Splurge vs. Save // Summer Edition

As a regular thrift shop hunter, Target connoisseur, and coupon lover, you better believe my favorite finds this summer were all under $50. Recently, Erin from Credit Card Insider emailed me about being a part of their Splurge vs. Save campaign. She asked that I spotlight one item that I chose to purchase over a more expensive item. Though, true to my bargain hunter title, I found so many steals that I couldn't highlight just one. 

My splurge inspirations came in at a total of $1,244.00. *GASP*. But, my incredibly similar wallet-friendly fashions totaled at $113. Yippee!

Anna Sui clothing / Lauren Geoghegan leather purse / 
Kelly Wearstler ring / Solid Platform - Soludos Espadrilles

OR

Influence Blue kimono / Flat Espadrille Shoes / 

Forever 21 faux leather tote bag / ALDO ring

Splurge vs. Save Round-Up

I've rounded up my top three favorite trends right now which include tortoise prints, high-waisted midi skirts, the faint blush color of garden roses, and ,of course, some major savings. Would you rather splurge or save on these items?

1. Karen Walker Number One Sunnies || Splurge or Save
2. Blushing Pink Midi Skirt || Splurge or Save
3. GILT Candy d'Orsay Flat || Splurge or Save

Transitional Target Finds

Mossimo top // Mossimo long sleeve blazer // Mossimo shoes // Pink bracelet // Mint green jewelry // Mint green necklace

Yesterday a Target email popped up in my inbox stating, "additional 20% off women's clearance," and boy, you know I was hooked. I was expecting the typical swimwear and sandals to be in the sale section, but was hoping to find some pieces that could easily transition from summer into my fall attire. I was excited to find these pieces above, all under $15. I can see the striped flats pairing with just about any outfit, and the blush and mesh black top above is simply elegant with a little bit of edge, not to mention it is the perfect tone for fall. So what are you waiting for? Everything is an additional 20% off (price reflected at checkout)!

For the Love of Gold

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

Growing up I always had a penchant for silver, mainly because that's what all my friends liked, of course. Now, I've developed a soft spot in my heart for the antique and timeless look of gold. Some people think it's overdone, but with the right amount added to any outfit, it truly shines. 

So, this gorgeous filigree ring, must-have golden metallic flats, shimmering clutch, and ideal charger plate for special occasions are each items I recommend for any golden girl's home and closet.

Shop some other fabulous gold picks in the S&P Boutique. Like this gold and mint acrylic bracelet and this stunning Art Deco clutch. 

xo,

Elissa

***

Today I'm linking up with Kristin over at Fancy Things!

Shopping from Home // H&M online

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Gray sweater // Green sequin top // Cream scarf // Patterned skirt // Black handbag // Ballet flats

I'm sure your Instagram feed has been flooded with photos featuring the new H&M online. What's not to love about affordable fashion you can shop directly from home? I too have fallen for this beloved brand's on trend yet classic fashions. Above are a few of my favorites for fall from the new site--and boom, the Internet became that much more of a dangerous place to browse!

Look For Less // Nautical Chic

She's the It Girl everyone loves to hate and has style we constantly hope to replicate (unintentional rhyming). Olivia's feminine and sophisticated outfits never fail to inspire my next ensemble. Effortlessly chic, I love this simple outfit pictured below, and here is how you can get this nautical look for less!

xo,
Elissa

What's On Sale // ZARA

Kelly Green Flare Dress / Scarf Print Tunic / Floral Shorts / Platform Art Pattern Heel / Leopard Heel / Silver Stud Glitter Heel / Colorblock Shopper / Art Clutch / Earrings

S-A-L-E. The greatest four letter word in my fashion vocabulary. I'm thinking those studded glitter heels should come home to me!

Happy shopping!

xo,

Elissa

May 2013 // Spending Report

*Most of what I purchase is found secondhand, thus, the images above are similar to, but not the exact item.

Clothes

Vince Camuto Satin Ruffle Heels (similar) // $25 // I scored a pair of pre-loved blush pink heels with a satin ruffle front on Poshmark.

Basic V-Neck Tanks // $20 // I usually stock up on basics once or twice a year. This time around I purchased the coral red color above, lavender, pink, and two plain white t-shirts at Wet Seal.

Sundresses (Similar: Floral & Zigzag)  // Approx. $15 total for both // I purchased two sundresses like the ones above from Poshmark as well. I always like to have them ready for summer!

GAP Utility Dress (similar) // $5 // I found an older style, yet still adorable, olive green utility dress from GAP on, of course, Poshmark!

