look at the cuteness that followed me home this weekend! red ostrich ballet flats from london sole, a company that does nothing but ballets, and does them incredibly well. they’re known for making several different fits, and zillions of different colors/leathers/styles – if you’re looking for a ballet, and haven’t been able to find it anywhere, you have to check here. they’re not the cheapest out there (mine were just under $200), but they’ll last for years, and mold to your foot, making them the most comfy thing under the sun. they’ve recently opened a boutique in san francisco (on maiden lane, if you’re local), and i’ve been dying to get down there to try some of their gorgeous styles in person. one little caveat: most of their styles ran on the small side, so i’d likely go up a size if i were ordering online (also, most of their shoes have an actual drawstring, meaning they can be tightened up if necessary). as i said, they offer several different fits - i liked the henrietta best, as it has a very low vamp, but the pirouette was also very cute.

seriously, aren’t they the most darling things you’ve ever seen?? i’ve been eyeing these for a while, so they may be next on the list…although, i tried these on at the shop, and they were incredibly fun too!

i’m the first to admit that i’m a huge stationery snob. i love it. i love gorgeous, thick paper with a nice texture to it. i love the feeling that comes from sending out a card that has your name engraved on it. and, in this age of technology, i love sending an actual card to someone – i know receiving them makes my whole day!

i’ve had iomoi’s stationery on my radar for a while, but i got an email from them this morning, and as i was browsing their site for the umpteenth time, i fell in love all over again. everything they sell is amazingly fun, but i especially love their personalized note cards. you get to choose not just name vs. initials, but a picture or decorative image that really sings to you. the only hard part is that there are about 14 that sing to me! the one above seems like it would be the most versatile, ‘all purpose’ option – i could use this one as a thank-you card, a “hi, how are you card”, any number of things. and it wouldn’t be too weird to send it to someone that wasn’t a girlfriend.

but really, life isn’t supposed to be all-purpose, now is it? how fun would the eiffel tower be? or the black stiletto - classic and sexy at the same time! or hey, you want something a bit more traditional? they have classic monogram styles too…and they’ve even managed to make those fun and different!

and we can’t overlook the gift-giving opportunity here….i squealed just a little when i saw the darling mama-to-be cards. what a great present for a newly pregnant girlfriend! as would these , which would be so much more fun to send out than those regular boring baby thank you notes.

this wouldn’t be a post from me if there weren’t a discount code floating around. today through monday, use code springthing2007 to get 20% off any order over $100. hey, i never said their stuff was cheap…but most personalized stationery isn’t. and this is much cuter than your run-of-the-mill monogram dreariness, don’t you agree?

i’ve been a little blasé about clothes recently….it’s been all about accessories for me. but, as i was leafing through the new shopbop catalog that just arrived at my door, i saw a light at the end of the tunnel. there’s something about this gorgeous ella moss “corsica” minidress that just sings to me in all the right ways. i love that it has that gauzy look without being sheer, and it has the crochet/lace detail without being too precious. and the length is that “just right” in-between to work as a babydoll dress (on the more svelte among us) or as a tunic over shorts or jeans. i can see this piece fast becoming a staple of my summer wardrobe, which is why i think it will be my first spring clothing purchase of the year.

it’s already sold out at shopbop, sadly, but can be yours for $154 at saks, and you’ll get free shipping through sunday with code WANTIT.

time to share one of my favorite recent discoveries – washing my favorite sweaters at home. that’s right – no more $300 sweaters coming home either stuck to one of those adhesive pants hanger things, or worse, hung on a (gasp) wire hanger. and my cashmere has never looked so good. truly, the laundress has easily cut my drycleaning bill in half….and my cashmere sweaters (yes, i now hand wash them) have never been softer, fluffier, or happier.

normally, i buy their products from other sites, because they charge a pretty hefty shipping fee, and we know how i feel about that. but this week, using code DCDEALS (thank you, daily candy!), everything on thelaundress.com is 25% off. that’s more than enough to cover the shipping, plus you’ll actually have the ability to choose from their full line of products, and not get stuck with a scent you don’t love, just because it’s all that another store has in stock.

