Wednesday, February 24, 2016

♥ sunny day, sweeping the clouds away, let's all go to where the air is free..

can you tell me how to get..
how to get my sweet little hands (and eyes!!)
on some of these illesteva sunnies
like, right now?

they are handmade in italy and so gigantic-
they would hide all of the bags and all of the tears and
all of the makeup that fell off (or never went on).

i would like one in every color- please and thank you.


Monday, February 22, 2016

♥ a new haircut & some tips from my stylist, leonor pilsmaker!

 
a few weekends ago, i had the joy of sitting down for a long over-due hair cut
with a very talented friend, leo, who is a hair stylist at charles david salon

my appointment was for 9:30 am and when i arrived, the salon and spa was already 
buzzing and bubbling with beauty treatments of all sorts- cuts/colors/massages/wigs- 
you name it! i was immediately brought in for a wash and a warm cup of coffee, 
which, after waking up super-early with a crazy toddler, was just what i needed
 to begin the day. my husband told me to "hurry back," before i left the house,
 but as soon as i got there, i felt i was in no rush to get home, haha.

i perused a few magazines to get some ideas going for what to do next with my hair,
and was surprised to find that i didn't have any picture inspo like i normally do. 

when i finally sat down with leo, i explained to her that i had experimented with the 
medium blunt bob that everyone and their mother had last year and that i was totally over it.
according to this great article that leo actually posted on her facebook, the blunt cut
was all wrong for my round-shaped face and layers were the way to go. 

leo took a look at my hair, the texture of it and the weight, taking into account
the shape of my face, listening to the fact that i have don't have a ton of time
to spend on my hair in the mornings- but that i also am not one to wear a 
pony-tail or throw it in a bun- and she came up with a marvelous cut-
one that was unique- with movement, angles and just the right length.

when she took out her tools, i was delighted to find that she worked with a
razor, one of my favorite to watch a hairdresser work with because of the sheer (!!)
fascination i have with seeing so much hair fall to the floor, while still maintaining a 
workable length. i have heard mixed reviews about cutting hair with a razor-
that it damages the hair and causes it to grow in strangely, but i have always loved it. 

according to leo, it's all about whether the person cutting your hair really knows
how to use the razor well. and i have to agree ;)


i asked leo to share some tips because who doesn't love to learn 
something new about hair care?? here is what she had to say:

* water may contain minerals, chlorine, rust from old pipes, all which may alter your hair color.
to minimize these, you can invest in a shower filter or use product that will protect your hair.

*volumize your ego: most of the volumizing products are heat-activated, so to pump your 
hair up, start with blowdrying your roots first to get the most out of your volumizing hair products.

* protein treatments: help reinforce weak or over-processed hair. most people don't need more 
than once every other month, unless their hair is very weak and brittle. if you overdo it, your
hair will be tough, not smooth.

* if your hair looks dull and lifeless, it is likely due to product build-up or cheap supermarket
products with lots of silicon that binds to the hair strand. try a clarifying shampoo once every
other week. my recommendation is malibu c clarifying shampoo or oribe the cleanse

* a must have product for the spring/summer: humidity blocker from joico and


Friday, February 19, 2016

♥ pattern play.

if i had lots of money to spare, and a daughter (ha!),
i would dress her in nothing but stella jean- so that we would have
to be one of those obnoxious matchy-matchy mother/ daughter pairs that 
had to wear all of the same shirts and skirts and dresses
every single day!  :) :)


i am loving everything in the spring/summer 2016 kids lookbook-
 especially the photos by lucia moretti. they make me crave summertime!



Thursday, February 18, 2016

♥ meet LOLA.


in my years as a female human being, i have never looked forward to getting my period,
but when my box of LOLA tampons arrived in the mail a few weeks ago-looking so
pretty and discreet--i secretly couldn't wait to test them out!!


 so what is LOLA all about- you ask? just a new brand of tampons that promises something
most leading companies don't even mention in their advertising-- 100% cotton. 

it sounds so simple- but take a glance at the tampons in your cabinet and you will find that
 most of them are made of chemical-filled fibers like polyester and rayon-- ew!!


until hearing about LOLA,  i probably would have been content to use mainstream
 tampon brands without thinking twice about the detriment to my health that they posed.

 but it is important as female consumers that we be made aware of what 
we are putting in our bodies- and that we have a right to choose
something besides just cheap filler! thank you, LOLA!

i was sent a sample of LOLA, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

with the grammy's over and the oscars just around the corner, 
the best and the brightest stars will be going all out as they step out onto the red carpet- 
and i, for one, cannot wait to revel in the sartorial splendor.

