FABULOUS FRIEND FRIDAY #1 FRUIT LOOP

This will be the first segment of Fabulous. Friend. Friday. I feel so lucky to have so many beautiful, inspirational friends in my life. Every Friday, I will be doing a segment on a fabulous fashion ,make-up or hair style with one of my friends. This week it with Lindsay, my gorgeous friend who works in the ECommerce Dept. at my place of work. I LOVED the super bright colors she used on her eyes and lips and thought they looked beautiful with her skin tone. I also really liked the fact that the whole look was polished and fun with color without being overdone. It really inspired me and gave me courage to add more color into my make up look for Spring!

 

A POP of Spring color on the nails too!

 

 

Tropical Fruit Loop Look

Products Used:

Foundation- Tient Idole Ultra, Lancome

Blush- Desert Rose, NYX

Lipstick- Girl About Town, MAC

Lip liner- Magenta, MAC

Eyeliner- Prescriptives Lucky Stroke

Eyeshadow-  Lavender Shadow/ No name

Nails- Gel Polish in Lilac

 

INSTA-SNAPS!

Spring Blooms & Sunshine= Heaven!

My fave Audrey Hepburn on Vanity Fair! I had to scoop this up!

The AMAZING Xx show - one of the best shows EVER!

Lazy mornings with Digby- we don't wanna wake up!

Henri and I love our long walks in this gorgeous warm weather!

 

Loving my shorter bangs!

 

SPRING FLING

I can never get enough of the "Little White Dress" for Spring! I have several versions- but this look is what I like to call my  Taylor Swift Look. I bought this dress after seeing it on a coworker, but I am wearing it in a completely different way. I chose to wear it without the belt, and with boots while she wore it with heels, the belt and pearls. I love taking the same piece of clothing and making it your own in a completely different way.

Forever 21 dress, Guess by Marciano boots

 

 

 

Orly "Kiss the Bride" gel polish

Photos by Erika Themaras

 

AU NATURAL

I used to be the person who thought "natural" beauty products and remedies didn't work.  Honestly, a couple of years ago I really couldn't find any natural beauty products that worked as well as my synthetic ones did! Fast forward a couple of years , and now with the Organic / Natural craze there are so many effective natural products out there that I think work even better than their synthetic counterparts. I find that often are more gentle on my sensitive skin, smell better and are toxin free

I have become a believer!

Here are a few of my favorites...

 

(Counter Clockwise):NYX Green Tea Blotting Paper, LUSH Sweet Lips Lip Scrub, Dr Haushka Lip Care Stick, Source Naturals Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Capsules, REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask 

 

 

1. NYX Green Tea Blotting Paper: My skin gets really shiny in the T Zone during the day and it is beyond crucial that I have these papers to "de- grease" my skin! I love these because they are a super absorbent and light paper, but only contain soothing green tea powder not mineral oil which so many of these blotting papers tend to have as an ingredient.

 

2. LUSH Sweet Lips Lip Scrub: Chocolatey and delicious AND it scrubs away flakes and plumps up lips! This is like a homemade lip scrub only better with jojoba and vanilla extract. This scrub also comes in a bubblegum and minty flavor, but in my opinion the chocolate is by far the best!

 

3. Dr Haushka Lip Care Stick: My favorite lip balm of all time. This is the only balm that truly heals my painfully chapped lips. I have tried every balm under the sun and this silky rose scented balm is the one I always come back to. I usually only need one silky swipe per day and do not need to constantly re-apply.

 

4. Source Naturals Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Capsules: My mom and I both now take these Coconut Oil capsules and our hair has never been shinier! The gel capsules are large but are fine when taken with a meal. They make a HUGE difference.

 

5. REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask: This delicious apricot scented mask had me receiving compliments on my skin's even tone and glow after only using it twice! It really exfoliates and improves skin texture with fruit acids while still being uber gentle. It says that it is not suitable for sensitive skin , but I find this product incredibly gentle. No parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes or fragrances. I am dying to try more of the REN line

 

 

Do guys have any natural products you love? 

TRAYS GALORE

I noticed the other day, that I really incorporate a lot of trays into the decor around my apartment. It is because I think they are a great way to make any assortment of pretty things look pulled together , "organized" and displayed in a cohesive manner. Here are a few trays I have displayed around my house. Do you guys love using trays too?

