ALEX'S FAVORITE THINGS

I'm sure by now everyone has either heard the recap or seen the gifts Oprah gave her guests on her annual 
"Oprah's Favorite Things Christmas Show"....

This entry was inspired by the episode. 

If I could give my readers, viewers and friends some of my very favorite things for Christmas, these are some things I would give! 
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MY SIGNATURE RED LIPSTICK: 

CHANEL'S GABRIELLE

A DWARF HAMSTER:

IF YOU LOVE ANIMALS AND ARE LOOKING FOR A PET THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE LOTS OF TIME AND AND TONS OF CARE...

BUT DON'T THINK THEY'RE TOTALLY LOW MAINTENANCE. HAMSTERS ARE VERY FRAGILE IN THE SENSE THAT A DRAFT, ANY CHANGE IN WEATHER, LONLINESS, AND EVEN A SLIGHTLY UNCLEAN CAGE CAN MEAN DEATH. I CLEAN MY SHAOSHU'S CAGE ONCE A WEEK, GIVE HER TREATS EVERY NIGHT (ASIDE FROM THE HAMSTER SEEDS THAT SHE ALWAYS HAS ACCESS TO IN HER CAGE),PLAY WITH HER AFTER WORK,COVER HER CAGE  WITH A BLANKET EVERY NIGHT AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE SHE IS IN A COMFORTABLE PLACE IN MY HOUSE WHERE THE ELEMENTS CANNOT EFFECT HER. EVEN THOUGH HAMSTERS ARE QUITE LOW MAINTENANCE PETS, SO OFTEN PEOPLE DO NOT CARE FOR THEM AS THEY SHOULD AND THAT MAKES SAD, LONELY AND UNHEALTHY LITTLE FULFF BALLS :( 

ZARA'S BOYFRIEND BLAZERS:

I HAVEN'T FOUND A BRAND THAT I LOVE MORE.

I OWN TWO IN BLACK AND CAMEL....AND I NEED THIS WHITE ONE!

HRH COLLECTION ULTRA SLEEK CHAINS:

I FIND MYSELF WEARING AN ULTRA SLEEK EVERYDAY WHETHER IN THE BRUSHED SILVER, HIGH POLISHED SILVER OR HIGH POLISHED GOLD. THEY MIX WITH ALL OF MY OTHER CHAINS AND ARE SUCH EXPENSIVE LOOKING STATEMENT PIECES!

CLASSIC BLACK LEATHER WITH GOLD HARDWARE TORY BURCH FLATS:

I LOVE THESE SHOES AND WEAR THEM ALMOST EVERYDAY. 

I OWN FOUR PAIRS OF TORY BURCH FLATS BUT THESE ARE MY FAVORITE PAIR. THE PATENT AND PYTHON VERSIONS HAVE NOT BROKRN IN AS WELL AS THESE HAVE AND DEFINITELY ARENT AS COMFORTABLE...THEY'RE CLASSIC, WEAR VERY WELL AND OVER TIME HAVE MOLDED TO MY FOOT. 

LIKE ALL FINE LEATHER GOODS, THEY ARE DEFINITELY WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

THE SWEDISH SKIN LINE:

I LOVE THIS LINE FOR SO MANY REASONS BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE IT TRULY WORKS FOR ME AND I HAVEN'T HAD A RELAPSE OF ANNOYING AND UGLY BLEMISHES SINCE I HAVE BEEN USING THE LINE. 

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE LINE AT WWW.SWEDISHSKIN.COM

THE GULLHOLMEN FROM IKEA:

I LOVE THIS UNIQUE RATTAN CHAIR I HAVE PLACED ON MY PATIO WITH A MATCHING OTTOMAN. IT IS CASUAL, COMFORTABLE AND MODERN. WITH FLICKERING MOROCCAN LANTERNS ON A TABLE TO ITS SIDE, MAKES THE PREFECT ATMOSPHERE TO SIP A COCKTAIL AFTER A LONG DAY OR HAVE BREAKFAST ON A WEEKEND MORNING.

MY ALMOND (BEIGE) CHANEL FLAP:

LOVE THIS BAG AND AM SO HAPPY IT IS A PART OF MY COLLECTION. IT IS CLASSIC AND TIMELESS AND I AM SO THANKFUL I PURCHASED IT RIGHT BEFORE THE LAST (OUTRAGEOUS) PRICE HIKE!

SEA SALT ICED COFFEE:

MY MOST GUILTY PLEASURE!

