March 30, 2011

Looking Ahead - Summer 2011

Even though Charlotte experienced a cold-ish snap this past weekend (highs in the 40's), I'm thinkin' of summer. Shorts and silk tops, bright bags and bold colors. Bring.It.On. Soon, please!

With this in mind, I've started creating a summer wishlist for myself...focusing on the items that will round out my closet (especially since I now work from home). I have no need for work pants and tailored suits! Hooray.
  1. A bold bag: Green, deep cerise, bright blue or another fun hue. Leather please and nothing I can physically fit into. I like large bags, but it doesn't have to be the size of a suitcase.
  2. White flares - denim: I'm diggin' J Brand's Lovestory, but I'm open to trying on a few. 
  3. Wedges: Of all kinds. Espadrilles. Cork. Jute. I'll take 'em all. 
  4. Easy, transitional pieces: Includes a denim jacket, silk tops and tunics that can easily move from day to night with the right accessories. 
  5. Maxi skirt: We've been here already. Still on the prowl for a perfectly fitting maxi skirt. Or two. Or three. 
Here are a few of my summer outlooks...what are you plannin' on?

March 25, 2011

Run to Rue La La today for TKEES...

Because TKEES (those sandals I was raving about on Wednesday's post, right here) are on Rue La La today! $29.90 each. Annnnd go!

March 23, 2011

Currently Craving: Trove TKEES Leather Flip Flops

I do not have pretty feet. I'll just throw that out there. I have the tiniest toe nails on the planet (seriously they look like little Chiclets) and from the myriad of exercise and running I engage in, my feet just aren't so hot. So, anything that makes my feet/legs look even remotely attractive and is comfortable = a total win in my book.

When I popped into new, local Charlotte boutique Coral I was in awe of the incredible items they had in the shop but also fell in love with TKEES. These slim, super comfy and simple leather flip flops are perfection for summer. They come in a variety of finishes, offer many shades (both nude colors and brights) and are a dressier option when Havianas just won't cut it. While they seem a bit pricey for a pair of flips ($45-$50), I imagine the cost per wear will be ridiculously low. I plan to pretty much live in these.

If you're purchasing online, go with your regular size or a bit larger as they run a tiny bit on the small side. i.e. I'm usually a 7.5 or 8 and the 8 fits just right (full sizes only, btw). While TKEES isn't selling on their website yet, it looks like it will happen very soon. In the meantime, you can score these sweet little flip flops at a myriad of online retailers - many highlighted in the set below.

While I purchased the shade "Cocoa Butter," I tossed together a set of fabu options and colors for you to gaze at. Happy shopping!

March 21, 2011

Product Review: Pangea Organics Lip Balm, B

It's just another manic Monday, isn't it? I had a great weekend with my girlfriends but now it's time to get back to work. As many of you probably have figured out, I really love trying new products...and then blogging about them. So when I heard about Birchbox, my ears perked right up.

What is Birchbox you ask?!
Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.

Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp met at Harvard Business School. They created Birchbox to help women cut through the clutter of the beauty world to find products that really work for them.

The Birchbox:
Each month, you'll receive a  selection of 4-5 samples that we’ve tried (and retried) ourselves.  You'll receive anything from skincare to makeup to cult beauty tools, from well-known brands as well as emerging gems.  Check out our past products here and our ever growing list of brand partners here.

**********

Fun, isn't it?! So, today's product review revolves around an item that was included in my March Birchbox - Pangea Organics Lip Balm. The scent/flavor/type that was sent to me is the Italian Red Mandarin & Rose. This .25 oz. lip balm retails for $12. And just for a references, my other fave lip balm, Burt's Bees, costs roughly $2.99 for .15 oz.
Some deets from Birchbox & Pangea Organics:

Talk about a Chapstick upgrade. This organic lip balm is so moisturizing you won’t need to reapply — though the scents are so yummy, you probably will anyway. The extra-large tube means more balm and less waste — a good thing all around!

Organic oils, vitamins, and essential fatty acids sink into your lips to provide a moisturizing shield. Each flavor packs specific benefits: the aromatic Italian Red Mandarin with Rose soothes sensitive lips; Egyptian Fennel Grapefruit & Sweet Orange energizes with antioxidants and vitamins; and Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom calms and heals cracked skin.

