Take a bite out of the Big Apple

I'm in love with New York City, but who isn't?

I love the stores, the people, heck I even like riding the subways. But that's only because I'm a visitor.

But perhaps my most favorite thing about the big city is the restaurants.

And just recently, I've noticed how many NY based restaurants have opened up right here in our own backyard.

So here's my compilation of restaurants where you can take a bite out of the Big Apple, without booking a trip.

The Shake Shack opened its doors in 2004 in Madison Square Garden, and since then they've expanded to D.C., Connecticut, Miami and even the Middle East.

The chain's hamburgers, hot dogs, custards and shakes are some of the best in the country, so the next time you're on Lincoln Road make sure you check it out.

5 Napkin Burger named after the franchise's most famous dish-- the 5 napkin burger, which is 10 ounces of fresh ground chuck topped with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli.

YUM!

Although famous for its burgers, this restaurant also has sushi rolls, salads and a huge selection of cocktails.

Named after a little shoe, Scarpetta opened up inside of the Fontainebleau and it's one of the few places in Miami where you can find delicious, authentic Italian food.

Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 42nd birthday at Scarpetta.

Another great Italian restaurant that opened its doors in Miami is Il Gabbiano, which is owned by The Masci brothers, who also own and operate Il Muliano in the Greenwich neighborhood.

An American classic, Houston's is a beloved spot that has great service.

Houston's Chicago-style spinach dip is by far the best dip I've ever tried.  I always go there for the dip, drinks and a nice view.

MR CHOW is a world renowned franchise and especially popular in LA and NYC, so I was so thrilled to hear that a restaurant would open inside of the W Hotel in Miami Beach.

And because it is Miami, you can find all of their classic dishes, along with some new exciting recipes executed by the head chef.

NOBU is possibly the most recognized Japanese restaurant in the world, and I'm just glad that we have a restaurant here in Miami.

Make sure you wash down any of their amazing signature dishes with their mango martini, which is to absolutely die for.


Are there any other NY restaurants that have opened in Miami that are not on this list?

Let me know and I'll add them.

Also, don't forget Miami Spice starts from August 1st-September 30th and some of the restaurants mentioned above will be participating. Check it out: Miami Spice Participating Restaurants


Until next time!

xO's,
your GTG

"There are no better conversations than those that take place around great food and great company."--Yours truly.

A Guide to Stamp Manis

This past weekend, I hung out with my one of my besties for a Sunday filled of beauty and blogging. And let me start off by saying that if I'm your go to gal, Priscilla is my makeup maven. She is not only a licensed makeup artist, but she has an amazing understanding of makeup and all things beauty.

She also did a keratin hair treatment for me, which I will be sharing pictures with you later this week, and I'll be debunking the myths of keratin.

Below you will find a short video (that we filmed and edited ourselves) of the materials and steps needed to do your very own stamp manicure and please don't forget to check out this rad girl's blog and site.

Please note that you can also do pedicures in the same way,

Also, check out some pictures of the finished product. :)

The stencil also comes with a few other different styles, so the combinations of colors and styles you can do are endless. It's also very easy and fun.

Hope you guys enjoy this short and sweet post!

xoxo

Your GTG

"It's amazing what a little color on your hands or feet can do for you." -- Anonymous

Shapes and Shades

Hi gals and boys,

I am back with a brand new post that I hope you guys not only enjoy, but you learn from it.

Before I get to the fun stuff, I want to touch base on the importance of dressing for your body.

Style is all about confidence. And the only way you're going to build that confidence is by knowing what works on you, but even more importantly by knowing what doesn't work for you.

As a teenager, I didn't know much about body types, but I always knew that if I didn't feel comfortable in something I just wouldn't wear it.

As I got older, I mostly learned what worked and what didn't work on my body from trying on clothes. The fit of clothes is just as important as what you're buying to wear.

I have so many friends who squeeze into a smaller size of clothes just to say: I'm a size 4, rather than going up to the next size and looking and feeling good about their clothes and themselves.

Please remember that clothes are shrinking. A size 12 today is about a size 8 of yesteryear, so don't feel self-conscious about what size your clothes are. The only thing that matters is that you look good in what you're wearing.

So you've read a few paragraphs of what you thought was a guide to buying sunglasses, and all you've read about is the fit of clothing, but I did that intentionally to stress the importance of how knowing your body can help you dress in the best possible way.

So just like you should know how to dress for your body type, you should also know about your face shape, which will  help you pick out what sunglasses and haircuts look best on you.

Along with helping you determine your face shape, I'm also including a list of the hottest sunglasses for this summer season.

