Moving Tribute ::: Light the Night Walk 2013

Photo via Katie Grana, our AMAZING "Ramblin' for Ron" team captain, and Ron's other niece.

Words cannot even express how amazing this girl is. Seriously!

This past Friday, my family and I participated in our second Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk with our family team, "Ramblin' for Ron."  Last year we had a pretty great team turnout, and this year was insane, and I'm not just saying that because we are a collective tribe of nuts. 

Fashion Fix ::: Style Star

Photo: JustJared

Reese Witherspoon is a perfect example of great casual style, and is almost a poster child for how to do it right. Even through her pregnancies she was perfectly pulled together, glowingly calm and collected.

Top Secret ::: Refreshing Second Day Hair

Photo: Me, of my Bottle

I have, up until now, been an absolute failure at reviving second-day hair with dry shampoo. Being an "enhanced" redhead, skipping a day is kind of the nature of the beast, and is definitely a necessity to keeping it vibrant.

What's in the...Box? ::: I am Living Proof

Photo: Living Proof Obsessions Page

A few months back, Living Proof, the product line developed by MIT scientists and now co-owned by Jennifer Aniston, held a little "Obsessions and Confessions" contest in which they called for entries in the form of photos and videos.  I entered a little video about my obsession with my hair, specifically my hair color, and how I have a stockpile of the "recipe ingredients" that will last me easily the next two years, as well as the recipe under lock and key (it's serious business!). Then I forgot about that mortifying little thing that I had just sent to a celebrity I totally love. 

Tech Time ::: Intro to Evernote

Photo: Evernote.com

In my many efforts lately to get more organized, I recently signed up for and downloaded Evernote (and Evernote Food!), for my Mac and my iPhone, and have been tinkering a little with it to get acclimated.  I would often read about it in "best apps for productivity" lists around the web.  Mashable recently talked about it again, and it was another push for me to actually look into it, as my interest in it has been piqued several times.

Must Try ::: Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

ALL PHOTOS BY ME, OF MY RECIPE. 

Should you wish to reproduce this on your own blog, please contact me.

This is actually a recipe I adapted from a local meal-prep place that went over so well, I tried to recreate it myself.  We were both skeptical of it when I ordered it initially, so I didn't order very much, and it ended up being one of our absolute favorite dishes from there to date.  Since he requested it so many times, I started tinkering trying to come up with something vaguely similar. I think I might be getting there...however, I tinker with things, and end up with something a little different.

Weekend Update::: Domino is Coming Back!

:::I am kind of hit or miss on interior design. I love to look at well designed spaces, especially those that are well organized, and I love to plot out what I will do in my own house. I just fail to ever act on any of the inspiration. I regularly read Lonny, LivingETC, House and Home, HGTV Magazine and ElleDecor...and I really like them, but since the loss of Domino, there's simply been nothing like it to hit the scene since it's demise. In the short time it was around, it really created a serious cult following. It was loved with good reason.   

Test Driven::: Raw Coconut Oil as Moisturizer

Photos: Me of my jar

There's been lots of talk around the blogosphere about Coconut Oil and it's benefits for your skin and hair. I read about it on various beauty forums, and other blogs all the time.  I even bought myself a jar at Trader Joe's a while back...and then it sat on my counter because I could not convince myself to try this out.  Well, I finally did over the last two weekends...and it was interesting!

Loving Right Now :::

Photos: Caratsandcake.com, RebelGreen.com, me of my Marc Jacobs lip balm, 

BedBathandBeyond.com, BumbleandBumble.com, Truprotection.com

Tech Time ::: Keyprop and KeyCam App

Photo: Keyprop Kickstarter

A while back you might recall that I was mentioning a Kickstarter project I backed, for the KeyProp. Well, I just received my Kickstarter rewards for the Keyprop by Integral Design, and it's totally rad, as I expected. They included a special edition gray and green for backers as well, so I have another backup in case. 

Must Have ::: Paul Mitchell Super-Charged Moisture

Photo: Me of my bottles

A big space "hog" in my shower stall, one of the many my husband probably curses frequently, belongs to a giant pump bottle of this fantastic conditioner, which I use at least once a week, sometimes more often.  It is one of the first deep moisturizers that didn't destroy my color, build up on my hair, and actually made a difference in actively moisturizing my hair.  You're probably reading this thinking "criminy, another hair conditioner?" And I don't blame you...I warned you, I have quite a collection!  I am totally hair obsessed.

Fashion Fix ::: Wedge Sneakers...

