Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier! Glam Mardi Gras Ball Nails

Tonight, Thomas and I are going to a Mardi Gras ball! I'll be working as a narrator for the tableaux, so I'm even more excited than usual. Normally, the local news anchors and radio personalities take on those roles, so It's a huge honor for little ol' me to get to do this. It's also a really nerve-wracking, because instead of throwing on a gown from a couple of years ago, hoping my hair only frizzes half as much as it normally does, and just trying to blend in with the crowd, I'm going to have a spotlight on me. Oh. Dear. God. No complaints, but I've had to kick "gettin' purty" into high gear.

I have an awesome dress that I hope to God I can squeeze into. It's not Spanx-friendly, so I'm on my own, and already formulating a backup plan. I have fake-baked, exfoliated, moisturized, exfoliated some more, face-masked, moisturized some more, and broken in my heels. Last night, I bit the bullet and did my mani-pedi. I'm never sure of the best time to do those. I chip my nails just thinking about chipping my nails. Anyhoo, I wanted something super glam with just a little bit of silver bling. My dress has silver and, well, it's Mardi Gras. You have to be just a little over-the-top. Here's what I came up with:

Sorry for the slightly fuzzy picture. I can not take a picture of my hand without my other hand shaking. I've even tried propping the camera up on something. I need a tripod. And a better camera. And talent.

The base coat is Femme Fatale by Ulta. Once that dried, I used LA Colors Art Deco silver glitter to draw on the half moon and fill it in. This is not easy to do, and can be very frustrating, so don't get discouraged. Just take your time and remember to breathe. Once that's dried, dot a holographic top coat (mine's discontinued, sadly, but here's a great option) on top of the silver for a little extra dimension. Finish with a clear topcoat.

That's my fancy-schmancy manicure for the fancy-schmancy ball tonight. Tomorrow, the coach turns back into a pumpkin, and the pumpkin into a...carpet cleaner, actually. I have Krampus tracks all over my living room. Glamorous, no?

Times Square Crystal Ball-Inspired New Year's Eye Look

I am trying very hard not to get sick, but I think I'm losing the battle. I'll be staying in tonight, but if you're lucky enough to be ringing in the New Year somewhere fabulous, here's a pretty silver smoky eye for you.

I started by using my finger to dab a little Benefit Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in Silver Spoon across the inner half of my eye, including inner corner, and blending upward to the browbone. I filled in the entire crease to brow area by blending that one little dab. Then, I popped Benefit Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in Strut across the outer half and blended upward to the browbone. I also ran a small amount under my lower lash line and across the top lash line. Next, I grabbed my Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2, and Naked Basics palettes for the rest of the eye. I patted Verve across the inner third of my eye and over the silver in the inner corner. Then, I added Pistol to the center and crease, and Gunmetal to the outer third and above the Pistol in the crease, then blended all of them together and up toward the browbone with a fluffy brush. I used the same fluffy brush to blend a little Creep into the crease, then ran what was left on that brush under the lower lash line (that's a blend of ALL of the colors, since I didn't change brushes. If you want to change brushes, just run a light layer of each color under the lash line). Using a small, flat brush, line the upper lash line with Crave, and run a small amount of that color under the outer quarter of the lower lash line. Clean up the browbone area with a light dusting of Foxy. Finish with loads of black mascara. I like Buxom Lash.

If you don't have Naked Basics, sub Blackout for Crave. You can also line your waterline (which I think would look amazing) with a black liner. I would have loved to, but I have small eyes and it just closes them up. A silver liner would look cool there, if you have small eyes, too. I don't have a silver liner, so I'm still S.O.L. Oh, well.

This is not a glittery look, but it is super-duper shimmery. I finished the look with a demi-matte foundation, matte powder, matte cool pink blush, matte bronzer (see the trend?), and just a very light amount of pale pink highlighter on the cheeks. The lips are also a pale, glossy bright pink with just a hint of shimmer. A pink gloss would work just as well.

Happy New Year, guys!

Deck the Nails: Good Idea, Bad Idea

During my search for the perfect festive red glitter polish (which is still on-going, I might add), I ran across this little monster in an Ulta 5 for $5 bin. Don't even bother looking for it online--my guess is that even they're ashamed of it. I can't even find where anyone's ever swatched or blogged about it before. It's like it doesn't really exist. Wow. I also can't tell you the real name of it, because the label I have says "Wicked", and Ulta has a different polish labeled "Wicked" on the site. Seriously, I'm flummoxed. All I can say is if you see a bottle of Ulta nail polish that has giant chunks of red glitter in a black base, RUN AWAY.

