Daily Style – Bows & Studs

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Dress – James Perse; Jacket – Nordstrom BP Dept.; Shoes – Red Valentino; Crossbody Bag – DIY by me & full tutorial available at Making It Lovely; Bracelets & Earrings – Kate Spade

My life this week has been consumed by Downton Abbey, end of year school prep, baby prep, and completing this glorious crossbody bag.  I have given up all searches of a bag until after the baby comes, and have returned all 3 of the previous options I had bought.  Instead, I made my own to get me through summer.  Isn’t it cute?  I wanted to add some studs, but nothing too edgy or industrial, so I used the pretty flat gold studs and I think it’s the perfect little touch.  Me and this bag are going to get along just fine.  After baby I may have to shorten the straps since I made these extra long to fit over the belly.  It’s funny to think that even purse straps have to be adjusted in consideration of a pregnant belly.

And is it weird, or just extremely immature of me, that whenever I say “belly”, I can’t help but think of the Austin Powers quote “get in mah belly!”  On second thought, don’t answer that.  Whoa, pregnancy delirium!  Okay, off to watch an episode of Downton Abbey.  I can’t believe they brought back that SOB Thomas.  Linking up to WIWW & Monday Mingle.



Daily Style – Floral Market

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Top – H&M; Layering Tank – James Perse; Jeans – Gap Maternity; Necklace – DIY by me; Watch & Bangles – Michael Kors & Kate Spade; Bag – Reed Krakoff c/o Neiman Marcus; Sunglasses – Reed Krakoff c/o Neiman Marcus; Sandals – Red Valentino

We made it a point to go to the farmer’s market this weekend since we no longer receive a CSA box, and grocery store fruit just isn’t the same.  After tasting fruit direct from the source, it makes me wonder why I even bother buying produce at the market.  Other than that, we did some BBQ’ing with friends, gardening and registering for baby #3.  My first shower is next weekend and, since no one else seems to appreciate my “wing it” attitude, I decided to make a list and figure out what we’ll need for this baby.  Turns out there’s quite a bit since we got rid of pretty much everything.  It’s fun, and so easy, just doing it all online now.  Hopefully my 80 year old Aunt will feel the same way 😉

Hoping you all had a great weekend and your week starts off better than Mr. Lane Pryce’s.  What an episode, right?  Linking up to WIWW



Insiders: Rhona Samuels of Giorgio Armani Beauty

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My fascination with all things beauty continues.  It’s like I’m trying to pack in the knowledge I haven’t bothered to gain over the last 20 years since I began wearing makeup, into just a few short months.  Lately it seems as if I’m my own beauty research and development department, but it has been fascinating and fun to learn so much.  I still have to share the tips I learned from my friend Amber next week, but until then, I wanted to share with you a peek into an event I attended on Thursday at Neiman Marcus Topanga. Lisa, knowing my recent fascination with all things beauty, invited me to come in and receive a consultation and makeup session with Rhona Samuels, Premier Face Designer of Giorgio Armani Beauty.  Rhona has been with Armani for over 10 years and has worked alongside Mr. Armani himself, and has amassed an impressive number of celebrity clients.  While Rhona was doing my makeup I asked her a few questions about quick makeup tips for busy women, as well as her makeup pet peeve. What’s the best bit of makeup advice you can give? “Blending is crucial!  Blend your foundation correctly, blend your eyeshadow, use the right tools to do this.”  While I think I do a fair job of blending my foundation correctly so that you don’t see streaks or smudges, Rhona did teach me to blend my eyeshadows more so that it looks like 1 beautiful color, instead of a heavy color line for the crease, a heavy color line for the lid, and then one for the brow.  I had never even thought of this and this technique does in fact lend to a more natural looking eyeshadow color, giving your that barely there makeup look.

For the woman on the go, in 3 steps, what shouldn’t she walk out the door without doing? “Concealer and foundation, mascara and gloss.  That’s it and you’re set!”  Armani is best known for its foundation, after all for 10 years running it’s won In Style’s Best Beauty Buy, so foundation plus concealer go hand in hand; one almost cannot be counted without the other.  The foundation is pretty magnificent and, I almost don’t see the point of applying foundation without taking the time to also apply some concealer.  I loved that Rhona’s 3 step advice pretty much confirmed what I have already been doing.

How did you get my eyelashes to look like that?!? At lunch I was telling Lisa that I was thinking about trying some false lashes because my own lashes were just looking more and more sad.  After 5 minutes with Rhona though, and an application of Eyes to Kill , my lashes looked ridiculously fabulous.  I had to know how she did it.  “Take your brush and start at the very base of your lashes and apply a good coat at the very base in a back and forth motion to help thicken them up.  Then take your brush and turn it vertical to your lashes and sweep the brush up lengthwise on your lashes to create length.  Most women just go up and down, but it’s the combination of the back and forth and up and down motion that really creates volume and length.”  A genius trick that I assure you does indeed work.

