It's Been a While

Sometimes it truly amazes me just how quickly time flies. I remember August as if it was yesterday and yet here we are, right smack in autumn with my birthday quickly approaching. I'll be upfront, I find myself lacking motivation to write in this blog and to keep up with the latest and greatest trends, all while working and doing other adult things in life.

It would be different if this was my livelihood, and I made most my bread from blogging but it's not. To be honest, I debate about shutting this entirely down and closing my blogging chapter but there is a part of me that won't let me do it. I've met so many wonderful people on here and while we may not speak as much as we used to, conversing about the newly released palettes or the current must have lip color, I still cherish them and we still occasionally communicate with each other.

So I am going to give this one more go. Lately in my life, I've been working really hard to keep a balance. I strive to be a hard worker but still want to have time to personally develop myself to be a better person as a whole. Let me tell you, it's really hard work. After a long day, I would love to do nothing more than to just vege out and watch YouTube videos until bedtime. However, that's not progress.

So as Yoda once eloquently stated to a young Luke Skywalker, "do or do not, there is no try," I need to ultimately make the choice of being consistent with my blog or finally shut it down. Instead of lamenting how expensive it is to keep up with the latest trends, I'll intermix some more personal (probably mostly fitness) posts with my beauty posts. I think it will be interesting and I hope this will get me more motivated to post content on a regular basis.

Thank you to all of you who have been very patient and who still read my blog. Your support means the world to me!

See you all soon!

Personal: What I've Learned on My Fitness Journey

It is no surprise to my readers that I have been into fitness for quite some time now. It has been almost three years that I've been lifting weight consistently. For the most part, I have loved the results and the progress my mind and body has made (though injuries can be major setbacks). But let me tell you a little bit of what else I've learned and experience on my fitness journey.

1. I have been called Hulk, brolic, and huge. This one is probably the toughest one for me. Have you ever been in a situation where someone's compliment just doesn't sit well with you? Or perhaps you just know it's a backhanded compliment to downgrade your progression or lifestyle changes. While "brolic" isn't necessarily a bad thing (it means chiseled and buff), it still makes my mind falter for a minute. I am in no absolute way, shape, or form shredded or cut. I do have some muscle definition but I am far from being a competitor. Just because I lift heavy doesn't mean I appreciate being called a Hulk (in fact, I prefer She-Hulk or just strong). Sometimes I feel people don't know what to say when I reveal that I am not a cardio fanatic and do powerlifts. I know it's been said time and time again, but girls who lift heavy DO NOT look manly and should not have a fear of that result. That being said, I am pretty good with letting things like this roll off my back now, but it took a while. 

   

   I admit it, I do like to lift things up and put them down.

2. "You must be in the gym all the time!" No, I am not. The most I spend in the gym is maybe two hours. People tend to think that once you post one Instagram photo of yourself lifting in the gym, you're there 24/7. Lifting has not yet become a profession for me, it's a hobby and a healthy way to build grit, character, and self confidence. It is only one aspect of my life that I choose to share.

   

   Selfie's or it didn't happen!
3. My food must be boring. For anyone who follows my Instagram or knows me personally, you know this is not the case at all. In fact, I can tell you my diet is probably what is holding me back the most because I love food too damn much. However, when I am focused with a set goal in mind, I can be very on point with my food. It doesn't mean I stuff my face with tilapia, broccoli, and brown rice all day. Instead I focus on nutrient-dense foods and stay away from processed ones.  

   

   Get in my Bellah!!!!

4. People generally don't care that you workout and will only ask you about your training when it benefits them. Back when I first started, I wanted to tell the world that I loved lifting! I wanted to be like Jack from Titanic and yell from the top of my lungs, "I LOVE LIFTING!" Alas that did not last very long. I mean, I got the generic, "do you still lift?" but once I said, yes, it was on to the next topic. Now I notice that people will talk about lifting/fitness with me only when they want to get information. It's slightly flattering to be asked because people think my knowledge is valid but it is irritating it only comes when they are finally interested in it. Now that being said, don't let that deter you or keep you from continuing your own journey! Remember that the only person you are ever in competition with is yourself.
   
