CASEY GETTING MARRIED

I've come to the conclusion that weddings are a lot like fashion. Unless it's truly your style it will never work. Authenticity is key in, it seems, everything. Whether it's a wedding, a relationship, or the clothes you wear,, if it's authentic, it'll work. Casey's wedding reflected who she and Shaun are and there's nothing more sparkly than that.

Ps. A bit of whimsy always helps, of course, so we used those carnations I was spouting about,, how pretty are they? And since we couldn't have peonies on the table we made paper ones and hung them from the sky.

PARANOIA

Today at the gym I had nothing to read so I succumbed to a parenting magazine. Big mistake. It started out relatively harmless with tips on how to turn a kiwi into a caterpillar (even as a stay at home mom I don't have time for this), then there was advice on how to make your toddler into a band member by singing to them and moving their arms around in time to the music. I get booed by both my kids when I sing so there goes that music career. But it got even worse. Product recalls, stomach pains that could be Functional Abdominal Pain, tips on what to do if you run into a grizzly bear or if you're driving and see a tornado approaching??? Oh, and did you know sometimes waiters mess up and instead of serving your kid lemonade they serve them a margarita instead?

Enough. I'm going back to VOGUE. Cellulite and wrinkles aren't nearly as scary.

IN THE MOOD

Let's face it. There are days when you just don't feel like being sparkly. You're in a mood, and not a good one, and you'd like your clothes to reflect that. There's no need to go all black but grey can do the trick. Wallow away.

Grey day by sparkleinc featuring Clu

www.lagarconne.com

www.ae.com

PROM BEAUTY

Prom soooo did not look like this when I went. Bad for me but great for the class of 2009. Today's prom girl is thoughtful, chic, sophisticated and gorgeous! Gone are the days of ringlet hair and garish blue eye shadow. These modern fashionistas are red carpet ready and just as poised. 

I had the pleasure of doing Courtney's makeup and when I was done my 4 year old daughter, Ella, came by to see her. Ever since that visit, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella have lost their allure. Forget animated princesses,, today's prom girls have the real magic.

www.stilacosmetics.com

THE FORGOTTEN ONE

Wedding planning can be tedious. It can be overwhelming. It can be expensive. But it doesn't have to be,,,, at least where the flowers are concerned. Carnations. I know you're pretty much skipping this post right about now but hear me out. I realize they're usually the flower you turn your nose up at and discreetly discard in the trash. You don't want the riff raff flowers associating with the upper crust ones like peonies and roses. However, when you use nothing but carnations, you'd be surprised just how beautiful they really are. And not only are they gorgeous en masse,, they're hearty, smell great and for under $100 you can get over 200 stems! Forget me not.

BABYFACE

So your skin doesn't look like it did when you were 10. Who's does? But what's the solution? You'd like to wear something that makes your skin even and glowy but you don't want it to look cakey, opaque or a different shade from your neck (you've tried foundations and swore to never try them again). Time to try again. Stila's tinted moisturizer gives just the right amount of coverage to even out your skin but just the right amount of sheerness to keep it looking,, well, like skin. It's seamless, weightless, and has an SPF of 15. Welcome back to 5th grade.

www.sephora.com

BABY MAMA 16 WEEKS

Summer is the easiest time to be pregnant. Just because the belly is getting bigger doesn't mean the legs are, so show 'em off. Jersey dresses are your friend during this period. So are boxy jackets and sequin sweaters. They'll add just the right amount of dress up for the shift dress for work and the jersey dress for play. 

FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T DRAW

Warning. This is a project to do only if you are seriously bored. I was seriously bored, and so, had plenty of time to cut and paste and cut and paste. I bought this incredibly generic kids' table and chairs and wanted to make it unique. I wanted to have it fit in with OUR decor not the elementary school's homeroom. Since I love fashion, interiors, flowers and all things pink I went that route. But you could pick any theme, just keep the colors in the same palette. Many snip snips out of Vogue, Martha Stewart, Country Living and BAZAAR later,, and a few pics of my daughter, and I had the materials for a brand new table set. Just paste, let it dry and then coat with a polyurethane coating that you can get at any art supply store. 

