My SB Style Summer Favorites!

I don't know about anyone else out there, but I begin thinking (and planning) for summer, while winter is still here!  It is officially springtime here in Santa Barbara, and that means longer days, beautiful weather (always), with your occasional foggy morning!  I have come across a handful of items that I won't be without this summer, and once you know about them, you might not be able to live without them either!  So here it is: a list of my summer must-haves!!

1. SDY Jewellery's Acorn Bracelet

http://www.sdyjewellery.com/

photo:facebook/sdyjewellery

SDY Jewellery is designed and created locally by an amazing and talented artist, Sara Dapra-Young.  Sara has had a successful career designing jewellery for Vivienne Westwood in London, and other prominent British labels, and has recently come out with her own line of jewels for us to indulge in!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/sdyjewellery?fref=ts

Once I got this bracelet, I have honestly worn it constantly!  It is unique, easy and goes with everything.  I love to wear it stacked with other bracelets.  Maybe if I am lucky I can get one of her Glitter Bark Bracelets next.

photo:facebook/sdyjewellery

Sara makes all of her pieces by hand using ancient knotting techniques and incorporates 24K gold and silver dipped acorns, pine cones and feathers.  Don't miss out on these amazing pieces.  To get one of SDY's pieces for your own, visit K Frank on state Street, or Hawthorn at Padaro Beach (at Santa Claus Lane next to the Garden Market), check out Shop September on the web, or call
805-453-1961.
http://www.sdyjewellery.com/

2. The Naked Belt

http://thenakedbelt.com/

photo:thenakedbelt.com

This is one of those things that I think every woman needs!  This belt holds your pants in place, with out the ugly, lumpy belt buckle bulging under your shirt.  The minute I saw it I said, "I have to have one!"  As the mother of 3 between the ages of 5 and 1, I have pants in sizes across the spectrum.  Some of those pants I didn't buy that long ago, but they are now a little larger in the waist.  This belt keeps them up and in place, with out any embarrassing moments when I bend over, crouch or sit down!!  And for all of those pre-pregnancy skinny jeans, I can keep those up too, with out anything to add bulk to the waist I now want to show off!!

photo:thenakedbelt.com

I got the nude one first, and I am seriously considering it in black, and navy too.  At $20 a piece, I think I NEED all 3!!  Like Spanx, this belt is about to go HUGE!!  Super functional and affordable!
Here is what a happy customer said about The Naked Belt:

I just got my Naked Belt and I am so happy! I needed a solution to belting my pants but not having the buckle leave a lump under my clothes. … I highly recommend The Naked Belt to everyone! You will use it every day. – Lori Mills Lorge

TheNakedBelt@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/likethebelt

3. My New Makeup Bag/Clutch

I am obsessed with the global trend this year.  And I was in need of a new makeup bag.  Put the two together and you get this:

photo:Sarah K Relis

I had seen bags like this at Angel in Montecito ($185), and in In Style Magazine by designer Caroline Issa for LK Bennett ($495).  I really wanted a bag like this but it is a little out of my budget at the moment.

photo:Caroline Issa for LK Bennett

So what did I do?  I went on etsy and started looking at all kinds of bags.  I came across this fair trade clutch in tons of colors and designs embroidered in Thailand.  I paid $6.99 plus $4.50 in shipping!  And best of all it holds all of my makeup- even my makeup brushes, and a box of mints!

photo: Sarah K Relis

 When it arrived in the mail, it was so pretty, I had to force myself to use it for my makeup.  I really wanted to keep it  as a clutch.  Maybe I will order another color or design and use it as a clutch.  To see all of the beautiful Thai embroidered wristlets go to:
https://www.etsy.com/people/EthnicLanna?ref=pr_faveshops
I think these would make great gifts too!!

4. Mineral Fusion Bronzer

I had never used bronzer before, but I had seen some photos in a magazine using nude makeup colors, and I wanted to try something like that.  I buy most of my makeup at Lazy Acres market on the mesa in Santa Barbara, and I can not say enough good things about the Mineral Fusion  brand.

photo: Sarah K Relis

 When I made the switch to "natural" makeup brands, I was hunting and pecking so to speak, just trying things.  Some were good, some okay, some went in the trash.  But every Mineral Fusion  product I have tried has been really good, even their mascara!  The colors look good with my complexion, and the "formulas" have great consistency.

photo: Sarah K Relis

 I really like this bronzer (in Luster) because it has two colors in one compact, a darker tan and a shimmery peachy bronze.  I have used it to contour my face, as an all over tan, and as a blush.  I use the shimmer to highlight, as an eyeshadow, and even mixed with lip balm as a goldeny-neutral lipgloss!                                                                                                                                                       

5. Origins The Great Pretender

I am all in favor of the sun.  I am always at the beach in the afternoon, summer and winter.  But as a busy mom, I don't always have time to "layout" in the sun to get that sunkissed glow.  I am also all too familiar with that one sunny day where I want to wear a dress or shorts, and my skin hasn't see the sun in weeks (months).  

photo: origins.com

When sunless tanning first came out in the late 80's - early 90's, I was the first one in line to try it.  My results were less than optimal, streaky, orange... and that smell.  Does anyone relate to what I am talking about?   This time around, I was looking for a product that had worked out all of those kinks,  and I was concerned about all of the chemicals in most self tanners out there. 

