Saturday, August 30, 2014

Review: Fall/Winter 2014 ZUMBA® Fitness Active Wear





 
If you couldn't already tell from my past tweets, yours truly is a huge ZUMBA® Fitness fanatic.  There's nothing like a good Cumbia beat paired with a killer dance combination to make this girl wanna shake it.  Zumba is not just an amazing cardio workout that helps you burn hundreds of calories, but it even comes with its very own wardrobe.  So naturally, this Zumba loving fashionista was completely ECSTATIC when PR offered to let me try out a piece from their brand new Fall/Winter 2014 collection, launching this season. 
 
 
 
The above "Surf's Up Blue" top was a fun piece to wear.  It (like many of the pieces) incorporates the Z-Dri technology. It's a high-performance moisture wicking system that works to keep your body dry. I had to do a little more research to understand this seemingly awesome technology and learned that what it does is transfer the sweat from your body into the surface of the fabric, where it is supposed to evaporate and keep you feeling fresh and cool. 
 
 
I wore this several times to classes with different intensity levels, and no matter how much I sweat my tail off, I felt like it worked pretty well.  I had expected the sweat dripping my neck to create a nasty looking trail as it dripped down my back, but this seemed to combat that.  The fit was a little snug, but I actually preferred that because it gave the added support of a sports bra.  The fabric was soft and flexible so it was easy to move in.  The color combination was one of my favorite elements.  The black mesh overlay gave it an edgy street look, and the bright blue was a sweet pop of color.  I even found this one to be a little slimming. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The ZUMBA® Fitness active wear is unique because it pays as much attention to fashion as it does to the properties you look for in work out gear.  Combining style with innovative concepts like the Z- Dri technology is ideal.  If you look and feel good during a workout, it will only enhance your performance which is ultimately the key to keep you going back for more.  In fact, one of its huge selling points is that Zumba wear is designed to transition from daily activities, straight into a hardcore session at the gym.  If you're someone like myself, who is always running from place to place, then functional, trendy pieces like this are great.  They eliminate those awkward stares you get pushing your grocery cart down the aisle as you want to say "Yes, I'm on my way to the gym but can I help it if I ran out of milk?"
 

 
 
The new Zumba collections are full of bright colors and new styles that you're definitely gonna want to snag.  So don't click here unless you're prepared to clear some serious space in your closet! 
  


 
 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Get the Look: Nail Styles from this Year's Emmy Awards

 
 
While the killer gowns and elegant fashions are usually the hot topics of choice, a true fashionista can't help but notice the details.  Nail styles at this year's Emmy Awards included edgy stripes and foils, like the ones seen on Sarah Hyland, Zooey Deschanel, and Minnie Driver.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wanna snag the look for yourself?  Of course you do!  Consider these products from KISS & Broadway Nails
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Zooey Deschanel's elegant, yet trendy nail choice can be achieved in minutes by pressing on Broadway Nails' imPRESS Press-On Manicure in So, So Stellar ($6.99 / Walgreens) then finishing off the look with a foil tape found in the KISS Salon Secrets  ($9.99 /Walgreens).  

TIP:
Celebrity manicurist Gina Edwards advises " Don't worry about length when using foil tape; use cuticle scissors to cut excess after your pattern or single line design is in place".

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Get the Look: Allison Williams at Last Night's Emmys Awards

 
 

Last night celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff was behind the scenes with Allison Williams getting the Girls star and Emmy presenter red carpet ready for the awards show.
 
 
“We decided to go with a soft look. I dubbed this ‘pretty in pink with a flash’ - the pink is on the lid, the cheek and the lip, while the flash is a dash of bright yellow gold on the inner corner of her eyes which complimented the bright yellow grosgrain belt on her dress.”
 
