Splurge vs. Steal: Fluorescent Satchel

When I first laid my eyes on the Cambridge Satchel bag, I knew I wanted to add one to my handbag collection! They come in just about every color you can imagine, and the $155 price tag isn't bad for a true leather companion. But if you're on a spending halt after the holidays and want to treat yourself to a similar bag at a fraction of the price, this Old Navy dupe may be calling your name!

Cambridge Satchel Company Fluro Satchel $155 (Purchase Here)

 Old Navy Mini Messenger Bag $20 (Purchase Here)

*Use Coupon code: ONEXTRA15 for 15% off your purchase at Old Navy - Expires 1/2

I hope you are all enjoying time-off school and work! I'm definitely taking advantage of all the "me time" I've had over the last two weeks.

See you in the New Year!
xoxo, natasha

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Review: Recent Purchases

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I've been in-and-out of the malls a lot recently! I'm off work until the New Year, so Christmas shopping has kept me quite busy! The initial goal was to purchase gifts, however, the deals have been a little too sweet to pass by. Also, it doesn't help that bloggers are so great at reviewing new merchandise, it's hard to disregard, and not run into the stores to try it on for myself. Here are a few of my most recent purchases [I am quite excited about]:

Striped Dress: GAP (similar) Blouse: Banana Republic (similar), Polka Dot Sweater: Old Navy (buy; $15 in stores), Sleeveless Blouses: H&M (item #057592), Tweed Skirt: GAP (similar)

It's hard to choose a favorite, but the sleeveless kelly green and ivory blouses from H&M comes quite close. Locating new merchandise in small sizes at H&M is a challenge, so when I found out that the spring line was slowly debuting, I literally started to stalk my local store. I'm always a bit weary about the quality of their items, but I have to say H&M surprises me every now-and-then. Plus, the $17.95 price was music to my ears.

The blouses are made of 100% polyester and is reminiscent of something I've seen in Ann Taylor and Banana Republic's spring and summer collections. The kelly green color is gorgeous and I grabbed the ivory for practicality. If you're lucky enough to find one in your size, I recommend you take it home with you. The blouse looks amazing paired with jeans and heels for a night out, or tucked into a pencil skirt for work. I can't wait to wear it!

You can also read Jean's review here.

Are you guilty of shopping for yourself this Christmas season? Share your finds in the comment section below!

Just three more days left ladies! I have a little bit more shopping to do tomorrow! Wish me luck :).

I'm going to spend as much time relaxing and enjoying family during the Holidays... be back in the New Year with posts! I'll be tweeting as usual, so feel free to follow me in TwitterLand.

xoxo, natasha

Silver.

"Every cloud has a silver lining." ~Unknown

 

"Every silver lining has a cloud." ~Mary Kay Ash 

1. Leather Coated iPhone Back Case Cover
2. Mirrored Crystal Necklace
3. Madison Metallic Leather Abigail Shoulder Bag
4. Pussy Bow Blouse
5. Mona Glitter Pumps
6. Stella Stainless Steel Watch

Taking Inventory

When I don't take inventory of my closet frequently, this is what happens....

Angled Pleat Skirt in Royal Blue, All other skirts not available online

I end up purchasing 5 skirts within a two week time span. After taking a look at my closet, it turns out what I should be purchasing are sweaters and pants! The weather in Florida is bound to get cold soon [I hope. We've been having 80 degree weather since the beginning of Fall], and I barely have what I would need to get through a few cold months. Bye bye blue skirt...back to the store you go!

Here are a few steps you can take to prevent duplication in your wardrobe, and become more cognizant of  items you really need:

1. Taking a seasonal inventory. I shop often, so I like to take inventory more frequently. Take a look and make a mental note of what you need and don't need. 

2. Colorize your closet (from dark to lights). It wasn't until I organized my closet by color that I realized I have waaaay to much black. This is when I made a commitment to color. I love that I can take a quick glimpse into my closet and know that I should purchase more greens, less pinks, etc.

