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Fragrance Review: Christina Aguilera Inspire

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:22 PDT

This isn't Christina Aguilera's first venture into the fragrance world. It isn't even her second. Aside from dabbling in the European fragrance market for the past several years, her fruity, vanilla-esque perfume aptly named, Christina Aguilera made its stateside debut last fall.

Created to inspire you to take a stance and be self-confident, Christina's newest addition - Inspire - celebrates femininity and encourages you to release your sexy side from within. Never been one to shy away from bold, adventuresome looks herself, this new fragrance is surprisingly quite mellow.

Overall, Inspire is pleasant, pretty, and classic. A fairly standard floral blend of rose and freesia provides dainty characteristics, while notes of mango and citrus give just the slightest whisper of sweetness. Sandalwood and musky notes round it out for softened edge.

The bottle and packaging is rather cool, too - influenced by the classic and modern, just like Christina herself. If you like light floral scents without too much complexity, this one's for you. Inspire is definitely wearable - just not all that distinctive.

Stealing Tips From the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Star Lounge

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:00:34 PST

Inspired by Pucci's geometric patterns and Chanel's florals, interior designer Wesley Cadle returns for a second time to create another memorable lounge for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Custom details include hand-paint fabrics commissioned by artists from Porter Teleo Studio that cover the upholstery, walls, and ceiling. The result is a watercolor wonderland that mimics the beauty of a delicate silk scarf. Click through the gallery for tips on how to incorporate modern art techniques with hints of feminine romance to re-create the feel of Cadle's fashionable Spring enclave.

A Love Advice Columnist Has a Major Crush (on Her Home!)

Elka Karl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:07:16 PST

Advice columnists are used to answering questions - though usually not about themselves. Today, love advice columnist Wendy Atterberry of Dear Wendy is revealing her crushes and love for all things home-related. Wendy lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, Drew, their baby boy, Jackson, and their two cats, Simone and Miles (who make a cameo in the photos here). Keep reading to see what Wendy has to say about why she's majorly crushing on her home.

What she most loves about her home:

It's a tie for my favorite spot in my home between my bedroom (and specifically, my bed), and my "china cabinet" wall. My husband, Drew, and I painted all the walls in our place, inspired by the colors of the beach, so I love the shades of green in both spots. We have a king-size bed, which feels like a luxury, and I love Sunday mornings when all five of us - Drew, our new baby Jackson, our two cats, Miles and Simone, and I - all pile in the bed and read books, nap, and talk. Drew and I love to travel, so above our bed we framed postcards of all the places we've traveled together in the nearly six years we've known one another. The china cabinet in my other favorite spot of the apartment belonged to my great-great-grandparents and I just love it. It's filled with lots of glassware for entertaining, which is something we enjoy doing. Everything else in that spot is a second-hand buy, found at garage sales or thrift stores, with the exception of the gray wool blanket on the bench, which I found somewhere online.

What others love most about her home:

Probably our "bar," which is usually pretty well-stocked thanks to generous friends who bring bottles of stuff whenever we have get-togethers. People also comment that our place is "cozy," which could also be a euphemism for "small," but here in New York where most places are tiny, I like to think it's a genuine compliment.

What she'd love to add to her home:

Luckily, we already have most everything I'd want in a home - a walk-in closet, a big bathtub, a dishwasher, central air, and a washer and dryer. We even have a large balcony, which is pretty awesome in the warmer seasons. But if I could wave a magic wand and make this truly my dream home, I'd add one more bedroom (and maybe an elevator!); our second bedroom - now our baby's room - is awfully small and one day we'll outgrow this place, which will be sad. More realistically, I'd love to change the light fixture in the dining area, which is pretty ugly. We're renters, so it doesn't make sense to put any more money into the place, but if we owned, that would be the first - and maybe only thing - I'd change. Oh, and more original artwork. Oh, and a hammock! If only money were no object . . .

Need love advice? Head over to Dear Wendy for articles, advice, and much more!