FOO DOGS:

I HAVE A SLIGHTLY UNHEALTHY OBSESSION WITH FOO DOGS. IT'S A GOOD THING I'M PICKY AND HAVE TO REALY LOVE SOMETHING BEFORE I DECIDE TO BUY IT FOR MY HOME. AT THE MOMENT I HAVE SOME ADORABLE TURQUOISE FOO DOG BOOK ENDS AND AM ON THE HUNT FOR A LARGER ONE TO SIT ONE THE FLOOR, NEAR MY FRONT DOOR.

LOUIS GHOST BARSTOOLS???

HELP! 

I am in dire need of barstools for my kitchen.

I haven't been able to find exactly what I am dreaming about yet and refuse to settle. I think I am imagining these actually exist, but what I want are Louis ghost chairs with long legs, making them high enough to be barstools.

 I've searched for "ghost barstools", "Louis barstools" and a like combination of the words...But can't seem to find what I'm looking for. 

 The only thing I have seen that is close, is the "Kong barstool". This chair is totally out of my price range, is slightly a different shape than I am looking for and is not lucite but 

aluminum.

Please let me know if you come across long legged Louis ghost chairs in the near future so I don't have to settle with plain ghost stools(seen in the last photo of this post)...

xoxo

This is the Ghost Chair I am praying I can find with long legs...

This is the Kong Barstool:

These are the Ghost Barstools I will have to settle on if I find that Louis stye ones were only something I dreamt up:

<3

SO THANKFUL

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! 

I have so much to be thankful for this year and love hearing what people are thankful for, so I thought I would share what I am SO thankful for this year...

In no particular order, these are my top five

...

1. My always supportive and caring loved ones.

2. My job, a great boss and all of the amazing recognition I have received there.

3. My new/own place.  

4. All of the friends I have made and support I have received through YouTube and my blog. 

5. Our military, those who selflessly fight to keep us and this great country safe. 

I LOVE cooking, especially during the holidays! 

Aside from the traditional Turkey and sides, here are a few recipes I will be attempting this Thanksgiving...

(Click the titles for the recipes)

SWEET POTATO SPOON BREAD

MUSHROOM BACON DIP

JENNIFER'S GRAHAM CRACKER SANDWICHS 

I AM ALSO GOING TO RECREATE THIS ARRANGEMENT...

ISNT IS GORGEOUS AND SO PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAYS? 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving full of Turkey, mashed potatoes and all kinds of pumpkiny desserts!

MY MUST HAVE ESSENTIALS AND OOTD

Hi Ladies! 

I finally got around to an highly requested essentials video! 

My must haves for clothes, jewelry, skin care and cosmetics!

Definitely give the skin care line, Swedish Skin a look and click below! 
                

...Swedish Skin...

Also, use the coupon code "holidayspecial" for $5 off at checkout!

I hope everyone has a fabulous, thankful and delicious Thanksgiving!

PROM NIGHT

We had a blast at Hello Kitty's 80's theme prom! 

It was an overload of cute with so much to take in....Sanrio ferris wheel, pink mini golf, character games and prizes and lots of adorable and uber creative costumes! Towards the end of the night I received a few emails from girls saying they saw me but were embarrassed to say hi....I wish you girls would have (Shout out to you) xoxo!

What do you think? Hello Kitty 80's prom enough?

My jumble of pretty things....decisions, decisions!

I WON!

...Details...

Us...and his XL 80's carnation boutonniere 

Twins Star looking Harajuku girl and I

Cute decorations, everywhere!

Byeee!

HELLO KITTY PROM

I'm sure by now, many of you know I have an unhealthy obsession with everything cute and Asian related....I have loved Hello Kitty since I was very young and more recently have visited her "home" called Puro Land and met her in Tokyo, Japan! My parents tell me stories of taking me to the Sanrio store at three years and letting me pick out her adorable trinkets....

I blame them for my infatuation ;) 

This year is Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary and Sanrio has been hosting meet and greets with Kogi trucks, mini carnivals, fun art exhibits and theme parties all over the country. 

When I first heard of the Hello Kitty 80's themed prom, I honestly thought it was a prank. No way, would there ever be anything so fab! 

But it's true! 

And it's this Saturday! 

I need help though! What should I wear? I dont want to spend a fortune on an outfit that I'll only wear once but want to look super Kitty and cute, ya know? 

Ideas, suggestions? 

P.S. Are any of you going???

NEW VIDEO AND COLLECTION

HEY GIRLS!

I FINALLY MADE A VIDEO SHOWING HOW I CURL MY HAIR...I HOPE THIS HELPS ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE CURIOUS AND THOSE WHO REQUESTED!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY FRIEND'S BEAUTIFUL HAIR JEWELRY TOO!

...

