Get lit.

With my gift card from M. for Christmas I went to Sephora Union Square, combating the immense holiday crowds, I took my purchase, (a YSL Touche Eclat) to the register and harrumphed at people to move it on my way out.

I didn't, or rather couldn't have known how worth the harrumphing this little gold wand full of luminous concealer would be.

In the package insert the user is instructed to apply the product with the built in brush under eyes, outside corners of eyes, outside corners of the mouth, sides of the nose...but why stop there?? It worked perfectly on my single age spot. It doesn't move around at all once applied so I put it on my lids and brow bones as well.

I looked aglow--and that was before blush!

With sheer pinkish-red lips I was out the door and feeling fine.

You can pick one of these magical pen concealers up at http://www.sephora.com/ for just $40.

It will change your face, aka life. That Yves Saint Laurent was a genius, no?

Yo, Adrienne.

I have been a fan of Foley + Corinna since it was Anna Corinna. I love my giant city tote, even though I haven't carried it in months. I love that I got it on eBay for $180.

But there's a bag I think would compliment my new Jackie boots from 80%20 really nicely and her name is Adrienne. She is smooth and black and has a long strap and lots of shiny hardware.
I found her on http://www.revolveclothing.com/ for a mere $278, (if you haven't shopped this site, it is gooood.)

Adrienne is well designed for me as a city mouse--roomy, versatile, vintagey yet modern.

I'm not even a black bag buyer, but she's so pretty.

Like me, only taller.

I am not a short person. I am not a small person. My mother is both a small and short person. I have small hands, small ears, small teeth.

I have small toes.

Do I need extra height? Some people would say no.

But I do need something different every now & again.

And that is why, as a gift to myself, with some of our Christmas cash I bought the 80%20 Jackie hidden wedge boots in pebbled black leather for $130 from http://www.zappos.com/. I have been wanting them since before last Christmas.

Luckily they were out of stock in the banana yellow I was considering buying them in when that's all that was left last year.

Zappos shipped them to me for free and upgraded my shipping to priority.

NEW BOOTS FOR ME!! I should get them by New Year's Eve. I'll let you know how they are.

Perhaps they will catapult me out of casual schlub mode.

I'm considering buying them in a color called Luggage as well, on sale at http://www.revolveclothing.com/ for $76.

Cool, dude.

On the second day of Christmas...

On the second day of Christmas jcrew.com gave to me, two color block candy gloves.

And they're only $7.99 at http://www.jcrew.com/. They come in several adorable color combos. My preference is the citron/berry but they're also available in navy/papaya, aqua/spearmint and silver/citron.

On the first day of Christmas...

Oh, good Lord. I should have named this blog Fashion + Beauty Bi-weekly. The fact of the matter is, I write this when I have spare time at work and lately, there have been extenuating circumstances, such as a spy visiting from corporate.

But, enough of that. I was thinking, even though there are only 9 days until Christmas, I could do the 9 days of Christmas the Fashion + Beauty way.

Starting with: On the first day of Christmas, drugstore.com gave to me a Nivea Kiss of Flavor Cherry Tinted Lip Care (in a tree, well not really, it was a cardboard box which I will recycle.)

I think it's great. Very cherrylicious and the right amount of red tint.

Only $3 at http://www.drugstore.com/.

Food for thought.

Cosmetics used to be about glamour. Lipsticks smelled like roses.

Now a lot is about food. Is it because we are less likely to indulge in actual food if our lip gloss smells, tastes and looks like red velvet cake batter?

In a brief scan of my posts, I realized a good deal of the items have a great deal of yum-factor.

yum-factor n. 1. tasty smelling without being artificial 2. products which induce your spouse to want to eat you up 3. sniffability 4. usage: This hand cream has awesome yum-factor.

In this kit from Philosophy, which comes with a recipe box (recipes included) you get three mouth-watering shampoo/shower gel/bath bubbles in red velvet cake, strawberry short cake, and sweet creamy frosting.

Why bake when you can bathe?

$18 at http://www.sephora.com/

It's like dessert to me.

Fred Flare, you devil.

I love these lip balms. Had I been able to have them as a child I would have been tremendously happy.

They come in a set of four so I could split them up and give them as gifts to all my favorite girls.

$18 for the set of four, http://www.fredflare.com/.

Baby cake.

I have become cake/cupcake obsessed.

I am not the first but, I'm going to ride it out this month.

As many cupcake/cake related items as I can find.

This charm from Tiffany & Co. is the cutest.

What a nice gift it might make for the original cupcake's 40th birthday?

Oh boy!

$150 at http://www.tifffany.com/.

Carrying cake.

Oh, no.

I just discovered the Fred Flair website.

I am surely doomed to buy adorable gifts or at least obsess about buying adorable gifts.

Like this piece of cake makeup bag that I want to buy (secretly) for N. for $14.

And come to find out there "door store" is right here in Brooklyn.

Neat.

http://www.fredflair.com/

Ripe for the picking.

My Internet at work has been down for 5, count them 5 days.

But I'm back...and I have new lip gloss.

It's L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balm in Ripe. It smells like a caramel, has no flavor, and is the sheerest of reds. The only thing is, it costs $9 at the drug store.

And believe me, I am not above paying ridiculous prices for products, but given our new budget (which makes me very happy, by the way) it seemed a little steep.

But it's great for these cold November days and works well with a smokey eye, given it's sheerness.

Go on. Get one.

It's the POM!!

I go through phases with coffee:








skim latte
iced skim latte
soy cappuccino
skim cappuccino
iced soy cappuccino
iced skim cappuccino
iced coffee

All of the above mentioned cost approximately $4 a pop.

