Trick or Treat in NYC <3

I've always been one for complete spontaneity, I believe it is the most random last minute decisions or plans that turn out to become some of the greatest times in life...and create amazing memories. I had NO plans for Halloween, and I've never been too thrilled about this most festive fall day. Friday night at around 11pm I was tucked away in bed catching up on Curb Your Enthusiasm when I got invited to be completely outlandish and book a hotel room in NYC for Halloween night. My best friend and I went all out...got an adorable room at the Dream Hotel in midtown and before I knew it I found myself scrambling around parts of New Jersey and New York for a Halloween costume. I ended up being Little Red Riding Hood. The night was pretty great...a hotel room, margaritas, and costume mania in the city = me feeling like one happy girl :) All was well and of course the drinks were flowing, I would have loved to post pictures of my friend and I in our adorable costumes but like any other spontaneous evening of mine something unexpected took place. Lets just say being notably intoxicated and grabbing a cab led to my friend (who was in charge of taking all of our hilariously drunk pics of the evening) leaving her camera in the back of the cab that dropped us off back at the hotel! Of course we were too late and much too drunk in realizing this little mishap on our behalf, little did we know as much as it does suck....we were able to laugh it off in the morning. (It was an old camera so were keeping our fingers crossed that it winds up in the local precincts lost and found!). So all I was left with was my blackberry pics which are above.

I can honestly say I Love Love Love waking up in the city, there is seriously no where else I would rather be. We got up and had a delicious and fabulous brunch at Serafina and couldn't help but find ourselves laughing at the lunatic antics that took place the night before. My love for Hotels added to the excitement in the night's events. For me, waking up in giant cozy beds with complete darkness and knowing that I actually don't have to make the bed really bring a smile to my face. There is nothing like Halloween in NYC, from the costumes, to the energy, I can honestly say I'm looking forward to Halloween next year although I would love to go all out with a totally crazy costume. Overall the night was amazing! :)

<3

Cam Gigandet is without a doubt one of my fav. hotties from the original Twilight cast (well they are all hot..) but this guy really stands out. I've been noticing him in more films recently and it makes me sad to think he won't be returning for the "New Moon" sequal. He is Gorgeousssss! So yeah I'm sure we will be seeing much of him in the future. ;)

Today was an extra beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky, and temperature was beyond perfection. It was a great day to ease into fall. I did some reading earlier just sitting out on my parents porch. Let the sun hit my face and the breeze blow right through me. Relaxation at it's best. I'm in the process of finishing up my 3rd Ellen Hopkins book...this one titled Burned. After reading her first book, Crank I have been unable to stop myself from picking up the rest of her intriguing stories. I get lost in every book and find them impossible to put down. So far "Impulse" was my favorite...definitely a page turner and I found myself really pulling for all of the characters (the story is based on 3 teens who are in psych. wards for various reasons and are also suicidal...they end up being each others reason for survival) anyway the story was absolutely incapacitating.

I'm off to finish up some blogging and go have a yummy dinner with my family on this lovely evening. Hard to believe it will be freezing out soon :-/ and dare I say it...Christmas is right around the corner. Yikes!! VMAS's are on tonight as well as the True Blood finale. Oh sooo good. Can't wait! Hope you guys are all having a fabulous weekend!

Much Anticipation...

With summer rapidly coming to an end (it's already the last day of August?!), I'm trying my hardest to look forward to the fall and a new year. The best thing about September is the anticipation of FASHION WEEK! Although I'm not lucky enough to actually get under those infamous white tents (one day..!) I do love the vibe NYC has to offer. The fall trends, and colors, the breezy weather...not too cool but not too hot, I can't help but get psyched for some new clothes, and style all around. Being the magazine extraordinaire that I am I picked up the Fall Fashion issues of Vogue, Elle, InStyle, + Harpers Bazaar recently and became instantly infatuated with the idea of all the new fashions and trends that will be taking over the runways. I also became aware (through Vogue) of Fashions Night Out which will be held on 9/10/09. It's the first night in the history of NYC where all 5 boroughs are celebrating Fashion and by trying to get everyone out shopping and spending to help the economy...over 300 stores are staying open until 11pm. That's not all though...all over NYC and Brooklyn there will be MANY celeb/ designer/ guest appearances at different venues and stores throughout the city. Anna Wintour herself (Editor-in-chief of Vogue) will be at the Macy's in Queens signing autographs with MICHAEL KORS! It's all very exciting and I will definitely be one of the many excited shoppers roaming the city that night!

Loving Mad Men...& January Jones!

