/Christmas

I can't believe this year is almost over! I am very much so looking forward to what 2012 brings. My Christmas was amazing - I really couldn't have asked for a better time with my family and boyfriend.

A "before" picture of my sister's tree.

Also, note the difference in picture quality! Above was taken with an iPhone and below, with my crappy Blackberry. I can't wait to upgrade!!!

The aftermath at my boyfriend's house. We went a little nuts.

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: product reviews.

Nars Blush in "Orgasm"

I've been in desperate need of a new blush. During the summer months, I stick to bronzer. But for some reason, I lean more towards blush when it's cold out. I knew my little sister would come through for me since she is such a make up guru. Can I say how much I love this??

EOS Lip Balms

I'm seriously addicted to Aquaphor. And finally, I've found a competitor: EOS lip balm. I was interested in trying it when I saw Ingrid aka Miss Glamorazzi raving about it. Since then, I've acquired quite a few of them. I keep one in my purse, in my desk at work, and on my vanity at home. I just can't get enough of them! I've been using Summer Fruit but just got Sweet Mint in my stocking from my boyfriend and they are both so yummy!

Skullcandy Pipe

This is not a new product for me, but I am still raving about it. I bought one a few years ago and lost it some how during a move last year. My older sister was kind enough to replace it for me for Christmas. I love all Skullcandy's items. This iPod dock is small and convenient but packs a lot of sound. It runs on both power and batteries and comes with a remote. Loving it!

UGGS

This is not something that needs any kind of introduction but I am super excited about this gift. I've been dying for black Uggs in the worst way and my boyfriend finally made my wish come true! That is all. :)

Friday Favorites



Favorite Look // via



Favorite Quote // via



Favorite DIY // via



Favorite Home Design // via



Favorite OMFG! // via



Happy Friday!!

Tuesday Travels

The boyfriend took me to my doctor's appointment this morning and instead of going home afterwards, I tagged along for "take your girlfriend to work day." This meant spending a lot of time in the car with his new iPhone. And in case you were wondering.. iPhone > BlackBerry.

Ridin' Dirty

Please.

Kew Gardens

Central Park

Free People's Out With the Old... In With the New

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I've become borderline obsessed with Free People's blog and the DIY stuff they post. They also host some pretty awesome workshops at various locations. And FINALLY! one in New York was scheduled for yesterday. My sister and I made plans to meet at the shop in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. While I waited for her, I just took it all in. This brand is amazing. It's not just a store, it's well, a very successful brand. The clothes are beautiful, wispy, and give that flower child feeling. You'll find anything from lite and airy dresses to loosely knitted sweaters and beautifully handcrafted cuffs and jewels. I was also fascinated by the decor of the shop. They are so creative! They make so much (if not all) of their holiday display and I took home some great ideas.

Onto the DIY ornaments we went and I was overwhelmed with the amount of supplies they had! I literally didn't know where to begin. I had to sit there for a minute to take it all in and decide what I was going to do. The crafts were also nicely complimented by From Graduate to Gourmet's delicious display of chocolate covered strawberries, mini cupcakes and cookies, gold fish crackers, chocolate covered pretzels, and more! They were so yummy! Just as I was telling my sister how good the chocolate chip cookies were, a girl sitting next to me, crafting away, said "really?" As it turns out, it was Aly, the blogger/baker of From Graduate to Gourmet! I was so excited to get to tell her how good everything tasted. To top it all off, the kind staff of Free People served us warm apple cider and provided great company. It was really fun to do something different with my sister while getting to meet such nice people and enjoy Manhattan on a beautiful Fall, I mean Winter day.

Never-ending shopping

This is the first year that I'm not doing typical mall shopping. Instead, I'm making and designing most of my gifts while only purchasing small gifts to compliment them. I've been scouring blogs, sites, shops for ideas. Here are some other things I've come across that I've either ended up purchasing, would thoroughly enjoy receiving, or would made great gifts.

 

(01) Tom's (02) Hamsa Necklace (03) SITE Pillow (04) Guitar String Ring 

(05) Scout & Catalogue (06) Buxom Lip Gloss (07) Scentsy Warmers 

(08) 2012 Blue Sky Planner (09) Minimergency Kit  

Monday Mourning // Stuffed 'Shrooms Recipe

Holiday shopping is officially in effect. As inspired by my boyfriend, I'm approaching gift giving a little differently. And as much as I hate to admit it - he was right! My family and I always provide lists to each other and while I never questioned because it's how I grew up, it does made it a little less surprising. So this year, I'm not accepting any lists and I've been doing just fine! I'm so excited with the ideas I have and I hate that I can't share them. Until then, I'm going to share some holiday recipes.

