Friday, August 24, 2012

FRIDAY LINK LOVE



Friday Link Love


This Summer Cake look delicious! Yummmm!

What am amazing Love Story!

Curling Made Easy. Can't wait to try


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

BIRCH BOX - June, July & August


The last couple of months have been so busy that I completely forgot to share my June, July & August BirchBoxes with you all.  And they have had some really cool items in them, so I didn't want to skip them. 


June "Jetsetter" Box:


 


July "The Senses" Box:

August "Beauty School" Box:

 
They also included a little Beauty 101 Series book that included tips to a better shave, a make-up artist's cheat sheet, make-up quick fixes, and a few other must try beauty tricks.
 
I am loving the BirchBox website too.  They have some great tips.  Here are some of my favorites:
 
And this article on one of my favorite people, Alexa von Tobel, creator of LearnVest, a website obsession of mine.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DIY: Repurposing a Lamp

While we were cleaning out the basement before we moved in we found these wonderful lamps:


I was so excited by them, because I had just seen an article in the HGTV magazine on how to repurpose brass lamps and I was so happy to finally get to try a DIY project!

Joel and I went out and bought the materials that we would need and we got to work.  Here are the HGTV Magazine directions that we followed:

Materials Needed:

painter's tape
fine sanding sponge
spray primer
glossy multi-surface spray paint
lampshade
fabric glue or hot glue
5/8-inch grosgrain ribbon
a brass lamp

Paint the Base

Remove the lampshade harp (the metal loop around the bulb) and finial (the decorative knob above the shade), if it has them. Use tape to cover any cords or metal parts you don't want painted. Sand the base with the sanding sponge, then prime it (and the finial, too). Let dry. Apply two or three coats of spray paint, letting dry between coats. Remove the tape.

Decorate the Shade

Starting at the back of your new shade (where the seam is), glue the ribbon along the bottom edge, folding the ribbon's ends under to prevent fraying. Repeat at the shade's top edge, then replace the harp and set the shade over it.

Directions from HGTV


Take a look at the end product:


 And here they are with their brand new lampshades (we cheated a little and bought these ones from Lowes). Shhh!


They look so great in our "new apartment."

I cannot wait for our next DIY project...

Monday, August 20, 2012

Our New "Apartment"

About a month ago, Joel and I moved out of our NYC Upper East Side doorman building apartment and into my parent's basement.  Living in the city was amazing, but extremely difficult on the saving money front.  With the Wedding in a little over a year, saving money has really become our biggest priority.   And, the basement isn't half bad.  It has twice as much space as our 1 bedroom converted into 2 bedroom, shared with a roommate apartment, we have our own bathroom, our own bar area with a microwave and refrigerator, and our own entrance.  And it really is quite nice.

After moving all of our stuff in and adding some personal touches it really is coming along.  And as my Mom keeps reminding me, we are only there temporarily. 

(Pictures to come soon...)

Friday, August 17, 2012

LA Bachelorette Party

You have to check out the pictures from this awesome Bachelorette Party thrown for Amanda of 100 Layer Cake.  Her friends were so creative and the whole thing was totally amazing!  It all sounds like so much fun!
They started with some cocktails and relaxing at the pool at the Mondrian's Outdoor Living Room.
In the afternoon, they brought her up to their hotel room which they had decked out in feather boas and where they had some snacks and champagne set up and where they all changed into cute nighties.
They then had a group burlesque lesson in the hotel room with their own private instructor, which was interrupted for a little bit to play a game where all the girls wrote down tips for Amanda on how to keep things "spicy" with her hubby. 

 


After, their Burlesque Lesson, they all ran to the bedroom where they had a giant Pillow Fight!  Looks like so much fun!
 

And then after the pillow fight they went to the Chateau Marmont for cocktails and then Amanda's favorite restaurant, Osteria Mozza, for dinner where the girls gave her a box which they filled with memorabilia and hand-written notes.  How sweet is that?

And then to end the night they had a dance party in the limo on the way back to the hotel.   Love it!

Now, that sounds like a Bachelorette Party I would love to attend!!


Check out more of Amanda's Bachelorette Party at 100 Layer Cake
photos by The Why We Love

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

My First Yoga Experience


My sister, Colleen, and I have been wanting to try out yoga for a while now. So, a couple of weeks ago we found an AmazonLocal Deal for a place right in our neighborhood,
Live Free Yoga Studio, so we decided to give it a shot. 
Last night was our first class, and we loved it! 

I was a little nervous at first (as for never really taking a real yoga class before and for not really having done any kind of work out in months!!).  And while, yes it was a little difficult and my legs felt like they might give out at any time for most of the class, I really enjoyed it.

I loved the atmosphere and how relaxing the actual class was.  I am really looking forward to our next class tomorrow night, I think I'm hooked!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Amazing Bali Wedding

I had to share this amazingly beautiful Bali wedding that I just came across on Atelier Isabey's Blog.  It is absolutely gorgeous!  From the breathtaking views at the ceremony to the elegant tent with the spectacular flower arrangements, I love every little detail!


 Wedding Invitations Atelier Isabey | Wedding Coordinator The Wedding Company | Photography Ira Lippke | Venue Khayangan Estate, Bali | Attire Vera Wang and Barney Cheng | Cake Ixora Cakes Catering  M&M Innovative Catering | Entertainment Innonation Productions and The Three Waiters