When I saw this top and the teensy, tiny golden sequins sprinkled across the fabric I knew it had to accompany me on our holiday travels. I’ve worn this exact outfit many times since and it has become one of my favorites. The top is flowy and comfortable; perfect for throwing on with jeans and leggings. But the light, airy fabric and hint of sparkle make it something really special. I think it would make a really cute Valentine’s Day top for dinner with the girls or a more casual date, but there are two other color options if you’re looking for something a little less festive. I’m wearing my usual size, but you could definitely go one size down because the top is designed to be oversized and flowy.
Hosting a hot cocoa bar is one of my favorite things to do over the holiday season and even into the winter months. My mother keeps a stocked hot cocoa bar in our home throughout the holiday season and everyone looks forward to making their own perfect cup with all the extras. If you’re hosting one for children, offer cold milk to dilute strong hot chocolate or cool a cup of extra hot cocoa. If you’re hosting one for adults, offer a creamy liqueur like Bailey’s or Godiva. Then bring on the cheesy Hallmark movies and a few holiday classics too!
This outfit came together a bit randomly… As the outfits I love most often do. I have been loving jackets and coats with cozy fleece and sherpa lining and details; they feel so wintry. The jacket I’m wearing is nearly sold out in all sizes, but they have been restocking so if you’re interested I would suggest bookmarking and checking back again soon. I found this similar jacket that’s on sale and a less expensive option if you need it now!
I didn’t expect to love this black and burgundy pairing so much, but it feels edgy and just a bit sexy. This outfit would look fantastic with a dark, vampy lip. This tulle skirt has a hint of fullness but not so full that it will make you look like a huge cupcake; it still sways and moves with me and is flattering on the body.
Fit Details: Jacket and skirt both run true to size.
Hustling and bustling between our families for the holidays and the Christmas parties don’t seem to stop! And NYE is just around the corner. If you’re still looking for the perfect holiday dress, this one is polished and just a bit sexy. I love the little peeks of skin through black lace and the flattering bell sleeves. This dress would be perfect for NYE and you can always add a red lip or sparkling heels for a Valentine’s Day date as well.
Hope you are enjoying your holidays!
Fit Details: This dress runs true to size. If your measurements are between sizes, order one size up.
Finding a holiday look that’s equal parts warm and festive can be difficult. I fell in love with the ease of this beautifully slouchy sweater; mine is a rust color which is currently sold out, but it’s still available in a bright red and three other color options. This maxi is really flowy and flattering; little flashes of metallic gold catch the light as the skirt swirls around your feet.
Fit Details: Both the sweater and skirt run true to size. The skirt’s waistband is stretchy so you have some flexibility when it comes to fit.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center is by far my favorite place to shop for the holidays. They offer valet parking, there is a gorgeous 60-foot Christmas tree outside, the most beautiful holiday decor inside, and some great restaurant options to meet my husband after our shopping is done. Of course, any holiday shopping can get a bit tense with shopping lists a mile long and all the hustle and bustle around us. So I wanted to share with you my little secrets I often do while at Cherry Creek Shopping Center to keep my stress down and pamper myself a bit.
Coffee Break
I love starting my shopping with a coffee or tea in hand to give me a little energy boost. For coffee, I like Ebar just outside Nordstrom on the lower level of the mall. I often order a seasonal drink like their Pumpkin Spice Latte with almond milk, but my year-round favorite is the Almond Roca Latte.
Tea Time
In the summer, I like to order iced tea instead of a hot coffee. The Sparkling Hibiscus Tea Cooler from the Ebar just outside Nordstrom on the lower level of the mall is one of my favorites. But I also like stopping by Teavana near the West parking deck. I can stock up on loose leaf tea and order a Winterberry Tea with added Silver Yin Zhen Pearls for a little boost of caffeine.
Brow Maintenance
My favorite places for brow maintenance are both in the mall. My brows can be really difficult to shape and Stephanie at the Anastasia counter in Nordstrom is a brow goddess (BOOK HERE) – she always makes mine look incredible and makes it easier for me to trace and pencil them in between appointments. If Stephanie can’t get you in, go to La Biotique on the lower level near the West parking deck and get your brows threaded; they can always get me in and they never take too much brow.
Shoe Shine
This is something I often forget to do until I look down at my leather boots and leather shoes and realize there are little scuff marks all over them. If you head toward the restrooms on the lower level just past Neiman Marcus, there is a little shoe shine spot down the hall. It’s nice to sit your bags down, rest, and get your shoes cleaned and polished mid-shopping spree.
