There have been so many instances that when I discover something I love, not necessarily always relating to fashion or beauty, I'm so eager to share it with you guys. Going forward, each month, I'll be sharing my favorite products with you. They wont always relate to new favorites, but more like the highlights of that month. Today I'm starting with these star players:
Darphin Stimulskin Plus Serumask:
This mask certainly doesn't come cheap, but it helps that whenever I use it, my face looks like I just got a facial. I'm getting a lot less sleep these days, so I've been relying on certain products to make me look like a rested human being. This and the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore are big splurges, but two I really stand behind, especially if you're more into at-home treatments.
Eddie Borgo Pinky Ring:
It's all in the details and this happens to be one of my favorite finishing touches to any outfit (as seen in the 2nd photo here).
Jiffy Travel Steamer:
I've been using this steamer for years and while I initially bought it for travel, I use it on a daily basis, even when at home. I can't be without it!
Vitamix Blender:
Out of all of our kitchen gadgets, the Vitamix is both my favorite and the most used. At first, I was hesitant on spending a couple of hundred bucks on a blender, but it's worth every penny. I use it on a daily basis to make smoothies, protein shakes, soups, etc…and also plan to use it to make baby food, when that time comes.
Great Lakes Gelatin:
In all honestly, this stuff probably deserves a post on its own. I first learned about the numerous benefits on gelatin from a health guru friend of mine who swore it did amazing things for her hair, skin and nails. After chatting with her, I started doing my own research and stumbled upon so much information, including this post, including 2000+ reviews on Amazon. On top of the beauty benefits, gelatin is known to do amazing things for the digestive system, something I've noticed immediately. Initially, I started putting 1-2 tablespoons in my morning hot lemon water, but now I prefer to incorporate it into my daily smoothie.
Isabel Marant Booties:
In my opinion, no other booties compare. The quality is top notch, they're insanely comfortable and they instantly make my outfit feel a little bit cooler.
Caudalie Divine Oil:
I love this stuff! Applying it all over my body after the shower, on skin that's still slightly damp, makes me feel like a million bucks. Also, on days when I wear a sleek hairdo, this stuff is perfect for combatting any frizzes or flyways.
Fuji Camera:
This has been my go-to camera when I don't want to lug my huge DSLR, but still want high quality photos.
The post My May Favorites appeared first on Brooklyn Blonde.
There have been so many instances that when I discover something I love, not necessarily always relating to fashion or beauty, I'm so eager to share it with you guys. Going forward, each month, I'll be sharing my favorite products with you. They wont always relate to new favorites, but more like the highlights of that month. Today I'm starting with these star players:
Darphin Stimulskin Plus Serumask:
This mask certainly doesn't come cheap, but it helps that whenever I use it, my face looks like I just got a facial. I'm getting a lot less sleep these days, so I've been relying on certain products to make me look like a rested human being. This and the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore are big splurges, but two I really stand behind, especially if you're more into at-home treatments.
Eddie Borgo Pinky Ring:
It's all in the details and this happens to be one of my favorite finishing touches to any outfit (as seen in the 2nd photo here).
Jiffy Travel Steamer:
I've been using this steamer for years and while I initially bought it for travel, I use it on a daily basis, even when at home. I can't be without it!
Vitamix Blender:
Out of all of our kitchen gadgets, the Vitamix is both my favorite and the most used. At first, I was hesitant on spending a couple of hundred bucks on a blender, but it's worth every penny. I use it on a daily basis to make smoothies, protein shakes, soups, etc…and also plan to use it to make baby food, when that time comes.
Great Lakes Gelatin:
In all honestly, this stuff probably deserves a post on its own. I first learned about the numerous benefits on gelatin from a health guru friend of mine who swore it did amazing things for her hair, skin and nails. After chatting with her, I started doing my own research and stumbled upon so much information, including this post, including 2000+ reviews on Amazon. On top of the beauty benefits, gelatin is known to do amazing things for the digestive system, something I've noticed immediately. Initially, I started putting 1-2 tablespoons in my morning hot lemon water, but now I prefer to incorporate it into my daily smoothie.
Isabel Marant Booties:
In my opinion, no other booties compare. The quality is top notch, they're insanely comfortable and they instantly make my outfit feel a little bit cooler.
Caudalie Divine Oil:
I love this stuff! Applying it all over my body after the shower, on skin that's still slightly damp, makes me feel like a million bucks. Also, on days when I wear a sleek hairdo, this stuff is perfect for combatting any frizzes or flyways.
Fuji Camera:
This has been my go-to camera when I don't want to lug my huge DSLR, but still want high quality photos.
The post My May Favorites appeared first on Brooklyn Blonde.
Happy Memorial Day! Now that we can all officially wear white (even though I've been wearing white jeans and skirts for months...those fashion "rules" are so silly) I'm sharing a few ways to wear a white skirt. A white skirt is a classic piece that is perfect for spring and summer. I recently bought this white eyelet skirt from Zappos and I've been wearing it a ton -- it's easy to dress up or dress down, and the eyelet adds some pretty detailing and texture. It's a little higher in price, but this one is similar and only $25!
