BLACK FRIDAY Shopping Deals with Coupon Codes & My Faves

Let's get right to it people!  Putting this post together could get me in some serious trouble, as in, "One for you, one for me!"  There are some major sales happening right now if you want to take advantage.  These sales make gift giving a little easier on your wallet, but also make stocking up on your wardrobe almost impossible to pass up.  Happy shopping- I'd love to hear what you end up with. :) 

Ann Taylor // Save 40% Off Entire Purchase

DATES: Nov 29

CODE: TGIF

I love the black and white vibe Ann Taylor has going on.

   Optic Dot Sweater       Cowl Neck 3/4 Sleeve Jersey Dress          Curvy Velvet Slim Pants

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Bloomingdale’s // Save up to 50% off.

DATES: Nov 25 – Dec 1

I always forget to shop Bloomingdales, thinking it's too expensive, but I found so many cute dresses for under $100- here are 3 BLDs.

Faux Leather Dress                    BCBG Scuba Zip Dress                 Lace Jacquard Dress



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C. Wonder // Save 30% off 3 items or more, full price or sale + free ground shipping.

DATES: Nov 27 – Dec 1

CODE: GIFTS30

Of course I love C. Wonder's home goods, but I pretty much die over their entire BRACELET collection.  They have really playful sweaters too. They are great alone, but would also be fun layered with a print button-down and necklace.

Winking Fox                             Penguin Stripe                                       Love

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Henri Bendel // Save 25% off your order over $100 and receive a $20 Splurge Card with every purchase.

DATES: Nov 29 – Dec 1

CODE: TURKEY25

Henri Bendel is one of my favorite shops- ever since one of my best friends took me to the signature store in New York.  Houston got one last year, but I have exercised admirable restraint.

Alphabet City Bangle       Ace Cocktail Ring      Stack Ring      Charm Strap      Metropolitan Cuff



If you have small wrists like me, the HB hinged bangles are awesome because they fit comfortably and you don't feel like you're about to lose one.  I love them and they have so many colors to chose from.

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LOFT // Save 40% off EVERYTHING!

DATES: Nov 29 – Nov 30

CODE: ENJOY

LOFT is a go-to for everyday work and casual clothes at a great price.  They have a petites section too, so I never have to hem the pants I buy there.

      Animal Print Blouse          Laux Leather Trim Legging          Striped Cowl Neck Shirt  

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Lulu & Georgia // 30% off orders over $50.



Code: THANKS30

Cheers Coaster                           Heart of Gold Print                       Moroccan Pouf   



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Minted // 15% off holiday cards $100+ / 20% off holiday cards $150+10% off all wedding 

stationery  



Code: BFHOL13 (holiday code), GETHITCHED10 (wedding code)



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Nordstrom // Save 25%+ off on select brands.

DATES: Nov 27 (10AM PST) – Dec 1 (10PM PST)

Nordstrom // Save 33%+ off on select brands.

DATES: Nov 28 (10PM PST) – Nov 29 (10PM PST)

Faux Leather Trim Coat (30% off)    Jessica Simpson Aggie (33% off)    Faux Fur Infinity Scarf



Aviators 

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Sephora // Receive a free mystery sample bag with any $25 purchase.

DATES: Nov 25

ALSO: Check out the 10 doorbusters for $10 on Dec 2.

                Naked2                             Juicy Tubes                                  Sephora Collection

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Tory Burch :: Save 20% off orders over $300, save 25% off orders over $500, save 30% off orders over $750 plus free shipping.

DATES: Nov 29 – Dec 2

CODE: HOLIDAY

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Zhush // Save 20% off all orders including sale items.

DATES: Nov 29 – Dec 2

CODE: BlackFriday

*Affiliate links used. 

Silhouette Sale with Promo Code HONEY & Easy Snowflake Decor

Happy Thanksgiving friends!  I hope you are enjoying your friends and family, good food and drink, and some extra relaxation time.  Later tonight, when you've had your fill, if you feel like doing some online shopping, I've got a coupon code for the electronic cutting machine, Silhouette.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out snowflakes quickly, then hung them above my son's bed with fishing wire and thumbtacks.  He thinks they are so cool and told me, "thank you!" 

I've been wanting to make snowflakes for while, but wasn't looking forward to cutting them by hand.  I like the different shapes the Silhouette had online and I'm not sure I could've duplicated them very well. 

