Black Friday + Cyber Monday 2012: What I Got

Happy one week from Black Friday, friends! I hope everyone's orders have been coming in and no one has an overwhelming sense of dread. I have been getting my orders in and because I love knowing what people have bought, I'll share with you my purchases.

1. American Eagle

photo credit // purchase information

Holiday 2012 Coupon Codes

This holiday season I plan on doing a lot of online shopping. Both for myself (because my birthday is in December) and for my friends and family for Christmas gifts. However as a college student with a limited income, I do all I can to save money. 
Here are some coupon codes I've discovered that I hope you make good use of too! (This list will be updated as soon as I find out about sales and coupon codes so bookmark this list and come back later!)

Gap
-15% off any purchase (some exclusions) with code ONGIFT
- 7% cash back with ebates

Godiva
-$15 off $75 purchase with code HOLIDAY {now until 12/23/12}
-4% cash back with ebates

Modcloth
-$15 off a $50 purchase for new customers using my affiliate link
-25% off outerwear, no coupon code until 12/14

Saks Fifth Avenue
-Free Shipping with code HOLIDAY {now until 12/22/12}
-3% cash back with ebates

Sephora
-Free makeup bag and samples with any $25 purchase with code LITTLELUX
-Click here for other available offers.
-8% cash back with ebates

Shabby Apple
- 20% off site wide with code JOYFULSEASON {now until ???}
-10% off with newsletter sign up {constant promotion}

Ulta
-$3.50 off $10 purchase with code 74581
-Free Shipping on Order over $25 with code HOLIDAY2012
-4% cash back with ebates


Comment with any deals and sales I should know about or any other suggestions for holiday gift posts! I love reading your responses!





Related Posts:
How to Save Money When Online Shopping

How to Save Money When Online Shopping

Let's be honest. I online shop like a fiend. It's a guilty pleasure. As much as I love spending money from the convenience and comfort of my bed, I do shop around and try to get the best deals on things. The holiday season is a prime time for online shoppers to do their thing so I figured that this is an appropriate time to share my secrets. I will probably also do a post for holiday sales but here are some general tips for online shopping at any time of the year.


1. Get paid to shop.

Yes, you read that right. Get paid to shop. Seems impossible? It's not. It's as simple as creating an account on ebates. Ebates is a program which pays you a percentage of your purchase to click through their website. For example, say you want to shop at Nordstroms. Instead of going straight to Nordstroms.com, you go to ebates, search for Nordstroms and then click. Yes it's an extra step but you're getting paid to do it! There are no gimmicks and I personally have made over $50 in the past year through their program.

2. Join the club, make an account, sign up for that newsletter.

I, as much as you, hate spam email. It's so annoying. But when those emails contain coupons for things I'd like to purchase, I can deal with a bit of inbox clutter. There are plenty of online stores which provide coupons to new customers who join their site or sign up for the newsletter. Before clicking "pay," make sure you take advantage of any free offers the company offers its customers. If it's a store you have signed up for before check your email for any current offers you might have missed.

3. Shop discount sites.

Everyone likes nice things but a lot of us have a limited budget for these non-essentials. In order to work around that I sign up for any online discount even sites. Sites like Hautelook, Rue La La, ideeli and Beyond on the Rack provides access to designer and higher priced clothes for a discount. I use websites like this frequently and have saved hundreds of dollars on every kind of product imaginable. Around the holidays there are usually even better deals so I'd sign up for accounts and see how much you can save this season!

4. Find a Coupon Code.

I hate buying anything without a coupon code. I really do. I make sure I get something free or have a percentage or dollar amount off anything. Certain retailers, like Sephora, have an area where they show what are their current offers. I also find my coupon codes from ebates, from my emails or from a bit of google research. If I have nothing at all then I'll check freeshipping.org which is an online database of coupon codes to over 4000 stores.

5. Check Amazon.

Before purchasing something expensive, I always check Amazon. There is always the possibility of someone selling a new or gentle used whatever there and for a lower price than corporate retailers. 
 

