Winning Silver

A lot people call me lucky.

I'd just say I'm a shamelessly vigilant opportunist.

Like when Ana Pettus posted a giveaway last year

for goods over $1000 of swanky beauty goods,

I stalked it was a matter of national security.

And I won.

So am I lucky?

Or do I just have too much time on my hands?

Probably a little bit of both.

Amidst the box full of Chanel nail polish & lipsticks,

at home micro-dermabrasion & cellulite therapy kits,

there was this.

A COR silver soap.

Now in my past life in Dallas,

I worked with a store who sold COR.

Our buyer gave me a sample of it at the trade show in New York

the day he initially stumbled upon their booth.

I think I threw it away in my hotel room later that night

because I didn't really want to bother with a little soap sample.

The store brought in a shipment

and I started seeing celebrity reviews on this little orb of love
that is made of actual silver
which delivers fantastic anti-bacterial elements
to help clear your complexion and fight anti-aging.

So when I found this giant-sized version in the box from Ana

I knew it was something special...

I mean, it costs £100.

At that price, you'd expect it to be made of gold... or silver.

I was unpacking some boxes last night and found it once again.

Never used, still in the original box.

I decided it was time to try it out

this little La Mer of facial soaps.

And I actually do LOVE it. 

My skin feels great 

and felt really tight afterwards.

Gotta reduce those pore sizes, baby!

So one day in-

I think it's a winner,

but time will tell.

In the meantime,

I'll just have to take Sarah Jessica Parker & Jessica Biel's endorsed word on it.

Have you ever tried COR?

Or have you ever heard of soap this expensive? :)

*image via

Sk-In The Know

Having good skin has always been a bit of a struggle for me.

If I'm honest, it's because I've typically been too lazy to take the time

to take off my make-up & wash my face before bed.

So basically, I wanted great skin without doing anything.

Which, obviously, didn't work.

Last year, my friend Julie forwarded me Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP issue

on her favorite finds from French Pharmacies.

I was planning to go to Marseilles later that month for work,

so I jotted down a list on my phone,

& scooped up a few items when I was there.

Then a few weeks later, the craziest thing started happening:

my skin started to clear up.

Weird, I know.

Who knew face products, when used, actually could do stuff?

I got a little addicted to the idea of not having flaky skin

and patches of oiliness & build-up,

so I started getting into the whole idea.

A year later,

I'm a full out believer

that if you take care of your skin,

it can actually look pretty nice.

I've added a few other things since my trip to France...

my bathroom shelf now includes a few more things 

that make my skin look great today

and will, hopefully, help it looks its best in the years to come!

susan posnick colorflo | avene eau thermal | chanel uv essentiel | bioderma makeup remover | caudalie cabernet face scrub

The one thing I have yet to find is a good night cream.

I know, I know... "La Mer!" 

But you guys, it is SO expensive.

Surely there is something just as good 

that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars?

Or is is really just THAT good?

Tell me what you think below, I'd love your input!

Med Degree: Tom Ford, Neroli Portofino

The other day, I was in John Lewis and made a new friend at the Tom Ford counter.

I mean, this guy was really awesome...

he's was an LA native in a killer suit 

with some sweet specs.

We discovered we had parallel lives as expats flopping between London & Paris,

got slightly emotional about the merits of dry oils,

& held each other as we confessed our desperation for sunshine.

Ok, now I'm exaggerating...

but one thing that happened for sure 

was that I fell head over heels for

Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino line.

The least provocative ad for Neroli Portofino one can find.

This stuff is the real deal.

It's such a steady scent of fresh notes of the Mediterranean

wrapped in a luxe essence that only Tom Ford could master.

It's the perfect fresh scent to get you ready to prance around a resort,

get you in the zone for a ladies lunch over mimosas,

or to accompany you on a night of mingling on a Southern Italian terrace.

{Yes, I reside in a constant mental state of fairy tales...

but it's much prettier there & way more fun.}

The luxe range is killer expensive

with a 3.4 oz bottle of perfume costing $265.

{The real winners of the line, IMO, are the parfume & body splash.}

But as the line is gender neutral,

if you can get your partner on board with how great it is...

you could possibly justify the splurge as a "joint purchase."

