Pretty, Polished, Perfect.: November 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Not Your Every Day TripleP Giveaway: Beam N Read

What's a Beam N Read?  A nifty little hands-free, go-anywhere lamp flashlight source of light.


I received one (the LED 6-3 Beam N Read ® Deluxe Hands Free Light edition) to test out and was surprised at the number of uses I found for it; from sewing buttons back onto my clothes (I have a huge pile of repairs,) to reading books in bed (I used the clip-on orange filter for a softer light) while The Mr tries to sleep, and using it as a flashlight to dig around in a deep cabinet.  It's become a handy little tool - so handy I can't decide whether to keep it in the toolbox, my sewing cabinet or the glove compartment!  You can visit Beam N Reads uses and solutions page for more product information.

Travel Light | Camping Light | Beam N Read LED  Hands Free Light

Anyone interested in winning one of ten Beam N Reads?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Fashionista Events hosted by StillBlonde after all these Years and Modly Chic for Fashion:  I received a review product as a thank you for participating. Fashionista Event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. 

Labels: , ,

Deck Your Halls.......For Free!

Time Warner Cable has launched the first in a four-part series of Twitter Holiday giveaways.  This past Monday kicked off week one (don't worry, we have until Thursday to get our re-tweets!) with a generous prize of outside lighting, a fully decorated Christmas tree and interior decor (by the beautiful Julie Blanner.)

All you need to do is tweet why you think you should have your home decorated for the holidays, and then get the most retweets by Thursday!  My tweet:
There are a few details you should be made aware of:

Be a TWC customer
Follow @TWCable_KC
Use the hashtag #EnjoyHolidaysBetter

Get to tweeting, and encourage your family and friends to get those re-tweets a-tweeting!!

Wondering what's in store for the rest of December?  Stay tuned Sunday night for next weeks giveaway!

Labels: , ,

Friday, November 23, 2012

Triple P Giveaway: Stella & Dot, Part 2

It's Black Friday - who's ready for another giveaway (that you won't have to leave your home for?)

This week Ann Ehnert, Stella & Dot Stylist, is offering you all a chance to win the Serenity Small Stone Drops earrings!  



Don't want to wait for this giveaway to end?  Through Sunday, you can receive 25% off Stella & Dot sale items!  Click on the link if the Rafflecopter form doesn't show up!

Labels: ,

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Black Friday: Legends Kansas City

You may have read about my marathon shopping at the Legends over Memorial Day weekend but if not:



I won't be wearing this outfit tonight, but there will be lots of Holiday shopping happening.  Here are some of the great deals that can be found at the Legends Kansas City this weekend:


Beginning at 10:00 p.m., Legends Outlets will kick-off their Moonlight Magic/Black Friday event with

  • DJ Steve Serrano and various merchant gift cards given away every 15 minutes.
  • A free Cirque Du Soleil Quidam voucher with $200 or more purchase at any Legends Outlets Store or Restaurant 12:00-5:00 a.m. on Nov. 23.
  • Free Black Friday “Power Shopper” Kit with $100 or more purchase at any Legends Outlets Store or Restaurant 5:00-9:00 a.m. on Nov. 23.
Some of the stores I will be sure not to miss:


BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY STORE 11/22 – 11/23



BROOKS BROTHERS FACTORY STORE 11/22 - 11/23 8 am

  • 40% off entire purchase everything in the store!


CHARMING CHARLIE 11/22 – 11/25

  • Spend $40, get $10 off Spend $60, get $20 off Spend $80, get $30 off 


COLE HAAN 11/22 10pm – 11/23 8am

  • Additional 20% off your purchase.
  • First 100 people will receive a canvas tote bag with purchase.
  • The entire store will be 50% off suggested retail


GAP OUTLET 11/15 – 11/26



J CREW|CREWCUTS 11/22-11/25

  • Save up to 50% off everything for women, men, and kids. 


OFF BROADWAY SHOE WAREHOUSE 11/22 -11/23

  • 50% off, 50 styles
  • Free Shoe Frenzy – the first 50 customers receive a surprise coupon for 60-90% OFF any single item or even FREE shoes!


