Today I Love: Punchy Fall Handbags + a Giveaway

The inevitable has happened.... Summer is slipping it's way out the door already and fall is showing up uninvited per usual.

All of our local schools have started back up, the department stores have long cleared out the patio furniture and pool party accessories, replacing them with Lisa Frank trapper keepers and scented markers (OK, it's been a while since I've back to school shopped, maybe I'm a bit dated on the inventory)

We've been having unusually chilly July here in Indy, which isn't helping me hold onto summer's grasp as long as I'd like. But the cool weather does have me craving those rich, bold fall colors. Perusing Target the other day I ended up with 3 handbags in my cart. I say I ended up with them, because they clearly jumped in there, unbeknownst to me. Sadly, I put them all back and told them there was no way I was carrying a merlot bag in the dead of July.

But soon, oooh so soon, I'll be back to scoop up some new pretties!

Here are a few of my favorites

[clockwise from top left: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 ]

What colors will you be rocking when the leaves start turning? As an added bonus, since we love you so much... Holly, Helene, Sarah & I are giving away a $50 gift card to Target as well!

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Good Luck!

(Not a sponsored post, not any way affiliated with Target, just a lover of all things Tarjay!)

Today I love... must haves

I'm pretty easy when it comes to beauty products. I don't wear a lot of makeup, and have a reputation for getting ready in 15 minutes flat. On the flip side, I'm fiercely loyal once I find products I love. Today I am sharing a few of those with you!

1 // African Black Soap // I can't stand fruity smelling body soaps, and have crazy sensitive skin, so stumbling upon this was a win win for me. 

2 // alba hawaiian lip balm // I made the mistake of looking at the ingredients list of my old lip balm and was immediately freaked out. This stuff is 100% vegetarian, and made of things I can actually pronounce. Not to mention it's like spreading a tropical getaway right onto your lips!  

3 // Burt's Milk & Honey lotion // The scent of their Milk & Honey lotion is so light and easy, and I love the richness of this lotion. It actually feels like it's moisturizing my skin instead of just laying on top of it.  

4 // Marrakesh KaHm // I absolutely LOVE the smell of this hair care line, and it doesn't leave the buildup in my hair like the It's a 10 products do. With my love of changing hair colors, and curling my hair, this also helps make sure I'm not walking around with a head of nasty nappy-ness!

5 // TokyoMilk DeadSexy No.6 // Hands down my favorite perfume. I originally picked this up at a boutique in Maryland when visiting LT, and have been reordering it ever since.  

What are some of your must-have's that I need to check out? 

Gifting. And a giveaway!

It's no secret I adore gifts. Not JUST receiving them either, I love that giddy feeling of watching someone open a gift that I perfectly picked out. No really, I'm THAT girl who's like CMON RIP THE PAPER ... FASTER! Sorry guys, it's my love language. I can't help it, right?!

With that being said, last year after the lung fiasco, and everything else I had put my mother through, I was determined to pick out a Mother's Day gift that meant a little bit more than just a bouquet of flowers.  I think it's safe to say I did alright. So much so, that a day hasn't gone by that my mom and I don't wear them. 

I scooped up a set of dual-birthstone rings from Meadowbelle Market's etsy shop. One for mama, and one for myself, with our two birthstones adorning them. They're petite, they're simple, and most of all, they're perfect. 

When I posted a picture of another ring on Instagram this weekend, I was flooded with questions about the birthstone ring, and I'm excited to let you all know the lovely ladies over at Meadowbelle Market have graciously offered up a dual birthstone ring for one of you lucky readers to win! 

Meadowbelle Market offers both silver and gold options, and have even recently introduced an engagement ring line! The giveaway will end this coming Friday - don't miss out on scoring one of these awesome rings for yourself or to gift to a loved one!

As an added bonus, as if the ladies over at Meadowbelle haven't been kind enough, they've also offered up a coupon code valid through Sunday (March 30th), simply enter "hellomisschelsea" to receive 10% off your any purchase in their Etsy shop!

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Simple.

While I am totally on board the statement necklace bandwagon, there's just something about a dainty piece of metal gracing your collarbones that has had me scaling it back lately. 

