Coquette

Cozy Holiday

It was a cozy Christmas holiday for us. I got stuck with the flu the weekend before Christmas and also tweaked my neck which is why I haven't been online. It's been a forced way for me to stay offline and finally relax. Before I got sick, I did get a chance to celebrate my birthday in style at the French Laundry. Dinner there was amazing. We also stopped at Buchon Bakery beforehand to pick up some delicious treats. This gingerbread Eiffel Tower there caught my eye.

My husband and daughter are on vacation until January 7th. Until then, I will be posting here and there but won't be back on my daily schedule until that day. Wishing everyone the best vacation and a Happy New Year!

Here are more pictures from my Instagram @coquettenatalie from the holidays:

My birthday dinner at The French Laundry!

My birthday gift to myself was this La Mer wrap around watch that I purchased at Azalea in SF.

I had a wonderful afternoon teaching Chloe how to sew. She sewed on buttons and learned how to stitch a line.

Lulu side by side with stuffed Boo (a gift Chloe got for her birthday).

eBay Now - Have an eBay Valet Shop & Deliver your Holiday Gifts within an Hour in SF & NYC

Do you want to know what I really hate doing? Shopping in physical stores during the holidays, especially as the days get closer to Christmas. The parking, the crowds, searching through all the goods, the long lines, you name it.

For those of us lucky enough in to live in San Francisco and New York City, you can now shop from your mobile phone and have an eBay valet shop for you and deliver the presents to your door within an hour with the eBay Now app. Deliveries are free from now until December 22nd. What's extra special is that as a first time user I got $20 off my first purchase!

You can also browse through your favorite shops such as Macy's, Target, Toys 'R' Us, Best Buy and more.
I had already spent the morning searching City Target in SF for the ponies my daughter wanted. Today was the only day I could get the last of these gifts because she would be out of school tomorrow. So, instead of having to run out to Target in Daly City to find the EXACT My Little Pony sets I needed, I was able to finally catch up on emails and eat my lunch calmly. It was so easy to shop too! I just used the search field and typed in "My Little Pony" and results would pop up, just like shopping online.

I picked the two sets I needed. Steve called me right away after the order went through to confirm what I wanted and he was off! I then received a call that my items were a few dollars more than in the app and if I still wanted to purchase it. I said "yes" so he told me he would be back to deliver me the goods. He called me upon arrival and the products he gave me were the right ones. I only had to give him my credit card for him to complete the transaction which was done easily by his iPhone. I could also choose to give Steve a tip or not. I did give him a tip because through all the chaos of the last few days, he was a godsend. Thank you Steve!

All in all, spending around $15 total for the gifts I needed while also having a little bit of me time was wonderful and so worth it. This is a Christmas miracle!

eBay Now is a free app available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Download it from the Apple App Store on your device. All items come with limited-edition gift wrap designed by Jonathan Adler (pictured at top).

Winter Beauty Finds with Glam Beauty Board

I'm so excited to be a part of the exclusive Glam Beauty Board. I received a special box filled with skincare, hair and cosmetics that will keep my skin looking great and have me party perfect for the holidays. Speaking of party perfect, I can't get over how much I love this little Too Faced Glamour to Go Palette ($22). I have never seen such a small palette filled with such an array of colors. There are eight eye shadows with muted colors perfect for day as well as sparkly ones for nights out. You can also slide out the bottom of the palette to reveal a blush, bronzer and lip gloss. You can't tell from the photo but the palette is really compact and can fit in the palm of your hand. It's the perfect size to keep in your makeup bag as well as take on your travels.

I love these China Glaze Holiday Nail Polishes ($7 each). Pizzazz is like a clear nail polish with colorful glitter. It's perfect to layer over a solid base color (such as the red hued "With Love" also pictured here) or to just wear on your own. I love the extra sparkle it gives my hands. One tip: When removing the glitter polish, make sure you do it over the sink or a paper towel so the glitter pieces don't fall all over your floor.

Almay has some really great makeup. I love the Almay Intense I-Color Liquid Shadow Color Primer ($7). It's the perfect shadow you can easily apply with it's own applicator. For a quick makeup application, the liquid shadow is great to wear alone. You can also wear it as a primer too. I like to wear it with the Almay Intense I-Color Bold Nude Shadow ($5) that are just great for daily wear. I love that the eye shadow compact is in the shape of an eye so you know just how to layer on your color. For makeup, the light mouse texture to the Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup ($9.99) is divine. It is so light that it blends into your skin in an almost powder-like fashion. I am not a foundation person but this is something I can definitely use. I like how it evens out my skin tone.

