Archive for November, 2009

As a former Domino editor, Michelle Adams is well-known for her impeccable eye for design. Now, she keeps busy with her two jobs as the founder of Rubie Green and co-founder of Lonny Magazine. We’re obsessed with both her eco-friendly textiles and her recently launched magazine, with its beautiful and interesting editorials.  Want to know what she’s loving this month? Let’s find out! (more…)

I’m a believer in the beauty advice of Jean Godrey-June, Lucky Beauty Editor, and she hasn’t steered me wrong in a product recommendation yet.  When she recently did a post about Promiscuous Skin, I felt as if she was describing my own Jekyl and Hyde skin, which I wrote about in an earlier post: my skin is great about 90% of the time, with about 10% breakout and other assorted problems about once a month.

In her post, she praised the merits of Fresh’s Umbrian Clay Face Treatment, for its breakout-preventing and treatment powers, converting the entire Lucky office.  I started using the product during a 10% breakout phase this month, and have become another convert, thrilled by its practically magic powers, so much so that it might be my favorite beauty product of 2009.  It has cleared up breakups overnight and restored moisture and balance to my skin.  The Clay Face Treatment is a 3 in 1 mask, cleanser, and spot treatment, made out of a composite of cool, gray Umbrian clay, lavendar, stimulating white nettle, gentle chamomile flower, and purifying olive leaf extracts. (more…)

LATHER is a skin and body care brand with three stores located in the U.S.  And lucky for me, there’s one only a short drive away from where I live in Pasadena!  I’d heard friends of mine raving about it for awhile, but I finally got the opportunity to test a few of their products and I was really impressed.

LATHER was started in 1999 with the motto “it’s what’s inside that counts.”  They use the most effective natural botanicals and never put in any synthetic fragrances or colors.  They also use organic ingredients whenever possible and are transitioning to making all of their products paraben-free by the middle of 2010.  I love hearing that about companies that I like – it makes me want to use their products even more because I know that I’m not putting chemicals in my body.  (Well, any more chemicals in my body.  I can’t quite seem to shake my love for diet coke….) (more…)

I seem to be a bit bag obsessed this month and have fallen in love with yet another clutch.  Coach really has been hitting out of the park lately, and when I recently checked for their latest additions, I was totally drawn to this New Darcy clutch.  Available in a variety of colors and finishes, it’s made of extra supple leather and the gold hardware closure. I really love how classic this clutch is but comes in fun colors to make it interesting.  You could just bring this with you to a lunch with a friend, or it’s perfect for completing a date night outfit!

Available at Coach.com for $298-$498. (more…)

Like most teens in the 90′s, my musical tastes were highly unevolved and pretty limited to pop, specifically of the boy bander variety.  I could never decide whether I liked N’Sync or the Backstreet Boys more, but I had a clear favorite individual between the 2 bands: Justin, always and forever. Clearly I picked a winner for the long haul (where is Kevin Richardson now?) and looking back, realize that although I clearly favored one over the other, there weren’t many differences between the various boybanders.

Similarly, just like everyone had their favorite boybander despite the lack of obvious differences, I find that a lot of my friends prefer one colorless, drugstore chapstick over the others, although they appear to be identical.  Carmex, Kiehl’s Number 1, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter: there are subtle differences between them all, but my favorite is Smith’s Rosebud Salve, which now comes offered in a brand new tube format. (more…)

As a petite individual with what we like to call “a figure,” I have long maintained that skinny jeans only look good on skinny bodies. But (finally!), it appears you don’t have to be Lindsay Lohan or Angelina Jolie look good in skinny jeans — not if you have a pair of Zana Dis or Z Co.s.

Featured in Lucky and Allure (and on curvy gals like Jessica Simpson), Zana Di Jeansand Z Co. Jeans have made the “impossible” possible: Little women with curves can now wear skintight skinny jeans with confidence (and for less than $45 apiece). I’m so into them, I now have several pairs — from classic black to daring neon purple (keepin’ the trend alive for Spring 2010!) Best of all, I’ve had to alter exactly none to fit. (Hm, I guess miracles do happen.) Slide your hips into a pair at your local Macy’s junior section and say “zip zip hurray”!

