ascension style

DIY / Make your own Rhinestone Wrap Bracelet

2012-03-02T12:31:00.004-05:00

Wrap Bracelets are sold at ever hot trendy stores these days. They retail somewhere from $20 to even $100+. I thought I would have fun and make these colorful creation myself!

Video tutorial below!

Materials:

A Rhinestone/ crystal chain

2 types of cords - you can select color you like.

one thick cord to hold the rhinestone chains

one thin one is to wrap around it

A button or anything you like to use to anchor in your bracelet

Tools you will be using: SCISSORS, measuring tape, and super glue.

**Suede Cord and chain are purchased from AC Moore craft store.

**Thin Cord and button from Joann's fabric store

What's on my nails? Essie "Red NOUVEAU"

My ring? from shopbop.com

Colors for Spring!

2012-02-29T08:29:00.001-05:00

I am so in the mood for colors! This winter I've been wearing lots of black and grays... it's time for me to feel cheerful again! In my part of the country we start to see Spring toward the end of the season. I really hope for some warm sun coming my way.

Nom Nom: Mango Salsa Recipe

2012-02-23T16:25:00.001-05:00

Ingredients: Use whatever portion you like. I often like to use...

1 big mango or 2 small mango

1/3 a big onion or 1/2 a small onion

1/2 lime

1 big tomato

1 small clove garlic

2-3 tspn kosher salt

1/2 cup of chopped cilantro

Video tutorial below

DIY Chain Friendship Bracelet

2012-02-19T18:10:00.001-05:00

Video Tutorial Below

Homemade Green Tea Body Butter Bars

2012-01-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

Ingredients for Green Tea Body Bar:

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2.5 oz Cosmetic/food grade Wax

2 oz Mango butter

2 oz Shea butter

1 oz Almond butter

1 Tbsp Matcha (green tea powder)

1 Tbsp Coconut oil (optional)

Utensils:

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Hot water pot

Pyrex measuring cups

Cookie or soap mold

Mixing sticks

Ingredients for Oat Butter Bars:

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2.5 oz Cosmetic/food grade Wax

2 oz Cocoa Butter

2 oz Shea butter

1 oz Almond butter

1 Tbsp

Oats

1 Tbsp

Jojo oil (optional)

Video Tutorial below

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Leather on Leather

2012-01-22T17:45:00.000-05:00

*coat- miss sixty, blazer - thrifted, boots -lucky, pants h&m, and bag- celine

The other night I was telling Eric how I love not having snow for winter. The following night we were hit with our first degusting slush snow storm. I totally jinx myself. I'm sure you're feeling the same way I feel. Can't wait for Spring already!

I wanted to wear pumps so badly today- however that would have resulted me in the ER. Leather over leather (faux) would have to do for now. I love standing in the sun with my black leather pants. They're like solar panels absorbing in all the sun's warmth. This coat I was wearing was super thin for New England's winter- however it was the perfect cover-up over the thrifted wool blazer I had sitting in my closet all summer long.

Homemade HomeLoving Lip Butter DIY

2012-01-19T02:17:00.003-05:00

Utensils

1. Measuring spoons
2. Mixing/popsical sticks

3. Pyrex measuring Cup

4. Containers to pour into

Ingredients:

2.5 tsp food grade wax

(add more wax to thicken or less for a stickier consistency)
**soy wax is easier to melt than bees wax- which needs higher heat setting and may eliminate all beneficial properties in the natural oils.

2 tsp mango butter

1 tsp coconut oil

1.5 tsp almond oil

*Optional: add in just about 1/8 tsp Fragrant oil of your choice and coloring (cosmetic mica, concentrated lip colors, or even food coloring)

Video Tutorial below:

Style LookBack

2012-01-01T15:03:00.000-05:00

After having to lose my father so quickly and unexpectedly, I realized that life was too short to keep to myself forever. That summer I started my youtube channel and blog. I had no idea exactly what it would be about. I started with a little bit of everything but somehow it always resorted back to my main love interest in fashion/styling. Having a vlog/blog not only is about showing off what you have, it's connecting with others around the world and putting a little of you out there. Looking back, it has been a great learning experience and I am so grateful for every part of it.

