Think Outside The Box

I am a beauty junkie and with that comes a love for beauty product samples. There is something about the small packaging and the promise that this product may just be the best you have ever tried and if it isn’t you aren’t out the money of buying and trying full-size products. My friend and fellow blogger Allyson In Wonderland introduced me to an amazing new beauty website called Birchbox on her blog.

I was intrigued by a company that offers you a monthly subscription that happily deposits a box full of beauty samples into your mailbox. It’s pretty simple, for $10 a month you receive deluxe beauty samples that allow you to try top beauty products and if you like the samples you can order the real deal on their website (plus they usually give you a discount if you buy the full-size of one of the samples they sent you). It’s a brilliant concept and well worth subscribing to; I got my first box last week and it was full of great samples that I immediately put to the test; now if only I had thought of it!

PS I was in no way compensated for this post. It’s just a product I love and wanted to share with you all!

Draw The Line

I first learned how to apply eyeliner when I was 15 at the Bobbi Brown counter in Neiman Marcus. We were in Ft Worth at the American Paint Horse Association World Show and were doing a little shopping in our down time between showing and riding. It was the first time I had ever had my makeup done by a professional and it was then and there I became a life-long devotee of Bobbi Brown cosmetics. At the time the makeup artist used black eyeshadow and an eyeliner brush to rim my eyes, instantly making them pop and transforming me into a glamourous woman.

For years I have tried different types and brands of eyeliner but always went back to my trusty powder eyeliner applied with the eyeliner brush I bought so many years ago at Neiman Marcus in Ft Worth. The only problem with powder shadow is that it does not always last a full day without re-application so I decided to try the much lauded Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner by Bobbi Brown.

Let me tell you, it is AMAZING! This gel formula goes on so smooth and easy and once it sets, it stays on. My black cat eyes lasted thru a full day in the barn (riding and working horses, bathing horses, cleaning the barn) as well as dinner and drinks with my husband that evening. Use the Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush to apply it and off you go with perfectly rimmed eyes.

Boyfriend

I must confess that as a happily married woman, I have a boyfriend. Actually, I keep two boyfriends in regular rotation. I find that having two boyfriends keeps things new and interesting. One is casual and easy-going and the other appeals to my dressier side. AG Jeans and Paige Denim make the best boyfriends; boyfriend jeans that is. What were you thinking? I don’t have two boyfriends just two awesome pairs of boyfriend jeans.

I recently acquired the AG Cuffed Tomboy jean and instantly put it into full-time rotation in my closet. It sits loose on the hips without being low-rise and is cut slouchy through the thighs with a straight, cuffed leg that looks classic yet relaxed. They look great with tees and tanks on top and pair nicely with flip flops, flat sandals and Superga sneakers. Available at Anthropologie.

The Jimmy Jimmy Skinny from Paige Denim was my first pair of rolled boyfriend jeans and to this day remain one of my faves. They are made out of super-soft denim that is slouchy yet slim and can be dressed up or down. Available at Paige Denim.

Summer Essentials – Beauty Edition

My absolute, must-have summer essentials that get me thru the summer with style and grace:

Protect your skin from the sun with La Roche Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, it’s the best hands down! Absorbs quickly, non-greasy and loaded with lots of science that protects your skin.

Thick liquid and powder foundations can goop and smear when the temperature rises, so I rely on Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20. It provides just enough sheer coverage without being thick or heavy and makes your skin look luminous.

I have very fair skin and refuse to tan naturally so I spend a fair amount of time and money using self-tanners and have tried them all. St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse is the best! Provides even, natural-looking color with no self-tanner smell.

I know I have blogged about the Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm before, but they are really so good that I must mention them again. Grab a few and keep one stashed in your car, purse, beach bag, desk drawer and the barn (for my fellow equestrians). They provide light-weight, moisturizing color perfect for summer days.

Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara is my new favorite mascara. This long-wearing (ie won’t smudge or melt in the heat), glossy formula reveals lashes you never knew you had.

The Long and Short Of It

Summer is here and I will be the first to admit that summer is by far not my favorite season (the heat, the humidity, the bugs, you get the point). But I survive by reaching for comfy, casual ensembles to get me by until I can reach for my favorite sweaters again.

This summer I am loving the casual combo of a loose button-down shirt paired with shorts. The button-down shirt is loose and easy allowing for good air flow while also providing arm coverage and the shorts can show off your ability to correctly use self-tanner. It’s a win, win. Steal a button-down out of your hubby’s closet and throw on with your favorite pair of denim or chino shorts.

Just a quick word on shorts: If you don’t like showing your legs (or more probable, your thighs) then opt for a longer length that hits above the knee, just keep them more fitted to avoid looking frumpy. However, if you go shorter, say mid-thigh length, look for styles that are a bit wider at the bottom. It will provide an optical illusion making your thighs look thinner.

Loving these looks from Current/Elliott and Hive and Honey available at Piperlime.

Doesn’t this combo look so cute on Tory Burch!

Prints Charming – How To Wear Printed Pants

Printed pants and jeans are popping up everywhere and to be honest I don’t love this trend. When worn correctly it can look fresh and chic but if not done properly it can go very wrong.

