Spring Florals
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Spring Blossoms
Florals have been popular for several seasons now, and this spring is no different. After a cold and wet winter, florals bring a burst of fun to a cold weather wardrobe. From shorts to dresses and skirts, florals can help to add visual interest to solid pieces and can add a much needed pop of color. I've put together a few outfits to celebrate the arrival of spring, and the best thing is that everything shown is under $50! Embrace the spring season with some blossoms!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Sweetheart
Don't have anyone to share Valentine's Day with? Why not give yourself a little love with a sweet manicure? All you will need to create this romantic look is some heart shaped stickers, a variety of pink and red nail polishes, and a little patience.
Sinful Colors in Soul Mate $1.99 (Sinful Colors)
Formula X in Atom + Eve $12.50 (Sephora)
O.P.I in The Spy Who Loved Me $13.99 (O.P.I)
Decide which nails you want to decorate with hearts and paint a base coat and allow to dry completely. The adhesive on the sticker can pull off or smudge the polish if it is not set. You can try decorating each nail with hearts, or you can choose just a few as accents.
Once the polish is completely dry, fit and place a heart shaped sticker on top. Make sure that the sticker lays flat so that the polish you lay on top won't be pushed under. If you don't have heart shaped stickers, try cutting heart shapes out of scotch tape.
Carefully peel off the sticker and use a toothpick dipped in polish to clean up or define edges!
Inspired? Look for these items here:
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Ice Cold
It has been over a month since the world was introduced to the magical and icy kingdom of the newest Disney film Frozen, and the movie's success has continued to snowball with the film's recent Golden Globe award for Best Animated Feature Film! From the charming characters to the catchy musical numbers, it is not hard to see why the world has fallen in love with Frozen. If you are anything like me, and the obnoxious number of Frozen fans out there, you have probably had "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" stuck in your head for a solid few weeks now. Inspired by the snow covered landscapes of Arendelle and the cozy Scandinavian patterns worn by Elsa and Anna, I created modern takes on the characters outfits by mixing colors and textures. Is your outfit in need of a "Fixer Upper?" Let these outfits inspire you to add some spark to your winter wardrobe!

Frozen Inspired Outfits
Top: Black Sweetheart Crop $10.00 (Select Fashion)
Skirt: Yellow Tweed Mini Skirt $146.00 (Avenue 32)
Shoes: Platform Court Shoes $41.00 (H&M)
Bag: PU Frame Clutch Bag $43.00 (Accessorize)
Necklace: Green Stone and Crystal Octagon Pendant Necklace $22.00 (Macy's)
Earrings: Nadri Snowflake Stud Earrings $ (Bloomingdale's)
Top: Metallic Jacquard Front Shell Top $33.00 (House of Fraser)
Skirt: Fresh Slice Maxi Skirt $25.00 (Nasty Gal)
Shoes: Chinese Laundry Perfect Ten Pump $42.99 (6 PM)
Hair Clip: Pearls and Crystals Hair Comb $19.99 (Target)
Earrings: Gold Border Pearl Stone Stud Earrings $6.56 (New Look)
Dress: Lipsy Sheer Panel Embellished Bodycon Dress $48.00 (House of Fraser)
Shoes: Modern Vice Adele Platform Pumps $52.49 (Macy's)
Bag: Ballroom Clutch Bag $48.50 (Accessorize)
Bracelet: Platinum Plated Snowflake Pendant Bracelet $17.41 (Bridgat)

Dress: Blue 50's Flare Belt Dress $35.00 (Dorothy Perkins)
Jacket: Cropped Boucle Jacket $29.99 (Mango)
Shoes: Worthington Daniela Tall High-Heel Boots $26.99 (JCPenney)
Scarf: Eira Long Wool Scarf $34.00 (Pieces)
Earrings: Betsey Johnson Silver-Tone Crystal Crown Stud Earrings $26.00 (Macy's)
Inspired? Look for these items here:
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Crossing the Line
It is the new year and it is time to welcome in new trends! For a while now the cosmetic world has been all about bold lip products, from lipsticks to lip stains. Though I do not see this lippy trend going out of style anytime soon, why not experiment with something new? Lately, I have become a big fan of bright and sparkly eyeliners. Throughout the holiday season, I relied on my gold eyeliner to help add a festive touch to my outfits. Depending on the color you choose, sparkle eyeliners can either be statement making, or just a nice accent to a bolder lip color. Personally, I have not quite gotten used to darker lip colors, so I decided to incorporate color into my everyday makeup routine in a more subtle way. Great for an evening look, brighter liner colors such as turquoise and hot pink really pop when the sun goes down. Similarly, more subtle color such as navy blue and gold can work for the day when your black eyeliner starts to get a little boring. Are you a fan of bold eyeliners? Or are you more of a bold lip fan?


Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner $19.00 (Sephora)
Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner $19.00 (Sephora)
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner $20.00 (Sephora)
NYX Liquid Crystal Liner $4.50 (NYX Cosmetics)
Loreal Paris 24 Hour Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Liner in Black
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Royal
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Radium
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in El Dorado
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Bobby Dazzle
The Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner has a flexible sponge applicator that makes for easy application. While I love the color of the liner, I think this brand was my least favorite. In order to obtain a rich color, several coats were needed.
In the past, I used the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eye Liner for my everyday black liner, but have recently switched to the Loreal Paris 24 Hour Infallible The Super Slim Liquid Liner. The sharp point of this felt tip applicator is so easy to maneuver and can create both slim and thick lines with the tilt of the pen. Not only does this liner last longer, but it does not run after several hours like the Maybelline one. My new favorite!
I am not usually a fan of bristle tip liquid liners because they are harder for me to create precise lines, but surprisingly this applicator was simple to use. The Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner comes in a wide range of sparkly shades that really pop. I like to pair my colored eyeliners on top of my black liner so that I don't lose the dimension that the darker shade provides. The only downside of this product is that it starts to flake after about 9 or 10 hours, which is not really that bad. But when it claims to last 24 hours, I expect it to last longer.
Inspired? Look for these items here:
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
In With the New
It has been a little over two years since I have started The Retail Therapy Diaries, and I am excited to say farewell to 2013 with my 200th post! This past year has definitely delivered some unforgettable memories and life changes and I am both eager and nervous to see what the new year will bring.

Inspired? Look for these items here:
www.forevernew.com
www.nordstrom.com
www.oasis-stores.com
www.forevernew.com
www.maxandchloe.com
www.nordstrom.com
www.selected.com
www.6pm.com
www.forever21.com
www.piperlime.com
www.newlook.com
www.modcloth.com
www.macys.com
www.newlook.com
www.monshowroomvip.com
www.monki.com
www.forevernew.com
www.dsw.com
www.theoutnet.com
www.selectfashion.com
www.solesociety.com
www.pinkmascara.com
www.beauty.com
Seeing that it is both New Year's Eve and TRTD's 200th post, I figured it is only fitting that this post focuses on outfits for parties and celebrations! All the looks below will help you to ring in the new year tonight, and celebrate with family and friends tomorrow!
I wanted to thank all of my followers who have stopped by to read my posts (despite the inconsistency, sorry!). From long time followers to new fans, I appreciate all the support I have received over the past two years. Thank you so much and have a wonderful time saying goodbye to 2013 and welcoming in 2014! I will see you next year!
New Year's Party Looks

Top: Kelly Brook Black Embellished Neck Cut Out Blouse $16.00 (New Look)
Skirt: Stripe It Lucky Skirt $42.99 (Modcloth)
Bag: Giani Bernini Wallet $29.99 (Macy's)
Shoes: Red Platform Court Shoes $33.00 (New Look)
Top: Sequin Blouse $74.00 (Mon Show Room)
Skirt: Blanka Skirt $41.00 (Monki)
Bag: Keira Wallet $19.99 (Forever New)
Shoes: Fergalicious Dreamer Wedge Pump $46.95 (DSW)
www.forevernew.com
www.nordstrom.com
www.oasis-stores.com
www.forevernew.com
www.maxandchloe.com
www.nordstrom.com
www.selected.com
www.6pm.com
www.forever21.com
www.piperlime.com
www.newlook.com
www.modcloth.com
www.macys.com
www.newlook.com
www.monshowroomvip.com
www.monki.com
www.forevernew.com
www.dsw.com
www.theoutnet.com
www.selectfashion.com
www.solesociety.com
www.pinkmascara.com
www.beauty.com
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Gifts Galore
It is that time of year again where streets and stores are decorated with festive holiday decorations. From twinkling lights to sparkly ornaments, the holidays just seem to start earlier every year. I recently moved to San Francisco for school, and have been enjoying all the decorations throughout the city. My favorite decoration so far is the giant Christmas tree in Union Square overlooking the outdoor ice skating rink. While the weather has not been terrible over here, the bright lights and festive music are especially helpful on the colder, windier evenings. I'm looking forward to seeing how different the city will look after Thanksgiving once the holiday season really starts!


The Holidays in San Francisco
Macy's tree in Union Square
Ice rink in Union Square
Decorated Macy's windows
Christmas tree at Pier 39
With Thanksgiving being less than a week away, this also means that the start of the holiday shopping season is less than a week away! It may seem like it is a tad early to start thinking about finding the perfect gifts for your friends and family, but once Halloween ends, the last few remaining weeks of the year just seem to race by. I have put together a few fashion and beauty related gifts to help get you started. Hopefully they will provide some inspiration as you start creating your Christmas lists this year.
Holiday Gift Ideas

Gifts $20 and Under
Essie Nail Color 2013 Holiday Gift Set $14.99 (Target)
AEO Bow Tie Necklace and Stud Set $9.30 (America Eagle)
Ho Ho Ho Bath Gift Set $14.95 (Lush)
Rhinestone Bracelet Watch $20.00 (Nordstrom)
Eiffel Tower Jewelry Dish $8.50 (Charlotte Russe)
Solid Butterfly Knit Infinity Scarf $14.75 (Aeropostale)

