FREE shopping money for YOU!!!

Yes, you read it right...you will get a FREE $20 credit to your account when you sign up for RueLaLa.com!!! Yup. Just for creating a free account! RueLaLa.com is the destination for 2-day-only Boutiques, filled with the designers we love at private sale prices. It's free, fabulous, and invitation-only. Here's your invitation!

PLEASE GIVE ME MY $20 CREDIT TO START FINDING DESIGNER DEALS!!!

HURRY! The FREE $20 credit is only available via personal invite and through 10/24/2010!!!

Enjoy and happy shopping!!!

Shop the Unexpected

The summer has been busy as with the start of school, so I apologize for my disappearance. We've also been ill recently which hasn't helped with staying on top of the to do list. One thing I did want to share was a recent AWESOME purchase at a local resale shop. I am still in shock and still floating on cloud 9. I stopped in our Once Upon A Child (children's resale/consignment shop) to pick up a new rewards punch card and walked past Plato's Closet (tween resale/consignment shop) next door. I rarely, if ever, go into that shop but something inside me said to stop in. As I walked in, I looked around and thought, why am I in here...I'm not in the mood for clothes shopping...plus I really don't NEED anything else...until I looked across the store and spotted IT. Yes, the it I am talking about is an Orla Kiely square flowers midi sling purse in geranium.

I casually walked up to it thinking, they must have JUST put this out! Why hasn't anyone snatched her up yet?!? Expecting to be tackled for the find, everyone in the store continued to browse around as if I had picked up a plain black shirt. Still in awe, I checked it over expecting the price tag to be something like $85. I was just stalking, I mean - looking - at one on an online discount site. However, they sold out within 2 minutes of posting their sale. Ugh. To my surprise the price tag was $15 and it is in near perfect condition. Are you serious?!? I couldn't get up to the register fast enough. And then, get this...the girl rings it up and says, $7.87. Yes. I about fainted. It was 50% off...THAT day. Seriously?!? She asked if I wanted a bag and I mumbled something like I knew where my car was...that's how much in shock I was.

I left the store, got in to my car and let out a huge scream. I then drove to the nearest gas station and bought a lottery ticket. Unfortunately I didn't win anything on the ticket, but finding that Orla Kiely purse at 3% of retail cost was just like winning the lottery for me that day. My advice ladies: listen to Clarence Clearance when he speaks to you and shop the unexpected. You'll never know what treasures you'll find!

Uppercase Living® FREE Halloween Expression with Order!!!

It’s Customer Celebration Days at Uppercase Living®! I currently am hosting an online/virtual Uppercase Living® show. Uppercase Living® offers products called "expressions", which are quotes, sayings, and solid pictures, that look like a painted-on stencil. They adhere to your wall or whatever surface you want to put it on. When you're ready to redecorate or move, the product is removable.

Great for homeowners, renters and college kids alike! Think outside of the box - decorate your mirrors, windows and doors as well as create unique holiday decorations by applying to painted wood for something that lasts season after season! Own your own business? Create your own unique car decal and drive around advertising your biz! Do you have a favorite quote or inspiring message? You can create your own design with their easy to use design tool!

Place an order on Thursday, September 23 between 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (MT) and you will automatically receive a FREE Halloween Expression (a $14.95 value)!

Available exclusively in Valencia Orange, this fun seasonal expression will enhance any Halloween décor. Apply it to your entryway, to your front door, or to any of our 22" x 4" accessories to create a spooky display.

This special offer is only available for orders submitted on September 23, so don’t wait. My online show will remain open through Thursday, September 30th, but this awesome promo of the FREE expression is ONLY available ON THURSDAY, September 23rd. Please remember to select me, Catherine Stern, in the upper right hand corner of your screen as your show hostess prior to completing your order.

Here's the online catalog link once again: https://lynn.uppercaseliving.net/OnlineCatalog.m

Have fun shopping and thanks in advance for your order!!!

Project Funway!

Calling all Fashionistas!

