Happy Holidays!

December 2005: The first time I fell in love with Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square during the holidays.

Taking a quick breather to do some feasting, present wrapping/unwrapping, and celebrating. Hope everyone has a fab time off and cheers to 2010!!

Free Shipping Day

Today is Free Shipping Day!If there's one thing I hate to pay for, it's shipping. The second item on that list is tax, but we can't win everything (unless you live in Oregon or Delaware). 743 participating retailers are offering free shipping today (some do have a minimum purchase limit, so check!), perfect timing for those last minute giftings =)

www.freeshippingday.com

Mike & Chris Sale at Reverse!

As if I haven't been buying myself enough goodies this past month, one of my favorite (usually overpriced) lines went on sale today on Reverse! EFF! I love the style of Mike & Chris--comfy and casual. Thankfully, at 70% to 80% off, I can finally afford to pick up some of their pieces!

Glen Zip Up (Orig. $216, Sale $65) Long and lean, and great for throwing over skinny jeans. My favorite part is the shoulder flap in the back.

Dustin Cotton Voile V Neck Tunic (Orig. $160, Sale $39) I love, love tunics. I love, love white.

3 Button Tights (Orig. $68, Sale $19) My mom makes fun of me for wearing leggings because they shouldn't be considered pants, but the button detailing on these will hopefully make them look a little more legit.

I've been lusting after a Mike&Chris hoodie ever since I first laid eyes on the line (a leather jacket might be next on my list now)! For less than $200, how ever could I have resisted? I even learned a new trick on how to check my credit card number without my supervisor noticing. Hurry on to the site because things are selling out quickly! Click here for an invite to Reverse.

Drinking Rooibos Tea for Skin Issues

I've tried an infinite number of treatments for acne, from oral to topical, prescription and over-the-counter. Less is more, and the best solution is probably to leave my skin alone, but I'm always tempted by the promises that a new cream makes, such a sucker for good marketing. Lately though, I've been intrigued and researched into a more holistic approach to attacking some of my skin issues, and discovered a few things along the way.

Physical symptoms reflect unhealthiness of the body, whether it be be coughing from a cold, or in my case, breakouts from some sort of stress/junk food eating/hormonal imbalance. I do think that when a person doesn't eat correctly, doesn't exercise regularly (totally guilty), and is continuously under stress, the body buckles under the external forces and acts out. So the solution is to be good to yourself, starting with diet and the food that we intake.

Recently, I stumbled upon a thread that hailed rooibos tea (from South Africa, also called "redbush tea") as an effective liquid with lots of cleansing antioxidants to move toxins out of the body. More importantly, all ingredients are natural and rooibos is caffeine-free! A company called Republic of Tea produces a series of Be Well teas, with all sorts of tea mixes for different health issues. The one I was interested in was Get Gorgeous, but they also have Get Smart, Get Lost (for weight loss), Get Passionate (to increase the libido!), Get Focused, etc. You get the idea. After I read several pages of reviews with multiple people claiming benefits from drinking this tea, I ran across the street to GNC and picked up a can, which has 36 individual teabag.

The instructions are to drink 3-4 teabags a day, and this is easier than it sounds. I drop two teabags into my thermos as my morning beverage in lieu of coffee (caffeine aggravates acne, so do dairy products!) and refill twice throughout the day, and have another mug-full at night before bed. Since it's caffeine free, I don't worry about insomnia! The taste is fine, I like tea so it tastes regular to me, but sometimes I add a little honey to sweeten.It could be the tea, or it could be the huge amounts of water I'm ingesting daily now relative to before, but I have found that the tea works to calm my skin down. I'm also starting a new (simple!) skin regimen so that's in the mix also, but I'm not stopping this tea anytime soon! Hoping that a greener diet and drinking this tea and more water in general can encourage clearer skin! I ordered 3 more cans from GNC when they had a sale last week, but these are also available directly from Republic of Tea in bulk. Also, I'm sure any rooibos tea would work and have the same cleansing qualities, but I like this one since it also has chamomile, orange peel, and burdock root.

Just checked GNC and they're having a 1-day sale today, 25% off plus free shipping!!!! *Checks out with three more cans*

Another easy cleansing tip to detox - drink water with lemon! Lemon has amazing antiseptic qualities that filter out toxins in your system and balances out acidity with its alkalizing ability. I squeeze half a fresh lemon's worth of juice into a glass of hot water in the morning, and also ask for lemons at restaurants to drink with a meal. When mixed with hot water, lemon is said to calm upset stomachs and aid digestion, along with other detoxifying benefits. Drink up!

