Save Your Skin

As I've mentioned (confessed, really) before, I have worn the same makeup types and brands for so many years, it's amazing that most of them are still in production.  I recently had to stock up on some discontinued lipgloss on eBay- a pretty gross thought, really, but desperate times call for, well, pre-owned lipgloss. However, I recently was looking through photos of myself on Facebook (oh, come on, you do it, too) and I noticed something disturbing- I have a tendency to get shiny a few hours after I get made up. And not in that pretty-fresh-dewy-glow way (more in a I-just-rubbed-a-slice-of-pizza-on-my-forehead way). I first noticed this issue in a series of photos from my friend's wedding last summer (witness the horror at below right), but I consoled myself that it was a warm summer day, and I was probably just a little overheated. But my distress increased as I flipped further and further back in time, and realized this has been a bit of a chronic problem. Like, since forever. How did I not know this about myself, you ask? I'll tell you how- denial. It's powerful stuff, people.
And as if that wasn't enough, this discovery coincided with another unpleasantness, which was the arrival of my first legitimate facial wrinkles. Pretty much the same day that I stopped getting zits with regularity, my skin decided to inflict a different kind of punishment on me, in the form of smile lines and crow's feet (which can also be spotted in the photo at right). Ugh. It became clear to me that I needed to add a new weapon to my grossness-fighting arsenal. Luckily, my friend T, whose make-up skills have evolved since college, showed up just in the nick of time with exactly what I never knew I needed: BareMinerals powder foundation ($25, from Sephora.com). It's a super-light and natural looking powder that looks and feels way better than a liquid foundation; it just gently masks the flaws and leaves you looking like you. And it's SPF 15, too, so it actually prevents more wrinkles! Plus, it's made entirely out of natural minerals that won't poison you or clog your pores, and cause the acne to show up to the party, too, when you fall asleep with your make-up on (which I never do, particularly not after friends' weddings). My only suggestion would be to try to get to a Sephora store, or a make-up counter that carries BareMinerals to make sure you pick the exact right shade for you (there are 20 to choose from)- the only thing worse than a wrinkly oil-slick is the Kabuki mask of wrong-color foundation.

Repping Prep

Growing up in California, my summer attire (heck, my year-round attire) usually consisted of the "daisy dukes and bikinis on top" that are spoken of so eloquently in Katy Perry's ubiquitous hit single. (I'm sorry I keep bringing it up, but if you have not had this song perma-lodged in your head since June, you must be reading this from the moon).
But I've been an East Coaster for (gulp) eleven summers now, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my style of dress has transformed over the years from "California Gurl" to more like "Rear Admiral"- not only have I gone preppy, I've gone nautical preppy.  After spending the last two consecutive weekends at weddings in Newport, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod, (more about all that later this week), I've become fully convinced that the world would be a better-looking place if everyone would just follow my plan to dress like they had recently stepped off a yacht.  But even if you aren't on board (get it?) for the full boating look, my favorite pieces are timeless classics that will look great on anyone and can be incorporated into any style of dress (well, maybe not vampire goth).  So pull in the mainline, pour yourself a dark & stormy, and set sail for  the world of Nautical Prep. Even Katy Perry is doing it.

 1. Persol sunglasses, $255, from the Sunglass Hut; 2. Boat and Tote canvas bag, $25, from L.L.Bean; 3. "Know The Ropes" bracelet, $78, from Kate Spade; 4. Ropebelt seersucker shorts, $75, from Tory Burch; 5. Ruffle stripe bikini, $68 each piece, from Anthropologie; 6. Sperry topsiders, $75, from Zappos.com; 7. Saint James "Meridien" sailor shirt, $85, from J.Crew; 8. Aerie sailor shorts, $25, from American Eagle; 9. Nantucket rope bracelets, $14, from The Sunken Ship; 10. Striped espadrilles, $69, from Toms; 11. Silk scarf (for tying over your head or around your neck), $305, from Hermes; 12. Straw fedora, $22 from the Village Hat Shop.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot

Holy buckets, it is hot out. Like, really really ridiculously hot. And while we California girls are, by nature, hot (so hot, in the immortal words of Katy Perry, we'll melt your popsicle), after spending the holiday weekend frolicking by the sea in Newport, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod, being back in the stifling city has come as a bit of a rude awakening. Also I have a little sunburn that isn't helping much with my body-temperature issues.
Luckily, if I have picked up anything from the nine summers I have spent sweltering burgh, it is how to dress appropriately for the heat. The trick is light flowy dresses that give your skin room to breathe and allow for whatever upskirt breezes you may be able to find (hey, if it was good enough for Marilyn, its good enough for me). Throw on some cute sandals, jewelry and shades, and grab a big bag to tote a bottle of water, sunscreen, and other heat-busting gear, and you'll be stylin' while you keep from overheating. So it's easy to be hot and cool all at once.

Here are some of my picks for cute heat-beating dresses (okay, plus one romper I couldn't resist), and the accessories I would wear with them. As Paris would say, that's hot.

1. Gray tiered-skirt dress, $35, from American Eagle; 2. Drapy silk dress, $130, from Banana Republic; 3. Bird-patterned romper, $44, from Modcloth; 4. Floral cross-back dress, $60 from The Gap; 5. Adjustable jersey dress (can be tied seven different ways for different looks), $38, from American Apparel; 6. Floral halter dress, $23, from Forever 21; 7. Loose jersey dress, $16, from Old Navy; 8. Blue patterned wrap dress, $168, from Anthropologie; 9. Strappy striped dress with buttons, $4, from Urban Outfitters.

1. Long gold-chain necklace, $95, from Kate Spade; 2. Braided headband (keeps your hair off your face), $16, by L. Erickson, available from Amazon.com; 3. Tortoise-shell framed sunglasses, $120 by Ray-Ban from the Sunglass Hut; 4. Gold leaf-shaped cuff bracelet, $124, by Kendra Scott, from Zappos.com; 5. Nude suede "Gigi" sandals, $50, by Sam Edelman, from Piperlime.com; 6. Recycled sailcloth tote, $110, from Seabags.com.

The Fabulizer

When I packed up and moved into my college Freshman dorm room in the fall of 1999, I arrived armed with the essentials- a green original iMac, phone cards to call home, and a hugely padded black lace bra that my roommates immediately dubbed "The Fabulizer." I have, in my life, been blessed with many gifts (namely: naturally blond hair I don't have to color, a fairly sunny disposition, and a better-than-average ability to solve crossword puzzles), but I was not bestowed with what you might call "an ample bosom." Hence, The Fabulizer, which immediately added at least three cup sizes to anyone (to prove this, I once tacked it up on the flat wall, and, voila, "Wally Parton").  However,  while it was, well, fabulous, The Fabulizer had several blatant drawbacks. The black lace and thick straps hardly made for an inconspicuous combo, so it made it's presence known by showing though or sticking out of almost any outfit (luckily it was the late 90s and underwear-as-outerwear was in). To totally hide this monster of a bra, in fact, an outfit would have to be so modest as to be completely beside the point.  Also, because I didn't wear it at all times, it was unlikely I fooled anyone into thinking a rack like that had just sprouted overnight. Still, I managed to get quite a bit of wear out of that sucker over the course of the next four extremely educational and enriching years, until I finally outgrew it (emotionally, not physically, sadly).
In my adult life, which could frequently use a little fabulizing, I have often reminisced about the enhancing properties of that brassiere, and wished I had something with similar capabilities which would fit my lifestyle now. It seemed an impossible dream until, like a miracle, I found it: The Fabulizer 2.0.
The Plunge Multi-way Bra with Gel-Curve, $37.50 from Victoria's Secret is the Fabulizer for the new millennium (give or take 10 years). Seriously. I bought it in nude to wear under a dress to a wedding last September, and I have worn it almost every day since (sorry to disappoint you, People I Have Met Since September, but my cleavage isn't the real deal). This bra is actually comfortable, smooth enough to wear under anything without showing, and, unlike any other strapless bra I have ever owned, it stays up on it's own. And the patented Gel-Curve stuff looks and feels way more like real boob than the mattress foam that was stuffed into the original Fabulizer (not that I intend to test that by getting groped).
So, if you happen to be similarly mosquito-bitten, or just want to enhance your natural assets, I suggest you head to Vicky's and try this lovely thing on immediately. And if you spend more than $100 (by buying this bra in every color), get free shipping through July13 using the promo code: SHIPVS10. Fabulous.

