FRIDAY FAVORITES 8

It's been awhile since I did a favorites but here are a few things I've been loving lately:

Favorite New Outfit

I'll be debuting this one tomorrow at the Country Music Marathon.  Brooks shoes, nike shirt and shorts - love being matchy matchy on race day {wish me luck}!

Favorite Polish

I am obsessed with this nudey-peachy color.  This brand is new to me, Motives by Loren...the color {Girl Next Door} is unavailable online but my lovely nail chick let me buy it from her for $4!  Sold!

Favorite Twist

J.Crew chino shorts - no brainer - love!  But I've had trouble lately feeling like I'm too old for the 3" shortie shorts and not mom enough for the 5"ers.  Enter...4" chinos!  This lengths is perfect but only available online.  I ordered Ornament Orange and Shadow for the h-moon.

Favorite Project

Prepare for an epic wedding reveal post on my invites...until now stick with this teaser.  Mom and I devoted a whole Sunay and a half to these and I am in love!

Favorite Obsession

Buying clothes for my new {1 month old} niece!  I can't stop.  Kohl's has adorable things and they're always on sale!  Pictured above are my latest indulgences - don't you just want to scream!?

TGIF -Sarah

KATE UPDATE

Let's check in on Princess Catherine...I haven't mentioned her in awhile.

She's staying totally on trend in these adorable tangerine skinnies {pastel anyone?} that she repeated while gearing up for the 2012 London Olympics:

While on official royal business to The Prince's Foundation for Children, she sported this accordion pleat dress.  Very chic!

Can't wait to see what she wears to the Olympics -Sarah

WEDDING REVEAL: HONEYMOON WARDROBE

I've been picking things up here and there for our HONEYMOON!  We are going to an amazing place in the West Indies (more about that later) and I'm basically planning on being in a bathing suit and either a cover up or shorts and a t-shirt the whole time.  Here's a little preview of my honeymoon wardrobe:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Notes:

4:  Proud to say I own 3 pairs of these in other colors and love them

5 & 6:  "lingerie"

8 & 10: Even though it looks off in these pics, they are the same shade of blue and the matchiness is so adorable

A bit more than 2 months... -Sarah

SPIKE THE PUNCH WINNER

And the necklace goes to.....
entry #30:  Hayley from The Weekend Life!

Congratulations!  I will get that in the mail asap.  Thanks everyone for making my first giveaway so successful!  Maybe we can get another one arranged soon..

You're the best -Sarah

*winner chosen using Random.org

DIY: PERSONALIZED STATIONARY

Being engaged, I am going to be writing a lot of Thank You notes between now and June 30th.  I wanted a cute personalized stationary but couldn't settle on one color scheme or a decent price.

After finding this pin I had a fab idea:  Get some blank stationary, a monogram stamp and bam...monogram stationary!

I ordered a monogram stamp from this great Etsy shop: Jackbear Stamps.  He was super easy to work with, very quick to message and was open to any fonts or design that I wanted.  My final product:

Inks from A.C. Moore $6.95; Also available at Paper Source for $4.95

Super cute stationary from Target

4 bar folded cards {20 for $5.50} and envelopes {10 for $3.00} from Paper Source

cards in "paper bag"; envelopes in pool and persimmon {what these colors say about me}

My final product!


There's something to be said for a handwritten note, huh? -Sarah

BIRCH BOX

Last month I signed up for Birch Box.  It's a super fun idea:  for $10 a month you get a box with some samples of beauty products.  Here's my latest box: 

 Quite the adorable packaging... I especially love the color coding!  

The month's products are nestled underneath an informative notecard: 

My thoughts on April's products:

1.  Love the J.R. Watkins salve!  It's a little greasy for daily use, I'll stick to my L'Occitane, but I'd like to use it before bed or specifically for cuticle care.  It'd be great for cold winter wear on my hands.

2.  I've never used wipes like this before but I was pleasantly surprised.  For daily use, I still prefer face wash and water, but this would be great for traveling or after a hike or run if I can't get home to shower.

3.  Let me preface this by saying I don't wear perfume daily...M has a sensitive nose and after I stopped wearing it I didn't miss it.  That being said, I liked this scent!  It's a little more "woodsy" than I would go for but it's a sweet, young smell. 

4.  This isn't my first experience with Zoya polish.  I ordered two bottles in January.  I really like how this color {Bevin} turned it...a great cloudy spring day type of color. 

