Hed Kandi

My latest obsession since I darkened my ombre, caramel blonde hair to a deep, reddish brunette color is hair accessories. To keep my slightly two-toned hair from being a total bore, I add a little glitz and glam. I recently came across these stunning Deepa Gurnani head pieces at a local jewelry shop, Blue Ruby. These pieces run at about $100 each [give or take] and are beautifully handcrafted to sparkle in every glimpse of light. Wear these gems above your hairline or just below, hippie style.

Do that do

Three essential hair products that every guy [who isn't bald or has a buzz cut] should have are: Murray`s Pomade, Bumble and bumble Sumotech and ORIBE Dry. The trick to having the perfect do [think George Clooney not Pauly D] rests in the hands, so to speak, of these products.

Murray's Pomade is a great product to control unruly hair and provide immense shine. It works great on thick hair by helping hold it in place. Start with a small dollop; a little bit goes a long way. The only downside is that this product is really hard to get out of your hair.

Bumble and bumble Sumotech works best on thinner hair because it synthesizes the malleable feel of natural waxes to give your hair a firm hold without restricting movement. This product is very lightweight and leaves room for your hair to be retouched throughout the day by dampening your fingers and restyling. 

ORIBE Dry gives a ton of volume to your hair. Doubling as a dry shampoo, this texturizing spray will give your hair height and fatten your hair follicles to create a thick 'blown out' look that lasts all day.

Elements

My go-to nail color is a toss up between OPI's 'Sweetheart' and "Matched Luggage." These colors are so classy and preppy.

Clinique's "take the day off" is one of the best makeup removers I have ever used. It literally removes my foundation, bronzer and blush face mask with just one wash.

This Shu Umera lash curler gets to the root of each lash and in just quick squeeze, your tired eyes will be looking open and bright.

'Bosa Nova' by Paula Dorf is such a bright and cheery, coral lip color. I love pairing it with minimal makeup.

SOS

My phone is broken! My entire life is in my phone. Not only does my iPhone enable me to contact people via call and text, it is my iPod,my alarm clock, my schedule, it has my 'to do' lists and my 'to buy' lists. My phone receives all of my emails and is connected to both my Facebook and Twitter pages. It is the photo album that holds all of my memories over the past year. I really am not exaggerating when I say my whole life is in that little, rectangular electronic device. The LCD screen has gone all wonky making it impossible to navigate and read anything. So sad.

Drink to that

Over the weekend I stopped by Hawksworth Restaurant to celebrate a friends birthday. As I was there and had finished drinking my extra dirty vodka martini with extra olives, I was given a rose-colored, shaved ice concoction served in a short silver cup, topped with a mint sprig. I was told it was a Mint Julep. Sounds good, right? Wrong. As I took a big sip, I felt the burning sensation run into my mouth, down my throat, through my nose and into both my brain and stomach. Two words - straight Bourbon [a type of American whiskey]. A Mint Julep is definitely not a girls drink! This 'official drink of the Kentucky Derby' is made of Bourbon over ice with muddled mint leaves and sugar. [I think the bartender forgot the sugar in my case.] Although I wasn't a fan of the drink, I still managed to get it down [why waste good alcohol]. This is unequivocally a man's drink.

If you would like to make your own Mint Julep, here is how:

Ingredients:
- 4 fresh mint sprigs
- 2.5 oz Bourbon whiskey
- 1 tsp powdered sugar
- crushed ice

Preparation:
Place the mint and sugar into a julep cup. Muddle well to disolve the sugar and to release the oil and aroma of the mint. Add the Bourbon. Fill with crushed ice and stir well until the glass becomes frosty. Garnish with a mint sprig.

 

Nerd alert

I'm only into my third week of classes and I've already had to do a project, a presentation and write a test! [And currently procrastinating on this week's readings and homework.] My goal this semester is to do really well in all of my classes and I think that part of reaching success is to enjoy what you're doing or learning. Even if I don't necessarily like a certain class, I try my best to keep motivated. There's just something about a Juicy Couture notebook and some fun colored pens that makes note-taking seem more appealing to me.

Lalalalove Lanvin

Black ballet flats are a staple piece in every girls wardrobe. A simple pair of black leather flats will go with almost anything in your closet. Pair them jeans, leggings, trousers, skirts, shorts and dresses. [Literally anything!] There are a few key pieces in my wardrobe that I will invest in; a pair of black ballet flats is definitely one of them. I'm sure you know by now that Lanvin is my absolute favorite label for ballet flats. These beautiful ostrich leather flats provide the best in quality, comfort and arch support. Although they may cost you a pretty penny, it's a small price to pay for something that will never go out of style.