Friday, December 30, 2011

Silver & Gold Glitter Manicure ~ Nails for a New Year



glitter nails - new years eve nails


My husband LOVES when my nails are painted and if you're a long-time reader, you know why ;) so doing them to share here, with you, is just an added bonus. Sometimes I need dual motivation to succeed at certain tasks or it's just not worth my time. But I'll admit I've been loving all my fun manicures as of late.

I wanted something bright and festive and fun for New Year's Eve and didn't want to stick to just gold or just silver so I combined the two by painting half of my nail with one and the other half, with the other. It's similar to my glitter stripe manicures but covers the entire nail. I'm sure you could also layer one over the other but I thought it'd be a bit too thick... and anyone who has used these glitter polishes knows what a headache they are to get off so I thought I'd do half and half. I love the turnout!


glitter nail polish - pink fur - glitter-nails-manicure

1.Nicole by OPI - "Make U Smile" 2.Sephora by OPI "Only Gold For Me" 3.Chanel Extreme Brilliance 4.White Nail Polish {I used Wet n' Wild from literally 100 years ago. I need a new white polish asap!}


white nails-hand -rings - gold table

* 3 coats of white nail polish.


gold glitter stripe on white nails

* 1 coat of chunky silver glitter on half of nail... 1 coat of chunky gold glitter on the other half.

* 1 or two coats of your favorite top coat.



diamonds -pearls - nails- glitter



diamonds and pearls- glitter nails

click here for more manicure ideas


Happy Friday Lovecats



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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Smash... With No Hesitation




click here to see the video if you're viewing it from your rss email subscription


When I was young I could always sense when I was about to go through a change in perspective, a metaphysical growth spurt, so to speak, leaving me feeling revitalized and renewed and open to new inspiration and creativity and all things beautiful. Sometimes it would evolve naturally and sometimes it was ignited by lyrics or the mood of a song or even a movie. And upon accepting this awareness of the universe and beauty into my life, I always found a new part of myself that I hadn't known existed prior.

As an adult, those "aha" moments come at rarer intervals. Life and responsibilty and to-do lists get in the way of organic, natural thought and presence, awareness, and beauty are easily overlooked. Since 2007, my creativity, inspiration, and motivation have been driven by this blog, which I've poured my heart and soul into and loved every minute of. But lately I've been craving new sources of motivation and inspiration, maybe a deeper sense of purpose beyond it and behind it, instead of because of it.

Maybe it's just because a new year is beginning, or maybe it's the transition of leaving my part-time job of 11 years and committing to full-time blogging and writing and working from home... but I've been searching for a new part of myself to explore beyond what I already know hard lately. When I StumbledUpon this dance video the other day I felt that "sense" rushing through me, that "spark" I haven't taken the time to pay attention to in years and it was energizing! I think I watched it three times in a row, each time feeling more intensity than the last. The song by Imogen Heap has quickly become a favorite, as have the rest of the songs on "Speak for Yourself" {2005} which I have been consumed with ever since.

Though this is seemingly just the beginning of my journey towards a deeper existence and finding a new aspect of who I am, I hope it will make for a fuller blog experience as well, all things considered... and inspire you to be more and feel more and see more as well. Cheesy? Maybe a little... but I'm on that path at the moment ;)



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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

You Can Check Out Any Time You Like But You Can Never Leave



casual christmas outfit- vintage t and red jeans


What I'm Wearing
* Red "mad for plaid" jeans... courtesy of Hudson. Hudson jeans are becoming a new favorite, I'm not gonna lie... they're infringing on my love for J. Brand jeans.
* Vintage patchwork leather jacket
* Old star t-shirt
* Gray cardigan... I think was from Heritage 1981
* Huge scarf found at the little sundries shop near the art gallery.
* Tiffany "T" pendant necklace & big gold hoops
* Tom Ford sunglasses
* Rosegold gray boots {watch GILT for them, they go onsale all the time}
* Jigsaw London black bag

* Hair: slept in bantu buns so I wouldn't have to actually "do" it in the morning. I did larger ones for less curl this time.

