Vendors!

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SO here’s the thing: I have a very specific idea of how I want my hair to look. The hair I WANT is like Cameron’s:
Or Jessica’s:
Or Reese’s:

The hair that grows out of my head, however? Something more like…

Sideshow Bob.

Over the years, I’ve learned how to beat my mane into submission, but between the straightening irons, curling irons, hot rollers, velcro rollers, blowdryers, highlights, lowlights, bi-yearly Keratin treatments and products, products, products My poor hair takes a LOT of abuse.

Eventually, it starts looking and feeling well, a little like…

you know what I mean.

Friends, I have FOUND A MIRACLE PRODUCT:

Redken Smooth Down Butter Treat

Here’s the Q+DD: You can use this product either as a leave-in conditioner OR a masque-type treatment. The instructions say that if you are using it as a leave-in, to apply a dime sized amount to towel dried hair before styling. If you’re using it as a treatment, apply liberally to your hair and leave in for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.

But being from the school of “More is Better”, I have been sleeping in gobs of this stuff for the last 3 nights and my hair did a 180!

No lie, I picked Linds up last night and she asked me if I had in extensions. My hair isn’t any longer, it’s just healthier and shinier and fuller.

If you are having haystack head problems, I am begging you to run out to your nearest CVS and pick some up. Just so you don’t have sticker shock, it’ll run you about $20, which seems like a lot for something you don’t get at a fancy-pants salon, but just do it, ok?

In short: Celebrity Hair, HERE I COME!

…and just in time for the Oscars!

xx, L

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Although I don’t particularly love chocolate and rarely seek it out (I am definitely more of a Twizzlers or Haribo gummy bears gal), I don’t mind it either.  On the rare occasion that I am going to buy it, it’s going to be Godiva.  I always send Godiva to my mother for Valentine’s Day, and I’m always game for at least window shopping at the Godiva store @ Lenox Mall. 

"life is like a box of chocolates..."

Godiva has been my standard for chocolate for many years.  That is, until I received a box of chocolates + truffles from Norman Love Confections last week!

I seriously became Augustus Gloop from Willy Wonka + The Chocolate Factory.

me

Sexy, I know.  “Oompa loompa doompadee doo!”

Well, as it turns out, I love chocolate!  Although, I’m pretty sure it’s only Norman’s…  (I may need to conduct a bit more research to be sure.)

25pc Signature Chocolate Gift Box

I even love the box.  So artful!  :)

When I took off the cover, I was shocked at how colorful each chocolate piece was!  They look like mini pieces of Venetian glass!  I carefully studied the accompanying guide to correctly identify the wide array of flavors…and I went to town

i'd appreciate y'all ignoring the missing pieces...

It is very difficult for me to choose, but if pressed, I’d say that my five favorite flavors are:

Vanilla Cupcake- Sweet cream and vanilla frosting ganache mixed with tiny cake pieces in a perfect little bite.

Key Lime Shell – Classic and simple, made with fresh key lime juice and the feeling of a little Florida sunshine with each bite.

Caramel Apple - Peanut butter caramel ganache is the perfect enhancement to fresh tart apples covered in a white chocolate shell.

Cinnamon Roll- Buttery cinnamon swirled with pure sugar icing in white chocolate ganache – casted in milk chocolate.

Cookies ‘n’ Cream – The fine dark chocolate crunch and smooth white filling you’d expect from this all-time favorite treat.

If you are a serious chocoholic, need to send a corporate gift or just want to make someone’s day w/ a gorgeous + delicious box of chocolates, I strongly encourage you to send it from Norman Love Confections.  Keep in mind that these chocolates do not contain preservatives, so they are best enjoyed w/in three weeks.  (Or you could follow my lead and eat them all almost immediately…) 

Check out Norman Love Confections @ www.normanloveconfections.com.

C’est Magnifique!

xx, L

Norman Love Confections
11380 Lindbergh Boulevard
Fort Myers, Florida  33913
239.561.7215
www.normanloveconfections.com

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How hip is your pupster?

