NY Spender

Love these bright colors!

2012-02-15T20:52:00.004-05:00

I can't wait for this coming colorful fashion season! :)

Capture the Moment with Your Smartphone

2012-02-15T10:11:00.002-05:00

How many times in the past have you wished you had a camera to capture a special moment? Many, I'm sure. But I'm also sure that since Smart Phones have become more of a staple in people's life, you have been able to capture more and more of those special moments.

A very big feature of this blog "Fashion Disasters" couldn't exist without a smart phone, because could you imagine me taking these close-up pictures with a big flashy camera??? ;)

Remember Mr. Rainbow Brite?

The Dark-Goth-Garbage Lady?

The "I Forgot My Pants" Lady

The Twin Roller Sisters

All joking aside, smart phones have enriched our lives in incredible ways, from helping us with scheduling, to keeping in touch with friends, to quickly searching for directions, to checking our emails on the go...

I can't even imagine ever going back to a time without my smart phone. How did we manage?!?

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by US Cellular via Glam Media. The opinionsexpressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of USCellular.

NY Fashion Week

2012-02-13T19:25:00.001-05:00

I have not posted anything about fashion week, how terrible of me, considering this is, primarily, a fashion blog. But what can I say? With the baby and all, I am not as exposed as I used to be to the fashion craziness that happens here in NY twice a year.

Plus, I never seem to remember 6 months down the road what fashion week told me 6 months earlier... you know what I mean?

At this point in time, in February, I like to dream about and plan my Spring and Summer wardrobe, instead of looking at more cold weather clothes. I understand that fashion need its time to plan collections, but fashion will also understand that I focus better 3 months (at most!) down the road.

So down the road is Spring and then Summer, and a whole lot of colors! Neons! Brights! Yellows! Yay!

Sunday Reads

2012-02-12T13:56:00.002-05:00

How tragic! Another great artist that could have done so much more, if only... Whitney Houston dies at 48

She will probably be remembered tonight at the Grammys

So happy I got tickets to see Death of a Salesman!

Do you know The Pioneer Woman? Well, if you don't, you should!

10 Things to Treat Yourself to on Valentine's Day

Follow on Twitter: Pat McGrath, oh, what would I give to have my makeup done by her!

Have You Tried a BB Cream?

2012-02-11T10:07:00.001-05:00

Was I the last person to learn about these BB creams? Up to a few months ago, I had never seen one before, and then, all of a sudden, bam! BB creams everywhere!

What theses creams are trying to be (or promising to be) is an all-in-one skin care regimen, with one tube packing SPF, moisturizer, some color and a treatment! I'm sold! Only one product to do everything? A dream come true!

I have yet to try one of them, but with so many BB creams on the market, I'm sure I'll find something. On my radar right now the Boscia B.B. Cream:

I've already blogged about it, but since then I've also been reading a lot of reviews on it, and it definitely looks like a cream worth trying.

People mostly say that it's a light weight moisturizer, with a tint, that leaves their skin firmer and glowing. Nice. What's not to like about that?

Boscia's description: The gentle botanical formula creates a lustrous, flawless finish as it hydrates, firms, and soothes the skin. It helps to diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines, and uneven skintone while providing long-wearing, natural coverage that conceals imperfections. Comes in a self-adjusting, universal shade that warms to complement most skin tones for sheer, flawless coverage.

For $38 this one is on my must-buy list!

H. Bloom Valentine's Day Contest

2012-02-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

H.Bloom is launching a contest called "Give Love That Lasts" that is live on Facebook.

H.Bloom believes in celebrating your loved ones all year long. Four couples will win a yearlong luxury flower subscription from H.Bloom delivered every other week to help celebrate their love all year round. Nominations close at noon on February 14th EST.

To Enter, nominate yourself or your favorite people who live in New York in 1 of 3 categories:

New To Love (Couples who have been together for less than 15 years)
Long Term Love (Couples who have been together for 15 or more years)
Love of Family (Enduring family bonds)

One Grand Prize Winner will receive:
1 yearlong H.Bloom flower subscription from the Classic Collection delivered every other week starting on Valentine's Day - Winners will be able to select 12 full size products from luxury skincare line, NATURA BISSÉ (for a total value of $3,000) and receive two one hour facial treatments (value $400 each) at Natura Bisse’s Destino Barcelona facial room located at Bergdorf Goodman - 2 nights at Acqualina Resort in Miami and 1 couple's spa treatment - Simon Doonan Prize Pack: 1 copy of Gay Men Don't Get Fat and the Simon Doonan Bouquet from H.Bloom in a Jonathan Adler Vidalia Bud Vase

Sunday Reads

2012-02-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

Enjoying the mild winter here in NY. And getting ready to watch some football!

1) Don't forget: Madonna is singing during half time! Even if it looks like she has already made public the four songs she will be singing (Vogue, Music, Like a Prayer and her new single "Give Me All Your Luvin'), I can't help myself, and I'm still hoping she comes out on stage wearing a wedding dress and singing Like a Virgin!

2) Stop by the Food Network for big game bash snack ideas.

3) Everybody knows Dooce. If you are one of the few people that still don't know her, Heather has been blogging for at least a decade (yes, when most of us bloggers had still never heard of the word "blog") about her life. I've only read her a few times here and there, but I've always found interesting similarities/timing in our lives (pregnant at the same time, a bout of shingles out of nowhere, lactating woes, mental breakdowns) that kept me going back, just to see what she was up to. Unfortunately, right now things are not going great for her (she has separated from her husband) but is doing her best to stay afloat, holding on to her two precious little daughters.

4) If you like history, pick up John Adams' biography by David McCullogh. Learn about one of the less charismatic of the founding fathers (but, oh so interesting!). After that watch the HBO miniseries based on the book and starring Paul Giamatti in probably the best role of his career.

6) Follow on Twitter: the wildly funny Dina @eye4style.

Win 18k Gold Earrings from Anjolee

2012-02-03T11:17:00.000-05:00

Right on time for Valentine's Day, here is my gift to you: a dazzling pair of Gemstone Stud Earrings in 18k white gold, with 4.7 mm amethysts! Yes, here at NY Spender we don't mess around! ;)

The earrings are courtesy of Anjolee, a high-end jewelry manufacturer based in San Diego that specializes in Diamond Stud Earrings and customized jewelry.

These amethyst earrings, for example, have been personally customized for you by the NY Spender! And it was a pretty simple process, from selecting the metal (gold, white gold, platinum) to selecting the size (up to 3 carats!) to selecting the stone, and they come in such a pretty package (which is always welcome).

Anjolee also has an iPhone App, to customize and purchase their Diamond Studs on the go.

So whether you are shopping for your girlfriend, or for yourself, this coming Valentine's Day don't forget to check out their Diamond Stud Earrings.

And for your chance to win this beautiful pair, just leave a comment below. US residents only. Contest open until Friday, February 10th, 2012, Midnight EST. Winner will be randomly selected on Saturday, February 11th, 2012. Good Luck!
==================================
UPDATE: Congrats MJ! You are the winner! :)

Frail and Thin Hair: I'm going back to Kerastase

2012-01-30T23:51:00.001-05:00

I seriously need to help my hair out. Since the baby was born, my hair has gotten stronger, then weaker, then it started to fall out, then it got thinner (I didn't think that was even possible, but alas! never say never...)

I have been cutting it to grow it stronger, but that hasn't worked out so far. And I'm left with short and weak hair. And I hate short and weak hair.

While there is not much I can do about hair falling out, I can try to strengthen the few strands left on my head! Not to worry, I'm not bald yet. If that ever happens, I guess I won't worry about shampoos anymore, and I'll spend all my money on wigs, just like Lady Gaga. ;)

But until I have some hair left on my head, I will try all I can to help it get stronger, and maybe multiply (a little wine, some Barry White, a few drops of sexy Moroccan oil...) What I've tried in the past (yes, I've always had some kind of hair problem) that have worked are two different products: Rogaine and Kerastase.

I used Rogaine for women years back, when I had a bout of hair taking a leave of absence. Blame it on stress and my not-so-great health, so then, like now, I had to cut my hair short, because having long, thin and sparse hair is just too painful to watch and impossible to style. And Rogaine was something short of a miracle, because I did get all of my hair back, and it was so noticeable, that people started asking what I had been using...

Today I don't feel like using Rogaine, only because it's annoying to put on, and I don't feel I have the time nor the patience for it. And maybe I'm not as vain anymore. Or maybe I still have enough hair on my head to be able to postpone the treatment.

What I will start using immediately, instead, is another treatment I used about 5 years ago, that also proved successful: Kerastase Fortifying products.

There is a shampoo:
Kerastase Resistance Bain De Force Fortifying Shampoo

A Conditioner:
Kerastase RESISTANCE CIMENT ANTI-USURE

A leave-in conditioner:
Kerastase Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique Reconstructor Milk

And there was a "rescue program", sort of a reconstructive conditioner which I have used, and which left my hair feeling thicker almost instantly. Unfortunately Kerastase has discontinued this product (it makes me wonder why), but it's still available around the web: Kerastase Forcintense (6 - 15 ml. tubes)

I will try to document some of the trials and tribulations of trying to grow and strengthen my hair, in hope to help someone else out there with similar problems, and also to welcome any suggestions you might have that I can use to make this process more successful (I've been told to use eggs, and also beer, but I haven't done it... yet)

Sunday Reads

2012-01-29T07:24:00.003-05:00

Happy Sunday! Here are some interesting articles from around the web (because you don't want to read just me "all the time", right? ;)

1) Here is a girl that has been doing what I always wanted to do, but never had the discipline nor the patience to do so: Alison takes a picture of her daily wardrobe (and I can't even blame the baby on this one, because she has a baby, too!).

2) It feels good when justice is done: Lululemon killer convicted

3) Scary but interesting and good to know: GPS trail legal to follow? I'm just thinking I need to invest on GPS companies, pronto!

4) Lovely article about being a stay at home mom. I cried reading it. Yes, I'm still hormonal, even if my baby is almost three years old...

5) Some eye candy never hurts: Ryan Gosling, yum!

6) Follow on Twitter: The most beautiful girl in town: @IndiaJewelJax Beauty Editor Extraordinaire

Cute Cutey Cutest! Bracelet Giveaway!

2012-01-22T20:16:00.002-05:00

Here is a jewelry company to keep an eye on: Cutey from the UK.

Just founded in 2011, all of their charm bracelets are made with the prettiest colorful beads and adorable metal links.

Charms come in a variety of colors and best of all their prices are very affordable (even if you are buying from the States, with shipping, it still comes to so much less than other charm bracelets out there).

Best of all, I was able to get my hands on a couple of these bracelets, and while I'm keeping one for myself - it's so cutey! ;) I will share my other one with you: just enter a comment below, leave your email address, and I will select a random winner on Sunday, January 29th, 2012. US delivery addresses only, please. Good luck!

*** And the winner is: Lisaluc88! Congrats!

H&R $100,000 Refund Giveaway!

2012-01-19T11:19:00.000-05:00

We are currently thinking about buying a house. This is without any doubt the biggest expense most people incur in their lifetime, and it's not one to be taken lightly.

We have been looking for more than a year already, at many different houses, in many different towns. After six months we did find a house we liked: it was big, it had a nice lot of land around it, and it was within our budget. It seemed perfect. The current owner was eager to sit down and sign the contract, but I wasn't willing to just drop thousands of dollars on the spot without the extra reassurance of a professional advice.

And with any big decisions, I always like to "sleep on it".

So I slept on it, and the next day I called Mr. Davis.

Mr. Davis is a house inspector, a man that just by looking at a rooftop can tell you if it's going to last or if it's going to fall on your head within a year. A man that can smell mildew and termites as soon as he enters a room. Mr. Davis was also a man that never smiled. He was very serious about his business!

I asked Mr. Davis to meet us at the house for an inspection, and when he did, he didn't say much and went right to work. He looked at the basement, at the furnace, at the chimney, at the ceilings, at the roof, at the garage, at the stairs, under the carpets, inside the closets...

My husband was following him everywhere, while I was standing in front of the house with the baby in my arms, or wandering around the kitchen looking around just like Mr. Davis was doing. Except I didn't know what I was looking for!

Actual Picture of the "House"

When the inspector had finished looking around he told us he was going to send us a report in a day or two. But he also added that the house was in pretty bad shape, and so he didn't recommend us buying it, unless we wanted to rebuild it from the ground up. That comment made us look at the house with very different eyes, and when we received the report, we realized that the house was going to be a lot of work and that it was not worth what they were trying to sell it for. After the inspection, the seller tried to lower the price of the house to entice us once more, but at that point we knew that the house was not what we wanted anymore.

In the end we didn't buy that house. Thanks to Mr. Davis, a professional in his field, we avoided making a big mistake that would have cost us so much money and headaches. And we didn't settle for less than what we wanted.

I love taking charge of my life and my decisions, but I also know when it's time to call in the "professionals"! Some things we can do on our own, but some things are better left to the people who know best. Like our taxes. And right now H&R Block At Home is offering a great contest: customers whocompleted their taxes using H&R Block at Home can instantly win one ofthe hourly drawn cash prizes and be entered to win a $100,000 grand prize refund. To enter, complete a tax return online viacomputer or tablet device using H&R Block At Home tax preparation.

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by H&R Block® via GlamMedia. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are notindicative of the opinions or positions of H&R Block®

Atlantic City vs. Las Vegas

2012-01-17T18:11:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I was re-watching a movie I remember I liked the first time around, Swingers, with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, but the whole time through I couldn't focus much because I kept thinking: "wow, what happened to Vince???" and "wow, what happened to Jon???" I kept thinking it over and over... those guys were not just younger but sooo much slimmer. Vince Vaughn must literally weight double or more now than what he did in that movie.

In any case, these guys are bored and live in California. So where do you go when you are bored, sad, happy, adventurous... (insert any other adjective here)? Las Vegas, right!

So they went to Vegas and spent some time "not thinking about their problems", "gambling", "flirting"... you know...

This got me thinking: where do New York people go when they feel in such a way? We can't drive to Vegas, unfortunately. There are a few casinos here and there, but the only thing that comes close is Atlantic City, and even then... it falls short.

I've been to Atlantic City a few times, and I've been to Las Vegas once. There is no comparison. I had so much fun in Vegas, while I actually felt AC as a bit of a downer.

But I'm not the only one thinking that Atlantic City could use some help, in fact there is a website created by the CRDA (Casino Reinvestment Development Authority) to collect public suggestions on how to better revitalize Atlantic City. If you feel you have something to say, you can visit the website here: revitalizeac.com. I've already left my input.

I really hope something good comes out of this, because while I'm not a gambler, I do enjoy the thrill of maybe hitting a jackpot, or betting my favorite number (only once or twice) on the roulette and see it win (yes, it has happened to me) :)

Michael Kors Watches

2012-01-09T23:49:00.000-05:00

He might not be Swiss, but I like what Michael Kors does with watches.