One of the dishes that I brought to my sister's house for Thanksgiving was stuffed mushrooms. These little 'shrooms are a new dish for me - inspired by a party we went to a few weeks ago. My boyfriend wasn't satisfied with the amount we ate from stalking the servers so I made some the next day. And if I may say so myself, they came out incredibly delicious.

Disclaimer: If you're not a fan of funky cheeses, I would suggest substituting the Gorgonzola for a cheese, well, less funky.

What you'll need:
6 oz. pancetta or bacon
2 tbsp. butter
3 cloves or garlic, minced
1 cup of freshly cut spinach
1 cup Gorgonzola cheese
3/4 cup bread crumbs
salt & pepper
24 baby Portobello mushroom caps

Preheat the oven to 400°
In a medium skillet, saute the pancetta until crisp, break into pieces and set aside in a mixing bowl
Discard fat from skillet and melt butter, add onion and garlic and saute for 3 minutes
Stir in spinach until slightly wilted
Add everything to the mixing bowl with pancetta and allow to slightly cool
Stir in bread crumbs and cheese and season with salt and pepper
Hold one mushroom at a time over the bowl and stuff with a spoon and pack it down
Set on a baking tray
Once all mushrooms have been stuffed, bake in oven for about 8 or 9 minutes

Friday Favorites

Favorite 'OMFG!'

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Favorite Inspiration



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Favorite High Fashion



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Favorite DIY



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Favorite New (to me) Blog



Honestly... WTF

Favorite Fall Boot

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Just SIX more days until Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

Small Talk with Closet Vanity's Samantha Fodrowski

Samantha is not only a high school friend of mine but an awesome blogger. I'm hooked on her blog, Closet Vanity and I have admit, she's quite an inspiration for my own blog! Closet Vanity is full of great fashion and awesome DIY projects (many of which are on my own list). Find out how she fits in time to blog and her favorite products.

What's your day job and how to you balance blogging with your daily or weekly routine? 

During the day I do public relations for a university in Boston and I'm also working on my master's thesis. Nights and weekends are my time for writing and blog research but sometimes it can get tough balancing the blog with daily life. To keep organized I've set up a few "rules" for myself to make sure I cover my bases. I find that it really helps to keep an editorial calendar of sorts to plan what I want to write about and when. I try my best to have all of my posts written a week in advance, though I often make last minute edits.

With the seasons so quickly changing, what wardrobe piece have you been dying to pull out for Winter?

I am not a big fan of winter. However, I love keeping warm in big, comfy sweaters. Vince always has the best offering and when I can't afford those, Bloomingdale's in-house Aqua line has great cashmere pieces, too.

What's your current must have product?

If I could have an unlimited supply of any product it would probably Fresh's Sugar lip treatment. It's definitely pricey for a chap stick, but I love how it feels (and smells and tastes!) I justify the little luxury because it makes me happy every time I use it.

I see you had the honor of attending Fashion Week. What was the highlight of your time there?

This was my first fashion week so just having the honor of being invited to shows was really exciting for me.

How did you fall into blogging?

I thought that I should start a blog to feed my interest in fashion, beauty and other random things that I like or want to know more about. When I learned of Lucky magazine's inaugural FABB conference in February, I decided to attend to give me the push I needed to start my own blog.

I know you're an old fashioned girl, like myself, when it comes to blogging tools (ie notebook/pen, handwritten calendar, etc). What item couldn't you blog without?

My notebook has everything in it -- ideas, schedule, interview questions, etc. If I lost it, I'd be royally screwed. My goal is to get a little more tech-organized and keep up to date with my iCal. My other necessary blogging tool is my camera. I always have it on me!

Thanks again, Sam!

Friday Favorites

Favorite Street Fashion

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Favorite Runway Fashion

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Favorite Hair

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Favorite Quote

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Favorite 'OMFG!!!'

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That's all for now :)

Happy Friday!!

Giveaway!

Last month, I shared with you a night out to dinner and a show with the boyfriend. Since then, the talented Andrew Goffman has extended an invitation to my readers! The Accidental Pervert is a one man show at The 13th Street Reperatory Company in Manhattan's West Village with shows every Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm. The contest will begin as soon as this post is published and run throughout the weekend with the winner being announced Monday morning (11.14.11) at 11am EST. Anyone can enter up until that time and the winners will be selected randomly via random.org.