 Pati prepped the skin with tarte clean slate timeless smoothing primer in the t-zone to eliminate the need for powder. She then used a very small amount of tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour full coverage foundation SPF 15 in light medium honey. “I wanted the sheer coverage so Allison’s freckles could show through,” said Pati. Pati finished the skin using tarte park avenue princess bronzer to amp up the tan and tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in fearless on the apples of the cheeks for a pinky flush.
 
 
 
 

The brows were defined with tarte the brow architect™ brow shaper, liner and definer in medium-tan.

“I created the structured eyes with Pati Dubroff dream palette using ochre and raw to give matte structure and a soft tone in the crease and under the eye,” said Pati. She then applied tarte smolderEYES™ Amazonian clay waterproof liner in golden beige in the center of the lid for a peachy pink base followed by Chanel Illusion D’ombre in Abstraction on top. On the inner corner of the eyes, Pati added a flash of NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Corcovado for a flash of bright yellow. At the base of the lash line Pati used tarte lights, camera, lashes™ precision longwear liquid eyeliner - with a touch of a light flick at the outer corner. She completed Allison’s eyes by well coating the lashes in tarte lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara.
 
Pati created a soft but well-structured lip using tarte  LipSurgence™ matte lip tint in lucky with a touch of tarte Amazonian butter lipstick in golden pink layered on top.
  
 
Allison's Gambattista Valli Couture sleeveless dress meant her body was on display. “It's just as important to make sure that the skin on her body looks as just as flawless as the skin on her face,” said Pati. “I used Jergens BB Body Skin Perfecting Cream in Medium to give a subtle radiant sheen and illuminate Allison's skin.”
 
 
Bonus sneak peek!
 
 
 
And exactly which fabulous must haves did the celeb insist on carrying with her last night?  tarte not so slick oil-absorbing blotting papers, tarte LipSurgence™ matte lip tint in lucky, and tarte Amazonian butter lipstick in golden pink.
 
 
 
 
Shop your favorite tarte products! 
And catch their latest on:
 
 
 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Get the Look: Kate Mara at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

 
 
 
 
Tonight, “House of Cards” beauty Kate Mara stunned on the red carpet in her angelic J. Mendel gown that was paired with a not-so-innocent Charlotte Tilbury iconic look known as “The Rock Chick,” which was artfully created by makeup artist Maki Ryoke.
 
When asked how this look came to be, Ryoke makeup artist beams, “She let me decide! I recommended this look, and she trusts me. The dress is so pure and light, so I wanted to add a modern twist. Kate loved it!”
 
Here are a few key steps that makeup artist Maki Ryoke created the look:
 
 
 
 
 
1.       Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow was applied lightly all over the face to create a flawless soft focus and an instant “spotlight” effect, which acted as the perfect base to the Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder foundation in 2 & 4 Fair that was specially mixed to match Kate’s complexion.
 
2.       Rid the face of any unwanted oils with a dusting of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Micro-powder in Medium 2
 
3.       The Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in The Rock Chick for a highly pigmented, mesmerizing smoky eye with the use of four slate-colored shades
 
4.       For a sexy, strong cat-eye, Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black was applied around the entire eye, including the waterline. To further accentuate and enhance, Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick was used to accentuate the lash line.
 
5.       To add an unbeatable red carpet-worthy glow, use Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow to highlight and sculpt the cheek, nose, the top of the lip as well as shoulders and décolletage
6.       Finish with the perfect nude lip by using Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Iconic Nude along with with Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Nude Kate for just the right amount of dewiness
  


 
 
 
PRODUCTS USED:
 
 
 
 
 
COMPLEXION:
Charlotte Tilbury - Wonderglow Instant Soft-focus Beauty Flash
Charlotte Tilbury - Light Wonder Youth-boosting Perfect Skin Foundation, 2 Fair & 4 Fair
Charlotte Tilbury - The Retoucher Conceal & Treat Stick, Medium 2
Charlotte Tilbury - Airbrush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Micro-powder, Medium 2
Charlotte Tilbury - Filmstar Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlight
 
 
 
