Coquette

New Coquette Natalie YouTube Channel

Please check out my new YouTube Channel Coquette Natalie where I will be sharing more of my planner love as well as crafts, technology and lifestyle. I also miss talking about beauty and skincare so you might find me talking about those too! Thanks for subscribing!

Coquette 2.0: Making Things

 

Hi friends! I have taken a couple months off from the blog for two reasons. I actually wasn't even sure until recently that I was coming back. The most important reason I wasn't around was that my 78 year old mom injured herself before Thanksgiving. I spent most of December and January caring for her -- taking her to doctors, specialists and her physical therapy appointments. She is doing so much better now but it will be a slow recovery that will most likely take the rest of this year. Secondly, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue a beauty blog. This blog has evolved from a fashion blog back in 2005 to beauty blog these past eight years, and although I love both topics greatly, these days, it's not a huge priority for me. So what does make me happy? Writing and making things.

I wanted switch gears to go back to the basics. When I started this blog Coquette, I had just started a new job with O'Reilly Publishing as an editor for a whole new magazine, CRAFT magazine (CRAFT has since shuttered but all my previous posts are up on MAKE Magazine). I spent so much time blogging about crafts, Coquette was my break to blog about fashion and beauty. Now I miss crafts too much. After moving in November, I spent time packing up my craft supplies, sewing machines and dreaming of new things I could make. I have fallen hard for the planning world and want to talk about planners, planner supplies and Japanese stationery. I still love beauty (natural and K beauty so much!) so I'll definitely post some interesting finds I have when I do.

My career started on the Internet right out fo the gate when I graduated from Cal in 1995. People say no on reads blogs anymore and that it's all on Instagram. I beg to differ. I still read posts online although not regularly from any particular blogger. I still follow many of the crafty women I have met from CRAFT magazine and in many ways, because of them I'm inspired to take this leap back into the making world.

Coquette Maman, my kids blog will remain the same covering mostly children's books, some apps and STEM related topics. I hope to create new crafts/project content this year for it. I'm also working on self-publishing my own STEM novel book series for young girls and continue on my new path as a children's book author so in between these two blogs, I'm working my writing and designing my book!

This year my goal is to finish all of my WIPs. I have 3 knitting projects and 1 sewing project to finish which I will share more on. Pictured above is my Miette sweater by Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots. Don't ask me how many years I had this sweater half done. (4 years?) The key is that picking this up again in December has been exhilarating. I have only half a sleeve to finish which I hope to this weekend. My 10 year old daughter Chloe loved it and we decided that she was going to wear it making me all the more happy to finish it. Unfortunately, the Miette pattern has been retired since the end of 2018, but the good news is that Andi has a new pattern, Crumb that is an updated version of Miette that looks so much better. I love the rounded neckline so much more!

I'll be updating the look and feel of this blog soon. Thanks for your patience on that. As a busy mom who is also taking care of her own mom, it's super hard for me to do everything like I used to be able to. I've been writing this post in my head since early January. It's now mid-February so, well, you know, life is nuts.

Thanks for continuing to follow my journey. For all the old friends and new followers, let's have fun making things in 2019! (And hooray for Japanese stationery for making me happy over the Christmas holidays. I spent way too much money on jetpens.com but well, that's ok!)

 

 

 

Project Glimmer: #GivingTuesday + Ways to Give this Holiday Season

A photo posted by Natalie Zee Drieu (@coquettenatalie) on Nov 9, 2016 at 12:11pm PST

Project Glimmer is a San Francisco based non-profit organization that gives gifts of jewelry, accessories, new beauty products and gift cards to at-risk teenage girls and women nationwide. I was recently invited to their charity luncheon at Fort Mason the day after the election results. Needless to say it was moving to be in a room full of 200 women who were smart, strong and wondering where our country would be headed these next four years. I think it's important now more than ever for all of us women to band together and help other teen girls and women in need.

(Photo: Courtesy of Project Glimmer)

Most of us know about the Toys for Tots drive during the holidays but Project Glimmer's founder Sonja Hoel Perkins realized that teen girls didn't need toys and were always forgotten during the holiday gift drives. Since Perkins founded Project Glimmer in 2010, the organization has given over 130,00 gifts to thousands of girls and women across the U.S. What girl doesn't light up when she gets some jewelry or new makeup? It's time to look into your closets, drawers and jewelry boxes to give to those girls who need a holiday gift.

I live in a condo building in San Francisco and we will be hosting a Project Glimmer container next to our Toys for Tots container. It makes me really happy to do my part to help this fantastic organization that is helping to build the self-esteem and happiness for young teen girls.

Here are the many ways you can help Project Glimmer this holiday season as well as year round:

1. Donate to Project Glimmer

2. Give Gifts: costume jewelry, purses and accessories, (new) Makeup / Beauty Products / Fragrances, or $20 Gift Cards (Target, Walgreens, etc.). Each gift will beautifully boxed so teen girl will be excited to get a holiday gift.

Send your donations to Project Glimmer:

UPS / FedEx / Large Packages:
Project Glimmer
Pier 70, Building #2
San Francisco, CA 94107

3. You can host a Glimmer Drive at your home, work, community center or church.

4. If you are in the Bay Area, volunteer at their SF warehouse. If you are available the week of December 5 between 9-3pm, Project Glimmer needs help in preparing gifts.

