Swap meet machine!

 Check out this super eco-savvy vending machine!  Forget candy and soda - this vending machine is helping teach the lesson of 'ReUSE and ReCYCLE' ! f

"The Swap-o-Matic, created by the New York City-based designer Lina Fenequito, is a vending machine that lets you “recycle things you no longer need and get things you want—all for free.” You create a Swap-o-Matic account by entering an email address on the machine’s touch screen. You’re then issued three credits. You can earn more credits by donating items to the machine and spend them by getting items in the machine that someone else has donated."

Locate a Swap-o-Matic near you >> 

HAY - Let's hangout!

Check out this amazing event LOVE JPEP is going to be a part of!!

Come do some shoe shopping - shop amazing vendors -

and meet some fabulous Housewives!!

RSVP FOR TICKETS: TheSparklingEvent@gmail.com

  

 

 

Hope to see your there!!

Words to live by.

 

If you build it - they will come!

 Today, I stumbled upon an old list I made, circa 2008, of goals I wanted to achieve.  The list read as followed: JOB, GRADUATE, CAR, COMPANY - well CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!  How amazing it was to see I had accomplished everything I had wanted. 

This list was hung on my overcrowded, outdated vision board.  The board is something I've kept since 2007 - as a constant reminder of things I want to get done, things I believe in, people I love, reminders to myself - nothing but.. good, positive things.  As a part of life, I think it's super important to try to endlessly better ourselves, accept ourselves, and maintain positivity.  A step towards doing this - is a vision board.  The basis of these boards is that positivity attracts positivity.  If you are constantly reminding yourself of where you are - and where you want to be - and every day taking a step towards those places - they WILL happen.  So, today I decided to do a little visual board refreshing - taking down some old, achieved goals - and putting up some new ones.  I'd like to urge you all to do the same!

Sit down, relax, get quiet with yourself, and make a list: of things you want in life, things you want to accomplish, emotions, career moves, life changes.. anything! Take out some magazines and start tearing out images and words that remind you of these things.  DREAM BIG!  Last, collage your cut outs on a corkboard, poster board, cardboard, a piece of paper - it can be as big or small as you want it to be!  Now hang it some place you're going to see it - every single day!  

Here's a little sneak peak at mine:

In the aftermath of the Giants win last night - and New York headed to this years Superbowl - I find it only appropriate that I share this commercial that is due to air during the Superbowl.  An old friend and Long Island resident, Zachary Borst - founder of Goat Farm Films, chaser of dreams, and all around good guy - won Chevrolet’s Route 66 Super Bowl ad contest.  

“We asked filmmakers to depict life’s journey and how Chevrolet is there along the way,” said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick. “When I saw Zach’s spot, I had to laugh, because the situation is something many families can related to – expectation and reality. ‘Happy Grad’ clearly shows the passion that Chevrolet elicits.”

Zach's commercial will reach 110 million television viewers on Superbowl Sunday.  A large beginning to, what I believe will be, a very large career.  Congrats Zach!

      

        

High Fashion Crime Scene

Today's art discovery is the work of Melanie Pullen.  Melanie is a photographer who studies vintage crime scene photos - and recreates them with high fashion clothing.  Though the thought of these photos being 'based on a true story' is superbly upsetting - the pictures are beautifully and eerily done. 

 

Getcha cuuuurl on girllll

I am proudly dedicating one whole post to the most amazing styling tool I have recently discovered.  I feel like I'm late in the game with this one - but the INFINITI BY CONAIR CLIPLESS CURLING IRON (or as I like to affectionately call it, THE CONE) is one of the most effective curling tools I've ever come across.  I have serious curling issues!  My hair is LONG, THICK, and STRAIGHT.  I'm not savvy enough to curl my hair myself.  Any hand held tool is out of the questions - as my locks are straight and stubborn.  Hot rollers are somewhat affective - if left in for two+ hours - I'm guaranteed only a curly party entrance, usually followed by a pin-straight party exit.  So, on New Years I decided to give THE CONE a try, and I haven't looked back since!

This tool is super easy to use!  I divided my hair in to three sections - crown of my head, top of my ears, bottom of my ears.  Once divided, I then curled small pieces from those sections, away from my face (for approx 10 seconds each, spraying each piece).  Just watch your little fingers kids, it's easy to get burnt!

 Click "HAY THERES MORE" to watch a tutorial on how to use this divine little wand! (You know I 
love a good tutorial ;)

Check out more tutorials from A Beauty Addict Here >>

Fabulous 40s!

Check out these pictures of my Grandma, Eleanor Festa, [circa 1940] paling around with her gals at Indian Point.  I received these this morning in a package from my aunt.  What an amazing decade for fashion - these women look so effortlessly glamorous. 

                      ^ That's her!

 

 This is my Grandpa, Lazzaro Pepe - laying with the ladies - in Port Jefferson, NY

 

These are my grandparents in front of their first apartment they lived in.

Brooklyn, NY

Styling Slump!

So, after a week and a half of being laid out on the couch with a treacherous cold - I am back! With the last few days being spent in nothing but sweatshirts and leggings - I am excited to get back in to the world - and back in to my clothes!! In doing so - I log on to LOOKBOOK.NU for some inspiration - from some super style bloggers.  I love to see the creativity and expression some of these ladies and gents come up with.  It's all about perception! Taking a piece and looking at it in a totally new way! Go PLAY pplz! 

 

Andy T

F*CK YOU, PAY ME.

Calling all designers, artists, or even just entrepreneurs! Meet my new idol, Mike Monteiro - the Design Director and co-founder of Mule Design.  Watch the video below to listen to Mike discuss one of the biggest woes of all self-starters and creative service providers: Getting paid.

2011/03 Mike Monteiro | F*ck You. Pay Me. from San Francisco Creative Mornings on Vimeo.

Young women, you're gonna be old some day.. Don't sweat it!

This video speaks to my soul.  I foresee this being my future, and I'm really okay with that.  These women are extraordinary.  I think we should all take a lesson from them - and start living out loud!

The good news? There's more where this came from! Ari Seth Cohen is the creator of a series of videos and blog posts - who says, 

"I take videos and photos of men and woman over 50 who are stylish, creative and vital. My blog advanced style offers proof from the wise and silver haired set that personal style advances with age.

        
VIEW MORE VIDEOS HERE >>
VIEW ARI'S BLOG HERE >>

         

Get ready to look FABU in the New Year!

Going in to the new year - as 95% of you vow to start diets, go to the gym more, and approve upon your appearances (let us please make sure we work from the inside out!) - I'd like to suggest that you check out Promise Tamang Phan.

   I am a super-fan of beauty tutorials! But, the things this girl does with make up - is absolutely an art!  She is self taught and a hit on youtube!

   Check out some of the images below (click 'HAY THERE'S MORE').  Aside from these transformations, she DOES show you how to do some every day make up as well! Kudos girl!

 

Angelina Jolie