Feb 22, 2013
Oh, Thomas Burberry, how I adore thee for designing the classic trench coat. If not for your original design created for British soldiers during WWI, the world would not have this versatile, year-round timeless masterpiece.
BUT…
I’m not quite sure that Thomas ever envisioned his creation carrying a $1,200 price tag! Burberry does remain the queen mother of all trench coats after all, but still that’s a lot of Payday Pretty dough.
[Burberry Trench Coat]
For about $1,000 less, you could have this quality investment piece instead. Sorry, Mr. Burberry.
[London Fog Trench Coat]
But this is Payday Pretty after all, and I’m all about finding affordable options to make the most of your Payday Pretty weekly allowance. Therefore I’m happy to bring you this week’s $50 and under trench coats. That’s better, huh?
Classic Trench
[Milanoo Trench Coat]
This trench is near perfection. Have you checked out Milanoo yet? They have some great spring styles for big and little people. They also have an extensive selection of affordable first communion dresses, maternity dresses and formal dresses. Cute stuff!
Plaid Trench
[Tommy Hilfiger Plaid Trench]
Polka Dot Trench
[Line and Dot Polka Dot Trench]
Bright Trench
[Vince Camuto Bright Pink Trench]
Floral Trench
[Merona Floral Trench]
Piped Trench
[Black with White Piping Trench]
It’s Your Turn: Which trench are you crushing on? Tell me in the comments!
And because I’m having a Coco Chanel moment, I’ll leave you with this…
How self-important do I feel? 🙂
Join in the fun! Follow GYPO on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
If you’re in need of a maternity coat or clothing, check out the great options for pregnancy available at Ripe Maternity Clothing by http://bumpbabyandbeyond.com.au/
Getting my pretty on with Casual Friday, Friday’s Fancies, Six Sisters Stuff, Look What I Got.
Jan 25, 2013
Payday Pretty is my regular Friday feature where I encourage women to take a little out of the weekly budget to do something that makes you feel pretty. I also provide little pieces of inspiration each week.
I’m sure you’ve heard of re-gifting but have you ever heard of me-gifting? Even if you haven’t, you may already be doing it. See definition below:
Me-gifting (verb) – Buying gifts for oneself while out shopping for others. Me-gifting often occurs during major shopping holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
I don’t know about you but I’ve got Valentine’s Day on the brain already. And while browsing for gifts for others, I’ve run across a whole lotta little things I’d love to snag for myself. Me-gifting lies at the heart of Payday Pretty, after all. It’s all about buying little things for yourself that make you feel good, even if you are supposed to be out shopping for someone else. 🙂 Yes, that’s my justification.
Here are some of the pretty little me gifts that caught my eye.
1/2/3/4/5/6
Shine Bright Like a Diamond
Speaking of Valentine’s Day, if you’re one of my Facebook fans then you may recall that last week I posted a picture of a Helzberg Diamonds gift box. And you’ll probably also remember that I said someone was going to win what’s inside that box.
Today I have the honor of introducing you to the Helzberg Diamonds INFINITY X INFINITY collection.
This collection is inspired by ABC’s hit TV show “Revenge,” and intended to celebrate all kinds of love – from romantic to unconditional. Now you can bring some sparkle home and take a cue from lead character Emily Thorne and her father’s mantra, “I love you infinity times infinity” this Valentine’s Day. Created by award-winning jewelry designer Udi Behr, the collection emphasizes the double infinity insignia, symbolizing infinite love throughout the series. The best part? With 21 pieces ranging in price from $49.99 to $999.99, the INFINITY X INFINITY jewelry collection offers the perfect gift on any budget this Valentine’s Day. It is available now at helzberg.com/infinity and in Helzberg Diamonds’ stores nationwide.
And now for the good stuff..the giveaway!
One lucky reader is going to win this gorgeous Infinity Collection diamond necklace!
Just pick any (or all) of the easy ways to enter below! A winner will be drawn next Friday, February 1st.
Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Linking up with Six Sisters Stuff.
Jan 15, 2013
Every Tuesday this month, I’m introducing you to a mom that’s got it goin’ on! And today’s mama is no exception.
