Pretty in the Queen City

Splurge vs Steal (Sears)

It's that time of year where everyone is scrambling trying to find the best deals for the holidays. I have been on a mission for the perfect pair of leggings and the perfect flat heeled boots. I know...I know...there are plenty to choose from but I am super picky and was having the worse time finding exactly what I wanted. I wanted a pair of leggings that fit me perfectly without being see thru. I didn't want panty hose....I wanted LEGGINGS. I also wanted a pair of boots that were comfortable enough to wear to work yet stylish enough to grab drinks after hours. 

I decided to check out searsStyle for these two hard to find pieces and scored and UNBELIEVABLE deal on the perfect leggings and boots. Forget a "splurge"....I found a "STEAL". 

Check out the photos of my finds!! 

The leggings are designed by UK Style by French Connection and were only.....wait for it.......$9.99!!! The Emilia boots by Apostrophe are so comfy and were only $24.99!! You really can't beat that! Plus, how can I not love the name ;) 

These classic womens black leggings give you all the support and comfort you could ever ask for. They go along with anything in your closet and are perfect for layering. 

 

Greet the coming cool weather with a bold stylish hello in these snazzy, slouch detail boots by Apostrophe.

 

I also love the KK Kollection and ordered an oversized tee to go with my leggings and boots. This soft tee is fashion forward and perfect for a day on the go. I can't wait to receive it so I can share photos. I'll definitely be shopping the KK Kollection more often. Fabulous enough for the Kardashian ladies but affordable enough for the girls next door. 

 

Have you shopped at Sears lately? What was your fav find?  I would love to hear from you! 

 

xoxo

Amelia

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I received samples from searsStyle to review as part of the Glam Trendsetter Program. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sears.

Holiday Beauty & Fashion Tips

• If you need to get ready in a pinch, always reach for your favorite little black dress. It’s classic, flatters any body type and never fails when you are having trouble deciding what to wear.
• Wear clothes because they suit you and make you feel great, not just because they are trendy. Talk with a stylist, or work with a knowledgeable sales associate to put together pretty basics that will help you look your best at holiday parties.
• To give any holiday outfit the desired wow-factor, add a pair of fantastic shoes, like these ones from Sole Society. ($49.95- $69.95, www.solesociety.com)

• Another quick fix that instantly adds elegance and sexiness to an outfit is red lips, try NYX Cosmetics’ Xtreme Lip Cream in Candy Land ($6, www.nyxcosmetics.com) – it will make you holiday-ready in a flash.
• Use an all-in-one product to get a rosy holiday glow – something that gives color to your lips and cheeks like you just came inside from playing in the snow. Try NYX Cosmetics Rouge Cream Blush in Tea Rose ($6.50, www.nyxcosmetics.com).

                   

 

• Keep clutch essentials in your purse so you can easily transition from day into night without missing a beat.  Carry hydrating mist and a small perfume bottle with you so that you can always look and smell fresh, and never leave the house without your Ms. & Mrs. Minimergency Kit for Her. These adorable kits are filled with an arsenal of helpful necessities like stain remover, hairspray, floss and deodorant towelettes. (Good Luck Minimergency Kit for Her – Good Luck Series, $15, www.msandmrs.com)

 

• Always keep your skin in good condition with consistent facials so you aren't attempting to cover up little flaws. If you have time, try to get a facial a week or so before all of your holiday festivities. This will help to restore the moisture balance to your skin, and give you a natural holiday glow. The ARCONA spa in Santa Monica, CA offers a number of customized facials, including the Organic Enzyme Peel which uses organic fruit enzymes to dissolve dead skin and cleanse pores.
• If you don’t have time for a facial, use hydrating facial cleansers and serums, exfoliate and use a humidifier. A few great winter skincare products are ARCONA’s Peptide Hydrating Complex ($75), White Tea Purifying Cleanser ($42), Cranberry Gommage ($42) and Gentle Solution ($48). (Available at www.nordstrom.com )

 

Here are some other great last-minute skincare tips to help you prep for the holidays:

