For the Love of Linen

This week has been crazy! Even though we had the day off on Monday, I spent plenty of time on a couple of work projects in preparation for the rest of the week. Fortunately, I was able to get some relaxation in as well.

As I've written about before, I am in love with bubble baths. A good bubble bath relaxes me and puts me in a great mood for the rest of the evening. I do have to say, though, I have definitely been re-thinking my stance on bath towels. It used to be that I'd reach for any one of the thick towels in my linen closet but I've become less enamored with them (too heavy, sometimes don't air dry well, etc). Well, at Christmas, my husband purchased two sets of linen towels for me and now I am hooked!

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"Why linen?" you ask? Here's the deal: linen is absorbent, dries quickly, feels luxurious and doesn't take up a ton of space on the closet shelf. It's also not heavy, which I really like. Hubby giifted me with the goodlinens Diamond Weave towels that he found on the website The Grommet (you MUST check it out!). I absolutely LOVE these towels and now they are all I use. I'm never caught with a damp towel because these dry so fast. And you know how those thick towels can sometimes smell not so good (like musty smells never leave them no matter how much you wash and dry them)? Yeah...that doesn't happen with my goodlinen towels. So check them out!

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Besides the natural color of the Diamond Weave, they also have a couple of other patterns which I will be sure to try out (and you should too). One of the other things I love about this towel is that it's made by a small business and I love supporting artisans. 

Love these towels! goodlinens, you have a new fan for life!!!

Ages of Beauty rating:: *****

Urban Decay Ink for Eyes in Perversion

Have I told you lately how much I love Urban Decay’s Ink for Eyes? No? Then let me tell you now! I first bought this liquid liner when it first came out earlier in 2014. But then things went to hell in a hand basket and I stopped blogging for awhile (and I had planned on telling you then about my new favorite black eyeliner). Suffice it to say that Ink for Eyes was a staple for me all thru 2014 until I mistakenly left the top off of it after months of use and it dried out during a business trip (sad face). BUT I LOVE IT! Let me show you why…

See that tip? Yeah, I know…you really have to look hard because it’s so tiny and fine. That’s one of the many things I love about this liner. Precision is key when drawing a fine line whether it’s on paper or on your eyelids and this liner is as good as it gets. I can achieve the finest, blackest line ever on my eye lids or go thick, rich and dark for a more dramatic look. And flicks and cat eyes are NO problem! If you’ve never been able to get a good flick or cat eye, then this one is for you!

See how perfect? The color is also a to-die-for rich, deep black. Perversion is glossy and the blackest black. What’s not to love?

Yes, that is the thinnest black line you have probably ever seen (OK, maybe not). This stuff also holds tight, doesn’t smudge and lasts all day and into the evening. Awesome stuff!!

You can purchase UD’s Ink for Eyes at Sephora for $20 (click here). I know you’ll love it as much as I do!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Outfit of the Day: Business Casual at a Conference

2014 was the year for business travel and if the beginning of 2015 is any indication, there will be a lot more business travel to come. I spent all of last week at my company’s global sales kickoff. It was just me and 3,000 other people, from all over the world, in Orlando for the week. Trips like these are really nice because not only do you learn a lot about the plans for the coming year but it’s a great opportunity for exposure to other cultures and languages. Fortunately, I love my job and the people I work with (even though we all work out of our homes, I see them A LOT!) because I end up spending plenty of time away from home. Believe me…coming home is really sweet!

Packing for business travel can be difficult due to climate, unpredictable weather and airlines (ugh!). I usually try to plan and cram everything into a carry on but since this trip was six days long, I decided to pack a larger bag and take many of my favorites. Most of the time, conference dressing means business casual (no suits) and since this one was an employees only affair, that meant I could take advantage of my very serious collection of clothing by Dobbin! In case this is your first time reading this blog, I must tell you that I absolute love this brand! Dobbin’s fashions are made in the USA, using amazing European fabrics (you will be amazed at the quality!) and priced just right! Just the fact that I, literally, purchase multiple items from every collection is a testimony in itself—I have NEVER fallen in love with a brand before! Not only is the fit just right but they have great sales (and they’re having one right now)!! Here’s a peek at one of the outfits from last week.

My outfit began with the gorgeous Luisa Silk Blouse from Dobbin. The beautiful black and ivory print ensures that this top works with a majority of the items in my closet. It’s comfortable and a great layering piece.

My pants were also from Dobbin: the New Stanton Slim Pant in Black Stretch Corduroy. Honestly, I thought these pants were like my velvet feel pants from Talbots---the corduroy is that soft! And just like the other New Stanton pants in my wardrobe, this fit is amazing! On my feet I wore a pair of LK Bennet burgundy colored suede booties from last year. Even though the heel was quite high, the platform inside ensured that these babies were really comfortable! (Here’s a pair that looks just like them but in black)

Because I am always cold (and temps in large ballrooms tend to be on the chilly side), I topped my outfit off with a Talbots Charming cardigan in black. I have these in many colors and they are great!

Outfits like this take me thru most conferences and even when it’s more of a prospect or customer facing event, these same pieces can be easily dressed up.

I’m getting back into the “regular blogging” groove so stay tuned for more this week!