I could spend hours on her blog looking at her gorgeous photography, reading about her adventures in parenting and perusing her creative
custom invitations and announcements. But don’t take my word for it, hop over there and check it out for yourself.
But first, read on to see how Mel got out of her rut and into her groove!
(Oh, and she’s giving away a $100 Visa gift card, make sure you check that out too.)
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Hi Everyone!
My name is Mel and I am so excited to be guest posting at Get Your Pretty On! Alison has so many great fashion ideas on her blog & I am excited to share some of my ideas!
A little bit about me…I live in California, born & raised!
I love Jesus, wine, coffee, photography & throwing parties.
Target is my Happy Place.
I have been married for 10 years to Kevin and we have 3 sweet kids.
Kate will be 6 next week, Claire is 4 and our baby boy Luke is 5 months old.
I am a part time 7th grade math teacher and have been teaching for 9 years.
I
was excited when Ali asked me to guest post because since having a 3rd baby 5 months ago, I have definitely had to work harder to get my Pretty On and stay out of the Frumpy Mom Zone.You know what I mean, right?
You see, having kids can make you put yourself on the back burner.
I remember after I had my first daughter almost 6 years ago, I kind of let my beauty routine slip and I got lazy with my wardrobe. I was just so sleep deprived, teaching and worrying about her needs and not mine. Then, I got pregnant again (with Claire) less than a year after Kate was born. They are a year and a half apart. That first year of Claire’s life was CRAZY… having 2 kids under 2 and I was still teaching part time, doing photography on the side and opened my Etsy shop (selling party invitations).
Then, things mellowed out for a few years, my body was back to normal, my girls weren’t toddlers anymore & I was feeling good about myself. And, then….what do you know! I got pregnant with Luke and he was born in August. When I was on my maternity leave, those first couple months of his life, I was the QUEEN of FRUMP. Life was crazy. Luke was a newborn. Claire was starting preschool & Kate started Kindergarten. I did not take care of myself those couple months. I would shower & throw my hair in a pony tail. I didnt wear makeup. My clothes were a mix of maternity (that were too big) and my normal clothes (which were too small). I was a hot mess, but I was just trying to survive life with 3 kids and truly did not have time to care about what I looked like. After 2 months, that needed to change. I was feeling Frumpy and not good about myself. My maternity leave was ending and I was *kind of* looking forward to going back to school for a few hours each day because I knew that it would force me to snap out of my Frumpy stage.
I knew the mornings would be crazy trying to3 kids ready, get myself ready all while trying to get my Pretty On! But, it is possible & I have some tips to share that I have learned to make it easier for you to Get Your Pretty On!
1. Organize Your Closet
This one is HUGE for me. Last year, I did something called 40 Bags in 40 Days. I basically divided areas of my house into 40 areas and my goal was to clean out & organize those areas. This included my closet. I got rid of all the clothes that I hadn’t worn in a year and I organized my closet by color.
My clothes are organized & I’m not scrambling to pick out what to wear.
Along with this, each night before I go to bed, I get organized for the next day.
I don’t know about you, but I am NOT a morning person.
Each night, I pick out my outfit, shoes & accessories for the next day.
I also pick out what my kids are going to wear & lay out their clothes in their rooms.
2. Time Management
This goes along with #1 (picking clothes out the night before) but another thing I do is shower right before I go to bed. Like I said before, I am NOT a morning person, so if I shower the night before then that saves me so much time in the morning and it can be spent doing my hair & taking time to do my make up (as well as nurse the baby and get my girls breakfast) Luckily, my husband is a HUGE help in the morning and get the kids dropped off at school, etc. Another thing I do is I make time every Sunday night to paint my nails & give them a fresh coat. There is just something about starting the work week feeling put together. Painting my nails fun colors each week definitely helps me Get my Pretty On!
3, Wear clothes that compliment your body.
