ModCloth presents "Uniquely You"

Happy Thursday! It's been a quick minute since I've posted last, but between midterms and making up the ten million snow days (I'm not complaining), it's been a busy few weeks. Now that we're back in the swing of things (not to mention another school vacation coming up soon - yay!), I thought I'd share with you some exciting new developments over here in the Valley!

A few weeks ago, I was approached by ModCloth to participate in the Uniquely You campaign, where bloggers like me put together some seriously stylish Polyvore creations featuring the best picks from ModCloth.com. If you're not familiar with ModCloth, they are a giant e-retailer offering the most adorable retro and vintage pieces at really amazing prices (remember that adorable mug in my snow day post?). This week's set features the Evening of Extravagance dress ($160, available in sizes XS to 4X), a black and beige lace confection perfect for a glamorous evening out. When I saw the dress, I automatically pictured a crimson-lipped crooner at some swanky French lounge; hence, I present "La Chanteuse."

Have you shopped with ModCloth before? What are some of your favorite pieces on the site? Leave comments, and I promise lots of more exciting news and posts coming up soon! Xx

Hustle Real Hard

If you know me at all, you know that I am a huge movie fan. I watch trailers in my spare time, host award-show parties, and frequent theaters whenever I can. Time off from work this week meant I got to see a couple of films, "American Hustle" and "The Wolf of Wall Street" (more on the atrocious latter in another post). Ever since seeing the initial trailer for "American ages ago, I had high hopes for the film. I was not disappointed, and "American Hustle" has my vote for best film of 2013. Click on the jump to read more!

Hellllloooo, Beyoncé!

There's no denying that I'm a big fan of Beyoncé's, but when I heard she released an album with a whopping 14 songs and 17 (!!) videos, I was a bit skeptical. Would the videos be typical Beyoncé quality? Would the songs reflect her kind of bizarre-o new Instagram personality (is it just me?), or be as enjoyable as her music in the past? Fear not, my friends. Beyoncé is still queen, and both her songs and videos are pure perfection.

Below is my personal favorite, "Yoncé," featuring supermodels extraordinaire Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, and Chanel Iman. Red lips, black lingerie, and lots of attitude: there's nothing sexier.

Did you download the album last night? Worth the hype, or a total disappointment? Let me know what you thought of Queen Bey's new musical treat in the comments below! Xx

Naked 3: A Tale of Unrequited Love

When I was 18 years old, I fell in love. Not real love, of course, but the kind of impassioned, amorous affection that consumes a teenager who finds a boy good-looking. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't function knowing that this person existed and could one day be my boyfriend. The object of my desires, who we will call "John,"  was your run-of-the-mill teenage Lothario, whispering sweet nothings in my ear and promising a fantastic future together. His work was done; I was his forever! (Teen translation: I was his for a summer.)

Naked 3 Palette: you are my new "John."

Like John, you teased me. I saw you once, and I had to have you. I did my fair share of Internet stalking. Back then, it was logging into MySpace to see who was in your "Top 8" and comment on your profile; today, I check obsessively to see whether or not you're available for purchase (you are not). Why do you torture me so, Naked 3 Palette? Why did I not receive a notification that you were in stock? Am I not good enough for you, Naked 3 Palette??

There are others, of course. Just like there were other 18 year-old-boys I could've turned my attention to, there are other palettes: some cheaper, some probably better-looking, some that are less of a hassle. But nothing will sate me like you can, Naked 3. No other palette offers endless looks of rose-gold radiance, glowy shades of pinkish-taupe just waiting to grace my already-brown eyelids.

This tale of unrequited love is looking bleak, but I don't give up that easy. I will continue my pursuit until your slim, sparkly goodness is in my greedy little paws, and unlike John, Naked 3 palette, I know you know how to make a lady feel beautiful!

Is your Naked 3 story as sad as mine? Or are you living happily ever after? Leave comments below! Xx

Wedding Season

December. Yikes. That's the last time I've posted anything on this blog. Between my teaching program, work, and family obligations, I don't know how I've even had time to breathe. I've been a guest writer at LOX Extensions (you'll see a separate post on that later), so that's taken up a good portion of my time as well. I won't make any sweeping promises to post on here six times a week, but with my schedule clearing up a bit, I'm happy to dedicate the time to this blog that it deserves.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending my great friend Anggie's wedding shower (remember her AMAZING Valentine's Day manicure, previously seen here?). I had such a great time; the decor was so fresh and ladylike, the food was amazing, and the sweets were to die for! And those macaroons you see below? Homemade! It's so nice to celebrate big life moments like this one with friends. With wedding season approaching, I'll need to do some serious dress hunting!

