eBay, people, eBay.

I get a lot of questions about where I get my handbags, and I'm going to tell you my dirty little secret.

So get some popcorn! We're about to deplete your slush funds.

My latest find, purchased at less than half the retail value. Courtesy photo: eBay.com

 

I've been collecting handbags for years, and when I say collecting...I mean researching popular styles by designers I like, coveted bags from specific lines, limited edition colors/features... It's just my thing.

Pretty early on in my collection, I realized that it's far more economical to shop online. Though I love buying a bag in a store for instant gratification, I much prefer saving money through coupons or being able to find a pre-loved bag. Consequently, I'd say that over 80% of my collection now has been purchased online at a discount.

Here are my tips for buying on auction sites:

• Don't just search for the obvious. Some of my best bag finds are by searching with a misspelled or generalized search term. For instance, if you're looking for a bag from Coach's Legacy line in Ultraviolet, try searching for: "Coach legacy purple."
• Always, ALWAYS look at the feedback score. If it's not above 99.7, I don't buy without talking to the buyer. Always read the selling feedback.
• If you aren't sure about authenticity, ask for additional photos. If the bag is by a popular designer like Michael Kors, Coach, or Louis Vuitton (especially LV), go to the Purseforum.com for authentication. MK didn't used to be a highly faked line, but it is more and more prevalent now.
• Want a leather Coach bag without a killer price? Search vintage bags such as the City, Willis, or Basic. They can be revived with a little polish, and leather bags that aren't lined can be soaked in a bath of fragrance/dye free soap like Woolite to remove old dirt! A black vintage leather bag from Coach? You can't kill it!
• If you're competing in an auction, use a service like Auction Sniper, which will allow you to set your top bid any time before the auction ends, even days! The bid won't be placed until seconds before the auction ends, giving you a far better chance at winning at a low price. The best auction bidders don't bid until super late in the game. If an auction has days to go before ending and has 23 bids, I'd walk away.

 

What are some of your favorite eBay tips?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Why Diamonds and I Broke Up

I've been thinking on this post for a long time now, especially since my social media is FLOODED with engagements.

When I was in college and newly engaged to my, now, husband, I spent a long time dreaming of the perfect diamond engagement ring. What setting did I want? What metal? Cut? How BIG would it be?

Courtesy Photo: Google Images

What Laura Loves: Studio Design (Apple Store)

I never anticipated how difficult it would be to keep up the pace of my design business while being a WAHM. Thankfully, I've gotten into a rhythm and have been able to meet all my commitments and even accept new customers.

The only thing I miss? Creating things daily.

Here's where my new favorite app comes in.

Studio Design is a micro-design app that encourages designers to create small square works of art and share them Instagram style.

With over 500 (!) free shapes, masks, and fonts, there is no way that you WON'T be able to create something beautiful. You can create fancy text masks or even base your design off of a photo in your library. Each piece is scalable and can be set to a range of colors.

 

If the 500 piece starter pack isn't enough for you, there are add-ons like "Call of the Wild" for .99, which include hand drawn nature elements for you to manipulate and incorporate into your artwork.

Taking collaboration to a whole new level, Studio also allows you to "Remix" any designer's piece, building on their work and adding your own personal spin. You can also share to a number of other platforms such as, of course, Instagram.

 

 

 

 

At the whopping price of FREE, there's no reason NOT to try it out!

 

Studio in the App Store

 

Posted with Blogsy

Happy Day: The Liebster Award

Y'all, imagine my surprise when I woke up to a nomination from my dear sweet friend Abby for the Liebster Award. That and getting a package in the mail just about did me in! I'm so honored! Thank you, sweet Abby!

Here are the rules for the Liebster Award:

Answer the 11 questions that the blogger who nominated you asked.

List 11 random facts about yourself.

Mention some blogs you're loving reading at the moment

Set 11 questions for those newly nominated bloggers to answer.

Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.

11 Facts:
1. I've been married three times to the same man but never divorced.
2. I have 8 piercings and 13 tattoos, but I'm über girly. Lots of folks think with that many mods you oughta be a Hell's Angel.
3. I could eat my mom's taco recipe daily.
4. I'm a graphic designer now, but I was a human resources representative for a long time. I LOVED my job. I wouldn't ever stop being a designer, but I do miss HR.
5. I'm obsessed with chevron. Yes, I know it's played out, but I like to use it in unexpected ways... Like on my living room wall...the whole wall.... :-/
6. Terry cloth and paper towels make me want to throw up. I hate the texture. Even the sound.
7. I started singing when I was a very little girl, and I received scholarships throughout college. My favorite venue? Canterbury Cathedral in England. I don't sing anymore, unless you count at 2 am to settle the bebe.
8. I have played the drums, the mandolin, and the piano.
9. I am obsessed with purses. I'm always stalking the new trends.
10. I won't go out without SOME makeup on. I think it's important to look your best...or at least 1/2 your best. You never know who you'll meet!
11. I'm a cloth diapering, baby wearing, natural-if-practical, Work at Home, easy going first time mama.

