Gift This Necklace...

I love this necklace I saw in Real Simple magazine's gift guide.  They are right, it's the perfect gift for your friend, sister, and guys, your lady.  They are Morse Coded necklaces by Rebecca Coagan Scharlatt.  You can find them on her website COATT.  Everything has symbols and words these days.  I love the idea of simple round and straight gold beads on a short silk cord.  So understated.

Check them out for yourself.  I'm sure they'll make the perfect gift for at least one person on your list...or maybe get your own!

Great Deals, Great Bags

I recently signed up to received Daily Candy Deals.  It's like Groupon but online.  Basically, you receive a daily email with a deal such as $50 for $100 credit at some fashion site.

Today's email really caught my attention:  $32 for $80 worth of credit on anything.  amykathryn is a line of designer eco and animal-friendly handbags, messenger bags and clutches.  When you think vegan clothing and accessories you may not think prints, textures, and colors.  Think again.  These bags have it all.  Style, quality, and then some.  My particular favorite is the Gladiola Apricot Carry-All Shoulder Bag for $99.  Sign up with Daily Candy Deals right now, buy the amykathryn deal and get this bag for only $51!

Oh, and for all you moms and moms to be, these also make great diaper bags.  In fact, amykathryn also carries vegan changing pads for only $19.  So hip and functional!

Show Off Those Gladiators

Don't put your gladiator sandals away yet!  I know it's October (going on November) but the temperatures have been mild (and I have some beloved followers on the West Coast...love to you all!) and if you're anything like me you want to keep your feet from suffocating in shoes and socks for as long as possible.  The look I'm loving:  skinny jeans with a tank and light blazer or sweater finished off with gladiator sandals.  Wear it just right by cuffing your jeans about 2" to, in the words of Kris Wulff fashion consultant to the Product Muse, "show off the fancy fancy part of your sandals around your ankles."  How about that for genius!

Lululemon Model...Yep, That's My Friend



David Coligado for Lululemon

 I don't have to tell you how great Lululemon is, AGAIN...but I will.  It's the hottest workout gear on the market right now and I don't foresee it losing it's "hotness" anytime soon.  If you don't believe me check it out in the stock market.  Nothing like numbers to help prove something.

One of the great things about the Lululemon company is they have "ambassadors".  Ambassadors are regular people like you and me who are yoga instructors, trainers, gym employees and owners, and now fans and avid athletes.  Ambassadors get free Lululemon clothing to wear while they do what they do.  Basically, they get paid for advertising with free clothing.  I now have two friends who are Lululemon ambassadors.  One of my best friends, Alissa Andres, who's an instructor at The Dailey Method in Naperville, IL http://www.thedaileymethod.com/naperville.html and Dave Coligado (who's practically my brother).  Dave is an avid marathon runner and a head to toe, inside out fan of Lululemon clothing.  He is currently plastered in print ads at the Rush St. Lululemon location (and maybe others in Chicago).  I am also hoping my cousin, Lindsay Stilphen, who's a personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness in Sacramento, CA http://www.24hourfitness.com/ClubList/ca/sacramento becomes a Lululemon ambassador, too!

I love a company who appreciates their fans and knows a creative way to advertise.  Who wouldn't want free clothes they wear and buy anyway.  Lululemon, you're genius!  Alissa, you're amazing!  And Dave, well, you're one of a kind and an all around fantastic person!

I think everyone should have at least a little Lululemon.  Head on over to the Rust St. store and check out their poster ads of Dave while you're finding that new yoga tank you need or go online for the latest in Lululemon run shorts http://www.lululemon.com/.


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The Perfect Staples Of Your Garden's "Outfit", Perennials!



My design/install of sister's Seattle garden.



So I was thinking, maybe you don't want to plant those bulbs yourself, or maybe you're not quite sure what goes with what and where.  Behind every great outfit there are great designers.  Yards and gardens are no different.  Now that you've ordered bulbs for a beautiful Spring consider treating yourself to a whole lifetime of gorgeous, no fuss seasons.  Now is the perfect time to contact a local landscape company for design and installation.  Besides, after all those golden leaves fall a professional can plant your bulbs and give your yard a quick Fall clean up preparing it for both Winter and the upcoming Spring.  Plus, I bet a designer or a Master Gardener, such as The Country Gardener's, Kristopher Wulff http://www.thecountrygardenerltd.com/index.php can provide answers and solutions to all those landscape issues you've been putting off all these years.  This just may be the year you pull together the garden of your dreams.



Rachel's garden one year later.


Whether you consult a professional or research and tackle design and installation yourself, now is the time to get started.  Not only is Fall the time to plant bulbs but it's also a great time to get perennials, the staples of your yard's "outfit," in the ground and established before the first frost.

http://www.thecountrygardenerltd.com/

Easing Into Fall Fashion

So, tomorrow is the first day of Fall and although magazines and catalogs are preaching "layers, layers, layers" I find it's just a little too warm to start bundling up.  Besides, even though the crisp air is nice and inviting, are you really ready to walk away from summer yet?  This is the time of year I like to take a page out of the "hipster's" style guide.  No, it's not skinny jeans on guys or shorts with slouchy socks and combat boots.  I like scarves.