i love their wool and cashmere shampoo - and it has the added bonus of having a bit of cedar extract, keeping your gorgeous cashmere moth-free all summer. i’m also completely addicted to their stain solution, which effortlessly removed a grease stain from the bottom of my insanely fabulous burberry cashmere coat with nary a trace. i still don’t have a cleaner i’d trust with that coat.

and if you’re just too scared to put your favorite sweater anywhere near a tub of water, well, just watch their handy-dandy instructional video. even my insane paranoia was tamed after seeing them actually go through the process. and it really does work! these ladies are definitely on to something.

everything i’ve tried so far has been fabulous, so pick something up while it’s on sale and give them a try – i think you’ll be hooked!

these didn’t make the cut for the spring shoes post (even though they were my faves from the bunch) because they didn’t meet the price threshold – by a measly $18. but, rules are rules. doesn’t stop me from featuring them today, though!!

i am so in love with the colors on these stunning flats, i can’t even begin to tell you. and, while they do break my ‘no suede shoes, ever’ rule, i think they’re well worth it. the colors are so rich and fun – i can imagine them going with all sorts of great spring outfits, especially for those of you that can’t bring yourselves to wear pastels just because the weather turned warm. and the gold trim really brings out the luxe factor, making them look much more expensive than they actually are – a feature i always love.

as is too often the case, anthropologie has seen fit not to stock my size in these beauties. so, could someone shop vicariously for me?? pick them up here, and wear them out with your favorite jeans immediately!

so many shoes, so little time! i promised shoes under $100, and boy do i have a fabulous crop of beauties for you, so let’s get to it!

flats: as they have been for several years now, flats (and especially ballet flats) are everywhere for spring. and the good news is, they’re incredibly easy to score for prices well under our $100 limit.

first things first, what’s not to love about these ballet flat espadrilles by banana republic? incredibly comfy, removable ankle wrap, completely darling toile pattern? they’re about as perfect as it gets for a true spring winner, especially with their $78 pricetag.

these cuties just scream warm weather to me, but they’re a great carryover shoe – they’ll be perfect with jeans now, and great with cute little spring skirts in april. the peeptoe, the d’orsay style….they’re so feminine, i can hardly stand it! only $62, by jeffrey campbell – and nordstrom is giving you free shipping on all shoes during march.

when it comes to flats, nothing’s more classic than a ballet flat. and i have a couple of beauties for you. it was love at first sight when i laid eyes on these gorgeous champagne ballet flats by shellys london, which is something like the UK’s answer to nine west. i love the little toe cap, and they have just enough shimmer to stand out, even though the color’s incredibly neutral. i predict these will be your go-to pair for the entire season, and for $50, you can’t ask for much more than that!

and, speaking of ballet flats, it’s hard to go wrong with a classic pair in red patent…for under $20. these are such a bright, happy color that they’re bound to carry over to your summer wardrobe as well. something tells me you won’t get years of use from these beauties, but hey, if you’re looking for an on-trend piece without spending a lot, these are the way to go!

wedges: a classic espadrille wedge just screams warm weather, but i think wedges are the ultimate spring shoe even if they’re not made of rope after all, how are you going to attend that fabulous garden party/wedding/barbecue in heels? you’ll spend the whole day sinking into the grass!

where to begin? how about with these adorable espadrille peep toe wedges from banana republic? i have the same shoe, in a flat style, from last summer, and i have to tell you they got more wear than any other summer shoe i owned last year – and i think the low wedge heel makes these even more wearable than last year’s version. they also sold out faster than any other pair, so pick them up now for $68 they’re available in all sorts of darling colors, but my favorite is this chocolate polka-dot pattern. floaty white blouse, linen pants, and these? classic chic.

these are just so girly and fun, they had to make the list. plus, you know i love a good target bargain, and these ankle strap rope wedges by isaac mizrahi are definitely the best of the bunch from target this spring. only $29 – which makes them pretty hard to argue with! they’ll be perfect with the cute little spring skirt of your choice, and they’re bound to match darn near anything.

