Current (And Probably Long Lasting) Obsession: Vintage Goblets

My obsession for beautiful colored vintage goblets began quite some time ago, after inheriting some of my grandfather’s dishes. I imagine if I would have had room in any of my New York City apartments, they would have been filled with all the above and more. Since moving to Salt Lake City i’ve inherited purchased a pair of ruby red goblets from the dreamiest store, Capital City Antique Mall, and stalk Retro Art Glass on a regular basis.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have a stellar vintage store nearby i’ve listed a few vintage-inspired options available online now:

Le Cadeaux PolyCard Wine Glassware, $12 each

Villeroy & Boch Boston Green Goblets, $30 each

Fishs Eddy Eye Winkler Opal Goblet, $19.95 each

If you ever come across anything fabulous in the goblet world, please do share. And for more gorgeous home decor and vintage finds, check out my fabulous friend Elaine Purcell’s blog, Birdy Birdy Num Num.

Diptyque, You’ve Made My Week: Introducing The Perfumed Tablet

If you’ve never had a change to indulge in Diptyque’s heavenly, to-die for scents, I suggest you do so. Most recently added to their collection of things that smell divine are oval perfumed tablets ($45 each), which are made of white porcelain medallions surrounding a bar of scented wax.

Hang them in your bathroom for a delightful scent (Rose is my favorite).

Place around your closet to keep clothing and accessories fresh

These tablets have endless uses, and their scent will last around 3 months. They’re definitely elegant enough to keep out in the open, and currently available in four beautiful scents in case you’re not a fan of rose:

Rose: an armful of sweet, light roses sinks into your silks and cottons

Feuilles de lavande (Lavender Leaf): soothing and refreshing, it slips into the linen closet or a child’s dresser like a promise of tenderness

Baies (Berries and Bulgarian Roses): with this delicate blend of rose and blackcurrant leaves, your dressing room or closet will bloom like a dewy English garden

Ambre: this heady, richly sweet fragrance is the perfect sensual touch for the soft wools and velvets of your warmest winter scarves

Get yours today…before someone else snatches them all up!

Save Time And Stress, And No Fussy Mess With Dry Shampoo

I tend to preach dry shampoo everywhere I go, especially out west where the air is a lot more dry. It’s not a well known thing around here, but I am trying to slowly convert my girlfriends….afterall, I once read that washing your hair a lot can pollute the environment. Maybe that’s a lie, but i’m here to tell you the best of the best when it comes to dry shampoos, tested and approved by me!

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Between sprays and powders, unscented vs. scented, luxury vs. mass, sensitive scalp formulas and colored dry shampoo options, there’s something in this round-up for everyone. You’ll save time, money (spent on shampoo and conditioner), and will always have fabulously fresh styled hair.

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Hey New Yorkers, Grab A Cocktail And Take Charge Of Your Life!

Perhaps taking charge of your life isn’t as easy as sipping a glass of Pinot Noir, which is why you should take a few minutes next Thursday to hear Amanda Russell speak on how to grasp hold of what you want in life. Not only is she gorgeous and in uber great shape, but is also Olympic-trained, a celebrity fitness expert, a model,  a motivational writer, a spokeswoman and founder of the AR Program. Pretty impressive right? Well she didn’t get there by wishing and waiting.

Four years ago, Amanda fractured her femur just as she was on the right track headed for the Olympics. I’ll let her tell you the whole story, but running was her passion and she was determined to get back on track to a healthy lifestyle despite what everyone around her was saying – and she did!

Did I mention she also landed a partnership with Zico Premiun Coconut Water as their new face of the brand? You may have seen her face on billboards around Manhattan.

Convinced yet? For $10 you can come have a cocktail, listen to Amanda’s wise tips, and be entered to win something pretty amazing.You can RSVP here.

