The Rise and Fall of the Cupcake

For the past few years it seemed as if everywhere I looked there were cupcakes – cupcake stores, cupcake trucks, cupcake fundraisers and cupcake wedding cakes – CUPCAKE OVERLOAD!  As much as I love cupcakes, I am excited to report that two other sweet treats are starting to rise in popularity, thus giving cupcakes a run for their money – French Macaroons and Cake Pops.  Pictured above are pistachio and raspberry French macaroons from Financier.  These treats were a perfect gift from roommate. Not only are they delicious, but they are Christmas colors and packaged beautifully.  Also pictured above is a cake pop from Starbucks.  This particular one is chocolate cake covered with a hard layer of white chocolate and peppermint sprinklings.  Yum!

Alyssa 

A Classic Touch

As an exceptionally pale human being with dark hair, I’ve been told plenty of times to try red lipstick. Although I’ve always envied women with my skin and hair tones who indulge in this classic look, I’ve always hesitated in trying it myself. When I was in high school I fell in love with MAC’s lipgloss color “underage,” and ever since I’ve only craved nude colored lip glosses and sticks (to be fair, I did believe I was Bridget Bardot for a little while). So in an effort to get in touch with a new type of beauty, I decided to invest in a bright red lipstick by Sephora (The Red). The results were insane, in a matter of ten seconds I instantly felt classically beautiful. I mean I even contemplated breaking out my cheetah jacket and putting on every piece of diamond jewelry I own. Every woman should try red lipstick, believe me, you won’t be disappointed!

Alexa

Tweet Tweet Tweety Tweet!

S u g a r E y e l i n e r is on Twitter - @SugarEyeliner.  Get involved.

Alyssa and Alexa

Merry Christmas!

Merry belated Christmas to all!  We recognize that we are a bit late, but with all the eating, opening of presents and spending valued time with friends and family, we have not had an opportunity to post to our blog.  We apologize for the delay – Merry Christmas!!

Alyssa and Alexa

Singing the Blues

I personally believe that every woman should always have their nails polished. As a college student I’ve learned that doing my nails is much more affordable than a routine manicure. This past summer I purchased a travel sized manicure set complete with nail filers, clippers and cuticle pushers. Every week I take off my previous color and soak my nails until they are ready to be cut and filed. I then have the difficult task of choosing a color. I’ve always been loyal to Essie and O.P.I polishes, and recently I have worn nothing but dark hues. On my way out of Forever 21 a few weeks ago, an odd colored blue nail polish caught my eye. While I was hesitant to try a new nail polish brand, I felt as though I could not resist this color. There is something about this blue that reminds me of storm clouds. I believe that there is beauty in everything and sometimes we need to search for it in the darkness, and that is exactly what I did with my new favorite Periwinkle nail color.

Alexa 

Day McQueenin'....

As a fashion student / enthusiast, I am all too familiar with the concept of unattainable items that dreams are made of. Every day dream I’ve indulged in since the age of twelve has me adorned in the classic Chanel ballet flat. I’ve also envisioned myself stumbling upon a ball (where many princes are attending!) all the while dressed in a dreamlike Haute Hippie ensemble. The point is that there are certain pieces we fashionistas dream about, but never believe that we will actually own. Last week a daydream came some what true when I visited the Nordstrom website. Hidden in the inventory of the new Juniors items was a scarf that all too well resembles the God like Alexander McQueen Scarf. I will never endorse knock-off’s, so why did I purchase this accessory? The scull graphic is very clearly not McQueen rather its a playful twist on the classic Jolly Roger. At this stage in my life, my wallet, and my imagination are more suited for this playful take on a classic item. So while it may not be my dream item, I can certainly say that I am planning some far better adventures in this scarf than my day dreams could have ever thought possible.

Alexa

The Last 24 [in pictures]

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Dinner at Trattoria Trecolori with Mike, Victoria and Chris.

Mike and I had an amazing weekend playing host and hostess to Victoria and Chris.  On Friday night we had dinner at Harry’s Italian Pizza Bar and then drinks at Stella.  On Saturday we saw the play, Memphis (which was phenomenal and I highly recommend it), and then went to Rockefeller Center, the NBC building, Time Square and Aspen Social Club.  The night concluded with dinner and lots of Vino at Trattoria Trecolori.  We were sad to see Vic and Chris leave but we are looking forward to spending more time with them in the coming months as they prepare for their wedding in April 2012.

