Friday Favorties: July Buys

Hey lovelies!

Happy Friday. This is the last Friday of July, so I wanted to share my favorite purchases for the month. I can't lie I think I may have gone a little crazy and bought one too many things/

These were my top 5 buys in July:

Favorite Pumps:

July is one of my favorite months because of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, which is still going on, but not for much longer so make sure you take advantage.

I ended up ordering two pairs of shoes and these were fab. They don't look like much in this picture, but they're absolutely stunning in person. They're high and sexy and of course in animal print (which can be worn during any season, but tends to be on trend during the fall.) 

I've already envisioned an outfit for them: high-waisted skinny jeans, a  chic blazer and a white tank top!

Favorite New Trend:

I'm crazy over hand andbody chains, heck I'll even rock a head chain. They're simply fabulous.

This trend is very unique and quite hard to pull off if you choose pieces with too much going on. So my best tip is to keep the chains clean and simple to look regal and cool.

Favorite New Earrings:

As much as I love statement earrings, I also love a pair of studs the same like these celestial ones from Bauble Bar.

They're simple, unique and fun to wear! It doesn't hurt that I have a fascination for accessories with stars.

Favorite Wedges:

First purchase from ShoeMint and I cannot wait to get to wear these wedges. My favorite part of the shoe: the exaggerated ankle wrap!

Favorite Summer Fragrance:

Honestly I don't think I'd ever try this fragrance: Harvey Prince Eau Flirt if it wasn't for the fact that I got to smell it in my July Birchbox.

It has notes of lavendar and pumpkin, which normally I'd consider yucky. But it's the total opposite of yucky, in fact it smells incredible and lasts all day. Great summer fragrance!

P.s.-- pumpkin and lavender have been clinically proven to spur passionate reactions in men. according to the details of the fragrance on birchbox, so you can let this perfume do all the flirting for you

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Your shopping addict,

GTG

"I'll never have to wonder why I have no money at the end of the month. My blog's posts serve as constant reminder of what I've done with it! - GTG

Sample Society vs. Birchbox (July 2012)

Today's post is dedicated to all my beautiful and beauty obsessed friends.

We've all heard about the neat monthly subscriptions aka subs that deliver beauty product samples to your door. I'm still discovering news ones about every other week.

Personally I'm a huge Birchbox fan. It was my first sub discovery. Last month, after learning about Sample Society by Beauty Bar from my Twitter friend: @Cosmoelectra I decided to try it out.

So today I'm measuring how each of these subs compares to the other.

We'll start with Sample Society by Beauty Bar because it was the box that got to me first.

The simple black box and silver tissue paper is simple yet sophisticated.

The Goodies.

The Sample Society box works directly with the editors of Allure who hand pick the samples that you receive.

Along with your $15 monthly sub, you receive a FREE year's subscription of Allure magazine, which you get to keep even if you decide to cancel your monthly subscription at at any time within that year.

This month's Sample Society box included the following samples:

• Borghese Body Creme
• Jouer Luminating Moisture Tint -I've tried this product with Birchbox before and I'm not a fan.
• Sisley Hydration Intense Anti-Age - I can't wait to try this product out!
• Eye Never Nourishing Repair Eye Creme
• Vincent Longo Duo Lip Pencil - I loved the color, which happens to look great on my skin tone.

What I Love:

• Comes with a year subscription to Allure for free.
• Sample Society works on a very timely basis. They mailed out the box on July 2nd and it was in my hands on July 5th.
• It came with a sample of Sisley's Hydration Intense Anti that costs $250 (full size). Talk about a luxury product!
• Though Sample Society is $15 a month, you can get a code for $15 off any purchase within a month if you buy something from your sample box. So let's say this month I decide to buy the Vincent Longo lip pencil, I will be able to get $15 off my total purchase.  

Overall: If you love and appreciate beauty products this is the sub for you! There are some real amazing products that Sample Society lets you try, which I haven't seen in other subs.

In addition when you visit the beauty bar website you can head on over to its makeover studio where you can try looks before buying the products. How cool is that?

On to Birchbox...

This month's Birchbox was curated by Glamour in honor of the mag's July issue which focused on the heightened experience of the five senses during the summer. I really like when Birchbox teams up with other collaborators to put their boxes together.

The outside of July's Birchbox curated by Glamour.

The Goodies.

