It's All In The Jeans

I'm a total jeans girl- I wear them everyday.  And while I do like to splurge on designer jeans- I like a great pair for cheap too.  Years ago a girlfriend of mine turned me on to American Eagle Jeans.  Great fit- they wear well and are under $50 (easy to find them as low at $29.50) Here are a few of my favs

Original Boot Cut $49.50

Straight Leg $39.50

Trouser Jean $49.50 (I adore them in white!)











Here's a tip- join the AERewards club, and get some great perks- I got a free t-shirt of my choice the month of my birthday- but thats not on the list...

 

• 15% off the month of your birthday at AE, Aerie and 77kids when you share your e-mail.
• Kids score a gift in any 77kids store on their birthday.
• Free Aerie Bras: Buy 5 Bras Get the 6th Free. Every time.
• Members-Only Sales and Events

Plus 15% off for every $100 you spend. 

Spring Accessories

To temper yesterdays encouragement to spend- here are a few great spring accessories for pocket change.  A quick wardrobe update- $10 or less.

Way to rock your inner eight year old- Daisy Chain Headband $4.95 at H&M

The thing about wayfarers is that I already wore them the first time around- but these in blush pink seem fresh and new.  I hear my inner hipster calling...
$7.50 WetSeal

I love a brooch added to a cardigan or blazer- and this mint color is totally on trend for spring. 
$9.90 from Zara

I saved the best for last- I LOVE this filigree bracelet from Forever21.   It screams "hooray, the sun is out!"  $4.50.  Yep- enough left over for an ice cream cone.

Start the week with a splurge.

Uusally I like to find deals under $100 (under $50- even better!!) but there are some amazing splurge items today, at higher prices than I usually conscider.

Bruno Magli "Kelsey" Mary Jane on My Habit $175, regular price $350.  Shoes are an easy call for a splurge- especially a shoe like this that is NEVER going out of style.  Spending a little more on a shoe means it will be more comfortable and will wear longer.

A white dress is a summer essential- my lovely husband shrunk my go-to white dress, so I am in the market for a new one.  I love the neckline on this one, and the nipped in waist/ shorter hem line combo is really flattering. Shoshonna Pleated Cotton Ruffle Sheath on Gilt.com $149 regular price $340

Color blocking is a huge trend- we have all heard it.  I love this top because it is "on trend" without being "trendy"

Sarah Block Silk Top by French Connection, $118 on Amazon- this is not really a sale price, BUT- sign up for fashion news from Amazon and you get 20% off.













Enjoy your monday splurges.  Just think of all the money you save the rest of the week!

meanwhile...

Ok, I've been radio silent while I walk, eat spicy food, do jumping-jacks and pretty much anything else I can think of to get this baby out.  But since she's not budging, I thought I'd go ahead and introduce a new idea I've had.  For the little while, I'm going to use this as a online shopping round up- my fav things at the best prices, keeping in line with the Suburban Style philosophy- that the cutest trends in home, fashion and beauty should still be accessible to a mom in a minivan.  Sales don't last forever, so to avoid missing out- hit the subscribe button or follow me on Bloglovin'.  Enough chatter- here are today's best steals.

Tuscan Storage Coffee Table- I am all about adding storage space, and when it comes in this beautiful rustic elm finish- I love it even more.  $560.95 on Joss&Main

My favorite coats are the ones I buy when it's too late in Spring to wear them- that's because as the weather heats up, the prices come down, and I get super cute fall styles at screaming deals.  I love this "Ganache and Golly" coat with faux fur and velvet trim from Modcloth.  I'd really consider it at full price- $164.99, but on sale for $49.99, how can you go wrong?
 

Brightly colored denim is HUGE for Spring (does that mean the 90's are vintage?!)  but I'm not sure its a look that is going to last more than one season.  I love to buy trendy items like this from a few trusted, less expensive stores.  Old Navy has skinny and flared styles of colored denim, I love this pair of slim flare in "Blue Moon" easy to try at a whopping $25. 







