NOW CLOSED 23rd Blog Giveaway: $25 Urban Outfitters e-Gift Card

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered!

I love February. It is a quick month. A month of possibilities. In California you never know what February will look like. It is quite typically cold, but this month has been uncharacteristically warm. I feel for everyone dealing with the cold weather. If it is any consolation, so many of us Californians are getting sick because of the fluctuations in the weather. My daughter is home sick today.

IMG_3241.JPG

For this month’s giveaway I am giving away a $25 e-gift card to Urban Outfitters. I have been pleasantly surprised by their fun and affordable options this last month. No, the jumpsuit I mentioned in this post that I ordered did not work out, but it resulted in a funny moment with my husband. I like their cheap shoes that are 2 for $20. I had some changes happen in January that led me to explore myself a little more. I am trying a few new things this month. And I am letting go of others. More on this later.

To enter this giveaway for a chance to win a $25 e-gift card, please answer the following question:

What has been the best thing to happen to you so far in this new year? This year has been hard so far but I am trying to look at the positives. Mine would be last Friday night when my family stayed in and watched a movie after going to Slater’s 50/50. It was the most perfect evening. One of those memories that will stay with me forever even though it was so simple. It was just loving and nice.

To enter a second time, please become a registered reader of this blog. There are many ways to do so on the right hand side of this page. Please leave a second comment if you are a subscribed reader. I count the comments at the end and then I enter everyone’s name into random.org to pick a winner. So, to be fair, it has to be a separate comment.

Limit two entries per person in the forms specified. Must be eighteen years old to enter.

The giveaway runs from February 10, 2015 12:00 a.m. PST to February 16, 2015 9:00 p.m. PST. I will be choosing one winner from the comments entered on this post for the gift card using random.org. I will contact the winner on February 17, 2015 and display the winner’s name on this blog on February 18, 2015.

Thank you to all who enter and for your positivity. I very much appreciate it.

By commenting on this post, you are entering this giveaway for a chance to win one $25 e-gift card to Urban Outfitters and agreeing to the rules outlined in this giveaway.

I will attempt to contact the winner three times with the email address provided. If I have not heard from the winner within fourteen days from the first attempt at contact, the prize will be forfeit and a new winner will be drawn.

Past winners are welcome to enter.

* Negative comments (chosen at the discretion of the owner of this blog) will be deleted and that entry will be forfeit.

*this giveaway and post is not sponsored by or affiliated with Urban Outfitters.

Winner Of The Blog Giveaway and Cravings Similarities

Congratulations mintpearls for winning the $25 e-Gift Card to Sephora! I hope you get something good! My mom just sent me a care package from Sephora with two packages of my favorite facial wipes that I use every night on my face. Thank you Mom! I swear by these. I think my skin has been so much better since I started using the wipes almost two years ago. And she sent me Bumble and Bumble Surfspray for my hair, because I was lusting after the bottle in the gift I had given her for Christmas. Does anyone use this? How do you apply it? Do you have any tips?

I enjoyed reading everyone’s responses to the giveaway question. The love for your friends, family and even bosses and/or co-workers was beautiful to read. It made me think of all of the people in my own life who are amazing individuals. Thank you for participating and making me smile!

January is a tough time for me shopping wise. I am usually burnt out from Christmas shopping, so I don’t like to buy anything. On the other hand, there are always the best sales in January and I have gift cards burning a hole in my pocket. So far, I have scored some amazing popbacks with my gift cards, but have only purchased one thing out of pocket. It was this jersey dress from Free People in seaspray because my size had been sold out in that color for months and when one popped back I snatched it up. I also bought a headband and Feather Hair Picks to get free shipping.

So, cravings. Hmmmmm. Mmmmmmm. Oooooga. Boooga. I am not in love with any new thing that has come out this month. Like, yes. Love, no. It seems like everything that is coming out has been done before. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you missed it the first time around.

Instead of cravings because I honestly don’t have any right now, I thought I would show some pieces from the past in my closet whose twins seem to be making an appearance in case you liked the items but they sold out before you could acquire them. I think this is a case of fashion repeating oneself and a true indication that I have too many clothes. Just don’t tell my husband that:

IMG_0718.JPG

IMG_2686.JPG

I loved this Ikat top when I scored it last year on a huge sale (blog post here). Anthropologie has a very similar top out right now. It is pretty, too. It is called The Palamba Top.

IMG_2596.JPG

IMG_2685.JPG

I just realized I have never done an outfit post with my Puella Swing dress from last year. I need to fix that! I do have this sad little pic from a dressing room review post (here). The Semitone Swing Dress this year looks very similar in a different color, but with no elbow patches. Sigh. I love the elbow patches.

