Kushyfoot Flats to Go Review

I never understood how some women can walk through the airport, carrying a briefcase and rolling a suitcase, in 3 inch heals. Me, on the other hand, am all about comfort. I do wear my highest heels to client visits, but while traveling to my clients, I'm all about the flats!

I was recently lucky enough to try Kushyfoot Flats to Go, which are designed for travelers as well as anyone who needs a break from their heels. They are ultra portable, and can fit in nicely into your laptop bag or medium to large size purse.



These are for indoor use, and could possibly work outdoor in dry weather. They are really thin, so I wouldn't rely on them to keep your feet warm, just comfortable.

They slip on like a glove and provide relief from heels or uncomfortable shoes. I usually wear these into the airport, through security, on the plane, and to the rental car station, before I even put my heels on, saving my feet hours of torture! I love how they fold right in half and fit nicely into their clear plastic pouch they came in.

I tested out the snake print flats. These have black soles and a little snake print bows on top. I normally wear a 6.5 size shoe, and size 5-6 Kushyfoot Flats to Go fit me great. These are way to casual and thin to pass as "normal" shoes, but you will definitely see me wearing these as long as possible before I need to put my heels on. They retail for $9.99 and can be purchased from Kushyfoot.com. I would definitely recommend keeping a pair in your work laptop bag, purse or car, for emergency heel situations!

Friday Favorites

This picture was taken while coming in for our landing in NYC. I was surprised at how good it came out. I seriously want to get this printed and framed. I was on my way to NY Fashion Week so I was a very happy camper. 

 Workout with Mike in Bryant Park. We did a HIIT workout and got some weird looks, but it was still a blast. 

 Phillip Limsanity! 3.1 Phillip Lim line at Target.com was a hit in my opinion. I scored most of the pieces I wanted (more pics to come). The large black tote that is pictures is my new work laptop bag. I get so many compliments on it!

Dinner with my team at Vellum in Ann Arbor. Hot new restaurant. I loved how they placed the veggies on my plate. All about the details!

Another team trip, but to shop! I purchased Sugar Paper journal from Rock Paper Scissors in Ann Arbor. It matches my new work bag :) I had no idea this store existed and now that I do, it could be dangerous! 

Please share your favorite things from this week in the comments! You can follow me on instagram.com/lipglossbreak to see more things I love :)

Trump Hotel Chicago

Sometimes, a girl just needs to be pampered...which is why I get giddy like a school girl when I get to stay at the Trump Hotel Chicago. Half of my sales team sits in our Chicago office, so when I visit, I'm able to stay at the Trump which is walking distance from our office.

I appreciate good customer service and experience, and consistently, the Trump Chicago has exceeded my expectations. Here's what I love about this hotel...

• They get to know you...when you fill out a profile as a Trump Card Privileges member (free to join), they truly honor your special needs. Favorite magazine, snacks, etc. I specified that I eat healthy and came back to my hotel room one night with a full on exotic fruit spread. It was amazing.
• Each room has a Nespresso machine with both regular and decaf options.
• Turn down service is on point. Bottles of water are left behind for at night slippers are placed by your bed.
• They leave behind a note card each day with the weather for the next day. Super helpful.
• The gym is amazing. Amazing view, large amount of cardio and weight machines, and the locker room is like a spa. They even have takeaway mini booklets with different workout programs, depending on what your goal is.
• They have their own line of amenities that smell great. We were lucky enough to stay in a spa room one stay and got bonus bath and body products, body scrub and body butters...
• The bathroom mirror has a TV in it...enough said.
• Extremely comfortable beds

The Trump realizes that they get a lot of work travelers, so they do their best to make you feel comfortable, pampered and at home. If you're in a city where there's a Trump, I definitely encourage you to splurge. It's a celebratory type of hotel.

Wine on the house because of a reservation mix up

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  View from treadmill

  

  Nespresso machine and mini bar

My Top 7 Tips for Packing a Cosmetic Bag

Modella cosmetic bag

I’ve come a long way since my days of over packing for trips. I use to have to check a large suitcase for a 3 day trip! Now, after a lot of practice, I don’t panic when I have to pack for a few nights, and I can even get everything in my carry on, in under an hour.

One tactic that I have used that has streamlined the packing process is always keeping my makeup and toiletries bag packed. I like to keep a separate travel cosmetic bag packed with all of my travel friendly sized necessities. The Modella Weekender Cosmetic bag is one I have been using lately. 

