Happy Holidays from Coastalpolitan!

Merry Holidays from the both of us from NY and LA! Thank you *so* much to everyone for all the kind comments and continued support throughout this year. You are the best and we are looking forward to a new year of blogging fun in 2011! Enjoy the holiday cheer and time spent with all your loved ones! Cheers!! :)

Radio City Music Hall Christmas tree in all it's glory!

Ginormous beautiful ornament baubles brighten up the streets of NYC!

Wet, rainy day in Old Town Pasadena!

Best Stocking Stuffers - Hello Kitty Watches

Finding them all is like a scavenger hunt and i. love. scavenger hunts!!! For a limited time (not sure when the promo ends), with every McDonald's Happy Meal, comes a San Rio watch...in 6 varieties! You could get one in Hello Kitty, Batz Maru, My Melody, KeroKero Keroppi, Chococat, and a puppy that I've never seen before (and just learned about 5 minutes ago that it's really a bunny). I first heard about these on Facebook and the same day, went to the golden arches to score me some watches (and delicious McD fries!)

The watch face is much bigger than I would've thought.. taking up my whole wrist instead of just a small area. Makes me think, hmm these must not be made just for kids if they are so large! I can totally wear one =P These work as regular watches OR as stopwatches! And it keeps track of the date too so it's a 3-in-1 watch, calendar and stopwatch.

After three Happy Meals of cheeseburgers/chicken nuggets and unsuccessful attempts to catch Hello Kitty, Jessica told me that I could buy the watches alone without bundling it with the meal. *headdesk* Separately, they're about $1.50 each, so if you like these, you can still be healthy and wearing a cute watch.

 

After some quick Googling, I learned that this isn't the first partnership between McD's and SanRio - actually, they're pretty frequent (hello?! where have I been??). Hello Kitty gear, whether they're plush toys, figurines, or in this case wrist decorations, have been sporadically available for people to buy alongside their cheeseburgers for years,  and they are all adorable!!

2005 collection (credit: Hello Kitty Junkie)

Has anyone else seen these and love them too??

Madewell 25% off Sale + Free Shipping!

I discovered Madewell on my very first trip to NYC in the summer of 2008 and instantly fell in love with the comfy and casual style of the brand. Although I find myself near the Century City location on most weekends, I haven't had much time to actually stop in and do some real shopping. With the price points being a bit higher than I'd rather pay for "casual" clothing, the announcement of the current extra 25% off sale items was a pleasant surprise! Being the sister brand to J.Crew makes Madewell an easy choice and it definitely has its share of fans. Stylepint has often raved of her love for the brand (she wears everything from there so well too!) and I quickly picked up my first pair of Madewell jeggings after seeing how nicely they fit on I Am Stylish. In comparison to my $150 Citizens of Humanity Avedon Jeggings (which Janice and I LA-LOVE), I would say paying less than $60 (on sale from Shopbop earlier this year) for them was an exciting find!

Well, it gets better! The jeggings are currently on sale for $44.95 (original retail price of $95)! I usually try to avoid sales on sales because I end up buying things I wouldn't ever buy to begin with... However, it was just my luck that my beloved legging jeans were actually included in the sale (in great colors and in my size!). I love the fit, feel, and look of these and still can't believe what a great deal they are! They don't stretch out during wear and the material is perfect for tucking into boots. I can't wait for my new jeans to arrive and will definitely be living in these for the next couple of months. At this price point, these should not be passed up if you're looking to try some new jeans.


Purchased two pairs of Legging Jeans in Anvil and Chasm:


I also picked up the Chilly Days Cardigan in charcoal for $14.99 (original price: $72):


And if I didn't already own one too many boyfriend cardigans, this would've been a great pick as well as I've heard nothing but great things about Madewell cardis:
Oversized Cardigan: $31.99 after discounts (original price: $88)
Use Ebates for 1% cashback and the store offers free shipping and returns on jeans. No reason not to try, right? Shop now until 12/20 for an extra 25% off all sale items with code: HOLIDAY.
Edit: I wore the jeggings to work today (paired with Hollister knit top, J.Crew ballet flats, H&M scarf) and am even more excited about having two more pairs on their way to me now! For the petites out there, the 32' inseam is slightly long for us shorties, but the material makes it pretty easy scrunch up without too much awkwardness. I love these.

