Fabulous Fall

Fall is all about fabulous earthy colours. With their deep tones and warm looks, they bring out the best of the season's beauty. As such, this particular colour called Power Clutch by Essie is a perfect addition to any nail polish addict, including me. The grey tones are deep enough so perfectly compliment the cozy, hot chocolate filled nights bundled up in bed with a perfectly romantic classic movie! My personal favourite is Breakfast at Tiffany's. But we'll discuss that in another post. Till then stay warm and cozy...

xoxo

S. 

P.S. This image is not of my nails, whoever's image this is please leave a comment below and share your beauty tricks and tips with the rest of us ;) 

The Lace Collection by Dolce & Gabbana

The new Dolce & Gabbana Lace Collection featuring Monica Bellucci is something to be discussed. The beautifully designed packaging of the lace collection is as sensual and beautiful as the actual products. The collection is comprised of:

Intenseyes

Black Intensity Mascara 

Lace nail lacquer

Intense Nail Lacquer in Pink  

Intense Nail Lacquer in Nude 

Intense Nail Lacquer in Perfection 

Lace lipgloss

Ultra-Shine Lipgloss in Shimmer 

Ultra-Shine Lipgloss in Honey 

Ultra-Shine Lipgloss in Perfection 

Sicilian lace bronzer

Glow Bronzing Powder in Desert 

Lace brush set

Mini Brush Collection

The collection can be purchased at the exclusive luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue! 

xoxo

S. 

Tom Ford Brushes

Presenting the ultimate luxury makeup brush collection. Among his many accomplishments, Tom Ford has once again found a way to bring the ultimate fashion sense to what are, in my humble opinion, the most important tools in beauty and cosmetics: BRUSHES!!!

When used properly, the right brush can change your entire look, not to mention simplify the daunting task of perfectly done makeup. These brushes represent the creme de la creme of makeup brushes, not only do they look classic and rich, they are among the softest and enduring makeup brushes in the beauty industry.

It should come to no one surprise that one simple stroke will immediately change your outlook on the importance of makeup brushes, and allow you to attempt wearing even the most challenging and daring beauty looks we dreamingly gaze at in fashion and beauty magazines.

The right brush can surely help us channel our inner Lisa Eldridge!

Brushes Pictured from left to right:

Eye Shadow Blend Brush - $55
Bronzer Brush - $110
Lip Brush - $45
Cheek Brush - $75
Smoky Eye Brush - $50
Eyeliner and Definer Brush - $50
Eye Shadow Contour Brush - $55
Shade and Illuminate Brush - $70
Creme Foundation Brush - $70
Foundation Brush - $70
Eye Shadow Brush - $55
Shadow/Concealer Brush - $60

Although they are quite pricey, I assure you that they are worth every penny and will surely last you a lifetime! These beauties can be purchased at your local luxury specialty retail department stores or online at Neiman Marcus!

xoxo

S.

Fashion Icon Of The Month - Audrey Hepburn

Recognized as both a film and fashion icon, Audrey Hepburn is unsurpassed in her style, grace, class, and legacy. A true humanitarian, actress, mother, and legend. 

She will forever be missed!

1929 - 1993 

CHANEL - Eau de Parfum

Like the legendary designer who inspired this extravagant collection of timeless perfumes, each one is a pure reflection of Coco Chanel's mysterious and provocative character. Timeless both in terms of their scent and design, these little wonders of beauty are sure to make the most loved gifts no matter the occasion.

xoxo

S. 

Flower Power

                   
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                       

Floral prints are all the rave at the moment, and what better way to express your femininity and sass then by wearing pretty dainty details on your jeans?

The right one is by Dolce & Gabbana and is my absolute favourite design as far as floral prints. It is absolutely gorgeous and unique. On the left side is one by J Brand and features beautiful pink and burgundy colours and contrast with a lighter wash of jeans.

No matter which pattern you choose you can be sure to make a splash with this beautiful and completely girly trend. 

xoxo 

S. 

Candy Shop

Honestly how can anyone resist such sweetness? Not only are the lips simply perfect, the nail colour just make everything that much more special. It is no secret that I adore the colour pink in all its glory, so when I came across this image I had no choice but to share this will all of you.

My theory is quite simple: you can never go wrong with pink lips! Add it to your nails and it makes life  even better :). This shade by MAC is particularly perfect for the spring and summer, bringing a refreshingly sweet look to any outfit, both for the day and night!

xoxo 

S.  

Red Shoes

Red shoes are my absolute favourite way to spice up any outfit, whether for the daytime or night out they always make everything look better. Theres is something about them that screams femininity, sexiness, and sass!

