Are you ready for Black Friday? Personally, I do all of my holiday (and regular) shopping online because I’d rather not deal with crazed shoppers and long lines.  However, if you’re one of the brave souls who are planning to wade through crowds on November 27th, here are a few things you might want to take with you and keep in mind.
1. Wear comfortable shoes! This should go without saying but don’t sacrifice your favourite shoes or your feet in order to get good deals.
2. Consider carrying a cross-body bag. Or go without a handbag. You will need your hands …read more

Humanity wrap around bracelets are full of positive attitudes, self affirmations, and wise words, and all you have to do is glance at your wrist to put a little infusion of confidence into your day.  And even the most successful and confident woman can use a little boost every now and again.
Wouldn’t one of these pick up your spirits:

Lead the Way
Sow Love
Speak Kindness
Lend a Hand, Receive a Hand
Accept Love
Make a Difference

Available in colors of baby pink, snow, grass, rust, natural, and brick red, you can find the Humanity bracelets at local boutiques or through the Humanity website.  Priced at …read more

The animal print trend is still going strong, so if you haven’t added any to your wardrobe, fall will be a great time to pick up a little something.  The key to wearing animal print, however, is not to over-do it.  A little is great, but the only one who should be wearing animal print head to toe is the animal.
Take a walk on the wild side, and pair up your animal prints with something already in your wardrobe:

Shoes – Pair some sexy animal print shoes with basic black to a conservative suit from drab to fab.  They’ll dress …read more

After tooling around Europe for a few weeks, and then looking at the fall previews in stores, it’s clear that scarves are going to be a top accessories.  They certainly were for spring, and it doesn’t look like there’s any end to this simple fashion trend.
Fall scarves are soft and warm, with fabrics like lightweight cashmere, knits, and silk.  You’ll see muted soft colors, as well as bold and bright shades that will make your eyes and your outfit pop.
Here are a few fall selections for Saks Fifth Avenue:

Marc Jacobs:  This large woven silk and cashmere blend has …read more

Yesterday was the first day of the annual Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  For some of you that’s really not a big deal, but I’m in Seattle, and here, the sale is a VERY BIG deal.
Growing up, it may have been back-to-school shopping with mom and dad.  In college, it may have been the opportunity to pick up one or two fun pieces for fall.  And for many businesswomen, this is the time to stock up on basic wardrobe items in addition to finding a couple of new fall outfits.
I’m at that in between shopping phase.  I wear a uniform for my …read more

On today’s shopping list are some practical items that it’s time to replace, as well as an opportunity to try one new product.  So, off I go shopping at Lancome, with my $100 budget.
Here are three practical items that I have in my shopping cart:

Sôleil Expert Sun Care SPF 30 Face Creme – A moisture rich sun protection specially design for the face with good UVA/UVB protection.  Wear it alone or as a moisturizer under your foundation.  Sun protection is a key line of defense against skim damage, premature aging, and skin cancer.  $28.50.
Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover …read more

By and large I think that Forever 21 is great for gals in that 21 age bracket, but it always scares me to see mothers of those gals trying on the same clothes.  Sure, you may be able to fit into your daughter’s clothing, but it doesn’t mean that you should!
Still, there are lots of fashion choices that you can make at Forever 21, regardless of your age and size, and the prices are inexpensive enough that you can try a few trends that may not stick around very long.
Take a look at what you can buy for $100:

A straw …read more

There’s nothing I like better than finding a stylish new outfit that doesn’t break the bank!  For less than $100, you can get these three pieces from Martin + Osa that make a simple casual outfit AND can easily coordinate with other items that you have in your closet.

Slim fitting jeans (sale priced, $50)
T-Shirt (sale priced, $24.50)
Bag ($19.50)

Start off with a pair of slim fitting jeans.  I love this look, but have been slow to adopt the style – mostly because I have a few curves.  But I saw women of all ages and sizes wearing this style in Europe …read more

Gift cards make an enjoyable gift, and I think they come with double excitement value – the excitement of receiving the gift card, and a second round of excitement when you make your selections.  (Of course, if you order online, you get a third round of excitement when your delivery arrives!) 
That’s a whole lot of value out of a simple gift card purchase!
I love thinking about how I’d spend huge sums of money at all my favorite stores if I had a gift card worth thousands of dollars.  It’s a tougher decision, however, if the gift card is …read more

What can you do to make sure the current economic climate doesn’t leave a permanent dent in your life? Well, hopefully by now you have started to take the necessary measures to protect yourself and your family. But if you’ve been successfully avoiding this topic up until now, no worries -  just some small tweaks can make a big difference.
Here are the top ten ways to recession-proof your life:
Create a budget: step #1, know what you’re currently spending. You would be surprised how quickly your money goes toward things that could be easily cut down or cut out of your …read more