Right now I have my eyes on a couple of them, trying to pick one:

MICHAEL Michael Kors Ladies Faux Horn and Gold Bracelet Watch

MICHAEL Michael Kors, Brown Dial with Tortoiseshell Bracelet

MICHAEL Michael Kors Quartz White and Rose Women's Watch

Fashion Inappropriate?

2012-01-08T01:38:00.001-05:00

Have I become some kind of conservative freak because I think these stockings are not appropriate at 9AM for the office?

I think they're more sexy than business-like (unless your business has to do with sex...)

OMG! I'm turning into my grandmother! This is what kids will do to you!

You have been warned.

A Natural Moisturizer: Jurlique

2012-01-05T17:11:00.000-05:00

On with my moisturizer quest, the next brand to explore is Jurlique. In their own words:

Since 1985, Jurlique has pioneered natural, high performance skin care products. Jurlique was founded in South Australia, one of the purest places on Earth, in an ideally suited and unpolluted environment where harmony with nature is at the heart of the free-spirited Australian lifestyle. Our mission is to provide the purest, most effective skin care through nature, science and innovation.

From farm to bottle, Jurlique grows, processes, and formulates pure, potent extracts to deliver the most innovative products with dynamic results. Jurlique's farm grown roots and pure formulas are about as real as the vegetables grown in an organic garden.

Formulated without: Parabens- Sulfates- Synthetic Fragrances- Synthetic Dyes- Petrochemicals- Phthalates- GMOs- Triclosan!

Purely White Skin Brightening Day Cream

A lightweight moisturizer to help minimize dark spots and and improve skin radiance.

This day cream contains Jurlique's VitaBrightKx complex. Made with ascorbyl glucoside, a natural form of vitamin C, it is intended to help promote collagen synthesis and help inhibit melanin production for a skin brightening effect. The complex's mix of superfruit antioxidant ingredients works to even skintone, reduce the appearance of discolorations, and brighten the complexion. Bisabolol soothes and hydrates skin throughout the day. $45

Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream

A powerful firming treatment and hydrating moisturizer in one product.

This rich, fast-absorbing cream harnesses the power of plant botanicals to firm, lift, strengthen and hydrate skin. It contains a potent amino acid lipid to lift and re-define facial contours. A marine plant extract helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A natural repair agent helps to activate collagen synthesis and restructure skin. $70

Clarifying Day Care Lotion

A lightweight, balancing moisturizer.

Jurlique's Clarifying Day Care Lotion provides light-textured hydration for the skin. This easily absorbed lotion helps to minimize the visible signs of aging and prevents excess oiliness, leaving the skin feeling soft and balanced. $36

The more I read about it, the more I want a natural product for my face. So I think I will continue this quest with mostly, if not all, natural products, leaving out most of the brands we all know, but that use so many weird and toxic ingredients.

Happy New Year! Let's start with the resolutions!

2012-01-02T17:55:00.001-05:00

I hope everybody is enjoying the new year. Let's hope it brings us more love, more happiness and more money than any other year before it! ;)

I also hope it will bring me a better complexion, because between my bad skin, my acne scars, the post baby rosacea, and the melasma on my forehead, I am a walking wet-dream for any dermatologist!

Soooooo, here I go looking for the best moisturizer for my skin, which means I will research it for a couple of weeks before I'll be ready to buy it.

The first brand I'd like to explore and share with you is Boscia. What I like about this brand is that is preservative free and like it says on their website:

To achieve superior results without compromising skin health (sensitive or otherwise), boscia products are formulated without the following:
Preservatives (boscia contains none of the 150 industry-recognized preservatives – not just parabens – that can irritate skin and cause blemishes, redness, eczema and more).
Ethanol alcohol
Bactericides
Synthetic fragrances
Synthetic colorants
Mineral oil
Animal ingredients

As for the products I'm looking at, while they do have a nice collection to choose from, I was able to narrow it down to:

Cream SPF 27 PA++

This oil-free B.B. Cream is the ultimate multi-tasking treatment. The gentle botanical formula creates a lustrous, flawless finish as it hydrates, firms and soothes the skin. Helps diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines and uneven skintone while providing long-wearing, natural coverage that conceals imperfections. $38.00

Restorative Day Moisture Cream SPF 15

An advanced hydrating cream that delivers high levels of moisture and helps diminish the appearance of uneven skintone, dullness and fine lines while protecting skin from future damage with broad spectrum SPF 15. $48.00

Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15

An oil-free moisturizer that provides weightless hydration as it controls excess oil, minimizes the look of pores and protects skin from future damage with broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection. $36.00

Boscia seems like a good brand with a great philosophy, and while I haven't tried any of their products yet, I think that I will very soon. And their prices are not prohibitive at all.

Please feel free to share any of your experience with Boscia in the comments below.

Bell Bottom Jeans

2011-12-28T10:04:00.001-05:00

I love bell bottom jeans! I love, love, love them! I love the way they fit me, way better than any slim fitting jeans. And I love the fact that this winter it's easier than ever to find them. From DKNY, to Abercrombie & Fitch, to Levi's, to Seven Jeans... everybody has them. :)

Happy Shopping!

2011-12-26T10:29:00.001-05:00

You got your gift certificates and the stores have gone mad with sales... perfect combination!

I'm looking at possibly

1) a new handbag

2) a watch

3) a pair of boots

my stores of choice for this occasion: Bloomingdales or JCPenney

What did you get?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T19:57:00.002-05:00

This little cat was patiently waiting for Baby Jesus to be born! :)

Last Last Minute Gift Idea: eBookFling.com

2011-12-23T00:42:00.002-05:00

Great Deal for Procrastinators!!! Print a Gift Certificate and place it inside a card. Et Voila'!

eBookFling is the nation's largest nook & kindle ebook lending service.

Just $19.99 to borrow any 12 kindle or nook books for 1 year.

HUGE SAVINGS when compared to the $9.99 Amazon/B&N typically charge for a single ebook!

No e-reader required, either. Read on any iPhone/Android smartphone, iPad/Android tablet, Mac/PC, and of course Kindle and Nook.

Use code "5OFFGIFT" for $5 off any gift purchase from http://ebookfling.com/gift.html.

New Styles at Sears!

2011-12-21T10:36:00.000-05:00

As the quest for new clothes that don't break the bank continues, I stopped by Sears and boy am I glad I did! They have two brands that have caught my attention: UK Style by French Connection and Apostrophe.

The leggings by UK Style by French Connection are so comfortable and come in different colors and styles, that I now know that I'm going to wear A LOT of leggings this winter. Plus, leggings make for the perfect substitute for the dreaded sweat pants that I can't seem to shake off on the weekends. And for less than $20 a pair, you can really have more than a couple in your closet.

From Apostrophe, instead, I loved the sweaters. They have all these different sweaters, and I love that they love to play with colors, and not just the usual shades of black and white. I bought myself this sweater, but in a better color.

Isn't it pretty? Want to know how much? $20!!! And it looks great with the leggings by UK Style by FC!

And this is another sweater I had to buy, worn with my other pair of leggings by FC.

I think this sweater + leggings is going to be my signature style this winter, and with these newly discovered affordable brands, I can have so many different looks for the same price of one of those "high end" brands!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was provided by Sears or Glam Media for this post. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sears.

Sofia Vergara's New Line at Kmart

2011-12-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

With the economy the way it is and the job market in terrible shape, it is a wonder how the high end luxury market is still around. Fortunately for us, a lot of more affordable and very fashionable options are now available, one of these being Sofia Vergara's new line at Kmart.

I've always known Sofia for her stunning beauty and incredible curves, and I was happy to learn that she had a clothing line that completely reflected her style, designed with real women in mind, to make them feel confident and sexy.

Some of my favorite pieces include this perfect little black dress with the added sexy ingredient of lace:

The different leggings styles in her line:

Her jeggings (jeans legging), which were actually sold out the last time I went to Kmart!

I was able to grab some other pieces from the collection, but I'm definitely going back for the jeggings!

And best of all, when I was shopping at Kmart, Sofia's line was on sale and most of her pieces cost less than $20! What a bargain for such nice clothes! What are you waiting for? Work what you got! You are a woman, so dress like a woman! Sofia Vergara's new line is exclusively at Kmart.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Kmart via Glam Media. The opinionsexpressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions orpositions of Kmart.

My John Frieda Makeover Video

2011-12-19T07:45:00.001-05:00

As I blogged back in September, I was offered the opportunity to participate in a makeover experience, to try out John Frieda's Precision Foam Color. Below you will find the video that came out from that experience, and that explains in better details how to use the Foam Color, but it also gives you a glimpse of what that incredible makeover was like, including before and after shots of yours truly.

Three months later, I have to say that I still have not colored my hair, and that the color is still pretty much vibrant, which is incredible, because usually by now any other color would have faded from my hair. I can now testify that this Precision Foam Color is not only easier to use than the regular liquid formulas, but that it also lasts a long time without turning lighter or fading.

So what does my hair look like now?

The hair is longer, as I am trying to get it all back to chin length. The bangs that I had for the makeover are really hard to replicate for me only because my hair is stubborn and it doesn't want to stay down, so I have to settle for a side swept style.

And the styling tips I received from the girls at Glam, I've kept them in mind since then and when shopping, which mainly translated into "try to get out of that comfort zone" I've fallen into since having the baby. And I will write more about those shopping trips in the next few days.

Lastly, the makeup makeover I received was great, but I feel it's more a look for a big night out, and not something I would want to wear every day. I much prefer a clean face look, even though I agree that my eyebrows need a little more substance.

Overall, it was so much fun to be pampered and made over, not to mention the fact of being videotaped the whole time. I learned a lot, and I discovered a few new products that I will use again in the future, including the Precision Foam Color... it basically was one of those win win win win situations. ;)

Precision Foam Colour is the first ever premium permanent home hair colour from the John Frieda®Hair Care Experts that uses foam technology to deliver a luxurious at-home colouring experience.Demand gorgeous, salon-quality results - 100% grey coverage and vibrant shine. With 20 flatteringshades to choose from, achieving natural-looking hair colour perfection is in your hands.

Disclosure: The product reviewed in this post was provided gratis by the John Frieda® Hair Care team.The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions orpositions of the John Frieda® Hair Care team.

Only in New York: Laura Lobdell Jewelry

2011-12-15T19:01:00.000-05:00

For your last minute gift ideas (if you live in New York)!

Laura Lobdell Jewelry is located in Greenwich Village in New York City, and it has the cutest jewelry:

Champers Rings

Signed, Copyrighted Pieces made here in New York.

Rings are available in all precious metals,

and can be personalized with hand engraving and or stones.

Bubbles Royale

Blow your bubbles in style with this silver pendant

Seeds of Silk,

Ocean Washed, hand knotted silk embellished

with culturedpearls and sterling silver findings

Tie around your wrists, hair, ankles...

Two Perfect Gifts for Teenage Girls

2011-12-07T10:21:00.001-05:00

To listen to music in style:

Juicy Couture Earbuds

$48

To play with iPhone/ iPod when it's cold:

Echo Design Touch Gloves

$32

NY Spender's Holiday Gift Guide 2011

2011-12-02T22:32:00.001-05:00

It's December and there is no more time to play around, it's time to shop (that is, if you are planning on giving your loved ones a present or two for the holidays!)

So, what's on my radar this year...? A few good picks, nothing crazy and nothing too expensive.

For anybody that likes chocolate, you can't go wrong with Vosges. I've reviewed them before, I've eaten their chocolate and I have nothing but good things to say about this company and their product. VIP Holiday Discount: You can use the code "VosgesFriend" for 15% off any purchases from now until December 31, 2011.

For a really classic gift, say for the person that has everything and uses pencils a lot, a pencil from Faber-Castell is a great choice. I fell in love with this pencil extender with sharpener. A little on the expensive side, but so pretty and classy.

Please, please, please... understand that this book is not for a child! ;)
But for the parents, especially those new parents, that so desperately deserve to be able to chuckle about the endless sleepless nights that have become the norm since their bundle of joy has arrived. You can find the book at Akashic books.

Philipp Keel's Simple Diary Volume II. What is Simple Diary™?It is an assistant for life, a book for any occasion, for any person at any age. On every page you will discover a taste of philosophy, a pinch of psychology and a twist of insight.

Seeds of Life Oak Tree Kit. Planting a tree is a beautiful way to honor someone special in your life. Whether it is to welcome a newborn, celebrate the purchase of a home, or to honor someone's life, the planting of a tree is a touching gesture. Height of a full grown oak is 80'-125' with 2''-5'' elliptical leaves. The bark is dark brown to reddish brown and has a thick furrowed texture. It is an excellent shade tree and will thrive in Zones 3-10 (Continental USA). Tree Kit includes: Eco friendly pot and saucer (style may vary).

Send Flowers! I love flowers, giving them and receiving them, and especially this time of the year, I love having fresh flowers as centerpieces on tables. Candy Cane Lane Flower Bouquet

This year, keep it simple and focus on your loved ones by spending more time with them and sharing memories that will last a lot longer than any gift! Happy Holidays from the Spender! :)

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011

2011-11-29T23:20:00.001-05:00

First question: Who watches this show? Women or Men?

Better question: Who is this show for? Women or Men?

I mean, as a woman would you wear this outfit? No, right?

Hmm, and as a man, would you really want to find yourself in a room with a woman with white laced wings???

As a woman, do you think you can wear this bra under a t-shirt? No, right?

As a man, do you think you can unhook this bra with one hand? Yeah, right!

As a woman: Do the wings come in a smaller size?

As a man: What wings???

As a grown woman, would you wear a tutu?

As a man: What tutu???

As anybody: What on earth is that thing crouching on the left corner of the picture?

The 2.5 Millllllion Dollars Bra. People at Victoria's Secret must not be in touch with current economic trends... I wonder if it will ever be offered on Groupon? No seriously, who buys this bra? WHO?!?

Show finale: tons of naked girls dancing and smiling and shaking their butts off... for women or for men? You decide. ;)

Holiday Party Dresses - Looking for my Dress!

2011-11-29T22:52:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time, in the land of Singletown, I had about a month to get ready for my company's Christmas Party.

I would visit a couple of my favorite stores, and choose carefully the most beautiful dress, taking in account the previous years, so that if I wore a red dress the year before, I made sure that I picked a different color this time around.

Fast forward to the present and since I now have moved to a completely different planet (yes, planet, not just town), planet Mommyhood, that means that the Christmas Party is less than 3 weeks away, and I haven't shopped for a dress, nor I have lost the ten pounds I've been trying to lose for 2 years now...

But that doesn't mean that I won't try to find a way to find that pretty dress for my party!

