Happy Halloween!!

I just want to wish all of you a Happy Halloween!!

I LOVE Halloween because I love playing dress up and I can finally put to us the piles and piles of makeup I have stashed in my house to get creative. I went out last night (boo to Halloween actually falling on a Sunday this year!) I have a job and need to be conscious tomorrow. I was supposed to be a pirate but the packaging said "Admiral" and my mom thought my hat was part of a Mariachi costume.

WHATEVER! I just loved my hat

Be safe. Have fun. Don't drink and drive. And beware of any grown man dressed in an Elmo costume.
--Captain Eileen

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

CAVI Holiday 2010

For Holiday 2010, CAVI - the brand known for its classic wovens- is introducing the next generation of casual yet refined military-inspired sportswear, outerwear and premium denim. According to Garth Cabral, CAVI Creative Director, "If you haven’t caught on to the plaid flannel trend, now is your chance."

I personally don't know how I feel about plaid flannel but this fur (faux?) vest below is giving me life!

Not to mention, Cavi recently launched CAVI Weekend in New York Sweepstakes in which one Grand Prize winner will receive a pretty sweet deal: including round-trip airfare for two, two nights in a luxury hotel, tix to New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden, a VIP table at 1OAK, dinner with Garth at one of NYC's hottest new restaurants, a private styling session with CAVI’s design team, and a $1,000 shopping spree at CaviNYC.com.

Whew!

Five runners-up will be selected to win a $100 gift card to CaviNYC.com.

CAVI is available at department stores nationwide and don't forget to enter their sweeps!

Tweet Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Get the Look: Kourtney Kardashian

We all know that I'm certifiably obsessed with the Kardashian girls. It's something about their effortless style that I just envy. Now that 2 of the clan have migrated to NYC, it's interesting to see just how they switch it up. Rather than laid back and casual, Kourtney sexes up her outfit. KK was spotted wearing Rebecca Minkoff's Pleated Leather Skirt paired with Alexander McQueen heels and a Ralph Lauren tuxedo top.

You be the judge! Is this hot or not?

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Why Don’t You…Vol. 10

It’s Sunday and I’m feeling quite down. I’m not sure why but I woke up sad. Does that ever happen to you? It’s days like this I leave my house and head to One Girl Cookies for the most amazing whoopie pies in NYC. So in an attempt to cheer myself up.

Don't mind my terribly chipped nails!

So this week the only thing I ask you to do in the Why Don’t You… Series is follow the below:

Well Hello Angels.

As a denim obsessed lover, I was intrigued when invited to the Spring 2011 preview for Charley 5.0. Launched in 2009 by Susan DiMeo, Marcy Feldman and Yalenis Cepeda, Charley 5.0 was created because the women (dubbed Charley's Angels) felt the market was saturated with the basic 5 pocket jean. They revamped the way we see denim by adding cool and edgy designs.

Probably the best quality about the denim collections are the super soft and stretchy materials. They are definitely more forgiving than your average jeans. La pièce de résistance of the brand would definitely have to be their jeggings. If you are looking for a pair of jeggings that are not only comfortable but fun to rock, you might want to check out Charley's range.

How. Fly. Are. These.

The spring line will be available January in stores and online including Revolveclothing.com and Shopbop.com. To learn more about the brand, check out their website www.charley50.com.

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Look Fly Without Breaking the Bank with PNK Elephant Accessories

Long Layers Necklace, $20

Last night I attended the launch of PNK Accessories.com. PNK Accessories offers a great mix of gold and brass silver costume jewelry at an affordable price. And when I say affordable, I mean SEWPER affordable- the most expensive piece was a necklace at $35.

Co-founders Blair Sandlain and Kijafa Frink met in '08 and has since partnered up to create a fun and edgy line of affordable accessories.

Muted Leaves Earrings, $15

Gold and Silver Link Chain Necklaces, $20

Two Layer Spike Chain Necklace, $15

PNK Elephant accessories are available at PNKElephant.com.

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Beauty News: Lancôme Presents Gene's Day

Other than tweeting "TGIF!" tomorrow, head to your nearest Lancôme counter and participate in their one-day fundraiser. Tomorrow, Lancôme will donate $7 from the sale of every Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate sold to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Lancôme will be donating a minimum of $100,000 from this initiative, so get shopping!

Check out the video Arlenis did explaining the initiative

LOVE that Lancôme did this in Spanish!

Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate is available at Lancôme counters in the U.S. and on lancome.com.

Tweet Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Put a Ring On It: tarte's ring it in set

Spotted: a cute and totally necessary mini cheek stain and reusable ring set created by the super fab eco conscious beauty company, tarte cosmetics.