Photos: TheTrendDiaries.com (an absolutely KILLER blog for celeb street style!)

I never thought I would see the day where I was finally woo'ed into trying something like this on...but I did. And I kinda liked them. A few were a little too high in the heel for me, but I might be able to get used to them, if I buy them.  I have mocked this look since they first came out, and said "no way" to even trying them...but then I did. And now I am eating crow.

Trend Worth Trying ::: Jewel Toned Beauty

Photo: Nars.com

Spinning off of my Trend Worth Trying from two weeks ago, geared more towards fashion, this time I am focusing on Fall Beauty. For those who are less brave in the clothing department, or are more subtle with their trends, a great wine nail or smoky sapphire eye might be just the ticket. This is big especially for those in a more corporate environment, where color in the attire is generally frowned upon, a classic dark nail or slightly smoky jewel toned eye might be ok.

Wednesday Wow::: Inside Mackenzie's Apartment

Photography: Trent and Dara Bailey of Trent Bailey Photography for The Glitter Guide

I am an avid reader of Mackenzie's blog, Design Darling, as well as having purchased a few items from her online boutique of the same name.

Recently, this lovely ginger-haired goddess moved into an apartment of her own, albeit petite, and along the way would post little teasing nibbles about her new place and how the decorating was coming along.  I have been anxiously waiting for her to post a full tour, so when I learned a few weeks back that The Glitter Guide would be featuring her home, I was elated, since they do incredible features and house tours, at least one of which I have posted about in the past.  I am clearly quite the voyeur.  

Tech Time ::: Keynote Part 2

Image::: iMore's Apple Invite

So, an update to follow up on today's Keynote:::

Tech Time ::: Apple Keynote Day!

Photo: iMore of the Apple Keynote Invite

It's the big day, Apple Keynote day to announce the new iPhones! As I mentioned last week, there's quite a lot of rumored info out there, implying 4 colors of the iPhone5S, and several plastic-cased variants called the 5C.

The biggest question besides "what are they actually releasing, and when, and where" now remains, how will they price the new units, and what are their plans with the older models?

Must Try ::: Designers Do Beauty

Photo: George Chinsee via WWD

With a "Less is More" mantra, and a line consisting of just four simple, and beautifully packaged, cosmetics products to accompany a small bath and body line and a fragrance, Tory Burch is the latest designer to make her grand entrance into the world of beauty, scheduled to launch in a matter of weeks, and just a month after Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs made their own breezy splashes into this wide world of products.

Weekend Update ::: The End is in Sight!

Photo: by Douglas Hill Photography of a closet designed by Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design 

(image via LA Closet Design on HOUZZ)

Man, I want that closet. That's like the size of half my house...I'd have to become a lot more of a fashionista! I wish I had the budget for Lisa Adams to come to my house. 

After some thankfully not long-lasting jackhammering, floor sawing and digging in the basement, we have the first step in the process done, whew!  The plumbing rough-in is done, as well as a few other plumbing discoveries that we found after the concrete was up that needed repaired, and the drain tiles and sump pump go in any day now.  That will be a nice load off our shoulders to be finished with that and ready to move on the remaining construction down there, and hopefully not be bleeding money too much longer.

Top Secret ::: Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstructor

Photo: Me of my bottle

Keratin products seem to be all the rage lately, but Joico K-Pak is a true classic in that field, probably the granddaddy of all of them! I have used this liquid variant of Joico K-Pak since it initially launched, after years of using the original cream version in the shower. I still occasionally use the original, and sometimes will pack it on and leave it in overnight if my hair really needs it, followed by a healthy dose of the Paul Mitchell Super-Charged Moisture (post coming soon!)  There's simply not a better keratin deep treatment on the market, and it's been around in it's potent and original form for decades for a reason::: it friggin' works. The liquid is just as powerful, simply in a lighter form, for finer hair.

Loving Right Now:::

Photos: Cariloha's Flickr, Sugarfina.com, PLXDevices, Mighty Purse, Target.com, Clipa, Me of my keys

Tech Time::: The long-rumored iPhone 5S and 5C

Photo: SonnyDickson

I enjoyed my Labor Day weekend, I hope you did, too! I was noticeably absent yesterday as a result!

But I am back today because it's Tech Time, and it is that time of year again: Apple iPhone Launch Time!  I know my Android-loving readers are just rolling their eyes at this, but for the rest of us, it's time for cheering, for in just a matter of days, the official announcements will be made on the newest upcoming and soon to be released phones from Apple.  I feel like such a fangirl!