E is for Eczema

I'm going to get real for a moment here, folks ... I was recently diagnosed with Eczema.  For the longest time, I was suffering from red blotches, dry skin, and general self-consciousness. Apparently it's pretty common because I'm one of about 30 million Americans who have it. 


Well, I am happy to report that I now have it completely under control, thanks to a new regimen and some key products -- 


1) No more super hot showers. I used to love boiling hot showers ... they just made me feel super relaxed. Little did I know they were doing a number on my sensitive skin. Now I keep it at a reasonable temperature, and my husband has noted that my skin no longer looks red and blotchy after I shower.


2) CeraVe. My dermatologist recommended I try CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, and now I use it twice a day. The stuff is amazing. I slather it on right after I get out of the shower, when my skin is still a little wet. I am already almost finished with one of these big tubs, and I have a brand new one waiting for me. 







I also use the facial moisturizer with SPF30, because she said that with my fair complexion, I need to be very mindful of the sun.





(Images courtesy of CeraVe)


3) Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash. My dermatologist also recommended I try this Dove body wash. I've even noticed a difference with shaving when I use this -- this sounds awful but my razor used to "squeak" when I would run it up my leg -- that's how dry my skin was before. Not anymore!





(Image courtesy of Dove)


Lastly, I wanted to mention that in addition to getting my Ezcema diagnosed, I had all of my moles checked. If you're fair like I am, this is an absolute must, because we're at a greater risk for skin cancer.


Do any of you have Ezcema? Have any of you adopted a similar regimen?

30 percent off sweaters at J. Crew

Today's the last day to take 30% off sweaters at J. Crew, both in stores and online. No code necessary, prices as marked.

Take if off at Urban Outfitters

Through December 8th, take 2o% off your purchase of $100 or more at Urban Outfitters when you shop (online only) and enter code TAKEITOFF at checkout.

Tuesday Tunes

It's time for this week's edition of Tuesday Tunes


I'm traveling for work today, so I'll be looking for some chill music for the plane. Lately I've been hooked on the soundtrack to An Education (I love the music as much as I love the clothes).


And this song by Beth Rowley is one of my favorites --


Asos spring 2012 preview

Loving this sneak peek of the Asos spring 2012 line (thanks to Racked) ... everything looks super cute!

Things That Pinterest Me


Here's this week's installment of:


(Pinterest logo courtesy of Pinterest, of course)

This sweater looks tres cozy ...

Source: fredflare.com via NYC on Pinterest




This is a great combination of texture, color, and pattern ...





Ditto on this ... 





I just ordered a very winter-y pair of leggings just like these ... 

Source: lulus.com via NYC on Pinterest




I think I might need these ankle boots ... 

Source: dsw.com via NYC on Pinterest

New adds to Cyber Monday Round-up

Happy Cyber Monday, y'all -- 


I've added more sales to my Cyber Monday Round-up from yesterday. Enjoy!

Cyber Monday Round-up - updated

Greetings, y'all -


I'm back, recharged and ready to blog. Here's what I've seen and heard so far in terms of Cyber Monday sales:


  • Cyber Monday sales for Gap, Inc. brands are already underway now - today and tomorrow, take 30% off your entire purchase at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, and take 20% off at Piperlime - when you enter code HUGECYBER at checkout.




  • Snapfish is offering 4x6 prints for a penny (limit 500 per order, with code PENNYNOV) and 50% off site-wide (with code CYBER50).


  • DSW's Cyber Monday sale is underway now as well, with the following discounts for Rewards members: spend $74, get $15 off; spend $149, get $30 off; spend $199, get $50 off. All with code CYBER at checkout.


  • Macy's is boasting thousands of deals available online today and tomorrow - click here to check them out. Plus orders of $75 or more ship for free with code CYBER at checkout.


  • Kendra Scott is offering 20% off site-wide with code 20SITEWIDE at checkout, and free shipping on orders of $150 or more.


  • Kate Spade is having an online-only sample sale - click here to check out the deals of up to 75% off.


  • Sundance Catalog is taking 20% off orders of $150 or more with code FF11NOV at checkout.




  • Orders of $100 or more at The Container Store (until December 4th) ship for free with code OHJOY at checkout.


  • Amazon.com has a whole mess of Cyber Monday deals - click here to check them out.

*Added on Monday November 28th*
  • Ann Taylor and LOFT are both taking 50% off everything -- at Ann Taylor, it's both in stores (with the coupon on their FB page) and online (with code MONDAY at checkout), and over at LOFT it's online only with code SHOP50 at checkout.

  • Madewell is taking an extra 30% off sale items when you shop -- both in stores and online with code ENJOY at checkout.

  • Bath & Body Works is taking 25% off the entire site when you shop online today and enter code CYBER2011 at checkout.


  • Famous Footwear is offering buy one, get on 50% off + 20% off your entire purchase + free shipping today only, online only, when you entire code CYBER11 at checkout.

  •  Stella and Dot has added more sparkly goodness to its online sale.

  • Boden USA is offering 30% off everything and free shipping. 