The easiest way these days is for me to shop online, and Shabby Apple's Tinsel Town collection has some pretty dresses all under $100, which makes it a great place to start looking!

To be continued...

Something Different for Cyber Monday

2011-11-25T23:30:00.001-05:00

Forget about going to Best Buy for a 50" TV for only $599 (I was sooo tempted to sit outside in the cold and wait for the store to open at midnight, but my husband brought me back to reality and told me we were NOT going out of the house in the middle of the night...), Cyber Monday is so much better than Black Friday, because there are no crowds to fight, no cold weather, no limited quantities, no stampedes... everybody wins! :)

This year I'd like to promote some companies other than the "usual suspects":

1) Having kids myself, I know how important it is to keep them entertained and always teaching them something new. Kiwi Crate is a monthly-subscription company that delivers fun to your doorsteps. Their deal right now is $15 off three month, six month and annual gift subscriptions purchased online at www.kiwicrate.com

2) My Twinn is the maker of customized dolls for girls ages 3 to 12. They’re offering free shipping on orders over $100. Just use code FREESHIP11 at checkout. Customers are entitled to up to $70 of free merchandise depending on how much they spend. www.mytwinn.com

3) International Rescue Committee’s “Rescue Gifts”, offer ways to give that will have a long-lasting impact on the lives of refugees and others displaced by war and political persecution around the world. At Rescue.org/Gifts, holiday shoppers can select from many Rescue Gift ideas:
A Safe Delivery – $24 can ensure critical supplies for the safe delivery of a baby in a crisis zone
A Flock of Chickens – $30 can supply a flock of chickens that provides food for a family
A Full Year of School – $52 can provide the tuition, books and other supplies for one year of a child’s schooling in a country recovering from war
Warm Blankets – $84 can deliver warmth and comfort to three families of five who've lost their homes in a disaster or conflict.

www.alexandani.com

5) Save up to 50% on hotels, vacation packages, cruises, and Groupon Getaways now through November 28. Travel by March 31, 2012. Expedia

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:34:00.001-05:00

From the Spenders, here is a wish for a happy, serene, peaceful and love-filled Thanksgiving. :)

And if you are in the mood for shopping, then this is the time to do it!

Shop Amazon's Black Friday Week
2011 Black Friday Ads

Marilyn Monroe Movie Miscast

2011-11-23T22:53:00.001-05:00

Back then they (Sofia) destroyed my queen:

with

and now another legend gets totally miscasts:

with

Omg, no, no, no...

Whatever happened to the good old castings, à la Oliver Stone?

Holiday Gift List: Books Giveaway

2011-11-21T12:51:00.001-05:00

I am an avid reader, and I always buy books even if I am behind in my reading and I have about 20 new books waiting for me on my bookshelves.

I love a new book and the promises that brings of new and incredible adventures.

I think a book should be part of any holiday gift giving, and so, as my gift to you, I will giveaway three new books here on NY Spender:

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt

Here is a different kind of book: the story is told in the form of a scrapbook. Pulling from her own extraordinary collection of vintage ephemera and memorabilia, Caroline Preston creates the first ever scrapbook novel, transporting us back to the vibrant, burgeoning bohemian culture of the 1920s and introducing us to an unforgettable heroine, the spirited, ambitious, and lovely Frankie Pratt.

Agatha Christie - Murder in the Making

By John Curran, this book is the follow-up to his book Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks. In this second volume, the Christie expert, shows us how more than 20 of her novels evolved and draws on personal material and letters.

Agatha Christie - An Autobiography

Perfect gift for any Christie fan! Originally published in 1977 and out of print for several years, this autobiography has been brought back in a new hardcover edition with a CD featuring the voice of Agatha Christie. In this book, Agatha Christie sheds light on her past. She tells of her childhood in Victorian England, her volunteer work during World War II, her rise to success, her working habits, the inspiration for her most famous characters-Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple—and the places and people that influenced her.

If you want to be part of the giveaway, just leave a comment with the book you prefer to win. Contest ends Sunday, November 27th at Midnight EST. US residents only. Good Luck! :)

Kaitlin's Christmas Wish List

2011-11-17T17:59:00.001-05:00

This year Kaitlin is old enough to be able to somewhat ask for Christmas presents, and these are some of the ones that she would like to receive (this post is really for her daddy Claus) ;)

Melissa & Doug Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden USA Map Puzzle

Sling Bookshelf with Storage Bins for Kids Espresso

Barbie Pink 3-Story Dream Townhouse

KidKraft Annabelle Dollhouse

Disney Princess Exclusive 11 1/2 Inch Designer Collection Doll Cinderella

Disney Princess Ariel Little Mermaid Magical Talking Salon & Vanity

Step2 Pink Easel for Two

Playskool Alphie

The Original Tickle Me Elmo

Thank you Daddy! ;)

Duran Duran's Girl Panic Video's Subliminal Message

2011-11-11T23:06:00.001-05:00

I just finished watching Duran Duran's new video "Girl Panic" and I am in awe.

Never mind the fact that the song reminds me too much of "Girls on Film" nor the fact that George Michael had the same idea about 20 years ago...

But how?!?!

How does Cindy Crawford still look sooo good? (Well, I did see her in person almost two years ago and she did look great!)

But look for yourself:

Cindy Crawford - 1990 - George Michael's Video

Cindy Crawford - 2011 - Duran Duran's Video

And Naomi Campbell???

Naomi Campbell - 1990 - George Michael's Video

Naomi Campbell - 2011 - Duran Duran's Video

I mean you see some difference, of course, but they are still gorgeous women! Which makes me think that "good looking genes" stick with you through the years, but at the same time, it gives me hope in believing that you can be 45 years old and look amazing (if you take care of yourself).

And who is this lady? Well, that's Yasmin Le Bon! The woman that broke millions of hearts (including mine) the day she married Simon Le Bon back in 1980 something. She is also in the video and she also still looks like the clock's hands don't move in her house.

A few weeks back I actually googled her, because I was just wondering whatever happened to her, and to my surprise I found her still married to Simon! I really thought Simon was not interested in women (I saw him in concert and I really got that impression, sorry Simon), and instead here he is, still with Yasmin, and they have three daughters. And this woman still looks like she is twenty!

It makes me feel like these models have some sort of "Dorian Gray" deal going on...

Going back to the music video, Girl Panic has all these 90s top models taking center stage while a whole bunch of "young" models look from the sidelines. It's a subliminal message, that says: "Yes, you might be younger than us, but you will never be as big as we were", and has to be Duran Duran's message, as well. A bit too nostalgic, if you ask me, but true nonetheless.

I just wished they really copied George Michael's Freedom video, and also called back Linda Evangelista and Tatjana Patitz.

And maybe they should have followed George's other idea, which was "I won't appear in this video at all", but instead they did, and unlike the models, they did age a bit, and it shows:

Watch the video here:

Liebeskind and Ivanka Trump Handbags

2011-11-09T16:54:00.000-05:00

As you all know, I own a few Coach handbags. Actually, I haven't been buying anything else but Coach handbags for the past few years. And as I always pick the same color and similar style, there is a space in my closet that is starting to look very beige and full of Cs. And I'm not too crazy about that.

So yesterday while I was out for non-shopping reasons, I decided to walk inside Century 21 with the intention of finding a non-Coach bag I really liked. Century used to be my store of choice when needing a new bag, and I've been going there since I was 20 years old. I remember buying Guess and Tommy Hilfiger bags there! Ouch! But I've also bought DKNY and Michael Kors bags there that I still own.

While browsing through the aisles of handbags, I could feel the unconscious resistance in my brain, almost as if I was cheating on Coach bags by looking at these other ones. I felt under a spell. I started imagining Coach using similar techniques as McDonald's, putting something in their products that made you go back for more, even if you knew it was bad for you (and it is bad when you have a million bags all looking the same)!

But I wouldn't listen to any subliminal message implanted in my head by Coach and I kept looking, and at the end of a good hour, I came out with not just one, but two different brands I liked. Of the two brands, one I didn't know, and the other one I'm surprised I liked.

The one I didn't know is the Liebeskind Berlin brand. Oh, I love how soft their bags are!

This is the Wanda B bag. So comfortable and cozy! And soooo soft!

And this is the Coco B bag. Practical and comfortable, just like any bag should be.

The other brand I'm surprised I liked was Ivanka Trump Handbags. Nothing against Ivanka, I just thought that the Trump style wasn't my style, but I did find a few gems in her collection, like the Diamond Satchel with Clutch:

This is the bag I saw in Century! It was in a different color and the leather was smooth, and it was lovely! The bag is actually pretty big, and one of the reasons I didn't buy it there and then was because I am afraid that if I get this bag, I will fill it up with all kinds of stuff and pull an arm muscle! And inside this bag, there is a great idea (which I've blogged about it back in 2008!): a detachable clutch, which functions as part of the bag until it's pulled out. I so want this bag!

And this is another bag from Ivanka Trump Handbags Collection, the Olivia Bucket Hobo. So cute, isn't it?

And so, as a year-end resolution, I am resolving to buy new non-Coach bags, in order to give my closet a more eclectic look, but also to free myself from carrying the same old classic safe neutral looking bag. :)

My New Cougar Marla Boots

2011-11-04T22:46:00.000-04:00

Cougar Marla Boots

I am not one of those "shoe girls", you know those girls that buy tons and tons of shoes and have their closets full of shoes? No. I'm definitely not a shoe addict.

What I am is a "boot" addict!

I love boots, I love all of them, the booties, the mid-calf, the up-to-the-knee ones, the army boots, the sexy stiletto ones, the suede boots, the snow boots, the riding boot... you name it, I want it (or I already have it)!

So when I had the chance to pick and review a pair boots from Cougar's latest collection, my heart started singing, while my closet tried to close itself shut (it's getting crowded in there).

The collection had many winners like the Vienna2

Cougar Vienna2 Boots

and the Zip Zip and Away boots

Cougar Zip Zip and Away Boots

I picked the Marla boots to review, because they looked so cozy, not too bulky and feminine enough to wear with a long colorful skirt to fight the winter blues.

I own two pair of Cougar boots already, and they are one of the few reasons I look forward to the winter season.

So I knew what to expect from these Marla boots: quality, attention to detail, comfort and, above all, warmth, and the boots I've received proved to be just another great pair of Cougar boots!

The leather is so soft, no breaking in needed for these puppies, the inside is so cozy and warm like a pair of comfortable slippers; but don't let the softness fool you, these boots are not afraid of winter nor of ice or snow.

I also love the fact that they come with soft laces instead of hard ones (they actually come with two different pair of laces) and that the heel is made of hard rubber and as such it's very easy on the soles.

Do your feet a favor this cold season and get yourself a nice pair of Cougar boots.

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Disclaimer: The featured product was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing and review. NY Spender is not being compensated monetarily for this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by compensation, monetary or otherwise.

Brunette is the new Blonde

2011-11-03T20:17:00.001-04:00

As a member of the brunettes family, I am happy to report that more than ever brunettes are all the rage, and especially with the winter fast approaching, there is nothing better than darken your tresses to spice up your look for the season. If you need inspiration, take a look at these beautiful ladies:

Rebecca Minkoff is my latest Designer Crush

2011-10-28T10:10:00.002-04:00

I've always heard of Rebecca Minkoff, but for some reason I've never paid too much attention to the collection.

Bad Spender, bad!

I think I have quickly grown to love her style and her accessories, I just wished she was a tad bit more affordable. And while she does have an edgy and "metal" accent, I am more drawn to her softer side:

Of course, let's not forget the handbags!

Love all of the mini MAC (morning after clutch)!

The classic Morning After Bag!

One little turn-off: I wish Rebecca wouldn't use alligator nor python in her collection (what can I say, I'm becoming a softie!)

Win Pink Socks from Sock it To Me in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-24T13:24:00.000-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and every year I like to pick a few retailers that give a portion of their proceeds to the Pink Cause.

CafePress has tons of pretty pink t-shirts that support the cause.

I like this one. :)

But they have tons more!

Buy one and they will donate 10% to Breastcancer.org.

I've featured Sock It to Me on this blog before, and I love that they have reached out to us again, this time to promote their collaboration with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, with eleven pink socks designs, and 50% of their sale will benefit the NBCC.

They have also offered 3 special pink pairs to give away to a lucky NY Spender's reader!

Please visit them at Sock It to Me and pick a pretty pink pair for yourself or enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below (random winner selected next Monday).

Ugallery.com, a curated online gallery of original art, is featuring a very special collection of pink art, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

20% of the proceeds from art sold out of this collection will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Visit the collection here.

Demi Moore is Ann Taylor's New Face. Why?

2011-10-19T23:27:00.000-04:00

It started out great, my love affair with Ann Taylor.

I had Naomi Watts to model for me and inspire me to wear all those pretty satin clothes and fancy necklaces.

She was beautiful and made me want to be beautiful.

She looked confident and sexy, but in a very subtle way, just the way I like it.

She was a famous actress with many great movies under her skinny Ann Taylor's belt, from Mulholland Drive (David Lynch fan here), to 21 Grams.

She went home to handsome Liev Schreiber and their two boys.

I was in love (in a fashionable platonic way) with her.

Then came Katie Holmes.

She had a bit more of a boyish figure, and she was skinny and tall. I couldn't really identify.

I could be inspired to be sexier (by Naomi), but I couldn't be inspired to be taller, I mean, how do you do that?

Katie did have nice hair, though. So I focused on the hair. I wanted to have her beautiful dark mane.

Oh yes, and her money. I mean Tom's money. And that was the other turn off: she had to go home to Tom. If this was 1988, yeah, but this is 2011 and Tom and Oprah and... you know?

Lastly, they throw Demi Moore in my face.

Demi is a beautiful woman without a doubt, but there is something about this campaign that is creepy.

She looks so much older. Photoshopped by someone that either a) doesn't like her or b) has never used Photoshop before.

And she is wearing all these unflattering clothes.

And with that hair she looks like a mix between Courtney Cox and Cher!

Oh, and let's not forget who she goes home to... only not to find him and then tweet "almost naked pictures of herself" to prove to the world that she still has it!

Yeah... I've definitely fallen out of love with Ann Taylor's ladies...

Timberland Earthkeepers and my New Rudston Pull-On Boots

2011-10-17T10:08:00.000-04:00

I grew up loving and wearing Timberland shoes!

As a teenager, I used to decorate my notebooks with drawings of their tree and I would wear my boots with pride.

Actually my very first pair of Timberland shoes weren't boots but a pair of boat shoes just like these:

They were such a prized possession that everybody in my neighborhood "knew" about my Timberlands and some of my friends even came over to check them out the first day I brought them home from the store. :)

Since that first pair, I've owned many different pairs and different models, but I've always found that there are some constants no matter which pair I had on my feet: comfort, durability and the fact that I could literally dunk my feet in water and never get wet!

