Time for a bit more eye candy…I just can’t help myself. Ariel Gordon is a long-time favorite of mine (I have one of her initial necklaces, and it’s a treasure), and she recently released her Fall 2011 lookbook. Love it for the jewelry, the styling or the photography…whatever your reason, I’m completely confident there will be love.

What did I tell you? The gumball-sized lapis necklace in that top photo has been haunting my dreams since I first laid eyes on it. Ditto for that crescent moon charm, which is so sentimental to me, I really may have to find a way.

Fortunately, most of her pieces (lapis gumball notwithstanding) are actually really reasonable for fine jewels. Especially when you factor in an exclusive 25% discount Ariel’s offering to ShoppingsMyCardio junkies readers! The code is CARDIO, and it’s good until June 17. Go forth and splurge!

I knew I spent that gift card too soon!  Using code INTHEFAMILY15 will get you 15% off sitewide at shopbop.com today.

Get it while the getting’s good…the deal ends tomorrow (5/11)!  What’s on your shopping list?

Enjoy, friends!  One of you pointed out this morning that this would be an excellent excuse to try that La Mer serum we talked about recently.  As for me, I’m going to be taking a close look at some leather jackets, and possibly using it as an excuse to nab a great Mother’s Day gift for my sweet mom.

Oh, and get free shipping too with code SPRINGSFA.

What a fun, utterly exhausting week!  I hope yours has been good as well, and that you’re ready for chocolate eggs, Easter brunch, and lots of leftover ham.  Mostly, though, I hope you have today off from work.

I was going to take Good Friday off (because, you know, I’m so religious…), but couldn’t resist “hopping” in to tell you about a few steals that have hit my in-box.

First up, J.Crew is doing one of those things that never happens:  free shipping at any price with code WARMUP (good through Sunday only).  So, now’s the time to check out a few of my favorite new pieces for spring:

From top left: Tomboy tunic, $74; Pier stripe sweatshirt, $68; Silk layering tank, $75; Iris suede sandals, $118; Watson suede sandals, $198.

Another “thing that never happens” is going on at Steven Alan, where you can take 25% off any one item this weekend with code HIPHOP25.  I was a little too excited about this one, until I saw it’s only good on Steven Alan merch (ie, those Rachel Comey boots are still full price).  But, it’s still a deal, especially if you’re in the market for a breezy plaid shirt to throw on over your summer cutoffs.  And really, who isn’t?

From top left (all prices before 25% discount): Tyler skirt, on sale for $115; Spring reverse-seam shirt, $158; Georgiana bag, $475; Carmen tank, on sale for $139.

And last, but most definitely not least, these cutie pie stripe-and-polka-dot sweaters from Cardigan NY (a personal favorite of mine) are a whopping 50% off, plus free shipping, through Sunday.  The magic code for this one is dotdotdot.  I’m sorely, sorely tempted to up the style quotient of my now-standard mariner with one of these cuties.

By the way, is anyone else way more smitten with cutoff denim shorts this year than they ever have been, or is it just me?  Something about the styling this season is just…working.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone – and remember, once Lent and Passover end, it’s totally expected that you reward yourself with a little treat for all of your good works.

Friends, the universe is not on my side this week (my way of saying it’s drop-kicked me, David Beckham-style, into a smelly pond).  So, forgive me if my blog time is light for the next few days.

But, even through my stress, I had to make sure you knew about shopbop.com’s Spend Some, Save Some event, since these don’t come around all that often at shopbop.  It started today, runs through Thursday, and looks a little something like this:

I still have a shopbop gift card from Christmas that I haven’t been able to spend.  I have a pretty serious problem with chronic indecision, which means gift cards linger in my life for months, sometimes years, before being used.  And since my mechanic is unlikely to take a shopbop gift card in exchange for a new head gasket for my engine, I think I’m in need of some soothing retail therapy.  So, I need help.  What would you buy, assuming you had a bit of free cash to blow at shopbop this week?

(I will say that near the top of my list is one of those legendary silk shirts from Equipment.  They’re unbelievable…but oh, silk in the City of Rain can be traumatic.)

Help me out, friends…I’m so looking forward to your ideas!

for those of you who look forward to today not just because it’s your first day back at work in nearly a week (thrilling, i know), but because “cyber monday” means you can pretend to work while actually scoring loads of deals and steals you can nab without engaging in fist fights at your favorite suburban mall, this post is for you.

as is our custom here at SMC, i’ll be giving you a rundown of the best discounts i see today – we’ll start with a list now (ranked in order of importance, as i see it), and as i get new information, i’ll add it to the top of the list, in italics, so you’ll know what the most recent updates are.  happy hunting!