Three lucky winners will receive two free tickets for the date of their choice! Winners will be emailed directly before they are posted online. Be sure to follow USW on facebook and twitter to keep up with the progress of the contest. Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions!

To enter, simply comment below on this post and tell me about your favorite thing to do during the Fall. Be sure to include your email address!

Remember, this is totally free and it's for a hilarious show! And there are so many great places close by to get a bite to eat - not to mention Crumbs for dessert!

Please spread the word about USW and the contest!

Thanks and good luck!

Disclaimer: This is one of those times that I promised I would tell you that these tickets have not been paid for by me, nor have I been paid to hold this contest/talk about the show. It's simply a show I really enjoyed and want to share with my readers. These tickets have been donated to USW readers by the great people at The Accidental Pervert.

Fall Forward

Fall just might be my favorite season to dress for. There's something fresh about breaking out a comfy sweater for the first time after a hot summer. I also have an obsession with scarves which is really difficult to don during the heat. Autumn allows me to layer, wear hoodies, and cuddle with warm blankets.

Here are some Fall looks I'm crushing on...

Cuff + scarf + feathers = ♥



I adore the warmer and lace-up look.



Something about canary colored handbags has me very drawn this season.



This look is so comfy yet polished looking.
I've also got a thing for leopard print  - in very small doses, though.

Sunglasses - a necessary accessory year-round.



I'm loving the messy hair look.


Source for photos

Stocking Stuffers

Stockings have got to be my favorite gift to open. They're always packed with a million little things and they're usually very practical. I remember growing up, batteries were the most coveted of the stuffers. They weren't cheap and they seemed to power everything. But gone are the days of Walkmans and Game Boys. Today, we get much more fun stuff to look forward to. Below are some of my favorite items that would make great stuffers - along with a few things ((05 & 06)) that I wouldn't mind finding in my stocking this year.

(01) EOS Lip Balm (02) Scentsy Bars (03) Skull Candy Earbuds (04) Dr. Grip Pilot Pen (05) Alex & Isabella Classic Hairties (06) Butter London 2011 Holiday Collection (07) Victoria's Secret Eyeliner

BirchBox!

This being my very first BirchBox, you can imagine how excited I was to see the little pink package in my mail box today. I've gone through all the samples and I'm anxious to use all of them.

November BirchBox

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Lifting Mascara It has an ordinary mascara brush and doesn't look like it has anything special to offer but nevertheless, I will test it out.

So I tried this out this morning and I'm very disappointed. It's completely dried out and nothing transferred to my lashes. I emailed Birchbox and hopefully they can rectify this for me.

2. Befine Night Cream I've been in dire need of a night cream and this one is so fine and non greasy. I can't wait to use it!

I completely forgot to use this last night! I put some on this morning and I love the way it feels. It didn't quite moisturize my face but then again I had just come out of the shower and my face wash really dries my skin out. So I'll give it another shot tonight.

3. Kérastase Elixir Ultime I don't know if I can use this because I tend to have oily hair but I will definitely try it out while my hair is damp.

 I applied it to my wet hair after combing it and didn't notice any difference. Maybe it will be better for fly aways on dry hair?

4. Supersmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste I'm willing to try this and hopefully it whitens. I am a little apprehensive of the flavor though - Mandarin Mint - you can really smell the mandarin in this paste. Wait! Hold that thought - I just tasted a tiny dab of it and it actually tastes pretty good! 

A dab - tastes good but a whole mouthful of it? Disgusting. I had to brush my teeth again with regular mint toothpaste. The mandarin flavor is overwhelming and I like my breath to be minty fresh not orangey. Fail.

5. {Treat} Alex and Isabelle Classic Hair Ties I actually saw these on their website yesterday and was interested in trying them so I'm so happy I got one today! It looks super cute on your wrist and doesn't cut off circulation like most hair ties. A little more expensive than I'd rather spend (6 for $12) so I'm happy I received one in my BBox!

Still using it! Love it! And it looks so cute on my wrist. I think I will be adding this to my stocking stuffer list!

And I apologize, the November box is not up on their site yet so I couldn't link the items back to the BirchBox website but I'm sure you know, they can be purchased at birchbox.com should you be interested. 

The Real Sunday Funday

Sundays are not meant for running 26.2 miles. They're meant for relaxing. And today, we've done just that. The boyfriend and I started the day out with pancakes and eggs then hit up some garage sales where I found these vintage tea light chairs. My sister bought me a couple of similar chairs made out of wood a couple  years ago and these will compliment them perfectly.