*UPDATE! It's called "Fashionably Late". I have other names for it...*

Make it stop. Please.

I hate, loathe, and despise this polish. It's not even pretty on. What you see, in the photo above, is three coats. I managed to capture this on camera just before the glitter began peeling off. That's right, peeling off. It got caught on everything imaginable, and within an hour, I already had noticeable chipping. Granted, I didn't use a top coat, but the polish was already so goopy, the base polish so streaky, and the glitter so haphazard (and not in a cute way), that I didn't see any point in prolonging the misery. I wore this from Thursday until Sunday, and was never so happy to remove a polish. By the time I began to attempt to take it off (oh, yeah, it was an ordeal...more on that later), Thomas asked me if it was a crackle polish. No.

To remove this, I started with my usual glitter removal method: cotton pads soaked in non-acetone remover and applied to the nails. Usually, after a couple of minutes of this, the polish whisks off of the nail, and only a small amount of scrubbing is required for thelingering sparkles. Not this time. Oh, no. This time, I soaked the nails...then scrubbed...then soaked some more...then scrubbed some more...then eventually used my finger nail to scrape...then scrubbed some more...for about an hour. No kidding. I finally got all of the polish and glitter off, but I started to think I was going to be stuck with silver glitter on my nails forever. Oh--the polish remover took the red off of the glitter, but the silver undercoat was still there, and it was still stuck to my nails.

This is going in the trash. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Not only that, it might be my pick for worst polish of the year. I just need to figure out what it's called. I'm going with, "The-polish-that-shall-not-be-named".

On the opposite end of the spectrum, here's my pick for mani of the season: the Louboutin Manicure. The concept is very simple. You simply paint your nails with a shiny black varnish (I added sparkles on an accent nail. Adele did hers in silver for the Grammy's. You can be creative), then color the underside of each nail red, like the signature Louboutin sole.

Front

Back

As simple as the concept is, the execution is much more difficult and detailed. This definitely not a "slap on as you run out the door" nail look. To start with, you'll need to make sure that your nails have grown out long enough for the underside to be visible. You also will need to make sure that the undersides are completely clean and free of nail "dust" from filing. Paint your base coat, and add any embellishment you're going to, then let dry completely. For the undersides, choose a red that is opaque and bright. The one I used was a little too sheer, so some of the black polish from the front is still showing through (it's Ulta Red Carpet Red, in case you were wondering. Love the shade, but it's just too sheer for this. The black is the nail duo by The New Black). If you're feeling fancy, you can paint the very edge of your nail red, too. Finish with a top coat (just on the front of the nail and edge).

Now, get ready to do some clean-up, because painting the underside of your nail red without looking like you've done yourself a major injury is downright impossible. If you're in a hurry, a q-tip with polish remover should work well. If not, paint them in the evening, once you're in for the night, and just wait it out. By the time I'd finished my shower the next morning, the majority of the mistakes had rubbed off, and the errors on my finger tips peeled off easily.

It's not the most out-there of nail designs, but it's a lot of fun, and a cute little discovery for anyone observant enough to spot. It's also completely appropriate for anything from office cocktail parties to ugly sweater contests. Have fun!

Holiday Hangover Help

***Blogger doesn't feel like linking today. I'll try to get them up soon. Thanks!

I feel like I've been run over by a Mack truck. Then, it backed up and ran over me again, just for good measure. Then, the driver got out and tap danced on my back. Then, he beat me with a stick and called me names.

We filmed over the weekend. For two days--8am to 6 or 7pm (I lost track)--I stood, ran, organized, made up, coiffed, touched-up, and occasionally acted. It was fun, and a lot was accomplished (and I'd like to thank the good Lord above for our cast and crew, who were amazing and beyond professional, and made this crazy weekend go so much more smoothly than it had any right to), and now, I'm...well, hungover.

Yup. Flat out hung. over. Read: bleary-eyed, aching, puffy, nauseous, dehydrated, with too much residual hairspray and makeup. If you didn't know any better, you'd think I'd gone on a bender at the company Christmas party. Truth be told, I did drink last night. I had a Mike's Hard Margarita, with an alcohol content only slightly higher than that of Kool-Aid. Had I known I'd feel this bad today, I'd have had two.

