Need some motivation? Read on for five bucket list ideas you need to try this fall.
Have a bucket list? Good! They are important, as we only get to ride once this crazy merry-go-round called life. It’s easy to get bogged down in the monotony of day-to-day schedule and lose your inspiration. If you haven’t written a bucket list, do so now, and refer to it often and always. Autumn is a great time to chip away at it, as we all want to get in as much as we can before we’re trapped indoors with the heat cranked to high.
1. Travel
Stop postponing that trip or trips you’ve wanted to go on for years. Your excuses not to travel will always be there, but the opportunity might not be. Pulling the trigger on this bucket list item will never be a mistake. And fall is a wonderful time to travel; you’ll likely experience nice weather in many places and you’ll get better rates than in the summer. Whether you do it solo or surround yourself with your favorite traveling buddies, traveling is simply good for the soul. Remember to take your journal as well as lots of photos. About that last part, though—don’t take so many pictures that you’re not living in the moment, okay?
2. Land the Job of Your Dreams
So this doesn’t sound like a bucket list item but it is when you’ve been slaving away at a job for years that you don’t enjoy. It might be time to take the leap. Of course, you need to assess the pros vs. the cons, and you obviously don’t want to make a huge life change if you’re the main breadwinner in your family and this decision could affect everyone. If you’re in a position to do it, however, take the chance. Open the wine and cheese shop you’ve envisioned your whole life. Become a personal trainer. Teach yoga! Find your passion and do it. Or if you’ve been longing to take a hiatus and are able to do so, fall is the perfect time to indulge.
3. Dress Up for Halloween
Have you been that person every year? The one who shows up in “street clothes” when ghosts, ghouls, and goblins abound? Don’t do it. It’s a downer to all who attend Halloween parties. This year, commit to finding Halloween costumes for you and your significant other or your whole family. The Tipsy Elves options are easy and sure to be a conversation starter—you’re not reinventing the Halloween wheel here.
4. Get Active
We’re not just talking about a jaunt on the elliptical or the hike you’ve done a thousand times. Think about signing up for an adventure race, go bungee jumping and/or zip lining, or climb a mountain. Fall is such a gorgeous time of year, so get out there and take advantage of the crisp air, comfortable temperatures, and changing leaves. Check out Cloud9Living to find some excellent fall adventures in your area.
5. Go Wine Tasting
Fall is an ideal time to go wine tasting, as this is the time of year that many vineyards have their harvest festivals. They often pair up with other vineyards nearby to offer food and wine pairings that will knock your socks off. You might live close enough to do a road trip but, if not, think about traveling to a place like Napa, Sonoma, the Oregon coast, Santa Barbara, or even France! While wine tasting is different at some vineyards, it typically consists of about six to eight pairings of red and white wines. Some places offer nibbles while others have restaurants on site. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to walk around the grounds or get a guided tour, as vineyards are often on land that will take your breath away.
Between the pumpkin spice-ification of all things, the stunning weather, and the opportunity to watch far too much football, fall is really hard to beat. If you’ve been letting your bucket list gather proverbial dust, this is a great time of year to change that.
Book bucket list + Pumpkin Spice Latte anyone?
Under to outer wear – why Wolford is the name to remember.
When top fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Zac Posen and Karl Lagerfeld want to work with a brand, all fashionistas need to pay attention. Wolford – which is an Austrian company known for their high quality hosiery, is now also making more more “to be seen’ pieces with the same durable yet luxurious textiles.
When Wolford sent over some of their thights and their best-selling Fatal dress ( I already owned one but was happy to get another!) it was a no-brainer for me to write this article.
I am wearing Wolford’s multi-functional Fatal dress (as a skirt) and their tights.
Perfect for those of us who want to show a bit of leg without showing skin.
Closeup of one of Wolford’s beautiful tights.
Zooming in, you can see the high quality weaving that makes the Wolford tights durable.
Here’s why you should be checking out their high-end pieces at www.wolfordshop.com
or at a Wolford Boutique near you.
Because “underwear” is by literal definition worn-under, there is a tendency for inferior pieces to rub against the outer garment causing it to pill, snag, rip apart or wear out quickly. Wolford’s ultra soft but durable viscose blends last and maintain their integrity. It’s not worth it to purchase inexpensive undergarments that lose their shape or wear out quickly causing you to have to repurchase over and over. I have been wearing Wolford socks for years and can vouch for their superior materials. In fact Nina Garcia, the former Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire magazine has stated that Wolford hosiery is the only brand worth going to.
