Spotlight: Julep Maven May Box

Welcome back gals!

I just received my Julep Maven box for May and I couldn't wait to share it with you. Now I'll be the first to admit that I have been a total polish addict and having just bought an entire collection of nail polish I decided to try out something new this month!

As you might have read in a my previous Julep box post, one of the things I most enjoy about being a Julep Maven is the fact that regardless of my style, I can choose whatever style box I like most for any given month, a perk that other beauty subs just don't permit.

Julep introduced a new style known as Modern Beauty, which is perfect for gals like us who love to try out new beauty products.

The entire Julep Maven May Jazz Collection was inspired by the '20s jazz age, which is great considering that I've always loved that era, but it just so happens to be the it thing because of the new  Great Gatsby flick coming out in less than a week!

Wee!

This month's Modern Beauty box includes:

• The New York Jazz Lipstick Tio 
• Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub
• Volumizing Mascara
• Floral Hair Clips

Let me start off by saying that I loved the entire packaging of every product in this box as it perfectly captures the essence of that era. Even my boyfriend commented on how nice everything looked, as I was testing out everything.

My favorite item thus far is the lip scrub, which not only smells yummy but leaves my lips feeling soft, smooth and totally kissable.

While the lipstick colors are very pretty, I was a bit disappointed at the sheerness of two of the colors. Lady in Red is the only color with a pop and I cannot wait to wear it and paint the town red!

I have yet to test the mascara, but will definitely update this post once I have. Lastly I'm not sure I'll use the floral clips but they are totally adorable. 

Are you a Maven yet? If not, you can use code: FREEBOX to get your first box for free!

xoxo 

GTG

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"Life is a lot like jazz--it's best when you improvise." George Gershwin

GTG Tries It... Julep's Oxygen Nail Treatment

Hi gals!

Remember how I recently shared with you the items I received in my Julep Maven February box? And remember how I promised I'd come back with a review on the Julep Oxygen Nail Treatment?

Well I know it's May, but I had to try out the product and even more importantly find the time and words to write this review. So let's get it cracking:

This new semi new product is dubbed as makeup for your nails by Julep. As per the instructions found on the back of the packaging, this treatment should be applied to clean nails (meaning no base coat, polish/lacquer or top coat) one to two times a week over a period of 4 weeks.

Julep's Oxygen Nail Treatment

Two coats of Oxygen Nail treatment (first time use)

Product: Julep's Oxygen Nail Treatment

Claims: A revolutionary treatment for weak nails that conditions and restructures nails in just 4 weeks because of its groundbreaking oxygen technology. Julep also states that the patented formula can restructure nails to a stronger, thicker and smoother condition in just one stroke!

Before I actually go into my impressions of the product, I do want to disclose that while my nails are prone to breakage they are strong and grow because of the Biotin vitamins I take. I've also discovered that getting regular manicures has helped the condition of my nails. 

Actually: I'm really not sure about this product. I've used it a few times since I've gotten it mostly in between manis,  I throw this on as a quick fix because it has a high gloss and hint of color that makes my nails look better versus having them bare.

While I enjoy the look of my nails with this on, I can't truly say that it's done much for the overall health and growth of my nails, though I will continue to use it in between manis. 

Pros: Luckily for me, my nails aren't very yellowish- so the very light pink tint makes my nails look like they aren't completely bare, which is a plus in my book!

Cons: This oxygen treatment has a really strong odor, which is neither pleasant or terrible, but it's strong and it's very much present even after it has dried.

It seems to run out very fast because considering I've only used it a few times, it's halfway through.

Overall Recommendation: It doesn't look I'll be asking my lovely ladies to go out and invest in this product anytime soon considering it's between $14-$18 and doesn't last too long. Even though I don't use it as is recommended, it claims it can change your nails in one stroke and well that just wasn't the case.

Until next time beauties!

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GTG's Spring 2013 Fashion Trend Report

So what will you be wearing come spring? Well that really depends on your personal style, but you will be seeing a lot of the following at stores everywhere:

Top 7 Fashion Trends of 2013 (as seen in the runways of Michael Kors, DKNY, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, BCBG, DVF, Givenchy and Donna Karan)

1. Stripes
2. Black and White
3. The Short suit
4. Water inspired
5. Ruffles
6. Bermuda Shorts
7. Peek-a-boo pieces

Here are some of my favorite pieces for each trend! Enjoy and let me know what's your new favorite trend?


Seeing stripes: This spring it's all about stepping out in stripes especially if you're afraid of other prints. You should invest in a good piece that you can keep in your closet forever as stripes are timeless.

