My Daily Find: Extra 40% Off Neiman Marcus Last Call

Neiman Marcus LASTCALL has extra 40% off everything for 2 days only, Nov. 26 & 27. So, if you are looking for some Christmas gifts, head over to the site. Also, you can score free shipping on any order with code FRSHIP (I believe it expires Nov.30, 2013). 

I have been "spying" on these Sam Edelman booties for some time now and am so happy I got them today:

Also, if you are a Hanky Panky fan, some of their styles with the 40% off come to just $9. So, stock up or treat some of your girlfriends with these. Happy shopping!

Fall Treats: Blueberry & Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Mini Muffins

It's time for another fall pumpkin treat - this time combined with blueberries and dark chocolate chips for an extra dose of deliciousness and ...well, antioxidants. My Healthy Pumpkin Zucchini muffins were a hit at home, so I had high hopes for this recipe, as well. This is also low in sugar and loaded with vitamins. I did try to eat just one of these but - as expected - without any success. Take a look:

Ingredients (makes 24 mini muffins):

• 1.5 cups white flour
• 2 tbs sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
• 1/3 cups mini dark chocolate chips
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2/3 cups plain yoghurt (I do like and use Chobani)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (I use the organic canned variety but you can cook your own if you wish)

Heat oven to 350 F and grease the muffin tin or line with muffin cups.

Preparation:

1. In a bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, soda, sugar and cinnamon
2. Beat the egg, then add the yoghurt, pumpkin puree, and olive oil and vanilla. Stir well.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, stirring until moistened
4. Add the blueberries and mini chocolate chips to the muffin mixture
5. Spoon the batter into the mini muffin cups - I like to fill the cups well as it results in a nice crispy top
6. Bake for ~ 25-30 minutes, making sure you do not over-bake the muffins so that they are moist inside

Enjoy these mini bites with a cup of your favorite tea or coffee. For some extra yummy, top with your favorite jam.

My Daily Find: Pumpkin Patch Early Christmas Sale Nothing Over $15

Happy Friday everyone! One of my favorite kids brands - Pumpkin Patch (I've written about it before) - is having an amazing sale. Nothing is over $15 on the entire site! Plus, you can get free shipping on any order with code USANTA - such a great deal, and right on time for the holidays:

My experience with the quality of the clothes, as well as the speed of shipping has been so positive, so definitely stop by and browse - I'm sure you'll find some amazing gifts for the special kid/s in your life. Below are some of the gifts I picked up for my darlings. Happy shopping!

Julep December Maven Selection Now Open

If you are a Julep Maven subscriber, the December selection window is now open. In the holiday spirit of glamor and sparkle, it has some glittering and jewel tone polishes, and is appropriately called the Glitterati Collection. Take a look:

All of the styles look really nice, but this time I'm loving Classic with a Twist the most:

Also, this month there is a New Polish Lover Upgrade for all Mavens. For $25 extra, you will receive the new colors from each maven style profile - that is a total of nice shades for $25. Not a bad deal!

Frankly, I have enough nail polishes and I'm deciding whether or not to skip this month. However, looking at all those gorgeous colors, it is a rather difficult decision.

If you are not a Julep Maven, you can try it out and get your first box for free with code FREEBOX (code expires December 31, 2013).

My Daily Find: Happy Family Brands on Zulily

One of my favorite baby food brands - Happy Family - is on zulily today. My 16-month old son loves the Happy Baby and Happy Tot fruit, veggie and meal pouches - and they are good - both good-tasting (I always try his food) and healthy! 

If you are a fan, you can stock up on some of their amazing flavors at a good price point. I am an Amazon Prime customer and typically buy those there, but I checked on a couple of the flavors and they are ~ 20% lower currently on zulily. Even with the shipping, it should still be a good deal. Besides, there are some flavors offered - like the Happy Tot Morning varieties - that I could not find elsewhere. These are some of the flavors I'll be getting for my son:

Happy Tot Morning Apple, Cinnamon, Yoghurt & Oats - he is a huge fan of any apple / cinnamon combos, so hoping he'll this one, as well:

Happy Tot Yohurt Orange, Apple & Sweet Potato - it's not often that I find orange in baby food, so this should be interesting to try:

Have you tried Happy Family for your baby / toddler? What are your favorite baby / toddler food brands?

Fall Treats: Easy Butternut Squash with Honey & Pecans

Happy Friday, everyone! While I usually share my recipes in my Thursday Treats posts, I just had to share this one today. It's not really a recipe - more so an easy and simple way to prepare Butternut Squash with Honey & Pecans. Now that fall and colder days have settled in, and with the holidays around the corner, I find myself doing more baking and preparing more feel-good treats. Here is the photo:

And the easy preparation:

• You will need: butternut squash, honey, some butter (you can skip if you prefer), pecans, cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Here is how I prepare this:

• I boil the peeled and cut butternut squash for ~ 30 min. I add a tea spoon of pumpkin spice mix to the water to get that extra divine aroma. Once it's done, I put a few pieces in a bowl, add one or two tea spoons of butter, drizzle some honey, add chopped pecans (the more, the better) and sprinkle with some cinnamon. 

