Momma Taught Me to Share!

So, since I have some free time, I thought I would blog about something ALL ladies must know about!

I think I heard somewhere that when you find something great, the best thing you can do is share it. I relate this saying to ya know, when someone comes up & says "Hey! I love your dress/shoes/headband/nail polish/eye shadow/whatever" & some girls I've said this to are very flattered but simply respond "Oh, thanks!" But come on girl, fill me in... I just gave you a compliment so hook a lady up! Where'd you get it?
{I must admit... I think I'm a little too quick to share, but honestly... When I find something great, that makes me look or feel great, & someone else notices, I have to share it!}

That being said, let me just fill you in on an ah-mazing website I discovered a few months ago!

www.justfab.com

Now, stop me if you've heard this one.... I was completely oblivious to this site before seeing an ad, oddly enough, on Facebook. Ya know... Those ads on the side? It said something like "All styles only $39.95" & I'm sure there was some fab shoe in the picture. Because I have a shoe shopping problem, I had to click. For some reason I had never heard of this marvelous site but since I've been using it I've noticed they have ads everywhere! They even have a commercial I just saw on the Style Network! Where the heck have I been?!

So here's the deal... You sign up at JustFab.com by answering a few survey questions about what style of shoe you prefer, {wedges, stilettos, flats, neutrals, colors, etc!} & based on your answers to the survey, which by the way you can go in & edit at any time, you get some selected styles sent to you each month in what they call your 'Boutique'! It's like walking into a massive shoe store, feeling overwhelmed, then telling the sales associate what you like & having them narrow it down for you & only you! & let me just say, I have gotten some ca-uuute shoes selected for me!

They select about 5-7 styles for you a month & you can order them or not. Literally everything on the site is $39.95 with free shipping both ways! Come on now, that's not bad! They even have purses, handbags, & clutches for you to select from... All $39.95 as well! They even sell inserts for all of us ladies that have to withstand a long day of Keeneland tailgates & gambling! Or even us ladies who substitute teach & refuse to settle for flats ;)

& I know what you're thinking... What's the catch? I'll be really honest, because JustFab doesn't pay me, the catch is that you have to give a card number when you sign up. You have to either choose a shoe/bag/whatever before the 5th of each month, or they'll automatically charge you $39.95 for no good reason. BUT! They send you an e-mail the first of the month, to let you know you have a brand new boutique available, & before the 5th to remind you! So if you don't want your card charged for nothing, just go to your boutique, click 'Skip This Month' & you're golden! & the beautiful thing? Just because you choose to 'skip' that month, doesn't mean you can't go back in later & pick a lil' somethin' up!

I love it, personally. I picked these little pups up last month :)

How gorgy?! I refer to the color as a 'dusty pink' & I think they are purrr-fect for some spring & summer fun!

I hope some of you ladies benefit from my little 'share night' & find some great shoes & bags!



Hope you all have a great rest of the week & weekend!
I'm off to create lists & prepare for a wedding weekend for my sweet momma!!
Pics of the festivities to follow:)
XO!!

When Times get Tough, the Tough........ Go Shopping!

I often update you on my 'current state' when I happen to have a cute little view of my laptop, Lilly planner, pens/highlighter, & functional notebooks (used for my many lists!) & typically, a cup of coffee close by. But right now, this is me:

Pure shopping BLiSS!
Ohhhh yeaaaaaa :)

Times have been way too tough & heavy lately! & Lucky for my little broke hiney, I got my tax returns just in the nick of time! I know it's a horrible habit, but when I'm feeling down & out I shop! Bad for my wallet & emotions, but great for the economy! Right? Trying to justify here!

Don't worry, as irresponsible as I am I didn't take my tax returns & run off into the sunset. I did pay bills first. & yes, I paid all of them. All our accounts are current! & while that cheered me up (& de-stressed me,) it wasn't quiiiite what my little heart needed ;)
& I may or may not have made a payment on my student loan that wasn't due until APRIL... ThankYouVeryMuch!

Behold.... The fruits of my shopping labors!

A couple 'electronics'! Please excuse me blogging about a car charger, but I've always wanted one & I snagged this little baby for $2.50 on Amazon! Can you say Steal!?!



3 words... Oooh La Laaa!
I love, love, LOVE the blush tone of this shoe. I can already tell, it's going to be a spring go-to. & whaddya-know?! It goes perfectly with this!

I've always wanted a white dress with little eyelet details (hard to see in this pic!) & I think it's going to be perrr-fect for Keeneland this spring!! Now I just have to get going on my tan so my skin doesn't match this dress! Anyone have suggestions for a good place to get a spray tan? I'm really trying to break my 'bed' habit because I'm starting to get a little nervous about laying under those harsh bulbs! I love Louis Vuitton (more than my heart can stand,) but I don't want to look like one of their bags when I'm 30!

