Beautifully Well Prepped

Piggybacking on my previous post, I wanted to show what beauty products I used to compliment my preppy look.

To compliment this preppy outfit I posted previously...

Kate Spade Skirt

J.Crew Top

I went with a juicy pink lip. I found that the products I used were sheer enough and delivered just the right amount of glossy color to not compete with the outfit, but compliment it. 

Revlon lip butter in 090-Sweet Tart

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Pomegranate

I am pretty sure I have mentioned in several posts far back about how lovely the Korres lip butters are. They are soft and moisturizing and now so much better that I don't have to dig my finger into the pot! I used a bit of this later on in the day, but I started off the day by applying the Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart lightly to the bottom lip and then blending it with my fingers to give a soft wash of color. For a high-end makeup snob, I must say these Revlon Lip Butter's really do live up to the hype they are getting online. They are lovely! My only qualm is that I think you need to apply them to well moisturized, and exfoliated, lips. One would think the "butter" part of the name would mean them to be super moisturizing, but I didn't really find that. They are not drying by any means, but I think they have the tendency to go gloppy in certain places on the lips if your lips aren't exfoliated or moisturized first. So I used the "Mint Julip" lip scrub by Lush and let a lip balm set on my lips while I did the rest of my makeup, and it turned out great! 

This isn't artistic as much as it is an awkward picture. Hah! I had forgotten all I learned in my photography class in art school, but it is coming back to me, slowly obviously. This is the Revlon lip butter lightly applied on my lips with a very light hand. Sunglasses are the "Noir Catwalk" sunglasses by Miu Miu in the tortoise and blue combination. My favorite sunglasses this season for sure. They aren't super easy to find, I got mine at a Miu Miu store a long time ago, but you can get them at Saks here. 

Which lip butter color is your favorite? Which one should I get next? 

Well Prepped

Over the weekend, before the weather reverted back to the rainy cold we are experiencing today, I was able to bask in the sunshine walking myself around the city. Note to self, it is very hard to get run-of-the-mill errands done when you live smack dab in the middle of the shopping center of the city you live in. I went to the bank for a deposit and somehow came back with less money. Hmmm...

Zara, I think you have something to do with it.

Dress here..much cuter in person!

As a stylist, or perhaps as a crazy person, I wake up and a mood strikes me as to what "look" or facet of my personality I want to play that day. I was in a preppy mood that day, and so venturing into the Zara on Walnut street had me immune until the sweet print, pleats and peter pan collar of this number had me sold.  The dress itself also comes with a ribbon belt, although I recommend if you get it to throw that away (it is flimsy looking) and add your own black belt. It will elevate the whole dress and make it look more expensive. I am also now on the hunt for a clutch or pair of pumps in that lovely blue to add a punch of color to the outfit. 

The outfit of the day that I was wearing when I was experiencing temporary amnesia and bypassing my bank and pharmacy for Zara and Anthropologie, was equally as expressive to the preppy side of me. 

Kate Spade Skirt

J.Crew top -link here

Black, navy and white horizontal stripes in a surprisingly flattering silhouette were popped with a bright burst of color in a very comfy knit top from J.Crew. Perfectly preppy, if I do say so myself! 

Hunger Games

While the movie and book are most obviously what one would think of when espousing the phrase "hunger games" in mixed company today, I can't help but think of all the gorgeous shades of color that are on trend for spring and summer that make me positively drool with excitement.

A burst of bright citrus in patterned silk by Rebecca Taylor and a soft, creamy mint tweed by Tibi are some of my favorite trends come to life (in my closet!) for this spring and summer.

As a stylist, I should perhaps grab my napkin and choose sides on which of the color palettes (the saturated bright neon hues or the soft, sorbet inspired pastels)  I like best for the upcoming warmer months, but it feels to me like choosing between your children!

How do you choose?! 

Pink-J.Crew

Coral-Aqua from Bloomingdales

Green-Zara 

Silver-Club Monaco

The above is a picture of some of the clothes on my hanging rack in my bedroom (I personally, as well as my city apartment, love you Container Store!) where I hang my newest wardrobe additions, as well as clothes I find inspiring for styling. I adore the neon, bursting with bright color even more so in real life, of the pink gathered linen J.Crew in a comfortable relaxed silhouette that I had to have it; and will be back for the bright yellow as soon as I walk myself up to the store in the city. The coral tangerine of the Aqua (available at Bloomingdales, and super affordable!) pleats is positively juicy and screams for bare legs, a good spray tan (Skin Palette off Rittenhouse for those near Philadelphia is worth every penny) and makes me long for a trip to a white sand beach somewhere where that color is the same as the little umbrella's floating in some oversized, fruity cocktail. The brights this season definitely have me salivating. 

