The One Hundred: Nina Garcia

I am a self-proclaimed fashionista. I enjoy trends, and I love to watch the runways at fashion week, but overall my style tends to be more classic than trendy. I am fairly skilled at knowing which trends just won't work for me, and good at knowing which ones will. I recently had the opportunity to review a book that I almost instantly fell in love with, a book that seemed to be written just for me. Obviously I know it wasn't, so in that respect, I felt I should share it with you, because it is a book I feel that anyone at any age could greatly benefit from!

If you're a fan of Project Runway, then the author of this book, Nina Garcia, needs no introduction. This is her second book, the first one being The Little Black Book of Style. This book, called The One Hundred, contains the 100 pieces that Garcia feels will remain classic pieces, the timeless items that every woman should own.

The One Hundred not only lists Garcia's top 100 items, but it gives women a starting point when looking to create a closet full of timeless pieces. Of course, she also stresses in the book the importance of self-editing -- knowing what looks good on you and what things will just never work. (For instance, her suggestion that I keep a pair of white jeans in my closet is just not one that I'm likely to take to heart.) I adore the suggestions of the perfect ballet flat, the monogrammed stationery, pearl necklace, and the pea coat, to name a few.

You can purchase The One Hundred on Amazon on sale for $13.97. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best style books ever written. It's going on my shelf right next to my Sephora Beauty Book!

Note to Self

This contest is now CLOSED!

Ok, it's just a coincidence that I'm reviewing two books this week, but I just couldn't wait any longer to tell you about this book!

It's called Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits and it is written with the kind of charm and poise that I only wish came across in my writing! Not only that, but it's written about writing.

This is the second book written by author Samara O'Shea, the first one being For the Love of Letters, a book about the seemingly long-lost art of letter writing. Note to Self, however, focuses on something a little closer to my heart -- writing journals and blogs. A "journalist" I am, so to speak, in the sense that I have kept a journal since I was little, writing down the slightest of things. I understand when O'Shea speaks of the pull, the draw of a brand new journal, and the pressure to write something incredibly profound on those first few pages. However, reading her journal entry from when she was a mere 16 puts all of my entries to shame. Don't let her fool you, she has always had a knack for writing, a thing for words.

There is a section here for bloggers, as blogging is the new-age form of journaling in a sense. As O'Shea says, blogging is more structured than a journal entry, but not quite an article. A blogger herself, she understands what it takes to be a blogger, and to be blogged about. It's nice to be recognized as something legitimate on paper, don't you think? But she also recognizes that blogging is a personal rush. To have your words unedited, changed by no one before they are published.

My favorite aspect of this book is that O'Shea encourages you to make mistakes. To play with words even if you know that grammatically it is not even close to being correct. To write in a stream of consciousness. Overall, she inspires you to be a better writer, for no one else but yourself. This is not a book you choose to read for professional reasons, but for those that are so personal, you dare not share them.

You can pick up a copy of Samara O'Shea's Note to Self on Amazon.com for $13.57

Win it! I have an extra copy of Note to Self that I'm willing to giveaway to one lucky reader! To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment on this post telling me why you would like to have a copy of this book.
  
• Please leave a valid email address if you would like to be contacted if you win. Otherwise, winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch.
• If the winner does not respond within 72 hours I will choose a different winner.
• US entries only please!!!
• Earn extra credit! Choose one of the following for ONE extra credit entry. Any further attempts to woo me will be disqualified!
• Place my CSC button in your sidebar and tell me about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my homepage (http://www.chicshopperchick.com) and let me know about it in a separate post with your StumleUpon name too.

That's it! This contest will end at 11:59 pm on August 20th. Good luck!

Gorgeously Green

I really like Julia Roberts. She's not one of those crazy, flaky celebrities and it seems she generally tries to stay out of the spotlight and the media, unless she is, of course, in the media for her newest movie. (Or so it seems - I should probably confess that I don't actually know Julia Roberts -- I'm sure you are shocked. No, these are my assumptions based on what I've observed.)

But I digress.

Julia Roberts wrote the foreward to a book that I recently had the opportunity to review called "Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth Friendly Life". In her foreward, Roberts says "I am absolutely altered. This Gorgeously Green book has provided my household with a bible of hope and help (not to mention a good cleansing mask and a source for eco-cashmere)."

