Archive for April, 2010

Spring seems to be the season to incorporate a bit more color back into your wardrobe and accessories. Morelle Handbags has some fabulous bags that come in an array of sunny colors and are super versatile. All of the handbags are vegetable dyed soft cow hide leather. Here are two favorites:

The Mini Truffle handbag features ruffled leather with a couple pockets inside, which offers you enough space to tuck in your lip gloss and other necessities (so they don’t get “lost” in your bag). It’s perfect for everyday use! I also adore the Pochette, a gorgeous pleated clutch that has hidden magnets on the top and a wristlet strap. You can use it for so many occasions from dinner out with friends to that next summer wedding! (The Violet Croc is gorgeous!)

View all styles and shop at morellehandbags.com.

Who: Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas, founders of Caudalie

What: Caudalie Massage

Where: Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Plaza Hotel, 1 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019, (212) 265-3182

When: Monday-Sunday

Why: Wine aficionados everywhere will be intrigued by this vineyard-centric spa located on the fourth floor of the iconic Plaza Hotel.  The spa, managed by luxury skincare brand Caudalie, is the only outpost in the United States and opened in late 2008, joining its counterparts in France and Spain.  I got a tour and sampled a treatment last week and loved the experience so much that I brought my guy back to experience one as well. (more…)

Blush is probably the makeup product that I buy the least, which is kind of funny because every time I get my makeup done and its professionally applied, I ooh and ahh over how good it looks.  I made a vow that I was going to try and become better about using it, so when I got the chance to try Make Up For Ever’s new HD Microfinish Blush, I jumped at it.

The blush is available in a whopping 14 different shades, which is one of the things that I love the most about Make Up For Ever.  They really take into account how different women can have such different skin tones and how one shade doesn’t suit everyone.  The colors range from bright to subtle and from pinks to nudes and everything in between, so whatever shade of blush you normally wear, you’re bound to find it here.  Each bottle is small and has a pump at the top, so it’s easy to pack and dispense.  (Although a word of warning – the blushes are very pigmented so you need a very, very tiny amount of product for the color to show up.  If you use a full pump, you’ll end up wasting a ton of blush, so proceed very slowly when using the dispenser.  The first time I tried it, I applied so much that when I looked in the mirror, I felt like a clown.  Definitely not the reaction I was going for!)

The blush blends in very well and isn’t oily or greasy.  I tried three different shades – Truth or Dare (a hot pink), Quickie (a salmon pink), and PDA (a pinky nude) and they all looked very natural on me.  They also lasted quite well, which for me is a rarity in a blush.  (They’re usually gone by lunchtime on my skin).  I really like the little bottles too – they’re so much easier to take with you than a powder and a compact, and even though the bottles seem small when you first look at them, you have to use so little product that they’ll last you forever.  Definitely a product worth getting excited over!

I’m anxiously waiting for it to warm up, but for those who are lucky enough to already enjoy the warmer weather, you can start scouting swimsuit options for the summer. One of my favorite finds so far is this Zig Zag swimsuit by Undrest.

What drew me to this option is the zig zag print (this comes in black or pale blue), which I love! A subtle sweetheart neckline and the halter top draws your eye up; overall, it’s a very simple silhouette that still is fun and sexy.  All you need is a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and your favorite sandals…then you can hit the pool or beach!

Retails for $198 at UrbanOutfitters.com.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Bloomingdale’s. All opinions are 100% mine.

Love to shop?  (So do we!!)

One of TDO’s favorite designers, Rebecca Minkoff and Bloomingdale’s have partnered in a “Design your own Tote” contest- where you will be able to design (virtually)  a reusable tote bag!  TDO Editor Carolyn has designed one herself (see above) by logging onto the Tote-ally Green design contest. Contestants can use the tools on the site to digitally create a design or they can import an image from their own computer.  The one above is of a favorite quote from a friend’s photo album

One winner will be chosen everyday, based on Bloomingdale’s  favorite submissions, and will receive a $100 Gift Card. The contest is already in full swing, running from April 7- April 25, 2010 and submissions will be whittled down to 50 favorites based on user votes. Grand prize winner who will receive a $2,000 shopping spree and the winning design will be sold exclusively at bloomingdales.com. The entrant with the most votes can also win $1000 shopping spree.

So make sure you take some time to design your own tote and share with your friends.The more votes you can get, and the more likely you will win. You can also tweet about it using the hashtag #Bloomies.

