What To Pack: Packing Light

Next Tuesday I'll be embarking on a 4 day, 3 night adventure to Atlanta & New Orleans to visit my BFF Kimberly & take a road trip to see one of my favorite bands Mumford & Sons! I'm only bringing a carry-on suitcase & my handbag, so I've gotta pack light.

Here's my game plan:

Jovovich-Hawk for Target floral dress
Jovovich-Hawk for Target polka dot dress
Tucker for Target floral dress
Rodarte for Target lace print tunic
Cognac boots from Target
Black boots from Torrid

I'll try to take some OOTD shots while I'm there so you guys can see my looks in action! In the meantime, any tips on packing light??

March ShoeDazzle How-To: Matilda

I thought I would try something new on my blog by sharing how I plan on styling my monthly ShoeDazzle buys. I've seen this done on YouTube before & thought it was a cute idea. This month I ordered the Matilda motorcycle boot. I love the chain & buckle details!

Outfit #1:
I plan on pairing these boots with skinny jeans & a simple top for a summer concert.

Outfit #2:
I can also see myself wearing these with a feminine LBD on date night!

*Sign up for ShoeDazzle & SAVE 20% on your first purchase!

Saturday Night Special

Guns N Roses Tank, Amplified Clothing

Skinny Jeans, JBrand

Suede Slingbacks, Jessica Simpson

Quilted Bag, Marc Jacobs
Geometric Earrings, House of Harlow 1960

What To Wear: St. Patrick's Day

I have to work this St. Patrick's Day (I recently picked up a hostessing job at a local Italian restaurant), but if I could wear what I wanted, it'd be something like this:

Skull Top, E.VIL

Boyfriend Jeans, American Eagle

Strappy Wedges, Michael Antonio

Clover Earrings, Anya Jewels

Wooden Bangles, Forever21

Freshen Up Your Style With JewelMint

Celeb-endorsed online shopping clubs are quickly becoming all the rage and while Kim Kardashian may have started it all with ShoeDazzle, Kate Bosworth is jumping on the bandwagon with her jewelry of the month society, JewelMint.

Started by Kate & her stylist Cher Coulter, the members-only site is filled with fun & funky earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets all priced at $29.99*. Here's a screen cap of my current showroom:

This is the third shopping club I've joined & I'm actually saving money! I've cut back my "in-person" shopping trips & limited myself to my beauty samples from Birchbox, a pair of shoes or a handbag from ShoeDazzle & a piece of jewelry from JewelMint. My total for the month is $80 -- I used to spend that in one store! Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE to go shopping, but I love getting pretty things in the mail every month even more!

*Join here & save 60% off one piece with the code "surveyfeb60"

Please Pause For A Brief Intermission...

I just wanted to write a quick post to let all of my amazing, dedicated followers that I may be a little slow with the blogging for a bit. I fear that my trusty MacBook may have gone to Apple heaven!

I have found an adorable & affordable netbook however, so rest assured that the hiatus shouldn't last long.

Crossing my fingers for the best!

What To Wear: South By Southwest

Sequin top, Edun

Studded jean shorts, Cosmic Denim 

Floral boots, Dr. Martens

Wallet, Balenciaga

Cuff bracelet, Dorothy Perkins

Double finger ring, Low Luv by Erin Wasson

Love Samples? Join The Club!

I read about birchbox.com in a magazine the other day and couldn't wait to get on the computer to check it out. A club that delivers beauty samples to it's members every month? Count me in! Their motto is "Discover what you love and buy with confidence," which has been a personal shopping mantra of mine ever since the Great Foundation Debacle of 2002. (I really wish someone had told me that MAC foundations break you out before I spent $40 on one!)

Not only do I love samples because of their adorable, purse-friendly size, I love them because you get to try before you buy! Clearly, the people at Birchbox feel the same way. For just $10/month, you get to test-drive 4 to 5 beauty samples and if you decide to buy the full size product(s) from their site, you earn points towards further purchases. No more hounding the clerk at Sephora for a trial size of something you're unsure about, just check your mailbox!

Here are just some of the brands they carry:

Bare Minerals

Korres

Kiehls

Nars

Benefit

Oscar Blandi

Stila

Too Faced

Phyto


For all the details on how the club works, watch the video below.

I'm Baaaaack!!!

Happy New Year! 

Sorry for leaving you all for a while; I've been busy getting in shape and preparing for my new career as a cosmetologist. Dental Assisting school just wasn't girly enough for me! 

Don't worry, I'll be blogging regularly and starting up my YouTube channel again very soon. If anyone is interested in following me on my weight loss journey (30 lbs shed so far thanks to Dr. Atkins), I'm considering making a separate health/fitness blog.

Until next time, thank you all so much for sticking with Material Instinct & a huge "Hello" to all of my newest followers!

Love,
   Valerie Valentine

Coolest Rain Boots Ever?!

While shopping for my Marc Jacobs Sasha, I spotted these Chooka moto studded rain boots on ShopBop.com for only $24 -- 70% off retail! I can't wait for hurricane season (yes, we really have a "hurricane season" in Florida) so I can rock these waterproof bad boys!