{ blog crawl } It's in the Bag

It's day two of the "It's in the Bag" blog crawl organized by Ashley of A Hasty Life. The rules are simple: post your bag and its swag - and give readers a voyeuristic peek into one of the post private parts of your life! There are a staggering 120 bloggers taking part! Without further ado, here's what's in my bag:

Rebecca Minkoff's Morning After Clutch is the perfect bag for me: classic, irreverent, durable, has a cross-body strap for hands-free shopping, and just the right amount of space to force me to edit my must-haves. Here's what I'm schlepping:

1. Lauren Merkin mirror for midday lipstick application
   
2. Pen for lunchtime crossword puzzles
3. The best chapped lip remedy: Neosporin Lip Health
4. 5 gum in Cobalt
5. iPhone 4
6. Rebecca Minkoff coin purse
7. An assortment of lip gloss and lipstick from Clinique
8. Paint chips - I'm crushing on "Calypso Berry," the darkest pink on this sample.
9. Lauren Merkin card holder and business cards
10. Floss
11. Burt's Bees lip balm - and plenty of emergency hair elastics
12. Eye drops
13. Nail clippers from when I was a baby (perfect size for a purse!) and one paperclip
14. Contact lens case for impromptu overnights
15. Banana Republic wallet
    

Next Up: Catherine from The Life Styled on Wednesday!

{ review & giveaway } ShoeClips.biz

Shoe clips may have reached the height of popularity in the 1950s and '60s, but I'm pushing for a resurgence. Last month, I added a glimmer to a pair of simple pumps with vintage clip-on earrings. Since then, I've been introduced to the Web's shoe clip emporium: ShoeClips.biz. Lynn generously sent two pairs of clips for review (and added a gift certificate to give away!) - and I've been having an absolute blast. It feels like I've tripled my shoe collection.

Each clip's embellishment is attached to a felt backing and a sturdy clip. You'll notice that part of the clip is smooth, ensuring that your shoes don't get scratched when it's clipped on.

One of the pairs Lynn sent were the black rabbit fur clips. The little puffs of fluff easily transform a pair of simple black flats into something more luxurious. And for only $25, you can get the look of the Jeffrey Campbell Francis ballet flats for a fraction of the price.

The other pair I tried were the feather clips - an absolutely stunning enhancement to an evening shoe.

Trying the clips on different shoes - and in different places - yields unexpectedly gorgeous results. I'm quite fond of the feather pair clipped to the back of simple black pumps. It's reminiscent of the Yves Saint Laurent fur trim pumps, but much more wearable.

{ win it! }

Loving shoe clips as much as I am? Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to ShoeClips.biz!

The Details
Open to everyone - even international readers! The entry period runs through Wednesday, January 19. The winner will be announced the following day.

Mandatory Entry
Browse ShoeClips.biz and tell me which pair you love! You must leave your e-mail address or blog URL so I can get in touch with you if you win.

For Additional Entries
Leave a separate comment for each of the following:

• Become an official follower of Style Obsession via Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin' or via Google Reader
• Blog about this giveaway (please provide link in a separate comment)
  
• Follow Style Obsession on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (please provide link in a separate comment)

{ entry period closed }

Window Shopping

Heading to the mall today was the worst decision I've made in a long time. Hordes of ravenous people were throwing elbows, hoping to score a post-holiday deal. I'm not sure about you, but I find glittery ornaments less appealing in January, even at 75% off. I should have stayed safely tucked away in front of the computer e-shopping. Here are some of my favorite items from this month's sponsors - and don't forget to check the sidebar for coupon codes.

1. Champagne Gold Drops, Wendy Mink, $198 $168.30 with code
2. Fire Bird Shoes, KM2 Shoes, $350
3. Pillow, Comfort & Samuel, $92.66 $74.13 with code (be sure to check current currency conversion)
4. Triple Gold Silver Rings, Wendy Mink, $55 46.75 with code
   
5. Erich Black Frames, GlassesUSA, $38 $32.30 with code

In Other News

Remember last month's foray into ski lodge attire, featuring the Foley + Corinna bag I won on MyFDBlog? Amy over at MYFDB posted my outfit photo on the site today. Head over and show me some lovin'. You can also follow My Fashion Database on Twitter @MyFDB.

Awarded

On Thursday, Erin at Pursuit of Love, Laughter & Travels passed along a blog award to me - thank you!

The rules:
1. Post about your award.
2. Pass it along to 10 other trendy bloggers.
3. Link to the Trendy Blog Button.

I'm going to cheat a little bit with the rules. I'd like to tag anyone who has started following Style Obsession this month! There are about 10 of you - you know who you are! Thanks for the support! And thanks again, Erin, for passing along the award to me!

Friday Finds Under $50

1. Dulphine Sailor-Stripe Sweater, J.Crew, $69.50 $39.99
2. Strastosphere Black Oblong Pillow, Bed Bath and Beyond, $29.99
3. Chain Link Bracelet, All NY, $50
4. Nude Pumps, Michael Antonio, $50
5. Looking Glass Ring, Kate Spade, $95 $39.97
6. Zigzag Zipper Clutch, J.Crew, $88 $49.99
   

{ inspiration board } Watercolor Palettes

Confession: I have hundreds of paint samples that I've collected from hardware stores over the years. But I'm simply being prudent; I'll have the perfect colors chosen when I finally own a home. And it seems I'm not the only one flirting with pigment. West Elm used silk pillows as their canvas for vibrant watercolor prints.

{images: biffybeans, west elm water splash pillow, west elm stripe pillow cover, watercolor & more}