Bag-Prada 

Belt-J.Crew

But then you have the beautiful muted neutrals of the season that get me equally as hungry for summer. While this soft grey might not conjure up notes of anything confectionary,that one would immediately want to eat at least, the soft neutral and pastel hues of the season are still equally as delicious. They also pair beautifully with a bright pop of color, as shown by my new Prada bag (I am convinced light grey is the perfect neutral for spring and summer) and an adorable bright belt procured on my recent "brights" binge from J.Crew. 

I suppose my wardrobe pictures to come on this site will be a bit of a polar medley of "Bag-of-Jordan-Almonds"pastels, soft neutrals and mixes of brights and neons. I refuse to choose, with all the choices for color this season fueling my fashion hunger to the extreme. Not Capital extreme, not yet at least! 

"A Crewed Interest" buy Essie

As for today, I did make one choice when it comes to spring color choices, and am loving the creamy pastel shades like the one above by Essie. They are quite the pain to get to not streak or smudge, but I for one am willing to have my manicure lady sigh in frustration a little longer for such a pretty result. 

Pastel, bright, neon, or neutral? What makes you most hungry to wear spring fashion?

Dressing Successfully

For those who want to see what I wore to the Women Who Rock event for Dress For Success, here it is. Clearer, more artful and less terrible mirror-y pictures of OOTD's in the future, promise.

Dress-Max Mara
 Coat-Zara
Watch-Cartier, small "Santos Demoiselle" in stainless
Bracelet-Hermes Narrow "Cic H" in white
Shoes (not shown)-Christian Louboutin "You You 100" in nude
Bag (not shown)-Givenchy

The real standout of this outfit is perhaps one of the more simple of my purchases for this spring and summer. While espousing my love of neons, pastels and overall "color, color, color", the simple black dress by Max Mara proves to me that no matter what color is in, black will always be in, or back, depending on how you look at it. 

You can look at the full dress and shop for it here

Looking at this dress, I had to have it. Cinched by a neutral brown belt that accents the whisper of brown patina and texture on the beautiful pieces' sharp pleats, I am smitten, and also now have a dress that is so classically gorgeous that I will be able to wear it for years to come. Talk about successful dressing! 

A Fashionably Good Cause

The "Women Who Rock" event held for  Dress for Success, with help from Philadelphia's Classic Rock Station 102.9 WMGK and the Parx Casino. Echo (beautiful things here) even donated those fabulous scarves! 

April is flying by much more quickly than I like to imagine. It is one of those month's where the weather changes almost hourly and you find yourself manically trying to figure out what the heck to wear to keep up. I, for one, get very excited on the warmer of the April days as I am able to lasciviously quench my thirst for wearing the new, lovely summer items hanging in my closet. I also then subsequently sulk when the weather changes itself on a dime and I have to pull denim or a sweater out of the closet.

While April may make it hard to choose what to wear on a daily basis, it also National Volunteer Month here in America, and is a good month to highlight a charity that does such a brilliant job of helping women in need that it turns the sometimes frivolous dilemma of  "what to wear" in everyday life turns it into very profound and important life-changing help that meets a very important need in the communities in which it serves.

Dress for Success (national link here) is an international organization that has more than 110 affiliates in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Poland and the West Indies.  It is a charity one might have casual knowledge of, knowing that they accept donations of new or gently used professional clothing to give to women in need for job interviews and employment.  But this charity is more than that, and as they are quoted in literature I received, they espouse that they not only provide women with professional clothing, but "the one true gift that they receive cannot be placed in a bag." Or perhaps their help extends so far beyond just clothing donation, that there isn't a shopping bag large enough to fit.


I was inspired by the idea behind National Volunteer Month to write an article for my job as the Philadelphia Fashion News Examiner for the Examiner Online (my link here) to highlight a charity that dealt with issues surrounding the topic for which I write about. While fashion might send people into notions leaning toward "frivolity" instead of "fastidious social importance", what Dress for Success does squelches those leanings quite quickly.

