January 2011 Favorites!

Now that January is over and done with, I thought I'd do a January favorites post! This is the first time I'm embarking on this type of "tag". It's not as great as a video but a blog is the next best thing, right? Enjoy!

I was really surprised at how much I liked Playa del Platinum by Essie! It's such a unique shade of grey/shabby green. It's meant to be a Spring shade but I liked wearing it in January.
Another set of nail polishes I really loved this month were Sinful Colors "Lets Meet" (Yellow) & Essie's Licorice (Black). I was cheering on my Steelers in January & loved showing my "Black & Yellow" support with my nails!
Water was my best friend this month! I completed my first water fast and plan to do more. I've always loved water but this month I really developed an appreciation for H20.

Smith's Rosebud Salve is a product that has been around for over 100 years. I often heard makeup artists loved this product, so I tried it out. It didn't exactly live up to be my absolute favorite thing in the world but the packaging is too cute not to mention! It works- it's just not that impressive for me.


My favorite song of the month was easily "Black & Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa! GO STEELERS!

My favorite YouTube channel was SpiritChannel. It's run by Virginia psychic, Bob Hickman. He's quite an eccentric individual and I love his energy! I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos this month. I've wanted to launch my own channel for some time. Now that I have a camera, I plan on finally creating my first video!

My Hello Kitty throw blanket was a gift from my Aunt & Uncle for Christmas! I LOVE this blanket. Not only is it cute but it's super warm and cozy! I love lounging around with it while I'm on the computer or watching TV!

My favorite TV shows were The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Jeopardy! and Daria! My sister got me the entire series on DVD and I have been having a blast reliving all the old episodes. I realized I say so many things that stem from that show! So much fun! Here's a link to a series of clips from one of the Fashion Club members (Tiffany). I wish the person who created this would do one for Quinn! I like to think of myself as a cross between Daria and Quinn, haha.

January is notorious for being the worst month for magazines. I didn't really enjoy any of my subscriptions this month :( I didn't read any new books either. I did however start writing my first book! I wanted to complete four chapters but I'm only halfway through the third. My diet sidetracked me toward the end of the month. Hopefully February will be much more productive!

My favorite movie of the month was No Strings Attached starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. I actually saw Black Swan on my birthday (February 1st) but I didn't really love it. I thought No Strings Attached was charming and I look forward to watching it again when it comes out on OnDemand!

My favorite fashion trend/moment from January was Anne Hathaway at The Golden Globe Awards! I absolutely adored her stunning, Armani Prive gown. Angelina Jolie also rocked the long sleeve look at the Globes but opted instead for an emerald number from Versace. My arms aren't in the best shape they have ever been, so I say bring on the long sleeves- especially with all this arctic weather!
I received Gucci Guilty as a Christmas present (I asked for it). I am obsessed! The bottle is so sleek and sexy and the fragrance is perfect for evenings out on the town! It has quickly become one of my top 3 favorite perfumes!
VS (by Victoria's Secret) Perfect Lipstick- Limited Edition, Love Me Wild Lipsticks in Instinct, Pulse & Heated. I'll admit, I'm not thrilled with the colors and I don't even think the forumla is very good but oh, the packaging! I'm a sucker for packaging and I love the look of these lipsticks! I'd recommend Pulse (pictured above) to anyone looking to get just one!

In January, I also rediscovered my love for candles. I hope to purchase a few good ones in February! I love rose, vanilla and lilac scented candles. I also like getting ones that are "in touch with the season" (ie, Christmas, Spring, etc.). I'm not picky about brands as long as it's pretty and works!

Last but certainly not least, my absolute favorite thing this month was my new laptop computer! It's an hp Pavilion dv7. I thought about getting a MAC but I'm so used to PC's. In college, my journalism school operated on MAC's and as pretty as they are, I didn't like using them. I barely put my computer down! Words can't describe how grateful I am to finally have a laptop! This one works fabulously and I couldn't be happier with it!

Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'll be posting a February favorites next month!

Love,
Krista




Now Playing: "Colors", "The Sun" and "People Say" by Portugal. The Man

Nail Polish of the Moment: Hazy by Revlon

Hazy (810) by Revlon
This evening, I'm going to pick up my bridesmaid dress for my friend Maggie's wedding. Unfortunately, my Quarter of a Cent-Cherry polish by OPI already started to chip. So, I decided to paint my nails the color of the dress- this shade (Hazy by Revlon) is a close dupe for the gown. The polish has a quick dry formula & it's a "Top Speed".

Two coats of Hazy by Revlon. It's showing up almost lavender or blue but it's definitely a grey!
As you can see, the bridesmaid dress is a dove grey hue (the designer calls it slate). I may paint my toes this color for the day of the wedding but I'll likely get a manicure & do a pale pink for the hands. Some of the other bridesmaids have had a difficult time with the sizing of their dresses. Here's hoping mine fits! I know I'll need alterations no matter what since my bust is about 3 sizes larger than my waist but I have been really bad on my diet over the past few days with my birthday. I know I will continue to slack with more festivities planned for the weekend (including the Super Bowl- GO STEELERS)! But I'll get back on track ASAP!

