Monday, December 24, 2012

MANICURE MONDAY: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The holidays always put people in great spirits, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than with festive nails? Today's manicure features a semi-DIY gelish nail job. Why is it a semi-DIY? Well, it's because my cousin, who is NOT a professional nail technician, did them for me! She recently purchased a UV machine and a nail kit online so that she could save some money by skipping her biweekly trips to the nail salon. I've always wanted to try gelish manicures because my nails chip very easily at work. I find myself having to repaint them every 3 days and quite frankly, I am sick and tired of the upkeep!

Left: Gelish in "Good Gossip" Right: Gelish in "Just What I Wanted"

Not too bad, huh? I'm definitely in love with gel manicures now. My nails are no longer chipped after a long day's work! :) I'll just have to keep seeing my cousin every 2 weeks to change my nail color!

Until next time, hope everyone has a great Christmas!

Sending love across,
Jael

Saturday, November 24, 2012

GOOD EATS: BRUSCHETTERIA

WOW,  can't believe the last time this blog was updated was back in January. Guess you could say we hit a very long blogger's block, eh? No worries though, because we're back and ready to update!

Wednesday night was spent eating with a jet-setting friend of ours, N, at Bruschetteria in LES. They have a great 3-course pre-fixe menu for $24. The restaurant itself is very cozy and intimate; a great spot for 3 friends to catch up, and that's exactly what we did in between mouthfuls of Italian food :D

chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto di parma,stuffed with fontina cheese and served over garlic mashed potatoes with an espresso bbq sauce
Nutella Panini
On Jael
Shirt: F21 (old), similar here

 On Elsie
Shirt: F21, similar here
Scarf: H&M, similar here

 
 On Jael
Scarf: Madewell, similar here
Jacket: Free People, similar here
Jeans: Madewell here
Zebra print flats: Betsey Johnson here
Bag: Foley&Corinna, on sale here

On Elsie
Jacket: Zara, similar here
Shorts: Lucca Couture via Urban Outfitters, similar here
Tights: F21, similar here
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff here
Flats: (not shown) Aldo here

Photos were taken with the iphone 4s, so the quality is really not that great, but they'll do :)

Sending love across,
Elsie&Jael

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

RE-UNION SQUARE

Restaurant Week in NYC means it's time to take advantage of $35 prix fixe meals at the City's fabulous restaurants! We met up on a Tuesday night to check out Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill near Union Square for dinner. The place was packed for a Tuesday! Guess we weren't the only ones with the "brilliant" idea to go out for Restaurant Week haha. After a delicious Sixteen Spice Chicken dinner, we traipsed to Union Square to walk off our food babies.
Deep, highly intellectual post-meal conversations

Coat: H&M from 2(?) years ago (similar here)
Infinity scarf: Primark in London (similar here)
Bag: Asos (old)
Leggings: American Apparel Shiny Legging (here)

Yoohoo, TAXI!
Jacket: F21 (similar here)
Scarf: Urban Outfitters from Black Friday sale (as seen here)
Bag: Marc Jacobs Single Quilted Bag (here)
Shoes: Zara (no longer on the website, but see better pics here)

Being silly with a lamp post!

Cardigan: Urban Outfitters (similar here)
Dress: Urban Outfitters from Black Friday sale (see post here)


Top: Brandi Melville (similar here)
Shoes: Shoemint Janice in Taupe (here)


NYCRW lasts until Feb. 10th, so definitely check it out if you guys have time!

Sending Love Across,
Elsie & Jael

Sunday, January 15, 2012

BLING BLING BLING!!!

Yes, New Year is over but that doesn't mean the sparkle, glitter and sequins have to stop. Today's theme is all about the studs, jewels, gems, zippers, buckles, chains, and anything you can think of that shines through, whether it is jewelry or on your shoes. We've chosen from some of our favorite jewelry and shoes that have the perfect touch of BLING to it.