Afterwards, we walked to three local drug stores in search of the perfect grey nail polish. I found a tutorial on how to add a "newspaper print" decal to your nails and I was anxious to try this out. This is my new favorite go to for nail art inspiration!

I went with a darker polish, Brucci's "Alexandra's 'Hot' Grey." Dipped my nails in rubbing alcohol, then pressed precut pieces of newspaper to my nails, and lastly applied a top clear coat. They came out so cute! My boyfriend suggested doing the crossword puzzle on my big toes and it looks great!

All ready!

So happy how they came out :)

Friday Feature

Okay, so I have a lot to talk about here. And I've had a lot of caffeine this morning, so let's see how smoothly this goes. First on the agenda, I need to share this coupon for a free, yes FREE! sample of NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base from any Sephora at JCPenney store (expires 11/29/11). I picked this up last night and while I'm not that impressed with it (yet) - maybe someone else will find it useful. I applied it to my lid before applying shadow and I noticed that my shadow had creases in it already. This stuff dries super fast, I mean like in a second. I've been using Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion and I think I will continue to use it. It dries quickly but not as quickly as the NARS version. Not to mention, the Urban Decay one is $19 for 0.37 oz versus NARS at $24 for only 0.26 oz. Luckily, this item was free so nothing is lost. I'm just disappointed because I was so excited to finally have something from the NARS Cosmetics line and it didn't live up to its expectations.

I also received a couple of other samples. One of them being Make Up Forever HD Microfinish, which I'm liking so far. It's help prevent some shine and oil on my face and set in my make up. The 0.17 oz values at $15 at Sephora. I also received Sephora's Instant Moisturizer. I both loved and hated this product. It went on very smoothly and left my skin incredibly soft! But! It had such a strong perfume scent that it irritated my skin. And I felt a slight burn when I put it on. Not like a good tingle but more like a "whoa, this has got to have some rubbing alcohol in it" burn. I didn't see anything on the product itself or on the website regarding its scent but it was definitely too strong for me. I prefer a non-scented moisturizer so it's a drag because I really like this one otherwise.

In other news, we have some pretty cool things coming up this weekend. If you're in the New York City area, Laura Geller's Makeup Studio will be holding a semi-annual sale tomorrow, Saturday, Nov 4 from 10am until 6pm. You can bet I'll be there!! I've been dying for a baked blush from the LG line and here's my perfect chance. I almost bought one from the HauteLook shop but I decided against it because I wanted to be able to test out the colors.

Then, on Monday, MAC's facebook is holding a live chat with Makeup Artistry's executive director, Lyne Desnoyer at 1pm EST. She will be answering any questions you may have. If I can squeeze some time at work, then I'll most likely be participating in the Q&A.

Happy Friday!

Winter Products

I went on a little bit of a shopping binge yesterday and I'm gonig to share it so that I can justify having brought all this stuff home.

1. Neutrogena MicoMist Spray Tan I'm so sick of this pale winter complexion so I vowed to do something about it. I don't use tanning beds so I thought this would be a safe alternative. Let's see how well this bad boy works.

2. Aquaphor Healing Ointment I discovered this product a few years ago when my tattoo artist recommended it for the healing process. I've been addicted ever since. I use this on my lips regularly. It gives a great gloss without being sticky like your typical lip gloss. It's also boyfriend approved! I use it now more than ever during this dry season. I keep one in my hand bag, desk at work, car, everywhere you could imagine. I'm never without it.

3. Eucerin Calming Cream This is my first time trying this cream. I figured since my friends over at Eucerin did such an amazing job with Aquaphor that this would be just as awesome. So far, it serves its purpose. I've been on the cocoa butter kick for a while now but I think it's actually drying my skin out. Also, if you visit Eucerin's website, you can print this coupon for a dollar off any of their products.

4. Nivea Creme I typically use i.d. bareVitamins face cream because it's so lite but it just doesn't cut it in the winter. I'm hooked on this creme already. It moisturizes fantastically. The best part: it's just .99 in the small tin which is great for taking it everywhere with you. I originally purchased the small size just to test it out before committing to a full sized bottle.

5. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Oil-free products are a must for me since I have oily skin and this leaves my face feeling so clean. I was afraid that it would dry out my skin too much but with the proper moisturizer (above), I can tackle oil and dryness.

Laura Geller Makeup

I'm so excited for this open chat with Laura Geller! Brought to us by HauteLook and Laura Geller. My questions to Laura were in regards to my own personal make up issues I've been battling.