  • NY and Company also is offering 50% off everything and free shipping with code 2129 at checkout.

Greetings from the road. . .

Hi all,
Hope you're enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend wherever you are. I am away from home, visiting with my family and friends (and of course doing a little shopping).
I will be back soon with my regularly scheduled posts.
xoxo
NYC Recessionista

More is more sale at Madewell

Through Sunday, Madwell is having a pretty interesting online sale -- 


take 20% off orders of $150
take 25% off orders of $250
take 35% off orders of $350





(Source)


That's a lot of boho preppy goodness ... no code needed, discount applied at checkout. 

30 percent off at Lands' End Canvas

Through Monday, take 30% off everything at Lands' End Canvas when you shop online and enter code DRUMSTICK (and pin 1121) at checkout. 

Personally I think this outfit is adorable from head to toe. 


(Image courtesy of Lands' End Canvas)

Boots for $39.99 at Famous Footwear

Through Monday, all of these boots (yes, all of them!) at Famous Footwear are $39.99 each.


These booties in particular would look really cute with a party dress, blazer and opaque black tights.





(Image courtesy of Famous Footwear)

Sale at J. Crew Factory this weekend

Thanksgiving night through Sunday at J. Crew Factory Stores (you know, the outlets), take 60% off select holiday styles and an additional 40% off all clearance items.  


Here's a list of the J. Crew Factory Store locations and their holiday hours to find the sale nearest you ... 


PS - Their online store is open at least until Friday as well (although I believe it will stay open all weekend).

Girl on a budget

I really love these 'everything under $100' collections from Piperlime ... there are about a gazillion pieces I want on there already and I just took a quick look. 





(Image courtesy of Piperlime)

Party attire

Today only at Banana Republic, women's dresses are 40% off and men's suits and blazers are 30% off when you shop (online only) and enter code BRFESTIVE at checkout. 


Can you say gorge party clothes .... 





(Image courtesy of Banana Republic)

Black Friday at H&M

Here are the deets on H&M's Black Friday sale -- 


Dresses from $5
Sweaters from $5
Outerwear from $20
Pants from $10
Kids Jackets from $10


There also will be scratch-offs for the first 100 people in line, valued at up to $300. Stores open bright and early at 5 a.m.

25 percent off outerwear at J. Crew

Today's the last day you can take up to 25% off select outerwear at J. Crew. No code necessary, prices as marked.





(Image courtesy of J. Crew)

Tuesday Tunes

It's time for this week's edition of Tuesday Tunes


This week, I give you the song that my husband and I danced our first dance to at our wedding a little over a year ago. It's one of my favorites.


Things That Pinterest Me

Here's this week's installment of:


(Pinterest logo courtesy of Pinterest, of course)

These are all items I'd love to find under my Christmas tree.

I love a good tortoise shell cat eye ... 

Source: fredflare.com via NYC on Pinterest




This is a really adorable sweater ... 





Such a simple earring but so chic ... 

Source: fredflare.com via NYC on Pinterest




These boots are fab ... love the big old buckle... 





Yes please. I love a good deco ring... 

Turkey-friendly pants

This slideshow of "turkey-friendly pants" from Refinery29 is pure genius. Can't wait to get my grub on later this week :)





(Image courtesy of Refinery29)

Lucky's Holiday Gift Guide

If you're at all stumped over what gifts to get for people, then I would definitely check out Lucky's guide. They're tackling a different kind of gift recipient every day for the next month or so ... 


The gift guide for Animal Lovers is particularly adorable.





(Image courtesy of Lucky)

Merry Monday at Gap, Inc. brands

Today only, take 35% off at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic when you shop (online only) and enter code MERRY at checkout. 

40 percent off at LOFT and Ann Taylor today

Until 11:59 p.m. tonight only, take 40% off at both LOFT (online only with code TAKE40) and Ann Taylor (online and in stores with the coupon below or the code THANKS).





(Image courtesy of Ann Taylor)

Old Navy's Early Bird Extravaganza


This week, Old Navy is getting a serious jump on the holiday sales -- here's the lowdown:

In store only: 5-HOUR DOORBUSTERS!

    •  MONDAY ONLY, 11/21 from 12 – 5 p.m.
       75% OFF Adult Graphic Tees! (excludes clearance)

    •  TUESDAY ONLY, 11/22 from 12 – 5 p.m.
       75% OFF Adult Long-Sleeved Tees! (excludes graphic tees and clearance)

    •  WEDNESDAY ONLY, 11/23 from 12 – 5 p.m.
       Take an EXTRA 50% OFF ALL Adult Clearance!

Plus, you might want to check out Gobblepalooza.com for even more sales this coming holiday weekend. 

Fine print:

75% Off Adult Graphic Tees: Excludes Clearance. Discount taken off ticketed price. Offers valid at Old Navy stores in the U.S. only (including Puerto Rico). No adjustments on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with Gap Inc. employee discount.

75% Off Adult Long-Sleeved Tees: Excludes graphic tees and Clearance. Discount taken off ticketed price. Offers valid at Old Navy stores in the U.S. only (including Puerto Rico). No adjustments on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with Gap Inc. employee discount.

