Ikea + Marimekko

I'm a fan of high-and-low pairings—in fashion, beauty...and the home!

Case in point, I want these Marimekko bowls:

Marimekko Small Siirtolapuutarha Bowl, $24.

Marimekko Large Siirtolapuutarha Bowl, $52.

And these Ikea plates and bowls:

Ikea Promenad Series bowls and plates, $3.99–4.99 each.

Scandinavian treats for the home, satisfied, in one fell swoop! :)

(Screenshots from: http://usstore.marimekko.com/home-decor/kitchen-and-dining.asp and http://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/us/en/ikea_catalog)

Fall Shopping

We're on the last weekend of summer before Labor Day—then it'll officially be fall. Le sigh.

On the bright side, holiday weekend sales are happening and aplenty!

These caught my fancy over at Rebecca Minkoff:

1) The Maria

I instantly thought of my niece, Maria (who's no longer so little) and sent the link promptly to her mom. :) I love the punchy color combination, the envelope design, and the pleats. And it seems roomy enough to stash essentials and more.

2) The Coco Clutch

I would love this for myself, but alas, I rarely ever go out for cocktails or events these days. (Maybe if I start blogging more I can revive my editorial life, haha.) But then again, I think this can work at the office—I always carry a second, roomier bag anyway (e.g. my reusable Trader Joe's shopping tote).

3) M.A.C. Clutch

It's white! It's laser-cut! It's adorable! This reminds me of an old pair of pointy slingback flats I had a long time ago...

Shopping, Streamlined

See those purple pumps from Zara on my Instagram feed? They’re among the last few ‘recreational’ purchases I’ve made before embarking on this 30-day spending halt of sorts. Adding to that is an iPhone case I ordered that’s on its way, along with an iPad Mini case from Etsy.

Why am I doing this?

Out of sheer curiosity—really, that’s it. Well, and I thought it would be a nice addition to my 30-day personal sadhana for my yoga 200-hour RYT certification.

I’d like to see if I can resist online shopping (and anything-shopping) for the next 30 days, or possibly, more. Honestly, I’m not too worried. I truly feel and believe that I have everything that I need :)

That said, here are some other items on my ‘want’ list that would have to wait:

1) Doc Martens

Because I was cash-strapped in my early teens—when grunge and DMs paired with floral baby doll dresses became all the rage—I never got to own them. Now that they seem to be back in fashion and I live in commuter-friendly NYC, I’m curious how they’d fare as winter boots and everyday city footwear. I want these very tall boots (model 1B60), but isn’t the above style cute too?

2) A Roomba?

But then we already own a fabulous Dyson DC35 Digital Slim cordless vac that perfectly picks up pet hair and whatnot. So if we do eventually get a Roomba, that would be a serious (home) treat. 

So wow, that’s all I can think about for now! As long as I don’t go on Zara’s website or step into a Lululemon store, I think I’ll be fine! :)

Here’s a mantra I’d like to share. It’s actually a note I wrote to myself/typed into my phone a long time ago. I’m not sure if it’s verbatim or if it’s actually a quote from someone else (although I am pretty convinced I came up with it). Anyhow, it works:

"I have everything that I need. And if I need more, it will become available to me."

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 3

Purple Heels

I’m not buying anything unnecessary for 30 days… These sky-high purple heels from #Zara made the cut before I started :D #30daychallenge #personalsadhana


Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 3

Web Window Shopping

While doing research for an article, I stumbled upon this supercute illustration:

Courtesy of Lancôme.

Makes you want to shop, doesn't it? View the deets over at the Lancôme website.

Roll 'Em Up

New toy.

It's been a while since I talked beauty on this blog…or hair, for that matter. So let me share with you my latest beauty/hair find: the Conair Infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush.

It's fantabulous!

I've expressed over Twitter and Facebook my non-excitement for blow-drying hair. I find it to be a complete waste of time and I would much rather have a professional do it. I actually don't mind wielding a brush and dryer for others. During my makeup artist days, I would actually get jobs that called for both makeup and hairstyling, and sometimes, it would even just be the latter. But when it comes to my own tresses, the primping skill seems to be non-transferable and I simply lack the patience for it.

New hair.

As part of my New Year's resolution though, I told myself I would take better care of my coif, starting with regular trips to the salon to have it professionally blown out. (I figured, the hike in our electric bill by spending an hour drying strands in the bathroom would justify the cost of just having someone else do it).

That plan didn't exactly pan out, as the snooze button prevailed most mornings. So…

I cut my hair. Really short. A.k.a, a traditional "one-length" bob from my tweenage years. And, I'm loving it!

