September is the new January

We're making September the new January. 

Time to reflect and redirect what's not working.

Here are my new season resolutions, big and small:

1. Be better at keeping in touch with old friends. 

And new friends. Especially, Kate and Christy. Those two!

2. Switch up the make up routine. So long, beloved Laguna.

NARS Blush in Seduction

3. Well, I drank the Goop Kool Aid. No going back now.

Within by Dr. Habib Sadeghi, father of "conscious uncoupling"

4. New signature scent. This one's unisex, a la 

"Unbreakable" by Khloe and Lamar. Except, well, :(

Khiel's Aromatic Blends Fig Leaf & Sage

5. Relax more. And not have a guilt complex over it.

Diptyque Precious Oils for Body & Bath

6. A little less Netflix, a little more reading. 

After my summer in South Africa, I'm going to start

 with the fearless Nadine Gordimer.

7. Either go all Jared Leto on you....

...or start taking better care of my $$ blonde hair.

7. Wear yoga pants....to an actual yoga class.

First stop, finally trying anti-gravity yoga. 

Stone Fox Heather Andersen of New York Pilates

8. To redirect paths confidently and unapologetically.

All with this in mind:

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!

Hot Mess

It's all about MESSY with these loose braids. 

Works for me. Although I have a feeling

these are a tad more involved than they look...

To the Dark Side

I just finished reading Amy Astley's interview with 

Into the Gloss about her recent decision to forego 

the ball and chain that is HIGHLIGHTING. God, I am so

 sick of HIGHLIGHTING. For years I have dutifully appeared

at my salon every 10-12 weeks and sat for hours burning 

my scalp to feign Swedish descent. But no more. I'm officially

declaring myself done.* This is huge for me. I once stopped

speaking to my dad after he wrote I was brunette on my passport

application in middle school. I'm feeling inspired by 

the roots these ladies are rocking.

*I maintain the right to revoke this statement as soon as

my roots grow out long enough for me to see my real

hair color for the first time in 10 years. 

I imagine it might feel something like this.

Images via

The Best Birchbox Finds

1. Ojon Volume Advance 
2. Caldrea Body Lotion in Tea Olive Lime
3. Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray

4. Joanna Vargas Daily Serum

The Heidi Braid

I have a pretty hectic few weeks coming up

and predict a lot of wet hair/dry shampoo/hot mess

hair situations. My go-to's (messy top knot or low bun)

are growing old...and messier by the day, so it's 

time I master a new staple to avoid going full-on

Courtney Love. The Heidi Braid (aka the Goddess Braid,

the Braided Crown, the Halo Braid...why are there so many

names?) is easy and quick, yet looks put together - 

at least it does on Sienna Miller. 

The only problem is I am currently terrible at 

braiding my own hair. If I were to try this right 

now I would look like I got mugged on the way 

to yodeling lessons. So, learn with me, won't you?

1. The Wedding Chicks halo braid tutorial 

2. Harrod's demonstrates the Heidi-style "plait"

3. 7 Days of DIY Braids via Glamour

4. A Cup of Jo braided crown tutorial

5. "The Goddess Braid" deconstructed