One of the cutest trends that’s coming back for this spring is Rocker Chic. Combining some elements from last years Hippie Chic trend with great vintage pieces, you can create a look that’s both cute, functional, and fun. Take a few cues from Drew Barrymore when it comes to the Rocker Chic trend. The newly platinum blonde actress puts together several basic pieces with several statement pieces for a great take on this trend.

In my latest post on Sparkle Shelf, Rocker Chic with Drew Barrymore, take some tips from Drew on how to wear this great trend.

We all have items in our closets that have been around for ages and that we still love. This year, it’s time to turn those old pieces into something fresh and fun for your wardrobe. Why spend money on brand new items when you can do it yourself? By spending a significantly smaller amount and using your own creative skills, you can customize and personalize these items with new twists. With just a few small tips and tricks, you can turn those old favorites into something new.

In my latest post on Sparkle Shelf, How To Refresh and Renew Your Wardrobe, you’ll learn how a few simple and easy tips and tricks can re-create your closet.

Looking for some information on great Vegas vacations?

I used to stuff my closet full of those same items. Things I just couldn’t bear to part with, like my National Geographic t-shirt that showed animals all around the globe that I received as a present in the fourth grade and wore into college until it was so tattered and torn that it literally started to fall apart, or things that I might someday wear, like a cute dress that I had to have at the time until I later realized that getting me into a dress more than once or twice a year is a big feat in itself. After working in a clothing re-sale shop, where we could sell our used clothing for store trade for new items, I realized that I needed to clean up my act and picked up some of the best tips on Here, you’ll learn some great tips on How To Purge Your Closet.

1. Keep it current. Not necessarily with trends, but with your current look. If you haven’t worn the item in the last 6 months (or cannot remember the last time you wore it or if you never even removed the tags), you probably aren’t going to miss it once it’s gone. Exceptions to this rule are classic seasonal pieces that will always be in style, like a well fitting trench coat or a classic Little Black Dress.

2. Learn the difference between good vintage/retro/grunge and bad. While all those looks come back frequently enough to be worth holding onto older items for, not everything will come back. Think back on a lot of the trends from the past… Parachute pants a la M.C. Hammer, fanny packs (interesting prints are any exception), combinations of purple and hot pink or any neon shade, men in platforms and spandex, Mom jeans… A lot of trends need to stay dead. For good. Exceptions to this are a few sentimental pieces or hard to find pieces, but keep those to a minimum.

3. See if it fits you NOW. At your current weight, not when you lose 5 pounds. There’s no point keeping old clothes around with the hope that they might fit again. They may, and they may not but, unless there’s a health reason involved, odds are that you’re better off just trying to learn to like your body as it is. Not as what it could be if you cut back on the carbs and hit up the gym for an extra half hour each day. You’re going to be happier in the end and, if you are happier, you’re much more likely to be at a healthy weight for your body. Besides, once you do lose that weight, you’ll want to reward yourself with some shopping anyways. Exceptions to this are really amazing items that you love for their beauty, not necessarily because you want to wear them every day.

4. Look for similar items and duplicates. Then toss items that are on their last legs. If you’re like me and happen to have 4 plain white crew neck t-shirts, it’s okay to lose the one with the stain that you use only as an under layer. If you can’t wear it in multiple ways, or even out of the house, it’s not worth keeping around.

5. Learn to mix & match. If you can’t automatically think of at least 5 outfits that it can be included in, don’t keep it. Exceptions are, of course, really amazing items that you just don’t the chance to wear that often, but pull out whenever you can. Looking for a challenge? Try to work those exception pieces into other outfits. Try something daring and new, like a frilly cocktail dress with a leather jacket and boots.

Looking for some information on tire chains?

Follow my blog with bloglovin´

The first time that I used Diorshow, I wasn’t too impressed with the product. It left a lot of clumps on my lashes. However, after the second use the clump issue has been resolved. I used the mascara while traveling thanks to the great size of the deluxe sample, so I’m thinking that all the atmosphere changes created by toting it in my carry-on may have had something to do with the clumps. After nearly two weeks of use now, I can say that I do like this mascara an awful lot but, I still don’t think it’s worth the price.

