come and get it

I'm gonna talk about this video for a second alright? I just watched it for the first time today at work actually. It was a slow morning and we didn't really feel like swiffering or finishing replen so we went to Starbucks to get protein boxes then sat in the office to gossip, giggle, and poke around on Youtube while waiting for the mall to open. 

So obviously if you have eyes you can see that Selena is gorgeous. But the whole video was done so well, so artfully. The colors were were liquid, vivid, even sensual in a way. The scenery was appropriately exotic and the transitions between frames were as velvety smooth as Selena's voice. 

I'd also like to point out that I very much appreciate Selena's take on sexiness. Sultry and primal are the two words that come to mind while watching this video. She is very sophisticated and glamorous in a way that feels acceptably provocative. She isn't twerking around in latex lingerie making a hot ratchet mess of herself, because that just isn't her thing. (Disclaiming: I give props to Miley for her confidence and zero fs given attitude. She got what she wanted- attention. So, girl power.)  Instead, Selena is rolling around in a field of lavender laced up in a silk chiffon corset and smizing into the camera with soaking wet hair before plunging beneath the surface of a mystical teal blue spring. You wanna talk about sexy? I'd say Selena nailed it. Please enjoy the video below. 

miss bardot

Comme tout le monde, j'adore Brigitte. The idea for this collage came to me while watching some Lisa Eldridge videos. She's a really cool makeup artist with a sensational British accent. Watch the video below for a how-to on the classic cat eyed, pink-lipped Bardot look.  

pillow lists: dreamy things

My high school art teacher used to have us make these things called pillow lists. As the story goes, they were invented in China I think it was. Girls used to write lists of things they liked and put them under their pillows at night. Tamcon had as do them in order to get ideas for projects. I'm not so sure I got many projects out of it, but they sure are fun to make. I'm a little sick and haven't gotten out of bed much today, so I made a 'dreamy things' list.

1. The other-wordly and sweetly oneiric notes of songs from The xx have been putting me to sleep this past week since Ry has been gone. 

2. Lavender macarons will always be a favorite of mine.

3. Yogi tea Skin Detox blend is a twice daily for me.

4. Aura Cacia Lavender Harvest room mist leaves the air with a divine sleepy scent. 

5. H&M pjs. I like mine supersoft and barely there. 

6. Silk stockings. I've had a lingerie obsession since about the age of 17. I used to go into my mothers armoir and steal her thigh highs and lacy bras from when she was my age and wear them without her knowing. I still have a lot of it. 

7. Lipsmackers. Remember these from kindergarden? I never got rid of my collection.

8. Voluspa French Cade Lavender candle. As Erin from Anthro would say, "It smells like a frickin man". Yum.

9. Intimately Free People bra.

10. Minuit Douze Vismara Shorts. Precious and femme. Just how I like my sleep shorts. 

11. Sleep mask. 

12. Caudalíe VinoPure Purifying Mask. Smells like sweet grapes and olives.

13. Lollia Relax Lavender and Honey perfume. My new fragrance. 

14. Chantal Thomass Ensens' Moi Bikini. My favorite brand of French lingerie. 

15. Kiehl's Creme de Corps body cream. Literally the greatest moisturizer on the planet. Ry says I have the softest skin at SCAD (lol). This is why. 

Sweet dreams~

ink me

 various images from my tattoo folder gathered from Pinterest and Tumblr

It's tattoo time. I'm gonna do Klimt's The Kiss for my first, since it's my favorite painting and holds a lot of meaning for me. I love how to girl is absolutely surrendering to her lover, giving herself fully to him and his embrace. I am much like her. 

I'll get a bunch more eventually; ideas are still coming to me. I definitely want something with lots of flowers and a few butterflies maybe. Make my hands or an arm like a living garden or something. Like the garden in Song of Songs. I am my love's and my love is mine; he browses among the lilies.

aztec healing clay

bee ring: ShopSCAD, nail polish: Nails Inc Leather in Noho, tank: 21Men

I found this clay powder under my sink today and forgot that I had bought it like a hundred years ago at the Vitamin Shoppe. It kinda has this cool pulsating effect, and it turns my face the color of my bathroom which is always entertaining. Wanna mix some up yourself? Here's how:

Ingredients:
-2 Tbsp Indian Healing Bentonite Clay
-2 Tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix together till all the clay gets wet. Add a little more vinegar if needed. Smear on face. You'll start to feel it dry; don't leave it on for more than ten minutes. Do five if you have super sensitive skin. To take it off, soak a washcloth in hot water and hold it to your face til it melts off. When it's all gone, moisturise with coconut oil.

beach face

1. Smith's Rosebud Salve- I like that it comes in a tube now.
2. L'Oreal True Match- very fluid, buildable, natural looking.
3. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes- carbon black is the way to go.
4. Nars Laguna- perfect bronzer. matte and not at all sparkly.
5. Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel- always. 

coconutty

I won't name them all because it would take too long, and because I probably don't even know them all. But these are a few ways I use coconuts most every day. The oil I use is 365 raw, organic, and unrefined.

