Save More October: Beautify

In the spirit of Save More October...more savings! Since I have been focusing on clothes, I decided to change it up a bit and share some cost savings love from one of my favorite beauty websites, Beautybar.com.  Beautybar is similar to Sephora and Ulta in that it offers your typical premium beauty brands, but there is a twist.  Beautybar offers brands that you will not be able to find or buy anywhere else in the US other than on their site.  They also guarantee the FASTEST shipping (when you check out it will tell you if you are in time for NEXT DAY DELIVERY, at no additional cost). Last but not least, they are consistently offering gifts with a majority of their purchases, which means you will not only end up with the item you paid for, but plenty of free samples and possibly an added bonus as well. 

For a limited time you can try Beautybar and save an additional $10.00 off your first purchase with the code  BEAUTYBAR10 (now through 12/31).

Some of the brands I recommend that are hard to find elsewhere: 

• By Terry
• Natura Bisse
• La Roche-Posey 

Happy Monday, Happy Beautifying, and a great week to all!

How Do You Wear Your Pink?

Two posts today because I have a feeling this week is going to be busy and there are more posts to come (Save More October, Drug Store Recap)

Today's outfit is all about the pink. This is the last full week of October, which has brought us changing leaves, Playoff baseball, and all things cider.  But this is the month that we also think about those who have fought, who are fighting, and who have beaten Breast Cancer. And while we should keep these ladies top of mind year round, this is really their month to shine.

So wear your pink proud this week (boys and girls), and take a moment to say a quick prayer or thought for people who are fighting a greater battle than yourself.

Just A Taste

Last night, we had our good friends, The Hallions, over for drinks and dinner.  I wanted to try something different and thought that a beer tasting could be a great way to try some of the unique, seasonal beers that seem to pop up everywhere this time of year. Throughout the fall-winter months, you see a mass producing of seasonal beers, and while I always want to try them, I never know where to start.

For our beer tasting, we went to our local liquor store where you are able to purchase individual bottles of beer ($1-$3/beer).  If you want to recreate this at home, I suggest buying the beer this way, as buying 6-packs of several beers (some of which you might not like), will be costly.

We went with all pumpkin flavored beers because this is the closest thing I can think of to grown up Trick-Or-Treating, and I genuinely like anything pumpkin flavored this time of year. Other options could be Octoberfest or Christmas Ales (in month or so)...or you could always use only locally brewed beer, or beers by your favorite brewer. 

Here are the beers that we tasted (in no order):

• Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale
• Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat
• Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Shipyard Pumpkin Ale
• Rivertown Pumpkin Ale

We agreed as a group that we had to vote on our favorites and rank them in order as went.  Things we were "tasting for": best pumpkin flavor, drinkability (could you have more than one), most unique taste, best smell. 

The results: 

Honestly, it was really fun. And engaging.  It was a great way to try new beers for little to no cost, and to hear what everyone looks for in their drink of choice. Plus, we had Cory's awesome guacamole to eat and Justin's enchiladas in the ovens (the boys really are the better cooks).  Overall it was something different to try and a fun way to enjoy staying in with friends. Now for the rankings...

1. Shipyard Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Portland, Maine)-- Best overall taste and drinkability, and the most creative bottle
2. Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat (brewed in St. Louis, Missouri)-- A very close second.  Probably the best pumpkin taste, but could be a little strong for some people
3. Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Golden, Colorado)-- Pretty similar to the traditional Blue Moon taste that people love, just with more spices
4. Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire)-- Great smell, very drinkable, but slightly bitter
5. Rivertown Pumpkin Ale (brewed in Lockland, Ohio)-- Voted last by the group; this beer was still a good beer, but lacked the overall flavors that the others who topped it had

Your Invited To: The Peplum Party, Take Me Out Tonight Edition

Uno, Dos, Tres....

Day 3, Look 3, and all I can think of in this outfit is Journey's "Take Me Home Tonight...." on repeat.  Not really sure why?

Today's look is my going out look. You are now familiar with the featured top (hopefully not sick of it yet), that is back again to be the focal point of this outfit.  I paired the Tibi blouse (over a black t shirt) with black skinny jeans, my same black heels from the Work It Out Edition post, and a light jacket, because today is a bit cooler in Cincinnati.  I added some color with my teal clutch, and a little lipstick to brighten me up, and I am ready to go.

Now the funny part, I was really all dressed in this outfit and 100% ready to head out to date night.  But the fact that the Cardinals could take it tonight, and the fact that date night meant we could potentially miss this, I said, we are staying home.

So off come the skinny jeans and heels, and on come the PJs, but you can see that this would have been a cute outfit, had we made it out.

