hello 2012!

some photo thank yous: moet, designlovefest, design inspiration

a toast

to nearest

to dearest

to the crew

to cahoots

to the ones who have been there

to the ones who'll be there

to dropping everything

to saying anything

to no judgements

to no doubts

to loyalty

to trust

to favors

to life longs

to been too longs

to nothings changed

to having history

to having your back to moving away

to never too far

to growing up

to settling down

to your family

to your friends

happy new year everyone!

a few champagne cocktails to toast to...

frizzante mojito

6 mint leaves

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

1 1/2 ounce of rum

2 dashes angostura bitters

2 ounces persecco

chanel no 6

1 ounce vodka

1 ounce chambord

1 ounce pineapple

pour in flute

top with champagne

diamond cocktail

rim flute with white or gold sugar

3/4 ounce of vodka

fill rest with champagne

top with curacao

pop your collar

left to right: jewel collar blouse pixiemarket; sequin collar asos; sequin embellished silk shirt net-a-porter; sequin collar chiffon top new look; sequined shoulder sweater my wardrobe; sequin collar blazer piperlime

glitter and sequins have been put on just about anything and everything in stores.  from panties to skirts to sweater to handbags to phone cases.....  if the all over sparkle trend seems a bit over kill for your liking, adding a touch of glimmer and panache on to places least expected may fancy you better.  these shiny collars add just the right amount of gleam and will set you apart from the head to toe glitz numbers everyone else is wearing.  dont be afraid to add some shimmer to your shoulders either.

cherry pie-thon

last minute gift anyone?? this amazing indigo painted python bag stopped me in my tracks when i was flipping through the barneys treasure hunt holiday 2011 book.  i can not get this bag off my mind, thanks for the tease barneys. lanvin, known for their feminine tailoring of clothing and amazing shoes for men and women alike has brought my attention to their bag department.  a brown painted python gaby bag with suede and calfskin details is currently on the market, however, this gaby still has not hit stores.....

for him...

the hardest people to buy for, in my opninoin, is men.  usually if they see something they want, they'll buy it on the spot.  women on the other hand, will usually go back in forth in their mind thinking of strategic outfits, parties and events they will wear or bring their purchase to.  hopefully this list helps in the thought process of what to get the man on your list.

the classic collar pin has been creeping back into style.  this safety pin looks amazing on and collar and transforms any dull suit into a mad men-esq feel.  just connect your collar to the pin under the tie.

this mudman edition gshock watch was made specifically for the man that likes to get down and dirty.   scratch, shock, mud and water resistant to 660 feet in depth, there's not much more you can ask for in a watch.

the best gifts are the ones that benefit you in some way, shape or form as well as benefitting the gift receiver.  this beard trimmer has a built in vacuum to catch all the hairs that you find in and around the sink.

swap out the hair tie or rubber band that holds all of his money together with this rubberized leather wallet by gucci.  small enough to fit easily in his back pocket and gets softer as it wears.

stranded on an island?  dropped off in the middle of a forest?  what man doesnt dream of becoming bear gryllis from man vs wild.  now he can, with this great stocking stuffer survival kit.

anything is better than white ankle socks and dress pants..... these are fun and festive socks that will add some fun into getting dressed. they also make for a great conversation piece!

one article of clothing you can bank on finding in a guys closet is a sweatshirt.  this hooded shawl collar gives a graduated look to replace his crew neck college swearshirt. 

wishin and hopin and thinkin and prayin....

i cant believe im down to the wire.....again.  all major holidays are less than two weeks ago, not to mention all the holiday parties and happenings for the next couple of weekends.  im putting together some wish list gift guides to help you out on your shopping excursions.  the only hard part will be not to buy these items for yourself.  well.... maybe just one.


this gift guide is for all the ladies in your life, girlfriends, friends, Moms, aunts, secret santas......  the prices are reasonable (all under $100) and who wouldnt love getting any of these great things?

