Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Cocktail Plates

I pretty much cannot go into Crate and Barrel without picking something up. After swooning over beautiful distressed wood kitchen tables and the deepest, comfiest couches you can imagine, Ell and I headed downstairs at the West Hartford store to look at some more practical, or at least affordable, pieces for our place.

There's something about the hundreds of perfectly shelved glasses and plates, colored roasting pans and aisles of kitchen gadgets that lures me in every time. On Sunday's visit there was no way I was leaving without the most adorable appetizer plates I have ever seen.


A few months ago we purchased a kitchen cart from Ikea that we have turned into a bar cart. I have slowly been curating pieces, and alcohol, to turn it into one of my favorite pieces in the apartment. I felt like these, with the recipe for some classic cocktails on the back, would be a perfect addition. I love serving cheese and crackers and other small bites on some plates with personality. I love that our dinnerware is white so almost anything else we pick up is a perfect match. Looking forward to having a girls night in soon so I can serve up some snacks on these cute little plates.

 


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Most Wanted: Fur Vest

I feel like I have been searching for the last three winter seasons for the perfect fur vest. There is such a fine line between them looking expensive and looking cheesy. Most of the less expensive ones I have found are funky colors or just too fluffy. The nicer ones are just so pricy. When I saw the Faux-Fur vest by Banana Republic priced at $130, and let's be honest they are always having huge sales, I was pretty sold. Going to get my hands on one of these this weekend so I can try it on and see if I have finally found my perfect fur vest.


Friday, September 26, 2014

September Birchbox Review


I have been receiving Birchboxes in the mail for more than a year and I am never disappointed. I have been exposed to so many new products and joining the Birchblogger group I have also received many books and other items to try out. This month's box was an especially good mix of steal and splurge items- Chapstick to dr. brant. If you are not receiving your monthly Birchbox you can use this link to sign up today: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/f3x41dentistafashionista


Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum [Full size $79]
This oil-free treatment is used to fade dark spots and even out skin tones. I have been using it before I moisturize when I apply my makeup in the morning. It's a great product, but the price tag is a bit steep. 

dr. brant pores no more vacuum cleaner [Full size $45]
This gel is applied thinly to problem areas to remove blackheads. For me, my chin and forehead have always been spots that I would like to see clearer. I have never found products like masks or pore strips to be very effective. If this product does what it promises then it might be worth the splurge. 

Macadamia Professional Healing Oil Spray [Full size $14.50]
This is by far the best hair oil I have tried. The price is right and it makes my hair feel silky and look shiny. I never feel like my hair looks weighed down from product and it can be used on wet or damp hair. It helps me be frizz free when I style with a top knot and gives sheen to beach waves created with a curling iron. What more could you ask for?

Noir Cosmetics Long Wear Eyeliner [Full size $15]
Creamy, thick and easily applied, this liner is great for someone who wants to creates all different looks. Lately I have been obsessing on the Benefit They're Real! gel liner, but this pencil gives me a little more freedom and ability to smudge.

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream [Full size $16]
Super hydrating and good for all parts of the body- from dry lips to cracked heels, this was a tiny sample that packed a big punch. My hands are dry from constant use of hand sanitizer and this cream brought them instantly back to life. I think I will put this on my list for full-size purchase when the winter months dry out my skin even more.

Chapstick Hydration Lock Moisture and Renew
What girl doesn't like choices? Now even your chapstick lets you choose sides. One side of this balm has CoQ10 and vitamin E to make lips smooth, soft and moisturized. The flip has mango and shea to help renew. Long-lasting, affordable and cool, this is going in my bag for daily use. 

