SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Shape Shifters

Ate too much over the Christmas holiday? Well, join the club (and no, I don't mean Weight Watchers). Yes, we all tend to overdose on eggnog, pernil, candied yams, macaroni and cheese, arroz con gandules, pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, pecan pie and any chocolates or sweets wrapped in red or green tinfoil. And of course, unless you have an uncannily high metabolism, that will probably lead to some weight gain. But don't press that panic button just yet. Don't get hysterical thinking you're the chubby girl at the junior high pool party who refuses to take her T-shirt off, the one whose cheeks are incessantly pinched at every family gathering as if doing so, like rubbing Buddha's belly, will ensure a good fortune. All you gotta do is commit to eating healthy from now on, working out a bit more, and regaining your pre-feast figure.

What about that extra flesh around your midsection? Ladies, in this day and age, we can camouflage pretty much anything — and a little extra fat around your belly or hips is no exception. If you want to wear a slinky dress but are feeling a bit reserved, then reach for a Teez-Her Skinny Tank, like the one pictured above, for some damage control.

Before you panic, let me assure you that this is not some heinous torture device. It's not going to cut off your circulation or impair your breathing like some Victorian corset. In fact, the Skinny Tank features a center panel made of 82% nylon and 18% spandex for a stretchy fit that will smooth and elongate your figure without smothering it. The rest of the tank is made of 100% cotton for a very cozy feel and the entire piece is so lightweight that you can use it as the base for any outfit — whether it be a tank top, blouse, or dress. And don't worry — it's cleverly designed so that it won't bunch up or roll up (if you've ever tried to use cheap, Bridget Jones-style granny panties for some tummy-sucking action, you know what I'm talking about!).

With the Skinny Tank, that little bit of padding will go completely unnoticed and your tightest outfits won't have to hang in your closet in apprehension while you drop those nagging pounds. And hey, whenever you're having one of those I'm-retaining-water-and-I-feel-bloated-and-nasty days, you've got a secret weapon in your drawer.

Teez-Her Skinny Tank, $28. Visit BeallsFlorida.com

Posted at 02:02 AM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 27, 2008

Vibeology with Mixology

Don’t be fooled by the layered motifs — these aren’t slices of gourmet birthday cake topped with nice little candles. Rather, each entire block is a candle — but one so beautiful and fragrant that you could very well give it to someone as a birthday present!

Joya‘s “New York Mixology” collection, a collaboration with New York city-based design collective Vane, features three candles inspired by classic cocktails: Basil Vodka Gimlet, Passionfruit Gin Martini and Honey Whiskey Fix. And, if there’s a science to making the perfect drink (ask any bartender, mixologist or lush out there, and they’ll concur), imagine how laborious and calculated it would be to make a candle that captured these unique scents. In order to achieve a layered fragrance experience, each candle was hand poured in installments (imagine how precise you have to be to make that work!)

To accompany each candle (because hey, presentation is everything), ceramic plates were constructed using ceiling tiles. Each recycled ceramic piece was pressed, cut, and hand painted with acrylics in Joya’s New York studio.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about the “Vibeology” reference in the post’s title, that’s my silly mind at work — for some reason, the word “mixology” reminded me of that “Vibeology” song Paula Abdul had back in the day, before she became a slurry-speeched punchline (poor lady!) and loopy American Idol judge. Anyhow, Paula Abdul was in no way affiliated with this collection (though, if the rumors are true, she’d probably attempt to gobble down anything that smelled of alcohol: even these… sigh… ). So just consider that your random thought of the day

$60 each. Visit JoyaCandle.com and WeAraVane.com. Also available at STUDIO at Fred Segal in Los Angeles.

Posted at 02:49 PM in Beauty, Food and Drink, Home Decor | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 26, 2008

Pimp Your Purse

As the old adage goes, "It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind." We have the right — nay, the obligation — to stay true to ourselves (and act accordingly) when we have a change of heart, whether it has to do with a love affair, a professional endeavor, a hair style or an accessory.

See, women like options. Isn't that why we buy so many pairs of jeans? Skinny jeans, boot cut, stonewashed, black denim, deconstructed, bejeweled, high-waisted, and on and on… And don't get me started on handbags and shoes — we just hoard those.

And why? Well, it's partially because we're always looking for accessories to suit specific occasions and ensembles (hey, you wouldn't wear the same purse to work that you'd wear to a wedding). But it's also because we fall in love with certain new trends and want our accessories to reflect our fashion-forward styles — hence, why we'll buy sequin-covered purses, fringed suede hobo bags, Mondrian-esque clutches, etc. And, most of all, because we are complex creatures and there are different sides to our personalities — and our styles.

