the look for spring 2012

Trend Report Spring 2012

1. THE ITEM ~ PEPLUM

designers: Vera Wang and Nina Ricci

2. THE SILHOUETTE ~ DROP WAIST

designers: Chloe and Giambattista Valli

3. THE COLOR OF CHOICE ~ PASTEL

designers: Versus and Proenza Schouler

4. THE DETAIL ~ BAROQUE

designers: Oscar de la Renta and Stella McCartney

5. THE BODY PART ~ MID-RIFF

designers: Anthony Vaccarello and Carven

6. THE FABRIC ~ MATTE SATIN

designers: Christopher Kane and Balenciaga

7. THE THEME ~ DEEP SEA

designers: Peter Pilotto and Chanel

8. THE ANIMAL ~ BIRDS

designers: Kenzo and Suno

9. THE INSPIRATION ~ ABSTRACT ART

designers: Narcisco Rodriguez and Gucci

10. THE PRINT ~ DIGITAL IMAGING

designers: Vera Wang and Mary Katrantzou

So that's it chickies, Let me know what trend you're into!
I don't know, I'm really into the peplum, it's ultra feminine...I think it's my favorite trend of the season, that and the matte satin fabric...it's absolutely gorgeous.
xoxoChiika

so sleek and so smooth smooth!

Okie dokie pokie :)

As promised...how to use the golden potion...olive oil!

Yup it's not just for eating haha.

I swear by olive oil treatments.  These tips and tricks were taken from Carol Firenze "The Passionate Olive".  Oh and this is gonna be somewhat of a long one :) 

www.oliveoilsource.com

http://thepassionateolive.com/

HAIR TREATMENTS

1. Stimulate and soothe your scalp. Massaging the hair and scalp with olive oil invigorates the scalp and nourishes the hair, leaving it healthier, vibrant and more manageable. Use a small amount and you can leave it in when styling, or, if you wish, shampoo it out.
2. Condition your hair.
Hot Olive Oil Treatment #1: Warm ¼ cup of olive oil in the microwave and carefully pour over your head. Massage into the scalp and run your fingers through the length of your hair to completely saturate. Shampoo immediately with a small amount of your favorite shampoo. Rinse and shampoo again to completely remove the residual oil.
Hot Olive Oil Treatment #2: If your hair is extremely dry and brittle, you may wish use this hot oil mixture for a more intensive hair conditioning treatment. Put ¼ cup olive oil in a blender and carefully add ¼ cup boiling water; blend at a high speed until the water and oil has emulsified. While the mixture is warm, massage it into your hair; cover with plastic wrap or a terry towel for at least 15 minutes. Shampoo twice.
Olive Oil Hair Mask: This treatment adds eggs and peeled cucumber to the conditioning treatment. Eggs contain protein that can fortify the hair shaft, adding strength to damaged hair. Cucumbers reduce shampoo and oil residue. In a blender, mix 1 egg, ¼ peeled/chopped cucumber and 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Smooth the mixture through your hair thoroughly and wrap with plastic wrap. Leave on 10 minutes; shampoo twice.
3. Fight the frizz Just a drop of olive oil applied to wet or dry hair can control frizz and create a truly enviable shine. Remember to put only a very small amount (a drop or two) of olive oil in the palm of your hand; rub your hands together and then finger-comb through your hair.
4. Treat dandruff and prevent hair loss Olive oil can prevent dandruff and calm an itchy scalp and it may slow or even prevent hair loss. Although there are no guarantees regarding hair loss, as everyone is different, I suggest that you give this family formula a try to see if the treatment will work for you: Massage your scalp with olive oil every evening for 8 days. Leave the oil in overnight and cover with a plastic shower cap to protect your pillow while you sleep. Shampoo out the olive oil in the morning.

FOR YOUR SKIN

Skin Moisturizer
Whether applied to face or body, olive oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple. Used either as a night cream or daily moisturizer, it is best applied to damp skin, when water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil.
Exfoliator
If dry and scaly skin is a problem, Carol Firenze also suggests mixing olive oil and sea salt in a rub and massaging it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it. Or add a few tablespoons of olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a luxurious way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.
Nail and Cuticle CareExtra virgin olive oil makes the perfect, simple solution for dry nails and cuticles. Simply rub a few drops into the cuticle area and around the nail. Cuticles stay plump and moist, and nails respond with a natural shine.
Eye Makeup RemoverJust a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton pad is all it takes to gently and effectively remove eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. The biggest added advantage is that when used consistently, olive oil can soften the skin around the eyes and smooth out wrinkles.
Soothe sunburns with olive oil
The following is a simple treatment for sunburn and even for the blisters that sometimes follow too much exposure to the sun: Mix olive oil with an equal amount of water. Beat until it becomes an emulsion. Apply to the affected area. For blisters, make a compress of warm olive oil and chamomile tea. Apply to the blistered area.
Beautify your feet with olive oil
If you find that a pedicure is not fixing the damage of days on the beach or in sandals, give yourself a foot scrub using 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and a squeeze of lemon. Once the concoction is made, clean your feet with warm water, then rub the mixture onto feet, massage and rinse. Apply your favorite moisturizer (olive oil, of course) and notice how smooth your feet feel.

