5 Things I Wish Existed

Tweet

Pin It

The world is full of wonderful things (the internet!) and less wonderful things (the selfie stick) but sometimes the things we really need want don't exist.

Here's a short list of five things that would be awesome if they existed.

Date-bots.

We would send them to go do all the awkward first dates for us, then cut in for the second date with the good ones.

               

The guys would never notice the difference, right?

Read More...

Snark: Five Texts I Abhor

Tweet

Pin It

Most of the time, we enjoy texts from people whom we like.

Most of the time.

But there are some texts that, regardless of who they're from, send me straight into grumpy cat land.

Read More...

What Dating in NYC is Like

Tweet

Pin It

Being a twenty-something single girl in NYC sounds so exciting. And it is!

Sometimes.

But then you let your well-meaning, meddling friends and family convince you to 'get out there' (but it's so warm and cozy in here). A whole lot of the following ensues.

You go on a date with someone who randomly asks you out in real life and it goes really well.

If you know what's good for you, you'll stop there.

But who are we kidding? Let's continue.

If that's what luck gives me, a setup from my friends will be even better! Right? Riiight?

Read More...

If Your Stocking Goodies Weren't Up To Snuff...

Tweet

Pin It

We're a few days out from Christmas now and, just like every year, I'm sad that the Christmas season is already over. I have to wait a whole year for it to be Christmas again!



Bummer.

This year it flew by especially quickly, because the true all Christmas all the time feeling only really hit around the 20th of December, when I flew home. And today I'm already flying back to NYC!

But, that said, it was a delightful Christmas all the same!

But what if you didn't love your stocking hauls? No worries, Quest has you covered - just before the holidays, they realized an amazing new flavor.

It's a S'mores Quest Bar! And yes, it is LOADED with chocolate chunks, marshmallow flavor, and graham cracker bits.

Order some online or head to your nearest GNC and pick some up. You'll forget all about the lame goodies you got in your stocking!

Santa should shop Quest, guys. Seriously.

Have you tried the new S'mores Quest Bars?

What did you get in your stocking this year?

Do you have fun New Year's Eve plans?

Read More...

Breaking Up Isn't Hard to Do—When You're Smart

Tweet

Pin It

This might sound really morbid, but there are only two options for a relationship when it comes down to it.

Either you can (a) live happily ever after with the ring and the white dress and the church bells and all that jazz - and let's be real, most relationships probably don't lead to marriage, since most people don't marry their first boyfriend, or (b) you break up. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, it may not even be this year. But chances are that it'll happen and, when it does, there will be heartbreak, tears, woe, and lots of Simple Plan/Good Charlotte/The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus/other angsty music.

Yes, I've had a kicka** breakup playlist since before I even had a boyfriend. Don't hate. I'm prepared.

What's the longest it has ever taken you to get over a breakup?

What's your number one breakup tip?

What's on your breakup playlist?

Read More...

Boutikey: Shopping Boston

Tweet

Pin It

I don't have an iPhone. I know - "but, but, but...androids?"

Usually, I'm quite happy that I have one piece of tech that's not from Apple. But sometimes, like when I see a super cute iPhone cover, I consider making the switch.

I heard of Boutikey recently, a shopping and rewards app just for iPhones, and it's definitely another one of those things that makes me consider making the switch!

It's so useful for boutique shopping in the cute boutiques in Boston!

I love how social media is changing the way that businesses interact with customers and making the entire consumer experience so much more interactive. Boutikey does that for boutiques!

Through Boutikey, boutiques can showcase trending items in their stores, post special events and offers, and digitize their rewards programs. 

In lay(wo)man's terms, digitizing rewards programs means that it you can store your reward programs on your iPhone, so you don't have to worry about keeping track of all the different rewards cards and how many points you have/when they expire.

Some of the deals are really great - for example, if you spend $250 on full price items at Sail Loft in Chestnut Hill, you get $100 off. That's 40% off your entire purchase, essentially turning the whole store into a huge clearance rack!