Smoothie and Wheatgrass
By the time I’m nearly done with my Christmas shopping, I’m usually quite tired and my feet are killing me. So I make sure to stop at Fresh Healthy Café where I pick up a Pitaya Passion smoothie for an afternoon snack, as well as a wheatgrass shot to boost my immunity. I feel as if I’m always trying to dodge colds and flus during the holiday season, so I definitely take advantage of extra vitamins and health benefits when I can!
Do you shop at Cherry Creek Shopping Center for the holidays as well? Where are your favorite spots?
How to Shop: Click one of the links under the collage above, click any of the links in the text below, click any of the “Available Here” links under the numbered list of items after the text below, or click any of the images in the shoppable slide at the bottom.
My Beauty Gift Guide is my favorite gift guide I look forward to curating each year. I have always been interested in skincare, hair, and makeup and I think deep down if I had to choose one thing to blog about it would be beauty. I was always mesmerized by the beauty books I would beg my mother to buy me as a little girl; I remember poring over every detail of Kevyn Aucoin’s “Making Faces” book and the way he would transform people’s faces into another person, another character.
This year, my guide focuses on skincare because it is the foundation of everything else beauty. I’ve learned that the more care and love I put into my skin, the better my makeup looks. Plus, there are so many incredible new tools and devices on the market for us to take advantage of. I really wanted to showcase that this year and share some of these miracle workers with you!
But before we swoon over all the pretty things… We are all incredibly fortunate to have the things we truly need and have a bit extra to give back. If you want to do some good instead of or in addition to your Christmas gifts (this will make your mother extra happy, I promise) I suggest the following:
Heifer International: Purchase a farm animal and this organization will give it to an impoverished family around the world. My favorite gift I’ve already purchased this year? A hive of honeybees. Animals not only feed and sustain the family they are given to, they help feed that family’s community and give the family a new stream of income.
Adopt-A-Family: So many families are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season and many elderly people will be alone on Christmas. I simply searched “Adopt a Family for Christmas in Denver” to find opportunities. Be quick because most Denver programs have already filled their donor lists. The Parker Task Force still needs donations and DHS is still accepting donations. Check your neighborhood within the Be a Santa to a Senior program to help a senior in need.
Within each gift guide, I try and give my shopping tips for the person the gift guide is dedicated to. That way, if you don’t like any of my picks you can still walk away with some tips. For the beauty lover, you’re in great hands because I have done my skincare and beauty research for you! You can’t go wrong with any of these items. Is your beauty lover a traveler? Then gift her this lovely train case to keep all her treasured products safe. Is she a more mature woman? She will appreciate the NuFace Facial Toning Device for giving her skin a little boost. Does she love anything haircare and have an enviable mane – or want to? Then give her this luxe boar bristle brush. Is your beauty lover a mask devotee? She’ll love you forever if you gift her with this facial steamer to assist in her spa regime. Looking for a stocking stuffer? Easy – these silk hair ties will do the trick.
I fell in love with this beautiful fragrance when Le Labo sent over a discovery box of their fragrances. It’s a powerful yet creamy white floral with a top note of tiare flower; mid notes of jasmine, lily, and tuberose; and base notes of wood, musk, and Madagascar vanilla.
When everyone began raving about these eyeshadow palettes I thought they were crazy. Then I bought one. The powder shadows are soft and creamy; they blend beautifully and can effortlessly create many different eye shadow looks.
This little gem sends gentle microcurrents through the skin, toning and tightening underlying facial muscles. Use it consistently and you’ll see improved facial contour, tone, and reduced wrinkles.
Luxury jewelry designer Monica Rich Kosann designed this beautiful compact exclusively for Estée Lauder. It’s meant to celebrate 2018, the Year of the Dog, but its elegant design makes me think of a vintage Art Deco piece.
Have you ever gotten a dermaplaning treatment? They are typically only offered at medical spas, but this tool allows you to have all the benefits from the comfort of your own home. Dermaplaning sweeps away dead skin, product buildup, and facial fuzz to reveal a glowing, smooth complexion.
These pure silk pillowcases reduce tugging and friction on delicate facial skin to prevent and reduce wrinkles and bedhead. Silk fibers are less absorbent, so the luxe products the beauty lover in your life uses will stay on her face and not on her pillow.
My mother always travels with her skincare products in a beautiful little train case. While my products are sloshing and tumbling around in a soft-sided cosmetic bag, hers stay upright and easy for her to reach while she’s getting ready. Lesson learned, mama… Your way is the right way. Once again.
