Summer Beauty Favorites

Hello everyone...This blog post is a little bit different today: A) because it's a video and B) because my twin sister is in it! We decided that it would be fun to make a video to share our summer favorites with you guys-- mostly beauty favorites but a couple of random faves thrown in for good measure. It would have taken ages to talk about these products in a typical blog post, and hopefully it will be a little refreshing to relax your brain and just watch us chit chat!

LIST OF PRODUCTS: 
Covergirl Clean Liquid Foundation
Covergirl + Olay Concealer Balm
Maybelline Color Whisper in the color Cherry On Top
Nars Bronzer Blush Duo: Laguna Bronzer + Orgasm Blush
Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in the color Bright Pink
Maybelline The Rocket Volume Express Waterproof
GeoDeo in the scent Island
The Wet Brush
Bath and Body Works Candle in the scent Rio Glow
Necklaces from Brandy Melville


Incase any of you were wondering, our YouTube channel is SheStoleMyBirthday. Comment on our vid with your summer faves!
Also guys, I just made a Twitter...woohoo! (I know, it only took me a few years to jump on that bandwagon). The link is in the upper right section of my blog where my other social media icons are. 

Hope you all have an amazing end of the summer!

The Top 5 Best & Worst Looks of the 2013 VMAs

BEST

I'm absolutely obsessed with this dress on Naya. The cutouts on the side give this dress just the right amount of edge, and I love how she wore her hair down-- I think if it was up it would have looked too polished and harsh. Side-note: major body envy going on right now.

THIS, Miley Cyrus, is how you make a crop top classy! A crop top looks much more chic when your belly button is covered, and it's definitely more flattering! I also love the color and pattern of the skirt: it's fun and interesting. As a presenter, this is definitely the right outfit choice: She didn't overdress and compete with the musicians, yet she still looks fashion-forward. 

When I saw Selena step out in this Versace dress, my jaw dropped. Selena is the type of person who would have looked gorgeous if she had shown up in a garbage bag, but boy am I glad she didn't. The piece underneath, the cool shoes, the unexpected emerald green earrings, all tie together to make this probably my favorite look of the night.

Ariana is known for wearing sweet, girly, dresses, and at this year's VMA's, she did just that.This Kenley Collins dress looks adorable on her, and I love how the white shoes keep it fresh. 

Similar to her bestie Selena, Taylor Swift arrived to the red carpet in a midnight blue dress also! While I won't get into her antics last night (all I have to say is, really Taylor?), this Herve Leger dress looked gorgeous on her, hugging all the right places and elongating her already incredibly lean and tall frame. I love the slight plunge-it adds the perfect amount of interest to this look- without it, the dress could have been boring.

WORST

Miley, you may want to consider asking Shailene Woodley for crop top advice. There are a few things that I don't like about her Dulce and Gabbana ensemble: Firstly, I feel like all I ever see Miley in these days is crop tops! Yes, we know you have rock hard abs and you should be proud of them, but sometimes it's okay to wear something that covers up your tummy. Secondly, I am not a fan of the hair. To me they look like two little horns and are definitely not flattering. To get back to the outfit, I also don't like that one strip of colored balls/beads/sequins/whatever-they-are on her leg; too me it looks cheap and like it was glued on at the last minute. And I won't even discuss her performance (let's just say some things cannot be unseen)... 

Sarah Hyland, I love you in Modern Family, so I'm sorry to have to say this, but what were you thinking?? Sarah's Marchesa dress just confuses me. I don't get the Wonder Woman vibe...this isn't a Superhero movie premiere, it's the VMAs! The dress is definitely not figure flattering, and I hate hate hate the shoes and the matching gold bag. To top it off, I'm not a fan of the light hair + faux bob look she has going on. 

While I salute Gaga for toning it down a little  (before, that is, she stepped out in her thong ensemble), I don't like this Prabal Gurung dress one bit. Again, I feel bad for saying so, especially after her kind words for 1D yesterday, but this is strictly about fashion. The black glasses, for lack of a better word, look stupid, and the dress looks heavy and uncomfortable. Against her pale skin, I'm really not liking all the black either (including her hair).

Erin Wasson's Alexander Vauthier dress--can I even call it a dress?--definitely doesn't abide by the "leave some to the imagination" saying. Yes, her body is amazing so I understand why she would want to show it off, but this to me just reads trashy. I have as much to say about this look as there is fabric- not much. Just, no.

Another Alex Vauthier look, another what the heck? from me. It's kind of funny, this Vauthier dress has the exact opposite problem as the one that Erin Wasson showed up in. There's too much going on! The crystal, the plunge, the sash, the train, the fringe, the feathers...Rita Ora is drowning in a sea of dress. 

