Wedding Season

Wedding season was in full force this past August! Three of my friends had their weddings, including one of my best friends! There was also tons of wedding planning for our best friend's wedding next year and my fiancé and I. Times like these get me so excited to be crafty and test different designs and fonts out. 

I will be starting to create wooden signs for a custom request as well as my own wedding! Possible how-to DIY post?? We shall see! Contact me for any custom signs, envelope addressing, invitation design, and more! 

Engagements (Part 2!)

Last summer my 2 best friends got engaged. Remember the feyoncé shirts I made them? Well, my one friend's wedding is now less than a month away! Time really flies, but we are all so excited for her big day!

Engagements (Part 2!) comes off the heels with the big reveal (that's not big at all because all of social media knows), that I am now engaged! And yup, that's us on Wedding Wire! It honestly puts the biggest smile on my face every time I think about that day. I couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful and loving fiancé as well as family and friends. It's an incredible feeling to feel the love that surrounds you during such a beautiful moment. You can read my whole proposal story over on How He Asked!

While I haven't created a feyoncé shirt for myself, I was still able to get a little crafty with some calligraphy and I got an amazing engagement mug (my best friend really knows me). I just kept texting all of my family and friends 'YOU GUYS' with a picture of my hand....and my social media posts consisted of 'duh' multiple times. So naturally, my friend saw this mug and scooped it right up.

I am so excited to walk you all through my planning and crafting process! I am trying to DIY as much as I can so I will be sure to document it all and eventually get some how-to or check-in posts up! Let's get real though and know that they'll probably happen when I am procrastinating creating all these DIY's. Wish me luck!

Flashin' Skin

I finally bought my first set of Flash Tattoos this year, and boy oh boy are they addicting! So simple yet so rad. I could have a gold AND silver palm tree on at the same time or create any other combo I feel like. It's like being 4 again but this time they can last a week, which makes them 100x better. 

Have you flashed people lately?? I highly suggest you do...I promise you won't regret it.

 shell bikini | striped bikini bottoms | sunglasses | black & tan bikini top | towel 

Summer Art

This past month, I was honored to be asked to do the artwork for a new album my boyfriend was writing and recording. He released it last week, and I am beyond proud of his work. It was so fun collaborating with him on such an artistic level! He told me what elements he wanted and then gave me free reign..we discussed some things as the painting progressed and either nixed or ok'ed ideas. I love doing work like this and bringing a vision someone else had come to life...it's why art of all forms is so beautiful!

Head over to Steve Burgos music and enjoy some summer inspired tunes, perfect for beach days.

Into The Blue - Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands (US and British) were unbelievably breathtaking. We woke up every morning to the most amazing views of St. Thomas from our room's balcony at Point Pleasant Resort. Swam in water everyday that felt like you were living in the water of a screen saver. Sipped rum punch, pain killers, and bushwackers daily. Basked in the rays of the beautiful sun. And even swam in torrential down pours that somehow still made the beaches and water perfectly beautiful. 

I can't wait to go back.

Acacia swim white bikini | Mikoh swim pink bikini

Pack 'Em In - Caribbean Getaway

I'd like to first admit that I'm the world's worst packer. I usually bring 7 different outfits options for a weekend trip one state away. And don't even get me started on the shoes! I'm an indecisive person..scratch that, an extremely indecisive person, so packing is one of the worst tasks I can attempt. I try to do the old, 'plan what you'll wear for each day' but what if that day comes and I don't feel like wearing that....see my problem?

Next week I will be happily on my way to the airport to fly to St. Thomas..one of my bucket list destinations (yay!). My boyfriend and I decided we wanted to do everything very relaxed, with no plans- just island hop, beach, and snorkel every day for 6 days. On that same note, we wanted to keep our luggage light...I was so on board with this when we first discussed it..now I'm getting nervous. So to properly plan and prep for our trip, I am already planning out the ideal pieces I'd want to wear. From the plane, to the hikes, to dinner dates, to the salty goodness of the ocean, here are a few items I'm definitely bringing (all in a carry on, I might add).

