GLAM Summer Beauty Board

I'm so excited to be a member of the GLAM Summer Beauty Board and have the chance to share a few more of the latest and greatest products with you. You may remember my Spring Beauty Board post, where I tried products to revive our winter skin. The theme of this season's beauty board is definitely summertime fine - all of the products you need to prep and beautify your skin for the warm months ahead! Just as before, I've listed the products along with a description, and those marked with an (*) are my favorites of the bunch.

1. Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $27  See below

2. Bare Escentuals Full Flawless Face Brush, $28

Perfect for applying your mineral foundation, this fluffy but dense brush gives you alot of control. It makes achieving an airbrushed finished really easy.

3. Bioelements Oil Control Mattifier, $36  See below

4. Kusmi BB Detox Tea, $20  - A detox green tea to help improve the skin? Sign me up! This tea includes a hint of grapefruit and is said to be a great alternative if you have a hard time drinking loads of water (like me).

5. Schick Hydro Silk Razor, $11 - I've never met a Schick razor I didn't love, and this one is no different. The conditioner built into the razor assures no nicks and cuts!

6. St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Spray, $16 - I gave this to my same friend of mine who uses spray tans to try and she loved it! It gave her the natural looking glow she wanted, without looking like a certain Jersey Shore cast member.

7. Alterna Bamboo Beach Summer Ocean Waves Texturizing Spray, $20 - I gave this to a friend of mine who was going on a weekend holiday to the beach. She used it before hitting the beach, and said that she loved the scent and that it didn't make her hair crunchy or brittle.

8. Bare Escentuals Well-Rested Face and Eye Brightener, $22  See below

9. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish, $30

Just as the name suggests, this helps to remove dead skin without being harsh or leaving skin dry. I've tried in place of my regular deep cleanser, and it worked wonders especially on a couple of dry patches around my nose.

Summer Escape: Girls Night Out

If you've been following my Stir Up Your Summer series with the new Smirnoff Sorbet Light, you've seen how I like to spend my summer days - lots of food & drinks, a little pampering, and girl time! Summer always puts me in the mood for girlfriend bonding, whether it be a day of mani pedis, shopping, or a night out. I love getting together for drinks, grabbing dinner, and lounging on a rooftop (NYC is the best for this!). I've taken a few girls trips to Miami, but nothing beats a hot summer night in NYC. My favorite part of a GNO? The outfits! I love putting together outfits and makeup looks with my friends. Take a look at my favorite look for a night out.

My favorite girls night out spot in NYC is Verlaine for a quick drink, or 230 Fifth for an amazing view of the Empire State Building! I'm so looking forward to catching up with my girlfriends all summer long. Do you have a favorite GNO memory? Let me know!

The deliciously light taste of sorbet now comes in a bottle.  Introducing Smirnoff Sorbet Light. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Made With Smirnoff Vodka Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. 

©2013 The Smirnoff" Co., Norwalk, CT.

Per 1.5oz serving: Calories 78, Carbohydrates 1.3g, Fat 0g, Protein 0g.

* 25% FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING DESSERT-INSPIRED VODKA.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Smirnoff via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smirnoff.

Events: Smirnoff's Stir Up Your Summer

If you've been following my Summer Escape Series, I mentioned that in addition to fun style and beauty posts, I'd be giving you the inside scoop on a few events on my summer calendar! On Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending the Stir Up Your Summer event sponsored by Smirnoff. The event was held at the fab Tribeca location of the Tenoverten nail salon, where my fellow bloggers and I were treated to hours of pampering. Manis, pedis, makeovers, tarot readings, and of course tasting the new Smirnoff Sorbet Light flavors were the best part of the night, and I had too much fun! Take a look at some of my favorite snaps from the night below.

Our cocktail choices for the evening 

The pomegranate punch was delicious! Luckily, we left with a few recipes that I can't wait to try out at home. Perfect for summer nights on a rooftop!

 Some of the ladies getting manis!

Tenoverten has their own line of pretty nail colors

I chose Essie's DJ Play That Song and Bottle Service for my mani colors

...and I noshed on a few bites of sushi while getting a pedi!

There was also a makeup station for touchups!

Thanks so much to GLAM and Smirnoff for hosting an awesome event! It was a sweltering day on Tuesday, but this event really put me in the mood for the season.