EYES
Charlotte Tilbury - Feline Flick Quick Fine Line Shodō Pen
Charlotte Tilbury - Luxury Palette Colour-Coded Eye Shadows, The Rock Chick
Charlotte Tilbury - Rock 'n' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil, Bedroom Black
Charlotte Tilbury – Full Fat Lashes, Glossy Black
 
LIPS
Charlotte Tilbury - Lip Cheat Lip Liner, Iconic Nude
Charlotte Tilbury - K.I.S.S.I.N.G Fallen From The Lipstick Tree, Nude Kate

 
@CTilburyMakeup
#GettingReadyWithCT
#MakeUpYourDestiny
 


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Beauty Box Five: August Box Reveal

 
It's that time again for this month's Beauty Box 5 reveal! 
 This month's box is a glowing nod to our last few days of summer and highlights a few must haves for us to shine on into the fall.  As a lucky member of the official BB5 review team, I receive complimentary boxes in exchange for my thoughts, and get to test drive some of the industry's top picks.  Don't be jelly.  You can get in on these fab items!
The beauty experts at BB5 select five of the beauty industry's hot items to have delivered straight to your door.  The nice thing about BB5 is the many subscription options.  You can experience enough boxes to see if it's right for you, without committing to too many.  Now that you got the run down, let's dive in!  
 
 
 
 
 
Nanacoco Lip Gloss
Retail: $3.99
 
This month I'm going to start with my favorite item!  I was so happy to see this full sized lip gloss from Nanacoco Lip Gloss.
 
 
  This Carmel Latte is a really lovely, natural looking shade with a touch of shimmer that can work with many skin tones.  It's a gorgeous choice for this time of year when you're transitioning your look from summer to fall. It's very close to a color from NYC (New York Color) that I used rock no matter what season, through my latter years of high school.  Needless to say I was heartbroken when I learned it had been discontinued.  Carmel Latte has amazing color pay off, with no stickiness and I love the glorious sheen.  The scent is a yummy mix of vanilla and caramel.
 
 
 
 
La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes
Retail: $19.99 (48 packets)
 
 
One thing I can never get enough of are face wipes.  Whether they're for general face cleansing or specifically for make up removal like La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes.  They're always great to have on hand, and these in particular proved very useful.  I've been using a new face wash that is a good treatment for my skin, but honestly doesn't remove makeup well at all.  That's where these babies came in and saved the day!  They're for all over your face and are gentle, oil free, free of parabens and do a really nice job.  I use these in sensitive areas like around my eyes to remove the left over mascara and don't ever experience irritation.   
 
 
 
 
 
Style Essentials Nail Polish
4 Nail Polish Collection
Retail: $7.00
 
Style Essentials Nail Polish is a brand that is new to me, but I really loved this polish!  It's a very deep navy- almost black- with subtle silver sparkles.  Its brush was dubbed "easy to apply" and I must admit I liked its capabilities.  It's slightly shorter and wider which allowed for better control and helped me achieve more even coverage.  I applied two coats and the color really popped.  I always apply my quick dry top coat, but this polish proved to have a pretty glossy finish on its own, as well as seemingly quick dry time.  Its definitely a brand to keep an eye out for and snag a few colors if you can.
 
 
 
 
 
Pur-lisse Pur Protect SPF 30 
Retail: $55.00 1.7 oz
 
No one out there can ever have enough sun screen and Pur-lisse Pur Protect SPF 30 was an awesome bonus.  This is ideal to toss in your purse for day to day use, or to have ready when you're caught unprepared.  I've been burned simply taking a quick al fresco lunch break, only to go inside and realize I soaked up a little more sun then I intended.    
 
 
 
 
 
Novex Brazilian Keratin
Retail: $19.50 2 lbs
 
The last item was Novex Brazilian Keratin.  It is described as an intensive treatment for all hair types to renew and reinforce strands right away.  My hair has a reputation for being unruly and quite dry so I imagine this could be a proper solution but kinda feel I need to research this one a bit before using.  Its packing is nearly all in Spanish so I can't say I'm totally informed on it just yet.  But I will state that the contents size is quite large at 1.05 oz.  If it proves to be good quality, this was certainly a good deal.
 
