Lindsay Calla for Sole Society

One of the fashion blogs I love to follow is Saucy Glossy.  Lindsay Calla is a gorgeous, stylish fashion host and blogger from South Jersey.  You may recognize her as the Maxxinista for the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 TJ Maxx campaigns. Her blog shows women of all ages how they can look like amazing while working within the confines of a budget. Lindsay updates her website very frequently and it is one of the blogs I make sure I check every day.

Lindsay has recently partnered with the amazing shoe website Sole Society as a fashion insider!  She hand picks what she calls "polished, sophisticated and classic" shoes "on a real girl budget".  I fell in love with these shoes called "Martine" and decided I had to have them!  They look just like Valentino's but for a mere fraction of the price!

Check out these and Lindsay's other insider picks here:  Sole Society - Lindsay Calla.  Use promo code DEC20 at checkout and receive $20 off your first purchase.  And did I mention free shipping both ways?  This is one site you will want to visit often!

The Sephora Fragrance Sampler - A Great Find!

While thumbing through my latest issue of People Stylewatch I came upon a product that really caught my eye - the Sephora Fragrance Sampler.  What great timing as I was almost finished with my current perfume and was definitely in the market to purchase a new one.  I had already been to Bloomingdales to do some fragrance testing, but after a few minutes all I had was a headache!  Now, with this kit, I have a better way to sample 12 different fragrances and then choose one that I want to wear all winter.  The sampler pack arrived in a big, beautiful shiny magenta box with a pretty bow on the outside:

How it works:  You purchase the sampler kit for $50.  Inside you will find 12 decent-sized samples of Sephora's best-selling fragrances, along with a pretty pouch to store your fragrances:

• Betsey Johnson Too Too Pretty
• Coach Poppy
• DKNY Be Delicious
• Givenchy Very Irresistible
• Gucci Guilty Intense
• Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire
• Hanae Mori
• Viva la Juicy La Fleur
• Marc Jacobs Dot
• Narcisco Rodriguez
• Prada Candy
• Versace Bright Crystal

You experiment with the scents, and when you are ready take your voucher to a Sephora store for redemption - you can choose a full size bottle of your favorite fragrance!  The best part is that if the scent you choose retails for more than $50, you get it anyway with no additional cost.  

What a great holiday gift idea!

Back from Paris...Part II

Paris is a chic, fabulous city at night!

The Palais Garnier is an 1,979-seat opera house, built from 1861
to 1875 for the Paris Opera

We had dinner across from the Opera House at Restaurant Arola at the W Hotel.
The modern restaurant serves a tapas-style menu.  I started out with the
crab salad, the mussels and bacala.

The soap dispenser in Arola's ladies room was too cute

We stumbled upon Harry's Bar, the birthplace of the Bloody Mary,
by accident.

Harry's was full of old signs, memorabilia and patches.
This was my favorite sign.

From there we went on to Caveau de la Huchette, a famous,
cave-like jazz club where Count Basie has played.  The music
was great, but the clientele was a little strange.  I had a sneaking
suspicion that it was "Swinger's Night" when we were there.

We found a great 24 hour lounge around the corner from our hotel called
Le Pub St. Germain.  I had my first ever St. Germain cocktail.  I was hooked
after the first sip.  Here's Chrissy gazing happily at our pitcher of drinks.

Lolabar at the Hotel Banke was another cool venue where we imbibed.
The ladies room was way cool.  I wonder where I can get snakeskin
fixtures like these?

This tourist from Germany was in Paris for his bachelor party.
I couldn't  resist getting a picture with him!

Then the whole crew joined the fun!

Me being silly after a long night of partying!

It was a most wonderful trip!

Back from Paris...Part I

I had an absolute blast during my trip to Paris.  It was very difficult to board the plane home (I prayed hard for a cancellation)!  This was my fifth time to this magical city, and I still discover new joys at every turn.  The people, the lifestyle, the food, the wine - all magnificent.  My daydreams continue about moving to Paris permanently, and I feel like I am one step closer to my goal.

Pre-flight drinks in the United Club at Newark

Our charming Deluxe room at the Grand Hotel de l'Universe on
Rue Gregoire de Tours,  just a few hundred feet from the Boulevard St. Germain

The bustling scene outside our window...notice the Taschen bookstore!

Now time for a little sightseeing!

Love-struck sweethearts lock padlocks onto the chain link fence on the Passerelle des Arts, 

which crosses from the left bank to the Louvre museum.  The love padlocks, 

called ‘cadenas d’amour’, multiplied until there were more than 2,000 love tokens 

on the bridge, each one with an engraved message of love.  After locking the 

love padlock onto the fence, the lovers tossed the keys into 

the Seine River – a sign of their eternal love.

A closer look

My favorite lock..."Love in Paris"

Another visit to Notre Dame was a must

I just love the jutting gargoyles

Everywhere I turned there was a garden inviting me to sit down,
relax and enjoy

Look closely and see all the people on the top of the Arc de Triomphe

A must stop on every trip - The Heaven store in the Marais owned by
Brit Lea-Anne Wallis.  She designs and makes all the jewelry, clothes and
accessories in the store.  I never leave here empty handed.

Check out the retro Elle pillow - Lea-Anne said it is one of her best sellers!

I collect vintage ashtrays so I love rummaging through the
stands by the Seine - I always find a treasure to take home and
add to my collection

I thought this condom selection at a tourist shop deserved a second look!

No shopping excursion in Paris would be complete without a stop
at Louis Vuitton!  Legendary Japanese polka-dot painter
Yayoi Kusama was tapped by Marc Jacobs himself
to do the current window installations.

Escargots - one of my favorite lunches.  They were as delicious as they look!

Rose wine and Foie Gras..a little bit of Heaven (Chrissy's salmon was
delicious too!)

Chrissy was on a mission for traditional fish soup...I'd say
she was successful!

Paris Part II - the Nightlife - coming up next!

Taking a Week Hiatus...

I won't say what I am doing or where I am going, but I bet you will be able to guess!  

I will be using the biggest piece in my California Pak luggage set

My Chanel ballet flats will be one of the many pairs of shoes I am packing

My Tory Burch Billie crossbody bag will keep pickpockets at bay

My carry on bag: Le Pilage tote from Longchamp  - it holds a ton

These Kendra Scott Lapis earrings will make heads turn

And my Hermes Hapi bracelet will go with anything

Look for my full report late next week! XO

My first Birchbox!

Back in early September I did a blog post on Birchbox, the monthly beauty subscription service that delivers high-end beauty samples right to your door for $10 a month.  I had just signed up for their service and was eagerly awaiting my first delivery, which arrived lovingly packaged Saturday!  

The samples came in a stylish and sturdy box

I love the teal tissue the items were wrapped in

The POREfessional is a translucent face primer by Benefit
that camouflagues visible pores.  

I can't wait to try this boscia Cleansing Cream.
It is the perfect size for airline travel!

This pretty wrapping contained some nice surprises:

A small spritzer of twirl by kate spade parfum,

a twistband hair tie in the perfect fall hue,

and custom shade of nail polish, based on the fall collections,
just for Birchbox subscribers!

I can't wait to use this super-chic tili bag
while my 3 oz. liquids go through the TSA!

In addition, there was a coupon for Madewell, Tristan Prettyman downloads, and a Fall Lookbook where you read the latest tips and trends:

I was really happy with my first Birchbox.  Check out the service at: www.birchbox.com!