Makeup Brushes: Cleansing Tutorial

It may have never occurred to you, but it's so super important to make sure you're cleaning your makeup brushes on a regular basis.  Go take a look at them right now and I'm sure you'll see eyeshadows and bronzer dusted over the tops, and probably even caked in deep within the bristles if you've never cleaned them before.  But today's the day you start taking care of them as you would the hair on your own head.  Two reasons why it's important to take good care of your brushes are:

1.  To prolong their life!  You paid so much for that really awesome set of brushes that polish off your look perfectly, so cleaning them regularly will help them last way longer than they normally would.  A well kept makeup brush can last anywhere from six months to two years, so you should want to get the most life out of each of your expensive little beauty tools.

2.  For your own health!  With the constant buildup of makeup day after day, this can cause bacteria to grow, leading to clogged pores and unwanted breakouts. If you're all of a sudden noticing an array of acne popping up and can't pinpoint the culprit, take a close look at your brushes and you might find that they're long overdue for a cleaning.

Don't put it off any longer, because it's so super easy to clean them.  You can either buy a brush shampoo at beauty stores like Sephora or Ulta, or you can mix one of your facial cleansers with water and create your own wash. I like to use Sephora's Purifying Brush Shampoo available in stores for $6.

1.  Gather up all your brushes that are due for a cleaning.  You definitely want to grab the ones that you use everyday, and all others that have any makeup caked up in them.  If you've never cleaned your brushes before, definitely clean all of them now.

2.  Focusing on just one brush at a time, dampen it lightly with warm water.  You don't want it to be soaking wet, so just run it under the faucet for a few seconds.

3.  In a small bowl {I like to use my mini latte bowls from Anthropologie}, squeeze out some brush shampoo.  A little goes a long way so I only use two pumps for each brush, one if it's a smaller one like my eyeshadow brush.

Swirl your brush around in the bowl rotating between clockwise and counter-clockwise.  You'll start to see all the makeup coming out of the brush and collecting in the bottom of the bowl.

4.  Run your brush under the faucet again {using warm water} and use your fingers to rub the bristles to get off any excess makeup that may still be in them.

5.  Use a paper towel to squeeze out all the water from the brush.  Make sure it's as dry as you can get it!  Reshape the bristles and lay your brush flat to dry.

It'll be a while before your brushes dry completely, so an ideal time to start is right after you've applied your makeup in the morning so that they'll be dry and ready for you to use the next day.

Happy cleaning!

Fall Favorites

Fall is already completely in full swing, and I still can't decide how I feel about it.  Still in disbelief that summer just came and went so quickly, but there's just something about the Fall that gives me a nice feeling inside. I'm not quite ready to let go of summer just yet, so I decided to cheer myself up by making a list of things I really love about the Fall:

C. Wonder Hits Columbus Circle

Two weeks ago, The Shops at Columbus Circle proudly welcomed a new addition to their atmosphere with the grand opening of C. Wonder, the chic lifestyle brand by J. Christopher Burch.  The store is in rare form with only ten locations throughout the country as of now, making this one their second in New York City. {You can find their Flagship store in Soho between Spring St. and Crosby}.

The brand is very reminiscent of the Tory Burch style, making their main aesthetic "affordable glamour" for women with an eye for fashion.  And you certainly can't bypass the store without being lured in by their vibrant colors and exciting window displays.  The stores are beautifully merchandised with a variety of colorful products like clothing, jewelry, housewares, electronics, and other accessories, many of which can be monogrammed with your initials to add a personal touch.

After taking a few laps around the store and mentally noting everything that I want, I came up with my own list of the top 5 most fabulous items in the store:

1.  Pebbled Leather and Chain Double Wrap Bracelet - $58

2.  Small Ikat Cosmetics Pouch - $28

3.  City Bike in Fuschia - $249

4.  Enamel Initial Cuff - $48

5.  Large Nylon Easy Tote in Black - $78

MK

So I recently took a walk into the Michael Kors store and stopped in my tracks. Nearly everything for their fall collection is to die for, and I'm not one to carry bags, {I have last year's Uptown Astor Shoulder Tote sitting in my closet untouched} but I'd definitely make the exception for one of these beauty's. This year I have my eye on the Hamilton. Although I've seen this bag worn by many people, it's a piece that I wouldn't mind getting because there's such a variety of colors and styles, that the chances of someone else having an identical one as yours is slim. It's such a classic bag that's timeless and versatile. The hardest decision to make though is choosing which one. So many options! Burnished leather or python embossed? Black with gold hardware or navy with silver? Woven finish or studded detail?! For now I can't decide.. but what I do know is that my birthday's coming up and this bag is certainly at the top of my wish list :)

