This week is the always hectic, but always fun Miami Swim Week! This week’s events started for me yesterday at the Ford Beauty Suite and Inglot’s Beauty Lounge. Although I’m a very girly girl, I don’t pamper myself often, so it was super nice to be able to kick back and get a little pretty for a few hours. Granted, Miami tried to throw a wrench in that equation with our daily rainstorms, but god dammit, we were not having it! The party started onboard an amazing yacht in Miami Beach with some pretty outrageous vendors.

I loved the Intermix pop up shop, with some gorgeous pieces from such designers as Moschino, and those great striped sunglasses from Illesteve Leonard. Totally in love.

Also, check out this neck candy. So much beauty, so little time, folks.

I’m all for Voga Prosecco by the way, although not surprised after loving their Pinot Grigio for a couple of years now.

OK. How gorgeous are these arrangements by Kalla? I’m totally obsessed. My birthday is coming up, in case you were wondering. You know…in case.

————————————————————————————————————

Then we were off to Inglot for their fun spread. I have to say, it may be my new favorite beauty spot. They have absolutely gorgeous and pigmented products that were formulated by a scientist. How algebraic!

Did I mention bright? Look at that pink, people!

With the beautiful Annie (TheFashionPoet) & Netty (The Fashionable ESQ).

I got my makeup done by one of their amazing artists, and it came out so fun!
Of course they immediately realized how much I appreciated a good neon (hello, loud outfit) and applied it to my eyes. How fun is that yellow? If only I could do it for myself!

See you Saturday at Escape Miami Lounge!

Being raised with my toes in the sand and always having an extra bathing suit in my trunk, I know what should and should not be in your beach bag. And I’m here to share the wealth with you today. So dust off that tote, and get a few sit ups in because we are headed to the coast, lovely readers!

1. Maxi dress; a maxi is the perfect go-to for beach days. It’s light, comfortable & doesn’t take up any room when packing. Plus, they usually look great layered over an adorable bikini. This one from Conversation Pieces just screams sunshine & fruity drinks (you know, the ones with umbrellas in them).
2. Bright sunnies; to me, sunglasses should make a statement, and what better way than with a bold color? Make sure they don’t clash though – these tangerine shades work great against my maxi’s tropical pattern (similar).
3. Fedora; even though you will be applying plenty of sunscreen, any extra (fashionable) coverage from the sun is always welcome. A hat is the perfect way to do so! I absolutely love this multi-colored fedora because it goes with almost everything in my closet (no longer available, but try an equally versatile black one)!
4. Fun mini wallet; save space in your bag for big, bulky beach towels by shrinking all necessities, including your wallet! It’s not like you are going to need everything in your every day wallet while laying out and drinking piña coladas, so keep it small and basic. I am still squee-ing over this adorable Boston Terrier wallet from Target.
5. Neon sandals; it’s Miami! You gotta inject some sort of neon into your wardrobe. For those of you that may be a little neon-shy, a pair of fluorescent-hued sandals may scratch the itch in a more subdued way (similar).
6. Sunscreen; as mentioned before, gotta take care of that skin! Although tans are nice, cancer is not.
7. Travel-sized perfume; I don’t know where I’d be without my Travalo. Probably stinking up the entire car after a long day in the sun, that’s where.
8. Instax film; although I recommend sitting back and enjoying what nature has to offer at the beach (after some envy-inducing selfies naturally), sometimes it’s fun to take some souvenirs home – and I’m not talking seashells. Ocean spray and sunshine always make for the perfect Polaroid backdrop, so take advantage and bring along your favorite camera and some film (if needed). Or you can use your phone & mosey on over to the Polaroid Fotobar to convert technological savvy into vintage memories.
9. Perfectly-sized tote; it’s the beach. Pack light! A medium sized bag is all you’ll need to tote these essentials – anything bigger will just cramp your style (and your shoulder)!

My godson (& nephew) was out of town for Easter, so we didn’t have much to do. We are not overly religious people (both raised cafeteria Catholic), so the holiday surrounds this little guy and watching him pop open eggs that usually have some sort of small die cast car in them. This year is a little different – I packed his eggs full of Pokemon cards instead to give him at a later date.

As a substitution, we had my mom over for wine and a hangout sesh. We were initially going to watch Catching Fire (my mom is a recent Hunger Games addict), but just never got around to it. We had way too much catching up to do! It was nice and relaxing, as well as reassuring. No matter how old you are, it always feels nice to have your mom hold your hand and tell you things will be and are better. Am I right?

Crop top; H&M {similar}
Maxi skirt; c/o Conversation Pieces
Sandals; Enzo Angiolini {similar}
Accessories; assorted
Eye makeup; c/o BA Star

Disclosure: Portions of this post were sponsored.

Necklace | Tank | Clutch | Lipstick | Nail Polish | Flats | Skirt

I love wearing clothes that reference my fandoms, but I like them to be a little discrete and still fashionable (OK, so this tank isn’t super discrete…). I also love me some bright clothing, neon preferably. Most of the time, I am in sweet little skirts, preferably paired with flats. If they are glittered: perfection.

