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.