I found my Philadelphia division of Dress for Success (their website here) and through a simple email inquiry about attending an event they had last Saturday and was met with warm, professional and immediate response from the Philadelphia Executive Director no less, Ms. Cecilia M. Lusardi. I attended the event at the Parx casino, entitled "Women Who Rock" (more information about the event here), which was held with the help of local classic rock station WMGK 102.9 (link here). They set up a tent inside the doors, collecting professional clothing donations that quickly filled the back of a large moving truck, provided information about the program, as well as overall showcased how much they have helped women in need in the Philadelphia area. That number in the Philadelphia annex alone is over 600,000 since starting in 1997, and in 2010 alone they helped 60,000 women with not just suiting and clothing services, but career counseling, an Entrepreneurship and Scholarship Program, a Going Places Network and Professional Women's group to help find and retain employment, and even a financial services center to help with issues surrounding financial literacy, financial matters and the improvement of credit.

 (l) Dress for Success Volunteer Lisa Sinclair, (m) MGK promotions employee Tina Basham, and (r) Philadelphia Dress for Success Executive Director Cecilia M. Lusardi. 

I was only there a short time with a small bag of donations of my own, but was immediately blown away by the kindness of the volunteers, Ms. Lusardi herself and all those that donated clothing. Weather it was the small donation brought in by women and men like myself, to the true dedication of the volunteers in helping to make a difference in the lives of Philadelphia women, to stories of those donating literal car full's of clothing, it was an afternoon for which I have never been more thankful to have discovered Urban Decay's Cannonball waterproof mascara (seriously, that stuff is great..and doesn't move!). A prime example of the mascara's staying power was learning about a man who pulled up to the event with his van literally completed filled with clothing for donation. He told the staff that his beloved wife passed away in September of last year, and due to grief was unable to even go into her closet, let alone throw things out. He instead loaded up her things into his car and donated them to the cause, saying that now at least he knew "they would be going to a good cause." That gentleman could not be more right. And I not able to be more thankful to have attended, donated, been able to write about, and hopefully in the future, volunteer my services to such a waterproof-mascara worthy cause.

Dan Fein, Promotions Director for WMGK, filling the truck with donations!

I hope everyone will think about visiting your local division of Dress for Success to see how you can help. It was a charity born out of the true altruistic nature of a law student and her $50,000 inheritance from her great-grandfather. We could all use a little more of people like that in the world, and we all know that some good old-fashioned altruism and volunteering never goes out of style.

My article about Dress for Success and the event on the Examiner coming soon!

Back Again!

I gleaned some very exciting (and beautiful) things for my closet while I was away! 

Hello Everyone!

I have decided to keep up with my blog after a long hiatus. I have since finished fashion school, moved to the lovely Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia, obtained a job as a personal stylist for a luxury department store, and now am working as a full-time freelance stylist as well as employed as the Philadelphia "Fashion News" Examiner for Examiner.com! My first article, on spring and summer fashion trends, has been published and you can find my writing through this link if you are interested.

Sharp white pleats in this dreamy, soft silhouette Alice and Olivia make me wistful, and excited, for warmer weather

I will translate all my articles to some very interesting posts on here and I am thrilled to share all of the exciting happenings I have experienced in my career in the fashion and beauty world thus far!

More fashionable gleaning ahead!

-xo

The Great Crab Cake Test and Crab Snobbery at Its Best

I love cooking, and love crab cakes. I also have a ridiculously high standard when it comes to defining what a true "crab cake" is. I went to, lived, and ate too many amazing crab cakes in the Maryland region to not have converted to being a crab cake snob. Crab cakes contain the best jumbo lump crab and the smallest amount of filler (mayo, a little seasoning or a few breadcrumbs) just to hold it together. It's all about the crab.  But since I only had one container of jumbo crab in my fridge the other day, I decided to do a test.  I tried Barefoot Contessa's (my favorite Food Network personality ever..the woman is FANTASTIC) crab cake recipe which, gasp, is mostly vegetables and filler rather than crab. I needed something that would stretch the crab and make a meal for myself and my very large, hungry boyfriend. While I felt like I was somehow cheating on the entire Baltimore/Chesapeake Bay region, but I did it anyway...

This is how it went...

Chopped a ton of veggies for the cakes

I chopped a ton of veggies for the filling. It included several colors of peppers, celery and red onion. 