Social responsibility, ecocentric bodycare. The company is obsessed with creating gorgeous skincare that nourishes the body. All Pangea products are luxurious while still being organic, fair-trade, and cruelty-free. Their commitment to high-quality organic ingredients means more antioxidants and fewer fillers.

All three flavors of Pangea's lip balm are natural and petroleum-free, and can even double as a cuticle balm.

And my review: 

The Good: It.smells.incredible. WOW. I am blown away by the scent and the super smooth product. I also don't have to reapply as often, so the moisturizing components are great. I also appreciate the organic ingredients and the fact that Pangea Organics donates 5% of all proceeds to Women for Women International, a nonprofit that supports women who have been through war or other conflicts.

The Bad: The retail price is quite steep for a lip balm - regardless of how amazing it feels and smells.

The Verdict: This balm earns a solid B from me. I love the scent, the smooth product and the philanthropy associated with the brand. Even though you most certainly get more balm per tube, it's still a bit pricey!  

March 18, 2011

Fabulous Friday:

Hope you all had a perfect St. Patty's Day filled with plenty luck & green :)

Today's fabulous Friday features some gorgeous locks and super chic ensembles. What do you think?

First up - Heather Morris of Glee fame lookin' super svelte.

Photo via: Fame
Oh that hair?! Shut the front door. Heather - I want your hairdresser. While those locks are likely part extensions, it looks freakin' fabulous. Gorg.

Photo via: Sara Jaye Weiss/Startraks
And Vanessa Minnillo, brah-vo. This simple Catherine Malandrino looks fabu on you. I love the color palette and the simplicity. Girlfriend looks great.

Photo via: Joe Corrigan/Getty
And look at Michelle Trachtenberg! This Marchesa is stunning on her! I'm loving the sparkle in the criss-cross top and the overall ethereal quality of the dress. Just lovely.

Well, that covers this Friday! Have a great weekend friends!

March 15, 2011

Product Review: Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask, A-

It's time for a product review, kids!

Up for review today is Bliss' Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask...

Bliss at ShopStyle

I scored a sample of this mask through a Sephora purchase a few months back and I've just been waiting to try it. Oxygen?! Yes, please.

Some details from Sephora:

What it is:
A frothy mask that releases oxygen into the skin, so your complexion is instantly brighter, fresher, and younger-looking.

What it is formulated to do:
Instantly delivers a shot of oxygen, a powerhouse form of vitamin C, time-released antioxidants, and a moisture fix, to spiff up your complexion when it's looking and feeling lackluster.

What else you need to know:
Inspired by Bliss Spa's most-famous facial, which gives skin the energy it needs for everyday metabolism, collagen synthesis, and detoxifying action.

My review:

The Good: Frothy fun! Follow the directions and your skin will be dewy and moisturized in minutes. I was really happy with the outcome and the product was indeed light & airy. Even though the price isn't cheap, you really don't need that much product to achieve the glowy after effects.

The Bad: Pricey, baby, pricey. $52 for 3.4 oz isn't a value by any means.

The Verdict: A- from me. I really like the consistency and results, I just wish it was a bit more affordable!

March 12, 2011

Currently Craving: Target Time

Ah Target. When I enter your doors I cannot escape without spending at least $100. Yes. This is even when the only three things on my list are chapstick, laundry detergent and a greeting card.

Alas, spring& summer gear has started to roll out onto the Target floor (and website) and I spy piles of affordable, cute things to crave. Major note of contention - petites! Yes, Target has offered petites for months now, but it's nice to see a few very cute dresses with that sizing. (great for my not-so-long legs). Hooray!

Behold...some of my fave Tar-jay for spring...


What are you currently craving? And do you fall victim to the Target $100 check out?

March 9, 2011

Celebrity Style Stalker: Nicole Richie

Welcome to Wednesday!

It's been a while since I've posted a celeb style stalker, but Nicole Richie looked so lovely in her Givenchy chocolate brown leather dress, I just had to recreate.

Photo via: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

The set I created is centered around a black leather-ish BCBG dress...chocolate brown just wasn't going to happen in a feasible price range. So, here's what I came up with, ensemble, makeup and all! What do you think? Doesn't Nicole look chic?