Friday, September 19, 2014

Mindy Should Be My BFF

In August Birchbox sent out the book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Khaling for the Birchblogger Book Club. Let me be totally honest with you. I was... PUMPED! There are few people that I find funnier in the world than Mindy. Now I was not a fan of The Office. Maybe I would have liked it, but I just never got into it. Right before The Mindy Project debuted its first season, my friend and I saw Mindy live on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. She was SO PRETTY in person and her shoes were to die for. And she was funny. Completely and totally hysterical in a totally genuine way. At that point I had an idea that the Mindy Project would be good. And I was wrong. It's great.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) is kind of like reading something written by your best friend. Or at least written by someone you really, really wish was your best friend. It's the story of who she is, the good, the bad and the ugly. And believe me, there was some ugly. But it's hard not to respect someone who has no problem laughing at herself for having a horrible boyish bowl cut as a child and lived through it. Now look at the girl. She is gorgeous! And quite the fashionista herself.


I could not put the book down. It only took me a few hours to devour it because I didn't want to stop reading it. And I was horribly sad when it ended. It was to the point that I woke Elliott up in the morning because I was laughing so hard reading it. Like full on laughing out loud LOLing. Even thinking back to some of the scenes now I could vividly paint this picture of her awkward little self in my head and I just crack up. I think for most of us we have been there but we just don't have the grace of Khaling to write all about it for all the world to read. She doesn't really seem to care what other people think of her and I think that's awesome. Every girl should read this book and everyone should follow her on Instagram. If we all can't be her real life best friend it's the next best thing.



The Mindy Project was so good this week. The dynamic between Danny and Mindy is so great. His stripper dancing, even better. Even though she isn't playing her self in the show, after reading her book you can tell that the character that shares her name is loosely based on her vision of herself in real life. She is a funny girl and she isn't ashamed of it at all. I can't think of anyone else that embraces their true self so wholeheartedly. 

Beyonce Pad Thai, you are my hero.



Sunday, September 14, 2014

Andy

I didn't grow up a dog person. The only pet I ever had was a goldfish that swam around for 11 years named Jasmine that lived in a Little Mermaid tank. Looking back I should have named it Ariel, or maybe Flounder. Anyway, with Elliott came Andy, a perfectly behaved black lab that stole my heart pretty much as easily as Ell did. Andy fetches the paper, helps to bring in the groceries and has an uncanny ability to bring me over only the toys I have purchased for him when I come over to play. On Labor Day Weekend I was able to catch this video of Andy jumping off the dock at the lake and I couldn't help but share. For someone that didn't grow up with any pets in the house I have certainly become a dog lover. Well, at least an Andy lover.



Friday, September 12, 2014

Arrigoni Vineyard

When I first moved home I had this grand plan that I would be able to visit all of the wineries in Connecticut this summer and fall. Then reality set in and between juggling my call schedule and other social obligations with my family and friends, I found myself on Labor Day Weekend with a grand total of 2. I have found that making spontaneous plans on a Saturday has really made my weekends. With that in mind my friend Kait and I packed a picnic lunch and headed to Arrigoni Winery for the afternoon a few Saturdays ago.


The winery is only two years old so as you can see by the picture the grapes are still very young. They do, however, make their wines from locally grown grapes from the upper East Coast. We purchased tastings and really enjoyed the offerings. I especially liked trying an apple wine infused with maple. I bought it to serve at brunch with waffles. 


 After trying out nine different wines we headed to the patio to enjoy our picnic lunch and take in the beautiful day. There is plenty of outdoor seating and on the weekends that often have live music you can enjoy. They are also going to start having a Wine and Painting Class offered about once monthly.


After eating we headed inside to peruse the adorable gift shop filled with wine-related knickknacks.  We enjoyed reading the funny magnets and picked up a few coasters with funny wine sayings. 
I thoroughly enjoyed the time that I spent at Arrigoni and thought they were very unique in the types of wines offered and the awesome gift shop. If you are looking for a quick weekend trip to enjoy the changing leaves and want to explore some more adventurous wine choices, I would put Arrigoni on your list of destinations this fall.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

9/11

I hope everyone had a chance to reflect today on all of the lives that were changed 13 years ago. Sometimes very tragic things can have a silver lining in the strength that can be found in the aftermath.

We will never forget.