Spring Forward & Jet Set!

Shirt: J.Crew | Pants: J.Crew Factory | Dog Tote: Land's End

Sunglasses: ZeroUV | Sandals: Jack Rogers

When I saw this adorable J.Crew popover with French motifs I fell in love! I kept it on my wish list and was delighted to see it go on sale this week. It was originally $88 but is now on sale AND qualifies for the store-wide 25% off all women's clothing  accessories promotion. So, I ended up getting it for $52.49 in the end - not bad! 

Many of the other items in this post are on sale now too. The pet tote is a particularly good steal right now, marked down to just $19.99 . I originally saw it on The College Prepster but wasn't sure it would work for me since my King Charles Spaniel is a little bit bigger than Carly's dog. Luckily, it just fit her. This is definitely one of my favorite vacation-ready outfits - it's comfortable and chic. Bon voyage!

The shirt also reminds me of my favorite Etsy print in my home:

You can purchase this print from PeiDesign HERE.

Au revoir, mon ami!

50% OFF The Balm Cosmetics on HauteLook Today!

As you may already know, since my visit to Birchbox Local last year, I have become a huge fan of The Balm Cosmetics. I love how many of their products are multi-purpose and that you can find them anywhere from Duane Reade Pharmacy to Nordstrom! I am especially wild about the "Mary-Lou Manizer" and "Hot Mama" Highlighter/Shadows. They provide gorgeous neutral shades with just the right hint of shine to brighten up eyes and cheeks. Here's one of my favorite looks using Mary-Lou Manizer as a gold eyeshadow while out on the town in London:

Nordstrom's flash sale site, HauteLook, is offering a huge selection of The Balm Cosmetics for 1/2 off today! The only other time you can find them for prices this low is when TheBalm.com offers their special charity sales a few times each year. Even then, their site can often get overloaded. So, this is an AMAZING opportunity. You can shop the sale on HauteLook HERE.

Diptyque Sample Sale in NYC This Week!

I am super excited to announce the upcoming sample sale for the luxe French candle, perfume, and soap maker Diptyque! This is sure to be an extremely popular sale. So, if you are looking for a particular scent, I suggest you get there right at the opening of the sale. However, if you're just looking to pick up various gifts, I imagine you'll still be able to get some great items on the later days.

Here are all the details:

Diptyque Paris Sample Sale

February 26th-28th, 2014

225 Fifth Avenue 

(btwn. 26th/27th Streets)

Wednesday | 10am-6pm

Thursday | 11am-8pm

Friday | 9am-3pm

Credit cards only. All sales final.

Julep Maven "Boho Glam" Intro Box ~ February 2014

At the suggestion of a fellow beauty enthusiast at Birchbox's event with Gala Gonzalez earlier this month, I decided to check out the Julep Maven subscription box. I'd never used any Julep polishes before, so I really didn't know what to expect. However, Julep Maven boxes are really risk-free. They will send you your first box for FREE - you just pay $4.34 for shipping + tax. After that, you can cancel your subscription at any time or pay $20/month to continue to receive your boxes. So, there's really not much to lose by giving it a try.

I took the beauty profile test and was actually quite surprised to be selected for the Boho Glam box. I would normally describe my style as a what they Call Classic With A Twist combined with Bombshell and It Girl. Which Maven Style Profile do you think best describes you?

My Maven Style Profile says it is supposed to come with 2 limited edition nail colors and 1 full-size beauty product in each box. Some of the other profiles just include 3 nail colors or 2 full-size beauty products. You always have the option to change your Style Profile for future boxes and to preview the products that will be in the different Style Profiles for that month. I don't think you have the same flexibility for the Intro Box though.

The two polishes I got were Michelle, a midnight blue / dark navy, and Aisha, a deep raspberry color. They are both fairly similar to two Butter London polishes I own, Royal Navy and Queen Vic. So, they were definitely my taste! I think they are both great colors for fall/winter. I recently got a manicure so I haven't had the chance to use the Julep polishes yet. But, from what I've seen they look like very high quality. They retail for $14 each so the value of the 2 polishes is already greater than the box's normal cost of $20.