At Mint Julep in Brookline, you get 20% off one item with every $200 spent. Or, if you like getting things for free, Bobbles and Lace on Newbury Street offers one pair of free selected earrings for every $100 spent. 

The best part? You can keep track of all of these great deals on your iPhone, making it much easier to keep oversight over what's being offered where.

Currently, 53 boutiques in Boston are using Boutikey and it's exclusively available for iPhones. Luckily, an Android-accessible version will be available soon!

Do you prefer shopping in boutiques or big stores?

What are your favorite things to shop for?

How do you keep track of rewards programs?

Read More...

Sponsored - Venus Snap for Spring Break Smoothness!

Tweet

Pin It

It's spring break in just a few weeks - WHOOT! I can't believe that the semester is nearing halfway done. When my first midterm exams began, I was like whaaaaaaaaaaat?

Because I'm a senior. Which means I'll be graduating. And I'm not going to grad school (at least not in the foreseeable future). So I'll be entering the real world.

Mind. Blown.

Anyway, since this is possibly my last spring break ever I decided to finally do it right! I went to boarding school for high school, so spring break has always been a time for me to go home and see my family. As such, I never had the typical warm-and-sunny-and-tropical spring break experience. But this year I'm going to Florida!

The beach + Disney week * 1 whole week = AWESOME.

I can't even imagine lying out in a swimsuit right now, since Boston is still experiencing polar vortex-y aftereffects and we're all freezing to frostsicles up here as a result. Warm spring break destinations, however, are a reality - and mean we can preview our summer wardrobes for a week! 

Venus Snaps are a great way to get that smoothness on the go that you need when you're rocking shorts and spring frocks for the first time in months.



The mini-razors are perfect for throwing in your bag so you can stay smooth and stunning all break long, without giving up precious luggage space that could go towards packing an extra pair of sandals or that seventh swimsuit (because one, two, or six are never enough).

See how little that is, relative to my carry-on suitcase (which has obviously been on a lot of trips with me)?

Venus Snaps are available at Target, so you don't even have to make an extra stop on your pre-break errand run.

I realize that's assuming that you're planning on going to Target, but who doesn't go to Target before any and every vacation? They have all the essentials, like little ziplock bags to keep the folks at TSA happy, flip flops, clothes, accessories, and chocolate.

Obviously, it's impossible to travel without chocolate. Chaos will ensue.

Back to the awesome Venus Snaps - they come with the Venus Embrace blade we know and love, but with an easy-to-grip mini handle and cute compact case that make it perfect for instant smoothness on the go.



The pivoting heads hug your curves to get all the little hairs and a water activated ribbon of moisture keeps your shave nick-free. Yay!

When is your spring break?

What's the coolest place you've ever gone on spring break?

What are you doing for spring break this year?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Read More...

Guest Post: Fashion "Necessities" and Accessories for Fall Weather

Tweet

Pin It

Hi guys! Since we all love shoes, I have a guest post here for you from Sole Provisions - enjoy!

Now that fall is here, a new season of fashion is upon us. This means that we have to substitute our summer wardrobe for something different. As is the case usually in fashion, accessories are just as important as the outfits themselves as they can be used to really bring a look together. Here are a few examples of accessories which have become essential for this fall season.


1. Dragonfly shoesEach season, there is a style for shoes which takes central stage and becomes the star of the lineup. This fall season, that style appears to be dragonfly shoes. This iridescent pattern is seen everywhere and many have likened its appearance with that of the dragonfly, hence the name. The best part about them is that they seem to go with a colorful and flashy outfit, but also with something a bit more tempered and muted in color.

2. Furry shoesOn occasion, fashion shows that it can have a sense of humor. That is the case now with many designers featuring furry additions to their fall lineups. Basically, any kind of accessory with a furry pom-pom or something similar is acceptable, but shoes seem to be the preferred choice. Also, faux fur also works for those who aren’t keen on wearing the real thing.

3. Lug-sole bootsThis is a blast from the past as lug-sole boots used to be popular in the mid 90s. Now it appears that they are back in style, for the moment at least. These do feature a twist on the classic designs by having a thinner block heel.