Stocking Stuffer Bling

Looking for a stocking stuffer that will be sure to win over any gal in your life? While passing through the Petaluma Outlets last week, I was pleasantly surprised to find the infamous shu uemura eyelash curler on sale for only $10 at the Designer Fragrances & Cosmetic Co.! The red boxes were stacked throughout the store and calling for me to buy them for all the girls in my life. This beautiful limited edition 24K gold-plated version retails for $24 and is one of THE best eyelash curlers on the market. Hurry and grab some before they're all gone! They will not disappoint.

Wear Your Heart on Your Very Fashionable Sleeve

By offering fashion made with ethical and environmentally-conscious practices, that's the motto that Arboretum Apparel preaches. I can't even begin to say how much I fell in love with this store while roaming around the streets of beautiful Healdsburg, CA.

Downtown Healdsburg, itself, was a gorgeous sight to see during this time of the year. After finishing up work for the day, my coworker and I were excited about having the chance to do some shopping and delighted to find Healdsburg Plaza bordered with cute boutiques all along Center St. and Healdsburg Ave. As we took our time checking out the stores, everyone was friendly and didn't seem to mind that most of the time, we didn't get a chance to buy anything at all. Boutique owners and sales people alike just seemed genuinely pleased that we'd even dropped by. I loved it!

Between the awesome decor (created by marine biologists), bright lights, and striking fashion offerings, Arboretum is one of the most intriguing I've ever seen. I mean, have you ever seen clothing racks like that?! We were even lucky enough to have some time to chat with one of the co-owners, Kate Morrison! As I listened to how she had already found previous success as a boutique owner in Boston and moved to Healdsburg for love, I couldn't help but be excited. I think that's what LA lacks: boutique owners who will chat with you about what they do, how they got there, and even what kind of perfume she likes. Even as I left the store longing for the last pair of summer sandals Kate had displayed, she offered to ship them to me. Such a sweet gal! I'm not sure that I'll ever be back in town anytime soon, but hopefully she opens up shop in LA someday.

Just because I can't have them, maybe someone else who's a size 6.5 can!

Rose Champagne Lovin'

I'm convinced that shopping is a bad, bad addiction in all sorts of ways. When forgotten, you almost convince yourself you can live without it. When wrapped up in the essence of it, you can't even begin to imagine life without the rush. That may be a little over the top, but I'm constantly finding myself caught up in huge waves of buy, buy, buy. I picked up a bevy of fun, fun goodies while visiting Norcal and have to share them all with you over the next few days!

Rose Champagne. So pretty. I've always loved Reiss--their pieces are stunningly beautiful and painfully pricey. I picked up this gorgeous Alonsio Weave Fold Over Clutch while shopping in SF this weekend and I'm absolutely in love with it. I've been looking for a going out clutch/wristlet and this doubles up as both! The detachable strap allows for easy transitioning between classy dinner dates and ridiculous nights out (we have to have some way of holding onto our bags while juggling those drinks, right?). The weaving is also a sweet contrast to the more standard clutches I've seen and the ones I already own. The best part is that the color is seriously unlike anything I've seen (it even photographs nicely!) and will be a perfect pop against a LBD or even as an addition to a bright colored frock! I picked this up at the Reiss store for $240, but ASOS has it for only $203!

If I hadn't already done so much damage to my bank account last week, I would've desperately wanted to buy this pretty little skirt as well:

Reiss Silk Selena Twist Skirt ($186.97)

It reminds me of the Aaron Ashe skirt from The White Dress Shop I've been eyeing! Oh well, maybe next time... For now, my pretty little clutch will have to do. I'm so disgustingly in love with it that I might try to pull off taking it out on casual outings here and there.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas - Beauty

Only a few short weeks until Christmas! The weekend after Thanksgiving, my roommates and I immediately went out and got decorations for our apartment - lights to line along the ceiling, a small (fake) tree, wreath, and garlands to make the place festive, I love it! This week, my holiday checklist included booking trips back home to California (so excited) and dreaming up cute gifts for stocking stuffers, white elephant exchanges, and secret santas. Here are some beauty-related ideas for gifts ranging from $25-50...

