Cutesy Girly Bag for $20!

If I'm addicted to anything, It's handbags.  I think it's safe to say that I own well over 50 and my collection is constantly growing (regardless of my fiance's growing hatred of them).

This utterly adorable Ditsy Polka Dot Bow Handbag from Forever21 has quickly made its way onto my must-have list!  There are countless reasons for my obsession, but here are a few main points that force my love of this purse:

• It's made of canvas, basically making it indestructible, which is a big deal for someone as accident prone as I am.
• The bow print simply tickles my fancy and fulfills my girly needs.
• It's black and white, meaning that there really isn't an outfit that won't match it.
• The bag is sized perfectly at 14" H x 18" W x 6.5" D--huge enough to hold all my goodies, but small enough for me to carry with me at all times. 

Do you need any more reasons to get one of your own?  Well it's $20 price tag doesn't hurt!!!

Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Collection (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Looking like a bronze goddess this season hasn't been easier! Victoria's Secret has introduced a fabulous Beach Sexy collection that includes some amazing body products that make skin look bronze and gorgeous all summer long.  The products include Sunkissed Bronze Instant Self Tan Lotion with Tint, Daily Glow Gradual Tan Moisturizer SPF 15, Custom Tan Adjustable Self-tan Lotion with Shimmer, Keep Glowing Tan Extend Body Moisturizer, and an Enhancing Shimmer Lotion with Tint.

All of the products are great and work with all skintones to create a bronze and glowy look (check out this video to get tips on using the products).  My fave is their Tan Enhancing Shimmer Lotion with Tint.  It boosts any complexion and gives you a sheer bronze tint with the perfect amount of shimmer.  The lotion is perfect for evening out your tan, while adding a bit of a glow.  It's also super moisturizing and contains shea butter and vitamin E.  I'm so in love with this stuff!  It's great to wear for a night out to add a little glam to your tan!

I have one bottle of the lotion to give away to a super lucky reader!!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "BEACH SEXY".  The giveaway ends 7/5 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.

Get Nautical for $11!

Payless has some fabulous sales right now that are simply too amazing to pass up!  My current obsession is their Yacht Bow Espadrille Wedge.  The nautical look is definitely one of my fave trends at the moment, and these sandals are a definite must-have for everyone's summer wardrobe.

The wedges have adorable details--the preppy stripe bow is super cute!  This is a great pair of shoes to wear for nearly every occasion.  Personally, I'd wear them with some cropped jeans in a dark wash and a solid t-shirt.  Sandals this cute deserve to be the focal point of the outfit!

The best part?  Each pair is a mere $11! What's not to love?!

New Clinique GWP at Lord and Taylor!

By now, I'm sure you all know how excited I get anytime Clinique has a gift with purchase (GWP).  This set from Lord and Taylor is fabbity-fabulous.  All you need to do is spend $25 on Clinique products (not very difficult to do!) and you get all this:

• Your choice of Violet (Long Last Lipstick in Bamboo Pink and Eye Shadow Duo in Violet) or Nude (Long Last Lipstick in All Heart and Eye Shadow Duo in Nudes)
• Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids
• Lashes & Lips, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
• City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 with Key Chain All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
• And a cute cosmetic bag

Not bad, right? This deal ends 7/10.

Fashion Faux Pas: Designer Pajamas

While researching the latest summer trends, I stumbled upon an article that clearly was written by a pajama fan.  Apparently, upscale designers have taken it upon themselves to create pajama sets that are meant to be worn out and about in public.  IN PUBLIC!!!

The most ridiculous part is that some p.j. sets can cost thousands of dollars!  From what I've seen on the runway, most of the pajama sets make you look like a homeless person.  And that's being quite generous. Quite honestly, I wouldn't even wear them in the safety of my own home for lounge wear.

If you're looking for something to lounge around in [read: at home], check out Victoria's Secret.

Please ladies, do not succumb to the pajama trend this season.  You'll look like an idiot wearing them in public, and lose all your money.

