POCKET LINT.

ONLINE (AND BEYOND): THE BEST FREE COSMETICS GAME I'VE FALLEN FOR HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

I am a sucker.  It's true.  And I'm not afraid to admit it.

Last year, when Subway started up their Scrabble marketing ploy, I began eating regular six-inch turkey subs. When McDonald's periodically reintroduces Monopoly, I suddenly start craving french fries with BBQ sauce.

So, when I found out about Philosophy's new birthday game, where you fill in your email address daily to potentially win prizes like free cosmetics, I went STRAIGHT to the website.  And I'll probably do it everyday until the promotion ends.

You can judge me.  Or you can join me.  Your choice, but we both know which is more fun.

xo - N.

NYC (AND BEYOND): THE BEST SQUISHY BATH MAT

 

I want this bath mat BAD.

Blame it on a love of all things spongy and an even deeper love of all things memory foam (bring on the Tempurpedic!).  Or blame my recent sleep deprivation for making me extra susceptible to suggestions like "BUY NOW."

Either way, I think this seems like the coolest Micro Dry bath mat ever.  And bath mats can be pretty cool, don't you agree?  I can just imagine my instantly dry feet sinking into its cozy depths.  Think of all that happiness for like $20.

On second thought, maybe this is a really lame blog topic.  If so, blame it on the fact that I recently threw out my old bath mat after my cat Mina unceremoniously puked on it and have bath mats on the brain.  Or just blame it on little old me.

xo - N.

LA (AND BEYOND): THE BEST FLU FIGHTER

I know a lot of people question the validity of gimmicky beauty products:

Plumping lipgloss?  Please.  Thickening mascara?  Yeah, riiight.  Cellulite Sugar Scrub?  What?  Do I look like Nell Carter?  Gimme a break!

Oh, Nell.  Remember that episode where Kimberly is bulimic (but only for like forty-five minutes) and she gets up in the middle of night to binge and Nell finds her eating a whole cake?  I love that episode. Maybe I liked the idea of a problem being solved so quickly.  Or maybe I just thought it sounded fun to eat a whole cake.  Yeah.  Probably the second one.

Anyway ... you know what I say to the cynics who doubt the beauty serums and creams?  I say, who cares? Sometimes an anti-aging cream is at least a nice smelling moisturizer.  Sometimes a "plumping" lipgloss is just a good product, even if it doesn't make you look like Nikki Cox post-injections.  Especially if it doesn't.

[Yeah, poor Nikki got an overdose.]

All that said, I have NO idea if the above LaROCCA lip shield actually fights germs, as it claims.  BUT I do know that it has a really good consistency and an SPF, which is pretty rare in an lip product.  And it's an affordable luxury and you know I'm always recommending little splurges like that because it just makes you feel like you got something special without having to make a major commitment.  Plus, I'm not sure if it keeps me from getting sick, but I sure like the idea that it does.

See, sometimes I think an idea is better than certain actualities anyway (just ask Nikki Cox).

And sometimes that's good enough for me.

xo - N.

LA (AND BEYOND): THE BEST NEWLY LAUNCHED LOCAL STYLE BLOG

To announce that I'm a BIG fan of local Third Street style blog, Blackburn + Sweetzer would be a major understatement (not to mention an insult to the intelligence of any regular PL readers).

Over the oh so long year of writing this . . . thing . . . this behemoth beast (swoon from exhaustion), I've constantly referenced my pal Tasha Nita Adams' blog as a daily "Crumpled Twenty" or even just as a resource.

Well, now her "little sib" blog is all grown up and part of a newly launched larger style website called Mondette.  With fashion world partners in crime Lilliam Rivera and Christina von Messling, the new website also covers the entire Melrose area (Rosewood + Martel).  Well, the parts worth knowing.

As the name Mondette suggests, these ladies translate this sprawling urban (and sometimes weirdly suburban) jungle into a small world, highlighting truly local happenings and finds in these central enclaves.  LA can be a hard city to get to know, but this is like a short cut to finding your favorite neighborhood spots and characters.

It's a cheat sheet, if you will, to making LA your style-centric home.

xo - N.

LA (SUNSET STRIP): THE BEST WAY TO "NAIL" A LA RIGHT OF PASSAGE

Maybe it's my NYC upbringing (or my freelancer's bank account), but I tend to opt for the less expensive manicure options.  In many cases, actually, when I've gotten my nails done at high-end spas, the manicures haven't lasted as long or looked as good as my spot around the corner.

I think the reason for this reality is clear: No matter how bare bones (within reason and health codes), a salon that specializes in nails has the potential to be more spot on than a place that just sort of offers that as one service option.

Jessica Nail Clinic on Sunset Blvd. covers both bases.  It's high-end and luxe, but also nail (and, okay, waxing) specific.  In fact, in place of trumped up "Champagne Manicures" and "Snow Pedicures" and the like, they only offer two options: hands and feet.  And they've been open for more than 40 years, so go figure.  Apparently, if you do it well enough, that's enough.

Anyway, you can read more about the spot on Martha Stewart Weddings' blog, but suffice it to say that there is not a cuticle in sight on my hand.  And the experience was like stepping into another era, when women took the time to groom and gossip and people actually used the term "darlink" with conviction.

xo - N.

 

TEXAS (AND BEYOND): THE BEST EXCUSE FOR USING NEWLYWED GAME LINGO LIKE "WHOOPIE"

Actually, I take the title of this post back: there's actually no excuse for the word "whoopie."  BUT I am really enjoying the above FarmHouse Fresh "Whoopie" Cream.  Get your mind out of the gutter!

No, but seriously, I can't really explain the name.  BUT you know I was excited when this pretty little glass jar of shea butter lotion arrived at my house because I love all things shea butter and super dense lotions.

