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melissa's trip to italy
Hey guys! Last week I went on the dreamiest trip to Italy with Hamilton to attend a beyond beautiful wedding between two of our dearest friends, Tim & Kristin. It was such a special time and something that I will never forget. We stayed a week in Florence, taking one day trip to Venice. We spent most of our time walking around exploring the city of Florence, going out at night with friends that were there for Tim & Kristin's wedding, eating so much incredible Italian food, and drinking a fair share of red wine! We also did a bit of antique and vintage shopping which was a really special (and successful!) shopping experience. I ended up buying two vintage dresses- one of which is red with white polka dots and the other is a black + tan dress by Isabel Marant. It is safe to say that I am still tickled by those finds! Our day in Venice was so nice as well, and I am really happy we made the 2-hour train trip from Florence to explore Venice. And to top it all off, the weather while we were in Italy was absolutely perfect all week- a high of 80 on average + total sunshine. Scroll down to see some images and here are links to a few favorite places in Florence + links to things that I packed for the trip.
places in florence
hotel | trattoria for lunch | date night dinner | night out | special happy hour
things I packed
black pants | jeans | cardigan | bandana | carry on | bag | crossbody
heels | culottes | a floppy hat (similar) | denim skirt
silk sleep mask from slip
We have shared our love for slip here on the mag before, but today we are really sharing our love for the silk pillowcase company. Lo and I both sleep on silk pillowcases from slip and will never think of trying another pillowcase again. Slip's pillowcases make your hair and face look like you just got the best night of sleep ever, minus the skin wrinkles and severe bedhead.
When we saw that slip also makes sleep masks, we knew that we needed to try them. Side note- if you don’t sleep with a sleep mask already, give it a try. It really helps me to get into a deep sleep and I am now really attached to it- I can’t sleep without one! Slip was so sweet and sent us both a sleep mask to try (Lo chose this color and I chose this one) and yet again, I will never consider another brand. Not only is it gorgeous, but the silk feels so nice on my face, the design is extremely comfortable, and it completely blocks out any hint of light that is in the room. Here is a link to slip’s site to get the full brand experience, but their products are also available at Nordstrom.
currently loving
Below is this week’s currently loving list // get the links to Lauren’s hair dryer that she could not live without, my favorite mascara that is paraben free, smudge-proof, and under $20, a silk sleep mask that is so necessary, and so much more. Here is the link to the last currently loving list, from two weeks ago. XO --images by hannah burton
things that we have & love-
my favorite book - lo
this rifle paper notepad is too cute - melis (c/o)
the most wonderful fall diffuser - lo
a silk sleep mask under $50 that makes sleeping extra sweet - melis (c/o)
this soap is toxin free and can be used for anything - lo
the cutest decorative white + gold pumpkin from target - melis
the hair dryer that I could not live without - lo
my new favorite crossbody from hobo - melis
mineral nail polish that is toxin free - melis
gorgeous mascara that is smudge-proof and paraben free - melis
Revlon: Glow on the Go
Working from home has a lot of perks, but it also tends to create an even busier schedule as errands pile up and brand meetings and blogger lunches seem to fill up the days quite quickly. What has been a complete life saver for me is my Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Fix™ Highlighting Stick. It gives an instantly retouched look when you need a little mid-day refresher, and the magic is in a mistake-proof stick (party emoji!). It is one of those, lightweight pull-out-of-your-purse-easy-application type products. You can use the stick to highlight your cheekbones, cupids bow, eyebrow, the corner of your eye, and your collarbone. I feel like we all need more of these in our lives! Agreed?
P.S. Two color options are available. The Pink Light is optimal for light to medium skin tones, and the Gold Light is a peachy shade that is optimal for medium to deep skin tones. The one that looks best on my skin is the Gold Light.Three loves of this product:
- The PhotoReady Insta-Fix™ Highlighting stick is mistake proof.
- It is easy to use!
- It enhances your best features even on the go!
I am so excited to hear what you think about these products! I would love to hear your comments below!This post is sponsored by Revlon through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Revlon, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
thankful for the missing.
Melissa and I have the most amazing time working together every day, but one of the greater joys is the ability to talk life amidst the email grind. M's sweet boyfriend was just in France for almost two weeks this month, and every day, I couldn't help but think of that feeling of missing your other half. Life just doesn't feel the same, right? It's not as full. It just doesn't feel right. Thankfully we have each other to encourage when our men are absent. When Jase is gone, she gets the feeling, and vice versa.
But then the two of us got to talking and restructuring our perspective of "missing." We realized how grateful we both are to have someone to miss that much. We realized that rather than turning that time into a pool of sadness, to rather fill it with memories we can't fully dive into when our men are home. I was laughing while simultaneously admiring how Melissa planned every moment of every day when Ham was away - sleepovers with girlfriends, family hangs, spa nights at home with quiet time alone. So good. Being thankful truly changes everything. Not to mention, the time apart really does grows the heart fonder. It seems to illuminate why you are grateful for your partner in crime. There is nothing better than the anticipation of their arrival home, and there isn't anything much sweeter than the reunion.
