Why does time pass by so quickly as you approach 40? All those years I spent as a young girl, anticipating and eagerly awaiting my time to turn, what some have deemed, the legal age of 18 (I really wanted to be a contestant on the Love Connection). No matter how fast I wanted 18 to come, it took its sweet time before finally bestowing its false gift of adulthood upon me. If I knew then what I know today, I would not have been so concerned about getting older; instead, I would have taken full advantage of my youthful years, relishing in the uninhibited freedom those precious years carried. Time is a precious commodity that you cannot get back once it has passed, and oh, man does it move swiftly. I honestly cannot tell you where the time went, especially when I look at how fast Mademoiselle is growing. Now a precocious two-year-old, Mademoiselle acts more like a teenager than a toddler. Just last night I caught Mademoiselle holding a small mirror in one hand while trying remove a patch of dry skin from her bottom lip with the other. A few minutes later, Mademoiselle went to the bathroom, put a little Vaseline on her index finger, and applied it to her tiny lips to soothe the dryness. It was the cutest thing to watch.

I think it is great that my little girl is becoming more self-sufficient. I love that she insists on carrying her own belongings in a purse or backpack, and since she is now toilet trained, alas, I am free from toting around a diaper bag. Like those years when I impatiently waited to turn 18, I could not wait for those days of carrying a stylish clutch or handbag to return. Surprisingly, now that the opportunity has come, I find myself with a rather perplexing dilemma, a purse conundrum so to speak. Perhaps it has a lot to do with the fact that I have not carried a purse in a little over two years. Oddly, I feel somewhat attached to the old diaper bag that does not match a single thing in my closet; I feel weird walking out of the house without it even when Mademoiselle is not with me. I forget the most important necessities when I attempt to carry a regular handbag, which often leaves me in a bind; yet I feel stupid with a diaper bag on my shoulder without a baby in my arms or in a stroller. Could my attachment to Mademoiselle’s diaper bag signify a harsh reality that I am unconsciously avoiding? What is the harsh reality I am avoiding? It is the reality that Mademoiselle is no longer a baby. I know I need to come to the realization that I cannot capture time in a bottle. Mademoiselle is growing up rather I like it or not.

Now I’m wondering what quick fix is going to rectify my current situation since facing the reality of my daughter growing up will not happen overnight. Maybe... Just maybe I need to feel the adrenaline rush of buying a super cute, fabulously funky new purse that will rekindle that old love that seems to have been lost. I need a clutch or tote that will reconnect all the fashion wires that have been disconnected by the chaotic parenting world of raising two boys and one fearless, wild girl child.

The Fashion Quick Fix 

My favorite accessory shop for unique accessory finds, Tres Jolie's Luxe Fur Clutch, pictured above. 

Tory Burch French Resin Clutch

 Lips Tote

Holiday Gift Alert

Tres Jolie's Gold Bracelets with Turquiose and Eye of the Tiger

Combine this uniquely packaged towel with your favorite skincare or face products to create an adorable gift.

Tory Burch Kid Tunic

Given the current state of our economy and the uncertainty of its ability to bounce back in a year or two, many are making preparations to ride the wave of this economic crisis by reevaluating how they spend their hard earned dollars. I know I have. I have been clipping coupons, spending a lot of time at free events, shopping around for the best bargains, and so forth. I have also been spending time trying to distinguish between the very fine line of needs and wants. I figured that spending over $20 for lotion was definitely a want; not necessarily a need. Surely I could find a less expensive, high quality lotion that would moisturize my body just as well; so I thought.

And so for a very brief moment in time, I experimented with a few different brands of lotion in hopes of finding one that could be my new favorite at a reasonable price. But I realized that there are some things you just can’t skimp on when I felt the ash creeping back on my skin after 20 minutes of applying the lotion and the cheap smell that seemed to linger in air. My skin needed a drink after that debacle so I quickly declared that enough was enough and went back to what I knew best: L’Occitane’s rich, silky Olive Luminous Body Cream, my skin instantly felt soft and well moisturized. I realize that I'm going to have to look for other ways to save money, and cutting corners on skincare is not an option.

