Mother's Day Pearl Bracelet

I had a request from a dear friend to make his mother something special for Mother's Day. Here it is:

with flash

without flash

This was my adaptation of a $4400 Tahitian pearl bracelet that I saw online. I used Swarovski pearls in tahitian blue, mauve, dark grey and silver. Accents are sterling silver.

New Bathroom Cabinet

We needed a small storage cabinet for a weird space in front of the toilet (I am not showing that angle!). Hubby came across this at our local Homegoods store...

It goes so well with our tropical decor and I think it compliments the shower curtain perfectly! Homegoods isl like an adventure...a hit-or-miss place like Marshall's and Ross. It was the ONLY one there so I took that as a sign.
For $100, we are happy with it.

30% off at Dillard's Clearance!!

WOOP WOOP!!!!

Dillard's

Though I got to the sale on the first day, the pickins' were a bit slim. You can tell they are trying to get rid of the heavy stuff from winter...

However, I did pick up a few "statement pieces" that I am super happy with:

Necklace- was $28 paid $11

Earrings- were $16 paid $6

Necklace- was $32 paid $13

Giveaway *WINNER*: Opaque Blue and Silver Oval Hoop Earrings

And the WINNER is...
Comment #2 - Oh! MY favorite color!! Sign me up!!! - Leslee

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DIY: Hex Nut Bracelet

I was paging through some fashion magazine a few weeks ago and came across the Giles & Brother Hex Nut Bracelet:

Hex Nut Bracelet

Edgy with a girly flair, I started combing the internet to see other variations and designs. A blog called "Honestly, WTF" has a great version and tutorial: Honestly, WTF Hex Nut Bracelet.

Here is my version:

I used a suede cord which made it a bit hard to braid and tie off but I am pretty happy with the end result!

Fabulous Find: Thrifting at Goodwill

I have tried "thrifting" several times before and decided that I am just not that good at it...until today. Check out my score:

Yep..a real Dooney & Bourke bag...for $10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I nearly had a heart attack when I spotted it on the rack o' purses! I decided to try the Goodwill Boutique store in the "fancier" part of town. It was clean, did not smell like old stuff, had TONS of items with the original tags still on and the staff was really nice. I love how it looks soooo upper class:

For those local to Orlando, this is the Winter Park location on Orange Ave.

New Music...Fitz and the Tantrums

I heard "Moneygrabber" on VH1 this morning...might be a new fave band. Check em' out:

Spring Accents

Just a few little spring accents I picked up along my travels on Friday...

Spring Bee Bling Ring - $15 at TJMaxx

"Sweetpea"in Red - $20 at Payless

"You Get What You Pay For"

I can hear my Gram in my ear as I type up this blog post...

I came across a "buy one get one for a penny" sale at Wet Seal (a store that is 20 years too old for me, personally). After looking around at the sale items and passing up all the "current" styles that somehow made it back from when I was in junior high, I decided to try 2 pairs of shoes. I went out on a limb and ordered styles that I would not normally buy since they were so cheap...that should have been my first indication to navigate away from the website.

First up...the shoe booties:

original $26.50
clearance $15.99

I knew the second I took them out of the bag that they were garbage- thin and flimsy, I had bent the back of them just trying to get my average-size-8.5-foot in them. They were at least a half size too big as well.

Next up, the rosy nude peep toe heels:

original $26.50
clearance $15.99

Thin and plastic-y, they were permanently creased where my pinkie toe sits and were also at least a half size too big. I knew these shoes were going to be garbage since they included the plastic hangar that the shoes originally hung from. I have never had any luck with shoes from a hangar!

Lesson learned: you get what you pay for. To the Goodwill donation bag they go...

Shoe Heaven

With the losing and gaining of weight throughout my life, there has been one constant; my shoe size. I think that is a HUGE part of why I love shoes:

The shoe dept  heaven at my local Dillard's

I am obsessed with these...

