Nov 30, 2012
Lots of exciting news today, so let’s get right to it…
Announcing BYOB – Build Your Outfit Basics!
You’ll want to RSVP to this party because my new Payday Pretty series BYOB – Build Your Outfit Basics starts today! Each week for the next six weeks, I will feature a different outfit builder along with some $20 and under options for inspiration. The outfit builders in this series will feature pieces from my Five Wardrobe Basics for Reals Moms including dark wash skinny jeans, flats, cardigans, tanks & tees, scarves and a special bonus week that features statement jewelry.
Follow along and build your wardrobe or update some of your old favorites for just $20 a week!
Payday Pretty Challengers – $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway!
During my BYOB series, I’ll be giving away FIVE $20 gift cards to Target, one each Friday to a lucky Payday Pretty Challenger! What’s a Payday Pretty Challenger, you ask? Well, anyone who takes the Payday Pretty Challenge along with me. All you have to do is take $20 out of the weekly budget to do something pretty for yourself and then show me what you got. Sound like fun? Oh, it is!
You can enter each week. Here’s how:
1. If you’re a blogger, write about Payday Pretty and link back to me in your post = 5 Entries
2. Post a picture of what you got on my Facebook page = 3 Entries
3. Post a comment on this post and tell me what you got = 2 Entries
Good luck and I can’t wait to see what you get!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And speaking of giveaways, the winner of last week’s Payday Pretty Oh Deer! giveaway is….Amanda D.! She will be getting this adorable custom reindeer print from Paper Finch Designs. Congratulations Amanda!
BYOB – Build Your Outfit Basics
Week One – Dark Wash Skinny Jeans
There is possibly nothing more universally flattering on every woman than a perfect fitting pair of dark wash skinny jeans with some stretch. They are slimming, forgiving and seem to hold everything in place just right. I literally live in mine. Every woman needs to have a pair of these in her wardrobe arsenal!
I REALLY hesitated to make all of the $20 and under jean inspirations from Forever 21 but then I caved. After all, I have a whole closet full of their dark wash skinny jeans so I’m a believer. And they fit the $20 and under budget so perfectly, some are only $10 a pair! No, they aren’t the highest quality jeans on the market but they are pretty darn well made for the price. They keep their color wash after wash, never stretch out and are true to fit which is more than I can say for some premium denim (I won’t name any names). I also love the rise, not too high, not too low (no butt cleavage!). Forever 21 offers a wide variety of fits from petite to plus size, high waisted to classic fit. There’s something to fit every body type. The jeans below range in price from $10-$20.
If you happen to pick up a pair of these this week, tell me about it! I can’t wait to see all of your Payday Pretty finds. OH, one more thing before I go, I’ll be drawing 25 winnners for my Firmoo eyewear giveaway on Monday. It’s a low entry giveaway so if you haven’t entered yet, you still have time to do it here! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Stay pretty, my friends!
Alison
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Nov 28, 2012
Yesterday I introduced you to my newest Payday Pretty find, my fur-trimmed sweater that’s going to get the heck worn out of it this winter. I paired it up for the first time with some skinny jeans and ankle boots to create a casual glam look. For what occassion, you ask? Well to traipse up and down my front sidewalk for my hubby to take pics, of course.
All glammed up with nowhere to go!
Can you spot my new reindeer socks peeking out from my boots?
Who needs a runway when you’ve got a sidewalk!
A few of our neighbors drove by and looked at me kind of funny. Maybe they just wish they could parade up and down the street in a furry sweater too?
[Sweater: Marshall’s (Similar)/Jeans & Tank: Forever 21/Earrings: New York & Co.(Similar)/Socks: Target (Similar)/Ankle Boots: DSW (Similar)]
Shop this similar look:
[Faux Fur Vest: Macy’s – $29.99]
And don’t forget, my pretties, tomorrow’s the day!
Join me along with Sheaffer, Jenni, and Shannon for our linky party.
D.A.S.H. – Deals and Steals Hop
Everyone LOVES a bargain. Link yours up tomorrow, November 29th and show us what you got!
You won’t want to miss this linky party.
Come back tomorrow and link up with us!
Linking up today with The Pleated Poppy, Random Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, Wardrobe Wednesday
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Nov 23, 2012
Payday Pretty Challengers: December is the month for my Target themed giveaway. I’ll be announcing the details soon. Be sure to like me on Facebook to be the first to know! In the meantime, take the Payday Pretty challenge with me and other women who are squeezing $20 out of the weekly budget to do something pretty for yourself.
This week’s Payday Pretty….
My two daughters and I are decorating the house for Christmas today. This is our Black Friday tradition. Even though I’m a bargain hunter, I’ve never shopped on Black Friday. I never plan to either. Fighting crowds and getting up early (or staying up late) for a deal have never appealed much to me. Not knocking anyone who does it, though. You’re much braver than I! My hubby and son did it last year and scored some great buys.
Last evening as I was taking inventory of the Christmas decorations, I realized that it’s time to replace some of our old favorites. A few of our decorations have been around since hubby’s and my first Christmas together – 15 years ago. While they are great for nostalgia, their time for display has long gone. I try to replace a little each year, to keep things fresh and slowly rebuild what we have. This weekend, I’ll be heading out to Target, HomeGoods and Ross (once the crowds are gone!) to pick up a few new decorations.
