beYOUty queen ♔

Halloween Blood Nails

2011-10-27T20:51:00.000-04:00

A blog ... ?! Whaaat?!

Yes, I'm back with a quickie tutorial. So sorry for the long break! This semester is killing me!

Bloody fingers! I remember reading that short story back in elementary school... But this is an awesome nail tutorial that you can do for Halloween, and even mix and match colors for a messy neon effect.

You'll need:

1. White polish (or base color)

2. Red polish (or other! Red is obviously for a blood look).

3. Q-tip or Tape

4. Nail polish remover

5. Small tube straw

How to do it:

1. Paint your nails the base color.

2. Tape around your nails if you'd like. Otherwise, you'll clean up around your nails with the Q tip and remover.

3. After the base is completely dry, take your straw and dip it into the polish. Be sure the tip has a film of the polish over the opening.

3. Position the straw over your nail. The closer you are to your nail, the larger the drops of splatter. The farther, smaller drops. You'll have to play with distances to get your liking.

4. BLOW! Be careful to not get polish all over your table or walls though!

5. Wait for them to dry. Since you may have thicker spots, it may take a long time to dry.

6. Clean up around your nails and apply a clear coat if desired.

Try this with neon colors splatter! Maybe even neon bases and white/black splatters or glitter splatters!

Good luck, and Happy Halloween! :)

Long Locks Without Pills!

2011-09-19T11:37:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! So, I've been trying to grow my hair out for the past year and a half now. I got it cut above my shoulders my freshman year of college and have tried and tried to get it back to being super long.

I found the secret to getting my hair down to my mid-back without the use of biotin, prenatal vitamins, horse shampoo, or any other treatments that are supposed to make your hair rapidly grow. It may not work for everyone, but I have noticed a HUGE difference in the length of my hair since I started doing this routine. I hope it helps!

Step 1: Get the right shampoo and conditioner. Stop using shampoos with lots of scents and harsh chemicals. You've probably noticed that most lines now have Sulfate-Free shampoo and conditioner sets. Sulfate is a chemical found in most shampoos that enhance the scents in your shampoo. Herbal Essences, Garnier Fructis and Aussie are a couple of the top lines that are mainly purchased because of the way they make your hair smell. However, these brands are filled with sulfate and damage your hair in the long run. Sulfate-Free shampoos don't strip your hair of natural oils like those with sulfate do, and really make your hair feel lighter and healthier. If you want your hair to continue smelling good, use a smoothing serum after styling with a desired scent, or spritz some perfume into your locks.

Step 2: Stop washing every day! Even with sulfate-free shampoo, when you wash your hair every day, you strip your hair of natural oils that help stimulate the scalp which helps your hair grow. And when you wash every day and strip the oils, your scalp will continually produce more, causing your hair to look greasy on the days you do skip. Instead of washing every day, wash every 2-3 days. If your hair starts looking greasy, use a dry shampoo or baby powder to soak the oil up. Once you start training your hair, it will look less greasy on days you skip. What I do is wash/condition my hair, skip a day (use a cap in the shower or just put it in a high bun), then just use conditioner on the third day. Then, repeat the cycle.

Step 3: Protect your hair. The products you use before styling are crucial. It's preference if you want to use a root boosting spray, mousse, gel, etc., but I always stress to others to always use a leave-in conditioner and heat protecting spray or serum before any heat is applied. Before blow drying while my hair is still wet/damp, I use Aussie's leave-in-conditioner (it also helps my hair smell good) and focus mainly on my ends. For heat protectant, I use Tresemme's Heat Tamer Spray (best one I've found so far) and use on each section before blow drying and then I do it again before straightening or curling. As everyone knows, heat causes breakage and split ends, which can leave your hair looking nasty. Using a heat protectant will significantly help prevent that.

Step 4: Adjust heat settings. If you have fine hair, you shouldn't have your curling iron or straightener on the highest setting or else it will bring serious damage. Here is the rule of thumb for your hair type:

Fine hair: 250-300 degrees
Medium thickness, wavy/curly hair: 300-350 degrees
Thick, curly hair: 350-400 degrees
Very curly, coarse hair: 400-450 degrees

Step 5: Get a trim. For anyone trying to grow their hair out, they hate to face this fact. Go to a stylist you trust to get a trim, as in, go to one that will cut off 1/2 inch of dead ends and not 2 inches of what you're working so hard on! You can even do it yourself. Just check out YouTube for some DIYs. Why do you need a trim though? Not only does trimming your hair keep your ends looking chic, but it also gets rid of split ends and breakage. When split ends and broken ends aren't trimmed, they get all the way to your roots and stop your hair from growing. Try to shoot for a trim every 6-8 weeks or so.

By doing the above, my hair has significantly grown and looks/feels (is) much healthier! In just 4 months, my hair has grown about 3 inches. Before I started taking care of my hair and scalp, it took maybe 7 or 8 months for it to grow that much. I hope these tips help you, no matter what hair type you have.

Good luck beyouties!

Fashion's Night Out Grand Rapids

2011-09-14T20:02:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! Sorry that I've been neglecting my blog (like I've been saying for the past few posts..), it's just that I have been swamped with school and my internship as well as our new fashion organization on campus. We're taking off and starting off on the right foot by getting involved with other groups on campus and in the area.

