Stranger Than Furnishing

This one’s on my list of awesome-yet-underrated movies. And although I love the plot and message behind the movie, probably my favorite aspect of watching is getting to explore the amazing abode of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character. The renegade baker mixes florals, retro pieces, and a whole lot of colors to create the perfect kitschy residence I could only dream of inhabiting…

- Retro Diner Clock from Etsy seller MiesEnScene
- Beaded Chandelier from UrbanOutfitters
- Tree Branch Lamp from Shop.com
- Granny Afghan from ModCloth
- Floral Print Settee and Antiqued Seafoam End Table from HomeDecorators

And then of course there are these Flour Pot Measuring Spoons from ModCloth, perfect for baking warm chocolate chip cookies. They also reminded me of my favorite scene, when Will Ferrell’s character finally woos the woman of his dreams…

 

"I brought you flours.”

Brace Yourself.

Suddenly over-excited by all things arm-adorning...

I’ve never been a big bracelet fan, probably due to the inability of my puny wrists to hold normal-people-sized jewelry. Maybe it’s because I work three doors down from Alex and Ani, or maybe I’m simply starting to run out of things to collect (first bags, then shoes, and so on and so forth…) but now I’ve added bracelets to the shopping list.

Friendly Army

(Bracelets by Ettika, Chan Luu, Rebecca Minkoff, and Anthropologie)

Remember friendship bracelets back in the day? (Remember? Like back when you were 12 and had real friends?) Well, they’re back and better than ever. I’ve been noticing my friends lately layering on all kinds of bracelets – leather, silver, beaded, charm, even lanyards – until about four inches of forearm is covered. Gotta say I love the look, now I just need to build up my collection…

Chain of Jewels

(Bracelets by Kate Spade, Alex and Ani, Forever21, and Ann Taylor)

I’m currently obsessed with strand bracelets, whether they’re chunky chains or ropes of glitzy jewels. These babies making layering easy and effortless, and add a bit of pizzazz wrist-side. 

(Bracelets by Eddie Borgo Smile, Hermes, Urban Outfitters, and Citrine by the Stones)

Off the Cuff

Cuffs are oh-so versatile – they can go from being heavy metal rocker chic to strolling down Newbury Street. You can simply wearing your favorite cuff with a few other simple accessories, or go a little more over the top and wear one or more on each arm. I like to call this “the Cleopatra.”

And on that note, here’s this. Funny how some things come full circle, isn’t it?

The Marc Jacobs Diet

When I was in college I snagged this little baby on sale at Saks:

I was in love with the beautiful, lipstick red leather and the over-sized patchwork stitching. I still sometimes drool over it…reeeeeeddddddd leeeeeeaaaaatttttthhhhhheeeeerrrrrrr……….okay. Sorry.

Well, since then I’ve always lusted after Marc Jacobs bags, the Baby Stam in particular. So petite, so cute, so…out of my price range. In the interim, I’ve purchased two Marc by Marc Jacobs bags, both of which I love dearly, but no collection pieces. But then, on a thrifting excursion which was meant to rid my closet of unnecessaries, I saw behind the counter…a Baby Stam. In patchwork lipstick red. Authentic. Way underpriced. Fate.

So, clutch wallet, meet your big sister!

This is why people scour second hand stores. Now, I can still dream about the day I find a Chanel Classic Flap or Hermes Birkin behind one of those counters…hey, it could happen!

Keep on the Sunnies Side of Life

Vintage sunnies. Oh, don’t worry. There are many more in my sunglasses drawer. Does anyone really need a drawer devoted to sunglasses? Apparently.

Yup. Too cool.

It’s at least enough of an obsession to write this post for the salon blog!

The Pen is Mightier Than the Palette

I have fallen in love with a couple Holy Grail cosmetics in the past month. Not only are these two babies makeup miracle workers, but they’re both pen-sized – and can replace a whole myriad of products in your makeup bag, truly proving that good things do come in small packages.

