Wishlist: Bags Under $100!

One.   Two.   Three.   Four.   Five.     

I'm kind of in the market for a new purse, preferably something larger like a tote bag. I did some shopping around my favorite online stores, including Target (of course), Nine West, and Belk, and these a few that really caught me eye.

As you see, there's really a wide variety here!

Option One: Black and white is a big trend this summer, yet it's a very classic pair. I love the simplicity of this bag, yet the tiny details that make it a little more unique, like the stripes on the sides only and the gold accents at the handle ends. Plus it's neutral so it will basically go with anything.

Option Two: I'm a big Nine West fan, and this bag is no exception. To me, they have very good-quality products for a reasonable price. I bought a pair of dark brown wedged boots from a Nine West Outlet last winter and loved them to death! (No really, I wear my shoes until they die.) My favorite faux-leather color is cognac, so this bag is right up my alley! Oh, and did I mention it's over 60 percent off on the Belk website? Win-win.

Option Three: This bag is also Nine West brand, and I love everything about it! The color is really unique and it has a good structure to it.

Option Four: I'm not quite sure why, but this season I'm loving anything and everything hot pink! I went to Ulta a few weeks ago and picked up a nail polish and lipstick, both Revlon and both fuchsia. I wear a lot of navy, white, grey, etc. so pinks would pop against my usually neutral outfits.

Option Five: This one just looks so grown-up/professional to me. The details are just beautiful!


What are your favorite bag brands? Do you usually splurge and get a good quality one or have several that you alternate between?

Girl Behind the Blog

As inspired by Kerri at Girl With A Latte, I just want to let you as a reader know a little more about the person that I am. So today I'm going to share ten random things you may or may not know about me!

As follows :

1. I'm pretty much a sucker for anything floral or striped.

2. My whole house is decorated cohesively in greys and light blues with splashes of yellow, red, navy, etc.

3. My favorite color combination to wear is navy, pink, and turquoise.

4. I'm definitely a budget/clearance shopper. This goes for about anything.

5. My favorite band is Coldplay. Also love Mumford & Sons, Oasis, The Paper Kites, and anything else coffee shop/alternative.

6. I've played the clarinet for about 11 years. Although I quit the school band after middle school, I've continued to play for churches and even just for my own enjoyment. It's one of my passions.

7. I love learning new recipes! I usually try at least 1-2 new recipes every week.

8. I'm always up for a treat from Starbucks or any frozen yogurt place. Actually, I probably consume more sugar on a daily basis than any one person should. I should probably cut back...

9. I work across the street from the largest library in Greenville (that I know of). I keep a running list of books I want to read.

10. I've seen every single episode of Gilmore Girls at least 5 times, I'm sure of it. My lovely sister bought me the whole set for Christmas a few years ago. I secretly wish I could be Lorelei and Rory's best friend.

I also love learning more about other bloggers, so what are some things that make you, you? :)

Denim, Floral, and Grey

Temps here in eastern NC were a tad on the cool side this past weekend. Thankfully, the past two days have been absolutely lovely!

Top: Target   Scarf: Plato's Closet, Similar, Only 10 Dollars!  Pants: TJ Maxx, Similar

Jacket: Similar   Purse: Similar  Flats: Target

This was a simple little outfit taken by my wonderful photographer, aka my husband Casey. "Hey, hon, do you mind doing something completely random? Would you take a picture of my outfit? For my blog?" (Side note: I've got to take more outfit pictures outside! The quality comes out so much nicer! Blogger tips 101 that I'm slowly discovering.)

Let's take a moment to discuss this beautiful scarf. I found it at Plato's Closet for 4 dollars! Because you know how much I love that place. It has a nice fullness to it without being too hot and heavy, which just so happens to be my combination for the perfect Spring/Summer scarf. I didn't have a tag on it of any kind so I'm not sure what brand it is or where it originally came from. All I know is that this little beauty is now all mine.