Fancy Footwork (5 Essential Shoes for Summer)

In my apartment the biggest closet is my shoe and tool closet.  A shoe rack as tall as I am covers one wall, filled with my massive footwear collection, and the other corner houses a cabinet which contains my (equally loved) power saw, drill, and hand tools. That just about sums me up, I think.

But just like I don't use every tool all the time (it's been a while since I reached for my awl, for example), I don't actually wear most of those shoes very often. In fact, I was thinking about it, and I think I could easily get through the whole spring and summer with just 5 pairs of shoes.  Granted, I don't have a working-girl life with the pumps and the power suits and whatnot, so if you're some kind of fancy exec, you might need to add a pair or two of corporate-ladder-climbing shoes to the list, but for those in more casual workplaces, I think I've got you covered. So without further ado, here are my

Five Essential Pairs of Shoes Every Gal Should Have This Summer

1. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Slim, $50; 2. Seychelles Araxi II snakeskin sandals, $75; 3. Kate Spade Frenchie flats, $156; 4. Elie Tahari Cassandra heels, $398; 5. Kate Spade Blooming Espadrilles, $225.

1. Cute Sneakers: There's something so very Audrey Hepburn about wearing cute simple sneakers in the summer time. I wear mine with shorts, linen pants, skinny jeans, and even short dresses. My mom has been wearing simple white Keds with everything for years, and she always looks adorable. I should have listened to her sooner.
2. Flat Sandals:  Cute flat sandals can make any outfit stylish. I wear mine all year, with everything. They are particularly lovely with maxi dresses, or short shorts (and tan legs).
3. Comfy Flats: These aren't just my summer go-to shoes, but my anytime-there-isn't-snow-on-the-ground go-to shoes. Flats are pretty, feminine, stylish and put together looking, and they're appropriate for any activity: work, play, or dinner out. You cannot go wrong- I walk all over Manhattan in mine. And they are a must-have for flying- they slip right off for security, but keep your toes warm in-flight. Perfection.
4. Killer Heels: Every girl needs at least one pair of great, sexy heels. I think a metallic (like gold or silver) is more versatile than black, and will look great with your power suit at after-work drinks, or any bridesmaid dress you have to don this year (at least your feet will look great).
5. Fun Wedges: These are the shoes you switch into from the flat sandals or sneakers once the sun goes down. They make any outfit- dresses, shorts, jeans, more dressy and fun. I love a modern take on espadrilles like these.


Now just don't make me choose between my tools.

Less Is More

I have a very stylish and savvy friend who is a master of getting deals. Seriously, if discount shopping were an Olympic sport, this girl would be lousy with gold medals. She owns Black Friday, hacks Cyber Monday, and could write the book on discount shopping on every other day of the week, too. She goes into Lohmann's and Nordstrom Rack like a well-seasoned general going into battle, and always departs with the bountiful spoils of war (she actually expressed disappointment that, due to a short timeline planning her wedding this summer, she wasn't able to get her dress at the "Running of the Brides" dress sale at Filene's Basement in Boston).

