Holiday Gift Ideas: $10 & Up
Posted 12/16/2010 by Lara
1. NARS Orgasm Lust Set – $30
2. Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style 0.33 oz Eau de Toilette. Available in scents: Baby, “G”, Angel, Love and Music – $30.00/each or $100 for the Wicked Style Gift Set (which includes all five fragrances).
3. Hourglass Extreme Sheen Set – $45
4. Victoria’s Secret Beauty Ornaments (choose from VS fragrances, lip gloss and eyeliner sets) – $10/each
5. REN Mini Body Gift Set & Mini Rose Trio Gift Set – $25/each
6. Dermalogica AGE Smart Starter Kit – $50
7. Pevonia Myoxy-Caviar To Go Timeless Renewal Set – $79
8. Michael Aram Twig Snowflake Ornament – $29
9. Tanqueray Gin – $13.99 (375mL/half bottle), $19.99 (750mL)
Okay it’s getting down to the wire. Have you bought all your holiday gifts? Lets talk through a few ideas to help you figure out what to get those remaining on your list.
There are a lot of great holiday sets available right now in the wonderful world of makeup so if the person you’re shopping for has a favorite brand, visit their website and check out their gift sets. Otherwise I recommend #1 & #3 for any picky beauty queens on your list who appreciate quality makeup. #2 is great for anyone from teenagers to your coworker looking for a little friend for their desk. Their scents tend to be on the sweeter/fruitier side. However owning a Harajuku Lover may Continue Reading…
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Travel Essentials To Get You Through The Holidays
Posted 12/06/2010 by Lara
1. Boots No7 Quick Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes ($6.99/pack of 30 wipes) – If you don’t have access to your beauty regiment, these wipes are the next best thing. They cleanse, tone, moisturize, and remove eye make-up! So whether you’re at the gym, on a plane or just feeling too lazy to make it to the bathroom to take off your makeup, these wipes are great to have on hand.
2. Scent Genie ($11/4mL) – Turn any of your fragrances into travel size. The Scent Genie, refills in seconds and holds 50 sprays. Lightweight and leak proof, it’s the perfect addition to any makeup case.
3. Dr. Hauschka Daily Body Care Kit ($22.95) – Just because you’re traveling, that’s no excuse to neglect your skin. Packaged in a convenient on-the-go tin, the Daily Body Care kit has everything you need to keep your body hydrated. Plus it’s a great way to try the Dr. Hauschka’s body care range. This set includes Continue Reading…
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Happy 3 Year Anniversary Gilt Groupe
Posted 11/13/2010 by Lara
It’s true, the savvy shoppers discount site Gilt Groupe turns 3 years old today! Gilt is a true pioneer in the world of online sample sales and luxury creating their own niche with their 24-hour sales. They continue to expand and stay afloat of the industry with new innovative sites for the luxury market with the launches of Gilt City, and Jetsetter.
To commemorate the big day Gilt is taking advantage of their three sites (Gilt Groupe, Jetsetter and Gilt City) to pamper one lucky winner and two friends for the ultimate A-list treatment. The winner of the all-inclusive “Surprise and Delight Package” will receive:
- A trip to New York with two friends
- Hotel room for three nights
- $300 dollars of spending per person
- Dinner for three at Le Cirque
- A photo shoot (one-hour per person) at Brooklyn studios
- Styling session by Gilt Groupe stylists and a free outfit
- Massage treatments for all three guests at Great Jones Spa
- Three tickets to the Metropolitan Opera
- Transportation, including a “Gilt Ride” limo to dinners and the Gilt warehouse.
To enter visit any of Gilt Groupe’s Facebook pages (Home, Women, Men, or Kids) or Gilt.com. Then, click on the promotion tab. The “Surprise and Delight” sweepstakes will Continue Reading…
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Boston’s MFA features Avedon and Scaasi
Posted 10/19/2010 by Lara
Dovima with Elephants
Fresh off the plane from San Francisco, I had an eventful week in Boston between the Catwalk for a Cure breast cancer awareness event and Natural Products Expo East trade show featuring keynote speaker Alicia Silverstone (I’ll post more on both experiences shortly). For now, as a museum and fashion enthusiast I want to talk about two great exhibits currently being showcased at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston: Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 (on display from Aug 10, 2010 – Jan 17, 2011) and Scaasi: American Couturier (on display from September 25 2010 – Jun 19, 2011).
