Birthday Gifting

Saturday is my beautiful friend JP's birthday. The big 2-5! To help her celebrate her quarter century, we will be going out on the town (hopefully a patio or deck) for some birthday drinks! I am a terrible procrastinator, and I haven't gotten her a gift yet. For my 23rd birthday, JP got me a beautiful gold and turquoise bracelet. So here I am, brainstorming some good gifts (at work nonetheless). I usually go the jewelry route, and I have some great options in that department. I also have some fun, new ideas! I usually try to stick to a $30ish budget for birthday gifts. However, this one is special! 25, people! I'm willing to splurge on a $50 gift for JP. :) Here we go...

Alex & Ani "Plume" bracelet, $38
All my girlfriends and I collect Alex & Ani charm bracelets. They are a fun twist on the classic charm bracelet, since you stack them on your arm rather than adding individual charms to one bracelet. They are very cute, and I love this one because the feather style different from the usual A&A charms. I am a little hesistant, though, because this gift might be overdone with our group of friends! Get it here.

Lululemon "vinyasa" scarf, $48
I have this yoga scarf from Lululemon and LOVE it. It's stretch jersey and soo comfy. It looks so effortlessly chic on, and you can wear it in a bunch of different ways. I think it would look so cute on JP! Plus, I don't think it's something she'd think to buy for herself or something anyone else would buy for her. Find it here.

J. Crew bubble earrings, $48
JP & I both have J. Crew's bubble necklace. I love the idea of getting her the matching stud earrings, especially because she wears her bubble all the time. Plus, they can be worn alone and look adorable. My only hesitation with this gift is that I bought JP cute stud earrings for her graduation in May. Still adorable! Get them here.

I'm headed to Derby Street (a shopping center on the South Shore) after work to peruse J. Crew, Lululemon and the Paper store–where they sell Alex & Ani. It's nice to have some ideas to go off of, but something might surprise me!

Happy, happy 25th birthday to JP, one of my best friends!

xoxo.

Hump Day Happiness

I had the most delicious banana and chocolate hazelnut crepe at Max Brenner in Boston on Monday night. I don't usually order dessert (I'm always too full), but my girlfriends and I participated in Restaurant Week Boston 2012, which involves a fixed price of $33.12 for a three-course dinner. Some of the most upscale restaurants in the city participate in Restaurant Week. It's the best opportunity of the year to check out some places you wouldn't normally go to. There's only a few days left, but totally worth checking out!

Honorable mention: Dante in Cambridge (a participating restaurant) had some of the best, freshest homemade pasta I've had since I studied abroad in Italy.


Yum! xoxo

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Review

One of my favorite lip products (and one the most hyped) is Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable lip stain. I couldn't resist trying this new hot item after I fell in love with Revlon's Lip Butter (review of those coming later!). I only have two shades right now; but I'm definitely looking to add more to my collection! However, my friends think the amount of lipstick/gloss I own is criminal, oops!

The two shades I have are cherish, a cool, bubblegum pink (on top), and rendezvous, a bright tangerine orange (on bottom). I bought rendezvous first, wanting to try a color I don't usually reach for. I loved the formula so much that I got my standard barbie pink shade too!

The Just Bitten Kissable lip stains, much compared to Clinique's Chubby Sticks, are extremely moisturizing for a stain. I have super dry lips, and they don't leave mine flaky. They also have a tingly, minty smell and flavor that I personally like (kind of like Burt's Bees chapsticks). I haven't tried Clinique's version, but I'm a big fan of these. They last for a long time, which is great for someone like me who is constantly eating, drinking, and biting my lips throughout the day. I don't have to reapply these as much as I do with other products.

This swatch depicts the two colors very well. Rendezvous is definitely a bold color that's a lot of fun for summer. Cherish is more wearable for the every day. The color is also very buildable, getting more intense as you layer the stain on your lips. I would definitely recommend this product, since I'll be going out to get more! I've got my eyes on a lilac shade . . . but be warned! These are often sold out at drug stores near me (it took me weeks to find cherish!). :)

xoxo!

Brothers of the Sun

I'm winding down from an awesome weekend. This year's country fest (as us Massachusetts people call it) was different from any other time I've gone. I was much more concerned with seeing old friends, drinking delicious sangria and enjoying great music. Sorry, forgotten beers and tailgate parties! I had the best time. It's hard to admit that summer is coming to a close, but I couldn't think of a better way to cap it all off.

