Posted in Fashion, GAL Find of the Week, Pete & Brenda: Get It Done Girls, Style Tips, tagged $10 board shorts, $10 swim trunks, 4th of july fashion, GAL find of the week, get it done girls, kara birkenstock, old navy, pete and brenda on June 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Hip Board Shorts & Swim Trunks For Just $10!
You gotta love Old Navy for having great deals on must have items for Summer! Their selection of board shorts and swim trunks for men are cool, colorful, and most importantly, super affordable! Starting at just $10, you can go classic in a basic blue or black, or more spirited in a red, white, and blue pair like these, perfect for a 4th of July BBQ or Pool Party!
Posted in Fashion, Pete & Brenda: Get It Done Girls, Sex and the City 2, Shoes, Style Tips, tagged carrie bradshaw, colorful stones, dsw shoes, elongate legs, ethnic beads, exotic beaded sandals, flats, get it done girls, gladiators, global inspiration, kara birkenstock, metallic medallions, neutral nudes, nude heels, nude pumps, peep toe, pete and brenda, reese witherspoon, romantic, romantic details, Shoes, sienna miller, summer sandal trends for 2010, summer sandals, summer shoe trends, summer shoe trends 2010, taylor swift, victoria beckham, wedges on June 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Exotic Beaded Sandals
Sandals with global inspiration are the hottest trend this season! It’s all about embellishments here; from ethnic beads, colorful stones, metallic medallions, chains, and chunky adornments. Take a cue from Sarah Jessica Parker and the gals of Sex and the City 2, and add some glam to your Summer wardrobe with these striking sandals. From fierce gladiators to sexy high heels and wedges, this trend definitely makes a statement!
Zigi Soho Beaded Gladiators $59.95 (DSW Shoes)
JS by Jessica Kady Sandal $59.95 (DSW Shoes)
SM Valley Wedge Sandal $59.95 (DSW Shoes)
Romantic Details
Love is in the air this Summer with flirty romantic sandals! Feminine touches like dainty flowers and delicate ruffles add elegance to any outfit, whether you’re pretty in pink or casual in shorts and a tee. Hollywood stars like Reese Witherspoon and Taylor Swift love to dress up their basics with romantic sandals, peep toe flats, and wedges. Top off your look with a simple flower in your hair and you’ll be sweet from head to toe!
Report Moxee Flat $44.95 (DSW Shoes)
MIX NO. 6 Ripple Gladiator $39.95 (DSW Shoes)
SM Ven Rosette Platform Wedge $49.95 (DSW Shoes)
Neutral Nudes
Time to go Au Natural! If you have to invest in one pair of shoes this season, I would suggest the ultra versatile Neutral Nudes! From strappy gladiators to peep toe pumps, these shoes will go with EVERYTHING in your closet! Celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Sienna Miller have known the secret of nude heels for years and now, you will too – find a pair of neutral nudes to match your skin tone and instantly you have longer, leaner, and sexier legs! What could be better than that?!
Carlos by Carlos Santana Radical Sandal $49.95 (DSW Shoes)
Audrey Brooke Tabbey Slingback $59.95 (DSW Shoes)
Blowfish Festival Wedge $49.95 (DSW Shoes)
Posted in Entertaining, Fashion, Food, Pete & Brenda: Get It Done Girls, Sex and the City 2, Shoes, tagged candles, carrie cosmo, champagne, cosmos, decor, dine, dress, drink, entertaining on a budget, flowers, get it done girls, kara birkenstock, nuvo sparkling liqueur, pete and brenda, pillsbury savorings, prairie organic vodka, sex and the city 2, sex and the city 2 soundtrack, Shoes, votives on May 27, 2010| Leave a Comment »
You don’t need to have a movie star budget to entertain like Carrie Bradshaw and the gals! Today marks the release of the much-anticipated Sex and the City 2, and fashionable women across the country will be gathering for the ultimate girl’s night out! With a little work and creativity, we can all throw a Sex and the City 2 inspired party, for as little as $100!
Décor
Hosting a great party is all about atmosphere! Even if you have a small space to work with, adding a bit of mood lighting and other décor will change the mood from frumpy to fabulous! First, set the scene with either the original Sex and the City: The Movie ($12.99 on Amazon) DVD or the new Sex and the City 2: The Soundtrack ($11.99 on Amazon). Can we say Liza Minnelli singing Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”!? What could be better party music than that?
Flowers are next – it’s amazing how impressive a room can become with the addition of fresh flowers. 
Stock up on one type of flower in one color – pink or purple roses, gerbera daisies and orchids are always beautiful. Local grocery stores like Kroger and Albertsons have great deals on fresh flowers, usually 3 bunches for about $12-$15. This way, you can create your own assortment without spending a ton of money on a florist. Keep arrangements simple, and if you want to jazz it up, add a colorful ribbon around a square vase to give it a modern look. Or, go simpler with single bud vases throughout the room.
For the buffet or cocktail area, an exotic table runner ($18.49 on Overstock) or tapestry would be perfect for a Sex and the City 2 inspired soiree. Metallic accents will also add a Middle Eastern flair, from chargers and jewels to decorative glassware. Stores like Pier 1 and Cost Plus always have great exotic accessories for as little as $5!
Nothing completes a room like candles. Small, simple clear votives are best and a great bargain when purchased in bulk ($6 at Big Lots). Like the flowers, you can coordinate themes here by wrapping each glass candle holder with the same color ribbon.
Drink
No Sex and the City party would be complete without the perfect Cosmo! This recipe from Prairie Organic Vodka is the perfect combination of sweet and sassy, just like Carrie Bradshaw herself!
