DC Deals

Today's post is not fashion-related it is DC on the cheap awesome related.

Living in the city does have its draw backs:
-living in a room smaller than most office kitchens for too much of a percentage of your paycheck
-constant ambulance and fire truck sirens (which some people can sleep through)
-tourists. No explanation needed.

BUT living in a city also has it's perks- today I'm going to focus on DC online deals. DC has tons of coupon websites that feature discounts off of your already favorite eateries, stores, and services. Let's begin.

Groupon- This was my first daily email in the DC coupon world. Groupon features restaurants as well as experiences. Most recently some of the deals have been:

• $10 for a Lawn-Seat Ticket to Either “Legally Blonde The Musical” or “The Sound
• $20 for $40 Worth of Cupcakes and More from CakeLove. Choose Among Six

• $25 for $50 Worth of Fresh, Sustainable Seafood and Drinks at Hook

• "1-Hour" Tasting Class from Washington Wine Academy. Choose from Wine or Beer

Buy With Me- This site is a little bit different: For each deal to become valid, we need to gather enough interested customers and meet the minimum benchmark before the deadline. Once we reach the required mark, everyone gets the deal! If we fall short, the deal is completely off, and neither you nor the merchant will be charged at all. Recent deals:

• $49 for 2 One-On-One Sessions to Shape You Up in Dupont Circle
• Up to 53% off a Mani/ Pedi at a Top Salon
• Half off Mexican and El Salvadoran Food and Drinks

Living Social- Is much like Groupon but after you buy the deal, you'll get a unique link to share. If three people buy the deal using your link, then your deal is free. Recent deals:

• HouseWarmers Maids LLC House Cleaning for $60
• Capital Yacht Charters 50% Off Wine Tasting Cruise on the Potomac
• Natural Body Spa and Shoppe 50% Off Relaxing Spa Package at Natural Body

Deals for Deeds- This site is pretty unique. Same deal as the other sites but when you checkout you'll be prompted to pick which charity you would like 5% of your purchase to go towards. Recent deals:

$10 for $20 worth of food and drink at Town Tavern

• 30 bottle custom wine-making experience at half price!
• $15 for $30 worth of goods from Pulp DC

Home Run- Just like Buy With Me, enough people need to buy the coupon for the deal to activate. Recent deals:

• $2 for 1 mojito at Zengo
• Free soft serve ice cream at ACKC
  
• 50% off Potomac Pizza

City Shop Girl- This one is for the ladies because it discounts events, boutiques, department stores, restaurants, spas and specialty stores. Recent deals:

• Potenza: For $28, you get 3 small plates with a 2 glass wine pairing
• Celebrate the opening of Panas in Dupont Circle, come in between 11am-1pm today to receive a free empanada
• Guests receive a glass of Champagne, 2 crafted cocktails by award winning bartender Derek Brown and a small plate from the kitchen for $54

Tippr- This site is fun because the discounts get bigger and bigger. The more people that buy the coupon the bigger the discount gets! Recent deals:

• $25 for $50 worth of Dicks Cottons sunglasses
• $15 for $40 worth of Professionals in the City
• $35 for $75 worth of John O' Leary's Golf Academy

What's the Deal- This is a great site for food and fun discounts. No catches, no gimmicks here. Recent deals:

• 50% off at Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill
• 30% off the Arlington Scavenger Hunt
• 60% off classes at Boundless Yoga
  

Summer Ensemble

Next week I am going on vacation to New Hampshire. Now this is a family vacation so it will be tame, full of early bedtimes, and lots of reading. This would make for a very boring blog post. So, today's post is about fun ensembles and pieces for a wild and sunny beach vacation with your friends or significant other. No offense mom.


The suit. The dreaded two piece that we prepare for, diet for, and have nightmares about. My approach to the bikini is one word: distraction. For example, I am well endowed up top so I like to accentuate the girls as much as possible in order to distract from the lower half which is, shall we say, a Pillsbury crescent roll before it goes in the oven?



J Crew Breezy Dot Bikini, Bottom $19, Top $29










I also like to have my hair out of my face when burning to a crisp on the sand - so this headband I love because it goes all the way around the head; meaning no headaches!

Modcloth, Impeccable Ivory Headband, $9.99

I don't believe in heels at the beach, but I also don't like to see those shredded to pieces $4.99 Old Navy rubber thong flip flops so let's try to find a happy medium.

Zappos, Nine West Rhosolyn, $48

The beach bag is tough because it's gotta be large enough to carry everything you need for a full day out but it also needs to be machine washable or at least wet paper towel-able because we both know your sunscreen will explode, leak, or uncap inside your bag.

Tommy Bahama, Terry Beach Bag, $38

I'm not a huge advocate of spending loads of money on a beach cover-up because I plan to sweat and/or be covered in sand and/or sunscreen in it. A basic and comfortable dress is perfect.

Victoria's Secret, Tie Waist Cover Up Dress, $29

The final piece is a sassy hat. When your hair is soaked, just put on a floppy brimmed beach hat. Feel free to personalize it by wrapping a ribbon around it or even a pin.

Amazon, Light Vented Sun Beach Floppy Hat, $26

Things I'm liking today

I think this weekend's heat has left my brain a little slow and lacking the normal creativity- either that or the lack of Diet Coke this morning. Either way, today's post is going to be a more visual one. Here are some pics that I'm loving today:

Free Your Toes

A little known fact about me: as a child I bound my feet in order to have adorable, feminine, and small tootsies. So I used to buy my school sneakers a size too small so that my toes would curl underneath my feet when I walked. Now I can fit into anything from a size 5.5 to a 7.5 shoe. Totally worth it.

(moment to judge me)

Ok, so I have figured out now that my feet have stopped growing I can stop cramming them into small ballet flats and heels which have left my heels totally bloodied and beaten. Luckily summer is the perfect time to let your feet out in a fashionable yet professional manner. Depending on how casual your office is, you can get away with some great sandals. But ladies, please, no thong sandals- no one wants to hear you flip flopping down the hallway. No one.

Setchelles 'Get Outta Town' Sandal, Nordstroms, $79

Lands End Canvas Leather and Canvas Heel, Lands End Canvas, $67


Kate Spade "bow", Kate Spade, $198 (ok I had to put on in to covet)