i can hardly keep track of what’s going on at target lately - designer collections are lining up so quickly, it seems like a new one releases every week.

as usual, though, i’ve fallen for one that’s gotten almost no recognition.  dean harris, a jeweler whose designs you’re usually accustomed to seeing in gorgeous, upscale shops like barneys (with extravagant prices to match) has lent his eye to a new jewelry line for target.  and it’s actually quite lovely.

harris is known for his edgy, twisted-wire pieces, but my favorites from the target collection were those with a little more panache.  the notable exception are these lovely silver leaf earrings ($24.99), which have just enough edge to keep them from being too precious, and are the perfect size for daily wear.  there’s a similar version which includes a dose of green quartz, and i admit i’m torn between the two.

i have to admit, though, i’m most excited about that fantastic double-layer beaded necklace ($59.99)  i have something similar from the lovely and talented jennifer tuton (stay tuned, by the way, for a peek at her newest wares soon!), but the aquamarine stones in her version aren’t quite as versatile as the clear quartz in the dean harris version.  for the price, it should be a fairly substantial piece - i’m excited to check this one out in person.  i think the styling options are endless, particularly with the 24″ length, which should lend to its versatility.

of course, you can get a much lighter look from this gorgeous green quartz necklace ($39.99).  i love the way the stones look like random bubbles on a chain, and i’m dying to wear this with a silk blouse and heavy tweed trousers this fall.  it’s also available in clear and rose, but that green is just lovely.

i also love this twisted vine bracelet, but for $99.99, this is one i have to see in person - $100 for jewelry from target is tough for me to swallow.

in general, this line is impressively well-made, i have to admit.  they’ve used semiprecious stones and actual metals, instead of plastic, and the beaded pieces are individually knotted.  it’s definitely better than i’d expect from a target jewelry line.

check out the entire line at target - they’re offering free shipping on purchases of $50 or more from the line, which should be easy enough to accomplish.

after talking about travel chic, i got to thinking about travel beauty.  airplane cabins are gross, germy places that also dry out your skin.  the number one thing you can do to stay beautiful is to keep hydrated. 

the day before you leave, drink lots of water - i absolutely love this new water from aquadeco.  i am freakishly picky about bottled water, and this one is my new favorite.  plus, the bottle is gorgeous - i’ve actually been using one as a bud vase at work!

another pre-travel beauty must is to keep away from salty foods and alcohol.  while it’s tempting to have that in-flight bloody mary, drinking water or tea will keep you looking fresh.  bring your own tea bags, too - mighty leaf tea is my favorite, i love the silk bags.  also, evian makes these adorable travel sized hydrating sprays, that will keep your makeup looking dewey and fresh - no one wants that cakey make-up face (just watch out for the people behind you when you spray!).

turn the cabin into your own mini spa by carrying luscious travel-sized hand creams. duwop’s hands 2 hair works as a styling creme for your locks as well as a hand cream, which is perfect for me because i get some serious fly-away hair while in flight! 

i like to keep my makeup to a minimum when i travel.  stila’s illuminating tinted moisturizer gives sheer coverage and a subtle shimmer to keep you looking fabulous, just in case you have a gorgeous seat mate!  for your lips, try to refrain from the usual lipstick, which can dry your lips out.  instead, try c.o. bigelow’s mentha lip tint in pink - it’s moisturizing and has a great minty sensation (also great for your breath!).  with a bare face, you can always duck into the ladies’ room when you land to freshen up - carry trish mcevoy’s ‘be prepared’ kit for sizes that will make it through security. 

finally the best beauty advice for any girl on the go:   relax, enjoy your trip and smile! 

what are your best travel beauty tips? 

there’s nothing i love quite so much as comfort masquerading as couture.  so, when i spied this fantastic faux corset top from una (courtesy of daily candy), i could hardly be expected to keep it to myself.  this stunning top is actually made of french terry.  the corset details, like the intricate lace-inspired pattern, are all embroidered - so it will wear like your favorite tank top. 

structured detail pieces like these will be everywhere this fall - so get ahead of the trend now and pick up this piece for $78 from una.  it’s a great solo option for summer, and when the weather turns, you can pair it with a pencil skirt for a classic 1960s bombshell look, or layer an oxford shirt underneath for a dose of preppy chic.  not a bad multitasker for under $80.

okay, i admit it - i’m cheating on today’s post.  it’s been a long week, and i’m just exhausted.  forgive me?

instead, i’m going to send you to check out some of the posts that have been making me happy this week - for those of you that have google reader, you can see my favorite blog posts all the time.  but for the rest of you, well, here’s a little look into my blog-reading world, instead of just my blog-writing world.

