My Favorite Things

The Holidaze are upon us as the shoppers rush home with their treasures.  I like the feeling and the smells of the holidays, I just don't like the stress that comes with the shopping, the parking, and the crowds of pushy people.

That being said, I would like to highlight some items you can order right where you are, in your jammies in front of the computer.  Hopefully, these will make the season bright by ordering on-line and shipping right to your doorstep.

I love the smell of a fresh Christmas tree and Scentsicles ornaments will put anyone immediately in the Holiday spirit.

O' Christmas Tree by Scentsicles

And under $15, you can't afford NOT to hang a few of these in your tree as well so your entire home will smell like a Louisiana Pine Forest.  Really.  Make sure it's the "O' Christmas Tree", there are others, but this one smells the best.  

Amazon link here: Scentsicles O' Christmas Tree. 

The Cocktail Shaker Lip Gloss

Lancome makes this whimsical and effective lip gloss.  I love the little shimmers in the gloss and it makes a fun impact as a gift for one of your girlfriends.  This color is called "Boom Meringue" #313

Link Here: Lancome Cocktail Shaker Lip Gloss

Lots of other awesome messages too!

Mugs from Target!  They are the perfect size for hot chocolate, they stack, and the messages are awesome.  And at $5.99, it's a super nice way to tell all the people in your life that you care.  Check out the complete messages.  Link here:  Clay Art Stackable Mugs

...and it will NOT stain your teeth.

This is a Hollywood secret for public speakers and actress' to tint their gums pink making their teeth look super white. It's the perfect gift for that someone longing for the perfect smile.  Under $20.  Link here: Email Diamant Red Toothpaste

Soft and snuggly is the gift you are giving.

Pier One is having a big sale and if you are stuck as to what to give a loved one, this beautiful Snow Leopard Throw is the perfect solution.  It is soft and faux fur on one side and soft suede-like on the other.  The neutral colors will blend in well on anyone's couch and lap and who doesn't want to feel like a "Fierce" snow leopard in winter? 

On sale now $33. Link here: Faux Fur Snow Leopard Throw

For the techie in your life: a subscription to Lynda.com.  What is Lynda.com?  It is the most comprehensive site to find tutorials by qualified professionals there to explain, in the simplest of terms, how to: work a camera, learn photoshop, how to build a website, how to make creative content.  Basically, anything that has to do with a computer or apps.  The monthly subscription is $25.  That's unlimited access to all the information on all of your devices, so learn while waiting in line or at midnight when the house is quiet.  Oh, and if you don't like the teaching style of one professor, there are more choices!  You can subscribe one month and then not again for three months, then back for a month, there are no commitments and there is a trial to test if you like before you buy.  Link here: Lynda.com

Amazon Prime.  This is the gift that keeps on giving.  At about $8.25 a month (a yearly subscription costs $99) it is worth every penny if you do a lot of shopping on-line.  I have cat and dog food delivered because it's hard to find in stores, but easy on Amazon.  Two-day guaranteed free delivery is the hook, but really, Amazon Prime has so many other features that even if you don't shop on-line a lot, it's still worth it!  Amazon is coming up in the world of film making and their streaming content comes with the subscription.  Also, "cloud" storage.  I take a lot of pictures that are huge files, so having the storage through Amazon keeps them off my computer and keeps the computer running better.  Shopping for basics like t-shirts and socks is so easy, just click away and two days later you have the items.  No jockeying for a parking space, no looking through the shops, no lost receipt if you want to return the item.  Amazon has the easiest return policy.  If you love someone, this is the ultimate gift of time.  Link here: Amazon.com

I hope this helps and you are able to enjoy the Holidays the way they were meant to be celebrated, home, hearth, community.  Take a moment to realize that today is your gift, that's why it's called "The Present."

I hope this finds you well.

-julie

Meet Saumya and her great brain

Gratitude

A big thank you to Catherine Grace O'Connell whose vision to bring these two diverse demographics together is realized in this awesome campaign called "Bridging the Gap".

Mother, wife, and savvy businesswoman

One hundred Mid-lifers and one hundred Millennials are paired up to discover what it is that we have in common and what it is that makes us different.

How fortunate am I, then, to be a partnered with clever Saumya in this campaign!  She is like a gift, beautifully wrapped, mysterious on the inside, and open to anyone willing to discover.

Saumya customized her pumps by adding the pom

Don't mistake her soft feminine beauty for weakness.  I am discovering how fearless Saumya is. After revealing her desire to attend this years NewYorkFashionWeek...she made it happen.  She had a shoe design in mind and what did she do?  She realized her vision.

She designed these shoes!