This is a big one for me right now! Since I am 5 months post partum with Baby #3, my body is just soooo different than it used to be. I haven’t lost all the baby weight and because I am nursing, the “ladies” are much bigger than they usually are. (Instead of barely a B, I am now a full B. HA!) So, each day I make sure I wear clothes that compliment my postpartum body. My #1 go to is a skinny jeans, tall boots and cardigan. Skinny jeans & tall boots compliment my body (I am tall, 5’9″ so this look works for me even in my post partum body) Because I am nursing, my tops don’t just right, so cardigans are my lifesaver. Cardigans are also like a security blanket for me right now because one of my biggest fears is that I will “leak” while I am teaching. Now, THAT would freak out my 7th graders. Cardigan to the rescue in case of any malfunctions. Ha! Finally, since I am a teacher, I need to be comfortable since I am standing most of the day and let me tell you, skinny jeans & tall boots are SO comfortable…and I feel & look good wearing them!
4. Add a pop of color to your wardrobe! Be bold!
Because of my unofficial uniform of Skinny jeans, tall boots & cardigans, I have been more brave lately and I have been adding a pop of color to my wardrobe, usually with a statement necklace or scarf. In years past, my outfits were on the boring side and I would wear a lot of black & neutral. Totally boring and no color. Over the past 2 years, I have learned that color is FUN! So, I have been adding in pops of color with scarves, statement necklaces or a colorful cardigan.
5. Mix it up & try something new!
This is where Pinterest comes in handy! Pinterest is FULL of fun fashion ideas. My outfits choices over the past 6 months have definatly been impacted by Pinterest.
I would have never worn Black pants & Brown Boots together, but it totally works!
I normally wouldn’t wear polka dots, but I saw polka dot sweaters all over Pinterest and knew I had to have one! I got SO many compliments the day I wore it, I am so glad I mixed it up & tried something new. I am all about wearing solids or stripes, and never thought about wearing polka dots.
For my kids, yes. For me? Never considered it. So glad I did!
Thank you Alison for having me here at Get Your Pretty On!I hope you enjoyed some of my tips.
They are just simple little things this Working Mama of 3 is trying to do get her pretty on & stay out of Frumpville!
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For even more back to school tips for busy moms, be sure to pick up my book
Get Pretty, Kick Butt!
The Moms’ Guide to Looking Your Best and Getting More Done
In 30 Days or less you’ll:
- Establish your own Kick Butt Routine using the Power Hour planning session
- Manage your home in easy 15 minute increments
- Have a simple self-care routine that you can manage EVERY day
- Spend MORE quality time with your spouse and children
- Learn how to use Sundays for a successful start to the week
- Have a clean, organized closet full of only what you love wearing
- Find your own sense of style
- Build go-to outfits that work for all of your daily activities
- Maintain your wardrobe on a weekly allowance
- Get fit at home with 20 minute work outs
- Discover what you’re passionate about and pursue it
- Stay out of the mom rut with easy maintenance tips
Get Pretty, Kick Butt! is available for purchase through Kindle NOW.
Dec 28, 2012
Hello, pretties and a post-Christmas TGIF to you! Welcome to week five of Build Your Outfit Basics. If you’re new here, let me catch you up. BYOB is a six week series built around my Five Wardrobe Basics for Real Moms. Each week I feature one of my favorite outfit builders along with some affordable options to help you build or add onto your own wardrobe.
In week one, I featured dark wash skinny jeans. Week two was all about fabulous, cute and comfy flats, week three featured one of my favorites, scarves and in week four I confessed to my total obsession with cardigans.
Week Five’s outfit builders lay the foundation for just about any look – tees and tanks. If you’ve followed me for long, you’ve probably already noticed that I layer a tee or tank under almost everything.
Like these looks starring my gray and taupe tanks.
My drawer full of tanks gets accessed year-round. There’s just something that feels right about layering, I can’t quite explain it but I do it almost every day. And these long tanks from Forever 21 are my absolute favorites and are only $4.80 each! I have one in ever color of the rainbow.
Although tanks tops are my main go-to layering piece, I also wear a lot of t-shirts. They work great under cardigans and sweaters or on their own with a statement necklace or scarf.
Here are some of my fave basic tanks and tees.
[Long Tank Top: Forever 21]
[Everyday Tank: J. Crew Factory]
Tissue Tees are the perfect weight for layering. Here’s one that I love.
[Tissue Tee: J. Crew Factory]
I love the longer length and shirred sides of this tee.