Except of course, it circles back to the dilemma of properly fixing it. Symmetrical bobs, as it turns out—and I may have completely forgotten this as I no longer write about these things for work—need to be shaped and styled so they don't look flat and stringy. Fortunately, short cuts are easy to style and I can muster up the EQ to get it done.

The Conair rotating styler is wonderful because it combines the heat from a regular dryer, the shaping capabilities of a roller brush, and the heat-keeping qualities of a metal barrel in one convenient gadget. 

That it spins in both directions gives an added touch of styling ease. You have the option to turn that feature on or off. (Personally, I toggle between on and off to get the volume I want.) And, it comes with a "cool" setting too!

That it bears Jonathan Antin's name (of Jonathan Product reality show popularity) is just a bit of fun trivia. Check out the how-to videos on Conair's website. I bought mine on Amazon.com at a price lower than what it regularly retails for.

Jason Wu for Target

Target's trademark red swirls. Love their copywriting!

Now, onto lighter and more exciting things! When I got home earlier today, I found a package from Target waiting for me. If it weren't for my internet savvy-er (and more patient!) husband, I wouldn't have been able to score the following items from the recent Jason Wu collection:

Bought online. Poplin Dress in Navy.

Scored in-store. Cat Tote.

The items were practically gone in a flash the minute they went online—around 1 a.m. EST—and hit stores in the morning on Sunday. According to a sales associate, the line was 50-people long at 7:30 in the morning, in time for the 8 a.m. opening.

Now, I don't have the patience for these things. I was super into the Missoni collection a while back, but when I missed out on it (I went to the store a week later), it wasn't such a big deal. My husband, on the other hand—being the internet marketer that he is—can monitor threads and Facebook updates in real time. For the navy dress, I was almost half asleep when he nudged me that it was up online and ready to be purchased. Within five minutes after we checked out, it was sold out.

While I was asleep, he also got me this cardigan, which was really sweet of him:

Jason Wu for Target Long-Sleeve Pointelle Sweater in Belize Blue.

As for the super cute cat tote, Alvs spotted it on the floor under a rack of clothes leftover from early on. It was facing backward and quite inconspicuous, so people must have just ignored it.

To see the rest of the collection, check out the lookbook at NyMag.com. Here's how I look like wearing the navy dress, tada!

Product stills courtesy of Target.com

All I Want for Christmas

Budget limits and practical reasoning aside (at least for certain items), here's what's on my holiday wishlist:

1) An ergonomic chair
For my back. For my writing. Enough said. I did finally manage to buy a desk from Ikea. I went to the store twice: the first day, to get the legs; the second day, to buy the tabletop. Up until then I didn't realize how easy it was to commute to the store in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

The new Canon PowerShot S95.

2) A new camera
I'm not too thrilled to say that my new Nokia phone seems to take better photos than my six-year-old Sony Cybershot, at least for certain shots in low light. And, since blogging is part of my livelihood, it's probably about time to do an upgrade.

3) A TV
I do not own a television set. I can go for months without seeing live broadcast. In fact, the first thing I did when I moved to the Bronx was remove the TV and cable box in my new room. The Food Network is the only channel that I've consistently watched whenever I've had television access. And, I catch up on favorite shows like 30 Rock, White Collar, and Burn Notice via Hulu.com, the NBC and USA Network websites, and others.

Yet, if I want to eventually work in TV, I need to watch TV and have daily access to it.

4) A citrine ring
Just because. Well, ever since I'd dropped my faux citrine cocktail ring two years ago, I've been on the lookout for a replacement. I saw a real, precious one while walking home from the library, and simply got reminded of this bejeweled craving.

Bialetti 3-Cup Moka Express

5) A Bialetti Moka Express...
...That I finally got to buy on Amazon! I initially lusted after a Nespresso machine or any of those pod-ready coffee contraptions, however, upon giving it some thought, I realized I preferred the Moka pot's natural approach to good espresso. Hence, I gifted myself with the shiny silver brewer (it's much, much more affordable, too, than the former!).

6) A manual pasta machine
There is an attachment for the Kitchenaid mixer but I would actually prefer a good ol' pasta maker.

7) A new daytime, full-time job.
For me to actually afford all of the above (not counting the Moka pot).

A new daytime job, where I could work for at least a year. While working as a consultant and freelancer has been FUN—and my writing plate has never ever been empty despite the lack of an office cubicle/corner office—I now desire something more long-term. It reminds me of dating—that stage when both parties decide to commit and go for the long haul.

Born Champagne Metallic flats.

Hence, it's all (cyber) window shopping and wishlists for now.

(Speaking of online shopping, check out Zappos.com for cute Born flats, clogs, and women's Oxfords.)

Images courtesy of Friedchillies.com, Canon.com.au, and Zappos.com.

