What I Got for Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas lovelies!

I hope you spent the day with loved ones and lots of food. Speaking of food, check The Pink Teaspoon for lots and lots of delicious holiday recipes!

Every year, my entire extended family journeys to my grandmother's estate in snowy Texas to celebrate together. With an upwards of 30 people, you could imagine that there were a lot of presents. I am so thankful for what I received, and as I mature, I realize that giving is so much more delightful than receiving. 

My parents have this tradition where they give me presents every day leading up to Christmas starting on the first. It's basically a glorified version of an advent. Because there were so many gifts involved in the "countdown to xmas" fiasco, I will only be showing you all the presents I received Christmas morning. 

1. Juicy Couture C’est Bon Pyjama Set 

2. Lululemon Base Runner 1/2 Zip 

3. Pointelle Ribbed Over the Knee Socks 

4. Lululemon Free to Be Bra 

5. Divergent Books

6. Jimmy Choo Biker Boots

7. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palate 

8. Valentino Stud Bow Purse 

9. Madewell Sleep-in Set

10. Amazonian Pink Dolphin

I adopted an Amazonian Pink Dolphin this Christmas named Ellie!

11. African Elephant

Charlotte the elephant!

12. Cartier Love Ring- Rose Gold 

13. Fuzzy Socks

14. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palate 

15. Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Connoly' Sweater 

16. Fairisle Printed Onsie 

17. Lululemon Skinny Will Yoga Pants 

18. Starbucks Tumbler 

19. Nike Running Shoes

20. Nike Tennis/Golf Skirt 

xx,

Joanna

Fit Tip: The Perfectly Proportioned Plate

It’s OK to indulge a little around the holidays. I certainly won’t deny myself a slice of pumpkin pie (or two!). But unless you’re looking to gain 10 pounds in a single holiday weekend, practicing portion control is still key during this time of year. In my opinion, no one should be counting calories at a holiday dinner—that takes all the fun out of it. But, if you keep this little trick in mind you won’t have to. Here’s how to build the perfectly portioned plate…

• ½ Vegetables. First, load up on enough healthy greens or veggies so that they take up half of your plate. Salads, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and squash are a few of my favorites. But keep in mind that too much dressing or butter can turn these healthy sides unhealthy.
• ¼ Protein. Devote one quarter of your plate to a protein like turkey or ham. A 3-ounce serving of turkey is about the size of your fist or a deck of cards.
• ¼ Starches. The remaining fourth of your plate can be made up of starches. This includes stuffing, rolls, and starchy vegetables like yams, mashed potatoes, and corn.

This is definitely a good template to follow during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, but it also applies year-round. If you’re really watching your waistline, stick to drinking water during dinner. Soda should be off limits. Also, fill up your plate with a proper amount of food the first time in order to avoid going back for seconds. If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll still have room for that slice of pumpkin pie!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

xx,

J

Uber Exciting News- The Pink Teaspoon Launch!

Happy Monday, lovelies!

I am so excited to finally be able to announce the blog launch of The Pink Teaspoon!

This has been a little side project that I have been working on for months, because of my love for cooking and baking.

Coming from a very food-focused family, I have been exposed to many aspects of cooking as well as baking.

Since food doesn't really fit the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle themed blog of City Girl in Pink, I created The Pink Teaspoon to talk about a girl's best friend, food! (ok, ok, diamonds are pretty too)

On The Pink Teaspoon, I will be posting recipes and tips for every kind of diet (gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, ect.) I am super excited for this outlet and hope you guys enjoy it too!

Love and Light,

J

Luxe Holiday Gift Guide

It’s only the beginning of November, but if you’re not already thinking about the holidays, you may be the only one! To ring in the coming weeks of holiday sparkle and cheer, I've put together a gift guide filled with my favorite luxury items. Since I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t love Burberry’s classic silhouettes and signature plaid, their exclusive collection with Nordstrom seemed like the perfect thing to inspire this luxe gift guide.