This week's public announcement: Wear SPF products on your face and all other exposed areas of the body when you're out in the sun. Skin cancer is NOT cute.

So are you guys ready? Here it is:

There are many face shapes, but I'm focusing on the 5 main ones in this post, regardless of your shape, you will see that some like the inverted triangle face shape is very similar to the heart face shape and therefore, will be under the same category.

Oval

Oval face shapes are considered to be the most versatile and most desired face shape, as it provides balanced proportions and these are the folks who look good in just about any style of glasses and haircuts.

Women with oval face shapes can pull off a sleek pulled back ponytail better than anyone.

Recommendations: Look for sunglasses that have frames that are just as wide or wider, as the broadest part of your face in order to maintain a proportional look. Also look for rounded square-shaped lenses, but stay away from square frames, as it may look too harsh on your face.

Jennifer Aniston is a celebrity with an oval face.

Round

Round face shapes are primarily characterized by wide cheeks and a round chin.

Women with round faces should keep their hair in soft waves to soften the roundness of their faces, instead of wearing their hair in super curly or straight hair styles.

Men with round faces should avoid heavy sideburns, but keep beards or moustaches for a more flattering look.

Recommendations: Choose frames with a rectangular shape as this will lengthen your face and make it appear naturally thinner. Rimless or frameless glasses also look good on this shape. Stay away from round and oversized glasses, as well as lenses that are too small, which can make your face look rounder.

Kate Bosworth is a celebrity with a round face.

Square

Square face shapes have a strong defined jawline and a square trimmed chin.

Women with square face shapes should have bangs, which accentuate your face shape and layers that can help soften your face.

Recommendations: When looking for reading or sunglasses, keep in mind that anything with oval frames will look best on your face, but make sure the lenses aren't too small.

Demi Moore is a celebrity with a square face.

Oblong

Oblong face shapes may look like a long oval or a long rectangular shape depending on the angle of the person's chin.

Women with oblong face shapes always look great in side-swept bangs. Men with oblong faces can pull off moustaches better than any other face shape.

Recommendations: Aviator sunglasses will work best on your shape.

Sarah Jessica Parker is a celebrity with an oblong face shape.

Triangle

Triangular face shapes are also known as heart shaped faces, which are mainly characterized by a pointy chin and a broad forehead.

Women and men with this face shape look good in either really short or really long hair styles.

Recommendations: It's all about oval glasses for people with triangular face shapes.

Reese Witherspoon is a celebrity with a triangular face shape.

Tips:

Now that you know the 5 main face shapes and the type of glasses and hair styles that look best on you, the next step is determining your face shape. 

• The easiest way to do this is by grabbing a lipstick (preferably one you don't use anymore) and tracing the shape of your reflection to the mirror and then comparing it to the images of  the various face shapes.

Hottest Shades for Women:

 Gucci Aviators in white with gold trim

 Marc by Marc Jacobs Eye Cat Sunglasses 

MJ are super adorbz, though!

 Dior Oversized Glasses

 Marc by Marc Jacobs Shield Sunglasses

Hottest Shades for Men:

Ray Ban Original Wayfarers

Tom Ford Men's Eyewear

Persol Aviators

Prada Rimless Square Framed Sunglasses

Ray Ban New Clubmaster Sunglasses

And there you have it folks!

I'd love to see what sunglasses you are all wearing this summer. I'll be updating this blog with a picture of my brand new Marc by Marc Jacobs rounded frames.

Happy summertime!

XO's

Your GTG

“Summer is kind of like the ultimate one-night stand: hot as hell, totally thrilling, and gone before you know it.” -- Cosmopolitan Magazine

Friday Favorites for 6/17/2011

Welcome back to my weekly installment. This has been a long weekend, but TGIF!

Check out my faves this week:

Favorite Gadget: I had been stuck with the same phone for over a year and it was time for an upgrade. The new HTC Sensation was released earlier this week, and I couldn't be happier to have gone with this phone. I'm an Android girl and this phone is  super blazing fast ! I <3 technology.

Favorite Dessert: Churros from El Vato in Brickell.

I'm not a huge churros fan, but this week I went to this new Mexican spot in Brickell for lunch and I checked in using Foursquare. I immediately received a tweet from the restaurant urging me to try their coveted churros dessert before leaving ( the power of social media!) I did and I was delighted. The picture above is not the picture of the actual churros, but I lost access to my previous pictures, after getting a new phone.

Back to the churros--These churros were sweet, salty and crunchy all at the same time (I love foods with different textures and flavors because it's like a small explosion in your mouth.) This is a delicious GTG-approved treat.

