Shop This Sale: 40% Off at J. Crew Factory

Now through August 4th, everything at J. Crew Factory (in-store and online) is 40%.

Happy Shopping Peeps!

Big Hair How-To

You know what they always say about hair: If you have curly hair, you want straight hair. If you have straight hair, you want curly hair. I don't know about you, but all I want is BIG hair. Not Texas big, but lot's of great volume. Like this:

Is that too much to ask? It is if you can't afford to have your hair blown out three times a week. When it comes to styling my own hair, I am quite the novice and don't do much beyond throwing in some mousse before drying it .

Street Chic: Taylor Tomasi Hill

Tomasi Hill, the former director of style & accessories at Marie Claire and current artistic director at Moda Operandi, is well known in the industry for her street style, which I would describe as a heavy dose of classy lady with a dash of edge to keep things fresh. 

 Obviously I am a big fan of her style , but what I really love is her amazing red hair color. So pretty! And red hair isn't always an easy color to have clothing-wise because some colors just don't go with certain shades of red hair. Bravo to her for always getting it right. 

Shop This Sale: Piperlime

Piperlime is having a pre fall sale on their new fall shoes. This is a great time to get first dibs on all the great boots and booties. Just enter the code CLOSET at checkout and receive 25% off the regular price. The sale ends on August 1st.

Happy Shopping!!

Hey, Check This Out: J.T. Farnham's

If you live in the Boston area, and are serious about your fried clams, you go to one of two places: Woodman's  or Farnham's. These Essex, MA food legends are famous for their fresh, local seafood and there is quite a cross-town rivalry between the two when it comes to who has the best fried clams. You either like Woodman's or Farnham's, but not both. 

My Dad is a Farnham's guy, so when I was a kid we always stopped there on the way home from our family beach trips to Good Harbor and Wingaersheek (beautiful beaches in Gloucester, on Boston's North Shore). Over the weekend I got together with my parents and two of my sisters and we all piled into the family car (just like old times!) and headed north for some fun in the sun and fresh seafood. 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Elizabeth Edwards

Brunch in Boston

Breakfast was always my favorite meal as a kid because nothing made me happier than waking up and finding my Mom downstairs in the kitchen making a double batch of grandmother's light and fluffy pancakes along with hash browns and bacon.

  I still love breakfast food, but as I have gotten older, and more sleep deprived,  my new favorite meal has become brunch. Why Brunch? Because with brunch you can sleep in until 10 a.m. and still have plenty of time to get up, throw on a cute and casual outfit and enjoy a yummy breakfast with your friends that can include champagne, french fries and oysters if you so desire.

In the interest of avoiding the never-ending blog post, I have left out my top out-of-town brunch spots and just included my faves here in Boston.

Clink at the Liberty Hotel

The service is lovely and the old jail setting is super fun. Their warm, mini croissants are some of the best I have ever had and you can't beat the make your own Bloody Mary bar the morning after a big night out.

Zaftigs

This has been my family's go-to brunch spot for more than 10 years. The banana-stuffed french toast is worth the hour-plus wait for a table on weekends. If you want to avoid the long lines, switch to breakfast and arrive right when they open at 8 a.m.

Everything Looks Better by Candlelight

If I had to pick one party item that I couldn't live without (besides the alcohol!) I would say it's candles. For an evening event, nothing makes a room look more festive, flattering or inviting then candlelight. And when you can purchase packs of candles for just a few dollars, you can't do much better when it comes to party decor on a budget. 

For you party novices who think candles means one single jar, three wicks and an unappealing smell, read on! All the candle ideas below are festive, easy to make, relatively inexpensive and most importantly, add to the general mood of whatever event you happen to be hosting.

Branches in Submerged in Water with Floating Candles

Room of the Week: Dining Room by David Hicks

I almost didn't like this room at first glance. It seemed too dark to me, but when I did some research and found out where the house was, (England) I changed my mind. On a chilly, wet day (weather that England is known for) the dark tones make the room seem more comforting and inviting in a way that you don't get with brighter rooms. 

I also really like that the entrance of the room utilizes the same drapes as the far windows, which makes the room seem that much more separate from the adjoining ones, as if it's a hideaway from the cold, outside world. When you add in the cozy fireplace, who wouldn't want to enjoy dinner in this room?

Is that a Cookie or a Brownie?