Polyvore has come up with an awesome new little widget called the Mini Editor that allows you to pull items and create outfits like magic! I've compiled a few of my favorite things and invite you to see what kind of outfits you can make from my collection. Drag and drop items into the window where you can resize and rotate them to your heart's desire. Make one outfit or many!

Want a chance to win $1000 to feed that fashion frenzy for Fall? Create your favorite Fall outfit from my collection and hit 'publish' to submit it to enter the Polyvore Fall Wardrobe Styling Challenge to win $1000!!! Visit the other featured and participating blogs, create outfits and submit them for even more chances to win!

Are you in or are you out?


Powered by Polyvore

Matilda Jane Field Trip Trunk Show

In less than one week, I will be hosting a Matilda Jane Trunk Show at my home for their new Fall 2010 line, Field Trip. I've heard that the outfits are outstanding and the women's line is especially great this time around. If you are interested in ordering, please contact me and I would be happy to add your order to my show.

The entire new collection is available to preview online at Matilda Jane now - you can order through a trunk keeper or through a trunk show. Please feel free to contact me if you see something online you would like and want to order it through my trunk show - we all know that some items sell out faster than others. I will need all completed orders by Sunday, August 8th.

If you are not familiar with Matilda Jane Clothing, let me introduce you to a whole new world of fun clothing for girls (infant to tween) and women. They also do carry some boys items with more to be released this coming October. Enjoy browsing and let me know if you want to order!

(Images courtesy of Matilda Jane Clothing)

What's the Bruhaha about Ruelala? FREE Account Credit for Signing Up!

That's right...Ruelala.com (THE destination for 2-day-only Boutiques, filled with the designers we love at private sale prices) will GIVE YOU $10 in your account to use toward your first purchase when you sign up and create an account. Yup. Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch? What are you waiting for? Follow this link to sign up - but hurry, the $10 account credit is only good through August 8th! You can thank me later. ;)

(Image courtesy of Ruelala.com)

Pottery Barn Giveaway Winner Announced!

And the Pottery Barn Storage & Display hardcover book goes to....

Entry #31 - Sarah L.!!!

A big thank you to all those who entered the giveaway and your great organizational comments and tips - they were all winners in my book :D

Congratulations to Sarah L. on winning the PB book - I hope you love it as much as I do. You will receive an email shortly with the news!!!

(Image courtesy Amazon.com)

I Did the 'Do!

I LOVE my new hairdo! Not do I only feel 10 pounds lighter (5 inches gone!), but it's much easier to style and will be faster in the mornings to get ready. Love it, love it, love it! Did I tell you how much I love it?

I was pretty apprehensive driving to the salon last night and thought the sudden downpour with 50 mph winds was a sign from above to NOT cut my hair, but I followed through with my commitment, put my trust in my stylist and made the change. I had met Wendi, my new stylist, once at our consultation but immediately liked her personality and warmth.

If you are looking for a top-notch stylist in the Fox Valley, I highly recommend Wendi at Salon Aura. She not only listened to my concerns and wishes, but hit the cut I wanted dead-on. This girl knows how to cut hair. Believe you me, I will be hanging on to this one as long as I can. I couldn't be happier! Thank you Wendi!!! Here are a few pics from (late) last night...

So, what do you think of the new cut? What is the most length you've had cut from your hair?

Don't forget to enter my :: P O T T E R Y | B A R N :: giveaway through Thursday 7/22 at 11:59 pm CST!!!

Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow

As of Monday evening, I will bid farewell to my long ponytail and trade it in for a much shorter look for the remainder of summer. I've been debating about it for months and made the commitment when I was able to get into my favorite salon in the Valley. I'm rather excited about the new look but nervous about letting go of the pony. It's been so easy to just pull it back and not fuss with it at all. But it's time to say adieu and introduce you to the new 'do, Bob. If all fares well, I may post some new photos in the slideshow at the top. Keep your fingers crossed.

(Images courtesy various sources via the web)

GIVEAWAY day is here!

