platinum blonde life

Summer Lust List

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:57:00 +0000

There are three things I am presently lusting after... I've been trying to be good by cutting back on my spending on beauty and fashion purchases, but these three items in particular are tempting me!

Pleated Chiffon Dress $250 @ J.Crew; Kate Spade Popsicle Scarf $128 @ Nordstrom; Kailey Flat Sandals $265 @ Tory Burch

I fell in love with this J.Crew dress in the store, and literally had to FORCE myself to put it back on the rack. This playful popsicle flavor scarf from Kate Spade makes me smile...how perfect is this for summer. I think if I bought ANOTHER scarf, my husband might kill me. The sandals are too cute to resist. I feel myself caving already... I mean one out of three isn't bad, right?

Casa & Cucina: Homemade Strawberry & Peach Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:08:00 +0000

Ceramic Farmers Market Baskets from Anthropologie

When strawberries are in season, I make every attempt to try every dish imaginable with them. I have always been particularly fond of the fruit, largely due to my memories of watching them flower & grow in the garden. As a girl I would help pick them, and sneak a few directly into my mouth! Now of course, I do not have a strawberry field to pluck, but I do enjoy going to the market with plenty of big juicy berries. After a few 90 degree days I decided it was time to break out my popsicle mold and put my beloved berries to work. This time, I opted to give my berries a sweet & tart spin.

Ingredients:

6oz. strawberries hulled
2 peaches pitted and sliced (I left the skins on, but many people prefer them to be peeled)
1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 cup sweetener of your choice (honey, agave, or simple syrup*)

*In a medium saucepan combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool.

Ceramic Farmers Market Baskets & Measuring Spoons from Anthropologie, Popsicle Mold from Crate & Barrel

Instructions:

In the work bowl of a food processor (or blender) pulse strawberries and peaches until smooth, add tablespoon of lemon juice and sweetener of your choice. Pulse until well combined.

Pour mixture into Popsicle Molds or Paper cups. Place in freezer. (Note: If using paper cups allow to set before inserting Popsicle Sticks into center.)

Allow pops to freeze for a minimum of 3 hours (overnight is usually best). To remove popfrom molds, I simply run a bit of warm water over the plastic and pull the pop out! Works like a charm every time!

Enjoy your summer treats!

Casa & Cucina: Quick Chocolate Croissants

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:56:00 +0000

I've long desired to dive into making delicious pastry treats, but now that I have a 6 month old demanding all of my time and attention, mastering a flaky puff pastry from scratch is just not a reasonable goal. I instead relied on the frozen food aisle for a seemingly fancy but ridiculously easy & QUICK treat.

Ingredients:

1 package Frozen Puff Pastry Sheets (Defrosted Overnight)
1 package Chocolate Baking Chips (I used Gihiraldi 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate)
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
{optional} pinch of sea salt/pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Unfold defrosted pastry sheets onto work area and cut into rectangles (6x3 is a good size).
Sprinkle chocolate on one side of rectangle.
If desired, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt/cinnamon on choclate chips. Fold over rectangle and place on baking sheet (with fold on bottom).
In a small ball whisk egg and tablespoon of water together. With pastry brush apply the egg wash on top of pastries awaiting baking.
Bake for approx 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for 8 to 10 minutes before serving.

And breakfast is SERVED!

Hello!

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:58:00 +0000

Hello from NYC on this dreary & rainy Monday! A little photo, color & type to brighten your day!

Casa and Cucina: Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:24:00 +0000

The past few weeks I've been doing quite a bit of baking. In fact, the majority of my posts on Vine have been 6 second baking videos! Baking a sweet treat while the baby is sleeping has been a fun way to relax a bit. I decided rather than only recording for Vine, I would document my baking process for a classic recipe like these irresitably soft peanut butter cookies with photos to share with you. There is nothing fancy or complicated about this recipe, but sometimes the best things are simple!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup shortening (butter flavored sticks are usually what i prefer for this)

1/4 cup butter (softened)

1 egg

1/2 creamy peanut butter

1 1/4 all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cream sugars, shortening, & butter. Mix in peanut butter and egg.
Stir in dry ingredients until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for approximately 2 hours.
Scoop ( I use this 1 Tablespoon Cookie Scoop) refrigerated dough onto cookie sheets.*
Roll dough into balls.

*I cover my cookie sheets with Silpats and have had great success with them. If you have not invested in Silpats, parchment paper will do just the trick. I highly recommend these methods especially if you are using non-stick baking sheets.

Dip fork into sugar and press dough balls creating a cross hatch design.

