New Years Eve Makeup

When your planning your makeup look for tonight, remember that there is nothing sexier than the confidence of a woman who feels comfortable in her own skin! Wether you are going for fun and flirty (like me), cool and edgy, or soft a subtle, the most important thing is that your makeup represents you and how amazing you feel!

Below are my must haves for tonights festivities! What are you going to be wearing?

My must haves: Urban Decay Book of Shadows eyeshadow kit, Maybline Great Lash mascara, Lorac blush in Hollywood and Fit Me foundation and powder in 120.

Great Clutch!

While looking through the Jan 2012 issue of Marie Claire I spotted this super cute (and affordable) faux suede clutch in a great blue jewel tone (express.com). This is a great accessory for any casual daytime outing, love it!

Betsey Johnson- Maye Pump

I love these chunky heel pumps by Betsey Johnson. Now, I'm not usually a fan of thick heels (there is just something sooo sexy about a stiletto), but these are super fun and girly! Pair them with a bold fabric or bleated skirt and a solid cardigan for a fun work look. At $49.99 ( 6pm.com) they are a steal!

Cute Look from asos.com

I totally love this cute little maxi dress by asos.com. I haven't ordered anything from them yet, but I have done some research and the reviews don't seem great. It looks like there are lots of bad customer service/returned merchandise types of complaints, so buyer beware. I'm thinking of ordering something cheap just to ensure I have a good experience before I invest more money (standard shipping is free to the US). Has anyone else ordered from asos.com and want to share their experience?

New Foundation- Fit Me by Maybelline

So, I haven't always been a fan of foundation. The few times in my teens that I tried it left me with shiny, oily skin that left MUCH to be desired. Recently thought, I have been reconsidering as I venture more and more into the world of makeup. So I set out on a search for a new/affordable foundation..... and I'm kind of strong-liking the "FIT me" foundation by Maybelline. It goes on smooth and provides nice coverage, without being greasy. I was looking for a finished look so I picked up the powder today on my way home from work. So far I am really liking these products, not love....but a strong like is a definite step in the right direction.

I Love These!

Best Christmas gift of 2011.......I got a pair of these red, black and white sneaker slippers and I LOVE THEM!!!!! They are super comfortable and really cute! I think every girl needs a pair!! ($26 at http://www.buyhappyfeet.com/HappyFeet/Happy-Feet/Red-Black-and-White)

Another Great Make-up Tutorial

Restaurant Review: Cienega-Two thumbs Down

Cienega Restaurant in New Rochelle, NY -Two thumbs Down.
I went here for my birthday dinner and received the worst service. The organizer took my reservation wrong (for the wrong amount of people and at the wrong time) and then I had to deal with a really bad attitude from who I am assuming was another hostess when they called to confirm. When we got to the restaurant the hostess didn't greet us and didn't even bother to introduce herself to me (I was the one throwing the dinner for 16 people). We were seated even though they didn't have enough tables for my party, so two of my guests had to stand for about 15 minutes until another one of my guests just took a table that had been recently unoccupied. Not once did anyone come over to apologize for the inconvenience or make any effort to help. The waiter began taking orders, again, no introduction. The food arrived fairly quickly, but was overly salty and the meat portions were too large compared to the small side servings. My dessert order was taken (no one else's was) and brought out, so as I sat eating my dessert everyone else was waiting for their order to be taken. Akward, bad service. I would not return to this restaurant.

Torrid Casual Look

Love this fun casual look from Torrid! Great for a day of shopping or a visit to see the family. I personally am all about layers and mixing textures (corduroy leggings!), so I instantly loved this. Pricing: sweater dress $58.50, corduroy leggings $27.00, bangle $14.50, earrings $14.50 all at torrid.com

Tip: This top will look better on those of us with a fuller chest, the framing around the bust can look a little awkward otherwise.

O.P.I Miami Beet

My new holiday nail color....LOVE IT!

Adele

My inspiration <3

A Girl Like Me

A Girl Like Me by nicolelissette featuring a pleated dress

Tom Collins anyone?

My new drink of choice? A Tom Collins of course! I am super obsessed with this drink, it's a little sweet and pretty light tasting, but don't let that fool you...this is definitely a two drink maximum kind of beverage. Enjoy!

Tip: Drinking and driving is NOT COOL. If you can plan to drink, you can plan to arrange safe transportation home. Happy drinking.

ICONS-NYC'S Hottest Drag Show

If you are in NYC this show is a MUST SEE!! Super fun and entertaining, the ticket prices are more than reasonable and the entire cast really puts a lot into the show! Love, Love, Love!

ps. the Whitney skit is EPIC!

Super Cute Sweater!

Love this super cute short sleeved sweater. The over-sized turtleneck and the thick rib knit in this soft grey is a super cute combo. At $14.99 it's really a great buy (fashiontofigure.com)!

Tipping Etiquette

I have a secret….and that secret is a serious obsession with etiquette! With the holidays underway I thought it would be nice to get a little refresher on tipping etiquette. Here are bits from a few good articles I found…hopefully you find it helpful!

Day to Day:

• Food delivery person: 10% of the bill (excl. tax), at least $1 for bills up to $10. Should tip 15%-20% for a difficult delivery.
• Barber: 15% to 20%, minimum $1, for a haircut. For other services (shampoo, shave or manicure) tip $1 to $2 to service provider.
• Hairdresser: 15% to 20%. (It is now acceptable to tip owner, unless he or she says otherwise.)
• Shampoo person: $2
• Manicurist: 15%
• Spa service (e.g., massage): 15% to 20%. If service is provided by owner, no tip.