Mikoh bikini top | Athleta joggers| Billabong dress | Free People top | Blank NYC cutoffs

Now keep in mind..we will honestly spend everyday on a beach and in the ocean. USVI and BVI are very casual at all times of the day. There are a handful of restaurants that maybe don't allow flip flops and require men to wear long pants during dinner, but most locals say they consistently wear shorts. The constant relaxed vibe made planning what outfits I will bring that much easier.

Packing List:

7 bikinis... you know I'm obsessed

1 pair of light weight pants

2 maxi dresses
1 mini shift dress
1 maxi skirt
4 tank tops
2 short sleeve shirts
1 chambray button up
1 hoodie
2 cover up shorts
2 cutoff shorts
1 pair of flip flops
1 pair of nicer sandals
1 pair of Nike sneakers (light weight)

ACCESSORIES: GoPro, Victoria Secret Pink Backpack (doubles as my second carry on and beach bag), small cross over purse (for when we do go out to dinner or walk around towns), sunglasses (be sure to bring your case!), sarong, hat, headphones, iPod, passport, minimal makeup, travel toiletries 

Beach Essentials - Beauty Edition

I throw random things into my beach bag. A book I'll 'read', my headphones and iPod I wind up using instead of the book, a magazine I again 'read' but really just scan the pictures, and all of the following essentials. They're technically considered 'beauty' products but to me they're just necessary items...especially all the spf. So go on and get your beach bag ready for these babies!

1. Leave in Conditioner - Salty, wavy hair is definitely a trend but it can wreak havoc on your hair, especially when sitting in the sun for hours. I've used Aussie leave in conditioner for years and have also been using It's a 10. (LOVE them both) Gets the knots out in a cinch and moisturizes my hair without leaving it feeling oily or weighed down. Quick rinse in the beach shower after a dip in the ocean, a few spritz, and run a wide tooth comb through your hair. Silky, smooth, happy hair.

2. Say Yes to Cucumbers face wipes - I've tried lots of makeup wipes and these are by far my favorite. I use them after a night out to remove a full face of makeup but I also use them after the gym or a workout to get the sweat and dirt off my face. They leave my face fresh and actually clean feeling, while other wipes left my skin with the feeling of an oily film on my face or sticky. My go to when wanting to wipe sweat away from a hot, humid beach day.

3. Face sunscreen - It's important to treat your face extra special, even in the sun. Body sunscreen is heavy and isn't always meant (or good) for your face. Use specific face sunscreen instead. I usually put 50 on my nose and 30 on the rest of my face - don't forget your lips!

4. Waterproof mascara - I'm not one for wearing make-up at the beach. Whatsoever. I honestly don't get the point. You're sweating in the hot, hot sun and swimming in salty goodness. So this isn't really an essential for me, but if you MUST...waterproof mascara is liquid gold. 

5. Body sunscreen - I tan easily but I still use sunscreen. I usually use 15 or 30 but I like the spray oil form to still give my skin an extra little somethin'! If you don't tan easily, don't think laying in the sun more often with less sunscreen will change that. Use sunscreen at all times, simple as that.

6. Water (lots of it) - while the saltwater can be great for your skin, the combo of sun and salt can be extremely dehydrating for you and your skin. Be sure to stay hydrated with lots of water. Reusable water bottles are your (and the environment's) best friend in this case -- side note, have you seen this crazy pocket-sized water bottle?? 

DIY Glitter Champagne Bottles

One of my best friends is getting married in August (eek!) and this weekend we are celebrating in the Hamtpons for her bachelorette party. Woo! I found some pinspiration to jazz up champagne bottles and I thought to myself, "I'm obviously bringing champagne, so why not cover up the ever so fancy André and Korbel labels with a little glitter?"

This was definitely a simple DIY and didn't end up a Pinterest fail- score! Check out the steps and tips below!

*Here's what you'll need:

• Spray adhesive
• Glitter
• Bottles
• Old cardboard box

(Seriously, that's it.)

I picked up the spray glue and glitter from Michaels. These items can easily be bought at any craft store and I know that hardware stores also carry the spray glue. The bottle can be any kind...wine, champagne, big, mini, etc. It's up to you! 

