Holiday Shop Suggestion: Crown Bindery

You know how there is that one person who has everything? The one person that is so hard to shop for? The one person that basically you just give them some lotion because you think "Hey, everyone needs some lotion." Well, let us help make your shopping a little easier with Crown Bindery. 

This is the perfect shop to gift that person that has everything. Because we can gurantee they don't have the most stylish notebooks around. 

Note Card Binder

Zebra Journal

So Cute Cardstock Pocket for Journal

Need more Crown Bindery in your life?

{Follow the designers blog}
{Visit two of their other shops here & here}

We LOVE them.

Home for the Holidays

By: Candace Cabrera Moore Contributing Writer/Fashion Week Correspondent

 

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is time to hit the racks and find something festive to wear! You'll want to look your best for those impromptu photo shoots that inevitably happen at family get-togethers, but for a holiday that is dominated by food, you'll definitely want something that will be comfortable so you can eat all you want. Here are two looks we love for Thanksgiving: 

Option 1: Look ravishing in red in a long sleeve dress that flows (read: super comfy!). Dress it up with a delicate gold necklace as shown and add opaque tights and heels. Buy through Lulus for only $34.00 http://www.lulus.com/products/mind-bow-gling-red-dress/30807.html

 

Option 2: Stay casual yet chic in this long sleeve sweater dress with pleated shoulder detailing. Wear with high boots with a stacked heel to dress it up, and finish it off with colorful earrings for a pop of color. Buy through shopbop for $138 http://www.shopbop.com/sweater-dress-bop-basics/vp/v=1/845524441878405.htm?fm=search-viewall-shopbysize

 

 

Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!

We LOVE shoes. Who doesn't? We just had to share the email we just received from Charlotte Russe! All shoes are Buy One Get One for $15! That is a steal! So, go buy for youself and pick one for a friend! Start your holiday shopping with shoes!

Check out what we just put in our basket!

$40, the perfect Ruffled Suede Peeptoes for the Holiday 

$35, Modern Mary Jane

$42.50, Chunky Glitter Slingback

And don't forget to stop by the clearance! We scored really cute sandals for next summer or for when we head to Miami for the cold! Grab them up now - you can't beat the prices. Hurry, offer ends Sunday!

$6.99, Lizard Print T-Strap Sandal

$10, Loop Front Flat Sandal

Shasta's Beauty Product of The Week, Holiday Gift Edition: Featuring Burt's Bees!

By Shasta Moczulski, Fashion & Beauty Director

 

Looking for an indulgent, yet budget conscious gift to give this holiday season? The “Pomegranate Spa Set” from Burt’s Bees featuring the NEW Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub and the NEW Naturally Ageless Hand Cream is a fantastic choice for the special someone on your list!  You can give the set to one person, or split the pieces up and give to two people!  Priced at $20.00, this will make a lovely gift for friends, relatives, teens, teachers, the possibilities are endless! 

The set contains:

• 1 Naturally Ageless Skin Smoothing Hand Cream (2.5 oz)
• 1 Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub (8 oz)

cupcakeMAG home edition! Decorating on a Budget!

By Angela Parks, Contributing Writer

Angela's Virgina Beach Home 

This comes as no surprise to those who know me, I LOVE to decorate. I have forever evolving taste. One day I'm obsessed with greens, the next day I'm consumed with blues. Needless to say, I don't believe in spending a great fortune on expendable items in my home. I always pride myself on being a bargain shopper. I'm known for seeking out deals from the clearance bins, ebay or even searching Craigslist.com for (occasional) furniture deals.

I will say that our daily furniture was not necessarily a bargain. We have learned over time to carefully choose our furniture. We are a military family (my husband is a Navy Pilot), so we are mindful to purchase pieces with the knowledge that it needs to fit nicely in our next home. I feel that daily pieces such as sofas, chairs, mattresses, dinning tables, etc should be bought with quality in mind. Simply because you will use them daily and will retain them for many years.

