Toys, Toys, Toys!

I know you don’t want to hear this, but the Holidays are right around the corner.  I’ve already started making my list for Little AG – or my wishlist, at least.  If, like me, you would like to get a head start on shopping – check out some of these awesome toys and gifts that I caught on sale!

Little AG loves to be a “big girl” – so having a place of her own to sit would be the ultimate gift for her.  I love this table and chairs set from on sale at Back to Basics Toys for $129.99 – down from $159.99.  This would be the perfect addition to our breakfast room, actually, where she could have a place of her own!

For the little Hannah Montana fan (fans?) in your life, I love this Hannah Montana Cut ‘N Create set from on sale at the Crayola Store for $18.49, down from $24.99.  The cutting wand looks like a pen, but cuts in any shape you can imagine.  Pretty cool, I think I might play with it too!

Little AG loves her Super Sleuth Changing Tree — the Sleuther siren even makes the noise that it does on the show!  A toy we play with daily and love, comes highly recommended by us!  On *major* sale at Ty’s Toy Box for $39.99, down from $69.99.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as a part of an on-going relationship that I have with DealTaker.com.  However, it is my promise to you that I will never write about things that I don’t like or wouldn’t actually use or buy.  To find out more, you can read my disclosure policy.

Fashion Steals

Sale alert!  Check out this empire waist dress from G by GUESS – called the Goddess Dress – perfect dressed down with a chunky necklace and flip flops or dressed up with some nicer jewelry and heels.  The best part is the price – $9.98 down from $44.50.

Two major fall trends are the one-shoulder look and ruffles – so why not combine them with this adorable ruffled, one-shoulder top from Old Navy. It comes in solids and prints (though purple is a very hot color!) and is on sale for $6 – down from $17.50.

It may be hot as all heck here in Louisiana, but I know that nicer weather is just around the corner.  When it arrives, I’ll be prepared, because one of my favorite things to shop for is coats.  I’m liking this Drop Waist Trench Coat from Nordstrom, it has a slightly gathered waist to create some volume at the bottom, but still has nice clean lines.  It is 60% off – down to $62.90 from $158.  Squee!

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as a part of an on-going relationship that I have with DealTaker.com.  However, it is my promise to you that I will never write about things that I don’t like or wouldn’t actually use or buy.  To find out more, you can read my disclosure policy.

Beauty Steals

First off, I just had to share that this awesome gift set from The Body Shop is on sale for a mere $8.  That is down from 40 bucks, so if you need a gift for someone this would be a great buy.  Or grab a couple and keep ‘em in the closet for those “ohmygosh I forgot it was her birthday today” days.

Loving, LOVING these these new Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadows from Bobbi Brown Makeup.  Perfect for fall, they go on smooth and just look incredible.  You can snatch these up for $22 a pop.  (PS — use code Eyes66 and get a free eyeshadow wash on orders over $65!)

Oooh, and get a free 6 oz. Hot Salt Scrub when you buy Bliss’ awesome (AWESOME, seriously awesome) Body Butter.  Start with the scrub and finish with the lotion and you will have skin that is smoother than a baby’s bum.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post as a part of an on-going relationship that I have with DealTaker.com.  However, it is my promise to you that I will never write about things that I don’t like or wouldn’t actually use or buy.  To find out more, you can read my disclosure policy.

Fashion Obsession: Free People

I was bopping around on the Free People site this morning, and fell head over heels in love with this dress.  I want it.  Bad. I need it, can’t live without it, gotta have it, MIGHT GO CRAZY IF I CAN’T BUY IT kinda want.  See what I mean?  It’s serious.

This is the Graphic Cutout Ponte Dress from Free People, and I’m in love with it’s classic, sexy shape, and surprising yet elegant back.  I love clothing that is undeniably sexy but that leaves a little to the imagination, and I think that this dress does that well.  Very well.  So well that I must have it.  Did I mention that part yet?

I will be so disappointed if I try it on and it doesn’t look right on me.  Maybe it’s better if I don’t buy it, because then it can never let me down.

Hm, has this turned into an entirely different discussion now?  I think it’s a possibility.

Feel Like A Natural Woman

Hello.  My name is Erika and I’m addicted to buying and trying beauty products.

Hiiii, Errrikkkkaaaaa.