Deer and stag themes are really big this year and I’d love to pick up at least one deer themed item for myself or my home. They are popping up on everything from sweaters and jewelry to pillows and prints. I love this trend – it’s an understated and chic way of adding a little holiday spirit to your personal style and home decor.
This week’s Payday Pretty features deer themed pieces for you and your home. As always, I dug around to bring you some $20 and under inspiration. I’ll be challenging myself to spend my $20 Payday Pretty money to spruce up our nest this week. What will you spend yours on?
GIVEAWAY!
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m teaming up with the VERY talented Amy at Paper Finch Design (check out her Etsy shop, it’s awesome!) to host a fun deer themed giveaway this week! Amy is a graphic designer who creates custom invitations, home decor and more. One lucky reader will be getting this cute reindeer graphic print – just in time for the holidays!
You also get to customize it with your own choice of background color. Click on the image above to see the color choices available. Then enter the giveaway below. Hurry – the winner will be announced next Friday!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Product Details:
It’s Your Turn: Do you shop on Black Friday or do you have another tradition? Tell me in the comments!
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Nov 22, 2012
I asked…and so did you!
Last week I debuted my new feature, Ask Alison which invites readers to submit an item to be virtually styled on the blog. It was inspired by an e-mail from a friend who asked for ways to pair up her new fleece vest. You can see the three looks I created for her HERE.
I also opened the offer to all of you to send in questions and have me pair up pieces that you own. Thanks to everyone who sent in a request! I will be featuring them in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here’s this week’s Ask Alison question.
Hi Alison! I love your new feature and your blog. Here’s my question. I got a new silver sequined tank to wear to my husband’s holiday office party. I didn’t want to buy a whole outfit because I’d like to make this work with the basics I already own. Can you show me two different ways to wear it – one casual and one for the party? I’d like to get more use out of it than just this one event. Thanks a bunch! – Nicole
Well, Nicole a sequined tank is a great wardrobe builder and more versatile than most think. You are right on the money for wanting to pair it up in different ways. I have a few sequined tanks and have worn them for everything from a New Year’s Eve party to a casual dinner. It’s an excellent multi-tasker. Not to mention, it works great with basics that most women already own.
Here are two looks to take your sequined tank from holiday party to laid back casual using items you probably already own.
For the holiday office party look, I paired the sequined tank with a red swing jacket, black dress pants, strappy heels and sparkly black and silver accessories. A bright red pedi completes out this elegant holiday look. If you don’t already own a red jacket, that’s ok, you can substitute any blazer or cardigan with this ensemble.
The laid back casual look features a lightweight boxy sweater to layer over the tank. Pair it with slouchy boyfriend jeans, comfy leopard print flats, a brown cross-body bag, fun bangles and simple hoop earrings.
It’s Your Turn: Are you having trouble styling an item in your closet? Submit your request to Ask Alison HERE and you could see it styled on the blog!
And if you missed it yesterday…I’m teaming up with three other fabulous bloggers to bring you D.A.S.H. – Deals and Steals Hop!
Join me along with Sheaffer at Pinterest Told Me To, Jenni at Found in my Closet, and Shannon at Wine Taste Girl for
D.A.S.H. – Deals and Steals Hop!
Mark your calendars – we go live on Thursday, November 29th.
Show us what you got! You can link up any bargain, no matter how big or small. Got a great deal on that pair of boots you’ve been drooling over for two months? Did you just score an entire outfit for the deal of the century? Well, we want to know! Start getting those posts ready to link up with us on November 29th. Half the fun of a bargain is sharing it with others, right?
Like me on Facebook to be the first to get the details. You won’t want to miss this link up!
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Nov 21, 2012
Yesterday I confessed to you that I bought the same jacket as my friend Mindy the day after she got it. If you missed that post, check it out HERE so the rest of this makes sense. Oh! And I have a very special announcement at the end of this post too, you won’t want to miss that!
Well, when I left you yesterday, I told you that I texted Mindy and fessed up to my copycatting. Turns out she didn’t plan to wear her new coat to the football game that night so we weren’t twinkies. Then she laughed and said since I wore mine first, everyone will think she copied from me. I’m glad she’s a good sport and I’m making sure everyone knows SHE was my inspiration! 🙂
Here’s how I paired it up with my plum cords, a chambray shirt and scarf. Purple and orange were made for each other!
[Jacket: Ross/Scarf: Ross/Chambray shirt: H&M/Plum Cords: Macy’s/Boot socks: Target/Boots: Loft (last season)]
It’s Your Turn: Have you ever copied a friend or had one copy you? Were you flattered or miffed? Tell me in the comments.
Drum roll, please….
Announcing D.A.S.H. – Deals and Steals Hop!
I’m teaming up with these three beautiful, fashionable women for our first linky party.
Join me along with Sheaffer at Pinterest Told Me To, Jenni at Found in my Closet, and Shannon at Wine Taste Girl for
D.A.S.H. – Deals and Steals Hop!
Mark your calendars – we go live on Thursday, November 29th.
Show us what you got! You can link up any bargain, no matter how big or small. Got a great deal on that pair of boots you’ve been drooling over for two months? Did you just score an entire outfit for the deal of the century? Well, we want to know! Start getting those posts ready to link up with us on November 29th. Half the fun of a bargain is sharing it with others, right?
Like me on Facebook to be the first to get the details. You won’t want to miss this link up!
Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, What I Wore Wednesday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Random Wednesday, Favorite Frock Fridays, Casual Friday, Watch What I’m Wearing
Follow GYPO on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
