Spotlight: Miss Katie's Charm School

Hello darlings,

About a month ago, I attended an event at Aventura Mall and received a $25 gift card for Miss Katie's Charm School.

Because the shopping maven that I am of course I had heard of the store, but assumed it was for little girls only, so needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in for the first time to find sooo many cute things for women and little girls alike.

Miss Katie's Wall sign by register

And as you know I love all things cute and pink so I had to make sure to let everyone know just how insanely adorable this place is.

But before I go on I must warn you that if you visit this store and you don't have a little girl you will walk out with a lot more than some accessories and Hello Kitty merch --you'll walk out wanting to have a little girl just so you can spoil her at this shop!

So here's your inside look into one of my new fave places to find cute and unique gifts for any girl:

The perfect place to buy the special little girl in your life her first jewels.

Hello Kitty Central <33333333 font="" nbsp="">

 More HK stuff!



Hello Kitty Blinged Out Rainboots

Besides the too too cute tutus and haute Hello Kitty merchandise, I found myself attracted to all the jewelry. I got the opportunity to meet Miss Katie, who is just darling. She employs a very friendly group of girls who are more than happy to help you with anything!

One of the most important factors when I'm shopping is customer service. I want to be treated like I'm the most important person in the store because I'm spending my hard earned money just like anyone else and I was definitely satisfied with my experience at Miss Katie's Charm School.

 Pearls and Bling: Some of our best friends

 Nifty Necklaces.

 Arm Party!

 Cute Shoe Paperweight. (I need these.)

Another great thing I found at Miss Katie's Charm School is value. So now you can see why it is I had to share my finding of this store with you!





 Loving my new arm candy bling courtesy of Miss Katie's Charm School.

Where do you shop for cute girly things?

Cute obsessed,

GTG

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Cinderella's Slippers: A Dream Come True

Today I'm honored to be sharing this post on Da Mouse to celebrate Disney's Diamond Edition Blu Ray Combo Pack release of one of its most beloved fairy tales ever, Cinderella.

We all know the rags-to-riches story of a young girl, whose evil stepmother along with her two equally evil and less than beautiful stepsisters that make her life impossible and treat her like their own personal slave.

Major spoiler alert: All that changes one night when she gets a visit from her fairy godmother and is transformed into the belle of the ball but loses her shoe at midnight. Later that very same shoe transforms her entire life and she lives happily ever after with her prince.

It's because of Disney's Cinderella, that a lot of girls grew up wanting to find Prince Charming. Nowadays, fashionistas, myself included grow up wanting to find the perfect pair of glass slippers (the search for the prince can wait!)

Earlier this year, designers Marc Jacobs and Christian Louboutin created their own interpretation of Cinderella's glass slipper.

Marc Jacobs PVC Slippers

Marc Jacobs created a pair of almost identical slippers to the ones that Cindy wears using PVC, a type of plastic that is way more comfy than glass could ever be. These slippers sold out for the cool price of $595.

Mr. Louboutin interpreted the slippers slightly different but just as stunning and he did so in honor of the film's re-release this month.

 Louboutin Sketch

Louboutin's Cinderella Inspired Slippers

Known for his signature red soles, Louboutin honored the Disney classic by creating a white lace peep-toe pump with Swarovski crystals and butterflies.

While some of us would shell out the dough that these pairs cost-- not all of us have checking accounts fit for a princess-- cue in DSW.

DSW also teamed up with Disney for a limited edition glass slipper collection. The DSW Glass Slipper Collection consists of five pairs, which colors, details and textures were inspired by elements of the classic flick.

With no glass slippers (or PVC for that matter) in sight, this collection is very budget friendly, even if you still haven't met your prince, ranging from $59.95 to $89.95. The collection is now available at stores and online.

Here are the shoes:

The Cinderella Pump

The Royal Pump

The Romance Sandal

The Charming Sandal

The Princess Sandal

What do you think of the DSW collection? Which designer created the best slipper?

I want to thank Da Mouse for letting me contribute this fashion report. And for all the latest Disney scoop make sure you visit Da Mouse.