5. People think all lifting is the same. For those who don't work out or don't have much knowledge in the field, lifting is lifting. There are people who think I do Cross-fit and when I explain I don't, I've been told: "well it's pretty much the same thing, right?" I find it infuriating because I find people do not listen to what I say to them. I understand we all make assumptions, but it's not the right thing to do. When it comes to things I don't know about, I try to keep as much of an open mind as possible before I make my conclusions. I just wish everyone had the same regard when it comes to things they may not know a lot about.

I am not saying that everyone I have encountered is like this. There are many supportive friends and family in my life who encourage me to continue down this path. But I have definitely learned that not everyone will share your vision. You will get the naysayers and those who don't believe in you, but if you believe in yourself and you have a strong support system, you know you can do anything. Make your dreams (whatever dreams they may be) your reality. It will be hard work but the result will pay off.

So if you are currently starting your fitness journey, don't quit! On those days you just want to give up, push through and conquer your doubts and that workout. I'm cheering you on!

June Favorites

June has certainly flown by and it makes me a little sad because I love the summertime! This month's favorites have all been about neutrality (nothing new there) and longevity. As of late I haven't been feeling the heavier foundations and often find them too thick and a bit cakey on me. I've also been about skin care as well. For some odd reason, the area around my nose and mouth were drastically drier than the rest of my face, I blame hormones but I still wanted to fix so I've been pretty focused on that. 

I'm also going to change up my favorites. Instead of just beauty favorites, I'm going to add a game, book, and/or television/film favorite just change it up a little bit. Anyway enough of my rambling, onward! 

Beauty Favorites:

1- Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation: I forgot I had this in my stash and wanted to try it out again. I'm more tan and my MAC Face and Body is too light to match me. This is a great foundation that doesn't feel heavy and gives me a glow. It would be a definite repurchase. Very similar to the MAC version so if you have one or the other you're fine. 

2-NARS Laguna Luminizer: I picked this up at the beginning of the month and love it. Sometimes I mix it with my foundation or apply it as a normal bronzer. It is a bit pricey but it was worth he purchase for me.

3-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder in Crystal: Holy Grail status. I love this stuff. I haven't tried the loose version, but I've only heard good things. I only lightly apply this to my t-zone and love the finish it gives. The feeling of my skin is smooth and looks poreless. 

4-NARS Narissist Eyeshadow Palette: I love this palette. It's been loved or hated. At the pricepoint, I would say you better be sure you love it. It's probably one of the more expensive palettes I've bought to date but it's so practical it's perfect for me. 

5-MAC Pedro Lourenco Nude Quad: A limited edition and spur of the moment purchase. I had a MAC gift card given to me as a birthday gift and I finally decided to use it. I told you my favorites would all be about neutrality! Seriously this is a beautiful quad and probably one of the best ones MAC has created. All four shades are pigmented smooth and apply like a dream. If you can still get your hands on this, I highly recommend you do!

6-Caudalie Beauty Elixir: I got the smaller size to try out before I invested in the full size. I'm not too keen on the smell, it's a bit too herbal for me but my skin feels so hydrated and smooth I bypass that part. The scent does dissipate so as least I'm not smelling it all day. I apply it both day and night and will most likely get the larger size and add it permanently to my skincare routine.

7- Urban Decay Chill Spray: This is great to freshen my makeup up and to set it. The All Nighter version is better for staying power but I decided to try this out instead because it is made for normal to dry skin. 

Book Favorite:

-Insatiable: Porn - A Love Story by Asa Akira: This was dirty, raunchy, and informative. It was definitely a fun read and a great way to look into what a life of a porn star is like. If you do plan on reading this, go in with an open mind, it's definitely more graphic than 50 Shades of Grey.