• piperlime:  take 20% off sitewide until midnight with code LUCKY20.  this should be a fun one to abuse for self-gifting purposes!
• satsuma press: take 20% off sitewide on lynn’s amazingly beautiful collection of all-occasion cards, holiday cards, and that stunning 2011 letterpress calendar.  code SECRETSALE gets you the deal through 11/30.
• hayden-harnett:  they’ve bumped up the steals today, so discounts are up to 70% on the site.  plus, save 20% today on orders over $500 with code THANKFUL500 (the code also gets you free shipping and some awesome free goodies!).
• emporio armani:  take 40% off the fall/winter collection through 12/4 with code SALEFW10.
• 20×200:  if you’re gifting art, this is the way to do it.  take 20% off orders of $200+ with code CM200X.
• cardigan new york:  i don’t normally like the “save up to…” nonsense on a day like this – i’m looking for a real sale – but this one’s a steal.  save “up to” 65% at cardigan new york, an excellent source for, well, cardigans…and striped sweaters galore!
• inhabit:  in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s my favorite place for cashmere…and the pricing just got giftable.  take 30% off sitewide today with code THANKS.  you’ll be the talk of the family party if you’re gifting anything at all from this brand!
• cole haan:  save 40% on one single item with code MONDAY40 (you’ll need to create an account to redeem this one), and 20% on all sale items with code 20SALE; good today only.
• ron herman: if you’ve been craving an alexander wang handbag, this is *by far* the best price i’ve seen.  already down 30-ish%, they’re down another 30% today at ron herman, making the darcy (my favorite style) a paltry $255.  highway robbery, i’m telling you…these will sell out in no time.
• anthropologie:  free standard shipping on orders of $150+ through the holidays; no code required.
• steven alan:  save 20% on orders of $250+ with code SAVE20; today only.
• greenwich jewelers: one of my favorite sites for jewelry at all price points.  save $25 on orders of $150-300; $50 on orders from $300-500, and so on; today only; no code required.
• kate spade:  code CYBER25 gets you 25% off sale items today – and there are gift options galore!
• diane von furstenberg: take an additional 20% off sale items today with code THANKS20…if you’re not a size 10, you’ll do very well.
• eberjey:  this is one i’m hoping to take advantage of.  take 20% off sitewide on all the snuggly pajamas and other sleepwear you can carry.  use code CYBER2010 – and if you order before 12PM (EST), you’ll get an additional 5% off!
• goldyn:  take 35% off sitewide with code FRIDAYMONDAY; ends today.
• tory burch:  spend $300, take 30% off, get free shipping and receive a free limited edition snakeskin print tote with code GETGIFTS; ends today.
• shopbop:  they still have that fabulous sale going through tonight.  take $50 off $250, $100 off $500 and so on, plus they’ve taken 20% off a huge pile of goodies.  use code BIGEVENT to take advantage; expires tonight.
• paige denim:  take 15% off if you buy two pairs of denim with code CYBER15, and 25% off if you buy three, with code CYBER25. also, take 25% off leather jackets with LEATHER25.  all good today only, and they all come with free shipping.
• shop adorn:  a great spot for trendy lines like fluxus and siwy denim.  save $20 on orders of $100, $30 off $150, and so on, plus gift cards for your next purchase and free shipping.  no code required; ends today.
• basic boutique:  fabulous brands like loeffler randal and vena cava.  take 35% off sitewide with code THANKS35; ends today.
• simply soles: once again, the west coast loses out on a flash sale…damn time difference.  but you can still take 20% off today only, no code required.  great chance to nab those brogue boots i can’t stop wearing.
• dean & deluca:  free shipping on orders of $125+. no code necessary, ends today.  not earth-shattering, but they never seem to offer free shipping, so this is a great opportunity if you’re gifting food.
• bluefly:  they’ve taken an additional 10-20% off sitewide for today…while i like a good coupon code so i can compute my own steal, this one sounds pretty good!
• tobi:  take 30% off sitewide with code THANKS30; ends today.
• powell’s books:  my favorite bookstore ever – save 16% sitewide today with code SAVE16.  sure, it’s not amazon, but that’s why it’s so great!
• henri bendel:  save 30% online only (a very limited selection of mostly bendel-branded merchandise, but it’s still fun), and get free shipping with code CYBERHB.  good today only.
• max and chloe:  if you don’t know about max and chloe, they’re stocked to the brim with all of your favorite costume jewelry, usually on sale.  today only, take $30 off $150, $75 off $250, and so on with code HOLIDAY10.   worth a look!
• john robshaw textiles:  this isn’t, strictly speaking, a cyber monday deal, as it’s good through the end of the year. but a sale at john robshaw demands attention.  save 15% off orders of $250+ with code HOLIDAY.

