February 28, 2013

FNO2013 in the US: Forever Gone

Yesterday Fashion Night Out have sent out a newsletter, posted on their Facebook website and on their website: http://fashionsnightout.com/  - that this event will only be continuing internationally and is officially in hiatus here in the US.


Although I have only gone the last two years to this event and have seen how this was going down the hill, I am not all surprised they have decided to not continue it anymore here in the US, especially here in NY.

Last year was the worst FNO event I think just from the news the next day after. It was embarrassing to see how the headlines of this awesome one night of shopping, fashion and celebrity meet-ups turn into a loud, rowdy block party in New York. Here's the link to that awful headliner: http://ny.racked.com/archives/2012/09/10/is_fashions_night_out_dangerous.php
That's only one out of a few that the local websites have posted about FNO2012. I'm sure if you Google some more you will find a few more, but I do not really want to give them anymore negativity since I do love this event. 

I am a little bit heartbroken and yet I do understand why - besides the reason they have given us!

There are tons of events around that goes on during Fashion Week, we all just need to look around more. Such as:

- Check the stores you like and see if they have any special events for their loyal customers! 
- Also check the local fashion websites or local news in your area and they might have a list of what upcoming events are going on!
- Don't forget about Facebook, Twitter and Instagram which can be buzzing with tons of info straight from the consumers or companies themselves!
- Just keep an eye out from all the fashion sites, local newspapers and social media few weeks before and you should be able to find at least one event you can go to.



February 20, 2013

Bauble Bar Pop-Up Shop

so i just recently found out about Baublebar: which is actually an online shopping website of accessories. They also have a physical store in NYC but for now you can find them at their pop-up shop in Meatpacking District, 344 W 14th St (at 9th Ave). They will be there until Mar.3rd! So if you're in NY, don't forget to check them out since they have tons of awesome jewelries out there!

I have not bought anything from their online store yet but I see after signing up you get $10 off with your first purchase online, and you get points every time you shop and use your points later on for your next purchase.
I'll insert a pic of the card they included in my bag that shows for every 10 points = $1 in baublebar credit. You can read more about this on their website under "The Vault" which I guess what they call their rewards points program(?)


Looking for a nice statement necklace? They have tons of choices for you! An awesome chunky bracelet or skinny ones to layer for some arm candy? They got tons of those too! Earrings, rings and personalized necklaces: they got it!


I think I was there for an hour and would've been there longer if I didn't tell myself: "I am just here for a statement necklace...and maybe a bracelet or two!"

Nevada Crescent Bib $36
bracelets $15, watch from QVC
I wasn't really sure what I wanted: neon, gold, rose gold, silver, colored gems and so on. What's great about this shop is I can try out the necklaces and bracelets on, check myself out on the full size mirrors on both sides of the stores and see how it looks on me. The girls at Bauble Bar are very helpful with anything you need. If you're looking for a particular piece not in the store, they can help you order it online!
 Looking for a different color, they can check that for you! Their gorgeous pieces are individually packaged in a nice black velvet fabric pouch. Prices are not what you expect. They're actually pretty affordable and could range from $10-$75 from what I saw in their store. If you go on their website and Facebook they do have deals happening for more bargains, and as you shop more you get to use your "Vault" points for future purchases! 


this is what I got in my box! not bad for FREE!
Before you do leave the shop, don't forget to leave your e-mail with them and you get to pick one of their "Hello Gorgeous" boxes with a surprise inside! 

I'd definitely need to check this site more, and probably go back to the pop-up store and buy some more. I'm a total accessory fiend and I can't help it when my name is all over that hot pink beaded chunky necklace or that emerald jewel cocktail ring! Could you?!?








February 13, 2013

Battle of the Hair Ties: Twistband vs Fly Ties

I have only tried two brands of hair ties. One is very much advertised by the monthly beauty box subscription company, Birchbox, which are the Twistband hair ties, and the other one is by Fine Featherheads called Fly Ties.