Bake cookies at 375 degrees for approximately 9 to 10 minutes (ovens vary).

Remove from cookie sheet, place on cooling rack.

Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:07:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day! from Melanie B. & Tim S. on Vimeo.
I made this video of Q for my mother for Mother's Day. It is a sweet vignette of what his day is like.

It of course is my first Mother's Day. Here is a picture of me with baby Q in the hospital back in December.

For Mother's Day, my husband gave me a locket with pictures of Q that he chose from my Instagram. I took a picture of Q holding the locket in his adorable little hand.

DIY: Knit Cowl

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

For the past three years I have been knitting pretty frequently. Prior to that I knew only the basics of knitting (my skills were rusty at best), but I saw a blog post with a beautiful hand knit cowl and thought "why don't I make that"! I started clicking away, and haven't looked back. Often my projects are a bit too ambitious, so I'll crave a selfish instant gratification project in between. Recently, I found a quick cowl that I found to be really interesting. I decided to knit it three times, each using a separate color of yarn. I truly am in love with the end result, and thought I should share it with you, in hope that you might try to make one yourself. The pattern, designed by spider woman knits, is free, so all you need to buy is one skein of bulky yarn (I used Quince & Co. Puffin), and a circular knitting needle (I used a size 13 addi Turbo Circular 16-inch (40cm) Knitting Needle ). I cast on 56 stitches (a bit more than the pattern called for because I was using slightly thinner yarn), joined in the round, and followed the pattern! Here are my three cowls:

goldfinch cowl

s m o k e c o w l

lipstick cowl

I think this project would make for an excellent gift! Happy Knitting!

Casa y Cucina: Coffee Toffee Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:15:00 +0000

My husband doesn’t especially like his birthday, cake, or sweets in general. Occasionally he will partake in some cookie, cupcake, and/or ice cream eating but it takes a special something to get him to say “Yes, please may I have another?.” He dislikes chocolate, but loves coffee, caramel, and toffee, so I set out to create the perfect birthday cake for him. I thought, why not coffee toffee cupcakes? Most of the coffee flavored cakes I’ve had have been chocolate cake with coffee flavoring, but given that he dislikes chocolate cake the recipe below requires just enough cocoa powder to cut the coffee flavoring! They were a huge hit with him and our friends and family, so I thought I would share the recipe. Making cake from scratch takes a bit of time and effort, but these are so worth it!

CUPCAKES (makes 2 dozen):
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup low-fat yogurt
1 package of Starbucks Via Caramel Instant Coffee
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 cups cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons of a second pack of Starbucks Via Caramel Instant Coffee
2 teaspoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
3/4 cup butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cup white sugar 4 eggs, yolks and whites separated

Heat the milk in the microwave. Stir in the instant coffee until well blended. Add the vanilla and set aside. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, soda, salt, the 2 teaspoons of the instant coffee, and cocoa. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar with the paddle attachment until creamed. It should be slightly fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time. Add 2/3 of the flour mixture and the yogurt. Add the remaining flour mixture and milk. Beat until smooth. Scrape all the batter out into a separate bowl and wash the mixer bowl thoroughly. Switch to the whisk attachment and beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. They will hold a stiff peak but they will still slip around a little in the bowl. Fold the egg whites into the cake batter gently, folding the batter around until well combined. Fill cupcake liners with batter and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

4.5 oz caramel candy – I purchased a small generic bag of vanilla caramel candy, but any caramel candy or caramel bits will do!

1 tsp Starbucks Via Caramel Instant Coffee

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Stir instant coffee into heavy cream to dissolve. Over medium-low heat, cook caramel candy and heavy cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan for 3-5 minutes until the caramel candies are completely melted, stirring constantly. Set aside to cool. Place the butter, sugar, milk, coffee, caramel and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. I frosted my cupcakes with a simple swirl and sprinkled Heath Toffee Bits on top for extra deliciousness.

Casa y Cucina: Valentine's Day Nutella Brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:34:00 +0000

I have been experimenting with the Vine app lately. Today I documented the mixing and baking of these quick and easy Valentine's day treats! You simply need 1 cup of Nutella, 2 eggs, 10 tablespoons of all purpose flour, and some Valentine's day M&Ms. The recipe makes about 10 brownies, and it can easily be halved if you desire a sweet treat for yourself and not an entire tray of brownies for a group. Simply combine & mix the Nutella, flour, and eggs. Pour into cupcake liners, sprinkle a few M&MS on top, and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Watch how it is done in 6 seconds or less on Vine (and follow me while you are at it.)

