Friday, October 31, 2014

In Honor of Halloween



 My favorite costume growing up was Ariel from 
the Little Mermaid (sorry for the lack of photo evidence).  
So, in honor of my favorite Halloween costume I wanted to share 
with you this amazing Little Mermaid themed wedding shoot.  
I love a good creative theme and this one was done exceptionally well.  
Take a look!


Happy Halloween!
xo

{original post by Pop Sugar}

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

A Halloween Cocktail

 I enjoy themed cocktails and this one stole my autumn loving heart.  
I can't wait to make this! See below for the recipe.


{recipe and photo found on Minted}

Monday, October 27, 2014

Etiquette: Wedding Invitations

When I first started addressing my wedding invites I had no idea how complicated it can be.  
Formal, informal, blended families, unmarried vs. married vs. living together.  
So many things to think about.   Below are some links to etiquette experts 
and what they have to say.  I tend to lean towards the more formal method 
but you know your friends, family, and wedding best.  
I just hope I can shed a little light.

Emily Post will always be the queen of etiquette.  
Her website was a daily visit for me 
during my wedding planning process.  
I highly recommend it!

Not only does Crane and Co. design beautiful invites 
but they also know how to help you address them

Martha Stewart knows it all! 


{photo and calligraphy from la Happy}

Friday, October 24, 2014

Home Sweet Home

We are home again.
It feels nice to snuggle into my own bed, 
use my dishes, and get back into a routine.
I will forever remember my honeymoon as 
one of the best times but being home is always nice.
Forgive me while I get over being jet-lagged.  
I'll be back in full force come Monday.

I hope you are all well xo

{photos of my home by Krista Welch}

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Fall Color: Cranberry Red

One of my favorite colors of fall is deep red.
I'm dreaming over the items above. 

What is your favorite fall color or piece?

{Products can be found here: 1. Dress, 2. Bag, 3. Shoes, 4. Lip, 5. Polish}

Sunday, October 19, 2014

My Love

This has been the best year of my life.
Today marks the one year anniversary of being married.

My husband is my rock and my cheerleader.
I'm supported, loved, and completely doted on.  

Thank you Justin for loving me
through the simple and the struggle.  
I love you to the moon. 

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together - Colossians 1:17 





Friday, October 17, 2014

Jamie G. Week: On Beauty

 Let’s face it, our faces are crazy places. 
They truly take a beating every single day from the sun, pollution, dirty hands, 
our hydration level, our hormones—so many factors influence our faces! 

And while I am no dermatologist, I have spent years fighting acne, 
weird skin sensitivities, and countless over the counter products 
that promise blemish free skin, only to be disappointed. 

My skin has constantly been a work in progress and,
although by no means flawless,  I have settled into a routine
with products and nutrition that give even my hormonal
acne/blemish prone face a healthy glow. 

Here are my top beauty tips for a lush, hydrated, and blemish free face.

Let’s just say the French know how to do a lot things well and these are one of them. 
My cousin introduced their line to me about a year ago 
and I love their stuff! Truly I’ve never had products where you 
can visibly see the quality like these. I use the Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser, 
the Cleanance Toner, and their Trixera Selectiose Emollient Cream for 
Dry to Very Dry Sensitive Skin. You don’t have to live in Europe 
to buy them either. Amazon has them and if you are local in Seattle, 
Pharmaca has started selling them as well! I only use the moisturizer 
in the morning and use a different moisturizer at night.

I’m going to begin with the least glamorous of my beauty tips—balancing your hormones. 
To all my ladies who suffer from cystic acne around your period—this one’s for you! 
Our hormone levels fluctuate A LOT during our cycles and often give us acne in the process.  
This is more than what topical treatments can help with! When it finally dawned on me that no
 amount of salicylic acid will prevent me from getting acne, it was sort of a monumental 
day for me. I did some research on natural ways to balance hormones and came across 
several articles (from respected places, I promise) on Dim.  It is a natural estrogen 
balancer. I have noticed a significant different  in the size of my acne as well as how 
 long those evil things stick around.  I highly recommend this product 
(found easily on Amazon!)!

Yes, you’ve probably seen it laying around 
your grandmother’s house. Three generation of women have 
been using it in my family and considering none of them look 
their age, I say it’s a winner. Plus it’s cheap and smells really great. 
I like it for night time on my face and neck.


4. Water. I know you’ve heard it before, but seriously, drink it! 
Drink a lot of it! Just do it!

5. Eat your greens (and other colors too)! 
The best way to maintain skin health is through eating 
foods that are good for you! Eat the rainbow and cut out the sugar 
(yes, even from fruit, it must be limited). Kale, spinach, berries, carrots, 
ginger, purple cabbage…all can be found in our fridge as part of our 
smoothie ingredients. No, it doesn’t taste like a Jamba Juice sugar 
bomb but it’s tasty and actually good for you!