Photographs by Richard Avedon
Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 – I first saw this exhibit last year, when it was on display at the ICP in NY. It doesn’t get old with time. Richard Avendon’s work is both iconic as you walk the decades of his peices and breath taking in his muses, the scenery and of course the fashion in his photography. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Dovima with Elephants, amongst so many more classics.
By Arnold Scassi
Scassi: American Couturier – I wasn’t so familiar with Arnold Scassi’s designs when I walked into the exhibit. However, with all of his prestige over so Continue Reading…
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If you’re going to San Francisco…
Posted 10/17/2010 by Lara
I know I keep talking about fall and spring, but truthfully I’m soaking up every last bit of summer and jumped on a flight to sunny San Francisco. NYC, I love you, but you’re going to have to do something about that rain if you’d like to hold me down.
If you ever find yourself in the bay area, here’s a small list of recommendations.
Dodge Challenger
1. If you need a car, rent a sweet ride. For me that translated to an orange, V8 hemi Dodge Challenger (think modern day Dukes of Hazzard). All that was missing was my daisy dukes (and 001 on the side of the car)!
Domaine Carneros Winery
2. Rev the engine and take that car for a ride! If you like wine, do a day trip to Napa. Ideally find a local friend to recommend some good choices (and drive you). I did and loved Domaine Carneros (I would like to live there) and Duckhorn Winery.
The drive to Santa Cruz
3. If you’re more of a beach enthusiast, drive along the coast to Santa Cruz . Pack a picnic (and good tunes) and enjoy scenic drive. Don’t forget Continue Reading…
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Welcome KimmyScotti.com!
Posted 10/11/2010 by Lara
Lara with Kimmy Scotti at the 'For the Love of Fashion Rag & Bone' screening
My good friend Kimmy Scotti is no stranger to this blog. She’s one of my favorite wing(wo)men to hit the town with and on a style level my go to for opinions and advice. Presently all of you too can reap the benefits of her good taste on KimmyScotti.com. Now live, the lifestyle site and concept store covers Style, Shelter, Food & Wine, Beauty, Travel and Dog.
To celebrate from now until 10/25/10, KimmyScotti.com is offering a 20% off launch discount. Simply Continue Reading…
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Daylight Defense by Dermalogica
Posted 06/28/2010 by Lara
I was given 3 pieces of advice when leaving for Colorado; bring a good book, watch out for the altitude (drink lots of water), and pack your sunscreen.
Done and done. Since I don’t like to check baggage, for sunscreen I went with Dermalogica’s Limited Edition Daylight Defense Kit. It’s very compact and consist of four sun-protecting products all of which are under 3oz, making it the perfect set to bring on my travels.
The Set includes:
- Solar Defense Booster SPF30 (.34 oz.) – a lightweight face lotion that can be added to your moisturizer, foundation or worn alone for SPF 30 protection.
- MultiVitamin Body Block SPF20 (1.7 oz) – nourishing body sunscreen that blends effortlessly onto skin with Shea Butter and Evening Primrose that helps hydrate skin and protect against dryness. It also contains Panthenol which helps skin recover from previous sun damage.
- After Sun Repair (1.3 oz) – after sun balm that helps repair recent UV damage, and soothe skin from overexposure from the sun. Formulated with a blend of homeopathic herbs to reduce redness and soothe painful sunburn.
- Solar Shield SPF15 (.28 oz)- Water resistant, sun protecting moisture stick for lips, ears and nose.
All items in the kit are made with UV Smart Booster Technology, a customized microcapsule that safeguard active vitamins, which burst open upon contact with UV rays to protect against free radicals (what causes wrinkles, loss of elasticity, age spots, discoloration… and all that bad stuff) and is Continue Reading…
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Travel Tool Essentials: Ken Paves Nano and Con Air MiniPro
Posted 06/14/2010 by Lara
You’ve probably noticed that lately I’ve been slacking. My travel itch has been flaring and while I thought more time to myself = more writing, evidently that has proved false.
While my blogging may suffer on this vacation, my love of trying new beauty products and tools has not. In fact, there are currently two makeup cases filled with cosmetics and skincare as well as a travel flat iron and blow dryer in my suitcase.
Now it’s no secret that no matter how great my makeup and outfit is, if my hair looks bad, I feel bad [Disclaimer: this complex does not apply when hanging out by myself or with family]. So travel size hair styling tools are essential for when I hit the road. Currently there are two that I’m excited about; Ken Paves Nano Silver Tourmaline Ceramic Styling Iron and Con Air MiniPRO® Tourmaline Ceramic™ Styler Hair Dryer.