That is all.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all those fashionable dads out there (mine's the best!)! Love you, dad!

Nice Stems!

OPI's fabulous spring collection has me simply tickled pink! Their new Nice Stems collection contains four gorgeous pink polishes that are all different, yet flattering on all skintones!

As a lover of pink, when I first took a look at the four shades, I was immediately happy and literally jumped for joy (you can ask my fiance)!  Below are swatches of what each color looks like on the nail.

Be A Dahlia Won’t You is probably my fave hue in the collection.  It's a bit hard to capture in a picture, as the polish contains crystalline flecks throughout, and almost gives off a chrome finish with the slightest hint of blue. It's definitely a unique polish and I can certainly see myself wearing this constantly for the next few weeks!

I Lily Love You is beautiful either alone, or as a topcoat for any other shade (time to experiment!) The color contains holographic glitter and confetti--it's basically a pink party in a bottle! Woohoo!  What I like about this color is that it not only delivers loads of glitter, but also has a gel-esque base to it that can be built up for added color if you choose to wear it on its own.

Play the Peonies (which actually looks amazing underneath I Lily Love You) is a pretty, dainty pale pink shade. It's the tiniest bit shimmery, though I wouldn't call it a shimmer polish per se.  That said, it does have to a bit of a pearlescent glow. I love that the pink is understated in this polish--it's pretty much the lightest you can go without being white.  It's a great color for right now, but will also be fab after we've had a little more sun and warm weather because it definitely shows off a tan!

Come to Poppy is another pink that i'll most likely use constantly.  It's a warm-based pink with a touch of coral to it. The hue also contains a little shimmer (again though, is not a "shimmer polish") and applies like a dream.  This particular polish really only required one medium-thick coat for full opacity, so it's good for when you only have a couple minutes to redo your nails!

I love this collection so much! If you want to purchase any of the amazing colors, you can pick 'em up at professional salons and spas nationwide including national chains Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA.

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.

Kiss My Face GIVEAWAY!

I was actually introduced to Kiss My Face products by my sister.  She's a huge fan and I figured I'd try out a few of the products to see why she was so obsessed.

I found that the products are absolutely amazing!  My fave product by far is the Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap.  It's gentle enough to use on my super sensitive skin and leaves me feeling clean and fresh.

The soap is crazily moisturizing for us ladies with dry skin, and is made from the purest, natural ingredients.  The bars are also huge and last forever!

For a limited time, Kiss My Face is offering its Mediterranean miracle olive oil bar soaps in multipacks. You can buy two 4 oz bars and get two free or buy two 8 oz bars and get one free. Either way, it's an awesome deal!  The Kiss My Face Olive Oil Bar Multipacks are available for $5.99 (4 oz) and $7.99 (8 oz) at KissMyFace.com. 

Here are some of the great key features of the soap:

• Each bar contains 86% pure olive oil harvested from sun drenched Mediterranean olive orchards
• Soap works to heal eczema, acne and psoriasis
• 4 oz Multipacks are available in Olive & Aloe, Pure Olive Oil, Olive & Honey and Olive & Lavender
• The 8 oz Multipacks are available in Olive & Chamomile, Olive & Green Tea, Olive & Lavender, Olive & Aloe and Pure Olive Oil

I have three bars of the Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap to giveaway to some lucky readers!!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "KISS MY FACE".  The giveaway ends 6/15 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.

Sun Safety Kit

With all of these fabulous summer days ahead of us, it's important to be safe in the sun.

Sephora has put together this amazing Sun Safety Kit that has basically everything you could possibly need to stay safe and beautiful!

