Archive for November, 2009

Paul & Joe’s new limited edition Color Powders come packaged in what just might be the cutest little makeup containers ever.  The three different shade duos are each paired together in small circular compacts, each with a different design on it.  The shades are meant to be used on your eyes and cheeks for color and can even be used as a highlighter.

Verite contains Off White and Gold shades, The Wild One is a Blue Green/Navy combo, and Breathless (the one I’ve been trying out) is a Pink Beige/Bordeaux combo that has the prettiest little floral design on the container.  It’s the kind of makeup that you want to actually use out in public because it’s just so cute.  I know if I saw someone sitting next to me whip one out of her purse I’d have to ask where she got it.  The shades are really pretty too – you can apply them as sheer or dramatic as you’d like, so they’re very versatile.

Each duo is $24 and they’d make a perfect gift for your favorite makeup loving friend or as a stocking stuffer.  You can find them online at www.beautyhabit.com.

For my birthday this year, I was determined to splurge and finally purchase the holy grail of footwear: a Christian Louboutin shoe.  I’ve lusted after a pair ever since I saw the elongating effects of the hidden platform, that skinny pindrop heel, and wanted to become a member of the red-soled troops of fashionistas that I so frequently saw during New York Fashion Week.   So finally on August 6th, I made my way to Saks, and requested to try on my first pair: the 5 inch Patent Pump.

In addition to the obvious aesthetic effects, I’ve heard many things about the fit and comfort of his shoes.  “So comfortable I could run in them all day!” I remembered a starlet trilling about in a weekly magazine,  “The hidden platform is the secret!”  With anticipation, I expectantly slid my foot into the shoe, and stood up, expecting to feel air on my feet, and that magical feeling you get when you are wearing a great shoe–the feeling of nothingness and lightness.  Unfortunately, I felt something and it wasn’t very comfortable–the shoe felt stiff and rigid and my feet felt piched and tight. I feel this a lot when I wear heels of a high height, thanks to a wide foot and high arches, but had hoped that Louboutins would be different. (more…)

Benefit always has the cutest holiday sets that are so much fun (their names alone always make me smile).  There are a bunch of new sets out this year and I’m slightly obsessed with two of them.

Powderazzi is the perfect purchase for someone who has always heard the raves about Benefit’s extensive powder collection, but has yet to try many of them.  (Oddly, for as much Benefit as I own, I have very few of their powders.  I think I need to work on that!)  Powderazzi contains three of their bestsellers – Dallas, Coralista, and Hoola in a little palette with adorable purple and gold packaging.  It’s a great way to sample a few shades without committing to a full-priced purchase, but it’s also really convenient for traveling because the palette is thin and not too bulky.  My favorite powder of the three is Coralista.  It’s a gorgeous coral-pink shade that works really well with my pale skin to give me a touch of color.  I definitely will be going out and buying the regular version of this one for the upcoming holiday party season. (more…)

This bag caught my eye when I was reading one of my favorite blogs a couple weeks ago.  I thought it was so fabulous and to my surprise, it’s by Cole Haan!

A hobo shaped purse is really timeless and effortless when done right – and Cole Haan did it right. I love the woven leather, which looks luxurious and soft to the touch.  The basket weave adds an interesting texture in an unexpected way.  The tassel pull is another detail that I adore. It’s fun but provides a chic finish to the design. Measuring 14.5 x 13.5 x 1.25″, it’s nice and roomy for your everyday needs too! Ahh…yet another bag goes on my (already long) wishlist.

Available in black, red and gray for $428 at Endless.com.

I’m always on the lookout for a good salon in Los Angeles, so when I heard about The Parlour on 3rd, I was really excited to try it out.  It had been way, way (WAY!) too long since I’d had a good cut and color and my hair definitely looked it.  When I found myself actually starting to frown at it in the mirror, I couldn’t make it down to the salon fast enough.

When I first walked in, I immediately felt relaxed and at ease.  The space is bright and inviting, with big comfy chairs to wait in and a super friendly staff.  I wasn’t even there three minutes before they were handing me magazines to read and getting me a big cup of delicious coffee (both immediate ways to make me happy).  A few minutes later, when my stylist Leeya Alvandi came out to get me, I was almost sorry to get up!

