very pretty lips for a very good cause

I was recently introduced to Jessi Howell cosmetics. Her products look great, but I was especially drawn to her P.U.D. (Proud, Unique, and Determined) line. She carries deliciously rich shades of lipstick and perfectly plumping lip glosses. Here's the best part of all - 100% of the proceeds from her P.U.D. line go to Childhelp, and Abused Child Trust, nonprofit organizations that help victims of child abuse and neglect.

P.U.D. Pure Lips retails for $28. Free of synthetic dyes and colourants. I adore her "Determined" color! Five other great colors to choose from.

P.U.D Plumping Pout Gloss retails for $40 - comes in six gorgeous colors. Check out "Prosper" - it's simple and fresh for the summer! And best of all, it's for a great cause! www.jessihowellcosmetics.com

yay or nay?

I've been searching for the perfect rectangular "LOVE" throw pillow to add to the middle of my sectional. I know they're out there somewhere, and I can't seem to get my hands on one. Just today I spotted this incredible deal on the almost perfect pillow (you'll see why I say "almost")

Gosh darn that "s" and the "a" (which really does look like an "o", anyway). I love the black graffiti! I'm so disappointed that this potentially adorable pillow from CB2, on sale for a nice $10, says "save". Granted we're currently in a recession, but I would imagine that no one wants a reminder to "save" resting right beneath their elbow everyday! If, however, you're drawn to the word, then by all means go and grab your "save" while it's still on sale! cb2.com

a cow in the kitchen

I know I recently expressed how chic I think a chalkboard in the kitchen is - but here's another worth mentioning: Socialite Olivia Palermo's! She's so fun to hate, with her closet the size of a small country. And I simply cannot stop thinking about her fabulous apartment in the city. It's very hollywood glam, a little too unpractical with all the white (I'm sure I would have spilled something all over her yummy cream-colored sofa) but I adore her cow-shaped chalkboard in the kitchen above her stove.


The country feel of the cow and the modern zebra rug in the walkway create such a warm balance. And just for fun, here's a picture of a gorgeous art deco chair in her apartment:

The Pink piping is so feminine - and the shape is truly elegant!

Back to chalkboards - they're a great idea if you're thinking you want to change up your kitchen a little and they're really useful for to-do lists and recipes!

who knew cleaning up could be this adorable?!

I optimistically thought that the throwing-food-on-the-floor stage would have happily ended by the time my husband turned 28 - joking, by the time my daughter turned one. But boy oh boy was I wrong. My floor looks like a disaster almost every night. And there I am, left picking up pieces of macaroni - and washing the tiled, every-lil-spot-of-dirt-shows floor, over and over again!

I started to search for some durable floor mats and was so excited when I came across this one:


"Strawberry Fields Retro Splat Mat" by online boutique store Divas and Drooligans, is so cute and retails for approximately $25. 44" x 44", heavy duty, and available in eight more adorable, retro patterns! check out divasanddrooligans.com.

yummy treats...and zero calories!

Here's a deal worth checking out: Pottery Barn Kids is having a huge sale on their play food - over 50% off and so adorable!

check out these pics...



Made of soft felt, they have a huge array of foods - sushi, snow cones, take out burgers, and adorable spices! They retail for $19 and are on sale now for a cool $7.99 for each set!

Also, if your sweet little one loves tea parties as much as mine does, you'll be itching for this tea set too!



Made of cotton and corduroy (cute!) this tea set is on sale for $6 (originally $16). I love the earth tone colors! check it all out at potterybarnkids.com

what a clever kitchen!

My friend Daniella so graciously allowed me to photograph her stunning kitchen. There is something truly unique about it - her Subzero refrigerator and freezer are covered from head to toe in chalkboard!


While living in her apartment, Daniella explained that she was constantly writing reminder lists - if it wasn't written down then it just wasn't happenin (she's a very busy mom of four, mind you). When she designed her kitchen, she thought of a wonderfully creative way to jot down a note or two and add something original.

Here's a close-up

Yumm! (by the way her kitchen smelled so good!) And I love that it still functions as a magnetic fridge! So smart Daniella!

do you blabla?

Summer is around the corner, and do you know what that means? It means it's time to stock up on all that winter clearance for next fall! Blabla is a great place to start. They carry a huge array of clothings, toys, and blankets. Their products are very well made and very pricey. Now is the time to buy!

Check out these great sale items:


The "Mozart" Tee retails for $24 and is on sale now for $12. So adorable and original, made from hand-picked cotton and produced in Peru. They have a nice array of t's on sale for both boys and girls. blablakids.com for more t's. Check out their adorable winter hats, also $12 on sale!


Looking for the prefect gift? This adorable hand loomed pink and orange blanket is 100% cotton and on sale now for $35, originally $60. You're giving a quality gift at a great price! blablakids.com