Farmers and Ponys

Every Sunday in Marin there is a fabulous farmers market. Locals come for organic food, fresh air and entertainment. The key to surviving the bustling market is arriving early, quickly purchasing coffee and Belgian waffles covered in powdered sugar and then leisurely perusing all of the aisles before the crowds arrive.

Sweater: T by Alexander Wang, Shirt: Aqua, Leopard Bodysuit: Topshop, Leggings: Alice + Olivia, Shoes: House of Harlow, Bag: Rebecca Minkoff, Jewelry: Vintage, Sunnies: Chloe

These flowers match my bag and my jewelry, I must have them. :)

 

In a rush to get to the market this past Sunday, I didn't have time to do my hair. I decided I would try a tried and true style from my childhood: the side pony! Any girl growing up in the 80's is aware of the magic a side ponytail can bring. While it may be a little retro, I have decided I'm bringing it back and it has quickly become a new favorite when I am in a rush. Do you have any styles you plan to bring back this year?

Vintage necklace of my mom's

Dinner: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauteed Baby Carrots

Bisous, 

-MSB

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Home For The Holidays

This weekend, Marc and I ventured to my family's home in Marin for the Thanksgiving holiday. We ate, drank and made merry. There is no better way to spend the holidays than relaxing with family.

Recently, every time I have gone home, I have had a habit of rummaging through my mother's closet and taking any of the treasures I find for my own. My mom likes to say I am borrowing things, I like to say they are on permanent loan. This week, I got my hands on these lovely amber beads, an ivory cuff and a vintage crocodile frame bag. It's funny how everything I find in her closet is so much better than what I could buy in a store. I hope she doesn't miss them too much, because I am not planning on returning them anytime soon. Hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend!

Top: J. Crew, Skirt: Nasty Gal, Socks: Hue, Shoes: Pour la Victoire, Jewelry & Bag: Vintage from my Mom, Gold Bracelet: Juicy Couture, Nail Polish: OPI You Don't Know Jaques

Bisous,

-MSB

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I'm thankful for...

My family and friends

My wonderful boyfriend, who takes my photos and deals with my particular nature ;)

Black Friday sales

Leopard print everything

Ankle boots

Vintage jewelry

Trashy television (specifically the CW)

NAIL POLISH

Fancy tablescapes

Glitter

Bathrobes and slippers

Peppermint hot cocoa

Laduree Macarons

Paris

My readers :)

Hope you all had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving!

Bisous,

-MSB

Fab Finds: Gift Guide Under $50

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, I am already making a list of all the holiday gifts I need to get. Hanukkah, has come WAY to early this year and Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye, so I need to begin my shopping before it's too late. This year, I am trying to purchase as many gifts as I can online. Don't get me wrong I will be shopping on Black Friday, but those purchases will be for me, not for gifts :). Online shopping seems to take away lots of the anxiety that surrounds purchasing holiday gifts: no long lines, no crowds, no rude sales people -- just me, my computer and all the time in the world. So if you are looking for some gift ideas for all of the people on your list this year, I have put together a fun little gift guide below of fab finds under $50. Happy shopping!

For Her
1. Madewell, Pavé pyramid brooch, $32
2. Topshop, Tartan bag, $40
3. Rachel Rachel Roy, Skull spike drop earring, $42
4. Topshop, Sequin and fabric headband, $20
5. Hunter, Leopard welly socks, $40
6. ModCloth, Tree-t yourself jewelry stand, $26.99
7. Rachel Rachel Roy, Drusy and crystal ring, $42
8. Topshop, Moisturizing lip polish, $28
9. Topshop, Metal diamond waist belt, $40
10. Nars, Vintage shade nail polish, $16/each
11. Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jumbled bird umbrella, $48
12. ModCloth, Having a wild time watch, $29.99

For Him
1. Wii, GoldenEye 007 video game, $47.45
2. Toms, Toms shoes, $44-$54
3. Amazon, The Zombie Combat Manual, $11
4. Urban Outfitters, Holga Camera, $48
5. MOMA, I.dear speakers, $36
6. Urban Outfitters, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon LP, $29.98
7. The Art of Shaving, 4 elements starter kit, $25
8. Kegworks, Beer connoisseur tasting set, $34.95
9. Cufflinks, Stainless steel bottle opener cufflinks, $50
10. Topman, Striped scarf, $28

Bisous,
-MSB

How To: Holiday Hair In a Snap

You have found the PERFECT dress to wear to your first holiday party of the season, but you have no idea what to do with your hair. You don't have tons of time to mess around with intricate up-do's, but you still want something classic and chic to really let your outfit shine.  We have all been there, holiday hair can be tough. Lots of blow drying, curling and spraying makes your preparation time double. Well, don't despair, because I have the perfect holiday hairdo which will take you 10 minutes or less. No curling iron or blow-dryer required, and it works great for both curly and straight hair. An easy twist into a side bun is both elegant and understated, this "do" will be sending compliments your way all evening.

Step by Step Instructions...

What you need: de-frizz product, oil for shine, a fine tooth comb, hair pins, 2 hair ties, 2 clips, hair spray and a lovely hair accessory to top it off.

 

1. Wet hair and comb oil and de-frizz product through.

2. Part hair to one side and comb till smooth. Take a small portion of hair, close to the part, and split into two pieces.