Here's what's in the set:


- 0.03 oz Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 25 Mineral Veil  

- 0.5 oz Boscia Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15
- 0.5 oz DDF Mattifying Oil Control SPF 15
- 0.7 oz Murad Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30
- 0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Fresh Lips SPF 15
- 0.5 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30
- 0.4 oz Philosophy Hope Oil Free SPF 30
- 0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 60 PA +++
- 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 With Dermaxyl Complex
- 0.33 oz Supergoop! Everyday SPF 30+
- 0.4 oz Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Swipe with Zinc for Sensitive Skin
- 0.5 oz TanTowel Plus Self-Tan Towelette For Face & Body
- Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Mini Flawless Application Brush
- Beach Tote

Not bad for only $25! Also, 100 percent of the net profits from this kit will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation...what's not to love?

WEN Body Lotion GIVEAWAY!

I've always been a huge fan of WEN's hair products.  But now there's something I'm even more in love with:  their Nourishing Body Lotion.

The lotion is fabulous and leaves skin feeling fresh and hydrated.  It's formulated with a blend of botanical ingredients, unlike the harsh ingredients you find in other lotions.  It quickly absorbs into the skin and doesn't leave behind any sort of greasy residue (huzzah)!

This amazing lotion comes in lavender, fig, cucumber aloe, and sweet almond scents.  Personally, I'm a fan of the cucumber aloe lotion.  It smells super fresh and just makes me feel rejuvenated.  I like to apply it immediately after I shower to lock in moisture.

I have one bottle of WEN's Cucumber Aloe body lotion to give away to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "WEN".  The giveaway ends 6/11 and the winner will be alerted via email.
Not feeling super lucky?  You can buy your own bottle for $32.


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.

Add Some Volume with Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray!

I'm constantly obsessed with most of Oribe's products.  The quality is always great and I'm never disappointed.  But their latest Dry Texturizing Spray is by far my fave.

The spray adds volume and texture to all hair types.  It's perfect for making your hair look a bit more glam and fabulous.  My hair is naturally curly and I've tried it with my curls--LOVE it!  Even in humidity, it makes my curls look sleek and gorgeous without weighing them down.  I've also used the spray after flat ironing my hair and love the results as well.

The best thing about the spray is that it lasts all day (or night)!  I didn't find myself needing to apply more spray throughout the day and the volume didn't seem to go down.  Another added bonus is that the spray is dry.  If you're like me and your hair frizzes up with water, it's a great choice. I've even found that it works well as a dry shampoo, in the sense that it adds volume and makes hair look fresh.

Each spray is $39.

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.

Clinique Gift with Purchase at Nordstrom!

I seriously cannot get enough gifts with purchase (GWP) deals.  Clinique especially always has the best ones.  I'm never disappointed with the contents and use everything that comes with it.

Their latest gift comes in a gorgeous Trina Turk cosmetic bag that I am absolutely in love with.  All you have to do is spend $25 on Clinique products (I suggest their Fresh Bloom Allover Color--it's totally fab) and you get all this for free:

• All About Eyes (0.17 oz.)
• Take the Day Off Makeup Remover (1.7 oz.)
• Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (1 oz.)
• Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder (0.12 oz.) with Brush
• Full-Size Different Lipstick (0.14 oz.) in 'A Different Grape'
• Lash Doubling Mascara (0.14 oz.) in 'Black'
• Clinique Keychain with Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 Minis in 'Bamboo Pink' and 'Stellar Plum' (0.03 oz. each)
• Trina Turk-designed cosmetics bag

Not bad! The products included are all makeup staples of mine and are great for sampling what Clinique has to offer.

The GWP is only available until 6/12, so get shopping!

Fashion Faux Pas: Velour Pajama Pants

It's no secret that I hate the idea of wearing pajamas in public.  I mean, I get that they tend to be comfy, but I just can't imagine wearing a getup like this, checking myself out in the mirror and deciding that I'm good to go.

I witnessed this particular look at a local restaurant.  Though the velvet-esque material may seem like a step up from pajamas covered in Disney characters, the reality is that they just look cheap. Velour tends to cling to parts of the body that you want hidden.  The sheen of the material might as well be metallic, as it shines just as mugh as a pair of gold leggings would.  This look is simply not flattering on anyone.