Balance and Beauty at Petite Spa Santa Monica

Since moving back to LA and realizing that I might be in this city for a little while, I've yet to find a spa that I could regularly run to for a day of soothing T.L.C... Until now! Thanks to a promo from FreshGuide (a site run by PopSugar), I spent my Sunday getting pampered by the sweet Yvonne at Petite Spa in Santa Monica. Located at the corner of Broadway and Lincoln, the spa is easy to spot on Broadway and free street parking was a breeze to find on a quiet Sunday morning. I was happy to walk in and discover right away that the spa itself was welcomingly cozy. One of the key things I look for is ambiance and it was nice to see that although the spa really is "petite" in size, there was no lack of comfort and attention. The spa features a small waiting area and four private rooms. Unfortunately, there is no separate locker/changing room, but the treatment room was more than enough for me with its soft bed, heating pad, and plush blanket.

View of the waiting area, complete with plush chairs and pretty lavender walls.

I was welcomed with a warm cup of Yogi Chai Tea. Yum.

So let's get to the real stuff. The spa's mission statement reads: Petite Spa's concept is to bring balance and beauty through nature and good intentions to all! I was excited to see what the spa's line of Eminence, Epicuren, and Dr. Alkaitis products had to offer. Thankfully, the FreshGuide promo I purchased gave me the freedom to choose up to $120 worth of spa services so there was no skimping on the treatments I received! My esthetician, Yvonne, was so easy to talk to and had some very helpful suggestions to my current skincare routine. I picked the Organic Skin Food Facial as a base starter since it was recommended for sensitive skin and aimed at delivering "vibrant, hydrated, purified and glowing sking." Ummm, yes pleaseeee. 

My skin has been going crazy lately due to the weather change and newbie work stresses so Yvonne really honed in on clearing up the congestion via some oh so painful (but satisfying) extractions. Although not the most fun part of facials, I am in the group of people that believes that it is an essential way of really getting a clean face... and clean face I got from it! After attacking my pores, she then spread on an enzyme mask for some extra cleaning, an AHA treatment for extra exfoliation, and paprika mask to soothe the redness. The best part of all this was the arm, shoulder, and foot massages--pure, enjoyable bliss as the products worked on my face. Although my skin was pretty red from the extractions, Yvonne helped me apply some light mineral make-up so that I could actually still go out for the rest of the day. My favorite part of the visit besides the obvious glowing and smooth skin? How completely sweet and non-pushy Yvonne (and everyone else was). I'm guilty of being easily swayed into buying one too many products after salon/spa visits and it was such a relief that aside from some genuine recommendations for products based on my skin issues, she didn't guilt me into actually buying any of them. In fact, I voluntarily requested the moisturizer she used on me because the consistency and texture were exactly what I've been looking for. There have definitely been times where I've been completely turned off from a good spa experience due to the aftermath of pushy sales so I was very happy to find that this was not the case at Petite Spa!

I purchased the Acne Cleanser ($19) and Propolis Lotion ($35) after experiencing how gentle and light the formulations are.

The Epicuren Discovery line has been featured in a variety of press as a celeb favorite (Kate Bosworth credits it as the secret to her perfect skin in this month's Lucky). Centered around an enzyme activated technology, the line is only sold in approved salons and cannot be ordered online. Since the products are not quite widely available, it was hard to find some real customer reviews, but Makeupalley does have a few for the cleanser I purchased. I thought the $19 for a little pricey for a small 2 oz. bottle of cleanser, but figured it was worth a shot. The consistency is a thickish gel that suds up with some water (and smells amazing). The Propolis Lotion was a must for me because it feels just like a smooth gel (similar to the Clinique Dramatically Different Gel that I really like). Plus at $35, I thought this was pretty comparable to the price I've paid in the past for 1.7 oz. facial moisturizers. I will be sure to give an update on how these products work out for me!

