Three weeks ago, after my daughter finished her summer camp, we just packed our suitcases and went to Boston for a few days.

Boston, MA

It was very exciting trip for us not only because we were visiting Boston for the first time but also, because it was our first travel since the Pandemic started. After our 4-hour drive, we finally arrived at our hotel __ Boston Marriott Long Wharf. 

                            Boston Marriott Long Wharf

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston, MA

What we liked:

• The location: Marriott Long Wharf is conveniently located within walking distance from a few historical sites/ tourist attractions, including Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, Boston Aquarium, Faneuil Hall.
• Views: The views from the room as well as from a dining area of the hotel were amazing.
• The stuff: The stuff was very nice.

What we did not like:

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Waterfront, Boston

• No privacy in the bathroom: there was absolutely no privacy while using a bathroom, "thanks to" its sliding door that was not closing completely. 
• The shower and sink had zero pressure.
• The breakfast buffet was average for a 4-star hotel.

After checked in, we went out to explore Boston and find a place to have lunch. We walked to Union street and found this charming seafood restaurant called Union Oyster House and decided to have lunch there. 

                           Union Oyster House __ the oldest restaurant in Boston

 The history of this oldest restaurant of Boston is fascinating __they had been serving their customers since 1826. The interior of this place looked nothing like any other restaurant we had ever visited, but the food was not as great as the vibe of the restaurant.

 I ordered my first ever Boston Lobster Roll that was priced as "market price" that apparently was $38. It was a small bun with tiny bit of lobster and some French fries. I was not impressed at all, my husband didn't like his lunch either, so probably there is no need to admit that after we spend over $100 for our tasteless lunch, we will not go to Union Oyster House anytime soon.

Union Oyster House _ the oldest restaurant in Boston

After our first disappointing lunch in Boston, we continue walking in the neighborhoods to see the Old State House, and Boston Massacre site. 

Old State House, Boston

Boston Massacre Site

From there, we went to Boston Common __ another historical place on Freedom Trail. We took a 5-minute swan boat ride in a pond, in the middle of the park. It was a wonderful experience, there were many docks in the water while passing by with our swan-shaped boat and it looked amazing. This was my daughter's favorite part of our vacation.

Boston Common

Boston Common _ public garden

 By the time we went out of Boston Common, it was already dinner time, so we decided to go to The North End __ Italian neighborhood of Boston, we were so happy we did. It was the most charming place we had gone to Boston during our trip. The sun was going down and you could see the sunset reflection on the flowers that were lined up along the outdoor dining tables. And when those outdoor sitting areas were lit up by night light, the whole place looked magical. I'm not gonna lie, at some point I felt like I was in Rome again. 

Little Italy, Boston

The delicious salad in Italian restaurant

 We ended up going to one of the Italian restaurants for dinner. I got my salad with grilled chicken that tasted heavenly, the rest of the ordered food also tasted delicious. 

 After our tasteful dinner and positive mood, we walked back to the hotel, still talking about how beautiful Italian neighborhood of Boston looked. 

Let me finish here and make sure you check out part 2 of our Boston travel journey.

P.S. I'm so happy to be back to blogging after a very long break. There were many reasons I couldn't be active on social media but I'm back and I'm planning to post on the blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Missed you all, and see you again on the blog on Friday.

Thanks for reading. 

STAY  FABULOUS!

• September 01, 2021
• Boston

Boston Travel guide 2021 (part 1) __ Marriott Long Warf, Union Oyster House, Boston Common

Three weeks ago, after my daughter finished her summer camp, we just packed our suitcases and went to Boston for a few days.

Boston, MA

It was very exciting trip for us not only because we were visiting Boston for the first time but also, because it was our first travel since the Pandemic started. After our 4-hour drive, we finally arrived at our hotel __ Boston Marriott Long Wharf. 

                            Boston Marriott Long Wharf

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston, MA

What we liked:

• The location: Marriott Long Wharf is conveniently located within walking distance from a few historical sites/ tourist attractions, including Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, Boston Aquarium, Faneuil Hall.
• Views: The views from the room as well as from a dining area of the hotel were amazing.
• The stuff: The stuff was very nice.

What we did not like:

Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Waterfront, Boston

• No privacy in the bathroom: there was absolutely no privacy while using a bathroom, "thanks to" its sliding door that was not closing completely. 
• The shower and sink had zero pressure.
• The breakfast buffet was average for a 4-star hotel.

After checked in, we went out to explore Boston and find a place to have lunch. We walked to Union street and found this charming seafood restaurant called Union Oyster House and decided to have lunch there. 

                           Union Oyster House __ the oldest restaurant in Boston

 The history of this oldest restaurant of Boston is fascinating __they had been serving their customers since 1826. The interior of this place looked nothing like any other restaurant we had ever visited, but the food was not as great as the vibe of the restaurant.

 I ordered my first ever Boston Lobster Roll that was priced as "market price" that apparently was $38. It was a small bun with tiny bit of lobster and some French fries. I was not impressed at all, my husband didn't like his lunch either, so probably there is no need to admit that after we spend over $100 for our tasteless lunch, we will not go to Union Oyster House anytime soon.

Union Oyster House _ the oldest restaurant in Boston

After our first disappointing lunch in Boston, we continue walking in the neighborhoods to see the Old State House, and Boston Massacre site. 

Old State House, Boston

Boston Massacre Site

From there, we went to Boston Common __ another historical place on Freedom Trail. We took a 5-minute swan boat ride in a pond, in the middle of the park. It was a wonderful experience, there were many docks in the water while passing by with our swan-shaped boat and it looked amazing. This was my daughter's favorite part of our vacation.