Shoe obsessed,

Your Go-To-Gal

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GTG Tries It...youthH20

A little over three weeks ago, I received a sample box of youthH20 to try out. I'm not usually the type of person who takes any type of energy shots-- I can't even drink Red Bull because of its awful taste, but because I've been working crazy hours at work and I've been more tired than usual, I decided to give it a try.

Besides what girl would turn down a product that promises to boost energy, make you appear younger and burn fat? Not this girl!

Sample box of youthH20 in youth berry

I received my sample box a few days later after I was asked if I was interested in trying it out, but because I was so swamped with work, I forgot that I even received it. It wasn't until a week later that I was emailed by my friend wanting to know what I tought about the product.

So now I've been taking a shot of youthH20 every weekday morning for two weeks and here's what I have to say about it.

Product: youthH20 Age Defying Energy Shots

Claims: This all natural super food, which contains no caffeine promises a boost in energy, smoother skin, faster metabolism, mental clarity, better mood, stronger immunity protection and better sleep.

Actually: So on day one of taking this shot, I didn't feel much of a difference though I did get through my work day but didn't feel like I had been run over by a train, which is exactly how I felt  the previous day.

And to be honest, I was so relieved that I wasn't feeling jittery. In the past anything I've taken for an energy boost or weight loss made me crazy and moody. I was also able to fall asleep without any trouble.

Pros: I'm on week two and I haven't felt this energetic, efficient and good in a very long time! Even though I'm working more and working a lot of hours, I don't feel tired or sleepy during the day. I've found that I'm not feeling as hungry as I was before. And did I mention, no mood swings?

These wonderful shots have allowed me to be productive after work, I've been able to start up cardio workouts and catch up on my blogging-- something I hadn't done in over a month because I was too exhausted to even think about what to write about.

To my dear friends and readers, let's take a moment to thank youthH20 for allowing me to get back to blogging!

Cons: I know this product sounds to be too good to be true, but I promise it isn't. I'm very picky when it comes to food and drinks--if it doesn't taste good, I'm not eating/drinking it. So I was very hesitant to intake the first shot because I didn't know how it was going to taste. I literally chugged the entire first shot in the youth berry flavor and it wasn't the most pleasant tasting thing I've had, but it wasn't too terrible.

Don't forget: To make sure you keep the shots refrigerated. 

Tip: Try mixing it in a smoothie if you find the taste to be too strong for you, but then again I'm the queen of picky and I can take it by itself.  

The good thing is the more you take it the less pleasant the taste becomes. Think of it as an acquired taste like wine or  bloody marys!

Overall Recommendation: I highly recommend youthH20 if not for anything else than its energy boosting properties and the fact that it's good for you because of its super foods. As far as the youthful and improved skin appearance goes, I haven't seen a difference. Then again I'm 28 and I still look like a teenager (it can be a blessing and a curse depends on the occasion.) But I believe that this is the type of product that the more you use the better it works.

You can find youthH20 exclusively at Navarro stores.

Note: It's recommended that you take youthH20 as follows:

Step 1- Drink a bottle a day, five days (of your choice) a week, for three weeks

Step 2- Take a week off (as youthH2O continues to work)

Step 3- Repeat.

I'll definitely be purchasing my second box of these awesome shots.

Would you try youthH20?

Youthfully and energetically yours,

GTG

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"Make the most of every day of your life." Youth h20



pop 'n pose: a popchips event

taking a cue from one of my fave tasty treats: popchips -- ti'm writing his entire post in lowercase letters!

you might have heard that the pretty popstar katy perry is the new face of popchips, but what you might not know is that in honor of this perfect partnership, popchips has embarked on the national pop 'n' pose tour.

miami's pop 'n' pose event took place this past weekend at aventura mall and in case you missed it i'm bringing you all the highlights.

yummy popchips

pop 'n' pose guests got to snack on popchips, lounge on giant bean bags, get their very own mini popstar makeover at the mac cosmetics beauty bar before taking their glam pictures at the photo booth!

oversized popchips bean bags

 

 mac beauty bar

mini makeovers

 

dj play my song!