And then I go through phases without it at all.

My current obsession is POMx Iced Coffee.

No, it's not pomegranate flavored coffee, but it does have the POM Wonderful Pomegranate Antioxidant Extract (patent pending,) a generous 175 mg of caffeine per 10.5 ounces (a regular cup of coffee has between 75-125 mg) and no fat in the chocolate flavor. It comes in a snazzy grenade shaped bottle that I drink in approximately 2 minutes.

It makes me feel really good and productive.
Check it out at http://www.healthybuzz.com/. I get it for $3 a bottle at Whole Foods.
I'm not sure if it's available nation-wide yet.

Voila(vanila).

I wear the gourmands. I want to smell like cake. Or maybe a cupcake.

I have been asked by Bond No. 9 to review Bleecker Street, a fragrance inspired by Magnolia Bakery.



I am an Angel wearer, have been for almost 15 years. It is my fragrance.

So I've been trying to wear the Bleecker Street, which in no way smells like a cupcake, but is complex and alluring. But every time I open the cap on the giant sample they graciously sent me, I think--this isn't me. I am literally defined by my fragrance, not just to myself, but to others.

This post is not about Angel and it is not about Bond No. 9 Bleecker Street.

This post is about Lavanila Healthy Body Butter in the Pure Vanilla fragrance. It smells just the way I want to smell. Clean yet sweet, mysterious yet familiar. A little bit musky as you have it on a while.

It's $25 at http://www.sephora.com/, but I got a free sample of it that I'm using very sparingly. Well, somewhat sparingly.

My bag.

When I was a youngish girl, I carried a very small, white gym-bag style purse with a yellow and purple screened unicorn on it. Of course I clipped my feather roach-clip to it and hung my rabbit's foot on it.

But really, it was my first handbag. Later, there would be LeSportsacs, Liz Claiborne and Esprit.
But I really didn't go high-end until fairly recently.

Because I like to contain all items in one bag while commuting, I started carrying my American Apparel silver gym-bag.

It has a very retro feel, is super lightweight and adds a whole lot of zip to an outfit. Plus, I never have that worry that my bag worth more than anything inside of it will get swiped.

I'm still looking for the feather roach-clip.

$26 at http://www.americanapparel.net/.

Butter me up.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to...everything. I was going to say lip products, but the fact is, I will pour out a bottle of water if it smells "weird."

I am smell sensitive, taste sensitive...just sensitive.

Family members have said "she's very sensitive," for a very long time.

I admit it.

What is really working for me today is my new lip butter by Korres. It's Greek.

I got the Plum but it also comes in Pomegranate, Wild Rose, Guava and Quince. It was a real toss-up on the colors but since it's winter, I went for the Plum. The smell is lightly fruity, not at all overwhelming and the texture, well...it's deluxe. And there's no flavor. I really dig it a lot.

The color is concentrated but not too much.

Honestly, I'm kind of addicted. And it really improves the texture of my lips.

$9 at http://www.sephora.com/

Today is a wonderful day.

These words were written on a sign in chalk outside a restaurant in my neighborhood in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

I am full of joy and wonder today.

And I am proud of our nation. I am ready to participate in helping repair our nation. I actually feel patriotic.



It seems a bit trite to write about my new lip butter, so I will save it for tomorrow.

I'm excited about the future. Just like the kid on the trike.

Doing lunch.

I have always been plagued by the lunch box.

I brought lunch in elementary school (red Tupperware lunch box: plastic,) junior high (Velcro lunch bag with my name on it: pink) and high school (numerous shopping bags.)



I considered bringing lunch to be uncool.

I suppose bringing lunch now is uncool as well.

For lunch today I brought couscous with chick peas and roasted peppers, lentil salad with chicken breast, an apple, an orange, a banana and baby carrots. If I bought these items (which I have) at Whole Foods it would cost me upwards of $15.

Needless to say, after making my first budget with my husband this weekend, and the rising cost of food (we just got a 1/2 gallon of organic skim milk for $5.75) it wouldn't be prudent to continue buying lunch. Plus, we make such good stuff at home and I know exactly what's in it--because I made it.

At any rate, and I know this is a continual quest: I need a good reusable lunch bag. It needs to be cute, look like a lunch bag (not a cheapy-fashiony-lunch-bag,) have a shoulder strap for hands free commuting, and keep my morsels cold or warm. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a cute lunch bag.

I did get a really cute lunch bag made of oilcloth (blue with strawberries) a while back but it doesn't fit the hands free criteria.

Perhaps this cute one from www.keepyourcooler.com would work for me. For $26.47 I might just try it. It's called the stylish dumpling. That's cute.

Got GOOP?

I am a Gwenyth Paltrow lover.




I know not everyone is. But I am and always have been.

I know she has a life unlike many, but for some reason, she is easy to relate to.
For me at least.

I love her taste.

And I do like her new(ish) newsletter/blog called GOOP.

It addresses various subject matters: MAKE, GO, GET, DO, BE & SEE.

She talks recipes, shopping, health and travel to name the subjects I've read so far in my subscription to GOOP.

You can subscribe at http://www.goop.com/. It's kinda fun to get a note each week.

Think pre-prohibition.

Sometimes I have a cocktail. Luckily, my husband is a mixologist in training.





Also, luckily, he likes a vintage cocktails that are super complex and interesting.

This weekend was M's brother A's birthday. M was designated mixer and I was his assistant.