50% off Adult Clearance: Offer valid at Old Navy stores in the U.S. only (including Puerto Rico). Not valid online. Discount applies to clearance merchandise only, not to GiftCards. No adjustments on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with Gap Inc. employee discount.

Pink Monday at the Macbeth Collection

Today only, until 11:59 p.m. only, take 4o% off everything over at the Macbeth Collection. Simply enter code PINKMONDAY at checkout.


Personally I love their selection of oval tubs





(Image courtesy of Macbeth Collection)

Tiny Prints Talent Search

Remember when I was trying to pick out Holiday Cards?  Well, we made our selection ... and it wasn't one of the ones I showed you on the blog. Wait 'til y'all see what we did :) It's really cute.


Well, do you ever stop and wonder who those people are in the design templates for the different holiday cards on the website?  Well, turns out they're real people ... and Tiny Prints is looking for the latest crop of stars!


Head over to their website to enter their Talent Search Contest.  I did ... I entered one of our wedding photos in the Cutest Couple category :)


Other categories (in addition to Cutest Couple) include:
-Cutest Baby
-Cutest Kid
-Cutest Family
-Cutest Pet & Owner


The grand prize is $1,000 cash, a $500 Tiny Prints gift card and a chance to be featured in the 2012 Tiny Prints marketing campaign...lordy!


PS - it's fun even to check out the entries so far ... they're super cute!


PPS - Again, in the interest of full disclosure and just plain old honesty, in exchange for spreading the word about the Tiny Prints Talent Search with my readers (definitely go ahead and enter like I did!), I will be receiving 25 free personalized thank you notes. I can't wait to show you the finished product of those, too! 

Madewell gift guide

I am really enjoying Madewell's gift guide -- I think the section for 'festive free spirit' gifts is my favorite :)





(Screenshot courtesy of Madewell)

Weekend Wants

Here are some things I'd love for this weekend ... a.k.a. my Weekend Wants.


1) Mini-muffin pans ...  so I can do a dry run of the dessert recipe I'll be bringing to my sister-in-law's house for Thanksgiving: individual chocolate and orange cheesecakes, a la Giada.



(Source)



2) To go on a cleaning spree ... our apartment kind of looks like a disaster area at the moment. 





(Source)


I have worked 'til 7:30 or 8 each night this week.  Now it's time to clean up and get ready because friends may be coming over on Sunday. Yay for entertaining!


3) To do some shopping (surprise, surprise) ...  I still need to spend my J. Crew Holiday Rewards card before it expires and I am stumped as to what I want to spend it on.  There are simply too. many. choices
PS - don't forget that they're taking an extra 30 percent off sale items through Sunday. In stores and online with code MUSTHAVE.


I'm wearing this shirt today and it's a new favorite of mine. 





(Source)


4) Yummy food ... we're getting a Fresh Direct order tonight, which always makes me feel like it's Christmas :) I can't decide whether that's funny or sad.


5) Sleep ... I seriously need to catch up. One of those beds from my dream house would be nice.

Bar cart

Lately, I've been wishing that it was the 1960s ... mainly so I could get away with putting a bar cart in my office a la Don Draper.



Statement makers

I really love all of these statement necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings over at Stella and Dot.
I'll take one of each please ... k thanks.



(Image courtesy of Stella and Dot)

Real or fake

Have you seen photos of the beautiful Kate Winslet's wax figure, which was recently unveiled at Madam Tussaud's in London?






Seriously, this is not a photograph of her ... it really is her wax figure. I am just floored by it. Personally I think this is the most realistic-looking wax figure I have EVER seen.  Don't you agree?

30 percent off at Banana Republic

Through Sunday, take 30% off full-priced styles at Banana Republic when you shop (online only) and enter code BRPARTY at checkout. 


Check out some of their party-perfect styles here.



(Image courtesy of Banana Republic)

Brrr

It's cold in New York all of a sudden :) have you picked up a good scarf yet?  This slideshow from Real Simple has some great options.





(Image courtesy of Real Simple)

Red roosters

These towels I just came across on Etsy are totally adorable ... I am such a sucker for farm animals.


Source: etsy.com via NYC on Pinterest

Chic bag

Love this new purse from Christian Siriano at Payless ... 



Source: payless.com via NYC on Pinterest

Barbie's Dream House

Do you remember Barbie's Dream House?  I sure do ... with its plastic spiral staircase and stick-on curtains :)  my idea of a dream house is somewhat different. 


Even though my husband and I are not homeowners (yet), I often find myself daydreaming on Pinterest about what our house would look like if we hit that MegaMillions (or Powerball; I'm not picky) jackpot.


Here's an idea of the home decor style  that I we love:



Source: google.com via NYC on Pinterest






Source: bhg.com via NYC on Pinterest






Source: google.com via NYC on Pinterest
c





Source: houzz.com via NYC on Pinterest






Source: modwalls.com via NYC on Pinterest






Source: google.com via NYC on Pinterest


















Source: mochatini.org via NYC on Pinterest