Three Haute Mamas

Bargains don't have to mean cheap

One would think I could peruse the J.Crew juniors line, crewcuts, sale and restrain myself.  One would be wrong.  However..I did use a little bit of my Yankee ingenuity,hit the sale and factored in the free shipping on all orders over $150.  And then I hid the receipts..

the Gracen tank, 7.99 plus..

girls crinkle bubble skirt 14.99.  One word.  Swoon.

splatter flower tee 24.99

the cotton pattycake skirt 24.99

  ballet flats 24.99 works with both outfits though..

flamenco top 24.99  Ole!

Giraffe print tassel top 29.99

As much as I'd love to pair the tops with white jeans, we all know what happens when you put a child in white pants..so as close to white as we can go.  Worn in vintage slim jeans 39.99

and a jacket for the chilly bus stop 34.99

and because every girl needs a first day of school dress..you may as well go big..

$54 and absolutely delicious.  And I can totally see my 4 year old rocking this with her hot pink cowgirl boots.  

I'd fathom a guess that I've accomplished my $150 purchase minimum (cough, cough), but what I've also accomplished is ordering all items that can work together.  All the tops can be worn with the jeans, the jacket can be worn over every outfit, the shoes can be worn with every outfit, the dress over the jeans..Catch my drift?  I could probably save a few bucks, and get a pair of less expensive jeans, maybe change out the jacket to another from Target/Walmart.  However because I'm I'm sticking with quality, timeless pieces, I don't need as many.  I want that jacket to hold up through the playground, the school bus... The jeans are already distressed.  If the knees blow out, so be it. Adds to the look. 

Also keep in mind that when I buy, I with three little girls in mind.  A Walmart jacket for $13.00 is fabulous, but it's only going to make it through one child.  A J. Crew 27.99 jacket will most likely make it through two, possibly, three children.  By that point we'll take that jacket and call it "vintage".  

Shop fast mamas.. Like summer, and lesser quality pieces, these prices won't last long..

xo Kate

The summer beauty (bargain) essential that keeps on giving-the pedicure!

Kim asked a good question yesterday on Facebook, which, by the way, if you have not become a fan of whatareyouwaitingfor?? 

Kim's question: Name your favorite beauty essential? Lots of fantastic answers, but one that was left out, and is a true bargain.. the pedicure! I know so many mamas who hesitate to spend on themselves, especially in this area, and it simply perplexes me!  Every two weeks I visit my local Hawaii Nails (disclaimer, they are not Hawaiin nor are they in Hawaii) and for a mere $25.00 ! I receive a gorgeous French pedicure (two coats please) that would easily hold up a month if I could contain myself.  But I'm a sucker for having my tootsies soft and freshly polished every two weeks, and truth be told, my little girls love to go too, so it's a win win.  I do not have pretty feet.  I run every day, and every time I walk into the salon, the nail techs practically pass out.  I, on the other hand, run to them like a long lost friend and cherish our time together because I know in a short half hour one of us will be covered in sweat and one of us will have the feet of an angel.  

I have been to upscale salons, sketchy salons, and every place in between, and prices do not vary that much.  Just choose a clean salon, word of mouth is key, and go for it.  And if you take care of your feet (applying a clear top coat once a week, as well as lotion!) you're pedi can last and last for up to a month! That's like a dollar a day! You can have your pretty piggies and your Starbucks skinny vanilla latte too!

  

 Hello everyone it is Kimberly!!

 I would like to carry on this conversation about pedi's and mani's. So lets talk about nail polish choices. We have all walking into a nail salon and have everyone stop what they are doing and stare at you then a voice shouts out at you from the distance.... "YES" I help you!" and you quietly say " Ummm, pedicure please." Then you hear in that same voice.... " PICK A COLOR!!" hahaha!! Anyway, you stare at a wall full of nail polish and say to yourself Oh God.. what do I pick, and in the background you hear.. " YOU COME HERE NOW!!" Ahhh you think to yourself the pressure to pick a color and then you grab for the Traditional Red. 

So i am hear to tell you that it pays to bring your own nail polish. There are some beautiful colors out there that are not carried in any nail salon I can guarantee. A big trend in hollywood is pastel nails. Beige and light pink. So pretty and gives you that natural look. Ageless as well. It also elongates the nails and fingers and won't compete with all that fabulous jewelry that we will be sporting this season! Oh Ya!! That will be another post! and since we are Mom's we are always in the sink so a lighter color will hide a chip here and there from that Mommy wear and tear!! 

This color below is Marshmallow Rose # 508 $9 by CND a fun website to play around on with nail color and products.

Below if you want to be bold and kick it up this season with some salsa style colors. You can try Havana Nights Mini Collection $ 18 at Sephora.

Enjoy your pampering and Haute Nails!!

XO Kimberly

Vegas my way

Is it possible to physically fall in love..I mean be swept off your feet by a pair of sunglasses (make that multiple pairs)? Shoes in every heel, color, leather? Clothing!  Clothing...sigh....  Restaurants? Hotels? Because my heart is still pitter pattering about all that I took in during my 5 day stay in the glamorous Entertainment Capital of the World!