The drink: the Aviation. The ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Plymouth gin
1 1/2 oz Lemon juice
1 teaspoon creme de Violette
2 teaspoons Luxardo Marachino liquor

(in my version I upped the Violette by double and added 2 teaspoons of simple syrup)

The color is a marvelous pale, pale periwinkle. And J & A have the most fabulous crystal cocktail glasses that we served them in. We put a Luxardo Marasca cherry in the bottom.

Most delicious. And very elegant.

Jest kidding.

So my new thing is my hair scraped back into a messy bun, sunscreen all over my face, Tarte Flush Cheek Stain and sheer red lip tint (my favorite--Dirty Girl Pomegranate Lip Lustre--discontinued,) no mascara (my eyes need a break) and lots of MAC Jest eye shadow.

The look is flushed, dewy and a bit French. I like it. It takes no time and still looks done but not overdone.

Jest by MAC is a satiny, brightening, peachy oyster. It brightens the inside corners of my eyes like no body's business. And I like the no mascara look, sort of.

With my legwarmers on and black tights I feel like a ballerina. Fun.

MAC eyeshadows are $14.50 and last forever. Purchase at a MAC store near you or at http://www.maccosmetics.com/.

Amendment.

The new mascara I wrote about is cheap, does make for an amazing look and does work.






However, it makes me incredibly allergic (i.e., watering eyes, sneezing, cold-like symptoms.)

Generally not good for a mascaraphile.

So, Mama J. , you're right as usual.

Leggings, again?

Yes, leggings. Again. From American Apparel.











But these are different. They are cable knit sweater leggings. Indispensable for the NY winters!!

For this climate they are perfect, super stretchy, long in the rise, long in the inseam. Love them!!

My preference is to use light layers for the rest of the outfit--like today--poplin bubble dress, tissue cashmere boyfriend cardigan, cashmere scarf.

They do add texture to a somewhat smooth outfit without adding bulk to the leg.
They are a bit sexy, too, which can't be bad.

Retail pricing, $38, available at http://www.americanapparel.net/.

Run for it...seriously.

So you may have heard, OPI has teamed up with Sephora to create a new line of nail color.

I of course, have been looking for the perfect grey nail polish since, oh I don't know, forever.

Run for it! is the name of the color and I'm at a loss on how to describe it accurately. Sparkly cement? Shimmery sidewalk?

Anyhoo. It's not quite silver, definitely not gunmetal.

Nice for fall. Subdued and somewhat odd...like my mood.

Want to get yourself a bottle? Run, don't walk to your nearest Sephora, or go to http://www.sephora.com/. It' s$9.

Golden state.

I know, I know.

Usually it is all about the item, but I am going to come out of my shell a little.





I was so happy with my look for the cocktail party the night before M.'s brother's wedding in LA that I had to post a photo of us overlooking the ocean. Plus, M. looks so husband-like, doesn't he? Handsome.

Gold and cream together is so decadent, don't you think?

And I decided, even thought the neckline and hemline of my dress are sequined, to layer on lots of luxe accessories: camel cashmere wrap from S., "Van Cleef" necklace from a street vendor and the Louis Vuitton scarf A. gave me, purrr. I went heavy on the black kohl liner and gold shadow and wore gold wedge peep toes.



Very Grecian, said M. of the dress. Very California, thought I.

My eyelashes+The Colossal Volum' Express=LOVE

I know I just wrote about mascara, but I am a bit of a mascaraphile.

This one has a fat, fat brush and collagen in the formulation. Application is easy. This one smells a little weird, not sure about that, but the resulting effect is HUGE.

And you can apply and apply without too much clumping.

Maybelline does it again. $5.39 at www.drugstore.com.

Forever 36.

I like a whole lot of look for a little bit of money. And generally I wear fine jewelry, but when it comes to trend jewelry, there's nothing like Forever 21.

Not that it lasts forever, nor would one want it to.




But for my winter look, wouldn't this one be fab?

I'm picturing it with a heather grey v-neck t-shirt and black leggings. Possible layering items would be my cropped denim jacket and camel cashmere scarf/wrap tied at my neck.

On the other hand, it could work well with a crisp white shirt and black pencil skirt with flats.

I used to work at the Gap in the early nineties and I remember this woman named Liz, who was a regional something or other, who had high/low dressing down to a tee (no pun intended.)
Anyhoo, she wore the heather grey Gap sweatshirt with an Hermes scarf.

To this day I love the combination of dressing down with dressing up--on the cheap with upscale--feminine with masculine--perfect and put together with dishevelment.

As a matter of fact, today I am wearing one of M.'s white undershirts with my Louis Vuitton scarf draped around my neck. Why not?

The composite necklace is $5.80 at http://www.forever21.com/, at that price, why the heck not?

White hope.

Y'ever have a favorite sweater that is so perfect and white that you don't want to wash it because it will never look the same?

I am a re-wearer of things. I am obsessive about keeping them clean, spot-cleaning and laundry in general.




I worry about missing buttons, bleeding mishaps, shrinkage.

And so, I am a re-wearer.

The aforementioned white sweater is a new item. It is really a sweater jacket, which normally is not my bag. White, also, not my bag is so fresh right now. And the button detail is super cute. They are a little oversized and white enamel. Ooooo. A nice higher end detail. But what this coat has done is make me want to revamp my look.

The item is double breasted but is adorable open. I wore it on the plane to go to M.'s parents home in LA. It was the perfect weight for the plane ride, but the whole time I was leery of getting dirty, especially when the flight attendant insisted on holding the drippy garbage bag over my lap. But, to my knowledge, no spots. Plus, she was very appologetic about the dripping on my bare leg.

I'm going to take that sweater into fall and perhaps winter. But first, I am doing a closet overhaul. I'm a little nervous about it. I'll let you know how it goes.

