NYE Looks 

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Hey there lovelies! I know it’s been a while but Ari & I are back in business! For this last post of 2016 I wanted to share 3 plus sized New Year’s Eve looks. I’ve chosen a metallic pleated midi skirt (which I styled two different ways) and a more festive burgundy off the shoulder swing dress. Let’s get started shall we?

First up is the silver/pewter skirt in the size xl from Charlotte Russe paired with a basic gray tee from Old Navy. Mixing casual and dressy pieces is always a good idea, especially if you don’t have major plans or just simply prefer a more casual look with a touch of sparkle. To add a pop of color I chose a small red bag. This outfit could also be jazzed up a bit with a low chunky heel, or kept more low key with tennis shoes or flat sandals as I the ones I wore.



Next up is the same skirt with a velvet hunter green bralette (1x) which is also from Charlotte Russe. I am obsessed with anything velvet, the material has such a luxurious look and feel to it. Once again pairing different textured fabrics creates such a lovely juxtaposition. For this look I added my trusty pointy ankle wrapped Sam Edelman shoes from Target.


Last but certainly not least is a Burgundy velvet off the shoulder dress from Forever 21 (plus). The heart shaped top is perfect for busty girls as it frames in all the right places. I also love the swing style from the waist down as it helps create the illusion of hips. I once again wore my black shoes, along with some fun new year accessories.


Want to know the best part of all? All of the clothing items are under $25! Huge steal right? Hope you all enjoyed this post.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to a brand new year! 2017 here we come!

Metallic Skirt

Velvet Bralette

* Similar Velvet Dress

xx, Gwen

Kylie Lip Kit 

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Hey there loves! It’s been a while since I’ve come on here to talk about a new product, that is until now! I ordered one of the Kylie Lip Kits a few weeks ago, gave it a test run and am now ready to share my thoughts. Well here goes…

I purchased the shade 22 which is a gorgeous brunt orangey-red. The formula is very pigmented, has a creamy consistency and dries quickly (which doesn’t give you much room for error). The kit also includes a lip liner which helps perfect the edges of your lips and provide an adhesive base for the liquid lipstick.

The lipstick wore well for the first 4 hours but I noticed a little bit of flaking in the center of my lips towards the last hour. I then went on to eat and drink checked back on how it looked and most of the color in the center was gone. Reapplying isn’t a deal breaker for me, as long as the product doesn’t look too cakey afterward (which it didn’t).

Pros: Color pay off, creamy texture & comfortable to wear.

Cons: Flaking, Price tag ($29 for .11 oz / 3.25 mil)

Although I would recommend the liquid lipstick (if you’re willing to hash out $29 for it) I wouldn’t necessarily purchase another one.

Here’s the link to 22 which is still available for purchase: 22 Lip Kit

Till next time,

Gwen, xx

Storage Unit DIY

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I know I teased this on Instagram a long time ago but the time has finally come to reveal my awesome DIY storage project for my room. I was on a bit of a décor kick as of recent and wanted to bring my interior style game up a notch now that I’m getting older. One way to do that was introducing mixed metals to my new mirrored furniture and find ways to incorporate natural elements like wood to make it cozier. A full room tour might be necessary in the near future! For now here is how I jazzed up this ordinary shelving unit to be perfect for my aesthetic.

Things you will need- Everything can be purchased from Walmart.com

  • Storage Unit
  • Gold Spray Paint
  • Screwdriver or Drill (I only used a screwdriver)
  • Marble Contact Paper (or any pattern contact paper for that matter)
  • Pencil, Ruler and Scissors (or scrap booking knife)
  1. Prepare your work space with enough room, you will only need a screwdriver or drill (if you’re fancy)
  2. Follow the directions to screw each shelf to the columns (starting from the bottom helps)
  3. After its constructed take it to an outside open area and spray with gold paint, let dry and do a second coat
  4. Measure and cut pieces of contact paper with the pencil and ruler (make sure to write on the back portion of the paper not the visible marble part)
  5. Cut out the pieces and smooth them over the shelves with the ruler or a rag to smooth out any air bubbles
  6. Embellish shelves with books or home décor items, get creative!

