Things i LOVE Thursday

Eating a s'more sundae

There is a wonderful ice cream stand down the road from my grandma's, and it is the perfect treat on a hot day. The s'more sundae is loaded with vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream, fudge, marshmallow sauce, and graham crackers. Yum!

Reading The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory is a bit hit or miss for me, but I found this book for $1.50 at a thrift store and couldn't pass it up. I am fascinated by the Tudor court and am so far enjoying this book.

Watching Blake Shelton on The Voice

This is a man who loves his team and isn't afraid to get choked up about it. The duet he performed with his finalist, Dia Frampton, is one of my favorite performances from the show.

Wanting this Rebecca Minkoff Becky Jacket

This jacket is sold out at Shopbop, but I hope they restock it soon. I love the color and the cut and think it would look lovely in my closet...

Making Homemade Fig Newtons

I used the dough recipe from ReadyMade and substituted fig jam instead of making the filling. The cookies turned out very good although not as pretty as the one pictured.

What are you loving?

Saving Face: Scala Collezione

The Stephanie is a cute sunhat from Scala Collezione and is just right for a day spent outdoors. The hat is made of ribbon and trimmed with ric-rac, but the best part is that the hat has a sun-protection value of UPF 50+. LiptonPublicity sent me The Stephanie in white to review. I wore it out for a trip with friends, and the hat was deemed "Audrey-ish", which is high praise for a hat. I like that the hat is crushable allowing me to roll it up and stash it in my bag after the sun goes down.

What do you think of The Stephanie?

Summertime is My Time

We are a week into the official start of summer, and it is time to start acting on those summer plans. What summer plans? I'm glad you asked. Here are a few things I'm planning on doing this summer, after I finish my summer reading list of course.

Watch the AFI's 25 Greatest Movie Musicals

Grease a.k.a. #20 on the official list

There is something about summer that makes me want to get up and dance, preferably in a choreographed number with my fellow super cute shoppers. Since I'm not counting on that happening, I will have to escape to the more musically inclined worlds of Moulin Rouge!, Chicago, and Cabaret.

Get Mehndi

Foot Mehndi Design

I've had a long fascination with tattoos, but I do not have one. The thought of me being a tattooed octogenarian is enough to keep me outside the parlor doors. Well, that and the fear of dirty needles. So, a temporary, henna tattoo seems to be the best option. Plus, you can get amazing designs without the lifetime commitment.

Indulge in Vintage Shopping

Posh Girl Vintage

The mall is sadly lacking in splurge-worthy clothes. Poor quality and high prices have forced me to look elsewhere to get my fashion fix. Thankfully, there is ebay where I can unleash my competitive spirit and bid on fabulous fashions from past decades. Posh Girl Vintage is another site I love to browse for divine, vintage creations. Also, you must check out my etsy store, Passage To The North.

Play with Crazy Lashes

Paperself

I live in an area that thinks of itself as the NYC of the Midwest. Poor delusional fools. Of course, I've never been to NYC, so maybe they are right. However, the best thing about living in this area is that I can leave the house wearing sequins and pajamas and it is perfectly acceptable. Why just the other day I saw a girl walking across the street wearing an octopus tutu acting like it was the most normal thing in the world. This is good because I fully plan to experiment with some Chinese cutwork inspired lashes. Even if they make me look like an escapee from a sci-fi flick, I will not be laughed out of the grocery store because most likely there is someone dressed as a giant squid waiting in line behind me.

What are your summer plans?

Tarte for True Blood

I have never seen an episode of True Blood, but I was an extra once on the show a few years ago. The scene was in a church where someone was preaching about the sun, and there was a vampire sitting behind me. I am still clueless about what all this means. However, I do know a good makeup palette when I see it, and the Tarte for True Blood™ Limited-Edition Palette looks good. Here is the description from Sephora:

Get glamoured with this limited-edition palette packed with 17 killer new eye shadows and more. Each richly pigmented shadow is softly milled and infused with Amazonian clay for pure color payoff, silky application and long wear. From ethereal goddess to vampy vixen, you can create countless looks using these shimmering, matte, and smoky shades. Open after dark: Buried in this palette's pull-out drawer is a full-size EmphasEYES™ Aqua-Gel Eyeliner in black, a deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes! clinically-proven natural mascara and a deluxe Lifted™ Natural Eye Primer with Firmitol™ to help you complete your look. Turn into a real truebie using the four 'get the looks' included with each palette, created with the help of True Blood™'s award-winning lead makeup artist Brigette Myre-Ellis. Tune in to the new season of True Blood™, Sundays at 9/8c. Only on HBO®.

