Winter Beauty Tips :D

For the harsh winter months it's important to protect our skin more than ever! That's why a good moisturizer is essential. I'll recommend one from Clinique

Prices range to $12.50-$50
A good moisturizer is the ultimate base for makeup. It should go in the order of Clean face,Moisturizer,Wait,Primer,Wait then Foundation.Clinique is a wee bit expensive but it truly works!Enriched with Vitamin E to quench thirsty skin;There's lotion and gel for all skin types oily,combination and dry with SPF.

Ever wonder how some women seem to have the glow during this season? It's either: they're in love,pregnant,both or they use highlighters and bronzers!

They're highlighter powder and creams but you can also use gold eyeshadow without sublte to no shimmer to "highlight" your features. Your features can be your cheekbones,brow bone etc. Using a powder/blush brush brush up towards the hairline.

Bronzer like this one from NARS gives a natural glow that's ideal for all skin types

$32;It has a subtle shimmer

Now! What about your beautiful lips? It's crucial to keep them moisturized and looking kissable.Have you noticed the abundance of lip treatment ads lately? I honestly can't recommend you a lip plumper. I'm very blessed in that area but my favorite lip gloss beside the Classic Cherry chapstick is Dylan Candys Bar Lip Saver
$3.50

They're available in an array of delicious flavors. Small and super cute!

"Winter Wonderland Look"
I came up with this last year on a complete whim. Every time I wear it I get tons of compliments.
What you'll need:
-White Eyeshadow -Eyeliner brush
-Blush -Powder brush
-Primer -Concealer brush
-Moisturizer
-Mascara
-Foundation
-Concealer
-Pink lipstick or gloss

1) Every artist must work with a clean canvas....After washing your face,apply moisturizer. Wait five minutes before applying an oil free face primer.A face primer sets your makeup for a matte finish.

2) This step is optional.If you regularly use foundation,apply after primer.Wait five minutes for makeup to set and apply concealer with your fingertips or brush to conceal dark spots,dark circles and acne.

3)Now the magic begins. Using an EYELINER brush dip into white eyeshadow and line the upper and lower eyelids.Don't try to make a straight line right away!!! Pace yourself,try making small dots and connect them. Fact:White eyeshadow opens your eyes and appears to make them bigger. Note we're going for a thin line. Be careful not to get the powder in your eyes!

4)Apply mascara,I recommend 4-5 coats. Wipe away excess dust of your face and prepare to apply blush.

5)The correct way to apply blush to SMILE and apply the powder to the "apple of your cheeks" towards your hairline.

6)If you're using lipstick. Line the lips with a pink liner.Moisturize lips with a clear gloss and add lipstick with a lip brush (preferred) than using it straight out the tube. Its better for a softer look.Rub your lips together,fix the edges and pucker UP!

&There you have it :D
**I love rocking bouncy curls with this. The white eyeshadow symbolizes snow,get it?

XOXO

Daydreaming

My lovelies, our babysitter called in sick today, so Toby and I are hanging out but I wanted to say hello! Hope you have a lovely afternoon and see you tomorrow. xoxo

P.S. Five daydreamy posts for a rainy afternoon: Paris, canoeing, Iceland, the ocean, smooches.

(Photo by Aya Brackett)

Fabric hair tie

Since Toby arrived on the scene, I've worn a ponytail almost every day. So, in an effort to jazz things up, I was happy to come across this idea of using a piece of fabric instead of a hair tie. Simple and pretty, don't you think?

Giant clothes pin

What a rad installation in Belgium!

(Via The Debonaire, via Milk)

Have a cozy weekend.

My lovelies, what are you up to this weekend? Alex had to work today (drag!), but tonight we're having a few friends over, and tomorrow we're going sweater shopping. Most of all, I'm really excited for this coming week, when I'll be kicking off my holiday gift guide! Have a good weekend, my sweets, and enjoy the leftovers. xoxoxo

Sweet and simple birth announcement.

What a pretty idea to dress up chairs.

I forgot how good Nerd Boyfriend is. (Thanks for the reminder, Mary)

I'm loving the new Beatles ads.

10 perfect party dresses...

...and what to wear underneath.

This dessert table takes the cake.

Thumbs up for polar bear wallpaper.

Thanks for the amazing cookies, Amanda! We ate them in record time.

And, lastly, one of my sponsors, Merrymakers, is offering a 20% discount with the code CUPOFJO. They make funny dolls, including an awesome Abe Lincoln. And don't forget to order your holiday cards!

