Bella...Bella...Bella

Spring is right around the corner...you can feel it!! I'm so ready to ditch the coats, scarfs, hats and boots for bouncy dresses and open-toe shoes. While we wait out the few weeks for spring, let's brainstorm the latest beauty and fashion trends and how you can use them in your everyday.

Fashion:
Get ready to wear your brights! Spring is all about LOUD colors. Check out Katy Perry sporting all her favoriteson the cover of Elle this month. Spring is about having fun with your look! Get rid of the drabby winter wear and jump into a technicolor dream.



Nails:
I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to having my nails done. I love to try out new colors and different trends. For spring I am loving the nudes trends. It looks chic, clean and best of all if it chips, no biggie...





Eyes & Lips:
Bright eyes and coral lips are on the radar. Pucker and add some color to your make up routine. Add a little bit of gold and shimmer accents and watch the magic happen with a bat of an eyelash.

What are you're favorite spring trends?

Cupid's Arrow

To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with Valentine's Day. Yes, its a cheesy holiday and as a child I loved getting cards and candy on this Hallmark holiday. Now, Valentines day is about high expectations and major letdowns . That's why this Valentine's Day I'm making it about my girlfriends. The ladies that have always been on my corner. Always.

I thought the best way to let the girls know how much they mean to me is by hosting a Ladies VDay Brunch. A successful brunch must have the following: Mimosa's, great food, and fabulous company.

Here are a few ideas for a great VDay Brunch:

Flowers:
To create a cute, yet inexpensive flower arrangement go down to your local supermarket and grab a bunch of baby roses, white or pink. Save a couple of white wine bottles and wash them to with hot water to peel off the labels. Place the flowers in the bottles and add a drop of red food coloring. The water will turn a bit pink and add an extra touch of love.

Food:
I love Martha Stewards Everyday Food magazine, and in it I found amazing easy recipes like a great veggie tart and mini quiches. Check out these recipes:

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/perfect-asparagus-gruyere-tart

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/mini-quiches-delicious

Drinks:
One word...Champagne!! You can make mimosas, add a raspberry or just have it as it. Its classy, chic and delicious. Cheers!

At the end of the day -- and after many bottles of champagne -- Ladies Vday brunch is a great way to show las señoritas how much you appreciate their friendship.

Happy Valentine's Day!

xo
QQ

Upgrade! New Apartment

I recently upgraded my life and moved from my tiny apartment to a more comfortable slighty bigger space. If I could have tele-ported all of my things from one apartment to the other and not have to physically move it - trust me -I would have done it. The thought of moving, packing, unpacking and reorganizing is exhausting. But it must get done.

There is a silver lining to moving: it's a good way to overhaul your closet space. The move forced me to throw out stuff I haven't worn in years. I was able to give some of the lightly used items to my cleaning lady and made a bag for my mom to send to Colombia. I still had a truck load worth of stuff, which made filling up my new HUGE closet an "easy" job. Check it out!

The move itself was quick thanks to awesome friends who helped pack and load up the Uhaul. It takes a village, people!
My apartment is coming along, mostly everything is unpacked and now the fun part starts, decorating. Stay tuned for blogs on deco ideas for small spaces.

xo

QQ

Welcome Back to QQ

Hi Friends,
Ta da! I hope you are enjoying the new look for Qurious Quiñones.

QQ has great new posts in the works this year. Everything from crafts, and decorating ideas to looking your very best while doing everything you love to do.

Feel free to say "Hola" in the comment section, follow me on Twitter @MeliQ or grab the link to my button.

xo

QQ

ps. Many thanks to Carolyn who designed this wonderful space for QQ!

I did it! I ran a 15K!

This past weekend I completed my first 15K. Not just any race, The Hot Chocolate 15K, where after the race you are treated to delicious Ghirardelli chocolate. I’m proud to say that I completed the 9+ mile course in 1 hour, 37 minutes!

It all started this summer when I took up running to balance out the many BBQ’s and pool parties I was attending. I never thought that a casual, and at times hated, activity would turn into such a big accomplishment. As my running partner can attest to, I wasn’t always the happiest camper during our Saturday morning runs. Nevertheless, I was up for the challenge.

On race day, the temperature was a chilly 32 degrees, and I was prepared with the proper gear: gloves, headband, multiple layers and a kick-ass playlist. Throughout the race, I kept a good pace – 10.5 minute mile – and other runners were eating my dust. At around mile eight, I started to feel the race in my body and I was suddenly consumed with emotion. During this time, one of favorite songs came on – Help I’m alive by Metric – and tears welled up in my eyes. With my legs pumping against the ground and my heart beating like a hammer, I knew the race was mine. At that point, I reached a runner high, because the next thing I remember is crossing the finish line.

Magical Musical Me

The winter and spring were low key but a magical musical summer is about start in Chicago! I am a music freak and my taste spans the globe. Below is a list all of the shows QQ will be attending in Chi-town!!

I want to give an honorable mention to Passion Pit who put on a great show at the congress theater back in April. Favorite tracks from that show are: Little Secrets, Sleepy Head and Moth Wings

May 28 - Kaskade


June 10 - Kings of Convenience


June 16 - Aventura


June 25 - Thievery Corporation


July 2 - Deadmou5 & Brazilian Girls




July 26 - Bomba Estero


August 6th - 8th Lollapalooza

The best part of all this is that I finally purchased a camera, so all will be captured and uploaded on QQ!

xo
QQ

LA LA Land

For a long time I thought southern California was the place for me. While growing up in Queens, I would watch Save by The Bell and wanted to be Lisa or Kelly; play volleyball on the beach and jog alongside the ocean. I recently spent an extended period of time in LA and I got to try out the life I thought I wanted.

In the mornings I ran along side of the ocean to Santa Monica Pier, drove to work in the horrible LA traffic and at night went out in West Hollywood. During the weekend I drove my (rental) car down the palm trees of Beverly Hills, shopped on Melrose and biked down Venice Beach. It was everything I thought it would be but there was something missing, my heart wasn’t in it.

Don’t get me wrong, I have really great friends who love LA and the sushi is great - plus In N Out Burger is out there - but it just didn’t feel right for me. Maybe it was because I’m not the best driver and a big fan of public transportation. I still can’t put my finger on it but what I know for certain is that it made me miss my new home, Chicago, and all the wonderful people that have come into my life.

Perhaps LA will feel right to me in the future but for now, I’m happy where I am.