Shopping "Haul": Lilly Pulitzer, Britt Ryan, Melly M, Vineyard Vines

I'm very proud of my latest shopping "haul".  I've been on a mission for a while to score some good Britt Ryan pieces, and I've finally done it!  My two recent Britt Ryan pieces came from a local store called Sweet Repeats, which is part consignment store, part high-end boutique leftovers.  Basically, they sell designer consignment items and leftover pieces from local boutiques when they are past season.  Anyways, I scored an awesome dress and silk top, both with original tags!

Britt Ryan Fuchsia Pinwheel Dress, Size 8 (which I'll need to have tailored)

Originally $298, purchased for $54.50

Britt Ryan Silk Seahorses Cami

Originally $228, purchased for $49.50

Rue La La was having a Nantucket Style event last week, which I discovered while browsing on my iPhone at the doctors office.  I'm so glad that I decided to poke around while I was bored and check out the items in the Nantucket Style shop, because they had tons of cute stuff!  They had quite a bit of Lilly, as well as some really cute dresses by Barbara Gerwit, Vineyard Vines, and several other popular preppy designers.  I still had a few days worth of free shipping on my "Rue30", so I snagged a couple of things before they sold out, and I'm very proud about it :)

Pink Lilly Seersucker Sleeveless Dress

Originally $198, purchased for $69.90

Vineyard Vines Navy and Cream Fish Skirt

Originally $118, purchased for $49.90

Lilly Pulitzer Buoys Skirt

Originally $78, purchased for $29.90

Melly M Links Shirt

Orignally $198, purchased for $49.90

I'm pretty well stocked up for the season, so I doubt I'll be doing much more shopping, at least for the near future.  I've had several other shopping trips over the past month or so, so I'll try to post some of my favorite finds from those whenever things get back from the tailor/drycleaners. 

Don't forget to check out Rue La La, there are new events posted every day, and I've seen some really good stuff coming for Spring!

My New (Stretchy!) Lilly Dress

A few weeks ago, I was in the Belk at Southpark Mall in Charlotte while they were having a good sale.  (Now, in my humble opinion, the Lilly Pulitzer section at this Belk sucks.  At least compared to the one in Raleigh, anyways.) 

 In any event, they were having a sale, and I was on the hunt for some new navy and white summer shorts.  I found what I was looking for, but I also found this super cute cotton stretchy shift dress!

 

 

It's called the "Charlene Dress".  Basically, it feels like a mix of regular cotton and ponte knit.  It's SUUUUUPER comfy, and I adore the fact that it has pockets too:)

 

Normally, it retails for $158.  But I found it on the sale rack for 30% off, and then I opened a Belk card (since I was buying other things too) which saved me an additional 20%...... making the dress $88!  Not too shabby.

I decided to wear it with a cornflower blue bubble necklace and my brown Corso Como boots.  And can we talk about the cute little gold buttons on the pockets?

I have no idea what's going on with the weather lately.  It's having some serious mood swings.... it was 75 degrees yesterday, and now it's barely pushing 50 today.  YUCK.  I figured my outfit today would help break up the gloominess a little....comfy but cheerful:)

Our Tan & Blue Guest Room

I know that it's taken me FOREVER and a day to post pictures of our pretty-much-finished main guest room, but I've finally gotten around to it!  In my defense, we have had guests staying with us almost every weekend since we've moved in.  It's been great, and so far, everyone really enjoys staying in the room :)  We are still waiting on one more piece of furniture, a hollywood regency inspired white bamboo dresser that my Aunt painted and is bringing down from Connecticut for me, and then it's D-O-N-E.

Here are some pictures of what it looks like so far:

This nightstand used to belong to my cousin Katie.  Her Mom, my other Aunt, got it for free from a furniture consignment store!   Unbelievable, right?  (Getting deals runs in my genes,  I swear)  When they saw how much I loved it, they generously offered to give the whole set to me!  My other Aunt (who is also my wonderful Godmother) painted it white for me so that it would match the rest of the room.

