Test Driven ::: Nice & Easy Root Touchup

All photos by {accordingtoame}

I have walked by this box and have seen the pretty convincing commercials for years now, and couldn't convince myself to try it. There wasn't really a red shade that worked for me, and the closest one, Light Auburn, sure looked awfully brown on the box, in a way that made me nervous. But I figured the only way to know if it was going to work was to try it. So I did.

Must Unplug :::

Photo by Thomas J. Story, Sunset.com 

After a ridiculously fabulous "Girls Weekend" in Minneapolis with my ... uh ... girls,  I am taking a day, maybe a couple, off blogging to catch up on work and generally lay around and do nothing.  

I hate that we live so far apart and can't see each other more often than a couple times a year. But at least more pages in the notebook were filled up and I got some Juicy Nookie and sweet potato fries. 

Be sure to follow according to ame on 

Twitter ::: Facebook ::: Instagram ::: Pinterest  ::: Bloglovin'

Fashion Fix ::: Style Star, Carolina Herrera

Photo: Harper's Bazaar

Few women possess the talent and otherworldly elegance of the inimitable Carolina Herrera. She is an icon in fashion, an absolute beauty, and is simply one of the chicest women on earth.  

My Travel Basics ::: Ninja-Packing 102--Toiletries

All Photos: by {accordingtoame}

Previously, on My Travel Basics...Our heroine described at long-length how she plans, lays out, and packs her clothing and odds and ends into her travel bag as she prepares to jet off on a weekend adventure.  This episode joins our heroine as she packs her hair and makeup essentials, of which there are many.  Let's join the show, already in progress.

Wednesday Wow ::: Office Tour of Lucky Editor Eva Chen

All photos: Dominomag.com

So as I have mentioned recently, Domino magazine came back, and it's back in a big way. The new issue with new material is stellar, and despite being deemed "Holiday 2013", it isn't overtly "holiday" in a way that makes me want to barf.  Which is good, since I am more Scrooge McDuck than Fa-la-la-la-la.

Tech Time ::: Intro to Google Voice

Videos: GoogleVoice YouTube

After generally avoiding Google Voice for, oh, several years now, I finally made the switch recently, when one of my two cellular lines was out of contract. I didn't want to lose the number, but I mostly forwarded that line to my other one to avoid carrying two devices around.  I made the choice to port my older number, the out of contract line, to Google Voice, so that I could keep it, while getting that line off of my monthly service plan, and in turn, save some money every month, something I generally suck at doing. 

My Travel Basics ::: Ninja-Packing 101--Clothes

All Photos: by {accordingtoame}

I wouldn't call myself a seasoned traveler.  Most of my travel has been for leisure, with only a small amount related to work.  Despite that, I developed quite a system for when we travel now, involving extensive use of varying sizes of Ziploc bags. But because of my self-taught ninja organization, we can often carry on one duffle bag with everything packed neatly inside, and a smaller duffle for little odds and ends/my purse, and almost never deal with checking bags, even for a week-long trip for two!

Weekend Update:::

Photo: Yahoo TV

::: This evening marks the end of a 10 year run of What Not to Wear and I am, like, already crying. I have all three hours of the festivities set to record, and I already know that I will go through a box of kleenex watching even a minute of it.  While a lot of things have happened in the last decade, these two amazing icons that are Stacy and Clinton have been there preaching FIT and kindly helping women and a few men get it together in the style department all along. I am looking forward to seeing hopefully all of the past contributors and how well they've kept their style up since they've worked with the team.  Looking back at old episodes it's just amazing to see even how much Stacy and Clinton have changed.

Totally Obsessed ::: Restoration Hardware Flat Iron Dining Table

All photos: Restoration Hardware

Since laying eyes on this magnificent table from Restoration Hardware, I have been LUSTING for it for my own dining room slash assembly table.  I have had it bookmarked since it came to my attention, and every once in a while, I'll go visit the link and day dream about the chairs I might put with it, and the meals I might eat sitting at it.

Loving Right Now :::

Photos: Beautycounter.com, SoniaKashuk.com, Nordstrom.com, 

WhitneyEnglish.com, SnackFactory.com, Collage by Me.

