EV Jewelry Design GIVEAWAY!

A girl can never have too much jewelry. Though my fiance seems to think that me owning piles of bracelets is less than awesome, accessories can make or break an outfit--so having the right ones makes a huge difference.

EV Jewelry understands that.  Their baubles are classy and timeless; perfect for any woman.  I'm especially a huge fan of their bracelets.  Their Aphrodite cuff is unique and gorgeous.  It's adjustable, so anyone can wear it, and the look of the bracelet is perfect for any occasion.

I have one of these fabulous cuffs to give away to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "APHRODITE".  The giveaway ends 3/3 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck!!!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

6.5 Reasons Why Bloggers Make Better Lovers

HAHAHA! I found this and just had to share!

6.5 Reasons Why Bloggers Make Better Lovers

Don't Forget to Take Your Vitamins!

I'm constantly getting sick. I probably get around 50 colds a year.  And wintertime is the absolute worst.  Everyone has been telling me to take a multivitamin for years.YEARS! And I just never wanted to.  Sometimes I'd try...I'd buy a bottle and take one a day for a couple weeks.  But it never lasted.  Now I have a solution.

Thanks to my lovely sister-in-law to-be, I found these amazing Hair, Skin & Nails vitamins.  Now with a name like that, you'd think that there really wouldn't be much of what your body actually needs daily nutrition-wise.  Well, you're wrong.  These vitamins have most of the same ingredients as a normal, everyday multi-vitamin.  They just also happen to make you more beautiful at the same time.

So, I've basically "tricked" myself into taking these.  Since they're beauty-related, I never forget to take them.  And since they have all the nutrients that I need in a daily vitamin, I haven't gotten sick since I started taking them. It's a win-win!!

Each bottle is about $15 and is totally worth it.

Another Clinique Gift With Purchase!!!

'Tis the time for free makeup, apparently! Right now, Bloomingdale's has this fab Clinique gift with purchase. And you know how I feel about GWPs! I've always found the Clinique freebies to be best.  I love love love the cosmetic bags and everything inside looks amazing.  All you have to do is spend $25 on Clinique products and you'll receive all these awesome goodies:

• Long Last Glosswear SPF15 in AirKiss
• Colour Surge Eyshadow Duo
• High Impact Mascara in Black
• High Impact Lip Colour SPF15 in Extreme Pink
• Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
• All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
• Milly for Clinique Cosmetics Bag Set

I'm totally in love with this gift set! If you want one, act fast. They deal is only good until 2/27!

Why What Heavenly Hair You Have!

Wintertime. Ugh. It just makes my hair look incredibly dull, dry and damaged (the dreaded three "d"s).  I'm always experimenting with new hair products to try and bring my hair back to life, but it's been a long and tough journey.

My latest find is Heavenly Essence's Pure'ity shampoo and conditioner.  I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with both.  The products come in two scents, peppermint and citrus, both of which help your hair in different ways.

I went for the peppermint because I've always been a fan of anything minty. The ingredients used are actually natural and simulate the natural oils that we already have in our hair, so breakage and scalp dryness are reduced.  I really liked the peppermint scent.  It left my hair feeling tingly, clean and smelling fresh.  I cannot stress enough how clean my hair and scalp felt.


The peppermint conditioner was my fave, though.  After application, I immediately noticed that my hair was much more manageable and incredibly smooth.  After styling, I found my hair to be in great condition.  It looked healthy and shiny, and was super soft to the touch.  I honestly couldn't stop running my fingers through it!

The best part is that all of the Pure'ity products are hypoallergenic.  I've been known to have an itchy scalp after using certain hair products because my skin in general is just so sensitive. But this stuff seemed to actually make my scalp feel great--no itching!


Each bottle is 8 oz and costs $10 (HUGE bargain).  For information on how to purchase these delightful hair goodies, check out their website.


Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

A Cute Spring Top You Can Wear Now

I'm just about ready to say "toodloo" to all this cold weather.  It can get so depressing walking around in a sea of people wearing nothing but black and gray.

So, I did a little browsing around online for pretty spring tops and found this adorable Rissa Red Floral Cami.  How cute is it??! I've fallen in love with this top.  I love the vintage-inspired fabric, and the cut is very flattering.