Stripes

More Stripes

This season designers opted for something a little less traditional such as florals or pastel colors and brought out bold black and white pieces that are perfect for every season and can be achieved with any budget. 

Black and White

Black and White

The first thing I thought of when I saw the short suit was a trend this season was of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Of course the short suit of today is a lot more tailored and fashionable than its' 1990s' equivalent. I'm loving this trend especially when pieces are mixed instead of a matchy matchy look.

The Short Suit

A palette of water colors made a splash on runways, as a lot of designers found inspiration in water and the results are beautiful hues of blues and draperies of seafoam colors. 

Water Inspired Looks

Water Inspired Looks

Ruffles have been popping out everywhere especially oversized ruffles, but I'm not a big fan of this trend that's why I picked pieces that were chic and on trend but nothing that will overpower you.

Ruffles

Ruffles

Bermuda shorts are back this season and they're great because they're not only ultra flattering on just about any body type they also always give you that chic effortless polished look that every girl dreams of. 

Bermuda shorts

Bermuda Shorts

Peek-a-boo pieces are nothing short of sexy, whether you're going for the bare midriff, sheer panels or cut outs you'll have plenty of choices to keep it ultra feminine and sexy. Remember ladies, we love looking sexy not trashy!

Peek a boo pieces (cut outs)

Peek a boo pieces (sheer panels)

What look or looks are you looking forward to rocking this spring?

Until next time,
xo GTG

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“I glanced out the window at the signs of spring. The sky was almost blue, the trees were almost budding, the sun was almost bright.” Millard Kaufman

Spotlight: Julep Maven February Box

I discovered Julep Maven, a nail color monthly sub, a few months ago, when I was trying to decide what I really wanted to get from my monthly boxes. I don't mind spending money on things I know I'm going to use and I felt like I was getting tired of receiving the same samples from other subs, which have now accumulated inside two drawers of my vanity set.

But I like love to have my nails look pretty in the hottest colors of the season. So joining Julep Maven was a no brainer. Signing up to become a Julep Maven is very easy: you take a quiz, you discover your style profile (It Girl, Bombshell, Classic with a Twist, American Beauty or Boho Glam) and you purchase your first box. All boxes are $19.99/month, but unlike other subs you can pick whichever style you like each month. 

Today I received my February box and wanted to share the colors I received, as well as the inspiration behind this month's collection and the freebies I got from my Julep Jules (Julep Maven's reward program for ordering my monthly box.)

Julep Maven's February Box: Bombshell

Something noteworthy to know about Julep colors:

• Julep nail colors are "4 free" (don't contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toulene or DBP.)
• highly pigmented colors
• Julep donates a portion of the proceeds to organizations that support women through its Powered by Girlfriends program. 

My style profile is Classic with a Twist, but this month I opted to order the Bombshell box because I was smitten with Laura, an olive khaki creme. I also received Ginger, a sand tone in a holographic finish. In addition I got an eyelash curler and a couple of heart shaped chocolates (one of which I ate before I got to take a picture of the box :) )

Almost all of this month's boxes came with the new oxygen nail treatment that is supposed to make nails stronger, thicker and smoother in just one stroke (review will be up very soon) as well as freedom polymer top coat, (an extra this month) which claims to extend the life of your manicure by creating a force field that prevents chipping and a gel like finish (review for this will also be up shortly.)

Because I had accumulated a nice amount of Julep Jules, I added on the Old Hollywood Charm set, which consists of three colors at no extra cost.

I thought this was the perfect add-on because the entire "Get on The A List" February collection was inspired by classic and modern Hollywood leading ladies.

Unfortunately with all the new polishes that I have received in the last week or so I haven't been able to try them all on. As usual, I'll come back and update this post with all the colors received.

FYI: The window for the new monthly subscription opens up later this week from the 20th-24th with a new style profile: Modern beauty that will feature other products besides polishes.

If you'd like to become a Julep Maven use my referral code: 5799024 during sign up or just click on the following link: Julep Maven

What's your favorite monthly subscription?

Until next time,
xo GTG

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GTG Tries It... Zoya's PixieDust Colors

Forty-one!

That's the number of days I sat impatiently waiting for my new Zoya PixieDust order to be fulfilled and shipped out.

Sidenote: the shipping gods have been really upset with me for unknown reasons. So far two of my four pending packages have been undeliverable including my Zoya package, which I had to go pick up myself.