You can get this cuter than cute sweater coat from http://www.oldnavy.com/ for $39.50.

No.

Because of the buzz. Because of the price. Because, well, it's weird, I bought Yes to Carrots shampoo and conditioner.

I like the packaging. I like that it's made in Israel. I like that it's different.

But it is not for me.

The shampoo made my hair a tangled mess while in the shower and then the conditioner was not help. It literally dried my hair.

Yes, my hair is highlighted but gosh, it was like hay.

You know who does say Yes to Carrots now, though? It works for M., as his hair is short and not color treated.

Added bonus: Yes to Carrots has a very "men's cologne" fragrance that works well on his noggin. He thinks it works just fine. Whew.

Vacation...want it, need it, have to have it.

I will be taking a short sabbatical from the blogging community and the commuting community.

Happy days! To return October 7.

Lash out, lash up...lash it.

I always used Clinique Glossy Mascara. Always. Then, somehow, I converted into a drugstore mascara buyer.

I'm a sucker for the mile-long lash.

With Define-a-lash by Maybelline, you must work fast. Application must be done while lashes are still wet, so if you apply a second coat it must be immediately, otherwise, lashes look spidery.
There are two formulas. One for lengthening, the other for thickening. Both are great, but take some practice. The wands are flexible rubber and require a steady hand. But the results...so worth it. People ask if my lashes are my own regularly. That's how long they look.

Can't beat the price, $7. Can't beat the results. http://www.drugstore.com/.
photo courtesy of drugstore.com

Fact and friction.

I write a lot about lip products. I guess that's because I buy a lot of lip products.

You got your day balms, you got your night balms, you got your glosses, you got your lipsticks, you got your liners.

SPF? Certainly. Pots? But of course. Wands with sponge tips? For sure. Wands with brushes on the end? Sometimes. Oozing tubes? You bet!

But what of your lip exfoliants??

I get a dry bottom lip from time to time and normally I brush it with my tooth brush. But not since I got FRXition Sugar Lip Exfoliator and Soothing Balm from Tarte. On one side of the stick is a sandy textured balm that is sugar mixed with delicious vanilla and on the other side is just the delicious balm. SO, you apply the balmy side first, then scrub a little with the sandy side. Any grains of sugar you can happily ingest.

The best part of this product (besides the price tag of $11) is the ingenious little mirror that flips open when you remove the cap. It's very Inspector Gadget.

I like it a lot and you will too. You may find this at http://www.sephora.com/.

Photo courtesy of sephora.com

The pits.

Mama J. says get rid of your deodorant if it has aluminum in it.

I check the label on my Lady Mitchum Clear Gel (which supposedly doesn't leave white residue on your clothes (not true)) and the first ingredient is aluminum.




J. (not to be confused with Mama J.) comes to visit and shows me her new deodorant from Weleda in the Citrus fragrance. And says, "This really works!"


I go to Whole Foods and discover that Weleda makes their natural deodorant in three fragrances: wild rose, sage and the aforementioned citrus.

I buy the sage fragrance which smells like a mix between a gin and tonic and a field of fresh lavender. M. really likes it. It's fresh (& exciting.)

The instructions say that you may apply as needed throughout the day, as it is all natural.
And rather than an antiperspirant it is a deodorant. Apparently antiperspirant has the aluminum in it to stop the natural function called perspiration.

I started using antiperspirant before I needed to because I wanted to use the pink Tickle roll on that was so popular. I've had dry underarms for so long I'm not sure if I remember what sweating feels like.

Time to find out. So far I love the fragrance upon application and at the end of the day. I like reapplying it, too. The glass bottle is kinda special and it smells so good.

Do your armpits a favor (and inconclusively, your lymph nodes and brain) and pick up a bottle of this uber-natch deodorant. I paid $10.99 at Whole Foods. But it is available at http://www.weleda.com/. Image courtesy of Weleda.

Block it!

There are a few things I can't stand. One is visible Band-Aids anywhere on a woman's foot, or worse, the adhesive from an old Band-Aid that says "Hey, a Band-Aid was here but I couldn't get this gross black adhesive mark off."



Why do women wear shoes that hurt and apply bandages to their feet in order to continue wearing shoes that hurt? If a shoe is uncomfortable--don't buy it.

My feet get used to sandal season. They say "Don't fence me in."

So when the weather starts to change and I want to wear my silver Prada flats while at work, I am nice to my feet in the following ways:

1. Moisturize. Before leaving the house I lotion my feet and legs.
2. Wear comfortable shoes for walking to work.
3. Pack the shoes I wish to wear to work.
4. Band-Aid Blister Block.

Blister Block is a non-sticky, non-greasy lubricant that you apply to your heels or any other spot on your foot that might rub. It's an easy to apply roll up stick, kind of like a very small deodorant. An added bonus: it smells really nice and lightly botanical.

To obtain a stick of this miracle stuff, just go to http://www.medshopexpress.com/ and fork over the $6.97. Your feet will thank you. Photo courtesy of medshopexpress.com.

My cup of tea.

Nary a day goes by that I don't examine or research fine things. Not just for the love of writing about it (or writing in general) but for the love of knowing about it.

Being in the know has such a potent appeal for me that I have become like a hawk scanning for it's prey. (A nice hawk, who just wants to get to know it's prey and try it on for size, fragrance, luxuriousness, etc.)

I am not about fancy. I am about quality, beauty, feel, appeal and timelessness. I am enamored of longevity. Things that last and get handed down from mother to daughter or son--design so good, it remains a classic and becomes au courant in cycles.