LATELY I HAVE BEEN DESIGNING AND MAKING PLAIN, SLEEK LOOKING CHAINS TO GO WITH MY COCO'S, ELIN'S ETC...AND AFTER GETTING SO MANY REQUESTS FOR BASIC CHAINS I THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE!

CLICK HERE....MY SHOP

GIRLS WEEKEND AT THE PARKER PALM SPRINGS WITH MOMMY

It's funny because I would go back again... but after you read my thoughts and overall experience, you can be the judge on whether or not you would stay at Mr. Parker's for your getaway destination.

 Don't think you are staying in a middle class condo community when you pull in because if you look closer, you'll see the white "Parker Palm Springs" sign under the draped bougainvillaea over there on the right, or left (depending on which direction you're coning in from). Just don't blink, because you'll miss it.  

...

A smiling variety of Mister Parkers dressed in coral colored pants greet you and you enter through large orange doors with beautiful brass hardware. Past the doors is everything you would expect from Jonathan Adler. Quirky and sometimes just plain weird, but that's a reason we flock, right? Miss Parkers in hot pink sweaters are tending to guests at the Mac Book Pro operated front desk and un-lucky for us, we got the Parkerette who wasn't as happy to be there as we were. Unfortunately this is the attitude that many of the staff seemed to have. Though there were a number of helpful and genuine staffs, I would feel comfortable saying that we were definitely treated as though we were "lucky to be staying there".

Our room wasn't ready and no, she did not have two maps of the grounds for us but we could change in the spa or scattered restrooms on the property into our swim suits while we waited for our room to be cleaned for our arrival. With map in hand we ventured past the lobby's momentous "DRUGS" sign and outside into the gardens. The grounds are lovely, quirky, and almost give you the feeling that you're strolling through Dr. Suess' or Alice in Wonderland's world; but at the same time are expecting a run in with icons like Twiggy or Grace Kelly. Structured mostly by well manicured gravel pathways, the grounds lead you here and there, into the comfort of private hammocks, an unexpected alcoholic lemonade stand with adorable circus style umbrellas and sometimes into other guests private villas. 

.Odd. 

The two pools are small yet bursting with character. Plush lounge chairs circle a small rectangular pool with more colorful circus style umbrellas. We ordered homemade corn chips and guacamole from a minimal selection of typical "pool food" and sipped on spiked, muddled lemonade. 

The guacamole and lemonades were delicious. 

At around 2pm our room was ready. We picked up our keys and were excited to see what Mr. Adler had done with it! As we were directed upstairs, we knew we weren't going to be one of the lucky few who scored garden/pool accessible rooms, but were excited nonetheless. Our red door was like all the rest that lined the hallway but to our dismay there were some items that we believe were left out once we were inside. 

No Morracan wedding blankets, patterned rugs or four posted beds *tear* 

Maybe the balcony or view would make up for the missing embellishments? No. We opened the large plantation style shutters and exited onto the balcony... only to be directly greeted by our male neighbors next door, one of which was standing at up at the toilet, stark naked.  

After our shocking run-in we found that our "view" was of the top of a building where Adler had set a number of tall potted trees to distract the mess from below.... Garbage cans (where homeless apparently dug for bottles in the wee hours of the night).

The bathroom was beautiful, thank goodness! 

Retro printed wallpaper and super high end toiletries! Hermes and La Occitane soap, Bvlgari lotion and substantially sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash among other fab goodies! 

Norma's outdoors cafe was cute, decorated in cheerful hues of orange and yellow. We would have a filling and pricey breakfast there that unfortunately didn't sit well on the ride home. 

...

Overall, if you don't mind the SUPER pretentious, city slicker type crowd, can deal with the cold and downright uninterested, staff but just want to go because you love ultra unique design, sun and good drinks...I would definitely give it a go. 

...

Though I had rough time there, and wasn't treated very well. I might still give it a second chance. Confirmation that I would not be assigned to room #38 North would make me feel better. 

Though, there are a number of boutique hotels in Palm Springs now and their down town is bustling. The Viceroy is next on my list, especially now that I am looking for a new spot in Palm Springs...

SOME DESIGN INSPIRATION

...While we're on the subject of my interior design tastes...

...

I would describe it as a mix between Jonathan Adlers' geometric prints and retro accents with elements of design like those found in Sara Tuttle's NY apartment, all built around a sleek, clean Swedish style.If that even makes sense....

...

These are all photos of Sara Tuttle's NY apartment and though there are so many other fabulous and unique designers who I love and inspire me equally as much, I recently came across these photos and wanted to showcase them in this post. 

Of course she has an adorable fluffly persian kitty...

I WILL have a crazy quirky Jonathan Adler pillow on my EKTORP couch...Soon.
Which one though?