Snow Days + Philosophy Snow

 

When I was little, my aunt brought a truck full of snow home for me as a surprise and I made a snowman on my front lawn. It was very fun and all of the kids who walked by my house after school thought it was awesome. Even though I love building snow people, it doesn’t snow where I live and I am definitely okay with that. Shoveling snow from the drive way, waking up to find your car under a pile of snow, and driving in it never seemed appealing. If I want to experience snow in all its winter glory, I only have a two-hour drive. Confession: for senior skip day in high school my friends and I went to the snow. 

 

If you want to capture the essence of being in the snow without freezing, try Philosophy’s seasonal Snow line. The collection features shower gel, lip gloss, shimmering lotion, foot and hand cream set, and two other gift sets ranging in price from $10 for the gloss up to $25 for the gift sets.

Holiday Gift Guide: Sweet Treats

Need a gift for a real sweetheart? These fun and irresistable gifts are great for little ladies and grown up ladies alike. 

 1.  L’OCCITANE Limited Edition Creme Caramel Candle: $28, usa.loccitane.com; To create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, light this decadent scented candle to find your own comfort and joy this holiday. 

2. Fossil Candy Dome Ring Size 7: $40, fossil.com; This pretty metal and gemstone ring will be sure to please even the most finicky of recipients.

3. Hard Candy Just  Nails Polish; $5, select Walmart stores; The newly reinvented Hard Candy line is now exclusively sold at Walmart. With a larger color selection and variety of finishes (cream, shimmer, glitter) there is something for everyone. These also still include the signature ring in a coordinating color. Tip: Online is almost always sold out of these so input your zip to find a store nearest to you. 

4. Lush Creamy Candy Bubble Bar: $6.65, lush.com and stores; This bubbling bath treat smells so yummy you’ll want to eat it but it’s best enjoyed crumbled into your warm bath water for a deliciously scented bath-time escape. Bath bars can be crumbled into pieces and used for multiple baths. Best when kept in an air-tight bag or container. 

5. Sephora Sweet Candy Gloss Trio: $13, sephora.com; These glosses are slick and never sticky while having a slight shimmer and shine to make your pucker look irresistable. Set includes Guava Passion (my personal fave), Apple pomegranate, and Tropical Jasmine. Glosses are also sold individually in 8 different flavors for $7 each. 

6. Girl’s Juicy Couture Eat Candy Hoodie: $74.00 for toddler and child size 2-6, $98.00 for girls size 7-14, juicycouture.com; This soft velour-feel hoodie features glittery “eat candy” print on back. Matching pants and candy tee also available separately. 

7. Dylan’s Candy Bar Birthday Cake Batter Lip Saver: $8, sephora.com; DCB best-selling flavor “birthday cake” scented lip balm is hydrating and smells delish.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Spa Lover

Since most of us can’t get spa treatments done often, giving the gift of spa-inspired products is a great way to treat someone this holiday season. Here are my top picks for the spa-lover in your life (or even for yourself):

1. Caudalie Spa in a Bag: $30, sephora.com; This luxe set includes everything you’ll need to relax and revitalize the body. Includes a full size Fleur De Vigne shower gel, Crushed Cabernet Scrub, and travel sizes of Caudalie’s best-selling hand cream and body lotion.

2. Elemis Spa Candle: $76, timetospa.com; Indulge in this cinnamon, vanilla, and orange candle. The beautiful wooden base is reusable when your candle has finished its 130 hours of burn time.

3. Clarisonic Plus Skin Cleansing system: $225, sephora.com and clarisonic.com; As your cleanse your face and body, the sonic system rotates 300 times per minute to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells to reveal more radiant skin with less oilyness, fewer dry patches, fewer blemishes, and reduce wrinkles and pores. Used in many salon treatments and recommended by estheticians and dermatologists. This new plus system now has a third setting and special brush head for the body. Replacement brush heads, $25.

