May 16th, 2013

Neons!

Posted by Pam

One of the biggest trends this spring is neon! So I need to publicly apologize to my friend Andrea. She started wearing a neon pink J. Crew tank last summer and I told her that I wasn’t going to do neon again! I did it in the 90′s and I wasn’t going to repeat the trend! Well, she was ahead of the curve and I need to learn to never say never! Geesh! I was wrong and I’ve been sporting my fair share of neon this spring and I’m loving it! It is important to note that unlike in the early 90′s, do NOT wear neon head to toe. One or two hits of it in an outfit will do the trick!

Here are some of my fave neon picks…remember…only one or two pieces at a time, such as a scarf and shoes, or a t-shirt and a bracelet. Keep other pieces in your outfit neutral…denim works very well with neon. A little goes a long way!

J.Crew Shorts in Neon Peach $56.00

Gap Striped T in Blue $24.95

Joe Fresh Striped Scarf in White, Yellow and Black $16

Gap Foldover Pencil Skirt in Powerful Blue $39.95

Gap Neon-Stripe Infinity Scarf in Tree Frog $24.95

Gap 1969 Legging Skimmer Jeans in Lime Cooler $49.99

Gap Skinny Mini Skimmer Khakis in Luminous Orange $59.95

Gap Leather Stripe Tote $79.95

Kate Spade Locked In Mini Turnlock Bangle $58

J.Crew Neon Stone Necklace $95.00

Sperry Top-Sider Audrey Boat in Neon, Nude and White $85

J.Crew Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Original Boat Shoes in Neon Rose $98

J.Crew Vintage Cotton Tank in Neon Azalea $28.50

Gap Patent Perforated Flats in Neon Yellow $39.95

You only need one more thing to really carry out the neon trend…the perfect neon polish….oh, and do I have a fave!

Essie’s Boom Boom Room is the perfect cotton candy pink. I apply it without using a white underneath…I don’t find it necessary! It’s a fresh and fun color that looks fantastic with a bit of a tan!

So for me, it’s a lesson learned! Trends come back and, yes, sometimes they are worth repeating….but never literally…things always come back with a twist!

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April 28th, 2013

Plums Up for J.Crew Factory

Posted by Pam

Yes, I’m an online shopper….and I’m not ashamed of it! And lately, I’m really diggin’ J. Crew Factory! I’ve long time been a shopper at their outlets, but I’ve recently discovered an amazing selection of goods online at awesome prices…and you know how much I like a good deal! They often have sales, making their prices even better! And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all the bright colors and bling on their site right now! Great news for Canadian sistas…they ship to your door for $9.95! Now, be prepared…it takes a few days to get to you (5-7 business days), but it’s worth it!

Here are a few of my Plum Picks from J. Crew Factory right now!

Factory Leather Envelope Clutch $55.50
Factory Brass-Plated Crystal Necklace $44.50
Factory Stone and Dotted Flower Necklace $63.50
Factory Colorblock Stripe Boatneck Tee $29.99
Factory Denim Jacket in Antique Sanded Blue Wash $95.50
Factory Cropped Straight and Narrow Jean in Garment Dye $73.50
Factory Pleated Colorblock Skirt $45.99
Factory Skimmer Pant $28.50

Confession time…I have the clutch in neon yellow! I love that it’s not a teeny tiny bag….still elegant for a dressy night out, but a good size to stash all of your essentials! I just got the crystal necklace and I think I’ve worn it every other day! It’s the perfect piece to add a touch of sparkle to almost any outfit. I have the colorblock stripe tee in neon pink….I love wearing it with longer shorts….a cute spring outfit! And I have the jean jacket and I bought it for my mom too! It’s a nice worn in denim and looks great with colored denim on the bottom or a darker wash jean.

J. Crew Factory is offering 30% off all new arrivals online only until April 30, 2013 (see website for details).

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April 4th, 2013

What Pam Wore to Easter Brunch!

Posted by Pam

Laurel booked our whole family into brunch at Yew Restaurant at The Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. It’s a bit of a chi chi place with a modern aesthetic (Diana Krall and Elvis Costello were also there having brunch with their children!), so I wanted to dress the part!

