Life. Love. Lipstick.

To the left side of the screen? I have two new sponsors! These “sponsors” happen to be hand-picked by me and I couldn’t be prouder to tell you about them! I love them so much, I’ve provided ads to them at no cost.

Pretty Fun is an Etsy shop by cool-gal Sara. She creates jewelry and purses that are to die for and there truly is something for everyone! Check her out here and here.

The Gifting Spot features personalized gifts for everyone in the family and should certainly be your first stop for any monogramming. The prices are good and the prints available on the products are right on trend. Check it out here.

Be sure to stay tuned and add us to your Google Reader. Mid-August is bringing a week of fabulous giveaways, including The Gifting Spot and Pretty Fun!

There are so many choices out there for bridesmaids gifts and it can be hard to narrow it down.  The best gifts are personal, but it can be hard to find something that doesn’t blow the bank.  Enter The Gifting Spot.  Owner Shana offers personalized gifts that are just too cute!  They feature the hottest patterns like seersucker, houndstooth, and damask, while giving you a bevy of options for thread color and monogram font.  Here are a few of my favorite gifts.

Spa wraps, waffle cosmetic bags, koozies, beach towels, seersucker totes

Any of these would be absolutely perfect for wedding party or bridal shower gifts.  However, the market tote is absolutely amazing.

This collapsible tote is only $28 and has so many uses!  I really want one.  Imagine the possibilities.  Take it to the farmer’s market, grocery store, on a picnic, or use it in your home to corral all those items that linger around the living room and kitchen counter.  When you’re done, collapse it and slide it under the bed or anywhere else.  For bridesmaids gifts, you could absolutely use this as a gift basket and fill with any of The Gifting Spot items I chose above.  Throw in a bottle of champagne, some chocolates, and a personal card, and you have such a fabulous gift!

While you’re checking out TGS, be sure to add the blog to your Google Reader and “Like” it on Facebook so you can stay in the loop with promotions and other news.

There’s more!  Through July 31, The Gifting Spot is offering FREE SHIPPING!  Love that!

While looking images for a post about my wedding that I wrote for my other blog, I came across these super cute shoes!  Designed by Lela Rose especially for Payless, the Unforgettable Moments collection is really cute and super-affordable!   There is a wide range of choices for color if you want to dye them, too!  My favorite ones are the Nathalie, only $45 (Edit: sold in an undyeable variation on payless.com for $24.99).

Which pair is your favorite?

Someone tweeted recently about the bridesmaid selections at online boutique Ruche. I went to check it out and opened a whole world i never knew existed… think Anthropologie meets Urban Outfitters, except AFFORDABLE! I realize “affordable” is subjective term, but for a mother like me who literally lives paycheck to paycheck, affordable actually means “cheap.” So imagine how excited I was to discover vintage-inspired fashions that even I can buy!  Just a few of my favorites…

Recently I asked style maven Tiffany of I Am Style-ish to share some tips about fall fashion and style in general.

How would you classify your style? Classic with a modern twist

What are you favorite black pumps under $100? I don’t own any pumps under $100.  I believe black pumps are investment shoes.  With that said, my favorite black pumps are my Louboutin Insectikas.  You can see them here.

It’s obvious shoes are your weakness, but on what else do you splurge and when do you prefer a bargain? I always splurge on handbags because I consider those investment pieces as well.  I totally get my bargains on tops.  I don’t mind buying cheap tops because you can always make them look more expensive than they are with a nice pair of jeans or a skirt and some fun accessories.

What are your tips for transitioning a summer wardrobe into fall? Layers!  I love taking my summer dresses and adding tights and sweaters and scarves over the top.  You can wear everything from the summer into the fall except for shorts.  I tend to just keep shorts in my summer wardrobe.

Any fall staples every wardrobe should contain? Tall boots.  I think they make any fall outfit look great whether worn with tights, leggings or skinny jeans.  Scarves are the easiest way to accessorize during the fall so I always stock up on brightly colored or patterned ones.

I read an article in the August issue of InStyle about breaking style “rules.” The article listed rules you should break and ways to do so.  Included was “Glittery jewelry is meant for the evening,” “You can’t wear denim on denim,” and “Wear open-toe shoes only in the summer.”

What are your favorite rules to break, and how do you do it? I’m totally in favor of mixing brown and black or navy and black with outfits.  If you are wearing a black dress, add a navy cardigan for a subtle hint of color.  I think it works really well!  If you are wearing a brown dress, try it with black tights and black pumps for a sleek look.  Wearing gold and silver jewelry together is also one of my favorite rules to break.  I love the look of mixing gold and silver bracelets on one arm.  Oh and you can totally wear white after Labor day!  I’ll be rocking my white blazer throughout the fall and winter!

I hope to get some blogging done on my day off tomorrow, but for now, a few things to show you!

Just discovered The White Dress Shop.  Check out the site and blog.  Loving for this new top!

My friend, photographer Lori Barbely is launching her new site and logo today!  Go check her out!  Love that gal!

View Master invitations… WOW.  Would love to do something like this!  How amazing.

I have been “shopping” for a handbag.  I wander around stores (both online and brick and mortar) looking at them, but don’t really intend to buy one anytime soon.  I need a new bag, badly, but right now all our funds are directed at furnishing the apartment and getting married.  So for now, I gaze.

I am drawn to bags in a variety of styles and price ranges, but the ones that have stuck out the most to me in the last few days have really surprised me.  They aren’t labels I would normally turn to for a new bag.  Here are my 3 favorite handbag labels… this week.

Betseyville by Betsey Johnson

Loud, flashy, obnoxious and over-the-top… what’s not to love?!  I am a lover of all things Betsey Johnson.  I love the girliness of it all.  Girly without all the saccharine.  

My favorites right now are this sweet yellow bow clutch and this rockin’ leopard diaper bag.  Would kill for either (or both) of these!

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Kathy Van Zeeland

This designer is always a hit or miss.  Sometimes her bags look like granny purses.  Other times, I’m in total love.  I found one a couple of days ago that made me swoon.  I love pyramid studs on a bag, and the material this one is crafted of feels soooo good to the touch!  Would love this as a work tote.

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Urban Outfitters

I’m a huge fan of Urban, and I actually get a lot of DIY inspiration from there.  But their bags… excuse me while I wipe the dribble from my chin.

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Jessica Lynn, the beautiful blogger behind tying the knot, has launched her calligraphy business!  I am so excited to see her make this happen! 

Just check out these fun and pretty samples!

In the next couple of weeks, we will be tying the knot, just the two of us, with an anniversary party to follow in a year.  I spent the last week searching online and in person for the dress that is “just right.”  I don’t even know how to describe what I was looking for, except tailored, chic, and flattering… not easy when you’re quite visibly pregnant.  I found it!  

While looking on Motherhood Maternity’s website, I found the dress… for only $35.  What a good deal!  Then I ended up looking on Walmart.com just before I was going to order, and what did I find?  Same dress for $18!  I ordered it immediately.

Without further ado, here is the perfect dress for me!

The plan for the whole look is to put either red or green shoes with it, and maybe, just maybe, make a little birdcage veil.  We’ll see how much time I have before our wedding day.

Today, while out shopping, I stopped into my local Maternity Works and tried on the size I ordered.  PERFECT!  I can’t wait to put the whole look together!