Get the Look in Half The Time

I absolutely dread doing my hair in the morning before work. I have long thick hair and it takes forever to dry.  And I usually have to turn to the straightener as my styling choice due to time constraints.  When I find that I have a little more time in the morning, I will use my thick barrel curling iron for some volume and a much needed change in hair style.  Recently I purchased The Bombshell by Sultra and I haven’t used my curling iron since.  The Bombshell takes half the time to curl my hair and gives me the most perfect waves. Don’t let the price tag deter you…it’s worth it!

~Jeanne

The Bombshell by Sultra (Sephora, $130)



Although we didn’t need confirmation about how awesome it is to have a sister, The New York Times recently published an essay titled “Why Sisterly Chats Make People Happier.” 

~Ann and Jeanne

A Festive Choice

Denis, Jeanne, Patrick, their respective significant others, and I are hitting South Beach for New Year's Eve this year!  Although it is more than two months away, I don't think it is too early to start planning what to wear, especially since most stores are stocking holiday party dresses already.  If my bank account weren't forcing me to wear something already in my closet, I would be wearing this dress, which I think perfectly captures the New Year's spirit:

~Ann

ABS-Sequined One Shoulder Dress (Saks Fifth Avenue, $390) 



Tell Me About It...

Well Fall is in full swing out in the Mid Atlantic -- the leaves are already changing.  I have been wearing "William Tell Me About OPI" by OPI for two weeks and have gotten numerous compliments.  Love it.  It’s part of the Fall/Winter 2010 Swiss Collection. The OPI website doesn't do it justice.

~Ann



William Tell Me About OPI (OPI)



Fall Colors

Out here on the west coast we enjoy cooler temperatures for a day or two and then it’s back to warmer weather.  It’s a constant battle with my wardrobe.  While my mind is telling me to break out everything fall, when I step outside I'm quickly reminded that I better stick to short sleeves and flip flops for just a bit longer. If the weather won’t cooperate by giving me cooler temps, one way I can enjoy fall is through my nail polish selection. 

I have about two more months before I start wearing the dark hues of winter, so I’ve been looking for a color that is the perfect transition into fall.  I found what I was looking for with The Sephora by OPI Nail Polish in Already Famous.  It’s a sheer silver and champagne base with a perfect blend of glitter.  At first it’s goes on fairly light, so I recommend putting on at least two coats.  Shown below as part of the Rocker Chic Mini Collection, Already Famous (third from the left) can also be purchased by itself for $9.

~Jeanne



Rocker Chic Mini Collection (Sephora, $18)

 

Autumn Treats

As the temperature outside starts to cool, my taste buds have been craving just about anything with a little fall flavor.  While I’m not one to really enjoy cooking, I do like to try new recipes every now and then and there is something about this time of year that makes me want to spend more time in the kitchen than I normally do.  This weekend I made pumpkin gingerbread muffins from scratch (click here for recipe).  The recipe was fairly easy and surprisingly I had most of the ingredients already in my pantry.  I topped some of the muffins with cream cheese frosting and left the others plain…either way they were delicious. Not only did they taste great, but the aroma circulating through my house was delightful.

~Jeanne    

Satisfaction Guaranteed

I’m a strong believer in customer service and lately I’ve noticed that my patronage to certain businesses is often overlooked. When it comes to retail stores, restaurants, airlines or any other type of business, if I’m not completely satisfied with the way I’m treated, I will take my business elsewhere.  Just ask Hollywood Video…

Yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised by the service I received at Nordstrom.  Back in February I had purchased a black sweater that I absolutely loved.  When I find something I really like, I tend to buy it in several colors as was the case with this sweater. Unfortunately, even though I followed the care instructions closely, all three sweaters started to shrink.  They had shrunk so much that there was no way I could continue wearing them (without looking like I had borrowed something out of a little girl’s closet).  I had heard that Nordstrom was pretty good when it comes to returns, so I decided to try my luck.  Only thing is, I had purchased each sweater separately and I only had one receipt. But I decided to give it a try anyway.  So I headed to Nordstrom Customer Service and explained my sweater issue with the lady.  And ta-da…sweaters returned, no questions asked!  The customer service I received at Nordstrom definitely impressed me in a way that I’ll never forget.  They’ve officially earned a spot on my Favorite Retailers List.

~Jeanne