11 Questions:
1. Do you collect anything?
Purses. I have a whole purse closet that my dear husband turns a blind eye to. I also ended up collecting salt and pepper shakers as well. My favorite set are a pair of garden gnomes!
2. Do you prefer to go to the movie theater or catch the new releases from Redbox?
Redbox all the way. People being obnoxious in movie theaters makes my teeth itch.
3. Beach or mountains?
This one is hard! Depends on the time of the year. I REALLY love the mountains in the Fall.
4. Where is your dream city to live?
Is it corny if I say that I love where I am now? (Columbus, MS). My other choice would be Oxford! Hotty Toddy!
5. Flip flops or heels?
Flat shoes all the way. God made me short for a reason! (Probably because he knows I have a hate/hate relationship with potholes and curbs.)
6. What was the best day of your life, one that you'd love to relive just for the good memories?
Bringing home my sweet baby from the hospital! I just remember looking at him and being afraid that I'd wake up.
7. Link your favorite blog post you've ever written and tell me why it's your favorite!
I think my favorite would be our adoption announcement or my letter to Riley the day before he was born. Lots of sentiment there.
8. What fashion trend do you wish would come back in style?
I rarely let a favorite fashion trend die. I'm hardheaded. I could get in board with slap bracelets though.
9. If you could see any band or musician in concert, whether they still perform or not, who would it be?
Oh, wow. I'd pay serious money to resurrect Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys. Right now? I'd LOVE to see Michael Bublé. (Yes, I went there.)
10. Why did you start blogging?
I've blogged off an on for the last four or five years, but I started blogging again when we were getting ready to adopt our sweet boy. I've always loved writing, and I thought it would be a good way to share our story. I love making connections with other adoption bloggers. I also didn't see a lot of Mississippi Domestic Adoption blogging going on, so I wanted to add my two cents in for people like me who were looking for others to connect to.
11. What was your favorite grade in school and why?
My senior year of both high school AND college. So much excitement and promise. I also live those years to the fullest with friends. We always had a party going on!

Blog I'm LOVING:
Finding Our Way - McCall is bringing home sweet Emily from the DRC, so she always has insightful posts about adoption. She ALSO has incredible style and is a Noonday rep. Check her out!
The Sharenthood - Cindle is my guru of cloth diapering, and she's got killer wit. You will laugh. Guaranteed.


My questions:
1. What's the first thing you do in the morning?
2. What's one thing in your purse that you can't live without?
3. Any phobias?
4. Worst habit?
5. What is your favorite/least favorite food?
6. What's your favorite childhood memory?
7. What song do you sing into a hairbrush when nobody is listening?
8. Guilty pleasure?
9. Favorite song of the moment?
10. Pet peeve?
11. Where would you like to go on vacation right now?


Again, thank you, Abby! McCall, I can't wait to see your answers!

8 Days: What Laura Loves

 

 

 

Since I'm going through my purse and make up bags trying to figure out what I need to pack for next week, I thought that today's post would be about a few of my favorite products.

Because of  my {Totally} obvious obsession with designer bags, I don't tend to spend a lot of money on products. I prefer to stockpile my extra funds for new bags. Consequentially, I'm always watching YouTube to find out about great drugstore dupes for high end brands and products that multitask.

Here's what I am loving right now:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Super Natural - $5.99

 

2. Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil - $28.00 (My most expensive product...Many uses from lipgloss and hair serum to eczema relief!) 

 

3. Fresh Sugar Lip Balm - 2 mini balms for around $12.00 (or free for your birthday from Sephora when you sign up for their free VIB program!)

 

4. Maybelline BB Cream - $7.96

 

 

 

11 Days: Mama's Got a Brand New Manicure

If you're following the LPD Instagram account (aka the only one I bother with), you probably know I'm a bit of a nail polish junkie. And if you're not following me, then why the hell aren't you? ;)

No, seriously, I love doing my nails. It's my favorite way to pamper myself during crazy times. If adoption doesn't count as crazy, then I don't know what does. I've had a couple people ask how I do the crazy designs, and I'm happy to share one of my favorites with you. It's totally easy and fool proof!

                                     

No tools required

Wade through an impossibly large abyss of polish to select your three favorite shades.

 

I chose a mint green, metallic gold, and coral shade. Also pull out your favorite topcoat (mine is currently Seche Vite, available at most drug stores). Do a quick swipe of acetone polish remover to get the oils off of your nails. It will help the manicure last longer.

 

 

 

Do two coats of your base polish and allow to dry for five or ten minutes.

 

Here's the fun part:  Take your first polish (the scallop closest to the nail bed) and draw three staggered swipes. I like to put my longest stripe to the inside of my hand, but it is personal preference. You should overlap the stripes slightly to avoid a streaky look.

Wait another few minutes and repeat with your second color. 

 

Add your topcoat after a few minutes and sit back to admire your gorgeous nails!

 

 

 

 



  

Review: Rhonna Designs App

I recently stumbled upon a GEM in the App Store. A gem, I tell you!

Graphic Design Guru Rhonna Farrer recently released a feature-packed design app that will allow the user to create endless combinations utilizing the many finely crafted, intricate elements included in the $1.99 price tag. 

I'm not really big on paid apps, but once I saw the screenshots, I knew I had to have it. I was NOT disappointed! 

According to Rhonna's website, here's what comes packaged with the app:

 All 27 Insta Fonts (w/ 26 designs in each)

29 fab fonts for text

8 photo filters

36 exclusive frames

9 exclusive backgrounds

That is a TON of tools to play with. And lest you think they are just "thrown together," take a look at some of the screenshots I took within the app:

 

It literally made my little Graphic Designer Heart go pitter pat. Naturally, I had to geek out and post some of my work on Instagram:

And here's what the creator herself had to say about my trial run :) 

 

According to her blog, they're also pursuing opportunities to expand into the Android market, so if you're not an Apple user, hang tight. This product is worth waiting for!

Rhonna Designs - Apple - $1.99