Neroli Portofino, Tom Ford: Shower Gel | Private Blend Bar Soap $35 | Candle $85
 50 ml Parfum $265 | Moisturizer $65 | Body Splash $70

Until I can convince Tyler to join in on the splurge,

I'll be enjoying the free samples my new friend sent home with me...

and dreaming of that future evening on the Mediterranean

dressed in a gauzy, white dress, 

oversized sapphires,

 & Neroli Portofino.

Do you have Neroli Portofino? 

Have you found it has increased your presence at Italian soirees & resorts?

FOUR SALE: Ted Baker

Hauling one's possessions for one too many trips

can teach even the silliest of overpackers

to trim down on what they are toting along.

While I do my best to keep my clothes to neutrals & smart layers,

one item that I won't apologize for is a large toiletry bag.

Make-up, straightener, hair products, jewelry case...

it's the only place in my travel wardrobe that offers any variety.

When I passed these bags the other day,

my heart stopped a beat.

A large wash bag from the Rose Bug collection... for £28.

The size is deliciously large...

you can easily fit a hair dryer & straightener alongside your other goods here.

The shape is terribly chic...

not only does it have a beautiful red & gold zipper,

but it folds over like a clutch.

And the fabric...

sigh. 

It's a beautiful vivid satin print

of Ted Baker's spring pattern, Rose Bug.

So, in typical Four Sale fashion,

 I bought one for me...

and four for you.

Canvas shopper £69 | Scarf $110 | Floral Shorts £89 | Sweetheart Dress $310

As you can see,

compared to regular prices for the line

this piece is a steal!

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share the love with all of you!

First come, first served.

Confessions of a Brat- Paris Edition

Yesterday was Valentines Day,

and I was in Paris, France
with my dear love.

Everything about that sentence is perfect.

I have always loved Valentines Day.

Even though I never spent it with a boy

{until the first year I was married},

I've always reveled in the idea of one day

being all about love.

My parents always pampered us

with a card, some candy

& my mom's yearly dinner 

of heart shaped meatloaf.

After I returned from teaching my off-site class

with an armful of flowers & a enormous macaron cake....

{Editor's Note: If you ever teach in Paris, assign your students

to take you on a "date" around Paris on Valentines Day. 

Maybe one of my finest moments in lesson planning.}

Tyler had arrived from a quick trip to London

 and was waiting for me to start our day together.

He wanted to take me back to Guerlain

and pick out a perfume for myself.

How sweet,

but unfortunately, it was late & the store was closed.

Optimistically and feeling all lovey dovey,
we opted to head towards the Opera

and visit Galleries Lafayette instead.


In case you haven't heard of Galeries Lafayette,
just image Harrods gone French.


It's gorgeous, massive and the ceiling looks like this...

We happily strolled through the main floor 
and upon visiting the Guerlain display,
were disappointed to not find the perfume 
we had originally fell in love with a few weeks back.


We can find something else,
we said in agreement
 and continued on through the store.


As I found replacement treasure 
after replacement treasure,
Tyler repeatedly shook his head no....

I was picking things that he thought were too expensive,

and I was getting frustrated with the guidelines of 

"Pick whatever you want..." except for anything that I actually picked.

Our carefree attitudes soon melted away
and all that was left an annoyed brat 
weaving through displays and plush designer displays
and her dismayed husband trailed behind.

image

We didn't end up getting anything.


We headed straight on to dinner
via of the metro in silence
feeling completely annoyed at the other.


{Why is he so cheap?}


{Why can't she be thankful for a gift?}


We both eventually got over it
with a distraction of amazing food
& fun night talking to just each other.


The gift expedition was a fail...
and as I thought about it today,
I realized how ridiculous it was 
for me to get so annoyed.


For goodness sake, 
I used to get giddy over this holiday
because of grocery-store confetti and 
heart-shaped meatloaf with ketchup arrows drawn on them...


How could I not have a good attitude now?


I guess when so many things are going well,
it's easy to start picking at some of the smaller things...
which as luxurious as it may sound, isn't something I strive for.


Yes, I think I've adjusted my attitude back to "non-crazy,"
but I don't think any of these items I found last night 
are out of the question for being completely awesome.


