1] Begin with your square scarf and your plain elastic headband.

(Some vintage scarves can be found at your local swap meet or on etsy and I used these basic headbands.)

2] Roll/fold your scarf up onto its self.

3] Tie the scarf around the headband in a single knot. 

4] Use no sew or fabric glue and sneak a dot of it under the knot to keep it in place. 

5] Apply pressure. 

6] Finish it off by placing a dot of glue under each end and holding them in place until it sets. 

This is seriously so easy and makes a great headband for working out, washing your face, or simply framing your beautiful face. Make it for yourself or gift it as a gift. 

Enjoy!

xo

5 things: hair

I've had a few people ask me lately what I use in my hair. That is probably only because my hair is the longest it's ever been right now (and needs a haircut). So, since you've asked...here is a 5 things about my favorite hair goodies. 

1] square silk scarves: Holds it all back when you need it to. So many ways to wear it! (Watch the video how-to here.) This one is Juicy Couture and I love this ban.do one and you can also find them at your local swap meets and vintage stores. My favorite one is a vintage Chanel scarf (seen here). 

2] elegant antistatic paddle brush: Good for straight and/or static prone hair.

3] goody spin pins: Makes putting hair up in buns amazingly fast and easy and holds all my hair up really well. I also love that they come in blonde or brunette. Seriously, these things are awesome!

4] shisedo tsubaki line: Changed my life forever! Smells amazing and feels even better. This mask is a life saver. 

5] l'oreal elnett hairspray: Great hold with a little shine. 

5 things: nails

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

1} Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve: this stuff is deliciously amazing and doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy at all. Can't say enough about it!

2] A basic pink nude: I love OPI's Bubble Bath & Essie's Mademoiselle or Adore-A-Ball. 

3] Essie's Chinchilly grey polish: I can't wear this without someone commenting on how much they love it. Even guys!

4] OPI's Give Me Moor: a great dark color. I love it for my toes and especially for this time of year. 

5] Deboran Lippman polish: never disappoints! Her glitter polishes are amazing! My sister loves her multicolored Happy Birthday polish. I love this gold Boom Boom Pow polish. So fun to put over any other color or by itself. 

beauty CULTure

[image via Style Spin]

Alright ladies, months ago (here & here) I posted about the Beauty CULTure exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography. Have you been yet? If you haven't been, you need to go. Here are a couple of reasons:

1] It's EYE OPENING! Majorly helps you to expand what you see as beauty and what lengths people should, or shouldn't, go to obtain it. 

2] It's free!

3] It's an interactive, gorgeous exhibit and not one you have to be at all day to feel like you've got the whole experience!

4] It's pretty central to everyone in LA, nestled into Century City. 

5] It closes in just over a month!

Have you already been? 

Yes, what did you think? I was so conflicted about feeling like the beautiful women were in fact beautiful after seeing the documentary about how we are influenced by the industry as a whole.  It kinda made be feel guilty about seeing the models and works of art. 

No. Do you think you'll go? If you do, will you let me know what you think?

5 things: makeup

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

I am not a big makeup girl. That said, I also have days where I think, "I'm really glad I'm not a guy because today I really need a little makeup to freshen myself up. On those days when I really need and extra boost to get me out the door, these lovelies are my little lifesavers. 

1] Tarte cheek stain in Blushing Bride 

2] Maybelline Define-a-Brow in Light Blonde 

(because my hair is naturally very light and I have fair skin, my eyebrows are practically see through...this helps!)

3] Bobbi Brown eye shadow in Slate is the perfect mix of a warm grey 

4] bareMinerals Faux Tan bronzer is perfect for an all over glow on your face when you haven't been in the sun 

(or when you've been good and have been wearing sunscreen)

5] Bobbi Brown lip gloss which I have in three colors 

(aubergine, petal, & buff) that I choose from depending on the day

What are your favorite makeup finds?

Also, if you missed the other 5 things, by way of ney, posts you can find more of my favorites, like this one, by clicking on "5 things" under the features. Or by clicking this link.  

5 things: beauty

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

These days that seem to fly by with not enough hours have helped me to realize what things I rely on in my daily "beauty" regime to make me feel good.  It doesn't take a lot these days, or I don't have time for a lot, but these 5 things help make me feel good, refreshed, full of life and still "put together" despite the lack of time spent on myself.

1] clarisonic: Totally renewed the texture and feel of my skin. It takes off my daily makeup and exfoliates at the same time.

2] dermalogica antioxidant hydramist: I can't say enough about it's abilities to keep me feeling dewy & hydrated. I love taking the mini bottle along with me on flights, no matter how short or long. 