Weekstagram: November 18th - 24th

 

1. Penny deciding if my cookie is worth getting up for.
2. Crazy amounts of birds flying around. My life is a Hitchcock film.
3. Penny being sleepy and snuggly.
4. Eating pomegranate seeds with my mama.

follow me on instagram: @kisforkristenX

Liebster Award!

Stephanie from Stephanie, inNew Hampshire nominated me for a Liebster Award! I'm super excited and here are the rules:

1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves
2. They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them.
3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag
4. They must then choose 11 special bloggers to tag & award with the Liebster award with less than 200 followers
5. These lucky bloggers must be told in a comment on their blog.

Eleven Things About Me:
1. My favorite food is sushi. I could live on Salmon Avocado and Spicy Tuna Makis.

2. I have an 11 year old golden retriever named Penny who is the best dog in the world.

3. I just got an iPhone and am obsessed with Instagram (and other photo apps with fun filters).

4. I’ve worked at a shoe store for going on four years.

5. My dream job is to own an independent design business someday.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas has been my favorite movie since I was 7.

7. I wish I had unlimited amounts of money to spend at Sephora.

8. Birds freak me out so much because of the Hitchcock movie.

9. Cursive is my favorite band and I plan on getting a tattoo inspired by one of their songs.

10. I spend more time on Netflix than I care to admit…. But I need to catch up on 30 Rock and Parks and Rec!

11. I love to read and try to read at least five books a month.

Questions from Stephanie:

1. Which sounds better, Disneyland, or Disney World?

-I’ve been to Disney World and I would love to go to California so I’m going to have to pick Disneyland.
2.  If you had to host a chick flick night, what movie would you choose?
-Mean Girls all the way!
3. You have to hike a mountain, which one do you choose?
-I’d rather not. I’m not an out doors kind of person, but if I have to I’d like to hike somewhere in the Alps.
4. Green, black, white, or what other kind of tea do you like the most?
-Black tea is my favorite (because of the caffeine) but I also really like green and herbal teas.
5. You get to repaint your bedroom, which color would you like?
-Black chalkboard paint.
6. What is your dream vacation?
-Paris, France.
7.  If you could have a super power, what would you want?
-Telepathy. It seems like it would cool to know what other people are thinking.
8.  Favorite book from classic literature?
-Hamlet by Shakespeare, but I’m more into contemporary literature.
9. If you went to Hogwarts, what would your favorite class be?
-Charms. I’d like to learn how to do things like levitate feathers and unlock doors. Or maybe potions, it seems like chemistry but better and exciting.
10. You get a gift card for the store of your choice, which store is it? Major mall or handmade shop?
-Both sound great but I’d love one for a handmade or vintage shop.
11. Would you rather cruise in the Caribbean or vacation in the snow?
-I love going to the Caribbean and the beaches are awesome but I’d love to go to an Ice Hotel so I’ll pick snow-cation.

Questions for Those I Tagged:

1. If you could be a character on any TV show, which show/character would it be?

2. What is your favorite book?

3. If you could pick which decade you were born in, what would it be?

4. What is your favorite part about being a blogger?

5. If you could learn how to do or make anything what would you pick?

6. What was your favorite TV show as a child?

7. What is your favorite dessert?

8. What, in your opinion, is the cutest baby animal (pictures are always good)?

9. What accomplishment of yours are you the most proud of?

10. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?

11. If you could meet anyone who would it be?

Who I Tagged:

1. Stephanie, in New Hampshire

2. Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups
3. Little Black Heart
4. Yelle Events
5. Style and Sushi
6. About A Girl
7.(more to come!)
8.
9.
10.
11.

Color Palette: Muted Sugar

photo via Pinterest // palette details

photo via Pinterest // palette details

Black Friday 2012 Online Coupons

Hello to all my fellow online shoppers! As I know many of you, like I am using these few hours before midnight to prepare for all the deals Black Friday brings. I'm compiling a list of coupons I've heard of thus far in order to help you out. Happy Thanksgiving and bring on the Black Friday deals!