I had originally planned on leaving the bottom shelf open for a hamper or larger items but later decided to add the missing shelf for a more cohesive look. I also plan on eventually getting some pull out mesh drawers from IKEA and de clutter it. For now I love the finished product and can’t wait to play around with the items and change them up for the seasons!

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XOXO- Ari

California Love (Gwen’s Edition)

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Hey lovelies! So as my sister mentioned in the previous post we were both visiting California at different times (I know it would have been so much fun if we went together) but none the less I wanted to share some of the things I did with you all and maybe help out anyone in need of some tips for an upcoming trip. I started off my vacation in Los Angeles, then drove to San Diego for the last two days of our stay… well then shall we get on with it?

Where to Eat:

La Placita Olvera: or Olvera St. is historically known as Downtown LA’s “first street”. It is a Mexican marketplace full of restaurants, cafes, street vendors and gift shops. We ate AMAZING flautas at Cielito Lindo, they’re known for the avocado sauce they drizzle all over the flautas (your choice of various meats). Great place to walk and have a look around while enjoying some delicious Mexican food!

Grand Central Market: (Ari’s recommendation). Upon walking into this market I could not believe my eyes at the plethora of food options (I wanted to try a little bit of everything) but I decided on Saritas Pupuseria (Salvadorian Food). Along with my pupusa de queso I had carne guisada con arroz y frijoles (Beef stew with rice and beans). I love it when I can find a peace of Latino culture in new places.

Paradise Cove Beach Cafe: We drove over to Malibu and of course decided on seafood. It doesn’t get any better than sitting beachside enjoying some cocktails and calamari. We ordered an enormous seafood paella (which by the way fed 6 people and we had leftovers). Malibu is on my top three favorite places I visited on this trip and Paradise Cove definitely was a big reason why!

Site Seeing:

Ari already mentioned Venice and Santa Monica Beach so I want to take a moment and talk about Malibu. I now understand why everyone says it’s so beautiful! The views are so scenic and you don’t even feel as if you’re in the U.S anymore. We also drove a bit further down to El Matador Beach which was full of sea caves and large rocks along the shore. Getting down to access the beach down a steep trial was a bit scary as I am afraid of heights but the views made up for it.

Hollywood Sign Hike: My friend researched what would be the shortest trail to the Hollywood sign (she found a 3 mile one). Although the trail started off pretty steep (I thought I was going to die) it thankfully became easier as we kept going.

Rodeo Drive: Every high end shoppers dream! The stores are decorated so beautifully!

And of course the Walk of Fame: There was one specific star I had to see… can you guess who?

 Our nightlife was pretty chill, we hung out at Library Bar one night and The Room on another. (I’m not as cool as Ari anymore)

Now on to San Diego! 

On our way down to San Diego we stopped at La Jolla which is a gorgeous beach village along the coast. We walked around a bit, stopped at a coffee shop called Goldfish pointe Café and then stumbled upon some seals! Yes Seals like the sea animals, they were hanging out on the rocks by the shore, they were the cutest things ever!

We continued our journey to Coronado Island where again we walked around the beach, did some souvenir shopping, had delicious gelato from Nado Gelato and drooled over the million dollar beach front homes. 

We stayed at the Hyatt (walking distance to restaurants, bars). We then took a stroll down to Gaslamp District and had the BEST surf and turf tacos at Mariscos El Pulpo! San Diego is the type of town I can see myself living in. 


California was the ultimate dream! Ive wanted to visit there for so long and I am so happy I finally made it over to the west coast. 

Here’s one last photo of my Bae’s and I 

Hope this was helpful!

Till our next vaca!

xx, Gwen

Ari’s Cali Edition

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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.img_7063

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

 

 

 

The Estee Edit Review

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Influenster has done it again! As some of you may know we are signed up to receive complimentary items from influenster in order to test and review them for our blog. For this week’s review we received goodies from the Estee Edit collection. Estee Edit is the spin off from the ever prominent brand Estee Lauder . Inspired by Estee and curated by varying guest editors this brand is trying to appeal to the younger generation and we’re not mad at it! The following items go as follows

Radiance Activator- Treat Prep Glow for Dryness and Dullness

Cons-

  • Shows up on my face glittery (not a finely milled shimmer)
  • Doesn’t provide moisture nor even out my skin tone or brighten
  • Priced at $55 I do not believe it is necessarily worth it

