Cynthia Rowley Beauty Spring Collection

A few weeks ago, Birchbloggers attended an exclusive Birchbox event to preview the Cynthia Rowley Beauty Spring Collection. The new collection consists of Eyeshadow Palette - No. 2 ($24), Eyeliners ($16) in Sky Blue, Black, Violet, Charcoal and Silver, Creamy Lip Stains ($20) in Sugar, Tulip and Valentine and a Confetti Neoprene Bag ($20).

During the event, Birchbloggers enjoyed makeup touchups, Prosecco and candy, and chatted with Birchbox co-founder Hayley Barna. Each Birchblogger received a Cynthia Rowley Beauty Collection to review on their blog. 

Cynthia Rowley Beauty's Eyeshadow Palette - No. 2 consists of five candy-inspired shades - Cotton Candy, Licorice, Confetti, Cloud and Marshmallow, inspired by the makeup looks from Cynthia Rowley's Spring 2014 collection. The mix of pastel pinks, purples and neutrals is great for a daytime look, or creating a smoky eye for the evening with the Licorice shade. 

My favorite product from the Cynthia Rowley Beauty Spring Collection is the eyeliner! The creamy liners just go on velvety-smooth, don't smudge and stays on all day. Usually I stick with a classic black eyeliner but I love the boldness of Sky Blue, as it really makes my eyes pop, especially if I apply a thicker line. It's also easy to create a smoky eye when you smudge your lash line. 

Usually I stay away from lip stains because they tend to dry out my lips, but I absolutely love Cynthia Rowley Beauty's lip stains because they provide the moisture and shine of a gloss, yet stay on like a stain. I like to reapply for a more pigmented lip.

- Kim Weling

BeautyCon New York 2014

On May 24th, BeautyCon, the preeminent global summit for top digital fashion and beauty influencers, and their ever-growing number of fans - made its debut in New York City at Pier 36. BeautyCon New York, held in partnership with ELLE marks the kick-off of BeautyCon's 2014 event series.

Celebrity and digital influencers included Whitney Port, Jesse Metcalfe, Cara Santana, Joe Zee, Jay Manuel, Kandee Johnson, Johnny Wujek, Dulce Candy, Carli Bybel, MakeupByMandy24, Fleur De Force, Weylie and more.

BeautyCon is the place where hundreds of content creators-professional beauty gurus, editors, celebrities, bloggers and YouTube personalities-come together to network, discuss the future of online media, and interact with their fans. More than 4,500 of those fans gathered at the NYC event to participate in interactive presentations, attend panels and performances, create content, engage with a variety of top brands, shop, play games, and interact with some of the most popular fashion and beauty icons in the digital space.

This daylong experience was geared toward the tech savvy and socially connected group BeautyCon's creators have dubbed, "Generation Connected." Gen C, also known as the YouTube generation, is a group-80% of which is comprised of Millennials-who cares deeply about creation, curation, connection and community, and is a powerful new force in the consumer culture. Brands that participated included; bareMinerals, Boohoo Clothing, Uberbliss, Tarte Cosmetics, Wildflower, Crown Brushes, Coco & Breezy, H0les, NYX Cosmetics, Revlon, American Apparel, Tattly, Square, StyleHaul, The Platform, Stack Wines, RYB Apparel. 

Another brand that I was happy to connect with through BeautyCon is Zevia zero-calorie soda. I've never tried their sodas before and love the flavors I've been sampling, including Ginger Ale, Ginger Root Beer, Black Cherry, Grapefruit Citrus and Lemon Lime Twist. Zevia has no sugar, no artificial sweeteners and is caffeine free. 

Created to inspire and cultivate a new generation of online fashion and beauty trendsetters, BeautyCon will also bring fans and influencers together with events in Los Angeles, Houston and London later this year. ELLE and BeautyCon's strategic partnership will span across all three U.S. events and includes collaboration on everything from content curation to programming.

Coco and Breezy

bareMinerals

Check out my interview with the bareMinerals team as they introduce their newest product launch, bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

Below images courtesy of BeautyCon

Whitney Port

Cara Santana and Jesse Metcalfe

Joe Zee

Jay Manuel

James Vincent

Allie Marie Evans

Amy Pham

Claudia Sulewski

Evelina Barry

MakeupByMandy24

Rachel Martino

The Rise of Digital Influence: Moderated by Joe Zee (Elle Creative Director). Panelists included, Alexandra Keating (Founder of DWNLD), James Nord (co-Founder of Fohr Card), Whitney Port (Designer of Whitney Eve), Kandee Johnson (YouTube - KandeeJohnson), Fleur Westaway (Partner at StyleHaul), Clarie Marshall (YouTube - ohhaiclaire), Rachel Martino (YouTube RachelAimeMaquillague), Amanda Steele (YouTube - MakeuoByMandi24), Helena Glazer (Blogger - Brooklyn Blonde), Melody McCloskey (Founder of StyleSeat), Katie Rogers (Instagram - PaperFashion)

Diva: The Female Version of a Hustler: Moderated by Seth Plattner (Elle Associate Editor). Panelists included, Amber Venz (CEO of Reward Style), Coco & Breezy (CEO's of Coco & Breezy Eyewear), Wendy Nguyen (Blogger ofWendy's Lookbook), Karissa Pukos (saturdaynightsalrite -YouTube), Marlena Stell (MakeupGeekTV - YouTube), Karen Blanchard (Blogger of Wheredidyougethat), Soraya Dorabi (Founder of Zady), Keiki Lynn (Blogger).

