VARA or VARINA

Growing up, customizing your own Nike sneakers was all the rage. All the colors and designs available made the task a never ending daydream. I remember going to tennis practice and seeing everyone's kicks, all so different and so unique. A simple way to bring color to life and pump up the game.

Today, I have found the equivalent for every working girl: the Ferragamo make your own shoe event! It's brilliant, it's beautiful, and it's BRIGHT! With the fun colors and combos available, I feel like a kid in a candy shop. Who said you can't have a different pair of Varinas for every day of the week??

Click HERE to design your own and go crazy with your creations! I'm loving the teal, lavender and bisque colors!! Write back with photos of the shoes that you create - I'm just dying to see!!

Easiest Iced Coffee... PLUS, Froth Your Own Milk!!

Have you ever desperately wanted a delicious, frothy iced coffee, only to realize your Starbucks card is empty and that you're over spending $4 on your morning pick-me-up? OH WAIT... that's EVERYday. I realized that making coffee at home is not only cheaper and time efficient, but it's way healthier (I recently found out that my favorite holiday latte contains a whopping FIVE PUMPS of syrup!! FIVE?! Get OUT!!). That being said, a fancy coffee machine is pricey in itself, and I've heard the argument that depending how often you use it, it might not net out either. Ohhh for coffee problems. If you're okay with the office coffee pot and a dash of freeze-dried creamer, I praise your simplicity... but seriously, there's a world of gourmet deliciousness out there that can really bring such simple joy to your life! The sequence below gives you no reason NOT to indulge.

1. Start with your favorite coffee K-Cup (I decided to use a Keurig because they've gotten so popular and affordable that they are for sure the best do-it-yourself coffee option out there. Plus, there's like an infinity of options for K-Cups, so you'll never find yourself at a loss for new coffee, latte, or tea flavors! In my opinion, a lot of the pre-made latte cups are way too sweet and taste a little fake, so I like to make my own! ALSO, on a side note, Keurig Machines are now going to be SOUP COMPATIBLE!? Say WHAT! This is the best news since the invention of the Keurig Machine itself! I can't wait to make some tomato soup this winter as an afternoon snack in my mug at the office!)

2. It's time to FROTH YOUR MILK! I like to do this with almond milk while I let the coffee sit for a second to cool. You can use whatever proportion of coffee vs. milk vs. ice that you like, just remember that it's better to make a small strong shot of coffee so that your drink is nice and cold when you add the milk and ice. Anyways, to frothing your own milk! I thought it was a joke when I read it for the first time but the best thing to do if you don't have a fancy espresso / milk frothing machine is to shake milk in a water bottle really fast for a minute! (extra bonus: this doubles as a workout!) You might laugh, but it totally works. I had just a little bit of almond milk left, so I kept it in the box to shake it (otherwise an empty water bottle works just fine!)

3. Throw some ice into your cup of hot coffee, and top it with your frothed milk!

4. Add a tablespoon of Vanilla Extract for a delicious hint of vanilla (this lets you avoid high calorie creamers and sugar!)

AND VOILA! Enjoy!!

Purse Perfection

I can't stop drooling over this new bag. It's like the best of Celine meets Louis Vuitton for a distinctly classy look that isn't overdone with monogram. I love the way the cool brown offsets the black accents and LV stamps to achieve perfect balance and sophistication. The thing has 2 large interior pockets, suede lining, and must-have brass metallic feet to keep the bottom of the bag clean and in tip-top shape. The body is made of Cuir Orfevre calfskin leather and is of course embossed with the Louis Vuitton signature. 

The impact on your wallet? This puppy comes in at a cool $4,000.

(But really, isn't a bag of this beauty priceless?)

Vintage Labor Day Treasures

I was thrift shopping uptown this week for a pair of those classic, fits-your-ass-like-you've-been-wearing-em-in-for-years high waisted shorts, and low and behold, I found this gem. The suit is so vintage and adorable, I couldn't help but get it as the perfect garb to celebrate labor day in! The neck line is wired into that cute low cut shape, making it structured and stable and just a little risque.