No talent required.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT

It only took 37 years and a 20th high school reunion, but better late than never, right? I'm officially a beer drinker. Given that most 10 year olds have had more sips of beer or wine out of their parents' glasses than I have as an adult,, this is fairly monumental. My issue wasn't a moral one, it was a taste one. I never met a drink I liked. Wine, champagne, mixed drinks, beer,, didn't matter. Unless they were disguised with heavy doses of chocolate or whipped cream, I wasn't drinking it. But then, a beer drinking event hosted by a fellow alum at Northfield Mount Hermon changed it all. Dogfish Head's Festina Peche. It was so refreshing, so easy to drink, I found myself confiscating the entire bottle. Yes, I realize I was only supposed to have a taste but I'm making up for lost time, okay?

If you can't get to the Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth, DE then you can certainly find their specialty brews in your local liquor store. 

Cheers, class of '89.

www.dogfish.com

SHOP ON

Ever been banned from shopping at a particular store by your husband/significant other/parent? We all have at one point or another and while I hate to relay fiscally irresponsible tips,, this one just can't be kept under wraps. My neighbor, Sally, discovered while doing the weekly grocery run at Stop & Shop, that she could not only get her veggies, she could get a Macy's gift card too. Translation: statement on the credit card bill would still read Stop & Shop but you'd have an extra $20 for a new lipstick. Not to be dishonest but sometimes a girl's gotta have a new pout. And don't fret,, he's no saint. You know that new stereo system he bought was no necessity either.

 

ROPED IN

Remember that awesome knot bracelet you got every summer? The one that shrunk to your wrist after the first dip in the ocean,, the one that was white in June and brown in August? Ahh, summer. I love putting them on my kids,, my daughter wore her first at 7 months, but now, since she picks out her own clothes, the rope bracelet is no longer in rotation. Luckily there's still one family member I can control, fashion wise. My dog! Wallace, our West Highland white terrier happily obliges. Mascot recreates the Nantucket tradition in dog collars and leashes in 12 colorways. So cute. You can't knot get one.

www.mymascot.com

HEAD CASE

Time to rethink how you accessorize. Yes rings are gorgeous and so is that fabulous statement necklace you bought last year,, but let's turn it up a notch. Hair pins and hair wraps made out of crystal can seriously turn up the volume on an otherwise ho hum outfit. This is not Paris Hilton, tiara, dance on a bar time,, it's Prince William's Kate Middleton, head to the symphony, act like a lady time. Ok, so you might not be going to the symphony every day but you can still wear them with your eyelet, cotton dress or your purple, grecian, one shouldered dress. Still thinking you can't pull it off? You can. It's all in your head.

www.jenniferbehr.com

THE GIVING TREE

There's nothing better than sitting under a tree on a hot day, lemonade in your hand and a lazy breeze passing by. But if you have no tree to sit under,, what's a girl to do? How about a parasol that feels like one? Conran Usa's shady lace canopy is stencil cut to allow dappled light to shine through. What a perfect alternative. And the tree was happy.

www.conranusa.com

THE LOOK FOR LESS, USUALLY LOOKS LIKE LESS

Don't get me wrong. I love a good bargain and some of my greatest fashion finds were indeed found at Target, but dressing head-to-toe in discounted copies of high-end fashion will always look a little off, or knocked off as it were. Certain items are worth spending money on and certain items aren't. A client of mine asked if she needed to purchase a Birkin bag. The answer was NO. I have no idea why those bags start at $8,000 (if anyone can explain this, please email me as I'd love to know) and they've been counterfieted so much - and so well - that most people will assume you are carrying a fake. However; that same client asked me about buying a pair of Manolos to be paired with a jersey dress purchased at the aforementioned Target for $35.  In this case, the answer is YES, because otherwise, it's just too much cheap.