My Current Obsessions!

A short list of the items I LOVE at this moment!
1. Lilly Pulitzer Stationary- I scored all this swag at Marshall's for $15.00!

2. Corduroy Pants- I love cords in every color from brown to pink! Both of these are from JCrew last season on sale (the key is to wait until the end of winter when they go on big sale!)

3. Gold Flats- A fun way to spice up a boring outfit for the holidays! Wear them with black skinny jeans, LBD's, colored skirts with black tights, get creative!

4. Labels- I love putting these on everything from folders to my laptop! They make everything organized and nice

5. Trader Joe's Strawberry Licorice- Addicting but a must for finals cram-sessions!

6. Black Friday- My favorite holiday! Embrace the crowds

Photo Courtesy of http://clog.dailycal.org/tag/black-friday/

ENJOY!

Sorry for my Hiatus!

Sorry I have been MIA but school, work and extracurriculars can do that! Here are two AMAZING purchases to update you on!
I have been looking for a chic, black, every-day peacoat but have been holding out for the perfect (and bargain-friendly) one! At my favorite consignment store in DC, I stumbled upon this great J.Crew coat! it is wool and so comfy! From class to work to a night on the town, this coat will be able to transition from day to night perfectly! Also, how cute is the sapphire silk lining?

Price: $35.00!

I also have been on the search for a cute make-up bag. I found this one at Preppy Monogrammed Gifts. I love this website because the monogram is included in the price!

Price: $18.00 (not including shipping)

Also BLACK FRIDAY IS ALMOST ONE WEEK AWAY!

But more on that later :)

Enjoy!

Underated and Underused: the tragedy of packaging

So you know when you buy a cute necklace/shirt/pencil and it comes in an adorable box or tied with a ribbon? Well you pay for that too so you might as well put it to good use! I love turning packaging into cute decor!
Remember that Stila makeup set I got?

Well I took the makeup out and found myself with a cute plastic case which can be great for pencils and lipgloss! I then took some note cards I got at Target (8 for $1.99)

I then cute them up to fit inside the case, printed a monogram on the computer and taped them inside the case. Now I have an adorable makeup case!

So remember that Lilly Pulitzer pen?

Well I took the plastic top and made a cute desk sign to motivate me!

Then with the sides of the box I cute them into strips and lined the middle of my desk with the printed cardboard.

And those Vera Bradley binder clips?

 Well the top print was too cute to go to waste so I cut it into strips and lined the bottom of my desk lamp.

So remember, do your bland desk and the environment a favor and RECYCLE those packages!

Cute Ways to Keep Those Ears Warm

Sorry this post is short but bottom line- I LOVE HATS/EAR MUFFS!

Kate Spade

Anthropologie

Vera Bradley

Old Navy

Enjoy!

Old Navy

Ms. Bargainista goes to Washington('s Pentagon City)

Today I ventured with my bargain partner in crime (BPIC) to Pentagon City. Pentagon City is an area in Virginia best known for it's large mall. However, today BPIC and I journeyed past the walls of the mall to the new Nordstrom's Rack! Upon hearing about the opening of the Rack, I was beyond excited! For those of you who don't know, Rack is Nordstrom's outlet store (a.k.a bargains, bargains, bargains!). I tried to go into this experience with no expectations because sometimes I can be easily disappointed with discount stores. However, I was very pleased with everything I saw at Rack! BPIC bought some great stuff at good prices and I also found an amazing find! I love Stila makeup but it is very expensive. I am especially a huge fan of their eyeliner (it is the best!). So I was pleased when I saw that Rack had a makeup section with Stila goodies! I snagged a makeup set which came with my favorite eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss for only $9.97! (They were all full-sized too!) This deal was unreal! The eyeliner runs for $22 at Sephora so to get it with two other things for half the price of one item was UNREAL!

Bargain-hunting can really work up my appetaite, so BPIC and I went to Noodle and Company. I had never been there before but it was GREAT (and cheap!). They have a bunch of different types of pasta dishes you can choose from and the penne and mushroom entree I got was very yummy! A small bowl (seen below) is only $4.50!

I also just want to say that the shopping area was beyond adorable! (shops, cute coffee places, noodles, when can I move in?) There were a lot of families and young professionals  out and about! There was even an ice skating rank in the middle of the shops and restaurants!

Next we headed back to the mall to get back to the metro and stopped at Forever21 (obviously!). I found a simple black turtleneck ($10) which is a great fall/winter staple. But BPIC found adorable ruby slippers! They were $8.50 and also came in gold and bronze. BPIC is super trendy so I can't wait to see what she will pair these with!

 Hope everyone had a great weekend!

More Organizing Tips!