1) anything from LUSH! From Michelle's post here, there are many yummy smelling goodies to pamper a lucky person on your list. For a newbie, I'd give the famous bathbombs (there are so many varieties to choose from) or bubble bars, both would make shower/bath time rock. Bath bombs are $5-6 and bubble bars are $6-7 , so while it's not cheap to enjoy regularly, these would make great gifts.  Lush skincare also consistently receives raves but they're harder to pick for somebody else since you don't really know their skin type/concerns (so feel free to self-gift!). If there's a store close by you, I'd recommend taking a walk, soaking up the smells, and choosing several to try.

2) Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner sets - holiday sets are AWESOME. Not only do they often offer a brand's best selling products, but they give the recipient choices, and they're economic to boot! I like this set of eyeliners from UD - quality is tops with super smooth and soft drawing ease, doesn't smudge (hence the "24/7"), and a rainbow of colors to experiment with! These are perfect for nights out, since who really needs a full-size bright green eyeliner?! It'd just sit sadly in my traincase. And I try to love all my makeup by rotating and using them fairly regularly. This particular set is $36, and comes with 9 mini pencils, but there are two other sets I like also, with 4 larger pencils + a glitter liner.

3) Perfume sampers - still think these are a genius idea. Hook, line and sinker - the sample vials of Sephora's best smelling fragrances let you try each scent without the $$ commitment, and later you can exchange for a full size bottle of your favorite pick. Easy peasy.

Other quick ideas:

- cult favorite items if the recipient doesn't already have them: NARS blush (Orgasm is the ubiquitous shade, but I like Deep Throat better), Shu Uemura eyelash curler, YSL Touche Eclat pen.

- beauty books: Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin for a lover of dramatic and bold makeup, Bobbi Brown's manuals for the girl who enjoys simple and basic makeup. Not beauty related, but I've also purchased Nina Garcia's The One Hundred on pieces that every girl should have in her wardrobe. This was a great book for when I first started working and wanted to build my closet with timeless items.

Hello from Norcal!

Hello from Healdsburg, CA! I'm currently up in Sonoma County on a business trip and am LOVING the chance to visit this beautiful part of California during such a festive time! With the chance to mix work with play, I've been lucky enough to stumble upon some amazing eateries and boutiques. I don't have the time to do as detailed a post as I would like at the moment, but here's a quick sneak peak of one of the fabulous finds here in Healdsburg:

Can't wait to tell you all about this boutique when I get back to LA!

Pedicure on Our Toes, Toes

Happy December, everyone! Why not rock the new Essie Winter Collection for the month? I saw the Mint Candy Apple shade while flipping through the current InStyle (with lovable Taylor Swift on the cover!) and knew I had to have it! I'm not sure how it will fare at the office, but hey, what other part of the year could we possibly get away with wearing something like this? Plus, the entire set below is on sale for only $9.99 at Ulta!

Until I pick up this cute set (for myself and a few to throw in my friends' Christmas gifts), I will stick to  OPI's Light My Sapphire--my favorite, favorite fall nail color. This is the first nail polish that I've used up (purchased a year and a half ago!) and I will definitely be picking up another one!

Rebecca Minkoff West Coast Sample Sales

For all us West Coasters who are lusting after some Rebecca Minkoff goodies after reading Janice's post on the NY sample sale, we're in luck!

I'm going to be out of town this week so I won't be able to make it out there until Saturday, but hopefully everyone else will be able to snap up some great finds before they're all gone. I am reaaalllyyy hoping for a Morning After Bag so am super excited for this!!

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

My heart is officially broken. After having a great week off from work and catching up with the family on Thanksgiving, I received a somber letter from Nordstrom yesterday. The news? That my beloved Prescriptives was being discontinued in January 2010! It all makes sense now why the counter at my local mall looked like a deserted mess when I went to pick up some foundation last month. After googling the news, I realize that everyone else has known about this except for me! Where the heck have I been?

My devastation stems from the fact that I thoroughly believe that no other foundation was made better for my skin. I love that it's light, provides great coverage without being greasy, has SPF, and doesn't break me out. Probably the best and most important thing is that it doesn't result in that ghastly "white-face" in pictures! True proof of its awesomeness lies in pictures taken recently of my best friend and me--she in gorgeous Chanel and me in my Virtual Matte. In person, her skin was flawless with the perfect tone. However, when we reviewed the shots we had snapped from the night, there was no denying the white sheen cast over her face. I, on the other hand, did not have this problem--and never have since discovering VM in college!

