Don't Hate on Scrunchies: How to Do your Hair like a Gymnast

When the Summer Olympics come around, there are only a few different sports that interest me. I enjoy Men's Swimming for the obvious reasons, the nail biting drama and the abs, oh the abs. I also really enjoy the gymnastics. I know, how cliche of me.Well, as I was watching the women's qualifying rounds, I noticed my twitter feed focusing on something non-gymnastics ability related...the gymnasts' hair and more specifically, it had to do with them all wearing scrunchies.

Get the Looks: Olympics Fashion

There has been a smidge of controversy over designer fashions for the Olympic athletes (ahem, Ralph Lauren manufacturing uniforms overseas rather than in the USA tsk tsk) but overall, I am extremely excited that the Olympics, throwing a little more fashion into the mix, has gotten that much more interesting to me. I picked some of my favorite looks from around the globe yo, and put together some looks for those opening ceremony parties you're going to!

Team USA

Birthday Bonanza

Last week was my 30th birthday. My birthday bonanza pretty much lasted all week. My parents were at home when I returned from my first illustration class; they had driven up from NC to surprise me on my 30th. Whoa surprise! We went out to dinner the following night in celebration, then I sent them on their merry way. My coworkers took me out on Thursday, Friday I did some birthday week bootcamp and then came Saturday. Saturday of that week, my man surprised me with a party at one of my favorite tapas joints, Solea in Waltham, MA. We were going out to dinner with a couple friends, then some doors open and poof! there are 30 of my closest friends! It was quite a surprise, so much so, that I immediately started sweating. My sister drove up from NC, friends came from NY and most of my fave local chums were able to attend. It was a great night full of Sangria, Balloony (what we named my 30 balloon after said Sangria) and fried cauliflower fritters... yes, they are as delicious as they sound. It was a fantastic night and I am so happy to have such amazing friends.

Me and My Sister Mallory

Dark Knight Fierce Fashion

This post isn't about the Dark Knight Rises, so sorry to disappoint perhaps my fiance and also some of my nerdier friends but rather this post is about the fashion that has hit the premiere red carpets this week. Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard are giving good fashion at the Dark Knight Rises premieres that have taken place this week... and I am sure they will bring some fierce looks at the ones to come being that they are push press for this movie right now. (Psst. We have our tickets for the IMAX on Saturday so mayhaps I will love it so much there will be a post about it next week)

Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard attending "The Dark Knight Rises" World Premiere held at AMC Lincoln Square Theatre in New York. (July 16th, 2012) Anne Hathaway is wearing Prabal Gurung and Marion Cotillard is gorgeous as ever in Christian Dior

Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard attend the UK premiere of the new film "The Dark Knight Rises", held in Leicester Square, London. Anne Hathaway is wearing a gorge Gucci gown and Marion Cotillard continues to rock the Dior on the red carpet.

What do you think of their fashions? I can't wait to see what these two take internationally!

Photos via [StyleBistro]

NuNAAT Giveaway on Facebook!

Remember when I was talking to you guys about NuNAAT Karité Special, well I am certainly using the sh!t out of it! I mean, I love it, yo! Anyhoo, since the gals at NuNAAT know I love them so much, they shared with me a special giveaway for their fans soooo I thought I owed it to you guys to just let you know that they are doing it and direct you to their Facebook page 

They are are giving away [3] COMPLETE SETS of their fan-favorite Karité Special collection. You will LOVE that their special blend of Shea Butter will leave your hair soft and hydrated! For realzies....

All you have to do is "Like" their Facebook page and Read their KARITE SPECAL GIVEAWAY highlighted post (pinned to the top of the page) and add your personal comment to the post... easy, right? Yep.

Engagement Photos: Part Two

So I already gave you guys the first peek at our engagement photos. Don't remember? Well they are right here. In any case, I was just able to get my hands on the rest and wanted to share our absolute favorites, well except the one that's on the Save the Date because, of course, that was our #1 absolute favorite ever and is a surprise! Photos were taken by Alvah Reida Photography at That's Entertainment in Worcester, MA so a big thank you to them both for the wonderful experience!

What do you think of our favorite pictures?

Lux Bond and Green Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of my Lux Bond and Green giveaway! Miss Meghan O. will soon be wearing a gorgeous pair of Honora Chocolate pearl earrings courtesy of the fabulous LBG! I am so happy to have some new followers (I hope they are happy to be here!) and I hope that you all stay tuned for more fun stuff on the blog! xoxo

Summer School, Fashion Illustration Style

So last night was the first night of my condensed Summer class. Fashion Illustration meets every Tuesday and Thursday, from 6pm-10pm for the next 2 months. It seems like a lot, and I am sure it will be, well, because I am also doing a fitness bootcamp on Mondays, Friday and Saturday mornings... needless to say that my schedule is going to be jammed packed for the next couple months. All that being said? I am wicked excited about this Fashion Illustration course. I have taken college level art classes before but this one is geared directly towards something I want to do... which is illustrate my designs. This class is going to do exactly that.

