Best. Hair. Ever.

My nephew, Graham, truly has THE best hair I've ever seen. Not only does it defy the need for any product, but his dad has literally been stopped by 20-something hipsters who told him, "Dude...I'd KILL for that hair!"

God love our youth. And their priorities.

Hungary for a Custom Handbag?

As you know, I adore a well-made, beautiful handbag just as much as I love shopping on etsy.com.*  So you can imagine my elation when I discovered an amazing custom handbag-maker on my favorite website for hand-crafted goodies.  My search started when I was looking for a stylish yet structured bag that would be sturdy enough for work stuff but also unique.  My initial searches resulted in pleather totes (you know my aversion to faux leather), boring rectangle briefcases with useless locks (I'm not a lawyer, nor am I carrying Oscars results), 1980s attache cases (a la Melanie Griffith in "Working Girl"...alas, I don't have the hightop Reeboks to complete the look),  or bullet-proof laptop bags (not necessary since I'm not exactly auditioning to be 007's next Bond girl).  

So I was thrilled to discover Farrago bags on etsy:  Custom Hungarian Handbags

Not only does Daniel make all of his bags by hand (and great small leather goods including phone and pad cases), but he's also extremely attentive to detail and a great communicator (esp. considering English is his second language).  Sure, I'm a bit biased since my heritage is Hungarian (my maiden name is Szecsy), but I can honestly say, his bags are extremely well-made and amazingly priced for the quality.  He even customizes each bag with your initials (on the bag or a bonus keychain).

 

My stylish, croc-embossed, leather work tote has endured heavy binders, plane trips, and countless walks between office buildings among the elements for the past two years, and it barely shows any wear (yet I'm still anxious to order my next one in a new color).  Can you believe it was only $99??  (Plus $22 for shipping, but well worth it, since he ships them quickly).

And my gorgeous, tan nubuck tote is perfect for weekends and traveling - it even has adjustable straps (with cool knots vs. bulky, heavy hardware).  Somehow, it manages to hold everything without ever feeling like a bottomless pit - I think it's because of the light interior and huge opening. And at $148, it was a steal, as it's super soft (yet durable) and has also held up like a champ!



So next time you're looking for a seriously unique, beautiful, and well-priced bag, I highly recommend Daniel and his Farrago bags (in fact, I'm planning an iPhone case purchase very soon). 
Magic K8 Ball Says: 8 (Gotta Have It!)

* If this is the first you've heard of etsy, shame on you!! Almost all of my cool jewelry and unique gifts come from that uber-cool site).

Skip the Steps (A K8 Revelation)

Quite often, I find myself in a "Thanks, but no thanks" moment, typically related to a fashion or beauty suggestion.  It happens a lot when I'm thumbing through a fashion magazine and see what appears to be the Holy Grail of some new beauty routine that includes nine steps and 17 different products.  I initially read it with excitement and wonder, but by step 6 1/2 (and product A + B layering over C), I realize, "Thanks, but no thanks - I'm all good with my Clairsonic and trusty Clinique cleanser."  My quick dismissal is always satisfying because it's somehow defiant and victorious at the same time (and typically means I don't have to invest in something new, try a crazy process, or leave my house with an unforeseen side effect).

I just enjoyed this experience as I was flipping through my recent issue of InStyle and seeing all the new holiday hairstyle how-to's - who really has the time for the multiple steps involved in making your hair look perfectly "UNdone?"  (I suppose I have an automatic "Get out of Gel Free" card with my short do, but it's still really nice to be able to flip right past "A Great Blowout in Six Easy Steps" or "20 Minutes to the Perfect Conditioning Treatment."  Then again, the grass isn't always greener - a bad hair day for long hair is easily solved with a ponytail, while us cropped-cut gals are stuck, literally, layering on the product or positioning a hat with the precision of a surgeon to reveal some hair while also covering the scare hair).

So next time you have a "revelation" about some process, product, or trend you can skip (neon..really??  The 80's don't EVER need to come back, in any form or fashion - um, even the 80's Sharpies colors didn't sell!), revel in the moment knowing you just saved yourself time, money, and the avoidance of entering into any kind of "multiple step program."

I'm So Martha...(A K8 Flashback)

Originally published: 9/19/07

Update: I'm no longer as jazzed about Merona dresses, as I've discovered I can now find much better quality for only slightly more cost at Last Call!  But I still use the Blister Block, and I still think Louboutins are a bit overpriced; I've since converted almost exclusively to Stuart Weitzman (who incidentally, never requires Blister Block).

Okay, I couldn't help passing on a couple little tips I've come up with (I'm sure Martha or Heloise had these years ago, but I like to think I sort of discovered them myself)...

I just bought a couple new dresses at Target (side note - Merona has GREAT dresses, all for around $25 - throw on some Pradas with it, and no one's the wiser...except for all the girls I tell about it of course).  Anyway, on to the cheesy but useful tips...

As I was removing the extra buttons and tags, I realized that one of the tags was attached with a tiny black safety pin.  I'm using that very same pin today to keep the wrap top of the dress closed over "the girls" a bit more (proper ladies do NOT display overt cleavage at the workplace unless it's in reference to toes).  It's amazing how much better a black pin is vs. the shiny silver ones when you are attempting to keep your bosom covered. 