Opaque should mean opaque. Don’t be taken by surprise again by purchasing hosiery or garments that you think aren’t see-through and then discover later you “overshared” when you’re walking in bright daylight or under the camera flash.
Visible pantylines (and other undergarments bumps) aren’t attractive. I love that they make everything magically seamless. I don’t know how they do it, but as long as they do I’ll keep buying.
Their Luxe 9 tights – one of the most sheerest tights in the market and it makes your legs look like airbrushed perfection.
Look how invisible Worlford’s Luxe 9 tights are. It makes your skin looks flawless and yet you need to peer really closely to see it. PS : I hardly wear my skirt this high but I needed to show how invisible the thights are.
They come in a variety of shades to fit a wide range of skin tones.
Accessories should add to your outfit. Hosiery can be more than merely functional. Wolford’s leggings and tights add detail to your look which makes them more than utilitarian. Picture the following (Noa tights) paired with an LBD or a sweater dress– You just went from ordinary to extraordinary!
I am wearing Wolford’s Fatal convertible tube dress (as a skirt) and their Noa tights.
Wolford’s modern Noa tights.
Of course sometimes underwear is worn as outerwear. Don’t think Madonna’s cone-bra or tacky bra-straps showing. Underwear as outerwear has never been done so well. The quality and elegance of Wolfords t-shirts and bodysuits make them stand-alone pieces if you want them to.
I am wearing the Fatal dress as a … well dress. I love how versatile this piece is. You can wear it as a pencil skirt, a tube tob, a mini skirt , a foundation slip or even a belt. The possibilities are endless.
Add a belt and a blazer to the Fatal dress and voila!
Multifunctioning wear is not limited here to just outer or underwear. At least not at Wolford where their Fatal dress can be worn in so many ways. It’s a dress, a mini skirt, a tube top, a pencil skirt! Perhaps they call it “fatal” because it’s to die for?
Bottom line, whatever you put closest to your skin should feel great. Wolford textiles are comfortable, lux, and breathable. They could rest on those laurels alone except they’ve taken it a step further and designed classic, elegant under and outerwear.
I’m certainly not going to argue with Wolford collaborator Vivienne Westwood who said:
“Buy less, choose well, make it last.”
College is stressful enough. Leaving home for the first time, surrounded by smart peers, missing your family and friends. Just typing this is practically causing me to hyperventilate from the memories. On top of all of that is the worry about money. Money before, during and after. So when Regions Bank approached me to write this article, I was thrilled to discuss the money matters I wish I’d known back when I was a broke college student.
The syllabus and course outline are passed out at every student orientation or first class, but there’s almost no discussion about budgets and hidden costs. Everything I knew I picked up in the hallways like some sort of illicit conversation. Regions Bank has you covered with advice so that you don’t find yourself relying on the equally clueless in your classes. Here’s an outline for students out there:
1. Make a budget. Seems basic, but how many of us actually wrote out a budget before college? Sure we learned Excel spreadsheets, but I thought of those as a way to keep track of my outfit options and as a way to keep track of who was coming to parties and what everyone was bringing.
As simple as it sounds, add up all the money that will be coming in and subtract the money that will be going out. Regions Bank helps you consider all the bits and bobs you have going in and out so that you can see if you’ll be able to afford it all, or if you’ll need to textbook-share with someone. There are so many hidden or lesser-known costs (because how often do you first go off to college? It’s like when you’re expected to budget for a wedding and you think “how should I know?”) but Regions has your back. And don’t forget if you want to join a fraternity or sorority. It’s an amazing experience, but it’s comes at an additional cost.
2. Get creative when it comes to vacations. Welcome to college and the real world where getting creative is more than learning Adobe and Instagram filters. For example, Regions Bank is always looking for great ways to help with finances and even has some really interesting thoughts on low budget vacation ideas. Hostels are traditional, but there’s also Couchsurfing.com and staying with your new college friends. Facebook is a great way to look for friends of friends who might let you stay with them for a short while. I have a friend who recently travelled across the United States, just by reaching out via Facebook to see who had a friend in the next town that she could crash with. It doesn’t cost anything (except a small thank-you gift to your host(s)) and you meet new people.
