You know how at the end of the year we’re bombarded with all those obnoxious “best of’s” and “top moments of” countdowns?  Well, it’s your lucky day, ’cause I’ve gone ahead and jumped right onto that bandwagon and I’m about to give you my very own “Best of WhyDid 2012″ countdown.  It’s always hard to pick your own favorites– not because I’m partial, but actually because I’m my own worst critic.  I’ve selected thirteen (to stay in theme with the upcoming year– I didn’t forget how to count) of my favorites and hopefully some of your favorites as well.  For those of you just now tuning in (shame on you), you’re welcome, here’re the highlights of what you missed and next time get here on time.  It’s rude to be tardy:

1. Well, I started off the year on the right coast at least.
2. You can take the girl out of the city… but… well, you know the rest.
3. I found my new favorite photographer.
4. You don’t need great buns for a top notch top knot (but I can get ya great buns too).
5. Might not have been named the “color of the year” but my favorite beverage (and hue) finally got some airtime.
6. Oh, but wait, I called it.
7. “I knew I had fallen in love with Lolita forever; but I also knew she would not be forever Lolita.” Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
8. Wedge sneakers are stupid, okay?
9. I’m sure Solange never saw this one coming…
10. I fixed my eyebrows.  Everyone happy now?
11. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish: Would you rather be a big fish in a little pond or little fish in a big pond?
12. We tried to find a little bit of “truth” in advertising.
13. And decided that it was finally time to start shining.

While not everything could make the list, it was good to revisit a few of my posts that I may need to print out and glue to my refrigerator as reminders.  What were your favorites?  What made your 2012?

xx,

WhyDid

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It’s always so relaxing to go home.  There are no worries, no pressure, nothing to do, and I gain about ten pounds.  Turns out, the fine folks here are not particularly interested in juicing, Pilates, or whether or not hunting gear should be worn to dinner at Applebee’s.  That said, I am looking forward to heading home (to New York), starting a cleanse, and hitting the treadmill– hard.  In the meantime, I played a little game of dress up in a sweater dress of my mother’s that I’ve been eying for several years.  It hung in my closet in New York for a bit, but never got any play because I couldn’t quite figure out when and where I wanted to wear it, so I returned it during my West Coast intermission.  Now seems like the perfect time for this knit confection to make its way back to my closet once again.  Let’s give it another go.  Whaddya say?

dress: vintage, bag: Balenciaga, boots: All Saints, hat: Croft & Barrow

Thanks, mom.

xx,

WhyDid

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So, this probably isn’t going to win me any extra credit points with cosmetic companies round the globe, but that’s the chance you take when spreading the good word.  For years and years, basically since I was permitted to play in the makeup aisle at the drugstore, I’ve been fascinated with makeup.  I’ve gone through the phases of cake face, glitter shadow, frosted lips, and all the other makeup calamities that are a woman’s rite of passage.  We are taught and then it is pounded into our pretty little heads that makeup is the key to fixing any flaw and without it, we are just plain Janes not glamorous goddesses.  And while I do enjoy playing around and experimenting with different lotions and potions (that’s half the fun, afterall), it recently came to my attention that I’ve been wasting a lot of money and time fudging with my face.

On one particularly hilarious evening in, a friend saw a photograph in a frame on my (alphabetized) bookshelf from when I was living in LA and said, “Wow! You look like a real whore!  So much makeup!  And  so blonde!”  I wanted to be insulted, but he was right.  I looked like a different person, a Barbie.  It’s not that I looked bad, per se, but by doing “so much” to look good, I ended up looking just like everyone else.

When I met a girlfriend out one evening haven’t having had time to spruce myself up, she informed me that I’d never looked prettier.  I was confused at first and wondered how many cocktails in she was already, but I started toning down my look and received the same compliments about my fresh face.  And while I won’t reveal my actual age (today), most people’s guesses include me still being a co-ed.  Funny thing is you know how we wear makeup as pre-teens to look older?  Well, it works, doesn’t it?  So when we actually are of legal drinking age, we probably don’t want to look any older, right?

Here’s a little secret I’m going to let you in on: less is, in fact, more.  In my old(er) age, I’ve toned down the bright white highlights (aka, I haven’t colored my hair in over a  year), and given up all the extra beauty products.  My hairdresser leaving the US is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to my tresses.  I actually know what color my natural hair is and it’s never been healthier.  Turns out the shade I was given suits my skin tone (without heaps of self tanner and sun), which only brings out the blue eyes that are luckily and thankfully God given.  It’s like I’d been fighting against mother nature all these years and finally gave in.  My best guy friend is somewhere smirking to himself saying, “Told you so.”  Speaking of which: another bonus, guys who are actually of value (as in you may actually want to hub them up), prefer a woman with a natural face.  They don’t wanna worry about washing oompa loompa off their sheets or holding their breath in fear of what may wake next to them.

So, what’s the key to a clean polished fresh face?  Other than starting with a serious skincare routine (your dermis is the most crucial part of the look), here it is in four steps (five when I’m feeling fancy):

1. Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer, Bronze, $27, 2. Benefit Benetint, $29, 3. Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde, $20, 4. Benefit They’re Real! Mascara, $23, 5. Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Golden Ivy, $19

So, who’s hiding out under there?

xx,

WhyDid

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Now that we have survived Halloween and a hurricane, the holidays are fast approaching and what better time to stock on some beautiful baubles for your loved ones than right now?  Or if you’re a selfish little lady, maybe you’re going to need some extra bling for all of the fabulous holiday parties you’ll be attending.  Fortunately for you, Scott Kay is holding an exclusive sample sale where you will save 70% (!!!) on fine jewelry including diamonds, platinum and one of a kind pieces.  Starts on Wednesday, November 14th and will run until Sunday, November 18th.  Yeah, you’re welcome.

Even if you are unable to get yourself to this fabulous sample sale, you can still enter for a chance to win these Scott Kay Cypress earrings ($195 value) by following WhyDid and Scott Kay on Twitter and retweeting this little message.

Good luck and happy shopping/tweeting (two things that actually go very well together).

xx,

WhyDid

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I mean, just because I’ve basically become asexual doesn’t mean the rest of the world has.  It’s cuffing season, after all.  So while I’m happiest sitting home rubbing Smitty’s belly with one hand and holding a glass of pinot in the other, it would appear the rest of the world is falling truly, madly, deeply.

• The moment we’ve all (okay, I’ve) been waiting for… Jess Biel’s wedding dress revealed (and it’s pink?). [NY Mag]
• Eva Longoria dumped Mark Sanchez… and fortunately for him, I happen to be free on Friday. [Page Six]
• Which means I will definitely need something snazzy to wear… thank heavens for Maison Martin Margiela collection for H&M (see entire collection here). [Fashionista]
• And just in case everything sells out before I can peel myself from bed, here are a few other date outfit options. [Refinery29]
• If he doesn’t watch it, I may just plant a big fat kiss on him like this little Romeo. [Gawker]
• We could dance the night away in New York’s soon to be biggest dance party, Space. [Eater]
• Perhaps you’re more of the stay at home type, Mark.  That’s cool. I’ll just whip up this pumpkin lasagna. NBD. [Food Network]
• I may need to go ahead and stock up on Agent Provocatuer’s new diffusion line, L’Agent. [Refinery29]
• And should things not pan out… Let’s throw in a little Ryan Gosling… just for good measure. [NY Mag]

xx,

WhyDid

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