An Open Letter to Tourists

Dear tourists,

How exciting! You are coming to visit the greatest city in the world - New York! You're going to see the Statue of Liberty, see all the lights in Times Square, check out a Broadway play and try a piece of pizza.

GIVEAWAY!: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Stickers

Congrats to Nanne of My Favorite Things for winning!

You know how much I love my Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Stickers! In my opinion they really are the best nail stickers available out there. They are a little pricey at $10 so I wanted to give you the opportunity to try them out.

FBFF: Outfit Planning

                                                                                      Source: s3.amazonaws.com via Amy on Pinterest

1. How do you go about picking your outfit for the day? (Do you lay stuff out the night before? Do you plan a whole week's worth of looks Sunday night? Do you wing it every morning?)
Oh man, there's so many ways. I don't typically stick to one. If it's an interview or a networking event, I will lay my outfit out. Most days I just wing it and gauge what kind of mood I'm in. Perhaps I'm feeling more edgy while another day I'll feel more preppy. This may sound weird but sometimes I've even dreamt up my outfit so the next day I know what I want to wear. My brain never shuts off!

Going Crazy For Coral!

Lately I have gone a little coral crazy with nail polish. While picking up a few necessities at my local Duane Reade, I spotted this nail polish and had to have it! It's Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear nail color in "Coral Reef" and it cost $3.49. It was a little pricey but thankfully I love the color! It's a little pinker in person but I much prefer it to the darkness of Sephora + Pantone's Tangerine Tango collection.

Trend I'm Currently Craving: Inside Out Sweaters

I'm not sure where this craving is coming from, perhaps I am having some Flashdance nostalgia (or perhaps because we are having unseasonably cold spring here in New York) but I really am loving the look of an inside out or reversed sweater. You may be thinking, "But Kim, you could just wear a sweater you already own inside out!" True; however; most of the tags would be hanging out and I don't think it looks as chic as a "faux" inside out sweater. I think it's a fresh update to boring pullover sweaters that can be dressed up or down.

Missed Coachella? Get Your Summer Music Festival Looks From ASOS

                                                                                     Source: pinterest.com via Oscar on Pinterest

Coachella may have come and passed but it's just the beginning of an awesome summer of music festivals. Get out your cut-off jean shorts and summer dresses - it's time to hit the road! ASOS has everything you need to help create your look and the best part - enjoy free shipping on all orders, every day! Here are two looks for the upcoming events:

My New Haircut!

Yesterday I went to my local Dramatics salon to get a trim because my hair just felt like deadweight. Also, my winter bangs had grown out so they were really heavy and in my eyes. I told my stylist I wanted my hair to feel lighter. She ended up "spring cleaning" my hair,  I was a little horrified when I saw all the hair on the floor but I love it! It's so lightweight, has great movement and also low maintenance (which is my top priority!). Plus when my bangs grow out, I can always refer to the 7 ways to wear them.

Exclusive Zoya Blogger Collection from Birchbox

Zoya and Birchbox have collaborated to create custom limited edition polishes inspired by top beauty bloggers. Of course I couldn't resist!

My Summer Beauty Inspiration

Model Cintia Dicker who is a bombshell AND has freckles!

I've decided that my summer makeup look is going to look something like this. Too often I hide my freckles and I think I need to show them off more. So often when I see a girl with flawless skin and ask "what's your secret?" her response is either NO makeup EVER or barely ever. Gah! I'm still young so I should enjoy my healthy skin while it lasts so in an attempt to let my skin breathe during the warm months (it's already hit 80 degrees here in NYC!), I'm going to keep my makeup to a minimum and go as bare as possible. I often don't wear makeup on the weekends or when I know I'm not going to run into anyone. The challenge is going to be when going to events and nights outs when I like to go bold.

Happy Earth Day!