 Coffee Table

Gift from my Boyfriend's Mom

(Left to right) Target candle, vintage perfume bottle, vase - gift from friend,

golden pear- Pier One Imports

 

Table by Door

From Container Store

(Top to Bottom): Vintage Gucci Sunglasses, Aerin Rose Lip Conditioner, keys

 

Vanity Table

Rose Bowl Flea Market

(Left to Right): Serge Lutens Bois Vanille, Serge Lutens Fleurs D'Oranger,

L'Artisan Perfumeur L'Ete en Douce, Keiko Mecheri Tarifa ,  Chanel nailpolishes,

Grandma's old perfume bottle and Caron Fleurs de Rocaille, Frederic Malle Carnal Flower and assorted lipsticks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bathroom

From Rosebowl Flea Market

(Left to right) Korres Jasmine Body Butter, Healthy Sexy Hair Tri Wheat Leave In Conditioner, Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare Gardenia Oil, Skin Trip Coconut Lotion

 

 

IN- BETWEENER

The weather in Los Angeles is just plain schizophrenic right now as it make it's transition from Winter to Spring.
From waking up to sun and then ending day in a sprinkle of rain - it makes it challenging to be comfortable and pulled together at the same time!
My answer to the "I Can't Wait for Spring Blues" is layering my light mini trench over a tee with skinny jeans and my trusty ballet flats. My current favorite hairstyle: "Heidi" braids! They keeps my hair out of my face, are super easy to create and look cute at the same time!

Gucci Sunglasses, Zara Trench Target tee, Guess Jeans, JCrew ballet flats

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo

 

 

Bobby pins and rubber bands are really not as visible on top of the head lol
Amber teardrop earrings are a purchase from a vacation to Prague- which is the BEST place to get amber jewelry if you love it like I do

GIRL CRUSH: JESSICA CHASTAIN

I have to say I have a little bit of a girl crush on Jessica Chastein after seeing her AMAZING performance in Zero Dark Thirty. She is the epitome of talent, class, grace and fresh beauty... Her perfect smile makes me want to run out and get Invisalign and her alabaster skin keeps me inspired to keep slathering on my SPF!
Her wardrobe choices are always classic Hollywood glamour;super sophistication with a hint of sexiness.

 

2013 Oscars: My favorite look thus far!

 

The perfect dark red lip!

 

Old Hollywood Glamour at it's best!

Love the pale, pale blue color of the dress and the retro- inspired hair

 

I want to copy this whole look: winged liner, nude lips and Brigette Bardot inspired hair

 

 

 

INSTA- LATELY

 

For my boyfriend's birthday we went to a classical music performance at the Los Angeles Philharmonic show at the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Center! It was beyond beautiful and it felt like you were literally in a "sound cocoon". I felt like the sound was vibrating through me!

 

I have really been into Honey lately! The hand creme was a gift from a dear friend and Nivea Milk & Honey lip balm was a recent purchase that I cannot stop reapplying because the smell is just so delicious!

 

Late night run to Yogurtland in Los Angeles which is open super late! It looks like I am 12 from the toppings: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles and Cookie Dough!

 

My boyfriend's cat Digby- I can't get enough of him! I feel like he is my cat too:)

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

xo

LJ



BLACK & YELLOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gucci Sunglasses, Vintage Blouse, J. Crew Coat, INC Shorts, H&M tights, Guess Shoes

 

It is amazing how much more confident I feel at work - more confident, pretty etc. when I put on a dressier outfit and a pair of heels. My workplace is a dressy/ casual atmosphere, but I try to dress more along the lines of dressy than casual. I can't say I always succeed at that but I certainly try! I love vintage secretary blouses, particularly this one because of the bold floral print, and I think they really work when paired with high waisted shorts or skirts.

Happy Friday! I hope everyone has something fun planned for this weekend!

LOVE WEEK!