This was the seasoning for the filling. It included Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, capers and good ol' Old Bay. I also used Panko breadcrumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs that are lighter and crunchier than regular breadcrumbs) to replace the white bread you are supposed to use for the filling. 

I sauteed the veggies with the seasoning until they were slightly soft, but still crunchy. 

Then I added the veggies to this gorgeous Jumbo Lump crab, a little low-fat mayo and the breadcrumbs. I made them into slightly small patties and cooked them in a bit of olive oil. 

Here is the recipe if anyone is interested! ---->Crab Cakes And here is the final product along with an arugula salad I put together with a light, fresh lemon vinaigrette (lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and olive oil)

The result? I liked them. The veggies were crunchy and the seasoning made for a lot of flavor throughout the cake. I have rarely found a Barefoot Contessa recipe that doesn't work. I think these would be especially yummy if you made them super small and served them as an appetizer for a dinner party.  I don't really consider these true blue "crab cakes",  but I think it's a good option for people trying to stretch expensive crab, people that like a lot of filling with their crab, or even people that would leave the crab out and make a yummy veggie patty. They were very tasty.  Just not a true crab cake : )

Make anything yummy recently? 

Keeping Lips Kissable...

I am loving my Korres lip butters right now. Even though we are out of the depths of winter here, it is still cold and my lips are chapped! These soften, moisturize, impart the faintest hint of pretty color and sheen, and taste delicious. I find exfoliating with a lip scrub from Lush (or just a toothbrush) and then putting this on makes my lips lovely and smooth. I have a bunch, but Guava (the white) and Jasmine (the pink) are my favorites.

My Current Love's

February is now gone (good riddance!) and with March comes a ramping up of spring shopping, wacky weather and new love's (at least of the material kind).

Peacock Earring Stand -from Urban to hold some of my stud earrings. I am a sucker for anything blue, and this has been so helpful putting them on display instead of jumbled in a box.

Nude Manicures-These are two polishes that I picked up in Sephora. I am loving a nude manicure right now, finding the right nude is a problem though! These are pretty good thusfar, but my search continues...

Pop's of Color for Spring-Or the hope of spring at least! This necklace is from GlamourRogue's store on Etsy. Very sweet, easy-to-wear and super affordable! The picture doesn't do it justice, and with a black or other winter clothing, it looks so pretty! Store Here

Navy and White-I think the combination looks so fresh and new for spring, even if there isn't anything new about it. This jacket is a find from H&M and it's adorably nautical and cheery!

Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter-a new product for me from Lush. Works like a charm on rough spots like my cuticles and makes those nude nails look great!

White Jewelry-I know I just wrote about my new bracelet, but white enamel and white jewelry in general looks fresh to me right now. Great for brightening current hopes for warm weather as well as the warm months to come!

Happy March everyone! 

Hermes-Need I say more?

I was home for a root canal last week, and wound up acquiring something far more fabulous and amazing than my time spent in the dentist's chair.  It is an item that I have wanted for quite a long time, and in my Christmas pile from my parent's a lovely gift card from Hermes happened to appear! I am a lucky girl!

My gift on Christmas. Gotta love the famous orange bag!

My mom wound up getting one and since my parent's weren't sure which color I wanted, they got me a gift card to pick one out instead. I don't have an Hermes where I live, so when I went home for said root canal last weekend, I hopped up to the Hermes store near my parent's house and picked up this beauty...

I went with the utterly boring choice and got the smaller white one (it comes in a smaller and larger version in both size and width). I was debating between this one and the blue; but since it was my first bracelet I wanted it to go with everything.  The white looks beautiful and fresh on the wrist to me. I love it so much. It is the most comfortable bracelet I have ever worn; so much so I often forget it is on my wrist.  It's beautiful and lovely, and I hope one day to be able to stack them. What can I say-It's Hermes? Does it get any better than that?

I have been wearing it with my watch

What is your favorite new purchase?

Tagine's, MAC lipstick and Chocolate-Oh my!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!


My wonderful boyfriend took me out Saturday for a fabulous meal of oysters, filet mignon, lobster and chocolate. It was delicious! Here is a picture of us before we left. I did a deep side part with sleek, wavy ends by using hot rollers and a little hairspray as well as a red lip (MAC's brave red). I didn't even look like myself, but it was fun to try something new. I found my lipstick stayed throughout the night by using Covergirl's Lip Stain in a red/berry color before putting the lipstick on. It didn't budge through multiple courses and kisses. I was totally amazed as I worried I would be some crazy woman with red all over her face/mouth after scarfing down so much food.

