Holiday Gift Guide with Carolina Premium Outlets

If you're anything like me, you always procrastinate when it comes to buying Christmas and holiday gifts. I don't know why I do it every year - but I do. So when Carolina Premium Outlets asked me to help form a Holiday Gift Guide, I knew I'd be able to check off multiple gifts for everyone on my list all at once. So of course the procrastinator inside me said YES!

So here's a little peek into the gift guide I put together with all of my finds from Carolina Premium Outlets!

For the Coffee Lover: 

Whether they need caffeine to function (hello Gilmore Girls) or just love making their own Chai Tea lattes, you can never go wrong with a Keurig machine and lots (and lots) of K-Cups from The Kitchen Collection. I don't know about you, but even though I can buy myself K-Cups, there's something special about someone giving them to you. Plus, the prices at The Kitchen Collection mean K-Cups for everyone!

For the guy:

I know: underwear can some so boring. But let's face it, guys need underwear and they certainly aren't going to buy themselves fun and colorful styles like these. So why not do it for them. Jockey's quality is so great that they're bound to last him at least a few seasons if not more. Plus, any excuse to fun underwear is a good one to me! 

For the whole family:

I don't know if there is a better store to hit up everyone on your list than J.Crew. They have the trendiest styles for all ages and cute details (like elbow patches and neon fair isle) mean the whole family can be fashionable while saving big! Plus the J.Crew Factory store at CPO has a ton of cute accessories that will make perfect stocking stuffers. 

For the glamour girl (or guy)

One item I love receiving is my favorite perfume in a pretty gift set because I usually get the scent plus a special gift. I stopped into Perfumania and decided to pick up the new Rihanna perfume for a sweet friend who is definitely the epitome of glamour. But to be completely honest, it was hard to choose given the many great scents they have! Oh and I scored this gorg polka dot tote for her when I shopped and spent a specific amount. It's the perfect size to travel with - a win win for her! 

For the little cutie:

Okay, clothes were never this cool when I was young (were they?!) I kind of want that “My mom think’s she’s in charge” tee for myself right now. As soon as I walked into The Children’s Place I felt like I had instantly become part of some “cool kid” club or something. Everything is bright, fun and oh-so-cheeky. Your little mini-me will totally love getting clothes when they’re this good. Now, the real question is: does that day-of-the-week emoji tshirt come in my size? 

For the one who has everything:

Yankee Candle will never stear you wrong in the world of gift giving my friends. They’ve got candles and scents in every size, shape and form that you could imagine. My favorite way to give a candle? Pick a scent that’s inspired by a memory you share with the person you’re gifting. They’ll love the smell and appreciate the scent-iment behind it too (see what I did there?) Psssttt if anyone wants to grab that Champagne Bubbles candle for me, I won’t be mad at ya! 

For the sparkle lover:

You know my motto here at Bedazzles After Dark: Wear something sparkly everyday. If you’ve got a sparkle lover in your life, Nine West is the perfect place to score some glittering accessories. Those heels are just calling her name for New Year’s Eve and the Glitter Clutch would look perfect dressed up with a LBD or dressed down and casual with a Jeans and Tee. Versatility in anyone’s wardrobe is key and let’s be honest: there’s nothing more versatile than glitter! 

For the music lover:

Elton John once said that music has a healing power – and I think that couldn’t be more true. You know that moment when your favorite song comes on the radio and you turn it up so loud so that nothing else in the world matters for the next few minutes (yeah, I love that feeling too) Well imagine giving that feeling to someone. I’m pretty sure they’d give you all the praise hands emojis. Bose has gifts that will give those music lovers in your life just that – pure bliss. These noise canceling headphones are such a good deal, you might have to grab a pair for yourself. 

Phew! These aren't even all the gifts I got! Make sure you're following Carolina Premium Outlet's social networks: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see what else I checked off my list. Guys there were so many cute things, especially the blanket scarf (you must get that for someone on your list!) 

Whatever you're doing over the holidays, I hope you have the merriest season and an even happier New Year! Don't forget to stop by Carolina Premium Outlets for all your holiday gifting needs!