There are a million possibilities when it comes to styling a white skirt, and although I photographed only four, I'll share a few more ideas as we go through each of the four, plus I'll share a few of my favorite white skirts so you can add one to your closet!
1. WHITEOUT. You guys should know by now how much I love the whiteout trend. It's such a crisp and summery look, and would be perfect for a bridal or baby shower, an outdoor summer party, or church during the warm months. I styled mine with blush and rose gold to add a feminine touch!
RUFFLE SLEEVE BLOUSE (on sale for $18!) || NECKLACE c/o SWAROVSKI || EYELET SKIRT || SIMILAR BAG || SIMILAR HEELS
2. BLACK AND WHITE. Black and white is such a classic combo, and here it creates a dramatic combination. You could wear just a black tee or black blouse, but I added a leather jacket for a little edge.
3. BUTTON DOWN. A freshly pressed button down is always a good idea for summer. I have a ton in my closet -- chambray, white, striped, gingham, etc -- but I chose gingham for this look because it feels so summer. You could tuck it in, but I think having it tied in the front gives it more of a casual feel, rather than more of a business attire feel. I also added casual wedges to complete the summery look.
4. WITH A TEE. This skirt in particular is a little more dressy, but can still be dressed down -- just add a casual t-shirt and flats! Since it's still cool here in SoCal, I added a jacket, but chose denim because it matches the casual feel. You could also do a graphic tee or a striped tee!
And if you're looking to add a white skirt to your closet for the summer (which you should), I've rounded up a few of my favorites in the widget below. This one is 40% off and is a good simple option, but this one is has lots of detailing is stunning (and only $25). I love the subtle details on this one, but this one is only $30 and is such a simple one that will go with everything. I also love this one with pockets!
Shop all of them right here by clicking the images:
Happy weekend! We were in Las Vegas visiting my family last weekend so I didn't get a instagram round-up put together last Saturday, so I have a ton for you today!
Also since it's Memorial Day weekend, there are a ton of great sales going on, including ASOS, J.Crew Factory, Old Navy, and Nordstrom, so make sure you make it down to the bottom of the post to check out all of them. Happy long weekend!
This ruffle sleeve top has become a wardrobe staple for me. Ruffle sleeves are so trendy right now, but this is also such a classic and classy piece. It's also easy to dress up or down -- you can see how I dressed it up right here!
TEE (on sale for $10!) || JEANS || SIMILAR ESPADRILLE SNEAKERS HERE (on sale for $20!) + HERE (only $15!)
This is the epitome of my momiform -- boyfriend jeans, a comfy and cute tee, and fun shoes.
Blush and olive is one of my favorite combos recently. It's unexpected, and a good mix of feminine and masculine, and such a good spring color combo. I wore this down in Las Vegas for my brother's mission homecoming open house, and then again the next week for girl's night. When you find a good outfit you might as well get some good use out of it, right? ;)
RUFFLE SLEEVE BLOUSE (on sale!) || NAVY SKIRT (on sale!)
My wonderful little brother just returned home from his LDS mission in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My entire family hasn't been together since he left two years ago, and it was just the best weekend ever. So glad to have him home!
Also this navy skirt is the most gorgeous skirt I've ever seen, and it's 20% off through the weekend with code HISUMMER!
While we were in Las Vegas we went down to the Bellagio hotel to see the arboretum. They always have it decorated with different themes -- this time it was underwater with big beautiful and colorful fish and coral.
We also usually stop for gelato at Cafe Gelato, but this time my sister recommended I get the cinnamon roll and it was to die for. If you go, you must get it, and make sure you ask for it to be warmed up!
My wonderful friend (and the photographer behind my blog), Tara of Rad and Happy, just created this amazing coloring book. It's under $12 on Amazon and makes such a fun lazy day activity or a perfect gift!
This white skirt is such a versatile piece for summer -- it'll be on the blog on Monday with a few ways to style it. Don't miss it!
This little guy is growing so quickly and is in such a fun stage right now -- he smiles constantly and is starting to giggle! We're just about to get into some really fun months with him, but I will miss these snuggles when he just bundles up on my shoulder.
This super soft chambray button down is one of my absolute favorites, and it's on sale this weekend during the Nordstrom Half Yearly sale! Also my favorite bag and my favorite wedges are both on sale!
These boyfriend jeans are on constant repeat -- they're so comfy and so cute. I love them with these feminine and edgy studded flats that are also on sale through the weekend!
Tunics are a staple in my closet -- they're great for all seasons and I love the print mixing on this one. This tunic and these espadrille flats (that are insanely comfortable!) are both on sale this weekend!
A few more of my favorite shops are having great sales this weekend:
OLD NAVY: extra 50% off select styles. Old Navy is one of my go-to's for great pieces at low price points. Plus, I love their kids stuff for my boys!
J.CREW: extra 30% off with code WEEKEND. There are so many good pieces in their spring and summer collection -- snag a few while they're on sale!
ASOS: extra 20% off with code HISUMMER. Almost all the skirts I linked to yesterday were from Asos -- snag a couple for summer! This one is my very favorite and comes in a few colors.
