Tampabay.com

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

4 Gifts To Buy Yourself On Valentine's Day

Whether I've been in love, "in like" or totally unattached, I've always loved Valentine's Day. I love heart-shaped things, I love seeing pink valentinestock.jpgsprinkly cupcakes and donuts at the Publix bakery, I love cupids and lace. Commercial or not, I just love the idea of a day being dedicated to love.

Yesterday, I got a Valentine in the mail from my mother, with a check and a card telling me to buy something nice for ME. I could put it toward the brakes on my car, which are making a scary noise right now, and I've been meaning to buy some more special diet cat food for my allergy-prone cat. But I've decided to honor my mother's wishes and buy a nice romantic present for myself today.

So what shall it be? Here are a four love-themed pretties I'm eying:

Too Faced Romantic Eye Classic Beauty Shadow Collection ($36) from Sephora. These people make great shadows that blend perfectly and stay put all day. I got the Natural Eye Neutral version of this palette a couple years ago and love it. They come with little cards that show you how to do three different looks.

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Turquoise and diamond ring ($1,200) from Anthropologie. Hahahaha, just kidding. My mom's check wasn't for THAT much. But I do love the idea of buying myself something nice like this one day. I don't need to wait on no stinkin' man to buy me exquisite jewelry. Turquoise is my favorite, and diamonds are my birthstone.

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Bright Buds Fit N Flare Dress ($278) by Betsey Johnson. I have no idea what I'd wear this to, but it's cute and fun and I want it in my closet.

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Wraparound feather pendant necklace (on sale for $39.99) by Noir Jewelry at Zappos.com. Kinda cool.

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Anyone else treating themselves this Valentine's Day?

 

Deal Diva Emily

Photos: iStockphoto, Sephora.com, Anthropologie, Betsey Johnson, Zappos.com.

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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