Easter Outfit for the Kids

Head over to MFBS to check out the adorable Easter outfits for your kids!

Diet vs. exercise

I used to be loyal to my workout times. I'd be at gym at least 3 times a week, joined bootcamps and run when I could. Last year when I started the blog I stopped and it wasn't a priority for me anymore. I didn't take time at all. One thing I did do was try to eat healthy. I attended nutrition workshops, and read books about healthy eating and changed most of the seasoning and cooking products at home.

This year (actually, December of last year) I got tired of having celery for breakfast, green juices and following all the healthy rules. I continue to cook healthy meals but I went back to drinking coffee (with cream to be exact) and slowly started breaking adding what some would call "bad habits" to my diet. 

I know I should be doing both eating healthy and working out but when you can't (or don't want to) do one you must push for the other. This is why I started working out again. I joined a new gym a month ago and have been following my goal of 2-3 times a week plus the hubby and I got bikes and started riding this weekend.

How was your weekend? Did you start making changes to improve your health or to look and feel better this year?

Personalize your Vacation (or Staycation) with Kleenex Design

A few weeks ago I wrote about complementing your home decor with stylish Kleenex boxes. So when they asked me to share if I packed Kleenex when traveling, I said: of course!

These are some of the things I carry in my beauty (travel) bag. One of the most important items are a few extra pouches of Kleenex. I always keep one in my handbag but these extras always save the moment.

Traveling by car? You can also find boxes specifically designed to place in the cup holder or the seat sides. Not to mention that I also carry the beautifully designed pouches in the gym bag - just in case... 

For those of us having a staycation this spring break, take a look at the new Kleenex designs by Isaac Mizrahi. The 4 brand new designs are intended to kindle confidence and inspiration to help you express your personal style and step out of your comfort zone when it comes to incorporating the latest trends. 

My favorite from the collection is this simple black and white animal print pattern, but take a look at the full collection in the Kleenex style finder page. Don't forget to watch the exclusive videos where Isaac Mizrahi shares style advice and his own experience as a design leader for more than two decades.

Thank you to Kleenex for sponsoring this post and keeping my Spring Break staycation stylish and fashionable! ;)

Love & Cheers! Cristalia

Color Crush: Petal Pink Style for Spring!

Happy Humpday! I am over at MyFriendBettySays.com today with a stylish post about the sweet petal pink color.

Pa' la Playa! Beach Ready with these towels!

Are you getting ready for Spring Break vacation, family vacation or a romantic getaway? One thing that I always pack, even if they'll have some ready and clean where I am staying, is a towel. If you are somewhat like me, here are some pretty and graphic options for you next beach vacation.

1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 :: 5 :: 6 

So tell me in the comments, do you pack a towel when you travel?

Ideal Spring Sneakers: Keds + Kate Spade

If you follow me on instagram you probably know that I am a super fan of the classic Keds. In fact, they are a staple in my comfy weekend wardrobe. Specially the red and white ones - I make them match any outfit I choose to wear. (Seriously!)

Remember my previous Keds + Kate Spade blog post? Well, today I bring you my favorites from this season's collaboration where they use trends like leather, neon, mesh, cork and floral fabrics.

Cork + Lemon + Mesh + Leather

My favorite? The last style in metallic leather because it adds a subtle touch of elegance with it's shiny, metallic color. What's your favorite? I'd love to know how you feel about KEDS. Share your thoughts in the comments below. 

Cheers! Cristalia

The Bar Cart

Vamp up your entertainment corner with these beautiful metallic bar carts. Starting with a super affordable +Target item followed by three more pricey choices. These are beautifully accessorized with the traditional ice bucket, cork screw and cocktail shaker.  

 1 $130 :: 2 $399 :: 3 $498 :: 4 $799

 Do you have a bar cart at home? Which is your favorite from the metallic picks above? 

Cheers! Cristalia

5 Flats Trends for Spring :: MyFriendBettySays.com

I am over at MyFriendBettySays.com today with 5 flats trends for Spring. Click here to check them all out!