While it did add length to my lashes and I do love the rich black of the mascara, it did little to add volume to my lashes, which is what I always look for. I naturally have long but fine lashes, so I need all the help in the volume department that I can get. While it definitely doesn’t create the false lash look on me, it definitely does create a great natural doe-eyed look that any girl into the hippie fashion craze would love. It also doesn’t feel brittle or stiff like a lot of other mascaras do.

Have you used Diorshow Mascara before? Did you like the results?

Have you thought about checking out Rancilio Silvia?

If you love vintage fashion, odds are that you are a fan of Dita Von Teese’s style. Afterall, Von Teese and a vintage glam look seem to go hand-in-hand. Want to try the look yourself? Learn from one of the best out there. Being able to pull of the vintage glam look is a lot harder than one might imagine. Take fashion cues from Vita Don Teese, one of the most glamorous women out there, to successfully pull off the look.

To read more, check out my post Vintage Glam Done Right on Sparkle Shelf.

Learn more about Grohe faucets.

What would you like to see here in the next year? More fashion? More on make up? More tutorials? More about my personal style and make up looks? Anything and everything that you want to suggest - do it!

Looking for some bamboo shades?

Tall boots are one of the best wardrobe staples to have for winter. They are chic, cute, go with everything and, best of all, functional in all climates.

While tall boots are sold year round, there are a lot of great ways to wear them when it’s cold outside that are not only going to keep you warm, but also make you look good. Who says that being functional means you have to ignore fashion tips?

To learn more about how to wear tall boots and to see some celebrity style inspiration, check out the post How To Wear Tall Boots on Sparkle Shelf.

The Little Black Dress, or LBD as it’s commonly known, is one of the most notorious wardrobe staples. Know for being a versatile and classic item, two Hollywood stars recently showed just how versatile it can be. Jenny McCarthy and Jennifer Aniston pull off completely different looks while wearing a Little Black Dress. From a glamorous high maintenance bombshell to the natural glowing beauty, the LBD is completely versatile for any occasion. My latest post on Sparkle Shelf, The Little Black Dress Two Ways will show you how versatile it can really be.

