Gwen and Baby Zuma

I adore this photo! Gwen looks beautiful as always, but I really like the pale lips...it's a nice change from the red shade that she's usually in. And Zuma--look at those gorgeous eyes!

Once again, well done Gwen and Gavin. This lil guy is going to be a lady killer just like big bro Kingston.

Photo Credit: Dennis Stefani

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

My favorite holiday, I am always thrilled when it rolls around each year. I usually try to partake in some spooky activities, this year that meant going to Knotts Scary Farm. Frightening ghouls and ghosts, fortune tellers, and terrifying mazes make for an exciting night.

This year I went with my friend, fellow Beauty Chatter, Stephanie, and her family. Below is a picture of us on the log ride. As you can tell I am familiar with he ride and where the camera is located ;)

Whatever you do this year, have fun and be safe!

Photos courtesy of: Knotts and ThingsThatAre Fun.com

Gorgeous Tealight Holder

Bath & Body Works always has amazing items. I can never leave the store without making a pretty hefty purchase. My latest find, a fall-inspired tealight holder. 

A candle placed within this holder reflects beautiful leaves that create a cozy atmosphere. Personally, it's my little self-created autumn, since the weather in Southern California has yet to dip below the 90s. 

Retailing for a mere $5, it's a great deal! 

Photo courtesy of: Bath & Body Works

Madonna's Misfire: Chanel Gun Shoes

Let me start off by saying I'm not a fan of Madonna. Please don't hate me, I just am not too fond of her. 

Anyways, onto the shoes. Part of the Chanel Spring 2009 Cruise Collection, these heels...er...shoes with a gun attached to the bottoms were spotted on Madonna last night at the New York premiere of her new movie, "The Fifth Wisdom."

What do you think? A fashion statement, or a backfire?

Photos courtesy of: Gizmodiva.com

Domestic Violence Awarness Month

Although most of my posts are lighthearted topics revolving around fashion, makeup, and other pop culture topics, I want to take this opportunity to discuss an important subject.

In addition to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Although not as widely recognized, I feel it's just as important to talk about. 

Pretty much all of us know someone who has been affected by this, whether we're aware of it or not. Some of us may have even experienced it firsthand. If you're not sure of the signs of domestic violence, here are a few provided by helpguide.org: 

• Dominance
• Humiliation
• Isolation
• Threats
• Intimidation
• Denial and blame

There are many outlets that you can turn to for help, including the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domesticviolence.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, and many others.

You need not feel ashamed or trapped in an abusive relationship. Numerous famous people and celebrities are said to be, or have admitted to having been, affected by domestic violence such as Chris Brown, Abraham Lincoln, and Christina Aguilera, to name just a few. These are all amazing individuals who accomplished great things in their lives, despite the pain associated with domestic violence. And so can you.

If you feel that you need assistance, please try to reach out for help. There are many willing to listen and provide assistance.

Photo courtesy of: yardflex.com

Kenley's Hair Accessories

She may have not won Project Runway Season 5, but Kenley sure has created a fashion craze. Always seen with some sort of hair accessory, her look is all the rage. 

Here are some similar hair pieces, all of which are adorable:

MARGAUX Peacock Eye Feather Headband with Green Flower - $32

Nordstrom Tasha Feather Flower Headband - $48

Forever 21 Chiffon Rose Headband - $4.80

For more amazing hair pieces, head over to shopbando.com. You'll be amazed by the items sold on that site!

Photos courtesy of: Shefinds, Forever 21, Esty, and Nordstrom

Leanne Wins Project Runway

I am team Leanne, not only because we share the same first name (although I spell my name differently =), but also because her designs are pretty consistently stunning.

At Bryant Park during the season finale of Project Runway Season 5, she worked with a beautiful Tiffany blue, white, and tan to create an amazing color scheme. And her pieces were gorgeous, with a lot of movement. Leanne's collection surpassed the others by far. Therefore, it is fitting that she was named the winner. 

I hope to see Leanimal at many NY Fashion Weeks to come!

Photos courtesy of: Bravo 

Internet Difficulties

Sorry I have been a little MIA, we are switching Internet providers and it has been quite the hassle. Until I can provide a "real" blog, enjoy these beautiful pictures.