Silhouette is having a HUGE HOLIDAY SALE with some major discounts when you use promo code HONEY from November 28 - December 8, 2013.  To receive your discount, click HERE to make a purchase and use promo code HONEY at checkout.

I also found a cute saying in the Silhouette store (most designs are 99 cents) "The most wonderful time of the year" and put it into an inexpensive frame for instant holiday art.  

You can purchase the following bundles using your promo code HONEY:

(1)   A Silhouette CAMEO®, Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, a dust cover (the color is decided by Silhouette), a $25 download card, a hook, a scraper, a spatula, and a pick-me-up® tool for $229.99. Retail price for all of this would total $406.93 (over 40% savings!)

This Silhouette CAMEO® Holiday Bundle includes:

o        Silhouette CAMEO® electronic cutting tool

o        Power cable/AC adapter

o        USB cable

o        Silhouette Studio® software

o        $10 download card

o        12 in x 12 in cutting mat

o        Silhouette blade

o        Basic Instruction Guide

o        CAMEO instructional DVD

•        Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software

•        $25 download card

•        CAMEO dust cover

•        Silhouette hook tool

•        Silhouette scraper tool

•        Silhouette spatula tool

•        Silhouette pick-me-up® tool

Silhouette CAMEO® Holiday bundle: $229.99.     

You save $176.92 (43%)

(2)    A Silhouette Portrait®, Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, a dust cover (the color is decided by Silhouette), a $25 download card, a hook, a scraper, a spatula, and a pick-me-up® tool for $129.99. Retail price for all of this would total $286.93 (over 40% savings!)

This Silhouette Portrait® Holiday Bundle includes:

o        Silhouette Portrait® electronic cutting tool

o        Power cable/AC adapter

o        USB cable

o        Silhouette Studio® software

o        $10 download card

o        8 in x 12 in cutting mat

o        Silhouette blade

o        Basic Instruction Guide

o        Portrait instructional DVD

•        Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software

•        $25 download card

•        Portrait dust cover

•        Silhouette hook tool

•        Silhouette scraper tool

•        Silhouette spatula tool

•        Silhouette pick-me-up® tool

Silhouette Portrait® Holiday Bundle: $129.99.    

You save $156.92 (55%)

(3)   A Silhouette CAMEO®, a Silhouette Portrait®, and two $25 download cards for $299.99. That’s right: If you buy a Silhouette CAMEO® at full price, you get two $25 download cards and a Silhouette Portrait® ABSOLUTELY FREE! Retail price for all of this would be $406.93 (over 40% savings!)

This CAMEO & Portrait Holiday Bundle includes:

  

o        Silhouette CAMEO® electronic cutting tool

o        Power cable/AC adapter

o        USB cable

o        Silhouette Studio® software

o        $10 download card

o        12 in x 12 in cutting mat

o        Silhouette blade

o        Basic Instruction Guide

o        CAMEO instructional DVD

o        Silhouette Portrait® electronic cutting tool

o        Power cable/AC adapter

o        USB cable

o        Silhouette Studio® software

o        $10 download card

o        8 in x 12 in cutting mat

o        Silhouette blade

o        Basic Instruction Guide

o        Portrait instructional DVD

•        2 $25 download cards

CAMEO & Portrait Holiday bundle: $299.99.    

You save $229.99 (43%)

(4)    40% off consumable products at silhouetteamerica.com. This excludes machines, subscriptions, download and gift cards. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Rain checks not available.

(5)    FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.

To receive your discount, click HERE to make a purchase and use promo code HONEY at checkout. Happy crafting!

To see more Silhouette projects, you can check out their Pinterest boards.  

I'll be back tomorrow with some awesome BLACK FRIDAY deals.    I've been putting this post together for awhile and it's so tempting not to buy everything when there are such great prices!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks Silhouette Art

Hi everyone!  Are y'all getting ready for Thanksgiving?  I'm looking forward to visiting my sis-n-law and her feisty family (2 lovable rowdy kids that James loves to play with and 3 dogs!) and then my parents, brothers, and niece on Thursday. I'll be making some desserts tonight to contribute, but other than that, there's not much to do.  :)  What are your plans?  

In honor of the holiday and a major Silhouette sale (the electronic cutting tool) beginning tomorrow, I made a little Thanksgiving art for our house. 

