Lucky day

A few weeks ago I entered a giveaway for a beautiful Soixante Neuf silver ring at Planet Blue.com after reading about it here.  Cupcakes and Cashmere is a daily read for me because Emily, blogger, seems down-to-earth and I like her style.  Much to my delight, I won!!  I think it shall be my lucky charm from now on. 

It's huge and gorgeous! And I'm pretty sure it can also be used as a weapon if need be, SCORE.  Thank you Planet Blue!
xoxoxoxo,
C

Essentials

My makeup routine isn't very exciting.  In fact I get a little anxious if there is a big event and I'm expected to do anything complicated with the eye or lip areas of my face (ex. the wedding I'm in next weekend).  It's kind of a trial and error process so expensive makeup doesn't make sense to me.  I buy most of my beauty products from CVS, although it will always be Longs to me.  These are some inexpensive finds that haven't let me down.

clockwise from top left:

REVLON perle eyeshadow in brushed copper, $4.99
Bath Body Works - velvet tuberose, $12
English Floral Cosmetic Case, $9.99
MAYBELLINE Lash Discovery Mini-Brush Washable Mascara: Black, $7
MAC 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush, $25
Filigree Blush Brush, forever 21, $4.80
Prestige liquid eyeliner in black, $6.49
Rimmel London The Max Volume Flash Mascara Black, $7.29
Prestige mineral makeup in MFN-04, $6.29
Rachel Perry Lip Lover Very Vanilla, $2.99
REVLON eyelash curler, $6

Sally Hansen Insta-dry nail color in petal pusher, $4.99
eyes lips face eyeliner in black (comes with sharpener), $1
e.l.f. makeup remover towelettes 20 ct, $3
Trader Joe's enrich lotion, $3.99

One thing I think worth splurging on is makeup brushes from MAC because they seem to last forever and make my application look slightly less kindergartner.  The bath and body works scent velvet tuberose smells like yummy gardenia which is my all time favorite scent.  I can't forget to mention the peppermint lip balm they sell at Whole Foods by the checkout counter, I think I have at least three tubes floating around because it's wonderful.  Although I understand the appeal in spending a lot on luxurious beauty products I highly doubt I will ever feel too cool to buy lotion from the grocery store.  At least for now, it's no La Mer for Moi.
-C 

Going home

There's only one place where I really feel at home, and it's not my apartment.  My mom is an artist (but she would never call herself that) and an experienced seamstress.  She also specializes in finding new uses for old things and "decorating".  I love coming to my parent's house for too many reasons.  It's very close to the beach, kind of cluttered in a cozy way, and comfortable because I know the walls and windows by heart.  Even when my mom adds a new pillow or points out that she painted something a different color it's always still familiar because it's her.  Nothing in this house is complicated or here to please anyone and I like that.  I should also mention that my dad is a musician (but he would definitely tell you that) and there is often an added bonus to my visits, sounds of violin or acoustic guitar floating around in the air.  I'm so thankful to have a place to come and be cozy for a while when life gets crazy.  Or when I need something hemmed. 

love,

C   

(antique sewing machine drawers used as storage in a cubby shelf.  That looks like misc. flatwear sticking out of one? hmm)

(she has bins of ribbons in her sewing room)

Pretty please

Aside from wearing my favorite gold ring almost daily and always having my nails painted pale pink, I don't often combine the two colors when I get dressed.  I'm always drawn to anything super girly though, and I think gold + pink makes a perfect pair.  However, I prefer more antiquey and pretty vs. Juicy Couturey, there is such a thing as too much pink. 

The Saturdays star Mollie King dresses up for a night out at the...
The Saturdays Mollie King makes a heartfelt return to the spotlight in...

I can't forgot to mention one of my favorite little pink and gold books, pictured here. I've never heard of Mollie King before but I think her simple girly style is adorable.
xo
-C

sweet words

If you were asked to make a choice between love, friends, and family or all of your stuff, I know you would all choose your people.  I want to always be thankful for the simple things in life that truly matter to me. 

Someone gave me a cookie at lunch and it got me thinking.  That will be all for today.

~C

Love in the Lorenzo

My original idea for this blog was to seek out images of hearts and post them daily.  I would find these hearts around my life, such as passing a heart in the sand on a beach run.  I quickly realized this would limit what I'd put here so I changed my mind.  But I still love seeing things like this heart shaped rock arrangement below.  I snapped this while walking over a bridge downtown which links a park near the courthouse to the busier parts of SC.  It makes me wonder who decided to go down into the San Lorenzo river and do this.  I wonder...

The park I mentioned is consistently inhabited by the large homeless population in Santa Cruz.  There are usually people napping, pan handling, hula hooping (more common than you'd think) or yelling.  Maybe on this day, someone was feeling like sharing a little love instead.
hearts to you,
C

Book Report # 3

The LBD is celebrated in this big book of little black dresses.  Some favorite images...

One day long ago, a boy happened to be standing near my closet and asked, "why do you have twenty dresses that are exactly the same?  You're crazy"  I definitely don't own twenty dresses that are all alike, but I might have 20 that are all BLACK.  That's not even a little bit crazy. 

Love and lbds,

-C

Craig D.

I'm a big fan of Craig Damrauer.  His works amuse me. 

So much more right here

Care package

My younger sister recently moved away for school.  She left a few things behind by accident so I'm sending them up to her along with treats.

(the rings she left)

(candies)

(to read)

(to borrow. Or keep, whatever)

(hand-me-downs via mail)

(at the beach by our parent's house)

(her junkiest favorites)

I think she'll be most happy to see the tiny box of crackers and the huge jar of nutella.  Miss her.

-C

Sweetheart

Short and sweet is sometimes best. 

-C