Reviews #4

Hi friends! I almost didn’t write a blog post for this week because I’m so bad at coming up with titles for them. I thought I could keep up with the cutesy, rhyming titles, but I realize I’m a terrible rhymer and can’t come up with that many variations of ways to say the same things. You probably have already realized by now that I do the same thing every week with SLIGHT changes. Oh well, rant over. I’ll come up with a better alternative eventually. This week, I finished and started a new book, ate at a couple of fantastic NYC spots, tried a new nail salon, shopped, and got another week of the Rachael’s Good Eats workout guide done. I’m also starting to dabble a bit in manifestation, but we’ll dive into that next week.

IMG_3930.jpg

In my last blog post, I mentioned I would share all the fall beauty and clothing items I’ve purchased recently. Since I am by no means that much of an influencer, I will not take pictures in or with everything I bought. So, I’m just going to list out the items, link them, and tell you a bit about them.

  • Zara knit top - size M - got the beige, such a cute and comfy basic for fall

  • Zara cream jeans - size 0 - high waisted, baggy fit, perfect for day or night fits

  • Zara black dress - size S - closet staple, form-fitting and flattering

  • Zara babydoll dress - size XS - great fall color but very light material, probably won’t wear in NYC fall but will wear in FL fall (can’t find the link)

  • Zara ripped jeans - jeans that broke the internet, still waiting to get these in the mail

  • Nasty Gal knit set - size S - SKIMS dupe, softest PJ set I’ve ever worn

  • Nasty Gal gold chain necklace - looks expensive and is ridiculously cheap

  • Nasty Gal satin top - size 0 - perfect for all seasons, classy, elevated, and still trendy

  • Alo Yoga bra - size S - looks like a top, full coverage, medium support

  • Alo Yoga biker shorts - size S - on the longer side, sporty material 

  • Nike AF1s - 5.5Y - buy the kid-size to save $, these are my favorite shoes of all time

  • Dior foundation - light feel and medium coverage

  • Summer Fridays mask - works great as a primer, I bought the travel size

These purchases were made over the last month, so please don’t be too alarmed (although you probably should be). I wanted to wait until I’ve worn everything so I could give honest reviews!

I went to a new nail salon this week because I could book an appointment through ClassPass. Workout studios haven’t opened in many cities, so ClassPass cleverly started offering access to other amenities like cooking classes, massages, hair cuts, etc. For 20 credits, I booked a gel mani-pedi at Glosslab in the West Village. My aesthetician, Alexandra, did such a great job. She was thorough, meticulous, and also very friendly. The salon has also implemented COVID precautions by enforcing temperature checks, frequent use of hand sanitizer, and social distancing between all customers. If you have a local spot that offers excellent prices and services, I’d stick to it. But if you have ClassPass credits, I’d suggest going!

I finally finished reading American Royals this week. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned I was reading it simultaneously as I was reading Untamed. This book is truly a guilty pleasure. I gave you guys a bit of a review on it, but I’ll recap. It’s about a fictitious world in which a monarchy runs America. Every chapter follows the life of either the soon to be queen, the princess, the princess’ best friend, or the prince’s ex-girlfriend. Each woman has a different perspective on the plot and events being unfolded, offering a fun take on every aspect of the story. They all have romantic interests, insecurities, and unique personality traits. This book is truly straight out of the Young Adults section of your school library but SO FUN to read.

IMG_3929.jpg
IMG_3921.jpg

I dined out at a new restaurant and one of my staple spots this week. On Monday, I went to Double Zero with my dear friend Nur. Double Zero is a delicious, Italian cuisine inspired vegan spot on 4th street and 2nd ave. We ordered and shared the chopped salad, the bolognese pasta, and the artichoke pizza. Every dish was so good, but the chopped salad is honestly my favorite incredible. It has pieces of “pastrami”, cucumber, chickpeas, and a delicious dressing, aka all my favorite salad ingredients. I’d highly recommend going. They also have heat lamps for outdoor dining!

IMG_3925.jpg

Sebastian and I tried Lucien for the first time on Thursday night. It brought me back to our Paris days. We both started with the onion soup, which was terrific and the perfect sized appetizer. For mains, I got the shrimp cocktail, and he got the steak frites. I strategically ordered a smaller main because I knew he wouldn’t finish his meal (hehe). The outdoor seating is charming but small. The servers were also really kind and were of great help when choosing what to order. It’s a perfect date night spot.

Saturday marked the end of the second week of the Rachael’s Good Eats workout guide. If you haven’t checked out Rachael’s Instagram or her guide, do yourself a favor and do it. She is a fitness, health chef, and Instagram queen. I love recreating her recipes and taking into account her recommendations. I’m feeling stronger than ever after the week two challenge workout. I was DRIPPING sweat and am still so sore. Below are some of my post-workout looks and a picture of the paleo stuffed red peppers I made! The recipe is on her IG.

This blog post is very food heavy (lol), but I’m a foodie so bare with me. My go-to lunch lately has been a healthy grain and avocado bowl. The base is usually a variation of quinoa or rice or both. There’s always chickpeas, cucumber, avocado, and two hard-boiled eggs on top. Sometimes there’s carrots, onions, and tomatoes in there with lots of EBTB seasoning. I’d highly recommend trying this meal at home. Let me know if you do!

Love you guys. Hope you had a great Monday!