NYC On My Mind: March 2012

3.30.2012

March 2012 Teen Vogue Birchbox

Seeing all my blogger friends over last few months receiving their Birchboxes made me jealous with their full sized samples of products from brands that I love and know. When I had the opportunity to get my own subscription I jumped at the chance. I'll be coming at you for the next year with these so come back each month.

This month I had the option of receiving the Teen Vogue Birchbox instead of the usual box (I wonder who got the regular box?) In it I got a few goodies that I immediatly used the day I got my box. I am really loving the Fresh Inc. Sugar Rose lip treatment, because not only are my lips smoother but it also has a tint that gives my lips a great color. Also the perfume sample I love because the scent is very fresh giving you that clean open field smell.

As I just received the box this week because I was out of town I am yet to use the other items but Ill let you know what I think.

Annick Goutal "Petite Cherie" perfume sample

Fresh Inc. Sugar Rose Lip treatment with SPF 15 (a lip tint I'm currently obsessed with)

Essie Luxeffects in "A Cut Above"

Twistband hair tie (orange)

L'Oreal Kerastase hair elixir

A $10 off any ModCloth purchase of $75 or more

A great subscription deal to Teen Vogue (you are never to old for Teen Vogue)

By the way the adorable Eva Chen the beauty editor from Teen Vogue picked out this month's goodies - she has got her own Tumblr page so check her out!

3.29.2012

Punisher

So I am finally back at my own home with more of a wardrobe selection this week. I actually just pulled into my neighborhood when I shot these. My friend David came over for my last night out on the "Island" and I was dropping him off on his street when I decided to do this photo shoot.

David actually gave me the idea for the blog title since he thought my shirt was a Punisher tee. I kinda knew that he was a comic book character. But I asked Dave what his back ground was, demeanor and what kind of vehicle he drove. He informed me he was a tough guy that was revenging his family that was killed. The Punisher supposedly has no remorse when he gets his revenge and pretty much an all around nasty guy.

I brought in my car into the shoot even though she's a bit dusty. I call my car Shade (pronounced like the singer Sade.) Ive had my car since 2005 when I traded her for my old 1997 Honda Accord 2 door. I love my car, and she is really reliable. I keep low mileage on her and all her work is up to date, she will be getting her own pair of new shoes (brake) this month! I've got something in the works this summer with her and hopefully it pans out, so this won't be the last you see of my beauty.

Davida skull tee via Marshalls, Target leopard jeans and black blazer, Vera Wang for Kohls lace-up wedges, tote c/o Romwe, Ray-Ban Wayfarer

whats up with my face here?

3.21.2012

I Know Places

Since I am staying out on the island for a week I might as well do some exploring right? Like I said in my previous post I wanted to go see The Planting Fields Aboretum near by in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Sunday turned out to be such a beautiful day so I headed out there with my friend David.

Even with the trees and flowers not yet in full bloom, the estate grounds and Coe Hall Manor was gorgeous to walk around and enjoy the weather. There are also greenhouses full of fragrant blooms and unique floral specimens. Coe Hall isn't open for tours until April 1st, but if you have the time the 409 acres of the estate grounds and the greenhouses are worth taking a peek at.

H&M floral pants, Zara mint green blouse, Ralph Lauren pink silk blazer, Dooney & Bourke bag, Payless booties, Ray-Ban Wayfarer.

3.17.2012

Gold Coast Living

Hey all this is my first post since I have renamed my blog and I am not even in the city, wanh, wanh. I am actually dog/ house sitting for my boss. I am staying in one of oldest areas of money in the US. The Gold Coast they call it, I am surrounded by mansions of old money. I am also in the many place settings for the stories of Nelson DeMille and many others. I'll be out here for a week traveling into the city for work during the week and hanging out this weekend here. I might go visit the Planting Fields Aboretum , a 65 room mansion museum and public gardens on Sunday. Other wise its work, me and the dogs and and 40 mile roundtrip commute by car to work in the city.