• 39thandbroadway.com - What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”!
• A Few Goody GumDrops - A Few Goody Gumdrops gets Bright for the Holidays with her new Orange Louis Vuitton Tote!
• All Chic - Christmas Jewels
• AlysiaMarie - This Month’s Celebrity Hair Trend; Ponytails!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy - How to wear scarves without looking like an emo kid
• Caged Lilies - Pretty and CHEAP gifts for friends. everything under .
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Chasing the winter blues away by shopping handmade…
• Clutch 22 - Stylish gift giving on a budget - there’s still time to do your holiday shopping!
• Couture Allure Vintage Fashion - Couture Allure shows how to dress up your shoes for a touch of evening glamour.
• Debutante Clothing - A Tribute to Bettie Page: 5 Reasons We Loved Bettie Page
• Decline Designs - Petticoat tutorial - so your vintage skirts can have the look they deserve!
• Dirty Laundry - How-To: Boyfriend Jeans
• dramatis personae - Alternative Uses For Fur
• Dress Me Up Dollie - A little DIY chases the winter doldrums away.
• Fashion Birdcage - Of Cabbages & Kings Spring/Summer 09 Collection
• fashion fille - Fashion Fille spreads the cheer around through boosting fashionistas to enter the weardrobe contest.
• fashion in my eyes - Beauty&The Beast with Drew Barrymore
• Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Pulse Daily gives tips on how to get the biker chic look without having to jump on a Harley.
• Fashion Therapist - Where to find the perfect ugly sweaters for all your holiday themed parties:
• Fasshonaburu - A shopping gift guide for the self-proclaimed “hipster” on your list this holiday season!
• Going to Hell in a Handbag - Consumed by Coats
• greystrawberrys - whats in your make up box?
• Hot Beauty Health - The Smurfs enters beauty world with a Smurfette Collection
• In Life and In Fashion - Easy Holiday Dressing Tips
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - We Really Like Your Style
• Iole in fashion - Red (dress) fashion tree
• Iwanttowearit - Manicurist Yuna Park puts fashion in the fingers of the hottest models for the freshest magazines.
• Logical Harmony - How To Find Deals at Thrift Stores : Beyond The Basics
• Mademoiselle Robot - Interview with fashion photographer and club promoter Pavla Kopecna.
• Nico Assatly - Hot Holiday/Silver bells! cute look for the holidays !
• noiretro // style deficit disorder - Limi Yamamoto Spring 2009 collection & DIY Martin Margiela Sandal Booties
• Or False Glitter - Going grunge with Sonic Youth
• PONY RYDER - exclusive interview with TOPMODEL Iris Strubegger!
• Retro Chick - Comfy Christmas Glamour
• Shopping and Info - Shopping and Info loves what Jennifer Aniston wore to the Marley & Me Premiere.
• Style Amor - Alice In Wonderland Fashion + Movie Frenzy for 2010, Johnny Depp and Mad Hatter Fashion.
• Style Discovery - Confession of a jewellery addict and brining an order and clarity to a pile of necklaces.
• Style Symmetry - Eyeliah finds inspiration in the Wardrobe Remix Pool!
• Summershoes - 11 steps to a perfect homemade manicure
• Sweety P Style Files - The Wardrobe Recession Diaries: Stalkin Clerks in the Mall and a Houndstooth Dress
• The Bare Skinny - The Bare Skinny gives you the scoop on the unmentionables: Undergarments
• THE COVETED - Last-Minute Gifts that Pamper and Relax

Why spend time searching all over the internet for great fashion blogs and posts? There are so many blogs out there that sometimes it feels like you need a Garmin GPS to find your way to some good ones. Instead, just check out these links from Independent Fashion Bloggers!

What’s so great about a statement bag like one from Eenamaria is that you don’t need any other accessories. You could be wearing a basic little black dress, simple make up, and basic hair, yet still stand out because of the bold color and print of these bags. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s nice to take the easy route when it comes to getting dressed and let my accessories do the talking for me. They are extremely affordable in price, too. Which is rare for a quality handbag. All of the bags are under $120. My two favorite styles are Every Queen Needs One, which retails for $52, and Murse or Purse?, which retails for $36. They are both great sizes and styles that would be perfect for toting everywhere, plus they come in great colors and prints.

I could definitely picture myself running around town in some dark denim cigarette leg jeans, black ballet flats, a basic t-shirt and cardigan, big sunglasses, and either one of those purses in tow. You could probably see yourself or a friend toting one around too. Bold colors are going to be a great trend this spring, so make sure that your fashionista friends (or yourself) get something great to wear like a Eenamaria Handbag. You can see more styles and learn more on the Eenamaria Handbags website.

What do you think of these bags? Would you wear one? Do you plan on buying one as a gift for someone?

1. Mix up the section you are looking in. A lot of children’s sizes overlap with juniors sizes in both tops and bottoms. For example, even though it wasn’t thrifted, I recently picked up a brand new Abercrombie kids tank top for $9.90 in a size XL, which fit about the same as a medium in Abercrombie & Fitch. I also have this ancient vintage little boys t-shirt that I’ve been wearing since I was in high school. It’s from back when boys t-shirts were as tight as the girls and reminds me of something I’d see on Eric on an episode of That 70’s Show. Bottoms also overlap too. For many brands, a childrens 14 or 16 is a juniors size 00 or 0. The mens section is a great place to look for current styles, especially when it comes to sweaters. In high school I wore a lot of Grandpa-style cardigans and sweaters and the mens section of my local Goodwill was where I bought them all. The mens section is also a great place for over-sized button ups in both cotton and flannel. The styles are often plainer than in the womens section and, if you’re into vintage styles like I am, odds are that you’ll find something you love.

