I'll be back!

Have a great week, see you on the Fourth!

Product Recommendation

While I was waiting for my kids to get their hair cut last week, the girl at the Aveda salon offered to do a free make-up consultation. Though I wasn't really in the market for any products, I thought what the heck, it'll kill some time. Except for the fact that she was a little heavy-handed (as in this was make-up better suited for Lindsay Lohan on club-hopping night), I did fall in love with the foundation she used on me. 

Aveda Inner Light. It's actually a tinted moisturizer, which I always thought wouldn't give enough coverage, but this does. I have very dry skin and it has been looking very dewy and feeling really moisturized at the end of the day. I've been applying it with a foundation brush and it blends in really well.

The Aveda website says it is sold out, but hopefully your local salon will have it in stock. I got it from Natural Alternatives in Turkey Creek.

A Change is A-Comin'

I finished the July issue of Vogue with my coffee this morning. I was excited to read the following on the "Point of View" page, which sets the tone for the issue:

"I AM WOMAN. Hear me roar. Hear me issue stock-purchase orders from the Wall Street trading floor. I am woman; I am not girl. I do not emulate the pop-burlesque fashion stylings of Ke$ha or Katy Perry. I do not aspire to PASSE MORNING-AFTER CHIC, with bird's-nest hair and shredded leather leggings. No. Of Lana Turner and Barbara Stanwyck - and Lena Horne - I sing.

(Have you felt the smooth, snug tug of fine leather gloves being pulled on? Have you considered the REBELLION, the nonconformity, inherent today in a Mamie Eisenhower knit suit? Have you worn a crinoline lately?)

Reader, if you're older than fourteen, fashion for fall 2010 offers more WEARABLE OPTIONS than it has in eons. Skirts fall below mid-thigh. Designers are giving us dead-cool-but-still-practical STREETWEAR UNIFORMS for work or school. Black-with-black is totally back.

Can we get an "Amen" up in here?"

I find this very exciting!! Selfishly, this is perfect timing for me to have the trends turning more ladylike. It could (should) mean that my peers and I won't have to wonder if we can carry off the latest looks in the stores because we aren't 22 anymore. And all of my friends with daughters might actually be able to buy them clothes that don't look like they are sending them out to their pimps for the evening!

So get out your kitten heels and get ready! And my teenaged friends, if you haven't heard of Barbara Stanwyck or Lena Horne, get thyself to Google Images ASAP!

Please Follow!

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Dining Room by Target

There is so much good-looking furniture on the Target website that it is ridiculous! Of course it is not heirloom quality, but how many of us still purchase pieces to pass down to our children? It's more about the trends these days, with the exception of a very few timeless pieces. I would rather spend less money and be able to update every few years as tastes change.

Here is what I might choose for a dining room:

Et Voila! Look for other room ideas to come: bedroom and living room, for sure!

Partial to Perpendicular

My friend Mitzi's fun Perpendicular line is now up and running in the Shops at Southern Market here in Knoxville. Just ask at the front desk and they will point you in the right direction: I always get a little lost in there! She is currently sharing a booth with another retailer, but in August she will be taking over a great corner location all her own! Mitzi also is showing some jewelry in a separate spot right by the front register. She is carrying some of the Holly's Handcrafted Design pieces I have blogged about previously, with lots of other on-trend pieces.

Here are some of the Perpendicular "frivolous" objects:

I have the dark brown cross cuff; love it!

Everything from cute tee shirts to fun jewelry and unique artwork

One of these hands would be great tucked into a bookshelf for a little whimsy.

New handpainted shells by artist Sarah Stewart - so pretty! She will customize, too!

Here's one of her shells in its natural habitat!

I'm pretty sure this is the tee I saw Mitzi in last year that made me wonder where she gets her great clothes! Now she's making them accessible to us, yay! The line is Starr Luna, and they are so soft and luxurious! Underneath the back neckline is this:

Great message to leave in your wake, huh?!

I think this one is so fun!

And, last but not least, this is the one I got. I love how Mitzi styled it with those long pearls, so I got those, too! Can't wait to wear it -- I'll take a pic for you when I do!

The Southern Market shops are located in the Homberg area of West Knoxville. Have fun! Oh, and Perpendicular is on Facebook and also has a website here.

Powder Your Nose

A friend recently asked me for some paint color suggestions for the downstairs half-bath in her new house (I still call them powder rooms, is that old fashioned?)

I suggested she not worry about matching the colors to the rest of the downstairs but instead do something dramatic. This is a great place to go a little crazy with color or pattern - the door is always closed so it doesn't need to match anything! And your guests will love walking into an exotic little room.

Here is some inspiration: All pics are from Lonny Magazine or Apartment Therapy.









Go crazy!

Vignette

This is my bedside table. I just put a vase of white hydrangeas from my garden there. The painting is of my mom, done by her mom in 1962, the year she was married. Then I have my little Buddha, and an Hermes box (that contained my favorite birthday present!). I like how the orange of the box picks up the reddish highlights of my mom's hair, and also the contrast of it against the blue vase. Orange and blue are opposites on the color wheel, so they go well together.

I guess you could call this Spiritual Materialism? All things in moderation, as they say!

Bathing Suit of the Year

I LOVE the new tulle suits from J.Crew! So elegant! I actually like the buff color the best, but the details of the fabric show best in this blue color:






This nude tank suit is another one that I love. Apparently, so do a lot of other people, because the only size available now is a 12. Hopefully they will get more in stock!

SATC2

Last night was the New York City premiere of Sex and the City 2. Which dress do you like the best? I vote for SJP in Valentino!

Lazy Sunday

I spend too much time dreaming about owning a place at the beach, when I have a beautiful yard of my own to enjoy any time I want to. I hope all of you have carved out some small spot to enjoy the outdoors close to home. On this late Sunday afternoon, I sat and read this:

While drinking this:


and sitting here:

I still can't wait to get to the beach next month, but this was a pretty nice afternoon, I have to say!

Dive in

What I would give to be sitting by this pool in the Hamptons today, cold drink in hand. Sigh.
Courtesy of Habitually Chic blog.

My Front Door

I'm so happy with our new front door. I love the red, and the hardware, and the flag, and especially my jasmine that has taken off like crazy this spring!

Before and After

Here are some fun befores-and-afters from the House Beautiful website. They cheated a little by doing the before pics in black and white, but they are still very impressive makeovers. Note the painted doors in the "after" bedroom, and the white fireplace and bookshelves. Paint is easy and inexpensive to do!