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mini travel favorites

hello from london!  on rather short notice, i learned that i would be working from london for a month or so.  i had planned on doing a more detailed packing post, but i had about 5 days to get my ducks in a row.  so, this short entry will have to do for now.

i hoard all the mini products and samples i receive from hotels and stores, and pack them in a clear tsa approved bag when it comes time to travel.  here are a few of the goodies i brought with me this time.  and yes, i travel with lingerie wash and stain solution.  🙂

travel favorites note:  the baby powder and the toothpaste were purchased from the drugstore.  everything else was free.

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leather care

for those who have read my blog for a while, it is apparent that i love beautiful shoes and handbags.  the only way i can justify these purchases is if i spend a bit of time to care for them, so they last as long as possible.  here are a few of the tools i use to help me:

leather care

1) stink free shoe spray.  because shoes start to smell sometimes.

2) apple brand leather protector spray.  probably the best purchase of the bunch.  i immediately spray every bag i own with it the moment i bring the bag home, and same with my shoes.  my ps1 has been caught in the rain so many times, and there are no marks to show.

3) apple brand leather conditioner.  i use this to periodically clean handles and straps, and spot clean stains and marks.  just put a little on a clean cloth (never on the bag or shoes directly!) and rub in carefully.  it also helps breathe new life into worn or aged leather.

4) suede kit.  the “eraser” and brush have saved my dicker boots so many times, which have also been caught in the rain.  as i write this, i am also realizing i need to dress better for the nyc weather.

5) simple cleansing wipes.  i know this is a weird one, but these wipes are portable and chemical-free.  i keep them at my desk to both clean my face after the end of long work day, but also to wipe the insides and outsides of my manolos after a few wears.  and if i need to get a stain off a bag in a pinch, i find that they usually do the trick.

6) a cobbler (obviously unpictured).  every new pair of shoes goes straight to the cobbler for rubber soles on the bottom, before i wear them.  i have also had cobblers change out heels, soles, and even just freshen up the leather.

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bathroom makeover

when i moved into my new place, the bathroom was in a sad state.  the walls were painted a glossy blue, the wood on the vanity was cheap (and warped), and the medicine cabinets made the space feel smaller than it already was.  since this is the first home i have purchased (!), i wanted to be very smart about the remodeling decisions i made.

i didn’t think ahead to take pictures of the “before,” but here is the photo from the original listing:

bathroom old

the professional lighting makes it look much nicer than it was.  i repainted the space (using benjamin moore’s “simply white”) and switched out the vanity, medicine cabinet, light fixture, and toilet.  i don’t love the floor tiles, but they are in good shape and are too expensive to redo.

here is the after:bathroom 1 the new toilet is the “memoirs” toilet from kohler.bathroom 2 bathroom 3 i feel like the gorgeous new faucet (by watermark) deserves another look.bathroom 4i am so in love with the changes.  i want to eventually completely remodel the shower (the tiles are depressing), but will need to save a bit more before i can.

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billy reid sale purchases

if you have read this blog before, you may know that i am a huge fan of billy reid.  i own several of his blazers, and during this sales season, added a few sweaters and a beautiful skirt to my collection.  the items are sadly no longer online, but you may be able to find them in stores.  the sweaters are absolutely amazing, because after a few wears, there is still very little piling.  and they are 100% wool.

billy reid 1

i know it is a bit late in the season, but think i will do a post on sweater care.  investing in a few great sweaters over the years and taking care of them is the best decision i have made for my closet (and my wallet).

billy reid 2the skirt deserved a close up of the beautiful silk.