Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Brown(Out) Review & Giveaway

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Brown(Out) Review & Giveaway

Aug 25, 2014

As a certified gothy princess black eyeliner is my best friend. I've found the deepest, long lasting, waterproof black out on the market and rarely use another color when doing my makeup. But last week I was redeeming some Sephora points and saw that I could get a mini of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in a color called Brown(Out), which is a bronze liner with light shimmer, and had to grab not just one but two of them!

This eyeliner by Marc Jacob goes on super smooth because it's a gel and the color is very rich and intense. A little bit goes a long way with this little gem. The bottom of the pencil does double duty as a color indicator and a way have more of the liner pop up by giving it a gentle twist which you won't have to do a lot because the gel crayon is very dense and won't break off if you put a lot of pressure when you're using it. 

I'm really happy to have been able to grab a mini version of this liner because I always thought it looked super cool in it's sleek silver case but had so many liners to finish before committing to a brand new set from another brand. Now I'm totally hooked and want to give one of my readers a chance to try them out as well!


For the next two weeks I'll be running a giveaway where one lucky reader with receive a mini version of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Brown(Out). Enter below and pass it a long! After the two weeks are up I'll announce the winner and the prize will be shipped out ASAP.

Good luck!



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Labor Day White Party Outfit Ideas

Labor Day White Party Outfit Ideas

Labor Day Weekend is right around the corner and anyone who's anyone has received at least one invite to an White Party.

 

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A Few of My Favorite Things

A Few of My Favorite Things

Aug 24, 2014

I'm a huge supporter of things that I find inventive, informative and overall fun! Here's a list of the sites I've been a huge fan of this past summer and that you should keep an eye out for if you don't already:

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Organic Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup Alternative

Organic Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup Alternative

Aug 23, 2014

Now that I'm back from vacation I need to drop the 13lbs I gained eating bagels, pizza and drinking tons of beer almost daily. My eating and workout plan began today with a 3 day liquid cleanse where Organic Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup by Pacific was my only none juice yet liquid meal.

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Post Vacation 30 Day Shred

Post Vacation 30 Day Shred

                                             

Here I go again. As I've mentioned before I was recently away for a month and I mostly just ate and drank my weight in carbs. A few years ago that would not have been a problem but these days it totally is! While I was away I did run on the treadmill at my cousins place a few times and went to LA Fitness for a week straight thanks to a weekly pass but I totally ignored my own membership at 24 Hour Fitness. I actually ended up putting it on hold because I didn't want to spend money on something I wasn't going to use.

Fast Forward to today though. I'm back home and need to get myself back in shape. I gain weight easy and gained 13lbs while away. EEK! The only reason I'm not freaking out over it is because I was on vacation and nothing beats bagels and pizza in NYC. Nothing.


But I'm back now and I need to get on track. I'm starting things off with a 3 day liquid diet/cleanse where I'll be drinking juices made up primarily of things that will help flush out my system and I have a roasted red pepper and tomato soup that I made to enjoy for dinner so that I don't go to bed starving. I'm also going to drink tons and tons of water as well as make my favorite detox juice with a twist: adding some dandelion tea because of it's detoxifying properties.

Today, August 23nd, I weigh 160 lbs and hope to get that down by flushing out my system and kicking my workouts into high gear. My goal is to be at my "clothes fitting weight" of 143 lbs sooner rather than later.


Day 1 of the 30 Day Shred was awful. I was only able to do 10 of the 20 minutes because my legs were burning instantly but this was after a 25 min/2 mile run so I'm not beating myself up over it. I'm sore for sure but it's going to be well worth it since I hate doing weights at the gym because everyone wants to be my trainer and I'm just not into that. I plan on doing the shred and cardio interchangeably, or together, depending on my mood.

Wish me luck guys! Posting my weight on the web only means one thing: I mean business!!!

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Baked Brocooli and Cauliflower

Baked Brocooli and Cauliflower

Aug 17, 2014

A few months ago I was on a huge clean eating kick and wanted to make the most out of the items in my fridge. I was also working and hitting the gym a lot and didn't want to bother with preparing an involved meal that included lots of cleaning afterwards. Thanks to the wonders of frozen veggies I quickly whipped up this delicious meal that I have my family in NYC obsessing over. I've seriously made this more times than I can count in the short time that I've been here. This is a really easy side dish to make. I personally eat it as a main dish though because sometimes I can't be bothered with preparing and cleaning up after meat.

 Ingredients

-Frozen Broccoli
-Frozen Cauliflower
-One White Onion
-One Garlic Head
-Mozzarella Cheese
-Olive Oil

First things first:  I chop the onion and garlic I throw everything into a baking dish, pour some olive oil in it and mix it with my hands.  I used to put it all in a large zip lock bag to shake it all up but found that my hands did the trick much better!

 I always make sure to overdo it with the shredded cheese on top just for that extra bit of cheesiness and crunch. I love cheese!

The next step is to throw this in the oven for 30-45 minutes at 350.

 

I like to put tons of garlic in mine, as well as red pepper flakes, but I've been making this for kids so I had to put a little extra work one or two times. I decided to saute´ some garlic in olive oil and red pepper flakes. Yumness!!!