Have a good one. xoxo

(Photo by Rose & Crown)

Friday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Simone Perele, a gorgeous lingerie company founded sixty years ago in Paris. They're offering one lucky winner a $200 gift certificate to splurge on pretty lacy things. They have great basics (such as strapless bras to wear under party dresses), as well as more romantic pieces to wear all on their own. (I have the Nina bra and love it.)

For a chance to win, please visit Simone Perele (and consider signing up or their newsletter), and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random on Monday. Good luck!

Update: Kay B. is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. xo 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, my sweet readers! Have a wonderful break. We're going to our friends' house in Brooklyn; they have a fireplace and a backyard with a koi pond, which I'm excited to show Toby. And, just for fun, here are Gourmet Magazine's pumpkin recipes, since pumpkin is The Most Delicious Ingredient Ever. Have a delicious holiday! xoxoxo

P.S. On a similar note, loose pants.

LANVIN FOR H&M -- THE "HAUTE COUTURE" SHOW

Art at it's highest quality and for H&M? Lovely.

Mini street style

Aww, what a little cutie! It's not always easy being a fashionista. :) Still, I'm going to taking a tip from her and roll my jeans today.

(Photo by Stockholm Street Style, via Pinterest)

Street Style is back!

New York

The baby pink blouse with a Utilitarian cargo pant gives a outfit a feminine yet tough look.


New York

The mix of textures and prints is a tricky thing. But the leopard cardigan compliments the tee and skirt instead of overwhelming it.


Melbourne

All black =classic not scary. The sheer and flats give it a more casual aesthetic.


Milan

How to wear a Camo jacket 101


Copenhagen

I love this....I don't know where to start. The two toned hair,the sunglasses,the Cindy Crawford mole. I'm in love:-)



Berlin

Shawls are a great to throw over and go in the fall and early winter time. As you can see,MEN can pull this off flawlessly.



London

Louboutins and a cape-Modern day Wonderwoman?


London

Acrylic sweaters are usually a no but this is an exception. Paired with leggings and peekaboo flats it creates a fun and comfy outfit.

Follow me on twitter @thesymphony-life and on facebook-check the sidebar for a direct link!

XOXO

On a musical note...

THESE AMAZING ALBUMS ARE IN STORES NOW! ALSO AVAILABLE ON ITUNES & AMAZON. Support good music!

"LOUD"-Rihanna's 5th album gives us the tantalizing Urban Pop we crave.And that made the Bajan songstress a household name. With tracks like "What's my name" "Only girl in the world" and "Raining Men" this is definitely another Platinum record for the 22 year old beauty.


"My beautiful dark twisted fantasy"-Kanye West's 5th album is the lovechild of his last album "808's and Heartbreak" and "Late Registration". The controversial rap genius creates the perfect Hip Hop album with tracks like "Blame Game" ft. Kid Cudi and the hit "Runaway" with Pusha T. Mr. West has done it again with perfect sampling,flawless metaphors and melodic delivery.


"Pink Friday"-Nicki Minaj's debut album is full of wacky voices,catchy beats and good lyrics.The worlds of Pop and Hip/Hop-Rap collide on this record. Miss Minaj rose to fame with her many features this year & seemingly simple defeat of conquering the billboard charts without an album. This is truly a treat from the opener "I'm the Best" to super pop bonus tracks like "Girls fall like dominoes". Nicki also has her own pink lipstick from M.A.C. titled "Pink Friday".

Locket love

Artist Alyson Fox and jewelry studio Verabel have collaborated to make these a-maz-ing lockets. Aren't they beautiful?

(Via Lola is Beauty)

Saturday morning

Toby had a bit of a tummy ache on Saturday, so we spent the morning lounging around. It was really fun to lie around doing nothing except playing with his bird toy and giving raspberries.

P.S. You know when you were a little kid and your parents were your safe haven? It's strange/amazing to be that for someone now. Sometime I think, wait, I can't be a mom, I'm just a random person, I don't know all the answers! But I guess our moms were the same way? I still sort of think my mom knows everything.

Have a cozy weekend

My lovelies, what are you up to this weekend? Toby had a tummy ache today, so we spent most of the morning cuddling with him in our bed. Thankfully now he's feeling better and sleeping peacefully (whew!), so Alex and I are going to make dinner and watch 30 Rock. Hope you have a great one, and here are a few great links from around the web...

A few sweet readers asked where I got these jeans; they're from Anthropologie. (I love them and highly recommend them.)

My other favorite pair of pants.

He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.

Very exciting about Will and Kate!