I also love me some whimsy, so a unicorn clutch would round out this outfit perfectly. I equally stay faithful to my rock roots, so I like to add a little edge with fun and spikey accessories. My nail polish obsession only continues to grow – glitter-filled Deborah Lippmann shades are my favorite because they are just so happy and pretty, while M.A.C. is always my go-to for lipstick. Candy Yum Yum is my new favorite, especially for the upcoming Miami summer.

Finally, my iPad! It’s always with me either for work or for play – it’s where I read all my books. I spend many a late night cuddled in bed with the hubs and the newest YA series. Right now? Vampire Academy! In a nut shell: glitter, geekdom, neons, unicorns, and nail polish. Yep, pretty Melificent.

Now as an adult, I can appreciate all the little idiosyncrasies of the holiday. It’s a time to acknowledge all the love in your life, whether it be romantic or otherwise. Regardless of whether you are in a relationship, I can wager to say that you – all of you – are surrounded by love in one way or another. Embrace that on February 14th.

& with that, here’s a roundup of all my favorite heart-themed items to rock all year round;

Top; Love shirt || Nail decals || Heart pillow
Bottom; Heart flats || Heart wallet || Heart sweater

1. These sunnies from The Limited are just everything, aren’t they?? They totally scream modern Lolita to me. And at $30, they can definitely join my 15 other pairs without a problem. Hey! I live in Miami – sunglasses are a necessity, not a frivolous accessory!

2. Does this wine glass exist? Probably not. Should it? YES. I have never seen a more accurate portrayal of why one becomes a wino. Not saying that I am one or anything…I mean, it’s not like the staff at Total Wine recognize me….Just shut up, OK? I don’t have to explain myself to you.

3. By this point, I’m sure all of you are aware of the gloriously hilarious and inappropriate card game, Cards Against Humanity. It literally turns the lamest party into the best event you have ever attended – trust me. And it just got a little better thanks to whichever nameless geek over at Conventional Improv created this Doctor Who themed expansion pack. Downloaded and ready to print. Who wants to come over?

4. I am a relatively new fan to the wonder that is Fandom Cosmetics, but I just can’t get enough. It’s exactly what a fangirl with obsessive tendencies towards beauty products should never be exposed to. The worst kind of crossover. But, of course, I’m too deep in it now, especially after seeing their new range of geeky nail decals. I picked up both the Deathly Hallows set pictured above, as well as the Tardis set. I can’t wait to test them out, and will definitely post a review onto The Fangirl Diaries once I do!

5. Kate Spade, I don’t whether to kiss you or kill you sometimes. You confuse me. See. I love your products so much they make me want to cry, but I’m not really sure if I’m crying because of their sheer awesomeness or because I most probably will never be able to afford them. It’s a toss up. Either way, these shoes bring on those emotions. I invite you all to shed some tears with me. Unless you have $300 to spend on shoes, and in that case, I hate you (not really).

1. Although my eyes immediately fixate on hot heels, the reality of the matter is that I wear flats the most. I work with kids all day, every day and when I have time to relax, half of the time I don’t feel like fighting with a pair of uncomfortable stilettos. That’s why I’m trying to train my brain to become enamored with cute flats just as much. These are definitely a good place to start. They are adorable, look comfy and adhere to my “put a bow on it” mantra. Sold.

2. Thanks to the launch (& soon to be finale – sniff) of Sherlock’s series 3, I’m having a hard time focusing on anything else. Cue adorable Sherlock print from this Australian seller and I can’t handle myself. The feels are serious OK?!?!

3. As if I needed another excuse to grow my nail polish collection, Gwen Stefani goes ahead and partners with OPI. I obviously need every single one, but if I was made to pick only one shade, I would go with Hey Baby. But let’s be real. When do I ever just choose one? Intervention imminent.

4. I don’t know why I continue to expose myself to new and potentially wallet-ruining sites. Me & Zena is one of those. They have amazingly fun and unique jewelry pieces that not only call to me, but basically scream my name repeatedly. This unicorn necklace currently has me on speed dial.

5. I know it may be overkill at this point, but I love me a good chevron print. Leave it to Dwell Studio to cook up such a great looking coffee table in it. The price is definitely not right, but I am definitely enjoying it from afar.

So if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I took on not one, but TWO themed parties in the span of a week. Some may call it crazy, I call it a challenge. First off was our Great Gatsby New Years Eve bash. I had a lot of fun decorating our place with glitter, sequins and fringe, but lets be honest. What gets me most excited are the themed mani’s that come along with events!

I didn’t have a whole lot of time, so I had to look over great tutorials, such as this one, before settling on the one you see above (reference). I have to say that it was a super easy manicure to achieve and it looked fantastic! I was complimented on it for days afterwards and it held up nicely.