1. Burberry London Compact Umbrella ($325)
2. Burberry ‘House Check – Large’ Zip Around Wallet ($535)
3. Burberry Check Scarf ($350)
4. Burberry Cashmere Blend Knit Gloves ($195)
5. Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Robe ($98)
6. Rodin Luxury Hand Cream ($80)
7. Diptyque ’34′ Scented Candle ($80)
8. Loren Hope ‘Clara’ Earrings in Midnight ($68)
9. Tom Ford L ip Color ($49)
10. Kate Spade New York ‘Metro Grand’ Boxed Watch Set ($225)
11. Burberry Beauty ‘Lip Cover’ Soft Satin Lipstick Set ($72)
12. Burberry ‘Pencomb’ Loafer ($495)

Essie The Lace is On

Fall is my favorite season- the colder weather, layers, pumpkin spice lattes && of course- fall fashion. That obviously includes darker nail colors and jewel tones like this one from Essie’s newest collection-

Essie “The Lace is On”

Whenever I think of jewel tones or darker fall nail polish my brain just pulls a “florals for spring… how groundbreaking” a la Devil Wears Prada [nothing new, but always loved]. This color seems to switch it up a little bit from the typical cranberries [still not acknowledging that word that starts with an 'O' and ends with '-xblood']. I love this richer hybrid of magenta and purple. It’s got the punch of a brighter color but the warmth of a colder weather, darker polish. The perfect color for the transitional month! The application is also easy- took one coat for color, second was just for perfection.

xx, J

Crave or Save

I've been on the fence about the whole elevated sweatshirt trend, but now I'm behind it, 100%. Sometimes I think a casual piece should remain just that, but in this case, a little sparkle never hurt anyone. And the options range from cool edgy animals (à la Kenzo), to studded perfection (thanks Isabel Marant) and everything in-between. My favorite look is the embellished top. I love how it adds a bit of girly appeal to a normally androgynous post-sports-game silhouette. This Lanvin one, complete with crystal beetles, is creepily cool, and also exorbitantly expensive. As an alternative, this J.Crew option has the same vibe and color palette at a fraction of the price.

Nail Files: My Favorite Fall Polishes

Each time the seasons change, I like to assess my collection of nail polishes and decide which colors are on-trend for the coming months. Last fall, I was partial to navy, dark green and gold. This year, I’ve got my eye on holographics, plums, and grays. Here’s why…

Holographic
From street style sunnies to show-stopping accessories, holographic details have been a popular trend in 2013. I recently spotted Essie’s For the Twill of It and had to have it on my nails immediately. Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Kaleidoscope is another noteworthy shade. The best part about these polishes is that they change colors in different lighting, so your nails will look different throughout the day.

Plum
I love wearing plum shades on my nails when the weather starts to cool down. To me, plum polish is to fall as pale pink polish is to summer. Some of my favorites are OPI’s Lourve Me Lourve Me Not and Butter London’s Branwen’s Feather (which has a little sparkle to it). You can’t go wrong with either one of these colors on your fingertips.

Gray 
Gray is having a major moment in fashion right now. I’ve been seeing so many bloggers sporting all-gray outfits. I love the way this color effortlessly transitions from summer to fall. So, why shouldn’t your nails be invited to the gray party? Go for YSL’s No39 Beige Gallery for a light, neutral take on the color. If you’re looking for more of a charcoal, try Sephora by OPI’s Break A Leg-Warmer!

How creative are all of those polish names? That’s half the fun of discovering new colors (at least I think so).