Step 1:

There are usually a few labels on bottles. One around the neck at the bottom of the foil, and one or two on the main part of the bottle. I peeled some of the labeling off of the main part, but left most of it on. I made sure all of the label around the neck came off (the neck label comes off a lot easier than the main part). I then wiped it down with a damp paper towel and then dried it, making sure it was completely dry.

TIP: I sprayed and glitterized all of mine in a matter of 30 minutes or less. If you have more time, I suggest taking all of the labeling off and just leaving the foil wrap on the top. The easiest way to get labels off is to soak in warm water and use dish soap with some wet paper towels. I didn't want to risk getting soapy residue on the bottle and not having the glue stick. Again, if you have a whole day for it to be properly cleaned and dried, you can definitely take all of the labeling off, and start the glue/glitter process (step 2) the following day or two.

Step 2:

Spray entire bottle with glue. This is where you will utilize that cardboard box. I spray the bottle while holding it inside so it wouldn't get on anything else (I also did this outside). 

TIP: Instead of constantly holding down the spray nozzle and turning the bottle (this will cause bubbles as I found out), spray in swipes. Hold down nozzle, spray up and down once, then stop. Repeat over entire bottle using this same motion.

Step 3:

Sprinkle glitter (and lots of it) over bottle. I used fine glitter but you can use a mixture of big glitter and even a different color on the bottom to give an ombré effect. I did 4 bottles and used 1 and a half containers of the glitter-- I loaded the glitter on and didn't try to use it sparingly at all...oops.

TIP: When it is tacky or dry, you can go over with glue again to cover any bare spots or make the glitter more intense. 

Step 4:

Let dry and voilà! You're dunzo!

SUP Yoga

Stand up paddle board yoga -- Yoga. On the ocean. What could be better?

Thanks Endless SUP Company for introducing me to this rad form of yoga.

Stockton Lake - Manasquan, NJ

Seashells & Anchors

seashells and anchors make for one rad combo

inquire for other custom designs

Top 5 Beauty Secret Weapons

I've found that when searching for new products - whether it be makeup, hair care, or skin care - there are always the same 10-15 items that are mentioned everywhere. Maybe it's because they really are that good..or maybe it's actually because they've got a great public relations team. Whatever the case, I find it to be frustrating. I realized that I have a lot of favorites in my makeup bag or products I use in my daily/nightly routine that I NEVER hear beauty gurus, bloggers, and youtubers talk about. So how is the regular, everyday person, who just wants to find something new or better than their current products, ever going to get true advise? I decided, I'd help get my favorites out there! I refer to them as my 'secret weapons' because again, I rarely see any talk about it...

...so here they are!

Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller in light/medium. I started using this about a half a year ago and it's still going strong! I use it almost everyday as just a quick under eye brightener - helps brighten without looking like I'm really wearing makeup - score! The roller has a cooling affect to also combat puffy eyes and it feels so refreshing first thing in the morning, puffy eyes or not. I got mine at Ulta but you can get them at Target, Walmart, and any drugstore.

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum. Let's face it. Some eyelashes need an extra little push...mine especially. Curling and using mascara just doesn't cut it when I really want to amp up my eyelashes without falsies. This stuff is my holy grail. It's considered a serum, but I have honestly never put it on over night to act as a serum...I simply use it as my primer. Curl, prime, mascara and voila! Perfectly curled, 'volumized', long lashes.

Clinique High Impact Mascara. I've tried A TON of mascaras in my life. Free sample sizes are my favorite so I can try them out without having to shell out money on mascaras that claim to be amazing but don't really work. This stuff works. I use this in combination with my Dior primer and it's like a match made in heaven.

Burt's bees lip balm. Plain and simple. I've tried a bunch of others including the ever popular eos egg lipbalm and I hate it...it actually makes my lips peel every time I use it. Burts bees is my tried and true, go to chap stick, forever and always.

