Sexy Holiday Eyes with Studio Gear Cosmetics

It's the holidays alright, and this means glitter and gold, holiday outfits and looking your best. I personally love getting all dolled up, even it's for a family get together because you know there will be pictures taken... and no one wants a bad holiday hair day documented for all time. Beside the hair and clothes, you gotta be looking your best, beauty regimen wise. My friends over at Studio Gear Cosmetics had me covered this holiday season with the Holiday Smoky Eye Palette. 

Be radiant on any occasion with this sultry, shimmery palette of dramatic shades – perfect for creating a classic smoky eye look, with a hint of unexpected golden glimmer. This collection of four complimentary eye shadows with matching blush deliver several day to night options that are both seductive and wearable. With pure color, pigment-rich formulations, you’ll be sure to smolder all night!

DIY Framed Jewelry Holder

I am sure you remember my trip to Brimfield a couple of months ago (my first time, yay!) where I scored some pretty awesome deals. One of the things I was on the lookout for were some cool older frames to make a jewelry holder with. I have seen all manner of cool versions of vintage frames and chicken wire on Pinterest, leading to a really cool way to house lots of baubles. I am at the point where my poor jewelry tree is over encumbered with the trinkets I have been collecting over the years so this project wasn't just for fun but it is for function too!

Guess what, pretty chicken wire is somewhat hard to find. I went on the lookout and ended up getting impatient so opted from some gardening fence in a grid from the hardware store. Since I wanted a sort of artistic feel to the "piece" I used some of the netting from some of the bird traps that I bought from Brimfield as well. Harder to work with than I thought, I wouldn't do it again haha... but so I was able to come to an end result that I was pretty pleased with and actually functions as a decent jewelry holder.

Things I used: Older Picture Frame (cleaned), Gardening Fencing, Strong Industrial Stapler/Staples, Wire Cutters, Old Bird Netting (cleaned)

A Ladies Holiday Get Together, Seagrass Studio Style #ECSHoliday

Last weekend, I was invited to a highly stylized blogger get together at the gorgeous home of a gorgeous blogger friend, Elizabeth of Seagrass Studio. Not only did I attend (obvi, I am high style) but a lot of other highly fashionable bloggers (friends) attended as well. We were brought together to showcase some of Elizabeth's most recent jewelry designs for the Winter season, a look book of sorts. Not only did we have a great time checking out her gorgeous jewelry but we had a very fancy and stylish party with yummy drinks, food and a puggle who gives wonderful kisses. Check it out!

An Exciting Announcement!

I like to watch tv... like a lot. There are only a handful of shows where the man and I actually overlap on our preferences. Sure, he puts up with all the Real Housewives and currently, all the Christmas movies I am watching, but there are certain shows/movies that we both know not to watch without the other being present. I love these shows so much more because we can have that time together where we laugh, discuss and just relate to one another. That being said, I have put together some images from our favorite shows to laugh at together to make a pretty big announcement. First, let's see if you can follow the clues. Answer after the jump!

Prim and Propah Holiday Giveaway, Day Five: Gemvara Pendant Necklace

Today is the 5th day of 5 fabulous days of giveaways! Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Gemvara's new pop up boutique on Newbury Street, thanks to the beautiful Elissa of Style Wire. I was so very fortunate to have won a very generous gift to Gemvara and had an idea! I am always benefiting from blogging, whether it's by meeting new people or getting great things. Blogging is da bomb. So I emailed my contact at Gemvara and I said, hey what about I share my gift from Gemvara with one of my readers? They loved the idea and here we are on day five, with an awesome giveaway from Gemvara!

There are so many beautiful offerings from Gemvara, all of which are totally the stuff that dreams are made of. One of my favorite things on the Gemvara website is the Evil Eye Pendant Necklace. It's not just the sparkly jewel and sassy silver but also the story behind the evil eye pendant (it's said to ward off evil aka evil eyes aka those mean girls). Since you can customize your Gemvara jewelry with any of a number of gemstones, precious and semi-precious, I decided to get the London Blue Topaz accent on the sterling silver setting and chain... and guess what? I got one for a lucky Prim and Propah reader too! I think this is an awesome necklace and hope you do too!