In honor of Valentine's Day Week- I thought I would share my three favorite Pablo Neruda quotes about the essence of love. They all make heart flutter and my eyes water!
I really do have a positive outlook on Valentine's Day with or without a significant other as I feel it celebrates love in all forms, and reminds us to cherish our loved ones.
What I do feel is overdone is the push to get a huge present for someone instead of some thing simple and heartfelt. 
I actually will be celebrating on Thursday with my Bestie and this weekend with my Beau:)
Happy early Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

 

Macadamia Natural Oil Hair Faves

left to right: Macadamia Natural Oil No Tangle Brush, Healing Oil Treatment & 
Deep Repair Masque

Working in the beauty industry I am always on the lookout for new products. However, I have yet to find an oil treatment that smells as heavenly and nourishes as well while not weighing down my fine hair as Macadamia Natural Oil. I have been consistently using  the Healing Oil Treatment for a while now.  I use it  right out of the shower on damp hair to defrizz, before blow drying or flat ironing for protection, or even on dry hair to polish off a style. Let's be honest , it smells so good I also use it just to moisturize my hands!

I just recently starting using the Deep Repair Masque due to rave reviews from all the You Tube Beauty Vloggers and now I am hooked on it too! On Saturdays, I will mince  around my house for a couple hours cleaning , reading etc. letting my hair soak in it. When I rinse it out it feels amazingly soft! It has also really helped my hair withstand the

Lastly, I received the No Tangle Brush with one of their gift packs and can't stop brushing my hair. It really massages my scalp and is so gentle you can even use it on wet hair.
It never rips my hair out the weigh I think 90% of brushes do
I highly recommend Macadamia Natural Oil products, and I much prefer them to Moroccan Oil. They smell even better and don't weigh my hair down the weigh Moroccan Oil does(even Moroccan Oil Light). I swear if you try them you will love them!

What are some of your hair faves? Have you tried Macadamia Natural Oil?
 


 

THIS WEEKEND

This the first weekend in three weeks where I have felt like a semi- normal person and have not been infected with the flu/plague! I decided I had to take advantage of it but at the same time not over- extend myself.
On Friday, I made a delicious lentil, swiss chard and sausage stew from this recipe and my boo and I finally went to see Silver Linings Playbook(which was AMAZING and worth the hype). We have been trying to eat out less often to not only save money but to be healthier and thus, feel better
Speaking of healthy on Saturday, I had a reunion with some old coworkers for a Girls Night. We gorged on snacks and wine and played Taboo and Cards Against Humanity until the early hours of the morning. I guess life is all about balance because this was definitely not a super healthy night lol! It was awesome reconnecting and it really was the perfect Girls Night:)

On Sunday, I practiced my usual avoidance of Super Bowl. Basically, like every other year I did not acknowledge it was happening.However, this was the first time in YEARS that I was actually excited for the Super Bowl Half Time Show. I mean Beyonce- Hello! I was not disappointed! I really do not know how one woman can be so , well fierce. I am not a fan of that word but it really applies in this case! This sounds ridiculous but she really inspires me to embrace my sexuality and maybe even go out and buy some new lingerie asap!

Overall, the perfect weekend! Hope you lovelies had a great weekend. Did you enjoy the Superbowl Halftime Show as much as I did?

NEWEST OBSESSION: CLAIRE VIVIER DUFFLE

Recently, I fell in love with a co worker's slouchy, buttery leather handbag. It was perfect, beautiful leather, simple but quality hardware and no logos or obvious branding in sight! Very French, very chic and not thousands of dollars!I am a big believer in spending more money to get you a piece that will last for ages. She told me the bag was a Claire Vivier . 
I read more about the line I found it was made by a French woman and the line had been produced exclusively in Los Angeles since 2008. You can read more about the brand here
I am currently lusting over the duffle and they even do monograms too(!) in simple gold lettering. The problem is I cannot decide between the black croco , dark navy or red. What do you guys think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PETITE VIGNETTES

I have tried to fill my apartment with all of my favorite things because my home really is "my happy place". I feel that one's home can really reveal a lot about  one's personality as well as passions in life.
Here are a few pictures from around my place. You will see a strong emphasis on France, Art, and my love Henri ( my French Bulldog) oh and that fact that I am extremely sentimental!

Eiffel Tower Vase w/ my treasured Little Prince journal and Lucite holder of my favorite Art and fashion magazines

 

Anthroplogie Pottery. I received the right two pieces from my boo for Christmas! He knows I loves it! So pretty!

 A snippet of my bookshelf: note the eclectic combination of books( I read everything!), Laduree box and cat figurine that I got from Germany when I was 5.

