It is impossible for me to go to Sephora and not spend money. I’m a lot like a cat. I see something shiny and I need it (please someone bless me with infinite money or a rich man so I never have to feel guilty about unnecessary purchases ever, ever again).

Anyway, a month ago I was dragged (ever so gently, of course) into Sephora by the invisible “ooh, new lipsticks by NARS, wow that nailpolish, what a great advertisement she is so beautiful I want to be her” magnetic force and ended up inside the 34th Street Sephora. I ended up spending about $300 bucks. Was it worth it? Fuck yea it was! Of course, the hole in my wallet wasn’t really part of the whole celebration phase but, the products I got lived up to their name (and well, price) and I wanted to share my new makeup treasures with all of you. 

CoverFX Total Cover Cream Foundation, $42 – This foundation lives up to the name and its an alternative to DermaBlend (which you have to order online – ugh, pain!) Complete coverage, matte finish and long lasting. Do you really need anything else out of a foundation? I don’t really like to wear a lot of makeup during the week but this is perfect for a night out when you need full coverage and a flawless skin finish.

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick (Color: Mascate), $26 – Okay, I’ll be honest I went to Tenjune in the MeatPacking District and lost it. Clutch bags are the enemy when it comes to expensive lipsticks but, from the day I did wear it I was in love.

I have this lipstick in the nude shades but decided to try a deep red and this was absolutely perfect. I will be repurchasing it (and putting a keychain/padded lock on it to avoid losing it of course).

PhotoDynamic Liquid Red Light Eye Lift Lotion, $65 – Expensive, yes but worth every single penny. Under eye circles? I don’t even know what that is anymore. This stuff is magic.

YSL Rouge Volupte, $34 - It’s Yves Saint Laurent. Do I really need to go on? It’s really moisturizing. I found it to be more like a lip gloss than a lipstick.

Moral of the story, I am weak and no match for Sephora.

I’ve always had a passion for personal expression and stay on top of seasonal fashion trends but I generally do my own thing when I shop. These are a few things I’m loving right now and keep obsessively buying.

• Tie-Dye Crop Tops – Well for one, they’re fun and bring back memories of summer camp but, they’re also great for music festival season. Perfect with a pair of jeans or high waisted shorts. 
• Ripped Studded Shorts – I have tons of muscle and band tees and ripped studded shorts are their soulmate!
• Boyfriend Jeans – Do I even need to say it? Comfortable!
• Midi Dresses – Dual purpose for evening or day wear and overall its a really sleek and elegant look. I’m not particularly tall but they still compliment my figure. An alternative to maxi dresses for the shorty pies and great for layering under a cardigan, a denim jacket or a leatherette.
• Dip Dye Heels/Open-Toe Shoes – “It’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes — that’s why you sometimes need really special shoes!” – Sex and The City 

Forever21 released their Forever 21 x Cassie line. Perfect for music festival season! I’ll definitely be buying a few things for the Movement Festival I am going to next month.

Absolutely love that they split the line into two coastal styles: East Side & West Side.

Forever21 x Cassie: West Side 

Forever21 x Cassie: East Side

I used to draw but somehow, I lost my artistic ability between the transition from high school to college. Now I just admire other people’s work.

I recently ordered some prints from this lovely LA based artist and tattooist Wendy Ortiz. Her work is absolutely enchanting. It was impossible to resist buying a print for my bed room.

I decided to order this print. Worth every penny.

Read the rest of this entry »

Positive affirmations from my tea. My mornings speak to me.

Talented individuals deserve credit where it is due. Meet my graphic designer Richard’s street wear line, The Good Kin.

Spring 2013 line will be launching soon! Stay tuned.

Read the rest of this entry »

Originality is extinct. It seems rare you come across anything that isn’t a reproduction of something else, particularly style (something that should be so personal). No one takes risks anymore and people care far too much if they’re being judged. I blame social norms. The implication that one decision is greater than the other (that’s bullshit by the way).

