first things first:  have you seriously not entered our fab giveaway from shannon nicole yet?  you have all weekend, but just do it now, before you lapse into a sugar coma tonight from eating all of the leftover candy (or, in my case, the candy you hid for just that purpose).  entries close sunday at midnight…so hop to it!

now, as for our weekend read: 

maya angelou is very high on my “if you could have tea with anyone, living or dead” list…it’s pretty much her and hillary clinton.  i just think she’s amazing.  letter to my daughter was written as that “here’s what i’ve learned in my life” everyone wishes their parent would write for them, only better expressed.  “i have all along known that i wanted to tell you directly some lessons i have learned and under what conditions i had learned them.”  see?  dedicated to all of her “daughters” (she actually only has a son by birth) everywhere, this is a must-purchase for all of you…trust me.

every time i read maya angelou’s writing, i sit up a little straighter, i’m a little more kind (for a while), and the world just looks better.  what more can you ask from a literary experience?  this is a weekend read pick that you should read, and then pass on to a woman in your life that you love…i know i will be.

if you haven’t already done your part by buying something pink, i’m throwing you a bone.  the moment i tried a pair of anastasia tweezers, all of my others went out the window (okay, into the trash…i’m not looking for a lawsuit).  they are incredibly precise, incredibly strong, and just really the perfect tool for the job.  you can pick up this girly-girl version from nordstrom for a very reasonable $33 – your BCA purchase will be complete, and your conscience will be clear.  if that feels like a lot for tweezers, well honestly, when was the last time you replaced yours?  and was the result nearly as cute?  exactly.  plus, 50% of the price goes to charity…so really, they’re only $15 tweezers and $15 of good karma.

while you’re at it, snag anastasia’s fab new brow duality ($23).  one side is a shimmer highlighter (which i actually use as an eyeliner/shadow hybrid) and the other is a matte highlighter (which i use under my brows and on the inside corners of my eyes).  it’s my newest staple in my traveling makeup bag, and literally goes with me everywhere.  seriously, a must-try.

the moment the weather turns cool, i start craving warm, comforting scents like cinnamon, clove and winter fruits.  short of keeping an oven full of pie at all times, my best shot for maintaining those classic fall scents in my home is via candle.  so, i’ve taken it upon myself to run an exhaustive test, and i’ve come up with my list of favorites for this fall season.

the new joya collection at barneys has my undivided attention.  i haven’t stopped burning their fantastic candles since they arrived.  they’ve collaborated with one of my favorite ceramic artists, sarah cihat, to develop candles that smell amazing, last forever, and are housed in truly gorgeous containers.  my personal favorite is the pomegranate white pepper ($48), which has the deep sweetness of pomegranate, but the snap of white pepper, ginger and cardamom keeps it from being too cloying. 

i know it’s a second pomegranate scent, but the pomegranate noir from jo malone ($65) is so different,  they’re both worth loving.  in the jo malone version, the pomegranate is more prominent, probably because of the raspberry notes in the background.  but by adding patchouli and frankincense, this turns into a much more complex fragrance.  overall, if you’re after a true pomegranate, i’d go with the jo malone…but if you’re after just a generally light sweet scent with a hint of spice, the joya is for you.

i have to admit to some work bias here, but honestly, pacifica’s tibetan mountain temple ($20) is my hands-down favorite for homey, spicy scents this season.  it’s not intended as a holiday candle, but the scents of ginger, orange and vetiver combine to make this as comforting as a scent can be.  i can’t get enough!  archipelago’s gingered grapefruit ($24) is another great option, but the grapefruit makes this one much sharper – a great candle for day to keep you awake, where the pacifica is a night-only burn for me…it just makes me cozy, warm and relaxed.

for something really different, i’ve been obsessively sniffing the new agadir candle from tocca ($36) since it arrived.  it smells exactly like sweet pipe tobacco, a scent i’ve always secretly loved, especially when the air outside is crisp.  the particular beauty of this scent (besides the gorgeous trademark tocca packaging) is that this is a scent your other half can’t pass up…it’s as manly as a candle gets.

