J&C in NYC

          New York City; What's not to love? There's food from all over the world, shopping for every budget, and entertainment in all forms. So whenever we get the chance, we take the short trip to the city and make a day of exploring and enjoying. And of course it's fun to put together a chic "New Yorker" ensemble and hold our own with the fashionistas that strut the streets. 

          

          Our most recent trip was in mid-February so it was cold and we needed to dress for warmth yet still be stylish. Here's a breakdown of how we did it:

               C wore a silky beige blouse with studded gold buttons and a pussybow, black skinny jeans, black knee high flat boots, a short black wool

                               coat, a taupe fur vest (outerwear courtesy of J), and a cream knit scarf.

               J wore blue-violet skinny jeans, a black open knit pullover sweater over a metallic gold t-shirt, a shoestring, chain, and spikes necklace, 

                              black wedge booties, and a grey + black tribal print BB Dakota wrap coat with a grey knit scarf.

          So as per usual, we did some serious shopping and hit the jackpot at a few of our favorite NYC stores like Forever 21, Amsterdam, and Mr. Joe's. From blouses and peplum tops to colored pants and jewelry, we definitely did a good job; We always shop around for the best deals and buy what we love for less.

          After a tiring day of shopping and picture taking, we found a little resto/bar called The Liberty NYC, which is now one of our favourite spots, ever. It's decor is the epitome of New York, with black and white photographs and portraits, dark hardwood floors, mirrors, and minimalist everything else. We sat down and were greeted by a super cool Australian waiter who didn't card us, which was great since C is definitely under the drinking age in the U.S. And since it was Happy Hour we ordered several of their signature Moscow Mules- which is a simple yet oh-so-refreshing cocktail of vodka, ginger ale, and lime. C ordered a Margarita Pizza and J had a turkey club masterpiece with fries cooked in duckfat that were divine. (So much so that we didn't get a picture of them in time. haha)...

          The moral of this story is: If you aren't already a fan of NYC, give the city a day and it'll change your mind. There's so much to see and do, and we haven't even cracked the surface. Until next time... <3.

The United States of Summer

          Remember the sun? Hot days and cool nights? Wearing shorts and sandals? I sure do. And even though I love layering and rocking my outerwear & boots, I miss those summery days too. Given the crazy weather and freezing temperatures here in the Northeast I figured now was a great time to share a few pictures from my vacation this summer and reminisce. My Route 66 roadtrip became a once-in-a-lifetime vacation and I loved driving through the country seeing different landscapes and landmarks only ever seen on TV or things I'd never even heard of. 

          My friend Kat and I got to experience all new things everyday, there was never a dull moment on our road trip; Whether it was intense weather (110+ ° temperatures, 70 mph dust storms, forest fires, etc.) crazy characters (old men with no teeth for example), amazing scenery & natural wonders (Umm the Grand Freakin' Canyon), or cool activities (a free Cake concert!, etc.) there was always something interesting just down the road.

Below are just a few shots from the stops we made along the way... from New Jersey to California and everywhere in between. <3

Walking the hills of San Francisco, California.

Taking in the view... The breathtaking Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Just lounging in the Redwood Empire...  Leggett, California

Hangin' with James Dean...  Braidwood, Illinois

Tinkertown Museum...  Sandia Park, New Mexico

The Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma 

Citygarden's urban oasis... St. Louis, Missouri

          For more details on any of my outfits or my trip in general feel free to message me on Twitter, Facebook, or our email fashiontakesmyheart@gmail.com. I wish I could share all of my 1500+ pics on here, but that might be a bit excessive. haha... They are gorgeous though so I'll probably have to devote another post to some nature shots soon. Keep an eye out for that one. ;-]

Beauty Products From South Asia

       
          While in South Asia the one thing everyone will experience is the heat. It's so hot there- a different heat than what we experience here in North America. The heat makes you tired, and even our feet got swollen from the humidity. Going for a nice massage, and a little bit of pampering helps so much! It's great too because it's super cheap, compared to North America.

          While in Tirunelveli, South India, we stayed with an aunt who's friend has a little salon there. We were able to get a nice foot massage and scrub and IT FELT GREAT! While at the salon we were introduced to some great products from a brand names Shahnaz Husain, and of course we bought them.