The 2013 VMAs was definitely the most drama-filled awards show in a long time (And we thought nothing could beat Kanye's infamous Taylor Swift episode). It was so easy to get caught up in the One Direction/Lady Gaga/Taylor Swift/Miley Cyrus drama, I think people may have forgotten about the  fashion aspect of the awards show; if not for a brief moment. The pre-show is always my favorite part of any awards show, be it the Grammy's, Oscars, or VMAs, because I love to see what celebrities have shown up wearing. Here are my top 5 best and worst looks of the VMAs--what were your favorites and flops?

Images taken from eonline, Huffington Post, & Popsugar.

A Day in NYC

Close-up of my shirt

After post-poning a "city day" for weeks and weeks, my sister, two friends and I finally went yesterday (on a mission mostly to eat cupcakes, I admit). I know these aren't the typical Times Square-Empire State Building-city-pictures, but because I live in New York my friends and I have gone to these places multiple times before, so today was more about enjoying Central Park and a yummy lunch. After stepping off the train, we walked for about 45 minutes to Central Park and got lost wandered around for a little while. Our feet were tired from our walk, so we all sat on a bench in a really lovely area of the park and watched for about 10 minutes as a man made gigantic bubbles that a bunch of little kids were were running up to. So cute.

Our next stop was lunch. Although we originally intended to go to this fancy-shmancy grilled cheese place, we were told they only took credit cards (seriously?!), so we ended up at trusty Au Bon Pain where I practically inhaled my Cobb salad. After that we walked over to Sprinkles cupcakes (which I was a little too excited to try) and I got a carrot cake cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting...mmm do I love cream cheese frosting. After this, we all exchanged looks because we had been eying the same cupcake: the S'mores flavor which had a graham cracker bottom, chocolate middle, and toasted marshmallow on top. So, being the cupcake-lovers we are, we decided to split it in fourths and it was indeed very tasty.

After this, we browsed around Zara (aka cried about all the beautiful clothing we couldn't afford), and then headed back to Central Park once more, where we eventually left to head back to Penn Station. It was a nice relaxing day, with the exception of the 4 hours of walking we did, but hey at least I burned off the cupcake right? 

Two things you will have to excuse:

1. The weather was very hot so sorry I look like a sweaty mess. :) 

2. My sister and I had a mis-communication and forgot our camera at home, so all these photos were taken with my iPhone which is why the quality is eh. (I tried to edit them as best as I could)

Top: American Eagle (similar here, here, & here)
Sandals: Tommy Hilfiger (here)
Shorts: Holister (similar here & here)
Crossbody: Banana Republic (similar here, here & here)

Fall Essentials

I know, I know, it's still August--which means it is technically still summer, and it will be for another month. While every other time of the year I want it to be summer (especially because I hate the winter), mid-way through the summer, my "fall cravings" start setting in. I find myself dreaming about cool temperatures, apple bake/apple crisp, fall festivals, pumpkin spice lattes, and most importantly, fall fashion. It's also around this time of year that stores start to get new shipments of clothing in for the chillier weather, which means I'm ready to put away my crop tops and bring my sweaters to the front of my closet. 

Because of this mood I'm in, I decided to create a "Fall Essentials" collage to share with you all what I think are key pieces for every autumn wardrobe.

Outerwear: Cargo/Anorak Jacket

For the fall, a Cargo Jacket or Anorak Jacket is definitely at the top of my Essentials list. When the temperatures are in the 60s, it's chilly enough that I want to wear a jacket, but not cold enough that I want to break out the puffy North Face coat. The perfect solution is a cargo/utility/anorak (all similar) jacket, a) because they keep you warm but not so much that you are sweating, and b) because the army green color goes with everything.

Buy here, here, here, or here

Shorts: High-waisted Denim 

There are always those fall days where you think, "did we just backtrack into summer?!" For the hotter fall days, especially those in the beginning of the season, longer pants might make you melt. A pair of high-waisted shorts looks super cute with booties, a tank with a loose-knit cardigan, etc. In the fall I like high-waisted shorts more than "normal" shorts because to me they look a lot more fall-ish. Why you ask...I don't really know.

Buy here, here, or here

Pants: Faux Leather Leggins/Jeggings

Opposite the above scenario, there are those days in fall (especially near the end) where you are freezing your butt off. I take these occasions as an opportunity to break out the (faux) leather! I bought a pair of leather "jeggings" from H&M last year and absolutely love them, because they go with everything and make more of a statement than plain black leggings or black jeans would. 