We actually just got the opportunity to volunteer with Fashion's Night Out Grand Rapids with A.K. Rikk's. We got in contact with Jim Murray, General Manager of A.K. Rikk's, where he wanted us to help pass out fliers for trolleys and help promote FNOGR. I helped run the official FNOGR Facebook page that night by posting photos and answering questions that anybody may have had throughout the night.

Here are some photos through the night:

Part of the ice sculpture at A.K. Rikk's. The ice sculpture was actually a bar and shot luge,
decked out with a crescent moon drinking a beer.

Cupcakes and champagne were served at Gina's, where there
was also an aerialist show.

Two of our e-Board members, Avery & Stephanie. Aren't they so cute?!

Jim Murray, GM of A.K. Rikk's and the one who started FNOGR in 2010.
He buzzed FNO into his head - awesome, yeah?

Me, getting my hair done at Lee & Birch (for free!!) by the salon stylists from
Jefferey Richard's. Erin did a great job, but it fell out shortly after :(

This necklace was a designer's hand made piece, made of silver, copper, gold, and
leaves from Santa Fe. It was so amazing, but it was $500...

Other than going to stores, I also stopped at the Brewery Vivant where I instantly fell in love. Kelly Muschiana is a local artist that is inspired by 40s fashion and bridal wear. Her illustrations and paintings are extremely neat and clean. Check out her display:

Kelly is standing by one of her pieces that she auctioned off.
Also, the dress she's wearing was thrifted! She said it came with ruffly sleeves,
but they had holes in them. Instead of passing it by, she decided to turn it strapless
and add the ribbon belt and jewel. I love her creativity and style.

Three of Kelly's drawings.

Another three of her paintings. I am buying a print of the yellow one on the left. All of them are
amazing, but yellow is my favorite color and it would look amazing in my all white room!

Kelly also hung all of her paintings from the ceiling with grey satin ribbons. It put such a delicate and unique accessory to the frame. You better believe I will be putting this into play when I get my print!

Fashion's Night Out was a great experience for myself and for all of the SFA members that attended. It was our very first outing and event as an official RSO, and it was a huge success. A huge thank you to Jim Murray and everyone at A.K. Rikk's; without you, we wouldn't have had the great experience that you offered to us.

There will probably many more SFA things posted on BeYOUtyQueen - the organization really is turning into my child. I care so much about it and I want to see it go above and beyond everyone's expectations. For all my fashion blogger buddies, let me know if you would like to get involved with us! Anybody involved in fashion whatsoever would be great to get ahold of!

Until next time, which will hopefully be very soon, beyouties! :) xo

photos taken by Nicole Finch and Ryan Witten, SFA members!

Tortoise & Blonde Glasses

2011-09-02T14:24:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

Sorry that I have been so absent lately. I've had a lot going on since I've been back from New York, including going back to school and getting all four of my wisdom teeth taken out yesterday. :(

Anyways, as some of you may know, I am the Intern Queen Campus Ambassador for Ferris State. One of my favorite perks of holding the position (other than it looking great on a resume) is some freebies I get.

For years now, I've been wanting a pair of glasses. I have perfect vision, but I've always loved the way glasses looked on me. I never wanted to spend the money on frames or anything like that though, so I never got them. I have been procrastinating buying a pair of glasses on Warby Parker for $100, but then Intern Queen paired up with Tortoise & Blonde, another sunglasses/eyeglasses retailer, and hooked the IQCAs up with a free pair.

After unwrapping, I seen the hard case with logo. Love.

After opening the case, I seen the slogan: One today, another tomorrow.
I was also welcomed with two guitar picks with the slogan and their logo,
a cleaning cloth, and of course, my Jermyn Fade to Grey glasses!

The glasses! I am so in love. I wear these all the time now and I get so many compliments on it. Even T&B retweeted my photo and complimented me on their Facebook page.

A big thanks to Intern Queen and Tortoise & Blonde for my favorite new accessory. I love these so much!

Bye-Bye Brooklyn

2011-08-16T22:57:00.000-04:00

Welp. So long, New York! :( I officially said goodbye on Saturday and am back in beautiful, clean, green Michigan. I of course will always have a special piece of myself devoted and in love with the big city, but it sure feels good to be back home.

Two nights before we left (and after our little shopping spree), I went to dinner with my roomies and my roommate's mom & her boyfriend. I was a little overdressed, but I was determined to wear my new goodies out! Even though Forever 21 didn't take off my security tag on my purse and I looked like a felon carrying it around...

dress: Forever 21
bag: Forever 21

Favorite Fall Essentials

2011-08-08T13:23:00.001-04:00

Back to school season is just around the corner which means a new wardrobe will have to commence. These are my picks to get a renewed and revamped closet this autumn.

Jackets/Outerwear

1. Gallery Three Quarter Length Trench Coat, Nordstrom, $78.90
2. Michael Kors Black Leather Vest, K&G, $59.99
3. ASOS Power Shoulder Tailor Boyfriend Blazer, ASOS, $112.05

Cardigans/Sweaters

1. Letterman Sweater, Forever 21, $19.80

2. BKE Loop Closure Cardigan, Buckle, $68

3. Elbow-Patch Sweatshirt, Delias, $38.50

Bottoms

1. Collin Signature Skinny, Hudson Jeans, $165

2. Lexi Skinny Jeans, French Connection, $43.99

3. Faux Leather Leggings, YesStyle, $21

Finishing Touches

1. Sheer Lurex Infinity Scarf, Express, $29.90

2. Pretzel-a-Porter Ear Cuff, ModCloth, $14.99

3. Lace Up Combat Boots, Love Culture, $29.90

What are you guys dying to get your hands on this fall? I want to know!

