Follow Me on Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest

5/04/2010

Today's Obsessions



Today's Obsessions

Posted: 02 May 2010 10:32 AM PDT
Spring means a fresh new start, not just in nature and in the weather, but inside the house as well! It's time for spring cleaning, and this year, I'm actually excited about it! If you dread spring cleaning, I can help! Here's a step-by-step plan for getting your spring cleaning done…

1. Set aside time


Photo Credit: insashi
If you plan to do a thorough spring cleaning, you're going to need at least one full eight-hour day to do it. Plan ahead at least a week, and plan to order dinner in, so you don't have to pause to make a meal. Make sure the family or your roommates know when you plan to spring clean far enough in advance that they can plan to help, or at least stay out of the way!

2. Enlist the troops


Photo Credit: moonshine-design
Spring cleaning, like any other big job, is a lot faster and easier if you have helpers. If you have children who are old enough to help, ask them to help (or bribe them, if you have to). If you have friends or roommates, ask them, too. Remember, many hands make light work… it's true!

3. Gather supplies


Photo Credit: CarusoPhoto
Before you get started, make sure you have everything you'll need, so you don't have to spend time hunting for cleaning supplies, or worse, having to leave and buy them. You'll definitely need a bucket, access to hot water, scrubbers and rags or sponges, all-purpose cleanser, window cleaner, and cleanser with bleach. What else do you think you'll need?
Posted: 02 May 2010 08:26 AM PDT
I love this time of year, when the new batch of wedding invitations starts to arrive. I always enjoy seeing which brides chose which invitations, and they're always so pretty! If you're shopping around for invitations for your own wedding, here are some of the ones I've seen recently… they're all so gorgeous!

1. Ocean View Wedding Invitations


Price: $28.50 for 25 at theamericanwedding.com
Are you planning a beach-themed wedding, or even a destination wedding somewhere warm and sandy? This might be the invitation for your wedding, then! It features pretty sea oats, sea birds, and a warm sun, plus your names and a short poem at the top and bottom. Not sure if you'll like them? Order a free sample!

2. Anise Flowers Wedding Invitation


Price: $2.25 each at etsy.com
Are you more wildflower and hot-house rose? These pretty invitations, featuring the silhouette of anise flowers, would be ideal for announcing your wedding plans. Choose from dozens of color combinations, matched to your own wedding colors.

3. Mr. and Mrs. Birdy Wedding Invitation


Price: $2.25 each at etsy.com
Oh so sweet! These adorable invitations feature a whimsical pair of doves, prepared to take their own vows. Choose from four color combinations, one of which is sure to match your wedding colors and theme.
Posted: 02 May 2010 08:14 AM PDT
Before my daughter was born, I didn't own a pair of pants. No matter the season, I wore dresses and skirts only. Now, I live in Michigan, and I only wear dresses in the spring and summer… and now it's spring, so it's time for new dresses! My favorite place to buy them is Anthropologie, and I love their new spring line… here are my favorite new dresses!

1. We Love Vera Stamp Art Dress


Price: $148.00 at anthropologie.com
What's not to love about this pretty black-and-white floral print sundress? It's so pretty and easy to wear, with its pull-over styling, side pockets, and bright teal bib and straps. It's easy care, too, being machine washable, and would look smashing with black gladiators or kitten heels and some pretty chunky black bracelets or cute green accessories.

2. Eva Franco Oroya Dress


Price: $188.00 at anthropologie.com
This is such a unique take on the floral print trend! I love the bright coral sash, and the gorgeous, lush cacti print, all in green and yellows. I'd wear this with natural turquoise and coral beads and some retro sunglasses…

3. Fleur Wood Blazing Rays Dress


Price: $158.00 at anthropologie.com
So hot, so pretty, so perfect for sultry summer nights! I love the tonal stripes in the steamy hot hues and the pretty gathered effect at the side. It's made of cool, comfy cotton with a cotton liner and side zip. Wear with gold jewelry and gladiator sandals, and long, loose wavy tresses.
Posted: 02 May 2010 08:13 AM PDT
I love looking at cute outfits for my dog. Of course, I have a grown Pit Bull, Copper, so getting my hands on a cute outfit that big is hard to do. Plus, he's a boy. Maybe, one day, I will get a girl dog, then I would dress her up in beautiful dresses. Below, I am going to give you 8 cute outfits for your dog…

8. Mama’s Boy Doggy T-Shirt


Price: $9.99 at amazon.com
This is a Mama's Boy Doggy T-Shirt that is perfect for your little man. This will tell the world exactly who they are and your dog will feel uber comfortable when he wears this. The logo on the back has been embroidered for lasting durability. Mama's Boy Doggy T-Shirt + your little friend= one adorable dog!