Here is the answer!!  It is from Origins, and it is the most natural one I have found.  It's tinted so you get some color right away, and you can see where you are applying it, and where it needs to be blended further.  I have been so happy with this product!  The color is natural, it starts out light and you can add layers for darker color.  And it doesn't have that obnoxious chemically smell!  Someone who I know is a sunless tanning aficionado once said to me "You look so tan!"  She had no idea I hadn't been laying out in the sun all week!  Ha!  Get your own sunless summer glow, and check out all of the reviews at:
http://www.origins.com/product/3820/10250/Bath-Body/Daily-Essentials/Safe-Sun/The-Great-Pretender/Shimmery-self-tanner-for-body/index.tmpl  

This is my top 5 new purchases for summer.  I am looking forward to spending the long days outside enjoying the sunshine with great friends and family!  What are your plans for the summer?  Do you have summer "must haves"?  I would love to know what products you are super excited about, too!  Also, check out my interior design blog and website at:
http://www.designtheroomyoulove.blogspot.com
http://www.designtheroomyoulove.com

SR

Frankenstein's Kitchen

I have a dream kitchen that has been forming in my mind.  This is not just a kitchen, but a "great room" of sorts, even though I don't really like the term Great Room because it seems too McMansionish!  It would be kitchen, dining room, library, and a cozy sitting area around a fireplace. I call it "Frankenstein's Kitchen" because the vision has been pieced together from  all over the place:  kitchens I've seen, magazine kitchens, memories and materials that speak to some part of my soul.  It all starts with a south facing wall of steel and glass french doors.

photo: William Heffner's Kitchen, House Beautiful

I am obsessed with carrera marble counter tops. The stove is La Cornue, the wood is whitewashed, distressed white oak. Professional, pull-down faucet, farmhouse sink, Traulsen Fridge.  The idea of this kitchen is very clean and contemporary, but with old world, romantic finishes and details. The foundation is more masculine and the styling adds the femininity.

photo;housebeautiful.com

photo: Susan Dosseter, housebeautiful.com



photo: Susan Dossetter designed kitchen

Here's the layout. The entire north side of the room is the living area, with a fireplace against the north wall. The south side of the room ts divided between the kitchen to the east and dining room / library to the west.

The kitchen has the sink under a steel window against the exterior wall, centered on a counter between the refrigerator in the south corner, and an armoire type cabinet for dishes. there would be two dishwashers from Australia on either side of the sink, because I have heard their dishwashers are superior, to the ones we have in the US. We all know we have to wash our dishes before they can go in the dishwasher!

Opposite the sink counter, would be a rather massive island, with the stove set into it and a hood above. There would be a pot rack hung from the ceiling to the right of the hood.


photo: google images

photo :google images

photo:housebeautiful.com, Windsor Smith Kitchen

photo:housebeautiful.com

photo:atuncontractors.com

The entire west wall of the dining room is floor to ceiling oak bookcases with classical details and a cerused finish.  These book cases are where loads and loads of books can be stored, and where I can store and display my collections of vintage silver, glass vases, and Chinese blue and white porcelain.

photo;stylebeat.blogspot.com

photo: Martha Stewart Living

photo:googleimages

                           

photo:housebeautiful.com

The table is some kind of a distressed farmhouse table with slip covered wing chairs at either end.  The look is glamorous library and cozy farmhouse at the same time.  There is an amazing, elegant chandelier over the table to make everything glitter and sparkle.  The palette is warm whites, lots of dark and light grays, a few taupes and tans.  Brass, silver, greyed wood, linen, burlap, silk shantung, limited color with tons of texture. 


photo:eloquenceinc.com



photo:distinctivedesignbygina.blogspot.com

The living area centers around a sandstone fireplace with a Louis Phillipe, gold leaf mirror above it.  A tuxedo sofa and a chaise on each side of it, and a generously sized round coffee table between them.  On the west wall next to the dining room bookcases are two french chairs, with a small, round table in between.  Think of this as the library reading nook.  An urn-shaped lamp on the table, and large-scale Rick Garcia agave painting behind the chairs and table.


photo:waterhousegallery.com

photo: www.frenchantiques.blogspot.com

This space has become so real in my mind, I almost can feel what it is like to cook in the kitchen, and sit by the fireplace on a cozy evening.  I am just waiting for my opportunity to make it a reality!