Television and Film Favorites:

Penny Dreadful: So me and the Mister binge watched the entire first season on demand and really enjoyed it. We are both fans of the old classics like Dracula, Dorian Gray, and Helsing so this was right up our alley. Plus Eva Green is phenomenal in it. Highly recommend and I can't wait for season two. 

Edge of Tomorrow: Time travel films often have plot holes but this one manages to get by without it. I know here are a lot of Tom Cruise haters but the film itself is excellent. A definite sleeper hit for this summer's blockbusters.

Game Favorite:

Child of Light: Ohmigod this game. It's a downloadable game available on Xbox 360 and One and the PS3 and PS4. Probably the best $15.00 I've spent on a game. The artwork is beautiful, story is solid, and the music!!! I'm going to the perfectionist and get all the trophies because I love this game so much. 

Phew, what a long entry! I hope you enjoyed the post and also your holiday weekend! Please if you can leave your thoughts about me adding the entertainment part to my favorites. 

Hello and New Hair

Hello to all my lovely readers! How is everyone? I'm sorry I've neglected my baby for a while, work has picked up and by the time I'm done with it, the last thing I want to do is sit another hour or so on my laptop. The work has gotten a little lighter so huzzah for that!  I've hope you've all been well and are enjoying this gorgeous weather we have been having. It's about time!

So I've been contemplating about getting my hair done for a while. I get so bored with my hair that I constantly want to try something new. Sadly that costs money and I can't really afford to get my hair done in a new style every other week. I stayed with a dark brown/black color for a while because it was easy to maintain and kinder to my wallet but with summer just around the corner I wanted something fun.

I'm pretty easy going in terms of whatever you want to do with my hair as long as you do the job well. So I was pretty disappointed with the salon I picked previously back in January because I felt the stylist didn't do as great of a job as I thought he could have. I asked for a lob with long layers and I basically got one length. I asked for chocolate brown and he applied a semi-permanent glaze to my hair which made it black. With the price I paid for the job, I felt it wasn't worth it so I searched for another salon in my area.

Waiting for the glaze to settle into my hair

I've been wanting a red ombre for some time. In fact I've tried it before but the red basically washed out after one shampoo. When I met my new hairdresser I told her I just wanted a balayage of some kind, I made no mention of red. As she was applying the bleach to my hair she asked me if I wanted to try something different and go with a plummy/violet red for my ombre, to which I replied yes. The amount of time and care she took with my hair was really great. She applied the red glaze and didn't like the result, so she did it again, it's probably the first time a stylist has ever done that for me. Then she applied a conditioning cocktail to my hair to make it super lush and soft. I'm very impressed with the color and know that even though the red will fade, it will still look nice.

The cut she gave is exactly what I wanted. Lots of layers with some bounce. I know that this is the type of cut that I won't have to worry too much about styling after I wash it, which is great for me, especially in the warmer months.

Photo taken with my iPhone with flash

Overall I was very happy with the way my hair turned out.With the proper care, I won't have to back until around mid-August for a touch-up. If any of my readers live in the Long Branch area, check this salon out and ask for Becky, she'll do wonders to your hair!

Brush Salon

• 129 Brighton Ave
• 732-222-3026
• brushsalonnj.com

Personal: Birthday Snapshots

This year has certainly flown by. I can't believe I'm 28. That's two years before 30! I'll admit, 28 sounds strange to me but I'm pretty excited to see what the year brings for me.

I hope you enjoy the little snapshots I took during my birthday week! My birth date itself was lovely. It was quiet but filled with love and great laughs. Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and thank you to those who were able to keep me company on my birthday as well.

I went darker with my hair. Majority of the people like me with darker hair, I may make it a brown instead of leaning towards the black like it is now

Celebratory Birthday Waffle! It's nothing fancy, but this diner near our place makes such awesome breakfast!

My free Starbucks birthday drink. It's an iced Salted Caramel Mocha. I went Venti cause...it was free and it was my birfday!

The Mister took me to my favorite cupcake place in Red Bank. Since it's really just the two of us, getting a giant cake would be silly. I settled for the Lemon Raspberry Surprise (pictured) and Carrot Toffee Crunch. Both were amazing!!

