TRAVEL WITH PASHMINA

You may be thinking, "the pashmina is so 2002" and you might be right. I think that's when I got my lovely cerulean blue Kenneth Cole pashmina. But unlike many things from 2002, the pashmina has made a place for itself. A place right next to me when I travel.
We all have those items that serve many purposes and make us look great while doing so. Enter pashmina and its variety of uses.
1. It's hard to control your inflight body temperature. I usually get too cold with my next door neighbor's blower hitting me in the face. My pashmina has served as my pretty blue blanket on many a flight. {spray with your favorite scent and sniff often if the plane smells off}
2. Once you get to your destination, you may have over-estimated how long summer stays around there. At this point your pashmina becomes the scarf everyone compliments when looking at your vacation photos. But most importantly, you stay warm.
3. How about those times when you are out and dressed to kill. A lovely dress may look mistreated if you have to throw on your husband's suit coat or the hoodie you left in the trunk of your car. Keeping your pashmina handy gives you the options of draping your shoulders with a decadent shawl.
I could go on but I think I've made my point. I'd like to get a new pashmina for my trip to Paris.

JACK AND DIANE

Nate and I watched Vh1's 100 best songs of the 80s {I was in highschool, Nate was in junior high} lastnight and they mentioned Jack and Diane by John Cougar Mellencamp. I remember making up snychronized dances to that song with my girlfriends in the music room. It's the first and last time I ever tried to do a cartwheel down the stairs. I'm sure Traci remembers that unless this is one of those memories I've subconsciously fabricated to make myself feel cooler. Anyway, "oh yeah, life goes on. Long after the thrill of livin' is gone."

SMELLS LIKE BARCELONA TO ME

Before InStyle magazine said it was hot, I knew it was. When visiting a foreign land, invest in a fragrance that will forever connect you to that place.
Ten years ago I visited Paris and bought {A} Herve Leger {now on sale at Overstock}. A few years later I was in Vienna and found myself drawn to a scent called {B} Black by Bvlgari {you can get it at Sephora}. Just recently in Barcelona I indulged in two beautiful scents. Laurence Dumont Vanille Orientale {needs no explaination} came from Sephora and Aqua Allegoria Foliflora by Guerlain. The last one will always be part of a larger memory. I walked into a perfumeri on a busy Barcelona street and found myself surrounded by so many rare and beautiful bottles and scents - the ones you hear about but never pass by at Nordstrom or Maceys. For a brief moment, I was in girl heaven.
A.












B.












C.

ADULT ACNE - IT HAPPENS

I started a Retin A program just after I returned from Spain {you guessed it, I bought it for cheap at the farmacia}. Well, there are two distinct reactions that most will experience upon the first few weeks of using Retin A. Extremely dry skin and adult acne. Along with being good to your skin, drinking a lot of water, exfoliating often and moisturizing even more often, you may want to try one of these two zit-be-gone solutions. Mario Badescu drying lotion and Benefit Boo Boo Zap.

THE PERFECT WELLY!

Finally, I found them. I've always known I'd love a pair of cute wellies. And I've also always known I'd know the perfect pair when I saw them. Well, thanks to Real Simple, they are no longer just a dream. If you've been on a similar hunt, check out hunter.com and find colors like pumpkin, dark purple, green and red and then start praying for rain!

SALTWATER IN LONDON

If I lived in London I'd try to walk by this little shop every day. Saltwater has some beautiful pieces, none of which I can afford. But they do make me happy to have eyes.

CHOP STICK STYLE

I know you try. But sometimes it's hard to get the hang of eating with chopsticks when you're used to a fork. Don't give up. Go here for proper stick technique and etiquette; and practice often. I keep a jar of pretty wooden chopsticks on my countertop so Nate and I can use them as much as possible. We were both pretty good to begin with but now we've met expert level.

I recommend getting some embellished wooden sticks. Stay away from the cheapy plastic alternatives; they'll just waste your time. My collection is a combination of finding a few while shopping around and a gift from someone who visited Japan. I even like the idea of eating with mismatched sticks. It's effortless and looks interesting on the table. I did a quick google search and look what I found.

ROSEBUD SALVE

The tin is clever and suggests you use it for your lips, detergent hands, cracked heels and elbows, and even diaper rash. Once you try it you'll be hooked and it will become a staple in your handbag just as it has become with mine. It's slightly rose scented and very affordable at $5.50. Get it here.