Hi Laura, what do you recommend for lines under the eyes, causes a shadow that's almost impossible to avoid. Also, I have saggy eyelids so eyeshadow usually gets lost as soon as I open my eyes. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Birchbox

After hearing about the craze that is Birchbox & going back & forth between deciding on whether I should subscribe or not - I have finally caved!

I can't wait to receive my first shipment in November. Naturally, you can expect a post reviewing all my items. 

Monday Mourning // Happy Halloween!

So far, my Halloween has been awesome. It's been lacking some candy but I'll survive. The boyfriend and I went out Friday night after hours of getting ready. It was no easy task! After endless research and consulting with a makeup artist, I had my plan mapped out. We found my costume on Steinway Street in Astoria but they wanted an insane amount of money so we found it on Amazon.com at a fraction of the price. I made my tutu instead of buying a petticoat [stay tuned for a tutorial], bought fishnets, dug out my lace up Dr. Martens and I was ready! We were so pysched to win the costume contest because all night, we received compliments - only to find out the contest was the next night! Words cannot describe my disappointment. Regardless, we had an awesome night with great friends and I got to wear my most favorite costume to date - along with my fave man. No complaints there.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Monday Mourning // Pumpkin Spice Cookies!

     This past weekend was fantastic. I had some free time on Saturday and have been anxious to try out the Pumpkin Spice cookie mix that I bought recently. My sister had told me about it last year but never found it. I wanted to add a little something to the cookies and since I love experimenting with baking, I thought I’d try something new out. What better to top pumpkin cookies than candy corn! After doing some research online, I threw together this recipe for candy corn icing.

Ingredients
½ cup softened butter
1 cup candy corn
4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Dash of pure vanilla
⅓ cup of cream or whole milk

Directions
In a small microwave safe bowl, add a tablespoon of water to candy corn and microwave for 10-15 second intervals, mixing constantly (it will become very sticky and solidifies quickly) until it’s melted to a liquid.

In a large bowl, mix half the sugar, butter, milk, and melted candy corn. Add the rest of the sugar until desired consistency is met. Add just a drop or two of vanilla. If the icing hardens a little before you’re ready to use it, just turn on the mixer and it will bring it back to that liquid consistency.

After your cookies have cooled, add just a drizzle of the icing to the middle of the cookie as it will pool up and might even drip down the sides (paper towels under the cooling racks is not a bad idea). Before the icing dries, add a candy corn or two, depending on the size of your cookies.


et voilà!

Wait for the icing to harden and they’re ready to enjoy!

I’m still working on the measurements. I ended up making about twice as much icing than I needed for the two dozen cookies I made but  froze the rest. I plan on making more for Halloween.

Dinner & a Show

     Last night, I surprised my boyfriend with tickets to The Accidental Pervert playing in the Village. It was a one man show about a guy who battles a life long addiction to porn after he discovers his father’s stash at 11 years old. I wasn’t sure what to expect and my boyfriend broke out into hysterics when I told him what we were seeing. I failed to mention there was audience participation when we were offered front row seats and he accepted. I was impressed with Andrew Goffman’s performance. It was not only theatrical but quite physical. I couldn’t figure out why the air conditioning was blasting but we soon found out. He ran laps around the stage and broke dance which finished in a hand stand - not bad for a white boy.

   Afterwards, we walked over to Burger Creations and had some awesome burgers with double fried french fries. They were as delicious as they were unhealthy but it was date night and I didn’t care. Just when I thought I couldn’t eat anymore, my other half walks me over to Crumbs for dessert to go. We decided on Candy Corn and Dulce de Leche cupcakes. We didn’t end up digging into them until breakfast but they were worth the wait. It was my first time having Crumbs and I can most certainly tell you it won’t be my last.

Freebies & Makeup

     With Summer ending and it officially turning to fall, I realized that I needed to revamp my makeup and wardrobe. If there’s anything you’ll learn about me right off the bat is that I’m cheap, frugal, financially sensitive - whatever you want to call it. But I will spend on something worth while. I’ve been following some blogs and vlogs and came up with some make up ideas. I contemplated this BirchBox thing but it seems pretty hit or miss and I don’t like a miss for ten bucks. I’m still thinking about it, though. But it did inspire me to scowl the internet for free stuff. I love samples and free is always the best! I found a voucher for a free 10 day supply of Bare Escentuals and while I’m an avid user and already know I love this product - it doesn’t hurt to have a travel size (and brush!). I also found one for a free Too Faced mascara - both at Sephora in JCPenney. The fine print tells me that if they don’t have it in stock, you can choose any sample you’d like. So knowing that I would walk out of there with something made me happy right away.