Boston Common

Boston Common _ public garden

 By the time we went out of Boston Common, it was already dinner time, so we decided to go to The North End __ Italian neighborhood of Boston, we were so happy we did. It was the most charming place we had gone to Boston during our trip. The sun was going down and you could see the sunset reflection on the flowers that were lined up along the outdoor dining tables. And when those outdoor sitting areas were lit up by night light, the whole place looked magical. I'm not gonna lie, at some point I felt like I was in Rome again. 

Little Italy, Boston

The delicious salad in Italian restaurant

 We ended up going to one of the Italian restaurants for dinner. I got my salad with grilled chicken that tasted heavenly, the rest of the ordered food also tasted delicious. 

 After our tasteful dinner and positive mood, we walked back to the hotel, still talking about how beautiful Italian neighborhood of Boston looked. 

Let me finish here and make sure you check out part 2 of our Boston travel journey.

P.S. I'm so happy to be back to blogging after a very long break. There were many reasons I couldn't be active on social media but I'm back and I'm planning to post on the blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Missed you all, and see you again on the blog on Friday.

Thanks for reading. 

STAY  FABULOUS!

Read more »

 

 Today I want to show you two new products that I had recently added to my everyday makeup routine: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer. Let me start from the setting powder.

                                   Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

This Hourglass translucent setting powder is an ultra-refined powder formulated with light-reflecting particles to blur imperfections. As the brand describes, Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting powder blurs the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for an airbrushed finish.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer 

It features an innovative gold sifter and custom cap which allow for the perfect amount of product to be dispensed. I've never had any issue with it so far. 

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder 

You will appreciate the fact that this translucent setting powder doesn't contain talk, so because of that , it leaves an absolutely invisible finish , making it perfect for all skin tones. This powder is also formulated without Parabens.

It's very finely milled so it doesn't leave powdery look on my dry skin. I apply this Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder after my La Mer liquid foundation and it creates an amazing natural finish.

No let's move on to another product from Hourglass: Ambient Lighting Bronzer that I bought in travel size and I'm glad I did, because this bronzer will probably last me forever. 

                                     Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer 

This Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer fuses the illuminating effects of Ambient Lighting Powder with bronze pigments to add depth and dimension for a sun-kissed glow.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer 

The hand-made powders are formulated using an advanced miscelare technique to create the perfect balance of pigment and powder, and no two look alike. This bronzer can be worn alone for subtle warmth and contouring or paired with a setting powder.

I use the darker part of this bronzer as a bronzer, but the lighter part for highlighting, but you can simply use  it as a bronzer. 

I like the fact that it's not too shimmery, even though it has some simmer to it, and just like Hourglass setting powder that I was talking about in this post, this bronzer is also free from Parabens.

These were definitely great addition to my makeup collection but will I repurchase them? __ probably not, because even though I really like both products, I also like to give a try to other products. 

Thanks for reading!

• January 17, 2021
• Beauty

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer review

 

 Today I want to show you two new products that I had recently added to my everyday makeup routine: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer. Let me start from the setting powder.

                                   Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

This Hourglass translucent setting powder is an ultra-refined powder formulated with light-reflecting particles to blur imperfections. As the brand describes, Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting powder blurs the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for an airbrushed finish.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer 

It features an innovative gold sifter and custom cap which allow for the perfect amount of product to be dispensed. I've never had any issue with it so far. 

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder 

You will appreciate the fact that this translucent setting powder doesn't contain talk, so because of that , it leaves an absolutely invisible finish , making it perfect for all skin tones. This powder is also formulated without Parabens.

It's very finely milled so it doesn't leave powdery look on my dry skin. I apply this Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder after my La Mer liquid foundation and it creates an amazing natural finish.

No let's move on to another product from Hourglass: Ambient Lighting Bronzer that I bought in travel size and I'm glad I did, because this bronzer will probably last me forever. 

                                     Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer 

This Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer fuses the illuminating effects of Ambient Lighting Powder with bronze pigments to add depth and dimension for a sun-kissed glow.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer 

The hand-made powders are formulated using an advanced miscelare technique to create the perfect balance of pigment and powder, and no two look alike. This bronzer can be worn alone for subtle warmth and contouring or paired with a setting powder.

I use the darker part of this bronzer as a bronzer, but the lighter part for highlighting, but you can simply use  it as a bronzer. 

I like the fact that it's not too shimmery, even though it has some simmer to it, and just like Hourglass setting powder that I was talking about in this post, this bronzer is also free from Parabens.

These were definitely great addition to my makeup collection but will I repurchase them? __ probably not, because even though I really like both products, I also like to give a try to other products. 

Thanks for reading!

Read more »

This year, due to pandemic, I'm all about outdoor activities,  and when I found out about The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in Van Cortlandt, New York, while googling our next possible destination for the family fun, I knew we had to take this opportunity and visit it.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is an outdoor display of more then 7,000 illuminated jack o'lanterns (all designed and hand-carved on site) in New York state , and its equally beautiful and impressive in daylight as well as in night time. We purposely purchased the ticket for 5 P.M. so that we could see before sunset as well as after, and it turned out like the best decision. 

Things to know before visiting The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze:

• Tickets must be purchased online in advance so that you will get your time slot. As they explained timed ticketing help them maintain safe hourly visitor counts, so I've had no complains about that.
• You can get there 30 minutes before your time slot but you will not be able to park your car yet. There will be cars lined up outside of the property's parking lot, and as your time comes, your tickets will be scanned and you will be allowed to enter the event at the time on your ticket. 
• The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze experience lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your pace.

• Photography and video recording for personal use are permitted, but they don't allow tripods or monopods.
• It's a one-way walk-through illuminated displays of 7,000 pumpkins.
• pets are not allowed
• Tickets are not refundable but they are exchangeable to another date/timeslot if that date/time is available , up to 72 hours in advance of your reserved time slot. There is a $2 per ticket exchange fee.
• Tickets cost $48 adult and $40 child (3-17)

Even though this event is not available this year anymore, you can visit it next year, since this is a yearly event. Just bookmark this post and check back next fall. 