I also purchased this precious top which you may remember from this post!



I made all of these purchases online so naturally, the anticipation is killing me! I can't wait until these arrive & I get to play! I'm feeling mildly anxious because, of course, I'm worried some things won't be as great as I want them to be once they arrive. But part of me loves shopping online because of that anticipation. It's so fun waiting for things to arrive & so exciting when you see that box waiting on your doorstep!
I know, I know... That's a sure sign I need to find a Shopper's Anonymous meeting.
"Hi, I'm Austin & I have a serious shopping habit which I lean on in difficult & happy times."
Hiiiii Austin.

I'm sorry, but I've battened down my financial hatches in a serious way & once my tax returns came, I decided to have a little fun! Like I said, I paid bills & I even saved some of it! So frankly, I deserve the above purchases :)

XOXO!!

P.S. Thank you to those of you who commented/tweeted/etc about my previous post. It was incredibly difficult to write but the encouragement I got from you all made it so worthwhile... Just knowing people read it & appreciated it! Your thoughts, prayers, & offerings of support are so precious to me! I love you sweet girls! Kiss Kiss, Hug Hug!!
Seriously..... THANK YOU!! :)))

My Wallet!

My life is so exciting I thought I would share! I switched wallets today & thought I would write a post about it! Ok, so I know... It sounds completely lame, but I realized when I was cleaning said wallet out & switching to an even more functional option, how much a purse or a wallet says about a Lady! So here we go!

The current wallet!

Mildly Flashy & Extremely Functional!
I have to say, I have somewhat of a wallet obsession. I am constantly on a mission to find 'The One'. I have yet to find a wallet to change my life, but I'm still hopeful.

Let's take a peak inside, shall we?


Please note my checks. I think the only reason I still use checks to pay bills is because they are just too freaking cute! As you may have noticed, the check pictured is a flyyy giraffe print! I happen to have zebra, tiger, & cheetah also in my repertoire. I may sound old, but I seriously prefer writing checks. I have no idea why. & believe me... I've tried to figure it out!

& let me just stop you right there... I know I have an obscene amount of cards. I am owning it. & frankly, it's alright with me because some of those cards save me enough money to make me feel like I am a financially responsible adult!
I am an easy sell though, really. If you say you have a discount card, I'm signing up. Even if I have no plans of returning to your store in the near future, I'll sign up.
[As a side note-- If any of you are trying to meet a 'quota' of this kind, I'm your girl. I'll sign up for anything as long as it's free!]

While we're here... Does anyone else wonder why Hobby Lobby can't get it together & create a customer rewards program? They may very well be one of the only places I frequent (& I mean frequent,) that I don't have a discount card for. & Target! I know, Target has a credit card, but I'm sorry... I cannot commit to financial ruin & sign up. I may still be mildly irresponsible, but I know when to stop myself. & a Target credit card is a world of trouble I just cannot bring myself to enter! I feel the same about Macy's!!

Ok, so let's explore the cards...
- Kroger Plus -- Typical
- CVS Extra Care Card -- I'm more of a Rite Aid kinda' girl, but like I said, I'm an easy sell.
- Wellness + (Rite Aid) -- I'm not sure what took them so long, but fiiiiinally my loves at Rite Aid created a card for us 'frequent shoppers'!
- G.B. Shoe Warehouse -- Seriously y'all. Seriously. If you don't have one, you must. I think it's 10% off any purchase if you use this card! I could be remembering my sign-up incorrectly, but I'm pretty sure that's the point of the card! & if you've never been to visit G.B. you need to. ASAP. Got a pair of $70+-something Sperry's for like, $30 or $40 bucks last spring. (I happened to hit a sale & had my rewards card!) Not to mention, they have a million other great brands to choose from!
(See this post for further explanation of my shoe 'habit'!)
- Library card -- Whatever. I feel like I'm not really a good person if I don't have one. I rarely visit the public library, although I L-O-V-E reading. I have this weird thing about buying books I love. I get my sights set on a book (after much research to determine that I will for-sure love it,) & just have to buy it. My dream home will have a library (& by 'library' I may or may not mean many shelves in a corner,) & I think buying books instead of 'renting' them from the library, is my way of contributing to this library so I don't have to buy a set of encyclopedias as a filler when the time comes.
- Speedy Rewards card -- Duh. I am definitely a Speedy Rewards points hoarder. I rarely redeem them, but will specifically choose Speedway for my quickie-needs over others because I want to accumulate points! I happen to have a coupon for a free energy shot stowed away, thanks to this card!
- Qdoba card -- I live right up the street from a Qdoba & the amount of free burritos I've earned, (thanks to this card!) is obscene. They also happen to be the only place, besides Cheddar's, that has ri-dic-u-lous chips & queso. I may or may not indulge in their insane guacamole from time to time as well!
- BHG Rewards card -- & last but certainly not least! Ohhh how I adore Bluegrass Hospitality Group! I'm sure many of you know, but BHG is responsible for Malone's, Sal's, Harry's, & Drake's! I so hope they plan to keep expanding because their concept is seriously business-savvy & they have a great market here in Lextown! Want a nice dinner out? Head on over to Malone's or Sal's! Want a casual night with great food/great drinks? Looking for an exquisite patio after a profitable day at Keeneland? Pop on over to Harry's! Feel like dancin' & sippin' some import beers? Drake's is just what the doctor ordered!
*Siiiiigh*
I love you BHG. With a BHG rewards card you earn points that earn you free stuff! You can be a points-hoarder like me, or you can use your points to pay your bar tab! I love it. I whip it out every time I'm there!!

