Know Yourself

Posted on February 15, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Not only is this title an ode to drakes new mixtape it also suits this outfit of the day as it’s my my staple go to look. When you know what looks good on your body and most importantly what makes you feel good then the rest is a cake walk. I always gravitate towards a shorts, heels and blazer combination. This particular look consist of a red scalloped hem playsuit I have worn a couple of times already, nude Jessica Simpson faux leather booties, thrifted grey boyfriend blazer, and my faux fur chain link clutch from Forever 21. The different textures make for an interesting visual effect and the gold accents complete the look. You can wear this to brunch all the way to a sexy date night out (hence why I love these three key pieces together). Invest in staple items like a structured blazer and good heels and the rest is up to you to play with! Links to items listed below.

Forever 21 Chain Strap Round Clutch
Similar Playsuits- Here, Here, Here & Here
Jessica Simpson Booties- Here, Here, Here, Here and Here
Similar Blazer –Here

Bellami Clip In Hair 220G Bellissima 22′ in “Mochachino Brown”

Ari….. :0)

Sunday Funday (London Edition)

Posted on January 19, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Second weekend in London and it of course was an exciting one! On Saturday morning I decided to walk around my new neighborhood a bit checking out the local eats, where to get my nails and eyebrows done etc. I then rode the tube up north to
Islington to meet up with a friend for drinks and dinner, boy did we have fun! You English people sure know how to have a good time!

Sunday was sort of a low key day, I again did some walking to the next town over called Clapham and discovered this lovely restaurant called the Bolingbroke and had an amazing English roast! What’s not to love about Yorkshire pudding am I right?

After that huge meal I rested for a while then decided I could not let myself get into a food coma and walked over to the Southside shopping center. This shopping center has everything you could ever dream of! Primark, Boots, Superdrug, H&M, River Island, The Body Shop etc. I’ve come to the realization that Boots is the equivalent to Target back home, every time I walk in there I leave with at least £40 worth of stuff. Here’s what I picked up from Boots and the Body shop…

I am most excited about the XXL volume Batiste dry shampoo and the Real Techniques contour brush. (Will keep you updated on how they perform).

That is all my friends, as always until next time!

-Gwen

S.W. Basics of Brooklyn-Natural Product Review

Posted on January 14, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Review time!!! So as some of you may or may not know, I have tried to incorporate more natural based products into my beauty regiment starting with the process of growing out my chemical processing and getting my healthy curls back. In my search for new products to try I came across this company called S.W. Basics of Brooklyn. First and foremost the name caught my eye immediately, anything that reminds me of home is so fun for me to support. Started by Adina Grigore, this company uses no more than 5 ingredients in every single one of their products. All responsibly sourced and simple enough to be accessible to everyone yet potent.

-100% All natural (not just a sneaky advertising label)
Ingredients are either certified organic, fair trade, or sourced from small family farms. This contributes to sustainable agriculture, supports small businesses and healthier communities.
Amazing and adorable packaging that can be recycled and reused how you see fit.
Did I mention none of the products have more than 5 ingredients? YES PLEASE

I went with the eye makeup remover to start with. It goes on smooth using a cotton round or ball and dosent have a strong scent. Made from just three ingredients super-light organic sweet almond oil, a bit of organic extra-virgin olive oil, and a little jojoba oil a little bit of this product goes a long way. It removes my eye makeup including mascara and can double as a moisturizer. I don’t have to wash off the residue and can actually rub it around my eyes for that sensitive skin area to soak up all the goodness. I am definitely looking forward to trying more of their products in the future including body scrubs and cleansers. Check them out if you have sensitive skin or are just interested in using all natural products. Link Below!

Mascara, you ain’t the boss of me.

S.W Basics Makeup Remover

S.W. Basics of Brooklyn

Casual Beach Day Essentials- Featuring Dove Dry Spray

Posted on January 5, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

New year’s resolution-take advantage of nice weather days more often! Of course the temps took a turn after my sister Gwen left (even though we did enjoy some slight warm days as well). Sunday turned into a sun filled day … Continue reading →

NYE Outfits

Posted on January 1, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

2015 is here! So many great things have happened this past year and we are so grateful to have been able to spend time together per usual for this holiday season. For our New Years celebration we decided to keep it low key this year (since Gwen is moving to London in a couple of days) and spend time at home with our loved ones. Needless to say, we still found the need to dress up of course. Get all the details down below!

Ari’s Outfit
Dress- Alberto Makali Nordstrom Rack
Shoes – Old season Forever 21
Clip in Hair Extensions –Bellami
Press on Nails- Static Nails

Gwens’ Oufit
Dress- Forever 21
Shoes- Sam & Libby Heels from Target
Press on Nails- Static Nails

“A Bloggers Thanksgiving”- Top 10 Things We Are Thankful For

Posted on November 27, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Things We are Thankful for by ari-pena featuring a deborah lippmann nail polish

As bloggers we are both inclined to always try new products or styles in order to consistently stay abreast of all the latest and greatest. Although we love shopping and reviewing new things, there are those constant tried and true items that will always be staples in our lives. Here are our top 10 items we are grateful exist in this world to make our lives just a bit more fulfilling.

