Gossip Girl star Blake Lively was on the December 2009 issue of Marie Claire magazine. The photo shoot from this spread was gorgeous. I loved that they mixed innocent and classic with updated pieces. The clothing featured in the shoot was from Chanel, Bottega Veneta, and Marc Jacobs. Jewelry was from Lorraine Schwartz.

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I was recently asked by a PR Firm representing both Marshalls and T.J. Maxx to take part in a blogger Secret Santa. I thought that it sounded like it could be a lot of fun and agreed to participate. Participants were each sent two $25 gift cards to either Marshalls or T.J. Maxx. One of this gift cards was to be spent on ourselves and the other on our Secret Santa partner. At most stores $25 doesn’t go too far. What was fun about this challenge was to see how creative you could be.

With my $25 gift card, I scored BigSexyHair Shampoo & Conditioner as well as a makeup brush set. I love the BigSexyHair line, but it’s so expensive that I have a hard time paying full price. The last time I was at Marshalls I picked up some mousse and hair spray. So when I saw the shampoo and conditioner, I had to buy them to give them a try too. So far, I’m loving the products and the price. They were only $6 each! I’ve also been on the lookout for some new makeup brushes. This three piece set came with a travel case, and was only $10! There were tons of other temptations there. Lots of handbags, clutches, wallets, scarves, hats, and tons of other beauty products that I could have gotten. I was amazed at the variety of items that I could get for under $25. For my secret santa partner, I selected a really cute and warm scarf and a two pack of cashmere Betsey Johnson socks. They were adorable and I couldn’t believe that Betsey Johnson was even at Marshalls, much less at an affordable price.

Yesterday, the package from my Secret Santa arrived in the mail. They sent me two pairs of textured black Calvin Klein tights, Mop Glisten Shampoo and Conditioner, and a really cute England themed luggage tag. Again, I was really surprised at what they were able to score for under $25. The Mop shampoo is organic and I’ve heard great things about the brand, so I’m excited to try it out. Plus, I had been wanting some textured tights for a while. So, whoever the blogger is who sent me this – Thank you!!!

If you need to do some of your last minute holiday shopping, definitely check out both Marshalls and T.J. Maxx. Each store has a great selection of beauty products, clothing, and accessories that are affordable. They also both carry housewares and electronics. You’re sure to find something for everyone on your list and, as demonstrated in this post, you don’t need to spend a lot to get a lot.

Also, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx have joined together for a “Carol-oke” contest. You can upload a video of you singing your favorite Christmas carol to the YouTube Caroling Channel. People will vote on their favorites and you have the chance to win a $5,000 holiday shopping spree. For each video that is updated, a charity donation will be made. It’s a win win situation all around.

Editor’s Note: The product(s) featured in this post were provided by a representative of the company named in this post for editorial consideration. Please note that all reviews are 100% honest and a product would not receive a favorable review unless it provided favorable results.

At the recent New York premiere of the movie Everybody’s Fine, Drew Barrymore was seen in a sequined Pucci dress. This very stylish Emilio Pucci dress is from the line’s Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Sequins are a going to be a big trend this spring, but there’s no reason that you can’t have fun with them now. While Drew Barrymore’s pick of a sequin dress is great for her movie premiere, keep it less dramatic. Especially if you’re on the Insurance job search or something. Add small embellishments into your wardrobe for everyday wear. I’ve seen some really cute sequined vests at H&M recently and Janine of Hollow Star recently posted pics of herself in some sequined shorts.

What’s your take on the sequin trend?

After seeing the Siwy Fall 2009 Lookbook, I loved their jeans. Especially the Hannah skinny jeans. These cute skinny jeans come in more washes than you can imagine. Heidi Montag was seen with her husband, Spencer Pratt, wearing the Siwy Hannah Skinny Jeans in Snowstorm. While the white denim trend from this summer has faded (but some are still on the lookout for Mopar parts), these are still a great example of how spot on Siwy denim is with their styles. I also love how Heidi Montag wore such a simple and basic outfit, but still looked cute. A well fitting tee and a great pair of jeans will never go out of style.

Heidi Montag isn’t the only celebrity who loves Siwy denim. Kim Kardashian was seen in the the Siwy Hannah Skinny Jeans in Bluestorm. In fact, Kim Kardashian has also been seen in the Siwy Hannah Skinny Jeans in Snowstorm as well.

What do you think of Heidi Montag’s outfit? Are you a fan of the Siwy Hannah Skinny Jeans in Snowstorm or other Siwy denim styles?

One of the cosmetic products that I cannot live without is black eyeliner. I used to loathe the stuff back in my natural phase where I hated all makeup (weird to imagine, huh?) but a friend forced me to try it and I was instantly hooked. That was years ago and black eyeliner is now my absolute must have product. Both the pencil and liquid forms have their purpose and I think that everyone should own both. When I was offered a chance to give LashFood Conditioning Liquid Eyeliner by a representative of the company, I had to take it. I’ve always been curious about their products and have heard mixed reviews, so I wanted to give it a try myself.

LashFood Conditioning Liquid Eyeliner promises to stimulate your lashes and help produce fuller, longer and stronger lashes in 2 to 4 weeks with daily use. When I first used the product, I loved how it applied. The brush allows you to apply a clean line that is as thin or as full as you would like. The color is a rich black, which is just what I like from liquid liners. However, I have mixed feelings about the overall wear of the product. I added it to my staple makeup routine for several days. Some days the liner wore perfectly all day, others it flaked off shortly after application. I tried applying it in one steady stroke as well as in several short strokes to see if my application made a difference. It didn’t seem to have an effect on the wear of the product. Since I used the exact same other eye makeup on all the days, I’m not really sure what caused these results. I did notice that my lashes do seem a little bit fuller after using the product, but since I had such inconsistent results from the liquid eyeliner I’m not sure if it’s a product I would purchase later on.

Have you tried LashFood Conditioning Liquid Eyeliner? What were your results? I know that I have read a lot of rave reviews about other LashFood products (as well as the LashFood Conditioning Liquid Eyeliner) and am curious as to what readers have to say.

Editor’s Note: The product(s) featured in this post were provided by a representative of the company named in this post for editorial consideration. Please note that all reviews are 100% honest and a product would not receive a favorable review unless it provided favorable results.