Gen in the City

How To: Give Yourself an At-Home Pedicure! (featuring Avon)

Hello my wonderful readers!

Today I have a post for you that I think many of you will find very helpful for this upcoming Summer season. Let's face it, pedicures can be very pricey and not all of us have the time to get them all the time! So why not bring the spa to your home? It's not as hard as you think and it definitely costs a lot less. With the help of Avon and Vervegirl Magazine I am going to show you what is the perfect method for getting those feet ready for Summer. Don't forget to check out Vervegirl at www.vervegirl.com because it's awesome and I am a proud Vrep for them.
It's sandal season so let's get those feet ready in 7 easy steps ladies and gentlemen:

Step 1: Take it Off

Remove any old nail polish! We're all guilty of waiting until it gets very badly chipped to take off our toe nail polish.

Step 2: Soak it Up

Fill up your tub or a foot spa with warm water and let those feet soak! They work hard and they deserve it. You can buy a foot soak at the store or even make your own using things that are good for rejuvenating your feet like epsom salts and tee tree oil. Let your feet soak for about 10-15 minutes and make sure to enjoy it!

Step 3: Exfoliate Away

This is a crucial step for any pedicure. Using a circular motion, massage an exfoliating foot scrub into your feet and then rinse it off. I'm loving the Avon Foot Works "Papaya Sorbet" Exfoliating Scrub right now - it smells delicious and gently exfoliates that dry and dead skin that we all hate so much away.

Step 4: Buff it Out

If you have very dry and callused feet like I do, trust me you do not want to skip this step! Use a wet pumice stone to get at those rough spots and smooth them out. Do not be too hard on your skin but still make sure to get every part of your foot from your heels to your toes.

Step 5: Clip It

Use a clipper to trim your toe nails while making sure to do so straight across to prevent ingrown toe nails. I also like to file them to smooth the edges.

Step 6: Calm and Cool

This is probably my favorite step because you get to massage and moisturize your feet. It feels so nice on the feet; especially if you're a busy bee like me! Give your feet a mini massage using a circular motion. The Avon Foot Works "Papaya Sorbet" Cooling Lotion is super refreshing and leaves your hard-working feet feeling soft and smooth. It also smells just as yummy as the scrub! The Cooling Spray also feels great when you spray it on your feet after a long day.

Step 7: Polished Lady

The final step is to apply a pretty Summer nail polish! Make sure to wipe away any leftover lotions or creams from your nails beforehand. Also, apply a strengthening clear base coat before your color. I like to pick a fun bright shade that will add a pop of color to any outfit and then I apply a clear shiny top coat to finish it off. I recently tried out some Avon Speed Dry nail polishes and love them for pedicures since they come in all kinds of beautiful shades and last forever. Avon sent me some colors to try out and I really liked "Turquoise Pop", "Fast Time Teal" and "Prompt and Pearly" for a nice pedicure color. I also checked out all the colors on their website and I am dying to try these beautiful shades on my toe nails:

"Cruisin' Coral"

"Reddy to Go"

"Bon Voyage Violet"

"Pronto Purple"

"Swift Sherbet"

"Strawberry"

"Orange You Quick"

Where to buy the products mentioned in this post:

Exfoliating Scrub

http://www.avon.ca/shop/en/avon-ca/foot-works-beautiful-papaya-sorbet-exfoliating-scrub#.UZ-W9aL2YxE

Cooling Lotion

http://www.avon.ca/shop/en/avon-ca/foot-works-beautiful-papaya-sorbet-cooling-lotion#.UZ-YM6L2YxE

Cooling Spray

http://www.avon.ca/shop/en/avon-ca/foot-works-beautiful-papaya-sorbet-cooling-spray#.UZ-YT6L2YxE

All Speed Dry Polishes (on sale right now for just 3.99$ each!!)

http://www.avon.ca/shop/en/avon-ca/speed-dry-30-nail-enamel---12-ml#.UZ-Yn6L2YxE

I hope this post will help you nail (no pun intended!) the at-home pedicure and get you nice and ready for beautiful weather.