After getting the chance to visit Petite Spa, the number of 5-star reviews on Citysearch and Yelp doesn't surprise me one bit. If you're looking for a comfortable and intimate spa with targeted skincare and attention, check out Petite Spa. They're open 7 days a week and offer all the right amenities for a relaxing visit. New clients receive 10% off. Facials are an expensive beauty upkeep (60 minute base facials at Petite Spa start at $90), but are definitely worth the results for those with more troubled skin. I will definitely be back and highly recommend anyone else looking for an esthetician to stop by!

Wearing in... NY vs. LA: First week of December

When Coastalpolitan first began, the plan was to have a blog to compare fashions / lifestyles / trends between cities on opposite coasts but that never really came into fruition. Instead, it became more like two separate blogs (not that I'm complaining.. I wouldn't be able to keep up single-handed blogging and love being motivated to do it with a co-author). To grab back a little of our initial vision, Michelle and I wanted to do snapshots of LA vs. NY, what we're wearing now, seeing, doing, etc in our respective cities. The differences of our two coasts are magnified most during wintertime... when I'm doubling up on leggings under pants while Michelle is still enjoying wearing flats without tights and being mitten-less.

From this past Friday.. (excuse the restroom pics, nowhere else with a mirror HA)


Michelle: Old Navy cardigan, Zara peasant tank, J.Crew Minnie pants in charcoal, Ann Taylor flats
On me: Banana Republic cardigan, Express top, Theory skirt, Urban Outfitters belt, Ann Taylor pumps

Indoors, our outfits aren't too different so we should've really taken coat pictures. Not sure what Michelle's outerwear was, but I had my thickest coat on (J.Crew stadium cloth), scarf, earmuffs, gloves and boots. Whenever I walk outside, I must have boots on... tights + flats would be too cold for my legs. I then switch into flats / pumps at work. Also, since October, I haven't been able to wear a skirt without tights.

Outside, here was Michelle's weather and window action:

And my views over the weekend (since my pictures were taken when it was dark, NYC looks a lot more gloomy than it really is. The sun does visit us, I swear!)

Manhattan is very festive around the holidays, an aspect I've come to really appreciate and look forward to. Giant ornaments, oversized nutcrackers, and of course the Rockefeller tree (which, the above right is not, btw) all contribute to the sense of magic and holiday spirit in NYC. Yes, everyone's noses are freezing but at least the street decor is pretty to look at haha. 

Also from this weekend.. Saturday's outfit:

Staring at Stars henley shirt from UO (super soft! but wrinkly and a little boxy), Citizens jeggings, UO belt, BCBG Petler boots

7 Confessions... Late

We're tardy to the party but here we are with our 7 confessions (each)! Thanks to Extra Petite and Sharon for tagging us =) One of the absolute best aspects of blogging is connecting with people we've never met but share hobbies/activities in common, and taking a vested interest in their purchases, style and if we're lucky - in their everyday lives.

Michelle:
1. I went to college in pursuit of an English degree and had my heart set on working in non-profit marketing. After being rejected for not having the experience or resources to benefit the foundations I applied to work for, I decided to develop a technical skill set to bring back to them in years to come.

2. Although I can't cook, I consider myself to be fairly domestic. I have a ginormous love for HGTV, cleaning, decorating, and organizing.

3. I need to put Siracha on EVERYTHING I eat. It's an addiction that can't be cracked.

4. Although I love eating, I'm quite the picky eater. I have to eat things a certain way and struggle with trying new foods (that don't *look* appetizing).

5. My feet are always cold! I can't sleep without wrapping them up in a fleece blanket (yes, even in the summer).

6. I have terrible short term memory. I can remember things from way back when and am quite detailed, but don't ask me what I did/wore/said two hours ago.

