blog sale: purses (gap, jcrew, prada, longchamp, vera bradley)

I had some success when I posted some jewelry on here earlier this year, so I thought I would give a shot at posting some handbags I no longer carry. I don't smoke and I don't have pets, so those aren't concerns you should have about these bags.

If you have questions, please feel free to email me using the button on the left. I'm happy to answer anything or send more pictures if you want them. And thank you in advance for your interest; you're helping contribute to my wedding budget! ;)

Shipping is free if you spend over $50. Otherwise it's $5 flat.

Gap clutch $5 

Vera Bradley On The Go (New With Tags--I even still have the receipt and have never once taken it out of my closet--purchased at $65) $45OBO

 J.Crew Pink Suede Clutch (zipper won't zip) $10

 Dooney & Bourke $15

Prada Leather and Nylon (purchased in 2003; carried a small number of times for a couple of years; authenticity guaranteed; if you purchase, you can take to a retailer to confirm and if you're not satisfied can return within one week for refund) I can't remember what I paid for it, but I took it to a consignment store and she was going to sell for $250 and I was going to get $150. So, I'm selling for $200 OBO.

 Longchamp Le Pliage Travel Bag (This bag is huge. You can see it in the picture at the bottom. It zips and unzips in the middle to become smaller, and it can be folded to be easily packed. The one on the link shows a strap, which this one never had, and retails for $235. There are a few spots on this one you can see in the middle picture; I have pictures if you're interested in seeing the spots close up. The spots in the bottom picture are mirror spots, not bag spots.) Selling for $150 OBO.

Email me if you're interested. You'll pay through paypal. I'll list on ebay in a week or so if people aren't really interested. 

Thanks!!

Wednesday Loves and a little snail mail swap

I love reading other people's random loves on Wednesday, so I'm going to share mine with you again today! Link up with Jamie.

First of all, I'm love love loving that I won an awesome giveaway from BonBonRose Girls on Sunday! I won a magazine subscription of my choice! So thrilled!

Source: designspongeonline.com via Luisa on Pinterest

Because of the fact that I've spent so much money buying magazines lately and subscribed to three new ones in the last month on my own, this giveaway was PERFECT for me to win!I'm going to add either Cooking Light, Food Network, or InStyle to my mailbox! What's your vote?
I'm loving that we've found some great venue options for the wedding/reception. We haven't signed anything and are still figuring everything out for sure, but here's a sneak peek at one of our favorites.

{source}I'm loving that after searching for a long time for jewelry organization methods, I threw together some stuff that I had an made my own organization system. I love having all my jewelry on display for me to pick from!

Sorry for the iPhone pic. I asked Tim to take it for me. This is what I got.
I'm loving that the finale of the bachelorette will be next Monday. I'm mostly excited because I can't watch anymore of this girl and still stay sane, but I'm also hoping she'll pick this guy because they were cut from the same mold. They're both nutty and need each other.

Source: wetpaint.com via Christy on Pinterest

I'm loving that I sent out some fun snail mail to some blogger friends this week. And I'm loving that Zara sent me a wonderful compact wedding organizer to help me in my wedding planning!

Really I just love snail mail in general! 

So, I want to organize a snail mail swap! 

It's really simple. 

You send me your name, email, and address, and I'll pair you up with someone. 

You spend $5-$10 and mail your partner something that will fit in a card or flat bubble mailer (any size)! 

It can be a card with a gift card, some stickers, a padded mailer with some nail polish, or you and your partner can talk and decide a different theme. It's just got to include a cute card and be flat! 

Send me an email by clicking the contact button on the top left with your info by Saturday the 29th.

I'll pair you up and send you your partner Sunday or Monday. 

Send out your package by August 6th!

And I'll host a link up on August 15th for you to post a picture of the fun mail in your mailbox as well as the contents! It's just a little way to share a smile with someone and get a fun piece of mail in your mailbox! It always makes my day when something I get in the mail is hand addressed.

Source: s928.photobucket.com via Cassandra on Pinterest

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editing...

After posting yesterday about my running routine and beginning cycling, a few people asked if I had lost weight. Unfortunately, I really haven't. I think it's a combination of the fact that I don't drink enough water so my body retains most of what I drink and the fact that I have pretty much been eating whatever I wanted since "I'm running so much!".

It's not that I go to eat Mexican every night with bottomless chips and guac after a chik-fil-a value meal for lunch. I don't eat junk food a lot, it's just that I snack a lot. AND, I've been really bad about compensating for running so much by snacking so much without really thinking about how many calories each thing I put in my mouth has.

Don't get me wrong. I'm in the best shape I've been in since I swam in high school I'd venture to say, but I really would like to lose some weight so that I feel more comfortable in pictures (specifically engagement pictures and wedding pictures), and I'm going to wait to try on wedding dresses until I lose at least 15 pounds.