I hope this encourages you all to embrace your own sense of style through vintage finds!

FitBit vs. FuelBand

I've been on a health challenge with the friends, and I've been using my phone to track my progress! I love Map My Run for monitoring my morning jogs, and even use it's nutrition features to log what I've eaten (OK - I only do that some days... if ever). But I do like that the app has a feature that allows me to see how many calories are in certain items, and it's really nice to finally delete all the other nonsense apps that do pretty much the same thing! Now, it's all in one: from calories consumed to workouts completed and weight tracked, I'm seriously into Map My Run. The best part, you ask? I get weekly congratulatory emails telling me how great I am and that I've been killing my workouts. Seems silly, but hey! At least someone's noticing.

Anyways, as much as I love the app and having everything easily accessible via smartphone, I decided it's time to look into the concept of the fitness arm band. Many friends of mine are either sporting the Fit Bit or the Nike Fuel Band, and they swear by it. Personally, I think the things are hideous and can't quite get over the thought of wearing such a fashion faux-pas all day, everyday. But if the health benefits are truly there, and they help me to stay on track, could it be worth it? Let me know what you think based on the research below!

Fit Bit

Cost: $99.95

Pros: Colors, Tracks Sleep, Acts as an Alarm

Cons: Doesn't have screen, Doesn't act as a watch

In my opinion, this is for sure the cuter of the two. The light up "tracker" is actually removable, and you can switch it out for the colorful accessory bands pictured! The band tracks steps, distance, and calories burned. Your daily progress automatically interfaces with the Fitbit Website or App, where you can also log food consumed and see how this correlates with daily activity and ultimately impacts your long term goals. The band also measures how long and how well you sleep, and even has a silent alarm to get you going again in the AM! (Haven't you always wondered how many REM cycles you go through, or how restful your sleep really was?) Fitbit also sponsors a sharing platform where you can compare progress to that of your friends and family. Another cool plus: Fit Bit has partnered up with these apps, allowing you to export your Fit Bit data their way if you're already a long time user (and lover) of one of these other programs!

Nike Fuel Band

Cost: $149

Pros: Has screen, acts as a watch, interfaces with advanced Nike technology

Cons: Doesn't track sleep

Definitely the uglier, more expensive cousin, if you ask me. But the Nike Fuel Band has awesome reviews, and everyone really seems to love it. In addition to tracking calories burned and steps taken, the thing acts as a watch and actually has a screen that shows your results throughout the day! (The Fit Bit doesn't have a screen and requires you to look at the App or Website to see your progess) The Fuel Band also has the App and Website interface, and also allows you to join the social realm and compare progress with friends and family. The advanced Nike + FuelBand Mobile App works in conjunction with the band to yield optimum results. Downside: as far as I can tell, this one doesn't track sleep or act as an alarm.

Conclusion?

I'm still torn. Not sure if these puppies are worth the money or the ugly arm candy. For now, my phone works just fine, though the thought is on my mind and with the holidays approaching, I might have to make a decision and add one of these bands to my wish list! 

Lapiz of Luxury

I was at the drugstore today and fell victim to the colorful rainbow that is the display of new Essie nail polish colors! After a serious internal struggle, I finally came to a decision and picked "Lapiz of Luxury" as the color to purchase. It's a soft purple-ish blue, the perfect color for the the final fading days of summer. Most of all, I was reminded of the beautiful sunsets that we've been having: I love the way this purplish color mimics the deep hughes of the sky as the blue of day mixes in with the pinks and yellows of sunset. Poeticism aside, when I got home I was sad to realize that I've never been very good at nail art, so I decided to come up with something simple enough for me to master, but artsy enough to give this color the appreciation it deserves. Turns out, I came up with an easy fix, as detailed below!

I started off with a simple Sally Hansen base coat, then painted my nails as usual with my new color! Then, I grabbed a skinny brush bottle of white (one of the silly ones intended to help you master the at-home-french-mani), and literally just layed the long brush down along my nail to create a straight line! This works way better than attempting to paint a straight line, which is practically impossible. I did this three times on each thumb, then decided to leave well-enough alone! It looks super cute and is beyond easy! Of course, follow up with a good top coat... my fave is Essie's "No Chips Ahead" topcoat.

