Transition Scents

 During the warmer months I tend to put candles away in favor of quicker burning and altogether less "hot" ways of scenting my spaces. I like a bit of incense or a reed diffuser but when it starts to get cool the candles come right back out. 

I have sort of moved on from my days of the Bath and Bodyworks candle and have stopped trying to find sophisticated and unique scents in the sea of sugar-y frosted donits and pumpkin coffee. 

Enter the wonderful world of small batch candle life. 

An Apple A Day

 Nothing makes an Autumnal weekend better than apple picking except maybe apple picking, perfect weather and great company. 

This past Sunday myself and three lovely NYC ladies ventured up to my childhood apple picking farm, Dressel Farms in New Paltz NY for a smog free day full of cider and donuts. 

The apples were fresh and the views did not disappoint. 

It's Dark In Here

 I am a little late to the Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick Party. Now that I am here I am really here. This is a fantastic formula that wears well and is comfortable on the lips. After a full day of wear it leaves my lips a little dry but it's nothing that a good nights sleep in some Nuxe Reve de Miel won't fix.

The first shade I nabbed is Vampira and it is oh so seasonally appropriate but not for the faint of heart.

London #zitosonparade

 As yesterday was the first day of Fall I thought it was only appropriate that we close it our with the last of the pictures from my summer vacation.

London is easily my favorite place in the world. My pictures here were sporadic because I was so happy to just be there with my family walking all over and soaking it up. 

It reminds me of a lot of the reasons why I love New York. It's artistic, eclectic busy, metropolitan and simply my favorite place.

We stayed in East London's Bethnal Green in an AirBnB that was good, somewhat less successful than Glasgow but I was so excited about the neighborhood and the people nearby. If you find yourself in the area there is a bar restaurant called The Hemingway that is hilarious and delicious and manned by some of the most polite and funny people we met throughout the vacation.

Glasgow Pt 2 #zitosonparade

 To kick off the final Scottish installment of the Zito's on Parade series I wanted to show off a little of the AirBnB we had while we were there. 

It was a lovely second floor apartment in the West End neighborhood of the city that was owned and operated for the express use of renting out to visitors. The hosts were friendly and helpful and the location beyond ideal. It was at the start of the Great Western Road just before the Kelvinsbridge Subway station a short walk from both the Botanical Gardens and Byres road.

As a family we loved the place and it served as a great home base for our three day Scottish stay. 

Brows on a Budget

So it is a universally acknowledged fact that when it comes to brows Anastasia Beverly Hills has written the book for years. Her products are very often front runners when it comes to creating the perfect arch. 

After years of ruling the roost though many brands have thrown their hat into the ring and my newest brow addition is from Soap and Glory. 

Let's just cross our fingers that they bring the whole range to Ulta at some point down the line. 

Two Skin Savers from Across the Pond

 This is by far not the first product I've shared from my Summer vacation but these are the two that I have been easily the most impressed by. 

They've made my skin look the best it ever has especially through the warmer months where my skin is more prone to congestion and irritation. 

All it took was three weeks, 3,000 miles and two products to get me there. 

Edinburgh #zitosonparade

Oh Edinburgh.

Featured on every one of my fellow collegiate travelers to see lists it very quickly become on of my favorite places to visit. So much so that when I graduated I took my roommate back for a visit and she fell in love too. Up until recently I had never left Edinburgh not hungover. Classy.

Now that I'm no longer a college student the city holds less of a long term appeal but it is no less beautiful for that fact. 

With mounds of tourists over flowing at every turn it can be tricky to capture how stunning it is.

Let's try shall we?

Crystal All the Things

I have been majorly jewelry obsessing over here this Summer. Ever since I started shopping to go on vacation I've been preoccupied with updating my wardrobe and investing in some nicer pieces to add to the line up. 

No while the clothing arena is a little slow going right nowI've definitely developed a definitive preference when it comes to my personal decoration. 

All the crystals and ALL the good vibes. 

Dublin, Ireland #zitosonparade

 Next stop on the list was Dublin. 

Now to be totally fair the Zitos spent a grand total of 6 hours in Dublin.

So not nearly as long as some of the other places we saw and certainly not long enough to get a real feel for the city. 

