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$5 off $39 or more automatically at checkout. (Exp. 06/30/06)




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Wearing Today

I've brought back the "Wearing Today" !!! :)

White Luella for Target polo shirt.

Meli Melo cuffed denim bermuda shorts.

Tan Christian Louboutin espadrilles.

Steel & White watch & bangle bracelets.

For later: Khaki BCBG trenchcoat dress buttoned up & belted to go on top.

P.S. Went to Target yesterday to pick up some Luella. Impressive... a little expensive for "Target" but I'd say it's kind of GAP quality with a better fit. I picked up 2 polos, a puff sleeve tee, a white tulip skirt, a blue cuffed dress shirt, a coin wallet (to transport feminine products) and an ipod case. All for about $130... not bad! Things were kind of picked over, but I'm coming back for more. I'm waiting for the rugby shirt, sunglasses and the bermuda shorts!

Rumor mill: the next Go International designer will be... Proenza Schouler? I sure hope so!

Shoe Trouble

Occasion: Late lunch with a gal-pal at the distinguished City Club.
Dress code: Business casual, no jeans.

No jeans? No problem. I finally get a chance to wear those grey Theory cropped trousers I got on sale at Macy's in San Francisco. (I even got one of those Macy's Tourist 11% off coupons-- I'm talking $195 pants for about $50!) So I paired the pants with a simple black ribbed tank, my white McGinn fitted blazer, a white "H" Hermes enamel bracelet (which has become my single favorite Cruise 2006 accessory) and my Rayban gunmetal aviators. (What can I say... $450 for Chanel aviators? Better to go with the OG Raybans)

The outfit still needed some kick... black Chloe paddington flats or my black Prada pointy-toe pumps? My gal-pal's 5'7"... best to go with the heels.

Now have you ever gotten your heel stuck while driving?Good lord! I was stopped at a red light and somehow my foot creeped forward and I got the pointy toe stuck in between the brake and where it connects to the car... so I couldn't take my foot off the brake! Heart attack!

A few honks and a damaged leather toe later I got my foot unstuck and resumed my driving. So THAT's why they make car shoes.

But car shoes (or drivers) by definition are u-g-l-y. I think I will stick to the London Slipper. I now keep my beat-up spare pink ones folded up in its matching case in my glove compartment. I absolutely refuse to have a shoe-related car accident. That would be too embarrassing. :(

Still brewing strong...

Thursday, February 9 - Monday February 20.
Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport
Warehouse Sale Addicts, it's that time of year again! I haven't had a chance to stop by today but I will be there bright and early tomorrow. I'll race ya to the shoe racks ;)

FredFlare.com 25% off for V-Day

Get an additional 25% off at FredFlare.com-- Pick up some gifts for your honey or your gal pals!

Enter coupon code dailycandy.0206 at checkout.

Got a pal with a new flame? Send her this tease kit~ $8 $6.


V-Day is always a good day for a self-appreciation gift! $8 $6.


Weekend getaway with the honey? $50 $37.50.

Early Picks for Fall Trends

With NY Fashion Week in full gear, it's time to start buying investment pieces for Spring that will transition into Fall. After all, who can afford to buy an entirely new wardrobe every season? We've gotta make it last somewhat. :)

Cut-outs are the new lace. They're on Louis Vuitton & Marc Jacob's Spring bags. They're on flirty Chloe blouses. Get one or two key pieces in basic black or white (but a creamy white) to pair with skirts in the Spring and black trousers in the fall.

The trench now doubles as a dress! Pick a trench that is well-tailored on the top and has a defined, belted waist. My BCBG version is more of a petticoat: 3/4 sleeves and has a flared skirt. Button up your trench and pair with stilettos or heels for the Spring for a dainty 1940's moviestar look. Then layer it over a ruffled blouse and pair with tights (not leggings) & slender boots in the Fall for a classic femme look.