Happy painting!

xx, J

Overnight Beauty Secrets

Sleeping Beauty had the right idea…after all, who doesn’t want to sleep for a hundred years and wake up looking flawless? Though Aurora’s story may be a fairytale, there’s still hope for those of us living in the 21st century. Today, I’m sharing 10 overnight beauty tips that will help you wake up with soft skin, bright eyes, perfect waves and more. The best part? All of the magic happens while you slumber, giving a whole new meaning to the term “beauty sleep.”  Read on for a few of my favorite overnight beauty tips that will have you feeling like Sleeping Beauty come sunrise…

1.) Soften

For a pampering overnight treatment, apply Vaseline to the soles of your feet and put on socks before you sleep. The socks help bind the moisture to your feet and you’ll wake up to soft, smooth soles. Now all you need is a pair of strappy heels to show them off…

2.) De-puff

If you constantly wake up with puffy, swollen eyes, try this simple switch: Add an extra pillow and sleep on your back. This will allow the fluids around your eyes to drain easier and keep the puffiness to a minimum.  And of course, don’t forget your eye cream. Look for creams that list caffeine as one of the ingredients—it will help keep fluids moving.

3.) Create waves

To wake up with perfect waves, simply shower at night and style your hair before bed. Allow your strands to air dry until they’re damp, and run some light styling crème through with your fingers. Depending on your hair type and what kind of waves you prefer, you can either sleep in braids or twist your hair into buns. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Bed head has never looked so good.

4.) Moisturize

Ladies with dry skin, take note: A humidifier might just change your skin forever. Turn one on before you sleep (this works best during colder months when the air is drier) and let it work its magic. It instills the air with moisture, which in turn helps plump your skin and keep it hydrated.  

5.) Prevent wrinkles

Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase can cause creases on your skin and create wrinkles. Instead, pamper yourself by investing in a silk or satin one. It will lessen the pressure on your skin and help prevent hair breakage.  

6.) Whiten teeth

For an easy DIY whitening treatment, try brushing some baking soda to your pearly whites right before bed. Leave the mixture on for 5-6 minutes and make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards. This is a perfect PM beauty treatment because in the waking hours, you would normally have to wait about 50 minutes before eating or drinking anything afterwards. Just make sure you are only doing this once a week; any more, and the acid in baking soda can wear down your tooth enamel.

7.) Brighten

It’s best to apply any face products that have brightening ingredients like retinol and vitamin C in them at night. Sunlight can actually deactivate them and prevent them from working to their fullest potential.  

8.) Lengthen lashes

Give your fluttery fringe some loving with a DIY lash lengthening treatment. The secret ingredient? Castor oil. This natural oil is rich in super-hydrating omega-6 fatty acids, which help moisturize your lashes and prevent breakage. Using a clean spoolie, gently brush the castor oil through your lashes each night. In the morning, just rinse with warm water and wash your face as usual. You should notice healthier lashes in just a few weeks!

9.) Repair

Smooth a leave-in conditioner into your locks before you snooze to wake up to shiny, soft strands. Applying it in the evening gives treatment more time to penetrate into your hair cuticles for optimum moisture. (For a great natural alternative, try coconut oil.)

10.) Smooth

Nail beds looking dry? Apply cuticle cream or oil before you sleep and slip on gloves afterwards. You’ll wake up to healthy, hydrated nail beds. Now you just have to decide on the perfect polish color…

Sleep well!

xx, J

Casual Chic

It has been a looooonnnggg time since I talked about fashion on City Girl in Pink! I've always wanted to do fashion posts with outfits, but was a little skeptical. So here's a sneak peek of what may or may not be coming to CGP. 

California has not been very fall-ish until last week when it rained. Until then, it was nothing but blue skies and sunshine. So in this outfit, I incorporated a few of the key pieces that I will be wearing this fall!

First: The Leather Jacket

I searched high and low for a casual, affordable jacket that I wouldn't mind getting wet and would go with everything. Sounds easy, no? It was seriously the hardest thing to find! I finally settled on this buttery leather (faux of course) jacket that is lightweight and great for layering! 

*typical anon shot*

P.S.: These tank is so adorable! 

P.P.S.: Elephants are my favorite animal. 

Second: The Bootie

In case you haven't heard, booties are like the thing. I even wrote a blog post about it-Link! These are super comfortable and easy to walk in. Let's be honest, heels aren't the comfiest things to walk in. AND they're the perfect fall color and complement everything. literally everything.

Fall is my favorite season for clothing, so stay tuned for more fashion posts coming soon! 

xx, J

Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains

Happy Tuesday! 