3. Look for scholarships. You’d be surprised by how many random, narrow-focused scholarships there are out there that few people know or qualify for. I’ll bet there’s even one for left-handed, red-headed, ferret-loving women under 5’. My cousin applied for and got so many scholarships that he ended up making money during college. And don’t just look for scholarships your first year, keep looking. Sometimes a student drops out and their scholarship opens up, and some are just for sophomores or juniors. No need to stop looking for free money.
4. Get into habits you’ll maintain the rest of your life. And no, I don’t mean “beer on Fridays.” I mean learn to:
Save. Even if you only have $50 at the end of each month, put it away in a savings account. In 20 years you could have $14,000 there with interest earned. And all you did was pass up Starbucks a few times a week. Regions has an interactive calculator to help you estimate how much your savings will be worth.
Get a credit card but use it judiciously. It’s great to start building credit, but don’t spend more than you literally have, cash-wise, or else you risk running up a debt that goes above your possible tuition debt.
I’d love to hear anyone else’s tips – I’m sure I could still use some, and I know college kids who should be all ears. Regions Bank has more ideas than the above and you can find them all on their site here.
Now I’ve gotten to thinking about all the other things I wish I’d known before college. Such as how to get coffee stains out of denim, the best alarm clock, how to deal with obnoxious housemates, when fabric softener goes in the laundry, and am I ever going to use what I learned in “Introduction To Gothic Literature.”
This post is sponsored by Revlon through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Revlon, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The highlight of my day is generally in the evening, kicking off my heels and plopping down on the sofa next to my sweetheart with a cool beverage. So it’s rare that I think of starting my usually very hectic day with highlighting or contouring. Especially when the beauty YouTube mavens seemingly spend an hour or more highlighting and contouring their faces to perfection.
I’m amazed by the results but I just don’t have that kind of time but then I discovered Revlon’s PhotoReady Insta-Fix™ Highlighting Stick:
No more wasting my time getting a good night’s sleep (I’m kidding – do that too), after I put on my foundation in the morning I swipe the highlighting stick along my brow bone, the top of my cheekbones (look! There they are!) and then across the bridge of my nose and, finally, right above the cupid’s bow of my upper lip. Voila – instant luminosity! If you have oily skin like me, set the whole look with a light brush of your favorite loose powder afterward.
Last week I had a happy-hour meeting and I just reapplied again on the same areas. Within seconds, while on the go, you can look rejuvenated even at the middle or end of the workday. It’s almost like walking around with your own personal lighting consultant at a fraction of the cost. Seriously – a fraction. And one of the two colors will work for almost any skin tone. The Pink Light works best on lighter/cool skin colors because it is pink with a hint of silver, while the Gold Light (which I used) is for warmer skin color such as olive tones, as it has a warm peachy hue.
I don’t know about you but, I’m incredibly busy and anything that doesn’t take a lot of time and provides fantastic results is my kind of item. It even goes well over makeup – great for touch ups come mid-day or in the evening:
Give it a try and let me know what you think (and how you spend the extra time it gives you.)
Introducing Madison Reed – salon-level hair color at home.
Feeling my hair – I am loving the rich hazelnut brown tones – isn’t it perfect for fall … or whenever? Lol.
Please note that this is a sponsored post by Madison Reed but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Coco Chanel famously said “the best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” If you’ve ever paid for that expensive salon dye job that made you want to die, you need to check out Madison Reed.
Madison Reed : Premium and customized at-home hair color.
When I first got to know about the brand I was intrigued. I had not had my hair colored at home in a while ( at least in the last 5 years) because I remembered the last time I DIY-ed my hair with a box of drugstore hair color, it turned out a bland and uneven shade of red-brown. I also hated the pungent smell of ammonia that permeated around me for the next 48 hours. So when I heard about Madison Reed I was game to try this next generation of at-home hair color.
Madison Reed makes customized at-home color. This is definitely not your boxed drugstore brand where you’re expected to choose a color you’ll live with on your head simply from an ink-on-cardboard-box swatch the size of your pinkie toe.
My hair color before I colored it. It was bad.
Easy at-home hair color by Madison Reed.