My Little Side Project: Quentin's Nursery

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:39:00 +0000

This morning, I posted photos and details of Quentin's nursery on Project Nursery. I found this site to be very helpful in planning Q's room. We have a smaller nursery with a large closet (thankfully). We tried to maximize the functionality of the space. We are hoping that this is a room that Q will be able to grow into and as he develops his own little personality, likes and dislikes we can change the theme of the room. For now it has a loose animal theme, with contemporary typographic prints I love, and has all of his toys and books easily accessible.

Full details can be found over at the Project Nursery Gallery.

Casa y Cucina: Front Door Makeover DIY Monogram Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:18:00 +0000

My husband and I recently bought a new apartment to accommodate our new family, so on top of caring for a sweet baby boy, I also have the task of decorating a new home! I have been moving at a snail's pace through everything, but decided it was appropriate to take down the Christmas wreath on our front door BEFORE the month of January was over. I opted to create my own monogram wreath in neutral hues so we could keep it up all year if we liked. Our finished wreath looks like this:

Materials Used:

12" foam extruded wreath form
Scissors
Hot glue + gun
Yarn
Felt
Ribbon

Monogram:
Letter
Acrylic paint
Paint brush
(Spray paint would work too, of course)

Optional Embellishments:
Buttons
Pins
Brooches
Twigs
The Possibilities are endless

I painted my letter with chocolate brown paint and allowed to dry.

I then began to wrap my wreath form with yarn. To begin, just tie a knot around the wreath-no glue is necessary! This is the most tedious mindless work, so watch TV or a movie.

Now it is time to create your felt flowers! I used lids from my kitchen to cut circles in my felt, and eyeballed cutting spirals. I created three types of felt flowers and used spare buttons to embellish.
The quickest and easiest of the three is the spiral rose flower. Take a large circle of felt and cut it into a spiral. Now roll up the spiral into a rose shape, gluing as you go.

The next type of flower I created was a poppy looking flower. I cut about 8 small circles of felt using a baby bottle lid as a guide. I cut slits into each of the circles so I could glue one side on top of the other to create a petal. I glued these petals on a larger felt circle, layering the petals as I went, to create a poppy flower. I glued a spare button into the center. A brooch, or beads would look nice here too!

I also created a ruffle flower, again using about eight small circles of felt this time not cut, but folded into fourths. I glued the folded pieces to a slightly larger circle of felt, until the circle looked like a full flower. I glued another button into the center, but this type of flower looks great without embellishments.

I then arranged my flowers and embellishments on my yarn covered wreath and affixed them with hot glue. I tied a large satin ribbon to the top of my wreath so I could hang on my front door!

Felt Flower Resources:
Poppy Flower
Roses & Ruffles

My Little Side Project: Introducing Baby Q

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:56:00 +0000

On December 5th we welcomed Quentin Michael into our family. He was 9 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches long! We couldn't be more thrilled with our guy.

My days have admittedly started running together as I have taken time off to enjoy him. Since his birth, I have celebrated Christmas, New Years, his one month birthday, and my 31st birthday, so this post is long over due!

Thank you all for the well wishes and also for your patience with my lack of posts. Regular posts will resume soon!

[photos by Lisa Viox]

My Little Side Project: 38 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Here I am at 38 weeks wearing a J.Crew cardigan, Banana Republic dress, and a Timex watch (with J.Crew wristband). The baby has grown quite big, so I thought this quote from my favorite children's book (now out-of-print) The Boy Who Fooled the Giant would be appropriate! The baby is so big in fact that my doctor has scheduled me for a c-section at 39 weeks. So my 40th week photo will be with my little man! That means this is it for my maternity chalkboard photos! It has been a fun journey. I've been lucky to have a very easy and uncomplicated pregnancy thus far. I can't wait to meet my little man!

To see how much my baby bump grew, check out my collage of chalkboard maternity photos below:

I'll be in the hospital for a few days and be busy being a mommy thereafter, so the blog will be on a bit of a hiatus. Please refer often to my holiday gift guide while you continue to do your holiday shopping- there are tons of good things on there for nearly everyone on your list! I hope to have new pictures of my guy up and posted once I get home and settled.

Holiday Gift Guide: 25 Gifts Under $25

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Holiday shopping can quickly get out of control, so this guide is designed to help you to get everyone crossed off your list without going over budget. This may be especially helpful if you're looking for a Secret Santa gift or some stocking stuffers!