I had the pleasure of opening up my home to host the very first CupcakeMag Retreat! Throughout the weekend I was asked where I had purchased specific items. Honestly, I had to laugh because my response was always the same:

Target

Overstock.com

eBay.com

Craigslist.com

Marshalls

TJ Maxx

Michaels

Hobby Lobby

Remember it isn't the cost of what you buy,  it is merely WHAT you buy! Decorating doesn't require a fortune.  Take the time to bargain shop, and while you are sitting in your beautifuly furnished home - relish in the fact that you have saved a lot!

How beautiful is the Mrs. Preppy Poppy's home! We just LOVE her style. 

Make sure you check out her new blog all about being a domestic failure. 

Even though we think she is perfect! 

Which room is your favorite?

Editor's Pick! Featured Blogger: Rachel of EcoStiletto.com!

A few years ago I was lucky enough to sit right next to Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Editor & CEO of EcoStiletto.com & MommyGreenest.com at a fashion show during Los Angeles Fashion Week.Well, we immediately hit it off and chatted throughout the show. I just couldn't wait to share this amazing site (if you haven't come across it already!) and the amazing things Rachel has done with it! And, I am not the only one raving about it! Check out the LOVE they have received from eco-chic celebs too! 

1.) Tell us about your baby, EcoStiletto & how was it born.

I'm a journalist and I'd been writing about fashion and beauty for a while when I realized that the products I was reviewing 1. never seemed to do what they said they would, like erase my wrinkles, and 2. contained some pretty toxic chemicals. At the same time, green fashion and beauty was exploding! Once I started learning about eco-products that actually did what they said and didn't contain chemicals, I was sold. I created EcoStiletto as a place to show women that you can be as gorgeous and glamorous as ever, while still working to shrink your carbon footprint. Hence, the stiletto metaphor.

2.) What is your favorite eco brand/line? Why?

Right now I'm loving Alaffia hair care products. (www.alaffia.com) First and foremost, they work--I was at the salon yesterday and my hairdresser took one look at my formerly-limp-suddenly-luxurious hair and was like, "What are you using?" Second, they're totally chemical free--nothing on my Big List of Things That Suck. (http://www.ecostiletto.com/index.php?/Beauty/tbltts/) But the coolest part is the story: The line was founded by Olowo N'djo Tchala, who is originally from Togo, Africa and now lives in Washington State. He sources all the shea butter from fair trade collectives in Togo and supports the communities there. He also organizes bike drives twice a year for the girls in the region, who typically give up school because they can't make the five-mile walk. And he works to educate people in his community about the dangers of things like female genital mutilation. Not the most fun subject to talk about, especially for a guy. So this is an example of the perfect line for EcoStiletto--it does what it says it does, it doesn't give money to the cosmetic chemical industry, and it supports a community in need. 

3.) What can we find in your make-up bag? 

I'm a total minimalist when it comes to makeup. I have three kids, so typically I just have time to slap on some tinted moisturizer--Physician's Formula Organic Wear, at the moment--and go. So I'm loving the Living Luminizer by RMS Beauty, which is a totally organic, chemical free line created by a makeup artist here in Los Angeles named Rose-Marie Swift. The Luminizer is amazing! You just dab a little bit on your cheekbones, around the outside socket of your eye, your lower lip, the tip of your nose and all of a sudden you look just kind of awake and, yes, luminous. You can put it on in the car!

4.) When your not writing for the site what can we find you doing? Tell us a little more about Rachel.

If I could, I'd do yoga every day. Right now I have just enough time for one class a week, and I crave it like chocolate. There's nothing better to get me out of my head and work through the little aches and pains that come from sitting at a computer 12 hours a day! And about once a month, I try to hit the Give + Take swap shop, which is this amazing boutique in Playa del Rey. (www.giveplustake.com) You bring the clothes you're not wearing and trade them in, then you get to pick from everyone else's swaps. Everything is clean and beautifully presented on wood hangers. It's still reusing and recycling so it's totally green, but it's less of a hunt than thrift shopping, because everything's already edited for you by the owner Dora, who is a fantastic on site stylist, too! 

