You’ve decked the halls, baked dozens of cookies, and wrapped all of your Christmas presents. Before the festivities officially begin, it’s time for a little TLC!
I’m over on The Holiday Collective today sharing a last-minute DIY holiday manicure that’s so easy you can do while drinking eggnog and watching your favorite Christmas flick… READ MORE!
Do you still exchange holiday gifts with the adults in your family? To make the holidays a little bit more affordable this year, my sister, parents, and I decided to only buy presents for the kids instead of shopping for everybody.
However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a wish list! Instead of keeping it to myself, I thought you might like to use it as a sort-of holiday gift guide for women. It’s packed with presents your mom, sister, or best friend are sure to love — and except for the Rebecca Minkoff backpack, everything is under $200. Most items are less than $100.
Or if you want to surprise me with a Hanukkah gift, I’ll send you my address.
1 – I’m eyeing this leather backpack with plenty of room for my everyday essentials, plus a few diapers, crayons, board books, and snacks.
2 – I’d use this weekly notepad to keep track of the day’s most important to-dos.
3 – It’s been years since I’ve worn a watch, but this rose gold Nixon is the perfect mix of masculine and feminine.
4 – This faceted geometric wood planter, hand carved from locally sourced walnut, would add an organic touch to our decor.
5 – These minimalist painted concrete candleholders would bridge the gap between our fancy candleholders and our playful Shabbat candleholders.
6 – I wash my hair as infrequently as possible, and this turban-style shower cap would be a major upgrade to what’s currently hanging on the back of my bathroom door.
7 – Adorned with a gold foil design, this clear iPhone case would add a metallic flourish to the back my rose gold iPhone 6S+.
8 – Layering necklaces is not my forte, but this three-in-one necklace with simple geometric shapes would make accessorizing easy.
9 – Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book, Big Magic, has been on my must-read list after hearing the author talk about curiosity and creativity on a podcast.
10 – While I prefer a cabinet of simple white mugs, the richness of this handcrafted mug would add a beautiful pop of color to my afternoon coffee break.
11 – I’m constantly writing down ideas for blog posts and articles, and this monogrammed and bookcloth-covered notebook might help me stay organized during brainstorming sessions.
12 – My five-year-old gold MZ Wallace wallet is still in excellent condition, but this champagne leather wallet would look mighty fine inside my new backpack… cough cough.
13 – Every night, I place my wedding rings in a little dish on my nightstand, but I’d rather store them in this brass jewelry box, which doubles as a ring holder and a decorative object.
Which of these items would you add to your own holiday wish list?
PS – Last year’s gift guide for women, men, kids, and babies.
I may love makeup and jewelry and manicures, but my everyday style is definitely more tomboy than ladylike. At least, the Madewell version of tomboy style that includes cashmere and dresses.
Basically, I prefer to look effortless and chic while feeling comfortable and casual, which is why… READ MORE!
I never really thought of myself as “clogs girl” because my style has always been more haute than hippie. More refined than relaxed. More Wall Street than Woodstock.
You get my drift.
But wouldn’t you know, I’m totally into clogs this fall… READ MORE!
I hadn’t yet left for the airport last Wednesday when Jeran texted from Portland that it was raining, reminding me to toss an umbrella into my suitcase before leaving the house. Because when you’re visiting the Pacific Northwest, you should probably bring some rainy day gear, right?
By the time I arrived late that night, the rain had passed, and the next two days were… READ MORE!
It’s been two weeks since my Paintbox manicure in New York City, and my foil-tipped nails still look great. That’s the beauty of a gel manicure. When done correctly, it can last anywhere between 10 to 21 days — or so I’ve heard. Mine have never actually lasted a full three weeks.
The downside of a gel manicure (if there is one) is that you can’t switch up your polish colors at will. It’s a process to safely remove the color so you don’t damage your natural nails, and obviously, the whole point of investing in gel is for it to be long lasting!
However, after a couple of weeks of wearing the same manicure, I start to get a little bit . . . bored. I love experimenting with nail polish and nail art, and after falling down the Pop Sugar rabbit hole recently, I’m dying to try these 10 minimalist nail art ideas that are perfect for fall.
Which of these straight-from-the-runway manicures do you like best?
1. Sally Hansen Arm Candy and Dark Hue-mor at Tanya Taylor Spring 2016
2. Essie at Nanette Lepore Fall 2015
3. Essie In the Lobby, Devil’s Advocate, and Matte About You at Wes Gordon Spring 2016
4. Essie All Eyes on Nudes and Clambake at Veronica Beard Spring 2016
5. Butter London at Tadashi Shoji Fall 2015
6. JINsoon Tulle, Risque, Tea Rose, and Doux at Tibi Spring 2016
7. Essie Topless & Barefoot, Limo-Scene, and Set in Stones at Naeem Khan Spring 2016
8. Christian Louboutin at Cushnie et Ochs Fall 2015
9. KISS and Broadway Nails at Erin Fetherston Fall 2015
10. Caption Polish Look, Don’t Touch and Heaven Help Me at Nanette Lepore Spring 2016
PS – How to do color blocked nails at home.
I like to think I’m someone who stays up-to-date on style trends. For example, I know that every fashion blogger will be photographed wearing high-waisted flare jeans and dark berry lip stain on their Instagram feeds this fall.
So I was kind of shocked when I recently learned that I missed one of the biggest hair trends this summer… READ MORE!
Before we moved to DC in June, I gave my hair stylist carte blanche and walked out of the salon with a sleek side-parted bob. She convinced me that the cut would be great for summer because it would take less time to blow dry and I wouldn’t suffer hot, sticky hair on the back of my neck.
The one thing I didn’t consider before letting her chop off my hair was how to style it in-between washings. When it was long, I could throw it up in a bun when it started looking greasy and go days without shampooing and conditioning. This was helpful because, as a mom with two kids, I have precious little time to shower on a daily basis, let alone blow dry my hair.
After my haircut, however, I could barely gather my straightened strands into a low ponytail. And despite it being short, I still needed at least 30 minutes to wash, dry, and style it.
So I started experimenting with store-bought dry shampoo to keep my hair looking clean and smelling fresh on the days I couldn’t find time to shower. Some worked better than others at absorbing excess oil, but almost all left a noticeable white residue in my dark hair.
Instead of splurging on designer dry shampoo for brunettes, I decided to try making my own using ingredients like Asa’s baby powder that I already had at home. Today, I’m excited to partner with Johnson’s to share my DIY dry shampoo for brown hair recipe. Honestly, though, I hesitate to call it a recipe because it’s SO easy to make!
The trick to applying dry shampoo is to tap it into the roots of your hair with a large blush or powder brush. (Tip: Before repurposing an old makeup brush, clean it with Johnson’s baby shampoo.) To prevent buildup, avoid applying it directly onto your scalp, and be sure to lift your hair in sections to get your mid and bottom layers, not just your part.
Gently massage the dry shampoo into your hair with your fingertips, then wait a few minutes, brush out, and style as usual.
Are you as lazy as I am when it comes to washing your hair? Do you have a favorite store-bought dry shampoo or would you try making your own?
PS: My quick and easy five-minute makeup routine.
The one thing you won’t catch me wearing after Labor Day?… READ MORE!