 



props for pop 'n' pose

 



poppin' 'n' posin (photo credit: suzanne barton)

 girls just wanna have fun! (photo credit: suzanne barton)

everyone who attended the two day soiree got the opportunity to sign up for the chance to win a trip for two to l.a. to meet ms. katy perry and receive the popstar treatment. you can also enter for your very own chance to win by visiting the popchips' facebook page.



just poppin' popchips (photo credit: suzanne barton)

 



everyone loves popchips (photo credit: suzanne barton)

 



fyi: katy perry was a huge fan of the healthy snack before becoming the face of the growing brand's first national campaign. so keep your eyes out for the debut of the campaign this fall.

i love love love the sour cream & onion and parmesan garlic flavors! what's your fave flavor?

xo
GTG

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"love without the handles" katy perry for popchips

 

GTG's Fall 2012 Trend Report

Welcome back to my little corner of the blogosphere!

As you all know it's officially fall and it's all about the fashion trends of the season!

Here are this season's hottest trends:



Animal Instincts: Animal print is a classic staple and one that is most dominant during the fall. Try a leopard print animal dress with dark tights and a leather jacket for a modern twist on this classic look.

Embellishments: Be seen in anything that is embellished especially if it's shoes!

Leather: Leather is everywhere! And whether you love leather or you love animals--you can choose to rock the real thing or go faux, but I'm definitely loving this leather mini skirt.

Baroque: Inspired by 18th century art this trend is truly a body of art.

Western: Be the girl next door in adorable denim. Cowboy boots and flannel tops are also huge this season. Mix with edgy pieces like combat boots or a motorcycle leather jacket for a city take on this country look.
 
Oxblood or Bordeaux: The IT color of the season. Wear it in leggings, peplum tops or pumps--you can't go wrong!

Brocade: This season is all about the opulent brocade details in ultra feminine silhouettes.

What are you looking most forward to wearing this fall?

Remember that when it comes to trends-- it's all about your interpretation of the trends and experimenting to see which ones work for you. There are certain trends that aren't wearable for everyone and you should never follow fashion for the sake of fashion. Fashion is the first and most expression of yourself that is seen by everyone before you can even get a word out, so make sure that you're comfortable in it!

Until the next fall trend report!

xo
GTG

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""Style" is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.” John Fairchild

GTG Tries It... BareMinerals Ready Foundation

Hi beautiful friends!

Today I have another review for you. Did you know that bareMinerals released its amazing foundation in a ready to go compact? I've been waiting for this day since I first tried out the the original SPF 15 foundation in 2009.

The great thing about the original bareMinerals is the buildable coverage one can attain without looking like cake face. The even greater thing? How your overall skin appearance can improve overtime by wearing this makeup.

The only less than stellar quality about this foundation was that until August of this year, it was a real mission to put it on while on the go! It was messy and complicated. And when it became too much of a hassle, I decided to part ways with it.

After two years of trying good products and some less than good products, I decided to go back to bareMinerals this past summer.

While testing out shades at my local Sephora, I struck up a convo with the makeup artist who was assisting me. I had expressed to her how much I wished this product came in a compact package and she confided in me that the idea had already been designed and it was set to launch later this year.

Fast forward a couple of months and the bareMinerals ready foundation is here!

I bought mine from QVC for a special price and also ordered the precision brush.

So are you ready for my review?

Claims: Invisible long-wearing and hydrating coverage that lasts up to 12 hours with a no-makeup look and feel.

Actually: While you can definitely throw on this ready foundation in the car or on the elevator on your way up to the office--the coverage just isn't nearly as great as that of the original or as good as I'd hope.

Can you build coverage? Yes, but it doesn't look as flawless as the original. In fact, you can tell you're wearing a good amount of makeup. In addition, I've been dealing with an unfortunate breakout on my left cheek and it didn't cover it up as well as the original did.

 

Pros: The QVC packaging is gorgeous, more so than the original packaging.  I also got a pretty good deal for both items than had I purchased both items at a store.