2. Hit up the sale rack. I once found a vintage Levi’s denim jacket from the 1970’s, complete with the faux sheep fur lining, on sale for $20. It was an amazing jacket and I wore it for years (successfully avoiding the horrible cowboy tuxedo look, by the way). I’ve also scooped up great deals like a pair of Vigoss boot cut jeans (typically sold at Nordstrom) with pink rhinestone details on the back pockets for only $8. Often times these sale racks are indeed full of some of the most interesting or hideous items that you can imagine but, just like with most sale racks, there’s usually something great on there that just needs to be found.

3. Look for the obscure thrift stores. Some of my favorite finds were from a St. Vincent DePaul store that was located in a place that attracted the bare minimum of window shoppers. Because of it’s location fewer people shopped there and those who did were mostly the age of my Grandparents. The racks were fuller and I found some very unique and hard to find items. The best one that I ever scored was a vintage Girl Scout button up shirt. One of the customers from the re-sale shop used to visit a second hand store in a lower class area of town but, because of this, would find some of the most amazing items. Free People tops only a season or two old priced at $5, vintage real designer items for under $10, bright red petticoats in good condition for $15, etc. Those shops are visited less and their customer base has less of an idea about what the labels are and what the current trends and styles are. One year my boyfriend wanted to dress as George Jung (the guy from Blow) and we found the most amazing vintage plaid mens peacoat that was absolutely perfect.

4. Look for potential. Some items would be great and up to date with just a tiny bit of altering, or when layered with just the right items. If you are someone that loves to be creative, sew, and play dress up then look for these items! You could find some great t-shirts that just need to be re-made and re-styled into something that’s incredibly current. Or you could find a great dress that has a great skirt, but maybe a not so great top. If you are crafty, do not shy away from these items! Not only will you end up with something that is completely unique but you’ll have saved yourself a lot of cash. However, be realistic. If you don’t have the time or talent to spice up items that have potential (and if trying to do so will make you need an acne treatment), skip them.

5. Look for household items. I really cannot even begin to count the number of cute vintage items in my house that come from Goodwill. I love retro and vintage dishware from the 1950’s thru the 1970’s, and built quite a collection. I have plates covered in green daisies, plates etched with mushrooms, mugs with mushrooms and flowers, and Asian patterns that look like they belong in a seedy Chinese restaurant where the food is questionable. People donate some pretty amazing housewares and you can often get them for very very cheap. A Goodwill that I used to frequent sold paperback books for $1 and hardbacks for $3. As someone who loves to read, I amassed quite a unique and funky collection. When I had an 8 Track Player, I was also able to have a really great collection of fully functioning 8 tracks. I was so amazed the day that I found 8 tracks by both Jimi Hendrix and Bread at Goodwill. Check out the records section. Even if you don’t have a record player, you can re-create them into some funky house items, like record bowls (one of my favorite crafts to make!), and use the sleeves to make gift boxes.

All this being said, don’t discount the basic tips for successful thrift shopping!!! They are very good basics to keep in mind, especially if you are new to thrifting. Fellow fashion blogger J has posted tons of great tips for thrifting on her blog and her recently posted Sparkle Shelf article How to Successfully Thrift Shop. If the idea of a thrift store is just too gross for you, check out consignment and re-sale shops. The items are often a lot nicer since they are handpicked for the store by the staff. Some re-sale shops are even dedicated for specific items, like vintage by era (the city I used to live in had one that only carried items from the 1930s and 1940s) or only designer items.

Hopefully with these additional tips, you will be able to spot How To Find Deals at Thrift Stores better. Remember that it’s not always about what you find on the surface but what you can create with these items. Being a good thrift shopper means that you are resourceful, patient, and have an eye for what makes your style you.

+ Buffalo by David Bitton $20 Gift Card (Canada only)
+ Cosmopolitan Magazine 5 issue mini-subscription
+ Splenda No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber
+ Twinings Tea (UK only)

Hopefully there will be more samples available next week! As always, make sure to check the archives for freebies that are still active.