I cut the design onto silver foil sticker paper that removes easily from most surfaces.  

You can use your printer to print onto the paper, then cut it into labels.  So cute!

via A Night Owl Blog

via Lil Blue Boo

via Silhouette Blog

I forget how much fun the Silhouette machine is (I'm using the Cameo) and once I start playing with it, I'm thinking of all the fun things it can do.  I don't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but made an exception for a couple of quick projects I'll show you tomorrow when I announce the sale and coupon code.  

Have a great Thanksgiving! 

Holiday Cheer Link Parties Coming Soon!

Hi friends! The Christmas season is almost here and my girls and I are hosting another round of festive Holiday Cheer link parties! We definitely get excited about all things Christmasy and want to see what y'all are up to also. :) Mark your calendars because this year, beginning Wednesday, December 4th, you can link up to two parties on a single day in 4 categories:

Merry Mantle :: Michelle & Carmel

Holiday Craft :: Michaela & Cassie

O Christmas Tree :: Me & Courtney

Recipe Cocktail :: Heather & Natasha

A big ole hug and thank you to graphic designer Brittany Douglas for creating these awesome graphics for us!

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How I Get My Hardwood Floors Clean

Of all the decisions we made when we built our house, whenever I was asked, "If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently?" My answer used to be, "I would choose different wood floors."  Ours are so pretty, bamboo, and I love them when they are clean, but because they are super dark without much variation in the wood tone, and also very smooth, they show dirt, dust and footprints very easily.



The entire downstairs level of our home is hardwoods and we have to sweep and mop weekly. I used to use a broom to sweep or sometimes if I needed to sweep quickly, I'd use the vacuum, then when I finished sweeping, I used a mop with wood floor cleaner to get the floors shiny clean.  It took forever and was not my favorite chore!

When I got the opportunity to review a Braava iRobot, I couldn't say yes fast enough.  Have you heard of it? It has the ability to dry sweep and damp mop BY ITSELF! As in, you can be painting your nails or sitting on the couch drinking a latte while your floors are being cleaned.  Yes, please!

When our iRobot Braava 380t Floor Mopping Robot arrived in the mail, my 3-year-old son was as excited as I was to open it up and use it. The iRobot is small and cute, super easy to assemble, but had to charge before the first use, so we waited until the next morning to try it out.

The iRobot cleans the floor by going up an down in rows until it finishes the entire area.  It uses either disposable cleaning cloths, including Swiffer brand or Braava’s specially designed reusable microfiber cloths.

It uses a navigation system (like an indoor GPS) that keeps track of where it has been and where it needs to go.  When Braava is done cleaning, it returns to the place where it started and powers down automatically.  After the small area by our garage door, look at how much dirt it picked up.  Ewww!  But awesome!! You can change the pads mid-cleaning and the iRobot will remember where it was and where to start back up at. 

The other cool thing is that it's super quiet. Because it's so small, it can get under sofas and tables where other cleaners can't reach.  I love this!  Have you ever moved your couch and been grossed out by all the dirt and dust trapped under there?  It will get right up to the baseboards, walls and edges too, but won't damage them because it has a soft bumper.  

Although we have hardwoods throughout the downstairs, I can also use it upstairs in the bathroom where we have tile floor because it works on tile, vinyl, hardwood and laminate.

I love a clean floor!  The Braava 380t sells for $299.99.  After using the iRobot, I'm happy to keep our bamboo hardwood floors because I don't have to clean then anymore!  I'm letting my handy little helper do all the work. :)  Sometimes I feel like we're living in the "Jetson's age" with these awesome gadgets that help make our lives easier.  



Go HERE to learn more about the iRobot and how it can make your life easier too. 

What would you rather be doing than cleaning your floors?

*Thank you to iRobot for sponsoring today's post.  