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Simon and Carolina Premium Outlets. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Simon or Premium Outlets.

Better Than Tax Free Weekend with Carolina Premium Outlets

{J.Crew Factory linen stripe top, LOFT scallop shorts (similar) Banana Republic Factory crossbody bag}

Hi Loves! I can’t believe we are already in August! As summer is starting to come to a close, it’s time to start thinking about Back To Fall. I said that because some of us aren’t in school anymore (or have kids who are old enough for Back to School) but with the change in seasons usually comes transition in your wardrobe. Which means it’s time go shopping!

Lucky for you, Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield is having their Better Than Tax Free weekend today through Sunday! Which means added bonus savings on top of already amazing discounts. So what better way to prepare for the cooler weather than to score some majorly awesome deals! I’m going to share a few of my favorite fall trends that I scooped up while shopping and that you'll be able to find too! Here we go..

This right here is like my dream fall outfit. An easy breezy dress. Denim jacket over top, Ankle boots. I mean - does it get any better than this? I just had to have this combo dress from LOFT. The soft t-shirt like top makes it feel casually comfy, but the pretty skirt makes it feel oh-so-girly and fun! Did I mention the skirt reminds me of Rose Quartz, which is the color of the year for 2016? Holla! You've got to make a stop into LOFT when you visit CPO! 

I've told you guys this before, but I recently re-discovered American Eagle Jeans as the best fitting jeans ever! Their "short" length is perfect for petite gals like me and I don't know why, but the distressed options are so danm good. They also have this new line of "Soft & Sexy" tanks and tees. Like "budda" in your hands. This adorable peplum option may or may not have made it's way into my dressing room (plus 3 more colors too!) Obsessed! 

I think that I love tanks for fall because the weather is so up and down you never know which way it's going to go. With a blazer or jacket over top, this one from Banana Republic Factory is appropriate for work with a cute pencil skirt. But loose the jacket and throw on jeans and pumps and you've got an instant weekend look too. You can always reach for the blazer again when the temps start to drop at night. This gold will also go really well with my #BADxGameDay series that is starting back up soon. I can't wait!

Watches on Watches! I don't think I ever really noticed how fantastic the watches are from Fossil until I visited their store at CPO. They have some ah-mazing styles! You have to head over to CPO's Facebook to see which one I picked (such a good fall color) and with all the Better Than Tax Free savings you'll REALLY save big!  

One motto I tend to live by: A gal can never have too many ankle boots (just don't ask my husband if he feels the same.) When I stopped into Nine West, I thought I fell into ankle boot heaven with all the options they had. These black mirrored heel babies went home with me and I plan on wearing them with everything this fall season. Dresses. Jeans. Shorts and tights. I mean everything. Did I mention they were on MAH-jor sale? Yes, Please!

Back To Fall is also a great time to buy workout shoes. I don't know why, but I feel like the end of summer season means the deals on sneaks on better. I loved this periwinkle-ish blue color. It's not something I had picked out before, so it was fun to try something new. I've been seeing this marbled print on everything lately, so when I spotted it on Nike apparel and shoes, I knew it was going to be a good Fall Trend. I only wish I was actually going back to school so I could rock this marbled backpack!

Mirrored Sunglasses aren't just for the 80's anymore! They are back with a vengeance and won't be leaving anytime soon. Find modern styles like this pair from LOFT to keep you in 2016. I adore the tortoise print and the cat eye shape frames my face nicely. If you follow me on instagram you know I haven't taken these off from the second I scooped them up! 

You guys... there are so many more deals where that came from. I haven't even shown you everything I found! So make sure you're following Carolina Premium Outlets over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see everything I scored (that Levi's Jacket is the bomb) Then head over to the center (it's like a 25 minute drive from Raleigh!) or your local Simon Shopping Center to save big on Fall Trends! 

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Simon and Carolina Premium Outlets. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Simon or Premium Outlets.