Going out to meet our friends for dinner at Red Bank! I should have taken another shot of my outfit, I really liked it! Pants: H&M, Shirt: F21 (similar), Jacket: ASOS, Boots:Steve Madden Brewzzer  

My dinner, pieces of filet with sauteed spinach and mushrooms. I could eat this every night. So good!

My friend ordered the banana flambe for dessert, but it was huge, so we all split it. Here is his final plate. I had to take a picture of the masterpiece!

Now onto my birthday haul. I'll admit, I think I may have gone a bit over, but like many of you know, I'm extremely picky about things like bags and high investment pieces so this took a lot of contemplating before I bit the bullet and purchased the items. I'll be on a bit of a shopping ban in the next few months.

My girlfriend and I went to the Jersey Shore outlets on Columbus Day and scored a bunch of goodies. Kate Spade was having huge 50 percent off sale off entire store, so I definitely took advantage! After much deliberation, I decided on the Alessa satchel and the Graham ID/card holder. There is also a Michale Kors outlet but I was disappointed in their bag selection. Instead to took my time browsing their accessory section. I desperately needed a new wallet and fell in love with this sleek and simple carry all. I love that it doesn't have the obnoxious MK brand all over it. Afterward, we went to Fossil and they were having a massive sale and that's when I scored my Marc Jacobs watch. I was going to get a rose gold Michael Kors watch, but immediately changed my mind after seeing this beauty.

Birthday gift from my Mommy. This is the Selma satchel I have been eyeing. I know this will be a timeless piece and that I will probably use this bag to death. The Saffiano leather makes it very durable but luxe at the same time.

My beautiful friend, LC sent me this lovely package with a beautiful card. Btw, today is her birthday! Head over to her blog and say hi!

I'm a HUGE Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fan. My friend Bruce gifted me this key chain of the blades used by the soldiers. They're actually pretty sharp!

These were also gifts from my friends. A Scouting Legion patch from AoT, this insanely cute Ghibli shirt, a delicious cinnamon scone candle from Yankee Candle and MAC gift card. The PoP Art My Little Pony (Fluttershy) was from the Mister.

Thanks for reading and Happy Monday!

So, Yeah...

It's definitely been a while since my last blog post. I still even haven't put up my sale yet. I know, I know, shame on me. But I just wanted to write a little update on life for those of you who are still readers of my blog!

- I'm still working out, I kind of fell off the wagon a bit due to a back injury (which is still healing). I still thoroughly enjoy lifting heavy. Due to my back injury, I have had to eliminate deadlifts from my routine, which makes me incredibly sad considering how much progress I made with them. Instead of stopping completely, I've been finding ways to work around my injury. It does make it different and a change of pace, so I can't complain much!

- I went to Vegas at the beginning of the month! The Mister and I went with our friends and stayed for a short week. I say short because I wish I could have stayed longer!

Me and my handsome celebrating his birthday in Vegas!

- Picking up WoW again, because I'm a sucker for Blizzard. Does anyone still play this?

- I got my first leather jacket! I'm crazy excited about this. It was relatively priced considering it's made entirely out of leather, but then ASOS is fairly priced. The jacket is the classic biker jacket, no belts, studs or frills because things like that can go out of style quickly. Always invest in timeless pieces

- I finally purchased the Beauty Blender. I don't know why it took me so long to get it. I bought the Graftobian version of it when I went to IMATs about two years ago and they were OK. I don't know what it is about the BB, but it makes such a nice finish on my skin. I apply my tinted moisturizer and foundation with it and each time it's amazing. I'm definitely a fan and will re-purchase.

That's really all I can think of off the top of my head, I truly hope everyone is doing well!

A Day In The City: Hot Dog Extravaganza

I think it would be safe to say that I truly love food. I usually keep an open mind and will try anything once (for the most part, don't go shoving cooked bugs in my face =P). After watching the Food Network and the Travel Channel, I had accumulated a list of food eateries of all kinds on the notepad of my phone. Among these places were quite a few hot dog joints so after talking with some friends, we decided to make a day of sampling different types of hot dogs from different places in the city. I mapped out each of the locations (and still got lost) but I digress! Let's just say we were quite full by the end of the day.