When you are looking for great deals on shoes such as an orthaheel sale, head on over to www.soleprovisions.com. There you will find a large selection of quality footwear in all shapes, sizes and colors.



Which is your favorite? I like the fun dragonfly shoes the best, I think! Though the Lug-sole ones (the bottom one in the photo) are the ones that I'm most likely to wear.

Read More...

The Snarky Stylist Steps In: Heels

Tweet

Pin It

Have you ever seen an accessory that's just so extreme that you wonder what sort of outfit could possibly go with it?

I feel that way all the time, whenever I see a pair of really intense heels. You know the sort - the kind of platform pumps that Charlotte Russe seems to specialize in.

Charlotte Russe's heels aren't all that tacky or stripper-esque, thank goodness, but you get the gist (that pair isn't actually from Charlotte Russe, but I linked to a pair of theirs above and the heels in the outfit I created, below, are from Charlotte Russe).

How do you wear platform pumps without being offered twenties on the street corner?

Answer: It's tricky, but definitely possible.

Platform Pumps by lle-schreiber featuring a coil bracelet

Mini skirt dress
ebay.com.au

Coat
$525 - alannahhill.com.au

Charlotte Russe platform shoes
charlotterusse.com

Ted Baker evening clutch
$115 - tedbaker.com

ALDO imitation jewelry
aldoshoes.com

Coil bracelet
maurices.com

Guerlain bronzing powder
bloomingdales.com

The key is to go classy with the rest of your outfit and not to choose a skirt that's too short. Don't go overboard on make up and don't show cleavage!

Period. No cleavage. I don't care if you're wearing slacks, cleavage takes the look over into the trashy zone.

Luckily for me, this isn't really an issue for me. I can't walk in shoes like that.

What's the highest pair of heels you own?

Do you like platform pumps?

Where is your favorite place to buy shoes?

Read More...

Pantene Relaxed & Natural Hair Care for African American Women!

Tweet

Pin It

I'm a mixed girl with mixed girl hair and it's definitely been a journey to learn how to deal with my hair. 

When I was in elementary school, I struggled to figure out how to keep it knot-free without too many tears. 

When I was in middle school, I struggled to figure out how to keep it from doing the whole upside-down yield-sign thing. I wore braids for two years in a row, just because I couldn't figure out any other hairstyle that looked reasonably presentable and didn't take two hours each morning.

Not me, but the hair is pretty much spot-on

In high school, I continued to battle the inevitable inverted yield sign and wore a granny bun for way too many years (my mom and big sister still groan whenever I do any sort of bun, now, for fear that I'll start another 5-year bad hairstyle streak). 

By college, I had finally learned out how to (more or less) tame my unruly mixed girl hair, at least some of the time. But there's still always room for improvement and part of that is definitely learning what products to use.

Pantene, the world's number one hair care brand, has two collections of hair care products that are designed just for African American women! There's the Pantene Pro-V Truly Natural collection for girls with natural hair and the Pantene Pro-V Truly Relaxed collection for girls with relaxed (chemically straightened) hair.

Since African American women (and mixed girls, like me!) with natural hair tend to have a tight curl pattern, it can be tough for the scalp's natural sebum to moisturize the hair. The result? That oh-so-flattering inverted yield sign of dry, frizzy disaster. 

The Pro-V formula promises deep cleansing without stripping away natural moisture, like harsher shampoo and conditioners can, helping keep our hair shiny and looking good. At $4.99 per bottle (for both the shampoo and conditioner) it's an affordable option for those of us who aren't willing to drop $30+ on salon-priced products.

I couldn't wait to try the Pantene Pro-V Truly Natural shampoo and conditioner! 

My before:

That's from the side/back. I'm not Cousin Itt of the Adams Family.

Time for to try it out!

Because this?

Could definitely use some work.

They sent me several different products to try - I didn't realize how much the line extended beyond just shampoo and conditioner!

There's shampoo, conditioner, co-wash cleansing conditioner, shine serum with argan oil, and a styling custard. 

