BH&G The 7 best beauty steals at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale From Ellen Miller

Today's Inspiration comes from Better Homes and Garden's Style Spotters Ellen Miller.

Black friday? Meh. Prime day? Nah. For beauty product junkies like me, today’s the day that really counts. Starting this morning (July 17) and continuing to August 2, you can score some of the best beauty deals of the year at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. In  no particular order, here’s what’s in my shopping cart:

Clinique Colorful Moisture Set, $56 ($80.50 value): Jumbo Moisture Surge plus Chubby Stick Baby Tint in Budding Blossom and Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry. If you have dry skin, I can’t brag about this jumbo-sized cream enough. The gel-like texture is light and never sticky, but somehow keeps skin looking dewy for hours. And who doesn’t love a chubby stick? These pinks are flattering on just about anyone—seriously.

NARS Blame it on NARS Cheek Palette, $59 ($160 value): Bronzer. Blush. Highlighter. This palette really has it all. Whether you use these best-loved colors to contour or just add a hint of tint, this is makeup you’re going to use absolutely every day of your life. Consider it justified.

Dr. Dennis Gross Anti-Aging Skin Saviors Set, $130 ($200 Value): 30 Day Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Formula, .25 oz. Ferulic + Retinol Triple Corrective Eye Serum, 1.7 oz. Ferulic + Retinol Anti-Aging Moisturizer, 1 Alpha Beta Medi Spa Peel. If you’re looking for anti-agers that are truly worth the money, spring for this kit. This stuff is the real deal—I use it myself, and it really makes a noticeable difference in lines, dullness, and dark spots.

 

Kiehl’s Créme de Corps Home & Away: $75 ($107 Value): 33 oz. jumbo plus 2.5 oz. travel size. I know it might seem crazy to splurge on a body cream, but this product is a cult favorite for a reason. It makes skin look plumper and firmer in minutes and smells nice, but not perfume-y. In this set, you’re getting an insane amount of lotion in the larger pump and some to travel with, too.

Glamglow Glamazing Set, $69 ($99 Value): 1.8 oz. Thirsty Mud, .53oz. Youthmud, 3 Chrome Cell Brightmud Eye Treatments. I’m just going to say it: Youthmud (a face scrub) is my favorite new beauty product I’ve tried in the last five years. It makes skin look brighter, clearer, and fresher right away, so it’s the perfect treatment for when you have a big event. (People always ask me if I’ve just come from a facial!) The Brightmud Eye Treatments are great, too. They make crows feet look a heck of a lot better in three minutes.

Fresh All Start Kit: $53 ($76 value): 1.7 oz. Soy Face Cleanser, 1 oz. Sugar Face Polish, 1 oz. Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream, 1.5 oz. Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment. I love buying Fresh products for friends and family. They’re universally beloved—especially the Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment. Everyone who tries it is obsessed!

St. Tropez Home & Away Set, $49 ($87.50 value): 13.5 oz. Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, 1.69 oz., Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, Applicator Mitt for Body, Applicator Mitt for Face. This is a self-tanner you don’t have to be afraid of—it’s essentially mistake proof! The color is golden, never orange-y, and the mitt helps you blend the product into skin so it won’t get streaky. And I love, love, love that this set comes with a travel-sized friend that the TSA can’t steal.

Living in the Moment + Best of the Web By: Grace Bonney

This week was a blur for me, but there were a few moments that are delightfully clear and in focus for me. The first of which was leaving my purse on a United Airlines flight and with it, all of my credit cards, IDs and voice recorder for the interview I traveled home for. The purse is now lost in the ether and I’ve started the process of replacing my IDs and cards, but that one frustrating moment led to such wonderful moments of clarity this week that wouldn’t have come without losing everything I thought I needed.

On Monday I headed into NYC to join Sasha for another round of portraits for our new book and then headed to Newark for a flight home to Virginia Beach. The plan was to drive the six hours to Blacksburg, VA with my father, who is an excellent photographer, to take the portrait of one of my idols, poet Nikki Giovanni.