Favorite Summer Series: Pretty Little Liars is back on ABC Family and it's looking better than ever. I know this is a show targeted at a much younger population, but with its riveting and unexpected plots, lies, scandals and mystery--it's really the must see show of the summer.

This week's favorites is a little shorter, but I'm working hard on my sunglasses post, which will be up soon. I hope you all make the msot of your weekend.

xoxo
Your GTG

Friday Favorites for 6/10/11

Another week has come and gone by.

And these are my favorite things of this week:

Favorite Purchase: What girl doesn't love to get free stuff? I know I do, so when I got this month's coupon for a free panty from Victoria's Secret, I was there like a bear who needed some underwear. I also received a $10 coupon off any bra, so I had to take advantage of that after falling in love with the lingerie company's new balconet bra collection.

Favorite Lo-Cal Cocktail: On a lunch date with my bestie, we decided to hit up TGIF's on a Saturday afternoon and I saw a skinny margarita on the menu that only has 130 cals. I ordered one on the rocks and was pleasantly surprised by just how yummy it was, so this is now a GTG approved drink.

Favorite Discovery: For someone who is trying hard to be on a diet, I have been eating out a lot, and I mostly blame the fact that I work in Brickell, oh and that I hate  my job so much that I feel the need to go out to lunch every single day. This week I discovered Rice House of Kabob, a Persian restaurant that kicks Pasha's ass. Their meat is fresh and tender and they have awesome lunch specials that start at $8.49.

Favorite Polish: This week I was in dire need of a pedicure, so I visited my local Sally's Beauty supply store and found this orangy red color called Clambake from Essie. I really really love this color and it's great for the summer time.

Favorite New Show: He's back! Mr. Ami James is back and this time he's in my favorite city in the world, New York for the new Miami Ink spin-off: NY Ink. This is one talented man who knows what he wants and goes after it. I highly recommend this show if you're into tats.

We have less than 2 hours to go to kick start the weekend. Hope you all enjoy it. Until next week!

-xoxo Your GTG

Bloomingdale's: The Outlet Store Review

My love for Bloomies is second to none, in fact this was the store that got me into a lot of financial trouble, but hello can you blame a girl. Bloomingdale's has a great selection of everything that I love!

So when I found out last November that the department giant had opened its first 2 of 4 Bloomingdale's The Outlet Stores in South Florida, I was excited.

Sure it  took me 7 months to make my first visit, but I'm not a fan of either malls, where the stores were opened (Dolphin Mall and Sawgrass Mall--eek!)

Last weekend I was finally able to check out the store in Dolphin Mall and decided that I had to report my findings to my girls.

I was immediately drawn in by the display of L.A.M.B. shoes at the entrance (and no there was no sign that indicated that the pairs on display were L.A.M.B., but I know my shoes.)

Main entrance of Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store located in Dolphin Mall

For the most part, I have a love/hate relationship with outlet stores, but it's mostly hate because I feel these stores promise you the world, and they never deliver (such as Saks Fifth Avenue's Off the 5th, Nordstrom Rack and Neiman Marcus' Last Call.) But this was Bloomies, so I went in with a positive attitude because after all I'm a Bloomies aficionada.

I don't know if I've metioned it or not, but I suffer from chronic OCD and I can't handle messy or dirty places, especially if I'm trying to get my shop on, but my first impression of this outlet store was: "Wow this store is amazingly neat and organized, especially for being such a huge place.

After being talked out of buying the L.A.M.B. shoes that I had already fallen in love, I made my way down the shoe department, which was also surprisingly neat and spacious, but not very interesting.

Snapshot of the women's shoe department

BTW: This store does not want the consumer to forget that it is an outlet store, so they have signs posted everywhere like the one below:

You can also receive a $20 certificate off a $100 purchase just for signing up to their newsletter. 

After shoes, naturally I headed to their accessories department, which was very sad. You won't find a huge array of brands or purses or jewelry  (it was so sad, that I couldn't even bring myself to taking pictures of it.)

My girlfriend who was on a mission to find a sexy top for her outting that night, also left empty handed as there was not a huge selection of sexy.

I, on the other hand fell in love with the dress pictured below. Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store claims that everything is 35-70% off retail prices.

Hands down this was the best thing I found, aside from the pretty pair of L.A.M.B. shoes. Still, I couldn't bring myself to pay more than $100 for a brand I had never even heard of.

The front of the bright clam colored dress. This color looks great on both fair skinned and darker toned 
people.

