the start of an era: thrifting

I'm not one of those cool people with an apartment adorned with second-hand, thrifted, "vintage" items (anyone else find that people are using vintage to describe almost everything??), but....

I might eventually!

This past weekend I was in Bellingham, WA (about 1.5 hours north of Seattle) and had the afternoon to myself to walk around. My favorite stop was a store called Penny Lane that was just brimming with all sorts of odds and ends at fantastic prices. I scooped up this fan and can't get enough of the gently worn teal base and red logo. I've been shopping for similar fans in the Seattle area but haven't been able to find one for less than $80, so when I saw this for $26, I just had to snag it!

I think thrifting and I are going to become great friends.

Shoe score!

While fawning over the shoes from my last post, I ran across another pair of Faryl Robins that I instantly just had to have. This time, though, got them (as in, they're already shipped and on the way to my office!)!

The best part? I was just about to make the purchase on Zappos, when I decided to google them for a deal, just in case. I wasn't expecting much since I wasn't able to find a deal on the pink pair, but to my surprise and utter delight, I was able to snag these for $55 at Luna Boston (yeah, I hadn't heard of it either, but I talked to them on the phone and they are super nice and helpful). Woo hoo!!

Can't wait to wear them with a pretty skirt combo like some of these from Anthro:

image from anthropologie

And meanwhile, because apparently I'm obsessed with shoes right now, I also have my eyes on these from Frye:
Too bad the $55 I already spent on shoes is $55 over my budget!!

shoe images from zappos

being good.

How in love am I with these shoes?!?!? $188. Ouch. I will just have to admire them from here...

@ anthropologie.

AmazonFresh

As this week has been all abuzz with talk of food, cooking, and everything Thanksgiving, it makes me happy about two things:
1) I am not cooking a big meal this year
2) Avoiding grocery stores' holiday madness using AmazonFresh

The first is obvious. I'm happy to be off the hook from cooking for people that won't appreciate it anyway to instead cook a special meal for myself. Lobster, maybe?

As for AmazonFresh, I have been happily using the grocery delivery service for a couple months now, and it's completely revolutionized the way I shop.

What is AmazonFresh?
AmazonFresh is an online grocery store founded by Amazon. As such, shopping is just as easy as it is on Amazon.com, and it works with your regular Amazon account. The concept is not a new one of course (e.g., safeway.com, the failed Webvan, Peapod, among others), but if anyone can make grocery delivery a sustainable reality, it will be Amazon, arguably one of the world's greatest retailers.


How is it shopping for groceries online? Seems like a pain.
Not at all! Above is a screenshot of the AmazonFresh homepage once logged in (click image for larger view). You'll see you have the option to shop by "aisle," or I find the fastest way to find items is by the search field near the top. In the screenshot below, you'll see that I searched for the term "eggs." After searching for an item, the next page gives you the choice to browse by the following options: (1)Aisles (similar to "department") , (2) Brands, (3) "Show only" (narrows results by only showing options that are "fat free," "gluten free," "vegetarian," etc.), (4) search for a term within results or (5), browse all results (most are pictured). Beyond that (yes, there's more!), you can sort the items by price, relevance, and if it is a new arrival.

Given the extensive options for finding an item and its easy to navigate interface, finding any item is extremely quick and easy to do.


How is it delivered?
Items are delivered as soon as the next day, or anytime you choose later than that. For orders over $25, you qualify for free "pre-dawn" delivery.

Pre-dawn Delivery
As the name indicates, these groceries are delivered extremely early (before 6am) and don't require you to answer the door. Items are packaged in crates. Cold and frozen items are packed in blue crates, which contain dry ice. Pantry items are stored dry in yellow cases. The deliveryman will leave these at your front door, and you can ask them to come back and pick them up the next day, or you can keep them until your next AmazonFresh delivery.

If your order exceeds $50, you are eligible for free daytime delivery.

Daytime Delivery
Daytime delivery hours are from 7:00am to 10:00pm. What I love about this delivery option is the delivery window--you select from a one hour time slot, saving you from waiting around all afternoon (cable company, I'm looking at you). It does require you to sign for your groceries, and your items will come in paper bags (as opposed to the crates).

Finally, all orders are available for pickup at designated AmazonFresh pickup centers, though I don't have a car so I've never used this option.

Is AmazonFresh available in my area?
At this time, it appears it is still in beta and only available in the Seattle area. Boo!

Is that all?
Believe it or not, I have a lot more to write about AmazonFresh, so consider this part one. Sorry, non-Seattlites!

Container Envy

I've noticed a theme happening in a lot of images I bookmark: containers! Not perfectly matched canister sets or rows of minimalistic glass jars, but old, unmatched and gently used containers with some (new) lab glass thrown in to shake things up.

First there was the image of the lab glass used as a water pitcher and glass at Port2Port Press studio featured on the Blueprint blog, Bluelines.

Then, sfgirlbybay gives us a peek inside her bathroom to see her impressive collection of vintage jars that she uses to house cotton swabs and other bathroom toiletries. She uses lab glass too--look at the image from her medicine cabinet! Is it weird to be jealous of someone's bathroom storage? I love that piece of coral displayed on the shelf too.