IMG_9466.JPG

IMG_2684.JPG

The Horizon Lines Skirt (more pictures here) is easy and comfortable. This Sketched Stripe Maxi Skirt looks very similar.

IMG_9173.JPG

IMG_2683.JPG

I love my denim overalls (blog post here). I was worried the trend was over until I saw the Paige Sierra Overalls on the Anthropologie site.

IMG_2673.JPG

IMG_2682.JPG

The Deva Printed Henley reminds me of my Charleston Henley that I also just realized I have never shown here. My closet is a black hole, my friends. I like to wear it with extreme bell bottoms (also never shown here. I am a bad blogger).

IMG_2676.JPG

IMG_2678.JPG

IMG_2679.JPG

The Patchworked Panel Dress reminds me of my Free People Sunshine Dress I bought many years ago. I could have sworn that I had shown this dress on my blog before, but I can not find any pictures so I must have been mistaken. Need to remedy that ASAP. I love the blue color of the Patchedwork Dress. I own the Sunshine Dress in purple, but I showed it in blue for a true comparison.

IMG_3607.JPG

IMG_2680.JPG

The Tallulah Shift Dress is a really cool red. It is very similar to my vegan leather shift from 2013. I posted about it here.

IMG_2626-0.JPG

IMG_2681.JPG

I adore my Striped Hem Pullover from 2013 (more photos here). It has a sweet bow in the back, too. This year Anthropologie came out with a grey version. It is called The Ruffle-back Pullover. I actually prefer the grey, but do not need another one.

IMG_2654.JPG

IMG_2688.JPG

I went out on a date with my husband on Friday night and wore the outfit in the photo of me above. I am working on the post. The red embroidery is a conversation starter. Any time I wear this people will talk about the pretty embroidery to me. My dress is by Johnny Was via Nordstrom Rack many years ago. I like Anthropologie’s Embroidered Peasant Dress and think it looks like it was made in the same love-of-red-embroidery-vein.

Have you seen any similarities in your closet this season? Did you score anything great during Anthropologie’s 40% off sale sale? I ended up getting this vest on a popback with a gift card. I thought I would surely find some amazing popbacks during the sale, but only found the one thing. Sigh. I guess it’s back to shopping my closet. But that’s no fun at all.

NOW CLOSED: 22nd Blog Giveaway: $25 Sephora e-Gift Card

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered!

Wow! This month is flying by! I didn’t even realize we were coming up on the tenth! It feels like it was just Christmas. In fact, I still have a pile of Christmas stuff in my living room that needs to be packed away. You know, you think you picked up everything and then there is a wreath here or an ornament there and suddenly you have fifteen items cluttering up your house that you don’t want to deal with.

This week has been hard. My kids started school again and in the overheard words of a child I know, “I’m not ready to start the grind again.”

IMG_2483.JPG

This month I decided to give away a $25 e-Gift Card to Sephora. I have really been loving experimenting with makeup lately. I recently did a post about my favorite new lipstick set. I wore the orange color to get my hair done this week and after three hours, my sweet hairdresser said, “I can’t believe your lipstick has stayed on this whole time!” I also finally have made a decision on what mascara I think wins the top spot after trying about twenty different ones over the last year. That post will run in the next two weeks. Needless to say that makeup has been on my mind.

To enter for a chance to win this month’s gift card please leave a comment on this post stating a person whose inner beauty you admire. I have two right now: My dear friend Bridgette recently won a television on The Ellen Show and then selflessly donated it to a veteran. My amazing friend Kerri, who I admire so greatly, recently started a new career and she is soaring. Both women are physically beautiful but their inner beauty is what myself and others are most attracted to. I am so inspired by my friends. I am inspired by all of you. If that is too personal, any old comment is fine as long as it is pleasant. You may enter a second time by being a subscribed reader of this blog. There are many ways to do so on the right hand side of this page (which I really need to update all ready). Please leave a second comment if you are a subscribed reader. I count the comments at the end and then I enter everyone’s name into random.org to pick a winner. So, to be fair, it has to be a separate comment.

Limit two entries per person in the forms specified. Must be eighteen years old to enter.

The giveaway runs from January 10, 2015 12:00 a.m. PST to January 16, 2015 9:00 p.m. PST. I will be choosing one winner from the comments entered on this post for the gift card using random.org. I will contact the winner on January 17, 2015 and display the winner’s name on this blog on January 18, 2015.

Thank you so much for entering! And for reading! I know I have been behind on comments and blogs. This year came so much faster than I was expecting. I am a bit overwhelmed with my house right now. I have a giant carnival wheel from the flea market that I do not know what to do with and so much to rearrange. Thank you for sticking with me. I know there have been more outfit posts than usual and that is simply because those are the easiest. When I have to choose between posting nothing or posting an outfit post, I have been choosing the outfits. I hope to write some different posts this weekend! However, I have fourteen outfit posts backed up. So please bear with me.