lump of kohl is a skin detox treatment that uses bamboo charcoal to remove impurities and chemicals from the skin and pure goat milk from beekman farm to moisterize the skin and keeep skin ph balanced.

marc jacobs' nylon collection is durable and chic.  this cosmetic bag is a perfect size to hold all of your goods and to toss in your bag for on the go.  all of these bags come in pop colors and prints with the signature marc jacobs lining.

 in my opinion the best lace panty out there is hanky panky.  the lace lasts for a substantial amount of time compared to their competitors.  not only do these last but they have an amazing fit (doesnt cut into you) and they are so soft against your skin.

look feminine and glamorous with the massamousso lorgnette.  added bones-all profits on sales of this lorgnette are given to the Desert Flower Foundation fighting Female Genital Mutilation.

not many of us are equipped with a green thumb, but who wants to grow tomatos anyway!  with this kit you can watch your crystal garden florish on your desk or on your shelf.

everyone should have a phone case, they gaurd from spills, drops, oopsies and whoopsies!  studs and rhinestones on this case? yes please!

leave it to kate spade to design the cutest coin purse ever designed.  i would make sure i put all my change into this instead of throwing it to the bottom of my bag.  also comes in berry and navy.

wool, mohair and cashmere only mean one thing- sweater season!  a sweater comb is all you need (and a good dry cleaner) to keep this garments looking new and fresh. this is a perfect stocking stuffer!

lip service

runways dictate where most trends will be for the upcoming season, be it hair, makeup, shoes, accessories or clothes.  makeup came in many different shades and spectrums in the fall/winter 2011 shows but they each held up a strong story.  fendi and marc jacobs showed the natural side with nude lips and pale pink skin.  coral and fuchsia reds can be spotted at issey miyake and marni shows.  chanel, dvf and dsquared rolled out the crimson carpets with reds and berry lips and lela rose showed the darker side with deep beautiful plum lips.

it does take some time getting used to if you never wear lip color but it adds such a pop to any outfit.  experiment with different colors and dont be afraid to be bold and throw on a red or hot pink lip every once in a while. here are the colors im lovin at the moment.

left to right: mac lipglass revealing maccosmetics; smashbox flawless amazon; lipfusion la lip jolie zappos; nars place vendome nars; fresh sugar lipbalms fresh; cover girl outlast ever red-dy walmart; nars matte lipstick vesuvio sephora; clinique black honey duo sephora

scrub a dub

although its been a pretty mild december, the air is still getting colder.  this is the most important time to load up on the moisterizers so your skin doesnt suffer.  the most delicate part on your body that is effected is front and center......your lips.  they are prone to drying, cracking and chapping, not a good look.  that new, velvet, red, matte lipstick you just bought wont do your lips justice if its looks like it was applied over a dry sponge. 

there are many sugar scrub products out there which are great but some can be expensive.  this at home diy sweet coffee lip scrub is easy and effective.  i made a small batch, you can always double or triple.

1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/8 cup of coffee grounds (coffee grounds are said to reduce cellulite, tighten skin cells and also prevent and reverse sun damage)
1/8 cup of vitamin e oil  (treats wrinkles by boosting collegan production)
1/4 cup of olive oil (olive oil will not clog poors, it will smooth and soften your skins texture due to its intrinsic antioxident properties)
1/4 tsp of almond extract (seals in moisture and strengthens skin conditions)

stir together and scrub!  this can also be used on the body, hands and feet.

alexander wang

alexander wang has given us our holiday present early with an amazing sale.  this sale would have to top black friday, cyber monday and green tuesday combined.   womens, mens, accessories, bags and shoes are all around 40% off retail which is a steal.  this CFDA accessories designer winner puts out effortlessly cool and chic pieces that puts an edgy twist on to any wardrobe. any piece from wang is inexplicably mesmerizing.  my favorite bag im lovin right now is the coco duffel, on sale in espresso, adding just the right amount of hardwear and funk.  this sale is definitely worth looking at and adding to your wish list..... its on sale so its not that bad right?