          We got the Majorca body cleansing soap, which has an amazing scent that is sure to wake one up, and the ShaClove and ShaBlem. The ShaClove is a cream to clear up pimple prone skin- apply it on your face then just wash it off after 20 minutes. The ShaBlem is a blemish cover cream; You just dab a bit of this pink paste on your pimple or bug bite scars, leave it on overnight, and wash it off in the morning. (It will eventually cause your blemishes to fade.)

          Another stop we made was to a place in South India called Mahabalipuram. We stayed at a beautiful resort there called the Radisson Temple Bay Resort. During our stay, my sister and I went for a Sweet and Spicy Full Body Scrub at the Serena Spa. {Man, when they say full body scrub, they mean FULL BODY SCRUB. But I really would rather not talk about that awkward moment.}

          Afterwards, we were able to buy the scrub used in our spa treatment. It's an exfoliating scrub that you should only use once a week and it smells so good. Unfortunately, these products are exclusive to India. But hey, if you ever visit that lovely exotic part of the world you should definitely check out these places and products!        

          The last product I purchases was in Sri Lanka. It's called Fair and Lovely, it's for those of us with not-so-light-skin. Since it helps lighten the skin, I use it where I get the most sun: My face. You just apply it twice a day, and hopefully after a few weeks your skin will look noticeably lighter. Lucky for you all, you can buy this in North America from any South Asian store or supermarket.

Fashion & Purchases From India

       
          C here- to tell you all about the second stop on my trip: India. In a lot of ways India is different than Singapore; There is a totally different feel to India and it's not as modern. Plus the heat is unbearable and the moisture in the air was very thick. It's also very rare to find someone dressed in Western clothing- even the school uniforms are in an Eastern style. We stuck out like a sore thumb because most of the time we weren't dressed in customary Indian outfits. While in India I didn't see a single western clothing store, instead there were various sari shops; This is expected because the fashion is very different there compared to North America, Singapore even. Honestly there was a bit of culture, and temperature, shock since we weren't used to the way the other side of the world lives but despite the heat we had a great time in India, especially the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

          Now back to the fashion... when in India, there's one thing you've got to buy: Saris!!! I've only recently started wearing saris, so it was exciting for me to look for new ones, especially in India. I got all of mine from a sari shop in Tirunelveli, India called Chennai Silks. When it comes to sari shopping I'm very picky- I prefer simple saris and I don't want to have to search for them. This is a very tricky task seeing as most shops have shelves with saris piled one on top of the other from floor to ceiling and even more hanging on racks all around the store. The saris I chose were all in pastel shades, as you'll see in the pictures below showing just how big the pastel trend really is. (Check out our Playing With Pastels post.)

          Most saris come with extra material that can be made into a blouse but a lot of people like to buy material in a contrasting color. I chose to use the material that came with my saris, and have blouses made to match. Here are front and back pictures of the saris I bought, with the matching custom blouses:

          For the ladies in my culture, saris aren't our only options; There are also other forms of dresses. These are usually worn by younger girls and as you get older you transition to saris. While in India, I bought two different styles of these non-sari's. The first is a "Salwar Kameez", a two piece outfit that comes in different versions for both men and women. It consists of a Salwar which is a loose pajama like pant that has a wide top and a narrow bottom and the Kameez, a long tunic. 

          The second outfit I purchased is called an "Enagali", it is also a two piece outfit. It is a dress that can be long sleeved, short sleeved, or sleeveless. What makes Enagalis different from other Indian outfits is the fit; The slight v-neckline and flare of the dress are both excellent for dancers. The other piece in this outfit is a pair of tight, fitted, straight cut pants. The "Salwar Kameez" and "Enagali" both have intricately detailed and embroidered designs and they come with a Dupatta- a thin shawl meant to be draped around your neck or across your body and shoulder. Here's a look at these two outfits: 

          Another must-buy item from India are Pashminas. These soft scarves are perfect for cold weather and very stylish. There are so many styles and they come in different levels of thickness so you can really wear them for any temperature. The pashmina scarves I bought were much cheaper then they are in Canada, and with a bit of bargaining on my mom's end we got a great deal! I also got a couple of cushion pillow cases that have designs just as intricate as saris. Lastly, during my trip I was desperately looking for anklets with bells on them, a typical accessory for Indian dancers. Only while walking around the airport as we were about to leave for Sri Lanka did I find a little store that sold them. My wish came true and I finally bought one!