                                                 Source: Uploaded by user via Mary on Pinterest

Happy Earth Day! I agree with the following image that while it's nice to have Earth Month and Earth day... we really should be taking care of our planet EVERY day. We all can do our part in minimizing our carbon footprint. Being "green" used to be such a fashion statement but now it's become more accepted in society with more and more retail stores creating eco-friendly collections like H&M. Here are some ways to go green:

Movie Review: "Unraveled" A Documentary About Marc Dreier

Image via

I've always had a curious mind and always pondered why people do what they do. During the financial collapse of 2009 many frauds came to light such as Bernie Madoff. "Unraveled" is a documentary that takes you inside the mind of a white collar criminal. The subject is Marc Dreier who's $400 million ponzi scheme was overshadowed by Madoff who was convicted just several days before him. I finally was able to see it in New York last night and really enjoyed it.

Adding a Pop of Color

Blazer: Nordstrom; Skinny jeans: Ann Taylor Loft (similar here); Clutch: R&Em; Cluster Pendant Necklace: The Limited; Stackable rings: The Limited; Gorjana bracelet; Oxfords: Cole Haan via Zappos

During my trip to California, my mom and I did some shopping. One stop was Nordstrom's which surprisingly had great sales and adorable pieces like this blazer! I fell in love with it. It's a lightweight linen/cotton blend that you can throw on to add a pop of color to your outfit. I wore this outfit to NY Tech Day. Both of The Limited jewelry pieces I'm wearing are currently on sale (thanks The Limerick Lane for the heads up!).

Sephora + Pantone Tangerine Tango Nail Polish Swatches

When Sephora was offering a 15% discount for it's VIB members, I knew exactly what I wanted to order! I was also lucky enough to still have a gift card left over from Christmas to help me purchase the Sephora + Pantone Universe's Color of the Year Nail Enamel Set, which includes 4 nail polishes for $24. The packaging is so beautiful!

B3 Blogging Workshop With Single Edition

I wanted to let you know about an upcoming blogging workshop here in New York City. Single Edition Media has teamed up with Lord & Taylor for this full day event designed to help you take your blog to the next level. The schedule is as following:

My Julep Maven April Mystery Box

After voting on Facebook, Julep offered an April mystery box! I couldn't help myself so of course  I signed up. They continued with the spring theme with pink and green wrapping.

Jillian Michaels and Gaiam TV Are Going to Get My Butt in Shape!

While most women enjoy when the weather warms up, we also dread it because that means - bathing suit season! No more hiding under our heavy winter clothes... it's time to get our butts in shape! I am especially guilty of this. I honestly find working out boring and don't want to pay for a gym membership. I always say how I can just make NYC my gym for free; however, I haven't fully taken advantage of my "gym membership." That's where Jillian Michaels, trainer to the stars and NBC's show The Biggest Loser, and her latest workout project - Gaiam TV come in!

IFB's #UltraBookStyle Fashion Show

Jeannine looked fresh and gorgeous in neon

Last Wednesday I attended IFB's first ever blogger fashion runway show at the Metropolitan Pavilion. There were 15 bloggers who modeled: Jessie of Style and Pepper, Dani of We Wore What, Christina of NYC Pretty, Eileen of Miss Who Ever You Are, Julia of Fashion Pulse Daily, Laura of On the Racks, Gabi of Gabi Fresh, Carolyn of The Hsu Closet, Caroline of Sweet Caroline in the City, Samantha of Fashion Indie, Jenni of I Spy DIY, Delmy of Fashion Bananas, Ann of Holier Than Now, Christina of Pro Fresh Style, and Jinna of Grease and Glamour.

Guest Post: 4 Smart Beauty Travel Tips for Fashionistas by Blush and Beakers

Source: dearinspirationblog.blogspot.com via Katya on Pinterest

Hi, I'm Laura of Blush and Beakers (formerly LOL Beauty). I cover all things beauty and science. Here are my 4 smart beauty travel tips for fashionistas:

Guest Post: 7 Summer Must-Haves by Mommy Posh

Hi, I'm Gina Pomponio the Founding Editor of Mommy Posh, a mom blog about getting-and-staying fabulous during motherhood. I live in New York City with her toddler son and husband. As a stay at home mom, I continue to indulge in my favorite pastimes, with weekly manis and pedis, teaching Zumba classes, being an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot, and most importantly spending time with my family. For up to date beauty and fashion tips, follow me on Twitter: @Mommyposh.

