Picnic Look

Today was the annual back to school picnic for the visual and performing arts department at my school! I decided to keep it classy yet absolutely comfortable in this emerald green tank top dress from BCBG. You might recall this dress from my shopping in California post earlier this summer. Besides that, my orange rhinestone sandals are also a BCBG purchase from last summer. My jewelry here has been found and purchased from all over. Nothing too flashy or expensive here. Just wanted to jazz the solid color dress up a bit! 

September Issue of MARIE CLAIRE

What a way to welcome fall! An exceptional read, I had to set my September issue of Marie Claire aside after reading a little more than half way through just to get a start on this post before everything I read became fuzzy. First off, reading any Marie Claire is always an insightful adventure of sorts. I feel more intellectually mature after simply opening an issue, but after an afternoon spent marveling at new trends and being intrigued by every article, short and long, start to finish, I can feel my brain tingling with new fashion know-how and vocabulary. Talk about becoming your own personal thesaurus in 400 pages or less!  The magazine demands that fashion be seen as an art form. Every issue never fails to revamp the old ways of styling and accessorizing into something more current for the modern fashionista.  Seasons come and go, and with each passing season a new trend(s) arises. Rather than emptying your bank account at the risk of not being perceived as fashion forward, choose a few pieces you can incorporate with items in your current wardrobe that project this fall season's trends. Nicolette Mason, writer of Big Girl in a Skinny World, writes "I call them 'strong basics' --edgy enough to stand out but as versatile as your favorite LBD or pencil skirt." So what exactly can we expect for fall fashion? Combing through the issue's 101 Ideas pages will give you just that, ideas! No I can't purchase the luxury high fashion garments that grace this part of the issue, but I'm always inspired by them nonetheless, and from that inspiration I conjure up my own ensemble ideas that I can purchase at my favorite stores for less. Where else can you discover fashion inspiration? If you're a busy woman in business, according to Small Screen, Major Chic writer Melissa Bykofsky, checking out some of the latest television hits like ABC's Scandal or HBO's Veep, showcasing career focused women, is a great way to do so.  More specifically though, layered metallics and fur, faux of course, are a couple of key pieces you might want to invest in for this season.  Seeking inspiration from style magazines like Marie Claire can aid you in shopping locally or online so you can become a little more trendy and a lot less spendy ;)

Summer Inexpensive Must Haves!

It might be your favorite of the four seasons, but summer might very well be the time in which your hair and skin are most vulnerable to damage. All of that direct sunlight and persistant exposure to chlorine aren't doing your body any favors. Sunlight of course not only heats and dries out our hair and skin but the UV and UVB rays are what you should ultimately be most concerned about.  This summer I used Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa product, monoi oil sunscreen lotion as a daily facial sunscreen. I love the fact this is a broad spectrum sunscreen so I know I'm being protected from harmful rays. Not only that but it smells fantastic and I don't have to worry about sweating or being exposed to water because I'm covered for up to 40 minutes!  Purchase True Blue Spa Products Here!

As we unwillingly pass into the later part of summer, I know one of the things on my mind and perhaps yours as well, is not so much losing the warm weather as the nice tan you've been tediously working on for months now. By the time you achieve the color you've been aiming for, it's time to hide away those bikinis until next season. But I think if you've worked that hard and long to achieve something, you ought to be able to keep it for a while! Everyone's skin is different and mine isn't the type to make me appear to be a different ethnicity but just by simply keeping up with and sticking to a great moisturizing routine from the end of summer and beyond, I've kept tan lines well into the wintery months! My weapon of choice? Ocean Potions Moisturizing Aloe Lotion! I can't get enough of this stuff! It's extremely inexpensive, large container, extends the life of your tan as well as helps your skin recover from sun exposure, and it smells absolutely divine. Both this product and the True Blue Spa product contain glycerin as a main ingredient which also does wonders for skins softness. Stock up now while you can! Purchase Your Own Ocean Potion Lotion Here!

On to hair care, a good habit I got myself into this summer was applying a bit of heat protectant in my hair before I spent a long period of time outdoors. Heat damage isn't limited to only flat irons, curling irons, and hair dryers. Nope unfortunately the sun can be a culprit too but that's easy to tell. Just take a feel of the top of your head the next time you're out in the sun. A bit warm isn't it? Applying any heat protectant product will do, but a personal favorite and one I've seen numerous hair gurus on YouTube use and recommend, TRESemme Heat Tamer Spray. Very inexpensive and just a few mists of this product will have you covered. Should you go for a swim, re-applying a few more mists would be wise. Purchase Some TRESemme Heat Protectant For Yourself!