 
Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes?  Are you interested in BB5?

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Review: Nair Hair Remover Shower Power MAX

 
I don't think anyone really looks forward to shaving.  It can cause irritation, the effects can be less then lasting, and I sincerely hate dealing with razors.  That being said you would think I'd have already tried one of the many hair removal alternatives out there, but I haven't.  At least, not until Nair Hair Removal Shower Power MAX moseyed on into my life, courtesy of a past beautypress event.




Nair Shower Power MAX is an ultra rich cream that comes packaged in a pump bottle, and even comes with a small plug.  The end of the pump has a little cap that snaps open and closed which is a nice touch to keep from added mess.  It also provides a soft foam sponge that is flat on one side (for application) and has small ridges on the other (for the removal process).  The cream is infused with Moroccan Argan Oil & Orange Blossom (which is what sold me on trying it) and its description states: 
 
 
- Effective on Coarse Hair
- Smooth Skin Lasts Days Longer than Shaving
- Dermatologist Tested
- Specially Designed Sponge for Effective Hair Removal



 
 
 
When it comes to using products like these, it's wise to exercise massive caution because you don't know how your skin will react.   Considering my skin is pretty sensitive and usually on the dry side, I started with a small test area on my ankle.  Directions state to wait a full 24 hours after applying to the test area before proceeding. But after applying it in the morning, and seeing that by evening time there was still no reaction, I went ahead and started on sections of my leg.   
 
To be perfectly honest I wasn't expecting much and I had doubts about whether or not that little sponge would even make it through to the end of the first use. 
 
I started out by putting the cream onto the sponge, and then applying it too my dry skin. But I started to notice that the sponge was absorbing some of the product, and I had to squeeze it back out onto my skin so I didn't waste it.  That became annoying so I started just using my fingers to apply it, being careful not to rub it in. 
 
Once the application is finished, directions state you must wait one full minute before getting in the shower.  After you're in the shower, it is advised to keep the area out of the direct stream of water, and then leave on another two minutes, making sure not to exceed ten minutes.  (Confused yet?)  
 
Since I don't shower with a timer and could quite possibly have exceeded ten minutes, I decided to simply wait out the ten minutes outside the shower, and then go at it with the sponge.  The cream had started to dry and was already starting to disappear.  By this point I was expecting to feel some sort of sensation on my skin but there was none.  I took the ridged side of the sponge and began gently rubbing in small circles.  This was easy enough but I wasn't really able to tell if any hair was coming off.  After I felt like I had gotten the whole area, I went and rinsed it off.  The result?.....................................
 
 
 

 
 
 
Retail: $9.00 (varies)
 
I LOVE this stuff.  I was genuinely shocked at how well it not just removed the hair, but removed it evenly.  My skin was incredibly smooth afterwards, and it actually felt like I got a closer shave then I've ever had with a razor.  Considering my skin is sensitive, I was amazed that I hadn't felt any burning, tingling, or discomfort of any kind.  I kept going with the other sections of my leg until I had done the whole thing, and then jumped in the shower.  When I came out, I did notice a few red spots here that felt a little sensitive, but by the next morning, every one was completely gone.
 
Those could have appeared for any reason, my guess is it was a possible reaction with my body wash after using the Nair, my skin getting used to the Nair etc.  In any case, they disappeared completely and my skin was smooth for several days.  The Nair seemed to have slowed down the hair growth, which was huge for me.  No matter how close a shave I've had with a razor, by the next day, I'm left with no choice but to shave again anyway.  
 
My only critique would be the a.) the sponge and b.) its scent.  I would imagine a wash cloth would suffice just as well (plus I'm skeptical about how long the sponge can actually hold up).  I was a little sad the scent wasn't more pleasant.  I thought it would be a little sweeter but the good news is, it vanishes once you rinse the cream off anyway.
 