Before we started doing anything to my hair, Leeya and I talked about how I wanted it to look for awhile, which I always find to be a sign of a really good stylist.  (more…)

As frequent readers of this blog know, I am no stranger to cleanses whether they’re home juiced, purchased, made from powder or simply made up.  The truth is,  as an um “juice junkie” I’ve tried almost everything on the market and in my year of going a few days without food every other month I’ve come to learn quite a bit about these cleanses.  I’ve become a little suspicious that juicing has put me on an addictive cycle- and not in a good way.

Let me explain.  I used to do a cleanse, get off and almost immediately fall back into my old eating habits.  Eat crap for a few weeks, feel bad, crave juice, and get back on another cleanse only to have the vicious cycle start all over again.  This  turned out to be very ineffective for both my wallet and my body.

Nonetheless, when I learned that iZO Cleanze, a popular cleansing company based out of LA, was starting nationwide delivery, I was the first to jump on the bandwagon. I signed up for a 5 day juice feast expecting another few days of yummy tasting fruit and vegetable juices.  The juices are flown in fresh from LA every morning and delievered to you before 10:30 am, anywhere in the US.  Like many other juicing companies, the anchor of the program are their green juices, followed by a red juice, a Master Cleanse type lemonade juice, and a heartier “nut” juice.  But this is where I found the similarities ended. The iZo Cleanze also comes with four teas, a few nutritional supplements and half a jar of “hyper-mineralized oxygenated alkaline water.”  What it should also come with is a warning label- “For serious cleansers only!” (more…)

Want the inside track on one of the most famous cities in the world, containing information that won’t be found in your Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, or Frommer’s guide?  Want to know where to find that special “something” that you can only find in Paris?  Check out Paris by Appointment, a new site created by Zeva Bellel, a native New Yorker, with a special attachment to Paris,who has been living and working there for the past ten years, as a journalist and trend researcher.

During her travails, Zeva began learning about a number of secret artisans and craftsmen who offered specialized services and products in Paris.  Among these artisans and craftsmen include Hidden Kitchen, an underground supper club serving elaborate meals of ten course meals with wine pairings at an American chef couple’s cozy Parisian apartment, Guy Chanel, a former saddlemaker for Hermes who now produces his own logo-less unique leather crafted goods of exceptional quality,and  Mr. Ho, a medicure specialist so renowned that counts Catherine Deneuve among his clients.  The catch with these artisans and craftsmen?  Much of their contact information, location, are secret and by appointment only.  Thankfully, Zeva shares all of this information on her blog, including a description of exactly what makes these people so special. (more…)

So I come home from a long (but fun) day of work and events, slightly buzzed, pick up a package of holiday samples from the doorman and take a peek.  I see a small box of Godiva in the bag and figured- what the hell, I’ll have one taste. I open the box, mindlessly put my hand in, and..nail scratches wax.  What just happened?

As it turns out (and I didn’t know this) apparently Godiva makes candles! I must just always be so distracted by all the edible goodies when I visit the stores that I never even noticed the non-edible products. I’m a huge fan of the Raspberry Ganache scent, inspired by Godiva’s Raspberry Ganache Twirl: tart raspberry, chocolate, warm vanilla and brown sugar top notes.  Divine! I spent the entire evening sniffing the candle which which oddly satisfied my chocolate cravings..without the calories. (more…)

My underwear collection has certainly outgrown the small top drawer in my bureau, and now dominates a larger, deeper drawer normally used by sweater, jeans, and bulky clothing. Yes, I have an addiction and find myself “needing” a new pair or two just about every time I indulge in retail therapy.

Within the past year or two, Hanky Panky seems to be the undergarment of choice, with their lacy, feminine design and with their “one size fits most” claim, they go with everything and fit nearly everyone. Well, Hanky Panky literally had my panties in a bunch, as they do not fit me! For someone who is of fairly average height and build, the saleswomen and I were baffled why they don”t working for me. (more…)