Addiction #23 – TOMS Flats

I received an email from Nordstrom the other day and it featured TOMS flats.  Now everyone should be familiar with TOMS shoes, you know the eco-friendly slip on shoes with the criss cross design that donates a pair of shoes for every pair bought.

I personally have never been a fan.  I thought they were just dreadful.  Well maybe with the exception of the glitter ones.

They were ooookkkaaay.   Ok on second thought, after looking at them again, yeah that would a negative on those as well.   Now these flats on the other hand, I would like to scoop a pair or two to add to my spring wardrobe. The fun prints and cute design make them a must have.

Tell me what you think. Yay or nay?

Addiction #22 – Sneeqpeeq & Birchbox

While surfing the web and browsing one of my favorite sites, Inc.com, I came across two sites for the fashionista who likes to shop on the cheap as well as try before you buy.  The first is Sneeqpeeq. It is currently in the beta phase and is accessed your Facebook login information. The site similar to Rue La La or Gilt but with a twist.  There are typically five brands listed and there will be a few products for each brand.  You select a product such as a purse from Gucci and you take a peek at the price.  The price that comes up is based on the number of people who have taken a peek prior to you.  Each time someone peeks, the price goes down.  Once the current price is revealed to you, you have 15 seconds to decide to buy it before the price is hidden again or pass.  You are limited to 10 peeks but you can earn more by peeking and inviting others.  I haven’t bought anything yet but I have definitely seen some pretty low prices on items that would normally be out of my price range. So definitely head over to the site and take a peek!!

The other site, which I just found this morning on Inc.com’s 30 under 30, is Birchbox.  Birchbox is a beauty website unlike any other.  It is a membership based site but for only $10 a month you will received 4-5 deluxe samples of some of your favorite beauty brands and some not quite discovered brands that the founders have tried themselves, in a Birchbox on a monthly basis.  Some of the brands that may be  included in your box are Laura Mercier, Stila, NARS, Kerastase and Pureology just to name a few.  Some samples are sent to everyone but others will are tailored to your specific needs based on your beauty profile. If you like a product after trying one of the samples, you can purchase a full size version directly from the site as well. What’s pretty neat about the site is that you can also get a history, a philosophy as well as a list of a brands star products.  I haven’t tried them yet as I discovered them this morning but I think I will be signing up in the future.  I love a good product especially for my skin or hair.  Go to the site and check it out. You may just discover your holy grail of beauty.

Feast Restaurant

My husband and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary this past Saturday and we decided to have dinner at a local restaurant called Feast. Their style of food is rustic with a European flair.  They only use products and ingredients that are locally grown and they do not purchase any meat or meat products from factory farmed, intensively raised animals.

We started off the mill with Pork Rillons which was kind of like a pork candy.  It was bits of pork with a little bit of fat attached seasoned and served in a a kind of syrup. That was pretty tasty.  For the main course I ordered their braised lamb shank which came with sauteed kale and anchovies, sliced carrots, shallots and sliced potatoes the size of small potato wedges all served in a broth while my husband ordered their signature dish of crispy pork belly, potato cake, red cabbage and apples. My lamb was tender and a decent flavor overall and I really liked the kale.  Even though it was immersed in the broth it was soggy.  The veggies and potatoes were good enough but the taste of the anchovies was just an odd mix with everything else on the plate.  I forgot that they came with the dish and so when I got a bite of them with the kale, it was not a match made in heaven.  My husband, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy his dish.  His pork consisted of a layer of meat, then fat and layer of skin roasted to crackly perfection.  I tried the pork and it was seasoned well and the chicharron (the crackled layer of skin) was as crunchy and tasty as a potato chip.  The Granny Smith apples had lost much of their sour flavor and were kind of bland.  Everything else on his plate was decent.  All in all the quality of the food was good but the flavor left me wanting more.  I told my husband that I wouldn’t need to go back again and try anything new.  It just wasn’t great.  He would like to go back and try some of their other dishes such as the pork cheeks.  I probably won’t join him.

If you want to check it our for yourself, visit their site at http://www.feasthouston.com.

 

 

 

 

Not Quite An Addiction – Eva Marcille at Niecy Nash’s Wedding

Ms. Marcille worked this suit!  Granted it was white, which is typically a no no at a wedding but with this look all is forgiven.

Addiction #21 – Never Too Much Glitter

For those of you who love to change your nails as much as you change your hair or clothing, then this post is for you. Or even for those who want to add a little pizazz to their look from time to time. I came across this site while searching for new designs for my toes.  I don’t paint my nails that often because it rarely lasts beyond 1 or 2 days so why waste the time.  Now I can’t vouch for the quality because I have not personally tried them but they nails and their designs displayed seem to offer a great alternative to those who want to change their nails to match their outfit but don’t have time to sit through the process and the prices are pretty reasonable ($1.50-$33.00).  Here are a few of my favorites.

To see more go check out the site at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nevertoomuchglitter

Happy shopping!

