Weekend Shopping: Pre-Birthday Haul

I had THE BEST shopping trip today.  I think it's because it's one week before my birthday so I got lucky!

I'm just glad the rapture never happened, because now I'll be able to wear all of these clothes!  (totally being sarcastic here). Here's the damage:

But first things first. Here's what I wore for my little shopping trip (which was pretty short, I was a gal with a plan on this shopping excursion!)

Top- A'Gaci
Shorts- American Eagle boyfriend shorts
Sandals- Steve Madden
Nails- Essie "Mint Candy Apple"

I received several comments today from randomly sweet strangers today about my embroidered shirt from A'Gaci so I'm really glad I got it because it really is such a pretty piece. I know there are tons of shirts like this in various stores, but this one had embroidery that felt a little different.

Okay, let's begin with my pre-birthday haul. I'll start with my Sephora & MAC purchases:

Living Proof- Straight---This product is said to help straighten hair and keep it straight---you can also use it to refresh your style the next day.  It also helps protect against humidity, which I need here in Houston.  I will review once I've had a chance to try it out.

I used 500 of my Beauty Insider points to get this Ole Henriksen skincare kit. I don't usually use my points but this line is amazing and I can't wait to try these products. I've already used samples of the Invigorating Night Gel before, and it's amazing.

At MAC, I picked up a StudioFix Powder foundation since I am running low (my color is C3, for anyone wondering).

Next on my shopping excursion, was a stop at American Eagle where I got a cute, loose striped top and some white shorts.

I believe the shorts were originally $36.90 and they were on sale for $24.95 and I got an additional 15% off my purchase because it's my birthday month. Woot! The pink top was $24.50.

Next up, I got these very cute workout shorts at Lululemon. Now that it's hot out, I need to wear shorts to work out, it's way too gross outside to wear pants.  They are the Run Speed Shorts. FYI Houston gals: a new Lululemon store is now open in the Galleria---it's near Macy's and across from Club Monaco.

You can't tell in the photos, but the waistband is actually baby pink with teeny tiny white stripes.  So cute!  I love these so much! I got them in a size 6, for anyone wondering.

Next up is this amazing hat that I got for $12.50 and cute feather earrings that were $6.00, both from Charlotte Russe.  The hat is perfect for the beach or pool (I hate exposing my face to the sun for long periods and always wear a big floppy hat). For $12.50, I just couldn't resist!

Next up, I got this pretty-in-pink top at Hollister Co.  I know that store is totally for teenagers, but it was too cute to pass up. I saw it on fellow blogger Heidi's blog and she just looked so great in it that I had to get one for myself.  You can visit Heidi's blog "As the Foreste Grows" here. She has the cutest little girl! This top was on sale for $29.50:

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I tweeted about THIS AMAZING TOP from Gilly Hicks Sydney a few days ago.  Well, after making my purchase at Hollister, the cashier hands me a coupon and says "this is valid for 20% off of your purchase at Gilly Hicks, today only." Perfect, I thought, I was just on my way over there to try on THE AMAZING TOP. Did they read my mind or what!?

This may seriously be my BEST and most favorite purchase so far this year.  It is SO pretty.  The 20% off didn't hurt either since it retailed for a steep $79.50. Behold:

I also got the sweet tank I'm wearing underneath it here.  It had a cool shape and was super-long, which I love. I got the tank in a large and the lacey top in a medium.

I am really excited to wear all of these lovely purchases! Finally, I leave you with Lulu. He got shaved down this week and he is obviously not very happy about it:

"where did my fuuurrr go mamma?"

Wishing everyone a very happy weekend! Let me know what you bought this weekend in the comments below! I tried to link all of my purchases in the text above, so if I'm missing something I probably couldn't find it online!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Shopping: Target, Zara, MAC

I usually post these on weekends, but we were so busy cleaning on Saturday and I didn't feel great Sunday so I decided to post this during the week.

I picked up a few things last Thursday when I went to the Galleria mall and a few things are from my wonderful mother in law.

Let's start with my lovely gifts from my mother in law. I was sad because I couldn't find either item below at my Target in the sizes I needed, and she was nice enough to check her Target for me and sure enough, they had em':

I also have this Mossimo top in a dark turquoise color. It fits lovely, has a racer style back and I love the little buttons and front pocket. Perfect for tucking into a skirt or wearing with skinny jeans.