Buy here, here, or here

Shirt: Simple Graphic

In the fall, nothing looks more effortless (in a good way!) than a simple graphic t-shirt. Depending on the weather, a t-shirt can be paired with anything: shorts, a sweater, jeans, etc. I love when graphic t-shirts have cute phrases or inspirational quotes on them.

Buy here, (click left arrow for white version) here, here, or here

Sweater: Light Knit

While the winter is a time for cable-knits, the fall is a time for lighter knits. Besides the fact that a sweater like this is super comfy, it will go everything and keep you warm on those crisp fall afternoons. A sweater like the one pictured above is unique because of the shoulder detail--try and find some unique ones so you stand out in a sea full of sweaters!

Buy here, here, or here

Jewelry: Dainty

I love the contrast of dainty jewelry with chunkier boots or an army jacket. Pearl earrings and thin gold rings add just the right amount of girlie-ness to an otherwise tougher fall look. 

Rings: Buy here (all the dainty rings you will ever need) Earrings: Buy here or here

Accessories: Oxblood Bag/Oatmeal-Colored Scarf

My favorite color for fall is oxblood! A bag or satchel in an oxblood color is the perfect way to add a touch of autumn to any outfit. Additionally, I gravitate towards oatmeal-colored items because I feel like they scream, "I'm warm and cozy!!!"

Bag: Buy here, here, here or here Scarf: here, here, or here (click "sand" color)

Shoes: Cut-out Ankle Booties 

Read my How To Wear the Punk Trend (Without Looking Scary) article for cutout booties to buy/why I love them!

Makeup: Maroon/Oxblood Colored Lipstick

In the summer, I tend to keep my lips bare or coral-colored. Once fall starts approaching, I'm ready to take out a darker shade for my lips. Not too dark (we haven't hit winter just yet!), but this color seems to be perfect for a night out to dinner in October.

Buy here - search "Diva" or "Desire" (both perfect for fall)

What are your fall essentials? Let me know in the comments!

10 Random Facts About Me

Random fact #1: I can fly, as you can see ... hehe just kidding

10 Random Facts About Me

1. I used to have reallllly long hair (I still do, but I'm talking past-my-butt long) until 7th grade when I decided it just wasn't cute anymore. My hair grows at the speed of light though, so it's always pretty long...just not that long
2. My all-time favorite TV show is Friends. Not the most original pick, but who doesn't cry of laughter every time they watch that show?!
3. When I was little, I used to be terrified of anything that made loud noises. This was not necessarily because of the loud noise; this just happens to be the common theme of all my fears. Examples: thunder, fireworks, the garbage truck (every time I heard it coming down our street I ran for my life to the backyard)
4. My role models are Giuliana Rancic, Catt Sadler, Jason Kennedy (if you couldn't tell my dream is to have a career in entertainment/broadcast journalism..but I met them all last summer and they were seriously the nicest people ever), and also quite a few bloggers & YouTubers who always seem like they are having such a good time and living life to the fullest.
5. My two favorite places I've ever traveled to are Paris and Taormina (city in Sicily)
6. I hate hate hate math...I'm not terrible at it but I just.....ugh no
7. When I was little I bit my sister in the stomach 3 times on three separate occasions. I guess I thought that in a fight, the best strategy is "Always go for the stomach."
8. When I was about 8-13 years old I used to constantly write stories on my computer or in notebooks. Well, I would at least start them but I would never finish. The closest I got to finishing a story was one I wrote about a girl who discovers she is an elf...it was around 50-60 pages. I think it's saved on a disc somewhere... Anyway, I've always loved to write and even got a $200 savings bond when I was in 3rd grade for a piece I wrote! 
9. My favorite food is pasta (prepared any way is fine with me) but especially my dad's spaghetti and meatballs because it makes me think of childhood and eating it every Sunday with my family after playing soccer and watching Sunday football

My favorite season is fall, when I can snuggle up in sweatpants and drink a mug of tea and the air is crisp and cool, and my mom makes deeeelicious apple crisp with vanilla ice cream...mmmm....

How To Wear the Punk Trend (Without Looking Scary)

I'm sure "punk" is probably the last adjective people would use to describe my style. But I thought...why not explore outside of my comfort zone.