Goodbye teen!

2011-08-07T16:40:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the major lack in posts - I've been crazy busy with work and all that nonsense. But this weekend has been amazing. On Thursday the 4th, I finally turned 20 years old :). It's so exciting for me to not be a teenager anymore especially because everybody out here mistakes me for being between the ages of 16 and 18... #annoying. Anyways, I had an amazing birthday! I was lucky enough to have Adam and his sister Angela come to visit the city for the weekend and get to do all the touristy things with me. We shopped like crazy, ate at some great restaurants, and went to the Museum of Natural History, the NY Aquarium and Coney Island. I even introduced them to Nathan's Hot Dogs, New York Chinese food, the subway, and the art of the black market.

I had such an amazing weekend. My birthday was great, and I got to wear my amazing dress I got from Zara.

mind the messy room. O:)

dress: Zara
shoes: Forever 21
chunky ring: taken from Alex ;)

gold ring: Christmas gift from Adam

For my birthday, my awesome cousin Ashley (who is an avid reader of my blog, I guess!) got me a pair of TOMS Shoes! I was so happy when I read the label on the package since literally everyone and their dog has a pair of TOMS in New York. Angela got me a black and white striped skirt that I've been wanting for quite a while, and my mom sent me a package with crackers, snack foods, and some stuff she got from Kohl's. Adam decided to buy me some stuff while we were here, but I decided to get one thing that I had been wanting the entire summer: a New York Yankees fitted baseball cap. I've been wearing it constantly since I got it.

X-ray on PhotoBooth is so creepy. lol

We went to the Roxy store and I seen this hat!
I had to try it on and get a picture. Too bad it was $129! :(

Until next time! xo

July Wannahaves / Birthday Wishlist

2011-07-25T16:31:00.000-04:00

I know these wannahaves are a little early, but my birthday is coming up soon and I wanted to have a list before the big day! I'll be 20 years old (finally, ditching the "teen"stage!) on August 4 and I'll have the best birthday yet. I'll be in New York and spending some of my time at work (possibly) then meeting Adam & his sister Angela at the airport to spend a weekend with them. :) Anyways, here are my wannahaves/birthday wishlist! Enjoy!

Magic Leopard Platform from NastyGal
I die. I. Die. I have to have!

Lace Cape Top from NastyGal

Double Fabric Dress by Zara
The style of this dress is fabulous and unlike any other dresses I have.

I think it would make a good birthday dress. ;)

Warby Parker Colton Eyeglass Frames
Still don't know if I want the Colton, Zagg, Finn or Webb frames...

Stylestalker Open Back Pleated Shirt by ASOS
Needless to say, I fell in love... Too bad it's a little too expensive. :( ($163)

Striped Bodycon Skirt by Forever21

I've been wanting this for such a long time! Definitely snagging.

A white bedroom

Moving into my new house this year up at school, I decided I want an all white bedroom. It speaks elegance, comfort, and cleanliness. I'm thinking of doing a post of my dream bedroom soon... :)

ASOS Faux Fur Leopard Hooded Coat with Ears
I'm dying for one of these!

Flower Child

2011-07-23T18:52:00.000-04:00

It's flipping hot in New York City. Yesterday was a high of 105 and today was a high of 100. Hence, no clothes, no heavy bags, and no cares with your hair.

top: Love Culture
shorts: Love Culture

earrings: Claire's

black jade necklace: bought in China. one of my favorite pieces.
ring: gift from Tieka :)

bag: handed down from Alex's boss

Sorry the pictures are so... yucky. lol. :(. We were in a hurry to get inside because we were sweating and dying from the heat and overstuffing ourselves at McDonalds. If you ever think you can down a 20 pc, a medium fry, and a chocolate shake, keep dreaming... We also went Salvating today at the Salvation Army and I got some great finds that I'll be sure to blog this week! It isn't much, but I love steals and deals. :)

Until next time, beyouties! xo

Parsons + NYECD Fashion Campus NYC

2011-07-16T18:41:00.000-04:00

top: Express
skirt: Forever 21
shoes: Payless
sunglasses: Walmart
earrings: American Eagle
necklace: Juicy Couture

It's been a great weekend in the city. This weekend was the Fashion Campus NYC hosted by Parsons and it gave interns from all around the city to have the opportunity to network and build some great connections with each other. We also got to listen to speakers from the business side of the fashion industry about their insights into their world.

Today, we started the day with career sessions. I attended a PR/Marketing session (of course!) and absorbed some great tips from Tom Handley (@PRProfessor) about interviewing, resumes and cover letters, and working in the industry as well.

Afterwards, it was time for a networking brunch where I met so many great interns from Oscar de la Renta, Nylon Magazine, Barney's, FashionGPS, Teen Vogue, and many other aspiring PR girls and designers. I also got the privilege to speak to the Director of Career Services of Parsons, Director of Communications at Parsons, and the College Recruiter for Under Armour, which it is very likely I will be applying for their summer internship for next year in Baltimore.

