Blogger Sample Swap! So Fun!

Hey Guys!


I participated in a blogger sample swap hosted by Yvette @ Classic Glam Blog (classicglamblog.blogspot.com) & it was so much fun! 





I just received my samples in the mail from the lovely Abi Jane @ Lilly Limes (lillylimes.blogspot.com) and am so excited about the goodies she sent. Check em' out!

Can't wait to try these products, especially the nail hardener/base coat, Esmalte! I've been checking all of my local beauty supply stores and have not been able to find it. Thanks so much Abi Jane!!

The best part about this experience was meeting and interacting with new people in the blogging community and getting inspired by their creativity!

Have a happy weekend!!

XOXO,

Moni

Fab Find Friday! 5 Reasons I'm Using Noxema + Ode to 90s Slang

-This stuff works!-

Hey Guys!

Remember this 90s Noxema Icon?!

For those of you that don't know I'm borderline obsessed with everything 90's (excluding some elements of fashion- but hey nothing is perfect). From its music, to its TV shows, movies and artsy vibe, the 90's was da bomb. And yes, as an ode to the 90's this post will be sprinkled with 90's slang and terminology. You're welcome. ;-)


Anyway, back to making this a beauty post. This summer, a friend of mine experienced sunburn and I recommended Noxema to help soothe her burnt skin.  At the mention of Noxema, I felt all old school and nostalgic memories of 90's Noxema girls splashing the smiling faces over sinks came to mind. Now, Noxema girls were the originators of excessive face splashing commercials. These new millennium Neutrogena girls are just bitin'. So, I decided to buy Noxema and see if it was really all that.

                                                                                         

Here are 5 reasons I think Noxema is Dope:


1. It's great for normal to combination skin! I have combination skin and think Noxema works really well. It doesn't dry out my "dry spots" yet doesn't neglect my oily T-zone. It provides a perfect balance for my skin and it leaves my face feeling fresh, clean and never tight or dry.
2.  Its smell! I'm actually a big fan of minty scents. I feel like they are rejuvenating and refreshing and Noxema is both. Sometimes my face needs a boost, especially when I wake up and the menthol in Noxema delivers. I also like the subtle minty tingle.
3.  It's inexpensive. I felt like slapping myself once I realized that I've spent hundreds over the years on department store cleansers and/or the pricier drugstore brands and they never really worked for me. They were just like yeah, whatever. Noxema works better for me and it's like $4 a jar!
4.  It doubles as shaving cream. Yup, that's phat! I hate shower clutter so the fewer items in the shower, the better! Word.
5.  It's excellent at providing sunburn relief with it's cooling menthol and soothing moisturizers. For best results, refrigerate the jar first then apply. 


So, are you down with Noxema yet? Give it a try!


Peace Out.


XOXO,
Moni

OOTD: Lime, White & Blue + Special Appearance from an 80's icon!

Hey Gal Pals,

I kept my look pretty cas today - mixing fun colors (lime & turquise blue) with staple solids (b&w). 

Check out the specs below: :-)

Blazer: Express

Shirt: Old Navy

Necklace: Charlotte Russe 

During our lunch break today, my friend Rachel and I decided to have some fun with fake mustaches. Random, I know, but how could you resist these?!?

During our lunch time festivities, I noticed that I held a striking resemblance to an 80's icon!

Any guesses? Take another look. HINT: He also has a blonde mustache!

 If you guessed Hulk Hogan, you're right! I couldn't help but embody the Hulkster wearing this blonde mustache! LOL

Hope you're enjoying your day!!

XOXO,

Moni

NYC Restaurant Week & Weekend Looks!

Hey Gals,


This weekend I met up with a dear, old friend and we celebrated NYC's restaurant week by dining at Primehouse, a fab steakhouse in Gramercy. It was so sweet to spend time with a great friend over good food!


I've also included some shots from one of this weekend's outfits. I added some splashes of yellow to teal green pants and a navy/white/green striped shirt.


Check out the photos below. ;-)

If you're in the NY area and love beef, I would definitely recommend this restaurant! It has a classy, upscale atmosphere and the food is excellent!