So this past Sunday AMC had a Mad Men marathon and there is definitely a lot of fuss going on with the third season about to begin. I kept reading and hearing about the show all over the place and decided to give it a go. I normally don't like to start in on shows when they are into the 2nd or 3rd season thinking I missed some important events and will have a hard time understanding whats going on. Well it took about 3 episodes and I was hooked. The show basically stole my attention because it takes place in the early 1960's so the world and everyone in it was run a completely different way than today. It's fascinating to see just what "old fashioned" really means and the clothes the women wore...all stunning. The dresses, the jewelry, the hair and make-up it's all so inspiring. January Jones who plays the typical "Perfect Patty Housewife" Betty Draper is to me what the 60's was all about. Besides getting wrapped up in the story itself I find her to be captivating in her own light. She looks fabulous in every scene! She's to me an all around classy blonde bombshell. The last few pics are from the January '09 Vanity Fair issue. I came across them and couldn't resist, so far it's one of my favorite spreads.

Summer Love <3

I know I have been neglecting my blog terribly the past week or so and it's time for some making up! ;) I had a crazy week with many fun Birthday festivities on L.I with my bestest friends! I'm 23 years old now and I'm not gonna lie it's quite scary this whole getting older thing! It feels like just yesterday I was gearing up for my 21st bday hoorah and remember distinctly hearing from many people that the bdays "are all down hill from here!"....yeah great! So hopefully 23 will be filled with many better days then 22 did. 22 was filled with much complication and confusion with life in general. I spent the weekend prior in Manhattan with my sister and her hubby. :) They took me to Brooklyn (yes it was my first time!) and I fell in love. Just like NYC in many ways, perhaps that's why I took so well to the whole BK experience. We ate at a lovely little Italian place right off of Bedford Ave and I couldn't help but people watch the entire time. The street style was amazing and very inspirational. It's crazy to think how far behind Long Island (where I grew up) is in fashion compared to NYC! The Birthday festivities ended in LI with my best friend. I had my first Taco Joe's experience (Yummmy!) as well as Fire Island bar hopping (highly overrated and over priced!!!). So yeah hopefully 23 will be filled with many more great adventures and abrupt decisions on my behalf. :)

Today I hit Target with my Mom and was immediately sucked into the cosmetics area. I've always been a makeup junkie and also loved trying new products since working for Benefit Cosmetics a million years ago (okay maybe it was 3?) at Macys. Over the last year or so my love and excitement for it died down a bit...until recently! After reading and following so many amazing blogs on here I have learned about some really great products and tips from some really awesome ladies! I've stuck to the same products for so long now I haven't actually gone out and tried new things. So after reading many great reviews I pick up the Urban Decay Eye Primer which is like a little magic wand that makes your eye shadow stay put with NO creases!! I've also never been a big lipstick person I always stuck with plain old lip gloss. I recently came to realize after having my makeup done for my sisters wedding that I LOVED the way my lips looked with a bare LINER and a NUDE Lipstick with a little smidge of gloss on top. Since I've always been into playing up my eyes I always prefered a very bare lip. After seeing so many celebs in the mags flaunting rosy cheeks I also scooped up some pretty blushes to try out. I always loved makeup so now I'm getting back into the swing of things. I'm just so happy the inspiration came from the amazing blogs I follow here! So thanks ladies!! :) Oh yeah AND since I've been pretty much perfecting giving myself manicures at home I picked up a new Essie nail polish in "Adorable" and yes it is! ;)

Also with summer coming to an end soon :( I just realized I read a ton of books and needed some new ones! Today I got Eat, Pray, Love which I have heard many people ranting and raving about non-stop and I hear the story is pretty inspirational....I'm def. in the mood for a good motivational boost! I also got Crank which is considered a "young adult" book whatever that means...it's supposed to be about a girl with serious addiction issues. So we have hopefully an uplifting spiritual kick and what I'm guessing will be a depressing downward spiral of addiction. Which shall I start first?! <3

"The Fashion Show" Finale part 1

For The Fashion Show finale part 1 which aired this past Thursday I went into watching it with extremely high hopes for Daniella (she's been my favorite all season). I was taken aback completely when Anna's collection came out because the clothes were absolutely stunning! I liked all of her pieces throughout the challenges but Daniella remained a favorite throughout. I also looooved Haven and think she left too soon :( . The pics above are just a few from Anna's collection that I thought were so lovely and most important....wearable! Her color palette was also different yet not too over the top. Noticeable she tried to get as much navy blue into the pieces as she could and I love that. She used lots of color while still having the navy as her backdrop for most of the pieces (instead of boring black or white like most people do.) Daniella's collection was brilliant, but her concept was also EXTREMELY Fashion forward and couldn't be worn the average Jane day to day. I was really excited and overwhelmed by how all of the designers did but for some reason Anna's pieces keep popping back into my head. Can't wait to watch the finale this week! :o)

Image source: flickr.com/photos/annabellenyc/sets/

7 Things That Show My Heart <3

Okay so obviously I'm in quiz mode now so here goes another one. This one is cute + fun just like the page I found it on...the lovely RCAITLIN @ http://cityinternlife.blogspot.com/.