Dove Soap. Yes, seriously. Why do we feel the need to spend so much money on 'high end' soap for our body and face?? Dove is proven to be clean and natural, leaving no residue behind. Trust me, I've gotten so many soaps from dermatologists that cost a fortune, and Dove is better. I use it every morning and night. At night after the gym, I will sometimes follow up my dove soap with Neutrogena Grapefruit Cleanser (which I will admit is a favorite of mine). Once or twice a week I will exfoliate with Delecor Life Radiance. 

I of course have several other products I use and love but these are some hidden gems. Have any secret weapons you'd like to share? Let me know!  

Bikini Shopping Tips and Tricks

It's no surprise I love bikinis. It's also no surprise that bikini shopping can be difficult, for various reasons. For me, it's difficult because none of the bikini companies I'd like to own are sold in stores around where I live. Most are in Hawaii, Australia, and maybe LA. One of the difficulties that stems from that, is how in the world am I supposed to figure out which size will be best for me. The size charts rarely reveal what the size really is like-- and if they only sell cheeky bottoms, how cheeky will they really be?! [I've learned, very cheeky...like Anastasia Ashley cheeky] 

So how does one who chooses to shop online get it right?

1. There are a lot of bikini selling companies out there. Most are great and very helpful with sizing. If you're really not sure about sizing, email them! See what the measurements are in inches. Tell them YOUR size and see what they recommend. Make sure you let them know if you want more coverage or less coverage. I promise, they will be helpful...and if they aren't, why would you want to give them your money? Move on to a better shop.
2. The cost of some bikinis can be very expensive. Remember that high quality suits are an investment. I've found that cheap suits only last me one summer. If I buy two or more new, but cheap, suits each summer and they literally only last two months, what's the point of that? To me, $80 and up is an investment. Keep these little tricks in mind when you are purchasing expensive swimwear:

• If I am purchasing a bikini [or anything online for that matter] I will do my best to not pay shipping. Find the shops that always offer free shipping [Zappos is amazing with that] or shops that offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money. 
• I also highly recommend free shipping for exchanging/return purposes. When it comes to online shopping, you have to come to terms that not everything will fit like you hoped. Free shipping makes it all better.
• Wait for sales. There's a sale for anything these days. First day of spring, Memorial Day Weekend, Groundhog Day..literally anything. So never settle for paying full price. When there are sales, be prepared to shop right away..sizes will run out.

My latest purchase is like my new baby. Mostly because I've been eyeing it for over a year or so, but also because I make the emoji heart eyed face every time I look at it. My new Mikoh Maui top in 'tropical' is the perfect addition to my collection [yes, I wanted to sound like Ariel there]. I ordered through Bikini.com and I will order from there again whenever I possibly can. Free shipping over $50, so basically any bikini I'd want. When it arrived, I've never seen such a beautifully colored package...they even sent it along with a hand-written thank you note. Something small, but so personal, makes all the difference. So thank you Bikini.com and to everyone else, make sure to check 'em out.

Mikoh Maui top in Tropical

Where is your favorite place to shop for bikinis??

Summer's on my mind

I've been loving practicing my calligraphy lately. It's uber relaxing and I feel such an accomplishment when I can write any word in any font [in the three that I've learned]! It may not seem like much, but having no knowledge whatsoever prior to this, it's a big leap.

So this weekend, on a very rainy Saturday, I started playing around with watercolor lettering. I love the almost ombré effect you can create while using watercolors..and then I started using different colors, and then I used blue and it reminded me of the ocean...and then I couldn't get summer [or the idea of salt water on my skin] out of my head.

So here's to constant waves, warm water, sunny days, and soul in waves.

Lauren Bogosian Originals | Steve Burgos Music quote

Snowga

When snowboarding and skiing, most people go down the mountain at different paces, so you can easily lose the group you're with. Since that can happen, my family and friends often ride for a bit and then stop at an area to all wait for everyone and make sure we know which trails we will take. While boarding in Killington, Vermont this past week, a couple of us were waiting and I decided to see if I could do some push-ups while still being strapped into my board. I could. So I continued to see what else I could do...and that's when snowga ensued. The way my brain worked--"look it's yoga in the snow...snowga!" I thought I was being creative, but then I was quickly told snowga was already a thing. [drats!] Anyway, my brother joined in and we attempted crow pose simultaneously -- which is a lot more difficult with the weight of the board pushing down your feet. We have never even done yoga together before so it was so fun trying to do yoga with a snowboard on while also trying to balance at the same time [for a picture of course]. Sibling bonding at its finest. So here we were...doing warrior poses, crow, and push-ups while people were passing us -- probably thinking we were out of our minds but I'd like to think they really wanted to join in. 

