tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54951556217235258522023-11-16T13:36:07.684-05:00Woke Up PrettyMélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-50666127965267940092013-10-14T22:37:00.002-04:002013-10-14T22:38:59.668-04:00PIQ's macarons coin purses are cute enough to eat!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jzUzYoX4y_s_KEncuhWH9r699Z4wDF9z2yUWQ5XG3oU7Em7gSi_tqFn0WjcV4g2W4Tsf1uHPlf_hIK5SGrUlczXKWCweL_AOyM1yEFgPCpMUSifqOFr76bOtH7zrh15NkYVXQV9dbh4/s1600/PIQ+macaron+purse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jzUzYoX4y_s_KEncuhWH9r699Z4wDF9z2yUWQ5XG3oU7Em7gSi_tqFn0WjcV4g2W4Tsf1uHPlf_hIK5SGrUlczXKWCweL_AOyM1yEFgPCpMUSifqOFr76bOtH7zrh15NkYVXQV9dbh4/s400/PIQ+macaron+purse.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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As a certifiable macaron FANATIC, I am ashamed that I've lived this long without one of these in my life! Nordstrom's <a data-mce-href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/pop-in-france?cm_sp=merch-_-corp_1010PopInFrance-_-swp_shop" href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/pop-in-france?cm_sp=merch-_-corp_1010PopInFrance-_-swp_shop" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank">French Fling</a> pop-in shop brought these to my attention. They are little coin purses that are even scented to match their "flavour"!! Too cute! </div>
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They're already sold out from Nordstrom, but you can still snag one up directly from <a data-mce-href="http://www.piqproducts.com/collections/accessories/products/macaron-coin-purses" href="http://www.piqproducts.com/collections/accessories/products/macaron-coin-purses" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank">PIQ</a> for $16. Which colour will YOU be getting?</div>
Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-63493523035685780642013-08-01T01:39:00.000-04:002013-08-24T01:52:55.886-04:00July Favourites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ6cUT8BHYw2dyRtJY-yD_lkvzkbbNkrwGVJw-tCJIF_byXoAvNYSWJ53VQL7C7GOe6iE2oQoec_B-AV_dPQ2Xx7YVo1DeVkZuc5pQ4dsp2SP8d5gZNDLIOkKZQDCV-D2bxoxa7fl7ko/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZ6cUT8BHYw2dyRtJY-yD_lkvzkbbNkrwGVJw-tCJIF_byXoAvNYSWJ53VQL7C7GOe6iE2oQoec_B-AV_dPQ2Xx7YVo1DeVkZuc5pQ4dsp2SP8d5gZNDLIOkKZQDCV-D2bxoxa7fl7ko/s400/photo+(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just a quick overview of the things I have been loving throughout July: </div>
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<li><a href="http://www.bioderma.com/en/the-products/what-s-new/product//149.html" target="_blank">Bioderma Sebium H20</a> - Bioderma!!! I found this beaut while in Montreal, so this one is getting thrown in just because I am so excited to have it.</li>
<li>Le Petit Marseillais Creme Mains Nourrisante - My go to hand cream no matter what time of year, but I noticed that I've been applying it more frequently lately. Potentially because of my line of work and having to wash my hands all the time? </li>
<li><a href="http://www.origins.com/product/4172/11588/Skincare/Must-Haves/10-Best-Sellers/Clear-Improvement/Active-charcoal-mask-to-clear-pores/index.tmpl" target="_blank">Origins Clear Improvement</a> - My face has been sporadically breaking out, which has of course, been a source of much frustration. While this isn't completely solving the issue, it is at least helping. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.origins.com/product/3846/10284/Makeup/Daily-Essentials/Eyes/Fill-In-The-Blanks/Eyebrow-enhancer/index.tmpl" target="_blank">Origins Fill in the Blanks</a> - THE best eyebrow pencil, in my opinion. Because of the heat, I've foregone a full face of makeup and have instead just been focusing on mascara and filling in my brows. Lazy, I know, but I hate sweating in general and I absolutely hate sweaty, melty makeup. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.yslbeautyus.com/Mascara-Volume-Effet-Faux-Cils-Shocking/1000YSL,default,pd.html" target="_blank">YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Shocking Mascara</a> - My mascara of choice at this time. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.lumene.com/us/products/skin-care/moisturizers/time-freeze-firming-day-cream-spf-15" target="_blank">Lumene Time Freeze Firming Day Cream with SPF 15</a> - I got the tiny version of this just to try out back in the Spring. My roommate saw it in my cabinet and went out and got the big jar for me for my birthday.</li>
<li>My iPad! - I kind of fell out with my iPad for a while but I've recently fallen head over heels in love with it again. It's now back in my bag, at my side at all times. I've subscribed to several magazine subscriptions and am reading a couple of books on it. It's just so much more pleasant to browse the internet and read when I'm out and about. </li>
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That's it for July! What were your favourites this past month? Let me know in the comments and/or link your blog so I can see too. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you again soon!</div>
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Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-33041311815065526352013-07-26T18:42:00.000-04:002013-08-02T18:43:27.001-04:00Another Weekend in MontréalI've quickly gotten into the habit of taking a few days off every month or other month, certainly not a bad thing! I went up to <span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Montréal again this past weekend. I left very early Sunday morning and came back late Tuesday night. Here's what I got into while there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu82gC4o0bl1Z4yRJZ1rCJ1qDAk9-goW7SrF93BvK2Y5ihn5OhZ5BMH2g6eMIcJqSqo0euImTIKJFwvE8hCKiBuJ5dE4sL3F8_IXg91yOMFgghWMvxrfGfalTF4z4_MVA5rgb7xOlbjmI/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu82gC4o0bl1Z4yRJZ1rCJ1qDAk9-goW7SrF93BvK2Y5ihn5OhZ5BMH2g6eMIcJqSqo0euImTIKJFwvE8hCKiBuJ5dE4sL3F8_IXg91yOMFgghWMvxrfGfalTF4z4_MVA5rgb7xOlbjmI/s200/IMG_1596.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVds3982-PjJCeB3Zi1XFJdaBZvh603cEo3hnRPIOiGiu5X0UnkK42gFtlRxMTkfxi2r5zw0yWNyay4InX_7HH58hdNv5dP0XL_xJgbzbjNcBd6_26MnpGDSTN_mPdeaB9PZMmCILJT1Y/s1600/IMG_1597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVds3982-PjJCeB3Zi1XFJdaBZvh603cEo3hnRPIOiGiu5X0UnkK42gFtlRxMTkfxi2r5zw0yWNyay4InX_7HH58hdNv5dP0XL_xJgbzbjNcBd6_26MnpGDSTN_mPdeaB9PZMmCILJT1Y/s200/IMG_1597.