So when I was asked if I wanted to review a product from Timberland's latest eco-conscious brand, Earthkeepers®, I couldn't say yes fast enough!

And a few days later I received a beautiful pair of Rudston Pull-on Boots! :)

My first reaction was "Wow! Are these really Timberland boots?"

I wasn't expecting them to look so, so... stylish! I especially wasn't expecting a heel. A nice sturdy heel.

The leather is soft (no breaking in needed) and the pull-on feature is a welcomed alternative to all the zippers in my closet.

What Timberland is trying to do with the Earthkeepers® collection is to give nature something back, by using recycled materials in the making of each product, and by using at least one plastic bottle and a half in each pair of shoes or boots (and coffee grounds in their odor-resistant jackets!)

But they are also trying to be fashion conscious, by making the shoes appealing to a broader share of the consumer market. So here is a boot that can be worn with jeans, pants but also with skirts. And you can accidentally step in water and your outfit will not get ruined (at least not the boots).

Well done, Timberland (you never disappoint me)!
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Timberland® Go out and be you™ Click here to shop now!

“Disclosure: Compensation and free Timberland product were provided by Timberland® viaGlam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative ofthe opinions or positions of Timberland®”

Halloween Costume Ideas 2011

2011-10-16T01:21:00.001-04:00

It's time to dress up again! Yay!

I love Halloween, because I've always loved dressing up and growing up in Italy where we had Carnevale instead, was perfect, because that Carnevale lasts 5 days! Which meant 5 different costumes if you wanted to!

This must be the reason why even if I have already bought a costume for my daughter, I will still look at more costumes in various stores, until I remind myself that the baby will only have time to wear one costume. Unless I start dressing her up on regular days too.

Each year I try to find or come up with cool costumes ideas, but lately I feel I'm losing my touch. Maybe because I like to focus on the baby, because that's what gives me joy, and so my costume becomes of secondary importance. But let's look at what's available this year:

Ghosts are always cool on Halloween!

If you feel like super heroes:

Batman Dark Knight Grand Heritage Collection Adult Costume - X-Large

Wonder Woman Corset Adult Costume - Medium

If you like TV shows:

Or the movies:

If you want to confuse people:

Or:

Grease Sandy Adult Costume - Medium

This couple is too cute (cute movie, watch it if you haven't):

Kick-Ass Movie - Adult Costume - Large

Kick-Ass Movie - Hit-Girl Deluxe Adult Costume - Medium

And if you are single, or your man (just like mine) WON'T wear a costume, these are some of my favorite costumes this year:

I have a feeling this Hello Kitty costume is going to be big this year:

The 80's are cool again:

80's Party Girl Adult Costume - Small/Medium

You can even splatter some ketchup on the suit and make it a "after the accident" costume:

Fashionable First Lady Adult Costume - One Size Fits Most Adults

And I'll include one "sassy" costume:

Have fun! :)

Versace Atelier F/W 2011

2011-10-13T21:44:00.002-04:00

To stay within the Italian theme here are some pictures I've been meaning to share with you from the Versace Atelier F/W 2011. I wanted to share them back when we were looking at the different designers from New York Fashion Week, except these from Versace weren't S/S 2012, but from this current season. In any case, please take a moment to savor the beauty in each picture. These are real designer clothes (not most of the stuff they had on FW S/S 2011!)

Braccialini Handbags

2011-10-12T00:47:00.000-04:00

Every so often, here on NY Spender, I like to review new or interesting Italian brands for my English speaking readers. While big Italian fashion names like Versace, Prada and Gucci don't need any introduction, there are many other names that don't really spill over the Italian borders, or if they do, they don't do it with a loud bang.

Take a look at this bag:

How perfect for a fashion addict! Wait, you're not impressed? Ok, how about these bags?

These are Braccialini handbags and they are simply gorgeous. Their craftsmanship is something I've never seen applied to handbags before. These whimsical bags carry their "Made in Italy" badge with pride.

Founded in 1954 by Carla Braccialini and her husband, today the brand is managed by her three sons with headquarters in Florence.

They have a store in New York, in Soho, but I still feel not many people here in America know about Braccialini. At least not the way they know about Louis Vuitton.

Prices for a bag from their "TEMI" collection can very well cost over $1,000. This collection is their most prized one and is composed of masterpieces of fantasy and leather works.

They also have a few different lower priced collections, with regular every day bags that are still a bit different than what you have right now in your closet. I'm really considering taking a closer look at any of their jacquard squirrel collection:

How adorable is this bag? The little squirrels, a few mushrooms... better than a bunch of Ls and Vs, Cs and Cs, Fs and Fs, Gs and Gs scattered around, or at least, a refreshing alternative, don't you agree?

That's what I like about Braccialini: they fill a void in the current handbag industry, a void caused by too much caution and too little fantasy.

Dear Club Monaco, I love your clothes but...

2011-10-11T00:34:00.002-04:00

I can't buy them!!!

You keep teasing me with emails about your new collections, and then you attach beautiful pictures that make me want to buy the whole outfit, even the hat! without thinking about it twice, but...

you DON'T have ONLINE shopping!!

I mean, how is it possible? In this day and age, when everybody and their mothers (I love this saying) sell things online... how can CLUB MONACO still operate WITHOUT online shopping?

WHY?

Can't you feel my frustration? Since becoming a mother, online shopping is what helps me keep my sanity and remain somewhat fashionable.

But I can't be as fashionable as I could be if I could buy some Club Monaco online! Nooo...

I have to get me to a store!

Even if there is no store close to me, and I have to get on the subway to get to the store, because all the stores are located in NYC, which is "forbidden" to reach with a car (unless you have a driver that will circle around while you shop). Or unless I go to the Queens' store, which feels almost as far from me as your store in Philadelphia.

I even have a 10% coupon that is collecting dust, waiting to expire. Argh!

Why? Really! Why?!?

10 Things I've Learned in 20 Minutes from a Makeup Artist

2011-10-09T01:39:00.001-04:00

Nam Vo

When I recently received a full makeover thanks to John Frieda, I also got pampered with a full face makeup application by Nam Vo, a makeup artist that showed me a few tricks of the trade.

She actually didn't really show me, she just went about her business and started applying make up, but I was paying attention and absorbing information like my life depended on it! And when I asked her a few questions here and there she always answered kindly and without holding anything back.

As a result I learned so much from only 20 minutes! So much more than hours spent (wasted) on the Internet "reading" about makeup! In fact, makeup is one of those things where practice is priceless, and inferior to "only" theory. And since I'm not selfish, here I am sharing these tips (secrets) with you! ;)

1) A full set of false lashes is a pain to use and it looks unnatural. You can almost always tell when someone has one on. Individual little lashes work so much better. And while it could seem more difficult or longer to use lots of little lashes instead of a single row (it's not, it's actually easier to use the single ones), the results are night and day! And you have so much more control of where you want to put the lashes, in order to accentuate the parts of your eyes that need it the most.

2) Not all good products have to cost an arm and a leg. The glue she used to apply the lashes is found in every drugstore and it only costs a couple of dollars (it's called DUO).

3) If you have enough false lashes on, you can skip mascara application.

4) My eyebrows are too thin!

5) For perfect brows use a brow wax as a primer.

6) You don't need eyebrows products to fill in your eyebrows. A dark brown (in my case) eye shadow applied over the wax with a brush with a straight edge looked perfect!

7) Only the right shade of white eye shadow (has to be matte) works on the brow bone to achieve that perfect eye shadow look.

8) When applying a liquid eyeliner, don't go for one straight continuous line, but tap little lines along the eye, that way there is less chance for mistakes.

9) You only need very little blush on your cheeks. Really.

10) If you buy yourself a palette with many different lipstick colors, and use a brush to mix and apply them, you will basically have infinite color possibilities (it's like infinite lipsticks!)

Thank you, Nam Vo! :)

RCLCYC - New Feature on NY Spender

2011-10-04T00:11:00.002-04:00

Just like every fall television brings us fresh new shows, this season here at NY Spender we will have fresh new ideas and we'll start some new adventures in beauty and fashion. Because, what is life without adventure???

The first new feature, I would like to call it:

Re-Create the Look as Cheaply as You Can (or RC-LC-YC for short)!

I will start with a picture taken from somewhere (online, a magazine, out on the street) and then give myself two weeks to recreate the look at a bargain.

So here is RCLCYC #1

I've always wanted one of those "Chanel" suits, but I'm also sure that I would feel too stuffy in one of them, so what better way to cut into the stuffiness by only using the jacket and pair it off with jeans?

Feel free to participate, and send me your pictures if you want me to post them when I'll give you an update in two weeks. In the meantime, stay tuned for any new RCLCYCs. :)

Century 21 Sells John Galliano???

2011-09-28T17:15:00.000-04:00

After John Galliano made racist and anti-Semitic comments in Paris last February.

After Natalie Portman released this statement: “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”

After John Galliano was fired from Dior.

After he was arrested and fined.

Well, after all of this... I was very shocked to find John Galliano being sold at the Century 21 Department Store in Brooklyn.

For those of you outside New York and not familiar with the department store, Century 21 has been a staple of lower Manhattan for years, and is now present in the surrounding areas, including Long Island and New Jersey.

The store has been bringing us New Yorkers high fashion at highly discounted price for decades. "Fashion worth fighting for" has been their motto, and rightly so, because if you try to set foot in the lower Manhattan store during your lunch break, be prepared to fight the huge crowds.

Century 21 is owned by the Gindi family, a Jewish family that never forgets to respect Jewish holidays, and in fact will be closing the store tomorrow and Friday to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

Photo by Raymond Gindi

So why does Century 21 still sell John Galliano merchandise? Do they not know about John Galliano?

Or do they choose to continue selling because money is more important than values?

Just wondering...

John Frieda's Precision Foam Color: My First Makeover!

2011-09-26T09:57:00.002-04:00

I recently had the great pleasure to be selected for a makeover opportunity. Probably because my good friends from Glam.com had grown tired of hearing me complain about how little time I have to take care of myself since the birth of my, now two years old, daughter. And because I make no mystery of the fact that I love to wear sweat pants and sneakers but I haven't seen a gym in years!

And when I say makeover, I mean makeover! Think TV makeover!

Getting ready for my "before" documentation.

The main focus was going to be the hair, because like I've always believed, your look starts with your hair, and if you have bad hair, it won't matter how fancy and beautiful your clothes are. I also got to do this with four other great bloggers: Angela from Lipglossbreak.com, Heather from Behindthelashes.com and Stef and Tyna from WeHeartThis.com.

Our sponsor was John Frieda, and specifically, their Precision Foam Color, a new at home coloring product that uses Japanese technology to better color hair by making the process simple, more precise and mess-free. I think that foam will undoubtedly replace liquid when it comes to home hair color, because it's so much cleaner and faster to use that it just makes sense that it will. So if you haven't tried foam yet, what are you waiting for???

Also, to make the experience sweeter, the whole process was supervised by none other than Harry Josh! And can I take a moment here to act half my age and scream: "OMG! I love Harry Josh!!!"

For those of you living under a salon-less rock, Harry Josh is a Celebrity Stylist and the Creative Director at John Frieda. And he is the coolest person to ever touch my hair! So nice and so helpful, he pinpointed right away all that was wrong with the hair - too short, translucent, fine and damaged (love my hair!) - and figured out the best solution for it: barely trim it, make it darker, and add dimension with a nice reddish shade plus bangs. Yes!

Harry Josh's consultation

I used John Frieda's Precision Foam Color in Medium Red Brown (5R), and not only it was really easy to use, it worked like a charm, and it made my hair immediately look thicker and healthier. It looked like salon-quality hair color.

If you visit John Frieda's website, you can see all the different shades and there is also a shade selector to help you pick the best shade for you, based on your current color.

Blake and Carly trying to get my bangs to stay down (not an easy task)

After the color and trim, I also got a makeup and outfit makeover, with the help of India-Jewel Jackson, Beauty Director at Glam.com and of Nola Weinstein, Fashion Director at Glam.com!

One of the many stores we shopped at!

India suggested more defined eyebrows, and getting makeup applied by Nam Vo was truly an "eye opening" (pun intended) experience! I am finally convinced that I need thicker brows, and I will try my best to grow new ones, and if that fails, I've got from Nam the name of the products she used on my brows. And the eye shadow application was phenomenal! That part where they put the white right under your brows, I got that all wrong, since I kept using colors other than white. White looks best on me, and tomorrow I'm buying a nice white shadow! Thank you Nam Vo! And thank you India!

Last but not least, thank you Nola! Nola had to work very hard to make this comfortable mommy look elegant and feminine again, but she never lost hope and kept searching through all of her resources (and several stores) to find the outfit that better complemented my skin tone and my "absent abs". And she succeeded!

And here is my "after" picture with Harry Josh. :)

Great hair color, shiny and vibrant! Perfect makeup, and beautiful clothes! But it doesn't end here. Stay tuned, and in about a month or so I will post a follow-up to update you on my hair, and - drum roll please - a video of the makeover!

Precision Foam Colour is the first ever premium permanent home hair colour from the John Frieda®Hair Care Experts that uses foam technology to deliver a luxurious at-home colouring experience.Demand gorgeous, salon-quality results - 100% grey coverage and vibrant shine. With 20 flatteringshades to choose from, achieving natural-looking hair colour perfection is in your hands.

Disclosure: The product reviewed in this post was provided gratis by the John Frieda® Hair Care team.The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions orpositions of the John Frieda® Hair Care team.

What's with Old Ladies and Blue Hair?

2011-09-24T18:41:00.001-04:00

I've been seeing a lot more old ladies with punky hair colors, and it's starting to freak me out. Today this old lady had medium blue hair. Blue as in BLUE. Under the sun there were shades of periwinkle as well! Why???

My guess is that grey hair is hard to color.

I'm not sure if it's from a salon or if it's because they color at home, but in any case, once they've finished the coloring process, and they look in the mirror, wouldn't you think these dear old ladies would try to correct it? But they don't!

I've also heard that shampoo can stain grey hair.

Terrible! Maybe a clarifying shampoo would help?

Plus, to add insult to injury, there was (I think there might still be) such a thing as a "blue rinse", used by old ladies to tame the yellowish tint that grey hair seems to get. Except that when used improperly, it will give you blue hair...

I don't have all the answers, just yet, all I know is that I don't want to be a blue-haired old lady walking around oblivious to the fact that my hair looks like Marge Simpson's!

I should have more or less 20 years to find out, I just hope I'll remember the cure when I'll need it. I'll just have to re-read my blog ;)

Crackle Nail Polish: Yay or Nay?

2011-09-22T22:30:00.001-04:00

Today I got to try crackle nail polish for the first time, but I'm still not sure if I love it or not. This is what it looked like on me:

I had a dark nail polish underneath, and then a coat of the crackle on top.