...and these!

Cute flats with cork and gems

These remind me of a galaxy of sparkly stars!

I "might" have to sell a kidney or some other body part for any pair of these...:)

Article: Crystal Renn on marriage, Nigella and finally feeling beautiful

I have always liked Crystal Renn...read her latest article below:

'Whether I lose or gain weight, someone will always criticise me' 

Purchases vs. Returns

I have ALWAYS been a shopper; coupon clipper, super saver, shop-a-holic, queen of the returns...I have heard it all!

Since starting this blog, people have commented on how much I shop and are curious on what my spending habits are. I wanted to make sure that people understand that I am a bargain shopper...never paying full price when I don't have to!

I only spend after the bills are paid, money is in the 401k and savings accounts! With all of that being said, if I had to estimate, I would say I return 40% of what I buy. Why keep something if it does not fit/flatter my shape, is cheaply made or if I just don't like it?

Neon Nails!

...experimenting with color...

please excuse the dry cuticles...they are a work in progress!

Lovin' Some Lilac

I am not a huge fan of pastel-ish colors but with blue eyes, I think this shade works!

Alstroemeria

$4 for a huge bunch at Walmart

Fresh flowers always make me happy...:)

Funky Fresh Nail Color & Deco Accent Polish

I have just gotten back into taking care of my nails (gasp!). Always looking for a bargain, I popped into my local Dollar Tree and came across L.A. Colors Nail Art Deco bottle of "decorative accent" polish (I only call it this because it has a thin applicator for creating designs on your nails- it is not nail polish): 

I was not sure about it, so I only bought one. Well, I loved it sooooo much that I went back on Monday and bought all the colors I could get my hands on. For a buck, how could I go wrong????

I zipped down the road to Ross (just to "look") and found this FABULOUS teal-ish color from Cosmetic Arts....love love love it!

The Cosmetic Arts color was thick enough that you could get away with just one coat, but out of habit, I did two coats. The thin applicator of the LA Colors Art Deco color makes it super easy to swipe onto your nails; I was just messing around for my first time!

Giveaway: Opaque Blue and Silver Oval Hoop Earrings

I am very excited to be doing my first giveaway! These earrings are handmade (by me) and are a seafoam blue-ish green-ish color. All you need to do is enter your name and email address under this posting. I will pick the winner 1 week from today (via random.org) and email you for name and address info.

Residents of the USA and Canada only please (thanks for understanding)!

Jewelry SCORE at Kohl's

I "need" jewelry like another hole in my head...
I picked up these cute jewels over the weekend during my 3 trips (yep, 3 trips) to Kohl's:

$4.80 but I ripped off the tags already!

I bought the matching necklace a month or so ago...perfect!!!! I nearly fell over at the 90% off price!!!!

$4.80...tag ripped off!

These hang so cute...love them...love the 90% even more!

These look a bit Moroccan to me...love em'!

My "high priced item" at a whopping $9.60...

Did I mention I also had my 20% you-shop-here-so-much-that-Kohl's-should-pay-you coupon and $10 store credit to use? My motto? NEVER pay full price when you don't have to.

Music I Am Loving Now...

DOM - Living in America

Bear in Heaven - You Do You

Beach Fossils - Calyer

Crystal Castles - Celestica

She Wants Revenge - Must Be the One

Long Dress Shopping = DISASTER

Where do I even start? I think the pictures can speak for themselves:

Not horribly bad but makes my hips look they have pointed horns.

Eh, just average and a little too "top heavy"...I don't need to accentuate the obvious!

Not only were my "arm peanuts" present but do you notice anything wrong? If not, see below:

Mother of all that is holy!!!!
WHO THE HELL DO THEY MAKE THESE DRESSES FOR?????
Size 32A, that's who!!!!

Disclaimer: normally I would not post such a "revealing" shot of myself but in this case, it was absolutely necessary to sure the true ridiculousness of this dress!