Brandy Saldana – Page 39 – Will Bake for Shoes

Outfit
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- Work

Work Week Chic

Posted on January 31, 2014by Brandy Saldana

Blazer and earrings Forever 21 (Similar earrings here) | Top Express (Similar here) | Pants Anchor Blue (Similar here) | Nude Pumps Steve Madden (Similar here)When I get ready for work, I usually have a general idea of what items I’d like to work with in the morning. I thrifted this blazer about 2 months ago and have not had a chance to wear it since most of time soon after was spent preparing for my trip and being on vacation. I thought it’d be appropriate to wear it since the weather has also been really nice and it is a short-sleeved blazer.
Using the blazer as the center of my outfit, I picked out the pants because it has the same feel as the sleeves of the blazer. I added the gold earrings and nude pumps to also bring out the gold stripe detail. The purple top completed the look and popped against an otherwise neutral outfit. Sometimes I can’t help myself when it comes to matching so many details, but I am glad I am now more willing to add a pop of color to the look.
Hope you’ve had a great week/month! Time to welcome February!
Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

Date
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- Outfit

A Date by the Pier

Posted on January 28, 2014by Brandy Saldana

Short Trench Coat B.B. Dakota (Similar here) | Red Skater Dress Zara (Similar here) | Silk Patterned Scarf Oscar de la Renta | Black Patent Bow Forever 21 (Similar here) | Polka Dot Mouse Flats Marc by Marc Jacobs (Similar here) | Natasha Petal to the Metal Cross Body Marc by Marc Jacobs (Exact match here) | Sunglasses DG
Armando and I made a date to together in San Francisco last Monday. We both had the day off and decided to walk around near Pier 39. We passed by all the shops and street performers and discovered the Maritime National Museum at the Hyde Street Pier. Admission was free that day so we toured the ships docked as part of the museum. Afterwards, we made our way to Ghiradelli Square to split an ice cream sundae. For lunch,we had clam chowder, calamari, and crab cakes at a restaurant along Fisherman’s Wharf.

Once we made it back to Pier 39, we walked in and reached the carousel. I originally thought my outfit photo should be taken with the ocean in the background, but the colors of the carousel worked with my outfit really well! It also looked fun which is the look I was going for when I was getting dressed this morning. I was really happy about being able to spend time with the man behind the lens. It isn’t everyday that we get to hang out and not worry about work/school. We had a blast together and he was dressed cute too but he is a little camera shy and doesn’t let me take his outfit photo…yet.
Hope you all had a fun weekend and until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

Beauty
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- Skincare

The Wonders of STEAMCREAM

Posted on January 24, 2014by Brandy Saldana

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by STEAMCREAM. All views and opinions are my own.

When I returned from my trip to Japan, I had a cute package waiting in my apartment from the lovely people at STEAMCREAM. When I saw the tin, I thought the Japanese Plum (Ume) and Bush Wabler (Uguisu) decoration was adorable! The name of the tin is ‘Ume Ni Uguisu’ meaning ‘a great match’ and I feel this is a really great match for me thanks to my love of the Japanese culture.

This was also a great match for me because I also was in need of some new lotion. I say I needed lotion, but STEAMCREAM is really a multi-purpose cream and I’ve been using it on my hands, legs, and face. The natural and vegan ingredients include: Oatmeal infusion, Orange Flower Water, Almond Oil, Lavender Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, and Cocoa Butter.And, to make it even better, STEAMCREAM is freshly handmade in England in a completely reusable tin.

The product, and ingredients, are cruelty-free and the packaging is environmentally responsible with its minimal aluminum design. This is definitely important to me as I want to be sustainable and it is important for me for things to be reusable. The art work on the tins are limited edition, which makes it exciting when thinking of what tin to get next! It makes a great collectible once it is used up thanks to its unique artwork to store jewelry or use to store office supplies (which I am excited to do!)

