Monday, January 31, 2011

Sunny...


I just can't get enough of long...flowy skirts and dresses for the upcoming season!
Pinks...yellows...corals...white...

*loving*

So, I have a sick little boy home today...
so I will be a little behind this week catching up with all favorite bloggers~

Have a great and healthy week my friends!

Bensoni

Friday, January 28, 2011

Advice from the pros...


Ultra Shimmering All Over Face Powder
As sheer and shimmering as silk, the Diorskin Shimmer Star brightens the complexion with thousands of sparkles to a sea of finely milled shimmer.  Just the right amount of pearlescent particles and pigments designed to give the skin a beautiful sheen.
The result: in just one step, your face radiates with a delicate halo of light.

MAC Liquid Eye Liner

A liquid eye liner formula packaged with a unique applicator for precision application. Liquid Eye Liner is the perfect product for lining and defining the eyes. The firm, tapered tip of the applicator is easy to control and allows for a quick and precise application of the liner. Liquid Eye Liner is long-wearing, smudge-resistant and can be easily removed with Pro Eye Makeup Remover.



Revlon Just Bitten
Lipstain + Balm for a beautiful wash of kiss-proof color and moisturizing, soft shine.



Dior Nude Natural Matte Skin Perfecter

This breakthrough primer and skin perfecter dramatically enhances and mattifies the complexion to create flawless skin alone or underneath Diorskin Nude foundation. Its smooth texture imperceptibly blends into the skin, leaving it visibly refined and shine-free. Crystal Nude plays with optical illusion to instantly recreate the perfection of ideal nude skin. It is a transparent skin perfecter that enhances all skin types and skin tones while remaining perfectly invisible. Its crystalline formula provides an optical effect: like a softening lens, it shows the skin texture while diminishing its irregularities to instantly reveal a smooth and even complexion.This unprecedented makeup result is obtained with silicone microspheres that have unique properties.


Bobbi Brown
Award winning Creamy Concealer

Bobbi shares her favorite makeup artist tip - a yellow-based concealer that instantly camouflages dark circles. The creamy consistency ensures that it goes on smoothly, providing full, but natural looking coverage. The formula is filled with skin conditioning ingredients like Vitamin A, which helps minimize the appearance of fine dry lines and wrinkles & Vitamin E, which moisturizes and provides antioxidant protection.


Shu Uemura
Full Shimmer Illuminating Treatment for Color-Treated Hair

Adds vibrancy to hair color, imparts optimal shine and glazed touch from roots to ends
Weightier than your average conditioner but not quite thick enough to meet my definition of a “mask”. The (“musk rose oil”) scent is to.die.for.


Lancome Color Design
Sensational Effects Lipcolor
{Posh Pink}

If your lips long for full, fade-free color in tempting textures, and a shade selection that would inspire any makeup artist; the search is over. This luxurious lipstick is infused with soothing ingredients, so lips feel soft and comforted all day. Choose from four fabulous finishes: cream, sheen, shimmer, metallic and matte.



 Bioderma Make-up Remover

Crealine H2O Ultra-Mild Non-Rinse Face and Eyes Cleanser

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Spring Pizza...

Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough


1 cup Lukewarm Water
3 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil Plus Extra For Spreading On Dough
3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
2 teaspoons Yeast
2 teaspoons Cornmeal

Preparation Instructions
Yields 2 medium-large pizza crusts.


Place the ingredients into your bread machine, starting with the wet ingredients, followed by the dry (except the corn meal) and then the yeast. Follow the instructions for your bread machine.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place the pizza stone in the oven while it’s preheating.

Once the dough is ready, split it into two pieces and roll each out separately on a lightly-floured surface until it’s the right size to fit on the pizza stones. Sprinkle some cornmeal, about 1 teaspoon each, over the stone once it’s hot to keep the pizza from sticking. I also put some cornmeal on the peel so the dough doesn’t stick when I transfer it to the oven.