Up the grandeur in your feminine tops with a scalloped lace border. Badgley Mischka extends their sweetheart neckline into thick scalloped shoulder straps. Tracy Reese softens a plunging neckline with a metallicized lace overlay. Y & Kei keep it simple with a low-key spaghetti strap dress adorned with a subtle scalloped straight neckline.

Empire waistlines are popping up everywhere. Trenchcoat dresses require a higher belted waist. The scalloped necklines as seen above are usually paired with an empire waist as well. So why not revive the empire dress in the evening? Previously reserved for the younger set, empire dresses are now an ageless commodity and streamlined for every body type.

NY Fashion Week :: Autumn/Fall 2006

I have not forgotten! Festivities started today~ I will be looking out for these shows in particular... more updates & pictures next week!

Friday, Feb 3
Blecch, nothing in particular

Saturday, Feb 4
Alice Roi
Sass & Bide

Sunday, Feb 5
Tracy Reese
Diane von Furstenberg
Edun
Tuleh
Badgley Mischka

Monday, Feb 6
Carolina Herrera
Jill Stuart
Oscar de la Renta
BCBG
Marc Jacobs

Tuesday, Feb 7
Monique Lhuillier
Luca Luca
Iisli
Nanette Lepore
Heatherette

Wednesday, Feb 8
Peter Som
Anna Sui

Thursday, Feb 9
Vera Wang
Zac Posen

Friday, Feb 10
Project Runway

'Tis the Season to be Pre-Ordering

It's time to put your name on the waiting list for Louis Vuitton's novelty Spring bags... unless you are one of the lucky few to have already gotten their hands on one.

On the top of everyone's list is the hobo embellished with the floral cut-outs in suede as featured in the Gisele ads. Comes in 2 sizes, 3 colors and with or without the cut-outs. The large hobo (pictured) is $3,500. Kind of steep for a suede hobo that's tough to work into Spring outfits! I'd be on the look out for the smaller hobo in brown with the cut-outs... just doesn't look right without 'em. (Looks a bit hole-y)


This one I'm a little more excited about... the Linda comes in 2 color schemes and comes either with alligator or calfskin trim. The alligator number will set you back over $5k so I'm sticking to the calf in the color pictured above ($2400). A little cutesy, more of an occasion bag but IMO a better buy than the hobo because of the detail & the limited production.


Monogram canvas gets yet another update: perforated with a color inlay. Comes with either pink, orange or green inlays in a multitude of styles. I'm on the list for a speedy ($1200) with the green inlay. Gives this line a youthfull flair. Though not limited production, these waitlist for these will be pretty long in the early months.

Recycle & Reuse

Make your products work overtime! Here are some clever ways to recycle and resuse your products to assure your money well spent.

The next time you receive a Fragrance Gift Set (or a Sephora.com gift) don't throw away the box! These high-quality gift boxes are great for hiding girly things like tampons and panty liners in the bathroom. I've been using my Green Tea Bvlgari box to stow away tampons underneath my sink.

Forget about Anastasia and Benefit brow waxes, just use La Mer's Lip Balm to tame those unruly brows. Just dab a small amount and rub on your brows. Less shiny than a brow gel and more flexible than a brow wax. So small and portable they're also good on the lips ;)

Even though I've switched back to a foaming cleanser, I still use my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil as a make-up remover. Just soak a cotton ball (not a cotton pad) with some oil and wipe around the eye area then rinse. Works better than cleanser alone!

I still haven't gotten used to the idea of a "facial mist"... moisten the skin? It wets it! I can't ignore beads of water on my face! So now I use the Shu Facial Mist (fancy words for depsea water spray) to dillute foundation for a sheer application. Works great with Shu's compact foundations or any other heavy foundation you'd like to wear during the day.

Other than just irritated eyes, Visine is good for a quick pick-me-up: put a drop in your eyes before a photo to make sure your eyes look bright and awake- not tired. And who knew it also works great to set eyeshadow? A friend showed me how to keep eyeshadow looking its best all day: after picking up some eyeshadow with a brush, dip the brush lightly in some Visine drops before applying to the eyes.

