For Your Face! Gina from Chronicles of a Canadian Twentysomething

Guest Post: Gina from Chronicles of a Canadian Twentysomething

It has been a pretty wet winter up here in Montreal. That’s typical of the winters on the coast I’m used to, but it’s pretty darn weird for Montreal. I’ve been changing up my rainboots and winter boots about as often as I change my undies and it’s definitely not easy on the make-up routine.

I kept it pretty simple this winter, just making sure to wash my face and add moisturizer (with a drop of foundation stirred in) every day, plus mascara and lip balm. I never wanted to do anything more intensive than that just in case a big truck came along and soaked me with gutter slush. Which did happen. The cold temps also meant lipstick was out of the question, since it dries up too fast and gets flakey. Ew. I will say that lip gloss was my saviour for days/ nights when I had to glam it up.

I also somehow developed wrinkles under my eyes while writing my Master’s thesis in the fall, and so I’ve been using various night-time concoctions to try to deal with that...

Products I used through the winter:

Please ignore the messy desk....

Daytime:
Facial cleanser: Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser (in shower, applied with face brush). Also as first step
in make-up removal.
Toner: Neostrata Toning Solution (applied with cotton pad)
Facial moisturizer: Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer, SPF 15
Foundation: CG trublend (usually I just swirled a drop or two into my moisturizer, unless thesituation is dire.)
Concealer: CG "invisible" (for around the nose, on the chin, and under the eyes). Doesn’t blend
as well as I’d like, and tends to dry too fast and get flaky.
Mascara: Rimmel MAX VolumeLash (pretty awesome, but I'll likely get something different next
time for kicks. I think it may also have expired :P)
Lips: Carmex (Strawberry) Lip Balm plus 1 of 4 different lip gloss/lipsticks (Left to right in photo:
Rimmel "Stay Glossy", JacobCare gloss (unknown name), CG Lip Perfection in Kiss, Maybelline
Moisture Extreme in Roseberry). The Rimmel gloss is the same colour as my lips, which is pretty
amazing considering it came in a bag of free swag at a fashion event.

 

Nightly:
Heavy-Duty Make-up Remover: Pond's Cold Cream. Yeah. I kinda smell like a grandma, but my face is crazy soft, so I win.
Eye cream: L'Oreal Paris Eye Defense sometimes with a tiny bit of ProX Eye Restoration Complex mixed in (it makes my eyes itch like mad...probably the silicone)

I also apply Lush Dream Cream all.the.time. to take care of my eczema. It’s amazing. Cleared it up in 2 days! :)

This is a pretty basic routine (really, it only takes a few minutes!), so I’m pretty pumped for spring so I can be a little more playful with colours. I know it’s still going to be wet and rainy, but at least with warmer temps I can put on lipstick and other products without risking flakiness. Here are products I’m looking forward to getting, OR have just bought for spring and am loving.

Sephora Colour Flip – Have you seen this?! It’s ADORABLE. I played with it in the store and wanted it immediately. We’ll see if I can justify it to myself. There are actually much bigger versions for not a lot more dollas. What to do...

Sephora by Opi Glee nail colour in “Slushied” – amazing. Cornflower blue toenails? Oh yes.

New foundation – this one is up in the air. I really like my foundation, but it doesn’t have any SPF. I don’t need a great deal of coverage but I also don’t want it to be pointless. I just want to even things out a bit. Also, a pump top is necessary. If you have suggestions, please share!

Face brush - I have a cheap one made by Sephora, because I’d heard such good things about the Botanics Face Brush (which I can’t find here in Montreal). It actually is working. My face is soooo soft. I use it with my cleanser in the shower. Loooove it.

Can you tell I’m smitten with Sephora? I discovered we have a Sephora store here in Montreal and I can’t stay away!

What are you guys excited about for spring?

Shopping Tips from I Try Stuff On

Guest post by blogger at I Try Stuff On (So You Don't Have To)...Enjoy!

I strive to be as well-dressed as possible but aim to spend as little as possible.  Isn't this a familiar tune?  I recently had a week off from work before starting at a new law firm and decided to make it a week dedicated to shopping.  Yes, I spent a lot of money.  But I also used a few frugal-friendly shopping techniques that I hope can help others, even if you don't have reason to shop at a NYC department store.