I'm a huge fan of Tarte products because their makeup is formulated without parabens, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. Plus, I love that Tarte worked with the lead makeup artist from the show. Last fall I bought The Jewelry Box palette from Tarte and am still working my way through the gorgeous eyeshadows and lip glosses. Alas, I should probably wait on buying the True Blood palette, but perhaps it would be OK to indulge in the Tarte for True Blood™ Limited-Edition LipSurgence™ Natural Lip Tint, which is half the price.

Things i LOVE Thursday

Listening to "Don't You Wanna Stay"

This is a song I could listen to all day.

Browsing Heartsy

This daily deals site for Etsy lovers tempts me everyday.

Hearting this dress from Chloe Loves Charlie

Another sweet dress I would love to spend my money on...

Reading On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers

Pirates, voodoo, and zombies. Thanks Heather!

Watching The Voice

It took me a few weeks to get into this show, but now I am excited to see who wins.

What are you loving this week?

May/June Favorites

Here's a little video about some of the things I've been loving.

Favorite Products:

• Nivea A Kiss of Milk and Honey Lip Care
• Covergirl NatureLuxe foundation
• Aveda Pure-fume Spirit Spray
• Perricone MD Cold Plasma Body
• Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray
• TRESemme Color Revitalize Shampoo and Conditioner
• Jamberry Nails
• John Frieda Precision Foam Colour
• Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

Other Mentions:

• BzzAgent
• Save More

Some Thoughts on Why Miss USA Needs A Makeover

I was one of those millions of little girls who grew up watching Miss USA and Miss America. I entered my first pageant when I was 21, and while I have never competed in the two famous national pageants, I have seen my fair share of sequins and hairspray. Watching Miss USA last night, I could not help but be disappointed that the pageant no longer had the magic and glamour it once held for me as a child. What's gone wrong? Somehow pageants are still trying to relive the glory days of the 1980's and missed the memo about time marching on. Here are some of my thoughts on what needs to change:

• Create a Role Model

Unlike Twilight where 2 hours of teen angst targeted at a rabid fan base created stars overnight, the 2 hours it takes to crown Miss USA is not enough to capture the country's attention and make the winner America's sweetheart. Other than the week before pageant night, the average American does not hear about Miss USA until a year later when the process starts all over again. If it is not pageant time, the only reason Miss USA is in the news is because of a scandal, which then must be argued makes her the wrong choice for Role Model of the Year. The reigning Miss USA spends her year promoting important organizations such as the USO and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, but these actions go unnoticed by the general public because they are not headline making news. To be influential, Miss USA needs to be in the news, and to be in the news, Miss USA needs to be relevant.

• Capture the public's attention

Pageantry is alive and well in the United States just look at Lady Gaga and shows such as America's Got Talent where spectacle is the name of the game. Miss USA needs to shake up the format and step into the 21st century. I would love to see contestants compete on a reality show. I'm picturing America's Next Top Model meets The Apprentice. Divide contestants into teams, assign them tasks such as photo shoots and fundraising, and vote contestants off until you reach the final 15. The public needs to see these girls as working, thinking women and not pampered airheads in a bikinis.

• Make audience participation count

I think it is great that online votes determined the 16th finalist (yeah Miss New Mexico!), but the fan voting meter was absolutely pointless. If you want the audience participating, make the votes count for something - this is the age of Dancing with the Stars after all.

• Cheesy hosts + corny commentary = lame

Last night's pageant was best viewed on mute to avoid the hosts and fashion commentators who felt it was their duty to contribute to the pageant's hot mess. I would now like to recommend something revolutionary: Neil Patrick Harris. I think NPH should host Miss USA because he is funny and smart and a genius at making lame award shows cool. He even won an Emmy for hosting the Tony Awards, and if he can do that for Broadway's forgotten "Oscar night", he can do it for Miss USA. NPH can, also, perform for the evening gown competition and save the pageant organizers from embarrassing attempts at trying to be hip. Bonus points if Hugh Jackman co-hosts. Oh, and please get rid of the fashion commentary. Nobody needs to be told that the contestants are gorgeous or that the girls are nervous. Anybody with an ounce of commonsense already knows this.

• Celebrate diversity

Last time I checked the United States was one of the most diverse countries on Earth, but you would not know that by looking at past titleholders where the most diversity is in hair color. It's time the winners started looking like Serena Williams, Ellen Page, Selena Gomez, and Tara Lynn. There are millions of little girls who watch Miss USA and think that they are too short, too fat, and too ethnic to be beautiful.

• Make the swimsuit competition about about health not sex

This is not 1952, and Miss USA is no longer selling Catalina Swimwear. If Miss USA is supposed to be taken seriously as a public speaker and charity promoter, it might be a good idea to stop portraying her as an amateur stripper. If Miss USA is trying to encourage girls to be self-confident, then it might be nice to stop sending the message that equates sex appeal with self-worth. Dressing contestants in sweats and having them drop down and do push ups probably is not the best ratings idea, but let's find a way to make the swimsuit competition celebrate living a healthy lifestyle and not about the thinnest girl in the tiniest bikini.

