Weekend Links

 

Happy Friday!  What are you all up to this weekend?  Our winter weekends have started to fall in to the same routine, and I have to say that I'm loving it.  On Saturdays, I take the LM skiing while Gray stays home with Daddy, and on Sunday I take the boys with me to yoga (my gym has a great daycare) and then as a reward we do something super fun in the afternoon (like Legoland, or the movies, or an indoor playground.)  It's been working great for everyone, except my husband has been looking for something fun to do with them while still being able to recover from his surgery.  This weekend we are starting "donuts with dad," which means he is in charge of getting them out the door and to the Dunkin Donuts a few blocks away.   My goal is to stay in bed the entire time... let's see if that actually happens.  I'm really hoping this becomes a thing because, man, that would be awesome.

I hope whatever your plans are that you are able to get some time to relax in.  Here are a few fun links that caught my eye, all Sunday morning in bed approved!!! xoxo

15 reasons to visit Ikea in February. 

The ultimate guide for cleaning our your closet courtesy of Vogue. 

I've been thinking so much about "meaning" since reading this article.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Warby Parker's new Spring line is out!  I'm loving the gold!!!!!

Adorable yoga mats.  

A list of the top interior trends of 2015. 

I keep hearing about icing as being the new skin craze.  This is one that I can definitely get on board with since all it entails is taking a piece of ice, wrapping it in a cloth, and rubbing it all over your face in the morning.  Apparently, Kate Moss is a fan, which reason enough for me to give it a go.  Well, that and it's free!!!

When real life doesn't look like a lifestyle blog.  I took this one to heart and left the house without making beds today, which is something I NEVER do.  The world didn't fall apart and we made it to school on time without rushing.  Mind blown.

The debate is settled, the best way to load a dishwasher.  Done and done. 

I'm more than halfway though my 35th year of life, and this quote really resonated with me.  I have a tendency to dwell and sometimes I will still beat myself up for things I said or did in high school or college!  Lately, I've noticed I've been doing it so much less and sometimes not at all.  I can't even begin to tell you how good it feels to leave it all behind. s

Taco Bell?  I've always thought of Gwyneth as more of a Rubio's fish tacos kind of girl.  It's nice to see her acting a little more human.  Oh, and sweatpants for the win!

How to outsource your life.  I loved this is list and will never ever go to the post office again. 

The new trailer for the next installment of House of Cards is out and I can hardly make it though without rewinding.  I'm SO excited, the whole "we're survivors" part gives me head to toe chills.  Netflix... there are no words for how much I love you. 

Finally, I'm really taking a break from shopping again this year, but I have been desperate need of some new white jeans, given that my old paid were pretty much yellow from so much wear.  I ordered these and could not be happier.  They are freakishly soft and the cut is perfection.  If you are on the hunt, look no further!

(Photo via this site)

Winter Beauty.

 

Baby, it's cold outside!  So cold in fact that Gray's school was cancelled today.  Yep, it's THAT cold in New England right now.  I don't know about you all, but nothing ages me more than winter.  From frizzy hair, dry skin and nails, to random breakouts and skin that looks a few years older just because it's so damn thirsty.  I'm telling you, it's months like these that really want me to run to the nearest needle or move to California!  I have to keep reminding myself that soon soon there will again be moisture in the air again, and when that day comes I will resemble my 35 year old self. Sadly, that day is just a really, really, really long time from now. 

 Since I won't be getting any plumping done, or relocating any time soon, I feel as though you really have to rely on great products to get you through what can sometimes be a 5 month long winter.  I really do try replicate that beautiful summer glow as much as I can during the colder months, and after some trial and error these six products have become the cornerstone of my cold weather beauty arsenal.  For those of you looking for something to combat the winter blues, I can't rave about them enough.  When you can't have dewy skin, you sure as hell can fake it, and when the thermostat reads -2, really it's the little things that make all the difference.  Here are the products that this New Englander refuses to be without.  

