Shoe Mint

Shoe Mint

My New Obsession

I have always thought Rachel Bilson has an impeccable fashion sense. Her style is always featured in all the fashion magazines. To find out that she is behind a new brand I had nothing but high expectations.

Rachel Bilson's style, the vision of celebrated stylist Nicole Chavez, and the shoe-making expertise of the legendary Steve Madden, combined can only mean one thing - truly an amazing shopping experience.

For those of you that don't know ShoeMint is a subscription website. Each month, you will get an email with a shoe selection of Rachel and Nicole's exclusive designs matched to your unique taste and personality.

The first shoe I ordered is called Janice shown in the pictures below. Let me know what you think!

This is not a sponsored post. I truly love the brand and I think it is a great idea. The shoes are high quality and good value for the price. I do not think I will be able to purchase a pair every month but I love the option to skip any time  and I would not have to pay the $79.98 fee.

For more information on ShoeMint click  here

 

Jacket - Danier

Sweater - Vero Moda

Bag - Jessica Simpson

Necklace - Mark

Bangles - Forever21

Hat - Le Chateau

Happy Birthday Boyfriend!

Today is a special day! It is my Love's birthday!


I usually make his favourite cheesecake but I have made it so many times already I wanted to finally try something different.


I hope he likes this cake and I hope he doesn't see this post before the surprise.


Happy Birthday Boyfriend!!!

Red Velvet

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 2 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 1 ounce red food coloring
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 x 13 inch pan.
2. Mix together cake mix, 1 box pudding mix, eggs, butter, food coloring, water, vinegar, and cocoa. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool.
4. Beat together milk and cream cheese. Mix in 1 box pudding mix. Fold in whipped topping. Cut the cake in four layers. Spread equal amounts on each layer of the cake. Leave a little bit of icing for decorations. Chocolate topping is optional but if you would like to add mix semi sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon of milk and a teaspoon of butter.Spread on top of the Cake.

Refrigerate and Enjoy!               

The New Face of Dior

The girl that we all loved in "Black Swan" is now the new face of Dior. She will be appearing in their new spring adds for their newest purse collection Miss Dior. She is so talented and beautiful I am not at all surprised by her success.

The 28 year old actress admits that she is still learning about fashion and she prefers to wears jeans and a t-shirt for an every day comfortable look but when she is on the red carpet she wants to look and feel feminine.

What's in my gym bag

Going to the gym has become a great routine lately. My gym bag used to be filled with half empty bottles of products that took up a lot of space. So many times bottles have leaked in my bag and I realized I needed a new solution. I selected my gym bag essentials and I am so excited to share them with you!

Gym bag essentials

• Travel size body wash and body lotion(Body Shop) are a must! I usually buy the large size of the same scent and just refill my little bottles every week or so. They are very convenient and pretty adorable.
• TreSeme  dry shampoo.
• Baby Lips from Maybelline. The products design is so stylish and bright this lip balm is impossible to get lost in your bag. They come in few different colours and scents. The Peach Kiss flavour smells amazing and has a very light pink tint. They go on very smooth and I can't get over how adorable they look.
• Moisture Surge Gel from Clinique. This cream goes on very light but it is very moisturizing.
• Blotting tissues - Always a must
• Olay 2-in-1 daily facial cloths. These cloths come dry so you have to get them wet to cleanse. I also like the Neutogena Wet Wipes, I find them easier to use when you are in a hurry to clean your make up before a work out. But I do prefer the Olay facial cloths for the shower.
• For some reason I forgot to include my brush in my picture but I do have a mini hair brush that I take everywhere with me.
• Snag-Free elastics. I get mine from Sally's but I am sure you can find them anywhere.

Few extra tips:
After your work out you will usually want to clean your face and start your makeup from scratch. Your essential make up in your gym bag should include at least a tinted moisturizer, lip color or gloss, and mascara. I usually go to the gym in the evening so I never apply make up after.
My other tip is to always keep your deluxe samples that you get from makeup counters. Their small size is perfect for your gym bag or traveling.

My Magic Wand

I am in love! I just had to do a product review on this Remington Curling Wand.

