Let's Eat Lots of Lobster

I was born in Maine. The best thing about having family on the East Coast was pretty much their ability to bring tasty morsels (aka lobster) to California during each and every visit. Since 9/11 bringing live lobster has become super expensive because they require you to check them (you used to be able to consider them carry on) on top of the already pricey 15/lb.

Living in the Bay Area I generally have access to exceptional foods of all kind. I had never looked for lobster here before just because I always considered the lobster flown from Maine to be the best (color me spoiled rotten right?). Someone recently reminded me how abundant live seafood is at asian markets  for relatively low prices, so I walked into one this Sunday morning hoping to find lobster for Father's day at a price that would not break the bank entirely.

I must have been in luck because I found some down the street from my house for 7.99/lb (a steal for anyone who knows lobster prices), and bought two at roughly $35 per lobster (It was for my dad so I can justify the total splurge).

At four and a quarter pounds per lobster I did not know what I was getting myself into. Typically the best lobsters are no more than 2lbs. These were still pretty tasty but the shells were nearly impossible to break open (We had to use hammers to crack the suckers open!) because they were so big.

It was fun and worth it considering the last time I'd had live lobster was more than 4 years ago, and my dad seemed truly happy to have been able to eat some. (I felt lucky too, and shared with my kid sister because seriously they were too huge not to share!) I don't know when the next time I will be able to spend $80 on lobsters, but I'm glad I did because my dad is certainly worth it after everything he has done for me in my 24 years of life.

xoxo

Siobhain 

Scent Style

Mermaid / Bobbi Brown Beach /  Benefit's Maybe Baby / Amazing Grace

Am I the only one who loves to have multiple scents? For years and years I had been wearing Philosophy's Amazing Grace, and still do, but as I've gotten older I feel like I have learned that having fragrances for seasonal/and or special occasions is also a must.

Personally I don't own anything super strong, and these four scents probably have a lot in common (I think at least 3 have bergamot), but here's why I love them:

Mermaid - It's pretty much just as you would expect. Feminine, Ethereal and very floral from the orange blossoms.

Bobbi Brown Beach - Beach screams nostalgia. It's one of my very favorite fragrances because it is so tied to my childhood memories of tropical vacations with the family and I love wearing this scent and have to force myself to switch it up once the warm weather rolls around and it becomes appropriate to wear again. (I do wear it in the winter though because I live in California.. and because it smells great). This one is so very sultry and smells like Jasmine, a sea breeze, and sun tan lotion (but I promise not in a bad way, unless that is, you don't like the smell of sun tan lotion!)

Maybe Baby - I keep this one for date night. It is so flirtatious and it is pretty girly without being too sickly sweet. I have to commend Benefit for the name because it really does smell like the name if that's possible.

And finally, my favorite and staple - Amazing Grace - If you haven't already checked out Amazing Grace I highly recommend it as a daily perfume. It is classy and light enough to wear at work, but it is also so memorable that your significant other, family, and close friends will remember it on you in a really positive way. I love when smells become nostalgic for people.

Do you have a signature scent? 

Cheers!

Siobhain

My Favorite Shirt (ever)

I feel genuinely lucky to be living in the Bay Area about 98% of the time. I have access to super organic, locally grown produce, the beach when I want, the mountains when I want, a big city when I want.

But one of the things that I definitely do not take for granted are all the big name stores and boutiques that are in a 10 minute driving radius.

My favorite store on the planet is Aritzia (my boyfriend lovingly refers to the store as "Criteria" because from far away the A looks like a C in their font). There is nothing in that store I don't like but one of my favorite items that they make in a spectrum of colors is their TNA Pomona T-Shirt ($35). 

I have varieties of the shirts in a broad range of colors and filter through them weekly and even nightly because I never want to take them off. They are light enough to wear all summer, but warm enough to wear all winter.

If you order any, I promise you won't regret it.  It is a staple in my closet and I don't know if my wardrobe would function without it.

What's a staple in your closet? 

best, 

Siobhain

Product of the week: WEN (Just try it already!)

I KNOW I KNOW. I am SO late to the game with this one. I recently was browsing through my local Sephora and decided to snag a sample of the Wen hair cleansing system. Despite my prior skepticism (infomercial products to me always seem too good to be true!) this stuff works!

Wen is a total game changer. 

I feel like I am betraying Moroccan Oil (A hair care line I've been seriously loyal to) just by this little sample I got. I am floored.

Not only is my softer, it's not frizzy at all and totally more manageable. To give you an idea about my hair it is very fine and has been bleached at the ends 3-4 times over the last year because I keep covering & then redoing the ombré which is seriously bad for hair and left me with some severe split ends and dryness. Wen is a miracle worker. It has completely restored the luster of my hair and what split ends I have are hardly noticeable after 1 use.

I wasn't expecting miracles here, but I got them. If you haven't tried Wen, and are skeptical like I was, go to your nearest Sephora and ask for a sample, it's free and worth it if you've been searching for your hair care soulmate.

Now, I don't think I'm converting permanently (I just love Moroccan Oil too much) but  I'm definitely mixing this stuff into my routine somewhere because, like, my hair looks totally awesome you guys! I'll try to add a picture when I can of a before and after, but for now, you'll just have to take my word for the amazingness.

**(Wen is a "cleansing conditioner" which basically means you forgo your normal shampoo-conditioner routine for this "all in one" style product-- it claims to reduce frizziness and boost volume)

Gift Guide: Valentine's for your guy

Sometimes coming up with gift ideas for your man can be hard, and for those procrastinators (like me) last minute gift items are even more difficult. So I've compiled a last minute gift guide for your guy. 

1. These Hershel Supply backpacks also make a great gift for the guy on the go. For school, road trips, or any outdoor adventure these cool packs look great and have plenty of space for all his loot. 

2. I recently stumbled upon these neat printed tee's that showcase various out of print covers of fiction. These are neat and despite being a shirt, are still super thoughtful if you chose a favorite title of his. 

3. Another thoughtful gift is A copy of a movie you went to see and liked when you first started dating. (In my case Where the Wild Things are was our first date!)

4. If he's a beer geek, get him a selection of a few bottles of different craft brews as well as a subscription to a magazine all about the stuff like Beer Advocate  or Draft Magazine 

5. Sentimental and personalized trinkets like this handmade copper money clip. I love this because it's an thoughtful alternative to a bulky wallet.

6. Watches are nice gifts for your guy, but more often than not, they come with hefty price tags and the potential for failure as a gift. This Nixon Time Teller however, is an alternative that is stylish (28 colors!), durable, and won't break the bank (75$). 

Argan Oil

Moroccan oil is all the rage right now, (and often referred to as liquid gold) and I was a bit hesitant to buy any products claiming the benefits of the stuff until I found out more. After a lot of research (aka Googling), and suggestions from friends I finally decided to purchase 100% pure Argan oil by Acure Organics ($14.99).

There are a couple of reasons why I really jumped at this option. First, this brand is pure and organic; Secondly the price was right. So far this particular product has been all it claims to be: 5 products in 1. 

I've used it directly on my skin as a nightly moisturizer, and surprisingly it cleared the acne I had. I have added a drop to bottles of conditioner and it has GREATLY reduced the frizziness of my hair. I was extremely skeptical about putting OIL on my face but I gave it a shot and don't regret it even a little. On nights I have forgotten to use it my skin is tight and dull without it, and on mornings I wake up after using it my skin is supple and dewy.

I can't wait to buy more and though the bottle is teeny tiny, a little bit goes a long way. One small drop is all I need for my nightly routine and I'm set.

What products have surprised you lately?

xo 

Siobhan