Thanks for reading lovelies.

• December 07, 2020

Things to know before visiting The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, in Historical Hudson Valley, New York

This year, due to pandemic, I'm all about outdoor activities,  and when I found out about The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in Van Cortlandt, New York, while googling our next possible destination for the family fun, I knew we had to take this opportunity and visit it.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is an outdoor display of more then 7,000 illuminated jack o'lanterns (all designed and hand-carved on site) in New York state , and its equally beautiful and impressive in daylight as well as in night time. We purposely purchased the ticket for 5 P.M. so that we could see before sunset as well as after, and it turned out like the best decision. 

Things to know before visiting The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze:

• Tickets must be purchased online in advance so that you will get your time slot. As they explained timed ticketing help them maintain safe hourly visitor counts, so I've had no complains about that.
• You can get there 30 minutes before your time slot but you will not be able to park your car yet. There will be cars lined up outside of the property's parking lot, and as your time comes, your tickets will be scanned and you will be allowed to enter the event at the time on your ticket. 
• The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze experience lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your pace.

• Photography and video recording for personal use are permitted, but they don't allow tripods or monopods.
• It's a one-way walk-through illuminated displays of 7,000 pumpkins.
• pets are not allowed
• Tickets are not refundable but they are exchangeable to another date/timeslot if that date/time is available , up to 72 hours in advance of your reserved time slot. There is a $2 per ticket exchange fee.
• Tickets cost $48 adult and $40 child (3-17)

Even though this event is not available this year anymore, you can visit it next year, since this is a yearly event. Just bookmark this post and check back next fall. 

Thanks for reading lovelies.

Read more »

 In the age of Corona Virus, when you constantly worry about the safety of you and your family while planning your next weekend getaway or when you're just trying to figure out where to spend time in your local area, there are few places where you can still enjoy spending time safely and one of those places has to be a botanical garden, specifically New Jersey Botanical Garden (if you live in the area.)

New Jersey Botanical Garden, Fall 2020

New Jersey Botanical Garden, Fall 2020

NJ Botanical Garden

This beautiful property is located in Ringwood State Park in Ringwood, New Jersey. We visited this botanical garden on a sunny Saturday afternoon and even though it was totally spontaneous trip of 50 minute-drive, we enjoyed spending almost three hours there.

What can you do in New Jersey Botanical Garden:

• Stroll around the garden and enjoy the surrounding nature full of flowers and trees of different varieties and the Fall scenery (if you visit in Fall.)
• Bring your family or friends along and have a picnic here. You can enjoy spending time with them while social distancing.
• Go for a hike. One of the three parking lots has direct access to trails. That means that you can hike in Ringwood State Park (since this botanical garden is the part of it.)
• Take photos. Whether you want to have a professional photoshoot or just quick cellphone shots, this is a great place to capture your memories.

The only downside is that it was little tricky to navigate through the property due to lack of clear marking and direction. Because of that, we could not find couple of spots in the property that we wanted to see. We are planning to go back one of the weekends (if weather permits) and this time we will be well prepared how to get to certain parts of the property that we missed the first time. Overall, it was very nice spending time there, my 9 year old had a blast, anyways, haha.

How do you spend your weekends in this taught time? Let me know in the comments section. 

• November 16, 2020

Things to do in New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood, NJ

 In the age of Corona Virus, when you constantly worry about the safety of you and your family while planning your next weekend getaway or when you're just trying to figure out where to spend time in your local area, there are few places where you can still enjoy spending time safely and one of those places has to be a botanical garden, specifically New Jersey Botanical Garden (if you live in the area.)

New Jersey Botanical Garden, Fall 2020

New Jersey Botanical Garden, Fall 2020

NJ Botanical Garden

This beautiful property is located in Ringwood State Park in Ringwood, New Jersey. We visited this botanical garden on a sunny Saturday afternoon and even though it was totally spontaneous trip of 50 minute-drive, we enjoyed spending almost three hours there.

What can you do in New Jersey Botanical Garden:

• Stroll around the garden and enjoy the surrounding nature full of flowers and trees of different varieties and the Fall scenery (if you visit in Fall.)
• Bring your family or friends along and have a picnic here. You can enjoy spending time with them while social distancing.
• Go for a hike. One of the three parking lots has direct access to trails. That means that you can hike in Ringwood State Park (since this botanical garden is the part of it.)
• Take photos. Whether you want to have a professional photoshoot or just quick cellphone shots, this is a great place to capture your memories.

The only downside is that it was little tricky to navigate through the property due to lack of clear marking and direction. Because of that, we could not find couple of spots in the property that we wanted to see. We are planning to go back one of the weekends (if weather permits) and this time we will be well prepared how to get to certain parts of the property that we missed the first time. Overall, it was very nice spending time there, my 9 year old had a blast, anyways, haha.

How do you spend your weekends in this taught time? Let me know in the comments section. 

Read more »

Happy Monday lovelies,
I hope everyone is healthy and safe. I know it took me much longer than you probably expected but I'm back and today I want to share with you my thoughts on this "ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30," as I promised couple of weeks ago.

"ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30" is a lightweight moisturizing Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30 that gives skin Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB coverage, and also, environmental protection, while the lightly tinted formula gives skin a smooth finish.

Couple of things to know about this "ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30:"

• It's lightly tinted
• Contains Shea Butter and EveningPrimrose to hydrate skin
• Contains Green Tea and Cucumber to help smooth and hydrate skin
• It has UVA/UVB protection
• It's water resistant up to 80 minutes
• It's free of mineral oil, parabens, and sulfates.

The number one reason you will enjoy wearing this "ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30" is that it doesn't leave white cast on the skin, like most sunscreens do. Not irritating my sensitive skin is another reason I like this tinted moisturizer.

