Shop Local. Holiday Wrap-Up In The #Roc .

Sara Silvio Earrings from Trunk Show at Peppermint.
Momsly loves them & they are one-of-a-kind gorgeous!!

Where did I shop this holiday season?? I shopped #Roc . I shopped local, & I shopped the specialty shops, boutiques, & bizarres of Rochester, NY. I found gifts for my brothers, pets, roommate, Aunt, Momsly, & even Da' Moe. I found gifts that are unique, affordable, memorable, and that support our local Rochester community & economy. I bought 0 gifts from the mall, though--I admit--I did buy Orly nail polish c/o Marshall's, an Amazon gift card for my Kindle-loving big bro, & American Eagle jeans for my stylish (though he'd never admit it) younger bro. But mall? Nope. Not even at all. Want to know how much I spent?? See below. ...

Friday 'Fessional: My Purses Have Feelings.

I think my first confession is that I bought my own Christmas present. Second: I then called my mom to let her know that I'd forget about it (within 9 days) in time to be surprised (3rd confession) for when Santa arrives. The real confession is that...

The Chosen One.
Envelope Clutch w Ants & Chain from Peppermint.

How To. Wrap a Gift: Last Minute. Hipster. Environmentally Friendly. Festively.

You can thank my Momsly for this. Woman knows how to save a bag. And its packaging. Ribbons? Yup. That really thick nice wrapping paper she made you remove from the present ever so delicately as to preserve it for the does-not-yet-exist-present? Uh huh. She taught me all of this. And now I'm going to share it with you. 

Truly, a very Merry Christmas.

Ambience.
(Fired made by Momsly.)

Friday 'Fessional: I'm a Compulsive List Maker.

You think you are. Someone with 3 items on the grocery list, staple goods like bananas and bread. You can recite them by heart, but you write them down anyway. Or what about the list maker who schedules every last detail, including “showering: wash hair,” or “change clothing” only b/c it feels incomplete to exclude them from the day’s agenda.

Color Coordinated,
nonetheless.

Yes, I do all of these things. But that’s not why I’m compulsive. I’m a compulsive list maker because all of these things I do, & I do 

How To. Unique Holiday Gifts & a #ShopLocal Guide.

Shopping Guide 

For Unique Holiday Gifts

(Google Images.)
Butternuts Beer & Ale!
at Trader Joe's

Get's better the more you read...

Editorial. Why Don't We Talk About Suicide? Mental Health as a Buzz Word.

Why Don't We Talk About Suicide?

Mental Health as a Buzz Word.

I wrote this article earlier this week in response to the media swell in the aftermath of Jacintha Sladanha, the nurse who committed suicide following the now infamous prank phone call. It was published by Technorati yesterday evening where you can read it by clicking on the link. The only part I will publish on this blog is the Post Script, which comes at the article's end.

At Eternity's Gate. Vincent Van Gogh.
(From Google Images.)

How To. Figure Out Your Face Shape. #TBD .

Gotchya.

I've no clue how to figure out my face shape. But The Beauty Department does.

Face Shape.
Square. Oval. or Oblong.

Being that I oscillate between making the all-important & anguishing decision as to whether I'm oval, square, or oblong, you can imagine my excitement when Google Reader alerted me to TBD's tutorial. 

Let's Get  Cheeky.

Internal Monologue. OMG I WANT THIS.

OMG I NEED WANT THIS.

The Beauty Department.

Save v. Spend. Lacquer. Varnish. Nail Polish.

I LEARNED SO MUCH.

Lacquer. Varnish. Nail Polish.

Varnish. Lacquer. Nail Polish.
Fraction of @nicolejaclyn 's collection.

My friend Nicole is a nail polish goddess. This babe has all of your higher-end drug store varnishes, like OPI & Essie, plus couture lines, like Butter London, and Indielines (!), like NinjaPolish, in a smattering of mattes & sparkles, in every hue of every single shade possible. Cue: I-am-overwhelmed-smile.

She taught me SO much. And, yes, there is much to learn about nail polish. Especially because you have to spend & spend wisely.

Know what products to buy. Which ones to try. Where to buy. And … which ones to rent??