I knew I liked her. She's right. This book is, quite simply, a resource. It's not a book to read and put away. It's been sitting on my kitchen table since June -- not because I'm horrible at housework, but because I am constantly flipping through it to check out another great website, to find another great idea, to figure out another way to do my part. (Oh, and to make the hummus recipe that is on page 219. Yum.)

Written by Sophie Uliano, Gorgeously Green has given me tips on everything you can imagine, like:

• A way to do something good with my half-used medicines (the Starfish Project) and why you should NEVER throw old medications down the toilet, drain, or waste disposal.
• A way to stop junk mail by being taken off of credit bureau lists (tired of those credit card offers?) and how to stop 75 percent of those wasteful national mailings.
• Why you shouldn't burn just any old candles (guilty as charged) because of the toxins that they release, and places to buy safe candles (or what to look for when you purchase them).
• All about sleeping on natural and organic mattresses -- (you spend a large portion of your life on a mattress!) and where to purchase them.
• Healthy products to get you through a pregnancy.
• Eco-friendly vacations.

And those topics are just the tip of the iceberg. My sister will love this book, and I'm already planning on purchasing her a copy of it for her for her birthday next month (don't worry, she won't see this!). But she'll have to have her own copy, oh yes -- because she lives 4 hours away and is not getting her hands on mine. How would I make hummus?

You can purchase your copy of Gorgeously Green on Amazon.com for $11.53.

Remember Me?

On our last day in Washington DC two weeks ago, hubby had a day full of meetings and a desperate need for the rental car. We jointly decided that Little AG and I would take the hotel shuttle down to M Street in Georgetown for the day and spend it walking around. After about 4 hours of cruising one of my favorite places in the world, she conked out in the stroller. When I walked into Anthropologie and the worker at the door commented on Little AG being "out" I swung the stroller right around and dashed over to Barnes and Nobles. I was exhausted after 4 hours of walking and just wanted to sit down and relax for a while. I took the elevator up to the 2nd floor and found the little cafe. I ordered myself a Chai Tea Frappuccuino and a sugar cookie and settled into a little corner with a book by one of my favorite ever authors, Sophie Kinsella.

Sophie Kinsella is the author who has written my favorite all-time series, Confessions of a Shopaholic. At that point I had read every book that she had ever written, with the exception of her most recent book, titled Remember Me? I was thrilled to have a few moments during Little AG's nap time to get a sneak preview of this book. In short, Remember Me? is the story of Lexi Smart, who, at 25, is a frizzy haired girl with bad teeth. She has a boyfriend called "Loser Dave" who has just stood her up, has fallen a week short of getting a bonus at work, and her father has just passed away. In all honesty, things are looking pretty bleak.

Attempting to hail a cab in the rain, Lexi slips in the street, and as she falls she blacks out. The next thing she knows, she wakes up in the hospital. Everything seems normal for about 30 minutes. Then, she realizes her nails are perfectly manicured, her hair is neat, not frizzy, with chic highlights, and her teeth are perfect and gleaming white. Her body is tanned and toned, and she is utterly confused. What happened?

Turns out Lexi has been in a car accident and the last thing she remembers is 3 years ago. On the outside, the life that she can't remember seems perfect -- she is married to a gorgeous developer, she is the boss at her company, and drives a Mercedes Convertible. But then a handsome architect shows up and throws a wrench in her perfect life when he reveals that he was Lexi's lover. What happened to her in 3 years to bring about this life?

I laughed and smiled my way through this entire book. The people in Barnes and Noble were probably laughing at me as I read this book because I was so animated. My only complaint about it was that I read it in two sittings -- I couldn't put it down and it left me wanting more. If you are looking for a fun read for the summer, then this is it. I'm sure you will enjoy learning about the forgotten life of Lexi Smart as much as I did.

I highly encourage you to consider grabbing a copy of "Remember Me?" -- you'll be glad you did! You can purchase it on Amazon.com for $16.50.

Be Daring!

On Friday I received my copy of The Pocket Daring Book for Girls: Things to Do, which is essentially a pocket companion (though, as my husband pointed out, probably won't fit in ANYONES pocket) to The Daring Book for Girls. When I opened it, I couldn't help but pour through it and oooh and aaaah about how great some of the ideas were. I absolutely love it. Each activity is detailed in simple, clear, yet concise steps, and is fairly simple to follow.