*  i have been just loving the new bags coming out of the mulberry design house lately, and bagsnob has written up my absolute favorite from the new line - the mabel bag.  not so much that gold snakeskin, but check out the fuschia and royal blue versions when you scroll down.  such fantastic pops of color for all of the bleak grey we’ll be seeing this fall.

*  holly at decor8 runs one of my absolute favorite design blogs.  she’s currently away (working on a move to germany, in fact), but in her absence, she has loads of guest bloggers showing off their favorite design inspirations.  this post features some seriously amazing bedroom designs - i am drooling over each and every one.  and this post is all about my new favorite thing - overpriced throw pillows.  i am cursing my new grey couch for the fact that it’s making me want oodles of $100+ artsy throw pillows to use as garnish.

*  and speaking of guest bloggers, one of my favorite artists - alena hennessy - has been guest blogging at design*sponge all week.  one of alena’s picks this week was a fantastic jewelry line called mani designs, and i just can’t get enough!  i’ll probably write them up at some point soon, but in the meantime, consider this a sneak peek!

*  last, but most certainly not least, i was recently introduced to the lovely editor of lei chic, a really fantastic blog based in - you guessed it - hawaii.  while you’re trying hard not to envy her for her idyllic home, take a look around - her site is pretty freaking fantastic.  some of my favorite finds were these lovely eco-chic totes and a site that’s a vast improvement on evite,  if nothing else, you can brush up on your aloha-speak. 

happy friday, everyone!

i confess that when i first saw are you there vodka it’s me, chelsea by chelsea handler, at the bookstore i wanted to buy it if only for how funny it would look on my bookshelf. 

but then i saw this shining endorsement: 

“chelsea handler writes like judy blume, if judy blume were into vodka, ecstasy, and sleeping with midgets and nineteen-year-olds.”  ~ jennifer weiner, bestselling author of in her shoes

i had to have it!

if you have ever seen chelsea handler’s tv show “chelsea“, you know that chelsea is tall, blond, leggy, gorgeous and loves midgets.  you want to hate her until she speaks.  the girl talks like a truck driver, has a dry wit, and laughs at her own jokes the way we all do when we have been drinking too much.  chelsea is a ‘mean girl’ but in the funny way that makes you still want to be her best friend.

without giving too much away, chelsea chronicles such gems as:

• going to a costume party as an m&m in february and not having panties on. 
• dating men with red hair.  enough said. 
• making an appointment with a hot gynecologist to try and score a date. 
• and my personal favorite (no i don’t condone drinking & driving):  prison break, the story of her first DUI, which landed her in jail for stealing her mormon sister’s identity. 

the essays are all peppered with off-the-cuff jokes about celebrities.  aren’t you dying to know why maddox jolie-pitt always looks so pissed? 

i actually enjoyed are you there vodka it’s me, chelsea so much that i ran out to buy  her first book, my horizontal life.  both are quick reads, and great for lounging by the pool.  just try to resist the urge to read passages aloud to your lounging partner - they might try to steal it! 

next time, i’ll tell you about something that is not a memoir, although truth is sometimes funnier than fiction!

it is, apparently, shoe week at shoppingsmycardio.  but how am i expected to resist temptation when those devilish bunnyshop writers steer me over to the new markdowns at barneys, and there i spy these completely lovely blue flats by leopoldo giordano, marked down from $350 to $85? 

truly…one can only have so much self-control.

editor’s note:  i am thrilled to introduce the lovely and talented jessie, of prior shoppingsmycardio fame, as our newest contributing writer!  let’s send her some welcoming warm fuzzies, shall we?