Isn't this necklace totally swoonworthy? I can't wait to be twinsies with one of you and our Gemvara necklaces. We will share the memory together forever! haha a flare for the dramatic, I know! I am just really excited about offering one of you the opportunity to win something sparkly at this frosty time of year!

JUGS Show Us What Christmas Means to Them, a Guest Post

Hello, Prim & Propah readers!

It's JustUsGals (JUGs) here!  We are honored to be featured today by Amanda to clue you in on some of our favorite winter activities in Boston.  We all live downtown and enjoy nights out and snowy days in.  With the infamous random winter weather New England presents, we prefer to keep things local.

Head on over to our blog to check out daily updates on what is happening in and around Boston!  We'd love to know what you enjoy most about Boston winters, too!

Thanks for having us, Amanda!

The JUGs (Cameron, Meredith & Suzanne)

Prim and Propah Holiday Giveaway, Day Four: 5 Sets of Bras and Undies from Barely There

It's Day Four and I think you all need some underwear! Barely There is today's sponsor and they are majorly generous you guys! Let me back up and gush a little first. Earlier this year, I attended the Blog Better Boston Style Summit and was lucky enough to get to try some of Barely There's awesome offerings. I mean, who doesn't like new and comfy undergarments to add to the stash? Even though no one sees your undergarments on the daily (usually), it is really important that you feel comfortable and also that your undies be barely there... this company has got you covered. I am excited that they have offered to work with me on Day Four!

Amy from Creative Soul Spectrum Shows Us How to Make DIY Pinecone Mobile, a Guest Post

Oh heyyy Prim and Propah readers! I'm Amy from Creative Soul Spectrum! After last year's DIY infinity scarf post, I'm so happy to be back here guest posting again! I know how much you guys love a good DIY project, so I've got another one for you today. This one involves my favorite thing: gold spray paint. Seriously, once I purchase a can of gold spray paint, nothing in my house is safe. This time, pine cones were on the receiving end of my obsession. I wanted to make a holiday decoration that was a little out of the ordinary, so along with the gold spray paint and pine cones, I used twine, white spray point, frog tape, and a branch to make a pinecone mobile. 

Prim and Propah Holiday Giveaway, Day Three: $50 to Giant Vintage Sunglasses

Day Three suckas and it brings us lots of sunglasses! Have you ever heard of Giant Vintage Sunglasses? If not, you have been missing out. I first discovered them last year on Vault and have since purchased up to 10 new pairs of Sunglasses from them. Since I happen to love different styles of sunglasses, you know, to suit my mood, it only makes sense to choose affordable versions over the way too expensive options. Giant Vintage is perfect for the ever changing desires as far as your protective eye wear is concerned. They have so many different styles, from vintage inspired to current frames, you can literally spend an hour perusing their pages upon pages of sunglasses. What are some of my current faves, you ask? Check it.

Big Hearts, Keegan, Cop Rock, Praxis, CX Wally, Jelly Bean Green, Obscura, Boy, Peeka

Katherine from Style Tab Shows Us Her Holiday Best, a Guest Post

Hi Prim and Propah fans! I'm honored to be guest posting today and right alongside a fabulous giveaway to boot! I'm Katherine, a 20-something cat lady who blogs over on Style Tab. I enjoy long romantic walks to the fridge, witty sarcasm, Ryan Gosling and anything with sequins. Today's outfit is one that I actually wore for Thanksgiving dinner with my boyfriend's family. Dressing to impress during the holidays can be a daunting task and with all the food and drinks to be had, you need an outfit that'll be comfortable, too! Enter, the maxi. I've always been a huge fan of maxi dresses/skirts and they're perfect for any time of the year. For winter and the holidays I've been leaning towards styles in deep, rich tones like oxblood, eggplant and emerald. A solid style gives you the freedom to dress it up or down with bold accessories or in my case, some glam faux fur! For an extra fancy occasion, try a style with a daring neckline or a sparkly accents and get ready for the compliments!

Prim and Propah Holiday Giveaway, Day Two: Fabulous Fashion Books from Laurence King

It's day two of my Happy Holidays giveaway series! I was blessed this time last year to have the opportunity to receive some of the fantastic fashion books and games from Laurence King Publishing. The books are colorful, fun and most importantly, have a lot of information that I, a fashion lover, fledgling designer and lover of pretty things, can appreciate. If you check out the selection, and if you're anything like me, you'd likely be instantly inspired to create and design fashion... or in the very least, drool over the pretty things we all wish were in our closets. I love to keep these pretty books where I can see them, like decorative bookshelves and coffee tables. These are perfect for your sassy and fashionable home.