The back of the fabulous clam colored dress that would go great with a pair of gold strappy sandals and a bold cocktail ring. What would you wear it with?

As you all know, I'm a creature of habit and visuals, if you want my attention put something pretty in front of me and I'm like a moth to a flame. The store's display tables did not disappoint. See for yourself:

Cute and appropriate for the summer season, not like some other outlet stores that highlight their winter looks in the middle of summer. 

By this time, my girlfriend and I had split up and I was doing my best to take in as much of the store as possible, but I sort of got lost in the denim section. I love denim, especially if it's premium denim.

Denim Shop

They have a lot of jeans and brands to select from at reasonable prices, and don't forget the $20 off your $100 purchase, you can walk out with a pair of cute JBrand jeans for $80--now that's what I call a good deal.

Are you planning on taking a trip to find thrifty things? Here are a few things you should remember when hitting up Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store:

Pros:

• It's a huge store with the possibility of finding a lot of great items, but make sure you give yourself a good 2-3 hours minimum to go through the merchandise in the various departments.
• The store has a good layout and virtually has signs all over the store to help you navigate through it.
• Again, I can't stress the importance of a neat and organized store, which makes for a happy shopping experience. 
•  Don't forget to take advantage of the $20 off any $100 purchase

Cons:

• Not a huge or great selection on shoes, handbags or jewelry
• There's only one fitting room section for each sex and they are sort of hidden, so you might have to ask a sales associate for direction.
• Speaking of sales associates, they weren't much of help or welcoming. The members on the floor in this particular store were too caught up in their conversations with one another to even take a minute to greet you or ask if you need help.

Now that you're in the know you are all ready for your trip to the Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store and you are armed with a plan of attack.

As for me, once again I walked away empty handed from an outlet store, but that never stops me from checking out the next one.

I'm on to the next one.

xoxo-- Your GTG

"Buying something on sale is a very special feeling.  In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me." Rita Rudner

Friday Favorites

Friday, June 3, 2011

TGIF--we're now a few hours away from the weekend and here are my favorite things of the week:

Favorite Feather Accessory: My new handmade white striped grizzly rooster feather earrings made by Talia from Rok-it-inc. She custom makes feather hair extensions and earrings, and is branching out to necklaces very soon. This is a great way to obtain unique pieces that you won't find everywhere.


Favorite Highlight: Watching The Miami Heat take Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade and co. were on fire.

SN: They also played great in game 2 it's just a shame that they lost it towards the end, but we'll be back strong for Game 3 because this is the year of the Heat.

Favorite Foods: Smithwick's Mini Burgers topped with their specialty, Guinness mayo from Fado Irish Pub. Pair the mini burgers with a Guinness draft and it's the perfect lunch.

Favorite Platforms: I'm literally running to my nearest Steve Madden this weekend and grabbing these pretty little things in a size 7. These gold Shazzams platforms are a great accessory to pulling off any 70s inspired wardrobe. And they give you about an extra 5 inches of height. LOVE!


Favorite Movie Experience: My boyfriend and I are huge fans of CineBistro in Dolphin Mall. We just love to wine and dine, as we watch a good flick. This past week, we caught Bridesmaids, which is hilarious and adorable and we had a great time. When you're there don't forget to order the white bean hummus dip or the ham croquettas with a glass of wine.

Til' next week dolls!

xoxo,

Your GTG

Friday Favorites

Friday, May 27, 2011

Here are my favorite things from this week:

Favorite Summer Beverage: Fresh white raspberry iced tea. It's the perfect recipe to quench your thirst on these hot summer days.

Favorite News Story: As sad and devastating as the tornado in Joplin was, it's also nice to hear such a heart-warming story about the Superdog, who crawled back to its owners home with his two broken legs.


Favorite Quote: "My great wish for all of you who have allowed me to honor my calling through this show is that you carry whatever you're supposed to be doing, carry that forward and don't waste any more time. Start embracing the life that is calling you and use your life to serve the world." Oprah.

Oprah has always been an inspiration to me. I can only dream of doing half of the things that she has done because aside from writing and fashion, I really want to help others on the same level that Oprah did.

These last words that she said during her farewell show are the words that I will carry with me every day for the rest of my life. Anytime that I feel like quitting, I'm going to remember her words and keep fighting for my dreams.

Favorite Fortune:

Favorite Tune: She Ain't You by Chris Brown-- Loving the MJ beat

Friday Favorites

Friday, May 20, 2011


Taking a cue from the fabulous Lauren Conrad, whose website I adore, I'm starting my very own "Friday Favorites" section. So every Friday I will write about my favorite things of the week.

