How often have you wished for a trendy new handbag, but you just can’t afford those designer price tags?  HandbagHeaven.com offers a wide selection of designer-inspired handbags at prices you can afford (all under $85).  Handbag Heaven was kind enough to send me a couple of items to review and share with you, and I received the Audra floral tote and a leopard print clutch wallet.

The Audra floral tote is a great day bag that lets you carry all your necessities in style.  The first thing I noticed was the large floral embellishment that is all-the-rage right now, and I just love the flirty feel it adds to my look.  As far as functionality goes, I was able to fit my wallet, laptop, keys, sunglasses, makeup case, notebook and iPod in the tote with ease!  A detachable, adjustable shoulder strap makes this bag versatile, and a zippered pocked on the back allows for storage of small items.   My only problem with the bag is that getting in and out of the bag while wearing it can be a pain because the leatherette is so flimsy.  But all in all I love the bag because I need a large tote to carry my daily life with me, and the Audra does it beautifully!

Accompanying the Audra tote, I received this small leopard print wallet.  I love it because it’s gorgeous, has multiple pockets for cards, receipts and coins, and it’s the perfect size for either carrying alone or throwing in a purse.

Visit HandbagHeaven.com, where all handbags are under $85!

I wandered in to Forever XXI today during my trip to the mall to scope out after-Christmas sales.  I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, except for a heavy black coat (which I didn’t find).  But I did find an adorable motorcycle jacket, a few nice tops and a satin skirt, and all for $87!  Waiting in line at the cash register took 30 minutes, but the great deals I found were worth the wait.

Pictured Above:

• Moto Jacket, available at Forever XXI for $32.80 (buy similar styles online here)
• Madras 641 Bubly Bustier blouse, available at Seeking Designers – M64 for $68.00 (owned this previously)
• American Eagle bootcut jeans, available at ae.com (owned these previously)
• Marciano ‘Tana’ Booties, available at Zappos.com for $205.92 (owned these previously)
• Evaline Satin Skirt, available at Forever21.com for $17.80
• Metallic Open Shoulder Top, available at Forever21.com for $22.80
• Fab SS Cowl Neck Top, available at Forever21.com for $12.50

Lately I’ve been overwhelmed with trying to keep up with all the social networks out there.  Besides Facebook and Myspace, I am also a member of many fashion-related sites.  In the interest of being more involved on fashion sites without going crazy, I’ve decided to try to cut down on the number of sites on which I try to interact.  Here’s a list of all the fashion-related social networking sites I belong to.  Which do you use?

• 2Threads
• Avenue7
• Beautiful! Fabulous!
• Chictini
• Creative Butterfly
• Fantastic Toe
• Fashion Inudstry Network
• Fashionising
• iVillage
• Kaboodle
• Modepass
• MyItThings
• OSoYou
• SheKnows
• ShoeHunting
• Shoe Network
• Stylehive
• Stylelist
• Stylemob
• The Classy Closet
• The Purse Forum
• TeamSugar
• Urban Fashion Network
• YouLookFab

Fashionable Eye by ShoeSmitten

So it’s official – I will be going to Boston for the TJ Maxx/Marshalls Overnight Event!  Today I got my agenda and travel plans, and now I just need to make sure I’m prepared.  It’s been more than a year since I’ve traveled anywhere, so I’m well overdue for a trip.

I’m leaving Nov. 17th and returning on the 18th, so I won’t have time to explore Boston, but I know I’ll want to go back for a longer stay.

I’m looking forward to meeting a few of my favorite bloggers:

• Angela, The Budget Fashionista
• Katja, Style Hive
• Ike, My Fashion Life
• Angela and Greg, You Look Fab
• Stephanie, Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle
• Lindsay, Broke & Beautiful
• Diana, The Budget Babe
• Adriana, Fashion Bomb
• Wendy, Nitrolicious
• Lauren, Second City Style

We’ll all get to meet the brand teams at TJ Maxx/Marshalls, and have an interactive session of Meet the Corporate Teams to learn about brands, customers and off-price fashion.  Then we’ll go on to see a Splurge vs. Steal Fashion Show, participate in other fun interactive sessions, and go shopping at the stores.  It’s going to be a wild ride, and I’m so honored to have been invited by Ogilvy PR to participate!  Of course, I will have a detailed report of the trip (and all the fab shoes I see/buy) on Shoe Smitten.  Wish me luck!

I bought a Merona plaid wool jacket that I just love at Target.  It is allover black and white plaid, and it has a belted waist and four buttons down the front.  After spending a reasonable $50 on it, I resolved to wear it as often as possible.

So, I wore it to church the day after buying it.  I couldn’t believe how stylish and comfortable I felt wearing it!  On my way out the door, I heard something hit the ground, and then I saw what I thought was a Quarter spinning.  I kept walking.

It would take me a few hours to realize what had happened – the middle button on my precious BRAND NEW jacket had popped off!  Now this was a dilemma, because I hadn’t grabbed the button off the floor earlier, so I have no matching button for the jacket. 

To make matters worse, the next day at work I was minding my business typing away on the computer, when I hear an all-too familiar sound of something hitting the ground.  Sure enough, another button had decided to break loose.  This time, I recovered the fallen soldier, slipped it in my purse and continued on with my day.

That brings me to today.  I decided to wear my jacket by tying the belt at the waist.  Hey, who needs buttons, anyway?  I was in the restroom tidying up when, lo and behold, the third button fell off!  So now I’m finally down to just one button hanging on for dear life.

This wouldn’t upset me so much if I hadn’t just bought the thing last Saturday, and if I knew how to sew…

…maybe it’s time to invest a little more money in a better-made jacket?