Now let's talk about the only reason I wouldn't give this product a five star __ it has light tint to it, wich would be perfectly fine but it becomes kind of pink-ish later. You can easily cuver up that pinkish tone with your pressed powder but if you prefer to wear just sunscreen, then it might be the issue for you.  Other than that, I think this is a nice tinted moisturizer with SPF30 in it , especially in this price range.

     

                                                                    Stay safe and stay fabulous!

• June 28, 2020
• Beauty

ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30 review

Happy Monday lovelies,
I hope everyone is healthy and safe. I know it took me much longer than you probably expected but I'm back and today I want to share with you my thoughts on this "ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30," as I promised couple of weeks ago.

"ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30" is a lightweight moisturizing Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30 that gives skin Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB coverage, and also, environmental protection, while the lightly tinted formula gives skin a smooth finish.

Couple of things to know about this "ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30:"

• It's lightly tinted
• Contains Shea Butter and EveningPrimrose to hydrate skin
• Contains Green Tea and Cucumber to help smooth and hydrate skin
• It has UVA/UVB protection
• It's water resistant up to 80 minutes
• It's free of mineral oil, parabens, and sulfates.

The number one reason you will enjoy wearing this "ULTA Tinted Mineral Face Lotion SPF30" is that it doesn't leave white cast on the skin, like most sunscreens do. Not irritating my sensitive skin is another reason I like this tinted moisturizer.

Now let's talk about the only reason I wouldn't give this product a five star __ it has light tint to it, wich would be perfectly fine but it becomes kind of pink-ish later. You can easily cuver up that pinkish tone with your pressed powder but if you prefer to wear just sunscreen, then it might be the issue for you.  Other than that, I think this is a nice tinted moisturizer with SPF30 in it , especially in this price range.

     

                                                                    Stay safe and stay fabulous!

Read more »

Happy Monday lovelies,

I hope everyone is safe and staying home. Honestly, I was not sure, it was appropriate to blog during the hardest time of our life when Coronavirus hit the world, and destroyd our everyday routine,  and most importantly, took so many people's life...

But after first few week's of shock _ seeing how this vicious virus affected New York City that is only few miles away from our house, I realized that social distancing was already so hard for people that if we stayed away from social media/blogging, it would put us in absolute social isolation and that is never safe for our health. 

New York City

So, I decided to continue blogging as a way of getting our mind off the shocking news we all read every day, and at least, couple of minutes a day, enjoy reading the topics that we used to enjoy. 

I hope, we will be able to stay positive even during this kind of horrible time and remind ourselves that we will get through this. 

Please, stay home, and stay safe!

• April 06, 2020
• Lifestyle

Stay home and stay safe

Happy Monday lovelies,

I hope everyone is safe and staying home. Honestly, I was not sure, it was appropriate to blog during the hardest time of our life when Coronavirus hit the world, and destroyd our everyday routine,  and most importantly, took so many people's life...

But after first few week's of shock _ seeing how this vicious virus affected New York City that is only few miles away from our house, I realized that social distancing was already so hard for people that if we stayed away from social media/blogging, it would put us in absolute social isolation and that is never safe for our health. 

New York City

So, I decided to continue blogging as a way of getting our mind off the shocking news we all read every day, and at least, couple of minutes a day, enjoy reading the topics that we used to enjoy. 

I hope, we will be able to stay positive even during this kind of horrible time and remind ourselves that we will get through this. 

Please, stay home, and stay safe!

Read more »

I've always been Sephora gal from being Beauty Insider to VIB ROUGE over the years but I recently ended up shopping at Ulta store for the first time, for a particular sunscreen.

Even though I couldn't find that exact product, I purchased this UltaBeauty Mineral Matte Tinted Face Lotion SPF30, and signed up for Ulta Reward Program which is free.

As a welcome gift, I received this cute pink makeup bag, also, BareMinerals Prime Time Original foundation primer, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Peeling mousse (which I yet to use) and these cute Invisi Bobble traceless hair rings.

I am going to do a quick review of this UltaBeauty Mineral Matte Tinted Face Lotion on Wednesday, so far it seems like a good sunscreen option for my skin. Have you used any of these products? Let me know in the commnets below.
Wish you all a wonderful first week of March.

STAY  FABULOUS!

• March 02, 2020
• Beauty

My first-ever Ulta purchase and gifts

I've always been Sephora gal from being Beauty Insider to VIB ROUGE over the years but I recently ended up shopping at Ulta store for the first time, for a particular sunscreen.

Even though I couldn't find that exact product, I purchased this UltaBeauty Mineral Matte Tinted Face Lotion SPF30, and signed up for Ulta Reward Program which is free.

As a welcome gift, I received this cute pink makeup bag, also, BareMinerals Prime Time Original foundation primer, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Peeling mousse (which I yet to use) and these cute Invisi Bobble traceless hair rings.

I am going to do a quick review of this UltaBeauty Mineral Matte Tinted Face Lotion on Wednesday, so far it seems like a good sunscreen option for my skin. Have you used any of these products? Let me know in the commnets below.
Wish you all a wonderful first week of March.

STAY  FABULOUS!

Read more »

Free, bold and connected young women were the ones that inspired creator of Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum to create this fragrance, those "young women who turn expectation on its head, swim against the tide, impose their own rhythm, invert a brand new tempo."

Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum

I got this Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum gift set as one of my birthday presents back in November and quite honestly, I was little disappointed with the strong old-fashion scent. Perhaps, I was expected something like my all-time paforite perfume _ Hermes Les Aux de Marveilles. 

This perfume gift set includes:

- Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum (full size)

- Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum (mini size)

- Twilly d'Hermes Moisturizing Body Lotion

Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum gift set

Twilly d'Hermes is not a light, sophisticated everyday perfume you would wear in the office, it's a floral fragrance but it's also sweet and spicy with oriental notes. Speaking of notes, let's mention that main notes in this perfume are ginger, tuberose and sandalwood.