These top two products by Perricone are probably my favorite things in the entire beauty world.  After reading about them in magazine after magazine, my girlfriend and I tried them for ourselves a few months back, and both of us as been thrilled with the results.  The top is a blush that only comes in one color, that somehow looks amazing on everyone, and the bottom is a foundation.  A dewy, oil free, illuminating, color correcting foundation.  What makes these products so insane is that they actually aren't makeup but instead are actually tined sunscreens.  Yeah, let that soak in.  Sunscreen!  Both are light, non greasy, and stay on forever.  I'm pretty sure they are made by a witch because there are very few things in life that make you beautiful, that are actually beneficial.  I always forget sunscreen in the winter, and I love that you can remember by just doing your regular routine.  My girlfriend picked up all the other makeup products by this brand, and constantly raves about them, but if you are on the fence start with the foundation and blush.  You will not be disappointed!

This overnight moisturizer/ mask is a godsend in the winter.  I hate wearing a face full of heavy moisturizer during the day, always feeling greasy, so I love slathering this on at night and waking up to plump skin.  The moisture I get from it lasts all day, and does wonders to combat the acne products I use on a daily basis.  

From what I've heard, if you are ever looking to get a chemical peel, the winter is the time to do it.  Probably because you are forced to be inside more and out of the sun, but also because your skin doesn't get as hot.  I am not a big chemical peel fan, having had a few to try to get my acne under control a few years back, but I have to say that I've been loving these pads.  I started using them about a month ago,  and can definitely tell the difference.  They say that they are for everyday use, but my skin only handle it about once or twice a week without getting red and blotchy.  I have noticed a difference in my skin's texture and "glow" and am excited to see the results with continued use. 

This non-shampoo shampoo is amazing.  It doesn't lather like regular shampoo so you have to get used to it, but it makes your hair feel like baby hair and is so incredibly moisturizing without weighing your hair down. No conditioner necessary!  I have fine hair, so I use this sparingly but am definitely a fan and don't miss the lather (or the dryness) one bit!

Lastly, my girlfriend turned me on to this balm the last time we went to Paris, and I've been hooked ever since.  It used to be that you could only get it oversees but recently I've been able to find it on Amazon   It's basically like Aquaphor, but less sticky and more moisturizing.  I use this on my hands and nails, but in the past I've used it on burns, diaper rash, and blisters. There is nothing this stuff won't cure!

There you have it, the things I can't live without when the temperature drops.  I'd love to know, is there anything you swear by to get you through winter... besides lots of wine, of course!

Do or Don't: Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses?

 Friday is my 11th wedding anniversary, which seems so strange to me because it feels like it was just yesterday and a lifetime ago, all at the same time.  In the scheme of things, 11 years isn't really that long, but it's hard to remember what life was like before my husband.  I've mentioned here before that we got married in Hawaii, in a VERY low key wedding (think Mai Tais, hula dancers, and flip flops) and admittedly, at the time I didn't realize how perfect the wedding was for us as a couple.  Now, more than a decade later, if I had to do it all over again there is little I'd change, and I feel like that in and of itself is pretty telling.  Our wedding was the beginning of our life together, and it was definitely a great way to kick things off, barefoot and on the beach. 

Lately, I've had a lot of time to think about our wedding since I'm in the midst of helping my little sister plan hers.  10 years ago there was no Pinterest, no wedding blogs, no tutorials on how to throw the perfect wedding, there was just The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, and your imagination.  Some would say that it was probably easier without so much information, and your guest's expectations were certainly lower, but I have to say I'm really enjoying the process the second time around, and as an old married lady, I'm loving any excuse to comb wedding websites without looking like a crazy lady. 