It’s true.  I don’t care if it is from Macy’s or Walgreen’s – I’ve tried almost every beauty product I can get my hands on.  When I discovered that I was pregnant with Little AG I suddenly realized that I had been largely slacking in one beauty product area – organic and natural makeup and skincare.  Being pregnant suddenly made me extremely aware of every single product I applied to my body, including things like sunscreen, makeup, toothpaste, and body lotion.  I spent hours using the internet to research every possible danger associated with every single product that I currently used – and it was then that my family forbade me from continuing to google information about beauty products on the internet.

They were all — um, crazy chick…step away from the laptop.  And I was all — must.do.more.googling!  After a brief intervention, they won.  It was a bit obsessive, I suppose.

So, in the absence of Google I turned to my two younger sisters, who had been using natural beauty products for quite a while, to help me figure out ways to incorporate organic and natural beauty and skincare products into my routine.  They pointed me in the direction of some fantastic products for both myself and for my then-still-a-peanut-sized daughter.  If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about these products but not really sure where to start – check out some of the awesome products I’ve suggested for you below, compiled with the help of my sister Dawn.  Most of these products aren’t completely organic, but they are all formulated without parabens and  without sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates.  Both of these have the ability to pass through the skin and to build up in the tissues of your body.  Yech.

1. Can You C Me? A makeup remover for both your visage and peepers, it combines organic carrot juice, minerals, and Dead Sea Mud and leaves my face feeling smooth and refreshed (isn’t it funny that mud makes my face feel refreshed?).  As a bonus – one of the ingredients is Aloe Vera so that it won’t irritate those pretty peepers, and will actually soothe tired eyes.

2.    Burt’s Bees Lemon and Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil – For an intensive moisturizing treatment, add some of this to a bath or apply it directly onto your skin.  After the birth of Little AG I used Vitamin E oil religiously after exfoliating, and it rid my tummy body of all of those pesky pregnancy stretchmarks.

3.  Pacifica “Mexican Cocoa” Solid Perfume – My sister Dawn let me try this stuff at the beach a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say that it’s true – good things absolutely come in small packages!  This delicious smelling perfume is created with organic wax and all-natural oils.  I would have never thought smelling like cocoa would be sexy, but I’ve gotta tell ya, dabbing a bit of this solid perfume behind my ears did not make me feel like a walking chocolate cake.  Bonus:  since it’s tiny, you can slip it in your evening bag or clutch and freshen up throughout the evening!

4.  Alba Sport Sunscreen SPF 30+ – Wearing sunscreen everyday is one of the most important things that you can do to combat aging – so next time you are in the market for more, try out this awesome broad-spectrum sunscreen.  This sunscreen is infused with all sorts of delish ingredients, including lavender, green tea, and aloe vera.

5.  Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Creme – Along with sunscreen, moisturizer is a product that should be used daily to fight off signs of aging, so why not give this one, with 134 different nutrients to nourish and protect your skin, a try?  Use it daily to help diminish the apperance of fine lines and keep your skin glowing.

Confessions of a…?

I cracked up laughing when I saw this video over at Red Chair Confessions!  I know what it sorta sounds like she is confessing, but let’s face it – that is exactly why it isn’t at all what she is actually confessing!

My guess is that she loves to shop, or has purchased something amazing at an awesome “secret” sale and can’t stop herself from going back.  I’m telling you – from the looks of this chick, my guess is that she is a shopaholic!  (I love the belted coat and zebra print scarf!)

(What?  I notice those kinds of things!)

I mean, shopping makes me feel like a woman.  My confession?  I once had an “emergency” blue jean purchase on my mom’s credit card when I was in college.  They were on sale for one day ONLY, and if I didn’t buy them RIGHT THEN I would essentially be losing money!  Right?

Ahem.
So what do you think her “big” confession is?  I’m curious to hear your theories!  Share them in the comments below!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Izea and Social Spark.  Of course, just ’cause it’s sponsored doesn’t mean the opinions, thoughts, and words aren’t all mine.  Cause they are.  It’s how I roll.

For more info, check out my disclosure policy.

Famous Footwear {Giveaway CLOSED}

Did you know that two things most all women share is their love of shoes and ice cream? (I’m literally eating ice cream as I post this.  Shhh!  Don’t tell!)  Famous Footwear blends these two ingredients together on its site Make Today Unexpected, which gives us women the chance to discover our style and flavor in a most unexpected way.

I just went there, took a short quiz, and found out my personal flavor is “The Devil Wears Cheesecake.” It described me as “A glamorous trendsetter who isn’t shy about her love for the finer things.”  Perfect!

I’ve got an awesome chance for you to win a $100 gift card to Famous Footwear, and you’ll have the chance to discover your own flavor along the way.