This type of top can actually be worn year-round.  It's totally acceptable to wear something like this underneath a cute cropped cardigan until the temperature finally goes up!

Each cami is ON SALE for $5.99!!! Get one now!! I have a feeling they'll be gone within the week!

Fashion Faux Pas: Men's "Ex-Girlfriend" Jeans

Hmm...I'm not quite sure where to begin with this.  Levi's has come out with a new range of mens' jeans that are supposedly the equivalent of women's "boyfriend jeans". Basically something that looks like it belongs to a member of the opposite sex, but it a good way.  There are some decent pairs of boyfriend jeans out there, so I won't knock that look.

Unfortunately, the idea doesn't really work both ways. Levi's new Ex-Girlfriend jeans are undoubtedly the most hideous pair of pants I've seen in a while.

I mean, COME ON! Just look at them! No man should wear pants that tight, ever.  And I'm sorry that it's a double standard, but unlike women, men can't just grab a pair of their lady friend's skinny jeans and run out to the store for a sec, like we can with our man's pants.  Even that is pushing it, frankly.

These jeans are described as follows: Remember the girlfriend with the great style? Here's a tribute to her -- a fit that's super-snug allover, an update of the five-pocket classic that's as skinny as it gets.

I don't know about you ladies, but none of that sounds acceptable to me for a straight, normal man. The pants aren't flattering and could practically pass off as leggings.  You could possibly wear them for a role in a ballet recital. If my fiance ever came home with these, or even brought them up as an idea, I would cancel the wedding. That's how strongly I hate these pants.

Luckily, my main squeeze isn't a huge loser, so I think I'm in the clear.

But if for some ungodly reason you want a pair (they actually might be cute on girls), each pair is about $70.

Barbie and Ken are Back Together!!!

Okay, so I have to admit...I had no idea that Barbie and Ken had split up. They've actually been apart for about seven years. But thanks to tons of online press, I've found out that on Valentine's Day, these two dolls are all lovey dovey again.  And that rocks!

I've always loved Barbie. I mean, she's the ultimate girly-girl! The official Barbie Collector Shop has some fab things that I've written about in the past.  They've just added oodles of goodies, like this adorable Barbie & Ken tee (pictured below--$18), another tee that simply ponders, "Why can't all men be like Ken?" ($18) and basically everything you could ever want.

The big seller right now is this limited edition She Said Yes! doll gift set, which includes both dolls sporting sun-kissed tans and modern fashions inspired by their original 1959 and 1961 swimsuits. Barbie is wearing a black and white one-piece swimsuit; complete with sunglasses and sandals in her signature pink hue. Ken is wearing red board shorts and comes with a yellow towel and black sandals.These sets are only $5 (!!!) and will be going fast! 

Oh Barbie, I don't think I'll ever be too old to love you!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope that all you fabulous ladies are snuggled up with your loves (or at least tons of chocolate!)!!!

Online Shopping Spotlight: Women's Clothing Superstore

If you've read this blog at all,then you know that shopping is my absolute favorite thing to do!  Online shopping is even better.

Women's Clothing Superstore is like a million different online stores put together.  You can search for virtually anything (and I really do mean anything--I found everything from clothing and makeup to kitchen utensils).

The coolest part about the site is that it searches a number of other online stores to find you the best deal on what you're looking for. To put it simply, it ROCKS! That also means that there's a ton of variety within searches.  If you're looking for a pink purse, you can do a search for it and find a plethora of handbags, some of which you probably hadn't even thought of.  It's a great site to just browse around on and surprise yourself with something fabulous.

The price range on the site varies from extremely budget-friendly to fancy, expensive designer frocks.  You can literally find anything you could possibly want on this site. I myself have spent hours just searching for random things and have been so surprised at what I've found!

The site also has a super cool blog with tips and fun ideas written by yours truly! Check it out here.

I WANT THIS BAG NOW!!!

Payless has been impressing me a lot lately.  And not just with their shoes (although, their shoes have been rockin' lately--more on that in a future post!).  A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the makeup lines they've introduced.  Now they've got fab designers making budget-friendly shoes (which they've actually has for a while) and fantastic handbags.

