look of the day: ashley

Dolce, Dulce, Dolci

As much as I love chocolates, jewelry and romantic dinners... shoes make an even sweeter surprise. Especially when they are Dolce & Gabbana, seude and in the shape of a pretty platform.

I finally got to experience snow this weekend, as in I'm walking in a Winter Wonderland kind of snow. We got 5 inches, roughly. I played, I ran, I threw snowballs and did plenty of sledding too.

The first fall was on Friday night

Saturday morning

and, Today.

[Press Play ►]

La Dolce Vita | Nino Rota

close up: mary-kate

winter shorts

I braved the wind and the cold yesterday to wear my new shorts I got on sale at Anthropologie. (The only way I can buy anything from that store.) I took some cues from S. over at Academic Chic. Ever since I started following the girls over at Academic Chic, I've admired S. and her way with mixing shorts and tights in the winter. When I found these little puppies on sale for $29 and I decided to take the plunge. It was actually kind of difficult to pair something with these shorts. So I give S. big props for perfecting the winter shorts style. Bravo!

This was my first shot at winter shorts, so be gentle. Also, I traded in a day of work for a day in Austin, so I decided to try the tweed shorts out, away from work. I don't think that I would be able to pull this off for work. They aren't super short or anything, but I can just see the looks upper-management will give. So, I think that I'll stay on the good side with HR and keep my shorts for the weekends.

MAC in Lillyland (Lilly Pulitzer) Swatches collections

MAC in Lillyland (Lilly Pulitzer) Swatches. This collection brings us the perfect colors for spring, but it also makes me kinda sad since we're in the middle of winter :( . Yet looking at these bright colors help me to look forward to spring. The must have item in this collection is the Permatte face power, since it has the flower imprint and look so pretty. Perfect for the Mac Collectors!

Group Product Pictures

Swatches of Creme Blushes ( Perfect For Layering Over Powder Blushes For A long Lasting Look)

Joie-De-Vivre and Optimistic Orange

Swatches of Paint Pots ( Layer under eyeshadows to help your shadows stay longer)

Rubenesque and Fresco Rose

Swatches of Lipgelees ( Look like dazzleglasses X 10 for sparkling lips)

Shift To Pink and Lush & Bright

Swatch of Pearlmatte

Alone Swirled Together

Swatch of Nail Polish Coconut Ice

MAC Give Me Liberty of London Collection

MAC Give Me Liberty of London Collection. The newest Mac Collection featuring pretty packaging will be the MAC Give Me Liberty of London Collection which hits stores March 11th. The packaging will be white with images of birds and flowers. Featured products in the collection include eyeshadows, beauty powders, blushes, lipglosses, lipsticks, and makeupbags. Look below to learn more.

The very latest in a series of famous M∙A∙Collaborations, it was only a matter of time before the demure-to-daring kaleidoscopic prints of Liberty of London coloured our world with Brit wit and bohemian chic. From the unstudied, Sienna Miller style of Spitalfields Market to the grit-and-glamour of Portobello Road, the swinging London girl has always been an unstoppable M·A·C makeup force! Spring 2010 insists on the ultimate flower fusion, with M∙A∙C joining forces with Liberty, creating cool Britannia compacts and Lipsticks, Eye Shadows, Powder, Blush, Nail Lacquers and, of course – blushing, bountiful, quite British accessories.

Beauty powder

• Shell pearl - Pale peach with gold pearl
• Summer Rose - Soft violet pink with pearl

Eye shadow

• Give me liberty of London - Flat creamy pink (matte)
• Free to be - Creamy true coral (matte)
• Dame’s desire - Frosty mid-tone reddish purple (frost)
• Birds & Berries - Frosted dark green blue (veluxe pearl)
• Bough grey - Mid-tone blueish grey (satin)

Lipstick

• Ever hip - Creamy light coral (cremesheen)
• Peachstock - Neutral peach (satin)
• Petals & Peacocks - Creamy bright magenta pink (amplified)
• Blooming lovely - Creamy greyed lilac mauve (amplified)

Lipglass

• Frankly fresh - Neutral pink beige with soft pearl
• Perennial high style - Creamy bright pink coral
• English accents - Creamy midtone blue pink
• A different groove - Deep purple brown with pearl

Powder Blush

• Prim & proper - Neutral nude
• Dirty Plum - Sheer Dark Plum (Pro)

Nail Lacquer

• Vestral white - Creamy white (cream)
• Blue India - Dark green blue with pearl (cream)

Accessories

• Liberty of london makeup bag/small – MAC stores & online only - $ 22,00
  A limited-edition laminated makeup bag decorated with an exclusively created flower and bird pattern for the Give Me Liberty of London collection. Zip closure boasts a fabulously outsize floral pull. Measures 8″ x 2.75″ x 3.5″.
  
• Liberty of london makeup bag/medium – MAC stores & online only - $ 25,00
  A limited-edition laminated makeup bag decorated with an exclusively created flower and bird pattern for the Give Me Liberty of London collection. Zip closure boasts a fabulously outsize floral pull. Measures 8″ x 2.75″ x 5″.
  
• Liberty of london scarf – MAC stores & online only - $ 95,00
  A limited-edition scarf designed with an exclusively created floral pattern for the Give Me Liberty of London collection. Rows of coral, orange, yellow and blue flowers form a repeating pattern on a white background. The fabric is a soft wool/viscose blend. Made in Italy. Measures 27″ x 82″.

