I'm blaming Julia at Belle Vivir for sending me into a pink frenzy this morning. Pop over to Belle Vivir to see the rest of the glorious imagery.
April 09, 2009
L'Aubook Me A Flight
Coincidence or destiny? For no reason other than I'd discovered it in a google search, a few days ago I wrote about L'Auberge Del Mar. Today I open my email to see a mention of the property from a completely different source. Apparenlty, at the time of my post the L'Auberge spa was undergoing a major renovation. They have now completed a comprehensive $26MM remodeling project and have opened what has been named Spa L'Auberge.
Here's the skinny courtesy of Juli B:
"...chances are, you've already scoped out the paradise in SD that is the
new l'auberge del mar. since then, you've been counting down the days
until the resort and spa polished off the rest of its $26 million
remodel. the wait is over. the whimsical 5,000-square-foot spa boasts
surfboard décor, bossa nova music pumping through the treatment rooms
and an outdoor firepit lounge for post-facial relaxation. the spa menu
features a range of treatments that use almost all organic materials.
standouts include the seaside sojourns that incorporate exotic ingreds
and techniques from around the world. try the amazonian escapade that
starts with a red coral scrub and moves on to a cocoa bean, seaweed and
guarana cream massage. or better yet, nab the couple's suite, replete
with a private patio, featuring a shower and a tub."
Between the "amazonian escapade" and the bossa nova music I'm already in heaven just thinking about my SoCal escape. Now, if I were the spa director or PR specialist for the resort property, I'd invite moi to come stay and sample the accommodations and spa services firsthand. After all, how can a jetsetter give a proper review of an establishment if she's never been. If you're reading this, L'Auberge, I am available this spring and will happily tweet and blog the entire experience. All joking aside. Please don't hesitate to get in touch.
April 08, 2009
Entrepreneur of the Day: Rick Jesse of Wall Glamour
If you follow me on Twitter you know I love my UK creatives. There are throngs of endlessly brilliant Brits online, some of whom have become quite good friends. One of my favorites is Rick of Wall Glamour, Interior Wall Art.
Like Blik and a variety of other companies, Wall Glamour creates unique, adhesive designs for the wall. But what I love about Rick's company is that they stay away from traditional or overdone designs. No matter how hard you look, you won't find a chandelier decal in their catalogue - but you will find light bulbs. A tongue-in-cheek twist on the trend. Ahhh, those crazy Brits!
Without further adieu, here's the interview...
Continue reading "Entrepreneur of the Day: Rick Jesse of Wall Glamour" »
The One That Got Away
The Gilt.com sale only began 30 seconds ago, but as one might guess the Louboutins are selling like hotcakes. I was there the moment the sale went live, popped these into my cart and blamo! It looks like these are sold out, out, out in my size. In evr color no less. Nooooo! I am waitlisted, but I'd say realistically these will go down as the ones that got away. Someone, hand me a tissue.
April 07, 2009
"Gilty" pleasures
Wednesday. Louboutins. Gilt.com. If you aren't signed up and need an invite let me know. But Wednesday is THE day to get those red-soled shoes you've been coveting. Sale begins at noon EDT today.
April 06, 2009
Del Mar-velous
It's beach time. No... maybe not outside (it happens to be snowing here today even though it was 67 yesterday and will be 60 again tomorrow), but I'm craving sand, surf and sunshine. My ideal oceanfront trifecta right now consists of poolside cabanas, great seafood restaurants and an amazing spa. Where to go? Where to go?
I'm thinking the L'Auberge Del Mar may hold the answer. If you've been to the adorable village that is Del Mar you've no doubt fallen in love with it like I have. It's been about two years since Mr. Venti and I were there on vacation - and I'm thinking it's time we returned. I've got a good case fo spring fever lately.
Del Mar is tiny from what I can tell. But there's so much to do in and around the little bubble of beachfront fabulousness. It is minutes from La Jolla, a short drive from San Diego and (for the outlet lovers I know) a hop skip and a jump from some great outlets (including Theory, BCBG and a Barney's).
If that wasn't enough, there is a race track. I'm not a betting woman, but I could be tempted to place a wager or two on a horse if prompted. Plus, I adore any opportunity to get more glammed up than necessary - as seems to be de rigeur at the races. Time to bring out my big sunglasses and even bigger hat!
If you've been to L'Auberge, I'd love to hear about your stay (and your spa experience). From what I can tell it looks absolutely perfect for my spring getaway. Oh... and if you've got any tips for picking winners at the races, do tell!