Rome board | Men's Burton jacket (old) | Men's Burton pants (old) | Electric goggles

Burton Feel Good board | Burton pants (old) | Burton Radiant jacket

Wanderlust List

The Internet, mainly Pinterest and Instagram, have aided my lust for wandering the globe. [Is that why it's called wanderlust?] Anyway, when I was young, the dream to travel came in different forms. 

My parents used to get the Costco travel magazine, which I'm sure all members got in the mail, but I of course thought Costco was trying to tell us that a trip was one of the perks to a yearly membership. [I always was a positive thinker..] First place I'd always suggest? Bora Bora and Fiji. Why? I mean, just look at the pictures! Over the water huts?? Is this heaven?! Then there were Mary Kate and Ashley. Those uber cool twins went EVERYWHERE...Passport to Paris, Winning London, Our Lips Are Sealed, Holiday in the Sun, When in Rome...foreign adventures galore! I was happy to live out my inner European Olsen twin dream by going to London, Paris, and Rome after graduating high school. Then I was more than ecstatic to live in Australia for 6 months while studying abroad -- another Olsen dream crossed off the bucket list! While I would absolutely love to go back to those places and discover more parts of the countries, I still have a ton of other places on my list. So here is a quick list of places I'm going and places that I'd love to start planning to go to. Just another snippet into my way of life.

Going:

I have always wanted to go to the US Virgin Islands and after 2 people I knew went in this past year, I decided it was time to quickly book a trip. I have never been so I am so excited to go and absolutely cannot wait [only 4 more months!] I will be staying on the North East side of St. Thomas at the Point Pleasant Resort and plan on island hopping every single day to St. John, Tortuga (BVI), and Virgin Gorda (BVI). I'll be bringing my own snorkel gear to free dive around all the islands and you'd be lucky if you can successfully bribe me out of the water with bubble gum - bubble gum is my ultimate favorite candy by the way, so to say no to that is one of the hardest things I could do in life.

Just a couple weeks from now I'll be snowboarding in Killington, Vermont. I'm beyond stoked. Yes, I'm a beach girl at heart but nothing can stop me from loving the slopes and a full day of boarding and bonding with my family and friends. It's only about 4-5 hours away but for whatever reason, I have never gotten to Vermont! So luckily my family and our family friends will be renting a cabin there for an extended weekend. Our family friends that are joining us have twin 3 years olds who have been referring to it as 'Snowy Island' and to me that is perfect. We're bringing some board games, planning on going to a brewery, got a new snowboard jacket...ahh Snowy Island seems like a dream already!

Want:

There's been a lot of talk around this place lately and with new airfare prices, it's now on the top of my bucket list. Iceland. WOW Air recently announced $99 airfare from Boston and Baltimore each way...that's $200 to go to Iceland! Insanity. Real pictures of the northern lights look like something you'd only see the movies computer generate and its endless natural beauty will make any nature lover go ga-ga over. There are so many things to do in Iceland like wandering gacliers, ice cave tours, volcano hikes, hot springs, waterfalls, ugh the list of amazingness goes on.  The main thing I want to do there? Ride a horse. They're just so cute! Oh yea, and Beyonce has been there.

Pinterest did this to me. Ok, I'll admit it, Pitnerest AND Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants did this to me. The 2016 trip I want to plan is Greece. Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini...maybe throw Crete in their too! Pictures of Greece are breathtaking. So when I'm bored I often just scroll through endless pictures of Greece on Pinterest and imagine what it'd be like to ride a donkey up the hilly paths of Santorini. Not to mention I love Greek food - can you say stuffed grape leaves?! YUM.