Back in December when we were in Hawaii, I hit Nordstrom Rack. I seriously LOVE that store….it’s a place I can get lost in for hours and come out with some pretty serious deals. I’ve been heard to literally shriek between the clothes racks! I happened to see a rack of Rebecca Taylor items and snatched a dress…actually I took it in two sizes to try on…you can’t be too careful and aggressive in a store like that! If you turn your back, another treasure hunter will grab the bounty you had your eye on! This dress was originally priced at $425 and I paid $150…bam! And that’s why I LOVE Nordstrom Rack!

The dress is still available here at retail price.
The pumps are available here in limited sizes for $117.

Bingo!!! I loved it….and originally I thought I’d wear it at the Alt Summit. I did bring it with me to Salt Lake, but found that it was maybe a little too “sweet”. But Easter brunch was a perfect fit for this blue tweed sheath. My 12-year old daughter Dylan couldn’t help but tell me how much she disliked it (she said it more than once!), but that didn’t dissuade me!

I took the precious factor down a notch by pairing the dress with a funky neon clutch and studded heels that Jason bought me for Christmas!

I purchased my clutch at a J Crew Factory sale for $58. Available here in neon rose for $69.50.
I had a bit of a high-low thing going on with the arm party…a Coach bangle, an American Eagle bracelet and a Forever 21 link bracelet.

And as added bonus…. I just found out that Kate Middleton wore a tweed suit from the same collection! Sorry, Dylan, but if it’s good enough for a princess, it’s perfect for me!

Note that the princess kept the skirt suit much more demure with navy pumps and a small navy clutch.

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So, you really can dress like royalty without paying ridiculous prices…it takes a bit of looking around…and maybe a few hours of getting lost between the racks at a discount store (and a few high kicks of pure delight…yes, I’ve done that too!), but you are sure to emerge with some pretty nifty treasures!

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January 24th, 2013

Pam as Mrs. Peacock at the Alt Summit

Posted by Pam

For one of the dinners at the Alt Summit that we are attending this week (a conference for lifestyle bloggers), we had to dress us as our favorite character from the game Clue. Ok, I don’t do games…it’s just not my thing. Have to admit I’ve never played Clue, but I love turquoise, so Mrs. Peacock I would be!

I had a lot of fun hunting around for deals to put an outfit together. Here’s what I found….

J. Crew Coat , regular price $325, I paid $160
Diane Von Furstenburg Top , regular price $245, I paid $166
J. Crew Skirt , regular price $148, I paid $42
Boutique 9 Pumps (from Saks Off Fifth), regular price $150, I paid $59
Essie Polish in “Where’s My Chauffeur?” , regular price $9, promo’d
Michael Kors Bag (from Michael Kors outlet) , regular price $298, I paid $162

The total regular price for the outfit was $1, 175. I paid $589, with a savings of $586! That’s 50% off! I know it’s still an investment and I probably won’t ever wear all the pieces together again, but I got a killer winter coat and a fantastic bag that will add a punch of color to outfits most any season. I love all of the other pieces too! The skirt will work great with a black silk blouse and black pumps that I already have!! So, really, I got a few outfits out of this one!

Bottom line…I don’t play games, but I sure get a charge out of finding an outfit for a great deal!

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December 21st, 2012

Friday Find ~ Last Minute Gifts!

Posted by Pam

Christmas is 4 days away and the malls are crazy, parking lots are full, credit card machines are overloaded….and shoot…you forgot gifts for a couple of people!!! If you are like me, you don’t want to get near any type of retail outlet until after Christmas. I like to spend the next couple of days preparing dishes for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch..the LAST thing I want to do is fight the crowds!! Or you might not have time to drop a gift off before Christmas….ahhh!

Here’s the solution….some retailers offer e-gift cards…you can purchase a gift card online, often personalized and with a design of your choice and the “gift card” is emailed to the recipient when you schedule it to be! Seriously brilliant!

Here are a few of our fave e-tailers offering e-cards….

A couple of things to look for in the terms and conditions…some e-cards are only good for online purchases and some are good for online and in-store purchases. Also, some sites give you the option to print out a gift certificate…perfect for popping into a Christmas card!

Your friends and family won’t sniff a bit at receiving an e-card…they can take advantage of after Christmas sales! It’s a win-win for everyone!

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