I adore pairing red shoes and accessories with single coloured outfits. It emphasizes their character and shows off their features even more. As always, Blake Lively looks stunning in this gorgeous ensemble. It is my belief that the simpler and minimal you keep your outfits, the classier will be your the overall look. This gorgeous off-white sheer polka dotted blouse, white skinny jeans with side ankle zipper detail, along with the simple hair and makeup draw out the beauty and sexiness of the red shoes more than anything else. 

xoxo 

S. 

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Among my many passions is one for luxurious interior design and decor. Ever since I got married two years ago, I got the chance to really pursue my passion whilst decorating our new home. I was so excited for our new endeavours as husband and wife, and made sure that our home really brought out both our personalities and taste. Lucky for me my hubby is very easy going, and let's me choose everything, you can imagine how happy that makes me! :) 

That being said, I love all things luxurious. It is my belief that the better the quality the longer it will withstand the test of time, all the while staying within the set budget. I want to emphasize an important point here, which is to each their own, honestly take your time and choose carefully. It is not a competition, take whatever you have and utilize it to your advantage (more on the issue of proper budgeting in future posts). So I chose my furniture, appliances, and everything in between according to my standards. I adore the colour pink, so that was a given, however considering the fact that I was now living with a man, I toned it down with the pink obsession and choose that colour scheme for my kitchen. Everything else, was very classic, timeless, chic, with baroque and venetian inspirations. Decorated with mirrored vanities, armoires, and chests it is exactly how I always envisioned my first home to be. 

This picture of a mirror is a perfect representation of my taste of choices of decoration for my own personal humble abode. I do now own this specific masterpiece, it is surely on my list of things to acquire in the future. I love the intense detail and work all around the mirror. It reminds me of an ancient time, perhaps in Paris, with a princess standing in front taking a glimpse of herself before going to the ball in honour of her birthday, where she will dance the night away with her prince... 

xoxo

S. 

Beauty Tip #2 - Sunscreen

Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned in regards to my skin is the vital role that the use of sunscreen plays in our daily skincare regimen. It is a step that no woman should skip, wether it is incorporated into your daily moisturizer or not, sunscreen should not be forgotten whenever you are exposed to natural light (yes even if there is no glimpse of the sun for miles ahead). Daily sunscreen application will help delay signs of aging, protect the skin, and help with moisturization. There are so many facial sunscreens on the market these days, the important thing is to find the one that works best for your specific skin type and concerns. I personally have three favourites that I use in rotation depending on the activities I have planned for the day.

1) Amore Pacific Natural Protector SPF 30 

   This is my go-to everyday sunscreen that I apply before my moisturizer and makeup.

2) Dermalogica  Ultra Sensitive Faceblock SPF 25

   I love this for when I have no time for makeup and need to have protection and a little tint. 

3) Eucerin Everyday Protection SPF 30

   This I use whenever I am on vacation on the beach or laying out by the pool. 

xoxo 

S. 

P.S. You many only and I mean ONLY skip your sunscreen when you have important photographs to take (wedding, engagement, professional profile, etc). This is due to the fact that sunscreen has a reflective   component and will make your pictures not so "picture perfect"! 

From Paris With Love

They say a picture represents a thousand words... so how come I am speechless? Like many Paris is one of my favourite cities. I have been lucky enough to briefly pass by one of the most historic places in the world, yet wish to see Paris like one should - with the one you love! This picture is a pure representation of myself whenever I would be in the magical city: looking about hoping that one day I would share it with the love of my life. Now that I have found my love I cannot wait to visit this land of fashion, fun, and macaroons! 

xoxo

S. 

Perfect Pink

Among the many wonderful trend this summer, is the incorporation of neon into everything from clothes, to shoes, to bags, to jewelry, and of course makeup. This post is dedicated to one specific makeup/beauty item that I have been on the hunt for since last summer when the neon trend really took off. It's an Essie limited edition nail varnish that was released two years ago with the infamous name: Pink Parka!

Although there are many similar colours available on the market now, Essie remains my favourite brand for nail varnish due to its impeccable application, lasting power, and goes on opaque in two coats. Not to mention the colour payoff and overall look.

I also want to mention that the closest other I have found is Shocking Pink by China Graze, and the newest Essie collection has one named Lights that is also pretty close, but still not quite perfectly pink - if you know what I mean.. :) 

xoxo 

S. 

P.S. This image is not of my nails, I found it on Pinterest and was amazed at the perfect application... whoever's image this is, please leave a comment below and share your beauty tips with the rest of us ;) 

Clarisonic Mia

There are thousands of reviews on the breakthrough in the skincare industry know as the Clarisonic. This is my personal version and it's pretty simple: GET IT!

