Hello there! It's been a while and I havent been keeping my promise to post as often as I'd like. I'd intended to take you all on the journey of the redecorating project I started in my apartment and have failed to do so, but I must say the apartment is looking fantastic and I cant wait to share the photos of the final results!
Just recently i finally made the switch from blackberry to ipone and I am so, so happy i did! Not only does this mean I can post more frequently, but everything I need is literally at my fingertips! I've got appilcations for almost everything. From recipes from Epicurious to the most recent post from the entire PopSugar network. I Love it!
the past few weeks have been a bit of an overwhelming whirlwind, and to distract myself from personal drama, work and rent increases, I have started obssesing about redecorting my apartment. But, I'll be doing more adding then I will be changing things. I might experiement with moving a few things around to, see if i can create more space and flow in the rooms. But i really want to focus more on art, accents and functionality.
For example, I want to add shelves in the bathroom to create more storage space for all my lovely perfume bottle, skincare and make-up. I'd also like to add rugs to the kitchen and bedroom/living area, more shelves and little knick knacks to add depth and personality.
I've dubbed this the redecoration project, and I'll be sharing the process with you via blog. so stay tuned!
there are a few collections that i believe every lady should have, one is a collection of different perfumes - a broad enough range to keep people guessing. A few variations for every season and one signature. The same goes for nail polish. Bright colors for the spring and summer, vampy colors or mutes for the fall, and one shade that is your signature.
I used to frequent the nail shops, but since my budget doesnt seem to allow that any more, I've taken to inviesting in new bottles here and there and now I've got several colors to choose from.
Yesterday I picked up two new OPI colors - Lincoln Park After Dark and deep glossy eggplant ,and You Dont Know Jaques, a soft taupe.
The store I went to also carried the colors in Matte Polish, and even tho I've looked into matte polish recently, the online feedback hasnt been good and I'm not sure if I'f like it. If you've tried matte polish please let me know.
I'm so happy to finally share pic's of my new apartment with you! I couldnt have asked for a better place!
Whe I first began, I was aiming for slightly different look. I really wanted a lot of purple, but i ended up with a mostly blackand white color scheme with purple colored accents. Because I have so little color in the main room, I decided to explode with color in the kitchen. I'm still adding as I go but I'm pleased with how everything has come together so far.
My builiding is currently undergoing some renovations, so It's becoming clear to me that I couldnt have moved in at a better time (altough i'm sure the rent will go up after my first year lease is up). They installed harwood and new lighting in all the halways. I hope that the outdoor communal area get redone by next summer!
Anyway, I love my little unit. I think the rounded shape (see below) makes it really unique, and it's so large and spacey. Although i had to let Coco (my puppy) go, I think i may adopt a cat soon (i've already paid the pet deposit - cant just let that go to waste). Let me know what you think!
Luxe Living isnt just about fashion and shopping. A Luxe lifestyle includes the home and body as well. It would be nice to treat myself to a massage at the spa, a pedicure and manicure on a weekly basis, and eat out 2 or 3 times a week, but lets face it times are hard. I enjoy a spa pedicure as much as the next girl but it just doesnt work with my budget any more. Here are more tips for luxe living on a budget:
Dine In: Being back in school I've been spending more money then ever - eating and snacking during and between classes. I'm so tired after class that I'd rather pick up fast-food then go home and cook. But spending money that way is really hurting my pockets and I actually think some of that food has been making me sick. So I've made a promise to myself to cook my food in advance and start packing a lunch. I found a really cute lunch bag (on Etsy) that i hope will motivate me to carry a lunch every day.
I found easy-to make recipes on Real Simple, so I've made a grocery list and I am excited to stock my fridge with yummy food. Since fall is soon approaching, I plan on bringing out my slow cooker so that when i get home at the end of the day, I'll have a warm meal waiting at home. And, if you dont already know Trader Joe's has really good wine for less than $6, so you can treat yourself to a really luxe meal for an extra cheap price.
Forget the Spa and Nail Shop: I've started giving myself the spa treatment at home. No more manicures, I've been buying my own bottles of nail polish and doing my nails myself. Invest in a good base coat and a few colors that you really love and you'll save so much $. Sephora has really good polishes for about $6. Two or three colors will last you all season, and whenever you need a touch up it's free.
I really like to invest in my skincare although I cant afford the really luxiourious brands like Fresh and Clinque. But Sephora, Ulta and even Target have great budget beauty brands. I love the Soap & Glory bubble bath and body butter that I got from target. And i picked up some great facial masks and bath salts from Ulta. I even found an awesome exfoliating scrub on clearance at Pier 1 Imports. Good brands to try are Neutrogena, Booth's, Aveeda, Soap and Glory, and Earth Therapeutics.
