Lunch

Just about to dig in to this yumminess! I'm having a turkey avocado whole wheat sandwich, a few multigrain tortilla chips and a big green juice. The juice consists of spinach, collard greens, kale, cucumber, apples, lemon & ginger. Avocado is my favorite and it's great because it contains lots of good fats needed for healthy glowing skin, it also helps to absorb vitamins and nutrients from all the veggies in the juice. Bon app everyone XOXO

Girl Time!

Hi everyone! Feeling super healthy today, got in a great cardio workout this morning and did some serious leg & butt toning exercises. I always feel so good when I'm done! Now I'm doing some last minute studying for my final midterm that I have this afternoon, and after this I'll be enjoying my spring break :) Can't wait! One of my best friends is also coming into town all the way from Geneva. Her name is Anastasia and she's one of the sweetest and positive people I know (and she's just gorgeous!). We have lots of catching up to do as I haven't seen her since Christmas break, excited ♥ 

Relaxing & Reflecting

Relaxing with a cup of decaf green tea, answering emails and messages from everyone :) I absolutely love reading all the nice comments I get from you guys, I find them so inspirational. I think it's so cool to get messages from viewers & readers from all different parts of the world, including places like Singapore, India, France, Brazil - that's just crazy, never get over it! So thank you all ♥♥

I am also planning out what I'll be doing next week for Spring Break! I am so happy I will have have some time off from my crazy school schedule! Do you guys have break next week as well? If so do you have any fun plans? I will definitely be doing some filming & hopefully pick up some new clothes for spring. I've been getting that spring-shopping urge since the weather's gotten warmer. So excited to wear skirts, shorts and lots of dresses this summer. I also want to pick up some colorful accessories from Forever 21 and Aldo. I will of course share them here and in an upcoming haul :)  

Chillin' out! :) 

I also came across this quote today which I wanted to share with you. I find it so true & inspirational!

"Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, 

along with which comes the inner voice which says, 

"This is the real me" and when you have found that attitude, follow it." 

- William James

Backless

I am in an ultra dress shopping mood and came across these beautiful dresses from asos. I am totally loving the backless, crisscross style. I think it's so feminine and sexy, but sophisticated at the same time.  The first one is super chic, would be perfect to wear out to a smart dinner. And the bottom two would be great for cocktail events and summer parties. I can't decide which one to get between these three. I love them all! ♥ Which one is your fav?

Midi Dress with Cross Back, $39

Mini Dress with Rose Applique, $98

Peplum Dress with Cut Out Back, $62

Favorite Mascaras

What are your favorite mascaras?

I LOVE big flirty eyelashes! When I'm getting glammed up, I like applying two (or ten lol jk) coats of mascara to really amp up my lashes. Something that's great about mascara, is the drugstore ones are just as good, if not better, than expensive high end ones. I have tried MANY and the ones below are my favorites!

1. L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
This one is great because it gives intense volume! The brush is really thick so it picks on a lot of product and builds a nice base of black in the roots of the lashes to really make them look full. It's one of those staples from the drugstores that you can't go wrong with.

2. Rimmel Sexy Curves
The brush on this mascara is one of the most unique ones around. Its composed of three small balls that really help to separate, lengthen and curl the lashes. This however, does not really give a lot of volume, but it is great for applying as a base, and then going in with the volume building mascara after. Another great product from the drugstore!

3. Benefit They're Real
OMG, one of the most amazing mascaras. I feel like it does three things at once, lengthens, curls and builds volume. Great if you're looking to invest in a higher end mascara and want something that can do it all.

4. MAC Haute & Naughty
Love this one because of the unique 'two setting' brush. If you use the purple side, more product will come out on the brush to build crazy volume. The pink side uses the same brush, but only has half the amount of product on to build nice length.

5. Revlon Grow Luscious
Another drugstore fav! The brush on this is the biggest I've ever seen in mascaras. It's huge! I love it because it really curls and builds a lot of length and volume. It is also great for layering, so I sometimes apply 3 coats and it builds really nicely.

Keep in mind, when finding the right mascara, it's important to get one that's right for your type of eyelashes. If you have quite full lashes to begin with, I recommend all these mascaras for you. If you have finer lashes, then I am not positive if you will have the same results as me. Reading reviews online really helps me pick products before I spend my money on them.

Shopping for makeup can be so confusing sometimes so hope this was helpful!!

XOXO

My Workout Routine!

My new video is up! This one is one of my most requested videos so I hope you guys find this helpful :) As I said in the video, I don't have a particular "routine" since I'm in school and everyday each day varies, so I try to fit my workouts in whenever I can. I try to get in at least 3-4 hours of exercise per week, but I don't stress myself out if I get too busy with other things. The best advice I think is to try to incorporate as much movement as you can in your daily life, ie walking to places, dancing - jam out 20 mins a day before you shower :), taking the stairs etc.. 