Buzz on the streets points to lack of brand positioning and marketing to the downfall of this Estee Lauder brand. With the huge lot of beauty brands owned by EL (which include MAC, Bobbi Brown, Origins), it's a shame that not enough attention was focused on Px. With limited visibility and an unclear target demographic, it's not hard to see why the brand struggles despite the high-quality products it offers. I, myself, admit that I don't turn to Px for any of my beauty staples besides foundation because the company has never done a great job with advertising. Make-up artists at the counters usually multi-tasked with other brands and only came by when I waved them over to get me my foundation. I once decided I'd ask the MA for some bronzer suggestions and she had difficulty offering me advice on contouring. After stumbling to wow me with any real product recommendations, I left with nothing more to add to my bag. As mentioned last year, the brand also never really took advantage of consumer shopping seasons, such as Christmas. Alas, so many areas that could've been fixed to save the brand. I wonder if the "thorough analysis" was only conducted after plans had already been made for the brand's demise. It's a shame that the economy claims another victim.

Pick up your last minute buys before all counters shut down in January! The website will stay up until all stock is officially sold out. Bye bye, VM. You will be terribly missed.

Playing Dress-Up for the Holidays

The temperature in LA has dipped low enough to keep me snuggled up indoors for the majority of the day. Despite the chilly weather, I'm excited for the coming holiday season! I love seeing all the stores decked out in Christmas decor and it reminds me that it's a good time to start thinking about picking up some fun holiday dresses.

BCBGMAXAZRIA One Shoulder Satin Dress ($248) BCBG dresses were always a staple at my college banquets and this one is absolutely perfect. It's clean-cut enough to wear to office holiday parties, but still offers a sassy kick with the gorgeous zipper-lined shoulder bow and pockets (still loving pockets oh so much!). One shoulder anything reminds me of this horrific red one shoulder shirt I wore back in high school and  as such, I haven't been able to bring myself to go back to that style ever again. However, this dress just might be enough to quell that memory. Being that 20-something in the office means we have to walk that thin line between classy and youthful--this dress manages to promise both!

Arden B. Taffeta Ruffle Front Dress ($78) The strapless mini is my fallback for all my evening wear dilemmas. The silhouette has never failed me in presenting a fitted, slim, and mature look... even when I feel like over-indulging at those holiday gatherings. The added touch of the pleated ruffles (for that GORGEOUS neckline) and banded high-waist also sets this dress apart from the other strapless dresses I already own. This is my favorite must-have for the season based on look and price. Can't wait to see how it looks on!

Despite how much I love my dresses, it's a shame that us girls can't wear them (usually) to more than one main event. That leaves me thinking twice before spending too much on a dress I'll never see again. Luckily, I found some more affordable options for the social butterflies out there who need a few options for the season.

Forever21 High Sheen Dress ($22.80) It's easy to think of red as being the go-to color during this time of year, but this deep violet dress would be a great contrast on anyone's skin! The sweetheart neck and layered skirt are fun and flirty. Pair this up with some gold strappy heels and a long strand of pearls for a dressed up and sophisticated look. My only concern about this dress would be that sometimes F21 tends to make their frocks awkwardly too short, so hopefully it's not the case with this one! I suppose we must give up something for not paying $322 for the Foley + Corinna version.

Forever21 Sparkling Tiered Dress ($24.80) This is another take on the tiered skirt, but the high waistband and sequined layers are perfect! This dress mimics another dress I have from the summer and I'm loving that this would be a comfortable choice for dancing the night away. Since it's black, I wouldn't have to worry about the sequins looking tacky as long as I don't over-accessorize. The key would be to balance out the dress with some colorful heels and a simple long necklace.

Happy dancing, ladies!

Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale GOODS

Tuesday was VIP night of Rebecca Minkoff's much anticipated NYC sample sale. I went after work and thought maybe just maybe if I go at 830 the line wouldn't be so bad. Yes and no - it was really easy to get into the sale (no line) but once in, the checkout line snaked around the room, crowding around the tables with all the purses on them, making it an extreme workout to fight your way through people with your coat and bounty of bags. Nonetheless, I discovered my inner endurance and stuck it out, and ended up with a few yummy purchases:

Newest additions to the fam

From left to right: Matinee (unknown color, think this was made just for the sample sale. Similar to taupe but texture is different), Saddle Morning After Clutch (hereafter referred to as "MAC"), Plum MAC.

Matinee in mystery color

This is my new work bag to alternate with my black HH Conrad. I like how this is a cool tan/beige color with to the silver hardware so it feels more versatile than a more yellow/gold palette. It's very chic casual when paired with mostly blacks, but still dressy enough due to the structured shape. The Matinee is probably my favorite RM shape.

