Back to the bloggers with the elegant homes …

stephmodo featured Maria’s home – the blogger behind Dreamy Whites – and it is just lovely.  Maria lives on a horse ranch in Northern California, where her husband is a professional trainer.  She’s transformed her home into a French-inspired farmhouse, all awash in soft whites.  I’m thinking of asking to move in.

For the full feature and all of the I-need-a-vacation-inducing pictures, visit stephmodo.

*As part of the DailyBuzz Style Program, I received free Clear Tone Deodorant and a $150 stipend from Dove. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Confidence … it may not be there when I’m stuck on a ballet bar, wondering, how did I once get down from this thing?  (True story.)  But when it comes to staying dry, especially in not-so-sexy sweat-prone places, confidence is everything.  It’s nearly summer, which means, naturally, that I’ve been kicking my exercise plan into overdrive.

Now for the story: last week I started ballet … again … after maybe a 14+ year lull.  I’m awful.  But I didn’t care.  Apparently, after 25, you grow this thing called confidence, and you only nominally care about what other girls think of you.  But staying dry, looking cute, and rocking an adorable bow headband while I work out, all help with that confidence as well.

And Dove Clear Tone Deodorant helps you feel fresh and dry; intense, sweaty, hour-and-a-half ballet class and all.

As a day-to-day deodorant, Dove Clear Tone goes on clean, doesn’t get all over your clothes, and keeps you protected.  It also smells great – kind of like a Cabbage Patch doll – which I know, sounds weird, but is kind of awesome.

I know I’ve fallen deep into this world of the split-life, when I’m relieved it’s a three-day weekend so that I can blog more.  Not that being a lawyer isn’t awesome.  (Typed with only a note of sarcasm, I swear!)  Anyhoo … I loved this picture when I spotted it on Shopbop’s Instagram feed – the measuring tape, the coffee, the keyboard – sounds like weekend to me!  The caption: Product Editor, Erika, wearing Avant Garde Paris.  (And yes, I totally want the ring too!)

I just discovered The Frugalpreneur – Business for Broke People.  Brilliant.  I have major reading to do.

Playing on Pinterest this weekend!  Need an invite?  Shoot me an e-mail.

Ob-sessed with the bow back on this striped tank. #SummerPerfection

Long weekend indulgence: ridiculously easy two-ingredient lemon bars.

Only Alexander Wang could make a romper look sophisticated.

Need a break? Have a Riesling Strawberry Slushie. (How’s that for a fancy Memorial Day slushie?)

Or rather … The Pale Girl’s Guide to Faking A Perfect Tan.

Here’s the truth:  I’m pale.  So pale, I match my husband’s white cotton Hanes t-shirts.  Casper pale.  Like white on rice.

I identify with this scene from the movie The Waitress (which, if you haven’t seen, you must):

Becky:  “As you can plainly see, my right boob is much higher than my left boob.  And Dawn here has pasty, pasty skin.  I’m stuck in a marriage to Droolin’ Phil the Invalid, and Dawn eats TV dinners alone, but still, we wouldn’t rather be you.”

Dawn:  “I do have pasty, pasty skin.”

Pale, pale.

So you see, tanning beds, beaches, and outdoor exposure without a pound of sunscreen, an umbrella, and J-Lo-worthy hat, are out of the question for me.

But even I recognize the benefit of a sexy summer tan.

So I fake it.

A few tips for using sunless tanning lotions + sprays:

• – exfoliate before you apply product – you may even want to exfoliate well, several days before application (focus on areas that tend to be dry – i.e., elbows, knees – these are the areas where the tanning lotion appears worst)
• – moisturize like crazy, for the same reason
• – don’t apply sunless tanner right out of the shower – any moisture will cause the color to drip (think sweat as well)
• – take your time when applying
• – wash your hands frequently throughout application
• – wait at least 15 minutes after application before putting on clothes
• – look for “gradual color” tanners so that you can’t mess up too badly – I like the subtle gradual color tanners that give more of a shimmer (the dark tanners are great too, but they require a whole lot more patience … be warned!)

Do you rock the sunless tanner?  Any brilliant tips or tricks?

Read up on all of my Philips summer “beauty cheats” here.

And for a chance at winning a $1,500 shopping spree, designer clothes, and the best in beauty, enter the Style Your Spring Sweepstakes at www.beauty.philips.com!

Second image found here.

Philips Satin Perfect is an innovative solution for women who are looking for a simple, at-home hair removal tool to ensure they are ready for any outfit at a moment’s notice. Satin Perfect is a cordless, total body epilator that removes even the shortest hairs in one stroke, so skin stays silky smooth for up to four weeks. It includes an extra-wide epilation head with textured ceramic discs to remove even the finest and shortest (.5MM) hairs.  Visit www.Beauty.Philips.com for more information on Philips female hair removal products.