I subscribe to the Hermes emailing, not because I buy Hermes scarves regularly, but because I love them. I do own a few and I do wear them. Which brings me to the point I am interested in making.

Fine things are meant to be worn. Fine things are meant to be used. They are made to last, made to be worn, adored and used. I am not afraid to wear, use and adore fine things.

Which brings me to our new teapot. We received the Tiffany Weave Irish Parian Bone China teapot from M.'s aunt and uncle. It is so beautiful I can't stop looking at it. It is absolutely timeless and sturdy and elegant and gorgeous all at once. I have it set out with my Kate Spade cream and sugar. I can't get enough of the retroness of the cream and sugar with the classicness of the teapot. I am extremely fond of the teapot's pure whiteness combined with it's basket weave texture. The details are unrivaled, the design is flawless.

We will use it and adore it in good health for all of our days with the knowledge that someday our children will love it more than I do not just because it is beautiful but because I loved it and it was ours.

The Tiffany Weave Teapot retails for $175. Image courtesy of www.tiffany.com.

I heart my curling iron.

To quote Farmer Ted from the John Hughes film 16 Candles: "Very hot, very hot."

I need heat. My hair is thick, and now, down to my waist at it's longest. With so many, many choices when it comes to what to do with it, my favorite has become big, loose, waves.

It takes a bit of time but is worth it. It goes a little like this:

1. Wash hair the night before, part down the middle, comb out and sleep on it damp with Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream applied from root to tip. A little of this product goes a long way.
2. Wake up with an hour to get ready. Easier said than done.
3. Pin the top layer of hair up about midway from my ears to my part.
4. Curl bottom layer in sections starting from the center of the back of my head in spiral waves, curling away from my face.
5. Let down top pinned-up layer.
6. Curl in small, sections all throughout the crown starting from the back and working toward my face. Curling away from my face, not forward. Taking smaller pieces gives more definition to the waves on the top layer which is important, especially if hair is highlighted. I pull out the lighter strands and then they really stand out when curled.
7. Let curls set without pulling through for about 10 minutes.

I like this style as it loosens throughout the day. I really like it the following day when I just touch up some of the top layer. Easy, and really pretty.

To purchase a curling iron of this magnitude (it's really hot, up to 428 degrees) you can go to http://www.beautybasicsupply.com/. The size you're looking for is the 1 1/4" barrel. The retail price is $25.

Can we be living with a nose made of paper mache?

When M. gets the inevitable spot on one of his shirts or a rip in his pants, I get sad.

I try not to get sad, but I do. I now feel that his clothes are my clothes, so I react in kind. I'm really working on it though, because my reaction affects him so much. And we can always get another pair of pants, right?

When we first met, his entire wardrobe was business casual--every day. No weekend clothes, no sneakers, no shorts, no hats, no sunglasses--just long sleeved button up shirts and pleated slacks with work shoes--on Saturday, in the dead of summer.

I'm married to a man that spends practically no money on himself. He occasionally buys books, but never, and I repeat, never a stitch of clothing. (I did convince him to buy a pair of classic, blue, lace-up Vans which he wore into oblivion and he did buy his wedding suit...okay, never say never.)

He's such a perfect person to dress, in that he really has great proportions and height and he will wear whatever I buy for him. (Plus, he is so cute and has no ego when it comes to how he looks.)

So I started buying for him and along with buying for him I started pampering him: manicures, pedicures, facials and massages all given by me. He loves it.

But perhaps he doesn't love being under the microscope that is my eye. I notice every speck, every fray, every stray hair and I take care of those things too. Which is why I am now going to rave about Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, $6.99 at http://www.walgreens.com/. I have been using them on M. for about a month, once per week and they really work! Just wash your face, leave your nose extra wet and apply the strip. Let it dry to the consistency of paper mache and then, let 'er rip. Carefully, of course.
Then marvel at your smooth, poreless nose.

M. is a well groomed man and he has beautiful skin, now, even more so!

What a sweetie.

Gams that gleam.

Today I am wearing my olive-ish Vanessa Bruno Athe long sleeve t-shirt with the gold lurex trim at the cuffs, deep, round neckline and waistband. I am wearing it with my olive-ish, striped, seersucker skirt from JCrew and my worth-their-weight-in-gold Banglez sandals by Steve Madden (see my previous post entitled Last Splash?!-- I can't stop wearing them--every day!!)

I am wearing my bezel set diamond earrings set in yellow gold (from mama J.) I am even wearing a little bit of MAC eyeshadow in Goldmine in the outer corners of my eyes.

To make the outfit a little less precious, I put my hair in a loose bun.

I am carrying my brown Mulberry satchel which is great for toting my delicious, healthy lunch.

Choosing a work outfit is an organic process for me (read: rushed.) I usually give myself about 35-40 minutes to get ready in the morning (not coincidentally the approximate play time of the Vampire Weekend CD.) Which I know is not enough time, but that's how I do. I like to sleep in.


It rained cats and dogs on my way to work and my umbrella broke in the wind.
But did I care? Somewhat, but not that much, because I felt a bit glam.

Drown-rat glam.

If you have the right bag, shoes and jewels a torrential downpour is a minor set back.

But I suppose the real reason I chose to shine today (when the sun wasn't) is because I slathered my legs with Nivea cream and then applied Glam Gams Leg Bronzing Stick by Tarte.

I love this stuff. It totally evens out skin tone on the legs and is easy to get right. It's color is subtle. It has a bit of shimmer but nothing too...shimmery.

It's application is inspired by Tarte's first product, the infamous and great, push-up cheek stain.