OLD NAVY OUTLET 11/22 – 11/24

  • 40% off the entire store. Excludes gift cards and doorbusters.
  • Doorbusters 11/22 10 pm – 11/23 4 am


POLO RALPH LAUREN FACTORY STORE 11/22-11-23

  • Entire Store: Take 30% off lowest ticketed price + take an Additional 20% off any one item


SAKS FIFTH AVENUE OFF 5TH 11/22 - 11/23 Noon

  • 50% off*

 Cashmere sweaters
 Outerwear
 Men’s suits
 Clearance merchandise

  • 40% off*

 Fine jewelry & watches
 Shoes
 Premium denim
 Hats, gloves & scarves
 Men’s sport coats & dress pants
 Women’s premier designer sportswear
 Gifts

  • 30% off* everything else in the store!


TOMMY HILFIGER 11/22-11/25

  • 40% off entire store


WILSONS LEATHER OUTLET 11/22 – 11/23

  • Entire store 60% off MSRP plus an additional 30% off your entire purchase


*ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SEE STORES FOR DETAILS.  Full store and sales listing can be found at The Legends Kansas City Hot Deals.

VALET PARKING HOURS $5
Thurs, 11/22 (Moonlight Magic) - Beginning at 10pm (near Mema’s Bakery)
Fri, 11/23 (Black Friday) - Beginning at Midnight (near Mema’s Bakery)

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Chiefs Style Lounge: NFL Fit for Her

This past Saturday was the launch party celebrating the NFL Fit for Her collaboration between designers and the NFL Team, Kansas City Chiefs.


Tavia Hunt, wife of Chief's Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, took us for a quick tour of the Style Lounge.  Featuring a limited-edition Chiefs-branded Marchesa t-shirt, Anastasio Moda handbags (produced in the same high-quality leather factory as industry leader Louis Vuitton) and many more, the items ranged from branded t-shirts to logo'd toasters.


New York's own celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch was on hand, pairing t-shirts with ballgown-esque skirts of flowy satin, fabulous shoes and Anastasio's handbags (Phillip was caught climbing over furniture to make sure this Marchesa ball-gowned mannequin had a handbag......)

Found throughout the space were mannequins - real and otherwise - in colored denim (a current trend I highly recommend you participating in) and fur vests (another great trend!)  And ballcaps - don't forget your trendy ballcaps!
DJ Kiss (and fellow blogger) got the party started with some fabulous beats (is she not the cutest DJ ever?) while party-goers imbibed on the house specialties:
The specialty "red & gold" cocktail consisted of vodka, chambord and cranberry juice.  My virgin specialty was cranberry juice (and a splash of club soda - but only because they felt sorry for me, lol!)  We were all treated to a free manicure courtesy of Park Place's Michael Shae Salon & Day Spa.
So ladies, there's no need to revert to the apple-bottom jeans and boots with the fur; couture has finally arrived at an NFL stadium near you.


Many of these items are available for purchase at NFLShop.com, with select items available at the Team Store located inside Arrowhead Stadium.

The next chapter: When are we going to see Collegiate Couture??

A special thanks to 435 South Magazine for the use of a few of their photos.  Additional photos from the event can be seen on Facebook here.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Studs, Spikes and Jewels DIY Style

Tonight is the Madewell DIY Event, and in preparation for it, I've been scouring Pinterest for great ideas.  You can browse the Pinterest Board, but here is one of my favorites:


Some ideas I'm looking at include a studded monogram on a t-shirt (or maybe on breast pocket of a denim shirt,) adding studs to a handbag, and trying to replace buttons with studs.  I hope to see you there tonight!

Do you have any good DIY embellishment ideas?

Labels: , , ,

Triple P Giveaway: Three Weeks of Stella & Dot

The Holiday season has officially arrived, and with it comes three fabulous opportunities for you to win one of three Stella & Dot pieces!  If you aren't familiar with Stella & Dot, I highly recommend you check them out.  If you are familiar with Stella & Dot, you probably have a long wish list full of fun and flirty pieces.  I have my eyes on these Renegade Mini Cluster Hoops (on sale for only $18!)