While I admire, and frequently envy, her bargain-getting skills, I have come to terms with the fact that I just don't have it in me (whatever "it" is). I like what I like and if I can afford it, I'll buy it.  Ideally, I'd like my deals to come to me. And, that's why I love Yipit.com, a deal-aggregator website that was started by my friends Vinny and Jim. Yipit allows you to enter your location and interests (say, "Spas" and "Bars and Clubs", or as specific as "Teeth Whitening" or "Boot Camp"), and shows you the best deals relevant to you in your area, which are compiled from sites like Groupon, LifeBooker and Dealist. Instead of getting a ton of emails full of "deals" that aren't interesting to you, you get one email tailored to the things you like. Trust me- it'll fit better than an off-the-rack wedding dress.

Yipit is currently available in Boston, Chicago, LA, New York, and San Francisco and is coming soon to Atlanta, Las Vegas, London, San Diego and Washington, DC.

Want bargains in your neighborhood fast and cheap? Deal with it.

A Shear Thing

I love a good kitchen gadget- give me an apple peeler-corer, or an egg slicer or a whipped cream maker and I'll be entertained for hours. But the truth is that you don't ever really NEED any of those things, and you can get almost any cooking task accomplished, as long as you have a few solid and high-quality basics: a chef's knife, a paring knife, a serrated knife, and a good pair of kitchen shears. And (arguably) the greatest of these is shears.
You can use a sharp pair of scissors to do almost everything in the kitchen- butcher a chicken, mince herbs, snip the ends off green beans, cut parchment paper or twine, open packages, or `even cut wire or trim flower stems in a pinch (just don't tell my mom I do that). The trick is to get a good-quality stainless steel pair that come apart, so you can throw them in the dishwasher after every use without fear of rust, and sharpen the blades just like knives when they get dull from cutting wire (even though your mom told you not to). I also like pairs with non-slip handles (for when your hands are covered in chicken goo) and built-in bottle openers, for enjoying a tall frosty one when you're done. Here are three worthy pairs. Owning any of them would be shear luck.

Top left, Titanium kitchen shears, $13.50, from Williams-Sonoma; Right, Wusthof come-apart shears, $19.95 from Amazon.com; Bottom left, Shun Classic 'Taskmaster' shears, $39.95 from Sur La Table.

Give It Away Now: Graphic Image Giveaway!

As you read this, I am probably en route on an odyssey that began with a 6-hour drive to Pittsburgh, which will (if all goes according to our insane plan) be followed by three flights, which will put us in Jackson Hole late tonight for a weekend of skiing. But, defying reason or logic, I'm actually happy as a clam about it, because I love to travel. No matter what goes wrong, or how things get messed up, I know I will be sharing an adventure with the man I love, on my way to ski with our wonderful friends in a beautiful place. And that's the amazing thing about travel- sometimes the bad stuff turns out to be good stuff, if you're able to roll with the punches.


Which brings me to my exciting news! One of my favorite companies for leather travel accessories (as well as journals, books and home accessories), Graphic Image, is having their huge annual Winter Sale, with most of their products on sale for up to 75% off. I have shown some of their smaller leather goods before, in a post about great gifts for friends, hostesses and other special occasions, but you have to go on their site to see the full range of beautiful photo albums, frames, wallets, address books and gifts they make for yourself. The mind boggles. And as a special gift for my readers, enter promo code "charmedwife" at checkout and get free shipping until the end of February, too!

But that's not all! The lovely folks at Graphic Image (www.graphicimage.com) like you so much that they have also offered to give some of their gorgeous travel products to me to give to you!

First prize is a gorgeous leather travel travel clutch (upper left, above), valued at $139. You even get to choose the color, you lucky duck.
Second prize is a super-cute leather Passport cover (lower right, above), which retails for $48. Again, you get to take your pick of all their pretty colors, and they will slap your monogram on it, too, if you want. Consider it a little valentine from me to you, my loves!

TO ENTER: Between now and midnight EST on Monday night, February 15, leave a comment (no anonymouses allowed for this one- you've got to leave me an email address!) telling me about where you would go if you could travel anywhere in the world, and you will be entered to win a random drawing for one of the two awesome, amazing prizes above! (One entry per person, please).

PS: Happy Birthday, Daddy! xxooxxoo

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.