The fact that one leg is actually tucked into a sock is a whole other story.   As is the hideous blue shade used. Very unfortunate.

Please ladies--take my advice and steer clear of anything that remotely resembles pajama pants unless you're in the comfort of your own home!

Are You Ready to Try Hair Feathers?

Usually, I'm not really into trends.  I'm more of a "wear what looks good on you" kind of person.  But every once in a while a trend will catch my eye.

Hair Feathers are all over the place and are a perfect way to add something different to your hair.  The feathers come in all sorts of shapes and colors, so you can go as bold (or as low-key) as you want!

I think the look is fabulous and definitely unique.  It's the type of hair accessory that makes people look twice.  I love that you can get them in such a wide variety--they're just great for adding a pop of color to your locks.

It's suggested that after purchasing hair feathers, you go to your local salon and have a professional apply them to your hair, as they would with extensions.  If you feel up to the task, you can try it on your own.

Prices vary from $4 to $100, depending on what look you're going for.

Dave's Take: Why my Fiancé HATES Leggings

Leggings are for little girls who haven’t learned to cross their legs in public yet and their parents want to dress them in skirts. If it's too cold to wear a skirt with bare legs, don’t wear a skirt. A pair of nice fitting jeans are always more attractive then a skirt with leggings. If you don’t have nice legs don’t wear skirts! And don’t try to hide your legs with leggings.

Leggings remind me of those tight fitting pajama bottoms we all wore as kids. If you have nice legs let them show. A skirt only holds its appeal if the attractiveness of the legs cause your mind to wander upwards and wonder what resides just above the skirt line. Leggings answer that question for you, just way more exciting than long johns.

Lets be honest, we dress the way we do not because we want to express ourselves through our clothing choices. We dress the way we do to attract and appeal to the opposite sex. I'm giving you ladies a leg up (pun intended) in the game by providing the guys perspective on a dress style you may be misinformed about. Skin is always better. The more skin the better. Leave just enough to the imagination to keep that guy up at night fantasizing about the skin he couldn’t see. It’s a proven fact that guys are visually stimulated, where as women are touch and scent stimulated.

Do yourself a favor: ditch the leggings and stimulate away.

Bliss 'Spa'-tacular Moisturizer

I have the worst skin in the world.  Really.  If there were some sort of horrible skin contest, I would surely win.  My problem is that my skin dries out at a ridiculously fast rate.  That's why it's so important for me to moisturize daily.

Bliss recently came out with a fab moisturizer, Youth as we Know it.  This moisturizer basically does everything you could possibly want for your skin.  This stuff is practically a miracle.  It helps out with oodles of skin issues--10 biggies:

• Protects from UVA/UVB rays
• Promotes collagen production
• Visibly diminishes wrinkles
• Visibly fills fine lines
• Helps increase cellular oxygenation
• Evens skintone
• Hydrates, plumps and firms
• Replenishes and soothes
• Smoothes out skin's texture
• Brightens and clarifies

Amazing, no?  All of the benefits are great, but the UVA/UVB protection is really important.  The moisturizer is SPF 30.  It protects from the sun, while still being light enough to wear daily.  It's really important to keep something with SPF on your face, especially during this time of year when we generally spend more time outdoors.  And the moisturizer isn't greasy at all,so there's no chance of looking all oily and gross! Huzzah!

You can get the Youth as we Know it lotion at Bliss spas, online, from their catalog (888-243-8825), and at select Sephora retailers for about $80--way worth it for having gorgeous skin!

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 Say Yes To Cucumbers

I love love love Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes! Washing my makeup off at night is one of my least favorite things to do, so I'm constantly searching for quick ways to remove makeup while making my skin feel fabulous.

These facial wipes are perfect for such a task.  They gently remove dirt, sweat and makeup with ease.  In addition to that,  it's an exfoliant, detoxifyer and rejuvenater all in one to make your skin feel healthy and look glowing.

