Tag Archives: sandals

Sassy’s Summer Wish List

1 Jun

After reading my latest issue of Lucky Magazine, I discovered a cute little section that said, “Bold But Simple: My Summer Wish List”. This got me to thinking exactly what do I need to put on my summer wish list this year? Anyone who knows me knows that my makeup drawer is stocked, my skin care shelf is overflowing, and my closet is beyond jammed. Seriously…What could I possibly need for this new season? I decided to look at what I had, what doesn’t fit me anymore, what is out of style, what is beyond repair, and then I’d go from there.

After much picking and sorting, there were a few things I realized that I did need for the summer season. There wasn’t a lot, but there were some items that I thought were necessary. I have to say I’m pretty basic when it comes to my seasonal purchases. They usually don’t follow the current trend, and I can extend them out a few years no matter what the current style is. It’s easier to keep my wardrobe updated with trendy, inexpensive accessories then it is to buy a large expensive purchase that may only be a fad for one season.

With that being said, here are a few things that I think need to be incorporated into my wardrobe for this summer. Some may only be here for the season but others have the potential to stick around for a a while. And that’s never a bad thing. So what did I find? Take a look:

Maxi Skirt1. Tribal Maxi Skirt: In my line of work (tattoo shop manager), it is always best for me to be casual and comfortable. But there are days that I would still like to look pretty without me looking like a hooch and without me looking like a corporate suit. It’s sometimes a difficult task. This season’s maxi-skirt allows me to look feminine and still be comfortable. I love this skirt from dELiA’s. The print is edgy but the material is free-flowing and comfortable. And the slip up beside gives it just the right amount of sex-itude! A perfect addition when you want to show a little leg!! dELiA’s stores and delilas.com, $29.90

Sandals2. Shellys London ‘Valvori’ Sandal: We often think of sandals as the flat little strappy shoes that lack a lot of pizzazz. They’re great a super casual situation, but really can’t be dressed up too much. These sandals change all that. They have a nice chunky heel that is not too high, a lot of edgy buckle design that you don’t see often in sandals, and a whole lot of comfort. These can be worn casual with jeans, or dressed up with skirts. Although they are a little extensive in design, I have the feeling these will be able to be worn for several years to come. A solid investment! nordstrom.com, $93.76

Cropped Tee3. Material Girl Juniors’ Short-Sleeve Textured Cropped Top: There is nothing wrong with showing a little skin in the warmer months, and the best way to do it is with a sophisticated top. This breezy tee is the perfect addition for anything casual or classy. Give your outfit a little attitude with this simple addition. Everyone has tees but a solid cropped airy top should not be shunned this season. macys.com, $14.99

Sunglasses4. Nicole Miller Trinity Round Sunglasses: The fact is, no matter what the current style of sunglasses are this year, I’m going to need a new pair. Not because I like to keep up with current trends, but usually because I have misplaced or broke my pair from last year. I used to but super-super cheap ones at your local department store till someone said to invest a little money into them because you will take better care of them. That worked! I paid a decent amount for a pair of Nine West sunglasses years back which got me two whole years. That was until I put them in a pocket of a jacket and sat on them in the car. I was crushed. Even now I invest a little bit but not as much. I like this style and size simply because it has a bit of flare without making me look like a fly. Awesome–nailed it! tjmaxx.com, $39.99

Bag5. Corinne Straw Tote: I will admit, I’m slightly afraid of bright colors. With my hair doing most of the speaking when it comes to bold hues, I have to say my closet looks like a black and white comic strip. Getting my job at the tattoo shop was the best thing to happen to my dark, borderline goth wardrobe. This season, however, I feel I need something other than my blood red locks to draw some attention my way. This glamorous purse has the look of a straw tote with all the pizzazz of a glitzy, fashion-forward bag. Casual look with metallic accents will make you look like a star! bebe.com, $98.00

There. My wish list for summer. I’ve already began adding these little gems to my ensemble one by one, so it won’t be long and you and I will be able to rock the summer in style. Add some pieces to keep you cool and comfortable, add to your rocking edginess, and still allow you to be feminine as heck! Summer doesn’t have to be just cut-offs and flip flops. It can and will be HOT… in a fashion sense that is.

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Celebrations Galore!