RIFLE PAPER CO.
links: market list | agenda book | wall calendar
I adore pretty prints, artsy designs, and all things stationary- notepads, agenda books, calendar, thank you notes, and so on. Technology is amazing of course, but there is something about a handwritten note and a real agenda book that is irreplaceable and timeless. I discovered Rifle Paper Co. about two years ago, and I immediately fell in love with their aesthetic. They did a fashion collaboration a few seasons back with Paper Crown and the dresses were sold at Anthropologie. The dresses were nothing short of beautiful and the prints designed by Rifle Paper had their signature artistic- whimsical, feminine, and fun. I remember thinking how cool it was for Rifle Paper, Paper Crown, and Anthropologie to team in such a creative way in order to make the dresses come to life and become available to customers. Rifle Paper’s products are truly individual works of art. The herb garden wall calendar that they sent me is so amazing- each page looks as though it was hand painted with such care and attention to detail. Lo and I were so excited to connect with Rifle Paper Co. and are extremely grateful for the goodies that they sent us. Above are my three favorites and below are links to more pretty things.
agenda book (c/o) | wall calendar (c/o) | market list (c/o) | recipe box
coasters | journal | gift wrap | phone case | wall paper | thank you note
melissa's go-to appetizer
I cannot tell you how many times I have made prosciutto-wrapped asparagus as an appetizer...way too many to count! The images above were taken before they went in the oven and of course I forgot to take an after-oven pic, so that will have to wait until next time. This appetizer is literally the easiest thing to make and it is always a hit. I most recently made it for my dear friend Brittany's bridal shower and she literally requested that I make these- they are that tasty. There are a lot of recipes out there for prosciutto wrapped asparagus, but below are the quick and easy steps I follow. All you need is asparagus and prosciutto, and olive oil and parmesan if you want to get fancy.
PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED ASPARAGUS
For a large party, 2 big bunches of fresh asparagus
About 3/4 lb of prosciutto ((*order extra if you want...prosciutto + eggs makes for a pretty yummy breakfast))
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Wash and dry asparagus and break off the ends. I tend to make the asparagus a bit shorter than I do when normally cooking them, because I want them to be bite-size and easy to eat for this appetizer.
3. Begin to tear off pieces of prosciutto and wrap the asparagus as shown in the above images.
4. Once all asparagus pieces are wrapped in prosciutto, put them on a baking sheet lined with foil (or in a cast iron skillet) and bake for 10-15 minutes. Be sure to check on them because you don't want them to cook too much!
5. Take them out, let them cool, and pat them dry- the prosciutto tends to release a lot of oil after baking.
6. I normally serve "as is" since the prosciutto is naturally salty, but you can certainly top with salt, pepper, a little olive oil, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese!
Enjoy xo
31 Bits: A Necklace with Purpose
I am so incredibly honored to be a part of this 31 Bits Campaign with the most lovely women who are designers and inspirers. I had the most memorable time creating this necklace with the most lovely team. Knowing that women in Uganda made this design come to fruition is the most empowering part of it all. See how your purchase has purpose, and scroll down to read more about this process!
What is the inspiration behind your piece? I am all about anything neutral and feminine, so I kept that in mind while designing this piece. Not to mention, the fact that the women who are making this necklace are rising above poverty through the art of creativity is so inspiring! That is the best part of it all!
What inspires you? Empowered women that push through fears and pursue their passions freely. Oh! And beaches and beach towns!
What is your favorite thing about 31 Bits? I love that y’all value the creator and the consumer! It is such apicture of what defines success in a business – that people are fully cared for, encouraged creatively, and are in an atmosphere that esteems community!
What does this project mean for you? This project is so special to me and I am honored and grateful to be a part. I love learning about other women that are designers with an inspiring story. It is such a beautiful thing to celebrate!
Describe your style: Laid back, neutral, and California classic (bring on the hats and oversized sweatshirts for beach nights!).
What’s next for you? I am in the process of starting a foundation to provide beautiful prostheses forwomen,expanding the vision and purpose of my blog, anticipating my twin sister having her first baby (my excitement is on another level), and preparing for the launch of our hair product, Stranded!
Where do you get your style inspiration from? Bloggers, ShopBop editorial emails, and my mom.
Fave Fall activity? Sitting by fires, cozy beach weekends, carving pumpkins, long dinners, lots of family time, and hot matcha lattes!
Tell us ALL about Stranded!! Stranded is a powdered, dry shampoo and hair perfume for saucy blondes, beautiful brunettes, and fiery redheads—all the while leaving locks freshly perfumed and viable for another day without washing. It is an all-natural product, lacking in GMO’s, gluten free, and vegan. I hope you love it as much as we do!! (Available this Fall!)