5.) What is on your holiday wish list? 

Anything by Melissa Joy Manning. Her recycled metal jewelry with fair trade stones is consistently the most gorgeous stuff I've ever seen.

6.) What do you have planned for the future? 

Giving away even cooler eco-swag--right now we're up to $1,200 per month in giveaways to our free newsletter subscribers! And next year I'm doing an eight-event series of Green Girls Night Out parties at Kimpton Hotels across the country--they're super green, so it's a perfect match. Watch out, I may be coming to a city near you ;-)

What You Don't Know About Rachel! 

Pet peeves: Sustainabullies, defined on The Big List as n. A person who makes others feel guilty for perceived eco-sins; (s)he’s holier than thou and probably drives a Prius. Yes, I made that up.

Favorite color: When my daughter was born, my then two-year-old son said, "Mommy, I love all the colors of Julia." It's so random, but I love that. We're all made of colors--who could choose? Okay, now I sound like a total hippie.

Likes: I'm obsessed with Matcha green tea right now. It's a powder, so you can drink it hot or cold. And since I gave up drinking coffee, it's my go-to for an afternoon pick-me-up.

{STAY CONNECTED, ALL THINGS RACHEL} 

EcoStiletto.com & MommyGreenest.com

http://twitter.com/ecostilettor

http://twitter.com/greenestmommy




As always, THANKS Rachel! You are a doll! xoxo 

Riding High

By: Angela Parks

Contributing Writer

While we are happily engrossed in Fall and winter is soon nipping at our heels, this is the appropriate time to chat about boots. Not just any boots; the wardrobe essential AND eternally fabulous - Equestrian Boot! Riding boots can be paired with your favorite dress, skirts or skinny jeans.  We are even seeing them worn with shorts (yes, I said shorts). Better yet, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, soles and hardware. I personally prefer my boots to be vanilla (a.k.a. plain). I stay away from revealing hardware (buckles, etc). Though, I adore embellishments on boots, I find pairing accessories to the hardware to be a nuisance. In a perfect world (and a very fat bank account), I would have two dozen pairs that would suit my many wardrobe needs. However, I am on a budget, so I purchased two pairs - one in black and the other in brown (told you I was vanilla).

Pictured above are the two Ciao Bella boots I purchased on Endless.com (both reasonably priced under $200.00 in addition Endless.com is having a 25% SALE RIGHT NOW on thousands of boots)

  

For the love of a couture Riding boot. If cost were not an option, the boots above would be in my closet as we speak! Gucci, has designed a convertible Riding Boot. The top portion is removed, revealing a lower profile boot. Next in line is the Tall Burberry boot, classic styling with the buckle, and incredibly fabulous (would pair well with....well what else - a Burberry Trench!). However, my favorite BY FAR is the Chloe Equestrian inspired boot (allow me to wipe the drool from my keyboard).

Finally, how fab are these Riding Rain Boots? As I mentioned in a previous post, I adore Ralph Lauren, while these equestrian rain boots are not in my budget, perhaps one of our loyal readers will be lucky enough to call them their own! I've always been a huge fan of Hunter. With a reasonable price tag, these Hunter Reagent rain boots will be mine (available at jildor.com)!

Not sure how to pull off an equestrian inspired look? Here are a few photos of your fave celebs for inspiration:

Side note: Equestrian inspired fashion is NOT a trend. Two couture powerhouses come to mind when I think of this look: Hermes and Gucci. REPEAT: This look is not a fleeting trend! Purchase the best pair of boots you can afford and look casual chic whereever you go. Not to mention, they are incredibly comfortable. Style and comfort - why compromise either?



cupcakeMAG retreat!

For those of you who follow ME (@cupcakeMAG) on Twitter - you most likely heard all about cupcakeMAG Retreat last weekend and our little biz get-a-way. My FABulous cupcakeMAG writer, Angela, brought us into her beautiful home and we spent the weekend crushin' over each other.

