Fresh and Fabulous

One of best things I've discovered since moving to Madison is the The Farmer's Market. Growing up in a city where the only "fresh" fruit one could find was located in the produce department at Cub Foods, I was in heaven when I first discovered the Saturday morning bliss that is fluffy, fresh baked loaves of bread and crisp veggies that had been plucked from the earth just hours earlier.


Recently, I was very surprised, and delighted, to find out that the Capitol Square is not the only Farmer's Market location in town. Hilldale Farmer's Market, open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 7 am until 1 pm, features farm fresh produce, jellies and jams, flowers, cheeses and much more. The location alone (have you tried to park down by the Capitol on a Farmer's Market Saturday?) makes this the perfect place to browse on a beautiful, sunny morning.

This year in addition to farm fresh produce there will be “buskers” added to the markets Saturday morning mix. Busking (a British term) is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people for donations and tips. This should bring a new level of excitement to the market. I’m personally looking forward to the musical offerings of the accordionists. Yes folks, accordion players! If you ask me, that in itself makes a trip to the Hilldale Market worthwhile!

Hilldale Steals

Each week I spend time perusing the latest and greatest Hilldale has to offer and have made friends with many shop-owners along the way. Not only do I hear about the hottest new arrivals, I am often times the first to hear about upcoming sales and promotions. Such a wealth of information is meant to be shared! Check the blog ever Monday for a list of steals and specials.

This Week:

Cornblooms: Purchase any Brighton necklace and bracelet and you can choose any pair of Brighton earrings for free! (Thru May 11th)



Zuckerman Jewelers: 50% off selected jewelry styles

Rupert Cornelius: Select items are 50 to 75% off

Pendleton: Receive a free tote bag with every purchase over $149.
Tunic Sweaters for $49.99 and V-Neck Shirts for $29.99

Christopher & Banks: Regular price skirts are 50% off
Capris for only $29.99

A Bonus is Never a Bad Thing

Clinique Bonus Time has been one of my favorite things since about the age of eight. When I was young it meant the chance to play with makeup, my mom handing over a bright floral bag full of samples. Now it means makeup and perfumes that are small enough to tuck inside even the tiniest clutches for easy touchups on the town.

Well the time is upon us once again! From now until May 3rd, receive your bonus bag when you make a purchase of $21.50 or greater. The cute floral print tote contains two lipsticks, a blush and eyeshadow compact, their best selling mascara and moisturizer, along with a sample of their gentle face cleanser. Hit up the Clinique make-up counter at Macy's to scoop up your bonus bag before they are all gone!

Environmentally Friendly Fashion

It is officially Earth Week and I am trying to be even more environmentally conscious than usual. However, as a full time student with an internship and a part time job, let's just say I have very little time to be replanting forests or sewing a dress made from recycled cotton. I do plan of doing my part though, and eco-centric, a environmentally friendly line found at Terese Zache, has made planting a tree as simple as buying a t-shirt.

For every eco-centric t-shirt purchased, American Forests will plant a four year old tree to help reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuels in the air. Talk about shopping with an impact!

Eco-centric is fun, fresh t-shirt line, dedicated to the use of organic materials and earth friendly technologies. A sweatshop free manufacturer, eco-centric produces luxurious organic cotton t-shirts. Each shirt features a digitally printed nature photograph that captures a different seasonal interpretation. I am in love with a burnt orange t-shirt, that features a spotted tiger whose realism blows me away. Doing good for the earth never looked so good!

Spring Jewelry Tips and Tricks

I am a firm believer that jewelry can make or break an outfit and is worn best when the piece is a reflection of it's owner. I wore a pair of huge, chunky plastic earrings to our Sadie Hawkins dance my freshman year of high school. Although today I would not be caught dead in them, that night they were the perfect compliment to my outfit and I wore them with my head high and a giant grin on my face. My point; wear jewelry that makes you feel like a million bucks, and you will personify that image. With that in mind, here are a couple hints for matching your jewelry with your wardrobe.

1. If you are wearing a dramatic piece, make it your only piece. I love bright colored gem stone necklaces and sparkling chandelier earrings, but wearing more than one of these items at a time is overwhelming.