One of the lovely benefits of having severe allergies is that I experience a lot of puffiness in my face, especially in my eye area. If I forget and pet our shedding dog, then rub my eyes, you can bet my eyes and cheeks will be swollen the next day. One thing that has helped? Rolling out my skin. It sounds silly, but this is an ancient Asian beauty trick. Rolling the facial skin with a tool like this reduces puffiness, increases circulation, and helps to smooth and contour facial muscles. It’s nothing crazy complicated or permanent; it’s just a great way to energize and refresh your skin in the mornings. And it works.
This pillow is designed to encourage more restful sleep positions and it cradles the face to avoid sheet marks and scrunching that can cause premature aging.
If you’ve never used a microneedling device, they’re not as scary as they sound. Tiny needles roll over skin, creating mini “wounds” and the body tells skin cells to regenerate from the inside out. Since our skin naturally slows regeneration as we age, microneedling turns back the clock and this version also incorporates red LED light therapy to help boost regeneration and healing.
I love these brushes; I’ve had mine for almost seven years now. The boar bristles are gentle on hair and scalp and are designed to evenly distribute the hair’s natural oils while gently exfoliating the scalp. I can tell a difference when I use this brush; my hair is more voluminous and shiny.
Ever notice how much better it is to tweeze or do pore extractions after a shower when the bathroom is all steamy? It’s even better to let facial masks and treatments soak into pores under a nice steam. As a beauty addict, I would love this little steamer designed specifically for use on the face. I don’t think you can go wrong with this one; it’s like giving someone a mini spa in their own home.
This is my first post after starting my transition from blonde balayage back to brunette and I was a bit nervous to post these photos! After being blonde so long, my hair doesn’t hold color well and it’s been struggle to keep it dark. We took my blonde extensions out so I am extension-less in these photos and that has been a difficult transition as well. Not to mention I took a quick break from my lash extensions too; it was my first break in over 1.5 years! Needless to say, Glamour Bar has always kept me looking put together and it’s only when I went without the hair extensions and the lash extensions that I realized what a difference it makes in my appearance… And how bland I feel without them! I’m planning on going a bit darker with my hair (closer to my natural color) and then will consider adding in some extensions for volume and a bit of length.
One thing that isn’t making me feel bland is this incredible cranberry sequined dress. Please trust me when I say it is the most flattering holiday dress I tried on this year. The bodice is fitted, hugging the body and showcasing arms and shoulders, but the skirt billows out into a flattering a-line with a subtle ruffle at the bottom. The sequined florals cascade down the dress and seem to float over the body on a sheer fabric layer over the legs. Best of all? The dress comes in seven color options – there’s a stunning emerald green and a breathtaking sapphire blue too. The black, gold or platinum options would be perfect for New Year’s Eve.
Fit Details: I found this dress to fit very true to size. Keep in mind this is fitted over the shoulders, chest, and rib/upper stomach area, but is flowy and loose everywhere else. If this is your largest part and you go between two sizes, I would go with the larger size. Overall, I found the measurements in the size guide to be very accurate.
How to Shop: Click one of the links under the collage above, click any of the links in the text below, click any of the “Available Here” links under the numbered list of items after the text below, or click any of the images in the shoppable slide at the bottom.
“I don’t need anything, sweetheart.” is probably the #1 Mom Statement come the holidays. Let me tell you something. It’s not helpful to you (you being the lovely child out to find the perfect token of your love) and… It’s not true. Your mother deserves a gift more than anyone else on your list. Have you ever gotten a horrible flu or food poisoning? Remember how thankful you were for the person who took care of you? Well your poor mother signed up to do that for eighteen years. Does she “need” a gift? Of course not – if you’re reading this, you have internet access and therefore none of us probably “need” a gift. But that’s not the point of a gift, is it? Your mother deserves a thank you and a little something to make her feel special during the hectic holiday season. If you check off one person on your holiday shopping list, make sure it’s your mama.
Now before we start swooning over beautiful gifts, I want to go back to the “internet access” comment above. We are all incredibly fortunate to have the things we truly need and have a bit extra to give back. If you want to do some good instead of or in addition to your Christmas gifts (this will make your mother extra happy, I promise) I suggest the following:
Heifer International: Purchase a farm animal and this organization will give it to an impoverished family around the world. My favorite gift I’ve already purchased this year? A hive of honeybees. Animals not only feed and sustain the family they are given to, they help feed that family’s community and give the family a new stream of income.
