Bootie Dilemma: Save or Splurge?

Perfect, right? I fell in love with them the moment I spotted them in a Piperlime ad mailed to my house. That ad had a 20% off coupon attached, so I just knew I could make these booties mine. With the discount, the total comes to $228. Now, if I wanted to return another pair of shoes I bought recently with some birthday money (ahem, Rachel Roy), I could certainly have them. But I haven't made that decision yet. While exploring other options, I came up with these less expensive alternatives that are worthy of consideration.

1. Dolce Vita $88 // my final price: $20

2. Dolce Vita $99 // my final price: $29

3. Sam Edelman $130 // my final price: $54

4. Dolce Vita $190 // my final price: $100

All of these are available on Amazon, which bodes well for me. I also have a 20% off coupon for Amazon, plus a $50 gift card.

I can't decide if it's a good or bad thing that I over analyze things like this. I may end up not being able to get the Hudson's out of my head, thus returning the Rachel Roy's to be able to buy them. Or I maybe I choose the most reasonable option and settle for one of the alternatives. 

What do y'all think? Do you love the Hudson's? Do you love the Rachel Roy's? Do you think any of the alternatives would be a good decision?

Style Inspiration

Sweatshirt $118, Pants $98, Flats $298

Is fall fashion not the best? Everyone knows the September issues of fashion magazines can't be missed and the new J. Crew style guide did not disappoint. I think I flagged almost every other page! This look in particular stood out to me, and although the total cost tops $500, I think I've found a near identical alternative for less than $100! That means, instead of buying just the J. Crew camo pants, you can buy alllll this... and still look like you stepped out of a magazine.

Forever 21 sweatshirt, ReWash pants via Macy's, Gap flats

August Shopping

My birthday was a couple weeks ago, and I'm still trying to decide what to spend my birthday money on! Why is it when I don't have money, I want SO many things... Yet when I do have some money at my disposal, it takes me forever to decide what to spend it on! Please tell me this happens to you, too. There's something about the feeling of having that money to do with what I please and not wanting that to end! Because when it's gone, it won't come back until Christmas. So, I need your help! What would you spend your birthday money on (if your birthday was in August)? Would you scour the summer sales or dip into the new fall arrivals?

Look For Less: Ankle Boot Edition

DV by Dolce Vita // Rag & Bone 

You can't go wrong with a good ankle boot. They go with anything, from dresses to jeans and can take you though fall, winter, and spring-- at least in Tennessee. I have one pair, last seen here, but I can't rule out purchasing a second pair in black. I'm not usually one to gravitate toward black, but this pair from Dolce Vita incorporates a little cognac, which I can never resist. Plus, they're a dead ringer for one of the most coveted ankle boots, the Harrow by Rag and Bone. If you're looking for some even cheaper, this pair, also from DV, are really similar! I also have my eye on these-- They look so comfortable! 

I know it's not technically fall until the end of September (and probably won't feel like fall in Memphis until October), but I can't help but drool over all the new fall arrivals that are out already! It's my favorite season!

Nothing like a good deal to get my blogging mojo back, huh? :) 

Summer Beauty

 In the past couple years, I've toned down my makeup routine quite a bit. I don't really know what caused the change, but I think it might something to do with having to wake up early for this big girl job I have. Less time on makeup = more sleep! Especially in the summer, my makeup routine is super simple and natural. Today I'm sharing my favorite products that I use on a daily basis! 

Face: neutrogena oil-free mouisture // benefit "boi-ing" concealer // mac mineralize bronzer

I've been using neutrogena's moisturizer for years and I love it. It's light, non-greasy, and has a little SPF to protect my face. Since I don't like wearing foundation in the summertime, a good concealer to cover imperfections is crucial. I just ran out of my mac concealer, and I'm planning to try benefit's "boi-ing" next. To finish off my face, I dust a little bronzer all over to warm up my complexion.

Eyes/Brows: too faced brow pencil // benefit "they're real" mascara

For me, my stand-out features are my eyes and brows. I don't wear eyeshadow or eyeliner daily, but I always have to shape my brows and put on mascara. I use too faced's brow pencil in "blondey" which is a few shades lighter than my natural brow color. For my lashes, I always curl them first and then add 1-2 coats of "they're real" mascara by benefit. It really helps lengthen my lashes but isn't too much for a natural look. (I am looking for another mascara that adds dramatic volume for those times I want a more glam look. I need recommendations!)