She makes powerful memories for her family with love, cooking, and time.  She passionately honors her husband during Karwa Chauth by fasting the entire day to pray for the safety and longevity of her spouse.  Saumya, I forgot to tell you what an awesome mother you are. Your beautiful daughter will take the memories of afternoon tea parties with Mom, complete with cloth napkins and real china, with her for the rest of her life.

Yes, you did that.

I have learned that the future looks bright in the hands of Saumya.  (She's so smart and gorgeous)!

Sunny would be a good word to describe Saumya.

What I have learned from this campaign and from my partner....
The youth of today is weaned on the internet, information at their fingertips, and amazing digital games.  It's important to work together to find the "key to the next level" or the "secret menu" at Starbuck's, so it's no surprise that teamwork comes naturally in practical settings.  Because curiosity and discovery are second nature, Millennials don't like to be bombarded with a lot of information. They can and will find the answer, they know how to problem solve.

Saumya, you taught me patience and teamwork with your kindness, you taught me how to celebrate beauty with your blog and IG feed,  and you taught me that persistence and determination will get you where you need to go.

My hope for the other 99 Mid-lifers and 99 Millennials is a similar experience.  Maybe, with a
little acceptance and understanding, we can blur boundaries and learn a thing or two
from our counterparts.

Life Lesssons
Don't come from a place of fear.
Be patient, everything comes to you at the right time.
Listen to others
Be a Content Creator

Similarities
like high heels and wine
gluten free
both struggle with body image

Differences
I'm old?

Taking Care of Your Sheepskin Rug

And making it last a long time...

Did you know that if you take care of your sheepskin rug, it can last twenty years?  Did you also know that you can wash your sheepskin rug?  How about you can wash your sheepskin rug IN YOUR WASHING MACHINE?!!!!

Betcha didn't know that! 

You'll need these two products:

Sheepskin Rug Brush and Sheepskin Shampoo

(both items available on-line)

Put your rug in the washing machine on delicate cycle and follow

the directions on how much sheepskin shampoo to use.

It really came out white.

I put it outside to drip dry for the better part of the day. 

After it was just damp, I stuck it in the dryer on the lowest

heat setting and removed it an hour later.

That was easy.

The hard part was brushing out all the little curls.  You really have

to fold the rug back on itself to expose the roots in order to brush in 

quick little strokes and make the rug fluffy again.

You can see the left side is brushed and fluffy...

The brush didn't pull off much of the fur, 

so if your rug is falling apart, it may be too old to save.  

Sheepskin rugs have a shelf life of about twenty years...if you take care of it.  

The Sheepskin Shampoo kept the hide soft and conditioned, did a great job of cleaning it and made the rug look brand new again.

Tools of the Trade Part 2

Hollywood Secrets

Really, I shouldn't be showing you this, but...

Wardrobe Rack

The on-set, behind-the-scenes, working wardrobe rack.  This cart holds many, many, many secrets.  Let's explore...

Grandma's Secret Wrinkle Remover

The iron is upstairs in the costume department, you forgot to plug in the steamer and the director is yelling for you on set.  This works so you can tomorrow.

Wet Ones

"I've never seen an actress make a mess!", said No One Ever.

Don't leave home without it, especially if you wear white or are an actress.

Topstick

This is wig tape, but it is used to keep your wardrobe in place.

It's how Jennifer Lopez kept that dress to stay!  It works well on the little peek-a-boo-space in-between the buttons on your fitted blouse.

Lift Kits, Secret Heels, or DIY sock wedge

This is a big secret.  I can't even say who uses them, so maybe I should say who doesn't use them...tall people and that ain't actors.  Life is short, you don't have to be.

Band-Aid Friction Block

Seriously, do not get any other brand.  Anywhere you feel a pinch, a rub, or a squeeze on your foot, rub on a little Friction Block and keep on dancing.  The secret has gotten out on this one and the product is now hard to find (usually in stock in the band-aid aisle at any CVS) and is expensive on-line.  If you can find it at CVS for under $10, buy it, it works.

All of these products can be found on-line.

I hope this finds you well.  Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment if you please.

Tools of the Trade Part 1

The Right Tool for the Job

Sometimes, when you are climbing a mountain, it's good to turn around and see 

how far you have come and enjoy the view.

My New Year's Resolution is to shop my closet.  I am actually surprising myself and doing really, well.  I did purchase a pair of rain boots because the other ones took a turn for the worse, and it was raining, and cold, and the wet toes thing wasn't working for me and the rain wasn't about to stop.