Have you tried any of the new Sorbet Light flavors yet? What's your favorite summer cocktail? Let me know!

The deliciously light taste of sorbet now comes in a bottle.  Introducing Smirnoff Sorbet Light. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

Made With Smirnoff Vodka Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. 

©2013 The Smirnoff" Co., Norwalk, CT.

Per 1.5oz serving: Calories 78, Carbohydrates 1.3g, Fat 0g, Protein 0g.

* 25% FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING DESSERT-INSPIRED VODKA.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Smirnoff via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smirnoff.

Summer Escape Series: Style Refresh

For the second part of my Summer Escape Series, I'm focusing on a style refresh - fashion, beauty and accessories to amp up your look for the season! The pieces I picked are perfect for a day at the beach, or for a mini-vacay! I always treat myself to at least one bold summer piece, usually in a print or color I wouldn't normally reach for. My carryall is also full of summer beauty essentials - in this case, a pretty blue polish, and bronzer for a warm glow. And to give me an extra boost of energy and satisfy my sweet tooth - my Starbucks! I love the new look of the bottles (it makes them easy to carry), and of course the flavors. Caramel is my personal favorite, but there's also vanilla, and coffee + milk. I usually pack one or two when I'm headed out for a little pick-me-up throughout the day.

SHOP: The prettiest tropical print dress (also love this one and this one) | Perfect snakeskin sandals for the beach | Classic aviators for everyday | A wear-with-everything necklace (also love this one) | A bronzer for a natural glow | My favorite iced coffee | Nail Color in Not a Cloud in Sight 

The new line-up of bottled Starbucks® Iced Coffee beverages gives you great-tasting, energizing 

refreshment with premium Starbucks® coffee from 100 percent arabica beans. Starbucks® Iced Coffee 

ready-to-drink beverages are perfect on-the-go refreshment to help you through the daily commute,the midday slump, or an exciting road trip adventure with friends. Best enjoyed chilled from the bottle, look for it at major grocery and convenience stores, available nationwide.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, produced in collaboration with Glam and Starbucks. I received a

Starbucks Iced Coffee sample to review. The opinions shared in this post are my own.

Summer Escape Series

Can you believe it's the middle of the week already? Even better, can you believe Memorial Day is next week? To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to begin a Summer Escape Series - full of the who, what, wear and why of the months ahead. Expect event recaps, outfit posts & ideas, summer beauty, foodie posts, and anything else related to summer in NYC. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing yet, aside from rooftop bar hopping, spending hours at the beach, and Central Park Summerstage (the best free concerts in NYC!). But for me that's the best part of the season - impromptu, last minute plans!

To kick things off, I'll be attending the Smirnoff Stir Up Your Summer event for much needed pre-summer fun! I cannot wait to mingle with my fellow GLAM bloggers, try the new Smirnoff Sorbet Light and be pampered! Check back for my recap and photos of the event next week.

Do you have any exciting summer plans? Anything you'd like me to include in the series? Let me know!

The deliciously light taste of sorbet now comes in a bottle.  Introducing Smirnoff Sorbet Light. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Made With Smirnoff Vodka Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. ©2013 The Smirnoff" Co., Norwalk, CT. Per 1.5oz serving: Calories 78, Carbohydrates 1.3g, Fat 0g, Protein 0g.* 25% FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING DESSERT-INSPIRED VODKA.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Smirnoff via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smirnoff.

Outfit | Garden Print

Before I show you my last look as a #MaxxStyleScout, let me tell you a little story. I saw this dress from a designer I've loved for years a few months back. Everything about it was perfect - and that print. I stalked it for a while, then forgot all about it like I sometimes force myself to do. So, imagine my surprise when I walked into T.J. Maxx, and saw this dress sitting pretty on the rack. Not only was it there, but it was in my size. I grabbed it, and I blurted out (loudly) "Is that...?". I could not believe it. Miracle shopping stories like this never happen to me. But, needless to say, it came home with me and is now sitting happily in my closet.

If you've been following me for a while, you know I stick to neutrals, so what did I decide to pair this print with? black of course!

The wallflower in me is still a bit shy about such a bold print, but pairing it with a little black cardigan, opaque tights, and black & gold flats tones it down a notch. The black accents also lets the print do all the talking. Beautiful, no? And, If you missed my last #MaxxStyleScout posts, check them out here!