The wipes themselves are 98.7% natural, biodegradable, hypoallergenic and oil-fee.  They work for all skin types and help the environment at the same time.

Each package of 30 wipes is $5.99.  The site is currently running a special and is offering up a buy one get one free deal.  So you can get two packs of these amazing wipes for under $6! Eeeeee!! What's not to love about that deal??!

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.

Fashion Faux Pas: Jumpsuits (AGAIN!!)

Apparently, my previous posts about rompers and jumpsuits have had no impact on the fashion world.

Target is selling this horrendous Ankle Length Jumpsuit in a color accurately named Mud Hut.  Sounds lovely, right? It is quite possibly the worst fashion item I've seen in my entire life.  This particular piece is actually from Target's designer series, and is designed by Calypso (which usually creates gorgeous garments).

Now I've already listed out the reasons why I hate rompers and jumpsuits in the past, but I'll reiterate my concerns.  The main reason that I hate them is that they are unflattering on everyone in the world.  Honestly.  Even the model doesn't look good in this!  The way that it's cut simply makes everyone look about 10 lbs heavier.  Unless you want your new nickname to be "thunder thighs", I'd steer clear.

My other issue is that there is no way a one piece suit can fit all body types.  Women come in all shapes and sizes--it's just impossible for there to be a one-piece outfit (other than a dress) that works for everyone.

Sigh.  This battle is getting ridiculous.  If for some reason, you feel the need to look like an idiot, each jumpsuit is about $40.

Look Radiant with Sonia Kashuk's Tinted Moisturizer

With summer right around the corner, wearing full-on foundation simply isn't an option.  No one wants to look like they've caked on makeup no matter what time of year, but when warm weather comes around, it's even more important to ditch the full face makeup look.

Sonia Kashuk's Radiant Tinted Moisturizer is a great alternative to foundation.  It adds just enough color to cover up any skin problems you might have, but also lets your own skin shine through.  Since it's also important to moisturize daily, the combo of color and moisturizer is a perfect one-step product to do it all. It also contains light reflectors that not only make you glow, but also help disguise wrinkles and fine lines. Huzzah!

Another added bonus? The moisturizer is SPF 15.  It's really important to wear something containing SPF, especially if you're spending a bunch of time outside in the sun. 

Each moisturizer is $12.99 and can be found at Target.

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.

GIVEAWAY!! OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides Collection

The latest Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides collection from OPI is rapidly becoming my fave nail polish batch for spring.

The colors in the collection are all gorgeous pastel hues that are perfect to wear with all the latest warm weather frocks--and of course the names are utterly adorable (my main selling point and love).  Each shade is creamy and applies like a dream. 

Also included in the collection is an amazing new Silver Shatter polish (and if you don't know how obsessed I am with OPI's shatter polishes, check out my love proclamations here and here).  The silver color is fab to layer over these pretty colors, or over any other OPI polishes out there.  It's a fun one to experiment with.

Below are the colors included in the collection (shown both alone and layered under Silver Shatter).

Mermaid Tears: a particularly gorgeous mint green shade that has a bit of a dusty touch to it.













Planks a Lot: a pretty lavender shade that has the slightest touch of gray to it.

Skull and Glossbones: the lightest shade of gray that looks fab and unique on all skintones.

Sparrow Me the Drama: Clearly my favorite.  Not only is it a great dusty rose color, but the name is incredibly spectacular!

Steady as She Rose: the palest pink out there with a nude base--gorgeous for a natural, classic look.

Stranger Tides:  a super light, almost celery-esque, color.

Each of the hues are unique and flatter most skintones.  I love the way they look on their own, as well as layered under the Silver Shatter polish. 

I have the full collection (including the Silver Shatter polish) to giveaway to a very lucky reader.

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "PIRATES".  The giveaway ends 5/28 and the winner will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies! If you want to purchase the polishes on their own, you can find them at professional salons and spas nationwide including national chains Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA for about $8 each.

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.