xoxoChiika



silly...don't eat it :)

Hello chickies :)

Okay I'm just gonna get down into the nitty gritty...skin and hair care products are a multi billion industry alone in the U.S.  Every company claims to have the new innovative product..."a miracle in a jar" and so on...they promise everything but the personal hairdresser and esthetician to go along with the products :D  But what many consumers don’t realize is something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted; that extra virgin olive oil, all by itself, is one of the best beauty secrets.

BENEFITS

hypoallergenic

full of antioxidants

contains vitamin A & E

repairs and renews skin from sun exposure

moisturizes

smooths out wrinkles

fights dandruff

deep conditioning treatment for hair

increases strength of hair

Now who said olive oil was just for eating?  Next post I'll have some tips on how you can use this golden potion :)

xoxoChiika

get CRACKED!

OPI "black shatter"  Sally Hansen Xtreme wear "blue me away"

want an extremely easy nail look? try out the shatter polishes from OPI...or whatever other brand you like.  It's so simple.  Just apply whatever base coat color you like and let it dry then add the shatter polish on top! In this look I used Sally Hansen's Xtreme wear "blue me away" as my base coat color. It's easy peasy lemon squeezy hahaha I'm a tad hyper just roll with it :D

 Oh and this is a great option for those whose nails chip easily, cause it's not even noticable.

xoxoChiika

For more nail looks, from previous posts, click "get nailed", down below in the labels!

I spy with my little eye

Hi my lovelies :)

Just some pics I took from the other day when I was exploring Veria.

I love the old feel of the buildings, the cobble stone streets, and just the overall feeling.

xoxoChiika

wine and dine me :)

Charlize Theron, Megan Fox, Ashley Olsen (i think :) ), Vanessa Hudgens, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Alba

Hi my beautiful friends!

More wine please :)  lipstick that is haha I wouldn't mind a nice glass of shiraz though

Anyway,whether they're matte, pearl, shiny, or glossed, I'm so into it.

I like mixing Maybelline's "Red Revolution 630" and "Madison Mauve 465" to get the color that I like... a mix between red and purple.  Next time you're in the drugstore or department store looking for a new lipstick check out the wine section.

Oh and a little tip for swatching lip colors, put the color on the pads of your fingers, the skin is a lot closer to the texture of your lips and the color will be truer :)

Happy color hunting :)

xoxoChiika



my ears want more! imChanel

My ears want more!
imChanel
i'm addicted to...
"i got love"...click to listen  (this one has a real nice gritty feel)
"siberia" by lights imChanel MIX...click to listen
"limits"...click to listen
"night time" by the XX imChanel MIX...click to listen
"apathy"...click to listen

Follow her on soundcloud
http://soundcloud.com/imchanel

for more sounds i'm into click "my ears want more" down below in the labels
xoxoChiika

that rolled out of bed look

I'm singing in the rain...what a glorious feeling..na na nana :)

So you guessed it is raining here today...and I usually like to curl up with a good book and snuggle under a very fluffy blanket on these types of days but no such luck...I was out and about, had some things to get done, and then I met up with a friend for a nice hot coffee...mmmmm caffeine :)  Since the weather was a bit off and my hair usually expands 3 feet near any humidity, I decided to go for the "I just rolled out of bed look" which by the way took me a good half hour hahaha  but that's our little secret ;)  Anyways I went with Mary-Kate Olsen's look today...part down the middle, bangs pinned back on each side, and loose curls/waves.  So flattering, it just opens up the face and there's just something really sexy about the messiness of the style...Below are my favorite hair looks, tousled waves, messy braids, soft curls, wild buns... basically anything that looks like you didn't spend time :)  Let me know your "go to" style.

Blake Lively, Lauren Conrad, Keira Knightley, Park Bom, Kristen Stewart, Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, Mila Kunis, Jessica Szohr

I hope you're having a wonderful day wherever you are!

xoxoChiika

LOOK GUCCI

Hi my beautiful friends!