This was so much talked about in the Youtube world, after receiving it in one of their monthly Birchbox. It claims this will not leave a crease on your hair after putting it up on a ponytail, no tangled hairs and how it looks so chic on your wrist compared to a regular Goody hair tie!
During the time I was subscribed to Birchbox, I did get to try one of these hair ties from Twistband. I was very excited to get one and finally try it before I give in on the hype and get me a bunch of it! Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the Twistband hair ties. I had pretty long thick hair at the time and after one use, it lost elasticity! It never went back to it's original shape, nice and thick like the pic above shows, after one use! So when I wear it on my wrist it looks like I tied a piece of fabric on my wrist, and it didn't really look nice. I kept using it for a while to see maybe I just need to adjust to it but I was only wearing it around the house since the one I got was an orange color with lace print hair tie and after stretching it out a few times it just looks like an orange and white fabric on my wrist and hair and all twisted up - not really pretty! 
After that month, I see how this hair tie starts to trend and is expanding! I see Sephora has their own hair tie line, I see it in Walgreen's, I'm not sure what brand - BUT I was not about to buy any of them because I see how this is just a joke! I can find my own piece of fabric, tie a knot and use it as a hair tie - that's how I felt what Twistband made me feel about this line of hair ties! 

Until recently at the Duane Street Hotel Bloggers Lounge I got introduced to the brand Fine Featherheads who are the original in feather hair extensions, these are awesome and very pretty by the way, you should check it out! So the girls from the Bloggers Lounge have included a set of the Fine Featherheads line of hair ties, called "Fly Ties", in my goodie bag . They claim the same thing which are no crease on the hair, no tangles and it looks stylish on the wrist with it's nice wide band. I was skeptical but I was not about to just put this all the way in the back of my drawer without trying! And OMG! I love these Fly Ties! It kept it shape and elasticity! I have been putting my hair up on a ponytail on and off for a week now with one of these Fly ties and the shape, the hold, the wide band is all still there! Plus the ends were not coming off unlike the Twistband. This Fly Ties are pretty sturdy and truly proves its claims. 

I still am skeptical with other brands coming out with their own line of hair ties out there but the only way to know if they work or not is to try them out. For now I will stick with my Fly Ties and highly recommend it to everyone if you want to try out these crease free ties. 


February 8, 2013

Duane Street Hotel Bloggers Lounge Event


As most of you fashionistas out there know, yesterday was the beginning of New York's Fashion Week. A lot of events and activities around the city are going on for Fashion Week, and for us girls who didn't get any invitation to see any runway shows, one of them is the Duane Street Hotel Bloggers Lounge for all fashion and beauty bloggers! It's an event that ran from Feb.7-10 that gets beauty and fashion bloggers to have a chance to meet and greet with participating fashion and beauty companies.   


I actually saw this event posted on Per-fekt's Facebook Page since they are one of the featured companies to the event. As a big fan of Per-fekt, I always check their page too for any sample giveaways and sales *per-fekt stalker fan!*
Unfortunately when I got there yesterday, Per-fekt was not scheduled to be there until Saturday! On the bright side I got to meet some lovely ladies who had really awesome accessories that are fun and stylish!
First off was the awesome girls from Style House PR that had a table full of feathers for your hair! I am so into accessorizing my hair especially with fun colorful feather hair extensions from Fine Featherheads! "The innovators of the Original Feather Hair Extension."
You can style the feather extension just like your own hair; curl it, wash it or keep it straight! It's a nice pop of color to the hair with the bright color choices they have!
I forgot to take pictures while she did one on my hair but I'll insert an Instagram picture and don't forget to click here to check their website!
follow them on Instagram: stylehousePR 
Not only they sell feather for your hair but they also had those fun colorful chalk hairs for those days you have a girls night in or out! Or if you're going to an awesome fun party. These chalks do get messy and what Ali, from Style House PR, suggested to wear an old shirt while doing this. Check out Fine Featherheads website for more tips, products and how-to videos! Or their Facebook page, here!

Next table was from Cultures of Love and I got to chit chat with Miss Evie Phillips, the CEO/ founder of Cultures Of Love!
To explain this clearly and not mislead any of you about this, click here for the link to their Facebook page that has a good description under their About page.

