December 2007

Strollin’ in the Arcade and having a Sniff

I like to walk through Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly for a sense of calm and ‘properness’.  The shops sell the sort of tasteful things like cashmere scarves, ballet pumps and silver cufflinks that I would think to get for people who I knew absolutely nothing about.  However, of late, shops of a more interesting nature have been stamping their mark on this London shopping institution (I like to use the arcade for breaking in my heels…. so much better than doing it on the hard pavements…).  Frost French have set up a guerilla ‘pop-up’ store for a short period of time, but the king of the ‘guerilla’ store Comme des Garcons has done the same thing (and doing it much better of course!).  Not sure what’s with all the new fragrance launches but their new perfume 8 88 has a preview shop at 5 Burlington Arcade until tomorrow!  You get to buy the perfume there as it doesn’t officially launch until Feb/Mar 2008.  Downstairs, they are also selling CdG Parfum t-shirts and collector CdG Parfums all at £20.  Picked up some X’mas gifts as there’s nothing like a heady scent (CdG scents are very pungent… in a good way!) and impressive packaging to lull the gift-receiver into thinking that I made a lot of effort…wuhaha…

Oh, an I couldnt’ stopped sniffing myself after dowsing my wrist with 8 88 though I never thought I was a CdG perfume kind of person as they tend to make me think I have bathed in perfume.  Quite an alluring scent though…

Source: Strollin’ in the Arcade and having a Sniff

Van Michael Miami Customer Appreciation [Spa Beautifully]

The Van Michael Miami Aveda Concept Salon is celebrating the holiday season with customer appreciation days on December 20 and 22, 2007. Clients can shop from a selection of gift sets wrapped in handmade holiday paper and receive 20% off all product purchases. In addition, customers spending $75 or more will receive a free gift of $32 value.

The Salon and AVEDA have partnered with artisans in Nepal to brighten the future for families and forests in the Himalayas – keeping families together and reversing deforestation and its destructive effect on global climate. Paper elements in the gift sets and gift card envelopes are handcrafted from the bark of the Lokta shrub that grows miles high in the forests of the Himalayas.

With the holidays just around the corner, it is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this discount on all styling tools, ranging from ceramic brushes to hair treatments to the men’s hair-care line, PURE-Formance.

Van Michael Miami
1667 Michigan Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida
Tel: 305.534.6789

aveda concept salon, holiday season, miami beach florida

Source: Van Michael Miami Customer Appreciation [Spa Beautifully]

butterfly scarf from Anthropologie [Her Accessories]

I’ve got a thing for butterflies :-)  I’ve got butterfly coffee mugs, butterfly jewelery & even wore a butterfly shawl when I got married.

Want to see what I’m currently drooling over?

Butterflies!  Lots & lots of butterflies… okay, I’ll calm down - it’s just a scarf after all :-)   A really pretty, feminine scarf…

Technorati Tags: anthropologie, butterfly scarf from anthropologie, winter accessories

Source: butterfly scarf from Anthropologie [Her Accessories]

Mineral Makeup News : E.L.F. Introduces Mineral Makeup Line

This picture was taken from e.l.f. e-newsletter.

e.l.f.’s mineral makeup line may not cost $1, but their products are still cheaper than other brands. Individual pots go from $5 to $8, brush set costs $10, and kits are about $15-20.

e.l.f. offers four shades of foundation, four shades of concealer, five shades of blush, one shade of illuminating powder, and one shade of bronzer. I’m surprised that e.l.f. immediately branched out to several mineral makeup products, since most mainstream makeup brands start with only foundation.

For those who are environmentally conscious, you’ll be glad to hear that e.l.f.’s packaging is 100% recyclable.

For e.l.f. fans who want to try a new mineral makeup brand, e.l.f. has an introductory promo. Get $5 off on new minerals by shopping at their online store –

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/depts_minerals.asp?dept_id=1190

Source: Mineral Makeup News : E.L.F. Introduces Mineral Makeup Line

mode discovey, Tricia Helfer, tonight on THE HOUR and Walk All Over Me on Friday!

Discovered by Kelly Streit at 17 , now an award winning actress, Tricia Helfer tonight on The Hour on CBC. Also, dont forget to attend the movie starring Tricia at the Uptown Theatre click here for details

Source: mode discovey, Tricia Helfer, tonight on THE HOUR and Walk All Over Me on Friday!

Crystal Trimmed Evening Shoes [ShoeBlitz - Shoe Fashions]

If you are looking for a hot pair of shoes to wear to your company Christmas party or other holiday event, grab a pair of evening sandals embellished with beautiful crystals.

Here are three of my favorite choices:

Dolce & Gabbana Crystal-Trimmed Satin Sandals- $550.00
This gorgeous shoe from Dolce & Gabbana features sparkly Swarovski crystals along the skinny T-strap. These shoes look very delicate and elegant, making them perfect for a holiday party or gala.

