We're Intoxicating!

Elise and me
This was the final result of all our hard work on our Cristal costumes!

Essie Pink Ribbon

Even though Breast Cancer Awareness Month is almost over, there is still time to make a difference, and pick up a new beauty item too :-)

Essie nail polish is donating a portion of the profits from their new polish, Pink Ribbon, to the Libby Ross Foundation for Breast Cancer. This is a wonderful cause, and I just saw the new color in Harmon today, adorable! It’s a mixture of the classic Sugar Daddy, with a hint of Intimate to give the pink a special sparkle.


You can purchase the polish on the Essie website or at Harmon. Please give to this deserving cause.

Deserted Island Makeup...

Sometimes I think I have way too much makeup. What if I cut down a bit? If I were deserted on an island, what beauty items would I HAVE to have? I decided there are about 10 things currently in my makeup bag that I definitely couldn’t live without.







Here they are:

Dior Show Waterproof Mascara – This is my ‘going out’ mascara. It has a huge applicator brush, and gives your eyes instant glamour.

Shu uemura Eyelash Curler – Shu uemura’s eyelash curler is the holy grail of eyelash curlers. Run it under HOT water before you use it, dry it off, and presto! Your eyes will look just like those blinkie dolls.

Photo Finish Smashbox Primer – Primers are actually essential. They make your foundation stay on better and smooth out your skin for flawless make up application

Chanel Silky Bronzing Powder – I stumbled upon this bronzer one day at the Chanel counter, and it’s really beautiful. Many times people have asked me where I got “sun.” I’ve never admitted it was this silky bronzer.

Nars Duo Eye shadow in Demon Lover and India Song – These are two of my new eye shadows, and I love them! India Song has a great cream color that can be used as a base, and any of the other colors can be used as eyeliner.

Rosebud Salve – This lip balm is a cult classic, and they just came out with a mint version too.

Chanel Lip Gloss in Blizzard – I’m a sucker for Chanel Lip Gloss. Every color is gorgeous, but Blizzard is a winner because it looks good on everyone.

Neutrogena-Shield-Sunblock-with Helioplex – Since I’m stuck on a desert (hopefully sunny) island, sunscreen is a must. This is a new sunscreen made with an anti-aging agent called Helioplex, and girls, with this stuff you will not burn! I used it all summer, and I’m counting on it to keep the wrinkles away!

Angled Brush – You would be surprised the difference a brush can make. This brush is great for applying eye shadow as eyeliner and also for filling in brows.

Eye shadow Brush – Another great brush. This one is perfect for applying base colors, and blending colors.

So maybe my essentials are a little bit more than essential, but I’ll certainly look good on that deserted island!

The Most Un-Fabulous Halloween Costume

I just had to post this, I used to think Gisele was a pretty girl, but yikes!! A major what NOT to wear on Halloween

http://thesuperficial.com/2006/10/gisele_bundchen_ruins_hallowee.html

Fashionable Winter Boots: Yes, Tara they do exist

With Winter fast approaching (it was 35 degrees when I woke up this morning!) it’s time to tackle one of the biggest fashion dilemmas out there: winter boots.

Last year I thought I had solved the problem with a cute pair of UGG clogs. They didn’t make my feet look like Troll booties, and the shearling inside was so soft, not to mention comfortable. Unfortunately I discovered they had a tragic flaw: no traction. After falling on my butt three times to and from the ski lodge, I decided the UGG clogs were OUT.

So when I started my hunt this year, I had quite the list of requirements

1. Fashionable – cannot make feet look fat, strangely shaped, or Troll like
2. Waterproof – there are tons of cute boots that won’t take you one block in a NYC snowstorm
3. Comfortable – these boots better be made for walkin’
4. Rugged Sole – I’m not falling simply walking down a hill this year, although after my falls my boyfriend did carry my skis from then on….