okay, i’m probably stretching when i class these with the wedges, but i can’t technically call them flats, now can i? these snakeskin peep toe flats by are by all black, a shoe designer i have a bit of a crush on right now. best of all, they’re nearly 50% off right now at urban outfitters, bringing them in at a very comfy $79! available in 3 colors, but i just adore them in yellow – the color, the itty-bitty wooden wedge…just perfect.

flip-flops: i had to leave my favorite category for last. as much as i adore my cutesy spring shoes, the truth is that my favorite day every year is the first day it’s okay to wear flip-flops outside without looking like a moron. so i’m thrilled to report that the day is finally here!

while my classic flip-flop staples are my jcrew capris and my havaianas, i’m thinking of adding these to my spring lineup. the color, the studs, the little bow…they just make me smile! the only thing i’m not crazy about is the price…$98 for flip-flops is a lot, i admit. but if past performance is any indication, i’ll be wearing these babies at least twice a week between now and october…that’s a pretty great “cost per wear” purchase, if you ask me.

you might think i’ve lost my mind here, but i’m a little bit in love with these rope thongs by a company called gurkees – they’re supposed to be just amazingly comfortable, and hey, they’re $26. they come in a few colors (traditional ‘rope’ color, pink, and a brown/tan combo), but i think they’re most fashion-forward (if there is such a thing when it comes to flip-flops) in this fun canary yellow. they’d be just the thing for a beach vacation: comfortable, beach-friendly, and cute.

these vineyard sandals are another new favorite of mine. leather sole, and the grosgrain ribbon is lined in leather as well – so these will be a really durable choice for summer, unlike many other options out there. plus, how can you not love that darling raspberry ribbon? $48 at your friendly neighborhood jcrew.

whew! my work here is done…if you can’t find something you love here, well, you might just be as hard to please as i am. but if that’s you, drop a comment….i have other picks that didn’t make the post like, for example, these…..and these….and……

wow, a beauty post and a personal post, all in the same day? craziness, i know but i told K that i’d post this so she could reply, and i’m a woman of my word. i hope the rest of you will as well…i think it’s so common for us to get so comfortable with our friends that we don’t know some of the basic, “what makes me, me” things about each other. so, please post a response to these quite fun questions, if only so that i’m sure people are still reading this crazy blog

1. Can you cook?
2. What was your dream growing up?
3. What talent do you wish you had?
4. Favorite place?
5. Favorite vegetable?
6. What was the last book you read?
7. What zodiac sign are you?
8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?
9. Worst Habit?
10. Do we know each other outside of this blog?
11. What is your favorite sport?
12. Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15. Tell me one weird fact about you.
16. Do you have any pets?
17. Do you know how to do the Macarena?
18. What time is it where you are now?
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21. Would you be my partner in crime or my conscience?
22. What color eyes do you have?
23. Ever been arrested?
24. Bottle or Draft?
25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?
26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew?
27. What’s your favorite bar to hang at?
28. Do you believe in ghosts?
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30. Do you swear a lot?
31. Biggest pet peeve?
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33. In one word, how would you describe me?
34. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

okay, i know you’re all waiting with bated breath for the next spring accessories installment – that’ll be here tomorrow (think shoes!). in the meantime, though, i had to share this recent discovery. we don’t talk much about beauty products over here, because, frankly, things rarely “wow” me to the extent that i think they’re worth writing about. but, i’ve always had “issues” with mascara. it clumps, it’s thick, but most of all, it’s impossible to get off without really stressing out the oh-so-delicate skin around your eyes.

so, during a recent browse of my friendly neighborhood drugstore, i was looking around for another option, and came across this neutrogena clean lash tint. i can’t really explain it, other than to say it’s like mascara without any of the negatives. it’s not thick – it just colors your lashes. it doesn’t double the length, or double the thickness…but it also doesn’t clump, doesn’t come off if you rub your eyes, doesn’t give you raccoon eyes, and comes off magically with your nightly face wash. trust me – if you’re 90% happy with your lashes as they are, this lash tint plus a little shu uemura action, and you’re set! and, it’s only $7 at your local drugstore of choice, freeing up all kinds of money to buy some of those shoes you’ll be reading about tomorrow!