One of my all time favourite presents was for Christmas of 2010, when my husband gave me the greatest gift of all (well besides his love), he surprised me with a Clarisonic Mia! I had wanted to purchase one for years, but never truly believed in the hype and reviews that it had received. Little did I know, this single  device would change my life and my skin forever. It has been a year and a half since my first use and I cannot, for the life of me, cleanse my face without it. I use it once a day, mostly during my morning shower, and enjoy ever second of it. My skin feels refreshed, clean, smooth, and rejuvenated after every single use. With a touch of my favourite cleansing Milk (Lancome Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser), and water I am immediately transformed to a mini spa, where my skin is the guest of honour and my inner beauty addict delighted. The pre-programmed timer allows me to fully cleanse my face without over exfoliating. 

Now I am well aware that this luxury does not come cheap, nonetheless, it is worth every single penny and more. It is my belief that there is no price on beauty, and even though there are limits to everything a little self indulgence never hurt anyone. If you cannot afford to purchase it right away... then by all means save up for it. Remember, companies such as Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon are constantly running promotions that help even the savviest budgeter.  I promise it would be the best investment you ever make as far as your skin is concerned. 

xoxo

S.

La Vie En Rose

It is no surprise that my favourite colour has always been PINK, and even though I do not have a particular favourite shade of pink, I do however gravitated more towards the lighter, simpler, and innocent variations of the happiest colour on earth! Not only is pink pretty to look at, but I find that it makes everything better, brighter, and most importantly happier. 

So when it came to choosing my colour theme for my kitchen, there was just no debating - I had to have a PINK KITCHEN! Even though I have collection a generous amount of pink kitchen appliances, tools, cookwares and serve-wears, there are still some items that remain on my home decor wish list (I know again with the lists...). So this post will feature all the remaining pink appliances that I need in order to complete my dream kitchen. These are some of the larger pieces that I wish to acquire as soon as possible, and I will make sure to update you on my purchases just as soon as I get them. 

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer 

KitchenAid 12-Cup Food Processor

Cuisinart 12-Cup Coffeemaker

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice-Cream Maker

Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor

Cuisinart Popcorn Maker

Cuisinart Compact Portable Blending/Chopping System

Cuisinart Hand Blender

KitchenAid Knife Set

Faberware Cookware

KitchenAid 2-Slice Toaster

I hope that this post inspires you to decorate your own dream kitchen look. It does not have to be pink, all it needs is some personal touches and features that reflect your personality and taste. And if you already have your dream kitchen, then please share your masterpiece in the comment section below. 

xoxo 

S. 

HG Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear

I have about 4-5 foundations that I constantly rotate through in my makeup collection, and even though I love them all my all time favourite and holy grail foundation is none other than the infamous Estee Lauder Double Wear. Among its many qualities that make it stand out is the long-wearing that helps my makeup stay fresh throughout the day. I adore the fact that it looks natural, yet covers all imperfections, redness, blemishes, even dark circles. An extra plus is the presence of the SPF 10 to help fight premature wrinkles and sun damage. It is my foundation of choice whenever I have a special event or just want to look my absolute best, and if I happen to be taking pictures, I simply pat some invisible face setting powder over and am good to go for hours on end. But before you run out and buy it here's a mini breakdown of the qualities I find important to mention:

My Skin Type: Combination-Dry

Application: Beauty Blender and/or Hands

Coverage: Full

Wear: Lightweight, Comfortable and Long-wearing

Sunscreen: SPF 10

Price Range: 30-40 USD

Quality: A+ 

So the next time you are at your Beauty department stop by the Estee Lauder cosmetics counter and ask for a sample and give it a try. I promise with proper application and adequate product you too will be amazed at the flawless results! 

xoxo

S. 

Think Pink

Ever since I was a little girl my favourite toy was a set of pink plastic kitchen cookware that I had received for Christmas. It feels like it was only yesterday that I played hours on end with that set, making belief that I was a Mommy making dinner for my family. What's funny is that not much has changed since then. I am still a child at heart, pink is my favourite colour, I spend hours at kitchen supply store, and I adore spending time in the kitchen cooking dinner for my husband, family, and friends. I bought my very first tabletop item when I was only eighteen years old, a light pink cake stand that had a lace design. My houseware collection has since significantly grown, mostly comprised of pink, black and white. From my cookware to servewear to appliances, everything is colour coordinated. My dream state-of-the-art kitchen design would be all white, with white marble countertops, built-in refrigerator, stainless steel appliances, and decorated with light pink small kitchen appliances as accents of colour. Here are some of the many gorgeous kitchens that I get my inspirations from and imagine my own kitchen to look like one day! Here's a look at one of my most favourite kitchen designs ever.... and yes those are Swarovski crystals. Talk about adding some glamour to your home... 

xoxo

S. 