And finally, containers in the kitchen from AT:SF. I love the tray of mismatched items, both old and new. I also learned what a salt pig is (common in European kitchens to house coarse grained salt so it doesn't clump). I'm not convinced I would need one (counter space is at a premium!), though I think the name is the cutest.

I can't find an image, but all of these remind me of a picture I saw a while back that used old tea tins (pretty, vintage-looking floral ones) to store bathroom necessities like cotton balls and makeup brushes. So pretty!

So all this talk, but no walk--my makeup right now is in a freezer-sized Ziploc. Oh the shame...and the perfect excuse to go shopping for some pretty little containers.

On Time

I've been shopping for a kitchen timer for what seems like a long time, at least for something as utilitarian and minor, but I wanted *just* the right one. The right one, pictured to the left, essentially fell into my lap thanks to a post on AT:NY this week.

I was hoping to get it in robin egg blue, but the downtown Seattle Anthro only had it in chrome/red. I adore the vintage, minimal look, the magnetic back and the price tag--$12.


While there, because no proper visit to Anthropologie is complete without a visit to the sales racks, I perused quickly and nabbed the "Sweetheart Cardi" I've been lusting after since I saw it in the fall catalog. The website only had it pictured in camel, though I bought it in black. It is just the right fit with the little details one comes to expect from Anthro. I will get so much use out of it!

A lunch hour well spent.

Images c/o Anthropologie

Issey Miyake Perfume

I adore gifts for no reason, so receiving a towering bottle of Issey Miyake's perfume yesterday, "just because," made it smell all the more sweet. I haven't had new perfume in ages--past fragrances go back several years, including Todd Oldham, Curve, and Chanel Chance. Well, move on over, you empty lurking bottles cluttering up my pretty bathroom shelf, because Issey Miyake is here to stay.

Sephora describes the fragrance's note's as a "pure floral with musky and woody tones," and though I am not a floral kind of girl, it smells divine to me. It's bold and feminine without being overpowering and is overall a "clean" scent. It may be floral, but this is not your grandmother's perfume ( as in no one will question if you have a rotting bouquet of flowers stashed in your purse).

I am usually not one to dote publicly on personal products I love, though after the makeup post and this one, you might be thinking that next I'm going to start telling you my favorite bathing products! Well, since I mentioned it...if you haven't used Origin's Salt Rub, go do your legs a favor and buy some pronto. It banishes winter-blah skin and leaves your skin feeling softer than you'd think possible. Since I love the smell of the Salt Rub so much, it's no wonder that I enjoy Origin's Salt Suds body wash as well. Looking for a luxurious soak? I can't get enough of the Avobath from Lush. Love their bath melts as well. With all these indulgences, I should just name November National Pamper Yourself Month. I hope you're spoiling yourself as well!

Holiday Inspired Makeup Palette

Perusing the pages of Blueprint's first holiday issue, I was struck by the holiday decor featuring icy pinks, glowing apricots and saturated golds. Conveniently enough, I spied this modern winter palette minutes before sacrificing my unmade face and wallet to the aisles of downtown Nordstrom's makeup department.

I've been a Bare Escentuals girl for the last year, so I was ripe for a change in my makeup routine to give me the winter color boost I've been looking for. The bad: I was mistaken thinking that Halloween would be a quiet evening to shop for makeup, as my arrival at the M.A.C. counter found me overrun by Halloween enthusiasts being made up with gaudy face paint and too much black eyeliner. The good: Moving on and not knowing where to go, I spied the unassuming counter of Nars Cosmetics tucked far away from the Halloween hub-bub, so I parked my purse and took a gamble.

I won.

Sleek, black soft-touch compacts lined the counter, featuring powders velvety to the touch and in the most wearable of combinations. I was hooked before one swipe of powder foundation was swooshed across my cheek and down my nose. With the golden images of Blueprint in my mind, I chose a palette that will keep me glowing and fresh all the way through February without dipping into my tired summer bronzer.

The Look:


Powder Foundation, in Sante Fe
So soft, but it doesn't skimp on coverage. I like that it can be applied with the accompanying applicator sponge or a brush.






Blush, in Luster
A golden apricot hue that warms up your complexion without looking like you just went to the tanning salon--in winter.






Eyeshadow Duo, in Sugarland
Straight from Blueprint's Christmas tree. Matched with a glittery apricot, the gold-flecked pinkish violet is oh so sweet brushed in the creases of the eyes.






Eyeliner Pencil, in London
Make your eyes pop without harsh black eyeliner with this soft but firm slate grey pencil. This eyeliner glides on smoothly and takes your eyes from classic to smoky with a quick smudge along your lash line.





Makeup Primer
I've never used a makeup primer but have been a faithful user of Bare Escentual's bareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper for at least a year (love the stuff). Since this was thrown in as a bonus to my purchase, I am happy to add it over the Rev-er Upper and under my makeup.








L'oreal Colour Riche Lipstick, in Caramel Latte
My mother, sister and I each have different colorings and skin tone, yet we all adore this lipcolor. It's subtle enough to allow quick application without a mirror yet packs enough pigment to pull your look together.





Photo Credits: Holiday images property of Blueprint Magazine
Nars Cosmetics from their website
L'oreal lipstick-sorry, no idea