Saturday, July 30, 2011

Travel: Best Invention ever!

So when preparing for a beautiful and amazing time in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, I came across the perfect travel best friend: A blanket that folds into a pillow! Now it may seem pretty lame and not special, but it has saved my life on countless occasions! The pillow blanket is made up of super soft material and comes in a cute pink or a sleek black! When it’s folded in a pillow, its 11x10x3. So its not super big, but big enough to provide the comfort of a soft pillow! When you unzip the blanket and unfold it, you have a blanket that is 60x37! So it’s very long, and pretty wide! The best part about this is the foot pouch! On the bottom of the blanket there is button and extra fabric that you can slip your feet into to get your toes warm! There is also a pouch that you can hide things in when it is in blanket form. Perfect to hold the hotel remote! It also has a loop and a snap closure so that you can attach it to the outside of your bag, and not have to worry about it taking up valuable room! I got mine in March at TjMaxx for less than $15, but they do sell them online for around $30. I love the time and if you can find it at a discount snatch it up! Overall I don’t think I would be able to travel without it! Its with me on the plane, in the car, and with the nasty hotel sheets!

Is there anything you can't live with out when you travel? 

xoxo
~Alicia and Abby


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Beauty: Alicia's Would You Rather Beauty Edition!

Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows? Loose all of my Pallettes and shadows!

Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again? Chop it all off! Nothing worse that straw like uneven ends!

Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek? Pink!!!

If you had $1000 to spend, Would you rather buy clothes or makeup? I'm currently on a makeup ban... well al least im really monitoring myself! So clothing!

Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick? Eyeliner as lipstick!

Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora? Sephora! I mean I'd miss MAC, but really?

Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life? Lip color!

Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter? Winter clothes in the summer, cuz it gets freezing here in the winter!

Would you rather dark nails or bright nails all year round? Bright nails!

Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product? Eye Product! I could maybe live without eyeliner, but never without lip balm!

Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a pony tail or a messy bun? i'm a pony girl!

Would your rather never being able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss? Never use lip gloss! I love my polish too much!

Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all? or sharpie them in everyday? Why would i sharpie them in if i didnt shave them off? But sharpie! Eyebrows take forever to grow back!

Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish? Nail polish! As much as i love it, makeup wins!

Answer these questions! I want to know what you would choose! :)

xoxo
~Alicia and Abby

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Haulin'

We went shopping today and well... we caved! Watch the video to see what we got!



Do you like videos every now and then? Were debating on keeping them!

xoxo
~Alicia and Abby

Fashion: How To Save Money on a Shopping Trip!

Lets face it… we all love to shop! There's nothing wrong with trying on countless amounts of outfits and spending money on things you might only wear a couple of times! Here are some tips that will help you save money, and regret, on your future shopping trips!

  1. Set a limit for yourself. Giving yourself a limit of howmuch you want to spend will keep you in line, andsave you from truly regretting that Marc bag on sale that you can't return.
  2. Know what you’re looking for. Maybe you have an event coming off and on the shopping trip you are planning on getting stuff for that event! Keep those things in mind as you shop. By knowing what your planning on buying before you go to the mall will help you stay on track and not buy the things you have too many of!
  3. Glance over your closet before you leave. This is going to create a mental bank of the clothing you have so when you see that really cute shirt, even at $10, you can save that and put it towards a different purchase.
  4. Divide up the cost. While starring at yourself in the mirror in the beautiful $50 dress, quickly take the amount of times that you think you will wear it and divide the price by the number. You say you wear it 5 times, that $10 for every time you’re going to wear it!
  5. Add in the cost of accessories. When I try on clothes, or see it on a rack, I think of how I would wear it, including shoes, jewelry, handbag, etc. If I don't own anything that I think will look good with the outfit, I rethink the purchase.
  6. Look for deals. This is one of the most obvious ones! If you see a bogo, or a sale, check there first! Also look out for coupons and online codes!
  7. Be careful with buying extra deals. Sure those shirts may be 2 for $25, but do you really need them? Most of the time you’re saving close to $3, but your spending extra money because you were sucked into the deal. If you only need one, get one. Don't get something unless you truly need it.
  8. Basics vs. One time wear. Why spend your money on something that you might not wear as much? Sure you might see a super expensive basic, but the cost will make up for it in the end!
  9. Add in any alterations. Sure you love the dress, but it’s too long. "Oh, ill just get it tailored!" well that will run you extra. So the dress may seem reasonable, but time and money will add to the cost.
  10. Put it on hold until the end of your trip. You may love that shirt now, but what if you buy 2 other shirts? Do you still really need that one? Plus, you wont want to go back and get it unless you really really like it!

