Movies in Review: 2016

My last movie review was back in November when I shared my two cents on Ben Affleck's The Accountant. I actually thought that film was pretty solid. But in that post, I mentioned a few other movies that I had recently seen. I'm going to add the quick recaps of those movies to the end of this post too since it's the big end of year review. But I'm mainly sharing the December releases that I've seen (and maybe even that I think you should see). So enjoy and happy New Year!

Nocturnal Animals - opened 12/9: I hope you've heard of this movie that was directed by fashion designer Tom Ford. The reviews for it might be all over the place, but I must admit, it was one of the coolest films I've seen this year. It's weird; it's random; it's funny; and it's scary. It's also based on a book that I'm thinking about reading, although it's tough for me to read books after I've already watched the film versions. Nocturnal Animals stars Amy Adams -- who receives a manuscript written by her ex-husband, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. The manuscript tells a vivid and terrifying story, and the movie itself, weaves between real life and the life of the characters in the novel. And at the end, dark truths are revealed. Rating: ♥♥♥ 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - opened 12/16: Going into this movie, you should be aware that I'm well biased. To me, Star Wars is the ultimate franchise. Darth Vader is my favorite fictional character of all time, and I own way more SW gear than one might think (beanies, socks, jammies, glasses, action figures, costumes, movies, bath towels, etc). I did a mini review of last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode VII) and gave it a review of 4 hearts. And even though Rogue One is not in the SW saga (the reason why the movie doesn't start with the typical SW crawl) it's obviously still a part of the franchise, and quite honestly, is one of the best Star Wars movies ever. You won't fall in love with any particular character (except maybe K-2SO), but you will love the believable visuals, the stunning CGI and the wonderful story. Rogue One is basically like a prequel to A New Hope (Episode IV). I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell you that there's a planet called Scarif that was filmed in the Maldives and features a ton of AT-AT walkers. If you're a SW fan, then you can only imagine how beautiful that sounds! And don't get me started on that Darth Vader light saber scene! #ItWasEverything (#RIPCarrieFisher) Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

La La Land - opened 12/16: If Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are in a movie together, then you know I already bought my ticket (examples being Crazy, Stupid, Love and Gangster Squad). With Gosling being more particular about his roles these days, it's nice to see him in a film as unique and darling as La La Land. The movie stars Gosling, a budding jazz pianist, and Stone, a struggling actress, who meet each other randomly and, essentially, act as each other's muses to help jumpstart their flailing careers. All of this is done with fun musical numbers (yes, both Gosling and Stone sing!), nostalgic dance segments, and old Hollywood references against an L.A. backdrop. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Assassin's Creed - opened 12/21: I never played the video game that Assassin's Creed is based on, but I generally like action movies, especially if they include good actors like Michael Fassbender. But sweet Jesus, not even Fassie could save this ridiculously convoluted plot about a man who uses a machine to re-live the memories of his assassin ancestor from the Spanish Inquisition. Was that sentence long winded and annoying? Well, so was the movie! And why did the director choose to "stylize" it with a blurry bluish gray haze for the entire two hour stint? The story was hard enough to understand, but I also had to deal with the fact that I could hardly see what was going on the majority of the time. The only good thing about the film were some of the acrobatic fighting scenes -- at least the few that I could make out through the fog. Rating: ♥

Passengers - opened 12/21: Jennifer Lawrence made a movie that wasn't directed by David O. Russell? Oh, happy day! I enjoy when they make movies together (example: JOY from last December?), but I really wanted her to branch out of the Russell rut. In Passengers, there are more than 5,000 people in hibernation pods on a spaceship that's taking a 120-year journey to a new planet. So what happens when a hibernation pod malfunctions and accidentally wakes up its passenger (Chris Pratt) 90 years too soon? How does one cope with being the only person awake in space, especially knowing that it's fairly impossible to live for 90 more years? And can the hibernation pod issue be fixed? Would you do the unthinkable to combat loneliness? And you'll love the swimsuit that JLaw wears in the film! Rating: ♥♥♥

Hell or High Water.........one of the best movies I've seen this year: ♥♥♥♥

Don't Breathe..........not nearly as scary as I'd hoped: ♥

Suicide Squad..........not worth your theater money: ♥♥

The Light Between Oceans..........still haven't seen!

