Bling in the New Year

Ready for a magical night on the the town to "Bling" in the New Year. It's time to celebrate the successes and acheivements of 2011, kiss them good bye and welcome 2012!! I have my adoring hubby at my side and my sky-high 'Temptress' pumps on my toes...My golden clutch is packed with my Cannon Powershot, iPhone & lipgloss!! Now all I need is some champagne and a midnight kiss from my sweetheart!

Sky-high pumps in golden glitter are the perfect accessory to glam up my black sweater dress and take me into the New Year in style. They say that what you are doing on New Years Eve sets the tone for the year ahead and if my accessories are any indication of what lies ahead I'd say we are in for a Golden Year where the sky is the limit.



My Accessories are from www.shoedazzle.com
To Join Shoe Dazzle click the link below and get amazing shoes and bags each month for just $39.95!! I promise, you'll love it!!
CLICK HERE TO JOIN SHOEDAZZLE!! XO.

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Date Night Cool

After a more than crazy December, (details coming soon).  My Birthday, the Holiday’s & Travel... Yesterday called for some serious R&R with my lil sis. After an amazing day of relaxation, girl talk & chick flicks I was ready for some one-on-one time with my one-and-only! Lucky for me going from “Laid-Back-Lounge” to “Date-Night-Cool” can be as easy as switching out a few key pieces.  I grabbed my fav faux leather jacket, slipped on my *NEW* (to-die-for) Minnetonka Fringe Booties and my Nina Nguyen sliced geode necklace, touched up my lipgloss and was out the door! I love having a variety of these mix n’ match cool essentials & accessories in my closet because it makes getting ready in a flash simple & fun. Changing up your jacket and boots and adding an interesting necklace can change the entire look & feeling of your outfit in a flash. What to you think of my casual cool date look below?

Wanna steal my look??

Top: Marciano Boyfriend Tee (no longer listed online) Similar: HERE on Marciano.com

Leggings: Leggings Available HERE 2/$40 at VictoriasSecret.com

Jacket: Faux Leather Jacket is 'Jack by BB Dakota' purchased at Pretty Please Boutique (Del Mar Location)  Click HERE to "Like" them on Facebook Similar Jacket: Available HERE Jack by BB Dakota on Amazon.com OR Similar Studded Faux Leather Jacket by HERE on Miss Sixy on Bluefly.com

Geode Necklace: is Nina Nguyen (no longer available online) Similar available here:  Nina Nguyen "Blissful" Pendant Necklace

Boots: (Nordstom) Minnetonka Tall Fringed Boot (in Black)

What are your go to accessories to change up an outfit in a flash??


Xo, Vanessa

Breakfast in Bed

Today is my husband's birthday!! And while the greatest gift of the day is for me to have him in my life, I like to spoil him as much as I can... Starting with breakfast in bed!! Nothing says, "I love you", more than heart shaped eggs & French Toast.

Eggs made with Love & shaped w/ the 

Heart Shaped 'Egg & Pancake Molds' from World Market. (Not Available Online)

Similar Available at Amazon.com HERE

Enjoy your day in every way.. Now it's time to shower My Birthday Boy with Love & Affection!! Xo.

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I'm Back - The 'Who, What, Where' of Why I've been MIA

After about a two month hiatus from all things social, creative and fashion. (You may have noticed I have not been blogging.) I am BACK. To be honest, I felt as though I couldn’t write when things felt so wrong, mixed up and lost in my life. The past few months have been very difficult for me. I lost someone very dear to my heart. My Uncle (HERE) fell ill and his spiral downward happened completely out of no where. The grieving started the moment he was admitted into the ICU. It was not only heartbreaking and scary but it consumed me. I spent every moment of everyday praying and hoping and praying and hoping and waiting for a miracle. When something like that happens to your family it feels as though nothing else in the World matters. You grieve what could be, what is happening and not knowing what lies ahead weighs down on you like the weight of the World. I spent hours on the phone with my Mom. Every moment thinking of my Uncle and my family and playing over and over every last word that I could remember sharing with him. I cried until I could cry no more... I cried because all I wanted was one more day... One more time to say I love you. I wish more than anything that there was something that I could do to take away the pain that everyone in my family has experienced through out this devastating loss.

Up until the very last moment I held on to hope that things would turn around. When they didn’t and my phone rang, I already knew. The thing is when someone you love goes to heaven you can feel it. I laid awake that night holding in my heart my entire family and I just knew. When I heard the words all the pain and grief that had been building and brewing inside me welled up and burst, flooding out greater than ever before but at the same time I felt peace in knowing that finally my dear uncle was out of pain and finally in a place of peace with my grandparents and other family members who have already made it to heaven. 

