The Secret's Out

Me, sweet little shopper me, has been having a scandalous and torrid tabloid-worthy online love affair.

It all started only one week ago, but it feels like a lifetime with every secret meeting: Early morning, mid-afternoon or late night, it doesn't matter ... because that's where I'll be, glued to my computer's screen, breathlessly awaiting my next fix.

I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't breathe without first consulting this clickin' crush o' mine.

It's time I confess, shout it from the rooftops and let the world know:

Madewell, I think I love you.

Toot! Toot!

Will you please allow me a moment to toot my own bargain-hunting horn?

I mean, I found this tie-dyed dream of a dress at TJMaxx for only $24.99!

Can I get a 'toot toot?!'

(even just a teeny tiny one?)

Please?

Horn-honkin' pic courtesy of me

The Dream Catchers

The Genius of Christopher Nolan behind the camera + Leonardo DiCaprio (my cinematic boyfriend) Joseph Gordon-Levitt (my other film fella) and Ellen Page (the cool chick I wish I was) in front of the camera = Giddy little me in the theater opening day with a big tub o' popcorn, some Red Vines and a cherry red Icee.  Yum.

Inception preview courtesy of Yahoo! Movies

Take A Seat

With all the color choices and possibilities still currently dancing in my head as to what to paint my bedroom's walls (although at least one is locked in as definitely being chalkboard) the three left are constantly being changed and mulled over ... but upon seeing this pretty 'after' chair (take a looky loo at the before here) I may have to officially declare (hot) pink my accent color winner or at least the hue of one (or two or three) pieces in my room.

Isn't she (I mean, the chair above) so pretty in pink?

Winning by a chair pic courtesy of design*sponge

Biting Remarks

Maybe all this Twilight mania is finally catching up with me, but I couldn't help but get myself sucked right into it when I saw this ring (that opens up as a locket, I mean, come on!)  How great would it be to pair it with your daintiest and frilliest of frocks to have such a harsh, severe opposite happening?  So killer.

Hey.  I put all the blame on that Buffy chick for my first introduction and making me fall so hardcore for  the original, platinum-locked vamp we all know and love as Spike - and trust me when I tell you - that man could bite me any old time if it moved him to do so.  Way more than Edward.  Oh yeah.

Fang-tastic ring pic courtesy of grigiodesign

Love Love Love

Love of my life from Jen Lula on Vimeo.

After watching the aww-inducing video above and reading this post, I'm slowly but surely starting to (again) believe that the Beatles may have had it right this whole time by saying love really is all we need.

There may be hope for this single gal yet.  Huh.

Ode To Love video courtesy of JenLovesKev

Well-Suited Style

So what you're telling me is I need to go all the way to Pitti Uomo in Florence to see men dressed like this?

Man.  I really need to get a passport.

Plaid perfection pic courtesy of Hanneli

Smooth Operator

I just couldn't resist the trio of eos lip balms that were sitting so pretty with their sherbety-colored selves in an adorable little purse on a shelf at my Walgreens for a mere $9.99; the cuteness factor of the packaging and container(s) alone is off the charts, no?

Smooth move of a balm pic courtesy of eos

Dreaming While Awake

Why don't I wake up to this every morning?

Oh, wait ... that's right.  Because I don't live in Sweden.

Read the Stockholm Guide here.

Picture perfect morning image courtesy of design*sponge

Billow Talk

I have a new summer wardrobe.  No more easily thrown on flowy dresses and flat sandals.  No siree.  Just the most billow-y of blouses (like the pretties above), a perfectly embroidered pair of skinnies and a nude, goes-with-absolutely-everything heel that I can actually walk in.

Boy am I glad summer is finally here.

Beautiful and billow-y blouse pics courtesy of Forever 21

Standing O

Well, Bravo ... you've gone and done it again with yet another brilliant basis for a (reality) television show by delving into the art world this time around with Work of Art hosted by China Chow and produced by the incomparable SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker).

The first week's episode found me nothing but completely glued to my screen anxiously awaiting the finished products in a challenge where the artists were paired up to create and paint, draw, screen or photograph a self-portrait of their assigned subject.  The results were mind-blowing (and sometimes head-scratching to say the least) given that they had a mere 12 hours to complete the task at hand (!) Wowza.  (See the end products in the slideshow here)

My hat's off to the artists as I literally can't wait to see what they produce next and this show has left me no choice but to get up and out of my seat and declare: 

Bravo, Bravo TV.  Bravo.

Creative cast photo courtesy of gyst

Eye Spy

A few things around the blogosphere that have caught my eye* lately:

A good (and much needed) summer read.

Wishing I was besties with Ms. Stella so I could wear her pretties all the time.

Wondering when I'll find a helpful, sweet guy like these fine fellas.

I would love to be a guest at this little party.

This post makes me proud to be a pixie.

I will get this wrist tat one day.

*Eye-catching first image and pic courtesy of Tiny Lights

As Good As Gold

With the purchase of these Steven by Steve Madden Jezebel stunners (on sale for $39.99) I now know just how Dorothy felt when wearing her ruby slippers.

Twinkle Toes pic courtesy of Piperlime

Made In The Shade

It should be a crime to have as much fun as I did on the site, UnitedShades.  It is a virtual playground where you upload a picture of yourself, type in some measurements, and then try on a myriad of designer sunnies (and eyeglasses) to see which look bests on you and your peepers. 

