..Engagement Gift Ideas
February 25, 2016 • currently coveting Currently Coveting Wedding engagement gifts Love Wedding wedding planning
Did anyone else notice their Facebook feed blow up with engagement announcements over the v-day weekend? I definitely did, and in the spirit of the month of love I wanted to share some great engagement gift ideas that people were sweet enough to gift me.
1. Ring dishes. These are literally where my ring lives when I am home 75% of the time. I just don't like to cook or clean with it on so I love having a designated spot I can place it (I keep one by the kitchen sink and one by my bathroom sink) while I go about my business. You can buy them, find my exact ones here and here or if you are crafty, you can try your hand at making them, DIY here!
2. The Mrs. Box. While I LOVE my new bling I don't necessarily love the leather box it came in all that much. These beautiful heirloom boxes are the most fun upgrade and last a lifetime. The monogramming is optional but gives it an extra special touch. I feel like it's getting your ring the best luxury bedding to sleep in when you have to put it away.
3. Ornaments! No matter what time of year you get engaged, starting from scratch on sentimental or unique ornaments can be a very expensive investment (hello, target box of 20). I so appreciated the flurry of thoughtful cute ornaments I got to put on our otherwise barren first "engaged" tree! One of my favorites we got is here.
4. Young House Love. After I got this book I spend a whole morning perusing it in bed. I had just moved into a new apartment the weekend after we got engaged so it was full of great inspo for my small space and small decorating budget. I can't wait to try out some projects for our terrace when it gets warmer.
5. Cheeky "His & Her Better Half" mugs. Mugs are something that I didn't even put on our registry because I kind of love the mix match pick them up as you go through life vibe that they allow for. I've kept one from every job, our schools, and my fiance has a couple from his childhood sports. I love that we have these (the only two that match in our collection) to remember this time. I couldn't find my exact ones but think these are so cute! This would also make a pretty simple DIY gift.
6. Picture frames. Lots, and I mean LOTS of happy photo worthy moments on the horizon, yet I don't really have too many frames to display them in. I love this pretty rose gold one my future mother in law got me to match my ring! I put our save the date in it as a memento.
7. Fortune Telling Book for Brides. Just for fun! I like to pop in there every time I make a decision about something and see what the little book says it "means." They have something for everything in there (month, flower, weather) it's nice to be silly during the sometimes too serious process.
8. Not pictured: My planners! I literally live and die by them so much that I didn't have them to photograph because I keep them in my office at work to stay on top of everything. So many meetings, reminders, and coordination goes into throwing the biggest party of your life so planners are everything. I was lucky enough to get this one and this one.
..Current Beauty Favs: Worth the Splurge
February 18, 2016 • Beauty beauty chat currently coveting MAMA
Flowers from the fiance via The Bouqs.
1. Oribe Dry Spray. I mean it takes my hair from flat to this. Need I say more?
2. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. Okay, it's confusing because it's not a cream at all, it's an oil. In full honesty I did receive this as a gift from Red Door Spas but it truly is fabulous. At first I hated the idea of oil but it doesn't dry sticky at all and it's for your face and hair too! So it wasn't a problem to put it on my dry winter legs after a shower, then go straight to doing my hair. I am a product control freak and wash my hands after applying one product and then another for fear of a bad mixture or reaction. Who wants hand lotion remnants in their hair? No one. This makes it so easy and it smells nice and really moisturizes the driest parts of my body.
3. Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede perfume. It's just so good and for some reason all other perfumes don't last long on me but this one has staying power. I also don't love knowing exactly what fragrance someone is wearing because so many people use it, this one leaves a little mystery!
4. MAC "Brave" lipstick. Okay this one isn't truly "luxe" but you can't get it at your local drug store so it falls into my list. I just LOVE this color! It goes with everything and looks good on every skin tone. Kylie Jenner made it famous but it's star quality speaks for it's self.
5. Bobbi Brown long wear gel eyeliner and fine liner brush. I have tried so many other gel liners, high end and drug store and this one is just THE best. I also love the brush because it has some strength behind it. Other fine liner brushes get bogged down by the product and don't deliver the same precision.
6. Le Volume de Chanel mascara. I lived and died by They're Real before this (see this post and this post) but received a sample of this one somewhere along the line and can't believe how good it is. Lashes for dayyyys and no clumps. I immediately went and bought the full size tube.
7. Lancome Cils Booster. This is the best base for ANY mascara. It just gives your lashes something extra and improves on any mascara formula. I like to apply it and then do other parts of my routine to let it set a little before putting on my mascara coat.
The deets: Lulu*s dress; Zara booties (similar, similar on sale); Express jacket (similar under $35); Rebecca Minkoff mini bag; Kate Spade earrings and necklace; MAC "Brave" lipstick.
This is the outfit I wore to my Valentine's Day dinner with my fiancé. He took me to Osteria Morini which was AMAZING (I will literally dream about the truffle cream pasta course). When I want to dress up for a fun occasion or just make my look as special as I can my go-to move is to really focus on my hair. I know it's crazy but I feel feel like its your ultimate accessory. I could be wearing an old dress I've worn a thousand times but if I curl my hair and make it really voluminous and bouncy I feel like a whole new fancy version of myself. I have finer hair so I need lots of tools to make this happen. I use a one inch curler, Suave volumizing hair spray, and then finish with my magic potion/secret weapon which is Oribe dry spray to create the look. I know the dry spray is a splurge but my hair spray is such a save that I think it balances!
The deets: Ivanka Trump Nude "Hettie" Heel: $145; Express Red Fringe Tassel Sandal: $88; Lulu*s Violet "Doo Wah Diddy" Suede Fringe Heel: $22; Steve Madden Yellow "Sassey" Heels: $129; Matiko Black "Daphne" Heel: $176; Aquazzura Baby Blue "Wild Thing" Heel: $785
Confession: ever since I booked my bachelorette trip to Vegas I have been on a SERIOUS shopping hunt. Like, almost more into shopping for that trip than shopping for my own wedding dress (which I recently did purchases, #phew). I think it's because you get to be that beautiful, glittery, glamizonian, dancing, unicorn-kitten version of yourself that doesn't really get to come out on the day to day, so shopping for the occasion is an event all of it's own. During my search (I've sent back 7 dresses an counting already) I came across so many versions of this pretty fringey heeled sandal. They really jump out at me as a purchase that fits the bill exactly. Fun embodied in a shoe!
The deets: SAM hat; Guess jacket; GAP sweater (similar); AG jeans; Hunter boots; Express scarf; Prada sunnies; Balenciaga bag.
During our snowcation a couple weeks ago it was also restaurant week. Since I live right by a metro in a pretty commercial area the streets and sidewalks were plowed and salted well enough to emerge from our apartment cave three days after to take advantage of those $20.16 three course meal prices. Also - I couldn't eat one more bowl of the soup that I made during the storm. We hit up a oldie (to us because it's a few blocks away) but a goodie, Mussel Bar. No amount of snow can keep us from a good foodie sesh.
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