• Explain how judging works

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but it would be nice to explain why Miss Hawaii does not make it past evening gown and Miss Alabama does. Just like ballroom dancing where good technique is only obvious to those who know what to look for, Americans need to be educated about what makes one contestant stand out in a crowd of beautiful women.

Did you watch Miss USA? What are your thoughts on beauty pageants?

Links a la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

SUMMER FUN

Edited by Jessie Thorpe of Denimology

Summer is here and it's very exciting to see the change in everyone's wardrobe and more pop of color. Inspiration roams the streets at every corner! It's hypnotizing. It's hard to keep money in my pocket... I'm sure many of you can relate. Besides what I observe outside, Fashion blogs are a key influence to my style. Bloggers constantly make me smile from ear to ear and from season to season as I watch them transform.

I'm looking forward to flowing dresses, ripped up shorts, hot bright colors, basic tanks, bold accessories, This list might go on forever. Below you'll find a lot of food for thought.

Links à la Mode: June 16th

1972 Projects - DEPARTURE: Christophe Lemaire's Hermès Debut

aNewFoundLove - The Body Shop's New Bronze Collection + campaign to STOP sex trafficking of children and young girls !

All The Cool Kids - My Little Pony as some colorful fashion inspiration...

All The Fuss - Power Clashing: We Do It Because We Can.

Beautifully Invisible - Guest Post: How to Not be a Savage Blogger – “Follow Back” Alternatives for New Bloggers

Boheme Noir - Retrospective: The medieval warrior women of Dior Couture fall 2006

Chasing Louboutin - A few minutes with Rachel Roy and Karina Petroni

Codos on the Window Sills - A historical approach to why skinny=good

Denimology - JustFabulous Launches Premium Denim Line!

Dress With Courage - An exploration of the influence of celebrity culture on sartorial choice

Fashion Bucket - Dressing for your body shape. Featured this week: Petite.

Fumiko Kawa - Mutli-Purpose Style: Lace Cardigan to Haute Headwrap

Former Parades - Blogger meeting + outfit: we spreaded the blogging love last Sunday at a Dutch fashion blogger meeting!

Madeline Quaint - Why buy handmade? Some tips and arguments after a visit to a Design Bazaar

Made To Travel - Rock the bright stripes trend on your fingertips with this easy mani.

Midnight Cowgirl - How to do a Photo Shoot on the Cheap

Out Of Order Design - Cover Me In Rainbows: A beginners guide to the color wheel, color blocking and color combining

Sugar & Spice - How to... Colour Block: .

The Fashion Turd - An Decora styled outfit post inspired by all things Japanese on the web

TheStylishButterfly - How Thor inspired me to discover the science of Christopher Kane fashion

SPONSOR:

New Designers at Shopbop: Temperley London, Tom Binns, Anna Sui, Soo Ihn Kim, Tibi Day Dresses, Mima, Pencey, Thayer dresses, Minnetonka, Sara Berman, Motif 56.

Things i LOVE Thursday

Reading Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale

by Carolyn Turgeon

Watching Cee Lo Green on The Voice

Hearting this playsuit from Topshop

Wanting these Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse flats

Eating homemade mac and cheese

Listening to Britney Spears - "Till The World Ends"

Making a cute summer skirt

Watching Blue Crush and wishing I knew how to surf

Anticipating StyleMint

This July Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are launching StyleMint, a fashionable of-the-month club similar to JewelMint. According to WWD:

StyleMint will meld e-commerce and social media platforms to offer consumers a personalized shopping experience, based on a monthly opt-out model, similar to book-, music- and wine-of-the-month clubs. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will help design and merchandise the offerings — starting with a collection of women’s fashion T-shirts retailing for $29.99 — as well as create regular videos for the site.

Currently, if you join the pre-launch email list and invite at least 3 friends you get a $10 credit. Plus, the more friends you invite the better your pre-launch gift will be.

I am super excited to see what the collection looks like. After all, the Olsens' pursuit of the perfect t-shirt led to the creation of The Row. Here's to hoping this more affordable line is just as fabulous.

How to do a Photo Shoot on the Cheap

These days it feels like every successful fashion blogger is able to post professional level photos thanks to designer wardrobes, photographer boyfriends, and SLR cameras. Sadly, these are not things your average American girl has access to. I am especially saddened by the lack of photography loving of-course-I'll-let-you-play-dress-up-and-take-your-picture-everyday-boyfriends available in the Midwest. Perhaps they are only available on the coasts? Despite these setbacks I became determined to do my own photo shoot. I recruited my mom as photographer, commandeered her bedroom for use as a studio, and turned into an overly critically diva whenever artistic differences arose. Through all this I learned that a) point and shoot cameras get the job done, b) a pound of makeup and a fancy dress make anyone look better, and c) a sense of humor goes a long way.