I, actually, like light floral scents but here _ floral tones are mixed with spiciness (ginger is one of the top notes in this fragrance, after all,) and sweetness that makes me feel like I can't tolerate this scent for too long.

Don't take me wrong, it's not a bad fragrance, it's just not for me. 

Packaging is adorable, as you can see, the bowler hat lid with Hermes tiny scarf.  As for staying power, it lasts almost all day.

Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum full and travel size

If you like light scents, you should skip this fragrance but if you like sweet, floral, strong, spicy scents, you should check this out , you may find your next signature scent. 

Have you worn this fragrance yet? How you liked it? Let me know in the comments below.

Wish you all a wonderful day!

STAY  FABULOUS!

• February 05, 2020
• Beauty

Hermes "Twilly d'Hermes" Eau de Parfum Gift Set Review

Free, bold and connected young women were the ones that inspired creator of Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum to create this fragrance, those "young women who turn expectation on its head, swim against the tide, impose their own rhythm, invert a brand new tempo."

Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum

I got this Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum gift set as one of my birthday presents back in November and quite honestly, I was little disappointed with the strong old-fashion scent. Perhaps, I was expected something like my all-time paforite perfume _ Hermes Les Aux de Marveilles. 

This perfume gift set includes:

- Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum (full size)

- Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum (mini size)

- Twilly d'Hermes Moisturizing Body Lotion

Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum gift set

Twilly d'Hermes is not a light, sophisticated everyday perfume you would wear in the office, it's a floral fragrance but it's also sweet and spicy with oriental notes. Speaking of notes, let's mention that main notes in this perfume are ginger, tuberose and sandalwood.

I, actually, like light floral scents but here _ floral tones are mixed with spiciness (ginger is one of the top notes in this fragrance, after all,) and sweetness that makes me feel like I can't tolerate this scent for too long.

Don't take me wrong, it's not a bad fragrance, it's just not for me. 

Packaging is adorable, as you can see, the bowler hat lid with Hermes tiny scarf.  As for staying power, it lasts almost all day.

Twilly d'Hermes Eau de Parfum full and travel size

If you like light scents, you should skip this fragrance but if you like sweet, floral, strong, spicy scents, you should check this out , you may find your next signature scent. 

Have you worn this fragrance yet? How you liked it? Let me know in the comments below.

Wish you all a wonderful day!

STAY  FABULOUS!

Read more »

There is no good skincare routine without a right exfoliator and today I'm talking about three face exfoliators I've been using for a while.

Laura Mercier Face Polish __ how to use and what to expect:

According to the label, this exfoliator "effectively cleanses and exfoliates, removes dead skin cells to leave skin smooth and even-toned."
I like how nicely this exfoliator cleans the pores, it's scented but love how it smells. It's suitable for all skin type, but I personally feel like this is little harsher than Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator, (that I'm going to talk about, little later in this post) because this one contains purifying microbeads.
So, I would not recomend using this more than twice a week for people with dry, sensitive skin.
Just like any other exfoliator, place a small amount of this Face Polish onto your fingertips and gently massage into dampened skin, then rinse with warm water.

Fresh Face Polish

"This is a two-in-one face scrub and mask that buffs and hydrates with real brown sugar and strawberries, suitable for normal, dry, combination and oily skin types. "

This exfoliator felt very harsh first time I used it, because it's very grain-y because of the brown sugar it contains, but then I realized that you should leave it on the skin for about 5 minutes like a mask (that's why it's "two-in-one" scrub) and the brown sugar starts melting into your skin _ make it gentle enough to be used as an exfoliator.
The best part about this exfoliator is that it's up to you how gentle you want your scrub to be _ if you prefer more grainy scrubs, don't leave this exfoliator on your skin too long, massage it before brown sugar melts into the skin, but if you prefer less grainy scrubs, leave this on your skin longer. After you rinse it with warm water, your skin will feel smooth and hydrated.
Even though this is not recommend for sensitive skin, I still use it once a week or so. It  doesn't dry out or irritate my dry, sensitive skin.

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator _ how to use and what to expect:

This is the most gentle exfoliator amonge these three. According to Caudalie, this "natural exfoliator instantly reveals a deeply purified, more even, and smoother complexion. Slough away dead skin and polish your complexion without drying it out. Whipped formula is composed of natural, perfectly round corn beads to gently exfoliate dead skin __ without causing irritation."

I can use this Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator almost every day and it will not irritate my dry, sensitive skin, even though it's recomended to use only twice a week.
It's infused with grape pulp extracts to hydrate the skin and probably that's what helps me not to have dryer skin after each exfoliation. 

Apply little bit on your face, avoid eye area and gently massage it. Rinse with warm water.


To sum up, if you need to exfoliate your skin few times a week, Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator is the best option, because it's not very grainy, it's gentle, I don't detect any fragrance in it, it doesn't irritate dry, sensitive skin and it doesn't contain harm chemicals.

For those who love little more grain in their exfoliating products, may like Laura Mercier Face Polish more, but keep in mind that it's scented (pleasant smell , though), it's very effectivein terms of cleaning the pores.
But for even more efective cleaning,  Fresh Face Polish might be the option: it can be most grain-y among these three products, if you don't let it sit on the skin too long, It doesn't contain harsh chemicals and leaves the skin smooth after using it. The only thing I don't like about this scrub is smell.

Pin the picture below for later reference.

Thanks for reading lovelies.

STAY  FABULOUS!

• February 03, 2020
• Beauty

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator, FRESH and Laura Mercier Face polish comparison

There is no good skincare routine without a right exfoliator and today I'm talking about three face exfoliators I've been using for a while.

