A few of my favorite things - July 2014

          Happy Saturday! I've been enjoying a week filled with brown paper packages (tied up with strings), thanks to some major hauling this past fourth of July weekend. I can't wait to share new discoveries from J.Crew, Cole Haan, and my favorite beauty brands, as soon as I have the chance to take a few snaps. In the meantime, I have stationery, songbirds, and other delights to share with you on this edition of A few of my favorite things!

1. Kate Spade Saturday notebook
Knowing my Kate Spade aficionada ways, my mom picked up this cute paper notebook for me. The pages are lined with fun yellow graph paper.

2. Parker ballpoint pen in Pink Ribbon
I'm loving this sleek little pen; it's a chic alternative to your usual twelve-pack pens. (And it's pink!)

3. CHANEL Poudre Universelle Compacte in 20
There's something iconic about this CHANEL compact! I'm loving the soft finish it adds on top of my CHANEL Perfection Lumière foundation.

4. CHANEL La Nuit de Chanel Evening Recharging Face Care
I'm loving this little sample of La Nuit de Chanel (the evening cream from CHANEL's new skincare lineup)! The frankincense extract adds a luxurious aroma to the experience.

5. US Postal Songbirds stamps
You know me, I had to pick up this bird themed set of Forever Stamps. Every time I head to the post office I'm tempted to start collecting again...

6. Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Cement
I've been falling in love with my Bobbi Brown eyeshadows (for the umpteenth time). Cement is among my signature shades.

7. MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow in Ash (click for my review)
After going the eyeshadow route for my brows these past months, I finally converted back to using MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Brow formula. It adds a little more lasting powder during warmer months.

         Thanks for reading! What have you been loving lately?

Love, Dovey.

A few of my favorite things - May 2014

           In addition to the proverbial raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, I have 'A few of my favorite things' from May to share with you today! It's been a very busy spring so far; with twelve hour workdays becoming the norm, I've had to rely on a few carefully curated items to reach for on a day-to-day basis. Here's what made my shortlist:

1. Kate Spade white purse
This season I can't get enough of structured squares (the boxier the better)! This has been my go-to bag ever since I got it a few months ago. Not to mention, white is my favorite neutral (which you may have already guessed by now...)

2. Little rosettes
I just had to pick up these darling little rosettes; they have such a cute English garden-like feel! They're from my local Whole Foods (South Loop), which always carries a great seasonal selection.

3. CHANEL Poudre Universelle compacte
I love the iconic design of this little compact. It adds a soft finishing touch to my complexion! (Plus, I find that a little powder is necessary now that warmer weather is finally on its way).

4. Tortoiseshell shades
I'm so very partial to tortoiseshell patterns (probably a reflection of my New-Englander tendencies...) These shades have made a number of appearances on my Instagram and in my real-life rotation.

5. CHANEL pink lips
While peach does tempt me from time to time, at heart I'm a pink-lippie kind of girl. CHANEL makes some of the prettiest pinks --- I've been reaching for CHANEL Rouge Coco in Dedicace (click for my review) again. I keep meaning to pick up Magnolia and Liaison, which would make great additions to my collection as well!

6. Harper's Bazaar May 2014
When it comes to glossies, I'm a Harper's Bazaar kinda girl. (Have I converted any of you yet?) This month's issue is particularly fun, as it's their first beauty issue ever. Plus, I'm loving the fabulous swinger dress on cover-girl Kate Moss!

       Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this month's edition of A few of my favorite things! What makeup, accessories, or glossies have you been enjoying recently?

Love, Dovey.

A few of my favorite things - February 2014

          Along with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, I have A few of my favorite things to share with you today! February is one of my favorite color months. It gives me the liberty to wear pink, pink, and more pink! (As far as I'm concerned, pink might as well be a neutral hue). For this month's edition of A few of my favorite things, I've put together a list of the mostly-pink-themed accoutrements that I've been enjoying!

1. Kate Spade scarf 
I'm always happy to have a little Kate Spade on hand, whether it be a purse, perfume or pretty piece of another sort. This month I've been loving my pink spade-print scarf. It's a festive accent piece, perfect for February!

2. NARS nail polish in Schiap 
This Elsa Schiaparelli - inspired hot pink is a perennial pick for me, come February. While I don't often gravitate towards brights, hot pinks are always welcome in my book! I'd love to have the matching NARS Schiap lipstick; it's quite high on my current wishlist!

3. CHANEL Rouge Coco in Dédicace (click for review)
This cool, cheery pink has been a staple for me this month. (I had a  brief scare when I thought it had fallen out of my purse--- thankfully I found it the passenger side seat of my car). CHANEL Dédicace seems to have been a less popular pick from the Notes de Printemps collection (in the blogosphere at least), but it's a winner by me!

