Mommy’s Day Off | Retail Therapy

So, I don’t have work for a couple weeks but my Mom is still available on the days she baby sits Pinky. I hate to say, but I totally took advantage of this and had some ME TIME! And yet, I still felt guilty. Anyway, that’s beside the point. I just tried on the new things I bought over the past few days and was so happy with my purchases. Like I said, it was hard for met to treat myself, but Daddy said it best, “you owe it to yourself,” and the lady at the Benefit counter said it even better, “your baby deserves a happy Mommy!”

I’m so proud of myself, partially, I just thought I’d share my new Fall ‘staple’ items.  Mommies, believe me when I say this, but I have been doing some research on what items to purchase because I am on a really tight budget. I do not have the luxury of splurging anymore and buying meaningless pieces that will only last a season.  Oprah.com and What not to Wear were just some of the sites I visited online to get some ideas. I also looked at other people’s outfits while I was out in public, on TV shows I frequent, magazines, etc. You get the picture. I have to give Oprah credit though because I found a lot of helpful galleries on her site. Why she is giving up her talk show, is beyond me. I’m sure she is off to bigger and greater things. Okay, enough talking. I’m very visual so let’s get to the pics!

Boyfriend Blazer: I’ve been looking for the perfect one for months. I bought the one at Target but ended up returning it (actually Auntie Chica did – thank you) because I didn’t like the fit. This one I found at Charlotte Russeand it was 25% off the the day I went in. I bought it in black with a black and white pin stripe lining. It’s boyfriendish yet feminine at the same time and you can dress it up for work or down for play!

 

Loose Cardigan or Light Sweater: It’s always nice to have something easy to throw on for comfort and warmth. With or without a belt a loose cardigan something you can wear well into the Fall and Winter months and even on a breezy spring or summer night! I found another great steel at Charlotte Russe and bought a short sleeve loose cardigan in gray for only $10 – originally $29.99! The one pictured below is from Anthropologie for $88. Too steep for my wallet, but a very nice staple piece.

Black Boots: “These boots were made for walking…” I was looking everywhere for the perfect pair of boots at Macy’s so I could take advantage of the sale they had for Macy’s cardholders, but I was tough outta luck! My lesson learned, go to the store that specializes in shoes all year round. Luckily I bumped into Cathy Jean! I came to the comclusion that if you’re going to buy boots you might as well by the best so that they’ll last a long time. Living in San Diego, we wear them more for fashion than comfort or even purpose. If I could get a few years out of these boots I will. I fell in love with these trendy and stylish boots that I wanted them in every color, but had to go with the basic black to slowly build my wardrobe back up. At 50% from their original price, I could not resist! Only $55, originally $109.99. you can’t beat that!

Oversized Tunic/Tank: I got this tunic in a maroon color at Charlotte Russe. As I write this, I didn’t realize how many items I purchased from there. Anyway, it was on sale for only $5! They had several colors to choose from (i.e. black, white, gray, salmon, blue, yellow). I like this piece because you can just throw it over some leggings or skinnys under the boyfriend blazer and look cool! It’s oversized so it might help with hiding some of the excess weight if you know what I mean. A good find – cheap and stylish.

 

Lightweight Foundation: Hello Flawless! I remember a Full House episode where Aunt Rebbecca told DJ that the purpose of makeup is to enhance our natural beauty! I don’t wear a ton of makeup, I hate foundation, but I love a nice powder finish to help soften up and even out my face. It’s easy to put on and it makes a difference, at least to me it does. This powder cover-up by benefit is so lightweight and silky you barley know it’s there. I was using MAC loose powder but I think I’ve found a replacement. This was an investment that will stretch out for at least a year. A $34 investment to be exact.

Nothing is better than a nice day of grooming. I wish I had a massage to go with, but I take what I can get these days. To help save on cash, not so much on time I opted to get a hair cut at Paul Mitchell School the School in Downtown, San Diego. I always ask for a Phase 2 student, this just means they are a little more experienced and closer to graduating. They do an amazing job, they are very service oriented and you can tell they care about their clients. Part of the reason is because they are students and they are working hard to prove themselves. At any rate, I love it. The only down fall is that I can expect to be in the salon for at least 2.5 hours tops. This last visit I was in for 3 hours! It’s a small price to pay to a $17 haircut that would otherwise cost $50 at a high end salon with a stylist who knows what they’re doing. I had to come in for a cut because some lady at Supercuts did a number on my already damaged hair. Since I had Pinky my hair has been so dry, she is literally sucking the nutrients out of me. So, if you are on a budget and have some time to kill go to a Beauty School and get your hair cut by a student. The $17 includes a wash and style, you can’t beat that.

Finally, facial hair is something we all have to live with. I always say, “it hurts to be beautiful!” At least for most of us, some are naturally beautiful and have nothing to worry about. For those of us who need a nice brow arch, a clean lip, or an all our Brazilian there is Beauty by Dolly. I went and got my eyebrows and yes, my lip threaded…the lip area is more painful than giving birth, but I must do it! Dolly’s is a neighborhood favorite. They do a wonderful job and I love that Mrs. Dolly herself calls me by my first name. A true mom and pop shop feel, great service and consistent results. They are always nominated for 10 News’ A-List and this year they came in 4th place. They were also awarded as the BEST threading Salon in San Diego by InStyles Beauty Black Book October 2010 Issue. Check out their website for a list of services.

And there you have it…my very own list of Fall Fashion Staple Pieces, beauty secrets and steals. Hopefully they will inspire you to rebuild your wardrobe in a budget conscious manner. It’s still a learning process for me, nonetheless entertaining, something I’ll be working on for a while. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. I’d love to hear about them. Happy Shopping to all you Mommies! Treat yourself to something good. Why? Just because, you deserve it!