Ari’s Cali Edition

Posted on September 12, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

A Golden State of Mind…..

So the time has come to recap both of our magnificent trips to the golden state, California! I (Ari) have visited the cities of Sacramento and San Francisco before and my sister Gwen had never been. Both of us embarked on the journey to the west coast for some birthday celebrations and all around good times with friends. Below is a compiled list of some places I thought were worth checking out if you are ever in the Los Angeles area. Stay tuned for part two where Gwen covers San Diego and more!

Grub:

California foodies did not disappoint! Here were some eateries I thought were yummy.

Grand Central Market- This plaza is extremely popular for some famous eateries like Egg Slut and Ramen Hood but don’t count out any of the others! “ress brothers juicer”gives you the pick me up you need after the long flight to Cali from the east coast. “Saritas Pupuseria” and “Tacos Tumbras a Tomas” both give you a taste of the local latin flair for those who are money savvy and want the most bang for their buck!
In and Out– Need I say more?
Candela Taco Bar & Lounge- Located on La Brea avenue this place offers great food including specials and promotions like “margarita mondays, tango tuesdays and taco wednesdays. With live music and performances you cannot beat the authenticity and price of this special bar.
Cj’s Cafe– With its seemingly small exterior it might be easy to miss this cafe, but it could be hands down one of the yummiest casual spots yet! Cj’s serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and fresh juices! The menu ranges from traditional american fare to mexican and beyond. The staff was extremely accommodating and friendly and the food was delicious. Try the huevos rancheros for breakfast and watermelon/ cantaloupe fresh juice the morning after a night out.

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Tourist Attractions

Lacma– Known for its popularity amongst bloggers, you can’t help but at least admire the instillation and relax with friends on a chilly evening amongst the lights.
Griffith Observatory-This free attraction is amazing for panoramic views of the city including the Hollywood Sign. You can also visit the planetarium and explore the exhibits during regular hours.
Venice Beach & Santa Monica Pier– These are must sees anytime you go to LA. They both represent the quintessential Cali lifestyle and leisure we all know and love, surf sand beach!
La City Hall Observation Deck– Although most may not know it, if you go to city hall and get a free visitors pass you can go to the top of the roof where they offer amazing views of the city from a different perspective. Its free and easy!

Night Life

Sunset Blvd- Bar hopping galore! “Fiesta Cantina” was a great spot to grab a drink. Not for the faint of heart, “Flaming Saddles” is a Gay bar catering to scantily clad men in tightey whitey underwear- yes please!
The Arglye Hollywood Nightclub- This swanky spot is perfect to get dressed up and sexy with your girls to dance the night away.

This was just a short list as I’m sure LA has so much more to offer. Stay tuned for my sisters secondary post on her favorite spots in other cities.

XOXO -ARI

Slip dresses + Birthdays

Posted on August 26, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I turned 27!!!!! As each year passes I’m reminded that life is super short and you have to make of it what you want while you’ve still got the time, energy and resources. With this being said I always love to book a fun adventure for my birthdays to end the summer off right and ring in my birth year with some fun travel vibes. This time I decided to visit a good friend in sunny Los Angeles! I have only been to Sacramento and San Francisco before so this was definitely a must for me. The food, ambiance, weather and people were everything you’d imagine it to be, good times all around! Since the weather was unusual for me to get used to (warm but also cold at the same time) I made sure to bring different layering pieces to play with. On this day we visited Venice beach and boardwalk. Not only did I get to witness some interesting booths but I also got to dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean (which was ice cold by the way). To stay on par with layering while also being trendy I paired this Zara metallic shiny slip dress with a Forever 21 Janet Jackson t-shirt underneath. Although I love a good rock band t-shirt, this one felt more authentic seeing as I am actually a fan and grew up watching and listening to her music. The western belt is from boo-hoo and really added flair and some much needed waist cinching to the ensemble. I’ve linked items below if you’re interested in recreating the look!