4. Calvin Klien Lush Bathrobe in White: $99, Macys.com; This cozy machine washable cotton robe is a great gift for anyone on your list. One size fits all, also available in the color Green Tea. A good alternative to this robe is the Bath and Body Works Sweetest, Softest Ever Robe, $39.50-$49.50, in multiple sizes and colors.

5. Tanda Regenerate Anti-Aging Starter Kit: $275, sephora.com; Is there someone on your list that must try all of the hippest, newest skin care gadget trends? Give the gift of youth with the Tanda. This anti-aging light therapy device helps to improve skin texture, tone, and firmness. There is also a blue LED light (sold separately) for acne.

6. Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream: $75, drbrandtskincare.com; Previously called “microdermabrasion in a jar,” this fine, smooth facial exfoliant is the creme de la creme of at home treatments. A version for the body is also available. Treatment may not be suitable for those with hyper sensitive skin or open lesions.

Holiday Gift Guide: Eastern Influence

 

1. Eastern Inspired Throw Pillows: $14-$24.99, worldmarket.com; With several patterns, colors, and styles, World Market is a great place to shop for unique decorative pillows. Check out more styles in-store and stop at the sale section.

2. Carved mirror: Various prices in-store at World Market. See store finder for the location near you.

3. Blue Velvet Mary Janes: $21, amazon.com; Other material options include cotton, silk, and velvet. This pair only in size US size 5-7. See seller for other styles, colors, and sizes.

4. Woven Tray: $39.99 sale price, westelm.com; This 24″diam x 14″h woven tray is perfect to use as a table, as a breakfast tray, catch-all, magazine, tray, the possibilities are endless. Stand not included.

5. Cargo Eastern Eye Pencil Set: $18 for five, sephora.com; This set of five mini eyeliner is perfect for any fashionista, girl on the go, or anyone that likes to emphasize their gorgeous peepers. Make sure to pick up a pencil sharpener, too.

6. 1928 Middle Eastern Style Jet Black Filigree Hoop Earrings: $15, 1928.com; Polished, textured hematite is finished with grey and black crystals.

7. Chinese Nylon-Cloth Fan: $11.99, amazon.com; Also available in yellow, magenta, and black.

8. Japanese Cherry Blossom Hanging Paper Lantern: $13.95, amazon.com; 10 mini paper lanterns are lit by 10 mini lightbulbs (included).

Fun Times: The Flat Tire

I was having a marvelous day off last Monday. I slept in, got a little holiday shopping done, and was on my way to get my brows waxed when I heard a loud BOOM. It sounded as if something had hit the roof of my car and I was worried it cracked the glass on my sunroof. I pulled over, checked the top of my car and all looked fine. I also checked the rest of the car and everything looked fine so I drove on for a few miles. Nothing sounded or seemed out of the ordinary until I suddenly wasn’t able to accelerate. Shortly afterward, I started slowing down even though I was pressing the gas. I pulled over again, got out, and saw that I had a flat. I’ve only ever had a flat tire once before and also didn’t realize it was flat for quite some time (until a nice lady  flagged me down).

Even though I didn’t have many warning signs of a flat that I immediately recognized, it’s good to know what to look for. I can’t tell you how to change a flat (I know it’s supposed to be easy but I still haven’t learned how) but I can inform you of the basics of tire care:

-I always get my tires rotated on schedule. This helps them to wear evenly and it’s also a great way to know if you need any repair work done (retreading, etc.) or if your tire shop expert notices any potential problems for the future. They will also usually check your pressure (if not, ask them to). I take great care of my tires since they are pretty big investment and sometimes no matter what you do, flats will still happen. If you don’t know how many thousand miles to have them rotated, ask your local shop.