Magazines From Abroad

         

         I mentioned in a previous post that on my journey back home to Toronto I was stuck at the Singapore Chengi Airport for 19 hours. Besides shopping, how did I pass the time? Why with fashion magazines of course! But man oh man in Singapore magazines are sooooo expensive. I did however get free stuff with my magazines though- so it evened out. With my Elle Singapore and Cosmopolitan Singapore I received free cosmetics bags, and in another magazine I got a nice eyeliner. In some the other mags outside my price range they were giving designer nail polish and I even saw the new Lancome mascara. Cool right? So I stocked up on these fashion publications and learned loads of things that I'll be able to share with you all!

Fashion & Purchases from Singapore

       
          Hey everyone, C here. So you all know I was MIA for about a month because I went on my trip abroad to Singapore, India and Sri Lanka. Even though I was on vacation I was still taking notes and drinking in the fashion from the other side of the world. Interspersed in this post will be pictures of some new items I bought while in Singapore.

          So I started my vacation in the beautiful country of Singapore. You don't hear much on tourism to Singapore, but honestly I think everyone should go there at least once in their life. It's so beautiful- with lots of lush green palm trees and different types of plants everywhere; I've never been to a more beautiful place. Being in Singapore didn't feel so different from being home in Toronto because it had a very modern city life feel. All the girls I came across were dressed the same as girls here in North America; They had very nice and expensive taste. 

          Before my trip, there were two things I was told were great in Singapore: Food and Shopping. Those people didn't lie- the food was amazing and the shopping was as well. But to be honest, the shopping wasn't cheap. It was pretty much the same prices as Canada and the U.S. They have stores like H&M and Forever 21 but they also have a lot of other nice stores. One place you have to visit when in Singapore is Orchard Plaza, that's where all the cool shops are and it's beautiful at night!

          Three of my favourite stores I went to were Cotton On, Lalu and Accessorize. Cotton On had some great basic and non-basic clothes. They had a great colour selection and had some really nice purses; Unfortunately it wasn't in my price range during the trip. Seeing as everyone was telling me that Singapore is so cheap, these were not the prices I was expecting, and I didn't buy anything from there. Even though I really wanted to. 

          The moment I walked into the store Lalu, I fell in love. The clothes, accessories, and overall decor were all amazing; It had a very summery feel to it. With mason jars, wild flowers and wood everything about this store screamed my name. Unfortunately again it wasn't in my price range and I couldn't buy anything from there. If you have money to spend though I would definitely reccomend Lalu. It's such a cute store!

          On our way back home to Toronto we stopped in Singapore again for a night. But without a hotel reserved we were stuck in the airport for 19 hours. I know- dreadful right? WRONG! The Singapore Chengi Airport is the best airport I've ever been to- and I've been to a lot. It was so clean, beautiful, and it had a lot of stores to occupy my time, one being Accessorize. But if I thought Cotton On and Lalu were expensive, then Accessorize was extremely overpriced. 

          It did have AMAZING accessories though, as the name entails and luckily they had a sale section. It's in my nature to find a good discount so my mentality when in an expensive store is: "There is no way I can leave here without buying something." And finally with the help of my mother.... SUCCESS! I found two pairs of really cute sandals that were about $75 CAD (converted from Singapore Dollars) and were on sale for about $14 CAD. BARGAIN! So obviously I bought them. I also got a cute tribal looking beaded necklace thats also a little pouch and I bought a flower and pearl headband. 

         Even after finding those great items on sale, I must say the best shopping in Singapore was in the markets and on the streets. In Chinatown I bought a bunch of cute bracelets and hinged bangles; These were dirt cheap and I was so happy I got them! I also bought a cute floral chiffon dress off some lady on the street (I know that sounds pretty sketch, but it wasn't hah) for about $10 CAD. For pictures on these last few mentioned items, keep an eye out for my next related post. Since I'm in the process of moving back to school some of the items I bought are already packed up but no worries I will share soon.

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When traveling, pack some extra plastic bags (this is a great way to recycle your grocery bags). They'll come in handy when you need to separate any wet or dirty items from the rest of your clothing.

