[SQUEE] 3 Wishes Featured on The Look 4 Less

I was honored when J of The Look 4 Less (one of the very 1st blogs I ever subscribed to!) asked me to be part of her 3 Wishes Summer Series.

J asked all her participants to pick any 3 items we have on our summer wishlists.  Since price wasn't a factor in the "wish" items, I had a hard time narrowing it down.  Ultimately, I decided to go with summer items I really need and have been really coveting (which means most of these are recognizable to you readers!).

Cuffed Jean Shorts

Light & Airy Floral Print Boho Top

Trendy-ish Heels that can be dressed up or down (my summer is packed with weddings, showers, and bachelorettes... I'm in need versatility)

Thanks so much Jen for asking me to participate! 

I'm sure most of you readers are familiar with her blog, but if not definitely head over and become a follower.  Jen is amazing with her ability to find lookalikes or inspired by items for far less than their luxury counterparts.  A must for any shopaholic on a budget!

[Giveaway] Winners!

First and foremost, thank you all for your honest feedback yesterday... I really really appreciate it and I am taking all your opinions to heart.  Also, thank you to the ladies who gave suggestions about boot spray, boot/shoe horns, and Veronika's video link.

I think I'm going to test them out a few times over the weekend and see if it gets any easier or if I just grow more frustrated.  I'll definitely post an update when I reach a verdict....

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Moving on to something much MUCH more exciting... the GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!


 

Winner #1 - Pink Metallic Headband

AppGal from Musings on the Mountain

Winner #2 - Skinny Leopard Print

Veronika of Veronika's Blushing

Winner #3 - Purple Bows 

Krystyna of This Love of Life

Congratulations to all the winners, I'll be emailing you this weekend for your information...

Everyong Have a Safe and Fun Memorial Day Weekend

[Poll] Return to Sender ??

Last week, I bought these Ash Cuffed Leather Ono boots during Neiman Marcus' First Call sale.  They are now sold out, and while I have the option to return, there is no option to exchange... so I'm in need of some reader support...

Ash Cuffed Leather Ono Boot - sold out

The boots themselves I'm in love with.  The leather is amazing, the construction, the heel height, etc.... however, since they are pull on style boots (i.e. no zipper) they are bit hard to get off. 

... and by "bit", I mean I was afraid I needed scissors to cut myself free the first time I put them on. Truth.

  

So the weekend passes and I decided to try again.  This time wearing my J.Crew Ankle Skinnies (or the ones that don't have to be cuffed under -did you ever notice I do that to my too long JBrands??) and my thinnest socks...

My foot got in a bit easier and the fit in the foot bed is fine (as in not cramped), however I still need to roll around on the ground pulling like a mad woman to get them off.   I asked Amber if she experienced a similar, erm.. problem, with her similar Ash Olivia boots.  She told me when they arrived, Nordstrom customer service included a kind note suggesting to wear a bag on her foot to get them on (bahah!).  She said she decided to exchange them and added a whole size.

Since this isn't an option, I'm wondering what you readers would do....


Here they are in the worst lighting I could possibly ever take pictures in....

My arguments for "keep" are:

• I'll be wearing them in cooler weather, hopefully meaning my feet will not be swelling in a hot-flash-of-freak-out when trying to remove them...
• I'll stock up on the silkiest socks I can find... (or possibly plastic bags??)
• Maybe tights are the way to go?  :::adds to list below 'silky socks':::
• Maybe the removal process will become easier as they get broken in?

or for $182, it's not worth the 'struggle' or trend, now go buy those Hudson jeans for about the same price that you don't really need, but TOTALLY want....

Please help!! What would you guys do?  (...anyone have personal experiences to share, will they loosen with wear, please give me feedback!!)



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(ps:  don't forget to enter the giveaway!!)

[Real Deal and Awesome Steal] Floral Print Sheer Blouses

I've been obsessing over these two Joie floral print blouses on Piperlime for weeks....