Adopt-A-Family: So many families are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season and many elderly people will be alone on Christmas. I simply searched “Adopt a Family for Christmas in Denver” to find opportunities. Be quick because most Denver programs have already filled their donor lists. The Parker Task Force still needs donations and DHS is still accepting donations. Check your neighborhood within the Be a Santa to a Senior program to help a senior in need or sign up to be a volunteer at Baskets of Joy this December 9th.
Within each gift guide, I try and give my shopping tips for the person the gift guide is dedicated to. That way, if you don’t like any of my picks you can still walk away with some tips. For mothers and mother-in-laws I try to look for items that have beautiful fabric or a great tactile quality about them. As we mentioned before, these women already have the necessities and are usually into really beautiful things that make them feel comfortable and pampered; cozy robes, cashmere-lined gloves, a heated coffee mug, and soft slippers. She probably enjoys taking care of her skin, so spoil her with the latest in beauty like this incredible magnifying and illuminating mirror, this set of luxe skincare brushes, or this microneedling gift set.
Be sure to check out my Men’s Gift Guide and for more gift guides and holiday content, take a look at my website’s Holiday section. Happy Shopping!
This is a Lancôme Purchase with Purchase but is so worth it. Buy any Lancôme product (I love their eye makeup remover and toner) and you can purchase this gift set comprised of two cosmetic cases, two eyeshadow and blush palettes, two lipsticks, two lip glosses, lash primer, mascara, eye makeup remover, anti-aging serum, and mini perfume for just $63.50.
See my Guerlain Météorites blog post for more details on this incredible mirror. I will never go back to tweezing, doing skincare, and applying makeup without it!
I own the Artis makeup brushes and they’re incredible; they give a flawless finish and feel so comfortable to hold and apply makeup. These are designed specifically to cleanse the face and apply skincare products.
I’ve completely fallen in love with this brand this year. You can read more about what these products have done for my skin and why I adore them so much in this blog post.
Perfect for the coffee or tea lover in your life, this heated mug can be adjusted remotely from an app to keep your cup at your preferred temperature. You can even save your favorites to ensure the perfect cup every time.
The first time I saw them I was vacationing in Palm Beach with my family. The jar of pearls was at my eye level, sitting atop the makeup counter and shimmering tantalizingly right in front of me. My mother was busy chatting to a woman spritzing fragrance on a paper card so I reached out in front of me to touch this magical little jar of pastel pearls. “Brittany…” How do mothers do that?! Resignedly, I placed my eager hand down again and said goodbye to the magic pearls.
And magic they are. Guerlain launched its one-of-a-kind, illuminating, color-correcting Météorites Pearls in 1987. These delicate and perfectly round pearls continue to be shaped by hand, with a technique mastered by only four people in the entire world. The concept behind the pearls? The ability to create the perfect combination of light reflection to combat dullness, flattering illumination, and color correction for various skin issues all in one jar of pearls. With just a brush stroke across your jar of magic pearls, you can create an illuminated look that color-corrects as it reflects light from your skin. Your skin looks alive, brightened, and glowing.
To celebrate their 30th birthday, Guerlain has released a new, limited-edition collection. Their little pink jar of Birthday Candle Pearls looks as beautiful on your bathroom counter as it does on skin. And their shimmering formula is reimagined in creamy stick form with their Baby Glow Touch Sticks in both Rosy Glow and Gold Glow. You can see me swatching the sticks above. With a spray tan, I can wear either or both the rosy or bronze color. I place the rosy color down the center of my nose, on my brow bone and cheekbones, and on the top of my lip and focus the bronze color on my cheeks and around my forehead as bronzer. Then I dust the Birthday Candle Pearls all over. There’s also a liquid-cream version if you prefer that texture to a stick formula.
I think the Guerlain Météorites Pearls would make a lovely gift this holiday season – in either their original colors or the limited-edition Birthday Candle Pearls versions. Put it on your list for your girlfriend, wive, mother, mother-in-law, sister, or aunt.
Do you want to really knock her socks off? Add in this incredible cordless, illuminating, magnifying mirror I’m using in the photos above. This genius device shows every lash, hair, pore, wrinkle in 5x detail and even comes with a 10x detail mini mirror tucked into the back for when you need your brows or that winged liner to be flawless. The first night I used this for two hours straight, tweezing and doing pore extractions to my heart’s content; I couldn’t believe how much I had missed in a regular mirror! I can even change the lighting from an app on my phone so my makeup will be perfect for any setting – indoor, outdoor, candlelight, fluorescents. I always know my makeup will look flattering and I can guarantee I haven’t had any embarrassing foundation lines since bringing this little wonder home.
I am so loving this! Especially the black fur!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/