I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve! And a special thanks to everyone who stops by my little blog and takes the time to leave me a comment. I love reading what you have to say! I'm totally excited to see what 2008 has in store for all of us. I think it is going to be a FABULOUS year!
I am going to take a few days off from blogging to prepare for the upcoming holiday festivities with family and friends. I hope everyone has an absolutely wonderful Christmas! Enjoy the above photo from Martha Stewart. I'll see ya'll next week!
All this talk about gifts I want has got me thinking that there are people in the world that will not be getting ANYTHING for Christmas, let alone another Prada makeup bag. If you have the ability to spare a little money, why not donate to your favorite charity? Or if you are short on cash, why not volunteer a little of your time during the next few weeks? How about going in your closet and sending Goodwill those jeans you bought with the intention of losing 5 pounds before you actually wore them? Every little bit helps and you know you'll feel good about making a difference.
My two favorite charities are Children's Rights, which is an organization that advocates on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care and the Susan G Komen for the Cure organization, which is an amazing organization dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer.
There is a little over a week left until Christmas is finally here and I am sure everyone has all of their Christmas shopping done already, right? If you are like me and still need to get a few gifts for people, here are some cute things that I know I would love to get (or already have and need more of) and that I think would make great stocking stuffers for your girlfriends, sister, mom, or even yourself. For other great ideas, you should definitely check out the gift guide at Design Sponge. Grace has really compiled an incredible list of amazing gifts. There is even a gift guide for the men in your life and it's terrific!
Warning - I have no idea if these items are still in stock or if they can be shipped by Christmas. I'll keep my fingers crossed though! Good Luck to all of you last minute shoppers! I'll be braving the crowds along with you.
Oh Hermès how I love you! It is one of my goals in life to own an Hermès Birkin bag. I realize that this will probably never happen as they are basically the cost of a small vehicle. It is best to dream big though right? In the meantime, I would love to own this Ulysse Blue Jean leather notebook. It seems like a bargain at $285 really. You can find this notebook and others in different colors at Hermès. Oh and FYI- I believe I read in House & Garden a while back that Linda Wells, the editor-in-chief of Allure magazine, uses this exact notebook during fashion shows. So chic!
I recently saw this movie about a small town girl who doesn't want to be pregnant and I absolutely LOVED it! The movie made me both laugh and cry - as the best films always seem to do. I think Keri Russel did an amazing job and I hope she gets nominated for some kind of award because I think she totally deserves it. Also, I dare you not to crave pie after seeing this movie!
I've used the same black Prada cosmetic bag for years. It travels with me everywhere! It always holds all of my makeup and it is super easy to clean since the material is nylon. I'm thinking I might get another one in a bright fun color like the red one above. You'll definitely get your money's worth out of this purchase! You can buy one of your very own from Saks online.
Tory Burch can basically do no wrong in my eyes. Although I already have a wallet I love and adore, I think I may need to have a new wallet used exclusively for traveling. This patent leather travel wallet from Tory Burch would be the perfect gift for your globe trotting friend.
I didn't realize how much I needed a portable GPS navigation system until I had the chance to use one a few weeks ago. It's just like when I didn't realize I needed an Ipod until I received one. Now I cannot imagine a day without my Ipod! I now think that a GPS system is a necessity. I am done with printing out pages and pages of directions from MapQuest only to get lost! I am keeping my fingers crossed that Santa will bring me this Garmin Nuvi 360 portable navigation system. I especially love the Garmin model because it is the size of my palm and it comes with all of these amazing features - like an MP3 player, currency converter and audio book player. It is also compatible with your Bluetooth phone so you can even make hands free calls. So clever! You can read more about it here.
I finally broke down and bought Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate (formerly Kate in a Jar) after hearing so many celebrities rave about it. It is a bit pricey - about $85 - but I think it is totally worth it. My skin always feels so amazing after using this product!
Another product I love is Dr. Hauschka's Rose Day Cream. It is a super rich cream that makes my dry winter skin feel so moisturized. I only use it at night and my skin looks and feels great in the morning. I also love that Dr. Hauschka products are organic and all natural. You can pick up Dr. Hauschka products at Whole Foods grocery stores or online at Beauty.com.
I think giving someone a piece of art is such a wonderful gift idea and I cannot tell you how much I love the website 20 X 200. 20 x 200 is a website that offers new art every week- typically one photo and one work on paper for only $20. How amazing to have your own limited edition piece of art for the cost of a couple of cocktails? I have to restrain myself from buying every new piece that is put up for sale each week. The print above is titled Pollution Post Unlimited by Andrew MacRae. As of now, there are only 118 remaining. You better hurry!
I have already discussed my love for candles and another one that I adore is from Voluspa. My favorite scent is called Santiago Huckleberry and you can get one in this cute little travel tin for only $9. They are perfect for taking on vacations and adding scent to any hotel room. You can pick one up here.
I am pretty sure I fall under the category of the shoe obsessed. I think my shoe collection is now in the triple digits..... scary. Anyways, I would love it if someone would buy me a membership to the shoe of the month club from JCrew. This means that every month for a year, a brand new pair of handpicked shoes from JCrew designers will arrive at your doorstep. Whoever gets this gift is one lucky lady!!!