Anyway, icky or not, I had to come to work today, and I didn't want to walk in practically screaming, "I HAVE A HANGOVER!!!!!" so I used a few tricks to make me, at least, appear bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. If any of  you are planning to imbibe at any upcoming holiday parties, these might be useful for you, too.*

First, I did take ten seconds to wipe off most of my makeup with a cleansing towelette, and I put on a little eye cream and a super-hydrating lip balm. Even dead-tired, that's not too hard to do. In the morning, I slathered on a deep-cleaning, exfoliating mask, then headed to the kitchen for coffee with a water and ibuprofen chaser. The mask will help your skin glow, while the caffeine, hydration, and anti-imflammatory will help you feel more like a human being.

I hopped in the shower to wash off the mask, then cleaned the rest of me with a soothing scrub. The exfoliating will help get your blood pumping and wake you up. Then, I smoothed on a moisturizing body lotion.

Now, I had time to wash my hair and apply a leave-in conditioner and a little gel before blowing dry. If you overslept or just don't have time for that, spritz in some Bumble & Bumble Prep. This is great just to keep on hand. Prep reactivates the products in your hair and leaves a fresh scent. In either case, throw your hair into a messy bun or twist into a clip while you put on your makeup. When you pull it down, you'll have soft waves that make your hair look "done", making you look more polished. Run a little smoothing serum through it, if needed.

For makeup, prep skin with an eye cream and lip balm, then start with a tinted moisturizer. If you're dehydrated, foundation can make any flakes or fine lines more noticeable. A good tinted moisturizer will give you some coverage and a healthy dewy finish. If you have one that's in your "Summer shade", use it and blend down your neck. The extra color will give dull skin a little oomph. Apply a color-correcting eye primer and a shadow in a flesh tone, with a crease color a few shades darker. Keep it all matte, and all natural. Shimmer will only settle into lines and make you look older. You don't want to overdo the eyes. Have you ever seen someone who's been crying while wearing a smoky eye? It's not pretty. You don't want puffy eyes and a ton of dark shadow. You'll just look more tired. Keep eyeliner light and mascara on the top lashes only, to make the eyes appear more lifted, and avoid getting mascara in any fine lines. If you must have shimmer, apply a fine, soft gold or soft pink glitter (it doesn't settle as badly as shimmer) to your inner corner and brow bone. The highlights will, again, make you appear more awake and more lifted. Try a concealer that's a shade lighter than your tinted moisturizer. It will help highlight the undereye area for a brighter appearance. Pop a pink blush on the apples of cheeks, and keep lips looking plump and pretty with a red-toned gloss. Lipstick can settle into dehydrated lips.

Lastly, pour a little Gatorade into a travel mug and psyche yourself up. It's going to be a great day!

*Please drink responsibly and designate a driver. Thanks!

Tailgate Pin-Up Makeup

Down here in the Deep South, football is a religion. With the first strong breeze of Fall (in this case, a brisk tropical storm. How refreshing?) come pep rallies around bonfires and fight songs bellowed throughout the local college campuses (we have a few, actually). Barbeque grills take their rightful places in the beds of 4X4s, and fans belly up to the bumper for surprisingly gourmet meals served on Chinette.

I can't stand football, but I do love a good tailgating party.

In high school, I went to a football school. I marched in the band for a year, but it wasn't really my thing (before you ask, I twirled a flag; I have no musical ability apart from singing). After that, I just hung out at football games to catch up on gossip, flirt with cute boy o' the moment, and show off how cute I could look when not in an ugly school uniform. As it was the 90s, turns out, not that cute. Oh, well. Oversized men's coats with antique brooches, anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Anyhoo, now that I'm older and wiser, my taste has somewhat improved. I try to dress more to show off my assets, and that includes makeup. I'm a sucker for pin-up-style looks, since they tend to make my small eyes look larger and accentuate my mouth. Plus, I'm pale as a ghost, and that works with this style. Score! Mostly, though, I feel like it's a sweet throwback to the innocence of yesteryear. There's just something about this look that makes me think of cheerleaders and sockhops and milkshakes at the diner. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

P.S. Ignore the hair. Actually, the back is really cute. It's in a high ponytail with a bun wrapped around the pony. Unfortunately, it's a million percent humidity, and no amount of hairspray/frizz serum/prayer can touch it. 