Easy, delicious and sure to warm you up on a cold fall day! Of course, you can eat the butternut squash just as is (the way my 16-month old likes it), but with the add-on's it just feels a bit more like a dessert.
What are some of your favorite simple fall treats?

PopSugar Must Have Box Review November 2013

My November PopSugar Must Have Box arrived yesterday and though I can bever resist spoilers, I was still excited to see all the goodies for myself. 

A first look...

This box is getting into the holiday spirit, here are a few lines from the information card included:

"With the holidays kicking into high gear very soon, we wanted to make your life easier with practical but swoon-worthy pieces. From a cozy wrap to a new way to remove nail polish, you'll find everything to get you through November and beyond..." Makes perfect sense, and now a look at all the goodies:

An attempt to capture all the goodies

Must Have Fashion:
Michael Stars Wrap ($42)
I received the black / white print one. It's called Folk Art Wrap based on the brand website. This is a nice-size wrap, it's soft, 100% acrylic. I love scarves but I'm still not sure if this is my-kind-of print - maybe it'll grow on me once I wear it. It certainly is a nice neutral accessory.

Must Have Home:
Illume Candle ($15.75)
I received the Naughty scent and it is a very spicy, almost men's cologne type scent. I would have preferred the Nice scent that is said to be of vanilla... My husband really liked the one I got, though and I like the jar / styling of the candle. 

Must Have Beauty:
The Soap & Paper Factory Roland Pine Shea Butter Soap ($8)
I like soap, but this one is definitely not for me. It has a very nice pine wood scent but it will go to my husband. The packaging is beautiful. I would love to try some of the other scents from this brand, like this Gardenia one.

Absolute! Nail Polish Remover Pads ($1.99)
I received the Lemon scent and I'm definitely excited to try these out. I like the fact that you can take this cute little box anywhere.

Must Have Home:
Lands' End Single Canvas Wine Tote ($14.50)
While I would not have bought this myself, I can certainly see the usefulness of having it around. Wine is one of the items we often take when visiting friends, so I'll give it a try next time.

CanvasPop Gift Card ($30)
The gift card cannot be applied towards shipping and looking at their prices, you do need to pay extra in order to get a good sized print, but I think it's probably worth it... that is if you are considering shopping for a canvas print.

Must Have Food:
Maison De Monaco Strawberry & Blackcurrant Cream Preserves ($6) 
I and everyone in my family love preserves, especially in winter. So, I was definitely excited to get this in my November Box. It's said to be hand-cooked and have less sugar than traditional preserves... I tried it on some scones today and it is absolutely delicious! It's not overly sweet and you can see the pieces of strawberries - I'm a fan!

Special Extra:
Barefruit Crunchy Sea Salt Caramel Apple Chips ($1.99)
I've had Barefruit apple chips before - the apply and apple / cinnamon varieties and I like them. Not sure if I'll like the sea salt on this one, but will give it a try.

My verdict: The total value of the November Must Have box comes to a little over $120. While it's consistent with the high value to cost ratio of past boxes, it certainly is not the highest value we've had so far. While not one of my favorite boxes so far, I do like the variety of the items I received and the fact that I'll get to try new things. My favorite goodies from this box are the delicious preserves and the Absolute! Nail Polish Remover pads. Also, I'm definitely gifting a few of the items but that's fine.

If you'd like to see my other PopSugar Must Have Box reviews, you can do so here. If you are interested in signing for the December box, while it is still available, you can do so here. Also, make sure you use code REFER5 to get $5 off your first box.

What did you think of this month's PopSugar box? Are you a subscriber? Are you thinking of subscribing?

FabKids Holiday Collection Available Now

I've shopped for my girl and reviewed FabKids sets before, but have since skipped a few months as we were all set on new clothes. With the holidays approaching, however, I am once again "stalking'' any holiday-worthy looks. FabKids just released their holiday collection and some of those pieces are truly adorable - I like the sequins dress a lot. They now offer boys clothing, as well:

If you want to learn more about FabKids and try it, you can do so here. Plus, for a limited time, if you sign up for FabKids, you can get 50% off your first outfit. Finally, you can skip a month and if you are not completely satisfied with the outfit you receive, you can return it for free within 30 days.