Bag That Thing Up

So, about a year ago, I wrote a post about reusable shopping bags, and, at the time, I felt like that would be my final word on the subject. I thought I knew all there was to know, and that I really delved deep in my analysis. Looking back now, though, I can laugh at my own foolishness; my folly and my naivete. It's hard to believe that the girl who wrote that post is even the same person who writes this one. A lot of things happened in 2009 - just think, a year ago, Jon & Kate were still going strong, we'd never seen Lady Gaga wear this hat, and Snookie and The Situation were strangers to us. It's hard to imagine. And, personally, I've grown up a lot: I'm a little older, a little wiser... I became an aunt and a dog-parent, I endured a 26.2 painful miles in self-contemplation, I learned all the lyrics to the girl part of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and how to wallpaper. Big stuff.
But, perhaps most importantly, I discovered these awesome reusable shopping bags from Flip & Tumble. The bags are huge, made out of washable ripstop nylon, can hold 25 lbs, have a strap that stays on your shoulder, and, like magic, they roll up into themselves to form a small (smaller than a peach) ball. I have stashed one in all my handbags, and even in some of my coat pockets, so I always have one with me. And, as a result, I find myself using them every single day. And they're cheap (okay, not cheap, but reasonable)! Just $9, or $8, if you buy three or more (which you should, because they're awesome). Who knows what 2010 holds in store for us, but whatever it is, I know one thing: It's in the bag.

Travel Tip #004: Scarf Tactics

I know I have mentioned this before, but some things are so genius they bear repeating. And that's definitely how I feel about this travel tip, which has proven essential to my happiness and general well-being on more than one occasion. Whenever I travel anywhere - be it by airplane, train, bus, or car - I always wear an oversize Pashmina-style wrap as a scarf around my neck. In addition to keeping my neck warm and being a cute accessory with casual clothes, and serving as a wrap with dressier outfits, it also serves a multitude of other functions in my travels. They are big enough to spread out over yourself and use as a warm blanket (beats those static-y fleece numbers the airline may or may not provide) or wad up and use as a pillow. In a pinch, I have used one as a towel, a picnic blanket, a mop, and a beach cover-up, and I've even tied one around my waist to cover up a massive coffee spill on the front of my pants (Gwyneth Paltrow once famously did the same thing to cover her derriere when her leather pants split a seam on a red carpet).
Depending on the blend of the fabric, most of them are machine washable (just don't put them in the dryer!), so you can use them to death without fear of dry-cleaning repercussions. I buy inexpensive wraps in every color in bulk from the street vendors who peddle them on every corner in Manhattan, so when they get truly filthy, I don't feel guilty and can easily replace them. But if you want to invest in something a little more special, all of these options are lovely, versatile, and durable. There, now all your travel problems are all wrapped up.

Top left: Gray Love Quotes wrap scarf, $78, from Zappos.com; top right: Crinkle jersey wrap scarf, $39, from J.Jill; bottom left: Lightweight cashmere scarves, $49 each, from Restoration Hardware; bottom right: White fringed wrap, $13, from Overstock.com.

Extraordinary Measures

In the process of renovating and decorating our apartment this past year, I have always tried to remember to carry a measuring tape with me whenever I go out on apartment-related errands. But sometimes, my memory not being what it used to be, I simply forget to bring one along, or, while out for entirely unrelated purposes, I unexpectedly stumble upon a rug store that requires browsing. Luckily, I've learned that there are makeshift measuring tools all around us (and on us), if you only know where to look. So next time you just happen to see a gorgeous armoire in a thrift store window that you aren't sure will fit through your front door, or an antique silver picture frame at a flea market, but can't tell what size photo it will hold, use one of these handy tricks for sizing them up.

