Get Gorgeous

Sometimes it's good to be a woman.  We get to experiment with so many beauty and makeup products.  Everyday something new comes along for us to try.  I enjoy trying new products all the time.  I have my tried and true products which I rarely deviate from but for the most part I can't help but want to see if something else may be better.  Today these are the must haves on my list.

I prefer a natural look for my eyes but will glam it up a bit more for a night out on the town.  This new palette from Too Faced called Naked Eye gives me both.  It's a collection of 9 eyeshadows which can be mixed for different looks.  The colors are not too extreme and will flatter a number of skin tones.  And at $35 you can't go wrong.  You can find this at Sephora.

http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P263701&categoryId=B70#

I have long kept my hair stick straight.  The straighter the better.  Also, because my hair is naturally straight and it doesn't hold a curl for very long.  Only up until recently did I finally start to add some loose waves to my mane.  I use a straightener to actually make curls in my hair instead of a traditional curling iron because it doesn't leave any unsightly kink marks.  Now, I no longer have to worry about those since the Sultra Bombshell curling iron came along.  It's a single rod without the clip to hold hair in place.  It takes a little practice but once it's mastered you really do have the perfect bombshell hair.  This iron sells for $130.

http://www.sultra.com/styling-irons-the-bombshell.asp

A Sparkling Reason to Eat

I love anything that sparkles.  So now, to my delight, when I am shopping for something sparkly in the Soho outpost of Swarovski I can also get a bite to eat.  Swarovski makes perfect gifts for that special friend in your life.  After finding that fabulous bauble take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and have lunch at Cafe Kristall.  Kurt Gutenbrunner's (the Wallse chef) has light fare on the menu (salads, soups) with some heartier options as well (pasta, sandwiches, meat & fish entrees).  And save room for dessert.  The Mozartkugel is what I have my eye on.  It's a round confection comprised of dark chocolate mousse, nougat parfait, pistachios, and chocolate streusel.  Yum.  Plus, the real icing on the cake is the decor of the cafe itself.  Just look for yourself.

For full menu check out http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/cafe-kristall/menu

Modern Luxuries

It's so nice to have that special piece in your home that stops everyone in their tracks.  Something that makes everyone say "Wow, that is so ____"  You get the point.  If I had some more space in my studio apartment these are what I'd make room for.

This gorgeous floor lamp is so beautiful and different.  The pictures don't really do it justice.  I have had my eye on this lamp for months and finally went into Restoration Hardware the other day and got to see it in person.  It's even better than I could have imagine.  It's really quite large - 94" tall to be exact.  I love the nautical/spotlight thing it's got going on.  And the classic aluminum fits so well with today's modern look of furniture.  You can adjust the amount of light by opening or closing the shutters.  It's sells for $1525.

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod1593067&categoryId=cat1598016

I love the look of fur but my love of animals will prevent me from actually buying anything real.  Faux fur is really big right now not just in fashion but in home goods.  It takes some work to find a good faux fur.  It needs to be soft and not look like it's been run over a few times.  I have my eye on the Ivory throw since I have a dog who sheds and this color blends in with her hair more.  The Espresso is also very rich and luxurious.  They are cut like a mink coat.  The Frosted Taupe is a uniform cut throw without the look of the pelts.  It would be the perfect thing to have draped over your couch which you can snuggle up with after a long day at work.  I'm going to be putting mine over the bed for some extra warmth at night and for my little dog to sleep on all day long.  Right now it's on sale for $119 at Pottery Barn.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/faux-fur-throw/?pkey=cthrows

I love acrylic furniture.  It's both retro and new at the same time.  It allows you to appreciate the piece for design itself.  No complications.  If I had a dining room rest assured these would all be around the table.  These are from CB2 and are $179/piece.   

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http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=206&f=4957&fromLocation=search

Giving Thanks

Wishing all a very happy Thanksgiving. 

Baby it's cold outside

Since today felt like winter I was inspired to write about fashionable accessories to keep you warm.  This season it's all about the chunky knits.  I love how the thick texture of these pieces are the perfect thing to snuggle up with.  Practical & stylish!