My Daily Find: Nordstrom Rack For Hautelook

My fabulous find for today can be summed up in one sentence - you can now shop Nordstrom Rack on Hautelook. No, not just today, but any time - that is based on the announcement Hautelook just made.  Hautelook, a Nordstrom company and one of the more popular daily deal sites, seems to be expanding / enhancing its business model to give more access for its customers to great deals - not just for a limited time (like for its usual sale events) but any time and on demand from Nordstrom Rack. 

To me, this makes great sense and it is certainly enabled by Hautelook's parent company. In addition to being available on demand, all Nordstrom Rack purchases made on Hautelook will ship in 1-3 days. The typical shipping on Hautelook events purchases is usually slower, due to the different supply chain model in place.

I took a quick look through the offers and there are some great finds at deep discounts. For me, that's just an extra incentive to visit the site repeatedly.

What to check all of my Fabulous Daily Finds? See them here.

Do you shop Hautelook? What are your favorite daily deal sites and why?

My Daily Finds: Fabulous Christimas Treats for Kids on Zulily

Happy Saturday, everyone! Today's fabulous finds is all about kids and it was all found on my favorite Zulily. They are having spectacular Christmas shopping events right now, so make sure to check them out. Also, Zulily is running a nice shipping promo - you pay for shipping on an order, then you enjoy free shipping on additional orders placed before midnight PT on Sunday. Ranging from shoes to shocking suffers, here are just a few of the my finds:

Mariposa Glitter Slip-on Shoes - $6.99 (orig. $15) - it's never too early to stock up on easy spring slip-on styles:

Stride Rite Chestnut Remi Boot - $28.99 (orig. $50) - my girl is outgrowing her 'fancy' boots and this pair looks really nice:

Stride Rite navy Blue Dante Booties -$27.99 (orig. $49) - these booties look really warm for my son on those cold non-snow winter days:

Dolce Girl Red Plaid Dress - $8.99 (orig. $48) - no, the promotion price is not a mistake; it's such a great deal. I'm taking my girl to see The Nutcracker again this year and this might be the dress for her:

 
Glitter Headband Set - $7.49 (orig.$15) - I'm always on the lookout for different hair accessories for my daughter or for presents, and this set looks like an option:

There is a lot more on my favorite site, so check it out for some good Christmas shopping.

PopSugar Must Have Box November 2013 *SPOILER*

(UPDATE: I received my November box, you can check out my review here.)
It is time for PopSugar Must Have SPOILERS again - and again, thanks to some MUT members who received their boxes (thanks, RenoFab), we have these spoilers. Here's what is said to be included in the November Box:

• Barefruit Crunch Chips 1.69 oz (~$2)
• Lands' End Single Canvas Wine Tote ($14.50)
• The Soap and Paper Factory Shea Butter Soap 4 oz ($8)
• Maison de Monaco Preserves 8.3 oz (~$6)
• Illume Candle, scent in Naughty 6.2 oz ($15.75)
• Absolute A! Nail Polish Remover in Spring Fresh (32 pads) (~$2)
• $30 Gift card to Canvaspop
• Michael Stars Wrap ($64)

I'm sure some of the items will have variations - such as the wrap, maybe the soap, the preserves and the candle. That box looks pretty amazing to me - I can't wait to get mine and post more details once I get to see everything.

If you'd like to subscribe to PopSugar Must Have Box , you can use code REFER5 to save $5 off your first box. This month PopSugar continues with the special edition boxes - today, they announced a Special Edition Must Have Holiday Box for Him.

If you are interested to see what was in past PopSugar Must Have boxes, you can check all my Must Have box reviews here.

What do you think of the spoilers? Are you excited / not so much?

My Daily Finds: Pumpkin Patch 30% off and Zulily Stocking Stuffers - Treats for Kids

Today's Fabulous Finds is all about kids. I've been a fan of Pumpkin Patch for a few years now (see some of my previous picks here and here) and I have never been disappointed in the quality of their clothes and accessories. To add to that, I really like the designs they come up with and the attention to detail. They are currently running 30% off site-wide plus free shipping - use code USFL3. I'm definitely doing some of Christmas shopping. These are some pieces I'm considering for my kids.
For my five-and-a-half year old girl:

The prices after the 30% are as following:

• Vintage baker-boy $6.99 (orig. $19.50) - this French-inspired hat is so chic, I'd buy one for myself if they had my size!
• Butterfly tunic $16.09 (orig. $44.50) - I love this tunic! My daughter will wear it over a long-sleeve tee in the winter and just by itself in warmer weather.
• Glitter flower hair ties $4.19 (orig. $9.50)
• Winter ribbed tights $5.59 (orig. $12.50)

For my toddler son:

I'm loving grey / yellow color combinations lately and these are some great everyday pieces. I love the thickness of the pants and the stripy shirt. Here are the prices:

• Rib waist & cuff fleece joggers $11.19 (orig.$24.50)
• Stripe long sleeve top $9.09 (orig. $22.50)

Now, on to some toys at Zulily. The site is running a number of Stocking Stuffers sales today. Some of the things that caught my eye:

My First Library, Christmas Stories Board Book Set $9.99 (orig.$15):

These little board books are great for little toddler hands and to take along on car trips and stroller walks.

