Lifestyle Archives - Alyssa Smirnov https://alyssasmirnov.com/category/lifestyle/ Fashion and Lifestyle Blog Sun, 11 Jul 2021 05:06:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://alyssasmirnov.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-big-1-32x32.png Lifestyle Archives - Alyssa Smirnov https://alyssasmirnov.com/category/lifestyle/ 32 32 Riki Loves Riki Tall Lighted Vanity Mirror Review https://alyssasmirnov.com/riki-loves-riki-tall-lighted-vanity-mirror-review/ https://alyssasmirnov.com/riki-loves-riki-tall-lighted-vanity-mirror-review/#respond Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:00:33 +0000 https://alyssasmirnov.com/?p=11209

How often has this happened to you? You spent hours doing a full face makeup that looks stunning in the indoor lighting. But the moment you see yourself in the rearview mirror of your car, the horror strikes. The contouring is painfully obvious. Your undereyes are overbaked. And that blush that was gorgeous indoors a minute ago now looks like two pink blobs in natural lighting.

You curse under your breath and wonder what went wrong. I’ll tell you what. The bad lighting around your makeup vanity. As someone who has walked around with unblended streaks of foundation, I can imagine the pain. But those days are behind me now. I did what had to be done and got myself Riki Loves Riki Tall Vanity Mirror that’s basically a godsend for beauty lovers like you and me.

Now, let me tell you how the Riki loves Riki Tall has changed my life (yes, you’ll know when you get one). So, it’s an LED vanity mirror that takes only a little space. Its ultra-slim frame makes it work perfectly even in a small space. Your vanity stays streamlined and uncluttered. I also really appreciate the futuristic appeal of Riki Tall. 

The row of HD daylight LEDs is also sleek. They are plenty in number and small in size unlike those mirrors with huge LED bulbs (they tend to generate heat and occupy a lot of space). The best part is that these LEDs have five dimming stages or five different levels of lighting. If it gets too bright for you, you can always dim it down and if you are working in a dark room, you’ve got more than enough light for a perfect makeup application. It’s super easy to set up and comes with a sturdy stand to prop it up on.

That’s not it. Riki Tall is not your regular light mirror. It’s a magnetic mirror that comes with multiple accessories. Here’s everything you get:

  • A round magnetic 3x magnifying mirror
  • A phone holder for taking selfies
  • A bluetooth remote control 
Riki Loves Riki Tall accessories
Riki Loves Riki Tall Lighted Vanity Mirror Review

The round magnetic 3x magnifying mirror conveniently sticks to Riki Tall for close-ups. It’s especially handy for perfecting that winged eyeliner. If you are a beauty blogger who regularly films tutorials or a makeup mentor who records classes, there’s also a magnetic phone holder for you. Just stick it to the mirror, attach your phone, and start recording or streaming in perfect lighting. The bluetooth selfie function also allows you to take as many Instagram-worthy selfies as you want of your makeup. 

Take it from the 100+ positive reviews on their website too. That’s what convinced me to get the Riki Tall Mirror and it turned out to be the best beauty investment for me. 

For makeup lovers like myself, it is a game-changer. I feel like a movie star and so should you. Share your experience or thoughts about the Riki Tall in the comments below. 

Riki Loves Riki Tall Lighted Vanity Mirror Review

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]]> https://alyssasmirnov.com/riki-loves-riki-tall-lighted-vanity-mirror-review/feed/ 0 Casual City Style Walk With My Dogs https://alyssasmirnov.com/casual-city-style-walk-with-my-dogs/ https://alyssasmirnov.com/casual-city-style-walk-with-my-dogs/#respond Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:00:02 +0000 https://alyssasmirnov.com/?p=10508
city style grey sweater light wash jeans

If someone asked me what makes me happy, walking my cute and cuddly dogs would be among the top answers (other than making welcome additions to my handbag collection, of course).

I have two Pomeranian dogs that I just can’t stop gobbling up the cuteness of. The time I spend out walking them is hands down the best time of the day. Other than the obvious health benefits involved, dog walking also strengthens your bond with your little babies. And who doesn’t want that?

Before moving to the Washington State, Massport Harborwalk Park was my favorite waterfront walkway to walk my little pooches and get a breath of fresh air. I often threw on something casual and braced myself for a wonderful evening. For this particular day, I chose casual city style and went back to basics with a grey sweater and light washed jeans. Now that I look at the pictures, my outfit perfectly matched the mood of the waterfront.

I got this soft and breathable grey sweater at the beginning of summer but it has since become my wardrobe staple. Particularly because it’s super easy to style and goes well with so many different looks. The color is versatile, elegant, and perfect for the impending winter season. I can already picture it under a classic black coat paired with boots. Just another version of casual city style look I might be putting together for you guys, who knows?

These washed jeans proved to be the perfect partner for my grey sweater. For me, they’re one of those clothing items I find myself reaching out for again and again. The stretchable material doesn’t make me want to strip them off soon as I step out and the color is also my favorite. My casual city style look was complete with a pair of grey flats. No accessories. Just a laid back look for an evening rich with the simple beauty of nature.