This system will make sure you don't regret al of the things you buy in your future shopping trips! Happy Shopping! :)

xoxo
~Alicia and Abby

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Review: Gold Shadows

I'm in love with gold eyeshadow right now.I feel like it's a color that compliments every eye color beautifully.
Gold shadow works for every occasion too; A light dusting of gold shimmer for the beach or a full out smokey gold look for a night out.

Here are some of my favorites:

NARS Sugarland palette




Pros: Awesome rose gold color, and tons of shimmer
Cons: Not very pigmented and creases and flakes if used without a primer

Overall assessment: It's great to use if you're going for a natural look but you still feel like a little sparkle. I love dusting it on my lids over Urban Decay primer in Sin.

NYX Glitter Cream Pallet in One Night in Luxy



Pros: OOH GLITTER!Doesn't flake too much.
Cons: Uneven application, impossible to get off

Overall assessment: Be ready to live the life of Ke$ha for the minimum of 3 days it takes before you wipe away every last sparkle. It's fun to smooth a layer of this over your other eye makeup if you're going for an especially glam look. Being a cream based shadow, it's easier to use than a more flaky glitter shadow which refuses to stick to your lids.

L'oreal HIP Metallic Shadow Duo in Gilded



Pros: Very pigmented, easy to blend, great color.
Cons: The black shadow isn't as pigmented as the gold, although some might consider
this a good thing as it doesn't overpower in a smoky eye.
Overall assessment: My favorite gold shadow. If you haven't tried the HIP eyeshadows you need to!
They're my current makeup obsession and for the price (around $8 but I found some of the duos at
my local 5 below for only $2.99!) their pigmentation is outstanding.

Sorry for the weird pictures...we're working on getting better pictures of products!

What's your current makeup obsession?

xoxo
~Abby and Alicia

Review: Revlon Cream Shadows!

Khakis Suede

I recently renewed my love for cream products (besides my beloved everyday benefit cream shadow) after I was forced to coat, my eyes in Vaseline. It wasn't that bad, however I loved the sheen it gave my lid and the shimmery creamy texture. The next day in a routine trip to Ulta (with a coupon) I decided to pick up my second quad of the Revlon creams. I was going to pick up two because of the buy one get one %50 off, but I held back and stuck with one. The two I currently own are Khakis Suede and Not Just Nudes.

Pros: One of the pros to these cream shadows is the price. One of the quads will run you anywhere from $4-6 for 3.4 total g. of product. You can also get them on sale and snag them for an even lower price! Another thing I love about these is the shade range. Each quad has beautiful shades that complement each other beautifully, and also has various finishes from mattes to shimmers to high shimmer. Throughout the quads you have many different shades to choose, from purples, to bright summer colors, to neutral wearable shades. I also love the creamy formula. They are creamier than MAC paint pots, NYX jumbo pencils, and my Benefit cream shadow/liner.

Cons: The biggest con is that they crease! This can be avoided if you prime your lids and set it with a powder shadow. If shadows never crease on you could skip setting them, and they will work just fine! The only other con is the packaging. It does come with a mirror, but it does feel a little cheep. But for me, that’s not a big factor.

Overall I think if you have a good primer these are worth a try! If you don’t have a primer go pick on up! I love the NYX and L’oreal De Crease!

xoxo
~Alicia and Abby

Monday, July 25, 2011

Beauty Review: Flowerbomb

     I thought I should share one of my favorite perfumes! Its been my go to perfume sense I got it in April. It's the Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Perfume! Its honestly one of the best smelling perfumes in my collection! I had been holding off getting the perfume, and right as I was going to cave I received it for my birthday! With the name of the perfume you would expect a crazy floral scent, which I am not a fan of. Sephora.com discribes the scent as: 


This floral explosion releases a profusion of flowers that has the power to make everything seem more positive. Magically evocative notes immediately awaken your deepest senses, giving you the impression of living life in your own secret garden, away from reality. Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, and Ballerina Freesia bloom on a base of Patchouli.