Of the three looks, do you have a favorite? What do you think is the most "wearable" look for this top? Let me know, I love to hear what you're thinking :)

Take Me Out Tonight Edition: Top: Tibi, Jeans: Rag & Bone, Jacket: H&M (old); Clutch: ASOS; Shoes: ASOS; Lipstick: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in Crush

Last but not least, GO CARDS, GO!!!
(and if your new to my blog, and you hate the Cardinals, please don't hate, I couldn't help it)

Your Invited To: The Peplum Party, Driving Around Town Edition

Day 2 of 3. One shirt, 3 looks. Yesterday was all work, and today is all play.

The below look is meant to be casual, relaxed yet still put together, and fun. I paired my blouse with slouchy boyfriend jeans and botties to create a look that is perfect for Fall Saturdays, a trip to the city with friends, or just relaxing around the house.  Most people know that I am not a huge fan of sweatpants.  I think this is because I really have only one pair and I have worn them down so much that they aren't really wearable in public. Instead, I am a huge fan of loose fitting jeans and fun tops, and I think this approach to causal wear creates outfits that are much more versatile. I swear if you invest in a pair of oversized (but not sloppy) jeans, they will feel like sweats but you will still look ready for anything the weekend throws your way.

Most importantly, you can see how a great investment piece (the top) can translate from the boardroom to the farmer's market:

Candid Camera (peace sign?)

 

Peplum Party Driving Around Town Edition: Top: Tibi; Jeans: Current Elliot (old); Booties: Mango; Sweater: BCBG (high school old maybe?); Purse: Marc Jacobs (again, 4+ years)

And Day 3 is tomorrow, and it's Friday! Happy.

Your Invited To: The Peplum Party, Work It Out Edition

The first of the Peplum Party Posts (say that 5 times fast).  1 shirt, 3 looks, 3 days.

I am taking my favorite peplum blouse of the Fall, and creating unique, wearable looks, starting with the Work It Out Edition. I love the below look because while it appears sophisticated for the office, there is nothing dull about the prints and patterns at play here. I have worn this outfit to work before. And I will wear it several more times.  Because from a client meeting, to a customer happy hour, it still feels like me.  And when I feel like me, I ultimately do my best work.

To create this look at home take your favorite fall blouse, any shape, fit, or print will do, and match it with a tailored pencil skirt. Do not over think this. You do not always have to match, I promise.  Similar color palettes will match themselves without you spending hours thinking about what colors go together.

Again, I believe in this mantra, "If Item X does not go with at least 3 other things in my current closet, I should not buy it". Now, I even break my own rules sometimes, and that's ok, but the more versatile pieces will pay back their price tags in the future.

 Peplum Party Work Edition: Top: Tibi; Skirt: Uniglow: Shoes: Asos: Bag: Hand-me-down Marc Jacobs from my mom

Save More October: Girl Crush

Monday.  Things I hate about this particular Monday:

1. Rain
2. Stress
3. Anxious (is this the same as being stressed?)

Things I love about this particular Monday:

1. Blair Eadie
2. Blair Eadie designing jewelry for Bauble Bar
3. I got flowers from J!! ( BEST SURPRISE)

Let's ignore the dislikes because it is just one rainy, long Monday, and tomorrow is a new day.  And if the worst of my problems is some rain and stress, I should just stop talking right now.  So I will.

And now the loves....

For those of you who don't know, Blair Eadie is my style icon (along with my mom, my aunt Chrisi, and Barley, because she just always looks so good :) ).  I love Blair because she has the most creative take on fashion.  Some days she is preppy, some days vintage, all days (for the most part), colorful.  I have never seen anyone mix and match like she does.  And she never gets it wrong.  She takes pieces that might not work together, and to quote Tim Gunn, she "makes it work".

Here is Blair's blog, Atlantic-Pacific, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Even if her style isn't yours, you can appreciate that she takes risks and is happy in her own skin.

And now for the savings...

Blair teamed up with Bauble Bar, an online jewelry company that is quite frankly, amazing, to create a limited line of her favorite rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  The result: affordable, adorable, and the right statement piece for any outfit. You can view her collection here, Bauble Bar, and I suggest you browse soon because I have a feeling these pieces won't be around for long.

One last thought, Bauble Bar has free shipping on all orders, no tax, and gives you savings off your next purchase for every dollar you spend.

Here are my picks:

(Top to bottom: Butter Bauble Bib, $36, anddd I ordered it, couldn't say no; Chevron Ring Stack, $26; and Spice Wrap, $26)

To great Tuesdays for us all...because they never wrote a song about manic Tuesdays, so that is already a step in the right direction.