Stones, beads and bangles, oh my!

Last post was about cute clothes, this one's about fabulous accessories.

Welcome to my world. I'm a perpetual Internet window shopper!

Even though summer is almost over, I couldn't help but show you these colorful, natural beauties from Ruche. And I have no doubt one could work these into a fall wardrobe, if one so desired. Let's keep that summer lovin' feeling all year long!

Adela Coral Beaded Necklace

Pure Sentiments Bangle Set, Akila Wrapped Bracelet and Manukau Harbour Beaded Bracelet in Ivory

Thunder Bay Beaded Necklace in Brown

Stone Canyon Necklace

While I'd love to add any and all of these to my overflowing jewelry box-- especially the Stone Canyon Necklace-- I already purchased this necklace and this ring from Francesca's, my new favorite boutique. So I guess my accessories quota is filled. At least for the month. :)

xoxo,

Hello, again

Hey there, blogland! No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Even though, I will admit, it almost appeared that I had. If I didn't live at home, my mother may have sent out a search party.

Instead, she asked a few weeks ago, "Have you quit blogging?"

Nevermind the fact that I'm still always a bit creeped out when she asks about my blog (sorry, Mom!), I answered incredulously, "Noooo! I'm just busy!"

Which is partly true. I could blame my absence on work. That's my tried-and-true excuse. But if I am totally honest, I have just been feeling uninspired and completely unmotivated when it comes to blogging.

But I have missed it. I've missed you! My bloggy friends and your supportive, kind, and even funny words.

So here I am, back to blogging. Let's start slow, shall we?

I thought I'd share with you this package I received in the mail today. Have you heard of JewelMint, the jewelry line created by actress Kate Bosworth and her celebrity stylist friend Cher Coulter?

I've been a JewelMint "member" since February-- which means my inbox has been inundated with emails about my personalized monthly showroom selections as well as limited-time deals-- but I didn't make my first official purchase until last week. I had been eyeing the Piet Mondrian-inspired necklace below since seeing it in Lucky magazine months ago and when it was featured in a 2-for-1 deal with matching earrings, I couldn't resist any longer.

Modern Love Set

I ordered last Wednesday and a chic black package showed up at my door this afternoon. I have to say, JewelMint puts a lot of effort into their packaging-- and I appreciate that extra touch. Check it out:

The inner cards describe the pieces: "Modernize your look with this 30" gold plated geometric necklace. Light olive, camel, and grey fabric insets are delicately framed to create a truly sleek piece."

The matching earrings are 2 1/4" long and made of the same materials.

The colors are darker in person than they appeared online, but I still love it. The tones will work great with my summer wardrobe but easily transition to fall, too. I have to say, I don't think the jewelry is particularly high quality-- though I don't see it falling apart either. Definitely a step up from Forever 21! But I don't think I'd consistently spend $29.99 a month to get a new piece. The only reason I bought this was because of the 2-for-1 deal and an extra discount code I found online.

So tell me, what do you think of monthly subscription services like JewelMint? Worth it? Are you a member of any?

I'm also a member of ShoeDazzle, but I haven't purchased anything yet. There's lots of cute and sexy shoes but the heel heights are all too tall! Since I'm nearly 5'9" I try to stay at or below 3 inches. But what should I expect from a company launched by Kim Kardashian? :) I always say I need to start a line of sassy kicks for tall girls.

As always, thanks for reading! I pledge to do better with blogging... (Girl) Scout's honor!

xoxo,


top image via we heart it

Mother's Day Brunch

My momma, holding (and wearing!) her Mother's Day gifts

All you moms, grandmas, moms-to-be and, well, anyone who has ever loved like only a mother can, I hope you had a wonderful day!

To celebrate Mother's Day, my family went to brunch at The Cheesecake Factory. The restaurant was a bit hectic and there was a few mishaps with food not coming out correctly, but the server was great in fixing everything and he even comped a couple items on the bill. And the food, once corrected, was pretty darn tasty! (Though it put me in a food coma for the rest of the afternoon!)

Instead of going with my typical Sunday brunch order of Eggs Benedict, I decided to try something new: Baja Chicken Hash. Imagine poached eggs drizzled in hollandaise sauce sat atop two crispy tortillas and a hash of chicken chorizo, potatoes, poblano chiles, corn, peppers and onions (hold the cheese!). I would describe it as almost a Mexican-style Eggs Benny, so I guess I didn't go too far outside of my comfort zone :)

After we ordered our breakfasts, I presented our mom with her gift. Now that she has opened it, I can finally blog about it!

Last weekend, I scoured Etsy looking for a Mother's Day gift. I literally searched through all of my favorite shops but I couldn't find that just-right thing. I found one necklace that I was thisclose to purchasing but then decided to spend a little more time searching. After a few minutes, I stumbled upon a new-to-me, New York-based jewelry shop called Delezhen. I instantly fell in love with the beautiful jewels and delicate designs. Everything is very feminine and perfect for spring. After much hemming and hawing over three different pieces, I decided to go with this colorful, faceted jewel necklace with freshwater pearl accents.