Remington Curling Wand

After reading so many positive reviews on this products I just had to try it out. I purchased the curling wand in Wal-Mart on an amazing  SALE for $20 and trust me it is just as good as some of the salon brands. This is definitely my favourite hair tool at the moment and I just love how pink it is. I prefer big curls so I purchased the 1" to 1 1/2" for quick loose & big curls. I am planning on purchasing the smaller one as well. On the product box it says the product is made of ceramic with real pearl. It warms up really fast and the temperature is adjustable up to 450F which I really like. I am planning on doing hair style blogs in the future and I will be showing tips on how to use the hair wand.

For all those beauty freaks out there that love to glam up but are on a tight budget this is a great products to have.

I promise you will love it!

If you do use the Remington Pearl Ceramic Curling Wand please comment below and let me know what you think of it!

January Shoes

Welcome to the three newest additions of my shoe family...

All under $50!!!

Aldo Shoes - SCHREUR Wedge shoes have been extremely popular this season and I am so excited about it. These shoes are so comfortable and wearable with almost everything. If you can't decide between a boot and a pump these shoes are the best of both worlds!

Locale Dunkle - This shoe is so modern and great for any daytime look. I love wearing them around the office. Don't worry about slipping, they have a tractor sole! The stitching detail is also very lovely.

SpringShoes Branin in Black - Easily dress up any outfit with great style and comfort. I wore these shoes for New Years Eve and I danced all night. It's like they were made for my toes. They fit so perfectly! This shoe also come in Taupe which just might be my next purchase.

DIY Face Cleanser

Cucumber and lemon cleanser - Shred half a cucumber and squeeze out one table spoon of the juice. Add equal amount of lemon juice. Mix well and with a cotton ball apply all over your face 10 minutes before shower. The blend of both juices will not only refresh your skin but it will help remove unwanted oil.

Mulled Wine

There is nothing better in the winter days than a toasty mug of mulled wine. Mulled wines have been warming people for centuries, they are wines that have been sweetened, spiced and slightly heated - making a delicious alternative to coffees, ciders and toddy’s at holiday gatherings or just on a cold winter's night.Warm wine is very popular all over Europe.  In Germany they call it Glühwein, in France vin chaud, аnd in Italy vin brulé.  In Macedonia we call it Греено вино. It is perfect for a sweet surprise when having company over because it is not expensive to prepare and its sweet aroma will make your place smell amazing.

Trust me, this will be a hit at your next party!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• One bottle (750 mL) of red wine (suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot)
• One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
• 1/4 cup of brandy
• 8-10 cloves
• 2/3 cup honey or sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp fresh or 2 tsp ground ginger (allspice can be substituted)
• Serves 4-6

Preparation:

To make the perfect cup of mulled wine, combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved. When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended it is ready to serve. Ladle the mulled wine into mugs (leave seasonings behind).

Tips:
You don't have to use expensive wine. The spices will add the pleasant aroma and taste.
Do not let the wine boil because the alcohol will start to evaporate. Also, the spices might get a bitter taste.
If you want a stronger drink add more brandy or orange liqueur.
Add icing sugar, it will melt easier. You can also use honey for a stronger aroma.

Enjoy!

Statement Jewelry

My winter favourites

Cranberry Joy

This blog is dedicated to my favourite scent from The Body Shop. They usually only carry this body butter in store during the winter so I always make sure to stock up for the whole year. For me this is how Christmas smells like, I adore the smell and I especially love how smooth my skin feels every time I apply this product. The Cranberry Joy body butter doesn't have that citrus smell of the cranberry, it is very sweet and it almost smells like wine. Absolutely wonderful!

Few interesting facts about the cranberry:

• To Americans and Canadians it is known to be a staple of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• The shrug grows close to the ground  and it thrives in wet, cold bogs and swamps.
• It is red in color and rather bitter, acidic to taste requiring to be sweetened or mixed with other foods.
• The cranberry is a wonderful source of antioxidants with a very acceptable ORAC score. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and manganese.
• The total phenol content and antioxidant activity is nearly double that of the apple, red grape, strawberry, banana, peach, lemon, orange, pear and grapefruit.
• Cranberry juice is becoming known as a potent antibacterial for combating urinary tract infection (UTI). Contrary to popular belief , it is not the acidity of cranberry juice that provides this UTI protective effect, but rather distinct bacteria-blocking compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs). While many fruits contain similar compounds, thus far only PACs of cranberries and blueberries which are botanically related species, have shown to exhibit this effect.

Source:
Rinn, Roger C, PhD, and Ralph E Carson, PhD. Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruit  pg.93
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