I told my sister from the beginning, there are two, and only two, things that I would have absolutely done differently that day.  The first was to hire a "real" photographer, and the second was my dress.  As far as the photographer goes, I have only myself to blame for that one.  I was planning a wedding 6000 miles away from our destination, and I took the first person who was recommended to me.  He came for the ceremony, snapped a few pictures, and sent me an album of about 30 of them a month later.  There were no digital files, no pictures capturing the essence of the day, and really there were very few that even had us looking anywhere near the camera.  This used to bother me tremendously, but over time I've realized that you rarely look at your wedding pictures, but still, it would be nice to be able to have one or two around the house.  Such is life. My sister headed my warning and hired a great photographer. Yes, they don't come cheap, but 10 years later I can guarantee she will be happy she did. 

As far as the dress goes, I don't really know what happened there.  We were on a tight budget and lived far away from our family.  I knew there wasn't going to be a designer gown, nor would there be some big event where I tried on dresses in front of my bridal party, so I pretty much did what you should never do... I settled.  One day after class, I went to a store that sold prom dresses and inexpensive wedding dresses, and I found one I loved that would have been $500 (a knock off of Carolyn Bessette's to be precise.)  I thought that was way to much to spend, and as I was leaving I saw a white one on the rack that was marked down to $55 dollars that fit me perfectly.  I figured I was getting married on the beach, and it was white, so whatever, it would work.  "Whatever" is never how you should feel about a wedding dress!  To this day I still kick myself and while I'm not saying you should spend a year's salary, you should definitely love your dress.  After telling this story to my sister about a dozen times we went in search of dresses and luckily found one  that she LOVES, that was also well within her budget.  It doesn't need to be expensive but you do have to love it.  I actually tossed my dress in the trash when we returned from our wedding and that was pretty much my favorite part of owning it.  (No, I'm not bitter at all.)  We had a running joke that while my sister was trying on dresses that I was only allowed to try on three just to help re-create the moment I missed all those years ago, but I'm happy to report I only tried on one veil.  Proof that I have restraint!

Had I tried on dresses, I can definitely say it would have been something non-traditional.  Every where we went there was a sea of white and tulle, and it was those few that were, gold, blush, or yellow that really stood out to me.  It got me thinking that maybe it wasn't my dress I hated but just that fact that it was a predictable white dress?  I see my friend's pictures, where they look stunning in their white gowns, and I always wonder how I would have looked, but if I were getting married tomorrow, I definitely think I would go for something a little unexpected.  I feel like if you want to go the non-traditional route, your best bet is to go for a classic shape in a pastel, or a non-traditional shape, like the jumper below, but in white.  That way it's a little unexpected but not something you will regret down the road.

What do you all think? Is a wedding the right place to try to be fashion forward, or do you think you would end up regretting it down the road?  In the end you obviously go with what you love at the time, but I wonder how many of you would change things up if you had it to do all over again?  Do tell!

The Turtleneck.

 What are your feelings on turtlenecks?  I used to loathe them.  Like hate with a capitol H.  I would leave the house wearing one, and by the time I got to drop off I would be pulling at my neck like I was being strangled.  I don't know, I just found them to be so suffocating, and even the thought of having something skin tight around my neck made me claustrophobic.  

A few weeks back I saw a girl wearing this vest/ turtleneck hybrid over a flannel shirt, and I picked one up for myself.  Ever since, I have been wearing it every.single.day.  Seriously.  Over gym clothes, over sweaters, over other turtlenecks, and even for a recent girls night out, over a button down with leather pants.  I swear, on these colder days, I almost feel naked without something on my neck now.  As much as I try to remember, I always seem to leave my scarfs at home, and I've been really enjoying not freezing all day long (novel concept I know.)  Of course, I'm now obsessed and have been scouring sales on the net to add to my modest collection.  Below are a few of my favorites.  

source

source

source

source

Am I crazy, are turtlenecks really just so chic, or I have I finally been brainwashed by the crazy New England Winters? 

P.S. Bonus points will always go for the girl with the hair tucked IN to the turtleneck. 

P.P.S. Same goes for a necklace over, see second to the last image. 

YM Gift Guide 2014: For The Home.