While we were away discussing the next steps & exciting things for cupcakeMAG - we also made time to relax, eat cupcakes and get to know each other. Our writers at cupcakeMAG work so hard and are just beyond amazing! So amazing, we had to share just what we learned about them this weekend! It was great to get to know my cupcakes even more! I love them so much I just had to share the love with you! Get to know them too! I am lucky to have such fabulous girls on my team.

Tracy, @sweetharper, and our NEWEST (yet to make her debut) writer! 

1. Believe it or not, she has never done karaoke.

2. Surprisingly, she is much taller in person.

3. On the side, Tracy should be a photographer. She LOVES to take pictures.

4.) Before this weekend, she never wore leopard - she was a leopard print virgin.

5.) This was her first trying picking crab legs & eating oysters!

Kara, @JensenHaus & @LaunchHERLaw, our hardcore cupcakeMAG attorney! 

Kara (right) & Tracy - first timers! 

1.) Kara is one serious fashionista and was dressed to kill every morning.

2.) She is a major note taker - which I just LOVE!

3. ) Kara is all about SAFETY FIRST!

4.) A serious hardcore bio-itch, don't mess with her. She will pull some fancy law terms on your boo-tayy. I'm glad she is my bestie!

5.) She has very pretty feet and could retire from law and be a foot model!

Jenny, @JennyLoves_This, cupcakeMAG & cupcakeMAG for Littles FAB writer

1. She was my roomie. She hardly breathes when sleeping. I had to check her nostrils. 

2. Jenny isn't a fan of drama. 

3. She should be a DJ. She makes a mean mixed cd. 

4. Jenny could model - she was part of our photo shoot this weekend (way to see it all!)

5. She is a big fan of dance parties. In her underwear. 

Angela, @PreppyPoppy, cupcakeMAG writer & amazing hostess! 

1. Ang was the perfect hostess for our perfect weekend. 

2. Her house could be in a magazine - it is that beautiful. (Stay tuned for the tour!) 

3. Angela has an amazing closet with every shoe still in its box. 

4. Her waffles & hot coco are delish. 

5. Her family is the perfect cookie cutter bunch and I adore them to pieces! 

And of course, I can't forget Ang's adorable pup Ollie, short for Oliver! 

As for all our secrets and slumber part chats - we had a don't speak policy. What happens at cupcakeMAG stays at cupcakeMAG! Next year, watch out as we head to Denver for cupcakeMAG Retreat 2011! I am already counting down the days. Also, hoping for a cupcakeMAG LIVE! so our readers and fans can join in on the fun! Stay tuned and as always, thanks for reading cupcakes! 

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

By: Candace Cabrera Moore Contributing Writer/Fashion Week Correspondent


The recent turning back of the clocks underscored the fact that not only are we in the middle of fall, but we are also a step closer to the serious cold of winter. Luckily for us, we are smack in the middle of Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale, so we can shop the racks for gear to help us combat the cold. We found this beautiful coat by Tulle Clothing at our local Nordstrom at a price that won't hurt our wallet. For only$42.90 (50% off!!) we nabbed this classic wool coat. It's made of mid-weight wool, and has oversized pockets, and buttons-up easily for a fitted look. There are so many other great pieces (sweaters, jeans, and shoes, OH MY!), so be sure to check out your local Nordstrom or head over to www.Nordstrom.com to see what's in store for you! 

Shasta’s Beauty Product of The Week, A Sexy Scent!

By Shasta Moczulski, Fashion & Beauty Director

If you are looking for a new, sexy scent for the man in your life, look no further than Vintage by John Varvatos, masculinity in a bottle.  Vintage will be a great gift for your significant other and yourself this holiday season!

Featured Blogger: Chloe

Why do we LOVE her? Let's us count the ways......


1.) She has a fabulous blog.
2.) Her style is beyond MAJOR. 
3.) The OOTD numbers she shares, inspire. 


And the list goes on and on and on....so wait, read all about Chloe below & just why we are well.....obsessed with her. 