On the table were an awesome tote bag with tribal pattern and silver hardware and an OMG an iPad holder clutch (which was my favorite of all!) in the same pattern with a gold hardware designed by Aimee Kestenberg; a colorful beaded bracelet with badass silver spikes on them, she calls it her 'Love Posse bracelets' by Marcella Leone (which I forgot to take a pic again! *got too excited being my first blog event!), and awesome necklaces (shown on the picture below) from Eva Shaw Designs. They are a gold and white stone drap necklace, and a black diamond necklace.
I told her that I recently just started with my blog and I was hoping to get more incite with the blogging industry from this event. I told her though I love love love all the featured products she brought to the event but my blog mostly focuses on my search for the best beauty, face and make-up, products out there. She told me the best advice being a new blogger and that was to be the blogger that is an expert on one thing than to tackle every aspect of fashion, hair , nails and make-up. And to quote what my husband said after I told him this was "You definitely don't want to be the jack of all trades, master of none." - I will dwell on this more on my next blog for now let's focus on the event!

by Eva Shaw Designs
On her table were awesome handcrafted jeweries from Eva Shaw Designs, love posse bracelets from Marcella Leone and such pretty handbags from Aimee Kestenberg! And she was all giving this away with an instagram contest that will last until Sunday. So stop by now at Duane Street Hotel Bloggers Lounge and join in the giveaway! These pieces are so one-of-a-kind, stylish and just awesome!
it's an iPad clutch!
 bag by Aimee Kestenberg


by Aimee Kestenberg








On the second floor, Kembrel set a pop-up shop! Kembrel is an online boutique based from Philadelphia that features different independent, local designers. So if you want to have a nice statement, one-of-a-kind piece in your closet, you must check out their site!
That was exciting and I forgot to go back and get a piece from a few of the products they brought. No worries since we can all shop on their online site, here!

So if you guys are in New York and not bothered by the snow and wind, go check out the Bloggers Lounge at Duane Street Hotel. Hey if this weather gets worse what's worse than checking in at a nice posh hotel in Tribeca?!? According to Duane Street Hotels Facebook the event will be going on until Sunday 10am-6pm!  




February 4, 2013

January 2013 Favorites

I got inspired by the beauty gurus on Youtube on how they gladly share their monthly favorites and they were very informative and helpful! They're videos have actually helped me decide on what to try next. It could be a  lip balm, lotion, Vitamin supplements, books, nail polish and so on that I have seen in the drugstore but have never really heard a lot of. Seeing their reviews on it truly helps with a few of my shopping decisions. Hopefully my monthly favorite helps you with your own decision making or research before grabbing them at the drugstore. This is not any way to be bragging but I just would like to share with you all what has helped me improved my beauty routine as I learn through the little knickknacks and rules of makeup, beauty and healthy lifestyle. Share with me down in the comments what's in your monthly favorites of January, maybe I'll go try them out and maybe become my February fave!

OK off to the list! Let's start with what all us ladies looove - makeup!
For this year I am sticking with the saying "less is more" with my face! All these drugstore brands: Revlon, L'oreal, Maybelline, CoverGirl and Wet n'Wild came out with tons of new products this month, and that was super overwhelming! I am no pro on testing these new products *though I love to try out every new lip product out there! I just can't sacrifice my still-healing-acne-scarred face with all these new makeup formulation they have. I will stick to my Bare Minerals Foundation and let the pros do their reviews on them.

1- Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Crush: When I only have a few minutes in the morning, this is what I have been grabbing from my dresser. I love how it has that dark berry color which has been the color of Fall/Winter, and as the day progress this leaves an awesome stain to make me look still put together. It's easy to put on and very moisturizing.

2- Maybelline Color Tattoos in "Bad to the Bronze": This is my go-to color when I just need a little color on my lids but still looking natural. Great for the weekend when I am running errands so I don't look like a ghost walking down the aisles of Food Dynasty on a Saturday morning. "Inked in Pink": Are for the days I'd be out all day and need some color to my face that will last. This still has that natural look to the face but I love to play and add a little gold on top to this and it gives me that rose gold eyeshadow color, which I am into lately! "Barely Beige": Are for the inner corners and eyebrow highlight for those nights I am wearing a smokey eye. This is also great wearing alone for day and it gives me that wide awake look. Add some mascara and my face just lits up!
These Color Tattoos are great for a quick eye look and if you want to go dramatic they have really great color choices from this line which I would eventually get later.

3- Wet n'Wild 3 Shadow Palette in "Knock On Wood": Another great go-to palette of mine this month. I love how this is so pigmented. I can do a day-to-night eye look with just this palette and sometimes I just use the dark brown eye shadow as my liner also.

4- NYX Triple Eyeshadow with Golden/ Rust/ Walnut Bronze: I just use the "Walnut Bronze eye shadow here as an all over shade on my lids when I am going for a brown smokey eye look. And that Gold eye shadow is what I mix with the Color Tattoo, Inked in Pink, but I'm still playing with that.

