No Pricetag on Happiness

I love this blog entry from Apartment Therapy called No Pricetag on Happiness: 11 Entirely Free Ways To Make the Holiday Extra Wonderful. At a time when everyone is trying to sell you something, it's refreshing to have a site encourage you to simply use what you have or adjust your behavior to enjoy the holidays.

Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving or visiting loved ones as guests, whether your gathering consists of two or thirty, the holiday feeling we all hope for can be summed up in the following all-encompassing phrase: love and be loved. Ranging from physical ways to set the mood, to some unseen ways to make the holiday more meaningful, here are a few ways to add an extra touch of warmth and light to your special days. Here are the first two. Click here to see all eleven.

1. Light candles. These touches of light really do add instant warmth and festivity to any occasion, so make it part of your daily routine at this time of year. Remember to use unscented candles at the table, and to place them out of the way of children or animals who may knock them over.
2. Simmer something wonderful. I've known about the heavenly smelling stove top simmers for years. This year I want to actually do it. I think the key is throwing everything in a bag, ready to go, ahead of time so I'm not trying to "cook" up a nice smell when I'm trying to cook the pumpkin cheesecake.

True Style Is Self-Acceptance

One of my very favorite online sites is StyleLikeU. I've shared posts from it before, most recently the one featuring designer Betsey Johnson. I am a big fan of the Closet video series that allows us a peek into the personal style of select people along with their inspiring stories of what has shaped them. Mother-daughter team Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandelbaum are amazing at seeing and showing the beauty in people who are not mainstream but always stylish, often quirky and sometimes misunderstood. Their latest venture that is receiving much attention is their video series What's Underneath. It's sort of the opposite of their Closet videos. In What's Underneath, a person shares about their struggles to accept their body, all the while shedding layer after layer of clothing until they are almost bare - because true style is self-acceptance. Clothing is really just a window dressing for the body and soul, and style is more about who we are than what we wear. Sometimes these videos are raw and hard to watch but at the same time they are inspiring and reflective. I ask myself  who am I without all the layers of protection and self-expression that my clothing gives me? Do people see who I am, or what I want them to see? Do my clothing choices really tell my personal story? Now a Kickstarter project called I Am What's Underneath, this video series will become a feature-length documentary that we can all help fund.

Trend Alert: HAIR STENCILS

Check out these amazing images of hair stencils. Spray-on color is applied using stencils to create temporary patterns on the hair. They'd be perfect for special occasions and events like Coachella. Would you wear one of these looks? I think I would if I could get the same effect.

 

Holiday Glitter

It's time to get in the holiday spirit, and what better way than to add a little sparkle to your wardrobe! From retailers to DIYers, glitter is making an appearance. Let your inner glitter goddess shine without the sparkly mess by using this product.

 

 Pottery Barn Teen

 P.S. I Made This...                                  Ashish SS15

 

Style Bubble