Gray's Papaya Greenwich Village

402 6th Ave

New York, NY 10011

Known as a classic hot dog, we had to stop by here first. They were probably the cheapest dogs we paid for on this entire trip.

The verdict? Quite tasty. I personally like my hot dogs well done so when you bite into them there's a bit of a snap. Gray's also offers an array of different juices so I had to try the Coconut Champagne. It was very coconut-y and very sweet, coyly sweet. I would try their famous pineapple juice next time.

Japadog

30 St Marks Pl

(between Cooper Sq & Astor Pl) 

New York, NY 10003

If you watch "No Reservations" or "The Layover" with Anthony Bourdain, you might have heard of the next two locations I'm going to mention. Japadog is basically a place where they serve hot dogs dressed with Japanese toppings such as bonito flakes, seaweed and plum sauce. We were recommended to try the Bourdain Special which featured the Terimayo and Okonomi hot dogs. The Terimayo hot dog consisted of: teriyaki sauce, mayo and seaweed while the Okonomi hot dog contained a Kurobuta sausage topped with bonito flakes. Our other friend decided he would rather try the Love Meat hot dog which had the topping of meat sauce fused with melted cheese.

The verdict? I thought the Terimayo hot dog was delicious! The Okonomi was also tasty but had an overpowering fish smell due to the bonito flakes. If you are not a fan of fish smell or fish avoid the Okonomi. If you are more of the adventurous type, I would suggest you try this place. They even a deep fried bun filled with ice cream! I had to save room, so I passed.

Crif Dog

113 St Marks Pl

(between Avenue A & 1st Ave) 

New York, NY 10009

OMG. I love Crif Dog! I had been here before with a friend but with all the possibilities I wussed out and only got the avocado and tomato toppings. This time I decided I would be different and try one of their creations. Let me just say right away that this was winner hands down. Oh man...so good!

I had the Jon Jon Deragon which consisted of cream cheese, bagel seeds and green onions. Me and my girlfriend loved it. The Mister had the bacon wrapped Crif dog with mustard and sauerkraut, and he loved his. My girlfriend got the tsunami, a bacon wrapped hot dog with teriyaki sauce and pineapples. Her hubby had the B.L.T. which was a bacon wrapped dog with tomato and lettuce. My homi got the chili dog which he said was the best chili dog he's had. He also said that those who like meat based chilis would love this one.The verdict? Highly recommend this place. The atmosphere is cool with a bit of grit and the hot dogs are really delicious. And yes, Anthony Bourdain loved it. 

Los Perros Locos

201 Allen St

(between 1st Ave & Stanton St) 

New York, NY 10002

Ok, after getting caught in a downpour, we finally got to our fourth destination, Los Perros Locos. Specializing in Columbian hot dogs, this place offers pretty unique creations. At this point I was getting pretty full, but I ventured on and ordered another dog. I'm going to say that this place needs another chance because the hot dog I selected did not do it for me but the Mister's hot dog was pretty tasty. Now onto the breakdown.

My girlfriend is a tiny little thing and she was quite full at this point so we decided to just split a hot dog. We both thought the Pablo Escobar (bottom right) sounded tasty. The Escobar consisted of salsa de pina, apple chipotle slaw, potato chips, Kewpie mayo and a dusting of cheese. I think the mayo was what turned me off, there was just way too much stuff for my tastebuds to comprehend what was going on.

The Mister had the Spicy Spicy Mango (top right). This concoction of spicy, mango, mojo, melted mozzarella and crushed hot Doritos was really tasty. The salty and sweet melded really well together.

My gf's husband decided on the Amerro-Perro (bottom left). This was a chili dog, the chili made with beer and cocoa infused beef, shredded Vermont cheddar, chipotle kraut, crushed Fritos and ChipZana sauce. I didn't taste this one but the Mister tried and and said it was pretty good.