5- Diorshow Mascara: I got this mascara as part of a Dior set my sister has given me last year. I just fell in love with this mascara and have been savouring every use! But since all my other sample mascaras have dried out, I had been using this a lot this month. I love this mascara and I will be so broken hearted when this one dries out on me =( I love how this elongates and separates my lashes. It's not clumpy and the brush gets my bottom lashes great.

6- Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil: I got this sample from my January Ipsy glambag and I have been using this on my face as my night cream and I see a ton of improvement with my skin. My dry patches has gone and my face feels so soft and smooth. I haven't had a lot of break outs since I have been using this too. My deep acne scars are still there but hopefully that just needs more time. I have been adding this to my body lotion too and I can feel how soft and smooth my legs and arms feel afterwards! I tell my husband this is the magic oil that will give him smoother feet and his dry heels have improved too!


7- Maybelline Dream Lumi highlighting concealer in "Honey": I found out about this product from Youtube Guru: MissGlamorazzi and I have been loving it! It really do covers my dark circles and brightens up my face! It really does the job with what it claims.

8- Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in "Frappe": This was also in my January's Ipsy Glambag and I love this nail polish! I don't have a lot of nude nail polish and this one, though I need to put three coats it gives my nails that nice healthy nude color to it. When I need a break from all the glitter polish, this is what I put on.


9- Bath&Body Works Forever Red Scent Fragrance: This was from my Influenster Cosmo Voxbox in Nov-Dec2012. It has "opulent notes of fiery red pomegranate and delicate peche de vigne, a rare and fleeting French peach. Soft petals of red osmanthus give way to notes of addictive velvety marshmallow and a surprising finale of rich vanilla rum that leaves an unforgettable impression." I love how it smells light enough but not overwhelmingly sweet for the winter, and as it stays on your skin and the day progresses the scent just becomes more like a natural sweet scent of your skin. That might not be the ideal description to it but in short it doesn't smell like you are wearing a heavy musky perfume under your coat. 

For my non-beauty Faves:

10- my DIY Glittery Gold iPhone case! If you'd like to know how I did my phone case please click here. I have been getting a lot of compliments with this case and I am totally in love with it too! I love how loud and gold and sparkly it is but it is not in-your-face since only the backing of my phone is sparkly. It's not all-around glittered case so if my phone is not facing down, you can't even tell it has gold glitters on it. If you can't find the perfect case out there, go DIY it! 

11- The Body Shop Green Tea & Lemon Home Fragrance Oil: I have been burning this oil a lot in January and this makes the house smells fresh and so clean! It's not too strong that it will overwhelm your nose. It's so subtle and you only need a few drops, like 3-6 drops per burning one tea light candle.

12 - Sencha Green Tea: And lastly my green tea. I have been drinking this a lot lately since I have been trying to limit my latte intake which had made me gain weight...a lot last year! I just love tea in the winter because it warms up my hands and it balances out the sweetness from my cupcakes or any sweet treats I eat for breakfast or snack. 


13- MyFitnessPal: click here to see more info on this app. I have downloaded this app on my phone early January and this has helped me with my calorie intake. And yes on those days I have enough calorie to spare I would do cheat and have a cupcake or a chocolate for my sweet tooth craving. If you go online you can join a lot of forums and share and ask other members your stories or anything about your journey to weight loss, maintenance or healthy lifestyle. I love how this has kept me in track on my goal.

14- Zumba Fitness Rush for Xbox Kinect : So besides watching my calorie intake, I have been doing Zumba Kinect every other day this past January and though the game tells me I have burnt 1000+ calories from dancing for 45mins, I usually enter less than that since I am exactly not bouncing around as much as the dancer on the video but knowing I burnt calories after dancing makes me feel much much better than just sitting around the house. I have noticed how I feel better about myself and the sweat I get from dancing is just great. And I get to do this from the comfort of my own home and nobody watching me sweat like a pig! I am interested in joining one of the classes in the city later in the year when I don't feel like I am about to die half way in the class. It is a great way to burn some calories than just doing a usual exercise routine.


I am hoping I'd be able to do this every year this 2013. These products may have been out for a long time now but this is not about what is trending out right now or what's the newest product out there. These are stuff that I recently just found out and have been using it a lot and in the end I can share you ladies my in depth review on it since I have been using it for the past month! Til next month and don't forget to share your monthly favorites down in the comments below!