My other favorites include:

Product Body's Whipped Shea Butter

Body Time's Vitamin A,D & E Moisturizer

For those times when I'm in a hurry and I don't have the extra time to spare I use Lush's King of Skin when I'm in the shower because there is no need to apply a body cream after you get out of the shower.

Holiday Gift Alert:

This season give a Fresh, sweet gift

Sugar Social

Sugar Affair

When I contemplate the 15 years you have spent on this earth thus far, gracing the world with your kind personality and charming smile, I marvel at the young man you are becoming. You are such an intelligent and thoughtful person, which is why others, including me, love being around you. Because of your potential, I am excited about all the promises and hope the future is holding at will call for you. I must not fail to remind you once again that I believe in you and in your ability to succeed and triumph over adversity. Happy Birthday, Beniy!

My heart is filled with so much love for you,

Mom

Yeah. I thought it was a joke too. However, after checking the website I was delightfully surprised to find that the e-mail, sent by my mother-in-law, informing me that E.L.F is currently selling makeup items and makeup tools for just $1 is true. YES, GIRL, ONE DOLLAR! So, I had to stop what I was doing to write a quick post to let you know about this opportunity to save big.

Apparently, Nordstrom bought E.L.F.; as a result, they are repackaging the line to reflect the Nordstrom brand, which is why they are trying to get rid of the old stuff for dirt cheap. They are also selling body butter for $4, makeup cases for $15, etc. This is a good time to stock up on lipgloss and makeup brushes. Use the coupon code CAROLINA for an additional savings of $7.50 when you spend $15 or more.

Although I checked Elf's website to see if it was true that makeup was being sold for $1, I did not verify at least two other sources before posting this information because I'm on vacation, which is why I was in a rush to get this posted. But, thanks to Tamara for bringing up the fraud issue. Here is a statement from Nordstrom:

Customer Alert - eyeslipsface.com

We have learned that some of our customers received e-mails from an unauthorized and unknown source regarding the website eyeslipsface.com. We want you to know that Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com are not affiliated with eyeslipsface.com or the e.l.f. product line, nor with any e-mail regarding that website or product line. Nordstrom does not sell e.l.f. products.

In general, you should always use caution and verify the authenticity of any website before providing information over the Internet. Also be aware of e-mails from unknown sources as they may contain a link to a fraudulent website specifically set up to capture and fraudulently use personal or account information. These websites are sometimes called "mirror" sites and may give the appearance of the true website.

Please know that Nordstrom would not ask for your account information through e-mail communication. If you receive an e-mail asking for any personal or account information appearing to be from Nordstrom, or is claiming affiliation with Nordstrom, please forward the information to onlinefraud@nordstrom.com or call us at 1-888-282-6060

I'm still on vacation. I will return to blogging in a week and a half. Until then...live glamorously.

Tracci

My favorite jewelry store in Los Angeles, Tres Jolie, has some of the jewelry that was featured in the movie Sex in the City.

Flat oval hoops worn by Miranda Hobbes.

Flower ring worn by Samatha in the auction scene.

Jennifer Hudson's character held this cute key chain in the movie.

Visit Tres Jolie for other pieces featured in the movie.

I'm currently in Los Angeles, trying desperately to survive the heat by drinking insane amounts of ice cold Arrowhead spring water and by staying off my mother's leather sofas. Mademoiselle is also trying to keep cool by any means necessary. Yesterday, I found Mademoiselle with her diaper off, lying quietly by the front screen door like a cat stretched out in the shade, attempting to hide from the scorching rays of the sun. Seeing my baby girl keeping cool by striping off her clothes wasn't a big deal; however, I didn't want her naked body on display for all the little boys in the neighborhood to see. And so, I took Mademoiselle to the bathroom to wash her up with a soap and water soaked towel before putting on a fresh diaper. My mother was surprised when she saw me grab a towel. She wanted to know why I didn't use baby wipes. Little girls are so delicate and are sometimes sensitive in the vaginal area; as a result, I prefer using a regular towel with a mild soap and water. "That's old school," was my mother's response. "All you need is some cloth diapers," she added. Well the truth is, I still use cloth diapers whenever Mademoiselle is not in training pants; cloth diapers not only save money, they are much better for the environment and the baby's delicate skin. 

