Rain Inspired

Let's face it being in love with fashion is not cheap. I don't know about you but I don't have an endless budget for clothes. Mind you, I have a closet full of clothes but I end up wearing the same pieces each season again and again.  I recently filled 8 bags with clothes that I don't wear anymore and it all went to charity! It got me to thinking about the clothing that has staying power - the Prada boots I bought 10 years ago, my Birkin Bag and Hermes belt.  Nope, I am not tossing those into the charity bin!  My new strategy is to buy a few good investment pieces and fill in with trends. Will let you know how that goes!

Today it is rainy and dreary and the situation required rain gear.  On days like today a POP of color is a must!  I pulled out my Burberry trench - a great investment peice (similar in pink here) and threw in some red details. Voila!

The fun part is imparting some color into this ensemble and I love using black as a backdrop to fun, colorful shoesand coats.  Recently, I bought my red rockstud flats - a new investment piece on sale at lastcall.com - pure luck there! Similar here in pink (not on sale).  I really believe these flats have staying power. Umbrella is Marc Jacobs and my vintage Gucci shopper  has made a comeback!

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Beauty Review: Derma Rolling 101

Anybody remember the Vampire Facial craze last year?  It's a facial that uses your own blood plasma in which an  esthetician micro-needles the plasma into the skin. Gross right? I did it and I can assure you it was the most horrific facial session I have ever had.  The micro-needling process left my face a bloody mess and then for maximum benefit I had to keep on my skin for 8 hours!  My esthetician failed to tell me this part and my poor husband had a coniption upon my arrival home. I looked like my face had been hit by a train.  I can also assure you it works and was worth all the drama.  Micro-needling builds collagen and the result is plumper skin, even skin tone and reduced under eye circles. It took about 3 weeks to see the results and the effect last for up to a year.

I had never heard of micro-needleing before my Vampire Facial, When I was traveling back from France last year, duty-free on the plane was selling an at home micro-needling tool called a "Derma Roller". The derma roller comes in various needle lengths and the best to start off with is .25 mm. Without hesitation, I whipped out my 100 euros and bought one.  The process is much less dramatc than the Vamprire Facial but with regular use it provides amazing results.   I use it 2-3 times a week with RetinA or Trader Joes Antioxident serum.  And, I found one that is totally affordable so get rolling!

Buy a Derma Roller here ($12.95)
Trader Joe's Antioxident Serum ($9.99)


Check out this video on Derma Rolling 101:

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Over the Rainbow and a LBD

This was the view from our vacation home in Palm Springs the other day.  We are so lucky to be here for 4 weeks and this rainbow is a fitting symbol! Before we left the frozen tundra, I packed a huge suitcase to the allotted airline weight of exactly 50 lbs. Although it sounds like I'm hauling at boatload of stuff, it really amounts to about a week of clothes.  Every time we are here, I end up recycling outfits over and over (and over) again.  Near the end of our stay I want to toss everything out and start over again.

This trip I decided to bring the art of packing to a new height. Instead of throwing in a mass of items hoping it will all work, I started with basics and accessorized the heck out of them.  And, I have been quite pleased with the result.  The key is not to recycle but to refresh!  Here's what I mean:

I found A fabulous A.L.C black silk dress (similar one here).  This LBD can go from pretty to biker to cocktail hour with just a few changes in accessories.

PRETTY

BIKER

COCKTAIL HOUR

Go forth and accessorize!

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