Ok let me just dive right into this hahaha...yesterday I was flipping through Elle magazine, and I saw the above photo of Jennifer Lopez, I'm not gonna lie, I may have drooled a bit :)  So when I got home I hopped on my laptop and immediately googled it :)  Don't you just love google? Anywhooo I am gaga for this look, but the sad part is??  this Gucci dress would just clean out my bank account, and actually leave me in the minus...So I wanted the Gucci look without going into a coma from the shock of the price tag.  I figured you would agree so I wanted to post this look for less, just in case anyone was interested.  It's amazing what you can do when you take the time to look for key items.  Gucci dress $2480...just the dress, without the belt let me add hahaha, and you can get the complete look for $461.60.  So get out there fashionistas...Look Gucci without breaking the bank!

xoxoChiika

beauty is all around us

Hey there my lil' sugar plums :)

Such a beautiful day today, the sun was shining, and a lil' fresh air always does the body good.  My cousin and I headed to Veria today, hot chocolate and chit chat at a local cafe :) Afterwards a stroll through the streets and the shopping district.

We stumbled upon this beauty and I just had to take a picture.  It's a free standing wall at the top of Mitropoleos and I've never seen anything like this.  I love the juxtoposition of

the turquoise rocks against the grey slabs of earth.

I hope you all had a wonderful day!

xoxoChiika 

FEED your BRAIN

Hello my lovelies!

my favorites

Seriously it feels like a friend is telling you a story and not just some author trying to MAKE a book. Throughout each of her novels you’ll find loads of characters, and there really isn’t ever truly a leading character, everyone has their place and they all play an important part.

Everytime I read her books I just don't want it to end, I feel like I know each character personally...is that weird? I don't know if it is, but it feels right, so whateva :)

It’s interesting to know that in our lives the things we do can affect others without our ever knowing of it, and that’s exactly what Maeve portrays through her writing. Everyone is intertwined somehow.  The Lilac Bus was my first read... and a few hours later I was searchin for another fix....I was hooked haha Maeve Binchy was my reason for going to the book store. Check her out, it's worth a peak, you know, fuel that brain from time to time :) xoxoChiika

tree of life

art by me :)

"Keep away from people who try to belittle

your ambitions. Small people always do
that, but the really great make

you feel that you too,

can be great."

~Mark Twain-Author

long live couture

hey my lil' cherry blossoms :)

What do I have for you today? A 2fer...one post two topics :) I'm goin' wild, I know haha.

Anywhoooo....first I'll start off with my favourite scent. I've been wearing this for over a year now, and I keep going back to it.  Viva La Juicy..mmmmm....works so well with my body scent, and people become close talkers when I wear it...they just can't get enough hahaha.

The fragrance is fresh and sweet without being flowery, more berry sweet.

I would say it has just enough sweetness, making it playful and cheeky.

Viva La Juicy has top notes of wild berries and juicy mandarin gently tempered with honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine.

Underlying it all are warm tones of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline.

Okay enough about how i smell :)

On to my nails.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "white on", Revlon "silver", NYX "ice glitter"

Start off with your favorite base coat.  Let dry.  You'll need a white and silver polish.  Place a few blobs of both colors on a palette because you'll be needing to work with both at the same time.

Using a toothpick or a dotting tool, place blobs of polish on the tip of the nail in a row as to cover the tip.  First place white, then silver, then white, and silver again.

Then using a toothpick drag the colors together upwards in swirling effects. 

It will look like waves.

Let dry. Place a sparkly silver polish over the swirls, make sure the majority of the sparkles are on the swirls and then just a few sparkles on the clear part of the nail...you want to make a gradient effect.

This look is nice for a night out...or for a lil' somethin' somethin' special.

xoxoChiika

For more nail looks, from previous posts, click "get nailed", down below in the labels!

my ears want more! KIDNAP KID

My ears want more!
Kidnap Kid
I'm addicted to...
"if" ...click to listen
"no one else"...click to listen
"shouldn't be alone"...click to listen

Like them on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kidnap-kid/98190009686
and follow on soundcloud
http://soundcloud.com/kidnap_kid

strong is beautiful ~ I am a champion

YouTube video Strong is beautiful ~ I am a Champion ~ fitness inspiration

I am making myself...epic

made this video to inspire myself before my workouts

hope it helps anyone who needs a little motivation

"I am only one,

But still I am one,

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something,

And because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do"

:)

*click on the link below the picture*

xoxoChiika

wild leopard

I feel so funky :) One of my favourite nail designs to wear.  I feel a hint of animal print is always "in".  I used colours that you generally wouldn't acquaint with animal print which I think makes this look really fun and fashion forward.
Start off with a cream polish, use a purple to create a french tip, and let dry.  Working diagonally from right to left make little pink splotches. Then using a toothpick, line the pink with 3 little "c" shapes to make the leopard print.  Finish off with top coat.

xoxoChiika

O.P.I. "bride's bouquet", Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "purple potion", China Glaze "strawberry fields", Wet 'n' Wild "black creme"

For more nail looks, from previous posts, click "get nailed", down below in the labels!

what to eat?

