Down with JCP?

Oh yes - this is so for me!  After I spied the great handbag I posted on Facebook this past week, I went browsing for more treasures online and found several great looks perfect for Spring & Summer... Now all we need is for the sun to cooperate here in LA and all will be well in the world!

Lovely looks for work...

And for play!

Shop these great looks HERE

Happy Sundae!

I'm addicted to super strong espresso and I couldn't dream of a world without ice cream, so the amazing combination of the two in an Italian Sundae called Affogato is what I've been creating lately.  Bon Appetit did an article called The Adult Sundae (shown here) back in May 2011 and it's held a special place on my fridge to remind me to serve as a super easy dessert that combines an after dinner sweet with a little boost of energy needed after a hearty meal. 

Finished with an additional drizzle of espresso and sidelined with some gingersnap biscuits I found at Trader Joe's - perfect dipping cookie!

If you have a single serving coffee maker you could brew one espresso K-cup per person into a traditional size coffee or tea cup (I bought the CBTL machine after testing and found it does make the best tasting, strongest espresso - (Keurig is no comparison).

Add in a small scoop of your favorite, rich vanilla ice cream (a rich chocolate is delicious as well).

I used decaf espresso (which seems like an oxymoron) just to test the flavor and it was perfect!

Topped it off with a little grated cinnamon, but as mentioned in the BA Daily article you could do cocoa powder, ground hazelnuts or a drizzle of salted caramel sauce.  YUM!

Wax On!

During my February trip to NYC I popped into Zara and found these fantastic waxed denim black jeans and they have easily remained one of my favorite purchases of the year.  Waxed denim hit retail around Fall last year and are still going strong and now offered in some spring colors like cream and a dusty pink-beige.  They are a great alternative to the heavier leather look-alikes and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion - Think jeans and a tucked in tee by day and silky top with some bright colored heels by night.  You could even take a pair of jeans or even an old jean jacket you forgot about and give them the wax treatment thanks to a great DIY from shown below (note - skinny jeans work best).

I bought this pair from Zara - Love the gold zipper details on the hip as well as at the ankles.

I think they look best with a blousy top tucked in... And of course a bit of a heel helps to amplify the already great slimming effect they have.

ZARA

Courtesy of a great blog ~ Because I'm Addicted ~ You can find details for a super easy DIY here.

Big, Bright Manicure

It's the end of March (Whew - what a month!) and I think it's time to sideline the dark colored manicures from Fall & Winter (shown here & here) and put on a nice, bright punchy color for Spring.  My favorite so far is from OPI called Big Hair... Big Nails.  It was part of their TEXAS Collection that debuted 2011 and still remains a great choice for an orangie-pink pop of color.

Big Hair... Big Nails

Kiss the Blarney...Stone

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  It is no secret that I have loved all the looks of this past Awards Season, but my top pick out of all the red carpet stunners has been Emma Stone.  Maybe she has the edge with her red hair, freckles and quick wit (wink, wink), but as you can see from the amazing captures below - she can pull off the color green like no other!

Gucci tuxedo jacket @ The People's Choice Awards.  I'll be searching for a "look-alike" at my favorite shops!

Love these bold teardrops.

If only this dress was part of his Target Collection!

A Dolce & Gabbana paired perfectly with leopard platforms.

Happy Things #2

OK - Please pardon my lack of "themed" posts lately... My mind is still completely scattered with projects and business travel (is it April yet?).  I do have little bits of focus throughout my day and love taking the time to document the fun things I come across...  Here are few from this past week:

Dots cupcakes in Pasadena... Instant happiness in an adorable polka-dot box... I did have to take a quick bite of the chocolate mint before I could snap the pic. 

Finally burned the candle I received from The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica.  Now my bedroom smells as lovely as the moment you step into their super stylish lobby.  If you have not been there yet, it is a must for drinks in The Penthouse (make sure you get a banquette with a view). 

"Ready for Spring" bangle to brighten up any jeans & tee outfit (not to mention your mood)... Forever 21.

New bumble bee embroidered hand towels from HomeGoods - Crisp, white, wonderful!

And while this seems like ages ago, great memory of a night out with the girls (when more free time was penciled in the schedule).

Cheers to you all!  Let's stay busy, but sane!

Happy Things

Today marks the last day of "the calm before the storm" for me with a ton of back to back work projects taking over my life for the rest of the month.  While I'm so grateful to be busy, I also know myself well enough that if I am to be effective I have to take a moment to decompress and prepare.  So, today I am going to do just that and have already discovered a few things that are going to make it much easier to just relax and enjoy the weekend!

A strong serving of cinnamon hazelnut coffee straight from the french press

Backyard discovery that the potted cyclamens are all in full bloom!

A new Pinot Noir to share with friends...or not ;)

Constant smiles watching Moxie play with her app on the ipad

And to make sure and maintain a sunny disposition ~ A new shimmery bronzer from Tart.

Surround yourself with things that make you feel great & have a fantastic weekend!