The Real Deal

Joie Leanne Pintuck Lace Inset Blouse, Offwhite - Piperlime $218

(sold out in this color, but can be found at Bloomingdale's)

Joie Leanne Pintuck Lace Inset Blouse, Insignia - Piperlime $218

The price tag is a little hard for me to stomach, being >$200 for a lightweight sheer blouse, heck, for being >$100 for a lightweight sheer blouse - cashmere, sure. chiffon, not so much.

So, when I stumbled upon these Bellatrix tops in the t.b.d department of Nordstrom last Friday I was soo excited for their look-a-like-ness and their less than half-the-price-tags...

The Awesome Steals

Bellatrix Lace Trim Chiffon Top, Vintage Floral - Nordstrom $78

Bellatrix Lace Trim Chiffon Top, Navy Floral - Nordstrom $78

Just a reminder, the Nordstrom Semi Annual Sale starts tomorrow!!

[Giveaway] ....These are a few of my Favorite Things

Just as a little "Thank You" to you loyal readers for taking the time to read what little ol' me writes (and chatting with me thru the comment form), I'm giving away some of my favorite things!


You probably can guess it..... J.Crew Headbands and super cute magnetic Notepads :)



I decided instead of getting one big prize with lots of little 'favorite' things, I thought it'd be fun to share the love and give out 3 smaller prizes....


Purple Bows

Metallic Pink

Skinny Leopard

To Enter:

1. You must be a "Follower" of this blog  (since my goal is thank my loyal readers....)
2. Leave your email in your comment and reply which choice above is your favorite - so I can contact you when you win and try to match you up to favorite....
3. Leave only 1 entry, duplicates will be deleted from the selection process.

The giveaway entry ends on Friday May, 28th at noon (EST).  All 3 Winners will be selected through random.org and announced later that evening.  Good Luck!

[Real Deal and Awesome Steal] Sparkling Headbands

Obviously, by browsing my OOTDs, you should all know I'm obsessed with headbands.  Actually, back in the day I professed my love for my most favoritest accessory....


Anyway... while I normally stay true to my love of J.Crew headbands, I have been consistently finding myself gazing at the Gleaming Loops headband when browsing Anthro's site....

However, if you'd rather spend $32 on something that has more purpose then looking pretty, sparkly, and holding back your swoopy bangs, then check out this awesome steal....

Natasha Accessories Crystal-Bow Headband  - Dillards $16

Do you love headbands as much as I do?? Do you think they are so 2008?... or 2006 for that matter (aka when my love affair began)  - If not, stayed tuned....

[Outfit of the Day] Sailor Stripes

Friday

Short Sleeve Boyfriend Cardigan - J.Crew, spring '09 (here) (similar here)

Navy and White Scoopneck Striped Tee - GAP, spring '09 (similar here)

J Brand Skinnies - TJ Maxx, fall '09 (here)

Coach 'Ashleen' Flats - Macy's, '08 ? (similar color here)

'Key to your Heart' Necklace - F21, winter '09 (here)

Opal Disc Stretch Bracelet - South Moon Under, spring '10 (here)

skinny tan plastic headband - J.Crew... per usual

I want to wear this every day. 

Forever.

They try to make me go to Rehab... I say NO, NO, NO

Clearly, I have an addiction... I've been somewhat self aware of the problem for awhile now, but it's hard to say out loud....

Readers,

My name is E Hayes and I'm addicted to cardigans.....

 

 

stayed tuned to see if I can break the habit in time for tomorrow's OOTDWeek round up....

[Window Shopping] Backyard BBQ Buys

In preparation of Memorial Day and upcoming Barbeque Season, I thought it'd be fun to "window shop" for some great BBQ and summer backyard party accessories...

Party Tub - Crate & Barrel $39.95

because you can't have a party without cool beverages

Mason Jar Drink Dispenser - Pottery Barn $69

OMG it's a GIGATIC Mason Jar!! Screw the lemonade and fill it with Sangria!