During this time of tragedy I am so thankful for the love and support of my husband who was absolutely incredible to me. He was there right by my side the entire time. Holding me when I needed to be held. Giving me space when I needed it. Holding me up when I felt like falling. My Mother and I are closer than ever and spending the time with her that I did when we went to Carson City/Reno for the funeral was such an incredible bonding and healing experience. The things we went through together are memories I cherish dearly. She is such an amazing woman and I hope to one day be exactly like her. She is my best friend and ultimate support. My sister Mariah came with us too. She is my best friend and I can always count on her. We are so close and I can’t believe how lucky I am to have her in my life as my sister and best friend forever. To my Papa, sister Sierra & my brothers I love you all too.  Without you during these tough times I don’t think I would still be here. You have all in so many ways helped me and, to me, you are my everything. In addition to them I have the most amazing extended family, Aunts, Uncles, cousins... who all mean so much to me. We are all so much closer and stronger than ever before and I am so grateful to have such a tight knit family.

Thank you to everyone who in my time of struggle and heartache sent me condolences, prayers and kind words. You have no idea how much just a small acknowledgement can mean the World when you are breaking inside. I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. 

With that, I would like to say that I am in a really good place now. I have worked through the tears and obstacles that have been unwelcome additions to this hard time. Including my husband suffering from a concussion, (Don’t worry, he’s all better now!), the garage door breaking and my senior dog peeing on the stairs, among other things... They say when it rains it pours and they REALLY mean it.  All in all, while I still miss my Uncle more than ever, things are looking up and I am back to feeling like me and doing the things that I love. The best way to get through the hard times is to keep on pushing forward and when it gets to be too much it’s okay to lean on the ones you love because they will always find the strength inside to carry you until you have the strength and courage to take the steps on your own again. It really is okay to ask for help. 

Thank you all, again. I love you so much. 

And to my Uncle who is shining down on us from heaven. Thank you for all that you have given us. Even in death you still manage to take care of us all and show us the light. I love you. Rest in Peace.

Xo, Vanessa

HOW TO: Leopard Print Nails

Leopard print has been popping up everywhere this fall and I was inspired by my friend Amber who took the trend a step further and added the print to her nails. Inspired, I took a trip to Target and picked up the essentials. The result? I love the unexpected pop of print on my nails and it was surprisingly simple!! Here is my step by step guide to bringing the fierce trend to your tips.

Supplies:

7 Way Nail Buffer - Nail File By EVA

Nicole by OPI Nail Treatment, Top Coat Plus

Orly Nail Lacquer in "Rage"

Orly Nail Lacquer in "Flagstone Rush"

Kiss Nail Artist Thin Brush Stencil Kit (Black)

1.) Start by shaping and buffing your nails however you like. I use the Eva 7-Way nail buffer which is awesome! The buffer is easy to use and labeled with instructions to tell you what each section is for. I always recommend using a nail buffer for a professional looking finish. Available HERE

2.) Next paint on a clear coat as a base. I chose Nicole by OPI "Top Coat Plus" Available HERE

3.) After the clear coat sets coat your nail with your main nail color. I chose Orly nail polish in "Rage" a metallic "gilver" (gold/silver) color. Available HERE

4.) Now comes the fun part, Take your darker spot color and make random dots on each nail. I used between 3-5 dots per nail depending on nail size. Don't worry about being perfect. The spots can be different sizes and shapes. I used a bronze-y color called "Flagstone Rush" by Orly. Available HERE

5.) Now that you have your spots you need to outline them to create the leopard look. The Kiss Nail Artist kit makes it soooo easy! The kit comes with 3 colors white, silver & black. I (obviously) used the black. The brush is very thin so you won't have any trouble tracing your dots. Use your black brush to outline the spots vary with 'c' shapes on each side of the dot and tracing 3/4th's of the way around. You may want to look at a picture of leopard print for inspiration. Your black lines should vary in thickness and size. A little messy is more authentic looking. Don't worry about making a mistake.. animal print is wild.. there are no rules!! The 3 color nail artist kit by KISS is Available HERE.

6.) Last but not least, finish with a shiny clear coat to protect your hard work! The Nicole by OPI Top Coat Plus claims to prevent chipping and it really did work wonders. Available HERE

And the MOST IMPORTANT STEP?? HAVE FUN & BE FIERCE!!!

XOXO, Vanessa

Get Glam for Fall... Beauty Review.

Crayons aren't just for kids anymore... That is as long as said crayons come with names like Glitzy, Perky, Flashy, Swank & Dazzled.

