Okay… I have an admission: this isn’t technically a “current” obsession… it’s more like a seasonal obsession… Every time the weather gets warm, I become re-addicted to the Farmer’s Market {evidenced by the fact that I wrote an article about it before: here}. However, as the weather has warmed up {and triggered my appetite for fresh fruits and veggies and the presence of fresh flowers on my coffee table}, I thought it was fitting to feature the Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market. I am so in love with it. I went this past Saturday with my sister and one of my best friends and we bought a bag of dried apples and munched on them while we walked up and down the rows of gorgeous, colorful, pesticide-free {and affordable!} produce. I left with dried apples, dried tangerines, sweet peas, and peonies. All things that are sweet and beautiful.
Category: All
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HOW TO – THE 5 MINUTE FACE & ADVANCED MAKEUP TECHNIQUES
If your life is anything like mine… fabulous opportunities arise at the most unexpected times. Though you would love to always be prepared, sometimes you will be caught off-guard {aka in your pajamas with no makeup on}. Don’t let this stop you from taking part in the fabulous outing… if you have five minutes {trust me, any worthy individual extending the invite will wait for you, gorgeous} you can be ready to go. Throw your hair up and remember, you only need a clean base {concealer, foundation, pressed powder}, a bit of shimmer {get a good multi-purpose color pot}, tinted loose powder {to set the look and give you a glow}, a bit of bronzer, a pop of color, and curled lashes {with a good coat of volumizing mascara}. Read on for a how-to on your steps to achieve the 5-Minute Face.
1. Bare faced… and have to be out the door in 5 minutes? 2. Put that concealer under your eyes . 3. Concealer? Check. Now pat it gently into your skin. 4. Liquid foundation. 5. Dot it on and rub it in. 6. Our base is done. 7. Pressed powder… Press it on for flawless coverage. 8. A two in one product to highlight eyes… 9. And cheeks. 10. Rub in some tinted loose powder with a kabuki brush. 11. Bronzer everywhere the sun hits… cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. 12. Take the bronzer and use it with a contour brush to define cheekbones. 13. Hot. Pink. Blush. You need a pop of color. 14. Put that color on the apples of your cheeks. 15. Your eyelash curler (aka your best friend). 16. Volumizing mascara. 17. Bam. Less than 5 minutes. 18. Time to go out xo
For the video version of the 5-Minute Face Tutorial, watch here
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlzdMfPGgNMIf you’re ready to move on, lovebug… Let’s get on with some more advanced makeup techniques. Let’s say you know you have somewhere fabulous to go {a hot date, a charity event, girls night…} and you have at least 20 minutes to get ready… advanced makeup techniques only add 15 minutes {max} onto your basic 5-Minute Face. With the addition of eyeliner {pencil and liquid}, darker eyeshadow, fake lashes, an eyebrow pencil, and a nude lipstick, you’re ready to knock anyone’s socks off… and {though you are already perfect just the way you are} you’ll look like a total glamazon.

