i’ve been looking for a great, classic drop earring to wear every day, but as usual, i’m being overly picky.  so i was thrilled to come across diana kane’s line of jewelry, where i found so many fab options (at fantastic prices), i hardly know which to choose.

these briolettes ($78) are just the perfect shade of smoky green to make them a gorgeous neutral, and they’re a great size to wear for any occasion.

and i love the clean, organic quality of these freeform circle drop earrings ($272), which are perfect for more casual looks.

but i think at the end of the day, these sweet little petal earrings are going to win out.  available in rose or yellow gold ($144) or silver ($42), they’re delicate without being precious, and understated but still unique.

assuming i don’t just cave and buy them all…

PS…don’t forget to vote!!

first of all, you ladies broke a SMC record - we had 108 entries for this shannon nicole contest!!  that’s pretty amazing :)  so, thank you for that.

now, on to the fun stuff.  congratulations to…

jill, entry #67, who said: “love the headbands!  must win one!”.  well, congrats, wish granted!

and katie, entry #95, who won with her bonus entry for posting the contest on her blog.  oddly, she also picked out my favorite gossip girl quote:  “haven’t you heard? i’m the crazy bitch around here.”  so, kudos to her for winning and for being my GG partner in crime!

the ladies who won need to email me sometime today to claim their prizes at editor at shoppingsmycardio dot com.

a huge, huge thanks to all of you…and to shannon nicole for sponsoring such a fun giveaway!  if you didn’t win, you can pick up your favorite at shop a list right now!  and please do stay tuned - there are more fab giveaways coming up this month!!

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!

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.

few things make me happier than falling in love with a jewelry line i can actually afford.  these gorgeous new designs from kevia have my head spinning for all the right reasons.  the stacking rings are just divine, and i love her ability to make even formal rose-cut stones look casual by grouping them in a haphazard trio on an oversized chain.  

but the piece i’m most likely adding to my jewelry box is that stunning emerald & gold vermeil ring.  yes, actual emeralds, and actual gold - for a frighteningly reasonably $150.  in fact, nothing in the line is over $170…so, for once, there’s no need to covet from afar.

plus, today through 10/29, we have an exclusive 15% sitewide discount at layla grace.  use code CARDIO at checkout to pick up your favorite piece (or any number of other lovely goodies) for a song!

my prayers have been answered - even the mighty shopbop has finally ponied up a 20% code.  use code TREATS2008 to save 20% on all full-priced merchandise, today only!

how to treat yourself?  sky’s the limit.  those fingerless glove/mitten thingies i showed you a while ago are a no-brainer.  i’ve been dying to pick up a new coat this season, and this might be just the excuse i’ve been looking for to splurge on something truly fabulous from diane von furstenberg.  or these crazy cool blue suede boots from marc jacobs.  or i might take this opportunity to pick up this gorgeous silk top from t-bags that i would otherwise have been far too cheap to buy - the print and ruffle details will be amazing under any number of blazers and cardigans, and i can pair it with anything from trousers to a pencil skirt to jeans.

so, what will you be splurging on?

i’m curious - what do you all think of this new bag from jimmy choo?  it’s a patchwork pattern comprised of two different varieties of snakeskin, topped off with some truly unique hardware accents.  i can’t seem to stop staring, but i can’t decide if that’s because it’s utterly fabulous or a complete train wreck. 

i do think i love those little mini-bangles on the strap, though we know how bracelet-obsessed i’ve been this year.  perhaps the non-snakeskin-patchwork version would be a more subtle approach…

so, readers, what do you say:  fug or fab??

(in other news, this new release from the house of choo is most definitely fab, with not a drop of fug to be found.  i’m calling it right now:  kelly green will be THE color next year.)

once again, gotta love this recession.  get 30% off most of minkoff’s fall collection (go here to see exactly which bags are eligible), plus free shipping with code ‘habit‘.  oh yeah, and shipping’s free too. 

i considered saving this until tomorrow, but the deal’s only good through friday…and if i know minkoff’s fans (and i think i do), the best styles will be gone by noon today.

that’s right, dear readers - i take columbus day pretty seriously, so i’m off for the weekend to visit my family in the frozen tundra.  it’s supposed to be 40 degrees…can’t wait.

so, i’ll see you back here on tuesday with something truly fabulous.  for now, i’m sharing a few things i think i’ll be needing this weekend, and some links to other sites i thought were particularly lovely this week.

(above:  mouton shearling coat by la squadra, $2,875; bop basics fingerless cashmere mittens, $65; giraffe print cashmere scarf by janavi, $375)

*  decor8 alerted me to a site called tas-ka which sells some fantastic euro home goods and accessories.  i’m particularly loving the brooches.  they’re based in the netherlands, but shipping to the US is frighteningly reasonable.

*  this week’s DIY on design*sponge is so cute, i may actually be forced to break out my glue gun.

*  and yeah, i’m pretty sure i’m going to have to order these barack obama barrettes for myself…

happy columbus day!

how did i not know about this geniusness before?  scarves with pockets - fantastic!  i am positively hopeless with keeping track of gloves…they inevitably end up dropped on the ground next to my car, right before i drive away to leave them abandoned in a parking lot. but if i had this lovely marc jacobs pocket scarf, i’d be snug as a bug, and no chance of losing those ultra-expensive lambskin opera-length gloves i’ve been coveting.

the scarf comes in this greyish-brown with pink stripes…but if the pink is a little too precious for you, i much prefer the charcoal/blue version (sadly, my tech skills are failing me today, so you get a pic of the pink one).  in either color, it’s $128, which is a relatively easy way to start a relationship with my BFF, marc jacobs.  come on, do your duty and keep this economy going!