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLP_hpsiLElSy3RKKfyGqMJ6tSnOjJvnDSr0ngoJwsOYIsfIL1rfWLQcZaaualeS7DHL0aLOKRJcehU12l-RH1EDKGDwAXCpNGCXOKl6tcwW9qUG3wnnwkdEShxJc2YcYxY6rRhf2WoE/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLP_hpsiLElSy3RKKfyGqMJ6tSnOjJvnDSr0ngoJwsOYIsfIL1rfWLQcZaaualeS7DHL0aLOKRJcehU12l-RH1EDKGDwAXCpNGCXOKl6tcwW9qUG3wnnwkdEShxJc2YcYxY6rRhf2WoE/s200/IMG_1599.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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Sushi at <a href="http://www.bistroisakaya.com/" target="_blank">Bistro Isakaya</a> to celebrate my Mum's birthday!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYgAHJZWkG8RegWtqoe3I6ycNY2vzVwE5KgtlJrBJM3rmeOh4fsdlYTKWzlDMXnjh0Pdqr_REgyv_UBmZNnexV476iuZuE5E_R4TvFo5BeA5aA_fVAV0qVGC1jNM9jt71D9FITh_WjDU/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYgAHJZWkG8RegWtqoe3I6ycNY2vzVwE5KgtlJrBJM3rmeOh4fsdlYTKWzlDMXnjh0Pdqr_REgyv_UBmZNnexV476iuZuE5E_R4TvFo5BeA5aA_fVAV0qVGC1jNM9jt71D9FITh_WjDU/s200/IMG_1605.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6TQ3W1suugQkUigMFfG9W-Jq2XQsxAY5Hg5f6dVy4w6HaPLtdV9tmKPEf6NA5NcBznS9HUFcXlvGirfZBE7GVl_yhcNm8XR9vuefnwJFlGqYSuXAzLvX1aWsQY6rxzjABCzVusK2H4M/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6TQ3W1suugQkUigMFfG9W-Jq2XQsxAY5Hg5f6dVy4w6HaPLtdV9tmKPEf6NA5NcBznS9HUFcXlvGirfZBE7GVl_yhcNm8XR9vuefnwJFlGqYSuXAzLvX1aWsQY6rxzjABCzVusK2H4M/s200/IMG_1607.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-bqwJ_3GstCEOCeMm7tYskzewmSWIMH3pKxiX8ryO0L8x05gkjsnLw5NpFexEvCihWtTFAwToGuAm6Wz2vypVYG8bPwB62Wclm28G99TFmRRF8uqWDPu9seqzNkY_YaNXSky5_5fzLw/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-bqwJ_3GstCEOCeMm7tYskzewmSWIMH3pKxiX8ryO0L8x05gkjsnLw5NpFexEvCihWtTFAwToGuAm6Wz2vypVYG8bPwB62Wclm28G99TFmRRF8uqWDPu9seqzNkY_YaNXSky5_5fzLw/s200/IMG_1612.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.hahaha.com/fr" target="_blank">Festival Juste Pour Rire</a> | <a href="http://www.hahaha.com/fr/bouffons" target="_blank">Bouffons </a><span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.hahaha.com/fr/bouffons" target="_blank">Montréal</a> food truck festival | Ritual pilgramage to <a href="http://www.bilboquet.ca/" target="_blank">Bilboquet</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.foudici.com/" target="_blank">Fou d'Ici</a> | Bikini shopping at La Baie | Another ritual stop at <a href="http://www.pizzedelic.net/" target="_blank">Pizz<span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">é</span>d<span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">é</span>lic</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lamaisondumacaron.com/" target="_blank">La Maison du Macaron</a> | Stade Olympique | Cooling off with a cider</div>
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<a href="http://www.mosaiculturesinternationales.ca/en/" target="_blank">Mosaicultures Internationales de </a><span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.mosaiculturesinternationales.ca/en/" target="_blank">Montréal</a> | Le Marche Bonsecours </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ffffe5; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Quick and packed with awesome sites, great food, even better coffee. I'm going back in September but for two long weeks! That should be pleasant. Where have you been to lately? Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for my day-to-day adventures in real life. Thanks so much for stopping by and hope to see you again soon!</span></div>
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Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-13619182887424383352013-07-11T02:31:00.001-04:002013-07-11T02:32:46.064-04:00Soft Spot for Essie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I popped into CVS this evening after work and saw this fantastic array of shades that I just couldn't help snapping a picture of. If I wasn't so madly in love with Shellac, I probably would have purchased all of them. </div>
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From left to right: <i>Go Ginza</i>, <i>Boxer Shorts</i>, <i>Where's My Chauffeur?</i>, <i>Mojito Madness</i>, <i>Topless & Barefoot</i>, and <i>Lapiz of Luxury</i></div>
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On the subject of Shellac manicures, it's time for me to get mine redone! I'm going in the morning so in the meantime, what have YOU been wearing on your nails lately?Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-63079712637543496552013-06-24T00:29:00.000-04:002013-07-11T02:23:45.265-04:00Out and About in New York City!I went down to New York to visit my friend, Sara, over the weekend and much like my trip to Montréal in April, it was filled with shopping, ALL of the coffee, eating (gluten-free!) and drinking, and lots of walking. It was great to spend time with her after not having seen her in person for a year and lots of fun being in the Big City. If you follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, then you got a glimpse of our shenanigans in real time. Here you can get the whole rundown.<br />
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<a href="http://www.burgundywinecompany.com/" target="_blank">Burgundy Wine Company</a> | <a href="http://www.nymacaron.com/" target="_blank">La Maison du Macaron</a> | Baby Sparrow</div>
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After picking me up at the bus drop off (I traveled with Megabus), Sara and I made our way over to the Chelsea area. On our way, we passed this wine store with the amusing sign in the window. I definitely recommend popping in to this shop for any and all of your (French) wine needs (but seriously, what other wine needs would you have anyway?). The owner was in and wonderfully nice as well incredibly knowledgeable. Added incentive: they do wine tastings all day <i>every day</i>. The two wines that day were a Rosé and a Pinot Noir. Continuing on our way, we stumbled upon La Maison du Macaron where we naturally had to pop in. We managed to keep our cool and limited ourselves to only one macaron each. I got the Orange Blossom flavour and am happy to report that it was divine. Now onto the baby sparrow story.<br />
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Baffled, while holding a baby sparrow | <a href="http://www.bareburger.com/" target="_blank">Bareburger</a> | Having a <a href="http://www.troppops.com/" target="_blank">Trop Pop</a> after a spot of shopping </div>