Afterwards, we got to listen to Derek Lam speak about his career and answer some Q&A about challenges he has overcome and advice he had for all of us striving to make it in the fashion industry. He said a quote that stood out to me and will stick with me throughout my career: "Be willing and ready to respond to what is happening around you." It says so much about life as a PR girl and it's important for anybody in business to be aware of and keep in mind.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend! xo beyouties!

Diamond in the Rough

2011-07-11T14:23:00.002-04:00

I've had a rough past couple of hours. I'm extremely tense and stressed out, but if there is anything that calms me down and makes me feel better, it's primping up and doing my makeup. I think it's because in order for me to do my face, I have to have a steady hand and be relaxed, or else my face will look like crap.

As I was figuring out what to wear, I came across my black slip thrift find. It's so simple but makes me feel so dressed up and pretty. At a time like this, when I feel so upset and stressed, a little treasure like this one really helps me feel a little better.

Can you see how stressed I am in my face? Ha ha.

Tank: Hollister

Skirt: Thrifted

Belt: Forever 21 (came with a skirt)

Gettin' Coney

2011-07-09T16:20:00.001-04:00

Alex and I decided to take a beach day to get some color and girl talk in. We wanted to go out to Fire Island or Fort Tilden, but Coney Island is about a 20 minute subway ride away and much more convenient (and free), so on we went. :)

Yucky, yucky, yucky! I'm so white! My color completed faded.

Romper: Love Culture

Belt: Forever 21

Flip-flops: Old Navy

Sunglasses: Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers at the Church Ave. subway station ;)

Bag: c/o Model Lounge

My Weekend in Michigan ♥

2011-07-05T21:13:00.001-04:00

For the past 5 days, I have been in Michigan spending time with the people that mean the most to me. After 7 weeks of not seeing Adam, my parents, and the rest of my family, I decided to spend the money to head on out there. :)

To see my mini-diary of the weekend, jump!

Thursday I got on my flight at 7 and was back home by 9:15. I had a rough morning with not getting my carry on zipped, not having my car show up, getting stuck in traffic, and being starving but too cheap to pay $10 for a juice and a granola bar at La Guardia. After my wonderful mother dearest came to pick me up, she made me some french toast. Unfortunately, it was the only home-cooked meal I had the entire time I was home. #sob. I had a hair appointment with my lovely Aunt Joy at 2:00 that day, so after spending a couple of hours in my amazing bed, I went off to get highlights and an eyebrow wax. When I got home, I anxiously waited for my prince charming to show up. After he did, I was surprised with a dozen pink roses and welcomed with the biggest hug ever. I missed him (and now that I'm back in NYC, I still do miss him) so much! Later that night, we went to Applebee's for half apps with my best friends from high school. It sure was a great way to spend my first day back.

Friday, I spent time bonding with my bed and relaxing. Once Adam got home from work, I went to his place to spend some time with his family. We ordered Chinese food, chatted about New York City, and then I went home. It was a laid back day.

Saturday, I woke up early to have breakfast with Adam's family and look for phone cases and for things for his sister's graduation party. When that was said and done, I went home and celebrated the holiday with my family. It was about 102 degrees, 98% humidity. That means I spent my day inside ;). Which was good, considering the day went from a literal hell on Earth to an outrageous thunderstorm with golfball sized hail. After Adam went home in that crazy weather, I spent time with my cute little cousin, Shelby, making keychains. It turned into me babysitting her, her 3 year old brother, my 2 year old baby nephew, and two other little boys that 1) I had no idea who they were and 2) were probably the most disrespectful kids I have ever been around. One of them asked if he could put me on mute, but I ripped him a new one after he said that. :) Don't get me wrong: I love kids just as much as the next girl, but I can't stand getting turned into a babysitter when somebody doesn't ask me or when their kids think they can try to run me in my house. </rant> lol.

Buzz Lightyear sunglasses. Cutest nerd ever!

Sunday I spent the majority of the day with my baby nephew, Nathaniel. We woke up in the morning, had a big breakfast, played, and went swimming. :) I cannot believe how smart he is - not even 2 yet and he can have conversations with you, knows some shapes, can count to ten, and so much more. He's so cute, I can hardly even take it! After we had a fun filled afternoon of swimming, coloring, talking about Buzz and Woody, and running around everywhere, we crashed on the family room floor for 2 hours. After our nap, Adam and I went on a double date to see Bad Teacher with my best friend and her new (and MUCH improved) beau. We all had such a blast and that movie was hilarious!

Cranky as soon as we pull the camera out. Two year olds...

Love!

Monday My parents and I were supposed to go out on a friends boat, but the plans fell through. Instead, we decided to go grocery shopping and out to lunch. When that was finished, we all came home where my parents left for my uncle's barbeque while Adam and I watched the Adjustment Bureau. It was awesome because I seen the Coffee Shop (Model Lounge is located downstairs in the Coffee Shop) in the film where she gets dropped off at from the M6 bus. Not to mention, that movie was up there with Inception. Unfortunately for me, when the movie ended, Adam had to go home. I was telling myself to not cry, but something inside of me just couldn't do it and I cried like I was never going to see him again for about 30 minutes or so. What can I say? I'm hopelessly in love. After containing my tears, my parents came home and my mom finally sat down and watched the Sex and the City movie (where I almost cried again). I'm dying to see #2 when I go home for good!

