Sip & Dip

Our view @ Paragon - Downtown Portland, OR

Cookie ice cream sandwich with fudge

Banana bread pudding with pecans & bourbon sauce

I was tooling around on Pinterest a few weeks ago when the idea of a 'Sip & Dip' popped up.  I just googled Sip & Dip and the definition is listed as "when you take a drink of some one's alcoholic beverage and quickly leave". While this type of Sip and Dip could be highly entertaining, this doesn't come close to my idea of what it should be.

My idea of a Sip & Dip is when you formally get a group of ladies together for appetizers and drinks.  It could also be a meal.  It is a way to meet new people, network, see old friends, try new restaurants, and generally get together.  We are starting with a group of 4 of us girls from work.  Each girl will take turns planning a monthly get together, inviting the original group and a handful of personal friends.  Once a girl is invited to an event, she then gets put on the invitees list, the rotation for planning, and can in turn invite people from her circle of friends.  The whole point of this is to get a fun, collective group of women together to have a good time at a planned event.  Each person will then have a turn to plan something fun to get the ladies together again.

Our first one was relatively quiet, but very chill, and delicious.  We met on a Saturday afternoon at Paragon in the Pearl District.  They are known for their infused vodkas, grilled cheese, & tomato soup. I only got one picture of the view, none of my pictures were really turning out.  We also had some delicious desserts, as shown above.

The next Sip & Dip is mine to plan.  I have a few ideas in mind (high tea, wine tasting, chocolate tasting, etc), but nothing established yet, and don't want to spoil it for those of you readers who will be attending.  I know I want to have a general theme, maybe some games/prizes, and plan to send out formal invites. I hope that these events turn into something for us to look forward too, and am excited for the new friends that I have yet to meet! It is going to turn into the Real Houswives of Portland, Oregon -- well, hopefully with less slapping.  :)

Just a few things...

High Low Dress - F21 $34.80

Striped Parisian Cosmetic Bag - $8.80

H&M Dress $24.95

Ring H&M $5.95 & Heart Necklace F21 $1.50

I spent the afternoon on Sunday shopping with my bestie.  We did our best to pillage Nordstrom Rack but we both left empty handed.  But that did not deter us from heading over to the mall, driving in pure snow and slush, to try to score some shopping goodness. 

I did some returns at F21 (from my online shopping fail) and quickly spent my credits on the mermaid dress (1st photo) and a sweetheart necklace.  When I saw this dress I knew I had to have it for my upcoming cruise in March.  Imagine walking down the deck, this dress, belted, with some high wedge sandals  -- Maybe a floppy brimmed hat, too!  It's gonna be glorious! 

I also had to have the black tunic with contrast neckline, from H&M.  The photo above is of the back of the top, to show the sweet little button closure.  Super cute - will be perfect with leggings! I plan to wear it when I meet up with friends for happy hour downtown. This style also came in a beautiful solid orange, which I debated over, discussed twice with my bestie, and then settled on ol' practical black.  While the orange was very flirty, it just was more of a statement piece than the black, which will get more wear.  I also picked up an Aurea Borealis cocktail ring to wear out on the town, sized to wear on my pointer finger.

I certainly don't need a new make-up bag but this one is a very ample sized and ultra cute, so I snatched it up.  I plan to use it to pack full of jewelry for, again, the cruise.  (I know, I know...just wait the gloating is gonna get worse as we get closer to disembarkation). 

I think I did pretty well, even though I turned into an old lady and had to leave early, leaving my bestie to out-shop me alone at the mall. 



Gimme a deal!

This post may be a big DUH! for some of you, but for those of you who don't know about Retailmenot.com get ready!  Anyone who shops online, like me, needs to know, and USE the Retailmenot website.  This website is the hub for every major retailer's discount and coupon codes.  Just type in the retailer you are shopping and out pops TONS of discount and coupon codes.  NEVER, EVER buy anything online again before checking to see if there is a code you can use.  This place has saved me TONS of ca$h as well as added many freebies to my orders. 

Also, here are some other great deals you might want to check in on.

OLD NAVY

USE CODE: ONESAVEBIG at checkout

AMERICAN EAGLE

MICHAELS CRAFTS

CLICK FOR COUPON

ULTA

SEPHORA

Sign up online with Sephora and you get a gift on your Birthday.  This year it is fresh Sugar Kisses.  Can't wait until I get these in August!

You are welcome! Now go forth and shop it!

Happy Monday!



Shop it! Blazers & Baubles.

Blazer $59.95

H&M

Blazer $34.95

H&M

Blazer $29.80

F21

Blazer $32.80

F21

Blazer $49.95

H&M

Blazer $59.95

H&M

Blazer $32.80

F21

 I am in the market for a new versatile blazer to wear over my spring/summer blouses and tops.  I have a great black blazer, but it doesn't go with a lot of my favorite pieces.  H&M just emailed me and they have a bunch of new items, including a handful of new blazers.  Forever 21 is also sporting some cute new blazers too.  I am going to have to check these out this weekend at the mall when my bestie and I are on our shopping date, being as that after I take back my F21 fails I will have around $60 of credit. 

See one you like from H&M?  Sign up for the newsletter (see below for the link) to get 20% off one item, which would take a good chunk 'o money off of the price of one of these sexy blazers.  You can sign up under multiple e-mail addresses too ;)

Sign up for the H&M newsletter and get 20% off one item

...and I am really loving the idea of wearing a brooch with a blazer.  How gorgeous would these be?

Victorian Brooch $46

Wooden Brooch $2.25

Stag Brooch $14.16

Boardwalk Brooch $10

Vintage Brooch $59.95

and...

not so much

Cleopatra Brooch

Pheromone.

All artwork from Pheromone Gallery

Aren't these pieces amazing!?  I randomly found this gallery while shopping with a friend in Salem, Oregon of all places.  The artist, Christopher Marley, travels around the globe collecting the most amazing organic natural objects, then puts them into a museum quality, archival framed box.  The colors of the insects are all completely natural, he does not alter them in any way.  The photos don't capture how beautiful the colors and textures of the insects are in person.  I looked around for such a long time and there was no way I could commit to buying one because I loved them all so very much.  I plan to go back and purchase one very soon because I have never seen anything like it or anything that could even compare.

As you can see on the Pheromone Gallery website, the pieces are not cheap.  Lucky for us in the area, if you go to the gallery in Salem the prices are dramatically reduced and range from $90 and up.  Much more affordable.  After seeing these pieces in person, I can see why people would pay the premium prices for a piece.  Butterflies and insects aren't usually my gig, but these ones are so beautiful.  And...butterflies remind me of my sister Laura, so having one of these showcased on a wall is a dream of mine.  I can't wait to go back and hopefully bring one of these babies home with me.