I think that’s why I’m so inspired by Iggy Azalea. She is fearless in her style. Her clothes never wear her, she wears her clothes. Plus, her curves would drive any sane man insane. She’s absolutely perfect.

With that said, learn from Queen Iggy and wear your personality.

For me that’s irrational purchases of mustache necklaces and Batman underwear (because you can never have enough).

I have been spending a lot of time in the city lately (its hard to believe I lived there two years ago).

A few weeks ago, my friends and I decided to try out TAOs and all I can say about this place is: amazing. I wanted to post about this because not only was the atmosphere and ambiance great but, the food lived up to the hype (and am a complete foodie snob, particularly when it comes to Asian Fusion). Highly, highly recommended for those of you that love a good sushi roll or just want to parlay with your friends. Be prepared to spend a lot of money but the experience and the food (OH THE FOOD) is definitely worth it.

(I wanted to take this Buddha with me. Great backyard accent and it’d definitely scare the neighbors)

I decided to eat the Pad Thai Noodles which I managed to finish (don’t judge, cheat days are a big fucking deal).

TAOS NYC
42 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022
(Between Park & Madison Avenues)
Telephone: (212) 888-2288

Finding a skin routine that works isn’t easy (unexpected breakouts, I’ve been there), but I think there are some fundamentals all women should know in order to achieve healthy, happy and clear skin. Ironically enough it has little to do with what products you’re using (although we’ll get to that later on in this post), it has way more to do with what you’re consuming.

DIET

Your body shows the world what you eat. In other words, if you eat bad foods you’ll likely suffer the consequences physically and in your appearance. What should you do?

Drink More Water - As yummy as soda, juice and fast food are those are likely the things that are causing breakouts. Start to drink more water!  It’s so easy to forget to drink water but, it will not only help your skin but flush out your system from all those toxins!

Tips To Remember To Drink Water: I was reading an interview on Alicia Keys and she puts a reminder in her iPhone to drink water or do what I do, keep a water bottle at your desk or on your dresser.

Minimize/Cut The Fast Food – Fast food in all its wonderful deliciousness will not only make you gain weight but its greasy and will create unhealthy oils in your skin which triggers breakouts and pimples! Start to eat clean and add greens and fruits to your diet. Have fun and create smoothies or research healthy recipes! Google is your friend when it comes to transforming seemingly boring foods into fun foods.

Add Coconut Oil To Your Day - Coconut oil is all the craze right now and rightfully so. Ever since I started consuming a tea spoon of coconut oil once per day, I’ve noticed a significant difference in my skin. It’s glowing and I’m not breaking out. Not only has it helped with my skin but my hair is growing tremendously! Oh, and did I mention it trims your waist line. Yea, buy this stuff.

PRODUCTS

What products do I use? Well, because I have completely changed my diet, I don’t use too much but I believe this will hold true to anyone (unless you were blessed with clear skin).

Clarisonic - The Clarisonic is expensive because it works. You get a deeper clean and you can buy cleanser heads specific to your needs at Sephora! It’s a skin investment you won’t regret!

ORIGINS Face Cleanser - I don’t use any other cleanser and I don’t plan to unless Origins goes out of business (I pray to the heavens it never does). Origins (owned by Estee Lauder) products are known for their organic and natural ingredients. Not only is it vegetarian and vegan friendly,  it works almost immediately. Considering I used to work there, Origins employees are highly educated on Origins products and can guide you on which products you’ll need.

I recommend purchasing the cleanser for your skin type and the Modern Friction facial scrub/exfoliator which is good for any skin type.

Extra Virgin Witch Hazel - Extra virgin witch hazel is great for preventing breakouts and it also minimizes the appearance of blemishes and dark spots. It’s way more economical than the expensive dark mark serums at Sephora and Macy’s. I used to spend $100/mo. on my serum. Now I spend $20/mo.!

Australian Tea Tree Oil – Perfect for hormonal breakouts or cystic acne. Australian Tea Tree Oil can be purchased at your local health food store. I’d recommend buying this at Whole Foods or Trader Joes. Its an alternative to breakout creams like the Clinique Emergency Acne Solutions cream!