Mother's Day Gift Guide with Carolina Premium Outlets

Mother’s Day is literally right around the corner! So when Carolina Premium Outlets reached out about putting together a Mother’s Day gift guide, I knew my mom would be so excited. I mean, what’s better than a mother daughter shopping trip? (side note: we used to dream about being on Supermarket Sweep together. Anyone else remember and LOVE that show?) There are so many fantastic stores at Carolina Premium Outlets, that you’re bound to find just about anything for your mother, wife, aunt, sister, grandmother, friend to thank them for being an amazing mother, friend, and just all around person!

Ready, set… let’s shop!

First stop… shoes! What mom wouldn’t love a great looking pair of shoes that are also super comfortable? Aerosoles has a ton of options that are perfect for just that. I love the canvas fabric on this pair, making them durable. But the block heel and peep toe make them stylish and on trend. She’ll love them!

Banana Republic is THE place for petite shoppers like myself and my mom. Their petite section is chock full of many items found in the regular section, tweeked and tailored just right to fit us height-challenged ladies. When shopping for clothes for your mom, make sure you think about what she’ll get the most wear out of. Can she wear it for work? Date night? Church? Casually? I think half the fun of finding a good find, like the petitie blouses here at Banana Republic, is sharing with my mom all the ways she can wear them!

Sparkle, Sparkle! If you’re wanting to gift the woman in your life with a little some shiny for Mother’s Day, Zales is definitely the place to stop in. Jewelry can be so personal and the associates at Zales were incredibly helpful in talking about making our gift choice special. How beautiful are these glittering gold hoops?

My mom and I are CONSTANTLY gravitating towards the same exact styles when we go shopping. We’re always picking up the same dresses, shirts, purses, skirts…. Does this happen with anyone else? That’s why we love shopping at GAP. Their selections are fantastic for any woman [or man too!] no matter what your age or personal style is.

We both selected this super fun chambray denim shirt dress! It’s a great spring/summer piece but I’ll also pair with dark tights, booties and a chunky sweater come fall. I'm sure my mom will too!

Let’s be real…. A woman can never have too many shoes (whoever said that was VERY smart!) Whenever we shop at Carolina Premium Outlets, we always have to stop in at Nine West. We found a pair of heels that came in the perfect height for me (around 4 inches) and the perfect height for my mom (2.75 – 3 inches) We also drool over their bags and wallet section (hello great deals!) With variety and versatility, Nine West is one of the stores where you’re bound to find just the right thing for your mom no matter your budget or her style.

Another fab place I love to shop with my mom? LOFT! What started out as an extension of Ann Taylor, has really taken off in terms of affordable and fantastic clothing. A lot of what I find at LOFT can play two roles: work and play. And with my mom’s busy schedule, that’s exactly what she needs – double duty styles. I’ve been trying to show her how many different ways she can wear a great graphic tee like this one. Jeans and boots for play or pair it with a fitted pencil skirt and tailored blazer for the office. How playful and fun!

While we were at CPO, we stopped in at the Jockey Store to get measured for our “RealFit” bra. Jockey’s custom real fit system is based on your body’s measurements, giving you a specific size that’s tailored and custom just for you! Shout out to Ashley, the assistant GM and the rest of her team for making this process super simple and enjoyable! We love our new Jockey RealFit bras!

If you want to see more of our shopping trip and a few other gifts we looked at together, make sure you're following Carolina Premium Outlets on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! There are so many fabulous Mother’s Day gifts to be found and I'll be sharing my favorite items over the next few days. What are YOUR favorite gifts to give your mom?

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms/grandmas/aunts/sisters/friends/wives out there!

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Simon and Carolina Premium Outlets. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Simon or Premium Outlets.
 

50 Shades of a Snowflake

Happy 2016 lovelies! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Mine went by too fast. The weather has been so off and on (pretty sure it was like 75 on Christmas Eve here in Raleigh) but I think we're finally headed back into cooler temps. Which makes this sweater outfit the perfect Winter Date night inspiration. Psssst there's also a coupon code for 50% off this bag! 