I took these last December while vacationing at Riviera Maya, Mexico. I so wish I were there right now =)

Crazy California Weather

Here in Southern California we have been experiencing fires and wind...bad combination! Today I heard a news report that one of the fires is so hot that if you're standing 30 feet away, your clothes can catch on fire. 

Here are a few photos that I took while driving home. You can't really tell, but there were huge gusts of wind blowing the trees around. You are forewarned, these pictures were taken through my car window =)

Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara

My friend and co-worker, Andrea, is a makeup junkie and recently introduced me to the craziest cosmetics item ever I have ever seen in my entire life: Phenomen'Eyes Mascara by Givenchy. Seriously, I'm half amazed, half terrified of this item.

As you can see from the photo below, its design is quite different from most mascaras. Instead of having a long, skinny wand like we're all familiar with, this product is round and spike-like.

According to the Sephora Web site:

 

"Givenchy Phenomen'eyes Mascara perfectly curls and separates lashes. It has a high-tech, patented round sphere at the tip of the precision wand 

that reaches every lash and adapts to all eye shapes. It's a Sephora exclusive."

I have the worst problem with clumping lashes, so I bet this product would be quite beneficial for me, but still, I'm a bit intimidated. Plus the mascara retails for $27, a little steep for me.

Do you think this item is worth the spend? And better yet, have any of you purchased this item? If so, please share!

Photos courtesy of: Sephora

Gen Art Kicks Off LA Fashion Week '08

Today is the first official day of LA Fashion Week '08, but Gen Art had a "pre-event" on Friday night and I was there with my wonderful boss, Elana, of Good Girl Gone Shopping.

We had quite an adventure getting to Miracle Mile (a strip filled with museums and buildings, including E!), managing to get lost and end up downtown...not ideal at night. Since we were running late, we unfortunately didn't get seats, but were still able to get in.

The show was hosted by Mandy Moore and consisted of several designers showcasing their collections one after another. Here are some photos:

Photos courtesy of: my camera

Loving Leather

Leather jackets are all the rage right now. They are stylish with an edge, and perfect for the cooler months of fall. Finding the right coat for you should be relatively easy, especially since they are sold at almost every store right now.

My motto is: "Why spend a lot when you don't have to?" 

For example, this Marc New York jacket below can be found on Bluefly for $293.25 (on sale):

Now, the following Xhilaration coat is a similar style, but priced far less at Target for $29.99:

Photos courtesy of: Bluefly and Target 

Lisa Marie Presley has Twins

I didn't even know that Lisa Marie Presley, 40, was pregnant, but apparently she had twins earlier this week, on October 7. According to People, the baby girls were healthy, weighing in at 5 lbs each. Now they are at home with mom and dad, musician Michael Lockwood.

Presley has four children, two with her first husband, Danny Keough. Her marriage to Lockwood is her fourth marriage. She was also briefly wedded to Michael Jackson and Nicholas Cage.

Photo courtesy of: Celebrity Baby Scoop

Angelina on the Cover of W Magazine

I love to hate Angelina (Brad Pitt stealing) Jolie. She's full of contradictions that I don't want to figure out: a home wrecker and a humanitarian, crazy but talented...

Well, she's managed to confuse me again. This time it's the cover photo of November's issue if W Magazine.

I, personally, am a believer that breastfeeding should be done in privacy, just because I am not big on seeing a random woman's breast--that's my opinion. But, I feel that this photo doesn't reveal too much. You can't really see Angelina's child suckling. I think that it's a beautiful photo of a beautiful bond between a mother and child. What do you think?

Side note: All of the photos in the issue are said to have been taken by Pitt.

Photo courtesy of: Entertainment Wise

I Want This Sweater!

My new obsession: the boyfriend vest from American Eagle. It's preppy, yet can be worn stylishly with some tights and boots.

Sold for $34.50, I'd say that's not too bad since it's so versatile. Colors to choose from include blue, heather, or black.

Looks like I've got some shopping to do this weekend! I'm looking for a long sweater, to cover my bottom with a pair of leggings. Anyone have any store suggestions?

