Last night, I headed back to the Hammerstein Ballroom for the Rock & Republic for Kohl's runway show. While most other designers are showing their fall collections, Rock & Republic kept it current by showing you pieces that you can shop right now from their debut line! Admit it, it's kinda exciting to be able to shop clothes that you see on the runway that don't cost you your entire paycheck. I think you guys are going to love all the options in this line: First of all, there's premium denim for every personality, from flare legs to skinny crops, denim shorts, bold colors like cobalt and pink, chic white, plus cool black and gray. You'll also love the killer shoes, like sky-high studded heels and wedge pumps, perfect for pairing with the flowy knit tops, boho fedoras, sick printed tights and of course, your new jeans. Even if you're not normally a rocker babe, you can mix and match pieces from this line into your wardrobe to add some edge for day or night. Bravo to Kohl's for hosting such a fun runway show for all of us budget babes. Which pieces are you looking forward to shopping?

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week began yesterday in New York City, and the first show I attended was Tadashi Shoji. You probably know his name from the red carpet; Octavia Spencer wore an opal grey gown by the designer to the 2012 SAG Awards. This season, the designer took his inspiration from the Golden Age of Shanghai, or as the show notes read, a "glamorous world of modernity, transformation, and prosperity that preluded a darker time." This was played out in column gowns, drop waist dresses, high necklines and low hemlines in opulent fabrics like lace, chiffon, silk and velvet. Two of my favorite gowns were made from this luxe fabric, one in emerald green and another in ruby red. Stunning. The "Paris of the Orient" motif was played out in softer tones, too, like seagrass green and ginseng golds, as well as black embroidered lace. It's hard to pick a favorite but the most successful gowns (and there were many) had some sort of stunning back details - a plunging back, lace panel or intricate beading - that left a lasting impression. Can you see any of these dresses turning up at the Oscars?

In case my tweets didn't give it away, last night I attended the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City as a DietCoke® Heartbeat Reporter. This show is unlike any other - it's fun, it's crazy, it's packed with celebrities and it's all for a great cause - heart health awareness and heart disease research. Me and my fellow bloggers covered the red carpet arrivals, backstage beauty and of course, the show. We also got to chat with DietCoke's The Heart Truth ambassador, the beautiful Minka Kelly, who wore my favorite gown of the evening, a stunning deep v-neck red sequin gown by Diane Von Furstenberg (who was seated just a few seats away from me - eee!). Minka revealed her budget fashion secret is H&M. Girl after my own heart! Thanks to Diet Coke® for a night I'll never forget. Keep reading to see some of my favorite looks from last night. Which ones do you love? Or better yet, which designer would you want to wear if you were walk the runway?

During my last trip to Target, I spied dozens of other ways I could spend my money, Jason Wu notwithstanding. Standouts included colored denim ($22.99), neon accessories (don't dismiss these until you've seen the latest J.Crew catalog) and blue and green jewelry that looked perfect for spring. The seasonal home decor accents were fun, too, with chevron striped pillows, crystal-look perfume bottles and a white glass lamp base that could pass as a pricey antique. I managed to resist purchasing these temptations but now I share them here with you. Enjoy!

UPDATE: And the winner is... #45 Donna F.! Congrats to our winner and thanks to everyone who entered.




Please note: This giveaway has ended and is closed to further entries.

Recently I received a free introductory "Classic With a Twist" Maven Box from Julep, a relatively new monthly nail polish "club." Keep reading for my review, then scroll down for a fab giveaway and a special discount code if you'd like to try Julep for yourself.