The Essentials: September 2016

You guys... I just had an entire post written up only for my fingers to slip up and hit the delete button. It was legit on the verge of going live with the click of a button until... UGHHHH. Anyway, let me try to the best of my ability to rewrite and not linger on the past for too long.

This month, the common theme amongst all my favorites tend to be products that will free up time when it comes to glamming up or simplify my life in some form. Also, just noticed a lot of my faves tend to fall into the pink or purple color scheme - how cute!

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Hair: Terax Daily Reparative Conditioner has become my newest lifesaver. As you know, my hair has gone an underground transformation to it's newest state of almost platinum blonde. This conditioner has turned my brittle dry strands into stronger, softer, shinier tresses with use. It works by depositing Keratin protein only to where the strand is damaged which is a godsend for us fake blonds. Another favorite is Matrix's Miracle Creator. It has 20 beauty benefits such as: smooths cuticles, fights frizz, prevent split ends, and loads other. It's safe to say these two products have earned their spot on my bathroom shelves.

Face: Ever go shopping at an Ulta and just fill up your basket with no real goal in sight except to spend money. Well, that was me a few weeks ago except I discovered this gem of a contour stick so good I decided to store my Anastasia Contour Kit. It's called NYX Wonder Stick - it makes contouring so seamless and the formula is so easy to build + blend. It's become a part of my everyday routine so much so, I can't imagine life without it. The next honorable mention goes to Glossier's Soothing Face Mist. This is the holy grail of face mists! If you need a 411 on why you should include one in your routine check out this post. But in the essence of time know that this works great to soothe sunburns, start off your AM skin layering routine, or set your makeup for the day ahead.

Body: This slot goes to two of my favorite body exfoliators. The first one coming from Completely Bare, a company (and once salon) known for being the best at baring New York residents. I never visited their salon personally but am obsessed with their Bikini Bump Blaster. It's amazing for fighting ingrown hairs and making skin feel oh-so-smooth after a wax. The next comes from Molton Brown (I adore everything from this brand). Their Comforting Body Polishers, particularly in Ylang-Ylang, invigorates my skin with its scent and the tiny grains buff away dead skin while turning the ordinary shower into an oasis. Definitely worth every cent and always at the top of my wishlist when I run out.

Misc: This product isn't for everyone unless you're a dog or a dog lover haha. Dog-owners understand how hard it is to find the perfect tool, treat, or toy that will help keep teeth clean. It's taken me almost nine years but I finally found something that works great on Miles' teeth. It's called Petsmile and has an exclusive Calprox formula that works by attacking plaque caused by bacteria, acid, food, and saliva without using a toothbrush. You can apply it directly to teeth using one of the applicators it comes with or with a toothbrush. Some owners even go as far as spreading the toothpaste on their dog's favorite chew toy or treat. It's safe to use and approved by Veterinary Oral Health Council.

Could not finish this blog post without mentioning the Lookbooker app. The app can be described as the OpenTable for grooming and glamming and works to connect salons to guests. It has honestly made it easier to discover new salons or spas and conveniently book and pay them. I am a repeat offender of using this weekly and love it! If this is your first time hearing of it or if you've always wanted to give you a try use promo code called STYLEBORO for $15 off your first appointment (that’s like a free manicure!).

Shop my essentials below:
one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen // fourteen // fifteen

TSB: August Rack Up

August - my first month back to blogging could be described as a chaotic. In the best and worst possible way. I felt disconnected when I attended blogger events and had to relearn how to maintain my work, blog, and life balance. It wasn't easy, but it felt pretty good once things started to fall into place.

This month, I had a lot of fun with footwear. Heels, sneakers, wedges - I wore them all and sought out different styles. Jewelry was definitely kept to a minimum since it's a tad difficult to clasp things at the moment. Although, I can't purchase much due to my ever-increasing heap of medical bills I did pin a few aspirational pairs. You know... for when I can finally afford them.

OH! And almost forgot to mention - I got featured by Buzzfeed! It was pretty surreal and such an awesome moment!

See the post here.

See the post here.

Dress: c/o Banana Republic  Sandals: Madewell  ClutchOra Delphine  Necklace: Sterling Forever  Rings: Assorted  LipglossPlumsup via Soap & Glory

See the post here.

See the post here.

Dress: c/o W by Worth  Boots: Harley-Davidson  Backpack: LANY  Rings: Assorted Watch: Q&Q SmileSolar Lipgloss: 22 via Kylie Cosmetics  Hair Transformation: Chereen from Fox & Jane

See the post here.

See the post here.

Shirt: Aritzia  Shorts: Zara (similar here)  Sneakers: Rocket Dog  Necklace: Athra Luxe  Rings: Assorted  Bracelet: Folli Follie  Lip Stain: Dahlia via Skinn  Hair Transformation: Chereen from Fox & Jane

See the post here.

See the post here.

