Any Second Now

My First Fashion Subscription: Rocksbox!

I must say, I’m very new to this fashion subscription box game. I’ve seen reviews from my blogger friends on beauty boxes, and I even know an actual fashion box stylist. But this is my first time trying it out, and what better way than through Rocksbox! I’m a sucker for a great accessory, and with Rocksbox, I can review three pieces of jewelry and decide to purchase them or send them back for another three pieces as curated by my stylist.

Here’s how it works: I became a Shine Insider by filling out a survey to help the stylist who will be assigned to me to determine my style and jewelry preference. I can also choose items for my “Wish List” that could be added to my box. Soon after, I received my first box with the Urban Gem necklace I chose, along with a set built around my necklace by my stylist, Eleanor: adorable Gorjana earrings and amazing rings by CC Skye. I have to tell you, I have been getting a lot of use from my Rocksbox pieces, wearing them altogether as a set or with jewelry I already own (the CC Sky ring paired perfectly with my Love Tatum one). If I absolutely love a piece, I simply keep it and purchase it on my account page, and then return the rest of the pieces!

I can’t believe I haven’t tried this before because it really is very easy and so convenient! First of all, I really enjoyed the personalized touch. Upon opening the box, I was immediately greeted with my name on the card with the description of the contents of the box. Each piece was carefully wrapped in its own individual jewelry bag. Very explicit instructions are included on not only how to return the jewelry with the packaging and shipping label provided, but also on how to care for the jewelry, just in case you want to return the items you don’t want.

I actually purchased the Gorjana “Cress Shimmer Studs” that Eleanor chose for me, and used my Shine Spend, which brought the price of the earrings down to $20! I then returned the rest of the jewelry in the original packaging, with the shipping label provided. I’m excited to see what Eleanor has planned for me next, especially since I made some additions to my “Wish List”.

Would you like to try out Rocksbox, courtesy of moi? Any Second Now readers can use code any2ndnowxoxo when prompted on the Rockbox site to try it out for one month! If you love it, then it’s just $19 a month thereafter to get unlimited access to rent some great jewelry!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complementary 3 month subscription to try out Rocksbox. Although I did receive a complementary subscription, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Product Review: The Proactiv Acne Treatment System

As you know, I’m always up for trying products that may enhance or improve my skin care regimen. My current skin cleansing routine is very simple: I wash my face daily with a cleansing foam and use an exfoliant every other day. I have been introduced to a few products here on my blog, but I will have to say that this will be the most popular one to date: I have been asked to try The Proactiv Acne Treatment System, to assist in ensuring my readers are making the right decision for their skin care treatment related to acne. As we all know, not one solution works for everyone, which is why I have been asked to review Proactiv to find out what will work. Since I have always wanted to try Proactiv, I was happy to be asked to participate in this review, and I will post my results after trying the product over a period of time. So stay tuned for my final review of Proactiv!

FTC Disclosure: I received product specifically for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Ashes To Ashes: Remembering David Bowie

As I write this, I’m still in shock over the untimely death of David Bowie. I’m not going to get too much into his history because you can look that up anywhere, and at press time, he is definitely trending all over. But what I will do is just touch on what he meant to me, especially since he was such a major influence on the bands I adore.

I’ve possibly been exposed to David Bowie as early as four years old because my parents used to watch The Dinah Shore show and Dick Cavett back in the 70’s. My parents were also very big fans of Bing Crosby, so I completely remember the Bowie and Crosby version of Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth, although it may have been a memory from repeated Christmas specials because I was only seven when they performed that together in 1977. But I definitely remember the first song I heard by David Bowie, which was Ashes To Ashes from his Scary Monsters album. I was a mere 11 or 12 years old at the time, but I distinctly recall seeing the video on MTV, thinking how odd it was to see nuns and clowns on a beach. I also remember the song Fashion because then MTV VJ Alan Hunter proudly declared time and again that he was in the video.

The album that made the most impact on me was the Let’s Dance album because that was when I was in my self discovery phase, which included the importance of music in my life. In 1983, local radio station 91X introduced me to the kind of music that would stay with me with bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Joy Division, New Order and of course, Depeche Mode. My favorite bands all site David Bowie and Bryan Ferry as true inspiration when they were youngsters looking for their identity, and I recall how dapper and suave David Bowie looked in videos like Modern Love and China Girl. The fashion influence was obvious on Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran, but I swear Simon Le Bon is vocally channeling Mr. Bowie in New Moon on Monday from the Seven and the Ragged Tiger album.