1. You’ve already done your 5-Minute Face… now line the outer third of your lower lash line and inner rim with a black waterproof eyeliner pencil. 2. Voila! Instant drama. 3. Take a flat brush and rub it in light shimmery eyeshadow. 4. Pat the shadow on your lid and sweep it up to your browbone. 5. A wash of light shimmer. 6. Take an eyeshadow brush meant for your crease and sweep it in a chocolate brown shadow. 7. Sweep the shadow into your crease. 8. Back to the flat eyeshadow brush and the chocolate brown shadow. 9. Cover the outer half of your lid with the brown shadow. 10. Use a sponge tip applicator and sweep it in black shadow. 11. Put the black shadow on the outer third of your upper and lower lid. 12. Liquid liner… line your whole eye if you want a dramatic look. 13. Fill in those brows to look polished. 14. See? Polished. 15. One more coat of that volumizing mascara. 16. Fake eyelashes! Practice makes perfect. 17. The perfect nude lipstick. M.A.C.s “Hue.” 18. Smear that lipstick on. 19. The face… bring the drama. 20. The finished lids. 21. Advanced makeup… mastered.For the video version of the Advanced Makeup Tutorial, watch here
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CURRENT OBSESSION – STATEMENT HATS
After I experienced the Royal Wedding in all it’s glory {and, yes, I stayed up til 6am to take in the whole magnificent event}, I found that I couldn’t get enough of the wacky, wonderful, elegant, and statement making hats available in the world… my personal favorite is the fascinator, but as the Royal Wedding only happens once every thirty or so years, I likely won’t have many reasons to wear such fabulous headgear… kidding, kidding… luckily we Americans have a tradition of our own: The Kentucky Derby. Which happens to be this weekend. And my hat obsession lives on.
1. Brenda Lyn Montauk Sunhat $185
2. Barneys New York Virginia Cloche $195
3. Misaharada Valeska $195
4. Kangol ‘Player’ Fedora $55
5. Nordstrom ‘Side Bow – Large’ Floppy Straw Hat $48
6. Plaza Suite Pave Downbrim $154
7. Scala Flower Headband $72
8. Sur La Tete Leopard Pillbox $30
9. Eveline Butterfly Pillbox by Arturo Rios $118
10. Jeanne Simmons Veil Cocktail Hat $34
11. Cassel Goorin Belladonna Cloche $290
12. Kangol Y Cable Cloche $60
13. Hot Pink Kentucky Derby Fascinator Hat $80
14. Black Kentucky Derby Fascinator Hat $85 -

SAFARI RUFFLES
It was one of those perfect Santa Barbara days. The kind of day that called for cutting the workday a little short and making it just in time for a glass of chardonnay at happy hour. The kind of day that called for a little {or… at 6’1″… a lot} of leg and a few khaki ruffles. I am a huge proponent of the whole safari inspired trend {it seems to resurface every three years} and I feel that each and every woman should have at least one safari inspired, yet simultaneously uber-feminine piece in her wardrobe. It’s the kind of look that you can throw together in 30 seconds flat and just pin-up your beachy, sun-drenched hair… that’s what I did. Polished, yet relaxed enough to go with that chardonnay you should be sipping.
{accents like ruffles and an oversized distressed leather belt help complete the outfit}
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LUST LIST – MAY
1. Zoraide Artemista Suede Peep Toe Ankle Boot $835
2. C.P. Company Washed Scarf $115
3. Lucifer Vir Honestus Bon Ton Earrings $1,825
4. House of Waris Spero Pendant Necklace $4,700
5. Givenchy Medium Leopard Nightingale $3,515
6. T. LeClerc Powder Theophile – Lumiere $55
7. Random House The Dogs of Central Park $20
8. Marc Jacobs Quilted Shoulder Bag $695
9. Christian Louboutin Bianca $795
10. Gabrielle Sanchez Pearl Flyer Earrings $2,550
11. 3.1 Phillip Lim Double0Breasted Cardigan $495
12. Lucifer Vir Honestus Diamond Tennis Bracelet $11,500
13. 3.1 Phillip Lim Striped Dress $325 -

MUST HAVES – BEACH BUNNY BASICS
Santa Barbara has been experiencing an early summer… for which I am unbelievable grateful. Constant sunshine calls for lighter clothing and, obviously, a killer swimsuit. Just because you’re hitting the beach does not mean that you should forgo your sense of fashion… whether you are feeling like a sex kitten, glamazon, or pin-up that day {pick whichever one you feel fits you best… because, Cupcake, we all know you are all three} there is a swimsuit, cover-up, sunglasses, and lip color {the only beach make-up necessity} to suit your mood {pun very much intended}.
1. Golden Days Bikini $78
2. Plunging Halter Maillot $178
3. Summer Place Suit $118
4. Coconut Pearl Cover-Up $138
5. Grand Coast Cover-Up $648
6. Corsica Cover-Up $98
7. Tom Ford Marko $390
8. Marni Large Rounds $390
9. The Row Exaggerated Cat Eye $442
10. Cle de Peau Beaute Lip Gloss N10 $48
11. By Terry Gloss Delectation – 7: Mandarina Pschitt $44
12. Lipstick Queen in Red Saint $18







