pom-erine lemonade

I really enjoy looking through old pictures on my phone because usually they are of silly little things that I found amusing or wanted to remember.  One day my wonderful friend Emily came over for some cocktails and we ended up randomly creating an amazing drink.  I took a picture of the ingredients so I wouldn't forget!  It's sweet, refreshing, tingly, and perfect for that last taste of summer.   

Ingredients for "pom-erine lemonade":

• pink lemonade (1/2 parts)
• sparkling pomegranite juice  (1/4 parts)
• hansen's tangerine soda  (1/4 parts)
• vodka
• garnish with lemon 

MoMA

New York is expensive and once in a while it's nice to do something for free.  Fortunately, the MoMA is open on Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m. sans admission.  Personally, I could stare at Henri Rousseau's painting "The Dream" for hours.  www.moma.org

soapology

My friend Britt came to visit this weekend from Denver, Colorado.  It was her first time in NYC and, needless to say, we did a lot of shopping.  While strolling through the Meat Packing District, we came upon a wonderful little store that I discovered a year ago and completely forgot about: Soapology.  This bath shop is by far one of my favorites.  Their products are all natural, customizable, reasonably priced (a large bottle of shower gel is $20-), and leave your skin feeling fantastically smooth.  The employees are very friendly and will take you to the back of the store to try their array of products on your hands in a four legged antique bathtub (très chic).  Best of all, they're kind enough to let you smell every scent before making a pick and they recommend unique combinations.  You can pick a scrub, shower gel, or lotion and infuse it with your favorite essential oil.  I recommend smelling Caribbean Coconut, Rose, and Mint.  This store is wonderful for gifts or for a self-treat, and if you bring back old bottles you receive 10% off your next purchase! www.soapologynyc.com

high line

I'm still new to New York, so on the weekends I like to take walks with my friend Malle and do some exploring.  This weekend, we went to the High Line.

The High Line is a concrete pathway that was originally constructed to safely raise freight trains off of Manhattan streets.  It has been converted into a cafe and greenery-lined park where you can traverse from the Meat Packing District all the way up through Chelsea to Hell's Kitchen.  On an Indian summer day, it's packed with locals and tourists alike.  We were fortunate enough to visit on a day when there was a public art project and the entrance was adorned with a path of rose petals.     

It's so fantastic that Bond No. 9, one of my favorite perfumeries, named a scent after it (think refreshing bergamot and rhubarb).  I suggest you treat your olfactory and visual senses by checking out both at the same time!  Start your walk by vising the Bond No. 9 store on Bleecker and West 11th St., then make your way through the West Village over to the the High Line entrance on 14th St..

http://www.thehighline.org & http://www.bondno9.com/shop/eau-de-parfum/downtown/view/bond-no-9-high-line

caroline

Caroline is one of those lovely Southern ladies that you can't help but adore.  She's a perfect mix of sweet and sassy.  She can also pull off wearing smokey eyes and plush red lips at the same time because she has this incredibly glamorous classic American movie star look about her (I know, I'm jealous too).  We met this Saturday afternoon to get her ready for a night out.  I call this look the "not so sweet Caroline".... and I  hope that you now have Neil Diamond stuck in your head too.

How to accomplish this super smouldering look:

1. For super smokey eyes, it's important to provide a good base for the color.  Start by blotting concealer over the lids and blend up to the brows to even out the skin and provide a good canvas for the color.  We chose a dark purple shadow.  You can start to apply the smokey color by dusting the shadow in a "u" shape in the crescent of the lid.  I continue to add color until I reach the desired depth.  For Carloline, I also took a fine angle brush and dusted the deep purple shadow under her lower lash line.  Then I added a medium toned purple to enhance the deep amethyst shadow, and finished by highlighting with a very nude pink shadow towards the center of the lids.  Apply black pencil liner in a "cat eye" style and double coat mascara. 
2. For lips: line with a pencil and then fill in the lips by blotting on lipstick.  Try to select a color that enhances the tone of eyes if doing both smokey eyes and deep red lips.  You want to make sure that the colors compliment each other, so select more of a blue-red when pairing with purple shadow.  

Naturally, not everyone call pull off both smokey eyes and red lips.  Pick one step or the other and you will still be ready to put on your heels and steal some glances.

mia

Today I met with the lovely Mia at her beautiful flat in NOHO for a little fall makeover.  Mia is such a natural beauty and she prefers to wear little to no makeup, so we did a very neutral fall look for her.