When: February 24th, 2011 at 6pm

Where: Jackson Square Lounge (122 Greenwhich Avenue)

For complete event details, click here.

xoxo

The Boots That Changed My Life

I have a confession to make: I chucked my ever-so-warm UGG’S aside yesterday when I realized that although they may be warm, they’re sure not meant for walking in the snow. I know this for fact because I took the trash out yesterday while wearing them and when I stepped foot back inside they were soaking wet…and smelled like wet dogs. My solution to this problem: Sorel boots! They’re warm, waterproof, comfy and stylish – what more could you ask for?

The best part – the Sorel Tivoli Boots are only $100. There are tons of styles and designs so do your feet a favor and check out Sorel.com.  They’re a great alternative for the Hunter rain boots and UGG’S that everyone in America has!

My Current Obsession: Holiday Gift Guides

I know the Holiday season has arrived when the December magazines hit newsstands with their drool-worthy gift guides. Perhaps if I didn’t spend all of my money on hoarding the December issues, I could afford some of their offerings! I’ve narrowed it to my top 3 magazine picks this year so you don’t have to buy them all like me! Read below for my favorites in People Style Watch, Real Simple and InStyle.

1) People Style Watch – My top pick as I “oohed and ahhhhed” over every single page. I fell in love with the items below, especially the Andy Warhol Dom Perignon – what a great gift for art (champagne) lovers!

(clockwise from top left to right)

American Living Red Stripe PJ Set, $42.99 ON SALE; 2002 Dom Perignon Andy Warhol Tribute Champagne, $149 each; Z Gallerie Veneto Suitcase Set, $59.95; Lord & Taylor Notched Bow Leather Gloves, $59.99 ON SALE;  Jonathan Adler “Carb” and “Caffeine” canister set, $34.95 ON SALE;

2) InStyle – One of my regular monthly reads, it’s no surprise that their gift guide made my top 3. It does every year.

(clockwise from top left to right)

XOXO Organic Pillow Cover, $29; Bistro Juicer, $70; Polaroid 300 Instant Camera, $90; Ty Decorative Shower Curtain, $32; Calvin Klein Radiant Salt and Pepper Set, $50

3) Real Simple – Their gift guide is always chock full of amazing and unique gift ideas. There’s a section that features 100 gifts for under $50 this year, making shopping easier on our wallets this year. Thanks, Real Simple!

(clockwise from top left to right)

Heirloom LA’s Lasanga Cupcakes, $36 for 6; Palomino Tea Cup & Saucer, $30; F1 Seat Pak, $28 Plyboo Serving Board (California pictured, other states avail.), $40; Brodmann Blades Ping Pong Set, $90; Modern Alchemy Zodiac Candles, $24 each

Happy Holiday shopping and feel free to leave any great gift suggestions below. I’m always looking for interesting things!

Leaving On A JetBlue Plane to Salt Lake City!

I wanted to take a second to apologize for the lack of posting, but I am making a move from NYC to Salt Lake City so things have been kind of hectic. As soon as I get settled in next week to my new home, there will be lots of fun things coming your way – SO GET READY!

If you have any friends in the Salt Lake City area, please pass along my site!

xoxo,
JR.

Get Your Spook On With These Halloween Party Favors

Halloween is my all-time favorite Holiday especially if there’s a party involved! Instead of going to an over crowded bar this year I am going throw a Halloween party. I’ve found some amazing party decorations and thought I’d share with you for some spooky inspiration.

Lolita is always a favorite for party ideas and great favors. They have a variety of Halloween cups and mugs, but this Pumpkin Potion Wine Glass ($24 each) won me over. What makes it even better is that each glass comes with a festive drink recipe (pictured above), and is packaged in Lolita’s signature gift box. Grab a few of these for your party and put them back in their box at the end of the night for guests to take home as a gift.

DL & Company has some of the coolest products and they’ve launched a special Halloween collection this year. These Spider Tea Lights (regularly $14) are the perfect addition for my party. Place them all over your house, light them up and dim the lights. DEAL ALERT: The Halloween Collection is 40% off up through Friday, October 22nd.