One trend that was huge on the Fall 2013 runways was punk. I know that there is a fine line between adding edge to a look vs. creating an outfit that will make everyone around you run for their lives. So, I've come up with one basic rule to help you avoid the cops from chasing after you: if you stand in front of your mirror and realize that you look like Taylor Momsen, you've probably done something wrong. I acknowledge that Taylor does rarely achieve the perfect amount of punk, so to avoid any confusion, I think we can all agree that we don't want to look like this:

Not that I'm any expert in the realm of punk, but I think the key to embodying the edgy, stylish, fab version that we know it can be is to add one punky element to spice up an outfit. No, I'm not talking about applying eyeliner with a black magic marker. And I'm definitely not suggesting to buy a whole new fall wardrobe. What I would do is add one piece to go with any fall outfit of my choosing. Updating the classic, black bootie is a way that I can stay true to my style while also embracing my edgier side.

The trend: Cut-Out Booties

Add interest to an outfit with unexpected cutouts

Best paired with: Black skinny jeans, skater skirts, shorts

Piece to lust over: 

Balenciaga $1,275

Pieces that won't brake the bank:

Call It Spring $55

Ecote Gordon $69

The best part? By clicking on the caption of the above pictures, you can scoop these up yourself! Will you be embracing your inner punk this fall?

Inspiration:

Thoughts On: Coconut Water

When I first tried coconut water, I definitely didn't think, "mmm." My thoughts were more along the lines of, "this tastes kind of weird." I've had coconut milk straight out of a coconut and did not like it, and this brought me back to similar flavors (except coconut water is much sweeter). I love coconut flavored things, and I was determined to find the good in coconut water, as I'd heard/read numerous things how good it is for you. Words like super-hydrating, packed with electrolytes, low in calories, and full of potassium were rattling around in my brain as I gave it another try. What also got me to take a second sip was the feeling the coconut water had left me with after I had swallowed my first sip. I had instantly started feeling super refreshed in a way that regular water did not make me feel. Once I trained my tastebuds and got used to coconut water, I now thoroughly enjoy it. My favorite is the "Live Better 100% Pure Coconut Water," which I purchased at Waldbaums. While coconut water can usually be pretty expensive, these ones are only $0.99 a can! It tastes sweeter than the other two in the photographs, BUT it has the least amount of sugar.....no complaints here. My second favorite is Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water, and rounding it up is O.N.E. Coconut Water, which is the least sweet of the three (I have a sweet tooth if you couldn't tell).

I don't replace regular water with coconut water, but I do drink it after going on a run or if I'm feeling really thirsty and want instant relief. If you haven't gone "coco for cocopuffs coconuts" yet, I definitely suggest trying it out. The first sip might make you shudder, but try to get to the bottom of the pouch/can and see if it grows on you--it did for me! 

Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water

Purchased at: Whole foods

Serving size: 11.2 Fl. Oz. (1 pouch)

Calories: 60

Sugar: 14g.

*In the photograph I'm holding the 1L carton which is why it looks so big

Live Better 100% Pure Coconut Water

Purchased at: Waldbaums

Serving size: 8 Fl. Oz. (1 can)

Calories: 30

Sugar: 3g

O.N.E. Coconut Water

Purchased at: Whole foods

Serving size: 11.2 Fl. Oz. (1 pouch)

Calories: 60

Sugar: 11g

Mascara Review- L'oreal, Maybelline, Benefit, Fresh

It's very rare that I will purchase the same mascara twice. Usually, I think, "this mascara is okay, but I'm sure there's better out there." I mean, there are dozens and dozens of different mascaras to choose from...I feel like I have to try them all! L'oreal Voluminous mascara, however, is a mascara I've actually purchased a few times. I have pretty short eyelashes, and this product works wonders. It lengthens and defines and most importantly does not clump. This is the first time I've purchased the waterproof version, because I figured that since it is summer a waterproof formula would definitely come in handy. As far as it being waterproof, I give it a 7/10. It definitely doesn't run or flake, and about 70% of it stays on my lashes. The waterproof formula and the regular formula both yield impressive results in my opinion, and it is definitely worth the buy. I've tried other L'oreal mascaras, but this one is definitely my favorite.

Purchase here

The Maybelline Mega Plush Volum' Express mascara is great if you want natural looking eyelashes that are still defined. This was not my favorite because my eyelashes are pretty small and sparse, so I need a heavier duty mascara to get the job done. If you have longer, thicker eyelashes and just want to enhance them, I would recommend this. For my those like me who are not blessed with this trait, I would stick to a different mascara.

Purchase here

I received this as a gift from Sephora; either as a birthday present or as a reward for having a certain number of points (I don't exactly remember) so that is why it is the mini version. My first thought when I used this was, "ouch!"; I had never used a plastic-bristled brush before so I wasn't expecting the rougher, spikier feeling. So, into my drawer it went for a couple weeks, to be pulled it out again after I heard tons of positive reviews about it. I have to say, once I got used to the plastic bristles I really loved this mascara. It makes my lashes long, defined, and definitely not clumpy. It also stays on all day and doesn't smudge at all. If it weren't so pricey, I would definitely purchase this.