Cons: The ready foundation shades differ from the original shades. Girls, let's face it I'm as pale as a ghost, but the fair ready foundation is easily two to three shades lighter than the fair original foundation.

 

Overall Recommendation: This was nearly a total miss for me and while it's a decent product I feel that it really missed the mark that bareMinerals is known for. I'm not even sure it hydrates as it claims. However, my best friend also purchased it and absolutely loves it. I highly recommend you try it on at a store before buying it and see if it works for you.

Note: My absolute favorite thing is the precision brush I invested in. It is amazing!

 

Have you tried any of the bareMinerals products? What's been your experience?

 

 xoxo GTG

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"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin." Gwyneth Paltrow

GTG Tries It...(Lippmann's Stripper to Go)

Hi beauties!

Today I'm doing a quick review on a product I received in my August birchbox. It's safe to say that I have an unhealthy obsession with shoes and mani/pedis. Have you guys checked out my Instagram account? I do not lie.

Lately I've been crushing on Deborah Lippmann colors, so I was psyched when I received the Deborah Lippmann Stripper to Go lacquer remover.

 

Claims:  1 Mitt cleans all 10 nails!

Actually: I had been wearing Strange Love by Deborah Lippman over a gel base. My manicurist promised that the polish would last me at least a week because of the gel base, but that was untrue. The polish started to come undone in my shower this morning and not small chips. It started to flake off. Because I was in a hurry I said to myself: "how perfect is this, I'll just take one of my two samples of stripper to go and I'll fix my nails at work.

I slipped my index finger into the mitt and began removing the polish from my left hand. It worked okay, but I wasn't impressed.

 

I started working on my right hand, which was a total disaster because the mitt started to dry out halfway through my right hand and I was left with polish on two nails.

 

In a desperate attempt to at least remove most of the polish from all my nails I tried sticking my finger in the package to use the excess liquid, but that also failed.

Pros: It has a nice scent, although it mostly smells like your typical polish remover.

Cons: It didn't deliver on its promise to remove polish from all 10 fingers. Now I have to spend the rest of my day at work with less than fine looking nails.

Overall Recommendation: I'm really glad I received the samples in my birchbox because I will not shell out $12 for 6 mitts (that's $2 per mitt) and when you get down to the nitty gritty it didn't perform as well I would've liked it to.

 

Note: I wasn't trying to remove the gel base from my nails just the color.

 

 

 My left hand.

 My right hand.

 

The mitt that dried out before I was able to finish my right hand.

 

Have you tried these stripper to go mitts?

What was your experience?

 

Until the next must try product-- I'm signing off.

 

xoxo GTG

 

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"I pretty much make time for that weekly manicure." Yancy Butler

Friday Faves: August Acquisitions

Hi dolls!

August isn't even over, and I'm already hard at work picking up a few of my fall wardrobe items and accessories.

Because I live in Miami I get away with wearing a lot of open toe shoes that I know my snowbird buddies in northern cities can't. The downside is I can't rock my boots (btw: I'm a boot lover) until the weather starts to cool off, but I usually can't wait that long and I bust them out around October. After all it's fall (as garnered by Mother Nature and meteorologists) by October.

In honor of Friday, the best day of the week, here are my favorite things to get me ready for the fall!

Favorite Nail Lacquers:

Deborah Lippman for HSN Forsaken Bad Things Mini Trio



Strange Love



All of these shades are great for the fall. Look out for next Mani-c Monday's picture, which will feature the middle color, a shimmery magenta.

Colors from left to right: Bad Blood, Strange Love and New Flesh.


Favorite Animal Print:

 Vince Camuto Jamma Stud Bow Pumps

Girls if you know me then you know I love shoes, I love animal prints and I love studs. Put them together on a stylish pump and it becomes a must have.

Favorite Accessory:



Jewelmint's Giza Ring

This heavy metal ring will bring out the rock star in you. Not only is it gorgeous and unique, but it's also made very well. I was completely surprised by this purchase. JewelMint really does offer good quality products at great prices.

