Make it personal...

Are you in throws of Holiday shopping yet?! Ugh, hard to believe it's only 3 weeks until Christmas!!! Etsy is my go-to for special and unique holiday gifts. If you are having trouble finding something perfect for your picky little sister, or your in-laws who have everything, why not do something personal? Buying a personalized gift is like getting a one of a kind item. Just by adding a monogram or an initial a gift suddenly feels just a bit more special. Here are some of my favorite personalized items this season via Etsy...

For your niece or nephew that has WAY too many toys...

Custom Art Smock  by The Diaper Bag Wrangler $23

For the Grandparents that tell you they don't want ANYTHING...

Custom silhouette ornaments by Le Papier Studio $30

For the sister who has things like "Gucci bag" and "Louboutin's" on her Christmas list...

Set of 3 monogram pillows (loooooove!) by Alexandra Ferguson $149

For your child's teacher...who doesn't love a great big coffee mug?

Custom monogram mug by Berd and Bee $20

For your cousin that lives in her Ugg boots and can't stop texting to save her life...

Gossip Girl inspired necklace by Spoonerz $49.99

For your family member that is hosting you for Christmas Eve dinner...

Monogram wine tote by Bliss Designs Inc. $26

Happy Cyber Monday everyone!

I'm holding out for a HERO...

yes, these are a lyrics from a song in the movie Footloose...remember Kevin Bacon dancing in the abandoned warehouse?! So great...

But really, I am talking about Hero Bags! My husband and I stumbled upon them in our recent Food & Wine mag. They make the most darling wine tote. I love nothing more than a BYOB, AND many places now offer a corkage fee so that you can bring your own wine. We have done this a lot lately, and it really makes dining a lot more fun (alcohol buzz aside...) it makes your bill much smaller! So, if you are toting your wine around town, why not look good doing it? I also think it would make a great hostess gift...

$14.95 and made of all natural Cotton Canvas

Their lunch bags could not be any cuter, we ordered one for Julian in the red and blue combo...

and if I had a girl...

100% Organic Cotton Canvas $24.95

and their Grocery bags are great...tall and sturdy!

100% Recycled Cotton $14.95

pretty details=pretty mom...all under $75!!!!

The one thing my fellow mom friends and I talk about is how difficult it can be to mix function and fashion when it comes to clothing. When you are a mom you don't need to give up your personal style. But it is challenging to find clothing that you can crawl around in, dodge flying baby food in and still look good while doing it!

While you probably won't be running around in a sequin blazer or lace leggings this season, you still can look amazing and feel comfortable! My best advice...find items with pretty details. It may be a shirt with collar detail, a deconstructed jacket, or maybe a sweater with an interesting drape. Bottom line, when you buy things that are understated, you won't get sick of them and you can always give them a pop with some great accessories.

I found some great items that are not only comfortable, but stylish and AFFORDABLE...all under $75!

This Splendid tee has GREAT detail...unique drape neck and henley buttons $69 on Piperlime

You should always have a little dress you can just throw on, this is so cute and only $55 by LA Made on Piperlime

I really love this sweater...the longer silhouette (to hide "crack" with low rise jeans when you are chasing after your toddler) and the shoulder detail is really cute. $37 on Lulu's

going out tops don't need to be skin baring. If you want something sophisticated and stylish, find a pretty long sleeve top with a stunning silhouette. This has great sleeve detail. With some fun accessories, this top is perfect! $38 on Lulu's

instead of a tee shirt, opt for a casual button down. Plaid is hot this season, and I love this fitted silhouette with ruffle detail down the placket. $49 at Gap

I absolutely adore this jacket. It is something I would throw on over everything from tees, tanks and dresses. I love that it is cropped and it has just a touch of glam with the studs on the lapel. You won't believe the price...$70 on Lulu's

For the love of James Perse...