     Naturally, I dragged my boyfriend to the mall and into Sephora. The guy behind the counter tells me they don’t have either but that I can call ahead to make sure they have it next time and hands me back the coupons. Just as I’m about to point out that I’m entitled to a sample of some other sort, he grabs a little shopping bag and fills it with free goodies! I was in my glory. So now, I not only get to come back for my initial items (the coupons never expire), I got a BAG full of great stuff! As we’re walking out my boyfriend asks me what just happened and he could not understand how I just scored free makeup. I shrugged and smiled. My next stop was Macy’s. But let’s preface this with another story. Last year, while vacationing in Mexico, I realized that I didn’t bring my make up bag! Instead of having a heart attack, I made do with what things I did have at the bottom of my purse. Desperate times call for desperate measures! Then hauled myself to the nearest mall in search for a Clinique counter. I told the woman that I had forgotten my make up at home and needed the bare essentials to last me the week. I plopped down in her chair and let her work her magic and I tried to convince myself it was going to be okay. She hooked me up with bronzer, foundation, and mascara. I could do with what other little things I had back at the hotel.            

     Well, since then, I’ve fallen in love with this foundation so you can imagine my horror upon realizing that Clinique has discontinued it. Their website says that this one is similar so I made my way to Macy’s to try it out. I was satisfied with it and sort of distracted when I realized that I’d be getting their free gift with my purchase. That made up a little for discontinuing my favorite foundation. And again, my boyfriend asks me how I’m getting more free stuff. That’s just what they do! Next up, Mac. I found this awesome eyeshadow on a vlog and I just had to have it. I might consider fifteen dollars pretty steep for a tiny compact of eyeshadow but the product is awesome and worth every penny.

On My Shoulder



Burberry Grainy Leather Tote

     My favorite accessory has always been the handbag. I’ve felt like no matter what I’m wearing - it makes all the difference. I could be wearing sweats but as long as I’m donning my fave purse, I feel like a superstar. I’ve been crooning around trying to find an affordable addition to my fall wardrobe. It’s ironic that I mention “affordable” because the handbag that I’ve fallen in love with is anything but. I won’t allow myself to meet it in person for fear I might succumb to its beauty and take it home with me via four different credit cards. Because let’s be honest, I am in no position to spend $1,395.00 on a purse or anything for that matter unless my “life” depends on it. I’m a sucker for plush leathers and compartments. I live to be organized and this bag allows me to do just so. The subtle signature plaid lining is also so luxe. I used to limit myself to small and medium sized purses but I’ve recently given in to my inner Mary Poppins. I have a subconscious need to stow my entire life on my shoulder. I hate being ill prepared and if I have everything I could ever possibly need, I’m a happy camper.

    Another bag I’ve been admiring, both in stores and on the arm of every woman, is the classic Longchamp Le Pliage nylon tote. Let me just preface that while I am very cheap, I hate the idea of knockoffs. I can spot a fake Fendi or Coach bag from a mile away and I wouldn’t be caught dead with one. But. Yes, here comes the “but.” I can’t justify spending over a hundred dollars on a plastic bag and the details are so minor that who could tell? So, I convinced myself it would just be a “test run” to make sure I really like the bag before I spent the money on it (knowing well I wouldn’t spend the money if the fake sufficed but I had to manipulate myself into buying it). I made my way into Chinatown with my boyfriend to the corner of Broadway and Canal Street. As soon as we got off the train, we were hounded. I guess it was obvious why we were there. I had hoped I’d be able to find it, even pulling up a picture of it on my Blackberry to avoid any language barrier trouble. The first shop we got to, there it was hanging on the wall outside. I’m not that familiar with the available sizes that the original comes in but the knockoffs came in way too many to choose from. And if there’s anything I can’t handle - it’s too many options. I ended up getting the traditional black tote with brown flap in what they called “small” but I believe Longchamp would call it medium. I did feel a little guilty? ashamed? wrong? buying this bag - that I almost didn’t buy it. But the price could not be beat - fifteen dollars versus $125 sounds good to me any day. I swallowed my pride and walked out with my new purchase. So far, it’s living up to its standards and I can’t tell the difference between it from an authentic one aside from the zipper pull and logo on the flap. I mean, it’s plastic. We’re not talking leather here. Needless to say, I think I’m going to stick with this one for a while. Maybe I won’t need the real one.