My iphone 4 camera is terrible!

My boyfriend is laughing because he is stooping down to get in the picture (he is 6'6"!) and because he thought it looked like he was taking out another woman. Lol. 

Tomorrow, for the actual day, I am cooking a romantic dinner. We are having an arugula salad with goat cheese, figs, oranges, candied walnuts and a citrus vinigarette.  For the entree I am making a red-wine braised beef short rib in a new tagine (a traditional Moroccan/North African clay pot used for cooking) from Williams-Sonoma my boyfriend bought me, as well as sour cream and horseradish mashed potatoes to go with it. 

Link to the Tagine

This is the tagine from Williams-Sonoma-Pretty, right?!

(www.williams-sonoma.com)

For dessert I am making a hazlenut and chocolate torte with a dark chocolate glaze. 

This is the torte I am making!

(www.williams-sonoma.com)

Splurging is what Valentine's Day is all about. Hope you all have a happy one! 

New Product Alert:Physician's Formula Mineral Correcting Pebbles

I'm always such a sucker for cute packaging, and when I was perusing the aisles of my local Rite Aid, it was no exception. These are just so cute! And so similar to the Guerlain ones! And so pretty!

Needless to say, I bought them.  Thusfar, I have been happy with them too. It comes with a powder puff and a brush, but I usually set both aside and use a small blush brush, highlighting brush (MAC 192) or a large fluffy eyeshadow brush and swirl away around the pastel, shimmery goodness.  

I tried to swatch it, but it wouldn't show up on my hand.  It provides a very subtle, soft highlight and shimmer to the skin.  I find it to pull a bit pinkish gold/white on my currently very fair skin.  I don't find them to be pigmented or life changing; but the glow I get on the top of my cheekbones is a lovely addition to a more muted everyday makeup.  I am sensitive to breakouts and the formula says they are talc-free, which I enjoy. I haven't been irritated by them thusfar and it isn't too bright and shimmery for my oily skin.  While I wouldn't use it all over my face because I do tend to get shiny, and this is a little frosty for my taste, for about $11, I am happy.  

And did I mention they are cute?!

January Favorites

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish-This brown sugar scrub is so moisturizing that you don't really even need a body lotion afterwards! It isn't cheap, but it is worth every penny. My dry winter skin thanks this every time I use it. 

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Summer Tan-this is a WONDERFUL creamy blush color to use for contour. I think it might do a better job than the Chanel Soliel Tan de Chanel. It's a bit more pigmented and more brown than orange. If you use a skunk brush, it gives anyone cheekbones! 

Physician's Formula Happy Booster's Blush-it is more pigmented than I thought and gives a beautiful rosy glow to the cheek.  The scent it pretty as well, although I don't buy the ability for it to uplift your mood. Except if you get happy because your cheeks are so pretty! 

Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel-One of my first reviews was of the regular strength version of this product because I saw it as one of the products that really helped get rid of my acne. But this one is even better! I would never go back to the regular. The extra strength doesn't irritate but you can actually see it making your skin clearer and more even.  My complexion glows after I use this. 

Mac Lipstick in Brave Red-despite a fight with my bathroom counter (in which it lost), I do adore this lipstick. I always wear a nude lip, but I went to the MAC counter and was matched with this shade for my brave (no pun intended) move to a bold lip every once in a while. It's the perfect red. Not too orange, not too blue, and not too clown-y (which I always fear I will look like when I wear red with full lips). Love! 

January is over, and thank goodness! Hopefully spring is around the corner!

xoxo 

Pink and Turquoise, Pink and Turquoise, Pink and Turquoise...

Pink and Turquoise by loganbhanna featuring straw fedora hats

While I will be rooting for the "black and yellow" on Sunday during the Superbowl, I had to create a beachy styled outfit for a class of mine through Polyvore, and I thought I would share them with you.  It is cold and miserable here, and I think the combination between the beautifully juicy and saturated hot pink and the cool, bright turquoise with splashes of gold is a beautiful combination that makes me long for summer and the beach. Stay warm everyone!


What is your favorite summer color combination?


xoxo

January Favorites-Making Waves

I will be going over my January favorites over the next few days.  This is the first. Bear with me, I have a cold that just won't go away!