Restaurants:

• The usual tip is fifteen (15) to twenty (20) percent on the pre-tax amount of the bill.
• Self-service restaurants: 10%.
• Extra accommodating waiters: an extra $5.00 for extra special service.
• If your meal costs much less than the restaurant average. If you eat light, or use a coupon, it is thoughtful to leave a tip commensurate with a full-priced meal.
• Unless you are a frequent patron, it is not necessary to tip the maitre d'. However, if you are a regular, you may want to give the host $10 to $20 every once to cultivate your relationship and to say "thank you" for special services.
• As you wait for a table, you can either pay for drinks as you order or run a tab, which will be added to your dinner bill. Leave a tip for the bartender before you leave the bar. $1 per drink is standard.
• Tip washroom attendants at least $1.00 for handing you a towel.
• Tip the parking attendant $2.00.
• If there was a problem that wasn't taken care of or your waiter was surly, tip eight percent. (According to the Internal Revenue Service most restaurants report eight percent of their take as wait staff income, so reducing the tip any further actually costs the server).

Travel:

• Staying in a hotel? I leave between $3-$5 per night for the housekeeping crew.
• If you are checking your bags curbside at the airport, $1-$2 per bag is fair.
• If you use a hotel concierge, you should probably tip them at least $5 for getting you tickets or reservations to a show. Give more if they help more, as you never know when you may need them.
• For taxis, a pretty standard tip is 15% of the final bill.
• For limo drivers, 20% of the bill is fair.
• Ever travel overnight on Amtrak? I have, many times – and the sleeping car attendants can make or break your trip. A tip of $3-$5 per day/per passenger can make all the difference.
• When taking the shuttle from the rental car place to the airport, most people tip the drive $1 per bag (if they help you with it).

My Favorite Rain Boot

I've had my hunters for about 3 years and they are still my favorite rain boots! I really consider them a great investment, they are awesome at keeping your feet dry in any weather and are actually pretty cute when paired with skinny jeans and a tucked in button down. They cost around $115 and are sold at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Saks.

Tip: the tall boots aren't very forgiving in the calf area, I brought the lower pair and they are perfect!

Obsessed: Tory Burch Candle

I am totally obsessed with this signature candle by Tory Burch. Its a great blend of bamboo extract, fresh citrus, water jasmine, dewy greens, osmanthus, sandalwood, white musk and amber. I love the way this candle fills your space with a clean warm scent, it also makes for a great gift ($45 at toryburch.com)!

Michael Kors Rock n' Roll Bootie

There are few things in life that make me drool.....but these leather, platform, stacked heel booties by Michael Kors (2011 Holiday Catalog) sure are delicious looking!

Holiday Make Up Tutorial

I've been talking a lot about holiday outfits, so I wanted to post this fun and super easy makeup tutorial I found online to help complete your festive look. Enjoy!

Sale at BCBGMAXAZRIA!

There is a great sale going on at bcbg.com! They are offering up to 60% off of select items, now I don't exactly fit into their clothing but they do have great shoes and accessories. I took a look at the sale items and pulled out some things that I really liked, I've listed the prices below. Happy shopping!

Right to left: 1st row- studded cuff $44, Raine Pointed-toe Pump $78, Animal-skin Bracelet $22.80, Metal-mesh Elastic Bracelet $16.80. 2nd row- Sophia Leopard Print Clutch $136.80, Pyramid Two finger Ring $16.80, Rhinestone Snake Bangle $10.80, Babs Leopard Pump $117.

Jessica Simpson Weema Pump

I am a HUGE fan of Jessica Simpson shoes and her "Weema" pump is no exception! With a 5.3 inch heel, this architecturally beautiful peep toe pump is playful yet polished. At $98 they are reasonably priced (jessicasimpsoncollection.com) and super sexy.

Tip: Jessica Simpson shoes are generally not made for a wide foot, I'm lucky enough not to have this issue, but if you've found that your uncomfortable in medium shoes (the general standard for pumps) then these might not be for you.

Versace | Spring Summer 2012

Active Wear for the Full Figured Fashionista

Being active should be an important part of any full figured fashionista's life, and if your anything like me you want to look just as fashionable on the treadmill as you do walking down the street. That's why I love adoraom.com (I also love the tag line for this company "ACTIVE WEAR FOR THE FULL FIGURED FASHIONISTA)"). This site boast some super cute workout gear and a great guide (above) for finding the right fit to keep you stylish and comfortable while getting your workout on!

Sexy LBD by City Chic

While I'm not a fan of the awkward posing of this model, I'll look beyond that and show you this sexy LBD. Perfect for date night or a night of drinks and dancing, the silhouette is beautiful and the mesh shoulders adorned with dazzle add just the right about of sass. At $78.00 (citychiconline.com) with free shipping this is a definite do!

Kmart LYS Holiday Outfit

With the holidays fast approaching I've got a ton of holiday parties and dinners to attend! While doing research for the blog I ran across Kmart's new LYS (Love Your Self) plus size line and loved this dress. I think it's perfect for a nice dinner party and these heels (also available at Kmart) add a little bit of the Nikki flare. At $17.49 for the dress and $20.99 for the heels you really can't go wrong!

Tip: For a funky take on this look add some chunky bangles, chandelier earrings and black heels. Finish with a bold smoky eye and try a fohawk like the one above.