Oh, Tory...

Tory Burch
is by far one of my favorite designers.
 

clockwise

1   |   2   |   3   |   4

Everything she does feels fresh and young while still holding a sophisticate heir to it.

There must also be some sort of psychic connection they have with me as well. Today is that last day of their Friends and Family Sale (enter TBSPRING at checkout), and i recently received a 

$50 dollar oh just because we like you and want you to spend lots of money here like you've done in the past 

gift card in the mail from the brand. (not sure if i can combine these offers.. but probably not)

I've got till midnight to decide if I want to splurge.

.. I'm leaning towards the flats ..

Friday Favorites

my signed copy!

 Got it last night at a local bookstore where he was signing them.

He's just so nice.

A fun little purchase for my batman obsessed man to make his new cleaning and cooking house-hold duties go down a little easier.

 My new Bauble Bar purchase. They were having a promotion of some sort; I purchased the necklace and they sent me the earrings and spiky mint bracelet for free.

Last year's birthday gift from J. May 9th is right around the corner!

AND

Our dear friends Taylor and Alex had their baby girl today!! I've been bursting with joy for them, and I just can't wait to meet her. 

Happy Friday!

xo

I'm melting..

So you transitioned your wardrobe, you’ve done your spring cleaning, and now with the rising temps, 

your face is melting off…

Summer makeup can end up being like the classic scene from Oz-land if you’re not careful. Here’s some tips to help beat the heat this spring and summer.

Wear primer

Primer is essential for helping makeup stick nicely to the skin. Now, you may be thinking, "oh primer is just for fancy folks who know what they're doing with makeup. Truly though, if you're skipping primer you're missing out. You will use less makeup and it will last longer- simple truth. 

I think this one is the best out there, and a little goes a long way.

Skip heavy foundations and opt for tinted moisturizer

We're all about moisturizing in the winter when our skin is peeling off and awful. Often times we forget in the summer months that moisture is drawn out of our skin from sweating too. Drink lots of water for starters, but also give your skin some love and SPF.

An oil free option with SPF like this is best.  

Translucent powder

Powder will help set anything you put on your face. Depending on your need for coverage, sometimes your primer with a thin translucent powder layer on top may be all you need. 

Bobbi's Yellow is flattering to combat pinky-tones 

or this silky brightening powder is light and sheer for under-eyes and face

Tint!

Stains are a great way to get pops of color that will last through sweat and wiping.

MY favorite is benefit's posietint. I prefer the pink tones, but I'm def going to test out their new coral shade next time I'm in the mall. 

Waterproof mascara

Don't get caught playing in the rain without it.

The best drug store brand is by far this one- I use it for weddings and it never fails.

If you want to splurge, this is a beauty. 

Green Machine.

1 1/4 c frozen pineapple (whole foods brand is what is use)

1 whole avocado, pitted and skinned

1 handfull of spinach (about a cup and a half)

1/2 Tbsp raw coconut nectar (increase if you want it sweeter)

1 1/2 c of coconut water (i used one w/pineapple mango juice in it too)

a splash of trop 50 orange juice

Place ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth [about1-2 minutes so there's no pieces of spinach left). You may have to add some extra coconut water  if it's a little too thick. 

Enjoy!

Friday Favorites

 My sprout garden on the window sill in the kitchen. sweet basil in the mini green house and a tomato plat leaning to get the sun. 

[Hope to replant in bigger pots on the radiator in the living room right under the big window once i'm sure they'll be off for the next few months!]

Some fun earrings I got at Nordstrom online. Great for everyday, or dressed up.

my pineapple, spinach avocado smoothie, with a fun paper straw! 

The best dog in the world.

spending the morning just relaxing, and continuing to figure out how to be a Mac person..!

Happy Friday!

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

The weather has warmed here over this past week, so I've decided to embrace it with some homemade ice cream. Remember when we took that amazing trip to San Francisco a few months ago? Well we went to the most incredible ice cream place in the mission called Bi-Rite Creamery. I purchased their recipe book back then, but hadn't cracked it open since getting it due to the frosty temps outside. 

I've made it on two occasions over the past few weeks, for Easter [paired with brownies and chocolate sauce for an after brunch treat] and to bring to my friend Blair's house for the Cards game last saturday night.

It came out delicious both times, and is luxuriously creamy with the perfect balance of salty sweet. [just try not to look at the ratio of cream to milk.. but i opted for the 1% !!]

recipe after the jump!...

Farewell, Lilly.

The namesake of the brand, Ms. Lilly Pulitzer passed away yesterday at her home in Palm Beach. 

Famous for her tropical prints and her embrace of color combinations like flamingo pink and apple green, Lilly's bold color mixes and patterns have withstood fashion changes through years.

Functionality turned fashion is the key behind Lilly's success: she needed a print to hide the juice stains on her clothing after starting a juice stand in West Palm at the ripe age of 21.  Icon Jackie O embraced her well structured tailored knits and bright use of color, as do so many people today.
[sorority girls at Southern SEC colleges especially..]

Not a print, but solid coral! One of my fav lilly dresses that I wore to my Derby themed bridal shower last May.

Read her story on the Lilly P. website. We will miss you, Lilly.

Spring Cleaning: Don't forget your makeup bag!

The season change is always a difficult time for me. I've slowly adjusted over the past 3 years (now living in a place with actual season changes) to transition my wardrobe. But there's something about spring that just makes me want to purge.

I took advantage of not having J around this weekend and went. through. everything.
well, almost everything.  After cleaning out the fridge, the oven, my closet.. I realized I should probably tackle my make-up collection.

The gross reality is- make-up is a breeding ground for bacteria. If you rarely break-out and start to randomly, the culprit most likely lies in what you're putting on your face everyday (the make-up itself) or how you're applying it (when was the last time you washed that foundation brush or replaced your sponge, huh?)

It's important to clean your make-up brushes at least on a weekly basis. Warm water and a gentle antibacterial hand cleanser or dish soap will work - you don't have to buy fancy brush cleaner.

1. Run the brush under luke warm water, lather with the soap in a back and forth motion in the palm of your hand and rinse well. Be sure not to leave any soapy residue on your brushes.
[For my foundation and concealer brushes sometimes I do this twice.]
2. Gently squeeze the tips from the metal base down over the sink then pinch flat in a paper towel
3. Lay flat on a clean paper towel to dry (about 5-6 hours).

 If you use a foundation brush, build an extra minute into your morning routine to clean the brush post your daily glam sesh. 

The daily needs.

Guidelines for knowing when to pitch it:

Lipstick: 1 year
[extend this by cleaning it with alcohol after each use or using a clean lip brush to apply]

Mascara: 2 months
[if it starts to smell, it's definitely time to replace it]

Eyeshadow: 2 years

Powder (such as pressed powder, bronzer or blush): 2 years

Water Based Foundations (usually labeled as oil-free, matte, or mattyfying): 1 year

Oil Based Foundations (they have oil as their first or second ingredient): 1.5 years


I like to keep my daily needs in the bin on my dresser, and the less used essentials tucked away- but still easily accessible. You probably won't wear smokey shadow, liquid liner and false lashes on a Tuesday, but you don't want to be digging around come prepping for Saturday night on the town!

Other spring cleaning reminders you may not think about: replace your toothbrush lately? or the sponge in your kitchen sink??

Happy spring cleaning!