Reunited with a best friend (who I haven't seen in two years!).

My own version of sangria–my favorite so far this summer!

Lots of country girlfriends (and one random stranger dude!).

Loving life & Kenny boy.


Tank: american eagle. Shorts: american eagle. Boots: old. Sunglasses: karen walker.


xoxo.

Essie Turquoise & Caicos

Essie Turquoise & Caicos has been my go-to nail color this summer. I love that it's bright and fun–and looks great with a tan! I found that this was almost always sold out at my local CVS and Target, it's definitely a popular color. What I love most about it is that you can't find a color quite like this from different brands (I feel the same about Essie's Mint Candy Apple).

This photo shows 3 coats, although I think you could get away with two. The first coat is fairly sheer. Essie shades retail for around $8 depending on where you get it, but you can always find them for cheaper on Amazon (especially discontinued shades!).

Looks like my thumb needed a little cleaning up, oops!


xoxo!

YSL Sheer Candy Review

So, I already posted about YSL Sheer Candy #4 a couple of weeks ago under Makeup Musings. Clearly, I have not gotten over it! It's been my go-to lip product since I bought it. So, naturally, I had to have another shade! I went for #9, frequently seen on Rachel from The Pink Peonies (she's beautiful!). I always tend to go for more pink shades, so I absolutely love this one. These are a bit pricey at $30 a pop, but I think they're worth it. Just my opinion! I thought I'd share my review of the two shades.

The packaging is gorgeous. It's very luxurious-looking and feeling. I love whipping these out and applying right out of the tube at work or wherever, I feel so chic!

The two shades I have are #4 – Succulent Pomegranate and #9 – Cool Guava.

As you can see, they're very different shades! In this photo, #4 looks like a candy apple color, but it leans a bit more pink (pomegranate!). #9 is a definite cool pink, but it's much less pigmented than #4. In my opinion, these are the two best colors in the collection!

I know this isn't the best swatch ever, but I think it portrays the color and consistency pretty well! This is a light swatch of #9 (left) and #4 (right). The color is a bit sheer at first, but definitely buildable. It also leaves somewhat of a stain on the lips, so you don't have to reapply to often. It gives off a nice glossy (but not sparkly) sheen. YSL actually categorizes Sheer Candy as a gloss. Did I mention the smell is delicious? Yum.

I would definitely recommend this gloss as a high-end must!


xoxo.

Hump Day Happiness (A Day Late!)

Woops! I didn't post yesterday and totally forgot about my Hump Day Happiness :). It's easy to let a whole work day go by without thinking about something that makes you smile. So here it is . . .

Beautiful pink roses from CP . . . just 'cuz. (In reality, they were because we hadn't seen each other in approximately 4 days, but that's pathetic so we don't tell people that!!) Regardless, they are beautiful and just totally perked up my day/week. Love him.


xoxo.

Divide & Conquer: The Mall

I try not to take fashion too seriously. After all, it's supposed to be fun! And it is for me. But when it comes to a trip to the Natick Collection, I need to have a game plan. JC and I making a trip to Massachusetts' colossal mall today after work–and it's really easy to get overwhelmed here. They have every store you can think of; from Neimans and Nordstrom to Burberry and Louis Vuitton to Madewell and Urban Outfitters. Don't get me wrong, I'm not out to buy a Louis Vuitton speedy today (I wish). But there are so many store options and you only have so much time. Additionally, I don't make it to the mall anymore as much as I used to, or I'd like to. I've started to put together a system for my shopping trips . . . maybe it'll be helpful to other people too!

1. Make a list of what you're looking for.
It may seem obvious, but it helps to keep a list of what you need to buy. I make one mostly so I don't get carried away and forget what I came for! Here's a look at today's list:

2. Look up the store directory ahead of time.
I always do this. Unless I'm going to my hometown mall (where I know all the stores and their locations by heart), it helps to know exactly what stores are at the mall I'm going to and roughly where they're located. When it comes to the Natick Collection, theres a gagillion stores and it's a huge place. This helps me pinpoint which stores I definitely want to go in (for ex: Madewell, which I never get to shop in person) and which ones might have what I'm looking for (for ex: aerie will have a strapless bra). I can also tell which sections of the mall I'll avoid so I don't waste time.