And voila!

A Few of My Favorite Things!

Just sharing a few of my favorite things!

Blogs & Websites:

garancedore.fr

thesartorialist.com

thebeautydepartment.com

blogilates.com

abeautifulmess.com

cupcakesandcashmere.com

toneitup.com

Places to Shop:

Gilt

PiperLime

NastyGal

Shopbop

Saboskirt

Seafolly

Madewell

J.Crew

Free People

net-a-porter

Kate Spade

Tori Burch

Splendid

For the Home:

HD Buttercup

Z Gallerie

Anthropologie

stonecandles.com

Reading List:

To Kill A Mockingbird

The Sound and The Fury

Cleopatra's Daughter

The Little Prince

Things To Do:

PartyEarth.com

Candle Coziness

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. For me, this has always been true. The kitchen is a place that is warm and sweet and fun, but best of all, it smells delicious. Whether you're making cinnamon roles on a winter morning or barbecuing on a hot summer day, the kitchen is a place abundant with constantly changing aromas. Of course, nothing trumps the smell of good ole fashioned cooking. But when you're too busy to make that elaborate dinner and still want those flavorful smells wafting through your home, light a candle! It's amazing that a tiny flame can bring about such a sense of coziness! In my opinion, candles in the kitchen (and all over the house!) are a MUST! Birchbox has a great home fragrance section to inspire ideas! I pictured just a few of the faves, above.

Fall Decor

My sister and I spent the whole day at the mall yesterday, and as usual, that meant hours spent oogling home decor and cookware. Williams Sonoma is probably our biggest downfall: with its tantilizing smells and cozy festive allure, we can't leave without considering each new product and how it would definitely better our lives. I couldn't get away from these adorable White Crackle Serving Bowls, which are so perfect for the upcoming fall season! Paired with hughes of orange and gold, the things are literally perfect for everything from your morning cereal to warm tomato soup on a cold day. If you're a sucker for the fun and festive like me, then you'll love these bad boys! (There's also a White Crackle Pumpkin Serving Bowl and my absolute favorite, the White Crackle Pumpkin Sauce Boat!!!)

Brie Basil Artichoke Paninis!

These babies are super easy! Just slice some whole grain bread, throw on a thick slice of brie (don't worry if it's not totally spread across the bread -- the cheese will melt evenly once it's in the panini maker!), break apart a few leaves of fresh basil, and slice artichoke hearts atop to liking! Then, add the top slice of bread and place in a panini maker for 3-5 minutes on medium heat! YUM! Simple, easy, healthy lunch in under ten minutes.

Back To School Hair

It's back to school in the summer, and that mean's nothing is more important than deciding on your new look! It's been soooo hot recently, so I've done some research on some of the quickest, cutest up-dos to make your mornings fast, easy, and fabulous!

The Beauty Department, as usual, knows their stuff! My favorite is the bow behind your bun look! For a simple vid on perfecting the messy-bun, click here!

And of course I'm into the lazy pony that looks like it was styled by Hollywood's best! Go here for the full tutorial.

This post certainly wouldn't be complete without a shout-out to my favorite look of all, the braid! This idea is super simple and looks really great! Just braid a piece of hair on each side of your head, close to the ears, then bring them around to the opposite side and pin them under!

Thanks again to TheBeautyDepartment for your inspiration!! Happy hair styling everyone!!

Framing Fun!

If there's anything better than a fabulous fashion blog, it's a fabulous fashion blog that posts about more than just, well, FASHION! Kate Spade's blog, Behind the Curtain, is just that -- a gorgeous resource of everything fun and fantastic, from fashion tips to super cute smartphone wall papers, and beyond! A recent favorite? "The Art of Framing" post, which gives the best tips on how to perfect your own at home wall framing masterpiece! Check out the photo above, which pretty much sums up everything you need to know! (or you can get the full article, here: http://www.katespade.com/blog/katespade-blog-the-art-of-framing-how-to-uniquely-display-your-favorite-prints,en_US,pg.html)

Love is in the Air!

