Monday, October 31, 2011

5 Coats under $50

I looked out my window this morning and witnessed the first snowfall of the year. This snow has inspired me to search around the web for cute winter coats. Here are 5 that I found under 50 bucks....happy shopping!

#1 Plaid Woven Coat from Forever 21 $32.80


Forever 21 Plaid Coat



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#2 Houndstooth Trench from Charlotte Russe $44.99


Charlotte Russe Houndstooth Jacket



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#3 Black Belted Coat from 2b bebe $49.95

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#4 Camel Trench w/ Faux Fur Collar $47.80


Faux Collar Coat



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#5 Adorable Faux Leather Coat from H&M $49.95


Adorable H&M Coat

Get White Teeth Now!

Okay so whoever said that coffee & soda drinkers can't have white teeth obviously didn't own the right products because I drink both on a daily basis and I'm not saying I have the whitest smile in the world but I definitely do a lot to maintain my teeth to keep them as white as possible. Here are the products I use everyday including the routine in which I use them :)

1. Mint Floss: This obviously can be purchased at any store and I don't buy any brand in particular but I prefer the mint-flavored kind. Flossing your teeth won't make them whiter but it will keep your gums healthy and therefore give you a more attractive smile.

2. Crest 3D White Mouthwash: I just bought this mouthwash a week ago but can already notice a difference. I was using a different brand of whitening mouthwash but I definitely think this one provides better results. The taste isn't overwhelming either which is a plus!

Crest 3D Mouthwash



3. Plus White Teeth Whitening Kit: I'm in love with this kit. It is such a bargain I bought mine at Target for about $5.00. It comes with a mouth rinse to use before applying the gel, the whitening gel and a mouth tray. I don't always use the mouth rinse because I usually use the gel after I've already used my whitening mouthwash but the gel works wonders! I use it once a day because my teeth do become a little sensitive after but I definitely have noticed a difference after only 3 uses. It's so much cheaper than white strips and I think works more effectively.

Plus White Teeth Whitening Gel


4. Crest Whitening Gel Toothpaste w/ Scope: I've been using this toothpaste for the past 3 years and am in love. I'm pretty sure they switched the name to Crest Complete but it's been working the same for me. I don't really have much to say about the toothpaste other than I truly believe it helps keep my teeth white . I like the taste of it and I also prefer the gel consistency over the traditional toothpaste kind.

Crest Toothpaste


5. Arm & Hammer Spin Brush: For as long as I've been using the Crest Whitening Gel toothpaste I've also been using the spin brush. This brush truly makes a difference in what my teeth look like. The spinning motion of the brush definitely gets rid of more plaque on my teeth than normal brushes. My teeth just feel much cleaner after using the spin brush. If you haven't switched over yet I greatly suggest you do! Click here for special offers exclusively from the Arm & Hammer website.

Arm & Hammer Spin Brush




Follow these steps everyday and get ready for some white teeth today!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Cute Fall Look for Less

Okay let's admit it...nobody really wants to spend a fortune on clothes. Yes there's certain items you should splurge on and others (such as a $50 layering tee...) that aren't necessary to spend all your money on. One of my favorite things to do is to look at all the latest lookbooks on my favorite clothing websites and try to recreate the outfits by putting together pieces that are significantly less money. In my opinion, it's not the cost of that makes the outfit but rather how you put it together. I found this outfit on a ShopBop.com lookbook and here are the pieces I thought would recreate it best. Oh and by the way this original outfit totals at $1,821...absolutely unnecessary if you ask me!

Outfit:



Black Ribbed Turtleneck from Macy's $21.98
(For some reason it wouldn't let me copy the picture url so you'll have to click the link to see it)


Brown Leather Shorts



Brown Faux Leather Shorts from ASOS.COM $62.90

I love these shorts because they appear to fit a bit higher than most shorts. I like shorts that fit higher because then you can tuck your top into them which makes for a very cute look. I also love the detailing on these shorts which you can view better when you click the picture.


Black Tights



Black Tights from Forever 21 $6.80

I absolutely love the look of tights under shorts and I think they make it easy to incorporate shorts into your fall wardrobe. I definitely think the shorts should be a dressier type of short and preferably high-waisted because they make the look.