 Faceted Bezel Set Multi Color Sapphire in 22k Gold Vermeil Necklace 

with Freshwater Pearl Accents

I thought it looked pretty and special but could also easily be dressed up or down. I also thought it kind of looked like a Mother's Day necklace in a non-obvious way, with the three stones representing me, my younger brother Patrick and my older brother Jeremy.

(As a side note, Masha is a fantastic seller! I was worried the necklace wouldn't get to me in time since I ordered it Monday morning, but she sent me a message letting me know she would put it in the mail that very day. I actually got a shipping confirmation before I got that message! And my package arrived Wednesday. Couldn't have asked for better customer service. Plus, the necklace was even prettier and more dainty in person.)

Since my mom wasn't wearing any jewelry, I had her put her new necklace on right away. It went perfect with her turquoise sweater! You can see it in the top photo, but here's a close up:

We also got her an oats-and-honey scented candle in a nice white, lidded pot (like this one), which will look perfect in our recently redecorated blue-and-white living room. My brother picked out the fragrance. We both thought it smelled like breakfast-- how appropriate!

Speaking of Patrick, here he is! It's not often I get him to smile in a photo for me! (He's been dieting and exercising and he's lost a lot of weight-- 40 lbs! You can really see the difference when you look at this old photo.)

And here's my dad too, giving me one of his goofy faces.

Haha, nice dad! And here's me. Cheers! (I think I still look a little sleepy, but that mimosa perked me right up!)

What did you do to celebrate Mother's Day? I'd love to hear!

xoxo,

Crazy Little Things

Of all the seasons, spring is my favorite. The warmer weather, cool breezes, chirping birds and blooming buds-- what's not to love, right? And it is just about this time of year when you can dig into your closet and pull out all those cute sundresses you stashed away during the chilly winter months.

It's also about this time that I start thinking about getting myself some new sundresses to fill my already overstuffed closet.

What can I say? I love dresses. And online shopping. It's an addiction. Moving on...

This all leads me to Threadsence. A few weeks ago they released their new Spring Lookbook (Vol. 2) titled "Crazy Little Things." Well, it sure made me crazy. Crazy in love. With about every single item, on every single page. Flipping through the virtual catalog, all I could think was, "Threadsence, why oh why are you doing this to me?" as I simultaneously imagined my bank account slowly (or quickly) draining. Ha! I'd already bought myself a few new things for spring so I felt a tad guilty lusting after more. Never satisfied, I am!

Well, somewhere the fashion gods are smiling on me. Somewhere, someone in the universe wants to fuel my online shopping and quest for the perfect-go-anywhere dress. Yes, I am a lucky girl because this week I found out that I won a $75 gift card to-- where else?-- Threadsence!

I entered a giveaway on Aimee's beautiful fashion blog, Song of Style, promptly forgot all about it because who really thinks they are going to win those things, and then, out of 285 people, I was randomly chosen!

That was most certainly the best email I got on Tuesday!

So, now the difficult task comes of choosing what to get with my prize. This is where you come in! I've collected a few of my fave pieces from the spring lookbook for your browsing pleasure. Tell me which ones you like best! 

As Light As a Feather Scarf

Follow My Lead Lace Maxi Dress and Rugged Possibilities Denim Vest

Sunshine Burst Holey Tunic

Close to Comfort Cream Crochet Top

Kiss From a Rose Floral Cutout Dress

Chains and Spikes Necklace

On the Rise Floral Dress

I'm looking forward to reading your picks! And I'd also love to hear, what's your favorite thing about spring?

Happy weekend!

xoxo,

Recent splurges

I don't know what's with me this week, especially given that we just went through Christmas and I got plenty of gifts, but I keep buying stuff! This is a problem, I know, and I feel a little guilty about it. So, in a feeble attempt to wipe my conscience clean, I thought I'd confess to you my shopping sins.

First purchase this week:

Shop- Elephantine

Item- the chic and simple, but so beautiful, fay necklace.

I had my eye on this dainty piece since the moment Rachel added it to her shop. But I always talked myself out of buying it, convincing myself that I had enough necklaces. (But honestly, in my world there's no such thing as too many necklaces!) But when Rachel's newsletter showed up in my inbox Sunday announcing a 20 percent off sale (sorry, it ended yesterday) to ring in the New Year, I simply couldn't stop myself any longer! Isn't it pretty? There are so many others that I'd like to add to my collection, like this pendant necklace, a light and airy bracelet, and these rings.

Second purchase this week:

Shop- Sephora

Items- Urban Decay Naked Palette and Sephora's Glass Nail File

My justification for these purchases is this: I have heard rave reviews about the Urban Decay Naked Palette. (One of you first told me about it when I posted about this gorgeous Tarte palette, which I got for Christmas by the way.) One look at the UD palette and you know why people are gushing. Look at all those wearable shades! Plus, it comes with mini version of UD's cult-favorite Primer Potion. So why didn't I snatch it up in November? It was out of stock! That's how popular it is.

