What I'm Loving Lately

Here are a few things I've been enjoying the past couple of weeks ; )

My Book Gift Guide For Every Fashion and Pop Culture-Loving Female in Your Life

I thought I'd post about a few books that I've read in the past year that were all fantastic, in case some of you were looking for Christmas gift ideas for your girlfriends ; ) Above: I have been a huge fan of Cindy Crawford's since I was in elementary school and I actually ran into her in a Malibu Starbucks a couple of years ago (read about what I told her here, scroll down to the 'Celebrity Sightings' section for my dork fest) so of course I dove right into the supermodel's coffee-table book Becoming which was full of modeling and life stories and pages upon pages of gorgeous photos of this fashion icon. I also loved Sophia Amaruso's #GIRLBOSS which was highly motivating and gave me the push I needed to take my styling business to the next level. Both enjoyable reads!

What I'm Loving Lately

Shortalls (also known as short overalls), like these comfy and cute ones Jules is wearing are a big trend this summer and I'm so glad they've made a comeback! I haven't worn overalls since the 10th grade and that was back in the nineties. (I'm old.) P.S. This pair is on sale ; )

What I'm Loving Lately

Dry brushing. I'm hooked on it. I've been dry brushing my entire body every night before I have a bath and have seen great results. All you have to do is purchase a brush, preferably with all-natural bristles (I like this one) and spend five minutes a day brushing your skin, always towards the heart. (Watch a how-to video here.) When you dry brush you stimulate your lymphatic system, exfoliate dead skin, help to reduce cellulite and get rid of toxins in the body. At first it kind of hurts but the more you do it, the more you feel like you're scratching an itch and it will feel good ; ) After I finish my little nightly ritual I slather coconut oil on my body to moisturize. Try it, you won't regret it! It literally takes five minutes and dry brushing is the cheapest and easiest thing you can do to keep your skin looking healthy and young : ).

What I'm Loving Lately

This book. It was raw, real and brutally honest. I read it in three nights. I love Lena : )

MAKE UP FOR EVER's Artist Shadow in ME202 Iceberg Blue and S228 Petrol Blue. I was given samples of these mix-and-match eye shadows to try and found they are highly pigmented and so easy to blend, not to mention the color payoff is amazing! I'm also loving their Artist Liner in Iridescent Khaki, it glides on so easily and stays put all day.

This $50.00 Aldo bag, as seen on the arm of Taylor Swift. A great bag for fall!

Kevin Murphy's Young.Again and Session.Spray, my two must-have hair styling products that WORK! You can get them from my hair salon Ponytails + Horseshoes in Edmonton.

This couple. Why? Because all of the money they received from People, Hello and Vanity Fair for their wedding photos will be donated to charities. Kardashians, take note.

Six Picks (What I'm Loving Right Now)

Kelly Oxford's "Everything Is Perfect When You're a Liar." It's a book of essays the hilarious Twitter Queen and hot mom of three wrote and it's laugh-out-loud funny. I read it in two days. I've been following Kelly Oxford on Twitter for a couple of years now (along with her other half-a-million followers) and when I found out she had a book coming out I pre-ordered it right away. I don't normally buy books either, I borrow them from the library but I knew this one was going to be good and that I'd read it more than once. And what's really cool is that she was born and raised in Edmonton! (She's now living and working in Hollywood.) This book is a great read, right up there with Tina Fey's "Bossy Pants" and Mindy Kaling's "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" Funny stuff, kids.

VOLUSPA candles. I got mine at LUX Beauty Boutique. The containers for these candles are gorgeous, don't you think? And they burn forever. This scent is quite light. D. can't stand strong-smelling candles, he says they give him a headache so this one is perfect for our home.

 This perfect Walker Leather Biker Jacket from ALLSAINTS.  Must. Save. Up. 

Tracy Anderson workouts. I started doing the mat workout DVD on the left a couple of years ago and I liked it but I thought it was reeeeeally hard. I ended up yelling expletives at my T.V. and talking directly to Tracy as if she was in my living room: "Do I really need to do FORTY REPS on one side?! And how come you're not even breaking a sweat and I'm drenched?!" Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I thought I'd stop being such a wuss and give it another try and I did it 4 times last week and even ordered the Metamorphosis DVD pack to switch things up a bit. Still waiting for it to arrive in the mail...Hey, if I can get a body like Gwyneth Paltrow's (who is one of many Tracy's celebrity clients), I'm willing to do the work! Just not 6 days a week like Tracy recommends. Really, who has time to work out 6 days a week?! GWYNETH PALTROW DOES. 

