What I Got For Christmas 2014

Just wanted to do a quick post and share with you my beauty loot from Christmas. Lots of folks like to film "What I Got For Christmas" videos, but I find it so hard these days when my presents are scattered from Black Friday through Christmas.

Here are the beauty items that I received this year. Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Christian Louboutin Nail Colour The Pops in Wherever
My husband really wanted to be able to get me this beautiful polish because of my wedding shoes. I talk all about why I would spend $50 on a nail polish here. Also I tell my story about the blue Louboutins and my wedding in my last vlog for vlogmas here.

Tartelette Matte Palette
While stopping in to pick up my polish, I saw the much anticipated tartelette palette. Seeing it in person I couldn't pass it up, especially when I knew I had a bit extra on the gift card I received. The palette in person is so gorgeous and non of the pictures I've seen has done it justice. More on the palette in my next posts.

Chanel Reverie Parisienne Les 4 Ombres in 236 Tisse Fantaisie
Chanel's new spring collection is out and I picked out one of the eyeshadow quads. The blushes while beautiful, just didn't look right on my complexion. More on this beauty in future blog posts.

What did you get for Christmas?

XOXO
Serein

Holiday Sneak Peak From Sephora

As I check my e-mail with blurry eyes this morning in the 100 degree weather, I see that Sephora has released some of the holiday collections already! Anyone else still trying to get over this heat wave in L.A.?

Here are my picks that I'll be looking forward to, but not till it cools a bit:

Sephora Collection Airless Travel Kit $38

I always struggle with traveling and I feel like this kit would make things so much smoother.

First Aid Beauty Fab Faves To Go Kit $28

I'm a huge fan of First Aid Beauty and this kit is a great travel kit or starter kit for any folks interested in the brand.

Makeup Forever Artist Palette $42

Makeup Forever released their new formulated Artist Shadows recently, and I have to say they are to die for! I went a little crazy recently myself, but this palette is a perfect set for neutral eyes and a little pop of color.

Mia2 winter Hydration Set $149

Oh how winter does weird dry patchy things to my poor skin! This is really a great deal with some great products, and look how cute the teal Mia2 is! 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette $58

I was a huge fan of the new dim infusion ambient lighting blush from hourglass and this is the perfect little trio for any makeup lover's kit.

Sephora Glitz & Glam Party Essentials Sampler $45

Such a cute little trial of a makeup products. I love this mini kits for gifts and stocking stuffers.

Glam Glow Gift Sexy $69

This is by far the best deal I saw in all the new holiday kits. You get a full size of the hydrating treatment and 2 smaller sizes of the popular masks. One of these full size products retail for almost $70! 

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Anything you see above going to make it on your wish list for Santa this year?

XOXO

Serein

What We Can Learn From a Disney Princess

I remember when I use to only wear costumes as a little girl. My favorite was Snow White, probably because at the time there were no other brunette princesses and I identified with her the most. My sister use to play Sleeping Beauty with me by dressing me up like Aurora and I would pretend to be asleep as she recited the prolog to the Disney film, she even made me a cape to go with my Snow White dress in Home Ec., back when there was Home Ec.. I loved being in costume, it allowed me a way to escape into my fantasy world where everything was okay and I could feel beautiful and safe. Clothes can still do that for me (read: Mad Men Dress Up). Putting on something I normally wouldn’t and escaping my current time, situation, self. I don’t think anyone understands this as much as Disney does.