2. Wearing a simple, understated outfit with a bright necklace or earrings will draw attention to your face. I love using this trick on a first date, when you will be talking during a sit down dinner. It is a great way to play up your natural beauty and draw attention to your eyes and smile.

3. Gems are a hot commodity this spring. After a winter season filled with chunky cocktail rings, I am excited for a more natural trend. Beautiful precious stone necklaces, in shades such as cobalt blue and sapphire are a great addition to any spring outfit. Dress down the trend by pairing a necklace with a simple cotton sundress or dress it up with your favorite party frock and sassy pumps for a night out on the town.

Looking to add some new pieces of jewelry to your collection? Stop by Woldenbergs to peruse their many different collections. Here are a few of my favorite pieces.

It's All in the Details

Having finally tucked away our mittens and peacoats, you are probably in the market for a spring jacket. Some of the hottest coats for spring come down to the details. From girly ruffles to cowl necks, it is the little touches that set certain pieces apart from the rest.

This spring trench by RoFa Moden features ruffled sleeves that update a classic, making it both modern and feminine.





This blaze orange jacket by Cole Haan reminds me of something an adventurous hiker would wear...if she was also avid fashionista. With it's dramatic cowl neckline, a feature rarely seen on this type of apparel, this jacket makes a fabulous statement for spring.





Find both of these spring jackets, along with many others, at Terese Zache.

Who Needs April Showers with These Flowers

Last weekend we certainly had the April showers, but you don't have to wait until May to see the flowers. These Lily Pulitzer flats, available at Woldenberg's, are the just the pop of color and fun that any spring wardrobe needs.

Looks Like Tom is No Longer the Top Gun of Aviators

Ray-Ban originally developed the aviator in 1937, the teardrop shaped glasses modeled after the smoked-lensed flying goggles that Ray-Ban made for the Army and Navy at that time. However, it wasn't until Tom Cruise sported a pair in Top Gun, that aviator glasses truly became sexy and iconic. Today, Chrome Hearts is once again reshaping the image of the aviator, giving the look a punk rock makeover.



Founded by biker enthusiast Richard Stark, Chrome Hearts produces edgy, high-end silver jewelry, leather clothing and furniture. The luxury products embody a gothic motif, featuring fleur-de-lys, daggers and floral cross designs. Chrome Hearts' sunglasses also feature their gothic motifs, and are often seen on many young celebs, such as Grey's Anatomy hunk Justin Chambers, model John Morrison and new mom Jennifer Garner.







Personally I'm more a 'pretty in pink' kind of girl, but something about the precise detailing and intricate design of these glasses makes me want to go over to the dark side. Just sporting a pair would make anyone feel a little bad ass. Ready to unleash your rocker star persona? Than scoop up a pair of Chrome Hearts shades at Ulla Eyewear and let your inner bad girl (or boy, for that matter) roam free.












**Celebrity images courtesy of Celebrity Sunglasses Finder.

A Fabulous Fit

Ananda Salon and Spa is not the only Hilldale business supporting a great cause this month (see Tuesday’s post). Macy’s has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen fund to hold a Fit for the Cure event at Hilldale. Wednesday April 23rd, from 10 a.m to 7 p.m., customers can be fitted in a Wacoal or DKNY Underwire bra by a Walcoal fit specialist. Just for trying on a bra, Wacoal will donate two dollars to breast cancer research, along with another two dollars for every bra purchased during the event.

Personally, I recommend the DKNY “Belle du Jour” balconette underwire bra, a romantic piece with adorable lace detailing. However, there are many different shapes and styles that are sure to please everyone’s tastes.

Kitson Kicks

Although L.A. is one city I'd prefer not to live in, I would sure love to spend a week scouring the city's endless fashion boutiques and shops. One of the city's hottest, Kitson L.A., is always stocked to the brim with quirky t-shirts and funky accessories, much of it worn by young celebs and seen in gossip magazines. Their shoe line is hard to find, many of their online carriers selling out of the sneakers just as soon as they can get them in. You, however, are in luck as Morgan Shoes is now carrying a few of Kitson's hottest canvas sneakers. These kicks, so rightly named the "diva" and the "prima donna," are now available for purchase. You'd better hurry in and scoop up a pair before they're all gone!