I was given a couple of samples of REN's Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask at LUX Beauty Boutique's Birthday last weekend and all I can say is OH MY GOD. My skin felt and looked tighter and brighter after using it. It didn't irritate my skin at all, which I thought might happen. I need to go back and purchase a bottle!

Amanda Bynes' Twitter page. I was hesitant to post this because she's obviously suffering from a mental breakdown and I don't want to come across as making fun of her (but I will come across that way, I know). I really do hope she gets some help as she clearly needs it. But, I have to be honest with you, I check her crazy Twitter page twice a day! With tweets like "I want Drake to murder my v*gina," and "I can't wait to go down on this food," reading her feed is sometimes the highlight of my day, and of course very entertaining. She's a complete train wreck and I can't help that I find her utterly fascinating, kind of like when Britney Spears was going off the deep end circa 2007. I felt sorry for her, but I couldn't help watching her downfall. It's like when you drive by a car crash, you can't not look, you know? You can close your eyes but you know you're gonna peek!

Happy Almost Friday!

Grace

I finished Grace Coddington's memoir this past week and loved it! I will be adding it to my list of favorites. For those of you who don't know who she is, Grace Coddington is the creative director of American Vogue and has been involved in the fashion industry for over 50 years. She has wild, frizzy red hair, loves (I mean LOVES) cats (even more than me), and has worked with every major fashion photographer in the world. At the end of the book there's a collection of photos from shoots she has worked on, and this is my favorite one:

'Stella Diving' Vogue 1995 Arthur Elgort

Have you read her memoir yet? And what have you read lately? I'd love some suggestions on the next good book I should read! Lately I've been reading biographies of entertainers and celebrities over the age of 70, like Dick Van Dyke, Florence Henderson, Penny Marshall, etc. It's my new thing. I love the elderly.

I hope you all have a great weekend! 

What I Like

A beautiful, bold statement necklace like Olivia Palermo is wearing

Light, flowy and over-sized pants for spring and summer

Dressier pants with sneakers

Rings. Lot's of them.

Shorts with ankle boots, a la Erin Wasson

Army boots! They'll never go out of style.
photos via cotton candy peaches, that's chic, fashion gone rogue, penny life in pics, fashion roadkill,  love more

Just some inspirational fashion images I wanted to share with you : ). Happy Weekend! And Happy Long Weekend to my fellow Canadians! This is the first weekend in a very long time that I'll be able to relax and do whatever the heck I want! That includes finishing the captivating erotic novel I'm reading: 'Fifty Shades of Grey.' Have any of you read it? I'm sure you've heard of it, unless you've been living under a rock or a dock and hopefully you're not cause it would be really cold at night, not to mention really lonely. It's the most popular book in North America right now. It's purse smut and not written extremely well but just like a tequila bottle in my early twenties, I just can't seem to put it down! I actually put it on hold at the library but it was then banned (banned!!) from libraries so I caved and bought it at the bookstore. And I'm so glad I did ;). Have a great weekend, guys. And Canucks, don't forget to enter my la Vie en Rose lingerie giveaway!

My Summer Beauty Must-Haves

1. The ever-so-popular NARS blush in Orgasm. The pinky-peach color looks good on anyone. My all-time favorite blush.

2. NARS Illuminator in Copacabana. I love this highlighter. I dab it on my cheeks to give them a nice, pink, sun-kissed, pearly glow after I apply the blush or I mix it in with my foundation.

I've been using this all summer as my sunscreen. This cream really does melt into the skin. Plus it's non-greasy and won't cause breakouts. It is the #1 dermatologist recommended sunscreen filter in Canada and will protect you from burning and looking like these idiots.

Good old unglamorous Vaseline. It soothes my dry lips and the yucky flaky skin I have around my nose from blowing it too much. (I'm allergic to my cat.) I apply it year-round.

Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion. Celebs use this lotion on the red carpet. This stuff is the bomb and I'll tell you why! When I apply it to my bare legs if I'm wearing a skirt or shorts it gives my legs a radiant glow while firming and tightening the skin. Prtty Peaushun covers up minor imperfections and diminishes the appearance of cellulite, veins, and stretch marks. (A girl's best friend!) It comes in 5 different shades. I have it in Light but next time I'll be ordering a shade darker to give my skin a bit of color. In Canada I bought this from Fresh Picked Stuff and it shipped within 2 days. Watch this clip of fitness guru (and Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer) Tracy Anderson and the creator of Prtty Peaushun, makeup artist Bethany Karlyn, discuss this dream cream at around 1:50 in this video:

 

100% Pure Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. I bought this jar a few months ago at Planet Organic for about $13.00. Coconut oil is an amazing, hydrating moisturizer that prevents dryness, flaking, aging and sagging of the skin. I put it on my face and body every second day before bedtime. It's very oily and greasy when you first apply it- actually D. always tells me he could fry food off of my face when he sees me with it on -but after it sinks into the skin it's golden! And of course, I love, LOVE, L-O-V-E the smell! You can also use it on your hair to make it soft and shiny.

