Product Review: January Birchbox

January box is all about clarity for the new year and starting off fresh. I'm not sure if these products necessarily stay with this theme or not, but I'm excited to try them out none the less!

And the goods...

Products clockwise from L to R:

LARABAR food bar (not to be confused with a Luna Bar)

BORGHESE CuraForte Moisture Intensifier

Juicy Couture perfume in Viva La Juicy

a mini Birchbox symbol magnet

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner

Jouer Body Butter

Initial Thoughts:

- Woohoo, I got a full size eye liner!

- I wonder if that LARABAR tastes good?

- What the heck is a moisture intensifier?

xoxo,
 

Wedding Inspiration: Color Palette

So, this weekend we have finally set a date!

We will be getting married on October 6, 2012 at the Woodruff-Fontaine House, and from your wonderful blog love, it looks like it will be a big hit with our guests too.

Now on to the fun stuff starting with our color palette!

Since I'll be getting married outdoors in October, I wanted the color palette to not clash with the fall season, but still have a soft, feminine touch.
I probably sound like a complete goob when I put these three colors together, but for me, it's perfect.

1. 2. 3.  
All colors are from The Perfect Palette.


xoxo,
 

This Weekend

I finalized some more wedding plans (more on that later!),

I played around with a surprise visit this weekend from my two rugrats,

I went to a baby shower for one of my wonderful Phi Mu sisters (who will have a legacy!),

and I've come to terms that I am the only dang blogger to have not been contacted to review this hair dryer.

No, I'm not bitter at all... ;)

How was y'alls weekend?

Shout out to Valerie for her birthday today over at Along the Way With V & J!

xoxo,
 

Birchbox Review: December's Winners & Losers

I'm happy to report that I had a lot more winners than losers this go around with Birchbox, so lets get on with it.

My December Winners:

Benefit's the POREfessional

I've tried other primers, and nearly all of them have fallen to my oily skin.

If it's hadn't been for a friend's suggestion, I probably would never have tried the sample.

Woah, this stuff is legit. No more mirror face at noon.

&

Kate Spade perfume in Twirl

I am obsessed with it's light, floral scent, but I refuse to use it since its only a sample.

Yep, I'm a perfume sample hoarder...

Jouer lipgloss in Birchbox Pink

The color looks like a "woah that's pink!" pink in the tube, but as you can see it's a nice, fresh color instead.

E Boost Energy Drink Mix

Being that I don't drink energy drinks at all, I didn't really know what to expect or to compare it to.
Wasn't bad. Reminded me of orange koolaid from grade school.

And sadly, here are my December losers:

 Nuxe Dry Oil

I wanted to like this, I really did. But for me, it really wasn't worth all the hype of the price, and although I am in love with Moroccan Oil, I didn't want to go anywhere near my hair with this. For some reason, I just didn't trust it.

&

Show Stoppers clothing tape

Now, I'm not saying that these do not work, but I simply do not have any use for them.

And the worst part is that they came in black instead of clear if I ever would use them.
Aren't they supposed to not show? Why would I need them in black? 

Any of y'all tried these products before? Should I give my losers a second chance?

xoxo,
 

Dear sixteen-year-old me.

Embrace your curls. Leave the flat iron alone for a couple of days. Or how about a few years.

Your sister is going to wait 5 whole years of marriage before giving you your first niece.

The wait will suck, but the reward of those two girls will be worth it.

That boy is going to break your heart time and time again.
But you will eventually forgive him and move past it as a wiser person.

Your grandmother has lived long enough to be always right.
Write down everything she says in case you forget.

Boys like challenges.

Don't be afraid to say no.

Keep running, playing soccer, and stretching your muscles.

No, you are not going to be able to eat french fries for every meal for the rest of your life.

Don't get that Victoria Secret credit card.

Once you start college is when you will meet your best friends, including the one you will choose to marry.

Only a couple of the girls you speak with now will still be in your life today.

Spend as much time as you can with Carla.

You won't have your best friend since third grade for very much longer.

Take an art class. You will love it.

Save your money.

