I can't work in my home office without a candle flickering and giving off its delightful aroma while I come up with blog posts, travel content, and research. Lisa Hoffman's Madagascar Orchid Candle is in the home fragrance rotation and my goodness how potent this candle's scent envelops a room. I only burn it for 30 minutes and it lingers all day. Too bad there is not a travel version, but since Lisa is an inveterate traveler I'm sure it's in her idea book.
I'm late on the reed diffuser for my home scents. I will always be a candle girl, but the diffuser is a great way to get the scent to last all day and night. Joya Orange Blossom and Pale Musk Diffuser is currently on my radar. The modern look and feel of the decanter is hip without being to trendy. It's not to girlie for any le beau of the house. I will be in NY later this month and must make a stop at Barneys to give the scent scent a whiff.
I had never heard of "bed day" until I read Kimberly Wilson's Tranquilista. Kimberly is the creator of Tranquil Space, the place where I get my yoga on in DC. I used to think a bed day meant a nap. That can happen, but it's not the case. A bed day is where you stay in bed and relax. Napping is an option, but it's for reading, watching a movie, and doing absolutely nothing to make your heart smile. The cold weather helps, but I plan to have a bed day every season. I love a good bed made with high thread count sheets, lots of pillows, and comfy. To my mother's horror I am not a person that makes my bed every day. But, after seeing this slide show on Elle Decor I might change that.
It's high time I dress up my bedroom like I dress up myself.
"I get it from my mama, my aunt, and my grandmother." It's my candle obsession. My mother always had candles burning in our home and just like her I need candles in my life. When I travel I bring my candles with me. It adds a touch of home no matter where I go. Also, just like my mama I spend a ridiculous amount of money on candles. My newest find came directly from my other home - Tranquil Space Yoga Studio. Our studios boutique sells great candles, but when I smelled the K. Hall Design Egyptian Jasmine Candle.
I knew I needed this in my house. I also knew I needed to put it in my office, because l'homme is now on the candle bandwagon and lights every single candle in the living room - at the same time. I wanted to keep this one all to myself. That's why it's in my office.
One of my favorite lines in Sex and the City 2 is when Carrie is shopping with Samantha and the sales associate asks where has she been. She replies "I've been cheating on fashion with furniture." I'm identifiying with this line more and more since The Don and I are about to embark on a few home renovations. If you were a fan of Domino Magazine (which Conde Nast needs to bring back) then you will love Lonny. It's the Interwebs version of the fab magazine.
In the current issue they featured interior design darling Celerie Kemble's home. It's her closet that is making me weep with delight. Although I'm trying to buy only items I love so my closet is not full of just okay items I can't help but find inspiration in these photos. Her vanity is in the closet. Genius. The rooms are so dark and sexy and reminds me of Tom Ford. I would pair the rooms with two of my must haves from his lipstick collection. Smoky Red and Black Orchid are must haves in the beauty arsenal.
{Smoke Red}
{Black Orchid}
Illume candles are the perfect accoutrement to spending a weekend day lounging on the sofa reading a good thriller and plotting a trip to Paris. I hope the strikes stop because I need to take my hubby home to meet the other side of my family - Mariage Freres, Printemps, Maille, Laduree, L'Avant Comptoir, and La Grande Epicerie.
Persimmon & Spice is my favorite scent from the Modern Naturals Home Fragrance Collection. Illume is making me a real happy girl. Happy weekend and Bisous!
Bluemercury the premiere beauty emporium in Wasington, DC is celebrating its 11 year anniversary. I didn't realize it has been that long. I remember buying from them before I moved to the area. Bluemercury is still my go to location for my favorite niche beauty lines when I can't get to Juanita at Neiman's in Houston.
To celebrate their anniversary Bluemercury has a limited-edition gift bag with a few of their favorite lines. The bag is available for the month of September and features amazing samples of brands such as Laura Mercier, Revive, Lafco, and Molton Brown.
