Soho Celebrations & Boho in the Bronx!

Hey Lovelies!

I recently met up with a couple of my favorite ladies for a post Birthday dinner celebration. I really wanted to capture a sophisticated outdoor garden ambiance to enjoy the weather while the remnant of summer is still here. We went to David Burke's Garden in Soho on Grand Street and it was exactly was I was looking for. Great, classy feel, amazing eats and a beautiful garden area. Check out the pics below:

Delectable dinner - delish burger and jalapeno fries followed by decadent dessert and coffee. Sorry no pics of dessert, we literally devoured it upon its arrival. This is why - ricotta donuts with raspberry, chocolate & caramel dipping sauces, drunken brownie with a robust bourbon-ish cream sauce, and strawberry cheesecake shortcake. Yeah.

These are my darling friends, Pauline & Ellen! We had such a fun time filled with love & laughs, the perfect combo!

Pic of me outside of the restaurant after dinner. Good thing this leopard/floral romper was loose cuz my tummy sure was full!

 After dinner we perused through the trendy streets of Soho and came across this swanky jewelry boutique off of West Broadway.

Yes, please. :-)

I tell ya, everything about this West Broadway neighborhood is very fufu-lala. Check out this showy furniture showroom below. And, furniture shopping at 9:30pm? Sure, no problem. 

Yeah, so like this is the automatic "blogger mode" pose I've acquired from taking SO MANY pics for my blog. I mean, just point a camera at me and this is what happens, seriously. Don't believe me? Check the first full length pic at the beginning of this post. SMH

Blazer & studded belt: Express

Romper: Conway

Necklace: Charlotte Russe

Boho on the scene!

 On my day off, I went to visit my mom in the "BX" Baby! And yeah my last name is Lopez, and yeah, I'm from the Bronx, but I'm not from the Block if ya know what I mean. Wait, I don't even know what I mean, I'm just a sucka for word play.  Anyway, check out my Boho girl whirl. See, a sucka for word play.

 The Boho look is one of my faves. It's easy, fun & relaxed - what any day off should be!

Dress: Express

Necklace: Gift

Purse: Vintage

No big deal. Just me chillin like an ex-villain showin off some Boho mojo.

What trend gives activates your "mojo"? Tell me in the comments below! 

XOXO,

Monica

Statement Necklace Challenge!

Hey Guys,

Since I had so much fun linking up with Marionberry Style for her pattern mixing challenge last month, I thought I'd join in on the fun this month too! Her Statement Necklace Challenge was right up my alley. I mean, I've been head over heels happy about great statement piece since I was a kid. I used to spend hours playing dress up with all of my mother's chunky stone necklaces and layered pearl necklaces. So, instead of wearing one of my own statement pieces, I thought it would be fitting to raid my mom's jewelry cabinet! And check out the gem of a necklace I found!

This earth colored, turquoise beauty instantly caught my attention. I usually associate turquoise with spring/summer looks, but mixed with the brown and blue hues, I can definitely see myself rocking this as a fall piece. But, as it turns out, my mom is also very fond of this necklace, so it is not mine to rock this fall. :( In fact, she is only lending this to me for this post and I have to return it to her after! Hilarious! I may have to pull out the old "daughter charm" and see if she'll let me keep it! LoL

Thanks again Marion for a fun, creative challenge!

XOXO

Monica

Mint Green, Polka Dot Peplum, Bridal Shower & More!

Hey Everyone!

I'm a very strong believer in celebrating the people you love. And, recently I was able to celebrate one of my dear friends at her beautiful bridal shower! For the occasion, I paired a mint green form fitting skirt & a polka dot peplum and added stone/nude pumps, a mint purse & accessories. Check out the look below!

The combination of the mint skirt and polka dot peplum made me feel ultra feminine.

Sometimes I cringe when I post my posey poses. This was one of those times. LoL

Goofy giggles? Yeah,that's more like it!

Top, skirt, necklace & purse - Charlotte Russe (what can I say, they had a super sale!)

Shoes: DSW

Awwwwwwww.......