{clockwise} Monogram Cheese Board with Spreader $22 @ C. Wonder; Chalkboard Spice Jars $10-12 @ Anthropologie; Letter Wine Stopper $22 @ C. Wonder; Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition $10 @ e.l.f.; Camp Socks $16.50 @ J.Crew; Zippo Hand Warmer $19.95 @ R.E.I.; Gigi Stud Earrings $24 @ Stella & Dot;

{top} Grey Tweed Tablet Case $24 @ TopMan; Chuck Klosterman's HYPERtheticals: 50 Questions for Insane Conversations $10.19 @ Amazon; Black Mid-Size Beanie $16 @ TopMan;

{middle} Sequin-Front Jersey Tank $19 @ Old Navy; Clustered Short Necklace @ Target; Printed Makeup Pouch $25 @ J. Crew;

{bottom} Salut 3 oz. flask $22 @ Izola; Set of 8 Stemless Wine glasses $19.95 @ Crate & Barrel; MineDesign Chalkboard Candle $25 @ Saks;

{top} Star Wars™ voice changer $19.96 @ Gap; Jungle Finger Puppets (Organic Cotton) $15 @ Giggle; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation $19.79 @ Amazon;

{middle} The Boys' Doodle Book: Amazing Pictures to Complete and Create $9.32 @ Amazon; International Arrivals 'Color Appeel' Crayon Sticks $10; The Fashion Coloring Book $8.96 @ Amazon;

{bottom} Little Adventures 'Super Hero' Cape & Mask (Toddler) $13.20 @ Nordstrom; Just Art Kit $18 @ Anthropologie; Girl's super skinny glitter belt @ J.Crew;

Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:18:00 +0000

My favorite people to shop for are the littlest ones! I have nieces and nephews ranging in age from 12 to 3 months, so I always try to take the approach gift giving by finding a unique and creative gift my little gift recipient will enjoy! Hopefully, this gift guide will help you (or Santa) with your lists this year!

Melissa & Doug Suspend Puzzle Game $16.90 @ Amazon. Think Jenga with a twist!

Animal Alphabet Wooden Puzzle $40 @ MOMA. This adorable puzzle is cleverly designed and will help the gift recipient learn the alphabet, numbers, and of course the names of the animals.

My-Mini Masterpiece Painting Kit $16 @ MOMA. Perfect for the future Picassos on your list.
LEGO Creationary Game (3844) $55.34 @ Amazon. This is essentially pictionary with LEGOS.

Furby $54 @ Toys 'R Us. The Furby craze is BACK- the latest installment of these oddly adorable creatures come in a variety of bright colors, and have gotten a bit of a performance upgrade! If you have a specific color in mind, shop now!

LittleBigPlanet Karting $59.96 @ Amazon. PlayStation 3 gamers will love the latest installment in this wildly addictive series. Any of the Little Big Planet games are great for kids (and adults too- I happen to be a HUGE fan!).

Heirloom Knitting and Sewing Kit $65 50 @ Treehouse Kid & Craft. I learned to knit and sew as a little girl, and was always a fan of these kits. It was only with the past 2 or 3 years that I took up knitting seriously. I think being introduced to these crafts in my youth allowed me to pursue more challenging projects in adulthood, so I think it is important to try to pass that on. Plus, with youtube tutorials our kiddos have knitting and sewing help at their fingertips if adults around them can't help!

Andiamo the Dog $52 @ Giggle. Who wouldn't fall instantly in love with this knit toy? He is quirky and charming and need of a new friend.
Oeuf baby lightning one-piece $96 @ J.Crew. Oeuf has some of the most adorable knitted kids items on the planet in the softest of yarns.
Jellycat 'Bashful Monkey' Stuffed Animal $56 @ Nordstrom. If you're looking for the softest of soft plush toy for a little one on your list, consider any of the plush toys made by Jellycat. They are all adorable and uber-soft!
Chunky Safari Lion; Chunky Safari Rhino; Chunky Safari Elephant Board books $5.99 each at Amazon.
Girls' glitter pursette in colorblock $39.50 @ J.Crew. What girl doesn't love a glittering bag to store all her essentials. Fill this with lip gloss, stickers, and hair bows for the perfect girly gift!
Make Your Own Robot Book $16.47 @ Amazon. This book has 15 robot templates and 3 DIY design sheets. The parts are interchangeable, great gift for a robot enthusist.
Top Secret Spy Kit $39 @ The Land of Nod. For the 007 2.0 on your list.
Triple Play 3-in-1 Table $169 @ The Land of Nod. For some Foosball, Air Hockey, & Ping Pong Tabletop fun!
Uppercase/Lowercase ABC Blocks $20 @ MOMA. The classic wooden alphabet blocks but with modern type & vivid colors!
Charley Harper Memory Game $10.17 @ Amazon. The classic memory/matching game gets a face lift with Charley Harper's delightful illustrations. Last year I was schooled in a game of memory by my 6 year old niece, & I doubt my skills have improved, but at least this game will be pretty to look at when I'm losing!
Let's Make Some Great Art $19.95 @ Anthropologie. With this Coloring/Activity book there is no excuse to be bored ever again!
Big Art Kit $38 @ Anthropologie. All kids love to color and create art, this set includes everything they need to get their creativity on.
Navy Pop Canvas Tiny TOMS Cordones $34 & Black Dot Tiny TOMS Classics $29; both @ TOMS. TOMS are are fantastic gift for ANYONE on your list, even the littlest guys. Better yet, for every pair purchased, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need! After all, 'Tis the season of giving.

Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Guys & Gals

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:20:00 +0000

Find the perfect gift for the guys & gals on your list with PBL's Holiday Gift Guide! (Maybe you'll even find a few things to treat yourself!)

Luxe Rocks Scarlett Bag $198 @ Juicy Couture;
Mini Letter Bracelet $185 @ Bauble Bar;
Asymmetrical Mini Letter Necklace- Two Letters $280 @ Bauble Bar;
Elizabeth & James heart intarsia pullover $295 @ Shopbop;
Kate Spade USB bow $50 @ Kate Spade;
Deborah Lippman Glitter Nail Polish in Across The Universe & Let's Go Crazy $18 each @ Bloomingdales;
Key Bangle $28 @ C. Wonder;
Glitterball Coin Purse $50 @ Kate Spade;
Movado 'Bold' Round Bracelet Watch $650 @ Nordstrom;
The sidewalk skimmer in glitter $118 @ Madewell;
Coach legacy ipad clutch $178;
Cashmere Purl-stitch snood $250 @ J. Crew;
Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum Spray $105 @ Sephora;
Chanel Les Pinceaux Essential Brush Set $225 @ Nordstrom;
Robinson Passport Holder $135 @ Tory Burch;
Grey Pop Cord TOMS @ $54;
Rebecca Minkoff Black Quilted Affair Bag $425;
Diptyque Boxed Set of Three Mini Candles $84 @ Barney's;
Serenity Small Stone Drops Earrings $34 @ Stella & Dot;
Kate: The Kate Moss Book $50 @ Amazon;

Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply Four-Pocket Motorcycle Jacket $185
Patagonia Men's Forage Sweater $179
The Dick Cavett Show - Hollywood Greats DVD $25.50
Edmund Vest by Onassis Clothing $103
Sebago Fairhaven boot $75 @ Dr. Jays
Woodford Reserve $40-45
Bespoken Skinny Wool Tie $135 @ Saks
Hudson Jeans Harper Slim Straight Fit in Smithfield $183 @ Bloomingdales
FIELD KNIT JASPÉ SHORT-SLEEVE HENLEY $39.50 @ J. Crew;
Rebecca Blanket $450 @ Club Monaco;
Solo Monk by Thelonious Monk CD $10 @ Amazon;
Beats by Dr. Dre 'Executive' High Definition Headphones $300 @ Nordstrom;
Wing Tip Blucher $478 @ Alden Shop;
Gucci Silver Dog Tag Necklace $380 @ Nordstrom;
Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Oliver Reed $10.40 @ Amazon;
Timex Brown Leather Easy Reader Watch $54 @ Urban Outfitters;
VELVETMEN Addison Cashmere Beanie $80 @ Singer 22;
Photojojo Phone Lens Series $49 for Telephoto, Wide Angle, & Fish Eye lens
These Are Things Map Art
Lomokino Super 35mm Movie Maker $99 @ Urban Outfitters;

Inside Chanel + Marilyn Monroe

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:03:00 +0000

In the latest Inside Chanel video installment Chanel has released never-before-seen images of Marilyn Monroe and audio of her famously professing her love for Chanel No. 5. My obsession with her (and Chanel) continues....

Watch Inside Chanel's Chapter 1 video below:

My little side project: 36 weeks + Pregnancy Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:36:00 +0000

36 Weeks- wearing a polka dot maternity dress given to me by my MIL

Final preparations are underway. We have been overwhelmed with weekly doctors appointments, packing, moving, baby prep classes, and making sure we have everything we need to take care of our guy once he arrives. I feel really good and have had no complications or swelling. Despite being overwhelmed by a seemingly endless to-do list, I am getting more excited to meet my little man. Below are a few things that have helped me get through this pregnancy!

