Modern Muse

You guys... my pink round sunnies from Asos finally broke. It was a sad day that only I alone experienced.

However it wasn't all bad. Having those round sunnies on repeat (kind of like a test-drive) for an entire year made me realize how much I loved the style. So much so I gave away all my other sunnies on craigslist and saved money by paper-bagging my lunch over the last month.

I saved and decluttered - the boyfriend was in heaven. Lucky me, I also found the exact pair I lusted over on gilt.com - thank you fashion gods!

Sunglasses: The Row via Gilt.com  Top: Equipment  Skirt: ZARA (similar)  Purse: Tory Burch  Wallet: Sakroots  Flats: c/o Aerosoles (similar)  Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane  Perfume: Modern Muse Chic  Lipstick: Envious via Estée Lauder's Pure Color Envy

I also went to an Estée Lauder event this week. You know, those mall store events and scored a handful of deluxe samples. Guys, if any major beauty brand ever hosts a mall event near you, go. They practically give everything away for free along with a makeover - it's the best! I absolutely loved the perfume they were promoting and decided to create a look centered around it.

I am no Kendall Jenner but feel that my entire look speaks to the long-wearing floral and ebony scent. It's not too heavy nor light but has all the right oomph to make me stand out from the crowd. Kind of like my outfit: black and white staples with a bold lip and crossbody.

Photos by Victor Cerejo.

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Real Talk | How to Save Big Online

It's no surprise that I am a huge (HUGE) online shopper. But before I click the CONFIRM ORDER on my cart I always make sure that I'm ordering the best deal. Same goes for when I'm in store; before purchasing I make sure I'm paying the absolute lowest, am getting cash back, or can find coupons of some sort (i.e. Cartwheel for Target).

With the busy school season and holidays ahead it's only right that we start planning ahead and start shopping smart now.

There are so many tips I could share for today's post but for the sake of time let's talk cash back websites. The way they work is really simple. You log onto your preferred cash back site and browse your favorite store on the site or with a bookmarklet. The site will let you know how much cash back the store is offering, along with special coupons to use for the day and after making a purchase you've earned cash back. Depending on the cash back site you'll either have to hit a quota to receive your cash back (usually pretty low) or they'll pay you out quarterly via PayPal or check.

In case you're wondering, cash back sites are affiliate sites - they just choose to share their commission with us and viola CASH BACK.

There are so many cash back sites it all really depends on preference. But for me, my two favorite contenders are ShopAtHome.com & Ebates.com. Before making a purchase I compare the two and see which site is offering the highest cash back or best deal for that store - so yes, I vary a lot between the two.

This won't be the first time you hear about ShopAtHome.com on the blog. I've actually partnered up with them in the past to bring awareness to their site. It's an easy to use site and they offer 110% cash back guarantee on participating vendors and tend to have some really amazing deals that are only for their members. They tend to pay out once you've reached the $20 threshold and have an app so you get the latest deals straight to your phone (great for in-store coupons). If you follow me on Twitter I'll normally tweet out some of the best deals they're having for that day, so make sure you're following me if you haven't already.

My other favorite cash back site is Ebates.com - these guys are the OG in the cash back game. They're extremely similar to ShopAtHome.com - you need to hit at least $5.01 before they send out a cash back check (or PayPal) with this site. Another difference is that they send out their payments four times a year. One great thing however is that you can layer on the coupons and they have better Amazon deals too.

P.s. These sites aren't limited to clothing sites. You can book your next vacation, groupon, movie ticket + more with these two websites and earn cash back on virtually anything. It's pretty amazing so sign up for both today!

Sweet Summer

Ever buy a piece even though it's too small? I'm 100% guilty. Meet the well-loved skirt that had no fitting chance.

The odds are never in my favor but with all the classpassing and races I've been partaking in this summer I've somehow managed to get this skirt on! YAAAS!

I wouldn't recommend buying a piece and hoping that it'll one day fit. But hey, I obviously do it so no judgement from me. Also, tailors can work wonders.

Ahh, there's nothing like these small victories that make summer a little bit sweeter.

Side note, these double drop earrings are from Gemma and Gage. They're handmade and made with love right here in Brooklyn. We all know how much I love discovering new Etsy shops and how much my bank account hates it but make sure you all stop by her shop's page.

Earrings: c/o Gemme and Gage  Necklace: La Soula  Top: Viva Aviva (similar here)  Skirt: Zinke (on sale!)  Heels: Swedish Hasbeens  Lipgloss: Buxom Lipgloss in Megan

Another amazing thing making my summer a little sweeter. These T-Straps from Swedish Hasbeens. Their quirky clogs have captivated me since college. Back then, they were sold in small quantities at my favorite boutiques and almost never in my size (#bigfeetprobs). Finally after detoxing my closet, figuring out what high quality staples could work year round, and fit my personality I decided to go with these (my first love). I mean if I still love their design after all these years then it's just meant to be. Right?

P.s. If you haven't already heard Zinke has gone out of business but their amazing designs can still be found here and for CHEAP. Happy shopping!

Photos by Victor Cerejo.

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