What's in my bag?

First thing is first. I found my everyday work tote. It's the perfect size for essentials, the color will match with everything and just when you think we're going borderline boring, we hit it with some ostrich and gold hardware for a drop of luxe. It's going to do exactly what I need it to do. Take me to and from work, then take me out after work with my friends and errand running on the weekends all while being put together and polished. And since I do love to change my handbags (and wallets and keychains and cosmetic bags and sunglasses, phone cases etc.), the shape of this bag lets me get my stuff in and out quickly without hassle. 

The Essentials

Sunglasses. As I mentioned, I change them all the time. I like different looks with different outfits. But if I'm not trying to make a statement, my everyday go to's are aviators. 
They fit my face well and make even a t-shirt and jeans "cool". 
These are one of my favorites.


My Pill Box. I take 5,000mg of biotin everyday for hair skin and nails. I truly do find it makes a difference. On and off, I try to take Vitamin C for my immune system and the production of collagen (it's probably all nonsense but it sounds good so I believe it!), Omega 3, calcium and cranberry for general "lady" health.

Tide to go pen -it's a must.

Advil. Some people never leave their home without their cash or credit cards. Me? I can't walk out the door without Advil. I'm prone to headaches and they love to show up at the worst times!
I actually panic if I know I don't have any on me. Nothing works better for pain!

The best nail base and top coat around. Hands down. I kinda just pop in and out for manicures and I never really know when I'm gonna get them so I keep this in my bag to have on hand. 
No pun intended....lol.  It really is a great nail hardener and keeps my manicure fresh when applied daily.

Hair clips, hair ties. I also can't leave the house without something to keep my hair in a top knot.
I'd say my hair goes up and down like, 10 times a day! ladies with long hair, am I right?!

My friend Felicia gave me this cute little anchor coin pouch (from Old Navy) attached to my birthday gift this year because she knows I loooooooove anchors. How cute, right?

I change my cosmetic bag every season. Not because I need to in any way, but because they make such nice ones, a fashion addict such as myself just can't help it.
I adore pink in any shade. Currently, I'm loving those hot/neon pinks. I got this
 Marc Cosmetic Case as a gift. Obvi, I loved it! :)

Opticals. Not for fashion, but because I'm blind. lol
But you know me, I told my mom when I was in the the third grade, if I had to wear glasses, 
they were gonna be fabulous baby!  I stuck to that.
You give me lemons and I will make lemon chiffon topped with a lemon glaze and a candied lemon garnish! 

Pen and paper. Always.
Lists upon lists upon lists in blue ink! xo

I change my wallets like I change my undies. Swear. My friends think I have a problem.
I probably do. I usually buy a new one every Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. I get bored easily. Since Spring has Sprung, I go back and forth between the blue ostrich Kate Spade (last year) and my hot pink Marc.  By the way, it's a miracle there's $20 bill in there right now. I never ever ever carry cash. Such a bad habit.

This little  travel brush by Sephora is bad ass. Don't let the size fool you. It's like a mini Mason Pearson  in the palm of your hand. This could actually take the place of my regular brush. 
This little guy puts in work! I highly recommend. 

Gum. Mints. Everyone should carry them. Just sayin....

I am very late to the EOS Lip Balm. I tried it once a long time ago and I just thought...ehhh.
A few weeks ago I saw their new Spring limited edition pack (I am such a sucker for packaging. They see me coming a mile away! They will always get my money if something is pretty. I can admit my shortcomings!) and I thought to give it another shot. So I did. I really like them!
I have been diligent about using them for the last two weeks and I have to say my Winter chapped lips are no longer and my lip texture is silky. I'm really impressed. Maybe there is something to them besides looking cute....who knew?! The key to reapplying by the way is to have one EVERYWHERE. I have one sitting on my desk at work, one on my nightstand, one in my bag, one on my desk at home and I plan on putting one in my car. Wherever I am, I can moisturize and actually stick to a beauty routine for once??

Kate Spade compact mirror. I bought this a couple years ago when I was in a black and white phase. Just so happened to be that Kate Spade was in the same phase.

My cosmetic bag is full of different things all the time but my staples are the Urban Decay Basics Palette and Mac's Dimension Lash Mascara.  
 This was the lip gloss I found in my bag. I throw it all on with my Mac travel brushes.

