Solstice

Just a quick update of what I've been up to lately - this weekend was spent roaming Soho and staying cool in this sweltering heat! I've been blogging less, and taking a step back to live - but I promise my regular posting schedule will resume shortly.

Victoria's Secret: Bombshell Forever

As a huge fan of the original Bombshell Forever fragrance, I was stoked when Victoria Secret announced the launch of Bombshell Forever.  The original Bombshell has been my go-to summer scent since I first tested in store ages ago. It's really the fruity top notes in it that I love, and the woodsy musk dry down is what makes it so irresistible. Bombshell Forever has the same qualities and if anything, it's Bombshell's big sister - sexier and more mature. The prominent notes of boysenberry, lavender flower and pamplewood make it so unique and perfect for day-to-night. If you're a fan of the original, definitely try Bombshell Forever and thank me later!

 Victoria's Secret Bombshell Forever Eau de Parfum, $49-$65*

DIY: Lucite Box Clutch

If you saw my last outfit post, you know that I've been crushing on lucite/perspex clutches since I saw the Alice & Olivia version on Solange Knowles. The pricetag is a bit steep, and even though Etsy has a version that is a dead ringer for the original, I knew I could DIY it. And after seeing the genius tutorial from SwellMayde, I had to give it a try for sure! I made this beauty for a little less than $20. Not bad for a newbie, huh? 

I love the idea of striped insert, but I wanted a brighter option, so I used this watercolor pouch from F21. This is totally optional, but I really like how it looks! Below are the step by step directions.

Supplies:

- Two  9 1/2 x 6 1/2 Lucite Trays (I used two that I purchased at my local Container Store)

- Two 2" gold hinges

- One decorative hasp

- E6000 jewelry adhesive

Steps:

1. Apply adhesive to the bottom part of each side of the hinges. Note - It's easiest to do these one at a time!

2. Place each hinge onto the longer side of the tray (I placed mine about 1 1/2 inches away from the corner). Be sure to do this one tray at a time.

3. Apply adhesive to the bottom of the decorative hasp set,

4. Apply hasp to the center of the longer side of the tray, allow to dry completely.

This was such a fun and quick little weekend project - will you try it?

{Summer Giveaway} Frends Layla Headphones

I don't know about you, but music is a huge part of my life, especially in the summer. I've been jamming to my summer playlist with my new Frends headphones*, and I'm so excited to share the wealth! The lovely folks at Frends gifted me with another pair for one of my lucky readers.The Layla headphones in rose gold not only have impeccable sound quality, but are a statement piece as well. The white lambskin leather paired with the rose gold metal is so luxe, and will definitely have heads turning! Check out the Layla headphones below, and enter for your chance to win your own pair!

LAYLA ROSE GOLD

Taylor's demure little sister. All the style, all the sound, a little less moxie. Pristine in a pretty shade of rose gold and white lambskin leather. 

1. Jewelry inspired design

2. Genuine leather & hand crafted metal

3. Soft touch fabric cord

4. Three button mic with volume, music + phone control

5. Memory foam ear cushions

6. Premium 30mm driver

7. Zippered carrying case

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will end on June 20th, and I will contact the winner via e-mail! Special thanks to Frends for their generosity!

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.

Summer Escape: C. Wonder by the Sea

If you follow me on Instagram, you would've seen a few photos from my day in Southampton with C. Wonder this past Friday. I thought I'd share just a few of my favorite snaps from the day here as well! I spent the day at Chris Burch's gorgeous estate with some of my favorite fab bloggers, had lunch, and a visit to C. Wonder's Southampton store. Definitely visit C. Wonder for cute summer items in-store now. 

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.