4. Diptyque Eau Rose perfume
When it comes to perfume, I'm a year-round floral kind of girl. When it comes to the winter months, I find myself gravitating to the full-bodied character of rose. I've been mixing up my rosy routine with a spritz of Diptyque Eau Rose. It's a fun take on rose, with sweet blackberry and lychee adding a delicious touch.

5. Cartier Goutte de Rose
I adore Cartier perfumes (composed by perfumer Mathilde Laurent); the natural minimalism of their scents resonates quite strongly with me! I had to pick up Cartier Goutte de Rose when it debuted last year, as I had yet to find a solid rose scent for my collection. I love how the scent strikes a balance between the sweet and mature aspects of this quintessential bloom.

6. CHANEL Perfection Lumiere foundation (click for review)
I hope you'll indulge me in my broken-record kind of endorsement of CHANEL Perfection Lumière! (It's been in a number of my A few of my favorite things posts already!) Lately I've been using this foundation along with my new beauty blender sponge, which tends to eat up the foundation, but provides a beautiful finish.

7. Illamasqua blusher in Nymph
I've become a bit more bold with blush lately. I'll use a liberal dusting, as opposed to my usual whisper. It's fitting for the pallor of my winter complexion, as well as adding a little fullness to my relatively thin face. My favorite blusher this month has been Illamasqua Nymph, a pretty candy pink!

          Thanks for reading! Do we share any favorites? What pink shades have you been wearing this month? What perfumes have you been gravitating towards?

Love, Dovey.

A clean slate...

           Happy New Year! There's something magical about January 1st - I just love the refreshing feeling of waking up to a brand new year, full of optimism and good will! It's also a great chance to reaffirm those old (and new) resolutions with a squeaky clean slate!

         Naturally, the colors I'm wearing at this new beginning reflect my sentiments. I've started 2014 with a couple coats of Essie Allure at my fingertips. This sheer white was a wonderful rediscovery from my stash; it was gifted to me by a dear friend some time ago. I also decided it was high time to switch out my well-worn wallet. I went from hot pink to this gorgeous white grain Kate Spade wallet (thanks mom!). In terms of makeup, I'm keeping things minimal with just a dusting of CHANEL Poudre Universelle in 20 Clair, with a liquid eyeliner, mascara, and a little aquaphor on the lips.

         Thanks for reading! I hope your New Year is off to a wonderful start! What beauty products and/or accessories are you refreshing your routine with today?

Love, Dovey.

A few of my favorite things - July 2013

       July has been a busy, busy month for me! With a new line of work and pressing schedule, I've had less time to dabble, and instead have relied on a few select favorites to get me through the month. Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things for July 2013. Enjoy!

1. Harper's BAZAAR (August 2013) - Harper's BAZAAR is my favorite subscription, hands down. The photography is gorgeous --- and this month especially so! I was blown away by the August 2013 cover and its stunning southwest scenery. Traveling to National Parks is one of my passions --- and I loved how it reminded me of my trip to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks a couple years ago (see my photos here and here).

2. CHANEL Double Perfection Lumière Foundation in B20 - This has been my foundation BFF for the past few months. Thanks to a busier schedule, I've had less time in the morning to prep - a powder foundation definitely saves time!

3. Diptyque Baies Mini Candle - This was a surprise gift from Mr. Lovey! Blackcurrant and rose make a stunning combination. I'm also loving samples of Diptyque L'Ombre dans L'Eau, which is the companion fragrance to Baies.

4. NARS Exotic Dance eyeshadow duo (reviewed here) - I tend to shy away from golds, however given the current climate I can't seem to get enough of it! This oldie-but-goodie has been getting some much deserved love this month.

5. Kate Spade Earrings - My golden boat earrings from Kate Spade are my favorite accessory purchase this summer. I have the matching bracelet as well, which you may have seen on my Instagram feed!

           I'm definitely getting a warm vibe from my July favorites --- with the flaming rocks and rich gold tones seen here. Being from Chicago's cold climate, I suppose I can't help but revel in the heat of summer!

        Thanks for reading --- and I hope everyone's had a great summer so far! What are colors and products you're loving right now?

Love, Dovey.

Kate Spade Live Colorfully Eau de Parfum review

         As a color fan-(atic), I'm oft delighted by Kate Spade's colorful creations. The brand has a way with color and imagery that just makes you smile. A few years ago, Kate Spade launched Twirl; I liked it so much that I picked up a rollerball of the perfume. Naturally, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Kate Spade Live Colorfully once it was released! 