(this one takes the cake!)

I mean…this is the most amazing blog I’ve come across since, well, we started the Q+DD!  AMAZING!!  :)

Check out more hipster heartbreakers like these guys + submit your pup @
http://hipsterpuppies.tumblr.com/  These pooches are just too cool for school!

This weekend, Slick and I were finally ready to move on from our beloved Reggie, and we adopted Big Red.  We hope he leads a much longer life than poor, old Reg!

Big Red

(Someone please get me a puppy…)

xx, L

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Yesterday was Slick’s birthday.

the birthday boy

We celebrated @ One Star Ranch in Buckhead, and then hit up Five Paces.  Slick and I got our traditional it’s-your-birthday-late-night-pizza, but…

"you only turn 27 once!"

…he’s feeling like THIS now:

uh oh

Obviously, it’s time to catch a second wind for Oysterfest this afternoon @ Steamhouse Lounge.

First, y’all have to see this: Cari Barocas from Sugar Sugar made Slick the most incredible birthday cake ever!

Happy Birthday!

Isn’t that amazing? They are cupcakes!! :)

Check out all the other delicious treats Cari’s made recently @ www.doublethesugar.com

"Honey...Oh, Sugar Sugar"

xx, L

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So, I’ve been on Twitter for the better part of a year now and I have to admit…I don’t think I fully get it yet. In fact, just yesterday I learned what a “hashtag” is. (Thanks, @GCohen85!) But I’m learning. One thing I know for sure? I LOVE TWITTER. Although I’m certain that the creators of the technology had a more sophisticated purpose in mind, I really enjoy “tweeting” my whereabouts and random thoughts (@LaurenKAtlanta: just caught up on HIMYM. Barney’s suit song + dance just changed my life 7:03 PM Jan 13th) and reading my friends’ (@Lindsaywhat44: combating the rainy day with lunch @ Ra, drinks @ Ecco + book club tonight! 6:56 AM Feb 2nd).

You can follow me here and Lindsay here if you haven’t already!

I check in with Twitter as often as I check in with Facebook. Having access to it on my Blackberry is particularly helpful when I am, say, killing time at the hair salon or waiting in lines or while trying to look v. busy and important before meetings.

I also learn a lot of stuff! Some of my favorite “tweeps” include @womensweardaily (fashion + celebrity sightings), @jennfalik (beauty + style expert), @ATLCheap (great deals around town) @FoodieBuddha (only the most awesome food blogger in town), @lululemon (trust me on this one) or @lululemonbhead, and @Oprah (Yes, Oprah.)

Ok, but today? I learned about something so ridiculous its awesome. Mattel is set to release Puppy Tweets, a high-tech toy that will allow dogs to “tweet” via sound and motion sensor.Per the LA Times, “Attached to a dog’s collar, the plastic tag randomly generates one of 500 canned tweets when it detects barking or movement and automatically posts an update to Fido’s own Twitter page.”

As they said, the tweets are pre-written and randomly chosen (Such as, “I finally caught that tail I’ve been chasing, and . . . OOUUUCHH!”) and are triggered by a device attached to your dog’s collar which communicates with your computer.

Imagining Olive’s hypothetical Twitter page REALLY cracks me up.

I think it would read like this:

@OliveSchmolive “Mommy needs a new “get ready to go out” iTunes playlist. There’s only so much “Party in the USA” one dog can take…”

@OliveSchmolive “Who cares about the 64,000 toys I have laying all over the apartment floor? This Prada stiletto is delicious!”

@OliveSchmolive “Don’t mind me, I’ll just be barking at the Pomeranian across the hall. All Day. Long. #getsomeearplugs”

@OliveSchmolive “I’m eating boiled chicken and white rice while Mommy eats a veggie burger over the sink. There is something wrong here and I LIKE it!”

or

@OliveSchmolive “Had a spectacular time at brunch on the Café di Sol patio. Got to debut my new pink collar and met the cutest Jack Russell! Date next week at the dog park!”

Olive and her bestie, @OscarMeyerson!

Maybe Olive will trade a few yaps for tweets?

What would your dog say?

xx. L

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Y’all!  I just bought the most powerful hair dryer known to (wo)man!  It’s love.

this blows!

best hair dryer ever

Here’s the Q+DD on my Elchim 2001 Professional Hair Dryer (aka Elchim Classic):

The Elchim Classic 2001 is a high pressure hair dryer – the only hair dryer in the world that reduces drying time by 50%.  It also protects hair by producing a high flow of air that does not overheat to the point of harming the hair.  The dryer is fitted with top quality components that include a very long-lasting double balanced motor and a Swedish Kanthal wire heating element.  Elchim Classic’s exterior is made of shock and flame resistant polycarbonate plastic which is non-aging.  The dryer has been manufactured according to EEC specifications with double insulation.

Features and Benefits:

  • Seven switch combinations for ranges of fan speed and temperature
  • 1800 watts of power (yowza!)
  • Lightweight
  • Air flow of 40 liters per second
  • Concentrator nozzle
  • Removable lint filter

This hair dryer actually makes me look forward to getting ready in the morning! :)

I don’t have the longest hair in the world (although I am trying), but I have a lot of it.  My new Elchim has cut down my drying time by roughly 5 minutes!  Swear to it.  It’s like a leaf blower.  And, we all know that time is money…  My Elchim + an excessive amount of Biosilk + my new Sebastian “Drench” shampoo/conditioner = silkier hair than I’ve had in years.  

Pick up an Elchim at www.folica.com for a Benjamin or use a Bed Bath + Beyond coupon, like I did, and get it at BBB in Buckhead Station for only $78.  (I am sure you can find an Elchim other places, but these are the two I know of off-hand.)  Your hair is definitely worth it. 

Happy hair days to you! 

xx, L

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I’m on the run. Constantly. If it weren’t for Olive…
OliveGirl!.. I don’t know if I would EVER see my condo. From meetings to happy hours to dinners to cocktails…I’m type A+ and I just can’t help it. I’m hard-wired this way. I’m happiest when my Outlook calendar looks like a rainbow of appointments and plans.

When your day starts at 5:00 and ends at midnight or later…the hardest part is not showing it on your face. What’s the use in going anywhere at all if you look like something the cat drug in? (I can’t be the only one who feels that way?)

Plus, there are those mornings when you hit “snooze” a few too many times or you remember your 7:45a breakfast meeting at 7:15a…we’ve all been there.

Here are a few little lifesavers I have picked up over the years:

1. Dry Shampoo

1(a). Unite 7 Seconds Dry Shampoo
unite7secondsdry
Ok, I JUST discovered Unite 7 Seconds Dry Shampoo

It’s an alcohol mist and here are the campaign promises:
“1. Aids in preserving hair color
2. Removes excess oil
3. Increases Volume
4. No visible powder
5. Refreshes hair without the use of water
6. You’ll never be late for Happy Hour again!”

All true. In an effort to keep my superblonde hair from looking like a haystack, I’ve been making an effort NOT to wash my hair daily and this product has really helps. Unlike powder dry shampoos, my hair really does feel cleaner and genuinely refreshed.. Plus, skipping my normal blowdry session has awarded me an extra hour or so every other day….which is HUGE.

Available at Studio Todd G in midtown…which may or may not be my new hair salon. OK, fine. It is. But if all of y’all start going there and I can’t get an appointment, I will be u.p.s.e.t. Nobody wants that. Trust.

1(b). Powder dry shampoo

For YEARS I have used the following:
burtsbeesBurt’s Bee’s Dusting Powder. I know it’s old-school, but when I lived in NYC I could make a good blow out stretch almost a week! I would just dust a little baby powder on my roots and voila! Good as new. Now, this is not a solution for everyone, but if you happen to be nearly platinum, such as myself, I recommend it.

However, Bumble and Bumble makes the gold standard in dry shampoos for all hair hues: Hair Powder
brownhairpowderIt comes in 4 shades: blondish, brown, black, and red. Available wherever Bumble and Bumble is sold. (Such as Natural Body Spas, Michele Coulter Salon, and James Madison Salon.)

2. Click-Stick.

Yves Saint Laurent had the original, I believe.
toucheeleclatYSL’s “Touche Éclat” is a pen that distributes a bright, light concealor. It’s not for blemishes – You want to use a concealor that matched your skin color for those, obvi. This is just for brightening and giving your tired mug a little lift.

You just slick it under your eyes, on top of your cheek bones, and in your t-zone for INSTANT results. It truly is like 8 hours of sleep in a pen.

FYI, YSL’s is available for $40 but almost everyone, Bobbi Brown ($38), Chanel ($38), Trish McEvoy ($38) has a version of their own.

3. Portable perfume.

Listen, I am in no, way, shape, or form condoning the use of perfume in lieu of a good old fashioned shower. However, I have miniature bottles of my 2 signature perfumes in a Ziploc my handbag at all times for when I’m in need of a post-work spritz!

Ralph Lauren Blueralph lauren blueJo Malone – (I use Nectarine Blossom and Honey)
jomalone
OK, once you have these things, all you need to do is master the perfect day-to-evening wardrobe and bada bing-bada boom, you’re fresh (-ish) as a daisy!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. I have an afternoon meeting, 239481 post-work errands, dinner with the girls, then drinks...

Happy Friday afternoon, everyone!

xx, L

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I am into candles. I love them. If I am home for any length of time, I will often have 2-3 candles burning in various places in my 644 square foot condo.

If I had unlimited funds, I might go with something like Diptyque

$60 - 50hr burn time

$60 - 50hr burn time

But since I don’t…I favor either Trapp:

$17 - 40hr burn time

$17 - 40hr burn time

or my all-time-favorite, Votivo (Red Currant):

$25 - 50hr burn time

$25 - 50hr burn time

(FYI: That is always a safe gift choice for me.  IJS.)

However, while roaming around Star Provisions area with DK + DK this weekend, I discovered the “Air Kiss” candle at super chic home consignment store, Savvy Snoot. savvysnoot

Created exclusively for Savvy Snoot, they’re just simple square candles in a glass container with a lid.  They come in about a zillion scents, burn for 100 hours and one of these babies can be in your hot little hands for a mere $25.

ECO FRIENDLY BONUS: Return your empty container for $5 off your next candle purchase!

Instant ambiance, darling.

xx, L

Savvy Snoot Consignment Home
www.savvysnoot.com
1187 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 355-1399

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Well, not so much a “guy” as a girl Specifically, a Girl Scout.

I know what you’re thinking:
the Girl Scouts is a truly remarkable program for young women, teaching them independence and self-confidence while cultivating natural leadership abilities and providing a sense of community.  However, the likelihood that you would turn to one in any sort of emergency is pretty darn slim.

The truth is, you could easily find a more helpful scout if you were in a pinch.  Eagle Scouts, for instance, are serious business. Let’s face it. If Girl Scouts today are anything like my own troop back in Mountain Brook, AL, you’d be better off calling Troop Beverly Hills.
troop beverlyhillsBut before you start turning your nose up at my excitement of knowing a Girl Scout, let me ask you this question: 

How do you buy your Thin Mints?

Unless you have already moved to the ‘burbs and have precious little troopers knocking each other over to knock down your door, they can be pretty hard to find! In fact, as a high-rise dweller who rarely grocery shops during normal hours (missing the stands often found outside), I haven’t seen hide nor hair of a Trefoil in years.
girlscoutstand.jpgUntil TODAY. My co-worker’s niece is finally old enough to sell ‘em!

Obviously, everyone’s favorite is the Thin Mint.  If you don’t know what it is, you are from Mars and I can’t help you.  Sorry.  I love me a Thin Mint, especially because at 35 calories a wafer, they aren’t THAT bad.  (unless you eat an entire sleeve.)
thinmintgraphicbig
My PERSONAL favorite is the Tagalong. Round cookie.  Layer of peanut butter.  Covered in chocolate.  Bam.
tagalongHowever, for me, peanut butter is the gateway drug, so these are dangerous at Chez Lauren.  A lighter GSC alternative is the Do-si-do: oatmeal cookie sandwich with a peanut butter filling.  Yum.

Here are the other cookies (in no particular order):

Lemon Chalet Cremes (cinnamon ginger spice with a lemon crème filling)
Trefoils (shortbread)
Samoas (vanilla cookies, covered with caramel, rolled in toasted coconut and striped with chocolate)
Dulce De Leche (bite-sized cookies with milk caramel chips)
Thank U Berry Munch (hearty cookies with cranberries and white fudge chips and crispy rice)

BONUS:
If you have 0 willpower, like myself, but still want to support the Girl Scouts AND send our troops overseas a treat, the Girl Scouts are now offering the opportunity for you to purchase cookies to be shipped to our boys overseas. Once you purchase, the Girl Scouts will ship them to the troops in your name.

The sale ends next Monday, so if you need your Trefoil fix, email me at thequickanddirtydirty@gmail.com and I’ll try to hook you up!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to a man girl about a horse cookie…

Girl Scout Logo
xx, L

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In an attempt to spread holiday cheer, I’d like to bring your attention to some ridiculously amazing sales going on at Gucci.com

Exhibit #1: This Medium Hobo is on sale for $149.40 (from $350)

Exhibit #1: Medium Hobo for $149.40 (from $350)

Exhibit #2: Large Cosmetic Case for $62.30 (from $120)

Exhibit #2: Large Cosmetic Case for $62.30 (from $120)

Exhibit #3: Leather B.B. Hobo for $257.40 (from $610)

Exhibit #3: Leather B.B. Hobo for $257.40 (from $610)

Exhibit #4: Continental Wallet for $146.30 (from $290)

Exhibit #4: Continental Wallet for $146.30 (from $290)

Here’s the link for all the other great sales at Gucci.com:
http://www.gucci.com/us/us-english/us/sale/special-savings/

untitled

Just saying…I know a good deal when I see one.  :)

xx, L

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You know what the best thing about the holiday season is?  You may be thinking Christmas carols, gingerbread cookies, playing dreidel or seeing children’s faces as they open thoughtfully wrapped gifts.  Well, you’d be wrong.  The best thing about Christmas is the Brookstone catalog.  Fact.

catalog junkie

catalog junkie

Brookstone is the perfect store to find a great holiday gift for that special someone who has everything.  Gifts from Brookstone are always a hit, because no one really needs anything from there – the catalog or a stroll into a local Brookstone store just convinces you that you do.  “How have I have possibly been living this long without a paperless notepad!?”  Since I spent some time in Phipps over the weekend and my mail has been kind of inconsistent this winter, I just had to pop into Brookstone to see what the hot holiday items are this year. 

Here are my top five favorite Brookstone gifts for the holidays:

5 – Electric Wine Opener

Electric Wine Opener: $39.95

Electric Wine Opener: $39.95

“The electric wine opener with one touch operation provides effortless cork removal every time.”  I love this item because I broke my rabbit wine opener last year and I’m terrible with the old school ones.  It’s a good thing that my roommate is a bartender…

4 – i-Need Neck + Shoulder Massager

i-Need Neck + Shoulder Massager: $99.95

i-Need Neck + Shoulder Massager: $99.95

“Deep relief for hard-to-reach neck, shoulder and back muscles.”  I tried it in the store and it was ah-may-zinggggg!

3 – u-Control Silver Bullet Mini RC Helicopter

u-Control Silver Bullet Mini RC Helicopter: $29.95

u-Control Silver Bullet Mini RC Helicopter: $29.95

“Reach new heights with the easy-to-fly, indoor mini RC helicopter.”  It can fly up to 100 feet away from the remote control.  THAT is awesome.  It’s back-ordered online, so get it in the store ASAP.  It’s a fun gift for children and adults – I bought one for Slick and he loves it.   

2 – iDesign Tower Stereo System for iPod

iDesign Tower Stereo Systerm for iPod: $249.95

iDesign Tower Stereo System for iPod: $249.95

“Concert hall sound and striking modern design for your iPod.”  The sound this thing gives off is truly incredible.  And, it’s pretty sleek-looking, too. 

1 – Frog-O-Sphere Ecosystem w/ 2 Aquatic Frogs

Frog-O-Sphere Ecosystem w/ 2 Aquatic Frogs: $39.95

Frog-O-Sphere Ecosystem w/ 2 Aquatic Frogs: $39.95

“It’s alive!  A self-contained, self-cleaning ecosystem w/ 2 mini frogs.”  This bad boy is the hot item at Brookstone for the holidays.  We spent about 15 minutes looking at the frogs in the store and got a big kick out of them.  It’s a great idea for a totally random gift – maybe even a Yankee Swap party.

Hanukkah is halfway over and Christmas will be here before we know it.  There isn’t any time to waste.  So, stop by Brookstone ASAP to pick up a few impersonal but useful holiday gifts that are sure to be a hit!  :)

xx, L

BrooksLogo_blue

Brookstone – Phipps Mall
404.262.1930
www.brookstone.com

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A colleague and I treated ourselves to a little slice of heaven the other day: manis + pedis @ The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta.  AMAZING!  It was amazing.  I was not at all surprised that Atlanta Magazine recently rated it the city’s best luxury spa.

The Spa is incredibly luxurious and feels a bit European.  It is not cheap, either, as they use some of the finest spa products available by names like Arcona, Karita, Bulgari, Kai and Sodashi.  They will even let you tailor spa services to your specific needs.  (Love ordering “off the menu!”)  However, I might feel a little ridiculous booking a 60-minute appointment for someone to just rub my feet, although that = my heaven…

The Spa, itself, is relatively small in size, but that makes it feel more intimate - not like you are at a factory.  And, it’s open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  and you only need to give them an hour or so notice for most services.  How nice - a spa that works around your schedule!

Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta Spa
The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta

Here’s the Q+DD on The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta:

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta reflects the ultimate in luxury and serenity.  The tranquil setting allows your stresses to melt away and promises to replenish your total being. Designed for peace and privacy, the facility’s ten treatment rooms, including the nail suite, are soundproofed for a secluded retreat.  The colour palette throughout the Spa, including the couples suite, aesthetics room and nail suite, mirrors nature’s calming influence. Materials reflect a dedication to beauty and excellence.

Services are performed by highly trained, intuitive staff who bring you to a place of complete relaxation and renewal.  Indulge your senses.  Whatever spa services you choose, the experience will be beyond compare. Complimentary fresh fruit and juice are available in the quiet room where guests unwind before and after treatments.  Guests can also enjoy a light spa lunch while sunbathing just steps away on the sun terrace.

A list of spa services + prices can be found here:
http://www.fourseasons.com/atlanta/spa.html#image-atlanta-hotel-ATL_083

Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta Spa

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta

The nail technicians used the most incredible polish on our fingers and toesies made by SPARITUAL.  I loved it so much – I couldn’t leave without a bottle of my own.  SPARITUAL is a vegan nail lacquer free of DBP, formaldehyde and toluene.  They have about 80 different colors and are only sold at the Four Seasons and Callaway Gardens in and around Atlanta.  The color I used and purchased was “Flower Child” shimmer – it’s a perfect purple-based color for winter. 

Find out more about SPARITUAL here:
http://www.sparitual.com/nail_lacquers/

earth-friendly nail polish

earth-friendly nail polish

Fight the winter blues by treating yourself to a little spa splurge at The Spa at Four Seasons Atlanta.  And, make sure to ask for SPARITUAL nail polish!  It’s just divine, dah-ling.  :)

xx, L

Logo_F_1

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
75 Fourteenth Street
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.253.3848
www.fourseasons.com

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