What kind of post title is that? Oxblood and cherries? It’s pretty much the only thing I could come up with on this fine Monday morning. I’m going on coffee #3 as I write, which leads to total lack of creativity because my brain is moving too fast for anything clever. This is probably my busiest time of the year, especially now that my son is a teen and homework patrol becomes more demanding. One of the blessings of working for Babble Beauty is that it gives me a great excuse to treat myself and have a bit of “me time.” After perusing a few magazines and checking out the latest in NY Fashion Week news, I spent some time trying on lipsticks at Sephora and getting lost in the beauty aisles at Target. There are so many beautiful colors for Fall. I’m just over the moon that the new season is upon us. Even if it’s a bit hectic now. If you’re looking to switch things up, here are my top 5 lipstick colors for olive skin (and a few points about the difference in red lip colors) and my recent nail obsession, the Oxblood manicure. If you’re preparing lunches, scurrying in the morning and have very little time for yourself, what do you when you need a little “me time?”

(lip color: black cherry by smashbox. nail color: haute couture red by l’oreal)

I was recently invited to the opening of the Citizens of Humanity’s concept shop in West Hollywood. Denims and tees galore. And if I could live in denim, that would be mighty ideal. Add a blazer, heels, accessories and done! The shop is a curated mix of Citizens of Humanity apparel and local artisan companies. In addition to their awesome denim collection, they have accessories, home décor, photography, food and art. Definitely my kind of place. We also celebrated the album release for Sunny Levine’s Hush Now. You can hear the mellowness HERE. Because that’s what life should be after all – easy style, chill music, art and …. food. Alas, I have to get back to the work (reality). Hope your weekend is spectacular.

My friend from the east coast relocated out to Los Angeles not too long ago so I invited her over for a “welcome” lunch. I tried this recipe and loved it. Except I originally served it with sourdough bread, which I found to be heavy and overpowering. I made it again and found that it’s perfect with a side of pita. Oh, and it’s even better with a mimosa!

My recipe is slightly different than the one linked.

Ingredients:
4 boneless chicken breasts/cutlets, grilled and cubed
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup diced red unpeeled apple
Handful of raisins
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Curry powder to taste (I love curry)
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink salt
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Ground cayenne pepper to taste
Mayonnaise to taste (I used about a cup)

Preparation:
After grilling the chicken, let it cool and dice. Combine the chicken and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl, add mayonnaise. Cover and refrigerate. Serves about 5 people. Don’t forget the mimosa and enjoy!

The weather in Los Angeles has not let up. Summer is not leaving without a fight. My son is wearing a sweatshirt to merely show you how it looks with his sneakers and jeans. Not because there’s a breeze or anything. There really is no “Back to School” shopping here until about October when we can get a few sweaters and sweatshirts. We did get a few things, like tees. My son likes sporty shirts, and anything with superheros. We walked around the mall to see if anything caught his eye and sure enough Hot Topic fulfilled all of his t-shirt desires. We got a few for him to start off the year and matched them up with a pair of Creative Recreation sneakers. I really like their Lavaca collection, which is what my son is wearing in burgundy. Sweater is from Target and the jeans are Kenneth Cole Reaction. Middle School, we are ready for you. This is the last year before … High School! If you have a teen and are still in the middle of shopping, I put together a Hope you have an awesome school year!

It’s back to school time! Here’s my “guapo” working as my model and doing a demo on his nighttime skincare routine. Of course, it comes with a bit of reminding (ok, nagging) but I forgot just how out of control a teen’s skin can get if not cared for every single day. I had acne in high school and constantly tried to find new ways to combat new breakouts. Finally I just cut bangs! Even as an adult, I get acne. My chin seems to be where they like to congregate. We’ve been using Neutrogena’s Acne Stress Control. I really like it and shared his step by step on Babble. Check it out!

I’m a Moroccon Oil product junkie so you know if I’m talking about another hair product, it’s worth a try. I ran out of my regular shampoo/conditioner and decided to use the Dove Hair Therapy Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner they sent me (not compensated). I actually really like it. It’s hard to find products that moisturize your hair without leaving a greasy residue. My hair is very heavy and falls flat easily. The last thing I want is for a product to give me a wet dog look. So if you have curly hair like me (I blow it out), give it a shot and tell me what you think.

Also, Dove is having a fun contest. Try out their products and upload your pic to win goodies. Check it out!

Sometime last year, I learned that I had a vitamin deficiency. Although my doctor recommended a long list of vitamins, he strongly encouraged a whole new lifestyle including exercise. I can’t say I was eating anything really bad but my meals were not balanced at all and my cardio time was pretty non-existent. There were days I would just skip meals because of work, which later caused me to sit and scarf down a large dinner. Really not a good habit and it’s still something I have to work on everyday. My doctor urged me to eat basically anything a cave woman would eat, get an hour of cardio into my daily routine, take my vitamins and use my juicer. I’ve since fallen in love with juicing (not in love with exercise as of yet!). Something about it makes me feel like I’m doing something great for myself. I love it so much, I shared a recipe on Babble Beauty. Not only do I feel a boost in energy, my skin’s appearance looks healthier once again proving that we are what we eat!

Two weeks ago, I raved about the Youth Xtend collection sent to me by Artistry. I couldn’t keep the goods to myself. I would love for you to try out the serum (valued at $115.00). I’m hosting a giveaway on Babble. To enter, all you have to do is tell me your morning in skincare routine. But you have to enter on Babble. See you there!