3. Browse online before you go.
This might be a little over the top, but I like to check out the selection a bit online. It's not a sure thing, since stores will have some different product than the website. But sometimes you see something online that you could miss in the store! You can also compare prices since those can differ as well. This also helps me to narrow down which stores I want to go to even more. For example, American Eagle can be hit or miss for me (lately it's been a hit!). When I browsed online, I saw a lot of cute stuff and a lot of great sales, so I know I'll definitely be stopping there.

I love the colors in this open-back dress. Plus, it's on sale for $40! See it online.






4. Get more detailed.
You're probably starting to think I'm a crazy person now. So, stop here if you don't obsess over mall trips as much as I do–it shows how little I actually make it to a real store! With the info I have from step #2 and #3, I can make my shopping list even more detailed. I can start pinpointing what store has or might have what I'm looking for. I've almost got it down to a science! Here's my list in more detail:

As you can see, I have a few stores that I'm feeling pretty good about. It might seem like an over-the-top process, but it definitely helps me personally. Chances are, there will be some surprises along the way too!



xoxo.

Weekend Recap

Girls weekend was such a great time! I absolutely love my friends from college; they are so much fun and low key at the same time. Friday night consisted of a delicious dinner (and lots of delicious drinks) at CM's dad's Irish pub restaurant. It was so nice of CM and her family to treat us! I will definitely be going back there soon–I can't get enough of patio eats & drinks! We followed dinner up with a couple of brews at our local dive bar; trashy but necessary!
Saturday we trekked up to my parents' house on the North Shore. The sun didn't really want to place nice with us, so we made strawberry lemon sangria and chowed on pizza by the pool. Heart to hearts in the hot tub = a necessity. Saturday night we headed back to Boston for sushi and drinks. We met our guy friends out in Fanueil Hall to celebrate a couple of birthdays. I even got sneak in some one on one time with CP (which included some beautiful pink roses). All in all, a fabulous weekend!
Outfit wise, I stuck to my first outfit idea for Friday night to a tee. Saturday, I adjusted and went a bit more casual to suit our plans. Lounging by the pool called for a Trina Turk suit and a J Crew maxi. Perfection!

Choc martinis, best friends & J Crew chambray :) (plus Essie polish and Alex & Ani bangles!)

Thanks Mr. M!

Happy discovery: Shipyard Pumpkinhead is out! (Cinnamon sugar rim is a must)

Matching J Crew bubbles & reuniting with an old best


xoxo x100!

Girls Weekend!

I'm having a super hard time concentrating at work today, thanks to some fabulous weekend my plans. My best friends from college have planned a girls weekend, full of our favorite things to do. Tonight, CM is treating us to dinner/drinks at her dad's restaurant. It's so sweet of her and I'm so excited to go. I need some girl time! We'll probably do a night out in Boston afterward. Saturday, we are trekking up to the North Shore (again!) to spend the day at my parents' house by the pool. Sangria, please! :) Most likely there will be another night out in Boston to celebrate some friends' birthdays. It's not too often that we all get together on one weekend! Sunday calls for a little shopping and maybe some more sun by the pool. I cannot wait!
Of course, I've been occupying my time with planning outfits (typical). I thought I'd share my ideas for Friday and Saturday nights' looks here (via Polyvore). Not sure if they'll end up turning out this way, but it's certainly a fun way to envision the outfits!

Friday night dinner & drinks

Saturday night out in Boston

Wooo! Too excited. I'll be sharing pictures of the actual outfits on Monday.

Until then, xoxo!

 

Home Sweet Home

So cliche I know, but I can't help it! Sometimes it's so great to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even if it's just for a few hours. I love living in Boston. Everyone's young, everything's fast. There's so much to do. But every once in a while, there's nothing better than packing an overnight bag, jumping in my car and making a spontaneous trip the the North Shore. I miss my family a lot–we're talking after a week without seeing them. I wouldn't change a thing, because I need to be close to work and enjoy my 20's being in the city with my friends and CP. In fact, I think moving out of my parents' house has improved our relationship. We have time and space to miss each other! And these little reunions are so so nice.

Two glasses of white wine (sauvignon blanc for me, chardonnay for mom) & a pretty sunset.

Probably the most missed family member: Bella (I get her to stay still by saying "cheese"...seriously).


xoxo's from the North Shore.

Summer Concerting – Outfits!