The length of your arms: Unless you are crazily disproportionate (I'm talking about you, Michael Phelps), fingertip to fingertip, the length of your arms across your chest is almost exactly the same as your height. For instance, I am 5'9" tall and my arms are, too (we really are well-designed creatures -- I think that is what Da Vinci was trying to get across in this little doodle). This comes in handy when trying to figure out the height of a curtain rod, the length of a vintage tablecloth, and a million other things.
The length of your foot: Measure the bottom of your shoe and remember the length. I wear a women's size 8.5 shoe, which is almost exactly 11" long. Walking, heel-to-toe with about one inch between them, I can fairly accurately measure out the length of something, in feet (literally!). I have used this trick to measure the square-footage of a room or the size of a carpet. Incidentally, if you are measuring something you can't walk on, this measurement should be the same as the distance from your elbow to your wrist.
The length of your stride: My natural stride is about 2'. To measure yours, take a few natural steps, then freeze. Use chalk to mark the tip of the toe of your back foot and the tip of the toe of your front foot and measure the distance between them.
Pocket change: The diameter of a quarter is exactly one inch. The circumference is exactly 3" (starting with Washington's nose pointed straight down, roll the edge along a surface until he faces down again). A penny is exactly 1/16" thick. That means that a stack of pennies can be used for precise measurements of less than an inch.
A dollar bill: A US dollar bill is 2.5" x 6". It can also be wrapped around things that are round or curved to measure them.
A credit card: A credit card is almost exactly 2" x 3.5". The distance from the top edge to the bottom of the magnetic strip is .5".
For the truly committed: I've never gotten this intense, and I don't wear a belt everyday, but for those who do, you can also mark off inches on the inside of your everyday belt. Although, that might be depressing for those with expanding waistlines.

Try to remember these simple tips, and you'll always know how you (and that lovely garage sale lamp) measure up.

Saving Face

Turning up the thermostat to accommodate the change in the seasons. Halloween makeup. A few too many cocktails. Sweaty long runs. Baking in the sun during last weekend's trip to Vegas. These are all crimes I have recently committed against my skin, and it's beginning to show. It's definitely time I do something nice for my face, but I'd like to do it without simultaneously doing something mean to my wallet. What I'm saying is, I think it's time for an at-home facial, people. While a DIY facial can't compare to the spa version in terms of pampering, it CAN have the same aesthetic benefits, for a lot less cash. So put on your robe, turn on some whale-sounds music, and dim the lights. It may not be a real spa experience, but it definitely beats an acne attack.

Here's what you need:
Your favorite cleanser
Exfoliating scrub
A toner
Warm water and a washcloth
Clay-based or cream facial mask (based on skin type)
Basic moisturizer

Here's what you do:
1. Cleanse: Use a headband or wrap a towel around your head to keep your hair pushed away from your face. To get started, use your favorite facial cleanser to remove any grease or dirt from the surface of your face (see below for my picks). In case you have never seen a Clean N' Clear commercial, the proper way to wash your face is to first dampen it with warm water. Then rub a nickel-size dollop on cleanser between your fingers, and massage it into your face. To rinse it off, splash your face with warm water until all of the soap is removed. Pat dry with a clean towel.
2. Exfoliate: The next step is to remove and dead, dull skin cells. Dampen your face again, and massage a gentle exfoliator into your skin. Make sure you focus on the areas where you are prone to break-outs and blackheads (like your jawline, forehead and nose). Rinse and pat dry.
3. Tone: Toner is an oft-overlooked, but important facial product. The toner removes any cleanser residue, and really freshens the skin. You can use good old witch hazel, or one of my suggestions below. Pour the toner onto a clean cotton swab and rub over your face.
4. Steam: This is where you really sock it to any gunk that might be built up in your pores. Boil a pot of water over the stove. Add chamomile tea bags, if you like, and place your face over the pot, tenting with a towel, for about five minutes. Pat dry.
5. Mask: A clay-based mask will literally suck the dirt and grease out of your face. Apply liberally to the skin on your face and neck, but avoid your eye area. Try one of my faves below, or you can mix up a gentle mask in your kitchen using 3 tablespoons oatmeal, 1 egg white, and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Leave on for 10-20 minutes (you can put cucumber slices over your eyes and take a nap, if you want), then rinse thoroughly, and pat dry.
6. Moisturize: The last, but arguably most important step, is to apply your favorite moisturizer to your face and neck. Ahhh. You glow, girl.

