{shimmer & shine}

What is it about New Years Eve that makes us want to pour on the shiny stuff? Is it the champagne? Is it the promise of a shiny, clean slate in a brand new year? Shinnnyyyyyyy… I like shiny things. Sorry, I get distracted. I hope you have a fabulous New Year’s Eve and an even better 2010. May the new year bring you plenty of reasons {or plenty of moxie} to don something shimmery and drink champagne!
Photos {via} knightcat

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{the singular}

Does it get cooler than polaroids and fashion? Antonio Barros is a successful photographer, who has access to some of fashions best. He’s worked for WireImage, covering plenty of runways. What makes him impossibly cool is that he started doing street-style photography with polaroids. Barros snaps that perfect {singular} moment using the most unalterable film; no processing, no photoshop, just a knack for the right shot. Talent. He’s taken them to the tents, backstage, and on the streets of Paris. He even managed to snap one of Anna Wintour. It takes cojones to appear in the tents as a photographer with a polaroid camera. I love it.

see more at the singular

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{the winner is…}

Well, I should say winners. Off to ride my bike with the munchkin. {We are rather infatuated with our new bikes!} Before I go, I’d like to announce the winners of several giveaways we’ve wrapped up.

Congratulations to…

Perricone Cold Fusion – Grad School Mommy {@gradschoolmommy}

Harlow Monroe Gift Certificate – Sara Valente {@twillypop}

Stone+Mann Gift Certificate – Kerrie G

Dolores Petunia Crystal Headband – Crissy of Shimmer Like Gold

Fifi Flowers Gift Certificate – Ginny of Mom of 2 Dancers

Thank you a hundred times over to all our giveaway sponsors. It was fun! I’m so happy I got to do this month of giveaways to bring some extra holiday cheer.

Photo from Lovely Clusters Flickr

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{december sponsor news}

So a few bits of sponsor news…


Ruche is offering a 10% off code this week for {Bits of Beauty} readers, which you can use to buy all sorts of lovely goodies, like this felt hair clip. Coupon code: BEAUTY.

Pam of Venetian Decor has more new projects going. In case you missed her previous introduction, Pam works on preserving and recycling furs and other materials in her designs. I love these pillows; don’t you? You can follow her on twitter @venetiand.

Let’s thank our wonderful {Bits of Beauty} sponsors! Take a visit to their shops. What are you waiting for?!

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{everyday beautiful life: the paris apartment}

Merry Christmas!!! It’s my favorite day of the year. While we make preparations to roast a pig and gorge ourselves on Cuban food with about 30 other loud Cuban relatives, you are probably enjoying a quiet moment reading blogs before the madness begins at your house. We have an expert on beautiful living for our guest today. Claudia of the blog Paris Apartment is also the author of the book by the same name. You may also visit her website to learn more about how she has made a living from, well, beautiful living. Claudia now resides, like me, in South Florida, and unlike me, she makes frequent trips to Paris. {I wish! Must do something about that…}

Enjoy her lovely list and we hope that you have a wonderful holiday!


{Flowers}
I have a firm belief that flowers were put on earth just to make us happy. Whenever I need a lift, I’ll grab a small bouquet. Otherwise a tiny bud or just a whiff will do the trick!

{Love letters and keepsakes}
One of my favorite things in the world are trinkets from the past. Just having tiny mementos that were so thoughtfully written and crafted with such detail brings a beauty to daily life that modern technology and mass production just can’t match.

{Bedding}
There’s nothing as beautiful as fresh sheets and pillowcases on down pillows. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures and if they’ve been pressed, well, that’s pure bliss.


{Family}
Life is more beautiful when shared with the ones we love. Family means everything to me and I don’t know where I would be without any single one of them.

{Lounging around}
Nothing makes me happier than spending time relaxing, reading and having absolutely no agenda. It’s only when I have time to myself that I can appreciate the beauty in the little things, like breathing and daydreaming.

{Fantasizing}
I love to imagine what it would be like to fix up an apartment in Paris. It’s wonderful to imagine creating a beautiful life in the city with all the trimmings. Everything starts with those daydreams!

{The Ocean}
Nothing is more beautiful than nature. At the ocean time stands still, and the only things that matter are earth, air, fire and water. It’s one of the few places to get to infinity and beyond!

{Travel}
Traversing this glorious planet is my obsession. There is not an inch of it I wouldn’t love to see from the castles to the caves.

{New Shoes}
They put a spring in your step that nothing else can quite match. Especially if they’re Chanel.

{Old books}
Being in the presence of old books; their smell, their feel, their energy…it’s a way to be transported to another time and place. They’re so constant and quietly beautiful.

{The future}
Looking to the future I see a beautiful world developing that’s clean, efficient, friendly and hopeful. A world where we use the power of nature to make sure every person on earth has water, food and shelter.

{Security}
My life is only beautiful because of the selflessness of others who have and still fight for my freedom. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude to these perfect strangers who live and die so that I might have the opportunity to indulge in any of these dreams, but grateful I am!