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The List Volume LXXVIII

By Kirsten|June 29th, 2012|The List|

And we’re back. I love New York, that’s no secret… however, it seems that there is a whole lot more to compile to the list when I’m here. I’m going to just blame that on the sheer volume of people… not to mention, you’ve got to have a little bit of crazy in you to survive here…

Have we ever talked about how I feel about fedoras?
Looking for an apartment in New York. No wonder people hate brokers so much (full disclosure: I have a NY Real Estate License).
The girl standing still on the treadmill talking on her phone.
Related: the girl using the elliptical in just her socks.
Seeing cute boys on the street only to realize that he’s walking a dog smaller than yours meaning one of two things…

Hot days with heavy breezes.
My favorite building in Manhattan. (Though I preferred it pink).
Sunsets on the Hudson.
Putting in headphones with no music just to be left alone.
Buying a bottle of prosecco for $15 rather than paying $15 for a glass.

xx,

WhyDid

images via Murray Mitchell and Grub Street

Why Did You Wear That: Laundry Day

By Kirsten|June 27th, 2012|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|

kirsten smith doing laundry

There are so many things I love about living in Manhattan: grocery delivery, all night diners, cabs on every corner. Things that make life so much more convenient that at times you begin to wonder how you ever lived without them. However, there is one small thing that isn’t always such a cinch. That dreaded thing happens to be laundry. Granted, no one enjoys doing laundry, but in New York, if you aren’t fortunate enough to have an in apartment washer and dryer, you are left with one of two choices. Send your laundry out and allow a stranger to manhandle your unmentionables (not to mention allowing said stranger to discern what does and does not belong in the dryer) or do your laundry yourself. The latter would require you to sit and sweat while your socks hit the spin cycle. It’s not like you could leave your beloved laundry in fear of someone stealing it… or dumping it out to access the dryer for themselves. So, this past weekend, I chose the somewhat lesser of two evils (I needed my underwear STAT and Little J’s couldn’t launder me til Monday). Making the best of things and not having anything left to wear, I played a little game of dress up and sported my very last pair of striped socks with a floral frock and floral sandals. Hey, you never know what kind of cutie might be sudsing up his stuff in the next machine…

washing machines

dress: Forever21 (similar here), shoes: Nordstrom Rack (similar here), socks: your guess is as good as mine (try these)

Fluff n’ fold.

xx,

WhyDid

Setting the Mood: Dream a Little Dream

By Kirsten|June 25th, 2012|Setting the Mood|

Well, it is officially summer. June 20th (typically the 21st , damn you, leap year) marked summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. This may bring visions of starry lit soirees, dining al fresco, and soft cascading fabrics. What better time to channel Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. No, I don’t mean that of the pasties and panties of the Playboy Mansion. I mean ethereal makeup and hair full of flowers. Sheer chiffons and strappy sandals.

If you happen to be a fan of HBO’s Girls (um, of course you are), you watched the wild Jessa tie the knot wearing a dress so simple and Bohemian, she could have been a character straight from the play. It was the perfect casual summer frock to wear when saying “I do.” Heck, it would have been a lot cheaper than an $8,500 Vera Wang (anyone need a dress?). So whether you are looking to tie the knot in something simple or just sport a fresh and summery frock, let Jessa’s look and Shakespeare’s intoxicating tale lead your wardrobe inspiration.

dress: Morning Story Dress, $188, headband: Deepa Gurnani Floral Crystal Headband, $195, shoes: Miu Miu Strappy Peep Toe Platform, $790

O, hell! to choose love by another’s eyes.

xx,

WhyDid

The List Volume LXXVII

By Kirsten|June 22nd, 2012|The List|

Dating may be one of the hardest things that we, as women, have to deal with. Fighting frizz? No biggie. Running on cobblestones in five inch heels? Child’s play. Passing the bar? Nailed it. That’s why I’m here to give you some of my greatest life lessons in love. Sure, sure, we all know how great I am when it comes to relationships, but would you ever take advice from someone who hasn’t been through hell? You know, they say those who can’t do, teach. Well, I’m pretty sure that I fall under that category. So, my children, do as I say, not as I do.