I should note that my starting price-point is much higher than the price-point of the average Jane, and because my grandmother passed along a love of finely crafted Italian shoes, it might seem as if I spend a lot (but in reality I sort of don't...).  I usually do two major shopping trips a year, and supplement it with small monthly purchases which I attempt to keep under $200/month (impulse purchases, trendy items, etc.).

I know when to splurge for quality (hello, Manolo Blahnik mary janes going on year 3) and when to skimp on price (hello, burnout tees on the clearance rack at Urban Outfitters that barely last one summer).  I hope that my shopping techniques can help other fashion-conscious women achieve a frugal yet extremely fashionable existence.

On that note, I have pulled five frugal-friendly shopping tips that I have either recently discussed on my blog,  I TRY STUFF ON (SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO), or have planned to discuss in the next few weeks.

Shopping Tip #1 - eBay, eBay, eBay!

I recently was interviewed for a Women's Wear Daily article on shopping habits of professional women in NYC (no link provided due to anonymity, as they used my real name and also used my photo in the article).  Every woman mentioned eBay as a source of affordable yet stylish clothing.  This was not some survey fluke -- eBay is an excellent source to find brand-new or nearly-brand-new clothing at a steep discount.  Some women mentioned that they even used eBay to find affordable vintage items.  If you have your heart set on a particular item, you may not be able to find it.  But if you are just generally looking for silk tops to wear to work, you can easily find some affordable and classy contenders, especially if you don't care about the brand and are willing to consider items that may have been worn by someone else a few times.

One recent clothing acquisition during my week of shopping came from eBay.  It is a Cynthia Steffe silk shirt and was purchased on eBay for $19.99 (shipping was extra).  It was apparently only worn once by the seller (a claim I believe because the shirt is in flawless condition).  This v-neck button down shirt has a slightly lacy color, some minor front ruffles and cap sleeves.  Can't you just see this top softening up a stern black suit while still looking entirely professional?

Shopping Tip #2 - Always check your local discount stores, whether it be a T.J.Maxx, a Marshalls, or something like a Century 21 that may carry more expensive brands!

Certain designers rotate in and out of these stores and if you go in at the right time, you can score some major deals.  My first designer purchase at Century 21 was an Armani skirt for $109, and it was originally priced at over $500.  My biggest discount was a Jean Paul Gaultier silk button-down blouse for $79, and the original price tag of $699 was still attached!  Sometimes the designers are boring, but if you visit at the "right" time, you will be able to purchase some terrific brands.   However, you have never know when that "right time" is, so be patient and diligent.  And, of course, be prepared to spend time digging though potentially-unorganized racks of clothing.

I purchased another silk shirt at Century 21 (the organized and awesome Queens location, not the tourist-infected location in lower Manhattan).  This Marc by Marc Jacobs polka-dot silk top has sleeves with little ruffles, a crew-neck style neckline, a button-down front, and a cute front sash.  I am wearing it tucked into a standard pencil skirt (which I did not purchase).  Again, this is a very comfortable top but will look great with a very standard "lawyer" suit.  If I am going out after work I can ditch the suit jacket and wear the top and the suit skirt alone and not look so formal.  I paid $99 for this $198 top -- still quite an investment for a shirt, but I will always pay more for quality and a superior fabric.

Shopping Tip #3 - The cheapest option may be to buy directly from the designer.

When a designer wants to clear out a past season's merchandise, the sale prices may be dramatically low.  I was just in Reiss in Soho, for example, and formal dresses were discounted up to 70% off.  I've purchased Betsey Johnson dresses for as low as $30 directly from the store.  Now, what does this mean for you?

If you are looking to buy something by a designer, don't have hours on end to spend looking for a deal, and don't necessarily care whether it is from a past season, try going directly to the designer's store or the website instead of hunting through discount stores, fighting the mobs at sample sales and scouring the deals on eBay.

I performed this simple task just last week.  I decided that I truly needed a new DVF wrap dress but the eBay offerings were high-priced and I am always wary of authenticity to boot.  The department store sales were somewhat pathetic.  I therefore visited the DVF online store one morning and went right to the sale section.


What did I find?  Check out the beautiful colors of my new DVF dress below!

I am now the happy owner of the Justin wrap dress in "Ophelia."  The original price was a steep $325.   Some websites were listing it on sale for about $200.  DVF's own website listed it for sale for... $168.  Quite a nice little savings, right?  Not only did I save the most money by buying directly from the designer, but I am guaranteed an authentic dress and I know the dress is brand-new (the original price tag was even still attached).  My dress came perfectly packaged, nary a wrinkle in sight.