This is just a quick post because I gotta pick up my best friend David from the train station.

H&M floral blazer, white tee, Zara green zip jeans, MIA grey platform sandals, Rebecca Minkoff MAC bag, green studded wrap bracelet, Kenneth Cole watch, thrifted gold chains, college ring

3.14.2012

Happy Blogaversary!

One year ago I started Black Shoes Diary and I have fond memories of everything that came with having the blog. All the people I met and all the events I have attended through my blog, I am so grateful for. But I feel that the moniker of the Black Shoes Diary name is a some what of a closed bottle keeping me from ever expanding into what I would love this blog to be.

My blog needed a new name. NYC On My Mind. That name has always been there for me when I was far away from my city in distance and in life, kept me alive and constantly grounded. I knew no matter where I was, NYC was always my home and who I was as a person. So I could be in the middle of Antarctica or the middle of Queens, NYC will always be on my mind.

More importantly than changing the name to some thing so familiar, I feel with the name change I can go more places with the blog. I can take my readers on a journey around the city and in my life that is surrounded by it.

Don't fret. I will be keeping my fashion that isn't going anywhere. I love putting on clothes, making a mess of my closet trying to create the best look and finding the right pieces for my ever expanding wardrobe (codeword for shopaholic.)

I hope the new name has given me the focus to look in the right direction. Given me the space the expand into the world I have wanted to be in. Given you my readers the chance to know me better and me the chance to one day know you as well.

If you forget blackshoesdiary.blogspot.com will direct you to the new NYConmymind.com.

Thank you.

Nicole xxoo

3.11.2012

My Blog is Turning One

In less than 3 days my blog will be turning 1. But there will be major changes to the blog, I have in mind to take a chance in changing the name of my blog Title and web address included. It will still be me and fashion but I have a few things in the future that will be the reason for the name change. So don't fret when you come on March 14th 2012 and see something weird, if you forget you still will be able to get to my website through the old address.

Thank you for your patience with me. I love you all lots.

Much love!

3.07.2012

The Scenic Route

In the next few weeks my blog is going to be under construction, so please don't leave me if you don't recognize it. I feel like I am ever evolving not so much like a caterpillar changes like a butterfly but something more that can't be named. I feel while my fashion focused blog has been a great thing for me I really would love to give you more of me. More of who I am and who I would love to be, so hopefully I can portray this across my blog in the future.

So anyways, I've been doing some research and scouting locations for my blog. Through the searching I have found out some great things so I cannot wait to share them with you. But last Sunday after visiting Vaute a new vegan clothing store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I decided to take the scenic route home and I got to go somewhere new.

Gantry State Park in Long Island City is a wonderful walking park on a boardwalk and piers on the Queens waterfront that has wonderful views of the east side of Manhattan from as low as the Williamsburg bridge to the south and the Queensboro Bridge to the north and beyond. You can also see the Empire State Building, the UN Building and the Chrysler Buildings clearly. While I went there on a chilly winter day, I can only imagine it being full of life during the warmer months.

Dress - Everly via Shop Sosie

Safari jacket - Target

Coat - Green via Loehmann's

Boots - Dolcetta by Dolce Vita

Tights and Socks - H&M

Bag - Zara

See how I put this outfit together on in this post via Polyvore

3.05.2012

Shake Your TailLight

Classic lines revamped. Style no matter how innovative it is always has roots from somewhere in the past. Some times it is recognizable and other times you really have to dig for those roots. The inspirations come from everywhere from art, to world events, to architecture, and to now automobiles.

The 1959 Cadillac with its large tail fins and bullet lights has its own DNA in the race for the future and space race. Beginning in the late 1940'2 Americans were having a love affair with the "Space Age" and the "Kitchen of the Future" and the 1950's the dreams continued. Everywhere one looked in that era the "Space Age" theme thrived in television (remember the jetsons), automobiles, advertisements and toys (laser guns). Its also continued into the 1960's with the introduction of Mod wear which was the gear to worn in space.