Will you have many weddings or special events to go to this summer? Leave comments below! Talk to you real soon! Xx

Louboutin Nails

Hi dolls! While I can't claim this as my genius handiwork, I just had to share my friend Teslah's amazingly gorgeous manicure. Inspired by Christian Louboutin's Swarovski crystal-studded Dafodile pump, this is one luxe paint job. She went with stiletto-shaped tips, covered in a chunky silver glitter polish (I believe she said she used Essie's Set in Stones; see my review of the polish here) with a lipstick red on the underside. Below, her manicure compared to the Louboutin shoes, worn by the fabulous Beyoncé. Sorry the picture is a little blurry, I guess I got too excited to keep the camera shot still!

Even with a broken middle finger, this mani is fierce!!

 I think this take on the Louboutin manicure is fabulous! So, what do you think? Brave enough to try this look, or will you stick with something more demure for the holiday season? Xx

Paris, je t'aime.

Ahh, wanderlust. Always creeping in and making me wish I was somewhere far, far away. Specifically, 4000 miles away in the City of Lights. I'm talking Paris, people! It's been a dream of mine to go to France since I was a wittle kiddie, and seven years of French classes have only added fuel to the fire.

What is it about Paris that pulls on my heartstrings? I don't know why I have such a connection to this place I've never been to before, but ask me where I would go if I could go anywhere in the world, and the answer will always be, "Paris." The entire French culture is beautiful, but in a relaxed, subdued way. Parisian chic is easy elegance, something that comes naturally to those lucky enough to be native Parisians. This post is dedicated to all of my favorite things French, so click on the jump and allons-y!

Song of the Day

¡Bienvenido a Miami!

Well actually, adios Miami! After a particularly wonderful weekend in Miami, I am forced to face the reality that is damp and dreary Detroit. All that remains is my semi-decent tan and peeling forehead. Ah well, as least I have some pictures to remind me of that Florida sun. Take a looksie, and let's all close our eyes and pretend we are on a beach somewhere!

You'd think we were going to Miami for four months!

Weird yet super-comfortable harem pants brought to you by H&M.

The view of the bay from our room at the Fontainebleau.

News Cafe!

It's everywhere!

Adrienne, Menka and I at Louis Lounge.

 Yes, that's an Inglot! After hearing so much about the brand, my heart skipped a beat when I spotted an Inglot Store at Aventura Mall. I instantly fell in love with the super-pigmented eyeshadows and lipsticks, but alas, I controlled my impulses and left with only one eyeshadow duo. I'll do a separate post on the eyeshadow, so you can see the color and texture.

Dear Miami, I will miss you so. I can't wait until my next adventure, but I will be prepared with SPF 3,000,000 to avoid my third degree burns. Xx

Song of the Day

Pastel Perfection

I don't want to pat myself on the back or anything, but....I called pastels being huge for spring like, waaay back in September. Or maybe it was in October. Come to think of it, it was probably after Paris Fashion Week. So I really didn't predict anything. But I was a big supporter of this trend, trust me! I think this image served as my initial introduction:

Jessica Biel, looking all chic and fabulous at Paris Fashion Week. And now, we're seeing the ad campaign for Louis Vuitton featuring the same creamy goodness.

So as spring quickly approaches (well for Michiganders, at least. Winter seems nonexistent over here.), pastels are resurfacing and I'm getting all giddy. Below, my interpretation and foray into the trend that'll have you feeling like an Easter Egg (i.e. just as pretty and sought after, ha ha!).

Pastel Perfection by atrpcevski3 featuring party dresses

Song of the Day

Holiday Nails with Essie Luxeffects!

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up two of Essie's Luxeffects polishes. I think these are relatively new (they're the Holiday 2011 collection, so I guess that's as new as they could be) and I absolutely love them. Essie intends these polishes to be used a topcoat (which I didn't...Seche Vite goes on top of everything for me), and they add a seriously beautiful effect to any polish color. The two that I purchased are Set In Stones and Shine of the Times. Set In Stones is a silver glitter with hexagonal and micro-particle pieces, and Shine of the Times is an iridescent, almost opalescent flakey glitter. 

Both are stunning, especially when layered over another polish shade; I stuck to dark base shades so that the glitters would be more prominent (Russian Navy underneath the silver glitter, and Black Onyx underneath the gold). I tried to go for a snowflake-y thing with Set In Stones...I'm not sure if it turned out as well as I would've hoped, but it's still pretty. Oh, and excuse me for the sorry state of my cuticles in both pictures - yuck!

