Ann Taylor Fab Find

Good morning loves! It’s a chilly and snowy day in the midwest and I’m glad I brought enough winter clothes with me to last for another week. January is usually the coldest winter month but also the best for great sales on cold weather clothing. Last week, I spent an afternoon wandering around a shopping center trying to find all the good deals while they were still going on. Strolling into Ann Taylor Loft, what catches my eye but a great ivory and lace sweater on sale!

This pretty thing was only $10! The secret? Go to an outlet to find it. I looked online for the sweater but it wasn’t there. They also had it in a great burgundy color so I’m really depressed that I can’t find it! Loft’s semi-annual sale is one of my favorites though. I saw rompers, shorts, skirts, and tons of jewelry on final sale (think everything under $15!) It took all of my will power not to walk out of there with a couple bags full of stuff!

Semi-Annual Sweater Sales

Since I’ve failed to give you a way to get the sweater besides trekking to your nearest Loft store, I found a few great sweaters on sale that you can order online!

Sequin Stripe Sweater– Ann Taylor

Fair Isle Sweater– Old Navy

Sawyer Sweaterter- J Crew Factory

Factory Intarsia Sweater– Banana Republic Factory

Bow Scoopneck Sweater– LC by Lauren Conrad

I’ll keep my eye out for other great sales! From wandering around the little boutiques near my apartment, I think literally every store has a big sale going on. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, what can I say? Check out my Instagram for another fab find from Loft! Also, like my Facebook page for blog and life updates!

 

 

Gift Guide for Her First Apartment

One of my favorite things to do during this time of the year is go Christmas shopping for friends and family. I always have quite a few people on my list and it seems to grow every December. Last year, I gave several of my friends cookie mix in mason jars with baking instructions. This time, I’m going to make it a little more personal.

Similar to a post I did earlier, I’m focusing on a specific kind of person to shop for. Today, we’re talking about a friend who just moved into her first apartment. Other than a few things left over from college, you have nothing for a new place. The apartment might seem like the most expensive thing you’ll be paying for, but nothing compares to the over all expense of furnishing it! Here are a few things in a variety of price ranges to get for the first-time renter.

1. Serving tray- In college you served appetizers on Dixie plates not serving trays. It’s time to upgrade!
2. Cookie Jar- Not only is it functional but it serves as an adorable decorative piece to your kitchen counter top.
3. Kitchen Aid mixer- For the extreme baker that lives to try out Pinterest recipes.
4. Decorative porch lights- Many apartments have balconies or porches that are left completely barren of decoration. Porch lights are the perfect way to add a little personality to these forgotten spaces.
5. Marquis sign- A favorite decorative piece of mine! You can find them in small and large sizes with a variety of words to choose from.
6. Area rug- Even when I have carpet I like to add an area rug for color. Most of the time apartments have beige walls and carpet, which serves as a great blank canvas to make your own!
7. Steak knives- We all need them for the kitchen but we won’t shell out the money for a good set. The recipient of this Christmas gift will appreciate the practicality of it.
8. Matching set of plates- Again, practical but you’d be amazed at how many people I know who’ve had their own places for years and don’t have matching dinnerware. You can find an inexpensive set at Target and it’ll make a great gift.
9. Soap dispenser- I’m putting my foot down to the plastic Dial soap dispensers. Invest in a decorative one for your friend’s new place, they’ll thank you for it.
10. End table- A necessary piece of furniture that costs a relatively small amount. My favorite place to find these at is Home Goods. They have a great variety for good prices.
11. Throw pillows- This is a luxury that I rarely indulge in but makes a great gift for someone else! Marshall’s usually has an aisle devoted to pillows that will surely have something that suits your friend’s taste.

Leave a comment if you’ve recently moved with items you’d appreciate being given for Christmas! I love hearing from you!

 

Outlet Shopping Haul (and tips to find the deals)

I am so excited to share with you a few fab finds from my recent shopping trip to the Premium Outlets! Outlet shopping is one of my favorite things to do when I’m visiting a new city. Each region of the country I think has totally different inventory and it makes the trip that much more exciting. The best outlets I’ve been to have been in Orlando and San Antonio. For whatever reason, these states are sent all the goodies!

My first and and probably best find are these orchid-colored J Crew loafers! These pretty things are normally $98 at the outlet but I scored them on clearance for $30. They’re suede and perfect for fall!

This next piece is also from J Crew and retails at $52.50, I found it on clearance for $15.95! Normally, I don’t like to spend much on jewelry unless it’s a really quality piece (think real pearls). When I saw this my eyes lit up though. I love the coral and tortoiseshell pieces on the necklace. They really make it pop!

One of my favorite outlet stores to go into is the Victoria’s Secret outlet. I usually find some amazing deals here! Typically, I don’t like to share my bra and undie selections with everyone, but this was such a great deal I think I should. This particular bralette was on sale for $3.99! Does it give the best lift in the world? No. But if you’re staying at home or it’s laundry day, then it’s a must-have.