First things first: my friends and I love country music. Kind of funny, since we're from Boston, but going to country concerts is our favorite summer activity. Tailgating, drinking beers, meeting new people, listening to feel-good music . . . that's what summer is all about! This summer we've been to Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert & the Pistol Annies. I also saw Jimmy Buffett with CP and his awesome parents. Next weekend, we're seeing Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw's Brothers of the Sun tour . . . aka Country Fest. For Boston country fans, this is the concert to be at. The tailgate is ridiculous and the line-up is always awesome. We've also bought tickets for a lower key Kip Moore show. Exciting stuff!

From years and years of going to country concerts (and all kinds of outdoor music festivals), I've learned a thing or two about dressing for these events! And by learned a thing or two, I mean I finally figured it out this summer. There's so much hype around these concerts between me and my girlfriends, that I plan my outfit way in advance! Read: I always chose the most fashionable and least practical outfits. One Country Fest I could be seen in a skin-tight strapless denim dress. Yup. In 90+ degree heat. Hello, sweat stains! Another time at Tim McGraw, I wore a floral kerchief bandeau number (the knot kept coming loose). Finally, this summer, I was like–I'm done! I want to be comfortable. Best fashion decision I've made!

My advice: comfort comes first. Style comes second (I know, I'm really saying this!).

1.   Stick to clothing that is loose, light and breathable. Think: clothing your sweat can't show through! That's the last thing you want to worry about when you're having a blast.

2.  This sounds bad, and I promise this is the only time I'll say this, but the less clothing–the better! The odds are, it's going to be hot. You're not going to be in AC. There's a lot of people around! Your outfit can still be cute, I promise.

3.  And, yes, since cowboy boots are a must, bring 'em. Just wear socks under (to prevent blisters) and bring a back up pair of sandals.

4.  Skip the designer duds. Especially sunglasses! If you're like me, you want to bring your brand new Karen Walkers. Resist the urge! Bring a trendy (but cheap) pair from Target or Marshall's that you won't cry over if they get lost or broken.

5.  Bring an extra layer. It can get chillier at night (depending on where you live), so I always throw a light pullover or my favorite chambray in my bag, just in case.

Jimmy Buffett (CP would kill me if he knew I put this up!)
bandeau: aerie. tank: Rory Beca for F21. jean shorts: J Crew. watch: marc by Marc Jacobs. sunglasses: Karen Walker (I know, this is before I smartened up!).

Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan (aren't my girls the cutest?)
crochet tank: borrowed from a friend. bandeau: aerie. jean shorts: American Eagle. crossbody: Urban Outfitters. cowboy boots: so old I don't remember! bandana: Walmart c/o BE. lei: free from some dudes. :)

Miranda Lambert & the Pistol Annies (and my best friend BE)
tank: free people. bandeau: free people. lilac jeans: J Brand. crossbody: Tory Burch. watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs.

I could babble on about hair and makeup for summer concerting, but I'll stop here. We've got a lot more concerts to go, so I'll post more later. Hope this was helpful :)

xoxo.

No Judgment . . .

Okay, I know this is shameless plugging. Rude, I know, when I've only just started this blog! But it's not just promoting the company that I work for . . . it's educational! And by that I mean: young women rarely look to Talbots for their shopping needs. Talbots sometimes is thought of as a store for old ladies. And don't get me wrong, plenty of older fashionable women shop here. I just know (through work and a great employee discount) that Talbots has a lot of trendy, good quality, cute product. My girlfriends are constantly surprised at how much they like the styles they see online. To help my case, I went into my own shopping basket to show you what's on my wish list right now. Bonus: it's all on sale! Red Hanger Clearance is going on now (that's up to 70% off original prices). Check it out . . .

Trellis lace dress ($50!) – Love, love, love this dress. I loved it as soon as I saw it in the catalog. I like how it's following the lace trend, but with a bit of a 60's spin. See it here.

Lakia sandal ($28!) – I've been lusting after these patent leather heels for a while. I was disappointed to see they're out of my size! I love how trendy these are (I was after a similar pair at Zara). Find them here.

Paisley-swirl pencil skirt ($35!) – This pattern is so fun. It's right on-trend with the bright paisley. I also am always in need of pencil skirts for work. See it here.

Cheetah clutch ($33!) – I am a big fan of the envelope-style clutch. In fact, last holiday season, I was after an aqua seude one we were selling. I let it sell out before I could get it! Hate when I do that. I think this one is just as cute in cheetah print and patent leather. Find it here.

So there is my well-meaning plug. I always thought of Talbots as a mom store (since it's my mom's favorite), but that's definitely not the case anymore. I have a bunch of pairs of shoes and sweaters from Talbots, and I love them! Just thought it was worth sharing :)


xoxo!