I have known about crackle nail polish for a while now, and in a way I thought it was a bit of a weird trend, because it actually made the nail polish look undone. Or reptilian.

But when it was on my nails today, the crackle didn't look so bad and it actually looked pretty interesting.

Just like with any nail polish, a lot depends on color, and in the case of the crackle, you have to play with two different colors: a base coat and the crackle color, so the possibilities are endless.

A light crackle can brighten up a dark base, make a matte color shine, and definitely give a new edge to your nails.

It's also pretty easy to use: just put a coat on top of your dry base color and wait 5 minutes. You'll see the coat dry and then crackle (come apart) in a very neat way.

I guess I'm a bit into the trend. At least a little curious to try a couple more color combinations before I decide if I love it or hate it.

And you? Have you tried the crackle yet? Love it? Hate it? Share your opinion with us!

Happy Birthday to Me! Now I want Boots!

2011-09-19T23:04:00.000-04:00

Today was my birthday! Yay! Well, not really "yay" anymore. It's not as fun as it used to be, with the years passing and all that crap... but the good news is I don't have many wrinkles at all, and maybe 2 grey hair (that come and go?), so I can still pass for 6 to 8 to 10 years younger (on days that I've slept through the night)!

I have to get myself a present, and I've been craving a nice pair of boots. I have many winter boots in my closet, from rain boots, to snow boots, to suede boots, to black tall boots, to booties... but of course I have to start lusting after the pair I don't have.

What boot am I looking for? Not quite sure yet. I have a general idea on my mind, something with no heel, between edgy and classic, probably black, maybe combat but not too combat, if you know what I mean. Basically something I can wear every day with jeans and pants in general.

What is funny is I had a dream last night where I was telling my hubby that I wanted to get a pair of Dr. Martens. In reality, I never liked Dr. Martens, especially their yellow threading around the sole. But now that I've started looking online for these boots, I'm afraid to say that Dr. Martens has some of the closest thing to the boots I'm thinking of. Something like this:

Which has a softer look in brown:

But I'm not quite sure yet. I think I need to go out and try some on...

What do you think about Combat Boots for the "way-past twenty" crowd?

Last Thoughts on NY S/S 2012 Fashion Week

2011-09-16T23:31:00.001-04:00

It's over. Another year of Fashion Week. All these amazing designs for Spring 2012, which I will probably have forgotten all about by mid-October anyway... ;)

That's why we write things down, isn't it?

So let me make some mental (blog) notes for myself.

I love the fact that next Spring/Summer season is going to be very feminine. I need to look for and try to wear more dresses, with flared skirts, just like this one from Zac Posen.

I can be very feminine even when wearing pants. Just keep the materials light, and the colors delicate, like in Anna Sui. I will look for a set like this one. It's beautiful. Or maybe I should learn how to sew and make my own clothes...

Find a special piece that makes me happy, like this skirt from Preen.

Ralph Lauren remains one of my top 5 favorite designers.

I can't wait for Spring again!

My Favorite Items from Missoni for Target

2011-09-15T22:51:00.001-04:00

Holy Crap! Have you been able to find any of this stuff??? Like I've said before, I've never really paid attention to the previous limited collections from other designers... but did they sell out like Missoni?

One thing I want to say to all of you: DO NOT BUY THESE ITEMS FROM EBAY!

It's obscene how some people have been able to get their hands on a lot of these items, and instead of enjoying their good luck (or the privilege of having a relative working at Target) they have listed these items on eBay at 4 times the original price!!! Do not buy! Don't let them get away with it! I hope they get stuck with dozens of knitted skirts and can't sell them...

Back to us, or better yet, back to Missoni, these are my favorite items from the collection (at least from what I've been able to see online... I wish I could see them in person!)

Does your Target have anything left?

More Fashion Week Pics and Rants

2011-09-11T23:06:00.002-04:00

Ok, so I didn't add more the last few days about this thing called Fashion Week, and while there are a couple of different reasons, the main one is that I didn't have much to say.

I guess I'm still waiting for the big "wow" show, the show where every piece takes my breath away. But is there really such a show? Yes, I believe there is. Or there are. Or at least, there could be.

The thing is, this year there hasn't been one so far.

Of course, we all have different taste, and maybe, according to other people, this Fashion Week has been great so far. To me, two elements determine a great show/collection (they can co-exist, but usually don't):

1) A new and great fashion concept, visually striking and breath taking.

2) Beautiful clothes that I can actually imagine myself wearing.

But let's get back to these shows...

Rebecca Taylor was cute as expected and I like how they always use feminine cuts and pretty prints:

Everybody was waiting for THE ROW to present their stuff:

Not my cup of tea at all. Oh, in case you didn't know already, the designers behind the Row are the Olsen twins. And also behind the Elizabeth & James brand... These two girls are all over the place!

Speaking of wearable stuff, check this number out from VPL:

God knows I'm already very self-conscious when wearing a bathing suit... I can totally see myself walking around with these flaps... flapping... not!

Victoria Beckham didn't impress:

While the usual suspects delivered something finally wearable and not alien-like:

Donna Karan:

and DVF:

Fashion Week Day 2 Predictions

2011-09-09T10:55:00.001-04:00

Rebecca Taylor and Nicole Miller are my favorite this second day of Fashion Week.

Let's see what happens...

Missoni for Target. This is Something to get Excited about!

2011-09-08T18:37:00.001-04:00

I have never cared about the occasional capsule-collection various designers have created for Target, for eBay, for H&M and the likes.

This one, though, is close to my heart: Missoni for Target.

I have always loved Missoni. I have never been able to afford Missoni.

I have loved their unmistakable knits, and I have always dreamed of owning one of their dresses or cardigans, or two. And now is my chance.

I understand that they might not be the "real" thing, maybe a diluted version of their spectacular pieces, maybe they won't use as many colors, maybe they won't be as soft... who knows? All I know is that there is only one way to find out, and that is I HAVE TO GO TO TARGET! On September 13th. At 11:00 AM sharp I'm planning on being there. And I hope there is not a crowd, because if I have to fight for it, I might!

Wish me luck! :)

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Day 1 Results

2011-09-08T18:23:00.002-04:00

Ok, I sucked at this first day predictions... BCGCMAXAZRIA sucked, too... like, what is this?

Or this?

What are these frills, these flowing fabrics, these ugly colors bunched up together? Not feeling it, sorry.

Richard Chai was full of these confusing 80s references:

Nicholas K tried to channel Kurt Cobain, I think:

Oh my, I can't even describe this one.

Or this one. Just look at it. From a distance it might look interesting, but if you look closely, all that bunching up can't be comfortable. And the bracelet makes total sense. Not!

I wasn't able to find anything on Tadashi Shoji, but it doesn't matter, because it probably sucked too! ;)

Here's hoping for a better Day 2... stay tuned for my useless predictions later on tonight.

Let's Play a Fashion Week Game

2011-09-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the first day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Usually, just like at the Oscars, they make you wait for the most wanted designers until the last days of the show, which means tomorrow we'll have some decent but not world famous names showing off their stuff. Here is the schedule, and to make things more interesting this year, I'd like to make some "out of nowhere" predictions.

I'm not embarrassed to say that I don't know most of these guys (and/or girls). I mean I love fashion and all, but I'm not good with names, especially those of the many obscure designers out there (that somehow get to show at Fashion Week!)

I'll say that the BCBGMAXAZRIA will be a good show, because I usually like their stuff and I've owned a dress or two and they're made very well. TADASHI SHOJI rings a bell, as someone I've liked in the past, but I'm not sure, I could be wrong, we'll see.

SUPIMA (cotton?!?) and CANDELA (candles?!?) don't sound too promising.

Stay tuned for the results of MBFW Day 1 and feel free to play along. :)

Fashion Night Out is Coming!

2011-09-06T23:46:00.003-04:00

For the third year in a row fashion takes center stage and as the phenomenon has become more and more successful, more and more celebrities and designers come out to play with us "regular" people on this special night.

This year the date is 09/08/11 and while it would have been cooler to have 09/10/11, I think they prefer to have a Thursday instead of a Saturday as a spending day, and not miss out on some of the Jewish community like they did last year (they had FNO during Rosh HaShana).

For the third time in a row I won't be going. The first year I had a 3 month old baby. The second year I had a 1 year old baby. This year I have a 2 year old baby. Plus, crowds scare me. Especially fashion-hungry crowds. I rather spend a little more and not get mobbed. Like I've said, I have a 2 year old, and she needs me. ;)

But I will be in the lookout for anything online, or if I find out that Christian Bale is going to make a special appearance anywhere in NY, I might fight the crowds after all.

Check out all the events here: fashionsnightout.com/

Do you know about Camper shoes?

2011-09-05T23:50:00.000-04:00

My friends in Italy tell me this shoe brand is very popular there. For all I know, it could be a best seller here in the US too, but I had never heard of it until last month, when my friend mentioned it.

Then one day, on a walk down the streets of Soho, I found a Camper store, and I had to take a look. Hmm. Very pretty shoes. Maybe a little too casual for me, or maybe they target a "younger" crowd. Or maybe I'm not hip enough for them. Or maybe they're just not my style. I don't know. I would have to try them on, and if I would discover them to be comfortable, I could buy a pair.

But they need to be very comfortable, because the price is on the steep side... let's say this pair I like:

I love that it looks like a pair of flats, but then it has a tiny bit of heel, and that is so much better for you than wearing flat shoes. But how much would you pay for something like this? I'll tell you how much they want: $165.

See what I mean? They're pretty and all, but I'm not sure about the $165.

This is another pair I like from their collection:

But again, I'm not a fan of the price: $160.

I don't know, there is something about these shoes that attracts me, maybe it's the fact that they are so popular in Italy and I know Italians are picky about their shoes and clothes, so there has to be something special about them, or maybe mine is just pure fashion curiosity.

I'm not sure if I will cave and buy a pair, yet, but in the meantime, do any of you own a pair?

My Favorite Makeup

2011-08-29T17:17:00.014-04:00

With the wedding, the earthquake and hurricane Irene behind us, I think it's time to talk beauty and fashion again on NY Spender. What do you think?

One thing I've learned from the wedding is that you can definitely save money by doing your own makeup, and that with a good amount of practice, everyone can become better at putting makeup on. Really!

Look at me!

I was so happy with the end result of weeks of practice! I had primer and foundation on, but it never looked heavy nor cakey. I'm happy that I picked the purple for the eyes (blended with beiges), because it helped me keep that "fresh face" look I wanted to have. The lipstick was a different shade of pink, so that I didn't look all one color all over.

The best thing about this makeup is that it lasted through the whole wedding, and that was sooo important for me, because I really didn't want to re-apply all the time.

Thanks to all of this "forced" practice, I went out there and tried so many different products and combinations, that in normal circumstances it would have taken me years to get around to them all! And out of this experiment, I've found new makeup favorites, which I will share with you.

FACE

Primer - I used Smashbox Primer on my face, and while I still have a few other primers I would like to try before naming a top favorite, this Smashbox one is pretty good.

I've used the original in the past, but this time around I bought the green color-correcting one, since I have a bit of red undertones in my skin these days, and it helps cover it up. Definitely LIKE IT.

Foundation - This one is easy. All the hype about Laura Mercier's foundation is true. I've already tried two of their products (a light and a medium coverage) and loved both.

I currently use the silk creme foundation, and I am very happy with it, and I think I will stick with it for a long time to come.

The only drawback is the price, but if the results make me happy and don't make me look streaky nor heavily caked, but absolutely natural, then I'm glad to shell out the money. LOVE IT.

EYES

Primer - I finally caved in and bought an eye primer. The main reason is because I wanted something that would help keep the eye shadow in place for hours for the wedding, but now I use it because it works!

I picked the Urban Decay Potion because it had excellent reviews and I am very happy with it.

I am not sure if it's the best eye primer on the market because it's the only one I've tried so far, but I think I'm satisfied enough to not feel the need to look around for something better (like I usually do). LIKE IT.

Eye Shadow - Ok, it's time to admit the complete superiority of these eye shadows. I've looked high and low, every where. I've tried Revlon, Rimmel, Lancome, Prescriptives, Clinique, Urban Decay, Chanel, L'Oreal, Estee Lauder... but none of them beat MAC. A close second was Chanel, but their prices make MAC such a better deal.

The variety is incredible. The price is fair. And most importantly, their coverage is stupendous! A little primer underneath, a little shadow over it, and you are guaranteed at least 6 to 8 hours of wear! (Some of the brands mentioned above didn't last 30 minutes!).

It's safe to say that I will embrace these shadows going forward, and I can finally give my brain a little rest in the "looking for the best eye shadow" quest. LOVE THEM!

Liner - I've always been terrible at putting eye liner on. You know, the one with the wand and your hand trembling all over and you making a mess and having to wash your whole face and start all over. Yes, that kind.

So for a long time I've used pencils to line my eyes. But a pencil never really looks like a liner, and worse of all, it needs to be sharpened!

I think I've found the solution: MAC Fluidline. It's a little pot with this black cream, and I use a little brush with a sharp edge point to put it on. I make no mess, it goes on rather smoothly, it looks like a liquid eyeliner, it lasts forever and it doesn't need to be sharpened! LOVE IT.

Mascara - Oh gosh, another MAC product. But I just love my PlushLash Mascara!

I've blogged about it before here, and I'm still using it and loving it, and I have no desire to try another mascara. LOVE IT.

And this is where my FAVORITE MAKEUP post ends.

Unfortunately I have no favorite blush nor favorite lipstick. :(

But that is actually good news because it leaves some room for makeup quests and reviews!

Do you have any favorites? Any makeup that you wouldn't change for any other? Please share your finds with the rest of us!

Two Things I've Learned from Earthquakes

2011-08-23T17:31:00.000-04:00

We are all doing ok in NY.

I was inside a store, waiting at checkout, when the earthquake came around and I felt myself undulating back and forth. At first I thought I was getting very dizzy for some reason, and I seriously thought "wow, maybe I'm about to pass out or something". Then I looked at this sunglasses' stand next to me, and I saw it was also moving back and forth, and then I looked at the little table next to the stand and that was still moving a bit, too... so I figured it must have all been caused by the subway train close to the store... even if there was no train currently passing by...

As soon as I got to the register, the cashier had received a phone call from home and was commenting out loud that we had just experienced an earthquake. So we all started telling each other "yes, I've felt it too" "me too" "I thought it was the train" "I thought it was the customer moving the counter"... and so on.

I looked over to the side, at my mom waiting for me, while pushing my baby's stroller, and I felt a pang in my heart. I wasn't really scared, more like a bit in shock. I thought New York had a lot of dangers, but I never thought about having to worry about earthquakes. What would I do in case of...?

I tried calling my brand-new-hubby but my phone was out. Fortunately he texted me asking if I was ok. He must have felt it too then, to be asking me if I were ok.