25 May

This week in May is usually quite beneficial to my closets and makeup drawer. You see, within ten days of each other, I have the priviledge of celebrating Mother’s Day AND my birthday! It’s nice having these holidays in the middle of the year. I have a chance to look over my closet and makeup to see if there is anything I need or if I need to add any new styles to my existing ensemble. This year, I was pretty set. Skin was in good shape, cosmetics were in high supply, fashions were clean and current. I was ready to roll for summer. But oh heck…. we know if you give us women gift cards, we’ll find more than one way to put them to use. And I did!!

My wonderful family indulged me in gift cards to two of my favorite stores—TJ Maxx and Sephora. Trust me, even if there isn’t anything I need, there are things I will find. I even went beyond the gift cards and found a couple of items in my local drug store that I fell in love with! So what did I treat myself to during this glorious week of May? In addition to a few days of tasty cheeses to go with my endless whine about getting old, I picked up the following:

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara (Waterproof) – Every time I get a new mascara, I rave about it, drop to my knees, thank the makeup Gods for such a good product, and tell everyone there is nothing better. Then, one of two things happens: a) something else comes out on the market, I try that and kick the other item to the curb; or b) it loses its initial pizzazz and doesn’t live up to what I expected a month or so after I had bought it. Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara is being advertised EVERYWHERE. Magazines, TV, internet, you name it. Its claim that it lengthens your lashes by 4 mm doesn’t really jazz me. I already have long lashes. Stay on my eyes all day, don’t flake or smudge, lengthen and thicken, and don’t run when you get wet? THAT’s what makes me love a mascara. So far… and I say that with a grin… it does all of those. I love the wide-tooth plastic brush which really combs and coats each lash for extra attention. The only fault I can find so far is that it takes each coat a very long time to dry. So I suggest curling your lashes FIRST, then waiting till you are completely finished with everything else to give them another squeeze. Be careful you don’t pull any lashes out, curling while the mascara is still wet. It’s not worth it. (Most drug stores, $6.99)

Pure Ice Nail Polish in “Strip Tease” – ‘Tis the season of neon and nothing looks better on your fingers and toes than a bright neon pink polish. It’s bright enough to give your look a bit of pop without having a color that looks totally over the top. “Strip Tease” has a slight frost to it as well to give your nails a bit of shine. This long-lasting, go with anything color is great for the warmer temps. Let your fingers and toes show with this awesome color that will definitely draw attention to your sense of style! (Walmart, $2.99)

Adrienne Vittadini Denim Rhinestone Wedges – There are three words right that that scream “chic” this season: denim, rhinestone and wedges. You can find denim everywhere this summer from shorts to skirts, including vests and hats. Rhinestones are on just about everything and it seems the more bling, the better. And wedges were hot last year and are not going away anytime soon. These wedges are super comfortable, extremely casual yet stunningly gorgeous. I am finding that it is the perfect shoe for both daytime and nighttime wear. The dark dye goes with most denims that are in style, the wood-look wedge keeps it classy, and all those gemstones will give you a “wow” factor like never before. I’ve only worn these twice since I’ve bought them and got more compliments than I could count. Definitely a great find for someone who likes that unique “sassy” edge. (TJ Maxx, $34.99)


So, with a couple other small items (Nine West Sunglasses and an off-the-shoulder tie-dyed top) I managed to use my TJ Maxx gift card all up in one outing. My Sephora card, however, has yet to be used. Although I have an idea what I’ll be spending some of it on, I’ll wait till I get my loot home. Who knows…. I could change my mind when I get to the store. I am a female, correct? Changing my mind is my given right! So stay tuned for for gift card goodie reports soon!!

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Sassy Girl, Sassy Stuff!

16 May

Today, I ventured outside of the four walls of my room and decided to rock a sassy look with a sassy mood, something I’ve been missing for quite a while. I am slowly coming out of my change-of-seasons funk and feeling a little like my old spunky self. Today was the perfect cure for what ailed me. I broke out a new pair of shoes, threw my hair up in a messy bun, grabbed an edgy outfit complete with rhinestones and studs, and headed out on the town, sunroof open…windows down.