Want to find out more about weight loss pills? Check out that site and get informed about them before you try a single one.

Malibu Secret uses natural antioxidants (such as hibiscus flower extract, pear extract, and green tea leaf) to help prevent free radical damage. Antioxidants are something that we’ve heard are great to ingest as they help your immune system, but they also do wonders for your skin. Free radicals are caused by many factors in life - from pollution to natural processes in the body - and are what can cause pre-mature aging by damaging your skin. Being able to fight against free radicals is a very important step in anti-aging skin care.

As I said, the cream is a really nice and thick consistency. It isn’t at all oily or greasy and absorbed into my skin right away. After applying the lotion, my skin felt smooth and moisturized, not greasy like a lot of creams can make my skin feel. I applied Malibu Secret to my nails and hands for a week straight. In my day job, because it isn’t fashion and beauty blogging yet, I can do a lot of damage to my hands and I try my best to take care of them and repair this damage. After a weeks time, I definitely noticed a difference in the skin on my hands. It was not only moisturized throughout the day no matter what my hands went through, but the skin seemed to be softer and more supple in general. I wasn’t needing to apply lotion as often as I used to because my skin was staying hydrated. I’m sure that I will notice even better results with long term use of Malibu Secret. My one complaint is that it smells a bit too much like sunscreen for my taste. It would be amazing if it came in summery scents, like coconut, as well as the signature floral scent.

What’s even better is that Malibu Secret is paraben-free, not tested on animals, and comes in a recycled container. Skin friendly and environmentally friendly? That’s always worthwhile in my book. You can pick up Malibu Secret through Rejuvenation Gifts, but hurry because there are currently limited quantities! Let me know if you enjoyed it as much as I did!

What actually drew me to the store was my love of shoes. I was doing some browsing online and found out that a location near me has a Shoe Mega Shop. These departments are bigger (and better) than the shoe departments in other Marshall’s stores. They carry a wider variety of styles and brands and I was completely overwhelmed by the selection once I arrived at the store. They had everything! Flat boots, heeled boots, fringe boots, oxford booties, flats, skate shoes, running shoes, moccasins, loafers, classic pumps, stiletto heels… Converse, Steve Madden, Roxy, Ugg, Bearpaw, Michael Kors, Coach… It was full of the hottest trends and high quality brands. Even the clearance racks had an amazing selection of really cute shoes. For a shoe lover who also loves bargains, it was an awesome place to be.

After a lot of browsing (I must have spent at least an hour in there looking at shoes), I finally settled on a pair. Though I was completely distracted by some plaid Roxy boots, some Steve Madden fringe boots, and Michael Kors flats, I decided to get a pair of Coach flats. I got the Coach Ornette loafters in Bordeux. While I’m not usually one to talk prices, I really cannot help it with this amazing score. They originally retailed for around $178, and I paid only $70 for these gorgeous loafers. That’s over $100 less than what they originally retailed for! While I wasn’t expecting to spend quite that much, how could anyone pass over really cute Coach loafers at that price?

I’m seriously tempted to go back soon and buy another pair or two of other styles because the prices really were that great. The Steve Madden fringe boots (and we all know about my love of fringe boots) were a great steal at $50. The Michael Kors ballet flats, which were a great pair of basic black flats with studs on the toes, were $60. There were even other Coach flats for around $100. And those are the higher priced shoes in the section! The plaid Roxy boots were only around $25 and they had Ugg boots for around $75. The Marshall’s Shoe Mega Shop is definitely the place for anyone who loves both bargains and shoes. It’s almost dangerous.

I found this cute widget on Marshall’s site that is promoting the Shoe Mega Shop department. You match up shoes and have a chance to win a $250 shopping spree! With their low prices, just imagine what $250 could get you! Actually… I am now. Those Steve Madden fringe boots are calling my name, so I’m off to give The Great Shoe Find a try!

Have you visited a Marshall’s Shoe Mega Shop before? Score any sweet deals? Let me know!