Can I have this room? I'm loving deep purple shades lately (probably because it's one of my wedding colors) and this room combines so much of what I love when it comes to style.

I found this picture on one of my new fave style reads, Elements of Style Blog. I love the damask pattern on the curtains and rug that add a feel of the vintage to offset the very clean and modern feel of the rich purple upholstery on the chairs and the gray walls. Notice how the oh-so-yummy chandelier adds glamour to the whole thing! I love it.

Let's Talk Jewelry

These days, aside from your precious stones (gems and diamonds), there is very little that is "real." This is not to say we're wearing costume jewelry, but we are wearing more disposable trends. These styles are made from lesser quality metals, follow trends of the season, and rarely remain in your taste palette for longer than a year. For this reason, don't feel bad about buying jewelry that may tarnish or break easily.

Forever21, Target, and many other "bargain" stores offer a good variety of this type of jewelry for less that $10 a piece that you might just find to fit your fancy. I recently purchased this.

It incorporates my random recent obsession with bird and flower charms, fondness for anything with layers of "dangling" things, and a move from preferring silver to gold. I'm noticing a lot of layered jewelry including mixed colors and textures, varying between metals and even pearls.
I'm a big fan of the vintage look of the jewelry I'm seeing in stores lately. What do they go with? Anything, really. You don't have to feel like these necklaces will only go with a ruffled, empire-waisted blouse and skirt. Pair it with pearl stud earrings, a feminine t-shirt, and jeans. It's all about balance. Just beware of wearing a statement necklace like this with a pair of dramatic earrings or a neckline that speaks for itself.

She's Alive!!!

After my last entry, I came down with a pretty bad cold/flu. I wasn't able to prevent it from coming on, but I'd like to think this is the quickest progression of symptoms I've experienced, and it just may have been my 4-pronged approach. Check it out.

My first line of defense was continued and high dosages of Vitamin C. If you see my last post, I vouch very strongly for Emergen-C. I took at least 2 shots of that every day.

Then, I took a day off of work to get some good old sleep. I've learned that fighting it off and just going about your day isn't always the best medicine. Sleep does wonders, and you may just need a day to let your body recoup. So I slept about 16 hours that second day. :)

Second, I was RELIGIOUS about taking my meds. I'm notorious for NOT taking meds, so I made it a point to take both nighttime and daytime meds as directed. Then... there's this...
Yes. It's a neti pot. And please, don't get me wrong. I do not LIKE this. I don't. But, gosh darn it, it works. Basically, your sinuses and nasal passages are all connected. When you're congested or have post nasal drip, there's bacteria backed up in there. The neti pot is used to flush it all out. You use a saline solution, put the spout in one nostril, and it flushes through and comes out the other nostril. Gross. I know. But, gosh darn it, it works. Today, I woke up with NO CONGESTION after 2 days of not being able to breathe. I'm still a little congested (standing up really brings that congestion back), but I swear I never expected it to subside so quickly.

Quick. Do it now!

As I feel my own cold symptoms creeping up on me, this one will be a more general health tip. A friend of mine works for a food product packaging company, and he gave me a box of orange-flavored Emergen-C one day, and I've been a believer since the first sip!

These packets are jam-PACKED with vitamin C (obviously) and other great cold-fighting vitamins and minerals that will help you fight that illness before it really goes into full action. Whenever I feel a tickle or a cough, I down 2 of these packets a day. It says to dissolve one packed in 4-6 ounces of water. I personally dislike any of the flavors and the fizziness, so I put in a little water as possible in a cup and take it as a shot.

The weather is getting cooler, so take care of yourselves!

Gloss that Doesn't Double as Fly Tape

Have you ever bought a lip gloss because you liked the color or the smell only to come home and find out it was stickier than tar? That has happened to me a LOT. It's also hard to find one that doesn't smell funky or like chemicals. That's why this is a product that I keep on me at all times. I also love to give it as gifts! C.O. Bigelow's Lip Shine.

These are a must-have for people like me, who don't like the feel or the bother of lipstick. I have fair skin and don't like lipstick, so glosses are great and tinted glosses add enough color for me. These also tend to go on sale often, too.

If you have dry lips and are looking for a good chapstick, my recommendation is the Kiehls Baby Lip Balm. My friend got me started on these way back in college.

One thing to remember, though, is that this balm melts very easily. You don't need to apply very much. Also, DON'T keep it in your pocket. You'll have a mess to deal with after you stand up. :)

Sweet Smell of Portability

Who are you wearing? I don't get this question very much, but when I do, it's usually about the perfume I have on. I've been through the gamut of the junior/high school classics... Fuzzy Peach by the Body Shop, CK One by Calvin Klein. Oh yes. Other favorites have included Still by Jennifer Lopez, Hanae Mori, and Isse Miyake, but for the past several years, I've been hooked on what might be a keeper for years to come still... Stella McCartney.

I tend to be drawn to scents that are clean and slightly flowery with subtle citrus notes. I get very turned off by powdery or overly flowery scents that I think are "sharp" to my nose. I also tend to feel like those super-fruity smells give the impression of a youth I've long surpassed. And don't even get me started on vanilla... I love eating it, but the artificial scent of vanilla used in lotions and perfumes makes me want to punch a baby (a la Dane Cook). BUT, the product I really wanted to share with you is this.

This 0.33 oz. roll-on version of the very perfume I love is only available at Sephora and runs $17. I keep this tiny vial in my purse at all times for freshening up after a long day at my desk, before a date with my hot hunk of man, or after soaking up unpleasant or unwanted smells at a restaurant. I'm the type that will spritz once in the morning and leave it at that, so having this little buddy around is truly convenient. Even if you don't want to start using Stella McCartney, you can certainly find a scent for you in Sephora selection of roll-on and solid perfumes that are super portable and insanely handy.

MY Girl

I'm getting a trim today, so let's chat about hair. One thing I'm willing to splurge a little on is haircuts. I've always (or almost always) had long hair. Based on first-hand experience, bad haircuts = NOT WORTH THE SAVINGS. One thing I've also learned is that good hair dressers are hard to find. I found MY hair girl at the Mario Tricoci salon in Bloomingdale, IL.

Please don't think this is a plug for Mario Tricoci, but I actually don't like the salon itself. I've been many times disappointed in the color treatments I've received and even other services that come WITH a hair cut, but without a doubt, Lisa gives me a great cut every time.

A couple tips for when you get your hair cut:

• Stick to your guns! If you said you didn't want to cut it, and the hairdresser wants you to. Don't listen to them! You're the one who has to live with it. Don't let their ideas of "style" manipulate you.
• Think about what you want before you go in. Unless you REALLY want them to do whatever they want (including short cuts, dramatic cuts, colors, etc.), then you do have some idea of what will work and what won't. Take a few pictures of celebrities' haircuts/styles you like to give your hairdresser an idea of your sense of style.
• DO let them know if you don't like the cut. Even if you're willing to live with it and come back to this same person, it will help them to know what about it you're unhappy with. Feedback is what they can build on to make you happy with your next cut.
• DON'T waste your money on products they're trying to sell you. They're overpriced and better products can be found for a cheaper price.

Over the past few years, I've tried several shampoos out. With the thick and dense hair I have, it's important to get good moisture without creating too much oil. Here's a shampoo I really like. It smells great and leaves my hair moisturized and shiny. Try Back to Basics. If you like it, you can buy the large size at Ulta and take advantage of their buy 2 get 1 deals. I would suggest, though, that you buy a pump. The conditioner is far too thick to try to coax out of the bottle every time. Pumps are fairly cheap and you get take advantage of the bulk sizes!