Happy Friday!

Day 1: Wash hair as normal and follow with a blow-out. Style down as usual.  Try to use as little product as possible so it doesn’t weigh your hair down over the course of the week.

Day 2: Wash bangs or hair immediately around face using a shower cap to keep the rest of your hair dry. Blow dry wet pieces and rest of hair upside down.  Apply surf spray all over hair for texture.  Sectioning hair and working your way from bottom to top, use flat iron to create soft, beachy waves. Make sure to twist the iron backwards so waves go away from your face. Make sure not to get the very bottom tips of the hair in the flat iron or you’ll look like you stuck your finger in a light socket.

Knowing how girly I am, it may come as a shock to you that I don’t wash my hair every day. And frankly, neither should you. Once you get past those teenage years and you aren’t producing as much oil in your hair and face, it really isn’t necessary. In fact, it’s not good to wash your hair every day. If you do, you run the risk of stripping your hair of it’s natural oils and drying it out. You may be saying, “But Lacie, I am such a greaseball–there is no way I can’t wash it every day.” To that I say it may be time for an experiment.  Read on.

When you do wash it every day and are stripping it of it’s natural oils, it may be working overtime and trying to compensate and producing even MORE oil than normal and thus the greaseball effect. Try taking a break and not washing it for a few days. Wash then repeat the few day cycle. To get by on the in-between days, just wash your bangs or the hair immediately around your face where it tends to be the greasiest. I’ll either wash mine in the sink or if I’m showering, use a shower cap (hotpinkthankyouverymuch) pulling those pieces out from underneath. Blowdry and style as usual. Another trick I use is to spritz my hair with just a little bit of water all over and blowdry. Sometimes even just running a blowdryer through your hair is enough to give it a little boost on its own.

There are also some fantastic dry shampoos on the market. If you don’t want to spring for those and you have lighter colored hair, try sprinkling a bit of baby powder or face powder near your roots and rub in with a powder brush. It may take a few weeks of looking like a hobo for it to balance out but it will be well worth it. Trust me. Imagine all the time you’ll save washing your hair in the morning and instead sporting some adorable dirty little secret dos.  Stay tuned for those looks tomorrow!

My sister and I are making plans to go and see Harry Potter on Friday and I CAN’T WAIT.  Obvi the movies are great but there is just something so captivating about Emma Watson.  I’ve followed her through film but also through fashion. In Fall ’09 and Spring/Summer ’10 she was featured in Burberry’s ad campaign and it was a huge success. Since then she has continued to be a figure on the best dressed lists and someone’s style, both elegant and vibrant, to watch. She was recently on the cover of Vogue and gave a sweet interview that reflected on her Potter past but also what she plans to do next. Here are a couple of shots for you to enjoy!

I’m writing you from my childhood home and what used to be my little sister’s room which is now the office. I’m going to take a brief pause to tell you a little story that will likely embarrass her. Being back in my old house, I just can’t help it…old habits die hard you know.  Anyway, one night she had a friend over for a sleepover and they thought it’d be a good idea to have a lotion fight.  My mom heard hysterical laughing and banging around (perhaps lotion bottles being hurled at the walls?) and came in to find the room dripping in a lovely lilac hue.  Imagine a girl Slimer ala Ghostbusters. Every time I look at the walls, which have since been repainted, I can’t help but chuckle.

Anyway, my sister is still the same rambunctious girl and I too am still up to some of my old tricks, including writing in a diary.  Of course now, I call it something much more sophisticated.  It’s a JOURNAL.  Today I wanted to share with you one of my absolute fav products of all time–Moleskine Journals.  They are uber chic and are my absolute go-to for writing for both work and play.  They come in all types (lined, grid, blank, thick, thin) and a few fun colors. I use it in the morning as both a prayer and gratitude journal (I love meeting God there–mmmhm–good stuff) then I throw it in my purse and carry it with me all day.  If I’m inspired about a blog post, down it goes, if I think of a name for my unborn child, down it goes, if I run into a client and need to jot down an item she needs, down it goes. I love this thing.  Get one.

This is a bit how I feel today.

Well, kittens (first pussycats, now kittens..hmm…and I’m not even a cat person), as it turns out I’m jetsetting away this weekend but more about that later…for now I want to talk about a recent purchase that will come in handy for just this very thing not to mention for years to come.

I recently purchased a garment rack from The Container Store.  I needed one anyway for the biz but as us business owners often do with our “business purchases” I occasionally use it for personal use.  Boy this thing rock socks.  I am now of the belief that everyone needs one in their home.  Here are just a few of its many uses:

#1 Aids in cleaning and organizing closets by giving you extra space to pull things out and shuffle them around.

#2 Holds “to be dry-cleaned/altered/given away” items.

#3 Think of it like a rollaway bed for guests who have a tendency to…ahem…pack to much (who me?). I’d add a cute tag that says, “Hang up your hat…and stay awhile.”

#4 Doubles as a drying rack.

#5 Acts as extra storage to be tucked away for off-season items so your closet is more accessible and you’re not wasting time looking at stuff that it’s too hot/cold to wear anyway.

#6 Helps you pack! Amen!

…and many more (make-shift jungle jim for the kiddos??)

#6 is what I’ll be using it for over the next couple of days.  Instead of spending two hours packing at midnight the night before my trip (and a 6 am flight)  I just take a couple of minutes to pick out and hang up and outfit or two every time I have to pop into my room for something.  By the time Friday night rolls around, I’ll nearly be done!  Plus, everything is kept wrinkle free while it waits to hop in my suitcase.  Just a little tip from me to you.

Happy hanging!

Hi *loveies.

I’m taking a little timeout from my usual post material (fashion, fetes, food and foyers) to say a little something that’s on my mind this morning. I hope that’s okay with you.

I woke up feeling a bit blue today and would’ve much rather tucked a pom under each arm, pulled the covers over my head and gone back to sleep in our big cozy bed until tomorrow, but I didn’t.  I didn’t because of you.  

You see dear friends, starting your own business is lots of things; thrilling, fun, educational, challenging, rewarding, exhausting…but sometimes, just sometimes, it’s a bit scary and a bit lonely.  I was wondering if you ladies and gents knew that you have given me a reason to get out of bed morning after morning these last few months? You have. Every morning I wake up and shuffle downstairs in my pjs. I pour a hot cup of coffee and sit down at my computer to talk with you. And boy oh boy I so very much enjoy that.  You give me a sense of purpose. I can share my passions with you–a fabulous shoe, a yummy recipe, all the ways I aim to bring beauty into every day life… but I also get to share with you my secrets, my crazy stories and let’s face it, a hare-brained idea or two.  I don’t always feel like getting up and facing this sometimes scary and sometimes lonely business world but I always, always feel like talking to you and that’s enough to keep me going.  I just wanted you to know that.

I love you guys. And thank you for reading.

P.S. If you know anyone else that likes shoes and hare-brained ideas, feel free to invite them on over because I’d love to sit and have my morning coffee with them too.

*A charming and dynamic German woman who owns a consignment boutique I shop at calls all her customers that and I just adore her it so I’m stealing it.  Don’t worry, I’ll let her know.

What’s new pussycats? (Whoa whoa whoa…)

Okay Janie, which is it gonna be?  If you don’t decide, I’m gonna decide for you…