[Shirred V-neck Tee: Nordstrom]
BONUS OUTFIT BUILDER
[Chambray Shirt: Madewell]
While I was writing this post, I started thinking about some other favorite basics that I wear on a regular basis. One of my fall purchases kept coming to mind – my denim shirt. Denim shirts, and their lighter weight cousin chambray are CRAZY versatile!
Here are some ways to pair them up:
Under cardigans and sweaters
Over tank tops as a jacket
Belted with a maxi skirt
With leggings, riding boots and a scarf
Tucked in with dark wash denim skinnies (below)
I have a feeling I’m just going to keep finding ways to wear it year-round…thrown over a bikini with a sarong, tucked into shorts with a tank top or with colored denim like this look below that I LOVE.
[Camel Jeans: Fossil]
Here are some of my favorite denim and chambray shirts.
It’s Your Turn: How healthy is your collection of basic tees and tanks? What are you planning to update?
Have you taken the Payday Pretty Challenge yet?
If you do, you could win a $20 Target gift card! I’m giving away one each week of the BYOB series.
All you have to do is take $20, $50 or $100 out of the weekly budget and do something pretty for yourself. Then show me what you got! Here are the ways you can enter:
1. If you’re a blogger, write about Payday Pretty in a post and link back to me.
2. Post a photo to the GYPO Facebook page showing me what you got.
3. Tweet about the Payday Pretty Challenge Giveaway.
4. Leave me a blog post comment telling me what you got.
Happy shopping and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Week Four’s Payday Pretty Challenge winner is Cindy B.!
Congratulations Cindy! Your $20 Target gift card is on it’s way. I hope you do something pretty for yourself with it!
Stay pretty, my friends!
Alison
Getting my pretty on with Aloha Friday, Casual Friday, Favorite Frock Fridays, Strut Your Stuff, Watch What I’m Wearing, Life is a Runway
Nov 9, 2012
It’s time for Payday Pretty – my Friday feature that challenges moms to take $20 from the family budget and do something pretty for yourself. Every week I also provide you with $20 and under inspiration to motivate you to get your shop on!
Have you been taking the Payday Pretty challenge? If so, I want to hear all about it! Tell me in the comments or better yet post photos to my Facebook page and show me what you scored. (If you haven’t liked me on FB yet, I ain’t mad at ya. Just go here and do it…NOW!) And keep an eye out on my Facebook page for a giveaway for one of my Payday Pretty challengers in the coming weeks. Psst, you’re gonna LOVE it!
My bloggy friend Peggy over at She Hath Done What She Could (check her out, she’s a fellow Target addict!) told me that I inspired one of her readers to take the challenge last week. Her friend Judy scored a pair of green pants at Marshall’s for $12 and a new skirt at Target for $6. Way to go, Judy!
Today’s Payday Pretty inspiration features pieces that allow you to sparkle and shine on a dime. Wear one item to make any outfit feel more glam or pair them up to create a perfect glitzy look for the holidays or any special occasion.
Click on any of the images below for product details. Happy shopping!
[Sequin Dress: Target – $17]
Ohh, the possibilities! This flirty dress could stand alone for any New Year’s Eve soiree. Or pair it with bright tights, flats and a cardigan for an unexpected and fun dressed-down look for daytime.
[Sparkle Bib Necklace: JCP – $20]
Must. Have. NOW. I can’t tell you how much I adore this outfit maker. Display it against a simple white crewneck sweater paired with some black cigarette pants and heels for an effortlessly chic ensemble.
[Sequined Sweatshirt: Forever 21 – $19.80]
Sequins + Sweatshirt = BRILLIANT! I am so on board with dressy/casual mash-ups. This makes any pair of jeans feel extra special but would be equally appropriate with a pencil skirt, patterned tights and heels.
[Sequined Pointy Flats: JCP – $20]
Pointy toe shoes are very much on trend this fall and winter. Multi-task from casual to dressy in style with these sequined flats.
[Chandelier Earrings: Target – $12.99]
The perfect baubles to take any ordinary outfit from forgettable to festive. Who needs ornaments? This pair of sparkly chandelier earrings ensures that all eyes will be on you.
It’s Your Turn: Have you taken the Payday Pretty challenge? If so, I’d love to hear about what you’ve scored. Tell me in the comments!
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