Alyssa

A Christmassy Twist on Classic Brownies

In a few short hours one of my very best friends and her fiancé will be visiting NYC from Baltimore for the weekend.  We have all kinds of fun things planned, including going to see Memphis, Rockefeller Center, pizza and beer.  Since they are staying at a hotel, I wanted to make sure they have something to snack on.  Therefore, last night I baked a box of Duncan Hines’ Chewy Fudgy Brownies.  In effort to make them more Christmassy, I added crushed up candy canes to the top.  After baking for 25 minutes I took the pan out of the oven and sprinkled the pieces on top.  Then, I baked for an additional 5 minutes.  After cooling, I divided the brownies into two batches and placed them in holiday tins – one for my guests and one for me and Mike.  I’m looking forward to the fun and delicious weekend ahead!

Alyssa

Hidden Gems

Costume jewelry is one of the greatest trends that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. While my style is constantly changing, one thing that stays the same is my desire to add feminine touches to every outfit. It is so easy to buy bold, chunky jewelry these days on an intern’s budget. The problem with the mass selection and the low prices, however, is that it’s easy to get stuck dressing like Amber from the movie Clueless. An always classic outfit is jeans and a black t-shirt paired with one statement piece, heels or flats, you can never go wrong with this look. Potential fashion victim fears aside, I have decided to round up my favorite pieces of costume jewelry and share them with the world. Happy Accessorizing!

Alexa

The Last 48 [in pictures]

Admiring the window display at Bloomingdales after an amazing dinner with my wonderful boyfriend, Mike, at Brio

Checking out the baked goods at Chelsea Market



An impromptu visit to a Holiday Bazaar in Columbus Circle



Adorable Christmas cards seen at Chelsea Market

Another great find at Chelsea Market

I couldn’t resist!  Great summer earings find. 

An interesting take on holiday décor at the Columbus Circle mall

Barbie cake at Chelsea Market

Double chocolate pepermint pancakes

Alyssa

One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure

After hastily signing a lease for my apartment in August 2009, I realized that I did not own any home goods. In an effort to save money, I decided to try shopping at a second hand store. To my surprise, once I got past the junk, there really were a few treasures. Mainly, the china and ceramic pieces stood out to me. I opted to purchase a beautiful set of plates that just happened to share the same colors as my sorority – olive green and white.

Recently, I toyed with the idea of purchasing more of the same plates. However, to my dismay, when I returned to the store there were none left. Then, I took to the internet. Through my searching I learned that I didn’t purchase an ordinary dinnerware, rather I purchased several pieces that were created by a very well known company – J&G Meakin. According to Wikipedia, during the 19th century J&G was known for creating cheap china. In 1970 the frim was taken over by the Wedgwood Group. 30 years later production under the name Meakin ceased, and the name Eagle Pottery was then adopted. However, in 2004 Eagle Pottery closed and all works were demolished in 2005. Locating replacement pieces has now become increasingly difficult. I have however; found a website that advertises a dinner plate for $15. It boggles my mind to think that I paid 25 cents for each plate only 2 years ago.

Lesson learned – one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure!

Alyssa

Dancing on Glitter

My favorite shoe silhouette is the ballet flat. While most girls my age were shopping for their first pair of heels, I was drooling over the latest Tory Burch flats. I believe that these shoes are seasonless.  Yes, my feet are freezing if I wear them in the snow, but the blue shade my feet portray usually matches the patent leather of the shoes. Last weekend I stopped into Target, and as always I checked the inventory in the shoe aisle. I was so excited to find these little flats with an even smaller price tag of $19.99. I love the elastic that rims the outside, but perhaps their best feature is the fact that they are covered, not sprinkled, but covered in glitter. While these shoes also come in gold, I picked the black because a girl can never have enough pairs of black shoes. I plan on wearing these shoes every day, and if I ever get lost, all I have to do is click my heels together and repeat "there's no place like home," it worked for Dorothy didn't it?

Alexa

At Home Hibachi

Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of a detox/cleanse. However, after reading the guidelines, I’ve decided its best that I wait until after the holidays. While I’m not ready to fully commit now, I have decided to incorporate more healthy eating patterns into my everyday routine and eliminate some of the not-so-healthy ones.