Here is a fuzzy photo of the dress on a model.  I don't have a photo of me trying the dress on because I didn't buy it in a store.  I was perfectly fine ordering a DVF wrap dress online because I know my size and trying it on  prior to purchase wasn't necessary.

Shopping Tip #4 - Don't be afraid to shop at a traditionally expensive store, like Bergdorf Goodman.

I concur that the prices at department stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney's (NYC staples) are often sky-high.  However, just as if you had visited a designer's store during a seasonal cleanout, these upscale department stores will often have seasonal cleanouts as well -- and discounts are often steep and can sometimes be found online. 

Bergdorf Goodman will have these major cleanouts just a few times a year, but they are worth waiting for because the prices drop so insanely low!  I once bought two suit jackets and a skirt (all Tahari and Theory) for less than $250 collectively.  For a frame of reference, the retail cost was closer to $600.  My most prized find was a pair of Christian Louboutin heels for less than $300 -- they were just sitting there, brand-new and lovely, on a clearance rack of designer shoes.  These heels became my wedding shoes!

I recently purchased an adorable summery Milly dress from Bergdorf Goodman for $229, marked down from $385!  Discounts like this are standard at Bergdorf Goodman, as long as you are there when the right clearance racks are out.  This is the perfect dress to wear this summer to work, with a cardigan, and then out in the heat afterwards.  I just loved the cut, the fabric and the terrific little belt!

Shopping Tip #5 - Just like eBay, a resale/consignment store might yield some amazing items.

A stroll around Greenwich Village in NYC is never complete for me without a stop at the Buffalo Exchange on 11th Street (which is conveniently flanked by two other resale/consignment stores, so you really have a lot of shopping options in one small area).  The Buffalo Exchange has locations all over the country, so visit the website and see if a store is near you.  The goods are gently used but generally in excellent condition.  Sellers bring items directly into the store and the savings are passed on to you!  I tried on an adorable pair of J.Crew wedges and a cute Banana Republic dress this past visit, but decided to purchase a brand-new-looking Juicy hoodie... for $19.  I was able to try it on in a private dressing room (unlike eBay) and inspect the item myself to assure it was definitely worn once or twice at most!

You don't need to live near a Buffalo Exchange to get a great deal.  Many cities have resale/consignment stores and they are probably worth a look.  Just a few blocks from my apartment is a consignment store that sells everything from Pucci purses to cheap and flashy costume jewelry.  Even your local Goodwill or similar type of thrift shop may be a great source.  I used to visit a Goodwill-type of store in Boston and bought plenty of crisp button-down shirts for work and cute outfits for going out for only a few dollars each.

Thank you for reading!

I TRY STUFF ON (SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO) is a blog written by a woman who prefers to remain anonymous (a lawyer, wife, stepmom and all-around fashionista). 

Rebekah - From the Mixed-Up Files: Lace!

Hi!  I’m Rebekah of From the Mixed-Up Files.  I'm so excited to be doing a guest post while our girl Meggy is out of town.  It's also my first guest post ever--woohoo!

 

If you follow outfit of the day (OOTD)-type blogs, you may recognize the skirt above, which is from Target.  It should probably be deemed the 2010 official skirt of fashion bloggers.  I eyed it in the store for a long time and finally pulled the trigger when it was on clearance this past fall.  Because I was pregnant at the time, I haven’t gotten a chance to wear it until now.

There are a few things that will always catch my eye whenever I'm shopping, regardless of season or trend:  anything yellow, ruffles, and LACE!  I’ve been sneaking lace into my wardrobe for years--for going out to bars in college...

...And most importantly (for me anyway), for my wedding dress.  

 Needless to say, I was pretty delighted when lace items started popping up this fall.  Now that spring’s around the corner (sooner rather than later hopefully!), lace is everywhere, and I couldn’t be happier about it. 

Here are some items I’m loving from Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Victoria’s Secret, and Delia’s (I’m probably too old to shop at Delia’s, but they have a lot of cute lace options):

Thanks for having me!

Nora - Spring Fever For Your Feet

Happy Spring to all you lovely Chasing Davies readers!  I'm Nora, and I am thrilled to be a guest blogger for Meggy while she is out-of-town.  I decided to do a feature all about getting your tootsies ready for Spring!