Hudson White Jeans (similar) // $40 // Yes another Poshmark find, white Hudson jeans for a fraction of the retail price.

Black Cat Eye Sunnies (similar) // $5 // Purchased on ModDeals, but they are now out of that exact style.

Blue Floral Bauble Necklace (similar) // $5 // Yup, you guessed it, another Poshmark deal! My necklace is from the LOFT, but the one above is a dead-on twin.

Floral Headband (similar) // $2 // I adore headbands, they are so easy to wear! I added a floral one, similar to the one above, to my sundress purchase on Poshmark.

Pink Crossbody Satchel (similar) // $5 // OK, OK...I also got a pink Forever 21 bag from Poshmark. Yes, I have an addiction! The purse I purchased actually looks very similar to the Rebecca Minkoff purse above. 

TOTAL: $122

Well, my spending fast went out the door quickly. BUT I did spend quite a bit less than I did in April! WOOHOO! However, the streak must continue. How is everyone else doing with their spending habits? As you can tell, I'm ever the bargain shopper, but tend to go overboard. Being involved in the blogger world, it's so hard not to want every cute pair of earrings and shoes you see! 

In other news, I actually did purchase a Canon Rebel T3 DSLR camera and am in love with it! (I decided to leave it out of my clothing expenses here.) It's such an easy starter DSLR for a newbie like myself. I purchased it on Amazon for about $320. It's refurbished and is an older model, but works like a charm. You can look forward to better photos on my blog in the future, finally!

xo,
Elissa

Today I'm linking up with Style Elixir.

Fashion Inspired by Film

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 

I think I've written a total of four posts on the Art Deco fashion of the 1920's alone. I can't help but dream of what it must have been like to live during that time when style really began to take risks. Of course, I probably would've needed a hefty bank account to accommodate the sparkly deco jewels and geometric prints of my dreams, but nonetheless I'm excited to be transported back to that era with the premiere of The Great Gatsby this weekend.

I rounded up a few items that I would love to add to my collection. The blush pink beaded clutch is simply beautiful, seriously. I'm in the process of redoing my room and would also love to add a vintage print to my walls like the one of the three ladies above. (Plus, all the items above are under $50!)

What do you love more about this era? The clean lines or the dazzling jewels?

xo, 

Elissa

Four Favorites | Urbanog

Heels | Dress | Earrings | Skirt

This roundup of my four favorite items this week has GOT to be the best selection yet (so much for not spending $$ for a few weeks!). All these picks are from one of my favorite affordable online boutiques, URBANOG. I just found out they are based in Southern California, fairly close to me actually. 

In past purchases I've gotten shoes from URBANOG at incredibly low prices and I've always been pleased with the items once they arrive! They usally have promo codes available as well, you can find their daily deals here. From the cutout back of the little lace number above to the Lucite mint heel, their spring styles are drop-dead gorgeous. And everything featured above is under $40. Doesn't get much better than that.

I'm debating about what to buy ... which item do you think is a must-have?

xo,

Elissa

Linking up with Kristin at Fancy Things Blog today!

The Finishing Touches

I frequently find myself browsing Charlotte Russe's online store. I'm not a huge fan of the selection I find in their brick and mortar stores, but for some reason I find the most awesome deals on their website. Not to mention, there is always a promotional code you can use to get 10% or more off. See this website for some great promotional codes to apply during checkout, seriously it's worth the extra time to get these discounts!

They have a huge selection of jewelry that is almost always buy 2 items for $10 (this is the spot to stock up on those lovely statement necklaces). Currently, they are having a shoe deal of buy one get the second for only $12.50. I bought myself a pair of the gold bow sandals below, as well as these simple braided wedges. 

Coral Beaded Necklace | Rose Gold Necklace | Seafoam Necklace

Bow Sandals | Studded Nude Heel | Black Flats

When I find good deals, it seems like a crime not to share! Let me know if you snatch up any Charlotte Russe goodies to add to your spring wardrobe and leave me a comment below!

xo,

Elissa

Get the Look | Kate Spade & ModCloth

Happy Monday! Lately I've been craving some good wallet-conscious finds. This past weekend I did a bit of browsing at the Kate Spade New York flagship store in San Jose and couldn't help but want every.single.item--especially the bow tie fit and flare dress below! However, my current budget will not allow. Therefore, I opted to find more inexpensive items on another one of my favorite sites, ModCloth. Let me know what you think of these adorable items below, all for a fraction of the price of the Kate Spade pieces.