Don't be afraid to wear more heels. You're already taller than him anyways.

xoxo,
 

Wishlist: Lucite Chairs

Quite few things can excite me more than Lucite chairs...

(Ok, we all know that's a bunch of bull, but you get my drift on these awesome "ghost" chairs.)

click on the images to find out more about the interior designers

Nothing would make me more happy than to have one of these behind my desk, at my dinning table, or maybe even at my wedding...perhaps?

xoxo,
 

Wedding Venue Tour: The Woodruff-Fontaine House

As yet another surprise from my mom, we went to tour the Woodruff-Fontaine House this weekend as a possible wedding location. As a self proclaimed history nerd, I took note of this house's rich character and possibilities.

via

Located in the heart of Victorian Village in downtown Memphis, the house was built along "Millionaires Row" in 1870 to the Woodruff family and witnessed it's very first wedding in its parlor in 1871. 

via

The house was sold 12 years later to the Fontaine family, who lived in the house for the next forty-six years. 

Following the death of Mrs. Fontaine, her children sold the home to Miss Rosa Lee in 1930 who converted the building into an arts school. The school later moved to another location in 1959 and became what is known today as the Memphis College of Art. After Miss Lee's death, the city of Memphis was deeded the property and restoration pledges were made in 1961. The house was reopened in 1964 for the public to tour.

via

Now, that I gave you a little history lesson on the house, can I just tell you that I adore it as a wedding location! I could easily see myself walking up to the front steps to say our vows, followed by a reception in the back gardens. 

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Here are a few photos I took while touring the inside...

the front door

the foyer and staircase

another view of the staircase from the second story

Not the cleanest or prettiest pictures, but you get the point.

What do y'all think? Anyone ever toured the house before?

xoxo,
 

Weekday Happies: Wedding Dress Shopping

My mom surprised me earlier this week with a little impromptu dress shopping on Tuesday.
After many dresses and bridal shops, I still have yet to find ultimate my dream dress...but I know it's out there.
In the meantime, I did find several that interested me.
Stupid bridal shop rules would let me photograph any of them though, so here are some that I'm using as inspiration via my Pinterest.

And just about any dress found by Anna Campbell.

I'll have an appointment at Low's Bridal in the next few weeks with a couple of my bridesmaids in tow. Fingers crossed something is out there!

xoxo,
 

Perfume Collection

I would like to think that after so many bottles, you eventually have a "staple" perfume.
Here's mine along with a couple of others in my collection.

I like to call this my perfume corner.

Atop a mini cabinet that I refinished about 4 years ago, sits my "hello gorgeous" mirror (which you can figure out how that happened here), vintage stamps in a picture frame, a photo of my papaw during WWII, and my perfume collection inside a decorative pie dish.
(Ignore the random scraps of paper underneath it all...)

Here's a better look.

left to right:

Tocca Perfume in Colette

 my newest favorite - it took about 6 months of testing it to finally request it for Christmas

Givenchy's Hot Couture

my staple perfume - I cannot tell you how many people have asked what perfume I am wearing when I wear this one. If it ever discontinues, I will cry.

 

Susanne Lang Perfume Oil in Cashmere and Tamboti Wood

I bought these oil roll ons on sale very cheaply, and I love to wear them together and separately.

Simpatico Solid Perfume in White Flower No. 42

I would like to think that we all have our "old lady" scents, and this one is mine. 

Very powdery soft.

What are your favorite perfumes?


xoxo,
 

This Weekend: What really happened on New Year's Eve?

So, as I predicted, Cory called me last night (during my personal Sons of Anarchy marathon I had going on) and told me we were going downtown for dinner and a party...
With that said, I had to bust out my NYE arsenal, which included my new Hot Tools 1 inch curling iron and some Chanel shimmer shadow.

This was the end result.
And I'm saddened by the lack of sequins I have in my closet...

It ended up taking us 3 and a half hours to get through dinner, 
so Cory and I scratched the downtown Memphis plans and headed home to ring in the new year.

When the clock struck 12:00, I was sitting on my couch, watching Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest ring in the new year, and got a kiss from both Cory and Aspen. I deemed my new year as a success.

How was y'alls new year?

xoxo,