Calligraphy - Getting Started

Calligraphy is such a beautiful form of art. When I stumbled upon an Instagram account that had a feed full of talent, beauty, and inspiration I knew I found something special...that account was Laura Hooper calligraphy. I read through her blog and wandered her site, admiring every bit of it. Lately she's been writing words on macaroons with edible pen..how can you not love that?? For months now I see her posts everyday and think of how amazing it is that she created such a beautiful and inspiring business from true talent and devotion to something she loved. Last week, I decided on whim to purchase her starter kit, and if I do say so myself, it was a great decision. 

When combing through craft stores, it's so hard to know what supplies are really good even when searching the internet for reviews. I like to try new things so I don't want to go out and drop a ton of money on something I'd just like to dabble with and find out that it isn't performing the way I hoped. With Laura's starter kit, it's all I hoped for and more. Not only does she supply everything you need including nibs and practice paper, but she also provides instructions and an alphabet. If you've ever thought about wanting to try calligraphy even if it's just a hobby but don't know where to start..I highly recommend getting her starter kit and go from there! And remember, practice makes perfect...oh, and have fun!

Around the World in a Day

Last week I talked about my trip to Florida and visiting Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Lucky for you, today, I'll be going over my day at Epcot!

It's a pretty neat thing to say you visited 11 countries all over the world in a span of 14 or so hours...even if you weren't really in the country. The amazing thing about Disney is that the Imagineers do the absolute best job of any theme park in the world at making you feel like you are really in a specific place. Whether it be Italy in Epcot, Belle's town in Magic Kingdom, or on an African safari in Animal Kingdom, you truly feel like you aren't in Kansas anymore...or Orlando...whatever, you get the metaphor.

This year was the first time I attempted to 'drink around the world' with my boyfriend and cousin. We did all of the regular rides first and then wandered our way to the World Showcase, starting at Mexico with, of course, a Margarita! My fave. Next some champagne, wine, and a Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush in France...France had a lot to offer and you can't just choose one! We ate lunch in Japan and I took a sip of Steve's cold Saki and that was enough for me...but that counts as a country, right? Other notable drinks and locations included beer and Strongbow at a 'pub' in England, wine, wine, and some more wine in Italy, and beer from the 'Biergarten' in Germany [along with 2 giant soft pretzels].  I will admit we skipped Canada and United States for obvious reasons...same old everyday drinks you're used to having. So if you're dragged to Disney and you really don't want to be there, (which is weird in the first place because you should love being there), I'd suggest wandering over to the countries and testing out all the drinks! If your family asks where you've been, you were waiting on the Mission Space line for 3 hours...or you got lost. Your call.

Winter Perks

Working in an office a block from the beach has its perks...

even in the winter.

So blessed to have grown up here and continue to live in such a beautiful place.

Magic(al) Kingdom

A little less than a month ago, I was able to go to Florida for a few days. My cousins live in Orlando so we always get to do all the fun things there (aka Disney World) when we visit! We planned this trip around the Green Bay Packers schedule so we could drive to Tampa to watch them play and then we could play in Disney for a couple days! We flew in Friday, and started our whirlwind trip on Saturday at Magic Kingdom...which is seriously the happiest and most magical place on earth. 

I've never been to Disney during Christmas time, so this was my first time witnessing the park be as crazy packed as it was. On the plus side, I love Christmas and it was so beautiful to see all the decorations, and enjoy all the of the rides that redecorated/re-themed just for Christmas! The Frozen themed light and firework show in front of Cinderella's castle was the cherry on top of a magical day! I could honestly go on and on about every detail of the day, our packed 'itinerary', what to do, what to see, what to eat, etc. but I would probably be able to write a novel...so I won't. I will say a few things: 1. Wait in line to eat at the 'Be Our Guest Restaurant' for lunch and if you plan properly (at least 8 months in advance) make reservations for dinner! 2. Take lotsss of pictures! But that should be a given for anywhere you go :) 3. It can get stressful, people can be pushy, and the heat can get to ya, but just remember the amazing, magical place you are in and enjoy every bit of it!

Here are some highlights from Magic Kingdom!