7. I love singing. My cure for bad days is nighttime car karaoke.

Janice :
1. I lose a lot of stuff, to the point that I think I'm not meant to have them. In the past two years, I've lost 2 iPhones, 2 Blackberries, a Kindle, social security card (....I'm an idiot), passport holder, gloves, and a cardigan. And these are just the things that I can remember.

2. I'm an only child and have never wanted another sibling.. except for maybe a twin. I have a special affinity for twins (and my mom is one!)

3. My favorite reality TV show is The Amazing Race and my boyfriend and I were flown out to LA as finalists to get on the show. Probably one of the coolest things that's happened to me.

4. I've had a moderate stuttering problem since I was young and had weekly speech therapy sessions in high school to correct it. My speech has improved a lot since, but sometimes I feel I can't say what I really mean because it doesn't come out quick enough or gets stuck in my throat.

5. I really enjoy gambling... the possibility of potentially endless upside. I'm into playing poker, blackjack, any game in general where I could possibly win. Recently, I've channeled this into investing and it's been fun researching stocks and being on finance.google.com 24/7.

6. I was very athletic before college and was proud of my muscles from years of swimming and tennis. During my peak summer, I worked my way up to 55 pushups in a row. After college, I've gotten considerably weaker and haven't been able to do more than 20 at a time.

7. I haven't gone to bikram in months and my skin feels terrible.

Recent Nordstrom Rack Shoe Finds

If you haven't yet heard the buzz about the awesome Nordstrom Rack Groupon, go check it out NOW! I heart Nordie's Rack for all the awesome shoe deals I've been able to score over the years (like my favorite pair of heels, the Via Spiga Lang pumps). In honor of the Groupon, I thought I'd share two of my most recent finds...

Found these Elizabeth and James flats for only $90... That's over 60% off! 

I've been on the lookout for a new pair of black flats for a while now and was super lucky to stumble upon these at the Burbank Rack a few weeks ago... in their original box and dust bag! People have been buzzing about the Mason heels forever now, but I've never heard much talk about their flats. Having never tried on their shoes before, I think the brand runs large because these are a size 5 and fit me perfectly (I normally wear a size 5.5/6). The store carried a few other styles of E&J flats, but these were the ones that caught my eye. I love that the pointy toe is a little more chic than all the rounded flats I own and the perforation adds such a pretty touch (especially when wearing with brightly painted toenails). The shoe is pretty well made, with a soft black suede outer material and leather inner sole. I'm really happy to report that they were super comfortable to wear right away! I did quite a bit of walking on the first day and was lucky to come out of it unscathed (no painful heel blisters!).

These just might be my new favorite pair of flats!

With the weather changing, I was also pretty excited to find a pair of grey Stuart Weitzman Pellets at the Glendale Rack. Jessica of SeeJessicaGo has a pair of these and Janice owns a pair of black Tory Burch Reva jellies, so I've been on the lookout for my own! My friend commented that they're actually not that practical since they don't cover enough of your feet to keep you warm... but these are definitely okay for the short trek from my office parking lot to building. I'm so glad I won't have to worry about ruining any more work heels and flats by walking in those yucky rainy day puddles. Plus, they probably won't cause as much of a stir as my brightly colored rain boots. Since I got these in a size 6, they are roomy enough not to squish my feet and will hopefully prevent the discomfort that some people have reported feeling from the pressure of the pellet caps.

Scored these in size 6 for only $35!

As you can tell, my department of choice at the store is definitely shoes--they even separate designer shoes into easy to browse racks so it's super convenient to find those gems. I don't usually do too much clothing shopping at the Rack since it takes a bit more effort, but the store is pretty good about organizing clothes by department and size. I've also picked up a few accessories (sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, and beauty products) here and there. There's definitely something for everyone, so if you haven't yet picked up today's Groupon, get on it, readers! There are too many goodies to be found.

