Boots, Boots, Boots

My line of work is a dirty one. Horses aren't particularly neat creatures, and I really notice it when I'm mucking stalls or paddocks. The equestrian center has a lot of chutes and pens that get muddy when there's a mere drop of precipitation, so it's important to me that I have the proper footwear to deal with these conditions. I've already sung the praises of the Sperry Topsider Cormorant boot, but the time has come for me to buy a new pair of Wellies. My old, adorable pink-and-green plaid pair just gave up after two months at the barn. With Oklahoma's wild spring weather, I just know I'll need a new pair soon (before it starts raining again)! Here's what I'm considering:

Hunter Huntress Boot, $125

Sperry Topsider Pelican Tall Boot, $70

LL Bean Bean's Wellies, $59

Thoughts? I would love to hear your reviews/opinions/ideas on Wellies!

Gilt-y Pleasures

Gilt Groupe is an amazing sale site- they have deals on everything from clothing to hotels to homewares. I absolutely love them! If you're not a member, just click here for an invite. There are sooo many things to love right now:

Hula Tumblers by LSA Glass, $15 for set of 4

Leaf & Chain Drop Necklace by Leslie Danzis, $89

Bone Bead Coasters by Kim Seybert, $38

MIA Pump by Botkier, $99

So many goodies!

Lilly Agenda

A couple of weeks ago, Preppy Princess was offering 20% off orders- of course I love a good deal, so I took the opportunity to order a personalized apron for my dear friend Amy. I thought I shouldn't let such a good coupon go to waste, so I ordered myself a little treat too: the Lilly Pulitzer Agenda Book (large sized). I'd needed an agenda book for a while, and I thought it would be nice to get one before the start of the new year. I was happy to see this one included August-December 2010; I could start using it right away! I ordered it in Don't Be Koi- a beautiful pattern, in my opinion.

Image from Preppy Princess

When the agenda arrived a few days later, I was floored by the packaging! My gift to myself was beautifully wrapped in pink and green paper and included a handwritten note from the lovely people at Preppy Princess, wishing me happiness with my new Lilly! I felt like I had received a special present from a friend! 

The agenda itself is absolutely perfect. First of all, the front and back covers are hard. This is probably my favorite thing about it- it's durable and makes writing in it a snap if there isn't a hard surface handy. Various tabs are easy to flip to and each month includes gorgeous prints and cute tongue-twisters. (For December 2010: "Misters and misses wish for mistletoe kisses.") There's lots of space for writing on the month-at-glance calendars as well as individual days. Special sections are provided for notes, addresses and phone numbers, dates to remember, and there's even a list of "Reasons For A Party" (including the Kentucky Derby and National Pink Day)! I have been using this agenda book non-stop since receiving it. If you're in the market for one, I highly recommend the Lilly Agenda Book and shopping through Preppy Princess!

*This is not a paid endorsement. I just loved this product & my experience at PP enough to share!

Shopping

I'll admit that I am a total bargain hunter. I am loath to pay full price for anything (horsey things are the general exception). As a result, I am signed up for various discount sites like Rue LaLa & Gilt Groupe and a plethora of store-specific mailing lists (J. Crew, Gap, etc.). All of these are forwarded to my coupon-specific email address so I don't have to see them on my phone (unless I want to) or in my regular inbox. It's perfect.

Quite possibly the best thing about these mailing lists is the birthday-related deals. I had no idea just how good they are until this year! Gap, Old Navy, J.Crew, and Banana Republic all sent me special coupons to use. I decided to spend a little birthday money on some new stuff from Old Navy- their jeans fit me well and their inexpensive tops are perfect for when you want something trendy, but don't want to drop serious money on a piece that will go out of style in a year or two. (I know, I know, one shouldn't buy trendy items, one should buy staples, but sometimes it's fun to embrace a trend!) With a 20% off coupon code in hand, I found a few good deals online.

The Sweetheart skinny jeans

I decided on these skinny jeans first. I like the wash, I like the rise, and after reading reviews, I think I'll like the way they fit. I am nervous about owning skinnies, but I hope these will look good and turn into favorites! (I also think they'll look great will the cute flats and slew of tops I got at Loft this weekend.)

Mohair blend sweater

The reviews on this sweater were iffy- some people thought the arms were too short or the knit was too flimsy, but I think it might be exactly what I'm looking for. I am in love with dark gray to begin with and I think a really lightweight cardi will be perfect for wearing to Thanksgiving at Johnny's parents'. I mean, doesn't it always get stiflingly hot when there are large groups of people in small rooms? As for the arms, my arms are on the short side, so that might be fine, but if the sweater is more of a 3/4 length thing, I can embrace that too. Perhaps pairing this with some dark jeans and a bright top underneath will look good!

I also bought a Christmas present for BFF Greer, but on the off chance she reads this (although she insists she never reads blogs), I won't post any info on it. I think she'll like it though! 

So ends the shopping spree. Back to doing boring stuff with money, like paying my student loans and cell phone bill!