DressRamy Brook  HeelsBanana Republic  ClutchOra Delphine  Necklace: La Soula  Rings: Assorted  Bracelet: Old (similar one here)  Liquid Lipstick: 22 via Kylie Cosmetics

See the post here.

See the post here.

Dress: boohoo.com (similar)  Pants: Banana Republic (similar)  SneakersAdidas  Clutch: Miu Miu  Necklace: Ettika  Rings: Assorted  Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane  Sunglasses: The Row  Lipgloss: My Jam via Colourpop

See the post here.

See the post here.

Dress: Pixie Market (similar)  Sneakers: Novesta  Purse: Patricia Nash (similar)  Necklace: My Own  Rings: Assorted  Bracelet: Capwell+Co  Wine ToteHappy Town Hawaii  LipglossCoral Sands via L'Oreal

See the post here.

See the post here.

Top: Outdoor Voices  Pants: Outdoor Voices  Sports Bra: Sweaty Betty  Tote: Baggu  Sneakers: Brooks  Lipgloss: Coral Sands via L'Oreal  Hair ProductsPerk Up Dry ShampooUn.Done Texture Spray via Amika

See the Buzzfeed article here!

See the Buzzfeed article here!

Top: Rebdolls  PantsJ. Crew  Necklaces: Custom + Athra Luxe  Clutch: Pily Q  Heels: Banana Republic  Lipgloss: 22 via Kylie Cosmetics

Loved every single look - it definitely leaned more towards my romantic side which was fun to explore. How was your August - stylewise and such?

Photos by Lydia Hudgens and Lauren Adriance.

Never Miss a Morning Workout Again

Starting my summer with a cast on my wrist was a recipe for cabin fever. Not to mention my training runs were also set to start around the same time. I was going stir crazy, staying tucked away inside.

But every moment has an expiration date. And my moment of insanity expired as soon as that cast came off (and I got over my muscle atrophy shock).

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My surgeon warned me that I wouldn't be as strong as I once was and to take it easy on the long runs. So I tried... For about 14 hours. It felt so good to run off the stress and enter my familiar place of solitude. I gave my legs a well deserved North Brooklyn tour too.

Running will always be my first love but with the marathon up ahead it needed to be supplemented with strength training. I did after all take a hiatus on living.

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For me, I've supplemented my runs with an assortment of classes on Classpass. Check out their plans here.

One of the things I love most about using Classpass is being able to find a workout that works for my time. That usually means AM workouts before heading into my job, an on-the-fly lunch sweat, or later than usual night classes. Lately, it's been crack of dawn AM classes.

Not the easiest to get up for but I rounded up a few tips below that make it easier for me and could potentially work for you too!

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1. Prep Your Clothes
When it's that early, the last thing you want to do is fumble around your room looking for your yoga pants and heels for your workday. Plan it out the night before and pack it up. I usually have it all packed in a gym bag and leave it by the door.

Here are a few gym bags I'm loving:

2. Map It Out
If you're venturing out to a new studio make sure you know how to get there and how long the commute will take you. This key for my fellow subway riders. Once you figured that out, plan to leave 15 minutes earlier. It'll give your leeway and the time to scope out the new studio.

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3. Take What You Need
Based on the studio's amenities you could either do with or without the dry shampoo, body wipes, or even deodorant. Classpass will let you know what amenities the studio will have but if you really want to get the full details - check Yelp or their website. I always do and it saves me from carrying too much.

In case you're wondering what I do bring, it tends to consist of Amika's travel kit (dry shampoo is a must for curls), my bare make minimums (BB cream, brow pencil, mascara, and a bronzer/blush duo), and deodorant.

Shop my gym bag essentials here:

4. Don't Forget to Eat
This. It's so easy to skip this part especially when rushing but try not to since your body does need sustenance before any hearty sweat session. The night before I fill up my water bottle and pack it along with a post-workout granola bar. Are you starting to see a trend yet? For AM fuel I prep overnight oats in a mason jar which are easy to eat on the go.

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5. Shower Check
Nothing can ruin an exhilarating sweat session than having to pay for towels, or worse, get stuck waiting in line for the single shower. Again, check on yelp for the studio's shower situation. If it's not looking good book your class at different studio or plan on getting there early so you can be one of the first on their shower signup sheet.

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Top: Outdoor Voices  Pants: Outdoor Voices  Sports Bra: Sweaty Betty  Tote: Baggu  Sneakers: Brooks  Lipgloss: Coral Sands via L'Oreal  Hair Products: Perk Up Dry Shampoo + Un.Done Texture Spray via Amika

After a week of doing strictly morning classes, I felt more energized. And with each class I made sure to avoid that early morning dash by following my tips listed above. Hopefully, I've inspired a few of you to sweat it out in the AM. It's really not that bad once you get into the swing of it. Pinky promise.

Photos by Lauren Adriance.

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