What’s your biggest makeup pet peeve you see on clients? “Not matching the right color foundation to your skin.  It drives me crazy.”  Rhona suggests changing out foundation in the winter and summer if you spend time in the sun so that you don’t see that color line at the neck.  Easy enough advice to follow. Thanks Rhona for the great tips and laughs.  It was so fun sitting in your chair and watching you first hand work your magic!  And bravo for being the first successful person to get me to leave Definicils and try a new mascara.  After 15 years, that’s quite impressive!



Style Post Outtakes

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Every once in a while I put together an outfit and I look back and say to myself, “what was I thinking?”  This is one such outfit.  It was Valentine’s Day and since it was in the middle of the week, and I was pregnant, we opted for an early dinner with the kids at one of our favorite restaurants.  I decided to spice up my outfit by adding a lot of “stuff”.  This is why I do not wear a lot of accessories; I’m not good at putting a lot of “stuff” together.  I ended up looking back at these pictures that night and thinking I looked a lot like Frida with all those flowers in my hair.  What. The. Hell?   

Outfit choices aside, it was a good night nevertheless and I’m still glad I got dressed up for our family date, despite feeling like absolute crap, deep in the throes of my 1st trimester of pregnancy.  That’s the thing about taking the extra step to get a bit more dressed up; you may look back and regret some of your outfit choices, but you will never regret actually taking the time and effort to get dressed up.  You can quote me on that and take it to the bank.

I’m off to get my glucose test done (boo!) and then the gym (boo!) and then my day is mine (yay!), until about 3 o’clock that is.  Neither of the kids had school today so they went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a sleepover.  Art and I took advantage of our free time and went to see the Avengers last night (boo!).  We were both bored for the last 30 minutes and I was daydreaming about being home watching the rest of Season 1 of Downton Abbey.  I can’t believe that is now the highest grossing film of all time, what a shame.  Do you all have any fun plans this weekend?  



DIY Gold Vermeil Chain & Disc Necklace

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I ventured into my local bead shop yesterday to purchase some new crimp beads.  One hour and almost $100 later, I walked out with supplies and ideas for about 5 new projects. I’m tired of never having gifts available when I need them and having to run out to Target to buy something I really don’t love.  So I’ve decided to start making more pieces here and there that I can give as gifts when some new occasion or celebration comes up, starting with these very easy and simplistically pretty gold disc necklaces.  Now to be honest I’ve never been much of a “vermeil chain” loving girl. Quite frankly they remind me a bit of chains you’d find on some mobster’s wife.  That sounds horribly offensive doesn’t it?  Apologies in advance to any mob wife readers.  But in all seriousness, vermeil chain has just never really done it for me.  However, my bead guy, knowing my love for either bold & loud, or simple and understated, showed me this combination and I literally fell in love.  This particular vermeil chain is soft and light, and when combined with the sweet hammered disc charm, it makes for the perfect little necklace to wear with just about anything.  I also used a new little gadget on this necklace that is so easy to use I wanted to share with you.  It’s called a vermeil crimp bead, a crimp bead made especially for vermeil chain.  Feel free to substitute the gold disc charm for any other charm you already have or love.  Here’s what else you’ll need: Begin by cutting your chain to your desired length.  FYI, 3 feet made 2 chains perfectly.  I purposely made one slightly longer than the other. Now slide your disc or other charm onto the chain.  Must do this before applying the crimp bead! The vermeil chain then just slides into the channel on the crimp bead just perfectly.  Slide both ends in and then gently crimp the middle portion of the crimp bead to hold the chain in place.  You don’t need to squeeze very tightly for it to hold. To finish the necklace off, simply add a lobster claw closure to one end of the crimp bead, and voila, you’re finished!  You have a dainty and sophisticated little necklace that was so simple to create, and the best part?  It doesn’t at all resemble something a mobster’s wife would wear 😉 As always, let me know if you have any questions!  Good luck and happy creating!



I’m a Magician!

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People are asking me for advice and style tips?  Haha, that’s funny!  Seriously though, I kid!  I’m flattered that I’ve been asked to guest post over at Delighted Momma, one of my favorite ladies on the interwebs.  Have you ever checked out all her DIY facial and beauty products?  She’ll save you a ton of money!  And she’s a whiz with polymer clay!  I’m over there today giving my top 5 maternity styling tips to maintain your own sense of style while pregnant.

Also, my roommate from Blissdom, Anne over at Modern Mrs. Darcy, asked me a few summer styling tips to update your wardrobe for the season.  Coincidentally the post is live today.  Wow, in two places at once?  I’m a magician!  Please if you have a chance come on over and say HI!!



