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Friday, November 26, 2010

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Black Friday Online Sales

Keep Shoes : 30-50% off select styles until 11/28

Jules Smith Jewelry : up to 60% off until 12/3

Monet Jewelry : 30% off everything (including sale) + free shipping until 11/29

The Sak Handbags : Up to 60% off select items + free shipping

Swatch Watches : 30% off select styles until 12/5


Mimoco designer flash drives : 30% off everything + free shipping over $30 until 11/29

MoMa store : free shipping on orders over $100 until 11/28 @ 11 PM EST with code 4SHIP

Williams Sonoma Home: 20% off everything + free shipping until 11/30

Timbuk2 messenger bags and accessories : up to 50% off select items until 11/29


Mod Cloth : 25% off select items + free shipping over $75

American Apparel : 20% off everything in stores (including sale) today only

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

New Ornaments from Jonathan Adler



Pop Menagerie Elephant Ornament, $28


Elephant Ornament, $24


Hippo Ornament, $24


Owl Ornament, $24

See more of the Jonathan Alder Holiday 2010 collection here.

Audrey Jeanne Prints @ L’Affiche Moderne



From the L’Affiche Moderne website:

"We are very happy to present you this week four exclusive prints by French illustrator Audrey Jeanne. We invite you to have a taste of France with an alphabet poster en français and with a cute retro Paris print! Or you can just enjoy the sweetness of the flowers and the bird. Audrey Jeanne is a young designer who combines illustration with the creation of small objects. Her refreshing minimalist and retro style can be found on badges, textiles, and stationery."



Amy Sol "Distant Star" Print Release

“Distant Star”, $80 USD shipped flat
limited edition of 150
signed and numbered


print release on Saturday, November 27th, 2010 @ 2:00pm Pacific Time. Preorder here.

Amy Sol x ClickforArt : Sea Ice Caravel (Tea Set)


Amy Sol x ClickforArt Sea Ice Caravel (Tea Set), £39.00

From the ClickforArt website:

"New for Series Two - not only is the Cup and Saucer full sized for Tea/Coffee drinkers - but also each cup, saucer and art print is sequentially numbered. Included inside the presentation box is an artist signed & sequentially numbered art print, plus a certificate of authenticity with Artist Bio. The Cup stands 60mm (2 1/2") high and 87mm (3 1/2") across. Whilst the saucer is 160mm (6 1/4") across."



Tuesday, November 23, 2010

10 Tips For Weaving The Hottest Runway Trends Into Your Day-to-Day Looks

With the internet, an abundance of second hand stores and websites, fashion blogs, countless fashion magazines, and many other fashion resources, it is becoming easier than ever to take runway styles and transfer those looks to your own wardrobe in fun and cost effective ways. Here are 10 simple (and affordable) tips for bringing runway looking into to your own home:

1. Sleek basics. Stock up on basics in essential colors like black, white and cream. Basics are timeless and having a good supply in both form and loose fitting versions will ensure that you always have something great to wear.

2. Bold accessories. Add a few bold accessories to any outfit for an extra effect. Even campy, overly gaudy and dated looking pieces will work (right now it seems like anything goes). Bold accessories are especially good for evening looks.

3. Pattern mixing. Mix patterns in fun ways and experiment, experiment, experiment. Its difficult to tell if a combo will work unless you try it- you'll be surprised at what you can get away with! My current favorite is mixing plaids with florals.

4. Think before you throw it out. Clothes that look worn out or simply outdated can be transformed into the most chic pieces. Trends are constantly being revived so you never know when you might want that weird 80s jacket you just threw in the trash bin. "Distressed" pieces are also great for layering.

5. Multipurpose pieces. Learn how to get the most out of your wardrobe by making pieces multipurpose. Use that scarf as a belt, a headband, a bracelet, a headbow... the possibilities are endless. Figure out new ways to wear conventional things.

6. Themes. Themes are good, but its also easy to get carried away. Learn to keep themed looks subtle and also figure out new ways to mix themes. Perhaps a mod Parisian look? An angelic boho style. Try some uncharted territories.