To make this anniversary even more special, Bluemercury has teamed with Tocca to produce the beyond-gorgeous scented Kona candle. Marla Malcolm Beck the creator of Bluemercury used her childhood memories of the family home in Kona, Hawaii to create a scent that is perfect for the home. This has been my go-to candle for weeks.
While perusing the aisles of my local Target I came upon a top find. Caldrea Essential Collection. When did this hit the market? I'm way behind. I discovered that Target had partnered with my beloved Caldrea to create a line for them. This is major. I cook a lot and knowing that I can find one of my favorite household brands at one of my favorite shopping destinations. The collection comes in three scents: Olive Oil, Herbs de Provence, Citron Ginger, and a divine Plumeria. I have the hand soap, lotion, and counterop cleaner. There is also dish soap and candles. I'm on a no candle buying moratorium until the end of September. Today I'm having a ton of people over to celebrate and I'm so glad I found these products just in the nick of time.
From Target: "The Caldrea Essential Collection at Target offers a modern, luxurious twist on household products at unbeatable prices,” said Stacia Andersen, senior vice president, home merchandising, Target. “By offering these highly effective, practical products, our guests are able to enjoy caring for their homes.”
Wellness also means having a home/abode/apartment/studio that makes you smile. These new products have put a huge ginormous grin on my face.
I am in love with Lucia Candles and my current pick is No. 6. I picked up mine at Celadon Salon and Spa in DC. They are available here and here. I'm seriously considering putting them in every room in my house. I need an excuse to buy more.
Jimmyjane AFTERGLOW Natural Massage Oil Candle in Dark Vanilla is a two-in-one product. It's a candle that turns into a massage oil. I personally think it makes a great oil for all those dry areas on my body. It looks like a typical candle, but once it melts it becomes a luxurious massage oil. The candle has tons of great ingredients such as Jojoba, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Soy, Aloe and no phthalates or parabens. I did not use it as a massage oil. Why? Because I didn't want to use all the product up. I added it to my daily body lotion. Jimmyjane also sells some "grown folks products" which should be looked at in the privacy of your home. Queue the wink here. I think they should package this oil in a separate container. I like the candle idea, but I need a large jar of this oil.
I hope everyone is having a great new year. I love starting a new year, reflecting on the past, and looking toward the future. It's always bittersweet for me. January is the month my father passed away and seven years later my older brother passed away. I always try not to be so emotional, but I can't help it. I try to think of the blessings that I had by having these amazing men in my life.
So, I'm honoring them by celebrating their life. I'm trying to find a fresh start and having more "self-love" this year. I want more beaches, books, food, wine, travel, hikes, running, sleep, relaxing, and always more yoga. I did a morning yoga practice to my new Tranquility to Go CD by Kimberly Wilson with a LifeNK Candle in Patchouli Suede by Space NK flickering and scenting my space. This candle makes me smile. I'm on my second one and I keep telling myself I will try the others, but this glorious scent keeps pulling me back. The name is simply perfect - life.
What are your new year's intentions? I think intentions sound much better than resolutions.
Aveda, how I love thee. Let me count the ways. It's not just the beauty and hair products, but it's the beautiful candles that fill my home. This Himalayan Glow Candle is a limited edition candle that is dressed in beautiful paper created in Nepal.
The scent will have you engulfed in a fragrant holiday scent of cinnamon, clove, and vanilla. I love a house filled with fragrance of the holidays - pine, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and clementine. This time of year puts my candle obsession in overdrive. Serious overdrive. This is the perfect scent to sip a hot toddy, listen to a little Nat King Cole The Christmas Song, and being thankful for seeing another holiday season.
I don't know what has come over me in the last few weeks. I've been having an "Anthropologie" moment and it hasn't abated. I'm constantly on their site and finally had an opportunity to do a quick crash into the store. I love this store for many reasons (1) the clothes are super cute; (2) it reminds me of stores in Paris my home: and (3) because it's so girly, so divalicious, and so pretty.