"With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in: a picture, a poem, a song (or piece of music), a phrase (or quote), an item of clothing, a place, and just for fun a Disney princess."

1) A Photo

Even though it's small and doesn't seem like much, this was taken on my sister's wedding day. We were goofing around instead of looking at the camera. This is one of those random but rare special photos close to my heart.

2) A Poem
That would have to be "Shall I compare thee to a summers day?", by William Shakespeare. It's soft + lovely. It also gets me thinking about life everytime I hear it.

3) A Song
One of my all time favorite's is "Dice", by Finley Quaye. I first heard it on an O.C episode years ago and it stuck with me ever since. It's powerful and gets me thinking about Love ♥

4) A phrase (or quote)
There's 2. 1st is a line from the Notorious B.I.G's song Sky's the Limit, it goes "Stay far from timid, only make moves when ya hearts in it." the 2nd is a quote I found from Rene Konig that can be found to the right of my page...it's pure fashion!

5) Item of clothing


A classic (with a twist) LBD

6) A Place


Somewhere luxurious and relaxing. Perhaps a private cabana in Beverly Hills...or the Maldives? Oh the possibilities.. ♥

7) A Disney Princess

*Cinderella*. Her life was tough, but she was always destined for greatness. Oh, and the glass slippers? For me they would be Christian Louboutins ;)

Live in the moment.

I never usually do these quizzes that get passed around but this one seemed appealing because it's mostly about Fashion♥

What is your current obsession? Gold EVERYTHING.

What is your horoscope & do you relate to it? Leo. Definitely. Ambitious, Loyal, Independent. Creative and somewhat bossy.

What are you wearing today? Denim cutoffs, black Tee + gladiator sandals.

What is the last thing you bought? Gossip Mags (My guilty pleasure) + a cute 50's inspired swimsuit (It reminded me of something Marilyn Monroe would wear) from Target

That question about a fully furnished, paid for, that everyone answers with ‘Paris’ or ‘New York’: Hmmm...I have an obsession with Los Angeles as of late so probably a mansion in the Hollywood Hills <33

What’s for dinner? Yummy buffalo wings (mild) with lots of blue cheese.

What’s your favorite decade, fashion wise? I always loved the 80's especially now since 80's inspired pieces are everywhere but every time I watch a Marilyn Monroe movie I die over all the wardrobe pieces she wore so also the 1950's.

What are your must haves for summer? Sundresses, strappy sandals, and huge totes.

What would you love to be able to afford? I die for Christian Louboutin pumps (I see red soles in my dreams..seriously!) + and anything from the '09 Balmain collection.

What is your favorite piece of clothing from your own wardrobe? I can't just have one! Right now...maxi dresses, plain white/black tees (thin) and of course my black MJ satchel that I got for Christmas and refuse to put down....

What is your dream job? Stylist for Chelsea Handler because she's hot and would make me laugh. Also a fashion columnist at ANY fashion magazine.

What’s your favorite magazine? Too many... Elle, W, Allure, InStyle, Vogue, Nylon, Bazaar

What do you consider a fashion faux pas? Crocs (Not meant to be worn in public!)

Describe your personal style: It changes constantly. I feel like I haven't found MY real true style yet. So far my journey is Girly with a street chic edge. I'm loving simple androgynous pieces and rocker edges.

Which Beatle is your favorite? All amazing. Paul in definitely a QT though ;)

What are you proud of? Learning how to take care of myself and live on my own at such a young age. No amount of education can prepare you for that.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just because...

So Robby P. is my boy crush and now....Bradley Cooper is my man crush <3

Beach Waves

The last 3 days have been crazy but much needed...

1st: I ended up staying at my best friend's house in LI to get a bunch of things done that I had been slacking on lately...Aka: Haircut/ highlights!!!!!!!!! My roots were becoming horrendous and to the point that I couldn't fully enjoy using my new hot rollers w/o noticing the rootage! I became roller savvy after reading that's how Gretchen from The Real Housewives of O.C. gets her gorgeous flowy locks. I'm also so willing to try new things without cutting my hair! I'm trying to grow it but I want to keep it healthy and fun. I started using Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray ...anyway we haven't had many beach days thus far but like I said I keep trying to do different things. The surf spray is fun and gives my now freshly cut/ colored hair that beach texture/ salt wave without actually going to the beach or in any salt water ;) I also read that celebs like Heidi Klum and Blake Lively rely on it for their tousled tresses. I also picked up a T3 blow dryer today. My dryer that I have literally put through hell (I give myself blow-outs roughly every 2-3 days...NO FLAT IRON!) so yeah I used it for the last 3 years and recently it started cracking and making funny noises. I have wanted a T3 forever so I decided to give in and am eager to try it out....!