7. Buy some vintage/second hand. Some of my best finds have come from the thrift store! Thrifting is great because its soo easy to find a nice mixture of both classic and contemporary looks, mostly at very agreeable prices and also eco-friendly!

8. Break with convention. Add some not so conventional/not necessarily fashionable pieces to your wardrobe. I saw someone once use an Ipod shuffle as a hair clip and it was actually pretty cute. Even something a little more common (but becoming less and less common place) like a watch will add some flare.

9. Experiment with makeup and hair. Runway looks are always bringing innovation into the world of makeup application and hair. Check out the latest runway shows- they will surely bring some hair and makeup inspiration.

10. Embrace sales. Sales are a fashionista's best friend. I totally support rocking things that are out of season or mixing and matching seasonal pieces. Whether its picking up last season's best pieces, basics or next season's sure winners, picking up sales items means picking up more items in the long run and there is surely nothing wrong with having a few extra pieces in the closet. :)

Most importantly, have fun! Take the time to experiment with your casual, day to day looks- I think you'll be pleased with what you can accomplish.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Kenmore blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

My "Favorite" Road Trip

Alright ladies and gents, its random story time. This one just happens to be about tires. I know your first reaction might be to yawn, but this story comes with an important lesson. You see, I know that its sometimes easy to glance over the importance of tires... much of the time they are super reliable and easily forgotten (except those few seconds it takes to check tire pressure). Or if a sort of tire disaster happens....

One of my favorite road trip experiences happened when I was just a wee child of no more than 10 years old. My mother was driving me and my brother up from California to Seattle during one of our yearly Seattle road trips, and out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere- flat tire. In this particular section of the 5 freeway houses, people. and anything other than trees were very sparse. This was also a time when not everyone owned a cell phone (we didn't) and when certain moms (i.e. mine) didn't know how to change flats. I think from the very instance I saw the flat tire the waterworks began. My first thought was that we were very certainly doomed as we had no access to a phone and no way of getting help except from a very random stranger.

A short way down the road we were lucky enough to actually find a house... but it "NO TRESSPASSING" all across the front gate. My mom jumped the fence anyway. However, her knock at the door went unanswered and we crawled back out to the road and signalled for help. A motorist finally stopped by and changed our tire for us (whew). Other than the fear of driving with no spare tire until we reached the next major city, the relief of just being alive was good enough for me.

You might be wondering why this traumatic experience would be my favorite. Well, it was the first major lesson I had in safety. Even things that might seem relatively minor in retrospect, well, they often aren't. Tires being no exception. So I definitely urge all my readers out there to make sure your tires are up to par, watch them for wear, know how to change them should they get flat and be aware of other driving related skills that may some day come in handy.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Discount Tire blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card and be entered for a chance to win a prize valued at $1,000. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Editing & Creating Beautiful Digital Photo Projects

With the bustle of the holiday season, no time is better than now to for diving into those personal digital photo projects. Whether you use digital photos to personalize gifts, update your blog, or as a way of staying in touch with friends and family- sharing is made so much easier if you follow a few steps.

Here are 5 of my favorite tips for editing and creating beautiful digital photo projects:

1. Organization is key. Create an organization system on your computer or online that works best for you (one that makes photos easiest to locate). A few common methods would be to organize by date, names of individuals in photos, or names of events. My personal favorite method is to create folders by category (people, places, pets, etc.) and then name each image file according to date.

2. Know your photo editing resources. Photo editing is the perfect way to get the most out of your photos. From cropping out photo bombers to changing contrast to adding text and clip art, photo editors can take not so great photos and make them look awesome. For the most editing options, purchase a program like Adobe Photoshop Elements- for more economical options try freeonline photo editors like Picnik which have more limited options.

3. Share efficiently. If you plan on sharing photos online, think about which methods will be the most efficient. Different websites will give you options allow you to share differently. For example, if you want to make photos unavailable somewhere down the line, don't choose an option that won't allow you to later delete photos that you've uploaded. If you want to share with multiple people, you can create an online photo album on a site like Photobucket and share the link with friends and family. Don't want your album available to the public? Choose one that is password protected, etc.