I found that Zappos and Shoebuy had some boots that fit my criteria:

Can't believe these are waterproof! – Ok so these don’t have a great sole, but they’re cute

Another winner

Love this Brand

Tan, Knee High, Lace-Up, and Waterproof

These have that après ski look

I bought these – They may not have fulfilled my whole list, but I’m sticking with UGG’s because I know they’re super soft

I’m definitely ready for a snowy Winter now!

Here Comes the Bride...

Is your boyfriend going to propose when you graduate from law school, med school, grad school? Either way, you probably have a few years before he pops the question. So why not have some harmless bridal fun in the meantime?

Here are two sites to help you pass the time….

As my friend said about this site “I think I wasted 3 hours of my life that I’m never going to get back,” but what fun!!

Bridal "Paper" Doll


Don’t forget about The Rock. And as my friend Elise’s father says, “Never accept anything under two carats” ;-)

A Diamond Is Forever

Design Your Own

Perfection Go to the engagement ring section, the first one is my favorite

Who even needs a boyfriend when you have these diamonds to swoon over!

A Passion for Patent

Remember when you were little and had black patent leather “party shoes”? I loved mine so much that I tried to wear them to the first day of Kindergarten. Unfortunately they weren’t playground proof :-( Who could resist looking down at their feet in shiny black mary-janes?

Even now there is something irresistible about patent leather pumps, ballet slippers, and purses too!

This season patent leather has expanded it’s repertoire with a variety of colors and hot new styles.

Here are some of the classics and a few new favorites:

- What Carrie Bradshaw called the urban shoe myth Manolos!


















- A more reasonably priced patent leather mary-jane





- I am dying for these pumps

- And for my pirouetting friends: ballet flats

- Love this J.Crew purse especially in Navy

- A little splurge never hurt

Patent leather is one of those things that are classic, so go out and indulge in some patent leather party shoes!

Let them eat cake - Part Deux

You may not be ready to re-create Marie Antoinette’s gowns yourself, but you certainly can sport her style – updated for the 21st century that is!

Shoes:

MA had approximately 3 new pairs of shoes per week. Here are two she would have loved

- D&G Gold Brocade Shoes

- Nine West Gold Buckle Peep Toe Pumps

Clothes:

- The casual J.Crew version of this ruffle collared shirt is French menswear for us girls

- Pair this wool Ulysses jacket with any scoop neck shirt, or if you’re extra brave, a ruffle collared shirt like the one above

Jewelry:

I always raid my grandmother’s closet for antique jewelry that has come back into fashion

- Brooches: This one is MA’s monogram, you can’t buy it in the States, but they will ship it overseas just for you!

- Pearls: Being a pearl girl myself, I already have this one down. If you’ve always shied away from pearls, now is the time to wear them!

I love this Tiffany Bracelet or the less extravagant version: pearl bracelet

- Anything gold and antique looking is also tres Marie Antoinette chic!

Let them eat cake!

Sofia Coppola’s new film Marie Antoinette is definitely a must-see for period-piece junkies like me. I’m not sure if it’s the next Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version with Colin Firth is divine), but it’s definitely worthwhile just to see the costumes, and the extravagance of Marie’s French court – you thought you had a shoe fetish!

The hoop skirts and underpoofers might be gone, but Marie Antoinette’s fashion trends are still being adapted today, especially for this Fall season.

Makeup:

Pale skin - keep skin fresh with minimal, to no bronzer. Unfortunately sun-kissed it out :-(

Pinky cheeks are a must – just a quick swipe of blush is perfect, no Nutcracker soldier faces here

Stained lips – I love some of these new Nars Lip Stains. They leave your lips feeling moisturized and not sticky

Bobbi Brown has a beautiful limited edition palette that has a pink blush in the center, a rose lip color called Tulle, a shimmer lip gloss, and two eye shadows. Perfect for the updated Marie Antoinette look!

I’m also going to post about clothes, but for now, here’s a pic from the latest D & G ad campaign

A Little Southern Comfort

I might be a Yankee, but don’t we all need a little southern comfort once in a while? And I’m not just talking about the kind that comes with a lime!