Some of the activities, like, "How to make a sit-upon" brought me back to my girl scout days. I also liked the section on "How to be a Spy" (complete with secret code maker), and the section on "How to have a lemonade stand" (plus a plethora of other "lemon" inspired snacks to sell with it.) However, my favorite activity, that made me a giddy little girl again, was "How to make a zip line". I all but made hubby turn the car around to head to Home Depot.

This book is so much fun, and is great for the set who enjoys reading, but is just as useful for the set who doesn't, because it provides so many great active things to do. I'm thinking this is the perfect gift for the 8ish girl set, as well as a great gift to any mom of an 8ish girl. Or, if you're like me and want to create your own zipline at 25, go ahead and buy it for yourself. You won't be sorry that you did.

Purchase The Pocket Daring Book For Girls: Things to Do by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz at (on sale) Amazon for $10.17

I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

“It’s about reinventing yourself throughout life. Don’t stop at pretty – go for gorgeous all the time.
Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.”

-- Jerrod Blandino, Founder of Too Faced Cosmetics, on Beauty

This is my new favorite quote, and it’s one that greeted me when I opened the pages of Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority. An admitted beauty-product addict (see my bathroom counter for proof – you won’t find the actual countertop) and dedicated Sephoree (yes, I just invented that word – hello Websters, it’s Chic Shopper Chick calling!) this book is a must-have for fanatics like me who just can’t get enough. But really, as I read it, I realized that this book is also a must-have for even those who aren’t fanatics like me. See, I am willing to seek out beauty tips and chat off anyone’s ear about my favorite skin-care products, mascara, and eyeshadow. I spend hours on my vacations in Sephora stores (ask hubby – poor guy just books vacations in cities with a Sephora) because until a month ago, my darling state of Louisiana, for all of its culture, music, and fabulous food, DID NOT HAVE A SEPHORA.

But are you willing to do those things? If the answer is no, that’s ok. For me, it’s a hobby. But I know you still want to look fabulous, and if it’s not your hobby and you don’t want to spend hours scouring the internet for beauty tips, then this is the book for you. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOOKING FABULOUS IS HERE. I’m serious! It’s my new Beauty Bible! Full-time job and full-time mommy? This book is for you! Full-time student and part-time job? This book is for you, too.

Case in point. Have you ever gone to the salon and gotten a really, really fabulous new hair style? You get home, you’re feelin’ good – the next day you brush it, maybe add a little product – but you’re still feelin’ good about this ‘do of yours. Then the third day comes – maybe you throw it in a ponytail, but what a cute ponytail – all of the hairs are just right! And then, day four. You can’t milk it anymore. You have to wash it. So you do. And you never get your hair to look like that again. Well, last time I got my hair “done” as I like to say, I told my fabulous stylist repeatedly that I can’t get my hair to look like she does. Well, she took baby steps with me, pointed me in the direction of some good products, and taught me how to do it myself. I left out of there $220 poorer but confident that I could at least come close to what she does with my hair -- and you know what? I can. But if I had read this book first I would have saved her some time and my hair would have looked a lot better, a lot sooner. All of the same tips that she gave me, like blowdrying in sections with a round brush in the opposite direction that your hair grows and using a root-builder on the crown of my head (whew!) ARE IN THIS BOOK! Sweet!

Oh, and this book is just gorgeous. It is full of color photos to give examples, all big enough to see in detail. Tons of little tips are scattered throughout the books as well, giving you tips about how to reduce the appearance of cellulite (20 percent topical, 80 percent diet – who knew?!), how to elongate your legs and make them look flawless with a bronzer, using a primer under your foundation, and oh – did you know that concealer should be put on AFTER foundation?!

Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority is a must-have, and is full of classic tips that you can pass up or down a generation. The list price for this hardcover book is $27.95 but Amazon is currently selling it for $18.45. That is a serious deal for this book, so grab a copy for yourself -- I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Sex and The City: The Movie, The Book

***Warning*** The nice girl in me feels the need to tell you that the review below could contain spoilers of the movie. While I am not attempting out give out major plot points, some of it is necessary to get my point across. So if you don't want to know, please, click away now. Ok, enough nice girl, on to the goods...

