Tag: gifts

10 Beauty Products for your Retro Diva

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , Leave a comment

You know my affinity for all things vintage and classic… well here are the 10 beauty products I use everyday to transport myself to a world of silver screen gents and sparkling lights…

If your girl is anything like me these will be home runs! 

1. Start Blissful! Everyday I take care of my skin with these steps (their products smell so good!) and every night I protect it with this. 

2. Flawless skin! Inspired by old Hollywood movie stars, I even out my skin tone with MAC Studio Fix Fluid. 

3. Let Secrets be Secrets. Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage for under eyes and little “problems”… for extra umpth I use the light side as a highlighter on the top of my cheek bones, eye brow bones, down the bridge of my nose and center of the chin for some photo-perfect contouring. 

4. Power Puff. I finish out the contouring by using this MAC Blot Powder (I use the tone “Dark”) on my cheek bones, creases of my eyes, down the sides of my nose and under my jaw line. 

5. Apple Cheeks! Right in the apple of my cheeks and give it a nice healthy pop of red with this NARS Powder Blush in Exhibit A, makes you look like a doll!

6. The Framery. Eyebrows frame the face, just look at Hepburn or Bacall, so I give them the Hollywood shape with Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil!

7. All about Eyes. I keep it simple, Le Métier de Beauté in Sugar all over and Tamarack in the crease and at the lash line. For night time I do an extra application of Tamarack for very hooded eyes… ooo la la

8. Play ‘em up. Mascara, mascara, mascara… I love mascara! I do lots of coats of MAC False Lashes mascara which I love because it makes big glossy lashes that don’t smudge around the eyes yet washes off at night easily. 

9. Flirty Eyes. This is where it gets good. It doesn’t take much, just 5 to 7 flares per eye to fill it in but it makes all the difference especially in photographs! I do this almost every single day. 

Step by Step:

  1. Squeeze a TINY drop of Duo Eyelash adhesive (I use dark tone and prefer Duo as it does not damage your natural lashes and washes off easily)
  2. Using tweezers pull 1 flare and lightly dip the base end in the glue. 
  3. With the tweezers holding the flared end set them on top of your eye lashes as close to the base as possible but not on the eyelid. 
  4. Repeat as much as you like! 
  5. Let dry for 5mins or so then apply a final layer of mascara then gently pinch the false lashes to your real ones to give a seamless illusion. 
  6. Bat those babies and break hearts.

10. Paint it RED. What is a retro diva without red lips?! This is my go-to, all time favorite combo. Start on the outside of lips with Cargo Reverse Lip Liner (I use “light”), draw the shape and fill in the lips lightly with MAC Lip Liner in SPICE, Then top it off for show with MAC lipstick in LADY DANGER. VOILA!

10 Great Gifts for the Man in your Life

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Guys are hard to shop for right?! That’s why this list is curated with his help! I can tell you, I live with most of these dude things around me so they are From Me To You approved and even at times borrowed because I like them myself!

Here we go:

1. Brompton – Guys love transformers and this is that in real life. A bike perfect for a city dweller meaning you never have to leave it chained up outside to inevitably be stolen. #HardFacts

The best place to buy it from in the US! NYCeWheels. 

2. Rare Beer Club – Make your beer guy happy at least once a month. This beer club (I mean, can’t you already hear the men grunting) will send your guy 2 rare beers a month… hopefully he will share.

3.  Pro-Ject Debut III – the simplest record player on the planet (from a woman’s perspective) but men love it…. at least mine does. 

4. Of a Kind – Falling line tie bar by Nikolai Rose, make him your modern day Don Draper. Enough said.

5. EVRT – City Towel – some men like to cook and these are designed smartly by a man who does. OR perhaps if he doesn’t stir the pot then having cool kitchen towels will get him in there with you….

6. Bosca – Old leather toiletry kit – uber classic so he can use it forever. Psst- have it monogrammed for extra umpth somewhere local or Things Remembered can usually monogram anything.

7. Brooks Brothers –  Monogrammed cuff links… I gave him a pair as a thank you gift after this because I told him he will wear them 20 years from now and think of me.

8.  Echo – Echo Touch Gloves because men love gadgets and this way they can look up directions to dinner in the cold while on a date with you 🙂

9. Marshall Minor – Earphones guys love because they are “comfortable, sound great and easy on the drums… of the ears that is”.

