My essentials for Gemma’s 15th birthday (and her cancer treatment)


(more…)
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My essentials for Gemma’s 15th birthday (and her cancer treatment)

4 (super easy!) things you can do to help the planet


Because we all need to help save our planet, and these are four easy (and also fun) ways to do
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4 (super easy!) things you can do to help the planet

Two Lip Products That You Need in Your Life


You guys know I’m picky about lip gloss, but I recently tried two new (to me) products and had to
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Two Lip Products That You Need in Your Life

5 Souvenirs Actually Worth Bringing Back From Ireland


Because I know you want to shop (but not for touristy junk)... (more…)
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5 Souvenirs Actually Worth Bringing Back From Ireland

04.13.2010
Highlights with Rita Hazan

So I was recently given an awesome opportunity to try out one of the country’s most sought-after colorist, Ms. Rita Hazan.  Rita is known for setting beauty trends and reinventing the locks of some of your favorite celebs so needless to say, I was elated when I found out Rita was available to see me during her monthly trip out to the West coast.

I headed over to the Andy Lecompte salon in West Hollywood on a gorgeous, sunny Sunday afternoon.  I was a little nervous, considering I was about to meet such an epic colorist but I managed to pull it together and have a really amazing hair transforming experience.  Rita spent a few minutes talking to me about my hair and then decided that she wanted to lighten my base before applying my blonde highlights.  Who am I to argue with the master?  The result?  Though the shade isn’t as blonde as I normally like it, I do really love the beautiful hue.  It’s a golden blonde that looks really natural and is blended to perfection.

Bonus- Cacee Cobb, aka Jessica Simpson’s BFF, walked into the salon to chat with Rita and the staff and I got to hear tales from her travels while filming The Price of Beauty.  Love it.  This photo was taken the day after visiting Rita:

(a little blurry but) me, Nadine Jolie and Abby Gardner at Dan Tana’s in West Hollywood

04.12.2010
COACHELLA Essentials

So I’ll be attending my very first COACHELLA this weekend and I’m simply so excited I can barely think about anything else.  One, I’ve never been to Palm Springs and two, my friends and I rented an amazing mansion and I’m looking forward to a long weekend of relaxing by the pool, parties and, of course, plenty of sun.  I’ve been asking around what I should be packing for my little trip to the desert  and everyone’s been telling me that for one, it’s H-O-T hot and also kind of hippyish.  Here’s what I’m thinking:

 

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunblock Spray SPF 70 – No explanation really necessary.  The desert sun is super strong and what I love about this sunblock is that the spray actually cools you off, making the re-application process even more enticing.

Epicuren Aloe Vera Gel – No matter how many times I apply and re-apply sunblock, I always seem to miss at least a little spot of skin that results in a burn.  This luxurious aloe vera gel soothes the skin and promotes faster healing.

Green Ruffled Forever21 Romper – A birthday gift from my friends Kelley and Gil.  It’s really perfect and very me.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier bag – I just purchased this bag from my beloved Shopbop.com and its already sold out in black on the site!  It’s a perfect Coachella bag because of the great strap that can also make it a messenger bag.

A87 solid fedora – LOVE this hat and it’s super cheap.  It’s important to protect my scalp and hair color (it fades in the sun!) from the sun’s harmful rays.  Plus, I like how I look in hats.

Seychelles Layover gladiator sandals – I bought these gladiators a few months ago and I wear them at least 4 times a week.  They’re super comfortable and I love their slightly edgy look.

 

04.09.2010
NYLON 11th anniversary party at the Trousdale

So I’ve been feeling kind of sick lately but when I got an amazing invite, courtesy of CoverGirl, to NYLON magazine’s 11th anniversary party, I HAD to at least check it out for a little bit.  This party is EPIC in LA and is known to always bring in some major celebs…so obvs, I had to at least make an appearance.  The outcome?  UM. NO words.  From the minute I valeted my car to the point where I was waiting to get my car from valet, it was a non-stop celeb fest.  Maybe it’s lame but I still get excited every time I see someone…I’m such a tourist.  Best sightings of the night?  Well I ended up sitting in Lindsay Lohan’s booth thanks to my fabulously connected friend Melissa!  Here are some picture highlights and thanks again to CoverGirl for the invite and to their amazing makeup artist, Molly Stern, who touched up my makeup with some amazing new products!

me and the fabulous Sydne Summer of MyStyle.com and ThinkThruFashion.com

Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton

(Paris danced on a table about 5 minutes after arriving, in true form)

 

Paris Hilton sitting with Glee’s Mark Salling (aka Puck).  So hot.

