Photo Diary #5: I like to draw sometimes

MTV VMAS'S 2013: Fashion Hits

Rita Ora

Lady Gaga

Iggy Azalea 

Holland Roden

Daft Punk

Image Source: Huffington Post & Time Magazine

Photo Diary #4: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC

Edited Using Adobe Lightroom 5

Photos shot with a Nikon D3100

5 random things

Image Source: Tumblr

Fall 2013 Nail Trends

Check out Harpers Bazaar 2013 Fall Nail Trends, straight off the red carpet (link here)

Homemade Reeses

Recipe here

Street Style Saturday #2

Summer, don't leave me.

Image Source: WhoWhatWear.com

Friday Favorites

1. Batiste Dry Shampoo
2. Blue Diamond Almonds (Toasted Coconut)
3. Birthday Cake Reese's

Top 5 Most Stylish Shows

1. Gossip Girl- Think of classy Manhattan style multiplied by a hundred. The astronomical number of designer clothing in this show is insane, but worth it. The costume designer Eric Daman worked with Patricia Field on Sex and the City and collaborates with DKNY. Check out this interview with Him.

2. Mad Men- This show definitely captures a great 60's fashion period. All the puffy dresses the women own and sleek suits men seem to always wear are stunning. The costumes are half the reason I watch the show!

3. Revenge- The costumes on this show make  me want to take a flight to the Hampton's and buy a beach house. The main character played by Emily VanCamp always looks put together even when she's getting her revenge. If the wealthy people in the Hampton's don't get some inspiration from this show I may complain.

4. Game of Thrones- I can't even begin to explain how excellent the costume selection in this show is. Costume embroiderer Michele Carragher takes time to work on every little detail for each garment, in order to enhance the costumes. Thanks to the costumes, the setting and image of the storyline is very well captured.

5. Sex and the City- Last but not least, Carrie. Samantha. Miranda. Charlotte. I guess you could say this show started an era for shows to come. The famous ballet skirt Carrie wears in the opening scene became immediately iconic. Patricia Field, the main stylist became huge because of this show, even worked on The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty.

Best Places to Shop: Boston

I live in the Metro Boston Area, and although it's no NYC or LA, it has acceptable places to go shopping. I'm all about finding good deals and prices when it comes to clothing, but I myself make splurges on pieces I adore or find will last me a while. Boston is a small city, almost a mini twin of NYC. So there is not a huge variety of shopping areas, in fact Boston was rated worst fashionable city by several magazines and surveys. But that definitely doesn't mean you can't have style if you shop or live here!

1. Newbury Street-Harvard Square is in Cambridge, MA obviously close to Harvard University. This area has some of the BEST vintage shops with great deals. There are not a lot of well-known chain retail shops (there's an urban outfitters, free people as well as a few others), but the amazing boutiques make up for it. Harvard square also has great art galleries, book stores, dessert shops, and restaurants. Best Vintage Shop: Poor Little Rich Girl 
2. Harvard Square- One of the best areas in the Boston area to be with friends. Harvard Square in Cambridge has eight blocks filled with shops, salons, boutiques, and restaurants. Some of my favorite places to eat are in Harvard Square, which makes a shopping day so worth it. They have upscale and affordable shopping from Chanel to H&M. 
3. Downtown Crossing- All the shops are right in Downtown Boston, which is great. There are a number of retail shops including H&M and Macys, as well as a many fabulous jewelry boutiques. Walking around this area is so much fun. 
4.Natick Mall- Although this indoor mall is technically not in Boston, its one of my favorite areas to shop. It's a huge indoor mall with every retail chain you can think of. Their is a great upscale selection of shopping as well as affordable stores. It's a wonderful environment to buy all the clothes you'll need.
5. Faneuil Hall Marketplace - Faneuil Hall is one of the most historic areas in Boston, as well as a great reputation for shopping and dining. I love all the retail shops in this area as well as the Pushcart shops where I find small novelties and gifts. I highly recommend grabbing a bite to eat while out shopping here, because all the restaurants there are delicious!

August Street Style Picks

August is the perfect month for cute summer outfits as well as transitioning into the fall season. I'm looking forward to seeing all the amazing fall fashion trends, but I'm miserable that summer is over. But here's to moving on.

Image Source: Vanity Fair

Check This Out

1.  I guess Friends taught me so many great life lessons? (buzzfeed.com)
2. In honor of this weekends MTV VMA awards, in hopes of witnessing more crazy moments (rolling stone magazine)
3. Okay we get it. Cara Delevingne is perfect. (youtube.com)
4. Perpetual desire to travel the world. (thecoolhunter.net)

5 Random Things

1. Oh S and B. I love them and everything about Gossip Girl.

2. D'aaaaw. 

3. Can pizza ever be healthy?

4. I WANT CANDY.

5.) One baby pink bicycle please.