• The key to skin health during stressful holiday months is being consistent with your skin care regimen.  Exfoliate the skin, use SPF everyday (even in the winter), apply hydrating serum underneath your moisturizer, and eat healthy food.  Get rest, exercise and try not to stress – it’s a time to celebrate and enjoy with those we love!
•  If you are hung-over after drinking too much at a holiday party, make sure you drink tons of water to re-hydrate your body and your skin. Also, to re-energize your skin after a long night out, try a mask such as ARCONA’s Tea Tree Mask ($30, www.nordstrom.com ) which will help to cleanse, purify and detoxify the skin.
• To quickly deal with a blemish, treat it to reduce the inflammation with a product such as ARCONA’s Herbal Compound ($30, www.arcona.com )– a proprietary herbal blend that fights skin eruptions, unclogs pores and kills bacteria. Then, conceal using a cotton bud or small, pointed concealer brush. Apply a dot of thick concealer to the center of the blemish, then lightly spread it to cover. Brush over with translucent powder.
• Between work, parties, shopping and everything else in-between, we’re all a little sleep-deprived during the holidays. Your skin often shows the immediate effects of too few hours of rest, so again, make sure to drink plenty of water and keep your skin properly moisturized with a hydrator such as ARCONA’s Peptide Hydrating Complex ($75, www.nordstrom.com ).  Also, to fight those inevitable under eye circles, make sure to consistently use a an eye cream such as ARCONA’s Eye Dew ($32,www.nordstrom.com ) which aids in repairing damaged skin and increases elasticity around the eyes with beta-fructan and liquid crystals. Anti-inflammatory blueberry extract and vitamin E help heal and soothe skin, while reducing puffiness.

 

Celebrate National Believe Day with Macy's

 

This holiday season, join Macy’s and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to help collect a million reasons to believe.

 

On December 9th, Macy's will celebrate National Believe Day to honor the spirit of the season and inspire kindness and generosity. The special day will focus on the season's message of humanity and charity toward others.

From now until Christmas Eve, Macy's is encouraging believers of all ages to write letters to Santa and drop them off in the Santa Mail letterbox at any Macy's store across the country. Located in Charlotte? You can deliver your letters to NorthLake and SouthPark Malls. 

For each letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million, to grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions. Yep, you read that right! Up to $1 million!!!! 

This is the perfect time to gather your children together to teach them a beautiful lesson about the season of giving. 

Want to make a bigger impact? Lead a letter-writing campaign with your office, neighborhood or even your child's classroom!  Visit this link for inspiration-> http://bit.ly/sIL3

Money raised from the campaign will help support local Make-A-Wish chapters including http://www.ncwish.org

WANT TO WIN A $50 MACY'S GIFTCARD?? LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR FAV CHRISTMAS MEMORY! SIMPLE AS THAT!!! WINNER WILL BE SELECTED RANDOMLY AND ANNOUNCED ON DEC. 16TH!

A Few of My Favorite Things (from Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems)

In 1955, Donald Haack's life with diamonds began when he and his wife Janet moved to the jungles of British Guiana.The Haack's love for diamonds eventually led to Donald Haack Diamonds and Fine Gems. This high end gem located in Charlotte is now in the hands of Julie Haack, the daughter of Donald and Janet. 

This is unlike any other jewelry store you will enter. The talent of the staff is quite impressive and the pieces they carry are unique yet classic. The staff know their diamonds which is so refreshing! I've been in stores in the past where the individual was just trying to close the deal. The last couple of times I have been to Donald Haack, I've over heard them with clients and the care they take with each individual is a breath of fresh air.

Now that the Holidays are upon us, gift shopping is in full force. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite pieces from Donald Haack. These make perfect gifts for the lady in your life whether she be your wife, your mother, your sister or even yourself! 

My loyal readers know that I love vintage. This Art Deco vintage ring takes my breathe away. It's eye catching without being over the top. The details are gorgeous.

(Retails for $9,700)

This white gold diamond bracelet is the classic piece for any woman's collection. 

(Retails for $14,590)

With a 4ct aque as the center piece, this platinum ring makes a fabulous right hand ring. Not to mention it's currently 50% off! I could not believe this was available at such a great price.

 

(Retails for $5,800)

 

I absolutely adore this 18k yellow gold ring. This diamond band has a beautiful floral open design.Very delicate and classy.

