To the Lovely Ladies at Loft… One after the other, I was greeted with such a warm welcome in your Walnut Store, I couldn’t help but start up a conversation! We gathered like girlfriends to chat it up and I was so happy to meet all three of you. To Kimberly, Mollie, and Laura your confidence in yourselves drew me in to get to know you all. And I’m glad you shared that with me. All of you were genuine, sweet, and beautiful. It was a pleasure #giveapenny

Shade of Jade Today at @polished4pennies! Burlington Coat Factory earrings $6, Ann Taylor Cuff $4, Dress Jomar $15… How I feel like a million bucks! $$ (Taken with Instagram)

Shout out to Polished Gal Pal Monet to the right, to the right!! Take a look at her Polished for Pennies finds for the Philly Style Party!!! 

Holy Moly Monet!

She says:

Dress- Nicole Miller Sale at the Bellevue orig $1,035.. got it for $130 !!

Shoes from Aldo on sale now orig $110.. I got them for $55!* im learning from you hahah”

Quality, Style, Class and Polish. Pennies well spent, you totally made a splash! Well done Monet! And Monica looks fab as well 😉 

Party Dressed Polished for Pennies

When you dress for a party, ANY PARTY, you should shop to bring out your best you. When you feel good about yourself, that swag naturally takes over and you literally find yourself floating through the room as people take notice to your confidence. Even if your having the worst day, accentuate the positives about you, smile, and dress up to celebrate life. Being here, we have a lot to be thankful for and it could always be worse. Let a dress take you from low to high… but keep that bank account up by shopping and feeling Polished for Pennies

When I Shop for event looks, I look for COLOR, POP, DETAIL, & ORIGINALITY… Why? Because when I’ve worked so hard for my money, and I’m spending it, I want to make it count! I want the look that makes me feel powerful, glamorous, and star-like. Gal Pals, you can have it all even if your low on doe, and if anyone tells you you can’t, don’t listen.  

This look cost me a total of $85! Zara “Shade of Jade” Dress with gorgeous HEAVY lace and lining (Heavy is Luxury).. Uh to die! My go to $15 thrift store found Brian Atwood Nude closed toe pumps!

And finally, to Top with POP, a vintage inspired pearl and robins egg blue stoned necklace from Ann Taylor $19.99.

Now why did I choose the garments and details I did? Because they made me feel like a Million Bucks! They say luxury is in the details… but they never said luxury details couldn’t be found for pennies! Have a great weekend everyone!!

*And to all the Polished for Pennies Gal Pals I saw at the Philadelphia Style Party (Shout out to my FAB date Melony Roy!) Monet, Tanya, Maria, Shelley… and ones who were there that I didn’t get to see, Ashley, thank you so much for your kind words, warmth, and support of Polished for Pennies. It means more than you know. You all are so beautiful.  

MY FAVORITE BRUSHES!!

No! I don’t go and blow big bucks on my makeup brushes, I need that change to fill my gas tank! Hahah I buy ELF! I love these brushes because when on the go they are all you’ll need! If you lose one you won’t care as much and they work just as well as the other more expensive brands that I’ve used! So all and all, they are a no brainer!

The foundation brush is $1, the powder and blush brushes were both $3, and the eyebrow brush is $3. All totaling $10 bucks!!!! I mean come on! What is there to think about hahah! 

As you seen in my latest Polished TV video for my new favorite concealer that Steven from the Revolution used, that foundation brush above is what I used to apply it. Now I know your thinking, well you used a foundation brush to apply concealer?! Hahah Not a big deal ladies, the biggest difference would be the size, and since they both have the same narrow bristled head, I saved a buck and stuck with only the foundation brush tip instead. They both work basically the same. 

And by the way, if you wanted to buy both go for it! Heck, if you visit the Elf website, and scope out a color or two that you’ve been wanting to try but have been hesitant to dip your toe into a trend, this is a place you won’t feel guilty about spending your pennies. 

Have you used these brushed before?! If you test them out, let me know what you think! 

Can you turn Pennies into a Polished Homemade pasta dish?… YES YOU CAN!!!

I found this AMAZING cookbook at BJ’s for under $30 during the Christmas season! The beautiful red cover and gigantic spoon drew me in like the photos on the inside. While my mom shopped the rest of our trip to BJ’s, I was reading and driving the cart in total admiration. Because of my half italian heritage, I’m a sucka for great italian food and pride myself on being knowledgable in the art of big entertaining and big flavor like Italians know how to do it. Two things I was brought up to love by an italian grandmother straight off the boat. So no offense to other cultures, because my own family is a rainbow tribe of sorts, with Korean influences, Spanish, Irish, American, and Polish, I’m just partial to sharp provolone hahah

Now, I’m not saying I’m a seasoned chef, but I can cook and attempt to throw down some down home simple recipes. Cooking really is simple. *But your missing out, if you haven’t bought a cookbook. I know the internet provides a wealth of knowledge but you don’t understand the relaxed state a cookbook puts you in while flipping through it’s pages. My saliva is actually used like a book mark… just kidding lol (that one just awkwardly popped in my head hahah) Ew… Anywho, and this whole cookbook thing is coming from one who HATES to pick up books and read, but these are different. Cookbooks get me to cook. Which lead me to yesterdays meal at my house…

A recipe for Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi, that we Baked with Béchamel and Mozzarella cheese. 

Looking at the photo above, if this doesn’t turn you on, I don’t know what to tell you haha! (Sidenote: It’s also a good vegetarian dish too and we even used frozen drained spinach) But the recipe was so simple. I followed these instructions…

The great thing with these instructions is that you can test your pasta in the water first to see if you have the right consistency. Pasta can be tricky but this is super easy and would only take a little more flour to get right. 