It's that time of year -- LOVE IS IN THE AIR! I hit mid-20s and BOOM! People left and right are getting engaged! For me, that means wedding planning is in full swing, and even better, it means tons of cutesy events to attend! When looking for new dresses, I love using Bloomingdale's easy search and filtering options, which let you cut down your search by occasion, color, size, designer, and even by price! I've put together a mini spread of picks from Bloomingdales below to help spawn some inspiration:

For Afternoon Events & Brunches:

(Left: BCBGMAXAZRIA Dress - Kalli Lace Inset ; Right: Free People Slip Dress - Meadows of Lace)

(Left: VINCE CAMUTO Lace Dress with Belt ; Right: Aqua Dress - Printed Faux Leather Halter)

Of course, there's nothing I love shopping for more than an evening gown (well, except maybe yoga pants!). These options are great to wear to weddings because they're totally gorgeous yet low-key enough that the attention stays where it should be: on the bride!

(Left: Amsale Dress - Crossover Neckline ; Right: Badgley Mischka Strapless Gown - Corset Top)

(Left: Basix Sleeveless Beaded Gown - Paillettes ; Right: Amsale Strapless Rosette Gown)

High Top Swagger

What's not to love? These kicks are perhaps the easiest way to add some funk into your look! Of course, I'm in love with Tori Burch's twist, although there are similar great finds from Nike and other top designers!

From TB:

Can't Stop! Won't Stop!

CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP! I wish this was my motto about working out ; instead, it's my motto about online hunting for yoga clothes. I know I've posted on this topic infinite times before, but I think it's hugely important to feel cute and confident while working out. (And it's hugely important to get yourself off the couch and start working out in the first place!) There's nothing better as motivation than the image of yourself as a lean mean yogi machine, wearing the cutest lines currently available. Today's showcase: Ellie! (http://www.ellie.com/). I love the Ellie Shop and the "Fit Fashion" motto that defines their goods! An extra plus? Ellie recently intoduced the "Coral Crush" line, which provides a ton of awesome coral colored sports bras, workout tops, and more! Coral is great for summer -- it makes you look tan, and it's simply gorg! And let's be serious, ladies, an investment in cute yoga clothes goes far beyond the studio! It's agreed: there's nothing wrong with wearing these babies all around town, to class, to the market, or to wine wednesday with the girls! Happy shopping!

Joie

The Joie blog (http://www.joie.com/blog/) is a true gem. Joie in general exudes an aura of sophistication through its style -- a style that finds itself in simplicity and comfort. While I've ever been a fan of Joie's perfectly beach-appropriate line of sandals, I've recently fallen in love with the bags, accessories, clothing, and jewelry that the blog promotes. The selection is not vast, but who needs selection when every single item in the catalogue is drool-worthy? Joie provides the perfect ammunition for a summer getaway. My tip to you? Wait for the sale! When Joie stuff goes on sale, you get a serious bargain for serious quality!

The Beauty Department

TheBeautyDepartment.com is one of my long time favorite websites. It has been my resource for new make-up trends and hair how-tos for as long as I can remember. One of their recent posts discusses the importance of healthy eating for beautiful skin, hair, and nails. I am ever the proponent of "you are what you eat," and truly believe that what you put inside your body hugely impacts exterior results. That's why I'm obsessed with the recent "Beauty-Bites" post by TBD! It even explains how each ingredient inside their very yummy salad is benefitting your body. The article is an absolute MUST READ, and you can find it here: http://thebeautydepartment.com/2013/07/beauty-bites/

Independence Day!