The same friend found a clever way to deal with the dried up lotion often leftover in your lotion pump... rather than discarding, use it as a cuticle softener! The dehydrated chunk of lotion is very concentrated and the solid shape makes it easy to roll over your cuticles.

What are your favorite products that you use in more ways than one?

New Sponsors

I am hoping to make some changes to this blog to keep up with the traffic I've been getting. First of all, I am saving up to make a bid for www.closettherapy.com and I'm looking for more permanent hosting. Hence, I've added a little advertising here and there.

With the exception of the Google Ads I only advertise for online stores that I've personaly purchased from and recommend. So please, show your support and the next time you are planning to shop at eLuxury.com, Sephora.com, or a flurry of other online stores, stop by ClosetTherapy and link through. ~.~

Luella for Target

Target takes after H&M's successful Karl Lagerfeld & Stella McCartney one-time-only collections and invites Brit designer Luella Bartley for a Cruise Collection. Just the kind of thing that gets me excited. :)

You can preview the collection now on Target.com which will be available in-store in a couple of weeks.

With these prices, this is a great way to pick up a non-committal cruise wardrobe :) Great for kicks, great for gifts. Here are some of the items I will probably pick up if I can get my hands on them:

Net tote comes in a variety of colors, $29.99.
Sling bag (perfect for the gym!), $29.99.


Cherry Print Coin Purse, $14.99.
Cherry Print Clutch, $16.99.


White Oversized Sunglasses, $16.99.
Cherry Print iPod Case, $12.99.


Beaded necklace comes in black or white, $14.99.
Bracelet Cuff comes in black or white, $12.99.


White Polo, $16.99.
Puff Sleeve Tee in Rose, $14.99.


Strapless Dress, $39.99.
(Loved it in blue layered over a blue striped tank like in the Target ads!)
Tulip Skirt, $24.99.

If I happen to find any of this left at Target, I'll be back with a report/review to let y'all know about the fit & quality!

Nautical Fun

Speaking of flats...

I want to buy a pair of these Sperry Topsider Nautical Skimmers... but I can't decide on a color. Do I go with a simple White or the Green to pair with knee length skirts and bermuda shorts for a sweet cutesy look, or do I go for a more nautical pair like the Navy or the Black for a more "Cruise" look?

Which would you choose?

The London Slipper

The most flattering pair of ballet flats I've ever had~ and at a size 10 trust me, most ballet flats look silly. These portable ballet flats by Sue London fold in half and come in their own carrying case~ making it easy to throw them in your purse or in the trunk of your car for high-heel emergencies. They are made of an ultra-soft buttery leather and the shape just molds to your feet. The soles are rubber and have enough support for all day walking. Now they come in a match-everything winter palette. I've used my Mermaid Pink (above - right) pair all summer & fall and just reordered the Slate online. If you purchase today, January 29th you can get an extra 20% off [normally $120] @ girlshop.com by entering coupon code: MESPREE06.

They are a little pricey for ballet slippers but they are worth every penny! They are so comfortable and easy on the feet. Also, they are simple yet flattering. Some colors are subtly metallic but this actually adds the right amount of sophistication.

They only come in whole sizes and run true-to-size but because of the stretchy leather I went down half a size. I'm thinking of getting a pair in Bronze (dressy) & Navy (nautical) as well for Spring!

Your Recommendations

I decided it's time to invest in a set of make-up brushes. I've pretty much been cheaping out and sticking to promotional brush sets, the likes of Stila and Shu Uemura. And although great quality, they are too small and too "temporary".

So this is where you come in. It'll be much appreciated if you would help me out by filling out the short survey below of your favorite brushes. You can copy and paste it into a comment below this post or e-mail it to me at closettherapy@gmail.com if you'd like to privately submit your votes. Either way I will I review all of the submissions and report back with your favorites as well as the ones I ended up choosing.