I'm usually a fan of glitters only in the wintertime, and I think the new Essie Luxeffects are a really pretty way to make your nails look more festive. Do you like glitter polishes? Have you tried any of these? Leave comments below and let me know what you think! Xx

Katy Perry's hair! Ahh!

This is literally going to be a teeny tiny post, but I just saw this picture and I had to share. Katy Perry recently switched up her hair game (again) and I absolutely love her new look.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not Katy Perry's biggest fan, but I do think her music is fun and I love her creativity. The violet hair was fun and shocking, sure, but this new look is extremely pretty without all of the craziness. She's still got some fun pink color in there, and the length is extremely sassy. Her makeup here is also stunning: bronzy and dramatic, without being cakey or overwhelming (let's face it, Katy Perry has been extremely guilty of cake-face in the past, evidence here and here).

So while I'm not planning on chopping and bleaching my hair any time soon, I find this new look very inspiring. Katy Perry isn't one to stick to one hair style for long, so it's always entertaining to see what she comes up with next. What do you think of this new 'do? Leave comments below! Xx

TIGI Cosmetics, Part 1 (of a million, I'm sure)

Imagine the ecstasy that came over me today when I walked into the salon and my manager pointed out what seemed to be a beauty mirage. But no! It was real! I could reach out and touch it! The beautiful white plastic display sparkled like a priceless diamond. It was...


TIGI Cosmetics. Oh lordy, did I let out a scream! I was giddy like a six year-old on Christmas morning. I think I may have shed a single tear. Not really, but it felt like it was coming. And here it is!


Shadows and glosses and brushes galore. I've decided to swatch and review all of the products here over the next week or so, and present them here in separate posts. Let me know in the comments below if that's something you'd like to see, or if there is any product in particular you're curious about. I can't wait to get my hands on it all!

Song of the Day

In honor of all things fabulous.

A little more love...

My friend Anggie (who does wonderful nails) gave herself a Valentine's Day themed manicure, so I just had to share!

So festive.  I love them!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day dolls!  I know many people have a lot of pessimism toward Valentine's Day, but I think a day dedicated to love and romance can't be a bad thing (even if it means spending lots of money, ha ha).  So in honor of Valentine's Day, I've composed a little list of things that can make this day a bit more festive!

1.Physician's Formula Happy Booster™Glow & Mood Boosting Blush- What a long name for such a small product!  This blush claims to enhance your mood using plant extracts and violet fragrance; I'm not sure if that actually works, but the pretty pink color is enough to get me smiling!

2.Diptyque Kuntzel Deygas Candle Duo- Nothing says love like this romantic pairing of two harmonious scents.  The packaging is stylishly adorable, and the rose scents will surely please any romantic.

3.MAC Lipstick in Impassioned- The name says it all!  This bright yet wearable pink will make your smile a little brighter and leave the cutest kiss marks on your significant other, ha ha.



4.ASOS "Love" Earrings- These cute studs are simple but speak volumes.  Cursive gold letters let everyone know what you're looking for this Valentine's Day.

5.OPI Nail Lacquer in I Think In Pink- One of my favorite shades.  Sheer, pretty pink that still packs a punch.  Wear it on your nails to make a statement when you're blowing kisses to your Valentine.


 Well there you go, a few things to ensure you have a sweet Valentine's Day.  Tell those who are close to you that you love them, and be happy!  Have a great day! Xx

Happy New Year's Eve!!!!

I love New Year's Eve! It's so festive and fun, and it is the best excuse to wear a sequin dress, haha. I think NYE is a good time to experiment with makeup and accessories. When I think of New Year's, I think of glitter, gold and sequins.  Here are some ideas to inspire you!

Beyonce's hair and makeup in this picture is so much fun. She did a dark smoky eye with a nude shimmer lipgloss. I like how she used a pearly shimmer liner under her eyes. She used glitter extensions that aren't too obvious but reflect in the light. I love this look.



I just used this OPI polish from the "Burlesque" collection. It's called "Glow Up Already!" and is a beautiful opaque glitter. Most glitter polishes are annoying because they don't cover my nails completely, but this one is a ton of glitter that doesn't let any nail show through.

How about some gold shoes? This pair is from Steve Madden, and although I am not crazy about glitter shoes, there is no better time than New Year's Eve to wear a pair like this. I know my sister is obsessed with these. If your dress is more on the simple side, these are a fun addition.



No matter where you are going and what you are doing, remember to have fun and be safe!! I hope everyone has a fabulous New Year's Eve and a wonderful 2011, and ring in the new year with style!