Blonder Ambitions

Category: Lists

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

May 3, 2011
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

May 2, 2011
CURRENT OBSESSION – LUXURY CANDLES

My love for candles has turned into more of, well… an obsession. A candle is $75?! No, I don’t find it as ridiculous as you might. I look at the 60 hour burning time and rationalize that each hour of scented, candlelit euphoria is only costing me a bit more than a dollar. My current candle fixation is my new candle that was an Easter gift from my oh-so-wonderful mother… it’s a Williams-Sonoma Tuscan Fig candle… I love it because it’s parrafin-free and uses a cotton and paper wick… so it’s clean burning. Read on for some more of my candle recommendations.

1. Diptyque Candle in Feu de Bois $60
2. Miller Harris Candle in Citron Citron $72
3. Cire Trudon Candle in Mademoiselle de Lavalliere $75
4. Memo 2009 Very Red Roses Candle $60
5. Trapp Lemongrass Verbena #10 Candle $17
6. D.L. & Co. Black Wax Skull Candle in the “Momento Mori” Collection $25-$55
7. Archipelago Bergamot Tabacco Candle $25
8. Tocca Stella Candle $38
9. Delirium & Co. Suede & Smoke Candle $38

April 26, 2011
HOW TO – DECONSTRUCT & RECONSTRUCT A T-SHIRT

I was headed to the Big Four… basically a huge metal music festival where Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax would be playing… and I had no idea what to wear. My man gave me one of his cherished Metallica T-Shirts and told me to do whatever I wanted with it. Perfect. With the assistance of an embroidery needle, a silver Sharpie, some awesomely sharp scissors, crimson ribbon, and a safety pin… I got exactly the Metallica shirt that I wanted.

1. Gather your supplies… T-shirt. Silver Sharpie pen. Scissors. Ribbon. Etc. 2. The beginning T-shirt… Cute, but not quite the look I was going for. 3. My “Aha!” moment when I thought… “I can make over this shirt.” 4. Using the silver Sharpie to mark where to make the cuts. 5. Close up of the Sharpie markings. 6. I like this much better… a tank top! 7. No… I don’t. I can make it even better! 8. Cut a slit down the middle… yeahhhhh. 9. Love it. 10. Only loved it for .5 seconds… decided to cut up the sides. 11. Decided to re-stich the sides with some satin ribbon. 12. Stitching myself back up. 13. Happy! That’s what I wanted. 14. The finished product. I even added a metal-esque safety pin. Love.

April 25, 2011
HOW TO – MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT BASKET

One of my childhood friends was having a tea for her bridal shower… after settling on a Betsey Johnson New York crocheted navy and pink frock and hot pink ruched pointed toe pumps, I decided to shop for her {coordinating} pink gift. I figured that with Easter right around the corner… a bridal basket would be right on point. What bride-to-be wouldn’t love some pink kitchen accessories, killer cupcake mix (with the perfect pearl topping!), and some gourmet truffles to eat while she bakes? A simple gift basket how-to is below.

1. Gather all materials… basket, tissue paper, ribbon, any other accessories, and the gifts. For the gifts, try to stick with some kind of a theme (here the theme was twofold: pink and cupcakes)… All these gorgeous goodies are from Williams-Sonoma. 2. The adorable edible sugar pearls that are ideal for chic cupcakes. 3. Yum. Chocolate + champagne + pink + gold leaf = p.e.r.f.e.c.t.i.o.n. 4. Tie your ribbon around the basket and line the bottom of the basket with coordinating tissue paper that is all bunched up. 5./6. The final basket… with tiny faux flowers in the corner for a sweet touch. ♥

April 22, 2011
CURRENT OBSESSION – ETSY

If you haven’t been on etsy.com… well, you’ve basically been living under a rock… or in a poorly decorated place not enhanced with ridiculous etsy goodness. I get stuck on this site for hours… it’s an amazing place to find one-of-a-kind goods, humorous decor items, sweet soaps, customized wallets, and a whole plethora of fabulous goodness. Log on… buy something… or just browse and get inspired. Obsessed. Here are some of my current etsy obsessions.

1. Natural Bamboo Wooden Case by Signimade $34.99
2. “Ok Monday, Let’s Do This” print by Pixelcloud $20
3. Handmade Wallet by Cottonpurr $47
4. Raspberry Cream Cupcake Soap by WhippedUpWonderful $6.99
5. Ceramic Retro Owl by Snew $15
6. “Bloody Hell We’re Buggered Now” T-Shirt by ScreamPrinting $14.95
7. Crochet Amigurumi Christmas Angel by Yillup $15
8. Cake Pops by Cakepopboutique $30
9. ClawandBall Foot Coffee Table by CircaFurniture $115
10. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by BirdAve $20
11. Driftwood Lamp by Typewriterboneyard $140
12. Steampunk Stag Antler Neclace by Lifelittle $4.99

April 18, 2011