A Coralistic Summer

When deciding on my summer wardrobe color palette, I was focused on really building up a fun and colorful collection. White has always been my prime pick for the summer because of its simplicity and softness. However, this was going to be the year I was going to change it up a little! It's funny, though, how my mind seems to only know how to focus on one color at a time... So much for diversification. Over the past few weeks, there's been a clear winner... CORAL. My obsession with the color began back in my days of hunting down the perfect coral dress for Senior Prom... Perfectly balanced with just the right amount of energy for the summer, it's no surprise that my love for it has easily and quickly resurfaced... and not a complete surprise that I've been buying coral bits and pieces with a furor lately.

Essie Canyon Coral: I picked up this pretty polish for only $2 at Starlight Beauty Supply in DTLA! I love digging in the "value bin" and finding discontinued colors at an absolute steal. The store focuses more on China Glaze and OPI, but I've never left without some awesome Essie finds! I like to check out the bin here before heading across the street to Hollywood Nail Supply where I can score some newer shades for $3.50 (like the gorgeous Braziliant from the new summer collection). These two stores have become an addictive stop for me whenever I'm in the area...

Coral and Gold Bangles: I'm still learning how to accessorize more with bracelets and bangles, but this set was definite love at first sight (impulse buy!) while checking out at SUO in Monrovia. The store features the usual collection of cute dresses and tops, but lately I've really been lucking out with the jewelry here. Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets range between $8-$20 and offer up some unique alternatives to the likes of Forever 21 and H&M. I've been mixing and matching these bangles with some of my other bracelets and love that I can even group the bangles within the set for a different look each time!

Kimchi Blue Silk Tank: My coworker and I have been sneaking off to the Urban Outfitters near work every week or so and have been enabling each other to buy one too many things lately. I was happy when I found this tank on sale (had previously decided I couldn't talk myself into paying $50 for something so little...). The little flare out back is super fun and the lace detailing is absolutely adorable. I wore the top paired with white shorts for a daytime look and then quickly glammed it up with black jeggings, heels and a necklace for a night outing! Simple, fun and comfortable--this will be getting lots of wear for the rest of summer!

Mossimo Twist Bandeau Top: Ever since I can remember, I've bought most of my swimsuits from Victoria's Secret... probably out of laziness since it's a one stop shop. I purchased a cute dotted bandeau suit a few summers back and it's become the only one I've worn since thanks to the lack of strap tanlines. Since I've pretty much decided triangle tops are no longer for me, I've been in desperate need of an additional bandeau suit. This Mossimo suit from Target was the absolute perfect choice for that! Although more reddish looking in the photo, I guarantee that it's the prettiest shade of coral in real life. The best part is that it pairs adorably well with some other bottoms I have. Can't wait to wear this for the upcoming July 4th weekend!

Ecote Macrame Skimmer: Ecote sandals are quite the staple in my summer wardrobe. Thankfully, their flats are just as cute and comfy. My friends were a little cautious about me buying them and I was a little concerned about possible pairings, but I've literally been wearing these with everything! They're the perfect pop of color for any outfit and are so light, I catch myself reaching for these over my sandals even on weekends! Loveloveloveeeee. The Kimchi Blue Peep Toe in coral or yellow was also a covet of mine.

...And if all that isn't enough, I recently stumbled upon the most beautiful Coral Necklace from Bauble Bar. This gorgeous necklace was featured by the fabulous Budget Babe (fashioned after AnnaLynne McCord) and I cannot stop thinking about it! P.S. I am kind-of-sort-of really obsessed with those cute boat shoes as well...

I hope everyone is having a lovely summer so far! Work has been light and I can't lie and say that half-day Fridays aren't the most amazing things that's ever happened to me since I started working! ;) What color are you loving for the summer season? Any recommendations for some more additions to my wardrobe?

Self-Gifting: June Birchbox

June's Birchbox arrived yesterday! This month's samples were awesome, and from reading members' reactions on the web, the Laura Gellar full-sized Blush n Brighten Duo seemed to be the major attraction. June's theme was travel-friendly products, so all items in the box related to making trips easier and more comfortable.

If the Birchbox name is unfamiliar, here's what you need to know: each month, you receive a beautifully presented box of 4-5 samples (and some are actually full-sized products) at a cost of $10 a month (or $110 if you prepay for a whole year's subscription). Items included range widely but can be skincare, haircare, makeup, food (chocolates and other sweets), etc. It's just like giving yourself a gift regularly except you don't know what's in the package. The surprise and discovery elements are the best part!

I signed up for the March box and have been looking forward to the bright pink shipments every month since. Five of my coworkers have also signed up, and I love seeing what everyone gets since the box contents vary depending on skin type and complexion. I'm not always impressed with every single thing I receive but for the most part, have been very happy with my experience so far and think it's worth the cost.