4. Digital vs. print. How do you want to share you photos? Many online photo services will print your pictures in lots of cool and innovative ways beyond the standard mug or t-shirt. You might even purchase digital frames and add personal photos to it as a gift. A great way to make these types of print projects even more interesting and appealing is to apply text or additional graphics and effects to photos before uploading and printing them. Even the small effort of adding text and/or graphics to a digital photo (in the form of an e-card) will be noted by its recipient.

5. Brush up on photo editing basics. Cropping, contrast adjusting, changing photo saturation, resizing images (etc.) are all very simple, very basic tools that you can use to enhance your photos. If you've never tried editing your photos before, chances are you will find the process very simple- it just takes a few clicks of your mouse! Even very basic skills make a huge difference in getting the most out of your images.

Whether you are creating digital projects for yourself or to share with others, organization and some very basic editing skills will ensure that your memorizes are properly immortalized in the digital world for you, your family, friends and future generations to enjoy.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Adobe blogging program, making me eligible to receive a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Giveaway : Areaware Magno Radio ($250 value) + Holiday Gift Guide


Areaware is a New York City based company that specializes in unique design products for the home that are equal parts quirk and function but also 100% awesome. From fun jewelry to adorable pillows to funky dishware, Areaware carries an impressively wide range of products with some of the most interesting and appealing designs I have ever encountered.

While I love decorating my own home with Areaware pieces, their product range provides especially unique options for all purpose gift giving. With the holiday season fast approaching, I thought I'd offer up some of my favorite gift giving ideas with you!

My top picks for gifts from Areaware:

Rabbit Large Cushion & Owl Large Cushion in organic cotton, $84 each
(also available in smaller sizes for $24-36)




Forget Me Knot Ring in Platinum ($720), 14K gold ($200) or Sterling Silver $50



Magno Radio ($150-300)



Animal Box: Rhino, $49



Loop Rattle (German Silver), $70 & Fawn Infant Body Suit (organic cotton), $30



My hands down favorite item from their lineup is the Medium Magno Radio ($250) which Areaware has very kindly provided me to tinker with!

front (beaaautiful wood body & dials)

back (fabric covered speaker + battery compartment)

I've decided that just about everything about this radio is perfect. From the gorgeous neutral color palette, oversized dials, contemporary-classic style hybridization, and beautiful wood grain to the sustainably harvested materials, Mp3 compatibility and lightweight portability.... I can't really think of a single thing I don't like about this design.

The radio can be plugged into the wall with an AC adaptor (not included) or powered via four AA batteries. An external antenna is also included as well as a connector cable that allows you to plug your ipod/mp3 player into the radio and use the radio as a speaker. The sound quality and reception is excellent and the product is very user friendly (perfect for all ages). At 7.5 x 7.5 x 4.25 inches, the radio isn't too huge/bulky but is large enough to be an attractive attention grabbing piece in a room. The Magno radio has definitely got to be one of the coolest things that I own!

goooorgeous details!

The designer of the radio, Indonesian native Singgih S. Kartono, has gone to great lengths to ensure that this product is designed and manufactured in the most ethical manner (through low environmental impact, providing jobs to villages in need of economic growth + more). The story behind the product really is wonderful and you can read much more about Kartono and the story behind the Magno radio here.

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Areaware is generously offering one reader their very own Magno Medium Radio (a $250 value)!

To Enter: Visit the Areaware website & leave a comment letting me know a product you saw there that you'd love to own.

Bonus Entry 1: Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect, RSS OR via email (post your email address)
Bonus Entry 2: Follow The Wide World Of and tweet about the giveaway + leave a link to your tweet (you may tweet once per day for one extra entry each)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Also make sure to leave your contact info in one of your comments (email address, facebook link, twitter ID, etc.) or have your email address visible in your profile.

This giveaway will end December 5, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Open to US readers only. Good luck!