Okay, I went for a softer pin-up look for this, since it's for daytime, outdoors, and a super-casual atmosphere. I wanted pretty and polished, but not overly done. To me, pin-up is all about the lashes, liner, and lips, so I left everything else pretty bare. My favorite thing about this look is how easy it is. Very few brushes, very few products, and application only took a few minutes. Easy peasy.

You see how the liner is just barely winged out? And how I sort of matched my shadow to my jersey? And how messy my car is? Yeah...all of that, except the liner, was totally unintentional...

Alrighty, let's get into the products used:

• Primer: Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon, applied with fingers.
• Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt NW15, worked into the skin with hands to keep from looking too makeup-y.
• Concealer: Benefit Erase Paste in Medium
• Eye Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden
• Base Shadow: LORAC in Sand, lid to brow.
• Crease Shadow (and Lower Lash Liner): MAC in Hocus Pocus--discontinued, but any charcoal gray will work.
• Liner: Buxom Insider Liner in Onyx
• Mascara: Buxom Lash in Black
• Blush: MAC Cream Color Base in Virgin Isle, lightly applied to apples with stippling brush.
• Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte in Transparent, in T-Zone and under eyes only.
• Brows: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium
• Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart

Here are a couple of close-ups of the eye. Pay no attention to the brows in desperate need of shaping. I'm holding off until next week, when I have a function to attend.

Thanks, and have a great evening, guys!

Where the Wild Things Are

Things are crazy here in the land of Mardi Gras! Yesterday was Joe Cain Day, and an extended one, at that. Three Saturday parades that were postponed due to a torrential rainstorm were added to the already packed Sunday Carnival schedule. Today is Lundi Gras, with more parades, and tomorrow is the Granddaddy party of the Carnival season: Fat Tuesday!

I'll be at work.

Somebody please send me a moonpie.

Pretty please?

To make myself feel better, I dug up some heretofore unpublished photos from New Orleans 1938 Mardi Gras season. Things were different then...but not by that much.

Yeah...that's about right, I'd say. About the only thing missing is a street vendor trying to get through with a full cart of glo-sticks and t-shirts.

Photo Credit (All Black and White): Life

Photo Credit: The Oakland Press

Floats! You can't have Mardi Gras without floats, and this is pretty close to it's modern equivalent. The technology may have improved a bit, though.

Photo Credit: Mail.com

Now, while I don't have an updated picture to go with these fellas, I'm fairly sure one of their 2012 counterparts danced his way past my car and across the street Sunday afternoon. I have to say, it was a pretty good show.

Happy Lundi Gras, everyone, and Laissez Les Bon Temps Roullier!

Gift Guide: Pop Partiers

No matter which holiday you celebrate--Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, or Festivus (for the rest of us!)--you're more than likely going to be invited to someone's home at some point this season. It's pretty much inevitable. If you were raised by my mother, this invitation means you will need to bring a "hostess gift" with you.

Ah, the hostess gift (or host gift, depending)! That lovely little gesture that shows the party-giver you appreciate their hospitality. This isn't supposed to be anything huge, just a bottle of wine or a tin of cookies, or something along those lines. Basically, they're opening their home up to you, so you bring something for the home to say, "Thanks for having me!"

These things stress me out more than you can imagine. I don't want to bring the same thing everyone else is bringing (like the New Year's Eve party where everyone brought a bottle of champagne, and we ended up with a dozen open bottles and no choice but to drink them or toss them out--and it was one bottle to a person! That's a New Year's Day I'd like to forget). I don't want to bring something inappropriate, either, but I also don't always know the home's color scheme or decor theme. Also, I don't want to go too "over the top" size-wise...oh, I hate shopping for hostess gifts. I adore giving them, but I hate, loathe, and absolutely despise selecting them.

So, this year, I've decided to think out of the box. Most of my friends are into pop culture--Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc--so I thought I'd see if I could dig up some fan-themed spins on classic gifts, just to spice things up a bit.

First up, the old standard: a bottle of wine...

