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Amber Kallor (108 posts) Back to Life Lift Home
Photo: MoMA Store
Photo: MoMA Store

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Floppy Disk Sticky Notes, $10. You may not be able to use those plastic floppy disks leftover from the 90s in your computer anymore, but these paper sticky pads make writing yourself an old fashioned reminder more fun.

Hand Lotion, $4. This container's ergonomic shape is sleek enough to fit into your back pocket or an overstuffed purse.

Banana Split Halloween Costume for Dogs, $10. Shop early and pick up this sweet (and hilarious) ensemble for your furry friend.

Agate Earrings, $3. Classic gold hoops get an upgrade with a vibrant, quartz-like bead dangling from their center.
Topics: Love That!
Photo: Courtesy of Maybelline
Photo: Courtesy of Maybelline

The world is full of loyalists: Mac users versus PC users, hybrid drivers versus SUV drivers, fliers who check luggage versus fliers who carry on. To this venerable list of life debates, I'd like to add: lipstick wearers versus lip gloss wearers. Lipstick, the lip glossers claim, is too dry to go on smoothly and looks too loud and bright. My all-time favorite complaint, uttered by an old college friend: "It feels like nail polish on my mouth."

Which is why I put this lipstick to the test, handing out tubes to a few colleagues at O—all of whom were die-hard gloss fans or didn't wear lip color at all. After one day, they were hooked. The reason? The sheer formula went on like a moisturizing balm, while the micro-mirror pigments added some shine, but it didn't make anyone feel gaudy or overdressed. At last, some middle ground....when it comes to lips, at least.
Topics: Beauty
Photo: Courtesy of Target
Photo: Courtesy of Target
Love bold, bright patterns? Have high fashion taste, but shop on a budget? Then you're going to want in on the 400-piece collection Missoni just launched at Target, which includes everything from cups to clothing splashed with this Italian fashion house's signature, colorful prints. We're especially excited for the knitwear and home goods that look just as expensive as their pricey counterparts sold in high-end boutiques. We have a feeling that this extensive line—with pieces as attention-grabbing and wallet-friendly as this pair of $30 flats—is going to go faster than you can say "Ciao!"

Keep reading:

See our 6 must-haves from the collection

Check out a bowl that mixes Missoni mystique with a Target price
Topics: Fashion
Photo: Courtesy of Physicians Formula
Photo: Courtesy of Physicians Formula

Extend your summer tan (which you still managed to get even though we know you applied your sunscreen religiously) with this heart-stamped, shimmery bronzer. Swirl the different tones together with the brush that comes conveniently stored beneath the powder, and sweep it under your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and across your forehead for a streak-free, sun-kissed look. For a rosier effect, dab your the bristles into the bright pink and pop this color on the apples of your cheeks. Bonus: this bronzer is scented with violet floral notes to invigorate your senses and lift your spirits (even on a manic Monday).

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Bronzer, $14.

Read more:

Soothe dry skin for a cause
Get 30 wearable colors for under $30
Topics: Beauty
Photo: Courtesy of Real Techniques
Photo: Courtesy of Real Techniques

We love these brushes created by makeup artist Samantha Chapman (best known for her YouTube channel, Pixiwoo) not only because they're cruelty-free and ultra-soft, but you can score the entire set for under $20. All the tools you need for a weekend away come in a sleek case (so the bristles don't get twisted or crushed in your suitcase) and serve multiple-purposes (use the brush with the orange handle for foundation and concealer, the purple for shadow or under-eye concealer, and the pink for bronzer, powder, and blush). Plus, the synthetic bristles work with powders or creams and don't absorb as much product as natural ones, meaning that less of the color gets stuck on your brush, and more ends up where it belongs—on you. 

Real Techniques Travel Essentials, $18

Watch Chapman create a day-to-night tutorial with this brush set by clicking here.


