Random Wednesday 2/27

I don't know about you, but I'm suffering from a serious case of needing to get out of the house/ winter doldrums.  I have little to no motivation and feel bored all the time.  Maybe it's just February.  We've had too much rain lately.  It's time for a fresh start and some spring cleaning.  Can you feel my excitement?

I linked up with one of my favorites today.  Shanna is totally cool, so please go check her blog out and follow along!

I have an affinity for books.  I'm always reading something, and 9 times out of 10, you can find one in my purse, one in a tote nearby, and if I ever leave the house, one in my car, just in case.  You never know when you might get to go on a long adventure in the car and actually have to talk to someone if you aren't prepared.  

I wanted to share a few of my favorite coffee-table style books with you.  They are great sources of inspiration for me, and I love the extra touch they add to my table!

Allegra Hicks: An Eye for Design

Kelly Killoren Bensimon: American Style from A to Z

     

Emily Schuman: Cupcakes and Cashmere

  

Kelly Wearstler: Hue

   

Kate Spade New York: Things We Love

Farid Abdelouahab: Muses: Women Who Inspire

Michi: Like I Give a Frock

Chloe Quigley & Daniel Pollock: What on Earth Are You Wearing: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fashion



I hope you find something that you love on this list!  Everyone knows that a delivery from Amazon is always a happy one, so get to ordering!



                                                                       

Best Oscar Dresses

I love any excuse to have a Viewing Party, and Sunday night's Academy Awards proved to be an interesting program.  Between Seth MacFarlane's controversial hosting and poor Jennifer Lawrence's awful "Slip'n'Fall," there was something for everyone.  (Can we please stop referring to her as "J.Law?"  It's horrible!)  I decided the occasion was the perfect opportunity to reflect on some of my favorite dresses from years past.  

I remember the lovely Cate Blanchett received a lot of flack for this Givenchy dress from 2011.  I always loved it and thought it was so interesting.  The color was very unexpected for an Oscar gown.  Her simple jewelry and hair let the details of the dress stand out.  

Chloe Sevigny is known for her outrageous and non-conventional fashion choices.  I love the fact that she doesn't try to stay within the Hollywood standard of beauty and always lets her special style speak for itself.  This Yves Saint Laurent dress she wore in 2000 was different from her over the top choices, but I think that was the point.  It was unexpected.  She looks like a screen siren from the 1930's.  Her dark red lip and statement necklace are exactly what this elegant gown needed.  

I've always admired Diane Kruger.  She is gorgeous and her style is unique.  It was hard to decide which of her past Oscar gowns was my favorite.  I finally chose this awesome Elie Saab from 2006.  I love the ruffles and lace detail.  

This lovely silver and white Jean Paul Gaultier dress that Marion Cotillard wore in 2007 was the perfect pick for the actress' big night.  She won the Oscar for Best Actress and Best Dress!  The scalloped details give this dress a true mermaid feel.  I love it!

How gorgeous is Penelope Cruz?  She always seems to choose the perfect dress!  I love this blush Atelier Versace gown she wore in 2007.  She can do no wrong.

Michelle Williams.  Nothing more really needs to be said about her Vera Wang dress from her nomination year in 2006.  That was when she had Heath and all seemed right in the world.  If only she had won.  Probably my most favorite of all time!

This awesome lavender gown from Elie Saab was the reason Mila Kunis stole the show on the Red Carpet in 2011.  

Natalie Portman's Lanvin gown from 2005 has always been a favorite of mine.  It has a Grecian goddess feel to it.  The color is unexpected and the details gorgeous.

Stacy Keibler's gold Marchesa was the perfect way to honor the Golden Guy himself.  I love the rosette on her hip.  (Aren't we all a little surprised that she's still on Clooney's?)  

I've always loved the choices that Zoe Saldana has made in the past.  This awesome 2010 gown from Givenchy Haute Couture was amazing!  The bodice is lovely and she was rocking the ombre trend well before everyone stopped covering up their roots!  

And last but not least, can we all pour out a glass for the Golden Couple of the mid-90's?  Let's all think about what could've been.  Brad and Gwyneth were everything at the 1996 awards.  Too bad we never got to see their glorious offspring.   It's also a shame their matching cropped hair ended with their relationship!