Regarding those extra buttons (which I keep in a little "button box" and have for years...funny how your extra buttons are around a lot longer than the actual garment), notice how they sometimes come in a tiny little ziploc bag?  These little bags are perfect for pills in your purse - you know, the extra strength Advil and Midol you would kill for on a bad headache or cramp day?  Just slip a few in the "ziploclette" (that's a mini ziploc), and put it in the secret side pocket of your handbag! 

Oh, and another quick recent discovery - Johnson's Blister Block (in the Band-aid aisle).  I've had to use it religiously to break in the Louboutins (which have disappointed me in how much they've stretched out), and it works well.  It's like a mini deodorant stick that you can rub all over your blister-prone places before and during shoe wearing, and it leaves no residue behind.  And based on my experience with expensive shoes, they should all come with a CASE of this stuff!

(Ginger) Snap to It!

The only thing I dread more than wearing pleather anything is the predictable 3pm craving for something sweet (also typically occurs around 8:30 pm).  But I've found a decent work-around that has more benefits than gum and is way more convenient than brushing your teeth (it's so weird when people do that at work).  I recently discovered "candied" ginger.  Not only does it help in digestion, but it's quite spicy, which means it's nearly impossible to eat something afterward, unless you like that whole toothpaste-orange-juice thing. 

You can find it in the bulk bins at Whole Foods, but I prefer Reed's - this fun pre-packaged brand comes in a variety of options.  My husband prefers the crystallized cubes, but I like the individually wrapped "chews" that you can take anywhere (also, they come in a cool little box that looks like cigarettes but are much healthier) - plus, you can find them in flavors like peanut butter and spicy apple!  I will warn you that the chews are pretty...chewy, so watch your dental work.  And while the crystallized cubes are much friendlier to your crowns and fillings, the "crystals" can stick around on your fingers (but are definitely less guilt-ridden than bright orange Cheeto residue).

So next time your sweet tooth starts twitching, pick your ginger poison and pop one in your pie-hole before, well...a piece of pie.  

Magic K8 Ball Says...

• Ginger Chews: 7 (Signs Point to Yes)
• Crystallized Ginger: 6 (Outlook Good)

Reed's Ginger Chews

Reed's Crystallized Ginger Cubes

Don't Discount Target (A K8 Flashback)

Originally published: 2/18/08

As you know, I love Target for everything from peanut M&Ms and knock-off Vitamin Water, to a $25 Mossimo dress and cheap sunglasses that are only "99% UV protected."  But I've recently discovered yet ANOTHER great thing about the Big T (I refuse to pronounce it tar-jay - it's Target, and I say it with pride).

I recently bothered some of you about whether or not I should read "The Other Boleyn Girl" (I like the idea of reading something other than chick lit or young adult books now and then).  I got a resounding YES from everyone and have been haunting my local (HUGE) 1/2 Price Books for the past month now, but they're always sold out of it (typically happens when a book becomes a movie, such as this one).  Anyway, I popped into "my" Target (NW Hwy and Lemmon), and wow, they really have a great book selection!  I picked up "Boleyn" for only $5.99 plus two other paperbacks (okay, one was a trashy romance - Lori Foster has some great male leads that are typically Ultimate Fighters, which I'm currently way into, but that's another story...).  They also have a great magazine selection, good kids/young adult books (I always get suckered into buying at least one coloring book), and obviously tons of cheapie DVDs that somehow end up in my cart (surprisingly, I still haven't actually opened the $5 copy of "Rudy" I "had to have" several months back).

Anyway, next time you head to Target for "just a couple of things" and haven't yet met your normal $100 spend, head over to the book/magazine/media section (usually at the back or far side of the store) and peruse for a bit...no doubt you'll find a cheap DVD or the latest copy of "Cat Fancy" magazine that you've been looking for.

Happy Targeting,

K8

Oh My Gloss!

As you know, lip gloss is one of my fave beauty products (come to think of it...most beauty products could be considered my "fave," except for maybe any lip "sloughing" stuff - it never works, always leaves gritty residue, and you'd get better results with a decent daily lip balm).  When it comes to glosses, I've tried, bought, tested, loved, hated, discarded, cherished, and recommended many different brands and price ranges (you all remember my "you must buy this!" dictate for Chantecaille's Charm gloss).  And even though I have a special love for Chanel Glossimers, lately I've become a tad disenchanted with how it tends to leak out the top (translation: impossible to throw in any handbag without discovering a new pack of gum all goopy w/gloss).

 To that end, I was determined to find a "less complex" (and cheaper) version of my beloved Chanel Twinkle gloss (it really looks great over ANY lipstick) - I needed something almost as good and certainly more portable.  Be happy, dear K8ers, because I found it!  May I introduce you to Rimmel's Stay Glossy Lip Gloss in Unlimited Gold (don't worry, it's a gorgeous pinky gold, not golden nugget bling).  Not only is it only $4.99, but it has a smooth texture (not tacky), looks lovely alone or over a lipstick, and despite the claims, it doesn't really last for hours (a "long-lasting" lip gloss?  Seriously, that just sounds gross).  I've already bought another darker color and been giddy about that one too.  And at $5 a pop, who cares if it wears off after your morning latte?  Just reapply and re-buy!

Rimmel Stay Glossy Lip Gloss
Magic K8 Ball Says:
7 (Outlook Good), but also 4 (Ask Again Later)
...because I've been burned before by judging too quickly only to be disappointed later, so I'm being cautious on this one...