what’s your favorite cold-weather scent?

here’s what a genius i am:  i posted a banner yesterday advertising the 25% off promo at tobi going on through tonight, and didn’t even realize what it was until today!

what it is:  completely fabulous.  use code DLSAVINGS at checkout to save 25% on everything, even sale items!  and no exclusions on the best brands, like you see sometimes.  so, have fun…just remember, it’s only good through tonight!!

every so often, an email hits my inbox and i just exclaim “yes, exactly!” when i open it.  such was this email i received yesterday from kirna zabete.  kz is every new yorker’s secret source for the latest and greatest in fashion lovelies, this fantastic store is finally offering its designer wares online.

i think each and every one of their picks is a flawless, investment-worthy choice…and, if you can swing it, you absolutely should.  if nothing else, you should at least spend some time playing on their site…there are so, so many lovelies to ogle.

but i love this look so much that i’m going to give you some budget-friendly ways to get the look…so that you can look as hot as this picture without walking the streets begging for spare change to finance your fashion.

i love this version of the tie-neck blouse from banana republic (in the lovely purple, not that blah tan color), and it’s just $69.  equally lovely is this version from marc by marc jacobs, marked down to $78 at nordstrom.  but best of all is this stunner from roberto rodriguez, which i may even prefer to the original, on sale for $200.

and if those loooovely lanvins just don’t fit the budget, i’d swap for this version from bloch london for $163 – gorgeous (and a perfect match for the banana republic top above!)!  for an even better steal, i have to admit that i would never have thought to check here, but plus-size site silhouettes has a quite lovely satin cap-toe flat (in sizes 7-12) for a cool $40.  i’d go for the wine color, i think…perfect for this time of year!

the clutch is vastly more complicated, as i adore their choice and hate to mess with it.  so…how about if i find the exact same alexander wang clutch for you at 50% off?  yep…$325 at shopbop.  don’t say i never did anything for you!

this is exactly the leather jacket i’ve been craving all season, and it’s 40% off today.  part biker chic (the cropped, narrow styling) and part girly girl (the pleat details and standing ruffle collar), this butter leather jacket from tahari (don’t you just love the name?) works in all the right ways.  love the idea of it layered over a long, tissue-weight sweater and narrow jeans…and, of course, a gorgeous scarf.

it’s still not cheap at $600, but it’s much better than the original $1,000.  and, with styling this hot, it’ll be in style long after this season’s trendier biker jackets bite the dust.

i’m something of a concealer connoisseur (the alliteration was totally unintentional, i swear).  but when this cute little camouflage canister (there i go again!) showed up in my mailbox, i was skeptical.  i was convinced there was no way the little bubble of pink powder inside could actually do any serious heavy-lifting. and so, it was stashed in the “try someday…maybe” pile.

thank goodness i came across it last week and was bored enough to give it a try.  the stuff works like gangbusters!  honestly…it’s covering my dark circles better than any liquid, cream or other concealer in my makeup bag right now (and trust me, it’s a big, very overstuffed, makeup bag), all while being as invisible to the untrained eye as its darling little packaging would have you believe.

all of my other concealers are in storage now…there to remain until future notice.  i can’t give a much better endorsement than that.  pick it up at benefit for $32.

and ps…have you entered this week’s fab giveaway yet?  honestly…seriously glam goods up for grabs in exchange for approximately 10 seconds of effort.  what’s taking you so long?  

how fun are these headbands by designer shannon nicole?  part gossip girl, part kenley from project runway, feathered accents like these are oh-so-hot this season.  i love that you can choose how brightly you want to feather your nest.  the pheasant style (center) is pretty mellow, all things considered, and blends beautifully into lighter hair.  the ostrich (left) is a great option to show off a bigger flash of the trend, while still keeping your look tailored.  and the robin (right), well, that’s for a night on the town – no question about it.  throw this on with your favorite metallic minidress, and you’ll be the toast of the party!  you can see all of her fab designs over at shop a list (along with loads of other lovely things).