I put on my favorite tunes in the car, picked up my daughter and went to do some grocery shopping as well as get my girl a haircut. It was a gorgeous day and anyone in their right mind could not feel revived out on a day with such pristine conditions. It was fabulous.I wasn’t overly thrilled that she wanted to cut about 3” off the length of her hair, however (I love her long hair) but she wanted something less “frazzled” and demanding for the warmer weather. That I can’t argue with.

While out and about, I was thrilled to get compliments on a few of my fashionista choices that I wore today. That always makes me feel good. Sometimes the item cost me less than a dollar from a thrift store. Sometimes it was the cost of a car payment… or two. No matter what the price, I truly believe it is HOW you wear it—with confidence and pride—is what really turn heads. So what got Sassy noticed today? Let’s see:

1) My hair. It’s beginning to drive my daughter nuts how often I’ll get complimented on my hair. I was born a natural redhead, but the older I got, the browner my hair became. When I reached “29+” I decided to bring out more of the auburn red side of my hair. And since then it’s been getting redder and redder and redder. It’s bold, it’s bright, and it is out there! And it is SOOOOOOOO me! It has definitely become my distinguishing feature. What’s even better? I do it myself! I’ve mastered how to color it on my own, have found a shade that I love and the right products to keep it gorg! Sassy’s Picks: Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color in R3 (Light Intense Auburn) and L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free shampoos and conditioners (Most drug stores, $6.99-$7.99)

2) My shoes. I have a few…. very few…. pairs of shoes that I have spent a lot of money on. To me, “a lot” is over $100. When it comes to shoes, it is all about the hunt. To find the classiest, most stylish, en vogue pair of shoes for the least amount of money possible. I watch sales, I hit consignment shops, and I do a lot of research. One of my favorite places to get shoes is Marshalls department store. They carry name-brand footwear for a fraction of the price. And if you are lucky to get a pair on a markdown, you are golden. Today, I wore a pair of gladiator sandals that I found at Marshall’s a few months back with a gift card I had gotten. A women at the hair salon came running over to me swooning over my shoes. “I saw those on TV last night! Are those the ones?” I told her I wasn’t sure since I didn’t see the show she was talking about. “Those cost $150!!! Did you spend $150????” I smiled and said, “No, I only paid $39.99 at Marshall’s.” I then became her fashion hero. She thought I had the most stunning shoes she’d ever seen for a fraction of the designer price. Yeah… I was proud! Sassy’s Pick: BCBGeneration Silver Gladiator Sandals (Marshalls, $39.99)

3. My bracelet. Bracelets are my newest accessory addiction. I have very skinny wrists, but they don’t look as thin when I wear big, bold, chunky bracelets. I have one with a watch charm on it, one with removable charms that my kids gave me, and several sterling silver ones with various gemstones. Lately, though, I have been into sparkly bracelets. Ones with lots of glitz and glimmer and really stand out on their own. About a month ago, Macy’s had a clearance on some of their jewelry and had several stunning bracelets by Nine West. Now it’s no secret I am a fan of Nine West shoes and purses, but I had no idea they had awesome jewelry too! This one bracelet really caught my eye since it was dark, almost black, but was actually a midnight blue. It’s perfect to take any casual jeans outfit to the next level. The girl that cut my daughter’s hair noticed it immediately and had to know where I had found it. I told her but said there probably weren’t any left. She didn’t care, she was going to go looking anyways because she loved it so. I hope she lucks out… it IS an eye-catching accessory. Sassy’s Pick: Nine West Triple-Strand Sparkle Bracelet (Macy’s, $8.99)

So you see? I’m coming around. It only takes a few good days to lift the spirits and let the fashionista in me run free. Tomorrow I have to take a trip to my daughter’s school so that will give me another reason to sass myself up. I will have to raid the closet tonight and see what poor fashion items need to get out and get a shot at the “big time”. I can imagine it’s lonely being so chic yet so hidden all the time!

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Marvelous Finds In March

14 Apr

My husband just asked me what today’s date was. I honestly had to pull up the calendar app on my iPhone because, frankly, I had no clue. Time seems to have stood still for me because no matter what I am writing—a check, a bill, a letter, a gym excuse my for my kids—I have been putting down “March” on everything. Then it dawned on me when my husband had me check today’s date that I had been writing the wrong date for several weeks. Maybe it is because it just doesn’t feel like spring too much here in Upstate New York yet. Maybe it’s because all of the days feel the same to me lately. My guess? If I refuse to write the real date, life will slow down. Yeah, well, not so much.