Beauty Tip #1 - Exfoliate Daily

One on the most important and life changing beauty tips that I have learned in the past three years is the crucial role that proper daily exfoliation plays in the clarity, glow, and anti-aging of our face. Exfoliating helps get rid of the dead top layers of the skin, which then allows serums and moisturizers to better penetrate the skin. This simple task in my daily beauty routine has made a world of difference in my way my skin looks, feels, and most importantly delays the signs of aging. I am lucky and young enough not to deal with visible wrinkles, serious pigmentation, or excessive acne. However, I do have mild redness (not really rosacea) due to sensitivity and dryness. Our skin is know to repair itself at night, this is why during my morning shower I make sure to exfoliate my face using a Clarisonic Mia face cleansing system, along with a gentle cleanser (Lancome Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser). In the evening, once I completely remove my make-up, I wash my face using an gentle exfoliating face cleanser (Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser), and then continue with my nightly beauty regimen. Note that I only use gently exfoliants for daily use, however for a deeper exfoliation I use a stronger scrub with coarse and fine sea salt once a week for deeper cleansing (Lush Ocean Salt). This extra step in my beauty regimen is a priority of mine and an advice I give to every single woman I know, especially the one's who compliment on the clarity, elasticity and glow of my skin.

xoxo

S. 

P.S. I will review each beauty product I have mentioned in my upcoming posts. Keep in mind that there are multiple wonderful products on the market today that work with each individual's skin type and beauty concerns, these are simply some of my personal favourites which I find work great with my skin type and needs. 

Make A Wish

One of my favourite things to do is make lists about everything and anything. Seriously, I make lists for almost everything in my life... things I have to do, things I want to get, places I want to visit, books I want to read, groceries, resolutions, expenses, bills, even this list goes on and on. Nonetheless, I enjoy this habit of mine, so much so that I go over all the lists I have multiple times a day, constantly making adjustments and adding new items to my ongoing chain of hopes, dreams and responsibilities. Among them is one that I cherish the most, the one that holds my most desired and highly anticipated wishes. 

They are as follows:

10. Get to my initial healthy weight of 115 lbs!
9. Meet Celine Dion!
8. Travel to Paris with my husband!
7. Be completely depth free by my 30th Birthday!
6. Have the wedding of my dreams!
5. Be the proud owner of a luxurious Day Spa!
4. Buy my dream house!
3. Reconcile with my parents!
2. Become a mother!
1. "No measure of time with my husband will be long enough. But we'll start with forever."

xoxo

S.

Bold Brights Maxi Dress by BCBG

Maxi dresses are all the rave at the moment, and with good reason too. Besides the fact that they are the most comfortable, practical and might I say sexy dresses on the market, especially during the hot days in California, they provide a sense of style like no other. Maxi dresses come in many different designs and are fashionable for both young and older women. No matter your personal preference and/or style you can find maxi dresses in stripes, solid colours, tartan, polka dots, floral patterns, animal prints, and so on. One particular one has caught my attention and made it's way to my must-have wish list. It is the Cybele Strapless Knit Maxi Dress from BCBG. I particularly love the strapless sweetheart neckline, and adore the allover print with bold brights and a classic fit that accentuates your natural curves. 

xoxo

S. 

Dreams Do Come True....

Dear Reader,

Considering the fact that you have somehow stumbled onto this online documentation of my personal thoughts, secrets, beauty regimes, fashion aspirations, and of course my deepest hopes and dreams, I humbly welcome you to what I consider to be a new and exciting chapter in my life. I hope to share with you my ideas, tips and tricks related to all aspects of femininity, beauty, love, health, happiness, class, and couture. Throughout my future posts I will discuss issues that are close to my heart, life lessons I have learned thus far, and mostly things I aspire to do, achieve and become.

I do not consider myself to be a professional in these fields, simply an admirer of life's wonders and a hopeless romantic. This blog is created with the simple intent to share my knowledge on love, life and beauty. I truly believe that true happiness is in the hands of the beholder. As such, regardless of life's harsh realities and turn of events, I choose not to loose faith and work hard towards the accomplishments of my goals and dreams. I am quite sure that dreams do come true, simply because with enough faith, determination and hard work almost anything is possible! 

xoxo 

S. 

P.S. It's going to be a fun journey, filled with love, laughter and pretty pink things!!!