2nd: I got to see The Hangover today and I was literally hysterical the whole time. I would have no problem seeing it 10 more times...and Bradley Cooper is gorgeeoussssssssss. <3

3rd: I FINALLY treated myself to a fresh mani/ pedi and I literally enjoyed every second of it! I'm really excited that 4th of July is coming up and so far the weather looks sunny and hot all dayy! Lets pray for lots of sun for the beach and no rain for the evening when it comes time for those fire works! :0)

Epic. 1958-2009

Two huge hits in one day, first Farrah now MJ. So sad :( Michael Jackson died today after suffering Cardiac Arrest. The world is in mourning of the epic entertainer and music icon. I'm sitting here thinking of all the great music he made and all of the great entertainers I follow now who looked to him as the one and only King of Pop. I of course mourned while watching the Thriller video which is my all time favorite of his as well as some of his later performances with Britney Spears and NSYNC. His music will live on forever but my thoughts and prayers are with his family and his children. Let this be a reminder to never take life for granted, our time here is so short. Live in the moment, and never stop dreaming...

A True Angel* 1947-2009

"God made man stronger but not necessarily more intelligent. He gave women intuition and femininity. And, used properly, that combination easily jumbles the brain of any man I've ever met."
-Farrah Fawcett

Baby Love!

My Dad recently started taking care of a stray cat that was constantly hanging out on my parents property. It started small, occasional cat food runs, 1-2 nights a week in the garage during the cold weather...Well! That turned into meals 3x a day, cat toys, cat homes, a big comfy bed, the whole 9 yards!! Well, unbeknown to the family, "Friendly" (yes, he went ahead and named his little friend) decided to get knocked up and take up permanent residence in the garage. After a grocery run about a month ago, my parents open the garage to find her giving birth to, well--what we now refer to as our 5 little sweethearts <3>

Met. Gala

So I finally picked up a pair of white Chuck Taylors (yayy!). I also got a fresh mani with one of the previously posted Essie Colors...Flirty Fuchsia! It put me right in the summer mood. Unfortunatly we haven't had any summer OR spring like weather the past week or so. Just rain, rain, rain!! >=( I had finals all week and I've been stressing pretty bad, but I can't believe how FAST this semester flew by!!

I treated myself to some shopping in between finals on Tuesday and picked up some lovely summer dresses from Zara. I never really shopped there until recently, and I must say...EVERYTHING in that store was appealing to me! Although somewhat pricey, they had an enormous sale section with super cute items drastically marked down. The flowy sheer blouses, flower patterns and nude shades were all over, mixed in with some brights of course. Since I had some coupons to use up in Express I also purchased some more gold bangles (I've been wearing them with everything these days..), and my first "statement" gold necklace. It's long, big and chunky with, pearl, jade, and coral shapes on it.

The met gala was this week, and although it's always fun browsing through the photos of the gowns, and artistic pieces the elite show up wearing, I felt like there were no pieces that really popped or were flawless like last year. Rhianna's Dolce and Gabbana tux was...interesting? Blake Lively wore a stunnng Versace gown (I think my Fav. dress of the night). Leighton Meester is so beautiful and she showed up in some sort of avante garde suit... she would have been so lovely in a gown!!!!!!!!! But in the end, that's Fashion and that's why I love it so <3 The Fashion Show starts tonight on Bravo, and I actually went to a tapping of it. Quite interesting, the audience does the judging ;) along with Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland so tune in! Hey, it's something to hold me over until Project Runway starts up again!

Yummyyyy <3

So after being in the city so much the last few months I finally found time to try PINKBERRY frozen yogurt!! What a money market that little place is turning into! Its soo extremely delicious that I just might have had it twice yesterday! I will most likely hit it again after class tonight. Unfortunately they are only in NYC so whenever I have class I have to take full advantage! =) Some people love their coffee from Starbucks or Coldstone's ice cream. I am officially a Pinkberry fan and don't feel at all guilty when I'm eating it!

I was also reminded that spring is definitely in the air! My sisters wedding is around the corner. April 5th! It came so fast. Anyway the wedding is set to be outdoors weather permitting. I really hope it's a beautiful day, perhaps 60 degrees and sunny? That's not too much to ask for right?!

$plurge.

So I decided to treat myself to a day of shopping! =)

I seriously can't remember the last time I was able to shop for myself and by myself. Soo the Michael Kors watch that I've had my eye on since late fall was no longer a want. That baby became a NEED the second the sales lady slid it onto my wrist! It felt sooo good to just walk around (without watching the clock) and check out all the new stuff for Spring!! The damage could have been FAR worse, but I was able to catch some sales, and use my coupons. I also kept envisioning my bank account depleting in my head, which helped a lot as I walked passed the Louis Vuitton counter. I actually had self control! Needless to say my parents were proud and shopping is actually a really good workout, right?! ;)

Oh!...new obsession: SCARVES. <3