What are your summer beauty must-haves?

Okay, before I go I wanted to tell you I just finished Tina Fey's hilarious memoir, 'Bossypants' the other day. I loved it! Her funny stories and self-deprecating humor had me laughing out loud busting my guts. I only wish it was longer. It's a must-read! And speaking of books, who's excited for the movie adaptation of the novel 'The Help' that comes out in a few days?? Ahhh I can't wait to see it!

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A Feature, a Book and a Magazine

Happy Friiiidaaaay! I wanted to share with you an interview I did with Smashion.com which is a "social fashion site that connects buyers and sellers with a passion for fashion." I was honored to be featured in their Smashion Lounge! You can click here to view my interview and check out their cool site.

I also wanted to let you know about an amazing book I read last week called "Rockettes, Rockstars & Rockbottom" by Keltie Colleen. Here is what's written on the back of the book:

"Caught between backstage and center stage, Keltie Colleen opens a window to her intriguing life of dance and rock n' roll. In between gigs, Keltie optimistically untangles complicated rockstar romances, while clinging to her own identity. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, Keltie's story is an honest, powerful and ultimately uplifting guide to following your dreams and losing your heart."

My boyfriend and I went to Keltie's book reading and signing last Friday where I had the pleasure of meeting her. She's such a sweet, beautiful and down-to-earth girl who happens to be from the same hometown as me, in fact we probably competed against each other many times in local dance competitions! Well after she signed my book D. and I came home - he went down to his "man cave" to watch an action flick and I stayed upstairs reading "Rockettes, Rockstars & Rockbottom" in one sitting. I didn't get off the couch, not even when I had to pee I was that riveted. (And I have a small bladder.) I just couldn't put it down. When Keltie was 19 she took a bus to New York City with only $500.00 in her pocket, hoping to make it as a dancer in the Big City. Well she did (and then some) and every dream she had as a child came true, including becoming a Rockette. She also fell in love with three famous rockstars (at different times) and had her heart put through the wringer over and over again, picking up the pieces after each relationship failed while trying to hold on to her sense of self. While reading this book I found myself becoming very emotionally involved with her story: I cheered for her, I cried for her and I wanted to kick all of her (ex) boyfriends in the gonads for her. Trust me, after you read this book you'll want to, too! Her book is really good. And very inspiring. To learn more about Keltie and to order her book you can click here.

And how stunning does Carey Mulligan look on the cover of Elle UK's January 2011 cover? I die!

 

Speaking of cover girls, what do you think of Taylor Swift being the newest face of COVERGIRL Cosmetics? I love Taylor, she's an excellent role model for young girls, beautiful inside and out and can do no wrong in my books. Plus she's dating Jake Gyllenmajigger! Don't they make the cutest couple?

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

A Must -Read!

This post is not about clothes, shoes or accessories but something just as vital to my "life's wardrobe": books! I'm a nerd. Yup. I love to read and I still go to the library with my boyfriend and take out books. I don't know a lot of people who still do this (besides my BF and cousin who has her Masters in Library Science) and I'm not sure why. It's free entertainment! Maybe it's because most people buy books and/or can read one easily online or using a Kindle but I still like the ritual of going into a library, taking in that old, musty-book smell, physically searching for a great story to read, conversing with the librarian about the latest bestseller and escaping into another place, another time with a large hardcover novel in my hands for a mere $12.00 a year for a library membership.

The last book I read was the one above, "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I finished it last night. This powerful story had me up early before work just so I could read a chapter before starting my day! I am so glad it's being made into a movie because it's such a heart-warming, compelling story. You can read more about the novel here

Other books I have read over the past couple of years that I highly recommend are: 

Ok so a couple of years ago I was really into reading books about adult entertainers for some reason LOL, which is why I picked up the above "Candy Girl" by Diablo Cody (she wrote the movie "Juno") and "How to Make Love Like a P*rn Star" by Jenna Jameson. Both are memoirs and were utterly fascinating and entertaining to read!

What are your favorite books? I'm looking for the next great novel to immerse myself in so what do you recommend? And does anyone still go to the library besides me??