My picks: Top row: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, $38; Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, $11; St. Ives Apricot Scrub, $4; Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, $6; Burt's Bee's Garden Tomato Toner, $11; Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner, $8.
Bottom Row: Lush Mask of Magnaminty, $11; Freeman's Purifying Facial Clay Masque, $4; Olay Total Effects moisturizer, $18; La Roche-Posay Toleriane moisturizer, $20.

Suits Me

This may seem like a weird time to be doing a post on bathing suits, what with summer being over, and winter beckoning us with it's icy fingers. But I'm an optimist, and I'm holding out hope that we might have a few warm weather weekends left this year. Not to mention the surprise trip to Bermuda I am sure my husband is planning for me. But mostly, this is a really great time to buy a new bathing suit because they are on sale everywhere. And it's not like styles change much year to year- unless you count that ill-advised high-cut leg thing that was in during the '90s (but if that comes back next year, I suggest you buck the trend). So even if you have to buy one and put it away for next year, at least it will be new to you. Plus, no one loves trying on suits, but wouldn't you rather do it now with an end-of-summer tan than next spring with winter pasty skin and that layer of extra-warmth pudge?


Top row, left to right: Green patterned bikini, $152, from Lilly Pulitzer available at Zappos.com; Navy ruffle full-piece suit, $89, from J.Crew; Striped suit, $44, from Overstock.com; Black low-cut full-piece, $20, from Newport News; Green polka-dot bikini, $39, from Victoria's Secret; Red-and-white bikini by Salinas, $30, from Overstock.com; Blue-and-white nautical bikini, top $22.50, bottom $17.50, from Delia's; White-and-blue one-piece, $99, from Anthropologie; Multi-colored striped bikini, $39, from Victoria's Secret.

Cookbook Club

I've finally reached that point in my cooking career where I feel comfortable going "off book" and improvising a meal without a recipe. And, I'm proud to say, that the results are delicious almost as often as they are disastrous. But I'm not the kind of person to just jump in without instruction and practice, and to get to my extremely high level of culinary expertise, it's best to start out with a little basic instruction. Sure, I took a few weeks of cooking school before dropping out, but where I really learned the craft was from some really great cookbooks (and my epicure ancestors). If you lack the latter, that just makes the former all that more important. My favorite books are the ones that not only tell you what to do, but how to do it properly, and why it should be done that way. And I love illustrations and pretty pictures (it's helps to know what the finished product should look like). But, with so many new cookbooks popping up all the time, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. Fear not. Without further ado, I present my top 8 favorite cookbooks. Any one of these will provide you with a very good foundation in the kitchen; the whole lot of them will turn you into a master, and will provide you with a lifetime's-worth of recipes. Happy cookbooking!

The Joy of Cooking. Here's a cookbook that needs no introduction. This one was the go-to reference guide in my house growing up. To this day, I look at it at least once a week.
Martha Stewart's Cooking School. A new book from the Big M. What can I say? I'm partial to her simple instruction and beautiful photography, and this one has a little bit of everything (if she's a little didactic, it's just because she wants you to do it right the first time).
The New Best Recipe, from Cook's Illustrated. I got this one as an engagement gift, and it has arguably improved the quality of my marriage (or, at least, what we eat). This one is great at explaining the reasons behind every step you take. And it's nicely and clearly illustrated.
How to Cook Everything, by Mark Bittman. Bittman makes cooking the most complicated foods seem totally attainable with his clear, easy instructions, and provides recipes for just about anything you could want to cook.
Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics. It's no secret that I am a huge Ina Garten fan. All her books are good as gold, but this one is my favorite, for it's simple, just-a-few-ingredients recipes using fresh, delicious foods.
Donna Hay: Modern Classics. This book wins the prize for most drool-worthy photography. I want to eat every page. And, because she's so clear and concise in her instruction, I actually can.
Everyday Food: Great Food Fast. Simple, delicious and quick recipes for weeknight meals. Even someone who doesn't know a sifter from a spatula could easily cook up something great using this book.
Julia Child's The Way to Cook. I couldn't leave out Julia, the heroine of all aspiring cooks. All her books are heaven, but this one gets down to basics in her humorous no-nonsense way. You could put it next to your bed and read it like a novel.