Here is the always gorgeous Gwyneth in Calvin Klein.  

Also, Please check out the Giveway that I'm taking part in over at The Big, Beatiful and Broke!

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Holiday Vox Box

I hope all of you had a great Valentine's Day with the ones you love!  I was spoiled and had a wonderful meal.  It was so nice to spend time with my sweet little family and not get out for a busy dinner somewhere loud and probably full of carnations.  I hate that smell.  Baby's breath annoys me too.  I'm glad Skip opted for the beautiful red tulips.  They make be feel hopeful that spring is getting closer and this bipolar winter weather we've had here in Georgia will be over soon!

The one fun thing I got to do this winter, was testing the products that Influenster sent to me in the Holiday Vox Box.  If you don't know about Influenster, I encourage you to go to the site and check them out!  It's a great opportunity to be introduced to cool new products that will be available to everyone in stores!  

My favorite item in the box was by far the Goody QuikStyle brush.  I have long hair and it takes about 45 minutes to blow it out if I start with hair that hasn't been in a towel for a few minutes.  I hate it.  I fell in love with this brush as soon as I tried it.  It definitely made a difference and I didn't feel like I was going to die of a heatstroke from a blow out!  

I also loved the Liquid Lipshine from NYC.  Not only is the color great, it isn't sticky.  That's the main reason I hate some glosses.  I don't need my hair stuck on my lips and then gloss on my face.  It isn't a good look for anyone, and I will for sure by this gloss again.  Anything for a Target trip, right ladies?  

The Quaker Real Medleys Cherry Pistachio Oatmeal was alright.  It may be that I got a gross flavor.  I'm not big on berries in my oatmeal.  The texture from the Pistachios was also weird.  I'm probably gonna stick to my usual coffee for breakfast if I had to choose.  Try it, you may disagree with me :)

I loved the EBOOST energy drink mix packet.  I got the Pink Lemonade flavor and love that I can use it as an afternoon pick me up and not feel a sugar crash afterwards.  They have several different flavors available, and I can't wait to try more!

The last product that I received was the Kiss Nail Dress strips.  I'm still on the fence about these.  I feel like I have some skills in the nail design department.  I'd rather just do my own rhinestones than have to worry about shaping these sticky little buggers.  They lasted a couple days, but I wouldn't invest in these for every day use, maybe a special night out.  

I hope that you will all go out and try some of these cool products.  I am so glad that Influenster gave me a chance to try them!  Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!  

Theodora Love

Happy Friday to all my lovely readers!  I am so excited that it's already time for a couple of days off!  I'm in the home stretch of getting Jake's 1st Birthday Celebration ready.  In the next week, we'll be making a really awesome Woody-inspired cowboy cake and all the fun decor to accompany it.  I can't wait for him to wear his cute cowboy boots and finest bandana!

In the mean time, I couldn't resist getting something for myself!  Those who know me, know how obsessed with beauty products I am.  There's a special place in my heart for eye shadow palettes.  You can always count on Urban Decay to come up with a fabulous color collection.  When I heard about their palettes inspired by the witches in the new Disney film 'Oz The Great and Powerful,' I knew I had to have it!  

I'm so excited about 'Theodora.'  It is inspired by Mila Kunis' character in the film, and the colors are amazing! 

 Eye shadows: Broken (pale cream satin), Beware (warm brown matte), Bewitch (dark 

charcoal brown satin), West (deep metallic brown), Spell (2 shades in 1: black satin w/green 

and gold shimmer and gold metallic w/tonal glitter) and Jealous (2 shades in 1: pale green 

pearl and dark green pearl). Eye Pencil: black. Lip Color: Theodora (bright red cream).

I loved the Create the Look cards that came with the palette.  The shadows are highly pigmented and look great on.  The picture really doesn't do it justice, in my opinion!  I will probably have to get the 'Glinda' palette too, as these wonderful collections from Urban Decay never last long.  I'm still bummed about forgetting to pick up their wonderful Alice in Wonderland inspired palette a couple years back!  

What are your favorite make up collections?  Have any of you tried this palette yet?  What are your thoughts?