Happy Shopping- let me know your thoughts on the new format!

Wantful

Valentines Day means two things to me this year.

1.  Making sure my daughter doesn't show up to preschool with the epic fail of class Valentines like she did last year.  (Seriously- these kids are handing out full blown goody bags and I sent mine to school with little paper Elmo cards...but I digress)

2.  Having to come up with something- anything- that shows my honey how much I love him.  And being about to deliver a baby, my fall back of new lingerie and an overnight baby-sitter isn't the likely winner.


Enter Wantful

You log in to their site, answer some question about the gift recipient and give them a price range.  VIOLA! They send you this lovely little printed book- a catalog really, and your loved one picks what they want.

Like a very personal gift card.  Love it!

Spring Dress Round-up

They're here!  They're here!  It's Spring dress time and even though Winter just hit Northern California- I am so ready.  True, I am still an incubator, but with any luck (and a little help from the Stork and the Spanx Fairy) I'll be wearing some of these by Easter!

This year, with the new baby and the time off etc. budget for a Spring wardrobe is extra tight, so I'm forgoing Anthropologie *sniff* and sticking with some more economical options.  Frankly- Old Navy and Target have really stepped it up the last few seasons... and I already sang the praises of the Jason Wu for Target collection.

So, without further ado- some of my fave Spring dresses.  Chic, easy to wear, (ahem) slimming and under $40

Navy striped dress with lemon yellow belt: $24.99 at Target

 
Navy Surpliced Linen Dress: $29.80  Forever 21

Navy (seeing a trend?) Flower Printed Tie Waist Dress: $34.94 Old Navy

Ruffle Front Jersey Dress: $19.50 on sale now at Old Navy

Kimono Style Chiffon Dress: $34.95 from H&M

So much to love!

Jason Wu at Target this Spring!

Do you know why the Super Bowl starts at 3?  So you have plenty of time to shop the Jason Wu collection at Target!!  Available nation wide on February 5^th (yep- Super Bowl Sunday) each piece of Jason Wu’s collection of modern classics is available for $59.99 or less.  And if you haven’t seen them yet- they are amazing!  Check out a few of my favs:

This trench makes April Showers look appealing!

Cream dress with black petticoat- so Audrey!

Spring-tastic shoulder bag with a great Mod shape

 And subtle color blocking in red, white & blue

 











I might take my giant bump down to Target and buy my self some baby weight loss inspiration!

'Tis The Season...

I hate to brag, but I am this close to being done with my Christmas shopping.  So for all of you Last-Minute Lucy's here is my 10 fav gifts to give... under $50.

7" Silver Polka Dot Bowl- I love this super chic bowl for cut flowers or a fruit arrangement, plus its always a treat to give a gift worth way more than you spent! $39 One Kings Lane for 2 days only (while they last)

Archipelago Botanicals boxed candle in Pomegranate Citrus- delish brightly scented candle, and pomegranate is oh-so "in"  $24.50 at Amazon

Just Being Audrey A picture-book biography of actress Audrey Hepburn- because it's never to soon for a girl to obsess over the greatest fashion icon of all time.  $11.89 Anthropologie

Yuletide Traditions Plates- cheerful appetizer or dessert plates without the typical Christmas tree motif.  $24.99 Cost Plus

Vintage Style Aprons- make baking more fun, and be perfectly accessorized for your dinner parties.  29.95 Sur La Table

Wallet bottle opener- ever been stuck without one?  TRAGIC!  Made for a man, but great for a fun girl too- credit card sized bottle opener fits in a wallet (always handy) and can be personalized for $10 more.  19.95 Red Envelope

Christmas Stocking Chocolates- This San Franciscan purveyor of artisan chocolates is a staple for well over a decade.  I love LOVE their burnt caramel chocolates, and these festive designs make them perfect for gifting.  But be sure you check out all the flavors  They'll ship nationwide.  $20 Recchiuti Confections