This smelled like heaven!

The final project. Crispy, cheesy and garlicky. The great thing about this dish is that it can easily be reheated in the same baking pan or elsewhere. 

P.S. I don't really measure when it comes to something so simple and neither should you. Try this, you will love it!

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Top Five Facial Masks

Top Five Facial Masks

Top Five Facial Masks

My good friend +Dayana Romero over at Everything Beauty and Beyond asked me to list my Top Five Facial Masks because she knows I'm obsessed with skincare. I will admit that I am blessed with pretty amazing skin but the NYC nightlife played a major role in aging me and slacking off on my routine gave me really blotchy skin with dry patches. So here's my list. I hope you guys pick at least one of these up!


1. Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel- $60
    The great thing about this peel is that it's really fun to use. It comes in a powder that mimics pixie sticks and smells like lemony heaven. You have to add a bit of water to it so that it turns into a light paste and then you apply it. It's super light and non abrasive and after about 1 minute you're ready to rinse it off. Since the price is pretty over the top Amore Pacific helps you make the most out of your money by making the top a dosing cup that requires you to just flip the bottle over to get it filled up.

2. Ole Henriksen Power Peel- $45
    I have become a major fan of +Ole Henriksen over the last year and so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Power Peel made it on the list. This is a 3 step process that includes an almond polish to exfoliate and prepare your skin for the next step which is a lemon strip. The lemon strip is the longest part of the process because it takes about 15 minutes to penetrate and slowly exfoliate the deal skin cells off your beautiful face. You end the Power Peel with their chamomile comfort cream that helps soothe and cool your skin after the lemon peel. This is particularly important if you tend to experience redness.

3. Philosophy's The Microdelivery One-Minute Purifying Enzyme Peel- $42
    I adore salicylic acid. It, along with retinol, are the key to slowing down the harsh signs of aging. Philosophy's one-minute enzyme peel is a non abrasive gel that you apply to the skin after cleansing and drying and leave on for up to three minutes. Along with the salicylic acid this peel contains a fruit acid complex that helps exfoliate your skin with little work from you. Within days you'll start to see the fine lines begin to disappear and your skin will be brighter and more radiant.

4. St. Ives Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Scrub+Mask- $4.29
   This product by St. Ives does double duty as a scrub and mask. When used as a mask you follow the same instructions as most over the counter ones: wet face, apply, leave on skin for a few minutes and then wash off. It's a really gentle mask thanks to the oatmeal in it and once you wash it off your skin is left nice and soft.

5. Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Cleanser Mask- $7.49
    Neutrogena's cleanser mask is a really great alternative for those needing to get rid of blackheads. When used as a mask it uses their MircroClear technology to speed up the process of eliminating blackheads by penetrating deep into the pores. After five minutes you'll see similar results to St. Ives' mask and won't be able to keep your hands off your face. But you really should!


So there you have it. My #topfivefacialmasks in no particular order. Can you guess which is my favorite?

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H&M Autumn 2014 Finds

H&M Autumn 2014 Finds

Aug 16, 2014

    

I know we all love summer for the suns wonderful rays, the awesome tans and the outfits that help us show off all our hard work at the gym but we can't deny that the chill in the air when the sun sets means one thing: Fall! And then that means cute fall outfits will b everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

Fall is my absolute favorite season because it lets me wear my micro minis with my fun and funky tights that I buy at Primark every time I go to the UK. It also lets me wear my favorite fabrics and textures which are wool and tartan. And boots. Can't forget the boots. I have over 30 pairs of boots and booties alone that have pretty much gone unworn since I moved to LA over two years ago.

Now H&M basically owns the market in fall weather clothes and I pretty much go broke every August and September (and October, November...you get it!) buying a bunch of new gear for the fashion shows I like to give the streets of New York City. While I normally do dark colors and reserve my pinks for a nice leather mix but some of these pieces have me really excited to try it for a change.

H&M's Autumn 2014 collection not only includes the typical wool items like capes, hats and boots but they included some flowery prints, creams and light pinks to help you ease into the new season better. They turned a simple thing like a tank top in this cool cut out tank that has mesh at the shoulders as well as at the v. Or if you want something that's more of an all in one they have this beautiful sleeveless dress in a crepe weave with fun diagonal pleats. It can be paired with a dark or light blazer and would look amazing with booties!

I recommend heading out to your nearest H&M ASAP to grab some of these pieces before they're sold out or if you aren't near one and have a few of their items at home you can always check out their website to order online. Just remember that regular H&M gear and their Divided collection are sized a bit different. They also run big on their bulkier items such as their coats. I'm a size 4 in all of my H&M coats/jackets but a size 6 in their dresses.

Happy Shopping!

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Serendipity in the Kitchen

Serendipity in the Kitchen

Aug 10, 2014

Hello world!

My name is Jenniffer and I'm a new contributor to this site. I'll be writing on various topics. Diane came over to my apartment and was in awe of how I decorated my kitchen and said that I had to show it off. Living in a NYC apt means there's little to do in terms of remodeling but I found that adding small items let me transform this old fashioned kitchen into a cool French Country style cooking and eating area.

