February BIRCHBOX review

Finally, my first birchbox arrived!

For those of you who don't know, I'll take a moment to shed a bit of light on the basis of this site subscription. For 10$ a month, you can receive a surprise box of goodies filled with the latest and greatest samples of beauty products.

Now here comes the less appeasing side ---- you have to request a subscription and due to the waiting list, that could take anywhere from up to 2-4 weeks to be accepted. I was on the unfortunate end of the spectrum and waited a whopping 30 days.

Although, I will say - the anticipation made it that much more gratifying when I received the email announcing my subscription had been granted.

Even more fulfilling was the day I received it!

Harvery Prince|| Skinny  Chic perfume: "a zesty blend  of apple, mint, and lotus blossom." It has a very uplifting light aroma.  Not overpowering, yet surprisingly lasts hours.



LASHEM: "Made with nourishing goji berry extracts and fortifying biotin, this derm-approved serum gives you longer, thicker lashes" I do think this product is one that requires a bit more time to trial it. However, if my mind is not playing tricks on me, then I do believe my lashes seem a touch more thicker. Fortunately, the Greek side has blessed me with thick lashes and brows to begin with so the overall potential difference may only be a subtle one.



Number 4||Clarifying shampoo: "gentle  enough for everyday use, this cleanser  has low suds formula  that removes build-up without stripping hair of essential oils"  I am a huge fan of this one! The smell is really pretty. Over the past few months, I have become exceedingly less fond of products that contain a mile long list of chemical ingredients. I am certainly a great deal more aware of what I'm putting on both my hair and skin. Just because a product may paint a pretty picture on the front, the true essence of the product isn't revealed until  the ingredients are reviewed.



theBalm: cosmetics||  Hot mama: "two-in-one blush  and highlighter with golden shimmer to warm up the complexion" This one is perfect for every day use. It's a perfect balance of shimmer and tint. The hue is absolutely gorgeous on my skin tone.



Fresh || Lotus  Youth Preserve cream: "with antioxidant rich lotus flower extracts protects from free radicals and hydrates  for a full 24 hours" This moisturizer is slightly more of a thicker consistency that I'm accustomed to but I will say it absorbs relatively quickly and leaves my skin undeniably softer. I'd say it gets just shy of an A because I'm not crazy about the smell. 

Viva Las Vegas

I feel when every person turns 21, their first thoughts, aside of  "I can finally enjoy a glass of Riesling when dining out" is ... "I need to start planning my trip to Vegas!"

It's practically a rite of passage. Now being 22, I was slightly overdue. Nonetheless, it lived up to all of my expectations. I went with my friend Christina who has become a great travel companion. When booking the hotel, I had some reservations about staying in a fairly new one. I wanted that classic Vegas ambiance with a touch of modernity. Fortunately, I found it! We stayed at Aria. From the carefully placed bursts of vanilla wood aroma to the plush, ornate decor, it was the perfect place for the 4 day duration. 

Prior to going, I knew that my friend and I were on a bit of a budget. I always had heard that by simply being the blessed female gender, things were accommodated for generously. Of course, I truly didn't understand that concept until I got there. My friend and I managed to get on the VIP list to Lavo, Tao, Surrender (which  was an outdoor club by the pool and my personal favorite). This entailed bypassing the line, free entry, and free liquor all night.

Now my initial thoughts were, "How incredibly superficial.. they're using us as bait to draw in all of the destitute men willing to pay a big chunk of change to get in here"

Then, my discerning side kicked in and reminded  me "HELLO... this is totally appropriate for your minimal budget"


We stayed for a total of 4 days, which in my mind, was the perfect amount of time. After a while, Vegas becomes a monotonous routine comprised of lounging by the pool proceeded by a nap, hour of prep time, and a long evening of observing people in a drunken stupor. 


That's not to say I wouldn't go back. Unquestionably I would. It would just have to be for the same amount of time or less.

Check out the hotel Aria we stayed in. I highly recommend it!

My official BEFORE Vegas shot

View from the hotel room. Not too shabby.

Aria main lobby

Peplum waist. Going out to Lavo.

No caption is necessary 

Pool side; the right side.

Dinner at Julian Serrano

Surrender Night Club with Ms Christina

Breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi while people watching on the strip. 

Getting back into it.

I've been MIA for longer than excusable. I am going to put another solid effort into this. Things are not necessarily stagnant - they're extremely busy in fact. Blogging is a beautiful outlet and I want to give it another shot.

PLUS, I love the idea of documenting my life, fashion, and traveling experiences with photos.

I have been fortunate enough to go on a few trips these past few months. I'd love to share the ones from Miami first! (Italy,Vegas, & West Palm Beach soon to come!)

Julius Bee: Cocokouture Interview

COCOKOUTURE !
I'm a little late ....but I really wanted to share this!! A couple of months ago, I was fortunate enough to have had an interview with the amazing online magazine, Cocokouture.

I think they do a wonderful job of capturing the essence of modern day fashion, blogging, and overall general trends. I feel honored that they categorized me with other inspiring, renowned bloggers (since I still am so new to it all) I am also very pleased with how my piece turned out. Check out the interview !

VienneMilano: Casting Call

This past Monday, I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to photograph the VienneMilano casting call at the Regatta in Cambridge. The purpose of the casting call was  to search for the next vibrant, sprightly model to represent the brand. It was a fantastic turnout. Many candidates showed up with great enthusiasm for the potential opportunity.

For those of you who don't know, I shall enlighten you. VienneMilano has revolutionized thigh high stockings. The e-commerce brand specializes in creating a product comprised of the most luxurious materials. Also, all of the products are made in Italy hence the wonderfully, befitting name. VienneMilano has also transformed thigh high hosiery into being perceived as elegant and tasteful. Check it out for yourselves: VienneMilano

London shoot

In the spirit of the Olympics, I thought I would feature a post of my shoot in London from a few months back with the wildly talented Dharmendra Acharya.


 We had been wanting to work together for quite some time and it just so happened that we were visiting London during the same time. He's a brilliant photographer that has quite an exceptional understanding of his craft. He created some wonderful photos, so enjoy!

A magical tea party

My younger cousin recently celebrated her birthday... but it was not just any conventional themed celebration, it was a magnificent tea party with ornate decorations and delicate china. I have to say for a 6 year old, she has incredibly elegant taste.


Her mom of course helped and found an amassment of craft ideas on Pinterest. From gum ball pearl necklaces to decorate-it-yourself cupcakes and even a nail art station, it was an overall success! You can check out some photos below.