Thus, yesterday I decided to grill red peppers and mushrooms. To do so, first place a cast iron grill on top of the stove (such as this one seen here: http://www.emerilstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=40EW708). Then, place clean sliced vegetables on top. Drizzle olive oil and let sit for several minutes. Once the peppers start to turn black, turn over. The mushrooms will cook much faster so be sure to keep an eye on them. Don’t be alarmed when you see peppers turn black. The black burnt pieced can easily be peeled off before consumption. Once grilled to your liking, simply place in a plate and add more olive oil and fresh ground pepper. Nutritious and delicious!

Alyssa

Daily Dose of Inspiration

Last December my mother bought me a countdown calendar with 365 days of fashion. The calendar is full of fashion regrets, timeless items and celebrity choices. I saved a select few of the dates for a rainy day, and as another year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to share some quotes that ooze inspiration. Below are my top three favorite fashion quotes:

Alexa

2011 Jams

Do you listen to Super Bass on repeat at the gym? Change the radio station every time Adele comes on? Tell us here! Vote for your favorite songs of 2011.

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-song-of-2011/andrewpugliese?limit=all&format=GRID

Alexa and Andrew

Meet my new accessory

One accessory in my wardrobe that I neglect to invest in is sunglasses. I understand the need for them, but rarely do I find a pair that makes my heart melt. Recently however, I fell in love.  Ladies and gentlemen please meet my D&G cat eye sunglasses! The plastic frames are bright blue and the inside design is the exact image that a kaleidoscope creates. When I wear them I feel transported back in time, like I could be meeting Holly Golightly for lunch.  These days, I refuse to leave the house without my cat eyes and a spritz of Bond No. 9’s Chinatown perfume.

Alexa

My T H E O R Y is...

That you should go to the Theory sample sale! For a limited time only Theory is having a sample sale in NYC.

261 W 36th Street (between 7th & 8th Ave), 2nd floor
Wednesday November 30th – Friday December 2nd, 10:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday December 3rd & Sunday December 4th, 10:00am – 5:00pm

Check out the satin top that I got! Originally for $245, I purchased it for $82. This blouse is perfect under a blazer at the office or paired with skinny jeans for a night out!

Alyssa

Winter Glow

Ask me what I did this summer, and I couldn’t tell you. However, I must have been having fun, because I was too busy to take any pictures or go to the beach! When the summer so hastily left, it took my ever so slight tan with it.

I’m not a fan of tanning booths, however I do turn to a few products to give me a little glow during the long dark winter months. Pictured above:

1. Model Co, Tan Airbrush in a can – this product is suitable for your face and body. Personally, I only use it for my face, as I find it difficult to apply to my body without creating uneven patches (there is a brush available to assist with this, however I do not own it). I love this product, because you can layer it. I can do one quick spray over my face, neck and chest before I apply my makeup to give me a little extra tan. Or, I can apply multiple coats for a deep dark bronze.

2. Bare Escentauls, Faux Tan – Similar to Model Co, this product can be used for your face and body. Not only does this product work wonders, but it also smells like sugar cookies!

3. Per-fekt, golden color: This gel like substance not only gives your face and body instant color, but it also smoothes out imperfections. The specific bottle pictured above is made for your body, while a separate product is for your face, however I use this one for both face and body.

4. Nars, Laguna bronzer – There really are no words to explain how amazing this bronzer is. It is the winner of multiple beauty awards and my personal favorite. Apply evenly to your face, neck & chest and watch the transformation to place!

Alyssa

When Pigs Fly

Life can be so complicated - yet sometimes all it takes is a four dollar stocking stuffer to bring you back down to earth. After a tiresome day of shopping I stumbled upon J Crew’s newest gift section which encompasses notebooks, post it notes, nail polish, perfume and bracelets. I finally settled on a pack of post it notes that read, “When Pigs Fly.” I’m still contemplating the notebook which reads “Treasures I Found and Liked,” but I guess I’ll just have to write it on my new post it notes for now. Happy note taking!

Alexa

H a p p y T h a n k s g i v i n g

We truly have so much to be thankful for and we are happy and blessed that we were able to spend the day together, and with some of our family.  We hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving as well!

Alyssa & Alexa

Fall Treat - Raspberry Chocolate Pudding "Cake"

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, I decided to try baking a sweet alternative to pumpkin pie. I followed the recipe below to produce a delectable combination of chocolate and raspberries.