 

 

 

Peacock feathers, and a picture I had framed from Le Monde. Oh and of course a dramatique photo of Henri!

 

Vintage blue candy dish! I always have candy on hand!

Sunday in Malibu

In the 'BU (Malibu)

Happy Sunday Ladies! The weather was unseasonably gorgeous this weekend in Los Angeles so my boyfriend and capped off this weekend with a beautiful hike on the Los Liones Trail in Malibu. We love to hike and one of our favorite hikes in Los Angeles is this trail. It has great views of the ocean and on a clear day you can see all the way out to Catalina! One of our traditions from last year that we have carried through into 2013 is to go on a long'ish hike every Sunday. It  really helps to clear the mind and to restart the week on a good, healthy note! On Sundays what to you do to recharge/ set the week off on a good note?
 

LIEBSTER AWARD

The Liebster Award is given to people who have less than 200 followers to help people get to know you & find new blogs to follow! I was nominated by Mary Claire from Les Cuisiniers. Not only is she a fellow francophile and foodie, but her posts are super thoughtful and engaging to boot! I was super flattered to be nominated by her:)

 

THE RULES:

• write 11 facts about yourself
• answer the 11 questions given to you
• create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award
• choose bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate
• go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award
• thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog

FACTS ABOUT ME:

 

1. I am a crazy about animals especially dogs! When I say crazy , I mean I cannot go past a 

    cute dog without running after them to try and pet them! I seriously cry when I see the

    ASPCA commercials and love going to the Zoo. It's true lol!

2. Similar to the above fact, I have a "furson" named Henri, who is a beautiful fawn French

    Bulldog and he makes me so happy on a daily basis.  

3. I am a total francophile , and have been for as long as I can remember. I studied abroad

    in college in Aix en Provence, France and the obsession only intensified

4. I think the best thing you can invest in is travel- I am always saving up for next

    experience!

5. I have lived in Los Angeles, CA for four years now and I love it! The weather is always

    awesome, and there is always something fun to do.(art, shows, shopping, hiking, etc)

6. Being independent, doing things that scare you and trusting yourself are words I try to live

    by

7. I am saving up for latest trip to Paris with a detour to Barcelona this year

8. I have always been fascinated by Russia and Iceland and they are next on my Travel List

9. I am obsessed with Art History and am happy as a clam spending HOURS exploring

    Art Museums, My favorite in the world? Musee D'Orsay in Paris

10. I love to cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients and love exploring Farmer's Markets to

     find the freshest , most interesting ingredients

11. I am obsessed with music and LOVE going to live shows- whether it be classical music

     at the Disney Center or small bands at The Echo

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR ME:

 

1. Why did you start your blog? I wanted something to nourish my ideas and creative thoughts that I felt were always pouring out- and I always loved reading other people's ideas through their blogs
2. What three characteristic best describe you? Independent, Romantic & Happy
3. What is one of your guilty pleasures? Watching Real Housewives on Bravo!
4. Are you an animal person? Why or why not? I am an animal person of the highest degree, I cannot go by a dog without trying to hug it, and animals really do mely my heart into warm caramel:)
5. Are you a night owl or a morning person? Night owl! 
6. What is your favorite book? Anna Karenina. I die!
7. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Paris for at least a year!
8. Favorite vacation memory? Scuba diving in Tahiti with my family
9. What is your go-to comfort food? Brie cheese & Champagne!
10. What is your favorite color to wear & why? Blue or green because I think it brings out my eyes, which are highly reflective
11. Are you a socialite or do you prefer staying in? I prefer staying in , but once I get out there I end up having lots of fun. True Gemini.

MY NOMINEES

Lulu from Simply Lulu Style

Brooke from Sharpe's Serindipity

Marika from La Vie C'est Chic

 

QUESTIONS FOR NOMINEES

 

1. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

2. What is your favorite movie?

3. Where have you always wanted to visit outside the United States?

4. Favorite childhood memory?

5. Salty or sweet?

6. What is your star sign/ horoscope?

7. What is your favorite thing to cook or your signature dish?

8. What has been the happiest moment of your life thus far?

9. What has been the most challenging moment/ time of your life thus far?

10. Who is your celebrity crush?

11. Do you have any pets, or if not do you want one and what would it be?

 

 

Thanks ladies!