Strike A Pose

Natalie Portman graces the cover of Vogue's January 2011 magazine wearing a J.Mendel chiffon dress. For some reason this image reminds me of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus painting. Is it the pose? The softness in her stance? Color of the dress? Hmmm... it's something...

City Country Cool

If I could describe my personal style, it would be:

Country girl meets sex kitten meets bohemia meets sometimes-you-feel-fat-and-have-to-wear-big-drapey-tops. (A whirlwind of ideas and concepts... I know).

This dream outfit, as pictured below, would fall into my 'country' style with just a pinch of 'classic' and 'city sopistication'.

Ricky Tartan sunglasses, Ralph Lauren $250 (available in red or green plaid)

Forever 21 Polka Dot Ruffle dress, $24.90

'Love Bird' 18 karat gold nameplate necklace, $285 at LoveBerman (I already have this :) hehe)

Gucci Vintage Web Medium canvas bag, $1,160 at Net-A-Porter

Scalloped lace undies with silver polka dots, Forever21 $3.80

Diane von Furstenburg 'Faye' open toe leather clogs, $280 at Net-A-Porter

And just for fun... a woven picnic basket!

And red gerbera daisies!

And lemonade!

(Okay, now I'm done, I promise.)

New MAC Collabos

Oooh!! Fantzy!!! Two new MAC collaborations out and available on MAC's website.

First is a new limited edition satin lipstick named 'Pink Friday' to celebrate Nicki Minaj's debut album of the same name. Ugh LOVE HER!

The other is full set of cosmetics designed by Dutch industrial designer Marcel Wanders. Check out that crazy packaging!

I don't know about you but I'm still holding out for MAC by Rodarte... The project was canceled says New York Magazine. Boooo!!! Grrrr!!!!

Get the scoop here.

I Got An iPad!

My boyfriend got my an iPad for Hannukah!!! Best gift ever! (Love you babe!!) I am so excited about it!

And If you're anything like me, then you know that the iPad case is equally slash more important than the iPad itself. I am getting giddy about the choices... Hehe I am ALL ABOUT the accessories!

Here are some top contenders:

Gucci logo case, $230

Prada classic nylon, $420 (way out of my budget, but so friggin' cute! Comes in red too!)

Louis Vuitton damier and monogram cases, $366 (currently out of stock)

Animal print cases, $87.90

Marc by Marc Jacobs neoprene case, $38

Metalic leather cases, $110

Dooney & Burke, $65 (also comes in black, brown, tan, white, navy, and yellow! oh my!)

I am an "ivirgin" as I've been a Blackberryer my entire mobile existance. Well, first it was the colorful Nokias (remember those!), then the razor flip phone, then the Blackberry...

I would love some suggestions on which apps to download! Annnnd, which case do you guys like best?

Day and Knightley

Keira Knightley graces the cover of British Vogue's January 2011 magazine. I've been a huge admirer of Keira ever since Bend It Like Beckham. And Love Actually is one of my all time favorite movies. I actually watched it recently with my sister during Thanksgiving holiday. We both fell asleep on the couch mid-movie. We were both in food comas (figures).

Love her.

Look To This Day

{I saw this photo in a friend's Facebook album and took a screenshot because I wanted to revisit those words. Thought I'd share them with you}

Penny Chic

Check out my most fabulous, gorgeous, chic, and did I mention gorgeous friend, Shauna's new blog: Penny Chic.

She styles incredible outfits with pieces hand picked from Wal-Mart.

Yes, you heard that right. Wal-Mart.

Outfits put together so cooly and so tastefully, you'd think you were flipping through W magazine.

But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself. Penny Chic is soon to be a household name.

Another Highlight

My new favorite store: Paper Source

Now that my new hometown is the Hollywood Hills, I am halfway between Studio City and West Hollywood, and since I am a valley girl (and a valley girl at heart), I tend to run my errands in the valley half of our neighborhood. There's better parking and less hipsters. Enough said.

I was on my way to do something productive and work related, like deposit checks at the bank or somethin', when I was overcome by a desire to stop into a store that I had driven past, dozens of times, Paper Source. A big beautiful store located on Ventura Boulevard ( + Laurel Canyon).

And I was not disappointed. This is my new favorite store!!! For one, the store is gorgeous. Mosaic tile entrance... celadon green paint... you had me at hello.

Inside are the most beautiful of things: hand pressed stationary, gilded picture frames, luxury hand creams.. soy candles... aprons with cupcakes...cupcake cookbook.. cupcake bandages! I die. This store is one version of my heaven (the other version is a room full of down comforters, I am very very thin, and there are peonies, orchids, and Red Vines everywhere).

While, I wanted to blow my entire savings account in this small store, I resisted and bought only a few items. This picture frame. It's beee-utiful and it reminds me of my summer trip to Morrocco...

And I'm a sucker for cute bandaids/cupcakes, thus this purchase was a necessity.

And some stationary.

Other items that I wanted to buy, but resisted:

In short, YOU MUST visit this adorable shop. J'adore. Click here for store locations.

Oh How I've Missed You

Hi everyone!

I'm back!!! By now you may have given up all hope that I would return to Once Upon A Shine blog, since I haven't written in AGES!!! I know. I've been bad. Truth is I have been so busy this holiday season! Between the holiday trunk shows where I sell my hair accessories, painting and keeping up with art clients and appointments, and getting our new house in order - I've been a hot mess! But believe me, I've missed my Bloggy McBloggerstein.

Here is a highlight from the past few weeks (more highlights to come):

I've been making some killer art, and thus have been covered in oil paint most days (manicures are a distant memory and I stay away from our brand new white Pottery Barn sofa as I am afraid that I will unknowingly have paint on my butt and then sit down).

One evening I had just come inside from the studio to make dinner. My boyfriend would be coming home soon from work. I washed my hands and arms really well and went at it in the kitchen. I was making barbecue salmon and stuffed baked potatoes with broccoli and cheddar cheese. The kitchen smelled really good! He comes home and starts laughing almost immediately upon seeing me. 'What!!' I say, suddenly feeling insecure, wondering if he is making fun of my potatoes. He continues to laugh - snot almost coming out of his nose he is laughing so hard. I am standing over the stove checking on my dinner creation and frustrated now that he's laughing at me and teasing me. Finally he says 'Babe. You have paint ALL OVER your face'. Oh. I think. I go to the mirror and upon seeing myself I chuckle-smile-laugh. There is paint all over my face. And smeared in all over my face. And not a sexy color like red.. or a deep violet. It's BROWN. Poo brown. Smeared ALL OVER my face. In my eyebrows. On my chin and lip. Forehead. A big chunk on my cheek. If you didn't see my Lululemon leggings and David Yurman studs, you'd think I was homeless.

{David Yurman ads, just for fun}

So then, I had to chase him around the house with my face trying to give him a kiss/get the brown doody paint on him. Hee Hee. Long story short, I washed my face and we had din din.