To achieve this look:

1. Blend a light tinted moisturizer over the skin.  For Mia, we chose YSL's Teint Parfait. 
2. Sweep an illuminator over the skin before applying foundation to give the skin an "underglow."  I highly recommend Coloresicence's Illuminating Pearl Powder or String of Pearls. 
3. Conceal underneath the eyes with a peach based concealer.  I used Clarins' Instant Light Brush on Perfector.  
4. Spot conceal with mineral compact.  Then, lightly dust loose mineral foundation with a large brush over forehead, nose and cheeks.  Colorescience's All Even mineral makeup suited Mia's complexion perfectly. 
5. Lightly frame the face and enhance the cheekbones with bronzer and blush.  I like to sweep bronzer underneath the cheekbones and lightly at the top of the forehead.  I sweep blush on the apples of the cheeks toward the temples.  Blend well!  We used Colorescience's It's Only Natural bronzer and Blushing Bride blush.   
6. For a soft, yet sultry eye, simply take a light base shadow and sweep on the eye lid and up to the brow bone.  Then, take a contour color and dust in a "u" shape in the crescent of the eye.  Highlight by adding some of the light base shade in the center of the lid.  Add more definition if you so choose by lining the upper lash line with a dark brown powder liner or pencil liner, and finish with two coats of mascara!  Today we used Colorecience's Star White, Star Bright and Betrayal eye shadows, and Dior Blackout Mascara.
7. Use a light gloss to hydrate the lips.  Mia is wearing Nars' Turkish Delight.

La Carta de Oaxaca

I moved to New York about a month and a half ago.  So far, I absolutely love the city and I have met some incredible people.  There's something inexplicably appealing about New York - a certain je ne sais quoi.  The city is inspiring and it seems to be filled with endless treasures around each corner.  Not to mention, an endless array of mouth watering restaurants.  Nonetheless, I find myself missing Seattle and my regular stations.  One place in particular is La Carta de Oaxaca.  As my Seattle friends know, I rave about this place. 

Oaxaca is tucked away in Ballard, one of Seattle's artsy and hip neighborhoods.  It's a casual, warm, hole-in-the-wall, authentic Mexican eatery.  Be prepared to wait for a bit if you visit for dinner. But trust me, like all good things, it's worth it.  While you wait - and battle the tummy growls that ensue the second you enter the front door - you can sip a margarita in the back bar.  Before you know it, one of the amazingly friendly staff members will seat you at a very snug table.  The ambiance is pleasant and social, and you may leave with a new friend or two. 

As to the menu, the home-made tortilla chips and fresh guacamole is a must.  I love everything on the menu, but highly recommend the tacos al pastor, tostadas, and tamales de mole'negro.  One of the best features is the very reasonably priced dishes.  Entrées range from $8 - 15.      

Be warned: after the first visit, you may experience the Pavlovian reflex of drooling each time you think of Oaxaca.  http://www.lacartadeoaxaca.com/

fall glow

It's that time of year we all love.... where you can snuggle up in your favorite scarves, strut around in your fall blazers, drink pumpkin spice lattes, crunch the leaves underneath your boots, and enjoy the wonderful feeling of crisp air on your face.  The one downside to fall? The fading glow that you get from summer sun.  Well ladies, I have a quick fix.  Thanks to Colorescience mineral makeup, you can defy drab winter skin with String of Pearls Mineral Finishing Powder. 

Simply sweep the powder over your cheeks, forehead and eye lids before applying foundation for an "underglow," and finish your look by adding a touch over your cheekbones.  This shimmer promises to make your skin shine (but only in a good way).  It's also wonderful for problematic skin and can be used on your decollete when glamming up for a night out on the town.  You can find Colorescience String of Pearls at www.skinchic.com. 

Butterfly Herbs

Because I'm from Missoula, Montana, I thought it only appropriate to make the first post about my favorite place from home.  Butterfly Herbs in downtown Missoula is a charming, artistic, old-world shop that will win your heart instantly.  Whenever I visit my family, the first place I go to wind down and enjoy a moment of quiet to myself is Butterfly Herbs.  I recommend meandering through the vast shelves of herbs, spices, chocolate, and tea until you reach the quaint cafe in the back.  There, you can order a pot of locally made tea (my favorites are Earl Grey, Rose Mint, and Evening in Missoula) and sip yourself into relaxation while reading a book, appreciating the local artwork displayed in the cafe, or watching the quirky locals.  Butterfly Herbs is amazing anytime of the year, but in winter it's the most cozy.

Other things that should not be missed: dark chocolate covered pistachios, Mexican cocoa candles, wide array of coffee, ginger chews, and the card and gift wrap section.

Even if you cannot make the trek to Missoula for this wonderful experience, you can visit the store's website.  Lucky for you, despite the old-world nature of the store, they ship.  www.butterflyherbs.com  http://www.butterflyherbs.com/ 

ciao

Welcome, my name is Anna and I started amore d'oro to share my love for simple pleasures in life with those who appreciate the same. I constantly seek to find high-quality, unique, and special products, restaurants, places to visit, beauty tricks, etc. that are accessible to anyone no matter their means. Enjoy!