First off, before buying anything online join ebates. Ebates is a website where you get paid to shop. If you click through to a website which they sponsor you can get a percentage of  your purchase back! I've been a member for a year and have already gotten back $60! I highly recommend it and even though it sounds too good to be true, I guarantee you it is not a scam. 

On to coupons and sales!

American Eagle (now- 11/25/12)
- 40% off + free shipping with code 35787891
- 1% cash back using ebates

H&M (11/23/12)
-Black Friday offers from $5 and up

ideeli (now- 11/24/12)
-Black Friday Sale

Modcloth (now- ???)
- Tis the Season Sale, up to 50% off select styles
- New shoppers can save $15 with my affiliate link

Sephora (11/23/12)
-$10 deals (preview on Facebook)
-Big Beauty Sale
-8% cash back using ebates

Smashbox (now- 11/26/12)
-25% off purchase of $50 or more with code FRIENDS2012
-6% cash back using ebates

tokidoki (11/23/12- 11/30/12)
-50% off winter apparel

Ulta (11/23/12- 11/24/12)
-Black Friday Sale
-$3.50 off $10 purchase with code 74581
-$10 off $60 purchase with code 89776
-Free Shipping over $25 with code HOLIDAY2012
-4% cash back using ebates

Note: I have provided affiliate links for certain sites where I get compensated for people using my link. I only do this for sites which I am confident using and highly recommend. I do appreciate it when you do and will never advertise something just for affiliate credits.

Please comment if you know of any awesome sales or coupons! Happy shopping!

Photo Booth + Gummy Bears

Why would I be doing homework in the library when there are funny pictures to take and gummy bears to eat? Clearly, my friends and I have too much fun with Photo Booth to care about our papers... except Alex....

Color Palette: Tea Party

photo via Pinterest // palette details 

photo via Pinterest // palette details

It's weird but I'm...

We are often our own worst critics and I am no exception to that. Usually, no matter what I do I feel as though it's not good enough or that I could have done more, spent more time and thought on a project. However, right now I'm feeling good. 

I just got a paper back today which I got an A on. It's for an upper level literature class and my professor is a notoriously tough grader. Last week, I gave a presentation for another upper level English class which was described as "excellent." All of my art projects, except one, have received A's. It's out of character for me to brag about my accomplishments, at all, but I feel as though I deserve a small pat on the back for doing this well. Sometimes I wonder if my double major in Graphic Design and Communication/Media Studies is worth all the work and stress I put myself through. Today I feel like it is and it's nice to feel like I'm good at it.

Hopefully you're feeling a sense of accomplishment in your own life. Share it with me in the comments!




(stock image source)

Sephora Lovin'

I had a coupon for last weekend for Sephora and felt like that in addition to my current stress level was a sure indiction of my need for retail therapy. Molly and I went to a friend's place as an excuse to try out our new makeup and celebrate the long weekend too. In sad news, my Cannon Powershot is mysteriously not working which is my primary camera for going out and about because my Nikon D5100 is too big to carry around. Plus I'm still afraid to take it out.. Anyways here's some product photos and going out webcam shots from this weekend.

 Nars Blush in Desire

I think I saw you in my sleep

Lyrics: "Such Small Hands" by La Dispute
Artwork: me

Top 10 Fall 2012 Runway Favorites

Fashion season may be well into spring but there are some garments, I haven't been able to keep my eyes off of this fall. There have been some really amazing pieces I have run across from this past season and I can't resist sharing it with you based on the fall weather that finally arrived. Here are my picks for the top ten garments in the Fall 2012 season. 

All photos from fashionologie.

10. Oscar de la Renta

Lately...

I haven't been keeping up with my weekend posts, but like always I've been snapping pictures. Here's a few pictures from the past two weeks or so.

With all the homework I've been doing, I pretty much live at my desk. Of course there's coffee and a gridded cutting mat nearby.