Kaela Hill

Project 365: Nov. 26 - Dec. 11

FL visits, jager bombs with BR, packing up, moving in, gas stove cookin, babysitting, beers with eyes, my new super red couch, Genius Bar saves the day, Christmas partying, the smell of pine fills the streets…getting my ducks in a row.

If I had kids, you can bet they’d be wearing All Saints.

My horse…a pretty boy he is.

(Taken by a friend).

Project 365: Nov. 17 - 25

Hell Yes swapped out for Rose II at the New Museum (before and after).
e.vil storefront.
Top pick for lunch takeout: Angelika Kitchen - the daily specials never disappoint.
Sneakers tied to platforms. Hot.
Painted ads - doing it old school.
The answer to limited hair washing.
This makes me smile.
Florasian roll: tempora avocado, mango, tofu cream cheese + coconut flakes!
I was the Thanksgiving veggie chef.

Wandered into ABC Home today in the flatiron district for the first time - hands down, one of the most beautiful stores I’ve ever been in. Pure eye candy.

Filled with the most unique collection of things - an elaborate selection of chandeliers, lanterns, exotic jewelry, Christmas ornaments, modern furniture, Tibetan trinkets, vintage clothing, eco-friendly books and some of the fanciest organic beauty products I’ve ever laid eyes on. Even had a peek at ABC Kitchen - a restaurant people rave about. Who knew it was in a furniture store?

If you’re in town, it’s definitely worth a visit…you may even see Lady Gaga.

red is love.

Project 365: Nov. 11 - 16, 2010

Picking up some sketching tools and swooning over colorful art supplies.
Barcade: an interesting arcade/bar combo…but I will remember it for the many wads of toilet paper stuck to the ceiling and the stale potato chips.
Sand art in Washington Square Park.
The sun on the Hudson while out for a run.
My very first visit to the laundry mat. Conclusion? Seeing as I needed $15 in change, I think I’ll stick to dropping my laundry off for $1/lb.
Fall leaves on a dreary day.

Project 365: Nov. 2 - Nov. 10, 2010 

Fresh cranberry cooking - next time, must add sugar!
Beers with the lovely Mara + Chris
My go-to dumpling spot: The Dumpling Man
Dessert crepes + sangria @ the Crooked Tree
Venturing out to Bushwick…and thinking I’ll be ok if I never go back
Hello winter. Didn’t expect to see you so early
Funny how comforting places become creepy + scary when you’re alone late at night
Vegan pizza from Viva Herbal…$4. Deal!
Half of my new kitchen. The day I put my deposit down on this baby.

Project 365: Oct. 17 - Nov. 1

Woah…major blog neglect. I’ll be better once my life calms down.

In a nutshell: can’t get enough of red lipstick and faux fur scarfs, obsessing over vegan desserts (I can find them everywhere in this city!), diggin the new job and spending my days in the East Village, a taste of CMJ, practically pulling my hair out trying to find an apartment (I have been on craigslist for a disturbing amount of hours), last minute Halloween…a black wig goes a long way…

Project 365: Oct. 13-16, 2010

• Just remember, I only do sight seeing tours after 11pm.
• My first week at clark|mcdowall…I am happy about this decision :)
• My sleep pattern has been very irregular…that eye mask is a blessing.
• Possibly the worst 365 pic so far? At least I’m being real…riding the train back from Ft. Greene.

MAKING THE SWITCH TO NATURAL COSMETICS

If you’ve been reading my blog for the past month, you might have noticed my recent obsession with natural cosmetics. Tis true, the FDA does not have enough power to regulate the cosmetics industry…and many believe that the thousands of toxin concoctions and their false promises are actually making us look worse. Not to mention that many of the ingredients that frequent our cosmetic labels are linked to cancer (yep…in your shampoos, toothpaste, face wash, lipstick, mascara, moisturizers, sunscreens…everything!). If you do your research, you’ll realize how sketchy the laws are.

