If you have been following closely, you might have noticed a new section on the left sidebar of my blog, called CT’s Web Tracks. These are my web “footprints” if you will… so as I browse through blogs, go online “window shopping” or whatever, I can share where I’ve been in real-time, with you.

Unlike a blogroll or a “links” list, I can deeplink you into shopping sites or blogs to show you exactly what I’m looking at… and the list automatically updates as I find new stuff to share.

If you are curious to check out the full list, stop by my del.icio.us page here.

As always, here is Lulu in her Independence Day outfit wishing
everyone a happy 4th. :)))

And so I was right… I was going to spend my entire July 4th weekend with these books. New Moon was a quick read, I finished it in the latter half of yesterday. I understand *now* the disappointments of other readers when reading this book, but also realize that it is crucial to the saga.

This is really tough doing a review without giving away any spoilers. Anyways, the continuing story is a little bit more polished in the second book. I didn’t care for the subject matter as much as it was missing a key piece that which made the first book alluring, but once you got through the first half, the pace picked up and now I am dying to read the third book to see how everything ties together.

Wherein the first book relies much on magic to explain Edward’s unnatural attraction to Bella, the second book was much more human and focused deeply on thought and emotions. I enjoyed the change of setting towards the end, which made vampires and *-blank-* seem that much more plausible in real life. If you’re looking for a great beach read this summer (and planning on a few return trips to the beach) I highly recommend you get stuck on this series as I have.

Ah, it took a few months but I think I’ve mastered the eyeliner thing. My next challenge, master color. All of my eye shadows tend to be in the neutral-to-bronze range and I think this summer is the time to pop out. I will be picking up one of these Shu Uemura limited-edition 25th Boutique Birthday palettes, which one will be determined by which ever tests best on the back of my hand.

I want to go with the blues (Fleur de Source) because they are so pretty and easy to match, but I’m worried that even the slightest mistake in application will date me back to the 80’s.

The pinks and greens in the Fleur de Terre are really pretty and may be easier to work with my skin tone. There is a 3rd palette available (Fleur de Rose) but it’s pretty boring and too typical for summer. (Rosy, bronzy)

Yay, I’m pretty excited. I haven’t bought colorful makeup in a long time. (I think the MAC California Dreamin’ has instilled a newfound love of color in me)

What’s the extreme opposite of an exclusive, wait-list-only Hermes Kelly handbag? A free web download, of course. For a few quick clicks and a couple of hours of snipping and gluing, you can own your own limited-edition paper Kelly.

A little bit super genius, and a lot super fun.

Congratulations to our 4 winners:

CC422

Laura

jessica

Mae

You should have all received e-mails requesting your home address to send your prize. Enjoy~ and thank you to all that have participated. A new giveaway is coming soon.

For a high-paced blogger, I actually keep things low-tech and handwrite a lot of my notes before they become blog posts. That’s why these Barcelona Paper Bags are perfect for toting around this month’s zines, post-its and a pad and pen so I can jot, draw and plan wherever I find myself.

$12 at SeeJaneWork.com

Don’t forget, your chance to win a set of clear shoe storage boxes ends tonight!

To celebrate the redesign of Closet Therapy and the spirit of organization, Shoe Stör is giving away 4 sets of clear shoe boxes — so that means there will be 4 lucky winners. All you have to do is leave a comment below with your e-mail address (doesn’t matter what you comment) and you will be in the running. The winners will be randomly chosen tonight at midnight.

4 Giveaway Packages:

• 10 pack of womens shoe boxes
• 5 pack of large shoe boxes
• 5 pack of low boot boxes
• 5 pack of tall bot boxes

Click here for more information on Shoe Stör.

So leave a comment here with your e-mail address in the e-mail address field (don’t worry — it won’t be visible to others) for a chance to win!

Getting flooded with coupons here! I guess with Stella McCartney, that’s never a bad thing. For this week only, get 30% off LeSportsac’s Stella McCartney collection online with coupon code THANKU. Expires midnight, July 6th, EDT.

So this isn’t exactly a fashion-inspired novel or even chick lit, but it’s something I think women of all ages can appreciate and enjoy. Get ready to get swept off your feet and feel the impatient curiousness of adolescent first loves.

Stephenie Meyers’ vampire/teen love story saga has been dubbed the next “Harry Potter” of young adult series and rightfully so — it’s just as gripping with a slight flair of forbidden maturity. My sister turned me to the series after she completed all three books in a weekend (I believe it was finals week, too) and I hesitated since (1) I haven’t read a young adult book since I was 13 (excluding Harry Potter) and (2) I have absolutely no interest in vampires. But after seeing all 3 books neatly stacked on my dining room table all week, I decided to give one a try and did not put it down all day. Now it’s the start of the work week and I’m so tempted to take a sick day to continue the second book, New Moon.

Meyers’ story of the forbidden love and mortal choices between the “new girl” Bella and Edward, the distant and disarmingly handsome vampire, is dynamically visual. Outside of being a captivating story of a burning secret love, the moments’ of Bella’s self-discovery will remind you of how hopeless and consuming high school romances can be. It’s the best type of escape after a long, tiring work week!

Updated: Stephenie Meyers is re-writing Twilight (Book One) from Edward’s point of view, and has Chapter 1 ready on her Web site. This is so great to go back to after reading the book — to hear a different point of view, especially in the well-written prose of our early-century vampire. Also, since Edward has the special talent of hearing the thoughts around him, we get a new look at others’ thoughts and motivations as well. I can’t wait until this one comes out!