Come fall/winter my vibe is all about a dark-red lipstick and my nails get inspiration from the changing colors of leaves.  Fall nail colors are  warm, earthy hues inspired by nature, including shades like cinnamon-toned red, black cherry, and deep burgundy. This fall the colors trending for nails will be burgundy, burnt orange, matcha green chocolate chrome, and tortoise. I know dark red nails aren't groundbreaking for fall but I am so obsessed; especially a dark short nail. Think a deep sultry, spiced burgundy.  I'm looking at shades of oxblood (intense and opulent blackish-red),  cherry mocha (dark chocolatey red), merlot (dark red base with brown undertones) or cherry cola (plum undertones).  Burgundy stands out as the season's key shade, blending the richness of red wine and dark plum, creating a bold, yet elegant vibe. 

 

One of the traits of happy people is keeping a gratitude journal so I wanted to jot down all of my highlights from the past few months. I'm stomping my feet over here because it still feels like summer because I love warm, sunny days and not having to wear a sweater or jacket.  I've had a long summer doing summer things. The last 5 years all of my international vacations have been in the winter time so I spent the entire summer in DC. Here are all the fun things I did this summer!

 

Oman is a country that is probably not on your list but Oman has incredible landscapes with an authentic Arabian experience. You get crystal-clear emerald waters with abundant marine life and empty beaches, vast golden sand dunes, lush oasis canyons, mosques, mud-brick villages, and desert castles. I went on a week-long trip to Oman and it exceeded all expectations. I started in Muscat, and went south  to Ras al-Jinz, then west to Wahiba Sands, and then northwest to the desert castles of Nizwa. My trip was filled with challenging hikes, beaches, souqs, and forts.

Situated on the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is one of the most ancient places on earth. Oman is relatively unknown maybe because it’s harder to get to with not a lot of direct flights and they haven’t really marketed itself well to the world. It doesn’t have the bling of Dubai, or the infrastructure of Qatar, and they’re never in the news for anything ever. It's like the world's most forgotten country, yet it is practically the safest place on Earth. Once you get to Oman you’ll find there doesn't seem to be a good public transit system to get to various sites which are a far drive from each other. If you want to head out to the desert or the mountains in you’ll need a 4×4 vehicle. However the infrastructure of the freeways is one of the best out there.

My go to fitness look is a tank top and leggings. My personal preference is to not wear the matching bra and leggings sets, and thankfully that saves me on a lot of  overspending on gym clothes. Since I just joined a new gym I've been on a mission lately to find some new workout clothes that are both cute and sweat proof. I've done a lot of online ordering and returning! I've tried out some new to me brands and but still like my tried and true brands. I have a mid-size figure and wanted to find that perfect workout outfit that keeps me comfy during those sweaty sessions at the gym. If your activewear is the same style as mine, I got you covered as I'm going to share my favorite tanks, leggings, socks, bras and water bottle.

You won’t be able to put down these 9 twisty page-turners that were released last year!  If you didn't know Goodreads is a free website that helps readers discover new books to read, keep track of what they're reading, and find personalized recommendations. I've been using this website for 9 years and it lists every book I've read, my rating of it and my review. There's also a Q&A section for each book so if you missed some detail and need an explanation, you post it there and someone will answer. It also lets you set a reading challenge for the year so you can set a goal of how many books you want to read and it shows you your progress towards that goal. 

Another thing Goodreads does is it asks it's users at the end of the year to rate the best books of the year. Each book genre started off with many many books and everyone votes for a few rounds until they get down to the top 20 books. At the end of every year I go to that list and read the descriptions of every book and put the ones that interest me on hold at the library. I currently have 22 books on hold at the library that I'm waiting for.  That's how I pick my books to read! By then the hold time at the library isn't that long and I'm only reading highly rated books.

I had a fun trip to San Francisco (my fourth time visiting), the last trip was almost 10 years ago and this time I did most of the same things as I did that trip because that trip was so perfect. The weather in April was a high of 60 degrees. I've never been to Napa because I always have so many things to do in SF. Important note: locals don't want you to call the city San Fran or Frisco, it's San Francisco or SF. I hiked the coastal trail, visited the Museum of Modern Art, ate delicious food in Japan Town, walked through Chinatown, went to rooftop bars, enjoyed Golden Gate Park, ate at vegetarian restaurants and walked the entire city. If I were to move anywhere in America, it would be to SF!