Well, I like cookies, and I like brownies, and more and more I am seeing these two baked goods put together and i'm loving it! So much so that I went searching around to see how many cookie-brownie recipes I had pinned on Pinterest. It turns out that I had collected quite a few, so I thought I would pick out my top faves and share them. Who knows, maybe the cookie/brownie combo is going to be the next peanut butter and chocolate!

Brownie Cookies via Pastry Affair

Thursday Night Cocktail: Spring Fever

Recipe by Regan Smith via Garden & Gun

Ingredients

2 lemon wheels, seeds removed

4 mint leaves

1 ½ oz. Hendrick’s Gin

1 bar spoon of lemon juice

2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters

3 oz. tonic water

Directions

In a Collins glass, gently bruise lemon wheels and mint leaves with lemon juice and bitters. Add ice, stir, and serve.

Top Picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

To be honest, I don't shop a whole lot at Nordstrom, and I'm not really sure why. For the longest time there wasn't a Nordstrom near me so I always stuck to Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor as my go-to department stores. That being said, I have gotten some great pieces from Nordstrom over the last couple of seasons when walked in just to browse around. Because of this, I am super excited about their annual Anniversary Sale because it's the perfect time to get some great items for fall at a good price before they go back up again at the end of the summer.

These are the items on my Nordstrom wish list:

Tory Burch "Brita" Riding Boot

Expensive Mascara: Worth It or Not?

When it comes to makeup, I have always been a fan of the high-low. As long as the product is good, I don't care about the brand or the price. EXAMPLE: I use $75 Clea du Pau concealer and then finish it off with L'Oreal True Match Powder that costs $12.99. 

Up until a few years ago, I always bought drugstore mascara (usually Maybelline) because the tube dries out so quickly and I end up buying a new one every 4-5 weeks. I kept reading about how great Dior mascara was (you have to be pretty good to have a mascara called Diorshow Iconic!), so in my quest to find a mascara that makes me look I have falsies on, I gave in and bought a tube for a little under $30, plus a mascara primer that the sales person at Sephora insisted I get because it was amazing and made such a difference.

Maternity Chic: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

In honor of yesterday's royal birth, I have decided to change this week's Street Chic to Maternity Chic so we can take a look back at the fabulous maternity style of the Duchess of Cambridge. It's no small feat making maternity wear look elegant, stylish and appropriate all at the same time. 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Elizabeth Taylor

Summer Sales to Check Out

With all of the fall looks queued up and ready to go, the summer sales are in full swing. There are some great summer buys to be had, both in-store and online. These are the ones I am most excited to check out.

The Final Sale at J. Crew

Room of the Week: Jacqueline Kennedy's White House Bedroom

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was well known for her style and excellent taste, and it reached far beyond the world of fashion. Upon arriving at the White House in 1961, Mrs. Kennedy set about remodeling and revamping the countries most famous home in order to restore it to it's pre-Eisenhower former glory. 

Thursday Night Cocktail: Frozen Pink Lemonade

Well peeps, Boston is in the midst of its third heatwave of the summer. If there was ever a time for a frozen cocktail, this would be it. As a follow-up to this drink, please have plenty of water. I don't want anyone getting dehydrated in 95 degree weather!

Recipe and Photo via Cosmopolitan

Recipe

1 ½ oz. Stoli Citros

1 Tbsp. sugar

Juice of half a lemon

Splash of grenadine

Garnish: lemon slice 

Ingredients

Blend all ingredients with ice, then garnish with slice of lemon.

Cheers!

Keep Calm and....

I've always loved the saying "Keep Calm and Carry On," so much so that I have it sitting on my desk at work.

Which is perfect because in the world of PR, truer words were never spoken.

Since joining Pinterest, I have come across so many great "Keep Calm" quotes. These are my eternal favorites. 

Champagne is always a good idea!

Because every girl is looking for their Mr. Darcy

Street Chic: Natalia Vodianova

I have always admired Natalia Vodianova's style, as she has always been impeccably dressed, but it seems like she has upped her street style game since she started dating dating fashion executive Antoine Arnault. As a couple, they make many appearances for LVMH brands during fashion week, and she has been looking amazing! It's a perfect blend of sexy and classy that has a very french feel to it. 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Karma

My Mom Has Great Taste in Shoes

I was at work last week when I got a text from my Mom with a picture of a pair of adorable flats that she came across while shopping. She thought the color was perfect for me so she snagged the last pair they had in my size. Aren't the great?