So while I can't really recommend anything specific maybe some of my snapshots will inspire some visits of your own.

Oh! We did have lunch and a few quick pints at O'Donohgues on Suffolk St which was quick, easy and, delicious. It came at the recommendation of a friend from Dublin and it was a solid choice. Looked like an excellent music spot too. 

No Such Thing as Signature

I don't like to plunk for new fragrances too too often, I find that it's one of the few beauty arenas (along with mascara and face powder) that I ever really finish in a timely way. 

As I've gotten a little older my tastes seemed to have changed pretty drastically. 

My desire for variety has not.

The new baby is Bella Freud's Ginsberg is God.

The New Favorite

The dreamy sun-soaked photo above unintentionally captured my feelings of warm fuzzy summer love that I have for the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lip Colors.

No. Joke. This stuff is the things matte lip dreams are made of.

Even application, full color coverage, non drying and minimal transferring. UGH! I just love them.

I 100% will be getting more.

Galway, Ireland #zitosonparade

Stop one on the Zito's on Parade grand tour was actually Galway Ireland. It was by far my favorite city in Ireland. Sure there were coastal views to take your breath away but if you asked me where I would want to live on the Emerald Isle my answer would be Galway all the way. 

Situated on Galway Bay this little coastal city has a lovely small town (well small town America) vibe and some of the friendliest people we met on the whole trip.

Every Friday all Summer Long

We intterupt your regularly scheduled vaation blabber in favor of a flavor a little closer to home. 

As a New Yorker Summer feels like a constant balancing act between too many things to do and too hot to do anything. Sometimes the best thing to do is drag yourself away from Manhattan (an impossibility for some people believe me.) and get yourself out by the water for some much needed breeze. 

So last Friday after work my roommate and I headed out to Coney Island for their weekly fireworks with the aid of a very thoughtful friend with a car (Thanks Carrie!)

(Under)Cover Lover

If there is one base product that I can really get excited about it's concealer. 

For years I wasn't much of a foundation girl and since beauty blogging and YouTube have become a bigger part of my life that's changed I still always keep a wide selection of concealers, my true love, close at hand. 

While I was traveling I made sure to nab one formula I wanted to try and another that I knew I already loved. 

Cashel: Country Tipperary,Ireland #zitosonparade (I'm Back!)

View from the Rock of Cashel

I'm back from my three week family vacation and can't wait to share some of the snaps I took with you guys! I really wanted to have things ready to go up while I was gone but ultimately between work and friends and packing I simply ran out of time. 

I'm going to make it up to you though. 

I have the rest of the Summer and 1,300 photos to share from our epic family adventure...not to mention several haul videos worth of products, prints, clothes, books and, albums.

Hippie Business

Do you know how sometimes you're really excited and intrigued by a product but then you just don't buy it?

For whatever reason you justify leaving it on the shelf with things like "I'll never use it" or "I already have things like that and I don't need another." 

All of these are really smart conversations to have with yourself when you shop. In my experience it minimizes unnecessary spending but, every now and then, you cave and you buy the thing that you know is probably not going to get used or finished. 

Except this time...I should have picked this up ages ago. 

The Warm Weather Dark Lip Obsession

I'm not sure what it is this year. Normally I am SO on board with spring this-summer that but this year it seems the only shades that have graced my lips have been in the blood red and burgundy families.

Admittedly I'm having a bit of a baby goth girl moment as my Instagram can certainly attest to.

I think there is something about a more generous makeup application that feels fun for me right now.

I have mentioned a fair few of these babies before but as they have barely left my lips in nearly a month I think it's high time they got another shout out.

Makeup Bag Extras

Sometimes the things that make us feel the prettiest are not the best looking things in and of themselves.

Today (well yesterday, I'm behind this week.) I want to talk about all the not so pretty things in my makeup bag that make me feel extra good some days. 

Capsule|Extra Glow

Now I love me a good highlighter. All year long but especially lately and, despite my laziness in the mornings, I have been making time to add a touch of shine to my daily face.

Especially because the warmer weather has made me extra uh,,,social...which means I am extra dehydrated.

Don't drink and make up.