XOXO- ARI

BOO HOO- Double Belt

Forever 21- Janet Jackson T-Shirt

Zara- Slip Dress

River Island Culotte Jumpsuit

Posted on August 12, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I recently went to visit my sister and dog Justin in New York. Being home even for such a short time gives me such nostalgic feelings. I’m always on the fence about moving back or not. On the one hand, New York City is hands down the best place to live with regards to entertainment, food, and general awesome vibes all around. On the other hand, I am not about that life! I am so used to driving and living at a slower pace being in Florida that experiencing the subway and hustling in such an extreme weather conditions doesn’t sound like fun anymore. But I digress; this River Island Jumpsuit really was the real MVP this trip. The culottes A-line and v-cut really flattered my figure overall and the material was free flowing enough to handle the extreme heat of NYC summers. The olive toned neutral color provided the perfect palette to pair with funky accessories like this bolo tie and 90’s inspired chokers. I love a lazy girl stylish jumpsuit, just throw on your sunnies and you are out the door! No need to pair tops and pants and get all complicated in the summer. This exact jumpsuit is currently sold out on ASOS but I included the link regardless because they are always restocking. Also check out the extremely similar options I linked below as well.

Let me know below do you ever struggle with wanting to move or have a change of pace?

Sold out Exact Jumpsuit– Keep an eye on it, ASOS often restocks items!

Similar Culotte Jumpsuits- Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here

XOXO- ARI

Braid Waist Romper

Posted on June 29, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

When curating my fashion looks for the Dominican Republic, I knew that I needed them to be simple and easy to throw on yet still afford me the structure that my clothing requires for my body to look balanced. I love a staple romper to accomplish this because they can transition from day to night while not giving up the comfort and ease needed when you’re on vacation. This 100% cotton, non-stretch denim romper from ASOS was the perfect fit! Not only does it fit extremely well, it has a braided belt detail and cut out back for that extra added flair. It can be paired with sandals as I did or even combat boots to dress it down. Rock your natural hair or some pretty braids and go sans bra while you’re having some fun in the sun. Check out the link below to get your hands on it!

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ASOS Denim Braid Waist Romper

XOXO- ARI

Paris is always a good idea

Posted on May 2, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Another bank holiday has rolled around in England causing the urge to book a quick city break. I chose Paris! the city of lights, one of those most magical and romantic cities of all time (so I’ve heard). I am insanely excited! I wanted to quickly share with you all what I packed for my long weekend getaway. Focusing on makeup and some key pieces I felt were necessary. I also got some fun tips from “Parisian Chic” a style guide by Ines de la Fressange. Let’s begin!

Choosing what makeup to bring is always so hard for me, especially lipsticks I mean how can a girl anticipate what color she’ll want to wear for the next three days? (Champagne problems). I tried to focus on my holy grail products and a variety of what I consider to be classic lip shades.

For clothes I pretty much chose basics ie; jeans, a denim button down, striped t-shirt and a little black dress for a night out. Two pieces I want to give special attention to are my faux leather jacket and side slit blouse. I purchased them both at Newlook.

A motorcycle inspired jacket can easily transform an outfit into chic and edgy. I love the contrast of pairing it with something a bit more feminine to balance out the asthetic of the look.

This side slit blouse is all the rave in London (I’m assuming it is back home as well). I love the slight sexiness it posses as you’re mostly covered up in the chest area but can show off a bit of skin without being too much.

If you haven’t already noticed I am pretty much obsessed with wearing black. Normally I am all about color but lately black pieces have taken over my wardrobe. Wearing black makes me feel like I’m in a classic piece (even if it’s only a plain black t-shirt). This was also confirmed while reading the “Parisian Chic” book.

Stay tuned for my Paris adventures!

xx Gwen

All roads lead to Rome

Posted on April 22, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Whilst in the UK I figured I would take advantage and travel around Europe as much as my pockets will allow me to. Italy has always been on my top places to visit list, but having to choose what city to fly to was the hard part. So we chose Rome, the capital of Italy, one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe and home to an amazing array of historical sites. I thought I would share some photos of my time there as well as a quick look at two comfy outfits I wore while site seeing.