Winterberry Cheer

Hi all! I know it's been a long time since I did an outfit post so here it goes. Unfortunately, I couldn't come back full force with a decent photo for you all as the coloring of this picture is completely terrible due to my being late for work and not having enough time to retake the shot. Anyway, with the weather in LA staying a warm, breezy 80-something degrees, I've been able to get away with wearing my skirts to work lately.... which has been awesome! I hope we're lucky enough for it to last just a little while longer. :)

Details are simple: Halogen skirt from Nordie's, blouse from Zara, and Ann Taylor Perfect Elle Pumps. I love this Halogen skirt because the A-line silhouette is a perfect alternative to the more conservative (and constricting) pencil skirts I usually wear. Plus, it has pockets, a bow-tie belt, and buttons all down the front! So much added detailing in addition to the fact that I can eat a little more than normal and there's no need to worry about the good old tummy pudge showing. I picked this up during the Anniversary sale and love that I can dress it up or down. For today, I paired the skirt with this pretty dusty blue top from Zara. Most of you know how much I love Zara and I have to admit that I've been lucking out in terms of finding some really cute stuff there lately. The store came out with a line of pretty blouses for the fall and this was the second one I've purchased this month. The rayon material is light and comfy and the polka dots are super cute... almost like little winterberries! The overall fit is also rather flattering and I like that the billowy sleeves aren't too overwhelming for my frame. I've been buying more tops like this because they're a nice update to my ordinary tank + cardi combo and are a quick and easy way to dress up even a casual jeans + flats outfit. The goal is to look more grown-up, right? I finished the outfit off with my new favorite Ann Taylor pumps! How awesome is it that Heidi Klum is the new AT spokesperson? I really am impressed at the fact that the brand did an amazing job of repositioning itself over the past year or so. Cannot wait to see what other goodies they have in store next!

Although not completely evident in this picture, I'm also wearing kate spade metropolitan pearl studs, which I picked up during their most recent 30% off sale (which they have very often!). If Zara is synonymous with clothes, kate spade is synonymous for accessories in my world! I love, love their shoes and am just beginning to start collecting their jewelry. The price points are so affordable and the quality is so much better than what you're paying for! I've been wearing my floral earrings for months now and the gold has not faded or dulled whatsoever. I'm also a sucker for pretty packaging and the store does an amazing job of making sure your jewelry arrives in cheery gift boxes. As the holidays are quickly approaching, I would definitely recommend picking up some earrings, bracelets, or necklaces for the girlies in your life. I know I will be buying more!

Love the fact that these come wrapped up and ready to go!

Keeping Cozy with Blanket Sweaters

Temperatures keep dropping lower and lower, but after two winters in NYC, I finally feel more prepared for the cold. I am not a big fan of jackets/coats (though they are super necessary!); given a choice, I'd prefer to wear large, chunky sweaters... the more they resemble blankets, the better.

Recently I acquired the ByCorpus Popcorn Sweater from Urban Outfitters and love the waffley texture and warmth. I've been wearing it in place of a jacket whenever I can get away with it, like today was 50 degrees and doable. Air still flows through the arms so it's not the best outer layer but I supplement with gloves and hats. I've tried it with a belt but prefer the loose shapelessness of the open cardigan.

The ivory/grey color is versatile and perfect for camoflouging either way, and works with both warm brown tones and cooler gray outfits. The quality is great and not itchy, and doesn't require a long sleeve tee underneath. I just need to be careful with the stitching catching on hangers and such since threads can be pulled loose.

Another favorite blanket sweater of mine is actually from last year. I picked up this Hinge sweater from Nordstorm Rack last Christmas and love the textured knit. The weight is pretty heavy, but I like cozying up with it over long sleeves. The front looks unstructured but the back has a grid-like pattern that I use to help make sure it's on correctly haha.
 