Guest Post: Your Little Secret to Stylish Travel by Dean Street Society

Hello loves! I’m Hilary from Dean Street Society where I work as a personal stylist helping “real people with real budgets” look like the best version of themselves, in the simplest way possible. And that is precisely what I our goal should be when traveling like Miss Kimberlee! You want to be light & concise so you’re not schlepping your life around, but you also want to dress for brilliant & vibrant photos to capture the memories. My #1 trick to pulling that off? Accessories.

Guest Post: 4 Budget Friendly Travel Tips by Shoestring Fashion

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Kae on Pinterest

Hi there! It's Lisa from Shoestring Fashion filling in for Kimberlee. Kimberlee asked me to talk about budget friendly travel tips today. I am by no means a budget travel "expert" but I am someone who LOVES to travel and lives on a budget so I hope you will find these budget travel tips useful.

Guest Post: Spring's Must Buys by Some Kind of Style

via Motolio

I'm Camilla of Some Kind of Style. You can see me reporting live from International Fashion Weeks, Trade Fairs and all other stylish events and I always love to work and collaborate with various kinds of creatives. Exploring new and upcoming artists in the fashion, art, photography and other artistic crafts areas and showcasing them via my blog is a passion of mine.

Guest Post: Traveling Light Looking a Million Bucks by Mode Plus

Source: laurenconrad.com via Kacy on Pinterest

My name is Nefferth and I'm a Caribbean born fashion lover living in the Netherlands. I've been blogging about my personal style since 2010 on my blog Mode Plus.

Guest Post: Weekend Away Packing Essentials by Modly Chic

Source: weheartit.com via SommerImKopf on Pinterest

I don't think of myself as a travel expert. I haven't been out of the country in years, although I did travel a lot in high school and college. Now, instead of long jaunts to exotic places I often take short weekend trips with friends. Apparently I do this more than the average young professional - who would have thought? For instance, this coming weekend I have a trip to  Washington, DC planned last month I was in Stowe, VT.

Taking a Little Trip

Source: Uploaded by user via Maureen on Pinterest

Today I'm flying to California to have a post Easter celebration with my family. It's a trip I take quite frequently so it's certainly no vacation. But hopefully I will be able to do some relaxing. Apparently there's lots on the agenda including a trip to Disneyland.

My First Little Black Bag

Delivery!

There's a new shopping site called Little Black Bag where for $49.95 you can select a designer handbag from your gallery then you will also receive an accessory and a beauty product. They send you a preview of the products and you can swap with someone if you don't wish to receive them so there is some flexibility. Their slogan "every girl needs a little black bag" is so true but doesn't mean all the bags are black. I decided to give it a try!

Happy D.E.A.R. Day!

Today is National D.E.A.R Day in honor of author Beverly Cleary's birthday. As a book nerd, I'm excited about this holiday! I unfortunately haven't had as much time to read as I would like, my pile of "soon to read" is growing quite large. However, for today I shall set aside at least 30 minutes to read since I miss it and since it's a special day. 

A Celebration of Bob Marley's Fashion Legacy

Last night I joined Midtown Girl and several other bloggers for a celebration of Bob Marley's fashion legacy. We got to watch a preview of "Marley: The Definitive Story" a documentary about the icon, which will be in limited released on April 20th in theaters as well as available on Video on Demand.

10 Super Foods For Your Hair

I received a special issue of InStyle Hair which included this terrific article about eating your way to healthier hair. Your hair requires a steady dose of protein, vitamins, minerals and oils to keep it looking it's best. They key to shinier locks can be found at your local super market. The 10 super foods for healthier hair are:

My April Birchbox

The theme of Birchbox this month is "natural wonders" because it's Earth Month. All the products were all natural or eco-friendly. The tissue paper was even green! I'm always interested in trying more environmentally products so I'm excited about this box. Apparently they also launched an online magazine.

TOMS Day Without Shoes

Follow me on Instagram - Kimberleevdw!

On April 10th, TOMS encourages people all around the world to go One Day Without Shoes. Why? To spread awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life by taking off our own. Millions of children live without proper footwear, exposing them to injury and disease every day. I did it last year and happy to participate again!