If you're in a laugh-y mood, this video is hilarious.

A peek at J. Crew's spring collection. (Via The Senses Five)

A great argument for living in Boise.

Baby legwarmers!

The genius of modern art.

What pretty vintage shoes.

An impressive pancake. Yes, pancake.

Excited for Matchbook Magazine!

Have a great rest-of-the-weekend. xoxo

(Photo by Stephany Alves, via Most Beautiful Darling)

Home inspiration: Brooklyn brownstone

My friends Mike and Emma shared photos of their Brooklyn brownstone on Design*Sponge this week, and it's as quirky and fun as they are. The coolest part? They have an actual Alex Katz painting in their living room. They found it on eBay for a deal, since it had a small tear in the corner. ("I could care less," Emma says.) Incredible.

And on their perfect paint color: "When we bought the house, the walls were orange—sherbet orange—it was very Santa Fe," says Emma. "We knew we had to get rid of the orange. We spent a lot of time thinking about blues and greys, and this is Wedgewood Blue."

P.S. Their awesome Manhattan wedding.

(Photos by David Land)

Thursday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Attiser, a collection of beautiful linens made with handmade block-printed Indian textiles. (My sister's husband's family is from India, and ever since their wedding--with all the stunning saris--I've been enamored with Indian prints.) The shop is offering their amethyst amore quilt, which would work beautifully as a cozy bedspread or picnic blanket.

For a chance to win, please visit Attiser and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! xoUpdate: Jillian from Chicago is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing.

A study in brown

A romper. Tomboy pajamas are so sexy.
A tote bag filled with delicious foods = fabulous and easy holiday gift. (New York Magazine has four yummy suggestions.)
A wooden mobile. This would look great in a grown-up room, too.

Toby rides a bike

Alex, Toby and I went on a walk last weekend, and we couldn't help posing Toby on a rad Bianchi road bike. We just wanted to plant the seed. :)

P.S. Note the hilarious disproportion of his upper body and lower body. I love babies!!!

Thigh High/Over the knee Boots: Yay or Nay

Louis Vuitton
This may just be one of the biggest fashion debates of all time. Some may shudder at the very thought and others cannot resist the leathery temptation.The only problem is the designers don’t actually care about the implied eroticism of the thigh-high boots. In fact, they are frequently related to eroticism, boot fetishism, prostitutes and professional dominatrices, so it’s a good idea to know how to wear them properly.Sexy is not even the word...how about slightly cheeky aka slutty. But when there's a will there's a WAY!

Emilio Pucci
Ways to wear these boots:
.Long jackets w/skinnies,leggings
.Sweater Dresses
.Off the shoulder sweaters
.Ponchos
.Cardigans
Also try more demure colors like black, gray, brown, green and tan.Word to the wise ladies 5'4" under shouldn't wear these styles as it will you swallow you and make you look like puss in boots ***Yay,Shrek reference.

Antonio Berardi

Chloe

Giuseppe-Zanotti

I gotta go with...YAY! Proceed with caution

Natural nursery

Textile designer Lena Corwin is putting together the loveliest nursery for her little boy. She pays great attention to natural materials (which she talks about on her wonderful new baby blog.) What a lucky little man!

P.S. The crib sheet is from Garnet Hill; the blue blanket is from Pendleton, and the fish mobile is by Flensted.

heartbeat// mia@orange

film by ania that we stylized

model mia@orange

Ban.do shoe clips

My dressy shoes are pretty ho-hum (black heels, black flats, pink heels), so I was excited to discover ban.do's new shoe clips. They'd be perfect for holiday parties!

Spotlight: Teo Jasmin

Teo Jasmin is an interior design company which was founded by Angéline
Bailly in 2001. They started to specialize in digital printing on wall
canvas but later on expanded their range of products with cushions and
classic furniture, still using the same digital process on them.
Ever since, Teo Jasmin never stops to amaze us for its creativity. New
collections are launched twice a year. Vintage cars are the stars of the new
collection 2010 with Mini and famous 2CV. Previous and still successful
collections such as the Coca Cola, DC Comics, Beatles, NYC, London and Paris
are still around! Sacs à mains, coussin déco, tableau déco Teo Jasmin.
Link:TeoJasmin

I LOVE LOVE this company-their designs are nothing like you've EVER seen before. This is definitely for the trendsetters out there :)They specialize in cushions,tables,chairs and handbags!!!
You should add Teo Jasmin on facebook & twitter:
Facebook
Twitter
For my Non french speaking followers,google Teo Jamsin to translate the page!