The ease of application is key for me. I don't want streaks, and that's why I apply lotion immediately prior to the application of the bronzing stick.

As a former sun worshipper, I hate self-tanners. I also am not a fan of the tanning bed. But Glam Gams is makeup for your legs. I used it on my wedding day. Fab!!

Glam Gams retails for $30 at Sephora, http://www.sephora.com/.

Photo: www.sephora.com

Ode

As it turns out, I'm feeling much better. The Labyrinthitis has slowly lessened. (I'm still debating the YSL Pur Gloss Black, though.)





I baked cookies Saturday on the new and beautiful cookie sheet and cooling rack my mom sent from our wedding registry.

When I accepted yet another package from the FedEx man on Friday, I immediately called my mom and said, "Why did you get us another wedding present?"
To which she responded "Why?"
To which I said, "I mean, thank you."
She then informed me that she would probably buy us everything left on the registry. She's good like that. It's her way.

She also buys me diamonds.

This woman is the reason I am shoe obsessed. She bought herself and me the same pair of white, Esprit huaraches when I was in 8th grade. Monica Todd, who wasn't even a friend of mine, asked to borrow them and because I wanted her to be my friend, I said yes. (A word from (the now) wise--don't let bow-legged cheerleaders in your English class borrow your favorite shoes. Chances are, they will be returned in not-so-good condition.)

My mother taught me to be very careful with my things. She taught me to iron the yolk of the collar first, then the back, then the sleeves, then the front and lastly the collar of a shirt.

These days mama J. buys a new handbag every month or so at the Buffalo. She then decides if I will like it or not and tells me, "You won't like it" or "I think you'll like this one, it's Michael Kors."

I remember intently watching her apply mascara to her ultra long lashes, coat after coat after mixing her black cake liner with the water from the bathroom sink and applying perfectly symmetrical Cleopatran wings to her lids. She started me on Clinique in Junior High. No drugstore stuff for us.

What I'm trying to say is...I didn't stand a chance of not becoming a lover of good, good things.

And today I pulled out my Givenchy Pop Gloss Crystal in Pop Fuchsia, which I bought almost two years ago and sort of forgot because when I got to the "bottom" of the tube, the applicator was too short to reach the remaining 1/4 inch of fantastic lip gloss. These things do not deter me. If there is product left in a tube, it will be had. So I used my sample applicator from Sephora to dig out the last of the goodness. And I remembered why I love it. It has the most wonderful consistency, almost like...pudding, smells lightly of roses and the color, lordy...it is fuchsia-licious.
But not in your face fuchsia. Just pretty. $23 at http://www.sephora.com/.

Pur Goth.

As clean-cut as I may appear, of course, I have a dark side.

I'm not talking corsets and latex but I can be dark. Especially in cool weather.

Upon my diagnosis with Labyrinthitis, an inner-ear disorder that affects one's equilibrium, my friend R. loved the name of my illness and claimed it to be very...Goth.

Seeing that looking at words on a computer screen makes me woozy, it will suffice to say that as a tribute to my Gothness, dizziness and the late, great Yves Saint Laurent I will consider ordering the limited edition Gloss Pur Black by YSL. This black lip gloss can be lightly applied or layered for a very dark, black lip as shown on the runways for fall. This product goes for $28 and is available while supplies last at select YSL counters nation wide.

Better bare, or at least bare-looking.

I've never worn liquid foundation. My mom never did either. We are more blush and mascara girls.







However, more recently, my skin has started to change. Hyper-pigmentation is the term for this change and for someone like me who hasn't had skin issues, it's a bit tough to take.

But I am still good to my skin. Better, for all intensive purposes, than ever before.

This is my daily face routine:

1. Wash with Purity cleanser by Philosophy (available at http://www.sephora.com/.)
2. Apply MMPi.20 Regenerating Serum by Dr. Wexler to face and neck (available at http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/.)
3. Apply Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream SPF 15 by Caudalie to forehead, cheeks and chin (available at http://www.sephora.com/.)
4. Apply SPF 15 Foundation by Bare Escentuals in Fairly Light (available at http://www.sephora.com/.) This is a powder foundation that you apply with a brush. I apply it to my forehead, under my eyes and on my upper cheeks.
5. Apply Luminizer by Stila to my forehead and under my eyes. (available at http://www.sephora.com/) This is a liquid brightener that has a reflective quality that works well over the powder, as the powder turns creamy on application.
6. Once or twice a week I use Sugar Face Polish by Fresh followed by all of the above. (See my previous post titled Aww, sugar.)

SPF 15 Foundation in Fairly Light by Bare Escentuals evens skin tone, doesn't sweat off and provides SP Factor, naturally. It's non drying and mixes with your moisturizer beautifully. It's $25 on it's own or you can get the starter kit for $60.

Je m'appelle Emily, je suis une Francophile.

What can I say? I love the French.

I love France. I love the language.




When I hear women speaking French on the streets of New York, I eavesdrop.

I am also a big fan of the written word and the way words and letters look together.

Don't get me started on etymology.

In my daytime life (read: work life) I am surrounded by home decor. At home I am surrounded by home decor.

And I feel there is something to be said for the statement pillow, puns intended.

I resist the urge to put more than one pillow on a sofa because it becomes more special alone.

I love how this pillow has a lower case i and that it has cute little ties on the back.

But really, this would be purrrfect for our bedroom. It would go so well with the gray finish on our slatted, raw oak platform bed. And oh so well with the neutral, textural bedding I hope to wrangle fairly soon. (Our bedroom is the size of a matchbox, so decorating is often put off in there.) But this pillow could get me started, don't you see?