I have not been to Las Vegas in ten years and much has changed.  They've upped the ante and glam is the game.  From top notch hotels, Aria, the Bellagio, Encore and Wynn and of course the Four Seasons.5 Th Avenue look out, there isn't a name missing here, Harry Winston (Hear that? I just gasped a little), the N's (Neimans and Nordy's), Chanel, Herve Leger, Hermes, Louis Vuitton (the Louis store at City Center..there are no words..) and fret not, there is even a whole mall filled with the more reasonably priced stores we all know and love-Bloomies, Macy's, Zara to name a few.  Name a store and it's there.  

Every top chef is represented-Keller, Serrano, Batali, English (you know I have to give a shout out to my Boston boy).  Whatever you are in the mood for, be it In-N-Out Burger, or Le Cirque, it's within a five minute cab ride! 

Everywhere you look the look is what it's about.  The Aria is absolutely breath taking, by far my favorite eye catcher of a hotel.  Captures Vegas in a non traditional but up and coming way-sexy and modern.  Aria is but a part of City Center Las Vegas, hotels, dining and shopping! It also houses Desperate Housewives Eva Longoria Parker's restaurant Beso and club Eve, both absolutely the epitome of glam! Beso was delish! And the chandeliers were made out of crystals from the 2009 

Oscars! Even the bathrooms were totally glammed up.. (Is it bad that I took a photo of the potty room? Gold sinks people!! Faux leather walls..)Like she's not gorgeous enough, she's got the hot Tony Parker and now these fabulous dining and night club establishments?! Truly haute!

Fashion was on display and it was so fun to mix it up and play dress up at night.  Clearly as a mother in a small town, dressing up for dinner isn't something I'm accustomed to doing.  Red Robin has a fairly relaxed dress code from what I've noticed.. So like Kim said, I mixed it up, broke out my highest heels, and shortest skirts and had fun! I love to dress up and dress up I did.  

I received the absolute best spray tan ever courtesy of probably the most beautiful girl ever at the Wynn hotel spa.  I begged and pleaded with her to tell me the names of some of her celeb clients but due to confidentiality agreements, she couldn't share her names. So instead I made her sign a confidentiality agreement (Oh yes, I did..).  What she did share, and I will share with you, my fellow mamas, is a simple self tanner she recommends to all her clients, celebraties, and regulars like moi.  The secret:

Ex-foliate and use every other day (color Medium!) and you can attain the look of a secretive celeb tanner! shh..don't let the paparazzi find out!

Everything this trip was first class, especially the accommodations, the ultra luxe Wynn hotel.  Steve Wynn outdid himself, and I was amazed to see him, not once but twice on the hotel property clearly keeping an eye on his investment-his hotel guests.  Now that is a class act.  

I had a wonderful time with my relatives! I am so blessed to have such a fabulous group of people to call my family.  We ate, we drank, we laughed, we gambled, we laughed, we danced, we laughed..you get the picture.  What's really glam is a good laugh with people you love and who love you back.  Mission accomplished.  Vegas style. 

xo Kate

A small step for one Haute Mama and a BIG step for Charity!!!

What a difference a year makes and I am talking about Kate's life! Sorry Kate to bring the memories of jet setting off to Vegas sans Kids but it is our anniversary week and we are re-blogging some of our favorite posts! Toms shoes are still haute not only for their looks but their charitable soul! Haute Mama Christina just stocked up on several pair for her little half pint I call Bella Boo! I just ordered a pair for myself and my tween Caroline!!

Enjoy Mamas and thanks for reading us!! 

XO Kimberly

Hi Haute Mamas!

I am anxiously awaiting Kate's arrival home from Vegas!! I can't wait to hear about her fabulous trip and everything she discovered out there.  I saw her wardrobe and watched her little ones while she shopped, spray tanned and shopped some more!! We girls need to tag team when it comes to important stuff like that!!! haha!!! I hope she was able to relax and really let her inner soul come out and have fun. Her children were well taken care of by her husband and her dad! What a comedic pair those two are! Her girls enjoyed donuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! Hair was never combed all weekend, outfits miss matched but they had a ball with Dad and Gampi!!!! As for Kate.... what happens in Vegas..... LOL!!!!!

This weekend I came across this website www.toms.com and what they were doing for charity stopped me in my tracks! With every pair of shoes you purchase TOM's will give a pair of shoes to a child in need!!! LOVE THIS!!

Tom's shoes

I know that summer sandals are all the rage now, wedge heels, gladiator's etc. But if a casual slide on shoe is what you are looking for, these shoes are ultra comfortable and remind me of the Keds that we all knew and loved in the mid 80's and 90's!! There are so many to choose from. Pair them with some cute shorts, cropped leggings etc. and give a pair of shoes to a child in need at the same time!!! 