underpinnings

left to right: marni silk satin color block set net-a-porter; princess tam tam ruby set bloomingdales (sale on intimates); cosabella secret admirer set cosabella; huit cupcake set herroom; VPL insertion bra convexity panty lagarconne; buckskin romper anthropologie; elle macpherson obsidian set journelle

the annual vs fashion show aired this week and following suit of past years, it did not disappoint.  this show reminds us that we can be daring and feel amazing under our clothes just as much as we do in our outfits.  the angels and the vs show has inspired me to put up what im lovin the most in the intimate apparel world....as well as hit the gym....  color blocking and rich jewel tones are at the top of my list in this seasons line up of satins and lace . 

bras and panties aren't something to buy on the cheap, since it is the closest garment to your skin.  think of it as your 1000 thread count egyptian cotton sheets, just on your body.  these pieces are to indulge and feel pretty in. 

(herroom.com is a great website to check out what bras will look like under different shirt silhouettes)

mondays arent that bad....

i hope everyone had a fabulous holiday full of food and shopping!  lets keep the holiday spirit going with cyber monday, here are some top sales that im lovin!

BHLDN.com................30% off Sale

Piperlime.com.............20% off website

Endless.com................$30 off $100 order

Gap.com.......................30% off entire site

Stila.com.......................80% off warehouse sale

Kohls.com.....................20% off everything + free shipping

Daily Candy.................15% off your Daily Candy deal purchase

Kate Spade...................75% off sample sale (2 day)

Ideeli.com.....................two words.....christian louboutin

Vince Camuto...............$50 off any boots

wild life

art: William Safford Gallery

left to right: marc jacobs panthera dress   shopbop ; knitted chunky squirrel sweater topshop; charlotte taylor ant shirt dress young british designers; reindeer sweater forever21; charlotte taylor elehpant blouse young british designers; llama love sweater madewell; animal sweater  h&m; stilt striders skirt anthropologie

left to right: le red fox necklace etsy; elizabeth and james ring shopbop; octopus necklace punk; beetle trinket flats anthropologie; umbrella oriental trading; house of harlow antler wrap ring shopbop; knitted fox stole scarf etsy

zebra, cheetah, leopard.....oh my!  everywhere i turn someone is wearing animal print.  its a moving jungle out there!  these prints are painted all over spring, summer, fall and winter collections from forever 21 to dolce and gabbana.  i thought i would give a tribute to the stars themselves, the animals.  these items can add that walk on the wild side side effect just as well as animal print can, but in a more subdued way....

i tried to add pieces that are for everyones budget and from places that not many people think to look for different, fun pieces.  if you have something in mind that you cant find at your favorite store, dont forget about all of the amazing designers on etsy.  be sure to also check out charlotte taylor's collections for fabulous animal block print pieces.  

glove love

left to right: leather and knit gloves Etsy; cashmere lined leather gloves JCrew; test of time gloves Anthropologie; platinum promise gloves BHLDN; leather and knie long gloves ASOS; half palm leather gloves ebay

ever since i spotted a pair of soft, berry colored leather gloves in a sea of cold weather accessories at the market place union square puts up during the holidays i have been on the hunt ever since.  "where in the world would i wear those?" was what was going through my head while i slid them on.  now i can stop thinking of the endless ways they would make any outfit pop. 
i have put some of my favorite leather gloves im lovin right now which can be found anywhere from Jcrew to ebay.  this is a staple winter accessory anyone should have.

blushing...

left to right: Tibi Shift Dress w Lace Tibi,  Heart Me Sweater  JCrew, Parker Cluster Beaded Dress Piperlime, Antrhropologie Chantelle Bra and Bikini Set Anthropologie,  Parker Wrap Top Shopbop, Free People Skinny Cords Free People, Melissa x Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon Heels Revolve Clothing, Kate Spade Cheers Necklave   artwork: Design is Mine

store away the neon pinks and bring out the blushes and roses.  im lovin these flushed colored pieces for this season.  i am not the biggest pink fan in the world but these shades do not warrent a super girly girl attitude.  add gold or rose gold jewlery to any of these looks.