You can't even imagine how excited I was to pick up my package and test out these brand spanking new colors for you! The Zoya Pixiedust collection features six new colors with a special formula that creates a textured, matte and sparkling finish, it's kinda like sparkly sugar or sand on your nails.

As soon as I heard this collection was coming out I knew I'd love Dahlia (a blacky sugary sparkle) and London (a fog gray sugary sparkle.) I also placed an order for Purity (a clean white creme with a glossy finish) and Toni (a dark wine with purple tones.)

Zoya goodies

As a gift, Zoya included a color chart with its other new spring collection, a polish remover and the Qtica half time polish drying accelerator (I will def let you know how the accelerator works in the future.)

On to the pixiedust colors:

Zoya Pixiedust in London

Shine bright like a diamond in London. (Day 1)

Day 3: Minor chipping

Honestly this picture doesn't even do this color any justice. The color is so much more vibrant, sparkly and prettier in person. Every single girl at the salon complimented me on the color because it's absolutely stunning. The texture is a little weird and it does take sometime to get used to because it's so grainy. This can be a problem for some, but not for someone like myself, who appreciates the look. 

In order to achieve the best possible finish you have to make sure your nails are clean and that they don't have any oil or grease. You cannot use a base coat. Apply a single coat and wait for it to dry completely before applying the next coat (always make sure you wait for each coat to dry in between  coats.) I had my manicurist apply three thin coats. Here's the final kicker--you shouldn't apply a top coat either in order to obtain the desired matte sugary results. If you do it will still look pretty, but the final look will be smooth and not sugar-like.

Zoya Pixiedust in Dahlia

Dahlia Swatch (p.s. there's a reason I don't do my own nails it's cause I suck at it!)

Here's my overall review of Zoya's new Pixiedust collection:

Product: Zoya PixieDust Nail Lacquer 

Claims: A long-lasting formula with a magical sparkle and sugary finish. 

Actually: Long lasting? Depends on your definition of long lasting. I started seeing minimal chipping at 3 days, which considering you can't use a top coat is not terrible. The final matte texturized sugar look is nothing short of absolutely stunning.  

Pros: A new, beautiful one of a kind manicure, which can be easily fixed with a single coat that will not smudge like most regular lacquers. The price of $9 also makes this an affordable buy.

Cons: My only issue with this polish was the removal process. I highly recommend that you let each nail soak in polish remover before attempting to remove the color. It's no more difficult than removing glitter nail polish.

I'll update this post in a few days with the Dahlia color so you can see what it looks like.

Until next time,

xo GTG

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Holiday Party Footwear

No holiday outfit is complete without the perfect accessory and yes, ladies I'm talking about the ultimate accessory: shoes!

Here are my top 5 shoes from holiday collections ranging from high end to supremely affordable:

Nothing says, "I have arrived in style," more than these gorgeous suede cutout sandals by Giuseppe Zanotti. These shoes mix edgy cutouts with a bright red that will have you feeling and looking stunningly sexy against the background of a white Christmas.


Where to wear: Company holiday parties or a rocking club to bring in the new year.

It's all about black and gold this holiday season! You are going to see this beautiful combination everywhere and out of all the pretty shoes to choose from this pair by Ivanka Trump was my favorite. I ordered them online and plan on wearing them to my Christmas Eve and maybe even NYE parties! I know it's a little faux pas to wear the same shoes to two different parties, but they're so pretty.

Where to wear: For New Year's Eve at a hotel or restaurant or a family holiday party.

You may have heard it over and over again but oxblood red is the color of the season. And now you can deck the halls in these adorable yet affordable t-strap pumps available at Payless from the Christian Siriano collection.

Where to wear: To any holiday party or private home.

Rock around that Christmas tree in these gorgeous green Jimmy Choos. And you'll be stepping out into the hottest color of 2013: emerald green (as dubbed by Pantone, the authority of color.)

Where to wear: Black tie parties and anywhere you decide to ring in the new year (even if it's at home in your bed.)

We can't forget about metallics when it comes to any kind of celebration and this pair of Emery by Shoemint is the perfect dazzling accessory to make your holiday season sparkle.

Where to wear: To any nighttime party or event whether it's holiday related or not!

Happy holidays darlings! And remember it's best to be overdressed than underdressed when it comes to this season of celebrations.

I would love to see pictures of your holiday outfits so feel free to share them with me by tweeting me (@yourgotogal) or emailing me (ygtgal@gmail.com.)