Long story short these are the two things I've realized today:

1) There is no point in having a cell phone during a big emergency. Mine didn't work during 9/11, nor during the blackout of August 2003, nor today. Verizon and AT&T need to get cracking on this issue.

2) Seismology is useless. I don't care about the aftermath information of an earthquake (too little too late). I would like some of these scientist to be able to predict an earthquake for a change...

Off my soap box now.

And on a lighter note, this is my husband's (a longtime bachelor) email to me after he left work to come back home today:

"Heading home, see what happens when I get married..."

Wedding Planning: Sneak Peek

2011-08-23T00:17:00.000-04:00

This is for all my ladies asking for pics, I don't have much yet, just a few shots taken from relatives... but you can get a first idea. :)

Wedding Planning: Tomorrow is the Day!

2011-08-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

Holy Crap!

I would be lying if I said that I am not nervous.

In fact, I should be sleeping already and I can't...

I will have some pictures up as soon as I get some back from the photographer.

Love ya all!

Elisa

New Coach Patent Leather Bags Are Not My Thing

2011-08-12T17:47:00.000-04:00

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but there is something about patent leather that cheapens a look.

I remember having a spacious black patent leather bag when I was 21 and I loved it. But it was all part of a look, of a twenty-something edgy experimental new yorker.

But today, in my 30s, I don't find much room in my wardrobe for a patent leather bag.

Especially not for one that costs $400.

So I don't really like any of the new Coach patent leather bags.

The patent look has a bit of a "bad reputation", and while I understand it can be fun, I also don't think it can be a "classic" and I love a classic.

Let's see... given the choice which one would you pick (you can't say both)?

Which one would you buy?

Wedding Planning: Makeup, Makeup, and more Makeup

2011-08-09T10:09:00.000-04:00

I'm almost there. I think.

I've been obsessing about my wedding makeup and I've tried to do a few more looks, and I think I'm finally coming to a good understanding of what I want to wear on my wedding day. I want a more neutral look for the eyes, with somewhat bolder lips. Yes, that's it. Because the overall look has to be fresh and simple, beach-friendly, and "bushing bride" kind.

So I've spent the last three days on just one website, which I am about to share with you, but I have to warn you: if you are a compulsive person at all, or if you are anything like me, where you can't just have a look, but you try to take in as much information as you can, then be careful! This website will suck all the free time you have! But it's soooo worth it! ;)

Let me start by showing you what I've been looking at for 36 hours straight (these are not my eyes)...

quick-neutrals-with-urban-decays-naked-palette

soft-neutrals-for-thanksgiving

simple-neutral-matte-eye

holiday-makeup-icy-blue-smoky-eyes

dramatic-blue-teal-look-with-false-eyelashes

I love Christine and all of her looks! I've known Temptalia since the old days of my blog, but I was never a big fan of "let's play with makeup", so after looking at a post or two I would feel satisfied and I would move along... but not anymore, and especially not right now!

I feel I'm developing a more mature relationship with makeup, and also, I think I'm getting back the enthusiasm I had for makeup back in my teenager's years. I'm not sure if it's all due to the wedding coming up and afterwards I will just slip back in my "safe" makeup zone. We will have to wait and see. One thing I know for sure is that I've learned TONS about makeup and makeup techniques, and this new knowledge makes a difference, and makes me love makeup more!

One more thing about Temptalia. It's not just random makeup looks, it's a powerhouse of information. Since Christine's boyfriend is a tech guy, they've created a highly searchable blog, and you can sort all that information in many different ways. For example:

1. You can go to LOOKS and choose to see only NEUTRALS, and so you will see only neutral palettes.

2. You can go to MAKEUP SWATCH GALLERY and pick LIPSTICK and then you can further sort by color or by brand, and you will see ALL THE LIPSTICK Christine has ever tested in the color you are interested in. It makes is easier to go out and buy a new shade.

3. The FOUNDATION MATRIX helps you find the right shade of foundation for your skin tone!

4. The DUPE LIST has a dual scope, to help you not buy the same shade from different brands, and to discover if that great shade from Chanel has a "duplicate" in a cheaper brand like Maybelline.

All in all, I can't say enough great things about Temptalia. Go on... take a day off work and dive right in! ;)

Wedding Planning: The Makeup Quest Continues

2011-08-06T10:05:00.000-04:00

This is the most informative video I've found on YouTube about "hooded eyelids". This is more or less the shape of my eyes (I'm a little less hooded than he is). I was able to get many tips out of his two videos on this shape of eyes. The thing is he has these hooded eyes, and he is a makeup artist, so if he is the perfect teacher!

I've learned that I need to keep the base of my eyes light, and then dark on top, which might make the smoky eye not an option for the wedding.

Anyhow, I've bought and already tried two products from my list: the Smashbox green primer, to counterbalance the redness in my face, and the Anastasia brow pencil. I love the primer, it does its job but I need to bring back the pencil because the shade is too dark for me.

This is what I love and hate about makeup at the same time: the labor of trial and error. I love trying things on, but I hate having to return them and/or never finding the shade just right for me. I have a great foundation that I love, the Laura Mercier, but you know something? It's in the wrong color. And I keep wearing it. Because I don't even remember where I bought it.

Like I said before, I'm only going to mess around with makeup a few more days, and then I need to stop myself or I'll go crazy. I have a tendency of all or nothing attitude, so in my mind I fantasize that I could try all the best makeup out there in just three days, in order to find the "absolute best" for me for the wedding. But then the more rational side of me tells me that I better relax and just go with what I have, otherwise I'll never be happy.

I keep looking, though. I'm planning on buying the Naked Eye Shadow palette from my shopping list, because I keep reading, from different sources, that is absolutely great. I also need one of two eye shadow brushes. Might buy a Chanel lipstick. And I might stop by this makeup studio in my neighborhood and ask how much they want to try on some makeup on me, just to see what they would do. Oh, and I'm planning on another makeup session at a MAC store next week. And that's it. Really.

By the way, here is another look I'm not too crazy about... this is me with absolutely, positively, no makeup on whatsoever. I had just washed my face and I was squeaky clean!

And this is me after messing around with makeup and FALSE EYELASHES! Holy crap! What a pain they are! They do add to the look, but I need to get better lashes, because these I had were too short (are they supposed to be short?)

I had messed around with eye shadow so much that in the end it got mudded. Lesson learned. I can't just add colors on top of colors. The fake eyelashes feel heavy on the eyes, and that might not be ideal for someone like me that already has heavy looking eyes. I'm not crazy about the lipstick either. Too pink, I think mauve is closer to my lip color and looks more natural.

See you soon with a new look. Keep sharing your ideas and thoughts, they help me with this madness! :)

Wedding Planning: The Makeup Shopping List

2011-08-05T16:38:00.000-04:00

I don't usually wear a lot of make up. And by this I mean I don't go and pile up tons of products on my face. But from watching all these YouTube make up tutorial videos, I now feel like I should maybe try to get at least a primer for my face (under the foundation) and a primer for the eyes (to make sure my eye shadow lasts the whole day), oh, and a good brow pencil. So after browsing Sephora for a bit, this is the shopping list I've come up with.

Some of the items are duplicates (like a few different primers) because I would like to test them all. The problem is that I have sensitive skin, and I don't want to mess around with too many products right up to the wedding day, so I'm planning on playing with new makeup only until this coming Monday or Tuesday, and then I'll just stick with what I have. I'll keep you posted.

Wedding Planning: Best Make Up Tutorials from YouTube

2011-08-04T09:12:00.007-04:00

And so it started: I've watched so many make up tutorials on YouTube yesterday, that my fiance' got upset because I totally kidnapped his iPad for the night.

Side note: the iPad is great for this sort of activity. I can take it with me in the bathroom, sit it on top of the sink, and practice applying make up while the video is playing. Pretty cool!

I practiced with this first video:

I love the way the make up looks on her, a little less the way it turned out on me. What? You want to see pictures? Hehe. You sure?

This is me, with minimal, work makeup on:

I have some foundation, concealer, eye shadow and mascara on. No lipstick.

And this is me with the make up from the tutorial. Hmm. I'm not quite sure it works.

I need to find the right make up for my eyes, and after a few decades you would think I knew what works for me. Truth is my eyes have changed some. Between age, water retention, having a baby (hitting a wall) and sleep deprivation, my eyes are puffier than ever. And I have bags under them (genetics! argh!). I will go out and buy a depuffing eye cream, and I'll also start a cold cucumber regime. Since the beginning of August I've been more disciplined about exercise and beauty routine. :)

Also, I've been watching a lot of Asian girls and their makeup tutorials (they simply are the best!), but maybe their "mono lid" makeup doesn't really apply to me, since I don't have a mono lid but a hooded lid (the stuff you learn on the internet!).

Stay tuned for the next lesson, and if you want to have fun, check out these three girls, as they are so far the most amazing ones I've found on YouTube:

This is the girl from the bridal video above, From Head to Toe, and her make up is always nice and fresh, and pretty natural.

This girl below is Michelle Phan, and not only is she ridiculously beautiful, but she is sooo good, so much so that she is probably the biggest make up star on YouTube, and because of that she got hired by Lancome and is now their spoke person:

Last but not least, Dope2111, another amazing make up artist! She transforms herself from plain Jane to pretty much anything or anybody she wants, and the results are phenomenal! I won't be using her much for the wedding make up but I watch her videos because they are amazing! Fun fact: she is Michelle Phan's sister in law. Too much talent for just one family, if you ask me...

Wedding Planning: General Update

2011-07-31T18:07:00.000-04:00

Oh my, I didn't know planning a "small" wedding was going to be this complicated!! With three weeks to go we are at a very good point, but still! The stress, the fear of forgetting something important, the time wasted on picking the color of the napkins!!!

Ok, enough venting, how about I just give you a quick update? And I apologize for not writing as often as I thought I would about this, it's just that I was trying to finish most things by July, so that I wouldn't stress too much come August.

Here it is:

Wedding Dress: Got it, it's great. It's been altered as we speak. I should be able to take it home next Saturday. The seamstress that is working on it keeps telling me: "It's so beautiful, what a beautiful dress!" It makes me feel like I made the right choice when I picked this one. :)

Groom Suit: Same as above. He has it and it's getting tailored.

Baby Dress (Flower Girl): Got it! It took me three visits to the store and countless hours on the web to make up my mind. What do you think?

I could have gone with an "all white" look, but she looks so pretty with the pink accents! There was also another, much more expensive, dress, but I felt this was beautiful enough, and we don't always have to spend a fortune on a dress that the baby only wears once!

Ceremony: We've seen the setting at the beach and it looks beautiful (just gotta keep my fingers crossed for 21 days, hoping that it doesn't rain). We'll have fans waiting on the chairs for guests and a bagpiper playing during the procession. I've put together the whole ceremony (noooo, I'm not a control-freak, why do you ask???) from various notes given to me by the reverend that will marry us. Tonight we talk to him to finalize things.

Restaurant: The menu is set, and we'll have an open bar (oh boy!). I just have to bring some little decor accents the night before and they will arrange them for us - I got little "name tag" wedding bells! :)

Photographer: I'm very excited about our photographer! I gotta find some time to talk to her once more before the wedding to discuss any little detail. And she's already paid in full! Yay.

Cake: It's been ordered and paid in full. :) It's vanilla, with fresh Sicilian ricotta filling and chocolate mousse. It's from one of the best Italian pastry shops around here and I can't wait to taste it! It's only one tier (we could have made it two tier but it was going to be too much cake for the 30 people that we are, and why? It would have also cost us double, so I made the budget oriented decision of having a beautiful, delicious cake that made sense for our wedding) and it will have some pink flowers draping from it. Something like this:

Flowers: All taken care of. Bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, mothers' flowers... ridiculous how many flowers you need for a wedding. We got a good price, though... I think...

Transportation: Yep, I got a limo. Just one way. I'll come back home with my husband. ;) I just have to figure out who rides on the limo from my house to the ceremony location (there is room for 12).

It's funny how looking back at the first wedding post I wrote back in January, I've actually managed to spend less than I had planned on most items, for example the dress was $500, while I had budgeted up to $1,000 for it. Except that once I started trying dresses on, I never thought about spending $1,000 for one anymore. The more I got involved with the planning the more my main goal became "spend less, spend smart".

Through all of this "wedding work" I've tried to come up with the best solution, with the best compromise between cost and happiness. And I think I have done well.

My dress was half my budget, that alone makes me happy, but it's also a beautiful dress that really brightens me up and makes me look like a bride (the first time I tried it on for alterations, the seamstress looked at me and said: "I don't see my job"), so the happiness factor doubles.

My baby's dress was $120 (including the crinoline), originally budgeted $200. There was a dress I almost liked more, and it was $170 (which would have gone up to $200 or more with the crinoline), and while that would have kept me under budget, I finally decided that I would buy what looked best on her, regardless of price, and the cheaper option looked better than the fancier dress. So I went with that (but I suffered through the decision making process!).

The two items that went over budget, and that in the end will cause the original $10,000 planned budget to remain unaltered, were the photographer (which cost double what I had planned) and the restaurant, which cost pretty much what I had budgeted for, but I didn't count the "extra" fee for getting married on the beach ceremony (as much as two pair of Louboutin shoes!).

So as August enters, I need to finalize some little details, but I also want to start relaxing some, in order to avoid needing stress medications the day of the wedding. I am going to do my best and try to pamper myself a few times, get at least two pedicures, two manicures (I might get fake nails for the day of) and I STILL need to figure out the hair and makeup! So stay tuned for those scary pictures! :)

Wedding Planning: The Hair Part II

2011-07-18T13:33:00.003-04:00

I'm still clueless about what to do with my hair.

I went to the hair salon and got a blow out and it was ok. Nothing special. I'm trying to figure out if I can get away with a simple blow out or if I need more work done to it.

There is not much hair to do much with it, really. I mean if you look at the picture to the right here, on my About Me page, well, my hair is not like that right now.. :(

Should I show you what it looks like? Really? Should I post pictures of myself looking like cr@p on the internet? Oh well...

Here is me, no make up, and no hair! Fine, wispy, frail hair (I actually cut my hair since this photo, so now it's even shorter). And the hat has been my best friend for too long. :(

And by the end of August I need a plan, so that I didn't pay a photographer more money than I paid for my dress, shoes, veil, groom's suit and cake combined, to take pictures of me looking great from my neck down!

At least this post gives me some hope and makes me feel not so alone:

Christina Hendricks Loves Hair Pieces!

I had no idea! She looks so beautiful! I can be so oblivious at times...

Wedding Planning: The Hair

2011-07-14T09:49:00.002-04:00

Veil or no veil, that is the question.

Wedding Planning: The Dress Part VI

2011-07-14T00:15:00.000-04:00

Yesss, I bought the dress! :)

It's one of the three I listed on my Wedding Planning: The Dress Part V post... but which one did I buy????