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Yes, that is a live baby sparrow in my hand. Why? Well, Sara and I were walking down 8th Avenue and we passed this poor baby on the sidewalk. Before having even a second to think of what to do, a man walked up to it, picked him up and just dropped him into my hands. We probably stood there for at least five minutes completely baffled. Thankfully, New York loves its animals and a quick Google search showed plenty of animal hospitals around, one of which was conveniently just a few blocks away. He was totally cool with the walk over - bobbing his head with each step and either pretending to fly or just drying his wings. The animal hospital was SO nice. They immediately took him from me to check on him but had us wait to know how he was. It turns out that he was dehydrated and he had a minor infection on his back, probably from the fall out of his nest. One of the nurses there fosters birds and offered to take him home and nurse him back to health until he's ready to be released. They gave me the option to do that myself if I wanted, but how on Earth would I have gotten him back to Boston? I'm ecstatic that I was able to help a tiny little life.<br />
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Still trying to get over that after dousing our hands with hand sanitizer, we headed over to Bareburger for lunch (where more hand washing and sanitizing ensued). Widely acclaimed for their all-natural, free-range burgers, they're also very popular for gluten-free! I've had to be gluten-free since early June due to my inflammatory polyarthritis and let me tell you, it has NOT been easy. Sara was absolutely brilliant and searched for a variety of gluten-free eateries before my arrival so that there wouldn't be any worry about breaking my diet during my stay. I got a wild boar burger on their tapioca bun and it was delicious! I am wicked excited about the fact that Bareburger will be coming to Boston sometime in the Fall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.piefacenyc.com/" target="_blank">Pie Face</a> | Iced "Kick My Arse" Cappuccino | <a href="https://www.orensdailyroast.com/" target="_blank">Oren's Daily Roast</a></div>
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It was a bit past midnight at this point, but we were walking around the outskirts of Times Square and stumbled upon this interesting spot. Pie Face is originally an Australian concept that has made its way to New York. Their claim to fame, and also their name, is their mini-pies with faces on them. Quite cute and I imagine probably delicious, but sadly something I couldn't try because of gluten. I did however try one of their coffees. They have four coffee "settings", if you will. Decaf is "still asleep", medium strength is "open my eyes", strong is "start my heart", and super strong (the one I naturally went for) is "kick my arse". Well, it wasn't kidding*. We went to Empanada Mama around 2 in the morning, where the gluten-free empanadas and delicious margarita made me envy New Yorkers for a hot second (I wish Boston was more on its A-game with the 24-hour/gluten-free accommodations/empanada scene). The next day, we started off at Oren's Daily Roast which in my opinion, is still the best iced coffee I've had to date thus far.<br />
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*Partially related side story: on Tuesday, I kind of, sort of went through what I'm assuming was caffeine overdose. I woke up that morning as if I had just woken up from the dead - one of those sit-straight-up, gasping-for-air kind of moments. That was before I looked at the time and saw that it was the exact time I was supposed to arrive at work. Heart palpitations, noticeable twitching, and uncontrollable fidgeting made up the next four hours until I finally calmed down. Then I went through what I'm calling <i>the spectrum of misery</i>. I went from wanting to kill everyone in sight, to having a horrible headache, to crashing really hard, to feeling physically sick and back again. I did the math, and between Friday and Monday, I consumed 45 shots of espresso. Yes<i>. </i>That happened. I don't recommend you try this at home.<br />
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Brunch at Nook | Mini-Me's at the LEGO Store | <a href="http://www.chocolatrium.us/" target="_blank">Chocolat Michel Cluziel</a></div>
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We met up with Sara's friends, Caitlin and Kenneth, for brunch at Nook. Located in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, this tiny little place was fantastic. Sara, Kenneth, and I all got various scrambled eggs (mine were with cream cheese and smoked salmon) accompanied by salad and sweet potato hash, and Caitlin got the smoked salmon eggs benedict. The iced Belgian chocolate was superb. We went to the LEGO store by the Rockefeller Center afterwards, which has a station where you can build your own LEGO people! We each made our own likeness. Don't ask why I decided to be a Musketeer. Moving on, we stumbled upon another shop with macarons and once again showed great self control by only getting one each. I got a lavender one and it was also wonderful. </div>
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Daily dose of deliciousness | Grand Central Terminal | <a href="http://brickartist.com/" target="_blank">The Art of the Brick</a></div>
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We passed through Grand Central for the hell of it, which is celebrating its 100th year, then made our way to Discovery Times Square to see The Art of the Brick exhibit before I had to catch my bus back. Open until January 5, if you are in the area or will be in the area before then, please go and see this. The pieces Nathan Sawaya put together are incredible and a must-see for anyone that has ever enjoyed LEGOs in their life. At the end of the exhibit, there's an interactive piece where you are given a LEGO and you write your name on it; once the exhibit closes, Mr. Sawaya will take all of those pieces and will create a special work with them. </div>
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This was definitely an enjoyable little weekend. I look forward to going out and having more of these. Do you enjoy these sorts of posts? Let me know if you happen to go to any of the places I listed and do follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a> if you aren't already, to keep up with my day-to-day adventures. Thank you for reading and hope to see you again soon! </div>
Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-24841647184583750822013-05-28T03:07:00.000-04:002013-07-25T03:29:02.386-04:0023!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friday marked my 23rd birthday! 22 was horrifically rocky so I welcomed this new year of my life with open arms. Celebrations officially began last Sunday with my Dad as you know and continued throughout the week. </div>
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Birthday waffle at Zinneken's in Harvard Square</div>
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Walking across the Mass Ave Bridge | Trinity Church and the John Hancock Tower | Major day drinking at Fajita's & Rita's</div>
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Hair done! | Best coworkers ever! | Still the best coworkers ever!</div>
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Special birthday burger? | Oh, look at that drunk face.</div>
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Hangover-combating breakfast | Boston Calling | Pneumonia-combating Scorpion Bowl<br />
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Sort of a whirlwind week but so much fun. This was definitely the best birthday I've had in a few years. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you again soon!</div>
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Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-74643785055140374902013-05-21T02:58:00.000-04:002013-07-11T04:20:53.492-04:00Seaport Trolley MuseumMy Dad's birthday is the 23rd and mine is the 24th. To celebrate, we both got Sunday off and headed up to Kennebunkport, Maine. What's up there, you ask? The <a href="http://www.trolleymuseum.org/" target="_blank">Seaport Trolley Museum</a>, the largest electric railway museum in the world - a must-visit for railfans. We got an early start and spent the whole day together, which was so nice as we hadn't been able to do that in such a long time. If you follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, then you already know what we were up to, but if not, here's all of the details.<br />
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Instead of taking the Amtrak Downeaster like we had our last time in Maine, my Dad rented a car. THIS beauty, knowing that I am obsessed with Mini Coopers. I don't actually know how to drive, but I wanted to keep it soooo bad.</div>
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This is the workshop with the trolleys they are currently restoring. All of the restoration work is done by volunteers, which is incredibly admirable but also tremendously sad as that means that the process takes <i>forever</i>.<br />
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They've restored two or three trolleys to full, working capabilities. So the tour begins with a 30-minute ride and introduction to the story of the Museum and then we are free to wander the grounds. </div>
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Don't ask me how, but somehow in the moments after my Dad took this picture, I was on the ground on my back. Story of my life, I suppose.<br />
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On top of trolleys and subway cars, they also have an impressive collection of auto-buses.<br />
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Then they have this. And many others like it, we discovered by trespassing a little. Going back to when I said it was tremendously sad, the really heartbreaking part is that five trolleys are being worked on while two hundred others are rotting away waiting to be taken care of.<br />
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They have a few double-decker buses from various cities in the United Kingdom. How on Earth did they get a hold of these? And also, how on Earth did they get them to where they are now? I would actually really like to know. </div>
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Another thing I'm really curious to know how they got a hold of is the outbound half of Northampton Station, formerly of Boston's own Elevated Line.<br />
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If you're passing through the region, I would suggest checking it out. My Dad and I had so much fun wandering the grounds and its a great way to spend a little time outdoors. Thanks so much for reading and I hope to see you again soon!Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-35831968858504421692013-05-08T23:00:00.000-04:002013-05-09T00:02:12.058-04:00Review: Sally Hansen's Salon Manicure Cuticle Eraser + BalmThis is a product I wasn't aware that I needed. I was at CVS/pharmacy with two of my friends and we ended up in the nail care section. I stumbled upon this, read the back, but didn't think very much of it. Off topic but still related, I'm not the type of person that gets a basket when entering a store. No, I'm the one somehow balancing a dozen different items in my arms. At checkout, I found this in the crook of my elbow even though I could have sworn I'd put it back. Instead of just discarding it to the side, I decided to take it and give it a try. After all, apparently I wanted it subconsciously.<br />
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Its purpose is to soften the cuticles in order to more easily clean them up. I use this right after removing my nail polish since I use 100% acetone, which is terribly drying. It moisturizes my skin right away and makes those unsightly little skins sticking up almost painless to remove. It's very discreet: it goes on completely transparent and has a light fragrance that kind of reminds me of soap. The packaging makes it perfect to bring on the go, however it is rather oily until it has fully soaked in; something to keep in mind if you are in the middle of anything.<br />
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All in all, I do enjoy using this product and for $7, I would recommend picking this up to add to your manicure kit. Have you ever tried this product or something like it? Let me know in the comments below or on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. I would love to hear your feedback!Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-63328173532389335882013-04-30T23:30:00.000-04:002013-07-11T02:23:12.420-04:00A Weekend in MontréalLast week, I spent Sunday through Tuesday visiting my Mum in Montréal! It was so refreshing. To sum it up, my little weekend (I say weekend because that's basically what a restaurateur's weekend is) was filled with shopping, delicious food, chain-smoking on my part, and SO much coffee. Surprisingly, I didn't take very many pictures which is unusual for me as I'm always snapping away at everything. Also unusual, I almost exclusively relied on my iPhone 5 instead of my Canon. Regardless, take a look!<br />