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"Let music fill the air! Let joy be everywhere! Happy Holidays!" Anonymous

Spotlight: Lone Wolf Accents

It's no secret that I love to shop. I'm always on the hunt for the latest in fashion (I'm not really a trendy gal, my personal style is a mix of classy items with a touch of edginess.)  And it was looking for the perfect hand chain a couple of months ago that I stumbled upon the Lone Wolf Accents shop on Etsy. 

I had found so many hand chains that were either really busy or too eccentric, I however had my heart set on something simple, pretty and timeless.

And of course I immediately fell in love with this silver knotted one from LWA. It was the perfect balance of timelessness and elegance that I needed. I also knew it's  something that wouldn't go out of style and I could probably wear 20 years from now.

That's where you would think my experience with LWA ended? But it didn't.

After I received my purchase, I tried on the hand chain to discover that it was too big (BTW: my hands and wrists are the size of that of a very small child's.) I contacted LWA and Molly was so helpful in providing me with two options to shorten it myself and even asking me to send it back to get it resized if the other options didn't work. She even followed up with me a week later to see if the options she had offered had worked out.

Needless to say that at this point I was very happy with LWA's customer service because it's one of the most important factors for me personally when it comes to shopping.

LWA also rewarded me with this pair of gorgeous gold foiled feather earrings for participating in a  survey.

Truly believing that a company which is that great to its customers and has amazing products surely deserves some GTG love.

And it doesn't hurt that now I'm obsessed with body chains and head chains and all other sorts of chains beacause of LWA. So as my duty to keep you in the know here's my interview with Molly Pearson, lead designer for Lone Wolf Accents.

This is what she has to say about the company, her designs, inspirations and dreams:

**And make sure you read this post in its entirety as there is something special for all my GTG darlings!


GTG: What inspired you to start Lone Wolf Accents?

Molly: In the post-college years, I struggled with the idea of corporate life, office politics and pantyhose. I was often leaving spontaneously for camping trips or running from work to a party or event. This spontaneity made me realize how much I loved fashion, but also had a deep respect for function. That idea, along with the desire to be self-employed, inspired me to start Lone Wolf Accents.


GTG: Describe the team LWA has in place today?

Molly: Two years after starting Lone Wolf Accents, I realized my best friend Sarah had an organizational and business style that complimented the business. We work really well together, along with our awesome web designer and sales reps. We're always looking for models, photographers, and interns to join our team.

*If that's you, email Molly and the gang at: LetsChat@LoneWolfAccents.com GTG: Who shops at LWA?

Molly: Our target market is the woman that craves accessories to satisfy a life she refuses to live quietly. You treat yourself to something beautiful because you deserve it. If you love to express yourself through accessories and want to be the most complimented girl in the room, Lone Wolf is for you.

GTG: Who's the one person you would love to see rocking LWA?

Molly: We'd love to see Lady Gaga in a piece! Her message is similar to ours, in that we encourage you to step outside the pack and be a free thinker in the way you express yourself.

*Molly and the gang love seeing your expression, so show them how you roam in your Lone Wolf Accents over on Facebook or Twitter.GTG: Is there anything LWA wants to be known for beside its uber amazing hand, body and head chains? What are the plans for the future?

Molly: A pipe dream of mine was always to create a men's collection, since there's currently nothing available for men. Why should women be the only ones to get to play with body chains? So it was a surreal moment when we launched Chain Male last week. I'd like Lone Wolf Accents to be known for creating jewelry that makes others do a double take and gets you lots of compliments when you wear it. Every woman deserves to feel sexy. We listen to our Wolf Pack and want to give you what you want, in an ethical way that never abuses workers' rights. And no matter how large we grow, we will always ensure a portion of our proceeds do some good in the world. Currently, it's the Kazuri Collection, which gives 100% of profits to a community of displaced refugees in Kenya. It's definitely jewelry you can feel good about buying.

And we'd like to inspire others to live their dreams. I started out with no business plan, MBA or formal training. I just jumped right in and it's been the most rewarding thing I've ever done. If you have that itching to go after something, we encourage you to do it. After all, if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough.

In case you missed it LWA is currently featured as one of the jewelry studios in JewelMint's Collective  Marketplace.

But the best news? All my GTG friends and readers can take advantage of purchasing awesome holiday gifts from LWA by entering "Yamari" at checkout and saving 15% from now until December 17th!

Happy Holidays friends!

xo
GTG

And remember to stay connected with me for all the latest trends, must have items and interview exclusives!

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"If you've ever had the desire to step outside social norms, walk your own path and not care what others thought, Lone Wolf is for you." LWA