Miss Lindsay Lohan herself.  Sitting about 6 inches away from me.  CRAZY.

04.09.2010
NYLON 11th anniversary party at the Trousdale

So I’ve been feeling kind of sick lately but when I got an amazing invite, courtesy of CoverGirl, to NYLON magazine’s 11th anniversary party, I HAD to at least check it out for a little bit.  This party is EPIC in LA and is known to always bring in some major celebs…so obvs, I had to at least make an appearance.  The outcome?  UM. NO words.  From the minute I valeted my car to the point where I was waiting to get my car from valet, it was a non-stop celeb fest.  Maybe it’s lame but I still get excited every time I see someone…I’m such a tourist.  Best sightings of the night?  Well I ended up sitting in Lindsay Lohan’s booth thanks to my fabulously connected friend Melissa!  Here are some picture highlights and thanks again to CoverGirl for the invite and to their amazing makeup artist, Molly Stern, who touched up my makeup with some amazing new products!

me and the fabulous Sydne Summer of MyStyle.com and ThinkThruFashion.com

Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton

(Paris danced on a table about 5 minutes after arriving, in true form)

 

Paris Hilton sitting with Glee’s Mark Salling (aka Puck).  So hot.

Miss Lindsay Lohan herself.  Sitting about 6 inches away from me.  CRAZY.

04.09.2010
Spa day with the girls

So I was recently thinking about a Beauty Party I had about two summers ago and I’m thinking it might be time for another one!  Working in the beauty industry and blogging as much as I do, I do get lots of product, some of which I know I’ll never use, so what better way to have a fun girls night, right?  Last time I sent out an email to about 10 friends but this time, I’m taking it up a notch.  Erin Condren makes the cutest “spa day” invitations, which make me feel very adult and I’m totally obsessed.  It’s two years later so might as well class up the party a bit!

Musts:

  • Cocktails (last time I had each friend bring one bottle of wine)
  • Snacks/appetizers
  • Tons of beauty loot
  • Current music hits (anything Justin Timberlake, JayZ, Lady GaGa, etc.)
  • The classics (aka Paula Abdul, New Kids on the Block, Vanilla Ice) – I’m telling you, nothing is funnier than re-living elementary school

04.09.2010
Spa day with the girls

So I was recently thinking about a Beauty Party I had about two summers ago and I’m thinking it might be time for another one!  Working in the beauty industry and blogging as much as I do, I do get lots of product, some of which I know I’ll never use, so what better way to have a fun girls night, right?  Last time I sent out an email to about 10 friends but this time, I’m taking it up a notch.  Erin Condren makes the cutest “spa day” invitations, which make me feel very adult and I’m totally obsessed.  It’s two years later so might as well class up the party a bit!

Musts:

  • Cocktails (last time I had each friend bring one bottle of wine)
  • Snacks/appetizers
  • Tons of beauty loot
  • Current music hits (anything Justin Timberlake, JayZ, Lady GaGa, etc.)
  • The classics (aka Paula Abdul, New Kids on the Block, Vanilla Ice) – I’m telling you, nothing is funnier than re-living elementary school

04.06.2010
Drybar- LA’s first blowdry-only concept

So there is nothing that will boost a girl’s confidence faster than a good blowout.  Back in NYC (and when I was making some good money), I would make frequent trips to Blow, New York City’s blowdry-only establishment on the Upper East Side.  There’s something that makes you feel just so fabulous when you know that your hair will look professionally done before a friend’s party or even a night out with friends…so when I heard that LA was finally picking up on the trend, I was elated, to say the least.

I have to say, Drybar just might have Blow beat. I made my way over the west side, Brentwood to be specific.  I absolutely love the feel that Drybar is actually supposed to look like a BAR.  The station chairs are all lined up behind an actual bar (with bartender) and they even serve cocktails and snacks.  There’s also a phenom menu for you to choose exactly what kind of blowout that you want…I went with the “Southern Comfort,” a favorite liqour of mine as well.  The Southern Comfort gave me big hair and lots of volume.  I instructed my stylist that I did want the volume but that I didn’t want “Texas hair” and she knew exactly what I meant, which I found really, really funny.

For $35, this is honestly a great deal…Blow charges between $40-$60 and at Drybar, you definitely get a much wider selection of what kind of blowout that you want.

MENU

“Straight Up” – signature blowout

“Manhattan” – sleek and smooth

“Cosmopolitan” – lots of loose curls

“Southern Comfort” – big hair and lots of volume

“Mai Tai” – messy, beach hair

“Shirley Temple” – pre-teen blowout

“Floater” – head massage

*you also need to see the amazing light fixture made of yellow blowdryers…now THAT is creativity.