Giveaway

Grand Prize

This week, Famous Footwear is awarding one lucky winner with a $100 gift card. Shoes anyone? (Be sure to check out the Fine Print below!)

Coupon

We wanted to make everyone a winner, so visit MakeTodayUnexpected.com and enter to receive $10.00 off your next purchase of $50.00 or more.

Entry Requirements

To enter for a chance to win the $100 Famous Footwear gift card, please do these four things (make sure you leave a separate comment for each of your entries).

Note: Entries that do not follow all of these requirements will not be considered.

1. Take the ‘Find Your Flavor’ quiz by clicking here. Leave a comment on this post with your flavor and e-mail address.
2. Become a fan of the Famous Footwear’s Make Today Unexpected Facebook Page. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Make-Today-Famous/112646406371?ref=ts)
3. Follow @maketodayfamous on Twitter.
4. Post these messages on Facebook and/or on Twitter and leave comments here, linking to your messages:

Join #gno 8/25 from 9-11 ET 2 chat shoes & ice cream w/ @famous_footwear & @maketodayfamous. RSVP: http://bit.ly/wsRrC PLS RT

Download Famous Footwear coupon 4 back-to-school/fall savings: http://bit.ly/fogQH PLS RT #gno

Extra Entries

You can earn up to two extra entries for this week’s giveaway. Leave an additional comment for each.

• Click here and become a Famous Footwear REWARDS club member (free).
• Post or tweet about something unexpected that has happened to make your day or week more positive on @maketodayfamous or on the Make Today Unexpected Facebook Page.

The Fine Print

Contest ends Sunday, August 30th.  No purchase necessary to enter. Famous Footwear and Mom It Forward employees, and giveaway hostesses are ineligible to participate. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.

Hollywood Intuition

Celebrities and smart Hollywood types know that Intuition is the place to shop to find the most up to date trends and styles.  Jaye Hersh, the founder and owner of this little gem, has released a collaboration with Target called Hollywood Intuition so that you can steal designer style for much, much less.  I was there recently and snatched up this awesome Purple Tote which I have since discovered works perfectly as an airplane carry-on or large purse.  It fits my MacBook and power cord with ease, with plenty of room left in the other pockets for a sweater, pair of flats, and my ID/wallet/phone.  It comes in green, black, and purple, but I think purple is one of the hottest colors you can buy, so go grab it while you can! (PS – it’s a total steal at only $29.99!)

Must Have Shoes (Lots of Them!)

I am the type of person who buys a fantastic pair of shoes, then finds the outfit to match.  I don’t care how outlandish the shoes, if I love them, I buy them.  I revel in having a pair of shoes that no one else has.  However, sometimes I do happen upon an ensemble that I love, and I don’t have shoes that will quite “fit”.  For those occasions, I turn to online shoe boutiques to narrow down my choices, and often resort to things like googling the “look” I want in hopes that it will eventually lead me to the perfect pair of shoes.

That is where MustHaveShoes comes in.  Instead of googling my look, I can simply visit the site, and type in the adjective of the type of shoes that I “must have”.  When I was browsing the site earlier, I typed in “fall shoes” to see what looks Must Have Shoes had for fall.  My search returned a customized shoe boutique that fit my search and showed all of the shoes that fit my “fall” search description!  Since I think that shoes and bags with “bite” will be popular this fall, I immediately took a liking to these snakeskin high heels!

What do you think?  Could you use Must Have Shoes for your own shoe quest?

Tea Tree Skin Care from The Body Shop {Giveaway CLOSED}

I have been shopping at The Body Shop for over 10 years now — my nose won’t let my body pass one of those awesome stores by without going in!  I discovered the Body Shop back when I was in high school when I began using their tea tree products that help prevent and control breakouts and blemishes. I used the line for years, so I was really excited to hear that they had revamped their their Tea Tree line – reformulating some existing products and adding new ones to create an entire skin care regime.

All of the products are now paraben & phthalate free – which is great news for anyone trying to be a bit more “green”.  (And a smart move, in my humble opinion!)  The line now includes products to prevent blemishes and breakouts, treat existing blemishes, and control oil and shine.  The products are formulated to not be too harsh or to overdry your skin, while still being effective.

