Best Deals & Steals of Summer

It seems that all of my favorite online stores are have BLOWOUT sales! And not just measly 20% off. Don't miss the ones at Net-a-Porter, Anthro and Piperlime. Here are my favorites from Calypso St. Barth (styles are 70% off!):

Was $195, Now $59

Was $195, Now $55

Was $425, Now $119

Was $350, Now $59

Was $365, Now $71

Was $395, Now $79

Was $295, Now $39

Was $395, Now $119

Was $195, Now $59

Was $395, Now $107

How To: Smudge-Proof Your Summer Lipstick

Summer is full of bold hues and bright colors and I can't get enough of it! One of the easiest, fastest, and simplest ways to give your summer look an extra punch is by wearing bright lipstick. The downside is that I found myself constantly fumbling through my purse to reapply. Nothing is worse than faded bright lipstick. Here are some of my favorite hot-weathered hues:

Get the Look: NARS Lip Pencil (color below)

How-To: All Day Stay for Bright Lip Colors

1. Moisturize lips. Blot excess. Apply lip color.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square

Pros swear by NARS matte lip pencils but any matte or semi matte lipstick will work. Don't use a high-moisture lipstick or apply gloss because your color will fade faster. Plus, bright and shiny is a bit much.

2. Blot lipstick. Dab on translucent powder. 

Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder

I know it seems crazy but just a swipe of translucent powder will set your lipstick for all day wear. I did it today and only had to reapply this afternoon-- and that was after breakfast, lunch, a liter of water and an iced coffee. 

Bonus: use translucent powder to set makeup or as a sheer eye primer shadow.

Bon Weekend! Happy Travels

I was perusing the web today and one of my new favorite sites, Mr. and Mrs. H (think travel site with everything from the lowdown on great boutique hotels to the best undiscovered seafood dives), posted this nostalgic photo of flight attendants in the Pan Am heyday.

I guarantee you got at least 3 carry-ons: purse, carry on, and hatbox (totally essential)

If you've seen my earlier posts, you know I have a thing for all things vintage and all things nostalgic. Mad Men definitely burst my 'peachy-keen view of the 60s' bubble. Not to worry. Google image to the rescue! I know it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but something was right back then. For starters, airports were actually glamorous. And you didn't have to put lipstick in sandwich baggie. Or worry if you'd get gonorrhea from sitting on the toilet. And toddlers didn't get frisked at security because their teddy bear was "suspicious."

Love the matchy pose and wave. I think I should bring it back.

Standing on the wings? TSA would freak. That's borderline Osama behavior.

I love the girl in the back. Not afraid of an unnecessary hand flourish.

J'adore the heart-shaped fascinators. After all, they were flying on the wings of love. (Cheesy,  but too good to pass up)

These girls new the art of the lingering foot tilt.

I wonder which women's group would complain first about " female exploitation" because of the uniforms?

If they didn't like those, they would FREAK over these. Compliments of Southwest airlines....
I'd way rather wear that than their current ensemble of khaki pants and a blue polo.

They invented saying "my pleasure." Chick-fil-A copied them.

Now that's what I call a uniform heel.

Bon weekend and safe travels wherever your weekend adventures may take you!

Feel Your Most Beautiful: No Diet, Makeup, or Hair Tips Required

This blog post could be dedicated to an entire blog but it's what happened to be on my mind this morning so it's what you're going to get. If you haven't already seen the "Real Beauty Sketches" video from Dove, it's a must watch. So powerful. This post is a little text-heavy, but it's changed the way I view myself and my beauty . It's worth the extra time.

A few years ago, I would have been the first photo, where my self-description was a far cry from my actual reflection in the mirror. I can remember being in the dressing room at department stores and breaking down in tears because I was so ashamed of how I looked. Yet, the reason I was shopping in the first place was to buy clothes in an attempt to feel better about myself by camouflaging what was underneath the clothing. 

A few days ago, I was chatting with my friend, Genny, about the Dove Beauty Sketches video. We both said that our current description of ourselves would have been accurate but no positive language would have been involved. For example, I think mine would have gone something like this: 

I have dark brown, almond shape eyes. Angular eyebrows. Full, dark brown hair. An oval face. 

You see, none of it is hateful but none of it is loving either. At first, I didn't see a problem with that. I was just stating the facts of my appearance. Genny told me that she sent the video to a few girlfriends. Most responded how you would assume, "Wow, I really needed that," etc, etc. 

But one watched it and replied, "Damn, I am hot. I love my body." 

We both thought that was a fairly awkward response and hoped that her other friends cc'd on the email weren't too weirded out by that one girl. But as we continued chatting, it was then I realized that she was the one who actually got it.