Thank you for being a part of it!

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Outfit Under $100 - New Year's Resolution

2011-12-31T12:54:00.001-05:00

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outfit below $100! jacket, dress, sunglasses, and shoes - forever21. Belt and clutch- Target

So what's your New Year's Resolution? Every year mine's is to lose 10 lbs (never happen) and save money. So far, so good! I manage to keep this outfit right below $100! All pieces were from forever21, purchased within a couple years from each other. I've been avoiding that store however once in a while I find something hard to put down.

Have a safe a prosperous New Year everyone!

xoxo

comfy and warm

2011-12-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

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*Jimmy Choo Bag, Fabianelli boots, Target sweater, and Jcrew Coat

This was my first day outside since feeling sick in the last couple of days. The cold started right on Christmas. Fortunately it was not strep throat as I thought it would be.

That afternoon I had a lunch date with Eric. We had the day to ourselves since our little man wanted to stay over his cousins. It was nice to finally have full conversations and finished each sentences =)

All I wanted to wear this day was something comfy and warm. I was still so tired but I was in need of some fresh air. I'm not into dressing like a sick person especially after looking like a mess in the last two days. I believe you can still feel comfy and look put together. Dressing up is not about what other people think of me, it's about how the clothes make me feel.

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Yellow Caution & New Hair Do!

2011-12-19T19:35:00.000-05:00

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*gap sweater, dkny watch, celine phantom bag, jewelmint ring, h&m beanie and pants, Guess coat, and zara shoes.

O-M-G!!! Another post? hopefully I can keep this momentum going. So here's another cold chilly day. These photos were taken on a day that was 45 degrees outside. It was chilly but not cold as yesterday. Yesterday was 24 degrees! Now that's at freezing. Days like these I can stand because we can layer and still rock out cute pumps. Ladies... if you want to look cute, there's going to be some sort of compromise. Otherwise, just pull out the Uggs and call it a day.

Btw... I chopped off 3 inches of my hair! The dead ends were driving me crazy so I whipped out the scissors and now I'm happy. I really liked the results.

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The Phantom & I - OTK & Wool Coat

2011-12-16T17:30:00.003-05:00

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*Boots- Lucky brand, pants Zara, sweater and stole H&M, watch DKNY, rings Jewelmint, Coat - Forever21, and bag Celine Phantom

First day I'm taking my new baby out for a walk. I bought her a couple weeks ago and was contemplating if I should or shouldn't keep her. She is definitely a beauty but not within my comfort spending budget. This baby was the last one (in black) at my local Barneys. Her sister was sold to another obsessed fashionista- who's been on a waitlist in the past 9 months! Good gracious. I made a pledge to myself that I will not buy any clothing, shoes, or bags in the next two months. I need my cha-ching to go back up before I splurge again. In the end I'm very happy with this purchase. I rather buy something really nice and wear it for years to come then collect on a bunch of things I may or may not wear again.

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Alexander Wang - Rocco Duffel Bag

2011-12-13T23:03:00.005-05:00

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I didn't planned on making a handbag review however I did get lots of questions regarding the Alexander Wang Rocco bag I've been sporting a month ago. So here is a quick one... As you can see the bag is of a pebbled leather texture. These bags come in many color combos from taupe, gray, blue, white and black. I opted for the classic black with brass studs and hardware. I loved the simple yet edgy design of this bag. I would say the Rocco and Diego bucket are the popular styles amongst all of Wang's other bags.

· 9.25" height x 13.5" width x 9.25" depth

· 4" handle drop, 15" strap drop

This bag already holds a reputation for being a heavy weight. However it doesn't bother me, and I think that has to do with the fact that I tend to already carry my home with me. If you like to travel light then this isn't your type of bag. Quality wise, this bag is pretty nice! It comes with a crossbody strap- bonus for me! The leather is thick, the lining doesn't look flimsy, and the studs are pretty hardcore. I feel like it's worth the designer price than just the designer name.