Jammin' Jammies

Sure, there are evenings that call for silky negligee, or old, worn-in, sweatpants and an oversize t-shirt, but ever since I saw Claudette Colbert win over Clark Gable while sporting them in It Happened One Night, I have viewed crisp, classic, cotton pajamas to be the height of sleepwear. They are charming at the Sunday breakfast table, totally appropriate for middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom during visits to the in-laws, and not embarrassing if you ever have to evacuate your hotel room due to an overactive fire alarm. And, I promise, for many men, they are just as alluring on you as some silly scratchy-lace teddy contraption. I insist on 100 percent cotton -- flannel is too hot for me and silk is too slippery -- and for sleeping, my taste runs to subtle, soft whites and blues (although almost all of the options shown below are available in bolder colors and patterns if you insist on sporting cheetah-print while you slumber). But no matter which ones you choose you will be comfortable, cute, and subtly sexy for whatever happens one night.

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left to right: Liberty print pjs, $234, from Bed Head; Classic blue-stripe men's pajamas, $79.50, from Brooks Brothers; Cotton stripes pjs, $39, from Victoria's Secret; "Lauren" floral-print pajama set, $64, from Pine Cone Hill; Donna Nadeau white cotton pajamas, on sale for $33, from Nordstrom.com; Camisole pajama set, $149, from Eberjey.

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Left to right: Classic (very soft) Derek Rose men's cotton pjs, on sale for $104, from Sierra Trading Post; White "Mumbai" pajamas, on sale for $120, from Natori; Oscar de la Renta stretch cotton pjs, $190, from Saks Fifth Avenue; Mandarin-collar "Madeline" pjs, $75, from Pine Cone Hill; Classic stripe pajamas, by Lauren from Ralph Lauren, $82, from Nordstrom.com.

Cool Collars and Luxe Leashes

During the time leading up to our adoption of Skipper, I wasn't sure what breed or gender or color of dog I wanted, or even what size. All I knew for sure was that, no matter what kind of dog we ended up with, I would never be one of those dog owners who dresses their dogs in tutus and carries them around in a designer handbag. A dog is a dog, I asserted, not a doll with which to play dress-up.

But then we brought Skipper home with her standard-issue plain-Jane Petco nylon leash and collar, and suddenly, I found myself wanting more for her. We had given her a new lease on life, why not a new leash, too? After all, she's a Manhattan lady, now, and she deserves to sport something a little more stylish. Don't get me wrong, I'm not painting her toenails hot pink right now or anything (she wouldn't hold still long enough for them to dry, anyway), and I still believe that a dog is a dog (If there is something disgusting on the ground, she's going to roll in it whether you have her in an Ed Hardy outfit or not), but I don't think there's anything wrong with giving your pooch a leash and collar with a little pizazz. So, like many first-time pet owners before me, I have stumbled unwittingly into a whole new world of merchandise, and found it very appealing. Fittingly, I have recently purchased Skipper a "Sailor's Knot" (get it? Skipper? Sailor?) collar and leash. And I am sure she will look paws-atively fetching.

From top: "Lucky Horseshoe" and "Eco-Sport" leashes (made from %100 recycled material), $24 each, matching collars are $18 each, from Mascot; "Agra" collars, $14-18 each, matching leash is $22, from Harry Barker; "Sailor's Knot" leash (this is the one Skipper will soon be modeling), $42, matching collar is $38, from Mascot;"Deauville" collars $16-18 each, matching leashes are $22, from Harry Barker; Braided leather collar, $55, matching leashes are $65, from Canine Styles.