Cloth diapers have come a long way since I first began using them on my son fourteen years ago. Now, there are so many options available for parents to choose from. There are also some really cute accessories available like the cute diaper cover and matching headband pictured above. The cover is adorable, and so is the warning: "Don't smell the daisies" embroidered above the flower.

You can find more information on the diaper cover here. 

Spotting five different women wearing a shirt I purchased during the Nordstrom yearly anniversary sale made me regret I even stepped foot into Nordstrom. The thing I most hate is, seeing me walking down the street; it is the bane of my very existence. I told myself that I needed to take my business to small boutiques and specialty shops where the chances of finding one of a kind and unique clothing are far greater.

A desire for unique, cute, sophisticated duds is what first attracted me to Biba, a London fashion boutique founded by Barbara Hulanicki in 1964. Biba’s clothes are stylishly feminine and flirty. Most importantly, one doesn’t have to be concerned about seeing themselves coming or going. Learn more about the Biba experience here.

The orange patent leather shoes can be found here.

I know it's all about the gladiators this season, and I love this pair.

The memory of receiving my first piece of jewelry, at the age of 12, is still so very fresh in mind. It’s as if it was yesterday that I received a pair of ruby and diamond encrusted parrot earrings from my grandmother. Though they were my favorite pair, I was only allowed to wear the earrings on special occasions. I wasn’t satisfied with that because I wanted to wear them every day. It wasn’t until my grandmother swore to god that wearing the earrings daily would increase the chances of a theft stealing them by chopping my ears off that I lost my desire to wear the parrots. I quickly became content with just staring at them in a box after that scary story, which probably explains why the memory is forever ingrained in my mind

I can’t tell you why Marco Bicego’s jewelry made me think of the story I mentioned above. Perhaps it has something to do with the exquisite artistry and eye-catching designs.

The Buzz: - Marco Bicego's jewels are items of contemporary seduction: necklaces, bracelets, earrings and finger rings are fruit of old goldsmithing techniques, the knowledge of craftsmen handed down from generation to generation.

Since the launch of his eponymous jewelry line in 2000, Marco Bicego has redefined the phrase "everyday luxury", with sensuous, extraordinary beautiful jewelry that blend Old World Italian craftsmanship with passion.

Diamond and precious stone cluster ring

Marco Bicego information can be found here and here.

Whenever we are out and about people often comment on how cute Mademoiselle is, especially when we’re wearing matching converse. She loves the idea of wearing shoes like her mother. In fact, if a stranger tells Mademoiselle that her shoes are adorable she makes it a point to let them know that I’m also wearing a pair.

As far as I know, Converse is the only brand that sells kid versions of adult shoes. I too frequently wish there were more designers on the scene doing the same as Converse because there are times when I would love to have the same pair of shoes kid shoes to prance around in like Mademoiselle’s Lelli Kelly floral Mary Janes for example. I guess Chinese Laundry is moving in the right direction since they have created a kids line of shoes called Little Laundry. Though I have yet to spot an adult version of Little Laundry’s kid shoes; they are unique nonetheless.

You can learn more about the metallic sandals here.

In the midst of the chaos, I managed to successfully complete the Fat Smash Diet. I now weigh 115 pounds, which is ideal for my 5’3” frame. I also discovered cheaper mascara – Covergirl’s Lash Blast. Even though I had problems with my lashes clumping together, for years, I was a slave to high-end mascaras. It wasn’t until Mademoiselle misplaced a newly purchased tube of Dior Show that I decided to give Covergirl’s Lash Blast a shot. To my surprise, the Lash Blast mascara worked just as well, if not better, than Dior Show. Although I didn’t notice a significant change in the length of my lashes, the Lash Blast mascara does add volume, giving my lashes the fullness typically achieved with false lashes. Unlike Dior Show, Cover Girl’s flexible silicone brush helps to separate as well as define lashes. I can apply my usual three to four coats of mascara without my lashes clumping together, which is good for someone like me who likes to create dramatic lashes.