Bond no. 9

L to R, The Scent of Peace, West Side, Brooklyn, Chinatown and Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

I can’t say enough good things about Bond no. 9 New York fragrances. There’s a ton of them, they represent NYC, they smell great, and the packaging is adorable! Over the years my mom, sister and I have collected a plethora, and a few of our favorites are pictured above.

As you can see, I separated Chinatown from the mix. Chinatown is by far my favorite Bond scent. When I think of Chinatown + smell, my mind conjures up images of garbage, cat and fake leather. But, this scent is the exact opposite – strong, distinct and floral. Explaining its fragrance through words doesn’t do it justice. That’s why I recommend you check this one out for yourself!
Alyssa

Saving a Little Summer for the Rest of the Year

Years ago on a cold winter day I purchased a bottle of body wash from Sephora because I was drawn to the Hawaiian packaging and aroma. When I actually started using the product I realized that it worked just as well as it smelled. Not only did it moisturize and cleanse my skin but it also helped remind me that summer was around the corner.

Today I still continue to purchase Joey New York Beautiful Body Seaweed Body Wash, however it is a little more difficult than it used to be. The Seaweed Body Wash is no longer available in Sephora and therefore I take to internet searches every few months to locate the product. Occasionally I can find it on Amazon and other times on eBay. I don’t mind putting in the effort to track down the product because the end result is worth it.

The fragrance reminds me of the best possible smelling tanning lotion with a hint of fruitiness. I actually do not use this product in the summer. Rather, I save it for the winter when the beach seems so far away.  And while I'm not looking forward to the summer wrapping up, I do take comfort in knowing that I have this little gem in my shower.

Alyssa

End of Summer Outfit

As the summer draws to an end I am starting to slowly gravitate towards pieces that have a fall element to them. This past Saturday I decided to wear my new maxi dress from American Apparel for the first time. Initially I felt a little restricted by the long skirt and had to adjust my stride a bit. But once I was in an air conditioned room I was extremely grateful that I had on a cute outfit that also provided me with warmth.

[dress] American Apparel
[shoes] Coach
[purse] Louis Vuitton
[headband] Forever 21

Alyssa

Taking a cue from another blogger

Not only do I love writing blog posts, but I love reading them as well.  One of my favorite blogs is Cupcakes and Cashmere, written by Emily Schuman.  A few weeks ago Emily blogged about a breakfast she concocted – Baked French Toast.  Everything about it sounded amazing – sugar, cinnamon, vanilla etc.  I immediately decided that I had to make it.  I followed the recipe almost exactly (I used 7 eggs instead of 8) and it came out delicious!  I highly recommend it for a nice lazy weekend morning meal! 

Note – a 9”x13” baking pan is HUGE.  You could easily feed 5 people with this recipe.

Alyssa

Flower Headband Edit

I love flower headbands + lotus flower earings!  I hope you like my video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv-pcIr6RVU

Alexa

HAUL ---- Bloomingdales + Sephora + Michaels + American Apparel

Hi everyone!  I hope you enjoy my latest mini-haul video!  Please follow this link if you have trouble viewing the YouTube video above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_-RdW4eZQ&feature=youtu.be

Alyssa

Hot Summer Nights

The other night I went on a double date in Brooklyn. I was looking forward to this dinner for weeks but when the day actually came I couldn’t figure out what to wear. The weather was so hot and muggy and putting on a dress and a full face of makeup was the last thing I wanted to do. Therefore I decided to go with a very thin cotton dress. In order to dress up the simple black frock I added a pair of Gucci wedges that only come out of the closet for special occasions.

[Dress] Love from Ya-Ya (Nordstrom circa 2007)
[Shoes] Gucci
[Purse] Louis Vuitton Wallet
[Nails] Essie Van D’Go

Alyssa

Casual Travel Outfit

Last week my boyfriend suggested we spend the upcoming weekend in Boston. I was excited for the mini trip but was unsure about what to pack. It was important that I packed comfortable versatile outfits that would work in the humidity and rain. I opted for a comfortable pair of jeans with a tank top that is both comfortable and cute.

[Shirt] Forever 21
[Jeans] Juicy Couture
[Shoes] Havaiana
[Nails] Essie Mesmerize
[Sunglasses] Ray-Ban

Alyssa