City Winters

Turtleneck, oversized coat, leggings, and booties. That's all it takes to put together my go-to winter look. I feel like I've had the same few pieces on rotation since the temperatures have dropped below 40. I'm happy to say that almost everything I'm wearing, I got for a steal. This favorite turtleneck? It was courtesy of Urban Outfitters for a collaboration that I did with them a few months ago. The yoga pants are from Pink and were on sale for $35. The AllSaints coat? I got it at the outlets for just about $100 + tax when it's original price was over $500. The Zara boots? 50% off during the end of the season sale. My Givenchy Antigona? Oh, you're going to love this. Got it for 40% off shopping through Farfetch, and it has now become one of my favorites. You just gotta love a good bargain. Hope everyone has a great week! Shop this look below.

Urban Outfitters Sweater (c/o) | PINK Yoga Pants | Givenchy Bag

AllSaints Coat | Zara Boots | RH Earmuffs

Photography by: Marco Panlilio

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Longline + Cashmere

Although the winter cold has definitely caught up with New York City, I'm still missing that winter snow. Banana Republic has amazing staple pieces that I just can't get enough of, especially with the cold weather now hitting the 20s. I've been on the hunt for the perfect longline coat so when I saw this one, I just knew I was set. Paired with a cashmere scarf, you can't really go wrong. I'll admit that even I was surprised with the pieces that Banana Republic now carries, sophisticated simplicity that definitely pulls at my heartstrings. Shop this look below!

Banana Republic Coat, Scarf, and Boots (c/o) | Uniqlo Top | Pink Leggings | Céline Bag

Photography by: Marco Panlilio

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Lash Extenstions by Dr. Gerstman

In my freshman year of college, I began to develop a better appreciation for make up. With that, I began to wear false eye lashes for special occasions and more natural strips for everyday looks. To this day, I still love wearing them but on the days that I need to rush to school or work, I don't always have the time to do a full face of make-up. I had known about lash extensions but never wanted to try them until recently when Karolina from Dr. Gerstman's office in NYC reached out to me. 

In this post, I'll be sharing before/after photos, my experience with Karolina and the pros and cons of extensions after having them for about two weeks now. But first, a little background information on eyelash extensions in case you're not too familiar with them.

WHAT ARE THEY?

Most people don't have the patience to put on false eyelashes on a day to day basis, so eyelash extensions are fake eyelashes that can be made from synthetic, mink, or silk and are attached to your lash line with a semi-permanent glue. They're essentially falsies that you do not need to apply and remove every single day, they will stay even when you shower, wash your face, etc. Typically, they last from 4-6 weeks. Karolina sat down with me and asked me a series of questions so we could both properly decide on what would be the best set for me. In the end, we decided on these volume lashes.

BEFORE & AFTER

AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

I arrived at the doctor's office with no eye-makeup, just a quick fill of the eye brows and some foundation. As you can tell, my natural lashes are short, thin, and straight. Because of this, my everyday make up routine for the past few years included liquid eye-liner and some falsies to open up my eyes a bit more. The process took about two and a half hours, laying down, eyes closed. My suggestion, take a nap, it's a great chance to catch up on sleep. It was a very comfortable experience with Karolina, answering all my questions since I had never had extensions on before. It was definitely a great experience being a first timer and she informed me how to take care of them properly.

CURRENT EXPERIENCE

Since getting them on, I can definitely say I'm a lot more comfortable walking out of my house with barely any make-up. It's been so convenient not having to fuss over putting on my falsies and it has shortened the total amount of time that it takes for me to put on my make-up. With that being said, here's a summary of the pros and cons of lash extensions based on my personal experience, preference, and opinion.

THE PROS: With eyelash extensions, you save time on getting ready. No more daily falsies, reapplying your glue, curling, or mascara. I am more comfortable without any make-up. You can go swimming with them, perfect for going on vacation. All around very convenient in terms of make-up.

THE CONS: You have to keeping them clean to make sure you don't get an infection. You can't rub your eyes, this is something I can't wait to do when they're all off. It does get expensive, this particular set runs for $200 but some places charge $50-$60, and you will have to pay to do maintenance between full sets. Once they begin to fall out, you'll notice the gaps and will have to go back to where you got them in order to maintain them or deal with uneven lashes until they're all out. Sometimes my lash line gets itchy from the extensions and I've had to moisturize my eyelids better.

Overall, my current experience of having lash extensions is going very well. For most of the year, I will definitely be sticking to my falsies, but if I'm going on a trip, I think that splurging on extensions will be worth it. If you're interested in getting lash extensions, Karolina's information as well as the doctor's office is below. Let me know if you prefer falsies or extensions as well as any tips and tricks you'd like to share regarding maintenance! :)

Karolina's Instagram: @prettyfunoska

Doctor Gerstman's Office Instagram: @drgerstmannyc

Location: 24 East 64th st Fourth Floor NYC, NY 10065

http://www.drgerstman.com/

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Achromatic in Brooklyn

The first look for my collaboration with Banana Republic is a perfect representation of the exact pieces that I go for when I enter any store, no color. Bundling up this winter, I'm all about three things: Cozy sweaters, coats, and boots. This is the perfect casual look for any winter day, granted, you don't have to trek in any snow, that might be a little tricky with these heeled boots. My style is very simple, however I find that even with a lack of color, if you can layer and pair things properly, you can still create a very chic look. Shop this entire look below!