I was surrounded by the likes of Fendi, Prada, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, RayBan (which obviously turned out to be a favorite from the pictures above) and it quickly became quite evident that I could spend hours upon hours there (ahem, and I did)

 And I was totally surprised to find that my usually favored large bug-eyed frames in look-at-me colors got beaten out by the classics (the third pic was my winner with the second following dangerously close behind)

I'd love it if you would leave links in the comment section below with your pics and choices of frames (some of them were laugh-out-loud funny on me - I'm talkin' to you, Oakley!)

So go now and have some fun in the virtual sun!

Virtual fashion frivolity images courtesy of United Shades

Sometimes

Sometimes I really, really wish my bargain budget was a bit bigger so I could buy every single thing worn and modeled by Ms. Sevigny and her collection with Opening Ceremony.

Just sometimes.

Worthy wardrobe wish pics courtesy of Studded Hearts

You're Invited

TO JOIN THE PARTY OF ALL PARTIES!

WHO: 

Sway, baby, Sway!

 Where YOU will wear the big old head honcho hat acting as both the discerning designer and the big boss buyer deciding exactly which dress is ON FIRE!

WHAT: 

What?  What's that you say?  You say: Well, what is this Sway? 

All you gotta do is just take a little view of all the lovely pretties that are just waiting for you and you and YOU!

WHEN: 

Sign on up and join today, today, TODAY!

On this, the day that is all about Sway, in the year two thousand and ten, where you'll be the first to tell your friends again, again and AGAIN!

WHERE:

So, please, get those fashion-y fingers of yours ready for some serious flyin' as I see you both here and then there:

Sway to the dot to the com

(with a personal invite from me, yours truly)

Where I'll be ready and waiting to share just which darling of a dress we'll all next want to wear!

*Please RSVP (and gab and gush that all things are a go) to BB in the comment section below 

Lovely logos courtesy of my super-duper site o' the day - Sway

In The Nude

I'm pretty darn pale.  I'm so pale, I've even been known to say I'm (almost) clear.  So to find anything that matches me and my skin tone is literally next to impossible and with the summer months come(s) my love for all things white, light and airy in my wardrobe, but any nude-y underthings are usually a tad 'off' or just too darn dark altogether.

That's where the Myskins cavalry comes in with their 20 skin-matching colors in convenient card form (request your very own FREE Skin Tone Color Card here) so you are bound to find the shade that works best for you and no more 'almost there' shades or wondering if anyone can see something they aren't supposed to.

Thanks, Myskins, you're my new (or should I say, nude) hero.

'Nude and improved' color chart image courtesy of MySkins

All Clogged Up

Much to the chagrin of my shopping sidekick, I fell for a pair of high-heeled clogs while walking down Nordstrom Rack's shoe aisles this past weekend.  But I can't really be blamed seeing how the sticker price was only $26.90.  Needless to say, they came straight home with me.

Shoe score image courtesy of a little photography attempt by me

Let There Be Light

I'm fixin' to redecorate my bedroom and with fuschia, chalkboard and grey walls dancin' in my head, I almost forgot to leave room for some light in that room o' mine and can't help but think this one pictured above (and made to order) would be most whimsically perfect.*

*do be sure to check out the rest of this fantastic seller's items (like the melt-your-heart lovey dovey chandelier)

Twitterpated Birdcage Chandelier pic courtesy of meggancolleen

Victor's Spoils

Remember here (way back when) last year where I first discovered the fabulousness and total wonderment of the shopping site, Akira?  Or how about here where I gushed and gabbed about the amazing site where a runway look is taken as inspiration and then paired with an almost uncanny (and stylishly similar) look for less so every single bargainista's heart (and wallet) could pitter-pat (and open) with nothing but glee?

Well ... just imagine my complete elation (and super wonderful surprise) when I read a little e-mailed note announcing that I had won a gift certificate (who, me?!) to the one and only, Akira, courtesy of my most favorite click of any day (through one of their fantastic monthly contests), Runway Rundown!

Needless to say, the e-card was still quite fresh in my inbox when I clicked on over and chose my victor's spoils:

{big pocket vest with sash}

{cross back cowl romper}

{schu sandal}

As you can probably guess, I literally cannot WAIT (can you blame me?  Besides ... patience is really not my strong point, especially when there are supremely stylish and oh-so-cute clothes on their merry way to my doorstep) to wear these pieces (and I wouldn't even put it past me to wear all three at the same time in one outfit!)

I can't sing the praises of these two sites any higher, so ... why don't you just take my word for it and click on over to both of them and shop to your pitter-pattin' (and bargaining) heart's content (and while you are at Runway Rundown, sign up and enter this month's contest with Singer 22 as your prize)

Excuse me now while I go try and pretend to be busy with other things while waiting for my goodies to arrive ...

Blue, black and neon all over pics courtesy of AKIRA

Beachy Keen

All of these Roxy dresses make me want to throw 'em on and run to the nearest body of water/beach (alas, I don't think The Great Salt Lake counts)

Road trip, anyone?

Picturesque (dress) pics courtesy of Roxy

Bottled Up

I think I just found my signature summer scent; and so what if most of the reason is simply because I happen to find the bottle to be really, really pretty?

'I'm a Pretty In a Bottle' pic courtesy of C.O. Bigelow