ready….set…..credit!

in case you thought retail was doing better this year, i have news:  not so much.  i’ve been positively inundated with extraordinary friends & family deals this month, and this latest 25% off steal from j.crew (use code FALLSALE) is no exception.

so, how am i going to spend my $150 at j.crew?  i’m so glad you asked.  i’ll give you a little real-time glimpse into the frightful mess that is my online shopping routine…brace yourselves.

first up, pants.  i’ve recently realized i spend way too much of my life in denim (seriously, it’s frightening), and perhaps it’s time to branch out. and so, i’m debating the merits of these sweet straight-leg cords. but can a 30-something really get away with purple pants?

but then, i remember that j.crew’s vintage matchstick jeans fit me so well, perhaps i should just go with the matchstick cords in dark loden, and avoid the purple pants debate altogether.

hmm, speaking of the matchstick jeans…should i get a second pair while they’re on sale?  no, no, wasn’t i just saying i wear too much denim?  focus, b.

next up, i’m really in the market for a new black blazer…though my vince leather version is lovely, it’s not the most practical thing in the city of eternal rain.  perhaps this tuxedo version?  it’s a steal at $168, but i’m wondering how much i can dress this one down.

ooh, no…stop the presses. the tweed tatum jacket has my name all over it….right up until i see the $278 pricetag.  can i really spend that much on a blazer from j.crew?

next up would normally be sweaters, but i’m forced to bypass this section entirely, as i’m utterly over the sequins and ruffles that abound at j.crew lately.  could i see something without a chiffon rosette on it, please?

i did spot this heathered raglan tee recently in-store, and i can tell you it’s the perfect long-sleeved-tee/sweatshirt hybrid.  plus, i love that it has a scooped neck, rather than the crewneck that is so much more common on this style.  crews are just not a good look on girls with a large, um, presence on top.  this one, however, is extremely flattering.  i wanted it at full price, so i want it even more now that it’s on sale.  into the cart you go!

i’m intentionally avoiding jewelry…i never fail to convince myself i want another oversized, oversparkled necklace, only to get it home and realize they aren’t really jeans-and-cardigan fare.  but i could use a new belt.  love this dressage belt, but i wish it came in brown.  in black, it’s a maybe.

last but not least, i’m in desperate need of winter shoes…i have a surplus of boots and ballet flats, but i’d love a little something in between.  there are a few styles by minnetonka and quoddy on j.crew’s site that i’ve been eyeing, but they seem to have mysteriously vanished when this sale started.  i suspect they’ll be back on sunday morning.  sadly, j.crew has changed its shoe sizing in recent years, so i’m now perpetually between sizes.   so, i’m skipping the shoes to avoid temptation.

phew!  dear readers, thanks for hanging on this long…if nothing else, this little virtual spree has taken the panic out of my heart – if i miss the sale, i’ll be just fine.  but i strongly suspect those cords and the raglan tee will be on their way to me sometime between now and saturday, when the FALLSALE code goes the way of daylight savings…

all the usual high fashion suspects are excluded, but there’s still plenty to love at the saks friends & family event.  i’d use the chance to snap up some denim, a great pair of boots for fall, and maybe a perfect winter coat.  what about you?

well, this is exciting!

by the way, i managed to post about this via iphone…i’m feeling very high tech this morning! now i just have to figure out exactly how irresponsible to be when i order.

what’s on your wish list?

hard to believe, i know, but it’s true.  goldyn is an NY- & LA-based boutique that’s home to hip, stylish brands like loeffler randall, epice, see by chloe and rag & bone…so a steal like this is serious news indeed!  use code luckydaily1 to score the deal, thanks to the genius negotiators over at lucky magazine.  it’s good today only (9/27), but should work sitewide.  i’m pining for a maya brenner rough diamond necklace…but am going to do my best to control myself.