Beauty Buy: Repêchage Algo Mist

I’m in love with hot yoga. Seriously: I’m in LOVE with hot yoga. There’s something about sweating out all the toxins and stress that have built up during the day. Plus, stretching in 100 degree-plus heat makes your muscles so pliable and bendy. You just feel refreshed and delicious afterward.

But even better? Getting into my car after stepping out of a humid, almost-dripping room and spraying my face and skin with this mist. The Repêchage Algo Mist Hydrating Seaweed Facial Spray has amino acids, Vitamin C and Ginko Biloba extract—it feels like a summer breeze, especially after a tough, super-sweaty workout. Of course, you can use it anytime, it doesn’t have to be just for your post-workout routine (but I highly recommend it).

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Simply Stylist Sessions with Kitson’s Courtney Saavedra, Pursuit of Shoes, WWD’s Khanh Tran and Mena Suvari

Simply Stylist hosted yet another fabulous event, this time at Kitson on Melrose. Speaking on the panel were actress Mena Suvari in an amazing leather bustier and Chanel necklace; Pursuit of Shoes blogger Ashley Torres, who dispensed advice about following a career path you want instead of one you feel like you must travel (she left the world of accounting to pursue fashion); WWD writer Khanh Tran, who pointed out that what journalists do in today’s digital world isn’t different from what we’ve always done—it’s the execution that has changed (e.g. finding sources through Twitter); and Kitson’s Director of Operations Courtney Saavedra, who emphasized the importance of networking for your career. It was an engaging and entertaining discussion that ended with champagne and yummy snacks.

Thanksgiving in Ojai

We decided to do something a little different for Thanksgiving this year. Instead of a big family dinner with tons of turkey, stuffing, bread rolls, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, yada yada yada…we decided to take a relaxing holiday, and each person made something different for dinner: pomegranate martinis (from fresh pomegranates!), brie en croute for appetizers, spicy Italian sausage lasagne, caesar salad and pumpkin pie (some traditions we want to keep). It was so delicious! And with our non-traditional meal, there wasn’t the urge to overeat…just to enjoy our food and be thankful. Hope you had a great holiday!

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Holiday Shopping Made Easy (And Fast—And Affordable!)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over—we have to accept it (unless, like me, you’re rejoicing. Fighting at Wal-Mart at 5 a.m. over a blender? No thanks.) But the holiday deals aren’t over. I’ve rounded up the best online shopping deal sites. They’ve done all the hard work in narrowing down just the right gifts and haggling for a better price—all you have to do is add to cart. Happy shopping!

Gilt.com

Gilt.com

RueLaLa.com

Ruelala

Fab.com

Fab.com

HauteLook.com

Hautelook

Ideeli.com

ideeli

OneKingsLane.com

One Kings Land

Bringing Back the Brooch

This hadn’t occurred to me until I did my daily rounds of my favorite fashion blogs, and Wendy (of Wendy’s Lookbook) popped up in this gorgeous outfit, complete with a stunning brooch. And when I say complete, I mean, it was a fine outfit before the brooch, but the addition of a small tiger accessory made it unique and powerful. Seriously, it’s gorgeous.

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{Photo courtesy of Wendy’s Lookbook}

Which makes me think—what about brooches for fall? If they’re this fabulous on a simple knit sweater, think how stunning they’ll be everywhere else! I included a few faves below, but next time you hit the flea market, keep an eye out for these gems! To purchase any of these gorgeous brooches, visit polyvore.com.

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Marathon Training Week #6

Today we ran hills, hills, hills, at Reseda. We ran 3.1 miles out to Nike Tower and back, and oh man, that was hard. Many, many times we wanted to stop and walk, but not for the reasons you should, such as an injury—we just needed to push through.

And we did! It wasn’t our fastest finish, but it was our best because we didn’t give up. Woo! I snapped a pic from the parking lot, but next time (oh yes, there are multiple hill training runs in our future), I’ll bring my phone to play some motivating music and take advantage of the view from the tower.

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Beauty Buy: Big Girl Cosmetics Lipstick in Yum

Love, you guys. L-O-V-E. I always have the hardest time finding the right shade of lipstick that looks good and feels natural, but still gives me a pop of color. I mean, Big Girl Cosmetics might as well write on the lipstick, “Courtney, we made this shade (Yum) just for you.”

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Product image courtesy of Big Girl Cosmetics

Moroccan Couscous—My All-Time Favorite Vegan Recipe

So, you guys, this is the best. Whether you’re a meat eater or a plant-based-diet lover, you’re going to love this recipe, it’s so yummy and easy. It’s from Alicia Silverstone‘s “The Kind Diet” and so worth trying.

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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups peeled butternut squash, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 cubes
  • 2 cups yellow onion, large dice
  • 1.5 cups carrots, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 cubes
  • 1.5 cups zucchini, cut into 3/4 cubes
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Fine sea salt
  • 1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1.5  cups vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons Earth Balance butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
  • 1.5  cups whole wheat couscous
  • 2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2: Place the squash, onion, carrots and zucchini on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.

Step 3: Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once with a spatula about midway through.

Step 4: While the vegetables roast, bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a saucepan.

Step 5: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, cumin, saffron and salt to taste.

Step 6: Cover the pan and steep for 15 minutes.

Step 7: Scrape the roasted vegetables and their juices into a large bowl and add the couscous.

Step 8: Bring the vegetable broth back to a boil, and pour over the couscous mixture all at once.

Step 9: Cover tightly with a plate and allow to stand for 15 minutes.

Step 10: Add the scallions, toss the couscous and vegetables with a fork, and serve

Morning Run and an Amazing View

We are in week #6 of training for the 2014 L.A. Marathon, and I’ve been trying to squeeze in some runs before work. This morning, I finished up and decided I had enough energy to do stairs in my building. When I got to the top of the stairs, which end at the door to the roof, I realized I’d never taken advantage of our top-of-the-building view! I got there just as the sun came up. Beautiful—a great way to start the morning!

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