Ahhhhh, the search for the perfect tee shirt. I have searched high and low and what it comes down to is that I just have to buckle up and buy the expensive ones because they are the ones that I always go to first in my closet. I have some James Perse tees from my days at Mark Shale that are probably 7 years old. And after many washings (I always hang dry-it will lengthen the life of the garment) They are still in fabulous condition. This season he brought back some of his old styles like the deep v-neck and the off the shoulder. But I also saw some new styles that I absolutely love.

yeah, I would wear this every day...Hooded Fleece Jacket $225

Here are some new styles that I found on Shopbop.com

Open drape front shirt $155

How cozy is this sweatshirt dress?  $135

This is the perfect drapey tank for under a great blazer or cardigan $75

Christmas doesn't have to be red and green...

Thanks to my mom coming to visit for a week, I actually was able to get all my Christmas decorations up, and even outside lights done before Thanksgiving! Such a relief! Now I dedicate some time to shopping for gifts and getting my Christmas cards done, yay! I have also been focusing on making new Mel-belles products in time for the Holidays!

I have had so much fun making these little clips and bows. I love red and green for the Holidays, but why not think outside the box? Hot pink and Silver...Green and Blue...Pink and Green or Hot pink and Red? Check out my newest additions to my Etsy site...

Hot Pink Velvet with silver flower and pink and red button $6

This reminds me of a soft pink snowflake...$6

Cute snowman on pink flower and green ribbon $6

Green and Blue snowflakes...$6

I love black and white!!! $8

My FAVORITE ribbon right now, these dots are great for Christmas and on into Valentine's day $8

Stay tuned for my party-belles...think feathers and rhinestones!!!!

To splurge or not to splurge, Volume 2

Why oh why do I always fall in love with things that are WAY out of my budget. Arghhhhhh! It's a constant thing, I swear. The topic of today's To splurge or not to splurge is Lululemon. Let's discuss...

 So, I first fell in love with their product about 3 years ago when I was living in Chicago and they opened a store right outside of my office...LITERALLY 2 steps away...and this is when Equinox Fitness was also in my building and working out was my favorite past time (next to shopping, dining out and drinking of course...) At that time it was nothing to spend $50 on a workout top or $150 on one of their jackets. The one thing I had never bought was the pants. As you know I am A BIG Hard Tail fan.

Well, this has all changed...this week I went to a Lululemon trunk show. I was like hey, why not try on their pants?  I love the tops, so the bottoms must be just as good. I slipped on the Groove Pant and you better believe it was love at first sight. I felt suddenly slimmer, my legs looked longer, my buns looked lifted. They were AMAZING! then I looked at the price tag...$98. Yikes! This is practically the price of a pair of jeans! But, I know that the product wears well, and they were perfect.

In the end I decided to hold off on buying the pant. I have 6 pairs of perfectly good Hard Tail pants in my closet that are waiting to be busted out again at the gym (my resolution for '10). Until I am putting in some good time working out again, I can't really justify the $100 workout pants. BUT, you better believe that when I do get myself back on track, they will be the best reward!

What are your thoughts? $98 too much for a workout pant?

Have a good Friday everyone!!!

When I grow up...

Birkin Bag. Check. Statement Jewelry. Check. Fabulous Chignon. Check...this pretty much sums up the amazing style of Lily Bass (played by Kelly Rutherford) on Gossip Girl.  I am absolutely in love with her. You would think I would be coveting everything that Serena wears, but honestly, I am really feeling the style of Lily Bass! She is effortlessly chic, spot on trend, but classic at the same time. I DROOOL over every jewelry piece she wears, and her handbag and coat collection is pretty much to die for. Yes, when I grow up I would love to be Lily Bass (the uber-chic upper east side pad and Birkin collection included, please) OH, and if anyone knows what blouse she was wearing (the grey and yellow floral) on this weeks episode, please comment below!!!

She was prego most of last season and she still looked AH-MA-ZING!

this Dior frock is fabulous

Lily makes Leopard look pretty amazing here...

Lily as a bride...perfection!

Make it Wicked with a touch of Vamp

About the time that I bust out my fall boots is when I also make the change to darker nail polish. I kind of love it...it's such a change from my usual candy colored toes and soft opaque nails. Over the years I have perfected the dark nail. Keep them super short, somewhat square and these high-maintenance dark nails REQUIRE a good top coat to keep them from chipping. My fave is Duri, but any top coat will do.