 Late Night Eraser Brightening Eye Balm with Pink Peony

Pros-

  • Metal tip provided instant soothing and cooling +the shape was contoured perfectly to fit under the eye

Cons-

  • Although it does brighten a lot, the micro pearls create a white cast on my dark circles. I don’t think this product is meant for darker skin. If you have pink undertones or your dark circles aren’t as severe than this may work best for you

 Metallishadow Crème + Powder

Pros-

  • The crème base is perfect to really ensure your color pops!
  • The color wild cosmos is highly pigmented and easy to blend

Inside Track Eye Kajal

Pros-

  • Super pigmented and glides on extremely smooth and silky
  • Perfect combination of colors!

 Overall I was a bit disappointed in the skin care products seeing as they are very pricey and didn’t necessarily deliver the anticipated results. The beauty/makeup products from the line seem to be a hit! Hope you guys enjoy this mini review, let us know if you would like swatches or looks done with these products in the comments below. The entire Estee Edit line is available at Sephora.

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XOXO- ARI

Slip dresses + Birthdays

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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!

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XOXO- ARI

BOO HOO- Double Belt

Forever 21- Janet Jackson T-Shirt

Zara- Slip Dress

 

 

River Island Culotte Jumpsuit

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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?

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

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

XOXO- ARI

Marimekko for Target 

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As some of you know Ari came up to NYC for a short weekend visit almost two weeks ago (boy does time fly). I took her to a bunch of cool places, ate some amazing food and snapped a couple of outfit shots for the blog.

Now I know I’m a tad bit late because these items are no longer available (don’t worry I’ve linked some equally cute sets down below) but I had been dying to take photos of this blue, black and white printed matching set that I bought in back in April. Marimekko collaborated with Target creating some amazing prints for homeware, clothing, swimsuits and accessories. I was also very happy to see that the clothing line included plus sized items. I purchased a matching set (which I am all for these days) the top in a 1x and the bottom in a xl at only $24.99 a piece. 

Now on to the review: Tops that are too boxy don’t normally suit my body type but this one has flexibility and isn’t too stiff. As for the shorts they are loose enough where you feel comfortable but they don’t stretch to the point where you feel like they’re going to fall off. Overall I love how this fits and would recommend it for other body types as well.

I paired this outfit with slide black sandals from Target which I got on sale for $16.99! Here’s a closer look… 

I hope you all enjoyed this outfit of the day. Stay tuned for the next outfit I’ll be sharing!

Here are some similar matching sets from Asos:

Ruffle Stripes

Top  Bottom

Pink Clove Printed

Top  Pencil Skirt

Target Slide Sandal

Till next time, 

xx, Gwen

Neutrogena Hydro Boost 

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Hello Lovelies! It’s been a while since I’ve posted about new products but have no fear I am here to talk about a new face moisturizer and eye cream from Neutrogena! Changing up my skin care according to the season we are in is something I’ve mentioned many times on our platform. I truly stand by this based on my personal observations of my skin. For most of us our skin is usually dryer during winter months and can easily change into normal/oily when it’s warmer out, but some of us fail to understand that we still need hydration and moisture during summer as well.

I discovered the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel around the ending of May. The words “water gel” and “hyaluronic acid” really caught my attention. This formula is said to absorb quickly like a gel, but has the moisturizing power of a cream. It claims to boosts your skins hydration level by locking the moisture in all day (due to the hyaluronic acid). This is also said to be true for the eye cream.

I’ve been using these products for nearly two months now and I love the fact that the moisturizer has the gel like texture and yet your face just drinks it up so quickly not leaving a sticky or thick residue behind. I purchased mine with spf 15 which is great base to start with (of course sunscreen should be re-applied multiple times if you’ll be out in the sun for a long period of time). The eye gel/cream has a very similiar consistency to the moisturizer and also leaves my under eye area feeling hydrated.

 Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel spf 15
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel

CVS is currently having a buy one get second item half off on all Neutrogena products. They also offer 20% off coupons if you’ve signed up for their extra care card. Originally I would have paid $40 but with the coupons I only paid $30.

Hope this was helpful to anyone on the fence of buying this product, it surely has my stamp of approval.

Till next time,

xx Gwen