Click HERE to view more guest posts at MyFriendBettySays.com

Beauty Products I Use & Love: Foundation

I am one of those girls that stays true to her every day beauty products. If I believe it works, I would buy it, use it until it's gone and buy it again and again.

This has been the case with my everyday foundation. I've used Loreal's True Match super-blendable makeup in N4 for many years. It's been my go to foundation ever since I remember buying foundation.

A few weeks ago I decided to find a new higher end brand (to change it up a bit) and stopped by +Sephora. I ended up buying the +Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation in Warm Natural and absolutely love that it makes my skin look super soft and even.

One pump of this product is supposed to be enough for one application but I find that 2 pumps gives me better coverage. With a few layers of this product on my face, my skin looks very soft and natural.

Needless to say, I still loove my True Match foundation and will continue to have both products in my beauty bag. Saving the more expensive one for special occassions. ;)

Do you use any of these foundations? I would love to know what you use so, share your favorite foundation in the comments.

Love & cheers! Cristalia

Awesome Find: Dartstrip to display art!

Whenever I come across an awesome product, article, video, etc. I usually share it on my personal FB page but I've realized that I should be sharing them here, in the blog, because this is where I am able to reach YOU!...and the rest of this amazing community.

Today's feature is Dartstrip, a snappable steel strip that is 8 ft in length and 1 inch wide. It comes with a removable adhesive for you to place on any wall. It is bundled with powerful magnets for hanging art, photos & more.

But it's not as simple as it sounds. When I said powerful, I meant POWERFUL because each tiny magnet can hold up to 10 sheets of letter sized copy paper. Ummm-hum!




You can probably find many uses for the Dartstrip but I am ordering my own to hang this beautiful 2014 PaperFashion calendar which I've been wondering how to display at home, in my work area.

So what do you think? Are you curious to try Dartstrip?

Design your own shoes: Milk & Honey

Milk & Honey is the one-stop-shop for when you need a specific shoe style, with certain color, material, etc. You can design your shoes by first picking a style (see image below) and then select the materials and colors you want.

With free shipping & 365 days returns is definitely worth the try because sometimes you buy shoes and don't wear them until months after the purchase, so then you realize that they don't fit right.

You can also check out the Inspiration Gallery to get your creative ideas going. This is also great for brides, quinceaneras and those celebrating their sweet 16 because often times we know what we want and it's a waste of time trying to find the ideal shoe.

Now tell me, have you tried Milk & Honey before or any other similar sites? Would you give it a try? I'd love to know your thought in the comments so please share. ;)

Love & cheers!
Cristalia

9 Beauty Products You Need: St. Patricks Day Party!

St. Patricks Day is right around the corner so I couldn't let it pass by without pointing out these must-have's when getting ready for the party. From a simple emerald green eyeliner to the glitter nail polish and eyelashes.  

1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 :: 5 :: 6 :: 7 :: 8 :: 9 

Click here for my D.I.Y Green Pot o' Gold Nails!

The Spring Perfect Walk with SJP!

The SJP Collection is finally available at +Nordstrom and I am loving way too many styles. To quote Carrie Bradshaw "...sometimes it's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun!" 

Ok, fine! I am not single but I totally get what she meant. We need variety in our closet to make dressing up fun and feel fabulous every step of the way -- specially in NYC where there is so much walking to do every single day!

Here are my favorite 6 items from the collection which by the way, are all pretty perfect for spring. ;)

1 - Bobbie Sandal  2 - Ina Pump  3 - Maud Sandal  4 - Jill Sandal  5 - Leslie Espadrille  6 - Inez Wedge

Fabulous right? Click here for the complete collection and please, do tell your favorite in the comments below. 

Love and cheers!
Cristalia

Black, White & Some Color Block Style!

