Lovely Obsessions: Via Spiga Clogs

Meet the newest addition to my shoe collection!  I've been ogling over clogs all summer long and I finally found the perfect pair at Nordstrom Rack last weekend.  These embody everything I've been looking for in a clog... platform heel, butter soft leather, cute details, deep caramel color and the right price.  I picked these up for less than half the retail price (marked down to $89 from $198)!!

The other day I saw these See by Chloe Slingback wedges (as seen on Rachel Bilson... love her!) on Who What Wear and instantly fell in love.  At $270 the price is a bit steep for a trendy shoe... but at any weak moment i may cave-in and make them mine!

Lovely Creations: Ruffle White Ts

 J's visit over the 4th of July weekend was the perfect opportunity for us to exercise our creativity with a little craft project that H posted about here (thanks R for picking up all the supplies!).  While we had a slow start, (we probably sat around staring at the plain white men's tshirts for a good 45 minutes before picking up the scissors and making the first cut) I was very impressed with the end product!  It's amazing how different they all look and what you can create with just a simple tshirt and thread. 

{from left to right - J's, M's R's, H's}

{Rebecca Minkoff MAC, H&M necklace, Marc By Marc Jacobs Watch Belt, Joe's Jeans Shorts} 

Lovely Favorites: Everything's better when it's pink!

 {Essie nail polish in Santa Fe Mauve makes my toes happy!}

{Pinkberry yogurt with a hint of Watermelon - so refreshing & yummy!}

 {Chanel Levres Scintillantes in Giggle - the perfect nude lip color}

 {I absolutely love my Hermes Clic-Clac H Wide Bracelet in Pink Enamel}

{can't go wrong with the classic strawberry flavored Mochilato}

Lovely Essentials: Basic Black

{Nine West peep toes}
not only are these the most comfortable pair of shoes I own

but they were a steal at the Nine West outlet in Hawaii

{Liquid eyeliner}
raccoon-eye-free thank you very much!

{Canon Rebel xti with Canon EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS lens}
makes me look almost professional--
now I just have to learn how to use it in more than one setting

{Marc Jacobs Patchwork Stam}
a 20 pound disguise for hand lotion, makeup, a water bottle, and anything else you might need once in a blue moon-- but the day you need it and have it will make the shoulder and neck pain alllllllll worth it!

{Lululemon Groove Pants}
comfort, fit, and flexibility of these pants make working out endurable

{my Ray-bans}
living in southern california requires a tolerance for extreme heat,
lots of sunscreen, and multiple pairs of sunglasses with polarized lenses

Lovely Obsessions: Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy

As you all probably know, I'm pretty obsessed with yoga, and I'm also into workout DVD's because I have yet to bring myself to pay for a gym membership, and I enjoy working out in the privacy of my own home where I can slack off as much as I want without anyone seeing. So I was really excited when I heard that Jennifer Aniston's yoga instructor Mandy Ingber came out with a DVD workout! Mandy Ingber is quirky and funny, and she provides unique perspectives to yoga and working out in general. The soundtrack is really great, the videography is artistic and aesthetically pleasing, and the workout is pretty difficult (I didn't fully break a sweat, which I was disappointed about, but my weak ass couldn't even do 100% of the lunges, and my legs were hurting the next day!!!!). She combines a lot of common (but really good) exercises with yoga poses, like crescent pose + lunges, chair pose + squats, and boat pose + sit ups.  This is super good because it's a semi-cardio/sculpting workout, but as a result feels a little less like real yoga.  Seriously though, watching Mandy Ingber on the TV screen is pretty motivating in itself cause she has an awesome body.

If I just really want to do yoga (yunno, mind+body workout type thing), I think I might prefer Rodney Yee, even though I feel silly watching him on TV, with his teeny tiny speedo outfits and long braided hair (kind of a strange sight to see). But his power yoga workout is hard and fun, and he's so good at making it look easy which is extremely motivating.

Lovely Obsessions: model Rachel Rutt

{NextNY}

{Style.com - Christian Cota Spring 2010 RTW}

{Ballerinaflats.blogspot.com}

{tfs}

{style.com - Doo.Ri Resort 2010}

{WWD.com}

{style.com - Doo.Ri Resort 2010}

{style.com- Doo.Ri Resort 2010}

I think I like her because she looks like a mix between Katie Holmes and Blair Waldorf (not Leighton Meester), and one more person that I can't think of.  It's funny how being obsessed with fashion makes you at least semi-obsessed with models too (or is it just me?).  And now because of her I'm obsessed with Doo.Ri Resort 2010!  I need those shooooooooessss!!!!  

I love loving things I can't and won't ever have.  Is that weird?

Lovely Obsessions: Summer Stripes

if summer stripes could show me the way...

it's always you. how do you do it?

Patterson J. Kincaid please.

keep that head up, Kim Noorda, you are beautiful & brave.


[stardust & sequins; shopbop; bicyclette]

Lovely Obsessions: May Play

yellow dresses

french desserts & fancy drinks(1) avocado & cheddar cheese (2) melted peanut butter 
(3) butter, cinnamon, & sugarhappy birthday dear franciswoof social networking... & baby otters


{french frosting; katstyles; serious eats; nbc}

Lovely Adventures: VEGAS

Usually I'm the person trying to convince everyone to go anywhere but Vegas since the 4-hour drive, smoky casinos and late drunken nights is not what I call an ideal weekend, but when D asked if I wanted to tag along on his friends' Vegas trip, I got excited. It's been a couple years since I last went and I've been wanting to make a trip out to the desert for my kind of guilty pleasure... outlet shopping!

