POCKET LINT.

NYC (& BEYOND): Jasmine(!) Lip Glaze You Can't Live Without

Okay, okay, this time I've been so horribly remiss in posting that I can't even apologize.  How many times can I abuse you poor LINTERS and then try to offer you flowers?  (Metaphorically speaking, of course.  I don't actually HAVE any flowers for any of you.)

That said, I got too obsessed with the above Korres Lip Butter Glaze not to spread the good word.  First of all, who the heck ever heard of a "Jasmine" flavored lip glaze?  Yes, please!  (It does come in other tints/scents, but why would you want that?)

Second, two words: LIP BUTTER.  I mean, you know how I feel about body butter, people, and lipgloss.  Just think of the the level of euphoria!  It goes on like silk, it STAYS on like heaven and it smells divine.  AND -- in these po' ass times -- it only costs $14, so you can buy it without guilt.

Which is good.  Because with guilt comes flowers.  And that's just an added expense.

xo - N.

EVERYWHERE: THE BEST SALE!!!!

Since I'm a HUGE Vince fan and I recommended the Natalie bathing suit from Anthropologie and it was (gasp!) all sold out (boo hissssss!), I needed to tell you guys about this HUGE Vince summer sale for BOYS and GIRLS that's happening.

It's crazy!  You can get this leather jacket for $300-ish instead of $800-ish:

Shut up.  Shut up.

xo - N.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TUESDAY [THE BEST BATHING SUIT]

Okay, I'm truly sorry not to be posting a Bachelorette recap today, but I'm off on a trip - first to San Diego and then to Vancouver and Victoria - and will be watching it late.

I'll report back on all that when I return, BUT, in the meantime, I thought I at least owed you some kind of nugget.  Above, behold the Natalie One-Piece from Anthropologie, which I KID YOU NOT is the best fitting, most flattering bathing suit that I have ever encountered in my entire life.

Seriously.

It comes in multiple colors (I have the polkadots!) and it's all old Hollywood and stuff, but best of all, it seems to be on sale right now.  I feel like I should buy 10 to wear over the next decade.  That's how good this thing looks on.

I'm sure you'll get on swimmingly! (Couldn't resist.)

xo - N.

LA (AND BEYOND): SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION [Supermodels/Angels]

Rumor has it that "talking to an angel is like trying to catch a falling star.”  Still, I didn’t find the task quite so challenging at the exclusive Victoria’s Secret “Bombshell Summer” kick-off event on Wednesday afternoon.

Standing next to a supermodel?  Now, that’s daunting.  In fact, a picture exists of Miranda Kerr above and me, but I'm hoping it will never see the light of day (for the love of all things good!).

Anyway, I took the self-esteem lumps for Style.com, chatting up the fresh-faced, Balenciaga-clad VS “Angel” (a.k.a. Mrs. Orlando Bloom) between manicures, hand massages and makeovers at LA’s notorious SkyBar.

Read all about it and Victoria's Secret events - that you can attend - all over the country in the next few weeks!

xo - N.

 

LA (AND BEYOND): SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION [TOP CHEF FOR TRAVEL + LEISURE)

So, I've decided to take time out of my busy beach lolling schedule to actually write a post.

What?  There may be a hurricane coming.  I need to take what sun and Atlantic Ocean swimming I can get, mofos.

ANYWAY ... Travel + Leisure posted my story about the bestest Top Chef restaurants today, so thought you all might like to check it out.

Tune in next week, when I'm back in black.  (That means in LA and writing the blog again, if you didn't understand.)

xo - N.

CRUMPLED TWENTY: THE BEST WAY TO WIN **3** BAGS [REBECCA MINKOFF]

The Best Link Today:

Hi Guys.  So, I feel like this really doesn't require a lot of fanfare or explanation: Go onto Refinery 29 and you can enter to win 3(!) Rebecca Minkoff bags.  I mean, are you KIDDING me?  Like, sign me up times twelve!

If any LINTERS happen to win, do let us know so we can live vicariously!!

xoxo - N.

LA/CHICAGO (CRUMPLD TWENTY): THE BEST WAY TO GET ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO DC

The Best Link Today:

Today is "National Tova Day."

"What now," you say?

Well, today is the day that Daily Candy made a very brilliant choice and posted a story about Tova's organizing skills (for now in Chicago, later in L.A.).

Now, of course, we at the LINT have known about her best-kept-secret skills and Organized Closet Design for a long while.  But eventually it's only fair to let the rest of the world enjoy her too.

But we can always say we knew her when.

xo - N.