Win It! To celebrate the relaunch of their new line, The Body Shop is offering 2 Chic Shopper Chick readers a prize package that includes all of the products that you see above ($115 value).  To enter to win, click on over to The Body Shop’s website and then come back here and tell me which one of their born-again Tea Tree products you would most love to try.  Leave a comment here, and stumble, subscribe, tweet (button at the top!) or blog about this contest with a link back here for additional entries. This contest ends August 20st, 2009 (ooh, on my birthday!). US entries only, must be 18 or older to enter, no purchase necessary to win.

Old Navy $2 Ribbed Tank Tops

Old Navy is at it again!  This Saturday they are having yet another one of their incredible sales – this time for $2 ribbed tank tops.  There will be all sorts of colors and patterns to choose from – so don’t make the mistake I did last time and waltz in 2 hours after the sale has begun.  If you want to have your pick of colors and sizes I’d advise you to arrive when your store opens, or soon after.  There is a limit of 5 per customer, which frankly I think is a nice rule if you are the 11 am waltzer-inner like I am.

This is the perfect summer wardrobe staple, but stock up now for winter — this is a great layering piece for the cooler months as well.  Don’t forget – the sale is only for this Saturday, August 15th.  Wait too long, and they’ll all be gone!

Fall Trendspotting: Denim Leggings

Leggings are back for fall, but this time they are disguising themselves as our favorite wardrobe staple.  Or, perhaps it’s the reverse, and denim is trying to look like leggings.  Either way – this is a trend you won’t be able to miss – I’m already seeing them pop up everywhere.  I’ve gotta say, though — I’m not sure I like it.  Even if they are disguised as jeans, I’m just not sure leggings should be worn as pants.

That being said, I don’t think imposter denim is the worst thing to happen to fashion.  My tip to you, should you decide to try this trend, is to treat these as leggings and not as jeans. I’ve laid out a few ideas for ways you should and shouldn’t wear this style if you decide to try it.  

Do: tuck them into a pair of boots this fall, pair them with a fantastic pair of heels, wear longer tops and tunics with belts over them. 

Don’t: pair them with your Pumas, wear them with shorter shirts, select an acid-washed style that will make your legs look bigger than they actually are.  Heck, in my humble opinion, even size negative zero chicks should avoid the acid wash style.  Just sayin’.

If you want to try out a pair of jeggings (jeans+leggings=jeggings) – try this relatively safe option from Juicy Couture.  While it pains me to pay $88 bucks for a pair of leggings, I don’t think this is a style you can go the inexpensive route on.

So tell me, what do you think about this trend?!  Are you a friend or foe of jeggings?

I’m a Lifetime Mom!

I am both honored and excited to announce the launch of the brand new site Lifetime Moms, the newest digital venture in a long list of successful projects by Lifetime Television.  The cool thing is, I’m not just telling you about this new site because it rocks, but because I have been fortunate enough to have been quietly involved in this awesome project from it’s earliest stages.

Lifetime has brought together 14 influential mom bloggers to create their powerhouse site Lifetime Moms, which will cover almost every topic that you can imagine.  I am honored that I have been asked to come on board as the co-channel leader for the Beauty and Style section of Lifetime Moms.  Even better, I’m partnering with my close friend and fellow fashionista Audrey McClelland from Mom Generations to bring moms out there the very best in beauty, fashion, and style.  Be on the lookout for some awesome content – and keep your eyes peeled if you’re watching Lifetime – you may even catch a glimpse of your two favorite mom fashionistas!

I am incredibly excited to be working with a brand that truly understands women, and that is so well-respected.  I am honored to call myself a “Lifetime Mom” – a name that I think works on two levels.  First and foremost, I am, and always will be, a proud mom – and as all women who are mothers know – it is a role that you play for a lifetime.  Secondly, I am now an official “Lifetime Mom” – and I know that other moms will truly benefit from the honest, authentic, and just flat-out amazing content that will be available on the site.  We have worked alongside an amazing team at Lifetime for months now and I know I speak for all 14 of us when I say that we are all incredibly proud of the end result.

Plus, did I mention that I get to write about things like shoes, clothes, and makeup all of the time?  Oh yeah, I’m pretty excited about that part, too. 

While you’re clickin’ around, be sure to check out the other Lifetime Moms and their channels!

• FIT & HEALTHY — Arianne Segerman
• PREGNANCY — Kim Dobson
• FOOD — Lori Falcon
• HOME — Katja Presnal
• WORK — Stephanie Elie
• JUST FOR FUN — Lindsay Maines and Beth Feldman
• STEALS & DEALS — Alyssa Francis and Tara Kuczykowski
• PRODUCT REVIEWS — Colleen Padilla
• PARENTING — Christine Young and Nichole Smith

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