In a matter of 10 minutes I was able to walk in and out of the store with early birthday presents for myself (my birthday is next month) and something beautiful to dress my bathroom for the holiday. I had heard the Joya Reserve line was coming out before Christmas and that my talented design artist, paper creator, and all around cool chick Joy was designing the packaging. I couldn't help it. I had to get EVERYTHING - hand soap, hand cream, and candle in the Alhambra Perfume scent. I know I will be running out of the candle before Christmas, so another trip to the store is in order. Anthropologie I'm Julia and I'm addicted to your store.
I should have brought Laura Slatkin's NEST Candles to the lake house with me this weekend, but in a mad rush to head out of town Friday I didn't bring any candles. Why? Because there's nothing like sitting by a fire, drinking wine, reading Travel & Leisure and enjoying the scent of a beautiful candle. At the recent FIFA Awards the candles won the Interior Scent of the Year Award. I completely understand.
My favorite is the Pink Jasmine. It's a luscious concoction that sits in the beauty room office where I relax, write, work, plan, and prep. I think the Moss & Mint might be the selection for fall.
If April showers, bring May flowers the delivery has to come in the form of a candle. Lorain's Touch Gardenia Soy Candle is the perfect spring accessory for my home. Spring and summer for me are definitely about flowers. I'm not a plant girl at all. But, flowers are my thing. I love lilies, roses, tulips, peonies, and especially gardenia. My mother is a gardenia kind of lady and growing up in a house with fresh gardenias made me love them more. Lorain's Gardenia candle does not have that cloying-sickeningly-sweet scent that a lot of gardenia candles can have. It's the perfect accompaniment on top of my buffet when you walk in the house. Here's to more May flowers without the showers.
Principessa Beauty's Casa Collection has All About the Pretty written all over it. Principessa is has a great bath and body line, but once I heard about the new Casa Collection I knew I had to have some of it in my home. As many of you know I love to cook. Therefore, the products in my kitchen has to be just as fabulous as the products for my face and body.
That's what happens when you work 2 years for Williams-Sonoma (the word spoiled rotten comes to my mind).
I picked one of my favorite stores Banana Republic for more Mother's Day gift ideas. I think the Chilled Sangria Candle would be perfect for most mothers. I have this candle and it is not over-powering, but does live a faint floral scent to my place. I think other options can be these mini fragrances in Rosewood, Jade or Malachite. The great thing about the mini scents are the size. She can leave one in the car, at the office, and in her gym bag. They are currently available in stores. Great things comes in small packages.
Beauty News will come tomorrow, because I am on my way to New York for the day. Have a great weekend.
Allure Magazine has an insane giveaway. Starting Feb. 1 at allure.com, register for a Jo Malone Home Candle Collection valued at $715. One winner will receive an 11-piece candle collection, which includes favorites such as Lime Blossom and Pomegranate.
To enter, log on to allure.com/freestuff.
What do you have to lose? Well, maybe - what do you have to win!
I was thrilled to meet the owner and florist - Meredith Waga Perez of Belle Fleur NYC last night. Many of you may recall that I had a love affair with their candles in August on my trip to NYC. It was fun to meet such a lovely, vibrant, and of course, beauty obsessed woman. I told her that I still have an article from House and Garden where she did the most lovely bouquet of flowers. I then asked questions to get the 411 on all the candles. I told her that the Mayan Tuberose was my absolute favorite and we both agreed that this is truly a "bedroom candle." After picking up another Mayan Tuberose and Orange Blossom Pomegranate (for the living room) my Wednesday night was complete - until I got home in time to watch Gossip Girl. The new collection of candles - 5 brand new scents debut December 1. The only name I could remember was Chocolate and Tobacco. You know I'm all over these new candles for my birthday, plus I need to get a few for my beloved girlfriends.
"Southern girl, don't you know ya good to me and I dig you so.
I wouldn't be right here if you hadn't been right there
Southern girl, southern girl
Southern girl, southern girl."Words and music by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
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