{via}

Microbead Mani

Remember back in March when I talked about the Caviar Manicure and how I couldn't wait to try it?  Well it finally became available at Sephora, but when it came down to it I really couldn't justify paying $25 for the kit.  I've been really into DIY projects lately, so that combined with my Pinterest obsession lead to my discovery of a more affordable way to try out this trend.  Instead of using the pricy stuff from Ciaté, I used Recollections brand microbeads that I got from Michaels for $3.99! They had shelves filled with all different colors, so I will definitely be making another trip back to grab some more.

Before starting, I prepped my nails with a nail strengthener and a base coat, and made sure I had my topcoat all ready for afterwards.

I only wanted to do an accent nail with the microbeads this first time, so for the other nails I chose a color that would pair well with it.  I used Essie's Little Brown Dress and Antique Copper microbeads.

After doing two coats of the polish, quickly dip your nail into the microbeads while it's still wet.  Flatten down the beads with your finger and gently wipe away any excess ones that have gathered around the edges or on top.  I didn't put a topcoat over this nail, but you can for extra durability.  

And, voila!

AG for Anthropologie

Yesterday I was lucky enough to get invited to attend a training event for AG Denim.  If you're a frequent Anthro customer, you're definitely familiar with the brand and probably have a pair or three in your wardrobe. Something that may sound familiar is our best seller, the Stevie, which is made exclusively for Anthropologie and is not sold anywhere else!

Anyway, a few co-workers and I went to this training seminar to get to know the brand a little better.  It was so interesting to learn about all the work that goes into producing something as simple as a pair of pants, and so exciting to see samples of the new styles set to hit stores for Fall in just a few weeks!

Another fabulous part of the day was getting to finally check out our newest location in the Walt Whitman Mall.  It opened back in June of this year and I've only heard great things about it since it's debut, so I'd been dying to get over there to check it out.  And I have to say, if you haven't gotten the chance to see it yet, I suggest you make it your job to go visit because the store is absolutely gorgeous!  I went a little crazy with my camera...

So come into Anthropologie and try on a pair of AG's!  I'll be happy to teach you all I learned about the brand :)

FNO Satisfaction

Last time we left off I was getting ready to celebrate Fashion's Night Out, and what a successful night it turned out to be!  My girlfriends and I decided to spend the night down in SoHo and check out all the commotion over there.  From Spring Street to Grand and in between we walked the cobblestone streets peeking into the various shops seeing what they had to offer and checking out the various outfits worn by all the little fashionistas passing us along the way. Our main event of the night lead us to Wooster Street where we got to attend the Piperlime grand opening party!  This new shop is the first in NYC.

Rev Run was the guest DJ for the night and he really set the mood with awesome mixes of classic songs.  After a little dancing and a free show we drifted towards the back of the store and were pleasantly surprised to find Olivia Palermo casually chatting away with fans!  Before long it was our turn to meet her, which was so exciting!  Rachel Zoe was another guest of honor that evening but unfortunately she was gone by the time we arrived.  But that didn't stop us from indulging in Zoe-tini's, the bartenders own take on the classic Martini, inspired by Rachel Zoe herself.  We also found our way over to a photo booth where we got to dress up with fun accessories and have a mini photo shoot to remember the night.  We all had a blast and I'm happy to say it was yet another successful FNO.  Can't wait to see what's in store for next year!

FNO Anticipation

Ah!  I'm back my lovelies from my mini hiatus that I unintentionally took for the summer.  I'm working on fully designing this blog myself, so it's currently in progress.  Little changes have been made so far but nothing's final yet, so bare with me :)

Anyway, I'm in complete disbelief that summer's officially over and we're already back into the school year.  I started my senior year {oh yeah!} and of course am already up to my neck in schoolwork and projects.  But if there's one good thing about going back to school for the fall semester, it's finding myself right in the middle of New York's fashion week!  It's one of the most exciting times of the year, between the runway shows, new collections, and seeing all the season's trends worn by everyone.  One of my favorite parts of Fashion Week is Fashion's Night Out.