Serves 6

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 12 oz package of frozen re raspberries
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons of softened butter
• 1 and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ cup milk

Directions:
1. Thaw raspberries and preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a bowl, combine flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and baking powder. Then, set aside (1st picture above).
3. In a separate bowl, combine butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined (2nd picture above).
4. Combine bowls and add milk. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
5. Spread batter in a greased 2 quart square baking dish. Spoon raspberries along with raspberry syrup that has accumulated on the bottom of the bag on top.
6. Combine remaining brown sugar (1/2 cup) and cocoa powder (2 tablespoons), then sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter (3rd picture above).
7. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean (4th picture above).

In my opinion, this recipe is suitable for 3 servings, not 6, as the serving size above says. I would suggest doubling the cake ingredients (everything but the amount of frozen raspberries). Or, doubling the amount or raspberries to create more of a liquidy treat and then spoon it over an angle food cake. Of course, serving with ice cream or whipped cream will only enhance it!

Alyssa

Life Post Twilight

With the premiere of the first part of the final Twilight movie behind us, I thought it time to find a new hopelessly romantic love story. With the help of my friend Andrew I was led to the book series The Hunger Games. With the least romantic title that I have ever heard, I resisted the urge to read the books until I was completely and utterly bored. In a surprising turn of events, I finished the entire series in two weeks. The books are so fantastic because they narrate an unusual romance in the midst of an action filled, constantly moving plot. If this girly girl can fall in love with a book called The Hunger Games, so can you. Happy reading! (P.s. the movie comes out in March, check out the eye candy!)

Alexa

All that Glitters

After a trip to the podiatrist last week, I learned all about just how dirty nail salons can be. It scared me enough to take a little hiatus from my monthly manicure and pedicure routine. I decided this would be a good opportunity to experiment with some holiday looks on my own.

Some of the fall/winter 2011 popular colors include deep greens, deep blues and taupe. Standard winter favorites include deep purples and reds as well as bright reds. Some of my new personal favorites are:

OPI: Uh-oh Roll Down the Window
Essie: School of Hard Rocks
            Bobbing for Baubles

To create the flashy look above, I applied two coats of Essie’s Velvet Voyage to every nail. After waiting until my ringer finger nails were semi dry, I applied Art Club’s Silver Glitter. This polish has a thin brush and is intended to be used to create a French manicure line. However, after several coats and a little bit of patience, I was able to cover my two ring finger nails with sparkles. Thus, creating a jazzy look without the nail salon germs!

In other nail news, OPI will be launching a Nicki Minaj inspired collection in January 2012. Stay tuned!

Alyssa

Thursday on Top

My best friend Andrew supplies me with the latest and greatest songs. Today he shares the wealth with all of you.

Alexa

So here is a quick 5 songs I am absolutely obsessed with at the moment. Enjoy your weekends, play it at parties and leave some comments if you have any suggestions!

Pitbull feat. Chris Brown- “International Love”
Now I know we all hate Chris Brown, but this song is so undeniably catchy you’ll want to travel all around the world with Mr. 305 himself!

Rihanna- “You Da One”
I will review “Talk That Talk” Rihanna’s latest album next time, but in the mean time her new song is that perfect winter song with a pre-K hook that definitely makes this one a must- have for any party!

Pixie Lott- “All About Tonight”
One of my favorite songs this year. Pixie Lott is a fantastic British artist and her new CD “Young, Foolish, Happy” is perfect for all you anglophiles out there!

Drake feat. Nicki Minaj- “Make Me Proud”
Drake’s new album is perfection. Go download it now. One of the standout tracks is this one featuring Nicki Minaj.

Lady GaGa- “Marry the Night”
GaGa’s latest. Definitely bound to be a big hit once the video is released.

Andrew

Like Crazy

After a day-time wedding this Saturday, my boyfriend and I were left wondering how we should spend the evening. We opted to see the new movie and nominee in the 2011 London, Sundance and Toronto International Film Festivals - Like Crazy.

When the credits suddenly appeared at the end of the flick, the theater shouted in unison ‘That’s it?’ While it seemed like my fellow movie goers were a bit disappointed by the lack of resolution, I on the other hand enjoyed it. The movie was not an open and closed story, rather it was a montage of various scenes that depicted a moment in time. The time frame consisted of several months in a young relationship. The combination of the music selection, warm lightening and almost erratic camera angles made the film feel real and not forced. While the passionate glances and chemistry between the two young stars made me feel injected with emotion.

