put a spring in your step

Happy Easter! For me it's a sign that - gasp! - spring might actually be on its way? Growing up, Easter Sunday was all about those delicious little pastel mini-eggs (the ones that have like 10000 calories per handful? Let's not get into it)... but more importantly, it meant an Easter basket full of springtime-y goodies, hand-picked by my mother. Amidst the marshmallow bunnies and chocolate treats there was always something cute to wear for when the weather finally got nice - from frilly little sundresses in the elementary school years to an adorable floral bikini in grade 10. The ballet flats above are from Chanel's Spring 2008 Couture showing, and while they're more than a little out of my mom's Easter-basket-budget, they still put me in that happy-go-lucky springtime mood.  See below for more wallet-friendly (but still fabulously girly) interpretations! Enjoy the sugar rush!

Above: Isaac Mizrahi for Target, $29.99

Above: Nine West, $79.00

Above: Sam Edelman, $95.00

going through hoops

Above: "Girlicious" hopeful Natalie sporting some supersized hoops on the red carpet

While I try not to make a habit out of taking style cues from The Pussycat Dolls, I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of girl-band-wannabes sporting giant hoop earrings as I tuned in to tonight’s episode of “Girlicious” (tell me I’m not the only one who considers it their Tuesday night guilty pleasure!) Although some were on the gaudy side, I have to admit that with the combination of big hair and big attitude, hoop earrings can look pretty fierce. I’m thinking I’ll have to pick up a pair like this one ($6.50, from claires.com) for my next big night out – sassy strut not included.

workout gear that works

Because sometimes you just need a little extra incentive to go to the gym, Lululemon has created this adorable (and fully functional!) gym bag. With tons of space and zip-pocket bottom for stashing your gear post-workout, it makes a great carryall for those days when you’re running straight from chem class to cardio. And with that fab metallic sheen (I got mine in "gunmetal") and cute slouchy shape, no one will suspect you’re toting around your old sneaks. 

(from $74, in 4 colors, available at lululemon.com)

how to do a sick day in style, part deux

Fact: sometimes taking a day off to lie in bed, pound cough syrup and catch up on reading (a.k.a. old copies of Vogue) just isn’t an option. Luckily, there are a few products out there that can take you from sickly to sexy. Here’s my under-the-weather regimen:

• Keep it simple. Hit snooze and use those extra minutes to catch up on your much-needed rest! Using makeup that’s too heavy or complicated can actually make you look worse. Start with a good, fast-absorbing moisturizer (I’m partial to Cetaphil) and follow up with an all-over tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation – I love Tarte’s Smooth Operator, $35, at www.sephora.com – to even out blotchy skin. 
  
• Hide those imperfections. Chances are you’re harboring some redness around the nose (thanks to the overuse of tissues that can irritate skin) and dark circles. Use an extra dab of moisturizer on these areas and apply a creamy concealer – I prefer those that are oil-free or made with vitamins or minerals to avoid further aggravating skin. Blend well and dust on a translucent powder like Cover Girl’s new TruBlend pressed powder, about $11, at drugstores.
• Put some of the life back into your skin with bronzer and blush. Start with a matte bronzer, dusting it from temples to just below cheekbones and over the bridge of the nose. Then add a peachy-pink blush just to the apples of cheeks, using a round fluffy brush. Nars’ Orgasm ($25, www.sephora.com) is a cult classic with subtle gold flecks to instantly brighten skin.
• Go easy on the eyes – sneezing and sniffling can cause you to tear up, and the last thing you need to worry about when you’re sick is a bad case of raccoon eyes. A little shimmery shadow on lids helps open up the eye area. Curl lashes and apply two coats of waterproof mascara. Finish up with a dab of silver or gold shimmer in the inner corners of eyes to detract from any redness – I like MAC Paint in Stillife, $16.50, www.maccosmetics.com
  
• Last but not least, protect that pucker. Exfoliate by gently running a face cloth soaked in warm water over your lips (you can do this in the shower). Follow up with a coat of a heavy-duty lip balm (good old Vaseline, Blistex, or even a dab of a rich facial moisturizer works just fine). Finally, use a creamy pink or mauve gloss like Smashbox’s Sunset Boulevard Lipgloss in Melt, $16, from www.smashbox.com, to finish off your look.
  

Get well soon chicas!

how to do a sick day in style

I don’t know about you, but it seems like everyone in my life is sick at the moment – which probably explains why I’ve recently become the latest casualty of cold season. After taking my much-needed sick weekend (one day of rest just wasn’t enough), I came up with a few tricks to make the whole de-germing process a bit more bearable.

First of all, replace your “sick day” with a “spa day”. I love vegging out on the couch in a face mask like this one by Pangea Organics ($34, www.pangeaorganics.com), which contains Japanese Matcha Tea and Acai to cleanse and tone the skin. By steaming your face over a bowl of boiling water before applying the mask, you’ll open up pores and blocked-up nasal passages.

Whenever you need a little pick-me-up throughout the day, spritz on Aveda Caribbean Therapy Flower Water ($24, www.aveda.com), a fresh-smelling spray that tones and lightly moisturizes skin. (Make it extra-refreshing by keeping the bottle in the fridge – great when you’re feeling feverish).

To add to the spa-like atmosphere and help replenish much-needed fluids, sip green tea or try this version of “spa water”: fill a pitcher of regular water with crushed ice and any combination of cucumber slices, lemon slices, sprigs of fresh mint, and chopped cranberries or strawberries.

