New Show: The Michael J. Fox Show

It's that time of year when all the new fall shows get announced. True to form, NBC is still trying to rescue itself from becoming the next CW (in case you didn't know, that's like really really bad) by trying to make some sitcom magic. This one could get pretty uncomfortable. Michael J. Fox plays an anchorman who returns to work after being diagnosed with Parkinson's. No, this is not a heartfelt drama but a comedy. It actually looks really funny and well done so I'd really hate to see it not go well (especially since it's basically Michael J. Fox playing himself). Since NBC has been in the toilet for the past decade I give them props for trying to make Parkinson's funny (I guess?). 

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo & Conditioner

I've become a morning showerer and as a result have fallen in love with Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo & Conditioner. I hate that it's called "special" since that's vague and a little ridiculous but it really is quite special. It's minty so it's just the slap in the face I need first thing in the morning. It's tingly and leaves may hair squeaky clean! (Side note: it can be a little drying to be sure to use some kind of leave in product with it!)

Rules of Civility

I've been struggling to find a good new book to share so went digging through past books to see if I'd missed one. Somehow, Rules of Civility had been ignored by me until now. It's the story of Katey Kontent in 1938 New York City going from the Wall Street secretarial pool to the upper crust of society . It's fun and light without being stupid. 

There's a ton of glamour and fascinating characters that make for a great summer read!

Met Gala Fashion Moments

The Met Gala has always been tricky for me. I see all the pictures the next day and most of them are so "fashion forward" I find them ridiculous. The general rule of thumb for me is the more appalling I find someone's outfit, the more it'll be regarded as "perfect, chic and cutting edge." There were some interesting choices and some I actually liked (which means every magazine will declare that starlet boring).

Blake Lively-She can do no wrong.

Soooo Katy Perry is wearing a crown and a dress with the Virgin Mary on it. They've lost me already.

At first I thought jessica Alba's dress was on backwards, but then it grew on me and was declared a win!

I read somewhere that her gown was "bridal." Who's wedding? Also, what's happening with that little hole halfway down??

She too will probably be declared boring and lame which means I loved it!

She scares me so I'll keep my thoughts to myself.

Look at how much fun Chloe Sevigny is having...

Suri def styled her. She looks AMAZING!

Mary Kate his hiding somewhere under Ashley's dress...

Ivanka Trump is so classy I can't even handle it. 

Beyond my comprehension.

Lena Dunham finally made me happy with her choices. I found her dress adorable. I just wish she would stand up straight!!

I mean, who doesn't have a metal faux hawk head piece?

Kinda, sorta LOVED!

I know the theme was "punk" but is this real?

I know it's not "fashion forward" but I LOVED this color!

She's amazeballs!

Who were your favorites?

St. Ives Exfoliating Pads

My love for exfoliating is approaching the obsessive place but I just can't get enough of that smooth, clean feeling. These little pads exfoliate without the scrubbing which intrigued me. Whatever they're soaked in get rid of anything making your skin look dull, leaving clear, healthy looking skin. This is a good alternative for anyone with sensitive skin since it's not abrasive at all and can be used daily if you choose. It can dry out your skin a bit but I moisturize right after using it so I haven't noticed any problem.

True Colors

Sometimes you just need a typical Kristin Hannah book with the nice story, great characters and poignant moments. True Colors didn't disappoint! Three sisters, Winona, Aurora and Vivi Ann grew closer after their mother's early death but grow into three very distinct women. Winona is the power lawyer, Aurora is the peacemaker and Vivi Ann is the star of the family who attracts any man she meets. When they become pitted against each other the strength of their family is tested making for a really lovely book.

Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique

I've been fascinated by this brand forever. It's taunted me at CVS and in magazines. I'd always read about all the famous people who swear by it but it seemed like such a gamble to drop $40 on a hair product that I'd, in all likelihood, hate. Enter Birchbox. They sent me this cream in my last box before I cancelled (this was the only thing I liked in a year of boxes). My golden opportunity to try it out had arrived! I'm pleased to say that it was everything I'd hoped and been promised. It left my hair shiny and soft but without feeling like I'd put a cream in before drying it. All I needed was a tiny bit and applied it from end to root (to get the most where my hair is most damaged). This is definitely an investment product as it's certainly not cheap but my tiny sample packet lasted me over a week (I shower every day) so the giant bottle should be enough for like a year. I'm not really ready to go far enough as to buy the whole shampoo, conditioner and mask set up but this one's definitely a keeper. 