This trio ($25 US/$33 CDN) contains tarte's best selling, t5™ infused natural cheek stains in new limited edition shades. The set also includes an adorable reusable ring. The blendable, botanical formula keeps pigments truer while keeping skin fresh and dewy while fighting free radicals and promoting cell regeneration.

That's one three hard working cheek stains!

The three new shades are:
* luster: bronze champagne
* vivid: vibrant pink
* flawless: golden coral

tarte's ring it in mini cheek stain and reusable ring set is available at tarte.com, Sephora, Sephora.com, Beauty.com, Ulta, Ulta.com, Henri Bendel, and boutiques nationwide.

Tweet Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Contest Alert: Win $15,000 for Your School From Adidas Moves Pulse Fragrances

Adidas Moves Pulse is encouraging students across the United States to create short videos showing the nation their “ultimate moves.” Videos of anything from sports to dance to music to debate— all the ways you can play— will be entered in a nationwide contest with a $15,000 prize for the winner’s school. Contest runs until October 22, 2010 and the winner will be announced December 12th, 2010.

Adidas Moves Pulse him ($19 to $26) is a fresh, spicy, woody fougere fragrance. Top notes of Yuzu leaves and bursts of Watermint join the stimulating aroma of Coriander. Mid-notes of Violet leaves, Artemisia and Vetiver capture a fresh, dynamic heart of invigorating freshness. Finally, rich base scents of warm, woody Cedar and sun-drenched Woods are wrapped in the masculine magnetism of Musk.

Adidas Moves Pulse her ($19 to $25) is a vibrant, floral, fruity fragrance. It opens with a refreshing burst of Pink Lady Apple, Blood Orange and Mirabelle Plum top notes. Then, the feminine fragrance unfolds to reveal a delicate floral heart of Indigo Violet, sweet Freesia and Night Jasmine, before moving into a warm, sensual base of sexy skin Musk and creamy Woods.

Good Luck!
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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Just for Fun: Zoya Halloween Video

I couldn't help but share this video!

How cute! What's everyone going to be for Halloween? I'm deciding between a peacock, Snooki or Nicki Minaj.

I know.

Tweet Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Going Straight For the Noncommittal

Eons ago (read: last year), I made the decision to attempt to go natural. After speaking to hairstylist and kinky hair specialist, Anthony Dickey (and a visit to his salon Hair Rules), I was determined to let my locks flow free in all its wavy glory. Fast forward to present day where #fail is my middle name and I am sporting a relaxed 'do. It's not that I don't embrace my natural hair texture-- I just love a long, sleek look (although to my credit I was natural up until recently).

Now women with kinky, curly or wavy hair don't have to worry about getting straight hair at the expense of their natural locks. I mean, the option has always been there but there are several products that are either too thick, too heavy or too greasy to slather in your hair daily. Why go through the hassle if the products are just no bueno?

Photo courtesy of Hair Rules

Dickey's new Blow Out line- Blow Out Your Kinks, Blow Out Your Curls and Blow Out Your Waves- allows women to sport their natural hair texture on Monday and straight locks on Tuesday.

Considering the fact that kinky hair's extremely fragile state, Blow Out Your Kinks is gentle enough to sooth scalp, make hair shine and fights humidity. For the curly girls, Blow Out Your Curls contains a mix of oils to help seal the cuticle's surface while increasing gloss and manageability. Blow Out Your Waves repairs and strengthens against the stress it goes through from blow dryers, straighteners, etc. Since it's so lightweight, Blow Out Your Waves can also be used on relaxed hair (holla!)

The Blow Out line retails for $20 and is available for purchase at ULTA.com and hairrules.com.

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Why Don't You...Vol. 9

Happy Sunday!!

Madeleine's Patissiere in NYC

Brrr...it's so COLD on this side of New York! Some are calling it autumn but I feel like we skipped that entirely and headed straight into winter.

I'm on my way to get a wash and set when I realized...I HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN A MILLION YEARS! I'm seriously slacking in the blogging game. I'll try to do better this week, mmkay? In the meantime, why don't you...

• Hang out with your friends more they matter
• Watch bad reality tv without any shame there's a Jersey Shore marathon going on right now. Go.
• Walk through a park
• Participate in No Makeup Mondays

• Download Prince Royce's Corazon Sin Cara it's such a great song and the lyrics are so beautiful
• Take a class on absolutely anything you want. That art/photography/ knitting class? Go ahead.
• Take the Pledge against breast cancer That widget in my sidebar (hint: it's pink) enter your pledge- simple as "wear a pink ribbon"

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

OOTDness: I Call This "The Tired Prepster"

People, there's a reason why I'm not a professional model. My hair never acts the way I want it to; my posture sucks; and when I'm over it, I'm over it.