I pre-bake my pizza dough a little before I put any toppings on it. I find this makes the dough nice and crunchy with a good chewiness to it. Just place each dough, separately, on the stone. Spread the dough evenly over the stone. Make several puncture holes with a fork to help keep the bubbling down. Brush the entire surface of the dough with a light layer of olive oil. This will help keep the dough chewy and not brittle.

As it bakes, check on it to make sure its not bubbling. If it is, just press down any large bubbles with a spatula. Once the dough starts to become golden, take it out of the oven and place your favorite toppings on it.



Pesto & Goat Cheese  Pizza on Honey Whole Wheat Crust

1 Pizza Crust
6 tablespoons prepared pesto
3 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
6-7 ounces goat cheese
2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup fresh spinach


Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Spread the pesto on the pizza dough, leaving about an inch around the outside edge for the crust.

Spread or crumble the goat cheese across the pizza. Arrange the tomato slices over the goat cheese. Sprinkle as evenly as possible with the garlic.

Place the pizza into the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until the crust edges are golden. After taking the pizza out of the oven, allow it to cool for a few minutes so that the cheese has time to set. After a couple minutes, cover the pizza with a few handfuls of spinach or arugula.

CHOW YOUR BRAINS OUT!!!

Source:  http://www.asweetpeachef.com/




Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Getting organized...


This picture from http://www.lonnymag.com/decorate inspired me this month...

I am a pretty darn organized person...
&
on top of it...
I LOVE to organize.

If I could have a business doing anything...this would be it...
(well, at least part of it)!

The part of my life that is getting away from me has to be:

Ethan's baby pictures...drawings...and general paperwork...
Bills...receipts...paperwork for big things we purchased... etc...
Old magazines that I want to hang on to...
& of course
an inspiration board...because although my general style stays the same...
It is always fun to update and change little, inexpensive things every once in while!

So, that is my project for Spring.
Now, to find some pretty...but, inexpensive ways to do this.

Perfect white boxes from Ikea!

Black and white scalloped labels for my organizers...

All white organizers...
PERFECT!


Pretty file folders make me happy


I have always adored this file cabinet...
fresh, clean, & stunning...

Simple, clean, linen board...
I would hang 2 large ones side by side


These have got to be the most FABULOUS magnets I have ever seen!


...or these ;)

 Love the pale grey basket against the all white...

I am a HUGE sucker for a container of all white pencils

How beautifully simple are these bird paperclips


A 4 bin unit to hang on the wall...{in white, of course}

Homegoods and Ikea are great places to find inexpensive,
but cute accessories to start on getting organized...

Take it little by little...find out what your individual needs are...
and before you know it
you will have a very organized office space!

{then we can talk decorating it}!!!




Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Purpose...

I came off such a great weekend!
We did little bit of everything...
Friday, took E to his sports class with his best bud, Carter...a little McDonald's (just him and I)


came home and started E's Valentines cards...
(I know to start early, because there is a LOT of them!)
then...
Ladies night...
which really, was one of those perfect nights...
the one where you have FABULOUS conversation...a ton of laughs...
you know, when you really connect with your friends.
We danced...we drank...we ate...
(antipasto...which I CANNOT seem to get enough of)
We had a blast!



Saturday, my brother in law called to see if E could come over to play with the boys for a while...
(um...FOR SURE!)
So, my wonderful hubby decides that we need to go use our time wisely...
&
get a massage and facial! 
YAY!


Sunday, hubby went out with the boys to watch the game...
so, my girlfriend and her kiddies came over!
I made homemade bruschetta...
fresh tomatoes...garlic...basil...lemon...olive oil...parmesan...
yum...
& "skinny" artichoke dip from http://www.skinnytaste.com/!


So...that being said...I go into work on Monday...
I used to LOVE my job...(post-production...the advertising world)...
It fulfilled me in every way...great people...great people to work for...SUPER busy...
(I work 10 hour days)...and busy all 10 of them...

We were spoiled in every sense of the word.
Free HUGE breakfast buffet every morning...
lunch menus with 4 restaurants to chose from every day...
(I gained 10 lbs in my first year!)