Link Time: Paisley's on Trend and These Tips Will Make Your Bedroom Sexy

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:00:06 PST

10 tips for the sexiest bedroom ever. - Apartment Therapy
Are you sleeping on the right mattress? - Stylelist Home
Tour a castle . . . in Austin, TX! - Houzz
Paisley is trending. - Elle Decor
You have a Roomba, do you want a Scooba? - Shelterrific
Do you like this tree-inspired table? - Craft
Which shade of green is your decorating favorite? - House Beautiful

A Modern Romance: Reinterpreting the Color Red

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:02:57 PST

I have to admit that red isn't a color I usually gravitate toward when it comes to decorating, unless I'm using it in small doses. Yet after sifting through pages of crimson-colored interiors, I'm realizing how surprisingly versatile the color can be. Depending on the shade of red, the colors it is layered with, and the style of the room, the color can shift from classic and regal to subdued and almost calming. So while we celebrate the day of love, take a tour to see if your perception of this passionate color changes with each room it touches.

Dare to Decorate With Hot Pink!

Elka Karl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:52 PST

There's nothing subtle about hot pink - it's a bold, brash, beautiful color. I know that adding this shade to your home may take a little convincing, so I've rounded up some great examples of how you can add it in large and small doses to your home. Be it the bedroom, bathroom, living room, or kitchen, there's room for hot pink in any room in your home.

Get Style Inspiration From Dakota Fanning and Olivia Palermo in the Front Row

FabSugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:25:04 PST

Sometimes, it's not just the runways that inspire us - it's the fashion in the front row. Our favorite celebs step out in droves for New York Fashion Week, and half the fun is seeing how they all style up their own looks. From Alexa Chung to Olivia Palermo and Dakota Fanning, we're turning to the front row to draw a little outfit inspiration. Get a glimpse of all their Fashion Week-ready style right here.

I Love Your ShopStyle: Schoolgirl Lace

FabSugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:31:23 PST

With only a few days left of New York Fashion Week to style for, ShopStylist pnklmnade whipped up a chic, lace-infused outfit that looks comfortable to boot. The Victorian-inspired Moschino dress gets a polished finish thanks to a super structured navy blazer and an embellished pair of slingback pumps. Add length with a long jet-beaded necklace, add dynamic with a pair of thick-framed schoolgirl glasses, and you're ready for a day at Lincoln Center.

Don't forget to style up your own Fashion Week-worthy ensemble - just submit here and include "Fashion Week" in the title. We may just feature you on FabSugar!

Blazers by Topshop
Evening Shoes by Townsend

Moschino Lace and silk-crepe dress - $1,495.00	Ponte Boyfriend Blazer - $80.00
Lulu Townsend Valissa Pump - New Navy - $49.95	Lulu Townsend Valissa Pump - New Navy - $49.95
Dillard ́s Sensitive Skin Long Jet-Beaded Station Necklace - $38.00	Elizabeth and James Chrystie - $215.00

Glee-ful Highlights From Episode "Heart"

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:21 PST

It's Valentine's Day at McKinley, and everyone gets in on the action in this week's episode of Glee. For the lesson, Mr. Schuester wants everyone to choose a great love song to perform, which means a lot of the action takes place in the relationship department. Finn and Rachel try to get everyone excited about their upcoming nuptials; Brittany and Santana deal with scrutiny of the nature of their relationship, and Mercedes and Sam may love each other, but they just can't seem to get it together.

At first, I was pretty excited that "Heart" was going to be an episode full of musical numbers, but it feels a little plot driven for my taste. Regardless, there's a lot happened this week, so get in on all details after the jump.

Home Improvement: Why Don't Men Notice Decorating Changes?

Stylelist Home — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:00:58 PST

I'm happy to present a post from Stylelist Home!

Turns out there's a slight difference when it comes to how women and men approach home improvements and decorating at home. According to a recent study by retailer TK Maxx - not to be confused with TJ Maxx - a poll of 2,000 women reported that men don't notice the decorating changes they make to the household more than 50 percent of the time. Worse yet, two-thirds of the women also said that they had to literally let their partners know what the actual changes in the home were.

While it may be said that this depends on the scale of decorating change that has been made, it appears that this is besides the point. The same group of women claim to have done projects as big as "painted a room and got no reaction from their husband at all" to switching out "curtains to wallpaper and even moved furniture without their partner noticing." On the contrary, mother-in-laws and friends are quick to pick up on home additions such as new cushions and color palettes.

We can definitely understand the argument posed by this study. But while it's often suggested that men are less likely to turn their attention to small details in the home as women do, is it really an indication that they don't care about their domestic environment? We're curious to know what you think. Let us know in comments below.

To read the full article, click here.

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