once upon a time, flying was glamorous. ladies would dress up in a suit with hosiery and a hat to fly. lately when i travel, i feel like the coach cabin is the equivalent of a greyhound bus. gone are the smart suits and chic hats - these days, you are more likely to see travelers in their pajamas.

i am not advocating that we all step out in pillbox hats to fly, but who doesn’t want to feel chic after a day of travel?  fortunately, it is possible to look great and be comfortable.

let’s start with a fabulous carry on.  it needs to be large enough to hold your essentials but not so big you are cursing the weight of it when your flight is delayed. keeping in mind that said bag is going to slip under the seat and the plane floor is not the cleanliest place, don’t carry a bag that you will be devastated when it gets gum or whatever else is lurking under your seat on it.  with that in mind, for $118 you can’t go wrong with this aer satchel (even if it is by jessica simpson).

i like to wear jeans when i travel: a wide legged pair in a dark wash looks put together yet effortless. the faye jeans from citizens of humanity ($194) are perfect for travel.  they have stretch in them so they will hold their shape, and they are really soft for your comfort. best part, the darts on the back do wonders for your posterior!

travel days can be long, so wearing a fabric that won’t wrinkle is key, you never know when you will be late and have to run straight to dinner.  a solid tee is perfect travel wear, you can always accessorize to dress it up. michael star’s tees wear beautifully; they have great lines and come in fun colors. i love the cotton scoop neck long sleeve in eggplant ($52), one of my favorite colors for fall. if you are more of a neutral girl, go with the java color. the longer length is perfect when bending down, so you aren’t showing anything you don’t want to. 

i heard someone say once that animal prints are either fifth avenue or call girl (and not the fabulous call girl, belle de jour, on showtime). this gorgeous leopard wrap by kashmere is definitely uptown chic, and you can pick it up at bluefly for the bargain price of $90 (marked down from $195). wearing a scarf when traveling is key, if you are cold you can use it as a blanket, or in a real crunch as a pillow.

airplanes can be chilly, so layer a chic blazer like this cotton blazer from banana republic ($125). in khaki, it will work with most anything you have packed for your trip, and is sure to become a classic in your wardrobe.

finally, footwear.  who are we kidding…it always come back to the shoe!  i am going to suggest wearing a classic heeled boot like the classic campus boot from frye ($398).  this boot will look amazing under your wide leg jeans or over your skinny jeans. i have been coveting frye boots, ever since i was in high school and i would wear my mom’s vintage pair. i recommend a boot over flats because when you are enduring the humiliation of security and you have to take your shoes off, don’t add insult to injury by having your bare feet touch the floor! boots = socks!  wearing your boots will also save room in your luggage for all your other shoes!

now that you are gorgeously dressed for your travel, enjoy your trip!  and don’t worry…all that staring is only because your fellow passengers wish they looked that chic!

this sale is slowly killing me.  literally every piece is stunning, and all are right about $500 - which means 60-80% off.  hell of a time for a budget-crushing career change.  

still, you should at least check out the eye candy.  as always, let me know (editor at shoppingsmycardio dot com) if you need an invite!

i think the loeffler randall love is pretty well undisputed here at shoppingsmycardio.  so when i spied these darling purple flats that have all of the stylish chic of a loeffler classic without the pricetag, i had to share(check out one of many loeffer randall ruffles here). 

leave it to topshop to come up with a version that isn’t a copy, but definitely gives you the look for less.  they’re a fantastic pop of color for any ensemble (though also available in basic black, if you’re feeling a distinct lack of creativity).

pick them up at topshop for roughly $50, depending on the conversion rate.  use them to dress up shorts now, and for the perfect pop of color beneath jeans or black tights this fall.  at that price, grab them in both colors, and make all of your friends think you have cash to burn.

now there’s a title i never thought i’d write.  true, at $247, it’s not exactly a deal in the truest sense of the word…but this oh-so-classic calfskin slingback from manolo blahnik is marked down 50%, and available in all sorts of sizes (and two colors)…and that’s just something you don’t see every day.  so, i’m calling it a deal-slash-worthy investment…i think it’s the best of both worlds.

you may have to call the store to order, but nab it now…before everyone else discovers all of the fab finds over at footcandy’s pre-fall sale.