Wavy Hair-

It is the best remedy for the "my-hair-is-dirty-but-I'm-too-lazy-to-wash-it", and who doesn't experience that feeling every once is a while ? Well I have experienced that feeling too much recently a la my cold and the overall winter blah's, that I decided to go onto the quest of creating the perfect combination of Gisele/Victoria's Secret glamourpuss and vintage/beachy soft waves.  This was the result of my first real attempt.

Maybe I should review self-tanner next?! Sorry for the strange combination of flash and lack of human contact due to my refusal to go outside when they tell me it's 3 degrees out. But you get the idea....

All kidding aside, while I am not any of the Gisele or vintage pin-up inspiration, it was a pretty decent first attempt.  For those novices like me who want to achieve the perfect soft wave, I have a tip:

*Start with dirty AND straight hair-Even though I have a natural wave to my hair, I wait the day or so after I straighten and blow-dry it to do this. I think having the natural, ahem, "texture" in your hair the day or so after you wash it is necessary to get the curl to hold.  That in combination with the fact that I think you need to have soft, straight, shiny hair to get the curls just right.  Might seem silly or counterintuitive but I read an article interviewing Sara Jessica Parker's hairstylist years ago who lamented that the straightening and then curling is what gave her the shiny, gorgeous bounce to her signature curls.  I think he is right.  The cuticle just won't lay flat or have as much bounce or body in most cases if you start from wet hair. If you are having trouble getting that shine or volume in your waves, try this. 

 As far as what I used to create this look, I find that a clampless curling iron works best for me.  They are super easy to use and create a soft wave in a pinch.  I use an Enzo Milano one and it seems to work just fine, although I hear fabulous things about the Sultra "Bombshell" one sold at Sephora too. See below for my newest lemming.

Sultra Bombshell Clampless Iron

(taken from sultra.com)

After the clampless iron, I spray the curls with a bit of L'oreal Enett hairspray, a hairstylist's favorite. I absolutely LOATHE hairspray and want to most often pull out my hair than spray it on my head, but I found this step is a necessary evil, and with Elnett I must say your hair does still stay soft and touchable. 

Does anyone have any other tips for making the perfect wave? I would love to know!

xoxo 

I'm Back..and it took me long enough!

So I have decided after a long absence due to personal circumstances, I really want to blog again! I hope everyone that reads this will keep the look out for my new and regular posts. Starting on the right foot for the new year, except for this darn cold that won't go away!

Hope all is well in the blogging world. I have some fabulous items, reviews and post ideas coming up. As for this quick post, I wanted to show you what I just bought. It's handmade, and SUPER AFFORDABLE (even though she ships from across the pond) from a very sweet girl I met through my blog, Amy (aka GlamourRouge).

Here is what I ordered-

I just adore the refreshing soft mint color. It won't stop snowing here on the East coast, and seeing single digits on the thermometer has given me a case of the winter blues. I say, bring on fun spring colors and accessories!

Check out her Etsy store. It has some super cute stuff. I got this shipped to the U.S for only like $20!

GlamourRouge Etsy 

Disclaimer: Since I haven't posted in a while I just wanted to go over that I am not affiliated with the store or the lovely girl that makes these things in any way, just a simple shout out because she is sweet!

See you all soon!

xoxo

Update, Contest Winner and See you in July!

Sorry to all the fantastic people who I have met through this blog and who read it, I realize I have been more than MIA. I have been going through a lot in my personal life, and really didn't have time to update. Just wanted to let you all know that I am going to pick a contest winner today, contact them, and then take the month off. Not that my personal or professional life outside the blog has been bad, but I have some stuff to sort out before I can commit myself to this blog again. I am going to be gone for June as a little "summer break" and I will see you all back here in July. I hope you all stick around and I'll see you in July!!!

Any of my fabulous ladies I have made and become friends with on here..email me so I can add you to Facebook. I hate not keeping up with you and I usually do keep up with FB more than anything. If not, see all you gorgeous girls in July! A HUGE contest for everyone and regular posts then. Happy June everyone!

xoxo! 

Lush Birthday Contest Time!

Since it is May (the best month of the year), my birthday is in a couple weeks (the 27th to be exact) and I have been MIA because of finals..I thought I would have a contest to celebrate! Since it seems you all love LUSH as much as I do, I thought I would purchase a cute set from LUSH to give away : ) It might not be your birthday, but it is mine, so I chose this gift to give to you to celebrate.