This fabbity-fabulous vintage inspired bag is by Christian Siriano--you might remember him from Project Runway.  He's done a few shoe lines for Payless in the past, but this handbag he designed is AMAZING!!!

It has everything a girl could want in a handbag: chain straps, lock closure in front, and it's made from a faux patent snake skin print!  The hue of this bag is what makes it so unique and incredible.  It's about the same color blue you'd see in an expensive pair of jeans with a dark wash.  The snake skin detail is subdued a bit, which is perfect because it doesn't take over the whole look of the bag.  The chain straps are my favorite part though.  They're adjustable so that you can wear the bag over the shoulder or as a cross body bag.

The purse itself is a good size--7"HX11"WX3.5".  Large enough to fit all your essentials, yet small enough to use for a night out.

As for the price, you can grab one of these beauties for a mere $39.99. (EEEEEeeeee!!!) Blue and gold have never looked so good together!

It's Clinique Bonus Time at Bon-Ton!

I loooove GWPs (gifts with purchases).  I live for them.  Clinique always has the best ones, as far as I'm concerned.  All of their products are amazing, and the GWP isn't full of products that you won't use--they're usually full of goodies that work for most skintones.

Clinique has jumped a bit ahead and has this fabulous springtime GWP.  The bag alone is super adorable (I'm such a sucker for a cute bag). 

All you have to do in order to get this GWP is spend $21.50 on Clinique products.  I can think of plenty of things to purchase; personally, I'm a fan of the Clinique Quick Blush. It's totally portable and easy to apply.  And it's only $22.50, bringing you a dollar past the minimum purchase amount!

Here's what comes inside the set:

• Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 Clinique's daily moisturizer creates a more even skin tone
• 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula Best-loved skin polisher for all skin types
• Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Bamboo Pink Eight hours of shine plus SPF
• Different Lipstick in Glazed Berry Top lipstick formula in a spring-perfect shade
• Lash Doubling Mascara in Black Delivers the thickest lashes of all Clinique mascaras
• Almost Bronzer SPF 15 in Light/Medium Sheer bronzing duo lets you customize your glow
• Cosmetics Bag; A Clinique specialty. Perfect for travel, for makeup

These seven products are all great to have and I know from experience that they all work amazingly well.

Once you add at least $21.50 worth of Clinique products into your shopping bag, the gift set immediately gets added for free.

Yay for free-ish makeup!!

Beauty Boo-Boo: Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips

Okay, so I've been following the beauty blogs and a lot of people actually like these Nail Polish Strips by Sally Hansen.  But I've got to be honest here.  I absolutely hate them.

I was really excited when I originally found them and couldn't wait to try them out! I went for a retro flower print, which looked adorable on the box.

Once I actually tried putting the nail strips on (following all of the directions very carefully), I found that they literally looked like stickers on my nails. And they peeled off immediately. The quality was horrible. I was so disappointed! I'm usually a huge fan of all Sally Hansen products, so I really thought these would be incredible.  And after reading some of my other fave beauty blogs, I'm a bit confused.  Maybe my nails aren't great or strong enough for the strips, but I really don't think that's the case.

For $10, you get enough strips to do one manicure.  For that price, you could basically go to a salon and get a real manicure, which I'd much prefer.  I do love all the patterns and hate that the strips actually are this awful!

My suggestion?  Save your $10 and buy something worthwhile like OPI's new Black Shatter polish (available at most drugstores and salons for around $8).  The look is much more fabulous and doesn't look like children's stickers. Plus it lasts virtually forever.

You've been warned.  That is all.

Torrid: Fashionable Plus Size Pieces (AND a Giveaway!)

I've always known about Torrid, but simply assumed that it was just like every other plus size shop--not stylish, and filled with unflattering clothing for voluptuous ladies.

Not so with Torrid.  They follow the trends and have super flattering clothing, as well as amazing plus size accessories! It's a great store to check out.  Everything is very affordable and simply gorgeous.  I'd compare it to Forever 21, for plus size women.  And if you don't know by now, Forever 21 is basically my fave store ever.

