Tis the Season!

The Holiday season is a time for many things… peppermint mocha,  friends, family, over-eating, and my favorite…. shopping! It’s the one month out of the year when it’s completely acceptable to shop every day (if need be). There is no judgment on our shopping habits this time of year, making it the perfect time to buy ourselves a few little trinkets while were out, right?  😉

Whether your shopping for yourself, friends or family it is imperative to find the best bargains out there. I am forever grateful to my friends for introducing me to the world of cyber sales and coupon sites and it would just be unfair if I didn’t continue sharing it with you. Long gone are the days of driving aimlessly in the mall parking lot- in desperate search for a spot a mile away from the entrance-instead I have subscribed to a few on-line boutiques and shopping sites and the sales come to me! It’s free to subscribe and you have the freedom of shopping in your pajamas- not to mention savings that you will never find in any store. (trust me)

Thanks to my shopaholic friend Kate O’Keefe, I have become a fan of http://www.HauteLook.com. Just today I received notification of the William Rast sale going on all day. I logged on to see if the savings are worth it and women’s jeans were 58% off!! Another great site Kate shared with me was grechenscodes.com, today’s coupon code consisted of 20% off of Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap and Piperlime. What more could you want??

My other darling friend, Sabrina Ortega,  introduced me to http://www.ruelala.com, much like HauteLook.com you receive e-mail notifications of  daily “Boutiques” (on-line sales). Each “Boutique” has a time limit and varies every day. Upcoming sales on RueLaLa include Nanette Lepore, Michael Stars and Diesel.

The discounts on these sites are unbelievable, I highly recommend that everyone subscribe in time to get some of your Holiday shopping done. The key is to visit the site as soon as you receive the e-mail notification-just like at the mall everyone knows a good sale when they see one.

Happy Shopping!!

*Most of these sites require that you be sponsored by an existing member, if you are interested in an invite please e-mail me: arcadia@thepowderroomblog.com.

These are just a few of many on-line boutiques, if you know of any other fabulous sites- do share with the rest of us!

 

 

 

Scent of A Woman

Just like our wardrobes with each season our scent should vary as well. The winter-time crisp, cool air allows us to be a bit more bold in choosing our perfumes. Think about it… mid-summer, with the humidity level at it’s highest, the last thing we want to do is suffocate ourselves with a strong scent-which is why we usually opt for lighter, floral scents. However, come winter time just as we begin to layer our clothes, add the tights and accessorize with scarfs (or snoods), our scents should coincide and become a bit stronger as well.

I’ve been to the best place on earth (Sephora) and I sniffed around to find the best winter scent for me- I simply could not decide. Instead  I found something amazing… A fragrance sampler for everyone to test out and determine their own “signature scent”. Enjoy!

*The fragrance sampler shown here from Sephora includes: Aquolina-Pink Sugar, Donna Karan-Cashmere Mist, Juicy Couture-Viva la Juicy, Prada-Infusion D’Iris, Dior-Addict 2, Emilio Pucci-Vivara Variazioni Acqua 33,Kenzo- Kenzo Flower, Stella McCartney-Stella Nude, Dolce & Gabbana-Light Blue, Harajuku-Lovers G, Michael Kors-Very Hollywood, and Versace-Bright Crystal

 

The “Snood” That Saved Christmas?

I was on my way to work this morning when I first learned about the one item that is said to save Christmas. My first thought… “what the hell is a snood?”

According to The Wall Street Journal the “snood” (part scarf-part hood) has been deemed the ‘hottest’ Holiday item for 2009. Bloomingdale’s has it listed as one of the “Must-Be-Seen” in accessory and Saks has it listed in their “Want It” fall campaign.

Missoni, YSL and Burberry are just a few of the many designers that showcased the ‘snood’ in their Fall 09 Runway shows. Ever since it’s debut, retailers nationwide have been marketing the hell out of it (including stores such as Target). Many articles are now stating that in the midst of this recession the ‘snood’ will save Christmas! Some believe that the ‘comfort’ and ‘snug’ feeling of the snood is exactly what people need in times like these, it’s even being described as a fashionable security blanket.

My personal opinion- if I lived up North, I would definitely rock it, especially when it’s snowy and cold. Unfortunately this is one trend that I just can’t pull off in this Florida climate. 😦

*Shown is the Snood available at Zara’s for $29.99

 

My Boyfriend’s Back

The ‘boyfriend blazer’ that is! It’s been a ‘must have’ item for quite some time,but when Karol found the perfect one at Bebe-complete with shoulder pads- I just had to share it.  It’s a mix between stealing your boyfriend’s blazer and flashing back to the 80’s ‘Working Girl’ era. The difference between this updated version is that it’s a smaller, more structured and tailored fit making it super chic.

It’s so versatile you can achieve the ‘business’ look when pairing it with your favorite  trousers, dress it down with a pair of leggings, and spice it up for a girls night out by adding a mini! It’s the ‘must have’ staple for any wardrobe and a great investment piece.

*I love Bebe’s blazers but feel free to explore other options and let me know what you find!