5 things I would quite like to spend $100 on - Paypal Giveaway!

I know I am not American, but the equivalent in pounds is £65, and 5 things I would spend £65 on is not frankly as catchy. Seeing as I've teamed up with 'The ARTcademy' this month to offer $100 Paypal giveaway, I started thinking about what thrifty retail therapy I'd quite like to treat myself to this month myself. The sales may be gone, but the deals are still out there!


1. Cheap flights to Portugal on Skyscanner.com. Right now I really am missing the sun, and I could do this for £45 from the UK, and still have change for a few sangrias on the beach.

2. I mentioned in a previous post my love of bags. This Maisy Mock Croc bag from Paul's Boutique is one of the best sellers, an expensive looking bag without the expensive price tag.

3. Two pairs of heels in the sale at Asos. (£25 & £40) 

4. Some train tickets to Cambridge and a few cocktails this Friday night, to celebrate my friends birthday. (I am doing this one, pictures to follow).

5. These two outfits from H&M, who are always great value. I am basically drooling over any of their printed tees right now.

I've joined forces with the great team at the 'ARTcademy' for one lucky person to win a $100 Paypal Giveaway, which you can join below! I found the Artcademy whilst looking for courses online, and discovered that they run fab blogging seminars. If you're interested you can visit them here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

What would you spend $100 on? 

Nasty Gal - Wearable Vintage Online

I love thrift shopping and searching for over sized jumpers and 60's style dresses in vintage shops. I particularly love a good rummage through various outlets on Brick Lane, and I'd quite happily get lost for hours there on a weekly basis. However in this day and age, time doesn't allow this remotely often enough, so I'm very thankful for my handful of favourite online retailers, who have buyers with impeccable taste!

With that in mind I wanted to post about one of my latest online obsessions - Nasty Gal. It features both new and vintage collections from a range of designers, and not only are there some great wearable vintage styles, the story behind its founder is fascinating too. Founded by Sophia Amoruso in 2006, it's a real rags to riches story. Sophia built an empire from an Ebay shop called 'Nasty Gal Vintage', a name inspired by Betty Davis. She did this by selling her prized vintage possessions, sourced from a secondhand shops (a thrifty lady after my own heart).  She went from photographing and uploading her own stock, spending hours by herself meticulously making sure everything was perfect, to a huge staff team and revenue of $24 million by 2012, which made Nasty Gal the fastest growing online retailer. Her story really resonates with a girl like me, who has big dreams and an entrepreneurial flare.

Here are just a few reasons why I'm happy to have stumbled across Nasty Gal,

1)  First and foremostly, I love the clothes! From the wearable, quirky vintage designs to tasteful choices from other designers and retailers, I love that I've found a website where I want a whole host of items from their collections, and actually have to restrain myself when buying.  Believe it or not, I'm actually a very picky shopper. I recently bought the sherbert jumper, above, and the metallic dress on the left, and am eagerly awaiting their arrival. My only complaint is that as a US based company,  I live so far away I have to wait a few weeks for it to reach my doormat!

2) I run an enterprise centre that supports young entrepreneurs, and I love a success story in business, especially when there is so much fear of failure about. Don't get me wrong, businesses CAN and do fail, but you never truly fail if you learn, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. Real entrepreneurs take knock backs as a learning opportunity and just persevere.

3) Looking around the office, pretty much 100% of the businesses set up and working from the centre are male, and that's not from lack of trying on my part to encourage some female entrepreneurs to move in. Now I'm not a multi-millionaire, I've merely dabbled with a few business ideas so far myself, but where are the young women that are getting out there and making a go of doing their own thing? I know there are lots of girl bosses out there,  and I'm just reflecting on one start up unit, in one area, in the UK, but across the board it does seem a little male dominated. It's not a mans world, and powerful women like Sophia who have made their own fate really prove that. I hugely respect those who go against the grain, set a goal, dream big, and just make it happen. Sophia Amoruso recently published her story under the title #Girlboss, which looks like an inspiring tale - I can't wait to read it, and hope that it inspires other fiesty and creative women to get out there and make their mark.

I'm running a giveaway with fellow blogger, Tara over at the Penniless Socialite right now for a $50 Nasty Gal gift card, which is perfect for a wardrobe update. You can enter through the Rafflcopter links. I hope you love Nasty Gal as much as I do! I'm also co-hosting Tara's 'Favourite Fashion Friday' link up, join the fun below :)

NOTE: This is not a sponsored post, Nasty Gal are in no way affiliated with me - I'm just a fan.

Do you have any latest fashion obsessions? Please do share them with me!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

(Please follow all the rules.  If you don't we'll have to delete your post from the link up...and we really don't want to have to do that)

1. Follow your hosts

Follow your hosts via GFC or Bloglovin' and leave us a comment letting us know so that we can return the favor! 

2. Grab a button

<a border="0" href="http://pennilesssocialite.blogspot.com/search/label/Favorite%20Fashion%20Friday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag84/Penniless_S/FavoriteFashionButton_zps3d308d81.jpg" height="200" width="200"/></a>

Grab a button, put it at the bottom of your post, on your sidebar or in your linky list.  (or a text link works fine too!)

3. Link up

Link up your favorite outfit post of the week.  Please only link up outfit posts from the current week.  Posts that don't fit these guidelines (such as giveaways or old posts) will be deleted from the link up.

4. Comment & Hop Around

Comment on your host's blog and on at least one other linked up post.  Visit as many of the lovely blogs that are linked up. Comment and let them know you found them from Favorite Fashion Friday!

 

Tara @ Penniless Socialite

Alice @ The Thrifty Firecracker

An InLinkz Link-up

Individual Mink Eyelash Extensions Giveaway! At The Spa Room (London)

Hello!

I popped down to 'The Spa Room' in East London this morning and treated myself to a new set of eyelashes. Its been so long since I've had my eyelashes done - since the lovely lady who did mine regularly (Natasha Embellish) had a baby (and so quite rightly needed to take time out!) 

I've had some horrible eyelash experiences before - I once went to a hairdressers in Peterborough who advertised them on the door, only to find an hour and a half later that it looked like a few spiders legs had been attached to my eyelids, sporadically (there were about 5 'lashes' hanging on there for dear life from big black dots of glue). Thankfully, 'The Spa Room' was a completely different, professional experience to this. The lovely ladies have recently relocated to Bow, to merge their beauty school and beauty practice together into one space. I was made to feel very welcome and at home when I got there. Nuressa explained the difference between mink lashes, which are softer and look more natural, and normal eyelash extensions, which seem a bit harder. This makes them perfect for daywear as well as when you're out partying at night!

In my experience, eyelash extensions usually last at least 3 weeks, (depending on the glue!) so we'll see how they hold out. But I'm extremely happy with them. Being a redhead with blonde lashes, they are virtually invisible most of the time, so it's nice to have fluttery peepers again.

Now - if you like what you see, and you live in the London area, I have one free eyelash extension appointment to give away! I originally bought this as a voucher for my sister as a birthday present, but unfortunately we couldn't redeem it and she won't be able to use it in time - which means someone else can. Thought it may as well go to some use if anyone out there wants it! :)

If you'd like it, just;

1. Either follow me on bloglovin or GFC :)
2. Write a comment below so I know you want it!

Must be booked by the 20th March! Original value £63 (I think?) Could make a perfect present to someone, or yourself of course ;)

Alice x

UPDATE: I will be sending this to the lovely Estelle! Half a week on and mine haven't budged in the slightest - no mascara needed! Glad to report they're all still doing great :)  x