Just look at me and my darling, dear friend Gina at her shower! I just love this gal! We've known each other for about a decade and have been through the brunt of our lives together. Very cool that she is getting married to an amazing man & that she is so abundantly blessed. She also has great fashion sense and is a super savvy shopper. Check out & follow her Facebook page Gina & Ko!

 They say the devil is in the Details, but I say it's Jesus in the Details. The amount of time, thought and care that went into putting together this decadent candy bar had to be inspired by something good. :-)

Cake, chocolate, lollipops, gumballs, caramels - oh friggin my!

And check out the fresh centerpiece bouquet with pearls that was at every table (upper left corner).

After the shower, I spent some time with my oldest, dearest friend and her niece who is pictured below. This beautiful little buttercup just did not want to open her eyes for these pictures!

 So I begged, pleaded and even tried to open her eyes myself but NOTHING!

Until FINALLY, her eyes were opened, and I was so pleased, I gave her a big squeeze!

Is it just me, or do I sound like a children's book in my captions above the kiddie pics? LoL

OMG, now look at what I posted below. It's this kind of amazing, kind of horrifying pic of me and my original BFF that she dug up. It was taken at a movie theater photo booth and I was like 14 years old. We confidently sported these futuristic sunglasses on our heads and did not care that it was night out! We got the metallic futuristic inspiration from the Puff Daddy/Mase/Biggie Video Mo' Money, Mo' Problems. LOL!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO,

Monica

OOTDs featuring New York City Style, West Village Wanderings and Cuban Cuisine!

Hey Lovelies,

I'm like so behind on my posts! I'm eager to share some of my OOTD's and fun moments with you guys, so check out some recent looks from a couple of my recent city adventures!

Stylin in the Street

Hello blue, green & yellow! My friend and I were fooling around after work one Saturday night and snapped some fun shots in Midtown in the 34th Street area.

It's me and the taxis! I betta move out the way! One thing about NYC taxis, they will run you over and honk after. LoL, no seriously.

Blurry shot, but I thought it was a fun one! Boy, I'd make one awkward Rockette!

Oh hey, it's just me posing in front of a random office building. I thought these pics were pretty cool except for the fact that I couldn't remove my flash eye from them! SMH 

Creds:
Pants: Express
Peplum Top: Charlotte Russe
Neckalce: Ebay (I seriously love Ebay!)


West Village Wanderings

My dad and I took off last Friday and spent the day wandering the West Village. We posed for pics, ate at a quaint (yet delicious) Cuban spot on Christopher Street & indulged at a delightful gelato spot on Bleeker Street.

Posing in the Street. 

I opted for a comfy casual outfit for our day out, a side braid & a straw fedora for some shade.

Pics of the amazing Cuban cuisine & gelato. We dined at Havana's on Christopher Street. For apps, we had beef empanadas & shrimp stuffed plantains. My dad ordered the paella and I ordered the pernil (pork) with yuca and rice & beans.  We topped off this decadent meal with pistachio and coffee gelato from L'Arte fel Gelato on Bleeker Street. 

Check out the cool cultural wall art at Havana's on Christopher Street!

*Overall, it was a great day!*

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

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

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

Today, think on this!

Hey Beauties,


I'm making a conscious effort each day to think on good things, even when it hurts to produce a positive thought. And, what's more encouraging than thinking about God's love for us? Lately, my pastor has been teaching on God's unfailing love for us and it has really helped me in just about every situation. I have to admit, there are days when I wake up in a "blah" mood and it seems like when I'm in this kind of mood, things don't go my way and it causes me to be easily irritated, overwhelmed or frustrated. When I find myself feeling those things, I am faced with a decision - either stay in a pissy mood or think on and speak of God's love for me! And, when I choose the latter, life is easier! I'm not so easily moved by things, big or small. I am building up my faith in God's love for me daily. So, when challenges come, I've learned to say, "everything is going to be okay because God loves me. He is on my side and He won't leave me or forsake me." Talk about stirring up security and confidence! Well, God loves each and every one of us, so give it a try and think about His love for you daily.


With Love,
Moni 

Good Morning Surprise!