The Weekender has 3 main zipper pockets (2 on the inside, one on the outside) that can fit all of my cosmetic items and toiletries. I like that one side is a meshed zipper pocket for toothbrushes and makeup brushes, which will help them dry/breathe if you have to put them in damp. The front pocket also contains travel size bottles which you can fill with your face wash, shampoos, etc. With this always packed and ready to go, I only have to worry about my clothes and accessories when packing for a trip.

Here are my top tips for packing (and stocking!) makeup products and toiletries fast and efficiently!

1 - Keep a container of all your travel size items. I put mine in a separate basket in my linen closet, so when it's time to pack, I know right where they are at and can easily sort through the ones I need to take.

2 - Call ahead and ask the hotel or your host if they have a hair dryer you can use. Hair dryers are bulky and if you don't have to pack one, you'll have more room for shoes :)

3 - Redeem Sephora and Ulta points for travel size items. Free gifts with purchase are also commonly travel size items. Save these for travel. Don't use them every day unless you run out of your full size product. Birchbox and Glossy Box monthly beauty subscriptions are always great for stocking my travel size collection.

4 - Prescription creams, ointments and liquids do not have to be under 3.4oz and do not have to fit in a quart size bag, saving you more room for beauty products.

5 - Opt for towel or powder versions of products when traveling. Towel cleansing facial pads, towel self tanners, powder foundations (instead of liquid), dry powder shampoo, etc.
This will allow you more room for your liquid necessities if you want to carry your luggage on the plane.

6 - Little vials of perfume aren't just sample size, they are travel size! Whenever I get a sample I like I immediately add it to my travel makeup case. I would just recommend putting it in a little Ziploc bag before putting it in your makeup bag for traveling.

7 – I usually use the shampoo and conditioner provided by the hotel, but if you require your own, the mini bottles in hotel rooms are perfect for this. Recycle the mini bottles provided to refill with your own shampoo and conditioner for your next trip!

Remember, liquids have to be below 3.4 ounces. You'll be seeing more of the '3-1-1' rule through security lines now. Here is what the TSA.gov site says:

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.

What are your travel tips and tricks? Please share! And stay tuned for a cosmetic bag giveaway this week! 

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer. 

Yoga + Kettlebells = Cosmic Kettlebells

My kettlebell coach had once told me that Minneapolis has a huge kettlebell following, so when I was there last year, I attended a local kettlebell studio, Southside Kettlebells, and had a blast. So when I was in town last week, I wanted to try out a new studio. I came across Four Gates in my searches and decided to check out a class called Cosmic Kettlebells.

Cosmic Kcttlebells is a combination of vinyasa yoga and kettlebells. Here's the description on the site:

"The word “yoga” means “to integrate” or “union”, and this definition is very well exemplified in this one of a kind class. We merge sun salutations, kettlebell lifts, Qi Gong exercises, and full body hooping to create a state of cosmic bliss and universal strength. We recommend that students attend one kettlebell expansion class first."

I was really curious how the class was going to flow. I was pleasantly surprised at the balance between yoga and kettlebells. I got a great cardio workout in while stretching and meditating in the same hour.

It was American style kettlebell moves which I'm not totally use to, but caught on quick. We picked up our bells from the squat position to start each kettlebell circuit, and then once the circuit was over we did traditional yoga moves.

I was really sore the next day from all of the stretching and deep squats. I will definitely be taking the class again when I visit Minneapolis again. I highly encourage checking out a new class or gym when traveling for work or pleasure. Every class is different and it's always fun to learn and try something new!

And on a separate note, to end my trip, I swung by the Mall of America before I caught my flight, and guess which store was right by my entrance??? Fate!

Get Cozy at a Kimpton Hotel

 

I completed a wonderful stay at the Harbor Court Hotel in San Francisco about a month ago. Harbor Court is a Kimpton Hotel, which are all boutique hotels. I've always been very impressed with Kimpton hotels' hospitality, loyalty program and perks.

Few of the perks....

• I've stayed at 3 different Kimpton Hotels before and all have a complimentary happy hour for guests, including beer, wine and snacks. This is really nice to come back to after a long day of work. They also always have lemon and/or orange flavored water and coffee in the lobby in the AM.

• Once you join their free loyalty program, Kimpton inTouch Loyalty, you automatically get free in room WIFI (it's hard to believe some hotels still charge for this) and $10 worth of goodies from the mini bar. This stay I opted for 2 water bottles, but next time I'm going for the wine.

• At Harbor Court in SF, they have bikes you can check out and use to explore the city. They are also usually pet friendly. I don’t have a pet, but could see this being a huge plus if I was pet owner.

Last year my husband and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary in Chicago. We made reservations at the Palomar hotel and of course, I tweeted about it. We were out and about in the city and when we came back at night we had a lovely surprise, chocolate cover strawberries and champagne! The hotel staff left a really sweet note wishing us a happy anniversary.