Photo courtesy of: American Eagle

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: make Sure Your Contributions Count

Upon reading a post by Beauty Tyrant, I was shocked, and frankly, disgusted, to learn that even though a product is packaged to represent breast cancer support, that's not always the case. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there are many companies donating proceeds to the cause, but unfortunately there are some that are not. Make sure you verify that whatever you buy is actually benefiting breast cancer in some way (whether it is preventative methods, care for those affected, help for survivors, etc.). 

Because there has been a lot of attention regarding cosmetics companies "going pink," I want to highlight other options. Here are some items for sale on The Breast Cancer Site, all of which are under $10 and will fund 1% of the fee for a mammogram:

Light of Awareness Candle

$3.95

Pink Ribbon Zippered Lunch Bag

$4.95

Pink Ribbon Plaid Fleece Accessories 

Scarf $8.95, Hat $9.95, Gloves $9.95

I don't know about you, but I'm about to purchase that scarf right now because it's so cute!

While on the site, look for the pink button. Each time you click on it, it helps to fund mammograms. Add the page to your bookmarks and click on it everyday this month, it'll help others more than you may ever know.

Photos courtesy of: The Breast Cancer Site

I ♥ Your Blog!

The gorgeous Marta, over at With Love..., was kind enough to send some love my way. Now I am passing it on to a few of my favorite bloggers:

• I ♥ With Love...
• I ♥ Good Girl Gone Shopping
• I ♥ Share My Fashion Addictions
• I ♥ For the Love of Beauty
• I ♥ Beauty Tyrant

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all who have visited my blog. It really means a lot to me. I enjoy reading all of your posts as well =) 

Photo credit: With Love...

Earthy Scents for Fall

No matter the season, I am an earthy smells kinda gal. I love the scent of amber! I don't know why but it reminds me of my favorite holiday, Halloween. Even though I enjoy this fragrance family year-round, I wanted to bring your attention to two of my favorite perfumes that are perfect for fall.

OK, first up is With Love by Hillary Duff. I know what you're thinking--I'm tired of celebrity scents that aren't that spectacular. But wait! It seriously smells amazing and is quite a steal at only $18.99 at Target. If you like musky scents, this is a must-have. Plus the bottle is adorable.

Also delicious: Sensual Amber by Bath & Body Works. This stuff is so amazing that after I put it on, I literally sniff myself! And you know how B&BW is; you can get this scent in various body sprays and lotions. With the sales that this store always has, you're sure to get a deal on a combo of products. In fact, they are currently offering 2 for $15, or 5 for $30...hello? Amazing!

Does anyone have these fragrances? If not, can you recommend any other amber scents?

Photos courtesy of: Target and Bath & Body Works

My Quirks....Oh There are so Many!

The fabulousness that is Savvy Mode was gracious enough to tag me, so here it goes. I am to list six of my quirks, which are as follows...

1. My food can't touch. If it does, I can't eat it.

2. I won't wet my hands before I was them. This is my attempt to save water.

3. I won't share straws and I rarely share drinks in general.

4. I still won't step on the cracks on the sidewalk--don't want to break my momma's back!

5. I can't have lotion on my hands, it freaks me out. 

6. I type with my left hand only, except for the occasional left hand pointer and thumb used for the shift button and space bar. If I type with two hands I'm extremely slow.

Yup, now you all know I'm a weirdo =) It's your turn to share. I am tagging my wonderful blogging friends, some new and others that I've loved for quite some time: Fatal Attraction 2 Fashion, FriChic, Qin at the Disco, Trendology, Your Everyday Style, and Fashion Frenzy.

(I would love to tag more, but I tried to avoid those who have recently been tagged already =)

On to the rules...

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs letting them know they've been tagged, and
6. Use whatever photo you want (I kinda tweaked this rule)

Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of: mc3design

Physicians Formula Flat Eyeliner Pencil

I have found the greatest eyeliner ever! It's Eye Definer Flat Automatic Eyeliner Pencil by Physicians Formula. 

My mom has a makeup addiction; she buys cosmetics every time she goes to any store. Today as I was getting ready for work, rummaging through her eye shadows and liners, I came across a black pencil. As soon as I grabbed it I noticed that it had a flat kohl. I had never seen a liner like this and I was immediately intrigued.