Exhibit A:

However, this skirt warrants documentation and considering the fact that three people in my office commented and said I looked decent-- I knew an OOTD was in order.

The skirt was a result of a late night stroll into H&M (why is that place open so late?). It screams I attend Constance Billiard or at least I should.

It's short and gives a lot of leg. If I weren't so exhausted, I could have werked this look today.

xoxo,
Eileen

Sweater: H&M (got back in 2006)
T Shirt: Hanes
Skirt: H&M
Tights: HUE
Shoes: Payless

Photos taken by Danny.

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Soothing Skincare: Decléor Aroma Night Essential Night Balm

As someone who loves to indulge, I'm more than happy to share the details. Right before my trip to Haiti over the summer, I received a sample of Decléor's Aroma Night Essential Night Balm. Best. Present. Ever.

The summer nights were cool proving to be the perfect time to apply a small dab on my face at night. This thick neroli-based balm is formulated with beeswax so it applies smoothly on skin. I awoke to skin so smooth, I've become addicted to using it.

Fast forward to returning to NYC with a humidity so harsh, putting anything on my face seemed like torture. Now that Fall is upon us and the weather is cooler, I can start my regimen of applying at night (in place of moisturizer). Huzzah!

IF you're not a fan of applying balms to your face, you're in luck as I've been applying on my elbows, feet and cuticles to soften at night.

Decléor Aroma Night Essential Night Balm ($69) is available at Nordstrom.

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Disclosure: sample was provided for possible editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Soothing Skincare: Suave Advanced Therapy Body Lotion

While I love shopping for sweaters and tall boots, I do fear the wrath of cooler weather. When the temperature dips my skin goes from soft and beautiful to dry and ashy.

My legs tend to get so ashy one could mistake me for wearing stockings

In all seriousness, dry skin is a constant battle but I'm getting ahead with Suave's Advanced Therapy body lotion.

Enhanced with vitamins and glycerin to heal and relieve severely dry skin, Advanced Therapy is a lightweight creamy lotion that keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day. While heavier creams tend to be best during the dead of winter, this is perfect for autumn as it's light enough to use daily without clinging on to clothes. It immediately soaks into my skin without leaving a greasy feeling. I've even used it on my face!

Not only does it keep my skin soft, it's light fresh scent is pretty calming and gentle (so no overpowering stenches!)

Suave products are available at mass retailers near you.

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Disclosure: sample provided for consideration, however, does not affect my personal views. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Paris Fashion Week: Backstage Hair at Louis Vuitton

For Spring 2011, Marc Jacobs took the Louis Vuitton woman to a glam yet campy side of fashion. For the hair, Redken Creative Consultant Guido created a stunning and dramatic. The hair was a highly polished twist close to the head.

photo courtesy of Redken

 “We’ve been seeing a lot of smaller shapes this season, and the look for Louis Vuitton is very sophisticated, V-shaped twist," says Guido.

Photo courtesy of Redken

To get the look, just do the following:

1. Prep hair by blow drying wool shake 08 into the hair with a large round brush.
2. Create a left side part and pull out the first 2 inches of hair above the right eye
3. Create a swoop with this hair so it covers the right eye.
4. Beginning on the right side of the head, take the longer portion of the section that just covered the eye and begin twisting the hair inward, adding more hair as you twist and create the twist in a diagonal shape towards the nape of the neck.
5. On the left side, begin twisting hair inward adding more hair as you twist diagonal towards the nape of the neck.
6. Once the two sides meet, twist the hair into itself and secure with pins.
7. Finish with forceful 23 super strength finishing spray for hold.

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Paris Fashion Week: Backstage Hair at MIU MIU

As an au revoir to Paris Fashion Week, hairstylist and Redken Creative Consultant Guido created the hair for Miu Miu. The look was a bob like effect by rolling the hair under.

 “This is another take on a small shape, rather than having the hair tight, this is a looser alternative to a small head style," says Guido.

To recreate the look, follow these steps:

1. Blow-dry wool shake 08 into the hair
2. Create a two-inch center part
3. Brush the hair into a low ponytail (about 2 inches from the bottom)
4. Roll the ponytail inward and up to the nape of the neck, creating a roll effect and secure with pins at the nape
5. Pull a few pieces out around the face for softness

Photo courtesy Redken.

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Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.