If I was to describe one of you, I know that the language would be filled with beauty, praise, and love. Words like, gorgeous, pretty, feminine, sexy, lovely, etc. Yet, I would never say that about myself because that's being vain and arrogant. Then it hit me. This mission of personal self-acceptance that I've been on for years, literally since elementary school, will never change unless I'm willing to not just tell the facts about myself like I'm a lab rat being studied, but to genuinely love myself. 

Your body isn't facts. It's a beautiful, flawless creation. Don't be afraid to celebrate it.

Genny told me that the friend who had given her body such high praise had once been in the same boat as us. The way that she got out of it was by standing in front of the mirror. Naked. And telling herself how beautiful she was. She would literally go from head to toe, covering every inch of herself in positive thought. My initial thought. Hell no. Way too awkward. And relatively weird. 

Baby steps. I started by thinking about myself and being thankful for each part of my body. Then I transitioned to looking in the mirror (clothes on) and saying what I loved about every inch of me.

The big breakthrough came yesterday. Two of my girlfriends took me to the Four Seasons for a spa day to celebrate my birthday. After our massages we went to the steam room. I'm looking at each of us with our own unique shapes. One is tall and long with a slim, straight body. One is average height with very defined muscles and an athletic build. And I have beautiful, feminine curves. And in the past, that would have been a nice way for me to say, slightly overweight. 

But this time, I looked around and loved what I had, cellulite and all. It is beautiful. It is me. And I love it. Love who you are today. Tell your body (as weird as it sounds) why you love it and how thankful you are for your body, and yours alone. As it is right now. Don't love it once you reach your goal weight. Love it today. Eventually, it won't be a practice, it will be truth. 

Find of the Week: Removable Wallpaper

Removable wallpaper?? What the what!? It's like music to my rental home decorator's ears! I'm well aware that I still might have some single rental years ahead of me and of all the things that I think I've missed most about living in a rental home is the freedom to do whatever the hell I want to the walls... no more spackling endless holes where previous renters decided to hang their Bob Marley posters, no more having to stick to "friendly neutrals." I want color. I want texture. I want freedom. And by George, I. WANT. WALLPAPER. Nothing like a little procrastination editorial Internet research to stumble across this jewel: Timothy Sue. It's a company dedicated to removable wallpapers. And the prints are just as magnificent as the idea. Check it out:

Coconino

Sixty Seven

Hearts Apart

Tables and Chairs

My favorite of the collection: Waterways

all images courtesy of Timothy Sue

Perfectly Pink

This image by Gordon Parks has always been one of my favorites. Can't you just feel the joy? And I love how she is dripping from head to toe in the most perfectly pink fuschia. I felt it necessary to find some tangible way to channel this photo. 

Funny Face by NARS, sephora.com

This lipstick should do the trick.

To a Tee: Sweats and Tees for Spring

Disclaimer: I'm deducting brownie points from myself. When I moved to Denver I vowed that I'd never stop wearing heels and sweatshirts would only be allowed around the house. Never in public. I'm currently in violation of rule one, since I'm wearing flats. I have nothing against a cute pair of flats. But living in a city where marajuana was legalized, "casual" is a slippery slope. Flats are the gateway drug. The next thing you know, you're schlepping around town in a pair of sweaty, hole-ridden leggings and a flannel.

That being said, I was checking my inbox and Nordstrom had a cute roundup of sweats and tees. Delete. Oops, I opened it. And I kinda like. Oy vey. Slipping down the slope. When I think of the people who wear "fashion tees and sweats" this comes to mind:

"I'm Bad." Yes, you are.

Perhaps this can be a redefining moment for all of us who find spending more than $20 on a sweatshirt or tee completely nonsensical and little inappropriate post-training bra age.

Love Potion Tee, Nordstrom

Chrysanthemum Tee, Language of Flowers

My friend, Ramey, introduced me to Language of Flowers, a new London-based tee company. She met the designers on vacation and fell in love with them and their tees. Her lifestyle blog is must read!

Wildfox Sweatshirt, Nordstrom

Since this sweatshirt is so sweet, I'd keep the rest of the look really masculine. 

Cheetah Tee, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Love this tee! Pair it with a bright coral lip (this would be my lipstick of choice) and maybe some leather shorts with some easy espadrilles.

M by MJ Gena Sweatshirt, Nordstrom

I think this one is my fav! It's vintage gym sweats with a fem twist. 

Maje Azebra Sweatshirt, Nordstrom

Not your typical zebra or animal print. 

M by MJ Check Tee, Nordstrom

Love! It reminds me of a chic version of a plastic picnic tablecloth. In theory, that sounds horrible.

Maje Cecilia Sweatshirt, Nordstrom

I'm always a sucker for a little puff sleeve. 

Savoy Terry Pullover, Anthropolgie

The terrycloth makes this special. This would be great with a printed skirt or pair of cigarette pants.