*SHOES-day* Tuesday

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

from the Chic Girls!

 ♥

A&K

FASHION Friday ♥

Bridal Lingerie

I'm absolutely in LOVE with this oh la la bra!

fairefroufrou

but sadly they are all sold out! :(

 something blue...

 VS

 VS

 VS

VictoriasSecret 

LOVE this picture! ♥

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com

♥

theChicGirls

Cute Shopping Bag for a GOOD Cause!

 

 

Lanvin

has designed an organic cotton bag to raise money for 

UNICEF and H&M's All for Children project! 

Available in selected stores the same day as the Lanvin ♥ H&M collection, 30% of the sales price will go to children in need.

Read more at http://www.awaazdo.in/home.php. 

 

3 bags to choose from...

LANVIN bags for H&M

 

I LOVE this one...

 

 Read more about All for Children and UNICEF's work to protect children's rights on http://www.hm.com/allforchildren and http://www.awaazdo.in/home.php.

 

♥

theChicGirls

*WINES-day* Wednesday

Happy WINESday!

As a new Mommy, when I saw this, I instantly fell in LOVE!

so so cute!

and on some days, much needed!  :)

there were also others that read:

*Mommy's Sippy Cup

*Mommy's Time Out

♥

A

*SHOES-day* Tuesday

Christian Louboutin Tsar pumps

Available with or without crystal encrusted heel

♥

theChicGirls

A Royal Engagement!

today millions of girls dreams of being real-life princess were ruined...

(I'm one of the million girls)

Prince William proposed to girlfriend Kate Middleton!

Prince William is to marry Kate Middleton next year.

 

The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London.

Prince William proposed in October during a private holiday in Kenya.

  

He also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father.

 (I LOVE that)

and according to palace sources, 

he gave his bride-to-be the engagement ring that his father, Prince Charles, 

got for his mother, the late Princess Diana!

(LOVE this part too)

 can't wait to see the DRESS!

                                                         

FASHION Friday!

rose bouquet ring

Juicy Couture

♥

it's V Day!

no, not Valentines... Veterans!

I'd thank my lucky stars,
to be living here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!

The ChicGirls want to say 

THANK YOU

to all of the brave men & women who fight for our freedom!

If it wasn't for these true-life heroes and heroines,

we here at Chic wouldn't be able to do what we love!

A little background on Veterans Day...

Did you know that it was formerly known as Armistice Day, 

which was the U.S. holiday to honor the end of World War I.

(it marked the one year anniversary of the end of World War I)

Armistice began at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

But after both World War II and the Korean War, 

Congress was urged by various veterans service organizations to change the name of the day to 

‘Veterans Day.’ 

But in 1968, 

a bill was introduced in Congress to ensure a three-day weekends for federal employees

by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: 

Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. 

Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October.

BUT many states did not like this

So many states ignored the decree and continued to celebrate the holiday on their own dates,

thus creating great confusion and turmoil. 

Finally, on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford stepped in and signed a law which returned Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11 and there it has stayed ever since!

Here's a list of places showing LOVE to our Veterans today...

http://www.stripes.com/blogs/stripes-central/stripes-central-1.8040/list-of-freebies-available-on-veterans-day-1.124756

♥

theChicGirls

HAPPY WINES-day!

Winesday

Day of the week, typically on Wednesday
when girlfriends get together, share a few glasses of wine
and unwind with girl time and laughter.

Let it be known, it can occur multiple times a week, if necessary,

or can be changed to another day but it will always be called Winesday.

"I had a rough day today.... Thank goodness it's Winesday!"

                                           

CHEERS!

 

♥

theChicGirls

*SHOES-day* Tuesday

                                                              


  with a bit of BLING!



♥

theChicGirls

Engagement BLING!

 10 Tips to Know 

Before Getting  the BLING!

(print this out and just happen to leave it out for a certain someone to see)  :)

1.) BUDGET 

The standard rule is two months salary.

  BUT this is  a rule that the diamond industry created! 

However it's still a decent place to start, but then figure out your personal budget.

2.) Do Your Homework

You're going to have to make a lot of choices – 

platinum or gold? Modern or traditional? Flashy or understated?

It's easier if you've done your homework beforehand. 

Look at the jewelry your sweetheart wears on a daily basis

– if it's all silver with intricate designs –

look for a platinum engagement ring with intricate designs (often called filigree). 

If it's just a few heavy gold pieces, well, then go in that direction. 

3.) Choose a Stone

While jewelers will sell you a preset ring, 

you can often get a better deal if you choose the diamond separately. 

It helps if you know what shape your sweetheart wants – round, pear, marquis, etc. 

The most classic shape is a round solitaire. 

