SoCo's Best Kept Secret

Austin's South Congress strip is famous for capturing Austin's true eccentric and eclectic styles in fashion, art and music. Whatever your interests might be, there is something for everyone. Many times we've walked the shops up and down, but this time we stumbled (at least that's what backed in angled parking feels like) into a newer addition. A happy stumble it was. Leighelena is SoCo's best kept secret...and I'm telling ALL of you! We literally spent twenty minutes in the first five feet of the store picking out some pieces for our new, quirky art collection (fancy schmancy...not really, just fun :)). Marc Tetro is brilliant and depicts all different types of dogs in his work. He is spot on with the Boston Terrier and we couldn't resist.

www.marctetro.com

Making our way through the space we came upon a game of horseshoes. This was not your traditional game with the metal horseshoe and spike. It involved tossing a bracelet onto old Coca-Cola bottles. Pretty simple: Hook a bottle...and you hook a bracelet for FREE! Fun way to get involved with customers!

Bracelet Pictures: Courtesy of www.shopleighelena.com

The Jigsaw Bracelet collection is amazing and comes in a variety of leathers including stingray, snake and lizard. You can also customize your buckle tone to be distressed silver, matte gold or gunmetal and they will change it out for you right there in store. My friend walked out wearing two! 

Great concept at a great price $69-158 

(prices referenced from online shop). 

Quick Tip: Sometimes in store they have discounted prices on discontinued bracelets. :) 

I've been keeping an eye out for a "perfectly vintage" Dooney & Bourke handbag. Like I said, I should have known within the first five feet of this place I would continue to find amazing treasures twenty feet in. I did! It is a circa 1994 Dark Navy and British Tan All Weather Leather Satchel from the Essex collection in vintage mint (lightly worn interior and exterior) condition. I managed to snatch up the beauty for $48. They had a few to choose from as well and all were in great shape. Excited to add this friend to my collection.

It's not hard to locally love this Austin shop. If you're ever in town or live here it is a MUST see. From vintage apparel to customized jewelry or funky artwork, Leighelena is a one-stop-shop with unbeatable products and prices. 

Leighelena

1714 S. Congress Ave.

Austin, Tx 78704

www.leighelena.com

Happy shopping & Love your locals!

Cheers,

Em

Boxes? Bags? They're all the swag!

Since signing up with Birchbox I decided to try a few other beauty subscriptions. I love my Julep Maven nail lacquer subscription, as seen in a post below. I always get at least 3 polishes or other hand/nail products a month for $20 and I love trying new nail colors that I may not have picked otherwise. Pictured are May and June Julep boxes. I skipped July and August, but will pick back up in September!

I also decided to try out Beauty Army. It's $12 a month and you get to choose 6 products from I think 9 or 12 options. I had heard great reviews and that they send a lot of full sized products, but that is not the case. All the products (with the exception of one NARS mascara) I've received the last few months have been sample size only. I will be cancelling that subscription, but I'm still glad I tried it :) 

The last one I decided to try was MyGlam, which is $10 a month. I have received two months and so far I love it...a little more than Birchbox! Each month all the products (4-6) come in a fun little bag you can use as a clutch or as extra storage inside your handbag. In June's bag below I received two full size products, The Marbella liquid eyeliner (in love) and NYX lipstick. However, I love all the products from this bag. Living Proof's Nourishing frizz Styling Cream is perfect for my curly locks and taming when I do wear them straight. Philosophy's Take a Deep Breath Moisturizer is great as an after-the-shower refreshing lather.

In July's MyGlam bag I received 5 products and I'm only hesitant about the Circus nail lacquer because I don't wear white polish that often. It will be nice to have when doing french tips or an accent nail...cute packaging concept though. All the other products I knew I would use at first sight! Love the yes cucumber facial wipes. Perfect to keep in my handbag during these crazy hot TX days. The Kiehl's face moisturizer is another great night treatment for my T-zone. The Nume Hair Hydro Punch Hydrating Conditioner looks to be promising, but I haven't tried it yet. I do love my hair masques! The Josie Maran lip stain on the bottom is a beautiful coral pop for summer. I'll admit I've been on the fence about lip stains all together because I like to have that glossy finish. To fit it to my needs I've been using my chap stick on top of the stain as oppose to a prep primer for my lip gloss. It's still a different look, a little more matte and casual.