I joined Weight Watchers again last weekend for the fifth? time, but overall last week wasn't that successful in my change. Yesterday, though, I bought something at Starbucks that helped turn on a lightbulb.

{source}

I bought a bistro box protein plate (I only bought it because I was meeting someone at Starbucks, didn't want a coffee, and wanted a light lunch...I don't make a habit of paying that much for something so small). It was small, but everything in the box was delicious (and it's rare when I buy a variety sampler and like everything inside). And I didn't get hungry until I ate dinner at 7:30. It's rare for me not to want to snack, but the protein really held me over well.

It helped me think about empty carbs that I so much love, and it also helped me realize that eating protein doesn't mean I have to gnaw on a turkey leg or get out my steak knife. With that in mind, I'm making a new grocery list for tomorrow to fill the house with light snacks, high-protein foods, and fresh fruits and vegetables. 

How easy would it be to hard-boil half a dozen eggs and keep them in the fridge for an afternoon snack? Or spread a little peanut butter on an apple?

I really think making some smart changes in my diet by not only cutting calories but also changing what my calories are made up of will help me hit those weight loss goals and conquer Weight Watchers once and for all.

What are some high-fiber or high-protein snacks or light meals you like that are also easy or require little prep?

What other snacks do you eat that fill you up without using a lot of calories?

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Cycling, Cycling...

A few weeks ago, I mentioned how hard running outside is with the insane Florida heat. To remedy the situations and ensure that I could keep up my half marathon training, I joined a Lifestyle Family Fitness. I had really just been using it for running on the treadmill, and while that has enabled me to continue my training, I realized that I should really take advantage of all that the gym has to offer.

Source: brown2020.com via Joyce on Pinterest

PS The treadmill is so stinkin boring I totally need a laptop stand. So handy!

So, I took a big step at the gym this past Wednesday. I went to a class. And, while I had gone to a class the last time I was a member, this class was a spin class, which scared the heck out of me. I've never done a spin, nor do I know anything about cycling or spinning. I didn't want to look like an idiot not knowing what to do, but I took Kelly's advice and went in a little early, asked for help, and loved it! I loved it so much that I did another class on Thursday.

Have you been to a spin class before?

I alternate between these three outfits (I had to use this picture because it came up as the second one on pinterest for spin class...)

There's a motivational instructor up at the front of the room on a bike, and he/she tells you what to do and helps you visualize scenarios. There is a little knob in front of you that you tighten and loosen to change resistance as the instructor tells you to stand, sit, race, and climb. In some cases the songs coordinate with the moves so that you're pedaling to the beat of the song.

By the end of the class, you looked like you took a shower in your clothes, but the sense of accomplishment you feel at the end is so worth the pain of the class.

Let me give you a quick run down of my emotions as the 50 minutes pass by, because it's an emotional roller coaster:

Minutes 1-5: I can do this. This girl to my left doesn't stand a chance next to me.
Minutes 6-14: Hm. This is a littler harder than I thought at first. Ouch. It's starting to hurt a little.
Minutes 15-35: There's no way I'm going to make it to the end. Would it be embarrassing if I got off of the bike right now and walked out of the cycling studio?
Minutes 36-40: Ok. I think I can make it. Maybe I'll even come again tomorrow. Hey. This feels great. I think I'll increase the resistance and pedal faster to make sure I really get that burn and the results.
The rest of the time: Holy cow I am more than shvitzing. This is insane! I love it! I'm going to weigh 15 pounds less tomorrow! I'm only going to eat fruits and vegetables and drink water. I can't wait to hit my goal weight. Maybe I'll go run after this. I'M SO GLAD I CAME!!

When it's over, you forget how much it hurts, and you only feel how good that tired feeling is. I have to tell you that it's an absolutely insane workout. Kelly said her heart monitor says she burns about 600 calories, and based on what I look like at the end, that seems like a fair estimate. If you've never done one, I would highly recommend it.

On the half marathon training note, I ran 7 miles yesterday! Longest yet! I ran it at just a few seconds over a 10:00 pace! I'm so proud of myself, I have to tell you.

And here are a few motivational images and quotes now that I'm all amped up on a workout high.

Source: peace-love-run.tumblr.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Mackenzie on Pinterest

Source: health-girl.tumblr.com via Julia on Pinterest

Source: sparkpeople.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

I challenge you. Do something this week to challenge yourself that you haven't done before that you've been wanting to do! Whether it be taking a new class (I'm going to go back to spin but also try Zumba), cooking a lengthy recipe, asking for a raise, or something else, just do it!

What's something you're going to try this week?
Have you done spin before?
What's another workout class you've taken that you love and would recommend? 