Succulent Drop earrings- I've mentioned her before- but I love Kris Nations Jewelry, and these earrings make a great unique gift without breaking the bank.  Sale Price $45 Kris Nations Jewels

Flour Sack towels- this is COMPLETELY suburban, and against the whole philosophy of this blog, but the holidays bring out my domesticity, so here goes:  I love to wrap baked goods in dish towels and give them to my neighbors or co-workers.  I think baked goods are the ultimate gift for those people you want to acknowledge, but don't know well enough to shop for, and I love wrapping that serves an actual purpose.  (Plus that old-fashioned feeling of a flour sack towel tied with ribbon.)  This chirping rooster is just the vintage feel I am going for.  $4 at Amazon.  (ps- Trader Joe's sells great boxed bread mixes, I like to sugar the pan to give the breads a nice sugary crunch.)

Cashmere scarf- an absolute classic that never fails to please.  I love the hounds-tooth both because its trendy without being trendy, and because I love all things hounds-tooth.  $14.99 for two days only at Zulily.com, while supplies last

Happy giving!  And yes, I know, second holiday post in a row.  Full disclosure: there will be more.  I LOVE the holidays!

Haul out the holly...

My husband just spent the better part of the evening schlepping all our Christmas decoration up the from the garage, and I was greeted with 32 years of holiday.  Hooray!

Although I never part with anything Christmas related, I have created some very specific rules around what goes on display- simply put, it has to be red or gold.  No silver bells and no green- unless its pine scented.  The only exceptions being our actual tree decorations- our tree is like a scrap book and I'd take the memories over the department store perfect tree anytime.

I was looking through the decorations and mulling over the dress your space philosophy.  I've mentioned it before, but I love the idea that thoughtful decor would reflect the same taste as a great outfit.  Well, consider this dressing your space in reverse... and check out these great holiday duds inspired by my fav decorations, and with an eye towards your budget, nothing over $100.

ps... can we have a moments pause for that red handbag from DSW?  $35- really?!  I'll race you to it.

Haul Out The Holly by substyle featuring a disco dress

Oasis crepe dress
$75 - oasis-stores.com

Moon Collection disco dress
$53 - modcloth.com

BKE top
$28 - buckle.com

Cropped jacket
£24 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Jersey pants
£19 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Nine West slip on shoes
$80 - zappos.com

La Regale metallic clutch
$30 - macys.com

Red handbag
$35 - dsw.com

Fur Real

... or more accurately faux fur real.  I am so in love with the fur trend that comes out in fall- it makes me feel like Doris Day sipping cocoa next to a fireplace.

But, from a practical standpoint fur creates some challenges.  The first is ahem financial- not only can I not justify coat that costs as much as my mortgage, but I always run the risk of anything from a sucker to spit-up getting ground into what I'm wearing.  Then, there is the issue of proportion- a curvy girl in a fur piece can tend to look a little... Sasquatch-y.  Lastly, I hate looking like I rushed out and bought a trend, and while fur (real or faux) is timeless- many of the styles I'm drawn to smack of this weeks fashion mags.

So I've gathered a collection of my fav, mostly faux, fur pieces.  Reasonably priced (under $200), body skimming (to avoid "bulk") and each with a touch of retro.  Eat your heart out daycare moms!

Fur Real by substyle featuring a faux fur trim coat

Fur dress
$75 - modcloth.com

ONLY fur cardigan
£48 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Faux fur trim coat
$170 - topshop.com

Fake fur vest
$105 - warehouse.co.uk

Helene berman
$46 - theoutnet.com

Zara fur heel boots
$159 - zara.com

Star by Julien Macdonald teal bag
£39 - debenhams.com

Abercrombie Fitch knitted shawl
$98 - abercrombie.com

Lipsy Snowflake Fur Earmuffs - Lipsy
£10 - lipsy.co.uk