One of my favorite chefs on The Food Network is Paula Dean, the fiery Southern Belle who whips up all things delicious (never sparing that stick of butter of course!).

Paula has many over-the-top southern recipes, but I really like these for Saturday morning brunch. So instead of stumbling to the local bagel shop with a messy ponytail in your Juicy sweat outfit, keep your PJ’s on and make these tasty brunch treats!

Baked French Toast Casserole French toast has never tasted better

Paula's Fried Green Tomato and Egg Hollandaise Take all of those green tomatoes out of your garden before the Fall frost gets ‘em!

Vegetable Pancakes

And for the ambitious dieter:

Joanne's Almost Fat-free Lemon Cheesecake

These southern comfort brunch recipes, and maybe a mimosa or two, will make you forget how many SoCo shots you took the night before :-)

Fall into Facials

With the NYC leaves starting to turn color, it looks like Fall is finally here! Now is a great time to clear away all the dead skin cells from summer and give you a fresh blemish free look. The best way to do that is with a spa facial!

Getting a facial can be tricky, since everyone’s skin is different and has special needs. There are also tons of places to get a facial, along with a wide range of prices.

This is a great Spa Website which lists spas in the city, as well as their services, price lists, and client reviews.

A few spas looked especially good to me:

Glow Skin Spa who doesn’t want glowing skin?

Metamorphosis Day Spa Allure magazine gave this one the Editor’s Choice Award

Completely Bare A New York magazine winner

Remember when you go to a spa, it should be especially clean. Don’t be afraid to talk to the staff about your specific needs, like dry skin or acne blemishes. Not all facials are created equal, so the spa staff will know which one is right for you.

After you get your facial, don’t apply any make-up for the rest of the day. You don’t want to spoil your perfect new skin!!

And thanks to Christine for reminding me to get my Fall facial!

Maybe I want to look cheap....

Today the Times had an article about what Halloween has turned into for women. It's now a dress-sluty, free-for-all where a prim and proper girl can be her alter ego for the night and no one will say anything. Where showing some extra cleavage is only part of the costume for Little Bo-Peep Show.

I can't say that I haven't dressed a little extra sexy on the past few Halloweens. Last year I was gift wrapped with a tag that said:

To: Men
From: God.

To my shock, not that many people got it....

So how sexy is too sexy when it comes to putting our costumes together this year? Here are some rules a fabulous girl should follow:

1. Don't show your bum. Unless you've been hitting the pilates classes all summer, it's not OK to show the tush under a micro mini.

2. Wear stockings. I'm sporting some gold sparkly fishnets this year, and although they're far from demur, they do provide some coverage.

3. Do show some decolletage, but don't hoist your boobs up so high you could balance a beer on them. Keep it looking somewhat natural.

4. Make your costume if possible. The mass produced 'sexy' costumes never fit right, and just give off the vibe 'I'm really cheap, not just a little cheap.' Besides, handmade costumes are definitely a conversation starter :-)

5. Finally go out and be sexy girls, but sometimes what you don't show is even hotter than what you do show!

Here's the Times article
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/19/fashion/19costume.html?pagewanted=1&adxnnl=1&ref=style&adxnnlx=1161280692-Vr/gKPibkOo3zBbTFsL9Ew

And the inspiration for my costume this year :-)

That's right, I'm going to be a bottle of Cristal! Now I'm off to the fabric store to find something gold and shiny that can be applied with fabric glue...

Good Luck with your costumes!

You know you're fabulous....

On of my best friends from birth always calls me up in a panic. She whispers into her cell phone while in a shop and has no idea about some book, some bikini, or billions of other ‘what should I do’ items. I always try to steer her in the right direction towards the most appropriate or fabulous thing. Finally after many of these calls, I decided it was time to write about all of the guidance I had given her, and so here it is, The Fabulous Girls Guide!