I’ve definitely fallen in love with the hydrating and softening effect of STEAMCREAM on my skin. There is no greasy feel or residue when it is applied. I’m still not sure how I feel about the light scent the cream has, but I think it is great that it isn’t overwhelming since I like to apply perfume everyday. The tin is also small enough to be carried everywhere, even on a carry-on (at 2.6 oz.) I know I’ll be taking it with me on m next trip Japan and not be worried about it opening up and making a mess in my bag. I can also take a few extra with me and they would make great gifts, or omiyage, for a host or friend.

STEAMCREAM is also only $20, which to me is very reasonable considering the product is handmade, eco-friendly, and uses natural ingredients. And if you are on the fence about trying it, you should now that free shipping is offered worldwide. I am hooked and if you are ready to try the wonders of STEAMCREAM you can shop from their site here. I loved the art for the Ume Ni Uguisu tin, but what will you choose? And what will you store in it when you have used it? Let me know if you’ve tried it or plan on trying it too!
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

Outfit
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- Work

French Twist

Posted on January 22, 2014by Brandy Saldana

Trench Style Coat 2B Bebe (here) | Black Malarbis Silk Blouse Diane Von Furstenberg | Red Pencil Skirt J Crew | Black Suede Metra Booties Nine West | Knit Beanie and Statement Necklace Forever 21New Year, New You!
At least that’s what the windows say at my nearest Crossroads Trading Co. By now most people have forgotten or broken what they resolved to do with the start of a new year. I didn’t resolve to do much this year except a few things. 1) Wear new items I buy sooner, ex: the J Crew pencil skirt in this post. I bought it back in October and it had just been hanging in my closet a little surprised it hadn’t been worn all throughout the Fall season. One thing I can learn to improve is wearing what I buy right away so I don’t feel as guilty for splurging and maybe even see myself shopping less with this tactic.
My other goal, which has remained strong, is to sell items through my closet on Poshmark. This last weekend I made a bunch of sales and it has motivated me to keep adding things to my closet that I am not wearing or don’t plan on wearing anytime soon. I think when it comes to how I spend my time, I do spent a lot of time on Poshmark, checking for new notifications, sharing items from other people’s closets, and taking photos of the items I plan on listing. I’ve become a little obsessed with all the pretty cover shots that I’ve created a board on Pinterest devoted to listings I see in the app. (You can see what catches my eye here.)
The coat I am wearing in today’s outfit post is one of those pieces that does not get much attention from me since I tend to wear my black princess coat. I love the sparkle it has and the overall look of the jacket. It has so much detail and as I write this is sounds almost silly to be selling it. But I did just comeback from Japan with 3 new coats and don’t have space for everything in my studio. Currently it is listed in my Poshmark closet here in case you are a size XS and need a fabulous winter coat. And if it doesn’t sell, that’s okay. In creating listings on the app I’ve fallen in love with pieces I thought I no longer wanted and this helps me transition to my final goal for the year with my closet.
I want to want what I have. And while there are a bunch a pieces that I tend to reach for again and again because I love them and use them, I want to be able to remember that in case I find myself shopping. With every new issue of a magazine, Fashion can feel a little overwhelming with all the trends or must-have items of the moment. It is easy to be caught in a vicious cycle of always wanting more. I can’t say I won’t always want high-end items or more clothes, but I can do a better job of really appreciating what I do have and working with it.
Hope you have been able to keep up with your resolutions and wish me luck with mine!
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

Beauty

Crown Brush HD Set With Mirror and Tweezers

Posted on January 17, 2014by Brandy Saldana

This post is sponsored by Crown Brush. All opinions expressed are my own.

When I go to Makeup stores, which is a pretty rare occurrence, I admit I do admire brushes and various types there are. I’ve seen other people use different brushes for applying powder foundation or for eye shadow but that’s as far as my knowledge goes as to what you can do with them. I think one of my favorite thing when it comes to seeing brushes is touching the bristles and comparing how soft they are to one another and that was one of the first things I did when I received this Brush Set with Tweezers c/o Crown Brush.