The Hex Collection "Convertible Belt Bag" in Holograph c/o (use code 50off2016 site wide for 50% off! Valid through 1/4/16)

GAP Factory sweater c/o Carolina Premium Outlets

American Eagle Outfitters jeggings

Zara metallic pumps (sold out try these)

Zero UV mirror aviators

O Necklace personalized twitter necklace c/o

Michael Kors "Bradshaw" watch in Rose Gold

When I posted this look on instagram, I called it 50 shades of a Snowflake, so I'm sticking with that. i loved the different shades of blue/silver together. Kind of monochromatic. 

When dressing up for date night during the week, it can be hard depending on how dressy or nice you want to look. I say, throw on a sweater, dark pair of jeans, a fun pair of shoes and one bold accessory. In this case, it's my metallic belt bag - which is also 50% off TODAY ONLY. By adding that extra pop of fun, you feel comfortable, yet put together with a touch of pizzazz. 

P.S. does anyone even use the word "pizzazz" anymore? I think it's kind of underrated. Is this going to be like the time Gretchen tried to make "fetch" happen?

Anyways, I digress. Go scoop up this belt bag for a steal and use the code 50off2016 for 50% off The Hex Collection site wide. 

Happy Monday loves! Can't wait to see what 2016 brings for us!

Holiday Gift Guide with Carolina Premium Outlets

When it comes to giving gifts, I have to admit that I love it - it's one of my love languages. So when Carolina Premium Outlets reached out about putting together a holiday gift guide, I jumped at the chance! With so many shops to choose from, CPO is the ideal spot to check multiple friends and family off your holiday shop-for lists! 

Here's a few of my favorite holiday shopping tips:

For The Guy:

Buy him what he needs. I don't know about you, but my husband can be incredibly difficult to buy for. But only because what he says he wants, are items he needs (work shirts, underwear, car floor mats - yes for real) And even though those items don't seem fun and maybe a bit boring, it's what he really needs, so he loves receiving them. Don't try to go too off the list.

Check out all the printed button down options from Banana Republic Factory! My husband wears these to work everyday and at these prices, I can stock up and save!

For Your BFF: 

Sometimes, a great bag is the perfect gift for a gal pal. It could be something she needs, but doesn't always buy for herself. Enter Nine West Outlet!! I spotted this large carry all bag and had to grab it. I have a friend who's always traveling (both by plane and car) and it's the perfect size for her trips. But it also can double as an everyday work bag, roomy enough for computers, papers and anything else she might need. Plus, it was a fabulous price!

For the Kiddos:
This may be a little bit more exciting for the adults, but why not take a break from the toys. Is it just me or are the kids clothes like ridiculously cute these days? I mean.. I want some of them! And if you don't think your little one wants to open clothes, you can definitely shop for Christmas Day or New Year's Eve outfits early at Carolina Premium Outlets.

I mean how adorbs are these 2 outfits from GAP Factory? Sequin skirts and elbow patches for your mini me? Yes, please!

For the gal:
I LOVE picking out outfits for my mom. And she loves it too so that she doesn't have to think about what to pair with what. Carolina Premium Outlets has A TON of stores to choose from, making it easy to put together a full look for her.

These Ann Taylor glitter skinny jeans are perfect for her (psssst they come in a variety of shapes like Modern, Curvy and Petite so everyone can find their fit!) and versatile enough to carry her from season to season. All I needed to add was a sweater and some bling to round out the full look. She'll look SO cute in this all winter long!

For the Teacher/Co-worker/Party Hostess/Anyone!
We all have that person who we feel like... what they heck are we going to get them? Enter my go-to gift: Yankee Candle! It's a great option because it's not too personal, but still says that you care about them and were thinking about them during this Holiday season. My advice? Stick with a classic scent, like Cotton. Right now, Yankee Candles at Carolina Premium Outlets large candles are on major sale so you can knock out a few gifts with one swoop.

If you want to see more of my Holiday Gift Guide ideas, make sure you're following Carolina Premium Outlets on Facebook and Twitter! I'll be sharing my favorite items over the next few days and want to know what some of your favorite gift giving tips are!

disclosure: this post was sponsored by Simon and Carolina Premium Outlets. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Simon or Premium Outlets.