Let me know if you end up trying it out @Geninthecity on twitter or in the comments below.

xox

- Gen

Gen's Sick Day Essentials

Hey everyone,

I am writing this post while dealing with a big sinus infection and feeling quite under the weather. As you may already know, my blog is all about being inspired by my life in the big city. Unfortunetely one of the many things that comes along with being a busy woman is getting sick! I myself admit to being the worst sick person. I get grouchy, exhausted and down when I am sick. I am so used to doing so much all the time that being cooped up inside just isen't my cup of tea. There are a few things that I find do help me, along with vitamins and antibiotics, get through it though. So today I got inspired to write up my little sick day essentials that I feel make a difference.

Green Tea

Hot green tea is very good for you and feels amazing on a sore throat.

A Warm Bath

Nice warm baths are my favorite thing for when I am not feeling quite like myself. They are relaxing and help you de-stress. I love lighting candles around my bath and reading a book or magazine.

SleepStream App

My mother and I swear by this app; even when we're not sick. We both have a hard time falling asleep on a regular basis but I find it to be especially the case when I am sick. The pro version of this app is so worth the 99 cents! It has soothing nature sounds that you can mix with beautiful piano music that I just love. You can set it for the amount of time you want it to stay on for and it honestly helps relax you so much.

Kobo Reader (or a good book!)

I'm usually pretty busy so when I am stuck at home and aren't really feeling up to doing much work it's a great time to catch up on a good book.

A happy movie!

When you're feeling yucky and can't seem to fall asleep, the best thing is a movie you really enjoy. I love happy and girly movies that will keep me from feeling down from being inside all day.

Comfy (yet cute!) loungewear

Let's face it, you totally won't get out of your PJ's when you're sick. Comfort does not mean you can't wear something that's cute and makes you feel good at the same time! I love the cute nightie pictured above that's from Lasenza; super comfy yet sexy at the same time.

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream

This moisturizing cream works wonders on dry skin. It is unscented and is packed with vitamin E which will keep your skin looking and feeling great even when you yourself aren't feeling too hot.

And last but not least, (if you don't live alone like some of us!) a good massage always feels great when you are sick! Being taken care of definitely never hurt anyone.

Get well soon if you are reading this and you are actually sick.

If not, I hope this will help you in the future when it really just isen't feeling like your day.

Love you all! and thank you for all the sweet get well tweets!

xox

- Gen

The Kate Effect: Kate Upton's June Vogue Cover!

I recently picked up the latest issue of Vogue US at my school's bookstore. I have to admit that 75% of the reason I bought it was because of this gorgeous cover featuring supermodel Kate Upton. I really can't get over how amazing she looked on the cover and in her fashion spread so I just had to share it with you all. I think Kate is stunning and definitely the definition of the all-american woman with her classic feminine look and killer curves. In this spread she totally reminds me of Marilyn Monroe and her effortless beauty with the tousled blonde hair and classic look. I am obsessed with her bold eyebrows (eyebrow beauty post coming soon by the way!) and flawless glowing skin. She has got to be one of my favorite supermodels of the moment. This new issue of Vogue is a good one and has some stunning editorials like the Kate one so I definitely recommend picking it up.

So what do you think of Kate Upton in the latest issue of Vogue?

Tweet me @Geninthecity and let's talk Kate love!

xox

- Gen

Gen's Summer Nail Polish Picks

Summer is the best time to have some fun with your nail color. I love playing up my nails in the summertime and I find that nice nails really are a must for this time of the year. Even though I may have just thrown on any outfit, I love knowing that I did my nails and that they look good. For Summer I especially love bright neon colors as well as pastels. Bright colors look amazing with a tan and add a real fun factor to any outfit.

So without further ado, here are some of my summer nail polish picks for this year:

Essie's "Sunday Funday"

Love this pretty melon/coral color! Perfect for those Summer days beside the pool.

Essie's "The Girls Are Out"

This is a beautiful shimmery fuschia purple color!

Bourjois's #06 "Adora Bleu"

A light baby blue with high impact.

Bourjois's #04 "Amande Defile"

I'm love this pale green color at the moment.

Bourjois's #08 "Peach and Love"

Peachy colors have got to be my favorite for a fun summer girls day out.