Having a hot shower is a great way to relax the achy muscles that accompany colds. I love using products infused with mint, like the amazing Lemon/Mint body scrub from Sabon ($30, www.sabonnyc.com), to help clear out my sinuses. After toweling off, massage in a rich body lotion infused with a few drops of peppermint essential oil, available at The Body Shop ($12, www.thebodyshop.com) – I like to think of it as the beauty equivalent of Vicks’ Vapo-Rub.

cheap trick: grapeseed oil

An aesthetician recently recommended grapeseed oil to me as a deep (yet totally non-greasy) moisturizer. I like to mix a few drops of the oil in with my moisturizer-of-the-moment (currently Burt’s Bees) as a way of “winter-izing” a lighter body lotion. Available for $9 or less at your local grocery or health-food store (just make sure you buy one labeled “for cosmetic use” – otherwise you’re just greasing your bod up like a skillet.)

dial-an-outfit: for the working girl...

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One cute little outfit for the office this spring! The shift dress + ballet flats equation became one of my staples as a fashion intern last summer (humid New York City weather and constant running around make comfort a must.) Tying a chic scarf on to your old work tote is a great way to spruce it up for the new season and pull together a look. (dress, flats, gap.com; scarf, bananarepublic.com)

sparkle and shine!

The season of holiday parties may be dead and gone (much like the Christmas tree), but there’s no reason why you can’t infuse your late-night style with a little sparkle. Enter Frederic Fekkai’s limited edition Sparkling Shimmer Spray, which I happily agreed to test out at a recent hair appointment. It made my new blond highlights shimmer under the light – this is not your ‘90s teenybopper glitter, but a subtle “what did she do?” boost. Love! Available at sephora.com

skinny sipping.

You know it’s resolution time when Starbucks changes their marketing from shots of their festive drinks – Pumpkin Latte topped with whipped cream anyone? – to in-store ads for their “Skinny Latte”, which will set you back only 90 calories in the tall size. It’s just your basic latte made with skim milk, but doesn't it just make you feel oh-so-virtuous when it’s called the “Skinny”? My personal fave is a nonfat latte with a shot of sugar-free caramel or hazelnut syrup – which, my barista assured me this morning, is not made with aspartame (for all you skeptics of sugar-free products). For even fewer calories – because after a while even those “skinny” lattes can add up – I like to add a shot of sugar-free syrup to my regular bold-roast coffee, topped with a generous splash of soy milk (which - bonus - has the creaminess of full-fat milk but for way less calories.)

sweet as honey.

Another fave Christmas gift: a friend gave me a small pouch full of trial-size Burt’s Bees products. I’ve been a long-time user of their lip balm but had never tried out their body products. The Naturally Nourishing Milk and Honey body lotion included in the kit is absolutely amazing – absorbs well, softens skin, and smells like heaven (sort of lemony and creamy and sweet, but not overpowering – I’m in love!) I’ll keep the kit for tossing in my gym bag, but I’m definitely investing in a full-size version of this lotion for everyday. Available at just $9 a pop at www.burtsbees.com

glamour in a box.

One of my absolutely favorite gifts this Christmas was the adorable “Lights, Camera, Glamour!” make up palette from Too Faced cosmetics, which comes in a cute little box that opens up to become a kind of vanity, complete with mirror and tiny lights. The best part is you can pop the palette out and stash it in your tote with a couple brushes to have everything you need – blush, bronzer, shadow, pressed powder, liner, and gloss! – on hand for a full touch up at any time. Available at sephora.com (and a steal at only $40.)

want a nude attitude?

Classes don’t start again until the 7th, so for now I’m still at home enjoying hours of mindless television. One show that caught my eye was “How to Look Good Naked”, a British reality series that reminds me of a sexed-up, more in-your-face “What Not to Wear”. Host and style guru Gok Wan takes each week’s participant through a series of exercises designed to boost their body confidence – such as having them stand within a line-up of women based on what size they think they are, and then moving them to their correct position within the line-up based on what size they actually are. The women are always astonished to find that they are actually at least a few sizes smaller than they’ve always thought. He then takes the lucky lady shopping, introducing her to body shapers, figure flattering silhouettes, and fun accessories. Finally, each episode culminates in the subject posing for a nude photo shoot! While at first I thought it seemed contradictory to spend the bulk of the episode teaching participants how to dress only to then have their big reveal in the nude, the show relays the important message that it really doesn’t matter what you put on your body if you don’t love what’s underneath. Carson Kressly (of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” fame) is set to debut the American version of the show. Can’t wait!

in the navy...

I’m a little bipolar when it comes to my mani-pedi. For my toes I love classic, pretty, nudes with a twist – Essie’s Mademoiselle comes to mind. But on my fingers? I love dark polish. There’s just something about a deep purple nail that screams seductress (and if paired with giant sparkly cocktail ring for evening, so much the better.) It’s a little edgy, a tiny bit mysterious, yet totally chic when contrasted with a girly wardrobe. All summer long OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark was my polish of choice (if you haven’t experienced it for yourself, it’s a gorgeous dark eggplant with a hint of shimmer – a must-try!) But beauty editors are predicting a shift from black plum to the new navy blue (apparently Chanel’s new shade, Blue Satin, already has a waiting list!) I say why wait? At my last polish job I fell in love with two OPI shades – Russian Navy and OPI Ink. A shift away from the old vampy purples of last season – without losing one ounce of the drama.