YSL Touche Eclat

Part highlighter, part sheer coverage concealer, this gleaming gold tube offers something other products just can’t: a perfect touch of radiance wherever you need it. I’ve been searching for years for something that could give me that glowy, brilliant sheen that you see on models in the magazines, but I always ended up either looking like a shiny, oily mess or disco ball from all the glitter. This little guy basically makes you look like you’re being perfectly illuminated by a professional camera crew at all times. And because it’s sheer, you can ever layer it over concealer for an instant pick-me-up under the eyes. Just add a stroke or two here and there, and you’ll have a perfected complexion.

Revitalash Eyelash Conditioner

Okay, so we’ve all seen that commercial with Brooke Shields where she’s talking about this stuff her doctor prescribed her for her “inadequate, or not enough lashes,” right? And it sounded a little ridiculous but maybe got you thinking…is there something out there that can really give me my own permanent set of false-looking eyelashes? But then you heard the disclaimer about the eyelid-tinting side effects, iris spots, blah blah blah, forget about it.
Enter Revitalash. Same deal, no side effects, no Rx, and about a third of the price if you find a deal online. I’ve been using it for just about a month now and I’m starting to see some real growth on these stumpy, stick-straight lashes. One of my co-workers has been using it for several months and recommended it to me when I commented on what I thought were her FALSE lashes. So I remain confident I too will soon have enviable eyelashes – with or without mascara.

(Furnishing) Ways of Summer

Ah, another movie that is just so visually pleasing.  From the vintage dresses Zoey wears to the soft linens of the beds they seem to always be throwing each other into, “500 Days of Summer” makes for some excellent interior inspiration…

In my Summer Finn-themed room:

- Blue Toile Curtains from Home Decorators

- Framed Magritte print from allposters.com

- Record Player from Urban Outfitters

- Candid Candelabra from ModCloth

- Parsons Chair and Keys Console Table from Home Decorators

- LJUSÅS YSBY Lamp from IKEA…because you’ve gotta have SOMETHING from IKEA!

Spring Cleaning

I’m not sure if it’s because the weather is changing or because I’ve been going through a throw-out-everything-you-don’t-use phase, but I recently did a little overhaul of my regular hair ‘n’ makeup routine.  I’ve been wearing full makeup on a daily basis since I was about 12 years old (okay, let’s not count the whole horrific American Apparel era where all makeup was strictly forbidden), and I’ve mostly gotten it down to rigid regime, but every once in awhile I get a little bored… Here are some new favorites:

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Sticks Bronzer

Hooray for cheap drugstore makeup!  But the real reason I like this is because I’m a redhead with very pale skin.  Normally, bronzer is traumatic fiasco for us.  This is the only bronzer I’ve found that comes in a rosier shade that actually doesn’t make me look like a clown.  Bonus: the ivory strip doubles as a highlighter for the mornings after you’ve had too many screwdrivers.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

It’s been a lifelong hunt for concealer that doesn’t cake up.  I love it when people assume I have naturally perfect skin (almost as much as I love it when people assume this is my natural hair color).  This one is the ONLY concealer I’ve found to last through the whole day (and the night…and the morning after) without caking up, rubbing off, or creasing.  Bravo to the salesgirl who picked this one out for me.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

If you knew me really well, you’d know that beachy hair is my jam.  I’ve always preferred texturized (okay, slightly messy) hair to shiny hair.  In fact, I usually hate when my hair is shiny at ALL.  But I started to realize that whole bedhead look I was going for was actually just really dry, damaged hair.  Whoops.  Enter the Elixir.  I put it on before I blow dry, after I blow dry, before bed as a treatment, while the water is boiling for my pasta dinner, during the commercial breaks for SNL…yeah, you get it.  All the time.  Best. Hair product. Ever.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

I want to wear false eyelashes all the time.  I know it’s not realistic.  I know it’s not sane.  This eases the constant craving for drag queen-worthy lashes.  Plus, it smells reeeallll purty.  No, really.  Next time you see me, take a whiff of these eyelashes.

Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Gloss

So many betrayals.  1) I hate wearing lip gloss almost as much as I hate wearing nail polish.  I think I skipped those days in girl school. 2) Neutrogena is evil. 3) Pharmacy makeup is just in general a bad idea.  HOWEVER, this is not much of a stray from just wearing lip balm, it is super cheap, and (the real reason why I like it) it tastes like a freshly mixed tropical drink.

There, I mentioned girly beverages TWICE in this post.  I feel this compensates for the lack of nail polish.