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Julep Needs to Wake Up

Julep Needs to Wake Up

Aug 8, 2014

Okay, maybe the title is a bit much but it clearly states my feelings every time I think of Julep.com from now on. My experience with them was pretty annoying and I feel I have to share it so that others can avoid the same nightmare as I did.

A few months ago I signed up with Julep and was really excited to receive my first maven box. It arrived about a week after I ordered it and it came with three polishes, a hand cream and a cuticle serum. Not bad for $24.99 I thought since it's supposed to be really great polish.

The polishes failed to deliver though because the amount in the actual bottle was teeny and the polish itself came on so thick that it ended up creating a bit of a mess. I never thought thick polish would be a bad thing! The hand cream that came int he box smelled like a really bad drugstore holiday brand lotion and the serum had already dried out. On to cancel I went.

But how do I cancel? Well, up until a few weeks ago the only way to cancel your membership was by calling and then ending up leaving a voicemail because you end up being on hold for over 30 minutes. I  left my name and e-mail address and waited to receive an e-mail stating that the cancellation was processed but it never arrived. At this point they finally smartened up and created an e-mail dedicated to cancellations so I sent the e-mail for cancellation attempt #2.

Six days after my auto-reply saying my account was cancelled I check my bank account, on my birthday no less, and see that I was charged. Lovely! I called them immediately and end up on hold for 35 minutes listening to the same great things about the company, etc etc. A quick 5 minutes later and I was promised that in 2-10 business days I'd receive my refund. 

Three days after that phone call I received an e-mail with my FedEx shipping confirmation for my maven box. WTF?!?!?!?! I called them, again. Was on hold for 20 minutes this time and then went through the process of detailing all of my steps more than three times because I kept on getting transferred until I was finally told that my cancellation would be processed again and that I'd be able to keep the box if I wanted, give it to a friend, or trash it. 

I think this whole thing just reeks. It's a really bad system that they have set up and there's no reason for me to be on hold for an average of 25 minutes just to cancel something before I get charged and then STILL GET CHARGED! Not only that but their maven boxes aren't worth the $25 which is probably why they're experiencing such a high volume: everyone is trying to cancel.

Wake up Julep. Put out better maven boxes, get more customer service reps to work the phones and make sure the cancellation e-mails are actually going through.

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Makeup Brush Cleaners

Makeup Brush Cleaners

Makeup brushes are an essential part of anyones makeup kit but without proper care it can lead to bacteria getting into your products and turning it into the gift that keeps on giving. I personally keep three sets of brushes: one for my blues/greens, another for my purples/blacks and a final set for my light shades.

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Rtgs Micro LED 20 Super Bright Green Color Lights Review

Rtgs Micro LED 20 Super Bright Green Color Lights Review

Aug 7, 2014

I received these lights from RTGS Products a few weeks ago to review and have to honestly say that I have no idea what to do with them. They're super cute and fun to play with but they haven't found a permanent spot for them. So far I've tried a mason jar and around my vanity but they're so bright (which is a super good thing) that I need to get a piece of sheer fabric to kind of diffuse the light.

I'm def interested in getting a set of these in colors I like more like blue or even white. It'll look great behind a canvas or sheer curtains to add details to a room.




***I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Mad About Plaid

Mad About Plaid

Mad About Plaid by Forever 21

Forever 21 knows how to pull at my heartstrings. Tartan plaid is my absolute favorite pattern ever. It can let me be mod, school girl, rocker and makes me feel like I'd fit in perfectly in the UK.

Fall in NYC lends itself to plaid because even if it's a really light material it always looks warm and cozy so check out this look book that I put together and then run to your nearest Forever 21 to find the perfect plaid piece to compliment your Autumn 2014 wardrobe!

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Vegetarian Cookbook Review

Vegetarian Cookbook Review

Aug 5, 2014

Okay, so I'm not a vegetarian. As a matter of fact I am probably the furthest thing from one but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate a good meal every now and then that doesn't require defrosting and preparing meat. Sometimes I just can't be bothered!

I was given Jonathan Vine's Vegetarian Quick & Easy Under 15 Minutes Meals to try out for a few days with the promise that it would take under 15 minutes to prepare each meal. I'm easily distracted so none of the meals took that little time to make but I can say that they were really quick in general so the 15 minute thing might actually be right on point.

This recipe book comes with tons of great ideas and I like that as a meat eater I can just add some chicken, beef or steak and the meals will be just as yummy!

***I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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New Writers Coming Soon

New Writers Coming Soon

I've been handling this blog solo since I started it and quickly realized that the best way to help it grow and get great content is by updating it frequently and having more than one topic. 

I can handle makeup, fashion, fitness (to a degree) and budget travel but topics such as home decor, music and food are better left to my experts. 

This is why soon you'll be seeing more content by a list of 'pros' that like what I'm doing so far. 

Having said that, if you'd like to join us and write some fun, witty and informative content feel free to reach out at diane@theclosetfashionista.com and I'll get back to you!

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