No time for baking? Leave it to Eleni’s to make you the most fabulous host ever. Trust me – if you’ve ever tried one of their delicious cookies then you know it’s worth the money spent. There are several other Halloween cookies but the Friendly Ghosts ($24.50 for eight) are super fun. You’ll be getting tons of compliments from these!

Etsy is always a great source to turn to for party decor. This Day of the Dead Wreath ($29.99) is a genius idea and the perfect addition to any door. And if you live in an apartment building you can always hang a few of these on your inside walls.

I would love to hear of your fab Halloween decor finds!

xoxo,
JR.

BCA Finds For Everyday Use

You don’t have to purchase something that you’ll never use again just to show your Breast Cancer Awareness Support. There are tons of items that you’ll be able to use throughout the year, so shop wisely! Below are some of my fun finds that can be used everyday:

Believe it or not scarves are always in style no matter what season it is. I use them in summer to jazz up sun dresses, and in winter to keep my neck warm. This Lindsay Phillips Belleview Scarf ($25) is a vibrant pink and orange color and looks amazing with a plain black dress. For the month of October 25% of the purchase price will go to The Young Survival Coalition and The Mammography Voucher Program at Morton Plant Mease Hospital. You can justify it as an amazing new wardrobe piece that will help fight Breast Cancer!

I am pretty much obsessed with my new Philips Sonicare Toothbrush ($59.99) and I’ve never felt like this towards a brush before. Not  only am I cleaning my teeth, but Phillips Sonicare is a proud sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2010 and 2011, the company will donate $100,000 to fund breast cancer research. Brush away for BCA!

If there’s one thing I don’t leave home without, it’s my Smashbox Lipgloss. This Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss in Forever ($21) was created in a limited edition package, and all proceeds from the month of October will go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Not only does the gloss stay on for hours upon hours, but also protects with SPF 15. This gloss looks stunning on top of a dark red lipstick – you’ll fall in love, I promise!

Breast SOS ($65 for 3oml), a signature product from all natural skin care line La Isha, is a must for every woman who wants to keep their breast and decolette area looking youthful. It helps improve overall color, texture and moisture retention of the skin, and helps to eliminate the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discolorations and restore a tighter, springy resilience. It’s also a favorite amongst Breast Cancer victims as it helps to make breast reconstruction more comfortable for patients with its soothing essential oils. A portion of Breast SOS proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Fund.

Happy Breast Cancer Awareness shopping!

xoxo,
JR.

Boots, A Dress and A Handbag For Under $100?

Yes, that’s correct. I was able to visit Target while back home in NC. It’s a privilege coming from NYC since you have to travel pretty far by subway to get to a store, and all of the good stuff (especially the designer labels) is gone within a day. Plus it’s extremely hard to carry a lot of stuff on the subway ride home. Anyhow, here are my fabulous finds – all for under $100 total:

There were only 2 pairs of these Dolce Vita Buckle Ankle Boots for Target ($34.99) left and thankfully one of the boxes had my name written all over it. They’re very comfortable, and will look awesome this fall with some of my favorite summer dresses and a blazer.

Nude is the new black so I was extra excited when I saw this Xhiliration Ruffle Dress in Nude ($21.99). It’s a great color for every season and I plan on getting a lot of wear out of this. Cute in summer with some sandals and wavy beach hair, and sexy in winter with tall boots, leggings and smokey eyeshadow.

Can you imagine the disappointment on my face when I scrambled to get online the day Mulberry for Target went on sale, only to find that the Cerise Leopard Crossbody was SOLD OUT ($34.99). I was lucky enough to find one in the Raleigh, NC Target but also discovered Milo.com, a genius website that locates hard to find items within your local area.

What would we do without Target?! Stay tuned for several more great finds for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

xoxo,
JR.