1. Detoxifying Oil Pull- take a spoonful of raw organic unrefined coconut oil and put it in your mouth. Pull it through your teeth just like you would with any mouthwash. Swish around for fiveish minutes then spit. This works best on an empty stomach, and it rids your body of toxins.

2. Teeth Whitener- follow steps above. Detox and a whitening treatment in one- no chemicals!

3. Facial Moisturizer- use a small amount of oil on your face after you cleanse for hydration that lasts all day.

4. Body Moisturizer- you can put the oil all over your body too. Take note; the more you slather on, the longer it takes to absorb.

5. Leave in Conditioner for Hair- I like to put a tiny blob of oil in the ends of my hair after I wash it and comb it out. It really helps with split ends. If you have curly or wavy hair, it enhances the curls and gives them some texture.

6. Shaving Cream- yep. You can even shave with it.

7. Makeup Remover- smear two blobs of oil right on your eyelids. Rub around for a bit then gently wipe with cotton pads. It gets off all the mascara and everything.

8. Bug Bite Cream- if you get bit by mosquitos, coconut oil is a great anti-itch solution.

9. Tanning Oil- free of parabens, mineral oil, dyes, and fragrances; coconut oil is the best oil to tan your skin with. (Be sure to practice safe sun care, SPF is your friend.)

10. Skin Clearing Treatment- I'm not crazy I promise. Putting this oil on your face is GREAT! Coconut oil is the perfect way to treat breakouts because not only do the lauric, caprylic, and capric acids kill the infection that causes the acne in the first place, but it strengthens the skin making it stronger and less prone to future infections. Its vitamins K and E fade scarring and quench dryness. It has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Most importantly, unlike the harsh "medicines" you buy at the drugstore, coconut oil soothes, treats, and clears acne without stripping and drying out skin with awful evil chemicals.

11. Dairy Free Cooking- I like to sautée vegetables or chicken in coconut oil instead of butter.

12. Snack Time- Lately I've been mixing a spoon of coconut oil with a cocoa, chia, and flax seed blend. It tastes like a frickin truffle and keeps you full for hours.

13. Beverage- coconut water is one of my favorite things to drink. VitaCoco and Naked make a bunch of really great flavors like peach mango and lychee. It's very hydrating.

As you can see, coconuts are very awesome.

getting lippy

With the mercury rising this month, the last thing you need is a lipstick drying out your pout. And sticky lipgloss at the beach? No thanks. I've rounded up a few of my fave balms for the hotter days to come so here they are:

1. Caudalíe Lip Conditioner- all natural and smoothes with essential oils
2. Dior Addict Lip Glow- magically adjusts to your perfect tone of pink
3. Carmex Lime- reminds me of college cause it's always in Will's pocket
4. Burt's Bees- a minty all time favorite since '05
5. Kiehl's Lip Balm #1- a simple clear jelly
6. Josie Maran Argan Gloss- liquid gold, and not at all sticky
7. Smith's Rosebud Salve- another cult classic
8. Rêve de Miel- best in the world, tastes like honey
9. Josie Maran Argan Balm- smells sweet and feels refreshing

caudalíe

(l to r) lip balm, beauty elixir, and purifying mask

These are three of my favorite Caudalíe products. I picked them up at a Bordelaise pharmacie this summer, and lately I've been wishing American drugstores would carry such magical liquids. Yet alas, we must make do with whatever paraben infested skin care items CVS and Walgreens deem acceptable to sell. Whatever I'm digressing. 

The lip balm and the mask are super, but the beauty elixir is beyond words and worth every euro (or dollar if you get it here at Sephora). It smells a bit like bitter orange peel but is also sweet because of the mint. Essence of rose and sharp rosemary are also present. Overall it is a very refreshing experience, splashing this mystical juice onto your face. It was a sad day when I squirted the last few drops from its etched glass bottle.