Cupcake Social

2011-12-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

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Continuing on with the Steve Madden project they had asked for each girl to make a homemade companion video and dressed the boots according to our personal style. These are some outfits I came up with.

Some of the scenes and photos you seen were taken at a bakery called "Sweet". It was a very cute and cozy shop owned by Alina Eisenhauer - a winner of Food network show "Chopped" (also featured in cupcake wars). There were endless assortment of cupcakes and flavors to choose from. They were all simply decorated and lined nicely. Thank you Sweets for allowing me to film. Your cupcakes were delightful!

*Special Thanks to my hubby for always helping me film. Go dream team! =)

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A Steve Madden Day

2011-12-09T10:36:00.001-05:00

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In November I was given a incredible opportunity to visit L.A. and filmed a Steve Madden campaign with a few other Youtubers and StyleHaul. It was a exciting time to learn and meet new faces. I especially enjoyed seeing how the crew work so intensely. There were mostly serious looking men trying to perfect the lightings and technicality of the production. It makes me so appreciative to see how hard people work. There was also a decorating team making the home festive and inviting. Everyone who worked was incredibly sweet and a joy to have around. I'm truly grateful for the new ventures and people whom I crossed path within these past years.

We started the day uncaffeinated at 7am and ended the day discombobulated at around 10pm. I remember Evelina and I were totally hyped up on our way home dancing to the night then crashed immediately once we hit the hotel. Check out the Steve Maddens I got to wear!

Silly us! left to right -Chelsea, Me, Britney, and Evelina. They were all gorgeous in person and very pleasant.

Done filming! a glimse of behind the shoot.

Me with Lauren from StyleHaul. Thank you Lauren for setting up the team!

I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet April. Unfortunately we only had less than 2 hours to chit-chat but she was a doll and I hope to meet her again sometimes. Photo from Aprilathena7.blogspot.com

Jewelmint Winners

2011-12-09T09:29:00.001-05:00

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Hi Everyone! Hope you're enjoying your time as the Holiday is is approaching. I have announced the giveaway winners 1-2 weeks ago on my facebook and twitter as I always announced the winners. I also personally emailed the winners. 1 out of 4 have gotten back to me. I will give them until the 14th to get back to me. Otherwise I will have to select new winners. Thank you!

Blog winners: Nana and celestialdamn

Youtube winners: christinafour and dearbeau

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Black & White all over with a Touch of Warmth

2011-12-03T22:18:00.001-05:00

*H&M- pants and hat, watch- DKNY, YSL ring, Forever21 jacket, MInk Pink- top, Alexander Wang bag & shoes.

This oversized fluid top and tough leather accents brings out the attitude in me! There are so many styles I like, but anything fierce yet chill is so me. I also adore feminine silhouettes and classic styles. Therefore I went for this flowy top and a scarf with good drape. The red adds a nice tone of color. As you can see just a bit of red can easily tune the mood from moody to lovely.

The clothing you wear should always reflect who you are inside. The red and romantic silhouette of the top reflects my passions in life. I love dramatic expressions therefore the contrast between the prints and red played out nicely. Leather and strong lines expressed the zero tolerance I have upon idiots who brings negativity in my life. I have a big heart yet the same time I don't take shit from anyone.

Christmas starts now - YSL Arty

2011-11-30T23:04:00.001-05:00

These YSL Arty rings have been pretty popular amongst many fashion bloggers and fashionistas - and so I finally jumped aboard. I have been eyeing these babies for a while and wished I had purchased them earlier- that way I would have been able to pick up the color I really liked. So sad. On the other hand, the pink glass was not a bad choice. I ordered 3 sizes after hearing different reviews on the sizing and thought I tried them all out. Turquoise was my #1 choice of color however, the size 5 was too tight for mr. I really wanted to like the gunmetal ring however, I felt the color was too dark. Size 7 fitted my index finger, loose on the other. Size 6 fitted my ring finger and snugged on the rest. I would say they run true to size.