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Wedding Wednesday Pins

I've been waiting a few weeks until I really started getting into this whole wedding planning thing to do a Wedding Wednesday post, but now that I have pinned a zillion things on my pin board related to weddings, I thought it would be fun to share with you some of my current inspirations in the process.

That's where I am in the process: getting ideas and inspirations. We haven't picked a venue, but I have some in mine to go visit in the next week or two.

Here are some of the pins that I've added in the last few days.

Piano roses look like peonies, but from what I'm gathering are quite a bit cheaper

Source: blondeambitionblog.com via meghan on Pinterest

I love the vintage feel of patterned plates, but I have no idea how to make that happen.

Source: weddings.weddingchannel.com via meghan on Pinterest

These are a few color palettes I'm in love with.

Eggplant

Violet

Gold

Source: weddings.weddingchannel.com via meghan on Pinterest

I adore the back of this wedding dress.

Source: fashioneestar.tumblr.com via meghan on Pinterest

And I love the flowers in both of these pictures.

Source: weddingchicks.com via meghan on Pinterest

Source: stylemepretty.com via meghan on Pinterest

We haven't picked a date, but it will probably be July or September of 2012. I'm going to see a few venues this week and next, and I'm deciding on a wedding coordinator.
Any tips at this point in the process? Follow on pinterestFollow on twitter

Organizing my Life: Jewelry

I have so much jewelry it's laughable, but I don't wear it a lot because it's a hot mess piled in different bowls or stuck into different accessory holders. I cannot figure out for the life of me how to best organize my jewelry.

What is important for me is that it is easily viewable, easily accessibly, and that it doesn't take up a lot of space in an open area that people who come to the house can see. 

Here are a few of the options I've found, but none of them click for me as being exactly what I'm looking for.

Source: julieannart.com via meghan on Pinterest

Source: younghouselove.com via meghan on Pinterest

Source: styleyourlifeblog.com via meghan on Pinterest

So then I thought maybe an egg carton type of container and some small bowls might do the trick.

But it still isn't exactly what I'm going for...

So for now, it's all laying in a mound of excessive height waiting to be organized. I want to do it in the next few days and would love your tips or tricks! And I'm happy to make or buy something...

How do you store your jewelry so that it's organized, easily accessible, and enables you to quickly figure out how you're going to wear it?

Leave links below if you have them too, please!

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splurge or save?

If I had to give up shopping at any store but one, I wouldn't bat an eye and would instantly choose anthropologie. It is my favorite store in the whole world. Everything about it makes me swoon, so when I get emails with additional sale or free shipping codes, my heart begins to flutter and my fingers go to work adding to my online shopping cart. 

However, sometimes my love's prices are a bit steep. But today, I thought of something that many people before me have probably mastered the art of. When something that I've had in my cart for a while showed up on sale, the lightbulb in my head turned on, and I realized: add whatever I love to my cart, put it on my wishlist, and wait!

So, without further ado, here is my lovely list of currents in my cart as well as what has been added to my wishlist to go on sale. There is one clothing item in my cart that isn't on sale, but it's such a great anthropologie price that I'm not sure it will make it there...forgive me?

anthro cart by lttlegrlbigwrld featuring plaid tops

And here are a few of the many pieces I added to my "save for later list" to wait for a price drop...

anthro wishlist by lttlegrlbigwrld featuring a grey shirt

Am I the last to figure this out? Do you have any other tips or tricks for online shopping to save money? And, what's something that you're eyeing online right now but waiting for the price to drop?

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What I'm loving!

I haven't participated in What I'm Loving Wednesday in a very long time, so I thought since I have a lot of stuff to love right now I would play along.

I'm loving being engaged! Tim proposed last Saturday and I'm only starting to not stare at my ring all the time. We're going to start looking at venues in the next couple of weeks, and then we can start getting into the wedding planning more!

I'm love that my family is in Redington Beach visiting for the week. We're having so much fun hanging out at the condo and going to the beach during the day and going out for fun dinners at night.

I'm loving the clutch that I got from Taylor's Etsy shop. It holds everything! If you are interested in one of the ones she's sold, let her know, because she'll tweet you when she posts more to her shop. They sell out so quickly!

I'm loving, or loved so much that they're already gone, the macarons that I got from Burdick's in Harvard Square when I was in Boston. Lamb told me about it and said that I couldn't miss it while I was there. I'm so appreciative that she told me, because not only did I enjoy them, but Tim did as well.

I'm loving the red, white, and blueberry trifle that I made from Gina's Recipes yesterday for my dad's birthday. I had made it for the fourth, but since it's still July and it was so yummy, I thought I'd make it again!

There are a few more things I'm loving, but I'll do some other posts about them!

What are you loving right now?

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