Shopping Spree

Marshall Field's
Reaction Kenneth Cole Black Wedges $34.97
Clinique Clarifying Lotion II $19.00

So Good Jewelry
Sparkly necklace $9.99

Express
Camisole $5.99
Gauzy shrug $9.99

Gap
Black Bikini $0.97
Floaty brown Tank Top $1.97
Stretch Black Sleeveless Tank Top $1.97
Pink Classic Button-Down $12.97
Cream Jacket $19.97

Urban Outfitters
Gauzy sweater $29.99
Belt $4.99

Charlotte Russe
White peasant skirt $10.00
Black flirty dress $19.99
Stressed camisole 2 for $20

JCrew
Pink button cardigan $29.99
Distressed Chinos $19.99
Cargo Corduroys $19.99

Bath and Body Works
Aptiva Eucalyptus Sea Salt Scrub $20.00
breathe Serenity wash Free with coupon

Energy Boost: PRICELESS

A trip to Woodfield does wonders. C.O. Bigelow is opening a store in Woodfield. The Grand Opening is October 27. First 100 people who purchase something will get small travel samples of their Lemon Cream and Quince lotion. I wonder how they are going to balance Bath and Body Works and C.O. Bigelow in the same mall since they carry many of the same products!

Check out Forth and Towne, Gap's newest branding concept for career women over age 35. The store touts an Indulge membership which includes free alterations and specials once you spend over $500. They also offer free tea on Tuesdays, and their dressing rooms are like little boudoirs. The store is based on four tiers of merchandise: 1) Gap Edition, 2) Vocabulary, 3)Allegory, and 4) Prize, and the clothes range from relaxation clothes to business suits to party outfits. It manages to stay classic yet somewhat trendy and molds in what middle-aged women would want in an outfit.

So Good Jewelry...Just Sparkles

My latest shopping adventure happened at Woodfield Mall where a new store, So Good Jewelry, just opened up. It is located right outside of Field's, right next to Mac.

It is this amazing store filled to the brim of any kind of jewelry a woman's heart desires. Brooches, rings, earrings, belts, tiaras, necklaces...anything that is glittery and sparkly and just plain fun can be found here. If the store included Indian bangles, they would be all set. It is also very tastefully decorated and not kitschy at all. The stones may be fake, but it's not one of those places with tacky pieces that just scream "FAKE PASTE AND GLASS!" (or cubic zirconia, but in my shopping experience, cubic zirconia can run up to the hundreds of dollars...oh those wannabe diamonds.). They don't have hairpieces either like SoHo does (I hear a collective sigh of relief.)

Prices start at around $10 and go up. A lot of the rings are $10. A lot of the brooches are $25. Necklaces start from $15. They do take credit cards, but be sure to fall in love with the pieces you are buying because all sales are final. However, this is the one stop shop for all your jewelry needs for anything from a wedding to prom to just casual going out affairs.

So Good Jewelry, according to my research, started from Manhattan street fairs. There are nine stores in total, the majority actually in Boston. This is the only branch in the Chicagoland area.

I would definitely suggest checking it out if you're in the area. It makes me very happy.

In other news, the Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is in its second week. Lots of deals; each store has different things on sale so I would recommend checking out more than one! Some of the things that I picked up:

• $5 True Blue Spa foot cream, normally priced at $14
• Little bottles of Pleasures Sweet Pea body lotion, at 4 for $10
• $5 16 oz. True Blue Spa Body Mask, normally priced at $20
• $3 velour shoulder bag in black
• 40% off gift sets
• $1.50 True Blue Spa Shea Butter Hand Cream, normally priced at $6
• $1.50 16 oz. Apple Lotion, normally priced $10
• $1.00 Bath and Body Works little shovels (for scrubs and such), normally $1.50 (I think these are long gone now because I wanted to get more, but I can't find them anymore)

There are lots of stuff on sale, including the Tutti Dolci collection at 50% off and its lip glosses at $5. Some stores have all its True Blue Spa line at 40% off. Some stores are selling Molton Brown at a discount. I adore Molton Brown lotion; it hails from the U.K. and is about the creamiest lotion I have ever used and does wonders for dry skin. The candles are also all on sale. I think they are trying to get rid of the Pure Simplicity line because those are all on sale. Finally, I hear rumors that they are renaming the Bath and Body Works Pure Silk Line so they are trying to get rid of all the bottles with that name on it. At $5-$10 for something that usually goes $17.50, it's a steal. The sale will probably last for another week and a half.

On a different note, the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale will start June 21st. One of the things I have my eyes on is the new bronzer lotion which is only in three flavors: pear glace, strawberries and champagne, and endless in love. It serves the dual purpose very well. I'm not a fan of those three smells, so I'm waiting for it to be an endless hit so they parade it out in the other scents!