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Love Beauty Boxes? Build Your Own at Birchbox’s First NYC Storefront!

By on Aug 9, 2014 in Beauty, Life | 0 comments

During my recent visit to New York, I knew I should visit Birchbox’s brick and mortar store at some point. During my subscription the past couple years, Birchbox’s beauty samples have clued me into many new brands and products that I would never have known about otherwise. I would never forgive myself if I passed up the opportunity to visit their inaugural storefront! Birchbox’s first location is in the quaint neighborhood of Soho, surrounded by many other boutiques and Dominique Ansel Bakery (this is important, because a post-shopping cronut or pastry should be required.)

While I browsed around, I took plenty of photos for those who are far outside of Manhattan, but curious about Birchbox’s new digs. Click to view the photos and read more about the overall in-person Birchbox experience!

The Struggle for the Perfect SPF: A Review of Josie Maran’s SPF 47

By on Jul 5, 2014 in Beauty, Product Reviews | 0 comments

I have extremely fair skin, and the sun petrifies me for that reason. I still vividly remember that one horrible day during my teenage years I decided it would be a swell idea to visit a water park. Less than halfway through the morning, I ended up burned all over despite my trusty SPF 100. Beet colored skin is not a good look, y’all. Despite this, regular SPF was not a fixture in my daily morning routine… seems absurd, right? So, after reading plenty of horror stories about how even momentary sun exposure can cause the advancing of wrinkles, fine lines – not to mention skin cancer, eek! – I set on a search for the perfect SPF to incorporate in my daily routine. First in line? A trusty sample of Josie Maran’s Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47.

Links I Loved this May

By on Jun 1, 2014 in Fashion, Life | 0 comments

Is it seriously the month of June already? That’s outrageous. I mean, wasn’t it New Year’s Eve just Yesterday? No? (Bueller??) Crap, there goes those resolutions. For lack of a better description, May was an interesting month, filled with busyness in other areas of life, leaving this blog woefully neglected for a period of time. One of my favorite ways to procrastinate will always be browsing the internet, though, so I’m definitely not lacking in fun links to share! Check out some of my random internet highlights of May. 

Quote of the Week: Audrey Hepburn

By on Jun 1, 2014 in Quotes | 1 comment

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

Photo Series: Cherry Blossoms Barely in Bloom

By on May 25, 2014 in Fashion | 2 comments

It’s been so long since I’ve posted a photo series that even I almost forgot that I’m a photographer! Kidding, kind of… while I don’t shoot nearly as often as I’d like, back in March I explored a local park with model Ali Griner. The park, located in Encino, is infamous for its cherry blossom trees that start blooming right around springtime. Sadly, during our shoot, the cherry blossoms still weren’t abundantly blooming, but that didn’t stop us from walking all around the park and getting some good shots! Click through to see my favorites from our quick session. 

Review: How #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso Got My Lazy Butt Back to Work

By on May 19, 2014 in Life | 2 comments

Confessional time: I’ve been in a self-proclaimed “blogging slump” for the past month, or maybe longer. Every time I sit down to write a new post, I can practically hear my brain whining, “I don’t know what to write about. None of my ideas are sticking… every idea is boring once I get started on it.” Clearly, it was time for an intervention, but I had no idea it would come in the form of #GIRLBOSS, written by Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso. While #GIRLBOSS is largely promoted as an autobiographical account of Amoruso’s rise from a small Ebay store to Nasty Gal as it is today, the book is so much more than that. It’s a comforting hug, a reassuring, “You’re awesome, you can achieve whatever the hell you want,” while simultaneously kicking you in the ass to actually get to work. The excerpt below, written in chapter one, perfectly sums up what I mean:

Hopelessly in Love with… Nishe

By on Apr 11, 2014 in Fashion | 7 comments

Nishe is a brand with designs fit for even the girliest of girls. I have the authority to make such a bold statement because I wear dresses every damn day. I wish I was kidding when I say that my friends all exclaim, “OMG, you’re wearing pants? I’ve never seen you wear pants!” whenever my legs are covered up by a pair of jeans. It would be more admirable if my decision to ban pants was made with the intention of curating a signature style for myself, but really what it boils down to is… I’m a lazy sloth. The idea of wearing pants is fun. In my reality, wearing pants means struggling to put together a coordinated outfit in the morning when I could be using that extra 5 minutes on another snooze cycle. Dresses are much more forgiving. All it takes is throwing one over my head, pulling on my shoes & tights, and it’s out the door for the day. I’ve been particularly in love with Nishe’s designs lately. They have tons of pretty dresses with silhouettes that hug the narrowest part of the waist, and adorable prints. I felt like sharing my favorite dresses of theirs today!

The Pressure to be Pinterest Perfect

By on Apr 10, 2014 in Life | 1 comment

Pinterest: it’s a trap! At the surface, Pinterest is a practical way to save your favorite ideas and photos. Don’t be fooled – this is all part of its sneaky little trap. It lulls you into a hypnotic daze of houses with immaculate artwork hung upon stark white walls, freshly baked fruit tartlets, and plain tees that cost half a paycheck’s worth. Soon, your idea of a fun weekend is attempting to bake a layered rainbow cake, and inevitably ending up on a Pinterest fail website. (To the unicorn girls of the world who are able to successfully bake a rainbow cake, I apologize. Also, please overnight me a slice.)