*Compensation was provided by Philips via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Philips.

Those gorgeous nude and back color-block sandals are by Giuseppe Zanotti and I have wanted them for months.  I love a black heel because it goes with everything (at least in my wardrobe where everything is, well, black), but the nude front elongates the leg and is the perfect compromise.  But alas, I am on a budget (and Giuseppe Zanotti is not).  And then I stumble upon the most perfect Vince Camuto sandals at Nordstrom Rack (oh thank you. Nordstrom Rack!), and they are a dead ringer to the Giuseppe Zanotti’s that have been bookmarked for-like-ever (in shoe-craving-time.)

The Vince Camuto‘s are so similar I could cry.  This in no way has hindered my deep-seated desire to own and love a pair (or ten) of Giuseppe Zanotti’s, but I may just get by this once with an affordable alternative.

Real: Giuseppe Zanotti // Deal: Vince Camuto

First Image via The Chriselle Factor

Images Song of Style + Made By Girl

This series is brought to you by Proactiv® Solution.

I have good skin.  I got lucky in the skin genetics lottery, and I rarely had a zit throughout puberty (or what little puberty I had … still waiting on my tata’s to grow … grow, dammit.)  Before throwing tomatoes at me, there is a downside to having good skin in high school (I swear!)  When you hit your mid-to-errr-late twenties, and stress comes-a-knockin’, you have no freaking clue what to do with a pimple.  I am that clueless.  And stress causes break-outs (now I sound like a skincare commercial, which is not the worst thing.)

My crazy husband has been known to use toothpaste on an unfriendly visitor, and all I can think is, “that has got to be burning your skin.”  And it does.  I have crazy sensitive skin and blemish-reducing bottles with phrases like “tough on skin” terrify the living pants off of me.

Then Proactiv® sends me a great big box of their products, and even the cardboard Fedex box smells good from all of the “green tea,” which makes me think, “I can totally handle this.”  I’m taking baby steps.

So last week, i.e., girl hell week (ahem, you know exactly what I am talking about), my skin, my stress, it was one big pile of crazy.  I used the Proactiv® Solution Deep Cleansing Wash on my face, morning and night, for a week.  The stuff has a bit of exfoliating scrub in it and smells kind of like a facial.  It left my skin unbelievably clean, smooth, and not at all oily.  I spot-treated the “stress zones” with the Proactiv® Solution Advanced Blemish Treatment.  I bow down.  The Advanced Blemish Treatment is my savior.  I wish it came in a bigger bottle; a much bigger bottle.  It smells sweet and fruity, it dries up every bump, blemish, and “am-I-getting-something-there?”  I can even wear the Advanced Blemish Treatment under my makeup, which is magical.  It has a permanent place on my counter-top.

I’ll keep you posted on the rest!

Visit Proactiv® for all other products + become a member at proactiv.com.

*I am a Proactiv® Blogger Ambassador.  Posts in this series are sponsored by Proactiv®.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Proactiv® .

I often cringe when spotting the cowboy tuxedo — denim-on-denim … eegads.  But navy on denim is totally chic, and when paired with chunky metal accessories, it’s completely preppy and glam.  And just in case you feared the illustrious fashion pitfall, pair light denim with dark navy – no tuxedo confusion there.

A few of my favorite navy + denim picks:

Madewell Armona Polka Dot Dress

Current/Elliott The Perfect Denim Shirt

Current/Elliott The Stiletto in Indigo Polka Dot

Yves Saint Laurent Tribtoo Suede Pumps

AG Adriano Goldschmied Sleeveless Marine Top

7 For All Mankind Gwenevere Skinny Jeans

Theyskens Theory Navy Aki Ziggy Pumps

Maison Martin Margiela Elbow-Patch Cardigan

ASOS Navy Tights

Images via Guerreisms // StreetFSN

I miss breakfast in Paris. Everything was covered in cheese and came with coffee.

(And since it’s currently really early in Paris right now, it’s totally justified … my crazy craving for cheese bread + more coffee, at 7pm on the East Coast.)

I love music. I mean, really love music.  And I’m pretty open to all types.  But LMFAO, it kind of burns my ears.  (SO sorry, if LMFAO is … like … your favorite boy band ever.)

Until my new favorite teenager covered “Sexy and I know It” and made it palatable … okay, awesome.

I was SO not this cool in high school …

Listen to a few of my favorite mixtapes while you’re at it!

Via Gawker