I Totally Need This: 2010

Here comes the jackpot question in advanced...

...What are you wearing New Year's Eve?

For me, New Year's Eve is the perfect opportunity to break out the bold, beautiful and sparkling. Sequins, gems, lamé, what have you. Here is my roundup of excellent choices for New Year's Eve that allow you to stick to your budget resolutions!

This top from the Limited is priced around $50 and has a gorgeous textured effect.

This top has a more casual feel and would look cute with jeans and an edgy jacket. Only $35!

At $20, this sequin infinity scarf dresses up anything for next to nothing.

"Ring" in the New Year (couldn't help it!) for only $4.

This glitter heels are GORGEOUS!

Keep everything else simple and set it off with glitter tights.

Go simple and classic in this one-shoulder dress. $121 and works for many occasions.

Whatever you wear, I hope you all have a very safe and happy New Year!

In which I exercise restraint!

Of course it had to be the day after I go on a self-imposed shopping ban. Anthropologie has added a ton of new items to sale. Although I won't be actually buying anything (grumble grumble), here are my favorite new items:

I love the coral color in this skirt.

This tee is bright, cheerful, and only $30!

Love the bows on these pumps!

I love the bright colors of this top, and the unique shape!

Romantic and ethereal!

For those, like me, with too much gray in their wardrobe. This will spice it up!

These classic pumps add Victorian flair for only $59.95.

If I could have anything on this list, it would be this oversized bauble necklace.

These boots are $149.95 and have a leather sole.

What did you find in the Anthro sale?

All I Want for Christmas...

I was just gently reminded that there is less than three weeks until Christmas! I have only crossed off a few on my Christmas list, leaving behind the impossible to shop for parents and in-laws. I've been wracking my brain and have come up with nothing.

My husband recently asked me what I'd like for Christmas and that was easy. Jonathan Adler, I happily texted in reply. I have a list a mile long of Adler pieces I'd love to have in our home.

This Aries pillow is so fab and retro, and would be a perfect accent on our white leather lounger.

The perfect mix of tongue-in-cheek kitsch and fab-partyware, this fondue sets is begging to be on my dining room table.

This bedside water carafe has tons of attitude!

This cute fox is the cousin of the ceramic lion we have on our credenza.

A chic addition to the Christmas tree.

What made it on to your wish list this year?

Shame on me!

Yes, I realize it's been a while.

I have just finished my first semester at the university and OMG was it stressful. The presentations, reports, exams, it's enough to make your head spin...and it did make my head spin. But tomorrow is the last day for a while so I thought I'd get caught up.

So what have I been up to? Well my self-imposed August shopping ban went swimmingly however I did go overboard afterward (making up for lost time?). Since then I've been more budget conscious. I've been trying to find things that will work for dinners out as well as work functions. And I've been branching out.

Here's what I've come up with:

American Eagle jeans are awesome. I can't stress this enough. I am particularly fond of the Skinny, Slim Boot, and Artist jeans. I own a couple of each because they are unbelievably inexpensive!

American Eagle Jeans

J Crew puts things on sale very fast these days. I've learned to wait a couple of weeks to pick up a new item because chances are it will be 25% off with promotion or marked down. Here's a roundup of my recent purchases:

Muse Tank - $27 on sale

Sherpa Hoodie - $41 on sale

Always Cardigan - $20 on sale

Sequin Pencil Skirt - $29 on sale

Plus many others way below original price. Frankly, I'd be mad if I bought a few of my recent purchases at full price. The Traversa cardigan is super cute but after one wear has pilled all over! And my Whisper Ruffle sweater already has a hole on the sleeve (not on the seam of course). I purchased that one at $39.99 and it's now down to $20 in-store. Hmph.

I also purchased a few tees in the factory section and found the quality to be quite comparable to regular J Crew. At $13 instead of $25, I'm happy!

Friday I'm in Love!

After a rough week, including a hospital stay for my father-in-law (pneumonia) and my first days of school at a new university, this Friday is shaping up to be a good one. I finally extended an offer for my assistant position (after 4 months of nonstop interviewing!), my husband and I are meeting my family at the beach for a campout (a reprieve from the triple digit weather we've had), and I get to see my super cute 4 year old nephew.

I've really been good on my month-long shopping ban, I think I'm kind of just going to see how long I can do it. I know I need some new t-shirts and will need some sweaters for the fall, but I think I'll hold out a little bit longer.