Yay! Enough to establish a whole hair routine. 

The shampoo and conditioner were thick and creamy, and they smelled really good. I enjoyed using them, unlike other products for African American women, that tend to smell weird or extremely cocoa butter-y. 

I towel dried my hair, combed it, scrunched the styling custard through it, and headed off for my day as usual. 

It rained, it blew, and the elements did their best to make my hair a bird's nest. For all that, I would say it held up pretty well!

Not bad for the end of such a crazy day! I'll definitely keep using these products. I also like how soft my hair felt!

What shampoo do you use?

How often do you shampoo/condition?

What products are in your hair routine?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Read More...

Fashion Fantasy: Wedding Dresses

Tweet

Pin It

I don't feel like writing much today, as my brain is seriously fried from studying chem. Instead, I'll just share some fashion fantasies.

I'm attending my first wedding ever (not my wedding, but it's the first wedding I've ever been to) so what better theme for today's post than drool-worthy wedding dresses?

Since this is a fashion fantasy, reasonability is not a consideration. Even if the dress costs as much as a small house or a college degree, it's going on the list if it's gorgeous.

Drooling over Vera Wang Bridal

And Vera Wang is on this list, too, of course! Isn't she just the queen of bridal couture?

There's the Vera Wang Leah...

And the Vera Wang Laura...

Which happens to be my big sister's name! Lovely dress, no? And she'll probably be the first one to get married, considering that she started dating about 8 years before me, haha. 

Vera Wang Lark

Clearly Vera Wang can do no wrong.

As you can tell, I love huge, flouncy skirts on fairytale dresses.

David's Bridal

So I'm a princess. Sue me.

What's your favorite fashion fantasy?

Do you want a big wedding someday? The honeymoon is more important to me, personally, but I do want a gorgeous dress. How many occasions do you get in your life to wear something so stunning? Unless you're a red-carpet-gracing celeb, of course. That's always an option, too.

Would you consider a wedding dress in a color other than white? I would definitely want a big, white dress!

Read More...

Halloween Fashion Inspiration: Mean Girls

Tweet

Pin It

First: Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a Ronco Food Dehydrator and my other one to win 3 taster bars of organic, fair-trade Madecasse Chocolate!

Second: happy (almost) Halloween, everyone!

Do you remember the Halloween party scene in Mean Girls, where Halloween is described as "the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it."

Walking back from a babysitting job on Halloween my freshman year, I realized just how true that was. There were girls in various states of undress all over Harvard Square and then a group of giggling girls dressed in literally bras and panties got out of a cab and proudly informed me that they were Boston University students visiting for a final club party.

Some stereotypes die hard. Especially when so many work to reinforce them.

Anyway, here's an outfit that's about 5 on the skanky scale, with 0 being a big purple Barney costume, complete with the head and everything, and 10 being those girls in their lacy underwear. As always, no individual piece is over $50. Enjoy!

Halloween by livelearneat featuring platform shoes

Long maxi skirt
$25 - etsy.com

Platform shoes
$48 - lulus.com

Kate spade jewelry
$38 - couture.zappos.com

REGENCY glove
$32 - etsy.com

Steampunk Costume,Steampunk Clothing,Steampunk Corsets,Steampunk...
$40 - costumesofnashua.com

Persuasion Womens Masquerade Mask with Feathers and Trim
$28 - successcreations.com

Black Lace Fan
$5.99 - totallycostumes.com





I've also been enjoying this not-so-spooky snack:

 Wallaby Organic Low-Fat Greek Yogurt is super creamy and smooth. My favorite flavor is the strawberry, which tastes the most authentic to me and is really yummy with the tart greek yogurt. Yum!

There's also no food coloring or high fructose corn syrup, so there's no reason to be spooked ;)

I'm such a kid sometimes, I got entirely too much of a kick out out the separately partitioned flavoring and getting to dump my own mix-ins in. :P

Do you celebrate Halloween?

What's the coolest Halloween costume you've ever seen?

What are your Halloween plans?

Read More...