Scarves are an accessory that make both a statement and sense.  Don't put away your tanks and short sleeves yet, wear a scarf with them.  It's a great fall look and the right scarf gives you that happy medium of light and chunky, warm and cool.  Not only that, many scarves can double as a light wrap for when the sun goes down and you're out enjoying a nice bonfire with friends.

So don't go reaching for your wool sweaters and thermal underwear just yet.  Enjoy the invigorating cool temps for a while.  There will be plenty of time to bundle up in a month or two...save it for winter.

"I Love The Millie!"

It all started last month when I went to California with my parents and two sisters.  They were both effortlessly carrying their Hobo wallets wherever they went.  Yes, they both totally have it together, but it was the "look" that hooked me.  I needed a wallet like theirs!  I wanted to have that "I have it together" look.  Plus, they both have them in fun, yet mature and stylish colors.  Upon returning to work I began emailing my sister, Rachel (a wallet guru in my eyes) links to various wallets.  Of course, I started narrowing it down to the Hobo International brand http://www.hobobags.com/ for it's colors, quality, construction, slots and spaces, and variety of sizes and styles.  See, the idea was to be able to carry cards and cash but also be able to hold my chapstick, cell phone, and keys without looking bulky.  One more email later and my choice was made.  Rachel replied, "I LOVE THE MILLIE" and that was it.  I went to Amazon and purchased mine for only $49 since it was one of last season's colors.  Then I proceeded to purchase one for Rachel as a thank you for having me join her in Australia the month before.  Turned out Rachel's love for the Millie was true as true can be because the day before the one I ordered her arrived she called to tell me all about the one she just got!  And, when I told our sister, Jessica (new mother of beautiful twins) about this and Rachel now having two of them, she excitedly annouced that she "wants one.  It would be so handy when running errands with the babies."



Mary Rose's Della and free coin purse.

 Whether it's the Millie, the Della (chosen by my friend Mary Rose of Next Gen Green www.nextgengreen.blogspot.com after one of my "consultations"), or any of their other bags and wallets you will enjoy it's quality and timeless style for years.  And you'll get a lot of  "oooh, I love your wallet".

Right now, Hobo International http://www.hobobags.com/ is offering a free coin purse with purchases of $75 or more and as always, free shipping on orders of $150 or more.

You can also find the Hobo that's right for you at a variety of shops and sites, as well as, Amazon http://www.amazon.com/ where you are sure to find a style in your favorite color, for the right price and get free shipping on most orders of $25 or more.

Stylish, Quick, & Simple Hair

Trying to get the perfect effortless looking bun is a trick many women and girls attempt on a regular basis.  The scrunchy, elastic band, chopsticks, and a couple dozen bobby pins never seem to get the look right.  So, the second I saw a commercial for these Spin Pins by Goody

http://www.goody.com/#/grid/simple_styles/products/simple_styles_spin_pin I went straight to CVS to get a set.  Unfortunately, they were not in stock yet.  Bummer.  But, as you should know by now, when I am on a mission and cannot be stopped until I succeed.  I finally went to the Goody site and paid way to much shipping to have my Spin Pins and you know what, they are every bit worth it!  They can now be found in your local drug stores and grocery stores.  My friends are curious when they see the actual pin and then amazed when I show them how to do it and encourage them to give it a try.  It works the first time every time!

Heading to the beach or the pool, twist your hair and wrap it around it's self and then simply "screw" the Spin Pin straight through the middle from side to side.  Viola, you're good to go.  The look is even perfect for when you don't have time to fuss with you hair for an evening out...it creates the perfect chic messy bun.  Put it all up, put half of it up, for thicker hair use one in each side of the bun.  They even come in two colors for light hair and dark hair.  I have two sets now so I can have one in my purse, one at work, one in my car, and one at home...basically everywhere I have a tube of chapstick.  There's really no reason not to have one if your hair is long enough to wear up.

Amazon.com Has It!

For as long as I can remember, when people ask me "where'd you get that?" or "where do you think I can find something like...?" I've been saying "GO TO AMAZON!"  Now, my new answer is, "GO TO MY BLOG AND CLICK ON THE AMAZON LINKS!"  As everyone should know, you can find just about anything you want or need on Amazon.com.  You can find deals, new products, used products, comments, groceries, reviews, things you haven't thought about in forever (maybe 8 tracks), ask questions, more often then not get free shipping, gifts, and so much more.  Amazon.com is my go-to site for the vast majority of "stuff" in my life, even coffee.  It's my one stop shop when I need to get a gift to go here, find that specific lure for my husband (Hi Kris!), need a new belt and duvet covers, and we're almost out of coffee.  "CLICK" and done!

So now when something on my blog catches your eye, or there's just something specific you're looking for, simply head down to the bottom of my page and click on over to Amazon.com.  You're a hop, skip, and a jump away from whatever it is you've been looking for.
http://www.theproductmuse.blogspot.com/