|Wedding| Makeup Inspiration

31 January, 2013

 
i must say that I am slightly missing the bride gene these days, which for those of you that may know me is s strange phenomenon. I always thought that once I got engaged I would run to all the Bridal Boutiques, run to see venues and have a set menu...with the exception of going to one venue, none of that has happened. The only thing that has happened is imagine how everything will look like, from the dress, to the flowers to the flow of the whole day. No surprise I live in my imagination, that is all I've done since I was five. So far I have narrowed down the look of the makeup I would like for the day of my wedding, it must be dewy and glowy. There is nothing more breathtaking than beautiful, healthy looking skin, and on the day of your wedding it shouldn't be an exception.
 
What look do like the most?

|Photos via| Pinterest

 

|Contest| Win a Trip to France with Pavan

25 January, 2013

 
Hello beautiful readers, I want to introduce you a fabulous and delicious little peacock that goes by the name of Pavan Liqueur. Yes that's right you heard right it's a new spirit that has just arrived to Miami from the stunning south of France. It's subtly sweet and has a bit of exotic orange blossom, sounds delicious doesn't it? I think so. The name Pavan comes from a classic French dance of the peacock. Looks beautiful, sounds delicious and comes from a stunning place, does it get better than that? yes it does...ready?
 
Pavan wants to bring you and a friend on a 4-day trip to France to explore Paris and the French Riviera! Oh I see your eyes wide open, now your listening...it's OK I won't take offense to that, I would do the same. But to get you there you have to help me help you, here is what you can do for me in return:
 
I am competing against five other smart and beautiful bloggers, you know just a friendly little competition for a chance to win a trip to New York for New York Fashion Week. The contest is called Pavan Hits Miami Style Mafia and in order for me to win you must do a few simple steps:
 
1. Like (if you haven't already) Pavan's Facebook page (You must have a Facebook Account to enter).
3. Click here, then click on "enter sweepstakes," complete the entry form and then vote for me Ana Ortuno. ( Limit one entry per person on Facebook).
4.. After submitting your entry on Facebook, you will have the option to earn one more entry by following Pavan on twitter (you must have a twitter account) and tweeting the following: "I just entered the Pavan Hits Miami Style Mafia Contest" with the hashtag #PavanMiamiStyle.
 
Voting will be opened from Friday, January 25th through Tuesday, January 29th, 2013.
 
So what are you waiting for, enter now and HELP me get to New York Fashion Week, it's only been my dream since I was in middle school...please make it happen, pretty please. Good luck and thank you for all of your support in advance.
 
Xo
 
 
Mailing List: By entering the Sweepstakes, you consent to being placed on Pavan's mailing list for promotional purposes. Don't worry, they won't bother you with a bunch of junk.
 
Disclosure of Material Connections: I have been compensated by Pavan Liqueur for making these statements regarding its products. All statements made by me regarding Pavan Liqueur represent my honest opinions based on my actual experience with the products.

One with the world

24 January, 2013

Top & Sunnies: Forever 21| Necklace: Vintage Nautical Knot (via Etsy)| Jeans: Zara| Shoes: Boutique 9
 
nature is what I seek when I want to get away, when I just want to feel one with the world. Do you ever have moments where you just want to melt into everything? to go unnoticed? I feel like that from time to time and I take it as a form of spiritual cleansing, getting rid of all emotional baggage or negative energies. Luckily in Miami I can always find nature in every corner, whether I want the sounds of the ocean or the rustling of trees it's all in my hands and I feel very lucky to have it. 

 

|Dining Out| Villa Azur

22 January, 2013


what a hidden treasure Villa Azur you are, it was such a pleasure to have such a lovely dinner there. If you haven't heard of it or have had it on your list to go I suggest you go now. I was invited to come and experience this enchanting establishment and I was so delighted with the experience that I look forward to my return. It's tucked away at the end of 23rd street, if you weren't looking intently for it you would miss it but once you find it you wonder how did I not hear of it before, it is the perfect place to take a first date, for a celebratory dinner, a proposal or even a rehearsal dinner. You can say I have my recent engagement on my mind, well yes yes I do, whenever I find a place that has that magical touch I wonder what else can I come here for. Villa Azur would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner or even a very intimate wedding reception.  We sat outside (which I highly recommend) and it was such a romantic and relaxing experience, my fiance enjoyed it as much as I did. 


What we ate:
Starters: Tapenade and Beef Tartar.

Drinks: two glasses of Malbec and one of Cabernet Sauvignon. 
Dinner plates: Cote de boeuf (in the to share or not to share menu).
Sides: Potato Gratin Dauphinois and Sauteed Baby Spinach.

Desserts: Mint & Chocolate Profiteroles and Homemade Nutella Mousse.

Two must haves:
Cote de boeuf (which you can share with your date) and Homemade Nutella Mousse (it was divine).