Of course not pictured are the usual suspects.....loose change, my keys, my phone (sorry, I'm not an iphone girl....I'm android all the way! I need my cheetah keyboards and hot pink fonts!), those pesky little parking ticket vouchers and food shopping receipts. :)

So.....what's in YOUR bag?? I mean, you spent enough money on it, you should share the contents of that bag you carry and covet!


<3
v.v. 

April's Apartment Wish List

April showers bring........home decor?
I sure do hope so! I'm all about big pops of color again, brightening things up and adding fun accessories and little touches that are interchangeable with the seasons.
You don't have to do a huge home overhaul to bring new life to your space. 
Got a few bucks? I got the goods! Let's hit the list:

1. Greek Key Throw Pillow

I don't know why but colors just come to me. I get sort've obsessed with one for a while and I indulge and then I find a new color to adore. Right now, orange is calling my couch. Clementine, tangerine, etc. whatever you wish  to call it. I would love a few of these right now. I'm also very into geometric shapes and the Greek Key (which my brother put me onto coincidentally) is one of my favs. Not into orange? Click away anyway - there's a bunch of great colors and I'm sure one of them will be calling your couch!

2. Pineapple & Palm Candle

We all know the routine, don't we ladies? Every season we wait for the 2 for $22 candle sale at Bath and Body Works and we hit the stores like fiends to stock up on our new and old favorite scents. I don't need to explain.....we are "right here" on this one! Pineapple and Palm? Two of my favorite things.....I'm there.

3. Boot Umbrella Stand

I mean, C'mon. How cute?! I get it though, $80 for an umbrella stand..... pricey, no? V.V. has a lil' trick for ya! Got a pair of rain boots you're not currently using? Maybe your rainboots are taking up space in your closet? Use your actual rain boots for your umbrella stand! I have a pair of red Hunter boots that don't fit  me and if I can't get my hands on this ceramic gem, that's exactly what I'm going to do. I've also seen people put fresh flowers in rain boots as well. Talk about multitasking....

4. Orange Feather Throw Pillows

So they call these feather pillows.....but when I look at them, I see palm. These would be nice to mix with number one! Target does it again. xo

5. Ficus Plant

A green thumb I do not have. At least I don't think..... I am drawn to big leafy green plants. They make me feel....tropical. But I don't want to get in over my head with something that will die on me the moment I take it home. This plant looks like it would be a perfect trial run for me. Once I've mastered this (cross your fingers, I'm gonna need it), I might move on to the fiddle plant. 

6. Rope Wrapped Hurricane

I'm thinking a few of these in different sizes with chunky candles in the center of my dining room table. The rope reminds me of Summer, boats, outside, the sea! Great for a nautical themed dinner party......and yes. You know I'm doing that this Summer! Crab legs anyone??

7. Jonathan Adler Match Strike

I'm constantly moving things around on my trays and my coffee table and I'm always lighting candles so this just makes sense.

8. Tin Recipe Box

Sometimes, I don't want to rifle through my Pinterest folders for a particular recipe. Some old school things just can't be replaced with the new stuff. I have a black counter top and this box would be great for my favorite go to recipes on a whim.

9. Peach Bellini Soap

Please read number two. The same applies with the 4 for $20 soap. lol

10.  GLAM Box

Need it. Want it. Gotta Have it. I have acrylic trays from the Container Store that hold my makeup but I'm looking for something vertical that can hold my everyday essentials and still look good on top of my dresser for display. This does that, therefore, I need this!

11. Haylie Duff's new Cookbook

I've always been a fan of the Duff's.  I saw Haylie Duff promoting her new book on the Food Network and she had some great recipes for girl's nights, fun drinks and things like that. Who doesn't love a book geared toward fun foods that are attainable to cook?

Now get out there and go Spring shopping and tell em' V.V. sent ya!

But if you get caught stealing, I didn't send you.....  :)

Honeymoon Avenue

I finally got my @ss in gear and uploaded my honeymoon pictures! It only took me 6 months....but hey! Better late than never is what they say, right? I figured I'd share them here since the 3rd, is my official 6 month wedding anniversary. (So far, so good!)

It was really nice to go through all of them again and relive such a magical vacation.
It also makes me long for the sun and the warmth again!!! My god, I am so over Winter.

We spent a long weekend in LA and then 5 days in Mexico. We both had never been to either place. Fun fact: this was the first plane ride John and I took together in 5 years! We really wanted to be traditional when we decided to get married. ( We drove to different states for mini vacations throughout our courtship. Don't worry, we did visit more than the Island of Manhattan!) We waited to travel, we waited to live together...... I wanted to feel and see the difference between my single life and my married life. I don't regret those decisions. My life totally changed the day I got married I'm glad we did it the way we did.