Hump Day Happiness

It's a very rainy Wednesday here in Massachusetts. And this gal was caught without an umbrella walking into work. I'm talking, monsoon status, people. Anyways, no worries, because this little baby arrived for me . . .

My new Kate Spade iPad case! CP kindly lent me a plain black case in the interim . . . but isn't this just too cute?! It came wrapped in neon floral tissue paper and this adorable note. I should've snapped a pic of the inside too–it's a fun bright orange color. Absolutely love! Now my iPad is protected and adorable. :) I got this case for $85 off katespade.com. Find it here!

Happy Hump Day! xoxo.

Outfit of the Day

I thought I'd share my outfit today! Nothing too fashionable; just an everyday work outfit. My apologies that my iPhone doesn't produce very high quality pictures! I'm hoping to upgrade to a nice camera soon (I should probably stop spending so much $$ on clothes and makeup!) . . .

dress: J Crew. belt: J Crew Factory. sandals: DV by Dolce Vita (via Rue La La). Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar). iPhone case: J Crew.

xoxo!

Pinspirations

So, I know I've already confessed about my obsession with instagram and makeup blogs, so why not add another to the list? I've been hooked on Pinterest for probably eight months now; and it hasn't gotten old yet! I look to it for fashion inspiration, makeup and hair ideas, decorating and organizing ideas, recipes, quotes and just cute things that catch my eye! I usually pin stuff that I want to remember or save, and can look back on another time.
Since pinning is one of my daily activities (I'm also partially in charge of my company's Pinterest, so I spend some time on that too!), I thought I'd share what images had gotten me inspired–and to pin–lately. You can see my Pinterest page and follow me here!

All images via Pinterest

As I shared last week, I've been wanting a denim jacket for fall. I saw this image and thought the idea of combining some glitzy vintage brooches with a faded denim jacket sounded really cool and contrasting.

I love sparkle on my nails right now! This is a very feminine and subtle way of doing it that I hadn't though of before! I'm thinking: Essie Ballet Slippers with Martha Stewart silver glitter . . .

This would be a fun outfit for one of these last summer days (wahh). I love the classic stripe, pop of pink, gold jewelry, and unexpected snakeskin. Such a fun combo!

I love a good mimosa (we had quite a few this past weekend–it's a wedding drink!). I never thought to put a scoop of orange sorbet in your glass; love it!

These two colors together are so gorgeous. Jewel tones look so fresh and sophisticated. I'm going to try and recreate this one!

I always lean towards bright colors like hot pinks, oranges and blues for decorating. But I find that you can get quite sick of seeing the same bright colors every day. When I redo my bedroom, I want to go for a palette like this: whites, greys and a few pops of my favorite (pink!).

This is one of those images I just love. From her romantic face-framing curls, to her neutral lace dress, bright statement necklace (I think it's J. Crew–I'm a creep), to her glass of sparkling champagne . . . I just am feeling the vibe here!


So, there's my little bit of pinspiration for the day. (Does that sound too much like perspiration?...)


xoxo.

Love is in the Air . . .

What a beautiful wedding! Despite a few downpours, it was a gorgeous day spent with amazing people, celebrating an incredible love. I was so so happy to be a part of it.
I wrote last week about how AS had asked me to do her makeup for her big day. Well, as it turns out . . . I did the makeup of the entire bridal party! Crazy, I know. We were up around 8AM and I was in the bathroom beautifying the ladies until about 1PM. Yup! They all looked absolutely stunning; especially AS, the glowing bride.
Plus, it was such a crazyfun night. I don't think CP and I sat down once besides to eat dinner! CP's roomies were there to celebrate as well.

Here's a little peek at the A&J's big day . . .

So so pretty.

How cool is AS's 50's ride?! I also adored her dress. It was simple and clean, with a gorgeous applique bow. The back was really pretty too. It fit her perfectly, she couldn't have looked better!

Just helping the bride out! :)

I loved the colors in the bouquets!

First dance! (Very cool pink lights gave this glow to the reception).

The 3 best friends that anyone could have . . .

Someone really liked his groomsman gifts!


Basically, it was an amazing day! I was so glad to be a part of it. It's a beautiful thing to feel like you are in the presence of true love; so inspirational and touching. Wishing nothing but the very best to these two love birds as they jet off to Hawaii for their honeymoon! Much, much, much love.


xoxo.