If you think you have seen it all in mascara, you haven't tried Buxom Lash Mascara ($19). The "S" curved brush makes your lashes thicker and longer. I had never seen a brush like it but it allows you to sculpt and shape your lashes for a fanned-out beautiful look. I also appreciate that the mascara doesn't clump after a long day of wear and that it is easy to remove with your cleanser at night.

Blush get more personal with Physician's Formula: pH Matchmaker Powered Makeup Blush ($13, rose). The special formula adjusts to the pH level of your skin and give you your own perfect shade of blush. I didn't want to believe it but it works! It gives me just the right natural-looking color in my cheeks so I'm not so pale this winter. Plus who can resist the little light up mirrored compact? I love a little technology with my makeup.

A gal can never have too many lipsticks and the Susan Posnick Color Essential Moisturizing Lipsticks ($19) have been a welcome addition to my makeup bag. I received these two shades a wine colored London and warm gold nude Santa Fe. I have worn London on nights out looking perfectly on trend and Santa Fe is perhaps the best nude shade for my Asian skin because of it's light gold tone that gives lips more of a sheen. The lipsticks are moisturizing and also last a long time on your lips that you aren't always having to constantly re-apply.

To smell extra sweet, I love the soft scent of Philosophy's Living Grace Perfume ($42). It's clean and soft smelling containing notes of fresh neroli, lily of the valley and warm musk. It's the great daily perfume to wear.

No beauty box would be complete with skin and hair essentials for the winter. I get dry in the winter so I am loving these products pictured above.

Umberto Beverly Hills Repair Treatment Masque ($10)
My poor color treated hair gets even drier in the winter which is why I love this hair repair cream. After you wash your hair leave it in your wet locks for 10-20 minutes and then rinse for soft and beautiful hair. This product is amazing because it's helped repair my dry and damaged hair. My hair now feels so soft and looks silky.

Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream ($13)
This hand cream hasn't left my side since I received the box. I have it near me or in my handbag because my hands get extremely dry in the winter. It's been so soothing to my hands that my daughter even asks for it when she sees me using it. The hand cream contains baobab oil which is a rich source of essential fatty acids and antioxidants. There's absolutely no greasy residue and it absorbs quickly into the skin, making it so soft.

Goldfaden MD Pure Start Gentle Detoxifying Facial Cleanser ($43)
This clear and light cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin like mine. It's gentle and cleans off all my makeup from the day without leaving my skin dry. The key ingredients are wheat protein that improves firmness and moisture retention and grapefruit extract and lycopene which are rich sources of antioxidants.

Philosophy Full of Promise Dual-Action Restoring Cream ($65)
This Philosophy cream is perfect because it has been working it's magic keeping my skin hydrated and so soft when I use it at night before bed. Full of Promise is of a medium thickness and a little goes a long way when you apply it to your face. I have only been using it a week but the cream claims that after four weeks of use, Full of Promise can show defined facial contours and help lift your skin.

Vichey Laboratories ProEVEN Daily Dark Spot Corrector ($43.50)
I've been peppering the Vichey dark spot corrector on some of the dark sun spots I have on my cheeks. The light cream is enriched with Ceramide Bright, exfoliating LHA and Vitamin C which acts on all surface layers of the skin to significantly reduce the look of skin discolorations. I am looking forward to the results I will see with daily use as the reviews I have read have been really positive.

Note: All products for review were provided by Glam for the Glam Beauty Board.

Holiday Gifts for Men Under $100

Men are not easy to shop for. I take the holidays as a chance to introduce the men in our lives something new – whether it's shaving/beauty products, a can't live without gadget, for the kitchen, or something just plain cool. Last year, I got my husband the Art of Shaving Cream which he has loved ever since. I like the The Art of Shaving The 4 Elements of The Perfect Shave Starter Kit ($23-30 at Amazon) that is the perfect starter kit and comes with pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after-shave balm, and the badger brush. Choose from scents: lavender, lemon, sandalwood and unscented. Or for a small stocking stuffer, the full sized container of The Art of Shaving Shaving Cream (150 ml) is a perfect stocking stuffer. I love Coach leather and this Coach Bleecker Legacy Money Clip Card Case ($78 at Coach) is a great compact wallet that fits standard business cards, credit cards, and comes with an attached money clip.

Here are more great holiday gifts for men under $100:

REI Double Shot Press Mug ($29.50)

Malin + Goetz 1 oz Essential Kit ($30 at Barney's)

X Mini Speakers ($38 at Bloomingdales)
Comes in lots of cool colors

eComfort Tablet Pillow ($39.99)

Bar10der Ultimate Bar Tool ($50)

Vinturi Wine Aerator Tower Gift Set ($69.95)

Amazon.com $50 Gift Card with Gift Box (Holiday design) (In denominations of $50 at Amazon.com, comes with free 1 day shipping)