Friday Styles: A New Spin On Things

There aren't many things in life that I like as much now as I did when I was twelve. For instance, I no longer listen to the Backstreet Boys on repeat, I don't have a crush on any of my older brother's friends (unless you consider my husband his friend), I doubt I would watch TRL, Dawson's Creek or Party of Five, anymore, even if they were still on the air, and I've finally accepted that I am not someone who should have bangs. But if I had to hang out with my twelve-year-old self for an afternoon, I know exactly what we could do that we would both enjoy: a drug store shopping spree. Ever since I started getting an allowance, I have taken a tremendous, unexplainable pleasure in shopping at the pharmacy. I love the cosmetics aisle, I love the non-perishable food aisle (pretzel buckets!), I love the home-improvement section, the greeting cards and magazines, the school supplies... I could honestly spend hours browsing the aisles of the drug store. And, while I occasionally have rung up some whopper bills, I usually escape for under $30- try to have that much fun for $30 at the mall!  I couldn't even take my tweener alter-ego to see the Justin Bieber movie for that.
One of my favorite things about the drug store is how often to find something wonderful that you didn't know you needed, nay, didn't even know existed, until you spot it on the shelf. On a recent cold Sunday, I ducked into my local Duane Reade to pick up some necessity I had run out of, and found myself in that familiar happy place, wandering up the aisles checking out mustache trimmers and denture cream (neither of which I needed, thank you very much). I landed in the hair-care section, and that is when I discovered something that has become one of my favorite new products- the Goody Spin Pin, $5.99 for 2, from Amazon.com, or most major drug stores). I am (obviously) a sucker for anything that promises to make my life easier, and I was actually amazed at how well these things work (Goody claims they take the place of 20 bobby pins, and I believe it). All you do is form your hair into a knot or bun and twist the pins in, and miraculously they hold it. I have thick slippery hair that's cut in multiple layers and, if they work for me, they would work for anybody.  I feel like these are one of those things, like the Internet, or cell phones, or running water, that once you have, it would be hard to go back to your life before them. Which is why I would buy several sets for Preteen Lily.

Unfortunately, as miraculous as these things are, though, there isn't anything they can do about those terrible bangs.

Friday Styles: In the Nude

Most of the time, writing this blog is one of the high points of my day. It is my hobby and my great escape. But, for some reason, all the pleasure and joy I take in blogging goes out the window on Fridays, like a miracle in reverse. So my latest solution to this problem is to start a new feature: Friday Styles. These posts will feature something that I own that I think is awesome, and that I think you should probably buy, too. Hopefully, this will also help me rediscover all the great stuff I have stashed away in my place, and remember to be grateful for it. I hope you enjoy.

 Have you ever found something, out of the blue, that turned out to be just exactly the thing you needed, without your even having realized that you needed it? That was the case for me when I found these nude crocodile heels from Kate Spade on ridiculous super-sale at TJ Maxx a few weeks ago. Frankly, when I first spotted them on the rack, I didn't think they were much to look at- in a sea of wildly colored and patterned shoes, who would be drawn to boring old tan? But put the right nude shoe on your foot, and suddenly you'll feel like Cinderella. Or, rather, suddenly you'll feel like Cinderella's tall, leggy, stepsister. Something about a nude shoe makes your legs look a million miles long, even if your physical build is naturally less than statuesque. Seriously- you'll look like you could kick the moon, if you were so inclined. And, because they are so neutral, they look good with everything, from a flowy floral dress to a power suit.
But keep in mind that you have to find the right nude shoe. The color of the shoe should be close to your skin tone, but not an exact match (which could make you look like you have mutant club feet, instead of never-ending gams), so your right "nude" shoe might actually be beige or chocolate brown. And a little platform adds comfort, which is key because, trust me, you are going to be wearing these babies a lot. Here are some of my picks for great nude shoes available right now (sadly, my lovelies are no longer available in non-discount stores).

 1. "Pompadour" by Charles by Charles David, $100, from Zappos.com; 2. "Maddielyn" by Type Z, $74, from Zappos.com; 3. "Peekpump" by Stuart Weitzman, $325, from Zappos.com; 4. "Jocelyn" by Charles David, $250, from Piperlime.com; 5. "Carmen" by Kate Spade, $295, from Piperlime.com; 6."Jacey" by Gabriella Rocha, $54, from Zappo.com; 7. "Napoli" by Franco Sarto, $89, from Piperlime.com; 8. "Karolina" by Kate Spade, $298, from Zappos.com

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Giveaway by Monday night at Midnight (EST)!!

Friday Styles: Bowled Over

Most of the time, writing this blog is one of the high points of my day. It is my hobby and my great escape. But, for some reason, all the pleasure and joy I take in blogging goes out the window on Fridays, like a miracle in reverse. So my latest solution to this problem is to start a new feature: Friday Styles. These posts will feature something that I own that I think is awesome, and that I think you should probably buy, too. Hopefully, this will also help me rediscover all the great stuff I have stashed away in my place, and remember to be grateful for it. I hope you enjoy.