So did you guess the giveaway item from the previous hints? One winner will win their own copy of Pottery Barn's Storage & Display hardcover book (a $24.95 retail value) for their personal library!!!

After our multiple moves in a few short months, it forced us to become uber organized people (and I am over the top organized to begin with). We have gotten to the point of color coding our boxes per floor plan and labeling them very specifically so there is no confusion. We can only hope our next movers follow our technique. Long story for another day. *sigh* As they say, the best laid plans...anyway, once we got the boxes in the correct locations here, the fun part started. The unpacking, deciding what to keep, what to put out in the room and what to give away. New and different spaces need new and different strategies. No room is exactly the same, so it's like starting from scratch with a blank slate and all your belongings tend to take on a new feel. Pure excitement! Well, at least for me. So I am asking my readers to answer one question for me to be entered in this giveaway.

What is your all time favorite organizational tip?
It can be for a room, a house, a closet, a move...think about it and let me know by leaving me a comment.

One winner will receive a brand new hardcover copy of Pottery Barn's Storage & Display - Stylish Solutions for Organizing Your Home!
This book is absolutely fabulous - I have one in my home library I reference all the time!

To enter, please leave your best or favorite organizational tip along with your name (first name and last initial). Entries without a tip will be disqualified. You can enter once a day with a new organizational tip.

To earn an extra (optional) entry, become a follower in Google Friend Connect (lefthand column - click the Follow button) and leave me a comment that you did so.

Giveaway will run through 11:59 p.m. CST on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010. One winner will be selected from total comments at contest end via random.org and announced sometime on Friday, July 23rd. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents at this time only.

Thanks for participating and good luck!

(Image courtesy Amazon.com)

Cent-sible Substitutes

LIKE THIS?

(Jack Rogers - Palm Beach Navajo in Black/White - $96.00)


WHY NOT TRY THIS?

(Payless Shoes - Montego Bay Club Whip-Stitched Flat Sandal in Black/White - $7.00)

Cent-sible substitute savings = $89.00
Plus, what a bonus, order online at Payless.com and have your order shipped to a local store FOR FREE!

PS Sidenote :: A few years ago, I scored a pair of A. Giannetti black & white whip-stitch sandals IDENTICAL (style, stitching, coloring, heel, etc.) to the Jack Rogers brand at T.J. Maxx for under $30. It was still a $66 savings! Keep your eyes peeled for deals all around!

(Images courtesy of Jack Rogers and Payless)

Is it time for another GIVEAWAY?

Yes, it's about that time...I think I mentioned that regular posts would commence in early June after our big move. Well, it seems like my posts jumped from end of May to beginning of July - where, oh where, did June go? I'm still trying to figure it out.

Here are some hints to the upcoming giveaway early next week...it's a good one!
Be sure to come back and enter; you won't be disappointed.

Matilda Jane Girls Just Want to Have Fun

...and at 40% off (excluding the Platinum Collection) with $2 ground shipping on all orders, what are YOU waiting for? Visit Matilda Jane for this AWESOME sale that runs through July 21st!!! My daughter's closet has quite a bit of MJC, but I was able to find some more to add. Here's what I was able to score online today:

Gypsy Gretta Skirt


Victorian Lace Knee Socks

Bouquet Ruffle Pants


Happy Leggings

Their servers had some issues with capacity but the MJC team worked diligently to alleviate the problems and mid afternoon brought success with order confirmations for many of us.

What are some of the items on your MJC wishlist?

(Images courtesy of Matilda Jane Clothing)

Cent-sible Substitutes

LIKE THIS?

(J. CREW - Beach Cotton Chambray Luca Skirt in Pearl - $58)

WHY NOT TRY THIS?

(Kohl's - LC Lauren Conrad Poly/Spandex Ruffle Skirt in Birch - $44.00)

Cent-sible substitute savings = $12
(plus Kohl's runs what seems like weekly specials where you can get up to an additional 30% off to equal more cash in your pocket!)