Cost. It’s not just the cost of the salon hair color, but also the fact that time is money so once I add in the commute there and back, the inevitable wait, wash, color, wait some more and dry, I’ve spent hundreds more dollars in lost income.
Confidence. With Madison Reed you can confidently leave the science of skin tone and hair color combining to the experts. Go to their website and take their short quiz for their recommendation. If you’re still concerned, you can call or email or live online chat. Their site also has helpful videos and a blog with more tutorials as well as fun hairstyle ideas.
Convenience. Delivered to your home so that you can do it whenever suits you and your schedule – not a salon’s schedule. You can even set up automatic delivery so that you don’t have to remember to order more. And don’t think you have to go it alone if you don’t want to – there are hair color experts on call to help as well as the above-mentioned tutorials which I found to be all the help I needed.
Company. We all want to support good companies and Madison Reed is all about using the best ingredients while avoiding unhealthy ones. They call it “Smart 6-free” because their permanent dye is free of ammonia, gluten, parabens, PPD, phthalates and resorcinol. (I don’t know what half of those are which is probably the point – they aren’t natural!)
Color. The all important color. The four C’s above might be there but it doesn’t mean a thing if the colors aren’t great. Fortunately they are amazing.
What my hair color looked liked in the shade.
I like to change up my hair color because I see it as part of fashion. That means, however, that it can get costly and time-consuming if I’m always headed to the salon for a change-up. So whether you’re like me and like to experiment, or if you just like to maintain your natural color, you’ll love the convenience and cost of Madison Reed.
Try it and do tell me what you think and send before and after photos – those are super fun.
The sky’s the limit. Ciel Spa at SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills reaches the stars.
It often feels as though there are more stars in Beverly HIlls than there are in the skies. And so, at the aptly named
Ciel Spa
(Ciel is French for ‘sky’) at the SLS Hotel – it seems that the services here are only limited by one’s imagination.
The only downside was that I was limited to three hours that I had while rushing off to NYFW. With so many options to choose from at the spa, I really would have preferred three days. Given that amount of time I could have run the gamut from head to toe – literally! From hair services to pedicure. And everything in between – waxing, facials, manicure, and more.
I love little interior design details like this.
My Ciel Spa afternoon began by walking thru the doors into the most beautiful sanctuary. You’ll think you’re walking on cloud nine, surrounded by soothing white everywhere – you’d never know that you’re actually surrounded by a state-of-the-art wellness center that caters to post-plastic-surgery recovery patients. We’re incredibly lucky that the SLS Hotel allows us all access to this oasis.
I opted for the women’s only lounge which felt like a modern, luxurious boudoir. I was offered champagne and informed that in the co-ed waiting area there’s also fruit-infused water, brownies, cookies and other snacks. I love a spa that doesn’t feel wheatgrass juice is the only option.
I loved the robe and cutest pair of flipflops ever:
I was then escorted to a private room where I endured the agony of a custom skin analysis. Ciel is the first spa in LA to use something called the Biologique Recherché Methodology. I just hope it’s not so smart that it realizes I lied when I said I don’t sleep in my makeup. After six pages (no wonder they offer champagne to start) it was decreed that I needed a fruit acid mask for light, yet thorough exfoliation. I didn’t feel anything other than a pleasant tingling but I knew it worked because my skin felt smooth and glowing after the treatment. And I have to say that pleasant also referred to my personal aesthetician Catherina who was so lovely, which isn’t always the case at uber posh establishments.
After the facial I had a 40 minute gap before my manicure so I popped down to the Philippe Starck designed lobby downstairs for lunch. I felt as though I got enough vitamins via the fruit in my facial, so I ordered this:
Fortunately, all burger juice and french fry oil was erased when I got my gel manicure. Not only did it hide the evidence of a calorie indulgence but the gel manicure lasted for 8 days chip free even after 7 days of heavy traveling worldwide. My nails clocked in 14,000 miles around the globe as well as countless hours typing on my laptop and various devices.
The Couples’ Treatment Room at the Ciel Spa
I can’t wait to go back and try all their other offerings. The Ciel Spa is definitely my number one choice in Beverly Hills for serious luxurious treatments. If we’re told to “reach for the sky”, I’ll be reaching for the phone number of the Ciel Spa.