This knit ring scarf is so versatile.  You can wear it over your little black leather jacket, wool coat, or just over your shirt as part of your ensemble.  It's not so tight as a turtleneck (they make me feel claustrophobic) and not as breezy as a regular scarf.  Very modern.  You can find this one which comes in taupe (pictured) and vanilla.  It's on Need Supply Co. (one of my favorite clothing sites).  It's only $38.

http://needsupply.com/super-chunky-neck-ring.html

Let's face it - you lose most of your body's heat through your head.  A hat is a necessity.  Don't let your fear of hat head stop you from wearing a cute beanie.  This one is by Free People and is $28.  It comes in 3 colors (Scarlet, Ivory, Grey) and it listed on Shopbop.  

http://www.shopbop.com/cable-beanie-free-people/vp/v=1/845524441879740.htm

Ok, so these aren't the most practical as far as keeping your finger warm.  BUT, they make it quite easy to use your touchscreen phones.  They are just so cute that I don't mind a little frostbite.  They are from Club Monaco and go for $59.  They come in the bone color as shown and also in grey.  They are also available on shopbop's website in only the bone color.  

http://www.clubmonaco.com/112010/womens_accessories/

http://www.shopbop.com/nyla-fingerless-gloves-club-monaco/vp/v=1/845524441882797.htm?fm=search-shopbysize

Stay warm

This isn't your school's cafeteria

I know what you're thinking, "Cafeteria?  No thanks."  But, this isn't the kind of cafeteria you grew up with.  This is the adult version.  The kind that every cafeteria should aspire to be.  This is The Plaza Food Hall.  It's the creation of Todd English, a well respected and talented chef.  I remember when he had his restaurant English is Italian and they made us fresh mozzarella right at our table.  It's since closed but now he's back.  This time he has  a variety of cuisines and markets within the Plaza Hotel.  If you need to grab a quick lunch - no problem - just grab something to go.  Or if you've got some time on your side you can relax and dine right there.  Plus, it's a great spot to pick up some fresh items for dinner that night.  They have a bakery, grill station, sushi bar, cheese station, wine bar, market, dumpling bar and pizza.  It's really a one-stop culinary adventure.  They are open Sunday-Thursday from 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.
1 West 58th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 986-9260

http://theplazafoodhall.com/

All that glitters

Today I'm featuring just one item that I own.  Well, actually I own 2 of them and plan to buy more.  I love jewelry both real and costume.  My favorite type are rings and usually with some sort of precious or semi-precious  stones.  My go to rings are normally cocktail but some days you just need something more understated.  That's why I love these stackable diamond bands by Kara Ackerman.  They are available online but I actually went to the showroom in Manhattan and got to try them all on.  They come in a variety of metals and stones.  I ended up getting the knife edge yellow gold rings with diamonds.  I have been wearing them everyday since.  And at $100 a piece it's an amazing deal.  I think they'd make the ideal gift.

http://karaackerman.bigcartel.com/product/new-kara-ackerman-designs-i-stacking-rings-in-black-onyx-and-white-topaz-stones-i

Living the modern life

Let me first introduce myself to all of my readers.  I'm Lauren and I'm so happy to be able to share my love of everything modern, new, and fabulous in the world of interior design & decorating, fashion, travel, and restaurants.  I've been working in the fashion industry for 10years with my focus on footwear product development.  My style has always been ever changing over the course of my life and I love that.  I really enjoy the excitement that comes with each new season's offerings.  It's like my drug.  I have spent my working life in Manhattan but have lived in Brooklyn for the past 7years.  The city as a whole is so full of style ranging from high to low and everywhere in between.  I can say that I really love the high end products though my budgets cannot allow me to always get the most expensive things.  But, I don't let that deter me from finding a great replica.  When I find something I want I will search all over until I find it.  I probably should be a personal shopper since I find myself looking at the internet for that perfect piece on a daily basis.  And of course some of my favorite stores and located right here which makes it very convenient to see something in person before buying it.  My aim here is to show you my current obsessions.  I hope that you'll find them as amazing as I do.

I'm a little obsessed with anything mirrored for interior spaces.  These are some of my loves right now.

ZGallerie has a great selection of mirrored pieces.  They are one of my favorite sites for home goods.  These mirrored placements are an elegant addition to your table setting and perfect for dinner parties.  A set of 4 is $119.80.  I know it seems like a lot for placemats but to me they are worth every penny.

http://www.zgallerie.com/p-5212-mirror-placemats-set-of-4.aspx

This mirrored vanity set is so luxurious and feminine.  It makes getting ready in the bathroom much more pleasant in the morning.  This is also from ZGallerie.  The tray, lotion dispenser, soap dish, and container are $49.95 and sold as a set.  The tissue box is separate and sells for $14.95.

http://www.zgallerie.com/p-4304-margaux-vanity-set-tissue-box.aspx

This coffee table is simple but makes a big impact.  I have a mirrored coffee table myself that I purchased from West Elm but is no longer available.  This one is from ERoomService and called the Sol Mirrored Glass Modern Coffee Table by Tonin Casa.  It sells for $2095.00.

 http://www.eroomservice.com/furniture/sol-mirrored-glass-coffee-table.html