Tech Time ::: 1Password4 for Mac

Photos: Me, of my app and my desktop. Yea, sorry about your eyes.

Back in June, I posted about an iOS Password Management app that was pretty pleased with, but wasn't as enamored with the Mac desktop version of.  As a reader of their blog, and several other tech blogs, I knew that AgileBits was hard at work on a new version that included several updates that took care of most, if not all, of my complaints. 

Lo and behold, just a couple weeks ago, Agile Bits released the newest version of 1Password for Mac into the wild. 1Password4 for Mac so far seems to have been everything I was expecting it to be, and more.  

Must Try ::: Five Star Burger in Clayton, MO

Photo: Found on Google Image, unsure of original source since it came up several times.

Last weekend, I convinced my husband to check out a newish burger joint here in St. Louis, called Five Star Burgers, which I had read a lot about, and was dying to try.  It was decidedly not on plan, and definitely not low-carb, and not exactly conveniently located.  We threw caution to the wind, piled ourselves into the car and headed out.

Fashion Fix ::: Girl's Night Out with Clinton Kelly!

Photo from Macy's. Note that I am hiding behind the table/flower arrangement. 

That's because the color of that awesome C. Wonder cardi would sear your eyeballs.

Trust me, you're thankful that you can still see. I love that cardi, but holy damn it's bright.

Last Friday I mentioned that I would be attending an event at Macy's with Clinton Kelly, from What Not to Wear and The Chew.  I have to report that it was AMAZING!  Really, though, what else would you expect, he's freakin' fabulous!

Test Driven ::: Acure Triple Moisture Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner

Photo: Me, of my products

I have mentioned the brand ACURE Organics on here in the past as being a favorite, and lately I have been branching out and trying other products by them, not surprisingly hair products. Have I mentioned I have a problem?

Wednesday Wow::: Ian & Victoria, a St. Louis Wedding by MNC Photography

All photos by MNC Photography, used with written permission, please do not copy!

I happen to work in a pretty cool industry. It's a "job" that allows me to work alongside, and get to know, some of the best wedding vendors, not only in St. Louis, but in the entire country...no, make that the world.   Simply calling them "wedding vendors", especially when they're as talented as Mike Cassimatis, is really a serious understatement.

Tech Time ::: Steve Jobs

Photo: Screenshot from Apple.com on the day Steve Jobs passed

This past Saturday marked the second anniversary of the passing of one of the world's greatest innovators.  His brilliance is simply unmatched, and what he brought to the masses is undeniably incredible. I post this, and do all of my work, really, from one of his many brilliant inventions, a Macintosh computer. 

Must Have ::: Ocusoft Lid Scrub Pads

Photos: Me of my Ocusoft package

I have a decidedly unglamorous eye condition that often results in little bumps forming on the waterline of my upper eyelid.  One of the equally unglamorous ways my eye doctor has handled that in the past is by lancing them with a stabby sterile object in his office.  That is always something fun to look forward to. 

Another slightly less creepy and definitely more appealing solution is the OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Pads that are readily available in an affordable little box of individually wrapped pads via the drugstore eye care aisle. 

Weekend Update :::

Photo: ClintonKelly.com

It's been another awesome and surprisingly quick week, but this weekend, especially tonight, looks equally busy and just as fun!

Trend Worth Trying ::: Oxblood Nails

Photo: Emily Weiss/Into the Gloss

Ever since I saw this write up on Into the Gloss about Elin Kling and her obsession with dark burgundy nail polish, I have been wanting to get a mani of the same shade.

Loving Right Now :::

Photos: Collage by me, Gooey Butter from Pearls & Coffee, Everdock Kickstarter, 

MegBiram.com, My photos of the Fruit Snacks, Purseblog.com

Tech Time ::: First Impressions on iPhone 5S

Photos: Me, of my phone

I received my 5S last week, and immediately was hugging it with glee. I also learned that maybe next time I won't get up at 2am and will just walk my ass into the store to get it over the weekend, because I could've...