AND NORDSTROM'S Half Yearly Sale is going on through June 5th -- find all my picks here!
Click the items in the image above to shop -- they're all clickable!
Taken when I was 38 weeks pregnant! Wearing an All Saints Jacket, Susana Monaco Dress and Louboutin Shoes.
If I could compile a list of my all-time favorite stores, Home Goods would easily make that list. I've been a loyal Home Goods shopper from my very first apartment, right out of college, to our very first home, in which we moved in to this past November. So when I had the opportunity to collaborate with Home Goods in decorating the untouched rooms (the nursery and the bedroom) and then sprucing up the rooms we already started on (the living room and dining room), I could have not been more excited. In all honesty, out of all the projects and collaborations I've worked on, this was easily in my top three. As soon as I told some of my close friends the news, their response was "you're basically already their brand ambassador.." So very true.
To help jumpstart this project, Home Goods bought in the ridiculously talented Matthew Cane of Homepolish who totally understood our style from our very first encounter. As soon as I met him, I was 100% confident we were in the best hands and the more I got to know him, I was thanking my lucky stars that we clicked so well.
The Dining Room:
Out of all of the rooms in the home, we probably spend the most time in the dining room. We already owned the farm table and light fixture, but adding the mirrors (that we found for $79 each!!) and side tables from the first photo, really made the room come to life. At first I was afraid that by adding more, the room would look cluttered, but it was the exact opposite. The room looked so much grander! I also received a lot of questions about the vases on my instagram, which we also found at HomeGoods.
Room Details: full tablescape (including dishes, glasses, silver wear and napkins), curtains, rugs and plush chairs all via HomeGoods | Lighting Fixture: West Elm | Farm Table: Minetta Atelier | Bar: Midcentury modern flea market find | Artwork near bar: Brainwash | Splattered Painting: eBay find from years ago
The Living Room:
One of my favorite parts about this project was all of the tips and tricks I learned through this process. While we already had the bookshelves in our living room, Matthew had the brilliant idea of adding mirrors behind them. In an instant, once again, the room looked bigger.
Some of my other favorite Home Goods pieces include the marble tables that we found. I've seen them in some other stores for double the price, so I was pretty excited when we spotted them.
Room Details: rug, marble side tables, lamps, curtains, shelf details/accessories and pillows all via Home Goods | Couch (West Elm, but since then, we've changed our couch to make it more "family and entertaining friendly) | Coffee Table: One Kings Lane
The Bedroom:
We moved into the home with our old bedroom furniture and it was one of the rooms that I didn't even have the chance to touch. In a few days, it was transformed from a room that we just slept in, to a space that made us feel happy and at peace. We added a mixture of soft patterns and textures (obsessed with the marble lamps that we found) and were able to bring our old nightstands to life, which before then, I was ready to get rid of, by placing tall mirrors behind them. Such a great tip!
One of my other favorite tips that I walked away with: both in our bedroom and nursery, Matthew suggested adding a medallion to the light fixtures. Guys, I cannot tell you what a difference it made in elevating the look of the entire room. Since our home was built in the late 1920s, everyone thought that it was part of the original home details.
Bedroom Details: bedding, marble lamps, mirrors, curtains, pillows, throws and wicker laundry basket, all via HomeGoods | Dresser: West Elm | Peacock Chair: Fleamarket Find
The Nursery:
My favorite room in the home and now, probably where I've been spending the most time. This room went from being completely empty, minus the shoe boxes that were floating around, to being completely transformed. What I love most about this room is that it's such a representation of both of us, from the artwork that's hanging on the wall, to the industrial "bookshelves" that Matthew brilliantly thought to hang up. We kept the color theme grey with pops of navy from the striped curtains (also a Home Goods find) and the handmade mobile, an easy find. Again, note the medallion on the light. We took a simple white one and spray painted it grey.
Another great tip: we picked up a few trunks that not only look chic, but serve as the perfect place to hide unnecessary clutter like extra toys and books.
The Walk In Closet
Details: curtains, stool and poof via Home Goods
The crazy thing about this entire process, we did this all, including shopping and decorating in three weeks! On top of that, I was 38 weeks pregnant and crossing my fingers that I wouldn't go into labor before we wrapped up.
I cannot thank the Home Goods team and Matthew enough for being so incredibly amazing to work with.
Also, many of you have also asked what Home Goods stores we normally shop in and to be perfectly honest,we shop at ALL of them. Depending on our plans for the weekend or where we're going, we've been to every single store in the tri-state area. Having a car certainly helps, so if you don't have one, I definitely think it's worth renting one and making a day out of it!
Nursery Details: chair, ottoman, curtains pillows, throws, sheep, animal heads, trunks, "bookshelves" all via HomeGoods | Crib: Bratt Decor | Rug: Lulu and Georgia | Artwork: Jerkface | Standing Lamp: Lulu and Georgia | Changing Table: Pottery Barn Kids. | Ceiling Light: Land of Nod | Mobile: Etsy find | Paint Color : Benjamin Moore 'Stonington Grey'
All Photography: Matthew Harrington
The post Our Home Tour appeared first on Brooklyn Blonde.