Pictures of the gift will be up this weekend when I pick it up. For now, here it is...

It's adorable, isn't it?!

It contains:

• Butterball 
• Honey Bee Bath Bomb 
• Blackberry
• Avobath
• Big Blue Bath Bomb 
• Think Pink Bath Bomb 

My only rule is that you have to be a follower. Just leave a comment, any comment akin to "enter me" and it's as simple as that! Anywhere in the world is fine, and you can enter up to once a day. I will use randomizer.org to pick the winner. The contest will be up until the end of my birthday month, so you have until June 1st to enter.

xoxo

Work Break/ I Heart Mirrored Furniture

Taking a couple more days off to attempt to get the massive amount of work done for finals. Am I the only one that has no motivation to do anything when it is so nice out? I also have an old friend from college visiting, so I have found myself away from this thing for far too long. After my finals end Wednesday, I'll be back to regular.

Here is my setup. Insert large Starbucks cup and a dishevled, often makeup-free me into the picture, and this is where I have lived for the past week or so.

A big shoutout to anything furniture/accessory related that is mirrored. *Drool* This is from Target too. A lot of times mirrored furniture is expensive, but if you look around Target they have some gorgeous affordable options that I have everywhere on my desk. Loves it! 

Talk this week my darlings! Miss you all!

xoxo

Gorgeous New Product Alert: Chanel Lipstick and Gloss in Bondi

When I heard that Chanel was doing a limited-edition Aqualumiere lipstick and lipgloss named after the beautiful and famous Bondi Beach in Austrailia...I almost hypervenilated. TMI, but my middle name is Bondi! Yes..Logan Bondi..strange, I know!  It is my mother's maiden name and since my family names children's middle names from last names in the family, I realized this lipstick and gloss was for me the minute I read about it.

Cut to the Chanel counter at Nordstrom's and the lady working Shishedo helping us and not knowing what I am talking about when I go to buy. The anticipation was killing me..stupid Chanel lady off somewhere hiding! Well, eventually the two very sweet ladies did find both the lipstick and gloss for us and my mom and I wound up buying both. And let me tell you, I was more than pleasantly surprised when I saw the color. I was prepared for this thing to be a really fug color, and still prepared to buy it because of the name. Uh, Chanel AND my middle name? I'll glop it on and look like a baby prostitute if I get my hands on this. I don't even wear lipstick, but I was a woman on a mission to spend more money on designer makeup I won't use. Don't dare to stop me!

This wasn't the case though. No fug color or baby prostitute makeup for me. It is a beautiful bronzy, rose, neutral color that really would work on everyone. Both are in the Aqualumiere formula, which is the very  sheer wash of color formula from Chanel. If you are looking for a pigmented option, this is not it. But it is so universally gorgeous, I think everyone  might like the gloss or the lipstick. We bought a lipstick to my aunt (a Bondi) that night as a hostess gift for dinner, and my cousin's and I were musing on how pretty it was. Sure, we were excited for the name, but the fact is that my cousin's, aunt, mom and I range in skin tone from the most super fair blonde hair blue eyes (me) to the darkest Mediteranian skin tone/features, brown hair, brown eyes like my cousin...and everything in between. And playing with the lipstick, we all saw that it would work for all of us. This is one of the few items I can say that many skin tones (not just mine) would really like this color.

My particular favorite is the gloss. Mostly because I am a gloss girl, but also because it is slightly lighter in color than the lipstick. Both are flecked with gold shimmer, and it is especially apparent in the gloss, which really lights up the lips.

Bondi Lipstick

Bondi Beach Lipgloss

NOTE:They are pulling a little more orange or coral to me in the flash than I think they are in person. I see them as more neutral than in my camera. 

Lipstick below and gloss above

Again, they are both sheer washes of color, and the lipstick feels more like a gloss stick hybrid than a creamy opaque lipstick. But I think this would be nice for summer or those that don't care for a heavy lipstick. The lipstick also contains SPF 15, so I see it as a perfect idea for summer. They have a bit more color than the swatch shows up on my hand above though. I will add lip pictures later when I throw some makeup on today.

I was told this was being sold for a limited time until May 2nd or so, but I am unsure if this is true or not, but if you are interested, check this out soon ladies. I think it is not to be missed!

xoxo