Welcoming Guests

Hi friends and happy Friday!  The last couple of days I've been busy preparing our home (and kitchen) for family that will be staying with us through the Thanksgiving holiday.  Whenever you invite people to your home, whether it's for an evening or an extended stay, I believe you can show you care for them by taking pride in your home and creating a welcoming, relaxing environment for them to retreat to.  

via

When people travel and arrive at my house, I love to have something yummy cooking on the stove so they can smell the aroma when they walk in the door, then fill their bellies, which are likely hungry from traveling.  If it's not necessarily meal time, I'll at least put out a meat and cheese tray or something to nibble on.  Our guests arrived at dinnertime, so a simple chili and cornbread were served, followed by homemade peanut butter cups for dessert.  You don't have to make a big, elaborate meal, just something that tastes good.  I often think the simpler the better because simple tends to put you and your guests at ease.  

via

In the guest bedroom, I made sure to deep clean everything, put fresh sheets and pillows on the bed, and added some magazines and fresh flowers.  

The guest bath was also cleaned spic and span, given fresh towels/washcloths, new toiletries, and a few gerber daisies.  Over the next few days, I'll continue to change the water and replace the flowers when they start to wilt.   

Hope you have a great weekend!

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UK Grows Whilst Eurozone Stagnates

According to a survey of 350 manufacturers carried out by the CBI, Britain's manufacturing sector is growing at its fastest rate for nearly two decades. The Telegraph reports that total order books relative to normal levels were at their strongest since March 1995.

The CBI survey's total order book balance rose to +11 this month to from -4 in October, well above expectations of 0 and the long-run average of -17. 

Meanwhile in the Eurozone things are somewhat different. Markit Economics said that its Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for November (published today) fell to a three-month low of 51.5 points from 51.9 points in October.

France, the Eurozone's second largest economy, is dragging the zone down whilst the other smaller economies are all but stagnant.

Such is the effect of using one economic policy (via the single currency) for multiple economies that face different problems.

Holiday Gifts For Her

Yesterday I announced a $400 shopping spree giveaway, and I was thinking how that cash could be spent on that favorite woman in your life (or yourself!:)  I compiled a few of my favorite gift ideas for women- gifts I've given in the past that have been well-received or things I have and love.  Truth be told, my girlfriends  are my favorite people to shop for during the holidays!  I have a small handful of very close friends that are like sisters to me and I love picking out that perfect something for them each year.  I haven't done any shopping yet- just getting ideas, so no secrets spilled ladies!

Michael Kors Hamilton 18K Large Tote- The perfect size, classy, goes with everything, and nice compartments inside.  It's the kind of bag you'd carry for years and years.  I gave my best girlfriend a nice bag for her 40th birthday a few years ago and she just mentioned the other day how much she still likes and uses it.  

London Fog Hooded Red Vest - I've been looking for something like this in a bold color.  I love how this one doesn't lose the woman's shape in the puffiness of the vest.  I think it looks cool to pair these bright vests with patterned shirts.

Bobbi Brown Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette- I only buy a makeup palette if it looks like I'll use every color in the set.  This definitely fits the bill and I love Bobbi Brown's natural every-woman-is-beautiful philosophy when it comes to makeup.  These are great gifts because I find it's something we'd love to have, but wouldn't necessarily purchase for ourselves. 

Lauren Ralph Lauren Chunky Link Toggle Bracelet- This bracelet is unique enough to stand alone beautifully or would be nice layered with other bangles. 

Michael Kors Runway Chronograph Watch- how sporty and fierce is this watch? Yes, please!

Michael Kors Bradshaw Chronograph Bracelet Watch- I'm on a gold and black kick lately and LOVE this!  

Michael Kors Chevron Infinity Scarf- I've been given scarves as gifts and they are among my most cherished.  This one is awesome because it's infinity style and it also comes in other colors- but I really like the warm, fall-ish colors of the one pictured.

Chanel Chance - Fragrances are tricky sometimes if you're giving as a gift and not so sure what the recipient favors.  Me and my closest girlfriends all have Chanel Chance among our favorite fragrances and we are all very different personalities.  If you haven't smelled it, go now and report back and let me know what you think! I barely ever wear perfume, but if I do, it's usually this one. 

Molton Brown The Bathing Collection - Typically I'd prefer giving one large bottle than a bunch of minis, but with these body washes, I think it's great to give someone a sampling because they are all awesome and then they can find their favorite. 

This was a fun post to put together- I think I'll do a few more in the near future.  ;) 

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The winner of the Gilded Mint Giveaway is Desaree Martin!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

On Honey We're Healthy- checking in and sharing a new (to me) fitness blog where this gorgeous fitness competitor trained only at home, not in the gym, for her contest.  Pretty inspiring. Melissa shares her workouts and food in detail on her blog.