Gatsby Nails
Two coats of Essie‘s Shifting Power
Two coats of China Glaze‘s Smoke & Ashes, stopping a little short to create the reverse french effect
One heaping coat of Sally Hansen‘s Big Matte Top Coat only over the black portion

Only a few days later, we hosted a viewing party for the new series of BBC’s Sherlock, which I can honestly say is my new favorite show. I have an unhealthy addiction to it and just can’t get enough. It’s been awhile since I’ve felt the fangirl burn inside of me so bright! Of course, I would have these feelings for a show that only airs 3 episodes every 2 years. I hate you, Moffat. But all that aside: FINGERNAILS (reference).

Sherlock Nails
One coat of Sinful Colors‘ Snow Me White (or any white polish) over all fingers except your accent
Three coats of Essie‘s Bouncer It’s Me on all nails
Create the Union Jack on your accent nail using a toothpick (it works even better than my dotting tools!)
For the red, I used Essie‘s Aperitif

Also, remember to exercise patience while trying to pull off these manicures. I often do not succeed, but I’m trying my best to learn to sit still! Doing nail art while watching a movie or TV show tends to help keep me occupied.

Oh hai, December!!!

Although a lot of people think red lips as the main staple for holiday season makeup, I think it is equal parts smokey eye. Now, I’m no makeup artist, so I appreciated that the Studio Gear Cosmetics Holiday Smokey Eye Palette comes with play-by-play instructions on how to use the shadows to achieve the perfect look. And it’s your lucky day because I’m going to share them with you!

The first step is to use a primer on your lids. I don’t have primer (I should probably put that on my shopping list), so I just used my foundation on my lids as substitution. Next was layering their ice white shadow, Frost, on your eyelids to set. Then their charcoal shadow is to be applied lightly from crease to lash line.

Once your eyes are sufficiently smoked, then make a “V” using a crease brush at the outer corner of your eye. This is what creates that dramatic look. Then add a highlighter to the top lids – in this case, their Glimmer shade. With this highlighter, help blend the more hard and dark lines you had created to streamline the look. I decided to add one more step only because I wanted some extra oomph: eyeliner. I applied it to my lash line and just a tad under the corner of my eye to make them look a little larger.

Voila! The transformation from dull to sexy eyes was complete after only a few minutes max. Of course, I’d pair this look with a bright red lip and some fun holiday sparkle. Also, don’t forget to sprinkle a little Frost in the inside corner of your eyes for the illusion of living a restful and youthful lifestyle.

Before/After

If you want to give this a whirl yourself (& honestly who wouldn’t), take advantage of this awesome coupon code just for my lovely readers: {SGHOLIDAY for 10% off your purchase}

It is to be noted that the content on this post was sponsored.

1. I am so lazy with my watches. You may think I don’t have any because I never have one on my wrist, but I have a pretty nice collection. They are just all out of battery. I know, I know. Easy fix. But, like I said, I can be so lazy sometimes. Thankfully, I was graced with this fun and easy Timex (the Weekender, in case you were wondering). It’s so casual and versatile (& has the option of interchangeable bands – yay!). I also love its big white face – it really adds a pop! But what I love the most is the price point – you can pick up one of these babies for $50 (additional 25% off code: SAVE25). Perfect for the upcoming gift-giving season!

2. Have I caught you guys up? I’m totally in love with Doctor Who. It was bound to happen with all my Sherlock love (same writer/creator), although it did take a little 10 in my life for it to be solidified as fangirl status. So naturally, the hubs and I HAVE to have this TARDIS Christmas ornament. What better says holiday cheer than intergalactic time travel?

3. It finally happened. The heavens opened up and gifted Miami with a Trader Joe’s. I never thought this day would come, but I was finally able to experience the joyous event that is shopping at Trader Joe’s (without being on vacation). It was every bit as amazing as I thought it would be, and I managed to ring in at well under $100. Look at me and my self control. Favorite purchases? Pumpkin butter and a bag of Inner Peas.

4. At this point, I’m pretty sure you all know that I love me some J.J. Abrams. I think he is a master at storytelling and I personally cannot wait to see what he will do with Star Wars. I nearly peed myself, however, when I saw this trailer for an upcoming project entitled, Stranger. No one knew what it was and immediately the Internet started buzzing. It was finally revealed that the trailer was for a book that J.J. devised (and Doug Dorst wrote) called, S. Thanks to the hubby, I am now the proud owner of said book and cannot wait to dive into it. So far, it is classic Abrams, with all sorts of physical elements (literally, crap falls out of the book) and plenty of mystery.

5. Guys, it’s time to face the music. The holidays are here. I know for some of you, this is a happy statement, but for others (like me), it can be stressful. One female first world struggle is picking the right holiday lip color. So many shades of red, not enough time. Well, I’m here to make it easy for you. BA Star offers great and long-lasting makeup products (they are the #1 best seller for cheerleaders, dancers and competitors so you know this stuff is good) and I have fallen in love with their aptly named, Holiday Red lip pencil. It goes on so smooth, has full coverage and manages to stay in tact despite my animalistic eating rituals (seriously, its not pretty). Enjoy a 50% off promo code on me while you are at it: BBLIPS.

It is to be noted that some of the content on this post was sponsored.