I fell for the Harajuku Girls fragrances the second I saw the bottles they came in (the fact that I love the scents is just a bonus!) but if possible, I love the Sunshine Cuties version of them even more.  The bottles have been redesigned so that the girls are dressed for the summer in bathing suits with tans and cute accessories.  (I dare you not to smile when you look at Love with her huge sunglasses and flower in her hair.  Adorable!)

Even better, the fragrances have all been tweaked a little to come in new, warmer weather versions, so you can totally justify buying them again because you’re getting even more fun scents.  (At least, that’s how I justify it to myself!)  It’s a tough call, but I think my favorite is still Lil’ Angel – there’s just something about the fun, fruity scent that I can’t get enough of in both versions.  Here’s what you’ll find in the Sunshine Cuties versions: (more…)

My new eye obsession is LORAC’s Starry-Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trios.  I go through stages where I’m really into different makeup products and right now, I’m all about the eyes.  I’m especially all about creating funky, smoky eye looks and these shadows are perfect for that.

Each eyeshadow trio is baked on a terra cotta disk, which gives the colors a depth that lasts for a long time once applied.  Each one has three shades in it – a highlighter, a contour, and an eyeliner, so it’s one stop shopping to create your look – you don’t have to dig through your makeup drawer to find anything else (other than mascara).  They can also be applied wet or dry, so you have a choice about how dramatic you want to make your look.  (What I usually do is apply the highlighter dry, then use the contour and eyeliner shades wet to make them stand out more).

The other great thing about them is that they’re available in both basic and more colorful combos.  Superstar is a trio of bronze and beiges – it’s shimmery and fun, but it’s also something you could wear to the office during the day with a light application.  If you’re trying for a more nighttime look, my favorites are Evening Star and Rockstar.  Evening Star is make up of sparkly silvers and Rockstar is a really interesting trio of white pearl, teal, and dark shimmering grey.  I was lucky enough to have a LORAC makeup artist use Rockstar on me and I was so happy with the way my eyes turned out.  (If I’d been smart enough to take a picture, I’d post it here, but I was so caught up in looking at my eyes in the mirror I forgot to take a photo of them!)  If only she could come over and do it again every time I was going out for the night…

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but too often, breakfast is ignored because “I’m not hungry” or “I’m going to eat a big dinner tonight and need to save my calories.” I’m always looking for new products to make breakfasts more fun, healthy, and give my body a morning kick-start with energy and nutrients it craves, so when I discovered Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus at a local market, I sampled, died, came back to live, and bought every single flavor they make! So when I tell you this product is one of the best things I’ve eaten in a long, long time, you’re reading the advice of a true dessert-hummus expert!

Crazy Camel comes in six different flavors, including: Caramel Apple, Chocolate Mousse, Maple Walnut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Pie, and Toasted Almond. These products have roughly half the fat of regular hummus with just as much healthy fat, protein, and fiber of the traditional variety! Every single flavor I tried was absolutely delicious, but seeing I’m a big pumpkin and almond fan, the Pumpkin Pie and Toasted Almond were my absolute favorites! I experimented and tried all sorts of breakfast-related recipes with the hummus, including adding it to my oatmeal or yogurt, using it as an ingredient in no-bake breakfast cookies, and simply using it as a topping for my toast or bagel. The options are endless!

Crazy Camel is available at select stores in the Northeast, but my suggestion is to order off their website and freeze what you don’t use. My suggestion is the “You Pick it Six Pack” for $25. The hummus is free of artificial preservatives, so it will stay fresh in your refrigerator for three weeks. Otherwise, you can freeze them for up to six months. But honestly, you’ll be lucky if they last that long.

I’m totally jean obsessed (thankfully I live in Los Angeles, where you can wear jeans practically anywhere) so whenever I find a new pair that I love, I can’t wait to tell people about them.  My new favorite jeans are Rich & Skinny’s Sleek cut.  It’s a straight leg jean, so it pairs really well with heels (which I’m almost always wearing).  I love my boot and wide leg cut styles, but they do tend to hide cute shoes – and what’s the fun in that?  The Sleek jeans are made of a lighter weight denim, so they’re soft and comfortable, almost like wearing leggings.  (Although they do tend to run small for their size, so you’ll definitely want to try them on before ordering to make sure you’re getting the fit that you want).

The pair I’m wearing are in the Rinse wash, an ultra dark (almost black) denim that’s easy to dress down for the day and up at night.  They have the distinctive Rich & Skinny “R” on the back pocket and a funky purple silk inside waistband.  The Sleek cut is available in several different washes and the price varies per wash.  To view styles or find a store near you that carries Rich & Skinny, visit RichandSkinnyjeans.com.