Friends Forever! I love to catch up with dear friends. Jen and I have known each other since high school and have remained close over the years. Friendships are one of life's many treasures and I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life! Check out her sleek chic look in all black and gold accessories. She is a class act! While I, on the other hand, came into the restaurant in my python print dress and two braids in my hair looking like a major hippie - free spirit. LOL

Weekend Look: Splashes of Yellow!

Shirt: Marshall's 

Necklace & Bag: Strawberry

Pants: Conway

Enjoy your day!!


XOXO
Moni

Trend Alert: Cobalt Blue is the New Mint Green!

Happy Weekend! 

One of the colors that is hot on the scene is cobalt blue. It's one of the major color trends of fall/winter. I would even dare to call it the next season's mint green! 

Check out my cobalt blue wish list below. I'm especially into the lapel blazer, gold cuff and Marc Jacobs hobo. Which ones are your fave? :)

XOXO 

 Monica

Fab Find Friday - 100% Pure Face & Eye Cream!

Hi Everyone!

Today's Fab Find Friday feature is the Acai Berry Antioxidant Face and Eye Creams from 100% Pure.  I have sensitive skin and my face can be especially sensitive, so for the most part, I try to use natural products to moisturize and maintain the skin on my face.  I've been looking for a face and eye cream for some time now. I've tried various brands, some bad, some good but all overpriced.  I didn't want to spend a ton of cash but didn't want to compromise quality either. Then, I came across 100% Pure.  They use quality, all natural, vegan ingredients and promise favorable results. And, I purchased the face cream/eye cream duo for $39!

I've been using the eye and face cream twice a day for about 3 weeks now and actually have seen noticeable results. I mean, my lines are not gone or anything, but I have to say my laugh lines/crow's feet have definitely softened.


I'd totally recommend giving this brand a try, especially if you're looking for a reasonably priced natural line. They have a nice selection of various beauty products on their website as well.


Check them out @ 100percentpure.com

Got any beauty product reviews to share?

LMK in the comments below.

XOXO

Monica

Coral & Animal Print - A Perfect Pairing!

Hey Beauties,


Coral is one of my favorite colors. I just love how it livens up an outfit. I'm also a big fan of animal prints, so the two together is a perfect pairing in my book.  Check out some of the coral animal print mixes below and lmk what ya think! Are there any colors you prefer mixing with animal prints?


XOXO
Monica

Coral & Python Print

Coral Top - Conway 

Coral Bowtie Belt - Express

Skirt - Express (old)

Necklace - Charlotte Russe (old)

Shoes - Marshall's (old)

Coral & Leopard Print

 My coral & leopard look on the right was inspired by my beautiful friend, Shabad, pictured on the left. She bought her awesome top from NY&Co and paired it with a cute pair of leopard flats. 

Top (right) - Marshall's 

Coral Cardigan - Conway's

Necklace - Charlotte Russe (old)

Celebrate Today!

Hi Guys,


Today, I'm encouraging myself to celebrate every day and every beautiful thing in it! I've been in a summer slump for the past couple of days, simply because I feel like I'm not doing as much as I want to do. I've been feeling like I need an extreme adventure or a luxurious vacation to really "enjoy" my summer. And since this year it may not happen, I've been kinda bummed. But, today I've decided to shake off the slack and just celebrate my life now - my relationships, my job and all of the seemingly "simple" pleasures! 


Hope you guys will do the same. :)

FroYo Goodness!!

If you're ever in the Union Square area, check out Bourbon Coffee, It's a celebration of coffee! My fave, their Amaretto Dream. 

Love yellow flowers and the color yellow period. #bebright

XOXO,

Moni

Happy Weekend! xo

Hey Guys!

Just want to wish you all a happy, fun weekend!

I'm supposed to be heading to the beach again this weekend, but it looks like it will rain! :/ But, I'm hoping that the forecast will change! 

Well, here's to a happy, SUNNY, weekend!!

XOXO ,

Moni

OOTD: Hello Neon Yellow!

Hey Guys!

Today I wore one of my fave colors for summer - neon yellow! I paired a neon yellow tank with a sheer camel-beige polka dot top with some light blue jeans. I thought it was a bright, fun color combo on this overcast day! I believe bright colors lighten up your mood, which I am all for!!

Enjoy your weekend lovelies!

