stormy sunset.

I die for these earrings.  

Check out Alexandra Rothwell's web gallery to see her other amazing designs. 

She does custom colors, design & length to suit your color palette & style.

Email her here for inquiries.  

i love nyc.

Friday afternoon. Lafayette Street.

CalGel.

My nails have been very thin and brittle lately, so I figured it was time for something more serious than a standard mani.  I headed back to Marie Nails on West Broadway and Prince for my second visit and I was not let down.  The CalGel manicure is a little bit more expensive but definitely worth it if you have crap nails or if you are hard on your standard manicure.  

One color is $35 and it goes up from there based on design, but from the photos below you can tell that it's legit.  Highly recommend it for everyday, but especially for vacations or special occasions. 

Marie Nails

nyc location.

just my type.

Once again, I'm blogging about something that I found while antiquing in Ohio... 

Anyway, when I was at the old five & dime store I found a vintage Smith-Corona travel typewriter from 1954.  With the travel case intact & the product booklet in almost perfect condition.  

For $5. All I had to do was feed in a piece of paper and I was set to type.

These typewriters are insanely expensive when they are refurbished and the seller knows what they are dealing with. The exact one I found for five bucks easily sells for between $400 - $700.  

I got an email from fab.com last week highlighting a great deal on refurbished typewriters.  The same brand I found was marked down from $750 retail to the special price of $487. holy crap.

These typewriters are great antiques to have in your home, and it's been kind of fun to have it around.  Everyone that passes by seems to feel the urge to type a little message or random thought...

So keep your eyes out ladies and gentlemen.  These things are out there and they are waiting to be found.  If you should find yourself in a random small town, be sure to find the local antique store and dig around, you might be surprised with the gems you will find.

this is mine. :) if only it were pink.

perfectly neutral.

Favorite Neutral Eyeshadows.

I don't often get my make-up professionally done, but it has happened a time or two.

I love doing make-up but am by no means a professional.  Last time I had my make-up done I was discussing products with the make-up artist and she pointed me into the direction of one truly amazing color palette.  

Target's Sonia Kashuk Perfectly Neutral 12 shade shadow palette came highly recommended.  She said that the foundation for any make-up artist is an amazing neutral palette and although she had tried many throughout her career, Sonia Kashuk's was her favorite.  

Only recently was I able to get my hands on the palette and after I tried it out, I am in love! 

And it's only $19.99.

Note: These colors are all matte, 

so if you are looking for a shimmery look, 

this palette wont get you there... 

Favorites pictured below: sonia kashuk, mac & physicians formula

the mac colors are shimmery. 

 

left: physicians formula canyon classics ($6) from any drugstore

right: sonia kashuk perfectly neutral palette ($19.99) from target 

 

favorite gold: hoodwinked (warm antique gold by MAC)

favorite versatile shadow: club (red-brown with green pearl by MAC)

 not me. kinda looks like me. via Dutchess Roz

inspirational neutral looks.

hat head.

Perfect hairstyle for cold weather.  

step 1: pull sweater/hat/headband over your head

(leave it around your neck while you braid/style)

step 2: know how to braid (or teach yourself on youtube)

step 2: do some sort of crown braid

(i did an inverted braid across the middle of my head & pinned the rest into the beginning)

step 3: pull your headband up into place, adjust everything till it looks right... and you're done. 

I got my headband on broadway... from a street vendor. (for like $8)

DIY. tufted headboard.

Came across this awesome tufted headboard tutorial.  Here are a few highlight photos but for the full tutorial check out Little Green Notebook.  Awesome DIY post. Can't wait to try it.

before.

after.