            This week we went to Disneyland to begin the celebration of the holidays. I haven’t been to Disneyland in a few years. My joy and delight reached its peak when we stumbled upon a store completely dedicated to prince and princesses. They had every costume they made and these costumes are so cute and detailed, so much better than what I had growing up. Not only do they sell everything there is a fully functional beauty salon where every little girl (age 3 and up) can get their hair, make-up, nails done, and even have a fairy godmother help her pick out her costume and shoes. They then get to take professional photos! How awesome is that?! Not only do I want to do it, but also I freaked out and turned to Chris and said, “we better have a little girl!” I mean something about getting made up and dressed up is so attractive even starting from the age of 3, it’s not about how the world views you, but how you feel. I think as a kid you really understand that because trends and too much don’t exist in their minds yet. It’s all about the experience of having the attention from someone to make you feel special. It’s about how wonderful it is to treat yourself, to be the best, shiniest version of you every once and a while. The best version of you doesn’t even mean following trends or fashion, but your inner princess. These little girls would look a bit ridicules in the real world. They had crazy up does filled with pink extensions and glitter. Their make up was like Tinker Bell threw up on their faces, but they felt beautiful and special. They don’t know it’s not okay to wear enough pixie dust that they should be able to fly through the park because to them they feel like they could fly through the park. Watching all the little girls dressed up from head to toe, every single one of them was wide eyed and full of hope and magic. They felt the spirit and magic that Disney offers them and they showed it on the outside.

            I mean Cinderella was the first girl to really understand what a good pair of shoes can do and Sleeping Beauty understood how important her dress color was at then end when she got to dance with the Prince, but I think it had something more to do with how they felt and wanted everything to be when they had their happily ever after.  So this week I dare you to try something fun and uncharacteristic of you. It could be a new shade of lipstick, glitter eyeliner, or even just getting your nails done if you don’t normally do that. What’s the worst that can happen? None of it is permanent. It is the holiday season and no one will question a little pixy dust.

            Please also check out my achieved blogs and subscribe. As always comments and questions are always welcome!

Blue Christmas

As much as I love the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can wear me out. It’s a season full of cheer and jolly, but I can’t help, but feel a bit depressed at times. There’s so much to do and so very little time. I’m a planner, but no matter how much planning I try to do I seem to be running out of time! There’s so much I want to do, so much more to do! I was going to make spiced cake pops for everyone, for every party. There are so many more presents I can buy! There’s also this feeling around this time of year that I don’t have enough. I don’t have enough money to get everyone what he or she really wants for Christmas. I don’t have enough time. I just don’t have enough. Logically I know that this isn’t what the season is all about, but all the mass amounts of advertising and subliminal messaging from consumerism seems to seep into my mind some how and I seem to need to fight it off. I already have everything I need to be happy, yes I’d love that Chanel purse and that Burberry scarf, but I don’t need it and I certainly don’t need it to be happy. So as a reminder to myself and since this is a blog about fashion and life, I am dedicating this entry to things I already have in my closet that make me happy.

1.     My gray sweat pants that I bought in China town in NYC. These sweats are perfectly worn and so amazingly comfy that I look forward to coming home to pull them on at the end of the day. The best part is they were $8. I’ve cut the bottom so that they are now Capri sweats since I’ve worn the bottom out on them. Even though during my depressed periods I’d wear them several days in a row, including outside of the house, they still make me happy to come home to.  I just have to not abuse it’s comforts.

2.     My black Chloe Betty handbag. I had been eyeing this purse for months in NYC when I lived there and on my trip back from NYC to visit for Thanksgiving, my mom got it for me as an early Christmas gift. It’s one of my favorite handbags with all the different compartments and it’s super durable and looks better every year as it ages.

3.     Alternative Apparel long sleeve V-neck. This looks great with jeans and under jackets. The v-neck is just deep enough to be sexy, but still comfy. Also it’s my favorite shade of gray.

4.     My Chloe Betty wallet. My brother gave this to me the Christmas I was living in NYC. He hates buying my clothes or accessories because he doesn’t believe in spending that much for designers, but he bought me the matching wallet to go with my handbag. It was my first and to this day only matching handbag and wallet. It’s also very functional.

5.     Green Dress that Chris got me for my birthday. It was the first present Chris ever gave to me. It’s a shocking shade of green that I normally would never wear, but it looks good and it holds a very special place in my heart and wardrobe.

6.     My first pair of black Christian Louboutin. Every girl should have a pair of Louboutin. They are so amazingly constructed and it’s such a piece of art. This was also a Christmas present a few years back. Anytime I wear these I feel sexy. Plus, for heels they are comfy. I also just love the red sole that peeps out when you walk.