June's contents and some quick thoughts:
1) Archipelago pomegranate soap - repeat from last month, which was surprising but it's okay because it smells good!
2) Deborah Lipmann Stripper To Go portable nail polish removers - each pack has a mitt that removes polish on all 10 fingers, pretty useful for weekends away when you don't have a bottle of remover
3) Sircuit Molecular Mist
4) Kate Spade Twirl perfume spray - I don't prefer perfume samples since these are always available from Sephora
5) Laura Gellar Blush n Highlight in Como/Portofino - gorgeous duo with shimmer for the summer

If you end up loving a sample, you can purchase the full sized item through the Birchbox store and get free shipping. They also sell other goods in the shop but only offer free shipping on the featured products of the month. There is a loyalty program that rewards you for spending through them, and when you rack up enough you can exchange them for products. The shipping promotion and rewards programs are good motivators to buy through Birchbox, because otherwise the price points are the same and sometimes slightly higher than the retail prices through Sephora.

What I think is a strong selling point of Birchbox is its content found in Haute Box. You'll find videos, articles and how-to's relating to beauty, sort of like having Total Beauty + Sephora rolled into one. It's useful also for learning how to use all the samples that came in your box.

From past months...(been meaning to post these for awhile haha)

Rustic looking package

Sweetly wrapped in hot pink tissue paper... love!

March box - I really liked the Pangea Organic lip balm (full size) and the I Need to Heal aloe mask

May box - the AHAVA hand cream felt amazingly smooth and the Bvlgari Jasmin Noir smelled really good!

Intrigued? Sign up through my referral link! Hope there's something awesome in the next box for you =)

Blockbuster Vegas

Vegas was epic, and it was a weekend I'll always remember. To celebrate our 25th birthdays, Jess and I organized a group of 39 people who stayed in 6 different suites/rooms to party it up in two nights of clubbing and one daytime pool party. It was the largest group I'd ever gone to Vegas with, and probably the last. Planning was really stressful but in the end, was SO worth it because everyone had an amazing time and all the logistics worked out!

Despite my eagerness to try out Rent the Runway since this post, I ended up not wearing dresses from the company, because the two dresses I would want to wear, I saw on friends in Facebook albums from their Vegas trips! There's a certain "look" to Vegas dresses and I suppose a lot of people had the same idea about RTR. Another time!

Instead, I went on multiple frantic last-minute shopping trips for Vegas two days before my flight, yikes! Vegas really creeped up on me - I'd been studying for GMATs, adjusting to a new job, hunting for a new apartment, etc. The weekend beforehand, I was too unmotivated to dress shop. And even though I had started looking for dresses as soon as tickets were booked, nothing in the past 3 months cried out to me.. I was searching for dresses that were eye-catching in some way... tight, colorful and/or mini (many girls opt for low-cut but that doesn't work for my body type!). Thank goodness for living in NYC, because in two days I went to 3 different Bebe stores, scoured Soho (H&M, Zara, Marciano by Guess) and found all I needed for the weekend. Funny enough, Jess and I ended up wearing Bebe dresses for BOTH nights!

My first night's dress (store link) I actually bought in Vegas an hour before clubbing! My friend Linda and I were shopping for straw hats for the next day's pool party, and stopped at Bebe when I saw this bandage dress hanging on the rack. The sales associate said it had just come out that day (I now know it was a re-promote) so fewer people would have it. The dress runs small (XS was teensy) but fit well and I had been wanting a bandage dress so this was a keeper!! At $98, the dress was less than renting an Herve aaaand I got to keep it. This dress replaced the original Bebe pink and purple ombre bandage dress which was a little long and didn't fit as snugly. 

What the sales associate mentioned about fewer people having the dress stayed with me that whole weekend, because I counted no fewer than 15 girls who were wearing Bebe dresses I recognized, even one that was the same as my 2nd night dress but in a different color. Their styles are very Vegas-appropriate! 

People got tired the second night, because there are only a few pictures taken, and fewer still of my dress. My camera battery died after the pool party so I didn't take any of my own. My dress is now sold out on the site but I loved the fluttery fabric and zing of neon! There is another version made for the Kardashians earlier this year that had orange on the bottom, which I prefer but can't find anymore. I got an XS but it was slightly big and I had to tape the top to prevent gapping...a far cry in sizing from the above bandage dress I had to squeeze into.

Stores that are great for Vegas dresses (any others?):

- Bebe

- Marciano

- Guess

- Asos.com (make sure to buy early before small sizes sell out)

- Shopbop.com

- Frederick's of Hollywood

- BCBG

- Forever21

- Lulus.com

And a few fun shots from Wet Republic pool party

So packed!! Avicii was DJing that day

Our cabana against the packed pool party

Straw hats were definitely on trend!

Avicii spinning, crazy high energy I LOVED it!! I'm in the front with the white hat =)