Since I've skipped out on my last few Birchbox updates I'm pointing out my faves from the past three boxes. I've turned a few friends on to Birchbox and while we love the surprise every month, we agree that Birchbox has been slacking a teensy bit. Still, I won't cancel just yet :)

May Birchbox

I have two faves from this box! The obvious one is Stila's liquid liner. It's a gorgeous midnight blue shimmer. I bought it in a charcoal shimmer as well! The second fave (that I wish was larger than two uses) is Dr. Jark's B.B. Cream. I've tried several B.B. creams now and this one ranks at the top by far. It's light, non-greasy and gives the best natural coverage I've seen. 

June Birchbox

Again, I had two faves from this box as well. Borghese water crystals were wonderful and the perfect ending to an 8 hour retail Saturday :) Nothing better than a nice, relaxing bath with that smell of spa lingering in the air. I'm also enjoying The Balm's Staniac Lip Stain in "Beauty Queen." It's faint cherry tint can be used to add dazzle to your smile or a pinch to your cheeks!

July Birchbox

This month's box brought me two faves as well. Harvey Prince's perfume "Hello" has a fresh and flirty scent that's not overly sweet, just right. Being so fair complected, my arms, back and chest seem to always attract a nice gold glow from the sun whereas my face tends to stay pretty...well, fair. Jouer Bronzer goes on like a moisturizer and adds a nice glow to match the rest.

Cheers,

Em

*Summer Steals*

We are wrapping up our Bi-Annual Sale at Cole Haan with an Additional 25% off...yes, that means a sale on TOP of sale! There's a little piece of fashion for everyone! 

Stop in at a store near you or give us a call @ 512-834-8222. We happily take phone orders!

Sale ends July 8th.

From boating to BBQ's and beach nights with bonfires, the Air Yacht Club Boat shoe is the reliable mate who'll get you from point A to Z! Available in a variety of colors.

Regular Priced: $158

Sale: $109.95

After Additional 25% OFF: $82.46

A handsome style for men is the Air Franklin Wingtip! Comfort and style from day to night, this shoe offers up a nice combo of classic traditional with a twist. Available in a variety of colors.

Regular Priced: $178

Sale: $129.95

After Additional 25% OFF: $97.46

Bring together your perfect summer get-up with the Aimee Ballet! Paired with a sundress, shorts or boyfriend jeans, they are a fun and fashionable alternate to the flip-flop. Available in a variety of colors.

Regular Priced: $98

Sale: $69.95

After Additional 25% OFF: $52.46

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Cheers,

Em

Summer Lifesavers

Aside from the essential swimsuit and glowing tan, there are a few other items you should add to your summer "Must Haves" list! 

As crazy as it may sound (especially in Texas), it's nice to have a summer sweater on standby. You never know, you may decide to go see a movie, meet friends out for happy hour on the patio, or have an evening beach/lake shindig. It can get breezy and who better to turn to than your trusty summer sweater! My pick is Anthropologie's Hammock Cardi for $88. It's a splurge, but as I tell clients when outfitting, the most important rule to follow is versatility. This is a piece you can utilize year round...throw it on over a sun dress or tank with shorts for summer and layer it with a long sleeve in the fall. Also, because of the length, cut and lines it's a cardi for all body types :) 

I'm not usually one to get out and tan very often. In fact I try to steer clear from too much sun because a healthy glow is the healthy decision, baking should only be used for cookies and cupcakes! I also don't want to lose what little glow I obtain, so to help prolong the process I've discovered Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa "After Sun Moisturizer - Hold It Right There!" for $15. With a fun, refreshing beach scent and the right antioxidants to help nourish the skin I've had great success with maintaining my color.

Pedicures should be shown off in style and in comfort! I chose Cole Haan's Molly Flat Sandal with memory foam insoles for $128. They come in assorted colors, but my favorite is the soft gold because it looks great with almost anything and sometimes looks silver...again, great versatility!

Summer reading lists are always a hot topic and E L James has the SIZZLING read for all! Most women have heard of the Fifty Shades Trilogy. It gets a lot of promotion for the fact that it's an erotic fiction, but to me and other readers I've talked with find it to be a most intriguing love story...not sharing anymore :) MUST READ FOR ALL $15 (per book) at a Barnes & Noble near you.