Losing my interview recorder, chargers, cards and IDs meant I was totally unconnected. I panicked at first and then realized a) how lucky I was to be at home with family when this happened and b) how this had given me a chance to totally unplug and fully live in a moment that was truly once-in-a-lifetime.

The result was a day that was as perfect as it could have been. A great long drive through the Shenandoah Valley with my Dad, 10+ hours to catch up in person, meeting someone I’ve admired for as long as I can remember, and getting to have a fun ride home, stopping by Swannanoa and our favorite college dinner spot, Pierce’s BBQ. None of it was Instagrammed and I got the pleasure of unplugging and truly soaking in the moment, rather than mentally preparing for the next thing on my to-do list. So, in a way, the worst moment turned into the best and I am so thankful for that reminder this week (and for my parents). It’s inspired me to unplug a bit this week and see how much I’ve been missing when lost behind the screen of a phone or planning the next thing instead of enjoying the first. Best wishes for a safe and happy weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you on Monday! xo, grace

Image above by Fairynuffflower on Instagram

• Elephant Magazine has a great issue focused on “post-internet” art.
• I love this modern DIY headboard idea over at Weekend Decorator on OKL.
• Because it’s getting H-O-T outside, here are some dreamy pools for the summer.
• I love Joy’s new “Career Day” column. I wish all small children had the chance to experience all sorts of different jobs at a young age.
• I’m trying to get back in shape and healthy and this tomato peach salad at Bon Appetit looks like a good place to start.
• The Paris home design by Ishka Designs (Anishka will be in our new book!) is such a great balance of color and minimalism.

• Must-Reads: The D*S Essay Contest! Enter to win $500
• Sneak Peeks: A Painter’s Baltimore Home, An Airy Virginia Sanctuary, A Cartoonist’s Easy-Going Home, Traditional With A Twist in SF, Sabrina’s Ontario Home, A Craftsman Home That Belongs to a Photographer and an Olympian, A Handmade Home in the Bay Area.
• DIY: Gold Notebooks 3 ways!
• Before & After: Tooth & Nail Winery’s Makeover
• Recipes: Laura Wright’s Raw “Pad Thai” Salad
• City Guide: Columbus, Ohio
• Life & Business: Profiles: Percy and Tara of Jersey Ice Cream Co, Becky of Be Clean

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1OcdZKo From Grace Bonney

In the Kitchen With: Laura Wright’s Raw “Pad Thai” Salad By: Annie Werbler

These days, it seems like every third person is eliminating some evil inflammatory agent from their diet to address various physical concerns. Laura Wright’s beautiful food blog The First Mess is a jackpot for cooks who utilize wholesome, natural foods in their kitchens and aim to feed seasonally whenever possible. Whether you’re vegan, doing without gluten or sugar, eating raw, paleo, or following the autoimmune protocol, Wright’s zucchini “Pad Thai” (technically a salad) takes advantage of the bountiful fresh produce currently available in local markets, and can be easily altered to work within the guidelines of any prescribed program. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing hearty recipes from a wellness perspective — that don’t skimp on providing satisfaction in addition to nutrition. Along with the health nuts, this invigorating dish will satiate even the most epicurean eaters on a hot summer day such as this. —Annie

Why Laura loves this recipe: I enjoy making noodles out of vegetables with my spiralizer/julienne peeler in the summer. They satisfy that starchy craving, but they also happen to keep me cool and energized. I find this tangle of a salad to be highly adaptable to whatever’s on hand in terms of vegetables and mix-ins. Some sliced radishes are great in it, or maybe some blanched green beans in the mix, and little seared cubes of tofu are excellent if you’re looking for a bit of protein. The dressing is a breezy mix of pantry items for the most part. I might be a little liberal with the “Pad Thai” designation here, but this salad hits all of those satisfying hot, sweet, and sour notes. With the fragrant herbs and salty little bites of roasted peanut (you could use cashews or sunflower seeds if you like), it makes for a crowd-pleasing, but still quite relaxed, potluck contribution.