Room of the Week: Living Room by Jean-Louis Denoit

Design and Image from Jean-Louis Denoit

What drew me to this room was how cozy the seating area looked. The room has a more formal style with the chandelier, floor-to-ceiling windows and ornate paintings, but the way the couches and chairs are set up to form a circle around the coffee table make the room feel much more comfortable and welcoming. Perfect for drinks before dinner or a cocktail party. 

Books on My Radar This Summer

With completing my graduate degree and starting a new job in public relations, I haven't had much time for leisurely reading. Now that it's mid-summer, things have slowed down a bit and I have more time off from work. I can't wait to settle into a lounge chair and enjoy a good book while I soak up the warm weather. These are the books currently on my reading list.  

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

A novel about the clashes between old and new moneyed Chinese families seems like the perfect gossipy beach read.

Thursday Night Cocktail: Arnaud's French 75

Recipe via Saveur.com

Ingredients

1 ¼ oz. cognac 

¼ oz. fresh lemon juice

¼ oz. simple syrup

Champagne, chilled 

Lemon peel for garnish

Directions

Combine cognac, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish with a small piece of lemon peel.

Cheers! It's nearly the weekend!

Shop This Sale: J. Crew Final Sale

IN STORES & ONLINE: EXTRA 40% OFF FINAL SALE ITEMS WITH CODE WEDNESDAY

Great opportunity to stock up on the summer basics before all the fall stuff arrives. 

Happy Shopping!

Drugstore Beauty Buys

I love Sephora and the makeup counter at Bloomies as much as the next girl, but every beauty item you buy doesn't have to be super pricey. There are some great beauty buys at your local drugstore that work just as well as the expensive stuff, if not better. These are some of the items that are always on my list when I head to my local CVS or Walgreens.

L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder

I am obsessed with this powder. The have so many shades that it's impossible not to find the right one for your skin tone. It also doubles as a light foundation when you are looking to keep the makeup light. I pop on some concealer under my eyes and then finish with this as part of my daytime makeup routine.

Vaseline

I consider this to be a fix all for any beauty/skin problem. It removes eye makeup, moisturizes dry elbows and feet, soothes burns and can double as cuticle cream and lip balm. 

Street Chic: Miroslava Duma

For such a tiny woman (just over five feet tall), Miroslava Duma packs quite a punch when it comes to style. The Russian fashionista is a staple on the international fashion scene and can always be counted on to bring the glamour (and the high heels!) to every occasion. 

Cute Workout Clothes

Peeps, I am very new to this whole "workout" thing (Yes, I am lazy, but I am trying to change!), but my friend Nicole finally got me off my butt and into the gym and I am loving it. Working out gives me a huge energy boost and it always makes me feel better after a stressful day at work. There is just one problem (and I can't believe I am saying this). I have nothing to wear! Seriously, like nothing.

My workout garb consists of old sweats that double as my pajamas, plain cotton tanks from the Gap and a pair of pink Nike sneakers. OK, the pink sneakers are pretty great, but the rest of it is just plain awful. I pride myself on being an excellent dresser, but at my gym I am on the worst dressed list for sure.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Arthur Ashe

Top Looks from Fall 2013 Couture

With all the hoopla leading up to the 4th of July, I nearly forgot about the Fall 2013 Couture shows in Paris that were earlier in the week.

 I love the couture shows, but sometimes I feel that many of the pieces, although incredibly beautiful, are not wearable. I didn't find that at all with the Fall 2013 season.  I thought the looks were very wearable and particularly textured, which I love for the fall season. 

These are my top picks, in no particular order.

Giambattista Valli 

Alexandre Vauthier 

Valentino

Long Weekend Cocktail: Blueberry Lavender Vodka Spritzer

I was so caught up with my July 4th celebrating that I forgot to post my Thursday Night Cocktail. My apologies! Seeing as it's Friday, (Yay!) I think a Long Weekend Cocktail post is in order.

The recipe makes a 32 oz. pitcher, which is always a helpful time-saver when you are having a group of people over. If you have a couple of pitchers reader to go, you can spend more time mingling and less time bar tending. 

Recipe via The Kitchn

Room of the Week: Cream and White Sitting Room

Image via Veranda 

If I am ever lucky enough to have my own ladies drawing room (a girl can dream!), this is what I want it to look like. Light and airy with classic interiors and just a touch of modern to keep things up to date. 

Does anyone like the idea of a ladies drawing room a la Downton Abbey? I think it's nice to have a room for all the ladies to gather in and enjoy a cup of tea and some good gossip, don't you?