Hilldale Cut-A-Thon

Just after declaring to a friend that, as a poor college student, I was too broke to even get a decent hair cut, the perfect opportunity fell into my lap. This Sunday, April 13th, Ananda Salon and Spa at Hilldale is offering $20 haircuts to benefit the Alliance for the Great Lakes, an organization dedicated to water quality and conservation in an effort to "ensure a living resource for all generations." A salon quality haircut for twenty dollars that benefits a good cause? I wanted to know more, so I went to Ananda to get all the juicy details.

Here's what I discovered...

Not only is all of the $20 dollars for the haircut donated directly to the cause, so is the stylist's tip, because they are all donating their time for the day! This is so incredibly refreshing in an age where many businesses claim to support a cause, but then donate very little of the actual profit. Along with donating their time and skills, the stylists are also whipping up their favorite melt-in-your mouth treats to be sold in a bake sale manner, all profits also going to the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The Cut-A-Thon is from 11 am to 6 pm, with nine stylists on at most times. Walk-ins will be welcome all day, but I would schedule an appointment now by calling Ananda at 244-2161.


Can't make it Sunday, but still want to help the cause? Ananda is holding a silent auction throughout the month of April, featuring many different products, services and gift cards. They are also partnering with Aveda's national campaign for clean water, by selling these sweet lavender scented candles for only ten dollars a piece. With 100% of the profits being donated to charity, they are the perfect item to brighten up your home as we move into the spring and summer months!

Spice Up Your Monday

It's the Monday morning after a beautiful weekend and, if you are anything like me, you would rather be back outside enjoying the sunshine and grilling some burgers. My suggestion is to spice up your Monday (or Tuesday or Wednesday...) by grabbing some Southwestern fare at Pasqual's over your lunch break. Already serving devoted patrons in two locations (on Monroe Street and in Verona), Pasqual's recently opened a new location at Hilldale. Serving up the best southwestern food in town (I highly recommend the guacamole burrito), Pasqual's is dedicated to incorporating original recipes that "brought the southwest to the midwest." Pasqual's Hilldale location also features Gallup!, their little jewel of a cafe that serves locally roasted Ancora coffee and a host of delicious, fresh bakery items. Now, along with your scrumptious lunch, you can scoop up a cup of some of the best coffee in town for a caffeine kick sure to get you through the rest of your afternoon.

P.S. When warmer weather arrives, you'll be able to sip Margaritas and dine 'al fresco' on their outdoor patio. Just one more reason to be excited that summer is finally on the way!

Press C9 for an iPod Shuffle

Skittles and Dr. Pepper are two of my favorite vending machine treats, but imagine a vending machine that feeds...iPods? Yes, you heard me right, iPods, along with digital cameras, earphones, and video cameras. All are available in the new electronic vending machine found in Macy’s. The machines, called Zoom @ Macy’s, are a product of Zoom Systems of San Francisco and have been released in over 180 Macy’s around the country. The machines are equipped with a touch screen that allows customers to browse pricing and then pay with a credit card, before an robotic arm grabs the product and safely delivers it. Although a much bigger impulse buy than a bag of M&Ms, these iPod products come calorie free. Enjoy!

Gone North

As I have mentioned before, I am a self-proclaimed girly girl. So after moving to Madison, I tried to ignore one trend that was everywhere on campus...The North Face jacket. To me, these dark colored, streamline zip-ups were no match for my canary yellow peacoat with toggle buttons. However, after wearing a friend's North Face jacket while watching one particularly cold outdoor soccer game, I realized why the line was so popular...I was warm. A practical trend in Wisconsin, North Face products combine durability and warmth with designs, that even I must admit, are stylish for sportswear. However, when I went to purchase one last spring, I was surprised to discover The North Face store did not have a Madison location. How was this possible, when half the University of Wisconsin campus could be the company's spokesmodels? After searching many sportswear stores for the right size, style and color, I was finally forced to order online and wait for my jacket to be delivered. A frustrated shopper no more, I am happy to announce The North Face store has since opened a location right here at Hilldale. Now those looking to slip into one of their functional, sporty jackets for spring can do so at their own convenience.