Goodbye 2011, Hellooo 2012!!

2011 will come to an end tonight, but I am looking forward to what the new year has to offer and am  excited for all that I have planned for my blog this upcoming year.

Here is my dress for my New Years party tonight: 

I am in love with the sequins!!

Since I get cold easily, I will be wearing black tights with my dress. You can also wear a fun bright colored tights with some heels. I'll be home with my husband so I won't need a bag nor shoes, but if I was going out on the town I would be rocking this ALDO bag and my favorite GOLD J. Renee shoes:

Keeping the accessories to a minimum to not take away from the dress!!

My favorite J. Renee heels!

Hope you had an amazing year and have an even more amazing year ahead of you!! HAPPY NEW YEAR and don't forget to follow my blog!!

xoxo

Sale: Sephora additional 20% off sale items

I love a good sale and when there is an additional 20% off on the sale items... you know i'll be all over it. One of my favorite stores Sephora is having an additional 20% off their sale items when you enter the code: EXTRA at checkout. This sale ends January 3rd and while supplies last. You can check out the sale here.

Hope that helps someone. Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Christmas Cookie

This is what's burning in my kitchen right now!!

If you live near a Bed Bath and Beyond, I would suggest running over there right now because they have  50% off on all their Holiday Yankee Candles. That means a 22 oz jar which is normally around $25 is now only $13!! AHMAZING. You could also order it here and get them right to your door.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

White Oreos

I recently I got my hands on the limited edition white fudge covered Oreos and the second I tasted them, I knew I had to share this product with you before they are off the market!!! If you like Oreos or white chocolate, you have got to try these!!! I am in love.

This box was finished the same day it was bought.

12 little pieces of heaven

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Three Things

Earrings my husband got me on our first trip together.

Fruit and Skittles = Perfect Snacks!!

Bracelet holder in my closet

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Review: Calvin Klein Tweed Coat

Since I recently moved to a much colder state, I desperately needed a heavy coat for this winter. I looked high and low and finally decided to get the Calvin Klein Tweed coat from Macy's. Originally this coat was listed for $345, but in store it was selling for a bit less. Thankfully I waited to get home and checked online to discover that they were selling it for only $169.99!!! It stinks because now they are selling it for $149.99, but that is just how the rates fluctuates depending on when you buy your winter coats.

Calvin Klein Tweed Coat

When I got the coat in the mail, I was instantly in love with the fit and how warm it was... however, after wearing it a couple of times I realized two big cons. One, that it sheds like ayouknowwhat and secondly, the tweed part of the collar itches horribly. The top button also fell off within the first two weeks.

Ultimately, I am not satisfied with my purchase, but because of it's look and how warm it keeps me I do wear it when it's extra cold outside. Hoping that getting it dry cleaned will help with the shedding and luckily I religiously wear scarfs during the winter so, my neck won't get too itchy.

Where did you get your winter coat from and how do you like it?

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Review: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters

Left: Peach Parfait, Right: Creme Brulee

I recently gave in to the hype about the new Revlon Lip Butters and picked up two shades that I thought were the safest for me to buy since I tend to stick to nudes. I have to admit that I fell in love with the product. The packaging is very nice, but doesn't feel luxurious because of the plastic tops. I do love that the top is the same color as the shade of the lip butter; which helps to figure out which one you want to buy since you can't try it on in the store. These come in a good range of shades that I think would suit most skin types. The fact that these go on sheer is a huge plus for people that are new to lip colors because it goes on sheer and provides just the right amount of color without making you feel like a clown. The colors I picked are both neutral and go well with my skin tone. However, the only thing I don't like about the Peach Parfait is the chunky skimmer it has. Even though the shimmer doesn't transfer too much on the lips, I wish they had made it more with a sheen like the Creme Brulee. Lastly, I am in love with the way these make my lips feel. I never thought I could get the smoothness of a lip butter with such nice colors AND sheen!!! I have never to this day have finished a lip product without losing it or throwing it away, but I think I will finish these because ever since I got them I have been using them non-stop. I would recommend you go out and get a shade you feel most comfortable with because I think you will be impressed by the quality of this product and will go back for more shades.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Caramel Popcorn