Jewelry:


American Eagle Gold Bangle $15.50



Elastic Infinity Bracelet



Elastic Infinity Bracelet $38.00




Gold Watch from Macy's $29.98



Gold Zebra Ring



Zebra Stripe Ring from Forever 21 $4.80


Gold Interlinked Rings



Gold Interlinked Rings from Forever 21 $4.80

Shoes:


I couldn't initially think of what shoes to go with this outfit since they didn't pair any with the look on ShopBop but I think I prefer flats. You could go with open toed Mary Jane shoes or a style like that too. It's all about what you feel comfortable doing. These are the ones I decided to go with:


Cute Flats


Really Cute Cap Toe Flats from Target $24.99


And the grand total for this complete outfit is.....$209.75. You saved more than $1600 and got some cute shoes too :)

Monday, September 26, 2011

Products I Love Right Now

There are some things I use almost everyday that I'd like to share with everyone. These products are inexpensive but very useful and some even provide multiple purposes. Trust me I love high end items but some things aren't necessary to spend a fortune on.



Johnson's Baby Shampoo


Johnson's Baby Shampoo

Do you want an easy, extremely effective way to clean off your eye makeup? Use a couple drops of this on a tissue or cotton sponge and wipe away! What's great about using this shampoo as an eye-makeup remover is that it doesn't burn or hurt your eyes like most removers. Plus, it literally gets rid of every last bit of makeup. You can also use this shampoo in a bowl or sink with warm water to soak your makeup brushes. It's crucial to clean your brushes at least once a month and this is an easy, cost-effective way!


Johnson's Baby Powder


Johnson's Baby Powder

So you're probably thinking...what's with the baby products? Baby powder serves as a great addition to your hair care regimen! If you feel that your hair is greasy but not enough to wash it then just take some powder in your hands and put it throughout your hair. I'm not a scientist so I don't know exactly why this works but I know that it has kept my hair looking good on days it started out somewhat greasy.


Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure



Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

I honestly can admit that I HATE doing my nails myself. They're so obnoxious to maintain and I would much rather just pay money to have them done. However, getting a manicure every week or two is not the most cost - conscious activity to get involved with. Sally Hansen created a nail polish that includes 5 steps in one little bottle! It contains both base and top coats right in the formula so you don't have to worry about all that drying time. It definitely dried in a short amount of time too which is even better. This polish comes in over 40 shades all of which can be found on the Sally Hansen website. My favorite is "Shrimply Devine" because I love pink shades. You can pick it up at Walmart or Target for only $8 bucks!

MAC Powder Blush (Peaches)


MAC Powder Blush

I am obsessed with this blush. I use it every single day to add some color to my cheeks! I've actually been using it instead of bronzer lately because I feel that it gives more of a natural glow. You can definitely build this blush too if you want a more dramatic look. I think this color would work on nearly any skin tone depending on how much you build the color. It's a great blush to have on hand because you can wear it all year round but it's especially good for fall. This blush goes for about $20 which may sound like a lot but considering how much I use it I'm going to consider it a cost-effective beauty product. I bought mine in April and still have plenty left!


Sunday, September 18, 2011

Tip of the Day #1

I decided to add a Tip of the Day piece to this blog so you can get a quick fix of advice each and everyday!  My tip for today and everyday is to go shopping with an honest friend. If you would rather shop alone try going in stores that offer good customer service and don't be afraid to ask for opinions on the fit of the clothes you're trying on. You could also snap pictures of yourself on your phone and send them to a friend if you wish! I believe honesty is the best policy when it comes to the way clothes fit. Dressing for your body is all about taking certain features into consideration. Sometimes all it takes is a second opinion to find what's best for you! Some of us don't even need that second opinion so if this is the case be honest with yourself. If you feel like that shirt is too tight on you then try going up a size or try a different style. If you prefer trouser-style pants over skinny pants that's fine! Again, it's all about what you feel comfortable in and about being honest with what you like. However, don't be afraid to try new things on. You never know how your style may evolve!

Hey Girls!

I thought I'd use my first posting to introduce myself and my reasons for creating this blog! First off, my name is Gabrielle Juliann. I'm a recent college graduate with close to 4 years of retail and wardrobing experience. I've dealt with many different clients so far in my career each with their own unique sense of style. There's so many choices out there nowadays when it comes to dressing yourself and I'd like to provide you with tips/tricks that I've picked up along the way. The truth is that you should work with what you have and styles that work for you. It's all about taking something you like and making it flatter your body and your style. Don't get caught up in trends that don't complement your features just because everyone else is! I'm hoping to help others feel the best they possibly can without spending an absolute fortune (this coming from a reformed shopaholic by the way). It's all about you!