A Surge of Splurge

When it comes to big-ticket purchases, handbags ever so rarely make the cut for me. I do own a Longchamp canvas tote that my husband (then boyfriend) got for me two years ago on our first official shopping trip...I say 'first' because at the time, we'd been together for four years and have never gone somewhere to "just shop" for items that do not necessarily fall under the "need" category.

Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B. Mini

This year, the closest I've come to actually forking over a decent amount of cash for a designer bag was when I had briefly considered a Rebecca Minkoff handbag, the Morning After Bag Mini in particular, a.k.a. the M.A.B. Mini back when I was still working at Avon. I first heard of the brand from one of the mark. interns who had actually met the New York-based designer. (Minkoff, by the way, also writes a cute blog, aptly named, Minkette: a streamlined space that also reminds me of Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop).

So, anyway, the special shopping session mentioned above is why my Longchamp tote is dear to me. But, Prada handbags, Marc Jacobs handbags...really, they don't mean much to me. And knockoffs are an obvious no-no. Maybe I would reconsider a Minkoff bag someday. (There's a cute yellow version over at Bluefly.com, and the classic black one at the designer's own shopping website.)


What I did spend money on today were prescription glasses by Vesterby Denmark. I just call them "Scandinavians" because that seemed to be the nickname du jour back at the optical shop. I had actually already stopped wearing my old glasses over the past year or so because last I had my eyes checked, they were fine. But over the last couple of days, I started getting headaches again. Hence, the random splurge.

I'm loving my new "Scandinavian" frames. And, they have a "Brooklyn" feel to them.

He got new frames too!

Circa 2004.

It's Raining…Shoes!

Tuesday and Wednesdays were rainy days here in New York. Out came the rubber boots and umbrellas, and, if you ask me, I love it when it's wet out. But, the guy on the elevator was right in saying that it's only fun when you get to stay home in bed.

Speaking of puddle-friendly notes, two things:

1. I have another job online as managing editor for Studio One Networks, publishers of the TheStyleGlossy.com that now features a spin-off microsite catering to readership in Manila, Singapore, and Malaysia. I'm tasked to write two full-length articles every month (strictly editorial content!), as well as assign two bloggers who ideally can write very well and also have their own blogs (share the link love!). Of course, it was only natural for me to tap into my immediate circle of writer and editor friends. The latest post, "Shopping for Rain Boots" is written by former Cosmo fashion ed, Kat Dy, whom I've also blogged about here. You'll also find my "Rain-ready Wear" article here.

2. If the above piqued your interest in rain-footwear-shopping, check out Jildorshoes.com, where you can buy boots from Juicy Couture, Stuart Weitzman, as well as pricey leather Thierry Rabotin shoes, if that's your kind of thing. Of course you can't go wrong with a good Hunter Wellington boot, and the Canadian brand, Kamik (mine have stood the test of time for the latter). Personally, I'm still happy with what I have collected over the years and have no plans as yet to go shopping for new ones. But, with shoes, you never really know.

About Shoes

Over the summer I'd written about Daniblack Shoes, and eyed the styles above. Unfortunately, I never got to buy them and I wish I have because they're no longer available.

What they do have on their site now is these Daniblack wedges, wedge boots, pumps, and the rest of the Fall/Winter collection.

I still remember my first pair of wedges; they were from Bass. And they were actually my mother's. I remember the V-shape of the sandal and the bone finish of the heel. Then came the Janilyn straw/espadrille wedges, which I'm sure most of you owned one time or another.

As for Daniblack shoes, one would notice a higher pice point, which the brand attributes to better materials (real leather vs. synthetic). Anyway, if they decide to bring back the sandals above, I'll most probably shell out the $ this time.

Where to go for custom t-shirts

In case you're scoping the scene for personalized items for the upcoming gifting season ahead, check out Ecustomwear.com for cheap custom t-shirts, bags, towels, hats, and caps that can be personalized with you brand logo or whatever slogan or statement tee you have in mind.

If I were in Manila, I would head straight for Divisoria for cheap t-shirts and plain tanks I could embellish with beads, crocheted flowers, or even sparkly gems. But for now, this online resource for custom t-shirts and other silk-screen-ready products may be a viable option. I'm curious about the towels, robes—and even the aprons(!) that can be embroidered and personalized, which reminds me of those Personalize it! booths in the mall back in the 90s. Does anybody know if they are still around?

During a family reunion earlier this year featuring an excursion of sorts in three places out of town, one of my aunts—who hosted us in the second and third location—left embroidered towels, each with our own initials, on the beds. Such a lovely gesture, not only because it was unexpected, but also, who doesn't love new towels and, as an icing on the cake, with one's initials? It's a treat from ages past that I am only too happy to indulge in.