Lips: fresh sugar lip balm

Lastly, I usually swipe on sugar lip balm from fresh, which gives a light color and extreme moisture. Occasionally, I'll switch that out for a bright lipstick. It helps me feel a little more put together but not overly so in the summer heat. :)

What are your summer beauty must-haves? I'd love to hear your beauty recommendations!

* I was not compensated by any brand for this post. I use and love all of these products and wanted to share them with you!

J. Crew Mari Sandals

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you know that I got an amazing deal on the pink J. Crew Mari sandals... As in, 74% off the retail price of $228... My total price was only $60! I was so unbelievably excited! J. Crew has the best customer service! They arrived only 2 days later and as soon as I put them on my feet, I fell in love. The kind of love that makes me buy them in another color, the portabello mushroom, which is a neutral tan color. And the best part? I got them for only $40! That's more than 80% off! (This is the kind of math I can do...) 

Wanna know the secret? 

For the pink pair: I saw them online on sale for $179 and they had a 25% off promotion going on at that time. I went to Google to learn more about the fit and found out that they were marked down even more in-store. I called customer service and they honored the in-store price of $69 and also took off 25%. They did charge $5 for shipping, but I didn't complain! Total price: $60!

For the nude pair: I went to the store and used the red phone to order these. They are still full price online, but they gave me the same sale price of $69 and at that time, all sale items were an additional 30% off. I also got a 15% student discount. Total price: $40! 

Have y'all found any unbelievable J. Crew bargains lately? When I went to the store this past weekend, they had SO much on sale. I almost left with a $28 pair of yellow Cece ballet flats (which are also still full-price online) but I reluctantly walked away from them. 

Now THAT is self control. 

Festive Nautical

Modcloth dress, Target hat, Tory Burch clutch, kate spade wedges & sunnies, J. Crew necklace, earrings, & bracelet, kate spade bangle

Happy Memorial Day! Whether you're aboard a lavish houseboat party, attending a low-key barbecue, or simply spending time with family & friends, I hope you're having a great holiday! 

P.S. How flattering does this dress look? It would be perfect for so many occasions. For Memorial Day, I would let red take center stage, keep the jewelry simple, and stay cool in a large hat! 

God bless the USA! 

Memorial Day Earring Sale!

Earrings: c/o JoJo Loves You

Today I'm excited to introduce to you JoJo Loves You, a jewelry company that has the most amazing earrings! Their earrings come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors that you're sure to find one (or eight) that you like! Shop my top picks below.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

See any you can't live without? You're in luck, because JoJo Loves You is currently having their annual Memorial Day sale! From now until Monday, you can get 3 pairs for $60 (includes original blings, party blings, mini party blings, navette blings, and oval blings) or 3 pairs for $50 (mini blings).

Happy three-day weekend! Thank you for reading! 

Well, it's one for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, Now go, cat, go.

Who would ever imagine blue suede shoes would be so versatile?! Definitely not me, until I started brainstorming ideas for different occasions, and these are only two of the many outfits you could put together around blue heels. Now I'm thinking these may need to make an appearance in my closet! 

For brunch, choose a dress with a playful pattern, an armful of bracelets, a blush satchel, and sassy pink lips! Blue heels will really make this outfit pop!

On date night, let your blue shoes stand out with a flirty LWD, a modern metal belt, crystal statement jewelry, and a classic black and white clutch. Finish off the look with fiery red-orange lips!

Only one more day til summer Memorial Day weekend! I'm SO excited to relax and enjoy the gorgeous weather! It's safe to assume I'll also try to hit up a few sales... Speaking of sales, ShoeDazzle is having a Memorial Day sale today through Monday! All sale items are an additional 30% off and all full-price items are 20% off! New members: you can still get 25% off your first item with the 20% taken off subsequent items! I'm telling you... THIS weekend is the time to shop ShoeDazzle!

P.S. Now I have the urge to listen to Elvis.

This post is sponsored by ShoeDazzle.

Color Inspiration: Lime

 chair // necklace // shoes

It's been awhile since I've been into lime green, probably because I was so obsessed with it in high school that I burnt myself out on it. I still cannot believe my parents allowed my bedroom to be painted neon pink and lime green. Anyway, I've found myself gravitating toward the summery hue lately and I can't help but think that it will go with every other color in my house & wardrobe... Lime, meet mint. I hope you'll be best friends.