7. Psychedelic Tie Dye Peace Sign Dog T-Shirt


Price: $18.95 at amazon.com
A tie dye peace sign tee that gives your dog a psychedelic look? I’d definitely love to dress my dog in this. It is bright and comfortable. Even more, it is one hundred percent cotton and less than twenty bucks! Wow, girls, you can't go wrong here.

6. Shaggy Sheik Dress


Price: $185.00 at poshpuppyboutique.com
Wow, what a beautiful, black dress! I know the price is a bit steep but if you can afford it, your four legged friend will look adorable at any event you’re planning. Imagine her dressing up as a gothic dog at a Halloween party. How cute! I bet Hollywood stars are dressing up their pooches in this.
Posted: 02 May 2010 07:33 AM PDT
So you've found a man and invited him home, but how do you make sure everything goes smoothly once you are on your way? Bringing men home can be a battlefield but with these ten rules, you'll look smart, sexy and dignified, rather than risk looking (and feeling!) like a naughty teenager…

1. Warning


Photo Credit: ydhsu
If you share your house, text your house mate when you've asked him and warn her that you are bringing a man home. That way, she can make sure she is decent, the flat is tidy and she won't be scared if she sees a strange man in the bathroom at midnight…

2. Be Prepared


Photo Credit: Tortuguita_88
Make sure you have some sort of contraceptive ready! There is nothing more embarrassing than having to ask a flatmate, or make a shameful run to the garage to grab some. So ensure that you are prepared in advance and you'll be ready for any situation!

3. Clear the Room


Photo Credit: tinkerrrbell
There isn't really anything more embarrassing than an awkward coffee with your flatmates when you'd rather be in private, so ask them to disappear for ten minutes when you arrive. They can have run of the house when you and him are safe behind closed doors!
Posted: 02 May 2010 04:19 AM PDT
Since so many of us here in the States have roots in other countries, we're obsessed as a nation with tracing our family trees. It can be daunting, especially since so many of our older relatives have passed on, and we don't have many ways to verify what we're even looking for, not to mention whatever we might find. If you're embarking on a quest to trace your family tree, I have some tips that will send you on your way prepared to learn all you can!


1. Talk to the matriarch/patriarchs


 Photo Credit: Documentally
When was the last time you had tea with your grandmother or great-aunt Jenny? Pay them a visit and ask them for stories, photos, and information. They're a wealth of knowledge and history, and you know they'll appreciate the attention!

2. Look through albums


 Photo Credit: JennKstep
Thumb through family photo albums and ask questions about the people, places, and background objects in the pictures. Sometimes an event, or a car, or a painting on a wall can have an amazing history, something that older generations take for granted, but you never knew.

3. Compare notes


 Photo Credit: Patrick Ng
Keep notes of what you find, and objectively compare the different versions of the same stories. If great-aunt Jenny says the older man in that photo with the Packard is her father, then she's probably right, even if your grandmother says he's not a relative.
Posted: 02 May 2010 01:52 AM PDT
So let’s say you’ve never heard of the name Zoë Kravitz before. I can tell you she’s gorgeous but you probably will not believe me. But when I tell you that she is the daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, then you’ll definitely agree that she is a beauty. However, Zoë is more than just a girl blessed with an enviable set of genes, she is also rather stylish. In fact, she often rocks the hippie look so effortlessly. Here are 10 Zoe looks that I find hip and cute :

1. Nautical Colors


1
Zoë went for a colorful nautical dress for the launch of her perfume. She looks her age here, which is always a good thing. I don’t get the choice of shoes but the rest of the outfit look pretty.

2. Artsy Boho

2
If I were just a tad braver, I’d definitely copy this look. Sometimes, I just feel silly wearing a hat. I guess that’s not a problem for Zoë since she is always photographed.

3. LBD Love

3
She looks a bit like Vanessa Hudgens here, doesn’t she? Again, I’m not so sure about the shoes but I like the glittery dress. It’s refreshing to find a young start who doesn’t always show up almost half-naked on red carpet events.

4. Business Chic

4
Now THESE shoes I am happy with. They look great with her all-black ensemble. The huge clutch also makes this look classier than, well, class.It’s great that her hair is not in its usual messy state, too.

5. Boy Style Hot

5
This is the look that made me pay just a bit of extra attention on dear little Zoë. I saw this photo and went: Huh, she knows how to dress up. Of course, it does not hurt that her beautiful daddy is with her in this photo.

6. A-Line Awesome

6
This is another look that I will gladly copy. In fact, I have a skirt similar to what she’s wearing here and I might just go out tomorrow looking like she does here. Minus the messy hair, of course.

7. Coffee Break Cutie

7
She looks like a fabulous runway model on a coffee break, doesn’t she? I love how effortlessly chic this look is. Skin-tight jeans + knee high boots + oversized shirt = FAB.