Gifts Under $50
Black and Silver-Tone Stud Earrings Set $30.00 (Guess)
Merona Kimberely Tall Elastic Boots $39.99 (Target)
Professional Envelope Satchel $27.80 (Forever 21)
Draw the Line Eyeliner Set $30.00 (Sephora)
Bite Beauty Best Bite Set $25.00 (Sephora)
Jasmine Vanilla Aromatherapy Gift Box $35.00 (Bath and Body Works)
Surprise!
Technically, the Precious Stones Giveaway is still going on, but because I know the holidays can get chaotic, I wanted to put together a holiday giveaway while I still have the time to blog! In addition, I wanted to make sure that the lucky winner gets their prize before Christmas!
Gifts Galore Giveaway
Enter to win the Sephora Favorites Lash Stash Gift Set!
Inside this set is ten different mascaras and one pair of false lashes! Get holiday party ready this season with this handy set.
What's Inside?
-Benefit Cosmetics They're Real Mascara
-Blinc Mascara
-Buxom Blackest Black Mascara
-Clinique High Impact Mascara
-Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara
-Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara
-Sephora Collection Outrageous Volume Mascara
-Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Statement Mascara
-Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
-Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll Mascara
-Sephora Collection False Eye Lashes in Celebrity
How Do I Enter?
1.) Be a fan of TRTD's Facebook Page
2.) Leave a message on the wall stating your favorite things about the holiday season. Is it picking out the perfect tree every year, or watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special on tv with family? In addition, if there is anything you think I could add or change about my blog to make it more enjoyable, please leave a note in your message!
4.) Spread the word about my blog (though not required!)
5.) That's it! Good luck!
Giveaway Ends on December 20 2013
Don't forget about the Precious Stones Giveaway! You have one more week left to enter! Click here to find out how to enter and win a ring charm necklace or gold bow studs!
Inspired? Look for these items here:
Friday, November 1, 2013
Precious Stones
I apologize for the lack of posts lately! I've been experiencing a lot of new changes in my life lately so I haven't been able to spend as much time blogging as I would like. It definitely doesn't seem like it has been two months since my last post. Time goes by much faster than we think!
During the last part of my summer vacation I was able to take a family trip to Japan for two weeks. Much like a child in a candy store, I was mesmerized by all of the adorable accessories, cute clothes, and pretty shoes. One thing I noticed while adventuring around Tokyo, were all of the accessory boutiques with tables full of delicate jewelry. Though they had some statement necklaces and chunky bangles, majority of the rings, bracelets, and necklaces had small charms with delicate detailing on them. It definitely seems as though Japanese women enjoy more subtle jewelry that can be paired with a good portion of their wardrobe, rather than spending money on a bulky trendy piece that may only be paired with an outfit or two. I stocked up on several rings and bracelets and was delighted to find that they actually make accessories that can fit my unusually small fingers and wrists.
I even found a few things to share with my readers! All the way from Japan, I brought back a pair of delicate gold bow studs, and simple necklace with a dainty garnet ring charm on the end. Guaranteed to go with just about anything in your closet, both of these pieces will look great with casual outfits or a more dressed up look. With the holidays just around the corner, they will add just enough sparkle to your outfit!
Interested in winning one of these prizes? Just follow the steps below for your chance to add one of these pieces to your accessory collection!
During the last part of my summer vacation I was able to take a family trip to Japan for two weeks. Much like a child in a candy store, I was mesmerized by all of the adorable accessories, cute clothes, and pretty shoes. One thing I noticed while adventuring around Tokyo, were all of the accessory boutiques with tables full of delicate jewelry. Though they had some statement necklaces and chunky bangles, majority of the rings, bracelets, and necklaces had small charms with delicate detailing on them. It definitely seems as though Japanese women enjoy more subtle jewelry that can be paired with a good portion of their wardrobe, rather than spending money on a bulky trendy piece that may only be paired with an outfit or two. I stocked up on several rings and bracelets and was delighted to find that they actually make accessories that can fit my unusually small fingers and wrists.
I even found a few things to share with my readers! All the way from Japan, I brought back a pair of delicate gold bow studs, and simple necklace with a dainty garnet ring charm on the end. Guaranteed to go with just about anything in your closet, both of these pieces will look great with casual outfits or a more dressed up look. With the holidays just around the corner, they will add just enough sparkle to your outfit!
Interested in winning one of these prizes? Just follow the steps below for your chance to add one of these pieces to your accessory collection!
Delicate Jewelry Giveaway
Gold Bow Studs
Garnet Ring Charm Necklace
Giveaway Rules of Entry
1.) Be a fan of TRTD's Facebook Page
2.) State which accessory you are interested in winning (you can say both too!)
3.) Leave a message on the wall stating your favorite fall or winter staple. Are you a fan of boots for the colder months? Or are you all about big chunky scarves?
4.) Spread the word about my blog (though not required!)
5.) That's it! Good luck!
Giveaway ends on November 30, 2013
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