So since I am already two weeks behind for all of my April writings, I figured I better chime in quick with my awesome March discoveries before I get them confused with April’s. If I don’t watch myself, I will be writing that my latest fashion find in July was a pair of cashmere gloves. Without further adieu, here are a couple of things that I added to my glamour and fashion collection during March that you may want to look into as well:

1. Grape Seed Oil— I have never hid the fact that I think that several natural oils are fabulous for medicinal, nutritive and moisturizing purposes. Grape seed oil is derived when the light oil is extracted from the seeds of several different kinds of grapes. Mainly, the seeds left over from making wine are used for this purpose. It is wonderful when the oil is used for cosmetics and skin care because the natural anti-oxidants and age-fighting properties found in grapes then get transferred directly onto the skin. Grape seed oil has a built-in astringent quality so it is great for naturally tightening the skin. It also contains linoleic acid which is known for cell repair and renewal, keeping skin at its most youthful state. And finally, because it is a lightweight oil, it is easily and quickly absorbed into the skin providing excellent moisturization—even around the delicate eye area—without clogging pores. I now use grape seed oil every night before bed to moisturize my face and neck, with a little shot on my cuticles as well. My skin has never been so soft and smooth! Available at most supermarkets in the organic oils section

2. NYC (New York Color) Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil— A while back, I had found a great sharpen yourself eyeliner that I insisted would be the pencil I would use for the rest of my life. It wasn’t a big, well-known brand and I could only get it at one store locally. Yeah, well, that changed when I saw the display with my eyeliners in it wearing a big “Clearance” sign on it last month. Damn. Time to start hunting once again. While shopping at my local Wal-Mart one day, I saw a big display for the NYC brand. They had an extensive variety of products and colors at a price that was more than reasonable. I liked the fact they had a waterproof eyeliner that was the kind you sharpen yourself, which is the only kind I will use. After using it only once, I knew it was my new favorite liner. It was soft, easy to apply, and had superb stay power. The color was true and still sharp and strong even when it was time to take it off at night! For those who like these kind of liners, this is a must try. Available at many local retails for less than $4

3. mark Save The Day Anti-Acne Concealer Stick— I wish I could take the credit for discovering this item, but all the love has to go to my daughter. She has often asked me if I knew of any acne-treatment companies that also made a concealer that would hide a stubborn pimple while treating it as well. To be honest, it really wasn’t my department. I am the queen of the dry skin, not really a breakout princess. But after doing a bit of research, I saw that mark. had a product that was just what she was looking for. Not only does the concealer stick contains 2% salicylic acid to treat the culprit, but it also comes in four medium-coverage, buildable shades. This little item has become a cult favorite with her friends as all of them love how it hides and treats little flare ups at the same time. Available at Avon.com and through local Avon representatives for $6.

4. Steve Madden’s Shelbi Wedge Sandal— Okay, here’s the story behind this purchase: I had won a gift card from DSW during the holidays. I thought it would be fun to buy a pair of peep-toed boots when they went on sale after the holidays. When the pair I liked arrived at my house, I realized I didn’t like them at all. By this point, it was March and the thought of buying boots was silly and I knew I really should look for a pair of sandals instead. So I went to my local DSW store, returned the boots, and tried on anything and everything that caught my eye. Originally I shied away from wedges because… well…. they just didn’t jazz me. HA! That was until I tried on these little cuties! The heel isn’t too high (2” stacked wedge), they were comfortable as heck and they looked chic and stylish! I grabbed a pair in black. The weather around here finally allowed me to wear them for a full day this week. My feet loved them as much as my eyes. A perfect shoe to wear with jeans, capris or shorts! I love them so much, I think I’ll grab them in the color taupe sometime in the near future. Available at DSW retail stores and DSW.com for $49.95



I think I can finally say that spring is beginning to show itself after a long, hard winter. People are breaking out their bright colors, packing up the heavy sweaters and coats, and everyone is sporting the fashions and glamour of the new season. But as April evolves, are we serious when we say that the dark, cold gloom that hung its head over us for so long must surely gone? Well, if we listen to the gospel of the late Leslie Nielsen from the ever-popular movie Airplane, we would believe it one hundred percent:

“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”

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