On a side note: there’s much more to Pomeranians than their adorable teddy bear appearance. They are super friendly, active, and playful. If you are looking to get a family dog, these sweet poms are your best bet. Stay tuned for more of my fall looks and adventures with my babies.

Check out another way of styling these jeans HERE

light grey sweater and blue jeans for a city stroll
city style grey sweater light wash jeans pomeranian
pomeranians

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]]> https://alyssasmirnov.com/casual-city-style-walk-with-my-dogs/feed/ 0 Birthday Dress for a Night Out https://alyssasmirnov.com/birthday-dress-for-a-night-out/ https://alyssasmirnov.com/birthday-dress-for-a-night-out/#respond Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:00:41 +0000 https://alyssasmirnov.com/?p=10451
birthday dress floral flowy pink midi skirt

Remember when birthdays meant full-blown celebration, unforgettably fun parties and hanging out with your friends? It’s almost unreal how things have changed. Even though throwing a party in the current situation might not be the best idea, it doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to some birthday fun while looking your best. Because let’s be honest. No matter what your birthday plans are, getting all dolled up and donning your cutest outfit is definitely the most exciting part. That’s exactly how I felt about this Chicwish outfrit for my birthday dress.
For my birthday, I wanted something sweet and sophisticated that also makes me feel light as a feather in the scorching heat. Comprising of a separate top and a midi skirt, this Chicwish dress seemed to deliver on all fronts. The classic white top with ruffled off-the-shoulder neckline is charming and gives off just the right amount of angelic vibes. It’s reasonably stretchy and doesn’t feel too tight.
After deciding on the top, I chose this flowy and feminine midi skirt perfect for the delicately romantic look I was going for. Together they made the perfect birthday dress. The length is ideal for warm weather and the high waist allows the top to be tucked in nicely. The skirt also features a white floral pattern that’s not too overwhelming and actually goes well with the top. It’s a match made in heaven.
Since the look I was aiming for was dressy and delicate at the same time, I didn’t go overboard with the jewelry and accessories. Considering the humidity, it’s hard to, anyway. For shoes, nothing looked better than The Row Bare Sandals. They come with minimalist single leather strap and adjustable buckle closure. They were the perfect pair to step into and complemented my dreamy Chicwish dress. Lastly, I grabbed a couple of dainty bracelets and my favorite beige Chanel mini bag to complete the look.
The whole outfit not only stunningly embodied my feminine aura but it also made me look effortlessly chic. I can’t wait to style more outfits for you and share inspirations for both special occasions and casual hangouts. What do you plan to wear on your birthday? Tell me in the comments below.

Interested in other looks from Chicwish? Check them out HERE and HERE

the row bare sandals white birthday dress
birthday dress pink midi skirt from chicwish and white ruffle top

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were moving back to washington

It’s so crazy to say it out loud or even type it. I always knew this day would come and it’s finally here. We are moving back to Washington state! Before I get to why we are moving, let me give you a little background of how we ended up on the East Coast in the Boston area.

 

Why we Moved to Boston

My husband and I are originally from Washington state. We were both born and raised there and our families are all there too. My husband graduated school as a Software developer and he got a job opportunity that would require us to move to another state while working on that project. It was a good opportunity so we decided to take it and see where we ended up. So we told them we can start after we got married, at the end of 2016. As it got closer to the state date, they announced that they would be moving us to Massachusetts! They only told us a month before the actually move date so basically we got married then went on our honeymoon and move right away.  All I could think at the time was that they chose to move us to the farthest place possible. The company helped us with the move and thankfully everything went smoothly. I quickly adjusted to east coast life and got a job here as well and even started my blog! However we always knew eventually we wanted to go back. It’s hard being away from all your family and friends and we want to settle down in our original home near them. 

were moving knit tank sailor shorts

Washington Here we Come

We always planned to live in Massachusetts for about three years and then move back but then as it got closer to the three year mark we were going back and forth trying to decide when we would actually go back. Our housing lease is ending soon so we decided to move now instead of getting tied down for another year. My husband is ready to move on to another position at a different company and we would like to purchase our first home soon! I’m so excited to be with my family for all the big life events that will happen in the future but even all those little things like birthday parties and weekend gathering. Its coming up quick but we should already be back in Washington by September. 

I’ll definitely miss Boston as I’ve made some good friends here and got used to the way of life but I’m also ready for this new chapter in my life and to see where life takes us. We are now planning the move as we have to get our stuff all the way across the country. After doing some research and trying to find the most cost effective way, we decided to sell off some big furniture and get a moving company to transport our belongings. We have two little dogs so we will be driving with them across the country. We debated flying but we want tot take our car and in the end decided it would be easier to drive with the dogs and cheaper than flying. Plus we could turn it into a fun road trip. It will be our first time driving all the way across America. 

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As a young couple I think it was good to experience the east coast and to take this opportunity. I learned so much and got to experience a new kind of independence. The Boston summers are beautiful and there’s so many of my favorite spots I will miss. I’ve grown to love the Boston area but I feel like Washington will always be my home. Being around my family is so important to me and I hope that eventually we can settle down, buy a home and start our own family. 

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