Category Archives: Shopping & Deals

A Very Studded Happy Hour

Alas we meet again on Friday, the most rewarding of all days. This week has found me in a rebellious mood. Could be my innate overwhelming repulsion towards authority. Maybe I’ve just been channeling my inner Joan Jett. Or maybe a girl just needs to feel like a badass every now and then. Whatever the reason, I’ve recently developed an obsession with punk-inspired, spiked, and studded jewelry that’s led me to scour shops and amass a collection of anything that can plausibly cause injury. If you ask me, that’s a hot characteristic in a piece of jewelry and I’ll gladly take two. If your inner vixen is in need of accessorizing, throw on some leather and knock yourself out with a few of my favorites below in today’s Happy Hour.

 

 

 

In this post:

1) Alexander McQueen – Twin Skull Bracelet (Crystal/Topaz)

2) Noir Jewelry – Stackable Major Spike Ring (Gold/Silver)

3) ASOS Spike Stretch Bracelet

4) Double Header Spike Bracelet

5) Adia Kibur Silver & Neon Chain Link Necklace

6) Gogo Phillip Studded Bangle

ban.do iPhone Case

Here’s a quickie post between loads of laundry as I fear I’ve been possessed by the ghost of Cuban Abuelas Past. While I cannot sit still for more than two minutes due to the insistent state of dissatisfaction it seems I’ll be feeling until everything’s been given a good scrub with Mistolin, I’ve taken a break to bring you something that made me audibly squeal: the ban.do iPhone case.

Known for its signature hearts and sparkly accessories, ban.do has now added this covet-able phone case to its already too-friggin-cute-for-words-type inventory.

The white plastic case runs for $25 and is designed to fit iPhone 4. You can also receive 15% off your next order by joining their mailing list.

 

 

Handbag Happy Hour

It’s Friday, people! And while I realize it’s hardly even lunch time, I’m of the philosophy that it’s five o’clock somewhere. You’ve worked hard, you’ve survived the week, and now you’ve earned the right to treat yourself to a little happy hour therapy. And while I’m not necessarily encouraging drinking at your desk out of your coffee mug (except if you’re in catering, in which case, by all means, pop that bottle and pour!), I do support the idea of a little well-deserved indulgence. Without further ado, I bring you Friday Happy Hour.  Every Friday, I will post something easy on the eyes (and the wallet) to celebrate the end of the week.

Today, let us delight in Handbags. Here are a few of my recent favorites, all brightly making way for spring:

 

 

 

In this post:

1) PS1 Neon Leather Tote

2) Upwardly Mobile Satchel in Neon Pink

3) ASOS Slot Through Portfolio Clutch

4) Upwardly Mobile Satchel in Neon Orange 15″

5) Cambridge Satchel Company Exclusive to Asos 15″ Mink Patent Batchel

6) ASOS Frosted Bowler Bag

Happy Valentine’s Day

Hey, loves. Happy Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re spending it with your better half or celebrating with friends (or maybe even boycotting the whole thing), I wish you a day filled with love and beauty.

I’m feeling the love this fine day, so I’m sharing an item from one of my favorite Project Runway designers, Mondo Guerra. Though this limited edition tee will likely be gone in a blink, there are still tons of other awesome items on the site and you can get them for 20% less today by using Facebook code fb20 at checkout.

XOXO,

Alicia

Gypsy Warrior: Boho Chic with an Edge

Silver Studded Black iPhone Case via GypsyWarrior.comIt’s good to be home. Argentina was warm, beautiful, delicious, and half a world away. I stumbled upon some great little shops and restaurants that felt like something out of a developing romantic comedy abroad. But there really is no place like home, where ordering a burger medium-rare won’t get you weird looks from the waiter at a sidewalk cafe.

I actually happened to stumble upon this little American gem on Instagram while craving some US culture in Buenos Aires (Yes, I admit it – I missed home). Gypsy Warrior (@gypsywarrior on Instagram) had posted a pic of the studded iPhone case to the left and I knew I needed to immediately give my phone some street cred.