[ 1 // 2  // 3 // 4 ]

Going to Target for tennis balls: AKA the makings of a gallery wall

It started with an innocent trip to Target to pick up some new tennis balls so I could wash my pillows (I saw something on Pinterest and had been disgusted with myself that in my 26 years of living I've never once washed my pillows)

Naturally, in an effort to get the most cardio out of said trip, I HAD to push my cart around the entire perimeter of the store, and up and down every aisle.

Which is why I ended up in the picture frame aisle. The picture frame aisle full of little red signs from heaven. Known to most as clearance stickers.

And suddenly I HAD to touch them. And lay them out. And everyone walking past me that evening at Target was all 'what the hail is this weirdo doing sitting on the floor in aisle C7??'

Things got a LITTLE weird when people started asking me to point them in the direction of Draino and dog biscuits, but I realized I had a red shirt on and smiled and spouted off random aisles. I left Target with six or seven new frames, and headed around the corner to TJ Maxx to scope out their selection. Suddenly I was on a mission.  A mission that no longer involved tennis balls and clean bedding, since I completely forgot that at Target.

I used a few Christmas gift cards and walked out of the Maxx with two very full bags and headed home to play. Instead of going with all black frames, I picked up a mix of woods, metals, white ceramic and black frames to add a little more interest and make it look less catalog-y

I understand that some people are very organized and excellent planners and cut out templates and measure and use stud finders, yada yada yada. Meanwhile I grabbed a box of nails and a hammer and just started making holes.

Somehow it seemed to work out decently.

Now I have spent the past two weeks trying to decide what exactly I want to put INTO my frames.
(Does anyone else miss the days when they would put fake families in picture frames, at least that way my wall would LOOK like someone cared about me) 

It looks a little lot better than the ohsoboring bare wall that used to adorn my living room!

Mixer & Mingle Fridays: Flasks

Sometimes you need a way to get from A to B.

And I don't mean A-sober to B-schwastyface... I mean getting your Fireball from the bottle in your home to your seats at the football game. If you so choose. I hear it's frowned upon to bring your own in.... I'm not accepting any responsibility.

I think we can all agree transportation via waterbottles is a little high school-esque. Now that we're grown ups, it's time to graduate to your very own flask. You're scared, I know... don't worry, I will help.

Perhaps you've got an alternate agenda... or you're patriotic... or maybe you're THAT GIRL...

1 Frisky // 2 THAT girl // 3 Boozie Bear // 4 'Merica // 5 This Way Up

Cheers!

Don't online shop without this!

If you plan on doing online shopping this season, which I have decided to do entirely, I urge you to look into ebates if you havent!

You simply sign up, and then get a little kickback when you shop. 1, 2, even up to 12% back sometimes. (You have to visit ebates first and then click through their link to the store of your choice - don't forget that step!)  

Check out the Cash Back specials they have right now. Seriously, pretty much any store under the sun is on here (even random places you wouldn't expect, like Lowes - but you can buy online and pick up in the store!). Target, Snapfish (20% back - hello holiday cards!), Walgreens, pretty much any hotel chain (3% back  on a whole vacation would be a nice little check!),  5% at Nordstrom.... sooo I can buy the $100 boots I've been drooling over, and get $5 back for no reason other than because I used ebates? Love. Love. Love.

It may not seem like much... but heck, it's free money - why not!? Then you can either have a check sent to you, or have it sent directly to your PayPal.

Sigh, I love a good deal!

(No, this is not a sponsored post or anything, I just get excited about good deals ha!) 

 

Revisited: Boots & Shorts

Way back in early July I was lusting over the 'boots with shorts' trend I had seen pop up a few times on the web.

Source: Uploaded by user via Sienna on Pinterest

I wanted to rock that.

There were two major problems holding me back though.
1) All the boots I owned were tall, super winter-y, or cowboy boots (boring - been there, done that)
2) We were having a serious streak of 100+ degree days. Hello ankle sweat!

Well I kept my eyes out, and scooped up a couple pairs from Poshmark a few weeks ago.

And immediately threw them on to wear out to dinner with my girlfriends. And then the next day when I was out running errands.

[Silky Tunic: TJMaxx, Shorts: AE, Belt: AE, Necklace: F21, Booties:Poshmark]

[Sheer button down: TJMaxx, Shorts: AE, Belt: AE, Necklace: Nordstrom Rack, Watch: MK, Booties:Poshmark]

What do you think? I loved the edginess of it and I'm eager to play with this trend some more!