Anyhoot, here are some of my fav shots from my trip! Don't mind the food....you're gonna see lots of it!

Airport shot! No sleep! We departed 6 hours after the wedding ended. Was I cray?! 
We had enough time to run home, change, pack last minute essentials and of course count our wedding loot! :)
I still have to pick up our wedding pictures and send out Thank You's by the way. My mother is going to have a heart attack. But lets leave those details for another time, mmmmm? Back to the vacay!

I don't particularly care for Vanessa Williams, but it's my name so her star was a must. In my mind, I just etched out her last name and envisioned mine instead!

God bless In n' Out Burger. It puts any fast food burger to shame! Now I know what the hype is all about. If I make it back to Cali, which I plan on, I won't leave without a visit to this place!
Does L.A. really have it better? I'm starting to question the East Coast.....

This was the restaurant in The Roosevelt hotel we had breakfast at. Beautiful little spot. Hefty little bill.....lol

This was John's breakfast. I had this awesome egg, avocado sandwich with some special aioli.....so good. So many pictures on my old phone I currently can't get to. :(
I need to find a way to salvage those.....if nothing else, my honeymoon pictures!

The one and only, Frankie! 

I do love cake......

and I am a snob!

The Grove, Robertson, Fred Segal, La Brea, etc.  - shopping in  LA was beautiful, but I couldn't find that magical "thing" I was looking to take home from my travels. I wasn't sure if I wanted a fab piece of clothing or perhaps a trinket for the apartment.....I just knew when I saw it, I would know that was it. Sadly, I never found it. But I have the memories!

I cant believe all of the yummy food pictures from STK are in my old phone. What a meal....so delicious. AND Olivia Parlermo sat RIGHT next to us with two of her girlfriends. I gawked at her the entire night.  John didn't "get it".....but it wasn't for him to get. I got it. lol

We drove to Malibu......how beautiful. Malibu was everything my warm, sparkly and magical California dreams were made of. I MUST GET BACK. The only place I will ever leave NY for is California. 

You have not lived if you have not had Roscoe's!! 
"4:00am at the waffle house.....5:00am now we at my house....."
All things hood fabulous and delicious! xoxo

Goodbye my beloved California.....til we meet again. And we will meet again..... <3 <3

We had a two hour layover  in Dallas......what does one do with two hours in Dallas? You eat down home southern food from the food court! 
annnnnnd onto Mexico!

This was the shower of all showers.....I will never love another shower this much again in life.

a leg's view? lol

Room service was my favorite thing! This was an all inclusive resort so there were several restaurants as well as room service available to you at all times and I absolutely indulged in the room service  as much as I could. It was so nice just eating in your bathing suit or your pajamas right outside on your private patio and not having to get dressed or leave your room.

Such a luxury!

I miss my tan! :(

I was walking down to the beach and this little guy popped out of nowhere and scared the living s--t out of me! lol
But then he kinda became my friend. :)

We did the wave runners..... it was only fun for like 5 minutes. John was zipping all over the place and I was just waiting for it to be over. The faster I went, the salt water sprayed in my mouth and burned my eyes, I couldn't see a thing and I kept getting slapped in the face with waves.  Wave running/Jet Skiing.....off the bucket list. Hopefully, not to return!
But I did look cute in my life jacket..... ;)

Typically, I'm not a drinker. I have the occasional drink every once in a while but that's as far as I go. In Mexico, I was a tropical frozen drink lush! They were so good.....I just kept them coming.
If I could make these at home, I'd be attending a meeting very soon.

We saw these in the Mexican airport. For the record, if peanut M&M's were really this price in America, I'd be skinny. I think I just came up with the solution to my yo yo dieting......hmmm

Bye Bye Mexico.....what a trip....what a honeymoon....I will never forget it.
Looking at these pictures makes me smile so much. It also makes me sad because I wish to be back there! Hopefully, we'll be blessed to take more vacations like this one.

Now, lets go Summer! I'm ready to get brown again! *WITH SPF* , a drop of natural sun and bronzer, of course!  V.V. doesn't "do" wrinkles and brown spots.
What? You didn't know? As well as being initials for my name, V.V. stands for very vain. :)
Happy vacationing, y'all!