The new shop, a collaboration of founders Nicla DiCosmo and Michel Bezoza, is an unlikely balance of boho chic and rocker edge – and it all somehow works. Aside from some instantly covet-able items like their skull cardigan or  these black studded ballet flats (both currently on my wish list), Gypsy Warrior also offers up a vintage section of not-so-ironically-inclined pieces (I need a bunny faux fur jacket in my life).

These lovely ladies are currently offering free shipping in the US and 15% off with code PARTY12 so snatch up some goodies before they’re gone (and maybe grab something for a blogger on a tiny budget?). You can also follow Gypsy Warrior on Facebook and keep up with their latest finds. Happy shopping!

Pixics Giveaway

Happy Friday, everyone. I’m gearing up for the weekend and looking forward to heading out to Argentina for a business conference. It will be my first time in South America, so I’m pretty stoked.

Since I’ll be gone for a week, I leave you with freebies and a new place to shop. I found the little guy on the left on Pixics.com, a new online shop for all things “indie, retro, vintage, and geek.” They’ve got some really great out-of-the-ordinary apparel, accessories, and gifts (like the Fuluto figurine in this post) for very reasonable prices with FREE SHIPPING to all orders in the United States and Canada, so it’s worth a trip to the site.

Also, check out their Giveaway page for details on how to win your very own Twitter Bird figurine (he’s adorable, promise). The contest is going on now through February, so don’t miss out.

You can also follow Pixics on Facebook and have even more chances to win. Just “like” the Pixics Facebook page, tell a friend about the giveaway, and share the giveaway on your Facebook page. You will qualify for the giveaway once your friend submits their own entry.

The Pixics giveaway officially ends on February 29th, so get on it! Best of luck to you all and happy shopping! See ya when I get back from Buenos Aires!!

Geek Chic: Superhero Headbands

Happy Friday, everyone. If this new year is all about you taking over the world, find inspiration with this collection of superhero headbands by Janine Basil on Etsy. Janine’s shop features everything you love about geek culture, but covered in glitter and rhinestones and turned into fashionable head gear. Check out one of my favorites below.

Cheap & Chic: Fashion on a Budget

One of my goals for the year is to be smarter about my purchases and buy pieces that will update items I already have in my closet. Fashion doesn’t have to be expensive to be stylish – in fact, style is something you just can’t buy.

But with the help of some lower-priced retailers, I’ve found I don’t need to splurge and break my budget to keep my outfits looking current. Below, I’ve included a short list of some of my favorite places to shop, both online and in stores, to update my wardrobe seasonally with great pieces (like this $15 yellow clutch from Forever 21).

What are your favorites? Let me know if there are any shops you think should be added to the list!

1) Forever 21: The obvious choice. A great, inexpensive one-stop shop for apparel, accessories, and shoes.

2) Lulus.com: This budget-friendly online retailer has a very charming boutique-y feel.

3) H&M: Those of us in Miami are still waiting for our own H&M but will happily travel and pop in wherever we can find one in hopes of catching one of their fairly regular celebrity designer collaborations.

4) Modcloth: While some of their items may run a bit on the pricier side, their sales usually offer up some great steals. This is also the place to find quirky tees and accessories.

5) Rebi’s Closet: (Local to South Florida) Aside from being owned by one of my favorite people, I love Rebi’s Closet for consistently having unique pieces at amazing prices. And she’ll come to you!

6) Target: Target has quickly built a reputation with their beautifully affordable designer collaborations. (Yep – I, too, scored a $39 Missoni bag and will proudly tote it around town.)

7) Plasticland: Self-proclaimed purveyors of kitsch curiosities and retro clothing, for both your closet and your apartment.

8 ) BP at Nordstrom: On more than one occasion, I’ve scored the best statement necklaces at an average price of $15; this is much more affordable than the higher priced counterparts throughout the rest of the store with the same quality and detail.