Hey Lovelies,

This morning I was pleasantly surprised my beautiful husband popping up at my job! He actually came to retrieve his phone which was left in my purse, but it was still a great surprise to see him walk into my office unexpectedly. I'm just so grateful to God for my marriage and the relationship I now have with my husband. We've been married almost 6 years and it has NOT been easy.  There were really rocky roads in our path, but because of the love of God and our obedience to His Word, we have a much better marriage now. God is faithful and His Word works. Whenever I'm in a complain-y sort of mood and get frustrated over the little things, I always remind myself of how my life and marriage used to be and how they are now, and that usually gives me the right dose of "gratitude" I need to snap out of a negative attitude. Change doesn't always happen overnight, but I'm trying to enjoy the process of progress! 

Hope you enjoyed the share!

Lovingly,

Moni

“Yes, You do Only Live Once, and #YOLO Will Outlive Us All”

By Monica Lopez

At this point, nearly all social media fans are familiar with the phrase YOLO (you only live once) being added to just about any and every kind of statement made on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. YOLO has swarmed the social media community since its mention in the 2011 Drake song, The Motto. 

And yeah, while we get the message - this is the one life we have, so let’s live it up – and maybe even agree with it, but when will the YOLO phenomenon end?  People are posting all sorts of crude, and ridiculous comments via social media while hashtagging YOLO at the end as a way of adding humor and justification to their comments. And while some comments left by YOLO-ites can be tongue in cheek and make you chuckle, too many people are using YOLO to promote, celebrate and support reckless behavior with the mentality, “screw it, you only live once.” 

The UnProm: Ditch Prom for Cancun? Why Not?

by Monica Lopez

Now that Prom Season is well underway, I’m reminded of my own high school soirée, which like many things high school, I ditched. Okay, so I’m not going to make some feeble attempt at pretending I was just this cool rebel type chick who didn’t care about prom. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Like a lot of girls, going to prom revolved around finding a date, and for me, it had to be the right date. Now, by senior year all of my crushes had either graduated, were all wifed up, or were somewhat freaked out by my disastrous attempts at getting their attention which included varying degrees of stalking. Needless to say, I had to look outside of school for my prom date.

And this made sense since the majority of my senior year's extracurricular activities revolved around a boy named Jason. Unlike the others, he was not just the boy of the moment. He was THE boy. The one I loved in my head. The one my days, nights, outfits, plans and chillin spots revolved around. I would hang out in his neighborhood directly after school day in and day out scoping streets for his signature orange Mecca t-shirt (orange was his favorite color). And on the best days of my teenage life, I would find him and his beautiful head of long dark hair bopping to Fat Joe/Big Pun songs with his boys. Now, I don’t want to make this seem like it was all one sided. Although I probably never ran through his mind as the girl who always had the fresh airbrushed nails, the best platform shoes, and who smelled like summer gardenias, he was definitely into the goods. So, we dated. Well, sorta.

Skinny Cow / Dirty Dancing Anniversary Screening Event in NYC!

Fun Times @ Skinny Cow / Dirty Dancing Anniversary Screening Event on May 22nd in NYC !

Oh, the memories, the moments, the romance, the dancing!  Dirty Dancing is and has always been my #1 chick flick. I mean, it's not just Swayze's crazy swagger (although it certainly helps). It's always been about Baby and how relatable she is to me and so many other girls. She's not the hottest, the boldest, the baddest or the best, but her sweet sincerity, innocence and vulnerability draw you in.  In many ways, Baby goes through what every girl goes through at some point in her life. She's on the cusp of womanhood, dealing with insecurity, jealousy, disappointment, and experiencing her monumental first love. We can appreciate her evolution throughout the film, from when she was first introduced to us as an awkward, shy, curious and conservative girl to her asserting herself as a confident, bold, hot dancing queen. Having all of this take place to the sweet & sultry soundtrack of classic oldies is perfection. It was an honor to celebrate this milestone 25th anniversary screening in NYC with Jennifer Grey and an audience of 95% women. Each scene flooded my mind with memories of my own metamorphosis from shy girl to confident woman - the highs, lows & romantic rendezvous. Through it all, Dirty Dancing has and always will remain a timeless staple.