Stuart Weitzman Luxury Evening Sandal - $455.00
These red T-strap sandals also have Swarovski crystals, plus a sexy 4-inch heel. These shoes go perfectly with the coordinating red clutch, available at the same price.

Pelle Moda Aquarius Metallic Leather Sandal - $187.95
This strappy sandal features crystals all along the straps and a very unique design. This shoes is perfect to go along with the metallic trend that will continue through the holidays and into next year.

dolce and gabbana shoes, evening sandals, evening shoes, metallic sandals, sandals, shoes, stuart weitzman, swarovski crystal shoes, womens sandals, womens shoes

Source: Crystal Trimmed Evening Shoes [ShoeBlitz - Shoe Fashions]

Dig A Tech Girl: Where The Shit You Accomplish With Your Brain Means Nothing [Silicone Valley]

There’s this site called Dig a Tech Girl, (which used to be called Dig a Silicon Valley Girl, before they were issued a cease and desist from Digg) that’s sort of like Hot or Not for geeks who like geeks… sort of. As Boinkology points out: “…Many of these tech girls were chosen more on the basis of appearance than any tech skills — even nominal ones.” For example, Attack of the Show! co-host Olivia Munn, or Time Out New York columnist Julia Allison who was nominated apparently because she “was in the valley for a few days in the summer and caused quite a stir.” Uh, oh-kay. But perhaps more insulting was the inclusion of this in Ms. Allison’s description: “Good looking but a bit empty in the head.” So is this what constitutes a “tech girl”? And is that what would make someone “dig” her?

While we sort of like the idea of dispelling stereotypes — such as the assumption that techies are all ugly trolls — we’re also annoyed that even girls who clearly have it going on upstairs are made to feel like they don’t measure up if they don’t have it going on in every other physical aspect. Particularly because real tech girls (some of whom are actually on the site, like Megan McCarthy, party correspondent for our brother site Valleywag) work in jobs that don’t put them in the public eye, offering up their imperfections for scrutiny. Also, anyone can nominate a girl for this site without her approval. But if you really wanna barf, check out the brother site Dig a Tech Guy, where the same emphasis of good looks is not at play.

Dig a Tech Girl
We Don’t Dig “Dig A Tech Girl” [Boinkology]

Source: Dig A Tech Girl: Where The Shit You Accomplish With Your Brain Means Nothing [Silicone Valley]

Sale at the Shiny Squirrel!

It’s really just one of our favorite shops on the planet. And Alyson Fox, as well, we just always find ourselves gushing about her.

We love this one, too. “Dinosaur”, was $375, now $337.50

This reminds us of that part in Atonement where everybody’s working in the hospital. “Mattress”, was $375, now $337.50

We have a difficult time being as excited about anything as we are about Alyson Fox’s drawings, but we do really like this halter dress, which is conveniently also on sale. Betsy Wise dress, was $160, now $140

We just really like rabbits. Orange Willow’s Turtle Hare, was $35, now $30

Source: Sale at the Shiny Squirrel!

Cameron Diaz: Giving Jennifer Garner a Run for Her Money [Snarkstress]

Cameron, no! Not you, too!

So…here we go again. I feel like I’m in some bad dream, a la Groundhog Day or something. I have to ask, dahlings: WTF is up with this new Emperor Penguin Couture?!?

Seriously now, here are two gorgeous ladies. Cameron Diaz here, and Jennifer Garner below. Both are talented, both have pulled out all the stops in the hairdo department, and both are overall quite fabby…when they are not wearing black, white and yellow, that is.

I shall note that I do love color, I really do. This oddness, however, this yellow, freaky-tiki splattery, florally stuff…gah! Make it stop!

Oh, and while I’m at it, might I also note that both Cam and Jen are mere milimeters away from some serious nippage issues - a dire problem in its own right.

So okay, dahlings, let’s hope no more of this nonsensical color combining pops up again, because I am so over it. Now I’m off to find something nice to say about someone. Think I can do it??? We shall see. Bwahahahahaha!

Color Crisis, Hollywood Damsels, Why oh Why

Source: Cameron Diaz: Giving Jennifer Garner a Run for Her Money [Snarkstress]

Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Monteau Little Circle Dress, $35 [Style It Less]

Monteau Little Circle Dress from Lulu’s Fashion Lounge, for $35. OMG!!! Puffed sleeves, mandarin v-neck collar with circle design that goes to the waist and ties on the back. Tell me I’m not dreaming. Who’s coming with me?

3/4 Sleeves Dresses, Dresses, Fall Dress, Lulus Fashion Lounge Monteau Little Circle Dress, Lulus Fashion Lounge New Dress, Monteau Little Circle Dress, Puffed Sleeves Dress, Style It Less

Source: Lulu’s Fashion Lounge Monteau Little Circle Dress, $35 [Style It Less]