Overall, I would absolutely repurchase this and was truly pleased with the outcome.
 
Check out more Nair here
 
 
Have you tried this product?  How was your experience?

Monday, August 11, 2014

Get the Look: Shailene Woodley

 
 
 
 
 
If you didn't catch last night's Teen Choice Awards, you missed celebs like Shailene Woodley work that red carpet like no one's business.  Celebrity makeup artist, Roxy, was behind the scenes to get Shailene ready for the big night, where snagged awards for Choice Movie Actress in an Action/Adventure for her role in Divergent and Choice Movie Actress in a Drama, for her role in The Fault in our Stars.
 
“We wanted to keep Shailene’s makeup clean and not competitive with her gorgeous and colorful Peter Pilotto dress,” said Roxy. “Using monochromatic colors on her eyes and cheeks, I defined her features to make them pop while not overwhelming her with color. Her soft plum rose lip – which we created using tarte’s LipSurgence™ matte lip tint in hope, was the perfect finishing touch to her ultra-feminine look.”
 
 
 
 
 
Face:
 
Roxy began by spraying Caudalie's Beauty Elixir Spray all over Shailene's face, neck and décolletage to revive, sooth and hydrate her skin. She then prepped her skin further, applying tarte’s clean slate™ flawless 12-hr brightening primer with tarte’s the buffer™ airbrush finish bamboo foundation brush which helped spread the primer all over the face, evenly and fast. “This primer gives off a subtle sheen while delivering a blend of vitamins to the skin and holds makeup for hours,” said Roxy.
 
Roxy applied tarte’s Amazonian clay full coverage airbrush foundation in fair-light honey with tarte’s airbuki bamboo powder foundation brush all over the face in circular motions to melt the makeup into Shailene’s skin. “I started at the center of her face and blended out to her jawline until it was seamless,” said Roxy. “This powder foundation does an excellent job at providing great coverage while leaving the complexion still looking natural with a velvet-like finish.”
 
 
“Since color was not a big part of this look, I wanted to do more with sculpting to bring out her beautiful features,” said Roxy.  She played up the definition on Shailene’s gorgeous cheek bones with tarte’s Amazonian clay matte waterproof bronzer in park ave princess™. For this look Roxy applied the bronzer right under Shailene’s cheek bones and softly at her temples.
 
“Since glowing skin is always a priority to us, I applied Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation Illuminator down the bridge of her nose, around the outer corners and above her brows in a C shape manner,” said Roxy. Roxy used her fingers to get the right amount of product applied evenly and took a sponge over it to melt it perfectly into Shailene’s skin.
 
 
Eyes:
 
 Roxy started by applying tarte's clean slate™ 360º creaseless 12-hr smoothing eye primer. She wanted to sculpt the eyes in a monochromatic manner to keep it simple while still bringing out the best in Shailene’s gorgeous eyes. Roxy started by applying tarte’s Amazonian clay waterproof cream eyeshadow in shimmering bronze along the edges of her top and bottom lash lines. She diffused it softly with tarte's undercover lover™ bamboo concealer brush, which allowed her to blend it softly but keep the strength of the color intact. Roxy then applied some nude-taupe shadows in the outer corners of Shailene’s eyes from tarte’s rainforest after dark limited-edition colored clay eye & cheek palette. 
 
Eyebrows: 
 
Roxy used tarte’s colored clay tinted brow gel in medium brown to give them a little more structure than usual and keep them in place. “This brow gel is awesome because the brush is so tiny it makes detailing the brows naturally very easy,” said Roxy.
 
Mascara: 
 
Two coats of tarte’s gifted™ Amazonian clay smart mascara to finish the look to her eyes,” said Roxy. “This mascara added a bit more drama to her eyes by lengthening and curling her lashes perfectly.”
 