For fourth of July, floral headpieces are all the rage! Whether you’re making a crown or just sticking a single stem in your hair for an extra pop of color, these adorable accessories are an easy way to add a festive touch to your outfit. Real flowers can get expensive (and let’s be real – they don’t last!), so my heart is going out to the cheapy versions that you can buy at Forever21! Nothing is better than saving money when it comes to dressing for a one-time event! And when you get thrown in the pool with flowers in your hair, your heart won't break that these soooo expensive accessories are ruined! Forever21 is for sure my go-to stylist for this 4th of July, with adorable wedges, tops, and denims in stock at great prices! Check out some of the goodies I found, below:

Time for Bags

Aren't they prettyyyy. I can't help but oogle over these beautiful babies. Despite my previous posts, the purses of Chanel are what draw me in every time. Vintage, classic, chic... a girl's simply gotta have one (or, a few?). The new line line is modern yet rustic, with looks that push conventional lines yet again to achieve the magnificent.

Karl Lagerfeld sketches Chanel

Coco Chanel.

I hope my post a few days ago about Chanel’s lovely new shoe line has everyone inspired to strut in style! If you’re going to make one splurge buy, I always say stick with shoes or bags – in most cases, they’re pretty difficult to outgrow! (Fine - if not shoes or bags, maybe some goodies from Hammacher Schlemmer... see my most recent post!) Anyways, who doesn’t love shoes! A great pair of shoes in itself make an outfit. All of that aside though, it’s time to give some kudos to Chanel’s fantastic line of jackets. From the classic tweed blazers to new looks that are boyish and fun, everyone needs a great jacket for work (and more obviously, for the nights after work!). No words (or even pictures) can replace the glories of a real Chanel jacket so classy that it will never go out of style. Karl Lagerfeld does a pretty awesome job though, sketching images that I can't help but share. In my mind, his art is perfection, capturing the glamour, sophistication, and timelessness that is Chanel.

(And notice how they all showcase such faaaabulous jackets!)

For more, visit inside.chanel.com

Cool stuff to make you smile!

Gotta give a little shout out to Hammacher Schlemmer for always bringing a smile to my face and mischievous plans to my mind. For those of you who have not visited the website, Hammacher is a goldmine of gifts for the people who already have it all. Today's feature on the homepage: the Land Sailor. (We admit, it's totally ridiculous. But who wouldn't want one!?)

Of course, my favorite goodies always come from 'THE UNEXPECTED' tab, which yields simple pleasures not limited to Hot Tub Boats and Productivity Boosting Nap Pods.

 For the more practical among us, there are things available like Solar Insect Zappers and Bed Bug Thwarting Sleeping Cocoons.

Hammacher Schlemmer is an adult's toy store, full of nonsense and expensive gizmos that no one possibly needs, but then again, why not. We can't spend it all on shoes, after all.

Yogi Fashion

Women's Health recently published an article showcasing

some of the hot new up-and-coming yoga clothing brands that

are adorable and affordable. The spread was SO GOOD that

not only did I make a few guilty purchases, but I feel the need to share

the love!! Below, behold the yoga brands of the future!

The tops at Nux USA are trendy, affordable, and won't get in the way 

during your work out:

From ALO, I'm completely obsessed with the Core Pant!

(So cute - and it comes in so many colors!!)

At Lucy, most of the yoga pants are reversible!

(That's like getting 2 pairs of pants for the price of 1!! SCORE)

 Finally, there's SOLOW, which I love for their unique colors and cuts that you can't find anywhere else!

 For the original article, check out http://blog.womenshealthmag.com!

Coco Chanel

 Chanel, tu me tue.

But seriously. 

Chanel's timeless and ruthless moves in fashion are truly killer, 

making the brand one of my all time favorites. This year, 

Chanel has done it again, going beyond the traditional lines 

of fashion to achieve l'extraordinaire.

For me, it's the shoes that do it! 

But worry not - this is the week of Chanel, 

and I will showcase the many beauties of the 

2013 collections that will leave you mind-blown and moniless.

(Join me soon for an exposition on Chanel Jackets!)

Mais aujourd'hui, c'est les chaussures: 

From the Paris-Edimbourg Collection:

From Spring-Summer 2013:

(I AM IN LOOOOVE)

From the Pre-Collection:

As the French would say:

OOH-LA-LA!