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In the metro | Cute street art | GORGEOUS desserts at <em style="font-style: normal;">Pâtisserie de Gascogne</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.pizzedelic.net/" target="_blank">Pizzédélic</a>! | Pizza Mozzarella Basilic Frais | Found heaven in <a href="http://www.boutiquepointg.com/" target="_blank">Boutique Point G</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z-RStkVO5KeHcURWUge4MQWer-EBYUV4D4fJl2idCbenE1sH1UHphhZ2jS_m5aivW04t6_An7cOsHPuL6JFDRnoMNjgV0XfFDz3xPN-2-Zb0MAzkxIa3ME_UN-bOSzjUzW4Vn8M6cug/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z-RStkVO5KeHcURWUge4MQWer-EBYUV4D4fJl2idCbenE1sH1UHphhZ2jS_m5aivW04t6_An7cOsHPuL6JFDRnoMNjgV0XfFDz3xPN-2-Zb0MAzkxIa3ME_UN-bOSzjUzW4Vn8M6cug/s200/IMG_0887.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMv9C1lSbnoj1-YQAPtl2Pmg4Z3HMvJyH10mdO2Siv11XjosqT1050QY2CxD9pSjvYcAUfvy2vX2EFDuMGVoqBA0V38Xo0YwUD29GkHV384w7qHVz-bl3CpS39pGPi96jpJP42yBIroJo/s1600/IMG_0897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMv9C1lSbnoj1-YQAPtl2Pmg4Z3HMvJyH10mdO2Siv11XjosqT1050QY2CxD9pSjvYcAUfvy2vX2EFDuMGVoqBA0V38Xo0YwUD29GkHV384w7qHVz-bl3CpS39pGPi96jpJP42yBIroJo/s200/IMG_0897.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj199MuRK80rFqOFoiUsAskSjuAE1ulWNYI6v18-JVaeLqKGh4ZIKsGLEm-EZ4oMvNSP5sKxaHcD-rqIRhLkuW-xJ-5hbeULvPp-AwMMIVJg9A7QR-hHaHvK7Xk0yGFA_Bk7LHEi6Je9xo/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj199MuRK80rFqOFoiUsAskSjuAE1ulWNYI6v18-JVaeLqKGh4ZIKsGLEm-EZ4oMvNSP5sKxaHcD-rqIRhLkuW-xJ-5hbeULvPp-AwMMIVJg9A7QR-hHaHvK7Xk0yGFA_Bk7LHEi6Je9xo/s200/IMG_0912.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bilboquet.ca/" target="_blank">Le Glacier Bilboquet</a>! | Even in French, Starbucks can't get it right | So very true</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7lSVJolPgKE2Y0pOKOLA2AZWtPujctpyG_8SNmax5OBFjHxkjOnyUimLl53SsC8QkYXJOcdTtKLaSFCH8frdzP6E0It5lKDwMNMgp-rjNQAtvUEhNYj3yPDuFcZGJCI35wAFvw1lNng/s1600/IMG_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7lSVJolPgKE2Y0pOKOLA2AZWtPujctpyG_8SNmax5OBFjHxkjOnyUimLl53SsC8QkYXJOcdTtKLaSFCH8frdzP6E0It5lKDwMNMgp-rjNQAtvUEhNYj3yPDuFcZGJCI35wAFvw1lNng/s200/IMG_0939.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-N6dYRwkDZCDkD1VUZRaxNY0IhFaIaIxE5tkmwuLMwbujWjlni1Is1YFjPiUEJDtounTOiyETD-pwVyUDWDjpNpQ7m7OEUL3M1Q6_SmcgzcGtAJZ750whcQPLL54sM4zvzPDLT2x3Xo/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-N6dYRwkDZCDkD1VUZRaxNY0IhFaIaIxE5tkmwuLMwbujWjlni1Is1YFjPiUEJDtounTOiyETD-pwVyUDWDjpNpQ7m7OEUL3M1Q6_SmcgzcGtAJZ750whcQPLL54sM4zvzPDLT2x3Xo/s200/IMG_0972.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStqa9ixu1T8m-9LqDgqxWs0yaBcFYDdiZsAu8dfnHDowENYRXY8d62D2zj6UTWOwg7630vJ34YOjxAgL-ot2PjwPhk_M3mb0DbovMEEbsY8YuMnK-m3sQNIkgpX131e-k99eeOvZCRDU/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStqa9ixu1T8m-9LqDgqxWs0yaBcFYDdiZsAu8dfnHDowENYRXY8d62D2zj6UTWOwg7630vJ34YOjxAgL-ot2PjwPhk_M3mb0DbovMEEbsY8YuMnK-m3sQNIkgpX131e-k99eeOvZCRDU/s200/IMG_0974.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal | In the metro again | Cappuccino at <a href="http://www.chocolabakeshop.com/" target="_blank">Cho'cola</a></div>
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Pizzédélic, Bilboquet, and la Gascogne are all places that I have been going to with my family for years and years. If you find yourself in Montréal, make a point of paying these establishments a visit. I promise you will not be disappointed. I definitely hope to go up again sometime in July. Hopping to the subject of shopping, a picked up a few beauty goodies that I look forward to showing you soon. What did you think of my little trip? Do you like these sorts of travel posts or do you think I should keep this to my <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a>? Let me know in the comments or on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you soon!</div>
Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-49051053039104322872013-04-26T22:34:00.002-04:002013-04-26T22:35:32.668-04:00Haul: CVS/pharmacyFor whatever reason, CVS has been handing coupons out lately. I've been going in for an Odwalla bar and walking out with a receipt three feet long! On that subject, I see what you're doing, CVS. I've noticed that this only seems to happen when you are an infrequent shopper or when you buy very little. They're probably doing this as an incentive to get us to come in and spend more often. Whatever they're doing, it's working because I figured it was time to take advantage of these deals. Here's what I got.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeXVBmnNnDRXjxIRmlpNd2d4eamP41hwa4qINuNIUNjBtrKjoWkXpw7ZAVxWcAv8ebNqhF6z2k_FjQDzULz1jK5IS7H1pJ-3x-ohW__bN04XnExl_MAfWRfM71LOC4VQjJaGgKVLq9bQ/s1600/IMG_3640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeXVBmnNnDRXjxIRmlpNd2d4eamP41hwa4qINuNIUNjBtrKjoWkXpw7ZAVxWcAv8ebNqhF6z2k_FjQDzULz1jK5IS7H1pJ-3x-ohW__bN04XnExl_MAfWRfM71LOC4VQjJaGgKVLq9bQ/s400/IMG_3640.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>Neutrogena Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Removing Pads</li>
<li>Refresh Contact Lens Comfort Drops</li>
<li>Porcelana Day and Night Creams</li>
<li>Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Lotion</li>
<li>Schick Hydro Silk Razor</li>
<li>Q-Tips</li>
<li>Blistex Moisture Melt</li>
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Other than the Blistex Moisture Melt, I had price-reducing coupons for every item. The original total was $64 and change, I paid an even $40. Not too shabby! Has CVS been spitting tons of coupons at you too lately? Let me know in the comments or on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </div>
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Thanks for reading and I hope to see you soon!</div>