I've always wanted a dark red purse, eye-catching but not too loud (i.e. not tomato red), muted enough to be classy yet still pops against a dark monochrome outfit. First I followed around a girl with the plum MAC draped on her hoping she would put it down, then I felt like a sad little puppy so decided to go find my own color MAC instead. I picked up the warm brown MAC since I don't have any purses to carry when I'm wearing my cognac boots, then magically at the end of the night I saw not one but TWO plum MACs, and of course they came into my hot little hands to compare. The one I ended up choosing has this beautiful pebbled leather *drool*! Love love love it.

Bathroom shot

The strap on the MAC is longish, and being a petite girl, it dwarfs me if I use it normally. But after reading forums I picked up a few tips on shortening the length and this is my favorite style. A little Chanel-esque =P I can also double up on the strap and make it even shorter.

Plum on left, Grape on right

Earlier this spring, I went to the sample sale and scored my first RM - a grape Morning After Mini. The color is gorgeous, but I just don't find myself giving it the love it deserves since it's a hard to match color, and the bag is heavy due to the size and hardware.  I'm actually thinking of selling the Grape since the Plum is so similar in hue. Also, just have to point out the pebblyness of the Plum leather vs. the smoother Grape.

MACs in different colors.. that's okay right?

The MAC in front is the Grey Skies color, it's my roommates, I just like seeing all of them together =P

The best part? Rebecca herself was there at the VIP night and I asked her to sign the Plum MAC!!! She's so pretty too, tall and skinny, very put together looking. I also got rung up by her brother, the CEO of the company, haha. I like that it's a family business!

All in all, I'd say it was a successful sample sale. AND I mentioned it to a coworker and a friend and they're both dying to go this weekend! It's so fun to spread the excitement of sample sales and love of purses!!!

Boots Loot

They arrived! The boots I posted about below are finally here! Today we'll be discussing the case of Melissa Button v. Paige (harhar, remnants from my Legal Studies days)

When I first pulled both pairs from their boxes, I could feel my boyfriend rolling his eyes without even turning around to see his face, since I also thought what must've been going through his mind, "They're the SAME!" But the great differentiator between males and females are girls' attention to minute detail and the ability to build pro and con lists very quickly to convince herself of one boot over another. So here goes:

- Leather on the Melissas felt more raw and wet, I don't know how else to describe it. The Paige Tall riding boots felt very smooth, and right away I could tell this was why the Paige's were more expensive. It could just be a preference thing, and not an objective quality issue, since my roommates both preferred the "more real leather" feel of the Melissas

- Flap on the Paiges definitely made my calves in front look wider, but the clincher was the back dip that even more so emphasized my big calves. Ew. I did like how the Paige flap looked in theory just not on me, gives an updated look to classic flat boots.

- Sidenote: Piperlime's circumference disclosure was off! It lists the Melissas as 13 inch around, but I'm definitely bigger than that and they still fit! Think they're around 14 or so, but I probably can't wear thick socks and thick jeans.

- Sizing on the Paige was funny. I wasn't wearing socks so that could the culprit but every step I took with them on exhaled a small but distinctive farty sound. Maybe there was a tiny whoopee cushion in each foot or it could have been excess air, but I didn't want my shoes to come with sound effects.

So in the end, I chose the Melissas! SCORE they were also the cheaper of the two.

And some pictures!

Exhibit 1. Paige on left, Melissa on right

DROOL at the luscious leather.

I'm super happy I can check off Flat Black Boots from my Necessities list. I've sprayed these with rain protectant so hopefully I can trot down the street with these rain or shine and these babies will last forever.

Have Your Boots On and Be Ready To Go

In building a wardrobe (including accessories and shoes!) appropriate for the cold and approaching winter, sometimes I get caught between practical and pretty choices. Yes I need edgy black strappy heels for nights out, but I'd really get more mileage (literally) out of some flat black boots. This time, mind wins over heart and I decided I needed to invest in a good pair of boots that would last hopefully several seasons.

Banana/Gap/Piperlime is currently holding their Friends and Family event, so it's a perfect time to choose a few pairs and score the perfect one at 30% off. With Piperlime's free shipping and returns policy, it's also no-risk shopping! I'm not usually a fan of buying multiple pairs of shoes (sizing up/down, different colors, etc) but the site makes it easy to try and try again. I put in my order this morning for some Frye's that I'm crossing my fingers will turn out to be the One(s).

Frye Melissa Button ($298) . The side buttons are cute and give the something extra I'm looking for. These look a little more Western due to the dips in both the front and back, but I've read that they don't look too severe in real life.