More homework – read 'The Four C's of Diamond Buying'  (at the end of the 10 tips) You'll thank me later. 

Another money saving tip – look for a diamond with high color and cut, but with slightly lower clarity. 

Make sure you look at the stone with a jeweler's loupe (like a magnifying glass) – but know that  most flaws (or "inclusions") can barely be seen even with a loupe. 

4.) Choose the Setting 

After you've got your stone, then comes the setting. 

You could go for simple with a solitaire setting, or you could add filigree, extra side stones, and other details. 

You can choose gold, white or rose gold, platinum, or even titanium.

5.) Maximize Your Budget 

If your intended is always talking about huge diamond engagement rings,

but two months of your salary wouldn't buy a Big Mac, you're going to have to stretch the budget. 

Ask for a stone with more surface area – it won't sparkle as much but it will look bigger. 

& ask for stones that are slightly less than the next carat (0.8 instead of 1 or 1.9 instead of 2) – the almost indiscernible difference can add up to big savings.

OR instead of a diamond solitaire engagement ring, 

consider a less expensive center gemstone (such as tourmaline, blue topaz, sapphire) 

flanked by two small diamonds. 

Choose white gold instead of platinum. And consider an antique engagement ring!

6.) + ONE

Don't go into a jewelry store alone.They're scary places full of way too many choices. 

If you can, bring your sweetheart's best friend or Mom along to help you choose. 

But if you're worried they'll spill the beans, bring a trusted friend of yours. 

Make sure they have taste, or you'll be trying to propose with a ringpop. 

Also, this is a great moment to bond with your parents and get their advice! 

7.) + LOVE

(take your love with you)

You'll lose the element of surprise, but you'll be sure that she likes her engagement ring!

More and more couples are doing it this way. 

Think 'Sweet Home Alabama' ... 

okay so maybe it won't be just like that, 

since after all he did take her to Tiffany's, after-hours,

and let her choose any ring that she desired!

BUT it was a movie!  :)

8.) Get a Quality Jeweler 

Ask for recommendations from friends and family. 

And make sure the store is accredited by the Jewelers of America 

or is a member of the

Gemological Institute of America (GIA). 

Before you buy, find out what the return policy is , not that she'll say no, 

but so that you can exchange it if you didn't do your homework properly!

9.) Plan Ahead 

You may not be able to just walk out of a jewelry store with a ring. 

Not only will you need to save up for it, 

but depending on when you order it 

it can & could take a couple weeks for them to set the stone,

do any engraving, or even custom design your ring.

So if you want to propose on a certain date, make sure you start working on the ring early enough!

10.) Get it In Writing 

Would you buy a house without an inspection? No? 

Well then don't buy a diamond without an independent diamond-grading report

from the GIA or the American Gem Society. 

It should include the 4 c's of color, cut, clarity and carat, as well as the shape and size. 

And, like your house, don't forget to get the ring insured!

"The Four Cs" 

color, cut, clarity, and caret. 

Some also include the fifth c, cost. 

Color: With the exception of "fancy colored diamonds", 

the more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it is. 

Jewelers grade diamonds on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). 

Anything more yellow than D is considered fancy and is much more expensive!

Cut: Many people make the mistake of thinking that cut means the shape of the diamond. 

Rather, it means the way the diamond was faceted to allow light to reflect from it. 

In a well cut diamond, light enters the diamond and reflects straight back to the viewer's eye. 

Some cutters will sacrifice cut to create the largest possible diamond, thus making too shallow or too deep of a cut and causing light to "leak" out the sides and bottom of the diamond.

                                     Cut can be something very difficult for a layperson to evaluate,

which is why it is important to get an AGS Certificate or a GIA Certificate 

verifying the quality of your diamond. Cut is graded Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. Generally you should seek an Ideal to Very Good Diamond. Budget-conscious shoppers may opt for good.

Clarity: Diamonds frequently have inclusions, or small flaws, air bubbles, scratches, or other minerals inside the diamond. The less inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable it is, and the more beautiful it is.
The scale for grading diamond's clarity is:

• F Flawless - no internal or external inclusions.
  
  
• IF Internally Flawless - no internal inclusions, slight external inclusions.
  
  
• VVS1-VVS2Very Very Slightly Included - minute inclusions that are very difficult to detect under 10x magnification, even by an experienced grader.
  
  
• VS1-VS2 Very Slightly Included - minute inclusions that are invisible to the naked eye and seen only with difficulty under 10x magnification.
  
  
• SI1-SI2 Slightly Included - invisible to the naked eye, yet easily seen by an experienced grader under 10x magnification.
  