XOXO,

Moni

Tank - Conway

Polka Dot Top - Charlotte Russe

Jeans - Old (finally fit back into them!)

Shoes - Nicole

Fab Find Friday - e.l.f. Beauty Products @ Target!

Hello Beauties!


I was totally stoked when I discovered Target's amazing selection of cosmetics and beauty products! We all know that Target offers great prices, but I was especially pleased when I saw the variety of quality beauty products that they offer - from makeup to makeup brushes, removers, nail art decals, name brand nail polishes and more! My fave find was the e.l.f. line of cosmetics and beauty products. They offer makeup products brushes and applicators and ranging from $1-$3! Here are some items that I scooped up and would recommend:


Tinted Moisturizer:


I recently ran out of the SkinnyGirl tinted moisturizer I usually use and thought I'd give this one a try.  There are lots of tinted moisturizers out there and some can be quite expensive.  I'm not into spending the big bucks on basic cosmetics so I was pleased when I saw that e.l.f. offered this moisturizer for only $3! It's lightweight formula is great for summer and it has spf 20, which is a must. 





Makeup Remover Wipes:


I love this concept. Long gone are the days of rubbing your eyes with a piece of cotton soaked in makeup remover trying desperately to remove stubborn eyeliner and mascara. I normally use Pond's & Nuetrogena for this kind of thing, but e.l.f. offers a good alternative.  They are also $3 a pop, so you really can't go wrong.



Eyeshadow brush:


OK, so I'm always floored when I see how expensive makeup brushes are! I mean I can understand the expense for makeup artists, but I'm pretty practical with my makeup application so I don't require anything fancy.  Target offers an array of e.l.f. makeup brushes for only $1! Ah-mazing! I grabbed this lil guy and am pleased with the results! C'mon, at $1 each, they're totally worth the try!









Have any great beauty finds? Please share them in the comments below! :)


XOXO,
Moni

Enjoy Your Life!

Check out these cool quotes that inspire me to live and love every day that is given to me. Sometimes I get trapped in the work/gym/cook/clean/events/appointments flow of life and become so busy that I neglect to appreciate and enjoy the life God has given to me. I constantly need to remind myself to take it easy and enjoy life and even its most simple pleasures. I literally make a choice to smile more, overlook "special" folks and their behavior and not stress out over stuff - whether it be my husband's socks on the floor or an unexpected bill. I trust God and know I'm on His side and He's on mine, so there's no need to for me to operate out of fear and anxiety. Today, I make up my mind to enjoy my life and not take myself too seriously and encourage you to do the same!

XOXO,

Moni

OOTD - Coral, Black, White & Gold

Hey Dolls,

Just thought I'd check in and share today's outfit with y'all. I bought this dress a few months back from one of my faves, TJ Maxx for $25. I love its forgiving shape and pop of coral waistband. I paired it with gold flats, a matching cardi and a multi-colored stone necklace. I thought it all worked well for a corporate cas chic look.

Hope you all enjoyed your day so far!

XOXO,

Moni

Beach Tanning Tips!

Hey Beauties!

This past weekend I hooked up with friends and headed to la playa (beach in espanol)! :)

So, I'll be honest, in spite of all the news reports & my new found crows feet, ahem, I mean "laugh lines" - I still love to tan! But in my 30 years, I've grown wiser on how to achieve a healthier tan and avoid sunburn and skin damage! Check out my "tan technique" below:

Tan Technique:

Leave the house with a sunscreen of at least an spf 15 or above already on your face. Your day time face lotion should already contain sunscreen. If not, buy one that does. :)

As soon as I arrive to the beach and set up shop, I lather up my back, chest, neck and face again -including ears- with spf 15 or 30.  I apply a tanning oil with spf 8 to my legs and arms since they rarely burn and my legs are especially white and the hardest part of my body to tan.

Once I'm lathered up, I lay in the direction of the sun and rotate with the sun as it changes it's position. This may sound weird, but it is key to obtaining an even tan.  Once you're done on the first side, lather up your backside and turn over.  I usually tan for 30 minute intervals on each side, so I can get a good gauge on my tan progress and this also helps prevent burning.

Remember, ALWAYS reapply sunscreen after (even before) getting in the water, even if your sunscreen is "waterproof."  Multiple layers of sunscreen really helps prevent burning and skin damage.