After reading No More Dirty Looks, I decided I would try to wean myself off of my favorite beauty brands in search of natural alternatives. The book gives you some great product reviews and recommendations…so I was curious, will I truly look and feel better? I’ve been slowly transitioning over the past month and wanted to share some of the products that are rocking my world right now.

1. Laura Mercier’s Mineral Powder Finding a good natural foundation is important because it sits on your face all day…and who wants toxic chemicals on their face all day? Good coverage and made of only 4 natural ingredients - I wear it everyday.
2. RMS Lip Shine RMS Beauty is one of the most pure, truly organic makeup lines available. I am addicted to lip gloss, which makes this product a must for me. I have it in “bloom” – a light pink.
3. RMS “Un”Cover Up I love this because it actually keeps your skin moisturized instead of just covering up the flaws. I am prone to dark under-eye circles, and I wear this stuff everyday.
4. RMS Cream Eye Shadow Yet another product that doubles as a moisturizer. Colors definitely appear lighter on your skin than in the jar. I have it in “Magnetic.” My only complaint is that it tends to crease, as most cream shadows do. No worries though, just blend it back in with your finger.
5. Josie Maran Lipstick My lips are really sensitive, and they chap all the time. Josie’s lipstick line has a Argan oil base, and I’m hoping that it will keep them moisturized (…a new buy, but it did the trick today). Nice color selection too! Her products are sold in Sephora.
6. Josie Maran Mascara A little warning: not all of Josie’s products are made with 100% natural or organic ingredients, but they are mostly respectable. I’m giving in a little because I love a great mascara, and this one is pretty fantastic.
7. Evan Healy Blue Lavender Cleansing Milk My daily face wash. One thing to remember: stay away from “foaming” face washes in general…they’ve got some nasty chemicals in them. This one is silky smooth, all-natural and removes my makeup better than my previous toxin-packed cleansers. It does dry my face out a little…but I’ve got some kick butt moisturizers to fix that.
8. Evan Healy Hydrosol I use the Rose Geranium, which comes from a few organic farms in Washington state. It is made of 100% Rose Geranium Hydrosol (a type of distillation of essential oils). Hydrosols are said to be some of nature’s best antioxidants, promoting cell repair and restoring PH balance. A nice refreshing spray for your face.
9. Evan Healy Green Tea Clay Two ingredients: green tea + clay. I use it at least once a week – it’s good for drawing dirt from your pores to the surface and absorbing excess oil. It has no preservatives; therefore it comes in powder form…just add water and smooth it on your face. Easy peasy.
10. John Masters Organics Zinc & Sage Shampoo with Conditioner I have vowed to keep hair washing to a minimum because most shampoos are horrible for your locks, but John Masters has a good line of shampoos without harsh chemicals. Be warned ladies, these take some getting used to. They don’t lather much, and your hair won’t feel as silky when you rinse. Rest assured, it’s way better for your hair.
11. Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Some people swear by this, and I think it’s about to become my new can’t-live-without product. I no longer use face lotions and have made a complete switch to natural oils. For some girls, this is the hardest fact to digest…natural oils are good for your face and don’t cause breakouts! I tried it, and I’m sold. This is a little pricey, but I caved in this week and bought it.
12. Organic Coconut Oil Can’t get much more natural than this – I use it as a skin lotion replacement. Don’t be alarmed when you realize that it’s a solid in the jar…all you have to do is scoop it out and rub it between your hands – turns to instant oil. Added benefit: you smell like a pina colada :) You can also use it on your hair to combat dry ends and scalp.
13. Jojoba Oil I’ve been using this for the past month as a face moisturizer. It’s a pretty affordable alternative to Argan oil - I bought a small bottle at Whole Foods for $4.99. Also really good to rub on your cuticles.
14. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap The only soap I use…peppermint and lavender are divine. They’re even making a movie out of crazy Dr. Bronner and his story.

Went to Oktoberfest on Governors Island last weekend.

A word of advice: get all the beer you are planning to drink at once. The beer line is over an hour long #poorlyorganized.