So here we go... [I've filled in below with my current set as an example]

1) Powder/Face Brush: MAC Travel Blush Brush 129
2) Bronzer Brush: MAC Travel Blush Brush 129
3) Blush Brush: MAC Travel Blush Brush 129
4) Defined Eyeshadow Brush: Shu Uemura Portable Natural Brush 10
5) Blending Eyeshadow Brush: MAC Travel Tapered Blending Brush 224
6) Slanted/Eyeliner Brush: MAC Small Angle Brush 266
7) Lip Brush: Finger
8) Eyebrow Brush: MAC Small Angle Brush 266
9) Make-Up Brush Cleanser: Soap and Water

So yes, I basically reuse the same 4 brushes over and over again. :)

Straight from the horse's mouth

I just realized that it's been almost a year that I've been working out with my trainer. I've picked up some great tips along the way, some that most of you have probably already heard and hopefully some will be new. So now I pass on the knowledge baton to you. :)

Training:
1) A balance of strength training and cardio is always best. First of all no machine is "better" than the other... just do what you like. Stationary bike, elliptical machine, treadmill, stairmaster... do whatever will keep you moving. On the days you strength train, 20 minutes at a fat-burning heart rate level is enough. For me, that's about 125-130 bpm. On non-strength training days, you should up your cardio to 30-40 minutes at a cardio-training heart rate level which for me is about 150-160 bpm. Ideally you should do this twice a week, which adds up to 4 times a week. Cardio has always been my weak spot~ I get so bored! I usually give up 5 minutes into a workout but now I keep my mind busy watching TV. You shouldn't bring a book to the gym because if you can concentrate on reading while you're doing cardio, you aren't working out hard enough!

2) For the fastest results (in terms of decreasing your fat percentage and burning the most calories) you want to concentrate your strength training on your legs. Your largest workable muscle group is in your legs so you'll burn the most in the last amount of time by working out your legs. Squats and lunges should always be incorporated into every workout session. Of course some will argue that the back is the largest muscle group and can burn the most fat & calories but to properly workout your back muscles you need at least 5-6 different movements so it's a little more difficult. With the legs you just make sure you're working out your quads and hamstrings evenly and you're good.

3) Keep your heart rate up doing strength training. In between sets of anything, grab a small step (just slightly shorter than your knee) and climb up and down. Start with your left foot up, bring the right one up, step the left foot down then the right foot down. Repeat 15 times. Then start with your right foot and repeat for another 15. Getting your heart rate up will help your muscles burn more fat and calories during normal strength training, even if it's something like working out your abs or biceps.

4) You hear stories about Britney Spears doing 1000 crunches a day and what not. If you're doing crunches the right way, you do not need to do that many to get the same results. First of all make sure you vary and do all the crunch positions so that you utilize all of your ab muscles. That means doing a set straight-up, doing a set of lower abs, then doing a set of twisties to target your obliques. For your regular straight-up crunches, the best position is to lie down on a hard surface and prop your feet up so that your knees are at a 90 degree angle, like a chair on its back. For lower abs, the best way is to grab something above your head, then slowly lift your butt up towards the ceiling, with your knees moving in a slow back and forth motion as you pick up your butt. Make sure you don't rock too much, you should only feel this movement in your abs and not your lower back. Obliques can be done on the floor with one foot propped up against the opposite knee, put your hands behind your head and aim your elbow for the opposite knee. I do 2 sets of 20 for each position. Also, while you're doing all of your other work outs you should keep your tummy tucked into your spine which will also help strengthen your core and tighten those abs.