Fryes have great reputations for their soft, supple leather and durable quality of the boots that lasts throughout the years. One concern I have about these is the circumference. At 13.5 inches, they might be squeezing tightly on my larger than average calves. Usually, I target 15-16 inch circumferences for boots (to allow for jeans as well), so we'll see if these stretch a bit.

The second pair are the Frye Paige Tall Riding boots ($348). A little bit more pricey but these have a wider circumference (aah, much more roomy!), and look more sophisticated with the front flap styling. Still has the same round toe (makes feet look smaller!) and flat heel that I like.

While looking around for boots, here are the features I looked at and might be useful to keep in mind:

• Shaft - up and down length of the boot. Depending on your height (I'm 5'2), I like them to go right under to my knees, so usually I look for 14-15 inches. Any taller and boots would make me look stumpy. Conversely, I've been looking at ankle boots to wear with skinnies and tights!
• Circumference - the widest part of the calf area. Most people are between 13-16 inches, and I'm on the larger side. This is also what I look at when shopping for skinny jeans (though most measurements given for skinnies are the ankle opening circumference)
• Heel height - This time, I knew I wanted flat boots, and was okay with going up to 1 inch on the height. A great compromise are the hidden or wrapped wedge boots (like these Steve Madden Idens) which still give a boost but have the comfort and look of flats
• Smooth vs. slouchyness - Here it depends on personal preference. Some friends prefer the more casual/effortlessly cool feel that ruched/slouchy boots evoke, and opt for those. I, on the other hand, don't like calling attention to my calves, and like my boots to have smooth sides. Slouchy boots are cute, but it's about knowing what works for your body type
• Durability / leather quality - Since flat black boots are such a wardrobe staple, I was prepared to make an investment into this purchase, and researched top brands in boots. Frye's came highly recommended: stylish and built to last. Of course, how you care for your shoes can make a difference in their lifespan, but to some extent, the quality of the leather used and workmanship goes a long way. If I were looking for more casual, trendy pieces though, I'd be okay with a cheaper pair, but be prepared to buy another pair next season 

Shu Uemura Hautelook Sale Alert

Hautelook is hosting a sale on one of our absolute FAVORITE make-up brands tomorrow at 9AM! This is such exciting news!! What products don't we love from the brand?! However, some absolute staples you may want to get your hands on include:

-Eyelash curler (nothing compares!)
-Cleansing oil
-Glow On Blush (especially M Pink 30)

Don't have an invite for Hautelook? Click here! Happy shopping!!!

Nick & Mo Tessa Coat

As mentioned in Janice's winter coats post, I've been wanting to buy the Nick & Mo Tessa Coat from The White Dress Shop, but it's been sold out for a while now (probably because, like it did for me, Tiffany's recommendation really won everyone over). Well thankfully, the store has such amazing customer service that not only did Bola email me back last month to say they'd be getting more of these, she emailed me again yesterday to share the great news that it was finally available again! For only $149, this is a perfect white jacket for the coming winter months. The mock collar and buttons are cute and simple! This will be much more fun to throw on for my holiday outings. No more covering up those cheerful dresses with the same boring black coat this season!

The site is also offering free shipping on orders over $100, so this makes the purchase even more of a must. White is one of my favorite colors to wear because it's the simplest go-to color so I will definitely be checking back with the site to see what other goodies they're going to offer in the future.

I Buy Impractical Things

Fred Flare has some of the CUTEST, quirkiest, whimsical-est things, and luckily for us, they are having a 30% holiday preview sale off the entire site! The Christmas counter on the website handily reports that indeed, there are only 49 days left until our favorite green-and-red holiday, so it's a great time to stock up on gifts for your loved ones. Or if you're like me, it's a marvelous excuse to buy things I needed anyway so why not get some with serious cute factor?

First, I needed mugs. Yup, boring old ceramic mugs. But then I found these upside down animal mugs ($20 each)!! When right side up, they are normal looking drinking cups, but I'm motivated to finish all my liquids so I can turn the mug upside down and stare at the cute faces on the bottom! I received the panda and cat ones yesterday, and as a disclaimer, just want to say that these are super adorable BUT tiny, almost like shot mugs. Maayybe it can hold a triple espresso, or 6 sips of tea. But they're too cute to ship back so I'm keeping them!

