When I shared how to achieve Drew Barrymore's ultra-glam look for CoverGirl's Intense ShadowBlast, I had no idea that you all would respond so strongly! Naturally, I went back to the team at CoverGirl for the details from another of Drew's gorgeous ads, LashPerfection. To recreate Drew's look at home, try the following products:

CoverGirl Lash Perfection Mascara, Very Black

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick, Sweetheart

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Liner Pencil, Splendid 235

The look for this ad is much more attainable and the lips are a perfect example of how to find great lip color to complement red hair.

Which of Drew's campaigns are your favorite? Would you try this look at home?

Late last winter, I caught the cape bug, passed on to me by my dear friend Casey Kettleson. I'd found a passable cable knit version from Old Navy, but I wasn't able to really find the cape and with spring styles rapidly shipping, I'd missed my chance. I hadn't even began to think about my outerwear options when DKNY PR Girl had to go and put a cape on her top 5 list for fall.

Naturally the DKNY cape is pure perfection, but sadly out of my size range. While browsing my beloved Nordstrom earlier this week, I found the perfect plus sized alternative: the Sejour Faux Leather Trim Cape. Obviously, I purchased it on the spot!

I can't wait to mix this cape with everything I own and pretend I'm some sort of imaginary fashion superhero, especially as I walk up the steps of Lincoln Center during fashion week.

Do you love a good cape? Is it too early in the season to think about your outerwear outlook for the chilly days ahead?

This summer, I've tried to keep things fresh, fun and most importantly, light. That's why when I was asked to show you what's in my makeup bag in support of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, I jumped at the chance. Everyone needs to know about this fantastic charity (you know anything that comes from the CFDA is genius) and the Henri Bendel exclusive striped bag that donates 50% of the net proceeds back to the charity. Should I ever leave NYC, I will want my life peppered with Bendel's iconic brown and white stripes as a reminder of the city I love. Of course, I'd feel much better if 50% of the proceeds went to a great charity like FTBC (just sayin).

When repacking my makeup bag (daily) for the past couple of moths, I'd developed a real love for Beauty Balms, gloss/balm combos and rollerball fragrances. Naturally, I wanted this post to feature products that have captured my attention and most importantly, space in my makeup bag.

Amala's Rejuvinating Hand Cream with certified organic cocoa bean - If you're the least bit interested in natural beauty, I highly recommend giving Amala products a look. Highly effective made with natural ingredients and a great company philosophy. Can't be beat!

Lifetherapy's Vacation Pulse Point Oil - What can I say - Vacation's all I've ever wanted and this smart blend of white orchid, polynesian coconut flakes and sandalwood takes me away.

Smashbox's Limitless Lip Stain & Color Seal Balm - On a particularly important day, I left my makeup bag home like a dodo. After 30 minutes of debating in Sephora, this was by far the best (necessary) purchase.

Dior's Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen - At the end of a long day, we could all use a little highlighter pick me up. Dab this along your cheekbones and in your cupid's bow for an instant refresh.

Boscia's B.B. Cream - There's been a lot of talk lately about B.B. Creams (a seemingly miracle all-in-one product) and I've tried quite a few. The Boscia version lasts all day and has light reflecting particles for a truly flawless finish.

Boscia's Green Tea Blotting Linens - I hope that I don't have to convince you of the necessity of blotting sheets (drop me a line if you're not carrying a pack in your bag - we need to talk). This limited edition printed packaging and green tea infused linens are a total bringer of joy.

MAC's Studio Careblend Pressed Powder - A light powder specifically blended to provide a light, luminous finish that's the perfect powder for touchups in any season.

MOR Cassis Noir Lip Delight - Hands down the chicest lip balm I've ever owned.

MAC Cream Color Base in Seaside - From the upcoming MAC Me Over collection, Seaside is a gorgeous gentle coral with shimmer power. Perfect for sun kissed cheeks.

Want to know more about the secret lives of beauty bloggers (aka, what do we actually keep in our makeup bags)? Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie spills her Henri Bendel exclusive Fashion Targets Breast Cancer bag, too.

Lately, i've been thinking a lot about happiness, what it means to me and how to achieve it. These deep thoughts have encompassed everything from my professional happiness to romance, family and even my own mortality. It's definitely been a core-shaking summer and although things have felt out of control at times, I've grown so much by navigating my way through the recovery period. It seems a lot of my friends have been navigating through some life changing experiences lately. If you happen to be experiencing the same thing, here are a few tips to inspire and motivate yourself back onto the right track.

• Never stop learning. Even if you have been in a particular field or community for a long time, it's never appropriate to rest on your laurels. To keep evolving, it's important to keep exploring and learning. For me, I've been wrestling with how to balance the site, what my "full time" passion is and how to turn that into something lucrative (ie, when is the Chanel bag of my dreams going to be mine?). I've found inspiration and motivation from the words written by my dear friend, Yuli Ziv, in her new book Blogging Your Way To The Front Row - The Insider's Guide To Turning Your Fashion Blog Into A Profitable Business and Launching A New Career. Not only is Yuli my role model for all things entrepreneurial, but her book is full of no nonsense advice that even Pro Blogger would be crazy to ignore.
• Take control of your mood. I know this might sound like a new age statement, but the momentary time outs that I've taken have meant the difference between crossing the line and keeping it together. In taking a moment for myself, i indulge my senses in an aromatherapy treat. These days, I've been indulging in a little Life Therapy. A line of body products specifically formulated to hep you choose your mood, Life Therapy's pulse point oils, hydrating body oils and all new scrub have become my crutch on particularly difficult days. During the weekends, I cover myself in Chill, a delightful combination of amber, cedarwood and vanilla. Try a little aromatherapy the next time you feel upset, worried, anxious or stressed. You might just be surprised at the results.
• Stop saying "no" to yourself. The internal dialogue that we have with ourselves is one of the most important lines of communication we can have. Think about all the times you've said no to a desert, hair/nail/lip color because it didn't feel like "you", loved a look on the glossy pages of a magazine but dismissed it because it felt too far from who you are and so on and so on. Have you ever allowed yourself to do something, even when common sense and practicality might advise otherwise? Don't get bogged down in the day to day or the things you "should" do. You'll end up spending your whole life shoulding, coulding and woulding all over yourself.

It's nice to shake things up every once in a while. How do you navigate life's changes?

Early last week, I headed to Haven Spa in Soho (obviously) for my first post-hospital mani/pedi. I was beginning to look like I powered the Flinstone car, if you know what I mean. Since its mid-August, I decided that it's time to start to think about Fall colors. I've put away the neons and turned my focus to smokey shades and jewel toes. Butter London's HRH perfectly fits the bill. A true royal purple with a metallic sheen, it's a nice way to usher in the coming season without going directly to the deep, vampy shades.

The polish wore well with minimal tip wear (mostly due to my own peeling nails, no fault of the formula) and looked vibrant for a solid six days. There are so many great colors in Butter Londo's fall collection that I had to pick a couple up during my first trip to Ulta earlier this summer.

Have you switched to more fall-friendly nail polish shades? Are you still in summer mode? I hope you'll share what's currently on your nails!

The World is Your Oyster from Lulu Guinness on Vimeo.

Lulu Guinness created this darling video, in conjunction with director Vicky Mather, in celebration of her new luggage collection debuting next week at her Bleecker Street store in NYC and online. The collection features hard side pieces embossed with Lulu's signature lips, as well as soft-sided pieces made of a lip print jacquard.

The film is so whimsical and perfectly captures the carefree feeling we all love to experience when we travel. Will you be making the investment in Lulu Guinness luggage?