With oversized sweaters like these, the key is to balance out with tighter, skinny bottoms which pair perfectly with boots. I always feel super warm and comfortable in these outfits, and have started to LIKE fall because of them =) Any other must-have chunky sweaters you're loving this season??

 

I've also started liking hats, which I never wore when in California. After trying on several styles, I've discovered the ones that hug closest to the head suit me best. Berets are a no-go for me, sadly.  This fair isle patterned hat I picked up from a street shop in Chinatown is adorable with ear flaps and keeps me happy in the cold. Living on the east coast has made me appreciate so much more cold weather necessities!

Heel in the Clouds

Platform pumps hold a certain attraction for me - being 5'2, I love the height potential of adding 5 inches to my stature, and I also kinda enjoy the ridiculous chunk of the larger than normal shoe. Nordstrom is having their Half Yearly Sale and I immediately spied the Steve Madden Caryssa and Darrina pumps, which I saw on Keiko Lynn before and loved. Hers are the round toe version (Caryssa) while mine are pointy-toed (Darrina).

I ordered both the midnight blue and blush suede colors in sizes 6 and 6.5. Midnight blue wasn't as deep in person as the picture online made it out to be. The blush however is true to life, and just a really pretty dusty pink, with a tinge of lavender.

The first thing I thought when I tried on the first pair was, whoa geezus these are uncomfortable! I'm used to 4 inch heels but these seemed like an entirely different animal! The platform should theoretically help with the height but I felt like a toddler taking my first steps - very wobbly and unsure. It also didn't help that the sole tilts UP so there's even less surface area to grip. After a few hesitant steps, I felt more confident and could see myself adjusting to the unusual platform.

My favorite part of the heels - height height height!

Size 6.5 felt a little loose and 6 fit very well initially but began to cramp my toes after awhile. If I were to keep a pair (still deciding!), I'd probably stick with 6.5 and add an insole or toe insert to fill out the space. I'd also need to get rubber soles on these since walking feels so dangerous haha. Definitely only wearable for places that I would cab to and require minimal standing.

The shoes look great standing up but that's the extent of action I feel safe with. Ok, I feel wimpy just typing that HA. How does Keiko do it!? Maybe the round toes are more stable. I also don't love the very visible platform but the color compensates by being so pretty.

 

Thoughts as to keep or return? In this case, does practicality trump looks? If these Steve Maddens are so high maintenance, shouldn't I just save up for a more classic high maintenance shoe like Louboutins? Right now, I'm leaning towards returning them, but want platform pumps that are comfortable - is that even possible?

Be Seen With Green Halloween

Every year for Halloween, I waffle between buying a sexy [fill-in-the-blank] costume, coming up with a creative and tongue in cheek home-made outfit, or just being lazy and not dressing up at all. I wish I had more sewing or makeup talent to do something really snazzy but meh, it's not meant to be. This year, I didn't want to spend money buying a costume and remembered my old Starbucks aprons back in California, so decided to relive one of my favorite jobs - as a barista! Fun fact: Michelle was also a Starbucks barista back the day =)

 

There's something about the green apron I swear, because all the girls who worked at my store would get hit on, during our breaks or even while we're working the register or espresso machine. Maybe coffee just puts people in a good mood, but whatever it is, the aprons got some attraction powers haha.

The uniform includes the apron, a white or black top, and black or khaki pants. I never got a hat when I was working I went without. Since the apron covered most of the front, I wanted the top and bottom to be on the skimpy side but Halloween night was freezing so I layered tights on underneath. I also folded the apron so it was shorter and came up above the knee.

The top is actually from LuluLemon, one of my favorite bra tops for hot yoga, both for the fit and the back.

My boyfriend went as a contestant on The Biggest Loser. Most of his outfit came from American Apparel and came together on the day of, including printing out and laminating the show's logo. At the end of the night, he removed the pillow and became the winner of the show HAHA. I love creative, cheap costumes!
 