Laura Mercier Face Polish __ how to use and what to expect:

According to the label, this exfoliator "effectively cleanses and exfoliates, removes dead skin cells to leave skin smooth and even-toned."
I like how nicely this exfoliator cleans the pores, it's scented but love how it smells. It's suitable for all skin type, but I personally feel like this is little harsher than Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator, (that I'm going to talk about, little later in this post) because this one contains purifying microbeads.
So, I would not recomend using this more than twice a week for people with dry, sensitive skin.
Just like any other exfoliator, place a small amount of this Face Polish onto your fingertips and gently massage into dampened skin, then rinse with warm water.

Fresh Face Polish

"This is a two-in-one face scrub and mask that buffs and hydrates with real brown sugar and strawberries, suitable for normal, dry, combination and oily skin types. "

This exfoliator felt very harsh first time I used it, because it's very grain-y because of the brown sugar it contains, but then I realized that you should leave it on the skin for about 5 minutes like a mask (that's why it's "two-in-one" scrub) and the brown sugar starts melting into your skin _ make it gentle enough to be used as an exfoliator.
The best part about this exfoliator is that it's up to you how gentle you want your scrub to be _ if you prefer more grainy scrubs, don't leave this exfoliator on your skin too long, massage it before brown sugar melts into the skin, but if you prefer less grainy scrubs, leave this on your skin longer. After you rinse it with warm water, your skin will feel smooth and hydrated.
Even though this is not recommend for sensitive skin, I still use it once a week or so. It  doesn't dry out or irritate my dry, sensitive skin.

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator _ how to use and what to expect:

This is the most gentle exfoliator amonge these three. According to Caudalie, this "natural exfoliator instantly reveals a deeply purified, more even, and smoother complexion. Slough away dead skin and polish your complexion without drying it out. Whipped formula is composed of natural, perfectly round corn beads to gently exfoliate dead skin __ without causing irritation."

I can use this Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator almost every day and it will not irritate my dry, sensitive skin, even though it's recomended to use only twice a week.
It's infused with grape pulp extracts to hydrate the skin and probably that's what helps me not to have dryer skin after each exfoliation. 

Apply little bit on your face, avoid eye area and gently massage it. Rinse with warm water.


To sum up, if you need to exfoliate your skin few times a week, Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator is the best option, because it's not very grainy, it's gentle, I don't detect any fragrance in it, it doesn't irritate dry, sensitive skin and it doesn't contain harm chemicals.

For those who love little more grain in their exfoliating products, may like Laura Mercier Face Polish more, but keep in mind that it's scented (pleasant smell , though), it's very effectivein terms of cleaning the pores.
But for even more efective cleaning,  Fresh Face Polish might be the option: it can be most grain-y among these three products, if you don't let it sit on the skin too long, It doesn't contain harsh chemicals and leaves the skin smooth after using it. The only thing I don't like about this scrub is smell.

Pin the picture below for later reference.

Thanks for reading lovelies.

STAY  FABULOUS!

Read more »

Happy New Year and new decade, lovelies. I hope you enjoyed your holidays. I know, I have been MIA since November but I'm back and I will be posting on the blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Holiday decorations in New York City

We ended 2019 by going to the Madison Square Garden, in New York City, to see "Twas the Night Before Christmas" __ a festive show about the wonders of sharing and friendship.

Twas the Night Before Christmas, Madison Square Garden, New York

There were different acrobatic acts throughout the show that was impressive enough to make the audience excited about the rest of the show. The decoration of the show was absolutely stunning, that was my personal favorite. Cast members coming to the audience and giving the kids opportunity to take pictures with them was also was a great idea, kids were very excited about that. So, overall, we enjoyed the show even though my husband expected more from Circle du Soleil and from spending Over $600 for tickets, but my 8 years old was absolutely impressed.

Twas the Night Before Christmas, Madison Square Garden, New York

Madison Square Garden, New York

After the show, we decided to have dinner at an Italian restaurant in Little Italy. It was unbelievablely beautiful weather, perfect for our little stroll in the streets of New York, that were lit with Christmas lights and festive decorations.

Apetizers in Italian restaurant, New York City

Dinner at the Italian restaurant, New York 

The restaurant was busy _ you can imagine Friday evening in one of the top-rated restaurants in New York City. But after couple of minutes, they were able to acomodate us.
The ambiance and decor was absolutely amazing, the waiter was very helpful and the food was delicious. At some point, I forgot that I was in New York, seriously, I felt like I was sitting in my favorite italian restaurant in Rome, Italy, just like 3 years ago, when I was enjoying the delicious pasta in the center of Rome.

I don't know why I needed to touch Mickey Mouse, haha

Anyways, it was such a great place, I will definitly go back. That's how we ended 2019, (let's not talk about our midnight desserts like strawberry cheesecakes and delicious Bakhlava haha.)

How was your New Year's Eve?  Let me know in the comments below.

• January 06, 2020
• Entertainment

Ended 2019 in Madison Square Garden, New York

Happy New Year and new decade, lovelies. I hope you enjoyed your holidays. I know, I have been MIA since November but I'm back and I will be posting on the blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Holiday decorations in New York City

We ended 2019 by going to the Madison Square Garden, in New York City, to see "Twas the Night Before Christmas" __ a festive show about the wonders of sharing and friendship.

Twas the Night Before Christmas, Madison Square Garden, New York

There were different acrobatic acts throughout the show that was impressive enough to make the audience excited about the rest of the show. The decoration of the show was absolutely stunning, that was my personal favorite. Cast members coming to the audience and giving the kids opportunity to take pictures with them was also was a great idea, kids were very excited about that. So, overall, we enjoyed the show even though my husband expected more from Circle du Soleil and from spending Over $600 for tickets, but my 8 years old was absolutely impressed.

