Photo Credit:  James L. Jones Photography

I was a bit nervous to tackle co-hosting my first baby shower for my friend Sarah. I felt the same way I did when I hosted my first bridal shower for a friend, first bachelorette party for a friend. But now that I’ve accomplished all three I think I can host just about any event… Except kids’ birthday parties. Those still seem daunting, but I won’t have to worry about them for a while!!

My uncle was our photographer for the baby shower. While we were setting up decor and food items, he captured such beautiful images of my friend, her husband, and their soon-to-be baby girl bump in a nature preserve nearby.

Food & Games

The party was held at Sarah’s friend Abby’s home. Guests were welcomed to light appetizers, chicken salad sandwiches, and mimosas for lunch. We had each guest fill out their wishes for the baby on cards that coordinated with the invitations. Games included a matching game with animal gestation periods and a guessing game with saltwater taffy pieces in a giant baby bottle.

After games, guests refilled their mimosas and treated themselves to gluten-free, dairy-free confetti and pink champagne cupcakes with strawberry frosting from Sweet Rewards Bakery.  For guests without food sensitivities, there were delicious strawberry, almond, and snickerdoodle cake balls from Caché Bake Shoppe – the same bakery that made my bridal shower cake.

Shower Decor

The decor was inspired by the pink and gold glitter tiara on the shower invites. My favorite part was the gorgeous diaper cake my mom made, accented with adorable pink tiara baby shoes from Oh Baby Couture and gold Swarovski crystal embellished baby shoes from Esme’s Bows N Stuff. My friend Sarah is a shoe lover and we’re guessing Baby Whiteley will be the same way!! I contributed to Baby Whiteley’s shoe collection with my gift… A set of Chanel-inspired baby shoes. (What can I say?! I’m obsessed.)

Most of the items came from Hobby Lobby or Etsy, but we made the guest favor bags with my mom’s Cricut machine and accented them with princess-themed bling from Hobby Lobby. If you have a Circuit or Silhouette machine, you could make the baby banner and photo props yourself.

I’ve linked absolutely everything down below for you.

Shower Items:  Invitations and Wish Cards.  Gold Glitter Goblets.  Gold Accented Plastic Lunch Plates.  Gold Accented Plastic Dessert Plates.  Gold Napkins.  Pink Flatware.  Baby Banner.  Pink and Gold Paper Confetti.  Hanging Mum Balls.  Medium Pink Wired Satin Ribbon.  Princess Sign.  Custom Lip Balm Favors.  Ferrero Rocher Chocolates.  Bling on Favor Bags.  Photo Props.  Pink/Gold Ruffle Travel Blankie.

Diaper Cake Items:  Diapers.  Wide Pink Wired Satin Ribbon.  Thin Gold Wired Ribbon.  Crown Headband from Hobby Lobby… Similar HERE and HERE.  Pink Tutu.  Pink Crown Booties.  Yellow Crystal Booties and Headband.  Pink Bow Clip.  Pink and White Ruffle Socks.

Louboutin Lipstick. Chanel Jacket (similar here). Black Dress. Tights. Chanel Booties (similar here). Anthropologie Bag (sold out – currently have my eye on this one). Belle Badgley Mischka Earrings (sold out – currently obsessed with these). Chanel Coco Crush Ring (similar here).

Photography by Alexandra Wolf

After being so pleased with the artistic bottles and great quality of the Christian Louboutin nail polish, I couldn’t wait to see the new lipsticks that double as beautiful pendant necklaces. The price point is steep, but I find my makeup usually lasts a long time and I loved having the option to use it as a necklace as well.

Having tried the lipstick several times now, I can say I’m quite happy with the quality, wear, and pigmentation. I adore the Velvet Matte formulation and I think it looks gorgeous with glowy, highlighted skin. I feel the matte option gives more versatility, since you can always add gloss on top if you’d like a more shiny look. I do wish that the necklace cord was metal instead of ribbon and that the lipstick would be removable/replaceable from the pendant as these changes would give the lipstick/necklace more longevity.

Lately I’ve really been inspired by the fashion looks of the 1980’s and 1990’s. Think Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks, and Christy Turlington… Powerful, strong looks that simultaneously conveyed a distinct feminine sexuality. I wanted to show a look that feels sexy without exposing anything… The boldness comes from the contrasting colors and the sleek, simple silhouette.

I love when I purchase things and find that I use and enjoy them even more than I thought I might. That’s what happened with this dress I’m wearing. I packed it for NYFW, thinking of this specific fall outfit, but I ended up wearing it again in Ohio with bare legs and heels for a friend’s wedding. Once back in NYC, I paired it with sheer black hose, heels, and a teased ponytail for this more glam look. I also wore it with sheer black hose and my over-the-knee boots. It’s so versatile. It’s one of those dresses that can go from professional to cocktail party to date night. It’s quickly become one of my closet staples.

P.S.  Check out the Vivienne Tam and Carmen Marc Valvo fashion shows I saw the last part of NYFW.