-You should also always check your tire pressure at least once a month. To do this, you can purchase a gauge, which is relatively inexpensive, at your auto parts store or any store that sells basic auto products (Target, Walmart). I prefer to have my own so that I can check the pressure anytime and anywhere. Most gas stations also have air you can fill your tires with and the hoses usually have a gauge that you can use for free. Side note for Californians: It is now illegal for gas stations to charge you for air use. To find out the desired pressure for your tires, there is often a chart on the driver side door of your vehicle, in your owner manual, or you can ask when you purchase your tires or have them rotated. The place I purchase my tires from will also check my levels for free and fill them if needed. Many places will also do this for free or a small fee.

-If you are in an emergency situation, call 911 immediately!  If you need to pull over due to a flat or stall (for any reason), try to do so safely and pull off to a safe spot. Grip your steering wheel firmly and steer carefully, minding traffic conditions around you. Do not slam on your brakes and don’t stop in traffic as it may cause an accident. Turn on your blinker to alert drivers of your lane change. If you remember to turn on your emergency flashers, now would be an ideal time to do so. Carefully exit your car (preferably on the side NOT adjacent to the road) and stand off to the side of the road.

-If you carry emergency flares, place them 300 feet away from your car. If you have a second pair, those should be placed about ten feet from the first set. Flares are especially needed at night or in bad weather to warn other drivers that you are on the side (or middle) of the road. There are now LED flares on the market that can be re-used several times.

-If you are not able to accelerate, it’s a good idea to pull over and inspect your tires. This, for me, has always been a sign that I had a flat.

-Some people hear a flapping sound or a boom when they have a flat. It’s always good to pull off and investigate.

-If you have a cell phone, always make certain it is charged or that you have a car charger in case of emergency. It is also a good idea to have emergency numbers on hand to refer to: road side assistance or a tow company, your highway patrol, and someone you can count on for a temporary loan if you don’t have charge or cash on hand (or someone who will be nice enough to drive you to a bank or ATM).

-I believe that it is best to over prepared then not prepared at all. I keep an emergency kit in my car that consists of: a blanket, plastic rain gear (pants and jacket), a change of warm clothes, socks, old shoes, two jackets, a gallon of water, flares, bungee cords, jumper cables, a travel-friendly tool kit, a large towel, paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, first aid kit, and a personal toiletry bag (new disposable razor, sample packs of cleanser, moisturizer, spf, eye cream, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, a small brush, extra hair pins, and a tooth-brush and tooth paste. Plus, I always carry two flash lights and I check the batteries every six months.

It’s always good to expect the best and also be ready for the worst.

Travel Beauty Items vs Full-Sized

Dear readers,

There is an issue I would like to bring to your attention that will hopefully help to prevent some disappointment from future purchases of certain beauty items.

So, lets say I’m in the market for a new hair dryer. I want salon quality without the price tag but any old drug store dryer just won’t do. The dryer I want is $150, but I see there is a travel size for only $100! Should I:

1. Pick the travel size because it will save me some money and save space.
2. Go with the original size.

If you are like most consumers, you probably picked the first option to save a bit of money. The best answer is really 2. By the way, this is just a pretend scenario. I happen to love my Conair from Target.

Most electric “travel size” beauty accessories (i.e. hair dryers, flat irons, styling tools, and skin care items that require an outlet or batteries) are just that- travel size and only for travel. They often have shorter warranties and are not intended for daily use. They will not usually hold up to every day wear and tear and are meant for occasional use, hence why they are for travel.

Think of it this way: If you wash and condition your hair at least five times weekly, little travel sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner would last, at most, only for that one week (maybe longer if you have shorter hair). You would possibly end up spending more on the smaller size items then to just shell out for full size shampoo and conditioner.

It is the same concept for beauty appliances. You might be saving a little money for the moment, but you’ll spending more in the long run, having to purchase a new one when the manufacturer deems the warranty void because it wasn’t used as intended. And, as previously mentioned, the warranties are often much shorter in duration, sometimes by up to a few years.  

If you really do intend to use it occasionally then you will be fine with purchasing the travel size with no problems at all. Just make sure that if you find yourself using it more often to invest in the full size/original size version.