I think David Bowie’s death has impacted me so much because he’s always been present. I can’t remember a time when I was listening to music without him being artistically somewhere close by. He was an innovator, he was soulful, and he was creative. He gave people like myself, self-proclaimed “weirdos” or “outcasts”, license to be yourself. He was a fashion and musical genius.

I recall a discussion my husband and I had about an impeding Bowie tour about two years ago, vowing that we would see him here or Los Angeles, or even San Francisco or Las Vegas if we needed to travel, just to ensure we would see him in our lifetime. When that tour never materialized and there was no word, I even hinted that something else may be wrong, like some kind of health problem because there was suddenly radio silence about his tour or a new album. So when I heard about Blackstar being released, I was optimistic about seeing more from David Bowie in the near future, even a possible tour. I listened to the whole album on Spotify, telling my friends and family how much it harkened back to his earlier days. Instead of hearing about a new tour and more new music, my best friend alerted me to the news of his death, which was confirmed on all news channels within about 15 minutes of her text. Now, we sadly bid adieu to Ziggy Stardust, aka The Goblin King, aka The Thin White Duke, aka a beloved music legend.

(All pictured vinyl and CDs are from my personal music collection.)

(Edited to add my David Bowie playlist from Spotify)

My Favorite Bowie

Very High Tea

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my mother-in-law treated me to a wonderful afternoon tea at the Tea Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, overlooking the infamous Las Vegas Strip. My first ever afternoon tea was at The Georgian at Harrods in London (post here), and what I love about them is that I can dress up and feel, well, fancy! I made the mistake at my last tea of having lunch prior, so I didn’t get a chance to enjoy all of the lovely bites (I guess I underestimated the heartiness of a finger sandwich or scone). This time around, I was more prepared to take part in their delicious and festive Holiday Afternoon Tea menu. I love black teas, so I had the Mandarin Orange Blend:

This custom black tea blend was picked specifically for Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. It is an infused blend that will open up your senses and give you a burst of orange and mandarin flavors with light vanilla undertones.

It really was a lovely time, and I highly recommend The Tea Lounge if you’re ever in Vegas. I’ve included more pictures below of our tea and beautiful mini-finger-food-buffet. Cheers!

Such a gorgeous setting, plenty of attention to detail.

I’ve made up my mind: I want one traditional English tea set, and this one!

The food was as delicious as it was beautiful.

With my mother-in-law. We enjoyed our afternoon tea with a view!

Resolution Goals for 2016: Closet Clean Out!

I must confess that I purposely didn’t further discuss my attempt at my “Fashion Sobriety” (original post here) because I failed so miserably. I was doing well for about two months, and just crashed and burned. I’m a shopper, and I can’t deny it. Knowing myself and that I enjoy shopping immensely, what I can do is redirect how I shop and what I shop for. I’m in a better position financially, so I’m going to do my own version of a capsule wardrobe, by purchasing more investment pieces and mixing it into what I love. I realize now that my hair can be an “accessory”, updating my style with color and cut. With my hair and other accessories, I can incorporate some of my favorite brands like Miista, Boy London, Irregular Choice and United Nude with higher end pieces to keep that “edge” that I’m always looking for. This means I’m officially going to clean out my closet by selling older beloved higher end designer and mid-price pieces that have a lot of life left in them, and then donating the rest. I can proudly say I’ve put my mini-light studio to good use and have already started an Any Second Now store on eBay (click the link to take you directly there)! All listings are good for 30 days, and I will relist what doesn’t sell immediately.

Here are the first eight pairs of shoes I’m selling on eBay, directly from my closet, including the ones pictured above. In fact, one pair has already sold, which really surprised me at how fast it happened. I’ll be adding more items often, so I hope you stop by and check them out.

Happy shopping!

New Dress, New Year!

It’s the first week of the New Year, so why not start with an outfit post? During the Thanksgiving break, my mother-in-law treated me to a fabulous afternoon tea at The Tea Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. I’ll detail the tea itself in a separate post, but I felt the occasion warranted me to wear this dress from Voodoo Vixen’s latest Fall/Winter 2015 line. It has a wonderful flocked houndstooth print (one of my favorite prints), with a lovely open collar, giving it a completely retro feel. Since it’s a bit chilly in Las Vegas, I finally got to use my faux fur tippet, which worked well with this vintage inspired dress.