After taking a quick glance at my list of favorite house and home gifts to give this year, I finally accepted that yes, I am most definitely am drawn to things that are 1) navy, 2) gold/ brass, and 3) leather.  As much as I try to find things in other color palettes, I always seem to go back to these three things, and you know what?  This suits me just fine.  I'm a girl who knows what I like, and everything on this list I like... I like a lot.  For those of you out there looking for a little something to spruce up your home this holiday season, here are a few of my favorite things.  The beauty of buying for the home this time of year, is that you can get your every day items for a song.  It's what I like to call the real magic of the season!

No spoiler here, since she already knows, this is what I'm getting my sister this year.  I've seen this amazing bar cart on pretty much every blog out there, but it was only when I picked it up that I realized just how awesome it is.  Made of brass and wood, it's stylish, functional, and impressively sturdy.  Cheers to that! ($130)

I am obsessed with this gold basket.  Like, I want one in every room.  I could see using this for holding blankets, towels, toys, even as a waste basket in the bathroom or office. So, so good. ($20)

Brass + Planter, is there anything more I need to say? ($50-65)

This is my favorite candle on the planet.  Initially, I bought one for our guest room, but very quickly decided that I needed to see it every day, and put it out front and center in our living room.  It smells incredible, and is large enough to use as a planter when it burns down.  You know I'm all over that. ($88 with 25% off with code GIVEGLAM)

These coasters are on the tip top of my wish list right now.  So simple, and so beautiful. Oh, and they are also navy. Sold! ($48)

Even though these sheets are technically made for kids, we have them in our guest room, and I get so many compliments on them.  The gold dots add just the right amount of whimsy, and these would be great for a holiday inspired room paired with a red plaid throw. (From $79)

The one and only thing I wish we had in our home is a fireplace.  Mark my words, if we do ever move, that is going to be on the top of my list.  For those of you who are lucky enough to have one, I'm loving this personalized canvas/ leather bag for storing wood by the fire.  ($99)

This leather magazine rack is so elegant and would be great for those of you who live with a magazine hoarder, and may also sometimes exhibit hoarder tendencies as referenced by her extensive Cookie collection that will forever live with her shoes.  I'm not naming any names here. ;) ($138)

The single greatest item we have ever bought for our home was the Nespresso machine I gifted myself last year.  We use it multiple times a day, and it still works as good as it did the day we took her out of the box.  While aesthetically I wasn't sold on this one, I took my salesperson's advice that this was the easiest and best machine they have.  Almond milk lattes are my jam, and with one push of a button, and about 1 minute of waiting, I have the most perfect one in my hand while running out the door for school.  The milk can stay in the container which is refrigerated, and then the whole piece can be put in the dishwasher.  Never ever having to wait in line at Starbucks again... game changer. ($399 with 100 dollar club credit)

I absolutely love every single piece from Heather Taylor, but if I had to choose, this pillow is my favorite.  Simple and beautiful, exactly what I want my home to be.  Her tablecloths are equally as awesome. ($112)

Just when I thought I couldn't get any more Navy in to my home, a girlfriend of mine turned me on to this new line available at Macy's.  Love, love, love.  (Prices vary)

Finally, how great is this copper tray which comes with free monogramming?  So great for those holiday parties, this also would make a great gift for those on your list who love to entertain.  I'm filing this one away for future wedding gifts! ($175)

Sadly, this is the end of the gift guides this year.  I hope you found them helpful, I also have a great time making them! Happy Friday!

YM 2014 Gift Guide: For Him

Husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers... I always feel like they are the hardest people to shop for each year.   Most of the men in my life either want nothing, or instead they want something super precise.  For years, my father bought his own gifts from all of us, usually for a specific sport he was in to, and when it came to my husband, I would grab him a few things that I thought he would love, only to end up returning 90% of them because I somehow missed the mark.  Over time I fell like I've gotten a little more tuned in to what each of them like, and for the past few years I have to say I've done pretty well with the acceptance/ return ratio.   For those of you who are still looking for the perfect gift for the man in your life, here are a few ideas to help you finish off your list.  Most of these are things my husband loves so if your man is having you send these back... blame him ;).