Emily from shell chic'd Shows Us Her Handmade Picks, a Guest Post

Hi all! I'm Emily and I blog over at shell chic'd. Huge thank you for Amanda for having me here today! Contrary to popular belief, my favorite shopping day of the year is not Black Friday or even Cyber Monday [despite my addiction to online shopping], but instead, Small Business Saturday, which takes place on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

I love love love supporting small shops and brands, especially ones whose products are made in America. This year, I'm trying to embrace the idea of Small Business Saturday all December long, opting to buy handmade gifts as often as I can. In case you have been living under a rock [or perhaps just have better self restraint than I], Etsy is an amazing online marketplace full of individual retailers and smalle shops selling their vintage or handmade goods. The only downside to this online shopping Heaven? The hundreds of thousands of products are sometimes a bit daunting to browse through; so I have done a little but of work for you and have rounded up some of my favorite pieces from my favorite Etsy shops!

• "Holidays are for Martinis" Print, AmandaCatherine Design, $15
• No Bump Hair Ties, Oh Buoy Boston, $10 
• Perfectly Plaid Button Earrings, Ivy Lane Accessories, $4.95 Sequin Hanger with Clips, Pearls and Pastries, $13 
• Crochet Cup Cozy, Salem Style, $5  
• Houndstooth Clutch, Sew Sarah R, $35 Wool Black Traditional Holiday Plaid Skirt, Preppy Pink Shop, $69.99 
• The Secret Garden Book Clutch, P.S. Besitos, $83.76
•  Gold Lobster Bangle, Simply Chic 93, $16 
• Newbury Street" Boston Photo Card , Dear Friend Shop, $5.50

Will you be shopping handmade this holiday season? Let me know some of your favorite Etsy shops! xox

You can check out all of Emily's posts over at shell chic'd, follow her on Twitter or catch her photos on Instagram. You won't regret it!

Be sure to check out today's giveaway from Mood Fabrics!

Prim and Propah Holiday Giveaway, Day One: Mood Designer Fabrics Gift Card and Sassy Sewing Books!

Today I am starting a most fabulous series of giveaways and guest posts. Every day this week, I will be highlighting one of my favorite bloggers as well as hit you folks with an awesome giveaway! All of this week's giveaways are awesome and you will love them. I have some killer guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers around. They are sure to be fun reads for sure and will be sprinkled in between the giveaways. This will be on exciting week on Prim and Propah, that is for sure so please keep checking back for all the exciting things shakin' this week. So let's get 'er started!

'Tis the Season... to Watch Christmas Movies

Last night at the Boston Bloggers event, I was talking to some of my favorite gal pals about being really excited to watch Christmas movies. I mean, the second that Thanksgiving was over, I was all about Christmas! Heck, the Christmas movies started even before Thanksgiving. We got to talking about what our favorite Christmas/Holiday movies were at this time of year. Every family has favorites; every person has the one that touches their heart or makes them laugh. I thought I would give you my personal countdown. Y'all ready for this?

5. Scrooged

It's a take on A Christmas Carol that I can actually stomach (A Muppet Christmas Carol is my next fave adaption) and the man and I both love this movie, which is saying a lot. We sometimes agree on movies in general, but Christmas movies, now there is little overlap there. I think it's that we both have a affinity for Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait is really very funny in this movie and it's usually a welcomed change from the sugar sweet mush that is on ABC Family non-stop until Christmas (most of which I'll watch anyways).

Twice, an Online Second Hand Shopping Experience

So I was out with my friend Erin and we were chatting about buying things second hand when she mentioned the website, Twice. What is Twice, you ask? Well, it is a site where you can buy and sell, very lightly used but still very wearable brand name pieces of clothing. I was intrigued by the idea when Erin told me that she sent a handful of items to them, using a prepaid shipping label, and they then sent her an offer for what they deemed of quality condition. She told me they didn't accept all of her items, though she had sent what she thought was in great shape but that she knew if she were ever to buy from them, she knew their standard were tippy top.... so I did some digging and found over 10 items that I thought I should give a second chance at life with someone who would actually wear them!