Fragrance Friday--Elements of Desire at Homeward Bound

Earlier today I was on my way to Savvy Tea in Madison, CT when I stumbled upon the most amazing discovery!  Homeward Bound is a retail store that features a mix of organic furniture and modern furniture, home accessories, clothing, creative art and original gifts.  From the moment I entered the space, which has a serious "WOW" factor, I was on sensory overload.  I was in such delight, I didn't know where to turn first.  Everything is so beautifully displayed!  Then, I was greeted by a charming lady named Jessica.  We instantly got chatting about the new store and she showed me a few  items that I was interested in.  I later learned that the owners, Kathy Wash and her husband, Trip have three other store locations.  Kathy was a fashion buyer for Bloomingdale's, Bendel's and Barney's and eventually the senior buyer for ABC Carpet and Home.  She describes her style as "whimsical".  

I really loved how there was such an eclectic mix of new and old, modern and with antiques.  It was such a fun visit and of course, I couldn't help but notice the emphasis on the organic, environmentally friendly philosophy as well.  

On my way out the door, with my new dress and stationary in tow, I happen to notice just a FEW MORE interesting items.  A collection of natural perfumes, called Creative Universe by Beth Terry.  One spritz and I was like, "oh yeah"  this is nice!  It is the perfect scent for summer time.  The one I enjoyed the most is called Elements of Desire which has snowdrop flower, dimbula tea and peony blossoms in it- fresh, floral and just darn pretty!  $68.00 4.3 oz

The next time you are looking for that perfect gift, or want to buy something for your home, or to wear out,  I would really suggest checking out this lovely store!  I know I'll be back.  I have entire wish list already written out!  

Xo

TREND Tuesday- Curls!

Why fight it? Summer is officially here and even though the sun is not shining (YET!), the humidity is high! This season, let your strands get some rest from all the heat.

I'm definitely known for getting blow-outs on a pretty regular basis and I use a flat iron for touch ups during the week. So, come summer time, I try to give my hair a break and go natural by letting my curls come out to play.

Enjoying my curls is another story. Usually, I end up with a pony tail or bun by about mid-day. Although, I always love that messy, beach tousled wavy look on other people. I am constantly on the hunt for products that will tame my curls and give me that care-free do. I recently discovered BLOW BEACH BLOW, a texturizing mist that keeps curls soft and frizz-free!

Check it out! http://www.blowstylingsalon.com/

XO

Frangrance Friday-Ralph Lauren, ROMANCE

Today I enjoyed a visit with one of my dearest, oldest, best-est, friends. Kim and I have know each other for about, well, almost 20 years now. I guess you can say we go way back. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon catching up on life while visiting the Beauty Library and later having a tasty lunch at The Blue Cottage in Branford, CT. where we continued talking about the present, past and future. Eventually we got talking about beauty, of course, and I learned that Kim, a self proclaimed, "creature of habit" has been wearing ROMANCE perfume by Ralph Lauren for several years. So, I decided to do some research about the scent. After a quick search on-line, I learned that this simple, floral fragrance perfectly describes my friend and her personality. According to Mr Lauren, who created the scent in 1999, he designed it for women who were looking for a "timeless essence of falling in love and who believe in affection, warmth and togetherness". He also describes the scent as a "classic". Yep, this sounds like Kim alright. She is the friend who celebrates the simple joys in life, who is always there to make you smile, she cherishes the special moments and embraces those around her with an unconditional kind of love and caring. With that, I would like to dedicate this blog post to my long time friend Kim, who I appreciate and love so much!

Romance: notes of tangerine, chamomile and freesia, blended with ginger, violet and oakmoss.

XO

Fragrance Friday- Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla Candle

Happy Friday everyone! It's been a long week and you get home from work late on a Friday night. You are ready to unwind. Picture this: You come home to a fabulously clean house, draw a hot bubble bath, pour yourself a delicious glass of Pinot Noir and light a scented candle to set the mood. How dreamy right?! This may not be a reality for everyone, especially if there are children involved but the fantasy is nice anyway. There is something so relaxing about burning candles- I love the way they create a mood. Trish McEvoy makes one of the BEST smelling candles ever! The Wild Blueberry and Vanilla is to die for. It's intoxicating, delicious, sensual, so amazing that even after you blow it out and leave the room, when you walk back in, you can still smell the aroma!

Photo Shoot with Carla Ten Eyck

A few weeks ago, hair designer Kelly Sharkey and I participated in a bridal photo shoot with Carla Ten Eyck, who aside from being a great photographer, is a really cool gal with tons of energy and a vivacious spirit! It was so much fun to watch her in action! Carla teaches a class every Tuesday for inspiring photographers who want to learn the tricks of the trade from one of the best. To make things a little more interesting, the shoot happened to be scheduled on a Tuesday. So, with her apprentices by her side, Carla got busy teaching and capturing some really cool shots!

We all met at the New Haven Lawn Club. May I just say, who knew?! This venue is under rated because the rooms and grounds are SO beautiful! Seeing it made me want to have my wedding all over again just to book this spectacular place!