Kimpton hotels do a really great job at making you feel ‘at home’ in a big city. They have locations in several big cities, including Boston, Chicago, SF and Miami. If they are an option for your next trip, I highly recommend checking them out!

Photo from Kimptonhotels.com

Bargain Boutique Hotel in NYC

This past weekend my husband and I spent some time in our old NYC neighborhood, the Upper West Side. I miss the city life…a lot! The weather was unreal this past weekend. High 50s in mid-January? I’ll take it!

We stayed at On the Avenue New York Hotel on the Upper West Side. This is hotel is a BARGAIN for NYC. It’s cute boutique hotel, located at W 77th & Broadway. It’s tucked away in a corner and doesn’t stand out. We paid an average of $80/night at this hotel for a Friday-Sunday stay...unreal for NYC!

The rooms were clean, service was friendly, and they have all the standard amenities (shampoo, conditioner, soaps, lotions, hair dryer, coffee, etc.). They have wireless internet in the rooms but you have to pay for it. There is also a small workout room with a few treadmills, elliptical, weight bench and hand weights.

If you want to do NYC on the cheap, I highly recommend this hotel. I know the Upper West Side isn’t in the center of the action, but at this hotel, you are only a few subway stops from being downtown.

Some of our favorite spots on the Upper West Side:
Edgar's Cafe, Amsterdam & W 92nd - Favorite spot for breakfast after a good weekend workout. Jerry Stiller is also a fan of this restaurant (love letter from him framed on the wall!)
Mermaid Inn, Amsterdam & W 88th St. - Great brunch, steak & eggs recommended by my hubby
Good Enough to Eat, Amsterdam & W 83rd St. - Long line, but worth the wait. Creative breakfasts you won't find anywhere else
Pomodoro, Columbus & W 71st - Welcoming Italian restaurant. You feel like family when you're there!
The Dead Poet, Amsterdam & W 82nd - Love this bar, owned by Michigan natives. Total mixed bag on any night, from college students to UWS locals. I recommend the whiskey flight...enough for 2 to share!

Currently Loving...

Coffee pics. I love coffee in general, but fun cups and mugs make it that much better. This one put a smile on my face even though I had a 5 minute wait for the train. It's from the W 87th and Broadway bodega I stop at when I want to treat myself on the way into work.

I love fun chairs. These aren't practical for my house, but fun to see out and about. This one is at the Hotel Palomar Chicago (which has a complimentary coffee bar every morning, which I also love). 

I love sushi, but healthy sushi rocks my world. Imi Sushi on 92nd and Amsterdam makes mean brown rice rolls. They even take it up enough with cucumber wrapped rolls. They are my go to restaurant when I get grubhub.com to deliver.

I'm currently loving accessories. Big, chunky necklaces...can't get enough. I about fell over when I walked into Pink accessories in Midtown. 

I love views from high up. This one is of Chicago and Lake Michigan, from the John Hancock building. Note the shadows of the buildings on the water. Kinda eerie.

 

See what other fabulous bloggers are Loving Lately....

Hamptons Bound

I've had nothing but fun so far in NYC. The shopping, eating and sightseeing has been amazing, but there is one thing I've been missing...the water! I know I'm surrounded by it here, but it's different. I miss the Michigan Lakes! I think Mike was missing it too. So we decided to go on a road trip to get an H2O fix. We were Hamptons bound...

Sunny-side up skillet

First stop, breakfast. Once we picked up our sweet Malibu rental car (ha!) we stopped at Thomas's Ham & Eggery Diner. SO GOOD. This place was rocking so we took a seat at the bar. Great service, food and prices. All egg dishes are served in a skillet (pictured) and fresh muffins baked daily. Loved this touch of home cooking to kick off our road trip.

'Be a cow tipper' was on their tip jar

Second stop was for lunch (only a few hours later from breakfast :) We stopped at the Townline BBQ restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring you your food, fast. Highly recommend the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich. 

Next stop, Napeague Beach. I swear this was a private beach we snuck on to. We parked of the high way and walked about .25 miles to the shore. We laid our towels down, covered ourselves in sunscreen, laid out until we couldn't stand the heat any longer, and then jumped into the water. Splashing in the waves reminded me of going to the Jersey Shore growing up. 

Next stop was a ridiculous cool roadside restaurant called the Clam Bar. Fresh seafood served daily. I've been on such a seafood kick lately! We had the grilled tuna and lobster salad. SO FRESH. You can't get lobster like that in Michigan. Next stop...Montauk!!! I HAD to visit Montauk for all of my Revenge junkies!