Lips: 
 
Tarte LipSurgence™ matte lip tint in hope straight from the pen. “This muted down-plum rose color was a wonderful finish to Shailene’s monochromatic look because it fit with in the color family of her eye shadow and cheeks, but added a bit of feminine softness to her over all look.”
 
 
Shop tarte cosmetics! 
 
Check them out on:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, August 9, 2014

My Latest Pink Goodies: LONDONTOWN Nail Polish & Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

 
It goes without saying that I'm an obvious pink fanatic.  So it was all I could do not to cover myself in it from head to toe with the latest glosses from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and polish from LONDONTOWN . 
 
 
 
Retail: $22.00
 
After a little research I learned this GORGEOUS shade from LONDONTOWN, pays homage to its hometown of Radlett, England.  As a child, founder Natasha Dillon was taught a treasured family remedy that worked to maintain hydrated hands and nails.           
 
Deciding to share this valuable remedy has certainly be beneficial for all of us.  KUR is a naturally derived nail treatment system that is a thoughtful holistic approach to restoring, strengthening and hydrating nails and cuticles.  Its formulas combine nail care science with the nourishing and restorative properties of Britain’s rapeseed flower oil, chamomile, cucumber and other essential oils and extracts as it aims to work beyond the nail surface.  
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
I was infatuated with Radlett based on its colour alone, but quickly realized its ingredients were very effective.  For about two months now, I've been applying Quimica polish as my base coat before every mani, to help strengthen and grow my nails.  These manis, however, usually only last a few days before my nails start to feel weak again and I need to reapply it.   But I noticed that with LONDONTOWN my nails felt strong for over a week, and I was surprised to see that they were continuing to grow.  I also noticed there was NO chipping for that entire week, no matter how much of a beating my hands and nails took.  It gives solid coverage and has a pretty notable glossy finish.  I liked the look so much that I used it again for my next mani, only this time I jazzed it up with a little silver crackle from Sally Hansen.   
 
LONDONTOWN polishes are also:
 
    Formaldehyde-free
Toulene-free
DBP-free
Formaldehyde resin-free
Camphor-free
Vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free.
Product is 12 ml - .4 fl. oz.
 
Learn more about LONDONTOWN's 5-Step treatment.
 
 

Retail: $20.00
OCC Crème Colour Concentrate
 
 
This was such a fun product to use.  It's versatile in use, appropriate for eyes, lips and cheeks, but personally for my skin tone, it worked best as a lip colour.  It's an interesting shade because at first glance it appears to be light, peach, but then once you swirl it around for application, it deepens into a vibrant peachy, red.  Above all, it is great quality.  It has buildable coverage so you can intensify the colour when you want, its lightweight, and I found its texture to be especially smooth. 
 
 

 
 
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss
Retail: $18.00
 
 
L-R: Aurora and Hedonist
 
I still remember the first time I ever tried Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tars.  It was a deep red and I was so impressed that I went on a raved about it for weeks.  The fact that I had applied at 8am, and had the exact same vibrancy by 5pm, without any touch ups had floored me.  So of course I was excited to snag a few OCC Stained Glosses while at CHICSTUDIOS  5 year anniversary celebration!    
 
I received Aurora and Hedonist- two delicious variations of pink :p 
 
OCC's Stained Gloss collection was inspired by the effects created from lighting gels and stained glass.  They're supposed to combine the color intensity of the lip tars with a translucent, glossy finish.  It sounded as if they had taken the manifique lip tars one step further and my expectations were pretty high.
 
Now, these didn't end up blowing me away like the tars, but I do like them.  For starters, they were not sticky or tacky.  Not even a little bit.  The texture was one of the lightest I've ever worn, and they made my lips feel slightly moist.  The color pay off is amazing.  They do have a sheen, but it doesn't last more then a couple hours.  Personally, I don't mind this because after the sheen wears off, what you're left with is a really gorgeous stain.  Strangely enough, I didn't really feel like I was wearing a gloss per say, but more of a very lightweight lipstick.  This made sense when I learned they can also be use to add a little color to your cheeks. 
Overall, I did enjoy using these and would recommend them if you like versatility in your make up, and don't crave a constant high shine. 
 