(Old sweater, t-shirt, jeans...new boots..they did keep my toes warm and dry)

One thing I am realizing, is that I have some great clothing in my closet!  Probably, the reason that the item sits, unworn, in the closet, is maybe a missing button, or the neck is scratchy because of a tag, or the item needs to be hemmed.  I am rediscovering the tools that I see the wardrobe gals keep with them at all times on set.

*The leather punch is great to make your belts fits perfectly.  

*A good pair of dedicated wardrobe scissors for cutting out scratchy tags(or all tags)! 

Don't be using it for kitchen or office items. Wardrobe only! 

Don't tell your kids where they are either.

*Fashion Tape, it's great for that pesky button-up blouse that plays peek-a-boo.

*Travel sewing kit, because sometimes it's nice to have it already threaded.

*Lint roller There's a white cat hair with your name on it.

*A good tailor It's their job to make you look good.

I am not saying that my New Year's Resolution is over.  I'm having fun seeing how far I can go shopping my closet.  In fact, I have discovered that maybe, just maybe, the 

destination isn't the reward, but the journey.

Last Day of the First Month

I'm trying...

Well, how has your New Year's resolution coming along?

Well, I do like champagne, but I'm not a big drinker so cutting back on alcohol was an easy one.  Shopping, not so easy.

I found these shoes by mistake on-line!!!  I had to buy them.  And there goes my resolution. 

Well, here is the thinking...

They aren't real Valentino Rockstud heels!!! 

Maybe I'm wrong, but they look so good and I will wear them.

So, here's the lowdown...

I'm not sure the Valentino Rockstuds are worth the money, but definitely, they are made a lot better than the Kaitlyn Pan shoes that I found on Amazon.  Yes, Amazon!!!!!!!

You can see the stitching is a little off, but that's only if you get up close and personal.

The Valentino Rockstud has beautiful stitching and is more comfortable.

So, unless you knew the difference, you wouldn't be able to tell.  (Maybe my girlfriends can, but who is going to tell them?)

Shhhhhhhhh. :D

Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse

Minimalism

It's that time of year...shopping sales.  Am I the only one that lays in bed and shops from their iPad, then remembers when the package arrives?

This is not a new coat.  It belongs to my daughter and I stole it from her closet last year because Peacoats were in style and she wasn't wearing it.  I was looking at sales because I want this year's style and this coat is flared at the bottom.  Okay, I was looking at sales on my iPad, laying in bed, and if I wasn't careful, there would be a package on my doorstep 
in a few days..."What's this?".

Mindless.

So, I will not let perfection be the enemy of good and this nice coat keeps me warm.  I can share with her, she shops my closet all the time...(I stalk her on instagram).

The whole reason that I started this was to get to know my camera and it turned into a whole fashion, must have, want, gotta keep up with the Jones' kinda thing.

How many baby seals did I kill, having so many fossil fuels pumped into the environment by having things delivered IN TWO DAYS?!!!

My closet.  I think I can find what I need.

Hope for 2017

Happy New Year

I hope this finds you happy and healthy.  A year ago I gave up bread.  At first, it was really
hard because there's bread in EVERYTHING.  Seriously, I would be eating, putting something in my mouth when I would realize that I was eating BREAD (tortillas, empenadas, cake, crackers, and macaroons...doesn't look like bread, but it's bread all right).  The issue wasn't that I was gluten intolerant or anything, it was that I was eating a lot of bread.

A LOT of bread.  I didn't even realize how much until I tried to eliminate it from my plate.  At first, it was hard, because, let's be honest, bread is AWESOME!!  But, it's not food.  I was looking through Pinterest and stumbled across the "Fifty not Frumpy" blog by Susan Street.  She had adopted a vegan diet and mentioned that by not eating refined processed food...bread, pasta, potato...she had lost 30 pounds.  I tried it and I lost about 15!  

After that, I eliminated alcohol....well, drastically reduced my intake.  I lost another 15 pounds.  Now, I practice drinking Kombucha and water during the week, and on the weekend, I will enjoy a glass or two of wine.  The real reason I did this was because I lost some very nice jewelry while drinking lots of shots of tequila.  Lots of shots and expensive jewelry don't mix.  Nice jewelry, jewelry that my husband had given to me.  Jewelry that I miss and won't be able to replace anytime soon.  That was really painful.  I had to evaluate what was important in my life.

2017 is going to be the year of gratitude.  I am going to live well by living simply.  I am going to try to shop my closet.  I am going to reduce the amount of meat that I consume. I am going to practice giving back.  I am going to re-evaluate what is means to be American, what it means to be human, and what it means to be a CONSUMER.

Live simply so that others may simply live.  That is my goal.

What are your goals for 2017?