What to eat?

If you're ever in Greece you have to try the pizza (πίτσα) and the bougatsa (μπουγάτσα).

Oh my god!!! The bougaaaaaaatsa, my favourite.  Usually only available in the morning to afternoon, because bougatsa is usually eaten as breakfast. Its a flaky pastry and you can ask for different fillings.

Spinach, which is called spanakopita.

Meat, which is kreatopita.

Feta, which is called tiropita.

And my personal favourite custard, which is called kremopita. Usually this one comes with icing sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

xoxoChiika

shoes,shoes,shoes

AAAAAH! Accessories! I used to be obsessed with purses and handbags and in the past couple years I've added shoes to my addiction. I can't walk past a shoe store without going in.  The shoe stores in Greece have a bit of a different layout then what I'm used to in Canada.  The stores are usually really small and the majority of the store is the window front.  If you don't see anything while window shopping chances are there is going to be nothing in the store that you will like, because they put their best quality items in the display. 

xoxoChiika

cobble stone houses

Old town Veria 

zebra funk

"black creme"

"rasberry sorbetto"

 I love trying out new designs on my nails. I feel like it really finishes off any outfit, and there's just something really therapeutic in taking time to take care of yourself. I called the design Zebra funk :D

Zebra funk: first apply top coat and a coat of Borghese "rasberry sorbetto" to all nails except the "ring" fingers of both hands. The ring fingers paint black with wet'n'wild's "black creme".  Then using a cosmetic sponge, dip into the black polish, stipple on to the nail close to the cuticle and lighten as you work towards the free edge. Next apply pink polish on the cosmetic spong and lightly sponge over top of the black.  Let dry.  Final step using a toothpick or something fine add white dots close to the cuticle and space them out as you get near to the free edge.  On the ring fingers make zebra stipes using the white polish.  finish off with your favourite top coat.

xoxoChiika

For more nail looks, from previous posts, click "get nailed", down below in the labels!

"white on"

french hearts

This look is super cute.  I got so many compliments.
heart manicure

materials: base/top coat, Sally Hansen Xtreme wear "white on", Borghese "rasberry sorbetto", konad nail stamping plate "m56", konad nail stamper and scraper.

Start off with a base coat, do a simple french manicure allow to dry.  Use "rasberry sorbetto" on the heart stamping plate. Scrape off excess polish, and roll the stamper over the design.  Align the hearts with the french tip and apply the stamping in a rolling motion.  Apply top coat.

xoxoChiika

For more nail looks, from previous posts, click "get nailed", down below in the labels!

city colors

If you're in the Veria area check out "elia city colors", an open concept bar/cafe.  My cousins and I regularly go to this spot for late night drinks.  The atmosphere is hip and modern...and the dj keeps the tunes flowin'.  I love the different color lights and not to mention the view...you can see the whole city lit up from where you're sitting. 

xoxoChiika

naoussa town clock at night

Naoussa town clock at night

market

Today I went to the market, in Thessaloniki.  If you really want to get a feel for the culture you have to check out the markets.  You can get everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to fresh fish and meat, to clothing, shoes, and accessories, even things for the home, table linens and curtains.  Everything is cheaper at the markets and it's always bussling with people.  The stand vendors are always yelling something out to get your attention and the atmosphere is really lively.  I took this picture of the olives because I don't think I've ever seen so many olives and different types before.  Sometimes they'll even let you have a sample so that you can see which ones you would rather buy.

Every town in Greece has their own market on a different day.  wherever you visit ask to find out when the "Laiki" will be taking place...it's definitely worth a visit.

xoxoChiika

mountain view

my backyard :)

cotton candy sky

I love looking up into the clouds...when I was a kid I would always stare up into the clouds trying to figure out what animals or shapes I could see in them.  Has anyone else ever done that?  I don't know anyway, give it a try you'll be amazed at what you'll notice.  I was able to snap these pictures one afternoon...I always carry my camera around with me cause you never know when you're going to need it.  I'm in love with the colours of the sky, soft pinks and purples and a hazy blues remind me of the carnival and cotton candy :D

xoxoChiika

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

I just love watching artists at work.  This artist was set up near Aristotelous Square and he was painting the White tower that can be seen along the waterfront.  I really enjoy drawing its been a passion of mine since I was little.  My parents tell me that before I was speaking I was drawing.  I usually like doing portraits and abstract, but my medium, is either pencil, conte, charcoal or pen.  I'm not good at painting so I always find it interesting to see painted art work, the way streaks of colors blend together to form a picture.  xoxoChiika