I'm really in love with the floral + stripes trend now, and a floral scarf like this one paired with a striped shirt, skirt, or dress is the perfect way to do that! Now that I think of it, I should have worn a striped top that day instead of a solid. How cute would that have been? Oh well.

Also, I got these grey jeans from TJ Maxx for my birthday this past year. I. Absolutely. Love. Them. They're such an easy way to get out of the jeans and cotton top rutt that I find myself getting into when it's not quite warm enough for shorts, skirts, or dresses.

Thanks for stopping by :) Hope you have a great rest of the week!

Free From Fear

To give credit where credit is due, image from www.goliveoriginal.com

We all have it. It's an inevitable part of life that we really don't talk about all that often. Yet it haunts us, plagues us even. It consumes our lives entirely, but we like to push it into the corner and cover it up and choose to live like it's not really there.

It's fear. More than that, really, it's fear of death.

I have been reading through the book of Hebrews in my devotions recently and it's amazing how God has been speaking to me through it. Specifically, in chapter 2, I was reading about something I felt compelled to write about here on my blog.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. -Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

The part that really sticks out to me is that we were subject to lifelong slavery. We are born sinners. It's something that we have inherited from the very beginning when Adam and Eve first disobeyed God. And the result of sin is death. It's as inevitable as our fear of it. And we're slaves to it. Our sin chains us down, yet we don't know how to break free. I mean, it's inevitable, right? It's something we all struggle with and it has this power of us that we just can't defeat so we may as well live life in the moment because life is short. We're not guaranteed another day. But the chains still hold us down.

The wonderful news is that there is hope. There is a way to break free.

Jesus Christ is our hope. He has suffered our death for us so that we don't have to. He did this on the cross. He was tempted, yet was still without sin. He defeated sin, death, and the one who has power over you and your sin. And He is calling you to become one of His. All you have to do is believe that He is Savior and give your life to Him. Surrender your everything and He will break your chains and set you free.

And the thing is that we can't break ourselves free. We don't have a key and we're not strong enough to break it. But He is and He wants you to be one of His, to adopt you so that you can be a child of God the King.

God is surely a "merciful and faithful high priest" (verse 17 of this chapter). He made a way to save us from our inevitable destiny. We were sinners and we hated Him and rebelled against Him, and yet He loved us. And I'm so, so far from deserving any of it. We all are. We wouldn't even love him if it weren't for His work in us. He is perfect and beautiful and loving and just and if we hate Him it is because of our sin.

I am always, ever marveling at His wonderful grace. That grace that has set me free.

What I Wore to Work: Cute and Comfy!

Today I'm participating in Mix & Match Fashion's What I Wore Weekly Linkup!

I work with the Vera Bradley department at a store downtown in Greenville. This basically means I'm in charge of all of the ordering, merchandising, in-store promotions, etc. with Vera. I love it!

My workplace has a pretty laid-back environment, but I always try to look put together while still being comfortable! And trust me, this is about as comfy as it gets.

Shirt: Old Navy   Skirt: Target   Necklace: Old Navy

Shoes: Target

I had been looking for a graphic tee (preferably one in french, not sure why!) to go with this skirt. I've seen Merrick pull off a graphic tee and pencil skirt and love the concept! Plus, how adorable is this necklace?!

Plus, I got this shirt for $7, the necklace for $9, and I've had that skirt for a long while now but I'm pretty sure it was on clearance too.

Yay for clearance!

I hope you have a great weekend!

A Little About Me

Hi! My name's Heather and I am recently married to my wonderful husband, Casey. We're both eastern North Carolina natives and we've made our first little home here. :)

I'm a Christian, and Jesus Christ is my first passion. Although here on the blog you'll hear me rave about everything from my latest shopping endeavor to beauty and how to keep both hobbies budget-friendly, I have realized that nothing else will give me true satisfaction other than Him.

In my spare time I'm usually blogging, finding and trying new recipes I've found on Pinterest, reading a book from the library, learning a new styling trick, or perusing through a clearance section!

