My Ulta 20% off wishlist–yay or nay?

I’ve had a 20% off coupon for Ulta sitting in my inbox for what feels like a brief lifetime! I keep trying to ignore it but it calls to me.

I’m not sure why the Sephora 20% off sale gets so much more buzz when Ulta is actually the better place to purchase your unnecessary beauty supplies.

At least with Ulta you can pretend it’s a better deal since you earn real live cash back.

Those 500 point Sepohora gifts are fun but let’s be real–do you ever really use them? I feel like I have a small collection of them waiting for attention that may never come. Or I do open them and end up tripping on tiny containers of undereye creams that are escaping on my bathroom floor.

There’s also that sick moment of realization–I’ve spent $500 and all I got were these goofy samples I could get for free if I just walked into an actual Sephora and asked for one. (i usually make myself feel better by telling myself i purchased a lot of items during double or triple point promos. you do what you gotta do.)

I wish I could be disciplined like Pamela and legit stick to a spending freeze–especially since I JUST spent too much on clothing in CPH.

But I also can’t let a good 20% off code go to waste. And it expires tomorrow.

So help a girl out. These are some items I’m looking at throwing into my online cart.

Yay? Nay? Be a good friend and help me edit some–or all–of these things out:

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My rookie mistakes and other advice when clothes shopping in Europe–or the mall

I just got back on Sunday from a week-long trip to Copenhagen to visit one of my besties.

I’ve been to Denmark a lot–I think this was my 8th trip!–I really love my friend, and CPH.

And after that first trip in 2003, I’ve found shopping in Copenhagen really changed my thinking about clothes, opened up my fashion palette and expanded my personal style to be more adventurous with shapes and silhouettes.

It really feels like shopping in the future. You tend to see a lot of trends before they break in the US.

My love of jumpsuits happened with my first purchase of a fantastic grey strapless number in 2010 that is still one of the favorite things I own.

my first night out with erin in my jumpsuit from the future, 2010

But as experienced as I feel I am at shopping when visiting Erin–I still make rookie mistakes–and have a thing or two to learn.

So if you have an upcoming European adventure or an Epic work trip, here are some ways you can learn from my mistakes and find the best pieces to maximize your European–or any–shopping experience!

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Fabletics–to join or not to join

So spoiler alert–I joined.

I hadn’t heard of Fabletics–or even Kate Hudson’s affiliation–until the winter of 2015, when a lovely lady in a musical I was working on recommended it to me. She had recently joined and was really digging it. She was in the process of becoming a yoga instructor and needed new outfits and found it to be both a good deal and liked the product.

Strangely, it had been years since I had purchased workout gear. Not since Jess and I had started running together and I went through a serious Nike phase had I acquired any new pieces. Which at the time, was probably five years earlier.  So the timing was right for her recommendation to really register with me.

me running in my favorite Nike running capris in 2013. *photo courtesy of the best running partner ever, Jess Boggs

Plus I like trying new things AND love getting mail! So honestly–it wasn’t a hard sell.

But what is Fabletics, you ask?

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my fall wishlist.

I recently made a quick visit to Madison – had some mexican food with Jess, a bubble tea with Lyn, did a little shopping (Appleton doesn’t have the variety of stores that Madison does….. we don’t even have a GAP anymore…. so sad) and then I was off.   By saying shopping, I really mean mostly looking – buying brand new (not second hand) clothes isn’t totally in my current budget, but it’s good to see whats out there, so I can watch for sales!  Also, fall and winter fashion/clothes are my favorite.  Summer rules as a favorite season, but as far as fashion goes, I usually can’t wait to get back to layers, scarves and boots.  So what am I eyeing up this fall?  Here’s a glimpse.

A great flannel.

Last year I tried so hard to pick a cool, plaid flannel shirt…  aaannd I failed.  I really wanted one, but I – a) couldn’t decided on what colors I liked best and, b) decided though I loved the idea of wearing a cool plaid flannel, that it would probably spend the season with a few wears and then I’d sell it.  So that didn’t happen.  This past week while browsing Madewell, I found THE flannel shirt for me!  It’s a solid color – a pretty soft coral pink, which I now realize is better for me than plaid, and it’s so super soft.  And it has POCKETS!  Not those front chest pockets, real pockets you can put your hands in!  Madewell was having a sale, so I did splurge and buy this….. and I love it!

 

photo from madewell.com

A new pair of black skinny jeans.

When it comes to denim, I am hugely devoted to Levis – the 721 high rise skinny to be exact.  When it comes to quality tee shirts and great well made basics, I am hugely devoted to Everlane.  Everlane’s philosophy is : Exceptional quality. Ethical factories. Radical transparency. So that already makes them amazing….. and now they just launched their own denim line, which is priced very reasonably.  I’m super excited to try the High Rise Skinny jean in the ankle length.  They have just a small amount of stretch with the fit looking like a less “skinny” skinny, and the color says black longer with their Stay Black dye process.  I’m excited to try them.

photo – high rise skinny jean (ankle) from everlane.com

One or two statement pieces.

As I browsed through Anthropologie, which has always been my most favorite store to go into while visiting Madison, I this time came to the realization that though everything there is so cool and I get so excited about it all, in the past few years my style has shifted to more basics (ex. Everlane and Madewell) with eclectic accents.  And I do love many of the eclectic statement pieces they carry.  If I had occasion to wear it, I would love to get this dress – which looked way more fancy in the store than these photos are doing it justice.  I have a hunch that won’t happen, and it’s definately not a practical purchase, so I might opt for something like this sweater instead, which I know I could wear a lot more and for several seasons.

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Tied shimmer tunic at anthropologie.com

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Soiree cardigan at anthropologie.com

Boots!

I really, really like boots.  And I honestly, I do wear them year round – and honestly, I do not need a new pair at all.  Everlane just (today) launched a great pair that look a little western with their pointed toe, but with a more classic block heel and are just altogether cool and tough.   I am in love with these.

The Boss Boot – everlane.com

So those are just a few things on my fall wishlist, and now I’ll sit and wait for some sales.  What’s on your fall wishlist?  Tell me about the fabulous party you will need a fabulous dress for.  And boots…. which boots are you eyeing up for fall?  What’s your favorite brand of black skinny jean?