Ow Ow Ow Outlets Baby

Truth: I love to shop. Double truth: I am flipping amazing at it.

NO seriously. I know I am completely tooting my own horn, but I can't help it, I am just great. If there is a deal, I will find it. If there is another lady in the dressing room she will ask me what I think of her shirt/dress/whatever-it-is she is trying on, and I will tell that lady the truth, and she will be like, oh my goodness you are so helpful! No joke. This hasn't just happend once or twice. Seriously 3/5ths of the time I go shopping some stranger asks my opinion on what they are contemplating purchasing. I must exude "shopping guru" or something. It truly is a gift.

Don't believe that I am the deal-finder-of-the-century? Take this yummiest thing I have ever seen amazingly gorgeous and soft Tory Burch yellow suede Solano jacket (yes, I know you just swooned, but it gets better). Originally $430, found this weekend for $200 AND eligible for BOGO sale so you could just go ahead and live a little. Sigh.

Not convinced? How about this stunning silk charmeuse and chiffon Nicole Miller Signature evening gown, originally $900 for... I can't even handle typing this... $170. Oh man, if I only had a large, disposable income OR someone else to buy all of this gorgeousness for on their Visa, OR if someone would just HIRE ME ALREADY to be the buyer for their boutique... then everything would be right with the world.

:)

The best part about my amazing shopping skills, is the fact that I love to shop for other people almost as much as for myself. Like this weekend, as amazing as that TB jacket was, I was really shopping for my bridesmaid's and for my Stepmom for the wedding. Ok, I also really liked this olive green wool BCBG trench that was 50% off... but how can you blame a girl?

Back to other people! At Aldo I found a million+ strappy gold heels all on super clearance at 70% off. Hurry to your nearest Aldo outlet, run! They had such variety! I ended up with these cuties for my cousin Rachi...

And these sexy thangs for my girl Aimee...

Woot! Neiman Marcus Last Call had some really beautiful evening dresses on mad clearance. This gorgeous deep coral Kay Unger dress was only $140 bucks and they had a coral Marchesa gown (you can see it to the left of the Kay Unger gown, it was light coral and all beady and fabulous) that was originally $1300 but was marked down to $200... I just wish I had someone to buy them for! I really was having too much fun.

I searched pretty hard for my Stepmom and found a few things here and there, but nothing that was perfect. Oh well, guess I'll have to go shopping again soon. :)

Weekend at the Lumber Yard

Over the New Year's weekend Jonathon and I spent a lovely coastal day in the 'bu. We ended up strolling with our poochy through the Malibu Lumber Yard and through Cross Creek where we said "hey thanks for further running our state into the ground" to the Governator as he passed by.

Sidenote: the past two times we have been at Cross Creek he has also been there. Why isn't he in Sacramento? Why isn't he even having a "working lunch" or anything? All I ever see him doing is kicking it in the 'bu. YOU HAVE A STATE TO FIX stop shopping! PS: you're very short. Sigh.

Anyhow, I found a lot of great wedding inspiration at the Lumber Yard.

I almost bought some wedding sandals at Tory Burch. I tried them on twice, I think the lady was going to hurt me. I just couldn't decide. I really love them but I don't know how they will "go" with my wedding ensemble. I will probably get them, don't steal my shoes. I will cut you.

I also fell in love with a Natalie B. gold wishbone necklace that was very reasonably priced at Planet Blue. If I hadn't been contemplating those TB heart sandals so hard I may have purchased this necklace. It is so sweet. I am also in love with this Tree of Life necklace from Nat but alas, it is sold out...

Jonathon and I both swooned a bit for the Le Labo candles (especially the Figue and Santal) at Theory. They are scrumptious. And I got a little too jazzed about these bomb turquoise leather fringe Cynthia Vincent sandals at Madison. I should be a fashion merchandiser. Seriously, someone hire me.

Finally, we were mostly inspired by the GIANT succulents everywhere. Never had I noticed them before, now I can't get succulents off my brain. I can't seem to find any pics on the internet and I should have taken some but the Lumber Yard is a "paparazzi free zone" so I didn't want to get in trouble.

Stay tuned for the transformation of my Lumber Yard inspiration into wedding details to die for.

It''s good to be back ;)

Bridal Shoesplosion: Sandals or Flats?

The battle rages on! Should this bride wear sweet sandals under my gown or something a bit more supportive like flats? I am leaning towards sandals at the moment. I mean come on, it's Palm Springs. Although there seem to be more flats that I could wear again and again. For the record, if I were about 3 inches shorter, I would have the most amazing shoe collection you have ever seen. As it stands (as I stand?), I generally just drool over heels from afar.

These are some of the sandals and flats winning the heart and mind of this bride.

Tory Burch Miller Logo Sandals in tulip coral. Itried these on a few weeks ago and they are super cute but I think way too casual for my wedding ensemble. They are really bright and happy, and actually much more corally than they appear in this picture. The perfect honeymoon sandals.


Tory Burch Patent August Thong in poppy coral. I love these. I want them. A lot. Only, I haven't tried them on in person yet, so maybe I should make that happen first.

Tory Burch Distressed Leather Reva Flats in gold. These seem like the grown up version of little girl princess shoes. Who doesn't want to be the princess on her wedding day?

I looooooved these Stuart Weitzman Archery Sandals in pale gold when I tried them on. They are so pretty in person and actually incredibly comfortable and versatile. They are the forerunners for my wedding shoes at the moment. Although I really am in love with the TB August Thong above too.

Stuart Weitzman Low Key Flats in Hummus. I know these look a bit... orthopedic (or something, SW shoes look kind of grannyish in pics, what's that about?) but I tried them on and they are super cute in person. I just really don't like that the color is called hummus. Do I have issues or what?