7.     My Hudson purple skinny jeans. I love these because after I started to work out again and get my life back in order these were the first pair of jeans I bought. I had lost 2 pant sizes and finally started to feel like a functional human being again and rewarded myself with these fun colored jeans that are comfy and make me feel great.

8.     My Uggs. I hate Uggs. They are Ugly like their name, but damn are they comfy and I admit I wear them more than just after cardio barre. It’s a love hate relationship.

9.     My Root’s fanny pack. Now before you judge this is as stylish as you can get with a fanny pack. I love this thing. It’s great for travel or when you don’t want to carry a purse. I’ve taken this nifty pack to Hawaii, county fairs, markets, you name it, and it keeps my hands free. This thing has traveled many places with me and will be traveling to many more.

10. My engagements ring because Chris gave it to me. Also all the things that the ring symbolizes in an engagement and the promises it holds for our future together.

So there are plenty of things that make me happy in my own closet, most of them have nothing do with the actual item, but more of what it symbolizes and who gave it to me. I’m grateful for all I have and I will beat the holiday blues and leave that to Elvis. What are some of your favorite items in your closet? Also check out my first blog about dressing yourself into happiness.

Holiday Frenzy

As the holidays quickly approach us and we are driven into a frenzy of shopping, work, colds, and extreme weather conditions, we may loose site of what really matters and what the season really is all about. For me it’s family and friends. Though I cannot be surrounded with my close friends as much as I’d like to this year with the mass amount of last minute work, events, and chores, I do think of them often. I’m not even sure how I’ll deliver everyone’s Christmas presents on time this year. It seems the older I get the more spread out and hectic everyone’s lives become. Some of this makes me sad, but as I realize I’m engaged now and have responsibilities of my own that take away from being able to attend every holiday party and shop till to my hearts desire and eating fast food or God forbid even skip a meal to keep on shopping, I’m accepting that It’s okay to grow up a bit and have to say no. I still love everyone dearly and wouldn’t be the person I am with out them in my life (even though it’s been at a distance lately). I have amazing friends and family who support me and encourage me to keep going.

            It’s been such a crazy past week that I’m even behind on my weekly blog, that I promised myself I would commit to doing, but after freaking out and feeling guilty and like an utter failure, I relaxed, realized I’ll set aside some time today and take a few minutes before I start making dinner and write for myself.  

         

Since this is a blog about fashion and shopping and life, I'm dedicating it to gift giving. Now if you find that you hate shopping for gifts, or that you just hate shopping, or if your addicted to it like myself, I’m dedicating this blog to a list of my favorite on line shops. No more parking, waiting, driving, and germs from other shoppers! You can literally do everything on line these days and it has really saved my life this year for gift giving.

           

 Now of course you all know about amazon and ebay, but I’ve recently discovered  piperlime and I am in love! They have free shipping AND RETURN SHIPPING! That’s enough reason to shop here, but my favorite is that they have guest editors and Rachel Bilson (my fashion icon of the present) has her favorite picks of everything and you can click and buy, so easy! Best part is they always have sales and discount offers on some of my favorite designers. They even have gift cards!

            My other favorite go to designer on line shop would have to be bluefly This is for the higher end taste buds, but sometimes you can find some really great deals.

Remember if the gift is from the heart, the reciever will definatly appriciate it. I love to give gifts, I enjoy the process of looking for something that the special someone might really like and enjoy. I picture them using the gift in their lives. It makes me happy when I get to watch them open it. So try to enjoy this process that comes around only once a year and think of it as a way to honor those you care about. Don’t stress too much. Even if you can’t get anything too crazy or money is tight right now, I know I love it when I get baked goods. Be creative, knit a scarf, make some healthy new cookie recipies and wrap them up all pretty. It really is the thought that counts.

            Please feel free to ask me questions if you’re stuck on what to get someone this season! I love shopping and I would love to help you out!