Here is my evolution in the range of dark nails...I started off with the classic Chanel Vamp (a deep red with a touch of shimmer)...

and then I graduated to Essie's Wicked (a FAB deep dark red)

Then I got a little daring with OPI's Eiffel for this color (Wine shimmer)

When I got bored with all of these I moved on to Lincoln Park After Dark (Matte) A midnight meets purple super dark polish...

Oh and if you are not sure what it would look like on your nails, OPI now has a FABULOUS "try it on" application on their website. It's pretty amazing, and it saves you the trouble of wasting a whole bottle on something you don't like!!!

she makes a pretty good hand model doesn't she?...

The stockings were hung by the hip mom with style and flare...

I have been on an ENDLESS search for the perfect stockings. I want something unique, not too juvenile, and with a touch of style so that I enjoy looking at them for a month. I searched through Etsy and found some WONDERFUL options. The best part is they are super affordable and I always love supporting handmade artists! here are my favorites (so far!)...

Plum Cushion (great pillow resource) on Etsy is now making Stockings out of her gorgeous fabrics!!!! LOVE!

Adorable Felt creations by RikRak on Etsy

The silhouette and details on these by MissMosh are darling

And if I had a Shabby chic home, I would go with these...

By Berry Lane on Etsy

All wrapped up in Glamour...

You all know my adoration of the Glamourai. The girl is just amazing, from her "costumes of the day", to her jewelry creations I seem to fall in love with everything she does!  I was SO excited to see her newest addition to her line, Glamour Wraps. Re-Purposed of early 1900's Silk Kimonos these one of a kind pieces are unbelievable. They are so unique and fabulous and would be something you would FIND a reason to wear. On her blog she has one thrown over just a tee and skinny black pants. They are around $350, but for a piece as unique as this, I think you can justify the investment!!! All are available on shrimptoncouture.com 

This Pink Peony print is my FAVE....

The Tulip print is sold out, but I thought you should see how wonderfully they styled the wrap...LOVING those boots...

Stunning!

A hat and sunglasses doesn't quite cover it...

You know how it goes, you are racing to get out the door to run an errand and you only have an hour or less before your child will throw a fit and as you pass the mirror and you see yourself. OMG. Am I going to go to the grocery store looking like this and potentially run into...an ex boyfriend? a client? an old classmate?

I have learned this lesson many times. The one time that you leave the house looking like you just rolled out of bed and threw on the clothes that were laying on top of the laundry basket is when you run into someone you know and you couldn't be more embarrassed. I have come up with a quick, 5 minute routine that will leave you looking somewhat refreshed and polished before you walk out the door (no shower required)!!!

1.) I start with Shu Eumura's Pro Concealer-it's super light and smooth. It is not heavy and can get rid of those dark circles, or blotchiness in your skin.

2.) Next, a bronzing powder does wonders. It will give you a slight glow and a touch of shimmer. I prefer Chanel's Soleil Tan De Chanel Soft Touch Bronzer

3.)  Nars Cream Eyeshadow...this stuff is amazing! I know I have talked about it before, but I can't help mentioning it again. You literally swipe it onto your eyelids and it has even coverage and just gives you a small tint of color. It's quick and subtle enough for daytime.

4.) An eyelash curler can work wonders! Do that and then put on some mascara, it will immediately open your eyes up. I prefer good old Maybelline Great Lash it's not super thick and it can be applied in seconds. The Shu Eumura eyelash curler is one of the best in the market.

5.) Nars Orgasm Blush-a bestseller for a reason. It's got a perfect "pinched cheek" glow and it's light and natural looking. It also has an amazing shimmer to it. I love it year-round!

6.) For the lips I love Chanel No.93 Paillettes Glossimer. It is a PERFECT shade of pink, with flecks of gold. If you like a really basic lip, try Bobbi Browns SPF 15 Lip Tint it's moisturizing and gives you just a touch of color

7) If you wake up with hair that is slightly "messy", work with it! Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly product really works. The Flexible hold spray can take your bed head from crazy to kind of cute in minutes. Bobby pins are also a great friend if you are having a not so amazing hair day. Twist and pin the sides back, a-la Lauren Conrad, or throw on a headband if your bangs are out of control.