You can also shop for a cause to benefit Project Glimmer on #GivingTuesday, November 29th at these following places in the Bay Area:

Enjoy complimentary refreshments while shopping at Kendra Scott Santana Row with 20% of the proceeds going to Project Glimmer.

Kendra Scott
334 Santana Row
San Jose, CA
5-8pm
RSVP

Get 50% off theBalm flagship store! Half of all proceeds benefit Project Glimmer.

theBalm
788 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
6-9pm
RSVP

Find out more about Project Glimmer at their web site, projectglimmer.org. Help spread the word and use the #giveglimmer hashtag!

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).

Happy 7th Birthday Coquette!

(Photo Source)

I'm so happy to celebrate Coquette's 7th birthday! It has been lots of fun sharing my fashion, beauty, crafts and tech loves with you over the years. Thank you dear lovelies for continuing to read my blog! It's my labor of love along with Coquette Maman (for fashionable moms).

Here are some of my favorite posts from the past year:

• My outfit posts for Kohl's


• The Best White Blazers Under $100


• What's In My Bag: Coach Classic Stewardess Bag


• Q&A: Skin Care Expert Kate Somerville


• Skin Care Q&A with Lisa Mascaro: The Answers to Your Questions are In!


• Rose Gold Love


• DIY Arm/Wrist Warmers Roundup


• Sleep Better and Wake Up with LARK

I am off to France next week where I'll be until the end of July. Hope to share the beautiful things and fabulous food I encounter. Bisous!

IFB's 30 Spectacular Style Bloggers Over 30

Merci to IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) for choosing me to be a part of their 30 over 30: 30 Spectacular Style Bloggers You Should Follow. I'm on the list with some amazing fashion people I admired over the years, so it's just such an honor to be included in this group. Thanks to you lovelies who visit me here for your constant support!

Wear LOFT to Ring in 2012!

I am so excited to be a part of LOFT's holiday New Year's Eve campaign on Facebook. Check out their See How Bloggers are Wearing LOFT to Ring in 2012 album. My outfit features the Lace Shift Dress ($98). It's one of the most comfortable dresses and I love the lace cutout look that is so on trend this season. The dress is currently sold out online so use the link on the page to find it in store or call your nearest LOFT to see if they have it in stock.

LOFT has some really affordable jewelry and one of my favorite pieces is the Gem and Pillar Ring ($39.50). Again, this ring is sold out but you might be able to find it in store.

Right now there's a huge sale going on at LOFT. Get 50% off everything (excluding new arrivals) with the code TAKE50 at online checkout.

Here are some fabulous clothes I love that are currently in stock that will help you ring in the new year in style! Don't forget to take 50% off the listed price!

Lace Top Sweater Dress ($89.50)

Juliette Lace Cap Sleeve Dress ($69.99)

Textural Jacquard Sheath Dress ($79.99)

Banded Hem Ruffle Shell ($49.50)

Natalie Open Knot Heel ($69.99)

Note: $150 gift card for clothing was given courtesy of LOFT.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you are enjoying some cozy time with your family and friends this weekend! Here's Lulu with her BFF dachshunds Lucy and Gello dressed up in holiday fun. I'll be back here on Monday with more fashion and style posts. Thanks for being a loyal reader of Coquette. Here's to a fabulous 2012!

xo,
Natalie

Happy Thanksgiving + Black Friday Sales

(Photo: Tumblr)

Happy Thanksgiving Lovelies! Today, I have been relaxing and cozying up on the couch as it's been raining most of the day. (We ordered our Thanksgiving dinner through Whole Foods. Yay!) This week, I'm on a blogging break but wanted to pop online and list out some of the great Black Friday sales that will be happening tomorrow. Most of them are happening now and last through the whole long weekend. There's a lot of shopping to be done! I'll add more to this list as they come up.

Black Friday Sales

• Kate Somerville Skin Care - Save 30% off now through Monday. Code: HOLIDAY2011
• Kris Nations Jewelry - Save 30% off orders over $100 now through Monday. Code: THANKS30
• Macy's - Extra 15% off + Free Shipping. Code: GOBBLE
• Bloomingdales - Free shipping on any order through Monday. Code: FREESHIP11 (Online only: Take $25 off almost any $200 purchase.)
• Saks - Thanksgiving sale through Saturday. Free shipping on all orders. Code: HOLIDAY
• DKNY - Take an extra 50% off all sale products online & in stores. Friday only. Free shipping on all orders.
• LOFT - 40% off everything through Sunday. Code: SHOP40
• The Row - Starts Friday 12am PST through Monday. Receive a $100 gift certificate for every $1,000 you spend. Free 2-Day shipping on all orders.
• Rachel Roy and RACHEL Rachel Roy - 30% off everything.
• Estee Lauder - Choose 4 free samples with any purchase through Tuesday. Free shipping + free returns.
• BCBG - 50% All sweaters, outerwear, leather, boots. Free shipping on all orders for a limited time.
• Martha Stewart Crafts - 30% entire order of $45 or more. Spend $60 or more and get free shipping. Good for all eksuccessbrands.com Code: Jingle30
• Rebecca Minkoff - Online sale starts Friday midnight EST.
• Karen Millen - 30% off your purchase in store and online through Monday. Discount applied at checkout.

City Dogs in SF

My first post for Refinery 29 SF just went up today! Check out my profile of South Beach's hip new doggie grooming spot, City Dogs.