in LoVE

I am love love loving this stationary company I just came across, Smudge Ink. Everything they have is sooo colorful and pretty! I want it all! They also have some really great Christmas cards. I usually stick to the $2.99 packages of cards I find at TJ Maxx or Marshalls, so these cards are a little out of my normal price range... could make a great gift though!

OMG

I had been looking forward to Anna Sui's new Gossip Girl line for Target since it was announced... I guess I should have checked it out online yesterday (the first day the pieces went on sale), because the 2 dresses I had my eye on are already OUT OF STOCK!?!? (tear) SOOO disappointed... hopefully they will have more stock soon.. check it out for yourself: gossip girl.

Gossip Girl returns tonight, at least we have that to look forward to!

xoxo

Never Forget

Fall is in the air

Fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the way the air feels, the leaves, and all the different colors fall brings. Fall also means, return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at starbucks. WAHOOOO

FINALLY bargain time!

OMG I am so behind! I have been sooo busy the last couple of weeks- no time for bargains! Well this is a great great story to start back up again.

Last Christmas my mom bought me a tote bag from J Crew. Great bag for work, plenty of room of all my "stuff" ie, shoes, wallet, ipod, planner, make up case, card case, etc... everything for train commuting lifestyle. Loved the bag. Well about a month ago the bag broke :( One of the straps ripped on my way to work. Very inconvenient! SO I decided to write a letter to J Crew and send the bag back in hopes it could be repaired.....

What shows up in my mail box on Friday, a $42 gift card to J Crew!! And funny, my mom only spent $9 on the bag! Love you JCREW. Just in time for the extra 20% all sale items!!

Happy Birthday Coco!

Today marks the birthday of one of the most influential designers, Coco Chanel.

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (19 August 1883 – 10 January 1971) was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist philosophy, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. Her extraordinary influence on haute couture was such that she was the only person in the field to be named on TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century. - Wikipedia

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” - Coco Chanel

Linens-N-Things

I recently came across "The NEW Linens-N-Things" online - I thought they went out of business???!!! Well apparently not! And their online store has tons and tons of stuff on sale!

WOW WOW 1/2 Price!!

I came across this beauty website the sells OPI nail polish, among other beauty products, at half price! OPI Nail Polish is my absolute fav, but at $9 a bottle it can get a little pricey to have all the colors you want. This site sells the bottles for only $4.48, 2 for the price of one! I am so excited. I love painting my own nails, rather then going to a salon.... weird I know, but I find it to be very relaxing. I can't wait to check out the colors in stock.. today on the Zoe Report, Rachel blogged about WHITE being the transitional nail color from summer to fall... I am needing a new white nail polish ;)

September Issue

Sooo excited.. I just got the September Issue of Elle Magazine yesterday. 500 pages of the latest fashion finds for Fall '09. Can't wait to spend hours reading it!

Zoe Report

As I am counting down the days until the return of the Rachel Zoe Project (Monday, August 24th 10pm!!!!!), I started to prepare myself by following The Zoe Report. You can sign up at rachelzoe.com to receive daily "glamour for your inbox". The topics include Rachel's favorites in accessories, apparel, beauty, jewelry, and lifestyle. The website made its debut on Monday, so I am sure there is much more to come! BANANAS!

"Style is what one creates... glamour is a state of mind" - Rachel Zoe

Deals, Deals, Deals

So yesterday I blogged about Target's Daily Deals.. after checking it out today I found this awesome retro green alarm clock.. only $12.99 with free shipping!!! I loooove it!

Daily Deals

Just came across Target's "Daily Deals"- an area of their website that offers special discounts for merchandise that isn't normally sold. These "deals" are offered for a 24 hour window (or until they sell out). What's on sale today? Via Spiga designer bag for $91.99.... list price $185. Add this to your "favorites". I plan on checking the deals out everyday!

Friends & Family at Ann Taylor

beach day!

happy friday everyone! even though the weather is not so nice out there.. here are a few of my favorite "martha" beach ideas! enjoy!!

Yummy

I just came across this recipe for Margarita Cupcakes! They look soo yummy... perfect for a BBQ! Here is the recipe below:

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes:1 box white cake mix8 oz margarita mix (liquid)2 oz tequila1 oz Grand Marnier 3 egg whites2 Tbsp vegetable oil1 Tbsp grated lime zest

Lime Buttercream Icing: 8 Tbsp butter, softened8 oz cream cheese, softened2 Tbsp lime juice (approx 2 fresh limes)1 Tbsp margarita mix1 tsp lime zest5 cups powdered (confectioners’) sugarcane sugar & fresh limes (for garnish)*****

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350º and prepare muffin pans.
2. Combine margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large glass and stir well.
3. In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg whites, lime zest, vegetable oil, and margarita mixture from step one. Stir ingredients together, then beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for approximately 2-3 minutes.
4. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pans. Fill each cup/liner about 2/3 full.
5. Bake at recommended temperature on cake mix box (usually 325º – 350º) for 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Icing:6. In a large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, lime juice, margarita mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
7. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time.
8. Spread icing generously on each cooled cupcake* or use a pastry bag to frost. Sprinkle cane sugar around the edges of the cupcake for a “salt rimmed” look and garnish with lime wheels & wedges.
*Make sure to remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely before frosting.

where's your neighborhood?

I am dying to buy one of these posters, I think they are so cool! OakPosters sells "modern, typographical neighborhood posters and screen prints". The neighborhoods they have designed so far are: Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Great Lakes, LA, Manhattan, NYC, Philly, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and DC. I am really loving the Boston screen print (of course!) but haven't quite decided on a color yet...

Madberries

So I came across this great website, madberries.com. It was actually in the Today Show Post from a couple of weeks ago... Anyways, this website posts tons of great prizes you can enter to win every day! You can go on and enter the contests once a day, each item is posted for about a week... I have entered to win, though I haven't won anything yet... I am keeping my fingers crossed ;)

Happy Monday!

www.anntaylor.com

Loving This

I recently came across LuLus... really fun clothes and accessories for a fraction of the price of most designer clothes. The brand has some funky stuff, really one-of-a-kind... check it out: www.lulus.com

Ladies.. hide your wallets..

Great bargains at JCrew PLUS 20% off all sale prices!