Sunglasses or "Sunnies" as I call them, can be a very individualistic, fashion forward accessory. I love that you can instantly get a feel for someone's personality and style just by their sunglasses option...it's true. I've chosen two myself, a rounded square framed Tortoise Shell 70's inspired look, Urban Outfitter's $14 and a black framed cat-eyed Brigitte Bardot look, Fred Flare $14.

                     

Wouldn't it be great to have a tote that's so versatile you could use it on the beach, even stow away your wet bathing suit and use it for a nice dinner that evening? It all sounds messy, but actually it's clean and simple! I've chosen Cole Haan's Bree City Tote for $398 it's 2 bags in one with a fully leather, hand woven exterior and a removable crossbody nylon interior. It's available in Black, Cobalt and Natural (pictured).

Look out for my Men's Summer Lifesavers post this weekend!

Cheers, 

Em

Julep Maven

In researching beauty sample subscriptions I came across Julep! WHY have I not known about this? It is a monthly nail polish subscription (name written all over it)! Willingly I submitted my information to join and have now received my second box. My first month's subscription as a Julep Maven was only a penny, yes, I typed PENNY! If you enjoy nail art or nail polishes in the least definitely try it for one month like I did and you can always cancel if you're not satisfied. If you're not good for remembering to cancel subscriptions...add a reminder into your smartphone! Penny promo code is COLORS4ONE. Also, it is one of the more expensive subscriptions out there at $19.99, but everyone (including myself) who reviews this company is more than happy with the product and customer service provided. Also, you get a sneak peek at what you will be receiving in your next month's box. If you aren't interested you can pick from different nail sets offered that month, skip the month or ship it to a friend for their birthday...just some ideas! Below are some pictures of my May Julep Maven Box ($40 value).

From Left to Right: 

Jessica is a baby blue creme polish.

Mandy is a deep poppy red.

Brooke is a fun shimmery purple that looks nice as a top coat or simple and sweet on its own.

Both Jessica and Mandy are highly pigmented and opaque, which I'm finding most of Julep's colors to be so. This is a great feature in a polish, because it helps with getting more use out of your product along with providing a perfectly, finished or POLISHED look...no pun :) I've tried all three and love them! 

This is my Color Club Foil polish I received in May's Birchbox coupled with Mandy from Julep! On a side note-Color Club has some really interesting colors, but they are chippers! Plan on daily touch ups when using their product. Julep lasts up to a week...and that's with working in retail!

Something fun and silly :) I had paired Jessica and Brooke together for a few days at work, but with feeling thematic in attending the Dave Matthews concert I decided to play around a bit!

Just received my second box in the mail today and I'm already testing out the new colors and anxious to share!

Cheers,
Em

April Birch Box

So I've been slackin' BUT I have valid reason. We've been going all over the place lately! First, the Dave Matthews concert in Houston, then a quick trip to visit my Granny and this coming holiday weekend we will be joining in on some fun at a friend's lake house! I can't complain...I love keeping busy and road trippin' with my love, but it's time to get back to reality, so to speak! OH and blogging :)

I'm doing something a little different from most Birchbox reviews. Alot of subscribers focus on the unboxing upon receiving their Birchbox, but I like to try out the different products and then let readers know how it goes and if it's worth the subscription. While I love sneak peeking on YouTube to see what's going to be in my upcoming Birchbox, I also want people to know how the products carry out.
With that said, I will usually blog about my box at or near the end of each month. I'm a little late for April, but here it is...

April's Birchbox theme was Natural Wonders, being eco-driven by bringing the outside in as use of beauty products. Below is the product information card that comes in each box.