Montauk Lighthouse

Montauk is a cute little beach time that turns into a party town at night. It's on very end of Long Island is super narrow. Arenas and boats on each side. As soon as we stepped out of the car I smelled salt water and I loved it. 

After we indulged ourselves with Ben & Jerry's ice cream, we left Montauk to head home around 7pm and made it back to the Upper West Side in about 3 hours. It was an awesome trip to get a fix for some water fun, and to also see what the Hamptons hype was all about. Huge beautiful houses on the water, fun beachy restaurants with fresh seafood, and a fun flip flop-attire nightlife. I'd love to spend a weekend here again. Mike and I decided that it reminded us a lot of Up North Michigan, except 10 times more expensive to live...I think I'll stick with the Michigan Lakes for my water fix.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad

I'm a self tanning queen, especially in the summer. I don't like to bake in the sun (no wrinkles please!) so I like to use a self tanner to give myself some color in the summer.

I just tried Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pad and loved the color it gave me. It's a large towel that covers your whole body. The towel has little scrubbers in it so it acts like an exfoliator for a smooth application. Right after I applied the towel to my skin I followed up with an unscented lotion, to help ensure an even application (and for extra moisturizing!). 

I applied the towel at night, waited about 10 minutes before getting dressed, put on dark loose clothing, and then went to bed. I woke up the next morning looking like I just got back from the Caribbean! I saw my mom that day, who can appreciate a good self tan job, and she said 'oh my goodness, you are TAN!' I went over my legs and arms twice with the towel, which makes me think my tan came out even darker than normal. I did have one streak on my leg (my fault), which I fixed by scrubbing with a damp wash cloth. 

I love this type of packaging for traveling. They fit nicely in a makeup bag and you don't have to worry about these leaking in your luggage and the carry on liquid rule.

Glow Pads retail at $48 for a box of 8 pads. Definitely worth the splurge if you want a tan for a special event or vacation, or while you are traveling.

10 Best TSA-Friendly Beauty Products

10 Best TSA-Friendly Beauty Products

These travel- and budget-friendly products will keep you looking gorgeous without breaking your vacation bank

We compiled 10 perfect beauty products for travel -- everything from mascara that won't run to the perfect hangover beauty mask. Tuck these babies in your suitcase and you'll glide through the airport without hassle. See Products

Travel Break - Packing for India!

It took me about 4 hours to pack for Paris, and I was only going for 5 days. I dedicated 2 days to packing for India for 2 months and I'm just now finishing! Below is a list of the skincare and beauty essentials I'm bringing with me. Please email me or comment if you think I forgot something...or have something to suggest. I've never been to India, or anywhere else away from home for 2 months, so I'm welcoming suggestions! A lot of these items are new to me, so I'll be posting my reviews of them while I'm in India.

SUNCARE
It's going to be 100 degrees there, first things first, I need to bring some sunscreen with me.

- Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster & Oil Free Matte Block - I'll be mixing the Solar Defense in with my face moisturizer and Smashbox tinted moisturizer.

- La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream - My dermatologist recommended this sunscreen. It contains Mexory SX, which is the new sun filter in the only sunscreen formulas that have been specifically approved by the FDA for protection against short UVA rays.

- Nivea A Kiss of Protection Lip Care SPF 30 - I'm going to keep this on me at all times. Not only does it protect from UVA/UVB rays, but it also contains Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter.

SKINCARE

- Cetaphil bar soap - My favorite. I usually use the pump, but that can be messy in a suitcase, so I purchased a new bar to travel with.

- Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer w/ SPF 15 - This will go under my sunscreen. You can never have too much protection!

- Setoso Eyebalm - I've been using this religiously every morning, before my moisturizer and makeup. I really like the application of this product. Applying the balm relieves you from having to rub the sensitive part of your eye area, and it glides on so smooth. It's cooling, relaxing and perfect for my soon to be jet-lagged eyes.

BATH & BODY

- Dove White Beauty Bar soap - I can't do without this. I buy it in bulk and will never switch.

- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen - I am sacrificing all of my fun smelling body lotions for healthy, sun protected skin. I decided on Aveeno's daily lotion with SPF 15 as a body moistuizer after the shower.

SweetSpot Labs On-The-Go Wipettes - With 36 hours of travel time ahead of me, these will come in handy for freshening up.

HAIR

- I never leave home without my round brush, hair dryer and flat iron.

- Umi SLiquid - This styling gel has aloe in it, along with sunscreen for sun protection. After styling, it leaves my hair frizz free.