Pregnancy Essentials

Snoogle Total Body Pillow + Chic Cover : This maternity body pillow helps me sleep through the night, and lets be honest I need to get all the sleep I can NOW before the baby arrives!
Liz Lange Basic Maternity Tanks -These tanks are super soft and long and affordable so I could stock up on a variety of colors. Wear them under a cardigan for day, to yoga class, the grocery store, or to bed!
Motherhood Maternity Leggings: There are so many different styles of maternity leggings, but these were my favorite. They were affordable, comfortable, and look great under dresses and tucked into boots.
Palmers Skin Therapy Oil - I was a big fan of this oil prior to being pregnant, but I have been practically bathing in this oil daily to help prevent stretch marks. I plan to continue post baby as well.
Water: Increasing water intake during pregnancy is something my doctor cannot stress enough. I try to drink 2 liters a day.
Fruit-especially Bananas: I have always suffered from "charlie horses" at night, since I was young, but during pregnancy especially late pregnancy these are very common. By drinking a lot of water and upping the potassium rich banana intake I haven't experienced them nearly as often.
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder: For the duration of my pregnancy, taking good care of my skin has been a priority. As a result, I have used a lighter hand with my makeup and have favored Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder as a foundation to even out my skintone.
Eye catching nail polish by butter LONDON: So at home pedicures went out the window a few weeks ago, but that hasn't stopped me from having fun with my manis!
Open Cardigans: Buttons aren't exactly your friend during pregnancy, thus the open faced cardigan is a MUST. I really love the drape of this one. The fact that is reversible makes it all the more versatile. Of course, this item doesn't have to be maternity to do the trick, you can find one you love almost anywhere.
BellaBand Organic: These bands saved me boatloads of money during my pregnancy, as I was able to wear my jeans and cords with the help of these bands right up into my third trimester. The fact that I avoided shelling out $200+ for designer maternity denim and could wear my favorite J.Brand jeans instead, made my bank account that much fuller for all my baby related expenses.

Ban.do Fall/Holiday Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:37:00 +0000

I am completely smitten with Ban.do's sparkling Fall/Holiday collection. I can't wait to adorn myself with these glittering accessories!

{clockwise} Sparkle & Shine Bobbi Set $25; Glitter Bow Shoe Clips $25; Crystal Crush Bobbi $25; Flash Bobbi Set $10; all @ ban.do

{clockwise} Big Shot Sparkle Headband $25; Boom Boom Flower Comb $65; Ban.do Bowtie $25; Glitterati Twist Scarf $25; all @ ban.do

{clockwise} Pom Pom Flower $15; Sequin Scarf $45; Cosmic Collar $75; Color Block Shoe Clips $25; all @ ban.do

{clockwise} drinking the stars comb $55; happy duo headband set $25; smooch brooch $30; smooch bobbi $30; all @ ban.do

My Little Side Project: 34 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:36:00 +0000

Cardigan: Gap, Scarf: Gap, Dress: Urban Outfitters, Watch: J.Crew

Happy Halloween! We survived Hurricane Sandy here in NYC and have power, cable, and water--rare commodities in this city right now. We feel incredibly lucky. My heart goes out to all of those who haven't been so lucky with Sandy.

My Little Side Project: Weeks 31-32

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:43:00 +0000

With the Dad-to-be at 31 weeks at my baby shower: Wearing- Jessica Simpson Convertible Sleeve High-low Hem Maternity Tunic, Maternity Leggings, and Chinese Laundry boots. 32 weeks: Wearing-Tommy Hilfiger sweater dress (similar); Maternity Leggings; and Tory Burch Reva flats.

Last week my mother flew into New York to attend my baby shower hosted by my mother-in-law. My husband dropped us off and quickly left to watch football at his brother's house, but I made sure to get a quick picture with the Dad-to-be before the shower got crazy. I am 31 weeks and a few days in the picture with him! In my 32 weeks chalkboard photo I tried to replicate the elephant design from the baby shower invitation (more on that below), so there is a bit of continuity with the shower theme.
The shower was a success. I am so thankful that our baby has so many friends and family who already adore him. My shower invitations (and matching thank you cards) were designed by Alethea and Ruth and printed by Minted. The invites were mailed with matching inserts asking guests to bring a book in lieu of a card to start our baby's library. We received so many wonderful books, including a few instant favorites: May We Sleep Here Tonight; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; & Harry the Dirty Dog. I'll be reading bedtime stories to my little guy before long! Until then, I have so much to do, including organzing the child's (extensive) wardrobe and writing an endless sea of thank yous.

