

Lucky for me, I'll be seeing Mandy first thing tomorrow morning... and I'll be sure to see if she can snag me this CUTE Halloween apron at Swagger first. If not, Swoozies it is then!

Halloween Apron - Ghostess with the Mostess - ONLINE ONLY SALE
Original Price: $39.99
Online Only Sale: $19.99That's my kind of sale! I'll be sure to update on my findings... for real this time.