Fanboy Fashion: The Assassin’s Creed Hoodie

My husband and I decided to be a bit more frugal with our Christmas gifts this year, which inspired me to channel my inner Martha and create for him the ever-coveted (and perpetually sold-out) fanboy item du jour – the Assassin’s Creed Hoodie.

Now, I wish I could say I did it all myself, but it would have been truly impossible to create and assemble without the help of my blessedly patient grandmother. Without her, Tony would probably be wearing no more than a pinned-on patch of red stick figures scribbled in magic marker. So if you’re not an expert with a sewing machine, I strongly suggest asking someone for help.

Below, I give you our attempt at creating the Assassin’s Creed Hoodie from scratch with nothing more than some basic items and a simple sewing machine. I know not everyone has a Cuban Abuela handy, so if your embroidery skills are not up to couture fanboy status, you can always purchase an iron-on logo from sites such as scifigeeks.com or alltheragefaces on Etsy and place them on the hoodie as you prefer.

I hope the step-by-step process is easy for you to follow but please feel free to email me with any questions. I’d love to also see any pics of your completed versions. Best of luck and happy crafting!

   

   

   

What you will need:

1) A basic hoodie:  You can find this at any Target or Walmart store for little more than $10. I purchased two because I wanted to be sure I had enough fabric to create the beak at the point of the hood. (This actually worked out because I was able to make two hoodies – one with a beak and the other without.)

2) A sketch of the Assassin’s Creed Logo or an iron-on patch.

3) A basic sewing machine and basic embroidery machine (only if you will be embroidering the logo instead of ironing it on). Note: You will also need threading in the colors of your choice and paper cloth backing if you choose to embroider the logo.

4) An alphabet in your preferred font.

5) A pencil, ruler, pair of scissors, some pins and tracing paper.

6) An iron.

How to do it:

1) Place the hoodie on a flat surface and make sure it is free of any wrinkles or debris. Lightly iron if needed. Set aside.

2) Take the extra hoodie and carefully remove the stitching from the front pocket to release the fabric from the body of the hoodie (You can now use this as a second hoodie with a different logo).

3) Fold the fabric into the desired size and shape of the beak you will be attaching to the hood. Pin in shape and set aside. (If you will be ironing on the patch, skip ahead to step 8.)

4) Take your pencil and tracing paper and sketch out the logo. You can print out the logo and trace over it to make things easier (I had to eyeball it and fold it in half to ensure symmetry because I didn’t have a printer handy. Tracing it should be much easier and take less time. Also, if you will be making a second hoodie, you can use the alphabet to trace the year like we did in the 1499 version.)

5) Transfer logo sketch to paper cloth for embroidering.

6) Take ruler and carefully measure center of chest for pinning. Pin the paper cloth logo design to the hoodie to keep it in place while embroidering.

7) Embroider logo in desired color (we used red). Once embroidery is complete, carefully remove pins, peel off excess paper cloth and trim any excess string.

8 ) Once you have your logo in place, take the beak and carefully pin it to the hood. Use a basic sewing machine to attach the beak. Once the beak is attached, remove the pins and iron lightly.

Voila! It may not be exactly the same as the commercial version, but those guys are starting to get a little annoying with their lack of inventory anyway.

 

Love Always

We lead such busy lives – days run into each other, the trivial things consume us, and before we know it, we’ve developed a desensitized perspective that all but muffles out the things that matter. A friend of mine lost his partner yesterday. The one he shared his life with lost his battle with cancer. I heard the news more than 24 hours ago and it just now hit me like a blow to the stomach. For the first time in a very long while, I allowed myself to cry; I sobbed like a child while my husband held me. I’ve experienced loss several times, and too often on a deeply profound level. And yet I’ve still allowed myself to forget, to take people for granted. If you’re reading, I hope this will serve as a reminder, as it has for me, that life is too short to not be good to each other. Life is too precious to let the important people and things get lost in the chaos of our days. Life is too short to not love deeply. So love with intent. Love with purpose and grace. And never forget that tomorrow has not been promised.

My thoughts and prayers are with Bruce during this difficult time. May Julio’s memory always live on.