FNO is the one night of the year where designers all over the city open their doors to fashionistas all night long.  It started in NYC and is now a worldwide event in more than 18 countries around the world.  Designers and retailers host events where we can meet our favorite celebs, watch live performances, and get first dibs at limited edition products.

I've been going to FNO since it started three years ago during my freshman year in college, and over the years I've come within feet of Justin Timberlake, Dakota Fanning, Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham, and Kourtney & Kim Kardashian. Last year I even got to meet Simon Huck and Nicky Hilton!  My nights have always been a success with friends and I've always gone home completely giddy and starstruck.

But it's so hard deciding what part of the city you're going to spend the night in, depending on what events you want to check out.  But half of the fun is the thrill of not knowing what surprises you're going to run into along the way.  I'm still mapping out my route for tomorrow night, but I'm so ready to get out there and soak up all the excitement the night has in store!

Saturday, SoHo & Street-fairs

So I'm back from my trip to Birmingham. I had such a nice time and was upset to come back to reality, so I decided to take an uplifting trip into the city today for some shopping in SoHo. To my surprise, along the way I stumbled across the cutest little street fair! Various vendors lined up along Broadway selling food and other goodies while music played for everyone to enjoy. There was everything from lemonade, to henna tattoos, fresh fruit smoothies, and fried oreos! I spent a better part of the day checking out each little booth and ogling at all the fun jewelry, carefully picking out my favorites and making {many} purchases. I walked away with a nice bundle of goodies and am so excited that this day turned out to be so thrilling! I can always count on my city to never disappoint me. Thanks New York, I feel right at home again.

{ Fresh made Lemonade }

{ Roasted Corn }

{ Dainty Scarves }

{ Gyros }

{ Bracelets }

*All photos are my own

Lake House Loveliness

It's been just about a week since I've arrived in Birmingham, and I honestly have to say that I'm having such a nice time.  It's really nice to be able to get away from the chaos of my life back home and come to this peaceful place.  Birmingham has so many beautiful sites to offer and I really can't get enough of the amazing landscapes and calming atmosphere of it all.  It really is such a different lifestyle from the busyness of New York and I'm really falling in love.

We spent this past weekend at a lake house on Lake Smith in Crane Hill. It was so serene to wake up every day to the shining sun and just spend the day on the lake drifting in the water, surrounded completely by everything nature has to offer.  I was skeptical at first about swimming in a lake because I've never done that before, but I got over it quickly and floated merrily for hours on end.  It really was such a great family getaway and I'm happy we got to go!

 

Tuesday Travels

This past Tuesday was my most extreme Tuesday Travels yet!  I hopped on a plane and flew down to the dirty south.  For the next two weeks I'm staying in Birmingham, Alabama.  Before I left for my trip, the one question that I was asked by literally everyone was, "What the heck are you going to do in Alabama?"  Well, I'm here visiting my best friend in the entire world, Julia!  We go waaay back to our days on the playground. 

After a rough day of traveling between three states and two different time zones, I was greeted with the warmest welcome in good ol' Bham!  It was almost surreal seeing my best friend after almost three years apart, but being here now has made me the happiest I've been in a while.

It's been two days so far and I'm already having the best time. Oh! And I made a new little friend  Dasha, who is the cutest little booger you could ever meet.

The trip has been so lovely already, and I can't wait to experience more of what Birmingham has to offer!  More later :)

Roadtrip: Hamptons!

This past Thursday, my good friends Priscilla, Samantha and I got to go away on a mini vacation.  We roadtripped out to the Hamptons to celebrate Sam's birthday!  It was the perfect little getaway weekend that we all definitely needed.  On Friday we spent the day at the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium where we got to watch the cutest performance by Bunker the Sea Lion, hold some starfish, and get a beautiful view of the whole park while riding the sky weel.

The rest of the weekend was a bit more relaxed, which I couldn't have enjoyed more if I tried.  All day we lounged by the pool listening to the ultimate 90's playlist and eating popsicles, and as the sun went down we settled in to cook ourselves dinner and watch some classic movies that we all love.  On our last day we took a trip into town and walked around the quaint little shops that line Main Street.  And of course we squeezed in some more time in the sun before it was time for us to head back home.  I really had such a fun time!  It was a complete girls weekend, something I'll never get too old for.  We definitely made lots of good memories and enjoyed each other's company.  Unfortunately the only pictures we took were at the aquarium, but it's okay because some of them are really funny!  Check them out :)

Me and Sam being like Shamu

Three little doors for three little friends

Prissy and Sammy on the Sky Wheel

Posing with a giant penguin

Monday Mantra: A Work in Progress

Everythings been so hectic lately!  You'd think that being on break from school would give me a lot more down time, but I literally have not been home besides to sleep now that I've picked up a ton of extra hours at work.  Plus I'm so used to school taking up all of my free time that I'm trying to make the most out of my social life while I can.  I know it seems like I'm not paying much attention to my blog but I promise I am!  Big changes are coming this summer..so excited!