MAC Too Fabulous Collection

MAC Too Fabulous Collection. The MAC Too Fabulous Collection hits stores March 4th, and if you didn't get a chance to stock up on your cremesheen glasses last year now here's your chance. All of the shades will be permanent so if you don't have the funds now there's no rush. The collection will also feature lip pencils and Mineralize Blush duos.

Lips and cheeks get the pretty young thing treatment…Cremesheen Glass makes a comeback for Spring 2010. Introducing six new très jolie shades and three bring-back essentials, because the world wants more of this creamy, high-flying gloss formula that provides sheer, Just Superb colour with a touch of sex-o-shine!

To accentuate them, a combination of six Lip Pencils ranging from neutral to pinks and browns, to delight and define. And here’s a lovely thought: six new Mineralize Blush Duos are also making a limited appearance. Inspired by the original, they provide a gossamer sheer and lightweight application…all Too Fabulous.

Cremesheen glass (all will be permanent)

• Just superb - Dirt neutral pink
• Loud & lovely - Blue pink
• Richer, Lusher - Peach coral
• Double dare - Coral red
• Deelight - Mid-tone neutral
• Over indulgence - Neutral brown
• Fashion scoop - Clear pink (repromote)
• Partial to pink - Light peach pink (repromote)
• Boy bait - Light nude (repromote)

Lip pencil

• Boldy bare - Dirt red brown (LE)
• Mouth off - Deep peach coral (LE)
• Trimmed in pink - Bright blue pink (LE)
• In Synch - Bright yellow pink (LE)
• Naked liner - Light neutral (LE)
• Chestnut - Intense brown

Smashbox Heartbreaker Collection

Smashbox Heartbreaker Collection. Just in time for Valentine's Day Smashbox brings us the Heartbreaker collection, because ever girl wants to break hearts on Valentine's day :). Also for those of you that don't know Smashbox is having a sale right now with some items going for 25-50% off. So you might want to check it out if you get some time. The collection is now in stores if you're interested in getting it before v-day to create soft and girly looks.

Eyeshadow Palette

* Hot Date Creme brulee, shimmering chestnut, champagne, shimmering azure, mint, and warm taupe
* Kiss ‘n Tell Ballet pink, hot pink, icy white, deep violet, charcoal, and peony

Fusion Soft Lights

* Baked Starlight White gold, bright pink, warm bronze, rosy pink, and ballet pink

Lip Shine

* Berry Hot
* Melon-Drama

Roller Gloss

* Pink Sugar

Liquid Liner Pen

An ultra-fine liquid eyeliner pen that can take you from sweet and sassy to ultra-seductive in just one sweep.

Mac All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Swatches and Review collections

Mac All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Swatches and Review. The idea behind this collection was brilliant, universal shades in which everyone can wear and look good in. Lately I've been a bit of a eyeshadow junkie, so of course I picked up all shades, along with lippies, and lipsticks. My favorite items from the collection would include Liqueur and Banshee which was simply gorgeous. Check out my swatches below.

Product Photos

Swatches of Lipglosses Liqueur and Naked Frost Plus Swatches of Lipsticks 5N, Empowered, and Myself.

Swatches of Eyeshadows All Races, Cross-Cultural, Banshee, Showstopper.

Embargo Buster pics

Some brands are still trying to tell us how they'd like their product publicised by us and recommended to readers by us, thank you very much. Pointless to invite on-line writers to a launch in November and insist it can't be spoken about until February 2010. So, hope you'll all love the new Vaseline body cream when you read about it next year. Of course, it's already all over the internet having launched in the states so I'd say its an ill-conceived embargo in the first place?

mk/nylon 2008

random: ashley

the one that got away

Is it bad that when I first start typing out a post I always start with the weather? Just a like I would if I were sitting next to a stranger and trying to start up a general conversation. So cliche and so true. I think most of my posts have covered the weather the last couple of weeks. So tonight I will spare you. Ok, ok -- it rained today. But that's all I'm sharing.

My friend Amy and I were talking the other night about "the one that got away." You know that one piece of clothing that you either gave away or you didn't buy and it's haunted you since. (Okay so haunted may be a bit strong...) My worst thing that "got away" was a pair of brand new jeans -- I mean never worn, tags on and still had that just-purchased smell kind of brand new. I was helping at a garage sale and somehow my new jeans got thrown into the sell pile. I don't even know how it happened. But before I realized it, they were gone. Some lucky person hit the garage sale lottery that day. Maybe this means that I have good thrifting karma floating around out there. Maybe one day I'll find a brand new pair of jeans, just my size marked down for $1.50. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and eyes open. So, did you ever have that one that got away?

I have to tell you about how cheap my outfit is today. We'll start from the top:

Cardigan -- $10

Dress -- $25

Belt -- $20

Shoes -- $8

Necklace: -$3

All together: $66 -- less that what the original price of that dress cost. What a good job of saving I did! I think that I deserve a raise...

B and I are taking tomorrow off and we're heading down to Austin to hang out with some friends. Let the three day weekend begin.

Me, Muchacha

I felt like a French school girl wearing this the other day. I was instantly drawn to my Parka upon waking up, wanting to work it in somehow for a pre-Spring look. It's been a lot colder and harder to pull looks together here versus when I was in Miami, but I welcome the challenge. Thankfully, for every few days of cold... one warm one pops out to play. What are you most excited for come Spring? For me it's shorts (lots and lots of them) floral prints, skirts, mini dresses and hats. I also want to get back into sandals and flats. It's been a while...


Forever 21 necklace, Parka and floral skirt. Asos studded boots and beret. Trash & Luxury tee.


[Press Play ►]
Mucha Muchacha | Juan Garcia Esquivel