  
• I1-I3 Included - inclusions are visible to the naked eye and affect brilliance.

Stones that are VVS2 to F are very rare and thus very expensive. Most couples will opt for something between SI2 and VS1, and will never know the difference.

Caret: This refers to the size of the stone. 

While some value caret above all, others prefer a small ring regardless of budget. If you're buying a ring as a surprise for someone, consider how flashy their other jewelry is. If they're not someone who wears a lot of designer labels or big jewelry, perhaps you'll want to opt for a smaller stone.  

This site has a very useful chart to see how the most common sizes look on a model's hand. 

Ideally, you'll be able to try on a variety of sizes within your budget 

to see which size looks best on you or your love!

♥

theChicGirls

FASHION Friday!

PEARLS, PEARLS, PEARLS!

necklaces by LANVIN

Now all that's missing is a chic LBD  & some BIG sunglasses!

♥
A

♥

JUST 18 more days!

& only 15 more days for a few selected H&M stores!

SO SO excited!

http://www.hm.com/us/#/Lanvin/

♥

A

♥

CONGRATS

to Nick  & Vanessa!

I can't wait to see THE RING!

 it's been reported that it's an  Asscher-cut diamond!

So along with being good looking & a romantic

Nick also has great taste in rings!

Ohh that Vanessa is one lucky lucky girl!

♥

A

CUTE Wedding Shower Theme...

I just LOVE

'Kara's Party Ideas'

so when I browsing for ideas for Miss Priss' 1st Birthday

I came across this sweet wedding shower theme

& thought I'd share!

here's a few pictures from the

'Milk & Cookies' Wedding Shower...

and for the rest, go here...

                 http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/11/milk-and-cookies-shower-party.html

♥

 

Ask a Question Thursday...

To SPANX or Not to SPANX?

that is the question

AND 

the Chic Girls have the answer!

Every Bride wants to look her best on her BIG day...

&

there's something to make sure that every Bride will look amazing in her dress!

Often been called "Power Panties", SPANX, are every girls best friend!

And many Brides swear by them!

 So we say YES to SPANX!

The answer will always be YES to this question!

They were my best friend after having my daughter!

So I can vow, that yes, they do 

do wonders!  :)

♥

theChicGirls

Helpful Hints...

If you have a slim style dress all over,

you should get the Spanx that continues & goes all the way to your ankle!

(so you won't have a line showing at your panty line or thigh)

&

be careful some Spanx come with a bra connector, 

so make sure & wear a bra with your gown, if possible!

Here's more tips *4 Steps That Will Help You Look Best in Your Dress*
from Spanx.com...
http://www.spanx.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3545407

Spanx can be pricey, 

so if you are looking for a Spanx alternative,

                         I suggest buying ASSETS, a cheaper version by Sara Blakely, at Target.

These are returnable, so you can see what looks best with your gown and go from there!

it's *WINES-day*!!!

HAPPY WINES-day Wednesday

Chic Bloggies!

WINE with CANDY!

sounds fabulous, right?

We think so too!

Enjoy wine with some leftover Halloween candy...

HelloVino tells you which wine to pair with what candy!

http://www.hellovino.com/wine/pairing/candy

 

CHEERS!

♥

TheChicGirls



*SHOES-day Tuesday*

Happy SHOES-day Tuesday!

NOW

GO VOTE!

♥

ChicGirls



CANDY OVERLOAD!

so it seems there weren't as many 'trick or treaters' this year at our house...

which means we have A LOT of candy leftover!

&

since Miss Priss still can't have any of it,

and I'm not strong enough to keep it out of my tummy...

I  decided to do some research on just what to do with leftover Halloween candy

& this is what I found...

*Halloween Candy Buy Back

You can bring your extra candy to the dentist's office anytime from November 1 - 5, 

& they will pay you $1 per pound.

Even better, they will send the candy to Operation Shoebox,

who will ship it overseas to give U.S. troops special treats!

There are participating dentists across the city and suburbs.

Just simply put in your zip code to find a dentist near you!

http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/

                                                                                  &

 If you'd like, you can also send a note of thanks along with your candy!

Any Soldier

http://anysoldier.com/

supplies addresses of miliary personel that have agreed to distribute letters
to members of the military who don't frequently get notes from home.

Just start your letter, "Dear friend," and go from there.

You can thank the soldier for their service, tell them about your trick-or-treating, or even write down your favorite joke. Soldiers are fighting to defend our freedom,
and your right to do the things you love,

like trick-or-treat!
Hearing about you enjoying Halloween because of them
 are the very things that will brighten their day!

♥
A



and if you want to keep just some of the CANDY...
here's a website of yummy recipes that call for Halloween candy!

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/376/