          The bottle for Kate Spade Live Colorfully was inspired by the light refracting properties of prisms. From the front, it appears to be a bright coral. However, a turn of the flask reveals that there are actually two colored panes, one pink and one yellow, (bow)-tied together by glass. This colorful duality is not just pretty;  it also hints at the nature of the scent within (more on that below)!

Notes: Mandarin, Pink Water Lily, Star Anise, Tiare Flower, Golden Gardenia, Coconut Water, Sheer Musk, Amber, Vanilla

             Kate Spade Live Colorfully Eau de Parfum is a creamy white floral with hints of waterlily and coconut. Rich white florals open the scent; it's easy to pick out the distinct woody green character of gardenia combined with the dulcet and mellifluous tones of its Polynesian relative, the tiare flower. (I love how the scent of tiare practically transports me to the Pacific islands!) After the grand whites decrescendo, a pretty little stanza follows : a soft and sweet mandarin perfumes the air, followed by the aquatic green fragrance of a water lily. It's a segment that provides a delicate breather from the weightiness of the perfume. The white florals return a second time, and along with them comes coconut water, which at first has a cool dry texture, but becomes creamier over time as vanilla seeps in to fill it out. The final dry-down involves white florals, velvety coconut, and a hint of green waterlily. Live Colorfully is very long lasting.

         I found that Kate Spade Live Colorfully evoked not one, but two places, which was quite an unusual experience! The first was Tahiti, thanks to the heavy perfume of the tiare flower and coconut. In fact, the tiare and coconut oil combination is a classic fragrance pairing in Tahiti called Monoi. The coconut in Live Colorfully is a slight variation as it smells of the lighter coconut water rather than the creamier milk. The water theme in the coconut provides a lucid transition into a another watery, albeit very different environment. The aquatic green notes of the waterlily evokes the second location: a well shaded garden pond --- perhaps like Monet's garden at Giverny, France! (You can read more about Monet's Water Lilies in my recent Inspired by Art post!) This duality in Kate Spade Live Colorfully was fascinating --- it is both French countryside and French Polynesia in one bottle!

          Kate Spade Live Colorfully is a summery white floral with notes of velvety coconut and aquatic water lily. Like the bottle's bright yellow and pink panes that combine to create a cool coral, the scent is a unified duality as well. Through a common theme of water, our noses transport us to a lush island bathed in golden sunlight, as well as to the bright pink blooms of a waterlily pond draped with willows. The resultant combination is both colorful and cohesive.

          Overall, you could say I'm a big fan! I'll certainly be indulging in a few spritzes of Kate Spade Live Colorfully this summer. Thanks for reading! Have you tried Kate Spade Live Colorfully? What perfumes have you been enjoying this summer?

Love, Dovey.

P.S. For more on the art shown in this post, be sure to check out my Inspired by Art series featuring Monet's waterlilies and Gaugain's Tahiti.

What's in my makeup pouch?

          Lately my makeup pouch has become more practical. While I do add in the day's lipstick color, most of what's inside is for emergency or non-color touch-up purposes. Here's a look at what's in my pouch as of late.

          I'll start with the makeup! I keep mini-sized Make Up For Ever black eyeliner and Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Naked. They're both small but quality products that are perfect for a pouch. Pouches are such great places to keep the mini you just don't end up using otherwise. I also keep Revlon PhotoReady 3-D Volume Mascara* there because I'm not fond of it, but it's better than nothing on the rare days I run out without mascara on. NARS Concealer in Custard is always there in case I need to touch up a blemish. NARS Belle de Jour is practically a permanent resident considering how often it's in my pouch. The sheer nude color goes with almost everything. I keep a Tokidoki nail file for my nails. It has a convenient plastic case so it doesn't rough up all the other packaging.

         The non-makeup items include skin-care and other essentials. Bliss Body Butter in Lemon + Sage is one of my favorite mini lotions. It has such a wonderful texture and the scent is a nice pick-me-up. I keep Kate Spade Twirl rollerball in case I need a scent. It's nice and feminine, but not overstated so it's good for a number of occasions. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick* is a great multipurpose item (especially for a cocoa butter addict; this is my third stick!). I use it as both lip balm and moisturizer for dry skin. The solid form is light and great for travel too. I always keep Band-Aids on hand for shoe blisters and I've repurposed an old prescription bottle to hold some Advil. (I also love any excuse to use my label maker). Thanks for reading! What are some minis or basics you keep in your pouch? I'd love to get some fresh ideas!


Love, Dovey.  

 *Disclosure: This post contains product(s) sent to Cute and Mundane for consideration by PR. The ideas and opinions in this post are genuine and my own.