Savin' Maven Monday: I'm Addicted to Sales...(pic heavy)

Soooo, how many of you shopped at Old Navy for their 5 day sale last week? It was definitely MORE THAN AMAZING. Each day from 12-5PM they had different 75% off specials on outerwear, sweaters, and basically anything FALL. 

When I tell you, I'm sooooo sick of seeing Old Navy....you shall find out by viewing my numerous hauls below.

1st haul-SWEATERS/CARDIGANS/T's

2nd haul-OUTERWEAR/SWEATERS

3rd haul-TOPS/BOTTOMS/MAXIS

And my last and final haul is from Kohl's. I only shop there when I get their infamous $10 off coupons in the mail. This time I got these sparklies for a whopping $11. I'm hoping that this month's EverybodyEverywear choice is for sequins and sparkles because I can't wait to rock these:

Grand total------------------->$513.32

My total out of pocket------->$141.99 

For a total savings of ----------------------->$371.33 (72% savings)

And for less than $150, I'm all set for the FALL season.

How have you done on your recent hauls?

Survival of the Fit...Only the Strong Survive...

Hello lovelies.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

This year I'm so thankful to have my health, a loving family, great lifelong friends, and....YOU of course. My blog wouldn't be where it is today without your readership. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

I'm more than ready to parlay with family, friends, and some great food. Our family tradition has always been to rotate houses each year so every Thanksgiving we are at a different location. We usually tell each member to bring one or two of their 'signature' food items so that way we end up with a nice plethora of yumminess. My item of choice this year was none other than....dessert-I made my favorite Gooey Butter Cake using Paula Deen's recipe. You can get the recipe here.

And after dinner when everyone's else is stuffed, bloated, and fatigued from 'house hopping', I'm going to be standing in line at WalMart for their Black Friday deals. I'm beyond crazy, I know. But see the thing is, I've been wanting a game system for the past couple of years and they have a sweet deal on an XBox 360 Kinect for $199. As an added bonus, they are giving out a $50 gift card with the purchase. That's like paying 149 bucks for an XBox Kinect-who can beat that!!???

Earrings-Forever 21

Of course with all of the madness that is prone to take place, there has to be a method to it. With that being said, here are a few of my tips for making it through Black Friday without losing any of my sanity.

• View the ads online. In most instances, Black Friday ads are available to view at least a week in advance. Visit sites like BlackFridayAds and/or BlackFriday2011 to see what your favorite stores are offering.
• Make a list. Once you have scoured the ads, make a list of all the items that caught your eye. Be sure to list the price, store name, and the time the sale begins.
• Compare your lists and devise a plan. If you're anything like me you probably ended up with pages full of killer deals. Now it's time to compare the lists and find the BEST deals. I was able to eliminate a lot of items by doing this. In the end I was left with one store who had deals on a majority of the items that I had my eye on.
• Print out a map of the store that you are visiting.  Many stores get in a special shipment just for Black Friday sales, so they have to display the sale items in random places throughout the store.  Once you have narrowed your list down, you may visit the website of your chosen store to view a 'Black Friday Map'.
• Plan your mode of attack. With the help of the infamous 'map' you can then plan your route throughout the store on Black Friday. Begin with the most valued item on your list and work your way down.
• Prepare to stand in some 'godawful' long lines. Patience will the the most ultimate virtue in these situations.
• GOOD LUCK and happy shopping!! 

Will you be shopping on Black Friday? If so, what are some of your tips? Do share!!

Blouse-Plato's/Sweater-gifted

BDIB: About FACE!!!

I'm always on the fence about whether or not I should participate in these memes. Honestly, I've denounced myself as a 'fashion blogger' and truth be told I don't get any more traffic on 'meme' days than I do on regular days.

But since I loved the theme of this month's 'Bloggers Do It Better' so much, I decided that I would share the ONE measly pic of this military inspired jacket that I love ever so much.

WARNING/DISCLAIMER: My camera sucks so please accept my apologies in advance for the less than poor quality!

Jacket-Platos Closet/Cargo Pants-GAP/Wedges, Belt, Clutch-Thrifted/Denim Shirt-NY&Co

I kinda love these military inspired combat boots also>>>

I purchased them from Target last season and they..are..my..babies!!!! They're so comfy and I think they look so fierce paired with skinnies.

Can't wait to see everyone else's military inspired looks. Visit Kristina at PrettyShinySparkly to link your outfit idea.

Ohhhhh....and stay tuned for Part III of the How Big is your EGO series. View Parts I and II here.

How Big Is Your Ego?...Part II

Has anyone been keeping up with Oprah's Lifeclass? It's a Godsend. No, seriously! It's sooo motivational-especially at this stage in my life.

Since I wasn't able to take advantage of the free journals when she was offering them,  I've been taking notes in my own personal journal.

The first topic that she covered had me so hooked that I decided to share my thoughts and what all I learned from her life lessons.

Yesterday I posed a very serious question. Do you consider yourself to be 'that' bitch? Why or why not?

If your answer to this question included the fact that you're the ish because you have a well paying job, a nice house, a foreign car, a great man, and a closet the size of my upstairs loft....then guess what!?

You just may be 'that' bitch...and a very EGOTISTICAL one at that.

Oprah said that "ego shows up everyday as a false sense of self". It forces you to become obsessed with the image of yourself.

I despise seeing women, or men for that matter, who allow labels and status symbols to define who they are. You know...the ones who would spend their last on the latest Prada bag with the overly obnoxious logo spewed all over it. Or how about the guy who won't wear Polo unless the 'horseman' is clearly visible.

Why do so many people feel as though designer labels and status changes define them? Regardless of what you look like on the outside, what really matters is how you look on the inside. And if your inside looks like a piece of shit, then sorry....no label or status is going to be able to change that.

I'm perfectly fine with being sensitive and overprotective, slightly introverted but real-sitting just as pretty in my thrifted ensemble. 

I define who I am-not Louis, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, or Ralph Lauren.

Where does your sense of self come from?

How Big Is Your Ego?...Part I

Ego so big, you must admit...

I got every reason to feel like I'm that bitch

Do you feel like you're that 'bitch'!?

Why or why not?

Do you know the real meaning of ego and how it gets in the way of forward progress?

Stay tuned for Part 2....

AND...I'm BACK!!!

Ok lovelies....I'M BAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!!!!

It's been a while since I've been on the blogging scene but there's definitely been alot going on with me.

I just needed a break to sort through some things but I promise that if I absolutely have to leave again I won't be gone for so long.

In dealing with life's curve balls, I've decided that I want to take the focus of my blog elsewhere-more on 'life' and less on fashion because after a long bout of contemplation I had to be totally honest with myself-I just don't feel up to dressing like a star each and everyday like some of you other divas. I don't run errands in 4 inch stilettos nor do I have the type of job where I can be casually chic and rock mini skirts with patterned tights everyday.  

I  would much rather talk about real things-relationships, sex, family, and friendship-not just what I choose to wear on any given day.

So take it or leave it and continue to visit if you shall. **I hope you continue to visit**