Check out this link for ideas on how to incorporate lime (and mint) into your home decor :)

Feet Candy

Of course I always feel like I need to expand my shoe collection, but ShoeDazzle is convincing me even more lately! They have so many fun patterns, embellished details, and shiny metallics that would make any shoe-lover swoon. Above are my favorite pairs that immediately caught my attention. The pink & blue patterned heels are absolutely adorable, and of course I was attracted to mint and metallics :)

If you aren't familiar with ShoeDazzle, ShoeDazzle is the original online personal-styling innovator that treats you to a monthly showroom filled with personalized shoe and accessory recommendations. It's like having your own personal shopper... A personal shopper that is Rachel Zoe that is, since she's the company's chief stylist! ShoeDazzle carries their own brand, as well as other well-known designer brands such as Chinese Laundry, Seychelles, Dolce Vita, Michael Antonio, and Beau+Ashe at prices that can't be beat!

To join, take the ShoeDazzle style quiz so they can get to know your style. Based on the results, ShoeDazzle gives you your first showroom of shoes and handbags they think you’ll love. At the beginning of every month you will receive a new selection that fits your individual style, and as new styles get added to the site throughout the month, they continue to tailor your personalized recommendations. 

As if their cute shoes and affordable prices aren't incentive enough, you can also get 25% off your first purchase if you order within 2 days of joining!

Which pair speaks to you? Take a look and leave a comment-- I'd love to know! 

This post is sponsored by ShoeDazzle but I always share my honest opinions.

Summer Sandals

Steve Madden // Ivanka Trump (on sale!) // Report (on sale!)

J. Crew // Modcloth // Joie

This time of year I always feel like I need to update my sandal collection! I wear flat sandals ALL summer, and because of my non-existent arch, I need little support so flat sandals are so comfy for me! This season, I'm all about the details. Colorblocking, subtle ombre, and simple metallic thongs are at the top of my wish list. What type of sandals are you most drawn to this year?

We're finally all moved into our new house! I'm utterly exhausted from moving for 4 days straight so I'm still trying to get caught up on rest. We didn't hire a moving company and instead opted to do it on our own with help from friends. We absolutely couldn't have done it without Will, Courtney, and Zach's help! I'm still trying to convince Tyler that with the money we saved from moving ourselves, I should be able to get a massage. :)

My parents came up Saturday evening and we spent the rest of the weekend unpacking and organizing. They were such a huge help! We still have a long way to go but we're just so happy to finally be living in our adorable new place.

Silver + Tan

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

I've never been a huge fan of the color silver... I'm a gold gal! But this spring is all about silver footwear and I have to admit... I'm kinda loving it! I'm currently drooling over styles that combine silver with tan... It's such an unexpected pairing and is just about as versatile as you can get! 

Coach is alllll over this silver/tan combo (the top 3 are Coach). I'm especially smitten with the Rebecca Minkoff wedges (#4) but even the sale price is too much for me to spend...

We're starting to move tonight! I can hardly wait to start taking things over to the new place and see the transformation from empty to homey! 

Summer Concert Style

shorts // tank // sandals

sunnies // necklace // bag

With Memphis in May beginning this weekend and summer concerts just around the corner, I wanted to share some of my summer concert essentials. I chose cool, comfortable clothes (such as a cotton tank and flat sandals) and practical, no-fuss accessories (like a small cross-body bag and delicate necklace).

Just throw your hair in a messy ponytail and you'll be ready to rock out in effortless style!

Sea of Blue

clockwise: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17

I'm obsessed with all the sea blue shades at J. Crew right now! Now is the perfect time to add a little more blue to your closet by shopping J. Crew's current store-wide sale. Take 25% off everything with code "springbest" until Sunday night!

Happy Friday! I'm anxiously awaiting Courtney's gender reveal party tomorrow! I'm so excited to find out if I'll be shopping pink or blue! (Although I told her I'm buying something mint either way :))

Perforated Perfection

shoulder bag / clutch / satchel / cross body

Perforated leather bags have been popping up on my radar with frequency lately, especially after I spotted the cross body bag from Ann Taylor. It's high on my wishlist right now, but I'm waiting out the sale price! I also came across the mint and lavender satchel at Aldo this past weekend and was thisclose to bringing it home with me.

The perforations are so fresh and the combination of neutral and pastels is perfect for spring! Which bag is your favorite?

Be sure and check out Sheree's blog, The Hartungs, today! You might just see an interview with yours truly :)

Look for Less: Mint Leather Skirt

Chelsea & Violet / Forever 21

I don't allow myself to buy too many things that are not office appropriate, but a mint leather skirt might be an exception. Considering its versatility is extremely limited, $80 is a bit steep for my budget, but $15 is a reasonable price to swallow. It would be such fun addition to your closet to pull out every now and then for date night!