AJ :)

So now, after a 7:30am flight to Cincinnati, another flight from there to New York City, a painful $61 cab to work, no Chicken McBites at the McDonalds on this side of the country, a pretty much full day of work, a long subway ride home with heavy bags and no seat (and no people willing to give up theirs to a girl with an obnoxiously oversized bag on her shoulder who is about to have a heat stroke on the F train), 92 degree sun with no sunglasses, and walking into an apartment with dirty dishes in the sink and a serious need for a mopped floor and to get flooded with Febreeze... I'm back in Brooklyn for another 5 and a half weeks. But what can I say? I love New York, and chances are, I will never be living here again. Next summer, the city that never sleeps won't be in my plans or my price range.

...But Boston on the other hand, that's a whole 'nother ballgame that I've yet to discuss. ;)

Until next time beyouts!

June Wannahaves

2011-07-05T16:12:00.000-04:00

Another month has flown by and there are many things my little hands want to get a hold of, but are too poor to grab. :( Here are my June Wannahaves!

TOMS Shoes. Everybody in NYC has them and I hear they're super comfy.

A keyboard cover for my greasy fingers whilst I'm eating and typing. In yellow. :)

I tried this Make Up For Ever blush at Sephora and I FELL IN LOVE. It's magnificent.

Too Faced Concealer. I need concealer period, but I trust Too Faced a lot for some reason.

Alex told me Water for Elephants the movie was amazing, so I bet the book is even more amazing!

Review: Redken Ringlet 07

2011-06-25T19:25:00.001-04:00

Ever since I got here in New York, I've admired my wonderful roommate Alex's naturally wavy/curly hair. Unfortunately for my hair, my natural waves are flat, frizzy, and they aren't really sure what they want to do. I've tried using a combo of mousse, gel, root boot, and hairspray with a diffuser to just get crunchy hair. And there isn't really much I hate more than when my hair is crunchy.

But, since she was a hair model for Redken and was handed a bunch of free products, I discovered her Ringlet 07. I used it, and I knew I had to share with you all!

Like I said, my hair never really knows what it wants to do. But this is what I did to achieve my pretty curls:

After diffusing and a little hairspray, it's complete!

Wash my hair, then towel dry it as much as possible.
Create my part and try not to comb any of my hair.
Scrunch some mousse into my hair, followed by leave-in conditioner, Redken Ringlet 07, and heat protectant.
Diffuse my hair on low and with warm heat, not hot. (I just prefer not to over heat my hair, you don't really need to.)
Don't move your hair dryer up and down in a scrunching motion; this will cause frizziness. Just hold it in place and get it to the roots.
After it's mostly dry, keep diffusing with cool air to set the style.
Hairspray in place. I like to flip my hair upside down and hairspray for maximum volume. :)

No, I don't have ombre hair, but it looks
that way for some odd reason. But, you can
see that my curls look fabulous.

So, how do I know the Ringlet 07 is what made my hair so nice rather than just diffusing it?

Pros: Compared to using gel to style my curls, my hair looks like I got in the shower and let it air dry, and my hair is naturally that nice. Gel weighs my hair down, where as the Ringlet 07 is lightweight and a completely different texture than gel. It's more of a lotion.

Cons: It can be a little sticky, but it doesn't bother me that much. :)

Overall, this is a great product and I'd recommend it to anybody trying to make their natural curls come to life. :)

Naming Your Baby (aka: your new fashion blog)

2011-06-24T21:19:00.000-04:00

Since starting my internship, I've came across over 150 successful fashion blogs. It's not always the content of a blog that gets people pondering, but what their name is going to be. So how do you come up with a great name for your blog? I have come up with a couple of formulas to help you get inspired with a name!

1. Verb ending in -ing + fun noun

Reflecting Wax Candles

Spinning Castle

Jumping Wooden Ships

Caging Tulips

2. Object and object

Blonde Hair and Lipstick

Ruffles and Cupcakes

Blue and Broadway (not objects, but you get it!)

Butterscotch and Acrylics

3. Combine another language & English

Le Blog de My Closet

El Style de Amanda

Stella y el fashion

Get inspired! I'm not trying to make fun of anybody: I love unique names, and a great name leads to a great blog. Good luck beyouties! xo

American Eagle Haul

2011-06-24T15:14:00.000-04:00

American Eagle Outfitters just launched their Semi-Annual sale, and since here in New York, I work about a block down from a huge AE, I decided to check it out. I snagged some goodies, so go take a peek. :)

Well, we all know I have a crappy normal digital camera instead of an amazing Nikon or Canon that most fashion bloggers should have... But, I don't have the money for the kind of investment just yet. Thinking about saving money or possibly asking my boyfriend to skip Christmas and save money for my 21st birthday (next year). But, nevertheless, I did my best with what I have and the pictures didn't turn out all too bad. :)

Outfit 1:

I seen this tank top right ($10, orig. $17.50) when I walked in and loved the summer feel I got from it. Not only is it purple and orange, really great summer colors, but the orange tie-dyes remind me of eating fruit on a hot summer day.