& finally...

My Pop-A-Lock coupons!
Now let me explain... These are all expired. The sweet muffin who removed my keys from my locked car last time gave them to me & I'm utterly terrified to remove them from my wallet.
(Even though they're expired & annoying the daylights out of my OCD de-clutter instincts.)
I have an unfortunate disability that causes me to lock my keys in my car on a bi-weekly basis. I so wish I were kidding. Ok, ok... Not bi-weekly, but close! I actually locked myself out of my house this week... Since we're on the subject! But ever since I've had these coupons, I have yet to lock myself out of my car. [Knock. On. Wood.]
I think it's been like, 5-or-so months since I've done it! I know it's sad, but for me, that's a record! I really think irony has a permanent place in my life, based on prior experience, & I am convinced that if I take these coupons out of my wallet I will follow up with a locked-out experience.
Yes, I know... They're expired, so they really can't help me at all these days but I'm just superstitious that way!

So that's that! The wallet! I might have to think about following up with a purse post! Feel free to share any places that happen to sell a potential 'the one' wallet because I am always searching. So far it's been fruitless, but I have hope!

XOXO Lovies!!

Listing & Lusting!

With Spring on it's way (yes, I am staying positive & doing every no-snow dance I know!) yours truly has been shopping for fun things to make spring even better! Because I'm a massive nerd I tend to make lists. My number one list happens to be a To-Do List, but the 'Things I Must Have' List is a close second & happens to be never ending. Here are a couple of my recent items :)

How sweet are these?! I'm obsessed!!

Let me just say, I LOVE shoes. I quite possibly am a shoe hoarder. What a tacky nick-nack is to a hoarder, a shoe is to me. I can't help it, I see a pair (or two or three!) fall in love, & have to have them. There have been times I blatantly chose a pair of shoes over other obligations... Like bills, gas for the car, food, etc. Irresponsible as it is, I can't help myself. I have a problem!
& let me just be completely honest here... Shoes always fit. No matter what size I am everywhere else, my shoe size stays predictably the same... I. Love. It. Subsequently, there is a massive overflow of shoes in my closet. Well, most of them still fit in there! I think I own more shoes than anything else, actually.

I went to Vegas this past summer & this was my 'Definitely Going to Vegas' pile.
[There are 13 pairs in this pic... For 4 days & 4 nights, just so we're all on the same page.]
(Sorry for poor pic quality.. That was before the iPhone entered my life!)

Problem? Some think so, but I just cannot help myself! I sent the pic to my boo, who was living & waiting for me in Vegas at the time, & he helped me narrow the selection!

Alright, back to my List!

I'm thinking these would be kind of perfect for Keeneland's Spring Meet!!

I also just looooove this!

Personally, I think this is seriously PRESH! If done the right way, it could also be perfect for Keeneland! This top just looks so fresh & lively to me. The exact opposite of ho hum winter-wear!

& as always
THIS sweet baby will always be on my List! Until I have one in my possession of course! I think that just about everyday I send a little style prayer in hopes that the price will drop momentarily so I can buy one! Or that one will just fall into my lap! ;)

& thanks to this stylish chica I've also been looking here for a few spring-y Keeneland options!

Oh Spring, how I love you & wish you would make an appearance in all our lives very soon!

Meanwhile, this is my current state:


:)
Being productive & I love it! Responding to e-mails that are in response to resumes I've sent out! Eee!
Also-- Please note the pink UK coffee cup I am sippin' from! Gotta` support my boys in blue!! They've got a big game tonight & I KNOW we can win it! Unfortunately we all have to look at Bruce Pearl the biggest tool of life in that hideously tacky TN orange blazer. Ick.

Have a great evening my loves! GO CATS!! XOXO <3!!>