Photography by Laura Wright, except where noted

Raw and Vegan “Pad Thai” Salad
Serves 2-4

Dressing ingredients
– 1 tbsp minced shallot (from about ½ of a standard shallot)
– 2 tsp minced chili
– 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
– 1 tbsp agave nectar (or other liquid sweetener of choice)
– 1 tsp gluten-free tamari
– 2 tbsp neutral-flavor oil (such as sunflower or grapeseed)

Salad ingredients
– 2 large zucchini, ends trimmed
– sea salt
– 1 carrot, peeled
– 1 red bell pepper, seeded
– 2 handfuls of bean sprouts
– ½ cup shelled fresh peas
– handful of fresh cilantro, rough chopped
– 2 sprigs of Thai basil, leaves chopped
– 2 scallions, sliced
– ⅓ cup roasted and salted peanuts, chopped

For dressing:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the minced shallot, minced chili, lime juice, agave nectar, tamari, and oil. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning, acidity, and sweetness levels to your liking. Set aside.

For salad:

1. With a spiralizer or julienne peeler, make “noodles” out of the two zucchini. Throw the noodles into a large bowl and sprinkle them with some salt. Toss the “noodles” to coat and season.

2. Cut the carrot into matchsticks and toss them into the bowl with the zucchini. Cut the bell pepper into thin strips and throw that into the bowl as well. Then, add the bean sprouts, shelled peas, cilantro, Thai basil, and scallions. Toss lightly to combine.

3. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and herbs, and toss everything to combine. Garnish the top of the dish with the chopped peanuts and serve immediately.

About Laura: Laura Wright is the creator of The First Mess, a food blog that celebrates plant-based fare and fine living through all of life’s seasons. She grew up in the fertile lands of southern Ontario, with a peach orchard and a vineyard right outside her door. The blog is the meeting point of her experience working in restaurants, attending a nutritional culinary program, growing up with the local food movement, and a constant pursuit of the good life. The First Mess Cookbook is due out in the Spring of 2017. Until then, you can follow her healthy eating adventures on her site, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Photo by Mark Orsini

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1HDCWuf From Annie Werbler

KALLAX Retro Console Display By: IH guest

So, I wanted to convert my 1 x 4 KALLAX into a retro games console unit. I have my first baby on the way so we had to make some changes downstairs, but I didn’t want to just put all the consoles and my LEGO models in the loft. I decided to renovate the box room whilst remodelling the soon-to-be nursery.

I love the simplicity of the KALLAX and it was the perfect size for my needs. I wanted to try and make it look like a media unit though, not just a KALLAX lying down! So, the first job was feet. I got some softwood from the local timber merchants, and cut the ends at 45 degrees. I then took some sandpaper to them and sanded all the surfaces until they were smooth. The longest edge of each foot was 200mm. The rear feet are just square cut.

As the room is grey and white, I toyed with painting the feet yellow but decided against it. I fitted the feet using woodscrews which were countersunk to avoid damaging the carpet. There was a small gap between the top edge of the foot and the bottom side of the KALLAX as the base of the unit over hangs ever so slightly. I could have inset the feet but I wanted them flush with the ends, so I masked up the unit and feet and neatly filled the gap with decorators caulk.

The next step was to fit a back to the KALLAX to hide the consoles wires. This again was purchased from the timber merchant. I measured the KALLAX edge to edge (height and width), rounded the number down by a few millimetres (so the backing wasn’t quite flush with the edges) and asked for some white hardboard (about 3mm thick) to be cut to that size. I then laid this on the back of the unit, drilled and countersunk each corner, and screwed it in place.

Next was modifying the fittings on the LEDBERG LED’s. I have modified the wiring on several of these before so that I could run them individually as opposed to joining them all together. I could have just bought the Dioder set which has 4 individual LED strips, but I had lots of spares left over from previous mods, so used up what I had left.