3:00 snack and Friday drink cart that came around...
We had a MENU of cocktails to chose from...order a drink and they bring it to you...
I got to sip COCKTAILS at work!

Mainly...I felt needed...important...that I was contributing to something bigger than myself...
...& damn good at my job.

Which brings us to now...
many people have left...we have gotten pay cuts...furloughs...it's just so darn quiet...
I feel like I get paid to sit.

Yes, we have to pay our mortgage (damn it)...
but, for me...I drop my little E off at preschool every morning
to come to a job that doesn't fulfill me anymore...
a place where I just sit and surf the net...and watch movies...
for 10 hours.

Now, I did go back to school for 18 months...
THAT was the only thing that made me feel productive.
(I had to take a break...but am going back in Summer)

I just feel like my son's life is just passing me by.
I pre-enrolled him in Kindergarten yesterday.
Kindergarten.
I almost fell over.

& I don't know what I wish...
I guess we all wish, to do something with our lives...
to make a difference...
to spend quality time with our loved ones
 (because before you know it...they are gone)
to learn...and grow...every day

to feel good...
mind. body. & soul.

I guess I will just keep pluggin away at school and hopefully when I am finished
there will be a place for me to work
with children...which is what I have always wanted to do...

to feel needed...and important...and busy...and have purpose...

Saturday, January 22, 2011

25 things about...me

(this is from a post on facebook a long while back, but I thought it was fun)

1.) One of my favorite things to do is to Organize (anything)!

2.) I met and knew I wanted to marry my husband when I was 14 years old

3.) I will fight to the death for something I think is right (I don't care who I am up against...)

4.) I got bit in the face by a German Shepard/Husky when I was 12 years old

5.) I would love to have 2 or even 3 more children!

6.) I have the BEST friends, husband and family in THE WORLD...I am very lucky

7.) I will go to my death trying to find the "perfect" pair of jeans

8.) I have 2 tattoos and want 1 more...

9.) My favorite color is White, even though my husband says it's not a color

10.) I drink a glass of wine every night

11.) I lived with my friend Jody and her parents for a year and a half after college and learned more from them then I did in college

12.) I don't go to church as much as I should, but I believe in God with every part of my soul

13.) I would chew an entire pack of cinnamon gum a day between the ages of 9-12.

14.) I have NEVER been on a real date in my whole life

15.) My son is left handed (including Craig and I , no immediate family members on both sides are)

16.) My dream is to work with children...& currently I am halfway through school to do this!

17.) I HATE: green beans, bananas, people that SUCK at driving... Hersey's milk chocolate, tuna, Captain Morgan's, math... mushrooms, olives, people that don't say goodbye at the end of a phone conversation, pudding, roast beef, whoppers, people that don't email back...airplanes, Ferris wheels, timid people, trying on bathing suits, Wal Mart and Mountain Dew.

18.) I LOVE: red wine, olive oil, pasta, salmon, people that speak their minds... garlic, onions, avocados, the show Felicity...and Battlestar Galactica, hydrangeas, & hot pink peonies... mashed potatoes, pizza, dill, goat cheese, snuggling in bed...a white t-shirt, my son's kisses...tomatoes, hummus, french bread, record players, fireplaces, & french kissing...fur throws, spicy Doritos, 3 musketeers, Anne of Green Gables, my beautiful white vintage piano, dark chocolate, Jazz music, Fall...vollyball, playing cards, dresses, & people that don't SUCK at driving

19.) I get sidetracked VERY easily

20.) The first thing I do when I wake up, walk in the door from work, or go to bed is straighten up the house (I feel completely unsettled when everything is not in it's place)

21.) Every items label in my pantry must face front and be categorized else I will LOSE my mind

22.) I will ALWAYS forgive you, ALWAYS wish you the best and ALWAYS be here if you need me...

23.) I have a library in my house that I will fill and read every book before I die...no question

24.) I played softball for 8 years, basketball for 4, and was a cheerleader for 5!

