Destination Warm

It's cold...very cold.  Temperatures are in the single digits with wind chills dipping into negative numbers.  Earlier this week I needed to brave the weather and stop into my local Target.  I sprinted from the car into the store in fear that my eyeballs were going to freeze open.  Phew...I made it.  Do you know what greeted me right inside the front door?  Racks of colorful bikinis and fashionable one-piece swimwear.

Bitter sweet emotions flooded me at that moment...I was excited that bathing suit season was only a few months away, but I was also jealous of anyone planning and prepping for a tropical island getaway.

Let's think warm and sunny thoughts as we discuss the perfect vacation must-haves.

1. Sunglasses - Everyone needs a fashionable, reliable and protective pair of shades.  I was given a pair of Ray-Ban tortoise sunglasses a few years ago and I have to say that I love them.  They are not cheap...so if you are someone who always looses or breaks your glasses stick to one of these: (Click the item for more information.)

2. Sun Hat - We all know the sun is not good for our skin.  Every vacationer needs a brimmed sun hat to protect their face from harmful UV rays.  With so many options out there, you can definitely find one to pair with your favorite swimwear.  Here are a few of my picks:

3. Beach Cover-Up - I'm not one to saunter up to a beach resort bar or restaurant in just my bathing suit...a shout out to those of you that can.  I'm not saying I throw on pants and a sweater, but a cute cover-up is always one of the top items on my packing list.  Something light and comfortable is all you need.

4. Sun Dress - After basking in the sun all day, it's time for a fun and beautiful dress to wear in the evening.  After a day at the beach, I like to show off my fresh tan, or sunburn, when we grab some drinks or go to dinner.  I'm in love with this middle pick, but may need to pair it with jean shorts.

I can go on and on about items to pack...ask my husband, but since you're probably loosing interest or tired of reading, we will end here with four main items that should be at the top of your sun-seeking getaway packing list.  

What did I miss?  Let me know in the comments below.

Keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming post on spring and summer footwear.

Christmas Cards

2017

Tis' the season for writing and sending out stacks upon stacks of holiday greetings to family and friends around the world.  Choosing a card, determining who is making the list this year,  printing out labels, stuffing and licking envelopes and placing the stamps on straight can be pretty stressful and time consuming for some people, but for me...I Love It!  I throw on my favorite Christmas album, "These Are Special Times" by Celine Dion, grab a glass of wine and make an evening out of it.

Back in 2008, my husband had this creative idea to build a snowman out of sand and take the picture at the proper angle so it looked life-size.  "Warmest Wishes This Holiday Season"  Done...we had our Christmas card completed in August.

As the years went by and people started anticipating our card, the pressure mounted.  Thinking of creative ideas each year is not the easiest, but it sure is fun...and the finished products are true masterpieces.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit each card over the years:

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 

2015

2016

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Get Paid to Shop Online

If you ever shop online, you need to sign up for Ebates.  

It's free and you get cash back when you make purchases.  Ebates is a website that you go to, search for the store where you're going to shop online, check out the % cash back, click the link and you're taken to your store's website.  Complete your shopping and Ebates will give you a % back by check or PayPal each quarter.  It's as simple as that.

Let's look at an example.  Maybe you want to purchase this Double-Bow Ponte Fit-and-Flare Dress from Banana Republic.

 

Banana Republic is offering 50% off a purchase today.  You still get that deal, but instead of going directly to the Banana Republic website, go to Ebates.  Sign in to your account.  (It's free to create one.)  When you search Banana Republic in the search box, you'll see Ebates is offering 8% cash back today.  Click "Shop Now" and you'll be taken to the Banana Republic website.

Complete your shopping like you normally would and you'll get 8% cash back on your purchase.  (If your Ebates cash back balance is under $5, that money will roll over to the next pay quarter.)

Head over to Ebates and sign up for your free account.  You'll get $10 for signing up once you make your first purchase.  The saving are constantly changing and they work with over 2000 stores.  Here are some of today's cash back offers:  (Remember these are savings on top of what the stores are offering.)