The Las Vegas Premium Outlets have made some great additions in the past few years and I've been dying to check out the Ted Baker Outlet ever since H went a year or two ago. I set out hoping to find some great deals, and the outlets did not disappoint!

Here are the newest additions to my wardrobe:

Ted Baker Wrap Scarf Top - $55+20%off (Retail $115)

Ted Baker X-Over Back Dress - $125+10%off (Retail $295)

French Connection Ruffle Pleated Dress - $60+30%off (Retail $168)

7 for all mankind LS Scoop Neck T - $49+50%off (Retail $98)

And accessories:

Cole Haan Air Lyric Ballet - $150+60%off (Retail $150)

J.Crew Studded Gray Skinny Belt - $29.50+30%off (Retail $35)

Prescriptives Well-Suited Eye Color Compact in Neutral - $28 (Retail $40)

Lovely Beauty: Shu Uemura

I have been in the market for a new blush since my go-to blush, Nars (Orgasm), has dwindled down to just the edges of the container. I was also looking forward to being a bit more adventurous with cheek color after being inspired by my super-cute hair stylist who adorns her cheeks with a bright pink hue. So while waiting for my eyebrow pencil (I cannot live without this eyebrow pencil, it turns my thin colorless wisps into half-decent brows! I've actually gotten compliments on my eyebrows, so I know it works wonders) to be sharpened at my local Shu Uemura retail store, I played with all the pretty blushes and stumbled across this perfect pearly peachy blush. The pigment is quite intense and with just a couple sweeps across my cheek I have a new bright and happy face that shouts "it's spring!" :)

glow on blush - p45 - pearl vivid peach - warm undertone

side note: I have to mention how my love affair with Shu Uemura started, with their famous gold eyelash curler of course! If you do not have one, go out and buy one immediately!

So... I'm gushing to H about how much i LOVE my new blush when she blindsides me with this horrible news!



I was ready to go out and buy several reserves of my beauty staples, but it appears (for now) that they plan to continue online sales in the U.S. whew! I'm still extremely saddened by the news, especially in the wake of another of my cosmetic favorites, Prescriptives, exit a few months back. What has the world come to?! I realize this shouldn't be so high on my priority list... but this bad economy is really taking a toll on my makeup bag!

Lovely Obsessions: My Statement Bracelet

For Christmas, B likes to trick me by only wrapping a smallish gift and giving it to me.  Then after I open the gift feeling what he hopes is disappointment, he runs into the bedroom to the secret hiding place to get the "real" gift.  As the gift opener, it is difficult to know what the right reaction should be.  While I am always appreciative of the small gift, which is usually very thoughtful, but yes, "small," in the back of my mind I am waiting for the "real" gift.  And there's always the chance that this is the real gift!!!  Hopefully we're in sync enough to where we both know what constitutes a real Christmas gift, and what can be considered the small gift.  It would be quite unfortunate for me to one day expect him to go running in the room for the real gift, and it not happen.  It's not my fault, B brought this upon himself by trying to trick me!  Now that I think about it, why would anyone want to trick someone into thinking they got a crappy Christmas gift?  Not that any of my small gifts have been crappy by any measure.  But now my standards have gotten pretty high as a result of this little game of his...

This past Christmas was no different.  My small gift was so great!  B got me this book that I didn't even know existed: You Know You Want It, by Gossip Girl Costume Designer Eric Daman.  B knows I love Blair Waldorf's style in Gossip Girl, so this was such a thoughtful gift.

Although it's not about Blair Waldorf, it's a beautiful book about finding your style, dressing for your body type, accentuating your features, and understanding the appropriate wardrobe for different occasions.  While most of the information in the book is probably common sense to most people, I find it motivating to read because sometimes you can get caught up in the trends and forget to focus on what you really like and what really works for you.  It is also a reminder of the wide array of styles and pieces a wardrobe can have, and how beautiful outfits can look even when they're not the latest trend.  I like the idea of having my own personal style that won't necessarily change with the seasons or fads. 

With that being said, it was a funny coincidence that right after Christmas, an article came out about Eric Daman's book party (see here).  In the article he claims that the next "It" accessory is "the statement bracelet."  Well thanks to my real Christmas gift from B, it looks like I've already got my "statement bracelet."  I think my bracelet is "statement" enough to make me feel current yet classic enough that I'll love it forever and ever.

 {Lily McNeal Sweater, Paige Jeans, Marc Jacobs Blake, Hermes Wide Enamel Bracelet}

Lovely Obsessions: essie Nail Polish

I've been using OPI nail polish for quite some time and wanted to try essie because I've seen it in magazines many times. Once I put it on my nails, I absolutely loved it! The pastel color is so beautiful and it makes me smile when I look at it. The color I have on is "ST LUCIA LILAC". I think it would look even better if there were rhinestones on it too. =)

Lovely Obsessions: my Walter by Walter Baker dress

B got me a Walter by Walter Baker dress from Hautelook a few weeks ago and I love it!  I couldn't believe it was only $58.  M got a WbWB dress, too!  Hers is different though, but still super cute!  I want to see it in person.