Under 5

I've been trying to figure out a way to get everyone something this holiday season that wasn't a mug and some hot chocolate mix from the dollar store. It wasn't easy but I did it. I was able to get about 12 people on my list covered for about 5 dollars each. These are the sweet people that help me through the year but are not close friends or relatives. Here is what I came up with!!

Readers Question

Its time to answer your questions. So if you have something you want me to help you find, a look you want put together now is the time. E-mail me xoxo_meglove@yahoo.com

1st readers question:

Hi Meg Love,

Thanks for the great blog, I love it. I was wondering how can I leopard print (my favorite) in my work life. I have to keep everything pretty neutral at work. Any ideas?

Gia P.

Pacific Palasades, CA

Okay Gia, well I don't think a work place should ever dampen your favorite style, you just have to do it in a way that is easy to remove if it causes a problem and isn't a "HI, I"M LEOPARD PRINT". Try a cute headband in leopard print, it is subtle yet give a pop of flavor. You could also use a leopard print wallet or a great ballet flat. Keep it in the accessories for work and no one should have a problem. Here are a couple of great finds for you!!

http://www.accessorybug.com/ $24.99

http://www.rebelgirlz.com/prod.php?pid=454 $4.00

Meg Love

Wednesday's

I don't know if a lot of people know this but I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Stores usually have a new shipment of goods on Tuesdays or Thursdays, so they need to get a lot of clothing sold to make room. Wednesday is the day that most retail store start a sale, or pulling regular priced clothing and mark it down 30-60% off. I'm always first in line on Wednesdays and I head straight for the clothing racks. Last Wednesday I scored really big because not only did Dillard's have the "Wednesday" markdowns it was also there annual 40% already marked down goods. So I was able to get three tops, one pair of trousers, one pair of shoes and a ring for $33.00. I went over on my budget but I couldn't pass any of it up. My boyfriend also got me a Betsey Johnson bag that was originally $300 for $60.00! He doesn't know that I know ;-) (shh!). So my tip of this week is to go to the stores on Wednesday, That is also the slowest traffic days, so good luck and let me know how it turns out!

Meg Love

Trash to Treasure

To continue on the path of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, I wondered what else can I do to help my environment. Well why not buy for a cause? I went on the hunt for some great recycled jewelry and came across the most interesting sites yet. Its a shop for a cause web-site, it has many different causes including; Hunger, Breast Cancer, Animals and the Rain forest just to name a few. So of course being GREEN week I started to look for some fun jewelry to add to my collection, I wasn't let down. The page has 5 main shopping categories to include; Eco-Friendly, Organic and Recycled. In each page you will find some great one of a kind pieces including these two bracelet that I fell in love with.

The first set of bracelets come in four different types of recycled GLASS chips and the second is bracelets made with Taqua Chips which come from the rain forests in South America. They are a small ivory-like nut that falls from trees (hence reusing natural things the earth produces). The Recycled Glass bracelet is $12.00 and the Taqua Chips are $12.95. I know that is a little bit pricey for one bracelet that is why I saved the best part for last. Each purchase you make saves at least 1,145 square feet of land in the rain forest. By buying these natural and recycled products they do not have to cut down trees for bangles or necklaces, so at 12 dollar investment in my environment that I can wear proudly, I'm okay with it.

Meg Love

http://shop.therainforestsite.com/store/site.do?siteId=221

Green Works

We have all heard it time and time again, stop using plastic bags, do we listen? I know it took me a long time to switch to reusable bags for shopping trips or grocery purchases. I did some research on these popular plastic bags to see why girls must have one. My conclusion, status, the cute pink and silver striped bag you get with your undies or the black and white horizontal striped bag full of cosmetics make you feel powerful when you walk through the mall. As far as the grocery store, what can three bags really be, at least that is what I always thought. Did you know that Plastic bags are so cheap to produce and store that they have captured at least 80 percent of all markets. For what? Most of the bags end up in the landfill or stuffed in the junk drawer at your house. So my challenge to you in be bigger than the "society" made feeling of carrying around bags you won't use ever again and check out these cute reusable bags. I use mine as a purse when I go shopping for clothes, then for go the extra plastic bag (Make sure you keep your receipt with them), I also use it when I go to the Farmers Market. It is so comfortable and can hold more than you think, plus no more arm marks when you are carrying it inside. Go Green Ladies I know you can... I did!

Green Flora Print $ 8.00

Skulls $6.00

Red Birds $7.95 Meg Love .

http://www.thegreenloop.com/Eco_concious_shopping_totes_reusable_shopping_bags_s/350.htm

London Fall Inspiration

So I had some down time over the weekend and I was finally able to watch all of the fall fashion shows through out all the world. Starting in London, which I have a soft spot for, they don't ever seem to let me down. Two of the trends I watched filter through each designers show, the use of the color green, darker hues and lime's. The other trend I also really loved was the use of graphics, almost like art appreciation, mostly in mini dresses, perfect for layering with Khaki jackets, tights and boots. I went window shopping for some great deals using the inspiration of London. Most stores are carrying fall clothing now, so its a good time to go start window shopping for a wish list.

Graphic Print Dress from Macy's (sale right now $14.99)

Top from Macy's (sale $7.99)

Meg Love

Nailpolish, what else?

So over the weekend I found my new favorite nail polish obsession. Of course I have every color of Wet~n~Wild and a couple of NYC Nail colors but they chip really quick and dry out half way through each bottle. I don't like to spend seven dollars on a bottle of nail polish when I take it off (or bite it off) faster that I put it on, in most cases.