Color block is not going away anytime soon. Actually, let me correct myself, it's always been part of fashion it just became very popular when the word color block started being used to describe the style and all of a sudden, everything was color block'd! So I had to pick my favorite color combo, black and white, for today's feature. Warning: Not all items are following the color block definition but they are  inspired by the two color combination.

Polka Dot Shirt :: Sandals :: Bangle :: Earrings :: Scarf :: Purse 

I often start a blog post because one item on the board inspired it and for this one I will tell you that it was the +Madewell sandal which, by the way, also comes in nude and black. Absolutely love it!! #SpringMustHave ;) 

So tell me, what is your favorite color block combo?

Etsy Shop Crush: Petite Delights

I came across the Petite Delights shop and instantly fell in love with the romantic, shabby chic jewelry style. Although they have a big collection, I usually lean towards the earrings (studs to be specific) so had to share my favorite with you!

Top : left - right  /  Bottom: left - right

Top: left - right   /   Bottom: left - right

So, what do you think? Aren't these the cutest?!

Blue Scarves & Letter Shapes

Lately, I've been posting about Spring trends and today won't be the exception. I had a great weekend, the weather was nice and warm for February. I did a little trend browsing and found a lot of blue in fashion fabrics like the beautiful blue tones used in the flower pattern scarves below. The blue tones are in the soft pastel color range, perfect for Spring!

Pretty Spring scarves at +LOFT - you can shop them HERE.

I also found these cool letter shapes at +Anthropologie that I had to share. I have considered getting a few of these but can't figure out how to fit them with my decor. If you've been following the blog, you probably know my love for fonts, and everything related to letter forms so I think that I'll eventually figure something out and find a place for them, even if it's in a little corner of the apartment. Hah! 

 

So, how was your weekend? Did you find something cool and trendy? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Cheers!

The Choker Necklace Trend

The choker necklace trend goes back to the 90's and it's now on trend. I remember having a flexible plastic one with beads that I loooved and trashed not too long ago (now I want it back, of course.)

These make us look a bit more elegant, specially the ones in metallic tones. Here are some stylish picks in gold and one with mint that is also trendy for Spring.

1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4

Check out the Spring Essentials report at MyFriendBettySays.com

Spring Essentials :: MyFriendBettySays.com

Today I am over at MFBS. Click HERE to check out my Spring Essentials and to read the complete post with links to shop everything below. Cheers!

Stylish Kleenex Now Part Of Your Home Decor

Today's post is about something I love to have at home, the office and my purse. Not only does this product come in handy every time I sneeze (at least 3 times a day) but the container comes in many stylish patterns to suite everyone's style. 

To celebrate Kleenex’s 90th anniversary, they’re bringing you another innovative first: The Kleenex® Style Studio. It’s a fun, inspiring way to discover more of the Kleenex® Brand designs and products you love. And maybe even a few that’ll take you by surprise.

Whether you’re decorating at home or adding a pop of color to your clutch, Kleenex® has you covered.

At home, I keep a box of Kleenex in the bedroom. It's a must have where I do my makeup because I use it to clean makeup brushes and to wipe away excess makeup. Did you know Kleenex started out as a facial tissue for removing makeup? I even use it to apply makeup when the blush brush is nowhere to be found. 

I usually go for the girly pinks & purple boxes. The husband doesn't complain so I keep going for what I like, simple flower patterns in my favorite colors. ;)

I also keep a box of Kleenex in the workstation while on the computer. It also comes in handy when I paint my nails. I keep the nail polish by the computer because I get to paint and let them dry without messing up while I type away.

My purse is the one place that never runs out of Kleenex. In the cold weather it saves my runny nose, in the heat I use it to pat dry the oily face. When I catch a cold or during allergy season, there is no way I leave without the little pouch of Kleenex in my purse.

Follow these steps to test your fashion sense for a chance to win!

        1. Visit the Kleenex style finder landing page and click on “sweeps” tab in the 

        top right corner of the page.

