Remembering 9/11

After reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, I have been wanting to visit Ground Zero. Coincidentally, my cousin, who just came home from serving in Bahrain, was visiting this weekend and wanted to see the memorial site. On Saturday, my family and I ventured into the city to support my cousin and to remember those who lost their lives. I was only ten years old when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center, but I still remember everything about that day. Regardless of how young I was, I will never forget watching the towers collapse to the ground. Visiting the memorial was more emotional than I had expected. It was a strange feeling, standing in the place where so many died. Here are a few pictures I took of the new tower, the engraved names around the reflection pools, and of the only surviving tree. This is a place and a moment everyone should experience.

Book Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Many recent novels deal with how the world has changed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and how our perception of the world has changed because of it. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer deals with its direct effect on one family. The novel is told by 9-year-old Oskar Schell, who discovers a key that belonged to his father, who dies in the World Trade Center. Throughout the book, he searches all of New York City for information about the key to unlock mysteries of his father's death. The novel is interspersed with a series of letters written by Oskar's grandfather to Oskar's father, as well as letters written by Oskar's grandmother to Oskar himself. Together, it tells the history of this family, and the pain and suffering caused by the loss of their loved one. The way Foer portrays the emptiness his characters endure is what makes this book a must-read. With pictures and white space, every image and sentence connects the reader deeper to the emotions that come with loss. This story gets in your face, makes you think about it, and, most importantly, burrows its way close to your heart.

Friday's Five

Favorite Dress
{ Mint Green Chiffon }

Favorite Hairstyle
{ French Braid Bun }

Favorite Puppy
{ Bulldog }

Favorite Room
{ Neutrals + Pop of Color }

Favorite Packaging
{ Milk Carton }

{ Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }

Homemade Facial Scrub

Exfoliating is an important step that a lot of people leave out of their skin care routine. But trust me, if you properly exfoliate your skin, you will notice almost an immediate difference. Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. Most of the products out there are either too harsh, make me break out, or are too expensive. Being in desperate need of an exfoliator, I set out to find a homemade recipe to match my skin needs and that wouldn't burn a hole in my wallet.  I searched for hours and finally found an amazing recipe! All you need is some brown sugar and honey. A lot of people don't realize the benefits honey has for your skin. It acts as an antibacterial as well as a moisturizer to prevent acne and to soften the skin. It contains vitamin B and C, minerals and amino acids to keep your skin nourished and healthy. It also contains antioxidants that prevent premature signs of aging. What could be better than that?


Directions:
1. Pour a small amount of brown sugar into the palm of your hand. Big grains can tear skin and cause more harm than good, so make sure to use brown sugar (the grain size is perfect). 
2. Add honey and mix with the sugar until you achieve a gooey paste. You can easily control the harshness of the scrub by adjusting the amount of each ingredient until your desired texture is reached.
3. Apply the mixture to a clean and damp face. Gently scrub for approximately one minute, concentrating on rough patches. You may need to add a little bit of water to evenly distribute the mixture.
4. Wash the scrub off with warm water and apply a facial moisturizer. Repeat daily (as a light scrub) or a few times a week (as a harsher scrub), depending on your skin type and based on your personal  preference. Enjoy your smooth skin!

Wisdom of the Week

Product Review: Revlon Lip Butters

With my new found obsession with lip products, I decided that I needed to try something other than Burt's Bees Lip Balm, which is my daily lip product. I wanted something with a little more color than a regular chapstick, but just as hydrating as one. A few months ago, Revlon came out with their new product called Lip Butters and I am in love. They are the perfect combination of a buttery balm and a shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy glowing lips. The hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156% and the gel formula glides on lips smoothly. If you're looking for a hydrating lip product with sheer to medium coverage, then the lip butters are a must! There are 20 different subtle shades available, consisting of nude, pink and red shades for every skin type, which is perfect for someone who is afraid of color just like me. Today I'm wearing Pink Truffle and it is the perfect nude color!

Friday's Five

Favorite Outfit
{ Poppy Red Dress }

Favorite Room
{ Neutrals & Chandelier }

Favorite Photo
{ Secret Garden }

Favorite Packaging
{ Zig Zag }

Favorite Shoes
{ Shoe Art }

NOTE: As requested by my friend Sam, I have changed my Friday Favorites to Friday's Five. Enjoy!

{ Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }

Ombre Lovin'

Ombre hair lightening is a trend I've seen for the past two summers. It's a technique where selected strands of hair are lightened from the tips up through the middle sections of your hair. The word ombre specifically refers to the undetectable gradation of color from light to dark. I love the ombre trend but I'm a little nervous to try it out on my hair. So, today I was reading The Beauty Department and found an ombre technique for your nails! 

Materials:

You will need: 3-4 gradient nail polish colors (dark to light and all in the tonal family), a clear top coat, a triangle makeup sponge, a cup of water, a piece of paper for blotting the polish, a paint brush + nail polish remover for clean up.Unscrew the lids of your 3 or 4 gradient colors so they’re ready to go. Be careful not to knock them over! Here I used because I was feeling very mermaid inspired.

Instructions:

1. Unscrew the lids of your 3 or 4 gradient colors so they’re ready to go. Be careful not to knock them over! Here I used because I was feeling very mermaid inspired.

2. Get a little cup of water and soak your triangle makeup sponge. Squeeze the sponge out about 80% leaving it damp but not wet. This will keep the polish from soaking up too quickly.

3. Apply a single line of the darkest color toward the edge of your sponge.

4. Next, use the second darkest color and make another line above that one. Coat it twice also. Keep going until you build up your 3-4 colors. Note: you want to work somewhat quickly so the polish doesn’t dry out.

5. Dab your sponge on a piece of paper and you’ll see the colors together but not quite blended.

6. Bounce it up and down in the same spot a few times and you’ll see how the separation of colors disappears and they become blended!

7. Line the tip of the sponge up with the tip of your nail and when you’re ready, give it a med-firm press. Bounce it up and down a couple times in that spot. Don't be scared that you’re going to mess it up because you’re not. If you keep it in the same general spot it will be just fine. It doesn’t have to be exact. If it’s a little off each time you bounce it up and down that’s actually good because it blends the colors even more.

8. Re-apply a line of each polish color to the sponge for every nail. If you work quickly, you can probably re-apply polish to the sponge for every other nail.

9. Now you have pretty polish but a mess around your nails. Take a little polish remover and a paint brush and clean up the sides and around the cuticles.

10. Apply a top coat once the ombre has dried completely. The top coat will also make it appear more blended.

Old Love Songs

I discovered Brian Andreas about three years ago through my boyfriend. He had been away at school for a long time and sent me one of his prints as a surprise. For those of you who aren't familiar with his work, Brian Andreas is an American writer, painter, sculptor and publisher who is most known for the prints he makes for Story People. These mixed media works consist of a short story that focuses on a moment or a memory. The deliberately crude shapes display bright yet soothing colors and the undefined faces go along with the unique and simple language of the story. This print, "Old Love Songs," is the one my boyfriend sent to me and I absolutely love it. 

South Street Seaport

Today was such a beautiful day and I couldn't bare to spend it inside. So, between classes my friends and I ventured to South Street Seaport! I came here four years ago and loved everything about this place. I have always wanted to go back but never had the chance to because school consumes a lot of my time. However, I refused to be tied down to FIT's campus today. We took the subway downtown to Fulton Street and it was an easy walk from there. On the way, we stopped in J.Crew and did a little shopping. Everywhere I look these days I'm seeing neon and J.Crew wasn't any different. I mentioned before that I am afraid of color, but I couldn't resist from buying a neon yellow bracelet! (In fact, today I accessorized my neutral ensemble with my bright mango Marc Jacob's bag!) Once we arrived at the docks, we took some pictures and soaked up the vitamin D. It was the perfect way to spend my break from class today. I can't wait for our next adventure!

Friday Favorites

Favorite Destination
{ Everywhere }

Favorite Dress
{ Pleated Maxi }

Favorite Mixed Media
{ Jill Ricci } 

Favorite Shoes
{ Pastel Jewels }

Favorite Home Exterior
{ Colorful Vines }

{ Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }

For Your Guessing Pleasure

I have a great appreciation for simplicity. And advertising. And television. This morning, I stumbled upon these minimalistic posters and thought they were really clever. They are designed with solid colored backgrounds and three icons as clues for you to guess what television show they represent. Can you guess what show each one stands for? I could instantly!

{ Find out the answers! }

Sharing Smiles

As I was walking down the hall today, I noticed this sign posted on the wall. Almost all the smiles are gone!