Guess what? If you like what you see on Voodoo Vixen’s site, Any Second Now readers can use code any2nd20 to get 20% off your purchase!

I also had to take a picture of my nails because they are my new favorite “go-to” nails in a pinch: I did my nails in under 15 minutes! They’re the latest by Kiss, and I purchased them the day before at CVS, but you can’t tell that I just glued them on a short time before we headed out the door. What I really love is that they come in a new shorter length, so they’re pretty and practical.

Outfit: Tiger Lily Flocked Flare Dress c/o Voodoo Vixen; Enzo Angiolini Coadi Houndstooth Pumps; Oasis Faux Fur Tippet; Kate Spade necklace, earrings and bracelet; “Tippi” glasses by Lookmatic (no longer available in black)

(Pictures 1 & 2 taken by Diana Chen-Rhodes)

FTC Disclosure: I received product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Cave Tools Kabobs Skewer Set Review: Perfect Party Food!

New Year’s Eve is upon us, which means parties galore! My husband, Deon, is quite the BBQ connoisseur and is known to create some fabulous meals on his Traeger Grill for several parties here right at home, especially during football season. Recently, Deon made amazing kabobs with the Cave Tools Stainless Steel Kabob Skewers Set. He really liked the overall design, especially how the skewers set on the rack (they can be set in eight different positions). He also thought the “built-in-food-slider” was the most convenient part of the skewers, in addition to how easy they were to clean. Above all, the kabobs were evenly cooked and didn’t stick to the grill because the rack sits right atop it. Overall: These are Deon approved! So if you’re looking for a dish that will be a hit for your next party and have a great grill like we do (we have the Traeger Junior Elite Grill), grab this great skewer set from Cave Tools (check out below how fantastic his kabobs turned out). Cheers and see you in the New Year!

To purchase your own Cave Tools Kabob Skewer Set, click the links below AND, you can get 15% off with the following code!

Kabob Set 15% Off: LHWJZQMZ

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0117OY5IA/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&sr=8-32&me=A3IEEDMWTA8OSP&keywords=kabob+set&linkCode=as2&tag=hyacinth17-20

Cave Tools: http://cavetools.com/products/kabob-skewers-rack/?utm_source=Blogger&utm_medium=Review&utm_campaign=KabobSet

FTC Disclosure: I received product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

#BlogItForward With Wayfair for Habitat For Humanity

Holidays are a wonderful time to not only spend with family, but also to remember to be kind to others and give back to your community. Giving back can take on many forms, big or small, and Wayfair, one of the largest online destinations for the home, is challenging bloggers to #BlogItForward and inspire each other to spread the word to do something positive this holiday season. For every blogger that places the #BlogItFoward badge on their blog, Wayfair will donate $50 to Habitat For Humanity, helping to build homes for families in need.

Not only am I participating in Wayfair’s #BlogItForward for Habitat For Humanity, but I’ll also be participating in two other campaigns. Check them out below, and I’d like to inspire my fellow bloggers and the San Diego Style Bloggers network to do the same!

TaSanni Kickstarter Campaign:

Help support TaSanni to create jobs that empower artisans in Africa

As I posted recently, TaSanni was one of the top three designers at Fashion Week San Diego 2015 (original post here). With the success of their participation in FWSD 2015, there is much interest in their 2016 Spring Collection (I’m wearing one of their blouses in the picture above).

As you know, our mission is to contribute to the African economy through fashion, we believe that Africa can become a fashion manufacturing hub and this is just the beginning.
In order to employ more tailors we need to raise more capital. – TaSanni

I will be donating to TaSanni’s Kickstarter campaign. If you would like to do the same, you would not only help these talented emerging designers, but you will also help develop the communities of these African tailors and small businesses TaSanni will be working with.

Voodoo Vixen:

Shop For a Cause Sample Sale on Sunday January 10, 2016

I love wearing clothing by Voodoo Vixen, a UK based vintage inspired label, which “infuses retro, pin-up and rockabilly styles with classic silhouettes to flatter the modern woman” (all the dresses I’m wearing in the collage above are from Voodoo Vixen). They will be having a sample sale in the Hollywood area, where 50% of their sales will benefit Pin-Ups For Vets. I’ll be there to help support their cause, and to shop because you can save up to 70% of their retail prices!