Stella & Dot stylist Ann Ehnert is offering one lucky reader a chance to win this necklace:
You can use the Rafflecopter form below (click on the link if the form doesn't show up.....) and stay tuned for next weeks Stella & Dot Giveaway reveal!

Labels: ,

Monday, November 12, 2012

You're Invited: Madewell Event - DIY



Join me for a fun evening full of sparkly and studded DIYs!  We will have jewels, studs and spikes with all the necessary tools to make your Madewell shirt (or handbag.....or denim......) your very own!  Hope to see you all there (and don't forget to RSVP to prettypolishedperfect(at)gmail(dot)com!)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Halls Crown Center and the Invasion of the Red Bag Club

Last night, local Kansas City bloggers were invited to tour the Halls store in Crown Center, preview some fall trends and of course - shop.  Halls Crown Center has recently undergone some changes, "moving over" to make room for LegoLand and Sea Life Aquarium.  
 

We started in the women's shoes (duh!) visited accessories (fellow bloggers Meg and Jana snagged some really great bags!) felt like a kid again in the children's department, wondered if I could convince The Mr (Instagram pic here) to wear velvet (anyone else remember George Castanza??)  got into the Holiday spirit and finally walked out with new friends, new shoes, a new fur vest, a goodie bag (literally - a fire engine red handbag) and some delicious chocolate chip cookies.

Meet Tinkerbell, the sweetest shopper of us all (wink.)
The Children's department - where a kid can be a kid - and where I decided I need a yellow fire hydrant somewhere in my home, lol!


Menswear - gah, if only I could convince The Mr to wear a tie!!
Have you heard of raw denim?  It's pure, unadulterated fabric - no whiskers, no stone-washing, no "special effects", treatments or softening.  It's the pair of denim you can truly make your own - the hard way, lol.  A very helpful associate explained to us that to make your denim "your own" you don't wash it - you freeze it to kill any germs/bacteria (and other rules!)  I'm old, and this simply reminds me of the good old days when you could buy a pair of Levi's and over time it would conform to the shape of your....well, butt.  (p.s. that processed whiskering and fading often is terribly unflattering anyway!)
Getting into the Holiday spirit in the Deck the Halls store - and wishing this little treat were real!
A tribute to the new Sea Life Aquarium.....
What my Tree should really be decorated with......
 
The red bag (with lots of goodies) at least half of us were carrying around that evening (the horror, lol!)

 If you haven't been to Halls Crown Center - I highly recommend it.  It has a fabulous price point, friendly associates and a great selection.  Thanks again Halls, for a great night out with the girls (bloggers!)

Gift card and gift bag provided by Halls Kansas City.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Photographs copyright Pretty, Polished, Perfect.

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Organize Your Accessories, Part 1

Now that I've got that out of the way, let's talk organization again.  If you are like me, I clean out my closet every few months......and have a large pile of clothes that will be sold, donated or recycled.  Every time I clean my closet, I have big hopes that I've gotten rid of enough that I will miraculously have space for something awesome, like a shoe or jewelry cabinet.  Sadly, all I ever have is a little bit of breathing room for the favorites I decide to keep.

After years of disorganization, I decided to think outside the box (and outside my closet) for my jewelry organization:

I started using vintage teacups, but I needed something for longer, larger earrings.  I thrifted this glass for $.49!
These jewelry trees can be found everywhere: Forever21, Kohls, JoAnns, Michaels......


Another vintage teacup thrifted for under $1!

I thrifted an old picture frame, spray painted it and simply added pins directly to the wall behind it (I'm not afraid of a few small holes, lol!)  They have some decorative push-pin type hook at Lowe's and Home Depot.  I put up a mirror so I wouldn't carry the jewelry into the bathroom or closet - I was ending up with piles of discarded jewelry all over the place!
My bracelets and rings are kept in the top drawer of my dresser.  I found some great jewelry organizers at Michaels.  If you use a drawer, you can line it with felt to keep your pieces, cups and saucers, and containers from sliding around when the drawer is opened or closed.
Add caption
So think outside the box and get that jewelry organized!  If you can't see it, you won't ever wear it!  If you can't see it, you might find yourself buying things twice (or like items!)

How do you organize your jewelry?

