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Roxymandy February 6, 2016

Finding a Valentine’s Day Outfit on a Budget

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias

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Valentine’s Day can be stressful for plenty of reasons, but one of them shouldn’t be your outfit! Whether you have a casual day planned or a big night out, wanting to look a little more special than usual is a priority for most people.

Looking great doesn’t need to cost a lot, so I’ve put together a few tips for finding a great Valentine’s Day outfit on a budget, and I put together an outfit using my tips.

First of all, choose your retailer wisely. If you read the blog often, you know I’m a big fan of Forever 21. They have a huge selection, everything is always very trendy and stylish, and the price point is perfect for an outfit on a tight budget.

Red is the signature colour of Valentine’s Day, so I made of point of wanting red accessories. Purchasing a red outfit would be lovely, but if you are on a budget it may not be the best choice. It’s harder to find occasions to wear red, so purchasing a red dress may not be the best investment.

Instead I think purchasing red accessories will keep the Valentine’s Day theme in mind when putting together an outfit, and those accessories can be more easily repurposed into everyday wear.

When I was at Forever 21 I went straight to the themed section near the registers full of Valentine’s Day wear. I picked up some amazing red suede lace up pointed flats that I know I will wear over and over again ($39.90), and an adorable red clutch with the words “Love” embossed in gold ($7.90).

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I wanted an outfit that was dressy for an evening out, but something that I could wear over and over again and wasn’t just for Valentine’s Day. I decided to pick a blush pink shift dress that was perfect for Valentine’s Day because it was pink, and the price was very affordable at $29.90.

I found this dress with the new spring arrivals at the store, and it will be perfect for wearing over and over with different accessories to create other looks.

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To finish off my Valentine’s Day look on a budget I needed a statement necklace, and since I tried to save money on this look I decided to dig through my current jewlery collection to find something to complete the look.

I ended up finding a romantic lace-look bib necklace that I’m not sure I even wore before in my closet. Since the rest of the look was new, it seemed like everything was new including the necklace (bonus!), and I saved money along the way.

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What are your tips for finding a Valentine’s Day outfit on a budget? Let me know in the comments if you have any tricks for shopping with a budget in mind.

Xoxo Mandy

Roxymandy February 3, 2016

Easy Weekend Outfit

I Wouldn't Say I'm Obsessed with Fringe....

Crepe Fringe Top – Banana Republic | Ripped Jeans – American Eagle Outfitters | Suede Lace Up Shoes – Kate & Mel Town Shoes | Handbag – Gucci

Here’s the thing – I’m not a quitter. I don’t like to give up or give in, so if I’m committed to something I go all the way. For example if I were really into a certain trend like, say fringe, I would really really give it my all.

Does that explain why so many of my style posts over the last 6 months may or may not involve some sort of fringe? Probably. I’m a girl obsessed it seems.

This Banana Republic Crepe Fringe Top is one of my new favourite pieces. I bought a petite medium so it’s a little oversized, but I liked that about it. It’s not too structured so I wasn’t too concerned with a perfect fit. I’ve had a thing for AEO jeans as of late because they have the best distressed denim! Once you wash their jeans a few times they look like they have frayed naturally.

I am in love with these new suede heels with a lace up front and a cute (you guessed it!) fringe detail on the laces. They are surprisingly comfy, although I will have to check the weather for rain before I leave the house when I wear them because of the suede. They are perfect to wear this year because of the lace up shoe trend, plus tassels will be hot again this season. They are the perfect shoe for 2016!

I hope you are having a great week!

Xoxo Mandy

Roxymandy January 27, 2016

A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

If there are two things I love, it’s the colour pink and a lot of sparkle. When they are combined I’m pretty much sold on whatever the item is. Based on that, this sweater I’m wearing is now one of my favourites on rotation in my closet.

Pink Blush is an online shop full of clothing that makes me squeal a little when I see what they have to shop. There are so many “must have’s” that it’s hard to decide what to choose. This is a good problem – too much to choose from is never a bad thing (unless your credit card bill is addressed to your husband).

I thought pairing this Pink Sequin Accent Sleeve Knit Sweater from Pink Blush with white jeans and heels would be a great way to dress it up, but still keep warm in these frigid Canadian temperatures! I was freezing when we took these photos, but that’s to be expected for where I live.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, this pretty pink sweater makes me think of putting together the perfect outfit for the big day with the help of this sparkly sweater.