Two of my favorite ways to transition out of Winter (<-- by the way, I hate, hate, hate Winter!) and into Spring = bright polish on my toes + fabulous flat sandals.  So why not pair the two together for my must-haves this season!?  

All of the polishes are by OPI and are available at your local Ulta or online via Amazon.

OPI in Big Hair, Big Nails (Texas Collection) and Steve Madden Serrious T-Strap Sandal in Leopard

OPI in Cajun Shrimp and Silver Jewelled Flat Strappy Sandal by House of Harlow 1960

OPI in That’s Hot! Pink and Dolce Vita Idalia Sandal

OPI in Hot & Spicy and Sam Edelman Ginger

OPI in Tropical Punch and Tory Burch Susannah Crocheted Raffia and Leather Sandals 

 OPI in You Rock-apulco and Aldo Tellado Sandals

Happy Spring shopping!  Your feet will love you for it!  :)

Rosa Loves...Favorite Items for Spring!

HI all! I have some awesome guest bloggers for you the next few days while I'm on vacay in Cali!  It's my version of Spring Break!  I hope you all enjoy.  First for you, sweet Rosa from Rosa Loves... is here today!

Spring is almost here, but it seems like I have been preparing for it for months. In the last month or so I have been trying to narrow down a list of items that I really would love to have for this season. 

Here’s a list of the first few items I must have for Spring (and the ones I already got):

1. A feminine blouse would be perfect with a pair of wide leg trousers and under a cute jacket. I recently picked up the Zara blouse and I have worn it underneath my favorite black boyfriend blazer and I love it. 

 Zara Blouse with Neckline Bow;  Topshop Tiered Peterpan Blouse; Gap Chambray Tie Neck Blouse

2. A red jacket or coat to add a touch of color to all the neutral clothing I have in my closet. I have the H&M blazer and I have worn it with a pink nude blouse with a pair of skinny jeans and I cannot wait to wear it with some of my Spring dresses. Wouldn’t it be cute with a white or pink dress?

H&M Red Blazer; Old Navy Canvas Peacoat 

3. And a colorful flat. Neutrals are a big trend this season but so are bright colors. Thus a bright color flat would be ideal to combine these two fabulous trends. I have several colorful flats in my closet already, but I am craving a flat in a yellow or orange or electric blue. I still haven’t decided which one to get though!

 SM Women’s Pennee Flat; Tory Burch Clines Ballet Flats; Seychelles Out of Office Flat

What are the items you are considering adding to your closet this season? Any particular colors you are in love with?

I also want to thank Meggy for giving me the opportunity to write this guest post. I read Chasing Davies on a daily basis and I was so excited to share some of my favorite Spring trends with her readers. 

Looking for Guest Bloggers

Thank you to all that emailed me!  I have all the guest bloggers I need now! :)

Hey all! I'm looking for as few GUEST BLOGGERS!  I'm going to be out of town at the end of March and I'd love to fill some of that space with posts from you all!  Anyone who wants to guest blog is welcome!

Interested? Read on...

Here's what I'll need:
- A blog post around getting ready for spring - can be about new fashion you're buying/wanting, hair updates/dos for spring, spring make-up, favorite spring trends, etc.
- Your blog post with all relevant links and photos emailed to me by 3/18

Still interested?

Email me at ChasingDavies(at)gmail(dot)com and let me know!

Thank you!

{Blog Crawl} What's In My Bag?

Today is my day to participate in Ashley's Blog Crawl and share with you what is in my bag!

So are you ready for a peek?

Here it is all spilled out.  I try to stay organized with little wristlets and pouches inside to easily find smaller things.  Otherwise a big hobo like this seems to hide everything and I have to dump it out to find my keys (or something).  

I got this rose sequin purse via HauteLook for free (I used $30 worth of credits), but you can get it here now.

My orange-cased phone is an Evo from Sprint - and I love it.  I use it all the time!

The polka dot case holds the camera I'm using the snap this pic, and got via One King Lane.

My big black zipper wallet holds all my goods...credit cards, coupons, hardly any cash since I never carry it (much to the hubs demise) and loyalty cards.

Here some more details:

My gym wristlet.  I usually just take this into the gym with me, so I can store it easier on the treadmill.  It holds my green-cased iTouch, earphones and my gym passcard.

My leopard double pouch {from Gap} holds make-up, extra contacts, and hygiene products.  Two of my favorite products {laying out for you to see} are: L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen mascara and Bath and Body Works Mentha Lip Shine.