I wanted to curl my hair and pin it back and since dirty hair gives the best volume, I used my new Klorane Dry Shampoo instead of showering that night. It is 100x better than Ojon Dry Shampoo, which gets more media attention and writeups but it is so stinky and clogs up after a few uses. Back when I was testing out a Less Poo regimen, I tried the Ojon but was overpowerd by the stench and underwhelmed by the results - my hair was back to greasy looking after an hour or so.

The Klorane has a much lighter scent, and soaks up most of the oilyness. My hair typically requires daily washing or else it clumps and becomes stringy, so it was pretty amazing to have the hair stay separate and dry! For Halloween, it worked perfectly - my pinned back hair looked clean and also bumped with more volume. It isn't colorless though, so those with dark hair should make sure you brush out all the powder. I'd like to give Less 'Poo another shot, and am trying to use the dry shampoo every other day; especially with winter coming, washing hair daily can strip it of natural moisture so hopefully this can train my hair to stop producing all that oil.

One last thing, in keeping with the theme, here is the pumpkin my bf and I ended up carving. Next year I am getting a pumpkin carving kit for sure - it was tough and painful using a thick knife and nails to scrape out the insides! Presenting - Stegosaurus Hallo-Kitty:

(So it was supposed to be a cat with hairs that stood straight up on its back but those were way too difficult to do thinly.. Stegosaurus Cat it was)

Quick Post: Current Beauty Obsessions

Happy November, everyone! Whoa, LA, was it really 90 degrees today? Lucky me for working in the valley--it was extra warm out there. If it weren't for the fact that it gets dark so quickly these days, I'd think we were still in summer mode. If only! :)

Anywhoiee, things have been... busy and outrageous. Save for still doing some stumbling as a newbie at work, life has been pretty good! I haven't had time to take some good outfit photos, but thought it'd still be fun to write a quick post on some products that I've been using (and LOVING) lately.

1. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lauper Lipstick: Anyone that knows me, knows that I have always been deathly afraid of wearing color on my lips. I once went to the Chanel counter, denied all efforts to try on a red, and walked away with $60 worth of "nude" lipcolors that were no different than... my lipcolor. MAC colors, especially, scared me. When the makeup artist whipped out a dark wine lipliner (MAC Lipliner in Currant), I was ready to run. Good thing I didn't! Who knew that this combo of Currant + Cyndi was going to become my favorite lip combo ever? Alone, the Cyndi lippie is a pretty coralish-red, but combined with the Currant, it's gorgeous. I love that I can play around with how dark or light I want it to be just by altering how much lipliner I use to fill my lips with. I recently wore the combo out on Halloween and the staying power is pretty great too (we were Mario and Wario). I don't even top it off with anything because it's got the right amount of glossiness. All the beauty bloggers' raves are completely warranted--you need this lipstick in your life!

2. Aquaphor Healing Ointment: Okay, this is not sexy at all, but what great lip is achievable without ultra soft and smooth lips? Despite attempts to gulp down jugs of water during the day, my lips are dry... and chapped. Again, not sexy. I've tried every lip balm ever created and still, no real winners (although I do love the spiffiness of the EOS balms). This ointment was originally purchased to combat another horrific chin rash caused by overuse of MB's drying lotion. It didn't help my rash, but I remembered PAG mentioned that she uses Aquaphor before putting on lipstick as well, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Ding ding, it worked like a miracle! I love that it's non-scented, absorbs well (use a tiny bit so you don't end up eating any excess), and makes my lip products glide on smooth as butter. Plus, $5 for a tube that's going to last me forever? Yes, please. Also, I promise you can wear it alone and it's kissable (the boys will not be able to distinguish what it is). I can't believe it took me so long to find this product!