Bridesmaid Dress by Bari Jay

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Hazy" by Rosi Golan ft. William Fitzsimmons

25th Birthday Haul!

My yummy cake! I blew all the candles out in one puff (well, with the exception of the 1 for good luck). You know you're getting old when you need 2 boxes of candles!
Yesterday, I had a very nice 25th Birthday! Since it fell on a rainy, Tuesday, I spent the day opening presents and hanging out with my family. At night, my sister and I went to the Cheesecake Factory and to see Black Swan at the movies. Today, my parents are taking me to dinner and this weekend, I'm going out with my friends to celebrate at the bars. Sunday is the Super Bowl, so hopefully my birthday week will cap off with a victory! I was really surprised at how many people wished me a happy birthday! It was so nice to hear from everyone :)

I got a few really nice gifts from my parents and my sister! But since I haven't officially launched my YouTube channel, I thought I'd do a haul blog instead.

My Dad got me the Canon Vixia HF M31 video camera! It's so lightweight and compact! I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet but it has great reviews and I think I'm going to love it! I'm going to use this camera to film my YouTube videos- so, no more excuses! As soon as I get down to my normal weight, I'll start filming! My Dad also got me a laptop case- much needed!


One of the things my Mom got me is something I really wanted. Since I turned 25, I wanted a keepsake that would remind me of this time in my life. My birthstone is amethyst but I didn't want a traditional purple stone. I saw green amethyst online and fell in love. It's also called praseolite. It's a very light green stone. My mom got me a gorgeous pair of earrings from one of the jewelers in downtown Pittsburgh! They are so sophisticated yet simple. I can wear them with just about anything! I LOVE them and will hopefully have them forever!


My sister knows how much I love make-up, so she got me some products and brushes from MAC! I'm really excited to finally have Satin Taupe (eyeshadow). It's the perfect neutral shade! She also got me some of the new, Revlon Colorburst lipsticks and lipglosses! They are one of my favorite products right now! Such a great value! I also got the Urban Decay Naked palette! I thought for sure it would be sold-out (as usual) but my Mom said she scored the last one at Ulta. It's the older set that includes the duo eyeliner not the brush! This made me so happy since I know they changed the packaging!



I also ordered a pair of KORS Michael Kors rain boots that arrived on my birthday! I got them from ShopBop.com on sale! I thought they were super cute and since it was raining on my birthday, I wore them out to dinner. They kind of remind me of Daria Morgendorffer's combat boots but they are still adorable. I think they will be perfect for all of the mud at Bonnaroo in June!

Stow Lace-up Rubber Boots

I'm so grateful for all my gifts and I'm excited to see what this year has in store for me! :)

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Fancy" by Drake

Punxsutawney Phil DID NOT See His Shadow!

Let the sun shine! Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this Groundhog's Day! This means that Spring will come EARLY! It seems like this never happens, so lets hope Phil is right. Since my birthday was yesterday and I live in Pittsburgh, I debated on going to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsy to see the greatest groundhog's prediction go down. But the weather was terrible last night and with the Steelers in the Super Bowl on Sunday, football is all that's on my mind. I guess you could say I was feeling less than adventurous. But the folks who made the trip were rewarded! I don't mind winter all that much and to be honest, I need the extra time to get back into shape but I won't complain if Spring comes in like a lion. Spring in Pittsburgh is beautiful! A 60* or 70* St. Patrick's Day parade would be appreciated! Here's hoping :)


Now Playing: "The Pennsylvania Polka" by Frankie Yankovic

Happy 25th Birthday to Me! :)

When your 25th birthday lands on a Tuesday in February with a massive winter storm sprawling the country, the best thing you can do is sit back and enjoy it at home. When I was a little girl, I had a few birthday bashes effected by the weather. By now, I'm used to it. I actually don't mind the winter. So, today's freezing rain is fine. I'm planning on celebrating this weekend with my close friends and ofcourse Super Bowl Sunday will be an added bonus! Hopefully the Steelers will win their 7th Lombardi trophy!

25 is kind of a monumental birthday and while I am so thrilled to kiss 24 goodbye, I am a bit apprehensive about growing a year older. I'm no longer in the 18-24 age bracket and I feel like an adult. I have so many dreams that I have yet to achieve and I'm hoping this birthday will signify the start of a new year to work towards reaching my goals! Thank you to anyone who has wished me a happy birthday! I always get scared that no one will remember and I'll feel unloved, lol. Thank you, Facebook for notifying everyone :)

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Growing Up Beside You" by Paolo Nutini