1.) Tell us about yourself -- the face behind the name.

My name is Chloe, I'm 29 years old, happily married, and living in the (un)fashion mecca of the entire world - Colorado.   We're also the only state to have ever turned down the Olympics (back in 1972) AND we all love to be high here- we have the world's highest mean altitude, of course. ;)

2.) When did you first realize you wanted to blog?

I started my blog first as a place to just get my thoughts out.  I've always been a writer, and at the time I was going through a stressful period in my life. I had been ill for about a year and a half, was diagnosed with Lupus, Sjogren's Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia, and since those diseases tend to at times make me so sick I can't get out of the house, I was craving a way to still be able to interact and share with others.  My blog initially started and had almost nothing to do with fashion- that came later!

favorite outfit to date! 

3.) What is your favorite outfit to date?

Oooh.  I would have to say this one; it was surprisingly simple to put together, I had nearly everything in my closet already, and the colors make me feel all blissful and happy. 

4.) What is essential for the upcoming Holiday season that all fashionistas

need in their closet?

Too many to list! I'm going to pick camel, though- I've been on a pretty big neutrals kick lately, and camel-colored coats, jackets, and sweaters are a great way to give a bit of warmth to a color palette that tends to run the risk of washing most people out.  It's just so darn pretty!

5.) When getting dressed, do you have an inspiration? Style icon you love?

I love Olivia Palermo's style- she is surprisingly edgy at times, while still remaining very feminine and chic. I also love that she mixes high + low, and you will often see her rewearing things.  I also love Rachel Bilson since she's about the same height as me- she proves that short girls can still rock it, too.

6.) How would you describe your personal style?

I would say feminine and classic; I love designers like Jason Wu, Nanette Lepore, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Milly.  But while I always seem to go for girlie things (ruffles, bows, and floral prints),  I do like to add a bit of edge to an outfit with either funky shoes a la Alexander Wang, Miu Miu, or Valentino.  Shoes for me are the easiest way to take an outfit from 'okay' to fantastic; never underestimate the power of a fabulous pair of shoes.

7.) Besides shopping & fashion, what else do you enjoy?

Photography, traveling with my husband, music of almost any genre and going to concerts, drinking mimosas for breakfast with friends, health & fitness (I'm a gym rat!), laughing, playing the harp, playing the piano, and pretending to be a cook while making confit de tyson frozen chicken nuggets with an aoili of hidden valley ranch dressing. 

15 things we don't know about Chloe 

1. I'm a twin

2. I've played harp at Carnegie Hall

3. I placed second in the state of South Dakota for the National Spanish Exam when I was in the eighth grade

4. I'm terrified that one of these days I'm going to accidentally punch someone that is cracking their knuckles in the face (can't stand it!)

5. I love anything cinnamon flavored and will always choose cinnamon over chocolate

6. I'm not afraid to order a grilled cheese-a-roo at  Outback Steakhouse, even if we're meeting family, friends, or business contacts.

7. I hated my name when I was little and once convinced all the kids at the public pool near my house that my name was Aja (and I was the backup vocals/guitar player for Jem, natch, which strangely no one bought)

8. I am a hair product/make-up product/skin product junkie and will buy almost anything new just to try it!

9. I am an insane workaholic; if  I could work 26 hours a day, I would.

10. I wore green contacts in highschool because I hated my brown eyes (sad, huh? love my brown eyes now!)

11. If I could hoard 100 puppies and somehow hide them in the house from my husband, I would.

12. If I could kidnap Nanette Lepore and Valentino and somehow hide both of them in the house from husband (and the media, and Giancarlo Giammetti, and um....the police), I would.

13. I love indie music as much as I love hip-hop.

14. I love playing LEGOs with my niece and nephew!

15. I make a mean strawberry daiquiri, mmhm.

See, we told you that you would just love her. Check out her sites below & follow her on Twitter because she rocks! 

{The Chloe Conspiracy}

{See Chloe Shop} 

{Twitter}