AZRussums


Labels: , ,

Monday, November 5, 2012

McCoys, Mac n Cheese and Math

This past Friday we grabbed the boys and headed downtown for First Friday.  With only one food truck to be found (and a mile-long line) we decided to try McCoys' world-famous Mac N Cheese for dinner.

Somehow, taking my sons to a popular bar in Westport on a Friday night felt a little but like wearing a ball-gown to wash the dishes.  I'm pretty sure my sons were the only people under the age of 18 within several blocks......

We had a thirty minute wait for a table, so I did what I'd like to think any mother would do - I ordered kids' drinks straight from the bar.  The guy who I squeezed in next to wouldn't stop staring at me - he was either hitting on me or thought I was the craziest person ever - and let's face it: who hits a woman ordering three kids' drinks, complete with plastic-cup-lidded-funky-straw, from a bar??  Haha!


While the jury is still out on whether McCoys has the best mac n cheese (my sons ate every last bite!) I will say that it's pretty darn good stuff.  If you ever find yourself in the area, I'd be interested to get your opinion on it.

I will admit - while newborn babies are amazing and tiny (not mine - my oldest was nearly 9 lbs and completely skipped the newborn diapers and clothing,) I much prefer the stages they are in now.  If for no other reason than their ability to communicate their needs with something other than a cry or a temper tantrum (though there are still plenty of tantrums to go around.)  I love answering the math equations my sons shoot at me randomly throughout the day.  I love hearing them talk (sometimes endlessly) about what they've learned or think is cool.  I love wandering the streets of Kansas City, taking in the culture, learning new things and eating unhealthy food (haha.)

I took the opportunity to discuss our next week's schedule with The Mr while we drove.  I mentioned the upcoming STEMfest* at Union Station this Saturday (it's free!)  As I rattled off what the acronym stood for (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,) my oldest son turned to me and said, "Science and Math?  You know I like science and math right?"  (Fellow math nerds, unite.)  What exactly is the STEMfest you ask?




What:       
           
Exhibitors will provide fun, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities to help encourage STEM careers, and all those attending will receive FREE admission to Science City for the day.
There will be many exciting activities and visuals, including robots, hands-on science projects and more!

When & Where:            
   
Union Station/Science City
30 W. Pershing Road, Suite 400, Kansas City, Mo.
Saturday, Nov. 10
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

*Time Warner Cable STEMfest was created as part of the company’s Connect a Million Minds initiative (www.connectamillionminds.com), which aims to engage youth in hands-on learning opportunities in the areas of STEM. For Time Warner Cable STEMfest, TWC has joined forces with the Girls Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri and Science City to engage STEM partners from the local community to be a part of the event and showcase ways that their organization engages kids in STEM learning opportunities. Children of all ages will be able to participate in hands-on, discovery learning activities with each of Time Warner Cable’s STEM partners. 

Are you a math nerd like me?

Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Triple P Giveaway + Julep

I've seen pictures floating around Pinterest of stylish ways to display the hundreds (one girl, I kid you not, had thousands!) of nail polishes we have swimming in our drawers (or scattered around the house.)  I am a huge fan of organization - oddly shaped bottles that won't stack or line up neatly kill me.  I have three reasons to love Julep: the bottle shape (uniformly nestles and stacks in just about everything,) the colors, and the fact that they are toxin free (the 4-free they say!)  

Not only do they sell fun colors, they have a Maven subscription program - they will ship you a box full of goodies each month.  Based on your style profile, Julep will send you a monthly box full of goodies (October's even had candy corn!)  My style profile is Simply Classic.  This is the introductory box they sent (and the box you could win in your personalized profile style!)
How do you make cute little polka dots, you ask?
Using the tiniest dollop of polish, dip the end of the sewing pin (even the pins with the ball on the end work!) and start dotting away!

What do you think?  Do you want to Julep?

If you don't want to wait, go to Julep.com, use code PRETTYPOLISHEDPERFECT at checkout to get your first Maven box for 1 cent!  That's right, $.01!  You can even send one to a friend - the holidays are officially here!

Enter the Rafflecopter below (if the form isn't showing, click the link)  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Labels: , , ,