COSMETICS

- It was love at first site with this makeup bag. Victoria's Secret Quilted Beauty Carry All Bag in pink matches my master bathroom perfectly. I thought it would be perfect to take with me since it reminds me of home.

- Becca Cosmetics Mineral Bronzer - It's going to be 110 degrees outside...I need to look just a little sunkissed.

- PUR Minerals 4 in 1 Pressed Mineral Powder SPF 15 - I alternate days with mineral make up and tinted moisturizer. I love Pur Minerals powder, it gives me great coverage with an added bonus of SPF 15.

- Lipstick Queen Big Bang in Infinite - This gloss has the perfect tint of pink to it.

- Jelly Pong Pong Fairly Lashes Mascara - This is my new favorite. You can read my review of this product HERE.

- Revlon False Eyelashes - I have no idea what to expect for the nightlife in India, I may want to spice it up one night and really play up my eyes.

- Thevi Cosmetics Triple Split Shadow in Hemisphere - I love having one compact with 3 colors. It makes it easy to pack, especially for short weekend trips while I'm in India. I can do my eyes light during the day, and dark at night, all in one compact.

- Crazy Rumors HibisKiss - This lip color is super moisturizing with the perfect hint of color. It's all natural and vegan.

- Eco Tools Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki - I love this brush. It feels like silk on my face! It applies both bronzer and Pur Minerals 4 in 1 powder really well.

ACCESSORIES

- Hollywood Clear Bra Straps & Hollywood Hookup Bra Converting Clip- I wored these out to my best friend's bachelorette party this past weekend, under a sheer shirt, and loved them! I'll definitely be bringing them to use with my sleeveless dresses.

- Hollywood Hookup Bra Converting Clip - I'll use this on my bras when wearing my new razor back tank tops.

- Headbands - I'm trying to pull off the Gossip Girl look with fun headbands. We'll see if it happens in India.

NAILS

- LA Colors Nail Art in White - Wearing sandals and flip flops will give me the itch for a french manicure.

- Nic's Sticks in Are We There Yet? - I have this on my nails right now, and I'm taking it in my carry on for quick touch ups during layovers.

- Jessica Nail Polish in Coral Reef Daises - I have this on my toes right now. I'm ready for peep toe shoes!

- Zoya Hurry Up Speed Dry Drops - This is my favorite nail product. Not only does it dry nails quickly, but it also moisturizers your cuticles.

Well, I'm all packed now! I'm going to miss all my friends and family so much, but I know that this time will fly by and I will have the experience of a lifetime. Next time I post I'll be in India :)

I'm going to India!

I will be leaving for the journey of a lifetime on March 31st. I will be living and working in Hyderabad, India, for 2 months! I will still continue to post, but it will be from a different country :) Do I have any readers that are from India? Or currently living there? If so, reach out to me!

Stay tuned for my packing list...I'll be listing out all of my essential skincare and beauty products for my trip. The common ingredient in 99% of them? SPF! It's 100 degrees there...

*The picture above is of Charminar, Hyderabad. Charminar, meaning 'Four Towers' is one of the most important monuments in the city of Hyderabad (the 'city of pearls').

I'm Back!

I'm back...and I'm wishing I was in Paris still! What a wonderful city. So beautiful, unique, and fashionable. My favorite part was sitting in cafes, drinking a cafe and eating a crepe with nutella.


My favorite area? Montmartre. My husband and I purchased some beautiful canvas paintings here and are excited to get them framed and hung up in our house.

Of course, I had to go to the Chanel store and at least buy a lipgloss (Aqualumiere) and stop in Louis Vuitton and Kenzo. I purchased a classic Long Champ purse on the last day we were there, and can't wait to tote it around this weekend. The shopping was amazing!

Please stay tuned for some Paris pictures and the next Lipgloss Break giveaway (here's a hint, it will probably be posted tonight!).

I'm Going to Paris!

On February 12th, I leave for Paris...my first trip to Europe! Please leave me a comment or send me suggestions on things I should do and see. I'm going to be there for 5 days, so my blog will be on a bit of a hiatus.

One thing I definitely want to do is go to the Chanel store. I heard it's a unique shopping experience. I can't wait to visit all of the couture cosmetic and bath and body shops. Purely research for the blog :)

Going to NYC...

Hi All - I'm going to be traveling to NYC this week for work. I would love to hear your suggestions on things I should do if I have downtime. I'll be in Manhattan (our office is in the meat-packing district). Any suggestions for restaurants, shops, and of course, spas, I should check out? Postings may be a little slow this week, but I'll be sure to fill everyone in on Friday about any adventures or cool finds I come across while in the city :)