The skirt on the other hand is something that I found just when I was about to check out. I literally have no flowy skirts - just tight, going out/business skirts. I've been dying for a maxi skirt or something that could be a summer staple piece so I could start wearing belts and playing up my wardrobe. The skirt was $30 (orig. $40) but it was such a great investment for me. Plus, you can twirl in it. :)

Outfit 2:

I seen these shorts ($19.99, orig. $36.50) and they were amazing! I have been looking for camo shorts for me for such a long time, but I could never find them in stores anywhere. I got a 4, but needed a size 2 because it's way too big (which is weird because I'm always a 4 in AE). But, no 2s were left, so I had to deal with it. But the belt is cute :) (Thanks, Alex!)

The tank top is one I found next to the other ($10, orig. $17.50), and I love the color blocking combo and the looser fit. I have so many tight tank tops; loose ones keep you cooler and they look cute with just a bra, a sports bra/bandeau, or even a bathing suit top. I chose to tie mine to the side to help show off the belt.

And this is just me being a dork, but I got Adam that watch. He's been wanting a watch for a while now. I can't afford to get him a Fossil watch or a Rolex or anything nice, but this one can be played up as casual or professional depending on what you wear it with. Plus, it's easier to read since it's digital. ;) It even has a timer, seconds clock, and tells you what day it is. It wasn't on sale, but it was only $20 - not a bad buy to bring home to your boo! ;*

Be on the lookout for more hauls and outfits - I will soon be applying to be a Teen Vogue Fashion Blogger and will need all the outfits I can create and all the support I can get!

Necessary & Victoria's Secret Pink Haul

2011-06-18T00:03:00.001-04:00

Alex and I decided to go shopping today after an interview. I've been really careful with my money when it comes to shopping since I've been in New York, but I got some amazing deals. Here's what I got today...

Necessary Clothing is a line of boutiques around New York City - it's Forever 21-esque along with club clothes and accessories. What I got today from necessary:

Leather jacket, $20. It's embellished with TONS of zippers and looks so biker-like! I didn't have a leather jacket, and having one is a key piece to any fashionista's collection.
White cropped top, $7. Yes, it's see through, but this would be awesome with a bandeau top! The lace in the back adds such a cute touch too.
Lace up buckle booties, $10!!!! These bad boys were originally $45 and the only size left was a 5 1/2. I think it was destiny.

At VS Pink, I needed some new undies. I do laundry once every other week, and I get close to running out of undies. So, I got the 5 for $25 special that they always have. As I was about to check out, I seen the Pink body spray for 75% off! I decided to get the Aloha Pink Wild & Breezy lotion and body mist - all for $6.75. I love sales!

Hope you all enjoyed! :) xo

Blue on the Roof

2011-06-17T14:04:00.001-04:00

Hey guys! So, last night, my wonderful roomies and I went out to a rooftop party for a friend's going away party and I wanted to share my outfit with you all. The dress pictured below is black because the site doesn't feature the blue one. :( Sorry! But enjoy and be inspired!

1. Gold Button Tube Dress, Love Culture, $26.90

I love this dress because it's so cute if you're all dressed up, or even if you wanted to dress it down with a cardigan and pair of flats. Plus, it's really stretchy, so it's easy to zip/unzip and pull down if you need to.

2. Button Down Basic Cardigan, Papaya, $12.99

I live in this cardigan! It's perfect in every way.

3. Crisscross Slingback Heels, Forever 21, $26.80

Yeah, so I didn't wear these. But I was about to! They went perfect with this outfit and accentuated my legs so nicely.

BeYOUty Queen tip: When buying nude heels, find a shade of nude that matches your skin tone. Not all nude heels are the same shade of "nude," and the point of nude heels is to make your legs look extra long. Don't buy until you find YOUR shade! :)

May Wannahaves

2011-06-11T23:58:00.000-04:00

So I'm thinking for a new segment of the blog is finding some things that I would really like to buy if I wasn't a poor intern living in New York. Here are my May Wannahaves (it's a little late!):

MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush

Too Faced's Original Bronzed & Beautiful Bronzing Palette

Mint Nail Polish

Black Blazer

Big Diamond/CZ Tragus Earrings

Lip Stains

Super Shiny Lipgloss

Any beyouties have any tips or recommendations to their favorite products I've been dying to get my hands on this month? I need to know what's good and what's not. :)

Review: If You Have To Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone

2011-06-10T22:15:00.000-04:00

I couldn't tell you the last time I actually read a book. But, with Kelly Cutrone and the People's Revolution on The City and The Hills being the reason I got into PR, I just had to get If You Have To Cry, Go Outside And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You and read it. The book was said to be a must read for any PR girl, especially those aspiring to make it in New York City. What would be a better time to read it other than when I first moved here?

I won't spoil the entire book for you, but this might give away some stuff!

Since I am definitely not an avid book reader, I'm not the best at book reviews.

Anyways, my thoughts on the book: It was alright.

Kelly's purpose for writing this book was to empower women everywhere to break the norms of what we're taught from the beginning of life. Since the day us girls were born, we're taught to fall in love, get married, then have babies, and if we do that out of order, it's socially unnormal. Kelly spends her time in the book explaining to women to know they have choices as well as gives them advice on how to be successful without a man in their life as well as in their career.

However, I was expecting to open the book, read the entire thing from cover to cover, and as soon as I was done, have a whole new change in my career mind set as a future PR professional. Don't get me wrong, Kelly is most certainly a role model for any woman whether they're just trying to stay afloat or they're trying to make it to the top. But to me, the book is more of her life story rather than strictly career and empowerment advice. Ever since I seen Kelly on TV and getting inspired by her interns to go into Public Relations, I dreamed of one day interning for People's Revolution and becoming a publicist myself someday.