Thou shall not divulge all your secrets upfront. (And don’t expect him to either). I’m not saying be a liar, but hold off on letting him know about your bowel movements or past heartbreaks. Let him fall for you before you scare him off. And be aware: he probably has some secrets of his own that will eventually come to light.
Thou shall agree to disagree. You aren’t always going to see eye to eye. Learn to pick and choose your battles before beating him to death.
Thou shall not be desperate. Tattoo this on your forehead: DBDG – Don’t Be Desperate, Girl. Men can smell desperation/vulnerability a mile away. FYI: It’s a pheromone for douchebags.
Thou shall not make initial contact. Give him the eye, the smile, or the hair toss to let him know you’re interested. Anything past that falls on his shoulders. Make him work for it- you’re worth it, afterall.
Thou shall not conform. Do NOT tailor your tastes to his. Next thing you know, you’ll be climbing trees in the Redwood Forest when you’d rather be sippin’ cocktails poolside at the Mondrian.
Thou shall not split the bill. In no situation is it ever acceptable for a man you are newly dating to expect you to go Dutch. If you do the mandatory “reach for your wallet” move and he accepts, he’s either 1). not into you, 2). a cheap mother f*cker, 3). tacky. You don’t not want any of those.
Thou shall not repeat past mistakes. Uh, this should be self-explanatory, but can speak from experience that it’s not. Fool me once, shame on you… fool me twice… It’s my own damn fault. Fool me more than twice, I need to go to rehab.
Thou shall not double text. Ever. Words to live by: No answer is your answer.
Thou shall not settle. I know it feels scary now that your Facebook feed reads more of a bridal blog or “Babybook” but that’s no reason for you to feel compelled to grab the next willing young man to be your mate. I can guarantee that being alone is a hell of a lot better than being with the wrong one.
Thou shall not be a hater. Being bitter won’t ever make it better. Be happy for others who are in love and your prince charming will too some day arrive on his white horse.

Happy dating!

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: You’re Doing It Wrong

By admin|June 21st, 2012|Beauty Buzz|

It’s very, very easy to get stuck in your very own beauty rut. We’ve learned to do things a certain way and tend to stick to what’s worked for us. However, you might have grown a bit too accustomed to your regular regimen. Here are five ways to shake things up and get more out of your beauty routine:

Get dirty. Here’s a secret: I only wash my hair twice a week. Gross? Meh. Let’s consider it water conservation. I have about two feet of hair and it’s a bit on the dry side. Not to mention, blowing out my naturally wavy locks, puts a lot of stress on my tresses. Dry shampoo and perfecting the art of a top knot, allow for extra time between washes. Give your hair a break and let your body’s own natural oil seep in and condition your hair.
Eyes first. We’ve been taught to paint on our pretty faces by starting with foundation and finishing with our eyes. Well, here’s the thing: when you finally do reach the grand finale smokey eye, you’re pretty likely to ruin the perfect palette you created in the first place with flecks of shadow and liner smudging your face. Why not try starting your eyes and then completing the look by smoothing off any mess with your foundation, bronzer, and blush?
Brush it off. Before even stepping foot into the shower, you should use a dry brush to exfoliate your skin. This will not only deflake any and all tired summer skin, but it also increases circulation which aids in the fight against cellulite. Two birds, one brush. (Try this one from Elemis).
Don’t brush it out. So, pretty much the only time I ever brush my hair is right before I wash it (which I’ve mentioned only happens twice a week). I brush to get all the tangles out pre-sudsing and then use a comb to release any new snags post conditioning. Marcia Brady was wrong: you absolutely can overdo it with the brushing.
Crank it up. When flat ironing your hair, it’s actually better to turn the heat all the way up and make one pass down your tresses than to use moderate heat and go over and over and over… your hair.