First and foremost, avoid the wide-leg printed palazzo pant, it just looks wrong and will be here and gone in the blink of an eye. Second, stick with straight-leg or skinny printed jeans or sleek cropped pants. Let the pants be the focus of the outfit pairing it with basic solid tops, simple shoes and very little jewelry to avoid looking garish.

Printed pants can draw attention to problem areas like bigger thighs and bottoms but you can avoid this by pairing them with longer, looser, uneven hemmed tops as well as choosing a more muted print or darker color.

RevolveClothing.com and JCrew.com have a great selection of printed jeans and pants.

I know you can’t see it very well, but I like the way Jessica Alba paired a loose sweater and knee-high boots with her floral printed jeans.

This is a great way to get into the trend in a muted way.

Waxing Poetic

I am currently obsessing over Waxing Poetic’s jewelry and charms. They have a vintage, victorian, gothic vibe that appeals to my darker, Tim Burton-loving side. Many of the pieces have a hand-forged craftsman feel that look as if they were pulled up from the wreckage of an ancient ship or found in an antique steamer trunk in a grand castle.

Each charm and chain is a miniature work of art that when combined, creates a jewelry tour de force. Layer them on bracelets and necklaces; wear them on their own on a dainty chain; give them as gifts to your friends and loved ones. Truly Charming! Available at WaxingPoetic.com and LaylaGrace.com.

I desperately want this arrow necklace that cleverly states “Write Your Own Way”.

Freshen Up

It’s March! Spring is on the way but this time of year can be hard to dress for due to Mother Nature’s changing moods, one day cold and windy the next warm and sunny. These spring essentials (many of which you probably already have) will help get you thru the roller coaster weather while still looking fresh and stylish.

Invest in a great denim jacket, if you don’t already have one. They add an extra layer of warmth without looking as wintry as your wool peacoat. Pair with a brightly colored button down shirt (roll up the sleeves of the jacket to reveal a little color) or wear over a gauzy floral top.

Add a long sleeve stripe tee to your rotation of tops. It looks brighter and more spring-like than your basic black tee but still seems fitting when paired with denim jacket or sweater on a chilly day. Both tops from JCrew.com.

Replace your dark, thick sweaters with an open weave cotton sweater worn over a striped tee or brightly colored top and paired with cropped pants or rolled boyfriend jeans. I love these sweaters by Joie and RD Style.

Add rolled boyfriend jeans and colored denim back into your regular rotation. They will lighten up heavier sweaters and jackets especially when paired with a cute pair of printed ballet flats.

Some great transition outfits from Boden: They perfectly balance spring trends with warmer items for chilly days.

Courtly Check

I love all things “courtly checked” by Mackenzie-Childs. My entire kitchen is full of their black and white checks and you can imagine my excitement when they paired up with Hunter to add their iconic design to rubber wellies. So cute and cheerful for rainy days tromping thru the mud. Available online at Mackenize-Childs.com.

Be My Valentine

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and if you are scrambling for a last minute gift for the loved one in your life, look no further than my Valentine’s Gift Guide:

Show the man in your life a little love with these cool gift ideas:

Fossil Nate Stainless Steel Watch – This “smoke” colored watch with a faux wood face will add style to your man’s look.

If your man is a “man’s man” consider getting him one of these gorgeous “shooting” inspired flasks as well as a day of shooting at a local shooting range or skeet course with his friends. Flasks available at SirJacks.com.

If you man is more of a suave “Man Man” consider giving him an engraved flask, a bottle of his favorite drink and a copy of Sterling’s Gold: Wit and Wisdom of an Ad Man. Sterling’s Gold is a compilation of the hilarious one-liners of Mad Men’s Roger Sterling.

For the sports lover in your life consider a Leather Head’s Football or Lemon Peel Ball paired with tickets to see his favorite team play. Both are exquisitely crafted by Paul Cunningham and are meant to be used as well as look stunning in an office. The football is constructed of rich subtle leather and is perfectly stitched. The “Handsome Dan” is named after Yale University’s noteworthy bulldog mascot. Over time, this football will age well and develop a rich patina. Slightly smaller in size than a regulation football, tight spirals can be thrown with ease.

The lemon peel ball design draws its inspiration from the antique baseballs from the early 19th century. The Lemon Ball is of historic significance as it documents a noteworthy transition in baseball from a game played with a homemade toy over 200 years ago, to the precision made ball that appears in today’s major leagues. Noticeably softer than a regulation baseball, original baseballs were made similar to the lemon ball and stuffed with rags.

He can carry your love around and the rest of his stuff in this Archival Clothing Field Bag. This Field Bag is intended as a daily workhorse, a crossover between a traditional English fishing bag and an urban messenger bag. Durable construction and practical features allow the bag to excel at carrying gear both outdoors and to the office.

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Don’t forget get about the four-legged loves in your life! Buy them one of these extra special treats or a bag of carrots.

Harvest Hearts Horse Treats

Uncle Jimmy’s Squeezy Buns Horse Treats: My horses go crazy for these!