I do of course recommend using Continue Reading…
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Travel Treasures: Colgate Wisp, Starbucks VIA, L’Oreal Skin Genesis
Posted 03/16/2010 by Lara
I’m a coffee lover, girl on the go, frequent traveler, and sometimes (many times?), I’m just plain lazy. If you share any of my characteristics then you’ll appreciate my latest finds, Colgate Wisps, Starbucks Via 100% Natural Roasted Instant & Microground Coffee, and L’Oreal Skin Genesis Micro-Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes. In the past few months these products have entered my life and now I don’t travel without them.
1. Colgate Wisp – On a recent Jet Blue flight, the flight attendant was handing out these disposable mini-toothbrushes. My mouth always feels so raunchy after excessive time in airports and planes so to be given something that requires not getting out of my seat that delivers a clean mouth and fresh breathe is a big check plus in my book! One end is the brush; the other a soft pick which really works to get anything in between teeth out. Plus it’s so compact (only 3 ½”), so carrying these little wonders around with me is a non-issue.
Colgate Wisp’s come in Peppermint, Cinnamint, and Spearmint flavors. For more information visit www.colgatewisp.com
2. Starbucks VIA Ready Brew – I consider myself a coffee snob. In fact while I write this I’m sitting at one of my favorite coffee spots, Sweetleaf, enjoying my second cup of Stumptown coffee. So perhaps coffee addict is a better description of me.
I needed to qualify that since I’m about to attempt to sell you on Starbuck’s instant coffee. Yes, I know —eww. Or at least that’s what I would think if someone would praise adding water to coffee and expecting anything decent.
So here’s my storey: Confessions of a Reformed Instant Coffee Hater
While hanging out in the tents at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week I was in dire need of a coffee. All I could think was ‘I’m saved!’ when I saw Starbucks was a sponsor, but when I got to their booth all I saw was a fridge full of their cold Frappuccino drinks. I like my coffee hot and unsweetened, the Frappaccino’s would simply not do. And then on the table I spotted milk and half and half, and what I thought was a coffee dispenser. Again, ‘I’m saved’, is going through my head, but when I got there hot water came out of the dispenser –is this a cruel joke? Then I noticed the women next to me are pouring these small packets of Starbucks VIA instant coffee into the water. Again –is this a joke? Up until that moment my experience with instant coffee is likely from five years ago at convention centers or hotels that would provide you with a tea bag that supposedly contained coffee in it that just tasted terrible. I mean so terrible that one sip and it was in the garbage can. But there I was pouring a bag of instant coffee into the hot water, adding milk –desperate times calls for . . . Then came the shock: It’s good. In fact it’s more then good, it’s not weak and totally accurate! If I had ordered a Starbucks Italian Roast coffee and the barista gave me a cup of the VIA Ready Brew Italian Roast in it’s place I would not have noticed. My mind is blown.
I keep one in my wallet at all times. It’s perfect for traveling or when I’m too lazy in the morning to make a cup (or am running late) and need something fast! Plus VIA is 100% natural roasted coffee and contains no by-products or chemicals and can also be served cold. Instant ice-coffee anyone?
Starbuck’s VIA comes in Columbia, Italian Roast and Decaf Italian Roast. For more information visit www.starbucks.com
3. L’Oreal Paris Skin Genesis Micro-Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes – I’ve decided that makeup wipes are probably one of my favorite things to review. All you have to do is get really made up, spend a night out, then come home and put that towelette to the test. If it can handle a really done up makeup look, it can handle your everyday cosmetic choices. I’m happy to report L’Oreal’s Skin Genesis passed with flying colors! One wipe took it all off (my foundation, blush, eyeshadow, lipstick and bronzer). Provided I used every inch of both sides, and by the end of it no part of that towel resembled it’s original state of white. And get this, yesterday I had a mysterious yellow stain on my cardigan and no instant remover so I dabbed the towellette on it and it disappeared. Now I keep a pack of these next to my bed just in Continue Reading…
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AHAVA Means Love Vacation Sweepstakes
Posted 03/13/2010 by Lara
Right about now a 7 day/6 night vacation for two sounds pretty perfect! Thanks to AHAVA skin care you may have that chance. No purchase necessary, to enter and for the official rules visit ahavaus.com/sweepstakes/
