what I bought in november…

I’m starting a new tradition of sharing my favorite purchases of the month. I LIVE for a bargain, but that said, you MUST invest in certain quality items. The first step is to start thinking about value vs. cost. A good rule, and Helen’s favorite saying, is cost per wear. This could not be more applicable here. I have divided my purchases into splurges and steals…I use the term ‘splurges’ loosely…

Splurges…

Stila ‘Stay All Day’ Foundation ($44); purchased at Sephora.

Winter is not coming, it’s freaking here, and gone is the sunny glow on my cheeks. So much so that the skin on my cheeks is almost see-through. I decided it was time for an upgrade. I started my hunt for the perfect foundation by reading customer reviews online. I  narrowed it down to YSL, Stila, & Bare Minerals. Armed with my options, I headed to Sephora where a nice gentleman with the most manicured eyebrows I have ever seen assisted me. First, he used a tiny machine to determine my skin color. This step is very important. I’m fairly certain that on my own, I would have chosen a much darker shade and rocked a mean make up line all season. Next we talked about my skin type, which is as dry as the Sahara, so he recommend the Stila. I took a deep breath and handed over my card to pay over $40 for foundation.

I LOVE IT and here’s why – It matches my skin perfectly (thanks to eyebrows and his magic machine!), offers that balance between good coverage without being overly heavy, and truly lasts most, if not all, of the day. As an added bonus, this product comes with a matching concealer hidden in the cap AND a brush.

Lucky Brand ‘Zepia’ Leather Over-the-knee Boots in Toffee ($80) purchased at Ross.

I know what you are thinking – you put a Ross purchase in the splurge section? Yes, if I didn’t dig it out of a .99 cent bin it has a high likelihood of being categorised as a splurge. I do recognize that I got a great deal on these bad boys. They retail for $219, but you can get them on sale at Macy’s for $175.

If you don’t have a good pair of tall flat boots, stop what you are doing and go get some immediately. They are one of the most versatile pairs of shoes you can own. This season I pulled out my tried and true boots with the intention of reviving them with a good polish. However, after 3 Chicago winters, they were just too stretched and salt damaged to save.

I was really NOT happy about the idea of dropping bank on a new pair of boots, but I know this is sometimes necessary. Ladies, what I’m about to say is very important. DO NOT BUY CHEAP BOOTS. I have never seen a pair of cheap boots that did not look cheap. You get what you pay for with shoes, and a great pair of shoes can elevate an entire outfit. The opposite is also true, a cheap looking pair of shoes can ruin an outfit. Michael Kors has famously said that a woman cannot spend enough money on her hair or shoes. Preach Master Kors. Also, in extreme climates like Chicago, you’ll be lucky if a cheap pair of boots survive one season of slushy sidewalks.  You might as well spend the money for something that will last and actually keep your toesies warm. Not to mention the comfort factor. Ok, I think you get the point – I really dislike cheap shoes.

I began my hunt online at Ideeli and Gilt. Meh. Then hit up Nordstroms and Bloomingdales. After nothing really caught my eye, I checked out Ross. Ross is always a gamble. Sometimes you find trash and other times treasure – very similar to the thrift store and the people are almost as crazy. The retail gods were on my side, because I found these beauties. After a thorough check to ensure they didn’t have any defects (a necessary step when shopping at Ross, Marshalls, etc.), I purchased them.

I LOVE THEM and here’s why – They are listed as ‘over-the-knee’, but really they only come up to the knee which I actually prefer. Thigh-high boots are super fierce, but just a bit aggressive to rock on the daily. They are also very stiff and stand up on their own. This is indicative of their quality and assures me that they will last a long time without slouching. Lastly, the ‘toffee’ color is the perfect brown – not too tan and not too chocolate.

Ray Ban ‘High Street” 54MM Sunnies ($120 – on sale from $155) purchased at Nordstrom.

My last pair of ray ban sunnies were the ‘New Wayfarer’ style last seen in a dressing room on 5th ave while at NYFW. Sad panda. I absolutely loved them, and I even contemplated buying the exact same pair. For some reason that pained me a little too much, so I opted for the ‘High Street’ style.