10.  Restoration Hardware – Artisan Leather Laptop Sleeve. Makes him look like money. 

I’d love to hear what your guy’s favorite gifts are!…

Now let’s get back to shopping for the girls. 

10 Great Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Girl

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Stockings are a B-I-G deal at my house, they totally outshine the other gifts.. maybe it’s because you can be more creative, or it’s because it comes in an oversized sock that it’s way awesome but I take this very seriously.

I was so lucky to experience a lot this year and travel to so many wonderful places. Along the way I picked up tips, tricks, and perfect holiday gifts for my friends and family! Here is what I loved in bite sized pieces, perfect for a stocking stuffers this year:

1. Deborah Lippmann Nail Care set – The basics which I discovered during NYFW, this is her most popular but THIS has become my color ALL-YEAR-LONG. Loooovvveee.

2. Jo Malone – While shooting in Malibu I became exposed to the world of Jo Malone… which I ordered  for my own home….. in-between shots.. on her kitchen counter… with his credit card (muwhhaaa) PS- This is my fav.

3. Patrick Roger –  While in Paris I fell hard for chocolates… THESE chocolates to be exact. *licks fingers*

4. Kate Spade – Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!… but these are a guys- they don’t break the bank! While shooting Katie Ermilio’s Spring lookbook, she outfitted model Rosie in the simplest Kate Spade diamond studs which were just trés chic!

5. Echo Design –  Winter gloves that work with your touch screen devices so you can INSTAGRAM with warm fingers!I discovered these in Boston just as the air started to turn crisp for fall.

6. Oscar de la Renta –  Esprit d’ Oscar Solid Perfume Ring. While backstage shooting at Oscar de la Renta’s NYFW show (ok… I do just love saying that) all the girls were wearing this ring, not to mention SHE always smells so good and that’s a good way for people to remember you.


7. Of a Kind – Buy limited edition, from an artist. Every month I shoot with these girls who run this awesome site that collaborates to make limited edition pieces with designers made by hand. Perfect stocking stuffers would be this or this or that. oh yeah.

8. Savannah Bee –  I popped down to Savannah, GA for some R&R and to stock up on their winter white honey! In tea, on cheese, on a spoon in my mouth… it’s perfect.

9. Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica – Shhhhhh! Beauty secret! While over at her place to shoot some beauty stories I met Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica & fell in love. It’s a pretty penny but it will make you look like one too 😉

10. Charm Co. – This is a special one… one you keep forever. Fathers to daughters, husbands to wives, boyfriends that want to get lucky.

PS- Beer, Wine & Liquor would be on this list but it seems the internet is a little old fashioned… 

Happy Holidays!

10 Great Gifts for your Budding Photographer

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I know this is categorically dorky but I can’t tell you how exciting it is when you have an interest in photography and get a new toy to play with. Over the years I’ve seen and done it all and these are 10 of my favorite fun photography gifts to date! Perhaps perfect for that someone who also likes capturing life through a lens this holiday season…. 

1. LomoKino 35mm film Movie Maker– you know, like how your grandparents made home movies but with 35mm film (much easier to buy & process)

2. Handy Dandy Hand Strap – because neck straps are not boss.

3. Lensbaby – because it makes the world a dreamy place.

4. IMPOSSIBLE – anything from the Impossible Project! Find an old camera, pick up a couple packs of film and photography goes back to one of those magical & innocent times.

5. Fuji Instax 210 – Because sometimes you want to point & shoot, watch it appear, then pass it around.

6. ONA Camera Bag – Chic. That is all.

7. 50mm Lens – If I could shoot with only one lens, a 50mm would be it.

8. Old School – Nothing is more fun than an old 35mm film camera (that’s how I got started!) and some good old fashioned black & white film.

9. Polaroid GL10 – How I like to print my Instagrams so I can actually hold them.

10. Mini Diana – Takes 35mm film and ever since I saw her pictures with one I’ve loved it.

Happy Holidays from my camera to yours!

Something Old, Something New

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Garden treasures: A magical way to save & recycle something old into something new…

When I first discovered these reconstructed garden herb markers I loved the simplicity and creativity of the idea and the visual warmth it gave my 1st herb garden (Yes, I’m like a proud parent wanting to dress-up my babies). Made by hand from Beach House Living I had to know more so I dropped the designer a line and asked her a few questions about these charming nostalgic pieces:

Creative inspiration: the designer’s blog Beach House Living is a great place to go for some nautical inspiration, DIY ideas, & to see what new products they are creating!