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Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-85785297398439934432013-04-18T04:35:00.000-04:002013-04-18T04:35:00.597-04:00Macaron Marathon: Cakeology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back in November, there was a weekend where I was pretty under the weather. My Dad brought me two dozen macarons that had been left over from a function he helped with. Ziggy (my chihuahua) and I spent the day nibbling on them one by one and they made me feel so much better. I thought they were excellent and wanted to get more. I asked him him to find out who made them but no one seemed to know so I resolved to go around all of Boston and its surrounding areas to try and track them down. Even if I never found them again, I would still be eating lots of macarons and hopefully finding some fantastic spots along the way. I decided to name this segment Macaron Marathon because if you say it in French, it rhymes. Whenever I go to a new place, I will report back with pictures and my thoughts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNluvk7rmHJMqGkO7k11bM2Y-NBxlOkvRKW83SlvgJN40ZZrxaVQHttwGxORwWl8mWawR5ZniVaFTc-L6HyWTMaeN-QmzxotXi_seXTbEmRtzlvbL5ViRSJ4WaMTE2pSvtImj-T3U5WY/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNluvk7rmHJMqGkO7k11bM2Y-NBxlOkvRKW83SlvgJN40ZZrxaVQHttwGxORwWl8mWawR5ZniVaFTc-L6HyWTMaeN-QmzxotXi_seXTbEmRtzlvbL5ViRSJ4WaMTE2pSvtImj-T3U5WY/s400/IMG_3395.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The macaron hunt began at Cakeology, located in Boston's Downtown Crossing at 45 Province Street. It's a vibrant little shoppe with big open windows to view the workspace and the products from the outside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrhruLld0P8HoS8VMikdrZ13_2J2Ghc4wdt7uEb-JYkL9eMq_bx598x97-lcrmPO7P7j-Mg4hyTTOw_w7vTUHm_K_k5c4id4lv55oCUIhUey9ftIMZwYWkzwNpOvPi9ObdLs-gCy0Cu0/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrhruLld0P8HoS8VMikdrZ13_2J2Ghc4wdt7uEb-JYkL9eMq_bx598x97-lcrmPO7P7j-Mg4hyTTOw_w7vTUHm_K_k5c4id4lv55oCUIhUey9ftIMZwYWkzwNpOvPi9ObdLs-gCy0Cu0/s400/IMG_3396.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Their primary specialty is cupcakes and special occasion cakes, but they make two macarons of different flavours that change every day. When I walked in, the pastry chef was in the middle of filling a fresh batch of macarons, something I really appreciated knowing that some places sell frozen ones. The inside of the shoppe is kind of small but open so that you can watch the sugary treats being made behind the counter. Metallic pink paint stains the hardwood floors and the walls are painted a vibrant purple with multi-tiered modell cakes on various shelves. There are three tables, each one with potted grass and (rainbow and chocolate) sprinkle shakers as center pieces. All in all, a very cute spot to enjoy a hot beverage and some sweets tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of downtown.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaWeAHXFFQRU4sVsrDZy-QISuSE_hnt6VOzkT-zWDObzYbxsUNI_JfJveO379_v3YWtpdqc6-eLNZzpw8sRKKp4-9aX8MDIAx1LvX9EcBvd3-XWTXx0bVv8Kz2h5lVcieRK7jm29bO6Y/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaWeAHXFFQRU4sVsrDZy-QISuSE_hnt6VOzkT-zWDObzYbxsUNI_JfJveO379_v3YWtpdqc6-eLNZzpw8sRKKp4-9aX8MDIAx1LvX9EcBvd3-XWTXx0bVv8Kz2h5lVcieRK7jm29bO6Y/s400/IMG_3400.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdzlN50g-Obz213AtxbIhQ3PGT6wJaiDSm60dYc3yruj7-T2AJmNMqvPPwAWn50EExeoR_77kOOUW7HlRlehOl6lbAxVh4ywrV7eNiWScvASyEyGbNaaeNMx27jgUE9YDCXdcuw1nKE0/s1600/IMG_3399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdzlN50g-Obz213AtxbIhQ3PGT6wJaiDSm60dYc3yruj7-T2AJmNMqvPPwAWn50EExeoR_77kOOUW7HlRlehOl6lbAxVh4ywrV7eNiWScvASyEyGbNaaeNMx27jgUE9YDCXdcuw1nKE0/s400/IMG_3399.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The two flavours that day were pistachio and hazelnut. I got two of each, priced at $1.75 a pop. The texture of the shells was a bit firmer than I normally expect for a macaron; these were not the type that literally disintegrate after each bite. Do not take this as too much of a negative, their being thicker made for less mess and longer enjoyment. They were both visibly grainy, a result from not grinding the almonds finely enough - a problem of aesthetics, not taste. A macaron snob would write these ones off completely because of these slip-ups but my heart is big enough that I still have room for leniency. My only issue was the filling in both of them. It was a very sugary cream, so sweet that it sadly took away from the both the pistachio and hazelnut flavours of the shells. Regardless, I did enjoy these macarons and I would recommend <a href="http://cakeology.com/" target="_blank">Cakeology</a> if you're looking for a spot in downtown Boston.<br />
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Also in the Boston area? Let me know if there's any place you know of that I should check out by leaving a comment or <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">tweeting</a> me. Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned for more dainty delights!Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-89936613644715319532013-04-17T20:03:00.000-04:002013-04-17T20:03:54.921-04:00Review: Maybelline's Express Manicure Quick Dry Protecting Top CoatSince my previous post was a loose tutorial on nails, I thought I would stick in the same theme for today's review. My grandmother and I Facetime each other every few days or so. (I would call her every day but work gets in the way of doing that. She's basically my Mum minus the fact that she didn't give birth to me, to give you an idea of how close we are.) A few months ago we were chatting and she raved about this new top coat she had just gotten. She picked one up for me and mailed it out the next day from France.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVkbg7-IcV9e89LM3NOD14YUGtdhDSPshL2EziAoWbJXxC6uMp_DhJLc_XQJBcKyyN5ElB7tPYyO832_L3kwBn6HgEig316mJKujQo2yrEDnelGOyBSQozU_lvbiqPs7-LTY2gUm9kZo/s1600/maybelline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVkbg7-IcV9e89LM3NOD14YUGtdhDSPshL2EziAoWbJXxC6uMp_DhJLc_XQJBcKyyN5ElB7tPYyO832_L3kwBn6HgEig316mJKujQo2yrEDnelGOyBSQozU_lvbiqPs7-LTY2gUm9kZo/s400/maybelline.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She was not exaggerating one bit in her praises! A fast-drying protecting lacquer, it also adds a lot of shine and makes a manicure last significantly longer without chipping. I'm talking my manicure has gone eleven days strong and all the nails looked like new minus the visible growth. How impressive is that!? I've looked at Maybelline's varnish line here in the States and regrettably have to say that they don't have something like this available. They do have the Express Finish line with a variety of colours but no top coat - quite silly in my opinion. Please don't think of me as a tease, I'm just smitten with this product and wanted to share. If you or someone you know is going to either France or the UK, definitely add this to your list of things to bring back! </div>
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What is your all time favourite top coat? Leave me some recommendations in the comments or on Twitter. I would love to try out some more options and eventually post a compare and contrast perhaps? Thanks so much for reading and I hope to see you soon! </div>
Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-39269100036832480032013-04-16T02:44:00.000-04:002013-04-16T03:10:48.659-04:00How-To: Colour Blocking NailsI don't know why, but I always feel like doing my nails really late at night. Especially nights where I have to wake up early the next day. And I always want to do something fancy and complicated. Because you know, why just settle for one colour and be done with it? That's just too simple.<br />
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Case in point, the other night, I felt like colour blocking my nails at 23h30. I had never tried it before but I had seen a few tutorials here and there and it looked easy enough. I found some tape, picked two colours I thought would look good together and dove right in. Let's just say, it did not go well. But on the bright side, by every possible thing going wrong in that attempt, I can now tell you how to colour block your nails to perfection! Rather, I can tell you what not to do and hope that your attempt turns out better than mine did.<br />
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<li>When selecting your two colours, make sure they're both opaque. Laquers that require multiple coats each have a tendency of never fully setting thus leading to disaster and therefore, heartbreak. We don't like heartbreak. Preferably, try to pick colours that only need one coat each. The two laquers I chose are <i>Lilacism</i> and <i>Where's My Chauffeur</i>, both from Essie. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIehat2Wd7Q8rc_a-QqjtywNNAvU1zc4n7QsF5ODmLZnItq4Wut1mRbV0eu1txeZyFdkuah3ylwK5Bt5VQhRpYI7wXhdWjmE_3V4oP7WCh3htmPXvLRz9Hw1gVW2lGCkPCvm4bLKOcgmU/s1600/IMG_3636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIehat2Wd7Q8rc_a-QqjtywNNAvU1zc4n7QsF5ODmLZnItq4Wut1mRbV0eu1txeZyFdkuah3ylwK5Bt5VQhRpYI7wXhdWjmE_3V4oP7WCh3htmPXvLRz9Hw1gVW2lGCkPCvm4bLKOcgmU/s400/IMG_3636.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li>I clearly don't have the patience to do everything in one sitting, so I would recommend applying the base coat and the bottom colour at night while winding down before going to bed than apply the second colour in the morning. It's a little more foulproof for me. If you want to do this in one time, make sure to have ample time for the bottom colour to dry. If it is even remotely wet, the tape will peel it off, like so. Look! It's a smiley face. It's a smiley face because it feels accomplished about ruining my nail.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5snZ_aUxzQiZwMQU2u7dvAcWYIs-rK0oKg8alS18kVO2JV7tUjf4bJcjxdkFPzsSNVObo21j8FGROv0MG-b4XsKOl8fqkp_JxqvwsrDMtKC2bd4vWj5A2KdoJ8vL6W3vWmL7faRiwFM8/s1600/IMG_3635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5snZ_aUxzQiZwMQU2u7dvAcWYIs-rK0oKg8alS18kVO2JV7tUjf4bJcjxdkFPzsSNVObo21j8FGROv0MG-b4XsKOl8fqkp_JxqvwsrDMtKC2bd4vWj5A2KdoJ8vL6W3vWmL7faRiwFM8/s400/IMG_3635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li>Once you are absolutely, positively certain that the bottom colour is completely dry, it's time to put the tape on. The way I did it was I put the tape on the half closest to the root which made it harder to make sure the bottom half was completely protected on the sides. I would recommend doing the opposite and putting the tape on the outer nail plate instead. Allow lots of time for the second colour to dry before removing the tape slowly. </li>
<li>Apply your favourite top coat, wait for it to set, and off you go! Your finished product will hopefully look significantly better than this. I had to do a lot of touch ups on both colours which resulted in noticeable lumpiness. I was so frustrated at this point that I didn't even bother cleaning up the sides, which I apologize for. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope you find these pointers useful in your colour blocking endeavours. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. If you do try this or have done this already, please send me a picture of your nails either in the comments, on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or on <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. I would love to see your colour combinations. Hope to see soon!</div>
Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-79372765985089884882013-04-11T04:04:00.000-04:002013-04-11T19:09:08.701-04:00Nibbling On: LUNA Bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I work in a restaurant, and it seems to be a pretty common misconception that people in this industry are well fed. I can see where that idea comes from. We're around food all day and we talk so highly about our product, but that means nothing. If anything, we spend the majority of the day <i>starving</i>. My employer is decent enough to offer the staff what is called "family meal" at 16h every day. There are some spotty days, but it's usually well-balanced, relatively healthy and most importantly, filling. Besides that however, we're on our own all morning long before and all night after family meal. So I like to have snacks on my person during work for when I just need a break or for those mornings where I'm running late (ie, every morning). </div>
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I discovered LUNA bars last summer while browsing the energy bar aisle at my grocer (yes, my grocery store has an entire aisle of energy and protein bars; there are three gyms around it). At the time, I wanted to have something to snack on during my four-hour bus ride to and from New York. I was surprised to learn that LUNA is actually a branch of Clif bars created specially for marketing towards women. It's definitely working because I pick these up regularly. I like the variety of flavours to choose from and I find the wrappers rather appealing. They're perfect to just chuck in my bag and have a kick of energy and nutrients that I appreciate. Last week, they were on promo 10 for $10 so I picked up a whole variety. Normally, I usually get S'mores or White Chocolate Macadamia when it's around. Their <a href="http://www.lunabar.com/" target="_blank">website</a> is very well laid out if you'd like to see a full listing of their products or just to learn more about the company.<br />