The scent is a very strong yummy scent that stays on the skin for a decent amount of time. I find that it lingers on me for most of the day! It's also very strong so you don't have to use too many sprays. With that said, the perfume does have a set back: its price! A 1 oz. bottle will run you around $75! For me though, if its a scent that you LOVE and would give up all other perfumes for it, its worth it! I also love the bottle and it look super chic sitting up on my desk!


What do you think of this fragrance? 


xoxo
~Alicia and Abby

Health: Moisturizing Miracle


A few days ago while looking through crazy pictures we took with clothes from the back of my closet I lamented the oily appearance of my skin in the photos. Flash forward to the end of the night when Alicia and I stood in front of my sink performing our nightly face washing rituals...

Alicia: Can I borrow some moisturizer?
Abby: Moisturizer? I don't use it, my skin is oily enough as it is I don't need any more!
Alicia: WHAT?

Alicia launched into a complicated scientific explanation that basically boiled down to my revelation: The one thing I thought would elevate my skin problem from slightly shiny to full on greaseball was actually the solution!


I pulled out an old bottle of Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion from the depths of my medicine cabinet and just 3 short days later I can see a difference!

I used to wake up to a disgustingly oily face, wash it then use various mattifying creams and powders to quell the oiliness throughout the day. Now I wake up with a reasonably matte finish to my skin and an overall healthier glow!

It's amazing how something so simple has ended a personal vendetta against my skin!

It may take your skin a few days to adjust, but if you previously lost faith in your moisturizer it might be time to pull it out and discover what was missing in your daily skin care regimen!

xoxo
~Abby and Alicia

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Fitness: Jumping Rope


    I have recently been trying to work on my fitness and really just trying to get into shape. Im in pretty good shape, but I'm always pushing myself! I have more strength then some, but when it comes to cardio i fall flat! I just with my stomach would do the same! I have recently been really into jump  roping after seeing a small image about it in COSMO! Its a great way to get in your cardio and strength, all while staying in the cool air conditioning and without the awkward looks from strangers!

What is jumping rope all about?


    Jumping rope can burn up to 1000 calories per hour, making it one of the most efficient workouts possible. It tones muscles in the entire body. Jumping rope also optimizes cardiovascular conditioning and maximizes athletic skills combining agility, coordination, timing, and endurance. So basically its like running without the need for a nice place to run, or a treadmill! Your knees with also thank you, because jumping rope causes lass impact that running does!


What muscle groups does jumping rope benefit?


 Jumping rope will do wonders for your calves, quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes (i.e. your butt). What you may not realize, however, is how the constant turning motion of the rope will also shape and tone the entire upper body including your chest, back, deltoids (shoulders), forearms, biceps and triceps. So its pretty much an all over workout! 


Is it good for weight loss?


One of the most important ways that jumping rope can be used is as a means to achieve weight loss. It help burn extra calories which is the main way you loose weight!

What you need?


  First things first... you need a jump rope! I personally prefer a jump rope that has a plastic or plastic covered rope. YOu can also get one with removable weights for an even better workout. Mine is from Dicks, and cost around $5! (http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3972084&cp=4406646.4413986.4417719) You're also going to need a 4x6 space, or something so you don't have to worry about getting your rope getting caught on anything. Also make sure you have a tall ceiling! All thats left are some good athletic shoes and workout attire!

As you can see, jumping rope is great for you! What are your favorite ways to workout?
xoxo
~Alicia and Abby

Current Color Obsession?

Sooooo... IM OBSESSED! With what you may ask? A color. yes, a color! Within the last three days i've worn this color pretty much all the time, or bought an item of this color! The color is the light slightly washed out Tiffany blue color!

This is my favorite shirt from Aritzia! Its a TNA shirt in H2O:
This is a bad picture of a strapless printed tube top thats 3 years old. But somehow it still fits!

I also recently got a manicure with Absolutely Shore, the same pale blue!

I also lost my tweezers, and was in need.. so i got the Tweezerman travel tweezers in the same color! 

I also changed the font color or headings and titles to this color too... So clearly I'm enjoying this color! Is there color or pattern you are crazy obsessed with? Lets us know!
xoxo
~Alicia and Abby