 
 
Paraben-Free courtesy of refreshing Peppermint Oil.

100% Vegan & Gluten-Free
 
 
Contains:
Organic Hemp Oil & Soy-Derived Vitamin E
 
 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Three Must Serve Cocktails at Your End of Summer Bash

 
The summer is winding down and no doubt you've already started planning your ultra fabulous, end of summer bash with friends.  There's nothing better then getting together with friends and kicking back with a fresh, crisp summer cocktail to beat the heat and celebrate the season.  Below are three yummy summer cocktails that are easy to create, using delicious teas from Harney & Sons.     
 





 
1. Organic Green Margaritas
 
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce of lime fresh lime juice
-2 tablespoons light agave nectar
 
 





 

2. Peach Bellini:
 
- 4 ounces Champagne
- 2 ounces Harney & Sons Peach Iced tea 
- 1 ounce peach puree
 
Pour peach puree and iced tea into a chilled champagne flute.  Slowly pure champagne over peach mixture and enjoy. 
 
 
 
 
3. Ice Pick
 
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup of Harney & Sons Plain (Black) Iced Tea 
 
Mix vodka, sugar and lemon juice in a tall glass.  Fill glass with ice and fill glass with iced tea.  Still ingredients together and garnish with lemon.




Want to try other tea options?


Harney & Sons is an amazing tea company that started out as a small family venture that has since exploded and acquired global recognition.  Starting production out of his basement in 1983, John began his own journey in mastering the craft of tea blending. Serving his distinctive blends with inn guests, he soon found they were coming back for more. Never did John Harney imagine that his small home-run business in Salisbury, Connecticut would turn into a global operation, now headquartered in Millerton, New York filling 90,000 square feet of warehouse space, and employing over 155 people, making it one of the largest employers in the Hudson Valley. The company, which sources, blends, and packages their own product from start to finish, has grown from their original six teas, to more than three hundred. Their story truly captures the essence of American business ingenuity.


I was so excited to learn that Harney & Sons now operates not far from my own hometown.  I've tasted several of their teas (reviews coming soon!) and loved each one so much I just had to share these summer drink ideas.  If you work any into your parties, let me know which ones were a hit!     




Please kindly note these drink recipes include alcohol and should be consumed only by those 21 and older.   

Sunday, August 3, 2014

CHICSTUDIOS: August Open House & VIP Giveaway

 
 
 
Hello my darlings :) Last year I discovered CHICSTUDIOS , a leading make up artistry school here in NYC, and they're gearing up for another fabulous open house!  The school holds monthly open houses that feature live demos by one of their teachers.  This month's theme is "The Art of Lashes" and it is a great opportunity for you wonderful aspiring make up artists to see what the industry has to offer.  The open houses are free attendees and you have the chance to watch one of their teachers in action, as well as meet some of the staff and ask questions.  CHICSTUDIOS provides a lot of hands on experience for students and is also licensed by the New York State Education Department.  The school recently celebrated its Fifth Anniversary (Congratulations ladies!!) and I strongly suggest checking it out!
 
 
 

CHICSTUDIOS Open House:
August 22,2014 
2:00- 5:00pm 
 
Located at: 
139 Fulton Street. Suite #600
 New York, NY. 10038

 
 
 
CHICSTUDIOS is also participating in #BeautyConLA on August 16th and are running a REALLY killer giveaway on Instagram that you don't wanna miss!
 
 
 Prizes include:
 
- 2 VIP Tickets- A makeup 'makeover' from a celebrity artista hangout session with a BeautyCon Influencer
&
- Surprise giftbag!
 
 
 
Get the deets here and find out how to enter! 
 
 
 
 
You can also check them out on:
 
 
 
 
 
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