Archive for August 12th, 2009

Daily Diamond: Laura Mercier Crème Brulée Soufflé Body Crème

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

_5781661As the song goes, “Summer days, drifting away to oh, oh those summer nights”. What is it about summer that makes everyone so nostalgic? The days are simpler, the nights are so easy and everyone, everywhere you look, seems to be in a great mood. To keep in that summer mindset, I always go back to my favorite scent from Laura Mercier.

On warm summer nights, I usually forgo perfume in favor of a yummy-smelling body lotion instead. The scent is much lighter and wafts with me as I go about my evening. I tend to keep a variety of lotions at the ready, as my skin is in constant need of moisture.

For special nights out, I always reach for Laura Mercier’s Crème Brulée Soufflé Body Crème. It’s thick enough to conquer my dry, ashy ankles and knees, but light enough to withstand the heat and humidity of those summer nights. Any time I’ve worn the lotion, I get tons of compliments on the scent and know I’m not overpowering the room with fragrance. 

Summer days may drift away, but you’ve always got the memories to live by!

Pier Pressure

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

I’m pretty sure Christian Siriano got his uber-talented designing hands onto these pillows from Pier 1 Imports. They’re unbelievable and sure to look right at home in any bedroom or living room. Who knew such high-design came from Pier 1? I’m going to have to keep my eye on the store for more great options!

A cult classic straight from your own kitchen!

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

pinkberry

When the Pinkberry craze first hit the US, I’ll admit that I was one of the first to try it out when one of the chains opened in New York, and even though I liked it, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend $7 on a yogurt with some fruit on it every day. I let my cravings go unanswered and soon forgot about the light, fluffy treat…

Until I was slipping through the August/September 2009 issue of the Food Network Magazine. In their regular column, “Copy That”, Food Network peeps try to recreate famous foods from chains across America. Their take on Pinkberry’s yogurt is so close to the original, I couldn’t believe that I’d made it myself! Take a look at the recipe after the jump and let us know how your own creation turned out!

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Lucky girl.

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

I’ve long been a fan of Lucky magazine. The editors’ eyes for killer design and snappy editorial content make for, what I like to think, the perfect magazine. And while the pub went through a few months in 2008 where everything was out of my shopping budget, they’ve drastically scaled back to include many a deal and steal each month.

Their Lucky Breaks section is by far my favorite part. They always manage to score major deals with incredible brands. September’s issue was no exception. One page alone granted codes for Dolce Vita, Endless.com and Timex, ensuring its readers will have a very stylish and budget-friendly fall.

You can only imagine my delight when I learned that cult-worthy skincare brand Fresh hooked up Lucky readers with 35% savings for September. Sweet! Check out my favorite products below and have fun shopping!

Old school parties make for new age fun.

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

yum!

yum!

I’m always looking for great ideas when it comes to entertaining my friends and family. In this week’s People, party planner to the stars Mindy Weiss offers a sweet take on a great party option – throw an ice-cream social. Cute, no? Below, her tips on making a childhood-favorite a little more stylish.

1. Add color: “Stick to a bright hue for serving bowls…And don’t worry about matching.” Stack bowls and cones on a center table and surround with toppings of all kinds.

2. Top it off: “From movie candy to brownie chunks…have at least 10 toppings. Display them in glass jam jars,” she recommends. No jars? No problem – stash them in drinking glasses. We here at Chic Thrills recommend adding a little note to let guests know what they’re about to eat.

3. The Chic Thrills addition: Think carefully about drinks. What’s a party without some bubbly champagne or prosecco?

With the summer fading fast, now is the perfect time to grab friends and cool off with your favorite flavors. Happy scooping!

Winter getaway

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

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If you’re already dreading the end of summer, fret not! Some of the best travel deals pop up for the winter months, so you can start planning a winter escape long before there’s a threat of frost.

Currently, CheapCaribbean.com has a deal for Puerto Rico’s InterContinental Resort & Spa, with travel dates through December for $289 (plus taxes of course and other charges, depending on your departure city), including airfare and hotel accommodations. The site offers deals to members only, but registration is free and the deals are so good, you’d be foolish to not sign up. 

The beachfront resort is just a mile and a half from the airport (read: cheap cab fare!) and has undergone $12 million worth of renovations in 2008. There’s no shortage of things to do, including deep sea fishing and snorkeling, plus the island’s famous rainforest is close by for a tour.

Hmm… With a vacation like that in the middle of December, I might not be so sad to see summer go!

Want to wear what Gwen wears?

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

I love, love, love Gwen Stefani’s sense of style. You never know what to expect from her, but she never fails to put together such incredible getups, often looking like she doesn’t even think twice about it. Lucky girl. I’m also not going to pretend that she’s a bargain hunter like myself. So when I saw her in a California park with her cutie-cute son Kingston in a flippy tie-die skirt, I went on a little hunt to find one to fit me and my budget. Check out the one I found from American Eagle! Not too far off, huh? Oh, and it’s on sale for $19.95. Hollaback, girl.

Certainly Dri.

August 12th, 2009 by Catherine

For years now, I’ve heard many a journalist hail the benefits of a couple Botox shots to the armpits to help reduce sweating. Word has it you can also use it to prevent excessive sweating of the feet and hands, too. I’m curious – is it worth it? My instincts shout a resounding “NO!” but others swear by the benefits. I’m not at all convinced that spending thousands of dollars is worth it when there are drug store products available to conquer the same problems for just a few bucks.

images-2Don’t get me wrong – sweat stains are gnarly, no matter how you slice and dice it. Who doesn’t want to be Sure? But before you rush off to your dermatologist begging for a few needles to the pit, I urge you to try a product that changed my life – CertainDri.

Applied at bedtime, the product works to prevent excessive sweat under your arms for 72 hours. After initially applying a few nights in a row, I’ve never had a problem with sweat again and now apply it once a week to help keep things under control. Just be sure to avoid applying on freshly shaved skin, as the product will irritate you a little bit.

Give it a (non-invasive) shot to see for yourself the incredible results!