I admit it. Last night I was one of the crazy girls with tickets to see the first showing of Sex and the City at exactly 12:01 AM. I had to get up early with Little AG this morning, and I got home at 3:30 am, but I didn't care. It was worth it. I LOVED IT. I am a fanatical SATC fan (but really, is anyone not?) and have seen every episode in order, from start to finish, starting at season one, ending at season six. I can't get enough. So, even though the reviewer from the New York Times doesn't agree, I was extremely happy with the movie.

I do feel the need to share with you that I arrived with 3 of my friends in the theater at 11:15ish for a 12:01 movie. We walked right up to the ticket counter and she printed out our pre-paid tickets in 2 seconds flat, and I'm all "maybe it was silly that we got prepaid tickets -- there's no one here". And then we walked upstairs. HELLO! There were women EVERYWHERE. It was sheer madness. We were ushered to the theater where our movie would be shown, and when we walked in I realized that 11:15 was not quite early enough -- there were no seats left except for the really bad ones. NONE. Not even 4 seats between 2 groups of slightly sketchy people. Who waits an HOUR in a stuffy theater for a movie to start? Apparently everyone but us. I swear we were the last group of people to walk through the door.

There were women in large brimmed hats, girls in stiletto heels and fab dresses, and a grand total of 5 men who must have been being blackmailed by the women they were with -- because there is NO WAY that hubby would have gone to a midnight showing of SATC with me. Anyway, my favorite part of the night, besides the movie itself, was when the woman next to us pulled a martini shaker and full-sized martini glass from her purse. She sipped cosmos through most of the movie. Seriously.

Well, today I received my copy of Sex and the City: The Movie and I have to tell you how much I love it. It goes scene by scene through the movie, and almost like a companion storybook, it tells the story of the movie, along with some commentary from the cast and crew. This book is awesome and is a must-have for all of my fellow SATC fans! Its a hardcover edition with 176 pages of pure bliss! Each page is filled with gorgeous color still shots from the movie and little snippets of trivia. I felt like I was watching the movie all over again!

To top it off, there is a section about scenes that didn't make the movie, and a COMPLETE listing of every outfit worn by the fab four in the movie (so that you don't have to scour the internet to find out about that awesome dress that Charlotte was wearing, or the bag that Carrie was carrying). Oh, and for you stalker-like folk, there is a listing of every on-location place used to shoot the film.

Really, this book rocked my world. Hubby will be saddened to know that I spent an hour pouring over it instead of washing clothes or cleaning the kitchen. Your copy of Sex and the City: The Movie is patiently waiting for you at Amazon -- and right now it's on sale for 10 dollars off, making the total price $19.77. So go, now, and grab one!

My Lucky Post

Did you know that it's unlucky to cut your hair on a Friday or Saturday? Or that you shouldn't change the sheets in your guest room until your house guest has been gone from your house for at least an hour? By the same token, you shouldn't turn down the sheets on a bed too early, for fear that bad luck might make itself comfortable there. And do you have mistletoe hanging in your house all year long? If not, then you should -- but make sure you only cut it during the Christmas season, and hang a new sprig each Christmas Eve.

I have learned all of these things plus so many more fun facts from reading "Luck: The Essential Guide". Ever pick up a book that is just fun to read, from beginning to end? Well this book is fun, no matter where you start reading it -- even if you start in the middle! Written by Deborah Aaronson and Kevin Kwan, "Luck" is a great conversation topic! We took a little two-hour road trip with some friends today, and we chatted a bit about the different topics in this book. I'm really not overly superstitious, but this book has been so enjoyable -- and since it is written in small snippets about specific topics, it's easy to pick up in the middle or just thumb through until you find a topic that really interests you.

I definitely plan to pack it in my carry on bag for my upcoming summer travels -- it would be great on the plane -- fun to read, but nothing too heavy or involved. It would also be a fun beach or poolside read! If this sounds like a book you would also enjoy then you can purchase Luck: The Essential Guide on Amazon.com for $13.57 and it will also qualify for free shipping on orders over $25.