Right after the Pumpkin Pie craze of Halloween and before the Turkey recipes for Thanksgiving start, I would like to share this Caramel Corn recipe with you. On a crisp fall day like today, when all you want to do is snuggle up with a blanket and watch a movie, there could be no better snack than Caramel Popcorn. Here is an easy recipe I will be using that I got from AllRecipes.com:

Ingredients

• 1 cup unpopped popcorn
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F(150 degrees C).
2. In a large pot, heat oil over high heat. Add the unpopped popcorn. Moving the pan constantly, pop the corn. Remove from heat, place in a large baking pan, and keep warm in the preheated oven. Discard unpopped kernels.
3. Mix sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt into a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture starts to boil. Continue cooking for 5 minutes without stirring.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Pour over the popped popcorn. Stir popcorn until evenly coated. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from pan and put into a large bowl to cool. 

Try and tell me how it turns out for you. Happy Eating and don't forget to follow my blog!!

xoxo

Three Things

Whiting and David 1930's mini mesh bag I held at my
wedding reception 

My new Gap Rain boots that i'm dying to use

My Apple Ipad screen saver

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

A Weekend Getaway

Anyone who knows me, knows that I always over-pack! However, for my upcoming weekend getaway I wanted to only pack things that I would actually use. Below you can see pictures of the everyday products and the products that I am especially packing for my mini-vaca! The pouches seen in the pictures are part of a Sonia Kashuk cosmetic bag from Target. I am in love with the pouches because they are small enough to keep in your everyday bag and are see through so its super easy and quick to find your products!

In my everyday bag, I keep a widetooth comb, eyelash curler, a nail cutter by Revlon, a sample size Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch sunblock, Voluminous Million Lashes mascara, MAC Select cover-up conceler, Some Kinda Gorgeous by Benefit, Clear lipgloss by Maybelline, and gel eyeliner pot and brush by Maybelline. For everyday and most events these are all the products I need to look put together!

I keep these products with me in my everyday bag.

For this weekend, I have packed my NARS Sheer Glow foundation in Punjab, for under eye concealing and brightening I have Milani HD Advance Concealer, for highlighting I have a sample size Highbeam by Benefit, for sheer lips/cheek tint I have a sample size Posietint by Benefit, for cheeks I have packed Hand-Finish by MAC and Love That Pink by Revlon, BareMinerals Prime Time eyelid primer, and my good old CoverGirl professional eyeshadow palette that i've been trying to finish, for lips I am packing my new obsession - Tender Peach rouge volupte lipstick by Yves Saint Laurent (this lip stick cost me an arm and a leg, but it's like my new little treasure that makes me smile), for brushes I have packed a foundation brush by elf, a small kabuki for blush by bareMinerals, an eyeshadow applicator brush by Studio basics, a crease brush by Elf, and a blending brush by Sephora Professionals.

All the makeup I will need for day/night.

Ready to go!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog! xoxo

My First YSL Rouge Volupte

There is something about the gold packaging that makes you feel like you are keeping a little treasure in your purse!

Tender Peach from Yves Saint Laurent is my first Rouge Volupte and is a splurge considering I don't wear a lot of lipsticks!!! However, I have to say I am pleased with my purchase. The color is so pigmented that I know this will last me a lifetime since you don't need to use a lot and the creamy consistency of the product helps it glide smoothly on my lips and keeps them hydrated unlike most lipsticks. If you are in the market for a peachy pinky nude lip product and don't mind the $$, I would suggest checking out Tender Peach.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

ASOS Obsession

For the past couple of months, i've been completely obsessed with ASOS. I love their modern dresses, their on point outerwear collections, and most importantly their wide variety of structured handbags. I love love love structured bags these days and their Large Leather Vintage Frame Bag here is now on my wish list. The reason for that is because i've already gotten the other FOUR bags from ASOS that were on my wish list. All in super fun colors and designs with rich fancy leather. So for now, I will just stare at the beautiful green leather bag online and come up with outfits in my mind that could be enhanced by it's beauty. 

 

Keep a look out for a blog post on their fabulous coat collection. The best part about shopping on ASOS website is that they ship everything for FREE!!! And their prices are super cheap and reasonable. So for those of us that don't have stylists shopping for us and can't afford to pay $500 for a handbag this website is amazing. Thanks and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

ASOS Leather Large Vintage Frame Bag



Photo of the week



Al Kazimiyah Shrine, Baghdad



You can see the original picture here.