Products Used: 

NARS Pro-Prime Oil Free Pore Refining Primer

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Liquid Foundation in #4 Barcelona

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in #3 Honey

Beauty Blender Sponge (dampened and squeezed out)

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Sun Power

Real Techniques Blush Brush

NARS Blush in Oasis

Sephora Collection Pro Angled Blush Brush

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Bare Study

MAC Powder Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

Sephora Collection Classic Must Have Shadow Brush

Lancôme Le Crayon Poudre in Taupe

Estée Lauder Lash Primer Plus

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel in Noir

MAC Lip Liner in Whirl

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

When I was attending FIDM I did a study on women’s beauty concerns and found that the #1 priority for women was speed of application… Nearly everyone who participated in the study wanted a faster makeup routine. The average goal was to get their makeup routine down to 5 minutes or less.

Last year, I filmed a 5-minute makeup tutorial for fall and since many of you enjoyed it I decided to do it again this year. With the season changing and kids back in school, now is the perfect time to add some fall colors into your makeup bag and work on whittling down your getting-ready time.

This look focuses on natural-looking, glowing skin with minimal eye makeup and a berry-rose lip. Watching the video over, I realize that doing my mascara in the camera isn’t the easiest and I would have brushed out my lashes with a lash comb after applying my mascara!! It’s one of my favorite tricks for lush-looking lashes.

Please let me know down below if you have any questions or future video requests!!

Lookalike Turtleneck.  Lookalike Lace Skirt.  Clutch.  Heels.

Photography by Alexandra Wolf

“Marsala” is Pantone’s Color of the Year 2015; think of a beautiful red wine with just a hint of exotic spice. To be honest with you, I’m pretty sure we’ve seen this color the past few years but by its alter egos: burgundy, oxblood, and wine. I think the reason we see this beautiful color again and again is because it’s universally flattering and perfectly complements our favorite fall neutrals like caramel, cognac, chocolate, and black.

I got this turtleneck and skirt at Pinko when we were in Italy this summer, but I’ve linked duplicates available in the U.S. beneath the photos above… Just click on a link to see the item. (I think my outfit photographed a bit more purple; it’s actually a true burgundy.) Down below, you’ll see a collection of all my favorite marsala pieces for fall and winter. Just click through the items and when you see something you like, click on the photo to shop!!

I’m thinking of wearing this to a girlfriend’s baby shower I’m co-hosting soon. It’s the first baby shower I’ve planned and as with every first-time shower planning… I’m a bit nervous!! Any ideas or tips for fun games, what to do/not do??

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

In honor of the first day of October, I wanted to showcase one of my favorite fall styles. Flared denim is back and I couldn’t be happier. Flares are flattering and they look incredible with this season’s chunky heels.

I’ve loved being home in Denver… The leaves are beginning to change and the air is beginning to turn crisp in the mornings. And… I’m finally getting caught up on my emails and piles of laundry after traveling so much lately. There’s something great about a clean house with fall candles burning and a little less clutter.

I can’t wait to pair some distressed flares like these with heeled booties and cozy sweaters. I’ve been looking forward to apple orchards, bonfires, and pumpkin patches. Do any of you have some suggestions for fun fall activities in Denver/Colorado area??

Similar Cluster Earrings. Moto Jacket. Sleeveless Turtleneck Top. Plaid Skirt. Heels.

Photography by Alexandra Wolf.

I flew to Ohio in the middle of New York Fashion Week for a friend’s wedding. And promptly fell in love with Columbus, I might add… I explored the area around our hotel and quickly found a great restaurant and a few incredible thrift shops I spent an entire afternoon in!! After a weekend with my husband and friends I was back on a plane to NYC.

I couldn’t wait to wear this outfit to the annual rewardStyle New York Fashion Week rooftop party. It was so much fun to meet and network with fellow bloggers and enjoy the New York City skyline as the sun set.

Every woman needs a biker jacket in her closet. It’s the easiest way to toughen up any outfit and make it a bit more edgy. I especially love them paired with this season’s A-line midi skirts and pointy-toed heels in a bright color. There’s something so incredibly Carrie Bradshaw about this look, I can’t get enough.

Below I’ve posted my favorite biker jackets of the moment… All under $50. I also posted similar bargain versions of my plaid skirt and blue heels as well. Scroll through the images below and click on any of the photos to shop.

Other NYFW Articles:

Blush + Olive Color Palette

Day-to-Night Vest Look

It feels like so long since my husband and I tied the knot back in February!! In 8 months, we’ve traveled so much and had so many great experiences together. 2015 has been a great year for us so far.

You can click the “Wedding” tab in “Categories” above to see all the wedding-related posts I’ve finished. I have a few posts with our professional wedding photography, but we haven’t gotten all the way through our 4,500+ wedding photos yet. (I think finishing that task might require a glass of wine.) I’m hoping our photography website will start cooperating with us a bit more so we can see all our photos and I can get some more posts finished for you.