I love reading your responses, so feel free to comment! Also, you can reach me by email at:

lacepearlsandgrace@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!

Follow Me! On:

Pinterest  Instagram  Facebook

Revlon's Love That Pink

Last week, Ulta had Revlon, Almay, Maybelline,  and Physician's Formula products on sale 40% off! That was when I snagged this lipstick in the shade Love That Pink. It was less than four dollars! My cheapskate self was very happy.

Exhibit A:

It's a beautiful shade of pink with the perfect amount of pop! To me, it's the type of bright lipstick that looks relatively natural. I mean, as natural as a bright lipstick can look. Who's lips are really that bright? 

I actually used to be scared of lipstick in general. I was afraid of looking "too dressed up" or like I was trying too hard. What I had to do was start with rose-y shades, which oftentimes have words like "rose" or "peony" in the title. Now I love lipsticks, especially bright ones in fuchsias, hot pinks, and reds!

How about you? :)

Second Hand Steals

So recently I was looking through my closet and decided I have way too many solid options and not enough prints. I mean, I love a classic solid tee because it basically goes with anything. Is it possible to have too many?

Yes.

Solids with solids gets really boring after awhile. Thus my little shopping trip to Plato's Closet and these little beauties you see before you.

Skirts $8 a piece, Scarf $4!

I've been pinning a lot of outfits on Pinterest (Follow me here!) that entail floral skirts with stripes, graphic tees, and even solid tops. Because of course I have tons of those.

The floral skirt is from H&M. I feel like this pictures doesn't really do it justice. The coral skirt is really adorable too, and I can see myself pairing it with a turquoise top for a fun color combo!

How beautiful is this scarf? Four dollars.

Just in case you wanted to see what they looked like on. There's nothing I love more than an A-line skirt in the summer! So cool, comfy, and chic! (Love my alliteration there?) :)

Striped Dress 3 Ways

I don't know about you, but I love a striped dress.

I also happen to love blog posts and pins in pinterest that show "so and so many number ways to do so and so". Call me a copycat, but I thought it would be fun to do one of my own! This is my first one, just so you know.

I got the idea for my first post to be a black and white striped dress a) because I just bought it not too long ago on Target clearance (YAY!) and b) I really didn't see that many ideas on pinterest on this particular piece.

Jacket: Old   Dress: Target   Bag: Target

Necklace: Cato   Shoes: Loft

1. Casual Look : The outfit on the left would be perfect for a Saturday shopping trip with friends, a trip to the park, or just for everyday! The jean jacket really makes the outfit more casual, but also adds structure and keeps you warm in the Spring when temps are constantly up and down. Also, did I mention how comfy these wedges are?! Love them!

Dress: Target   Necklace: Payless

Shoes: Payless

2. Dressy Look: When I'm going on a date with Casey or dressing up for a special occasion, I usually keep it pretty simple. I opt for a dress, a statement necklace, heels, and a bring lipstick, like red or fuchsia! This one is Revlon's Love that Pink.

Dress: Target   Scarf: Old Navy   Wedges: Target

Bag: Target   Earrings: Target

3. Pattern Mixing: Are you starting to see how much I shop at Target? Me too. I'm loving the pattern mixing trend! It's really so easy to do. I usually mix two patterns like stripes, floral, polka dots, or aztec. You can do gingham or plaid but I just really have anything in those patterns. The possibilities are endless!

So there you have it, my very first items 3 ways! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! What other item(s) would you like to see remixed?

Little Deal Finder

I love shopping. It's just a known fact.

Due to my budget, however, I can't afford to spend a ton of money every month on clothes. This means that when I do go shopping, I want to try to get the most that I can out of my money. With experience, I've learned that with a little digging, you can get a lot of cute stuff!

I took a little shopping trip to Kohl's earlier today and had awesome luck! The stuff in that store is usually overpriced to me for what it is, but if you dig you can find some great things!