Real life comparison. Mugs are teensy compared to my roommate's grown up sized tinkerbell mug

These Russian doll measuring cups ($16) are cute and practical!! Although I don't really bake or cook or do anything in the kitchen besides make Ramen, so maybe these aren't that practical. Well, if in the future, I suddenly get an itching for baking, these will definitely be useful.

 After doing some research on these, I found that Anthropologie Russian Doll measuring cups ($28), are exponentially higher cute factor, but also a lot more impractical. They're made of stoneware for goodness' sake, I'd probably just stare at their prettineses, but would be too scared to actually use them. I also got heart shaped earbuds because why should we be stuck with normal earbuds? Why NOT have fun with the everyday usage products in your life, and get some super duper cute ones while you're at it? Okay, so my bf laughed at me while I had them in my ears, but they give me an extra kick in my step, and that's what matters. Other awesome suggested buy from Fred Flare:
Holly Golightly sleep mask


Mini umbrella friends. Love the feet/handle

USB drives. Favorite is the turtleneck guy!

Don't be fooled, Fred Flare also has lots of clothing and jewelry options in addition to these accessories and small pieces, but I haven't yet tried them. This was my first time shopping with FF, shipping was super quick, mugs were packaged with plenty of bubble wrap, consider me a happy customer!

LUSH Brazened Honey Mask

I love Sundays! Besides the fact that they're officially dubbed my "lazy days", they're also my beauty "freshen-up" days. After slacking off on my regime during the week due to fatigue, I always make sure to save some time on Sunday to tend to what I've missed out on. One of the essential skincare items that I absolutely cannot (and should not) do without is a face mask. After a tough past few weekends, I've missed a few Sundays here and there and have definitely seen the difference. Applying a face mask is unlike any other way to pamper, soothe, and treat one of our most important features!

I actually ran out of my Fresh Umbrian Clay mask and have been debating whether or not to repurchase it. It's been great at controlling my breakouts and calming my skin, but not great enough to warrant the $48 price tag. Always on the lookout for a fun new mask to try, I figured I could definitely find something else... and something else I did find!

I stopped by the Beverly Hills LUSH store after grabbing brunch today and stumbled upon their fresh bar of concoctions. LUSH offers tubs of freshly made face masks aimed at a variety of skin remedies. I felt like each mask spoke to me in a different way and it took quite a while to decide on the Brazened Honey mask. Aimed at exfoliating and brightening tired skin (goodbye dull skin!), the added promise of tightening pores was just a bonus feature that sold me. This product reminds me a lot of the Mario Badescu Almond & Honey Scrub (which I LOVE) that I have so often dabbed on as a calming mask. However, since this is actually formulated to act as a mask, it also had the kick of really cleaning out my pores. Like with the MB scrub, I scrubbed my face beforehand while applying it and then again, by mixing the dried mask with warm water while removing it. After a quick 15 minute application, my face felt soft, smooth and balanced (not too dry and not too oily). Some people have said that the thick consistency of the product has made it difficult to apply, but I didn't find any problems with this at all. It was a little tough to remove since it's so chunky, but I like that I could really massage it around my face while taking it off.

Since they're made free of preservatives, each $5.95 tub is supposed to last 2 weeks. I've been reading reviews and customers claim that they've been able to use the masks up to a month since the products are kept refrigerated. This makes more sense since there's way too much product to use up that quickly so we'll see how good it stays into the month. Since I picked up the BB Seaweed mask as well, I'm probably in for some trouble in finishing both up within the month--I got too excited and didn't think this through at the time.

As an added plus, for every 5 containers you return to the store for recycling, you get one free mask of your choice! I think this will definitely keep me coming back for more. Other notable items to purchase (per my best friend who's obsessed with LUSH): Coalface Cleanser, Ocean Salt Cleanser, and any of their solid shampoo bars (which are equal to 3 bottles of 250ml shampoo bottles!). I've officially discovered another beauty obsession. Eeeeek.

Sephora Therapy

Aah Sephora F&F! An occasion to get beautiful. Of COURSE I have to post about what I got (and would get if I had a money tree). Beauty has always been my first love; it's how I first became introduced to higher end brands - first starting with MAC and then spilling over to other companies - and from there, growing into an awareness (or got suckered into, depends how you look at it) for quality products and pretty packaging.

I tried to hold myself to a higher standard of consumerism and buy what I really needed - as of now, this is skincare, since my epidermis has been freaking out on me for the past couple months, leaving me scarred, literally and figuratively. I've had to deal with breakouts at the age of 23! I thought teen acne sucked, well that was expected and pretty normal. Adult acne is so much worse, because everyone else seems to have grown out of that phase and into clear, supple skin. Sigh. When will it be my turn?? For now, I've been putting everything that promises clear skin into my shopping cart, so we'll see how they go.

