i’m off to celebrate with family, and i suspect you all are as well.  so, i’m taking this week off, but we’ll resume our retail orgy next week.  don’t miss it…i’ll have a fantastic giveaway for you (the first of many for december…it is the holidays after all!), and so many ideas for spending your holiday gifting budget, it’ll make your head spin.

happy turkey day, everyone!

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!!

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.

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!

now that labor day is behind us, it’s officially fall!  in celebration, i’m thrilled to introduce our first fall giveaway, sponsored by the fabulous people at nest bags!  i am absolutely crazy about this pleated frame bag, and was thrilled when they offered it up to one of you lovely readers (after only briefly considering just keeping it for myself!).

this gorgeous jacquard bag (which retails at $154) encompasses so many fall trends, i hardly know where to begin.  that lovely rich navy shade is the ideal pop against traditionally drab fall tones, and jacquard prints are absolutely everywhere this season.  add to that the stylish structure on this frame bag and those fabulous pleated details, and you have an accessory guaranteed to stop traffic.

lately, i’ve been eschewing the pile of big-name bags in my closet, because the reality is that my more under-the-radar bags are, without fail, the ones that get the most compliments and the most attention.  plus, i get so very tired of going out and seeing 15 other women carrying my bag.  nest bags really are perfect for that casual, attention-grabbing style that i’m after from my accessories. 

so, for those of you who are drooling over this lovely design from nest as much as i am, here’s how to enter:  drop a comment telling us what trend for fall you’re most excited about, and i’ll draw a winner on monday, sept 8 (yes, we’re running this contest through the weekend).  and as always, to get a bonus entry:

1. use that cute little “share this” purple heart at the bottom of the post to pass the contest along to the group of your choice,
2. come back and leave a comment telling us where you shared it (you do have to leave a second comment!),
3. poof…bonus entry!

don’t forget to check back on monday to see your name in lights…you’ll have 24 hours to claim your bounty!

not technically a “deal” unless you win, i realize, but if you manage to score this gorgeous $300 rebecca minkoff bag from the girls at the daily obsession (seen here on the lovely agnyess deyn), it’s a serious deal indeed.  and you all know how i love ms. minkoff, so this deal is a personal favorite of mine.

to enter, go leave a comment on their post - what else do you have to do on a friday afternoon at work? 

that’s right - starting today, bay area locals have access to one of only four CB2 stores in the country.  time to rejoice! 

for those who aren’t familiar, CB2 is crate & barrel’s younger, hipper little sister.  it’s one of my favorite stops for chic, modern home goods - usually at astoundingly good prices.  seriously, where else can you get dishes designed by andy warhol for $1.50 each, stark industrial lighting for $80, or that lovely striped highback loveseat pictured above for $900? 

so, for those of you lucky enough to be in the ‘hood, check out the new CB2 store at stockton & ellis, so you can finally check out the goods in person before you buy.  and be sure to let me know what fab goods you bring home!

okay!  so the winner this week is Melissa W., who won that amazing elizabethW eau de parfum with the bonus entry she got for posting the contest on facebook!  here’s what she had to say:

I took this “assignment” as an excuse to post about your blog to my Facebook page, inviting my friends to see why I laugh in their faces when they accuse me of being into fashion. Hopefully they will come check out the guru.

i love how we always end up with winners whose quotes are so nice!  thanks for the lovely words, melissa - and enjoy that fab new perfume!  just don’t forget to email me by monday morning with your mailing info, so we can get that sent out to you (assuming i don’t swipe it for myself!  kidding, kidding…)

if you didn’t win, i still strongly encourage you to check out a fragrance or two from elizabethW.  if you need help narrowing the field, drop me a line at editor[@]shoppingsmycardio.com…i’m a total addict, so i know their fragrances pretty well by now!

huge thanks to everyone who entered, especially those of you who tried something new and spread the word about shoppingsmycardio to score that extra entry in the contest!  what did you guys think of that twist to the giveaway, by the way…should we keep it up?

this is your last chance to score that faaaabulous eau de parfum from elizabethw - entries close at midnight tonight!  but right now, your odds are through the roof.  don’t blow it…enter now!

…the lovely Meagan, entrant #13, who had such kind things to say:

Well, I love the idea of the bee tank, but I love the color of the peacock, so I’d go with that one.

I’m excited for the new site - I love checking here every day to see what you have on your radar, and it’s so user friendly

aww, thanks, meagan!  congrats on your win - just email me (editor [@] shoppingsmycardio [.] com) by monday morning with your address and size, and we’ll get that peacock tank right out to you!

and for the rest of you, well, don’t fret - your conscience is lovingly bestowing a 20% discount code on each and every one of you!  just enter code SHOPPING at checkout for your discount.  so, you can pick up the tank you loved best for $24 (or one of each!), which is a fantastic deal!  snap one up now!