Brazil Butt Lift (5 DVD's in total)

I like that every DVD has different workouts on them, so I always change it up which keeps it interesting. 

Some days I only feel like doing 15 mins of cardio and 50 minutes of leg & butt toning so I tailor the workouts to how I feel. 

Caution: Even though these workouts are fun & super sexy, they are HARD so prepare yourself to work up a sweat :)

The FIRM (52-minute Complete Workout)

Other workouts I love:

• Boxing
• Biking
• Zumba
• Swimming

Some tips for staying on track:

• Listen to good music!
• Bring an equally motivating friend with you
• Write down your goals and tell people about them
• Don't forget to stretch! :)

What are YOUR favorite types of workouts and/or DVD's? And what songs do you like working out to. Share with me below! XOXO

Central Park

Hey everyone, happy sunday! Currently waiting for my new video to upload which is about my workout routine, which I've definitely amped up now that summer is coming, yay! Yesterday I spent the whole day in Central Park with my little sister and we exhausted ourselves with all the things we did. I've always wanted to take out one of those little rowing boats in Central Park that you see in the movies, and finally got to do it yesterday. It was surprisingly relaxing and really fun - I even rowed the boat for a good 30 minutes. We played in the park, baked a cake, had a dance party lol when I came home and slept like a baby! 

FLY

Got a little silly last night with Emily when we decided to get a great jumping shot. These pictures just make me laugh :) We went to go see 21 Jump Street which was great! Really funny and entertaining, definitely recommend it. We spent the rest of the night chilling on her balcony, under the stars, above the crazy streets of new york... right out of a NY fairytale :) Em told me about another funny movie with Jonah Hill called "The Sitter" so I'm going to hopp into bed soon and watch it. Hope everyone has a great night! Speak tomorrow XOXO

Lights, Camera.. No Action

Woke up early and got ready to film my "15 Makeup Essentials" video this morning and it was a total fail because of all the construction noise from outside. They are repairing & replacing the bricks right outside my window and the noise is unbearable, so I will have to wait till tomorrow! Since the weather is just gorgeous today, I decided to meet up with my bestie Emily to spend some time outdoors. We ended up going for a 2 hour power walk and did some lunges & stretching, it was so nice! We're getting these bodies ready for summer. My thighs are hurting but I feel so good! Now I'm off to have some dinner and do some work for school! Relaxing friday night :) Speak soon! XOXO

Fiesta!

Good morning beautiful! Woke up today to a wonderful sunny New York and I cannot wait to go outside and enjoy the weather :) I haven't even been wearing a jacket for the past few days, it's as if we're in summer already! And along with summer here comes the humidity lol and as you can probably see my hair absorbs it and gets HUGE. Anyway :) I decided to get my nails done yesterday and chose this gorgeous pink color called "Fiesta" by Essie and I love it. It's the perfect bold candy pink color, matching my mood for this newfound summer weather. 

"Fiesta" by Essie, love this candy pink color! 

In pictures, it shows up more fuchsia/purple, 

but the true color is the one shown in the bottle 

A Little ♥

Just came across this beautiful quote by Howard Thurman that I wanted to share with you. Being on YouTube and of course here on my blog, I get a lot of amazing positive comments from viewers and readers (love you all!). But, I also get the criticizing ones that try to push you down, and I'm sure everyone experiences this at one point or another. At the end of the day, it's about keeping focused and doing what makes you happy. I think if everyone focused a little more on the simple things in life and discovered those little pleasures, the world as a whole would be happier and calmer. When you do the things you love to do, you are happy and apply your positive energy to everything else you do, it's a ripple effect... in my heart anyway! :)

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it! 
Because what the world needs, is more people who have come alive" 

– Howard Thurman

Rose Gold

Every now and then I like to check in with my favorite designers to see their new collections, and oh my! I had to hold my jaw up when I saw these rose gold dresses from Herve Leger, the brand behind the ultimate sexy, sophisticated cocktail dresses. These are my favorite from the new Spring collection and I WISH I had them in my wardrobe right now. I really like the edgy braided chiffon construction  against the soft and feminine rose gold fabric. One of these dresses are about $3,500 so they are not on my budget, BUT it's always fun to look and get inspired right? I imagine myself wearing one of these at a beautiful candle lit dinner in some exotic destination... heaven! ♥ Which one is your favorite?

Herve Leger Spring 2012 Favs ♥

JUICE

Today I made an extra fiery juice with double the amount of ginger I normally use. Ginger is great for supporting a healthy immune system and really helps to detoxify your body. To balance out the ginger, I added an extra lemon (two in total), along with some other favorites like carrots, celery, spinach, beets and apples. It tastes so fresh & clean! I've started making two servings of juice per time, so I can keep some for the next day. Fun fact: you can store fresh juice for up to 3 days as long as you include lemon, which acts as a natural preservative. 