You can only use 3 strips off one transformer, so there are two sets in this hack. One set to light up 3 cubes, the other 3 to light up the end cube and the two rear LED’s. I simply cut the connector off the wire. I separate the wires, stripped a little of the sheath off and solder the tips. I then use a small handsaw to cut the plastic off covering the connectors on the LED strip. I solder a length of wire to each connection (I use speaker wire as it is only 12v passing through it, and is no different to the wiring used on LED kits for modified cars), making sure positive is the wire with the stripe so not to confuse when wiring up. I then slip a little piece of heat shrink over the solder to cover it up. For this hack however, I had enough of the original connectors left over from previous modifications to solder these to the strips of wire, so this is what I did for the 4 cubes. The two rear LED’s are soldered directly to the wiring. I then pop a little connector block on to the main wiring, and slot the other 3 pairs into the other side, and voilà! I completed this for both sets of 3. I then used the clips that come with the LEDBERG to fit them to the top of the cubes. However, rather than use the tiny IKEA screws, I used my craft hot glue gun.

The next job was to feed the wiring through the hardboard. I cut a 30mm hole in the top corners of each cube. I put a pencil mark in the very top right corner of each cube, removed the hardboard and cut the holes. You have to drill from the white side, because if you drill from the non-white side, you could end up ripping the finish off when the hole saw comes through. I then proceeded to re-fit the rear to mark where I wanted the holes for the consoles wiring to pass through, removed, drilled, refitted.

Once the holes were all in place, I refitted the backing once again and set about fixing the rear LED strips to it and tacking the LED wiring in place to keep it neat.

Next comes the fun part: putting the consoles in! I gave it all a little polish first, fed the wiring through the holes, connected them all up, put the TV on top and hit the power. Hey presto, one backlit KALLAX gaming unit!

~ Daniel Moore

The post KALLAX Retro Console Display appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1Ok5a1Q From IH guest

A Handmade Home in the Bay Area By: Lauren Chorpening

The night before Becca Piastrelli and her husband Tim were going to sign a lease for a rental in another town, a poorly written and poorly photographed ad for a house in Mill Valley, CA popped up. It was where they wanted to be. Becca trusted her intuition and went to the open house and they both found what they were looking for. Timing is everything sometimes, and even the most thorough searches can be set off by one last look.

Becca is a full-time blogger, maker and doer. “I am passionate about dabbling and making — working with my hands is what makes me happiest. I used to work in the corporate tech industry in San Francisco, but found I was much happier making lip balm and kombucha than presenting power points to executive boards,” Becca says. “So I made the leap into blogging full-time several years ago and haven’t looked back.” Tim is a computer engineer who loves all things practical and efficient.

The bohemian-meets-semi-traditional vibe in this space is a fair representation of the couple. “The decorating process has been an organic one. I’ve learned, over the years, to patiently wait for the right pieces to come across your path,” Becca says. “We wanted it to feel cozy, magical, and like a blend of our two styles. My style is natural with a bit of worldly woo woo (my own term) and my husband’s is modern with a hint of Star Wars. We make quite the pair and a lot of that is reflected in our home together.” The mix of cool green walls and architectural quirks in the home supports both styles, allowing the couple to feel creative and inspiring them to continue to make their home a collaborative and loved space. —Lauren

Photography by Rosa Delgado

SOURCE LIST

LIVING ROOM
Couch – IKEA
Turkish Kilim Pillows – Etsy
Bar Hutch – Alameda Flea Market
Ottoman Bench – Alameda Flea Market
Diffuser – Saje Natural Wellness
Standing Lamp – Amazon

KITCHEN
Wood Clock – Viva Terra

ENTRYWAY
Rug – Gift from Morrocco
Wood Cabinet – Viva Terra
Key Holder – handmade

BEDROOM
Bed – Living Spaces
Duvet – IKEA
Throw Pillows – West Elm
Side Lamps – World Market

DINING ROOM
Table – World Market
Sari Rug – World Market
Fruit Bowl – Heath Ceramics
Candleholders – Viva Terra

WORKSPACE
Standing Desk – IKEA
Calendar – Rifle Paper Co.

via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1MymQ8D From Lauren Chorpening