In the book, Kelly talks about how she moved fro her hometown to New York on her own, how she first became a publicist, and her crazy stories of her husbands, sex life, and guidance from The Mother. She spends her chapters discussing a portion of her life then in the last few paragraphs, explaining how that portion applies to the chapter title's message of career advice or empowerment.

For me, I was looking forward to a read of PR girl advice, and I only found that in the last 2 chapters (out of 9) in the book. If you're looking for more of a biography with very subtle encouragement and career oriented advice, this book would be great for you. I recommend parts of the book to others, but I'm unsure of the whole thing.

Overall, I'd give the book a 7.5 out of 10. I do like Kelly's attitude - you can tell she wrote it. She is very raw and real, which is appreciated by me. I would hate for her to write a book in any other tone and matter! Kelly Cutrone really is an inspiration for women to feel stronger and independent. My expectations for the book were just a little different than what it was.

Prom... do you have it all?

2011-06-06T15:24:00.004-04:00

I know that June has approached us, but for my high school, the big day is almost near. Do you have everything you need? Here's a list so you can double check:

1. Corsage and boutonniere: If not - get on that, stat! What's prom without a picture of your date putting the corsage on your wrist? Or, for me, a photo of me arguing with my date about putting his bout on.

Arguing. BAHA! We're great.

2. What about a small bag? This was my biggest mistake at prom. I had a camera, a cell phone, my student ID, blah blah blah, without a bag. I had a bag with me at the first prom I went to, but at my actual high school's prom - I didn't bring one (idiot). Skip your giant shoulder bag or cross body satchel and go get a small clutch or wristlet. What to put in it:

An extra tampon/pad - just in case! Your girlfriend may wind up starting RIGHT THERE in the bathroom, and you'll be her life saver.
An oil blotting sheet, if you have oily skin. This will save you when you start feeling greasy, and you don't want to look greasy in photos!
Extra gloss/lipstick if you need it.
A couple of bucks. Especially if you are getting a limo. Tip him/her at the end of the night, especially if they are awesome and take you to a 7-11 after the dance at midnight like mine did. This'll come in handy for after-dance snacks - like a slurpee!
And of course, phone, camera, student ID, etc.

3. Jewelry. This is obvious, but I kind of forgot about this until the day of. Oh, and make sure you have it in. I lost one of my earrings before prom even started. I had to go earring-less all night, and it sucked. Those earrings really added to the look I was going for, and then that look kind of disappeared.

Sticking earrings in. Didn't lose these ones, just the cool ones from the other
prom. They were gold leaves, going toward a Greek Goddess look.

4. Makeup. A lot of girls buy special makeup just for this day. But, have you tried it out? Try practicing the look you're going for at least once before you actually have to do it. If you have sensitive skin, this is a must. Not all makeup is the same! It would be a shame if your mascara or glittery eyeliner gave you an allergic reaction or something, forcing you to skip out on makeup, or have to suffer with it on all night. Don't let that be you. Oh, and don't forget - look like yourself! Don't try to be a clown just because it's prom. There is nothing worse than seeing the girl who never wears bright blue eyeshadow and thick eyeliner doing just that on the day of her prom.

A couple more tips for you guys:

Don't turn prom into a make-out session with your boyfriend or crush. It's unattractive for everybody around you, and you really need to soak the prom experience in. After you graduate, chances are, you won't be going to another one. On that note, please don't be the 20-year-old in the future who goes to prom...
If you are going to get tipsy before, don't. Chances are, a lot of high school kids have tried before and succeeded. Now, people (aka your teachers and principal) are smarter than that. A lot of schools make you take a breathalyzer before prom and all-night parties. You would spend all that money on the dress, shoes, limo fee, flowers, and time just to not go. Better be safe and just not do it. I went sober (both times) and I had a blast.
If you are going to get tipsy afterwards, be smart. Don't drink and drive. Cabs and limos are for that reason - so you DON'T drink and drive. For a cab, call 411 on your phone, ask them for a taxi, they'll hook you up.

Also... come on. Don't publicly post on Facebook: "Prom After Party at 101 Jefferson St at Christy McDonald's house! Bring money and my brother is gonna go buy for us. We're gonna have beer pong and we're gonna get WASTED!!!!" Yes, I seen one.. a PUBLIC event that ANYBODY can see and RSVP to. Cops have Facebook accounts too, along with people that don't like you. And we all know catty high school kids are out to get one another. Yes, they will call the cops impersonating a "neighbor" and say "I think there is underage drinking going on at 101 Jefferson... It's loud and annoying." Then, you're screwed. And it all could have been prevented if you didn't want to be an idiot on the internet. </rant>

Most importantly: have fun. :) Don't be tied down with one group of people all night. Dance with everybody you can. Take A MILLION pictures. This is the last chance you'll have to really hang out with everybody from your class again. Some of the people I remember taking pictures with at prom and hanging out with at prom - I haven't seen since prom - 2 years ago. Soak it in, and don't take this all for granted. Once you're taking 300-level classes in college and you have all this hard work to do, you'll be begging to go back to your senior year.

Have fun at your prom, everybody. :) I hope these tips helped you out, even just a little bit! Here are some pics from my prom:

All the girls in the limo with me, and my best friends!