Photo Credit: House of Kitty Blog

...Hello Kitty wine, that is! How precious are those bottles?! The line consists of four wines: Angel (white Pinot Nero), Devil (red Pinot Nero), Sweet Pink (sparkling white), and Brut Rose (sparkling deep rose). I know nothing about wine, other than I occasionally like to drink it, so I clicked on a couple of reviews to see how this fared. The good news is, it's cute as heck, and reasonable priced ($18.99-$30.99, WineFromtheBoot.com). The bad news is...it's just okay. It doesn't suck, but it's not fantastic. It's really pretty in the glass, and, according to one site, would be great for a bachelorette toast, but it's nothing really special to drink. However, if you're going for a novelty gift for a non-afficianado (such as myself), this is a solid option.

Next: cookie cutters...

Photo Credit: Williams-Sonoma

...are anything but cookie cutter when they're Star Wars cookie cutters! The little darlings are from Williams-Sonoma, and feature a cutting-edge (ha! *sorry*) spring-loaded design for ease in use. Four styles are included: Yoda, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and Storm Trooper. $19.99, Williams-Sonoma.

*UPDATE! A vehicle collection is also available for only $9.99! Millenium Falcon, TIE-Fighter, X-wing Fighter and Death Star are all included!

Another standard: decorative soaps...

Photo Credit: Digitalsoaps

...takes on a tech saavy vibe when it's shaped like a Portal Companion Cube! Better yet, it smells like Mountain Dew! What more could a gamer want? Oh, yeah, it's also handmade, vegan, and completely adorable. $22.99, Digitalsoaps.

Of course, you could always bring barware...

Photo Credit: ThinkGeek

...like this beautiful stein, inspired by The Hobbit. Choose from two pub designs (pictured pint glasses available, as well), etched into the glass so it will last through all the wear-and-tear you can bring (except breaking. It is glass, after all). $29.99, ThinkGeek.

Lastly, you could always bring something for the home. A throw pillow, perhaps...

Photo Credit: WBShop

...straight from the Hufflepuff common room! (Pottermore tells me that we Hufflepuffs are real big on throw pillows...) This gorgeous pillow is woven--not screenprinted!--with the Hogwarts School crest, and is an official Harry Potter product, direct from the Warner Bros. store. 18" by 18". $29.95, wbshop.

Hopefully, this helped, and the next time you're rockin' around the Chrismakahwanzoltice Pole, you'll be on the hostess' (or host's) nice list.

A Host With Class, Literally

James Franco is an odd duck. Don't get me wrong; I'm a fan. I enjoyed him in Spiderman and Pineapple Express, he broke my heart in Eat, Pray, Love, and his cameos in Date Night and The Green Hornet were the highlights of those films. That said, he's still a bit of a nut (his stint on General Hospital, the videos with his grandma), but one that continues to fascinate me. 

 

However, I'm not sure that's fascination enough to persuade me to take a college course on James Franco, by James Franco. Yes, it really does exist. Columbia College Hollywood (AV Club adds, "School Motto: No, not that one." Hee.) is in the process of launching a course entitled, “Master Class: Editing James Franco…with James Franco." Students will work to compile 30-minute documentaries on Franco, using footage from Franco, while discussing said footage with Franco, via Skype. A close friend of Franco's, Tyler Danna, will monitor the class. In addition, all classes will be videotaped for possible future inclusion in another Franco project. Franco.

 

Now, unusual as this undertaking may be, unusual seems to be the norm for Franco. As both Academy Awards co-host and nominee (Best Actor, 127 Hours), he'll be only the seventh person to pull double duty on Oscar night. If he wins, he'll be the fourth in that group to bring home gold.

 

I'm not a football person. My mom loves to remind me of the time we were at a game, and I asked what inning we were in. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't been a cheerleader for one of the teams playing (in my defense, I was only in the fourth grade). Anyhoo, sports don't do it for me, so the Oscars are kind of like my version of the Super Bowl. I curl up on the couch, critique dresses, mock speeches, and generally just have a good ol' time. I remember one year where I watched the show over the phone with a friend, and we spent the entire three hours trying to perfect our British accents, to properly poke fun at The English Patient.

 

Okay, so maybe our boy James isn't the only odd duck.

 

In any case, if you're like me and enjoy watching the really big shoe, I have a couple of scenarios for your Oscar night:

 

1. Alone (Or With Your Significant Other)

 

Photo Credit: Victoria's Secret

If you're by yourself, you're going to want to be comfy. If you have your spouse/partner/whatever over, you'll want to be cute. Leave it to Victoria's Secret to fit the bill for both. I'm in absolute love with their Tee-Jamas, and cannot recommend them enough. You get a super-soft fitted tee (much like you'd wear with jeans), and cotton/sateen pajama pants with velour trim. Sexy enough to be interesting, but still the most comfortable jammies I've ever worn. $35 (sale price), Victoria's Secret.