Essence's #138 "L.O.L"

This color is so fun! It's a yellowy-lime color that definitely makes a statement.

Avon's "Fast Time Teal"
I think teal colors are perfect on your toe nails during the summer. Looks so great with a cute bathing suit during those pool/beach days!

Skylark's "Wild and Free" Set
This set seriously looks amazing. I am loving the beautiful Summer-ready colors and honestly think they would all look amazing with a tan.

NYC's "Prospect Park Pink"

I love this super shiny pink with gold undertones. Very girly and perfect for a date night with your man!

Essence's #132 "Break Through"

I am really loving this grape color right now and think its the perfect bold color for any summer occasion!

What are your favorite nail polishes for this upcoming hot season?

I am addicted to polish and would love to know your faves!

Tweet me @Geninthecity or comment below to share the nail polish love

xox

- Gen

Manly Marine: A Look at RW&CO's latest collection!

I recently came across the new "Marine Voyage" collection by RW&CO and was completely blown away. I absolutely love the entire collection and honestly don't think I have ever seen an affordable men's summer collection that I like so much. The collection is full of light and breathable fabrics and amazing pieces that men can wear for a nice summer day or dress up for the night. So guys, what should you be wearing this Summer?

Let me show you! Here are some of my favorite pieces from the collection and why I love them:

Short Sleeve Linen Shirt - 55$

I am in LOVE with this shirt and think every man should own at least one. It is made from 100% linen so it is perfect for those hot summer days. If you're a girl, this is the perfect gift for someone like your brother or boyfriend! Keep them cool and comfy while looking like put together gentlemen. I am especially loving the "cobalt blue" and "guava nectar" colors (shown above).

Cotton Slub T-Shirt with Stripes - 34.50$

This is a great alternative to the boring old polo shirt that every guy wears when they go out. It is perfect for daytime or nighttime and I really love the color!

Cotton Linen Vest - 69$

This vest is really perfect for jazzing up the everyday jeans and a t-shirt men's look. I don't think men should shy away from a vest like this because it definitely adds something extra to the outfit and makes you look more put together even though it only took you 5 extra seconds to put it on!

Ombre Dip Dye Henley T-Shirt - 32.50$

This is definitely the easiest way for a guy to be trendy this Summer. A fun and colorful t-shirt that he can wear with his everyday jeans or even dress up a little for nighttime.

Solid Modern Fit Short - 45$

These classy shorts are available in a ton of colors and are made from 100% cotton so they will keep you nice and comfy while staying cool. They make a lazy summer day's outfit look much more put together and styled. I love these and think they would look great on all men! If you're not one for crazy colors or fashion statements, opt for one of the nice neutral colors like "chino" or "burnt olive".

Short Sleeve "Enjoy the View" Graphic T-Shirt - 26.50$

I like this t-shirt because it's simple yet still fun and stylish. It's a nice change from the usual funny or sporty shirts that men tend to wear on a summer day. T-shirts can look cool and put together; you just have to find the right one! I'm really liking this one.

All items shown from the collection can be found and purchased here:

http://www.rw-co.com/Marine-Voyage/HIM-Shop-Voyage-marin,default,sc.html?q=

Disclaimer: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with RW&CO. I just really love this collection and wanted to get it out there!

Hope you enjoyed my first men's fashion post on my blog!

For more men's must haves make sure to check out the Summer issue of Fave Magazine (coming soon enough) for my Must Haves feature and more of my men's fashion loves!

xox

- Gen

Gen's MET Ball Favorites!

The MET Ball is definitely one of my favorite red carpet fashion events that happens every year. I thought this year's theme was really cool (Punk; from chaos to couture!) and I was so excited to see all the interesting punk-inspired outfits that celebrities would show up in considering they are usually so prim and proper at red carpet events. Black and white was definitely all over the place with fun prints and crazy details. Here are my favorite looks from this year's red carpet!

My absolute favorite look of the night was...

Nina Dobrev!

The stunner from The Vampire Diaries looked phenomenal in her Monique Luillier ensemble. I coulden't get over how great she looked down to the very last detail. Without a doubt my favorite of this year's MET ball red carpet looks!