25.) I can arch my right eyebrow (fabulous huh)!!



 
 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Fast forward Spring & Summer...{just for a minute}




Ok...ok...I know I have had Spring fever...
but, just look at the Burberry Pre-Fall Collection for 2011

HOLY MOLY...I am loving long...flowy right now...
and can't wait for more long...flowy...
&
always a MAJOR fav...
SUPER long...perfectly cut pants...

ahhhhh...a girl can dream, right?!


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Spring & Summer heels...












1.) Miss KG Harajuku Sparkly Platform Strappy Sandal
2.) 7 for all Mankind
3.) Brian Atwood
4.) Birman
5.) Givenchy
6.) French Connection
7.) Jimmy Choo
8.) L.A.M.B
9.) Louboutin
10.) ASOS Pumpkin (they have a fabulous turquoise too!)


We'll talk wedges, boots, and sandals later ;)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Bun & Borough's "Currently"

Today, one of my favorite new blogs... http://sweetseas.blogspot.com/
 listed her "currently"...doings
& she asked us to do ours today...
{which is sooo much fun}

...so here we go!!!

eating/drinking: Homemade Greek turkey meatballs w/ low fat tzatziki & pita from one of my absolute favorite food blogs... http://www.skinnytaste.com/
Emergen-C & a big glass of water!

listening to: Empire of the Sun {Walking On a Dream ~ Treasure Fingers remix}
& Broken Bells {The High Road}

lamenting: The loss of a policeman this morning in our city...
my heart goes out to his family...

pondering: Whether or not all these animal deaths are really linked to the end of the world...
{I mean, I can't wait to experience Heaven...but, I would like to enjoy my son a bit longer!}

wearing: J Brand skinny jeans...Knee high black suede boots...
a Black and grey striped sweater...& red lips! {my latest favorite accessory}!

anticipating: A big fresh homemade salad...& a glass of red wine with my hubby...
bath time & reading my son some books before bed
{my favorite time of the day}
...& snuggling up on the couch with my husband and sweet dog to watch parenthood!

baking: Mini muffins for my little guy!
{the only way to get zucchini, carrots, & apples in him!}

reading: All my favorite blogs...
& getting ready to pick up Little Bee by Chris Cleave from my sister-in-law for my new book!

loving: that I am on week 3 of eating good...exercising...& drinking a LOT of water...
I feel FABULOUS!

buying: Just bought my first Spring/Summer dress this year!
{& am in love...see below}
...Also, only $300 away from having enough money to reupholster my 2 wing back chairs with my
Rachel Ashwell White Denim fabric!!!!
{a dream of mine to have in my home...}

That was a lot of fun!

Easy Breezy...


I broke down and bought my first "Spring/Summer" dress today!
YIKES!
It's early for me...it's only January 18th!!!! 

& I already cannot WAIT to wear a TON of long...flowy skirts and dresses! 

I absolutely fell in love with this as soon as I saw it. 
It's long, but open in the front so you see a bit of leg with the shorter skirt underneath!  
& It breezes beautifully behind you when you walk...

Flowery...but, a bit biker "ish" with the corset style closure on the top.

I am IN LOVE... 

I have decided that I am going to LIVE in flowy dresses...
 long and short this year!

But, ssshhhhh...please...don't tell my husband... ;)


Monday, January 17, 2011

On a side note...

How fabulous were Olivia Wilde's Louboutins at the Golden Globes !!!!

Dreamy Paris Apartment...





What an incredible view of the building across the way...

What a fabulous little patio to sip morning coffee and read the paper...
or
have an intimate supper at dusk...when the city lights are just beginning to glow...
 
A dreamy closet...to go with all the dreamy Paris clothes!!

A zebra rug...always a fav of mine...

The soft pops of pinks, greens, & blues... 


I love the dark wood cabinets with the pop of turquoise...
the fresh white countertops...and the industrial Wolf range...
striking...

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