Twas the Night Before Christmas, Madison Square Garden, New York

Madison Square Garden, New York

After the show, we decided to have dinner at an Italian restaurant in Little Italy. It was unbelievablely beautiful weather, perfect for our little stroll in the streets of New York, that were lit with Christmas lights and festive decorations.

Apetizers in Italian restaurant, New York City

Dinner at the Italian restaurant, New York 

The restaurant was busy _ you can imagine Friday evening in one of the top-rated restaurants in New York City. But after couple of minutes, they were able to acomodate us.
The ambiance and decor was absolutely amazing, the waiter was very helpful and the food was delicious. At some point, I forgot that I was in New York, seriously, I felt like I was sitting in my favorite italian restaurant in Rome, Italy, just like 3 years ago, when I was enjoying the delicious pasta in the center of Rome.

I don't know why I needed to touch Mickey Mouse, haha

Anyways, it was such a great place, I will definitly go back. That's how we ended 2019, (let's not talk about our midnight desserts like strawberry cheesecakes and delicious Bakhlava haha.)

How was your New Year's Eve?  Let me know in the comments below.

Read more »

Today I want to show guys a few skincare products and gift set that I got at Sephora other day:

Let me start from this YSL gift set that came in this cute pouch:

1. YSL Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils (travel size)

2. YSL lipgloss  (travel size)

3. Touch Eclat Blur Primer: _ I don't think I need to say anything about this primer other than almost everyone who has used it, loved it. I had this primer long time ago, but I was so busy using my other primers, particularly Guerlain D'Or primer that I never got to use it and after it expired, I ended up throwing away. This time, I'm going to use it.

I recently discovered brand Murad at Sephora and decided to give it a try. I bought a skincare gift set that includes Murad Hydration AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Nutrient-Charged Water Gel and Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30+++.  I also bought a face exfoliator Pore Rescue _Skin Smoothing Polish. Since I haven't tried anything from this skincare gift set yet, I will leave it for future post.

 but I already applied this exfoliator to my skin couple of times and I have to recognize it isn't for my dry, sensitive skin. 

As the label says, this "intensive exfoliating scrub deeply cleans clogged pores and reduces excess oil without stripping skin of natural moisture for a smoother, glowing complexion."

Let's start from the fact that it doesn't have enough grain for my preference, I feel like it doesn't clean deeply. Even though it's not grain-y,  it is harsher for my skin than my other exfoliators. Love the packaging and gentle scent of this exfoliator but I will probably return it or will give it to someone else who doesn't have dry sensitive skin.

Have you used any of these products? Let me know in the comments below.

• November 18, 2019
• Beauty

Sephora skincare haul

Today I want to show guys a few skincare products and gift set that I got at Sephora other day:

Let me start from this YSL gift set that came in this cute pouch:

1. YSL Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils (travel size)

2. YSL lipgloss  (travel size)

3. Touch Eclat Blur Primer: _ I don't think I need to say anything about this primer other than almost everyone who has used it, loved it. I had this primer long time ago, but I was so busy using my other primers, particularly Guerlain D'Or primer that I never got to use it and after it expired, I ended up throwing away. This time, I'm going to use it.

I recently discovered brand Murad at Sephora and decided to give it a try. I bought a skincare gift set that includes Murad Hydration AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Nutrient-Charged Water Gel and Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30+++.  I also bought a face exfoliator Pore Rescue _Skin Smoothing Polish. Since I haven't tried anything from this skincare gift set yet, I will leave it for future post.

 but I already applied this exfoliator to my skin couple of times and I have to recognize it isn't for my dry, sensitive skin. 

As the label says, this "intensive exfoliating scrub deeply cleans clogged pores and reduces excess oil without stripping skin of natural moisture for a smoother, glowing complexion."

Let's start from the fact that it doesn't have enough grain for my preference, I feel like it doesn't clean deeply. Even though it's not grain-y,  it is harsher for my skin than my other exfoliators. Love the packaging and gentle scent of this exfoliator but I will probably return it or will give it to someone else who doesn't have dry sensitive skin.

Have you used any of these products? Let me know in the comments below.

Read more »

There are beauty products that are must-haves for most of the people and a good, trusted concealer is one of them, especially if you've got dark circles under your eyes. Today I want to show you some of my favorite concealers I've used for years.

YSL All Hours Concealer:

This is a full coverage concealer that can instantly blur and erase imperfections and discoloration on face. As for formula, this is more liquid side then other concealers I'm talking about today, and it also feels more moisturizing then other ones.

YSL All Hours Concealer

Make sure you apply your setting / finishing powder after this concealer so that it will not crease or fade throughout the day.

This YSL ultra-smooth, matt finish concealer comes in 16 different shades so you will definitely be able to find perfect match for your skin tone.

ALL Hours concealer is free from Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates.

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer:

With this Guerlain Multi-Perfecting hydrating concealer you can hide dark circles and imperfections and create a natural-looking finish. It's a creamy concealer that comes in a little tube with a fine tip so you have great control over how much you squeeze out, that way,   you don't waste too much product and also, it's hygienic. 

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer

This creamy concealer comes in 6 shades from Light Warm to Very Deep Cool. Among the three concealers I'm talking about today, this has the most coverage and it's the best to cover any imperfections on face, but keep in mind that you will still need to apply a color corrector under your eyes prior to tis concealer, if you've got very dark circles.

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer has delicate floral scent of rose, raspberry, jasmine and white musk but as I said, it's very delicate scent , nothing annoying, and even though it's scented, it doesn't irritate my skin or eyes.

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer is free from Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates.