Addiction #20 – Mistura Watches

I came across this watch brand last year at Houston’s International Festival and instantly fell in love. And I thought my husband would too since he is an avid watch collector.  These watches as the salesman explained are handmade using woods that are renewable and natural dye leather straps in a variety of colors. The watches are kind of pricey.  The watch I bought my husband was less than $80 if I remember correctly  but mine was just a smidge  over $200.  I know, I know $200 is more than I would normally spend on a watch for myself but it was a spur of the moment decision which I quickly regretted simply because of the cost.  There is no point in whining about it now.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love my watch and have received compliments whenever I have worn it and my husband has received tons as well since I purchased his last year.  I’m not quite understanding the price difference but this was a totally different style and had a little more involved with the design and creation of it AND actual pressed flowers in the face and that’s what I’ll keep telling myself to make the cost not seem so bad.

If you’re looking for a quality handmade watch that is also good for the environment, then this is the watch for you.  Go check out  the site at http://www.mistura.com.

Happy Shopping!!

Addiction #19 – Metal Smithing

I just started taking metal smithing classes offered by Leisure Learning at local Jewish community center and I must say I’m pretty geeked about it! As you already know I am a huge accessories fanatic so the only logical step to feed my habit is to learn how to make my own jewelry. If at all possible I would like to become good enough to peddle my wares and make money on the side or as a full time gig. So far if I do say so myself, I’m not doing too shabby. Granted I have only attended one class with my second one being tonight, I believe I have the basics of cutting down pretty well. In order to cut the pieces of metal, a hand held saw with a micro thin blade that breaks if so much as look at it side ways.

I managed to cut a couple shapes from a 18 gauge piece of copper. Not easy. But not too bad either. Here are the results.

I patinaed the bottom piece using liver of sulphur. It has something to do with oxidizing the surface of the metal. Tonight’s pieces were a little more simple in design but I used I not only used the liver of sulphur to add a little color but a torch. Burn! Baby buuuuurrrnnn! Now using a torch gives more warm colors with nice hues of oranges, pinks and purples with just a little heat. The liver of sulphur can give deep blues, black, gunmetal and even a little teal and pink.

I’m not great by any means but I hope to get there soon or someday at least.   This 8 to 5 I have just isn’t cutting it!!

 

Toodles!!

Addiction #18 – Massimo Trulli

One day I was shopping at my local TJ Maxx and came across
this handbag and tote and instantly fell in love.

But after I saw
the prices $399.99 and $599.99 respectively, my heart was quickly
broken. I am a fashionista on a budget and THAT my friends is NOT
in my budget!! Any who this purse and tote are Italian handmade
with these great 1950’s comic, fashion and art designs. The quality
seems to be that of your everyday Louis Vuitton just with a little
more pizazz. You don’t have to make a beeline to your local TJ Maxx
because these beauties are available for sale online at
http://www.Peonyandmoore.com along with other designs and colors. So if
you should so happen to pick one up, please let me know so I can
drool with envy. Better yet why don’t you just pick up two. One for
me and one for you just because I informed you of this great
fashion find. Too much!? Ok, I tried. Any who, happy shopping
fashionistas!!!

Addiction #17 – Boots Botanics Skin Care

So I have an oily T-zone. What’s new?  So do thousands of other women.  And just like thousands of other women, I’ve searched high and low for that miracle product.  And I think I may have found it or rather them.  My friends, let me introduce you to Boots, a cosmetics and skin care line based in the UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I came across Boots one day while shopping in Target (one of my favorite stores by the way) for a new cleanser when a Boots rep came my way.  She asked what I was looking for and yada, yada, yada and the next thing you know I’m going home with the Complexion Defining Deep Clean Mousse.  I tried it that night and I loved it!!  Its foamy in your hand but feels like a cream cleanser on your face and it rinses fairly clean.  So I continued to use it until I left it behind in a hotel on a weekend trip to Austin. So sad…… Any who, I tried to find it at my local Target but no dice.  I found that line, just not that product.  So my search began again because I was too lazy to try another Target.  Fast forward to about a few weeks ago when I was on the prowl for another cleanser after my epic fail with Origins.  I was at another Target and I saw my beloved product.  Yay me!  So not only did I buy the cleanser but I also decided to try the Complexion Refining Toner.  Now let me tell you a little something about this toner.  At glance you may think its a dirty looking but that’s because it contains Amazonian Clay which helps keep oil at bay.  These two products together are great!  But I will say this, I think they work best if you use both day and night.  I’m pretty sure you’re thinking well duh! But it’s not necessarily a duh moment.  On my previous skin regimen I would a more moisturizing toner at night and one a little more drying during the day.  But when using both products night and day in combination with my cream moisturizer, Hope in a Jar by Philosophy (more on that another time), my “glossy” complexion goes down to about a 1 1/2 to a 2 on scale of 10.  And that my friends, I will take on any day!  So ladies and gents, run not walk to your nearest Target.  Well I take that back.  Find one that carries the full line of Boots Botanics and then run, not walk.  But even better, visit Drugstore.com and just be lazy.  Either way you can’t beat the prices of $8.99 and $7.99 respectively for two products that actually work.  So!  Try Boots and put your best face forward.

Random #5 – Halle Berry

Ms. Berry at her London premier of her new film “Frankie & Alice”.  I’m not really a big fan but I have to say to she is working this outfit!