Banana Republic Sweater, Coat, and Boots (c/o) | Céline Bag | Pink Leggings

Photography by: Marco Panlilio

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Twenty Fifteen

This year has definitely been one hell of a ride, compared to where it began and where it ended, I know that I'm in a far better place, not only academically, financially, but also with the people I chose to surround myself with. 2015 consisted of a lot of growth and learning and it has taken me farther than I could have ever imagined. Here's a look back on the year with 15 things the past 365 days have taught me.

ONE

The year began with sparklers, my twenty-fourth around the corner, and New York Fashion week soon after. The first thing this year has taught me was that it's okay to be selfish, to do things for yourself and to put your wants before someone else's. You're the only person that can give yourself everything. Sure, acts of selflessness are important, but it's also just as important to remember not to neglect the things that you want and the things that make you happy.

TWO

Love with all your heart. This year, Marco and I celebrated our four-year anniversary. It doesn't get easier over time but you do get better at it. You understand more, you listen more, you learn more. Not only about each other, but you learn a lot more about yourself. We've been through so much and this year we got to experience so many new things together. I know I'm lucky and not a day goes by that I'm not thankful to have him in my life. I wouldn't be half the person I am today if it wasn't for him. Don't be afraid to fall in love.

THREE

Eat good. I started the year counting every possible calorie, but it didn't make me happy. By eating in moderate portions throughout the week and treating myself over the weekends, I got the best of both worlds. My love for food has grown over the year, trying new things, which was a big deal considering I was the pickiest eater as a child. I'll admit, it's still true to this day. Eat what you want. Try new places, but it's also good to have your regular spots, mine being dim sum. Food is good for the soul.

FOUR

Treat yourself. I make no apologies for how I choose to spend the money I work hard for. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for what you do with your own money, those kinds of comments most likely come from a place of jealousy. This year was a really good one for me and I was able to buy myself things that have been on the list for a while, and you know what? It felt good.

FIVE

Know who your real friends are. This is a big lesson that I learn almost every year, and it sucks thinking you meet genuine people only to get disappointed in the end, just because you constantly gave them the benefit of the doubt. Don't. Trust the vibes you get from people and it's okay to grow apart from people, but know and trust that when people treat you shitty, you can let them go and not feel the least bit bad about it. You didn't lose anything, but they lost a friend that genuinely cared about them. Their loss, not yours.

SIX

Family first. In a world where we're so hung up on hanging out with our friends over our family, texting and liking photos while we're with family, it's important to spend quality time with the people that are constantly there for you no matter what. I'm so blessed to have the family that I do because their support means the world to me. I'm making sure that my family spends more time together this year, that's for sure.

SEVEN

With the amount of make-up I use, it's important to be good to my skin. For so long, I was really lazy about my skin regimen, sometimes barely removing all my make-up at the end of the day. Lately, I've been a lot more careful about the products that I choose to put on my face, being better about cleaning make-up tools, and even finding a new cleansing routine to make sure I keep my skin as healthy, youthful, and bright as I possibly can. I'll try to do a full post on this soon.

EIGHT

Try new things. This year consisted of a lot of firsts and I hope that continues into 2016. It's been fun being able to try new things and go on new adventures. Don't be afraid just because you've never done it before. You could end up loving it, and these firsts are also a great experience to share with people you love. That just makes it so much better.

NINE

Go to new places you've never been to before. Explore every part of your own city, then go beyond those lines. It's been fun seeing new towns and going to places I've only read about or seen pictures of. The list of places to see will be even longer for 2016.

TEN

Hair. I've learned to let go of a lot of weight, literally chopped off a good 12" of my hair and now there's no looking back. My stylist of almost two years is the only person I can trust with my hair and now she is about to open her own salon. I've developed a healthier routine for taking care of these locks which I'll definitely be sharing on the blog soon.

ELEVEN

Keep in touch with old friends. Don't be afraid to make new friends. There are people in your life that you may not always talk to but when you get together, it's like nothing ever changed. I love these kinds of friends, you just know that you'll always be able to pick up where you left off. You can also make new friendships and have a bond so good that you might as well have been friends your whole lives. These people that are happy for your success, and give you nothing but good vibes are the people to keep around.

TWELVE

Drink good coffee. Visit coffee shops. Talk to people. Mingle. Order that latte and shamelessly take a photo or twenty if you want it on your Instagram feed. I stopped feeling bad about taking photos of food and coffee in public a long time ago.

THIRTEEN

Find your style. This year I was able to work with so many brands and build so many relationships with amazing companies that helped shape my personal style. I've been able to meet so many new people and expand my wardrobe through blogging and it has helped me realize more what image I want to project and how I really want to represent myself. I never want that image to not be 100% me.

FOURTEEN

Travel more. Marco and I were able to book our first overseas trip together for 2016 and I'm excited to announce that we will be traveling to Europe in a few weeks. One of my resolutions is to fill up my passport with more stamps. There are so many places to see and I hope that this will be the year we can travel a lot more.

FIFTEEN

Stay true to yourself. I never want people to not trust me or what I believe in. This year will be a continuation of the work I put into 2015 and I hope that it is something people continue to love. I began my blog to write about my style and the things that I love and it has definitely come a long way since it all began.

2016 will be the year that I turn twenty-five years old. It's the year that I visit a new country with the love of my life. It's the year that I finally graduate from college after switching majors twice. It's the year that I continue to learn, grow, and surround myself with nothing but positive vibes. Here's to 2016 and the adventures it has in store for me. I hope that I continue to trust myself, learn from mistakes, gain new experiences, and live a life I am proud to call mine.

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