Things you can buy me.

If you feel like showering me with gifts, I wouldn't mind any and/or all of these items:

Source: dsw.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Polkadot chucks... whaat?!

Source: revolveclothing.com via Sara on Pinterest

I am in love with the color combo of this necklace 

Source: ispy-diy.blogspot.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

I need a yellow watch. I can't wear yellow clothing, so a watch is the necessary!

Source: cablecarcouture.com via SherRon on Pinterest

This chevron bag is SO cute.

Source: getuncommon.com via Kendra on Pinterest

I never used to put a case on my phone, but now I love em! Granted, I consider them more of a fashion accessory than functional, but oh well!

What are you lusting after lately??

 

Genius in the form of alligator clamps

Last summer, towards the end of the season I was perusing the endcaps at Target (THE place to find all the good bargains) and stumbled upon quite possibly the most genius things ever invented.

No, not sliced bread. Towel clips!

Picture in your mind, the last time you were on the beach, all tanning-oiled up, ear buds in, magazine in hand, ready to settle onto your chair. When that lovely ocean breeze whips your towel into your face again. And again. And again. And damnit, screw it I'm just getting in the ocean.

Fear not, boca clips to the rescue!

When I put this picture on Instagram everyone was asking where to get them, lucky for you kids I did all the leg work and tracked down the name and links to buy them!

Parrot Boca Clips

Flamingo Boca Clips
Tropical Fish Boca Clips

I will caution you, after a few drinks when you and your friends start daring each other to clamp them onto various body parts, it hurts. Don't do it. Not speaking from experience, just a guess. 

Coordinating

I rendered myself useless for a majority of my Saturday due to spending entirely too much time out causing trouble with coworkers Friday night and into the wee hours of the morning (ahhem 430am)

But that's ok, it actually worked out well for me. I spent a lot of Saturday pulling clothes from my closet & coming up with outfits to pack for vacation.

I am wanting to swap out the jeans for my red skinnies on that tan zebra print top, and add a few dresses in, but it's a good start, no!?  I decided to snap photos on my phone so I could wash/pack these pieces but still remember how I wanted to wear em.

Later in the evening I went shopping, I picked up a few more critical pieces, including these hilarious shorts,

 and some reading material that I've heard is decent (Hunger Games).

All in all, my lazy day turned out fairly successful, if I may say so myself.

Under-appreciated

You know what's under-appreciated?

Icee's and popcorn at Target.

Since when did someone think it was ok to start adding Starbucks into Targets. I don't want a $7 sorry excuse for caffeine, I want a 99cent cup of frozen sugar damnit.

I want to rub my buttery popcorn hands on every clothing item in the juniors section.

I want red Icee-stained teeth by the time I round the corner to the checkout line.

Here's to the little things, the under-appreciated things in life.  Take a moment today to appreciate them!

Colored denim

Oh, colored denim.

Back when I was like 8, I had every color. I distinctly remember wearing my forest green jeans with construction boots, a turtleneck and a sweatshirt over it. God, I wish I had a picture to share!

Yet, I still find myself drawn to them. Funny, you think I'd be running for the high hills after that memory recollection.  

Source: lookbook.nu via Emily on Pinterest

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: blog.denydesigns.com via Meagan on Pinterest

Source: swell.com via Johanna on Pinterest

Source: styleretail.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: None via Aleksi on Pinterest

Source: people.com via Michele on Pinterest

Source: None via Margaret on Pinterest

Do you own any?? I bought a pair of bright blue skinnies last summer, but chickened out and took em back.

Where'd you get em?

I can't justify spending anywhere over like $50 on them, but I do think I need to get a few candy coated colors before too long! They are just too much fun to ignore

Today I love : Summer kicks

It's been in the high 90's lately here in Indy... I've found that all I want to wear is shorts, a tshirt and tennis shoes. I'm probably gonna have some terribly untan feet by the end of summer but oh well! There are too many cute shoes out there, why settle for flip flops!?

Here's a few that I'm lusting after...

Source: journeys.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: keds.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: keds.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: toms.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: shop.puma.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

(I actually just ordered those yellow Tekkies yesterday, I can't wait til they arrive on my doorstep!)

It seems like laceups & slipon's have made a 'comeback' of sorts this year... have you been wearing them more or are you strictly a sandals gal in the sunshine?