3] essie nail polish: I really haven't seen a color I don't like. Stays on long and has a brush shape that even makes it easy to do on my own. Plus, just having my nails painted makes me feel much better over all. Totally a trick to make my mind think I've been spending more time on myself than I have. 

4] tweezerman tweezers: I use these for everything from stray eyebrows to removing flakes of skin.

5] sugaring: Sugaring? you ask. Yes, sugaring from Lisa at SugarMe. Converted me from a waxer & shaver to a sugaraholic. It's all natural (edible actually because it's only sugar, water, lemon juice), hurts less, makes your skin feel great and is ingrown proof. Need I say more?!

If you feel like me these days and need an extra bit of pep in your steps, these 5 things are the way to go. 

5 things: sun

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

With Labor Day around the corner I thought I'd share some of my must haves for long days in the sun and sand. My weekend will be filled with sunshine, heat and girlfriends. I'll be in Las Vegas, for a bachelorette of a dear friend. What are your plans for the long weekend?

MUST HAVES:

1] sun bum zinc oxide: I have looked for years and years for a clear formula zinc oxide to use on my face, hands, lips, and scars to prevent any sun damage. I finally found this one on my early summer trip to Miami and have loved it all summer. It smells like you want sunscreen to smell, clean and tropical.

2] a BIG summer tote that I can throw everything in: water, magazines, sunscreen, my camera snacks, hats, towels...

3] shisedo ultimate skin protection cream: This one does it's job! A major sun block out that I use on areas prone to burn (my face and shoulders). While it protects all day it also doesn't make my sensitive skin breakout. I am proud to say that for the first time in a long time I didn't get one burn on my face this summer.

4] a BIG beach towel. The bigger the better with this one. It's no fun to spend your day trying to stay on your towel. A blanket size is best!

5] hats! hats! hats!: a big hat does wonders to keep my face safe from the sun. I love this panama hat that my dad brought home for me. You can find one here.

*I also like to bring along a light weight pashmina or scarf to drape over my shoulders after enough sun or over my face while I take a mid afternoon, summer nap in the sun. 

beauty CULTure [revisited]

[photo by: norman jean roy]

Almost a month ago I wrote about my venture to the Annenberg Space for Photography to see this exhibit. Matthew Segal, for Los Angeles Magazine, wrote this about it: "Is she hot? Too taut? Not taut enough? After delving into androgyny and pugilism with her stints in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby, Hilary Swank demonstrated she was all woman in this 2004 photograph by Norman Jean Roy. Miles beyond our zaftig past, she embodied our transforming notions of what's feminine and pretty. In Beauty Culture (May 21-November 27), the Annenberg Space for Photography focuses on how the lens has fed and been fed by our billion-dollar obsession with female beauty. Works by Chuck Close, Man Ray, David LaChapelle, Lauren Greenfield, and dozens of others will be on view, making voyeurs of us all."

If you needed another sales pitch to get you there, hopefully that will intrigue you enough.

beauty CULTure

As soon as I heard about this exhibit I knew that I wanted to go. I gathered my mom and sister and went to the Annenberg Space for Photography which is neither a gallery or a museum because it is a nonprofit fully funded by the Annenberg family.  The space is purposefully interactive with a 31-minute long documentary feature, 170 prints, a reading room, and multimedia stations. The exhibit was both amazing and startling. 

As soon as we arrived the documentary feature was beginning so we quickly sat down and were captivated. The images and commentary revolved around how feminine beauty has been defined, the industry that fuels that definition, and the photographers who capture it all. It led us to the point of realization that we have both celebrated and been abused by our understanding, or misunderstanding, of beauty. 

After the documentary was over we walked around the halls filled with images of women. Many of them were images that we've all seen before; from Twiggy to Heidi Klum...

photo credit: unknown, possibly Barry Lategan

photo credit: Gilles Bensimon

 ...but some were images we never hoped to see. Of botched plastic surgery and faces contorted by the undying desire to change what was gifted to us by birth.

photo credit: Lauren Greenfield

photo credit: Lauren Greenfield

Walking through the halls of these prints after seeing the documentary made it extremely hard not to feel conflicted. It was challenging to turn off the part of you that recognizes these images of women, mostly models, that we've all grown to believe as the epitome of beauty. As I looked at image after image is was clear to see why these photographs have had such a profound influence on us. 

The thing that stood out to me most was something that a female photographer, whose name I don't remember, said during the documentary, "The important thing is to not get lost in your own reflection." To me this meant that there is nothing wrong with the recognition of beauty, whether in yourself or someone else, but that we need to remember that what we see in the mirror is not our true identity.  

This exhibit will run until November 27th. Get there!