That was just the beginning. Next enters Beth Chapman from the White Dress by the shore with some of the most current styles in bridal fashion! Seriously, every dress she had with her-beautiful and modern. She has a keen sense of style and understands what brides and bridesmaids are looking for. She was also excited to show off some items from her brand new accessory collection! I am in love with the head bands!

Then, along comes Tony. Tony owns Dantura: A Modern Garden. He is super creative and his work is, hands down, original. He makes shawls and hand bags out of flowers! Yes, really! So together, we played, styled, shot and laughed. A successful collaboration that I am proud to have been a part of!

Hope you'll enjoy some of these pictures from Carla!

Xo

TREND Tuesday- Full Lashes

Who doesn't want longer, thicker, darker, curlier lashes? We all do, right!!

Everyone has one makeup item they can not leave home without. For some, it's foundation and for others it's lip gloss. For me, I always curl my lashes and apply mascara. I love the eye opening effect that mascara gives. So, over the years, I have pretty much experimented with every lash product known to woman. And, for those of you who know me well, you know that I am also a huge fan of false lashes!

Here are some new, hot trends in achieving fuller lashes as well as some of the good ole' trusty products I love so much:

1.) Latisse is the first and only FDA approved prescription treatment used to grow your lashes and make them darker. Seriously, this is an extreme measure, in my opinion. But, it seems to be getting a ton of buzz non the less.

2.) Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara is so cool! Have you seen the brush?! Let's just say the name of the product is accurate. It promises 3x the curves for 70% curlier lashes and a 12 hour hold. I'll add it my list of favorites!

3.) If you don't want to go to a doctor to get fuller lashes and mascara alone isn't doing the trick, try a "lash builder", like Trish McEvoy's. It hydrates while it thickens and it's so easy to use. Put one coat on the lashes before mascara and VIOLA!

4.) Shu Uemura Lash Curler is incredible. I cannot live without mine! This iconic tool is loved by so many professional and really makes such a BIG difference in the curl and length of the lashes! If you don't have one, get one right away, you'll thank me!

5.) Adelle False Lashes are the best! Clients always ask me which ones I use and like the most. Without a doubt, it's Adelle. They are the most natural and very inexpensive to buy. You can get them at almost any drugstore. Applying them is another story, you might want to come to a professional! ;)

Enjoy!

Xo

Fragrance Friday- BOND NO. 9

It has become a tradition for me and my husband to go away each year to celebrate my Birthday. Usually we hit up a B&B somewhere in New England for a relaxing night or two but this year we have changed gears and are heading to my favorite place in the whole entire world- New York City! We have a fun night planned ahead, with a sushi dinner and a Broadway show on deck! I can't wait to feel the energy of the city!

With my NYC trip in mind, I thought I would share with you, a fragrance that I love and miss spritzing on myself when I worked in the beauty department at Saks, NYC. It is called BOND NO 9, BROADWAY NITE.

Notes: Green violet, rose, vanilla beans, and musk! Super SEXY, alluring and perfect for a night on the town!!

Bond NO.9 perfumes are a collection of fragrances that was launched as homage to a great city, NYC of course! The name addresses it's landmark store at 9 Bond Street in the trendy NOHO. Each scent is cleverly named after a NY neighborhood and the bottles are like small works of art!

You can find these original scents at Saks $135 for 50ml

Enjoy the show!

Xo

Trend Tuesday- All things FRENCH

I heart all things french! I mean, I love cheese, croissants, wine, lattes, ruffles, hats, perfume, anything chanel, elle magazine, le vie en rose, but the thing that I admire most about french style is the confidence that french women hold.

CHIC french women don't wear makeup. At least they pretend not to. I love that! Their goal is to have flawless, glowing skin. French women believe that too much makeup makes a woman seem older. I have to agree. My personal makeup style is quite "au natural" just for that reason. Don't get me wrong, I love makeup and know how it can make a difference but I think many of us "over do it", we end up looking "too done" and well, that just stinks of effort. Looking effortlessly beautiful is what French woman have mastered. They know how to respect the brow line, they don't obsess about eternal youth, they eat more chocolate (really, it doesn't make you break out!!) ,and they just have that "je ne sais quoi".

The focus for most french women is skin care. They know how important it is to take care of your skin and they don't think twice about spa treatments. Facials and other spa treatments aren't a luxury, they are a necessity! We have it all wrong.

French Elle launched an issue of the magazine recently with the cover models sans makeup! Bold move and very inspiring ( if you have good lighting and a pro photographer)! I know it's not so easy to go bare-faced if you are not blessed with a perfect complexion and great bone structure but I really thought the message was profound. It's about confidence, grace, elegance, passion, femininity. Being comfortable in your own skin or as the French say, "Bien dans sa peau". We have to take the time make ourselves feel good, find balance, create mystery, embrace our uniqueness, live with confidence in who we are! When we feel good, we look good. It's a fact.

For more french-style inspiration, check out this amazing blog: frenchessence.blogspot.com

"The most beautiful makeup for women is passion but cosmetics are cheaper to buy"

Yves Saint Laurent

Xo