Giveaway winner: Steph

**I was provided with the product mentioned in this post free of charge. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post & was not obligated to give a positive review of the product. All opinions expressed here are mine. **

Book Review : The Fashion File: Advice Tips and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men by Janie Bryant


The Fashion File by Janie Bryant ($26.99) encompasses a wide range topics related to personal wardrobe selection... the fine art of matching your own style preferences to what actually looks best on you. The Fashion File is designed to provide you with fashion inspiration, tips, and other little gems of information. The gorgeously designed 175-page book covers an impressive range of topics- from the standards (choosing pieces to complement body shape, makeup, accessorizing, etc.) to somewhat overlooked topics (menswear, fabric selection, lessons on vintage clothing, etc.)- the book manages to cover an impressive amount of ground.

Bryant, the costume designer for AMC's Mad Men is no stranger to fitting personality with personal style. Her job requires her to match character with clothing and accessories with attitude. But although the book uses the Mad Men series as one of its selling points, you don't actually need to be a fan of the show in order to enjoy the entire book. In fact, Mad Men is used only really used in passing references such as relating certain characters in the series to a particular fashion style or idea. As long as you are familiar with the looks of the characters (the book provides photos), you won't be lost on these references.

No matter what your age, the advice is this book is age appropriate. The book covers universal styles, such as the "little black dress" and basics- things that anyone of any age can wear without looking or feeling ridiculous. The most unique aspect of the book is perhaps that it places such a strong emphasis on options, it provides readers with multiple points of inspiration and allows them to choose among them or to venture elsewhere. For example, the book looks at a number of classic fashion muses (both men and women) from different eras and with very different looks and explains why and how their own unique styles worked for them. Even if you have a strong sense of what you like and what works for you, chances are you will find some advice in the book that you can take to heart.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Amenity Home Sample Sale


Amenity Home is making their Fall Semi Annual sample sale available online... but the sale will only be around until November 14th! So many great deals on wall art (excellent for nurseries), pillows, and table linens. Check out the animal themed wall art, presh!

White Butterfly Wall Art 22"x22", Hemp & Organic Cotton, $20 (was $99)

Purple Butterfly Wall Art 22"x22", Hemp & Organic Cotton, $20 (was $99)

Frog Wall Art 22"x22", Hemp & Organic Cotton, $20 (was $99)

Duck Wall Art 22"x22", Hemp & Organic Cotton, $20 (was $99)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Onirisme print by Valentin Chenaille

*image from laffichemoderne.com*


From L’Affiche Moderne: "When we first saw this photograph quite deservedly entitled 'Onirisme' by Valentin Chenaille, we were totally captivated by its composition, colours, its poetic quality and its both cold and comforting sweetness. We are very happy to share it with you today and offer it for sale in limited edition.

Valentin Chenaille is a French self-taught multidisciplinary artist. He left school early to devote himself to his passion for travel, life, colour and light. For several years he was the assistant of a fashion photographer who introduced him to the use of Polaroid and large format cameras and helped him broaden his knowledge of photography. Passionate about film photography and vintage cameras, Valentin is always exploring old techniques. 'Onirisme' here was shot with a Canonet."

Les Nouvelles : 30% off Full Priced Fall/Winter Clothing


Save 30% off Fall/Winter Clothing @ Les Nouvelles with code "POURMOI"
Sale ends Friday, November 12.

Upcoming Art Shows : Erica Il Cane, Tiffany Bozic

Erica Il Cane @ FIFTY24SF Gallery (San Francisco)

We Were Living in the Woods
November 11-December 30
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 11th, 7:30PM – 10PM



Tiffany Bozic @ Joshua Liner Gallery (NYC)
Confiding to Strangers
November 11-December 11
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 11, 6PM - 9PM


*images courtesy of their respective artists and galleries*

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Giveaway : $150 Worth of Pureology Colour Stylist Hair Products + Hydrate System Review


Pureology is a Southern California based hair care company that specializes in shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments & styling products specifically designed with color-treated hair in mind (and also excellent for untreated hair). Pureology's extensive range of products carry a guarantee for longer lasting hair color and the brand is #1 in the USA among color care brands! Especially impressive considering the entire product range is fully cruelty free- no animal testing and free of animal derived products... quite rare for a salon brand.