So there you have it...what all is in my sequin bag that could fit a baby. And make sure to check out Lakewood Manor to see what is in Terri's cute black purse, and visit Bright Lights, Big Cities tomorrow to see what's her bag! BIG thanks to Ashley from A Hasty Life for hosting this blog crawl!

What is in your bag?

Maggie's New Year's Resolutions (Guest Post)

Hi all!  Today you are lucky to have Maggie here to guest write about her take on New Year's Resolutions and such.  You can find some of my same thoughts over at her blog today, as we're doing a little swap.  


Hi everyone! I’m Maggie from Things I Love. Meggy and I are blog swapping today,
so I’m here to chat with you about New Year’s resolutions. I’m so excited and
honored to be here, and glad she’s on my blog today chatting with my followers.

First I want to wish you all a (belated) Merry Christmas (or Happy Holdays)! I hope
you all had a fabulous 2010, and that 2011 will bring even better things for you and
yours. 2010 was a complete whirlwind for me –my man came home after a year long
deployment to Iraq, we got engaged, I graduated from college, got a big girl job, got
married and honeymooned in Hawaii. Kind of a lot, hey?

While 2010 was amazing (and crazy!) I’m really looking forward to 2011. I’m
looking forward to a few more home remodeling projects with my hubs, continuing
to further my career, running my first half marathon and some surprises – who
knows what’s going to happen!

So about those resolutions … to be honest, I have mixed feelings about them. Don’t
get me wrong - I am a big believer in goal setting, but I get a tad bit irritated with
the frenzy that happens this time of year. The gym is always super crowded, new fad
diets pop up (and generally they are terrible ideas!) and people are so gung ho about
making changes that they typically burn themselves out after a few weeks.

However, it’s also a great time to start fresh. You start out with a clean slate – it’s
a whole new year! My advice is to set small, achievable goals. Saying “I’m going to
go to the gym every day this year” is setting yourself up to fail. Instead say “I will
work out for at least 20 minutes 3-5 days each week”. And don’t beat yourself up if
you miss a week or two. These are goals, long term changes - sticking with it is what
matters!

So, are you wondering what my resolutions are this year? I chose several of the
larger goals on my 101 in 1001 list as my “resolutions” for the year. Read on!

1. Stick to a monthly budget for at least 6 months. This is a goal my husband
and I discussed quite a while ago. Our wedding threw our finances totally out
of whack. And to further confuse us, I got a new job about 4 weeks before our
wedding and my student loans entered repayment in December. Our finances
were as much a whirlwind as our year was! So we’re using www.mint.com to
track our spending starting January 1st.

2. Run a half marathon. I’ve slowly built my running repertoire, starting with
my first 5K in May of 2009. At this point, I’ve done lots of 5K’s, a 5 miler and a
10K – I’m ready to add a ½ marathon to the list- I’ve already signed up! I’ll be
chronicling that journey here. Feel free to follow along!

3. Lower my BMI by two points. I’m so close to dropping it one point already – I
just need to hang in there. In addition to exercise (which I’ll be getting plenty
of once I start my marathon training), I also like Weight Watchers online
quite a bit. I don’t work for them or get paid to endorse them, but they’re
based on real science, they support slow, achievable weight loss and the
online version is completely affordable.

4. I have one other resolution but (shhhh!) it’s a secret. It’s on my 101 in 1001
list, but I listed it as “Private”. You’ll have to stay tuned to my blog if you want
to know what it is! Gotta keep a little mystery alive!

Are you setting resolutions this year? If so, I’d love to hear what they are and see
if you have any advice for me! If you have your own blog, leave the link in the
comments section and I’ll pop over and say hi. Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll
come visit me on Things I Love. And I’ll conclude with a big THANK YOU to Meggy
for hosting me today! =)

Come visit me over at Lavender & Lilies...

I'm guest blogging over and Lavender & Lilies today while Jessica is away. Check it out! And if you haven't heard of Lavender & Lilies, you should get acquainted. It's a great home, inspiration, shopping, and decorating blog full of on all things cute!

I'll be back later this evening with a Wear Now, Wear Later post. Hint, it'll be on a new J.Crew item I purchased this weekend! :)

Melissa's "It's My Bag, Baby" Feature

Check out Melissa Loves for a peek inside my bag, which was featured on this week's It's My Bag, Baby!
And stay around awhile, because she has a great blog going...