Purchase here (full sized)

Purchase here (mini)

I got this mini Fresh Supernova mascara as part of a set for Christmas. I definitely would not purchase it, as it is super expensive and just not worth the price. It's not a terrible product--it made my lashes longer, separated, and glossy, but it's staying power and non-smudging capabilities were merely alright. In my opinion, if I'm going to spend $25 on a mascara, it better a pretty damn good mascara... "alright" just won't suffice.

Purchase here

What are your favorite mascaras? Let me know!

Golden Summer

What I used:

Urban Decay "Summer Of Love" Palette 

While this product came out in 2010, any gold + bronze-y eye shadows will work, for example this one from Ulta. The 3 bronzy-gold shadows in this palette can be utilized just like the 3 Summer Of Love shades (I didn't use the purple). 

It always amazes me how makeup can make you feel. Without it, I feel unmotivated, sleepy, and just not my best. As soon as I start putting on that layer of liquid foundation and coating my lashes in a fresh coat of mascara, I feel like I can take on the world. I know, that last sentence was both cheesy and makes me seem like a superficial bitch...but hey, as much as I'd love to say that I feel just as pretty without makeup as I do with it, I'd be lying. If you do--all power to you. I'm jealous. But for now, makeup will serve as a way for me to enhance (not cover!) my features...and here is an example of how I do just that. I have green eyes and olive skin (as you can see) and I really like the way gold eyeshadow compliments that. Adding a lighter, shimmery color to my inner corner and a darker color to the outer edges and crease of my eyes make them appear bigger, more awake, and more defined. It's a win-win-win! Also, I know my eyebrows look extremely terrifying at the moment...and I'm probably not helping by pointing them out. But just incase you worried about them, rest assured: they will be getting some TLC very soon.

How I Start The Day

I'm the type of person who likes to start the day off as healthy as possible. If I don't, I get the "well, I already started eating like crap today, so I guess it doesn't matter if I eat like crap for the rest of the day"  mindset. This leads to me feeling bloated and not very happy by the end of the night. In order for me to start my day off right, I need something easy to make. When I wake up in the morning, I want to be able to have my breakfast in 5 minutes, because if it takes too long I'll settle for something like a bagel.

This yummy breakfast was actually suggested by my sister one morning, and ever since we just cannot get enough of it.

You will need:

1/2 banana

1 cup Greek yogurt: I usually use Chobani plain nonfat, but you can use whatever you like. Fage is also one of my favorites)

Walnuts: I get mine chopped...they're called "fancy chopped walnuts" (what makes them fancy I'm not quite sure) just to make life easier, or else I have to break them apart

Agave nectar: mine is Organic Blue Agave from Trader Joe's. You could also use honey if you don't have agave, but I definitely prefer the taste of agave in this.

Although this is probably pretty obvious from the pictures, here's a how to:

Scoop Greek yogurt into bowl

Cut up banana, put ontop of yogurt

Add crushed walnuts

Drizzle on Agave nectar

And voila! This is seriously so delicious; I can't even begin to tell you. 

PS: Once I was done taking these pictures, I added more walnuts. I love the crunchiness...sometimes I even add some granola if I'm in the mood. How do you start off the day?

Out To Lunch

Last week was a very busy week, so I'm really happy now that things have slowed down and I can start to focus on blogging. To come back from my little hiatus, I decided to post what I wore out to lunch today with some of my friends. I usually don't wear wedges for lunch, but I figured...why not? These were pretty expensive if I do say so and what would be the point of them sitting in my closet? 

I got this shirt at Zara when I was in California a couple weeks ago. It was originally $39.99 (I'm pretty sure), but it was on sale for $19.99 so of course I had to get it! My jeans are super old American Eagle Outfitters jeans...I think my entire wardrobe was from American Eagle back in middle school. My shoes are Steve Madden and they were $99.99 *sigh* but when I thought about it, they were worth it (basically, I convinced myself to buy them). But I mean, I had no cute wedges at all, and I  can think of quite a few events that I will need them for next year. Plus, I had been looking for wedges forever, and these are black+tan so they pretty much go with everything. It seemed to me like I didn't have a choice. 

Confessions of a shopaholic.

Details:

Shirt- Zara similar here
Jeans- American Eagle similar here
Necklace- Brandy Melville here
Shoes- Steve Madden similar here and here
Nails- Essie Mint Candy Apple here