M.A.C. for Marilyn Monroe Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:33:00 +0000

After the lipsticks and blushes from M.A.C.'s Marilyn Monroe collection sold out online, I made it my mission to stop in to visit the M.A.C. counter at Saks to pick up a few things from the collection. I didn't want to go overboard solely because of the packaging, so I kept my haul under $100.

MAC for Marilyn Monroe Mini Haul: Legendary blush, Love Goddess lipstick, Deeply Adored lipstick, and Fascinating Eye Kohl

M.A.C. for Marilyn packaging: I adore the kiss image on the inner lids

M.A.C. for Marilyn packaging

Love Goddess Lipstick, Deeply Adored Lipstick, Legendary Blush, and Fascinating Eye Kohl all from M.A.C.'s Marilyn Monroe collection

By the time I arrived at Saks (an hour after opening on launch day) The Perfect Cheek blush was already sold out. I probably would have purchased this even though it looks really similar to M.A.C.'s Blooming (from the Cult of Cherry collection) in the pan, but I took it as a sign that it wasn't meant to be and opted not to visit another counter or store in search of it. Instead, I remained satisfied in purchasing the Legendary blush instead, which is a a powdery light pinky coral.

M.A.C.'s limited edition Legendary Blush

For a lighter blush I was really impressed with the pigmentation, it shows up on my skin (I am a NW 20 this time of year for reference) exactly as it appears in the pan. I found it to be very flattering when blended on the cheeks giving a nice subtle glow to my cheeks. I could see myself wearing this shade quite a lot.

M.A.C.'s Fascinating Eye Kohl (permanent)

I picked up the white eye kohl in fascinating, which is a part of M.A.C.'s permanent range. White eyeliner is essential for me, and this is one of the best options out there to make your eyes pop. It goes on so smooth.

M.A.C. for Marilyn limited edition lipsticks in Love Goddess and Deeply Adored

The lipsticks were really what drew me to the collection. I skipped Pure Zen and Scarlett Ibis because A) they were re-promotes and B) I have similar shades already in my collection. I skipped Charmed I'm Sure because I own Ruby Woo, Heartless (from Disney's Venomous Villains collection), and also Revlon's Certainly Red. I'm not sure how many more true red lipsticks a girl like me needs! Also, Heartless is hands down my favorite red M.A.C. lipstick I've ever tried. I get so many compliments when I wear it, it lasts FOREVER, and doesn't dry out my lips. Sure, do I wish that shade had Marilyn Monore on it instead of Cruella de vil? Why of course, but I ruled out Charmed I'm Sure based on these facts. I purchased up Love Goddess a gorgeous reddish pink and Deeply Adored, because this darker brick red seemed to be perfect for fall and is much different from the reds I already own.

M.A.C. 's limited edition lipstick in Love Goddess

M.A.C.'s limited edition lipstick in Deeply Adored

M.A.C.'s Marilyn Monroe Collection Haul Swatches: Fascinating Eye Kohl, Love Goddess Lipstick, Deeply Adored Lipstick, Legendary Blush

As for my reasoning for skipping on the other limited edition items in the Marilyn collection: I wasn't interested in the beauty powder because I have about a thousand highlighting blushes that I rarely use already. The nail polishes looked lovely, but I rarely wear red (or gold for that matter) on my nails, so I found the shades to be a bit of a waste on me. The eyeshadows seemed very dupeable to me, and I don't typically care to purchase the extra large shadows because I end up depotting limited edition shades to put in my palettes. Not only does this make my makeup a hell of a lot more organized, but I can travel with a bizzillion shades of eyeshadow if I so choose. I plan on using the shades I already own to get the Marilyn looks, namely Crystal Avalanche (dupe for How to Marry), Dazzlelight (close dupe for Preferred Blonde), and my countless bluish gray and silver eyeshadows.

P.S. Lip and face swatches will be added to this post very soon!

My Little Side Project: Weeks 28- 30

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:06:00 +0000

Week 28: Zara blazer, Club Monaco Necklace, Anthropologie tank top, H&M skirt
Week 30: Liz Lange for Target Maternity Dress

Now that I am a couple weeks into my third trimester I'm starting to feel very pregnant. The fall weather and my growing bump forced me to go shopping for more maternity clothes. I love the 57th street Destination Maternity shop. Not only is it really close to my office, but the staff is really helpful and attentive, and I've been able to outfit myself with a new wardrobe without breaking my bank. This is important, because it is one less thing I have to stress about, and I am starting to feel overwhelmed with the countless things I have yet to do and get ready! I know it all will be worth it in the end when I meet my 'lil guy.