Maybe if I can't call them my own,
we can at least enjoy them here on my blog. 

Guerlain perfume | Chanel No. 5 | Goyard wallet | Miu Miu wallet | Yves Saint Laurent scarf

A Bit of Bubbly.

The next two weeks involve a bit of hotel hopping for us.

We were in London last night,

in Birmingham tonight,

back to London tomorrow night, 

parked in Paris for several days,

& then bouncing to a different hotel 

throughout Southern France

each night for a week.

While I might estimate that 14% of my waking hours

are spent packing, re-packing & lugging heavy bags around the earth,

I know, I know...

Not a single one of you feels sorry for me.

And I'm not asking you to, either.
The truth is relaxation is always close at hand.

Well, assuming that we have a bath tub in our hotel room.

Because when that is the case,

I'll spend my night soaking 

and singing along to my iTunes playlists.

Since hotel amenities can be hit or miss

I always pack my own.

{Yeah, I'm talking to you, crappy bar of soap.}

Taking a soak in this bath oil makes me feel like a princess.

I originally got it at Regent Tweet with Helena 

and am about to restock my dwindling stash.

These bubbles are gorgeous. 

The pistachio scent is what I soak in

when I'm primping to get fancy.

My mom loves Molton Brown products,

and always makes sure her daughters are supplied.

This particular scent is crisp & feminine. 

Soap that is packaged like this...

and that smells like blood oranges?

If you don't want one based off those two factors,

you aren't my people.

Well, okay, 

obviously you're still my people.

You know I wouldn't pull the plug on our friendship over something that silly.

*PS. We stayed in the Thistle, Hyde Park last night.

 We found a great deal on lastminute for £99 per night,

and were very pleased with it... especially that marble bath tub.

Rifle Paper Co. Hits the Target.

Excusez-moi...

but how perfect would these notecards look

on any jet-setting lady's desk?

Each card makes me mad with desire

to ride away on my {imaginary} vespa 

to the nearest Italian cafe 

to meet my {real-life} hunk for an afternoon date.

I need some.

You need some.

In fact,

the whole world should just go ahead and get some.

Rifle Paper Co. Global Notecards, Anthropologie.

 12 Notecards + Envelopes, $28.

Five Steps to Pretty Living.

marc jacobs earbuds $42 | golda jewelry citrine ring $1,385 | TOPSHOP dress £20 | svpply raw silk pillows, $20-50 | Rolex 

Pick an item,

any item.

Odds are, that if you purchase any of these fancies,

you'll feel like a million bucks in no time.

{Or if you get the rolex, will have spent nearly that much.}

I, personally, got the earbuds for Christmas 

and love them so much.

And that TOPSHOP dress for £20?

 A steal.

I'm packing for NYC.

Our flight is early tomorrow,

and I'll be hitting the ground running.

Have we planned one thing yet?

Nope.

But that's okay...

we don't need plans.

Just each other,

clear skies,

and an iPhone to capture the fun.

Under the Covers: iPhone Fashion

The bag you carry says a lot about who you are.

Maybe it doesn't reflect your worth

(since we can't all carry the Birkin we deserve),

but it does say something about our priorities.

While a bag can tell a story,

the main item we typically tote is our phone.

My phone could tell you everything about me.

What I've eaten for the past week in pictures.

A calendar of what I'm doing.

Received calls from loved ones-

missed calls from the people I want to avoid.

We kinda divulge a lot about who we are

with those little things, don't we?

When the cover on mine started to fall apart,

I tried to hold off on buying a new one

for the sake of being too cheap & too busy.

I didn't want to jump into anything...

but when the Scotch tape holding the fabric up was no longer sticking,

I decided it was time to look for it's replacement.

{After all, I have to take care of this thing. It's my money maker. ha!}

There are so many great covers available...

and they can allow your phone to say a lot about who you are.

Big Spender

Trendy

Bling-y

Artsy

Geeky

Southern

Girly

Traditional

If you can dream it up-

it most likely exists.

After an afternoon scouring the internet

and Pinterest, I brought you back some of my favorites.

jonathan adler iphone cases | jonathan adler plumes case

I love Jonathan Adler's iPhone cases- so cheeky & bright!