Read more:

Get Adam's travel checklist

Watch another YouTube sensation, Lauren Luke, apply false lashes
7 things never to wear to the airport


Topics: Beauty
Photo: Encore Prints
Photo: Encore Prints

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Encore Prints, $10. Get a motto for our modern times printed on a page from a vintage book or an antique dictionary.

Mimi Miniature Pyramid Stud Earrings, $16.10. These posts—embedded with a dainty faux diamond—are equal parts rocker and sophisticated.

Totes Bubble Umbrella, $17. Sometimes you need personal space—especially during a downpour on a crowded sidewalk.

Fila by Pierluigi Rolando Athletic Gear, $58-70. Get in the swing of things with this 70s-inspired workout wear splashed with prints by famed designer Pierluigi Rolando. 


Topics: Love That!
Running shoes—while practical—aren't always the most fashionable footwear.  Adam, however, found a rainbow bright pair from Asics that don't just look good on the treadmill. "I love anything neon—I'm a product of the 80s," he says, "They remind me of hanging out with New York graffiti artists Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat." The women's version of the Gel-Noosa Tri 6 ($120) are just as eye-catching as the pair Adam's wearing here. He suggests pairing them with white jeans or adding a pop of color to neutrals, like the gray flannel he favors in the fall. The best part about these sneakers (besides their electric color): the heels are lined in memory foam and the gel cushioning system absorb shock, so you can hit your stride in style.



Get more of Adam's great advice:

Try shoes that feel like you're barefoot

Flatter your athletic figure with 4 small alterations
How to dress 10 pounds lighter

Topics: Fashion
Photo: Courtesy of Motif
Photo: Courtesy of Motif

Staying with a friend this weekend and want to bring her something with a bit more pizazz than a bottle of wine or bouquet of flowers? Pick up one of these beauty finds and you may find yourself invited back again and again.

Motif Hand Wash: These liquid soaps—wrapped with vibrant designs—are so gorgeous she'll never guess you paid less than $5 for each.

Kat Burki Body Cream: Give an eco-conscious host something that's green and looks nice on her vanity table. Plus, this lotion comes in a beautiful, printed box that doesn't require wrapping.

Acqua Di Parma Leather Purse Spray: This purse-sized fragrance is a bit pricey, but for the friend who's letting you stay free of charge at her beach retreat or lake house is saving on hotel costs. And trust me, it smells as luxurious as it looks. Wrapped in leather, this bottle features a sliding pump that can be tucked in so it won't leak all over your friend's handbag.

Going anywhere special this holiday weekend? What are you bringing your host?

Keeping reading:

5 more unforgettable hostess gifts
14 gifts that give back (for under $100)
Topics: Beauty
Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock
Finding a partner in crime when it comes to navigating your love life can be challenging. Girlfriends tend to be over-supportive ("I think he's really into you—it's only been a month since your last date. Give him time to call."). Mom and dad can be overprotective and judgmental ("Independent consultant is a fancy way to say unemployed."). And then...there's grandma—a wealth of knowledge and experience, and someone who's already landed a man once.

Which is exactly why Kayli Stollak, 24, turned to her Granny Gail, 75, when she decided to jump into the online dating scene in New York City—especially since Granny (who lives over 1500 miles away in South Florida) is playing the digital dating game herself. As Stollak says, "She's a 24-hour cocktail party full of jokes, gossip, and advice." To record their triumphs (and low points), which they discuss almost daily over the phone, Stollak started a blog "Granny Is My Wingman."

Next: Find out more about this unexpected tag team and get their best advice for finding love online.

Photo: Thinkstock
Photo: Thinkstock

Trailers for the new television series, Pan Am, make air travel look like a glamorous adventure—where the stewardesses' clothing stays perfectly pressed and the passengers seem generally cheerful and relaxed. These days? Different story. No matter what you encounter once you get up in the air, these products will help you relax at 35,000 feet and look more refreshed when you de-plane.

Next: 5 products that will turn your seat into a spa
Topics: Beauty
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