HAPPY HOLLOWED EVE

It's my 200th post and it's also Halloween. I feel like I should make this one something remarkable and spooky and ghoulish. But instead, I'm just going to wish everyone a happy halloween and a safe night out celebrating.
I dressed like a witch today but didn't win anything in the halloween costume contest here at work. It goes to show that sometimes the classics just don't dazzle like they used to.

FRAGRANCE BON BONS

I talk a lot about fragrances. Truth be told, I should because I have a lot of them. Unfortunately I don't have one of these but I'd sure be happy to accept one as a gift.

From Sephora.com, "Indulge your craving for sweet scents with this tin filled with fruity favorites. Six mini Eau de Parfum sprays individually robed in confection-inspired wrappers - yum! They're great to share - or to keep all for yourself."

This adorable set includes two 0.42 oz Dolce Dew {wild litchi and sugar cane floral}, two 0.42 oz Fiore Flirt {passion fruit and mango floral}, and two 0.42 oz Como Crema {virgin coconut and banana floral}

Get your fragrance bon bons here for just $15.

FINISHING TOUCHES

It's aways fun to give someone you love a special gift. The way you wrap it and adorn it with ribbon can make your generous gift that much more extravagant, indulgent and personal. Masterstrokecanada.com offers decent prices for gros grain, vintage, velvet; any kind of ribbons you are looking for will likely be here. No longer will you take a brown paper package and tie it with string?
Have fun.

VINTAGE TINS

Vintage tins can be used for a lot of different purposes. If you are like me, you carry medications, bobby pins, and breath mints in your hand bag to satisfy moments of dire need. A small unique tin for each item could be a fun way to keep your bag organized.

These tins could also come in handy to carry small pieces of jewelry when you're on the road. Whatever you are trying to organize, car, backpack, handbag, office drawer, utility drawer etc, these tins might be your stylish saving grace. You can't beat the price or vintage selection here.

























































If you are hoping to find something on a grander scale to keep your daughter's barbie clothes all in one place, your sewing accessories, painting supplies, favorite photos or love letters organized and at your fingertips, check out these small boxes. So darling; if you get one or several of these boxes, make sure you keep them on a shelf where everyone can admire them.

HOME SWEET HOME

Ryan and Ruth have moved into their new home. Congratulations you guys! I can't wait to come over and see it for myself! Hooray for you both!

PLAIN & THIMBLE

I bought a cute sewing set at TJ maxx by Plain & Thimble. The packaging is really cute and I love the idea of stitcher's handcream and and a tiny pocket purse sewing kit.
After swooning over the pretty things, I did a few searches on Plain & Thimble and came across this great website, acmenotions.com. They have great vintage sewing accessories you'll fall in love with. Plain & Thimble also makes lotions and lip balms for every seamstress' needs. Everything is packaged in this cute 1950s vintage motif that is "always in vogue".

SEWING ACCESSORIES

If you are considering picking up your needle and thread and embrassing your inner seamstress, consider some of the following accessories to make your pasttime more enjoyable.
Check out Acme Notions here. This website has so many cute vintage items you'll want to buy them all.

Wooden Thimble









Good Needles {these will make or break your final product}



















Dress Form {I'd like to have a vintage dress form in my home}















Measuring Tape {best to get a 60"}

VINTAGE FEED SACK FABRIC

If you are looking for old vintage fabrics for cloth napkins, aprons, book covers etc, check out these kitchy prints emulating the feed and flour sacks our grandparents used to see sitting in the corner of their kitchens. My mom remembers having dresses made from these fun designs. You can get them at the Fat Quarter Shop.

MY INNER SEAMSTRESS

Last Christmas I got a fabulous new sewing machine from Nate and I'm getting ready to pull it out and rev up the engine! My hope is to make some unique gifts that I'll be proud to give away. A few years ago I bought a cute little apron at Anthropologie and it inspired me to make my own creations someday. I've collected fun ric rac and little pom pom fringe as cute accents along with vintage flour sack material; I suspect they will turn out very sweet.

UTAH RESTAURANT OF NOTE

Looking for Authentic Chinese food in Utah? Check out Little World. This is NOT Asian Fusion, for once. The decor leaves much to be desired but the food and service will not let you down. Nate took me here on our third or fouth date...I didn't notice the decor that time.

Little World Chinese Restaurant
1356 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115-5422
801 467 5213