Fellow Haute Mama Christina was telling me that they are all the rage in the celebrity world! These shoes are also very lightweight and  portable as you can throw them in your bag for a quick shoe change. You can also get a tax write off on your purchase as you have just donated to charity!!!! As Louie Armstrong would sing... "I think to myself... What a Wonderful World!!!" Oh Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

Thanks TOMS's for making a difference!!! :-)

Membership has it's privleges

At some point in my life, maybe a discussion involving a black American Express card will occur.  Not so now.  For now, my universe centers around my warehouse cards. 

Love me some warehouse club shopping and not just for the double bags of Doritos.  My first cheap tricks come straight from the giants.  Some of my favorite finds:

-Ginormous bottles of Cetaphil, Vaselline, + other random beauty staples.  Sign me up for anything that comes with triple the amount I'll ever possibly need in a year. 

-Havaianas.  For real.  I threw them all in my cart before I even checked the size/color/style.  

-Reading material.  A gal's gotta keep up on the trends + doing so at a discount?! Sign me up!

-Designer clothes/bags. I about fell over one day when I walked past a display case full of Prada and Coach bags.  In BJ's? Who knew?  I've never purchased one, but I have purchased designer clothing.  Namely a BCBG dress that was so cheap I bought two because I wasn't sure what size I wanted.  

While not always a win at your local Costco/Bjs/Sams, it's definitely worth a glance in the clothing and shoe section.  Because like hitting the lottery, you know that one day you don't play is the one day those Michael Kors shoes are going to hit the floor!

Hi Haute Mamas it's Kimberly,

I could not agree with Kate more!!  It is such a score when you come upon a really great find and you can sneak it onto the food bill. That way it slides under the radar with your significant other!! hahaha!! There is one item besides the magazines that I always stock up on and that is my favorite eye makeup remover by Almay. I have been using this since my twenties!! It removes eye makeup so easily and neatly!! No staining your hand towels with mascara!!! I buy the non-oily pads they seem to work better. The oily  ones are so oily that they get into your eyes and cause temporary eye blur!!! Not fun at all!! haha!! Really  worth trying and if you love them they are available in bulk at BJ's!! 

You will feel no blues when you've got great shoes!! - Three Haute Mamas

Hello World of Haute Mamas.... Let me introduce myself... I am the last of the trio - Christina. I have so much to say but like all you other mamas very little time to say it so I am going to hit on a couple of very important pieces to getting started on this new revoltuion some of you may be approaching. Subject is SHOES and Handbags!!! First let me tell you a quick story that will describe who I am and how I shop... I recently went to San Francisco for work and as always I unpack my clothes, shoes, and accessories and put them away. So I hang my clothes in the closet, laid out my accessories and put out my shoes on the floor so I can see them all. Well, a co-worker came into my room and said, "Girl... Is that a RUG under all your shoes??" I laughed and said, "NOOOO, the shoes are sitting on top of their shoe bags." She was taken back by this and said what kind of shoes do you have?? I said shoes that come with shoe bags... Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Giuseppe Zanotti. Now these my ladies are "SHOES" shoes that come with shoe bags. Now don't get me wrong, I am NOT rich by any means (at least my bank account says I am not and my husband of course but Bloomingdales and the Jimmy Choo don't know that) I also never received that money tree in my back yard I have been praying for!!! Sooo you ask how does one own shoes like this? Their are two answers. I will share one with you now and the other one at a later date (it has to do with an excel sheets on how to deduct shoe funds from your utility bills - that will be in shopping funds for hautemamas 101). It's called an investment ladies... your husband may invest into a new set of golf clubs, or your kids invest in a new computer well... this haute mama invest in shoes and handbags. The key to the investment is traditional pieces. So in my shoe wardrobe you will find a peekaboo patent leather by Jimmy Choo, an animal print heel by Giuseppe Zanotti, and a grey and black patent leather and a brown leather by Chanel. Now add up all these shoes (which aren't all of them.... but a few of my favs) and you will probably think.... this chick is haute in the head!!! But I have owned these shoes for years and still love them 3 years later b/c they are classic and timeless. I have worn them plenty of times and re store them after each season ($30) and they look brand new.... You could NEVER do this with a pair of Aldo shoes ladies (plus the investment of bandiads wearing a cheap shoe)!!!! Now on the flip side, if you are buying trendy shoes that are hot for a season only and "how" you ask yourself do I know this? Well just ask us that is what we are here for. We will tell you!! I read WWD (womens wear daily) it's much more exciting then sports or news (too depressing!!) Go to the big brand stores to get a great pair of fabulous sandals for summer like at the Gap check out these sandals

Or a great pair of wedges at Banana Republic.

 

If you LOVE a desinger shoe then invest in these great summer flip flops by tory burch. 

 
 
 

Soooo moral of the story besides there is a way to hide shopping funds from the husband.... certain items should be purchased as an investment (classic not trendy - name brand for quality vs. branding) Well that's it for today but I have a list of knowledge I can't wait to share with you!!

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