Yes, Andre: lotion.  I know.  You're doing a Silence of the Lambs impression as we speak.  Charming.

Anyway, the cream is a brand new product from the Texas based company and it seems to be quite hydrating, just like I like them.

Like Lalicious' Sugar Kiss lotion and Jaqua's Butter Cream body butter (which I LOVE), this smells like a variation on cake batter.  I realize that's not everybody's thing all the time (I mean, what is?), but it can be quite nice, when you're in the mood.  And I do admit that I'm shamelessly charmed by the old fashioned glass jar.  So Anne of Green Gables to me.  Should we go get drunk on cordial?  Is that a thing even?

Anyway, this lotion really doesn't make you want to "make whoopie," but it does make you want to bake a cake.

xo - N.

NYC/LA: THE BEST DISCOUNTED BEAUTY TREATMENTS

So, my sister refers to Life Booker as "the best website ever created."  If you're a beauty-a-phile who lives in either LA or NYC, you'll probably agree.  Basically, the website offers revolving discounts at local salons and clinics (for everything from waxing to massages to Botox).

I know what you're thinking: "Discount waxing sounds sketch."  I hear you.  But these deals are at all manner of local salons.  You might even find discounts at your regular spots.

Now, that's beautiful.

xo  - N.

UTAH TO SIEM REAP (AND BEYOND): THE BEST SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION (THIS MONTH)

The way I see it, there's an upside to these occasional "Shameless Self-Promotion" posts and it's not just that I get to talk about myself.  More.  Not just that I get to talk about myself MORE.

No, but seriously, this way you get several stories in one: You can read about spas for any budget in my Daily Candy Travel (like Utah's Amangiri pictured above).  You can hear about brushes with fame on the Upper West Side in the 80's in my Huffington Post story or learn about the custom wedding dress experience in my first person feature in Town & Country Weddings.  You can even consider honeymoon destinations via my stories in Martha Stewart Honeymoons and Martha Stewart Weddings.

Or you can ignore this post altogether and hold out for tomorrow, when things on the LINT go back to normal (a.k.a. I obsess about food and jeans).

Choose your own adventure.

xo - N. 

 

FRANCE (AND BEYOND): THE BEST CHAPSTICK (WELL, OKAY, LIP CONDITIONER)

When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand.  And nothing, oh nothing is going right.  Close your eyes and think of me and soon . . . well, soon nothing really.  I'm not going to like appear out of thin air every time you're grouchy.  Gawd.

BUT when I am down and troubled, I like to treat myself.  Maybe retail therapy is sort of twisted, but I'm here to tell you that it works.  Plus, it has no calories.  In fact, I always imagine that you must lose weight shopping.  After all, that's like a couple hours when you're not eating.  Just saying.

Anyway, since the impulse to shop is always inexplicably strongest when one is most broke ("Oh, am I overdrawn on my account?  I guess I'll go shopping!"), one must carefully choose said purchase.  Buyers remorse is no good.

Often, I'll go for a Mistral lotion or soap (which I know you're all sick of hearing about from me).  But it is true that cosmetics are easy purchases that you can use for a long while and don't generally cost as much as say, a new pair of shoes.

Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of heading over to the Beverly Hills Hotel to sample and test out some of La Prairie's newest products, including a new line of makeup.  First of all, though the serums and creams can be pricey, the lip colors are not insanely expensive at all and they also serve as lip conditioners (anti-aging and all that).

But I am MOST obsessed with their Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment with SPF 15.  First of all, it has an SPF which just makes me feel virtuous.  Secondly, it has this insanely smooth texture that I just love.  It glides on, it smells nice and it's "conditioning."  Now, I know normally $50 might seem like a lot for a glorified Chapstick.  But, first of all, this is justifiably glorified.  And, second of all, you'll use it constantly and it will make you feel all fancy and well-groomed over and over again.  No matter how broke you may be.

I even love the weight of packaging: It's heavy and feels substantial in a certain way.   Substantial like this post about lip treatment.  Gawd.

Happy weekend, folks!

xo - N.

LA (WEHO): THE BEST MOMENT FOR A HAIR REFRESH

New Years resolutions are all about self-control, motivation and determination.  That's why I prefer to let someone else do the heavy lifting: namely my frequent colorist, Sheri Roman (who "maintains" me).

So, last week, I motivated myself over to her chair, determined to read some trashy magazines and zone out, while she made me 2010 pretty.  And, of course, I showed self control too (for instance, I DIDN'T stop around the corner at Oscar de la Renta and buy a strapless ballgown and I only ate six sugar cookies at the salon).  Okay, I ate seven.

Yup, I know.  My self-discipline is outstanding.

Anyway, I wound up back to blond(ish) and am now enjoying life as Betty.  Veronica was so last year.  After years of red and copper and all those types of shades, I decided it was time to lighten things up (blond is Sheri's specialty, after all).  And I think she did a really nice, subtle job.

PLUS, it may be 3 degrees in Chicago, but it's 85 degrees here in LA.  Might as well pretend it's summer.

So.  What are you all doing for July 4th?  Beach bonfire?  BBQ?

xo - N.

P.S. Photos by Rachel Leonard.

P.P.S. Not that you can really see it above, but note my favorite navy blue Philip Lim sweater.  Not for any real reason.  Just note it because I love it and it goes with everything (at least I pretend that it does).

This one goes out to you, Sweater.  You know who you are.

P.P.P.S. BTW--Have I posted a pic of me since I chopped my hair off too?  Great cut from new B.H. salon Angus Mitchell (yup, related to Paul).

P.P.P.P.S.  Does it kind of look like I'm surreptitiously giving someone the finger?