Wisdom of the Week

{ Photo 1 }

When It's Worth Getting Your Ass Kicked

I have always heard how kickboxing does wonders for your body. I have also heard that it's a really intense class and that it's impossible to get through: I decided to never do it. But about seven months ago I changed my mind and tried a kickboxing class on a whim and felt like I was going to die. After about 20 minutes of the most intense workout I had ever done, I thought I was going to pass out. It was bad enough that I had to sit down in the middle of the class and pour water on my face, but it was even more embarrassing that I couldn't finish the workout. Definitely not one of my proudest moments. It took a lot for me to return and show my face after the scene I caused but I'm really glad that I stuck with it. Now, seven months later I am stronger, toned and have great endurance. For those of you who are laughing at my rather embarrassing incident, don't be so quick to judge! Unless you already workout on a regular basis you wouldn't have been able to get through the class either.


A typical class runs for one hour, consisting of a 10 minute warm up, a 30 minute main portion, 15 minutes of weight training/ core training and a 5 minute cool down. The warm up involves stretching as well as large muscle movements to increase blood flow and heat up the muscles. The main portion of the class involves combination punches and kicks that are repeated multiple times. Common moves are bobbing and weaving, forward jabs, cross jabs, hooks and upper cuts, front and back kicks, and side kicks. Jumping jacks, running, skipping rope and boxer's shuffle are often used in between punching and kicking to rev the heart rate and offer cross-training. In my class, we have a section where we use light weights to tone the shoulders, back and arms, and various abdomen exercises to target the core. The cool down involves static stretching of the hips, shoulders and core. Here is a great beginner's workout to try! It's very similar to the beginning portion of the workout I do.

So, why bother doing a workout that is going to kick your ass? For one reason, and one reason only- it is one of the best forms of exercise out there! While challenging all major muscle groups, it improves aerobic capacity, decreases stress, improves focus and boosts your endurance. Although those benefits are great, what you really want to know is "Will this make my waist smaller?" and "Will this make my butt tighter?" If you fall under this category, then I would highly recommend giving this workout a chance. One hour of kickboxing can burn 500 calories and transform your body! If you workout at least one or two more days (in addition to the kickboxing class) and maintain a healthy diet, I promise you will see results. I certainly did!

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

I left my heart in San Francisco 

High on a hill, it calls to me. 

To be where little cable cars 

Climb halfway to the stars! 

The morning fog may chill the air 

I don't care! 

My love waits there in San Francisco 

Above the blue and windy sea 

When I come home to you, San Francisco, 

Your golden sun will shine for me!

I am a true New Yorker. I always thought I would never want to live anywhere else, simply because there couldn't be a place that could make me happier than I already am. I grew up on Long Island and have been going to school in Manhattan for the past three years, two of which I lived in the heart of the city. This past January, my family visited friends in San Francisco and I immediately fell in love with the city. I finally understood why everyone loves California. Everything about this place made me happy- the constant sunshine, the smiles, the outdoor cafe's, the docks by the water, the colorful buildings, the hills, the clean sidewalks, the clean air and the gorgeous view. I have been lucky enough to travel to a lot of places, but this was the first time I actually stopped and pictured my life there. For the time being, I will have to settle for short trips to San Fran, but maybe one day I'll be able to call it home.


{ Photos 1, 2 }

Friday Favorites

Favorite Paper Clips
( Elephants }

Favorite Room
{ Gorgeous Kitchen }

Favorite Hairstyle
{ Braided Ponytail }

Favorite Picture
{ Pure Happiness }

1. Favorite Paper Clips- Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with elephants. Aside from being the cutest animals ever, they are a symbol of wisdom in Asian cultures and are known for their intelligence. I fall in love with anything resembling an elephant. Last week I found these paper clips from ModCloth and they are only $9.99! They are so cute and different!

2. Favorite Room- This might be the most beautiful kitchen I have ever seen. When I am older and married, I want my kitchen to look just like this. I think neutral tones are classic and sophisticated, but still give the feeling of comfort and relaxation. My favorite part of this kitchen are the intricate moldings and the arches in the ceiling. I personally would not have chosen brass fixtures for the sinks, but I actually really like it. Everything about this room is perfect!

3. Favorite Hairstyle- Most days, I start off with my hair down but always end up putting it in a ponytail. I can't stand having hair in my face while I'm doing work at school. I've been trying to figure out a way to put my hair up in a nicer way and then I stumbled upon this! This really beautiful and unique updo incorporates a french braid and a poof to spice up the ordinary ponytail. Doesn't it look amazing? I can't wait to try it out on Monday! 
4. Favorite Picture- I don't think I have ever looked at a picture before and felt so happy. I would give anything to lie on this hammock and be away from the world. Now, more than ever, I am desperate for summer!

{ Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4 }

March Favorites (Even Though It's April)

Hi everyone! Even though it's no longer March, I absolutely had to write about my favorite thing of the month, particularly because I became obsessed with The Hunger Games. I saw the movie trailer about a month ago and could not wait for it to come out. When I found out that it was a book series, it seemed interesting and decided on a whim to read it. It is difficult for me to find a book that captures my attention, but after the first couple of pages I was hooked. For those of you who don't know, (you live under a rock if you don't), The Hunger Games is about a girl named Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where the countries of North America once existed. Every year, the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts to compete in a televised battle in which only one person can survive. After finishing the rest of the series in a matter of days, I became even more anxious to see the movie. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend that you do. I promise you'll love it! However, now that I have finished all three books, I am left without anything to read. Any suggestions??

You Are What You Wear

With the warm weather just around the corner, the store windows are bright with neon. I have been dying to be a part of this trend, but anyone who knows me knows that I never wear color. If you open my closet, the only colors you'll see are black, grey, white and tan. I'm convinced that what you wear reflects who you are, and right now my clothes scream boring, which I am most certainly not. This season, I want my clothes to be friendly and happy. So, I am committed to brightening things up with some corals, mint greens and hot pinks. Since this is a huge step for me, these vibrant colors will slowly make it's way into my outfits in accessories instead of pants or a shirt. La Mer makes an amazing collection of wrap watches and I'm loving this pink one from Shopbop. It's a perfect way to add a pop of color to any outfit and liven up a neutral toned outfit!

Makeup Must Haves

Lately, I have been dropping money left and right to get top of the line products. Here is a list of my favorite products (new and old) that I use on a daily basis and would suggest to everyone. Enjoy!

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Light

2. Bare Minerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation

3. MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

4.. Benefit Hoola Bronzer

5. MAC Sheertone Blush in Dollymix

6. Benefit They're Real Mascara

7. Revlon Color Stay Eyeliner

8. Bare Minerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer- I just started using this primer about five days ago and am already obsessed. I have very oily skin and my face looks shiny after a few hours and my makeup seems to have disappeared. When I thought my oily skin could never be saved, I tried this product on a whim. It's an oil free formula so it makes my makeup stay on my face without adding any extra oil.

2. Bare Minerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation- This foundation gives me flawless coverage that makes it look like I'm not wearing any makeup at all. This amazing product minimizes the appearance of pores giving me natural, smooth looking skin.

3. MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer- This concealer gives full coverage with a natural finish and blends beautifully into my skin. You only need a small amount to make an ugly blemish disappear!
4. Benefit Hoola Bronzer- It has been impossible to find a bronzer that suited my needs. I have olive skin and bronzers have a tendency to make me look orange. Since I already wear a blush with shimmer, I find that a shimmery bronzer is too much. Hoola is matte and works well on all skin tones. It can be worn lightly for a natural glow, or intensely for some major contour.

5. MAC Blush in Dollymix- After being a devoted NARS Orgasm user for many years, I realized that I needed something with a little less shimmer for everyday use. I turned to MAC and found an amazing color called Dollymix. Even though this color looks overwhelming, it goes on very sheer and gives you a naturally flushed cheek.

6.  Benefit They're Real Mascara- I have been searching long and hard for the perfect mascara. Five years ago I had fallen in love with Dior's DiorShow Mascara, but haven't been able to spend more than $8 on a tube so I settled for Maybelline's One for One mascara (which is also pretty awesome). But sometimes I want something for special occasions that make my eyelashes look like Kim Kardashian's. Last week when I finally purchased my beloved DiorShow, I could not have been more disappointed. I returned it and tried the next best, by Benefit. This mascara is absolutely amazing and I find myself reaching for this tube instead of my drugstore brand every day.

7. Revlon Color Stay Eyeliner- I personally don't think it's necessary to buy expensive eyeliner, especially when Revlon's Color Stay line is so amazing. This eyeliner glides on smoothly and doesn't budge all day.

8. Bare Minerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil- As the final touch, I dust on some of this pressed powder and the oil on my face disappears instantly. I carry this with me everywhere I go!