Well, after much thought, and going back to David's Bridal for one last try, I decided that it wasn't going to be the dress I actually almost bought! Number two, I'm sorry, you were so not right for me...

But let me back up a little:

On my second visit to David's (I've been there three times total) I tried this dress on (oh yes, we're going to look at some pictures today!):

It's a Galina Signature dress and it's very beautiful. Lightweight enough for a Summer wedding, and in the mermaid style that seems to fit me way better than an A-line wedding gown. Problem was that I have never seen this dress listed on eBay nor on any of the other websites where I have been looking for my dress at a discount price. Note: this is not dress number 2.

This was dress number 2! An Oleg Cassini I picked because it was the closest thing to the Galina above, but I had never actually tried it on at the store. I was able to find a great auction on eBay, which is still going on as of today, for half the price and I almost bought it. But because I was worried about the size (and the fact that I had never tried it on), I didn't buy it and decided to go to David's to see if I could try it on first. And thank goodness I did! This dress fit me horribly! Oh, it looked so bad! And it was so heavy and uncomfortable! Oh thank goodness I didn't buy it! It would have been $500 down the drain! Ok, enough of the drama. Bye bye dress number two.

As I re-tried the Galina and then the Cassini, I kept thinking about my beach ceremony and the whole beach wedding, and the sand, and the ocean and the beach again. And the more I thought about it, the more these dresses didn't feel right. They were beautiful dresses but not appropriate for a beach wedding. Heavy beading and summer waves just don't go together.

So while I was tempted to re-try my number 1 favorite again, which is this one:

I also knew that time was running out, and I hadn't found any good deals on this dress yet. And since I wanted to stick to my budget of around $500 and this dress costs $950 (when on sale), I decided not to try it on again (why say goodbye?), thinking that all in all, it wasn't a beach dress anyway. Adieu mon amour.

So maybe the mermaid was not my style after all.

So I decided to move on, and get down to business. The other reason why I had gone to David's was to try dress number 3, in a size 6, since I had been able to find a decent deal on eBay for it. All the dresses above fitted me in a size 10, so I had my doubts I could squeeze in a size 6, but I had to try the dress to find out.

I need to open a small parenthesis here. When I went to the store, they immediately asked for my name and all, so they knew my wedding was in a month (because I'm registered there). I told the girl assisting me that I needed to try on dresses that I could buy and take home that day, no 12 weeks wait for me. Well, they had the Galina in a size 10 ready to go, the Cassini in a size 10 ready to go... I'm not sure if because these dresses have been around some time already, or what, but it felt like whatever I was picking it was available to buy right there and then. So don't be too worried about having to buy your dress a year in advance, you can always find something, even at the last minute. Parenthesis closed.

Back to dress number 3, I felt a bit awkward asking the girl "please I want to try this dress, but in size 6" because she would have said "honey, you've been trying size 10s, why do you suddenly think you're 4 size smaller?"

So I just asked "do you have such and such dress available?" She went to look and came back to tell me they had it in a size 8. Good enough. I told the girl that I would try the size 8, and what do you know? Size 8 was a bit big on me. :) So I asked the girl if they maybe had the size 6 for this dress, and what do you know? THEY HAD SIZE 6! And I tried it on. AND IT FIT ME ALMOST PERFECTLY! In my mind I just wanted to drop everything, go home and get on the computer and email the people with this dress in a size 6 and tell them that I wanted to buy it from them, today! Before someone else got to it first!

But I kept my cool and stayed a little longer. We actually bought a bridesmaid's dress and some jewelry, so I don't feel like a total user of the poor people at David's.

The girl actually brought me another dress, which I made the mistake of trying on. This new dress, not on my radar at all, didn't feel special or anything, but it did look made out of the right material and a nice color for the beach. It threw me off for a few minutes, but then I used it as an excuse to tell the girl that I had to sleep on the decision, and left the store.

Got home, sent a few emails, got a deal, the dress is already on its way to me. :)

So dress number 3 is my dress. It is simple, yet not so simple. There are much simpler dresses, while this one has some embellishments. I can't go into much more details because I don't want to spoil the surprise. This is the dress that felt right for the kind of wedding I am having. I think of the beach and I think flowy dresses, not structured and beaded dresses. I think of light and simple and comfortable. And this dress is like that.

The price was also good. Not an amazing deal, but I was able to save around $150 from the current price of the dress, and I remained in my budget.

Oh, what a relief it was to finally buy my wedding dress!

EBay Gem!

2011-07-12T23:06:00.000-04:00

I have been on eBay a little too much these past months, to decorate my house and to shop for the wedding... and I just had to share with you the "weirdest" auction I've seen so far (I was looking for a Nativity Set):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nativity-Set-12-piece-hand-painted-Italy-circa-1950s-/270745303757?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f09ad7acd

Please read the description of the item and tell me it's not just hilarious! Oh, and the price, totally nuts! lol!

ps. Yes, I bought the dress... I'll see you tomorrow ;)

Wedding Planning: Hair and Makeup

2011-07-12T09:15:00.000-04:00

Ok, today should be the day, I shall buy my wedding dress. I will let you know all about it in my next post.

This post, instead, is about what needs to be taken care of after you don't have to worry about the dress anymore: HAIR and MAKEUP.

HAIR

Holy macaroni, am I in trouble! I mean I can work on the makeup, but the hair is going to be a b#%@!

My hair hasn't grown an inch in the last couple of months, and it actually looks like it has shortened a little bit, too, how is that possible, I don't know, but it has!

So my hair is very short, and I have to figure out if I want to pull it up and use a fake bun, or keep it down and find some kind of style that will make it look flowy and elegant, and not idiotically short and sickly looking (oh, the pregnancy and after-baby has done a number on the hair for sure!).

I think I will go to one or two salons, WON'T tell them it's for a wedding, otherwise they will CHARGE me $1,000 for a blow out, and see what they come up with (I'll tell them it's for a night out).

If I find someone that can do a decent job, I'll go back to them the morning of the wedding. If not, I'm screwed.

This could be something that could work. I guess the cute little pin will help as well. But my hair is longer than that, so I have to think about if I want to cut it, or if I should do something like this:

Thing is, my hair in the front is not even that long... I'm even thinking about extensions, but we'll see.

MAKEUP

I feel like I have a little bit more of control over the makeup issue because that's exactly the makeup's job, to make you look like whatever you want, to create an image that wasn't there before (I wish a brush could make hair grow right back!), to give you an illusion... you get my point.

The only problem is that I am not much of a makeup artist, and I am not going to hire a professional because of my budget. So the answer is that I have to become a professional in just 4 weeks! Yay! Which means you are all coming with me in this journey and you all are going to suffer through pictures of bad makeup application, until I finally get it right! ;)

I've already scouted the web for ideas and let me show you how I DO NOT WANT TO LOOK LIKE on my wedding day:

Yikes! And this is my fear about hiring a makeup artist, too. What if she feels this is what would look best on me?!?! Sure there are try-outs but still. I know a lady that did the try-outs and the day of the wedding she was miserable with her makeup, and what's worse, it made her look "older". I firmly believe that no makeup is better than bad makeup.

As with everything in my wedding planning, I research every new item until no more research can be done, because I practically read everything that has been written on the subject. Fortunately, when it comes to makeup, a good woman and personal "blogger friend" has put together an extensive list of wedding makeup tips and videos, that I'm hoping by the time I'm done with her post, I should be the makeup artist I long to be and have my makeup ready for my wedding. Her name is Karen and this is her "101 Wedding Makeup Looks" post:

http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/cosmetics/101-wedding-makeup-looks/

Now let me go read and practice, and stay tuned, because there will be a few make-up posts coming up every day or so (time is running out!!)

Wedding Planning: The Dress Part V

2011-07-10T08:05:00.004-04:00

This dress is out of the competition

Oh how I wish you girls could help me with this decision!

But since my fiance' reads the blog I can't post pictures of the dresses!!!

I am ready to purchase the gown, but I still have a couple of questions/doubts. Let me explain and you can chime in with your opinions (which always help me see things from a different prospective).

1) My top favorite dress: I have only seen one selling around, new with tags, but at the original price they were selling it at the store. So no discounts, and the size might be too small for me: size 6. So if I buy this dress, I might have to lose a lot of weight in a month, and I should have bought it at the salon since it would cost me just the same. This dress seems appropriate for a beach wedding, since it's lightweight while it offers me some belly support (my weakness). I've tried this dress on at David's and loved it. $950

2) Dress number two is a good deal. Discounted by 50% and brand new with tags. The size is a 10, which is what I need, because it's big enough to be taken in as needed (my small butt - I used to have a big one, now it's gone), and should fit my big stomach (which I'm hoping to reduce some). This dress is heavily beaded, and maybe too heavy for the beach, but I do love it. The only con is that I never tried it on, but something similar, and it looked great on me. $500

3) Dress number three I've tried it on and it looked great. I've seen it online, size 10, but not at great discount, only like 15% off. It might be the most appropriate for the beach. But it's the simplest of the three. Yet it would end up costing more than dress number two, which is a much more elegant and valuable dress. $650

Help!!! What do I do???

Fashion Success: Neutral Elegance

2011-07-05T22:17:00.000-04:00

I love simple elegance that looks comfortable yet chic.

Her shoes keep the outfit relaxed, and her hair give out a sense of neatness and well put togetherness that I have to admire.

I also love how she used neutrals but not the usual neutrals like beige, but various shades of grays.

Nothing in her outfit screams fancy or expensive, but the overall look is definitely classy.

And again, nice hair is fundamental for a successfully fashionable look, and hers is neat, braided and casually rested on the side, and it looks clean and shiny. Perfect.

Happy Fourth of July!!! And the winner is...

2011-07-04T09:46:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth!!!

Wishing you and your family a safe and fun time. :) Oh, and yes, Kevin, you won the Casio watch for your little girl! Congrats!!!

She is Two

2011-06-26T09:07:00.000-04:00

Today is my baby's second birthday.

As I write this, she is sleeping next to me (about to wake up), and her little feet are resting on my leg.

Since that post, two years ago, about my water breaking, a lot has changed in my life, a lot is different, I don't have much time to blog like I want to, for example. I don't have much time to do things I used to take for granted, like taking showers and peeing alone. I've mastered the art of doing everything with one hand, like dusting, cooking, getting money for the ATM machine, putting makeup on, taking makeup off, brushing my teeth and pulling my pants up and down when I don't pee alone anymore.

But those are not the biggest changes I've gone through.

The biggest changes are the ones no one can see, the ones inside of me. The change that has hit my heart and made it a hundred times bigger, so that it could fit the love that keeps multiplying exponentially for this baby. The change in my brain, where priorities and things that were once important got all put in a cup, shaken up, and thrown out the window, to make room for just one priority, her. The change in my fears, the change in my dreams, the change in how I see the world now, the change in how I feel the cry of every child in the street so close to my heart: this baby has made me such a wuss.

And I love her so much that her every fall and her every bruise hurts me more than it hurts her. And her every hug and her every kiss, and her "I WOV U MOMMY" melt my heart and make me want to be the best person I can ever be.

I wov u too, my Princess.

Can you help? The mysterious perfume.

2011-06-21T08:55:00.000-04:00

A little background history on me (relevant to the story, of course):

In 1990 I went to High School here in the States for about 3 months, but then ended up finishing it back in Italy.

During those three months I learned a lot of things: pretty boys can be bad boys, getting 100 in Physics automatically gets you called a nerd, you need to count English essays' words, teachers get mocked by students, do your homework during free periods...

But the thing that stuck with me the most was this scent that some girls wore en mass. It was the sweetest perfume, and it smelled sooo good.

Back then I never got to ask any of those girls which perfume it was, and I went back to Italy with this mystery unresolved. For years I didn't even think about it anymore... until I came back to live in the States.

Here and there I would smell this perfume again on a woman, on a bus, on the street, at the mall, but I never felt like asking women the name of the perfume they wore, thinking that I would eventually find it out on my own (through my smelling adventures at Sephora).

It has now been a while since I've smelled it on the streets, and I have not been able to find it on my own, so maybe you can help me. Let me give you some general information that might help narrow this perfume down:

1. Popular in the 1990s, but it could have also been in the 1980s.

2. High school girls wore it, so it couldn't be too expensive.

3. I want to say it had a musk base, but can't say for sure, definitely on the sweet side.

4. I don't think Sephora carries it, maybe a drugstore perfume???

If you have any guesses, please leave a comment, and I will be sure to go and smell it! :)

Wedding Planning: The Dress Part IV

2011-06-14T20:06:00.001-04:00

No, this is not the dress I want

Ok, so I thought I had a good plan about buying my wedding dress at the last minute, but my plan is starting to get me a little nervous...

Step by Step this is what I was planning on doing:

1) Keep an eye on my favorite dress on David's Bridal

2) Wait for it to be moved to the SALE pages or even better to the OUTLET pages on David's Bridal's website

3) Look for it also on eBay (new, not used)

4) Buy it at the best price I can find

So this past weekend I went on David's Bridal to check on the status of my dress and it was gone from the regular priced menus! I have to be honest and say that my heart jumped a little.

I ran to check the SALE pages and I scrolled through all of the dresses... but nothing.

Hmm. Would they put it directly on the outlet pages? That seemed strange.

I checked the OUTLET pages... all of the dresses... carefully... nothing.

Now my heart started to ache a little more. I had to quickly come to the conclusion that my dress had been either sold out or discontinued! There wasn't going to be a Step 2 of my original plan!

Quickly, I jumped on eBay, and searched for the dress... and for the first time ever... I found one! The very first one that has made it to eBay!

It's a size 6P (I would be more comfortable buying a 8P and have it altered), it's brand new with tags (that's perfect), but here comes the shocker, the lady wants $950 for it (this dress sold for $1,150 at David's but they would lower the price down to $950 every so often, during their sales)!

So this is not the right deal yet, but my eyes are wide open and I'm on the lookout.

In order to avoid jumping the gun too quickly, and buying for too much money or the wrong size, I've given myself time until July 15th. My friends are pulling their hair in exasperation, because they think I should have the dress already, but at this point I'm determined in proving them wrong (I hope I will...) ;)

If I only buy one piece of clothing this summer, this is it!

2011-06-06T12:38:00.000-04:00

A Maxi Dress!

I've always liked them, but I've never really owned one because I am 5'2'' and I've always thought that a maxi dress would overwhelm my petite figure.

Well, now that I am at a different point in my life (read: mother with child, and I need my comfort, and I don't care as much as what other people think...) I think I will buy myself a nice maxi dress for the Summer.

The feat is to find one that costs less than $100.

Where do you buy your maxi dress from?

Happy Memorial Day - Time to Get in Shape!