BeautyCon Gift Bag

- Kim Weling

21st Annual Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America

On Monday, June 2, 2014, the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) hosted the 21st annual Dessert Professional magazine Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America event, presented by Guittard Chocolate, KitchenAid, Beurremont, and Nielsen-Massey. The awards recognized the top toques of tuile, cocoa, and sugar for their talent and unique culinary vision. The 2014 winners will be featured in the August issue of Dessert Professional.

Guests enjoyed specialty cocktails and moved from kitchen to kitchen to sample and indulge in the chefs’ signature desserts.

The specialty-crafted cocktails included:

“Cocoa Butter On My Heart” - Lynnette Marrero of Drinks At6 paired Beurremont Butter with Zacapa Rum

 “Tangerine Dreams” - Clinton Terry of The Nautilus on Nantucket included Nielsen-Massey Orange Blossom Water in his Macchu Pisco cocktail

“The Catskills Castaway” - Ryan Kahl of Bootlegger 21 Vodka featured Guittard Chocolate Ribbons on his Bootlegger 21 Vodka cocktail

Matthew Stevens, editor of Dessert Professional magazine emceed the awards ceremony. He presented this year’s Hall of Fame Honoree, Richard Grausman, Founder & Chairman of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) and also announced the inaugural Dessert Professional C-CAP Scholarship, commemorating C-CAP’s upcoming twenty-fifth anniversary and Grausman’s work transforming lives through the culinary arts. The scholarship will be awarded annually (starting in 2015) to an exceptional C-CAP student and can be applied to any pastry and baking program at ICE.

This year’s Top Ten Pastry Chefs selected from around the entire country and signature desserts are:

Georges Berger, MOF, Owner, Chocolate Fashion, Miami, FL

Pistachio Brittle & White Peach Mousse with Griotte Macarpone Sorbet

Ebow Dadzie, Pastry Chef, NY Marriott Marquis, New York, NY and

Pastry Instructor, Monroe College, New Rochelle, NY

Coconut Lime Dacquoise with Mango Olive Jelly, Coconut Mousse, Mango Pineapple Compote, and Banana Lime Sorbet

Della Gossett, Executive Pastry Chef, Spago, Los Angeles, CA

White Chocolate “Crottin” with Surinam Cherry Preserve

Katzie Guy-Hamilton, F&B Director and Corporate Pastry Chef, 
Max Brenner Worldwide 

"Suntory" – Chocolate Torte with Toasted Matcha, Pistachio Gelato, Coconut and Cherries

Cher Harris, Executive Pastry Chef, The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA

Mandarin ‘n Chocolate Hazelnut Sponge, Ginger Caramel Macaroon, Smoked Hazelnut Crumble, and Mandarin Foam

Joshua Johnson, Executive Pastry Chef, Vanille Patisserie, Chicago, IL

Sur del Lago Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Cremeux, Cherry Compote and Chocolate Pound Cake

Ghaya Oliveira, Executive Pastry Chef, Restaurant Daniel, New York, NY

“The Cherry Tart” – Rosemary Sour Cherry Compote, Chocolate Financier, and Tainori Bavaroise

Derek Poirier, Ecole du Grand Chocolate Pastry Chef Western USA, Valrhona USA

“To The Five Boroughs” – Hazelnuts, Pralines, Opalys, Bahibe and Coffee

Rudi Weider, Master Pastry Chef, 
Hilton San Diego Bayfront, San Diego, CA

Chocolate Espresso Crème Brûlée with Bourbon Vanilla Gelato and Salted Coffee Caramel Sauce

Jennifer Yee, Executive Pastry Chef, Lafayette, New York, NY

Assorted Mini Eclairs

Check out my interviews with Ebow Dadzie of NY Marriot Marquis, Cher Harris of The Hotel Hershey, Jennifer Yee of Lafayette and Georges Berger of Chocolate Fashion

- Kim Weling

Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale

Collective Sample Sale: Antonio Azzuolo / Lucio Castro / Charles Harbison / Timo Weiland

Nicholas K Sample Sale - Prices Reduced

The Nicholas K sample sale is worth checking out this weekend! I stopped by on Thursday and picked up the Diego Pant in Onyx for $75 (original retail is $244). If they had my size left in Granite, I would have picked up that color too! Scarves are also just $25! The Nicholas K sample sale is usually up to 60% off, but this time around prices are reduced further!

You'll also find the Cardigan sample sale here, as well as some racks in the back that include vintage pieces for $50 and designer samples including Catherine Malandrino, LaROK, Milly and Diane von Furstenberg. Along with the Diego Pant, I got a dress from the vintage rack and a navy silk romper for $45.

Diego Pant in Onyx

Diego Pant in Granite

Summer Style Post Featuring Theodora & Callum: 3 Ways to Wear a Caftan

I started my day with several compliments on my dress, when in fact it isn't a dress, but one of Theodora & Callum's summer caftans! I found three favorite ways to wear the Turquoise Multi Lynx Caftan - as a dress, wrap and caftan. It's one size, and as you can see it even works for anyone who is petite. It's perfect to wear at the beach, poolside or during a relaxing staycation. The caftan is an effortless, versatile accessory that should definitely be added to your summer packing list!

Caftan: Theodora & Callum

Jewelry: Rebecca Minkoff

Sunglasses: GUESS by Marciano in Rose Gold

Belt: Monika Chiang

Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang for Kohl's

Photos by Bri Weling

- Kim Weling