And last but definitely not least was my friend, B's dog (top left). This poor man ordered the Mas Perfecto which had 10 toppings. It was a combination of almost all of our hot dogs

He looks utterly confused. I am proud of him though, he ate the whole thing!

The verdict? Go on an empty stomach and be sure to go over the menu thoroughly because they will give descriptions of what the salsas are made of, etc., I will say one of the highlights of this place had to be the Coco-Cola! These were imported from Mexico and made with real sugar instead of HFCS. Yummmm

Asia Dog

66 Kenmare St

New York, NY 10012

The last and final stop of our hot dog trip! At this point my girlfriend and her hubby bowed out gracefully while the Mister, B and I ventured forth. Mister had the Mel & Steve (left) which consisted of Asian sesame slaw. I settled for the Wangding (middle) with the toppings of Chinese BBQ pork belly, onions and cucumbers and B had the Ito (right) with Japanese curry and homemade kimchi apples.

The verdict? The hot dogs were unique in their creations. The Wangding was a little salty for me. The Mel and Steve and Ito were better. I recommend this place if you like Asian fusion/Asian food in general.

Whew! What a post! Overall I had an amazingly awesome time with my friends. Great food and great company can make any day better. We are already talking about our next trip! The debate is between burgers or pizza. What do you guys think our next trip should be?

Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself....(50 Random Facts Tag)

1. I'm quite goofy when I'm comfortable around a person, otherwise I'm pretty reserved.
2. I will give you the shirt off my back (or whatever you need) if I care about you.
3. I say sorry way too much.
4. Most Disney movies make me cry (I'm looking at you UP.) 
5. Speaking of crying, the center of my nose turns red if I'm about to cry. My mom always knew (still knows when I'm upset)
6. I've been with the Mister over nine years.
7. I've known him for over 11 years.
8. I want my child to be as cute and chubby as baby Po from Kung Fu Panda (don't judge me!)
9. I bawled watching the flashback montage in Kung Fu Panda 2.
10. One of my favorite kung fu movies is Iron Monkey.
11. I like anime.
12. I love Harry Potter anything.
13. I have three tattoos.
14. I want more.
15. I've reached my goal of doing unassisted pull-ups in three months.
16. I've lived in five cities.
17. I smell my food before I eat it.
18. My favorite boyband was *NSync. 
19. I love K-Pop.
20. Animal lover.
21. Ignorant people just infuriate me.
22. I hate my shopping habit.
23. I've played World of Warcraft on and off for about eight years.
24. I love Ghibli anything really, but have an affinity for Miyazaki films.
25. I like both Star Trek and Star Wars.
26. I got kicked in the face (by accident) during a dance class in college and got a hairline fracture on my nose.
27. I always wanted to be a ninja, I think it was all the kung fu movies I watched.
28. My right knee has a scar from a car accident. 
29. I think scars add character.
30. Makeup is my vice.
31. Do not bother me if I'm absorbed in a book.
32. You can win me over with a really well made cupcake (kinda...)
33. I like to felt, crochet and knit (well attempt to knit).
34. I can quote the Lord of The Rings films, all of them. 
35. I always wanted to be a dancer, or a singer...or both!
36. I graduated with a minor in theater.
37. I'm a wedding coordinator on certain cruise ships.
38. I'm terrified of death, I get anxiety about it.
39. I hate heights.
40. I love to bake.
41. Some people who I wish I could have met: Bruce Lee, Julia Child, Marilyn Monroe
42. My favorites musicals: Les Miserables, RENT, Phantom of the Opera and Jersey Boys.
43. I love food.
44. I'm a firm believer of hard work to achieve the results you want, especially when it comes to fitness.
45. I love Doo Wop.
46. I'm American Chinese
47. I feel like I'm truly myself when I'm alone or with the Mister.
48. I love to dress up once in a while.
49. I love me a good RPG.
50. I think I'm fabulous =)

Fitness Mini Haul...Plus An Update!