This city is absolutely breathtaking! To be amongst some of the most intricate and greatest works of architecture is such a humbling experience! Oh and I can’t forget to mention how delicious the food was! Splendido!

Before leaving I needed to pick up some lighter pieces of clothing and where better to find quick basic pieces than Primark! (I apologize for not having close ups of these outfits, but I’m sure you can still get the idea of what I’m wearing). I opted for comfort as we were going to be doing loads of walking. A cardigan is a must as there are times of the day when it feels a bit chilly or a gust of wind brushes by (especially while on the tour bus). I also picked up loose fitting tank tops and casual pants, once again perfect for walking.

I hope you all enjoyed my quick look into an amazing holiday! Have any suggestions as to where else I should visit? Leave them down below!

xx Gwen

Boo Hoo Deep Plunge Skort Playsuit- Miami Ootn

Posted on April 15, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

It’s always so difficult to take pictures while on vacation, especially the type of whirlwind fast paced ones that my family and I love to take. This past weekend I decided to drive down to Miami from Orlando and enjoy some time with friends and loved ones. The sunny beaches and sexy nightlife made it nearly impossible to capture every single outfit. Here is a quick sneak peak of what I wore for a night out on the town. This Boo Hoo royal blue velvet skort play suit is honestly one of my favorite finds as of late. It is extremely comfortable and ready for wear even after being packed up in a suitcase. I just slipped it on and out the door I was! I paired it with these sexy Zara heels (quite the opposite of comfortable). They feature a leopard calf hair design and closure on the arch versus the standard outside of the heel which makes for some interesting toe cleavage and not to mention overall appeal. These sky high babies and gold metallic clutch complimented my plunging neckline appropriate for miami life. Links to items below!

boo hoo uk, romper, playsuit, velvet, ootn, sexy, blogger, midnight blue, curly hair

Grace Deep Plunge Velvet Skort Playsuit

Similar Playsuit

Similar Zara Sandals

XOXO – ARI

LA TOUR EIFFEL- PARIS OOTD

Posted on March 22, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Sadly this is my last outfit of the day from my trip 3 weeks ago. This reminiscent journey is coming to an end but I am sure I will have many more travel fun to come this year. On this day my mom and I whisked away for a day trip to Paris without my sister Gwen. On only a couple of hours time we managed to eat lunch inside the Eiffel Tower and tour the well known Louvre Museum as well as take many pictures amongst other things. It was a bit chilly so I opted for comfort and an androgynous aesthetic to keep me warm. My feminine detail came in the form of this amazing Kate Spade Eiffel Tower purse. I purchased this at the Kate Spade outlet in Orlando and although its not roomy I couldn’t help but wear it out for my special day date in the city of Love. Experiencing this trip to three different countries with the two girls I love most (my mom and sister) is going to be one of my most treasured memories. Links to items below!

HM Jeans
Forever 21 Button Up
HM Sweater
Kate Spade Purse
Aldo Oxfords

Love – Ari

Tourist in London

Posted on January 12, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hiya Everyone! (I’ve learned this is how Londoners say Hello). I’ve had such an amazing weekend getting to know a bit of this wonderful city and wanted to share some of it with you all. Here goes…

Classic phone booth shot

Ready for the Big Bus Tour!

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Tower of London

London Eye

Big Ben

Proper Fish and Chips is a must!

Could not walk past Primark and Boots
without picking up a few things!

Sneak Peek at my new items

What a great weekend right? I am absolutely delighted with this city and all that I’ve seen so far. Keep those suggestions coming if you reside here or have ever been. Thanks loves!

Until next time,
-Gwen

I Spy with my “Orlando” Eye -Willow & Clay Collab

Posted on August 15, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Willow & Clay is such a dope brand and their marketing team is on point! Their “I Spy” series follows fashion through different walks of life and locals. They featured me as the Florida Eye edition and I had so … Continue reading →