Now that fall is in swing and pumpkin patches popping up everywhere, I wanted to change up my lips a little. The colder weather causes my lips to dry and flake): (yay for baby Vaseline), so I definitely did not want to go into the trouble of using a lip stick. Plus, the wind blows my hair and it adheres itself to my lip gloss, so that was also another no-go. Then, after I tried the Jelly Lip Balm Stain from my August GlossyBox Review,I knew that I wanted to try more of these lipstick, stain, and gloss hybrids. 

 What better place to get inexpensive lip products than the drugstore, right? So off I went to my local Walgreens, and I found balm stains for under $5. Jordana's volumizing mascara is my absolute holy grail mascara, so I picked out a couple fun shades. The first color (in order in the picture) is 06 Cranberry Crush, the next 07 Rock n Rouge, and 02 Sweet Pink. These are colors that I most likely would not wear on an everyday basis, but for $4 and some change, why not?

Cranberry Crush shows up wayyyyy lighter than what it looks like in the tube. At first, I was scared to even try it, but it's definitely wearable! The color doesn't go well with my skin tone, but people with fair skin would look amazing with it on. Rock n Rouge is just a staple red. This bold color is perfect with the holidays coming around (P.S.: I even started my wish list). It's super pigmented and goes on like a dream. The last color is Sweet Pink, which I would describe as a neutral, blue-toned pink. This is my everyday lip color and they stain your lips after the gloss wears off. Overall, I highly recommend trying these out!

In order: Cranberry Crush, Rock n Rouge, Sweet Pink

xx, J

Trend Report: Booties

I don't know about you but every time I think of fall, I think of fashion. Fall is one of my favorite seasons because of the variety of outfits that can be worn. While the outfits may change, one essential stays the same- the bootie. 

Booties must be one of the most versatile shoes this season. Summery Maxi Dress? Booties. Leggings and a pullover? Booties. Cardigan and pleated skirts? Booties. They just make everything so fall-ish and appropriate. 

Now, there are countless options of booties out there (super overwhelming, btw) but my top three picks would have to be: Rag & Bone 'Classic Newbury', DV by Dolce Vita 'Colten', and these Jimmy Choo's. 

These shoes just complete an outfit without looking to overpowering, like a chunky boot, and go with literally everything. I die for those Jimmy Choo's, btw. 

Not only do these shoes complement an ensemble, they are comfortable. I seriously walk like a newborn calf in high heels, and wedged booties or booties with a thicker heel just give that extra boost of support. They give you the advantage of a heel with the comfort of a flat. Tres Chic. 

Happy shopping!

xx, J

Hello October, Goodbye September

It's THAT time of the year again. The time where leaves start changing, branches start falling, and Starbucks brings back Pumpkin Spice Lattes. (Speaking of which, they now make them in K-Cup forms for the Keurig!)

I've decided to do a monthly post on year just to inspire and motivate. So many people are already lowering standards and slacking off and it's, like, not even Christmas yet. 

Every month, I'm going to write down one goal that I wish to achieve. These goals don't have to be large, it can be little things, like working out every day or studying for 30 minutes.

Remember,"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."- Napoleon Hill

Good luck and have a wonderful month!

xx, J

RiRi ♡ Mac Fall Collection: Overview+Swatches

Well one thing's for certain, Riri really loves MAC.

Yup, another Riri Loves MAC collection. This time, it's centered around Fall. Some parts are great, some parts are, well, a bit redundant. But nonetheless, as a whole, it is a really gorgeous collection.
First of all, the packaging to me is beautiful.

Hot pink and rose gold everywhere. Totally reminds me of early 90's Barbie stuff!

I think the concept is really great- Riri Loves MAC. Riri helps design stuff for MAC. People who love Riri and MAC rejoice and buy the collection.

However, I feel like it's getting a bit repetitive. Don't get me wrong... I think she's created some GREAT stuff. We all love Riri Woo (although already pretty similar to Ruby Woo), but I feel like they may as well make it a part of the permanent line just because it seems like these Riri releases are getting pretty close together. 