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What is your favourite energy bar or snack food? Let me know in the comments or on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. I'd love to hear what your go to snack is. Thanks for reading!Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-48959123791314509922013-04-10T03:12:00.000-04:002013-04-10T03:12:00.682-04:00Review: Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant in Ooh-la-la LavenderSUCH a random product to review, I know, but I figured I would share my opinion of it with you because of everything it promises. Allow me to give you an idea of why this subject is a big deal for me. In mid-January, I got promoted from hostess to backwaiter at the restaurant I work in. Boy, I did not know the beating I was getting myself into. Up and down the stairs fifty times a shift. Carrying 30-50 pounds at a time. Burns, cuts, bruises, broken nails. Getting barked at all of the time. It is tough. So tough that I started freezing up and having panic attacks for little to no reason. And just to add insult to injury, as a result of all of these things put together, I started getting these unsightly sweat stains at the pits of my black shirts. Great. So I picked up one of Secret's Clinical Strength deodorants hoping it would help.<br />
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The product's main focus is repressing "stress sweat" which apparently smells four times worse than normal sweat. I didn't have an odor problem but I definitely did have a wetness issue - hence the staining. I've been using it for about a month now and am thrilled to say that I'm looking good! I have noticed that I very rarely feel like I'm sweating there at all anymore (normal or healthy? probably not, but remember the priorities). My arm pits (and all the muscles in my arms too!) look good; the rest of me doesn't because the job just can't be helped, it seems.<br />
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My previous deodorant of the same scent was around the $5 mark, while the Clinical Strength version cost about $8 (on promo, otherwise it's normally closer to $10). My major complaint about this deodorant: there is so much packaging for so little product. Look at the stick, it's brand new and only half of it is filled.<br />
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Why is the tube only half full? Why is the box so much bigger? <i>Why does it even need to come in a box?</i> For whatever reason, this gets me really worked up and I'm not even that environmentally conscious. Wastefulness aside, this is a product worth investing in if you need to keep sweat, stressed or not, under control.<br />
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Thank you for taking the time to read about deodorant! A pretty awkward thing to write about, but it's certainly something all of us use (I hope so, at least). Hope to see you soon!Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495155621723525852.post-71047094136458312372013-04-09T03:01:00.000-04:002013-04-09T04:30:52.660-04:00Refresh and RestartIf you've been following me for a while, you might have noticed that all my previous posts are missing. (If you haven't, then I'm sorry that we're starting on such a sombre foot.) Why? Because I deleted them. For a few days now, I've been going back and forth with the idea of completely scrapping everything and restarting my blogging endeavor from zero. Far too much has happened in the past few months and I've allowed too much time to pass in between writing. I look over what I wrote before and it seems like a completely different person's work. In reality, it is a different person's work at this point. Almost every aspect of my life has changed in one way or another in the past five or so months; somethings for the better, some not. I want everything to be better and I believe one big way to bring that to fruition is to start being completely and totally honest.<br />
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I started blogging back in June of last year as a way to pass the time while I was unemployed. I quickly found that I quite enjoyed it and continued once I began my new job in July. It forced me to think of things to write about and new ways to photograph. The job did not turn out to be what I was expecting so blogging turned into a nice distraction; and even more so once my now ex-boyfriend and I learned that his father was dying. His father's decline was very quick and he passed away on September 30. From there, blogging became a sort of cover-up. My boyfriend handled the death in all the wrong ways possible. I tried to keep it together for the both of us. I visualized the situation as a ship; does one abandon ship whilst going through rough waters? I believed the storm would pass, but it didn't. I didn't exactly abandon ship though, I sent out an SOS and I was rescued; otherwise, I probably would have never left. Everything that happened never should have, but it did. Now it's just a matter of getting past its wake.<br />
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So far, 2013 has been an extreme whirlwind of emotions. There was a period of time where I felt debilitating sadness. Like him, I also dealt with the situation and its aftermath incorrectly. I went behind peoples' backs and lied to those dearest to me, something I never would have expected of myself. I screwed up quite a few things in the process but worst of all, lost trust from people I care about. For a short while, I assumed that I was broken inside. I realized that instead I was and still am completely and totally lost. I don't know what I want to do or where I want to be. I'm literally waiting around and hoping that I'll wake up and know. In the meantime, I'm picking up the pieces and one of those pieces happens to be blogging.<br />
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When I originally started this blog, I wanted to focus on beauty reviews. It quickly turned into more of a lifestyle blog once I included some travel posts and later some food posts as well (exclusively macarons). Doing this complete refresh, I'm going to keep with the general lifestyle theme. You can expect beauty reviews of a broad variety, travel, reading, and the occasional food post. Anything that meets my fancy, honestly. If these are things that might interest you, please subscribe! You can also find me on <a href="https://twitter.com/WokeUpPretty" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and on <a href="http://instagram.com/melinadeboston" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I promise my posts will be much more lighthearted following this one. See you soon hopefully!Mélinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10712476238979772945noreply@blogger.com0