Speaking of going for a swim, a day by the pool might be a relaxing and popular summer activity, but let's not forget chlorine is a chemical. It helps keep swimming a sanitary experience but at a cost to our hair. When leave in products aren't up for the task, it's time to look for something natural and logical. Coconut oil IS IT. Who doesn't know that oil and water don't mix? It's basic knowledge and undeniably beneficial for hair care and protection from chlorine. The length of and the amount of hair you possess will determine how much oil you'll need. If you're like me with medium to long hair of average thickness, a tablespoon is really all you'll need. A little bit goes a long way. Simply rub it in your hands and slather your hair from root to tip before making a splash. You'll be good to go! Own Your Own Jar of Coconut Oil!

Beach Look

Spending the day strolling along the boardwalk or having dinner at the local hotspot, this outfit is guaranteed to keep you looking fashion forward and hot while it's hot! I wore this ensemble last week on an evening out in Edisto Island, SC. I paired my black crop top by Forever 21 and my turquoise shorts by Banana Republic with a pair of jeweled and rhinestoned orange sandals by BCBG as well as a few other low key jewelry items. 

Another Reason to Love Clinique

If you read my earlier post concerning Clinique and weren't sold on the company just yet, perhaps this will change your mind.  Along with my bogo win yesterday, I took up Cliniques incredible offer on a 7 piece gift set with a $25 dollar purchase.  Since I've never actually bought a designated facial moisturizer for myself (I've only ever used my unscented body lotion) I bought myself a bottle of Cliniques latest skin care innovation, their Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which came right in at $25.  The gift bag which of course can be used as a cosmetics bag, contained Clinique lipstick, mascara, facial wash, eye makeup remover, liquid foundation, which the associate made sure to match to my skintone, and a beautiful shade of blush.  Well worth the initial $25 purchase? I think so!

It Seriously Pays to BOGO

Coupons in hand, my mother and I browsed through Goody's this evening looking for, what else, but deals and boy did we land a few! The store was having a bogo sale on their shoe selection, specifically buy one get one 50% off.  A khaki and pink colored pair of Polo Ralph Lauren loafers were the first pair to catch my eye.  I'd previously purchased a similar pair approximately a year ago. They're a tad rough looking now though. They might have lasted me longer had I not worn them frequently at my work-study position involving various types of construction.  The other purchase was a pair of electric blue and neon yellow trainer series Nikes. Coincidentally, I'd purchased a similar pair of Nikes a couple years ago, but as they were the only athletic shoes I would wear, frequent use in both indoor and outdoor exercise activities took its toll on them. I guess you could say I updated my shoe game today.  Besides having the bogo sale reduce the total for both shoes, of course coupons lent a hand in reducing our final total even more. The Nikes were originally priced at $65.00 and the use of our 40% off coupon made them $39.00. Then the loafers started out at the price of $60.00, were on sale for $34.99, factoring the 50% off from the bogo sale made them $17.49, and lastly another 40% off coupon set them at the purchasing price of  only $10.49! Our grand total for both pairs of shoes was $52.11, saving us $75.51!  It's always rewarding to know you saved more than you spent.

Pricing & Quality

Skilled shoppers are frequent shoppers.  Regular visits to your local malls and department stores can increase your knowledge of prices as well as quality and up your chances of spotting and catching a deal.  That being said, frequent shopping doesn't have to mean frequent purchasing.  Just simply looking through racks and examining prices will give you a better idea of what specific items are typically priced; What's the average price on jeans in this store, how much do the shoes in here usually go for? Prices vary from one store to another as does quality. While some of my favorite tops are from American Eagle, unless you're buying jeans from them, much of their merchandise is rather fragile and not long lasting. The prices are often greater than the quality of the items being purchased. When it comes to an equal price to quality ratio, I've found Banana Republic to be one of the best out there.  A black V-neck tee I purchased there sometime ago still appears just as new as the day I bought it along with several other purchases I've made from there. Becoming accustomed to prices in various stores can really help you out in the long run. You never want to over pay, or pay for something you could've gotten for less if you'd only waited for a sale or mark down. Be aware of quality as well. Good quality clothing and accessories can be inexpensive, you've just got to know where to look. Practice makes perfect. Get out there and check things out!!