I hope you enjoy this cute and simple weekly post from yours truly, and I invite you to let me know what your favorite things of the week are.

Favorite YouTube video: Greatest Marriage Proposal Ever- I sobbed more than the bride to be when I saw this video because it's so touching!

Favorite Summer Makeup Kit: During the warm summer months, we love to show off our tan, which means that our usual makeup may not match our present skin color, so I have found this great makeup kit that includes all things bronzed for that perfect summer look from Too Faced at Sephora.

Favorite Accessory: MK Charlton Crossbody Bag in vanilla is the perfect accessory for any of your summer trips and despite its small size, it's actually very roomy.

Favorite Perfume of the Moment: Daisy Eau So Fresh is the lighter and more whimiscal version of the original Daisy. This Daisy has notes of raspberry, plum and wild rose. The bottle has also been revamped and I promise that the smell alone will take you a happy place.

Favorite Destination to wish I were at: Bora Bora--no need for explanation.


Just thinking of all my favorite things, as the work week closes always helps to put a smile on my face, so I encourage you take a moment and do the same thing.


Sending good vibes you're way!


Wishing you a happy weekend!


xOxO-- Your GTG

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."- Ralph Waldo Emerson

That Other Accessory

I absolutely love getting my nails done because to me nails are much like a must-have accessory--they are the finishing touch that complete a look.

I also enjoy writing and informing my girlfriends and readers about new products and services on the market like I did when I reviewed gel manicures and the opening of the first H&M store in South Florida (BTW Miami Beach will get its own H&M in 2012.) I have a few more reviews coming your way soon!

OK--back to nails!

One of the most FAQs I receive is: what are the hottest nail colors of the moment, so naturally today's topic is about the most popular colors for nails this spring/summer season.

I have to be honest sometimes I pick a color solely based on its name, instead of the actual color, but c'mon can you blame me?

Most polishes nowadays have incredibly sexy names, but I promise my list of colors is based on actual trends of the moment and not their names :)

Nude: This color seems to be taking over everything in the fashion world and, so it's really no big surprise that it's also a trend for your nails. I highly recommend applying a high gloss top coat to give it some shine that will set your nails apart from the rest of your hand. My pick: Naked by Lippmann. This is a classic nail color and it's great to wear for job interviews and weddings.

Brights- I'm talking about blues, greens, yellows and oranges.

Blues are going to be hot and heavy during the spring, but will be less visible as summer nears, however I have to include my second favorite shade of the year on this list: 

For Audrey by China Glaze: it's a Tiffany & Co. blue shade inspired by the character of Holly Golightly played by Audrey Hepburm from one of my all-time favorite flicks Breakfast at Tiffany's <3

Greens: Gargantuan Green Gape perhaps OPI's most popular shade of green that will have other ladies feeling "green" when they see you in this color.

Yellows: This summer's must have nail polish is also my favorite color of the moment: Chanel's Mimosa.  And I promise you that you will be happier when you rock this color on you nails.

Corals/Reds: This is the perfect color for the entire summer Too Too Hot by Essie-- a mixture of a sizzling red and a fiery coral.

Pretty in Pinks: will bring out the color of  tan your which is why my pick is Dior's pink boa.

Purples: look good on all skin tones and this is a great color that can be used year round, so buy a rich color and you can also wear it during the fall and winter seasons like this shade:Violet Diva by Estee Lauder.

Gunmetal Grays: I'm personally not a fan of frosty colors as much gunmetal nail polish colors are, but I do think this color serves as the perfect balance between girly and edgy and so my pick is Freja by Zoya.

Another big trend in nails this season is the shattered nail look popularized by OPI, in which you can use any nail polish color as your base and all you have to add is the shattered polish on top. This is the less pricier version of Minx manicures which can cost up to $40.00 in a salon.

I'm sure by now you are all familiar with the ombre hair craze, which consists of dark roots and hair color offset by sunkissed tips. I believe Drew Barrymore was one of the pioneers of this trend in her Cover Girl commercials and I'm a huge fan of the look.

So it's a good thing that this trend has made its way onto our finger nails. It's also quite simple to acheive. All you need is a bottle of your favorite nail polish color and a bottle of  a white nail polish. You will also need a piece of paper and a brush where you can mix the colors as you start to lighten the colors on each  of your finger nails. Start by painting your pinky nail in the shade of polish you chose and work your way down your hand. You're also going to add one drop of the white polish onto the existing mix, and gradually add one more drop of white polish to the mix than the nail before it.

Easy, huh?

Feel free to submit any pix of your manicures by tweeting me @yourgotogal

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