If you were as obsessed with Sex and the City as I was, I am sure you know who Patricia Field is. Patricia Field is an amazing designer who worked for years as the costume designer on the set of Sex and the City. She recently created an affordable holiday collection of shoes and purses for Payless and I am totally dying over the Saki clutch she designed. It is only $25. Can you believe it??
Call me crazy but I believe that every adult woman should have her own set of stationary. I especially love the monogrammed stationary from Jack and Lulu.
I totally love this cute set of brushes from MAC. I already have every makeup brush I could ever possibly need but somehow I always get suckered into buying new ones. I just couldn't resist this cute gold canister with the embossed python pattern from MAC's Heirloom Collection. The set comes with five basic brushes for lips, face and eyes. You can find it online at MAC Cosmetics.
I admit that I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to plucking my eyebrows. If you are the same, then I highly recommend Tweezerman tweezers. They will swiftly take care of any stray hairs. I love the newTweezerman Go Green mini tweezer because they are only $10 and Tweezerman is giving $1 of the proceeds from each sale to the National Arbor Foundation. In addition, a new tree is planted for every Go Green purchase. Not bad right?
I love this chic goth looking soap called Ylang Noir Pur Liquid Marseille Soap from La Compagnie de Provence Marseille. Check it out here.
For all those addicted to lip gloss like myself, I highly recommend C.O. Bigelow's Mentha Lip Shine. You can pick up two for $10 at your local Bath and Body Works. Don't blame me if you become addicted as well!
Ok, I admit that $9 is a bit pricey for toothpaste but I still love this passion fruit toothpaste from Marvis. The taste is delicious and it will look so much chicer on your bathroom sink than regular old Colgate. You can find Marvis at Anthrolopogie stores.
I first experienced Majenty's Hidden Cove perfume at a fabulous shop in Southern California called Planet Blue Essentials. I LOVE the smell of this roll on perfume oil. It basically smells like someone took Hawaii and bottled it up. It is amazing!!! A little goes a long way too. I have had mine for a year and I still have a lot left.
I love these pretty filagree floral burst earrings from Janna Connor. Word is that Nelly Furtado loves them too. They are only $49 and you can pick them up at fabulous online shop Ravin Style.
A slightly more expensive pair of earrings (as in $575) are these beautiful brass and crystal earrings from Lia Sophia. Check out Lia's amazing jewelry on her website.
My ears get so cold in the winter and I flat out refuse to wear ear muffs. I think a fashionable alternative is this indigo mohair floppy beret from Anna Kula. Now there is no reason you can't be stylish in 10 degree weather. You can find this beret in other colors as well at Ravin Style.
Well that about rounds out the list! Hopefully some of you will be the lucky recipients of some of these items :)
The January/February 2008 issue of Elle Decor Magazine just arrived at my doorstep and it could not be more amazing. If you don't already have a subscription to Elle Decor, this is definitely one worth buying. I think this is probably the best issue they have put out in the last 12 months. My favorite spread was the home of the fabulous Monique Lhuillier. Monique is the incredible designer to the stars who makes the most AMAZING wedding dresses EVER. Seriously, Vera Wang who? She also has a ready to wear collection that is amazingly chic and stylish. No matter the cost, when I get married I WILL be wearing a Monique Lhuillier gown. Hope you enjoy the photos! [Sorry for the bad scanning! I was sort of in a hurry :)]
Here is Monique standing in the hallway of her Bel Air home wearing one of her fabulous dresses. I love the emerald green color! To die for!!! Also, I have always dreamed of having a sweeping staircase greet me in my entrance and I especially love the modern and sleek look of the one in Monique's home.
Monique has various black and white photographs throughout the house that are absolutely beautiful. The one above is from Lillian Bassman. Love, love, love the Lucite console with the zebra patterned Paul Marra stool. Impossibly chic!
Basically I love EVERYTHING about Monique's home. Her home is like my dream home. I especially love her use of color- with varying shades of gray used throughout the home. Gray is my absolute FAVORITE color to decorate with and I think Monique's home shows how versatile the color can be. Monique mentioned that she used the color gray because she "wanted an escape from color when [she] came home from the office."
The living room is so clean, chic, and glamorous. Again, the color palette is fantastic and I love the caribou wing chair. Her coffee table books are fabulous as well. I looked closely and I have every single book she has displayed. Great minds must think alike ;)
I love a good kitchen. I especially love all white kitchens and Monique's modern white kitchen is basically perfect. The pendant light above the kitchen table is beautiful. Monique's office is also to die for. Floor to ceiling book cases... HEAVEN! I think the dark gray color is perfect and I love the large bay windows. And I can't even describe how much I love the black and white imperial trellis style wall covering in the bathroom. Perfection!!!
Monique's dining room is also very chic and modern. The three black and white photographs arranged on the wall are fantastic. I also love the simple but stylish Carlyle pendant light from Zia-Priven Design.
Fabulous modern all white bathroom. Love the touch of glamour with the custom light fixture by Foundry.
(Photography by Roger Davies)
Above left is a picture of Monique's adorable son Jack in his nursery. Again, the use of color throughout the home is incredible. Above right, the white lacquer bedside table in the guest room is fantastic. I have been looking for a nightstand that looks exactly like this! I especially love the paint color in the guest room (it's Benjamin Moore's Gossamer Blue). Finally, at bottom right is Monique's bedroom and it looks like it could fit in any five star hotel. So simple, yet so luxurious!