Again, I don’t like to share my undergarments with people but this was another great deal. This Victoria’s Secret bra was in a bin of a thousand others just like it, all for $6.99. It has great lift to it but not the best coverage. Ideally, you would wear it underneath something that didn’t need any extra padding.

Getting to the end of my shopping haul, I found this beautiful, soft, cream-colored jacket for my mom! I raided the clearance rack when I got to the Banana Republic store and saw it. I didn’t even think about it before I snatched it up and bought it. The tag price was $119 and the clearance price was $17.99. Did I mention how cute it is?

Outlet shopping is one of those things that’s a hit or miss. Most of the time, I can find something great to bring home at a good price. The key to shopping at these places is consistency. You can’t go every few months and find a steal or even a deal. Going at least once a month is the best way to find things at low prices. Stores mark merchandise down usually twice a month and there are plenty of savvy shoppers that even know the days they do it.  Shop often!

Leave me a comment with your favorite find in this haul! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for easy updates!

Target Fall Collection Picks

Happy Saturday pretties! I hope you get to enjoy lovely weather today because I can’t. The rain hasn’t stopped and the wind is just getting stronger and stronger! I love a blustery day but only with the sun shining, a cup of cider in hand, and the cutest scarf I can find. Today is not that day. However, for many of us, Saturdays are made for shopping! I actually went last night when people were running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find milk and bread (see previous post). Be glad I did though because I’m going to tell you where all the good sales are and share a few of my favorite Target fall and Adam Lippe pieces!

First of all, I bit the bullet and bought the burgundy felt floppy hat from Old Navy I’ve been eyeing. I really didn’t want to pay $20 for a hat from here given the quality but I got it on sale for about $15 instead. The whole store is 30% off until Tuesday!

JoAnn Fabrics has 50% off really pretty pumpkins! I went in last night and the selection was great. I didn’t buy any because, well, I really don’t need any! I was tempted though believe me! Michaels is also running a similar deal on their pumpkins and general fall decor. Last but not least, Pier 1 Imports is having 25% off their pumpkin decor as well. Couldn’t you just shop all day? Happy picking!

Ok, now for the good stuff! I always go into Target and come out with way more than what I intended to and this fall will be no exception. I love the plaid they have this season! Adam Lippe designed some pieces for Target (similar to Lilly Pulitzer but without the inventory disaster).

Ta-da! The Target Fall Collection! Isn’t it the prettiest? I love the colors they chose for this year. They’re warm and inviting, like a fall home should be! Let’s talk about the plaid- it’s wonderful. It gives off that log cabin, rustic vibe that we all eat up this time of year. Most of us haven’t spent time in a log cabin because if we had, we’d know that the average person’s cabin is full of grandma’s quilts and dead animals hanging from the walls.

Anyway, the collection is great and I want to buy it all up, including that rolling pin I have featured. Why am I in love with a rolling pin? Honestly, I have no idea. It just goes with everything else. It’s not like I’ll ever use it, I burn place-and-bake cookies for Pete’s sake! Most of this stuff I don’t have a need for but I sure have a love for instead.

Enjoy shopping the collection this weekend! Let me know if you get anything!

Sundays in San Antonio

I’ve been here in San Antonio, Texas for the last week and have enjoyed every minute. The people are wonderful and the Mexican food is on point! I absolutely love this state for so many reasons but one the most important is the culture. There’s so much going on here in terms of food, people, languages, music, and even shopping. Oh the shopping! It’s wonderful! I spent some time in the high-end shopping district of La Centara! My sweet boyfriend took these pictures of me in this lovely place. He puts up with so much!

I drug him around from store to store and he pretended to enjoy it. We went into Tory Burch and were offered mimosas, I guess they thought I looked rich enough to buy something there. Wrong! I came across a beautiful fur jacket hanging on a rack and was stupid enough to ask what animal it was. Rabbit and fox fur. I just smiled and thanked the lady but felt a little sick. I love animals! I’m not a vegetarian or anything but furs just upset me a little.

Before the stores opened my boyfriend took a few pretty shots of me and my shopping-approved outfit. I can’t believe how hot it gets here! I find myself wearing tanks and shorts only with nothing else in the foreseeable future. My top is a black lace baby-doll style tank from Ann Taylor (fabulous find from the Ann Taylor store in Charleston on King Street- only $4.99!) My shorts I actually rolled up for a more flattering length. I found them at Marshall’s for $15. I think the designer name is Per Se.

Growing up when we’d be walking long distances for awhile, my mom would always make me wear sneakers or something comfortable. Well take this, mom! I wore sandals all day and they were quite wonderful! I found them on sale a few weeks ago at Target for $9!

To add a little more bling to my outfit, I added a few bracelets I found at Ann Taylor Loft. Unfortunately, one of them kept getting stuck on the lace in my top. First world problems!

The final piece to my outfit was my prized Kate Spade bag! Another great find at the San Marcos outlets here in San Antonio!

I’m enjoying every minute of my time here in the great state of Texas! I go home in a week and am going to miss it so much. It’s absolutely beautiful here in ways I didn’t know were possible. Who knew cactus plants could look so good? If any of you have have been to this part of Texas, let me know if there’s anything fun I should do while I’m here!