Thank you all for your support with our loss and for understanding my break from the blog. The grief still punches me in the stomach many times a day and it takes me a moment (or hour) to recover but we are healing slowly. We miss him and love Trigger every moment of every day and we appreciate the love from you all.

Life however doesn’t take too kindly to breaks and while we gave ourselves a week or two, it came back at us full speed. My business is busier than ever (and it’s exciting!) and I’ve been spending a lot of my time volunteering at the shelter (we currently have 3 very cute foster kitties stinking up our guest bathroom in case anyone is interested) and then of course planning the wedding. The house hunt was on hold for awhile but we’re back at it and while we’re being picky, we know we’ll find the right one for us and all furbabies present and future.

I got an email the other day asking if I wanted to attend a special event at Blo Austin, the latest location of a very fun and practical concept of salons – no cut, no color. Just a shampoo and a fun style. I immediately said yes because I needed it to pull me out of my ponytail and smelly animal clothes funk and I’m so glad I did.

The salon is just plain adorable and all the ladies (and guys) are the sweetest. They gave me a ‘Hair Menu’ to look through and I chose the ‘Red Carpet’ look. Ashanti was sweet and did a great job on my blowout!

Before (forgive the unwashed, unstyled hobo look):

After…blown away! (sorry couldn’t resist):

Blo also gave me a bag full of goodies like yoga classes and coupons for future blowouts (in case anyone is interested!) and a trial of the hairspray they used, Aerogel, which is incredibly light and soft. And some fun pink cotton candy – I was tickled pink! Seriously, I must quit with the puns. I blame the champagne. Kidding. Don’t drink and drive, kids.

But DO go out and get your hair did at Blo – they are doing $21 blowouts tomorrow on their opening day! They also offer updos and birthday or bachelorette parties and even come out for events to you. They have locations all over Cali, Florida and TX.

This inspired some much delayed outfits posts:

Skirt, Shoes, Bangles, Belt, Purse: All thrifted and around a couple bucks or less each. Top: Old Navy, also a couple bucks. My whole outfit was like $8-10 I just realized. Score!

Have a blessed weekend!

Sandhya

You may be wondering what happened to my Shopping Ban. Or not. I’m gonna tell you anyway. I did awesome. Told y’all I have amazing willpower. Ok, I’ll admit, having a new puppy helped. But I did even better than one month, it was more like no shopping for 2-3 months!

But, alsas, a recent clothing swap with the Austin Fashion Bloggers, Black Friday, and a thrifting trip or two has left me overwhelmed.

I have a huge pile of clothes, shoes and accessories not worn….as well as tons of books to read, furniture to refurbish, nailpolishes to try, groupons to use, and vintage items we’ve been hoarding to sell on etsy. In short, we are stocked.

Starting a business isn’t cheap or easy so that helps…and I don’t really have anything I’m really itching to buy and there is absolutely nothing I need. So I ain’t shopping for awhile. And I’m gonna make my way through the mounds of STUFF we have already…and do a lot more reading.

In the meantime, here are some recent outfits making use of the aforementioned piles:

(Sorry for the crappy lighting/locations – winter makes it hard to get pictures when I’m only really getting dressed in the evenings.)

Coat -$300 – United Colors of Benetton; Long vest – $10 – Express; Silk tank top – $3 – Old Navy; Shorts – $? – Old Navy; Tights – $4 – Target; Booties – $3 – Target; Necklace – $1 – Estate Sale; Ring – $4 – F21

Top – $? – ?; AG Jeans – $120 – Hem; Necklace – $3 – Estate Sale; Shoes – $4 – Thrift Store; Bracelets – gift; Rings – $5 – H&M; Jacket – $20 – Express

Blazer – $5? – Thrift Store; Tank – $5 – H&M; Elephant Bracelet – free! – Clothing Swap; Ring – $4 – Random store in NOLA

Jacket – $20 – H&M; AG Jeans – $120 - Hem; Top – $? – Banana Republic; Shoes – $3 – Thrift Store; Watch – $60 – Citizen

Skirt – $1.99 – Thrift Store; Shirt – $3 – Gap Outlet; Belt – $1 – Garage Sale; Tights – $4 – Gap Outlet; Socks – $? came in a pack! – Target; Boots – $60 or so – DSW

Shirt – $3 – Gap Outlet; Skirt – $11 – Kenneth Cole Outlet; Tights – $4 – Target; Socks – $? came in a pack! – Target; Shoes – $60 or so? -Franco Sarto from Nordstrom Rack; Bracelet – $? – Florence, Italy’s Leather Market; Ladybug Brooch – Gift from the Lovely Andrea <3!; Rings – various but include a Chintatown NY Tiffany’s knockoff and custom made ‘Live Wide’ ring from jewelry stand in Napa; Essie Chinchilly Nailpolish

AG Jeans – $120 - Hem; Coat -$300 – United Colors of Benetton; Necklace – $? – ?; Chambray Shirt – $10 – Old Navy; Sweater – $15 – Gap Outlet, Watch – $60 – Citizen; Ring – $15 – Thrift Store in Baltimore

Dress – $1.99 – French Connection from Thrift Store; Leggings – $? – Old navy; Boots – $? – Nine West; Bracelets – gift; Rings – $4 – H&M; Mouse Brooch – $1 – Garage Sale (the glasses move up and down!); Jacket – $20 – H&M

Blazer – $3 – Laundry by Shelli Segal at Garage Sale; Tights -$10 – Random Boutiuqe; Shorts – $? – Old Navy; Shoes (Michael Kors – they are so awesome, the bottom is a metallic gold too!) and Top for $30 – Nordstrom Rack with Groupon; Bracelets – free! – Clothing Swap

Whew, that took forever. And I still have more piles. Perhaps I should try to post more often so it doesn’t take hours to get it all up here. Hmm.

Oh and here’s a couple bonus shots -

Some of the nominees for the Austin Bloggers Awards at the Bleet-Up (we didn’t win but had so much fun, thanks for those that voted!):

My outfit: Sweater – $15 – Gap Outlet; Gold Sequined Skirt – $10 – Michael Kors Outlet; Purse – $10 – H&M

(I’m also wearing awesome new tights and shoes you can’t see but that just means I’ll have to wear them again.)

Left to Right: Amy, me, Kathryn, Joanna, Amelia, Indiana

Our bookshelves:

Happy Friday!

Sandhya

Bon La Vu is a new online fashion boutique that will feature one outfit a day. The pieces will be mostly Austin designers and then you can buy any of them or even the whole outfit!

They are having a free launch party and fashion show this coming Sunday for those Austinites:

Sandhya

How awesome does this event look, Austin ladies? (Click for larger size or go here for all the juicy details!)

Boutiques on sale? My heart just fluttered.

Sandhya