Oh hello! "Is it me you're looking for?" 

HAI GUYZ!!! Long time no chat and no see. I've seemed to have vanished after November. My apologies, I've missed posting and you all quite a bit. I just wanted to post a quick update of my life and show you a mini fitness gear haul I got today. 

All right, so first thing's first, what's new?

1-I have picked up fitness again, but this time with a vengeance. I started lifting again near the end of November but only cleaned up my diet in January. No more sissy Steph. After research, self evaluation and self motivation, I've cast aside preconceived notions and stereotypes. No more "toning" for me, it's all about building strength and getting muscle. I'm still very far from where I want to be, but my mind is finally prepared and excited for the journey ahead. I'm looking to build the strongest version of me there is, mentally and physically.

Beau snuck a pic while I was working out.

2-As you can tell from the pictures above, I dyed my hair black. I got sick of the red fading and of the maintenance. Another reason for my drastic change? I wash my hair more frequently since I workout pretty much everyday, the money cost to keep the color in wasn't worth it. Maybe in the summer I'll go red again, maybe. 

3-I've come to the realization that people will come and go in your life. As sad as this realization this, it's part of our journey in life. I'll leave it at that.

4-I'm still pretty obsessed with cosmetics. I don't think I ever will not be, but for a while I avoided Blogger because I couldn't control my desire to want everything I saw. I'm better now, but again it's something I definitely need to work on. Instead of having Buyer's Remorse, I'd rather have the self control to know when not to splurge.

My latest obsessions. Butter everything...well skincare wise. Lip butter and body butter are a God send in the winter!

Now onto the haul! Me and Beau went to the Jersey Shore Outlets today to do an exchange at the Nike Store. I wasn't planning on buying anything but I saw a sales cart labeled "19.99" I took a gander just to see what they were selling, I mean it's not like Nike has grossly hideous shoes. When I saw the pink in the box I squealed a bit. There was only one pair of 6.5's left so I felt this purchase was meant to be. A girl can never have enough trainers!

The Under Armor store was right next to Nike so we took a peek in there. I bought a black pair of capris off the UA website at the end of December and fell in love with them. They feel like second skin. I have been lusting for a pair of the ever so popular Lulu Lemon yoga pants...but I honestly don't want to shell out so much money. These look similar to the Lulu pants and half the price, especially if you find them at the outlet. I'm so excited to add these to my closet!

Have you guys kept up with your resolutions for the New Year/Life? Let me know please! Hope to hear from you all soon and of course Happy Hump Day!

New Haircut and Color!

About every few months, I get sick of my hairstyle or color. This has led to many dye jobs, which has led to my horrific dry ends. Last June, I decided to take my already ombre-ed hair and lighten it some more. It came out nice, but being that I did it myself, it was probably a very poor job of what the professional could do. My ends were SO dry and ugly.

So I thought maybe a cut would do the trick. No coloring, just a nice trim. I went a popular Korean salon in Midtown one day I was in the city towards the end of October. While the hairdresser was nice, she didn't mince words. Majority of the time she spoke to me, she was talking about my hair, telling me how damaged and brassy it was. However, after complaining about how horrible my hair was, she decided to RAZOR it. Which is probably the worst thing you can do to dry and damaged hair. My hair ends were snagging against my shirt! I mean what hair does that??

I tried to live with my hair a while longer. During the hurricane power outage, I basically threw it up in a ponytail and forgot about it. Then I decided that if I wanted to have healthy hair again, I needed to chop it off. I went to a new hairdresser, one that's closer to my apartment and spent about four hours in the chair. I have to say I feel pretty happy about the end result. She took off about two inches of hair leaving me with a chic looking lob, inspired by the lovely Olivia Palmero.

Me waiting, this is my before shot

The amount of the foils she put in my head, I felt like Joaquin Phoenix in Signs where he makes the foil hat so aliens couldn't read his thoughts

End Result!

I'll probably go back in a month or so to get the red retouched

With the flash

Hope you are all having a great week!