A Look for Less + Coming Up This Week...

 Chloe / Clark

How adorable is that Chloe sandal?? I love the cork bottom and unique closure, not to mention they'd go with EVERYTHING during the spring/summer/fall months. Plus, who can resist a gold metallic accent and an ankle strap?! Unfortunately, $260 is a lot to spend on one pair of sandals so luckily, I found an alternative! These Clark sandals are more than half the price, and still gives you just as much versatility.

A few things to note: I'm being featured on GBO Fashion tomorrow as Shannon's Style Crush, so be sure and check that out! Also, stay tuned this week for a jewelry giveaway and an inside look at Memphis Fashion Weekend! And lastly, I'm both proud and stunned to announce the winner of the Target/Sephora/J.Crew giveaway as Sheree! She also recently won my Piperlime giveaway only a week ago! Talk about lucky!

Look for Less: 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli

Shopbop / Francesca's

Let's be real. Who isn't in love with 3.1 Phillip Lim's Pashli satchel?!

But let's face it. Spending nearly $1,000 isn't realistic for many of us, so finding a more affordable alternative is crucial. I came across this lookalike on Francesca's website and immediately knew it had to be mine. It shares the same satchel style, zippered sides, and even a similar closure. Plus, the white and black is so on trend for spring!

P.S. How adorable is this little mini version?!

Weekend Recap + Giveaway for $700 in Gift Cards!

I hope you guys had a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend. I know I did! My parents came to visit for the weekend, and we had so much fun spending time together. Friday afternoon, Tyler and I wanted to show them the house we'll be renting soon (Yes, we're moving! More details to come soon) so that was very exciting! We took them to Gus's Famous Fried Chicken for supper, and then stopped by Pottery Barn outlet on the way back home. Our furry children LOVED having their Lolli and Pop (yes I know... Mom's idea...) here and constantly begged for attention, treats, and toys. They always bring presents and Bella's smart enough to know that they've got things for her! Mom brought me a present, too... a pair of Jimmy Choos!!!

Saturday, we ventured out in the rain to shop at Saddle Creek, and eat at our favorite restaurant in Germantown: the Germantown Commissary (our favorite BBQ ever!).  Shopping with my mom is one of my favorite things and I always cherish the girl time we get to spend together since it's so rare these days. We went into most of the stores at Saddle Creek, but spent most of the time in Ann Taylor Loft. They have TONS of colorful spring things out right now (with 40% off storewide!), so naturally, my mom and I were lugging around armfuls of clothing to the dressing room while getting death stares from Tyler and my dad. I ended up leaving with a floral peplum top, a striped tee (can you ever have too many??), and the perfect boyfriend jeans. Everything is now 50% off (of course) online, with code CYBERSPRING.

1. Floral peplum
2. Striped Tee
3. Boyfriend jeans (left, sold out but available in a darker wash)

 

Sunday, we celebrated Jesus's resurrection at our home church here in Memphis, Island Community Church (P.S. If you're in Memphis, we'd love to have you!). It was an awesome time of worship and celebration, and we were so glad to have my parents there with us. We had lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse (I'd forgotten how good it is!) before they had to head back to Alabama. Tyler and I enjoyed an afternoon nap with the kiddos and caught up on some TV shows we missed last week. 

So now that you've been filled in on every detail from our weekend... it's time for another giveaway!

This past week, Laura from Walking in Memphis in High Heels, reached 1,000 followers on her blog!  To celebrate and thank her readers, she has teamed up with some of her favorite bloggers to have a huge giveaway!  Please take a moment to show these women (and one man) some love!  One lucky reader will win a $300 gift card to J. Crew, a $200 gift card to Target and a $200 gift card to Sephora!  How amazing is that?!  You can check out each blog by clicking on the link below their name, and enter the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway will run until 12:00 am CST on Monday April 8th.

Abigail  ||  Ady  ||  Alicia

Andrea D  ||  Andrea M  ||  Angela

Alyssa  ||  Amy D  ||  Analisa

Ashlee  ||   Bekah  ||   Brianne

Chioma   ||   Colleen   ||   Dani

Emily  ||  Holly  ||  Jaclyn

Jaime  ||  Jason  ||  Jessica M

Jessica S  ||  Jessica T  ||  Jodi

Karri  ||  Keyona  ||  Kira 

Laura  ||  Lindsey  ||  Maria

Merchon  ||  Serena  ||  Taber 

Tasha  ||  Amanda

a Rafflecopter giveaway


P.S. The winner of the Piperlime giveaway is entry #5450: Sheree!