lovin Chambray // 1 shirt 3 ways //

fall is the perfect time of year to show your true colors with bright denims, layering and amazing tall boots.  a staple in any closet should be a piece that you can tranform into many different looks.  i chose the chambray denim shirt from Jcrew, to demonstrate how you can take a fairly basic button down and jumpstart your fall looks by pairing it with leggings, a skirt and making it a layering piece.

locks

color inspiration

sometimes a girl needs a makeover to revamp her inner vix.  my good friend kelly, shows that you don't need to go drastic to change your look.  kelly has gorgeous red hair and wanted a change without chopping it all off or going brunette.  she decided to add some updated ombre color to the tips of her locks, which shows a little bit goes a long way.

tony @ bella luci salon poughkeepsie ny

whenever you are changing your hair its always best to go to a professional.  bring lots of pictures and explain exactly what you want.  you can even call and have a consultation before your true appointment.  a good stylist will usually mend their work if you are not satisfied or if it didnt come out how you would have liked it to.  if its from a box, well, you get what you pay for.  tony @ bella luci salon in poughkeepsie ny, who specializes in color, mixed up a perfect peach shade and added foils to the ends of kelly's locks in just the right places.  after a wash and blow the final product is just amaze!

diy wall art

i was lovin on this velvet paisley burnout wallpaper forever.  it was well out of my price range and i wouldn't know where to start with a wall papering project so i thought of the next best thing; fabric wall art!  this diy project rates easy on the difficulty scale and low on budget.  

to get started you will need:

wood frames: you can make your own by stapling or glueing four pieces of wood together to form the outer square.  if you don't have the resources to do this yourself you can always buy frames at the store and take out the glass.  mine are two 2x2 wood frames i stapled together.  however, you can use any size you like.

 a staple gun: this is always good to have on hand for any type of project

 fabric of your choice: i bought about 3 yards for two 2x2 frames (always get a bit extra in case of a mess up) 

one inch foam:  this can be found in any fabric store.  this is used to cushion the fabric from the wood.  

step 1: cut the foam into four strips so they hang over the base frame a bit

step 2: place the foam and fabric down (if you have a pattern, make sure it is centered)

step 3: starting with one side, staple the fabric into the base frame. 

step 4: staple the opposite side of the side you started with.  this makes it easier to pull the fabric tight.  repeat other two sides.

step 5: cut excess fabric

Voila! new hanging wall art

baby its cold outside

top to bottom- Ugg "Adirondack" shirise.com * Sorel "Tivoli"Sorel.com * Sperry "Hingham Boots" Macys.com * Khombu "Pewter Traveler" Zappos.com * Kamik "Snowfling" Zappos.com * Hunter "Gabby" Piperlime.com

snow before halloween was not on the top of my favorite things list but, its snowing, and its a for sure sign that we must pack away the gladiator sandals and bring out the snow boots.  i have listed a few of my favorite boots im lovin at the moment.  functionality is normally not my first thought before i purchase any type of footwear, but when walking is my main mode of transportation, i guess it should be up there on the list.  all of these boots are waterproof which makes these purchases a must.

 

bullseye

One of the greatest things in life is discovering a deal.  you feel like you conquered the retail industry and slapped them in the face with it.  i stumbled on one of these AH-HA moments on my last trip to target.  i walked over to the accessories department, since i have found some great hidden gems within those isles before.  i looked at the belts and found the exact belt i was wearing.....that i purchased at anthropologie (one of my favorite stores)  anthro had this three bar belt retailed at $38 and target, under its private label name merona, is retailed for $12.99.  who knew target was right on the money.....

Happy First Day Birthday to le lovin

happy first day birthday to le lovin.  i am obsessed with many things and many things make me happy.  i figured what better way to gather my thoughts, wants and wishes than to share them with others.  i hope i can entertain and enlighten with everything i le love...