Let's Eat Apron -  Etsy Seller LuckyFindDesigns $20

such cute BBQ inspired fabric

3-Piece Barbeque Tool Kit with Oven Mitt - World Market $14.99

 

BBQ Condiment Jars & Tray Set - Pottery Barn $39 

pure awesomeness

Fine-Mesh Grill Pan - Williams Sonoma $29.95

no more skinny veggie goodness falling through the cracks

Lasso Golf - Target $24.99

(I call 'Ladder Golf', but tomato, tomahto...)

What are your BBQ Party favorites??

[OOTD] Mid Week Sneak Peek

So, I think I'm going to make my OOTD posts , now that I have been actually putting effort into my outfits and stopped looking like a bum taking pics daily, a weekly post with a round up on Fridays. Yay? Nay?


However, since I mentioned that I scored my "New without Tags" Blooming Lattice Cardigan (for less than retail on eBay) I'm excited to report I'm wearing it today...

At first, I thought the cardi was cute, but I saw Kim's review about how it was cropped I kind of got turned off so I passed it over, even when seeing the quality detailing in store.

Anthroholic - Kim's Review Here

...but then Tien paired it with yellow and I totally changed my tune.

Adiaphane

...then Kim went back and decided she had to have it... and like a follower so did I.

Anthroholic

... and finally Debye bought it "buy it now" off ebay (from the same listing I was "watching") and immediately I went back and pulled the trigger...

Modestly Styled, Modestly Me

I'm so glad I did.  Sometimes when things 'grow on me' it turns out my first instinct of 'meh' was right.  Not with this cardi.  The detailing at the neck really is substantial and since it's navy there are endless options of how I can make it mix and match.

I've still seen the cardigan in stores, but it is sold out online.  Either call CS to track down a store that has your size in stock and have it shipped for free or check for listings on eBay .   If you've been on the fence, you won't be disappointed!

Another Anthro Sale Fail... Blerg!

Liz Lemon? anyone? anyone?.... no, okay....



I'm not sure how the rest of the Anthro-obsessed blogging community feels, but I was pretty disappointed with today's "massive" sale.  Sure a lot of inventory was moved to the sale racks, but I felt a lot the bloggerloved high demand items are still sitting at their full retail price.

Last night, in an effort to hopefully control myself if the sale did get out of hand, I placed about 10 items or so in my 'cart' and decided since these are the items I really love I would only buy from this list if marked down (and of course not all 10, but whatever I felt was the best value)... you know, instead being lured to by some random blouse because it dropped from $88 to $39.

So when I woke up this morning and ran to my laptop to see what in my cart had been reduced I was initially shocked that nothing changed.  "Ohh it's just a glitch in the interwebz, let me refresh the page again"....

nothing.  

I checked the run down at Anthroholic for all the marked down items, and even ran to my Anthro at lunch *just in case* something random made it's way back to the sale rack.


nada.  


However, I thought I'd share what's currently sitting at full price in my cart.

A lot of it I've posted over the past few months (or earlier today for that matter), but look readers! COLOR!

LOTS AND LOTS OF COLOR!

Coil Flower Tank - $58

Fragrant Fields Scoopneck - $78

Flowering Pasture Blouse - $128

Sea's Epitome Shirt - $58

7 For All Mankind Honolulu Shorts - $148

Impressionist's Dream Dress - $178

Field Game Cardigan - $118

Buds & Bunches Tee - $58

Creative Outlet Tank - $58

Cartography Cardigan  - $98

Mandore Tank - $68

It's like a crayon box right?

Anyway, I'm not too disappointed you know why readers?  One of my previous 'wishlist' items was crossed off when I got my mail yesterday...

Blooming Lattice Cardigan -$88

(scored NWOT on eBay for $59)

So in case you were also let down by the markdowns at Anthro, maybe you could make it up by getting revenge (and 20% OFF) at Theory using code FAMILY on Thursday May 20 thru Sunday May 23.

And if you want to try score some less expensive deals head to Banana Republic from 5pm EST tonight thru Midnight and use code 30AFTER5 for 30% Off with your GAP, Inc card or SUMMER25 for 25% Off with a regular credit/debit card.

HAPPY SHOPPING!