April 03, 2009
It's The Weekend. Relax a Little.
Love you. Catch you Monday. Enjoy the reprieve!
April 02, 2009
Living Your Dreams. Lesson One: Tenacity
Paloma has the best story on her blog right now. In short, it tells of a woman who wanted a home so badly that she continued to try to buy it even though someone had just purchased the property. Angie, the dream chaser in question, relentlessly "reminded" the owners for the better part of a year that if they decided the home wasn't their dream home - it surely was hers. Today? She's living the sweet life in her dream home.
Sometimes "no" is just the first part of someone saying "not now"...so keep trying. Keep pursuing. Keep at it. Don't ever, ever give up if you truly want to achieve something.
Tell me, what are you letting stand in the way of your dreams?
April 01, 2009
My Beauty Essentials
InStyle does such a great job each year of the "best of" beauty buys. Before I subscribed, I would wait with anticipation for this amazing issue. Of course, now everyone has their version. 145 products you can't live without, Top 100 Beauty Must-Haves, etc.
And in the spirit of spring (for this is when those yummy issues hit the stands) I thought I'd share my own gotta-have-it-or-I-might-just-die products. I'd love to know yours as well!
For starters, from the neck down, I adore fresh. Their Brown Sugar Body Polish *sigh* is heaven. I delayed buying it for so long because it seemed overpriced. I was wrong. It is so vastly different from the other body scrubs I've used. The oil has more 'slip' and the granules of sugar are so much more textured. In this case, a little really does go a long way. I've never tried anything quite like this. It the allows me to achieve the supreme smoothness than this product allows. It is truly wonderful.
After, I use the fresh Sugar Lychee Body Lotion. This duo keeps me happy and smooth - and the scent is subtle enough to leave you open to any fragrance of your choice. Although.. I do also use an amazing Kiehl's body moisturizer as well. Girl needs options!
I've discussed my love of the Bliss Labs collection ad nauseum here before. So let's just call these perennial favorites. Specifically the oxygenating mask, Youth as We Know It serum and Youth as We Know It Moisture Cream are irreplaceable in my nighttime beauty arsenal.
Enter... my new BFF. I'm loving the Dr. Brandt Lineless Cream for day. Am I the only one who thinks it's particularly challenging to find the right moisturizer to wear during the day? I have the most difficult time. But now I just apply this with my Clarins UV 40 every day. That's right. UV 40, baby. It's the only way to go.
And now, for the makeup...
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. It's amazing, in my opinion. The "nude" shade matches my slightly yellow/olive skin perfectly. It offers just enough coverage while still allowing "my skin" to be visible. I've recently begun to use her primer beforehand as well. It does seem to help the tinted moisturizer adhere a bit better, but I like to use as few products as possible to achieve the best result. So...I'd say you (and I) can live without the primer (sorry, makeup artists...I'm a tough sell!)
While we're here, I loooove her "undercover pot" concealer. I can't say enough good things about it. One side of the product is for under the eyes, the other is for any discoloration on the face you'd love to downplay. Put it this way, this finally took the place of my Dior SkinFlash - which I was hoarding. LOL.
NARS Oragsm blush. What can I say. It's simply the best.
Chanel Glossimers are exactly what I look for in a gloss. Sheer with the right amount of color deposit. Never sticky. The perfect amount of shine. Some have shimmer. Some do not. I do prefer shimmer on the lips. Of all the wonderful options at the counter, I gravitate towards "Glow" the most. At least right now. Who knows what they'll release next :)
And my holy grail of shadows? Chanel Dunes. The quad contains a matte espresso, a shimmery taupe (perfection!), an almond color and the most perfect shade of shimmery peachy pink. It really is the quad I've been searching for my entire life. I can't believe how much time I wasted with the other collections. This really is a great group of colors that can be worn to look subtle or va-va-voom dramatic. I'm in heaven.
And, for that perfect bit of shimmer wherever you want it (brow bones, corners of the eyes, cheek bones...) Imust have the Chanel Poudre Douce Almond Powder. I nabbed the very last one at the department store I was just at. And if you don't buy them first, I'm out to buy up all of them I can. It's that good.
So... how about you? What are your beauty essentials?
Authored by designer Franki Durbin.
Your stylish guide for living a glamorous, adventurous life.
Get in touch | About me
Your stylish guide for living a glamorous, adventurous life.
Get in touch | About me