3. Essie Nail Polish in Neo Whimsical: Janice already mentioned her new obsession with nail polish and I am definitely a fan, myself. A friend of mine has over 40 polishes in her collection, but my Essie stash only stands at 15. It's become a fast and cheap addiction, thanks to Ulta's buy 2, get 1 free + $5 off promos. My favorite of late has been Neo Whimsical because it's a milky pinkish-lavender that goes with everything! Although I alternate between Chinchilly for the fall, I actually like the refreshing lightness of this shade against my darker outfits. I brush on two coats and top with the ever-necessary Seche Vite Top Coat and am all set to go. Another favorite of mine from the Art of Spring Collection is Van D'Go.

4. Witch Hazel: For less than $5 for a TON of product, this is an absolute beauty steal. I've heard countless recommendations to use witch hazel as a toner, but never really got around to trying it out until now. I've been using it morning and night for the past two weeks and my skin is so soft and smooth. My sensitive skin loves that it's non-drying and basic. There is one con to mention, however. I really hate the smell and almost choked on it the first time I used it, but it's totally worth holding your breath for the few seconds it takes to wipe on. My Clarisonic gets my skin squeaky clean so there's no extra debris picked up by the witch hazel (proof that the Clarisonic DOES work, btw), but I think it's soothing to use before I put on my AHA at night. I don't think toners are a necessity, but this is a nice and cheap addition to my skincare routine.

5. Chloe Eau de Parfum: Last, but not least, is my new Chloe perfume. Everything about this perfume is perfection. In addition to the beautiful and classy packaging (perfect shade of nude pink ribbon), the scent is light and airy. I'm no perfume expert, but it's been hard for me to find one that I like enough to want to wear everyday and that actually lasts. An old accounting co-worker used to walk into the room wearing this and the scent would emanate from her. I couldn't buy it back when we were working on a project together and then decided I might as well wait for the Sephora sale to pick it up at a discount since it's rather pricey. It was completely worth the wait. I am in love. I don't wear it everyday since I think it's a little much for work, but I would if I could.

And those are my current top 5 favorite products! Please share your own current obsessions so that I can stock up on more favorites.

Old-Fashioned Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

I got into the Halloween / fall spirit this weekend and found myself at a pumpkin patch. Who knew that NYC would even have access to a real live farm, complete with animals, a corn maze, pumpkin picking, caramel apples, and hay rides? I sure didn’t, but was very happily surprised to find all of that at Queens County Farm Museum.

The place was much bigger than I had anticipated. I was only expecting a large pumpkin patch and didn’t know so many other activities were offered. Tons of families turned out for the festivities with kids and obliging parents dressed up in their trick-or-treat garb (we saw a really cute banana girl!), and we went along for some old-fashioned fun. We did everything but pet the livestock (eh, I'm not the biggest fan of goats and such).

Vegetables grown on the farm! Gourds are cute.

I wanted them all

I thought the hayride was going to be cooler... but it was the same as being pulled around in a large wagon while surrounded by hay stacks

Sitting on the hay bundles was more uncomfortable than I thought

Warm honey cognac boots to match the fall palette

I love these BCBG Petler Boots - the color, the slim tapered foot. I bought them two seasons ago, so think the color is discontinued. These are a great dupe for the more expensive Loeffler Randall Matildas (which I love and want in Tobacco!)

The corn maze was cheekily dubbed the Amazing Maize Maze and was a lot of fun! Our mission was to find 9 mail boxes with puzzle pieces and find our way out of the maze. It seemed simple enough but we found ourselves going round and round, getting caught in dead ends and at mailboxes we’d already been to. If people needed help, there were giant tubes that served as phones to guides who were perched way high up amongst the corn stalks and could point you toward the right direction. Eventually, we made it out of the maze after 40 minutes... not too bad!

Each team had a flag that stuck out above the corn stalks... you can see them here and there

Then came the main event - pumpkin picking! I loved how orange the pumpkins were against the green grass and surroundings... it was just a happy, merry environment. I got a big one for the apartment and a small one for my room. Going to paint the small one like a cat and name it Hallo-Kitty HAHA.

Suede jacket (1st picture): Zara

Cardigan: Frenchi from Nordstrom

Jeans: Citizens Avedon Slick

Boots: BCBG Petler