Arrival...........I saw this movie, but I was drunk and it was midnight so I fell asleep.

Snowden..........I now cover my webcam because of this movie: ♥♥♥

The Magnificent Seven..........a fun from start to finish film: ♥♥♥

The Girl on the Train..........well done and just like the book: ♥♥♥♥

Valley of the Dolls

I'm writing this on Christmas night while I sit in a house in Coachella Valley. A few of us decided to drive down here (mostly from the San Francisco Bay Area but also from Los Angeles, too) to celebrate the holidays. Also, I've never been to the Coachella Valley area so I was really looking forward to visiting Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.

When we weren't at the home, we spent most of our time walking the downtown strip in Palm Springs searching for good food and drinks. But we also took a day trip over to Joshua Tree to check out all the cacti and rocks. Surprisingly, it was a really beautiful place, even though I did think that it seemed a bit repetitive after a few miles. I think that it is the perfect place for some outdoor rock climbing or even some camping, if you'd like. Have any of you ever been there?

So my favorite thing about this look has got to be the unique Chicwish skirt. I just love the cool front zipper on it. The zip can actually be taken all the way down to remove the skirt, which is pretty cool. But I also really love my Incoco nails with their New Years design. You guys really need to try this brand for their fun and creative nail designs. They seriously have something for every occasion, but they also have beautiful colors for everyday style. Are your nails NYE ready?

If you want to keep up with everything that I've been doing then be sure to follow me on Instagram. I add to my InstaStory quite often when on vacation, so you don't want to miss out on all the fun (or not so fun) that I have over the weekends. There's a cute video of a dog eating salad that you really don't want to miss. Catch it (and my time at Joshua Tree) before it's all gone.

On the Muse: | Striped off-shoulder knit top c/o Chicwish | Front Zip faux leather skirt c/o Chicwish Incoco New Year Cheer nails | Zara lucite ankle boots (similar) | H&M short coat |

And today is also the Monday Mingle Linkup that I host with Momtrends and Take Time for Style! The linkup is hosted at Take Time for Style today so go add your post!

Shopping Made Easy with Sally Hansen & Shopkick

Have you ever heard of the shopkick app? I actually first heard about them back in 2013 when I used them to make shopping more fun. You guys know that I typically like to shop online, but that doesn't mean that there aren't times when shopping in person isn't a necessity. So when I do walk into a store to get things from groceries to toiletries, I like to do it with shopkick!

How shopkick Works

When you shop, you get a kick. A kick is a reward point that can be redeemed for gift cards to your favorite stores. Stores include places like Target, Whole Foods, Nordstrom, Ulta and more. So how do you earn kicks? Well, that part is easy! You earn them by walking into a store, by scanning items, for credit card purchases, for receipts and for inviting friends. All you have to do is download the app on your phone, turn on your Bluetooth and just walk into the store.

Sponsored by Shopkick x Sally Hansen

So that's exactly what I did when I went to the local Walmart to purchase these three items from the Sally Hansen Color Therapy nail polish collection to get my nails holiday ready. I opened the app and went to the Stores tab. I scrolled down to Walmart and saw the available kicks. As soon as I entered the store I earned 25 kicks for walking in. I also saw that I could scan any product and earn another 25 kicks and that specific items could even earn up to 150 kicks with a receipt.

But you can also use shopkick to see all the items that are trending at each store. This time of year, as you can imagine, featured a lot of holiday items and some fun cosmetics, like the Sally Hansen Color Therapy top coat, the nail and cuticle oil and the entire range of polish colors, too.

Sally Hansen Color Therapy

To get my nails holiday ready -- specifically for the company holiday party that I went to over the weekend -- I needed to get my hands on the three key items from this collection.

Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail & Cuticle Oil

The nail and cuticle oil has an argan oil base, which positions the product as a unique line in the marketplace. Its lightweight texture absorbs deeply to penetrate and protect both the cuticles and fingertips. This way, nails are restored from the inside out. And what's so great about the nail and cuticle oil is that you can even choose to wear it alone.

Sally Hansen Color Therapy Top Coat

The top coat delivers an extra dose of nourishment and a high shine finish that soothes imperfections. The top coat seals in the natural primrose, argan and acai oils that moisturize weak nails back to health. And let me tell ya, by the end of the year, my nails are pretty weak. So I was really in need of a top coat that would make the polish shine bright at the holiday party.

Sally Hansen Color Therapy Polish in Haute Stone

There are 38 colors in this collection, so I must admit, it was terribly hard to choose. I went with Haute Stone because it's a unique color that I don't yet have in my arsenal. Other fun colors from the color therapy range include Make My Clay, Chai on Life, Primrose and Proper and more! I'm really into neutral tones right now, so it was hard for me to not purchase all the colors.

So now that you know how to use the shopkick app when purchasing your favorite items in store, go ahead and give it a try! I definitely recommend that you muses download the app, which is available both on the Apple Store and Google Play. And after you download it, run over to your local Target or Walmart and get your hands on the Sally Hansen Color Therapy collection. You won't be disappointed by the easy use of the app or the beautiful colors of the polish. I mean, who could say no to gift cards to shop at the places that you already love!

My next post will be after the Christmas & Hanukkah holidays, so I hope you have a wonderful time this weekend with friends and family!

Peek-d Interest

So you're probably thinking two things: one -- isn't it piqued my interest? And yes, it is, but I like to do a play on words in my post titles whenever possible. And second -- isn't it the middle of December? Absolutely! It was a high of 52 over the weekend, so I was feeling the cold weather when I took these photos, but I still felt compelled to wear this look. I just love the fun peeks with the cold shoulder top and the tights under the distressed denim. Plus, this asymmetrical cape kept me quite warm when needed with its long zipper and double-buttoned collar.

But I'd also like to highlight this beautifully versatile Cooper & Ella Klara cold shoulder top. I really love this brand, as evident by the amount of times I've shared their looks on the blog. The printed design is just so classic, which makes this a great blouse for any fancy event that you might attend this holiday season. And, of course, you should consider rocking a cape blazer if you have one. It's just so chic, while also being quite practical. Your body stays warm but you can still get things done since your arms are at the ready. Don't you just love that?

And guess what? This is my first time wearing a vampy lipstick and I'm pretty psyched about it. I've wanted a vampy lip color for about a year, I'd say, but I'm not a beauty blogger, so I don't really know what brands have the best colors for my skin tone. I realized that I had a lot of makeup products from elf that I hadn't used, and I found this gorgeous velvet matte lipstick in vampy violet that I just had to try. What do you guys think of it? Any other colors you like?

On the Muse: | Klara cold shoulder top c/o Cooper & Ella | Steve Madden edit burgundy booties | American Eagle Outfitters ripped denim (similar) | Peek Brooklyn Jackson Pollock tights (similar) | Via Spiga asymmetrical cape (similar) | New York & Company collar necklace | Charming Charlie Panama hat (similar) | ELF Velvet Matte lipstick in vampy violet (similar) |

_________________MONDAY MINGLE LINKUP_________________

And today is also the Monday Mingle Linkup that I host with Momtrends and Take Time for Style! The linkup is hosted at Momtrends today so go add your post!

What I'm Loving in December 2016

Come take a look at my six favorite things in the month of December!

To Holiday
It wouldn't be a December loving post without a holiday party dress, right! I'm really loving the Bardot holiday dresses for both Christmas parties and New Year's parties, as well. The Karlie dress is probably my favorite, but I'm considering getting the Gemma dress, too. If you're a fan of any of these, feel free to shop each of them via the links here: | Karlie | Gemma | Odyssey |

To Beat
Looking for the tools for a great face beat? Well, so am I! I know that these aren't considered new any more, but I've finally got my hands on this oval brush set and I'm so excited! I also have a contouring and highlighting kit that I can't wait to use with these brushes. I think 2017 is going to be the year that I really step up my makeup game. The oval brush set really gets the job done!