I'm very fond of the bracelets that Torrid has.  They have a plethora of bangles and other cool, adjustable bracelets, all a bit larger than you'd find at any other store.  The bangles themselves have a 3 inch diameter.

I think it's so cool that there's a place for women to go that shows that fashion and style isn't merely for stick figure girls.  Curvy ladies deserve to look fabulous too!

Torrid and Sassy Fashionista have teamed up for a terrific giveaway.  I've got a few bracelets to give away (the whole set will be going to one reader).  There are two sets of bangles and a really cool gem wristband.  They're pictured below.

How adorable and totally stylish are these bracelets?!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "TORRID BRACELETS".  The giveaway ends 2/17 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck!!!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Designer Spotlight: Steph's Magic Jars (And a Fab Giveaway!)

I absolutely love little containers to hold all my trinkets.  I honestly can't have enough.

Stephanie Lane, creator of Steph's Magic Jars, makes the most unique jars I've ever seen.  They're super gorgeous and each one is handmade--no two are exactly the same.  She actually made me this fabulous Sassy Fashionista jar, complete with feathers, glitter and pink and purple clay! I love it!

Stephanie makes custom jars for her clients, using their ideas to create something special for each person.  She uses FEMO clay, which hardens in the oven once she's completed the design.

She's currently working with smaller jars (baby food size), but is thinking about expanding into different jars and different materials to make them with.  Stephanie is one of the best mixed media artists that I've come across in a while.

I have three of her gorgeous jars to give to a few lucky readers! The pictures are below.

2011 Jar

Valentine's Day Jar

Winter Jar

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "MAGIC JARS" and specify which design you would like.  The giveaway ends 2/15 and the winners will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies!!!

If you want to contact Stephanie directly for a custom jar, you can email her at stephanielane790@yahoo.com.


Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Aloe Comes in All Forms: Even Hair Products!

Until recently, I had absolutely no idea that aloe could do wonders for your hair.  All I've ever used it for is to soothe sunburns (which I constantly get due to my ridiculously pale skin, but that's another story).

Forever Living Products has created a fab shampoo and conditioning rinse made with aloe and jojoba.  Both products are PH balanced as well. 

The aloe vera gel in both products benefits not only your hair, but your scalp as well. The gel’s properties make it a natural alternative to other shampoos, while its gentle, concentrated formula makes it suitable for all hair types.  The jojoba oil used is replenishes lost moisture to both skin and hair. It adds more body and fortifies the hair shaft and ends. This naturally allows you to comb through the tangles of wet or dry hair, without leaving a dry, fly-away appearance.

The conditioning rinse contains a lot of the same products used in the shampoo, but in a different way to leave hair feeling super moisturized, soft and shiny.  It also coats the hair shaft to get rid of split ends.

Both of these products are amazing--I've tried them both and have fallen in love! My hair is the worst; wavy, frizzy and dry, but the products still worked fabulously.  The conditioning rise is my fave! Anyone can use these products and expect fantastic results.

You can buy your own bottles for $13.25 each, which is a huge deal for products that lasts and keep your hair looking terrific!

Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Just in Time for Valentine's Day: Stila's Make Me Blush Set

Oh my gosh, I am so in love with this limited edition Stilla set!!  Their latest Make Me Blush set is super fabulous and is the perfect gift (for someone else, or yourself) for Valentine's Day!

The set includes Make Me Blush Cheek Color and Lip Glaze in Hugs (creamy rose) and Kisses (sparkling red).  Stila's lip glosses are always amazing, so that alone has me excited.  But the cheek color that is festooned with hearts really makes my heart go a-flutter!!

The Make Me Blush compact is embossed with a shimmering conversation heart design. The micro-fine formula is velvety, blendable, and leaves skin looking flushed and radiant. It's great for all skintones and enhances skin with a thint of pinks and coral hues. 

Each set is $20 (at a $40 value)! Trust me, this set is definitely worth it.  It makes me want to jump up and down with delight!!

NEW: Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Crayon

Matte lips are a definite trend this season--especially in a darker crimson shade.  Sonia Kashuk's new Lip Crayons are perfect for achieving this look.

These crayons are super fun, smell amazingly good (I think they're slightly vanilla scented) and go on so easily and creamily that you will be addicted after one use.