i have partnered with the black tux to come up with a few options to go along
with their black velvet jacket- which by the looks of it- is totally hot.
(think vintage ryan gosling circa golden globes 2011--meow!)


anyway, on to what i would wear to accompany such a look...

whenever i watch a big red carpet event i often try to imagine what it would be like
if money were no object and i had endless options from which to choose from,
and faced with the same decision, i would definitely go for something 
one of a kind couture.

the spring 2016 couture collections that debuted in january
 had a bevy of beautiful gowns that would slay on the red carpet.

here are my choices, in color order of course.

this giambattista valli dress is perfection!


 this coral number from zuhair murad is stunning. i would even keep the belt
 and headpiece for an edgy and elegant look.


 this elie saab gown has a high neckline, but shows just the right amount of
skin and is interesting enough to not be repeated on the red carpet.


this lavender armani prive frock is a show stopper. DONE.

black gowns are no strangers to the red carpet, but this alexis mabille 
dress is chic and different enough to get noticed. LOVE!

happy watching!! 


Thursday, February 11, 2016

♥ valentine's day treats.

with valentine's day coming this weekend-
there is a bit of time left to pick up something pretty
for your loved one! here is a roundup of some heart-felt gifts
that i wouldn't mind receiving this love day (hint, hint!!)


these kate spade leather goods are too good! 

kate spade secret admirer heart crossbody
 & applique clutch

these diamond pieces from tiffany's scream, "love!!" so does this ringggg.

paloma picasso love ring and tiffany bow cuff
with names like "bae," "adorbs," "cray-cray,"  "yaasss," "so fetch," and "hangry," 
i need like, every single one of tarte's new tarteist lip paints:



and what could be more festive than these bras from rigby and peller?



aubade and cleo bras from rigby & peller

although, let's be real- the only silky number i would like to be
 wearing on valentine's day is this beautiful eyemask, 
because: #thesnuggleisreal #sleepgoals


Monday, February 8, 2016

♥ m0851 comes to boston.

this past thursday evening, i escaped from suburbia and drove into the city to 
attend the vip opening of m0851 on newbury street in boston!

with roots that began in montreal (where the products are still designed and made)
and branches that spread quickly across the globe (they have 25 stores, 3 of which are in
 the US, the rest are everywhere from europe to asia) this purveyor of men's and women's
 leathers & accessories has made itself right at home among some of the best shops in the city.


as i approached the crowded store, a warm glow emanated from the space, 
welcoming me like an old friend. the interior of the store is simple and sophisticated--
wooden shelves, brick walls and bright lights highlighting the gorgeous leather pieces. 
i was quickly ushered to the stock room behind the scenes and introduced
 to the company's vice president & director of marketing, faye mamarbachi-
 a woman whose pride in and love for the brand she affectionately refers to
as "m08"is immediately apparent.


as you could guess, the first question i ask is for faye to explain the name m0851 to me-
how is it pronounced and what does it mean?

faye smiled, and explained that the company began in 1987 (it will celebrate it's 30th birthday
in 2017!) and was originally called "rugby north america."about 13 years ago, they decided
to re-brand and against the admonition of those who said changing names may have a negative
response from customers, they made the change to m0851 and have never looked back.

the name, which is "more mathematical than it is beautiful," as faye describes, is actually
the first letter of the last name of the founder and designer (and also faye's father!), 
frederic mamarbachi, as well as his birthday 08-51 (august/ 1951.) 

this transparency- this acceptance of age- enough to include it in its very label-
is something that sets m0851 apart from the pack. every decision has been made in an
organic and natural way that works for the m0851 brand, in a celebration of itself and not
 for the glamour of what it might be. 

the first store opened in montreal- but not to be stifled or pegged as just a canadian brand-
the company quickly moved to new york, was sold through whole sale in europe,
and also opened stores in japan and australia.


each store is lovingly designed by frederic with a respect for the space-
with quality materials and elegant lines that are a key part of the brand's identity.

and while every store is different and the customers that purchase m0851 products
are diverse, faye said something that really struck me about what they do share in common:
 " in every culture, there is always a part of the human being that wants quality... that is looking
for comfort and elegance.. they want to feel confident about their choice. they don't
want to feel cheated. i think there is a bit of m08 in each person."

 with the innovative raw materials that they use and the child-like naivete that frederic takes 
when designing each new colllection, the m0851 brand is definitely a brand that will
"people will like a bit in the beginning and more and more every year."

ps. thank you to cbh communications for the invitation :)

Saturday, February 6, 2016

♥ happy chinese new year weekend!