Naomi Louisa Boynton

 While we spent the first portion of class, very thoroughly reviewing the syllabus, which was a little mind numbing, I look forward to future classes because we will basically be learning a new skill and then given the remainder of class as a studio, which means right there I will be able to practice and get critiques to improve as I go. Also, I don't know about you but I am pretty dang excited to learn how to elongate a fashion sketch and also how to sketch fabric textures... I know crazy, right? I am super excited and I most certainly plan to keep you guys updated.

Also, in case you were at all wondering, I got an A- in my Intro to Fashion Design class, so not a shabby start if I do say so myself :-)

Perfect Picks for Your Lady!

Since today is my 30th Birthday, I am all about giving my man hints on what would make this day special to me... but really, his sweet gestures are way sweeter when they are unexpected and for no good reason but that he loves me. I put together a list on Skinnyscoop ('cause you know I love them) to highlight some thoughtful ideas for my man and yours. 

View this list »

Weekend Getaway in Photos

The man and I share in July birthdays. His is the 4th, yep Independence Day and mine is the 10th, yep also Jessica Simpsons birthday. Since we started dating, we always kind of celebrate from his birthday until mine, doing fun things and giving each other cool stuff. This year, I got him a pair of Batman Converse sneakers and a surprise trip to New Hampshire and Maine all complete with a stay at a B&B. Needless to say, we had a nice time! Rather than bog you down with reading, feast your eye on the photo recap. Viola!

Ladies I Love, Creative Crushes

So I may have mentioned wanting to pick the brains of some of my favorite inspirational ladies on the creative realm. My imagination and determination has made me want to set my goals really high, so that... what is the saying? Aim for the moon and then land in the stars or something or other. I have been starting to become extremely in tune with the directions (yes multiple) that I want to head in. I start my Fashion Illustration class next Tuesday, which is my second en route to my Fashion Design degree. I have also been really looking into making this blog a bigger and better entity, ie moving it to Wordpress and having it professionally redesigned. It's just somethin' I want to do and obvi, I will need some inspiration to keep me moving.

Along those lines, I have a lot of women that inspire me in so many different areas of my creative interests. I am obviously into fashion and fashion design but I am also crafty and yearn to cook better for myself and my man.  I am sure that you have heard me make mention of some of these ladies and I would be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of others. I hope they don't mind me referring to them as my creative girl crushes.

NuNAAT Karité Special

So I have told you guys about NuNAAT stuff before. It impresses me and I am surprised more people haven't heard of it. I am widening my NuNAAT knowledge and in doing so, have moved on to the NuNAAT Karité Special, a fine selection of conditioning goodness for all the world to delight in. Well, maybe not the entire world but at least those who find soft, conditioned hair to be invaluable. When this collection arrived, the man was like "do you really need more haircare products?"... the answer, truthfully, is no buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut that doesn't mean that I don't want to try new stuff, always keeping my hair guessing.

Honora 14K Yellow Gold Chocolate Freshwater Pearl Earring Giveaway

So do you guys remember that David Yurman Twitter party that I went to back in June? Well, if you don't you can refresh your memory with my recap here. Any way, it was super fun and I met some awesome local ladies. I was also introduced to Lux Bond & Green, a small, family owned, jewelry store chain in the Northeast. Let's just say that it was sparkly in there. As a gift to bloggers, we were bestowed with gift cards, one for us and one for our readers. Since I  know that not all my readers are from Boston, I decided to get us matching baubles and do the giveaway that way! I just love the pearl earrings that my man got me back on anniversary two but I have had my eyes on a sultry pair of chocolate pearlys since, well, I first saw them... so I got them and I got a pair for one of you as well!

One lucky reader will win a pair of Honora 14K Yellow Gold 8-8.5MM Chocolate Freshwater Cultured Pearl Stud Earrings from Lux Bond and Green, valued at $85.00! That's pretty and sweet, am I right? I thought so!

So what do you do to win? Just follow the prompts below, it's so very simple! No comments needed, although a little extra lovin' never hurt no one. Good luck! Contest is open to everyone, Ends Sunday, July 15th at 11:59pm

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Lux Bond and Green provided the gift cards as a promotional perk of attending the David Yurman Twitter party. I picked out the prize and purchased it for giveaway using those gift cards. Giveaway runs from Monday July 2nd, 2012 through Saturdayday July 14th, 2012. Contest open internationally. Winner will be selected with Rafflecopter's random entry choice and winner will be notified by email within 24 hours of the contest end.