Gettin' My Kicks on Route 66

       
          Hey, it's J! So as you probably remember, I'm running FTMH for the next few weeks since C is off being a world traveler. But don't forget I'm actually going on a vacation of my own tomorrow, a cross-country road trip to be exact... so it'll just be you, me, and the road. Oh and my friend Kat. ;-]... We'll be taking the no longer mapped Route 66 across to California; It should be a really exciting way to see the US and experience things we've only ever seen on TV & movies. 
          
          I'll be documenting my trip with anecdotes and snapshots from my days since we're sure to run into some interesting characters and sights. Also I hope to take street style pictures from all the states we pass through; Different regions have their own twists on trends and fads, so it'll be fun to see what people are wearing nowadays. I'm really looking forward to seeing the other side of America, getting some sun, and taking a drive on the wild side. California here we come!

                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                               - J

How to Pack Part 5: How to Dress For the Plane

       
         On a long flight you want to be dressed comfortably! For bottoms it's best to wear leggings, a maxi skirt, loose fitting pants, or really anything that's comfortable enough for sitting for hours at a time. Top-wise, I almost always wear a big comfy sweatshirt on the plane, because planes tend to get cold. TOMS are my go to shoe because they are really comfortable and good for walking around. Also I don't want people stepping on my feet within such a small vicinity, so open toe shoes aren't an option. 

          I'm only bringing one purse on this trip and it's a messenger bag, which is perfect for long days of walking and what not. Here's a list of key items to bring in your purse:

-Lip Balm
-Lip Gloss
-Hand Cream
-Hand Sanitizer
-Your Passport
-Wallet
-Hair Elastics
*Don't forget to put any liquids in a Ziploc!*


           Some airlines only allow you to have two bags for carry on, if that's case for you just put your purse in one of them. This is another good reason not to fill up your carry on luggage. Now that's all for the How to Pack When Traveling Abroad Series; I'm ready for vacation! Are you?

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Just in case something happens to your checked in bag, pack an extra outfit in your carry-on!

How to Pack Part 4: Carry-On Luggage

          When on a short flight, I only bring a purse with me as carry-on, but when going on a longer flight it's best to bring a small roller bag. My flight will be about 15 hours with an additional 5 hour lay over and then some. So I'm bringing an extra pair of clothes, underwear, socks and a bra. And I'm putting a pair of flip flops in there just in case I want to switch out of my shoes and free my feet. I also pack a couple of plastic bags to use for laundry (they can be put in your check-in as well). 

*CUTE-TIP: Just in case something happens to your checked in bag, pack an extra outfit in your carry-on!* 

          Now when it comes to my jewelry, I avoid packing it in my check-in bag because I'd hate to lose it. If worse comes to worse, you could buy new clothes similar to your old ones but I've spent years collecting my jewelry pieces from different trips. Some of which aren't cheap either- so I'd rather keep it all with me in my carry-on. 

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Pre-planning your outfits is a great trick to packing. When you're picking tops to pack think: "What can I wear with this?"... That way you have outfits to wear, rather than loads of separates.

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LUSH is a great place to pick up cool new product samples. And just think- you can use them on your next traveling adventure. What a steal!

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It's always smart to bring a variety of medicines & First Aid supplies when traveling; You never know what might happen, and it's good to be prepared!

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Instead of bringing toothpaste on a trip, give LUSH's Toothy Tabs a try. They come in a little matchstick sized box- you simply bite them and brush like normal!

CUTE-TIP #30

Do you have lots of miniature bottles of lotion and body wash laying around? Well traveling is a great time to get rid of them; No need to buy new ones, they're just the right size!

CUTE-TIP #29

Before going suitcase shopping, be sure to find out the luggage specifications for your particular airline. There are extra charges for overweight or oversized bags; That's a real vacation-bummer.

How To Pack: The Intro

          

          It's summertime! School's out and you have no cares in the world. Well... if you have a job then maybe you do and if you don't have a job- that might be a sore topic. But none the less this is the time to travel! This summer I'll be traveling to Singapore, India and Sri Lanka; A vacation I've been dreaming of my entire life! 

          Over the next few days I will provide you with a 5 part series- where I'll detail the best ways to pack when traveling abroad & how to stay on a budget! Enjoy :)
                                                                                                                                                                       Happy Traveling, C .