Pureology recently sent me an amazing selection of products from their always classic Hydrate line to try out here on the blog:

Hydrate Shampoo ($27) : This shampoo cleanses extra gently and uses Advanced Nano Technology in combination with Pureology's AntiFadeComplex to prevent hair color from being stripped, extending the the life of hair color (guaranteed), and enhancing hair color. The shampoo both cleanses thoroughly and moisturizes, making it especially good for dry and brittle color treated hair. Regardless of the condition of my hair, I've found this shampoo to work wonders in creating shiny, smooth locks without compromising volume- I'm always impressed by how nice my hair looks after shampooing! My hair is heavily thinned out so I tend to have lots of flyaways, but this particular shampoo really helps to smooth them out with its hydrating effects. The aroma is also amazingly soothing & calming with its lightly herbal, subtly minty scent.





Hydrate Condition ($27) and Hydrate Light Condition ($27) : These conditioners are designed to keep hair soft and moisturized without weighing down. The Light Condition formula is specifically designed for fine hair and for those who are sensitive to menthol. Like the shampoo, these conditioners use Advanced Nano Technology & AntiFadeComplex to protect and maximize the life of hair color. Jojoba and shea butters provide additional hydration for even softer, smoother results. Both conditioners yield excellent results when used in combination with the Hydrate Shampoo. With the shampoo alone, my hair looks wonderful, but the conditioner really helps to provide a sleeker, smoothed out look. The scent is mintier and less herbal than the shampoo providing a nice, invigorating aroma.





HydraWhip ($45) : HydraWhip is a light hair soufflé/treatment that contains AntiFadeComplex to maximize colour retention and can be used in lieu of your normal conditioner- simply use after shampooing and leave in for 2-5 minutes. The product contains avocado, jojoba, shea and mango butters to moisturize without weighing hair down. The product provides conditioning and enhances shine with botanicals of green tea, rosemary and sage. The result is a gloriously moisturizing, silky effect! Like the Light Condition product, HydraWhip is designed for those with finer hair and for those who are sensitive to menthol- for those with thicker hair, HydraCure (hair masque) may provide the best results based on your hair care needs. As my hair is quite thick, HydraCure is my hair treatment of choice for restoring maximum shine, strength and smoothness to my hair. I use either HydraWhip or HydraCure when I want a 'fresh from the salon' sleek, shiny look or to help replenish hair that looks especially dull or dried out.

Even when my hair is not colored, Pureology makes some of my favorite hair products for maintaining great looking hair that is both shiny and smooth. I've never been disappointed with the results I get from using their products and am always in awe of how wide their selection of products is. It is sometimes difficult to find a high quality salon product that is cruelty free, but Pureology is really top notch in this regard.

I also wanted to mention that this month Pureology launched their new Colour Stylist collection. The collection is designed to specifically address the needs of color treated hair and contains 6 hair styling products. Like all other Pureology products, although this line is designed for color treated hair, they work just as well on non-color treated hair!

You can find Pureology products at select salons nationwide.

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Pureology is generously offering one reader their entire line of brand new Colour Stylist products ($150 value) including:
To Enter: Visit the Pureology website & leave a comment letting me know a product you'd like to try (that wasn't mentioned in this post) or something you learned about the company.

Bonus Entry 1: Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect, RSS OR via email (post your email address)
Bonus Entry 2: Follow The Wide World Of and Pureology on twitter and tweet about the giveaway + leave a link to your tweet (you may tweet once per day for one extra entry each)
Bonus Entry 3: Join the Pureology email newsletter (subscription form at the bottom of the page).

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Also make sure to leave your contact info in one of your comments (email address, facebook link, twitter ID, etc.) or have your email address visible in your profile.

This giveaway will end November 28, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Open to US readers only. Good luck!

Giveaway winner: Hana

**I was provided with the products mentioned in this post free of charge. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post & was not obligated to give a positive review of the product. All opinions expressed here are mine. **
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