Me and my date, Casey, on the red carpet

Life in the Big Apple!

2011-06-01T16:19:00.000-04:00

Hey ladies and gents! Just a teensy update of what's been happening lately. I've been keeping busy on my Look, I Model! blog for my internship, and I've been exploring the city a ton.

Alex and I have been on so many adventures since we've gotten here, including going to 5 tapings of the Newlywed Game, the 16 and Pregnant: Adoption Special, going to the set of Men in Black 3, and visiting Coney Island Beach! We even went to church at the Brooklyn Tabernacle and had a great time. :) This weekend, we'll also be working the Kimberly Ovitz Sample Sale.

I wish I had a lot of pictures to show, but I don't. From now on though, best believe I'll be taking MANY of them. I need to document this!

Anyways, I hope to be doing a couple of tutorials or something soon. I hate neglecting my beauty blog! In the mean time, I have been doing a lot of outfit compilation and makeup how-tos for the Look, I Model! blog. Please go check it out and follow! I'm working hard on it. :)

Till next time beyouties,
Sam

Nail It: Half & Half

2011-05-21T10:31:00.001-04:00

It's very very simple to get a nail look like this, even without the swirls.

All you have to do is paint half of your nail one color with as straight of a line as possible, then once it's dry, paint the other side. If you have a sloppy line, take a Sharpie or a nail pen and draw a line on top of the middle of the colors to make it look polished.

Good luck! I hope this gives you a fun, new nail idea. :)

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Met in NYC

2011-05-21T00:46:00.000-04:00

Above is a small compilation of some of McQueens runways, including the models who look like they're flying, one of my favorites.

First of all, I want to start this post off with saying that I am not a keen follower of high end fashion designers. Do I love runway shows and high end fashion? Of course! But this growing love of mine for fashion just blossomed recently. Therefore, I never really did find the time or intrigue to discover Alexander McQueen.

McQueen is one of the most well known fashion designers on the planet, and his work is suited for on and off the runway. It's hard to describe his collections because what I saw tonight literally left me just... speechless.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in NYC has been holding an exhibit dedicated to McQueen and his works of art, so when Ellie from citybrewed invited me and Alex to meet her there tonight for a little "McQueen For A Night" after party, we knew this was something we know we'd enjoy. Even though we never got to see Ellie :(

Now, I didn't know much about Alexander McQueen other than that was the designer Kate Middleton decided to go with for her wedding gown, and for those rounded high heels. And I've been to the Met before - I'm not the most artsy person, so I thought the exhibit would be kind of boring for me.

Let me start off with what happened when we got there.

Alex, Sam (our other roommate!), and I went into the museum and got into line to pay the donation to get into the exhibit. As I was waiting, a male employee pulled me aside and asked if I would do him a favor. Thinking he was just a creep, I asked him what he wanted. He said "Just come with me." and I trusted him, since he was clearly an employee. He told me "I'm getting you in for free" as he handed me a metal pin (an admissions ticket for the Met). I gratefully told him thank you, but then asked why me? He told me "Beautiful girls like you shouldn't have to pay to look at beautiful art. You're here for McQueen, right?" After introducing him to Alex and Sam, he escorted us upstairs to where we would enter the exhibit. He then handed us audio devices (an additional $5 each, which we all got for free), and explained to us of the long line of an hour and a half long. But, just because I decided to wear a dress and heels and curl my hair, he showed us to the very front of the line and let us in - no wait, no charge, and no "favors." I didn't even know what to say - I was just thrilled that somebody did something that awesome for me and my friends. Carlos was his name, and he was just happy to do something nice for us. There really are some good people in NYC.

After going into the exhibit, we started in a room with casual off-the-runway looks that I would DIE to wear to work one day. Blazers, jackets, trousers, dresses... They were all so wonderfully designed and beautiful to look at.

We then got into runway looks, where fabulous dresses and couture headpieces were displayed, along with clips of some of his runway shows which completely took my breath away. There were also video clips of some of his campaigns, including one with Kate Moss. Along the exhibit were also quotes given by McQueen.

I have never been so inspired by a runway show, let alone fashion in general. He has dared to step outside of the box and do something no other designer has ever done before. I literally stood there in awe just watching some of the amazing concepts and designs he came up with and brought to life. Amazing and captivating are the two perfect words to describe my experience there.

The after party downstairs was fun. We got to see the winner of a fashion design contest where the winner won a goodie bag of Savage Beauty treats, along with a fashion internship with Alexander McQueen. The winner, Paula Cheng's, dress she designed was so awesome and you can tell if must have taken her several months just to put it all together. She really deserved it.

We also got to hop in the photo booth, but pictures of those will be posted soon! For now, here are a couple pics of me and Alex.

Yeah, had to get a webcam shot. ;)

The Facebook event decided to go with something "McQueen inspired," so after
a little bit of research, I went with a colorful, eccentric print. This was all I had, and it
worked very well! I wish I had a killer headpiece of feather outfit to top it off though.

As for nails that night, I wanted something a little different. I decided that this would do my outfit and color fix some justice:

Sorry it's such crappy quality byt it's half and half with swirls. Tutorial coming soon!

Hope you all enjoyed. If you're ever in NYC from now until July 31 - go see McQueen at the Met. You will not regret it. Even Sam, our dude roommate who knows nothing about fashion, really liked it.