My little sister called me with a beauty emergency the other day. I gifted her her first set of make-up brushes to welcome her into the world of glam and she needed a lesson or two in building her collection. Our convo went a little something like this:

Sis: "I need make-up."
Me: "Okay, what do you need?"
Sis: "Everything."
Me: "Meet me at Sephora in one hour."

My favorite time of year to shop for make-up is Fall. This being the fact that they are preparing for Christmas and you can find incredible deals. A company that sells an eyeshadow for twenty bucks a pop will most always sell a complete set for just ten to fifteen dollars more. If you know where to look you can score a major deal. Lucky for us we hit the jackpot. Meet the newest addition to my sisters beauty colllection:

Tarte Starlet Limited Edition Makeup Vanity Available HERE

24 Eyeshadows, 2 Blushes, a Bronzer & Highlighting Powder, PLUS an Eye Shadow Primer & Mascera, (A $505.00 Value) All for just $52.00

And if that wasn't enough....

We met the Tarte Limited Edition LipSurgence Collection, these natural lip tints give you all the sparkle and shine of a gloss without the sticky. Just as easy as coloring inside the lines. Gorg!

Lip Service Limited-Edition LipSurgence Collection $29 ($120 Value) Available  HERE

I loved the grown up crayons so much I picked up a set for myself:

Pictured Above wearing Tarte LipSurgence in Swank.

Pictured wearing Tarte LipSurgence in Dazzled.

How lucky is my sister? An entire makeup collection for under 100 bucks and a Big Sis who at a moments notice will drop everything and save the day. Love you Sissy. <3

Xo, Vanessa



Praying for a Miracle

My Uncle is very sick and in the hospital right now. He is an incredible man with a huge heart and I love him very much. This is such a difficult time for my family and your love and support mean the world to us. Please pray for him. Pray for relief, recovery and a miracle. This picture if of him on my wedding day. He was so happy for me and embraced my husband with his whole heart and even pulled him aside to welcome him to the family. Whenever we talk he tells me how much fun he had that day. I'm praying for many more beautiful memories in the years to come with this wonderful man. I love you Uncle Earl.

Xo. VLM

Tree Hugger

We spent the weekend in the beautiful town of Monterey, CA. Our weekend was filled with lots of love, great times with good friends old & new and the gorgeous wedding of our dear friends Mike & Sasha. I love how weddings bring everyone together. We danced the night away two nights in a row & finally made our [longggggg] way home today. As we were taking in the last moments of our trip I couldn't resist taking a picture with this beautiful tree. It was absolutely magnificent just like the wedding, or friends and our weekend. Wishing the happy couple a lifetime of happiness, our friends a safe trip home and you a great night's sleep before the start if the week.

I'm wearing:

"Our Space" thermal by Kitson LA (Not Available Online) Shop Kitson
 'Almost Famous' Faux Fur Vest

 UGG Australia Classic Tall Boots in Black

Sweet dreams. I'm sleepyyyyyyyy after a wild weekend with my loves. Time to snug w/ my Bearry & our puppertons. Xo. -Nessy


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Just Because...

This week has been a little more crazy than usual and to top it off I have been feeling exhausted and under the weather. My hubby and I have developed a little ritual of having breakfast together. Sometimes it's breakfast for breakfast... bagels for lunch or breakfast for dinner. No matter what the time of day we use breakfast as a special time to focus on just each other. No cell phones or television... Just us and french toast.

Friday morning we snuck out for bagels and instead of taking me home after, my hubby told me I was in for a surprise... 'Just Because' he wanted to make me smile. (Did I get lucky or what?!) Meet my new best friend:

Available at Nordstrom.com

Steven by Steve Madden 'Rosale' Pump in Nude

Thank you Baby! Xo, Vanessa

My Mother's Daughter

Over brunch yesterday my mother declared herself a shoe connoisseur… which is one of the many traits I am blessed to have inherited from her. It also explains my addiction to spending countless hours ‘sole’ searching on my favorite website for shoes and accessories… appropriately named: Endless.com. (If you haven’t heard of it, look. Now. It will change your life. Read: Free overnight shipping and every shoe ever made.) As fate would have it, my husband left me drowning in testosterone as he screamed at Baseball Tonight. So, being my Mother’s Daughter, I reached for a the nearest floatation device.. my laptop filled with unlimited access to… uhh.. endless pages of shoes. I escaped into a beautiful sanctuary of high heels, baseball made history and I met a few potential “solemates”.

 

Love,
Vanessa
XoXo.



Happily Ever After (Year 2)

Happy Anniversary to us!! 9-26-2009 to Forever

Stop & Smell the Roses...

Boo bought me the most beautiful bouquet to celebrate our 2 year Wedding Anniversary. Soooo sweet & they smell incredible. Happy Anniversary Baby. I love you. Xo.


