FALL WARDROBE PREP: TRAIL BLAZERS

Reese + Riley blazers are the perfect transitional piece to add to your Fall wardrobe; with colors like yellow, red and blue taking them from summer to fall will be a breeze. These high quality contemporary ready-to-wear blazers are priced in the $200 to $300 range and are sure to last for years to come.  For more information and to find a location near you visit www.reese-riley.com.

**images from reese-riley.com**

Which Reese + Riley blazer is your favorite?

A DATE WITH MARC, NEW MARC JACOBS BEAUTY NOW AT SEPHORA

This week the very much anticipated Marc Jacobs Beauty line launched at Sephora. Now usually when you think of designers coming out with “collections” you think of a very small selection of items. Well, Mr. Marc did not cut any corners; he has covered everything from eyeshadow to foundation to bronzer , nail polish and even brushes. Check out these 6 MJB items on my wishlist to try.

To see all of the products in the Marc Jacobs Beauty line click here.

**product descriptions from sephora.com**

MOMMY ESSENTIALS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

We are currently smack-dab in the middle of one of the biggest shopping seasons of the year, Back to School. Often times this pre school shopping madness is solely focused on the children and their B2S needs. But, what about mom? There are certain essentials a mom must have to ensure that she and her family have a successful and organized school year. Check out my picks below…

Essential for Organization

-Girl of all Work Calendar Stickers, $7 girlofallwork.com

- Wall Pops! Organizer Kit, $27 wallpops.com

-Catch Kidston Recipe Organizer, $20 seejanework.com

-Erin Condren Gold Foil Life Planner, $75 erincondren.com

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Essential When You’re Short on Time

-Taste of Home Busy Family Cookbook, $5 kohls.com

-Pinch Provisions Good Luck Minimergency Kit, $15 pinchprovisions.com

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Essential For Style & Comfort

-Lassig USA Tender Bowler Bag $165 lassigusa.com

-Very Lovely Soles Flats, $170 verylovelysoles.com

-Joy Mangano My Little Steamer, $25 hsn.com

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Essential For Beauty & Relaxation

-Amarte Hydralift Cream ($59) & Amarte Eyeconic Eye Cream ($51) amartecosmetics.com

-Tammy Fender The Purest Anti-Aging Hand Sanitizer, $14 beautybar.com

-Essio Aromatheraphy Starter Kit, $45 essioshower.com

WEEKLY STYLE LUST: HI! EXPECTATION

Those near and dear to me know my profound admiration for prints. Print mixing has been a favorite of mine for at least the past two years and my favorite print designs are different types of African, Tribal, Mexican and Floral; so you can imagine my delight when I was introduced to HI! Expectation. 

Their current Fall/Winter 2013 Lupita Collection is bursting with color and prints from the Latina Boyfriend Sweater and the Lobo Raglan Dress to the Dia De Los Muertos Skull  printed pants and jackets. This collection has effortlessly transcribed art into wearable fashions and at an affordable price range of $35 to $85. Available at urbanoutfitters.com | nastygal.com | dollskill.com. For more information on HI! Expectation visit www.hiexpectation.com.

What are your thoughts on Hi! Expectation and their Fall/Winter 2013 collection? Would you wear it? 

BACK TO SCHOOL: GADGETS

Hi Everyone!

So here’s the second installment of my “Back to School” feature this year. If you haven’t already seen my “Back to Cool: Supplies” post check it out here. This post is all about unique and fun ‘gadgets’ sure to make going back to school a little more enjoyable.

1.Western Digital My Passport 500 GB Portable Hard Drive, $40 target.com : Keep your school documents safe and take them with you where ever you go! Forgot to print that report at home? No problem, just take your portable hard drive to your school library and hand that paper in on time.

2.Emoticon Keyboard Stickers, $8 seejanework.com : Give your keyboard some personality with these emoticon keyboard stickers. Cover a few or cover them all.

3.Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse, $60 bestbuy.com : Designed to fit comfortably whether you’re left or right handed.

4.Eye Glass Pencil Toppers, $4.50 seejanework.com : Turn your ordinary pencils into extraordinary with pencil toppers like these Eye Glass Pencil Toppers from See Jane Work.

5.Staple Free Stapler, $8 seejanework.com : A new safe and easy way to keep your papers organized without the hassle (or the pain! Have you ever stapled your own finger? Not pretty -_-)

6.Boost Case Snap Case, $35, and Lizard skin card holder wallet, $60 boostcase.com : Keep your much needed and frequently used cards and/or ID’s readily accessible with the Boost Case Card Holder Wallet. The wallet holds two cards and range from $39 - $59 while the actual case that it attaches to is $35.