* Title: lyrics from The Eagles "Hotel California" really one of the best songs ever written. It reminds me of highs school every time I hear it... maybe that's why I like it so much... I also like to sing though, so it could be that. I'm also always amazed at singers who can drum simultaneously. Such talent.

While I do love dressing up {and you know I do}... I'd have to say that this look is one of my forever-go-to styles. It's casual and a little disheveled and a little rocker and very me. I feel most comfortable and like myself dressed like this, and what I'd throw on to go to the movies or out for a quick bite with the husband, if we so choose to eat out rather than order in ;)

This was Christmas morning and actually chilly early on but as the day progressed, the layers of my outfit went off, then back on. By nightfall, when we went to visit the father in law, I only needed the cardigan but opted for my gray lace up dominion boots for comfort, which actually looked cute with the red jeans.


red jeans - leather jacket-big hair

red plaid jeans-hudson jeans-bright jeans


back of red jeans-big hair-patchwork leather jacket


rosegold gray boots- red jeans-black bag


red jeans-leather jacket- black bag-gray boots-big hair-outfit post


tiffany gold pendant necklace


red pants-gray boots-black bag -cat


Happy Hump Day!





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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

* Our California Christmas *



santa in a convertible-california christmas


As usual, it was a warm and sunny Christmas day here in Los Angeles and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love it. I remember riding my brand new skateboard in my brand new fringe boots and denim Guess mini skirt in the 80's on a sunny Christmas morning and marveling in it... so a white Christmas just wouldn't be right, though I'm sure it would be beautiful.

My mom and stepdad arrived at our place in Santa hats, in their convertible, like they were in some kind of cheesy Christmas movie {though they were adorable} just as the husband was taking my outfit shots {which I'll post tomorrow since that would be a major photo overload} so it was kind of perfect timing for a photo op. Here are a few photos from our day as well as a few gifts tossed in between. Hope yours was as Merry as ours was.


california santa-convertible santa hats sunglasses

mom and barry on christmas


I haven't had service on my phone for the last 2 days... now I know why. The husband got me a new iPhone! Merry Christmas!! I'm so happy to have the new iPhone with the front camera!! Hope everyone's having a fabulous day!

The husband surprised me with a new iPhone {yay} and admittedly, I was most excited to finally be able to take front photos... though they are a bit grainy and fish-eye-lensy. Anyone else experience that or do I just need practice?

old white iphone -new white iphone

...just comparing old vs new above.

old phone

...and my brother and sil {the818} gave me this awesome vintage phone which I think is from the 60's. It has a very similar pattern all the way around the base to the set of glassware I have from my grandma from the 60's {you can see a matching bowl here}.


peanut butter squares

A holiday is not a holiday at our house without Peanut Butter Squares
{find my no-bake recipe here}


bebop the pug-in the kitchen


mom and delilah


Tiffany box w/ a ted bow from the husband. The first photo I took with my now iPhone this morning.

tiffany gold t pendant  Tiffany gold initial pendant necklace

I asked the husband for a gold necklace and he surprised me with a Tiffany "T" Gold Pendant necklace... T for our last name, Tintari. He's so fabulous I can't even stand it.


LeRoy-black french bulldog

Most happy that we have LeRoy home sweet home!


My brother, who has been taking drum lessons from our 90yr old grandpa, now teaching his daughter how to play. #christmas

We come from a long line of drummers and my brother is currently taking lessons from our 90 year old grandpa so we got Delilah a set of her own drums so my brother can teach her how to play. They were both pretty excited about them. It was a major cute overload moment.

me and morgan and delilah christmas morning

Three ladies in black & red... with messy bed-heads... "Christmas Casual" we like to call it ;)


takeout on christmas

I had intended on cooking a great big breakfast for everyone but my family tends to run late, which is fine because cooking stresses me out anyway. So we ordered lunch from the local deli, which of course, was open.


boys on the couch watching the game

Watching the Lakers lose... boo.

george the puppy Delilah petting george the puppy

Our friend Timmy joined us with his new puppy, George... who Delilah fell in love with. Not only were they about the same size, they share a name. George is Delilah's middle name.