I have high expectation when it comes to designer pieces especially something "hand crafted" like this. It feels great to have loved designer pieces as part of my collection. I have to say though, the quality was not exquisite as I wished it could have been. I remembered reading from their site that each piece is unique because it was hand crafted by artisans. However looking at it, it looked almost manufactured. I still really like the style and loved it as part of my collection. Especially a renown piece of art.

xoxo

Ann

Leopard all the way

2011-11-19T21:31:00.001-05:00

*Banana Republic coat, DV shoes, Alexander Wang bag, Zara top, DKNY watch, and Helmut Lang pants

I've always wanted a nice faux fur leopard print coat for a long time now but haven't come across a well made one. I wanted my coat semi fitted with a soft feel and nicely printed. This one was it! It's definitely not your winter coat but it's something that can be worn throughout the year, season to season.

Styling a leopard coat can be tricky. I like to keep it casual and layback or posh and clean. You will surely be seeing more of this darling!

Ann's Thai Tea recipe

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Thai tea leaves are a mystery to me. I've searched all over the web to see what exact leaves are the Thai tea based of and I cannot find it anywhere! I did found the mysterious Thai tea bag. Even on the bag the ingredient read "Thai tea". It's like some secret we will never know. The smell of the anise spice and the mysterious leaf mixed together is so unique. It's faint, sweet, with a touch of warmness. The added red coloring is so vibrant and with the added milk it turns into a creamy orange. This drink is amazing with the added ingredient! In the summer I add lots of ice and winter I replace it from my uber sweet hot cocoa. Mmmmm....! If you're not into sweet drinks like myself, you will find this delicious.

This is the mysterious bag of tea sold in Asian stores. You can also try your ethnic food section at your local super market.

It doesn't come in individual package so I make my own tea bags for instant stewing. Add about

2 Tbl spoons.

Let it sit in your cup of freshly hot water for 5-10 minutes until you see the a dark red.

Depending on your personal preference. Add 2-4 Tspn sweetener. I like using organic Agave, the sweetness is not overpowering . Lastly, Add 1/4 cup amount of milk. I prefer almond milk. It has less or no saturated fats and it's soy free. I'm also not a big fan of super creamy drinks.

This is a great coffee replacement. Tea contains enough morning caffeine but with these ingredients it's less calories and a lot more healthy. Enjoy!

Christmas starts now - Miu Miu shades

2011-11-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

Actually Christmas is every day for me. However, this week's item is from NetAPorter.com. I've been eyeing these Miu Miu shades for a good month and finally came around to it. I just love LOVE how net a porter wraps everything in a sophisticated looking black box. The box alone is not your typical shoe box. It's a very sturdy long time use kind of box, and perfect to store the handbags. Receiving something so nicely pack really adds the full experience and drama to unwrapping an item!!!

I adore aviator sunglasses. It instantly toughen up any style, plus I think it suits my face the best. Aviators aren't so easy to shop for just like any sunglasses. I often look at how the frames bend around the eyes, the fit on the nose, width, and how it hits the cheek. It's best to try them in store, in my case this online store have a good return policy. This darling looks lovely on however I would like the frames a bit larger. I will post photos of me in them soon.

Ankor Wat - Cambodia

2011-11-03T00:20:00.003-04:00

I'm finally blogging my trip back in July in Cambodia- while visiting Ankor Wat. We've taken so many photos but somehow misplaced them onced home. These photos shown are all from my cheap camera. Hope you can still enjoy the beauty of this place. It is absolutely extraordinarily remarkable.

This is the main temple and largest one named Ankor Wat. Angkor Wat is the name that many associate with the massive sprawling temple complex that was once the center of the massive Cambodian city of Angkor. This temple complex, made of 72 major temples and many hundreds of other sites, was built between 900 and 1200AD. The city of Angkor is said to have spread over an area of 1000 square kilometers and is said to have had a population of over a million people. This is a massive and incredible complex. To give a better idea of the size of Angkor, it is said to be over seventeen times larger than Manhattan. This was easily the biggest city in human history before the industrial revolution. The history on Angkor is rich and very deep and I recommend googling it or reading about it in your local library.