Dark Places

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in what was named “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived and testified in her fifteen year old brother's trial for the murders. She is now an adult living off what is left of a fund set up for her by well-wishers who wanted to ensure she was taken care of. Already not doing great, she is contacted by the Kill Club (a society obsessed with notorious crimes) about information on her family tragedy. The club agrees to pay her for insider stories and access to key players so she has to reconnect with people from her past to get the missing pieces of her story. Through her own investigation, the hidden facts of the murders come to light and are completely unexpected. Like Gillian Flynn's other books, Dark Places had a darkness about it that both hooked me and made me uncomfortable.

People's Most Beautiful Woman 2013

People Magazine did Gwyneth Paltrow no favors by naming her this year's most beautiful woman. This comes right after she was named the most hated celebrity. Now all her haters can add this to an already long list of reasons that include how she's rich, funny and likes to write about her fabulous life on her Goop website. As a Goop follower, I've taken the unpopular stance of liking her regardless of the haters. She seems like a great time even if she's never referenced a single item under $500 on Goop. She's unapologetic about how fabulous she is and I love it!

Now for the people who Gwyneth beat (and who probably hate her too now)...

Yeah, that's Jane Fonda. She's 75. It's not even legal to be that fabulous at 75. 

I'm biased because I find her hilarious but she's perfect and should win next year!

Was Zooey Deschanel on the list of most hated celebrities? I happen to like her and her show (New Girl) but I can really see how her bangs and quirky manicures could really get a person riled up. 

When is she going to get to win? She's literally everywhere and always perfect. (Which reminds me, I think Scandal is new tonight!)

Who do you think should have won?

At Home Spa Day

I can't say that getting facials are my favorite activity. I've only gone a few times but I've never left wowed and it's just a lot of one one on one time with someone rubbing my face (not my favorite). I did a little digging and found a pretty good routine for an at home facial that left my skin feeling refreshed and healthy without some of the stress of a full on spa facial. 

1. Cleanse. Real simple. Wash your face. I used Kiehl's Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser. It's gentle but really cleans.

2. Steam Pores. Okay this is my favorite part. The easiest way is to fill you sink with hot water (as hot as it goes) and put your face over it with a towel over your head. Stay as long as you can for maximum results. When you're done, splash your face with cold water.

3. Exfoliating Facial Scrub. I stuck with St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It's a little aggressive for me to use every day for for a "spa" moment, it's perfect.

4. Facial Mask. What you use should depend on your what your skin needs at the moment. I was trying to detox my skin a little and had just come from the gym so cleansing was a priority. I used Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque. Follow whatever directions are on your mask.

5. Toner. I don't really get toner but everyone said it was important. Once you get the mask off, brush some on with cotton. I picked Kiehl's Cucumber Toner because it's intended for dry and sensitive skin. 

6. Serum. This seems like the most "skipable" step. If you have a serum you like, go for it. I had a sample of Ole Henriksen Truth Serum so I figured I'd give it a try. 

7. Eyes. Pretty self explanatory. I went with my standard go-to (Clinique All About Eyes Cream).

8. Moisturize. Possibly the most important step if you ask me. I went with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream which is a little more rich and creamy than my usual CeraVe.

Okay. Are you radiant yet? This whole process took me half an hour and basically consisted of using stuff I already had all at once for maximum results so I didn't even have to buy anything (always a plus)!

Honolulu

Honolulu is an amazing story of a Korean "picture bride" selected out of a catalog to marry a Korean man living in Hawaii. She was under the impression her future husband was a handsome young man and that her life would be changed for the better by going to Hawaii. When she arrives, she find out that her new husband is a poor, better and not so young laborer. This is all in 1914, before Hawaii was the developed vacation spot it is now. With the help of her fellow picture brides, she creates the life she had always wanted for herself.

The book has a ton of characters who are all unique and make for a complete landscape of the residents of Hawaii at this time. Hawaii was a really interesting portrayal of all the different customs and cultures that make up Hawaii.

Benefit Fake Up

I take issue with Benefit's whole cutesy, pun-filled products but there's no denying that they're great. The newest addition is Fake Up which is a cool new concealer. I don't think this would be great for more "mature" skin but it's a great option for younger skin in need of moisture. It's pigment surrounded by Vitamin E and apple extract so it will moisturize and brighten the area around your eyes. It goes on insanely smoothly so it won't look like you're wearing anything (ideal).