Keeping up with our latest style obsessions and indulging the various aspects of our personalities, however, can prove to be a pricey ordeal. We end up buying so many different bags for so many different occasions that it borders on absurd.
The answer to your problems: a purse that can multi-task, one that can be transformed through a simple, painless alteration and thus look like an entirely new design.

Enter Ootra, a clever line of customizable purses. All you have to do is select the handbag style you desire, the straps you'd like on your bag (assuming it's a messenger bag, tote, or other over-the-shoulder piece), and choose from a series of embellishments.

Take this gold silk velvet clutch, with an interior lined in a bold crimson-and-eggplant satin fabric: running along the length of it, is a thin velcro stip onto which you can attach a provocative, decorative strip. Two of the options are pictured above: a feathered plumage strip and a square-faceted crystal strip.But that's not all — you can add satin ruffles, hand-sewn flower details, dangling feather ball strips, and more.

You can literally give your purse a makeover as often as you like! Now, that's an option I like!

Ootra Gold Silk Velvet Clutch, $396. Feathered Plumage Strip, $176; Square-Faceted Crystal Strip, $196. Visit Ootra.com

Posted at 03:15 AM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 24, 2008

More Last Minute Gifts

Still searching for that perfect gift? Don't despair. Here are a few more sizzling options for the ladybugs on your "Nice" list.

Proenza Schouler Sandals, $611. Visit Zappos.com

Between the green suede upper, the chunky, textured heel and the beige elastic ankle strap, these sandals would make Imelda Marcos swoon.

Elum Mums Canary Journal, $21.99. Visit ElumDesigns.com

The yellow-and-white color scheme of this journal will add a bit of sunshine to the dreariest of days and, hopefully, will lift the spirits of the thinker who scribes on its pages.

Grace Ruby Earrings, $360. Visit EleKeats.com

These 18k, 2-inch gold earrings feature miniscule beads and stones for a classic but free-spirited look.

Hair Rules Curly Hair Kit, $45. Visit HairRules.com

If you're going on a trip and you want to keep your curls bouncier than Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, look no further than this travel-ready set. Designed specifically for curly-haired gals, the kit includes: Aloe Grapefruit Purifying Shampoo (2 fl. oz. bottle), Daily Cleansing Cream Moisturizing No Suds Shampoo (2 fl. oz.), Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner (2 fl. oz.), Cury Whip (two 2 fl. oz. bottles), and Hydrating Finishing Cream (0.5 fl. oz.).

Moyna Large Wool Clutch, $149. Visit MoynaBags.com

This evening clutch is perfect for wintry nights — the wool texture feels great on your skin and is perfect for the season, but the embroidered and sequined flower motifs add the necessary liveliness and spunk.

Bula Stereohead Jem Earphone Hat, $44. Visit BulaBula.com

Ever tried to wear headphones outside during the winter time? It's a tricky ordeal. If you wear a hat over some large, noise-canceling headphones, you'll look utterly ridiculous (like you have a cone head underneath that hat) but, if you wear the headphones over a hat, the sound will come through the hat's material all muffled. So what's a girl to do? Well, thanks to Bula, you can cop a warm beanie hat with built-in speakers and a cord that attaches to your iPod — problem solved!

Feinedinge Butterfly Magnets, $45 for set of 3. Visit OlioUnited.com

Designed and produced by artist Sandra Haischberger in Vienna, Austria, these three-dimensional porcelain magnets will perch on your fridge and yet, due to their white hue, will blend into the background — well, except for the subtle bursts of color shimmying along their wings.

Soap Rocks, $12 each. Visit ThisIsAuto.com

Before you start envisioning how this would look in a decorative vase or a rock garden, let me set you straight: this beauty is actually a soap shaped to resemble a precious stone. Genius, right? You can tell your guests to kick rocks even when you're just sending them to the bathroom.

Carrot & Stick Press Ming Notebook, $6. Visit LuxePaperie.com

I've always been a fan of making lists. I'm a bit like John Cusack's character in High Fidelity that way (remember all his Top 5s?). With such a classic notebook, you'll be motivated to write down lists f your favorite things, fanciful musings and the most intimate, Sylvia Plath-esque thoughts (well, minus the depressive overtones, that is!)