This little romper from Target was too cute to resist but it was sold out everywhere in the smaller sizes, including online. My MIL was able to snag the last size small for me. It's so pretty and feminine. I believe she got in on the clearance rack, so check your local Target and you may have the same luck!

Next up, I visited Zara.  I bought a sweater and a dress---and I think it's the dress I will wear for my birthday this year:

I think the green dress is simple and pretty. I may even wear it to a beach wedding I'm going to in the fall.  Not sure yet, by then I may find something I like even more.  I'm actually on the hunt for a dressy maxi dress to wear to the wedding---since it's on the beach I think it could be lovely and I could just wear flat sandals and no one would even see my feet!

I also picked up this darling cardigan. I have been on the hunt for a neutral, oatmeal-colored cardigan for a good 3 months now. I've even bought and returned two of them that didn't quite meet the mark. This one is a keeper. I wore it on Friday and I absolutely love it.  The button detailing really adds a little something extra!}

I also picked up one of my favorite glosses at MAC---it's called "underage" and I've been wearing it for several years now. It's the perfect pinky-nude. I back-to-MAC'd this one so it was FREE!

Lastly, I picked up a pretty top from A'Gaci.  That store is a huge hit or miss for me, but this time, it was a HIT. I tried on several very cute items there---if you have one by you, definitely pay a visit to the store because they have REALLY cute summer tops, dresses, rompers etc in right now.  I was really impressed.  The shirt I got is from a higher end line they carry (a little pricier than their regular clothes) and I'm such a sucker for these peasant-style tops so when I find one this pretty I just can't resist!

I have no idea why I'm making this ugly scowl face, but here it is on, sort of:

So, that's the end of my little spree!  Hope you have a great night!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Weekend Shopping: MAC & Sephora

Today consisted of yet another uninspiring shopping trip. I'm really starting to wonder why I even bother anymore.

Shopping used to be fun and inspiring and exciting and lately it's been sad, disappointing and just plain dull.  I'm still crossing my fingers that it's all because we're still in between seasons, because if this is what I have to look forward to, then my savings account is going to quadruple this spring/summer.

I haven't been to Forever 21 in months. MONTHS. So I decided to go to a mall that had one today and it was the most awful shopping experience I've ever had there, ever.  The entire left side of the store was various items that had stripes on them.  Seriously. A quarter of the store was stripes. Thin stripes, thick stripes, black and white stripes and colored stripes. Just horizontal freaking stripes everywhere. I wanted to cry. Now, don't get me wrong, I love stripe, but for the love of God they could have changed the name of the store from "Forever 21" to "Shop here if you heart stripes!!!!!!!"

UGH.  So then I checked out a few more stores and they too, were uninspiring.  So, I obviously didn't buy any clothing or accessories, but I did have a purpose to my mall trip.  I had somehow run extremely low on all of the makeup I use on a daily basis, all at the same time, which almost never happens.

So, I visited Sephora and MAC to pick up my essentials.

SELF-ESTEEM BOOST ALERT!: While at MAC, one of the male makeup artists came up to me and told me my makeup looked gorgeous and that I did "such a great job applying it." Thank you, awesome guy at MAC, for making my day!

Here's what I got:

From MAC:  Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation (C3); Studio Finish Concealer (NC20)

From Sephora:  NARS Laguna Bronzer; Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder; Philosophy Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads

The Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is a new one for me and I bought it solely based on Giuliana Rancic's recent i-Village interview where she said it was one of her favorite products. She always has such pretty skin so I trust her recommendations. You can read about her other fave products here. Doesn't she just always look glow-y? I love it.

I still love my YSL touche eclat highlight pen but any eye brightening products are pretty much obsession-level for me, so I love to try new ones. I also love the Benefit Eye Bright pencil and will continue to use it in collaboration with other products.

...and, before I go, a story about good karma:

After I left Sephora today and shopped around for a bit, I had the sudden urge to look at my receipt.  I realized that the total on my bill was only $60 and that I had not been charged the $33 for my NARS Laguna bronzer.  I couldn't believe it.  I went back to the store and paid for it, and the girl who rang me out was really sweet and appreciative and was kind of stunned I came back.  I mean, it's not like I got a free chocolate bar! I would have felt too guilty using the product knowing that I hadn't paid for it, even if it wasn't my fault.  So, hopefully good things will be coming my way (and by good things, I mean I hope I win the lottery I stop eating Thin Mints.)

Happy weekend ladies!

xoxo,

Veronika.