Well, as I told you before, I'm what they call a Beauty Insider with Sephora, which basically means they tempt me and test my willpower via email every week. They're always sending me new offers and codes! This week's deal: Enter 2011 at checkout and get two free mini products to celebrate the New Year. That's what got me browsing Sephora in the first place. When I saw the Naked Palette was finally back in stock I, again, couldn't resist! So there you have it. And why a nail file? To get free shipping, of course (I had to add a couple bucks to my order to reach the threshold). But it is a useful purchase. This will explain why...

Third purchase of the week:

Shop- Zoya

Items- Nail polish

Zoya polish in Isla (a rich, blackened red shimmer), Kelly (a neutral gray with soft blue and purple undertones), and Edyta (a dark metallic with hints of gold and olive)

I was watching new YouTube beauty guru Nancy and she mentioned that Zoya, to celebrate reaching 20,000 "likes" on its Facebook page, was giving away three free nail polishes; just enter FB2011 at checkout and pay shipping. Well, I am still doing pretty good on my whole not-biting-my-nails-even-when-I'm-super-stressed-out thing and I figured what better way to motivate myself and keep my tips looking nice than spoil myself with some new nail polish (and the aforementioned nail file)? Especially free polish! Each bottle is usually $7 and I paid just $6.95 for shipping. If you want to get in on this act fast-- the offer ends tomorrow! What do you think of the colors I chose?

Ah, I feel better now that I have gotten that off my chest :) Do you think I'll be forgiven for my shopping sins? Are they good enough to get me a free pass to retail heaven?

Please do share your recent splurges, too! Shopaholics unite.




Ok, full disclosure. I just realized this post doesn't even take into account my run to Kohl's late Monday night. I had $40 in Kohl's cash from my Christmas shopping that was about to expire and I wasn't going to let it go to waste! Someone needs to save me from myself. Or confiscate my wallet.

Wish list

Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa is almost here! Have you been naughty or nice? (Maybe a bit of both?)

Well, hopefully none of us will find coal in our stockings this Christmas. Here's a few items from my wish list that I'd be happy to find under the tree:

Some new makeup brushes would be much appreciated. Mine have seen better days. And these ones not only sparkle, they are antibacterial to boot. (This makeup lover wouldn't say no to a beauty box made just for junkies, either.)

Fragrance that smells as good as it looks. (Marc Jacobs Daisy may be my perennial favorite, but I'm willing to give Kate Spade's Twirl a whirl. Both are fruity and floral.)

 A hair treatment that would restore and replenish my dry locks, which are even more ravaged by the winter wind, would be quite useful. I've heard bloggers rave about Moroccanoil.

I'd love to light a candle on dark winter nights. This magnolia one would make my room smell like my grandma-- and I mean that in the best way possible. 

Since the kind of digital camera I want is a bit out of my price range (and probably Santa's), this adorable Diana would be a fun new way to capture memories and give them a dreamy perspective.

I would love to add a few more easy-breezy tops that look effortlessly chic to my wardrobe. This sheer midnight blue one and that olive green camp-style one would look good in my closet.

Add to that a flowy floral lace number you can dress up or down.

New clothes need new kicks. I've had my eye on a pair of new boots with buckle details for awhile (like these) and a girl always needs more cute flats (like these).

My jewelry box is overflowing but I'm always adding more jewels and baubles to my collection. I heart these nature-inspired, hippie chic pieces: a double leaf ring, a sparkling feather necklace, and safari-themed bangles.

 I've been using the same metallic, studded bag all year; it's time for a new model. This caramel-colored faux leather satchel would be perfect for every day.

And finally, because the New Year is almost here and I can't survive without a schedule, a 2011 agenda that is both cheery and functional is definitely in order.

There you have it. My wish list for Christmas. What I find under the tree Dec. 25 no one knows (except the jolly bearded man himself) but whatever it is, I know I will love it.

Your turn! What made your wish list this year? 



P.S. If you'd like to receive a Christmas card from yours truly, drop me a line with your address at carissanicole {at} gmail {dot} com by Thursday, Dec. 16. I'd love to add you to my list!

Tarte

Yes, I am breaking my silence to post about makeup. I can't help it. As a Sephora "beauty insider," I occasionally get emails that tempt me to whip out my wallet and then practice great restraint when I put it back in my purse, and today's email touting "6 spectacular palettes" was no exception.

I saw this Tarte palette at the top of the lineup and the makeup obsessed girly-girl in me just about died. Just see for yourself.

Called "The Jewelry Box," this limited-edition Tarte palette is packed with 32 new eyeshadows, eight lip glosses, a mineral bronzer, a new shimmering powder, five deluxe long-wearing eyeliners and-- get this-- a detachable necklace.

An impressive beauty stash AND a layered, golden necklace perfect for holiday parties?! Be still my heart.

I want. I need. Ok, I don't need, but I want. 'Nuff said.

This is instantly going on my Christmas list.

Anyone else spied some seriously fantastic beauty finds lately? I'd love to hear. And please tell me someone else's heart flutters at the sight of this palette.

Oh, and happy Friday! :)