Metropolis Technology T-Ion Travel Dryer, $79. Visit MetropolisTechnology.com

After falling in love with Metropolis' S-Nano Wet/Dry Iron, I've become a die-hard fan of the brand. This travel-sized blow dryer will keep your tresses in top shape without bulking up your luggaged.

United Nude Multi-Colored "Fold" Boots, £107.66. Visit UnitedNude.com

The "Fold" model is based on the concept of wrapping a single strand of material in various ways, molding it to create a structured but fluent shape (like a scarf draped around one's neck).Made from a custom elastic, the popular boot also features a rubber sole and a 2 3/4" heel.

Yukester Gold "Snake Link" Necklace, $92. Visit Yukester.com

Rather than round loops, this chain uses eliptical-shaped links in a snake-like shape. The result: a necklace that's as seductive as a woman moving her body to R. Kelly's "Snake."

Aveda Travel Body and Soul Set, $38. Visit Aveda.com to buy or to find a store near you.

Even if you're trudging through mounds of snow, you can get a taste of Caribbean paradise with this lovely Aveda set, which includes a Bath Soak , Body Creme, Body Cleanser, Bath Bar and Body Scrub in the Caribbean Therapy scent, which features sparkling, invigorating lime, vetiver, bay and amyris notes. Plus, the clutch bag is made using 74% recycled cotton and recycled metal scraps — all collected from U.S. clothing factories.

Epson Artisan 700 Printer, $199.99. Visit Epson.com

With this state-of-the-art printer, you can produce 6-color prints at lightning-fast speed.With the touch of a few buttons, you can customize your pics, plus there's a built-in Auto Correction features that allows all of your prints to come out, well, picture perfect.

Mighty Fine "Make Cookies, Not War" T-Shirt, $24.50. Visit Delias.com

I just made a batch of chocolate chip cookies today, so you coud say I'm living by this motto! ha! The sentiment is adorable and, hey, who can resist Cookie Monster?

Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF15, $25. Visit Clinique.com

I've always been a fan of Clinique's lipglosses — they moisturize your lips and the hues are, as advertised, rather long-lasting. This set, a perfect stocking stuffer, includes the shades Mystic, Lava Gold, Air Kiss and Sunset.

Annie Aalto "Storm Cuff," $9500. Visit ShopScadOnline.com

Artist Annie Aalto draws inspiration from nature, creating jewelry that mimics the organic shapes and seamless movements found therein. This ebony and freshwater pearl cuff swirls, curls, and folds like a seashell, a tornado vortex, or a crshing ocean wave.

Roxy "Roll It Out" Luggage, $125. Visit Roxy.com

Who needs drap, monochromatic luggage? Play up your girly side with this Roxy carry-on, which can be used as a tote, or rolled about thanks to the expandable handle and wheels. And hey, even if you check this bad boy in at the airport, you won't have a problem spotting your luggage on the conveyor belt!

In God We Trust Heart Medallion Necklace, $65. Visit Refinery29Shops.com

The red grosgrain bow adds a prep school (and very Gossip Girl) feel to this necklace, while the antique-looking heart charm adds a dash of sweet innocence. The hefty chain, however, provides the perfect contrast for an ideal combination of sugar and spice.

LORAC Croc Mocktail Collection, $25. Visit Sephora.com

Not only does this set contain some deep, festive holiday hues, but they're also deliciously flavored. The set includes the following flavors: Mistletoe Mojito (mint, sugar & melon), Champagne (sparkling pear), Sugarplumtini (plum & berry), Spiced Cider (red apple), Candy Cane Cosmo (peppermint), Irish Coffee (vanilla latte). Now, who needs a cocktail?

Posted at 12:02 AM in Beauty, Fashion, Home Decor, Jewelry, Liquor, Web/Tech | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 23, 2008

Kika Rocks

Want to buy a little Christmas present for yourself? Or maybe an I-worked-hard-today treat? Perhaps an I-need-some-retail-therapy gift? See, how many excuses to spend you can come up with?! Ha! Well, even if your budget is pretty tight these days, you can’t miss Erika Pena’s “2-5 Sale,” which kicks off today and lasts until Dec. 25th.

Here are the 1,2,3s on the 2-5 sale: Every item from the Kika collection (which consists of whimsical lucite pieces such as the Juana earrings pictured at top or the Augustina necklace pictured second from top) is now available at Erika Pena’s e-boutique for $25.

I’m a die-hard Erika Pena fan, so trust me: this sale is not one to miss! Check it out at ErikaPenaEboutique.com

Posted at 12:53 PM in Jewelry | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)