Eating:
1) Drink a lot of water. We always hear this but this is seriously the easiest way to lost your water weight in 2-3 days. Your body holds on to whatever it doesn't get enough of. If you're not drinking a lot of water, your body will hold on to the water it does get which will give you a permanent bloat. By drinking a lot of water (think 2 liter-sized Smart Water bottles a day) your body will realize it doesn't need to hold on to water because you will always be consuming some more and you will drop your water weight. (And pee a gazillion times)

2) Don't drastically change your diet. Starting a diet like the atkins, zone, or south beach is often a temporary thing because you can't stick with that for your entire life. There will be nights out and special occasions where you need to eat real food. Instead make small changes. Eat out for dinner often? Get in the habit of ordering a side salad with EVERY meal and eat that salad first before you touch anything else. This will make you full faster, and fill you up with veggies so that you are a healthy-full not steak-and-fries-full. You will eat less of the fatty unhealthy stuff and eat more healthy protein and fiber.

3) Also another good tip for eating out: when ordering, ask the waiter to immediately put half of every portion "to go" and serve the other half. This will prevent you from eating too much: if you're like me, your stomach is slow to give the "I'm full!" signal and you always end up overeating. This way, you still get the satisfaction of cleaning up your plate.

4) Don't skip dessert, but try choosing fruit or sorbet instead. If you skip dessert when you really want it, you might cave in to your sweet tooth when you get home and end up eating brownies, cookies and who knows what else. Which reminds me of another tip, if you get a craving, give in to it but within reason. Crave some potato chips? Grab a small serving and enjoy it while you eat it. Once I was craving a French Bread Pizza. I decided to eat some chips instead... but they didn't satisfy me. Then I added a cookie, some candy and some cheese bread. Still not satisfied. I went as far as eating 2 more servings of snacks until I finally gave in and made myself some Pizza. So if I had eaten the Pizza in the first place, I wouldn't have had to eat everything else.

Of course I'm not an expert on dieting. I mean I rarely stick to mine. I find my biggest problem is forgetfulness. As in, I literally forget that I'm supposed to be watching what I eat until I finish eating. So this brings me to my last tip. Write down what you eat. Buy a cutesy little book (I got a black leather one from Coach) and every day write every little thing you put in your mouth. 2 Mint Milanos. 1 glass Orange Juice. 4 McDonald's Chicken McNuggets. 1/2 order of fries. Make sure you write EVERYTHING you eat right then and there. The next time you're about to sneak a Lay's Baked Potato Chip, you'll skip it because you're too lazy to take out your eating book.

So what tried-and-true methods do you have for working out or dieting?

Multi-Tasking

I rarely do lifestyle-related posts but I've just made some recent discoveries that I absolutely-must-need to share with everyone.

Most of my apartment is hardwood flooring and tile. I've always wanted the Roomba but since I've bought the Dyson, I never had a use for it. Well just recently iRobot came out with the Scooba... a Floor Washing Robot. ($399 at Sharper Image)

So now instead of my usual vaccuum, dust, mop & dry ritual I can clean all my floors with the push of a button. Literally. And sad to say, but it does a much better job than me.

Which of course leaves me free to do other things. So now I've converted my "housework" into "me" time. While the dishwasher & Scooba goes I plop down on the sofa, light some candles, play Jack Johnson on my iPod and read my newest book while sipping on some Chamomile tea. The perfect way to wind down after a day while cleaning up the day's messes!

Mighty Leaf Tea Chamomile Citrus
Recently at Il Fornaio I had the perfectly brewed cup of Chamomile Tea. Instantly addicted I went online looking for it... Mighty Leaf. The perfect brew for the end of the day. Relaxing and of course since it's Chamomile, no caffeine.
$8.75 for 15 packets on Amazon.com


Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
Bushnell's 4th novel (Sex & the City) and her best since SATC. Smart, funny and a good read. I'm trying to pace myself through the book although the story just breezes through sometimes I'm tempted to finish it in one setting.
$16.47 on Amazon.com


In Between Dreams Jack Johnson
I know I'm a little bit late, but I just recently gave in and bought Jack Johnson's CD on iTunes. I've been listening to it all weekend (in the plane, in the car, in bed before sleeping) and I'm addicted. Laidback and mellow but light enough for background music while reading.
$11.99 on Amazon.com