For the bearded man in your life, a little oil to help him keep his fur nice and soft. ($15-25 ) The bonus is that it makes him smell like he just got done chopping wood in the forest.  (Um, yeah, my husband is never allowed to shave his beard.  Ever.)  Funny enough there is a new phrase out there for all these men who are looking a little more "outdoorsy" these days.  Enter the lumbersexual. Le swoon. 

Beer seems to be back, and in a big way.  I feel like every day there is a new craft brewery popping up on every corner, and as my closest friends know, I much prefer a cold beer, to any other alcoholic beverage there is. The key word is cold, and let me tell you, my husband and I take this very seriously.  We have a little ritual around here of having one beer a night, and we are constantly remind each other to put them in the freezer right around the time the boys go to bed. When one of us forgets (me) it becomes the sigh heard around the neighborhood.  These little ice cubes which keep your beverage cold from beginning to end would be the perfect gift for the beer drinker in your life. ($25 for two). I think we both need to make sure we ask Santa for these this year. 

I got my husband this flannel, which comes with a built in down layer, for his birthday this year, and I'm pretty sure he hasn't taken it off since.  Seriously, I have to sneak it away to wash it.  He is constantly raving about how it is just the most perfect layer on cold days, and great on warmer days on it's own.  It's stylish enough that I let him wear it out to dinner (I mean, it does go with the beard) but also comfortable for just lounging around the house.  ($170)

This iPad stand is absolutely perfect for the techie man on your list.  A perfect fusion of function and form,  great for home or office. ($50)

I absolutely love these buffalo check pajamas, which are perfect for pretty much any man on your list.  I'm pretty sure this is just about the last thing they would buy for themselves, but you know they will wear them every day.  Bonus points go to those who can snap a picture with multiple generations wearing them on Christmas or New Years day. ($50 with 30% off with code GIVETHIS)

Both the LM and my husband are obsessed with these socks by Stance. They come in just about as many patterns and colors as you can image, and add just a little something to whatever they are wearing that day.  I prefer the super wild ones, but they make more conservative ones as well.  Made of super soft material, these would make a great stocking stuffer. ($12)

This one is a no brainer for me, since all the men in my life are surfers, but I have to admit I too love this bi-monthly, reader supported magazine.  This would be great for any of the adventurers on your list, and the covers are always so stunning, you won't even mind when he leaves them all around the house. (Please tell me that my husband isn't the only one who does this?) ($15 for single issue, $66 for a subscription)

I know, I know, I include a T-shirt from one of my favorite stores, Saturdays NYC, on my list every year, but I just can't help it... they are just so cool. Every time I'm in the city, I pick up one for my husband, and they are always the ones he loves the most.  This year I'm loving this cool print which would be great under a flannel, a blazer, or on its own. ($40)

I feel like every man needs a great pair of slippers, and these hard soled ones can actually be worn out of the house on the morning dog walk or coffee/paper run.  Again, something he probably wouldn't buy for himself, but you know he will love. ($110)

This is what my husband is getting this year, and let me tell you, the kid could not be more excited. For any surfers in your life, this is pretty much the coolest gift you can give.  It's basically a fit bit for the ocean, telling the user everything they need to know from their session.  Things like how many waves they caught, how long they rode, how many miles they paddled, and it hooks up to an iPhone to give more specific details and even a GPS tracker of all the waves they rode.  Forget the iWatch, this is where it's at. ($400)

Finally, for the man on your list who loves raunchy comedy, this series from Comedy Central is pretty much the funniest thing we've ever seen.  Seriously, I've never laughed so hard.  Seasons 1-3 are available on DVD or streaming, and trust me, he will love it.  Caution, this is some R-rated material, just be ready. ($15)