Rosie Pixie Pal $9.99 (orig. $25):

My girl loves fairies and this one looks so detailed and adorable. There is a lot more on Zulily so I'm going to do some more research :)

What are some of your Christmas finds for the little ones?

My Daily Finds: C & C California 40% Off and Hautelook

I am a big fan of C&C California and while they are a bit pricey, their clothes boast the most luxurious and soft fabrics, and last a long time. Also, they run promotions often, so I am always on the lookout to stock on some of my favorite pieces. C&C is running a fall clearance event right now where you get an additional 40% off sale items - just perfect. They've been running this for a week now and I don't know for how much longer, but the styles from their sales page are slowly disappearing. Here are some of my picks:

Fabulous Find #1: 
Boat Neck Drape Dress

This is a basic dress with some interesting details - like the draping that makes for a very flattering fit and the split sleeves. There is a cobalt blue one (which I got) and one in beet red. I wore it a few times with boots and a cozy cardigan on top and it looked perfect. The price after the discount is less than $30 (original $78).

Fabulous Find #2:
Stretch Luxe High-Lo Tee

C & C makes the softest tees and this one is no exception. I got the olive color one and it falls beautifully. I'd wear it with jeans all the time.  And, at less than $26 (down from $78), it's a real steal!

My next finds are from Hautelook - another one of the daily deal sites I check often and, as if I needed to look at more boots... well, here it is:

Fabulous Find #3:
Sam Edelman Maddie Bootie

This is priced at $54 (55% off original price) and it looks really cute. I love the color and the heel height... But I just ordered another pair (you can see it my previous Daily Finds post) so can't really justify this one. 
Hautelook has plenty of other styles in their Love... Booties event. You can sign up for free here.

Yes, these finds turned out to be all about mommy again. Next time I'll be on the lookout for some kids' treats.

What are some of your favorite finds today?

My Daily Finds: Lands' End Friends & Family Event 30% Everything

It's time for today's dose of daily finds. I like Lands' End clothing and shoes for my kids - they are of good quality and design. I do buy some things for myself, as well. If you are a fan, too, they are currently running a Friends & Family Sale for 30% off everything, including sale items - promo code FRIENDLY and pin 3055. Plus, you get free shipping with any $50+ order. And - as if I needed any more booties - I'm considering the following two pairs:

Tenley Wedge Booties:

These seem to be the perfect balance between elegant and comfortable. With the F&F discount, the price comes to less than $56 (original $164).

Roanne High Heel Chukka Booties:

I love the olive green color of these boots, and the style is so romantic. With the F&F discount, these come down to $34 (original $139).

Are you a fan of Lands' End? What are your favorite brands for winter booties?

Sneak Peak: Soft-baked Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Biscotti

This is just a teaser of the treat I'll share in my regular Thursday Treats post this week and it is delicious. I substituted the white flour that he original recipe called for with whole-wheat and I loved the result (and so did my kids!). I also used plenty of Nestle's Toll House Mini Semi-sweet Chocolate Morsels. Here's the result:

Recipe to come later in the week.

My Daily Finds: Treats for Mommy

Since I love finding great deals on fabulous products and, if you ask my husband, I scout the virtual space (e.i. my favorite online shopping and daily deal sites) for such deals quite too often, I decided to share my passion here. Thus, I'm starting a daily post called "My Daily Finds". While the items could range across any category, I am a bit partial to fashion, home and kids. My fabulous finds today are all meant to be a treat for mommy. Enjoy:

Fabulous Find #1:
Rue La La - one of my favorite daily deal sites - is running a sale on La Perla today. If you are like me and can't (won't) fit a regular-price La Perla treasure in your budget, here is a chance to buy one at 50% off. I am loving this sky blue bra - very romantic and oh-so-pretty ($49.90):

You can find more information on this and other sale items here. If you are not a member of Rue La La, you can sign up for free here. 

Fabulous Find #2:
I love shopping at Target and I made my weekly trip there this morning. I was on the lookout for some warmer leggings and found these Fleece Lined Leggings - I really like the subtle pattern and the softness. And, you can't beat the price at $12:

They are by Xhilaration and you can find more information here.

Find #3:
Finally, a fabulous find from another one of my all-time-favorite sites, Zulily. I've been looking for a cozy winter cardigan for some time and I think I have found it:

This beige zip-up sweater is by Coupe, is wool-blend and at $39.99 is more than 60% off its original price. You can sign up to Zulily for free here.

What are some of your favorite places for fabulous finds at great prices?