This adorable pillow is available for purchase for $62 at http://www.atsuyoetakiko.com/. This is a Brooklyn based company and they have reallllly cute Je t'aime Brooklyn tees and totes.

Presents!!!

What the F?(itFlop)

I am not a hater.

I am a lover.

I love shoes.

I even have been thought to love ugly shoes.



I own a pair of silver Birkenstocks that M. grimaces at regularly.

I love them and I don't care.

I wear Ugg boots in the winter because they are warm and I can walk for blocks and blocks in them.

I don't need people to love what I love.

Lately I've been noticing these, what I consider to be, very ugly flip-flops. Everyone in Manhattan is wearing them (no one especially fashionable, mind you) and thinking to myself...What are those ugly things??

Well apparently they are called Fit Flops and can be purchased from sites such as http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/ and http://www.blissworld.com/. They're $49 and are very light weight, good for your thighs, back, heels, butt, etc. They are compared to the MBT line which is supposed to be amazing as well. But I don't like them.

Blackout!

When the weather cools, I feel like I can start wearing makeup again.

And when I purchase studded gladiator sandals I feel a little like a bad-ass.

And when I feel like a bad-ass, and the weather is cool, I wear black kohl liner inside my lower lashes with lots of black mascara (read: 2 coats on upper, one coat on lower.)

And when I wear black kohl liner I want it to be 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil by Urban Decay. It does not smudge, budge or fudge. And I look tough yet...pretty. This technique has always been a favorite of mine for several reasons: 1. It makes the shape of your eye more defined (read: feline.) 2. It makes the color of your eyes pop, no matter what color they are. 3. Drama!

So why not rock some black kohl liner?? To quote John Bender, played by Judd Nelson in the film The Breakfast Club, "Being bad feels pretty good, huh?" Ohhh yeah.

Pick this waterproof eyeliner pencil up at Ulta or http://www.ulta.com/ for $16.

Dig out your Preppy Handbook & dance.

I am in love with this CD by Vampire Weekend.

I listen to it every day.






What do I love about it?
1. It's upbeat. Like, seriously upbeat.
2. It has lyrics about fashion (specifically '80's prep.)
3. It makes me want to tie a pink grosgrain ribbon in my hair, buy a pair of Tretorns with the kelly green gull wing and check tickets to Martha's Vinyard on JetBlue.
4. It reminds me of the film The Royal Tenenbaum's--which is always good thing.

I am not a music critic but I am a music lover. And I find that anything that transports me back to a specific time of my youth and the development of my own style at that time makes me extremely nostalgic. Not that I was hyper-preppy but I do tend to lean toward/resist the look of the days when I wore a royal blue Bennetton rugby with pegged Guess jeans, scrunch socks and royal blue Mia flats. God, I looked good.

As old habits are hard to break, just as my father played and replayed the Graceland album by Paul Simon because of it's exotic, feel-good sounds, there by the grace of sound go I.

Here are the lyrics to Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend:

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

As a young girl
Louis Vuitton
With your mother
On a sandy lawn

As a sophomore
With reggaeton
And the linens
You're sitting on

Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you want to
Like you know I do?

But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel too

Can you stay up
To see the dawn?
In the colors
Of Bennetton?

Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you want to
Like you know I do?

But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel too

Is your bed made
Is your sweater on?
Do you want to
Like you know I do?

Vampire Weekend makes me feel good. And I don't want to make all of the comparisons that are being made about them. I just want to listen to them. All the time.

No matter who you are, you should listen to this album once--it's only 35 minutes long. Or if you are related to me (in any way) or will soon be related to me, just buy it. It's $11.98 at http://www.amazon.com/. Do it for Biff and Muffy.

Last Splash?!

I do this every end of summer. I start tailoring my wardrobe with an eye toward fall, start obsessing about raincoats with matching wellies and then, whamo, I buy a pair of sandals. Perhaps it is my unconscious wish that summer go on and on. Perhaps it is a resistance to autumn which sometimes feels like an ending rather than a new beginning. Or maybe I am just shoe obsessed.

Whatever the label for my state of consciousness, I couldn't resist these. They are so comfortable, so embellished, so rich looking and the new Steve Madden store just opened yesterday at Union Square.

So I visited them yesterday before work, went home, looked at my budget, paid the bills and had enough to buy them. Yay!!

I wore them out of the store this morning with my silk wrap dress from Banana Republic (which I got at Buffalo in '03 for $22.50, and has held it's own and still looks cute and gets oodles of compliments--M. loves it as well.)

I feel pretty cute.

But I can't wait to wear them with my skinny jeans that zip at the ankle. Hello transition.

You can buy these Banglez by Steven online in three colors at http://www.stevemadden.com/ for $129.50. The color I got is called silver but is really an olive suede with studding and beading.

Get a leg(ging) up.

I remember my first pair of leggings, purchased from the Limited, (black, ribbed) worn with an off the shoulder, long, black angora sweater (also from the Limited) with patent leather oxford flats with grosgrain laces. I wore the most amazing GIANT smoke colored chandelier drop earrings (that I was looking for this weekend--I often get nostalgic for them.)

I wore this ensemble to my mother's best friend's son's Bar Mitzvah. I believe he is now 31 years old.

I am fond of leggings because they are warmer than tights for the winter, but I am not limiting myself to the colors of old anymore.

Last winter I raided American Apparel, where I normally get the usual black & grey.

I bought my leggings in ROY G. BIV, or should I say FY G. BV, fuchsia, sunshine yellow, kelly green, cobalt, and grape-y purple. This fall I'm jazzed to wear the cobalt with my grey suede boots.