I know a lot of you loved my lip look for the wedding (so did I!!) so I went to MAC and worked with a makeup artist to carefully select the exact colors needed to get this look. This rose-mauve look is universally flattering and can be worn anywhere and everywhere… Work, weddings, date night, you name it.

For this video, I wore my favorite glam false lashes. These are perfect for a bridal look or an evening event. The length is fairly long, but they’re great if you have naturally longer lashes or want a dramatic look.

Tip:  To make this look a bit more like the current 90’s lip trend use “Whirl” lip liner to slightly over-line the lips, focusing on the outer lip line. You can even use a bit lighter lipstick to get that super-pouty bombshell look women of the 90’s like Cindy Crawford made popular.

Lip Scrub.  Lip Balm.  “Ozone” Lip Primer Pencil.  “Whirl” Lip Pencil.  “Stauchly Stylish” Lip Pencil.  “Brave” Lipstick.  “Ample Pink” Lip Gloss.

Lace-Hem Dress. Vest Tunic. Hat. Boots. Chanel Earrings. Chanel Coco Crush Ring. Louis Vuitton Clutch (Similar Here). Hermès Stacked Bracelets (Here and Here).

Like any real love, it keeps you guessing. Like any real love, it’s ever changing. Like any true love, it drives you crazy. But you know you wouldn’t change anything, anything, anything… Welcome to New York.

“Welcome to New York” – Taylor Swift

Photographer Alexandra Wolf snapped these photos when I was on my way to the Daniel Silverstain show during NYFW. The bright pops of color in the city – yellow cabs, red buses, green traffic lights, and the occasional teal fedora – seemed to be echoed in the bright colors I saw accenting palettes of crisp white and sexy black in his new collection for SS16. You can watch the fashion show here.

I love black-on-black looks, especially in NYC. The key to making this look work without looking either a bit goth or a bit dull is to incorporate lots of texture. In this look I’ve included lace, sheer stockings, suede boots, and a patent clutch. The different textures help to break up all the black pieces while still providing the slimming effect a monotone outfit gives.

Another trend I’ve noticed for fall is mixing deep jewel tones with neutrals like black for a more opulent look. Try teal like my hat or a deep eggplant like my clutch. Burgundy, navy, and emerald are other colors that work beautifully for this trend.

Have any fall trends caught your eye? Take a look at my article on the blush + olive color trend… And a corresponding article on how to get a blush + olive beauty look for fall.

Let me know if you watch the Daniel Silverstain show and tell me what you think down below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!!

Eyeshadow. Lip Gloss. Eyeliner. Blush.

I put together this blush + olive outfit for a casual day at New York Fashion Week. My photographer and I shot these photos around Madison Square Park, with the morning light shining through the trees. I felt so inspired by the soft, muted color palette as it’s flattering to any skin tone and evokes a relaxed femininity.

Try incorporating some blush and olive into your beauty look for fall. Click on a product name in the image or one of the links below it for more information on a product. Now is the perfect time to add a few pieces to your beauty arsenal as Nordstrom is having its Triple Points Event now through Sunday, September 20th. All products linked are from Nordstrom so you can get your max Nordy points!!

Also… If you spend $125 at Urban Decay (try the eggplant “Delinquent” eyeliner too – it goes great with this look) you’ll get an Urban Decay Gift With Purchase from Nordstrom. The GWP includes a cosmetic bag, mascara, eyeliner, lip gloss, eyeshadow primer, samples of Urban’s new foundation, sample of bronzer, sample of blush, and sample of highlighter.

More current Beauty Gift With Purchase promotions from Nordstrom…

Butter London

Estée Lauder

Fresh

Kiehl’s

Laura Mercier

Lancôme

NARS

Yves Saint Laurent

Fedora. Clutch. Similar Top. Jeans. Similar Trench. Heels.

Photography by Alexandra Wolf

One of the major trends I’ve noticed in fall fashion this year is the beautiful combination of olive and blush. These soft, muted colors complement one another perfectly and flatter nearly every skin tone. Add a pair of bell bottoms for an updated fall look.

I snapped up this blush fedora and blush clutch from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last month. The colors blended beautifully with this embellished lace top I found at Pinko in Rome, one of my favorite Italian brands.

This top isn’t on Pinko’s website… So to recreate it, try an olive lace top like this one and add a great cluster of vintage crystal brooches at the shoulder. Try a combination of berry, blush, and champagne tones.

A trench coat is one of those basics every woman should have in their closet. From rainy spring days to chilly fall weather, it covers nearly all your needs. I’ve found a couple at great price points for you. Since the style is similar across the board, I think this is something you can save on but still look polished.

If you’re in the mood for a shoe splurge, take a look at these Prada heels I’m wearing. Their suede material is the softest I’ve felt and the stunning eggplant color begs for fall sweaters and cozy tights. The chunky heel makes it more wearable… Perfect for NYC streets.