 

Of course, you'll want something to munch on while you watch the show, and what's better than some homemade (right out of the box!) linguine alfredo? Romantic for the two of you, and decadent enough for a solo evening in. Even better, the Macaroni Grill at Home website gives suggestions for wine pairings and additional courses. Twenty minutes, a pound of chicken, and absolutely zero culinary talent required. Prices vary by store, but kits tend to fall in the $3-$4 range. If you don't like their wine selection, I'm a fan of Relax riesling. Again, prices vary, but around $12.

 

Now, for the mood. I say, if you're by yourself or with your sweetie, go for relaxing and light some candles and find a cozy blanket. Keep the lights low for the feeling you're right there in the audience (but with way better company, snacks, a nearby bathroom, and much less confining clothing).

 

Scenario #2. Oscar Party!

 

Photo Credit: Frederick's of Hollywood

What to wear? Anything sparkly! I'm a big fan of this dress by, of all things, Frederick's of Hollywood (really). This stunner of a dress is hot enough for Oscar, but sophisticated enough to wear again to an office cocktail party. What I love is that the bandaging sucks in curves that shouldn't be there, and shows off the ones that should. Plus, the bodice is lined and lightly padded for a little extra oomph. Leave it to the lingerie store to finally understand how "outside" clothes should fit! $59, Frederick's of Hollywood.

 

For snack food, I'm a fan of this black bean dip. It takes no time to make, costs almost nothing, and feeds a crowd. Plus, it tastes amazing!

 

1 large can black beans (I'm an idiot and tossed my cans before I looked at the sizes. I'm sorry)

1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes

1 small can corn (drained)

8 oz. light sour cream (may substitute light cream cheese for thicker consistency)

1 cup cheddar cheese

 

Combine all ingredients, and bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes. Dip will thicken as it stands, reaching thickest consistency and full flavor after spending the night in the fridge. Reheat in the oven just prior to serving. Serve with tortilla chips. Believe it or not, this is actually pretty darn low-cal (between 1300-1500 for the entire batch) and full of fiber, so it's okay for dieters. Also, you can drain all the canned items, but I prefer a thinner consistency, so I only drained the corn. There's no wrong or right way to make it, though.

 

Now, to set the stage for the party, I suggest this party pack from Oriental Trading. For $16.99, you get invitations, plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery for 8 guests, plus a tablecloth, balloons, streamers, and confetti, all movie night themed. 

 

Now, who are your Oscar picks? Let me know in the comments.  

Gift Guide: The Hostess

I can not throw a party to save my life.  I learned back in high school (hi, Mags!) that I am about as good at throwing parties as Mary Tyler Moore:  in other words, my parties tend to suck.  Now, I can be the guest of honor at a good party.  I can attend a good party.  I can help plan a good party.  I can not throw a good party.  I think the most infamous of my bad parties included a knife fight and a guy dancing with a lawnmower.  Believe it or not, no alcohol was involved.  Maybe it should have been.

People who can throw an entertaining shin-dig fascinate me.  I tip my hat to them.  With that, I give you the gift guide for the Hostess, or alternately, Little Suzy Homemaker:  that throwback to the Mad Men era who keeps a clean house, a stocked bar, and fabulous style. 

First up is this stunning Jessie Steele apron.  It's a bib-style full-apron with a cinched waist and a stripe/cherry print motif.  Keeps a cute outfit clean, but without sacrificing style.  Heck, that would make most of my party outfits look better.  With attached terry towel.  $33.95, jessiesteele.com.

Photo credit:  jessiesteele.com

Next is a gorgeous art deco martini set.  Crystal cut glasses, a matching shaker (not the one pictured, oddly), and a to die for serving tray dress up any occasion.  $85.00, martiniart.com.

Photo credit:  martiniart.com

Lastly, we have a set of monogrammed hand towels.  Actually, you can get the entire bath collection, but what hostess with the mostess wouldn't love a nice set of monogrammed hand towels on display in the guest bathroom?  You know, in case you forget who's throwing the party.  Trust me, that can happen.  $7.99-$19.99, Bed Bath and Beyond. 

Photo credit:  bedbathandbeyond.com