Top ten things Ari & Gwen are grateful for this year-

Coconut Oil– I mean, no explanation needed! Not only can this be used on your hair but also skin, nails/cuticles, food the list goes on and on!
Dr. Scholls anything- From the inserts to the “fast flats” these products always save our tootsies from any emergency.
Pant/Skirt Hangers– Something so simple, yet it keeps skirts and pants wrinkle and indentation free (velvet ones also help reduce lines but these are preferable).
Lipstick– Any color, any finish, lipstick will always liven up your face and can be used in a pinch as blush as well.
Fast Dry Top Coats– Because who has time to wait for nails to dry?
Concealer– It helps us not look like zombies, covers and brightens like a dream!.
Bronzer– You can contour and carve yourself out an entire new face or simply add some glow, bronzer is where its at any season.
Scarves– Scarves galore! From thin to thick, infinity, patterned or even crotchet, scarves add an instant pop to any outfit. They also are functional keeping even the most coldest winds off your face and neck. Slip on a cool and cozy scarf and you’re ready to head out the door!
Tote Bags– Besides carrying an everyday purse, tote bags can serve as food storage, gym bags, diaper bags, extra night out clothes bag, you name it! .
Dry Shampoo– Last but certainly not least, when the world just dosent offer us the time to prep, Dry shampoo saves the day by taking away the shine on those non wash days.

All in all we are thankful for one another and our families and can’t wait to reunite for Christmas. Our blog is going in a great direction and we cannot wait to see what the future will bring.

Love Ari & Gwen

Yo Amo Mi Pajón

Posted on November 5, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The slang term “Pajón” in Spanish is used to describe any sort of “disorderly hair” or “afro like texture and size of hair. Albeit, it’s normally used in a negative way, these days I see a slight shift towards a … Continue reading →

Ulta Haul

Posted on September 8, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Over the last month and a half or so I’ve made my way to Ulta a few times to pick up some goodies. Ulta is one of those places where I walk around for hours due to the amazing selection of products they have. Here’s a quick look at some of the ones I picked up.

I tried a mini sample of the Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara and I loved it! It gives your lashes such a full volumized look!

Lorac Pro Matte lip pencil in the shade Merlot

Butter London Cheeky Cream Blush in the shade Ruby Murray

On top is the Lorac Pro Matte lip pencil in the shade Merlot which is such a perfect wine color for the fall. The formula is Matte but it is not a drying one.
On the bottom Butter London cream blush in the shade Ruby Murray is a beautiful rich cranberry shade. It can be a sheer wash of color on your cheeks or you could intensify it by adding more product.

Lorac Pro 2 palette has such stunning shades. The pigmentation is great and the shadows are very easy to blend. The versatility of this palette is also something I really enjoy, you are able to create warm looks as well as cooler ones, and we can forget the pops of color it has!

Swatches of a few shades from the Lorac Pro 2 palette Top color is the shade Plum, followed by Navy, then Rosé and Jade. Shade on the left side is called Beige

Urban Decay All Nighter Spray is my best friend of all time! Keeps my makeup totally intact!
Blow Pro texture spray is a new product for me and so far I am loving it! Perfect for the wavy hair days when you want to give your hair some umph!
John Freida fine to full blow out spray has been working wonders for me! It creates body on the crown of my head, which is where I need the most volume.
Big Sexy Hair sulfate free Volumizing shampoo and conditioner have a lightweight formula which have been helping my hair feel and appear fuller.

And that is all! Leave comments or suggestions if you would like to see a more in depth review of anything or a makeup tutorial.
Again all of these products were purchased at Ulta. Links down below.

Till next time,
-Gwen

Urban Decay All Nighter Spray

Blow Pro Texture Spray

John Freida

Big Sexy Hair –Shampoo & Conditioner

Lorac Pro Palette 2

Lorac Pro Matte Lip Pencil- Merlot

Butter London Cream Blush- Ruby Murray

Better Than Sex Mascara

Labor Day Stripes & Neon

Posted on September 1, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

This casual summer day calls for a simple outfit that keeps you cool, yet is stylish all the same. I recently bought this top from Marshalls from the French Connection brand and although it is a simple cotton t-shirt I love the fact that the stripes go in different directions on the sleeves and back. It is the small details that make for an interesting aesthetic. I paired this blue striped top with my neon green JLO brand high waist shorts, leopard print Sam & Libby loafers and vintage Ferragamo cross body bag. One may think all of these patterns and colors wouldn’t look good together, but mixing prints is all the rage! Pick one solid (neon shorts), choose your focal point (top) and my last rule of thumb is leopard is always a neutral (yes always in my book). Links to similar items below.

Similar Top- Here

Similar Shorts- Here

Similar Flats- Here & Here

Happy Labor Day!

Ari

60’s Beachside Blouse

Posted on July 7, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As some of you may know I was featured on Willow & Clay’s clothing site on their quirky “I spy” series. I wrote about the city of Orlando and styled some pieces from their site. They were kind and gracious enough to send me a beachside blouse and I am in love with the boho feel of it! The bell shaped sleeves and empire waist gave off a 60’s vibe perfect for the summer. I wanted to pair this feminine piece with edgier items to mix up the look. I went with my favorite faux leather shorts, and my cutout booties (both old season Forever 21). This shirt can be cinched in at the waist for a more polished look or worn as is for a boho vibe. This shirt is breezy and fun for everyday casual wear or can be spruced up for a festival look paired with the right accessories (i.e floral head crowns and boots). Thanks to Willow and Clay for their awesome opportunity to collaborate and Im in love with my new shirt! Links below for the top and similar items.