Disbelief

Can't even believe how fast the last two months have gone by! We got married in late April - everything turned out amazing despite the windy conditions and chilly temps!  Our DIY projects really made a statement and I can't wait to share more in detail when the photos come in from our photographer! I was lucky enough to have all of my sisters behind me when it came to all the wedding prep - from the flowers, all the paper goods, decor, moral support - my sisters really pulled it out of the bag and came together to make this day such a special one.  I know it's cheesy - but it so very true!

In the meantime here is a snap of one of my favorite moments --our first dance with the beautiful Santa Barbara sunset as a backdrop.  It's not the clearest picture, as it was taken on a camera phone via instagram -- but I think it adds to the charm of the whole thing, no pixelation or grainy quality can really hamper this picture for me.

Following our dream wedding we had a mini-honeymoon in Ojai which was just what we needed. Some time to unwind and relax getting massages and lunching by the pool. I couldn't have asked for a better post wedding retreat (except for maybe more time at Ojai!). We do plan on going on a bigger tropical honeymoon next summer so we have already started saving our pennies for that :)

Xo,

Alexa

T minus 4 days...

...until our wedding day!!!  Words cannot express the excitement I'm feeling at this very moment. I'm laying in bed picturing our wedding day and mulling over ideas for my vows. I want to write them for Adam and not to our guests. I keep picturing it like a story I'm trying to tell our guests about how we first met - but that's not what vows are for.  Vows are for exclaiming your undying commitment and unconditional love for the person you are going to spend the rest of your days with. 

With that said - I am now crying as I type.  I am hoping that I get all my tears out now and not all over my dress on Saturday. I have a waterproof arsenal of beauty products  for the big day and none have really proven to be that great at lasting after a cry session. 

Anyway - I alphabetstew vow to post more (especially about my wedding and all the prep work for it) in May when I have more headspace to think up posts!  The wedding was always on my mind the last few months and blogging had just taken a backseat. 

Until next time! 

Xo,

Alexa 

Nail Universal

We've all been through this - you go to paint your nails and just can't settle on a color.  Enter Seche Rose by Seche. It's the perfect polished and sophisticated milky pale pink that always looks perfect. Complete the look with a glossy top coat (my fave is Seche Vite fast dry top coat) and you're good to go. Whether you're going to a gala event or to a baseball game - this color goes with anything and everything.  I coined these my "Martha Stewart nails" when I was in high school because she always had this type of clean color on her nails and they were always at a short and modest length #classic.

I don't think I'll never be without this color for as long as I'm painting my nails (and I can't see myself quitting that anytime soon!).

What's your "go to" nail polish?  

Xo,

Alexa P.

Still obsessed

 A few posts back I gushed about this coat. The love affair continues...

You know you love a coat when you wear it on a bone shatteringly cold day it isn't your warmest coat -- you just like how it looks. Lol. In all seriousness though, layering is key. 

Xo,

Alexa P. 

Product Empties Vol. 1

Happy new year!! I thought I'd start 2014 with a synopsis of products I've used up!  I love reading empties posts because it shows you products people have actually used to the very last drop.  While using something up is usually a good sign, it can also be it's last hoorah and a blessing for the user who can be glad he/she is done with it and will never re-purchase again!  All in all - it's a treasure chest for those of us who want to find great products and steer clear from ones that are less than wonderful.

This first installment of my product empties features a mixture of body and face care.  I rarely use makeup down to the "pan" so it will be a true testament if I ever pop up with a post about MAKEUP empties...

1) Boots - The Power of Plants Botanics - Soothing Eye Make Up Remover.  This is my standard eye makeup remover and I have repurchased it several times.  As the name suggests, it's definitely soothing and calming to the skin, but if you've got some waterproof eye makeup on, it can take a little extra TLC to get it completely off (i.e. - two cotton rounds swiped twice over both eyes).  It doesn't leave that greasy residue that most oil based eye makeup removers do and I really appreciate that.  I hate having to scrub at my eyes later on with cleanser to get that greasy feeling off.  yuck.  

2)  Boots - NO.7 - Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water (for Normal/Oily Skin).  I love using cleansing waters to remove the rest of my face makeup before cleansing the traditional way with face cleanser and water.  This one smells great and does a good job of cleaning your skin without stripping it of it's natural oils.  The scent is pretty strong so I don't recommend this for someone with sensitive skin as the scent does tend to linger.  Luckily, the scent is so good that my fiance often asks about it whenever I have it on! haha. 

3) The Body Shop - Body Butter (Olive Scented).  I am in love with the Body Shop's body butters and this Olive scent is my absolute favorite.  The butters have a luxurious and creamy texture that sinks into the skin beautifully without feeling too heavy or greasy.  The olive scent smells very fresh and not what you would expect actual olives to smell like.  Don't picture those pickled olives you get in your martini -- this is not that kind of olive!  I highly recommend this product and soon after finishing the tub you see below, I went to the body shop and purchased a new tub.  Another noteworthy scent from this line is Honey Mania.  Its perfect for the spring and I have a tub of it waiting for that time of year to come around!