Once I applied the flat automatic eyeliner pencil, I was in love. Not only does it go on smoothly, it's also easy to apply. That's a huge plus for me because I always have trouble creating an even line.  Additionally, this product is hypoallergenic so it won't affect sensitive eyes.

Priced at a mere $5.95, I say that this item is a great deal. 

Head over to the Physicians Formula Web site for a complete list of all of their products. While you're there be sure to check out the Web Specials.

Photo courtesy of: Physicians Formula

Bargain Shopping...Would You Have Guessed?

Yesterday my mom picked up a cute little sweater for me in my favorite pattern, houndstooth. Along with argyle, anytime I see this print, I gotta have the item! Fun fact: houndstooth actually originated in Scotland.  

This sweater is perfect for work and is so comfortable. Best part, it was a bargain. Would you believe me if I told you it's from Sam's Club and cost less than $20?

Well, believe it because it's true! I've actually bought Angels jerseys (hope they beat Boston tonight!), works pants, and many other items from the warehouse retail chain. You'd be surprised where you can buy a quality fashion item!

Say Bye-Bye to Blemishes

Who doesn't have a blemish every now and again? Unfortunately it's one of those dreaded things that happens occasionally, or frequently if you're me. 

But I have found a reliable product that works to cure acne quickly. It's called Clearskin Immediate Response Treatment and is sold by Avon.

As someone who is no stranger to the dermatologist's office, trust me when I testify to this product's effectiveness. Whenever I have a breakout, I simply dab a little of this gel onto the problem areas and am always pleased with the results. Sometimes though, it does take a few uses to clear up the skin.

Sold for a mere $4.99, it's well-worth the purchase. And right now on Avon's Web site, you can purchase 4 Clearskin products for $10. That's quite a deal! 

Photo courtesy of: Avon

My Hair: Then and Now

Today I made a big change...I dyed my hair! I mean dyed it dyed it...like a major difference in color. I have had blonde hair since I was 16. Whether it was highlights or straight bleached, I have always been on the light-haired side. Until today.

 

I think I am having a quarter-life crisis because I went dark brown with a red tint. I think it's appropriate for fall though.

BEFORE

AFTER

So, what do you think? Honest opinions, it's just hair I can dye it back...although it will take about a year and a half to do so!

Check Out My Article in Fashion Chicago Magazine!

The October 2008 Fashion Chicago Magazine hit the Web today (it's an online magazine) and my first piece is included! In fact, it's the first story in the issue titled: "Cosmetics Colors for Fall." I am thrilled to be involved with this wonderful publication, thanks to my friend, and fashion blogger over at Diary of a Personal Shopper.

I believe you do have to sign up to read the article, but the magazine is free so it'll only cost you a few seconds to register. 

Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog and supports me. It really means a lot =)

Photos courtesy of: Fashion Chicago Magazine

Just Dance

LOVE this song! "Just Dance" by Lady GaGa has been repeating on my ipod for the past two weeks. I can't get enough of the song...and it's not even my style. If you haven't heard the the track, you have to check out the video. 

Today was the first time I actually YouTubed the song and took a looksie. It's definitely a strange video, but Lady GaGa's style is interesting for sure. She got this whole 80s glam rock/Gem/current Christina Aguilera with the bangs look going on. It totally works for her, too.



What do you think?!

The Shoe Saga Continues!

Last week I blogged about my dilemma purchasing boots. I bought the wrong Steve Maddens and I couldn't decide if I should return them or not.

Well I've made up my mind--they're going back because they've already been replaced. The shoes on the left look the same as the Steve Maddens, except they are gray instead of brown. Oh and the other difference? They are Candie's that I found at Kohls and purchased for $37 on sale. So basically, I am saving $50 with this replacement pair!

I asked others' opinions on which pair look better on and the Candie's won hands down. Yay for saving money! Now I just have to wait a few months for the weather to cool down so I can actually wear them =)

While browsing Kohls Web site, I came across an adorable Candie's bag. I'm in love and I gotta have it now. This Faux-Snakeskin Clutch also comes in dark pink and black. The price: $15!

I'm loving me some Kohls right now. They have great work attire.

Photos courtesy of: Kohls