Family Night

Hi everyone :) Just got home from a night out in the city felt nice to get out of my apartment! I've been home working on midterms for the past few days and needed to get out for a bit. I had a lovely dinner with my whole family by Columbus Circle, then my brothers, some friends and I went out to a restaurant / club to dance & let loose. Now I'm so ready to hop into bed and get some rest so I can wake up early and finish up a huge project I have due on monday. Wanted to say hi to everyone since I've been gone for the past few days - literally buried in books, meh :( Hope everyone's having a great weekend! Will post some more pics from our night out tomorrow afternoon. XOXO

Gorgeous candles and white roses at dinner

New Shorts!

Just bought these cute high waisted distressed jean shorts for summer! I think they will look great with a flowy white top, some white sneakers and a summery tan. My leg toning workouts are perfect for shorts like this :) They have an 80's feel to them, which if you know me by now, is definitely a style I love ♥ Got them at H&M for under $20! Woop. 

Purple Party Makeup

Hi friends! Just finished editing & uploading my new video which was highly requested by many of you who wanted to see a tutorial using brighter colors. I used purple and a hint of turquoise in this look and I think it came out pretty nice. What do you think? Is this something you would wear to a festive occasion.. or to the grocery store? lol :) 

For those of you wondering if I photoshop my pictures, I just have the best camera in the world that has an automatic skin smoothing feature called "beauty shot". This feature is standard on most Samsung cameras and makes everything look amazing. I unfortunately don't know the ins and outs of photoshop so the answer to that question is no. I would love learn how to though one day :) 

I hope you enjoy the video and let me know what makeup look you want to see next! XOXO

Products Used:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo "Painted Purple"
- "Flash" Urban Decay
- "Naked" Urban Decay
- "Hustle" Urban Decay
- "Flipside" Urban Decay
- L'Oreal Extra Intense Black Liner
- Lancome Artliner "Noir"
- Revlon "Grow Luscious" Mascara
- Rimmel "Airy Fairy" lipstick

My Foundation:
- Bourjois Healthy Mix #54
- Age Rewind Concealer "Fair"
- MAC Mineralize Skin Finish "Medium"

Live Your Life

Hey everyone! I'm currently in the midst of getting ready for the day, and wanted to share this inspiring quote with you by Alan Ennis, CEO of Revlon, that I read in a magazine yesterday,

“Be ready when opportunities present themselves. Throw yourself into your career with passion… embrace the challenges presented to you; ask the question that everyone is afraid to ask; be bold and be comfortable being wrong. Most importantly, stay true to yourself, keeping your two feet planted firmly on the ground.  And remember, life does not owe you a living, you have to actively live your life."

Me getting ready right now. Going for an "au natural" look today.

This is definitely one of my favorite quotes! My next video will be up by tomorrow morning :) Hope everyone has a great day! XOXO

February 2012 Favorites!

Good morning everyone! Here is my new video :) Hope you enjoy! XOXO

Sunshine!

Ohhh yes! This week started off great with warm weather and lots of sunshine. Will try to spend as much time outside as possible, along with my spf of course ;) It seems like it's heating up everywhere this week. How has the weather been for you guys? I'm getting my sandals out and storing my boots away - far.. far away and hoping I wont have to use them again :) 

Screenshot from my iPhone

Picture taken in Miami last summer. This is how I'd happily live all year round ♥

Back Home

Hi everyone! Got back to New York this morning and went straight from the airport to a 4 hour class. When I got home I attempted to do an at-home workout DVD but had a mountain of homework to get done and also wanted to finish editing my 'February Favorites' video first, which is currently uploading & will be up in the morning, yay! I will get my workout in tomorrow afternoon :) 

Below are a few more pictures from Toronto, including some from the basketball game we went to at the Air Canada Center where the Raptors played the Milwaukee Bucks (I don't follow basketball and had never heard of either teams lol but it was fun). Will be back in the morning with a new video! XOXO

 Gorgeous view of the lake at Port Credit! Reminds me of Geneva ♥

Fresh fruit available at a basketball game? Who would've thought! 

Loved the energy at the stadium, definitely a great experience

Lakeshore

Hi everyone! Today it was a whopping 19'C here (about 66'F) and I was soaking up every minute of it! We drove to Port Credit in the afternoon and spent some time by the lake and had lunch near by at a Greek place. I thought it was absolutely gorgeous by the lake! And thanks to everyone who suggested all the different places to go to around here :) Love this city.

Welcome to Port Credit Harbour

Toronto from a far

Wearing my staple rose gold MK watch and pink 'confetti' nails

18'C today!! So nice & warm :)

In the evening, we went to a basketball game at the ACC and unfortunately the Raptors (Toronto basketball team) lost.. but it was a fun experience! Now we are chilling at home, about to watch Good Deeds in front of the fire place :) Getting up early to catch my flight back to NY! Hope everyone's had a lovely weekend! XOXO