4) The Body Shop - Vitamin E - Face Mist.  The label on the product describes it as an instantly refreshing moisture boost that is great for all skin types.  I couldn't agree more.  This has quickly become one of my favorite MULTI-PURPOSE face products and I have already re-purchased and used half of a second bottle. I like to use this after cleansing my face to keep it nice and moist before slathering on my face serums and/or moisturizers.  I also like to use this after applying face powder to avoid that powdery cakey face look that you often get with powder.  You can also spritz it on to refresh your makeup after a long day.  It has a gentle rose scent which is also quite calming on the skin.  Next time you are at the body shop, grab the tester and give your face a spritz, it's kind of amazing.

5)  Lush - Rub Rub Rub - Shower Scrub.  As described by Lush, this is a different take on your average shower gel - the salt mixed with the bright blue gel really gets your skin super soft.  The scent is so fresh with a mixture of lemon juice and the tropical scent of mimosa blossoms for a light, blossom scented shower.  I love to use this any time of year - but especially during the summer and winter months!  It is best rubbed on to damp skin with the shower off so the salt doesn't immediately dissolve upon contact with running water.  I will always repurchase this stuff.

6) Lush - Dream Cream - Body Lotion.  Another fresh scented product (can you tell how much i love fresh scents? lol) this is a medium thickness moisturizer that has an herbal freshness that is not everyone's cup of tea.  As with all Lush products, they are a bit pricey (due to the fresh ingredients and handmade aspect) so whenever I buy a tub, I use its sparingly and that's how it should be used anyway since a little goes a long way.  If you're saving $$ - the Body Shop's Olive body butter mentioned previously is a great budget friendly alternative (especially when its on sale)!

It looks like all my empties will be repurchased at one point or another - though I am a sucker for trying new things.  Have you finished any products lately??  Anything worth sharing with me? If so, leave a comment below :)

xo,

Alexa P.

Holiday selfie

I finally took this statement coat out for a spin at an office holiday party.  This was one of those pieces that I went to visit a few times partly because of the price tag (not that it was exorbitantly priced, it's from H&M) but because I didn't feel right about spending that much when I knew that A) it wasn't going anywhere since the racks were stocked with every size and B) a sale was bound to come around especially during the holiday season.

My patience paid off when the price went down to only 35 dollars -- at which point I quickly nabbed my size and raced to the register.  Okay, it wasn't really quite that dramatic, but you get the picture. 

The bold plaid print is so big this season - everyone from Topshop to my fave designer, Marc Jacobs is in on it (:

Coat: H&M (you might still be able to find it on super sale!)  I still see it in stores now and I can't imagine why - I love it so much.// Necklace: Old Navy (purchased ages ago)// Black dress: H&M - just your basic shift dress with sheer organza sleeves. // Tights: Uniqlo.// Faux leather tote: thrifted// Flats: H&M - OMG, I can't believe I'm in head to toe H&M - but I'm sure you wouldn't have guessed it! 

(NOTE: a pair of pointy toe Zara heels were tucked away in my tote, no need for a painful commute when you can quickly change into your heels upon arrival and look as though you've been donning your heels all along!  This is something I've learned to embrace since moving to NYC.)

Since we were all Christmased out from celebrating back home the week before - we opted to spend a quiet night at home with a yummy dinner and A Christmas Story on DVD.  I made roasted pork tenderloin with garlic and rosemary (seriously a match made in food heaven).  Adam whipped up an amazing spinach souffle with a crisp outer crust and melt in your mouth center (yes, we each had our own ramekin of spinach souffle - too good to share!  A batch of stuffing (my dad's recipe) and some pumpkin mashed potatoes rounded out our Christmas feast for two.  We planned to exchange gifts at midnight - but who are we kidding, I have zero patience so we opened around 10PM >.<

I'm feeling super blessed this year and looking forward to all that 2014 has to offer (starting with our wedding in April!).  New years is looming ahead - we don't have any solid plans, except for maybe having a little NYE cocktail party at our place watching the ball drop on TV.

What are your new years eve plans?  Going out or staying in?

xo,
Alexa P.

Palm Tree Holiday

We celebrated Christmas a week early with my family back in sunny California. Too bad it was unexpectedly cold the first week we were there. Despite the sunny skies you see pictured below, the bitter chill made coats more appropriate than the shorts I packed and hoped to wear one last time before the summer!! Talk about California dreamin'!  It wasn't until our last two or three days that we peeled our coats off and basked in the California sun we so craved!

Early on in our trip, we spent a few days meeting with our vendors in Santa Barbara as this was our last trip before we walk down the aisle!! Eek!  Even in DECEMBER, SB was as beautiful as ever.  I'm so excited for the day of our wedding - but I'm cherishing every moment leading up to it because I know it will come and go too fast.

Up next, my bridal shower.  Held at my mom-in-law's house, her English country themed home fit the tea party perfectly. All the hard work and effort my whole family put into it brought me to tears during the gifts portion of the day. 

Check out the spread at my tea party themed bridal shower. This was only half of it!

Here's me and my girl Paloma having a moment at my shower. She's so precious it hurts!!

Now that you're almost up to speed on recent happenings - expect a holiday mirror selfie! Merry (belated) Xmas!

Xo,

Alexa P.