P.S. I'll be hosting a Poshmark Party in the app tonight at 7:00 PM. The theme is "Preppy Glamour." Be sure to be join and share your fabulous items!

Kate Spade || Bow Tie Dress $478 // Mint Satchel $278 // Red Sunnies $138

ModCloth || Polka Dot Dress $50 // Mint & Patent Satchel $55 // Red Cat Eye Sunnies $12

Linking up with the Northern Belle Diaries today!

Four Favorites + Welcome Spring!

Gray Sweater | Necklace | Mint Blue Heels | Watch

Today I'm linking up with the lovely gals from the blogs Let it Be Beautiful and Fancy Things. Here are four of my current favorites. I'm on the hunt for the perfect sweater/blazer/motorcycle jacket combo! (Is that even possible? I'm just going to believe it is.) After I saw this outfit look here, my hunt for something similar and more in my price range began! 

And, of course, Happy Spring beautiful ladies (and gents, if you're reading). I'm off to a Christian writers conference tomorrow in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains, so blogging will be minimal, but I'll be back in full force after Easter.

xo, Elissa

Black, White, & Pastel All Over

While I was an intern for Los Angeles Confidential Magazine, I had the opportunity to assist the stylist for our 2012 spring fashion spread. One of my jobs was to organize the racks of candy-colored Chanel and Louis Vuitton outfits. Needless to say, ever since, I've been hooked on all-things pastel. Thus, I was so excited to see pastels emerge once again this year for spring and summer. Other trends I'll be taking full advantage of are black and white stripes (Can't wait to wear my striped Love Culture dress here), Victorian-inspired baroque patterns, polka dots, pattern mixing (like flowers and stripes), and unique silhouettes. What's not to love? 

What are your favorite spring/summer trends so far?

xo,

Elissa

Online Shopping: Make Me Chic

I found MakeMeChic.com via People Style Watch magazine and was instantly hooked on their trend-conscious website and inexpensive pieces (most of my picks below are $30 or less)! Thus, I'm sharing this online shopping destination as a one-stop shop filled with spring must-haves: turquoise, pinks, mint, flirty skirts, and lady-like structured bags. 

What's your favorite item/spring must-have?

A Red Carpet Moment

Yesterday afternoon I caught the red carpet coverage of the Oscars, and most of Seth Mcfarlane's opening monologue. Seeing the gorgeous gowns and on-stage talent got me thinking, that I could NEVER have so much attention on me in one moment (Jennifer Lawrence's graceful fall, anyone?). I can't imagine what's going through the minds of Anne Hathaway or Jessica Chastain (my usual favorites) as the spotlight is on them, "I hope nobody steps on my ..." "Do I have any lipstick on my teeth? ..." "Please don't let me say something ridiculous on national TV ..."

Knowing me, I would be caught in all of those embarrassing moments (and probably more). Though, I know those well-groomed ladies and gents are seasoned professionals at walking the red carpet, I'm glad that's their job and not mine.

With that said, though it would be a nerve-racking, who wouldn't want to wear a gorgeous couture gown?! Here are the ones I would take in a heartbeat. 

{All images from JustJared.com}

Tell me who your favorites were!

xo,
Elissa

What's Ahead? + Wardrobe Essentials

This month, my plate is stacked high with several new commitments and a busy season at the office. Additionally, I've found new purpose for regularly updating Sparkles and Prays and find it brings me so much joy during rather routine workdays. With that said, I have a ton of great DIY posts coming up in the future, including a post to highlight some awesome wooden spectacles by an up and coming brand called Woodzee. Nonetheless, until I have the time to dedicate 100 percent to those new additions, I'll be creating simple yet helpful write-ups about style and beauty that will allow me a break from editing work and hopefully provide an inspiring retreat for you readers as well. 

In addition, a huge shout out to all my new followers, thank you so much for joining me in this journey! I am humbled by your comments and your time! (And I just purchased my own domain name to get rid of the blogspot.com at the end of the web address. Now, you can simply find Sparkles and Prays via sparklesandprays.com!)

Now, for some fashion eye candy. Here are some of my wardrobe must-haves, each for $25 and under! 

Basic V-Neck Tees: My absolute favorite closet staple is a white v-neck shirt. I can dress it up or down, pair it with a statement necklace or printed scarf. Whatever mood I'm in, I gravitate towards this basic foundation.

Watches: I have one Marc by Marc Jacobs rose gold watch (similar here) that seems to go with every outfit I own. I love the pop of coral in this wrap watch, and think this timeless piece (no pun intended) is a must-have.