As for my Monday Mantra, today it's about self improvement.  I'm really trying to take this summer and improve myself, not for anyone else, but for me.  Obviously it goes without saying that nobody's perfect and there's always something that you can do to improve your outlook and quality of life.  So just like I'm trying to do, be the best version of you. There's nobody else exactly like you, so why not be the best you that you can be?  Even the littlest changes can make a huge difference.  Try it out!

Photos: 1

Fifty Shades Out of This World

Yes, I am one of those girls who fell into the trap that E.L. James has set and am completely enthralled by the Fifty Shades series.  In case you are somehow unaware, Fifty Shades of Grey is the first novel of three by James, an erotic fiction novel that tells of the intensifying relationship between naive Anastasia Steele and young business tycoon Christian Grey.

And taking no judgment from any boys out there who have something to say.  Because it is not just for soccer moms or women in the midst of a midlife crisis; it's for anyone who can appreciate a good love story.  If you haven't read them yet, get on that ASAP!

So of course, Hollywood having to take over every great frenzy out there, it is already in talks to turn Fifty Shades into a movie.  I heard recently that Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood was set to play the one and only Christian Grey and I was absolutely horrified as he does not fit the description at all.  Rest assured though, it was only a rumor and no roles are set in stone just yet. For me, I would LOVE to see Ed Westwick take on the role {you know him as Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl}. He's so suave and confident and has the perfect tinge of mystery about him that makes him the perfect pick for this character.  Can't wait to start on the next two books!

Laters, baby.

Photos: 1, 2, 3

Venting Session

Hello my lovelies!  I've been so bad about making time to write lately. Even though I'm on summer break from school, I've been at work all day every day since I finished school last Friday.  {For those who don't know, I spend my days dwelling in the lovely Anthropologie}.  Come visit!

Anyway, I'm going to vent here today.  Something that really bugs me is waiting for teachers to post final grades.  It's nearly two weeks that school's been out and I've received a grade in just one class out of the nine that I took this semester.  Beyond frustrating!  We get punished for missing a deadline, but they can take their sweet little time to post grades?! Really irritating, and my patience is beginning to slip.

Photos: 1

It's Friday!

And that means..my last day of school! Just one more final to get through at 12 today, and I'm home free for SUMMER!  It's the best feeling to finish another year of school. Woo!  Happy summer!

Photos: 1

Currently Feeling...

Finding myself right in the middle of finals week.  Keeping it under control though and somehow managing to stay calm and finish all my projects and get my studying done right on schedule.  Just two more days!  Wish me luck :)

Photos: 1

Monday Mantra: Make Time For Yourself

It's the home stretch of the school year, and you might be getting bogged down with finals.  And if you're not in school, you might just have a crazy schedule or a hectic life.  Being in any of these situations, it's so easy to get caught up in the commotion and stress of crazy days.  But an important thing to remember is to take time for yourself!  Set some time aside to take little breaks in between whatever you're doing; watch an episode of your favorite show, go outside on a little walk, or just lounge around and relax for a bit..anything just to take your mind away from whatever craziness is going on.  Treat yourself, you deserve it!

Photo: 1

Chevron Love

What's known to some as the newly popular zig-zaggy pattern is known to the fashion savvy as Chevron! Chevron print has been popping up everywhere this season on anything and everything.  I'm not usually the type to don patterns like stripes or polka dots, but this print is something that I actually find myself loving!  I recently wore a chiffon button down with hot pink & navy chevron print, and I got so many compliments! Love love loving this trend :) Here are some of my favorite things that scream chevron:

Favorite Chevron Loungespace {Pillows & Decór}

Favorite Chevron Manicure {Tangerine Tango}

Favorite Chevron Dessert {Cookies}

Favorite Chevron Apparel {Dress}

Favorite Chevron Accessory {Rings}