Saunas have been around for 1000s of years. The Finnish saunas date back to BC and today Finland has 3 million saunas serving a population of 5 million. Most Finns have a private sauna in their home or apartment building. 90% of Finns take a sauna at least once a week. The ancient Romans and Greeks had a Bathhouse while the Turkish had a Hammam during the Ottoman Empire. Native Americans have sweat lodges. Russian Banyas also date back centuries. The Japanese invented the infrared sauna in 1965. As you see many cultures across the globe have historically used saunas.  A post-workout sauna has many benefits for your mind and body as its a great workout for your heart and blood vessels. It has become part of my weekly wellness schedule.

I'm sure you've seen all the tiktoks of people who travel to Paris and go to a French Pharmacy to pick up French skincare. Since I have no immediate plans of traveling to Europe I found a USA based store that sells French brands called French Pharmacy. I've placed a couple orders from them based on everyone's recommendations so I wanted to share with you what I've tried.  France has advanced sunscreen filters that we don't have in the USA. it's a big deal because we haven't had a new chemical filter in awhile and this improves the level of UVA blockage so much more! The filter is called Mexoryl UV Mune 400. Overall the French love homeopathic remedies and perfumed skincare, so that's what you will find on my list.

 In the summer time I love a scent that transports me to a tropical paradise. Imagine the scent of the ocean breeze, while you sit on the sand lathered in Hawaiian Tropic SPF 8. When I think of a beachy scent I think of the fragrance notes: frangipani, tiare, ylang-ylang, & coconut. The perfumes on this list capture that feeling of the tropics and make you feel like you're on vacation in Hawaii, the Maldives, Bora Bora, Fiji or the Seychelles. Even if you're not traveling this summer, you can still wear these fantastic fragrances that transport you to a beautiful beach.

If you're in the need of some inspo for what to put on your nails this summer, here are the top 8 nail trends for summer 2024! I'm going to give you lots of ideas for dipping your toes into a new color! So what's trending for this summer are the colors butter yellow, tangerine, cobalt blue, neon green, pearly white, aqua, aura and metallic jelly nails. I link to a ton of press-on nail options! But if you stick to pale pink in the summer time, I have a post comparing a bunch of my favorites. 

Bronzy makeup is a must for hot girl summer. What's trending in makeup right now is dewy skin, chrome eyes and pink blushes. I love the summertime for that natural almost effortless makeup look, looking sunkissed radiating a beautiful dewy glow. Everyone looks their most beautiful in summer.  I don't wear foundation in the summer because that just melts off your face. Instead I use a glowy sunblock and lots of highlighting products.  I have light medium skin tone and stay out of the sun so my face is pretty pale. I like to use a lot of cream and liquid makeup products in the summer to get that glossy glow. I find that liquid/cream products replicate sun kissed skin beautifully because it gives a radiant finish giving you that effortless glowy skin.  I want my makeup to look good in person, like a version of myself but better. You look your best when you feel your best. 

These looks embodies my vibe for the summer! I call it Cool Girl Relaxed Vibes. If you want to feel stylish and current for this season I will share the top ten trends in summer fashion this year. Nothing here is really new, they just continue to be in the spotlight. So not much of a surprise from last year, they always come back again. The good news is that you probably already own most of summer’s key elements.

American sunscreen is held back from using the latest greatest ingredients by the FDA.  European sunscreens, which are banned in the USA, have the latest technology in ingredients. Be sure to buy some from a farmacy next time you're in Europe. The FDA hasn’t approved any new UV filters since 1999.  Korean sunscreens use different chemicals as UV filters than Western brands and are classified as  functional cosmetics with skincare ingredients by the FDA which is why they are allowed to be sold in the USA. Korean sunscreens tend to be lighter in consistency since they are not using antiquated thick ingredients and don't leave a white cast on your skin. Everything on this list is a chemical sunscreen, without zinc, instead they use Tinosorb M - a commonly used sunscreen oversees and other next generation chemical filters. They all give a lightweight moisturizing feel with adequate spf protection.