I feel like starting with my favorite sample from this box, the Amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask. This product works wonders on my lady locks :)  I should tell you I am a sucker for almost any hair product that revitalizes because I only get my hair cut about every 4-6 months, guilty! However, I only have to wash my hair every other day, whereas most people wash their's everyday, causing quicker wear-n-tear...it evens out, I guess. It makes my hair silky and instantly does exactly what it says, "helps repair split ends!" With the sample size I was able to get 4 uses, using it on every other wash. Since my hair is on the thinner side it takes to product easily and holds it for awhile. I will definitely be purchasing this as a full size product. Worth the $ in my opinion.
The other sample I most enjoyed was Dirt's Luxe Salt Scrub in Lemon Leaf. I've tried my hand at homemaking salt body scrub and it turned out alright, but was lacking something. That something is Dirt's simple secret, shea butter and raspberry seeds. The seeds are such a different texture that lingers on the skin for a more efficient scrub where the shea butter finishes off the scrubs exfoliation perfectly, leaving your skin moisturized long after. Don't think I will be purchasing it at full size, but found a few new ingredients to add to my next batch!
The concept of the BeFine brand is pretty interesting. This company makes all of their skincare naturally from food products. They sent out 5 packets of the combo gentle cleanser and moisturizer, which I found to be a hefty sample! The cleanser was nice, cool and refreshing for an after face wash regimen. However, the moisturizer they sent out was expired. Birchbox, being the wonderful company they seem to be, stood behind their mistake and provided all subscribers $10 (or 100 points) to shop in their store online. Yes, I know it's a way to get clients to purchase, but there are numerous items under $10 to choose from. I bought two things, a Stila eyeliner and a polish...happy girl :) I thought it was a great gesture!
Vapour's Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick is nice, just not my preferred color palette. Like the info card states, if you're looking for a subtle statement, swipe once. This seems to work best for me and I do blend with gloss since it's a matte finish.
I have not yet tried the Le Palais des Thes Tea, but did unwrap one and it's very floral with a hint of spice, so sure to be tasty!
It wasn't a bad box, but not the greatest. I'm always happy with what I get because I love trying out new product. May's box is proving to be the best yet! Stila and Color Club polish made an appearance and I will be blogging on it sooner than later!

Cheers,
Em

eShakti, I shall!

It's no lie that a woman feels extra special in a customized garment. The fit, the color, the style...all of it tailored to suit her needs. One of our associates, Jewel, shared an interesting site with me today. Some of you may have heard of it, but I had not and instantly wanted to blog about it upon creating my very own dress! While dresses are (clearly) their forte, eShakti dabbles in tops, skirts and minimal accessories as well. Most of the dress silhouettes are 1950's inspired, which is smart seeing as a number of those styles compliment all body types, this creates a broad market allowing them to customize from sizes 0-26. Below is a picture recap of the step by step process they take you through when ordering. They set you up with the basis of the dress and then offer sleeve, length, color and sometimes neckline options. You can also opt for full custom fitting by submitting your exact measurements. I can't say much about quality because I don't own one...yet! However, they look to be legitimate AND at a decent price, median around $69 (including customization).

A quick snap of some dress options...

One last wonderful thing about this company is that they do accept returns if you are not satisfied with your order. Send it back, unworn, within 30 days of it's arrival to you and they will refund you in full OR request to have the return processed on a merchandise/gift card and they will refund you PLUS 20% of your original purchasing price...obviously you will be spending with them, but that's some (clever) "white glove service," if you ask me.

Check it out now to receive this special offer...

• 
  
• SAVE $20
• register now and save $20 on your first order!
  Limited period offer.
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Cheers,

Em

A Fraction of Fall Forecasting

I'll try to keep this short and sweet! In all honesty, I could break this entire forecast into bits and pieces and talk about each factor that goes into what the designers have come up with for accessorizing this fall. IN.LOVE.

The color palette is excitedly interesting for the season...taste already acquired! While there are some expected appearances of Rust, Bordeaux, Eggplant and Mustard, there are also surprises of Emerald Green, Turquoise, Lilac, Cerulean and yes, even Orchid. It's to be expected for spring and summer, but continuing the tactic of adding that "pop of color" is a definite focus by the designers showcasing strong creativity for the fall.

Mixing and matching seems to be a trend as well. Blending exotic skins, suede, smooth nappa and chunky hardware...it's all there! From browsing, I gather some Santa Fe inspiration among the textiles used with an early nineties design aesthetic. It all sounds like a cluster, BUT comes together beautifully.

A classic silhouette drawn upon for shoes is the Venetian. With this, comes a dominance of the pointed toed pump. There's also multi use of furs, metals, studs and zippers as embellishment...a favorite edgy touch of mine :) Finally, if you thought animal prints were just a staple...there even more of a stand-out this time around!

One of my favorite little treasure I came across while researching was this gem of a Kate Spade necklace. It's a wonderful take on the Peter Pan collar (or bib).

I'll have to look into men's accessories a bit more, as you can see I only added a couple on here. Alright, I'm attaching more pictures to wrap this up...ENJOY!

All photos were drawn from WWD website.

Cheers,

Em