These babies can be had for $26.50 from American Apparel stores or at http://www.store.americanapparel.net/.

Let a little color in. It's fun.

(New) York Mints.

What's $1.99, comes in the cutest (reusable) tin and leaves you with the cool, minty sensation of a York Peppermint Pattie?

I'd much rather buy these than Altoids--even the chocolate covered kind. These are more gentle on the mouth. And look at the tin! It's adorable.

For those of us who like chocolate but must limit our intake these are great. They feel chic and decadent. And they taste really good. Zero fat.

I'm considering several modes of recycling for the tin: 1. a mini sewing kit assembled by me. 2. a travel kit with eye mask, handy wipes and earplugs. 3. a pill/vitamin/remedy/mini first aid kit for my hand bag, complete with band-aids and alcohol wipes. 4. a waterproof love note container for M.'s lunch bag. 5. a dental hygiene ensemble with mini floss and tee tree picks.

I just realized I like the tin more than the mints. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. I'm a sucker for packaging.

You can get yourself a tin of these mints for $1.99 at the drugstore or at

http://www.target.com/.

Skip to winter.

Today was the first cool day in a while.

I love fall.

It is my come-to-life time.

It is the time of year that M. and I went on our first date. Both of us were born in November.

It is a wonderful cooling-off period.

After the gym this morning I walked with my iPod on listening to Les Feuilles Mortes. I love that song. The version I love most is by Michel Legrand & Stephane Grappelli. Download this version before it gets to be fall. And then listen to it. The violin is heartbreaking.

I grew up in the Sonoran Desert where there really aren't seasons. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy not owning a winter coat until I moved east, but I do look forward to winter. There are so many fashion choices per outfit: tights, leggings, boots, knee socks, sweaters, hats and coats.

I bought the help-me-I'm-freezing-jacket before the second winter I spent here. It resembles a black sleeping bag. And when I wear it I am completely warm but I am a black sleeping bag in a sea of black sleeping bags.

I don't want to be a bag, sleeping or otherwise.

So this got me thinking. How about something different--something space-age? Would you ever expect to find it at Land's End? I would not. However, I think I may be going for it. Why not?

The Women's Angel Down Coat is available at http://www.landsend.com/ for $134.50.

Let's get one!!

Feeling nauti(cal).

When I was a younger person, navy blue was my favorite color. I felt it was classy--preppy, yet subdued.

I've gotten away from navy in the past 15 or so years, in that I thought it too precious, too good- girl. (I remember my first micro-fiber Kate Spade bag from her first collection. It was a beautiful, satiny, navy hobo. I got it for a song at the Buffalo before anyone knew who she was.)

But this summer, things changed. (I've been thinking about how getting married has changed my view of my own style and how living in Brooklyn also has had an effect on my fashion ideas.) Bookish, good-girl is not just acceptable, but the trend.

It started with my Salt Water Sandals by Hoy in navy. My mother-in-law, and fellow fashion junkie, A., wore a gorgeous navy satin shift dress to my wedding with navy patent flats. Then I bought a couple of summer dresses--one navy voile and one navy and white--and now my new bag from Tory Burch.

The Nautical Tote is the epitome of summertime. The body is nylon (nice and light for travel and commuting) the handle is rope and it has an adjustable, disconnectable cross-body strap. The trim is croc-embossed patent, navy leather. I'm going to carry it into fall. Just for kicks.

I'd like to say that all of you can purchase this bag, but alas, I got a private sale email with select sale items. If you wish, I can forward the email to you.

You can view her other items at http://www.toryburch.com/ or visit her retail boutiques across the US.

Note: this is not just lip service.

When I get ready to leave the house, no matter how early, no matter what I look like, no matter where I'm going, I need lip gloss. Lip gloss and sunglasses. Lip gloss, sunglasses and bronzer. That's all, nothing else.

Finding the perfect unmade-up color is the challenge. I want something that looks like my lips are just shiny, pink and full, naturally. I don't go for nudes or berries or mauves because they look too opaque.

What I do go for is glossy, pinkish, reddish translucence. MAC makes a fantastic product called Plushglass and the best color by far is Plus Luxe. Ooo la la.

I was introduced to this magical lip product by my cosmetics comrade, A. who gave me a sample size of Pretty Plush. I was hooked.

My dear friend N. said she went through a tube of Fulfilled in under 3 weeks.

While finding the correct consistency (not too gooey) and flavor (all lip products taste like something, this one happens to be vanilla-ish) are of utmost importance this one also plumps a little. Who doesn't want plump?

And when you have 6 empties from MAC, they have the Back to MAC recycling program. At MAC retail stores you can trade 6 empty or used containers of anything and get a free lip gloss, lipstick or eyeshadow. I love that.

MAC Plushglass retails for $17.50 and can be purchased at MAC stores or www.maccosmetics.com.

In Memorium

For today's post I will forgo my usual subject matter to remember my friend Rodney T. Jack.

Rodney was a man I met my first day of graduate school at Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers. He quoted a line of my own poem prior to introducing himself to me.

He was an excellent poet and one of the sadder people I have known in my life.

Though I haven't seen him in years, his death and life have touched me in a way I hadn't expected.

I want to remember him as I do from when we first met: smiling, shy and excited to be a writer.

Here is a poem he wrote:

Stonefruit

To you whom I've hurt
not meaning to

I offer this plum this drupe
no shell but a thin skin purpled

I tender to your mouth the muscle
the sweet sympathetic scar-tissue

surrounding the stone the seed
which wants to be buried

Rodney was 43 years old and died on August 6, 2008.