CHI TOWN (DOWNTOWN): THE BEST WINE, CHEESE AND CHOCOLATE WITH THE CHICAS

Okay, okay, this is my last Chicago post for a while.  These stories are starting to sound almost nostalgic.  That's how long ago this trip actually happened.  Back in ye olden days before oil spills and sink holes and before that Natalee Holloway sociopath struck again and ... wow, three weeks ago really was the good old days.

Anyway, at least I'm not writing about my trip to Abu Dahbi with my three best friends (BTW--I hear Doha is actually the new spot--just saying).  How sick are you of hearing about SATC2?  Oh.  Sad.  I just realized that if I was writing about Abu Dhabi as Carrie Bradshaw, I'd be wearing Lanvin.  I wish I was wearing Lanvin.

But then again I'd probably be wearing it with like a weird Dior hat right now.  I mean, what is it with Carrie Bradshaw and weird hats?  If she was a friendly neighborhood homeless person, she'd totally be the one rocking garbage pail lids and paper bags as hats.  I mean, you know, if she wasn't fictional.  Ahem.

I'm sorry--did I digress?

What's that you say?  You want to hear about the above cheese?

Well, my lovable friends and I (Charlotte, Samantha--just kidding!) stayed in a suite at the InterContinental in Chi-Town, which is great because they just renovated a bunch of the rooms.  The beds were like heaven.  The bathrooms were lovely.  All good all around!

But, perhaps most memorable, was ENO, the wine, chocolate and cheese restaurant in the hotel.  (I know there are ENO siblings in the O.C. and at Hotel Del Coronado--only one of my favorite places ever.)  But I had never been.

First of all, R. had some chocolate-covered salted caramels that she FREAKED over.

There was chocolate-dipped bacon too.

Late afternoon, following a day of shopping and such, M., R., T. & I sat at the sort of bar height tables and ordered the above cheese plate, a side of olives (three types) and charcuterie.  The food was delicious--exactly what we wanted it to be!

The meats were so flavorful and, of course, we got a whole goat cheese situation for little old lactard me.  The truth is that--unless it's the summer, when nothing but guacamole, chips and a margarita with salt will do--there is no better late afternoon snack than charcuterie, cheese, chocolate and wine.

In fact, I think that might also be the four food groups.

Am I missing one?  Oh, right: french fries.

xo - N.

CHI TOWN (AND BEYOND): THE BEST GOAT CHEESE ICE CREAM MAYBE? AND, OKAY, SOME BIG STAR TACO ACTION

It may feel as if my Chicago posts are never ending, even though I only spent a weekend, but there was so much to find!  I didn't even take pictures of certain amazing culinary experiences, so I won't even bore you with them.

For instance, I won't even mention the Tacos al Pastor (with small pieces of crispy pork and pineapple) at Big Star in Wicker Park.  Or that we snagged a table really quickly there for a big party on R.P.'s b-day and that's because T. & her friends seem like the "Mayors of Chicago" according to M.  T. knew people everywhere we went!  But I won't even go into that.

Or show you these pictures from that night:

[Walking to a bar from Big Star.  See?  I didn't even MENTION a bar.  I would actually, but I forgot the name.]

See, I actually showed a lot of restraint not showing you everything!

Anyway, I spotted this above Jeni's Splendid ice cream during our shopping excursion earlier that same day.  Of course, I was originally attracted by the goat cheese component, as I imagined that maybe it was lactard-friendly.  But on further investigation, this ice cream seems to be some kind of amazing local-ish phenomenon with flavors like Salty Caramel, Wild Lavender, Thai Chili and Bourbon Battered Pecan.  Okay, it's out of Ohio.  But they sell it in Chicago!

So, somebody in Ohio or Chicago go get some RIGHT NOW!  Or order it online. Then please report back to me STAT.

xo - N.

CHI TOWN (WICKER PARK): THE BEST WAY TO SHOP A NEW CHICAGO DESIGNER FROM AFAR

You can't do everything.  At least, that's what they tell me.  I think maybe I could actually, if I drank enough caffeinated iced tea.  But we'll never know because, before I got a never ending burst of energy, I'd probably have a massive panic attack and have to hide in my closet.

Anyway, I didn't do the experiment while in Chicago, so, though T. wanted to take us to a new shop called Eskell, our day of shopping got too busy and we never made it over there.  Luckily, there's this little thing called the Internetsss, which allowed me to check out the shop online.

And, lo and behold, not only is the clothing really pretty cute, but there's an e-commerce shop, so I can still shop the store!  Me likey.

Oh and I suppose you can shop the store too.  It'll be like you came on the imaginary part of our trip to Chicago, even while you were really somewhere else.  See?  Everywhere at once!  I think we're onto something.

xo - N.