Let your hair run wild, let your mind be wild

16 January, 2013

Chambray shirt: Forever 21| Watch: Ted Baker (via Gilt)| Bracelet: Swarovski c/o| Bag: Vintage Gucci| Jeans: Zara| Shoes: Vintage YSL

let your hair run wild, let your mind be wild...is what I say. As I get older I become more uninhibited by the flaws I carry, in return it makes me feel wild and free. I remember in high school I was obsessed with keeping my hair under control, and would freak if any little hair would be out of place but now I have become less worried about how my hair is going to turn out than ever. Don't be mistaken I still have my moments but they have become less frequent and it's such a liberating feeling. This type of attitude can be applied to my life in general, which has got me thinking that it may be true that you are much more assured of yourself in your 30s. Although I am not 30 quite yet, it sure is knocking on my door already and I kinda like it. 

do you agree? does age have something to do with the way we feel? 

 

|Dining Out| Michael's Genuine Food & Drinks

10 January, 2013


my fiance (this is the first time I write it), his family and I ended at Michael's Genuine Food & Drinks to celebrate my brother-in-law's Master's Graduation. If you didn't know this is actually my second time writing about MGFD, my first food post was actually about MGFD (see here), the last time I went it was with two girlfriends for brunch and it was exquisite so I was excited to come back for dinner and see if it would hold up to the expectation. Oh yes it did hold up to my expectations, dinner is just as spectacular as the brunch. The location is probably my favorite part because it takes you away from the usual scene of South Beach, it is nestled in the heart of the Design District (an area with increasing popularity), where artists, style connoisseurs and locals like to dine out. 

What we ate:
Starters: Crispy Rice Cake and Beets & Heirloom Tomato salad.

Drinks: Pomegranate soda and Ginger-Lemongrass soda.
Dinner plates: Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder, Pan Roasted 1/2 "Poulet Rouge" Chicken, Duck Confit, among other things not pictured.
Sides: Wood Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Wood Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and lemon aioli, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, among others not pictured.

Desserts: Maple & Turkish Coffee Flan, Lemon Creamsicle Pot de Creme, Today's House Made (Banana) Bread Pudding and Dark Chocolate & Salted Caramel Housemade Ice Cream. 
Two must haves:
Crispy Rice Cakes and Today's House Made Bread Pudding (each day they have a different flavor).


|Chic Reads Wednesdays|

09 January, 2013

i have been looking forward to the introduction of my virtual reading club, where every second Wednesday of the month I will bring you a new book for which you can join me in reading. The idea started brewing in my head back in November, but decided that it would be better to introduce it in the new year and so I did. See I've enjoyed reading since I was in elementary school but began enjoying it even more when I took one of my first important Sociology classes in college, I will tell you why...the reading list for the class was bigger than Bill Gates bank account (clever?) and I had to figure out how in the world I was going to be able to read all of it. I accomplished reading ninety  percent of it, which was a pretty good feat considering I was working full time and taking other classes. How I did it? I gained speed as in speed reading, still not a pro but I don't take a century as I used to. I wanted to create Chic Reads Wednesdays because reading is the best path to the imagination, it creates curiosity and is the best food for the brain.

so this month I will be reading The Beautiful Fall, a tale of an explosion of Parisian fashion in the 1970's and the beginning of an evolutionary feud between two gentlemen known as Karl Lagerfeld and Ives Saint Laurent. So lets get to it, here is how it will go down, we have a month to read the book, you can then post your thoughts on twitter with hashtags #chicreadswednesdays and #thebeautifulfall and tag me @chicstreetsande or leave a comment on my Facebook page here once you have finished. On the second Tuesday of the following month I will select a few thoughts/comments to put up on the blog along with my review of the book. To start things the proper way, I will select one of you who leave me a thought or comment to receive a gift card for Barnes and Nobles. Don't let me be the only one reading the book, please join, please (pleading like a child pleads for a toy).

if in case my photos leave you with a big question mark, here is the reference...those are my vintage YSL shoes, which can be interpreted as Yves himself and my white blouse and bow tie pay homage to Karl. The first two express the feud between the two designers and the last three can show you that shoes can make for fancy Karl-like sunglasses...that's all folks.

|Giveaway| PJL Little Black Panty x Stationary

07 January, 2013


welcome to 2013, hope your first week of the year started off right for everyone, I was pretty absent on the blog for most of the holiday season but I am happy to be back. Today I bring you a very sexy giveaway, I partnered up with Priscilla designer of Priscilla Jade Lingerie (you may remember my last collaboration and giveaway we had for you here) for your chance to win a pair of the Little Black Panty and a pair of some very sexy set of cards (pictured last). Priscilla revamped the packaging for the Little Black Panty but wanted to provide her customers an even more personalized experience, she decided to collaborate with a local artist named Delvs (read more about it here) to create stationary that can be customized or left blank, the cards are sexy and fun and are perfect to give to your girlfriends.

so what are you waiting for? get to it and enter this very sexy giveaway, what better way to start off the new year than with a black panty and some fun stationary to share with others. See below on how to enter the giveaway.

|PHOTOS provided by| Priscilla Jade


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