To Clothe
Remember the Who What Wear collection at Target? Well, I've found the perfect accessory to keep you warm this December. These Who What Wear faux fur mittens hold in heat while still being super chic. They come in black, but I recommend getting the faux fur mittens in light brown for a more stylish look. Oh, and did I mention that they're under $20 right now?

To Binge
I'm always so late when it comes to TV shows. Earlier this year I started watching Lost and this month I finally started on Shameless. I had no idea what I was missing out on, you guys. Shameless on Netflix is seriously a well written show, and like the title says, is quite shameless. I mean, sometimes I have to close my eyes at certain scenes because of the crazy things that these characters do on a day-to-day basis. But overall, it's an awesome show. Have you watched?

To Wrap
I know I'm not the only one who walks into Target and sees that one section that's beautifully decorated with all the cutest pieces. Even if I'm not shopping that section, I still take a couple minutes to peruse through the items. And one of my favorite things from Target is the Sugar Paper navy gift wrap collection. Gone are the days of boring wrapping paper. If you want to keep your gifts chic on the inside and out, then you have to wrap them up in this navy gift wrap collection. It comes with the signature gold foil dots, swirls and stripes as well as navy plaid!

To Vacay
You guys know that I'm not one for the cold weather. And this December fall/winter is not doing anything good for my sensitive, dry skin. So what's the best way to fix that problem? Vacationing in Palm Springs and Palm Desert! I'm talking spas and hopefully some warm weather.

Office Holiday Party

That's right -- this is what I wore to the office holiday party that I went to over the weekend. Maybe you saw some highlights on my InstaStory? To be honest, the jumpsuit and the shoes are the same, but I actually went with a long sleeve faux fur coat instead of this sleeveless vest for the actual party. The holiday party was held at Levi's Stadium, which is the home of the San Francisco 49ers. The stadium is about 15 minutes from my house. And the office party was for Facebook (which included Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus employees as well).

It was pretty cool to attend a holiday party at a NFL stadium. We were able to walk along the outside section of the field and throughout the actual stadium itself. Various club rooms at the stadium included different types of foods like Mediterranean, Indian, American, etc. Other club rooms had DJs, a live band and even a dueling pianos area (you saw some of that on my IG).

I guess it's only in the Bay Area where you can attend an office holiday party for a company like Facebook. But I'm sure the parties in L.A. are pretty big, too. Did you guys attend any office parties this past weekend, or do you have any coming up soon?

A little bit about this look -- I really bought this Zara short frilled jumpsuit specifically for this holiday party. Of course, I paired it with my go-to winter shoes, which are these lucite ankle boots. Apart from the fun frills and the pockets, my favorite thing about this jumpsuit is the open back. It might not seem smart to wear an open back in the middle of December, but hey, that's what my coat is for! I think the open back is hella cute. But I did have to pick up some pasties for this look, and I'm not going to lie, this was my first time wearing pasties. There must be something better for these no-bra situations, though. Do you ladies know of better options? Is it weird that almost everything I'm wearing is from Zara? They just keep taking my money, lol.

On the Muse: | Zara short frilled jumpsuit (similar) | Zara faux fur crossbody bag (similar) | Zara lucite ankle boots (similar) | Ombre faux fur vest (similar) |

_________________MONDAY MINGLE LINKUP_________________

And today is also the Monday Mingle Linkup that I host with Momtrends and Take Time for Style! I'm hosting the linkup today so please add your post below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Unique Holiday Gifts

After doing this blog thing for numerous years, I've put together multiple gift guides for various holidays. Back in 2012, I included a few items for her and items for him. And in 2013, I had funky gifts under $100, under $50 and under $25. But last year I went for more of a girl's girl gift guide featuring cardigan sweaters, marble cutting boards, faux fur slide slippers and lip tease mugs!