The beauty product included in my box was pretty great too! It's a nail & cuticle serum pen with a soft brush tip - a $28 value. I can't wait to start using that. It sounds like it will soften the skin and help make my at-home manicures a little more luxurious. They also included two Julep branded buffer / pumice blocks as an added bonus! To top it all off, I got a special voucher for 50% off my next purchase at julep.com. 

I have to admit, I did not choose to continue my subscription. It's not that I didn't totally LOVE the box, but more because I don't usually spend $20/month on nail polish. I would definitely buy something from Julep again and plan to use the 50% off code that was included. With Julep, you can actually purchase the previous months' Maven Boxes individually. So, that might be the best option if you're very particular about your nail colors. Interested in checking it out for yourself? Shop Julep here! 

Addendum: 2/28/14 Unlike Birchbox, Glossybox, Sample Society, PopSugar Must Have Box, and most other subscription boxes you cannot unsubscribe from Julep Maven through your online account. Instead, you have to call their customer service number. When unsubscribing, make sure that you receive the confirmation e-mail during or right after your call. If you have not, call back right away. Otherwise you will continue to receive and be billed for future boxes.

The Best Presidents' Day Weekend Sale

Amrita Singh: Statement Necklace Sale. Select styles $40 or $100. Also - 40% off everything with code "PRESIDENTS2014". HERE

ASOS: Extra 15% off final clearance items with code "LONGHAUL". HERE

Banana Republic: Extra 40% off all sale items. Use code "BRWEEKEND". HERE

Charm & Chain: Up to 60% off select styles. Prices as marked. HERE

C.Wonder: Extra 50% off sale items. Automatically applied in cart. HERE

GILT City: $10 off $50 with code "MYCITY10", $20 off $80 with code "MYCITY20", and $25 off $100 with code "MYCITY25". HERE

Gorjana & Griffin: 25% off everything with code "WHITEHOUSE". HERE

Gretchen Scott Designs: 80% off select styles. Prices as marked. HERE

J.Crew: Extra 50% off all Final Sale items. Use code "EXTRA50". HERE

J.Crew Factory: 40-60% off everything. Prices as marked. Free shipping with code "HAPPYDAY". HERE

Jonathan Adler: $50 off $250, $100 off $500, $200 off $1000, $500 off $2500. Use code "PREZDAY". HERE

LivingSocial: 20% off everything with code "2014PRESDAY". HERE

Macys: Extra 20% off + Free Shipping $99+. Use code "press". HERE

Neiman Marcus Last Call: Extra 35% off everything. HERE

Old Navy: 30% off everything with code "DEAL". HERE

Sole Society: 25% off select styles. Prices as marked. HERE

Tory Burch: Extra 25% off all sale items. Use code "SALE25". HERE

Trina Turk: $50 off your purchase of $150 or more with code "HEART50". HERE

Victoria's Secret: 20% off a single item with code "ITEM20". HERE

Check this space - I'll continue to post more sales throughout the weekend!

Alice + Olivia F/W 2014 at New York Fashion Week

On Monday night I had the pleasure of attending the Alice + Olivia F/W 2014 Presentation for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The presentation was held at the McKittrick Hotel, which was the perfect venue for the twists and turns of the show's enchanting theme. Models dressed as fairy-tale characters like Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty while showing off the latest collection in an atmosphere that can only be described as a dreamy wonderland. I loved all of the embellishments in this collection, especially the embroidered and jeweled pieces. Overall, the look was very bohemian chic. The apparel collection was accompanied by some fabulous hosiery from the latest Alice + Olivia for Pretty Polly collection - a true essential in plunging temperatures!

Disclaimer:  I am currently employed by UK Trade & Investment. However, all written content and opinions expressed on this blog (including and especially those regarding British brands) are my own. This is a personal blog that is in no way affiliated with my place of employment.

Gorgeous, Free Valentine's Day E-Cards from Iomoi

Want to send your loved ones an adorable e-card like the one above? It's easy peasy and FREE! Head on over to the website of one of my absolute fave home accessories & stationery companies, iomoi, and design your own!

Just click HERE.

Happy Hearts Day, my loves!