Riri Loved MAC in the Summer, now Riri's Loving MAC again in the Fall. Makes sense.

So we've got Riri Woo again. Not surprising. But I was also kind of disappointed (and surprised) that they re-promoted the Hibiscus Kiss blush duo (in the new packaging, of course). I just thought it would've been fun to have that product in a different shade because Hibiscus Kiss is nice, but maybe creating one in some deeper shades? Especially since this is a "Fall" collection. That's such a cool little duo product that I think would be awesome in different shades. It's just confusing to me. Also, a re-packaging of lots of items already in the permanent line (36 & 38 lashes, Extended Play Lash mascara, and a black Liquidlast Liner). These would be a great addition to a large collection, but I just didn't feel like the collection was big enough to warrant that many permanent and re-promoted products.

However, the products that are new are nice. The re-promoted ones are nice too, but I felt like this collection really could've been extra-awesome with even more new stuff.

Ok, so I got a little carried away and did the post a bit backwards... Usually those types of thoughts come at the end of the post.  So let's continue to the products and the swatches of items I have from the collection and I'll share more of my thoughts on the specific products throughout the post.

The Riri Loves MAC Fall collection contains: 
2 Eye Shadow Quads, 4 Lipsticks, 1 Lipglass, 2 Pro Longwear Lip Pencils, Extended Play Lash, 1 Liquidlast Liner, 2 Veluxe Brow Liners, 1 Powder Blush Duo, 1 Powder Blush, 1 Cream Colour Base, 2 lashes, 2 special edition brushes

Extended Play Lash in Gigablack $17.50

One of my favorite MAC mascaras. Especially presh in this new pink packaging.

Powder Blush Duo in Hibiscus Kiss $29.

While I think this duo could work on most skin tones, I think it's especially suited for more fair tones. It would be very subtle and a bit "glowy" on darker skin tones.

Cream Colour Base in Diamonds $22.

This is definitely one of my stand-out products in the collection. Cream Colour Bases are super-versatile. Especially one in a more natural tone like this. I would use this to highlight my cheekbones, maybe even the smallest bit on my eyelids when I want a bit of a more natural look with a bit of shimmer.

 Powder Blush in Bad Girl Gone Good $23.

swatched beneath Diamonds

While it could definitely be sheered out and work for lighter skin tones, I think this blush would look amazing on medium-dark skin tones. Personally, it's a bit orange for moi.

 Eye Shadow x4 in Smoked Cocoa $44

Gotta be honest- Based on these swatches, this quad is not my favorite.  Color-wise, it's nothing unique. If you're into makeup, you've probably got something similar to this. What bothers me the most is that I found the quality of a few of the shades to be a bit off. Especially the one in the lower right. It swatched pretty badly and wasn't smooth at all. Seemed like it would be a nightmare to blend.

The collection also contains another quad, "Her Cocoa". It contains all more natural bronze and brown shades. 

 Lipsticks in Nude and Talk That Talk, $16.50

"Nude" is actually a great nude for darker skin tones. "Talk That Talk" could definitely be sheered out and work almost like a stain effect on anyone, but I think it's definitely best suited for medium to darker skin tones as well.

Lipglass in Riri Woo $16.50

Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Riri Woo, $21.50

Liquidlast Liner in Pointblack $21.50

Veluxe Brow Liner in Deep Dark Brunette, $21.50

I just really love Riri Woo. Not usually the biggest red fan (I should say, red wearer), but I've really always loved this cool-toned, beautiful red. Just an all-around good, super solid red lip gloss. The Riri Woo liner and lipglass have really awesome color payoff.

I personally cannot wear the Liquidlast liners. I've never been really sensitive to any other eye product but these irritate my eyes. No fun.

I'm actually really impressed with the Veluxe Brow Liners. The color payoff is great and they're super soft, yet have that sort of "dry" consistency that of a brow pencil.

all swatched below

xx, J