Category Archives: Shopping

LC Lauren Conrad Runway Collection: Shopping Guide & Try On

September 22, 2015

Affiliate Links: If you click on a link in this post, I may make a very small commission. I purchased the items featured in this post.

In all my posts on blogging, this is the first time I’ve ever purchased pieces from a collection and tried them on at home for the purpose of the blog. Well, let’s be honest, it’s mostly to quell my own curiosity. I don’t think it’s a big secret that I’m a fan of Lauren Conrad. And when it comes to fashion, I love her budget-friendly line at Kohl’s, LC Lauren Conrad. This year she showed her very first collection at New York Fashion Week and live streamed it on Periscope. Then immediately following the show, the collection was available for purchase at Kohls.com.

Obviously I jumped right on that, and my items arrived last week. I photographed me trying everything on this weekend and thought I’d give you my honest review and fit details on each piece I was interested in from the collection. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you purchased anything from her collection too!

LC Lauren Conrad Runway Collection: Shopping Guide & Try On

Continue reading →

46 Comments

Budget Challenge: Going on a 30-Day Spending Freeze

July 15, 2015

Oh, man did this guest post come at the right time! Savannah from Sincerely Savannah is here today to share some great tips for how to go on a 30 day spending freeze to get your budget back in check! After splurging during our trip, I’m now considering this method to get myself back on track. Read on for her great tips!

There are few feelings worse than looking at your finances and realizing – in a sudden, panicky way – that your situation is dire. Such woes can occur to anyone, particularly someone obsessed with style and fashion. Have no fear – there are ways to combat a spending crisis.

One way is to take it in stride: You can make long-term saving goals. The second way – my personal preference – is to embark on a spending freeze. In other words, determine a specific amount of time in which all excess spending will be eliminated. Bid a temporary adieu to the things you want, and purchase only necessities. The guidelines below will pertain to a 30-day period, but you can customize your freeze to meet your saving needs. To undergo your own spending freeze, consider the following guidelines:

Continue reading →

21 Comments

Local Last Minute Mother’s Day Finds

May 10, 2015

Product Discount/Sample: Discounts and samples were provided to me by Seattle Premium Outlets for attending this event. Affiliate Links: If you click a link below, I may make a very small commission.

Am I the only one that procrastinates on purchasing gifts for their parents? Because the older I’ve gotten, the harder it has been to shop for them. (Sorry, Mom!) Really though, they have everything they need, and for the most part just buy things when they want to. Puts a lot of pressure on me to find just the right gift, so lately I’ve gone the boring route and suggested a dinner or lunch out.

That only can happen so often, so I set off to the Seattle Premium Outlets this weekend to check out the Indulge Event and see what the outlets had to offer. I was pleasantly surprised; there were a lot of the stereotypical sets of lotions and skin care (which yes, I do like, but often is one of those gifts that my Mom doesn’t always) but a lot of unique ideas too.

Continue reading →

18 Comments

Golden Tote February 2015

February 17, 2015

Affiliate Links
If you’ve been reading for a while, you may have seen some pieces here and there from Golden Tote, or as part of my Budget recaps. It’s been awhile, but I figured I’d treat myself to a tote this month for my birthday.

Well… let’s just say it didn’t go exactly as planned. You’ll see why below, but first I’ll take a step back and explain a little more about Golden Tote from an insider’s perspective. (And I say insider as someone who actually purchases totes and doesn’t receive a “blogger tote” for review.)

I started following Golden Tote over a year ago and bought my first tote last February. It was love at first checkout. Their house brand, Puella, is made in California and very much has that California-cool-vibe. Their pieces are also sold at Anthropologie, dresses going for about $70-80 and tops for $50-60. When you buy a tote from Golden Tote though, you get to pick two pieces that they’ve curated for that month’s collection, and then 4-5 more are added to your tote by their “stylists” for $149. There’s also a smaller tote for $49 that lets you choose one item and they pick one or two other things for you. The small tote has a much smaller selection of items, however. You then fill out a quick survey/style profile and can add comments about things you do or don’t like.

Here’s the thing though: Golden Tote isn’t really customized. Not like Stitch Fix anyways. They basically have a pool of “surprise” items each month that they go and buy from smaller designers, then when your order is fulfilled, you are getting something from that pool. This used to work well for me, as I tend to gravitate towards boho and flowy pieces that they used to almost exclusively stock. Now? Well, it seems like Golden Tote and I may have parted ways in the style department.

Besides the unique way of shopping, Golden Tote also has a Facebook group that they encourage tote purchasers to join. You can then buy, sell, or trade items in the group with others, at your own risk, of course. This has proven valuable to me to get pieces a la carte since I haven’t bought totes for a while and only want a single piece. The other bonus? Tons of women who have a shopping/fashion obsession. We’ve had two meet-ups in my area and there are even off topic groups to participate in too.

Now that I’ve prepped you with some details about how it all works, onto the Golden Tote review!

Golden Tote February 2015 Review

Continue reading →

38 Comments

January Budgeting Bloggers & Giveaway

January 29, 2015

Affiliate Links: If you click on a link in this post, I may make a very small commission.

Ah yes, it’s time to confess what I’ve bought this past month. I know, you’re on the edge of your seat, riveted and all. I actually didn’t go too crazy this month, despite extensive time shopping in Miami… and then buying nothing. I actually bought more FOR the trip than on the trip, so that’s good. Anyways, onto the budget reveal.