Hope you guys enjoy! 
Jael's Collection
Thrifted black cuff and cat ring
White ring from Club Monaco
Black Diamond Ring from House of Harlow here
Rings Left to right:
Leopard ring from H&M
t+j designs Glam Leatherette Ring here 
Jewelmint Sweetheart ring
Heart rings from Forever 21   
All so styling on the NAKED palette collections

Bangles
Left:  t+j designs Gold Large Braided Cuff here
Jewelmint Zoe Bangle here
Right: t+j designs Luxe Mesh and Gold Bangle here
Jewelmint Mumbai Bracelet here
Jewelmint Bow Tie Bracelet here


Rings Left to Right:
Star Ring from Forever 21
Jewelmint Aqua Bomb Ring here
Rectangular ring ( reflecting Jael taking a picture) from H&M
Circular Link ring from Top Shop
Shark Fin ring from Rachel Rachel Roy

White Jeweled Flats from Sigerson Morrison
Black Buckle Flats from BCBG Max Azria

Steve Madden Flats

Zippers and Studs all on one shoe?!?! (similar here)

Elsie's collection: 
The Treasure chest
Jewelmint Corsica Bracelet here
 Jewelmint Lost Treasure Bracelet here
Marc by Marc Jacobs Chain Bracelet similar here
 Jewelmint Golden Goose Bracelet here
Jewelmint Love That Binds Bracelet here
Jewelmint Zoe Bangle here
Jewelmint Bird Cage Bangle here

Various Forever 21 Rings
Center: Jewelmint Ever Frost Ring here
Right: Thrifted cat ring

"Hearts all over the world tonight"
More Forever 21 rings

Sam Edelman Lorissa Pumps: Deadly threat (here)



Dv by Dolce Vita Wink (here)
That's all folks!

Sending Love Across,
Elsie&Jael

Sunday, January 1, 2012

LIPSTICK THROWDOWN: REVLON LIP BUTTER VS L'OREAL COLOUR RICHE BALM

Happy New Year! I was super excited to find the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balms yesterday at my local CVS! I picked up two colors, Plush Plum and Caring Coral. The Balm is supposed to be a competitor to the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters so I had to do a comparison. I also threw in a picture of the them with my new Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm in "Cherry Me" just because I adore the packaging ;D

The Line Up:
Left to Right:
Revlon Lip Butters in Peach Parfait & Berry Smoothie,
Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me
L'Oreal Colour Riche Balms in Caring Coral & Plush Plum

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter
Left & Right: Revlon Lip Butters; Center: Dior Addict Lipstick
This lipstick definitely lives up to all the hype about it. It comes in 20 (maybe even more!?) shades, ranging from bright pinks to neutral browns. The Lip Butters are quite pigmented and pretty moisturizing for a lipstick. On my lips, they seem to have a creamy, somewhat sticky consistency, making them last longer than L'Oreal's Colour Riche Balm. There is no smell/taste to the lipstick which is definitely a plus. The Lip Butters remind me of my Holy Grail Dior Addict Lipstick, except the Lip Butters do feel stickier on my lips. However, they are both moisturizing and impart a nice shine on my lips because of the silvery flecks in both formulations. Lip Butters retail for $7.99 each at CVS, a much more reasonable price than Dior's $28. I will definitely be replacing my Dior Addict Lipstick when it runs out with Revlon Lip Butters.
Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait, Dior Addict Lipstick in Garconne

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm SPF15
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bel Ami, L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Plush Plum
The L'Oreal Colour Riche Balms are definitely different from the Revlon Lip Butters. It only comes in 8 shades and the color ranges from nude to plum. There is less pigmentation and the finish is much glossier. On my lips, the Colour Riche Balms have a greasy/oily texture. Because of this, I feel like they are much more moisturizing than the Lip Butters. However, they have less staying power than the Lip Butters. I guess that's the trade off. You have to choose between moisturization and pigmentation. The finish reminds of of Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, except Chanel's has more pigmentation than L'Oreal's. The darkest color available from the Colour Riche Balm line is Plush Plum, and really, it barely imparts any color on my lips. I would say that my Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Plum has more pigment! WARNING: there is a smell to the Colour Riche Balms! I would describe it as a vanilla/cotton candy kind of smell. It isn't overwhelming, however, unlike the L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipsticks. In fact, the smell virtually goes away when applied, and there is no taste. In terms of packaging, when you remove the cap, the L'Oreal tube actually looks very high end because of the gold base at the bottom.
Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in Bel Ami, L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Plush Plum
The Colour Riche Balms retail for $8.99 each at CVS whereas the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine will cost you $32. Even though the L'Oreal balm is much cheaper than the Rouge Coco Shine, I would not replace one with the other. In this particular case, I would continue shelling out the extra cash for the more pigmented product.

Swatches:
Left to Right:
Dior Addict in Garconne,
Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait,
L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Plush Plum,
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bel Ami,
Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Plum

Top: L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Plush Plum
Bottom: L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Caring Coral

Verdict:
These two products are totally different. I would describe the Lip Butter as a moisturizing lipstick, whereas the Colour Riche Balm is more of a glossy, lip shine. To me, the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter wins, hands down.

Until next time!

Sending love across,
Jael