Find Zana Di Jeans, $38, and Z Co. Jeans, $44, online at www.zanadi.com and www.zcojeans.com.

P.S. Here’s a handy size chart:

26 = 1; 27 = 3; 28 = 5; 29 = 7; 30 = 9; 31 = 11; and 32 = 13.

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Ever since reading the NY Times article that was published a few months back about the resurgence of bento box making, I’ve been fascinated with the work that goes into making these homemade lunches.  Bento boxes are small, handpacked lunches in a portable container, that are traditionally Japanese and originated as the classic meal that mothers would pack for their schoolchildren. Don’t get me wrong–I am in no way close to being a mother, nor do I have children (Mom, you can breathe again now.)  I’ve been interested more in the creative aspect of crafting a perfect bento box, which is grade in artistry above a typical brown sack lunch, marrying both design and practicality, to be elevated to a cultural art form.

Using basic food elements, bento box makers are flexing their creativity to make their food nutritious and pleasing to the eye with the construction of edible food art such as onigiri (rice balls) decorated with nori (small pieces of dried seaweed) to look like sumo wrestlers or small vegetables cut up to look like delicate chrysanthemum flowers and bunnies.  Remember the lunch you ate yesterday (mine was a turkey and swiss sandwich on whole wheat bread), and see if it compares the bento lunch given to a 6 year old in the article which contained “teriyaki salmon with peapods, two kinds of sweet potato and golden beet ‘maple leaves.’ On the side: skewered purple carrot discs and a tomato made to look like a frog man. For dessert: a strawberry, champagne grapes, blackberries and a litchi.” Kind of makes the boring company cafeteria lunch of a 26 year old look shabby, doesn’t it? (more…)

Occupying the former Gap space on the corner of Newbury and Exeter is Ted Baker, one of the fastest growing lifestyle brands in the United Kingdom. Ted Baker has recently begun international expansion, with Boston being the 11th city in the United States! Ted Baker sells a variety of items, including men and women’s clothing, accessories, and even small gifts.

I’d never heard of Ted Baker until I learned of the store opening, but after a little research, it seems they have quite a following. While out-and-about today, I stopped in and perused the store. The clothes are fun, trendy, and clearly European, without being over-the-top. In a strange way, Ted Baker’s style and pricepoint reminds me of a cross between Zara and Cynthia Rowley, respectively. Two dresses immediately caught my eye: the Eoke and Namao. If my closet wasn’t overflowing with cocktail dresses, or bank account seriously diminished by purchasing said dresses, I would have surely indulged!

Boston gals- if you’re in the market for something unique with a slight European flair and not completely budget blowing, head over to Ted Baker at 201 Newbury St.

My new favorite color for my nails when I’m feeling something dark, is this glamorous midnight blue, named Midnight Cami, from Essie’s Cuddle with Color Fall 2009 Collection, for its subtle sparkly shine and rich color.  I’ve recently been finding the typical black nail polish passe and boring.  I like to paint my nails with a spot of color so that I have something pretty to look at while I type away at my keyboard all day.

I equate the deepness of the color to a blue ink pen spill or a sapphire stone, one of my favorite exotic jewels. The color has a lushness that is pure jet, but injected with a high shine finish.  A cousin to this color from the OPI nail family would be their Russion Navy color, but this color is more vibrant and less flat.  Midnight Cami is a great color to try out when you have short nails, because it is so dramatic that it draws the eye in and makes your nails look longer than they really are.  Short nails also keep the effect of the color looking dramatic, chic and polished, rather than Smurf or Martian-like.

Check out pictures of Essie’s Midnight Cami on nails from The Lipstick Diaires and Makeup and Beauty Blog and let me know what you think!