Alyssa

Experimental Beauty

Sometimes nothing beats getting your makeup done by a professional. Over the weekend I indulged in an eye shadow lesson to brush up on my skills (no punn intended!). I loved the finished look but I was scared to ask what products were used for fear of the sometimes painful price of beauty. The all over lid color was MAC’s new Glitter & Ice mineralize shadow. The crease color was also by MAC and was a shade that can only be described as a midnight sparkle (black with red glitter accents). My favorite part of the look however was the liquid felt tip eyeliner by Loreal. So what’s a gal to do to recreate the look? Well after a few tries I was able to re-do the look with the Too Faced Romantic eye pallate that I already own. I used Soulmates as the all over lid color, and I Do as the crease color. Finally I topped it off with the Loreal felt tip eyeliner that I gave in and bought. The moral of the story? Don’t be so quick to spend the big bucks every time you get a makeover, sometimes a little experimenting with what you have can give you a brand new look! Happy trials!

Alexa

Dry Shampoo

After endless summer barbecues and bottomless pitchers of sangria, I opted to adopt a serious work out regimen at the end of the summer.  While the treadmill has been great for my body, it hasn’t treated my hair well.  Working out means sweating, sweating means showering, and showering means washing my hair.  My hair is thick and it is very time consuming to blow dry and style it.  Not to mention, constant washing and treatments is damaging for my locks.  Therefore, it was imperative that I came up with an alternative to washing my hair on a daily basis.  The solution – dry shampoo.  Not just any dry shampoo, but Keratin Complex volumizing dry shampoo.  The compact tool comes with a brush that is screwed on top of a container that houses the powdery dry shampoo.  A few swipes around the areas that frame the face and you are good to go.  Remember to work the shampoo into your scalp with the brush and your hands until all the white powder blends in.  Not only will your hair look clean, but it will also smell freshly washed.  In fact, the Keratin Complex dry shampoo has an aroma resembling fresh grapefruits.

Alyssa

Keep calm and take a note...

As a chronic user of oversized bags, I sometimes find myself equipped with the most unnecessary of items. There is duo set of items however, that I will never deem useless - my cupcake notebook and lipstick pen. I carry these items with me because I tend to find things throughout the day that I want to remember for later research. My research spans from the description of a Revlon lipstick, to a quick drawing of the sequined flats I spotted on the subway. No matter what catches my eye, I always have my trusty notebook and pen on hand so that I never let one moment of inspiration pass me by.

The fact that my notebook and pen are really cute is an added plus!

Alexa

MAC Eyeliner Review

Eyeliner is a crucial part of my daily make-up routine. The eyeliner that I select each morning/night is dependent upon my mood, outfit and event. While I have an eclectic assortment of makeup products and brands, I am partial to MAC eye products. Three all time favorites are pictured above:

1. Mac Carbon matte eye shadow (ok so it’s actually an eye shadow, but bare with me here)
2. Rapid black Penultimate eye liner
3. Blitz & Glitz fluid liner

Each eyeliner has a special spot in my heart. As you can see from the samples above each one has a distinct look.

1. I use Sephora’s angled liner #15 brush to apply Mac Carbon matte eye shadow. This one is the most time consuming to apply, is it does not go on with one swift motion. This look requires a steady hand and a little patience. However, I think it is well worth it. With the carbon matte liner you can control how light or dark as well as thick or thin you want the line to be. The powdery substance keeps the look soft. The only drawback is that the powder leads to fall out. I recommend have a makeup remover handy so that you can wipe up the loose particles that fall on your cheeks.

2. The Rapid Black Penultimate liner is my daily go-to. As you can see, it is the thinnest of all three liners and creates a clean straight line. As the name suggests, this liner really is shaped like a pen, which makes it super easy to apply.

3. Finally, the Blitz & Glitz fluid liner is the thickest and darkest of the three. I prefer to use this liner for special occasions and nights out. It is perfect when creating the cat eye or a mod look. Typically, when creating a thick fluid line, I will forgo the shadow and keep my lids bare. In order to apply this one, I prefer using Bobbi Brown’s ultra fine eye liner brush.

Happy eye lining!

Alyssa