Now for the not so fun details —Wait! What! You weren’t having fun reading my whining?:

By commenting on this post, you are entering this giveaway for a chance to win one $25 e-gift card to Sephora and agreeing to the rules outlined in this giveaway.

I will attempt to contact the winner three times with the email address provided. If I have not heard from the winner within fourteen days from the first attempt at contact, the prize will be forfeit and a new winner will be drawn.

Past winners are welcome to enter.

* Negative comments (chosen at the discretion of the owner of this blog) will be deleted and that entry will be forfeit.

*this giveaway and post is not sponsored by or affiliated with Sephora.

The Winner Of The 21st Giveaway and Cravings

Congratulations to Jennifer Leite for winning the recent blog giveaway! I hope you enjoy your gift card! I loved reading everyone’s answers. It was wonderful to get ideas for my own random acts of kindness and it just gave me the bestest of warm fuzzies inside. Spellcheck is trying to dissuade me from using both the words “bestest” and “fuzzies.” This just reinforces my conclusion that Spellcheck is a reincarnated grumpy spinster with a yardstick to be doled out as punishment. Thankfully she can no longer physically whack people and instead resides in our computers, taunting us with our inadequate spelling. She is grumpilcious (I swear I just felt the air whiz by my ear and the faint sound of a “thwack”).

Is it wrong to crave things in the midst of gift giving? In the midst of thinking of others? Well, probably. But that does not stop me from looking ahead. I will not be doing a gift guide. There are so many out there. Here are a few things I have purchased recently and some of the items I like right now:

IMG_1976.JPG

To be perfectly honest, there is nothing in particular that I want right now, except for books. Lots and lots of books. And then top that off with some whipped books with a book on top. I have so many book reviews I need to get done, but that would get in the way of my reading of the books. It is a tumbling slope to a creative dungeon. I will say I have loved The 5th Wave this month and its sequel. And I just finished a surprisingly delightful book entitled Throne of Glass. Both are easy reads aimed at teens or folks who want to read something light for a change.

For Christmas, I have asked my husband for a large saucepan. My old saucepan had to be discarded as the nonstick coating had begun to shed into our food. Which probably is not the safest thing. Nor is it the most exciting gift. However, all of the saucepans I have been eyeing sold out this month. Did you all ask for a saucepan, too? I cannot believe that they are all gone.

I have to keep it real and say that not one of my favorite large companies have come out with anything this month that I really, really want right now. I am waiting for this dress from a few months ago to hit a good sale. But it is the only item in my wishlist besides jeans that I am waiting on (oh, and maybe The Tasseled Maxi Dress). So I am going to discuss some random items. Some purchases, some gifts and some recommendations.

IMG_1953.JPG

I previously showed the afghan cardigans I purchased at The Rose Bowl Flea Market in this post. Some sweet people wanted to know more about them. Here are all of the details that I can recall: I do know the seller had approximately forty more of these in sizes small and medium. Each one was very different. I took a medium. My daughter took a small. Most of the hoods are a different pattern than the rest of the sweater and the sweaters come to my knees. The brand says, “American Vintage.” I am unsure if the vintage shop puts its labels on their sweaters or if this is an actual brand. The flea market I went to was in Pasadena and a few things popup for that name in that city. The woman selling them gave me a discount because I purchased three. They were priced at $35 each but I paid $30 a piece. She told me they sell for $65 in her shop, most retail sellers offer a large discount if an item is purchased at the flea market versus their retail shop, so they must be available somewhere, but I am sorry, that is all of the information I gathered. Good luck if you are trying to track them down! I hope you find them! I love mine!

IMG_1980.JPG

I will be giving these small See’s chocolate boxes filled with milk and dark chocolate molasses chips to a few people on my list with gift cards attached. If I can manage not to eat them all. We buy gift cards to See’s at a discount from Costco and then drive directly to the See’s store and redeem them for large amounts of chocolate during the holidays. We bought nine pounds on Monday and I think we have eight pounds left in the bag and ten pounds more on my thighs. Isn’t that just lovely how the calorie math is so generous with its gifting?

IMG_1979.JPG

If you are looking for art, I can highly recommend the artist Aja from Sagittarius Gallery on Etsy for the art lover. I adore her abstract impasto nudes. I own two and definitely want more in the future. I like the small sizes because they are not in your face, but just add a touch of female beauty to a gallery wall.

And Ginette Callaway is another artist currently selling on Etsy whom offers originals and prints of beautiful subjects. I own a multitude of her paintings and they always make me smile.

Are you craving anything right now? Did you ask for anything exciting this holiday season (it has to be more exciting than a saucepan)? I am hyperalyzed with this holiday season (thwack!)!