3. Twist one piece of hair over the other, picking up hair with the bottom piece while you twist. Try and keep hair as smooth as possible when you twist. Continue to twist and pick up hair until you reach the nape of the neck, secure with clip.

4. Repeat step 3 until the hair meets the first twist at the nape of the neck. Make a ponytail with the twists and secure with hair tie. Braid the ponytail and twist into a bun. Secure bun with hair tie and hairpins.

5. Spray with hair spray, and as a finishing touch, slide in a sparkly clip to give the look a holiday feel. 

Voila! Perfect Holiday Hair!

Let me know if you try this easy holiday hair and send any links/photos. I would love to see!

Bisous, 

-MSB

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Winter Wonderland

It's not even Thanksgiving and my mind is already racing to the holidays. There is something about the season, maybe it is the beautifully decorated shop windows or the brisk cold weather and hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers, but there is a certain level of magic that surrounds this time of year. 

I love all of the embellishments that get added to winter wardrobes, sparkles, pearls, glitter and fur all add a a little holiday whimsy. Whether you are going to a holiday party, shopping for presents, or heading to work, there is always a way to add a little spirit to your wardrobe. So as you get ready for the holidays, think about adding a touch of magic with a bit of sparkle, cozy sweaters and lots and lots of holiday cheer.

1. Mawi pearl bracelet, ASOS

2. Braided chain and pearl necklace, Charm and Chain

3. Pearl embellished mittens, Topshop

4. Sparkle leopard over-sized clutch, Kate Spade

5. Foil pleat skirt, Topshop

6. Pearl knit headband, Topshop

7. Bead encrusted knit vest, Topshop

8. Bauble ring, BCBG

9. Fur trimmed tweed cape, APC

10. Suede wedge booties, Madewell

11. Goldrush sweater dress, Madewell

12. Sparkle socks, Madewell

13. Knitted crystal slouchy top, Topshop

14. Sequin tube dress, Alice + Olivia

15. Gold wave pattern clutch, ASOS

16. Glitzerland nail polish, OPI

17. Happy Birthday nail polish, Deborah Lippmann

Bisous,

-MSB

Guilty Pleasures

While running errands on Saturday, Marc and I decided to stop by Tartine Bakery and grab a late lunch. I had wanted to try the well-known café for some time, and thought it may be the perfect break to our rather hectic Saturday afternoon.  Since it was nearly 2:30, I didn’t expect a line, so when we rounded the corner and saw a line halfway down the street, you could say we were pretty surprised. Now that I had my heart set on trying the delicious baked goods, I saw no point in going somewhere else, so we took our place in line and waited our turn.

Once at the counter we had a hard time deciding what looked best. We opted for the seasonal fruit brioche bread pudding and two paninis; one with mozzarella and kalamata olive tapenade, and one with Pecorino cheese, crushed almonds, lemon and sage.  Well the wait was definitely worth it, those sandwiches were probably some of the best I have ever tried. A delicious pickled carrot accompanies the panini and we got a lovely side salad dressed in a lemon-garlic vinaigrette.

Since, we had to wait for our hot pressed sandwiches to come out, I ate dessert first. :)The bread pudding was absolutely divine, not too sweet and perfectly custardy. The fresh, tart cranberries, not only added beautiful color and flavor to the dish, they also provided a wonderful texture.

While, I don’t think I could eat such a rich meal every day, it was definitely the perfect guilty pleasure for a busy weekend. 

Hope your week is off to a nice start. 

As you can see, I couldn't wait for the picture to be taken

Pecorino & Almond
Sheep cheese & almonds crushed with olive oil, lemon and sage

Mozzarella & Tapenade
Fresh mozzarella with house-made niçoise olive and anchovy puree

Bisous,

-MSB

Feeling Fall

Now that fall is coming to an end, and winter is right around the corner, I really felt that I should get some EXTRA good use out of my fall wardrobe. What I like best about fall is, it's not quite cold enough to need a heavy coat, but just brisk enough where gloves and a good sweater will make it easy to face the crisp air. So over the weekend I spent some time appreciating what fall has to offer: lovely clothes, beautiful weather, pumpkin carving and of course the changing leaves. Hope your weekend was as beautiful as ours.

Dress: American Apparel, Sweater Vest: LF, Shoes: House of Harlow, Bag: Antik Batik, Gloves: Nordstrom

Gathering leaves, why you ask?? You will see :)

Animal Print Nails!!!

Now you see what I did with those leaves

What lovely earrings I have

My Pumpkin.... (pumpkin photos courtesy of Stacey Janks)

Marc's pumpkin, we now know he is definitely team Jacob :)

Bisous, 

-MSB

H&M Lanvin vs. Kate Moss Final Topshop Collection

Back in September I wrote a post about the Lanvin and H&M collaboration. Well, now that the launch date is quickly approaching, and the new video is available for all to see, I cant decide what I am more excited for, the Lanvin launch, or the final Topshop Kate Moss collaboration.

Considering that I want EVERY piece shown in the Lanvin collaboration from the perfect LBD's, the faux fur and zebra trench down to the AMAZING shoes and jewelry. I would have to say that Lanvin is topping my list (sorry Kate).  And while Topshop will always be my number one fave, I may have to make an exception this one time. Check out both collections in the videos below. What are you most excited for?

I know I will be first in line on November 20th when the Lanvin line launches in select stores.

Bisous,

-MSB