While I was filling a prescription at Walgreen's I went exploring to kill time and of course ended up in the UN organized isle's of beauty products. I looked at the six dollar eyeliner gawking at how expensive it was(I know it isn't that expensive, but you guys know me). I want something unknown, something unique. That is when the nail polish fairy knocked the pen out of my hand so I had to bend down to pick it up and behold bright, bold and shiny nail polish. Has anyone heard of Sinful Colors nail polish? If you have, I am sad you didn't let me in on the secret but if you haven't you have to get to Walgreen's and I strongly urge you to pick up a bottle or two.

They come in over 70 colors and I think my Walgreen's had about 35 of them. They have the funkiest color names (which you know I love) like Thimbleberry and Swedishblue. The color goes on pretty accurately to the bottle and if you know me I chew my nails and chip away at them, surprisingly though my nails didn't chip even when I was scratching at them. I took a picture of what they look like today (Monday) from when I first put the color on Friday afternoon.

No touch ups!!! I can't believe it.

So go check it out, look on the bottom of the beauty register, that is where I found mine. Oh by the way its only 1.99 a bottle(Online store sells them at $4.00 a bottle). So $1.99 for funky names, unique colors and a super cool bottle that actually stay on. We all know what I will be buying for the next couple of months.

Meg Love

http://www.sinfulcolors.com/

5 Dollar shoes, its true!

I love shoes! They tell can tell a story, make an outfit and I don't know about you but I stand up with confidence because I know I have killer legs zoning in on that hot guy in the corner. So because I love you guys I'm going to let you in on the best unknown secret online. 5 dollar shoe warehouse. Yes, it is true five dollars for a pair of shoes. Not only are they the best deal for any Lincoln bill sitting in your wallet, they are trendy, stylish and come in almost every size.

So now for my $29.82 I can get 4 pairs of shoes. Pick up your jaw from the floor, because I know I had to when I found out this deal and get some cute shoes. Here is a couple of my favorites. The gray ballet flats remind me of the Chanel sheepskin style and we all know a classic black pump with a twist is always a do. They have been offering $5 shoes since 1987. A bonus, they are available online too. Life just got sweet again.

Here are a couple of my favorites!





Meg Love

http://www.5shoewarehouse.com/
http://www.payless.com/
http://www.chanel.com/

Beauty Secret...shhhh!

Seventeen Magazine raves about them in their back to school issue and so am I. I've recently become another victim to Mark by Avon products, but hey its not a bad thing. I'm innocent really, all I did was order on lip gloss from a friend in Pink Crush (I loved the name) and BAM, now I am addicted.

Mark by Avon was started to target the younger girls, I am going to guess 14-29 but I know that my Aunt absolutely loves there mini mascaras. They have a wide variety of products that don't break my budget, everyone remember, $29.82. So what am I raving over this minute?








Lemon Sugar Body Lotion. This scent smells like fresh baked lemon cookies mom used to make in the summer, it isn't one of those smells that stays on for a couple of minutes then fades away, in fact when I put it on my legs in the morning and going running later that night I can still smell it. I'm obsessed, I've tried there other lotions but this one by far is the best and for only $5.00 a bottle, keep them coming.




Here it is, the lip gloss that got me hooked on Mark Cosmetics. Pink Crush, which is also Lauren Conrad (from MTV's The Hills) favorite lip gloss. It goes on with a tint of fresh pink and stay on for awhile. A benefit that hooked me, no hair got stuck on my lips during windy days, ladies come on, you know that is a plus with any products. So for this cute compact tube...only 5 bucks, yes $5 dollars.










My last and final (okay not really) Mark obsession is there scanda-lash mascara. Yes, the same that my aunt raves about. It goes on clump free and if you put your finger under your lashes and brush up it can even give a slight curl. The best feature is that is comes in funky names like blacklash and brownout and who doesn't like a funky product name.







The best part about Mark is all of the free or great deals they give you when you check out. Some being a free hook up with two of the compact (like above) beauty products so you can hook the lip gloss and mascara together and BAM your ready for touch ups all on one tube. Also the free shipping when you order through a representative's web boutique. How great is that? You can get all your money's worth on the product instead of the lousy shipping, which I know you don't like paying.


So the summary of this blog, great funky beauty products, free shipping (with an e-rep) and you still might have enough money for a latte at the awesome coffee shop on the corner for the $29.82 were spending, sign me up.


As Always


Meg Love



**Please note I am not endorsing any one's product. These are all products that I have found, bought and are available to you through the use of links provided at the end of each blog**



Mark can be bought through:

http://mstocks.mymarkstore.com/

http://www.meetmark.com/

Fabulous Finds

Every time I want to make a dent in my sad excuse for a wardrobe I head straight to the one comforting sign that reads in bright letters, FABULOUS FIND. It is brilliant in my opinion, finally the world is realizing that girls who scrub sinks, pick up the used dinner plates and file papers until their fingers are red with paper cuts need a deal that doesn't smell like your grandmas cat.

Some of you may know that I am a Forever 21 junkie, I can almost always find a rocking tee or bright purple head bands without breaking the bank. Now though they have introduced as mentioned above Fabulous Find, they are so, well fabulous that you can almost buy three or four pieces at one time without going over the low budget we have haunting us. Here are some of my favorite pieces right now, in fact let me just put together and outfit for you, that's right a WHOLE outfit .

This is a Jersey Racerback Dress for only $9.50, add cute floral flip flops for $7.80 then finish off wish a pink bangle set for $3.80 and a charm gold long necklace for $7.90 and you have a BBQ outfit to impress many.

Fabulous...no pun intended. $29 dollars later we have a whole outfit complete with shoes, the only thing missing is that awesome funky bag you have been dying to use.

That's all for now happy fabulous find shopping...

Meg Love

**Please note I am not endorsing anyone's product. These are all products that I have found, bought and are available to you through the use of links provided at the end of each blog**

http://www.forever21.com/