But this year I wanted to feature some items that I thought might be a bit more unique. So it's certainly not your typical holiday gift guide, but I'm sure you'll find something on this list that you'll love. And please let me know in the comments below if you have any of these already!

Phone Loops
Talk about the best thing ever invented! I'm sure you guys are just like me -- always on your phones (even when I don't want to be). With the help of Phone Loops, I no longer have to worry about dropping my phone. The stylish straps come in either a Ninja Loop version or a Petite Loop version (that's more like a wristlet). The customizable loops keep your phone secure. Calling all bloggers: you can put your blog's name or URL on your own loop. Chic advertising!

Spray Perfect
Remember when I told you guys all about spray on nail polish back in July? Well I wasn't kidding -- I really do like this stuff! So big yes to Spray Perfect, especially with their awesome two for $20 deal (plus base and top coat). Just spray it on and watch it dry in under a minute.

Lovely Beards
Here's a great gift for the special dude in your life! If you like a guy with facial hair, then you probably want to keep that hair well groomed. Lovely Beards has a great bourbon scented beard oil and a nectarine mint beard balm that's made with 100% organic oils and natural ingredients. Both are great for grooming and conditioning and come in scents like black pepper, mandarin cedarwood and even gingerbread. Don't you think this would make a great gift set?

Glamping Hub
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm all about glamping. To be around nature but to feel comfort is the best way to go. So if you enjoyed my Glamping Hub post about my stay in Tulum, then you'll definitely want to gift a Glamping Hub gift card to someone special on your list. Honestly, a staycation or vacation is usually at the top of my wish list for any and every holiday.

CalPure
Got some cooks in your life? Well I know they'll love these next two holiday gifts. The CalPure California Extra Virgin Avocado Oil should be the starting point for all your meals this season. The oil is cold pressed and uses California Hass avocados, which we all know are super hard to find (or quite expensive) these days. With hints of sweetness and butter, this non-GMO and gluten free avocado oil is ideal for dipping, drizzling, grilling, spreading and the like.

Clever Cutter
While you're getting the pan ready with the avocado oil, you can easily chop up your food in seconds with the Clever Cutter, which is both a knife and a cutting board in one! The stainless steel blades are sharp enough to cut any food, with the addition of a stable cutting board.

Oculus
When I got my latest Android phone it came with a free Samsung Gear VR. I've only used it once, but I do think it's something that guys would really enjoy. And the new Oculus by Facebook is probably going to be the ultimate virtual reality toy. I know that it really immerses you into a video game or movie world simply by putting on a headset over your face.

M&M's
Am I the only one who didn't know that you could customize M&M's now? If you look closely at the M&M's in this gift guide, then you'll see that I added my holiday card photo from last year. They have so many holiday decor options and clip art for pretty much every occasion. I really think these cute little candies (which come in a variety of gift boxes) will be perfect for your family this season because you can personalize them and then enjoy eating them. Delish!

Incoco Nails
That's right -- more nail polish! Well, nail polish applique to be more precise. I bet you can tell that I hate putting on nail polish the old fashioned way. So if I'm not spraying them on, then I'm sticking them on with these Incoco nail art designs. I think the winter magic collection, which features designs like holiday treasures, merry mint, Christmas magic, berry glitz  and New Year cheer are perfect stocking stuffer gifts for your besties. They only take a few minutes to put on; you don't have to worry about them drying; are made from real nail polish and lasts for days.

Skirt the Rules

Here's something you don't see often: me in a skirt! Yes, I do like to wear dresses, but skirts aren't typically my jam. And when I do, I tend to wear skirts that are a little different like here, here and here. But it's good to step out of your comfort zone a little bit and wear a skirt once in a while, especially when it's as cute as this one from Chicwish! How awesome is this lace-up skirt in this beautiful color? Can you tell that I'm sticking to neutrals these days? Nothing goes better with brown than gray...or black...or both. This knit wrap sweater is also from Chicwish and it kept me quite warm over the weekend. And I added a hint of lace to jazz it up a notch. You like?