I hope this has been helpful, but dont worry, more budget tips are on the way!
Luxe living on a budget is tough! Everyone is struggling in this economy, including myself, with reduced working hours and furlough days. To be honest, a smaller budget doesnt make wants and needs go away, but it does hamper your ability to satisfy those luxury cravings. With bills stacking up left and right, I've been forced to come up with some budget friendly options to obtain my luxe living facade. Many have already come in very handy, while others i haven't had the opportunity to try yet, but hopefully you'll find a few helpful tips. Let me know how they work for you!
Shopping Used/Thrift/Handmade: While in the book store the other day I picked up a hardcover book that was around $22. I really wanted the book but i knew i would probably need that money for something more important later. Then i remembered that i could probably find the same book 90% cheaper online. I'd ordered used books before but i'd always preferred to buy brand new, but this way was just smarter. I found the same book on the Barnes and Noble website for $1.99 + shipping.
Another great option is shopping handmade, like my friend Beth's online shop Salvage Life, which offers great restored vintage clothing, accessories, and decor. Etsy is another great online source where crafty people sell their handmade goods for reasonable prices. Jewelry, art, clothes, housewares, accessories, furniture - you name it, Etsy has it. Quite often, these handmade designers showcase their goods at craft fairs like the Speakeasy Indie Craft Show hosted by the Handmade Brigade of Orange County.
Sample Sales: My Sassy City puts on great Sample Sales in Los Angeles, San Fransisco and San Diego. Made up of several designers and retailers, you get great deals and discounts all in one place. My girlfriends and I once went right before Christmas and got lots of gifts for family and friends for crazy low prices! These sorts of sample sales are better than those hosted by one designer or boutique because you get lots of deals in one place and usually a gift bag (and free cocktail).
DIY: I loathe Do-It-Yourself jobs but I've really been wanting some fashionable art for my apartment, and not only have i had very little luck finding what I'm looking for, but when I do find it it's usually pretty expensive. I've heard several times that I could use my own camera, take the photos that i want, print them and frame them, but i finally decided to give it a try and i must say it turned out better than i expected. I'm actually considering doing some more and selling them on Etsy. If you've got craft that your good at, I recommend doing the same. It's free to join and a really easy way to make a little pocket change.
More tips to come soon (i've got a whole list). In the mean time check out a few of the pic's i took below:
Yesterday my mom and I made an impromptu stop at the South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa. While we were milling about, I remembered that I'd recently gotten an Teen Vogue It Girls email informing me that there would be a Haute Spot set-up at SCP for the next month.
The Teen Vogue Haute spot is a temporary shop set up by Teen Vogue magazine that features a lounge, clothes and accessories, free snacks and gift bags, and lots of special events. Store from all over the mall send over there hottest items to be displayed so It Girls can peruse whats hot and then go purchase the item in the mall.
Dragged my mom over so we could check it out and it was actually very cool! There were high school aged fashionistas having fun and helping out around the shop. There was a cool Internet lounge sponsored by HP, complimentary drinks from Izze and snacks from PopChips. There was even a Teen Vogue wall where you could take photos and have them printed on the spot.
The best part was if you purchase and item from one of their sponsors you got a cool gift big with up $300 of swag! I persuaded my mom to make a purchase so I could get the bag I was rewarded with sports gear from Nike, nail polish, sunglasses, a Paul Frank Iphone case, perfume samples, jewelry from Charlotte Russe, a one-year subscription to teen vogue and much more!
They've got several events planned for the month of september including a screen of The September Issue, a lots of fashion shows featuring Vans, Ugg and other awesome brands so I know I'll be stopping by again!
As you will soon learn, I LOVE the Fall. New York is so lucky because they have my idea of the perfect fall season - Leaves falling, nippy weather good for a nice warm coat and boots - pretty much the opposite of fall in L.A.
And it's not just the weather - with fall comes new everything. New music, great movies, new school semester and new seasons of my favorite TV shows! Yeah the second season of True Blood ends next week, but that's OK because I've got other shows to obsess over - Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl (both of which are set in New York). In addition, I'm also excited to check out the return of Melrose Place and The Vampire Diaries.
Let us not forget that we are finally being blessed with the much anticipated documentary, The Septembe Issue! The buzz is unbearable, I really cant wait. Also, we'll get to swoon over Taylor Lautner in the second movie from the Twilight saga, New Moon (my favorite of all four books! go team Jacob!).
I get like this at the end of every summer. I obsess over what fall clothes I'm going to buy, eagerly awaiting the day where I can pull out my warm quilt, rain boats and my lovely fall coats. And, every fall I am slightly let down because L.A wont allow me the fall I've always dreamed of. Ugh! New York is so lucky!