(Retails for $2,800)

Now you know that I can't live without pearls. Currently Donald Haack has 30% off all of their pearl jewelry! Remember when you were a little girl and walked around in your mom's pearls and high heel shoes? I know my daughter does it now! This is such a great opportunity to finally have a strand of pearls.....every girls' dream.

(Retails for $9,900)

This lovely Tony Maccabi ring is definitely for the woman wanting to make a statement. The Blue Lapis stone is covered with a clear rutilated quartz. Beautiful!

(Retails for $3,015) 

This stylish "Old World" pendant from Phillip Gavriel is made with sterling silver and 18k yellow gold. This makes a great every day piece!

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cuff! This Oxidized silver cuff includes yellow gold and diamond accents and diamonds.  This is one piece I can't stop admiring. Show stopping!

On the 10th, Pretty in the Queen City will join Donald Haack in presenting an exciting His and Her's event. This event will include showcasting the beautiful Di Massima collection. This diamond pendant is just one of my favs from the collection. The polished diamond slices really make this a conversation piece. Don't forget to check out event info HERE.

And last but certainly not least, I think everyone needs yellow diamonds in their jewelry box. Don't you love these 18Kt two tone fancy yellow diamond earrings?

I've shared my favorite pieces from Donald Haack. Have you shopped there before? What did you purchase? Or what do you plan on purchasing? I'd love to hear from you!

Pretty in the Queen City Launches Limited Edition Lipstick

That's right my pretties. Today is THE day!!! Everyone that knows me, knows that I love red lipstick. Some call it an obsession and some even say it's my signature. I believe the reason I gravitate towards this is because it reminds me of old Hollywood. It's powerful yet classy. For the longest, I would only wear Chanel Dragon #75. That was the only lipstick you'd find in my bag, that I actually used. That was before I was introduced to Stanley Owings from iMpact color cosmetics. Not only did I fall in love with his entire cosmetic line because of it's quality but it has a beautiful message behind it. iMpact's philosphy is that true beauty and real confidence come from within-when a woman looks good, she feels good.

My 30th birthday is this month and never being one to truly celebrate this occasion, I felt this year was the year to do something different. I decided I wanted to launch a limited edition lipstick in RED! After a lovely meeting with Stanley from iMpact, we decided to partner together to make this happen. How lucky am I?!  Not many beauty lovers get to say they had their very own lipstick for sale. 

With that said, TODAY-World AIDs Day, my dream has come true. For a limited time only, you will be able to purchase "i'M PITQC" from iMpact color cosmetics! To go along with this launch, $1 from every tube sold will go to RAIN:Regional AIDS Interfaith Network. 

 

                            (Actual Product Image)

 

"i'M PITQC" will be available today thru the last day of Decemeber. Each tube will retail for $21. You can purchase "i'M PITQC" below or visit Fuze Salon in Charlotte, NC. Fuze Salon is located at 1819 East 7th Street. 

Click the BUY NOW button to receive your very own tube of "i'M PITQC". If you would like to receive the product immediately, please visit Fuze Salon! When purchasing via Paypal, the product will immediately be shipped.

 

I hope you join me in celebrating a milestone in my life and by helping a great cause.

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About iMpact color cosmetics

The idea behind iMpact color cosmetics was to reflect their philosophy of simplicity in their packaging and presentation. The sleek minimalist design of each product is a subtle reminder that many times in life, less is more. The fashion houses of Calvin Klein, Prada and Armani were all inspirations for the final result. In a logo-obsessed world, they consciously made a decision to boldly be the brand of the anti-logo. They wanted their brand identifiable by more than just a logo. iMpact color cosmetics is recognized by its chic minimalism and its iconic “i” found on each product. From their “i’m special HD lip polish” to their “i’m humble lipstick” to their “i’m healthy foundation,” their underlying message with each of their products, is to use one’s life to make an iMpact on the lives of others.

About RAIN:

RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network), founded in 1992, engages the community to transform lives and promote respect and dignity for all people touched by HIV through compassionate care, education and leadership development. Services include CARE Management, Peer2Peer support & outreach, support groups for youth, faith-based training, chaplain services and caring volunteers who provide practical support to persons living with HIV and AIDS. RAIN also provides HIV awareness and prevention education programs to thousands of people each year and is the only HIV nonprofit in Charlotte providing direct client services.