Tan Line Tip:
I also try to wear strapless bathing suits and bandeau tops to avoid ugly tan lines.  But, if you do get tan lines, apply sunless tanner after you shower and this will help blend in the uneven skin tones. I also usually apply self tanner every couple of days in between beach visits to amplify & maintain my tan. This really helps achieve the ultimate "golden glow" and blend in any inconsistencies in color. The best part is, when you apply self tanner to already tanned skin, it looks super natural and rarely ever looks streaky!

Don't forget your hat to help protect your face and hair!

It's always fun in the sun! ;-)

Have any beach or tanning tips to share? Include them in the comments below!

XOXO,
Moni

Fab Find Friday!

Hey Loves!


I'm starting a new weekly post called "Fab Find Fridays" that will feature something fabulous each week, whether it be a beauty product, an amazing store, salon, sale, bargain or a beauty technique. I'm always on the look out for new products, great deals and time saving beauty tips, and I'd love to share these with you in these weekly posts.


Check out this week's Fab Find Friday!


  European Wax Center - waxcenter.com





Now, there aren't many things I hate about summer, but bikini waxing is definitely one of them! Now, yes we should all be well groomed all year round, but let's face it ladies, this is not always the case, especially during winter months.  During those cold pale days, you can get away with moderate shaving and trimming and take a break from the aggressive pulling and plucking.  But it's summer and waxing is the best way to ensure a clean, bare beach look.


But, where should you go for a waxing or should you just do it yourself?  Well, there are a variety of spas and salons that offer waxing, but the better ones (and you do want a better one) will definitely cost you ... until now!  Check out European Wax Center.  They are a nationwide chain of quality wax "spas" that offer a variety of waxing services for men and women.  The best part is that you get your first bikini line wax (or other promotional wax) free! Yup, free, no gimmicks. If you want a more extensive waxing like a full bikini wax or Brazilian wax, you get 50% off your first visit. They also have a rewards type program that offers you $5 off a visit for each friend you refer to the salon.  


I recently went to the European Wax Center in Rutherford, NJ with a friend and we both had good experiences.  They used quality hard wax, the place was spotless and the staff friendly.  But, yes the waxing still hurt like heck. :-/


They also have a pre and post waxing skin care line which was nice but overpriced. It seems as if you could get similar products at your local drugstore for much less.


For those brave mavens that aren't afraid of a DIY bikini waxing, check out my post on DIY bikini waxing for some tips: http://monismix.blogspot.com/2012/05/skinny-on-diy-waxing.html


Have a wonderful weekend!


XOXO, 
Moni

OOTD - Vibin' Biz Cas Style

Hey Guys!

Just a quick note to say hello and share today's outfit. It's a bit of a quiet day today at work, so I'm taking advantage of it by relishing in the sounds of Pandora's 90's radio while responding to emails. To me, 90's music is THE BEST MUSIC EVER. I mean - Goo Goo Dolls, Alanis Morisette, The Cranberries, Sheryl Crow, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Bush - the list goes on!

Hope you lovelies have a wonderful, relaxing post 4th of July!

XOXO,

Moni

Shirt: JC Penney

Slacks: TJ Maxx

Shoes: Marshall's

Bracelet: W. 31st Street Wholesaler (see previous post - http://monismix.blogspot.com/2012/07/mixing-and-matching-bright-colors.html)

Gotta Love Fashionable Bargains! :-) 

Mixing and Matching Bright Colors!

Hey Sweets!

Check out this cool color combo of neon yellow, cherry red and beige! It's an unlikely color combination I saw on one of the many reality shows I watch - Big Rich Texas (I know, I know, I was embarrassed even admitting this!) but those Texas gals have style! LOL

I rocked out this combo with some cool spiked and python print bracelets I scooped from this fantastic wholesale jewelry distributor on West 31st Street, NYC.  Details are below.

Let me know what ya think of this look and have a beautiful day!

                                     Shirt & tank top: Conway

                                     Necklace/Bracelets: W. 31st Street Wholesalers (see below)

                                     Pants: Old Navy

                                     Shoes: DSW

If you're in the Manhattan NY area, check this place out. 

They have cool, trendy pieces at great prices!

XOXO,

Moni