That top was on sale for 9.99, and the bathing suit bottom was stinkin A LITTLE LESS THAN FOUR DOLLARS. Plus, it's so super adorable!

Overall, I spent about 24 bucks for a cute top, a bathing suit bottom, and three pieces of jewelry. I don't know about you but I think that's pretty awesome!

Earrings for $2.40, 80% off? Heck yes.

Here's a few tips I have for find good deals when shopping:

1) Search through all of the clearance items first. I like to see signs like "60 percent off!" and especially with an extra 20-50 percent. Know that not everything on the clearance rack is a great deal. For instance, when I went to Kohl's, there were pieces still 20-30 dollars with no extra percentage off. If it's something you really love and it fits you like a glove, and especially if it's good quality, then go for it! I'm just saying keep looking and you might find something discounted even more that you love just as much! I usually go through every rack at least twice to make sure I didn't miss anything!

2) Always take a trip to the jewelry section. There have been times that I went to a store that I would never think to buy jewelry from, and then I find that they have a ton of really cute stuff for super cheap! For example, the Payless here in Greenville is absolutely amazing about having jewelry on sale. I've gotten necklaces and earrings for 5 dollars and below before! Of course I went in to look at shoes, but you can't pass up a necklace for $2.50! (I was asked at the Loft once if I bought it from them! It's beautiful!) Basically, I would say I never pay more than 10-15 dollars for a piece of jewelry, especially if it's a trend, and as you see above I get some really cute stuff!

3) Get the Retail Me Not App on your phone! I just downloaded this, and it's amazing! Just put in which stores you like and it gives you online codes, coupons, and information about sales.

4) Know what you're missing in your closet. This is probably the most important aspect because it helps you search the sale racks, which can many times be disorganized and overwhelming. Do you need a graphic tee, or a floral skirt, or maybe a jacket to complete your outfit? Skim over the options looking for these things in mind so you can get the must-have item at a good price!


Hope you enjoy these little steals and tips for finding things like them!

New Makeup Bag! (Plus a few new products!)

While in TJ Maxx the other day, I found this adorable little makeup bag. For only 7.99, I might add.

I've been needing a new makeup bag for awhile now. The last one I had was a Clinique bag, so it was kind of cute, but not really "me". Not to mention I got it at the Goodwill in almost perfect condition for I think 99 cents? Not a bad deal, but it was time for a new one!

Pink, navy, and white. I don't think this bag could be any more me! I also love that this one has two compartments so I can put my face makeup like foundation, powder, concealer, etc. in one and things like eyeliner, mascara, and my eyelash curler in the other.

Also, since then I've made a little trip to Ulta and picked up some new stuff! I really went to pick up my birthday gift, this Ulta brand eyeshadow palette. I have to admit that I was a tad bummed because last year I got a Calvin Klein full-size mascara and next month they're giving away an Urban Decay product. Sigh. Well, I guess you can't really complain when you get something free!

Here's the eyeshadow palette. Maybe I'll write a post separately about it, maybe a review or some pictures using it. Of course I'll have to try them out first so we'll see how it goes!

Last but not least, here's my little stash of products I picked up at Ulta!

1. Cetaphil Daily Cleanser : My sister raves about this face wash. I've been breaking out for awhile now and can't seem to clear things up! Hopefully this will do the trick!

2. Tweezerman Eyelash Curler : I absolutely love love love my Tweezerman tweezers. Wouldn't trade them for anything! They work better to grab the individual eyebrow hairs which means less pain. I'm hoping this eyelash curler is just as great quality!

3. Revlon Nail Enamel in Fuchsia Fever : So all Revlon products (as well as Almay and Physician's Formula brands) are 40 percent off! Which means I snagged this nail polish for 2.99. I don't actually own a nail polish in a hot pink color like this, and I thought it would be perfect for summer. Can't wait to give it a try!