Ask my husband, and he will tell you I have an unhealthy attachment to some of my possessions that verges on the ludicrous. What, you might wonder, am I so attached to? Is it handbags or expensive shoes, like many women?  No, that's not me (don't get me wrong, I love a pretty pair of stillettos, just not to unhealthy levels). Is it a luxury automobile or my apartment? Nope.  My object worship is directed at something a little more quirky- mixing bowls. 
 I know it's a little weird, but I have tons of them squirreled away around our apartment, and I love and use them all. But if I had to choose between them (please don't make me), my favorites just might be this set of glass bowls I got as a shower gift before my wedding three years ago. 
There's just nothing not to love about this set- there are ten bowls, ranging from the 10.5-inch big daddy, which is perfect for mixing up cake batter or serving salad, to the adorable little 2.5-inch baby which I use to hold salt and spices while cooking in my kitchen. And the ones in between serve every conceivable function, from holding cocktail sauce to serving as a cute jello mold- without exaggeration, I use at least one of these bowls every single day. The style goes with any kitchen decor and they are super affordable. And, just when you thought they couldn't get any better, they are dishwasher, fridge, microwave and oven-safe, not to mention very durable (I may or may not have dropped them a couple times), without being heavy, clunky, or too inelegant to use as casual serving pieces. Clearly, a wonderful choice. 

Now, just don't get me started on my cakestand collection.

 Set of 10 nesting glass mixing bowls, $29.95 from Crate & Barrel.

Friday Styles: For the Dogs

Most of the time, writing this blog is one of the high points of my day. It is my hobby and my great escape. But, for some reason, all the pleasure and joy I take in blogging goes out the window on Fridays, like a miracle in reverse. So my latest solution to this problem is to start a new feature: Friday Styles. These posts will feature something that I own that I think is awesome, and that I think you should probably buy, too. Hopefully, this will also help me rediscover all the great stuff I have stashed away in my place, and remember to be grateful for it. I hope you enjoy.

I know that ever since we adopted our beagle, Skipper, I have turned into one of those new parents who gushes over every silly thing their little darling does as if it's worthy of national media coverage. I mean, I think my dog is a genius and the cutest thing that ever lived, but I'm not so far gone that I don't realize that you might not share my opinion when she jumps onto your lap, rips your tights and licks your face with kibble-breath.
And, as much as I love man's best friend, I was very resistant to all of the accessories one is required to acquire when one invites a canine to share one's abode. I tried to go minimalist, but once we got the crate, the bed, the bag, the bowls, the food bins, the baby gate, the leashes and, ugh, doggy clothes into our apartment, I realized that a 19-lb dog actually requires 100 lbs of junk. As I pondered this, I heard JM emit a long, tortured sigh from the other side of the mountain of dog stuff.
Happily, I found a charming and rich-looking dog bed that looks perfect on the oriental rug in our living room, at, of all places, Petco, for just $49. So much better looking than most of the standard-issue options, it's a plush, comfy spot where Skip loves to lounge. It's rugged enough that I can just run the vacuum over it, and the cover is removable, so I can wash it if it ever gets truly filthy. It's Skip's second-favorite place to sit in the living room. After your lap.

Friday Styles: A Case in (Needle)Point

Most of the time, contributing to this blog is one of the high points of my day. It is my hobby and my great escape- when I'm doing the things I enjoy less (like unloading the dishwasher or picking up my dog's poo), I often let my mind wander and find myself daydreaming about what I want to write about next. I usually have a mental list a mile long of projects and ideas I can't wait to write about and share with you. But, for some reason, all the pleasure and joy I take in blogging goes out the window on Fridays, like a miracle in reverse. Maybe it's because I've already used up the week's best ideas, or because I am distracted and impatient to get the weekend started, but I find I end up with a massive, impenetrable writer's block on Friday. By Monday, that excitement and enthusiasm are always back in full force, but on Friday, I feel like I am running on fumes. "So, write Friday's post on Thursday!", my husband declares, as if I hadn't thought of that (and failed at it) already. So my latest solution to this problem is to start a new feature: Friday Styles. These posts will feature something that I own that I think is awesome, and that I think you should probably buy, too. That way, my reasoning goes, when I'm stuck, I can just look around my apartment until I spot something to write about. Hopefully, this will also help me rediscover all the great stuff I have stashed away in my place, and remember to be grateful for it. I hope you enjoy.

Custom Needlepoint Monogrammed Loafers, $158, from By Paige.
Okay, so I know I've shown these babies before, but it was almost a year ago, and I don't think I gave them the fanfare they deserve back then, so they are making an encore appearance today. These monogrammed needlepoint loafers were a gift from my husband, a man who never met a popped collar he didn't like (a.k.a. the reigning Preppiest Man Alive). While my own fashion choices are a little more eclectic, there is something wonderfully traditional, classic and pulled-together about the Brooks Brothers set, and I absolutely adore these shoes, from By Paige. Despite being personalized and handmade (you can choose everything from the pattern - think zebra- to the colors, to the font), I think they are very reasonably priced. And they are so comfortable, that I usually slip them on whenever I am just lounging around the apartment. I know they are a little over-the-top (that's sort of the point), but to keep them from going too "costume-y", I wear them with skinny jeans, a blazer, and chunky jewelry (as opposed to Lilly Pulitzer capris). The downside is that because they are custom, they can take up to 4 months to arrive- but at least you know that a classic like these will be in style (or not, depending on your perspective) forever.