In the mean time I've been having a little fall fun over at Polyvore - I made this cute little set inspired by my favorite season and one of my favorite shows! Enjoy!
If you're a fan of MTV's Americas Best Dance Crew, you may recall Boston's Status Quo (now SQ Entertainment), who were runners up to season 1 winners JabbaWockeez. From the very first episode, I declared SQ to be my favorite crew, and after a tedious Internet search I landed myself some tickets to the taping (then at Sony Studios). It was then that I met and befriended a few of the SQ guys, and almost two years later we remain in contact.
As far as they made it on ABDC, after losing to Jabba the road for SQ has been a rough one. Despite hard times (including a few dancers leaving the group), negativity, and harsh criticism, they continue to perform and compete, and their devoted fans and followers continue to support them. A few weeks ago, I learned that the guys would be back in Los Angeles to compete on America's Got Talent. They'd auditioned and been cut after the second round, but they'd been invited back as a "wild card" selection.
The night before the big show, my friend Taliah and I went to hang out with the guys while they practiced in their Beverly Hills hotel. The hotel was AWESOME - a huge step up from when MTV had them staying at the Raddisson. Part of me was hoping they would make it ot the next round just so I could free load on wi-fi and use the swimming Pool.
The guys were their same goofy selves and were excited to be back in Cali. Since they dont have Jack in the Box in Boston, I picked some up on my way over, which made their night - especially SQ crew leader Ernest, aka E-Knock.
E-knock is great because he has so much energy ALL THE TIME! He showed me an awesome drawing of Michael Jackson that he plans to get tatt'ed on his leg. He was telling me that someone had questioned why he chose his leg for the tattoo and his answer was simply "because he is the reason why my legs move." Later after showing him my attempts at break dancing, he taught me a '6-step,' move which I still havent quite mastered.
Practice lasted about an hour and a half. The were silly as usual, and often got distracted (a water fight and a flipping contest), but we had fun and Taliah and I enjoyed watching our private show. But the almost two hour practice session couldn't prepare me for what I would witness the next day. At the actual live taping of AGT (which was long as hell btw), with the lights, effects and screaming audience, Taliah and I were blown away. I was sitting next to some kid who could hardly sit still and before the show I asked him who he was there to see and he said "my favorite dance crew ever, Status Quo!" The performance was great and they got positive feedback from the judges - even Piers. The next day, many online sources named it among the top performances of the night.
I had high hopes, but only 5 of the 12 performers would make it to the next round, and sadly SQ didnt get enough votes to proceed. I stopped by the hotel one last time before their departure back to Boston the next day. I was sad to see them go, but still happy that they are not giving up on performing and doing what they love. I'll continue to support them, and I hope they make it back to L.A. again soon!
I was soooo excited when my BFF, Jazmin, called to tell me that her sister could no longer attend the Beyonce concert with her and asked me to go in her place!
I was excited for two very big reasons. One, because when Jazmin arrived from Japan, our plans fell through and we didnt get to spend as much time together as I hoped. So not only would we have the chance to hang out, but we would also be doing something really cool.
Second, was because when MJ passed away, I was really bummed about the thought of never being able to see him perform live, which is always something I wanted to do. So I promised myself that I would see all of my favorite performers in concert whenever possible. And yay! This just fell into my lap.
Before the concert, Jazmin and I wanted to get out and do some fun stuff. We went shopping on Hollywood Blvd, and then after seeing the ginormous line outside of Pink's hot dog stand (an LA tourist attraction) she insisted that we had to have one. It was both of our first times there, and after about a hour wait (in sweltering heat), we got to taste what all the fuss was about. I had a plain hot dog with ketchup and mustard and some chili cheese fries, and she had the fancy Mayor Villariagosa Jalapeno dog. Everything was great. We were so stuffed that we immediately went home to take a nap before the concert.
Beyonce was great! I was on my feet almost the entire time. Her energy was non-stop, she really impressed me. What was most surprising was the length of the show. i was expecting a little more than an hour but she was on stage for more than 2 hours! I really enjoyed the overall production of the show. She Incorporated home videos of her as a child which made it really personal. I was also pleased with the small Michael Jackson tribute she did at the end, singing "Michael i can feel your Halo, I pray you wont fade away." What made it even more special was the home video footage the had of her at about 5 years old, getting ready to attend a Michael Jackson concert with her family.
i had a great time, and am happy to have yet another memory with my BFF since we dont see each other often. and now the pics....
The diary of a luxe life. Follow me as i dicsuss my life in the trendy city of west L.A., my adventures as an aspiring event planner, nightlife with friends, and my thoughts on fashion, music, books, movies, and pop culture.
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