If you've been shopping lately, T.J. Maxx wants you to submit your T.J. Maxx Style Scout looks for a chance to win up to a $500 gift card! 

Here's how to enter (click here for official rules):

Tag #maxxstyle and include the designer and price of their score; 

Share via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (desktop only).

Our MaxxStyle Scouts are making the latest trends their own, and sharing tips for ways to express yourself through fashion. You never know what you'll find at TJ's - the possibilities to express your personal style are endless.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by T.J. Maxx via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of T.J. Maxx.

Outfit | Spring Classics

Spring has definitely sprung here in NYC, with even a little summer thrown in (yesterday was 80 degrees!). I'm so happy to be outside without a winter coat, and I'm even happier to sport some of my new finds from T.J. Maxx. Click here and here to see my other finds if you missed it!

This time around, I left the store with pieces that are so on-trend, but will never go out of style! Black and white is probably the biggest trend for Spring '13, but isn't it always genius? I tend to stick to a palette of neutrals most days, so I love that monochromatic looks and black and white prints are having another season in the spotlight.

I fell in love with these designer sunnies as soon as I spotted them: the white is so mod, the round frames are chic, and I didn't have anything like them in my growing collection. I paired them with a timeless striped tee - I love the boatneck neckline. And if you've been following me for a while, you know I'm a sucker for stripes! This fabric of this tee is so soft, and the tab sleeves easily roll up - great for those chillier Spring evenings. In the Summer, I'll wear it with distressed boyfriend shorts and neon sandals. Definitely a staple!

Keeping with the black and white trend, I pulled the look together with a woven bag that I haven't been able to put down. I love woven bags in the warmer months - the material screams Spring/Summer, and is surprisingly durable. This one has leather detailing and silver hardware which dresses it up a bit. It's the perfect size for everyday, and it goes with everything! 

Stay tuned for my last look, it might be my favorite!

If you've been shopping lately, T.J. Maxx wants you to submit your T.J. Maxx Style Scout looks for a chance to win up to a $500 gift card! 

Here's how to enter (click here for official rules):

Tag #maxxstyle and include the designer and price of their score; 

Share via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (desktop only).

Our MaxxStyle Scouts are making the latest trends their own, and sharing tips for ways to express yourself through fashion. You never know what you'll find at TJ's - the possibilities to express your personal style are endless.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by T.J. Maxx via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of T.J. Maxx.

Outfit | Spring Brights with T.J. Maxx

For my second look as as T.J. Maxx Style Scout (follow me on Instagram for my finds!), I wanted to go a bit more casual, but still Spring appropriate with lots of color! I saw so many bright pieces, but this coral peplum top was the perfect piece for the look I had in mind. Peplums are so figure-flattering, but are a bit dressy for my taste - so I wanted to pair it with boyfriend jeans and flats for a fun casual look. 

I couldn't resist wearing my trench coat from my last look - it's super soft and feels like a comfy cardigan. It also was great for a neutral contrast for the coral color of my top.

This was the fun part! I browsed the men's section for the perfect pair of DIY-worthy jeans, but decided to just go up one size for a looser fit. To distress them, I used a bit of sandpaper and scissors, and cuffed them at the hem. 

But my my favorite part of the look? These blue suede shoes! How gorgeous are they? They were my favorite find in-store that day, and I couldn't leave without them! Even the sales associate said I spotted a gem. I adore the tassels and the menswear vibe. These were the perfect finish to my colorful look. 

If you've been shopping lately, T.J. Maxx wants you to submit your T.J. Maxx Style Scout looks for a chance to win up to a $500 gift card! 

Here's how to enter (click here for official rules):

Tag #maxxstyle and include the designer and price of their score; 

Share via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (desktop only).

T.J.Maxx gives women more possibilities to express their personal style by carrying the hottest trends and current season designer fashions at unbelievable prices. Our T.J.Maxx Style Scouts are on the hunt to find and celebrate women that are making the latest trends their own, and share tips for ways to express yourself through fashion. You never know what you’ll find at T.J.Maxx – the possibilities to express yourself are endless!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by T.J. Maxx via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of T.J. Maxx.