        2. Then click “Play to Enter”.

What's your favorite Kleenex style? I personally love the Blooms line which I picked for the bedroom. It comes in purple, red, green and orange. Tell me your favorite in a comment. Cheers!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kleenex but all opinions are my own.

Nails: Pink & Gold Hearts for Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day this week so start spreading the love to make the world a better place. Here are some tips to follow every day:

♥ Hug someone

♥ Make a phone call

♥ Say I love you

♥ Say it in spanish TE QUIERO, or TE AMO

♥ Smile for no reason

♥ Think about the good things in life

♥ Be thankful

♥ Be kind

♥ Enjoy nature

♥ Take time for yourself

♥ Draw hearts 

♥ Do things that make you happy, like paint your nails ;)  

Use your favorite color as a base. I am using Essie's Lady Like. Pick a different nail color like Good As Gold and draw hearts. I start drawing a letter V and then fill in the heart shape. Remember, they don't have to be perfect, in fact, my favorites are the more oganically shaped hearts. 

V Hearts!

For more valentine's day posts, click HERE.

Love & cheers! Cristalia

Spring Perfumerie Nails

I came across +Revlon's Perfumerie collection a few days ago and had to try one of the cute bottled nail polish. The collection is divided in three categories: Fruits & Florals, Freshes and Sweet & Spices. I picked a peachy color, from the Fruits & Floral category, called Apricot Nectar which is perfect for Spring season. I would describe the scent as sweet and tangy, similar to the taste of orange Tic Tac.

Here are my top colors to wear this Spring...

African Tea Rose :: Spun Sugar :: Tropical Rain :: Lavender Soap :: Ginger Melon :: Apricot Nectar

Have you tried scented nail polish? What color/scent would you like to try?

Love & cheers! Cristalia

The Trench Coat :: MyFriendBettySays.com

Head over to MFBS for today's post which is all about the trench coat. History add many styles to shop for now, of course! ;)

Click HERE for more guest posts at MyFriendBettySays.com! 

Cheers! Cristalia

Bonlook $50 gift card giveaway

Who said glasses are boring? I've been using glasses for about 15 years and even though I used to think I looked nerdy (because I probably did) that's not the case anymore. I came across Bonlook.com last year while trying to find stylish and affordable frames. If you didn't know, all their frames are $99 with free shipping and returns.  

Bonlook is giving away a $50 gift card to one (1) lucky Cheers! Cristalia reader. To enter the giveaway, follow the steps below...

Me in my favorite style, the Honeybadger

1. Click HERE to sign up for the Bonlook newsletter.
2. Complete the Rafflecopter below.
3. Visit Bonlook.com and tell me your favorite style in the comments below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last day to enter: February 28th, 2014.

Cheers and good luck! ;)

A Hot Pink Valentine's Day

Jumpsuit :: Nail Polish :: Bralette :: Suede Pumps :: Ray-Ban's :: Lipstick :: Wallet 

You probably know by now that I love pink and since Valentine's Day is approaching, I picked some bright pink items in beauty & fashion. The jumpsuit can be paired with sexy nude or black shoes (LIKE THIS ONE.) If you want to go a more subtle route wear a black dress, the shoes and other accessories above will sure get you compliments. Cheers!

Cleaning products that make me happy!

I love to organize things and keep stuff in place (Neat freak? Maybe!) but one thing that I don't enjoy is cleaning. Seriously. I don't like sweeping the floor, and cleaning the bathroom but in the end I have to do it because I don't like being dirty either. My sister suggested two products that have improved my desire to clean because they make my life much easier.

The Swiffer Sweeper Dry Sweeping Cloth Refills is the best thing ever to pick up dust and all my fallen hair. I use one sweeping sheet two times every week and follow up with the broom for small leftover dirt.

The other product that recently made me happy is Mr Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber. I had tried a few things on my bathtub and even my Mom (cleanest women ever) had given up on the stained tub, but this product really worked for me. It's a real magic eraser.

Do you use these products? Are you attached to cleaning products that make your busy life easier?
Share your thought below. Cheers!