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide 2015 Part 2!

As promised, here is part two to my “Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide”! This list of gift ideas is designed to help you with the music lovers in your life in addition to more for your fashion loving friends and family. The titles of each section will link directly to how you can purchase each gift idea. Enjoy and happy shopping!

THE MUSIC LOVERS GIFT GUIDE

Spotify Subscription

I love Spotify. I love it so much that I subscribe to Spotify Premium not only because I have access to a seemingly unlimited database of music, but also for the ability to eliminate ads and save music on Spotify so that I can listen to my playlists without the need to use wi-fi or phone data.

For a limited time only, you can give the gift of a three-month subscription of Spotify for only $.99!

(Photo capture courtesy of Spotify)

VNYL Subscription

I’m a very avid vinyl record collector. I try to participate in some kind of monthly record meme because I love to share my collection, and I love to see what my online friends are spinning. If you would like to get someone special some vinyl of their own, buy them a subscription to VNYL and they can have their team of curators choose three albums a month based on their profile!

$39 will buy a one month subscription of 3 records. But if you really love someone, you can buy them a whole year subscription at $420 for 36 records. For those of you in the California area, they have a flagship store in Los Angeles!

(Photo capture courtesy of VNYL)

M. Lineham Art

If you do not know Matthew Lineham is or his art, please let me introduce you! I discovered Matthew Lineham’s incredible art on Instagram. He has 16 “Saints” of New Wave, two of which I have purchased myself: Simon Le Bon and Bryan Ferry. Of the 16, I have seen six in concert, and I know he’s working on his Saint Dave Gahan one. His pieces are truly a wonderful and unique gift for the 80’s alternative lover in your life and won’t break the bank at $15 each print.

Urbanears Headphones

Because I’m a Premium Spotify subscriber, I received a code to receive half off a pair of wireless headphones from Urbanears. They have Bluetooth capability, where I can use it to not only listen to music, but pick up a call and swipe to the next song on my Spotify list!

Their line includes ear buds and full headphones, ranging in price from $29 to $99.

THE FASHIONISTA GIFT GUIDE

Love Tatum Gift Card

I first saw Love Tatum jewelry at a few local boutiques during blogger events. But I really started to love the pieces after seeing them on my blogger friends like Laura Neuzeth and Vanessa Balli. I bought my first pieces at Simply Local (two necklaces and a ring), and my most recent purchase is that gorgeous ring pictured above. Created by Tatum Lenahan, you can give the gift of one of her amazing pieces by purchasing a gift card for your favorite fashionista!

Ja-Vie Shoes

I reviewed Ja-Vie shoes recently after discovering them on Instagram (original post here). These have been my go-to shoes lately, not only because they’re comfortable and cute, but so practical for this wet weather we’ve been having lately. Another great gift for your fashionable friends because they so very affordable at $68 a pair!

And a big thank you and shout out to Ja-Vie for the lovely feature on their Instagram!

Bittersweet by Maria Shireen

I instantly fell in love with Bittersweet by Maria Shireen bracelets after seeing them on BuzzFeed and even more so when I was invited to their press preview (link to the original post here and on their press page). If you want to give the gift of style and functionality, these bracelets are your answer for that girl on the go. As a refresher, these sleek bracelets are designed to hold any hair-tie, lifting it from your wrist and allowing it to blend in naturally with any arm-candy you may be sporting.

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide Part 1: FashionMIA Favorites!

My Fashionmia.com Faves! by any2ndnow on polyvore.com

Can you believe Christmas is next week? And yes, I’ve famously left some of my shopping until the last-minute. If you have as well, I’ve come up with a list of great outfit gift ideas for the fashionistas in your life through FashionMIA: Modern, Irresistible, and Affordable women’s clothing. I’ve listed my five favorite outerwear pieces and seven favorite dresses from their site, ranging from casual capes to stylish coats and cute shifts to fabulous frocks worthy of New Year’s Eve. The best part: everything pictured is under $50 each!

Part two of my last-minute holiday gift guide will hopefully appeal to fashion and music lovers alike, stay tuned!