7.Flips Audio Headphones, $120 flipsaudio.com : Go from ‘solo’ to ‘social’ with the flick of your wrist and these innovative hybrid headphone-speakers by Flips Audio.  Listen alone or share the music with your friends by simply flipping the headphones outward.

8.Swagger Tag, $4 swaggertag.com : A new and creative way to ‘tag’ your stuff so others know who it belongs to. Insert a picture or your information.

9.Flud Watches The Turn Table Watch, $80 karmaloop.com : Head back to school in style with a statement arm piece like this Turn Table Watch by Flud Watches.

WEEKLY BEAUTY CRUSH: BELLABOO

With the first day of school just weeks away let your teens and tweens head back with their best ‘face’ forward with this 98.5% natural ingredient based skincare line, Bellaboo (named after the creator’s daughter, Bella). The Bellaboo skincare line is perfect for a young girl just starting out her skincare journey and who wouldn't love this adorable packaging?

Other products in the Bellaboo family include:

Sweet Sin Chocolate Face Mask

EZ Blitz Serum

Berry Nice Face Fix Mask

Bellaboo Skincare products are available at ulta.com (also available at Harmons and Bed, Bath & Beyond). For more information on the brand visit bellaboobabe.com

8.14.13. OUTFIT INSPIRATION: NUM NUM

1.Angelita Earrings, $17 RashidaGurl.com

2.The Virgin Bracelet, $32 MelodyEhsani.com

3.Iris-01 Creepers, $25 TrafficShoe.com

4.All I Care About is Pizza Crop, $37 Fresh-Tops.com

5.Selena Abstract Midi Skirt, $16 BooHoo.com

WEEKLY STYLE LUST: 'ZOE' VELVET LACE-UP BOOTIE

Dear Fall,

Please hurry up and come - my new wardrobe awaits....

What: The 'Zoe' Velvet Chunky Bootie
Where: www.boohoo.com
When: Available online now
Why: These velvet material chunky booties are sure to be a staple in your fall wardrobe. Add a seasonal pop of color to your fall outfit with colors like emerald and burgundy.
How Much: $70

BACK TO 'COOL' - SUPPLIES

It's about that time again, for families to get ready to send the kids back to school. Gone are the days of "basic' when it comes to school shopping. Every kid wants to stand out amongst their peers and these super cool supplies will do just that...

1. Despicable Me USB Flashdrive, $11 walmart.com: With the summer movie premiere of Despicable Me 2  Minion Mania is at an all time high. Now your little one can keep track of all of their important documents for the school year with this minion USB flashdrive. 

2. MadPax Spikedus Rex Full Pack in 'Mascarade', $60 madpax.com: Talk about a statement maker, this MadPax backpack is sure to turn heads with its multi-colored spikes, extensive details and high quality leather. 

3. Erin Condren Personalized Lunch Box, $36 erincondren.com: The queen of personalization, Erin Condren, has done it again with the introduction of her personalized lunch boxes. Also available are containers for the inside of the lunch box as well (sold separately). 

4. See Jane Work Pencils, $8 seejanework.com: Say good-bye to boring yellow pencils with these See Jane Work pencils in fashion colors like pink, red and purple. 

5. Hello Kitty Scented Folder, $1 target.com: Every girl loves Hello Kitty and these scented Hello Kitty folders are an adorable way for kids to stay organized. 

6. PatchPak Youth Pak, $33 patchpak.com: The PatchPak is a backpack that allows kids to truely express themselves by adding different patches of their choice. Patches are sold separately and include number, letter and personality patches. 

7. Lassig Shark Cooler Bag, $35 lassigusa.com: This Lassig cooler back features substantial instulation and an abundance of space. 

8. See Jane Work Mustache Eraser, $2 seejanework.com: I mean what more can you say? How cute are these mustache erasers? 

9. Uglydoll School Planner, $9 walmart.com: Keep your child organized with this Uglydoll School Planner that includes a weekly calendar, practical tips, more than 150 stickers and an elastic band.

10. See Jane Work Agenda Stickers, $6 seejanework.com: Make it easy to record special dates, events and deadlines with these agenda stickers available in family or academic versions.  

11. Greenroom Recycled Binder, $7 target.com: Bright and bold floral print on recycled paper these binders will make class organization a breeze. 

12. Master Lock Speed Dial, $11 drugstore.com: Introducing the world's first combination lock that opens up, down, left and right; bye-bye numbers. The lock is faster to open than traditional locks, more secure and customizable.

Be sure to check back for my next installment of Back To School including gadgets and apparel.