Here are some other tips:

1. Gather inspiration

For this photo shoot, I wanted on old Hollywood glamour feel, so I looked to photos of Elizabeth Taylor for inspiration.

2. Shoot against a solid colored wall

To get a studio look, shoot against a solid colored wall. Try using walls that are off white or even peach colored to give a bit of glow to your pictures.

3. Use natural light

Golden hour is the perfect time for outdoor shoots as wells as indoor shoots where you are using windows as your main lighting. All of these pictures were taken indoors using the sunlight streaming through the window. It takes patience to wait for the light to hit just right, but the results are worth it.

4. Fix it in post

Don't worry about being perfect. A flaw here and there makes a photo more interesting, and many issues can be fixed later by cropping and retouching.

5. Play with filters

I edit most of my pictures in iPhoto and love playing with different effects. One of my favorite effects is the antique filter which gives pictures a softer look.

Secondhand Chic

On the hunt for a good book about vintage clothing, I discovered Christa Weil's Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops. This book is a treasure chest of information concerning fabric, care, and fit. Weil explains the advantages and disadvantages of fabrics as well as how to develop your knowledge of fabric based on touch. There is, also, a wonderful section on the hallmarks of quality clothing and diagrams that illustrate what to look for. Weil, also, discusses visual and feel cues to help you decide if a garment fits properly. There are even a couple pages dedicated to laundry icons, so you won't shrink your new purchase. I highly recommend this book if you are looking to expand your knowledge of clothes or if you are interested in vintage or thrift shopping.

Don't forget to enter the Captain Wentworth's Boating Party Giveaway!

Things i LOVE Thursday

Having an amazing audition

(fingers crossed)

Creating a memory jar

Going to see X-Men: First Class

(loved Wolverine's cameo)

Reading Ravenous by Dayna Macy

Listening to "I'm the Only One" by Melissa Etheridge

Working all night on set

(and counting down the hours to sunrise)

Wanting to try lavender soda

Following Happy Brittany's Miss USA journey

Participating in Captain Wentworth's Boating Party on Vvb32 Reads

Desiring these fabulously heeled shoes

What are you loving today?

Captain Wentworth's Boating Party Giveaway

Jane Austen Seaside by Icedivastar on Polyvore.com

Velvet of vvb32reads is featuring me in her Captain Wentworth's Boating Party event. Pop on over to her blog to read my advice on dressing for this seaworthy occasion. If your feet are tired from all of the festivities, enter below for a chance to win a pair of footzyrolls! The rollable ballet flats are compliments of the company, and the winner will receive the red snakeskin in a size 9/10. If this is not your size, the shoes will make a fabulous gift for your party loving friend.

To Enter Giveaway:

1. Leave a comment below with your email

Extra entries:

1. Subscribe to The Fashion Planner

2. Follow me on twitter (@akaleistar)

Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

Giveaway open until midnight, June 15, 2011.

Open internationally.

Holiday Memory Jar

It was way too hot to do much outside today. While sorting through keepsakes, I remembered an idea I had seen in a magazine about displaying mementos in a jar. I filled a jar from Ikea with small souvenirs from a cruise I went on a long time ago. The bottom of the jar is lined with a small paper bag to give the feel of sand. Inside is a bundle of cinnamon sticks, a pair of sunglasses, a butterfly bracelet, a couple keychains and plastic rings, a luggage tag, and a handful of various Caribbean currency. I'm rather happy with the way it turned out. Perhaps I'll make more and fill a shelf with memory jars or use the jars as book ends.

Paper McQueen

There is something nostalgic yet whimsical about these Alexander McQueen paper dolls. The cover has me itching to drive to the nearest bookstore, so that I can flip through the book and see the other designs. The description says that the book includes three dolls and over 30 costumes. I may not be able to fill my closet with McQueen but these paper reproductions are perfect for my budget.

Things i LOVE Thursday

Listening to a little Eminem

Rereading a childhood favorite

Helping a friend brainstorm party favor ideas

Wanting this pretty dress

Belly dancing

What are you loving?

Passage To The North does Vintage

Pop on over to my Etsy shop for some vintage delights! In the store you will find a fabulous square dance dress from the 1960-70's and a fantastic 1950's Hawaiian dress. I'm, also, selling a few dresses and costumes I've made. Vintage shopping/selling is my summer project, so more items will be added throughout the summer. I'd love to hear any ideas about running a successful Etsy store and the kind of vintage items you would like to see.

What are your summer plans?