The best quiet luxury belts are low key, elegant and don't have a flashy logo. I've curated a list of belts with old money vibes that will make any simple outfit a little bit more elevated. You've probably seen these belts on fashion girles but never realized what it was because these belts truly master the art of whispering luxury, so the untrained eye wouldn't know how expensive these belts are. These belts are unique and the epitome of quiet luxury and add so much versatility to your wardrobe. These belts are sleek, subtle, and giving if you know you know. 

The color of the season is butter yellow in terms of color trends for spring. It's a nice color for this season and I'm seeing more items than usual in this color in stores since it's on trend. If you think you can't wear it, I got lots of inspiration for you so you don't look like Big Bird.  Yellow symbolizes optimism, energy, joy, and happiness. It is also the color of sunshine. I have always loved a butter yellow but it's hard to find just the right shade. I bought every item on the top list so I can tell you what is worth buying and what is not! Because when you look at clothes online you don't know if the shirt will be sheer, or if the fabric scratchy, or if the color different in person. I was in the market for a light yellow top so I'm going to take you on my journey with me as I'm happy to add butter yellow to my spring wardrobe. 

Watch out New York, the ghostbusters are back! I've seen all five Ghostbusters movies so here’s my review on the new one: Frozen Empire. It has a new squad of Ghostbusters who were introduced in the last film Ghostbusters Afterlife (see my review). The premise of the movie is that they are protecting New York City from turning into the Ice Age. The new ghosts are very cool and the visuals and special effects are mind-blowing. This movie also brings back all the original Ghostbusters! Having the original actors return makes it super nostalgic!

A good time to purchase luxury makeup is from the Sephora sale because brands like Dior never have sales. Luxury is not just a price point, it's an experience that comes at a high price point. That experience is a major factor in making it luxury.  I feel these products are truly worth the money and the products I’m most excited about. Here are my absolute favorites by brand. Take advantage of getting discounts on luxury products now at the Sephora sale. Also check out my favorite concealers and best face masks posts.

I also wanted to mention I’ve noticed a trend in make up lately and that is that intricate eyeshadow looks are out and no longer the main part of makeup. Tiktok has lots of videos on heavy vs light makeup and what suits you better. What’s on trend now is all about giving a nice complexion. I think it started with the clean skin aesthetic during the pandemic and now everyone just wants glowy skin, chic effortless one and done looks.

Some people say bougie products aren’t for the rich, it's for the poor who want to pretend they're rich. I can see that since the truly rich are wearing quiet luxury brands. But the rest of us get some enjoyment out of having a luxury product.  Here’s a tip, if you buy an expensive skincare product and don’t want to spend the money to buy it again, keep the container but refill it with a cheaper product. I do that when I buy a boogie hand soap in a fancy container. Your La Mer eye cream jar can be repurposed and you will still feel like you’re using a luxury product. I repurpose all my Voluspa candle jars as storage containers (pens, makeup, perfume samples) and my luxury candle jars are used for succulents.

The Sephora sale starts today! If you're as beauty obsessed as me, then you're excited about the Sephora sale! I haven't bought anything from Sephora the entire year in anticipation of this event! My cart has been prepped and ready to go for weeks! Check out my favorite concealers post.

A great face mask can be a game-changing addition to your skincare routine. It's one of my favorite ways to feel like I’m doing something really great for my skin. I use them every night before a vacation or event where I will be taking pictures. Otherwise I use them 3 times a week. This is a list of my current favorite face masks that I use and love! 

Namibia is a dream destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts! The best places to visit are the incredible deserts and Etosha national Park for a safari. Namibia was the 11th country I've visited in Africa and the desert landscapes was unmatched! This stunning country has a rusted orange sandy landscape and a unique floral kingdom from the variety of  plant species adapted to the harsh climate. Namibia will astound you with its wilderness and vastness. It's a dream destination for photography!

Have you ever looked at an outfit and can’t figure out why it’s not working, chances are it’s because you’re breaking one of these fashion rules. I'm combing all the fashion advice I've shared in pieces over the last few years in various posts here in one place. Be sure to read my Effortless Spring Style post for more tips. The idea is understanding the importance of balancing the proportions of an outfit and what styles and colors work best with your body type so that you look amazing every day. In this post I'm going to cover personal color palettes, body shapes,  and the rule of thirds. 