When it comes to makeup, I am not an expert. I certainly cannot tell the difference between brushes and what each one is good for, so it might come as a surprise that for my first Beauty post that I decided to share my take on Crown Brush’s HD Cosmetic Brush Set. But this seems to have been designed for someone like me in mind since each brush is labeled so you know what to do with it. The only item not labeled, but easily recognized, is the pair of tweezers that also comes with this set. The other Pro of this set for me is that it comes in a travel size case that can actually fit in most of my purses and could have easily joined me during my recent trip to Japan. And most importantly for me, the brushes are cruelty free and Vegan Friendly.

I used the Pro Powder brush to apply my Marc Jacobs powder foundation and felt it did a great job spreading it without needed to dip it back in for more product. I have not been able to experiment with the other brushes yet, but I did try out the tweezers. They felt very sturdy and I consider their quality to be like Tweezerman tweezers. I think it is a major plus that the set comes with a pair since I don’t feel it is common with other brush sets. I washed the brush since it looked dirty after the first use and I am not sure how frequently that needs to be done, but it looked good as new afterwards.

Overall, I liked the set and I am excited to see what I can do with the other brushes. Apparently they not only work with powders but also with creams and liquids. I may just need to start watching beauty tutorials on Youtube for inspiration- Let me know if you have any recommendations on a great tutorial.

If you are interested in trying out the Crown Brush HD Cosmetic Brush Set or giving it as a gift you can find it on their site on sale for $27.95 here: http://bit.ly/19fuEGV. It comes in white/blue , purple, orange and now in red! Hopefully you enjoyed my first Beauty product review and look forward to more.
Until next time,Brandy| BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |TUMBLR | TWITTER |

Japan
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- Travel

Harajuku and Ameyoko

Posted on January 17, 2014by Brandy Saldana

Saturday (or Day 6) was spent recovering in my sisters dorm from all the walking we did at Dsiney Sea the day before. We decided to go out Sunday for some breakfast and shopping in Harajuku before I returned home for the holidays on Monday. Despite the cold, the street were packed with tourists and younger people in amazing clothes. I tried to capture some of that in the photos I took.

Before even making our way down to Takeshita Street in Harajuku, we stopped by Kiddy Land. It was a 5 story toy store and my sister and I toured through each one. We spent a good chunk of our day here but it was worth it to see all the various stuffed animals of mascots and toys that were popular among the adults and kids. We made our way to Takeshita Street and the fashion scene still continues to blow my mind. I am not camera shy but I still find it daunting to ask someone if I can take their photo. I think on my next trip I will finally be able to articulate “May I take your photo?” in Japanese with more confidence. I did do some shopping after eating some delicious crepes and came home with 3 coats. As I mentioned in a previous post, Fur, real or faux, was everywhere and my 3 coats feature faux fur detail that is also removable. (The weather as of late in the Bay Area has been unseasonably warm so who knows when I’ll be able to wear them and style them.) They were perfect for the cold weather there and I recommend buying a coat when you travel somewhere that’s cold because it will be suited for the climate.

After our time in Harajuku, we made our way up to Ameyoko. I had done a search on Youtube for what to do in Japan and visiting Ameyoko was on the list. I was intrigued by the name. Ame means sweet in Japanese and can refer to all the candy stores that used to be located in this area. Ame is also short for America and can allude to the fact that this area was a type of underground market after WWII and even today sells imported and American goods at some pretty high prices. My sister was excited to spot pinto beans here, so she bought some from one of the vendors and resolved to bring her roommates next time in case they needed imported food.

There are a variety of stalls in Ameyoko, and it is near a bustling downtown area with large department stores. It is also known for its fish market and insane deals. My sister and I happened to witness a type of auction for about $10, you could get all the items being thrown into the bag. I thought it’d be best to share a video of what that looked like and you can recognize some parts of English words.

This last location with all of its import goods was a good way to end my time in Japan for the winter. Before heading out from Ameyoko my sister and I made sure to buy some sweets from a store and stocked up on a bunch of goodies to bring back as souveniers. If I learned anything from this trip is that it makes sense to bring an empty duffle bag so you can check in your suitcase on the way back and have the duffle bag be your carry on. Especially if you need to fit 3 coats you had not planned on getting and extra sweets.