1-800 CONTACTS: 5% cash back
Kohl's: 6% cash back
Banana Republic: 8% cash back
Gap: 8% cash back
Gap Factory: 8% cash back
Old Navy: 8% cash back
ProFlowers: 26% cash back
Under Armour: 6% cash back
StubHub: 7% cash back
Neiman Marcus Last Call: 10% cash back
Groupon: 6% cash back
Splendid: 6.5% cash back
Alice + Olivia: 6% cash back

Every little bit back helps.  Happy shopping!

Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas

1.  Fringe Studio Well Noted Spiral Journal
2.  Garden in a Can
3.  State Slate Cheese Boards
4.  Joy Love Peace Tea Towel
5.  Good Morning Tea Gift Set 
6.  Bicycle Rocks Glasses
7.  Personalized Wine and Dine Appetizer Trays
8.  Magenta Measuring Spoons 
9.  Pineapple Swizzle Sticks
10. Philosophy Body Souffle 
11. Plaid Blanket Scarf

No one wants to show up to a party empty-handed.  Grab one of the items above to surprise your host with a unique and creative gift.

Shopping Sunday Sales

Need to finish some holiday shopping today?  Why leave the house when you can stay warm and shop from the comfort of your couch.  While tomorrow is "Green Monday", these sales are all happening today.

These first two items are perfect for a Sunday morning.  Prepare your morning beverage with the Keurig 55 coffee maker (under $70 today) and then sip it in style wearing this Mindy Mae's Market track tee.  I know it's winter, but this tee is on sale, so grab it today.

 

Not quite sure what to get some people on your list this year?  Check out Amazon's 12 Days of Deals.  You may just get some gift ideas for that hard to buy for person.

Whether you are shopping for yourself or someone else, these retailers are all running great sales right now...

White House Black Market - 40% your entire purchase (code 85521) and free shipping
Banana Republic - 40% off your purchase and extra 10% off (code style)
Gap - 45% off your purchase (code merry) and extra 10% off (code style)
Loft - 40% off your purchase (code newnow)
Eddie Bauer - 50% off everything (code GIFT)
DSW - $10 off $49, $20 off $99, $60 off $199 (code GOGREEN) and free shipping
Express - everything 40% off
Macy's - extra 30% off (code FRIEND)
Anthropologie - 30% off all clothing and winter accessories


On Green Monday, you will save $20 for every $100 you spend at Target.

Shop This Look

I'm not one to boast about my outfits or what I have in my closet, but while following various fashion bloggers, I noticed they all post pictures of themselves and allow readers to "shop their look."  I figured it was time for me to take that next step in the blogging world.

Polaroid photo credit: my brother or my dad

For starters, you're welcome! 

This is a throwback to the 80s when I was looking cool in my oversized bear sweatshirt, tucked in purple polo, straight leg black jeans and plaid Tretorn shoes.  I had the layering and pushed up sleeves thing down from a young age.

Five days a week, 180 days a year, I wore a uniform to school (which I loved) so as you can see, I took picking out my outfits and photographing them very seriously.  I'm not sure where we were going this day, but I was definitely exuding confidence.  

Shop my look below:

I'll be purchasing a new pair of Tretorn kicks this year...I absolutely love them!  

Grab Your Purple Pants

It's official...Pantone announced Ultra Violet as the color for 2018.  

I wish I had a picture of my pink and purple Huffy 10-speed from back in the 80s.  I used to cruise through my neighborhood for hours, with the wind in my wild hair, looking stylish with my ride.  I was ahead of the times pedaling the streets with my purple bike.

With that said...I don't know about you, but other than a cardigan sweater and some plaid pjs, I don't have much from the purple family in my wardrobe or home design.  Maybe it's time I break out of my shell and incorporate a bit of this deep hue into my lifestyle.

I thought I would dedicate this post to all things purple and share a few of my "Color of the Year" finds.  Click on each item to learn more about it.

First, let's look at a few fashion pieces.  If you're a little hesitant to jump on the purple bus, start with adding just a pop of color to your outfit.  A little goes a long way.

The same goes for home decor.  There's no need to rush out and buy new furniture or start repainting rooms to match Pantone 18-3838TCX.  Grab a few statement pieces to style and you'll be all set.

I'm excited to see what designers come out with over the next few months incorporating this color palette.  Until then, dust off your Prince cassettes and listen to a little Purple Rain in memory of the man who loved the color so much he wrote a song about it.

"In a world where you can be anything, be kind." - Unknown