Waist-Cinching Belts: I have about 5 different belts that I wear on a regular basis, including one leopard print skinny belt like the one above, which adds so much to a basic outfit. I think both curvy and athletic body types call for at least one waist-cinching belt in your wardrobe. Pair with a high-waisted skirt or around the waist of a flowy top.

Nude Heels: You've heard it time and time again. Skin-colored heels lengthen your legs and go with any color.

Chic Heeled Boots: Wearing boots makes me feel more pulled together than any other shoe in my closet. Something about the clean line of a knee-high boot brings me both confidence and comfort.

Preppy Cardigans: Maybe it's just because I started working in an office, but I've fallen in love with cardigans. I have about one in every color! Some with fun buttons, patterns, pockets, and ruffles. I think this extra layer is an easy way to pull together a look, both casual and dressed up.

Delicate Necklaces: I've become a huge fan of small necklaces that you can wear everyday. I absolutely love the quirky "hello" charm on this gold necklace, and it's only $6.99!

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

I opened my inbox today and saw this ...

Kate Spade Sample Sale. SO. DANGEROUS.

I have yet to own my first Kate Spade piece, but adore the chic, structured, and fun vibe of their handbags. I'm trying SO hard to refrain from purchasing any of the pretties below--most of which are 75% off today and tomorrow! Sorry to tempt those who are also trying to cut down on spending, but I simply had to share. :)

{Click here to go directly to the Sample Sale page (different from the regular sale items)}

Sapphire Pink Handbag ($169) | Multicolored Necklace ($69) | Gold Framework Ring ($29)

Pink Sparkle Clutch ($99) | Polka Dot Wallet ($79) | Gold Striped Case ($20) 

Lace and Mint + Giveaway Announcement!

My dream wardrobe consists of the above inspiration. Read on to see the reasons behind each of my picks! {Click on any of the icons to shop these items.}

1. Lace and Rose Dress: I'm a sucker for a feminine dress. Put some lace on it, and I'm sold! The combination of this scalloped lace and the dusty pink is perfection.
2. Miu Miu Sparkle Heels: I don't have the funds to buy Miu Miu shoes on a regular basis, but can't get enough of this ladylike style with the t-strap, glitter back, and the gorgeous nude hue. 
3. Coach Mint Handbag: I have a slight unhealthy obsession with mint green. And not to mention that the structured style of this Coach purse is a classic. I think this will be on my wishlist for an upcoming anniversary (shh ...)!
4. Rose Gold Pave Bangle: Rose gold and crystals. It's pretty obvious why I love this bracelet. 
5.  Black Belt: When giving style advice, you'll often here me say, "Just belt it!" My love for high waisted skirts and flowy dresses is perfectly paired with a waist cinching belt. I often opt for a black faux snakeskin one with a gold buckle, similar to the one pictured above.
6. Polka Dots and Tea Pots: Obviously not a style staple, but I'm inspired by the concept behind afternoon tea and the gorgeous patterns on vintage tea pots and cups. I started my collection a year ago and can't wait to find the perfect space to display them in!
7. Florals and Parasols: My favorite part about God's creation is flowers. I love their vibrancy, uniqueness, and fragrance. My dad is a flower guru and I am so thankful for a childhood filled with adventures in the flower cooler and fresh bouquets on the kitchen table. The combination of this flower parasol inspires my whimsical side, where everything is graceful, sparkly, and light. 

What are some pieces that represent your style personality?

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AND THE GIVEAWAY WINNER IS .... 

Brittany Gehre

Congratulation Brittany! Please message me on Facebook or shoot me an email with your address, your 31 Bits necklace and eye shadow palette from Radiant Cosmetics will be on its way to you shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more giveaways in the future! 

xo,

Elissa

The Daily Dainty: Crossbody Purses

Selling items on Poshmark has made me more aware of what the average, everyday woman is searching for. One of the hottest items at the moment is the crossbody bag. I've had several people request them, and every time I do post one, it sells in 24 hours. With that being said, I introduce four chic, yet inexpensive, bags from JCPenney (I unexpectedly love their clothing lines!), two of which are from the Nicole by Nicole Miller line. (Each of these bags come in various colors.) 

Leave a comment below and let me know if you decide to purchase one. And include a sentence about other items you're on the hunt for. I'd be happy to help you search! I'm currently living vicariously through readers since I'm trying to refrain from spending any more this month!

This post is inspired by my sissy's gorgeous Marc Jacobs purse, the classic Natasha Q style ($368). This dainty daily can be purchased at Nordstrom or on Piperlime.