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Celebrating the Alberts...

No matter how long it takes us to get ready... we always seem to run into something that makes us race the clock to be on time. Last Friday was no exception as we raced out of the house to Shelter Island for Shanel and Steve's wedding. My darling husband was looking extra handsome in his suit and as we cruised across town I couldn't help but stare at him in the driver's seat and think about how lucky we are to have each other. I feel so blessed to be married to such an amazing man with a good heart and a wonderful sense of humor. We reached the venue with minutes to spare.

We slipped into our seats and took in the setting. I love those first moments before the wedding unfolds... The guests are bursting with energy as they bottle up their anticipation. The ceremony was set up on the edge of the water facing the breath-taking downtown city scape. The guests, buzzing with quiet chatter and nervous excitement are hushed as the music starts and the groom enters. The groom walks to the alter, standing in quiet reverence as he waits for his bride to join him. There is so much love in the room. Best friends and loved ones all around. The bridesmaids escorted by the groomsmen enter and walk to their places, each finding their friends and significant others in the crowd and and mouthing "hellos" "I love yous". I look to my own husband and we both smile remembering our own wedding and all the happiness we've accumulated in our years together.

As the music starts for the Brides entrance we all stand and I catch my first glimpse of the Bride, her eyes  wide with excitement as she takes in the sight of all her loved ones standing before her. As she makes her way to the center aisle and she meets eyes with her groom, you can see he is in awe of her radiating beauty. I love that. The words of the ceremony prompt the memories of our own wedding vows to flood into my heart as I sit next to the man I joined in holy matrimony just about two years earlier and for a moment I am lost in thought of our own journey and how beautiful it is to be so happy. As Shanel and Steve are pronounced husband and wife, my own husband kisses me and whispers in my ear, "I love you." And so it is another couple begins the new chapter of Happily Ever After. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Albert!!

Bobby & I had a blast at the reception!! Bobby's wearing a Brown Suit by Michael Kors, White Shirt by Calvin Klein, (Nordstrom) and Brown Tie by Alfani, (Macy's, purchased for my brother's wedding last year.)

I'm wearing a One shoulder pink top by H&M (Not Available Online)

Skirt by Haute Hippie bondage mini in Taupe available Here 

Bangles by Amrita Singh (RueLaLa.com, no longer Available) Similar Available Here
 Click HERE to join RueLaLa for exclusive sales and AMAZING shop-ortunities! Xo. 

Something to think about...

"One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passers-by see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on their way." - Vincent Van Gogh


I don't have a ton of time to write about this one right now... but I wanted to share with you a quote that I have carried with me through the years. These words have so much meaning and have inspired me in so many ways. Check back later for an update with my thoughts.. but until then. Enjoy! Xo.

Hellooooo World!

Helloooo World!

Some of the greatest self discoveries are made during times of reflection. I say this because reflection allows us to look at our lives and ourselves with the capacity to see the past, present and to create hopes for the future. An honest reflection allows you a clear vision of, not only, your mistakes and missed opportunities but also your successes, achievements and blessings. (Count them!!) Evaluating where we are, what we've done and where it is we would like to go next, is the first step towards creating your dream future.
As children we are encouraged to follow our dreams, in romance, to follow our hearts, but, as we age it is easy to look around and find yourself somewhere completely different then you ever imagined. Like a flip book, each day, as insignificant as it can seem at the time, when sped up and placed in order create the big picture of your place in life. Even the most classic success stories are constantly reinventing their image, searching for endorsements, expanding and creating. Without reinvention and development life grows stale, stagnant, boring and slowly the sparkle of success fades and fizzles out. But reinvention... reinvention is the key to unlocking the door of opportunity.
I personally believe that everything happens for a reason. While the reason may not always be clear at the time, I know that it's there in every situation. Recently my hours at work were cut to just two days a week. After the initial shock wore off, (and with encouragement from my adoring husband), I realized that this was just the push I needed to follow my dreams of doing something more creative.
On the first day of my new schedule I decided to take full advantage of my new found [albeit forced] freedom. Instead of feeling down and out I felt empowered. I met one of my dearest friends for an early morning walk on the boardwalk and somewhere between the pier and the parking lot I woke up. Spending that time with my friend, enjoying the salty sea breeze, feeling the sun on my skin... made me feel alive and inspired and made me wonder why it took me so long to get here.
So, while I'm not sure what my next move is, I figure today is as good a day as any to do what I love... write. And while I'm not sure who my audience will be or what exactly my content will consist of... I'm going to type my first entry into the blog world see where it takes me. With a little wit and a lot of love this is my Luvtini. Xo, Vanessa Martini