A couple people who read my blog have told me that they really liked the organizational tips that I previously blogged about. So I was inspired to write another post! Being an organ-ista goes hand-in-hand with being a great bargainista because you save money and time!
One of my favorite modes of organization is folders. I know it seems like a simple way to keep papers together, but they can also be great for organizing your priorities! I find a sturdy folder (I recommend Five-Star) and I mark the left side with an "IN" label and the right side with "OUT." Whenever I get homework I put it in the "IN" pocket and when it is complete and ready to be turned in I put it in the "OUT" pocket. This is an easy way for me to keep track of what homework needs to be completed and eliminates the chance of losing my completed homework.

I also would not know what to do without my organizers. Yes "organizers" as in I have two organizers. This might seem like a little much, but I like to devote one to school work and extracurriculars and one for important dates and social events. This way I can use my big one for everything and the smaller one to stick in my purse so if i need to check a date on the go I will know if I have a test/project due that day or a social engagement.

Since I use my large Vera Bradley more, I want to briefly explain how I keep it organized. I find it helpful to put sticky notes in it for appointments or things that could be changed (I hate scratching out things on the pages). I also create one large sticky note which is an on-going weekend TO-DO list. I like to do it on a sticky note so that I can easily take it out a put in on my desk, notebook etc. if I do not want to schlep my organizer somewhere on the weekends.

As previously noted I LOVE sticky notes! That's why I invested in some great Vera Bradley ones! They come in various sizes which makes them great for everything!

I am also obsessed with my pencil case! I know it seems very grade-school but they are a great way of keeping all your pens and other writing utensils together! This Vera Bradley pencil case is amazing not only because it's cute (and was on sale) but it has a plastic lining so I don't have to worrying about an exploding pen or highlighter ruining my bag.

And here's what's inside! These are the essentials: a black pen, a red pen (for editing drafts), a highlighter (in a fun color!), a pencil, a colored pen, tab post-its, lined post-its, page flags, a nice pen and lip balm.

Another great tip for keeping your desk clutter-free is taking a tack and hanging a binder clip with a picture/card in it! I used the Vera Bradley binder-clips from my previous post and put a cute Halloween card (thanks mom!) in it. This keeps my desk nice and organized but still allows me to showcase my cards and pictures!

Enjoy!

Tweed and Wool and Coats, Oh My!

Red Starbucks holiday cups adorned the hands of hundreds of chilly college students today on campus which can only mean one thing....it is winter! And more importantly, it's time to pull your favotite coat out of storage. However, it is always nice to treat yourself to a great coat (obviously at a good price) every other winter. Here are the best coates this season!

I LOVE this L.L.Bean coat for transitioning into winter and then again into spring. It looks great with anything from jeans to black leggings and boots! And it's a great price at $49.50

I also love this BB Dakota striped jacket! It looks great with reds and purples! And it's $80.00

\

I also love this Old Navy coat! The color is great and the toogles are adorable! And it's on sale for $54.00

Love this coat (also from Old Navy) I love the length and ruffle detail! It's on sale for $60.00

A great tweed collarless jacket goes a long way! They can dress up any look! Like this Luii one!

And don't forget the classics! A Puffer coat is a staple but buy one that is unique like this one from Anthropology. It is on sale for $69.95

Also never underestimate a simple black pea coat! They are on sale at Old Navy for only $29.00!

Enjoy and Happy Winter!

Tights Galore!

So it has finally happened in DC. The cold has set in and the coats have come out of storage. It is time for wool skirts and sweater dresses. But don't forget your legs! A great way to "spice up" the winter basics, such as black skirts and gray dresses, is to add a pop of color with tights!
How to wear:

Here is Blair (my fashion icon) with her entourage as featured in Gossip Girl. Notice how their tights look amazing due to the fact that the rest of their outfits are simple. The first step to a chic outfit with colored tights is to wear neutral clothing. This will let your tights be the focal point without competing with busy patterns or other bright colors.
Also don't rule out patterned black tights! They can look great with black dresses and skirts! As seen below Maybe even try them with golds and browns!

Here are some great real-life examples!
First up is Co-Intern's (CI) awesome outfit! CI knows how to rock purple tights!

Next is Trendy Bargainista (she loves a sale just as much as yours truly). I am LOVING her green tights! (and sassy pose!)

What they both did right was keeping the rest of their outfits simple and clean. The best part of tights is that they are usually CHEAP and usually on SALE!

In addition, here is my new DO and DON'T list:
DO:
-green pea coat
-colored tights (obviously)
-striped sweater dresses
-Land's End Canvas Collection! (Like J.Crew only cheaper)
-voting
-grilled cheese

DON'T:
-fur boots
-leather leggings
-feather jewelry
-scratchy sweaters
-bright green nail polish
-procrastination

Enjoy!