Thanks and don't forget to follow my blog! xoxo

Flat is phat at Blik

(Source: Whatisblik.com)

A great way to enhance any wall in your home: Blik. This cool mint and grey pattern will surely be on my kitchen wall coming Sep ;-) or these Iron Vines in the bathroom!! Some of the headboard patterns are also pretty tempting if you don't have an actual headboard for your bed!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Three Things

"everything will be ok." blanket by Keetra Dixon

Make belief home

Ramadan (source: vi.sualize.us)

Shining Gems

Lately, my life has been incredibly busy and i've not been putting much effort in my appearance. I've realized now that it just might have something to do with how disorganized my things are these days!! I just don't feel like spending 20 minutes to find something cute to wear. For example, my jewelry case looks like a HOT mess. My once delicate necklaces are now all jumbled into a tangled mess and the condition of the rest of my jewelry isn't pretty either. This calls for a major cleaning and reorganizing. I need to figure out  how I want to store my collection of gems!! I want a simple yet elegant storage system and i'm not too sure about the traditional jewelry boxes especially since this is only less than half of my jewelry and I might need more than one jewelry box:

Trying to sort through some of my jewelry

These pictures inspire me to get organized while keeping it looking extra gorgeous:

Keep a look out for a blog post about my new jewelry storage system!! I'll be sure to share some pictures so it might inspire you to get organized!! =) Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo 

More Birthday lovin'

You always feel so special to get a surprise gift in the mail. I got a this fabulous "Beauty and the Bride" kit and some awesome samples from Sephora earlier today!! Samples are such a great way to try new products. Very excited to try all these goodies and maybe do a review in the near future. I know some of these products are going to be life-savers for the wedding!!! I especially love the pretty blue box and the black dust bag; both of which i'll be using for a long while for sure. 

Thank you Sadiya and Waheed!! 

Took the plastic insert out so I can use this OH SO PRETTY box to maybe store jewelry!!! 

Got this gold bag on sale at ALDO.  It looks much better in person! =)

I think Fiji bottles are so pretty. and this new organic fruit potion I got from Starbucks. 

Of course everyone loves Peter Rabbit. 

I got these on my Birthday and they are blooming so beautifully. 

Thanks and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Chicken Samosa

I've been in the mood for some yummy samosas lately and especially since Ramadan is approaching I think it's time to make some. In case you want to enjoy the yummy goodness, you can read the recipe below! Happy Eating!!

The Filling:
500g minced Chicken
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic crushed
1teaspon curry powder
½ easpon chilli powder
1 teasmon ground tumeric
½ teaspon gorund roasted cumin seeds
1 fresh chilli finaly diced
1 tspn chopped mint or corriander
½ tspn fresh grated ginger
salt and ground pepper to taste
juice of half a lemon

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and garlic mix in the spices and seasoning and fry until soft. Add the mince, stirring until cooked. Remove from heat and stir in the mint and lemon juice.

Now for the pastry: You don't have to make your own pastry. You can simply buy some ready-made pastry from the shop. For samosas you want to fry, use Filo Pastry and for samosas you want to cook in the oven use Puff Pastry.

This recipe was taken from here. Good luck and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

Birthday cake makes me happy.

Thanks and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo

What kind of Bride would you be?

Tis the season of weddings! Have you noticed how lately everyone and their mom is getting married?!?! Well, I have and it makes me all giddy and dreamy. I think each bride shows her personality through the kind of dress and accessories she picks for her big day. Some focus on glamour, some simplicity, and some are just simply elegant. So, what kind of Bride would YOU be? Here are some inspirations:

It's like a fairytale dress

Very bold. I love the underside design on the dress that's peaking through on purpose! Genius design.

So simple and elegant. This is my kinda dress!

Old Hollywood Glamour. 

So Chic. So Cute.

Love everything. The shoes, the Mehndi, the bottom of the dress

Such a delicate moment captured. Shoes are so important for all brides no matter which culture.

The silver in this picture screams Glitz and Glam.

Mehndi is a way to decorate your hands and feet for your big day!

Unusual Flowers for an Unusual Color

The simplicity of this picture is beautiful.

Ah. Such intense eyes. Love the black and white intensity.

Old Mughal Bride

New Indian Bride

A Master Piece

Thanks and don't forget to follow my blog!! xoxo