Season Must Haves from Call It Spring

 

 

 

 

Call It Spring is a fabulous line that I was recently introduced to, and couldn't resist sharing some of its absolute must have items for the season.  There's still a barrage of hot, sunny days ahead before those leaves on the trees start changing, and this Barrios purse is the perfect addition to sport the rest of the summer.

 

 

 

 It has a classic, gold chain shoulder strap, and the ribbon detailing is super adorable.  The colour is particularly useful because it is a cool mix of soft pink and warm beige, making it summer sweet, but also fall chic. It is a piece that can easily transition into the next season with the right pair of sleek, cream colored pumps.

A true fashionista is never ready for the next season unless her feet are fully equipped!  One of my must have items every fall is a good black pump.  This is one of my favorites from Call It Spring's 2013 Fall collection because it has exquisite detailing and definitely some sass! 

I love these because they have a unique "T" strap with a gold buckle that provides a nice contrast against the soft black material.  They also have dainty looking (but sturdy) netting along the sides, with intricate embellishments.  They're perfect for spicing up any plain Jane office attire and are a fun variation of the typical black heel.

 

 

 

One more pair I couldn't take my eyes off of were these black and beige lace ankle strap pumps. 

 

 

 

These are beyond gorgeous and bound to make even the rattiest pair of jeans look sexy.

 

 

I love these because they don't just add a little funk to your work ensemble, but they can be left on after the office as you head off to meet your girls at happy hour!  They work for both environments and let you showcase your sophistication as well as your bold sense of style.  

 

 

 

 

Check out the rest of Call It Spring here and get ready to snag your season favs!

 

 

 

What where your favorite items this summer?  What do you have your eye on for fall?

butter LONDON Hits the Road This Summer!

butter LONDON's Global Colour Ambassador, Katie Hughes is hitting the road this summer to bring the NEW Bespoke Colour Cosmetics Collection to fans across the nation! To welcome this bold new collection, butter LONDON is giving ULTA shoppers a free 20 minute consultation and Rock Over with Katie Hughes and her team of makeup artists. Additionally, consumers who purchase $25 of butter LONDON product will receive a full size Nail Lacquer in Chancer, while supplies last.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie will be visiting the following cities between August 7^th and August 29^th:

·         Seattle, CA

·         Sacramento, CA

·         San Francisco Bay Area, CA

·         Los Angeles, CA

·         Orange County, CA

·         San Diego, CA

·         Las Vegas, NV

·         Atlanta, GA

·         Houston, TX

·         Dallas, TX

·         Chicago, IL

 

 

Click here to book your free appointment at your local Ulta or get more tour info.

 

Chic Studios in NYC

 

Hello dolls!  Back in June, a friend had forwarded me an invite to an Open House event at Chic Studios here in New York City.  Seeing that it was showcasing a live demo on how to "Get the J.Lo Glow" (and we all know I am a sucker for anything J.Lo) I headed on over to check it out. 

 

 

Image courtesy of Chic Studio

 

 

I wasn't too familiar with Chic Studios prior to this, but after attending the event I thought it would make a useful post for any of you lovelies considering makeup courses in the NYC area. 

 

I felt a little sheepish as I walked in a little late, because I didn't realize there would be one teacher, one model, one overall demo, and all in front of one class.  But the girl working the front desk was incredibly sweet and very accommodating.

 

Being as I arrived late, I missed the model's face as a blank palette, and any prep work that had been done but the teacher, Ruthie Weems was incredible.  She was very informative and made sure to describe any products and techniques she was using as she worked on the model.  I must say, even though I walked in late, I felt like I was able to get a detailed sense of her direction.

 

The demo walked you through variations of the J.Lo glows.  Each look built upon the previous, depending on whether the look was for a performance, music video, or something wearable for a special event or a wedding. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to leave a little early so this was last look I saw on the model:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Products used:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chic Studios has Open House events once a month and their next one is scheduled for August 23rd from 2pm-5pm, so I suggest definitely checking it out.  It is a chance to enjoy mingling with potential students, ask any skill set or pricing questions, and they even provide some yummy snacks!  Visit their website for more info.  The staff is incredibly friendly and are happy to help you get started!

 

 

Located at:

 

139 Fulton St
  (between Nassau St & Broadway)
New York, NY 10038
Neighborhood: Financial District

Phone: (917) 974-8755

Review: Brocato VibraStrait Oscillating Iron

 

 

 

 

Like any other curly haired gal, I've been taking advantage of these last humidity free, cooler days we've been having in order to rock the straight, sleek look.  I was fortunate enough to experience Brocato's  VibraStrait , my first ever oscillating iron.  I won't even try to be clever with my words- I LOVE this iron. 