XOXO,

A.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

It’s my fave time of year- time for the Nordstrom anniversary sale! My vices at this sale are always shoes and jewelry and I am allowing myself to buy one of each. I have to keep myself away from the purses and Nordies exclusive makeup because my closet is overflowing with both! You can get more info about the sale and check out a sneak peak at the catalog here.

Etsy: Current Things I Heart

 

Top row, left to right:

1. Vampiress Couture Wrap from Lolashowgirl, $49

2. Small Aqua “Nest” from Heatherpalmer, $60

3. Michael Miller Print Purse from Mabels, $35

Bottom row, left to right:

1. Aceo Seaweed Print from Woolandpaper, $4

2. Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers Scrabble tile Pendant from Tinytreesboutique, $6

3. Purely Sweet Necklace by Itsbeautiful, $25

It’s Like Spying! Plus: Man Dies at the Age of 494

I showed my Nana google maps today and she was so amazed. We typed in her address and she saw the front view of her house and also the aerial view. She asked, “Can we look up other people, too?” So we looked up some of her friends houses. Then she got worried and said, “Is this allowed? It’s like spying!” Haha. My little Nana is so cute.

The clipping, above, is from the obituary section of my local paper. It was printed on April Fool’s day, and could have been a prank, albeit a morbid prank. Hopefully the D.O.B. was just a typo, although in the days following the obit., it wasn’t printed again and no retraction was made to advise of an error.

Design Analysis + Enter to Win!

A few weeks ago, I sent my friend, Melissa, a photo of my antler lamp because she wants one for her home. It’s no longer available from where I got it and she wants hers tweaked a bit anyway so she’s trying to find someone who can do a custom job. She emailed be back asking if she could analyze my nightstand. I said sure and forgot about it. She’s currently attending some interior design school in L.A. to add to her other three college degrees so I figured was for an assignment of some sort. Upon arriving home from my trip, I checked my email and received the description of what my nightstand says about me. It’s kind of cool to see, from a design stand point, what my choices say about their owner:

Night stand: Your table is made of dark wood, which shows that you might lean towards modern pieces. It appears sturdy, signifying that you like stability in your life. The large open shelf and open bottom shows that you desire a good amount of physical space in a room and don’t like to feel closed in.

Lamp: You need a convenient light source, which shows you are practical, and you picked an off-beat piece, showing your fun side. You might occasionally take unexpected risks.

Sleep mask: You might have a good amount of natural light in the morning. This could wake you before your desired wake-up time or you might not have a traditional schedule and sleep later then most.

Jar: You might apply lotion or cream before bedtime as a ritual. You could also be slow to put things away.

Alarm clock: The modern shape and color show that you are not traditional. It looks like the battery is out, which tells me that the ticking might have been loud and woke you.

Driftwood: Natural wood elements tell me that you like the outdoors-especially the beach. If you found this item on a trip it also shows that you might be somewhat sentimental.

Dish with necklace and basket: You have a quick spot to put your accessories at the end of the day. It’s possible that you dislike clutter.

Melissa was indeed correct about almost everything.  The “dish” is a little round plaque that a friend bought for me when he went to Jerusalem, I just haven’t found a spot to hang it yet. The “necklace” is actually a rosary. Even though I’m not particularly religious, I like to have it around. The “basket” is where I keep all of my aromatherapy stuff. Also, hidden in the back are my MP3 player and speakers.

Want your nightstand analyzed, too? Melissa has offered, just for my readers, to analyze ONE of your nightstands. Enter to win by sending an email with ”hello beautiful drawing” in the subject line to ciao_bellezza at comcast dot net. Include a photo of your nightstand in jpg format. You may also send a link to a flickr or photobucket photo instead of an attachment. Please also include name, state, and age. Winner will be picked at random on April 1, 2009. You will be notified by email and results posted on my blog.