Lancome Maquicomplet _ Complete Coverage concealer:

This creamy, liquid concealer minimizes the look of flaws, blemishes and dark circles wtih full, natural looking coverage. As Lancome describes, this concealer is enriched with light-diverting agents and a hydrating botanical complex that supports antioxidant protection. It minimizes the appearance of under-eye circles while reducing environmental damage off your look with natural-looking coverage.
Even though Maquicomplet concealer is creamy and lightweight, it gives me full coverage and it never settles into fine lines. This concealer comes in 14 different shade so you can find the one that perfectly matches your skin tone.


Have you used any of these concealers yet? How you liked it? Let me know in the comments below.

• November 04, 2019
• Beauty

Luxury concealers you should check out this fall

There are beauty products that are must-haves for most of the people and a good, trusted concealer is one of them, especially if you've got dark circles under your eyes. Today I want to show you some of my favorite concealers I've used for years.

YSL All Hours Concealer:

This is a full coverage concealer that can instantly blur and erase imperfections and discoloration on face. As for formula, this is more liquid side then other concealers I'm talking about today, and it also feels more moisturizing then other ones.

YSL All Hours Concealer

Make sure you apply your setting / finishing powder after this concealer so that it will not crease or fade throughout the day.

This YSL ultra-smooth, matt finish concealer comes in 16 different shades so you will definitely be able to find perfect match for your skin tone.

ALL Hours concealer is free from Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates.

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer:

With this Guerlain Multi-Perfecting hydrating concealer you can hide dark circles and imperfections and create a natural-looking finish. It's a creamy concealer that comes in a little tube with a fine tip so you have great control over how much you squeeze out, that way,   you don't waste too much product and also, it's hygienic. 

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer

This creamy concealer comes in 6 shades from Light Warm to Very Deep Cool. Among the three concealers I'm talking about today, this has the most coverage and it's the best to cover any imperfections on face, but keep in mind that you will still need to apply a color corrector under your eyes prior to tis concealer, if you've got very dark circles.

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer has delicate floral scent of rose, raspberry, jasmine and white musk but as I said, it's very delicate scent , nothing annoying, and even though it's scented, it doesn't irritate my skin or eyes.

Guerlain Multi-Perfecting concealer is free from Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates.

Lancome Maquicomplet _ Complete Coverage concealer:

This creamy, liquid concealer minimizes the look of flaws, blemishes and dark circles wtih full, natural looking coverage. As Lancome describes, this concealer is enriched with light-diverting agents and a hydrating botanical complex that supports antioxidant protection. It minimizes the appearance of under-eye circles while reducing environmental damage off your look with natural-looking coverage.
Even though Maquicomplet concealer is creamy and lightweight, it gives me full coverage and it never settles into fine lines. This concealer comes in 14 different shade so you can find the one that perfectly matches your skin tone.


Have you used any of these concealers yet? How you liked it? Let me know in the comments below.

Read more »

Today I want to show you guys what Crayola Experience in Pennsylvania looks like and what to expect if you visit it with your kids.

This 65,000 square feet of colorful attraction is a perfect place for kids age 2- 10. (let's jut not count 12-13 years old camp boys in summer, jumping all over in colorful indoor playground, not letting young kids to go through different fun obstacles.)

Crayola Experience has so many different activities that it can easily keep your kids engaged for up to 5 hours.

One of my 8-years-old daughter's favorite attractions was "Wrap It Up" __ where you can use a coin that came with your ticket to personalize and print an authentic Crayola crayon label and wrap it around to create your own unique Crayola crayon. We chose bright pink and purple.

"Silly Selfies" __ in this interactive room you can create silly selfies on one of the many iPads and project them on the wall to become part of a bigger scene. Finding your "Silly Selfie" among other kids selfies on the wall is the funniest part for kids. You can walk up and touch your selfie to animate it.

My daughter's another favorite was "Melt & Mold." Here, you could load your favorite crayon color into the machine and watch your crayon melting different shape. We chose ring shape.

There was also Color Playground in Crayola Experience for active kids that my daughter loved. After dodging and squeezing through obstacles, kids can relax and sit down at Colossal Caddy that holds thousands of Crayola crayons. Kids and their acompagning parents can color and take their colored papers at home.

Overall, it was worth going to Crayola Experience but I don't think we will visit again because of my daughter's age. It's must be more fun for younger kids. 

Have you been to Crayola Experience ? How you liked it? Let me know in the comments below.

• October 28, 2019
• Pennsylvania

Crayola Experience in Pennsylvania

Today I want to show you guys what Crayola Experience in Pennsylvania looks like and what to expect if you visit it with your kids.

This 65,000 square feet of colorful attraction is a perfect place for kids age 2- 10. (let's jut not count 12-13 years old camp boys in summer, jumping all over in colorful indoor playground, not letting young kids to go through different fun obstacles.)

Crayola Experience has so many different activities that it can easily keep your kids engaged for up to 5 hours.

One of my 8-years-old daughter's favorite attractions was "Wrap It Up" __ where you can use a coin that came with your ticket to personalize and print an authentic Crayola crayon label and wrap it around to create your own unique Crayola crayon. We chose bright pink and purple.

"Silly Selfies" __ in this interactive room you can create silly selfies on one of the many iPads and project them on the wall to become part of a bigger scene. Finding your "Silly Selfie" among other kids selfies on the wall is the funniest part for kids. You can walk up and touch your selfie to animate it.

My daughter's another favorite was "Melt & Mold." Here, you could load your favorite crayon color into the machine and watch your crayon melting different shape. We chose ring shape.

There was also Color Playground in Crayola Experience for active kids that my daughter loved. After dodging and squeezing through obstacles, kids can relax and sit down at Colossal Caddy that holds thousands of Crayola crayons. Kids and their acompagning parents can color and take their colored papers at home.

Overall, it was worth going to Crayola Experience but I don't think we will visit again because of my daughter's age. It's must be more fun for younger kids. 

Have you been to Crayola Experience ? How you liked it? Let me know in the comments below.

Read more »