Daily Style – Playing It Safe

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Chambray Shirt – Kohl’s; Denim Shorts – Pea In the Pod; Boots – Dolce Vita; Necklace – DIY by my friend Mary; Hat – Forever 21

Well no one could say I didn’t at least try to step out of my comfort zone when it came to my sartorial choices during this pregnancy.  Now I know this is tame potatoes for some, but for me, boots with shorts, jean shorts no less, is a pretty big stretch for me.  The look is definitely not for me. Perhaps it’s the large protruding belly, or the length of the shorts, or the fact that my legs are stark white.  But whatever it was, I felt much more comfortable in the sandals I was wearing with this outfit originally.  Either way, I can at least say I tried to style these boots every which way possible.  Turns out I’ll stick to wearing them with jeans and the occasional dress here and there.

How comfortable do you feel stepping out of your style comfort zone? Do you take risks or do you play it safe, and are you usually happy with your choices or do you wish you would have gone in the opposite direction?  Linking up with WIWW.



Adding to the Beauty Arsenal

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I had all intentions of getting a new DIY post up for you all today, after all, I did start 3 different ones over the weekend.  But we were too busy just having fun that I didn’t have enough time and focus to sit down and finish any of them.  Never fear though, Thursday I’ll have something for you.  Not wanting to leave you high and dry, I thought I’d share with you 3 of my latest beauty investments that I’m really enjoying.

Shiseido Eyelash Curler – This is my first ever eyelash curler and while everyone swears by it being a miracle tool, I’m in the camp of thinking it’s helpful, but in no way a “miracle”.  It curls my lashes just fine and makes them seem higher, but not longer.  Sort of perkier in a way, and perky is important the older you get I guess.  I’m still a bit clumsy with it and continue to pinch my lids at least every other day.  I’ve often read/heard some women say if they only had time for one step in their makeup routine, curling their lashes is the step they’d include, but I’d still go for under eye concealer.  For me, it’s a small added benefit, but not one I find vitally crucial.  I’ll keep it up though.  By the way, I chose the Shiseido curler over the Shu Uemera brand after a friend recommended it based on the ability to switch out the pads instead of having to buy a whole new curler once the pad wore out, a smart design feature I appreciate.

Essie Geranium Nail Polish – I honestly feel silly for saying I have a new favorite red after I just posted Fifth Avenue being my favorite red, and literally they’re 1/2 a shade off.  Go ahead, call me a silly frivolous woman, I deserve it.  But truly, the ever so slight shade difference is enough to knock it into first place.  It’s bright and cheerful, with a slight hint of orange and is great for Spring and Summer.

Smashbox Halo Highlighting WandAmber recommended this highlighter to me and I snatched it up because of it’s liquid vs. powder state, and the fact that it’s not too shimmery.  I’ve been adding it daily to my routine and place a smudge above my cheek bones, the arches of my brows, the bridge of my nose and a small dab above my top lip and my chin.  Basically you apply it in all the places where light hits your face and it just adds a very slight hint of luminescence to your face, a trick Amber recommended.  It really does work, more so in person than in pictures, and makes me face feel brighter and more awake.  My only complaint is that it doesn’t last all day.  If I want to continue with that glowing look, I have to reapply every couple of hours.  Not sure if this is normal or if another highlighter would perform better, but so far I’m overall pleased with this one.  I bought my wand in Gold by the way and is the perfect shade.

Have you bought any beauty items lately that you’re really loving?  Please share!  And if you also have another recommendation for a highlighter, I’m all ears.



Daily Style – Mint On Mint

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(Jacket & Top – Zara, Jeans – Gap Maternity; Boots – Dolce Vita; Bag – Cole Haan, very old; Earrings – Stella & Dot; Aviators – Coach; Nail Polish – Geranium by Essie)

We made our best efforts to take it slow this weekend and not plan much of anything besides the nursery, gardening, church and a little brunching down at Fashion Island.  After the craziness of the past couple of months, it’s been a nice relief to not have to rush from place to place.  Hoping your long weekend is wonderful so far.  Does anyone have any plans tomorrow?  I’ll be grilling up these Granny Smith Cheeseburgers and watching the kids swim.  Whatever you do tomorrow, I hope it’s a great one!

By the way, when Taylor saw my outfit today, she said “Oooh, you’re so minty minty!”  Yes, indeed little girl.  Minty fresh 😉  Linking up with Jill for Monday Mingle.



On Repeat – Kimbra Vows

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This weekend we have Kimbra’s new album Vows on repeat.  We’ve been waiting for it for weeks now, ever since hearing her in concert.  The whole album is fantastic, but a few tracks are favorites already including Love Is a Two Way Street, Call Me and Warrior.  The girl has such a beautiful voice and is so dynamic on stage.  She was able to keep me standing and dancing at 5 months pregnant, well past 11 o’clock.  Now that’s talent 😉

What’s your soundtrack this 3 day weekend?  Hoping your Memorial Day weekend is relaxing or productive, whichever you wish it to be.  See you back on Monday!