Angkor Wat is the crown jewel of Angkor. Easily the largest and magnificent of the temples, it is definitely something to put on your list of things to do and see before you die. Angkor Wat is also the largest religious building in the world. It was built in early 1200AD for King Suryavarman II as the state temple and capital city. Originally a Hindu Temple dedicated to Vishnu, it transformed into a Buddhist temple in the 13th century as Khmer religious belief evolved. Architecturally, it is built with the traditional Khmer temple mountain design; a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the Gods. Personally, what really makes it magnificent is not just the size and grandeur, but the incredible retailed bas reliefs and engravings that pretty much cover any flat surface. Every surface is a beautiful work of art. Every wall is covered. On the outer galleries, the walls are beautifully engraved with scenes of the epic stories, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. On the eastern gallery are deep carvings of the Churning of the Sea of Milk(my favorite and the most spectacular). There are eight in total and they are all immense and spectacular. I can't even imagine how long it took to carve them, even with today's technology. When you looks past the immense galleries, you start seeing images of the beautiful deveta. Deveta are sacred Khmer goddesses. In total there are 1,796 unique deveta just in Angkor Wat. The reasons for the devotion to the female form is still being researched, but women must have played a major and important role in Khmer culture as there are hardly any carvings of men outside of the gallery bas reliefs. At a time when Europe was in it's Dark Ages and women's rights we an unknown concept in most of the world, the Khmer's had an open society with equal access and rights to not just men, but also women. Revolutionary stuff.

This is Bayon, a.k.a angkor wat's temple of a thousand faces.

Bayon is my favorite temple out of the hundreds of them. There are countless carvings of faces said to be either the king or Buddha partially smiling or somewhat laughing directly at you from every direction.

Walking from one room to another and starring at the smiling faces gave a sense of mystery and eeriness. The experience was surreal and incredible.

This temple is Ta Prom. This is the temple with giant tree roots swallowing over entry ways. It is very much the ancient ruins you see in movies but this is all real. There's a majestic vibe to Ta Prom. It's absolutely astonishing and almost magical walking and seeing huge stones piling on top of each other. Every path has rich history and a story to be told.

Ankor Wat is such a spiritual and adventurous trip I will never ever forget. I highly recommend you put this place on your checklist of places to visit and see. I'm just afraid that too many tourist will one day pollute history like Ankor Wat. Lets hope it stands around long enough.

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Autumn Leaves

2011-10-23T14:20:00.000-04:00

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*MM couture jacket, hm scarf & bag, Helmut Lang black jeans, Lucky boots & Stylemint Tee

I don't know why it seemed to be only my backyard where all the leaves are colored and falling off. Two blocks down from me, I still see green and light tones of fall brushing in. If you've never seen New England in the fall before, I suggest you do. It is beautiful and something I have been taking for granted. Living here my whole life, It's something I see every year. After traveling around the world I am so grateful to be living around so much lush greens. Driving on the highway this time of year is like passing by a endless colorful canvas of landscapes.

Pop of Orange

2011-10-22T01:48:00.002-04:00

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*zara boots, Helmut Lang jeans, Target top, Maya Brenner Necklace, H&M sweater, and Michael Kors watch

Yes I am posing in front of some grass, but this is some very cool looking grass I must say! I was captivated by the beautiful soft flowy motion it made in the wind. The sound of it wisping is also so soothing and yet very relaxing. hmmm....

Oh yes! my outfit. I absolutely love the bright orange of this cardigan! It is so vibrant and fun. I love layering over it with my faux fur vest or any lightweight jacket.

half & half

2011-10-20T20:33:00.000-04:00

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*Asos skirt, H&M sweater, Karen Walker sunnies and Mulberry bag

I've always have a thing for mixing dressy fabrics with something layback and casual. This outfit is exactly it. The sweater is super comfy and cozy while the skirt adds exaggerated femininity. The flow of this skirt is amazingly beautiful in the wind however I don't find it practical for long walks. I think the next time I take this beauty out- will be on warm summer days where the air is calm and relaxed. It is too difficult to walk in while it's blowing in eight different directions. Although I must admit it looks great in photos when it's flowing!