Carrie Cosmo
2 oz. Prairie Organic Vodka ($18.99 on Marketview Liquor)
1 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1 oz. Organic Cranberry Juice
Shake over ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a fresh lime. 
For another glamorous beverage option, try Nuvo Sparkling Liqueur ($19.99 on Raeder’s Wines) served over ice in an elegant champagne flute. The bottle alone is centerpiece worthy, just gorgeous!
It’s always a good idea to have a non-alcoholic option as well, here’s one for a delicious Virgin Cosmo:
Virgin Cosmo
1 oz. Tonic Water
1/2 oz. Citrus Juice
1/2 oz. Lime Juice
1/2 oz. Cranberry Juice
Shake over ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with strip of lemon, orange peel, or sprig of mint.
Dine
When it comes to food, keep it simple and easy with appetizers. Finger foods are best as there’s no need for plates or utensils, just festive cocktail napkins! 
Get some help from your local deli by creating your own antipasto platter with assorted cheeses, meats, olives, grapes, and crackers. Remember it’s all about presentation – place all items on a rustic cutting board or modern serving tray and garnish with fresh herbs or a single flower bud. Serve a warm and savory appetizer as well – I love Pillsbury Savorings. For just $4 at your local grocery store, guests will think you slaved for hours to roll these delicious pastries filled with cheese and spinach! Round out your appetizers with a vegetable platter (create your own to save) and some sweet bites.
Another money-saving tip, have each of your guests bring an appetizer – this way, all you have to do is supply the atmosphere and beverages!
Dress
Other than cocktails, fashion is THE most important thing to make a fabulous Sex and the City party! Have your guests wear their most glamorous pair of high heels, or dress up like their favorite SATC character. To find out which SATC character you are and for some amazing looks for less, check out my Sex and the City 2 Fashion Roundup!
Posted in Gift Guides, Pete & Brenda: Get It Done Girls, tagged angelina jolie, body shop, ecpat, get it done girls, gift guide, gifts that give back, give love, haiti, hope for haiti, mothers day, necklace, patricia arquette, pete and brenda, project mothers day, satya jewelry, sos childrens villages, tassa tag, trees for change on April 30, 2010| 1 Comment »
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, many of us will be shopping to find the perfect gift for Mom. Looking for a unique and meaningful gift used to mean flowers and chocolates. While these gifts are thoughtful, this year you might consider giving Mom a gift that gives back. A quick search on the Internet for charitable gifts will bring up a huge assortment of non-profits and organizations to support, with many offering beautiful crafts, jewelry, or other keepsakes as a token of appreciation. Here are a few that really caught my eye:
Personalized Tree Gift – $35
Trees for a Change is an organization that plants trees as gifts in U.S. National Forests that have been destroyed by wildfire. With the Personalized Tree Gift, a tree will be planted by the U.S. Forest Service in an area that is desperate for reforestation. Mom will receive a personalized tree planting certificate, a gift card with your personal message, her name recorded on the Tree Gift Registry, and online access to photos and information where the tree was planted.
“Inner Strength” Necklace – $45
Founded by Solstice Designs, Project Mother’s Day creates hand crafted necklaces to give to children in the care of domestic abuse shelters across the country. The children in turn give the necklaces as THEIR gift to Mom on Mother’s Day. Solely funded by donations from friends, clients, and the community, Project Mother’s Day is now in its fifth year. In 2009, Solstice Designs handcrafted 400 necklaces that were provided to 13 shelters across the country. $5 from the sale of each piece is donated to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). The 18 inch sterling box chain necklace holds a handcrafted trio of silver rings. The inner ring is etched with the word Strength, and gently protected by two delicately hand-textured silver rounds. The “Inner Strength” Necklaces are shipped wrapped and ready for Mom, with an enclosure card describing the donation.
3. Give Love Foundation & Satya Jewelry
Hope Love & Healing Necklace for Haiti – $38
Actress Patricia Arquette (NBC’s Medium) has partnered up with the Give Love Foundation and Satya Jewelry to create the Hope, Love, & Healing Necklace for Haiti. Designed to raise money for the children and families of Haiti, the founders’ hopes are to rebuild the communities, homes and livelihoods of those displaced in the earthquake. Turquoise, soothing blue and natural, is the stone of healing. Paired with sterling silver hand-cast charms, the necklace bring hope and love to all that wear it, especially Mom! The Satya Foundation donates 100% of the proceeds from this necklace to the Give Love Foundation.
4. ECPAT-USA
Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream – $10
Tassa Tag – $12
ECPAT, which stands for End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children, is an international organization working to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children around the world. By purchasing their Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream, sold exclusively at The Body Shop, Mom will support the many children suffering across the globe from sex trafficking. $6 from every purchase of this limited edition hand cream will be donated directly to ECPAT-USA. They have also created the Tassa Tag, which stands for Travelers Take Action Against Sex Slavery and Trafficking. These colorful, handmade luggage tags (5 color options) are the perfect way for Mom to support this cause and be a responsible traveler.
Donations Start at $20
Give Mom the “gift of love” through SOS Children’s Villages, an organization that has been providing family-based care for children without parental care and social services for families at risk. Through their Children’s Villages, Family Strengthening Programs, and other initiatives, SOS impacts the lives of over 1 million people each year. Purchase a socially conscious donation for as little as $20 for an SOS Mother living in places like India, Haiti, Bangladesh, South Africa, Chile, Mexico, and Gambia. In exchange for your generous donation, SOS will send a warm, heartfelt card to Mom explaining the gift. For donations of $150 or more, Mom will receive a scarf by Love Quotes.
Angelina Jolie visited an SOS Village in Haiti in 2009.
Kara Birkenstock 