Thank you Jamie for yours posts while I'm away!
xo


{photos: first, 1, 2, 3 }

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Jamie G. Week: On Fitness

Fuss Free 16 min. HIIT workout!

HIIT is the new buzzword (or more accurately, buzz acronym) when it comes to fitness. 
You know that if you’ve seen it in a beauty/fitness magazine then it’s got to be good, 
right (please say no to 2lb. weights, non fat yogurt!)? 
Well for once, they got something right. 
Pushing you to the limits in just a short amount of time, 
High Intensity Interval Training is an efficient and effective way to get in high quality cardio 
and strength training in while not spending hours at the gym. 
In fact, you can easily get in HIIT workouts in the comfort of your own home. 
One of my favorite go to workouts is to use my Tabata Timer app 
(20 seconds of work, 10 seconds rest, 8 rounds each for a total of 4 minutes each round) 
and focus each 4 minutes on a different part of the body. 
Here I lay out a 16 minute full body, no equipment, do anywhere HIIT workout! 

Set 1: Upper Body (20sec. on/10 off x 8)
*Tricep Dips (use bench, chair, coffee table, whatever’s easiest)
   
*Downward Dog Pushups (get into the downward dog position and do push ups, 
bending elbows and getting your head as close to the ground as you can)
   
Alternate each move for 8 rounds.

Set 2: Lower body
* Body weight squats (making sure your hips come down slightly below your knees)
   
* Alternating step back lunges (step back and lunge each leg, make sure 
your front knee doesn’t go over your foot and your back knee 
GENTLY taps the floor/hovers about an inch over the ground)
    
Alternate each move for 8 rounds.

Set 3: Core
*Mountain climbers (keep foot off the ground as you bend your 
leg bringing your knee towards the chest)
      
*Plank foot taps (on your forearms in the plank position, bring one 
 foot out to the side and tap the floor with your toes, bring it back in, and switch legs)
   
Alternate each move for 8 rounds.


Set 4: Full Body/Cardi
*Burpees (with the push up!)
   
*Jump squats (in the squat position, jump off the ground, repeat!)
   
Alternate each move for 8 rounds.


Push yourself as hard as your can during the 20 seconds of work! 
The harder you push, the longer you leave yourself burning calories for the next 24-48 hours! 
Oh, so you think you are all that and a bag of Marshawn Lynch’s Skittles (#gohawks), 
do all four sets twice, for a longer, even more intense workout!

If you need to clarify any exercises, just use the wonders
of YouTube! And download the FREE Tabata Timer on your smartphone or iPad!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Welcome to Jamie G. Week

 Welcome to the Jamie G. week on ALP!
 I could not ask for a more beautiful, creative, loving, and sincere friend.  
Jamie has always played a major role in my life!
Over the years Mrs. G has inspired me with her beauty and fitness knowledge.  
Jame works as a gym teacher but she also has extensive training as a personal trainer.  
In the next week we will have a post on both! Please welcome Jamie to A L P!
Happy to have you Mrs. G!!
xo

Friday, October 10, 2014

To Fly


We're off on our honeymoon (at last)!
Despite being a little run down and bags that are a little too full
we are off for some much needed rest and adventure!
But don't worry I have some lovely posts
and an inspirational guest blogger while I'm away!

I'll bring home lots of Italian inspiration.

Ciao!
xo

{photo found here}

Monday, October 6, 2014

City & Bride


I came across this gorgeous shot of a stunning bride in my pretty city.
If you have a few minutes and need some pretty inspiration 
I highly recommend checking out this post on Style Me Pretty.
Absolutely beautiful.


Friday, October 3, 2014

Fall Sangria


One of my favorite drinks of all time is the Sangria.
  
When I visited my friend (practically sister) in New York City 
we spent every night drinking pitchers of sangria and dancing 
through the city streets.  My love for sangria might come from 
our big city nights but it's also one of the most delicious drinks...ever.

All over pinterest I've seen fall inspired sangria recipes.  
I really want to try this one and this one.

Do you have a favorite Sangria recipe?

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Warby Parker

I have never liked wearing glasses.  
That is until I recently purchased a pair from Warby Parker.
Have you purchased through them?  Its incredible.  
You pick five pairs to borrow and try on and then once 
you have decided on a pair you purchase them for $95 (shipping included)!

If you are in the market for affordable eye wear - you are in luck!  
Warby Parker just released their Fall 2014 line and they're great!  
Below is my favorite fall collection paired with my favorite fall pieces.



I don't feel nerdy or like I'm hiding behind lenses all day.  
I have never had so many compliments!