Life Saver.

My work hours are ridiculous and sometimes I am less than motivated to try and not look like an ogre. I can barely navigate through my closet in my zombie-like state, and make-up? Forget about it. Well sometimes you need to look like a human, and this little ditty will do the trick. Bobbi Brown's Nude Shimmer Brick is essential to my morning routine, and may have saved my job several times (kidding, you know I'm a fabulous employee). My friend Jackie got this for me a year ago for my birthday, and I've barely put a dent in it, despite using it every day. Just a quick swipe with your fingers and you look brighter, more awake and put together. This compact does it all....it can be used as eyeshadow, a highlighter, or dewy shimmer in leiu of bronzer....which can be a bit much in the morning work hours. If you don't own this, you have no idea what you are missing. Ladies, stop what you are doing and buy this NOW.

City Pride.

Over the past few days, St. Louis hosted the 2009 All-Star game. For a city that lives and breathes baseball...this was a huge honor and chance for us to really show off our city. I think St. Louis more than succeeded....the events preceding, during and after the game/home run derby were all fantastic. For me the best part wasn't the celebrity infested parties or the 24/7 baseball coverage....no, for me it was all about a 3 minute video montage played during the opening ceremony of the All Star Game. This video was a compilation of US Presidents (Obama, the Bushes, Clinton, Carter....) honoring Heroes Among Us. It was very inspiring and kept focus on the importance of charity in every-day life.

So overall......well done, St. Louis. Way to show the country what your workin with.

Epidemic Ended.

Friends, Fashion Famine 2K9 has officially ended. After basically blowing my entire life savings at Anthropologie today, I would say I'm set for a while. I could honestly spend hours in that store. I re-did my bedroom at my parents house last summer and got all my bedding there. Moral of that story...I had to be restrained before I purchased another $80 decorative pillow. No wonder why my parents gave me the boot soon after..... I kid, I kid. Robin and Tony would never kick me out but I'm 90% sure they threw a party when I started paying my own bills. Anyways, that place makes me insane in the membrane. The dresses, headpieces, comforters, candles.....everything there is perfection and I need it now. I find it ironic that I'm reading a book that is supposed to help me channel my inner minimalist and instead I throw down mad ched for some peasant tops and sundresses. But whatever I've never been happier. I'm seriously counting down the minutes until I can unveil my fab finds ....ugh I cannot wait to go out this weekend!

M is For...

Meditation. Currently reading Eat, Pray, Love and totally inspired to take up meditation. Only problem...I'm not really a Yogi....I think to get in a real workout you must be running and sweating like a swine therefore I never really got into it. But I have slowly begun to meditate before going to bed instead of watching TV, and honestly I've never slept better. Instead of doing traditional techniques, I have made a sort of hybrid meditation based on several things I have read and advice I have gotten from people I know who do it. My mantra is the basic Ham-sa (pronounced hahhm- sa) and I sync these words with my breathing as I'm laying down. Ham on the inhale, sa on the exhale. I start from my head and imagine going down my entire body doing while mentally reciting the mantra. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes and after I'm done I somehow drift off into a deep and peaceful sleep where I have the wildest dreams....trust, these are so out there. But I wake up refreshed. I know these practices are technically not supposed to be used for sleep, but to ignite a religious moment with God. But I'm not Buddhist, and this Italian Catholic princess has found herself a new bedtime ritual. Try it tonight, it honestly works.

*Ham-sa translated means I am That.....how literal and deep is that?

Artsy Fartsy.

Every year in the Metro East we have this fantastic fair called Art on the Square where acclaimed artists from all over the world come to sell their pieces. This is something I look forward to every year. I have always wished that I could paint, sculpt or draw....but lets keep it real. The most artistic thing I've ever done is bedazzle my cell phone freshman year of college. Stop judging it was the shiz back then. Anyways, while crusing the fair I found the most amazing prints by Q Jiang, who besides being an artist is also a teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago. The paintings are originals and done in the Sumi-e form. Derived from China, this Japanese process of simplicity. The painting form involves meditation and well being and requires the artist to have peace of mind in order to achieve the perfect strokes. After talking with the artist and choosing my prints (which are Cherry Blossoms blooming in spring) I got the framed and promplty hung them in my room. They have been a form of inspiration for me....not only do they remind me to stay centered, but also that as a person I need to be constantly changing and evolving.

God Bless It.

I Love America. Really I do. Europe is great....its chic, cultured and classy. But I love me some America. I love barbeque, football, skyscrapers and being loud. I love democracy, peanut butter, Target, TIVO, Taco Bell and everything else that makes this country the grand ol' U S of A.
Yes, we are obese over-consumers.
Yes, 90% of the world hates us....but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

In honor of our great nation, this weekend I will be wearing red, white and blue, drinking copious amounts of booze, watching strangers blow shit up and being completely obnoxious as only Americans can be.

BBQ pork is optional.

Girl Crush.

I have been crushing really hard on Blake Lively's style lately. Every time I pick up a magazine, I see a pic of some fantastic outfit she is rocking. That hot pink dress is a must have for my trip to Miami! She has totally been turning it out and I am officially a fan....maybe now I will start watching Gossip Girl like everyone else on the planet.

*Pics from fadedyouthblog.com