2011-05-29T23:34:00.000-04:00

It's almost June. My wedding is at the end of August. You would think it's time for me to start some kind of needed exercise and diet regime. I would think so, too.

And so it goes.

What should I call it? Wedding Bootcamp? It sounds about right.

What should it be about? Diet, exercise, and some needed relaxation techniques.

Stay tuned for a weekly update and feel free to join me for moral support (I need lots of help, especially with my stomach).

Ps. How cute was Nicole Richie's wedding dress? I couldn't pull it off, but I think she did, and looked very pretty.

So, since the economy is bad, would you consider doing this?

2011-05-19T17:43:00.000-04:00

Hey, it's not as bad as it looks! ;)

It's a website about swapping clothes and cosmetics (an other stuff) for free with people from all over the world. No registration fees and no swapping fees.

www.swapstyle.com

American Express Travel - Nextpedition Initiative

2011-05-16T00:40:00.002-04:00

The American Express Travel’s Nextpedition Initiative has a new and interesting "Travel Profiler" quiz. They ask you 15 questions and at the end they show you what kind of a traveler you are. I took the quiz and to my surprise, they got me right on the money - it is American Express after all! ;)

My main doubt was "How will they know my travel personality when I don't think I have a specific one?" I mean I like a road trip just as much as I love to sit by the beach for a week straight, and I love visiting museums just as much as I love shopping up and down Rodeo Drive... could all these be part of a same travel personality? I didn't think so. And neither did American Express. In fact, at the end of my test, I didn't get just one travel personality result, but three different ones!

And this test couldn't have been more right! I am so all of the three different personality! Depending on the time of the year and on my mood, I might go for something more relaxing or more luxurious, but definitely comforting and chic! That's so me! He he.

I guess the 94% Zenturian makes me feel like I really need a vacation to unwind these days, and it's so true considering the wedding coming up, some deadlines at work and the remodeling of my house. Yes, all of them at once, I don't mess around!

If I could, I would love to take one of those retreat vacations in a luxury resort spa for a week or two. I've always looked them up but, for some reason, most of them are in Arizona and in the surrounding states, as if people from the West Coast need to relax more than us on the East Coast! :)

I would spend the days getting pampered, getting massages, facials, and pedicures. But I would also try to to nurture the soul by practicing meditation in the morning and eating better meals (easier when someone else does the cooking!).

I would practice standing still and listening to the birds sing, and then I would go and get another massage! ;)

I would learn how not to use the computer for a week straight (not sure I can do that), and I would walk barefoot all the time. I would talk as little as possible, and listen as much as I could. I would breathe in and breathe out. Namaste.

What about you? What kind of travel personality do you think you have? Take the Travel Profiler Quiz at www.nextpedition.com and find out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

American Express Travel announces NEXTPEDITION℠, a new way to travel targeted to travel enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s. Through NEXTPEDITION, American Express Travel offers consumers the exciting opportunity to take a vacation where the destination and itinerary are unknown until the actual journey begins and is revealed day by day via a customized Smartphone. The “mystery trip” is customized to reflect the traveler’s personality traits, providing an opportunity for him or her to explore the world in an unexpected and intuitive way. ( www.nextpedition.com )

Disclosure:
"Compensation was provided by NEXTPEDITION from American Express Travel via Glam Media"
“The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of NEXTPEDITION from American Express Travel"

Sobral Sample Sale - May 12-15

2011-05-11T22:52:00.000-04:00

There is something about Sobral's jewelry that brings me right back to 1992, and anything that makes me feel 19 again is worth checking out!

Colorful and vibrant, all the pieces are a feast for the eyes (if you are like me and you like colors)!

A Brazilian designer, Carlos Sobral infuses his jewelry with his passion for life, love, happiness and laughter.

If you are in New York don't miss SOBRAL SAMPLE SALE going on starting tomorrow:

Thursday-Saturday, May 12^th-14^th: 11:00am-8:00pm

Sunday, May 15^th: 11:00am-7:00pm

Discounts from 40-70% off!!

Sobral

412 West Broadway

New York, NY 10012

212.226.2710

Wedding Planning: Royal Wedding Inspiration

2011-05-01T15:30:00.004-04:00

A few of you have asked me why I have not blogged about the Royal Wedding, and/or if I have gotten any inspiration from it.

Sometimes I rather not blog about something that I know will be all over the media, anyway. I mean do you really need my opinion on top of the million of other people talking about this fairytale wedding?

The truth is, exactly because I am getting married soon, I prefer not to look at something this grand, because it might make me feel "small". Don't get me wrong, I wanted an intimate wedding, but I also wouldn't have minded being strolled in a carriage around London while robotically waving my hand and being cheered and admired by the whole world.

So, from the beginning, I have not paid much attention to preparations and all the guess work that everybody else was doing (what is Kate's dress going to look like???). But luck had it that my darling daughter couldn't sleep on Friday morning, and woke up at around 5:30 AM. After trying to put her back to sleep without any success, I turned on the TV in the bedroom hoping to find Elmo or one of his friends to entertain her while I tried to get 10 more minutes of sleep.

The first channel that came on had the royal wedding going on, and at this point they had already left the church and were strolling around in the carriage (my daughter called it "bus").

And I have to admit that I couldn't change the channel. I forgot about Elmo, sleeping and the fact that I had to go to work soon. My daughter and I got comfortable in bed, and watched the "prince" and the "princess" smiling and waving, and strolling around town on the "bus" pulled by fancy horses.

What did I think of the dress? It was lovely! Pretty perfect for her. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Now is this a dress that, given the chance, I would replicate for my wedding? Absolutely not! And not because I wouldn't like it on me, but solely because I hate to be a "copy cat". I am so not the girl that sees something nice on the next girl and has to go get it. I can appreciate it, and maybe regret that I didn't think of it or bought it first, but once someone else has it, it becomes a bit of a turn off for me.

I am sure there will be a million brides around the world copying this dress, and it will be refreshing to see a lot of them "covering up" instead of spilling skin from skin-tight corsets.

But I've already decided on the style of my dress, and I know what will look great on me. ;)

The only idea I could grab from Kate's dress is maybe finding a lace top to cover my shoulders. But that's about it.

With all of this said, let me digress just a little bit to some other royal wedding dresses...

The reason why Kate's dress is beautiful is because it's a classic. It's a dress that will always look good no matter the year on the calendar. But I don't think all the credit goes to the designer. The designer was wise enough to look to the past for inspiration, and I'm sure you've heard it already that Kate's dress looks a lot like Grace Kelly's dress.

You just can't deny the influence.

The lace, the veil, the classic elegance.

Grace's dress is something you could still wear today and you would look undeniably beautiful. That is the definition of "classic".

You want to know who was far from classic, instead?

Princess Diana's dress!

Holy cow! How big was that dress???

I understand it was the 80s and all, but a royal wedding dress shouldn't have let the "trends" influence the style sooo much!

It was a "cool" dress at the time, but today, I don't think you could find a bride willing to wear this dress... and with reasons!

Digression closed.

Back to Kate's wedding, truth to be told, there were two small details that I would love to replicate but that I probably will not be able to:

The flower girls' look.

Not so much the dress, which is lovely, but I would love for my baby to wear a little "flower crown" on her head, but knowing her this will not happen. I will try, though, with a prop a couple of times before the wedding.

I've also come to appreciate the "white bridesmaids" look. I've always thought that white should be reserved for the bride, but after watching the wedding, and looking at royal wedding portraits (even past ones), I like how the all-over white (bride, bridesmaids, flower girls) helps achieve a crisp, delicate, elegant and uniform look.

But I've already chosen my bridesmaids color, and it's too late to go back (and I really wouldn't want to at this point).

I can reserve the all-white look as a suggestion for my daughter's wedding. ;)

Lastly, I've been trying to decide if I want my groom to wear a dark or a light colored suit. Being that we are getting married at the beach I am more inclined towards the light colored one, but now I think I am getting a new idea...

I think this would look great on him!

I mean, do you have to be a prince to wear a uniform?

If you think about it, all of the Disney Princesses marry a Prince wearing a uniform of some kind (with my baby being almost two years old, I am Jeopardy ready for Disney princesses questions).

And I am marrying my "prince charming", so it only makes sense that he would wear "prince" attire.

I've mentioned this to him once already, almost as a joke, and he replied, on tone, that instead he's going to wear a "kilt" (he's of Irish descent). And since I believe that there are no rules on what you can wear for your wedding ("Star Trek"'s fans anybody?), I'm not loosing hope on the uniform just yet.

Wedding Planning: The Hair

2011-04-30T16:40:00.002-04:00

Creme de Coco

The wedding is 4 months away and my hair is still in pretty bad shape, not to mention very SHORT!

The last time I cut it (I know, I know, you want to see pictures, but trust me there is not much to see!) I went short because I wanted to get rid of all the damaged ends and also to, supposedly, strengthen the hair itself.

Well, almost 5 months after that cut, the hair is still not that great looking. :(

The good news is that I was loosing hair which now looks like it's all growing back, except that it's all about 2 inches long, and I'm just praying that by August it at least reaches my chin. We'll see...

In the meantime, I'm killing the hair with over conditioning like there is no tomorrow (don't ask me why, I'm just doing it to feel good).

My hair is very frizzy, too, so at least the conditioning is somewhat taming the frizz.

I'm using not one, not two, but three different deep conditioning products:

1) One of those tube conditioner that comes in your box of home hair color. I find these conditioners to be so good and they always smell great. Because my hair is pretty short, a tube can last for a while.

2) A Neutrogena deep conditioner.

3) The Bumble and Bumble Creme De Coco Masque. I love this masque! I've been wanting to buy it for years (no kidding!) but the price was always a turn off, $24, and the fact that there wasn't a Bumble store close to me made it more difficult for me to cave in and buy it. Of course as soon as Sephora started carrying the Bumble and Bumble brand, I couldn't resist anymore, and I bought it - well, my honey got it for me ;) And, holy crap! Why did I wait so long? I had a feeling I was going to love it because of the coconut smell, but the product is also great. It leaves my hair soft and smelling like a sunny day at the beach!

And when I say over-conditioning, I mean it! I am basically applying deep conditioners every time I wash my hair (every other day) and I rotate all three products as I feel like it, and you know what? I'm loving it!

I feel like I'm really pampering myself every time in the shower, and I don't think I'm doing any harm to the hair (really, the way it is it can only get better!).

Hopefully it will grow a few inches before August, so I can have a nice style for the day.

Ps. No, I haven't bought the dress yet... why? What's the rush? ;)

The cutest summer clutch

2011-04-17T00:21:00.000-04:00

I'm not one that loves to carry around clutches, but this one from Tory Burch is just adorable!

It's sold by Saks, but you can also find a bigger version of it at ToryBurch.com.

What is your Celebrity Style?

2011-04-09T09:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I went shopping with a friend of mine, to help her pick a dress to wear tonight for a night out on the town with friends (it's her Birthday celebration).

I wasn't much help at first because our tastes are almost polar opposites!

Every dress she picked was something that I would never wear, but at the same time anything I picked for her made her cringe and she would say: "I would never wear something like that, it's not my style."

Of course we both had our right to like what we liked, it's just a little more difficult for me trying to pick a nice dress out of a bunch I don't like! ;)

In the end she bought something that was Herve Leger inspired (I don't like these mummies dresses) and I was able to open my mind and help her pick the best one for her.

On the way back to work, we were talking about our different taste in clothes and she said to me: "See, I'm a mix of Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Eva Mendes. Sexy and chic."

Wow! That made it so much clearer for me to understand what she liked, that I wished she would have said this to me before we went out shopping.

Then I wanted to give her my three celebrities name to help her understand why I wasn't too much help, but on two feet I could only think of Katie Holmes.

Today, after much thought, I have my three celebrities styles:

Jennifer Aniston - Kathie Holmes - Rachel Bilson

Now you can do this exercise too: think about which celebrities make you go "I love what she's wearing!" more than others.

Which are your top three favorite celebrity styles that best describe yours?

Spring Look: Casual Chic

2011-04-05T08:41:00.003-04:00

As I begin to try and dress this "mommy" up for Spring, I am trying to find looks that are both comfortable and somewhat chic.

I like this outfit from Ann Taylor, because it's something I wouldn't normally wear (which is an extra reason to look at it, enough with the sweat pants!), and I think it would look great and serve the "I need to be able to hold the baby" purpose.

Key elements are:

A nice striped top
A pair of khaki shorts
A pair of interesting looking espadrilles (keep the colors in the black and white family)

Final touch: Red.
Red lipstick, red nail polish.

How to make your own knitted handbag

2011-03-31T17:05:00.000-04:00

Last year I blogged about Dolce & Gabbana's beautiful knitted handbags, and how I wanted to make my own based on their models and ideas.

Well, I didn't copy any one of the three handbags listed in that post, but I went for something simpler and more appropriate for summer.

I used a similar pattern to one of the D&G bags: a simple 1 knit 1 purl each row, and alternating it to 1 purl 1 knit on the next row. Can't go any simpler than that, but the result is always interesting and cool to the touch.

I made it as long as I felt was enough to double it over. As for how many stitches on a row, it really depends on how thick is the yarn, and for a project like this you want to use thick better than thin yarn. For this bag I used just 30 stitches.

Once I had my rectangular piece of yarn done, I started playing with different shapes... did I want a square bag?

Or maybe a pointy one?

Or an elongated one?

The elongated one won. :)

Next, I picked an old pillow case to use as the lining of the bag. This yarn bags need a lining, otherwise anything you put in the bag will stretch the yarn.

I cut the pillow case to match the shape of my bag and started sewing all around the sides.

I then folded the rectangle in two, and sewed the sides of the bag together (on the inside out side).

Here is the bag all sewed up and with the lining inside.

Now I needed a handle. I actually crochet the handle, because I think it's much faster when you need to get a long strip like this. What I did was I started with a chain of many stitches (I don't even remember how many, I just kept checking if it was as long as I wanted it to be), and then worked the chain a few times over with half doubles until it was as wide as I needed it to be.

Lastly, I attached the handle to the bag by sewing the ends of the handle to the sides of the bag. As of right now I haven't decided yet if I want it to have a zipper or just a button to close the opening.

I realize this is a much simpler bag compared to the Dolce & Gabbana's ones, but it is an easier start for someone new to knitting. And you could still add plenty of your own ideas, for example you could add a few flowers in front, or embroider part of it, anything else that would make this your own project.

I am still working on another bag, still knitted, and still from Dolce & Gabbana's inspiration, but I need more resources to complete it (plastic handle and leather corners at least), and if I ever finish it, I will share the results with you.

Happy knitting! :)

Rumba Giveaway Winners!!!

2011-03-31T10:10:00.000-04:00

Here are the 3 lucky winners of a Rumba Time watch:

Courtney

Maria Paray

and

Jewels for Hope

Congratulations!!! :)