8. Booties Beauty

8
Casually color-coordinated but cute nonetheless. How I wish we got clear photos of her necklaces, too. I bet they’re adorable.

9. Cut Off Denim Divine

9
I think this is the best way to go casual and comfortable. I am in love with her sunnies and bag. I like the fact that she wears a lot of cocktail rings all the time, too.

10. A Flower of May

10
I know that the dress is most likely not a vintage piece but I love that it kinda looks like one. I think it’s safe to assume at this point that Zoë has a collection of shoes that take a lot of getting used to.
Posted: 01 May 2010 11:59 PM PDT
Ladies, start your engines. That’s right, it’s time for the Top 10 Designer Handbags of the season and let me tell you, there are some GREAT ones! Everything from hobos and totes, to tiny shoulder bags made just to hold lip gloss and a cell phone. Either way, these are the best of the best brought to you by me, for your buying pleasure!


1. Versace Block-Color Python Bag


Price: $2,895 at net-a-porter.com
Everything I love about this bag is what I hate about it, it’s a very emotional bag. It’s got great color, and a unique design. But then sometimes you do a double take and the great color turns into too much color and the unique design is just weird. Don’t worry ladies, eventually you’ll make up your mind! And I just know you’re going to love it!

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Kelsey Zipped Leather Bag


Price: $360 at net-a-porter.com
This bag is so soft and spacious and I really LOVE the zipper design. It’s not too in-your-face with the color, so you could really carry this a lot this summer. Plus, you can cram pretty much anything you’ll ever need into it!

3. Mulberry Bayswater Ink-Print Leather Bag


Price: $1,150 at net-a-porter.com
This bag really is unique. I love the ink print design in the bottom corner. There aren’t any bags like it by any other designers right now. I say if you have the cash spend it before this bag is long gone!
Posted: 01 May 2010 11:43 PM PDT
Now that the dreary winter is behind us, and the sun is peeping out a little more, it’s time to concentrate on the sunscreen, and to protect your eyes with a pair of fabulous sunglasses. Enter the Han Paul Senior Sunglasses…

What’s So Fab about It: The best part about the Han Paul sunglasses is their versatility. Wear them with a pair of black leggings and you’d look great, with your skinny jeans and still fab, with your cute summer polka-dotted dress and… you get the point. Heck! I think these would look great even with your pajamas!
Where Would I Wear It: You know how you have that pair of jeans that you can’t seem to let go irrespective of how long you’ve had them or how trends change? The Han sunglasses would be my sunglasses equivalent of that favorite pair of jeans. You’d literally have to claw them out of my eyes!
How Many Tall Lattes It’s Worth: 66
Where to Look 4 It: blackbirdballard.com
I don’t buy a lot of sunglasses so when I do, I need a pair that’s versatile and that goes with literally everything. Exactly why I can’t help but love the Han Paul sunglasses! What do you think? Too plain, so-so, or fabulous?
Posted: 01 May 2010 08:30 PM PDT
By Christine Foley How can husbands be more involved early on in a pregnancy? I adore my husband and, for the most part, he is extremely supportive of everything going on in my life. However, going through our second pregnancy (the first ended in a miscarriage at 14 weeks), it has become very clear to me that not much is changing in his life and a LOT is changing in mine. So what can I do to get him more active in these changes? My waist and thighs have not gotten much bigger yet – just thick enough to make my clothes tight, I notice with envy as he shrugs on the same old clothes every morning, my side of the room littered with clothes that are uncomfortable. Every night for the last few weeks, I have been putting his hand on my stomach and asking him to talk to the baby. Usually he just makes sarcastic comments about the baby’s gender, but he’s been getting more into it and when he leaves in the morning sometimes he rubs my slight tummy and say “goodbye, baby.” Here are some other things we can do together – and which you and your significant other might enjoy as well!

1. Talk about names

For us, this will probably take the full 9 months to reach a compromise, but it’s fun going through the lists we have.

2. Look at Baby items together

My husband finally got into the spirit of shopping for the baby when, a Jeep driver himself, he found out that Jeep makes a stroller. Of course, we have to get it!

3. Leave your baby books out

Sometimes, if I leave the room and then stand sneakily outside the doorway, he will actually reach over and review the chapter I am looking at. I try not to pressure him into it since he doesn’t much care for reading, but I am really happy when he takes the initiative.

4. Keep a secret

During my first pregnancy, we told EVERYONE. We were so excited. This time, we haven’t told many people yet and it kind of creates a little more secretive romance for us when I decline alcohol or take a Dramaine(TM) to control the nausea. Sure, there isn’t much appealing about nausea, but when you explain to others that you just must be experiencing a little motion sickness, you can share a little smile. How do YOU get your significant other involved?

Posted by Unknown at 01:59

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)