Kate Spade's collection of iPhone cases are amazing. How great is that newspaper print?

Chilewich was luring me in, but I decided to not copy my friend Laura...

because no one likes to be ripped off, right?

cath kidston iphone cases

My inner-Brit kept bringing me back to Cath Kidston's classic designs.

Something about the faux-wood seemed cool and modern. Reminded me of something

my friend, Beth, of Hello Splendor would have.

But I finally settled on this lovely by Society 6.

Something about it reminds me of Degas...

I love that it's bright yet cool...

and girly but not flowery...

and, well, I just think it's purdy.

Why I Love... Graphic Image.

Back in my previous life,

I had a "cool job."

You know the type, don't you?

The only dress code is to look good,

you travel to exotic locations and stay at the best hotels,

you're friendly with buyers and editors,

& you make a hilariously small salary 

that leaves you feeling extremely broke 

among the glossy world you work in?

Yup. If that's the criteria,

then I once had a very cool job.

I think my favorite part of it was the trade shows.

They are so much work, 

but they always brought such adventures and stories.

After a few shows, 

you start to develop a nose for the important buyers.

...Bendel, Saks, Harrods, Barneys...

You start to remember each other from previous shows and meetings,

and it gets easier to be prepared...

but the easiest buyers to spot 

are always from Neiman Marcus & Bergdorf Goodman.

While they might have their buyer's badge hidden in their handbag,

they all carry the same tell-tale object in their hands:

A Graphic Image Diary.

You can spot those giant planners half way down the convention center aisles...

and boy, are they gorgeous.

Graphic Image is a family owned company out of New York 

that sits above the rest of the over-saturated leather market

with their gorgeously unique line 

of luxe everyday items.

I'm sure you've seen their goods before-

but as their website quotes:

"We're the biggest brand that nobody's ever heard of."

It's true.

You'd recognize their handiwork in a heartbeat,

but most people never know their name.

Graphic Image pieces are so lovely 

no label is needed to sway the customer into the purchase.

At stores like Bergdorf & Barneys- 

that speaks volumes.

A teal, leather dictionary?

(Why, yes, I do have one of these!)

Metallic passport covers?

(As if international travel wasn't swanky enough!)

But the planners...

they have my heart.

I'm waiting patiently

until the day comes

when I have my own...

with my initials monogrammed at the bottom

like all the BG & NM buyers.

And the day that happens?

Well, I'll know then that I'm actually cool.

Patternseed

Last May, 

I spent two weeks in New York 

for the National Stationery Show.

Working a trade show 

is always a mixture of 

glamourous inspiration & schleppy grunge work...

You spend your day meeting buyers from Berdorfs and editors of Elle...

while standing in heels for 9 hours, running around like an idiot, 

and shoving fried chicken tenders down you mouth from a snack bar.

One thing that definitely adds to the fun

is the friends you make inside the Javits Center.

It's kind of like going to camp.

You get stuck in a cramped space together for a week, 

until you inevitably become friends

by laughing at the same stuff

 and bonding over the disgusting bathroom situation.

And last year, Beth & I became friends 

with a girl named Meghan.

Located directly across from the chair massages

{which we visited daily}

was Meghan's booth.

There she sat... all alone.

A cute, little, blonde,

at her very first show

selling fresh & simple patterns

from her line, Patternseed.

Obviously, we loved her.

And then,

West Elm started loving her, too.

Now her design

{my favorite from the show!}

is featured on this great pillow...

and it's so cute and affordable!

So go on..

Buy one for your house,

buy another for your friend,

and support sweet girls like Meghan.

Girls who dream big,

take expensive risks,

and always offer good candy at their booth!

{PS This is my second friend from NY trade shows that has designed a West Elm product!}

Not to be dramatic...

... but Laura Mercier is on Gilt Groupe today.

And I'm going little crazy.

I've never understood why

the cosmetic industry is exempt 

from marking their merchandise down?

Every single other industry has sales...

how do they get away with continuous full price?

I still have no clue.

Either way...

we can snag the low prices today.

Like now.

Go!

PS. Have you noticed how much I love this site?