I found this nighstand at the flea market in Raleigh.  It was already painted the perfect shade of light aqua blue, and had some really nice vintage details and wear on it.  I negotiated the guy down to $50 for this beauty :)

Our little chair came from IKEA, and with the slipcover, cost us a whopping $149.

The chevron pillows and chevron valances are from Etsy, courtesy of Modernality2.  The owner, Tara, custom made the valances for me, and they only cost $40!  The pillows were about $15 each.  The tan monogrammed pillow is also from Etsy, but from a different shop.

The long blue silk drapes are from overstock.com, as are all of the bed linens, duvet cover, and blanket.

The lamps are from Target, and I just spray painted their bases with gold spray paint..... I bought them like 5 years ago for $15, but I'm pretty sure they still sell something similar in their cheap college-y section.

The mirror above the bed (which just so happens to be one of my favorite things in the room!) is from Martha Stewart for Home Depot, and was less than $30!  Such an awesome find, and it doesn't look cheap at all.

I bought the headboard while we were still living in Cary from Wayfair.  When we finally moved into our house, I realized that it wasn't the right color :(  So naturally, I did what I do with everything else...... I spray painted it!  I used a gold metallic paint to create a worn vintage look, similar to the finish on the mirror.  I think it turned out fairly well, considering that the heaboard was a mistake lol.

I'll try to post more pictures in April when the dresser arrives and I finish that side of the room.

This entire room cost less than $1500!

Here's where you can get everything: 
(just click on each item and the link will take you to the product)

Robin's Egg Silk Drapery Panel

Egyptian Cotton Duvet Cover set

Spa Blue Throw Blanket

Tan Microfiber Bedskirt

Tufted Arch Upholstered Headboard

Martha Stewart Sunburst Mirror

Chevron Throw Pillows

Chevron Window Valances

Monogrammed Pillow Cover

Natural TULLSTA chair

If you have any questions on where to find something, just let me know!

Now I have to go get the house ready, because my little brother and eight (yes, 8!!) of his college friends are spending the night with us on their way back from Spring Break. I know that you're probably thinking "you are insane". Possibly I am, but these kids go to Notre Dame so they are all super awesome and polite, and we are actually really looking forward to having them here and celebrating St. Patrick's Day with them. GO IRISH!

Thrifty Thursday: Luxe Outfit for Less

Today's post features one of my favorite new steals from Kate Spade!

Yes, I know what you're thinking:  How did you get something from Kate Spade for under $100?
I bought a pair of her pop color skinny jeans on sale for $88 :)  That's more than 50% off the original retail of $198.... one of my favorite all-time Luxe steals.  I love the little gold "spade" detail on the butt pocket too.

Today's Thrifty Thursday Outfit:

Where you can get it:

Top: Black and White Striped V-neck Tee - Lacoste $68.00

Cardigan: JCrew Factory $34.50
(Get it here: JCrew Black Summerweight Cardigan )

Skinnies: Kate Spade Broome Street Jeans $88.00
(Get it here: Kate Spade Broome Street Skinnies )

Necklace: Madison Boutique $34.00
(Get a similar one for much less here: Turquoise Bubble Necklace )

Bracelets: Bamboo Inspired Bangle - JCPenny (old) $20, Chain Bracelet - H&M $4.95

Now i'm going to spend the rest of the day slaving away in the kitchen, preparing for a visit from my brother and 7 of his friends on their way to Spring Break vaycay in G.A.  Woohoo! :)

Neutral Bedroom

I stumbled across this bedroom, and I think it's the perfect balance of patterns & solids, textures, with a hint of luxury. 

 

I also love the way it's been styled.... like the owners really LIVE there, and have just walked out of the room!

 

I'm very picky about neutral spaces, but I think this one hits the nail on the head.