Coloring and Cupcakes

I was browsing Etsy this morning when I happened upon these beautiful items from the storefront of ChichiBoulie. Based out of Lille, France, all of these exquisite pieces are hand drawn. Among my favorites are these adorable coloring books -- like this one for boys called "Le Mer" (the sea):They are 10 pages long and retail for $5.50. At 4 by 6 inches, they are the perfect size to slip into a travel bag for some quiet coloring time.

My other favorite items are these adorable gift tags -- you can get a set of 6 for $5. I like the cupcake style, but there are other designs as well, like Bridal Shower tags!

Check out these as well as the many other adorable designs at ChichiBoulie -- she also sells custom artwork and stationery, among other things!

Embroidered Elegance

Ok, I admit it. I'm kinda creative and crafty. I can actually make pseudo-attractive scrapbook pages, and I enjoy having tons of ribbon, paper scraps, stickers, and glue sticks covering my kitchen table (though hubby grits his teeth at it). For Little AG's first birthday party, I made a scrapbook of her 12 month journey and laid it out on the table for everyone to look through and sign. I only wish that before I had done so, I had seen these awesome customized embroidered scrapbooks from Pulp.

You can choose from 9 fabric and thread color combinations, and one of four fonts. There is a die-cut window on the front to display your favorite photo, and it comes with 10 pre-loaded scrapbook pages (refills are available). I think these are totally chic and elegant, and though the price tag may seem high, remember that you can continue to add refills to hold as many photo's as you'd like. I'm thinking I'll order one for each year so that they can all get shelved in a pretty little line, so really the $45 price tag isn't bad if it's the only photo album I buy all year.

Mom Agenda

So, I'm sort of the queen of saving things and then not knowing where I put them. Poor AG has important papers shoved in boxes stored in her closet, and a few other ones in not-as-obvious places. So, this momAgenda Kitchen Folio is lookin' really good to me right about now. It has 48 pages and 24 interchangeable tabs, so there is a place for everything. You can store class lists, school schedules, extracurricular activity schedules, menus and more in the included heavy-duty, clear plastic page protectors. Maybe this is what I need to finally get my life organized! Pick one up at Baby Box for $29.

Eloise in Paris

You probably have already realized that I'm trying my hardest to teach Little AG as much French as possible, mainly because I love the language so much. Well, my whole family knows that, and the other day, my mother-in-law gave us this awesome, awesome book, Eloise in Paris, a part of the Eloise series. It is full of adorable illustrations and is written in English, with some French words thrown in (she is in Paris, after all) for good measure. I just love it, and I know Little AG will love it too. Hopefully we can read it a few times in preparation for our trip to France this summer! If you are feeling brave, or if you are a francophone or francophile comme moi, you can grab the French version of the same book Eloise a Paris (Eloise in Paris) French Edition on Amazon. Grab the English version for $13 and the french one for $40. J'espere que vous l'aimez!

Tiny Traveler

Little AG is, at the very least, what you could call "well-traveled" for a 14 month old. I was just saying to hubby the other day, as we prepped for yet another journey, that we should start writing down all the places that she has gone so that one day she could look back on them. So, when I was in one of my favorite ever places the other day, the bookstore, I spotted this adorable mini-journal for travelers. It is perfect for her, as each page has space to write: dates, destination, accommodations, traveling companions, and highlights. I plan to keep it up for her until she is old enough to do it for herself, with the hopes that she will have it completely filled up one day (it has room enough for 128 journeys!) Buy the Where I Went: Mini Journal for $8 on Amazon. I know you won't regret it! (CSC note: unfortunately, this is not the best picture of this product, it is much cuter and brighter in person, and it also has an elastic band to keep the book shut.)

Sheep in a Jeep

Beep! Beep! A friend gave little A.G. this book as a first birthday gift, and lately I've had to read it to her over and over because when I'm done, she hands it right back to me! This book is so much fun for both of us -- I have to admit that I laughed out loud several times the first time that I read it. Little A.G. giggles every time I read the page that says "Uh oh, the Jeep won't go!"

Sheep in a Jeep, written by Nancy Shaw and illustrated by Margot Apple can be purchased on Amazon.com by clicking here.
The board book retails for only $5.95, so while you're clicking, pick up a copy of Sheep on a Ship and Sheep in a Shop as well.