Favorite Fragrance:

Dot by Marc Jacobs

I waited such a long time for this perfume to come out that when it finally came out I forgot that it was out. So imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when I saw it at Macy's last week.

I tested it out on my wrist, decided to walk around the store in search of a present and let it set. When I was on my way out I decided to sniff my wrist and I loved how it smelled, so I bought it.  The scent is very sweet, so if sweet isn't your thing than this scent isn't for you.

Favorite Jewel Tone Sandals:

Steve Madden Buzzzer Pump

These shoes just came in this week and I was so happy to see how green they are. The picture on the Nordstrom site made it look like an aqua color, which I had no problem with, but they are a gorgeous bright green.

I have the perfect LBD to rock them with!

Now I'm just missing my perfect boots and a few scarves and I'm almost ready for my favorite season of the year: fall. Are you ready?

Meet ya right here with the next Friday faves segment!

xo

GTG

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"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one Autumnal face."
John Donne









Spotlight: The Hollywood Swank Collection

As some of you know the boyfriend and I are official home owners! And as exciting as it is to have our own home it comes with a lot of stress, worries and responsibilities. The overall experience has been very overwhelming, but we cannot wait to see the finish product (I'm guesstimating it'll be two years before everything is perfectly together as we have envisioned it.)

My loyal readers and blogger buddies may have noticed a decline in content on this blog, as well as the quality of content, but right now I only have home renovations and decor on the brain. I'm almost sure this is the equivalent of women who suffer from baby brain during their pregnancy. But because I'm not a home decor specialist I didn't want to blog about it; however, last night I realized just how excited I am about this project and though I'm no expert I do want to share my experiences with you. In the future I'll post a blog with before and after pictures of the home.

But back to today's post.

I have a very specific (some would even call it unique) taste and everything that I see at furniture stores falls short from my aesthetic needs and wishes.

But all of that changed last night when I saw the most exquisite and elegant bedroom set ever.



Hollywood Swank Bed and Bed Bench by Michael Amini and Jane Seymour





I love everything that sparkles, so needless to say this entire collection, but especially this bedroom set took my breath away. The master suite of the new house was painted in black and white and I think this stunning bed would be the perfect focus piece for the room. In addition the bedding set is exactly what I had pictured: white and black with a little pop of color (and it doesn't hurt that it has a little bling too.) Before I saw this bedding set, I was still unsure of the POC I wanted to incorporate into the black and white theme, I had flirted with fuschia and teal, but I think purple will be the color.

Now I'm not saying I'd like to add furniture designer to my resume anytime soon, but if I were to ever design furniture it would probably look like the Hollywood Swank Collection brought to life by Michael Amini and Jane Seymour.

Check out the other fabulous pieces:



Hollywood Swank Vanity Set by Michael Amini and Jane Seymour 



What girl would not love to wake up and prim herself up in front of this gorgeous old Hollywood glamorous vanity set? The bench chair contains crystal details. Simply beautiful.

Hollywood Swank Lingerie Swivel Chest by Michael Amini and Jane Seymour

I know this should be used for lingerie, but I'd use it to store my accessories!

This collection isn't just a bedroom one-- it includes pieces for the living room and dining room and features entertainment units.





Hollywood Swank Armless Chaise by Michael Amini and Jane Seymour

Hollywood Swank Desk and Chair by Michael Amini and Jane Seymour

I could handle all my GTG business in the comfort of my own home with this luxurious desk and chair! Sighs.

A girl sure can dream! There are two other collections under the Amini and Seymour collaboration: Beverly Blvd. and Palace Gates, but none come close to the Hollywood Swank collection. It's flawless!

I'm afraid that none of these pieces are within our budget and my boyfriend thinks the pieces are too feminine. So while I obsess over needing these pieces I believe I'll have to settle for something less perfect.

What do you guys think of the collection? Is it too much? Too feminine? Or just perfect?

Make sure you keep checking yourgotogal.co for the latest updates and don't forget that I'm just about everywhere, so check me out:

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Xo's

Your GTG-- first time home owner

"A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”- Unknown.