Something did catch my eye last night, however, and I've been thinking about it ever since.

Ladies, meet Kristin:

I saw this gorgeous leather satchel in Los Angeles magazine and instantly fell in love. This teal blue is one of my absolute favorite colors. I love the bag's structure, I love the chain detail, and as a girl who carries lots of things, I love all of the pockets on the interior!

Look at the hobo! I love the outside pocket detail on this. The brass trim is so fabulous next to that blue. Also available in a gorgeous color called Raisin.

Ebates

A friend of mine recently said to me that she appreciated my thriftiness. I love to shop, but I always look for a bargain. I think it comes from my college days, when I was often very broke. I scoured discount and thrift stores for treasures and made my limited budget work for me.

Although I'm no longer in the financial constraints of my younger days, I still hold on to those habits. Yes, I do sometimes splurge on a full-price item but you better believe that's rare!

So one of my favorite tools for saving money right now is a fab website called Ebates. Ebates is a gateway to many retailer websites and gives you cash back on your purchases! Each retailer has a % cash back on your total purchase amount. They send the rebate checks quarterly, all you have to do is log in to their site and click through to the retailer you want to shop - easy!

For example, if you purchased through Macys.com today, the cash back is 6%. Spend $100 and get $6 back. Best part is, it isn't a discount code so you can stack the cash back with other discounts, like free shipping!

If you aren't a member of Ebates, click here and get $5 into your Ebates account.

It's been a while...

I know, it's been over a week! Things have been happening like crazy and I'll get to that a little later.

Most importantly, there is a fabulous Groupon going on today. Today's Los Angeles deal is $25 for $50 worth of GAP merchandise - that's 50% off! You can use it at any GAP in the US (not the outlets) and it's good through November 19. What a smart move for GAP!

Click here to get this deal. If you are not yet a member, click here.

Here are some of my picks for this deal:

Love this sequin stripe tee!

Must-have skinny pants!

I love the length of this tank!

Get this classic shawl cardigan for half-price with this promo!

This skirt is cute and versatile.

For dresses, I love this silky ruffle dress...

...and this dotted ruffle dress.

As you may notice from my side bar, I am on a one-month shopping ban. This is to make up for the spending spree I had before my Florida trip. Having the shopping ban makes posting a little difficult. It's taking all my strength to not buy this Groupon today!

My shopping ban is also due to the fact that my husband and I are a) saving to buy our first home and b) saving for a vacation. I'm coming to the realization that as much as I love shopping, it's cutting into my other budgets!

So I need to work on keeping myself on the track, and using the blog in the way it was intended: to share beautiful things that I "need" to have, but may not necessarily purchase. I'd also like to share some of the ways I'm stretching the dollars that I do spend. As much as I am a fashionista, I'm also a bargain-hunter!

So I'm looking forward to more posts this week! Enjoy your day!

Today on Ideeli

Ideeli is a fabulous sample-sale/discount website for designer clothing and accessories. They usually have at least 9 or 10 sales going at one time.

Right now they are featuring two of my favorite accessory lines: Kenneth Jay Lane and Melie Bianco.

The jewelry is running anywhere from $16 for a pair of gold double hoop earrings (regularly $45) to $199 to an incredible wood bib necklace (regularly $600!).

The Melie Bianco bags are priced from $19 to $39. Curses to you August shopping ban!

Here's a sample of what's available on Ideeli today:

Double zipper hobo - $32

Periwinkle satchel $34

Green pyramid hobo $32

Ruched pocket hobo $32

Turquoise bangle $79

Green enamel ring $34

Wood bib necklace $199

Bamboo hoops $29

Different seasons

I'm not sure what retailers are up to these days but this nonsense has to stop.

I'm talking about the great season switch of course. You know what I mean - it's pouring rain and freezing outside and Macy's wants to sell you sundresses and swimwear. Right now in L.A., we're preparing for an inevitable late-summer heatwave and my local shops are stocking cashmere and coats.

It makes me a little sad that we don't get beautiful crisp fall weather here. I have memories of cooking Thanksgiving dinner in shorts and a t-shirt because it was 90 degrees outside. My sweaters and boots don't make appearances until January or February. This gives me extra planning time for my "L.A. Fall" wardrobe. I suppose I should be thankful - by the time I need it, the goodies are going on sale.

Here's what I'm looking for this fall season: