Beauty: Marc Us!

Guest Beauty Blogger: Baubi J. Huff

Beauty

School has started which gives us an excuse to revamp our look for fall.

Beauty 101: Marc Jacobs is at the head of the class!

(Marc Jacobs launches his long-awaited beauty line at Sephora on August 9) 

The packages are sleek, the products beautifully colorful, and the whopping 122 pieces of innovative fun break down into four groups: 

• Smart Complexion (gel foundations, powders and pen concealers)
• Blacquer Eyes (gel waterproof eyeliner)
• Eye-conic Palettes (eyeshadows) and 
• Color-full Makeup (gel lip gloss, gel lip sticks, blush and nail polish)

I had serious attention issues looking over the entire collection, but the nail polishes are what grabbed me! 

The bottles are very Marc (yes, we are now on a first name basis): fashion forward, multi facetted, rich in color & high-end looking.

I'm enamored with all 24 polishes!  There's “Sally” my green goddess (almost black until the light hits and the emerald frost gleams!) and “Petra” a raisin color infused with a micro silver glitter. Seriously, these polishes will have you at first coat! (Extremely pigmented, go on smoothly, no streaking, fast drying & a high lacquered finish.) 

Sally and Petra are coming home with me I proclaimed! But, I needed something to compliment them. My eyes immediately found eyeliners and eye shadows that matched these beautiful polishes. (Usually, I don’t keep my eyes and nails in conjunction with each other but I think thats the way Marc intended it to be.) 
I picked up Intro(vert) Highliner, which compliments Sally (the green goddess) it glided on my hand smoothly and evenly, thanks to the gel qualities. I also tried Ro(Cocoa) a beautiful brown.

I thought to my self, “Done and done” its hard to find a great eyeliner that doesn’t smudge, goes on smoothly & effortlessly and did I mention waterproof. 

Marc Jacobs has done it again. 

The new look for fall: keep your nails and eyes in harmony with each other. Bright and Sassy, Classic and Nude, Dark and Vamp.  
What's your pleasure?

Thanks to Marc I feel like I'll be at the head of my class with my new, refreshed, fall look. 

People, there is something for everyone (including men!).

Who are you going to be this fall?

“I like the transformative qualities of fashion and fashion to me is not just clothing, it’s handbags, it’s shoes, it’s clothes, it’s hair, it’s makeup, it’s fragrance, it’s the whole ritual of making those choices, of enjoying the ritual, of making the choices that will tell the world who you want to be that day.” Marc Jacobs

Baubi J. Huff is a lover of high-fasion, self-proclaimed product junkie, and jewelry designer in San Diego, California. 

Product Spotlight: Hermes

Don't have a horse or saddle?

We fancy these as accent tables anyway.  

Happy Friday Everyone.
XO,
G3QDesigns

Book Review: Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling

Literature
Guest Blogger: Tayler Morrissey

Yes. 

I know what you are thinking, and the answer is yes, this is the same J.K. Rowling that wrote the fabulous Harry Potter books. And yes, I will fully disclose my love and admiration for this young adult literature.  I love her magical series so much that I admit I was a tad reluctant to even begin A Casual Vacancy, Rowling's first foray into adult fiction. I was afraid that if the book was horrible with all its non-magical mundane it would somehow ruin Harry Potter for me as well.

An irrational fear? Yes. And, thankfully, also completely unfounded.

The Casual Vacancy is a wonder in its own right. But it is not Harry Potter. It is not even in the same galaxy as Harry Potter. And that is a good thing, because the little town of Pagford has enough problems of its own.

Review:

The first thing that happens is Councilman Barry Fairbrother dies.

It happens as suddenly and as simply as that, but the repercussions echo relentlessly through the sleepy town. Fairbrother's newly empty seat on the Pagford Parish Council exposes dark and deep-seated rifts within the small community, and the charming countryside houses with sweet names like "Ambleside" and "Hilltop House" seem to transform overnight into dens of secrecy and duplicity.

Rowling proves herself again an able storyteller. She introduces us to a vast array of characters, all of whom are wonderfully human: complex, motivated, flawed. The townspeople of Pagford struggle with political scandal, marital infidelity, substance abuse, addiction, poverty, and a whole spectrum of emotional and physical abuse. The Casual Vacancy meditates on the ties that bind us together, how we create and navigate our social relationships as families, coworkers, school mates, communities, political bodies, and neighbors. That is not to say, however, that this is a heartwarming tale. Yes, some relationships are based on love of some kind and degree, but many more are the uncomfortable product of obligation, old habit, or exploitation. While I found this novel to be engrossing and realistic, some of the darker scenes were mildly disturbing and it seemed almost as if Rowling were overreaching a bit on the "adult" factor.

Bookended by death, Rowling's newest novel is an interesting exploration of how we both build up and destroy meaning in our own lives. Through a structure of interwoven stories, we see how connected our human lives really are, especially when we remember that all the actions in the story are simply the great ripple effects of a whole community learning to cope with the aftermath of just one man's death. 

The Bottom Line: While I enjoyed The Casual Vacancy's vivid characters and gritty story line, those looking for a light read or a restored faith in humanity should look elsewhere.

Tayler Morrissey received her degree in English from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Lusting: Lighting

Pretty much lusting over this lighting, etc.  shop.  Everything is handcrafted, everything is packed with style and taste.  

Next interior project?

I love each piece, below are some of my favorites!

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

~ Brooke & Laura

Topanga Flea For Me

The Topanga Vintage Market has become one of my favorite flea markets.  It's close, not too big and it has some 

fantastic vendors.  

Here are a few pictures from the day.

Happy Sunday everyone. 

(Photos of our new finds from Topanga will be up tomorrow!)

We find our children more goodies than they need.  These dinos were awesome and I scored my daughter some amazing wooden dolls with hand-made outfits.

These nautical chairs made the cut.  Fantastic for anyone's beach house!

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Chinoiserie Baby Shower: The Pro' s Pictures

A dear friend of ours is also an amazing photographer.  She managed to take a few photos of the shower.  I didn't ask her to take photos because I just wanted her to enjoy the shower but man am I kicking myself now!!!!!  These turned out so great that I couldn't even include them with the photos I took!

Photos courtesy of Wild{Whim} Photography!

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Chinoiserie - Blue Willow Baby Shower

Several months ago I was given the amazing news that Brooke, my (much) better half was expecting. 

I could not have been more excited for her and for me (I have a little baby-loving issue)!

So first comes ultrasound, then comes shower!

We actually didn't think much about themes or colors. 

We both love all of our Blue Willow pottery and china and chinoiserie in general.  We decided to accent with a few pieces of personality-packed brass items and a stunning baby shower was born.

Here is the Chinoiserie - Blue Willow Baby shower.

Hands down my favorite.  

(When will I learn to take better photos~!)

The Entry:

Guested walked through the doors of the Health and Longevity Institute at the FourSeasons Westlake Village into a tiny piece of peony-laden serenity...

(I have a new photo ap on my phone and every picture I 

took with it was out of focus!)

Venetian mirrored vanity tray, blue & white porcelain serving bowl and large vase all G3QDesigns.

The Mantle!

We found this amazing pink pagoda fabric and the rest was history!

Generally we use some text on the banners we make for parties. But this time we thought we would keep it plain and it worked out perfectly!

Awe!!! Q's Mama ~~~ Look at those legs! Look at that bump!   

Look at those Louboutins!  

To change the business name or not?  Hmmm, what do you guys think?  I dream of having another one and us changing the name to G3Q+2.....(BTW, I love this picture because, although I look super tired, I couldn't be happier or more honored than to shower Brooke with all the love (and flowers!) she deserves.)

White pottery mine.

Brass Foo Dog bookends G3QDesigns.

The tables.  

We dressed the two 14' tables with handmade pink pagoda table runners, blue & white vessels of varying sizes, shiny brass candlesticks, white porcelain pomegranates and monkeys and oodles and oodles of peonies!

Each guest was sent home with one of these white orchids and a yummy pagoda-adorned sugar cookie!

The Activities:

We played a few games and also had a little station set up for guests to be creative.  We set out pieces of white linen and fabric markers and asked that the guests write a note for Brooke or her soon-to-be baby GIRL!!!  The linen will be ironed onto bibs, sleepsacks, blankets and burp cloths to give the mommy some extra love!

Gifts!

Amazing punch bowl (G3QDesigns) filled with apples picked up 

on all the colors of the room!

The Grub!

I think it is funny that no one got pictures of all the amazing deserts!  Ha.....

The comings and goings:

Ok, this is me going in to set up!

Ha! 

And who do you think helped clean up?  Brooke couldn't resist!  We both agreed it was strange setting up a party without the other!!  Although this party exceeded my expectations, I think I'll stick to working with my partner-in-crime!

Until next time?

XO,

Laura