5.  I haven't tried this yet, but I'll keep you updated!  

I'd definitely try Birchbox!  You can cancel at anytime if you want to so you only have $10 to lose...a lot cheaper than a trip to Sephora to try out new products.

Happy testing -Sarah

SHH... SALE

A friend of my tweeted this post from the blog Dappered.

There is a "quiet sale" happening now at J.Crew.com sale and J.Crew Factory online!  

30% off - use code: SHOPNOW

I'm eyeing these:

Soverign Paisley halter top and hipster bottoms

$39 + $39 = $78 - 30% = $54.60

Whisper linen V-neck pocket tee

{be advised, this is hand wash...it will shrink}

$29.50 - 30% = $20.65

{go to} Factory 5" chino shorts

$29.50 - 30% = $20.65

Factory racer tote

$19.50 - 30% = $13.65

Factory tortoise cuff
$22.50 - 30% = $15.75

GO NOW!  You know how quickly J.Crew sale disappears!  {and beware most of this is final sale}

Have fun -Sarah

J.CREW DREAM COME TRUE

Where has this been all my life?

If you know anything about me, you know that I obsess over J.Crew.  It is always my go to store and at least 70% of my wardrobe is from J.Crew.  Their preppy yet modern style is totally up my alley and although prices are usually steeper than I can afford, they have great sales and I get a 15% teacher discount (college students get this as well)!

Well...not long ago, my mom and I were chatting with our local J.Crew general manager when he let us in on a little known secret.  I hesitated to share this information online because it is sort of an insider, word-of-mouth, secret.  J.Crew has two distribution centers in the country:  Lynchburg, VA and Asheville, NC.  At these locations, there is a Clearance Center open to the public (with regular store hours, open everyday)!

The Clearance Center carries J.Crew and Madewell clothes from past and current seasons at a discounted price {cashmere Jackie shells for $30}!  Some of these items are available in stores now but cheaper!  All of the clothes are there for different reasons {sample pieces, out of season, etc.).

My fiance and I recently stopped by on our way home from Charlotte (my niece was born!).  They had a range of things:  jewelry, shoes, sweaters, swim, shorts, lots of dresses... you name it.  Warning:  have patience!  Many things are organized by color and they only have one or a few of each design so you have to hunt for your size.  M didn't want to spend as much time as I did so I didn't get much but I plan to go back soon with a friend or my Mom and lots of time to spend.  

I picked up:

Leather Invitation Clutch 
Holiday 2011
Orig.: $138
CC Price: $40 -15% = $34
Savings: $104

Alexa Chung for Madewell Leather Skirt
Fall 2011
Orig.: $375
CC Price: $60 - 15% = $51
Savings: $324


I love getting an amazing deal like that skirt!!!  I got it at more than 86% off!  So I'd say the trip is definitely worth it but make sure you're ready to spend a lot of time in order to make the trip worth it!


Happy Bargain Hunting -Sarah

GIVEAWAY!!!

Drum roll please......

It's Champagne for Breakfast's first giveaway ever!  

I initially found this chick when she had her first blog Have Your Cake.  She then switched a new blog and founded her jewelry line via Etsy.  You guessed it...

I will be giving away one of STP's classic necklaces, not currently available in the etsy shop:

Khaki cord attached to gold chain, no clasp necessary just slip over your head!

Couldn't resist showing the adorable packaging:

Giveaway is now closed.

Let's get down to business...to enter you can:

- Follow this blog: Champagne for Breakfast {Mandatory} 

- Follow Spike the Punch on blogger

- Follow Spike the Punch on twitter {check out that background!}

- Follow Champagne for Breakfast on twitter 

- Check out the Spike the Punch etsy shop and tell me your fave piece
Update..You can also: - Tweet about the contest to friends {include link to tweet}

- Blog about the contest {include link to post}

Comment below telling me which option you've done {multiple comments for multiple entries} and please include your first name and email {if it's not connected to your account}!

Winner announced Wednesday, April 18th - you have one week...  

Good Luck -Sarah

CRAVING: SIMPLE TOTE

These simple, classic totes are everywhere and I am just dying to come up with a reason to buy one!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

What would you put in your tote? -Sarah

MISSING PERSON

Yes I realize that I have been AWOL for over a month, but I promise I will be back!  Right now my life is being consumed by wedding planning, marathon training, TCAP (standardized tests) prep at school, and obsessing over my brand new niece Hannah!

Check out my Instagram pics or tweets in the meantime.  

{over here} --->

Talk to you soon -Sarah