PS Sidenote :: I just scored an Xhiliration ruffled skirt in BLACK from the Target clearance rack for $11.99 (marked down from $16.99) identical to the Lauren Conrad skirt - search your clearance racks my friends!

(Images courtesy of J. CREW and Kohls)

::: UPDATE :::

Our posts will be sporadic this week and will commence on a regular basis in early June after our move. We thank you for your patience with our transition!

(via)

We hope our US readers enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend - please take a moment to remember those who died while serving our country to preserve and protect our freedoms.
Thank a military service person - it takes only a minute.

Cent-sible Substitutes

LIKE THIS?

(Dwell Studio - Owls Sky Fitted Crib Sheet - $36.00)

WHY NOT TRY THIS?

(Target - Circo Green Tree Fitted Crib Sheet - $7.99)

Cent-sible substitute savings = $28.01

OR THIS (a little more feminine)?

(Pottery Barn Kids - Brooke Bedding - Fitted Crib Sheet - $16.00)

Cent-sible substitute savings = $20.00

(Images courtesy of Dwell Studio, Pottery Barn Kids and Target)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Garden Party Necklace

Field Nap Necklace

Vernal Festoon Necklace

The last necklace will be blooming on my doorstep, but not until July (backordered). Hope it's worth the wait! Happy Weekend everyone!

(Images courtesy Anthropologie and Stella & Dot)

Write the Future

LOVE.this.commercial. Two thumbs up, Nike. Literally takes you on a journey of cause and effect. Wow. What do you think?

We have a winner!

THANK YOU to all who left such fun comments and participated in the Skip Hop Zoo Pack Penguin backpack giveaway from CSN Stores. We had lots of votes of adoration for the dog (4 votes); however, this little penguin guy gets to go home with one lucky reader. Here are some of the other animals readers voted for: Panda (3), Monkey (2), (Sea) Turtle (2), Tiger (2), Lion, Seal, Giraffe, Seahorse, Penguin, Hedgehog, Llama, Bird, Elephant and Bunny (all with one vote each).

Congrats to Manda who posted this comment:

I will be emailing you shortly to request the rest of your information! Congrats!

I'm hoping to stop by each of your websites and blogs to say hello and learn more about you. Thanks again everyone and stay posted for more upcoming giveaways! Moving day is less than a week away, so they will commence once we are settled in June.

The Incredible Minted Invitation Suite Giveaway!

June is right around the corner and that means summer weddings! Are you getting married soon? Do you know any brides- to-be? If so, please forward this fabulous information on to them. To celebrate the launch of Minted’s new wedding invitation line, they are giving away 100 complete wedding suites to one lucky bride! Brides can enter by simply leaving a comment at www.minted.com/blog. But hurry, the contest closes this Friday, May 21st at midnight.

Pictured below is what the winner will get - they are giving all of it away! While the bride-to-be waits for those exciting results of the giveaway, Minted.com has two very special offers for shoppers. An awesome 15% OFF Wedding Stationery or 15% OFF Save the Dates at Minted.com. Be sure to enter code: LAUNCH15 at checkout.

::::: PS Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY here :::::
:: ends TOMORROW Wed 5/19 at 11:59 pm CST ::

(Images courtesy of Minted.com)

Brand New Shopping Link

Exciting news - there's a new private shopping club for men and women who want designer items (apparel and accessories) at up to 70% off retail. It's called Beyond the Rack and is by invite only! Here's how it works: BTR obtains authentic designer merchandise and provides it exclusively to its members through limited-time events. Each event starts at a specific time and typically lasts only 48 hours. After each event ends, the merchandise is no longer available. Members are notified by email in advance of each upcoming event according to their preferences.

Visit my right hand column under :: shopaholic secrets for great online deals :: to score other fabulous things for discounted prices. Start with Beyond the Rack and work your way down the list - have fun and enjoy the benefits of membership of these great sites!

::::: PS Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY here :::::
:: ends TOMORROW Wed 5/19 at 11:59 pm CST ::

(Image courtesy of Beyond the Rack)