what’s more, the absolutely fabulous designer of these gorgeous accesories has generously offered up TWO of her designs for you darling readers!  fantastic, no?  so, to find one of these lovelies in your mailbox, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  i’ll draw two winners a week from today (nov 3)! 

and as always, bonus entries!  if you leave a second comment telling me where you shared the news about this giveaway, you’ll get a bonus entry.  and, just for fun, i’m going to give a bonus entry if you tell me your favorite gossip girl moment, outfit, or catch phrase – just be sure to leave it in a second comment, as we can’t test my math skills too seriously.

so, first, i just wanted to thank you all for putting up with the site over the last couple of weeks.  there has been technical drama, which is not my forte (to say the very least).  fortunately, we have a fantastic web guru on “staff” (and by “staff,” i mean indentured servitude), who is legally obligated to help me when things go to hell.  and, while things might be a bit spotty for a few more days, have faith – it’s going to be all better very, very soon.

to make up for it, i have presents!!  on monday, we’ll be starting a majorly fun giveaway of some lovely gossip girl-esque accessories.  you’ll love it!

and, as a more immediate reward, i thought i’d help you all out with some weekend shopping incentives.  so, behold:  a well-edited list of the most fabulous steals and deals i know about online this weekend.

• kate boutique:  20% off sitewide with code october08 (i’m guessing this one’s good through the end of the month).
• tory burch:  25% off sitewide through monday for their annual friends & family event.  a particular bonus since most of their fall goods went on a 30-40% markdown last week.  use code TBFF08 (also good for free shipping on a $150+ order).
• brooklyn industries:  while their PR staff has me grouchy, their wares are still fantastic and cheap…especially now.  score 15% off sitewide through sunday with code AUTUMN08.
• victoria’s secret:  just because i’m desperately needing some foundation updates, i’ll share this one:  25% off any one bra through sunday with code 25BRA.
• revolve clothing:  just because i know i won’t be using it, be my guest:  use code COVGPPKGGSPY (it’ll only work once, so let me know if you snag it and i’ll pull it off the list!) to save $75 on a $250 order through saturday.

does anyone have any deals to share with the class?  feel free to leave them in the comments…maybe we can get a fantastic little list going!

and seriously, guys…thanks for hanging in.  i know how annoying it can be when websites are broken.  i promise to do all the nagging i possibly can to make sure it’s cured.  i am nothing if not an expert nagger.

back monday with that fab giveaway…have a great weekend, all!

designed by lynne hiriak, CARDIGAN has taken the fashion scene by storm this season.  her signature, not surprisingly, is ultra-cozy knitwear, including super-thick wool sweaters, and gorgeous cardigans.

i’m determined to add at least one piece from her collection to my wardrobe this season, as i have no doubt her prices will double by this time next year.  it’s a tough call…and i could use some input from my dear readers.

there’s this gorgeous 3/4 sleeve open cardigan ($195) that i positively adore for its draping.  it also comes in a stunning royal blue and a classic black, but i think the heather grey really shows off the silhouette, which is special enough to deserve center stage.

i happened upon this striped boatneck sweater ($245) in a local boutique, and it was love at first sight.  once again, it’s the detail of the silhouette that makes this special.  i love the wide boatneck that drapes perfectly over your shoulders, making this actually quite sexy for a baggy wool sweater.  it’s perfect to throw on over jeans for a dose of effortless style on even the most frigid day.  you can also pick this up in white with royal blue stripes, or in a lovely sweater dress/tunic style.

for something a little more uptown, i almost can’t believe i’m so in love with this cardigan with the built-in scarf detail ($250).  button up and tie it in a bow, or leave it open and drape the scarf casually around your neck – either way, you’re roasty toasty warm, and right on trend this fall.

hard call, don’t you agree?  keep your eye out for more greats from this up-and-comer but, in the meantime, which of her current pieces is your fave?