A Word on Kourtney Kardashian

Today is Kourtney Kardashian's 34th Birthday so it seems like the perfect time to discuss my favorite member of that famous family we just can't get enough of. In recent years, I've developed more positive feelings towards Kim and Khloe (unless they're using that annoying baby face to their men in which case I still hate them) but Kourtney has always been my favorite. If I had to pick, I'd say she's the most normal and I like that she's a bit cranky at all times. 

We hit a rough patch when I recently watched Kim and Kourtney Take Miami and found out that she refuses to wear deodorant while breast feeding (in some attempt to keep all toxins out of her system) and was actually emitting a foul odor but I've moved past it. 

The main reason she should be everyone's favorite Kardashian is because of Scott Disick. 

Yep, that's him in all is glory. He's her baby daddy so now he's here to stay. So what if he paid to have himself declared a Lord? So what if he sometimes blacks out and yells at everyone? His kids still love him and so do I. 

Everybody thinks that he's the disaster and she's silly for putting up with him. Well, she wore an eagle carcass and he didn't so let's call them even. (He even kept a straight face while sitting next to her).

I had long since declared her the best dressed in the family partially because she usually looks like a normal person and not in some kind of costume. 

I even kind of loved her turban. 

Style Icon: Allison Williams

I'm going to look past the fact that in recent months Allison Williams has gotten so insanely skinny it's sometimes frightening because I love her style. She keeps it pretty simple but always with a little added fun.

I was obsessed with the KauffmanFranco gown she wore to the Grammy's even though I still can't figure out why she was there (unless it was to upstage Lena Dunham...mission accomplished).

Aside from dressing well, she's beyond gorgeous. I think she looks just enough like Brian Williams (her dad) to make it work!

Images: 1, 2, 3

Some Inspiration from Mr. Rogers

In light of the horrible things that happened in Boston yesterday, I figured some positive words couldn't hurt. I was lucky that all the people I care about in Boston are safe but many other weren't so lucky. Sad times all around!

Rifle Paper Co.

I have a weakness for paper, stationary and the companies that sell them. My desk at work is littered with more notebooks than is necessary or acceptable but I can't help myself! 

Specifically, I'm obsessed with the iPhone cases they make.

Not only are they adorable but they're one of the few companies that make the same designs for both the iPhone 4 and 5. (Recently I've noticed that all the cute new ones are for the 5 and my poor 4S is stuck with the castoffs.)

I don't "journal" but I do keep a lot of handwritten notes for work stuff and blog ideas so these are also a must.


They also have precious thank you notes!

This is Where I Leave You

Nothing brings out hilarious family dynamics quite like a funeral. Judd Foxman's father's funeral is the first time the entire family has gathered in years and there is no shortage of awkwardness. Judd's wife, Jen, is noticeably absent because he affair with Judd's boss was recently made public. While sitting Shiva for seven days, old grudges resurface, secrets come out and old flames are rekindled.

This was the first of Jonathan Tropper's books I read and he's become one of the few authors whose new books I anticipate and need to read as soon as they come out. His writing style is easy to fall in love with and is full of awesome dry humor!

101 Things in 1001 Days

I've been wanting to tackle this since I first saw it on Design Darling. 1001 days is about 2.75 years. That's almost three years to check off 101 goals/activities/accomplishments. Writing the list was much harder than I thought (I'm only up to #45).

Some highlights:
Figure out how to ride the NYC bus.
Attend a boot camp class (and hopefully not embarrass myself)
Learn to french braid.
Make an album of all my pictures from London.
Eat a restaurant featured on Top Chef.
Put my straightener away for two days.

Check out the full list at: 101 in 1001. Suggestions are welcome!


Image

Drug Store Find: Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks

Everybody has had that unpleasant experience of doing their makeup, leaving the house and in an hour it's all gone to hell and the eyeliner, mascara and shadow they so carefully applied is now smudged and running down their face. This is most likely the result of hot weather or bursting out in tears (it happens). The Almay eraser sticks should be in every girl's purse because they will save you from looking like a hot mess. It's just a Q-tip with makeup remover for a little touch up. The Almay makeup remover that you buy in a bottle or in the little pads is actually really great so the one used in the eraser sticks is effective for fixing whatever mess the night brings you!

Style Icon: Miranda Kerr

So it was just announced that Miranda Kerr has been dropped from Victoria's Secret because she "wasn't a big seller." Okay, that's just ridiculous. Perhaps I'm biased because I'm obsessed with her and her awesome street style but I refuse to accept this.

Very rarely is she super glammed up but when it happens...awesome!

She is quite possibly the most laid back looking chic person I've ever seen. It's pretty clear that she's so skinny because she's ALWAYS walking (while holding a giant purse for strength training).

Oh hey!!