I LOVE THEM and here’s why – They are a bit bigger than the New Wayfarer and have more of a cat eye shape. I have never been one to shy away from diva glasses! There were other trendier more hipster styles that I really liked, but when dropping this much coin, I always stick to classic. They are also really comfortable and stay put on my face whilst running about town or using them as a headband.

Prenatal massage ($130) purchased at Urban Oasis Spa.

I am a preggo eggo (almost 7 months!), and my body is really starting to feel hijacked by this little monster, I mean miracle, growing inside me. But you need not be with child to treat yo’ self. It’s a stressful time of year, and we can all use a lil rub down to release the tension. AS IF you need one more reason, with the harsh weather it’s an especially great time to let someone slather you with oil. One piece of advice here is, again, do your research and read reviews before going to a new spa.

I LOVED IT and here’s why – They have special tables with belly holes, foam pillows to support my orb like body, and a rain shower available post massage.

STEALS!!!!!!

Lord & Taylor oversized Italian scarf ($4.50 + $2.50 dry cleaning) purchased at Unique Thrift Store.

Gigantic scarves are all the rage this season, and I am happy to jump on any trend band wagon that allows me to wear a blanket in public. The issue is that most quality oversized scarves have an equally large price tag. I have noticed some nice ones at ZARA ranging from $30 to $80. I have also been known to tie two scarves together to create the oversized look. I kept my eyes peeled while thrifting and eventually ran across this gem for basically nothing.

I LOVE IT and here’s why – As previously stated, it’s basically a blanket. A luxurious one. I sit wrapped up in it’s cozy warmth right now.  It’s black on one side and deep red on the other, so while classic, it has a nice pop of color. Very additive to my neutral-heavy wardrobe. Finally, I refuse to pay top dollar for a maternity coat, so I rock an open coat and this big scarf and I’m snug as a bug.

Maybeline Lasting Drama by Eye Studio Gel Liner in Charcoal ($9) purchased at CVS.

I idolize Lauren Conrad and her signature cat eye. After my last liner ran  dry, I decided to hunt for something new. I found a make up artist’s blog that compared this product to a popular MAC eyeliner and liked this one better. I didn’t do my own comparison, but at $9 I decided to take a chance on this cute little pot.

I LOVE IT and here’s why – It comes with a great little paint brush which allows you to adjust the intensity of the line you create. It goes on super smooth and stays on most of the day. The charcoal color is great, almost black, but not quite. It’s perfect for you blondies. I will note that the brush takes a little getting used to.

Arrested Development Tee aka the BEST TEE I’VE EVER HUNTED ($2.50) purchased at Salvation Army.

 There are many cute and funny tees out there waiting to be revived. Rock it running errands, or one of my all time favorite looks is a casual tee paired with a fancy necklace and blazer for a ‘I woke up like this’ look. This is a popular thrift store item, so finding them can be challenging. Keep your eyes peeled, and one will come into your life sooner or later.

This is my FAV thrifted tee because advertises a fictional ice cream stand, and not any fictional ice cream stand, the one in the epic show Arrested Development. Bonus points because this tee is long and fits over my growing bump.

Forever 21 Printed ‘Blanket’ Sweater ($9) purchased at Salvation Army.

Again, I fully support blankets as clothing. While quality is key, I just couldn’t justify the gorgeous Anthropologie one I spied last week for a cool $165. How long will it be en vogue to look like a chilly art dealer from Sedona? I opted for a much cheaper alternative.

I LOVE IT and here’s why – I can throw this on with a tank and jeans and suddenly look put together. It’s perfect for wrapping myself up in after I gorge myself on turkey dinner. While not the best quality, it’s soft to the touch and looks the part.

Maybeline Mini ‘Glosstini’ Nailpolishes ($3.39) purchased at CVS.

I have a problem buying nail polishes. Ask my friends; I could stock a salon. I especially LOVE these little guys and here’s why – I never use an entire bottle of nail polish. Either decide I don’t like the color OR it gets all gunky before I can use it all, so their size is perfect. They don’t come in a wide variety of  colors, but I particularly love the red called ‘Raving Hot’ which is a vibrant and fun red vs. the scary blood red. It doesn’t go on silky smooth, BUT it covers really well with two coats and is very chip resistant. I am SUPER hard on my nails, so this is quite an accomplishment.