3. Take shoes out of their box and put them on display. I used to keep my shoes in boxes and store them in my closet, but found it really inconvenient and I always seemed to forget what shoes I owned. If you're a fan of footwear, show it! I display my shows on a shoe rack I purchased at the Container store. Luckily, it fits perfectly into my walk-in closet, but what I love best is being able to see all of my shoes in one place. Again, this helps me keep track of what types of shoes I should purchase when I'm shopping.

4. Purchase pairs or with an outfit in mind. I'm one of those people who always seem to find amazing separates (for example: skirts above), and the items tend to hang in my closet for months - never worn. I've found it helpful to only purchase separates with a pairing (at home) in mind. It's always easy to buy outfits at once, because you don't have to come up with a match on your own.

5. Leave the tags on and keep your receipt. It's nice to have the option of returning if you realize the item wasn't for you. I store all my receipts in one place, and keep return deadlines in mind. I can't tell you how many times I received an order and asked myself... why did I purchase this again? 

What do you do to prevent unnecessary purchases?

Have a great weekend ladies!
xoxo, natasha 

Trending: Holiday Sequins and Glitter

I LOVE this time of the year! Everyone is in the holiday spirit, and somehow, wearing an overload of sequins and glitter is no longer tacky, it's a fashion statement. Bloggers do it better! Check out how these ladies spread some holiday cheer with their noteworthy individual styles.

Bloggers sportin' some bling...

Alexandra @ Fashion Salade

Krystal @ This Time Tomorrow

 

Annie @ Really Petite

Chiara @ The Blonde Salad

Kelly @ Haute D'or

Khatu @ I am Khatu

Jennifer @ Looks for Less

Jessica @ Bows & Sequins

Geneva @ A Pair & a Spare

Christine @ Court & Hudson

A Sequins Dress & Breakfast

The Glitter Guide

Jennifer @ Red Soles and Red Wine

Anh @ 9to5 Chic

Sushi @ Le Blog de Sushi

Katie @ Running on Happiness

Mila @ Style File

Are you a fan of sequins and glitter? I can't get enough of it this season and enjoyed putting this post together :)

Happy Friday!

xoxo, natasha

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Holiday Gift Guide

Secret Santa? Gifting for Co-workers? Stocking Stuffers? I always seem to run into road blocks when searching for that perfect little item to spread some holiday cheer. Here are a few cute gift ideas I found online, all under $100:

1. Pavé Glitz Stretch Ring $6
2. Gold Initial Charm Necklace (Hand Stamped) $29
3. Sock Gift Set $20
4. Ruffle Trim Glove $25
5. Sparkler Gia Wallet $95
6. Poppy Flower Fragrance $65
7. Metallic Metal Keeper Super Skinny Belt $11
8. Print Shall $60
9. Gold Valet Key Ring $48

Have a cute holiday gift in mind? Leave a comment and share the link(s) below!

xoxo, natasha

Black Friday Wrap Up

This year's Black Friday was by far the most relaxing for me! I was at the parent's house and for the first time ever, I didn't feel the need to head out to the stores at midnight. Instead, I went to bed early and woke up in the morning to start my weekend shopping.

The BF and I drove straight to the outlets and the traffic was terrible. I quickly walked in and out of Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and J.Crew in a matter of fifteen minutes. The lines started out the door and weaved throughout the stores. I wasn't prepared to stand in line for a minimum of 3 hours, so we decided to pay Starbucks a visit for breakfast instead...and I'm glad I did. Sunday we headed back to the malls, and most of the sales that were offered on Black Friday were still available! I was able to grab a few Christmas gifts for family and friends, and handful of items for myself.

Left to right: Skirt, Khaki Capris, Pink Capris, Sweater, Chambray Shirt, Cardigan, Black/Green Sweater, Beige/Black Sweater

Left to right: Cardigan, Skirt, Heels, Beige/Black Striped Sweater, Pink Capris

I also took advantage of deals online throughout the week! My favorite purchase was the Paillette Shift Dress from Banana Republic. It needed a tiny alteration underneath the arms, so I'm hoping my seamstress will have it completed by this weekend. This dress is perfect for New Years and I was lucky  to snag one of the last in my size! Bloggers Jean and Khatu each styled it a bit differently. Which do you prefer?

How was your Black Friday? Did you find any great deals on Cyber Monday or throughout the week?

xoxo, natasha