March 7, 2011

Currently Craving: Inspired Wedges

Confession - I love wedges. LOVE them. They give my midget legs a boost and are comfortable to boot. Thus, I'm deliriously happy that wedges are still very much in style. I waxed poetic about wedges last May and, clearly, I just can't help myself...

I scored an adorable pair of wedges at Dilliard's this weekend and it most certainly inspired me to search for spring & summer's best stacked sandals...

Here's what I purchased this weekend...

Gianni Bini at ShopStyle

While hubs isn't the biggest fan of these Gianni Bini "Gilligan" sandals, I adore them. Super tall, genuine leather hugging the sides, comfy and a touch of kitsch. Plus, they're neutral enough to sport with plenty of jeans, shorts, dresses, etc. If you like 'em, order your regular shoe size.

And here's a set of lust-worthy wedges! Will you wear wedges this summer?

March 4, 2011

Combo Friday...

Happy Friday to all!

Up today is a combo of Fridays past...we have WTF and Fabulous Friday. Let's just go ahead and get the fug out of the way with WTF...

First up - very much a repeat offender...Ms. Taylor Momsen.

Photo via: Justin Campbell/Startracks Photo
 Oh my...wee, angry Tylor busted out a few tricks again. And yes, she looks like she's turnin' tricks too. Sweet pea, please put away the Hot Topic rejects from 1996.

And then we have Deborah Gibson. Indeed, that's Debbie Gibson.

Photo via: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Oh Debster. Nice abs. That's about it. Please find a full length top next time you're struttin' your stuff on the, um, checkered carpet.

Enough sadness...how about some fabuloso looks?! Let's look at a duo of gorg...

Oh Halle...I don't think I've ever *not* loved something you've sported...

Photo via: Christopher Polk/Getty
Simple.chic.stunning. I love the drape of the dress, the slate gray color and the chain necklace. She also looked amazing at the Oscar's, but that's another story!

And last but not least, little Selena Gomez...

Photo via: Micheal Buckner/WireImage
Pretty pretty pretty! That lipstick red is just amazing with her skin tone and hair. The cut is just youthful enough and the drape is stunning. Bravo, little lady.

That's it for today's Friday special. Care to share?

March 1, 2011

Product Review: Puristics Totally Ageless Advanced Skin Rejuvenating Lotion, B

Hey all! It's been a really busy few days, so no Oscar post from me. Honestly - there were some lovely dresses on Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Annette Benning and Gwyneth Paltrow, but I didn't see anything truly spectacular (or heinous, for the matter).

So, up for today is a product review from a new skincare line - Puristics. The kind team at Puristics sent over a few products for me to try and up today is their Totally Ageless Advanced Skin Rejuvenating Lotion.


This 1.7 oz. bottle retails for $17-$22 and can be purchased at Harris Teeter (southern grocery chain), Rite Aid, King Soopers and drugstore.com

Details from Puristics:

Puristics Totally Ageless Advanced Skin Rejuvenating Lotion is unique because it starts with purity and ends with purity. There are no harmful chemicals, fragrances or toxins added at any step in the process. Powered by a naturally occurring peptide complex, our vitamin enriched product has been proven to be safe and effective.

* Visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles
* Helps firm & hydrate skin
* Lightweight & non-greasy
* No harmful chemicals

Discover the Power of Pure
At Puristics, we believe in the Power of Pure. We think that everything that touches your skin should be pure - without any potentially harmful chemicals seeping in. So, we've created our products using the latest science to unleash the power of naturally derived ingredients. We've combined them in unique ways to maximize their effectiveness without compromising purity.

Pure. Safe. Effective.

* Naturally preserved & fragrance free
* Hypoallergenic
* No parabens, phthalates or sulfates
* No animal testing

And my review...

The Good: I love the concept and the effort to make skincare pure, plus no animal testing! The product itself leaves my skin dewy and well moisturized. It's also great to know that this product does combat fine lines and wrinkles, too.

The Bad: This particular lotion does not have SPF 15 (although Puristics does have another daily lotion that does). And while I fully appreciate that there are no additives to this product, I wasn't crazy about the scent.

The Verdict: Earns a solid B from me! I dig the concept, the intention and the pure outcome.