4. Utla Eyeshadow palette : Birthday special, not available online. Wrote a little about it above!

5. Revlon Lipgloss in Pink Pop : I must have really been feeling the hot pink! I got it because I wanted something really bright, but when I put it on it actually looked decently natural. Despite that fact, I really love it! It's moisturizing while still adding a great amount of color.

There's a little picture I snapped really fast in the bathroom. Ignore the hair frizz, please.

I love that it adds a pop of color to my black and white outfit!

What makeup colors are you drawn to now that the weather's warming up? :)

My Current Favorite Beauty Products (Mostly Drugstore Brands!)

I wrote a post similar to this one here, but it's been awhile and this one is going to be a little different!

These are my favorite products of various categories (for the time being!) I recently moved to Greenville, NC where an Ulta is now only about 5 minutes away. Hallelujah chorus. 

Most of these are drugstore brands, so you can have a good everyday makeup routine without breaking your budget. Because that's how I roll.

Well, here we go!

Favorite:

1. Foundation - Still using Revlon's Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation. If you're looking for a light summertime foundation, I'd recommend this one. It's easy to layer if you want a little more coverage, but it doesn't take much to give you a simple even complexion that looks natural! It's not heavy like other foundations I've tried. I'm thinking about trying something with a little more coverage though, like this one or this one, so keep posted :)

2. Under Eye Concealer - I absolutely love L'Oreal's Visible Lift CC Concealer! It rolls on, which is perfect for the very sensitive under eye area. I've had it for months now, so it hasn't run out as quickly as other drugstore brands I've tried. For the price, I love it!

3. Finishing Powder - I have been using BareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder with SPF 25. I always just brush a little of this over my face after I've done my makeup every morning, but it's also good by itself if you don't feel like doing a complete makeup routine. It has SPF in it, too, which is a plus for this pale face of mine. I don't think I'll ever use another finishing powder!

4. Concealer - For any acne scars, pimples, or other spots I want to camouflage,  I use Nyx Cosmetics Concealer. It's decently inexpensive, and it does the job! (It says dark circle concealer, but it's quite thick, so I don't think I'd use it for the under eye area. Just sayin'.)

5. Eyeliner - I've switched things up and have been using Revlon's ColorStay Eyeliner in Black (probably because Revlon products were buy one get one 50% off at Ulta). I love it! It's easy to make your line as bold or simple as you'd like, and it comes with an eraser at the end so you can even things out if need be. It smudges sometimes, especially if you sweat, so I'd recommend using an eyelid primer as well to make sure it stays in its place.

6. Mascara - For a few months now I've been using L'Oreal's Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, but I decided to switch things up a bit and pick up Maybelline's Lash Sensational. My opinion? I love it! It adds more length than L'Oreal's did, and with an extra coat, just as much volume. I usually have to work hard to get my lashes the way I want everyday, but this makes it easy!

7. Lipstick - I recently picked up Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipcolor in Pink Peony and love it! It's a perfect natural pink. Adds a little color without shouting to the world you are wearing lipstick being too bold.

There you have it, my current makeup favorites! What products are you using these days?

Spring 2015 Favorites Online

J Crew Dress, Loft Statement Necklace, J Crew Factory Navy Top

 Loft Teal Earrings, Sole Society Wedged Sandals, J Crew Factory Lace Top

Spring has finally decided to show up here in North Carolina. Looks like it will be in the 70-80 degree range for the next couple of days. That means dresses, sandals, and short sleeved tops without freezing!

I've done a little online window shopping on the Loft, J Crew, and Sole Society websites and found some really cute Spring things I'd just love in my wardrobe (if only my bank account would allow it...sigh). The great part is that both J Crew Factory and the Loft are having great sales right now, so check them out!

My outfits these days basically consist of a solid top, a statement necklace, and flats. I tend to like simple clothing with little details like ruffles, lace, or zippers. I'm all about comfort while also looking put together and cute!

Also, as you can see, I'm loving anything coral, mint, or navy!

What Spring styles have your eye? :)