I’m going to find you the perfect concealer because I have tried out so many. 2023 was a fabulous year for new concealer releases as so many brands dropped new concealers!  Everything I own I bought on sale, there's no way I would pay full price for designer beauty products. It was a huge year of the concealer so there was a lot to shift through to decide on a favorite.  There's a lot more I have either tested in the store or bought then returned: Dior, Valentino, Armani, Kulfi, and Tower28. So I feel this is an area I know quite a bit about.   I’m going to help you make your under eyes look flawless with my top 5 concealers picks.

I wanted to share my review of the movies that I saw this year that you might be able to catch on streaming now. Regal theaters are only $6.87 on Tuesdays and $17.91 any other time so now I only go to the movies on Tuesdays.  I've been trying to get back into going to the movies since I've hardly gone the last 5 years. I always walk out the theater having a magical experience as the film takes me to another world and the escapism of seeing a movie in theaters,  I don't look at my phone for 2 hours. 

Do you think cinemas are dying or do we prefer to stream at home? There's never more than 5 people in the 132 seat theater when I go.  I have to ask, do we still need assigned seating? There's way too many previews that I always arrive 10 minutes after start time. I also think theaters are way too loud now a days. I used to buy the child's size popcorn but now I resist completely so I hate having to smell everyone else's. lol 

I remember when I went to college in NYC, my roommate and I often walked an hour to Lincoln Square to see movies. I think going to the movie theater allows you to experience movies the way they're intended to be experienced. Then you walk out having a sensory experience. 

In the winter time you'll want to wear your heavy, dark, warm, mysterious fragrances because those fragrances do well in cold air. Winter air makes perfumes softer so it's my favorite season to wear perfume because you can wear bold scents. So wear all your heavy hitters now! But go easy on the trigger spray. You'll see a lot of repeats here from my fall fragrance list and my 2022 winter list. The list here has just been refined into my core favorites. This season I'm really into tobacco fragrances, this really hits you in the feels if you had a loved one who smoked a pipe. Transports me back to childhood. I don't mean cigarettes, but the scent of a sweet cherry cigar. And no I have no interest in going to a cigar bar, but I love the scent in perfumes and candles. The cold temperatures outside can really suck, but perfumes are the best mood-lifters.

The #30wearschallenge was created in response to fast fashion and overconsumption to encourage a slower approach to fashion. I want to focus more on what I have right now and how I can get the most out of it, taking a break from shopping so I can allow myself to see what I have. Ultimately the goal is buying fewer, more sustainable pieces of clothing that you can wear 30 times.  Did you know the average times a piece of clothing is worn is only seven! When you buy something, you should think "will I wear this 30 times?" This will help you shop more carefully and wisely and learn to embrace outfit repeating. I use the Stylebook app to track how often I wear my clothes but there is also the 30wears app and Indyx. If you're looking for a fun New Years Resolution that you could actually achieve, try this!

Happy New Year! Happy 2024. I am so looking forward to this new year and all the exciting things its going to be bringing. If you want 2024 to be different from 2023, set goals for yourself and implement a plan to get there. Change is good, it helps us grow and evolve. Resolutions are all about reinventing yourself which is just improving and upgrading yourself.  I do not want to be the exact same person I was 5 years ago. Don't make your goals too big, break them up into smaller steps to make it easier to achieve. Here are some questions to ask yourself when creating your goals: 

What characteristics does the best version of myself have?

What routine does the best version of myself follow?

What activities does the best version of myself often do?

Did you know that people who write down their goals are 20% more successful in accomplishing them than those who don't?  If you want to reinvent yourself  you can 100% do it! 

There's a different way you could also do your resolutions. Instead of doing big new years resolutions for the whole year,  you can have a new years resolution for each month so it doesn't feel super overwhelming at the beginning of the year trying to accomplish a bunch of goals at once. So for instance you can do a No Buy January (no coffee out, no new clothes, no takeout, no new makeup unless its empty, no new candles (you bought plenty of Christmas candles), use canned goods before buying more, bring lunch to work). I do Dry January every year and some people do veganuary.  Think of it as a 2024 reset guide to rethink ways to reach your goals with a different approach. Get in your hot girl walks while listening to podcasts, try new hobbies, take your magnesium and do yoga before bed. 

My closet is so full I've run out of hangers and I'm not buying any more. I want to purge and declutter and that's my number one goal. I want to make 2024 the year of organization and cleanliness.