Pink Blush also has a phenomenal maternity line. I really wish I knew about it when I was pregnant, because this would be my go-to shop. They have some really cute and stylish pieces.

A Pink and Sparkly Look from Pink Blush + A $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

Pink Blush and Pink Blush Maternity have free shipping to the US, and super cheap shipping to Canada – only $9.99!

I am so glad I have a new and affordable place to buy clothing from that has items I won’t find in a shopping mall. They have a wide selection, and everything really seems to match my personal style.

To shop Pink Blush yourself, visit them here, or better yet do it with the gift card you can win on the blog!

To enter, all you need to do is like and share this post here on my sparkleshinylove Facebook page. Liking and sharing the post will earn you one entry into the contest for a $50 gift card to Pink Blush. The contest begins at 10:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 and ends on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 at 10:00pm EST. One winner will be selected at random, and will be contacted that evening. This contest is open to both US and Canadian residents.

Good luck, and happy shopping!

Xoxo Mandy

Roxymandy January 26, 2016

Toddler Street Style with Little & Mighty

Toddler Streetstyle with Little & Mighty

Little & Mighty is a modern children’s-wear company that is run by three mothers from Texas. They have two different lines – Baby and Little Kids – and their designs are really fun!

When I was choosing something for my son on their website he happened to be with me, and he loved all of the different looks because they had pictures of things he loves like tractors, zebras and toads.

My son is getting to the age where he likes to choose his outfits, so it’s been slightly more difficult to dress him lately. It helps if we both like what he is wearing, so him choosing to wear this cute ensemble is perfect! The Toad Shirt is his new favourite.

I think this Dinosaur Hoodie is adorable! My son couldn’t stop roaring when he was wearing it. Well, actually he said he was a superhero-dinosaur, which may explain his poses in this series of photos.

Both The Toad Shirt and The Dinosaur Hoodie were well made and didn’t shrink at all when I washed them.

I love what they have to offer, and I can’t wait to see what they design next! It’s really great to see mothers who run a company like this because they know what kids will like since they have experience with their own children.

For more information about Little & Mighty visit www.LittleandMighty.com.

Thank you to Little & Mighty for collaborating with me on this post!

Xoxo Mandy

Roxymandy January 19, 2016

Winter White and Grey + Why I Try to Buy Classic Accessories

Jeans – American Eagle | Sweater – Dynamite | Pumps – Call it Spring | Scarf – Louis Vuitton Monogram Shawl | Handbag – Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 Damier Canvas Bag

I wear white jeans year-round which is wrong in terms of traditional style rules (no white after labour day!), but I think that is why it looks so good!

Practical it is not (I’ve actually shed a tear over ruined white jeans that I wore on a rainy, muddy day), but if you have the right weather and the right style they look amazing.

I think in the winter they look so great because the sky is so dull – white looks so clean on a dreary day.

The other thing not condusive to a white outfit is having a toddler. Mine has an uncontrollable addiction to both mud and ketchup, which is the perfect storm for an outfit disaster.

This look is new except for my Louis Vuitton scarf and Louis Vuitton speedy bag.

I don’t discriminate when it comes to shopping for outfits – I’ll wear anything from affordable brands like Forever 21, Zara, and H&M, to more mid-range like Aritzia, Club Monaco, and sometimes I splurge beyond, but not often.

When it comes to accessories, that is when I splurge. I always have a short list of 2-3 items I’m saving for over the year to add to my accessories collection, and because these items are more high-end, I tend to stear towards the classics.

Although I often love limited edition collections from designers, their price point can be difficult for me to splurge on if I know it’s so trendy it’s only going to be fashionable for a few seasons.

This Louis Vuitton scarf could never go out of style. The classic monogram pattern is timeless, and the colour is neutral enough to layer into almost any outfit.

I really love it as a stand-alone piece as well. It’s so gorgeous it deserves the spotlight.

My Louis Vuitton Speedy Damier canvas bag also follows my style rules of being a classic piece that won’t fall out of style over the years.

Hope you are having a great week!

Xoxo Mandy