I've found that the crayons are long lasting--much longer than a normal gloss or lipstick.  Bobbie Brown has a waaaay more expensive version of these lip crayons and I have to say that I actually enjoy Sonia Kashuk's version more.  It feels more expensive and the quality is amazing.

All of the colors are super flattering, but my fave hue is Rosey Nude. On my fair skin, it looks a bit darker (in general, it's just darker than the picture leads you to believe) and it makes my lips look amazing!

You can buy your own crayon at any Target location for about $8.

Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Valentine's Day Giveaway from Just Because Jewelry!

You really can't beat jewelry for Valentine's Day! Whether it's a gift, or a treat for yourself, jems and baubles simply cannot be beaten.

You might recall my post about Just Because Jewelry from this past summer. I really enjoy the line and have followed it over the past couple of months.

The designer, Jamie Berwick, is super talented and the pieces that she comes up with keep on getting better! This Pink Crush necklace and earring set is fabulous and really is the perfect set for Valentine's Day! It's super cute and would look fabulous on nearly anyone.

I've teamed up with Just Because Jewelry and I've got one set to giveaway to a very luck reader!!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "JUST BECAUSE JEWELRY".  The giveaway ends 2/11 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies!!!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Nicole by OPI Liquid Metals Collection Giveaway!

Nicole by OPI has really been cranking out some fabulous shades lately!  Their latest Liquid Metals collection really tickles my fancy.

Here are the colors from left to right:
Miss Independent- a light lavender metallic hue
The Next CEO- a beachy sand-ish color that works great as a neutral
Rich in Spirit- a very unique grey/green shade that is a must have for Spring
It Starts With Me- a light warm-hued pink

All the colors are amazing.  AND I've got one set to give away to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "LIQUID METALS".  The giveaway ends 2/10 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Not feeling lucky? Look for the line in Walmart, Target, and Ulta!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Valentine's Day Goodies from Bath and Body Works

Valentine's Day is a great excuse to pamper yourself, though you really ought to do it frequently--you deserve it (I'm assuming...unless you are a horrible person).

Bath and Body Works always has the most amazing products.  My skin is super sensitive and even I can use most of their products.  Right now, they've got the best promotion for V-Day--spend $40 and get this fab tote filled with goodies for $25!

There are so many great products to choose from to reach the $40 amount.  I suggest stocking up on their home products.  Their new spring collection is super yummy.

Once you spend your $40, the web exclusive bag is yours for $25.  Here's what's inside:

• Canvas tote is lined with a fun floral print! (15" x 11" x 4 1/2")
• Heart shaped coin purse
• Full-size Signature Shower Gel (10 oz.)
• Body Lotion (8 oz.)
• Eau de Toilette (2.5 oz.)
• Liplicious Tasty Gloss in a complementary flavor
• Bath sponge.

 It's the perfect treat for your sweet! (Or a great gift for yourself!) It comes in three scents: Sweet Pea, Japanese Cherry Blossom, or Dark Kiss.  After adding the item to your bag, just enter the code VDAYBAG at checkout to redeem the discount!

Fashion Faux Pas: Pajama Jeans

Step aside jeggings, there's a new ridiculously ugly "jean" product in town!  Pajama Jeans.  Yes, it's true.  Feel free to scream in horror with me.

"Pajamas you live in, jeans you sleep in"...That's the line that Pajama Jeans feels encompasses their product.  Which is actually pajamas that vaguely look like jeans.

They're basically stretch pants. Which would be fine if they just admitted it rather than using the "jean" title. Also, let me tell you something--no one is going to be fooled by these "jean" impostors. No one.  So, you might as well just go over to the maternity section of Target and pick out a normal pair of stretch pants in black or something less offensive!

The fact that these are marketed to work as pants and pajamas worries me.  I'm willing to bet that there are people out there who take that to mean that they can just leave their Pajama Pants on for a week straight.  I mean, why not?! They're pants AND pajamas.

The worst part is that each pair costs about $40, which isn't bad for an actual pair of pajamas or a pair of jeans (actually it'd be quite a bargain!), but for these ridiculous pants, I'd expect to see them at Walmart in the clearance bin for $5.

What will be next?!