(Oh, and of course I didn't just buy skincare. Try as I might, I couldn't not have fun with this F&F; discount, since it only comes once a year! I rationalized things with 1. my skin needs it and 2. I wouldn't have bought it without 20% off. Most of the thigns I ended up with falls into this second basket)

Here we go!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple - gentle cleanser for my sensitive, easily irritated skin. Bought the 8oz to try. This got lots of rave reviews, and my Mario Badescu creamy cleanser is too filmy and doesn't leave me with a bare-skin feeling,

DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew - forever in search of a new moisturizer. Currently using Olay Complete, which is fine, but hey, I like trying new things. This one is a gel and only has 3 ingredients, which I appreciate, since most lotions are packed with bad irritants ending in some variation of -ol (read: alcohol). It's good so far, nothing bad about it.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - love love love lip products. Lip and cheek stuff are my favorite makeup items (Michelle, I'm with you on that one!), and this is a much raved about cult favorite that I had to try. At $22.50, it wasn't a lip balm I was willing to pay full price for, but I'm loving it! Super smooth and moisturizing, smells lemony also. I keep one next to my bed and one in my purse. yup, that means I got two - ordered the Rose version after I got the regular one!

Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair - this is probably my favorite product of the bunch. Created by MIT researchers as an alternative to silicone, this cream was designed to tame frizz and smooth hair to be ultra touchable.  LOVE how it makes my hair feel! Seriously, it makes it so soft to the touch, I just love running my hair through it. With other anti-frizz products, I'm afraid to touch my hair throughout the day since it adds to the oilyness and drags it down, but Living Proof doesn't make my hair greasy at all. Usually, I airdry so I haven't tested this out against heat, but I've read that performance only improves with irons and curlers.

Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head in Delicate - havn't been using my Clarisonic since I've been on this new oral antibiotic and Epiduo gel combo (told you I'm trying everything! Including this concoction my dermatologist prescribed... I'm not liking it though, it makes my skin burn and sting sometimes), but after I finish this month and am able to get back with my Clarisonic brush, hopefully this Delicate head will be gentle enough to still clean my skin.

Marc Jacobs Daisy - in my fantasy world, I have a zillion cute bottles of perfume sitting primly on a dresser, but in reality, I just don't use enough scent to warrant buying all the pretty bottles out there.  That's why perfume roller balls are the perfect solution for me, trial size versions that are portable so I can put it on whenever I remember! I chose Marc Jacobs Daisy. It's light (i.e. appropriate for the office), with a dry flowery scent that has me sniffing my wrists even after 10 hours at work.

Shiseido The Skincare Hydro Nourishing Softener - I use so much drying products in an attempt to zap out all the oil in my skin that sometimes, a little moisture is necessary. This toner is supposed to refresh dried out skin and give back moisture. Shiseido is an outstanding skincare company, so I'm looking forward to good results!

 Sephora F&F; ends November 2, 2009 so you still have some time to browse and decide on what to buy, but some items are already out of stock, so don't wait too long!

Blushing Winter Cheeks

t's not hard to tell that shu uemura is a definite Coastalpolitan favorite! I can't help but fall in love each time I walk by the counter at the mall and although my collection is small and humble, my shu uemura goodies are fun and irreplaceable!

Like Janice, I'm absolutely obsessed with blushes. "Um, why do you have so many?" is a reaction I get most often whenever a friend rummages through my makeup bag. So that I can have one color to fit each mood and setting, of course! Plus, what girl doesn't love pink (okay, maybe that's just me)?

The current look I've been aiming for is the perfect pink hue--the kind that's usually triggered by walking outside on a cold day. As most of my days are spent indoors (boo.), I had to find something to help me fake this illusion. I actually bought two blushes to add to my collection recently, Glow On in M Pink 30 and P Peach 45, but M Pink 30 is the one I'm in LOVE with. Gorgeous color that it is, the color seemed a bit overwhelming to me in the beginning. However, I've finally mastered layering this on with the perfect light swipes and haven't worn any other blush since!

As luck would have it, you can pick up Pink 30 (1 of the 3 shu blushes offered) for 20% off via Sephora's F&F Sale!

EDIT: Unfortunately, these beauties are all sold out on Sephora.com, but trust me when I say that this is worth the $21 regular price!