This month's Birchbox included the following samples:

• Color Club Summer Pastels Collection in Blue-Ming-It's already my next mani color!
• Gloss Moderne High Gloss Masque
• Harvey Prince Eau Flirt- Smells so great my co-worker bought it!
• Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion
• Suki Balancing Kit includes 5 different samples- Working on trying out the kit samples.
  

Lifestyle Extras:

• Birchbox Exclusive Ear buds- Love the pink and green colors, which match perfectly with my phone case.
• Larabar Uber Roasted Nut Roll

What I Love:

• Because Birchbox samples so many products a month they create an x number of boxes that comes with different items, which is why you'll rarely come across someone you know who has the identical box you got. And that makes it  great for swapping samples with your bestie!
• Birchbox is only $10. 
• I'm subscribed to the Birchbox Youtube Channel, which I love because sometimes I receive things that I have no idea how to use and they always post up tutorials.

What I Don't Love:

• My birchboxes have been a real hit or a total miss!
• I hate how long their boxes take to get to me.

Overall: If you're looking for something new and fun every month than this is your sub!

And if you're a dude, you can and should try out Birchbox Man.

So after careful consideration

The sub winner is-- drum rolls please!

As far as value and quality go-- Sample Society gives you more bang for your bucks and it truly carries some luxurious brands.

But overall I give it to Birchbox.

I'm just a sucker for fun cutesy stuff and this month's box was great minus that Larabar, but that's my personal taste!


Which sub is your favorite?

Beautifully yours,
Your GTG!!!

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."  - Kahlil Gibran

Rani's: A Hidden Gem in Coconut Grove

As your GTG, one of my main duties is to inform you of new trends or new store openings. In some rare instances I get to inform you of things or places you might not have even known were around.

As is the case today.

How many of us love denim? I know I do. In fact it's one of my favorite garments with my five inch heels.

Denim is probably one of the most expendable items in any of our closets because of its versatility. While often thought of as casual pieces, jeans have evolved and with time have proved that you can rock a pair of jeans and still be the belle of the ball. (Just make sure jeans are suitable for the ball.)

Recently I heard about Rani's,  a denim boutique located in Coconut Grove. My friend who used to work there had been asking me to check it for sometime now, but I hadn't gotten around to it until this past weekend. And I was in for a treat.

 The shop, which is located in the heart of the Grove, can be easily missed if you're not looking for it.

Display window in front of store

Display window in front of store.

The boutique which has been around since 1971 started selling Indian cotton apparel such as dresses and skirts. It wasn't until the late '70s that Rani's started to sell jeans and has been specializing in men's and women's  high end designer denim ever since.

Click on image to enlarge

Rani's look is quirky, fun and very unique to its brand. I was instantly greeted by the sales person, Marie. Marie was not only easy to talk to, but she was very warm and this girl knows all there is to know about brands, fit and body types.

**So if you're ever in this part of town and need denim make sure you ask for her. She's the best!

Rani's carries the following brands:

• Diesel
• Citizen of Humanity
• Seven for all mankind
• 1921
• Paige Denim
• Hudson Jeans
• AG
• Scotch & Soda
•  Religion
• House of God
• Threads for Thoughts
• Jag (men's shorts)

Aside from selling denim, they also sell other apparel like tees, dresses and accessories such as hats and wallets. Rani's now carries the accessories line from Will Leather Goods, which includes wallets, clutches, weekend bags and backpacks, as well as belts by Bill Adler (also part of the Will Leather Goods division.)

Here are some of my fave finds:

Rani's also has some cute fitting rooms-- one is even made out of denim.

Fitting Room with Denim Curtain.

Fitting Room

Brief History Lesson on Rani's:

• Because of its hot spot status throughout the 90s, Rani's owner used  to hire police to control the crowds.
• The boutique was one of the first places in Miami that sold Diesel--since the denim giant's debut in 1978.  

Celebrity Sightings:

• Demi Moore
• Sharon Stone
• Basketball Legend Isiah Thomas
• Members of The Bush Family

And because I'm such a shopaholic and a true Miami Heat fan (though I would not be caught dead in one of those generic championship shirts, well maybe only to sleep,) I had to buy this mega cute vintage Miami Heat tee to rep my team!

Cute, huh?

Rani's Business Card

What are some of your favorite hidden gems in your town?
Always Fashionably Knowledgeable,
Your GTG

"I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal simplicity-- all I hope for in my clothes." YSL