NARS Andy Warhol Pop Collection + Holiday Color Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:13:00 +0000

The NARS Andy Warhol collection is quite extensive. If you love color, and dramatic eyes this will definitely be something to put on the holiday wish list. As mentioned earlier on the blog, the collection will be released in two parts beginning with the Sephora exclusives on October 1st. The rest of the collection will be released on November 1st, so start saving now!

Eyeshadow Palettes (Limited Edition) $55:

Self Potrait 1 Black, bright periwinkle blue, vibrant green;
Self Potrait 2 Black, white, silver; Self Potrait 3 Dark brown with shimmer overspray, rose pink, and heather blue

Available November 1st @ exclusively at Department and Specialty stores, NARS Flagship Boutiques, and on narscosmetics.com

Gift Sets:

Silver Factory Gift Set $200 (Available Nov 1st at select Dept & Specialty Stores): Silver Factory Multiple- Aluminum; Shadows Trio Eyeshadow: Aluminum, bright deep purple, matte black; Chelsea Girls Pure Matte Lipstick Innocent, flesh-toned beige ; Desire Blush Delicate bright pink ; Via Veneto Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner Black ; #13 Brush Large Domed Eyeshadow Brush ; #8 Brush Blush

Beautiful Darling Gift Set $49 (Available Nov 1st @ narscosmetics.com): Candy Darling Nail Polish Electric pink; Femme Fatale Duo Eyeshadow Sheer white shimmer / fresh mint green; Woman in Revolt Larger Than Life Lipgloss Hot pink

Edie Gift Set $75 (Available Nov 1st @ narscosmetics.com): Film Star Pure Matte Lipstick 60s nude pink; Edie Eyeshadow Cream with a little bit of shimmer; Carpates Eyeliner Stylo Black; Deep Throat/Amour Blush Duo Shimmering sheer peach / matte peachy pink;
Photo Booth Nail Polish Gift Set $35 (Available Nov 1st @ narscosmetics.com): Silver Factory Aluminum; Chelsea Girls Innocent, flesh-toned beige; Soup Can Perfect red; Back Room Black

NARS Andy Warhol Holiday Color Collection (Available beginning Oct 1st at Sephora):

Nail Polish $18: Back Room- Black; New York Dolls- Purple; Superstar- Teal; 15 Minutes- Lemon yellow; TV Party- Vivid orange; Larger Than Life Lip Gloss $26: Penny Arcade- Raspberry; International Velvet- Pink glace; Viva- Rich rose; Candy Says- Shimmering strawberry pink; Hollywoodlawn- Bright orange-red;
Highlighting Blush $28: Satellite of Love-Sparkling gold sand; Soft Touch Shadow Pencils $24: Empire- Black; Trash-Vivid purple; Silver Factory- Aluminum;Heat- Teal

Larger Than Life LongWear Eyeliner $23: 47th Street- Black with silver shimmer

NARS & Andy Warhol Pop Collection Sephora Exclusives

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Sweeney) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:07:00 +0000

NARS Cosmetics will be launching a limited edition Andy Warhol Pop collection for Holiday 2012. The first in the series will be available exclusively at Sephora beginning October 1st. The second part of the collection will be launched on November 1st and will be available at NARS counters and online. The Sephora exclusives feature a cheek and eye palette inspired by Debbie Harry, eyeshadow palettes with pop art flower designs, a set of five lip glosses packaced in a soup can continer, and a set including a silver illuminator, lip gloss, and purple nail polish.

Debbie harry Eye & Cheek Palette $65: Eyeshadow Shades: White shimmer, sparkling turquoise, starry black, & twinkling purple. Blush Shades: Brilliant cream, shimmering pink champagne

Eyeshadow Palette $55: Flowers 2- White and heather blue against a shimmering lavender grey background and black overspray; Flowers 1- White, brown rose, dark lavender, and gold against a shimmering lavender grey background and black overspray FLOWERS; Flowers 3- White, pink champagne, and dark brown against a shimmering lavender grey background and black overspray

Kiss Gift Set $55: Silver Factory-Aluminum, Drella- Ultra-sheer hot pink, Chelsea Girls Innocent- flesh-toned beige, Blue Movie- Pink sherbet, Myths- Rosy pink;
Walk on the Wild Side Gift Set $39: Silver Factory Illuminator- Aluminum It, Nail Polish- Black violet; Orgasm Larger Than Life Lipgloss- Peachy pink with golden shimmer

The above pictured products from Nars Andy Warhol Pop Collection will be available beginning on October 1st at Sephora.com