Then we proceeded with the recipe for the Béchamel…  Don’t get scared, it’s literally just butter, milk, & flour…

We added a touch of garlic powder and omitted the nutmeg… just FYI

Then in two smaller baking dishes with put a layer of homemade Spinach Gnocchi pasta, a layer of béchamel, a layer of Mozzarella, and a little breadcrumbs on top…then Baked it under the broiler until that top was crusted golden brown! 

The wonderful thing about this dish is that it’s the STAR of the show. You both have that in common 😉 …So if you were entertaining with this dish maybe some chicken cutlets, or meatballs would be a compliment, but for even more lightness a beautiful salad would be just fine. This recipe served four with plenty to spare and is a great on a budget… The most expensive thing may be the ricotta or parmesan but whats a bag of frozen spinach?… If you are going to invest money in anything for this dish, the quality of the cheese will always make the difference and go a long way. But you do what you can with what you have and regardless, it’s a stunning dish that anyone would love!

Now, That’s an easy P4P meal!!!  

There is nothing I love more than a good Polished Comparison, so your in for a treat!!!! And because I get excited, finding things of Million Dollar worth for Pennies, I LOVE to share the wealth.

My friend Carly writes an amazing blog called www.thirtysomethingfashion.com. She is extremely fashionable and has a natural air of chicness, that you can’t help to wonder what she wears on a daily basis. She is also Polishedly *Pregnant right now, and frigging stunning! (So lucky, I hope I’m the same, but with the elasticity genes I’ve inherited I have a feeling I’m screwed lol O well, It’s all worth it right… I do have a cellulite cream writeup coming up soon side note 😉

Anywho, back on track. On one of her recent posts, she highlighted a great layered Turquoise Necklace that costs a pretty penny, so I reached out to my homegirl and found her an exact stand in! Check out my layered necklace for $9.99 !!!!  The Polished Comparison the $94.99 Max & Cleo to the $9.99 Burlington Coat Factory! And, Burlington had three different colors to choose from! Ere-go, even if you bought 3 you would still only be spending a third of the price of the Max and Cleo!  

So let me say this, if you think the higher priced necklace is pennies well spent, spend. But if your saving Pennies for a splurge and need a filler that looks exactly the same, SAVE! Heck, for that price BUY ALL THREE COLORS. Save where you can, spend what you want, and always shop Polished for Pennies.

Something Flirty, Fun, and Sassy to Kick off Apricot April! This was actually the inspiration for making April about Apricot! Style director Cristi and myself, spotted this little beauty in Target! It’s adorable, and if you need a pick me up on the days where you don’t feel so pretty, this will do it for ya! It’s Pretty and Polished for Pennies at $24.99. Just the way we like it. (I’m sure your “someone else” will like it too 😉 And if you don’t have a someone else like me, WHO CARES! Celebrate you just being you, wanting to feel like the flirtatious creature you are… Be you, Be you, Be you, because your great!

What an icon, and think about it… her outfit and smoke stick aren’t selling the beauty of this photo. SHE IS. She could be wearing dollar store accessories and a discount dress and you know what, she’d still look like a Million Bucks. You don’t notice anything  but the beauty and confidence of her. You can do it to. Your beautiful, wear what makes you feel that way and allow yourself to shine. We are all just as iconic and special if we believe we are.

Tappin’ My Toe Tuesday…How to spot a Designer Shoe in a Slew of Plastic and Pleather!

I know there are MANY of you out there who get skeeved and grossed from thrift and second hand shops, and I have not a clue why! I mean, I have an idea, and in ways I see why, but chicas your still missing out! Did you see those tops scored by Polished Gal Pal Coll Rakus?? I mean come on! And what about the footwear I found at The Closet Exchange, right here in Philly, that were featured on The Revolution?? I know, I know, not so skeeved anymore are ya? lol 

If she can do it, I can do it, you can do it!!

So, if your a little leery about the thrift shopping experience, let me make it easy for you. Today, let’s talk about spotting quality Shoes…So the secret to how I spotted those Brian Atwoods, PICK EM’ & FLIP EM’!

1. PICK EM’: Let your eyes zone in on great quality. Look at the shoes you think look expensive, approach them, and I bet more than half the time you will be right! But remember your shopping thrift, so those at one time unapproachable beauties in a higher-end retailer, are now ready for the picking on pennies at the Thrift Store! And, that way, by using that Golden Eye of yours… your not digging if you don’t want to. *Note: When I say “Looks Expensive”, I mean use your eyes like your hands. Follow their shape, recognize interesting detail, labels, & admire. That may be getting deep for shoes, but us gals have a love affair with our footwear so you get it 😉 Don’t over think this step, pick what speaks to you, you know. The shoes that look lush, clean, and well made…Yup there the goods. When you do spot the ones you like and think have a great quality feel to them, look at their condition and then                           
2. FLIP EM’: Now your looking for the ultimate give away to a penny worthy shoe… A homage to my homeland, the ultimate stamp of approval “Made in Italy” (I am Irish too. I have to say that or my dad gets mad lol) This stamp authenticates the leather of the shoe of being a very high quality. It’s softer, durable, polished, and remember… Leather Lasts, pennies well spent. But check it! After I picked those Brian Atwoods, firstly by sheer glance, I flipped them for verification of quality and Boom….there it was

Too simple to spot quality shoes, you say? Well it is. All of us know those items at higher end retailers that we can’t even approach, because we know are way over the limit of our penny jars, this is the same concept. With that same eye and attitude switch up the location and approach, it’s just as easy to spot quality in a thrift store! If I can do it, Coll can do it, you can do it! So get out there Polished Gals, you know what your looking for… Just PICK EM’ and FLIP EM’!