Are you guys happy that it's the first outfit of December? That's right -- it's officially the last month of the year. And what a year it's been! 2016 seriously can't end fast enough, am I right? I feel like throughout the year everyone kept saying that the days and weeks and months were just flying by. And maybe that was a fabulous thing because it's hard for me to remember much good that came out of this year. But that actually really makes you think about (and look forward to) the new year and all the ways that you can make it kick 2016's ass. 2017 could be your year!

So muses, are you counting down the days? Are you excited about all the possibilities that come with a fresh start in a new year? Or are you just trying to make sure you bought presents for all the people on your list? I've realized over the years that I don't really care that much about presents. But if I could gift everyone a one-week trip to their favorite place on earth then that's totally what I would do. Experiencing a new place can mean so much more than a knit sweater.

On the Muse: | Knit Your Love Wrapped top c/o Chicwish | Lace-Up Tribe Bud skirt c/o Chicwish | Billabong fedora (similar) | Forever 21 faux fur boucle coat (similar) | AEO mixed knee high boots (similar) | LANY handbag (similar) |

_________________MONDAY MINGLE LINKUP_________________

And today is also the Monday Mingle Linkup that I host with Momtrends and Take Time for Style! The linkup is hosted at Take Time for Style today, so go add your post!

Timeless Gifts with Viva La Juicy

This post was sponsored by Juicy Couture Fragrances through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Viva La Juicy, all opinions are my own.

December is here, everyone! Aren't you happy that we're finally at the end of 2016 and the holidays are upon us? As you know, this month is all about gifting. There are many items that are probably on your wish list this season, and I totally have a few favorites on mine as well. But when it comes to a fragrance, the only option I'm considering is Viva La Juicy. It's the perfect holiday gift for pretty much anyone in your family. If you're looking for a timeless gift that never goes out of style, then you're looking for Viva La Juicy!

Timeless Holiday Gift

This iconic fragrance from Juicy Couture is a must have for every "It" girl. I love getting it as a gift equally as much as I love giving it to others. This particular eau de parfum spray by Viva La Juicy is flirtatious and irresistible, while combining delicious wild berries with creamy vanilla and bright jasmine. And it's here just in time as I recently finished my other Viva La Juicy fragrance.

This iconic fragrance from Juicy Couture is a must have for every "It" girl. I love getting it as a gift equally as much as I love giving it to others. This particular eau de parfum spray by Viva La Juicy is flirtatious and irresistible, while combining delicious wild berries with creamy vanilla and bright jasmine. And it's here just in time as I recently finished my other Viva La Juicy fragrance.

Gift for Your Hostess

So you're attending a party (or two or three) this holiday season, but you don't want to be predictable and gift your hostess with a bottle of wine. What do you do? Keep it playful and fun with an exuberant fragrance that your hostess will love. This Viva La Juicy spray is guaranteed to be one that any party-thrower will enjoy for months to come. And the best part is you don't have to worry about whether or not your hostess likes whites or reds.

Gift for the Hard to Gift

Let's face it, there are some people out there who are simply difficult to gift with presents. With Viva La Juicy, gifting just got a whole lot easier! Everyone can appreciate a beautiful scent that they can wear any time and anywhere. This iconic fragrance can help anyone add a dose of couture. The small size of the bottle also makes it wonderful as a stocking stuffer or a coworker gift at the office party. Every “It” girl will know that it's a must have gift with a truly memorable scent.

Gift for Yourself

When I went on my trip to Mexico back in November, I decided to bring along my bottle of the Viva La Juicy fragrance. I knew it would be the perfect accessory and gift to myself. The warm days and nights in Tulum don't require any over the top makeup, big curls in your hair or extravagant outfits. All you really need is a beach-ready dress, an effortless pair of sandals and a spritz of the berry and vanilla scented Viva La Juicy eau de parfum!