What I Wore for Easter

Striped sweater: Ann Taylor Loft; Skinny jeans: H&M; Ballet flats: Target; Necklace: H&M; Ring: Ann Taylor Loft; Easter egg nails

This Easter, I joined my brother and some of his friends in Brooklyn (gasp!) for a potluck. I hardly ever leave the island. Since it was a casual affair, I kept the outfit casual. This Ann Taylor Loft sweater was just $20 (marked down 30%!). You may also notice it was the sweater I had to hand wash. LOFT really does have some great sales. I thought that my favorite H&M necklace would really pop against the neon yellow stripes. You can definitely see that I'm not a one-time wearer.

How to Hand Wash Clothes

As you get older, you have to become more responsible and start doing your own chores like doing laundry. You also soon realize there's dry clean only and hand wash only clothes. Hand washing clothes is quite the process that I almost prefer just paying someone to dry clean them. I never really knew the true technique to hand washing clothes until I did some research. I thought I'd pass my knowledge along:

5 Benefits of Vitamin C For Your Skin

We all hear beauty tips and secrets but one of the best just might be in your vitamins. Did you know that Vitamin C keeps skin healthy and reduces wrinkles? You can help keep your skin healthy and supple making sure you get enough of this super vitamin! Here are 5 benefits:

My Causal Weekend Outfit

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft; Tank top: Old Navy; Jeans: H&M; Boots: Victoria's Secret; Studded handbag: Zappos (similar here, similar here); Bullet necklace: handmade gift

So this is what Kim looks like on the weekend. This is what you could call my "uniform": jeans, a tee, comfortable shoes, and something studded. Rocking the top knot bun of course - it's such a chic way to wear hair you haven't washed in days. I also wanted to show off this sweater I got from Ann Taylor Loft for just $12! I like that it's a little sheer so I can pair it with a bright top underneath for a pop of color.

GUAM Beauty Mud Pop Up Shop Event

I attended the GUAM US launch event at the RS Pop Up Shop on Wednesday night. GUAM Beauty Mud is Europe’s best selling anti-cellulite beauty product that now has officially landed in the states!

FBFF: In Your Easter Bonnet

Easter Inspiration by kimberleevdw on polyvore.com

I will be spending Easter in New York this year. I'm flying out next week to visit my sister in California since it worked better for everyone's schedule. We'll be having faux Easter then. Easter means family and a delicious home cooked meal! One year my aunt (who does everything over the top) had a lamb butter so of course my family proceeded to chop the head off (lol!). 

Easter Egg Nails

When I think of Easter, I think of pastel colors. I loved the color combination of purple and yellow so I used Julep's "Renee" from my April box and "Blake" from my mystery Valentine's Day box.

My April Sample Society Box

Sample Society is on a roll! I enjoyed my first box and this month was also exceptional. All the samples were full or deluxe sizes. Between the 5 products, I'd definitely say I got my $15 worth. You also receive a $15 discount code to use towards purchasing any of the brands featured in your monthly box (not just the products featured).

Review: Simple Skincare

I had the chance to try two products by Simple skincare. I've been wanting to try their products since I have really sensitive skin and they pride themselves on never using harsh irritants. They use natural products, no perfumes, no dyes and believe "natural beauty comes from goodness." They were originally a UK brand but are making their way to the states and I couldn't be happier. Here are the two products I got to try:

Trend I'm Currently Craving: Tribal

This weekend I watched a documentary "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" on Netflix about the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. When they first bursted out on to the scene they were rocking an Afro-centric look along with Jungle Brothers, de la Soul, Queen Latifah and Black Sheep. Their personal style has evolved since but I definitely think their '90s look has influenced today's trends, such as tribal print, color blocking, etc. Here are some pieces I'm craving:

My April Julep Maven Box

It looks like an Easter basket!

Another month, another Julep Maven box! For those who don't know, a Julep Maven is program where you have access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products - delivered right to your doorstep, just like the beauty editors do for $19.99 a month. You also have access to these trends and products before anyone else. This month I received two nail colors that are still on pre-order. I received about $50 worth of products so I feel like I got my money's worth.