Pampered MiniLuxe Style

I was first introduced to MiniLuxe back when my friend Tamy opened her location in Chestnut Hill. I didn't actually get a chance to visit her salon until right before the wedding (she'd be open nearly a year!). I happened to get my wedding manicure and pedicure there... and let's just say that I am hooked on the service that MiniLuxe represents. Clean, attentive and just as importantly, the work is stellar. MiniLuxe invited me back to get a manicure and pedicure at any one of their locations, so being that I would be in the area, I made an appointment at the Newton Center location. I was just as pleased this time around as I was on my first visit. 

Alice + Olivia, Making It Up

One of my fave shows this past NYFW was the Alice + Olivia collection complete with the argyle tights that will be mine in the near future. Something I loved almost as much as the clothes on these models was the makeup. The choice that the designer and makeup artists took was a combination that I happened to LOVE and think was really wearable on a lot of different skin tones. Not only that, it was something that is wearable on a daily basis, not just on the runway. OK, maybe you wouldn't wear this to brunch on a Sunday morning but then, maybe you would. Life is for the living! Anyway, I had to try this combo out for the masses, didn't I?

The Wedding Shoes by Valentino

I got our wedding pictures back a couple weeks ago but hadn't gotten a chance to set up any posts to show you guys any of the awesome decor, action shots and somewhat importantly, the outfit. Since I have yammered on about these shoes, I thought I would make this the official first post in a small series devoted to my wedding pictures. Listen, I am not going to shove them down your throat. I just think our photographer, Alvah Reida, did such an awesome job that I had to share with you guys. Introducing the shots dedicated to my very special shoes.

Wedding Crafting, Découpage if You Please

Yes, I know that the nuptials have come and gone but you didn't think I was going to leave you in the lurch about some of my wedding crafts did you? What turned out to be on of my bigger wedding crafting endeavors was that art of decoupaging. I used this technique on my card box, on some of my votive candles and also created table numbers using the same crafty goodness. Yes, it was a smidgen messy but I firmly believe that a little mess never hurts anyone, especially when it's cleaned up... which I just did this week haha. Anyhoo, want to check out my decoupage goodness?

Un-Belizeable Honeymoon Pics

You know when you take tons of pictures and it takes you months to get them off your camera? Well this is one of those instances where I went on a honeymoon, took a ton of pictures and haven't shown anyone... well that is about to change. I present to you, highlights from our trip to Belize, complete with bird pictures, which surprisingly enough were nearly 75% of pictures taken. Turns out, we really like birds. Also, please make note that I did not wear makeup for the entirety of our honeymoon. Please also note, I may update you with wedding photos when they become available, which would make this post and the one out of order, but if nothing else, I live my life on the edge ;-)

Pattern Projects, DIYs and Living Happy: Using My Free Time More Efficiently

I have been busy for what seems like years, though I think it's probably only been about a year where my free time has been bogarted by planning a wedding. It's crazy to think about the amount of time that was put into planning a mere 6 hours of your life. My wedding day was fantastic, and I wouldn't have changed it for the world, but now I do feel that I have a lot more free time as of late. While planning the wedding, I was also taking a challenging class and channeled all free time into those two areas of my life. Now that those two areas are completed, I have found myself moving into a new house (yay!) but also re-evaluating how I use my free time... and making sure I use it wisely.

Thanks to Mom's daily inspiration book

Nanette Lepore Fall Winter 2013, Coats are Cool

Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet Fall 2013

I have sort of veered away from covering all fashion shows during fashion season. I sort of feel like you will see a lot of the same things on all the fashion blogs and if you want to see good coverage, you likely have your go to sites. But when a collection catches my eye and makes me want to share, well, I'll likely share with you. Don't you know that my opinion means everything, dahling? Enter Alica+ Olivia's Fall 2013 collection full of wearable pieces, outwear that makes me cry it's so lovely and some rocking accessories, some of which I think I might have to try my hand at myself.

Making It Up: Scarlett Johansson's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Scarlett Johansson is currently starring on Broadway in the popular Tennessee Williams' play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and while I moderately care about the play itself, I am more interested in her makeup for her premiere parties. Because I do spend some amount of time on Zimbio, I do find great close ups of some of my favorite gals, which inspire me to either try the looks myself, tell you all about it or both. In this case, I am just going to tell you about and recommend some of my fave products (because I am still trying to work my makeup around this new hair color). Check it.

Lavender Hair, the After

I am sure if you follow me on any of my social media networks, you know that I have been yammering on about taking the plunge! No, not getting married... I am talking about taking some inspiration from Kelly Osbourne's lavender locks and doing it myself! Last week, on a whim, I stopped in at my salon to do a strand test, which then led to me making an actual appointment. I love my stylist, Rachel (Hi Rachel!) so obviously could not be a no show, else I would never be able to show my face again. Also, I had been talking so much about it, I sort of had to do it... so I did!

Outfit Post: Super Bowl Sunday Dress Down

Super Bowl Sunday is one of those special days each year where we as Americans do our darndest to make the yummiest food that's the worst for you and all tune in to watch commercials er rather a football game together. There is not need to look fabulous. There is no need to dress up but that doesn't mean you can't pull together a casual cool. I cooked* most of Sunday for a party we were going to so didn't really have the time to pull together Super Bowl Chic, but rather I dressed it down for a drive to New Hampshire. You'll probably remember this flannel from a previous DIY and was featured on Boston.com's DIY's to Try in 2013, so naturally I am pretty proud to rock it again. Check out the rest of my look after the jump.

Channel Ellie Kemper's SAG Awards Look

I didn't do a Best and Worst dressed list for the 2013 SAG Awards because #1 I didn't watch them or the red carpet coverage and #2 I kinda sorta didn't care... gasp! All was well in the world until the man turned on Fashion Police this week (because he loves me). The folks there dished on their favorite looks from the night and of course, their least favorites, catching me up on everything I had missed. As a testament to how entertained I was by this episode, I barely even minded that Khloe Kardashian was a guest host, ugh. Anyhoo, I am certainly glad we watched because I saw it. When I say "it", I am referring to Ellie Kemper's Reem Acra seafoam green vision of loveliness. She was not crowned the fashion police's best dressed but she was most certainly mine. I have no red carpet events to go to (not this week anyhow) so where would I wear something so extravagant? Nah, I bet we could channel her look into more wearable every day wear. Check it out my favorite items that this look inspired me to crush on after the break.