Snack Size Gluten-Free Brownies with Nutella

I've had many trial and error incidents when it comes down to finding the perfect gluten-free brownie recipe. I don't know why every other decadent dessert has not been as challenging for me, but I'm picky about delicious brownies. I found this recipe on my favorite dessert blog, and decided to make it my own. Instead of the chocolate chunks (cacao) I used semi-sweet chocolate chips so I could make the recipe sweeter. I also added a tad less espresso beans, walnuts after I poured the batter into the pan, and Nutella frosting topped with more chocolate chips and powdered sugar. If you want to make it healthier I suggest skipping out on everything I added. They were definitely my favorite brownie recipe I've made so far. 

Designer Spotlight: Marchesa

Marchesa is one of my all-time favorite brands. The design house is run by Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig. They run a couture collection every season as well as a bridal collection. It's not rare to see many of their garments on the red carpet, especially during award season. Their collections are inspired by the nineteenth century eccentric aristocrat Marchesa Casati, and it certainly turns out stunningly beautiful. 

Where to Go Online Shopping

I like shopping in-store better but that never stops me from online shopping.

Fall Wish List- Handbags

Fall is my favorite time for seasonal handbags. Of course most handbags can and should be used year-round, but I find several handbags go perfectly for autumn months. These are some of my must-have handbags this season.

1. Celine Luggage Tote Bags 

2. Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac

3. Tory Burch Logo Clutch

4. Barbara Bui Shoulder bag

5. Alexander Wang Bronze Pebbled Leather Rockie Duffle Bag

Photo Diary #2: August Summer Day

Now that summer is coming to an end, I thought I would enjoy this August summer day relaxing. Not anything exiting, but worth snapping a few shots for my photo diary.

Beautiful Flowers from the Farmers Market

Snacking on Salt Water Taffy 

Taco Salad from Taco Bell, my guilty pleasure

If you bought everything Magazines told you to get...

I thought this was super interesting, considering fall magazines are hitting the racks and everyone wants to know the latest fashion trends to invest in. You'll notice Cosmopolitan, Lucky, and Glamour has the least amount regarding total cost of items, because their target audience is looking for more affordable everyday wear. The other magazines are pretty much promoting us to go broke in order to be stylish. But we love them nonetheless, at least I do!

Airport Fashion: What to Wear

 Back in the 60's when Pan Am was the dominant airline, it was tradition to dress up to the airport. I'm not talking sweatpants and a t-shirt. Children would be dressed in their best clothes, Women would find their best outfit, and Men as always stuck with a classic suit and tie. Nowadays I get disappointed when I get to the airport and see nothing spectacular. The one time I saw elegant airport fashion was when my family traveled to Paris, and in the Charles De Gaulle Airport, passengers were dressed to the nines. I often keep up with celebrity airport fashion to stay inspired and put together my own favorite airport outfits. 

Chewy Gooey Marshmallow Cookies with Minichips

Another Gluten-Free dessert recipe, I know. But these cookies were seriously heavenly. I couldn't stop myself from eating the cookie dough and the freshly baked cookies. If you like chocolate-chip cookies kicked up a notch with gooey marshmallows and sweet cranberries, you must try this recipe. Make it for your friends, family, co-workers, anyone else you know and I promise you will get positive feedback. 

Product Review: Lush HoneyLove Hand & Body Lotion

Apparently yesterday was National Bee Day, and the employees at Lush were going all out. They offered me a small sample of their HoneyLove lotion and of course I couldn't resist. I love Lush and a handful of their products, my personal favorite is their Dream Cream lotion. Their shampoos and soap bars are terrific as well. I arrived at the register with the travel size lotion and a face mask. 

 For $5.95, I got 1.5 ounces of lotion, which is really not that bad considering the quality of Lush Products. Plus, a little seriously goes a long way and I feel as though this product will last me at least several months.

The smell of honey and almond oil is definitely noticeable, it actually makes me hungry. The lotion itself is very moisturizing and soft, perfect for dry hands or skin. It feels like butter on your skin, even smells like it. This product is almost comparable to their Dream Cream lotion, and is a great temporary replacement when I run out. What first caught my attention to purchase this lotion was that 100% of the proceeds goes to charity, but the product itself is definitely worth it. Body lotions are something I always repurchase and I rarely use one up, except for the Lush brands. 

5 Random Things

1) Diamonds are a girls best friend. So are pictures and quotes of Marilyn Monroe.
2) Frozen Yogurt hype getting old yet?
3) I miss The O.C. and everything about it. Except ALL the episodes without Marissa.
4) A summer clothing rack makes me cry over the fact that summer is coming to an end.
5) Just because this post needed an artsy black and white photo.

Photo Diary #1: Harvard Square 8/17/13

My day was spent in Harvard Square window shopping, listening to delightful street music, stopping by every frozen yogurt joint, and emptying my wallet at Urban Outfitters, of course. I played third wheel with my older brother and his girlfriend, even though I didn't feel like one! For those of you who don't know where Harvard Square is, it's in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Harvard University) and it's a great are to hang out with friends, dine out, and shop.