Vanity Fair print 1928   chloe marcie bag large black

Natalie {my sort-of MIL, for lack of better title, lol} and friend, gave me this amazing Eduardo Garcia Benito Vanity Fair 1928 framed print when we stopped by Pep's dad's house later that evening ... and my gift to myself, which was actually more of a reward/present for getting a book deal, was the Chloe Marcie bag, but it's really HUGE and briefcase-like so I'm sending it back. The medium may be better or even the small but I may actually keep my options open at this time (also, it's kind of a ridiculous amount to spend on a bag, really it is)

mom and morgan and delilah


carson palmer raiders jersey kid raider jersey

Delilah and "Uncle Peppers", as she calls him, can now be twins in their Raiders jerseys.



We're having a nice pseudo-vacation week and are relaxing and recovering from last week's stress-extravaganza. Hopefully you get some well-deserved time off as well. Happy Tuesday!




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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!



leroy bebop on christmas-dogs


We are so happy to have our little family all home and back together, it's the only thing that matters this Christmas morning. LeRoy's a little banged up and randomly shaved all over his little body but he's ridiculously happy to be home as well. We wish you the Merriest of days today whether you celebrate Christmas or not. Joy to the world!


LeRoy with santa ears

santa sign

christmas pug


*& yes I know that Poinsettias are poisonous and no, our dogs don't eat them ;)


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Friday, December 23, 2011

Holiday Decorating... and a few updates



christmas mantel-fireplace-stockings-holiday cards


While our tree is very non-traditional in color this year, the rest of our decor is very stereotypically Christmassy. I actually didn't go too crazy, just the mantel and tabletop and front door. Our pretty white lights strewn over the outside of our house is my favorite part, yet they don't photograph as nicely as they look in reality. The husband lights a fire every night and we can't help but sit in front of it and gaze at it for what seems like hours on end... it's mesmerizing.

Update: LeRoy is still at the amazing Asec Animal Hospital in Santa Monica, where we took him yesterday, and seemingly doing very well. They say we will be able to pick him up tomorrow and I couldn't be happier. We have been a wreck all week due to the horribly incompetent vets at Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group who did absolutely everything wrong, wasted our time and money {$1700}, only to keep LeRoy locked in a cage for two nights without food, while he continued to get sicker because they weren't testing him for the correct illness. All they had to do was test his urine but instead did a 6 hour long, unnecessary x-ray, among other invasive things, and tell us he needed surgery and make us worry that he was dying for 3 days. I will never use them again {this is the 3rd time they've recommended surgery for 3 different dogs and upon second opinion, were 100% wrong} and I recommend anyone who is currently using them, to stop. Seriously, we are so upset about this situation I can't even begin to describe the anger that is pulsing through me as I type this. But we get LeRoy back tomorrow and couldn't be happier.

I have a bit of work to do but hopefully plan on spending the rest of the day baking holiday treats for our family and friends & finish wrapping presents. I honestly am not sure why I have not been taking Xanax all week or downing copious amounts of merlot to deal with all this stress... but I think I will start now. It's vacation, right?


mantel-stockings-holiday cards

Reindeer and flowers on the table


chair-santa hats-christmas headbands

living wreath on the door


Here's a few random Instagram shots I've posted over the month...

Where does Bebop end & the blanket begin? ...in front of the Christmas tree. #pug I should be writing, but I'm wrapping presents instead... #Christmas

Christmas tree. Delilah came over the other night & told me my tree was beautiful, lol

Hoody sweatshirt & squeaky bone #leroy #frenchbulldog #frenchie Pretty poinsettias!

christmas lights

flocked christmas tree- purple and blue chirstmas


Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas!




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