 

For many years I would wake up at the crack of dawn everyday just so I could have enough time to iron out my impossible curls and get ready for my day.  I'm incredibly partial to that glossy, chic finish and often had to sacrifice sleep and time trying to wrangle them in. That being said, I've officially dubbed the VibraStrait a miracle. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It comes in sizes 1/2", 1" & 1 3/4" with features: 

  

- Tourmaline Ceramic Plates Oscillate

- 7500 per minute

- Unique combination of heat and vibration allows hair to glide easily

- Decreases Flat Iron time by 30%

- No Tugging or pulling 

- Creates frizz free lustrous shine

- Integrated Super Sensor Technology

- Rapid Heat Up & Recovery - 8 Seconds!

- Variable Temperature Settings

- Digital Display

- 190-450 degrees

- Turn Vibration on or off

- Automatic Safety Shut off - 50 Minutes

- Ergonomic Design

- Swivel Cord 

 

 

 

 

As far as I'm concerned this iron delivers on all counts.  I watched as it tamed my ultra thick, curly mane in 25 minutes FLAT.  The heat up is super quick, I'd say 30 seconds or so depending which temperature you select, and has a digital display to watch the temperature climb.  (Temp ranges from 190 degrees to 450).

 

 

 

 

The process was easy, and I didn't experience any creasing or pulling.  My hair felt silky and soft when I was done, and it looked healthier.  What I liked about this iron was not only that it got the job done in record time (I've literally never straightened my hair so fast) but it felt safe to operate.  Many times I end up burning my finger tips after I close the iron on a section of hair, because I like to help guide the iron.  This always results in me getting both burned and annoyed.  But this iron actually has a raised spot that stays cool, where you can safely place your fingers. 

 

 

 

 

 

The vibrations were something new to me, and I credit them with the iron's lightening speed.  You have the option to operate without them, but if you're straightening, I highly suggest utilizing them.  They help distribute the heat evenly and ultimately minimize the amount of times you have to go over each section of hair.  This not only decreases the amount of heat being applied to your hair but helps pick up the pace. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with its ability to improve the appearance of my hair's texture, as well as its incredible speed.  This is definitely the iron you want if you are tired of constantly having to set aside time to flat iron your hair, and still be able to maintain its soft, healthy texture.  

 It may seem a little pricey at $199.99, but don't forget it is a multifunctional iron that also creates curls and waves.  (I just prefer my straight locks :)  It is certainly worth investing in, and I am beyond psyched for those cooler months when I can use it everyday!! 

 

 

Have you ever tried an oscillating iron before? What were your thoughts?

 

Review: Foot Petals Tip Toe Collection

 

 

 

At a past Brand Meets Blogger beauty event here in NYC, I learned about a brand that even celebs like Katy Perry are raving, about called Foot Petals .  Founded by Tina Aldatz, a certified pedorthis, the line is dedicated to providing comfort to your feet using various pads and insoles to alleviate stress and discomfort.

 

 

 

 Retail: $6.95

 

 

I treated my own tootsies to some TLC with some complimentary samples I received from the brand's "Tip Toes" collection.  The pads are very smooth and offer a gentle cushion.  They're also discreet and easy to insert.  They come with an adhesive on the back, which you peel back, discard, and then simply place them inside your shoe where it hits the ball of your foot.  

 

 

I chose to try them inside a pair of heels that were about 2" high, which I ended up wearing for a couple of hours.  Considering some of the time was spent tromping through the streets of Manhattan, I was quite thankful to have had these.  The Foot Petals acted as a nice buffer and alleviated some stress off the balls of my feet.  As you can see the soles of these shoes are particularly thin so I was able to really feel a difference.  (It is important to be careful with wearing shoes like these too often.  They can cause the balls of your feet to flatten and lead to further issues.)  The adhesive held in place firmly and didn't give me any issues sliding around.

 

 

 

 

Overall I found them to be quite effective for the few hours I wore them.  I can't say they totally eliminated any discomfort, but certainly gave my poor feet temporary relief and proved to sufficient enough for my day to day wear.  Since they're held in place by an adhesive, I won't be removing them to reuse in other shoes.  But no worries!  They're reasonably priced at $6.95 which makes it easy to invest in a few pairs. 

 

 

 

I was also given the specialty Tip Toes for Flip Flops which are great for summer because you can slip them into any sandal, or save them for those strappy stilettos you plan on wearing on Friday night for dinner and dancing! But these are just a few from the wide range of insoles Foot Petals carries in countless shapes and sizes.  Click here to see more!

 

 

 

Have you tried Foot Petals? Which style insole has proved most effective for you?